^ r '*%- I ■ ■ v. r;*- ^^0 if' •*■ ; j i VARIOUS REVELATIONS. AN ACCOUNT OF THE GARDEN OF EDEN, AND THE SETTLEMENT OF THE EASTERN CONTINENT, AS RELATED BY TEE LEADERS OF THE WANDERING TRIBES. PROM THE AGE OP ENOCH, SETH, AND NOAH, TO THE BIETH OF JESUS OP NAZARETH, AS RELATED BY MARY HIS MOTHER, AND JOSEPH THE FOSTER-FATHER; WITH & (timxiixmixtm tat \\i$ (Evntitixim nm\ Qtsmtrtlm, AS RELATED BY PILATE AND THE DIFFERENT APOSTLES. ALSO, AN ACCOUNT OF THE SETTLEMENT OF THE NORTH AMERICAN CONTINENT, AND THE BIRTH OF THE INDIVIDUAL- IZED SPIRIT WHICH HAS FOLLOWED. WITH A REPORT OF THE IMPORTANT WORK OF ESTABLISHING ORDER IN THE DARK SPHERE OF THE SPIRIT: WHERE THE TRIBES OF ISRAEL AND OF JUDAH, WITH THE GENTILE NATIONS, HAVE BEEN GATHERED TOGETHER AROUND A PLATFORM OF ETERNAL JUSTICE : WHERE JESUS, THE SAVIOUR, WITH THE APOSTLES, THE WITNESSES OF HIS EARTHLY MISSION, HAVE PRONOUNCED THE EXPECTED JUDGMENT. ALSO, MANY IMPORTANT REPORTS PROM STATESMEN, POETS, AND SCIENTISTS, PROM CLERGYMEN AND WARRIORS, WHO HAVE ATTAINED TO HONORABLE POSITION IN THE ANNALS OP AMERICAN HISTORY. »» BOSTON, 1876. BF I S3) Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1876, By JAMES LUDLNGTON, In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. PREFACE. The following revelations of the second advent of Jesus, the Saviour of man, give a statement of his labors among the spirits of the dark sphere, where order has been established, and the scattered tribes of Israel and of Judah, with the Gentile nations, have gathered around him on the great plat- form of eternal justice : where, with the twelve apostles, the witnesses of his earthly mission, the expected judgment has been pronounced ; together with an account of many other important events, as given through the vocal organs of a trance media who has been guarded by one and the same controlling spirit, who gives the name of India at the opening and closing of the various sessions during the past twenty- three years. The amanuensis, who is a witness that the following rev- elations were given and faithfully recorded, claims nothing for himself or the media but the rights of laborers. They dedicate the work to the spirits who have indited it, and authorized its publication for the instruction and eleva- tion of mortals through the coming cycle of time. 3 " The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come : and unto him shall the gathering of the people be." — Jacob : Genesis xlix. 10. " So they cast him out of the vineyard, and killed him; what, therefore, shall the Lord of the vineyard do unto them? He shall come and destroy these husbandmen, and shall give the vineyard to others." — Jesus: John xx. 15, 16. " Therefore, if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath aught against thee, leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way ; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift." — Jesus : Matthew v. 23, 24. "For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven." — Jesus : Matthew v. 20. " Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them : for this is the law and the prophets." — Jesus : Matthew vii. 12. " God is a spirit : and they that worship him, must worship him in spirit and in truth." — Jesus : John iv. 24. "For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, (lest ye should be wise in your own conceits,) that blindness in part is hap- pened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in. And so all Israel shall be saved." — Paul: Romans xi. 25, 26. "For it pleased the Father that in him should all fullness dwell. And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven." — Paul: Colossians i. 19, 20. " For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead? " — Paul : Romans xi. 15. "Beware therefore, lest that come upon you which is spoken of in the prophets ; behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish : for I work a work in your days, a work which ye shall in no wise believe, though a man declare it unto you." — Paul: Acts xiii. 40, 41. "He walked and talked with spirits, and the highest spirit was God." — Enoch. " And all spirits are spirits of the Great Spirit." — India. 8 REVELATIONS During the month of August, in the year eighteen hundred and sixty- seven, after years of investigation of the various reports of friends who had been called beyond the veil of the flesh, we entered into a covenant with the leaders of a band of spirits, who were working for the elevation of the inhabitants of the dark sphere. Prominent among the workers . were the names of Mrs. Townsend, a Quakeress, Margaret Fuller, and Mrs. Crow, and Miss Landon and others; while among the males, the names of Everett and King, of Pierpont and Paine, with Channing and many others whose names appear in the report of their labors, were the most noticeable. Among the representatives of the red man's race were Red Jacket and Metamora, and Tecumseh and the Forest Maidens. Our covenant was an arrangement for devoting two evenings a week, after the busi- ness affairs of the day had closed, in order, to listen to the various statements which were then made, as each one was allowed to make his own report. The sessions were opened and closed by the leader with an invocation to the Great Spirit ; and as time passed, from year to year, many hundreds