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Book ~B %°| 
 
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 CCMRIGHT DEPOSIT: 
 
Photographic Copies of 
 Written Messages 
 
 from 
 
 The Spirit World 
 
 More than one hundred written communications 
 from those who dwell in spirit life, including messages 
 
 from 
 HENRY WARD BEECHER JAMES BRECK PERKINS 
 
 ROBERT G. INGERSOLL JAMES A. GARFIELD 
 
 SUSAN B. ANTHONY ELBERT HUBBARD 
 
 GEORGE RAINES ABRAHAM LINCOLN 
 
 FRANKLIN BURR ERNEST W. HUFFCUT 
 
 and many others 
 
 With commentaries concerning conditions which 
 obtain in spirit life based upon facts gathered from 
 these messages and from many other sources. 
 
 Copyrighted 1918 
 
 BY 
 
 WILLIAM H. BURR 
 
 The Ayoxdale Press 
 
 Publishers 
 Rochester, N. Y. 
 
'£. 
 
 JUN 17 1918 
 
 ©CI.A5U1526 
 
Foreword 
 
 For many years I was an agnostic. As such I did 
 not deny nor yet believe in a future life. The evidences 
 commonly accepted were not satisfactory to me. I 
 wandered through paths of unrest, earnestly desiring 
 to know the truth. Years of investigation have changed 
 my opinions. I am no longer an agnostic. Nothing 
 could now change my definite and certain belief in the 
 immortality of the soul of man and the belief that 
 spirits can and do communicate with the living. These 
 proofs have come from many sources and are of many 
 kinds. In this book I offer some of these evidences 
 for the benefit of others. I address myself only to those 
 who are earnestly searching for truth, whose minds are 
 ready to receive it. 
 
 The following lines of Bulwer Lytton's, written 
 nearly one hundred years ago, will convey my belief 
 today : 
 
 There is no death; the stars go down 
 To rise upon some fairer shore; 
 And bright in Heaven's jeweled crown, 
 They shine forever more. 
 
 There is no death; the dust we tread 
 Shall change beneath the summer showers, 
 To golden grain or mellow fruit 
 Or rainbow-tinted flowers. 
 
 There is no death; the leaves may fall 
 And flowers may fade and pass away. 
 They only wait through wintry hours, 
 The coining of the May. 
 
 There is no death; an angel form 
 Walks o'er the earth with silent tread; 
 He tears our best loved things away 
 And we then call them dead. 
 
Born unto that undying life, 
 They leave us, but to come again; 
 With joy we welcome them the same, 
 Except their sin and pain. 
 
 And ever near us, though unseen, 
 The dear immortal spirits tread, 
 For all the boundless universe 
 Is Life. — There are no dead. 
 
 Today on the battlefields of Europe, millions upon 
 millions of my fellow-men are fighting, bleeding, suffer- 
 ing, and dying. Death stares them in the face on every 
 hand, and the uncertainty of eternity stretches out 
 before them like a great unknown and unexplored 
 country to which all have gone or must go, a country lying 
 just beyond the dark shadows of despair. In millions 
 upon millions of homes all over this heart-sick world 
 of ours, anxious hearts are beating, anxious ears are 
 listening, and anxious eyes are watching for some 
 message from loved ones who have crossed the river. 
 Not only for those who seek messages from the spirits 
 of their loved ones who dwell in spirit life, but for 
 those who may desire knowledge of conditions which 
 await them when they must cross the great divide, has 
 this book been written. 
 
 It is of great importance that all should understand 
 the conditions which await them in spirit life. With 
 knowledge of the Universal laws of spiritual growth 
 and with obedience thereto, he who enters the door 
 into new and changed conditions is better prepared to 
 start along the unerring road of eternal progress. He 
 who enters in ignorance, vice and depravity has remorse, 
 repentance and regeneration before him. 
 
 It is of infinite importance to mankind that he 
 have knowledge of his relation to the infinite universe 
 which surrounds him. Far too long have we looked to 
 theology for the source of all authentic knowledge con- 
 cerning our spiritual welfare. Far too long have we 
 remained ignorant of the laws of real spiritual growth 
 
and development. We have searched through the 
 unknown fields of mystery for facts of nature that are 
 all around us. We have repeated prayers and followed 
 rituals until their spiritual meaning has become lost 
 in mystery. 
 
 The contents of this volume will be of interest to 
 some. Others will through incredulous doubting fail 
 to grasp the great lesson which the facts contained are 
 intended to convey. No one can expect to understand 
 all of the mysteries of the unseen world about us. No 
 one can tell the source of life, its beginning, nor its end. 
 No one can tell the source of the force of gravity, the 
 cause of the electric current, the revolution of the 
 planets in their course, the coming and going of the 
 seasons, why one rose is red, another pink, or another 
 white. These mysteries lie hidden in the vast realm 
 of the unseen world all around us. We have eyes, but 
 we see not, and ears but we hear not, for our physical 
 bodies and the things of the spirit belong to a different 
 manifestation of nature. 
 
 Proceed then to a consideration of the facts stated 
 herein with at least a slight comprehension of the 
 inherent limitations which obscure from your under- 
 standing the laws of spirit manifestations. 
 
 That there is a world of spirit all around us in 
 which immortal beings dwell, no one of ordinary intel- 
 ligence will today deny. Science has proved it, the 
 Bible affirms it, and countless evidence and experiences 
 in the lives of millions have proved it. I shall not then 
 spend any time in a compilation of scientific data to 
 prove that which should be known to all. 
 
 I shall call your special attention to one phase of 
 the many manifestations from those who come back 
 to us, from our friends who have crossed the river 
 before us, who still remember events and loves of 
 earth life. I desire to offer this for consideration, 
 because I believe it to be of a most satisfactory and 
 convincing nature. It is convincing because the mes- 
 sages are characteristic of those who wrote them. It 
 
is satisfactory because from the character of messages 
 which come to us, we learn that it is not distance but 
 conditions which make these manifestations difficult, 
 that there is no hell, that all is peace and happiness in 
 the life of spirit for those who have lived a life in 
 harmony with spiritual growth and development. It is 
 proof because we are convinced that these communica- 
 tions could not be produced in any other way. They 
 are at the same time proof of immortality and of 
 spirit return. 
 
 With these preliminary remarks, I shall proceed 
 to discuss that particular phase of spirit manifestation 
 and communication known as slate writing. 
 
 This phenomenon I regard as most convincing 
 because it is all produced under circumstances and con- 
 ditions which preclude the possibility of any fraud or 
 deception, or the intervention of any human agency. 
 
 By examination of the pictures hereinafter set 
 forth, you will see 39 different exhibits, designated 
 as Plates. You will find more than one hundred mes- 
 sages. Some of these writings were obtained at 
 Washington, D. C, some at Buffalo, N. Y., some at 
 Rochester, N. Y., and some at Lilydale, N. Y. The 
 first were obtained November, 1908, and the last ob- 
 tained October, 1917. 
 
 This phenomenon is produced in the presence of 
 the medium, and in the bright sunlight, the brighter 
 the better. The process is this. The slates are 
 thoroughly washed and dried. A very small piece of 
 pencil is placed between two slates, a string is tied 
 around them, and they are laid on the table in full 
 view in the brightest light obtainable. Sometimes 
 it requires a few minutes to obtain results, sometimes 
 an hour or more. While the writing is being produced, 
 the medium requests the observer to hold the slates in 
 his hands, while he himself holds the other side; the 
 sound of the writing is clearly audible and the vibration 
 of the slates can be felt. Thus you sit and witness, in 
 the bright sunlight, this marvelous manifestation of 
 
nature. You hear the spirit hands writing with in- 
 credible rapidity; you open the slates and there you 
 find written in their own handwriting, characteristic 
 messages from those whom you had long since believed 
 dead. 
 
 Just a word about what is meant by the word 
 "medium" may be useful to those who do not know. 
 It is a well established theory that ours is a vibratory 
 universe; that every living thing takes its place accord- 
 ing to the plane of vibration to which by nature's laws 
 it belongs. Wireless telegraphy demonstrated this 
 principle of nature, while the vibrating strings of the 
 violin and the piano bring to us audible proof that 
 every sound of harmony or inharmony proceeds from 
 natural laws of vibration. If you place your ear 
 against the telephone wire without an instrument cap- 
 able of receiving and converting to audible sounds the 
 conditions and vibrations which pass along the wire, 
 you will hear nothing of a conversation which may be 
 taking place and which is being transmitted at that 
 very instant. If you place to your ear, an instrument 
 so attuned and adjusted as to gather audible vibrations 
 you may hear and know the voice of a friend from New 
 York to San Francisco. What the receiver of the tele- 
 phone or of the wireless telegraph instrument is to the 
 vibrations which they are capable of receiving, so is 
 the medium, who is capable of transmitting, from the 
 realm of spirit to the realm of the physical, forces and 
 vibrations that which we in the physical body can 
 understand through our physical senses. 
 
 The question is often asked, why is it necessary to 
 be in the presence of a medium to obtain these results. 
 W 7 hy cannot these results be obtained in the presence 
 of one as well as another? This question is often 
 asked by those who have never given the matter 
 serious thought. 
 
 The answ T er is obvious. If you desire to hear the 
 enchanting strains of Mozart's music, you would not 
 enter the presence of a plumber and request him to 
 
pound a tin pan. If you wish expert and special 
 instruction concerning any question, you seek the 
 advice of those whose mind or body is trained or 
 qualified to render it. For the same reason you can- 
 not obtain harmony and mufeic from any haphazard 
 collection of boards, strings, keys, etc., simply because 
 you call it a piano or a violin. For the same reason 
 you cannot receive a telephone communication through 
 any hollow stick, simply because it resembles a 
 telephone receiver. 
 
 Musicians, artists, poets, mediums and all others 
 with special qualifications are born with latent mental, 
 physical or spiritual powers. A law of nature places us 
 all within a certain sphere thereof and upon a certain 
 plane. The medium is one who by nature's law is 
 capable of hearing, through special gifts, sound vibra- 
 tions not audible to the physical ear, and of seeing 
 through spiritual gift, things not seen by the physical 
 eye. Mediums are the transmitters between the 
 physical and the spirit world. They are endowed with 
 natural gifts not possessed by most. Under Plate 14 
 hereinafter shown, this question is more fully discussed. 
 
 With these preliminary remarks proceed to a con- 
 sideration of the evidences hereinafter offered for your 
 consideration. 
 
 This you must do with a mind free from prejudice, 
 with a mind open to impartially consider and weigh 
 facts presented. 
 
 So necessary it is for all to eradicate prejudice from 
 the mind before considering these questions that I 
 advise all who find their mind clouded by this unfor- 
 tunate malady to lay aside any consideration of this 
 question until they have outgrown this mental and 
 spiritual short-coming. 
 
 Permit me to add that all slates and documents, 
 plates of which are hereinafter shown, are carefully 
 preserved and in my possession. 
 
 Rochester, N. Y. 
 April, 1918 
 
Plate 1 
 
 The message contained in Plate 1 bears the sig- 
 nature of my only brother, Dr. Franklin Burr, who was 
 born in Lindley, N. Y., January 5, 1864, graduated 
 from the Buffalo Medical College in 1890, and practiced 
 medicine at Corning, N. Y., until failing health com- 
 pelled him to go to Colorado, where he died at Greeley, 
 August 28, 1898. His picture, with signature written 
 in 1892, is shown on the following page. 
 
 This is the first manifestation of the phenomenon 
 which I had ever witnessed. It was obtained by me at 
 Rochester, N. Y., November, 1908, in the following 
 manner: The sun was shining through the window 
 under which I sat at one side of the table about four 
 feet square. The slates, upon which this and other 
 messages were received, were purchased at a book- 
 store by me, carefully examined, washed and marked 
 by me. When I entered the presence of the medium, I 
 was instructed to take a seat at the opposite side of the 
 table described. He asked whether I had brought 
 slates. Upon being informed that I had, he handed 
 me an infinitesimal piece of slate pencil, told me to put 
 this between the slates, tie a string around them and 
 lay them upon the table. This I did. We then sat 
 conversing, perhaps thirty minutes. In the meantime 
 I kept close watch of every move, for I heard from the 
 so-called investigators all about how these things were 
 done, and I wanted to be certain that no trickery was 
 practiced upon me. To my astonishment within a 
 few minutes, without an instant's notice, the medium 
 told me to take up one pair of slates then lying on the 
 table; this I did. While I held them in my own hands, 
 upon the slates which I had purchased, washed, ex- 
 amined, prepared and marked, I felt the vibration, 
 heard the lightning rapidity of writing, the crossing 
 of t's, dotting of i's and the punctuation. This same 
 
Plate 1 
 
i 
 
 II 11 
 
 / 
 
 1 
 
 Y*7n^ "~/k«M<Jfe~~~ 
 
 Plate 1-A 
 
process was gone through until the whole six plates, 
 three pair, were written in full. Sixteen communi- 
 cations in all were written upon them. Upon these 
 I found the message signed in the handwriting of those 
 who had many years before passed into eternity. All 
 other slate communications were received under sub- 
 stantially the same conditions as above described. 
 
 Plates 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 are grouped so that the 
 signatures of Frank Burr may be easily compared. I 
 have no later signature of his than that easily shown in 
 Plate la, but I know it as well as I know my own. Com- 
 parison of the first five exhibits with signatures shown, 
 proves beyond a question of doubt that all are the same. 
 His signature on his autograph photo shown speaks 
 its own message. 
 
 Plate 1 was obtained in 1908, Plate % in 1909, 
 Plate 3 in 1911, Plate 4 in 1913, Plate 5 in 1916. Every 
 one bears the mute, yet undeniable proof of genuineness 
 and individuality. 
 
 Plate 2 
 
 This exhibit was obtained by me at Washington, 
 D. C, in February, 1909. At that time I was on my 
 way to Fort Monroe via Richmond, Va., to witness the 
 return of the American Fleet from its trip around the 
 world. At the end of this message, you will find these 
 words. "I am going on with you." And in another 
 message from Aunt Ella Chase in Exhibit 18, you will 
 find these words: "I am often anxious to take a trip, 
 and so I think I will go with you this time." 
 
 This exhibit is especially interesting because of the 
 information it contains: 
 
 "Will, do not say a word! Don't tell people I 
 was here. They will regard you as crazy. The human 
 mind must be developed by degrees to a realization and 
 comprehension of this stupendous revelation. I am 
 not dead and never was. The physical body is not 
 essential to the life of a spirit, and I know this. I am 
 going on with you. — Brother Frank Burr." 
 
