The hollow globe

Chapter i. — Scraps of History. - - 19

History works out its own development. - 33 An event prophetic of its successor. - -27

Condition of Europe when America was discovered. 31 Mexican War, and Discovery of Gold in California. 37 The Rebellion, and Death of the monster Slavery. 42 The tide of Emigration. 47

The necessity of more Territory. - - - 50

Chapter ii. — The Open Polar Sea. - - 52 The Kuro Siwo, or Warm Current of the Pacific. 54 A Temperate Clime at the Polar Sea. - - 58 Insufficient reasons offered by scientific men. 62

Gulf Stream and its Wonders. - - - -65 The Maelstrom, and Corals in the Northern Seas. 69 Causes productive of the Open Polar Sea, Local. 75

Chapter hi. — The Igneous Theory. - - 77

Review of arguments offered in its support. - 81

Increase of Temperature in Artesian Wells does

not continue. - - - - 84

Enormous comparative quantity of Molten Lava. 87

The formation of Coal. - - - 91

Necessity of Negative Elements. 94

IV CONTENTS.

Impossibility of holding the enormous quantity of Positive Active Material -within the Crust of the Globe. - - - - 99

Chapter iv. — Volcanoes. - - - 101

Remarks upon the opinions of scientific men concerning Extinct Volcanoes. - - 104 Various Substances erupted from the Craters. Ill Mass of Molten Lava. - - - 114 Explosives. ----- 127 The production of Coal. - - - 130 Euel necessary to produce Volcanic Fires. - 137

Chapter v. — Earthquakes. - - 138

Science offers no satisfactory Theory concerning

Their extent not an evidence of Internal Fire. 144 Earthquakes and Volcanoes produced by different causes. - - - 147 Electro-Magnetism productive of Earthquakes. 153

Chapter vi. — Material and Spiritual Forces. 161 Inquiry concerning the Author of the World. 163 Forces existing in the Spiritual. - - 167

Comparative Power of different Elements. - 177 Relation between Material and Spiritual Particles. 183 Aura — Empyria. - - - 188 — 191

Positive Forces may be real Spirit Entities. 199

Ohapter vii. — Gravitation. - - - 207

Gravitation a subordinate Force. - 210

Views of Newton and Compte Examined. - 213

No interference with Scientific Demonstrations. 220

Gravitation not productive of Tides. - - 227

CONTENTS. V

Fire and Gravity overloaded. ... 230

Some Important Deductions. - - - 234

Chapter viii. — The Sun and its Influenced 236 The Popular Theories of Light considered. 238

Neither of the Theories would supply the exteriu

Planets with Light and Warmth. - 249

Light and Heat produced by a vast Natural Electro-Magnetic Battery. - - 258 Exterior Planets not dependent upon the Sun. 260

Chapter ix. — Inherent Powers. - - 265 All things upon the Earth inherit all their constituent elements from the mineral. - 267 All Animals are Locomotives, — the Earthlv Pa-

rent must be a Locomotive also. - - 272 All Labor exhaustive of Power. - 279

All Globes contain, in a latent condition, all the

Powers of those in the most advanced state. 282 The Development of Worlds. - - 286

Method of Lighting the Interior World. - 288

The La Place or Nebulous Theory unnatural. 302

Chapter x. — Who are the World Builders? 307

Yague Ideas concerning the Infinite Being. 309

Man composed of Elements in Minerals. - 317

Infinite Power and Wisdom not required in the

Construction of Worlds. - - 324

Finite Beings competent to Build Worlds. 330 Worlds Built by the Spirit Inhabitants of the

Planets to which they are attached. - 342 Impropriety of placing all the labor upon the

shoulders of one Personal Being. - 347 vi contents.

Chapter xi. — The Moon. - 354 Propriety of dissolving the Material World in

order to ascertain its constituent elements. 355 Change of Matter from an Etherealized to a

more Materialized condition. - 359

Soap Bubbles. 375

All New Worlds built as Satellites. - - 377

Fire and Water incompetent to form Worlds. 382

Method of Dissolving the Granite. - - 385

Chaptr xii. — The Moon. - - 389

Construction of our Moon connected with the

Glacial Formation or the Drift Period. 391

More Moons necessary. ... 399

Tidal Phenomena. ... 403

Chapter xiii. — Vision. ... 408 Vast Regions beyond the reach of Human Vision. 409 Invisible Animal Organisms must possess Microscopic Vision. - - - 414 Material and Spiritual Organisms. - - 423 Intensity of Spiritual Sensuous Organs. - 426 Thoughts and Ideas real Material Things. 432 Men living in a World of Deception. - - 443

Preface

This book is addressed to the reasoning intelligence of Humanity, — to all inquiring and reflective minds, everywhere upon the earth.

