< o * •*, ^JJ- 4 O ** A ,v V A ,* w ^> V*- T V' * ...... *W IV. From the Land OThe Leal BEING A BOOK Automatically and Inspirationally written between the dates of March 15th, 1913, and March 15th, 1914. By LILLIE McGINNIS Consisting of the experiences of all classes, after awakening to consciousness after the change of death. / 4 "Charcoal would have made a white mark on my face." Am I black now that I am a spirit? No, yet I am still a negro. When I come to earth again I am still black, for I take on my old earth conditions and therefore must look as I did on earth. While we are not black here, we are not white unless we desire to be. Yet we are as beau- tiful as any. The most of us desire a rich, dark color. Very few stay entirely as they were on earth. As our lives were, so are we. If we were good then we are beautiful in face and form; if not, we are dwarfed and hideous as are the spirits of all races. As the flowers of earth vary, so we of different races vary here. All have their own particular beauty, yet all are different. I cannot say that, even though a slave on earth, I was unhappy; for I had a kind master; and my lot was better than many that are free to-day. Are you not all on earth either masters or slaves 1 You who have to toil for daily bread and some- times have to take all kinds of abuse are in as bad a condition as were we. I sometimes think, as I look over the earth and see it as it is, that we fared the best. The slaves, while not having the best by any means, never suffered for food or clothing. It did not pay our masters to abuse 118 FROM THE LAND O'THE LEAL us in this way. It made us unfit for work, and work was what was required of us. So, on the whole, we were not badly treated. It was the old story that caused all the trouble — the greed of gold by the masters. They began a traffic in human life to gain gold. But the great Civil War, that freed our race from the traffic of openly buying and selling, did not end slavery by any means. To-day the slaves of earth are counted by the hundreds of thousands and they are in a much worse condition than were we. Capital is the master and labor its slaves. The majority of the wealthy on earth would sell people body and soul, if they could, to gain more gold. Money is rightly called "the root of all evil. ,, For it, intoxicating liquors are manufac- tured, which destroy the body and bring misery to the soul. Yet people cannot live in modern civilized countries without it. The spirit world is the only place it counts as naught. All the gold one could handle in a life- time can do him no good here. Furthermore, if he has gained it by fraud, or by enslaving those that earned it for him or did not give them fair return for their labor, he will wish, when he comes here, that he had been a pauper. It will be the means of causing him great suffering. He and those like him can then see the suffering they have caused others by making them labor from early morning till late at night and not giving them even a living wage. Such slavery, as I view it from this side of life, I consider worse than that in which I lived. But we have hope that conditions will change for the FROM THE LAND OTHE LEAL 11» better and that all may have a better chance than they have at present. But I fear things will grow even worse before this change will take place. However, it is bound to come. Labor will demand its rights and will get them, too; for, without labor nothing can be accomplished. CHAPTER XL I AM a woman and was born in slavery. I was born in South Carolina and my earliest recol- lections are of a little cabin home among the mag- nolia trees near the cotton fields. I had a kind master, and one that took great pride in his slaves. He did not treat them harshly, but made them work. The overseers were not so kind and many received the lash that our master never knew any- thing about. I grew to womanhood in the cotton fields and I was happy. In the evening we would all gather at some cabin and sing and dance till the small hours. In the morning we would again go to work. If I could always have lived under this master and married one of his slaves, as I intended doing, I would have been spared great suffering. But a rich planter noticed me one day when he was riding with master over the plantation and wanted to buy me for a house servant. My master at first refused. But as he was offered a good price and was pressed at this time for ready money, he at last consented and I had to go. He wanted the man to buy Martin also, so we could be together and be married as we had planned. This he promised to do a little later; but it was only in order to get me. He had no intention of doing this. My life was accursed from that hour. I was not fit for the housework and knew nothing about FROM THE LAND OTHE LEAL 121 it. This would anger my master's wife and she would treat me very cruelly. At last, after vain efforts to please her, I was told I would have to work in the fields again. This I was glad to do, but the slaves here were not treated as they were by my old master, and Martin was never per- mitted to see me. I was told I could have a little cabin by myself, by my master. But I did not want this, for I was afraid. But in the end I had to submit and my master gained the desire that he had planned from the first. My