 10 
 
11 
 
 Plate 2 
 
No truer statement of fact could have been made. 
 Even the angels of heaven know of the almost impene- 
 trable ignorance and prejudice which retard the 
 progress of knowledge concerning these wonderful 
 truths of nature. All religions of the world have 
 taught them; scientists have demonstrated them, and 
 events and experiences in the lives of millions have 
 borne evidence of them. And yet, the finger of ridicule, 
 the only weapon of prejudice and ignorance, is fre- 
 quently pointed at these marvelous demonstrations in 
 which the world should be vitally interested. The 
 real truth is found in these words: "The human mind 
 must be developed by degrees to a realization and com- 
 prehension of these stupendous revelations." 
 
 It is a scientific fact that all intellectual progress is 
 "by degrees." No mind can accept a fact of this 
 nature until it is developed and ready. In behalf of 
 truth and for the benefit of the scientific world, and for 
 the enlightenment of mankind, I am willing to disregard 
 this warning: "They will regard you as crazy." 
 
 I would rather be a beggar at the feet of truth and 
 knowledge, than a king on the throne of ignorance and 
 prejudice. Only cowards and hypocrites sell their souls 
 for financial gain, social position or the approval of men. 
 If my fellow man may stand by my grave and say of 
 me, that I fearlessly spoke of the truth as I understood 
 it, I shall feel that I have not lived in vain. Columbus 
 was ridiculed, Fulton and his steamboat on the Hud- 
 son River were jeered, while Copernicus paid the 
 penalty with his life for declaring the now accepted 
 theory that the sun is the center of the solar system. 
 Ignorance and prejudice always have been and always 
 will be the millstones around the neck of progress. I 
 defy it, and the opinions of all who are under its 
 unholy dominion. 
 
 The name, Jacob Mumbach, Plate 2, is apparently 
 that of the father of a young lady who had for years 
 been employed as a stenographer in my office. He 
 
 12 
 
died in 1887. The reference, "remember me to Emma," 
 I assume refers to her: that is her name. I never 
 saw or knew Jacob Mumbach. 
 
 Plate 3 
 
 I refer to this message, signed Frank Burr. 
 This was obtained at Buffalo, in 1911. There is nothing 
 especially noteworthy, except that it is absolutely 
 characteristic. "Hello Will. How in thunder did you 
 know I would drop in on you here?" That expression 
 is characteristic. The signature is like that obtained 
 four years before, and the one, three or four years 
 after. 
 
 The message signed "V. R. Hilton, ' ' was from my 
 grandfather — my mother's father. I never saw him. 
 He died in 1864 at Corning, N. Y. His message may 
 be found on other plates. I do not know to what he 
 refers, when he says: "I shall not be among the 
 missing when your friends form a division in any hour 
 of your need." I assume it to be a general assurance 
 of his interest in me. The wording is so clear that no 
 translation is necessary. 
 
 The message signed "Ida Carey," I believe is from 
 my sister, who passed to spirit life in 1888. Note the 
 exquisitely formed outlines of the forget-me-not. The 
 message reads as follows: 
 
 "I send you a loving greeting, and you must always 
 tell Winnie that I came on this occasion and spoke of 
 her. I am getting on beautifully. Ida Carey." 
 Winnie is the childhood name of an acquaintance, 
 whose correct name is Winifred. 
 
 The third message signed "George Raines" is 
 of great importance personally, because it is an abso- 
 lutely clear answer to the following question, asked by 
 me. Question: "Have you any message for your 
 brother Thomas?" Answer: "Please tell Thomas to 
 interest himself in so vital a truth as this." 
 
 13 
 
/ 
 
 
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 Plate 3 
 
 14 
 
George Raines, for many years the leading 
 lawyer in Western New York, an ex-district attorney 
 of Monroe County, and an ex-state senator, died in 
 Rochester, N. Y., November 25, 1908. I was asso- 
 ciated with him in business, and know his signature. 
 The above is genuine. "Thomas," his brother, still 
 lives at Rochester, was at one time treasurer of the 
 State of New York, and has for many years been a 
 prominent lawyer and a respected citizen. Another 
 brother was the late Senator John Raines, author of 
 the famous Raines laws of New York State. 
 
 Plate 4 
 
 This plate was obtained in 1913. Lilydale, where 
 this communication was received, is located in a beauti- 
 ful forest. The reference in the message from my 
 brother Frank, "I observe that you have taken to the 
 woods at last," I assume refers to the location in 
 which I was at the time the message was obtained. 
 The signature, "Brother Frank Burr," speaks its own 
 message. 
 
 The message signed "Aunt Elizabeth Chase," is 
 especially interesting. This message reads as follows: 
 
 "I don't know just how I got up here in the woods, 
 but I suppose it is all right to be here. You are not 
 forgotten by me, and although I am not of very much 
 help to you, I feel now that a little letter will be an 
 encouragement to you in your examination of a sub- 
 ject so vital that it should interest all humanity. I 
 will be with you at future times. — -Aunt Elizabeth 
 Chase." 
 
 All evidence indicates that the spirit world is ever 
 anxious that those who are left behind should know 
 that they still live. 
 
 The third message contains this: "I suppose you 
 see me at all times. — Iola Carey." In a communica- 
 tion received from my sister Ida, the day following she 
 
 1.5 
 
- 
 
 Plate 4 
 
 16 
 
wrote: "The one who wrote for me yesterday, signed 
 my name Tola.' 
 
 This is interesting. It will be noticed that the 
 writing in the message signed 'Tola" is not the same 
 writing as that found on Plates 3, 5, 15. This is 
 further evidence that spirit helpers sometimes write 
 for others in spirit life much as in mortal life. This 
 question is discussed elsewhere in this book. 
 
 It is certain that spirits can see and hear those in 
 whose presence they may be, much as we can in the 
 body. But the heavenly vision is not as by physical 
 eyes. 
 
 Note the further words of Ida Carey, "I hope to 
 have you all over here some time." A written message 
 from my father once said: "Don't wish me back." 
 Spirits do not regard physical death as affliction. I 
 have never heard of any who desires to return to the 
 cares and troubles of the flesh. 
 
 There are those who, because of the love of those 
 left behind, or because of duty left undone or some 
 work unfinished, regret their transition. 
 
 The flesh is responsible for nearly all of our vices, 
 for all our toil and labor, the most of our suffering and 
 for those things which retard our progress toward the 
 eternal destiny of the soul. Thus may we understand 
 how it is that, when the physical eyes grow dim and 
 the physical senses ebb and pass away, the spirit is 
 quickened as the morning of a new light breaks in 
 upon the weary pain-racked spirit and it finds rest and 
 peace. 
 
 I do not mean to be understood as expressing the 
 opinion that all find rest and peace. My information is 
 that the drunkard, the licentious, the cruel, the miserly 
 oppressors of fellow men, the offenders against the laws 
 of justice, humanity and love, each from the place in 
 which they find themselves at the gateway of eternity, 
 must suffer or find peace according to their just 
 deserts. 
 
 17 
 
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 Plate 5 
 
 18 
 
My thoughts lead me to pity the condition of a 
 soul like the late Emperor Franz Joseph of Austria, 
 whose spirit today looks back upon the suffering world, 
 and knows that he, with a few others, has unjustly 
 brought upon this world all the loss of life and labor, 
 all the tears of widows and orphans, all of the incalcu- 
 lable pain and anguish which enshrouds this war- 
 stricken world today. 
 
 His pomp and power are gone. He is no longer the 
 ruler of anything. Athwart his pathway upward, pain 
 unutterable pain, remorse unutterable remorse, are 
 his to endure. He has sown to the flesh, and must 
 "reap corruption" until regeneration brings unto him 
 spiritual rest and peace, in the distant years of eternity. 
 
 Plate 5 
 
 This is an interesting plate. It was written in 
 three colors, viz.: slate pencil, dark green and light 
 yellow. It was received October, 1916. 
 
 It is the last of five plates shown which verify the 
 signature of my brother Frank Burr. The message 
 is as follows: 
 
 "Did you know that I was here one day this week? 
 It shall be three times and out. — Frank Burr." 
 
 This I think refers to the fact that I had called for 
 an interview with the medium the day before. So 
 many were waiting for him that I left to return later. 
 
 The next message is from my sister Ida. 
 
 "Willie, it did us an awfully lot of good to see sister 
 here one day. I want every one on earth to know of 
 this life. — Ida Carey." 
 
 This message refers to the fact that my sister still 
 living had written communications from my sister Ida 
 the day previous to the one written to me. The word 
 "awfully" is not a family word. "Willie" is the pet 
 boyhood name by which my sister always addressed 
 me. 
 
 10 
 
Written in a dark green color is a message from a 
 friend, the late Dr. Chas. E. Boult, of Honeoye Falls, 
 N. Y., who passed into spirit life in 1913. He was at 
 one time the principal of the school I attended. He 
 was a personal friend for many years. I knew him 
 well. The message reads: 
 
 "I am here. — Chas. E. Boult." 
 
 I consider this an excellent specimen of his hand- 
 writing. 
 
 Just above is another communication from an 
 uncle who was a physician in Massachusetts and died in 
 1911. He says: "Just a line to tell you, I am within 
 the land of living. — Uncle Henry Adams." 
 
 At the extreme top, and bottom side up will be 
 found a message written in light yellow color signed, 
 Elbert Hubbard. This communication says: 
 
 "I am not a — (cannot read). I directed you by a 
 divine law. — Elbert Hubbard." 
 
 Then next a message from an old school-mate and 
 friend, who at the time of his death in 1908, was city 
 chamberlain of the city of Corning, N. Y. 
 
 "Dear William: If you would develop or invent 
 the lens that Dr. Franklin is anxious for some mortal to 
 do, it would enable mortals to see the spirit leaving the 
 body at decease. I wish this might be for the benefit 
 of doubting Thomases. You might be the one to unfold 
 this valuable lens. It means fame and fortune of 
 course to the one who succeeds in bringing it out. I am 
 glad to be here now. — Truly, Wm. C. Riffle." 
 
 The handwritings of which I have other specimens 
 were written both in life and after death. I consider 
 certain characteristics of this writing as almost con- 
 clusive proof of the identity of my school-mate and 
 friend whose name is signed. 
 
 In this communication signed Wm. C. Riffle, it 
 should be noticed that he mentions the development or 
 invention of a lens that would enable mortals to see 
 the spirit leaving the mortal body. 
 
 20 
 
21 
 
 Plate 6 
 
I am informed that scientists have for some time 
 been experimenting and trying to accomplish this end. 
 It is certain that the camera will photograph objects 
 and conditions not visible to the mortal eye. Scientists 
 have already made it possible for any observer to see 
 by means of a camera with special color screens the 
 "health aura" of the human body, known to science as 
 the "Etheric Double," and have succeeded in photo- 
 graphing obscurely, spirit forms. One step farther and 
 the photography of the astral body will be an assured 
 fact. Spirit photography seems to have been accom- 
 plished, but as yet the problem mentioned in this 
 communication is apparently unsolved. 
 
 Plate 6 
 
 This slate was obtained November, 1908. In some 
 respects it is most remarkable. Its messages are writ- 
 ten in five different colors, viz. : red, purple, green, lead 
 pencil and slate pencil. In the center of this slate will 
 be found a remarkable bit of information: "We get 
 our colors from that jar back on the table.— Chas. 
 Bissell." 
 
 Upon examination, I found that upon the table 
 referred to, there stood an old fashioned globe in which 
 was a dish containing wax fruits — purple grapes, red 
 cheeked apples and green leaves. It is a demon- 
 strated fact that spirit chemists collect and utilize 
 colors obtained from sources and by methods unknown 
 to man-made chemical laboratories. 
 
 This plate contains the names of V. R. Hilton 
 before mentioned. 
 
 Charles Bissell, a personal friend, who died in 
 1907 at Rochester, N. Y., and who was a prominent 
 attorney, for many years counsel for the street rail- 
 way company, city of Rochester. 
 
 22 
 
William Burr, mv father, who died in 1882 at 
 Lindley, N. Y. 
 
 Michael Mumbach, whose message was written in 
 green, and is not visible in this exhibit. He died in 
 1893. 
 
 Charles Simonds, whom I knew well, and who 
 died in 1908 at Rochester, N. Y. This message is 
 written in purple, and says: "There is no hell. I 
 have looked this universe over and find no such place. — 
 Charles Simonds." 
 
 Then there comes a characteristic message bearing 
 every possible evidence of being that of the late Robert 
 G. Ingersoll. Question: "How can I convince your 
 wife that you still live." Answer: "Mr. Burr, my 
 young friend. You could not convince Mrs. Ingersoll 
 of my life because my teachings of uncertainty are 
 too closely intrenched in her mind. I thank you. — 
 Truly, R. G. Ingersoll." 
 
 In connection with this signature of R. G. Ingersoll 
 especial attention is called to the signature and character 
 of the communications in Plates 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10. 
 
 Plate 7 
 
 This plate is especially interesting. On the two 
 following pages will be found a photographic copy of 
 the questions addressed to Geo. Raines, E. W. Huff cut, 
 Susan B. Anthony, and Robert G. Ingersoll. 
 
 These questions were written in the Metropolitan 
 Hotel, at Washington, about two hours before my inter- 
 view with Mr. Keeler, the medium through whom 
 these communications were received. 
 
 The questions were carefully folded and placed in 
 my pocket. The creases made in the paper by the 
 foldings are shown on these plates. 
 
 No human eye ever saw these questions until I was 
 in the State of Virginia, hours after these messages 
 were written. The medium never saw them. 
 
 23 
 
T\. * 
 
 .' i ^ 
 
 
 
 ■fw; 
 
 Plate 7 
 
 ** V -# 
 
 24 
 
The message signed R. G. Ingersoll, is written in a 
 light green color across other messages. The outlines 
 are visible by a careful examination. The original is 
 in my possession, and by me regarded as a priceless 
 treasure. 
 
 I call attention to the remarkably accurate answers 
 to the questions asked. 
 
 The answer of Geo. Raines is: "Dear Burr: Tell 
 Thomas he should examine this thing." 
 
 Ernest H. Huffcut: "Yes, emphatically yes, a 
 knowledge of all things is best for people who would 
 advance." 
 
 Susan B. Anthony: "Knowledge is power." 
 
 Robert G. Ingersoll: "Yes, inform Mrs. Ingersoll, 
 for later I will talk to you here Thursday night." 
 
 Plates 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 are grouped to afford easy 
 comparison of the signature of R. G. Ingersoll. 
 
