Class 
 
 Book i 
 
 GopightN 
 
 CQEBRIGHT DEPOSIT. 
 
^Tke Leading of a Minister 
 
THE LEADING OF A 
 MINISTER 
 
 BY 
 
 Amelia Fargo Staled 
 
 ^Tne Christopker Publishing House 
 Boston, U. S. A. 
 
^ 
 
 
 Copyright ig22 
 By The Christopher Publishing House 
 
 Printed in U. S. A. 
 U)7.A659998 
 

 Dedicated 
 
 In Loving cMemcny to 
 
 cMy Husband 
 
 Reverend John Jacob Staley 
 
*'To grow, to change, to move, may now 
 Be called the spirit of the age. 
 Each step of progress we accept 
 As written on life's mottled page. 
 
 But dare we now accept or leave 
 This way of progress to our goal ; 
 Might we not do without the rest, 
 When we have proved we have a soul?" 
 
 Nellie Staley Sheldon. 
 
INTRODUCTORY NOTE 
 
 I have known Mr. and Mrs. John J. Staley for many 
 years. My acquaintance began when Mrs. Staley was a 
 member of my choir in Lansing, Michigan. 
 
 One day Mr. Staley came to me with a manuscript 
 which he wished me to read. When I had done so Jie 
 told me that it was the work of a spirit. My antagonism 
 to spiritualism was so strong that I reproved him in the 
 most vigorous terms and showed him the extreme danger 
 of tampering with such things. 
 
 He was active in church work especially among the 
 young people. One day he told me that he felt that he 
 was called to preach. This was rather a surprise to me, 
 but I told him I would direct his reading and he could 
 test the matter. Meanwhile he said nothing about any 
 further attempt to communicate with the unseen. 
 
 After several years, when he had through great ef- 
 forts and a remarkable development, become an ordained 
 minister, we met at Chautauqua, and he again made bold 
 to show me a manuscript. I was so impressed with its re- 
 semblance to some things in Swedenborg that I suggest- 
 ed that he had been reading the works of the Swedish 
 seer. When he told me that he was ignorant of these 
 writings, I asked for further information. As a result I 
 visited him in his home and witnessed what, for lack of a 
 better term, may be called the mediumship of Mrs. Staley. 
 
 Sometimes by automatic writing and sometimes by 
 clair-audience she delivered messages purporting to come 
 from my friends who had for some time been in the spirit 
 world. Some of these communications had in them such 
 intimate touches, such knowledge of my family life and 
 such acquaintance with my inmost thoughts that I was de- 
 cidedly impressed. 
 
 Because of my intimate acquaintance with Mr. and 
 Mrs. Staley all question of conscious fraud or unworthy 
 
purpose were eliminated, from the beginning. The whole 
 thing was as inexplicable to them as to me. The story 
 of how it had grown and how they had been led from 
 step to step is exceedingly interesting as a human docu- 
 ment. 
 
 Much can be explained as a product of the sub- 
 conscious activity, more by telepathy. But there is a 
 residue which is much more apparent to those immed- 
 iately interested than it can possibly be to any one else, 
 that cannot be explained in either of these ways. 
 
 My own theory is that there are openings into the 
 subconsciousness from the sides, so to speak, through 
 which information and influences come to us from other 
 beings like ourselves, whether in the body or out of the 
 body, and also an opening into the Universal Mind 
 through which come stirrings from the Divine Spirit. All 
 these mix with the contents of the individual consciousness 
 and it is impossible to separate them, although we may 
 sometimes be practically certain as to the origin of some 
 of the elements. 
 
 With more of experimentation and more careful 
 analysis we may be able to make the separation more 
 complete and satisfactory. When we do, I believe we 
 shall decide that there is some contact between us and 
 those who have preceded us into the spirit world, and we 
 may hope, through the efforts of those who are so earnest- 
 ly studying these problems to reach assured conviction 
 that the gate between the two worlds is not an absolutely 
 closed gate. 
 
 Meanwhile I feel that this book is a distinct contri- 
 bution to the growing literature of psychical research. 
 By Rev. C. H. Beale, D. D. 
 Pastor of the Grand Avenue Congregational Church 
 Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 
 
PREFACE 
 
 Most of us have something in life that is especially 
 sacred to us. Something so dear and sacred that any 
 adverse criticism of it is like a sword thrust. That is how 
 I feel about the messages. For years they have been so 
 near and so dear to us that we reverence them almost as 
 much as we do the Holy Scriptures. I believe in them so 
 thoroughly; they have done so much for me and mine, 
 that now as I give them to the world, I do so with fear and 
 trembling. Not from any fear of criticism of myself, but 
 criticism of the messages. I should not blame the world, 
 for well do I remember when I was as skeptical as any 
 one could possibly be. 
 
 I never attended a spiritualistic seance and never 
 had a wish to do so. All I know about spiritism is my 
 own personal experience. I believe when we fully recog- 
 nize this All Power of Spirit, its omnipresence, its omni- 
 science, we will be given the knowledge to use it, not only 
 upon occasion, but always, under all circumstances; and 
 in the measure we cultivate our understanding, in just 
 that measure shall we see and hear and know. 
 
 So I have learned when I feel a Presence, it is some 
 one in the Spirit World who wishes to speak to me. I have 
 spent many and profitable hours conversing with friends 
 I could not see. Sometimes it seems that I must take them 
 by the hand and look into their faces. In my younger 
 years I had a great, a most terrifying dread of death and 
 often would work myself into a distressingly nervous 
 state, as I thought of dying and being buried. Oh, the 
 horrors of that awful hole in the ground, for, I would say, 
 'It will surely come some day.' 
 
 But now, all that is past. I no longer have any fear 
 of death, but feel sure that when the last call comes to me 
 I will just step into that other room. Then, indeed, I 
 shall see those loved faces and "feel the touch of a van- 
 ished hand, and hear the voice that is still." 
 
 A. F. S. 
 
The Leading of a Minister 
 
 CHAPTER I 
 
 My first experience was in 1 888 when I saw my fath- 
 er, Mason Fargo, who passed away in 1881. He came 
 and sat at the table just opposite me, looked straight in- 
 to my eyes and smiled. I was so overcome, I left the 
 table where guests were seated. My mother followed me 
 to my room, begging me to tell her if I were ill. I told her 
 what I had seen, saying that I was sure it was a warning 
 of some evil to come. I made a memorandum of the day 
 and hour. Nothing happened, but it was just one year 
 from that day and hour that my mother passed away. I 
 saw my father very distinctly. I had not been thinking 
 of him and certainly I was not dreaming. 
 
 A few weeks before my mother left me, I came into 
 possession of a Planchette board. For hours at a time 
 we would sit at this board, never seeming to tire, reading 
 the wonderful messages that came to us. And we be- 
 lieved them to come from the spirit world. One person 
 after another would come, and we became so well ac- 
 quainted with them we could often tell who they were as 
 soon as they began speaking, if they had ever spoken 
 to us before. 
 
 Each had a personality as when on earth, character- 
 ized by all the peculiarities and mannerisms in speech 
 manifested by them as when , in the flesh. Some we 
 learned to love very dearly because they were so kind in 
 their advice. 
 
 Some of them would now and then write a little 
 rhyme, serious or comic. We were greatly surprised 
 when some of them would tell us their names. We en- 
 joyed the poet Burns very much. Sometimes he would 
 speak in the Scottish dialect, then we would have to re- 
 sort to a glossary before we could interpret him. 
 
 I recall those days and evenings when we would 
 
14 THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 
 
 reverently seat ourselves to commune with the dear ones 
 gone on to that other land and how near Heaven seemed 
 to us then. 
 
 We confided in a few friends only. Some were 
 ready and anxious to know more. Others were skeptical 
 and went so far as to say, "If you keep this up you will 
 lose your mind and end in the insane asylum." That was 
 over twenty-five years ago and we "kept it up" all thru 
 those blessed years, and neither my husband nor I became 
 insane. 
 
 One well known old time statesman came at regular 
 intervals and proved a most valuable friend and teacher. 
 My husband' s grandfather who was a Baptist clergyman,' 
 told my husband how the friends were watching over 
 him, and leading him and there must come a great change 
 in his life. 
 
 Now for the contemplation of those who are so cer- 
 tain that a Planchette board is the "instrument of the 
 devil," let me say that more than one soul has found God 
 thru our Planchette board. First, and to me the dearest, 
 was the great change that came into the life of my hus- 
 band. These are some of the principal reasons why I am 
 telling the story of our experiences. 
 
 After a time some of our unseen friends , told me 
 there was another way for me to receive the messages. 
 I asked how? The reply was "automatic writing." I had 
 heard of it but had never seen any. They told me to sit 
 quietly with paper and pencil, and they would move my 
 arm and write. Of course this was a new experience and 
 I could not help wondering what the sensation would be 
 like. But I did as they told me. I got no results and 
 after many trials, became almost discouraged. 
 
 Every day they would say "try again." At last, not 
 getting any results, one told me to have some one touch 
 the top of the pencil and words would be written. My 
 husband took hold of the end of the pencil and my hand 
 began to move, and these words were very crookedly 
 written across the page: 
 
 "By their works ye shall know them. Purity dwells 
 here. Love and trust God." 
 
THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 15 
 
 Another time the following was written: 
 
 "Happy are they who dwell in the house of the 
 Lord. I watch over you. Your loving grandfather.'* 
 
 March first, 1893, the following was received: 
 
 "Go on with the automatic writing." After a time 
 the writing became more legible but the words ran to- 
 gether, making the messages very hard to read. The 
 power that moved my arm did not lift it from the paper 
 but kept on moving after the edge of the paper was 
 reached. Here I used my own power and placed the 
 pencil back to begin another line. 
 
 We received messages in this way for a long time. 
 I do not remember how long, when one day I was told I 
 was clairaudient and could hear the voices of spirits if I 
 would listen in the right way. This statement rather un- 
 nerved me. 
 
 So, great was my surprise one evening, as I was sit- 
 ting alone reading, to hear a tiny breath of a voice in my 
 ear saying, "I wish to speak." I was in a way prepared 
 for this, but I cannot tell you the feeling that swept over 
 me as I realized this voice was of one in spirit land. As 
 I wished to record all I received, I told my husband what 
 I had heard and as I repeated the words he wrote them 
 down. This message was of a very personal nature and 
 I cannot give it here, but it was most satisfactory to us. 
 This same voice spoke to me for some time, then others 
 began to come and speak, until all who came would give 
 their messages in this way. 
 
 So many have asked if the voices are natural, but 
 I cannot explain it. They sound clear enough and yet 
 they seem a long way off. It was often a great effort for 
 me to get the message. Sometimes the voices seem near- 
 by and so soft and mellow that it is easy to hear them, 
 and it is a pleasure. 
 
 Do you call this self-deception, or insanity? 
 
 All during the first years of our experiences my hus- 
 band was preparing himself for the ministry. By and by 
 you will read his "call" to this work and be surprised as 
 we were when we heard it. In 1 894 my husband was or- 
 dained and took his first pastorate. 
 
16 THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 
 
 ]893 — "This I have promised you — that you shall 
 write automatically. There is soon to come to men the 
 test that science has never yet given. It is this: The 
 electric current will be used to show the spirit of man, as 
 it goes back to God who gave it. It will be so plain that 
 none will doubt. Not even the weakest will doubt. 
 
 I am grandfather Staley." 
 
 "Each life has its guardian angel. Think in spirit, 
 then you can talk in the spirit. Wireless is the spirit of 
 the air. 
 
 "Bishop Fallows calls himself an Immortalist. He 
 is unafraid, one of many brave men." 
 
 We received many communications from one who 
 called Mr. Staley "my son," and who continued to com- 
 mune with us thru the years as my husband's constant ad- 
 viser. 
 
 "Now my dear son, whenever you need any help, 
 just talk it over with me. I handled people too many 
 years not to be able to help you do the same." — Was his 
 first offering, and invaluable indeed was this man's ad- 
 vice to the young minister all thru the years of his minis- 
 try. 
 
 We were told to obey the voices. Being human and 
 somewhat skeptical in those days, we preferred our own 
 judgment in human affairs which invariably led us into 
 trouble as the following experience will show. 
 
 Before Mr. Staley had begun his studies for the min- 
 istry he applied for a government position, as his health 
 would not permit him to continue in his regular business. 
 Just when he needed some good advice the above men- 
 tioned statesman said, 'Til tell you what you do. Go to 
 work for Uncle Sam." Mr. Staley said, "Why how can 
 I do that? A man must have a pretty good pull to get 
 
 a job of that kind." Mr. C replied, "Oh very 
 
 well, I know that. I'll attend to the pull," and told Mr. 
 Staley to whom to go to ask for the position. He told 
 
 him to go to Mr. F and make his application. He 
 
 did so. Mr. F. said he would do all he could to bring it 
 
THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 17 
 
 about. Then Mr. C. told my husband to go to Gov. 
 Luce for a recommendation, saying, "He will help you." 
 He's the one and you won't need any other.'* Gov. Luce 
 had known Mr. Staley as a boy at his birthplace, in An- 
 gola, Indiana. 
 
 One day Mr. Staley had a talk with Mr. F. and 
 asked him about going to Gov. Luce for a recommenda- 
 tion for the position. Mr. F.'s reply was, "Oh, no, I do 
 not think it would do any good at all to ask Gov. Luce 
 for a recommendation. He is concerned only with state 
 affairs. This would not come under his jurisdiction at 
 all." 
 
 This was rather discouraging as it was against Mr. 
 C.'s advice. Mr. F. told Mr. Staley to go to two influen- 
 tial citizens. He said their word would go much further 
 than Gov. Luce's in this case. He did so, but when the 
 distribution of offices came, it was the man who was 
 recommended by Gov. Luce who was given the position. 
 
 This was a lesson we never forgot. Ever after that 
 the advice from Spirit Land was law to us, and all went 
 well. Sometimes it seemed very hard when it would 
 seem to us that some other way would be better, but in- 
 variably the voices* leading was much safer, as we could 
 see as time passed. But until we learned this, we met 
 with disappointments. 
 
 I feel, in giving these experiences of my husband, he 
 will in some measure share with me the great pleasure I 
 have in telling our story. 
 
 We did not believe in so-called spiritualism. But 
 in the silence, when the soul is wrapped in love to God 
 and the loved ones, seeing and knowing their opportunity, 
 speak to us. They say they have never left us. Heaven 
 is surely all around us. Mankind is just learning to use 
 its spiritual forces and some day, they tell us, it will be 
 no uncommon thing to commune with the spirits just the 
 other side of the veil. There is a growing desire in the 
 hearts and minds of men to know these truths. A clergy- 
 man once said to me, "It's surprising the number of peo- 
 ple who are interested in spiritism. Let me just drop a 
 word along that line in the pulpit and they are all atten- 
 
18 THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 
 
 tion. It's funny to see them sit up and listen." This has 
 happened in my husbands church also, more than once. 
 
 All men have dreams of the life beyond. They 
 long to know how their loved ones are employed and if 
 they are happy. Is there a hell? Is it a literal hell? 
 What about fire and brimstone? How did the human 
 race originate? What about the Virgin Birth? Is there 
 any truth in Reincarnation? What happens just after the 
 breath leaves the body? What is Christ like? What is 
 God like? What is the unpardonable sin? What is on 
 the planets we see from earth and are they inhabited? 
 Do we see the saints? 
 
 I might go on and on with these hundreds of ques- 
 tions that the human race is asking, and has been asking 
 all thru the centuries. 
 
 All I can do is to tell you what has been told to us. 
 You get it the same as we did. I shall not attempt to 
 answer these questions, but you will find the answers in 
 the messages that follow. Is it true that they are voices 
 from the spirit world? I answer — yes! I believe they 
 are. If it is self deception, then I am happy in my belief. 
 
THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 19 
 
 CHAPTER II 
 
 In 1904 we were called upon to part with our 
 daughter Claudia, a beautiful girl just entering young 
 womanhood. She was loved by all who knew her, both 
 young and old. She possessed a cheerful nature, was al- 
 ways happy in disposition, and loved her friends and 
 liked company. Possessing a keen sense of humor, she 
 always saw the funny side of things. She was the life of 
 our home, but she had to leave us. It was a cross I was 
 all unprepared to bear and I felt it should not have been. 
 Young and beautiful and full of life, why should she of 
 all others be chosen? But now I know why for she has 
 told me all about it. And now the young man who was 
 her affianced husband has passed on too. She says she 
 has seen him and he is very happy. 
 
 When Claudia had been gone from us about three 
 years, I sat one day alone, thinking of her, wondering if 
 she had young friends there whom she could enjoy, or if 
 she were so busy working for others (as that is their prin- 
 cipal occupation there) that she had no time for enjoy- 
 ments she loved so well here. 
 
 I was thinking this in spite of the fact that I had been 
 told "they" knew no such thing as time "there." As I sat 
 thinking these things, I had a vision. Oh what a beautiful 
 vision it was. 
 
 As if in answer to my longing, the vision came. I 
 saw a white cloud rise. It seemed to just gradualry de- 
 velop, coming from nowhere in particular. It rose toward 
 the ceiling and spread across the room. Then it seemed 
 to be streaked across at regular intervals. These streaks 
 soon grew plainer and plainer, when I saw they were tiers 
 and tiers of beautiful seats that rose from floor to ceiling. 
 Then the most exquisite draperies came into view. There 
 were wheels, so soft and white, under it all. The white- 
 ness of it all was like no whiteness I had ever seen. And 
 
20 THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 
 
 then, beautiful faces appeared; then the whole figure of 
 rows of lovely laughing girls, young like my Claudia. All 
 looked so angelic and pure, so sweet, so lovely. This 
 chariot rolled towards me, and from the seat in the mid- 
 dle of the first row, Claudia arose, for she was one of 
 them, and with outstretched hands came toward me, and 
 with a sweet smile upon her face said, "Marmie!" 
 
 I half rose, I was so dazed, so happy and yet so sur- 
 prised, I could not speak. But as I rose the vision melted 
 away and I was alone in my own home, in the Manse. But 
 I knew Claudia was happy in the companionship of girls 
 of her age. 
 
 Now some will say, as some always say, "Oh she 
 dropped asleep, and dreamed." No, I did not go to 
 sleep and it was not a dream. It was broad daylight. 
 The sun was shining into the room. No, I saw Claudia 
 as she was. Afterwards she told me Christ permitted her 
 to come to comfort me. 
 
 Was this too, self deception or pure imagination? 
 
 Followed many pleasant talks with Claudia. She 
 told me she had had many happy visits with my mother 
 who had passed into that life. 
 
 I See My Mother. 
 
 The first time that my mother came to me, she did 
 not speak. The second and last time she spoke. The 
 first time that I saw her I was very much frightened and 
 wept; but the second time I was not afraid. At that time 
 I had been, and was still a teacher of voice culture. I 
 sang in the church choir on Sundays and taught during 
 the week, so I had no time for rest and often Sabbath 
 morning found me with a severe headache. And so it 
 happened this particular Sabbath. As I woke I said, Oh 
 how can I go to church and sing my solo with this terrible 
 headache? As I said this, I heard my mother's voice so 
 sweetly but distinctly saying, "Get up and take a walk 
 dear and your headache will leave you." I sat up and 
 looked to see where the voice came from, and as I did 
 so, I caught just a glimpse of my mother. She had been 
 
THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 21 
 
 gone from us but a short time. She afterwards told me 
 she did not stay because she feared she would frighten 
 me. 
 
 After receiving the foregoing messages and many 
 more of a similar nature, my husband was called to his 
 first pastorate at Leslie. I am going to write of some of 
 our experiences during our first summer in Leslie. 
 
 Living in New England were two elderly ladies, sis- 
 ters of my father, Mrs. Seaver and Mrs. Choate. They 
 have now passed beyond the veil and no doubt are stand- 
 ing by my side reading these words as I write them, for 
 these aunts had a great part in our experiences that sum- 
 mer in Leslie. 
 
 They were coming to make us a visit. Some months 
 before this I had received messages for them which I 
 made bold to forward to them. They wrote me they 
 were very much interested; thanked me for sending the 
 messages, saying, "Send all you get. We are open to 
 conviction." Now this visit would enable them to get 
 the messages first hand and they were not disappointed, 
 but convinced. 
 
 These aunts remained with us two months and what 
 a glorious summer it was! They were natives of the East, 
 were reared in culture, possessed keen minds and were 
 not in the least degree gullible. They were deeply inter- 
 ested in our study and willing to be convinced as they 
 later were. We lived so much upon the Borderland that 
 summer that we did not mind the intense heat that was 
 burning up foliage and grass, licking up the streams and 
 withering crops. It mattered not to us that for ten long 
 weeks not a drop of rain had fallen, and that the) trees 
 and lawns were gray and dust-laden. 
 
 When my aunts had been with us a few days, a let- 
 ter came from my eldest brother saying that he and his 
 wife were making a tour of Michigan and would arrive at 
 our house upon a certain date, for a two days visit. This 
 was most welcome news to us, but we would miss our lit- 
 tle evening visits with our dear ones beyond the veil. 
 However, we decided we would not mention the mes- 
 sages, after some discussion about what had been told 
 
22 THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 
 
 us of my brother's opinion of such things. He was very 
 decided in his opinions of most things, and this theme 
 was treated with his greatest contempt. He told us after- 
 wards that he had told our sisters, whom he had just visit- 
 ed, that he was going to "burst that bubble" and put a 
 stop to the whole thing. 
 
 Now there is one word always used in connection 
 with messages from Spirit Land, which I can never en- 
 dure. That word is "Medium." I have heard it so much 
 in connection with frauds that I could never endure having 
 it used or applied to myself. I think my brother detested 
 the word as much as I. 
 
 So when he said to me the next morning after his ar- 
 rival, — "Well, they tell me you are a 'medium,' " — I fair- 
 ly winced. By "they" he meant our sisters. My reply 
 was, — 'No, I am not a medium, Wilson, but I do receive 
 messages and I do believe in Spirit communication.* I 
 will give the conversation as it occurred. His answer to 
 my statement was, "Oh, you do, do you?" 
 
 "I not only believe it, I know it." 
 
 "How do you know it?" 
 
 "It has been proven to us in many ways." 
 
 "Well I would like to see how you do it." 
 
 Now this brother of mine was a dear brother, and 
 we loved each other dearly, but the thought that his sister 
 was a "medium" was a very bitter one to him. I said, 
 "Very well, come in." (We were standing out of doors.) 
 
 As we stepped into the room where my aunts were 
 nervously awaiting us (they had overheard a part of our 
 conversation) I said, "Wilson wishes to see some of the 
 messages." 
 
 "Oh very well," said Mrs. Seaver, "I will get a tab- 
 let." She did so and Wilson and I sat down very close 
 together, as he wished to get "a good close view of 
 things." His keen business mind was going to see thru 
 that, at once. 
 
 The pages of the tablet were large, and it was only 
 a moment before the writing began. The writing was very 
 rapid, more so than usual, with never an instants stop 
 until the sheet was filled. During the writing my brother 
 
THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 23 
 
 kept saying, "Don't you know what you are writing?'* 
 "Do you know what that message is about?" I told him 
 I did not, any more than he did. He would lean close 
 and watch and watch, but the pencil flew on and on. 
 My brother watched every move; watched the muscles of 
 my arm; studied the expression of my face. 
 
 Well at last the message ended with never a stop 
 from start to finish and was signed — Your father D. M. 
 Fargo. Wilson read it thru, then sat silent for a long 
 time. Then he said, "Try it again." This was his undo- 
 ing; as it proved to be a message from an old friend of 
 his whom I had never seen and of whom I had never 
 heard. This message was also quite a lengthy one and 
 contained conversations they had had together. It told 
 my brother of things which he knew I could not possibly 
 have any knowledge of. It was signed, Your old friend, 
 Ike Howard. 
 
