Angel voices from the spirit world: glory to God who sends them

Introduction

They who have attended the Spiritual meetings in Cleveland, remember a venerable man almost always present, of manners so distingue that the stranger never failed to point Mm out and ask his name. His bearing was erect and military ; his hair and full beard of snowy whiteness ; his mien dignified, urbane and courteous.

The frosts and storms, the sunshine and shadows of eightytwo years have been experienced by him. Yet, no one can bee and converse with him without feeling that to grow old, like him, is to grow young.

His is the ripeness of the year prophesying spring ; unlike lhat of the year the spring that is to come, is eternal. We feel the appropriateness of the departed ones coming to converse with one, who, after the years of a long and well-spent life, stands so near the threshold of the Great Beyond. Its light illuminates his soul with the dawn of the glorious day of eternal life.

He was attracted to the cause of Spiritualism in its infancy, more than twenty years ago, when it gave slight indications of me infinite power it was destined to wield, and when its acceptance brought only obloquy and reproach. He was not daunted.

IV INTRODUCTION.

by the frown of the populace, nor discouraged by failures. He investigated the subject thoroughly, became convinced of the Spiritual origin of the manifestations, and has ever since that day unflinchingly and consistently met the issue.

Commencing his investigation in a thoroughly skeptical state, he not only became convinced, but a medium for the Dial, through which instrument, I have received through him many communications, and as a writing medium through whose hand a vast amount has been written, on almost any snbject mentionable connected with Spiritualism. For years he has given certain hours each day to this purpose, enjoying the highest pleasure in such communion. It has been with him a pastime, a season of sweet intercourse with those he loved and revered. He cultured their friendship and association, as he would if they were fellow mortals, yet yielded them the tacit reverence which their superior endowments called for.

When he says : " I desire to make my entire disavowal of the authorship of this book, having acted merely as an amanuensis to the spirit power, no one in the least acquainted with Mr. Lawrence will for a moment doubt his word. If he deceives, he is himself most of all deceived, for this communion has been to him for years the nurture of his life. They, who like myself, have been allowed the privilege of communicating through his mediumship with spirit friends, cannot doubt the correctness of their communications.

The authenticity of these essays, as referable to the sources they claim, is another matter, and undoubtedly will provoke

INTRODUCTION. V

criticism. The student of spiritual science, understanding the almost insurmountable difficulties in the way of the transposition of thought through media, and clothing it with fitting words, will not express surprise at imperfect results, but rather astonishment that even partial success crowns the effort.

His purposes have been honest, his efforts persevering, and his integrity without a shadow of doubt. One revelation alone through him will indelibly attach his name to the cause of Spiritualism. Through him, his guides first suggested the observance of the 31st day of March as the Anniversary of Modern Spiritualism. He presented the subject to the National Association, when that organization was vigorous and gave promise of a grand future. It was adopted unanimously by all Spiritualists, and will ever remain a marked day in their calendar, although the organization which accepted it has been numbered among the things that were.

Mr. Lawrence has nearly completed the task assigned to earthly life. Like a shock of ripened corn he awaits the hour he shall be garnered to the Spirit-sphere. His work is done, and well, and he has no fear or foreboding of the result. The pure and noble spirits with whom he has conversed these many years, will, he feels assured, welcome him to the immortal land. With his firm faith based on knowledge, death is but passing from one room to another, the laying aside the worn body as a faded garment, and the acceptance of a life freed from earthly trammels, of which it may be said, existence itself

VI INTRODUCTION/

is a heavenly joy of which the insatiate senses never weary, and the purest aspirations of the soul are truly answered.

His spirit guides several years since urged this publication, but he, for various causes, has deferred its issue until the present. He now feels that this is the last important duty of his mortal life.

As some rugged pine, grand with the weight of its hoary years high on mountain summit, catches the last rays of the down going sun, and glows with prophesy of a coming day, so he reflects the light of the down-going years of mortal life, grandly prophesying the immortal future. He pauses, resting between the two worlds, physically in this, spiritually in the Beyond, and when his final work is done, will meet with joyous greeting from his spirit friends, who, by untiring effort have brought him thus far safely on his journey home.

Such we feel to be the ideal life — the fruit maturing on the parent stem — the labor of mortal life finished and done while here, and the spirit rounded and complete, in the fullness of years and ripeness of age, leaving the busy scenes of earth for the evergreen shores of continuous life.

HUDSON TUTTLE.

