Light from the spirit world

Chapter I

Conversation with his physician, and hie indifference about death— Th« minister sent for— Prayer— Meditation on life— Age of Reason — A swoon — Sees a spirit— The effort of the spirit to identify herself— His death — Funeral services— Doubting minister— Conversation with his spirit companion—Benediction, and opinions of the people — The end of wonders — Joy in his new spheie— The greeting — The woman and the doctor — His mother— Her wtleome-His grave— The thoughts of the grave digger — Anxiety to reveal the truth— Promise to him of a coming time when it could be done with safety to mediums— Origin of sight— Thoughts of minds at his grave— Disclaims intentional wrong— Objections to religion — Visit to the minister— Conversation between the minister and servant — Prayer —Servant complains— Cheering conversation of Paine and his companion—Proposes to relate his experience, and signs his name.— [From page 13 to page 27.]

Chapter II

Pleased with his new life — Recognition of rudimental associates — Reason why Paine's writings were unpopular — His opposition to revelation considered — Penn makes an effort to show Paine his error, but was defeated — Error acknowledged— Strife about opinions condemned — Nature is never contradictory, but just — All wrong induced by ignorance — Remedy for wrongs — Wisdom peaceful —The will of resistance — The principles of nature enforced — Education in wrong the cause of wrong— Non-resistance advocated — Penn takes hi.n to a temple — Enters an arch-door — Initiation into wisdom — Assumes an obligation — Anew song is sung — Receives a lesson — Description of the temple — Name recorded — A book opened — Banner unfurled — Words on the banner — Explanation of justice, wisdom, progression, order and harmony — Duties enjoined— Charge of the master — Emblems explained — Master and

IV CONTENTS.

servant — Freedom of servants — Obedience to nature demanded — Implements of masonry — Proof of masonry— The High Priest instructs — The book opened and read — Interpretations forbidden — Repentant mind — Conducted to the inner court — The -white stone— Name changed — Receives a new baptism — An anthem and ode were sung — The temple by whom made, and its pillars — Hears a wail of sorrow, and prepares for a mission.— [From page 27 to page 52]

Chapter III

The Cottage — Landlord impressed — Efforts of spirits — Maniac threatens his family — Landlord advises to send for the minister — Wife wants a doctor — Iron moved by a spirit — Nobleman and Mary confounded by the sounds — Attributes the sounds to satan and witches — Becomes agitated — Boasts of English courage — Gives Mary a half crown — Sends for a physician — Maniac grows more ill — Tea and sugar bought — The doctor comes and prescribes — Aid promised — Curate required to pray at his home — The maniac dies — Grief of Mary — Parental counsel at the time of her marriage repeated — Her husband buried — The family taken to the Alms-house — Affecting conversation between the mother and her son — The overseer questions Mary — Oppression of the poor — Voluntary and involuntary servitude explained.— [From page 52 to page 64.]

Chapter IV

The Castle described — The centurion alarmed — Faith proved by works — Interpretations of the Bible disallowed — Penn called an infidel — Dialogue between the centurion and Penn — Teacher called — Dialogue continued — Theological opinions the cause of strife and wrong — Paine and Penn retire — Conversation between them — Witnesses beheaded — Dialogue between the Teacher and his Master— A wheel within awheel— Gold and silver the motive power— Attraction of affinities — Fear and hope make slaves — The king's palace — Conversation between Thomas and William — Grand Master instructs Thomas — A new song— Consistency wrong when minds are wrong — Experience the proper test of principles — Some minds serve two masters — Works justify— Repentance is salvation— Departure for the Temple.— [From page 64 to page 102.]

CONTENTS. V

Chapter V

Unity of work — Each receives a penny — Visits another temple — The Master's charge to Thomas — Advice of the chief — Counsel of the commander — Explanation of the helmet, spear, sword with two edges, arrows and bow, sling and pebbles — Trumpet — Directions to revisit the castle. — From page 102 to page 110.]

Chapter VI

The deacon's prayer — Thomas and Mary converse — Dialogue between the deacon and Thomas on rewards, a day of judgment, and the atonement — The deacon converted — Sung the new song — Departure for the temple — The deacon initiated into the mysteries of wisdom, and the secret explained — Thomas and the deacon revisit the castle. — [From page 110 to page 126.]

Chapter VII

The wonder in the castle — Dialogue between the chief, the deacon, and Thomas — The senior consulted — The circle of the temple summoned by the trumpet — Conversation between the Commander of the temple and the senior of the castle on war — On rights — The conversion of 24 elders, and 144,000 — The Commander conducts them to the temple, where they were initiated into that degree of wisdom. — [From page 126 to page 144.]

