Spiritual science : the universal religion

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ACT III Same Scene as Act I One week later . . . 141

ILLUSTRATIONS

Alfred Askin Wright . . Frontispiece

FACIKG PAGE

Spirit Photograph of Relatives and

Spirit Guide of Frank Montsko . 38

Spirit Photograph of Dr. J. R. Newton and Two Spirit Guides of Frank Montsko . ... .• . . 40

Chapter I Scientific Analysis

To elevate the nations of the earth to a higher plane of spiritual thought, and recognition of a supreme spiritual power, should be the aim of all branches of culture and the heads of educational bureaus and colleges. With this end in view : The creating of one true and universal religion, or standard, for all human kind to strive with, one purpose to know God and know thyself in a way that will satisfy any earnest soul who is trying to find the truth, they will enable each one to see the light, pointing out the right road to soul happiness, and shed more light upon the trying and rough pathway of life while in this mundane world.

This will be constantly before our minds as we try to set forth some truths that have been handed down from generation to generation, but are seemingly misunderstood. We sense that now is the time when the world should realize the vast need of harmony, and peaceful pursuits for every living mortal, for each is entitled to know what is his by birthright, as every human being born into this world has powers or faculties lying dormant within his grasp, if he only knew how to bring them to the surface.

This should be the object of all schools of learning, to be the motive power which is to help bring this about, and not leave it all to the churches; for these latent possibilities in each and every student, if properly aroused and brought into action, are as much to be sought after as any other studies in our schools.

It will be a great task, but what a mighty power this old world would be, if every mortal should awaken some morning and come into their inheritance, by perfectly understanding themselves, realizing that they have always had these powers, which were hidden for the lack of education. Letting in the light upon these secret chambers of their inner selves, they have now become another person, more powerful, because they have realized they are immortal, and the soul forces will have a chance to grow, becoming elevated, and not be left to grovel in the ignorance and superstition that has held back this world of ours for so many centuries.

Every mortal has a spark of divinity in his soul, that will be awakened when the proper vibrations shall strike the vibratory cord of sympathy that awakens in the soul a sense of growth, and like the seed buried in the earth, when the proper conditions are made it will come to life.

LILLIES OF THE VALLEY

Lillies of the Valley,

Wondrous work of God So pure and very pretty

Even to the tiny pod.

Reared in nature's garden,

Bathed in the morning dew; Life's it's dainty body

Puts on it's brightest hue, Rain and sunshine both combine,

With mother earth to rear Such saintly bits of beauty,

That brings Heaven, Oh, so near!

A. A. W.

What a blessing to this weary world, if such an awakening came! Then the thoughts of war would vanish, to give way to the hand of friendship and help to our brothers across the seas. We would all be doing here what the saint is doing in the realms of spirit life, trying to do his best for his fellows both in spirit life, and on this sphere of ours, remembering we are our brother's keeper just as much in this life as it is expected of us to be when we cross the Divide.

When a mortal body is born into this world the soul of that body has attached itself at time of conception. The individual soul is from now on the life of and demonstrating power which will build that body into any condition that soul has awakened to. Perchance that soul has cultivated a sense of spiritual attainment, this development will then manifest through the everyday life of the person.

It is possible for many souls to have had several births into this world, at stated periods, perhaps two thousand years separating these entrances.

Some souls cannot complete what is alloted them in one earthly existence.

Suppose a soul was born two thousand years ago and lived a life of moderation in a general sense. At the time of transition it would enter the spirit realms, abiding there and progressing just the same over there as if here in the body. At the end of one thousand years, or any number of years, when the time is right for his soul to come again to earth, power and permission is given to be born again. Taking a new body to manipulate over again like the one he had discarded a thousand years ago, perhaps he may have better opportunity for working through this house of clay, than he had previously. His hereditary conditions may be better, or the body of a finer texture and the brain more perfectly attuned to his highly developed spiritual attainments. After all, his soul always retains the same individualities, but the body loses by the change and utterly vanishes and goes back into chemicals or its original elements.