heart was given to one of my own race and I had the true woman's instinct to be true to myself, which every woman possesses for her protection, no matter whether a slave girl or a lady. But what was I to do when I was not allowed to do this? I had to submit to my owner. Then such a hell of anger entered my heart for the whole white race that I determined to be revenged. I did not have to work in the fields now that I had found favor with my master. But I was biding my time. I had hidden in my bosom the dagger that I, at last, got the opportunity to use in striking home into the heart of the dastard who ruined many poor, innocent slave girls in the same manner. I took to the swamps and for days I had nothing to eat but roots and wild fruit, but I existed till I got word, by meeting one of my old master's slaves, to Martin, that I was fleeing for my life and of what I had done. I knew they would not betray me. I also knew he would not dare come with me, for we would be too easily tracked and captured. Well, it was some time before I finally gave up. I had nowhere to go. No one would 122 FROM THE LAND O'THE LEAL take in a runaway slave. I knew if the blood- hounds got on my track they would make short work of me. So I did what many poor slave girls had to do. I jumped or rather fell — for my strength was gone — into a peaceful southern river that closed over my poor, tired body and gave me the comfort I craved. I never made a struggle; neither did I feel pain, but only a sense of rest and security that I never knew before. I do not know how long I stayed in this pleasant, dreamy state. People of my own race were around me when I awoke to consciousness. They told me to fear not, for nobody could harm me now; that I was beyond the power of masters to harm, and that I was a slave no more, but free as the birds I had so often envied. Peace and happiness have always been mine since coming here. But not so with my master. How he begged my forgiveness for wronging me and how he has had to atone for his sins ! Justice could not condemn me for stopping his career of crime, so I never suffered for his murder. There are always two sides to everything, and here is the only place we can see and judge correctly. While the open traffic in human life was put a stop to by our great martyr, Lincoln, whom we here all revere and love, you to-day need another Lincoln to put a stop to the white slave traffic which is a blot on civilization and worse than the slavery of my time. CHAPTER XLI I WAS a child of the street. I belonged to those of whom many know so little that they class them all together as undesirables. I wish to give my side of the story. Home, I can say, I never had. I never had the influence of a mother's love. If I had only known, as I now do, that a loving mother was watching me from her heavenly home, what a difference it would have made in my life. I was taken from an orphans' home into a family that cared nothing for me, only what I was able to do for them. I worked early and late, and received nothing but unkind treatment. I was only about ten years old at the time I was taken from the home where, if I was not happy, I was not unkindly treated, and where we all fared alike. The home I was taken into had children of about my own age. While they had pleasures and fine clothing, I was neglected and only knew hard work. This made me envious of them and when I got a few years older I determined to en- joy life myself. I would slip out of the house after all thought I was in bed, for this was the only time I could get. I could not meet anyone in this manner who was good, but I did not know this then. The companions I made soon led me into vice, of which I did not even know the nature. I was ignorant, and innocent, and easily led. I had grown very pretty and made friends wherever I went. Oh, how I craved love, and kindness! 124 FROM THE LAND O'THE LEAL If I had only received these from the family with whom I lived, I would not now be writing this. They have much to answer for. My first mistake was to go to the dance halls, and from there into the wine-rooms. Then my downward course was fast. Someone told the people where I lived that I was frequenting the dance halls, and had been seen with questionable company. They asked me of this. I did not deny it, but told them I had to have some amusement and, as they never per- mitted me to have any, I just took it as my right and would do as I pleased. Well, they turned me from their doors. They were very religious peo- ple and went to church very regularly. I went to my companions and we drifted together. If we sinned, we also suffered. But what were we to do? No one held out a helping hand or ever encouraged us to make a new start in life. Some who lead a life of crime and sin have happy homes and good parents, who tried to bring them up properly, I know. But it is not so with the ma- jority. And who are you to judge! You can never see clearly till you come here, where all wrongs must be righted. I did not live long on earth. My health was never good, and I soon came here. I died on the streets, the only home I ever had on earth, of hemorrhage of the lungs. None ever gave a thought of pity that one so young in years should go in this way, but were glad the city was well rid of such as I. Well, how did I fare when I