 "Ike Howard," I said, "I have never heard of him." 
 
 "No," my brother said, "I don't believe you ever 
 have," and turning to my aunts said, "Doesn't that beat 
 the dickens?" (I give this literally). They then asked 
 him what he thought of the writing, and his reply was, 
 "Well, I don't know what to think. But this I do know, 
 that nobody on earth can sit down and fill a yard or two 
 of paper full like that, and never stop to do a little think- 
 ing, but she never stopped from start to finish." 
 
 After that he received communications from other of 
 his friends, who had passed out of this life. Some were 
 of a business nature. He saw it was impossible for me 
 to know anything about those matters and it could not 
 be called telepathy, for he said some of the communi- 
 cations were from people he had not thought about in 
 years. He then confessed he was convinced, telling us 
 laughingly how he had told our sisters that he was coming 
 to Leslie to "explode the whole thing and put a stop to it 
 all." 
 
 His wife who was a witness to all this, became a 
 convert, and she too received word from loved ones. 
 And even in after years when they became good Christ- 
 ian Scientists, they always believed and could never get 
 
24 THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 
 
 away from the wonderful truths they learned while in 
 Leslie. 
 
 You see they came to make a visit of two days, but 
 remained two weeks; went away for a week with some 
 other friends; returned to Leslie and remained another 
 week, saying they wished they could stay all summer. 
 That was the way he "pricked the bubble and exploded 
 the whole business." 
 
 Messages were sent them from time to time, which 
 they were always glad to receive. An aunt of my sister- 
 in-law passed away, and wishing for some word from her, 
 my sister-in-law wrote me that she had lost a "dear 
 friend" and said, "will you see if she will come and write 
 to me?" 
 
 Of course I had no way of knowing who this friend 
 was. My sister gave no name. I sat for a moment con- 
 centrating upon the wished for thought and asked, could 
 the friend of my sister-in-law come and write thru me. 
 Soon the pencil moved and quite a lengthy message was 
 written and the full name of my sister-in-law's aunt was 
 signed. Soon after this message was received my sister 
 wrote me saying she purposely withheld all information 
 to see if her aunt would give her a test. I give these ex- 
 periences at length as examples of many such which came 
 to us. 
 
THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 25 
 
 CHAPTER III 
 
 Years of labor and growth followed this happy sea- 
 son. Going from Leslie to Boston for a time, then thru 
 advice from his adviser — Mr. B. — my husband accepted 
 a call to the church at Dexter. During three years of 
 earnest endeavor and many denials, while his soul 
 yearned for the mountain tops, his climb was slow but 
 sure, and his talents as an orator as well as a pastor were 
 coming to be recognized by those who heard him. One 
 day another call came and Mr. Staley was soon installed 
 in a church in Belding. Still a small church was his. The 
 time had not yet come for him to use his wings as he 
 longed to do. 
 
 After two years at Belding his hopes were realized. 
 Before leaving this page I must write of the patient obedi- 
 ence to the messages, of how the young minister never 
 took the initiative, but followed closely the advice of his 
 leader, and what a mighty leader was he. I would not 
 convey the idea that Mr. B. was in any way a leader in 
 the place of Christ, for no man ever believed more in the 
 power of prayer than did Mr. Staley. So with the advice 
 from the Spirit world as a powerful factor in his life, he 
 was led day by day by the hand of God, as was shown in 
 his work and relations to men. 
 
 It was in August, 1902, that Mr. B. our adviser, told 
 my husband he wished him to go to Manistee. The first 
 Congregational church there was without a pastor at that 
 time. His reply to Mr. B. was, — "I am afraid I cannot 
 serve so large a church as that." Mr. B. then said, "Oh 
 yes you can. You could serve any church in the state." 
 
 Soon after this our good friend Mr. D. of Lansing, 
 called at the Manse and said, "Mr. Staley, I have heard 
 such very good reports of your work here in Belding that 
 it seems to me you could serve a larger church. Now 
 there are two good churches, at C and at Manistee, 
 
26 THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 
 
 that are pastorless and I would like to see you have one 
 of them." Mr. D. said that with Mr. Staley's permission 
 he would write to a friend of his whom he thought might 
 have some influence in the church at Manistee, and he 
 thought Mr. Staley would be invited to preach to them 
 one Sunday, and he felt sure it would lead to a call. So 
 with Mr. Staley's consent he wrote to his friend, Judge 
 McAlvay, and in course of time my husband was invited 
 to go to Manistee for one Sunday. 
 
 In December the church at Manistee gave Mr. Staley 
 an unanimous call and he continued to serve that church 
 nearly fourteen years until he was called to that "Higher 
 Field" which Mr. B. had spoken of so often. My husband 
 and I often wished to tell our friend Mr. D. about Mr. B.'s 
 prophecy and tell him how he was God's instrument to 
 bring this all about. I saw him a year ago and told him. 
 He was surprised at my account of our experience. He 
 was sent of God as truly as any one who was ever sent 
 of God. How many are unconscious of being God's in- 
 struments when they are helping a fellow man. 
 
 Because of our position in society, because it was 
 beyond all reason for a minister of the gospel to dabble 
 in spiritism, we kept our secret, while mothers and fathers 
 mourned for loss of children; while sorrow and grief ran 
 lampant thru hearts and homes. We could speak thus 
 far, but no further. Oh how we longed to give of our 
 knowledge to those suffering ones. 
 
 Many times in the past, some mother who had been 
 bereft of a child, or some wife who had been called upon 
 to part with her husband, has said to me, "Oh, if I only 
 knew they are alive again. Oh, if they could only come 
 and talk to me." And I had to keep the ■ silence I so 
 longed to break and give her the comfort I enjoyed. 
 
 The beauty of the messages, especially the more 
 personal intimate ones, is the way the spirit friends led 
 my husband along in his work from week to week and 
 year to year. It meant so much to him, and I regret that 
 he cannot tell in his own words how he was encouraged 
 and made to see clearly many things that otherwise would 
 have hindered his work as a minister of the gospel. 
 
THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 27 
 
 Always when in doubt, he consulted these friends 
 who never failed him. When a choice of two ways was 
 to be made he was guided to the safe way by these help- 
 ers. He knew he always had them near and gave them 
 his close confidence. In this way, for the most part, his 
 work was without serious friction. In this way too was 
 he often warned of some evil to come that sometimes 
 meant grief to him, such as untrue friendship, etc. He 
 was always brave and met all discouragements as friends, 
 and would say, "It will all be for the best, that I know." 
 
 Men loved the minister, and his friends in all walks 
 of life were legion. Sabbath evening was his favorite 
 time for consulting the "friends beyond the veil." It 
 soothed and rested him after his day's work as nothing 
 else did. 
 
 Mr. B. would always come with some encouraging 
 word and in Mr. Staley* s closing years when he had 
 reached the "zenith of his power," Mr. B. would praise 
 him. Once he said to Mr. Staley, "I couldn't have done 
 that better myself," which amused Mr. Staley. There 
 are many things I might write down of my husband's ex- 
 periences but I have not the power to do the subject the 
 justice it deserves. 
 
 To one who is inclined to doubt the source of these 
 messages, an alleged message from the apostle Paul would 
 seem the acme of impossibilities. The idea that one of 
 the Martyred Saints could or would come back to earth 
 and communicate with sinful mortals, is beyond compre- 
 hension. My husband and I were just emerging from this 
 state of mind, so when the name Paul the Apostle was 
 spelled out, we were inclined to the belief that we were 
 being treated to a huge joke. But our doubts were soon 
 dispelled, for in his stately dignified manner he told us 
 truths we never knew and made us see that before us a 
 mighty door was opening and that we were called to be 
 the doorkeepers. The responsibility was indeed great, 
 but never did we doubt the source again. The following 
 is one of the first messages received: 
 
 "1891. 'Ye are the way. Search for souls to come 
 upon you. Through just these little sermons ye give 
 
28 THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 
 
 more than ye know. In that little simple place of worship 
 you are sowing some of the seed your grandparents pro- 
 phesied for you. Prove now thyself. The start is made. 
 Those men convened will soon need you, instead of you 
 needing them. By their works ye shall know them, and 
 thus will ye be known among men. By Christ alone can 
 this be done. So be not puffed up, but let a simple watch- 
 ful life be your every day aim, and this is your reward; 
 that Heaven and God await you/ 
 
 Signed — Paul The Apostle.'* 
 
 " 1 89 1 . 'Paul indeed. It is surely a great God who 
 would give his creatures such a privilege as this. Keep 
 the faith, for if thou art indeed faithful, thou shalt have 
 more and more given to thee and greater truths shall be 
 opened up to thee. I have communion in Spirit, in reality. 
 Your leader, Mr. B. is my deciple. There are many who 
 could see and hear who are entirely undeveloped and 
 without any knowledge of their gifts. How great is the 
 incentive to good. I knew about this great world, un- 
 seen of men, because I could see and hear. I must leave 
 you now my children. You know me now. 
 
 Paul." 
 
 I hesitate as I contemplate putting the messages from 
 the Apostles Paul and Luke, as well as Timothy, into this 
 book. But why not? They were just men. To be sure 
 they have been in that other world many hundreds of 
 years, but they tell us there is no such thing as time there. 
 
THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 29 
 
 CHAPTER IV 
 
 After Mr. Staley's conversion his whole life changed. 
 He seemed to live in a different atmosphere and from the 
 very beginning he sought to tell to others what he exper- 
 ienced. There was no gradual letting go of the old life; 
 it was as tho some great strong hand had lifted him clear 
 from it all and set him in another world. The whole of 
 his life was transformed, and as he often told me; it 
 seemed to him as tho he walked in air and always felt a 
 great presence. He was so alive to everything spiritual 
 that his very face shone with a radiance that told of the 
 touch of Christ Himself. So often he would exclaim: 
 "Oh, if I could only tell others what I feel and lead them 
 to a better life." So when St. Paul said to him, "Arise, 
 come forth and minister to the souls of men," he knew 
 that the call came from Heaven itself. I remember so 
 well how he raised his eyes in a prayerful ecstacy and ex- 
 claimed: "Oh God! if I only could," and tears poured 
 down his face while I held his hands in sympathy and 
 prayed with him that it might be. 
 
 1892. "I wish, my friends, that you may converse 
 with the loved in God's home. For this purpose I prom- 
 ise thee that I, Paul, will guide thy thoughts aright and 
 after thy sister's departure, gather ye around this book 
 (The Bible) and I will help thee to read it aright. I will 
 make impress upon thy mind, my son, and in truth as 
 God is my witness, tell upon its face the words in thy 
 mind. I would thus bring comfort and knowledge to 
 thee, loved of God and Christ, and never, my friend, 
 take this in hand until thou hast cleansed thy mind of the 
 day's business and cares, by an earnest faithful prayer to 
 God, that I, Paul, may guide thee aright." 
 
 (Interruption). "My friend has let me in. Ye 
 mayhap rather it were Paul, but within thy softened heart 
 I see the stars shining that are some day to glisten in thy 
 
30 THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 
 
 crown. I would say, — Courage brother, and forward to 
 the prize. Would ye who I am? 
 
 Timothy." 
 
 1 892. "Choose the good paths, let what will come. 
 Stick to and swerve not from them. Thy desires are 
 good. Now bring thy life to correspond with them. Reso- 
 lutions are good but worthless without works. Let thy 
 light shine on all that they may see thy good works and 
 only the good that is within thee and love thee. 
 
 Signed — Luke the Physician." 
 
 1892. St. Paul calls Mr. Staley to the ministry. 
 
 "Verily ye have the Spirit of God ever with you, 
 quenching the desires at will, bowing with dignity, yet 
 willingly. Keep ever the Son of Man before thee, follow- 
 ing His example. Fear not, the Kingdom of God is 
 opened to thee. Stay not the hand nor rest till the law 
 be fulfilled that God designs for thee. My son, keep the 
 law of God. Go work in His vineyard while yet it is 
 called day. Hear ye the Lord's command — "With sword 
 unsheathed and armor bright and bare, let naught daunt 
 thee nor turn thee from the way. The Lord God of 
 Hosts is thy Helper and thy Shield. Withhold not thy 
 right arm. Here is work to be done worth a crown to 
 thee, and a shining star therewith; souls refulgent and re- 
 splendent with great glory, if only the Light of the Lamb 
 be let in upon them. Stay not then thy prayers, thy ex- 
 ample, thy words of love and sympathy. For fear ye 
 may be blind of my conversation, I say unto thee, these 
 of whom I speak are at your very door, and I, Paul, call 
 to thee across the centuries to arise; come forth and min- 
 ister to the souls of men. To this were ye ordained of 
 God from the beginning of the world. Amen. And 
 now may the Peace that passeth all understanding be 
 and abide with thee now and forever more, thru all Etern- 
 ity Amen and Amen. 
 
 Signed — Paul The Apostle." 
 
THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 31 
 
 After my husband received this message he sat as 
 one dumb. He could not realize that he could be chosen 
 to preach the gospel. Always gifted by nature with, it 
 seemed every requisite to make a successful public speak- 
 er, he had often had dreams of perhaps some day, enter- 
 ing public life in some capacity, politics, perhaps. But 
 never had he dreamed that he would or could ever be- 
 come a minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ. But now 
 with this great new awakening that had come to his soul, 
 and his great desire that he might make others feel what 
 he felt, it did not seem so impossible to him to respond 
 to the call of the great apostle. However he could not 
 yet comprehend the bigness of it all. He did not hesitate, 
 but started immediately to respond to and obey the call, 
 and prepare himself for the great work before him. St. 
 Paul made no mistake when he called the young (man) 
 minister, for no man was better fitted for his calling than 
 was Mr. Staley. The moment he stepped into his pulpit 
 one felt a thrill and a satisfaction. 
 
 "You have a work to do my son. I have told you. 
 The worm that is trying to blast this fruit is slowly but 
 surely dying in its own web. I would you fully under- 
 stood what this has meant in your life. You will under- 
 stand things as they come along in your life; and you will 
 remember my words. 
 
 Signed — Grandfather Staley." 
 
 Extract from a letter received about 1 898, from an 
 eminent Divine and dear friend, "C. H. B." 
 "Dear Staley: 
 
 "The communication received this morning. It was 
 great, made me give in. Have just been glancing at a 
 Swedenborg book called 'Heaven Revealed' by Barrett. 
 Everything tallies with what we have received. This does 
 not take away from the wonderful nature of your com- 
 munications, for they are entirely independent and touch 
 us now. They are down to date. Tell Mrs. Staley that 
 she is indeed blessed among women." 
 
 To me the following vision or allegory is a literal, 
 
32 THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 
 
 rather than a fantastic interpretation of the development 
 of salvation of a human life. 
 
 AN ALLEGORY OR VISION 
 
 "Before me I see something that at first looks like a 
 small object being blown by the wind here and there. I 
 see it first one side, then the other, tossed about as a play- 
 thing that has lost its charm. I turn away and think no 
 more about it. I look again in that direction and what 
 is that I see? Not the plaything I watched before, but a 
 young bird just fluttering from the fangs of a wounded 
 serpent. The bird too is wounded but not unto death. 
 I turn upon the serpent to crush out its hated life, when 
 lo, it is already dead." 
 
 "But the poor little songster, I take in my hand, and 
 what do I see? Not a bird now wounded and torn, but a 
 human soul; a soul born of God; full of God's life and 
 brimming over with His Spirit. A soul that has within it- 
 self the embodiment of a mind that has the capabilities of 
 reaching out as few souls have. I look again and lo, there 
 is a door to this soul. I say, 'Ah, if I can only open that 
 door, what might not this soul be able to do.* " 
 
 "I hear a voice. I turn and Christ says to me, 'Here 
 is the key, take it, touch the spring and all you find with- 
 in, I will share with you.' " 
 
 "I insert the key. The lock is rusty, the metal im- 
 paired by evils it has passed. The hinges creak, but joy 
 of Heaven, it is loosed at last. And then rising even to 
 the Throne of God, leaping and laughing for joy, this soul 
 emerges and soars to heights before unknown, and, limp 
 and lifeless the old shell falls away and is buried in the 
 dusty embers of the past." 
 
 "And now the I, the real, walks abroad, hand in 
 hand with one of the greatest souls that ever entered in- 
 to the Kingdom." 
 
 "Christ has put His seal upon it and given me the 
 keeping. It is my charge and I am happy. All around 
 is the shining light of God's everlasting presence; and 
 together we go out into the world that had well nigh 
 
THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 33 
 
 been the destruction of this soul. It is a new world now. 
 The people are all new; the faces are faces you never saw 
 before. The book that now you prize above all other 
 books, you never saw before; you never read it before." 
 
 "Well, we must not tarry here too long. The cry 
 is long and loud for help." 
 
 "I see what may unfold and develop, so I look the 
 situation over, determined that the best opportunuity shall 
 be given this soul for its greatest growth. God opens a 
 way and we start on together." 
 
 "In the impetuosity of comparative youth, this soul 
 rebels somewhat and says, 'Not that way, and not that 
 way.' I smile at this and lead gently on." 
 
 "All at once we come out upon a plain broad and 
 high, and I hold your hand and still hold it, and those 
 who knew you before, know you not now. Your stand- 
 ard shall now be the Father's standard, and you shall be 
 brave and blest with a harvest that any man may crave. 
 And you shall stand among the crowned ones, one of the 
 crowned; favored of both God and man." 
 
 Mr. B. Speaks Prophetically. 
 
 "This I prophesy — not as coming too long from 
 now. Be willing to climb, be willing to bear the storms 
 and bufferings of the world. A day of surprises is in 
 store for you and yours. And she who has labored so 
 long and faithfully, shall reap a reward you do not dream 
 could be. I s ty 'good cheer, good cheer.' I could i not 
 refrain from telling you these things, and praise God that 
 He, in His great love, has permitted me to have this 
 pleasure. It is one of my rewards." 
 
 "Is it not worth all the work and sacrifice to be able 
 to bring such comforting truths and encouragement to a 
 struggling soul?" 
 
 "Ques. Who are you?" 
 
 "Ans. One who is trying to do God's work. How 
 the joy of your heart rejoices me. Now, work as you 
 have never worked before, and your reward shall be what 
 God this day, thru my instrumentality, hath promised 
 thee." Mr. B. 
 
34 THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 
 
 At this point I recall Mr. B.'s first "visit" to us. In 
 substance he said thru me to Mr. Staley. 
 
 1890. "1 have come to you because I have chosen 
 you. We each can make a choice as to whom we can 
 help of those left upon earth. It is my pleasure to choose 
 one in whom I see great possibilities. From henceforth, 
 you are my beloved son; I will guide you and teach you, 
 and together we will bring great knowledge and comfort 
 to human souls. I ask but one thing, obedience. This I 
 must have or we fail. Are you willing to make the prom- 
 lse? 
 
 Ans. "I am just so far as in me lies, I will listen and 
 obey." 
 
 "Thank you my son, God's blessing is upon you." 
 
THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 35 
 
 CHAPTER V 
 
 As a young woman I spent some years studying 
 grand opera, and was ambitious to some day become a 
 grand opera star. While in Toledo, Ohio, I met a lady 
 who afterwards became a very dear friend, and whose 
 kindness to me is one of my sweetest memories. In some 
 way we came into possession of a planchette board. As 
 Mrs. B and I sat at the board different ones came and 
 talked to us. 
 
 The one who came most often was that delightful 
 prima donna Litta. She passed out of this life many years 
 ago. After returning home, subsequent circumstances 
 forced me to renounce the stage, and I had begun teach- 
 ing, altho I was suffering deep disappointment that I must 
 give up what I had worked and lived for. During this 
 time, Litta came to me and gave me encouragement thru 
 the following message: 
 
 1891. "Do not question; God's ways are past 
 finding out. Our ways are not His ways. We know not 
 why He does thus and so. So now remember He never 
 does anything that He has not a good reason for doing. 
 It is always for your good. The future will prove to you 
 the why and wherefore of this disappointment, and you 
 will rejoice, even as now you mourn. You will recall what 
 I say my dear lady. I have watched your career; and I 
 know God needed your voice and you for a higher cause 
 and that is why I come to you. Your voice and mine are 
 much alike. I love to hear you sing. It is for you to use, 
 but not as I did. 
 
 Signed — Litta, The Prima Donna.*' 
 
 This message came thru Planchette. As the mes- 
 sages proceeded we realized we were to have a new ex- 
 perience. It did not seem just like our former exper- 
 iences for we seemed to feel that there was some new 
 
36 THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 
 
 force. It gave us a sort of elation, an exhilaration of 
 spirit we had not felt before. We both remarked this 
 and when Mr. B. told us his name, we somehow felt for 
 the first time that the messages were sacred and we should 
 no longer doubt their source. 
 
 "Oh how that element of Fear has interfered with 
 so many of God's plans. My son, the truth that there is 
 possible and probable communication between the Spirit 
 world and man must be established. It is coming to be 
 in the future years an ordinary thing for men to com- 
 municate openly with spiritual beings, even some with 
 Christ Himself The time is also coming when angels 
 shall walk the earth hand in hand with men, but not sub- 
 ject to the forces of earth. Then men will be trans- 
 figured. They shall in some instances pass from earth 
 life to life in Heaven without death as it is known to man 
 now. But this will not come to pass to such men as live 
 today. The sting of death will all be removed. A 
 longing instead of a dread shall possess them and often 
 when man's work — if it be pure — is unfinished and needs 
 his further advice and management after he shall have 
 taken on the spiritual body, he shall still remain and con- 
 tinue in his work until he is not needed any longer. But 
 this shall never be against his will. 
 
 "It is altogether wrong for people to weep and 
 mourn for loved ones who die. That should be a time 
 for rejoicing. They try to open our eyes that we may see 
 them as they are." 
 
 Mr. B. Gives Encouragement and Speaks of an 
 Old Friend. 
 
 "Hope, that great anchor of the soul; Faith, the 
 real possession of all things both temporal and spiritual, 
 these two are the foundation of all religion and all life. 
 These fill your heart and flood your world with great 
 flashes of Light that reveal to you more and more each 
 day, the glory that awaits you as a reward for a life 
 profitable in the service of the Eternal Father, placing 
 you in the race, a winner of the gold medal of Life Eter- 
 nal. In these words of encouragement, I stand not be- 
 
THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 37 
 
 fore you in the attitude of a proclaimer, but a messenger 
 sent by God, a willing bearer of the Good news.'* 
 
 "You have met with many discouragements, many 
 disappointments, but here are no such things. We expect 
 we receive, we love and love comes in return; we trust 
 and are never betrayed. We praise and receive praise. 
 
 I wish that Mrs. Porter could soon be with you. 
 It would mean such an uplift to her." 
 
 Sometimes the messages contained some very shock- 
 ing truths, as this one of a man whom we knew well and 
 had respected. No one will ever know to whom it refers, 
 but oh the pity of it all. And we exclaimed, 'Oh if only 
 men knew, and would be honest and true. Quoting 
 from Emerson, "Death stamps the character and con- 
 ditions of men for eternity, as death finds them in this 
 world, so they will be in the next." 
 
 "The man over whose body you stood and talked 
 today, is in darkness. He sees it all now, how he per- 
 sistently shunned God. His inner life was not in accord 
 with what you knew and saw. He deceived, so basely 
 deceived and is now, poor soul, without a place to rest; 
 hunted and alone. Repentance is yet a long way off 
 and God has much to forgive. He wept beside his own 
 casket, and even now stands upon the frozen mound; 
 stark and alone, without one ray of hope that he can see. 
 None to meet him, none to cheer him. When in God's 
 own time he will begin to see the Light, he will appreciate 
 it. All that kind do. Yes, yes, God punishes the hypo- 
 crite a plenty." 
 