Chapter VIII

Mission of Thomas and the elders — The king and guard — The elder ad dresses the king — Conversation with him — He refuses wisdom — A dialogue with a mind on fear — Calls a great multitude to hear the elder — Address of the elder — Conversation with the circle — Imputed righteousness — A thousand times ten thousand converted, and received into the temple.— [From page 144 to page 165.]

Chapter IX. '

Thomas finds two minds wrangling — Enters into conversation with them — Refuses to give his name — Opposes teaching what the teacher does not know — Opposes controversy — Rejects innate depravity — Discards

VI CONTENTS.

■wrong views — Recommends facts for opinions — Explanation of sun and moon, which stood still by the command of Joshua — Nature instructs mind — Wrangling unwise — Wisdom will overcome wrong — Freedom induces righteousness — Masters responsible for the doings of servants

— Another mind is converted — The work of the temple harmonious — Duty to avoid discord — The assent is gained — The convert sees a light

— William gives him advice, and conducts him to the temple, when he receives a new name, and a white stone. — [From page 165 to page 186]

Chapter X

Receives a visit from a superior mind — Proposition to advance accepted — The seraphim sings — A pearl given — Enters a world of light and song — Description of the works which he saw — The instruction of the Worthy — The song of the free — Address of another mind on the key of wisdom — The seven seals — Address of a third mind — Conducts to the sixth circle — A lecture on social progress — Hope a reality — A lecture on prophecy — Rules of prophecy the same as mathematical — Prediction of communicating with the inhabitants of earth — Predictions, opinions only of those below the sixth circle— A lecture on purity and prophecy— Nature the standard by which to determine right and wrong — Advancement to the seventh circle, or court of Beauty— Sees a white throne and inscriptions— A little child leading a lion — A serpent fastened to a rock — Twenty four pillars of wisdom— Minstrels chant a welcome — Emblems explained Prediction of events now taking place— Contemplated m ission to the rudimental sphere, and how it would be received— The serpent to be destroyed— Evils to be overcome by wisdom.— From page 186 to page 235,]

Chapter XI

Franklin, Swedenborg. Paine, and his companions visit a place near the castle — Old things become new — Process of change — Identity preserved — Self is a part of the body — All sympathize together in good and ill — Governments defective — Opposition to capital punishment — ■ Origin of evil — Uow overcome — Success of the mission — Me ins must be adapted to conditions — Contradictory communications develop the condition of minds in the second sphere — Conflicting revealments harmonious with different degrees of wisdom — Writing mediums — Societies and forms of worship — Adaptation is harmony — Harmony should not be disturbed — The mission of spirits will be to regulate minds — Minds will ohange forms — Retire to a mansion —Onward is a passport — Dullness reproved —Dedication of the Pilgrimage.— [From p. 235 to p. 259.]

Preface

Agreeably to announcement in the "Light from the Spirit World," I am able to present this volume to the public, under circumstances which will be gratifying to all those who are the friends of Progress and Reform. No pains have been spared to present the precise words chosen by the author, and preserve the style and sense of the original manuscript. In regard to the merits of the production, it must speak for itself ; for, whatever of merit or demerit it may possess, I am worthy of neither praise nor censure. Astounding as may be the assertion, that I had no will to write it, or exercised any other control, than to let my hand be moved by an invisible influence, and write as it would, without any volition on my part, yet it is, nevertheless, true. And, I am quite confident, that out of the two thousand writing mediums, now in the United States, no one in a passive condition will be able to contradict the assertion. Indeed, I have found by actual experiment, that, in a great many instances, the spirit who controls my hand, has succeeded in writing sentences contrary to my will, and while I was endeavoring with all my volition, to write something else.

But, so far as the o: thography and punctuation of the Pilgrimage are concerned, I have exercised supervision. And yet, much aid has been afforded me by spirits in this matter. They arranged all the paragraphs and sentences. The initials, which represent

Vlll PREFACE.

different minds, were added by myself, to aid the general reader ; and also the division of the work into chapters, with the prefatory contents of the same. Never having written a book in my life, excepting with the control of spirits, who have now given two volumes to the public, in about eight months, it may occur to the reader, that other divisions would have been preferable ; but I have made the divisions as they seemed to me most natural.

This work has been written with uncommon despatch. Consequent upon the issue of the " Light," in November, 1851, 1 was seemingly wearied with letters on business and inquiries, in regard to matters connected with spirit developments ; so that, in the brief period of four months, I have received about two hundred, which demanded reading and reply. This necessarily absorbed much of my time ; especially, as very many solicited information from spirits.