of both sexes had told their own stories. The females, as a general thing, gave their names and places of residence, and appeared to have been selected from a class that had been favorably surrounded in their youth ; but from disappointment in affairs of love, and other misfortunes, they had travelled the broad road to destruction, and, after a few years of dissi- pation and sorrow, found themselves deserted and friendless in the dark sphere in spirit, only to sigh and mourn over their unhappy condition. And the males who made their reports said they had been many of them the soldiers who were sent headlong from the battle-fields into the dark sphere of spirit during the late fratricidal war, where as yet they could hardly 9 10 REVELATIONS. distinguish one from another. Pirates of the sea, and thieves and assassins who represented the land pirates, made their reports, and all made similar statements in regard to their spirit experience. The soldiers gave their names and residence, the names of their officers and regiments, with many other things they seemed to be interested in. None appeared to comprehend the object of their call, while all were more than thankful for the attention they had received, saying it appeared to them like a resurrection from the dead. They said there was a commotion in their dark sphere in spirit, and when the differ- ent names were called, much anxiety was expressed in listen- ing for the next name, although they did not know who called them, or where they were going. But as the weeks and the months passed away, we had listened to the voluntary reports of many hundreds with as much evident surprise as that mani- fested by themselves, as they told of their passage from the purgatories and hells of earth into the dark sphere in spirit ; during which time, many others, who had occupied important positions among their countrymen, had been announced, from time to time, among those engaged in the work of apparent restitution. And on the 26th of September, 1869, after India's invocation to the Great Spirit, he announced the name of Webster, and then retired. And Webster next spoke of the great pleasure it gave him to have an interest in a work that was but little understood. He spoke of its 'magnitude, and encouraged us to persevere, saying that in the end great good would be accomplished. He then spoke of his own early home, surrounded by the gurgling streams on every side, and of tbe great pleasure it still afforded him to again survey the grand, majestic moun- tains that were familiar to him in the days of his youth. After saying he was interested in the work of investigation inaugurated by the higher powers, and should be often with us, he announced that his brother Red Jacket was waiting in order to speak, and retired. When Red Jacket was the next heard in the council, where he too had come to the dedication of the white wigwam in the work of the Great Spirit, he spoke of the change that had taken place on the lower hunting-grounds of the red man's race, and said the red man was again on the war-path, and the watch-fires would not go out until the work of the Great Spirit was accomplished; the red man's tents were again REVELATIONS. 11 everywhere seen on the hunting-grounds, and a guard was set around the wigwam ; and as long as we were faithful in the work of the Great Spirit, nothing should harm the white brave or his squaw. After Red Jacket retired, others were presented, and made their several reports, when it was again arranged for the holding of a session twice a week — one for females, the other for males. During the two following years, hundreds of both sexes had reported from every state and town, aud, from the various conditions of life from which they had emerged, found a rough experience during their earthly pilgrimages ; — girls who said they had been crushed at the fall of the Pemberton Mills at Lawrence ; girls from the wreck of the Morning Star ; and many girls from the brothels and hells of earth, gave their names, and circumstances connected with their misfortunes, and seemed to realize that some change had come to them in spirit. Soldiers from the battle-fields and from the prisons, from the wards and hospitals where they had left their perish- able bodies, as they appeared and made their varied reports, from every state and from every town, — all expressed grati- tude for the attention they had received, and seemed con- scious of having been resurrected in spirit to a realization of their true condition. At the session commencing the year 1870, after India's invocation to the Great Spirit, again giving thanks for all that had been accomplished, he said there would be a general review of the work which had been presented to the council in spirit, and guardians would be appointed for the ensuing year. After the names of our guardians were made known, he said Miss Landon was present, and would speak, upon which he retired. And Miss Landon was the next heard in the council, and said she had come with her school of little ones from what she called the paradise of God's love, in order to enliven and encourage the others in their work. She told the children to scatter their flowers, in token of the Great Father's endless love, among all that had been gathered to- gether during the past year ; and then, after expressing her own gratitude for the pleasure received, she withdrew. White Fawn was the next in council, to which she had come from the upper hunting-grounds of her tribe, to ask that some of the children of the school might return with her and teach her and her tribes, who loved the Great Spirit, how to culti- vate the beautiful flowers. 