 Little bits of advice and warning were often doled 
 out by Mr. B. To one all unused to such pitfalls, the 
 following advice was invaluable. Upon this occasion it 
 was a very practical hint. 
 
 1895: "Talk on contentment next Sabbath. I 
 will help you. Some of your people need it. You can 
 work in the material you already have. I agree with you 
 
38 THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 
 
 about the house to house visits with the women. Don't 
 do it. See the sick and the old and the infirm, now and 
 then a grouch, and all shut-ins; make friends with the 
 husbands and brothers. The children will come to you 
 for you love them. Avoid every appearance of evil. 
 Thank God, you see this as I see it. There are trouble 
 makers where ever you go. You find them in the church 
 as well as out. Be tactful; live at home; a happy home 
 such as yours is a gift of God. It's what every preacher 
 needs and ought to have. In this you are a lucky man. 
 You are strong in your moral nature. Be thankful for 
 this. You despise immorality and hypocrisy. Speak 
 plainly on these sins. They go hand in hand." 
 My dear Son: 
 
 1896: "When your life shall come to its close it 
 will be the end of one of the greatest miracles of all time. 
 Your soul strength will be great when you enter here. 
 Your human weaknesses will be as naught when counted 
 with what you will have gained in spiritual growth and 
 strength. Is it not worth hard work and study to have 
 gained so much my son? You will have the same ex- 
 periences I had and most preachers have." 
 
 "Some will seem to be your friends but down in 
 their hearts is eating the canker worm of deceit. Some 
 you will love very much, who are trying to work your 
 undoing. Poor deluded souls, they do not know that in 
 the end their cup will be filled with worm-wood and 
 ashes; and they will drink the dregs with bitter tears 
 streamng down their cheeks when they shall behold their 
 works. They cannot say, 'I did all I could to help him 
 and make life easy for him.' Rather their thoughts will 
 be, 'Oh if he could come back, how I would help him.' 
 
 "It is ever thus my son. Just keep to the straight 
 way and God will prosper your work and many real; 
 friends you will find among your people, who will rise up 
 and call you blessed." 
 
 Since some of us believe in communication with the 
 spirit world, it may not be to our discredit to also believe 
 that the men who were once leaders in the affairs of our 
 
THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 39 
 
 nation should still be interested in its welfare, and try to 
 guide the old ship of state on its wobbly course. On 
 February 22, 1896 I received clairaudiently the following 
 communication. As I review the conditions brought 
 about by the world war, it seems to me that we con- 
 sciensciously believe that the prophecy herein contained 
 has been, or is being, fulfilled, which leads us to suspect, 
 that after all there may be prophets in the spirit world 
 who have the power to predict our doings here upon 
 earth, and know whereof they speak. (Or was it my 
 Subliminal self, my subsoncsious mind, looking down thru 
 the years to come, foresaw the great event and caused me 
 to place the record upon paper. The afore mentioned 
 years passed by, and behold I am yet among the living 
 and have seen many things, (naturally, being a minis- 
 ters wife) and among them, America as the Peace maker. 
 
 February, 22 1896. "This is a day that ought to 
 be observed with more reverent demonstration than the 
 American nation observes it today. There should be a 
 better observance of more than Washington's birthday 
 in order to awaken more true patriotism in the hearts of 
 the young. 
 
 America is the great lever that will one day move 
 the world in which you live. America will rise above 
 all pettiness; all desire to rule; and those nations who 
 today rule with an iron hand, will become submissive 
 to the persuasions of America for "Peace and good will 
 towards men.' Some of them have good rulers, true, 
 conscientious to the last degree. But the Ministers of 
 State are the real rulers and until God in His Innnijtei 
 mercy takes the scepter into His own hands, wars and 
 trouble and turmoils will prevail. 
 
 Let America be the Peace maker, as God intended. 
 George Washington came here many years ago, but he 
 is still marching down thru the years, like a mighty king, 
 and his spirit will continue to lead the grand proces- 
 sion of such men as have graced the chair of state which 
 he once occupied; and these followers will never turn 
 
40 THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 
 
 back. Think you a Lincoln's work could ever be done? 
 Ah, my son, his spirit is still and will always sweeten 
 the minds of men; and the world will ever hear the echo 
 of his footsteps. He is a man approved of God. Such 
 men march on forever. Solid fronted, they pace the 
 shores of Eternity, flinging forth the banner of the 
 Hosts of the Great Beyond. They stand beneath its 
 folds, watching and trusting, looking not backward, but 
 forward toward the future of all things. 
 
 Patriotism? It does not mean wars and disturbances. 
 It means brotherly fealty; it means race free; it means 
 a freedom that cannot be limited; a freedom so big, so 
 deep, so glorious that it can clasp the whole world in 
 its embrace and say indeed and in truth, "Peace on earth 
 good will toward men." ' 
 
THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 41 
 
 CHAPTER VI 
 
 I have read criticisms of message's received by- 
 others, and much fault is found because little or nothing 
 is told of what goes on in the spirit world. Back in the 
 year 1897, long before I had read these criticisms and 
 long before I ever dreamed that the world would be in 
 the least concerned one way or another, we received 
 the following account of the celebration of Easter Sunday 
 in Spirit World. 
 
 The minister had spent much time and thought in 
 the preparation of his sermon for that day, but he did 
 not feel at all satisfied with what he had done. Then, 
 to use his own words he said, "I wish Mr. B. would give 
 me a few "pointers" on my Easter sermon. Without 
 further solicitation this message was given, clairaudient- 
 ly. While it contained little that could be used in a 
 sermon, it was instructive, and a pleasure to hear about. 
 Ever after Easter brought the memory of that discription. 
 
 April, 1897. "It is one of the easiest things in 
 the world to talk upon an Easter topic. There is but 
 one great central thought no matter how you may em- 
 bellish it. There is no other subject that inspires as the 
 subject of the Resurrection. Have no fear, you will re- 
 ceive the inspiration. You are somewhat depressed by the 
 cloudy sky. All that will pass off and you will see 
 clearly enough by and by." 
 
 "I wish you could see the celebration of the Resur- 
 rection here for we do celebrate it here. We all feel 
 a quiet creeping upon us and about us. There is a joy- 
 ous sensation which thrills us. I cannot tell you all we 
 experience for it is felt spiritually, but we seem to be 
 lifted up and borne about in a delightful bath of mellow 
 light all purified by a feeling of great love. Then we 
 hear the angelic Hosts breathing ever so softly and 
 
42 THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 
 
 gently their chants of praise in low, love strains. Then 
 burst the hallelujahs and glories from all Heaven. This 
 is not deafening as it would be to you, but a joyous glad 
 refrain, and the chorus lasts a long time. We are all 
 abroad with flowers and every delightful experience is 
 ours. 
 
 "We see Christ standing in our midst with His 
 glorious smile upon His face as it were the smile of wel- 
 come to a dying saint, but so sweet and tender as £t 
 grows, as He says, with uplifted hand, "Not to me, but 
 to my Father and thine, sing these hallelujahs today." 
 Then we bow before Him and worship Him. The music 
 does not cease, but grows mellower and softer, and for 
 a long time we sing these songs of Paradise; and the 
 celebration does not come to any abrupt ending, but 
 blends into what comes to us as we go on from work to 
 work. Then when your celebration of the event is end- 
 ed, we go on with our earthly ministrations. I can 
 never tell you, nor can you understand, but some day 
 you will hear it with me as we will stand in the midst of 
 it, and recall this poor attempt of mine to describe it to 
 you. I will be with you on the morrow my son, and 
 many more will be with me." 
 
 Judging from the words of praise, and commend- 
 ation of Mr. B. it is fair to presume that the ministers 
 Easter sermon was satisfactory. 
 
 Easter, 1897: "I promised you a good time today, 
 my son, and you cannot imagine any better results from 
 any sermon you have preached since coming to D. To- 
 morrow you must send the message to your friend. You 
 will get more help from your missionary society than all 
 the rest of the church. Many do not favor gifts for mis- 
 sions. Tonight your sermon will be the means of starting 
 more than one sinner upon the race." 
 
 "These Sabbath afternoons are the times when 
 your friend longs for some word from us. (This re- 
 ference is made to Dr. C. H. B. ) You are most fortunate 
 
THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 43 
 
 my son. I shall be with you tonight and you will feel my 
 presence." 
 
 "You have touched a new chord in the hearts and 
 lives of some of your hearers. You have today removed 
 a great stumbling block from the path of one who list- 
 ened. The man on the front seat needs a little hard 
 personal work. I want you to know I was present and to 
 prove to you that I could read his desire, I will tell you 
 that in the not far distant future he will come to you and 
 tell you the effect your sermon this morning had upon 
 him, to the end that he should make a decision." (This 
 man afterwards came to the minister saying he had chos- 
 en to live a better life and unite with the church.) 
 
 "Faithfully you are doing your duty; sacred in- 
 deed is this duty, but so hard oftimes to perform. The 
 days approaching hold some discouragements for you, 
 but do not falter; nothing now can change the course of 
 events, that is a settled fact." 
 
 "Your sermon Sabbath morning is recorded here. 
 Such demonstrations in the hearts of your listeners can- 
 not be passed unnoticed. Do not wait for a reaction, 
 but keep putting just that kind of sermon at them and 
 into them, and presently you will see grand results. You 
 can do this. Be faithful and work on." 
 
 "I want you to preach Christ so plainly that men 
 can see Him as He rises out of that tomb. Spare no 
 effect, no action. Put yourself in that sacred place and 
 God will inspire you and fill your heart with power and 
 fire of angelic speech." 
 
 "Dexter, 1897: "I see ahead a marked change 
 coming toward you from which you will receive strength 
 and advancement. A larger and more useful field is 
 now before you. I will not say further than this now." 
 
 Mr. B. 
 
 Feb. 1898. "I wish you knew all the good you 
 are doing. You are not winning hearts to yourself only, 
 but you are winning hearts for Christ. Sermons like 
 yours today are not without a great power for good. I 
 stood beside you today and saw the truth you proclaimed, 
 go home to more than one heart there. The man who 
 
44 THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 
 
 has sung for you is all but a Christian and you can make 
 him one. He has that within him that is very pleasing 
 to God, and you can develope that spirit into a righteous 
 life." (This came true) 
 
 "I wish you to be content with what you have for 
 a while longer. Be content, I say. That word has many 
 meanings, but in this sense, it has but one and you will 
 understand. I shall be with you in your service to-night 
 and help you, and it will be well with you. You are im- 
 proving, gaining all the time." 
 
 Mr. B. 
 
 Seldom was there a confusion of voices, but often 
 there were sounds that I could not account for. Once 
 we were singing the hymn 'Bread of Heaven* which we 
 had been told was Mr. B's favorite hymn, when I heard 
 his voice join with ours to the conclusion of the hymn. 
 He then exclaimed, "Why not?" 
 
 Most of the messages at this time were received 
 clairaudiently. They were the most satisfactory and to 
 me most interesting, perhaps because I felt an elation, a 
 sort of out-of-the-body feeling, so to speak. A lifting 
 out of worldly things into a purer atmosphere, as tho I 
 were receiving personally, exclusive of what it might 
 mean to others. I knew not whence, nor whither, but 
 with Emerson, "Always our being is descending into us 
 from we know not whence." I could feel those active 
 spirits working with all their might, to help us. And the 
 voices? Well, I cannot say more. Perhaps your im- 
 agination may supply the rest. To hear again the voice 
 of a loved one gone into spirit life. 
 
 Emerson says, "The spirit of prophecy is innate in 
 every man." Not all possess the gift to use the pro- 
 phetic power. In many it strikes a discord, and from 
 their limited knowledge they exclaim, 'Bosh!' I have 
 heard it and read it to my souls bitter content. But let 
 us have patience, we who seem so dwarfed in mind, and 
 let the future with its certain truths drag the veil from 
 human eyes. Then all will see, hear, and know. 
 
THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 45 
 
 "Have patience I replied; ourselves are full of 
 Social wrongs, and may be wildest dreams 
 Are but the needful preludes of the truth. 
 For me, the genial day, the happy crowd, 
 The sport-half-science, fill me with a faith. 
 This fine old world of ours is but a child 
 Yet in the go-cart. Patience! Give it time 
 To learn its limbs; there is a hand that guides 
 
 Tennyson. 
 
THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 47 
 
 CHAPTER VII 
 
 July 1894. "I wish you could see with whajt avidi- 
 ty we take hold of this work. We look forward to these 
 meetings with as much pleasure as you do. I must ex- 
 plain that there are various avenues thru which we can 
 work. There are others who can do many things be- 
 cause of different manifestations. Some have one pow- 
 er developed, some another. These gifts are varied ac- 
 cording to temperament, etc.'* 
 
 "Electricity is a word you cannot understand. 
 There are several branches from the fountain head. 
 They are known as 'magnetism*, 'automatic writing,' 
 'clairvoyance,' 'clairaudience' and the power to see. You 
 could scarcely expect to find all these in one person, but 
 some have more than one. One who is clairvoyant 
 scarcely ever has any of the other powers developed. 
 We, here, do not favor clairvoyance. It is injurious to 
 the body, and where indulged in for long periods, is apt 
 to affect the mind, while these other methods are perfect- 
 ly sane and harmless. You see man's nervous system is 
 so constructed that it cannot be played upon all the time 
 without getting out of tune. Clairaudience is by far the 
 highest order of communication. Very few possess this 
 power. Few have developed it." 
 
 "Never ask for tests simply for the sake of cold 
 curiosity. You know us now and believe in us because 
 you have seen our works." 
 
 Mr. B. 
 
 Some of the impersonal portions of the messages 
 give reasonable explanations of life after death, especi- 
 ally in what they designate as the earth realm. 
 
48 THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 
 
 THE REALMS 
 
 "As the spirit advances from realm to realm, we 
 call this growth. The realm nearest to earth is called 
 the earth realm, while there is no end to these realms, 
 or conditions of the soul here, there is a desire in most 
 of us to go on and on, altho we know now that there is no 
 end to be reached. Eternity is eternity. It means no 
 end. Life here is learning, learning all the time. New 
 things all the time. It would seem that we must reach 
 a climax some time, somewhere. But mind you we earn 
 every step of the way. No laggards here. We cannot 
 lean on others here. It is every fellow for himself, and 
 while there is no rivalry there is the greatest delight in 
 accomplishment. As we advance we take on other and 
 brighter conditions. Our transportation from realm to 
 realm is always accompanied by a train of angelic ones, 
 who sing and rejoice with us." 
 
 "Respecting our occupations, we carry on business 
 here the same as on earth. You may say, "I thought 
 everybody was busy saving souls." I say, 'What are we 
 saving them for?" "What is the ultimate aim and end 
 of their existence? Are they simply to be saved and 
 nothing more?" (A reproduction of this message some 
 of you may have seen in a most delightfully fascinating 
 book called The World Beautiful*, third edition by the 
 noted authoress, Miss Lilian Whiting, whom I met in 
 Boston, in the late nineties, and who published a few 
 extracts from some of the messages received by me.) 
 
 "God has business for us all. We help to manipu- 
 late the business of earth thru different avenues by cor- 
 responding business here, manipulated in a different way 
 of course, and far advanced. No heavy material, no 
 clanging of machinery is heard, but we all manage some 
 kind of business. We have our tools to work with, our 
 material to manufacture and put in use. We have our 
 stations where we go for information and instructions, — 
 all this is done above a certain realm. Up to that stage 
 there is simply soul saving." 
 
 "The work I speak of is on a higher plain of heaven- 
 
THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 49 
 
 ly existence after we have worked out our soul's salva- 
 tion. All homes have their foundation in what is called 
 character. You must finish them after you come here. 
 There are explorations to be made, but science has no 
 victory here. Nothing is undiscovered pertainrhg to 
 science." 
 
 "We live in an atmosphere of holy communion on 
 this higher plane. We visit, we plan, go forth when and 
 where we will in our realm, because after we have reach- 
 ed this plane we are supposed to, and in reality do, pos- 
 sess a pure and purified existence and are at liberty to go 
 and come at will. We cannot, it is impossible for us, to 
 do anything contrary to God's law here. It is High 
 Heaven. 'The Great White Throne' is here, but not as 
 you think about it. There are angles here, and arch- 
 angels going everywhere ministering unto others and do- 
 ing the will of the Master." 
 
 July, 1894: "The first awakening of the spirit 
 is to believe in the existence of God. Then the upbuild- 
 ing begins. This Heaven to which you will come belongs 
 to all earth's people. Myriads of worlds there are. 
 Myriads of Heavens there are, but one God, one Christ 
 Spirit for them all. This earth heaven is the only one I 
 can tell you about now. 
 
 "There is but one great Father who loves and gov- 
 erns all. Had you a thousand years to live, and I were 
 permitted, I could not tell you even the smallest part of 
 it." 
 
 "Something new and great is coming up all the time. 
 Now I have spoken of labor here, not as you know it, for 
 there is no fatigue, no weariness attached to it. There 
 are means of discovering the invisible. You know this 
 now, that Heaven is all around you, but created as you are 
 you cannot see behind the veil without the means to lift 
 it. There is between the mind of man to man, darting 
 backward and forward with lightning speed, attracting 
 forces, an electric current, which, if united, would create 
 a circle. Thoughts go on this electric circle flying from 
 place to place. It takes in the whole of your world. 
 Your thoughts fly from place to place where you have 
 
50 THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 
 
 loved ones and friends. This forms a circle around you, 
 and like lightning goes this force, round and round, then 
 to the central station. Oh how powerful is thought. 
 All this is visible to us. Thought goes swiftly and strikes 
 deep. Can you not see how necessary it is to think pure 
 thoughts?" 
 
 "There are those gone into spirit life with the same 
 lackadaisical useless spirit they had here on earth, and to 
 these, missionaries are sent to rouse them and stir the 
 latent forces within them, ere they sink to despair; telling 
 them what awaits them if they will only try. Sometimes 
 the saints are sent upon this mission, just to show these 
 earth plane spirits what it is possible for them to become 
 if they will only awaken and bestir themselves to action. 
 Some of these spirits wander around without desire, 
 without aim; others have the desire, but without help they 
 are unable to break away and rise. So you see the great 
 need for missionaries. All the preaching that is neces- 
 sary is to encourage and help them to be lifted up; that is 
 all, because they realize the existence of Christ and the 
 fatherhood of God. That has become a positive thing to 
 them. The mysteries are all done away with, all solved 
 now. Just reality now, forever more." 
 
 There are those sitting in total darkness, who seem 
 to have no desire for anything, not even to come out of 
 their darkness. So stupid are they in their sins, they do 
 not realize their terrible condition. They are so dazed 
 with evil that seemingly, they cannot awake enough 
 to have a desire to be anything more than they are. 
 There are always numberless helpers ready and waiting 
 to assist the wayward ones. No jealousy is here. Each 
 rejoices in the others attainments." 
 
 Given an interesting account of occupations in the 
 spirit world, together with unrevealed sources of inven- 
 tions and discoveries, I always feel that in all the mes- 
 sages there is a lack, a fragmentariness, a sense of some- 
 thing left out, something they wish to say, but cannot. 
 
 While to us it may seem highly fanciful, (a very 
 
THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 51 
 
 human way of putting it,) who knows how near to the 
 human, life in spirit land may be. Their descriptions of 
 their occupations, are certainly very like ours, altho with 
 a tremenduous difference. 
 
 "Earth has a great mission to perform. Every plan, 
 every movement is directed from this side. All the dis- 
 coveries, all the inventions, are gradually doled out from 
 this side, keeping in reserve all the time for each genera- 
 tion." 
 
 "My son, you are in need of greater opportunity 
 and to this end I am hastening your affairs. The pend- 
 ulum is coming towards us now with a steady swing, and 
 its mighty weight is well balanced, for as I have means 
 of judging, together, as pastor and people, you have 
 accomplished a great deal. Now, in spite of all their 
 entreaties to remain with them, I see you must deny them, 
 and it is best so. I have more to say upon this subject, 
 but not now. 
 
 Mr. B. 
 
 The above was given after Mr. Staley's call to an- 
 other church. His people were loath to give him up, 
 but Mr. B. said the change must be made. And his word 
 was law. 
 
THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 53 
 
 CHAPTER VIII 
 
 Deep in our hearts we wished to know more about 
 Christ; His personal appearance and what he is like now, 
 and we thirsted for more knowledge of his earthly life, 
 but as we had been requested not to ask many questions 
 we waited and hoped that our longing would be satisfied. 
 I cannot say that we were ever quite satisfied, but little by 
 little it was given to us, something like the following. 
 
 August, 1894. "Christ is made manifest to all 
 Heaven, as He sees fit, — thru what I shall call a process 
 of photography perhaps. Thus impressions are made 
 manifest to spirit eyes in the different realms, high and 
 low, and we all understand that these impressions upon 
 which we gaze should be received by us as sacredly and 
 reverently as the very presence itself. Nor does He shut 
 Himself away from any, for as the case demands He 
 comes in His full glory to us, and it is to us often more 
 than we can bear. We could no more endure this Pres- 
 ence continually, as the impression comes to us, than could 
 your eyes endure a continuous gaze into a blazing midday 
 sun. So He tempers these impressions, according as we 
 are able to endure. And we know He is ever with us." 
 
 Reverently I approach the subject of the Virgin 
 Birth. I have nothing to add. It is too sacred a subject 
 for me to attempt to comment upon. I shall never forget 
 the voice who gave it to me. It was in 1 896. 
 
 THE VIRGIN BIRTH 
 
 "You take away the 'Virgin Birth* and| you bury 
 your Christ. Christ knew from the beginning that His 
 conception never came thru the loins of man. He thus 
 
54 THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 
 
 would have been conceived in sin and Christ was not con- 
 ceived in sin. Mary was a pure virgin because she was 
 pure in mind and body, and was different in many ways 
 from other maidens of her time. Mary was not what you 
 would call in your time a strictly intellectual person. She 
 was sweet and simple and modest to a fault, tempera- 
 mentally quiet and unassuming, and lived in her higher 
 self. She was very pious. God spoke to Mary in her 
 early youth and she always felt that she was chosen for 
 some good work, but did not know what it was to be. 
 Mary stood ready to be used in any way her Lord de- 
 sired. Her perfectly pure life thus fitted her to be the 
 bride of the Holy Spirit. God then performed his great- 
 est miracle." 
 
 Question: What about those who do not believe 
 in the Immaculate Conception and talk and preach 
 against it? 
 
 Answer: "Oh, they will continue to do so, but the 
 fact remains just the same. You would be surprised, 
 could I tell you of the numbers who have come to be- 
 lieve thru this means alone," (Spirit Communication). 
 
 Again we are told of a miracle to be performed; 
 when or how, we do not know. The spirit of Infinite Wis- 
 dom has seen fit to give us just this little hint of great 
 things to come. We should always keep ourselves open 
 to these statements of truth. It is wonderful to think of 
 communication with the inhabitants of other planets, but 
 more wonderful still is it that the means given will be con- 
 ceived in the mind of a boy. And yet, "A little child 
 shall lead them." Then comes the prophecy — And the 
 world shall believe it." Is it because it is on a material 
 plane, instead of a spiritual one? Yet how infinitely more 
 important it is to believe that communication with the 
 spirit world is a fact today. 
 
THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 55 
 
 CHAPTER IX 
 
 1911. "The mind of a boy is to conceive it and 
 the world is to believe it. It is the opening of the veil.* 
 You will not see it as your children will. But man has 
 cut the cord at last and God is moving back the curtain. 
 Angel faces are peeping thru only waiting for the com- 
 mand to go forth upon their mission. They have here- 
 tofore been unseen but now they go among you seen of 
 men. Let your minds be open to them for no unbeliever 
 shall see. Once seeing, always believing. 
 
 You of earth can never feel the restraint of the laws 
 of God as we feel them here. You are anxious to com- 
 mune with us, but your anxiety is very tame compared 
 with ours. Some of the money hoarded by men who 
 have accumulated millions, is to be used for this demon- 
 stration. The irony of it! And as yet it is to be con- 
 ceived in the mind of a boy. Oh it won't be so long! 
 And this too is to come to pass in the present century — 
 "Communication with the planets." This is to be a chance 
 discovery and men will wonder that it was not known be- 
 fore. Its very simplicity is a wonder. It does away with 
 space, with distance. Venus will be first visited. There 
 is a similarity between this discovery and the wireless. It 
 will not need to wait for response, but will record condi- 
 tions with its mechanism. Now you must wait. I will 
 tell you more another time. I do not wish to gorge you. 
 My mission is to awaken interest so your thoughts may 
 help to bring these things about sooner. 
 
 We were permitted to ask questions about spirit 
 warnings. While the replies were not altogether satis- 
 factory, they gave us food for thought. There seems to 
 be a purpose in all things, even the disasters that mark the 
 way of human life. Spirit being all knowing and omni- 
 present, they see and know all that we mortals have to 
 
56 THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 
 
 contend with. Receptive listening seems to be necessary 
 in order to be open to the warnings. Sometimes as we 
 know, they come as presentiments, and \ to some they 
 come when they see the spirit form of someone gone out 
 of this life. The minister to whom this message was giv- 
 en, never had any such experience, but he believed the 
 testimony of some who had. 
 
 Diametrically opposed opinions of whatsoever kind, 
 have been maintained among men since ever he began 
 to reason. 
 
 Now there are some rather startling statements in 
 these messages. It takes strong faith and deep desire for 
 spiritual knowledge to so much as tolerate them. How- 
 ever the minister was big enough and broad enough to 
 hark back to the time, when he himself scoffed at "the 
 whole business." So in giving out these strange mes- 
 sages I recall his sweet toleration toward unbelievers 
 and those who scoffed whenever he broached the subject 
 of spiritism. He was told that in times when warnings 
 are given, spirit hands are laid upon us in such a way that 
 we seem to know they mean danger. We do not know 
 it is spirit warnings, we only sense danger. Sometimes 
 a lesson must be taught and the disaster is allowed to 
 come with no warning to us. What we call hair-breadth- 
 escapes are the intervention of Providence. 
 
 "There are few people who can resist the forces we 
 throw out. We cannot and would not control the life of 
 any man but we can and do use a great influence for good. 
 In many cases we succeed in pulling a man out of many 
 bad predicaments. Some people do not wish to be in- 
 fluenced for good. That is where they battle with con- 
 science till very often the devil in them wins, and on they 
 go to the destruction they seem to court. You would be 
 amazed, could you stand here as we do and witness some 
 of these battles and see how they seem to rejoice when 
 they have gotten the better of conscience and turn smil- 
 ingly toward evil. They cannot see one step ahead of 
 them but on they go, stumbling along in the dark, doing 
 
THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 57 
 
 the evil thing that wise conscience has begged them not 
 to do. Perhaps remorse sets in, to last only until next 
 time. The labor of the good forces has been in vain in 
 such cases. 
 
 Mr. B." 
 
THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 59 
 
 CHAPTER X 
 
 More advice and encouragement is given the young 
 minister who had rather belittled his ability to meet the 
 requirements of his chosen profession. Always grateful 
 for advice from the spirit world, he now accepts greedily 
 the knowledge of the possibility of better things to come. 
 
 1897. "The fragrance of the rose is pleasing to the 
 senses, but continually inhaled, it becomes lost, as a de- 
 lightful odor, and is no more a choice pleasure, but a 
 common thing. One's appreciation slackens and the keen 
 pleasure ceases to give joy. The freshest blossoms do 
 not seem to be what they once were, and are cast aside as 
 no longer desirable. One after another God's choicest 
 blessings are often cast aside, no longer desired by those 
 upon whom He has bestowed them. 
 
 "My son, use every blessing for there is none so 
 poor that it cannot add in some measure to your growth 
 and fit you for the great work of life to which you are 
 called. Let none become to you an insignificant thing. 
 You have just entered upon a newer broader field of 
 thought. It is rich with knowledge. 'Digging into it* you 
 can only pierce the sub-soil. However your searchings 
 will be rewarded. But my son, in this field you will find 
 many great boulders. Those you must go around for 
 you can never move them. With care, you will go on 
 and on. Step lightly, and be sure the torch you carry is 
 lit by God, not man. 
 
 "I have told you before that the old shall be made 
 new. It surely will be. It's 3 consistant 'theory*, but this 
 truth looks to the uninitiated to be the very crater of hell 
 itself. You cannot jump to the heights to which it will 
 lead you, but by slow ascent you will grasp a great deal, 
 enough to be one to whom is given the privilege to give 
 this unfoldment of Truth to the world in its right form. 
 
GO THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 
 
 For long periods this Truth has lain dormant and with 
 now and then a partial resurrection. Now it will come in 
 power. Don't get radical on the subject. Be solid and 
 sane in your views. It is but a stepping stone to broader 
 views. The world has become dissatisfied with the child- 
 ish doctrines of long ago and demands the real truth 
 about things. 
 
 "There was a figure in that old story, sight of which 
 must never be lost. There was and is truth in it all. But 
 men understand God better now. Let those who may, 
 say to the contrary. Men worshipped a God of fear. 
 There is to come great warfare and strife. It will come 
 but do not worry. It comes to purify. Please God in all 
 things and pray in secret, much. 
 
 Mr. B." 
 
 It seems to me that in the face of present facts, the 
 closing lines of this communication given us in 1897, are 
 peculiarly prophetic and worthy of consideration. 
 
 From among the mass of various kinds of writings 
 that I have stored away, testimonials from that unknown 
 world, I have chosen those writings which I deem of the 
 most importance to those of us who know little or nothing 
 of such things. When realms and conditions there, are 
 mentioned, we have only to meet the question with our 
 most vivid imagination. Even then we are like helpless 
 leaves in the wind. But we listen and strive to learn, 
 while our poor human brains ache with the impossibleness 
 of its task. But we want more each day; we go to the 
 quiet place and listen and we are always rewarded by 
 something new made known to us. 
 
 Nearly all the remaining messages of this book were 
 given me clairaudiently, a few by automatic writing, and 
 still fewer by planchette. 
 
 'Dear Son: 
 
 "Where I am now there are those who have spent a 
 
THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 61 
 
 lifetime in the service of the Master, together with those 
 who have advanced thru purity of life on earth thru the 
 realms below. 
 
 "There are certain conditions more \ than places. 
 There are places. The homes as you rise from realm to 
 realm are grander and more beautiful. And here arises 
 a question: Why are these homes in these several realms 
 if the soul is eternally rising? Ans. You carry your home 
 with you. You see, we do not build with brick and mor- 
 tar here. They are spiritual homes, so as we rise our 
 homes rise with us. The first foundation of these homes 
 is character. As we progess, they grow more and more 
 beautiful, beyond anything even we can comprehend. 
 They become spiritual palaces, a delight to us all, the 
 description of which I am incapable of giving you. 
 
 "Congenial souls blend here and never separate. I 
 shall always be near you, because there has grown up be- 
 tween us this bond of love and helpfulness, ordained of 
 God. You say where are our friends? They are scat- 
 tered just as all are scattered. Some come immediately 
 to me, others, and some of those my best loved, will have 
 a long tedious journey. But I am waiting and God is 
 merciful. Their dwelling place will be far away for a 
 long time. Oh I would have gathered them as a hen gath- 
 ers her brood, but they would not. But I see them some- 
 times. I am well pleased with you my son, whom I have 
 chosen to carry on my work. Yes, I am well pleased, but 
 I knew it. 
 
 "Your application was great. Many a time have I 
 thrashed my people with my own shortcomings and trans- 
 gressions, and those very sermons did more good than 
 any of my attempts at theology. I guess I never had much 
 theology about me anyway. The seed you sowed today 
 will soon sprout. The great Inspirer will expand that 
 growth. 
 
 Mr. Br 
 
 In the above I believe Mr. B. referred to his own 
 shortcomings to sort of sooth the young minister's unrest 
 over a sermon he had preached the previous day, for he 
 
62 THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 
 
 had remarked to me that he felt all thru the sermon as 
 though he were preaching to himself, and that he need- 
 ed it. 
 
THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 63 
 
 CHAPTER XI 
 
 Follows a mention of the presence of Jesus Christ 
 among the hosts of Heaven, materialization of spirit bod- 
 ies, preparation for the future life, etc. 
 
 "There are points of light that illumine the souls of 
 men. Here we know it is the Light of God, mortals call 
 it a desire for the good. As Jesus Christ, in His master- 
 ful way moves among the angels here we who have been 
 mortals are lifted to the heights in an ecstasy of feeling 
 we cannot describe. After He has passed we are so filled 
 with love, spirit tho we are, that we seem to take on 
 again the mortal form and crucify it again and again so 
 to be like Him. 
 
 "It is then that it is easiest to materialize. If only 
 we can reach the soul on earth whose belief is strong 
 enough to see. Some are strong and willing to see, even 
 anxious. Sometimes our visits are ill-timed and the world 
 and its cares or excitements, stand between us and we 
 wait, but all to no purpose. Often they say, I felt my 
 loved one very close to me today. It seemed I could see 
 him, but I did not. Now, for those who have this feeling, 
 let me say at once become quiet and speak aloud to the 
 loved one and give him a chance to speak to you. Get a 
 pencil and paper, rest your arm lightly upon the table and 
 see if you will not get a message. Sometimes it would be 
 put into your mind very distinctly when it could not 
 come thru your fingers by automatic writing. But I say, 
 always give us a chance. Too often the door is closed in 
 our faces. Too often we are motioned away. 
 
 "If you only knew how hard we try to make our 
 presence known and felt, and the longing of our spirits 
 to have our earth friends welcome us. I have stood by 
 the hour, by my dear wife before she came here, begging 
 her to speak to me. But she did not know. There was 
 
64 THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 
 
 one near to her who condemned this truth, who some day- 
 will stand where I stand and he will call and call, and 
 none will answer. There are many such. I wish you 
 knew what God thinks of a conceited man. 
 
 "To those who waver, let me say, it doesn't pay. 
 You are only wasting time. When you come here you 
 must begin at the bottom. The bottom of what? Why 
 you must begin as a little child. If you have not grown 
 in this Truth while on earth, you cannot expect to enter 
 the senior class any more than a babe could enter a class 
 in physics or chemistry or any high grade of education. 
 And you can't escape it either. You will want to, oh, 
 how you'll want to, but it cannot be done. Down you go 
 into the baby class. 
 
 "You look ahead and around you and see i those 
 whom you consider your inferiors and say, 'How does it 
 come that these can go on, and I am put here with these 
 weaklings. Don't you know how I was always a leader 
 of men) A man of wealth and position, a man of great 
 education? Why I was one of earth's great men and here 
 I am classed with these.' No use my friend, you should 
 have thought of that before. It's too late now. God is 
 no respector of persons. Now, is your chance. You 
 have the opportunity to study and learn of great things. 
 
 "The Truth that Jesus taught was the sureness of life 
 after death and the fact that earth souls could commun- 
 icate with those gone on to their long home, was demon- 
 strated in His time. Don't turn a deaf ear to a sure thing. 
 Don't revel in your self-conceit, thinking because you do 
 not believe a certain thing, it simply does not exist. Re- 
 adjust your thinking. Get into the Spirit of trust. Think 
 less of yourself and your conceits and more about God 
 and His wonders. 
 
 "That mystery of mysteries, — what happens just af- 
 ter the body dies? 
 
 "A bad man sees before him the remorse he after- 
 wards finds burning his soul and taking away his happi- 
 ness. Most spirits try to re-enter the body. They know 
 that body was once their hiding place, and if they can 
 only get back into it, they will be hidden from the agony 
 
THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 65 
 
 they felt from just that one glimpse of Heaven. Often 
 there is great darkness and gloom. Sometimes those he 
 has wronged in earth life come to meet him. Of course 
 he is forgiven, but he doesn't know it. 
 
 "A good man leaves his body without regret and 
 soon enters the magnificent home he built while on 
 earth, — we call it character.* * (We were cautioned about 
 preserving these records, for some day they would be 
 read by others than ourselves. We asked Mr. B. to tell 
 us how warnings were given. His answer was this) : 
 
 "I come to you and say, 'Come, I have something 
 to say to you, come with me. I have something to say to 
 you. Why do you not come with me? I keep on in 
 this way until our spirits seem to blend and you feel the 
 presence and that presence causes fear to enter your 
 mind and that fear develops caution. You cannot ac- 
 count for it, but you yield to it and are saved from some 
 possible disaster. There is a side to every one that is 
 open to ethereal influence. It is never closed. Thru 
 this we gain access to the soul of man. Through this are 
 given warnings." 
 
 The mystery of the separation of the spirit body 
 from the human body is explained here. Mr. B. gives 
 more interesting information. 
 
 "When the soul departs from the body, in other 
 words, when the body drops away from the soul, the soul 
 or spirit does not immediately leave. To be sure, it is free, 
 but unlike the locust, it does not immediately take its 
 flight. Like the seed planted in the earth, the new life 
 germinates. Now do not understand me as saying there 
 is anything holding the soul to the body. But there is a 
 lingering in the vicinity of the body. Now, the departing 
 soul should feel no regret, except pity for those who 
 mourn. 
 
 "In the case of those who take their lives, the soul 
 is crushed for a time with the body and cannot rise. This 
 is a part of their punishment. God has not called this 
 soul. It is man's work and clumsily done. Not left to 
 
66 THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 
 
 free itself thru the aid of the Father of all Spirits. It is 
 very hard for you to discriminate between the innocent 
 and the guilty. Some deliberately and wilfully take upon 
 themselves this responsibility, while others suffer from a 
 weakened intellect which has made them irresponsible. It 
 has been said that no man in his right mind would do 
 this thing, but this is wrong. There are hundreds who 
 deliberately force themselves into the presence of the Al- 
 mighty, unasked. It has been explained what their fate is 
 here. The worst phase of this is, many of them have un- 
 til just before their entrance here, at least, for a short 
 time, been innocent. God is merciful and just, and in 
 Hit mercy and justice, He discriminates between these 
 two classes and they are each dealt with according to His 
 will. 
 
 "The young girl betrayed and rejected, forced into 
 this world, is not brought to the same class or grade of 
 punishment with the man who has broken the command- 
 ments and dreads the discovery of his crime. Time must 
 pass ere this last class of criminals is permitted to enter 
 Heaven except the very lowest grades of the earth realm. 
 Yet, even here, God is merciful. The remorse and suffer- 
 ing of these spirits, which are called floating spirits, be- 
 cause they know no rest, is most deplorable. The visionary 
 may perhaps conceive some small part of the meaning of 
 my words. But to an ordinary mind there is no knowl- 
 edge, or the smallest conception of what I mean. Let me 
 give you an idea, slight as it may be, of one other condi- 
 tion. 
 
 "Those who have striven to rise from realm to 
 realm, who have committed some crime, like murder, or 
 been instrumental in taking another's life, have prayed 
 for forgiveness. It has been granted. They come here 
 and all is well, until, in their advancement from realm to 
 realm, they encounter the soul they ushered into this 
 place. Here again words fail me. They shrink and would 
 hide forever. You see, God has forgiven them, has ac- 
 cepted them, because they asked His forgiveness, and 
 He loves them, but that did not take away the awful 
 sting of remorse. They fain would remain forever in 
 
THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 67 
 
 these lower realms in order to escape contact with this 
 soul. They follow from afar and not until after long 
 struggles can they overcome and mount up where this 
 one must come in contact with them. 
 
 "It is very hard to translate spirit language back in- 
 to the one we knew on earth. Mistakes must be made. 
 We cannot help it." 
 
 MESSAGE FROM CLAUDIA 
 
 "From all I have told you dear Marmie, you know 
 now that I am happy. Not only I, but everybody here. 
 In spite of the wretchedness of earth, in spite of the fact 
 that we see and know it all, we are happy. I have al- 
 ways had companions of my own age, congenial souls, 
 and we never grow old here. We never see decrepit old 
 bodies dragging themselves along as you see them. The 
 spirit body is perfect in every respect, and grows more 
 and more beautiful by contact with this world. It is such 
 a joy to see only fresh young faces. Not a soul here but 
 suffers remorse sooner or later, but each bears his own 
 burden and the hope that is within us buoys us up to high 
 aims and joyous expectations. 
 
 "We have fun here, yes, there are regular laugh 
 feasts. You know I couldn't get along without my fun. 
 You'd laugh to see the old sobersides here. Well, there 
 aren't any. This is no place for a sobersides. It is laugh 
 or be miserable. Why innocent laughter, such as you 
 know, is inborn in the spirit, just as much as a longing to 
 be good is inborn in most human beings. 
 
 "I seem to be a favorite with children here, Marmie. 
 I think it is because I have always been a child myself. 
 The way things are planned here for the entertainment 
 of children is beyond description. They must grow, and 
 there is every facility for their proper growth, and not a 
 hindrance anywhere. Such beautiful playtimes; such 
 glorious music; birds and every joyous thing that children 
 love. And above all, no quarreling. Ha ha! Isn't that 
 an unheard of thing? Just laughter and love and happi- 
 ness among them. No snatching of playthings, no crying, 
 
68 THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 
 
 no pouting, and last but not least, no smutty faces. Sweet 
 clean little cherubs! How I love them. Don't think that 
 I have seen all the children in Spirit world. 
 
 "There are laws here the same as in your world. 
 There must be laws. 
 
 "Nell, you cannot realize what awaits you here. I 
 could tell you a lot about it, but I am afraid I might make 
 you discontented. You are doing some fine work about 
 now. Keep It up. 
 
 "A young man that you and I never knew on earth 
 is here, and we are great companions. His name was 
 Dell. ^ 
 
 "I am glad to see Helene's future so bright. Art is 
 the finest work of God. His work is all a work of art, that 
 no man can ever attain to. I shall be very near you dur- 
 ing the Easter time, for then is when the angels visit the 
 earth in a more glorious garb and with a holier mission 
 than at any other time. 
 
 "I wish you to tell my friends of all this. I am sorry 
 Doctor is no closer. He will believe some day, but we 
 must never censure nor blame. It is too wonderful for 
 some to believe. Think you God has stopped at this 
 crude stage? Is the world perfect in the present rough 
 state? Oh, no. He has wonderful surprises in store for 
 this world, but they must come one at a time. The pres- 
 ent age is one of the greatest because it is the one that 
 draws aside the veil between the earth and the spirit 
 world. Greater things are to come. 
 
 "Well, I must not weary you. I will come again 
 soon. 
 
 Claudia." 
 
 (The Nellie referred to here, is Claudia's sister. 
 Helene, is the daughter of Nellie.) 
 
THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 69 
 
 CHAPTER XII 
 
 "The flowers of heaven are like the flowers of earth 
 in many respects. They do not grow from soil, but just 
 spring everywhere. When one is broken from its stem 
 another comes to take its place. No devastation is seen 
 anywhere, order and beauty rule supreme. Not alone do 
 flowers and plants exude perfume, but every thing has 
 its own ravishingly delicate scent, which prevades every- 
 thing. No material thing is here, but sometimes the sem- 
 blance of it. Everything is tempered to our needs. We 
 have all freedom wherein to wander, and all opportunity 
 to advance. We have senses, of course they too are spirit 
 senses, and oh, how happy we are. 
 
 "Our mode of travel from place to place as you call 
 it? You wonder how this is done. Oh, we just appear. 
 We have told you, thought brings us. I will tell you as 
 nearly as I can, so you may understand in part. I wish 
 to go to 'my son Mr. Staley* at Chautauqua. His thought 
 is calling me. I am spirit. I have at my command the 
 power of spirit to go and come at will, a free agent. I 
 cannot explain to you our mode of transportation, except 
 that we go on spirit waves. It is not possible, but God 
 has so planned that we have always with us, what you 
 would call a vehicle. What I am about to explain is but 
 a faint semblance of its actual appearance. 
 
 "A cloud of mist rolled up, gathered together with 
 jewels glistening brightly, with glory that is shed from 
 rays from the Master's face. This vehicle, which I shall 
 call Mercy, since it is used for that purpose, is adapted to, 
 and fitted for the work we have to do. There is about 
 it on all sides, and encased in it, an aura which designates 
 our personality and by which we are known to all, where- 
 ever we may be. It is not that I am seen as you see. The 
 spirits here are attracted only by the glory of my vehicle. 
 
70 THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 
 
 This description is a very poor one, but I cannot make it 
 plainer to you. 
 
 Mr. B." 
 
 "This work to which you are called is no child's 
 play. The words spoken, which you have taken pains 
 to copy, are inspired words. No scripture was ever more 
 pure than this. These records you are preserving shall 
 one day be read from one end of your earth to the other. 
 Around the earth this truth is bound to reach. You will 
 rejoice some day that you were chosen God's desciple to 
 do this work, but not as you will when you behold the 
 golden letters between the lines, when Christ shall come 
 in His glory and lay before you the open book, and upon 
 its pages you shall read, 'This mighty Truth was spread 
 by me, and thru my instrumentality many souls were 
 converted to Christ.' This you shall one day realize. I 
 can feel the interest you have taken in this work. Do not 
 wish to lay down the burden, but go on as you are led. 
 
 "Some of the most noted men of the next century 
 are being raised up to preach this gospel. There are few, 
 some of the great ones, who are brave enough to preach 
 it today. They are gradually giving out more and more 
 of it to their people, so this seed is being sown, little by 
 little, grain upon grain, in soil which is ready to receive it. 
 This has been a gradual growth in one way. When we 
 are ready we shall not wait, but all at once it shall be 
 opened and poured out upon the heads of the people. It 
 will be a shower some of them are not expecting. Part 
 of the world no doubt will be shocked, but the time has 
 come when it needs shocking. There are more believers 
 today than anyone knows of. 
 
 Mr. B." 
 
 1 894. "All eyes seem directed to me this morning, 
 because I am the favored one and can speak to you. You 
 may be sure we shall not be idle. The friends you ex- 
 pect to see soon are now on their way." (This referred 
 to the friends spoken of in the first pages of this book who 
 came to Leslie, and who had wonderful experiences 
 while there). 
 
THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 71 
 
 THE VOICE OF GOD 
 
 "You read that the prophets of old heard the voice 
 of God. This is true, in that they heard it just as you 
 hear it today. That desire deep in the soul of every man, 
 a good impression, you call it a desire to be, or do. The 
 difference is, the old prophets not only heard this voice, 
 but obeyed it. They recognized these good desires as 
 the voice of God and honoured it by obedience to its 
 commands. Whenever they turned aside as some did, 
 disaster was sure to follow. So they learned that to obey 
 was the law of God, and this was God's way of leading 
 them as you are being led today. For he has said — "if 
 you hear my voice and love me, you will obey me.* Men 
 hear, but it is like the passing of the wind. They feel it 
 upon their cheek, but heed it not." 
 
 (Mr. B here incites to greater care of the 
 
 body). 
 