came to conscious ness here? Pious people who draw their skirts away for fear of contamination will no doubt be FROM THE LAND O'THE LEAL 125 surprised. An angel mother, more beautiful than any picture I had ever beheld, took me in her arms and said, "You are my beloved daughter, and if you have sinned your sufferings on earth have paid the debt and now I can take you with me to a home the first, my child, that has ever opened its doors in love. ,, Can anyone imagine m Y j°y — niother, home and heaven — all mine at last : not for a time, but for eternitv ! CHAPTEE XLII I AM a suffragette. I have not been here long, but long enough to know the time is ripe for our work, and it must continue. I am an English woman. I rejoice at the large number of women in America who are in sympathy with, and work- ing for the same cause. Many of you are criticiz- ing us for being so radical and resorting to vio- lence to gain our ends. The stories have been greatly exaggerated by the press. The majority of the papers that are published are against us. They do not give correct accounts, and only pub- lish one side of the story. Men must finally give us equal rights with them. Why should they set themselves on a higher plane when they owe their very existence to woman? She it is who suffers to give them birth, yet they, when grown to man- hood, think themselves so superior and so much more capable than even the women who are bet- ter educated and better informed on current events of the day. They are so unfair as to think women are not capable of casting the vote that gives to the man elected the power to make the laws under which she has to live and work and which she must obey. While I regret that the English suffragettes, of whom I am still one, had to resort to violence before they could get a hear- ing or any notice whatever paid to them, they were so insignificant in the sight of men, yet we have started the ball rolling that will gather ad- herents from all over the world. FROM THE LAND O'THE LEAL 127 We on this side are still as eager as any; and are helping by standing by our leaders, and giv- ing them of our help and influence in all ways we can. There are many on this side watching the struggle. I was enthused to such an extent that my coming into the spirit world hardly changed me at all. Although I thought my work as a militant suffragette would end when I found I must die, my surprise and pleasure were great when I found that I was the same person and could work with the many I found here who are interested in the cause. If my co-workers on earth could realize that I am still with them, I should be greatly pleased. I can do more now than I ever could before for the cause I love. There is every reason to be encouraged. You will win in the end. Men will not always consent to putting their mothers, their wives and their daughters on a lower plane of life than themselves. My mes- sage to all womankind is to stand up bravely for your rights — to gain that which should be yours without even the asking — the right to be the co- worker and have equal rights with man. CHAPTEE XLIII THIS book would scarcely be complete without the experience of a preacher. My earth life I will not dwell upon only to say I was a Meth- odist minister and sincerely tried to practice what I myself preached. My home life was very happy, with wife and children. My greatest pleasure was to gather the children of my con- gregation about me in Sunday school and hear them sing the songs that I loved. How my heart would throb with gratitude to the God I wor- shiped for giving me this work to do. But when I would get settled and begin, as I thought, to accomplish something, conference would send me to some other place. This is one of the mistakes of our church, as I can now see. I came here while still comparatively young in years. I soon found how very little people of earth know of a future life with all their colleges that are supposed to be authority on all theologi- cal points. I was at first, I must admit, chagrined to think I was so badly mistaken. But I soon got over this when those I loved who had preceded me came to me in this world of beauty and grandeur and explained things that had puzzled me in my work on earth. I was overjoyed to know that things were so much better than I had imagined they could be. The worst mistake T made was to teach and preach of Jesus' power to save to the uttermost and that He was the only FROM THE LAND O'THE LEAL 129 begotten Son of a living God. It did not take me long to discover this mistake. Jesus of Naz- areth, whom I loved and worshiped all my life, came to me and taught me the truth. He showed me that we are all children of the same God and that He was only our elder brother, born as we all are, of an earthly father and mother. He said he never taught that He was the Savior and Eedeemer of the world, but taught all His earth life the Golden Eule — To do unto others as you would have others do unto you. And that when the ruler came to Him to inquire the way of sal- vation and what he must do to inherit eternal life, He told him he must be born again. Which meant being born into the spirit world, which is called death. When this is taught from church pulpits, there will then be no empty pews. But there will have to be radical changes be- fore this