Twelve messages from the spirit John Quincy Adams

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Preface

The messages contained in this book, coming from the immortal spirit of John Quincy Adams, were written out in manuscripts, at various times, at my house in Quincy, Mass., and at the house of my son-in-law, C. F. Baxter, Boston, during the last four years, through the hand of Joseph D. Stiles, medium, when in an entranced state, and who, at the time of writing them, was unconscious of what was being written. The whole was written in an almost perfect fac-simile of that peculiar, tremulous handwriting of Mr. Adams in the last years of his earthly life, — a handwriting which probably no man living could, in his natural state of mind, so perfectly imitate, and which is wholly unlike the usual handwriting of the medium. The writing of these messages in manuscript was commenced in August, 1854, and closed in March, 1857. The medium (in trance) commenced copying and revising them for publication about the first of April following, and finished in June, 1858, making some additions and some omissions.

When influenced to write, he would usually be controlled from one to three hours at a sitting, and write generally from one and a half to three pages in a day when he did write. He was quite irregular as to the time of writing. Sometimes he would be absent for several days ; sometimes a week ; sometimes three or four weeks.

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During the time these messages were in progress the medium was doing a good deal of other writing, and was accustomed to hold private circles frequently at my house and at the houses of other friends in Quincy, and also in Boston, Waltham, Hingham and other neighboring towns ; and, in consequence of these various engagements, the completion of the work has been delayed.

After the work was revised and copied by the medium, and before it was carried to the printer, I was desired to place it in the hands of Mr. Allen Putnam, of Roxbury, to review.

Mr. Stiles is a respectable, unassuming young man, of only common-school education, with no pretensions to more than common capabilities. He is a printer by trade, and worked at that business until he perceived he possessed mediumistic powers. His organization is such that he is very susceptible to spirit-influence, and is one of the best writing-mediums in the country.

The thoughts and sentiments contained in these messages are of a high order, and evidently come from some very intelligent source, far above the power or capacity of the medium to originate or produce. There is considerable poetry inwoven in the work, and it is proper here to state that the medium is no poet ; that, in his natural state of mind, he never wrote a verse of poetry in his life. This being the fact, I would ask whence originate all these high and ennobling thoughts, and sentiments, and poetry, if they do not emanate from the source whence they purport to come ?

My first acquaintance with Mr. Stiles was in June of 1854. He came to my house to hold a circle in the evening, and a number of personal friends were present by invitation. On seating ourselves around the table, the medium was soon influenced to make a prayer, and, immediately after the prayer, was influenced to write, and the very first communi-

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cation written out by him there was one purporting to be from a brother of mine, who died in 1818, which commenced as follows :

" Dear brother Josiah : I am very glad, after the lapse of many years, to be able to communicate to you. I am glad that you feel an interest in the cause of Spiritualism, for it is a beautiful theory, which, when you can believe with sincerity, cannot but help to smooth the declivity of life. It is doubly sweet to me to communicate to you, because I do it under the roof where my spirit took its flight from the things of earth. # * * *

" Winslow Brigham."

This last sentence struck me very forcibly ; for truly it was in the house where I now live, and in which I then lived, that my brother died ; and this fact was wholly unknown to the medium, as was also the fact that I ever had a brother by that name.

On the ninth of July following, being Sunday, the medium was again at my house. My daughter, Mrs. Baxter, was also at my house. I went to church ; and, during my absence, the following brief communication, addressed to my daughter, was written by the medium :

" My friend, put this autograph with the one I sent you at your request.

1 To Mrs. Elizabeth A. Baxter,

from

John Quincy Adams/"

This was the first time Mr. Stiles was ever controlled by John Quincy Adams to write. The autograph referred to by

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Mr. Adams was written for my daughter, at her request, in November, 1845. The medium knew nothing of the autograph, or that there was any such in being.

My attention was attracted to the mechanical style of address and signature, it being precisely in the form which it was the custom of Mr. Adams to use in addressing individuals to whom he sent his published eulogies, orations and addresses. He was kind enough to send me quite a number of them as they were published, and in every instance they were addressed in the same form, in his own handwriting, — that is, the relative position of the names to the word "from." (See fac-simile.)

On the same day the following communication was written, addressed to me :

' ' Friend Brigham : I have worshipped in the same church with you. I have heard words of wisdom and truth from the same lips.