 Plate 6 was received in 1908, 7 in 1909; 8 in 1911; 
 9 in 1913 ; 10 in 1917. Following plate 10 will be found a 
 photographic copy of Col. Ingersoll's signature. The 
 closest scrutiny of the signatures and the messages is 
 earnestly requested. 
 
 I doubt if anywhere can be found more convincing 
 evidence of the survival of life beyond the grave, than 
 can be found especially in exhibit 7, when considered 
 with the thirty -four others reproduced in this book. 
 
 Plate 8 
 
 The following communication shown on this plate 
 was received by me in 1912. It is of special interest 
 because the subject matter is characteristic. By it we 
 are impressed by the unmistakable evidence that Col. 
 Ingersoll's great devotion and love for his wife and 
 children, of which he so often spoke, still animates his 
 life. No poet has ever immortalized, no artist has 
 ever portrayed, no prophet has ever uttered such words 
 
 25 
 
Plate 7-A 
 
 26 
 
 Questions written by Author 
 
Questions written by Author 
 
 Plate 7-1* 
 
 27 
 
Plate 8 
 
 28 
 
of peace and beauty concerning the love of man for 
 wife, and parent for child as this great man. His 
 foundations rest upon the eternal truths of nature. 
 His understanding enabled him to associate the 
 harmony of perfect confidence and love with the 
 fragrance of flowers and the song of birds, and thus 
 express his thoughts as no other living man has done. 
 
 "Dear Sir and Friend: 
 
 "I am grateful for any graciousness you may show 
 Mrs. Ingersoll. I want her to know the truth as I 
 desired to know it in my mortal days. I wandered 
 between Spiritualism and Materialism and hoped for 
 the best. I found life continuous and I rejoice. For 
 by it, I know that I should again clasp to my breast 
 the ones I love best in all the world. — Respectfully, 
 R. G. Ingersoll." 
 
 The other communication shown on this plate is 
 from my friend Charles Bis sell before mentioned. 
 
 "William: 
 
 "I always feel like saluting you with a dozen guns. 
 One Avho has taken such a courageous stand for truth 
 in their life as vou have, merits our recognition. — 
 Charles Bissell." 
 
 Plate 9. 
 
 This plate was obtained in August, 1912. Upon 
 this occasion the following question was asked: 
 
 "Will you give to me, for Mrs. Ingersoll, some 
 fact known only to her and you by which she may 
 know that you still live?" 
 
 To this question, the remarkable answer came as 
 follows : 
 
 "Dear Sir and Friend, report my visits to my wife. 
 I entertained privately the opinion during my earth 
 life, most strange to many, I presume, that a certain 
 deception, harmless in its result was justifiable. For 
 instance, the subject of immortality of the soul, and 
 
 ^29 
 
Plate 9 
 
 30 
 
the truths of modern spiritualism. Privately I held 
 the hope of their truth, in fact, the line separating them 
 was difficult to determine. My deception, if it may 
 so be termed, was committed in the unspoken realm of 
 thought I entertained. Mrs. Ingersoll knew well my 
 mental attitude while the world did not. I refer to 
 this as a subtle evidence to her that I am writing. I 
 am of course living, were it not, I could not write 
 this. — R. G. Ingersoll." 
 
 It is doubtful if more satisfying or more convincing 
 answers could have been received under any circum- 
 stances. The answers given in these communications 
 when considered in connection with Col. Ingersoll 's 
 writings and utterances disprove the assertion of his 
 critics that he denied the existence of future life. The 
 following is quoted to show that the statements which 
 I have made are fully justified by Col. Ingersoll's 
 own words: 
 
 Oration Delivered by Col. Ingersoll at the Funeral 
 
 of His Brother, in Washington, 
 
 June 3, 1879 . 
 
 "My Friends: I am going to do that which the 
 dead oft promised he would do for me. 
 
 "The loved and loving brother, husband, father, 
 friend died where manhood's morning almost touches 
 noon, and while the shadows still were falling toward 
 the west. He had not passed on life's highway the 
 stone that marks the highest point, but, being weary 
 for a moment, he lay down by the wayside, and using 
 his burden for a pillow, fell into that dreamless sleep 
 that kisses down his eyelids still. While yet in love 
 with life and raptured with the world, he passed to 
 silence and pathetic dust. 
 
 "Yet, after all, it may be best, just in the happiest, 
 sunniest hour of all the voyage, while eager winds are 
 kissing every sail to dash against the unseen rock, and 
 
 31 
 
in an instant hear the billows roar above a sunken 
 ship. For, whether in mid-sea or 'mong the breakers 
 of the farther shore, a wreck at last must mark the 
 end of each and all. And every life, no matter if its 
 every hour is rich with love and every moment jeweled 
 with a joy, will, at its close, become a tragedy as sad 
 and deep and dark as can be woven of the warp and 
 woof of mystery and death. 
 
 ''This brave and tender man in every storm of life 
 was oak and rock, but in the sunshine he was vine and 
 flower. He was the friend of all heroic souls. He 
 climbed the heights and left all superstitions far below, 
 while on his forehead fell the golden dawning of the 
 grander day. 
 
 "He loved the beautiful, and was with color, form, 
 and music touched to tears. He sided with the weak, 
 and with a willing hand gave alms; with loyal heart 
 and with purest hands, he faithfully discharged all 
 public trusts. 
 
 "He was a worshipper of liberty, a friend of the 
 oppressed. A thousand times I have heard him quote 
 these words: 'For justice all place a temple, and all 
 seasons, summer.' He believed that happiness was the 
 only good, reason the only torch, justice the only wor- 
 ship, humanity the only religion and love the only 
 priest. He added to the sum of human joy; and were 
 every one to whom he did some loving service to 
 bring a blossom to his grave, he would sleep tonight 
 beneath a wilderness of flowers. 
 
 "Life is a narroiv vale between the cold and barren 
 peaks of two eternities. We strive in vain to look beyond 
 the heights. We cry aloud, and the only answer is the 
 echo of our wailing cry. From the voiceless lips of the 
 unreplying dead there comes no word; but in the night of 
 death, hope sees a star, and listening love can hear the 
 rustle of a wing. 
 
 "He who sleeps here, when dying, mistaking the 
 approach of death for the return of health, whispered with 
 
 32 
 
his latest breath, 'I am better now.' Let us believe, in 
 spite of doubts and dogmas, and tears and fears, that these 
 dear words are true of all the countless dead. 
 
 "And now to you who have been chosen, from 
 among the many men he loved, to do the last sad office 
 for the dead, we give his sacred dust. Speech cannot 
 contain our love. There was, there is, no greater, 
 stronger, manlier man." 
 
 Copied from "Masterpieces of Eloquence." 
 
 Again he said concerning Spirituality: 
 
 "The spiritual man lives to his ideal. He endeav- 
 ors to make others happy. He does not despise the 
 passions that have filled the world with art and glory. 
 He loves his wife and children, home and fireside. He 
 cultivates the amenities and refinements of life. He is 
 the friend and champion of the oppressed. His sympa- 
 thies are with the poor and suffering. He attacks 
 what he believes to be wrong, though defended by 
 many, and he is willing to stand for right against the 
 world. He enjoys the beautiful. In the presence of 
 the highest creations of art, his eyes are suffused with 
 tears. When he listens to great melodies, the divine 
 harmonies, he feels the sorrows and the raptures of 
 death and love. He is intensely human. He carries 
 in his heart the burdens of the world. He searches for 
 deeper meanings. He appreciates the harmonies of 
 conduct, the melody of a perfect life/' 
 
 Plate 10 
 
 This plate was obtained at Rochester, in October, 
 1917. It came at the same time with that of Lincoln 
 (Plate 33), Hayes (Plate 32), Hubbard (Plate 11), 
 Moore (Plate 22), and Beecher (Plate 30.) 
 
 No question was asked, and the name of Ingersoll 
 was not mentioned nor written by me prior to this 
 communication. This reads as follows: 
 
 33 
 
Plate 10 
 
 34 
 
;/>£ a- Z3i.Cf 
 
 /<?90 
 
 - 
 
 Copy from Dresden Edition, 
 Works of R. G. Ingersoll 
 
 35 
 
 Plate 10- A 
 
"No creed has all of truth, and hence all of any 
 truth is not in any creed. I find that spiritualism is a 
 natural thing, and truth is of nature. I am working 
 my way upward. That is the direction we are all 
 moving to. — R. G. Ingersoll." 
 
 I am especially pleased to be able to present to the 
 world such evidences as these, especially with reference 
 to Col. Ingersoll. For many years I have considered 
 him one of the greatest of public benefactors. I 
 quote the following, which will afford an insight into 
 the innermost life and thought of this great man, whose 
 name and fame will grow brighter for generations yet 
 unborn. 
 
 "When I became convinced that the Universe is 
 natural, for the first time I was free. There were no 
 prohibited places in all the realms of thought — no air, 
 no space where fancy could not spread her painted 
 wings — no chains for my limbs — no lashes for my back 
 — no fires for my flesh — no master's frown or threat 
 — no following another's steps — no need to bow, or 
 cringe, or crawl, or utter lying words. I was free. I 
 stood erect and fearlessly, joyously, faced all worlds. 
 
 "And then my heart was filled with gratitude, with 
 thankfulness, and went out in love to all the heroes 
 and thinkers who gave their lives for the liberty of hand 
 and brain — for the freedom of labor and thought — to 
 those who fell on the fierce fields of war, to those who 
 died in dungeons bound with chains — to those who 
 proudly mounted scaffold's stairs — to those whose 
 bones were crushed, whose flesh was scarred and torn 
 — to those by fire consumed — to all the wise, the good, 
 the brave of every land, whose thoughts and deeds have 
 given freedom to the sons of men. And then I vowed 
 to grasp the torch that they had held, and hold it 
 high, that light might conquer darkness still. 
 
 "Let us be true to ourselves — true to the facts we 
 know, and let us, above all things, preserve the verac- 
 ity of our souls. 
 
 36 
 
"If there be gods, we cannot help them, but we can 
 assist our fellow-men. We cannot love the incon- 
 ceivable, but we can love wife, and child, and friend. 
 
 "We can be as honest as we are ignorant. If we are, 
 when asked what is beyond the horizon of the known, 
 we must say that we do not know. We can tell the 
 truth, and we can enjoy the blessed freedom that the 
 brave have won. We can destroy the monsters of 
 superstition, the hissing snakes of ignorance and fear. 
 We can drive from our minds the frightful things that 
 tear and wound with beak and fang. We can civilize 
 our fellow-men. We can fill our lives with generous 
 deeds, with loving words, with art and song, and all 
 the ecstacies of love. We can flood our years with sun- 
 shine — with the divine climate of kindness, and we can 
 drain to the last drop the golden cup of joy." — (From 
 "Why I Am an Agnostic") 
 
 Plate 11 
 
 It may be truthfully said, Elbert Hubbard was 
 one of the most unique characters of this generation. 
 He was the founder and moving spirit of Roy Croft 
 Shop at East Aurora, New York; the author of many 
 books. 
 
 Perhaps his most noted article was entitled "The 
 Message to Garcia." This is said to have had a circu- 
 lation of nearly twenty million. He was one of the 
 notables aboard the Lusitania which was torpedoed by 
 a German submarine off the coast of Ireland in May. 
 1915. He went down with the ship and his body was 
 never recovered. 
 
 The communication shown on Plate 6 was written 
 to me in October, 1916; one on Plate 11 was written in 
 1917. No human hand was within at least five feet 
 from the slate when this message of 191? was written. 
 
 The signature on Plate 6 differs slightly from the 
 one on 11. The writing on Plate () is known to the 
 
 37 
 
■£^f»f^ 
 
 Plate 11 
 
 38 
 
experts as 45° letters, that on 11 as 70° letters. The 
 same characteristics are true in both except as to the 
 formation of the angle. This illustrates yet another 
 fact. A handwriting expert has this to say: 
 
 "However elusive the sum and substance of the 
 qualities that make up our individuality, it is possible 
 by intuitive perception, or by a process of logical 
 deduction, to determine the elements that constitute 
 the personality in various ways." 
 
 Teachers have recognized the fact that the varia- 
 tions of form, size, style, and movement, developed 
 after a year's graduation from the copy book, are due 
 to temperamental qualities and the nature of the 
 environment. 
 
 Similar temperaments find a similar expression 
 affected by the age, moods and circumstances of the 
 writer, as recognized by some banks who require the 
 signatures of depositors at various intervals for 
 comparisons. 
 
 When we consider how sensitive and dependent 
 upon environment, manifestations of this nature must 
 be, fairness and justice dictate liberality of judgment. 
 The wonder is that any manifestation is possible, 
 under any condition whatsoever. 
 
 Plate 12 
 
 These communications were received in November, 
 1908. It was the first that I had ever received from 
 Chas. Bissell, who has written to me on several occa- 
 sions since then. "If I ever had a conscious life, I have 
 it now. This is my first at this. I shall learn better 
 how to write and so help you. — Chas. Bissell." 
 
 The second communication was apparently from 
 my father. "My dear son: I rejoice to see you here, 
 I don't want you to feel that I am lost to you or gone 
 into the grave. I still have much that I want to say. 
 

 0Y } d j* 
 
 % 9 \ ., * 
 
 &r.* m •? 
 
 5? V 
 
 SON 
 
 >w» 
 
 o A1 
 
 r. 
 
 V 
 
 
 & 
 t 
 
 j 
 
 & 
 
 ^ '•••j 
 
 -* 
 
 Plate 12 
 
 40 
 
much that I am not able to write. The discussion as to 
 E. M. will be productive of much good, I feel sure. I 
 am father, Wm. Burr." 
 
 This and many other communications, indicate 
 that those who dwell in spirit life are anxious that their 
 friends in earth life may know that they still survive. 
 This, I suppose, is for the reason that the uncertainty 
 of the future to most has been such, that all are anxious 
 to send back the message that they have survived the 
 ordeal of physical death. 
 
 Plates 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16, are grouped so that 
 the signature of William Burr, my father, may be 
 easily compared. The first of these was received in 
 1908, the last in 1917. 
 
 Plate 13 
 
 Upon this slate will be found nine messages, and 
 three colors ; the names are as follows : 
 
 1. William Burr, my father. 
 
 2. Charles Simonds, a friend. 
 
 3. V. R. Hilton, my grandfather. 
 
 4. William Reed, a friend of the family. 
 
 5. Charles Bissell, a friend. 
 
 6. Wayne Wescott, an employee and friend. 
 
 7. Michael Mumbach, a grandfather of a friend. 
 
 8. Arthur W. Moore, a Masonic brother, and 
 personal friend. 
 
 9. James Breck Perkins, of Rochester, who at the 
 time of his death in Washington, in 1910, was Congress- 
 man from the 37th Congressional District. 
 