 "We have stationed sentinels, you would call them, 
 we call them protecting angels, all along the way. You 
 wonder sometimes at your impressions and say, 'Is that 
 genuine or bogus?* When we have a task to perform we 
 never doubt. The face of the Master is not always visi- 
 ble to us, but His Glory ever, and we are content. 
 
 "When those real heart impressions come to you, re- 
 member to obey them. You have been told that this is 
 your training school and I bid you go into the world and 
 preach this truth. Some of these things have been given 
 you from some of your friends and acquaintances here 
 who are suffering remorse from sins against their bodies. 
 God has given you a body and placed within it your soul. 
 All there can ever be of you. It is the temporal home of 
 your soul. Your body should be kept sacred and pure 
 for that purpose and you have no more right to contami- 
 nate that body than you have to stick a knife into your 
 neighbor. It's worse than murder, for you kill your soul, 
 while on the other hand you kill only the body of your 
 neighbor. Any object you may wrongfully crave, any 
 indulgence you may cherish, rots your soul and pollutes 
 your body. It is God's body, do you know it? Loaned to 
 
72 THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 
 
 you for a time as a carriage to transport your soul thru 
 the world. Therefore I say, it does not belong to you to 
 abuse and destroy. My dear son, your great desire is to 
 do good to others, and I shall help you. Warn men of 
 the great disgrace of abusing their bodies. When they 
 learn for a certainty that spirit world is all around them, 
 they will be ashamed of their disgraceful actions and 
 turn to God. Yes we see it all, every bit. 
 
 "We ask you to be very prayerful. The angels are 
 singing in glory for the souls that have been saved, for 
 the souls here that have been advanced and grown more 
 beautiful, because of the interest that has been awakened 
 in you toward them. There has been established between 
 you and them a strain that vibrates in tune to your heart, 
 a strain more sweet than any music earth has ever heard, 
 creating within your heart the true spirit of happiness, 
 charming all about you with a beauty of purpose the 
 reality of which is beyond the comprehension of the mind 
 of man. Compare your present attitude toward God 
 with your former knowledge of Him and His works, your 
 small possessions of heart and mind with the great riches 
 you now possess, riches you can bring with you when you 
 come here. They are only crumbs from the Master's table 
 but you are now ready for the feast, the great feast of the 
 soul upon God. 
 
 "Some things we have discussed seemed of little im- 
 portance to you. Some seemed impossibilities, some have 
 passed without a full understanding. We have tried not 
 to mislead you. You have had doubts and fears, but now 
 I see in your heart a sweet and perfect trust, a feeling that 
 you have been with God and walked with Him. 
 
 "You and yours now know that your friends have 
 not gone out of your lives, but that they have entered in- 
 to them, and are a part of them. And you now feel you 
 have a great and mighty power behind and ahead of you, 
 a priceless jewel above all calculation. Yes, my friend, 
 you have seen Heaven and walked and talked with the 
 angels. You have made the connection between us a 
 perfect one, a complete line, that can never be broken. 
 
THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 73 
 
 We stand ready and willing at your slightest invitation to 
 help you. 
 
 "Be not over-anxious; seek not for signs and won- 
 ders, seek knowledge but only through the purest chan- 
 nels. The purpose is yet to be shown. A work has been 
 started with you that shall spread throughout the world. 
 It is Christ born again. You must be ready and willing 
 to accept persecutions, remembering it is all for the glory 
 of God and His son, Jesus Christ. It is the second coming 
 of your Lord and Master, promised in the Bible, for he 
 will be seen of men. * Be ye lifted up, even as the son 
 of Man was lifted up, that ye may show forth His great 
 glory and bring to, and establish upon earth, His King- 
 dom, Amen.' " 
 
 Some of his family had warned the minister of the 
 shame and disgrace that awaited him should his church 
 people make the horrible discovery that their pastor was 
 "dabbling in spiritism." Followed a useless discussion in 
 which Mr. B. finally took a hand. 
 
 1 894. "Probe as deeply as they may into this truth, 
 turn upon it their strongest lens, they will find no fault. 
 Those great ones may come and pry and probe, but they 
 are only stepping into a new life and before they know 
 it, will be living in the atmosphere of a wonderful world. 
 We have nothing to hide. We need no screens to shield 
 us or our doings from the world, for we are in obedience 
 to the command of Christ, the Savior of us all. 
 
 "There is nothing to be ashamed of. You will see 
 this when you consider the fact that God has seen fit to 
 so privilege us, to commune and advise with those who 
 are upon another plane of life. It seems to me that in- 
 stead of censure or distrust and shame, that poor mortal 
 man should bow his head in his weakness, and fear lest 
 his doubts destroy him. So 'Lift up the Standard before 
 the people. Open ye the Gates that the King of Glory 
 may come in.' All space is peopled with the hosts from 
 the Heavenly Shrine. Some are purified who roam at will. 
 
74 THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 
 
 Others, who, like us, have chosen one to whom they can 
 render assistance. I repeat what has been said before. 
 The next decade is the beginning of a great awakening 
 and wonderful development of this power. 
 
 'This truth creates such a delightful atmosphere in 
 the home. It raises the standard of society. Too much 
 time is frittered away. Amusement is commendable, but 
 you cannot see as we see, and to you it does not seem 
 dreadful, these society amusements. Could you look 
 deeper, as we do, my friends, and see 'Society' with its 
 vices, its weaknesses, oft times among refined, educated 
 people, your spirit would shudder as mine does, and won- 
 der how God in His Infinite mercy stays His hand so long. 
 However, retribution is sure to come and in an hour when 
 they think not. But we are all around them too, and all 
 heaven knows and sees what they do and can also read 
 their hearts. 
 
 Mr. B." 
 
THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 75 
 
 CHAPTER XIII 
 
 For my own satisfaction, (for it may not be of the 
 slightest interest to my readers), I insert the following 
 message given my husband only three months before he 
 passed out of this life. I believe he portrayed the minis- 
 ter's life in this little parable. To me it is a prophecy of 
 the passing of the minister. 
 
 Jan. 1915. "To my dear son: — You are indeed, 
 as has been said of you, in the 'zenith of your power.* I 
 rejoice to see this day. I have seen the single drop of 
 dew that settled upon the mountain-top, seen it mingle 
 with the unseen forces of nature, until it has attracted to 
 it the elements of rock and earth and sky; until it has be- 
 come a tiny sparkling rivulet that has danced its way 
 down the mountainside and leaping off into space un- 
 known, has found security and room to move in the deep- 
 er broader river and thence into the great expanse of 
 ocean, whose great bosom swells and mothers this child 
 that has come to her. The world moves in great ships 
 upon its surface and feels the freedom and joy of its vast- 
 ness. Where now is that tiny drop? Where the dancing 
 brooklet, and the majestic river? And has it entered this 
 great body only to remain stagnant? Oh, no! It throws 
 on high its sweetest essence and from the very clouds is 
 distilled the influence which shall drop into human lives 
 and souls and there leaven and enliven the forces put 
 there by the Great Infinite. 
 
 "Now all these manuscripts you have, you must pre- 
 serve, see that no harm shall come to them. They will yet 
 go out to the world beside Sweedenborg's works, only on 
 a still higher plane, and you do not know what great im- 
 portance attaches to the fact that they be preserved. 
 
 "Now my friend, there is yet to come the seed which 
 is already growing, that shall be greatly instrumental in 
 
76 THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 
 
 giving this truth out to the world. The world today is 
 ready, and waiting for it; from the east, west, north and 
 south, conies the demand for a purification of even the 
 churches of Christ, something more tangible, something 
 people can have to look upon, to hear and see that they 
 have not in this. So shall this truth spread from pole to 
 pole, and through all countries, and among all nations, 
 and Christ will come again in all his glory. Amen! 
 
 Mr. B.- 
 Ralph Waldo Trine declares: "There is a great law 
 in connection with the coming of truth. It is this: When- 
 ever a man or woman shuts himself or herself to the en- 
 trance of truth on account of intellectual pride, prejudices, 
 preconceived opinions, or for whatever reason, there is a 
 great law which says that truth in its fulness will come to 
 that one from no source, and on the other hand, when a 
 man or woman opens himself or herself fully to the en- 
 trance of truth from whatever source it may come, there 
 is an equally great law which says, that truth will flow in 
 to him or her from all sources, from all quarters. Such 
 becomes the free man, the free woman, for it is the truth 
 that makes us free. The other remains in bondage, for 
 truth has had no invitation and will not enter where it is 
 not fully and freely welcomed." 
 And there you are I 
 
THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 77 
 
 CHAPTER XIV 
 
 Mr. Staley preached many sermons on the Father- 
 hood of God, and the Brotherhood of Man. It was his 
 favorite theme. He wanted men to know that his God 
 was a God of love, who cared when His children were 
 suffering, when in need of sympathy and help. He want- 
 ed them to come to Him. Something had | been said 
 about the belief of God as a Force, which of course takes 
 away that sweet relationship of Father, as we believe and 
 think of God. Mr. Staley then made this remark: "I 
 wonder what Mr. B. and the rest of them think about it." 
 But nothing was given us for some time. When the 
 answer came to a dear friend and myself through Plan- 
 chette, it was this: 
 
 FATHERHOOD OF GOD 
 
 'Try for a little while to let go of all you have 
 learned to know and love in God as your Heavenly Fath- 
 er, and think of Him as simply cold Force or Power, or 
 just Impetus that shoots things ahead, season after season. 
 What incentive does that give a man to be good and pure 
 or care what he does? On the other hand, think of a 
 real, loving God, as a Father who loves you, is leading you 
 and guiding you, who cares for you and who grieves 
 when you go wrong, who has prepared a future home for 
 you, when you are thru with mortal life. Which of 
 these appeals to your soul? Who wants to go back and 
 live another life on the earth which perhaps could be no 
 better than the last one had been, when one can go on 
 progressing higher and higher, with no more death, no 
 more sickness and no more sorrow, which I say, appeals 
 to your real self?" 
 
 We were bidden to try the spirits to see if they be 
 true or false. At times we were led to believe some 
 "floating spirit" might be trying to deceive us, but we had 
 very little cause to doubt the source of the communica- 
 
78 THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 
 
 tions. They were all of such an high order and so pure 
 in text and tone that we knew they could not come from 
 an evil source. But when they began to tell us about 
 visiting the planets, describing conditions upon Mars, etc., 
 we own to feeling sort of nonplused. It seemed unbe- 
 lievable at first, just as it seems to you who read about 
 it here. But the more we were told, the greater became 
 our belief that what was told us was true. What would 
 their object be in dragging the heavenly bodies into the 
 communications, since they had no end of far more in- 
 teresting things to tell us? However we came to believe 
 in Mars as being inhabited, and hoped we might be so 
 fortunate as to some day enter its portals. By this time 
 Mars was no more a mysterious place to us than New 
 York or London. So when Mr. J. W. told us he was soon 
 to visit Mars, we thought it was a very usual thing for him 
 to do, and bade him God speed. His message seems to 
 have a prophetic tone when he speaks of giving to God 
 through His poor suffering children. The one who gave 
 us this message was the father of a very dear friend, who 
 exclaimed, "Just imagine my father going to Mars. Isn't 
 it strange and wonderful?" Yes to us it is strange and 
 wonderful, but no more wonderful than the fact of the 
 messages themselves. 
 
 1910. "To my child : — I am soon going to visit Mars. 
 You see Mars is far advanced, and annually throws off its 
 evil forces because the good dominates and they are 
 growing better and better all the time, these Martians as 
 you call them. Well, when this force is thrust out, thrown 
 off, it goes flying into space and roams around until it 
 strikes some other body, when it expresses itself again, 
 just as it was before. Then woe unto the unfortunate 
 wanderer who happens to come in contact with it. I am 
 happy that I am going to see Mars. I shall probably re- 
 main there sometime. You see this is a part of our edu- 
 cation and we go on and on and that makes eternity. How 
 strange this seems to you my child. But do not try to 
 solve the problem. You never can, neither can we. 
 
THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 79 
 
 "Give my love to the rest, be good to the poor, 
 cheer the lonely, comfort the sorrowing and suffering 
 ones, and pray for the poor struggling world. Be faith- 
 ful, trust and know your God is your defense in every 
 time of need. You have much to live for. Stand and cry 
 to those who oppress the poor, 'Recompense, turn I com- 
 mand you and give to God thru his poor suffering child- 
 ren, and receive your reward.' My love is great. Your 
 father has spoken. Heed my words. 
 
 J. W." 
 
 Says Emerson — "Foolish people ask you, when you 
 have spoken what they do not wish to hear, "How do you 
 know it is truth, and not an error of your own?' We 
 know truth when we see it, from opinion, as we know 
 when we are awake that we are awake." Then quoting 
 Swedenborg — "It is no proof of a man's understanding 
 to be able to affirm whatever he pleases, but to be able to 
 discern that what is true is true, and that what is false is 
 false. This is the mark and character of intelligence." 
 
 While Emerson in his essay "The Over Soul" dis- 
 courages the very thing this book teaches, I reflect that 
 the author wrote his essays many years ago. 
 
 The desire to communicate with friends is shown in 
 this wish of J. W. as he tells us how our friends are all 
 around us. I have had people tell me with a shiver, "Oh, 
 mercy! I don't want my friends to come back. I would 
 be scared to death, etc." I cannot understand such an 
 attitude, for it is very comforting to me to know my de- 
 parted friends are all about me. 
 
 "Give me a little time. Such a chance is not given 
 to many. Now while you are sitting quietly together, the 
 room is filled with those you have loved and given back 
 to God. (Question: Why can we not feel them and 
 know they are here). Ans. You would not be able to 
 endure it yet. They are all around you. Spirit is real 
 and the only real thing in the universe. 
 
 Mr. J. W." 
 
80 THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 
 
 MESSAGE GIVEN TO A FRIEND AND MYSELF 
 
 May 12, 1909. "There is to be one i Universal 
 Church some day, and it will never be an orthodox 
 church. Can you imagine such a church? It will come as 
 surely as you are talking to me. Your two lives will nev- 
 er be the same again. You are growing in grace and you 
 must use your influence for good. I told 'my son' long 
 years ago to preach this truth. But he has had to be care- 
 ful. You will sow much seed. Oh the joy we feel to see 
 you studying these truths. Your lives are becoming more 
 and more beautiful. (We remarked that we read our 
 Bible with more interest and understanding than ever be- 
 fore). Ans. The Bible should be your constant compan- 
 ion. You can always get a meal out of it. Some time you 
 will understand it better than you do now. Let your 
 thoughts dwell upon it more, and worldly matters less. 
 Sometime you will be thrown together far away from 
 people, where you will have a feast of fat things, and you 
 will take a journey together. Ques. Where? Ans. 
 Northwest. I do not often prophesy. 
 
 "The present generation will communicate direct 
 with us. Contact with this world is a great privilege and 
 one but very few have. It is a great purifier and a help 
 to more spiritual living. Do you not find it so? 
 
 "Ques. Where is the machinery to work out God*» 
 will? 
 
 "Ans. Why my dear sister, in your own hearts. Sec 
 that you keep them without sin or blemish. You must 
 always take a little time to talk over the message. Some 
 things about Mars will be given you next time. 
 
 Mr. B." 
 
 Oh man, — go on with your attempts to communi- 
 cate with Mars. Enlarge your telescopes, build your ob- 
 servatories higher and higher. Use every device known 
 to man to invent a code that will be understood by the 
 beings of another planet, if so be there is life upon the 
 other planet (?) But forget not this, spirit waves will 
 be the vehicle to bear your messages. To man, distance 
 is the barrier, but to spirit it is but the span of a breath." 
 
THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 81 
 
 "Mars is much in advance of earth and where some 
 few of earth dwell." 
 
 Ques. Then some few of earth dwell upon Mars? 
 
 Ans. You could not communicate with Mars other- 
 wise. There are some few men, of extraordinary invent- 
 ive talents, who have been sent to Mars from earth and 
 when they have succeeded in communicating with earth, 
 they will pass on higher thru transfiguration. You will 
 know all about it some day. You see, Mars is an im- 
 mensely advanced world or planet. They have great 
 electrical resources and have chained the atmosphere al- 
 most to an atom. They have been signalling other plan- 
 ets but especially earth for many years. The mirror scheme 
 will only help to develop the real instrument. We know 
 a great many conclusions but cannot give the process for 
 we are not allowed to foretell God's work. 
 
 Ques. Who is talking? 
 
 Ans. No. 
 
 Ques. Why? 
 
 Ans. You are doing now just what you condemn in 
 others — not satisfied. So good bye. 
 
THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 83 
 
 CHAPTER XV 
 
 Mrs. H. was a friend who had passed on a few years 
 before Mr. Staley. She was a woman who was every- 
 body's friend. She possessed a fine sense of humor and 
 a wit which flashed out with surprising brilliancy. While 
 she was not a pious woman, she was a Christian in every 
 sense of the word. She began speaking to us first through 
 Planchette, then by automatic writing. Her messages 
 were always intensely interesting and many of them ex- 
 tremely funny, showing she is still true to her nature. 
 
 "Humor, or a sense of humor, is everywhere here. 
 I was a different woman after I read science. Christ was 
 more to me, and now, just think, I have seen Him and 
 talked with Him. The thought is too great. You cannot 
 comprehend it, can you? You cannot realize it. That 
 Man you read about so much in the Bible! But the half 
 was never told of Him. His presence is so sweet to us 
 we cannot describe it. We are blessed indeed, so you 
 will be. 
 
 Mrs. H." 
 
 Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens) took possession of 
 the Planchette one day and kept us guessing for some 
 time. We asked who was talking, but his reply was, "Oh 
 an old man who has not been here very long." This was 
 in 1914. He bade us to use caution and protect our- 
 selves from intruders while he was talking to us. The 
 door of the room was ajar. He told us to "first shut the 
 door." We closed it and asked again who he was. The 
 answer was, "The old man who made a living by often 
 making a fool of himself and other people. I'm happy 
 but I wish I had one more whack at the old world. I al- 
 ways said if I had a chance to come back and talk to peo- 
 
84 THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 
 
 pie, I was going to do it, and now here is my chance and 
 I'm going to talk." 
 
 Ques. "Won't you tell us who you are, please?" 
 Ans. "The old man in white. Think." 
 After much speculation and thinking we guessed his 
 name, but were wondering if it could be, since he had 
 not been there very long, and his saying he made a fool 
 of himself and other people made us think "Clemens" at 
 once. Like a flash came, "Yes." 
 
 "You are the most congenial couple I've seen since 
 I came here. I am happy. I have my wife and my child- 
 ren and am the happiest I have been in thirty years. Keep 
 on learning all you can about this place, and that will be 
 little enough. I had my troubles and you are having 
 yours, but it will all end in glory. 
 
 "The world needs you. I had my turn at it and the 
 world is good enough to say it misses me. About the sin- 
 cerity of it all? Well, I used to think I had some friends 
 but there are many more than I counted on. I never did 
 believe much in monopoly. Its time for me to evapor- 
 ate — good bye. 
 
 Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens)." 
 
 Interjected between the messages from various ones 
 were words of encouragement to the minister, from Mr. 
 B. This date was 1909. 
 
 "My friend, your opportunity for study is wonder- 
 ful. Your privilege has been great. You havei sown 
 seed to redeem the world. You will see the saints, my 
 friends, but be sure you wear upon your soul the insignia 
 of Jesus Christ." 
 
 Advice of this kind always made us feel very small 
 and unworthy. 
 
 "Practice the Presence of God, and see how your 
 spirit will grow. And now in your hearts pledge your 
 freedom and live above the annoyances others bring into 
 
THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 85 
 
 your lives. Avoid all anger, no matter what the provo- 
 cation. Anger is deadly poison and tends to shorten 
 life. You now have the way pointed out to you. You 
 can walk in it if you will. 
 
 "Not until you come here will you know the real 
 value of these messages. God is an All Prevading Pres- 
 ence and heaven is all around you. (There had been a 
 
 great deal of anxiety over the future of L , hence 
 
 this encouragement). L will be very happy. You 
 
 see we read hearts and what is in them, we know. You 
 must practice realization, live it, and you will have every 
 wish for good fulfilled. Use the forces of life in such a 
 way that you will be master of every circumstance and 
 condition, as well as environment. Read in the Scriptures 
 of Him who knew. If you are vindictive or filled with 
 avarice, you cannot receive. You cannot heal." 
 
 The following visit with Mrs. Hall, was with a friend 
 and myself. Mr. Staley was not present. 
 
 "Wait until you see this subject an everyday topic. 
 It will be as common as a discussion of the flying machine, 
 or the last election. There is a great realm opening be- 
 fore Mr. Staley, a great world of knowledge. And this 
 too, is to come to mankind. You are only a little ahead. 
 Do not let things worry you or turn you aside. I wish 
 you to become living examples of the art of right living. 
 Do not practice self-condemnation so much. (Sometimes 
 we had indulged in it frequently). 
 
 "To be sure you are not angels yet, but you are do- 
 ing wrong to feel you are of so little importance. You, 
 like all others, have your identity with the Great Spirit. 
 The ocean, without every drop, is not whole. You will 
 come here to dwell among spiritual things, and you must 
 live the spiritual life. Then the spirit you cannot now 
 see, is awakened, and you see in spirit and behold the 
 Glory of God only as you are able to have all your part 
 of spirit, which you could not have while you inhabited 
 
86 THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 
 
 the body, because you were mortal. You are interesting 
 to us, too, because you enter into these conversations with 
 such vigor and earnestness. 
 
 "You see we have few avenues thru which to work." 
 Ques. "How long does it take the spirit to leave 
 the body?" 
 
 Ans. "For three days it simply hovers nigh, then 
 goes forth to purification. The earth holds attraction for 
 even the human soul, for a time after death of the body. 
 It has to gain strength to take its flight. (That is what you 
 would call it). No two have exactly the same experi- 
 ence. 
 
 Mrs. Hall." 
 
 Mr. Wente was a man beloved and respected by all 
 who knew him. He was always a friend in need, and in- 
 deed, many a poor boy or girl struggling for an educa- 
 tion, without means, was given assistance at the right 
 time. His left hand seldom knew what his right hand was 
 doing, but his great heart was always athrob for those in 
 need, and he never missed a chance to do good when 
 good was needed to be done. His going from our midst 
 was a great sorrow to the whole community, as well as 
 dear friends and neighbors. His was a humble spirit* 
 without boast or ostentation. He did what he could. 
 You can read his account of his entrance into that other 
 life, where even the cup of cold water is given mention. 
 His message begins — "To everybody" — so like him. 
 
 "To Everybody: — Oh, of course there will be a lot 
 of people who will doubt, but what do you care about 
 that? You know it's true and they will know it some 
 day. I was just as doubtful as anybody till I came here 
 and learned better. You can't blame the world for ignor- 
 ance. It's been so a long time and will continue to be so 
 a long time. But I wish I had known what I know now. 
 I guess I would have done things. Some people praised 
 me for some few things I did, but pshaw! I didn't do 
 much, but it was something, and I wanted to do more, 
 and there is where the best part of it comes in here. If 
 
THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 87 
 
 a fellow wants to do a nice thing and can't, he gets just 
 as much credit for it here as tho he really did it. But 
 when a man can do things and doesn't want to and 
 won't, well I would not want to be in his shoes when he 
 gets here. I tell you that kind of person man or woman, 
 is to be truly pitied. 
 
 "Now, when we get here, we do not all at once be- 
 gin to 'talk nice* and lay aside all our personality, but we 
 have to grow out of all that. The old way of talking and 
 thinking clings to us. Even slang is not entirely unknown 
 here for a time. After a while we get away from all those 
 things. But what is slang but a perversion of the English 
 language? It doesn't hurt anyone. It isn't elegant, that's 
 all. 
 