We earnestly request the reader to suspend his judgment concerning the ideas advanced, until he has carefully perused its pages ; when he may be better prepared to form his opinions, and offer his criticisms.

We do not claim that the teachings contained in this work are infallible, neither are they presented in an authoritative manner. But, we do claim, that it contains more original, natural and startling ideas, which are of great interest to civilized humanity, and which seem to be entirely irrefutable, than any book of its size, that has made its appearance in modern times.

We therefore commend it to the careful consideration of the modern thinker, being fully persuaded that its pages contain a large fund of thought which may open to his mind new fields of research, thus tending to enlarge his understanding, and enlighten his intellect. We are also of the opinion that its perusal may save multitudes from many superstitious beliefs and shadowy

Vlll PREFACE.

dogmas, respecting natural phenomena, as well as theological teachings, which have hitherto overclouded their minds.

We are deeply impressed with the thought, and venture to predict, that this book will do very much towards aiding humanity in their toilsome progress, from the darkness of mental slavery, to the broad sunshine of enlightened freedom, for which they have so long struggled, but struggled apparently in vain.

Introduction

The central idea contained in the following work and the one that most of these chapters are designed to substantiate is, that this globe is constructed in the form of a hollow sphere, with a shell some thirty to forty miles in thickness, and that the interior surface which is a beautiful world in a more highly developed condition than the exterior, is accessible by a circuitous and spirally formed aperture that may be found in the unexplored open Polar Sea, and this opening affords easy navigation, by a broad and deep channel leading from one surface to the other, and that the largest ships or steamers may sail or steam either way, with as much facility as they can pass through any other winding, or somewhat crooked channel. And we have endeavored to show as clearly as possible, that the physical formation of the globe is such as to be perfectly compatible with an outer and inner world, or two worlds instead of one, and it ' might be proper to present a brief sketch of the leading circumstances that have induced the production of this book and its presentation to the public.

About the middle of September, 1868, the writer of this work was standing at his desk in his own place of business, attending to some matter, when a strange gentleman made his appearance in the office, and introduced himself as Dr. M. L. Sherman. I told him to be seated, and in a few moments I would give him my attention. He seemed to scan me very closely, and finally among other things told me, You are the man that I have been searching after; the very man I was to find, and we have a large amount of business that we must transact together, but I am not fully prepared to state the nature of that business, for I do not seem to understand it myself. I replied very well, if it is to be so, I trust it will be satisfactory, or something to that effect, but his announcement did not make a vivid impression upon my mind, as in my experience I had heard things of a similar nature previously. However, the Doctor and myself formed an intimacy which has not been interrupted since, only by my absence of about seven months in the Eastern States, that occurred soon after our first introduction ; and I have found him to be a very remarkable and peculiar personage, whose day and hour to be widely known to the world, has'probably not yet fully come.

The numerous remarkable experiences of his life, since his connection with spiritualistic teachings and phenomena, would of themselves fill a volume, and are by no means admissible in this exceedingly brief sketch of an eventful career, but we note as prominent among them, that he was for a long time a public speaker, and spoke in a trance or unconscious condition, to the great dismay and astonishment of those who opposed, and the satisfaction and encouragement of those who coincided to some extent with his teachings. But in process of time he seemed to become so extremely radical, and announced in public, ideas so much in advance of his time, and he was withal constitutionally so firm, and somewhat harsh and severe in his language, that, as he says, his speech was confounded, or he was unable to give utterance to his thoughts in public, and of course he ceased lecturing. But there seemed to be another field opened before him, and like Paul and Swedenborg and many other seers, he was called upon to make his personal survey of some portion of the spirit realms, and at several different times, has been thrown into a semi-trance condition becoming partially unconscious of his earthly surroundings, and permitted to pass through the most vivid experiences that he was capable of appreciating in the spiritual spheres. These different seasons of trance, in which he partook of no earthly food or drink except a little vinegar, were from three to twelve days each, making over forty days in all, and for four days of this time he was to all appearance dead, so much so that a prominent physician of the town pronounced him dead to all intents, with the remark that they might use his head for a foot-ball if he ever breathed again upon the earth, and it required the utmost exertion of the friend at whose house he lay, who was a man of some influence, to keep the authorities from consigning him to a premature grave, thus adding another to the numerous human sacrifices that have been made in this manner by people ignorant of some of nature's laws.