" Quincy gave me birth. I love her, not only in the past, but also in the present ; love her for the bright deeds that cluster around her ; love her for giving to the world men that breathed true patriotism and liberty into it, — a Hancock, a Samuel Adams, — to speak not of my venerated father. ***** John Quinct Adams."

Both the above communications were written in a tremulous hand ; the last of which also struck me with peculiar force, as we had for more than thirty years worshipped together in the same church, in Quincy, under the ministry of Kev. Peter Whitney and Kev. William P. Lunt. I speak of the above communications because I consider them strong tests of the spiritual presence and identity of my brother and of John Quincy Adams. . At this time I began to feel an interest in what is termed

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Modern Spiritualism ; but previous to this I was quite sceptical (although my wife and daughter had for some time been interested in it, both of whom are tipping and rapping mediums), and I concluded to investigate the subject, with a view, if possible, to satisfy myself whether it was a reality, or a delusion as many believe it to be ; and I began to have private circles at my house, that I might have an opportunity of witnessing the various phases and manifestations of the phenomena. In the course of my investigations and observation I have seen so much evidence, not only in these messages, but in emanations from a great number of other highly-developed immortals, which appears to me positive and unmistakable, of spiritual intercommunion, of the power and ability of departed spirits to converse with the children of earth through human organisms, mediums, that I have been brought to a full conviction of its truth and reality, and that it gives positive assurance of the immortality of the soul. I have felt great joy and satisfaction in my investigations, and in the perusal of these messages as they were being written.

Mr. Adams, in these messages, has given a vivid delineation and picture of spirit-life, and of the condition, employment and eternal progress of the human soul in a future and higher state of existence. He says :

" A spirit which labored in the field of Humanity on earth still engages in the same holy cause when it launches its barque on the ocean of Immortality. Whatever interests the soul on earth interests it in heaven. "

I have spoken of the peculiarity of the handwriting in which these messages were originally written in manuscripts ; and in one of them, which is omitted in the revision, Mr. Adams says :

" Mr. Brigham : I have endeavored in the foregoing letters, conveyed upon these pages through the power of writing, to present to

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you, and to all who may read them, as correct a facsimile of my handwriting as I am enabled to give in my newer and higher state of existence. You will perceive that these letters " [Mr. Adams in the original manuscripts termed them letters; in his revision, through the medium, messages] " are written in a tremulous hand, — a characteristic incidental to the last years of my mundane life. I have endeavored, as far as lay in my power, to give it perfect and correct ; but it must not be expected that I can give it so perfectly accurate, now that I have merged into my newer and higher life, as though I was cumbered with all the infirmities of an aged and decrepit body. It would have been easier for me to have controlled the powers of the medium in a handwriting incidental to my early earthly life, when I was buoyant with youthful vigor and activity. But it was my purpose, in giving this peculiarity to you and the public, to present a characteristic identical with the last years of my mortal existence, and one which is beyond the capacity and power of the medium to control or imitate ; knowing as I did that doubts would be raised as to these letters originating and emanating from the immortal spirit-mind of John Quincy Adams. And it will be perceived, also, that, as I became better acquainted with the powers of the medium, I was enabled to control with more ease and fluency, and to form and construct my words and letters with greater accuracy, as will be noticed by a comparison between the first and the present letter. Here, then, is an identity unmistakable and conclusive, which is beyond the power of mortals or false immortals to control or imitate."

In order that the reader may see the great similarity or resemblance of Mr. Adams's handwriting in the last years of his earthly life to that in which these messages are written through the hand of the medium, I have caused to be fac-similed the autograph of Mr. Adams, before spoken of, written for my daughter at her request in November, 1845, a little more than two years before his death, and the foregoing first brief communication from Mr. Adams, through the medium, to my daughter, referring to said autograph, together with a sentence taken from the work, showing the handwriting in which all the original manuscripts are

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written through the hand of the medium, to be placed in the fore part of the book.

I would here state that Mr. Stiles, after he had commenced writing these messages, said to me he had never seen a single line of John Quincy Adams's handwriting. And I can say that he did not have any of Mr. Adams's writing before him while he was penning this work.