Near the close of December, 1851, 1 began to sit for this work. I found my engagements such that I could only devote a part of each day, and this part was frequently interrupted by strangers who desired information on the subject. But the interruption did not seem to disconcert the writer. Though often breaking off in the middle of a sentence, the spirit knew exactly where to commence, even without any reading of what had been written. Notwithstanding these embarrassments, I found on the first of February, 1852, that my manuscript was nearly equal to the desired contents for a book ; at which time, I entered into an arrargement with the publisher, Mr. Dewey, by which I am able to give this work a more extended circulation, and at less cost, than I otherwise could have done, which I trust will be abundantly obvious in its mechanical execution and neatness.

Concerning my condition while writing this book, I will say, that when writing, the whole subject matter was entirely in the dark to me. I would take my pen, and place myself in the

PREFACE. IX

attitude of writiug, when all thought and care would be wholly abstracted from ray mind. As my thoughts vanished, my hand would generally begin to move, and a word would be written. Then I would know what that word was. When the first word was written, my hand would be uplifted so as to leave a space between the words, and proceed as before. In this way the book was written. But when the spirit chose, I found my mind often, very often, though not always, impressed with the word which was being written. And some mediums inform me that whole sentences are impressed upon their minds at once ; but with me it is a rare thing that I have more than one word at a time, and that comes, as it were, while they are writing it.

Should the reader receive the instruction and pleasure from a perusal of these pages, which I have while they were being written, the reward will be veiy great. I shall condemn no one if they do not read it, because, in my opinion, they will suffer sufficient loss without it. There are none who need the consolation and reform which spirits require, more than those who refuse to be instructed by them ; but there are many who will, as they have done, aim their darts at both. They belong to a circle who deserve pity more than censure.

With the history and death of Thomas Paine, I know nothing, save what has been written by an invisible influence with my hand. Having been connected with the ministry for over twenty two years, I was not inclined to read his productions ; and since I have become a writing Medium, I have found no leisure to read any book. In fact, my taste for reading the productions of human wisdom is all absorbed in the divine. The spirit proposes to write another volume, and when it is written, it will be published.

The Diagram will serve to explain the circles of wisdom, as enjoyed by minds in heaven. There are minds in the body who occupy the first, second, third, and fourth circle, according to this 1*

X PREFACE.

diagram. But I would inform the reader, that -whatever may be the circle to which minds "belong, in the rudimental or second sphere, it does not separate one from another by an impassable partition, so that one can not hold intercourse with another, though occupying different circles. As different circles in the body may converse together, so different circles in the spirit world may do the same. The circles do not represent arbitrary lines of division between spirits, but simply degrees of wisdom. That the higher circles mingle with the lower, for the purpose of making them wiser, is apparent from the whole body of this work. I consider, therefore, that circles express the degrees of wisdom and bliss which each spirit is qualified, as it is developed, to enjoy, and not as forming a line of separation among the inhabitants of heaven. The wisdom of heaven differs essentially from the wisdom of earth, in regard to the real merits of the mind, and its qualifications for enjoyment.

The style of some parts of this volume is unusual. A circle is sometimes addressed in the singular number, where it would seem to require the plural ; but this departure from grammatical accuracy, may be justified on the ground, that the circle were all of one mind, or sentiment. C. HAMMOND.

Rochester, March, 1852.

DIAGRAM,

REPRESENTING THE DIFFERENT CIRCLES AND

IN THE SPIRIT WORLD,

[explanation.]

1. Wisdom, wholly selfish, or seeking selfish good.

2. Wisdom, controlled by popular opinion.

3. Wisdom, independent of popularity, but not perfect.

4. Wisdom, which seeks others' good and not evil.

5. Wisdom, in purity, or a circle of Purity.

6. Wisdom, in perfection to prophecy.

7. Wisdom, to instruct all others of less wisdom.

Chapter I. Sickness, Death, And Burial Of Thomas Paine

Conversation -with his physician, and his indifference about death— The minister sent for— Prayer — Meditation on life — Age of Reason — A swoon — Sees a spirit— The effort of the spirit to identify herself— His death — Funeral services — Doubting minister — Conversation with his spirit companion — Benediction, and opinions of the people — The end of wonders — Joy in his new sphere — The greeting — The woman and the doctor — His mother— Her welcome- His grave— The thoughts of the grave digger — Anxiety to reveal the truth— Promise to him of a coming time when it could be done with safety to mediums— Origin of sight— Thoughts of minds at his grave— Disclaims intentional wrong— Objections to religion —Visit to the minister— Conversation between the minister and servant — Prayer —Servant complains— Cheering conversation of Paine and hia companion — Proposes to relate his experience, and signs his name.