Yet, notwithstanding all the learned Doctor's opinions and assertions, he did breathe again, and after lying twelve days in this comatose, apparently lifeless condition, without food of any kind, his spirit came back from its wanderings once more, took possession of the earthly tabernacle, and he lived to write a brief account of what he saw during his several trance conditions, and published to the world a small work of thirtyeight pages, entitled "My Experiences in Spiritual Phenomena," and to all appearance he seems likely to live for many years to come.

This work, in consequence of its strange and radical ideas, was not well received, even by those minds who supposed they had laid off the trammels of old orthodoxy, but most likely the day is not distant when this little book will be re-published, and properly appreciated by those who are attaining to a clearer perception of spiritual truths and philosophy, than was enjoyed twenty years since by the most enlightened persons.

Up to the 1st of January, 1870, I think we had obtained no clue whatever, to the meaning of the language made use of when he first entered my office, and introduced himself. About that time, however, we discovered the fact that he seeemed to go under an influence when I came into his presence, and he and Mrs. Sherman who is remarkably mediumistic, began to see clairvoyantly many curious visions or symbols that were to us quite dark and mysterious, among which was one of a book, seen by him, sealed with five seals, three in front and one at each end. It appeared to be a large, finely bound volume, and it was presented me with instructions that I was to take the book, and unloose the seals thereof, all of which was Greek to us at the time. At other times large quantities of paper and pens with beautiful inkstands, and writing materials generally were brought and presented to me : and among many other things it was finally told us, that through the Doctor's mediumship we were to obtain the general ideas, and that I, in my room, by the aid of my own impressional powers was to mold and fashion and weave them into a book, to be entitled the World's Agitator and Reconciler, and in due time they began through the Doctor's organism to teach concerning the nature of the book and its contents. However, the teachings were of such a character that we were very slow to receive them, and, in fact, it was a very tedious process upon their part to make us understand and comprehend their ideas. They came to us in such broken fragments, and apparently dark and mystified manner, but they urged me to commence writing, for it was no matter where and how I commenced, they would find a place in the book for my productions, and so I began about the middle of March, and was urged as nearly as may be, to finish the book by the first of November.

The whole affair has been extremely novel to us all, and I doubt not these pages may appear somewhat novel to the reader, and if he will go through them with some little attention, he may arise from their perusal quite well convinced, at least, that old things are passing away, and that many things are becoming new. I have written these pages in an entirely normal condition, and perfectly unconscious of any influence, only there were times when I could not write a sentence, and felt very much averse to doing anything in connection with the book, and would get up and leave the room, almost involuntarily. At other times I would write with ease, quite generally commencing a sentence without knowing how it was to terminate. I have copied and to a certain extent, modified about half of the manuscript that was first written ; the remainder is just about as it was presented. The different chapters or subjects, are by no means arranged as they were written, as some were partly finished, and laid aside, as there were times when I could write upon one subject and not upon another.

They informed us at the commencement that the teachings would come through the Doctor's organism in an indirect manner, or in chips as they termed them, but they would be enabled by that mode of procedure to transfer the ideas to my organism, and thus enable me in my own study, to weave them into the web which they wished to produce to the world, at this period in its history. They remarked, the time had arrived to make these revealments, and they, (as they termed themselves the delegation) had searched the nations for the Key or Keys that would unlock to the world, the profound secrets contained in this book, and they had found the Keys hidden away in our organisms, and had watched our outgoings, and incomings, and made use of the means that would bring us together at the fixed time for the accomplishment of this purpose. I do not claim any large amount of credit for the authorship of this work, though much of the time it has been quite a severe tax upon all the mental energies that I possessed, and although the prominent ideas were given to us, yet they seem to have passed through my organism in such a manner that it is quite difficult for me to determine from whence they came, and how I have been able to present them in this form

We learned in process of time that the five seals of the book presented in the early stage of these proceedings, had allusion to prominent ideas, or facts concerning the physical globe upon which we dwell, and its various appertainings.

The first seal is supposed to allude to the great fact that this globe is a hollow or spherical shell with an interior as well as an exterior surface, and that it contains an inner concave as well as outer convex world, and that the inner is accessible by an extensive spirally formed aperture, provided with a deep and commodious channel suited to the purposes of navigation for the largest vessels that float, and that this aperture may be found in the unexplored open Polar Sea.

The opening of the second seal, is supposed to reveal the fact that this globe is a mechanical structure, in which is introduced the highest principles of the art, and that it is consequently, built by mechanics who are well versed in all the acquirements necessary to produce such a structure, and that to be built in accordance with correct principles, it must be formed from the least amount of material compatible with the needed strength, and* hence it must be in the form of a shell, with an outer and an inner surface.