is brought about. All the old teachers such as I was will have to pass away. If the ministers of to-day had to depend only on those that attend the churches regularly for their sal- aries, they would have to beg or starve. Those that subscribe the most toward their salaries think this justifies them in staying at home or going to some place that interests them more. I used to condemn such as these very bitterly. But I see plainly now I was mistaken. The man who stands in the pulpit to-day must be progressive and not teach the things Moses taught. The rules of the various churches should be changed according to the times. The people of to-day ought not to be expected to live up to the rules of the Methodist church. Those min- 130 FROM THE LAND O'THE LEAL isters who want to change the church so that it will not tend to make hypocrites of members who wish to enjoy innocent pleasures that the church has forbidden ought to be encouraged and put to the front. The church should teach how to live, instead of how to die. If people live right death need have no terrors for them. Death is only a very short experience and the awakening here is glorious. I have investigated all religious faiths and creeds and I can see grave mistakes in them all. I fear I, too, must admit that it is better to have none than to depend on church or faith to bring one into happiness here. The golden rule is better than all the rules and professions of faith or forms of worship of all the churches. CHAPTER XLIV A SPIKIT SIGNAL NOT far from a distant city On a warm, bright summer night, A train was thundering loudly With all its power and might. The engineer was sleepy; His run was a long, hard test, That strained his nerve-tired body. He was longing for his rest. In a home quite near the railroad A child quite sleepless lay; Full of unrest, she wondered If she couldn't go out and play. Perhaps she'd find her mamma, But mamma, nurse said, was dead, And would come no more to kiss her As she lay in her little bed. She stepped out of bed so softly And wandered out in the night. The cool, clear air inspired her; She ran with all her might, Until she reached the railroad And saw the shining track. She thought, when she was rested, She'd quickly hurry back. 132 FROM THE LAND OTHE LEAL But her little feet were weary, She soon fell sound asleep. Her curly head was lying Where the train so soon would creep. "What's that red light a-gleaming?" Thought the engineer, amazed. "The road just here is straightest, I must, indeed, be crazed." Should he reject the signal? He knew his train was late. With human lives in keeping, He dared not risk their fate. He saw a white-robed woman With the signal in her hand; With a shriek of the engine's whistle, Train stopped at its command. Frantic, they all were searching. The father, in fear and pain, Hurried down to the railroad To see what had stopped the train. ' ' I went to find my mamma, And she com'd," was all she'd say. The father clasped her closely And gratefully did pray. "Sir, where is the dark-haired lady, With the signal in her hand? Why didn't she take the darling? I do not understand." FROM THE LAND O'THE LEAL 133 Eeplied the father, tremblingly, So stunned he scarce could speak, "It was my baby's mamma. She died but just last week." Among the many passengers But few would ever guess That 'twas the angel mother That flagged the night express. CHAPTEE XLV WOULD you care to hear the experience of one of a class of men who have caused more suffering, both on earth and here in spirit, than any others? They are men who have helped to fill the penitentiaries, the insane and orphan asy- lums, the poorhouse and the potter 's field. I am speaking of the saloonkeeper — the man that hands over the bar the poison that stains men's souls. I lived when on earth in the city of Joliet. Many living there to-day would recognize me if I would give my name. I kept what was considered a decent place. I would not sell to a man who was already drunk, but I did what I now know to be worse. I started him by selling him drinks when he was in his right mind and refused when he was no longer responsible. He then went to worse places, where he would very often be robbed of what money he had when he left my place. If the saloonkeepers were made to take care of their poor victims there are few that would stay in the business. They allow their victims to stay in their places only as long as they have money to spend ; then, when they are helpless, they put them out on the streets, often on cold nights, either to freeze or to go home to their families, where they are liable to commit murder before the effects of the accursed liquor are cleared from their brain. Picture my agony of remorse if you can when I had to look on all this. Many men patronized FROM THE LAND O'THE LEAL 135 my saloon who, I supposed, had plenty of money and provided well for their families, be- cause they paid me much money and paid promptly. But when I came here I could see them as they were. I could look into their homes and see the poverty existing there. I could see many frail, brave little women, bending over the washtub to get the very necessaries of life for themselves and their little ones, could see the sor- row it caused, the bitter tears shed for husbands and fathers, the suffering of