In the progress of mind to the unseen world, there is no wonder within the range of human perception, analagous to the transition of the spirit in what is called death. I will relate the incidents of my experience. For some weeks previous to my exit, my attending physician gave me up as incurable. Still, he continued his visits, and experimented in every possible way his ingenuity and wisdom could devise, to control what he foresaw would terminate in my dissolution. At length, approaching my bedside, he said in a tremulous tone, " I fear you will not live to see the light of morning." " I replied, in a whisper, " I see no one, then, to do what will be required at my demise."

" What do you require ? " said the doctor.

" Only that my body be decently interred " I responded.

I saw he felt moved by my indifference, and I requested

him to invite the parish minister to make a prayer. He did so." I was still unmoved by his pathetic appeals to Heaven to bless my soul with the outpourings of his grace upon me. I felt no solicitude about my fate. All seemed dark and hopeless, with no ray of light to gladden the soul of a dying unbeliever in revelation. I was willing to see, but no light came to my relief. In this state of awful gloom, when midnight blackness offered no consolation, when the idolatry of monkish mockery gave no satisfaction, and when no ostentatious show of worldly gain or honor wearied my mind with their cares, I said, " what is life?" I answered, "'tis but a dream." "Then what have I done which is not a dream ?" I wondered. " There is my Age of Reason, and is that a dream ? " I saw no dream in that work. It was a reality. It was my work. I saw it was not a dream. There was what the minister had not disturbed. He did not overthrow what it contained. He prayed against my infidelity, but he* did not lessen my convictions in any position I had taken. No : weak and worn out with disease as I was, he made no issue with my attack upon his faith. He went away, and I saw him no more, till no more of flesh and blood imprisoned my spirit. I was well satisfied he was afraid of me. I was never more satisfied of the truth of my book. Still, it was not what I wanted. It did not aid me in my lone chamber of weakness and destitution. It gave me no solace, save the reflection that I had served the cause of human freedom, and had triumphed over the dogmatical assumptions of a miserable theology. I was not wholly satisfied that I was altogether right, but I was very certain that religionists were wrong. I saw the corruption and hypocrisy of those who professed to be Christians, and I was persuaded that what they taught upheld them in their hypocrisy. In this frame of mind, I neither felt wounded by then* assaults upon my work, nor was I afraid of what would be my condition after death.

Near the close of my earthly life, I fell into a swoon, and I saw what was more evidence to me of a future life, than all I had ever heard or read. I saw my wisdom isolated, and torn in fragments. There came near me one whom I loved in my youth ; one who was dear to me when I was in my years of prime ; and who cherished an attachment for me, which even death had no power to dissolve. She had passed away. I had wept over her grave. I had mourned her death as the severest of all possible calamities. We were united. Nothing but the form of marriage was wanting to make us one in the sight of the world. We were married. I loved her as I never loved another. She was my idol ; and never was homage more sincere and fervent than that which I gave her ; never was my soul so willingly captivated as when I enjoyed her affection. Never was my distress equaled as when I saw her coffined for the grave. Oh, sadness ! thou hast no wisdom for the bereaved ! From that day to the period above related, I had no music like hers to cheer me onward through the night of my corroded sympathy, nor was there hope that we should meet on the plain of conjugal affinity which we now enjoy.

In that swoon, I saw her as in the bloom of her virgin innocence. She came to me and said, " Thomas ! be of good cheer, I am with you."

" Half wise am I to believe in an apparition, or have I lost my reason that I should see a ghost by my bedside V* I wondered to mvself.

"Be not deceived. Do you not see me ? Here is my hand, and here the ring with my name engraved, and do you not know my voice ? " she replied.

"Indeed, your voice I know; I know all; but what are you ? " may I ask.

" I am your betrothed, your confiding companion. I have watched over you with more care than you would have deemed necessary, had I been formally united with you in marriage. I have come now as a spirit to remove your doubts, and conduct you to a circle where the weariness of the world will disturb no more."

" A spirit ! a spirit ! " I said in amazement.

" Yes, a spirit, a spirit you mourned as dead, is with

you."

" Is it possible ? it is not — no, it is not."

"It is possible. Never question what you know, Thomas."

" I doubt not my senses, but my sight."

" Then take my hand, as you once plighted your love to me, and bear me witness that what you feel is not a delusion, nor my speech a mockery of heaven "

I gave her my warm hand, and never doubted again. But, ere the morning sun had appeared, I passed the portal of death, and saw the neighbors and friends preparing for the funeral. The minister was sent for. He came. With uplifted hands he besought God to comfort the weeping circle ; but I saw he had no confidence that his prayer would be answered. He bewailed death as a curse, and mourned that Adam and all his posterity had no hope in heaven, only in Jesus. He opened what he said was the word of God, and read, " There is hope of a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again ;" but what is man,

AND OTHERS IN THE SPIRIT WORLD. l7

that the Almighty should call him to a new sphere, he did not seem to comprehend.