To come back to this earth is considered in the spirit life, a great privilege, and is not optional with us but with God, working through psychic laws, that work just like nature's laws, when year after year the tree bears forth fruit. In the winter time it seems to die, but when spring time comes again, it comes to life, speaking to all the world in a language more beautiful than words can express, this great truth of evolution and progress.

As the tree grows larger each year, so does the soul, at each reincarnation. But it would not be safe for the mind to live more lives than one at a time, therefore, nature has put a cloud over our past lives, and the only apparent results exhibited in the second or third birth is the stored-up knowledge that speaks through this organism in our everyday work of life.

THE SOUL

The soul is a part of the Infinite God, Wafted from the realms of time,

To enter this mortal body of ours With aspirations of love divine;

In childhood it seeks to express

The innocence and purity of mind.

Sincerity and trust are the virtues shown, Oh! Why are they left behind!

Through sorrow and trials the soul unfolds,

Like the dross from the gold is severed. Each victory is a blazing brand of truth That the storms of life have gathered.

Victory is his, when the soul can proclaim, As the mortal body is laid to rest, "Well done, good and faithful one,

You truly have done your very best."

A. A. W.

The master souls who have come from time to time on our planet no doubt were heri number of times.

If we could understand the laws that require this birth time and again, perhaps we would not wonder at its strangeness. Could you or I in one existence, attain the height of a master in bringing to the world some great truths that our own souls must know and experience before they can impart them to others ?

If you lived in a house that you were not satisfied with, you could move out; that is the same with the soul. But psychic laws make it only possible for the soul to vacate the body when it has reached certain conditions, then it can go on, unhampered by the defective body that perhaps handicapped it in this life.

When I read that Christ asked the disciples, whom the people thought he was, it created in my mind a thought that he understood the laws of reincarnation. The answers came, some thought he was John the Baptist and some Elias, indicating that even at that time they believed in reincarnation.

Christ said to the disciples that John the Baptist was the reincarnation of Elias, as he no doubt was, for his manner of living bore out that statement.

It is possible for a mortal while in this world to have some insight into his previous existence if he is developed in the psychic laws, and has the power to travel in the astral. At night, when the body is asleep, is usually the time he goes out.

Most mediums can remember their visits to the other world when they awake. But I know of one, who, while in that psychic condition can be told something concerning his past life, in the form of actually living over again some parts of his previous lives. Proof of previous existence can be seen when a young child readily becomes a master musician or an artist. He can develop much faster if he has had some knowledge of art in his previous existence, as the soul forces have cultivated the brain from birth along certain lines; then, perhaps, in later years the brain was overworked and the soul could not function properly, as in the younger days when it demonstrated freely. This is seen daily in all branches of business. Some readily adapt themselves to a new trade, learning the lesson over again.

Is it not truly wonderful to think of our soul as living for ever? After all, several lives lived here take only a short time 'compared with eternity.

Think what good you might do if you realized your mistakes and learned the value of personal service. What a pleasure it would be to a soul to have the privilege to come again, and to have the assurance before he came, that all would be well, that he would be a saviour to mankind. This would dawn upon the brain when the time came for the soul to awaken in the mind the message it wanted to convey to the world. No doubt Christ, only fully realized in his later years, His mission. If a saviour was in our midst, do you think he would know just when the time for his enlightenment was at hand? Many saviours have come, and perhaps many more will come. They are all children of God, for every one of us is a joint heir with Christ, as He so taught us in the wonderful life He lived while sojourning here in our midst.

It is true we are not to judge one another, and for us to say some souls are marked to go to eternal death, seems not in accordance with the facts of psychic laws, and even natural laws. Can you imagine a father condemning his own son to eternal torture ? Much less then can you imagine God, whom we are all taught is a God of love, as condemning many souls to everlasting death. It is about time for some of us to awaken and realize that we are living in the twentieth century instead of in the past. If we would know Christ better we would get in touch with the spirit world ; then His divinity will shine more into our souls and His love for humanity will co-operate with our hearts. We will not do the things we once did, but will feel the presence of one whose life has been an incentive to us for better things and we will try and follow Him, for He was a light to the whole world. But, do your best here, then you will be well taken care of hereafter.