12 REVELATIONS. Shadow also reported as one of the leaders among the tribes, and said she was ever ready and willing to do the work of the Great Spirit. And the work of the year was blessed. Many spirits who had occupied every condition in life had made their reports. Franklin and Scott, Everett and King, with Parker, and Channing, and Booth, and many others, were reported among those engaged in the work during the year. At the opening session commencing the year 1871, after India's invocation to the Great Spirit, giving thanks for con- tinued blessings, and again asking for wisdom and for strength sufficient for their work, he said there would be a review of their labors during the past year, and that other guardians would be appointed. He expressed his gratitude for what had already been accomplished, gave encouragement concerning the final results, and then announced the name of Professor Hare, and that of Martha Washington, as those who were assigned to act as guardians for the ensuing year ; and after saying that Everett was the next in order to speak, he again retired. Whereupon Everett came before the council and expressed his approbation of what they had been engaged in during the past year, and said he desired to offer a few remarks in be- half of what had been denominated the literary class among mortals. He spoke of the necessity of cultivating the mind, and told them that order was the first law of nature, and that where that was obeyed the ordinary duties of life would soon become a pleasure. He spoke of the change which had already taken place around them, and encouraged all to per- severe in their labors for the elevation of the race. After saying his brother King was present in order to make a few remarks, he expressed his gratitude for what had been ac- complished, and retired. King was the next in council, where he spoke of the accu- mulating evidence of the good results of their labors the past year, in the changed condition of those who were then gath- ered together around them. He then observed that it was his desire to offer a few remarks in behalf of the clergy, for he thought, as a general thing, their labors in order to elevate the people had been useful, and if some had advanced opin- ions which had proved to be injurious to the masses, he re- joiced to know the time had arrived for them to lay aside their former prejudice, and work together for the ameliora- REVELATIONS. 13 tion and elevation of all. He was thankful for what had been already achieved, and urged them to renewed perseverance, owing to the fact that their time must be limited ; and after a few words of encouragement, he said his brother Booth was waiting for an opportunity to speak, and he retired. And Booth was next in council, where he spoke in behalf of those of his own profession, and of the grand position they occupied as educators of the people. He was glad to know, as the race advanced, that the time had arrived when he could again make his appearance on the stage, surrounded by his countrymen, where each one had found the part they were called to perform in the grand drama of life. He en- couraged them in their good work, told them to be ever ready to obey the promptings of the higher powers, and when the little bell tinkled for the green curtain to roll, all would be at hand to take their appointed places. He then spoke of the great pleasure he had found in having an opportunity of ap- pearing before them, and retired. After which Margaret Fuller and Miss Townsend each spoke of the sorrowful con- ditions which had made an untimely sacrifice of so many of the fair young daughters of America, and then describing the fearful and the sad plight in which they had found them in the dark sphere in spirit ; but still they felt that they could encourage all in their work, having the assurance that in the end they would be triumphant. Scott then made a few appropriate remarks in connection with the soldiers who had been gathered together, and was then assigned to be their commander in spirit; and after speaking of his pleasure to be again surrounded with his former comrades, he announced the arrival of Miss Landon with her school- children, and retired. Miss Landon was the next to make a few encouraging re- marks in connection with what had been achieved during the past year, and she again directed the children to go to them all and scatter their celestial flowers, in evidence of the Great Father's approval of their labors. India then spoke of the many millions of individualized spirits that were still in the dark sphere, and of their final triumph, if they persevered. He again closed the session by invocation to the Great Spirit, once more asking for wisdom and for strength sufficient for the accomplishment of their work. During the following nine months many more had reported 14 REVELATIONS. who had represented all the varied conditions that were known to mortals, and each one was allowed to tell his own story