In one of his messages Mr. Adams speaks of his mother, and pays a high " tribute " to her character ; to which his mother immediately replied, through the same medium, influencing and controlling him to write her reply in her own handwriting, in the same manuscript, directly following the " tribute." And, to show the great resemblance between the handwriting of Mrs. Adams when in the earth-life and the handwriting of her reply through the medium, I have caused a fac-simile of a specimen of her handwriting, as exhibited in a volume of her letters published by her grandson, Charles Francis Adams (for I have no other specimen), and the first sentence of her reply, as written through the hand of the medium, to be placed in the book. I would here state that Mrs. Adams, in her revision through the medium, has somewhat changed the phraseology, as will be perceived. And I would also state that the medium, at the time the reply was written, had never seen even this or any other specimen of Mrs. Adams's writing.* The reader probably will see something peculiar in her handwriting : for instance, in her k's, f 's, d's, &c.

In these messages Mr. Adams speaks at great length of Washington, giving his character while in the mundane life, and an account of their meeting in the spiritual world ; to which Washington replies, through the same medium, in the same manuscript, in a handwriting resembling his (Washington's) when in the earth-life, and does this immediately following the close of Mr. Adams's last message ;

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after which is appended a long list of names of individuals, who have passed to the Spirit World, confirmatory of the truth of these messages. That the reader may see the resemblance between Washington's handwriting while in the form here, and that written through the medium, I have also caused to be fac-similed a sentence taken from the Book of " Monuments of Washington's Patriotism, containing a fac-simile of his Public Accounts kept during the Revolutionary War," published in 1841, and a specimen of the handwriting of Washington's reply through the hand of the medium ; and these are placed in this book.

I have also selected from the work a specimen of Mr. Stiles' own usual handwriting, in which a very large portion of these messages was copied, — the remainder being mostly in Mr. Adams's hand, — to be fac-similed and placed in the book.

Any one wishing to look at the original manuscripts can see them by calling at my house.

In giving this work to^ the public, I but carry out the wishes and directions of the dictator of it ; and in so doing, it is not with the expectation of receiving pecuniary reward, but in the hope and belief that it will do much good in the world ; that the teachings, principles and revelations therein contained, which are in harmony with those of pure Christianity, are calculated to elevate, improve and benefit the human race. This is my motive and object.

Josiah Brigham.

Quincy, Mass., Nov. 1, 1858.

REVISER'S PREFACE

The accompanying work connects itself with a very illustrious name ; and, this being the first extensive publication which claims to have come from the Spirit of one who was highly renowned here among ourselves and in our own generation, it- may receive quite extensive attention and perusal. The peculiar facts and circumstances of its production may be inquired for with interest, either now or in the future, and, therefore, are stated in the prefaces. Some readers will at once give to them their full weight ; while many others, in the present age, will look at them through the glasses of distrust and disparagement, and, consequently, will underestimate their intrinsic value as evidences that John Quincy Adams is author of what is here ascribed to him.

The manuscript was brought to me, in July, 1858, by Mr. Josiah Brigham, of Quincy, an elderly and highly respected citizen of that town. He informed me that he had come, at the request of Mr. Adams, to ask me to read the manuscript ; after that, to advise in reference to its publication ; and, in the event of publication, to look over the copy and the proofs.

The work, though not faultless, proved quite readable, and furnished me, both by direct statement and natural inferences, much that was interesting and valuable in regard to spirit-life and opinions, to the Spirit World, and to the

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conditions and processes under and by which spirits communicate with mortals.

The appearance of the manuscript confirms all that Mr. Brigham has said in reference to it in his preface. It is very neat ; its marks of instruction to the printer are copious and appropriate ; the spelling is accurate, while the punctuation and division into paragraphs are indicative of fair literary skill and judgment. The first draft is nearly all in the apparent handwriting of a tremulous old man. The second draft contains nearly an hundred pages in the style of the old man, though here it is more regular and firm than in the first ; also, six pages in a more round and firm hand, which are signed "A. [Abigail?] Adams," and four pages of a still different chirography, subscribed " Greo. Washington;" while the remainder, some four hundred pages, is in the neat and elegant hand of Mr Stiles when writing for himself.

Each of the four varieties is, throughout, distinctly marked and well defined, giving prima facie evidence that four distinct penmen contributed to the work. Unquestionable testimony, however, declares that all these varieties came through the same fingers. Each reader may look at the fac-similes furnished, and judge for himself whether the hand was moved throughout the whole work by but one and the same mind. Mr. Stiles being an entire stranger to myself, I have no knowledge of his powers of imitation ; but I am not ready to deem it probable, if possible, that he or any one else could hold to accurate and uniform imitation through hundreds of successive pages. Therefore, these various styles are, each, the original of a distinct intelligence. Only a few corrections have been made, and those were called for more because of inadvertence than of defective knowledge or skill on the part of the writer. The corrections made by me are done in