The third seal seems to open to our view, the fact that the mechanics who are competent to build a world, must have acquired their knowledge like all other intelligent beings, by experience and observation, and hence they must have necessarily passed through all possible conditions below them, in order to have attained the needed acquirements, or the wisdom and power that would be absolutely essential in the construction of a world;

and further, that worlds are not created from nothing, by a self constituted infinite being who has never passed through all this entire routine of experience, but sprang into existence without law or cause, with wisdom and power sufficient to produce all things from nothing by his own fiat, as the human mind is entirely incapable of conceiving the existence of any such being, within the boundaries of universal nature.

The fourth seal would seem to disclose to our view, a number of facts concerning the inherent powers contained in our globe, by which it performs its axial and orbital movements, and manufactures its interior light and warmth, and is destined to unfold to that higher and more independent and matured condition, that will ultimately enable it to take its proper place as a sun in the vast firmament.

And the fifth seal has allusion to human vision, and will be fully explained by a perusal of the chapter upon that subject.

When I rather reluctantly consented to commence the ostensible authorship of this book, I had determined that nothing should be in troduced into its pages that would conflict in any manner with well settled scientific opinions, and I supposed I should spend a large portion of the summer, in the study of scientific works ; but we were constantly admonished, that with regard to most of the subjects upon which I was to write, science was entirely at fault, and her votaries were wandering in a maze of darkness, and that all I needed was a general idea of their opinions upon matters that would be brought to light, so we could demolish them more effectually. That if scientific men had already arrived at truth concerning all these matters, it would be quite unnecessary to say more, as no one could be benefited by a vain repetition of what was already written, and well understood; and instead of being particularly enlightened by scientific theories already established, I have been compelled to adopt many directly in conflict with those entertained by the most eminent men of the present day. I have been also impelled to introduce an array of argument in support of the new ideas and theories, entirely novel to myself, but yet, arguments that in most cases seem to be astonishingly conclusive, and that will no doubt, stand the test of the most critical examination ; and we have every reason to believe viewing the matter from our standpoint, that these pages will prove of no little interest to the public generally.

It will not be very surprising, if in treating upon subjects of such vast magnitude as those introduced into this work, that an author so unprepared as myself, by an intimate acquaintance with the scientific works designed to throw light upon these matters, should frequently meet with almost insurmountable obstacles and impediments, that would seem to tower mountain high before him, and thus not only obscure his vision,but obstruct his pathway ; but strange to say in every instance of this character, which have not been infrequent during the progress of this work, all the obstructions and difficulties have not only been removed, but they have invariably strengthened our arguments, and been but stepping stones upon which we could stand, and if possible take a broader and more extensive survey of the realms of nature, beholding more clearly and vividly, those harmonies and beauties that present themselves everywhere in the universe. 2

The book itself presents upon its face but few characteristics that came within the reach of my interior vision, when I consented to commence its authorship. In fact, I had but little idea concerning the matter, and it has been unfolded to my view during its progress, partly by the teachings given through the Doctor, and partly by the vivid impressions that seemed to be made upon my own organism, and I cannot exactly determine how far the work had progressed, when I became fully convinced that the views promulgated were substantial facts, and fully in accordance with the established principles existing in the universal realms, but I at length succumbed to what appeared to be my own reasoning, as the arguments introduced were beyond my reach, and demolished my preconceived theories, and I trust many individuals who carefully peruse this volume, will pass through a similar experience.

I seem to be deeply impressed with the idea that many of the thoughts that are briefly presented in this work, will be seized upon in the future by other minds and elaborated, so as to become of great utility to the human race, and I must be permitted to entertain the thought that the elucidation contained therein, concerning the great positive and negative forces existing in nature, will ultimate in their final introduction, and general application to mechanical purposes.

Wm. F. Lyon.

Sacramento, Nov. 1, 1870.

THE WORLD'S AGITATOR

AND

RECONCILER.

CHAPTER I.

SOME SCEAPS OF HISTORY.

If with an intelligent eye, we glance back through the pages of recorded history, we shall find, we trust, that every event noted has occurred in its exact order, and at its proper time and place, so that the known record of human transactions, is somewhat prophetic, beautifully progressive, and singularly symmetrical, in all its proportions. Each event has transpired at its fixed time, in its regular succession, it could not have possibly occurred sooner, neither could it have been longer delayed, as, in the advancement of human intelligence, and in the accumulations of human experience, events must necessarily take place in accordance with man's condition at the period of their occurrence, and we see it could not be otherwise ; for it would be impossible for human society to enact, in an ignorant and semi-barbarous condition, what would be very natural in a more advanced and civilized period of its history.