without interruption. Plantation slaves, and sometimes their former owners, would make reports. One man, giving the name of Jackson, said he had owned a plantation near Memphis, and one near Helena, with four hundred bondmen, and that when the trouble commenced between the states, he had armed and drilled one hundred of his best men, and started with the intention of annihilating the troublesome Yankees ; but he soon found himself shorn of his temporal power, and mixed up with others in the dark sphere of the spirits. It is still sorrowful to remember the reports of the many tragedies related during these years of investigation. Young girls by the hundreds had told of their wrongs and of their terrible sufferings. The Irish girls told of the darkness of the purgatory they had left behind, and often prayed that they might never be made to return. An Irishman, known as the healer, often reported among others engaged in the work. He said he had been educated in a convent, where he devoted his time among the afflicted during his earthly life, for the love he had for the blessed Saviour, and that he was still working for the elevation of his countrymen in spirit. By the middle of the month of November, in the year eighteen hundred and seventy-one, representatives of every class and condition, and of various nationalities, had made their reports. At the opening session, on the 19th of November, 1871, after India's invocation to the Great Spirit, he expressed his own gratitude at the results of their labors. He then spoke of the sorrowful and degrading condition of mortals that had filled the dark sphere with its unhappy spirits ; but the time had arrived for a change. A platform of eternal justice was to be established, and that hereafter Justice and Charity, Judgment and Love, were the order marked out for their further labors. After his usual encouragement, he said that Columbus had been called, and would be present to answer and tell the condition of the inhabitants of this continent at the time he made its discovery. Columbus was the next in council, and told of the friendly and harmless condition of the natives ; said they were com- paratively in a natural condition, had but few wants, and these were readily supplied from the abundance of natural productions by which they were surrounded ; said there were RE VELA TIONS. \ 5 u sages " and " seers " among their old men, who taught the tribes to venerate the Great Spirit, who was the author of their existence, and supplied them with their daily blessings. Metamora was then announced, and spoke for his race at the time the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth. He said the red man's posterity was contented and happy on the lower hunting- grounds of the Great Spirit until his pale-faced brother came among them and taught them by their avarice how to lie and deceive one another; the red man and his tribes had been robbed of their hunting-grounds by their white brothers, and he had come to the council-fire by command of the Great Spirit to be a witness against them. Washington was the next announced. He had been cited to appear and answer for the condition of the country of which he was called the Father. He spoke in bigh praise of the magnitude and grandeur of the country, and of its natural productions, — said it was an Eldorado full of lakes and rivers and valley lands that challenged the industry of the people, and that there was land enough for all, and it seemed to him as though they ought to have been contented and happy. It was evident the experiment had not proved successful, and the present corrupt condition of the people of his country was to him a source of great unhappiness. Confucius was then announced. He reviewed their state- ments, and spoke of the error man had made in his struggles for earthly principalities. He then pointed up to the beautiful heavens, the living temple of the Great Father, and spoke of the perpetuity of His blessings. Then in sorrow he spoke of the sufferings man had entailed upon his race in his strug- gle for earthly power ; and arraigned the apostles, and told them they had been an obstacle which had delayed the prog- ress of others by their own apparent want of comprehension of the divinity and of the glorious and final triumph of their Master. And after congratulating the investigators for their perseverance, he retired, and India closed the session as usual by invocation to the Great Spirit. November 22, 1871. — After India's invocation, he said Al- exander was present, and would be permitted to speak ; said there might be some doubt about the ancient people speaking the English language, but they had teachers and interpreters in spirit where information, conveyed by arbitrary signs, was soon overcome. 