 "Well, I'm seeing my way out now and the cup of 
 cold water I gave, helps a whole lot now. I'm learning to 
 pray and worship and my soul is growing whiter every 
 day. So please think of your old townsman as quite the 
 good gentleman. I can see your eyes open when you 
 read this. I see Mr. Staley often and I wish you could. 
 Well, Ella and all, good bye. Maybe I'll speak again. 
 
 Wm. Wente." 
 
 This message from Mr. Wente is characteristic of 
 the man. While receiving this message (by the voice of 
 the sender) it seemed as tho I were just sitting face to 
 face with him. It was so real that for days I could feel 
 the power of his presence, and the tones of his voice re- 
 mained with me. Mr. Staley assisted at the burial of this 
 good friend, and scarcely more than a month had passed 
 when he himself followed. 
 
THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 89 
 
 CHAPTER XVI 
 
 Mr. B. often spoke of the minister's magnetic pres- 
 ence, his power to hold the attention of his audiences, his 
 forceful utterances. As one man expressed it, "When 
 Mr. Staley shakes himself and puts that foot of his down, 
 its like a shock from a galvanic battery." It is this that 
 the leader refers to when he says: 
 
 "Can you understand when you reflect upon it, 
 where that tremendous power you exert over your aud- 
 ience comes from? You cannot understand it. Is there 
 no source away beyond and above your own whence 
 cometh this great power? Think you, you alone could 
 produce these marvelous demonstrations such as I wit- 
 nessed in your church last Sabbath? Ah no, my son. It 
 comes to you from the Great Spirit Life around you. It 
 it wholly spirit force, and is all around you; indeed it is 
 the spirits around you who, through Christ, have led you 
 all the way along thus far. Now prepare for more en- 
 during work. Rid yourself of every weight; live in the 
 atmosphere of spirit'; put in long hours next week. I 
 will help you and you shall not be over weary. 
 
 Mr. B." 
 
 The life work of the now successful minister is draw- 
 ing to a close. He knows it not, but not far away are 
 the heavenly gates, wherein he will enter, but let us not 
 anticipate. 
 
 In speaking of the similarity of some of the mes- 
 sages Mr. B. said, "There is only so much we can tell you 
 and we will all have a hand in it. You cannot know it 
 too well. One message you might forget while the many, 
 you will remember." In some of the messages Mr. B. re- 
 fers to "our friend Mr3. Porter" — Mrs. Porter is a dear 
 
90 THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 
 
 friend who lives in Lansing, Michigan, and who is deeply- 
 interested in our investigations. 
 
 For some time a dear friend Mrs. W. D. and I had 
 together received many beautiful and helpful messages 
 through Planchette. By me her sweet council and com- 
 panionship had been highly appreciated. One day Mrs. 
 W. D.'s father took possession of the Planchette and 
 said: 
 
 "You are ideal in your dealings with us. You have 
 been chosen to sow the seed. It's a noble work. Some 
 things are being wrought upon by scientists who are trying 
 to demonstrate along this line in a scientific manner. You 
 do not hear about it, but when the right time comes, you 
 will be called upon to testify. You desire spiritual knowl- 
 edge more than worldly. How often we hear the ques- 
 tion, 'Am I to have money?' Always money. You do 
 not ask that question, but you will be taken care of. You 
 will never want. This has indeed made of you a differ- 
 ent person." 
 
 Ques. "In what way?" 
 
 Ans. "You love the things of spirit and live upon 
 the Border Line. Think you, this would not help you to 
 live a better life? Have self control. When unpleasant 
 things happen and you are tempted to yield, smile and 
 say one word, 'Christ.' Train the muscles of your face 
 to smile instead of scowl. It's just as easy to smile, and 
 it will soon become second nature. You know it is my 
 great love for you that is speaking to you, do you not? 
 Good bye. 
 
 J. W." 
 
 We deemed ourselves especially fortunate, as well 
 as honored to be the recipients of so great knowledge 
 from the spirit world. Not only people we knew would 
 speak to us, but some we had never known, and often 
 had never heard of. We never saw Miss Dovel, altho in 
 later years her parents were numbered among our dearest 
 friends. I have received many communications, when the 
 one speaking showed the greatest delight. But scarcely 
 
THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 91 
 
 have I heard one who seemed so overflowing with delight 
 and ecstacy as did this young girl. 
 
 MESSAGE TO HER MOTHER FROM DOLLY DOVEL 
 
 "Mamma, oh Mamma, I am so glad of this little visit 
 with you and papa. I have followed you both around for 
 days together and when you have thought of me, I have 
 said, 4 I am here, mamma dear, don't you; feel me?' I 
 would stand before you, walking backward before you, 
 looking you straight in the eyes. When you wept I tried 
 to dry your tears. I have more than once perched upon 
 papa's knee, but when he felt uneasy he would cross his 
 feet the other way and did not say a word. There is no 
 use, I cannot make you see me. If you could only live in 
 the next century, then you could see me and talk to me. 
 But before then we will be together here and it won't mat- 
 ter about your seeing me, with your fleshly eyes. When 
 you are happy, then I am happy. 
 
 "I have seen Mr. Hall, he is not going to stay where 
 Mrs. Hall is for a long time mamma. He wishes now he 
 had heeded Mr. Staley's sermons and his good advice. 
 I saw Mr. Staley go and put his arms about Mr. Hall and 
 then vanish. He was dressed all in white and a great 
 diamond like star shone just above his head, and a cres- 
 cent hung just above the star. I wish I could describe 
 the crescent mamma, but I can't. It was a light and kept 
 giving off pure sparks of bright white light. And each 
 one of the sparks took wings and sailed away, and I saw- 
 that they were angel doves. I do not know even what 
 it meant. Only this I know, when one has done a lot of 
 good in the world, one is given symbols like this, that 
 follow wherever one goes, so all Heaven knows that one 
 was good on earth. Mr. Hall was so dazed he fell right 
 down before Mr. Staley. He knew him, but a perfect 
 wonder was upon his face. You must see Mrs. Staley 
 sometimes. She gets very lonely, (but my! what a house 
 she will have here.) 
 
 "I am teaching, mamma. Does that seem strange 
 
92 THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 
 
 to you? Well, I have a class of little children. There 
 is no such thing as sex here. They ate all just sweetj 
 little cherubs. They could learn all by themselves, but 
 anyone who loves children can work among them, and 
 1 love children. I shall always remain young. I am sure 
 papa will be glad of that. 
 
 "You see I am going to be one to meet you when 
 you come here and you will know me, for I look just the 
 same, only beautiful, oh so beautiful. You do not grow 
 old and homely in Heaven. Mr. Staley looks so glorious. 
 I do wish you could see him. He is so tender and gentle 
 and tries so hard to be like Christ. Now I must sftop 
 dear ones. Keep the door open so I can stay close up to 
 you. The more you believe, the closer I can get to you. 
 There, as you read this I'm just hugging and kissing you 
 both. 
 
 Your Dolly." 
 
 Since receiving this message, I always think of my 
 husband as Dolly Dovel has described him. 
 
 I have no son, but I fancy if I had a wayward son or 
 daughter, this message would bring to me the greatest 
 comfort and hope. 
 
 To a mother With Two Wayward Sons: 
 
 "You have become greatly discouraged about 
 your sons, but the germ was planted by God. Think you 
 it can die so easily? No, dear ones, trust Him. You 
 do not if you doubt the promises he has made you. You 
 wonder why the reality is not more real. You do not 
 understand why, after all your prayers and pleadings, you 
 seem so far from what you hoped for. My dear ones, 
 do you ever consider the necessity of the flight of time, 
 before the harvest can come? Can you place the grain of 
 wheat in the ground in autumn and expect it to become fit 
 for the harvest before the harvest time? No, ah no! 
 The deep snows of winter must cover it for long months. 
 The ice and frost of winter must hold it in their grasp 
 for long dreary waiting weeks and months ere you can 
 see the blade and bud appear, and this must come before 
 the full grain. You believe the grain is there, for you 
 
THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 93 
 
 know you sowed it in sowing time. You do not worry 
 for you know the snow must come sifting down upon the 
 field. You know this is necessary to growth. You say 
 "Yes it is best so" — and you are happy and you trust. 
 You cannot see the little green spikes for they are covered 
 with snow, but you somehow know they are there, and 
 trust and wait, and do not murmur. Now, my loved 
 ones, you have sown the seed, why not, why can you not 
 trust God, and wait. You must know it is there, the ice 
 and snow of disregard and passive neglect seem to cover 
 it out of sight, but the harvest time will come and all will 
 come and all will be well. Don't try to do God's work 
 and your own too. 
 
 M. R. 
 
THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 95 
 
 CHAPTER XVII 
 
 I never saw Mr. C — and had never heard of him, 
 till these messages came to his friend Mr. Briggs, 'who 
 says they are chasacteristic and just as he would express 
 himself. This is one case which proves the statement of 
 Mr. Wente, that slang is not entirely unknown for a 
 time. 
 
 To Mr. Briggs, former Mayor of N. Muskegon, Michigan. 
 
 "Well Mart, I am going to speak pretty fast, so keep 
 your eyes open. When I first awoke here I felt like a 
 man who had taken opiates and I wondered why they did 
 not give me something to strengthen me. But just then 
 I felt a sensation of falling and I lit on a bunch of feathers, 
 so to speak. I then saw my body and I saw that I had 
 left it and I tried to get back into it. But it gradually 
 faded away and I was in darkness. 
 
 T was neither man nor spirit, for I had no feeling. 
 But there I was and I felt like a drop suspended in mid- 
 air. And then I began to be afraid, for all at once my 
 whole life began to move before me and while I saw my 
 childhood, I seemed happy. But I knew what was com- 
 ing and was more afraid. And it all passed before me, 
 while I waited in the darkness. Then I heard a voice 
 saying, 'Are you proud of it? Are you fit to enter the 
 presence of the Almighty God and His Angels?' And 
 I sank down and lay there powerless. 
 
 "Then I saw my body again and it rebuked me, as 
 I saw how I had marred it and abused it. Then I heard 
 a wailing that made me so afraid. It was like the wailing 
 of lost souls. I said 'My God, am I to join tfc^ati crowd?* 
 and I knew their time to repent would be long and I cried 
 and said, 'Is it too late? Is there nothing I can do? 
 I am ashamed and sorry, oh my God forgive me,' I cried. 
 !n spirit is worse than in flesh, Mart, and all this time the 
 
96 THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 
 
 darkness grew more and more dark until I felt the whole 
 of me was crushed. 
 
 "Then I heard the sweetest voice I ever heard 
 and it said; "God forgives, you are forgiven. Come 
 with me.' Then the darkness gave way and it grew 
 gray and then light seemed to flood me and I made an 
 effort to follow the voice, but I could not. I called aloud. 
 1 saw nor heard anything until, had I been on earth, I 
 would have gone insane from the thought that I must stay 
 in this condition thru Eternity. 
 
 "But Mart, let me tell you, I was in hell, sure as you 
 live, and I know it. But some sense told me I had a 
 chance and I dwelt upon that thought until it began to 
 come true and if ever a man begged, it was I. Then the 
 voice said. "What have you done to save a soul? 
 What did you ever do for your own soul? This experi- 
 ence is simply the result of your neglect. No one is to 
 blame but yourself. You had a better chance on earth 
 but you chose to live in ignorance and let God mostly 
 alone. 
 
 "So Mart, come over with the goods. It's in you 
 and I must do something, or we both go bad. I am now 
 in earnest as never in my life. Well, then I felt a touch 
 upon my hand and an arm steal about me, and I just lay 
 down and that was my giving up Mart. Then I was 
 lifted up and borne away from all the darkness and I felt 
 such a peace and joy. But remorse is still eating me 
 Mart, and will for some time. But I'm getting out of that 
 Hell, and may you be good enough to yourself to keep 
 out of it. 
 
 "I see you are tired. I can finish another time. 
 Well, Mart, the old world is a pretty good one, but you 
 ought to see this. I am with people of my kind, all work- 
 ing to get higher. I am busy every minute and as I gain 
 a little, the sights are opened up to me. And the music 
 here Mart, is beyond me to describe. I will help you all 
 I can and will try to influence men to help you. Don't 
 worry and fret, for that makes matters worse. F 
 
THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 97 
 
 misses me and I feel sorry, she worries so. Now Good 
 bye, 
 
 1918. JohnC." 
 No. 2 from Mr. C. "Well, I am back and glad to 
 get your ear once more. You must be interested in this, 
 for you are my only hope Mart. Until I see you have 
 hold, good and tight, I shall keep pegging away at you. 
 And I want you to know this, that I am at your side, day 
 and night, and I shall stay there. You will feel me. I 
 have promised God to get you Mart, and get you I will. 
 You need me and I need you. This winter will seem very 
 long to you, but brace up, for I am looking after you. 
 
 Johnnie C." 
 
 No. 3. 1918 "Here I come again, my friend, I 
 have watched and waited, and now we will go to it, a 
 friendly chat. You are the only one Mart that I can 
 reach at all. I wish I had had a better start here. THIS 
 is LIFE, sure as you live. I was never more surprised in 
 my life than at conditions here. Why Mart, the whole 
 bunch is all over Christendom and they know all a fellow 
 does, sure as you live. There is no use beating around 
 the bush Mart. If I can do anything for you to help you 
 to escape the shame and remorse I have experienced in 
 the short while I have been here, you better believe I am 
 going to do it. Now you just take hold of things and 
 make your old friend happy. I have a dear family here. 
 So have you, and that's a binder. Good bye. 
 
 John C." 
 
 No. 4. 1918 "I have been wishing for you Mart, 
 every day. I follow you around and want to make 
 myself known, but I do not succeed very well. I have 
 a better place than I did have. I have my work to do 
 now. I am getting a pretty good foundation under my 
 
 home and some people from M would do well to have 
 
 as good prospects as I have. It's taken hard work, but 
 I'm getting there, I have plenty of company, for there 
 are millions no better off than I am. Don't drive me 
 away Mart. When this side shows you up to yourself 
 you feel mighty cheap. John C." 
 
98 THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 
 
 No. 5. 1918 "Well old boy, I have kept my pro- 
 mise to come again. I am after you and I do not propose 
 to have you go thru with what I have. I know I went the 
 limit but I am now paying the fiddler. But my soul gets 
 whiter every day Thank God. Just such acts as these 
 are helping me up the ladder. Now you are my special 
 charge; we all have one, and they are ours to get at. 
 Your mind is upon material things. That is natural 
 Mart, but I have a few sugegstions to make. Let me tell 
 you how to get what you want, then you try out the scheme 
 and see how things will come your way. First stop 
 your wholesale doubting. Then change your thinking. 
 Change your present way of living. I will help you. 
 
 God bye. John C." 
 
 The author of the following message was not quite 
 what she seemed to see herself to be at the time of the 
 writing. I did not know her well, but I had heard of her 
 many kind acts. It shows how spirit life makes them 
 wish they had done more. 
 
 "My dear friends: I am only a woman with a 
 woman's desires. You think your world is beautiful. 
 But oh this world is so beautiful. I am happy here. I 
 wish you could see the people who were purse-proud. 
 They are but a period upon the page. I wish you could 
 see the homes here. I wish you could see the homes 
 you are rearing here. They still have some open spaces, 
 but they will be filled in in time as the years go by.*' 
 Ques. "Will you tell us your name?" 
 Ans. "I will tell you in a moment. I do not a- 
 mount to much here yet. I feel that way in my own 
 estimation, While on earth I was considered at the 'Top 
 of society! I spent money like water, dressed like a pea- 
 cock and hung on to my pocket book. I thought if I 
 gave a poor soul a dollar I was honoring God, and should 
 have a deep notch cut in my walking stick. How I hated 
 it, that stick, yet I was dependent upon it. I could not 
 
THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 99 
 
 get along without it. I hated many things, besides, to 
 pay for which I am now writhing in remorse. Every day 
 I see what became of that wealth that tried to burn up 
 my soul. Well, we will drop it there. 
 
 "What I left undone, without a thought, I am now 
 trying to do, and I call upon you to help me. You are 
 so very different from the women I knew.** 
 
 Ques. "What did you think of us?" 
 
 Ans. "Just as I did of everybody else. I wish I 
 had known Mr. Staley as I know him now, and done some- 
 thing substantial for him. Too late now." 
 
 Mrs. " 
 
THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 101 
 
 CHAPTER XVIII 
 
 The Burns poem was given in the early days of our 
 investigation. Mr. Burns had been giving us some little 
 frivolous talks that did not seem worth recording, and 
 we were laughing at them, when Mr. Staley said, *'I wond- 
 er if this is really Bobby Burns or some one who is trying 
 to fool us.'* 
 
 Suddenly the words began to be spelled that com- 
 pose this poem. We immediately began to write them 
 down. Burns would write a verse, then make some re- 
 mark about it. Once I remember he said, * 'Shall I gie 
 ye mair?" 
 
 After the third verse he finished it without further 
 comment. Burns always seemed to be afraid of impos- 
 ing himself upon us. He always came with an apology 
 for doing so. 
 
 VERSES 
 HYPOCRITES 1890 
 
 Wanderin' up an* doon this warl', 
 Meetin' this an* that, 
 Some sae false, an* some sae true, 
 Wakin' Mem'ries shut. 
 
 Turnin* wi' a heart sae sad, 
 Longin* for a friend, 
 Lest alone an' dreary 
 Life for me should end. 
 
 Eyes so seemin' truly, 
 Opened up to mine 
 Honesty wi* goodness 
 Seemin* there to shine. 
 
102 THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 
 
 By the hand you tak' him, 
 Confidence inspire. 
 When i* a wink I find him 
 To be the king o* liars. 
 
 Questionin* my senses 
 If all the wide warl' thro* 
 We'll find anither scoundrel 
 Wi* virtues far an* few. 
 
 We'll ye may keep a lookin' 
 Marchin* up an* doon, 
 Under every nooket, 
 Sic as he is foun*. 
 
 Smilin' i' yer faces, 
 Prayin* for yer soul. 
 Callin* up the graces 
 To come an* save ye* whole. 
 
 When yer turnin* frae him 
 T* follow his advice, 
 Springin' quick upon ye, 
 He stabs ye in a trice. 
 
 Gie me the gude auld Ruffy 
 
 Wha' in his ru'fness sits, 
 
 An' God deliver Bobby 
 
 Fra* smooth tongued hypocrites. 
 
 Robert Burns. 
 
 Another of our old friends takes a trip to Mars. We 
 never heard any report of her journey, and as we never 
 received anything we looked upon as authentic coming 
 from any inhabitant on Mars, we never expected to hear 
 more from Mrs. H. 
 
 "I sometimes whistled, I sometimes wrote, 
 But more often floated in my little boat.** 
 
THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 103 
 
 Ques. "Who are you?" 
 
 Oh" you know. I just wanted to hear you 
 laugh. You are certainly in sympathy with us here. We 
 are happy, always happy. Today I am here with you. 
 Tomorrow 1 go to Mars." 
 
 Ques. "How long does it take to go to Mars?" 
 
 Ans. "Just as long as it takes you to think your- 
 self there. 
 
 They do not calls it Mars, they call it Ray. The 
 beautiful Ray. The people are more advanced. 
 
 Ques. "Are they better than we are?" 
 
 Ans. "They sow and reap. 
 
 Mrs. H." 
 
 A few lines from Miss Alcott, treasured from the 
 mass of written messages of long ago. 
 
 "Never despair. Love is a wonderful thing. Soon- 
 est to wound, first to bleed, to sink under the weight of 
 neglect. Thus, the hearts of men and women are tried. 
 Then the shade grows deep and dark as night lets her 
 curtain down. The traveler on life's way goes wearily 
 on and meekly sets his face toward the setting sun. And 
 then, as life draws near its close, its heaven opens wide, 
 and in peace the tired soul, bereft of earthly love, finds 
 rest at last. 
 
 Louise M. Alcott. 
 
 We never felt that Miss Alcott's message was finish- 
 ed. There was an interruption and she never resumed, 
 as was often the case. But we kept these few lines. 
 
 PITY THE POOR DOUBTER 
 
 '*Tell those who are privileged and yet who are 
 afraid to speak, that some day they will see how they 
 turned their backs upon Christ's teaching that God or- 
 dained to save men's souls, and their sorrow and shame 
 will know no bounds. Such is the fate of the cowardly 
 soul. You are proud you say to confess Christ. Yes, 
 
104 THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 
 
 you are, but ashamed to confess this truth, the greatest 
 of all His teachings. Think. 
 
 "Never think you are alone. You are never alone, 
 all around you in every nook and corner, are angel forms, 
 watching over you. Oh, if I only had words to tell it as 
 it is. Whenever you have a good thought, it is inspired 
 by these angels. But when you have an evil thought, 
 that is the human, the animal side. 
 
 "When you are sad, it is wrong and a self pity, which 
 should not be. It's a sort of remorse too. Remorse is 
 hell and all the hell there is, and it scorches and burns 
 worse than any fire. 
 
 "It is a terrible thing to meet one we have wronged. 
 One of the worst sufferers is a man who has betrayed 
 and ruined young girls and caused young men and boys 
 to go astray or caused their misuse in any way. There is 
 no peace anywhere for such as these. God forgives them 
 but they are obliged to look upon the wrecks of lives and 
 know they are responsible for it all, and their sufferings 
 are horrible. So also when a murderer meets his victim. 
 He tries to shun him, but no use. They walk and walk 
 side by side, the murderer is ever reminded of the hor- 
 rible thing he did, and how he broke the cord God wove 
 for a useful life." 
 
 EXTRACTS FROM MESSAGES 
 
 1 . "All have the privilege of progression, but aeons 
 of time must elapse ere the wicked ones can rise out of 
 their distresses. But Eternity is before them, and God 
 is always merciful." 
 
 2. In that world they grieve over us, but not as 
 we grieve, but as God grieves over some wayward child. ) 
 
 3. "You are in a great enclosure and with you are 
 ravening beasts of prey; Hate, Lust, Greed, Pride and 
 Selfishness. There is but one way out, but you can get 
 away from it all if you will. At this gateway stands a 
 host of purified ones WAITING to help you thru. You 
 do not see them but they are there." 
 
 4. "You are each given an armor by God and 
 
THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 105 
 
 an armor by man, and nearly all wear the man-made 
 armor, so these beasts have no trouble gnawing their 
 way through to men's hearts." 
 
 5. "You do not understand how life here is made 
 up of the good in human souls. How all Heaven re- 
 joices when we see one like you, trying to save some 
 one. Immediately we fly to your assistance and you 
 are taken into the inner circle of helpers, and your name 
 recorded there. You can never go back, but progress 
 into the perfect day, as one of God's chosen." 
 
 6. (Mrs. H. told of meeting some of the great 
 ones of earth. Some of the presidents, and laughingly 
 added the name of Betsy Ross who made the flag.) 
 
 7. (They tell us how every good act of kindness 
 adds beauty to our homes there.) "The nucleus of a 
 home there is a pure life here. Around this everything 
 else is built." 
 
 8. "We have no golden streets and jasper walls 
 here, but spirit substances alone make up the material 
 from which all things are made. This, no man can under- 
 stand. It is too far beyond and above anything man 
 can comprehend." 
 
 9. "When we commune one with another, the 
 thought or wish to commune with one, brings the one 
 wished for, and we sense the presence and instantly enter 
 into conversation of spirit to spirit. After the spirit 
 leaves the body, we seem to be still on earth until we see 
 our bodies and each says, 'Yes, I know I'm dead for 
 there lies my body.' and often we try to reenter our 
 bodies; we feel very much alive. Then the transition 
 from mortal to spirit life takes place after three days. 
 We then realize that we no longer live on earth, but must 
 make haste to unknown realms beyond." 
 