And thus we find the earlier history of the human race is in perfect accordance with the more undeveloped conditions that existed at the period when the event occurred, and the records of all succeeding ages have kept even pace with the onward march of human advancement. The people who lived even a hundred years since, could not by any possibility, have enacted the most commonplace events that are occurring every where in civilized society, at the present, simply because they had not the means, and the appliances that would produce any of the ordinary occurrences of to-day, that we witness with no apparent or appreciative interest, because of our familiarity with them as every day transactions.

We now upon the Pacific coast, scarcely walk a block to witness the advent of a large party of distinguished gentlemen, who left their homes in Boston, over three thousand miles away, a week since, and have traveled across the entire continent, at that rapid rate, faring sumptuously the whole distance, being boarded and bedded and dined and wined, in flying palaces that are fitted up and most elaborately adorned, with a luxurious magnificence unknown to our wealthiest ancestors in their private residences, a century since; while only a few short years in the past, the residents here would have been deeply interested in the approach of an ox wagon, and a small party of emigrants. And thus we find to-day, the schoolboy familiar with facts, principles and phenomena, unknown to the college professor of a hundred years ago. Formerly, history lagged and traveled sluggishly in lumbering vehicles, upon the common highway, or it waited for the winds to fill the sails of its diminutive, ill shapen crafts,before it could move onward in its journey. Now it rushes forward with all the accelerated speed of the locomotive, and with the still increased celerity of the electric telegraph, making half the circuit of the globe while the sun is washing his face, preparatory to his day's journey, or without waiting for winds or tides, it moves on in the accomplishment of its high destinies, with certainty in the measured tread of the ocean steamer.

Formerly, history seemed to be working out all its problems with great moderation, by the unaided hands of men and women ; it brought into requisition the simplest instruments to aid in its handicraft, and performed comparatively little, but now it calls to its assistance, the most wonderfully complicated machinery, set in motion by powers unknown as such to our ancestors, and by the aid of steam and electricity, it may now rattle off a volume in the same time that in ages past, by their simple appliances, it could scarce produce a single page.

As we have said, the history of each succeeding age, must have had a perfect correspondence with the condition of the age to which it belonged, and must comport exactly with the experience and advancement of the people of that particular era, in the varied branches of human knowledge; for instance, the written particulars of a battle, occurring previous to the knowledge and use of gunpowder, must have been a very different affair, in all its details, to a similar combat at the present time, when columbiads and Henry rifles, and all the numerous improved destructive weapons are brought to bear by the belligerents, in their efforts to destroy each other.

If old Homer could have provided his heroes with some of our modern implements of warfare, they might have planted their mortars and Parrot guns, and bombarded, and battered down the walls of ancient Troy in a single week, taken the fair Helen, and returned to Greece, with victory perched upon their banners, by the next steamer, instead of remaining there for ten long years, and wasting so much time in hand to hand encounters, and the whole history could have been given in the daily papers the next morning after the steamer arrived. But then a great amount of fine poetry, would have subsided into a small matter of fact, so we see the whole history was admirably adapted to the age that gave it birth, and the minds of our youth are charmed and developed to a certain extent, by a perusal of the exhilerating poetic lines of the famous Grecian bard, all about a contest that would have been decided at the present period, in a few days or weeks at most.

And we find that the religious history of the different ages is marked with the same great disparity, for certainly no one can deny, but it gradually changed its forms, among the different people of the earth, as they have advanced in experience and knowledge, till at the present day, we may behold numerous religious organizations so widely different from each other, and so extremely at variance with those of a past age, that wecan scarcely recognize the fact that their views and devotional exercises, are prompted by the same elements as those which existed in the natural and spiritual organisms of their ancestors. Nevertheless, we are compelled to acknowledge that such is the case, and we must admit that the same peculiar powers and faculties of mind that were found in the Egyptian, which prompted him under his conditions, to establish a priesthood whose duties were, to offer certain sacrifices to those beings who were the representatives of their highest conceptions of Grod, or supreme power and wisdom, are the same precisely, that are found in a more advanced condition, in the people of New England who adopt such different modes of worship, and are supposed upon their set days, to listen to the most advanced spiritual thoughts of that highly cultivated class of divines, who officiate as priests, in accordance ; with the most approved forms and ceremonies of this enlightened age. And no doubt, the Egyptian was as sincere, devout, earnest, and worshipful, as is the more cultivated and refined citizen of New England, who is a constant and devout attendant upon one of the popular churches of the present day ; and though his form of religious worship would be illy adapted to us in our condition, yet it served him in his condition, far better, and doubtless was quite as acceptable to the powers to whom it was addressed.