little, innocent chil- dren, crying for something to eat, while the means to procure it were handed over the bar. Oh, God ! Could any torture be greater! I am not over- drawing the picture. How often I have looked on just such scenes of suffering since I have entered this life. The Bible hell is very mild in compari- son to my agony of remorse. If I were to live on earth in flesh again, how gladly I would take up the pick and shovel to earn my daily bread. Had I done this I would not have had to suffer as I have. Yet I know and realize that I have got jus- tice, for here justice reigns supreme. We are not the only ones in spirit life to suffer for the liquor traffic. Let us reflect a moment, and see where the responsibility really lies. The brew- ers are in the same class as are we, and share, I think, a greater responsibility. We can go farther, The blame must rest where it properly belongs, with the government for allowing it to be manu- factured. Then, my friends, can you not see that a part of the blame rests with yourselves as vot- ers and makers of the laws! You see that the man that stands behind the bar is not alone re- 136 FROM THE LAND O'THE LEAL sponsible, but suffers only for his share in the dis- tribution of the poison. I used to think as long as it was a legitimate business I had a right to keep a saloon, as my not doing so would not les- sen the traffic. I might as well have my share of the proceeds. Well, so I had. It is for the gov- ernment to put a stop to its manufacture and for each individual voter to see that it does. Until this is done it will continue to be your country's curse. Each individual who has a right to vote is responsible for conditions as they exist. Yet this does not relieve the saloonkeeper, for each must suffer for his own share. If this should be read by any of my brothers in the business, that is a curse to every civilized country, my advice is to lay aside the white apron, which is a badge of dishonor, and trust to Provi- dence to give you a business that will be honor- able and will not cause you the suffering that I have had to endure. It is no use to say you could do nothing else, for there is no greater truth than "where there's a will there's a way." Dire want is needless in your land of plenty. If you have health, strength, ambition and will power to do and dare, you cannot help but be successful in any honorable business. I want to tell you some of the things I have learned here. Through suffering we are purified. We get our education through actual experience. It matters little the length of time we have been here as you count it on earth. It is our ability and worthiness that benefit us. In the twinkling of an eye some can learn what the noted and oducatod of your earth may be years after they ^ot hero in finding out by patient study FROM THE LAND O'THE LEAL 137 and careful research. We are led by various paths through our earth existence, and are still led, when we come here, by the unseen power to learn what is for our own good. When I entered this world I found myself on the earth plane or astral plane, where I remained a long time, it seemed to me then, looking on the havoc my business had wrought. I thought there were none who re- quired greater atonement or remorse and sorrow for their sins than did such as I. But I am in a position now, and have been for some time, to see others as I saw myself. The saloonkeeper is not alone, by any means. You, too, will some day see people whom it will surprise you very much to see suffering the same agony of regret and remorse as did I for various sins of their own that they were able to keep hid while on earth, but could not here. I have visited various churches of earth and there have seen with clear sight many things. I have seen people kneeling in churches saying prayers by the yard that were written out for them to repeat. What good can this do them? I have seen priests and preachers standing before large audiences teach- ing the way of salvation, with their own hearts as black as night. I have seen men and women kneel- ing in the amen corner of various churches, with long, pious faces, who would frequent the bar- rooms and worse resorts under cover of night by secret passages, known only to themselves. I have visited trumpet and investigating circles where the odor of liquor was very apparent and yet they expected to get truth from the true. I know abso- lutely that you cannot do this, for like attracts 138 FROM THE LAND O'THE LEAL like. Many spirits that have not progressed out of the earth conditions often mislead without in- tending to do so. They can only tell you of what they themselves have learned and many are lower in the scale of progress than yourselves. Death itself is only a change of garments. Because you may not be able to understand all phenomena is no reason why it may not be true. "You may be in the right church, but in the wrong pew," is a slang phrase, but contains much of truth. While immortality is a truth, while spirit return is a truth, while "the door of reformation is never closed to any human soul, either here or here- after/ ' is a truth, yet from this broad highway there are man}^ winding paths that lead one won- dering. I have a friend on earth with whom I have been experimenting for some time. I can go to her in her home and