Preface

In compliance with repeated injunctions from my Spirit Guides, I have prepared these essays for publication, and now present them to the public. Whatever of merit they possess belongs not to me, as I have only been from and through the organism conferred upor me by our great Creator, the instrument or medium used by the Higher intelligences of the Spheres above, to publish their thoughts and experiences — to show the interest they still have for this world and its denizens — and to proclaim the consoling and blessed truth to the vast legion of earth's mourners, that the spirits of their dear, departed ones are still hoveringi over and around them — laboring for their good — shielding them from danger — and guiding them by their influences from the teachings of superstition and degrading bigotry, into paths of truth and purity which lead to celestial bliss above, and enable them while here to attain a truer and nobler manhood and womanhood.

No higher ambition could stimulate me than to be able to avow myself the author of these essays. That I dare not do. Truth, which has been the pole star of my long life, demands me to disclaim that other than as a mere amanuensis of Ethereal Beings I have no share in this work of love to the human family. Yet, notwithstanding this disavowal of authorship, and in face of the declaration of my only relationship to these es-

Vlll PREFACE.

says, I am prepared for disbelief, and, perhaps, censure from those, who, by educational prejudices, and warped sectarian principles, deny the possibility of such intimacy as I have enjoyed with the spirit world, and who question my right to differ from their convictions upon matters pertaining to the soul's welfare here and in the hereafter, thus proving :

"The rarity v Of christian charity."

The truths of Spiritualism have been ridiculed, and sneered at, and treated as visionary ; and believers in these truths have been too generally spoken of and denounced in language of the grossest character. These great principles deserve not such treatment, for their reality is as palpable to me as life itself, and I am as sure of their fruition hereafter, as I am that I must soon depart from this world. It is as an exponent of these truths this book is published. It was conceived in love — it is given in love by its celestial authors to you, and it is the earnest prayer of him who has been the privileged transcriber of their holy and Heavenly thoughts, that it may prove the instrument in God's hands of arousing a genuine spirit of earnest and honest investigation, and thfet these essays will receive a patient and candid perusal, that reason will be permitted to assert and exercise its sway untrammelled with bigotry, and unprejudiced by sectarian doctrines.

In conclusion, it is due to myself to state that I have no pecuniary interest to serve in this publication, as I am now and have been favored with sufficient for all my requirements ;

PREFACE. IX

neither have I any ambitious motive to gratify, as I am too near the grave, being over four-score years, to permit such feelings to exercise any influence upon me. Recommending this book of .Essays to all investigators after truth, assuring them the Spiritual food they desire will here be found, that Angel help will be accorded those who, with singleness of heart, and sincerity of purpose, desire it.

As transcriber of this work 1 would express my regret at the necessity of curtailing the several essays from Jesus, St. Paul, Adam and others, owing to want of space. In my anxiety to show such spirits visit this sphere in common with all who are anxious to perform their allotted duty to God as His faithful servant, and to man as members of one universal brotherhood and sisterhood, acting in unison with each other for the

benefit of all humanity,

I am, respectfully,

JAMES LAWRENCE.

ANGEL DEDICATION OF THIS BOOK.

To ye, O Sons of earth, we come, greeting : Invisible to you, yet anxiously tendering our acquaintance, hoping it may in time ripen into friendship so firm and steadfast no doubts or fears can ever mar its force.

In confidence we come to thee, Oh, earthly ones, with full assurance, knowing the will of God, our Father, will be recognized by every grade of Nationality and clime, when in the fullness of time, the errors of the past will be but as by-gones, and so remain through all the endless cycles of eternity.

Friends, we come to you not in the spirit of disputation, but to present the facts contained within this volume, not in ostentatious mood, but in humility and truth, make proffer of it for investigation, courting a scrutiny such as the importance of the case demands.

No eulogy we crave, asking but justice for ourselves and total irresponsibility of authorship for our Medium, to whom we have incurred a heavy debt of gratitude as transcriber of these Essays under our promptings, meant to benefit mankind. A means appointed by the God of Nature, who, in times gone by, employed the pen of inspiration

ANGEL DEDICATION OF THIS BOOK. XI

to make known toman His will, and claim a strict obedience to it, thus making manifest the glory of the Infinite. And here we ask, has that power become diminished ? Is the law of inspiration less a law than formerly it was ?

On such hypothesis we base our knowledge that all who once were dwellers on your earth can and do return to benefit humanity here, and in the grand hereafter. On such a subject proof is needed. Within this book it may be found. Regretting as we do, its incapacity to hold a larger portion of what our medium has transcribed ; but as it is we would present it to a worid needing knowledge of the hereafter, but lacking the desire to seek it.

Sent, as we are, to promulgate the glorious dispensation of Spiritualism, in fullest confidence that being of God it must prevail, requiring no commendation, but living in the hearts of all mankind, must generate the needed change, making this earth an almost Paradise in lieu of what it is at present. To this world we now would dedicate this Book of Angel Essays under the sanction of our Universal Father, God. Amen.