16 RE VELA TIONS. Alexander was then present, expressed his gratitude for the opportunity of speaking, and soon told of the terrible condi- tions which had so long surrounded him in spirit. He told of his wars, of the countries he had devastated, and of the starved and bleeding victims of his ambition ; said that moth- ers with their children, in skeleton forms whose hands were like birds' claws, were with him and around him on every side ; that no language was sufficient to portray his suffering ; many had been his crimes in the wanton destruction of the homes of innocent thousands, and such had been his reward that he had prayed long and earnestly for relief, and leaped forth with renewed hope at the call of his name, trusting and anxiously hoping that some relief had come at last. An ancient sage of the tribe of Benjamin was next present, — told of his knowledge of the communion of spirit during his pilgrimage below. The prophets and seers were men of age and experience through which the spirits of the spheres gave instruction to mortals in the same way and by the same laws he was then speaking. Then, as at the present time, the tribes disregarded the teachings of high spirits that would lead them to their promised land above their earthly Jordans, and followed after the ones that guided them into forbidden paths that led headlong to destruction. One of the Forest Maidens was next present; said she came from the upper hunting-grounds of the red man. She told of the power and love of the Great Spirit; she had come to the council-fire of the white squaw, and listened to the talk of the pale-face braves, who had turned away from the councils of the Great Spirit, and lost the track that led to the upper hunting-grounds ; they had wandered in their own darkness until poverty and crime had covered the lower hunting- grounds of the Great Spirit, where the red man's race had been contented and happy. India closed the session by invocation to the Great Spirit. November 26, 1871. — After India's invocation to the Great Spirit, in acknowledgment for his continued blessings, he said the Quaker woman and others of the band were present, and there would be a review of their labors. Mrs. Townsend was then present, and spoke, followed by Margaret Fuller. Both spoke in behalf of the class they had gathered from the dark sphere in spirit, and of the unhappy conditions which had caused their sufferings. Mrs. Crow and Miss Landon, with RE VELA TIONS. 1 7 her band of juveniles, were also present, and both spoke in terms of approbation of the result of their labors. Scott then spoke of his soldiers. He complimented them for their improved discipline and for the numbers added to their ranks ; said he was beginning to feel as though his life had not been spent in vain, for he had got among men who had some respect for age and experience. When Everett was next announced, with his band of vagrant boys who had been friendless and homeless, and who were found still hanging around the slums and purlieus of vice that infest the cities, he complimented his boys for their im- proved appearance and for their .good behavior, assigned them a place for amusement, and told them, as long as they obeyed the rules that were established for their improvement, they would be supplied with everything necessary for their comfort. He then spoke- of the sorrowful sights he had seen, and of the pleasure the improved condition of his boys had given him. Miss Landon's school-children — from the para- dise of the Great Father's love — then mingled with those who had been unfortunate, and distributed their flowers to the gratification of all. And India closed the session by invoca- tion to the Great Spirit. November 29, 1871. — After India's invocation, he said Everett, with King and Shakspeare, would speak, and then Confucius. Everett then addressed the statesmen and teachers, — spoke of the divided condition of the people, and of the fearful in- crease of pauperism and crime. He acknowledged that their system of legislation, their schools and colleges, had failed to secure the virtue and the industry and happiness of the peo- ple ; the youth that were sent from the rural districts to a college for instruction, too often were known to return home in a debauched and corrupted condition, unworthy of the pure embrace of their mother, and unfit in every sense of the word for public teachers. He spoke feelingly of the terrible condi- tion, acknowledging his own failings, and said he had been ignorant of the true condition of the people of his country. After which King addressed the clergy, — told them all their efforts to redeem or reclaim the human race based on the atone- ment of the Saviour had proved a failure, and, now they knew their Master's work, they must turn away from their 2 18 REVELATIONS. costly temples, where pride and extravagance had been en- gendered,- and go into the streets among the beggars, — rep- resenting their false systems and modes of teaching. Then Shakspeare spoke in glowing terms of the stage, — and of that portion of humanity that was not bound up by priestcraft, — said the design of the stage was to give man a higher estimate of his Creator, where he should learn to wor- ship him everywhere in nature, by acts of fellowship and kindness to all ; there were too many of the craft who quoted scraps of holy writ and seemed saintly when scheming some plan to rob their brother-man. After improvising an epilogue, he retired. Confucius was then present, and spoke in earnest concern- ing the corruption of the age. He told them of their many errors, and of the necessity of their going to work and trying to make restitution in order to insure their own progression. He told them the present corrupt condition of society had resulted from the false teachings of a scheming and corrupt priesthood; the Great Father, whom