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red pencil, so that whoever may see the manuscript can tell precisely how many and what changes have been made. The sequence of some of the topics has been varied by me, and, in arranging for that, I was obliged to copy several pages of the manuscript, which have gone to the printer in my own handwriting. Also I have increased the subdivisions, furnished all the titles to the messages, and inserted the contents at the heads of the sections. But the facts, sentiments and opinions of the writer, as also the dress, substantially, in which he clothed them, have studiously been left unaltered, whether I give credence and approbation to them or not. Even had I felt myself at liberty to make essential changes, the time was not at my command to rewrite and to bring the sentences and figures into harmony with my own taste. The reader has the work almost literally such as it was when first brought to me.

In most of their communications spirits get embarrassingly blended with their mediums. In this work, Mr. Adams, only at intervals, shows himself fairly ; he gets mixed up, diluted, and yet the production, essentially, is from him.

The literary style of these pages, though not uniform, is prevailingly smooth and perspicuous. Though sometimes diffuse and abounding in akjjectives, it is never mystical nor meaningless. Looking at the language and the thought together, we find some passages that are little better than commonplace and prosy ; others that come near to being wearisome repetitions; yet very many — most — of the paragraphs are lively and interesting, while not a few rise to genuine eloquence, and will command general admiration.

The poetry, which is very liberally interspersed, has some smooth and pleasing verses, and a few polished gems. Yet our poets, as did old Homer and his Genius, sometimes nod ; and sleepy Muses produce indifferent lines. We are here xiv reviser's preface.

furnished with some very good and some poor poetry ; and, besides these qualities, there is a remainder which baffles my critical skill. Mr. Adams, through Mrs. Parmelee, of Boston (Mr. Stiles and myself are strangers to each other), tells me that much of the poetry was furnished by other spirits, who came to his relief and the medium's, and who attempted little more than to versify, in an off-hand way, what had just been given in prose. My proposition to suppress a large part of the poetry he declined giving his assent to, and he preferred to have it stand as it does, rather than be brought together as an appendix. He has been gratified.

As a whole, the book is pervaded by novelty, life and power, and, being produced by him at great disadvantage, will do no discredit, in considerate minds, to the ripe scholar and active thinker who inspired the pen. There was no very small variety of merit in his works which came out under his own supervision while he was in the form.

The methods employed in the spheres to inform the new-born spirit that communication with mortals can still be had ; the actual processes and difficulties of such communication ; and the reasons why, in selecting a medium and a recipient of these messages, Mr. Adams resorted to persons outside of his own family circle, are considered in the first message. The body of the work contains the many addresses of " welcome to his spirit-home," which he received from his distinguished parents and hosts of others, interblended with his own responses to their several salutations. Also, as the reader goes on, he meets with graphic general descriptions of heaven's actual scenery, and of its scenic representations. Many reflections, too, by this unfolded author, are thrown in from time to time, revealing his own emotions and thoughts while heaven is gradually exhibiting more and more of itself and of its hosts to his earth-liberated reviser's PREFACE. XV

spirit. His ready pen gives us the names of many men and women, whose noble deeds won a record in man's history, and who now come forward to bid him welcome, and thus furnish him occasion to state what seems to him their true characters and their several conditions now. But not the good alone are seen. He is escorted by the bright angels to the black abodes of hate, malice and bigotry ; and his report, upon those spirit-dungeons and their inmates, is rich in doctrine and suggestion for every one who is bound to some home in the veiled Hereafter.

The world — at least the creed-bound, the sectarian, the bigoted world — will not welcome some of the teachings of this book. For this keen-eyed observer in the upper realms finds and reports that the souls of the former famous ones of earth have not all found themselves taking rank, in God's upper kingdom, in the relative order in which their disciples, followers or opponents on earth, have believed that they would. His narration is essentially an appeal, from the heavens, to every soul to free itself from the dwarfing influences of even common sectarianism and common church creeds. If the reader comprehends as I do, and as the original draft of this work teaches, he will find John Calvin an impeded "Truth-Seeker" even now, while Tom Paine is well advanced in the ranks of glorified beings. Of course such facts, though endorsed by an angel from heaven, will be hard to be believed by vast multitudes in our cramped community.

This whole work is alive with the free spirit of untrammelled, hopeful Piety and Philanthropy. It is frank, and, for those who have already risen high enough to take hold of and receive its teachings, it will prove elevating and helpful Godward. It pleads earnestly for freedom of all kinds and for all men, — freedom physical, mental and moral. It teaches the godly virtue of forgiveness more distinctly and

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forcibly than I remember to have known it inculcated in any other work whatsoever.