 Of this group, Arthur W. Moore believed in spirit 
 return. His message was, "I find it all real." He was 
 an artist of great talent, a writer of force and clearness. 
 
 Wayne Wescott used to tell me about seeing his 
 boyhood sweetheart walking by his side on the street, 
 
 41 
 
Plate 13 
 
 42 
 
and hearing and seeing friends who had long since 
 passed away. He was a remarkable psychic, although 
 he knew nothing about the scientific truths concerning 
 his powers. 
 
 Three of these persons I have never known nor 
 seen, but all are connected with my family; or other 
 conditions connected with them are such that I have 
 satisfactory reasons for believing these communi- 
 cations genuine. 
 
 Plate 14 
 
 This communication was received in 1908. The 
 signature should be compared with that on Plates 
 12, 13, 15 and 16. 
 
 "For My Dear Son: It is a gratification to me 
 to meet you in this way and I trust that ere long you 
 will be able, by self development, to communicate 
 direct with us. That would be a real satisfaction to 
 both you and me. It is not that I am far away. It is 
 conditions not distance that make it difficult at times 
 for us to manifest to you. I am often with you at the 
 home but there is no way to let you know that I am 
 there. If there be anything I can do to help you in any 
 way call me. I can come and in a subtle way help 
 you I feel sure. — Your father, Wm. Burr." 
 
 The noteworthy part of this communication is 
 this: "It is not that I am far away. It is conditions 
 not distance that make it difficult at times for us to 
 manifest to you. I am often in the home, when there 
 is no way to let you know that I am there/' 
 
 It is a well established fact that our own spirit 
 friends are ofttimes with us in the home, and wher- 
 ever we may go. But we cannot see them, because 
 they are spirit, and mortal eyes cannot discern spiritual 
 beings. Again it is said that "conditions, not distance, 
 make it difficult to manifest." This is a natural law, 
 easy to understand. 
 
 43 
 
« £ 
 
 )^tniJ:/f^ 
 
 $\^ 
 
 re. X J JS Cx X ■ $ V- 
 
 * ^ ' 
 
 
 
 Plate 14 
 
 44 
 
This communication, with many others, indicates 
 certain facts which are little understood. It points the 
 way to a field of knowledge which is almost unknown 
 and unexplored at the present time. 
 
 The universe embraces all things therein con- 
 tained, movable and immovable, visible and invisible, 
 tangible and intangible. 
 
 The present day unit of chemical composition 
 is the atom; hitherto this has been considered the 
 smallest conceivable body of matter. Recent scientific 
 investigation has disclosed a yet smaller unit known 
 as the electron. 
 
 The chemical unit, however, belongs to the realm 
 of physical conditions and senses. It does not partake 
 of spiritual or ethereal conditions. Let us for a moment 
 select a beautiful forest tree, consume it by a fire, 
 and resolve it into its primary elements. Within 
 sixty minutes it may be transformed from a stately 
 monarch of the forest to invisible gases, and become 
 resolved into the primary conditions from whence it 
 came. 
 
 To the physical eye seven primary colors of the 
 spectrum are visible. To the physical ear some sound 
 vibrations are audible. To the deaf ear no sound 
 vibrations are audible. Thus we see that both physical 
 seeing and physical hearing depend upon physical 
 conditions. 
 
 Science has disclosed a realm in which colors of 
 infinitely finer character than those visible to the physi- 
 cal eye exist. It has been discovered that there is an 
 extended realm of sound vibration which the normal 
 physical ear cannot hear, a realm beyond the border- 
 land of the physical. Here the spirit world begins. 
 
 To bridge the chasm between these two natural 
 conditions, normal and abnormal, is the problem of 
 scientific and physical investigation of today. Thus 
 the conclusion is forced upon us that a truth of nature 
 is found in this statement — "It is conditions, not 
 
 45 
 
Plate 15 
 
 46 
 
distance, which make it difficult" for the mortal eye 
 to see and the mortal ear to hear those things, and to 
 realize those conditions which lie beyond the physical 
 realm, and within the realm of the life of the spirit. 
 
 Plate 15 
 
 This communication was received in Washington, 
 D. C„ in 1909. 
 
 "Will, my son, I am very glad to come here and 
 greet you. You may see by my presence that time, 
 space and place count for very little in their influence 
 over our communications with you. I understood very 
 little of this subject in my days on earth. I have 
 advanced here, but sometimes I think if I had given a 
 little more consideration to this life when I was in the 
 mortal that I might have experienced an easier and 
 more rapid progress when I reached here. I am pleased 
 to see you examining so vital a subject — a knowledge 
 that we live beyond the physical plane will be of help 
 to you. I am quite at ease now. — Father, Wm. Burr." 
 
 The other communication on this plate is appar- 
 ently from my sister and reads as follows: 
 
 "Will, did you expect to hear from me down here 
 in this strange place? I shall try to manifest wherever 
 you may sit. I think I can come at most any time. 
 Did you ever see me in those times I came to you? I 
 am as satisfied as can be here. Tell Winifred I came.— 
 Lovingly, Ida Carey." 
 
 Both of these communications are characteristic. 
 The statement by my father that if he had given more 
 consideration to the future life while in his mortal days, 
 it would have been of assistance to him, is significant. 
 There seems to be much other evidence of this fact 
 from those who dwell in the spirit world. Knowl- 
 edge of these conditions is probably the foundation of 
 the teachings of all religions. 
 
 47 
 
-.. 
 
 Plate 16 
 
 48 
 
Plate 16 
 
 Attention is called to this plate for comparison of 
 the signatures of Wm. Burr with others of his as shown 
 in Plates 6, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16. 
 
 The message signed "Jacob Mumbach" is appar- 
 ently from the father of a stenographer in my employ, 
 as before mentioned. Plates 2, 10. "I am grateful for 
 all kindness to and interest in Emma. I will be a 
 crown bearer to you when you cross the great divide." 
 It is certain that angel friends meet and greet loved 
 ones when they cross the "great divide." Beautiful 
 death scenes are recorded in which evidences of pain 
 and grief are replaced by smiles and inexpressible joy. 
 Certain it is that many, especially the aged, live at 
 times in both worlds, and when the end comes, it is 
 but the fulfillment of nature's plan, and obedience 
 to the laws of nature that the ripened grain should 
 fall before the reapers, and the spirit pass on into 
 other conditions. 
 
 When at last the astral cord is severed, and the 
 spirit takes its final leave of its own visible flesh, 
 never to return, then it is that it awakens to know 
 heavenly conditions if the earthly life has been pure 
 and spiritual. Heaven's doors are open, and heaven's 
 joys are before it. 
 
 George Mumbach I have never known, but I am 
 informed that he was a brother of Jacob. 
 
 The message from Susan B. Anthony is remarka- 
 ble. She is, as most people know, the historic figure of 
 the pioneer days of the woman's suffrage movement. 
 Until the day of her transition, she labored unceasingly 
 for the right of women to vote. She was a woman of 
 national reputation. The amendment to the Federal 
 Constitution which she drew conferring the right of 
 suffrage upon woman, is now pending in Congress. 
 She was born in North Adams, Mass., 18 c 26, and died in 
 Rochester, N. Y., in 1906. Her message is: 
 
 49 
 
"Dear Sir: In your efforts in the promulgation 
 of vital truths learned, could not you incidentally 
 cast a flower now and then athwart the thorny path 
 of Woman's Suffrage? — Susan B. Anthony." 
 
 This is another evidence of the interest of souls 
 who have passed into the spirit life in the things of 
 earth life, and shows that this interest does not cease 
 at death, but continues. 
 
 The signature of Charles A. Young is entirely 
 characteristic. The letter G is of peculiar construc- 
 tion. I have an exact reproduction of the letter G 
 found in an endorsement of a check which I at one time 
 gave him. At the time of his death, he was a prominent 
 attorney at Rochester, and Chief Forester of the Order 
 of Foresters of the State of New York. He passed to 
 spirit life in Rochester in 1908. 
 
 Plate 17 
 
 This plate was received in 1911 (cf. Plate 7). It is 
 especially interesting for two reasons, namely, as a 
 communication from Ernest W. Huffcutt, and as an 
 exact answer to the question asked him which was as 
 follows: "Can you convince me that you still live?" 
 
 This question was written in my office, carefully 
 folded, and no human eye ever saw it until after this 
 message has been written. 
 
 He was a graduate of Cornell University, for 
 several years a professor of law, later Dean of the Law 
 College of Cornell. At the time of his death, he was 
 legal adviser to Gov. Hughes, then governor of the 
 State of New York. He died in 1909. 
 
 He was a man of remarkable personality, and 
 precision of thought, as his answers will indicate. He 
 was one of my professors at Cornell University for three 
 years. I know his signature well; I consider these 
 plates an excellent and satisfying specimen of his 
 handwriting. Other signatures will be found on Plates 
 7, 19 and 24. 
 
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 51 
 
 Plate 17 
 
In the message of Jacob Mumbach another refer- 
 ence is again made to his daughter Emma, alluded to 
 in their notes on Plate 2. 
 
 Plate 18 
 
 This plate was obtained in Washington, 1909. 
 Attention is called to the forget-me-nots. These deli- 
 cate reminders are frequently found on written com- 
 munications of this sort. The name Mary Reed 
 Chapman, I do not know. It is a well known fact, that 
 the spirit world is teeming with countless hosts of 
 those who from spirit life are anxious to send back to 
 earth some message of love to those left behind. Hence 
 this and other communications of like nature. 
 
 In the communication signed "Aunt Ella Chase" 
 will be found this: "Your journey away and back 
 home looks to me like a safe one. I see no danger 
 before you. I am often anxious to take a trip, so I 
 guess I will go with you this time." By reference to 
 Plate 2, you will find a similar reference to this trip 
 by my Brother Franklin Burr. The trip is there 
 described, and both of these communications were 
 received at the same time and place, while I was staying 
 in Washington, en route from Rochester to Richmond, 
 Virginia. 
 
 By reference to other messages by Ella Chase and 
 Elizabeth Chase, a remarkable similarity of writing 
 upon each occasion will be observed. I have never 
 seen either of them. Nor have I seen their mortal 
 handwriting. I am unable to conclude more than that 
 upon slates it is always the. same, and that each belong 
 to different types of handwriting. 
 
 Plate 19 
 
 Plate 19 is a very interesting one. The persons 
 and names thereon are as follows: 
 
 52 
 
53 
 
 Plate 18 
 
Plate 19 
 
 54 
 
1. J. B. Perkins (James Breck), who died at 
 Washington, D. C, while a Congressman from the 
 37th Congressional District of New York in 1910. He 
 was author of a "History of France," a lawyer of high 
 repute, and an honored citizen of Rochester. 
 
 2. E. W. 'HufTcutt (cf. Plates 7, 17), described 
 under Plate 17. 
 
 3. Franklin Burr, described under Plate 1. 
 
 4. George Raines (communication written in red) 
 described under Plate 3. 
 
 5. Winifred Huggins, an intimate friend of our 
 family, who passed to spirit life at Lindley, New York, 
 in 1910. 
 
 6. "Irene," whose signature I well know, was for 
 many years a personal friend and school-mate. She 
 passed to spirit life in 1900. 
 
 The HufTcutt message is especially noteworthy. 
 The question was asked by writing upon a small piece 
 of paper as follows: "Who wrote 'Nathan Hale,' and 
 'The Blue and the Gray?' ' The late Judge Francis 
 M. Finch, an ex- judge of the court of Appeals, who at 
 the time of my attendance at Cornell, was Dean of the 
 Law College, wrote both "Nathan Hale" and "The Blue 
 and the Gray." Prof. HufTcutt was at that time one of 
 the professors, and of course, knew Judge Finch, and 
 all about "Nathan Hale" and "The Blue and the 
 Gray." I asked this question for the purpose of 
 testing and proving the identity of Prof. Huffcutt. 
 Upon slates written in the blue black color, I found 
 these answers: "You know as much about 'The Blue 
 and the Gray' as I do. — E. W. Huffcutt." 
 
 This answer is entirely true. I did know all 
 about "The Blue and the Gray." This answer bears 
 great weight. Note how the writing on this plate 
 plainly shows. It is written in blue black. No such 
 color was placed between the slates. Nothing was 
 placed between the slates except an infinitesimal piece 
 of slate pencil. 
 
 DO 
 
The communication from J. B. Perkins states, 
 "Mr. Burr, I am booked for the sessions of a higher 
 congress than that at Washington. I could fully enjoy 
 this 'other world,' if I had my friends and family here. 
 — Truly, J. B. Perkins." 
 
 Plate 20 
 This plate is interesting for the reason that I have 
 never known any of the persons who appear upon this 
 slate. It came with twelve other messages upon other 
 slates. 
 
 1. Jacob Mumbach, described under Plate 2. 
 Note this information : "There are wide fields here 
 
 which will take ages of existence for us to explore." 
 He states further that he is glad that I do not forget 
 "the ascended ones." My information upon this sub- 
 ject indicates that great good comes to those in spirit 
 life, especially to those who are still bound by the 
 fetters of the flesh, by communication with and assist- 
 ance from those who still dwell in the body. The 
 prayers and kindly thoughts for those who dwell in 
 spirit life are of great assistance to them. Our tears and 
 sorrows are theirs, they depress and burden them. 
 Hence the mourning days and the lamentations of well- 
 meaning people are days of suffering for the so-called 
 dead. 
 
 The Catholic idea of Purgatory, I believe to be 
 based upon knowledge of these conditions. Hence the 
 prayers for the dead. This is probably of great assist- 
 ance in the days of suffering and adjustment which 
 follow the transition of undeveloped spirits into new 
 and unknown conditions beyond the grave. Prayers 
 and kindly thoughts sent out by us can be a power to 
 help those in need who are beyond the reach of any 
 other kind of mortal assistance." 
 
 2. Susan B. Anthony, described under Plate 16. 
 "You have a large and special field of work before 
 
 you which will lead to your preferment and fame." I 
 
 56 
 
"I 
 
 PC 
 
 iii 
 
 i^ 
 
 *< 
 
 v -M- 
 
 r w 
 
 - 
 
 * 
 
 57 
 
 Platk 20 
 
find upon inquiry that the word "preferment" was one 
 of her pet words. We all have them. This was an 
 unusual word. We would consider it an old-fashioned 
 word. It furnishes an excellent means of identification. 
 3. Amy Post, of whom I had never heard or 
 known until after her name came to me. After this 
 message was received, I found that she was a mother of 
 four sons, all of whom were residents of Rochester, 
 N. Y., and that her family were the founders of the 
 Post Drug Company of Rochester, many years ago. 
 One of her sons examined this slate, and pronounced 
 the signature genuine, and her message characteristic. 
 