they had misrepresented, was everywhere seen in nature, and Was full of love for all. Every manifestation of his great power was a manifestation of his parental care for his children, whom he has raised up from the crawling worms of the dust that they might partake of his blessings. Man, in his avarice and in the evil of his thoughts, had turned away from the Great Father's love, and gone into forbidden paths and corrupted himself by his own abomina- tions, and had taken delight in destroying each other in their struggle for power. After telling them again to turn back and forsake their evil ways, he retired, and India closed the session by invocation to the Great Spirit. December 3, 1871. — At this session, after India's invocation to the Great Spirit, acknowledging their dependence, and ask- ing for more power in order to impress the minds of those in bondage, he said Lincoln, and Taylor, and Calhoun, had been cited to give in their testimony before the council. And Lincoln was then present, and said, although he was still a living witness, he had been a bleeding martyr in the struggle for the black man's emancipation from bondage to his white brother. He told of his trials and sufferings when he was the "figure-head " for the nation, and of a dark cloud that followed him wherever he went as the time approached for his martyrdom. Said he was glad the time had arrived for a REVELATIONS. 19 settlement, and that he felt more cheerful than he had at any time before since his advent into spirit-life ; he was still ready and willing to do all in his power in order to forward the great and good work of emancipation. When Taylor was the next to respond, he said that he too had been a martyr as well as a " figure-head n for his country, and, although he was but the agent to see that the commands of others were enforced, he knew of the corruption and de- ception of all that were ambitious for earthly power. He spoke of Davis as one who had been too ambitious, and of his own daughter who had been his wife, and of her anxiety in spirit for him when his head was a forfeit for treason to his country. He then said, although he had once been a martyr, he was ready and willing to do all he could in establishing the law of justice for his country's good. Calhoun was then present, saying he was familiar with the conditions that followed man in his imperfection. He had devoted his life to the protection of the people of his State from the avarice of their Puritan brothers. Of the northern and eastern States he said, the bondage of the blacks had been fostered and encouraged by them as long as they had them to sell ; and the public buildings in all their cities were erected with the money they got from their southern brothers for the negroes they sold into bondage; and he had long been tired of their hypocrisy, for he knew they would not be contented until they had saturated the earth with the blood of their brothers. If it were true the southern men had become cor- rupt, they were corrupted by association with their Puritan brothers ; for Everett had acknowledged before them all, the other night, that their schools and their colleges had failed to increase the virtue and secure the industry and happiness of their countrymen. They had wrangled about the negro when the country was blessed with prosperity, and their colored ser- vants of the south were contented and happy in their condition. They could now draw their own picture, and count up the white slaves in their own States, where pauperism and crime were increasing and .the people starving, and then say if they were satisfied. One of the Forest Maidens was next present ; — said she had come to the wigwam of the white squaw, where the watch-fire was bright, and where the pale-face braves were in council. She had brought a band of fresh martyrs of her own race, which had just been butchered by their pale-face brothers on 20 REVELATIONS. the western plains, and were still bleeding. The Great Spirit directed her to leave them with their pale-face brothers in council. She then told of the contentment and happiness of her race on the lower hunting-grounds of the red man, many moons before the pale-faces came to disturb them with their false gods and their weapons of destruction. She said the Great Spirit was good, and that the pale-faces would have much to answer owing to their errors and their covetousness, and their great injustice to the race of the red man. After which, India again closed the session by invocation to the Great Spirit. December 6, 1871. — Again, after India's invocation to the Great Spirit, he said one of the Borgias would make a few remarks, and as he retired, the next one in council said he had been cited to answer for Alexander the Fourth, but he had got nothing to say in self-justification ; his temporal strug- gle for transitory power had failed to secure happiness, and he was ready to do what he could in order to make restitution. He then withdrew. A woman of ancient birth was next in council, where she told of her earthly pilgrimage, and of the suffering entailed upon the race from the errors inculcated by designing and crafty men for a wrong and selfish purpose. She spoke of the grandeur and harmony everywhere manifested in the works of nature as an evidence of the care and love