SPIRIT CHILDREN
My keenest interest in the Spirit World was aroused by my visit to the realm where dwell
the spirit children who come thither in childhood. Around my experience
in that realm cluster the most beautiful memories. There the spirit
children grow through all stages of childhood and youth. All small
children pass directly from earth to the third plane, to continue there their bodily and
spiritual growth. My
experience there was a wonderful revelation. The place was one vast
garden of heavenly splendor, in which stood numberless magnificent
buildings, for utilitarian and recreational purposes. Women helpers, who
have known motherhood on earth, cared with tender solicitude for the
babies and little children. Older children were taught and guided with
minute care and that never-failing kindness which, however, does not
neglect discipline. Men and women helpers of various qualifications,
superintended by superior spirits, carried on their appealing work.
Naturally no more perfect system could exist, nor could more ideal surroundings be imagined. Nothing but beauty met the eye, no
ugliness could there distort the mind. Flowers of gorgeous hues in beds
of rare designs, trees of perfect form and beauty, birds of varied
plumage, fruits of delicious flavor are but the more obvious privileges
of that delightful land. Paths through shrubbery and across parks
divinely planned led to playgrounds where those fortunate children were
seen at play beside their helpers and teachers. It was an atmosphere of
beauty, obedience and love. I saw that the study of plants and flowers
was an eagerly-followed occupation, which was supplemented by the care
of gardens, in perpetual
bloom. No sooner had a flower
faded or been picked than another blossomed from the same stem.
As I passed through the beauties and wonders of this place, my mind
constantly sought for
comparisons from earth, for earth of course was still my home. I found no satisfactory comparison, all was different. I
thought, for example, of the ground on which I walked: was it solid, as
on earth? To test it, I
stepped from the path to the loose soil of the garden beds, and jumped lightly up and down.
The earth seemed to give way like swampy ground, but my feet did not sink, nor did they leave
footprints as on earth.
As if to fill my cup of joy in this lovely spot, I recognized among the
children a sister of mine who died when but a few years old. As I was
passing down a beautiful path,. enthralled by the wonder of color and
fragrance, I saw this young girl kneeling to pick a flower. Something
about her held my attention, and I gazed on her intently as I came
nearer. She looked to be sixteen or seventeen. She was clad in a simple white dress
reaching just below the knee, and leaving neck and arms bare. The sweet and serene beauty of
her face was framed in a mass of blonde hair that fell loosely almost to
her waist. She made a picture of appealing beauty as she bent toward the
flowers, her transparent fingers encircling the stems.
As I approached she half-turned her
head, and for a moment we gazed into each other's faces. Instantaneously
I recognized her as that little child who had died on my lap, now a
young woman of the Spirit World. The look on her face was one of intense
surprise, as if she were saying, "What, are you also here?" Tender love
shone in her eyes. My feelings seemed to overpower me. I strove to pause
and speak, but some strange power held me silent, and urged me on. I
could not stop, but I turned several times to gaze on her, standing
motionless, forgetful of the flower, looking intently after me, with
that same mingling of love and sweet surprise till I passed from sight.
Once
more the curiosity of the earth moved me, and I wanted to taste the
fruit I saw growing so beautifully there. No sooner had I wished than a
hand reached out from the thick foliage and presented me with an apple.
I did not see the owner of the
hand. I tasted, and found my senses thrilled with a delicious flavor like nothing on this earth.
Leaving the Land of Children I passed through other parts of this plane, where I moved among the
throngs of exalted beings,
the mansions without end, in
the midst of stately gardens. My mind was full of amazement at the extent of this
wonderful world and the saying
of Christ came to me, In my Father's house are many mansions." The glories of that wondrous spirit land were
incomparable. It seemed the best of all possible heavens with its
atmosphere of universal peace, sympathy and happiness. Love hovered over
all. How delightful it was to pass abode after abode, watching the
spirits enjoy the blessings reaped through victory over the evils and
the tribulations of the past. Thrilled and enchanted by a scene of
extraordinary tranquility and charm, I could not refrain from speaking
to a spirit who was sitting in his garden resting against a tree
entirely surrounded by flowers and luxuriant vegetation of exquisite hue
and fragrance. His eyes bespoke an equanimity of mind beyond mortal
power to experience or conceive.