What glorious times we all shall see when every soul that ever lived will be at last in a state of realization of his own powers ! It may take millions of years, but I believe that that passage of the Scriptures which reads, "Every knee shall bow, every tongue shall confess" means this state of everyone being saved, or coming into his own birthright, as all are the children of the living God. He is Lord of all, He is Our Father, as Christ taught us to pray. He did not mean only a few, but all children in all conditions. Perhaps the saint of to-day was a very wicked man in his previous existence, so we must withhold judgment and try and help others to better themselves.

We must believe in progression hereafter for every soul, that is the law. Experience is, after all, the best of instructors, all of us have been through some such school of learning, and we consider it a blessing after we have passed that stage and are able to master certain conditions.

Be lenient to all whom you may think are below you, for Christ knew this condition. He did not condemn Mary Magdelene, but gave her His love and land words, something altogether different from the system that is in force nowadays amongst Christ's followers. Awake and help all to realize the time is at hand, when we will not be allowed to sit still and let our weaker brother live in ignorance of his true existence. Start with a new resolve that you will be a saviour of mankind, and be up and doing, for to-morrow may be too late. Sometime, somewhere, every soul will realize the truth, and the truth will set them free.

What joy it is to have the truth implanted in our hearts, and to have the conscious feeling that all is well, for God rules, and all souls are immortal.

IMMORTALITY

There is no death, Why should you weep?

Only mortal clay that rests The soul, its friends to meet.

From all eternity I was, And now and ever will be, Spirit and soul united, Loved ones always near me.

'Tis God's own precious gift, Children His are we, Endowed with loving attributes, Born for all eternity.

Come, friend, look upward, Time for you to see All nature around you speaking, God's life in bird and tree.

Seek to know the truth, Then satisfied you will be, Joy and sunshine will be yours, You shall then be free.

A. A. W.

But this knowledge should not make us careless, for what a man soweth here that shall he reap in the next world. If we don't progress here then it only holds back our advancement that much longer over there, so start here and now. Have that knowledge, so you can be able to go ahead with clear vision, when you go to the other side.

Don't stop at being a Christian, but go as high as you like. It remains with you just to what height, or even to what depth, you may go, for all the angels in Heaven were at some time or another men like ourselves, only they learned their lesson before we did. But take hope friends, we may all become angels, if we only take the right way, and climb daily upward.

The disciples asked Christ if they could sit with Him in Heaven, He answered, yes, if they could be baptized with the same baptism he was baptized with, meaning, soul unfoldment. He gave us all hope of sitting next to God, if we are faithful and true.

When each soul enters the spirit world it takes up the same mode of life (or has those same ideas) as it had when living in the body. Sometimes a soul does not realize he is dead for many days, and returns to the old home place like one walking in one's sleep, until he is finally brought to realize the fact when some friend or relative is there to tell him the truth. To avoid all those unpleasant states, be good here and your friends will meet you with love and outstretched arms over there.

All is happiness to the good souls who try, to do right, and I know much misery is in store for many souls, who in this life neglect to bring about an understanding with their true selves. They are in a condition on the spirit side, resembling or contrasting to their condition here. Do you think a wicked soul would find happiness in company with angels? You can fully realize it is not in harmony even with common sense to think of this, but hope on, someday we will get light.

In spiritland the soul needs no food as does the mortal body, but takes its nourishment from the atmosphere.

The Scriptures say "we have a natural body and we have a spiritual body." Most psychics can help themselves when they go over to the spirit side, as they are more or less living out of the body when in this lif e. Thus it is only natural for them to go right on where they have been so many times before. If you intended visiting some distant land, you would naturally inquire about conditions before you started out, well, is it not so with our future life?

What there is for you to know, it is not wrong to try and find out. We are told "Seek and ye shall find," "Knock and it shall be opened unto you" meaning, this doctrine of psychic laws.

There are many cases when the spirit is seen leaving the body at the time of transition. Then it is seen standing nearby, feeling grieved at the distress of others, who think that this is the last of the dear departed. If the spirit could only make known its pleasure in arising from a bed of pain to a perfect spirit body or soul, free from all pains, what a comfort it must be to that soul if he is able to realize the exact state of affairs at the moment of going over, and the wonders of the spirit homes. Christ says, "There are many mansions prepared for you."