SPIRIT INJUNCTIONS TO PUBLISH THIS VOLUME OF ESSAYS.

My Brother : Often have I sought to come in holy rapport with thee, that I might reach thy inner soul and stir thee up to do a deed of duty to thy fellow-men, and justice to those invisibles whose efforts to improve mankind, through an organism well suited to their purpose, as a means by which a superstitious world might e'en be reached, and made more cognizant of Heaven and all its glorious realities ; and while their efforts have been rendered almost useless by being withheld from public notice, what benefit have they been to those who needed them ? Thy shelves are not the destiny of truths developed through thy organism under spirit promptings. A wider and more extended field of usefulness, we think, could soon be found by making such selections from the mass, that all mankind would bless the hand that penned them, and glorify the God who sent his holy angels to impart them.

My Brother, these are no idle words of flattering inducement to make the desired effort for their publication, but to energize thy soul to action in the matter, making it with thee a point of duty to thy God, the Angel World, and all hu-

SPIRIT INJUNCTIONS TO PUBLISH. Xlll

manity. Let nothing daunt thee in this glorious enterprize, but listen to thy angel friends who will aid thee in thy time of need, and give thee strength of body to accomplish a work of great importance to the world. But no delay must now occur . Ti me is passing swiftly. Thou art, even now, a wonder as regards thy health and strength, but for a wise and holy purpose, a larger share of vital magnetism has been allotted thee, on which thou hast depended, being to thy mentality what material food is to the physique, and for this glorious purpose hast thou drank from a fountain never dry, but always clear and pure as when it issued from a source from whence impurity can never come.

And now, My Brother, let me say to you, under all your difficulties and trials, through a longer life than usual, can you not trace a guiding hand stretched forth to recuperate your wasted strength, and give to tired nature its needed rest, so that with confidence and holy faith you might rely for aid when needed ? and can you now so late in life become a doubter, and lose all faith in spirit power to carry on a work they have commenced successfully ? Away ! we say, with every doubt ! Lose not the precious moment given thee to carry on a work most useful to mankind, for nations yet unborn, will rise and bless thy name as the reputed author of more truthful transcripts

XIV SPIRIT INJUNCTIONS TO PUBLISH.

than ages have produced through human organism.

Now, but one word more : thy health is good, thy means are adequate, time thou'lt have to effect thy allotted work ; angels and men will thank thee, and God, thy God, and the God of all humanity, will, in time, reward thee, for, as his servant, thou wilt have performed thy duty. Amen.

ERRATA.

Page 84, line six, for "your altars" read "the altars." Page 88, line twenty-two, for "leaving hopes" read "leaving tropes."

Page 92, line thirteen, "for which" read "on which." Page 92, line thirteen, for "which depended" read "on which depended."

Page 109, sentence from line ten to line seventeen should read, "Sucha theory might passwith the uncultivated intelligence of the times when Moses wrote, but in these days of research and analysis man's reasoning powers and clearness of perception denounce the statement as false and absurd, though ostensibly from the highest authority, even from God himself."

Page 123, line five, for "partly carried" read "partly earned." Page 132, line two, for "Christly mortal" read "Christly model." Page 139, line eight, for "Give us, we say," read "Give us, they say."

Page 242, line twelve, for "I almost forgot" read "I almost forget.'' Page 238, lines eleven and twelve, for "horrors most foul" read "erross most foul."

Page 256, line seventeen, for "would enhance its truth" read "would not enhance its truth."

Page 266, line six, for "unirritated wounds" read "irritated wounds."

Page 267, line two, for "due monotony" read "dull monotony." Page 274, line 18, for "furiously prepared" read "previously prepared."

Page 273, line fourteen, for "voilence is due" read "violence is due."

Page 274, line 12, for "modern share" read "moderate share." Page 274, paragraph beginning line twenty, ending with line twentynine, should read, "But we would further observe we do not claim that indisposition is alone confined to those who are known as spiritual mediums. Far be it from us to limit to the comparatively few a world-wide privilege as yet unrecognized ; for, although the men of this and other countries claim for themselves the ability to write and speak, elaborating subjects of the greatest interest to humanity, we are bold to say they know not how or why such thoughts are theirs."

Page 286, lines twelve and thirteen, for "may be sustained" read "may be enstained."

Page 286, line fourteen, for "tainted by" read "surrounded by," Page 294, line four, for "seem to who comprehend" read "seem to comprehend."

Page 298, line nine, for "desires of which" read "desires which." Page 301 line thirteen, for "should be" read "should not be." Page 303, line three, for "privileges recorded" read "privileges accorded."

Page 309, line eleven, for "of divine" read "of the divine." Page 368, line twenty-five, for "Is that a turth" read "Is that a truth ?"