of the Great Father for every object of his creation. The baneful effects resulting from the crafty promulgation of past errors stimu- lated the mind of men of the present age to search for a higher knowledge of the object and design of the Creator, and they were now looking for Him through the great power and wisdom manifested in all His works. And that the time had ar- rived for the resurrection and quickening of the spirit. Said it was a pleasure to them of a higher sphere to know there was a demand for more light among the inhabitants of earth ; and that the good old father Confucius would be with them at the next session, and would review the history of the past. One of the Forest Maidens was next in council, and spoke of the hardships and wrongs entailed upon her race from the avarice and injustice of their pale-face brothers. She spoke of the power and love of the Great Spirit, and of the endless variety of the manifestations of his wisdom ; said they had found him, and had bowed in veneration and amazement at REVELATIONS. 21 the evidence of the majesty and power seen throughout the vast universe. Whereupon, after a few instructions in regard to health, India closed the session by invocation to the Great Spirit. December 10, 1871. — At this session, after India's invoca- tion, he said one of the Irish bishops desired to speak, after which Luther and Confucius would reply. One of the Catholic bishops, without giving his name, was next in council, and spoke at length concerning the condition of the present inhabitants of the earth, acknowledged that great injustice had been fostered through errors inculcated by the Church, that the priesthood had corrupted themselves in their struggle for earthly power. They had disregarded the precepts and examples of the blessed Lord Jesus, and taken up too much with external signs and symbols. He was ready to join with the spirits and return to the scenes of his earthly life, and do all that lay in his power to undo the evils and remove the obstacles that prevented the progress of humanity ; said he had been two hundred years in the spirit sphere, and had sorrowed much over the unhappy condition of mortals. He was thankful for an opportunity, and enjoyed the privilege of once more speaking for himself, and then gave way. Luther was next in council. He was thankful he had been called and permitted to speak, for he knew now that many things he had inculcated had proved to be injurious, and re- tarded the progress of the human family. But he was honest in his opposition to Catholicism, for he knew that great wrongs were committed by the priesthood of the order, and upheld and sustained by the Church, and in his zeal to oppose them he had inculcated other errors. He thought the Bible con- tained many useful lessons calculated for the improvement of mortals, but they had been wrongly interpreted and used for building up and strengthening earthly principalities which had resulted in great injustice. He appealed to those of his own faith and to all others to accept of the light that was now offered to them, and go back and, if possible, undo all that proved to be wrong, anil labor to impress mortals with a higher knowledge of their ultimate destiny. He then gave way. The familiar voice of the good father Confucius was next heard. He addressed them in earnest and telling words, told 22 REVELATIONS. them to go back with him to Adam's time with his fabled garden and vindictive God ; then* down to the time of Moses, and from Moses to the Judaites who crucified their Saviour with common malefactors, and showed them the records were marked with cruelty and stained with human blood. He told them that even now they kept the image of the One they pro- fessed to venerate hung up in their market-places with the appearance of blood streaming from the hands and sides, in order to gratify their cruel thirst for blood. He told them, now they had seen the evil of their errors, to lay aside their black robes and go back like men, and go to work in their Master's vineyard, and as far as possible make restitution, and the Great Father, who was ever loving and kind to his children, would forgive them. And after a few words of encouragement for all engaged in the work, he retired. One of the handmaidens of Israel was next in council, where she addressed words of good cheer to all. She told them she had come with her sister spirits from over the waters, to join with them in their work for the elevation of spirits and mortals. One of the Forest Maidens then spoke of the change on the lower hunting-grounds of the red man, and told of the time when her race was happy, and roamed at their leisure through the beautiful groves and around the fishing lakes the Great Spirit had given to the red man's race ; but now she had come to the council-fire to listen to the talk of the pale-faces, and she would away back to tell of their injustice. And India again closed the session by invocation. December 13, 1871. — At this session, after India's invoca- tion, he said the investigation would be continued. And the next in council said he had tried to follow the examples of his blessed Master to the best of his knowledge. It was true he had been a Catholic priest, and known to his own as Father O'Brien ; said he had never visited America during his earthly pilgrimage. He was thankful for an oppor- tunity of being present, and spoke with much feeling to the friends of his order that were called before the council in spirit ; told them great wrongs had been perpetuated among the inhabitants of earth by inculcating the errors and doctrines of the Church ; told them, if they had been honest and faithful in their professions, they had nothing to fear. But now they knew their teachings had been erroneous, and they must accept REVELATIONS. 