 Plate 21 
 
 Three noteworthy facts are stated in the message 
 on this plate. Elizabeth Chase says (cf. Plate 18) 
 i 'Jesus, Lover of my soul, let me to Thy bosom fly.' 
 How often did we not sing that good old hymn with 
 courage in our mortal days. But when I got here, I 
 found that we have to save ourselves if we are going to 
 be saved at all. I am in the bright light now." This 
 statement speaks the truth as I view the idea of "salva- 
 tion." Long and meaningless prayers and "sound 
 religious doctrines" are but the religious trappings of 
 those who have not yet come to know that life is 
 eternal and progressive, that knowledge is power, and 
 that obedience to the harmonial laws of love and 
 spiritual growth alone can save man from himself. 
 Man has nothing to fear but himself, for he holds his 
 own "salvation" in his own hands. 
 
 "I am in the bright light now." This is in- 
 structive. The darkness of this spirit world is the 
 condition which surrounds the spiritually ignorant and 
 undeveloped soul which passes into spirit life in that 
 condition. Spheres of advancement are before us; 
 everyone proceeds toward salvation only as he advances 
 along the harmonial lines of nature and spiritual 
 
 58 
 
59 
 
 Plate 21 
 
growth. It would be unnatural, and therefore im- 
 possible, for a man, or a woman, depraved, licentious, 
 or addicted to any vice, immediately at death to be 
 translated to the "bright light" mentioned in this 
 message. All life, in or out of the body, is progressive. 
 Only by natural evolution can it proceed from darkness 
 into light on its progress toward the infinite. 
 
 The message from Jacob Mumbach is instructive, 
 when he says, "I could not die if I wanted to." 
 
 David Ogden says: "There is no real separation 
 by decease. We live on all the time." From the 
 other side of the grave countless evidences come that 
 life is continuous and progressive. 
 
 The message by Winifred Huggins, described under 
 Plate 19, sheds light on yet another fact. It is appar- 
 ent that for some reason, spirits sometimes write for 
 others. The message from Winifred Huggins, in Plate 
 19, I consider entirely correct and written by her own 
 hand. I had known her for many years, and consider 
 that communication entirely characteristic. The mes- 
 sage in Plate 21, I do not. Under Plate 17 the state- 
 ment of E. W. Huffcutt mentions this fact. It is 
 again mentioned by Ida Carey at Plate 4. Much 
 other information of which I have knowledge indicates 
 this truth. 
 
 Plate 22 
 
 This message was received by me at Rochester, 
 October, 1917. While the thoughts expressed in the 
 message are characteristic, and some parts of the sig- 
 nature and writing appear to be genuine, I have no 
 positive means of identification. If from my personal 
 friend, he was Robert Moore, of Rochester, N. Y. 
 
 "You are doing wonderful work in giving so much 
 of your time, strength, and devotion to the great 
 cause." From this, and every source of information 
 obtainable, evidence forces the conclusion that the 
 spirit world is anxious that those who still survive, 
 
 60 
 
61 
 
 Plate ^> 
 
should know of their life and of conditions which 
 obtain beyond the veil. A casual reading will make it 
 clear that almost everyone whose messages are recorded 
 mentions this fact. 
 
 Many times the question is asked, "Why don't 
 spirits tell us this or that?" Again, some will say that 
 spirits should know and be able to answer any question. 
 A moment's reflection will reveal that such opinions 
 are ridiculous and ill-advised. If a ship-wrecked sailor, 
 saved from death, is stranded on a distant island in a 
 foreign sea, he is anxious that his loved ones at home 
 may know that he still lives. If anyone were to offer 
 him the use of the telephone for two or three minutes, 
 with which to speak a few words with his loved ones 
 on the distant shore, what would naturally be his 
 first message? What would be yours? It would re- 
 late to his welfare, and to yours. It would be some 
 message that appeals to the heart rather than to the 
 head. It would not be a scientific discussion con- 
 cerning any question. Spirits do just what you and I 
 will do, when we, too, become spirit. Those who 
 dwell in spirit life are not possessed of all knowledge in 
 that life, any more than they were here. Spirit 
 identity cannot be concealed, whether a man be good or 
 bad. All life is continuous and progressive. There 
 can be no other law of development. 
 
 It was just eight months before this message from 
 Robert Moore was written to me, that through my 
 advice, he himself obtained communications from his 
 deceased father, mother and sisters. 
 
 Plate 23 
 
 1. The message in Plate 23, signed Wm. Reed, 
 states: "I have not yet ascended to the fourth 
 sphere." This, with many other evidences, indicates 
 that life in spirit is progressive from sphere to sphere. 
 These spheres exist only in spirit conditions; each 
 
 62 
 
63 
 
 Plate £3 
 
spirit can pass from lower to higher only through 
 spiritual development. Hence it is proven that this 
 communication is introduced to convey information 
 concerning this spirit evolution which lies in the path 
 of one and all. 
 
 2. The communication signed "Aunt Ella Chase," 
 states: "I pray for the blessing of heaven to fall upon 
 you. I know you deserve the best there is in heaven 
 or on the earth." The character of this communica- 
 tion from the spirit world shows that the same kind 
 thoughts are with her in spirit that characterized her 
 life while in the body. It will be noted that each 
 message signed either "Aunt Ella Chase," or "Aunt 
 Elizabeth Chase," is of this character. 
 
 3. Charles Simonds described under Plate 6 says: 
 "I am not accustomed to the working of this room." 
 By this, I suppose he means to say that the vibratory 
 and magnetic conditions of the room are not such as 
 would enable him to utilize them for definite results. 
 It is certain that spirits cannot write until they have 
 acquainted themselves with the law by which that 
 phenomenon is produced. 
 
 Manifestations are sometimes in some degree 
 influenced by the powers and forces through which 
 they have to express action and thought. 
 
 4. V. R. Hilton writes: "You can get this writing 
 by yourself." I know nothing about this. Pierre 
 Keeler, the greatest of the slate-writing mediums, 
 says that he knows nothing about how or why 
 slate- writings are produced. He states further that 
 it requires six years of one hour period of silence 
 and negative conditions each day for the development 
 of any form of manifestation of this character through 
 him. The wisest souls in the spirit life know but little 
 about the many laws they utilize to produce results. 
 Probably this is no more strange than that science has 
 never discovered what electricity is, nor the source of 
 the force of gravity, nor the cohesive nor adhesive 
 
 64 
 
qualities of substance. In fact, this is true of nearly 
 all the great forces of nature. 
 
 Plate 24 
 
 Plates 24, 25, 26 and 27 are grouped together to 
 demonstrate the wonderful mechanical skill possessed 
 by those in spirit life. Plates 24 and 25 are outlines of 
 faces. I do not know whose likeness is supposed to be 
 represented. All were made at the same time under 
 the same conditions as hereinbefore described. Plate 
 24 was received at Buffalo, in 1912. Especial atten- 
 tion is called to the communication signed "Aunt 
 Elizabeth Chase," which reads as follows: 
 
 "Time and place make very little difference with 
 me in my coming. I do not go to a place by travelling, 
 as I did on earth. It is mere thought that places me 
 where I want to be. Just as soon as I received the 
 wishes to be here, I thought myself present and here 
 was. 
 
 This is very instructive as regards the way by 
 which spirits go from place to place by the power of 
 thought. All information indicates that spirit tran- 
 scends and surpasses all matter as we understand the 
 term; that it can pass from place to place and through 
 all substance with lightning rapidity exactly as above 
 indicated. The physical body is no part of thought. 
 It is only a combination of bones, flesh, muscles, and 
 nerves through which the spirit functions, and by 
 which and through which it transmits from the spiritual 
 realms of spiritual vibration to this material realm of 
 heavier vibration, that which we call thought. 
 
 Thoughts are potent forces, either constructive or 
 destructive, and greatly influence the body. Demon- 
 strate for yourself the truth this way. If you have a 
 thought of pain created by an unnatural physical con- 
 dition, forget it by thinking about something else, 
 something pleasant. As long as you concentrate and 
 
 65 
 
Plate 24 
 
 66 
 
hold your mind fixed upon something else, you will 
 not think of your pain, you will not have any. For 
 pain is a disordered condition of the mind and nerves, 
 sometimes produced by the disordered condition of the 
 body and sometimes created by imagination. One 
 cannot think of two things at the same time. Herein 
 lies the real essence of all forms of healing through the 
 mind, chief of which is Christian Science, Mental 
 Science, New Thought and others. Herein lies the 
 secret of the nearly of all forms of mental and spiritual 
 growth. Drive out ignorance with knowledge, evil 
 with good, inharmonious thoughts with thoughts of 
 peace, beauty and harmony, and thus open the door 
 for spiritual growth and peace. Thus may heaven 
 begin on earth, by creating less unhappiness for our- 
 selves and for others, and by pointing and leading the 
 way toward heaven. 
 
 I cannot pass this point under discussion without 
 momentarily digressing from the main question to pay 
 a tribute to the splendid and wholesome influence of 
 mental remedies for human ailments, chief of which is 
 Christian Science, 
 
 The fundamental truth of Christian Science teach- 
 ing is nothing but old wine in new bottles. The 
 potency of mind is ancient religious and ethical thought. 
 In the New Testament, it is most prominent if the 
 records concerning Jesus are correct. The writings of 
 P. P. Quimby were enlarged upon, and they constitute 
 the foundation of certain alleged principles denominated 
 Christian Science, the most notable exponent of which 
 is Mary Baker Eddy. I refer to this partially because 
 she attributed to spirit voices and influence her first 
 call to her life work. This will be shown by the fol- 
 lowing quotation, page 8, "Retrospection and Intro- 
 spection" (1891): 
 
 Voices Not Our Own 
 
 "Many peculiar circumstances and events con- 
 nected with my childhood throng the chambers of 
 
 67 
 
memory. For some twelve months when I was about 
 eight years old, I repeatedly heard a voice, calling me 
 distinctly by name, three times in an ascending scale. 
 I thought this was my mother's voice, and sometimes 
 went to her, beseeching her to tell me what she wanted. 
 Her answer was always, 'Nothing, child; what do you 
 mean?' Then I would say, 'Mother, who did call me? 
 I heard somebody call Mary three times;' this con- 
 tinued until I grew discouraged, and my mother per- 
 plexed and anxious. 
 
 "One day, when my cousin, Mehitable Huntoon, 
 was visiting us, and I sat in a little chair by her side, 
 in the same room with grandmother — the call again 
 came, so loud that Mehitable heard it, though I had 
 ceased to find it. Greatly surprised, my cousin turned 
 to me and said, 'Your mother is calling you;' but I 
 answered not, till again the same call was thrice 
 repeated. Mehitable then said sharply, 'Why don't 
 you go? Your mother is calling you.' I then left the 
 room, went to my mother, and once more asked her 
 if she had summoned me? She answered as always 
 before. Then I earnestly declared my cousin had 
 heard the voice, and said that mother wanted me. 
 Accordingly, she returned with me to grandmother's 
 room and led my cousin into an adjoining apartment. 
 The door was ajar and I listened with bated breath. 
 Mother told Mehitable all about this mysterious voice, 
 and asked if she really did hear Mary's name pro- 
 nounced in audible tones. My cousin answered quickly 
 and emphasized her affirmation. 
 
 "That night before going to rest, my mother read 
 to me the Scriptural narrative of little Samuel, and bade 
 me, when the voice called again, to reply as he did, 
 'Speak Lord; for thy servant heareth.' The voice came, 
 but I was afraid, and did not answer. Afterward I 
 wept, and prayed that God would forgive me, resolving 
 to do next time, as my mother had bidden me. When 
 the call came again, I did answer in the words of 
 
 68 
 
Samuel, but never again to the material senses was 
 that mysterious call repeated." 
 
 At page 306, "Miscellaneous Writings, "in 1897, she 
 wrote: "When the angels visit us we do not hear the 
 rustle of their wings nor feel the feathery touch of the 
 breast of a dove, but we know their presence by the 
 love they create in our hearts." 
 
 For many years Mary B. Eddy was a clairvoyant. 
 Several persons now living and known to me have 
 witnessed manifestations of her psychic powers. It is 
 reasonable to assume that much of her unusual insight 
 into the relations between the physical and spiritual 
 part of humanity and of the power of mind over matter 
 came from the "tribunal of the unseen." 
 
 It is to be hoped that her followers may not fall 
 into the error of deifying the person, thereby looking 
 to the wrong source for knowledge concerning the 
 principles which she taught. Some have denied that 
 Mary Baker Eddy acknowledged spirit guidance, but 
 they who know the truth and still deny, perforce fall 
 with their load. 
 
 Van Renssalaer Hilton is the V. R. Hilton herein- 
 before mentioned. I never knew until this communi- 
 cation was received by me that his name was Van 
 Renssalaer. I found this to be true. This communica- 
 tion was an answer to a question. 
 
 Attention is called to the communication signed 
 x\unt Ella Chase. 
 
 "Lizzie and I like to come here and write to you. 
 We are inseparable in this spirit realm and one of us 
 always reports to the other when anything important 
 occurs. I hope we may write to you more." 
 
 Aunt Elizabeth Chase and Aunt Ella Chase were 
 sisters who lived and died in close relationship. I 
 have never seen either of them. They were related 
 to me by marriage. Compare signatures in Plates 
 18, 21, and 24. 
 
The short message at the top of this plate is most 
 remarkable. It is not a spirit writing, but was written 
 by a medium under the following conditions: I had 
 asked the question of Prof. E. W. Huffcutt, "Are 
 spirits glad to communicate with mortals." No 
 answer to this question appeared upon the slates when 
 I first saw them, but after the communication had 
 ended and I was about to leave the room, the medium's 
 hand began to move, and he said to me. "Here is 
 another one for whom you have sent. He wants to 
 write." At this he took in his hand a pencil and 
 wrote the communication shown. "I am of course 
 glad. — Prof. E. H. Huffcutt." I sat in silence and 
 watched every movement. Without word from me, 
 the medium said. "He says that middle initial is 
 wrong. That it should be W instead of H." There- 
 upon he made the marks shown in this exhibit in an 
 effort to change H. to W. By an examination, you 
 will see the exact circular lines drawn by the medium 
 in his effort to correct the mistake to which reference 
 is made. Then he said . "He says he is not profes- 
 sor now and wants that erased." At this he drew two 
 lines shown in the exhibit through the word professor. 
 Both of these lines shown in the plate. Reference is 
 made to this remarkable occurrence as evidence of a 
 branch of spirit manifestations entirely different from 
 what is known as slate writing. I refer to that branch 
 known as clair-audience namely, the hearing of spirit 
 voices. This one instance indicates the accuracy of 
 this form of communication. It could not be done 
 through thought transference because three distinct 
 thoughts were represented here which I did not have 
 in mind. As above stated, this entire transaction 
 took place without a word or suggestion from me. 
 