hypnotize or entrance her as some can do on the earth plane. When I get her under my influence I can tell her she is in Egypt, and describe some place I myself have visited, and she will get the impressions so accu- rately that she believes that her spirit is actually there, which is a mistake. Many make this mis- take. All so-called soul flights are made in the same manner. While true descriptions are given, it is done by guides, who can go and come at will in an instant of time and who are not hampered by their earthly bodies. While a sensitive person can sometimes see his own physical body, when in an entranced or hypnotized state, he cannot leave his body until freed by death. Some sen- sitives think they can go to different realms in the spirit world also and see the homes of beauty and FROM THE LAND O'THE LEAL 139 grandeur there, but it is only pictured to them by their own spirit friends. Yet it serves the same purpose. Guides can also go to different places and represent the ones through whom they work. They can imitate their voice through a trumpet so genuinely that those hearing it are deceived. I do not know what good can be accomplished by this unless it is done to show what the wonderful power of thought can accomplish, for the ones that are represented must send their thoughts there for the guide to express to do this. Yet it leads many in one of the winding paths. Some of your workers claim they can go in spirit to the astral plane to help some spirit in darkness there. True, many on earth can help spirits here, but the spirits are taken to them for their magnetic influence; they do not go to the spirits. None who have ever experienced these things will believe them until they come here. Their experience is so vivid and genuine and they can remember it so clearly that they are honest and sincere in believing and stating that they actu- ally leave their bodies. How often do you have dreams that are so much like actual experiences that you can scarcely, after awakening, realize that you are not at the certain place of your dream. Yet it takes only a few moments to dream what would take days to go through by actual experience. It is very easy for the guide to picture any place to your con- sciousness that he wishes by impression. This is another winding path that many are traveling. Remembrance of various reincarnations is com- mon. This is caused by guides or loved ones who 140 FROM THE LAND O'THE LEAL are drawn to you by attraction, trying to tell you by impression, of their own lives, who they were and where they lived when on earth. You may get it very truly and clearly, yet it is their own experience and never yours. You live on the earth in flesh and blood but once and can never pass through that way again. I have written this by request and make no apol- ogies if my views of life, as I have found it, do not appeal to your reason. What I have told you will perhaps be criticized, as it is in opposition to many of your scholars and writers on your side of life. We were told to give our experiences in our own way. This I have done, and I thank you. CHAPTER XLVI A "little sister of the poor" ON earth I was a ' ' sister, ' ' And went from door to door; A member of the order Of "Little Sisters of the Poor. 17 As a girl I was gay and joyous, My parents thought me wild ; So in a convent placed me, I was their only child. I could have cursed them for it Before my spirit was cowed. At last as a penitent Before the Cross I bowed. No day did I have gladness, Nor girlhood's pleasures see. Yet sin I had never committed, From evil my heart was free. I longed for a home and children. I was starving just to hear The lips of a babe say mother, And whisper its love in my ear. Nature was strangled within me By men who taught, as a whole, We must torment the body For the lasting good of the soul. 142 FROM THE LAND OTHE LEAL Just live a life that's loving. Of no angry god have fear. Partake of innocent pleasures While you are living here. After many years here in this world of spirit that no pen can portray, I am enabled to tell the earthly friends the reason for my unhappiness. I have found it was a needed lesson for me to learn in order to fit myself for a broader and more use- ful life here and enable me to teach others. My object is to give my own experience and all the information I can about life here and where it is located. That heaven is a condition, dear friends, is true; if you are happy you realize heaven. Everything that has life has spirit. The material of all things is only the shell for the indwelling of spirit to manifest, first on earth for growth and experience, then to be cast aside for a higher and more beautiful life located all about you, as is the material world. You see a beautiful rose and few things can be lovelier. Here we have the spirit of the rose more beautiful still, for it is perfect and will never fade or wither. So it is with all nature. We cannot see the material of earth, but only the real or spiritual part. You cannot see the spiritual unless you develop this, and then you see with your own spiritual vision and not with the material. This faculty all pos- sess, but is developed in but few. The American Indians in their native state understood this bet- ter than any others, but are fast losing the power to converse