 10 "Sometimes evil spirits come to men, urging 
 them to evil deeds. They are most tantalizing in their 
 operations, saying over and over, 'Do it, go on, go on, 
 do it, 'etc. On and on until one yields then how pleased 
 the spirits are. Some unrepentant murderer here urges 
 an innocent man to commit murder. Evil spirits have no 
 power to do evil here, but they can do so there. 
 
106 THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 
 
 Good promptings come from good spirits. Every 
 good act is prompted by some sweet, generous spirit 
 behind the veil and the yeilding to such, helps build our 
 heavenly home and makes it more beautiful and pure." 
 
 1 I. "The love we have for our loved ones is in- 
 tensified here and we go right on loving. Love never 
 dies." 
 
 Mr. Staley's paternal grandfather had been a Bap- 
 tist clergyman. We received many useful messages from 
 him, in the early days of his grandson's conversion and 
 ministry. Later he seemed to step aside for a greater 
 mind to lead, but frequently appeared to give some gentle 
 word, enough so that his boy knew that he was near 
 and was still interested. 
 
 1894. "Finish well all you begin. Try at all 
 times to do to others as you would have them do unto 
 you. Let every day be fruitful of some good. Useful 
 lives are the flowers of Heaven. Make those who know 
 you, long for and seek your society. Shun not one 
 single duty. Work for the advancement of God's King- 
 dom. Weary not in well doing. 
 
 "Dear and yet dearer, near and yet nearer will 
 your hearts grow to each other. Many will be the 
 wonderiing thats that will fill your brain. Just say 
 'Dear Christ, Thy will be done.' There is much good 
 awaiting you. 
 
 Signed — Grandfather Staley" 
 
THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 107 
 
 CHAPTER XIX 
 
 Of this weird — shall I call it allegory? — I have 
 little to say. I cannot just place Simeon in sacreB lore, 
 but he says he is there, and it is fair to presume he was 
 telling the truth. His fearsome experience is a facin- 
 ating tale to say the least, and is told in that old time 
 form of speaking, common in his time. It is only one of 
 many of a similar nature. 
 
 POWER OF THOUGHT 
 
 "I am one who died by fire, and felt the sword. 
 You were made after me. You seek my name in musty 
 pages. Pity for me fills your heart. I gave my life 
 for Christ, can you not do as much? I fled the enemy 
 from place to place, and slept in cave and hollow. I 
 starved, and many times came so near to death that 
 birds slept in my cowl, for life was almost gone, when 
 there came to me a shepherd who heard my moans, and 
 turning a rock, beheld my distress. Poor, himself, but 
 he gave me of water and food to the seam of his sack. 
 Then, hungry and thirsty himself hastened his way, and 
 not until sunset of two days did he return and brought 
 me assistance. 
 
 "At one time, it was just at daybreak of the second 
 day, I thot I dreamed, but it was a reality. I felt a 
 chill, and then along my arm crept a form. I was not 
 afraid, but my eyes, hot and feverish, swelled with mak- 
 ing protest, fell upon the glistening head of a serpent. 
 And then, charmed, I fastened my thought upon him, and 
 as I did so, he shrank until his skin was wrinkled and the 
 serpent formerly five measures, shrunk to one. Then I 
 told him to depart. His fangs were fastened in my robe, 
 but I demanded that he release me, and like the lump 
 
108 THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 
 
 of clay whereon he lay, he rolled down the cliff and dis- 
 appeared to his death. 
 
 Upon his return, I bade the shepherd and his men 
 to seek the carcass for proof to them, But he said, 
 'Wherefore? I see his trail and need no better proof, 
 and in your hood I see the print of fangs.' and lo, I had 
 not felt it. I had also hoped for sandals, as my feet 
 were sore to bleeding, and from his sack the shepherd 
 took sandals and bathing my feet, placed them thereon. 
 He saw my smile, but wist not that I had asked for them. 
 
 I had spent so many years in forest and wilderness, 
 without protection, I came to know my powers, and 
 used them as I have told you, in every case thereafter. 
 
 I had a friend some miles distant. For fear, I 
 would not speak his name. But starting on our journey, 
 the shepherd said, 'Beyond yon mountain, lives one 
 fairly disposed to strangers in distress. I will help you on 
 there, and you will be made comfortable, until you are 
 able to go upon your way.' My thought flashed to be- 
 ing a burden upon my friend, the host. I sank to prayer, 
 when instantly the shepherd said to one of his men. 
 'Make fast a fat lamb, and leave it with the stranger for 
 payment of his stay.' I found the host to be my friend, 
 and in need of food. 
 
 And so on and on I might lead you. But I have 
 told you enough to show you the Power of Thought, and 
 even in the least of things, the Father hears and gives. 
 Simeon a tent maker of olden times." 
 
 A poet of great fame surprised us one evening in 
 1896 by giving a message clairaudiently to us. His 
 simple language did not at all correspond with his com- 
 plex way of putting things in his writings. However he 
 gave his name and we believed it was he. 
 
 VOICES 
 
 1 896 "Your longing shall be satisfied. This world 
 must give to yours, or it is beggered indeed. We must 
 minister, or you must want. The great demand upon us 
 
THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 109 
 
 means self-sacrifice on your part. For in self-sacrifice 
 alone can you see good in any form whatsoever. 
 
 The great white time, the Easter tide is near. The 
 time when angels, all in white, keep company with Him 
 who died for mortals. Tis all we see of God, the 
 Father. All, I say, except what we perceive. This 
 faculty of perception is so largely developed in Spirit 
 life, that we can feel with your human sense, but our 
 sight is knowledge, and we see not as you see with your 
 fleshly eyes. But Christ, Him we can see face to face, 
 but not for long. There are great preparations being 
 made in the old English Church, over there, to celebrate 
 this event of all time, the Resurrection. With sermon 
 and song and prayer they will commemorate that great 
 event, than which to, or of, or for the earth, there is no 
 greater. And because it is to earth so dear, so to Heav- 
 en more dear. And the church to me was not what it 
 should have been to me. But God, the Incarnate, the All 
 to me, was deeply rooted in my heart, in spite of me. 
 And so I lived after all for Him, in spite of me. 
 
 ''Mysteries are like explosives, uncanny and hardly 
 safe to handle carelessly. To open and view unheard of 
 things, surprises men. And immediately doubts keep him 
 company. So many are the mysteries, that, welcome 
 visiters tho they be, you wish they would depart, (to 
 come some other day). Doubts are safe things to have, 
 you say, for manly men must have opinions of their own, 
 and every man has a right to his opinions. The word 
 'man is a big word, and it is a duty one owes to ones* 
 self to maintain his personality, and to be master of him- 
 self. (?) He says, 'I am a man and should not cater to 
 every wind of doctrine,' But fate sometimes plays you 
 tricks. I call it God. But you cannot see, because you 
 are stone blind. Well, my friend, there is a close tie 
 between you and me, and I come boldly to speak truths 
 to you. Let me speak a moment upon the rise and de- 
 cline of the human race, as a necessary adjunct of pro- 
 gress. 
 
 "(You have nothing in common with those men who 
 today typify the race at the time when the animal and the 
 
110 THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 
 
 human were one.) It has taken the centuries to bring 
 men to the status you see among them. They are still 
 savages, thirsting for one another's blood. How large 
 a percentage do yau suppose are thirsting for one an- 
 other's soul? Men must rise to this, ere they can lay 
 claim to real manhood. 
 
 "I need not repeat histoiy to show you the waver- 
 ing course of man from away back there in the animal 
 stage to the present. Those centuries of barbarism and 
 ignorance and blood thirstiness have each had its re- 
 fining process, and today you see a much finer product, 
 all the effect of progression, a necessary process. 
 
 4 'I do not mean to use sarcasm as I tell you these 
 things, but could you my friend, stand where I stand and 
 could you see what I see, you would say with me, 'Ah no, 
 the human race is not yet civilized. So long as men hold 
 to selfishness, greed, hatred and blood thirstiness, they 
 cannot call themselves a civilized race.' 
 
 "Well, not all things, and not all accounts of things 
 have been preserved. But the most important have here 
 and there dropped off enough of their treasures, and 
 this enables generations to come, to preserve some record. 
 These fragments are preserved as the centuries pass on. 
 In some there are facts enough to reach a conclusion. 
 But each generation forms great opinions of itself, and 
 its importance to the world. 
 
 "There are millions of generations totally extinct 
 to literature and no record left of any act of theirs. 
 There are other generations a record of which lies buried 
 deep in the bosom of old earth, and future generations 
 will uncover them and find great treasures there. 
 
 "Do not think my friend that the sacred scriptures 
 always mean material things when they prophesy the 
 future of the earth. For instance this — 'The fire shall 
 consume the earth.* Just study the signs of the times, 
 my friend. Those fires will never be literal fires, such 
 a? you confine in your stoves or your furnace. Ah no. 
 That fire will consume the earth is true but it will be a 
 refining fire. Watch. It is surely coming. First there 
 will be the quenching of the fire of thirst, that is consum- 
 
THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 111 
 
 ing men's bodies. Then ^shall tome brotherly love. 
 Then Heaven will open to men and they will see and 
 know what may be theirs, if they become worthy. 
 
 "In the early part of the coming century this truth 
 will begin to be known, as never before. And ere that 
 century shall end, all who will, may communicate openly 
 with their loved ones here. And when the millennium 
 shall come, these refining fires shall have done their work 
 for there shall be no impurities. 
 
 "Earth must produce more and more each century. 
 This closing century has been the richest of them all. 
 Then should not the next be still richer? The posses- 
 sions of the present century will be winnowed, and sifted 
 so at the close of the twentieth century there will remain 
 but the pure gold. Nation after nation will disappear 
 from the face of the earth, until there will remain but one 
 great nation. This must be, or God's plan would be a 
 failure. 
 
 "From this somewhat vague communication, 
 select what you can, friend of mine. There is a world 
 of truth in it all. 
 
 "Now we here are constantly unfolding to the mind 
 of man, helpful knowledge, in order to the more intelli- 
 gently manipulate the business of life. It seems mys- 
 terious and wonderful enough to man, yet it is the be- 
 ginning just now of a great Reform. And discoveries 
 are yet to come when the time demands them, which shall 
 startle the world, as nothing has ever done before. 
 
 "I will tell you a little about one of these discoveries. 
 There is to be developed a process whereby forces shall 
 be brought together (by forces I mean certain elements in 
 atmosphere ether blended with an opposite element 
 contained in the human body), which will enable a per- 
 son sitting or standing in one part of the globe to speak 
 face to face with a person in some other country. Dis- 
 tance will be done away with, obstacles cannot interfere 
 with sight. You will sit in your own home and see what 
 your friend far away is doing. 
 
 "By the same process, only by a finer development 
 of the mechanism, will man be able to see the spirit forms 
 
112 THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 
 
 around him. I see you are both charmed and alarmed. 
 Doubts? Well, I see you are willing to aid me in this 
 truth and will co-operate with me by letting your mind 
 develope what I have said. There are other friends 
 waiting to communicate with you. I promise some help- 
 ful words at an early day. I am well pleased with what 
 you have done. Work on. 
 
 r. Br 
 
 THE HUMOR OF ROB ROY. 
 
 "Well, you wished for somebody and I am here. 
 I am Rob Roy. Ques. "Where did you live?" Ans. 
 "In old Scotland and I was a warrior bold. (Talked of 
 Sir Frances Drake.) There is much to tell. If the high 
 seas could talk and tell their tale they would tell some 
 queer things. There is enough wealth at the bottom of 
 the oceans to run the world for centuries. I laugh 
 to think of the scramble if the blamed old sea should go 
 dry." 
 
 Ques. "What were you fighting for?" 
 Ans. "Oh I was out for a reward, one way or 
 another. Good bye." 
 
 Our curiosity was aroused regarding Rob Roy, and in 
 looking up his record, we found he was indeed out for a 
 reward as there was a price upon his head, so we con- 
 cluded Rob Roy could see the humor in such a statement. 
 
 A dear old mother in Isreal gave us this information 
 about "Shall We Know Each Other There." 
 
 The forms of spirits cannot be truly described. 
 There is no way of describing them to mortals. One 
 has to sense it. Some descriptions have been given you, 
 that you might know at least in part. They are like and 
 yet unlike the physical body. We here, still think of the 
 physical body and thus form a picture of it as we knew it 
 upon the earth, and yet are not the same. The great 
 Master told us all we could ever know about it until we 
 came here. However, you may trust in the promise that 
 
THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 113 
 
 you will know your friends and they will know you, and 
 you will be united with those you truly love and who love 
 you. Let this suffice. Esther B." 
 
THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 115 
 
 CHAPTER XX 
 
 The following are a few messages from different 
 ones, some known and some unknown. 
 
 "My friends, you are good enough to wish for 
 me. I felt your vibrations and have responded. I have 
 a few instructions for you. To be able to move the things 
 of the universe, you must know how to use your power. 
 It is not easy to a novice and you will not be able to do 
 it at once. You must sit in silence, at eventide, twilight 
 is best, when the shadows are dropping to sleep, and train 
 your soul to think of God. Not Principle, not Force, but 
 the Eternal Father who stands by your side, handing you 
 just what you wish for. 
 
 "Then train your soul to see yourself, taking that 
 which He gives you. Train your soul to be thankful that 
 it has been given to you. Then lie back in your Father's 
 arms, look up into His face and rest, and trust and know. 
 In this way only, can you wholly please God. I will now 
 depart and watch for your obedience. You will thus 
 deserve to know more. You must learn to obey. Harriet 
 has told you so. It is lovely here, and you will be glad 
 when the chase of life is over. Adieu. 
 
 Cousin Harriet." 
 
 "To Miss W. Yes, I am a staunch friend to this 
 truth. The certainty of spirit communication. It is 
 worth your investigation, for it is soon to be universally 
 believed. Science is fast opening the door and all who 
 doubt now will then believe." 
 
 To a friend and myself after we had been discussing 
 the manner in which they gave us messages. 
 
 "Tell them we are standing by, only waiting for them 
 to recognize our presence and power. We teach the 
 brain, then the muscle, then the mind carries the mes- 
 sages. You would be surprised to know the power that 
 is stored up in your body. The human body is a great 
 
116 THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 
 
 dynamo, capable of the finest productions The time is 
 coming when you will know your power and be able 
 to use it. 
 
 Ques. "Some people declared Christ received 
 his knowledge from the Hindus. Is this true? 
 
 Ans. "Oh no, they received theirs from Him. 
 Because He always existed and received all Power and 
 Knowledge from His Father, God. He was God, all 
 that will ever manifest as God, in or out of the flesh. There 
 are some who would like to place this great manifestation 
 on a level with mortals. It's their belief, do not condemn 
 them. But that, my friends, can never be. Ye are Gods. 
 You are not the divine, but you are part of the Divine.' * 
 
 Mr. B. 
 MARS AGAIN 
 
 "Mars is all stired up over the communication of 
 Earth. Mars gets our quakes thru wireless. No man 
 can declare the whole truth. The waves come from electric 
 contact in ether. Ether is boundless and limitless. It 
 is everywhere. Its track covers the distance between 
 the earth and all planets, and time and space are nothing. 
 Ether being life giving, is nearest to God. It is omni- 
 present. Ether is just becoming understood by man. 
 And yet he knows practically nothing at all about it. 
 Why, when man learns to chain ether as he does electrici- 
 ty, the wonders he will perform will make electricity" 
 seem like a baby's untaught brain in comparison. 
 
 "Spirit is locked up in Ether. Spirit is Ether and 
 Ether is Spirit. Once given the key, man will let loose the 
 secrets of the universe and open the door of the Spiritual 
 Kingdom. Then death will lose its horror. Then God's 
 kingdom will have come, and His will done upon 
 earth. Man must bow his head in the presence of such 
 great Truth. The people of Mars have a spirit same as 
 we. They have to work much harder than earth people. 
 It's harder to keep alive. They have much less time for 
 trivial things. Mars has little moisture from the fact 
 that the planet is mostly land. The lines you see, from 
 earth, are deep and wide channels for holding water* 
 
THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 117 
 
 Work on these never ceases. They dry out quickly. 
 They are signalling all the time now and every one on 
 Mars works, and all have equal property. They have 
 homes as earth people do. They are interested in the 
 planet Earth. (Much more was told us about Mars that 
 I have no record of.) 
 
 Mr. B. 
 
 "The question was asked. 'Why are not prayer meet- 
 ings better attended ?' 
 
 Ans. "Because they do not satisfy. Men's minds 
 are turning to this greater Truth. Men in the next gener- 
 ation will invent a little electrical machine with records 
 which will record thought. Inventors now have the 
 principle, but do not know it." 
 
 "When you get here and see what a delight it is just 
 to live, you will not wish for earth, at all with all its dirt 
 and filth, both physical and mental. And yet no one goes 
 far afield. That is, worlds are one, and heaven is all 
 around. This life is a busy life and those who wish for 
 idleness would better not come here. Every one works. 
 You will be busy enough here. 
 
 Ques. "Do what we like to do?" 
 
 Ans. "Yes, it is life to be able to do the things one 
 loves to do. It is a source of great amusement to us to see 
 the surprise of some who come here. All kinds of peo- 
 ple. Some are very tiresome. But remember, the trees 
 have not two leaves alike. 
 
 "Unity in spirit is unity of purpose. You two can 
 do little apart, (Mrs. B. and Mrs. Staley). You will 
 grow closer in friendship, as the years go by. Your 
 works will be manifest in the development of your family 
 and your friends. When you are able to overcome, 
 which you will be, you will become a writer of the ex- 
 periences which you have had. When the shadows fall 
 and you are in the quiet of life, you will do this with all 
 earnestness. ,, 
 
 (This prophecy has come true. The shadows have 
 fallen and truly the quiet time of life has come for me, 
 and I am writing these pages.) 
 
118 THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 
 
 "Heaven is a state of being, not a corner. 
 
 "You know Mr. W. thot the best must be his, but 
 here he took a very low station from which to learn sub- 
 mission. A very hard thing for him to do. He sees 
 those who seemed to be his inferiors on earth, those low 
 and poor ones to whom to speak was a bending from his 
 high station, and meant only a passing thought. Now he 
 stands with bowed head as they pass by, and loves their 
 slightest attention, and longs to be like them. And this 
 very longing is making him better. But he cannot under- 
 stand it yet. He wanted the best there, and he wants 
 the best here, so he must grow spiritual. But even in 
 that growth with such a motive, he must grow in wrong- 
 ness to a degree. Untill he grows in the garden of Re- 
 pentance, he will be selfish still and cannot enter into 
 Holy Things. Thus you have a true picture of the man 
 you once knew. I found him in despair and brought 
 him to you, and you should have seen his surprise at such 
 an opportunity, for he has not been permitted much. 
 
 Mrs. H. 
 
 The three following messages, given clairaudiently, 
 were most satisfactory and convincing. 
 
 M. E. B's Description of Her Passing 1894. "When 
 I was taken out of the world I just passed through a great 
 fold of some kind of drapery as it seemed to me. As I 
 passed beneath it, it seemed to drag across my face and 
 felt very heavy. It gradually grew lighter and softer 
 like down. My eyes had before seemed shut so tight, but 
 my eyelids began to loosen as the covering became lighter 
 and I felt someone holding my hand. I was sure that it 
 was you, but I somehow felt that you were sorry that I 
 was happy and you were not there. I spoke to you but 
 I did not think you quite heard me; and when you thought 
 I had gone away from you forever, I could hear every 
 word you said. 
 
 "Well, I soon began to hear sweet music. Then I 
 thought, why had I never heard it before? And I 
 wondered if you heard it too. As I lay half wondering, 
 someone called my name. I thought it was you, but the 
 music stole my attention, and I tried to listen. I felt no 
 
THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 119 
 
 pain, but such a sweet peace stole over me. My hands 
 seemed to close and unclose, and I grasped something 
 and felt something very tender closing over my hand. 
 Then I heard a voice I had never heard before, which 
 sounded like the melting tones of a harp crossed and re- 
 crossed by its own music. Then I rose upon my feet and 
 said, 'Yes' in response to a voice which said 'Are you 
 willing?' Then He knew I was willing for I saw that I 
 was with my savior, and the scene that met my gaze I can 
 never describe. 
 
 "Then we lingered for a few moments when sudden- 
 ly I found He was gone, but had left behind Him such a 
 radiance of glory that I could scarcely bear the sight, and 
 all around me was a company of angels singing and this 
 was the music I had heard. 
 
 "There were loved ones wishing to greet; me and 
 from one to the other I hastened and they walked with 
 me to the edge of a beautiful stream and told me to listen. 
 I did so and then I heard you all weeping and for three 
 days — your days — I was permitted to stay and comfort 
 you." 
 
 E. H. B. to Her Son. 1894. "I was once alone in 
 my house. The beauty was thrilling me with unspeakable 
 power when I saw the glittering draperies of an archway 
 lifted, but before I beheld it, I knew by the feeling of 
 humility, who was there, and I scarcely dared to lift my 
 eyes. But I heard a voice say, 'Daughter, welcome me to 
 your home, as I welcome you to my Father's Home,' and 
 I ran and knelt at His feet. He laid His hand on my 
 head, which is now free from the silver threads you knew, 
 and said, 'Arise, for there is great work. You are to go 
 back to earth and take the tidings of this truth to your 
 loved ones. Are you willing to do this for the sake of 
 Him who you know gave His earthly life for you?* 
 
 "Here He led me through the archway, past beauti- 
 ful growing plants and under paneled ceilings into a room 
 I had not seen before, and showing me a strongly devised 
 vehicle said, 'This, daughter, is the conveyance you will 
 use in your flight back and forth in your visits to earth.* ** 
 
 From M. E. B. to Her Husband. 1894. "I am sure 
 
120 THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 
 
 that you want to know how I pass my time. I have four 
 eweet angels who are my constant companions, and in our 
 beautiful conveyance, we go from place to place minister- 
 ing to those about us. We go to earth to help our loved 
 ones left behind. Now you must not judge from this that 
 we are far away, for we are not. Earth and Heaven are 
 one, but you cannot enter here in the flesh, while we with 
 our spiritual bodies can penetrate the veil that hides us 
 from you and go where we will, although we are not per- 
 mitted to see all the sin of the world. 
 
 "We are allowed to help those who are striving to 
 do good, and we assist those out of Christ by just the kind 
 of influence you are receiving now. I have been the means 
 of saving eighteen souls and influencing many others for 
 good. 
 
 "I take these little cherubs who are my constant 
 companions and we sail away by ourselves to enjoy the 
 quiet of after-work, the serenity and calm of perfect 
 peace, and rest. We seek the treasured places, the de- 
 scription of which is impossible to me. And i there we 
 linger and dream and listen to the enchanting music of 
 the heavenly songsters, blended with the thrilling notes 
 of invisible bands, and then all will grow slowly away 
 from us and the distance sends again the vibrations of 
 faintest music, which just quivers and seems to come in 
 waves so soft and mellow that we can feel them as they 
 touch our closed eyelids; and then we lie down and dream 
 of what we know to be Heaven all about us. 
 
 "In these beautiful bowers are growing gorgeous 
 flowers, not like yours, and yet just like them. They 
 seem to be here and there and all about us, but whence 
 they come, we know not; yet they are here and send out 
 their perfume. Wherever we are there they are. 
 