 Plate %5 
 This plate is interesting to illustrate a truth by 
 which in all probablity the human face of some friend 
 is sought to be reproduced. 
 
 70 
 
Plate c 25 
 
 71 
 
Further attention is called to the communication 
 signed "Uncle Henry Adams." "How queer that we 
 should meet here in the Capitol." This communica- 
 tion was received at Washington, D. C, in 1909. I 
 assume that this refers to the national capital. 
 
 Again he says: "I feel just about as I did on earth." 
 This is a very interesting and instructive bit of infor- 
 mation. The real facts concerning conditions of life 
 beyond the grave have been so beclouded by theologi- 
 cal doctrines and theories, "the sleep of the dead," 
 "the resurrection morning," "the judgment day," and 
 other theories of like import, that it is difficult for this 
 day and generation to comprehend that death is as 
 natural as birth; that man, immediately after his 
 transition, is about the same as he was before, that life 
 is continuous and progressive. One moment's re- 
 flection will convince us that man is a part of nature 
 like the birds of the air, the flowers of the field. He 
 lives and moves and has his being according to nature's 
 laws. If this conception of life be accepted, it is then 
 easy for us to understand that depraved and earth- 
 bound individuals cannot by death be transformed into 
 saints, nor the ignorant be made wise. It is then easy 
 for us to see that spiritual growth and development is 
 a matter of spiritual vibration and that before a soul 
 can change its condition, it must first change itself by 
 the natural laws of cause and effect. Nature knows 
 no other law. No man knows any law which tran- 
 scends the laws of nature, the cosmic force by which 
 we live and move and have our being. 
 
 Plate 26 
 
 This slate was produced in a public audience at 
 Rochester, N. Y., at which nearly 500 persons were 
 present and witnessed all occurences connected with 
 it. The slates were brought by different persons who 
 desired to bring them. A committee of three persons 
 were called from the audience to examine, wash, place 
 
 72 
 
Plate l 2(> 
 
slate pencil between the slates, and then securely tie slates 
 together. After this had been done by the committee 
 they were placed on the platform before the audience. 
 Volunteers were then called from the audience, about 
 thirty or forty in number. They then stood in a 
 circle, a pair of the slates prepared as above described 
 were handed to those who had come from the audience, 
 and a circle was formed by joining hands with the 
 slates as a connecting link, thus forming an endless 
 chain in which some thirty or forty persons with the 
 slates held between them were joined in a circle. The 
 medium was P. L. Keeler, of Washington, D. C. Within 
 five minutes after the circle was formed, writing was 
 heard and the vibration of slates in different parts of 
 the circle was visible. Within ten minutes the whole 
 proceeding was completed. Thirty-three communi- 
 cations were found on the slates to persons in the audi- 
 ence. The slate shown in Plate 26 was one of them. 
 It is shown as an illustration of mechanical skill. 
 Enos Wood I do not know. Roxie Joslyn I did know. 
 She was a client of mine. I made her last will and testa- 
 ment a few days before she died, in March, 1916. It is 
 certain that no mechanical device was or could be 
 used in the construction of this geometrically perfect 
 figure. Every line is straight and every angle is per- 
 fect. The writing in the center is appropriate to the 
 occasion and the signature is as perfect as anything 
 can be. As to how it is that these wonderful mechanical 
 feats are performed I have received no explanation. 
 This and the slate following will show beyond question 
 of doubt that some power of intelligence greater than 
 that possessed by human hands produced these results. 
 
 Plate 27 
 
 This plate was produced at the same time and 
 place, and under the same conditions as those described 
 in Plate 26. It is shown here to further illustrate the 
 marvellous powers which operate in unseen realms. 
 
 74 
 
75 
 
 Plate c 2? 
 
It is evident that one hand did all of this, for the hand- 
 writing in all of the eleven circles is the same. Note 
 the mechanical accuracy of every circle, the beauty of 
 the flowers; four different flowers and three differently 
 formed leaves are seen. 
 
 The name Ruby Parry and A. C. Moore are known 
 to me. Other names were recognized by persons in 
 the audience. 
 
 I knew Ruby Parry well. She had a little daughter 
 who passed to spirit life about five years since. Her 
 husband had married again. He was in the audience. 
 The little daughter who had passed to spirit life wrote 
 on one of the slates — "My papa has got a new mamma. 
 I am glad of it." 
 
 This plate I consider a remarkable specimen of 
 its kind. It is the fourth and last shown to illustrate 
 one phase of the mechanical powers of the world about us. 
 
 Plate 28 
 
 This plate is shown to illustrate another fact. 
 It quite frequently occurs that no message can be 
 obtained for certain reasons unknown. The medium 
 on the day in question in 1908, was preparing to leave 
 the city, but consented to remain for a time to accom- 
 modate me. After waiting for a time, there came on 
 the slate this communication, shown in Plate 28, 
 which reads as follows: "Will not be able to get any 
 one to write under hurried or flurried conditions. 
 Defer writing until a more favorable time.— G. C." 
 "G. C." is the spirit guide of the medium through 
 whom this was written. 
 
 By holding this plate before a glass it can be readily 
 deciphered. As to why or how this communication 
 was written in this way, I have no information. It 
 is one of the mysteries of the unseen world. This 
 further illustrates the fact that positive and negative 
 conditions must exist whenever these manifestations 
 
 76 
 
77 
 
 Plate ^28 
 
are produced. Positive, combative, and antagonistic 
 mental conditions are unsatisfactory for the best 
 results. This fact leads us to yet another fact of 
 nature. It seems that in all manifestations of nature, 
 there is the positive and negative, the male and the 
 female. The polarity of the earth indicates the nega- 
 tive and the positive. Of all living creatures there is 
 the positive, the male, and the negative, the female. 
 So with many known plants and flowers, and so with 
 day, the positive, and night, the negative. All life 
 begins in negative conditions. In the darkness, as it 
 were, spirit manifestations are more readily produced, 
 under negative conditions: therefore as above stated, 
 positive or antagonistic conditions are less favorable 
 than negative conditions for spirit manifestations. 
 
 Plate 29 
 
 This plate is shown to illustrate another truth con- 
 cerning this particular kind of manifestation. The 
 day when this plate was produced, was a dark, dismal 
 and rainy November afternoon. 
 
 Note that of the five different handwritings, five dif- 
 ferent communications, and five different names, four 
 mentioned bad weather conditions. No other com- 
 munications were received upon this occasion. This 
 sort of manifestation is most satisfactory in a bright 
 light, under clear skies, and with passive conditions of 
 both mind and body. It is certain that those in 
 spirit life, when entering the heavier vibrations of our 
 earth plane for the purpose of communicating, are 
 influenced by much the same conditions as those in 
 the body. It is impossible to obtain certain kinds of 
 manifestations during electrical storms, others in dark 
 and cloudy weather; some are produced in darkness, 
 and yet others in light. As one star differs from 
 another, so each manifestation of divine law controls 
 these communications from the spirit world. Each 
 
 78 
 
Plate 29 
 
differs according to the law of chemical combinations. 
 Each is subject to the unerring cosmic laws of the 
 universe. 
 
 Plate 30 
 
 This plate was received by me, October 6, 1917. It 
 was one of the six mentioned in Plate 6. It reads: 
 
 "Dear President of Plymouth Church. I too pre- 
 sided in a Plymouth Church. Long ago I learned 
 this, that when a man or woman gets too full of church 
 religion, there is not any room left in him for common 
 sense. — Henry Ward Beecher." 
 
 It is needless to say that Henry Ward Beecher 
 was for many years the recognized leader among the 
 New York clergy, perhaps one of the most famous that 
 has ever lived in the United States. Many years 
 before his death in 1897, he was pastor of Plymouth 
 Church in Brooklyn, N. Y. I was president of the 
 board of trustees of Plymouth Church at Rochester, 
 N. Y. This communication came as a great surprise. 
 I had never known Henry Ward Beecher. 
 
 Along with this came one from Elbert Hubbard 
 (Plate 11), from Robert G. Ingersoll (Plate 10), from 
 R. B. Hayes (Plate 32), and from Robert Moore (Plate 
 16), Henry Ward Beecher (Plate 30), and A. Lincoln 
 (Plate 33). 
 
 In 1880 the Rev. Mr. Beecher was interviewed 
 concerning his opinion of Col. Ingersoll, and Col. 
 Ingersoll was interviewed concerning Mr. Beecher at 
 the same time, neither one knowing of the interview 
 concerning the other. 
 
 Col. Ingersoll's opinion of Mr. Beecher is as 
 follows : 
 
 Question: ''What is your opinion of Mr. Beecher?" 
 Answer: "I regard him as the greatest man in any pulpit 
 of the world. He treated me with a generosity that nothing can 
 exceed. He rose grandly above the prejudices supposed to belong 
 to his class, and acted as only a man could act without a chain 
 upon his brain and only kindness in his heart. 
 
 80 
 
81 
 
 Plate 30 
 
"I told him that night that I congratulated the world that it 
 had a minister with an intellectual horizon broad enough, and a 
 mental sky studded with stars of genius enough, to hold all 
 creeds in scorn that shocked the heart of man. I think that Mr. 
 Beecher has liberalized the English-speaking people of the world. 
 
 "I do not think he agrees with me. He holds to many things 
 that I most passionately deny. But in common, we believe in the 
 liberty of thought. 
 
 "My principal objections to orthodox religion are two — 
 slavery here and hell hereafter. I do not believe that Mr. Beecher 
 on these points can disagree with me. The real difference between 
 us is, he says God, I say Nature. The real agreement between us 
 is — we both say — Liberty." 
 
 Question: "What is his forte?" 
 
 Answer: "He is of a wonderful poetic temperament. In 
 pursuing any course of thought his mind is like a stream flowing 
 through the scenery of fairyland. The stream murmurs and 
 laughs while the banks grow green and the vines blossom. 
 
 "His brain is controlled by his heart. He thinks in pictures- 
 With him logic means mental melody. The discordant is the 
 absurd. 
 
 "For years he has endeavored to hide the dungeon of orthodoxy 
 with the ivy of imagination. Now and then he puts for a moment 
 the leafy curtain aside, and is horrified to see the lizards, snakes, 
 basilisks and abnormal monsters of the orthodox age, and then 
 he utters a great cry, the protest of a loving, throbbing heart. 
 
 "He is a great thinker, a marvelous orator, and, in my judg- 
 ment, greater and grander than any creed of any church. 
 
 "Besides all this, he treated me like a king. Manhood is his 
 forte, and I expect to live and die his friend." 
 
 The following is Mr. Beecher's opinion of Mr. 
 Ingersoll : 
 
 Question: "What is your opinion of Colonel Ingersoll?" 
 Answer: "I do not think there should be any misconception 
 as to my motive for indorsing Mr. Ingersoll. I never saw him 
 before that night, when I clasped his hand in the presence of an 
 assemblage of citizens. Yet I regard him as one of the greatest 
 men of this age." 
 
 Question: "Is his influence upon the world good or otherwise?" 
 Answer: "I am an ordained clergyman and believe in revealed 
 religion. I am, therefore, bound to regard all persons who do not 
 believe in revealed religions as in error. But on the broad plat- 
 form of human liberty and progress I was bound to give him 
 
 82 
 
the right hand of fellowship. I would do it a thousand times 
 over. I do not know Colonel Ingersoll's religious views precisely, 
 but I have a general knowledge of them. He has the same right 
 to free thought and free speech that I have. I am not that kind 
 of a coward who has to kick a man before he shakes hands with 
 him. If I did so I would have to kick the Methodists, Roman 
 Catholics, and all other creeds. I will not pitch into any man's 
 religion as an excuse for giving my hand. I admire Ingersoll 
 because he honestly thinks, and I am sorry that he does not think 
 as I do. I never heard so much brilliancy and pith put into a 
 two hours' speech as I did on that night. I wish my whole con- 
 gregation had been there to hear it. I regret that there are not 
 more men like Ingersoll interested in the affairs of the nation. I 
 do not wish to be understood as indorsing skepticism in any form." 
 
 Plate 31 
 
 This plate was obtained in my presence and in the 
 presence of about five hundred spectators at a public 
 slate-writing exhibition held at Plymouth Church in 
 Rochester, N. Y. 
 
 Slates were examined by a committee more fully 
 described under Plate 26. As is there stated, strangers 
 were called from the audience to hold this and many 
 other slates while the writing was produced, while the 
 slates were many feet distant from the medium and 
 in the hands of those who knew nothing about this 
 phenomenon. It is impossible, of course, to verify 
 the signature of Jeanne d'Arc. Her message is in 
 French, and says (translated) : 
 
 "Yours, sincere and faithful, Joan of Arc." 
 
 It is an historical fact that a French maiden of 
 this name in 1411 became a great military leader, and 
 that under her leadership, French armies were victori- 
 ous; that as a result of her efforts, King Charles 7th of 
 France, was crowned at Rheims. It is certain that 
 she was thereafter captured by the English and burned 
 at a stake in 1420. It is claimed that she was inspired 
 and under the control of some great military genius by 
 whom she was guided and directed. Of this fact there 
 
 83 
 
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 Plate 31 
 
 84 
 
 Copy from National Handbook 
 of American History 
 

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 Plate 31 -A 
 
 85 
 
is of course, no proof. It is certain, however, that 
 through this peculiar phase of spirit manifestation those 
 who have never played a piano, or sung at all, play the 
 most difficult music, and sing classical selections, 
 in a language which they have never spoken. It is 
 certain that under certain conditions, persons speak 
 in languages different from their native tongues, and 
 of which they have no previous knowledge. It is 
 certain that many of the greatest writers and poets 
 have written immortal productions while under the 
 spell of inspiration. It is certain that some public 
 speakers deliver most wonderful public addresses with- 
 out any preparation, and without any knowledge of 
 what they are to say or of what they have said. In 
 fact, some speakers claim that they are not conscious 
 of what they are saying during the entire address. 
 These truths are mentioned in the Bible. They are 
 facts of history, and further evidences of their reality 
 are abundant. What then, is inspiration, if not an 
 influence which functions in the spirit world, and 
 manifests through the physical body? 
 