Many a time it has been my privilege to talk with the departed and hear from them of the wonders and beauties of this spiritland. Some of these communications were held in the homes of persons who had not the courage to tell their friends, only a few mortal guests were assembled and we met there (without the possibility of fraud or deception) to stand face to face with our loved ones. Sometimes they don't take the trouble to build up a body so we can see it, but talk right out in the air to us in their own voices, which we can easily recognize, and so understand it is their true self.

Almost every home can have its own communications, if it wishes, and if it will observe and faithfully attend to the rules set down.

You invite three or four of your friends to your home at a certain time, twice a week. Sit. for three-quarters of an hour, quietly, and reverently ask your spirit friends to manifest in some way, to let you know they are there. Then you may expect to get some answer to your faithful sitting, in some form or 'other.

Chapter II Trumpet,, Spirit Voices And Seance

The spirits might manifest their presence in the form of rappings or as voices through a trumpet, whereby the spirits' voices are magnified so you can hear them very distinctly and follow the conversation.

This form of communication has proven without doubt to many thousands, that contact with the spirit world is an actual fact.

We heard many wonderful lectures that were instructive and helpful. The medium I .refer to, was in a western city, and was taken under complete control by her guide. The first to speak was the trumpet guide, who usually opened the meeting like any ordinary sacred meeting. He would announce that the guides or friends had assembled and would try and get through as many messages as could be done in a limited time and that it was a pleasure on their part to be able to be the means of holding converse with us. To me, this is a great truth, that is not taken advantage of, for many people look upon these seances with distrust and are afraid of being defrauded, but that is the wrong way to go to any meeting.

To go with a doubt always puts a discord or inharmony in the circle.

For two years I attended a trumpet circle four times a week, so, one can form an opinion after having attended so long. I can truthfully say I did not detect any fraud at any time, but rather received much good advice and spiritual knowledge regarding the psychic laws, which I am now trying to give to the world.

But this method of receiving instructions has not been my only source of information, but also through my own organism, and I am now writing partly under the inspiration or influence of my guides and helpers.

The voices from the trumpet were in the spirits' natural voices and manner of delivery. Even the childrens' voices could be recognized. Many a pleasant hour we spent in their company, when we could sometimes see them walking or standing in the circle or seance rooms. When speaking, each would take their turn in giving to us his or her own message, no two being alike.

Many times the children (our relatives) would touch us or sit upon our knees and would talk and act just as natural as in life. Sometimes three or four of the children would be talking at once as happened upon one occasion, when a lady brought to the circle a package concealed under her coat. When the lights were turned off, she placed it in front of her on the table in the middle of the circle. During the course of the evening, we heard some spirit open the paper and the joyous exclama.- tion of four or five children, all joining in their childish talk about what the contents were for, when it was seen to contain a lot of small pieces of different colored silk, then each child was heard to say, what pieces they would like to have. This was the time when they all talked at once, and as we were all grown up men and women at this seance it was really delightful to be in the presence of these happy and innocent souls who had perhaps passed out of life before they could learn to talk. Their progression had kept right along, and the only difference was, as the law is, on this point, that every mortal who passes over and comes back to speak to us, that just as they are instructed in the spirit schools to talk, that is the way they come.

My little niece who was only six months old when she passed over was always known to me when she announced herself by always calling her own name. She always called me Uncle Alfrecj. It was with such a sweet and spiritual voice that it reminded me of an angel who spake, and you can surely be convinced when you hear them talking. No earthly voice can justly imitate them, so tender and full of love. Your very heart goes out to those dear souls. I always spoke to my niece as "sweetheart" and was proud to think I had on my staff of helpers such good influences.

Then the grown spirits, they often sang loud enough for all to hear in the next room, and playing a guitar over our head at the same time, and touching each one of us to convince us it was in the air.

But I have only given you a sample of what I have seen or heard.

Perhaps it may be a help to you to know that all seances are not ridiculed, and some of the books I have read on spiritualism, seem to be rather doubtful in the summing up of the evidence. But I can assure you of the true methods of the ones I attended.