From his face shone a radiant
happiness. As if in reply to my expressions of amazement he said, "Yes, what an inexpressible joy it is to be permitted to dwell in these glorious realms after
so much mortal agony, so many
trials, such great tribulations, such piercing sorrows."
Another desire came to me—to hear music. I was guided to a high structure
of artistic architecture, whose entire top, arranged like a platform,
seated a huge orchestra composed of all varieties of instruments, some familiar to me and
others strange. Every musician
showed himself a master of his art in the frequent concerts given by this
as well as by numerous similar organizations. The music began, and
immediately I was held entranced by its sweeping majesty, and by its
overwhelming emotional appeal. I could not endure it, perhaps because I was still of earth.
Completely overcome, I had to be led away.
My guide now wished to conduct
me to a distant place, where there awaited something of great interest to
me. Rising a little from the ground, the body at a vertical angle, we
passed swiftly through space, impelled only by the agency of the will.
Below us a marvelous panorama unrolled, as we traveled on. The delicately
colored spirit houses, with their varied architecture and wonderfully
artistic ornamentation, seemed bathed in brilliant light of unearthly
splendor. Around them spread gardens with flowers and shrubbery and trees,
surpassing in color and design the most perfect creations of human
landscape artists. At intervals the great mansions and palaces for large
gatherings rose among the trees, impressive in size yet delicate in color
and beauty of line. Against the vivid brilliance of flowers and olive green of the level lawns on which
multitudes of spirits enfolded in their robes of light and many colors
continually moved, these perfect creations rose to mould a harmony of form
and color that caught and held the spirit like perfect music. Arriving at
a wide flat of open ground, we saw in the distance what appeared to be a great bed of varicolored
flowers. We descended and approached. On nearing the spot I discovered
that what I had mistaken for a bed of flowers was in reality a great
throng of women spirits, clad in brightly-colored robes. They were
standing before a huge arched structure, apparently awaiting some event. I
learned that they were the "Helpers" waiting to be sent on their errands
as "Angels of Mercy," both to the earth and to the lower planes. Since I
learned that this was but one place among many where the Helpers received
their directions. I concluded that there must have been myriads of these
ministering angels always ready to serve in the hour of need. Deeply
interested, I approached to look more clearly at the spirits nearest me. I
felt that they were indeed well fitted for the task for which they had
volunteered. Their lovely and serene faces were eloquent with warm sympathy. The divine love and kindness
that looked from their eyes spoke clearly of the principle that animated all their
actions. Words and demeanor told of their impatience to hurry to the work
of service that irresistibly
called. They made a splendid and
delightful picture standing draped to the feet in robes of different
colors, wearing a head-dress also colored by their auras. This variety of
the lighter and brighter color, and the brilliant white light streaming
from their faces, together with their exquisite feminine grace, produced
an effect of marvelous beauty. A hush now fell on the gathering and every
eye turned with expectation toward three figures of authoritative
presence, which now appeared. These were male spirits from the higher
planes who had come to direct the helpers. They were clad in shining
garments and bore themselves with high dignity. They passed below the arch standing in front of the
gathering and appeared upon its
top where they issued directions to the helpers, who immediately, singly
and in groups, went eagerly on their way. I felt deep gratitude to my
guide for the happiness of beholding this scene, which was to me a
"heaven" far more real and comforting than any which I had conceived on
earth.
My time for leaving the third plane had now come, and I knew that soon I
must return to reinhabit my earthly body. But before that should come to
pass I implored my guide to give me at least a glimpse of the glories of
the fourth plane. To my joy, he consented, saying, "You shall see." |