As I stood near him during the whole service, I felt moved to say, " Oh, thou of little faith ; wherefore dost thou doubt ? " But my companion said, " He will not believe though one go to him from the dead ; he has Moses and the prophets, Jesus and the apostles, but will he not dispute then sayings ? "

T. Can he dispute what he shall see and hear ?

C. And did not you doubt me, Thomas ? When I spoke, and when you saw me, you said, "It is not possible." Though you saw my hand, and the ring on my finger, you would not admit my presence. Then you said, " I doubt my sight."

T. And will he, a believer in spirits, do the same ?

C. He will not deny spirits, neither will he admit what he sees.

T. Why?

C. He will say, as you said, "I doubt my sight."

T. But will a believer in revelation doubt, as I doubted ?

C. A believer in revelation doubts, and will doubt, his sight as soon as an unbeliever. Both cavil with the only rule which nature has given them to determine the existence of things, and their relation to each other.

T. Who, then, are believers ?

C. " Hath not God concluded all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all ? " All are unbelievers. The minister does not believe that you and I are present, and hear his speech. He does not believe what we know, that his belief is unbelief of the truth in many things : so is his unbelief a denial of the truth in other things.

The minister concluded his service, and my body was deposited in the grave. I waited to hear the benediction : " Dust unto dust is the law of nature ; but the spirit must appear before the bar of God to receive the penalty of violated law," he said, in mournful solemnity. The circle departed, saying, " he was more charitable than was to be expected. Paine was an infidel, and what could he do less than speak what he believed. He was satisfied that the deceased had no eternal life abiding in him, and it was his duty to warn his neighbors of their danger."

I left them, and said, " How long shall it be to the end of these wonders ? "

My companion replied, " The end is not yet. Progressive developments of wisdom will appear, when the dark cloud of superstition shall be removed, so that the light of heaven shall not involve those on whom it falls in the trouble of wicked men. The spirits of this sphere have waited for the coming of that day, and come it will, when opinions shall not triumph over facts, and truth shall not be rejected because it disagrees with the errors of religionists."

But to return to my exit. When my companion gave me her hand, I faintly said, " God be praised," and languished into life. There was no other spirit near me, when I closed my race on earth. I was not without her presence a moment, though a short interval elapsed in which I saw no one. She saw me in my chamber, and she came to conduct me to wisdom which I had not known. As a dear spirit, I loved her ; but when I found myself where I could see the body I once bore, and the countenances I was well acquainted with, it was a scene so wholly unexpected, that I was overpowered with joy, and my whole nature suffused with intense gratitude to that divine Being, whose name and mercies I had derided in my weakness and ignorance.

The first object which I saw was my companion. She smiled and said, " Thomas, thou hast passed over the valley ; fear no evil ; I am with thee." I could see what they were doing with my body, when I was conversing with her. It was not over an hour after I left it, till my spirit was conscious of all that was passing in the house. I saw the woman, who occupied the house, interested in preserving my features from discoloration, and bathing my mortal casement with wet cloths. She was not well satisfied with the physician. He wanted her to ask the minister to make a prayer, but she refused. He told her it was customary on such occasions to invite the minister to pray. She said " he would soon need something more, and I am not in a condition to pay him for his services." He told her that he would settle all, if she desired. " I will not make a mock of the thing," she replied ; " but to tell you the truth, doctor, I do not believe in praying over the dead."

The next wonder, which I was permitted to see, was the spirit of my mother. She was a mother ; I was now a spirit, and she came to me, and said : " My son, my child, I call you, my child. The storm of contention has passed. The angry tempest is now gone by. Here, my son, are the realities of happiness. I have labored to make you wise in the wisdom of nature, but alas ! I was not successful, only in a degree. I have now an opportunity to conduct you where wisdom will be unfolded in measureless profusion." So saying, she bade me follow her.

In the mean time, my companion stood by my side, and we both instantly obeyed. The angel mother led our way to a grave, which was being dug for my remains. "There," said she, "is the end of all flesh. There is the grave of your dust, and though it shall be deposited in it, your spirit will live forever. Such will be the end of all living. Do you not hear the workman ? " I listened, and the thoughts of the poor man came up to my spirit in wonderful sweetness, as he moved the shovel with its load of earth. "Ah ! " said he, " there are many who respect the talents of the dead, but few who care for the living."