 The communication signed "J. A. Garfield," speaks 
 for itself. If written by ex-president James A. Garfield, 
 it is characteristic, and such as would be expected from 
 him. At the time this was written, we were just 
 entering the great European War, and the importance 
 of this terrible conflict was just breaking upon the 
 American people. The message, the flag, the signature, 
 each bear a silent evidence that ex-president James A. 
 Garfield wrote that message to the soul of earth. 
 
 Plate 32 
 
 This plate was received together with Plates 10, 
 11, 31, 32 and 33, and under the same conditions de- 
 scribed under Plate 16. 
 
 If this is the signature of ex-president Rutherford 
 B. Hayes, this message is likewise characteristic. He 
 
 86 
 
was goveror of Ohio from 1868 to 1876, and President 
 of the United States from 1877 to 1881. He died in 
 1893, and his body lies buried at Freemont, Ohio. His 
 statement is this: 
 
 "The conflict rages wildly. All must strike 
 together." * 
 
 This evidently relates to the European War. If 
 so, in this, the three ex-presidents of the United States, 
 Garfield, Hayes and Lincoln, all view with alarm this 
 terrible war now covering Europe with blood. 
 
 Plate 33 
 
 This plate was received by me October, 1917. It 
 was written while lying on a table in the bright sunlight 
 and while no human hand was within five feet from it. It 
 bears mute and unmistakable evidence that it is a 
 message from and in the handwriting of Abraham 
 Lincoln. It reads as follows: 
 
 "Dear Sir: The deadly foe is on our own shores 
 as well as abroad. This country in its drastic action 
 w^ill have to strike the enemy with a double-edged 
 sword, for the common foe is here as well as abroad. 
 The struggle looks like an extended one as to time, but 
 victory comes at the price of vigilance. We can win. — 
 Truly, A. Lincoln." 
 
 This communication evidently refers to the Euro- 
 pean war. It was written while our armies were mobi- 
 lizing for the conflict and just as the terrible war cloud 
 was overshadowing all American life. 
 
 It is predicted by those in the spirit world that 
 forces are now at work, here in America and Canada, 
 which will result in an extended conflict, and cause 
 much blood to be shed after the European war is 
 ended. Whether it is the war between labor and 
 capital or a continuation of the struggle which has 
 shown itself, I am not informed. It is quite likely 
 that "deadly foe" referred to the enemies of our 
 government. 
 
 87 
 
Plate 32 
 
89 
 
 Plate 33 
 
I offer in evidence nothing further concerning this 
 communication. The peculiar handwriting and the 
 subject speak their own message. I have since examined 
 a large number of Lincoln's writings and consider this 
 a perfect specimen. Any who have sufficient interest 
 in the subject should examine and compare for 
 themselves. 
 
 Plate 34. 
 
 This plate is shown to illustrate yet another phase 
 of the same manifestation of spirit power. It was 
 written by a materialized hand in my presence, and 
 delivered to me as a message for me. Perhaps it is. I do 
 not know. I have never found anyone who could even 
 guess what language is used, what is written or who 
 wrote it. An examination will disclose that it is written 
 with remarkable precision. I have received other 
 communications written in the same language, with 
 the same characters. This however, is the best speci- 
 men I have. I have seen messages signed "Dion, 354 
 B. C." Among the greatest teachers in spirit life are 
 ancient and learned spirits who have been in spirit life 
 many hundred years. I have had given to me secret 
 masonic signs and symbols, and information known 
 only to well informed members of the ancient craft, by 
 materialized masonic brethren. 
 
 However difficult it may be for minds to accept 
 these facts, science has established the facts of materiali- 
 zation. I have seen it many times. Scientifically it 
 cannot be denied. 
 
 A Communication Written to Me, 
 not by Mortal Hands 
 
 "My Dear Soul on Earth: I am so pleased to find 
 a way of communion to the mortals of earth that my 
 soul seems to sway in joy. How can God, so termed, be 
 reconciled to man? When man is as eager to study the 
 spiritual powers and forces of the universe as he is to 
 
 90 
 
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 ^ 
 
 X 
 
 x 
 
 
 
 91 
 
 Plate 34 
 
study the material; when he seeks to more fully under- 
 stand these as he does in material ways, that such 
 knowledge is for his or her benefit, development and 
 enlightment, he and they will not blind their spiritual 
 vision. They then will not close the avenues of 
 spiritual light, but knowing, they will naturally say, I 
 am more and more reconciled to the ever-prevailing 
 manifestations in works and the divine will of God. 
 Thus the more you understand your own spirit, and this 
 great and vast universal open message between these 
 two seeming worlds, this power of knowing that beyond 
 death there is the purest love, the greatest kindness, 
 charity to fill the cup to overflowing, when you have 
 realized these conditions, then you will have found the 
 gateway open through which the unseen souls may be 
 given strength to meet you face to face. And thus 
 you will become reconciled to all prevailing conditions 
 of this seeming lifeless yet ever restless principles under 
 which you are guided from day to day even though you 
 know it not. Now and here, you seek the manifesta- 
 tion of this divine personality of God's children who 
 dwell in the realms of space. If so, we pray with you 
 to God that He may send your soul's desire which is 
 filled with the rulings of his kingdoms of the Universal. 
 Here you are in the presence of the God principles 
 through which can come the dear souls from on high. 
 Make the way clear between you and that principle 
 termed God. Open the Godward windows of your 
 souls and make the pathway between you and your 
 dear ones luminous with the knowledge of this presence 
 and its divine influences. Success then becomes your 
 victory for all time. Your spiritual director from the 
 great tribunal of unseen. You have my personal 
 prayers and benediction. — Rev. W. Spencer." 
 
 The thoughts contained in the foregoing document 
 show to us, from the "Tribunal of the Unseen, "con- 
 firmation of the facts known to all thoughtful persons 
 today. The sordid scramble for dollars has closed the 
 "Godward Windows" of the soul of most men and 
 
 92 
 
opened the flood gates of selfishness and avarice. Go 
 where you will, except among those who have made 
 special study of occult subjects, and you find most 
 persons not only ignorant, but indifferent concerning 
 this vital subject. To show them evidences of spirit 
 life or return, is to be ridiculed by ignorance and dis- 
 appointed by their indifference. The poorest of the 
 poor in God's Kingdom will some day be some of those 
 richest of the rich in this world. Their wealth and its 
 power will be gone, and they, dwarfed in spirit, will be 
 poor and helpless. 
 
 "Godliness with contentment is a great gain: for 
 we brought nothing into the world, neither can we 
 carry anything out; but having food and covering, we 
 shall be therewith content. But they that desire to be 
 rich, fall into a temptation and a snare, and many 
 foolish and hurtful lusts, such as drown men in destruc- 
 tion and perdition. For the love of money is a root of 
 all kinds of evil; which some reaching after have been 
 led astray from the faith and have pierced themselves 
 through with many sorrows. But thou, O man of 
 God, flee these things, and follow after righteousness, 
 godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness." 
 
 Where are the Godly men? Only on the mountain 
 crests of spiritual thought with faces turned heaven- 
 ward, with mind and soul radiating sympathy, love, 
 and aspiration toward the source and soul of life. 
 
 In the valley below, we hear the denominational 
 quibbling between the Big-Endians who are certain 
 that all eggs must be broken at the large end as a 
 saving grace, while the Small-Endians are equally 
 certain that all eggs must be broken at the small end. 
 The Tweedle-dees and Tweedle-dums, heretics and 
 skeptics are names born of theological trappings of 
 men. Some day the misguided souls will know that 
 their time, energy and substance have been spent for 
 ends which have nothing to do with the eternal harmony 
 of the spheres toward which we all must move. All 
 
 93 
 
men are our brothers. One law is for all. In the melt- 
 ing pot of eternity will men stand face to face with 
 themselves, and be known as they are known. 
 
 The War — Its Primary Causes 
 
 A terrible war overshadows the world today. 
 This war is upon us because combinations of men are 
 and have been seeking to gain special privileges for 
 themselves — privileges which they are not willing that 
 others should enjoy. 
 
 In spite of all our boasted Christian civilization, 
 the law of the jungle prevails in our commercial life, 
 and these frightful wars are but a continuation of the 
 brutal claim that might makes right, otherwise termed 
 the law of the survival of the fittest. In truth it is 
 the law of the jungle. 
 
 As a people, we profess to be a Christian nation. 
 All must admit that some of the nations involved in 
 this terrible slaughter have been praying to God in the 
 name of Christ on Sunday, and planning destruction of 
 their fellow-men the other six days in the week. I 
 think my words worthy of belief, when I say that if 
 real Christianity had been the real religion of all 
 nations, no war would have happened. But real sym- 
 pathy and real charity for our fellow-man because he 
 is our fellow-man, is a rare virtue, rather than a uni- 
 versal conception of our fraternal and religious duty to 
 our brother-man. 
 
 And then the orthodox Christian moral and re- 
 ligious credit department is not one which makes for 
 satisfactory results. I am persuaded that any religious 
 system which teaches that mankind may sin on credit, 
 and then file a petition in bankruptcy, and be "washed 
 whiter than snow" a few minutes before transition, is 
 not one calculated to impress thoughtful men as 
 worthy of respect. 
 
 94 
 
Until the "God ward Windows" of the souls of men 
 are opened, and the glorious sunlight of truth and of 
 knowledge is allowed to come in, wars will become more 
 terrible, men will become more dwarfed, selfish and 
 cruel. 
 
 Only to the great spirit of light, truth, justice and 
 sympathy for our fellow-men, can suffering humanity 
 turn for help and consolation. Only as we have a 
 regeneration of the soul, can we hope for peace in soul 
 and body, peace among nations, industrial peace, com- 
 mercial peace, and lasting peace which will afford men 
 the greatest opportunity to enjoy this life and to 
 prepare themselves for the next. 
 
 Suicide and Drunkenness 
 
 A drunken father of seven small children, a hus- 
 band of a weak and poverty-stricken wife, has just 
 committed suicide by drinking carbolic acid. What 
 is his condition in spirit life today? 
 
 A drunkard in the body, in spirit life is still a 
 drunkard. The unquenchable desire for drink is the 
 result of physical changes which derange and debauch 
 his astral body for it, like a great page upon which the 
 excesses of physical life have burned their cruel scars, 
 still craves that which it cannot obtain and suffers with 
 a thirst that cannot be satisfied. Such spirits seek to 
 gratify these carnal desires in the filth and atmosphere 
 of the saloon, and by obsessing men and women who are 
 subject to their influence. Thus the curse of soul- 
 destroying, drunkard-making materials which men 
 make and sell for worldly gain, is blasting and damning 
 the body and soul of poor weak men and women in 
 this world and the next. The one who tempts and the 
 one who yields must pay the penalty in pain and re- 
 morse. This poor suicide must look back upon his 
 suffering wife and helpless children as the pangs of his 
 own conscience comfort him. Let no man think that 
 suicide can relieve him from the troubles which cause 
 
 95 
 
him to shrink from the duties left undone. Suicide 
 makes progress in spirit life more difficult and the 
 sufferings in the mind are increased. No one can 
 defeat the laws of nature, for nature is the changeless 
 ruler of man and his destinies. 
 
 Prayer — Its Uses and Abuses 
 
 The following communication is an inspired address 
 delivered at a public meeting by a personal friend and 
 acquaintance of many years. The subject of prayer, 
 its uses and abuses, its objects and its ends, has been 
 so much discussed and should be of such vital interest 
 to all that I have submitted the following for the care- 
 ful consideration of readers. 
 
 The subject "Inspiration" is discussed under Plate 
 3 1 . That spirit bodies take possession of physical bodies 
 and use them through which to speak, write and do 
 other things cannot be denied. Those who have 
 possessed higher spiritual attainments are better pre- 
 pared to instruct the children of earth. Hence the 
 reason why all are requested to carefully read the 
 following : 
 
 The following lecture was delivered by Josephine 
 Brace, Sunday, May 27, 1917. 
 
 Prayer 
 
 "Once again we have the privilege of meeting you 
 face to face; once again we bring to you our mes- 
 sage, just a fragment gathered from the vast universe 
 of truth. 
 
 "This question has come upon various occasions 
 to the mind of man in his prayer, what is prayer? 
 Is it necessary for us to pray? Who answers prayer, 
 and how? Perhaps I may be able to help you in this 
 thought; perhaps my little light which I have gathered 
 since leaving the body may be of assistance to you. 
 How few men in the mortal body today realize the 
 
 96 
 
meaning of prayer; how many prayers are sent out 
 merely words, merely sound; sent out into the universe 
 not of the soul, not of the mind, merely the words 
 some other man hath spoken. Man, do you realize 
 that when you attempt to pray it is well to go into the 
 silence and. send your spirit out into the universe and 
 reach higher and higher in thought? Man, who 
 knows so little of God, man whose mind cannot con- 
 ceive of God, attempts to speak to him. Clothed in 
 sin, with all his thoughts about him, material, even in 
 thoughts of jealousy and hate, he will attempt to 
 speak to God, the spirit of perfection, the spirit of 
 all life, all power, your creator. You attempt to 
 live in sin, you attempt to judge your brother man, 
 you attempt to wrong him, and then before you retire, 
 you fall upon your knees and pray. Oh, man, do you 
 realize what it means to do this? Do you know that it 
 is not the spoken prayer that reaches the highest 
 pinnacle of light, but it is the soul prayer, it is the 
 unspoken prayer, going out into the universe right to 
 the great unknown spirit of love, that unknowable 
 something far beyond man's mortal mind, that life 
 of which you are a part, of which you are an expression 
 and which dwells within your souls. And you would 
 attempt to speak, attempt to ask a favor of a pure 
 spirit ! 
 