Did John Quincy Adams furnish the account here published ? He did. Those who need the proof are referred to the book itself as containing strong internal evidences, while the prefaces furnish a few of the external.

The work might be described as his own account of his own triumphal reception into the Spirit World. We have here a spirit' s autobiography, covering a very brief but interesting portion of his life above. The account is furnished to mortals from six to ten years after the occurrence of the facts described. It, therefore, should be sober second thought, — first impressions revised and corrected. The spirit who writes in this case was himself a marked man, so that his own character lends a charm to his theme. Name, if you can, that other voyager from earth's shores, who, upon entering the ports above, will find a greater number of eminently distinguished personages ready to extend to him the hand of kin, of old acquaintance, of respect for vast and useful labors performed, than were those relatives, friends and beneficiaries, who watched the arrival of the younger President Adams.

Well might the coming of such an one call forth a galaday among ascended Americans, and the spirits of European monarchs, statesmen and philanthropists ! Such a day they did make, and in this work Mr. Adams describes its glorious scenes and interesting events. Thus, necessarily, he stands forth as the hero of his own story ; and, perhaps, we have not sufficient discernment to find him as modest as we expect a saint in heaven to be. If so, he furnishes a foil ; for the former minister of Quincy, Peter Whitney, a man not very widely known to fame, is here shown to have previously received such praise and attention upon his entrance into the spheres, as to make these seem well

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merited which are stated to be given to his most highlyrenowned parishioner. Possibly you, reader, may hereafter receive quite unexpected praises ; for who can tell me what is the usual and appropriate style of address to each good and faithful new-comer to the mansions in the Father's House ? When it shall become your privilege and pleasure to speak from the heavens, let earth receive a true account, however flattering it may be to yourself. Man needs the exact facts.

Mr. Adams was eminent, almost beyond a parallel, for his varied and extensive learning, — for honorable possession of highest political stations, — for reverence Godward and independence manward, — for fearless and unflinching advocacy of freedom as' the birthright of all men, — for marked individualism in thought and action, and also for intimate relations to, and familiar acquaintance with, the great and good men of both the past and present generations. Eminent, yes, emphatically eminent was he in these particulars. He earned a noble name, and that name is a rich legacy to his family and to mankind. Why, then, connect that name with Spiritualism ? Because he has himself become a worker in that philanthropic and heavenly cause, and asks us to cooperate with him in carrying out his beneficent purposes. My own part in this has been undertaken at his special request, and conducted in harmony with his expressed wishes. This is full justification.

The presumed feelings and wishes of his relatives and intimate friends — not one of whom has either directly or indirectly any agency in producing this work — have acknowledged claims to respect. There is one among them who may properly look for courtesy and a kindly course of action from me. Such claims cooperate with other considerations to keep me true in purpose to the fair fame and character of the father. I have received that father's m.

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request that I should rise with him above all hampering regard for the feelings of any one who may fail to appreciate labors designed and prosecuted for the good of humanity. He asks, also, that I shall lend him such aid as that he may still continue to diffuse light, and to labor for the extension of Freedom among men on earth. The father's claims stand first, and it is duty for me to meet them. When the faith of his other friends and admirers shall become like mine, their approbation of my course will not be withheld. God speed the time when they too shall hear his permeating voice ! for he speaketh yet — speaketh with Power, Wisdom and Love.

The spirit of this volume is in general harmony with Mr. Adams's well-known principles and character while on earth. It is well fitted to bring new light and liberality to all free minds and large hearts, and to inculcate upon all men a lofty Piety and a wide-spreading Love of the Brother. He asks for its publication ; and we help him because we feel that, though imperfect, this, His First. Offering from Heaven, will not dim the brightness which haloes his " Last " — his whole — " of Earth."

Allen Putnam.

Roxburt, Nov. 20, 1858.

Section Third

The spiritual phenomena commence — Adams again visits earth — Enters a circle — Communicates — The medium's spirit vacates, and his own enters — Becomes himself haloed in light — Prays through the medium — Addresses men through her

— Three causes of failure to control — Peculiar magnetic fluids essential — Christ chose disciples on the basis of magnetisms — Immediate proximity to the mediums not always essential — Hancock speaks again — A spirit's prayer — Angels can communicate — A chant by eight spirits, 12