with nature as they become civilized (so-called). All possess a spiritual counterpart FROM THE LAND O'THE LEAL 143 that never grows old and which permeates and surrounds the body. You often feel a cold sensa- tion up and down your spine that causes you to shudder. This is spirit decarnate touching spirit incarnate. A medium is used by spirits to con- vey their knowledge to others who have not de- veloped sufficiently to be thus used themselves. I have found here all the happiness that I missed on earth. In a beautiful home in the city of Washington I was happy, as an only child with kind parents can be. But my parents were very religious and thought I was too wild. I was sixteen years of age and full of ambition and fun. There was no wick- edness in my nature. But my parents were wealthy and the Church of Eome desired their money. Certain officials set about trying to ob- tain it. Through designing priests and sisters — not all are like these — they made my parents be- lieve that the only way to keep their daughter from being lost was to persuade her to become a nun, and I was placed in a convent. I rebelled and caused them all kinds of trouble until I made bitter enemies among them. I defied them as long as I dared and my earthly body went into the grave with scars of the lash upon it that I re- ceived before I at last humbled myself and ac- cepted my fate. I lived it a few short years. But death released me early and I found I was right — that the spark of the Infinite was within and I needed no formality or sacrifice to be saved — that everything saves itself. I can now see with prophetic vision a new era dawning for the whole world. Monarch rule, rum 144 FROM THE LAND O'THE LEAL and a false religion have had their day, and in a few years will be wiped from the face of the earth. New teachers will come forth from all over the world teaching nothing but the Golden Bule, and "Whatsoever a man soweth that also must he reap" — that each must bear the responsibility of every act of his life and that nothing can save men but their own right thinking, right doing and right living. This will save all souls from unhap- piness and this is all there is to be saved from. Hell is sorrow, pain and remorse for wrong doing and heaven is joy, peace and contentment, which are earned by well doing and which cannot be be- stowed upon anyone. Earth life is a school of instruction and should be realized and accepted as such. It is wise to improve every opportunity to learn while there, for knowledge is the only thing you can bring with you into this life. One needs just what one gets if he cannot over- come the conditions, as in my own case. I am not sorry now for the experience, for it taught me more in my short earth life than I should have gained had I lived the allotted time on earth. Then I would have had to live in spirit perhaps hun- dreds of years, as many do before they under- stand self and their own part in nature's or God's plans, for both are one. Do not live a life of self- ishness and expect the Holy Mother to pray for you and intercede for pardon for your sins and set you free from them. You will find yourself mistaken when you come here and understand. Here, with the searchlight of truth turned upon those of earth, it reveals you as you are. Great would be your surprise could you see as we do. FROM THE LAND O'THE LEAL 145 There are on earth those who are living in such poverty that they do not know where the next meal is coming from, and look with envious eyes on the rich merchant and banker riding around in their limousines, yet how often are they living in a hell that the poverty-stricken ones can know nothing about. Oh! let me impress just this sim- ple message of right living upon you, that alone includes all there is of good ! CHAP TEE XL VII A DKEAM T DREAMED we built a temple ; A On every stone was placed A deed done by the giver, Which ne 'er could be effaced. Good deeds were writ in golden And shone with brilliance bright ; Bad deeds in letters scarlet, Both seen by day and night. You'd think great deeds were written And awful crimes you'd see; But no ; the} 7 were the smallest — As done by you and me. We saw in golden letters, Recorded near the door, A name of one — a giver From out his scanty store. And here was shown in scarlet, In a conspicuous place, The name of one who cheated, And for shame should hide his face. Another in scarlet letters, That ne'er could be erased, Was one who spread a falsehood Which caused a foul disgrace. And here in glitt'ring letters, Like diamonds all aglow, Was one who fed the birdlings When the ground was covered with snow. CHAPTER XLVIII HIS LAST MESSAGE A FEW years ago two men were riding along in an automobile near the city of Mem- phis. It was a beautiful summer day and the sun was shining brightly. One of the men no- ticed a man lying under the hedge near the road- side with the sun shining directly in his upturned face. They stopped their car and got out to in- vestigate. The man was dead. He was old and gray and poorly clad, with dissipation plainly written in every feature, but with a smile on his upturned face, as though his last vision on earth had been pleasant. One of the men stayed by the body while the other went to a beautiful old col- onial home called The Beeches, near by, to tele- phone