 "Let me tell you how to pray. First, go into the 
 silence; fill your consciousness with pure and holy 
 thoughts, not earthly thoughts. Forget sin, forget all 
 that is of mortal man. See in the recesses of your own 
 spirit, find within your souls, God, and speak to Him. 
 Then speak to Him, not with the coarse, spoken 
 words of man, that language cannot speak to God, but 
 the soul can commune with God, the soul can reach 
 the higher realms if you make it pure enough. Speak 
 with your soul to Him who is your Creator, to Him 
 who gives you Life. Speak to Him in silence, in all the 
 glorious spiritual light in which it is possible for you 
 to illuminate your consciousness. And as surely as 
 
 97 
 
that thought is sent out to the highest realms of light, 
 just so surely will your consciousness become illum- 
 inated with this higher light. And then the minister- 
 ing angels, the servants of God, His pure spirits, will 
 minister unto you, will bear to you holy thoughts and 
 holy words which no language can express, for no man 
 hath tongue pure enough to speak it. And your soul 
 will know it, will feel it, will have a realization of His 
 presence. For you are His child. You are temples of 
 the living God; and yet you walk in sin and darkness, 
 expecting to be forgiven, expecting to have all things 
 which you have done that are not of spirit wiped 
 away. How can you feel it? Oh, man, remove the 
 mortal mind for just one minute and think, think of 
 God! Pure spirit. Lay aside all things which come 
 through mortal mind, and think. Use the wondrous 
 power of thought of which I have spoken to you many 
 times. Cleanse your souls with pure thought. These 
 are the things which live; these are the things which 
 move and ascend as they are sent from the mind of 
 man. 
 
 "Listen while I tell you something. Man is com- 
 ing into this wondrous realization, man is awakening 
 from his deep sleep and sees the dawn of a new day, 
 and things which are of spirit, things which are beyond 
 the mortal mind of man, come upon him with so much 
 force that he cannot comprehend it. When we say 
 that it is possible for you to make yourselves perfect 
 man thinks of his mortal body. Why? Because all 
 mind about him is deeply saturated with mortal 
 thought. Privileged are you to know as you stand 
 upon the brink of a new day, as you see the sun rise 
 upon the new day when man shall know himself and 
 serve his brother; when man shall reach out, not to a 
 God upon a throne who would cast him into torment, 
 but to a God of pure spirit, a God of perfection, a God 
 which no man can comprehend with mortal mind. 
 
 "God hath no wrath, hath no hate, no revenge. 
 
 98 
 
That is mortal. How can you believe that God thinks 
 the things which are born of mortal mind? Impossible. 
 God is all that is perfect; there is nothing born of 
 mortal man which lives in God. Know this, man will 
 presume to go from his earthly thoughts down upon 
 his knees and ask that he may be given power to rule, 
 that he may be given power to win the victory over his 
 brother. That man may be forgiven, but how can he 
 speak these words? It is impossible for him to com- 
 mune with God. He must purify himself and make 
 his power of thought so holy that he can send out 
 only pure spiritual thought. This is prayer. And it is 
 answered. And they who bring the message of light 
 to you are His ministering angels, who have walked 
 upon the mortal plane of thought. 
 
 "Rise; we can begin to rise now. Why prepare 
 for another world, why prepare to go to heaven? 
 Why, you are just as much a spirit now, just as much 
 an angel now as you will ever be. Are you a dark 
 angel, or are you a bright and glorious spirit, brighten- 
 ing the way of your brother with a kind thought, with 
 one little word? Are you one who goes about so 
 selfishly that you cannot see the need of a kind word> 
 of a helping hand? Think of these things, brothers 
 and sisters, as you stand on the threshold of light, 
 privileged to know that there is a life beyond the grave; 
 to know that they can return and speak to you; that 
 you can feel the touch of those who have lived and who 
 have gone before, and hear the little love words and 
 little love thoughts expressed in your own tongue. 
 The spirit would speak to you through the tongue of 
 man. You are privileged; there are many souls cry- 
 ing out for the proof of this. And I will say to you 
 that much will be expected of you, for great has been 
 your opportunity. Walking by your side daily and 
 hourly are those whom you have loved and who love 
 you still. They never forget, the spirit never forgets 
 love, never forgets anything which is pure and godly 
 and spiritual. 
 
 99 
 
"But man in his resurrection will rise higher and 
 higher, and leave behind those things which are born 
 of mortal mind, things which cannot exist in the light 
 of pure spirit. Living within your consciousness is a 
 spark of His reflection. Have you so darkened it by 
 hate, jealousy and all things born of mortal mind that 
 it can never come forth to show its light? 
 
 "Why not begin tonight to purify your soul, to 
 build around you those vibrations which will in time 
 enable you to behold the glorious spirit? How I wish 
 I could present to you so that you could understand 
 it clearly, those things which are of spirit, that of which 
 you are a part. Know that now when all your earth- 
 plane is filled with discord, is filled with murder, there 
 are souls which are leaving the body in darkness, leav- 
 ing the body when it was not time; souls crying to 
 return to their homes, cast out of the body by man's 
 hand. Why? Because mortal mind is so well nour- 
 ished and well fed, because mortal man hath been fed 
 upon sin, because mortal mind is so strong. 
 
 "And now, as all things seem so discordant and 
 you are filled with worry, know that it is the dawn of a 
 new light that is upon you, when all men shall realize 
 that they are God's handiwork. When all men will 
 know that it is not well to feed the mortal mind. It is 
 mortal mind which is rampant upon the earthplane 
 today. Have you been helping these mortal thoughts? 
 They know not what they do; it is the vibrations of 
 mortal mind about your earthplane. 
 
 "But the spirit is rising to express the eternal 
 truth. The spirit rises. God's holy light will illum- 
 inate the souls of all men. Today you witness the 
 dawn of His day; when the Christ spirit shall appear 
 to your eyes, when each man and woman shall live a 
 life which speaks of Him. 
 
 "And know that you are privileged to be a part 
 of this wondrous plan; you have just a little more 
 than your brother; you have just a little more knowl- 
 
 100 
 
edge. Why keep it to yourself, selfish man? Help to 
 put sunshine in their souls, help to awaken within man 
 the realization of spirit." 
 
 Faith is an Erroneous Foundation for 
 Spiritual Progress 
 
 Theologians tell us that we must be saved by faith. 
 What is faith? Faith begins where knowledge ends. 
 Were it otherwise there would be no room, no need for 
 faith. If knowledge about anything is advisable, why 
 not about all things pertaining to spiritual life? If 
 facts are obtainable, why not obtain them? By what 
 right or authority have a few men sought to conceal, 
 lock and bar behind a curtain of myth and mystery 
 those vital truths of nature's spiritual unfoldment by 
 which man is made strong and intelligent and free. To 
 deny man or woman the privilege of knowledge and 
 require of him to substitute faith in its place, does not 
 tend to help him. So far as I am able to understand, 
 faith is but a substitute for knowledge. It is a bridge 
 which attempts to span the chasm of mystery of which 
 one end rests upon a mistaken sense of religious duty, 
 while the other rests upon the uncertain quicksands of 
 the ever changing opinions of men. 
 
 Until man's religious opinions are based upon an 
 understanding and recognition of the immutable and 
 changeless laws of nature, and that he is a part of 
 nature and controlled by its laws, he will continue to 
 be the object of fears and emotions. He will neglect 
 to inform and satisfy his own mind. He will con- 
 tinue to rely upon the opinions of others. My hope 
 is that all may understand and believe that knowledge 
 is power, that the lack of it is weakness, that knowl- 
 edge is the key to peace and spiritual progress. 
 
 Comments Concerning Death 
 
 From my investigations I am prepared to express 
 the belief that each individual manifests life upon three 
 
 101 
 
planes, viz.: the physical, astral, and spirit planes of 
 existence. 
 
 1. The Physical Body, within which the astral 
 and the spirit bodies dwell, proceeds from and returns 
 to the earth and air. At the change which we call 
 death, the astral and spirit body leaves the physical 
 body. The physical body returns to its primary ele- 
 ments, but the astral and spirit body continue to live 
 though invisible to mortal eye. 
 
 2. The Astral Body, after the mortal death, con- 
 tinues to manifest, and retain personal identity until 
 it, in its turn ceases. But the spirit continue to live 
 and progress. 
 
 3. The Spirit Body, proceeds from the source of 
 all life and action, and functions through individualized 
 intelligence. 
 
 The first two bodies are not immortal for they are 
 not of the spirit. But the third is of the spirit — inde- 
 structible and immortal. 
 
 Thus death of the physical body is but one step 
 in the evolution of man from the lower to the higher 
 expressions of life. 
 
 The roses bloom in the springtime, then they 
 fade and fall. The verdant leaves of flower and tree, 
 each in their turn fulfil their mission, and then they, too, 
 must fade and fall to earth. So in the springtime of 
 mortal life, the flowers of hope and animation grow 
 and bloom and the illusions and dreams of every 
 passing hour fill childhood with joy and anticipation. 
 Thus we live and run our race throughout the gauntlet 
 of life from the cradle to the grave. Then there comes 
 a time to one and all, when the shadows lengthen, the 
 footsteps falter, the eyes grow dim, and weight of years 
 weakens the flesh and oppresses the soul. Then at last, 
 in nature's plan, the earth and air again receive that 
 which they have given, and mortal life is ended. The life 
 of the rose is not essential to the life of the bush. The 
 life of the leaf and flower is not essential to the life of the 
 
 102 
 
tree, nor is the life of the body essential to the life of 
 the Spirit which dwells within. So, when the roses 
 fade, and the autumn leaves die and fall, and the mortal 
 body returns to the primary conditions from whence it 
 came, each obeys an immutable law of nature, nothing 
 more and nothing less. 
 
 Thus may we mourn the mortal separation from 
 our loved ones when the grave forever conceals them 
 from mortal eyes. Thus may we know that no special 
 dispensation of grief has been visited upon us or upon 
 our loved ones. Thus in the presence of mortal death, 
 when the angels come to welcome them on the other 
 shore, may reason and knowledge sustain us, and make 
 us secure and certain concerning this fateful hour and 
 that which follows. 
 
 Why should man bemoan the hour when the 
 spirit shall take its flight? 
 
 The sadness of mental separation must bring its 
 pain. But if we can learn to forget ourselves and then 
 to know that mortal death is spiritual gain, and that 
 real life only begins beyond the hour of mortal death; 
 then may we meet the last hour with confidence and 
 courage. Thus when emancipated from ignorance and 
 fear, may we stand serene and fearless in the presence 
 of death. 
 
 I quote from a most prophetic and beautiful psalm : 
 
 "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the 
 shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for thou art with 
 me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me." 
 
 These poetic and beautiful words are eloquent 
 expressions of a spiritual truth. Their significance is 
 worthy of serious thought. "Thy rod and thy staff 
 comfort me." Of course no one can think that "thy 
 rod and thy staff" refers other than to a spiritual and 
 mental condition. It must refer to the knowledge of 
 spiritual laws, and its power to strengthen and sustain 
 in the hour of death. Thus may I say unto all in the 
 light of the established truths concerning life beyond 
 
 103 
 
the grave, that knowledge obtained through investiga- 
 tion has driven from me all fears of death. And so I 
 may truthfully say, "Though I pass through the valley 
 of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil. Thy rod 
 and thy staff they comfort me." 
 
 Conclusion 
 
 This volume contains but a small part of the infor- 
 mation concerning the subject which I have acquired 
 during my years of investigation. Be that as it may, 
 I think myself justified in concluding that the following 
 propositions have been established by the evidence 
 hereinbefore submitted. 
 
 First — That all communications written upon 
 slates, pictures of which are herewith shown, were pro- 
 duced under conditions which preclude the possibility 
 of the intervention of any human agency. 
 
 Second — That there are at least eighteen distinct 
 and different types of handwriting shown. 
 
 Third — That the writing and the signatures are in 
 the main, genuine, and characteristic of those who 
 wrote them. 
 
 Fourth — That the love and the knowledge of this 
 life continue with the life in Spirit. 
 
 Fifth — That communication between life in the 
 body and life in the Spirit is proved beyond reasonable 
 doubt. 
 
 I have finished my task. It is my hope that in the 
 presence of the grave all may see the star of hope ascend- 
 ant above the useless and cruel fears which in the past 
 have clothed the grave with anguish and with terror. 
 
 It is my hope that the facts which I have presented 
 may lead sorrowing hearts to cease mourning for their 
 dead, and to know that the day is fast approaching when 
 the broken heart ties of the flesh will be reunited in 
 that beautiful home beyond the dark shadows of care 
 and pain. 
 
 104 
 
'So live, that when thy summons comes to join 
 The innumerable caravan which moves 
 To that Mysterious Realm, where each shall take 
 His chamber in the silent halls of death, 
 Thou go, not like the quarry slave at night, 
 Scourged to his dungeon, but sustained and soothed 
 By an unfaltering trust, approach thy grave 
 Like one who wraps the draperies of his couch 
 About him, and lies down to pleasant dreams." 
 
 /VMlsu-u^ )?ZiuAS t __ 
 
 105 
 
Index of Names 
 
 Anthony, Susan B Plates 7, 16, 20 
 
 Adams, Henry " 5, 25 
 
 Beecher, Henry Ward " 30 
 
 Bissell, Charles " 6, 8, 12, 13 
 
 Boult, Charles E " 5 
 
 Bull, Ole " 27 
 
 Burr, Franklin " 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 19, 29 
 
 Burr, William " 6, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 29 
 
 "C. G." " 28 
 
 Carey, Ida " 3, 4, 5, 15 
 
 Chapman, Mary Reed " 18 
 
 Chase, Elizabeth " 4, 18, 21, 24 
 
 Chase, Ella " 18, 23, 24 
 
 D'Arc, Jeanne " 31 
 
 Garfield, James A " 31 
 
 Hayes, R. B " 32 
 
 Hilton, V. R " 3, 6, 13, 23, 24 
 
 Hubbard, Elbert " 5, 11 
 
 Huffcutt, Ernest W " 7, 17, 19, 24 
 
 Huggins, Winifred " 19, 21 
 
 Ingersoll, R. G " 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 
 
 Irene " 19 
 
 Joslyn, Roxie " 26 
 
 Lincoln, A " 33 
 
 Mansfield, Josie " 27 
 
 McCarthy, Tim " 27 
 
 Mills, Isabelle E " 27 
 
 Moore, Arthur W " 13, 27 
 
 Moore, Robert " 22 
 
 Mumbach, George " 16 
 
 Mumbach, Jacob " 2, 16, 17, 20, 21 
 
 Mumbach, Michael " 6, 13, 29 
 
 Mundy, C. B " 27 
 
 Neelin, Ida " 27 
 
 Ogden, David " 21 
 
 Parry, Ruby " 27 
 
 Perkins, J. B " 13, 19 
 
 106 
 
Post, Amy Plates 20 
 
 Raines, George " 3, 7, 19 
 
 Reed, William " 13, 23, 25, 29. 
 
 Riffle, William C " 5 
 
 Rowe, W. E " 27 
 
 Seitz, F. C " 27 
 
 Simonds, Charles W " 6, 13, 23, 29 
 
 Wescott, Wayne " 13 
 
 Willis, James " 27 
 
 Wood, Enos... " 26 
 
 Young, Charles " 16 
 
 107