 "We have trees to rest beneath. They are like your 
 trees, and yet not like them. There is no earth blended 
 with their growth. There are ever changing forests here. 
 Nothing remains the same long. We are never allowed 
 to become weary of anything. We have homes, houses, 
 real houses; yet you could not find a place for your foot 
 within them. They are like earth houses, and yet not like 
 
THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 121 
 
 them. They are furnished in the most wonderful way, 
 yet nothing remains the same long. We never leave 
 them upon a mission, but what upon our return we find 
 some happy surprise awaiting us, either by way of a gift 
 or a visitor whom we have heard of and are anxious to 
 see, or some soul sits there for whom we have worked, 
 waiting to thank us for what we have done. 
 
 "So you see we love our homes and love to hasten 
 our return to them. I have told you these things that you 
 may see me as I am in this glorious life" 
 
 While Mr. Staley and I never believed in the sub- 
 conscious theory, many people do believe that all com- 
 munications claimed to come from spirit land are but a 
 disgorging of the subconscious mind. Mr. B. has ex- 
 plained the method of communication to my satisfaction, 
 and I send it out hoping it will help some who are not 
 convinced of the authenticity of these messages. 
 
 Sept. 1913. "In giving these messages to you, we 
 must use your organs. We play upon them as the music- 
 ian plays upon his instrument. Having been in the flesh, 
 this is not a difficult thing to do. It is the only way, we 
 can express ourselves to you unless we can materialize. 
 Not all of us can materialize yet. Men are so afraid of 
 this subject. The subconscious mind has even greater 
 potentialities than man dreams of. It is a store house of 
 wonders, and wonder-working machinery; but it has 
 nothing whatever to do with spirit communication, furth- 
 er than to record them after they have been received by 
 the one to whom they are given. We impress the senses, 
 sometimes all of them. The subconscious mind absorbs 
 only the physical, i.e., what pertains to the material world. 
 It is a record, so to speak, of the thoughts and actions of 
 the physical man. We would better not communicate at 
 all than to try to filter our communications through the 
 conglomerate subjective mind, and expect them to come 
 through, pure and clean and true. No, God would never 
 use that channel. 
 
 Mr. B." 
 
122 THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 
 
 1913. "Spiritism is to redeem the world. The 
 good work has already begun. Ministers of the gospel, 
 do not be afraid to tell your people what you more than 
 half believe down deep in your hearts. Have a hand in 
 the good work. But don't be one to condemn this, the 
 greatest gift of God at the present time. Help to open 
 the gates. Help to life the veil that has hung too long 
 between Heaven and earth, and all you shall do shall lift 
 your soul higher in these realms above. When you hesi- 
 tate, think. What was done to the Christ by unbelievers, 
 what to Galilleo by unbelievers, what to all great martyrs, 
 by unbelievers. Then see the Christ today. See Joan of 
 Arc today. Ah, my friends, I have come to tell you the 
 voices I heard are speaking again to you, and I beseech 
 you to listen. I am Jeanne d'Arc of France, yes, but of 
 God's Kingdom, too, now. Ah, my poor France." 
 
 So far as this communication from Wm. James is 
 concerned, I have nothing to say. I knew very little of 
 Mr. James and his work in a scientific way. I had not 
 thot of him; had not dreamed that he would or could 
 contribute to my book. I was writing a letter to a friend 
 when all at once the writing ceased to be a friendly let- 
 ter, but I felt a force directing my hand and for a few 
 lines I wrote automatically. When it ceased, I heard a 
 voice which finished the message. The voice then said, 
 'I am Wm. James.' I give the message just as I received 
 it. 
 
 "To all people be it known that this book was given 
 to the world by us here, who failed to convince people of 
 the doctrine, when we were in the flesh. Doubt on, if you 
 will, criticise if you must. You can never stem the tide of 
 belief that will from these pages go forth into the hearts 
 of men. It was ordained of God Himself. Pass judg- 
 ment if you will, (you cannot avoid the 'judgment of 
 God' upon the wrongs of earth). You cannot escape 
 from the certainty of this great Truth. It brings com- 
 fort, as no other doctrine does. It does not affect your 
 relations with any church. It brings your lost ones back* 
 
THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 123 
 
 It brings Heaven into your homes and Christ to your very 
 side. Then why condemn it? I am speaking now to all 
 people the world over. I was not always certain myself. 
 But now, I see and now I know. This greatest of all bless- 
 ings is at your very door, open and let it in. 
 
 William James.'* 
 
 Since this message came, a spirit calling himself Wm f 
 James has spoken and said, "Tell brother Hyslop not to 
 open the cryptogram.'* This was the sum and substance 
 of the message. I tried to question him but he did not 
 reply. 
 
 It seems to me that the description by Lieut. King 
 is one of the clearest I have ever received. His account 
 of the manner of his death does not quite tally with the 
 real facts regarding it. But in a later conversation he 
 told me that that was the last he saw, before the missile 
 of death struck him down. I do not quite understand 
 this, but it isn't the first mystery that has confronted me 
 since I began conversations with the inhabitants of the 
 spirit world. 
 
 "You have spoken my name. Harold King. Tell 
 my mother I went out upon an errand of mercy, never 
 dreaming I would not go back. I do not know what to 
 tell you first, but think it will interest you if I tell you how 
 I came here. I stooped to lift a boy whose face was in 
 the dirt and the next thing I remember I stood looking 
 at a fellow who looked exactly like myself, only he lay in 
 a hole, with the look of death upon his face. I stooped 
 to turn him over and I felt a queer feeling creeping over 
 me. I stood up and as I did so I realized I was in a dif- 
 ferent country. I saw two distinct sets of men. Some of 
 them looked as I did, all crumpled up, and some like the 
 fellow who was looking on. That was I. Well, it didn't 
 last long. From the poor broken bodies of men, to thou- 
 sands of those who were clean, was quite a step. But 
 here we were. We looked into each other's faces and 
 wondered what had struck us. Our first thought was 
 that we were taken prisoners, but soon found that that 
 
124 THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 
 
 was not the case. Just then we heard a command and 
 we stood at attention. I took the word from my higher 
 officer, and gave the command 'Forward' and we start- 
 ed; but where? The whole expanse spread before us 
 was peopled with men who never went around an object, 
 but straight thru it. I thought, 'What does it all mean?' 
 I felt so queerly but we kept on marching, and in the far 
 distance we saw a great gate open. Not one of us had 
 spoken a word. I realized that I heard no sound of 
 marching feet. I thought 'How strange.* I glanced down 
 the line and I never saw such a glow upon the faces of 
 marching men. In battle they were black with dirt and 
 grim. But these faces were clean and shining with a 
 radiance I had never seen. Even then I did not know 
 we had passed out of our bodies, and none of them knew. 
 I had no desire to give a command when I saw rising be- 
 fore us a great white wall. On we went, all in a body, in 
 perfect order, no head apparently, but we did not seem 
 to need one. By and by we saw the wall had not hind- 
 ered us. We had passed it without knowing it. All this 
 time a beautiful light had been spread over us. Not like 
 any light you ever saw mother, and it has never left us. 
 All at once we began to draw away from each other. 
 We all bore a smile upon our faces. I began to feel a 
 strong Presence, and a voice said, 'Fear not, you have 
 finished your earth life, and it is best so.*' 
 
 "And Mother dear, you must believe it. I cannot 
 tell you all, for words cannot express it, but believe me, 
 I am happy. And now when you and I meet, you will see 
 a very different boy. But you will know me. I shall meet 
 you mother. You are comfortable now, Mother, and if 
 you wish to make me happy, just enjoy everything you 
 can. Visit your friends, be cheerful, and whatever you 
 do, do not rebel because I had to come here, for it is the 
 grandest thing that could ever have happened to me. I 
 died the death I wished to die, I gave my life for my 
 country and for the greatest and most glorious cause, and 
 I am proud. God is very merciful, and I was young. When 
 one gives his life, it is all one can do. So you see I gave 
 my all. I am busy in things spiritual, and now Mother 
 
THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 125 
 
 give your life to God, doubt not. It is all true. There 
 is a Heaven, there is a Christ, and I am here. You begin 
 to make your own Heaven while on earth, for your Heav- 
 en is within you. It is mighty easy to have Hell. But Oh, 
 Mother dear, how such souls suffer here. Remorse, re- 
 morse, is Hell. I had so much sentiment in me and you 
 know how I longed to give it expression, and I often made 
 mistakes. I should have been more thoughtful of you, 
 but through it all I loved you, and now I see only that 
 you are my mother, and that my inheritance must mean 
 nothing now to you or me. I'm just plain Harold, and 
 your boy. Now we start a new communication, you and 
 I. I shall always be with you, and I know all you do, and 
 I shall help you. Don't worry. Now enjoy life all you 
 can, for by doing so you will help me to advance. Other- 
 wise you hinder me. We will be together here some day. 
 
 Good bye, Harold." 
 
 Harold King was First Lieutenant, Company F» 
 126th Infantry, 32 nd Division, American Army. 
 
THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 127 
 
 CHAPTER XXI 
 
 A last word of my beloved husband, then I lay 
 down my pen, feeling I have done what I can to bring 
 the great tidings of the wonderful truth he lived by so 
 many years, and the way he was led step by step in his 
 life work. 
 
 Sometimes my husband would, as he expressed it, 
 pack a sermon full of spiritism, but he was very tactful 
 and careful to tell it in such a way that it did not seem 
 what its "dreadful name" would indicate. Invariably, 
 after such a sermon, the people would come to him with 
 faces beaming and tell him how his sermon had helped 
 them, and it was 'just what they believed.* The memory 
 of just this sort of thing is helping to make it all the more 
 sad now that he is gone; that he should have been de- 
 nied the privilege of telling the story so dear to his heart. 
 The story that told of the forces that had made his own 
 life a splendid one. He knew what it would do for others 
 and yet he must not tell them about it. 
 
 About three years previous to my husband's passing 
 from this life, Mr. B. said to him, "My son, you are not 
 going to remain in Manistee much longer. You are going 
 to a Higher Field. God has a greater work than this for 
 you to do. You are going to be called higher." Once 
 Mr. Staley said, "What do you suppose he means? Where 
 do you think we will go?" Never dreaming of our sep- 
 aration. Indeed God has called him to a Higher Field. 
 Now he is free to say anything he will, without fear of 
 causing adverse criticism. He stepped into that Higher 
 Field, full of confidence and trust. It was not a strange 
 land to him. His last words were, "Don't worry, I'm go- 
 ing home." It was indeed home to him. He had lived 
 so near that home for so many years all unafraid, he made 
 entrance there, only to meet his Savior face to face, with 
 words of love and commendation. It was just what he 
 
128 THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 
 
 always wished and now he comes to me, as others came 
 to him and me, and gives me encouragement and comfort, 
 without which my life would be lonely indeed. 
 
 On April 1, 1915, Mr Staley passed out of this life 
 and stepped into the Home he had builded for himself 
 beyond the veil. April ninth he came to me and spoke. 
 This is what he said to a dear friend who was with me 
 at the time. "Well, sister, you heard me." Meaning 
 she thought and felt he was near. To me he said: 
 
 "Now I am here and talking to you on earth. Oh, 
 Mela, you are brave and it makes me happy. And the 
 children are with you, so am I. Now I will tell you about 
 it as I promised. I just stepped into another room and 
 there was Claudia and Mr. B., mother and father, and 
 they greeted me and said I was welcome. I did not see 
 Mr. Wente, but I saw him just before I 'cut loose,* and 
 then I felt a great Presence and it had been with me be- 
 fore I saw anyone else. It came closer and I was envel- 
 oped in a stream-like cloud of mist and in the midst I 
 stood waiting, not knowing what would come next, then 
 1 heard the sweetest voice I ever heard and it said, 'Come 
 I have been waiting for you, and your work is ready and 
 you have only to begin.* I had no thought of what it was, 
 or where. But, my love, rejoice when I tell you there 
 are choirs here that sing the hallelujahs of praise to 'Christ 
 the King' and I have one of those. Oh yes, because my 
 soul is a praiseful soul. You remember dear, how I used 
 to hear music all the time, and how I was constantly sing- 
 ing to myself? They were calling me, that was why. We 
 go from place to place, and wherever we go, like barn- 
 acles on a ship's bottom, souls of earth are picked up and 
 saved. And the ones we save are the great i ones of 
 earth. Now Christ had me by the hand when I awoke 
 here and like a brother, clung to me. I struggled to free 
 myself, not feeling worthy. But soon He took me softly 
 in His arms and held me close and my fear all departed. 
 I will tell you more sometime.** 
 
 Then to Dr. Beale, his dearest friend, who had come 
 to perform this last loving service for him, he said, 
 "Charles, you did yourself proud, there in my pulpit. I 
 
THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 129 
 
 stood there awhile, then seated myself upon the front 
 seat, in front of my suffering wife, and held her hand. I 
 was there. That hymn, 'How Firm a Foundation,* (his 
 favorite hymn), rang thru these courts like a grand chorus 
 for we all joined in. I thank every one for their kind- 
 ness to my wife. And to you Brother, I can only say, 
 'God bless you.' You were a wonderful comfort to her, 
 my wife, and what you said of me, well, it was enough. 
 
 "Tell B. B. he is a 'prince,* and too good a fellow 
 to leave in the woods. So I am delegated to blaze the 
 way out for him, and he will know no peace till then. 
 And all his kindness will be rewarded by a glorious home. 
 
 "And now sister, you are in reality a sister, and you 
 have a home here, which I wish you could see. Go on 
 doing good, and your entrance will be met by Christ Him- 
 self. 
 
 Ques. "How long did they know you were com- 
 ing?** 
 
 Ans. "A long time, for I was a sick man for two 
 years." 
 
 J. J. Staley." 
 
 "My dear wife: There are so many things I wish 
 to tell you. Some are so great I cannot express them in 
 words. Can't you help to realize the things of this life 
 over here if I tell you just the little my human side can 
 reveal to you? Oh, try! There are many more good 
 people in the world than men know about. What they 
 really are is scarcely ever known. What men knew of me 
 was not what I really was. My weaknesses did not ex- 
 press my goodness and so it is with all men. Mortals 
 tiy very little to see how good a man is, but rather how 
 bad he is. Here, thank God, only the good is seen and 
 all that is known of the evil we did is crushed out and 
 made to harm us no more. A spirit is much more real 
 than mortals, no evil is here. 
 
 "Our communication here is without criticisms, and 
 when we see ouny mortals brace themselves against the 
 obedience to God's laws, it is as the strength of the ant 
 to move away the rock of Gibralter; just as absurd. Here 
 we obey the slightest command and our lives move on 
 
130 THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 
 
 in perfect accord with everything that is good. We aren't 
 changed in form my dear. You'll know me the moment 
 you enter here. All the difference there is, is that we have 
 no blemishes; and as we grow in goodness, we grow 
 beautiful, and still more beautiful. There are no old peo- 
 ple here, no ugly ones. 
 
 "I am just beginning to explore here and have 
 found many surprises. There is an entrance to my home 
 here on every side, and all wide open. Some choose to 
 keep their entrances closed, but they get over that as 
 time goes on and they learn that they cannot shut out 
 God. A small soul on earth is a small soul here, and 
 they sometimes grow very slowly, but they grow. I am 
 often in Manistee among the old friends there. Once in 
 a while one feels me and says so to himself. I have seen 
 and conversed with many great men. I mean the really 
 great. You know there is a difference in being thought 
 to be great, and being really great. 
 
 "I hear the call, and I must go. 
 
 J. J. Staley." 
 
 The minister's love for his church was boundless, 
 altho he never resorted to those platitudes that rise so 
 glibly to the lips of some, he was always ready with words 
 of cheer and sincere praise where called for. His sym- 
 pathy was ever ready and freely given to those in distress. 
 He loved children and they loved him. 
 
 "Let me talk to my church. In this little book you 
 will learn all about that part of my life I had to hide from 
 you. I do not know why it had to be, but my dear 
 friends, God led me and I was a better man because of 
 the belief I held so sacredly. I longed to enlighten you. 
 Sometimes, when in my pulpit, I would feel a strong, al- 
 most irresistable impulse to open it all up to you. But 
 my soul saw the danger and I was not allowed to speak. 
 I rejoice that you can read this book. I rejoice that my 
 dear wife has given it to the world. Some of you will be- 
 lieve and be greatly helped by it. Others of you will still 
 question and reject this truth, and your souls have all the 
 
THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 131 
 
 harder work to do after you come here. One by one, my 
 people are coming here, and some of them, it grieves 
 me to say, are struggling to free themselves from the old 
 bonds that bound them. 
 
 "Mrs. Sailing is a sweet, free spirit that we all love. 
 Brother Deacon Wardwell is the happiest soul you can 
 imagine. Mrs. Hall is everywhere present, and never 
 ceases to minister to those who need her. Eloise is here 
 too, a sweet spirit. We often get together and go among 
 you and have a good time, and it doesn't seem so strange 
 either. We see and know you all, just as you are, and 
 we work together for your good. You are all very dear 
 to me and I appreciate all your kindness to me and my 
 wife, and from this side of the Veil, I can minister to you 
 as I could not when I was with you. 
 
 "The young man who came to take my place as pas- 
 tor has done well, and his work shall never die. It is not 
 easy for him. But you have understood. But you can- 
 not keep him long. Yes, I am often beside him in the old 
 pulpit. God bless you. 
 
 "Your former pastor, and doubly your friend. 
 
 J. J. Staley." 
 
 With a friend I had had some conversation about 
 the good one might do had one the disposition to do it. 
 We had spoken of how people often seek only to 
 have a good time, or what they call a good time, and do 
 not see the good they might do others. 
 
 "Because one goes to church twice a day and prays 
 'without ceasing' is no sign that one is fit to die. You re- 
 member it is the doers of His Works that get the approval 
 of the Almighty God. And every act of mercy or kind- 
 ness of any kind is recorded here and is all to the credit 
 of the doer. Go on and have your good time, but be 
 careful what kind of a good time you have. It is not a 
 good time if you do aught to besmirch your soul. No use 
 to wait till darkness shall hide your actions. There is no 
 darkness here. We see it all and often warn you of the 
 dreadful results to follow. There is the old saying *A 
 man is known by the company he keeps.' This saying is 
 most assuredly true. And do not forget, you who pos- 
 
132 THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 
 
 sess talent and wealth and opportunities, numberless, that 
 much is expected of you and how Christ longs for you to 
 help Him. 
 
 'This Truth should be taught as any truth is taught, 
 beginning with the children as soon as they are able to 
 understand. Teach them that death is a natural thing 
 and not to be dreaded. Then the fear of death will dis- 
 appear and people will live longer on earth and their 
 lives will be full of good works; for they know it is known 
 and seen by the Heavenly Hosts. Fear is a killer. The 
 fear of death; the dread that accompanies it, makes more 
 people grow old and die early than any other thing. They 
 will learn then not to fear disease and this will help to 
 preserve the body. If you should ask many people, most 
 people, if they fear death, more than likely they would 
 say no. But tell them that they will die in a few hours, 
 and see the effect upon them. Even then you cannot see 
 what we see, as the heart bounds with fear, and a shud- 
 der of very death itself goes thru them. Oh, yes, most 
 people fear death. 
 
 J. J. Staley." 
 
 "Dear Mela: It will not be so long until the earth 
 world will be a free world. The change for good has 
 already started and God's plan is surely working out. 
 You remember how we wondered at some of the mes- 
 sages we received. It was so hard for them to write at 
 first for neither we nor they were strong enough to en- 
 able them to do very much. Some seemed so childish. 
 I must tell you that my grandmother wrote what she 
 called 'Life's Reverie.' Dear woman, it was what she 
 wished for me and took that way to tell me. A great 
 many were given under difficulties which made them very 
 imperfect. But oh, aren't you glad we listened to the 
 voices, Mela? 
 
 "There are a great many changes to come to the 
 world this twentieth century. Some will come with a 
 rush and some will come after a hard battle, but come 
 they must. God has made earth a good world and He 
 isn't going to leave it to go on to destruction. Men must 
 learn that nothing but brotherly love will count for one 
 
THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 133 
 
 cent. Selfishness and greed have got to go. You are 
 being cared for, dear. 
 
 J. J. s." 
 
 Reverend Staley was a thirty-second degree Mason, 
 a member of the Mystic Shrine, and to the noble men of 
 that order I am deeply indebted for many kindnesses 
 shown me. 
 
 MESSAGE TO HIS FRIENDS IN THE MASONIC 
 FRATERNITY, FROM MR. STALEY 
 
 1916. "I wish to write to the boys at the Temple. 
 Will you let them know? I'm sure they want to hear 
 from me even if it does seem sort of out of place and 
 uncanny. I am more alive than any of them as they will 
 find some day. The way they did things helped them 
 up the ladder here a long way. Say all they may against 
 the Masonic order, it's sanctioned here, and that is 
 enough for us. I am glad I was a Mason; even glad I 
 was a Shriner. You see we read the hearts boys, and all 
 those other things are not so bad if the heart isn't bad. 
 But it is best to 'cut out* some of the things that your 
 hearts do not approve of. You'll stand a much better 
 chance here. You can't hide anything from the people 
 over here. It is all open and known and when a fellow 
 thinks he is securely entrenched behind his outward life, 
 he is very much mistaken. You can not do it boys. Why 
 if you could see the band that follows you about every- 
 where you go, trying to keep you in the straight and nar- 
 row way, you'd think a long time before you would do 
 the things you sometimes do. This does not apply to 
 you, any more than to any other man. It is so all over 
 the universe. I am not ashamed of my work there in 
 Manistee; but I am sorry I did not do more for those 
 about me. It is a mighty good thing that God gives us 
 a chance here or we would be in a sorry state. 
 
 "It seems perfectly natural for me to be here now. 
 At first, I was crazy with dread and fear; | but I way 
 blessed with more than some and I love the work I an 
 doing. 
 
134 THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 
 
 "And now you listen, and sometime you will hear 
 my voice among you, for you are all dear to me, and I 
 love still to meet you. Mr. Wente is often in your meet- 
 ings. We have a Shrine here too. Not quite so hilarious 
 as the ones you have there, but it is a glorious Shrine 
 where we worship and commune with the Saints. You 
 will see it some day. 
 
 "I am not a glorified mortal yet, but I am happy in 
 the privileges I enjoy; and the mercy of God has been 
 great toward me. I can see you all and I wish I could 
 take you by the hand and look into your faces, or rather 
 that you might look into my face, for I can see yours. I 
 cannot name you all, but just to show you I have not for- 
 gotten, I'm going to name Tom of the cue, and Harry and 
 George, and Alex and Allen and Frank and Dock and 
 Harve. Now, who is talking to you? I must not say too 
 much. I shall come to you just as tho I had my physical 
 body, and now I thank you for everything. 
 
 John J. Staley." 
 CONCLUSION 
 
 Little did I think when receiving these messages, 
 some of them over thirty years ago, that the time to pub- 
 lish them would be fulfilled in my day. But the interest 
 in spirit communication has awakened since the transla- 
 tion of thousands of souls in the World War, and I have 
 given out these messages of former times to comfort those 
 who are struggling for consolation during these trying 
 days of numberless separations. 
 
 A. F. S. 
 
THE LEADING OF A MINISTER 135 
 
 FEAR NOT 
 
 "Sunset and evening star" will come 
 
 Yet fear ye not the dark. 
 
 The sunrise of eternity 
 
 Where pure love's holy light 
 
 Shines in the soul of every man, 
 
 Will soon blot out the night. 
 
 For not that thing called death, I say. 
 
 There is no death of soul. 
 
 Ye are but being born again 
 
 Into a higher plane. 
 
 Helene G. Sheldon. 
 
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