At one seance I placed a canvas drawn tightly between two embroidery hoops as we were told perhaps some artist would draw some figures upon the canvas at this circle. In the course of the evening the spirit guides would tell us just what progress was being made in the drawing. We had no paints, nor any pencils on the tables to draw the color from, so the artist drew them from the chemical in the carpet. When the seance was over, sure enough, there was a head drawn in the inside of the canvas, and if you held the canvas away from you about a foot, you could see the head of a man with collar and lapel of the coat, and complete bust. We were told that it was the first this artist painted in any circle, so we might expect to see even better work at the next attempt. The chemist in spirit life, can extract out of chemicals just the same as if he were on earth, for he really is half materialized when he comes to the circle.

After all is said, can you realize that the body, which, if placed in a tank of acid, will in a few days, have disappeared into ether, so going back to the chemicals from whence it came.

Why cannot the spirit build up a body again from the ether?

Many highly spiritualized souls often talked to us, and told us many truths we could get no where else. We received many blessings and help, and it was good to have been there.

When any of our friends passed over it was usually a week or two, sometimes less, that we were able to hold a short conversation with the newly arrived soul in spiritland, and the stronger guides would combine their strength and permit the new one to speak. Sometimes the new spirit would almost be unable to remember just where they had passed out, or what city. But if you were in a state where, only having so recently passed into a different world, is it any wonder to you that they would be confused, while others who were more familiar with the psychic laws could speak up

Frank Montsko, medium, in center (living); Andrew Montsko. his grandfather, on left; Alary Montsko, his grandmother, above; "Elizabeth.*' a spirit guide on right; Marie Kline, his aunt, below. The four named are spirit pictures as no photographs were brought to America.

clearly, almost without help the next few days after passing over. One spirit guide of mine whom I knew before he passed over, often came and told me things that he and I knew about and this was most convincing. More knowledge can be obtained in this way than by attending many scientific lectures, or in the course of years of study.

Can any of the churches give us an absolute proof of a hereafter as clearly as I have tried to write it in these few instances?

Chapter III Spirit Photography

Spirit photography is another proof of the existence of our departed friends and that they come back and are seen in pictures by posing in front of the camera.

The sensitized plate takes the picture, while the human eye cannot detect their presence, but any clairvoyant can readily see the forms of spirits and there is truth in what we call "ghosts." I have seen many proofs of half a dozen heads in one group appearing on one picture. While the picture may have been taken under a tree, or out in the sunlight, there the camera caught them, but the eye did not. The likenesses, one could always recognize as friends of the sitter for the picture.

Frank Montsko. medium, in center (living); Indian

"White Cloud." a spirit guide, on left; Indian maid

"Turtle," a spirit guide, on right. Dr. Newton, a spiritual

healer, above. The three named are spirit pictures.

I would advise anyone owning a camera to examine all pictures closely as I have detected spirit faces in snapshots that were not recognized as spirit faces until pointed out, then they were easily recognized as friends who had gone to spiritland.

Perhaps you may be a medium, whom the spirit guides can use in taking a spirit picture.

Chapter IV Clairvoyance And Clairaudience

Clairvoyance or second sight is rather more common to-day than most people realize. One can see living spirits that can walk and run or float just as natural as life (all except floating. I hardly think that is a thing any human person can do).

Did you ever fly away in your dreams?

That is the way you do when you become a spirit, free from the body, but always bear in mind that you are now a spirit, just as much as you will ever be, only you will then be freed from this body of yours (that's all the difference).

When giving tests sometimes I can actually see a spirit and can see the color of dress, and tell when that spirit passed over. At other, times I can describe a spirit, without actually having the vision presented before me, and the description is just as though I actually saw the spirit. These impressions I get from my guides or spirit workers, that is why I can describe them so accurately. I have described a scene that was actually taking place in another part of the city, and then I went out in the street and heard the boys crying aloud the extra news and the next day of meeting the very participants who figured in the affair ; but all this through my guides giving me the information.

I hope that I will never be in a position, when I will have to be a witness to condemn anyone, through my powers of clairvoyance.