the coroner. "Give me 287, please. This the coroner! There's a stiff lying out here under the hedge near The Beeches. Send a wagon out at once. No, no marks of violence. It is only an old vag who has cashed in. My name? It doesn't matter. A friend and I were passing in an automobile and discovered him. Good by." Thinking they had lost enough time from their pleasure trip, they got into their machine and rode away. In a short time the coroner arrived, placed the body in the wagon and took it to the morgue for identifica- tion. On examining the clothing the coroner was surprised to see that the undergarments were neat and clean, although the outer clothing was ragged 148 FROM THE LAND OTHE LEAL and dirty. Pinned to the undershirt was a cotton tobacco bag and inside this a roll of paper and a pencil. The coroner wonderingly unrolled the paper and read the following: DOWN AND OUT Whoever finds this paper A story it will tell Of one who tasted deeply Of heaven and of hell. At home with a loving mother My boyhood days were passed; And often I was wishing They evermore could last. I sometimes sat with pistol Pressed to my breast — and then, ' l Brace up, Johnnie ; I 'm watching ; Don't do that thing again.' ' I tried to fight more bravely The demons that wanted rum; But, oh! how weak the spirit, Naught was I but a whisky bum. At night I heard my mother And felt her unseen hand. This filled me full of wonder, I could not understand. I thought death all things ended, But fain had passed me by, Yet each day found me wishing I could lay me down and die. ■: FROM THE LAND O'THE LEAL 149 Last night was sad and weary, To-night I am young and gay. Mother is standing by me And bids me this to say : "You may be down, my Johnnie, With not a friend on earth. Mother has never left you Since the day she gave you birth. "You've been my joy and pride, dear, For in your deepest heart Not one have you wronged ever, But oft have given a start. i ' Oft many have prayed for you To whom youVe lent a hand. All this your mother has known, A mother can understand. "I come to-night to guide you As led by nature's plans, Out in the great eternal To a world not made with hands. ' ' This message I leave to the finder and sign my- self— J. L. The coroner dropped the paper as though it had burned his fingers. On looking again closely into the face of the corpse he exclaimed, "My God! Johnnie Lowe! who had the distinction of be- ing the youngest soldier who marched with Sher- man to the sea, a hero of many battles and at one time the idol of this city. He was born in his 150 FROM THE LAND O'THE LEAL father's beautiful home, The Beeches, but dis- appeared many years ago and was never heard of again. Surely his mother was the guardian angel who guided his footsteps back to his old home to die. No potter's field for you, John Lowe, but a few of your old friends shall follow you to the cemetery, and this old body that contained the spirit of a man and a brave soldier shall rest in the grass-grown plot by the side of your father and mother and where a marble shaft now stands with a space left upon it for their only child. CHAPTER XLIX MESSAGE FKOM THE GUIDE I THE guide, who formed the "Washington y Band of Spirits ' ' for the purpose of bringing various spirits here to give their experiences which we thought would prove interesting, wish to say we are well pleased with the contents of this little volume. It contains the true experiences of these spirits. Their communicating in this J manner has helped many of them, and we hope it may be the means of helping many on earth to see the necessity of living the best they can under all circumstances. If you do this you need not fear death. You will come into your own especial place here that no other but yourself can fill. It all rests with you. The people here who are in- terested in you can do nothing unless you make the way possible and you can all do this if you wish. All people on earth are more or less me- diumistic; some in one phase, some in another. All spirits are the same living, loving individuals they were on earth. All desire to make themselves known to their friends on earth, but if those friends co-operate the work is made more easy and certain. Happiness on the spirit side is high- est and soonest found when life on earth has been most unselfish and most devoted to what is noble and true. Some in spirit life make no advance- ment for years simply because no, or but little, 152 FROM THE LAND OTHE LEAL advancement towards higher living was made on earth. If the experiences given in the preceding pages cause even a few to realize how much the condition of these entering the future world de- pends upon the habits formed and the kind of life lived on earth, the "Washington Band" will feel well repaid for its efforts. Our duty to our loved ones, To home and native land, Is the secret of right living, That each can understand. Then all will live as brothers, Each hand will join with hand; Then all will stand united In this broad and beauteous land. True faith is found in doing right, In the Golden Rule it lies ; It lifts the soul to a higher life, To a bliss above the skies. ■V. "of ^ V s -S^V V V-* ,v Treatment Date. Nov. 2004 PreservationTechnologies v. AWOHLUu „ParkDnve 111 Thomson Park Drive Cranberry Township, PA 16066 (724)779-2111 >