23 of the present opportunity to assist in undoing their work. They had nothing to fear now, for their blessed Lord and Master would lead them in the right path. The next speaker said he had been a mariner of the ocean, and was called to represent the noble men of his own pro- fession, and ask that justice hereafter be extended to them ; said, as a class, they had been treated as inferiors, although they perilled their lives in the distribution of the products of the nations for the benefit of the race ; many improvements had been studied in spirit for the advantage of commerce, for which they received no compensation from their earthly friends. He wanted some provision made for the widows and orphans of the brave and noble mariners who often made a sacrifice of their lives through dangers and hardships in order to prolong the lives of others. The next one said he was known as Paine. He had come before the council to ask that the assembled clergy would take it upon themselves now and see that justice was ex- tended to him and his friends, for they had reviled his name and imprisoned his body, and burned up the books he had published for the advancement of the mind of man ; and he would ask them who the infidels now were ? Said it was, well known the clergy had turned away from the covenants and commandments once held sacred, and preached to the people things they themselves never practised, and desecrated the temples they had falsely dedicated to God, and turned them into marts for traffic ; they had warned the people to shun the truths given to the world through his organization, with all the venom of a nest of vipers. He invited them to take another investigation of their sacred book, and cited them to the history of Jonah and the whale, Samson and the foxes, and their saintly David and wise Solomon. " Well," said he, " what of them ? No wonder you hang your heads in shame. Throw off your black robes, and go back and un- deceive the people, and learn justice." After speaking ap- provingly of the rapid progress freedom of thought and of speech was making among the people, he retired. One of the Forest Maidens was present, and said she had come from the upper hunting-grounds of the red man by the command of the Great Spirit to listen to the talk of the pale- face braves ; told them they had much to answer to the Great Spirit for their injustice to her race on the lower hunting- grounds. She told them the Great Spirit was good, and 24 REVELATIONS. when tliey learned to deal in justice with each other, He would receive and give them a home in his upper hunting- grounds. She then said the good old brave would not speak until the next council ; but the watch-fire would be kept burning, for the red man's race was on the war-path by com- mand of the Great Spirit, and they would guard the wigwam of the brave. Whereupon India closed the session by invocation. December, 19, 1871. — At this session, after India's invoca- tion to the Great Spirit, in remembrance for his continued blessings, he said Franklin was before the council, and would speak in behalf of the laboring classes, whereupon he retired. Franklin was present ; said he felt a pride in responding to a call to speak in behalf of the toiling millions, for their interest had been neglected by their accepted guardians, and they were ground down by burdensome taxes until their lands were starving for necessary fertilizers, while the extravagance of those in control of the government and the laws had demoral- ized the people of the whole country ; and the time had come that a change was necessary, and he was ready to suspend his investigation in the cause of science in spirit, and assist others in the work of establishing justice in behalf of the toiling and suffering inhabitants of the earth. Most cheerfully would his boys lay down their tools and shut up shop, and engage in the work. The next one present said he was called in behalf of the pirates of the ocean. He had sailed under the name of Dex- ter, but belonged to the Montraville family of England ; said if he had stayed ashore, he would have inherited the title of duke, but was led away by the false charms of a roving life, and became the leader of a band of pirates on the high seas. He said many of the wealthy families of the day were sporting with fortunes their forefathers stole when pirating on the ocean. He felt that great wrongs had been entailed upon the inhabitants of earth by the false teachings of what was called the Church. It had caused man's selfishness to increase until his hand was everywhere raised against his brother, and pirating had become fashionable all over the land. He was gratified to have an opportunity of speaking; and said he thought he could help some of his own profession who had long been tired of their condition. Confucius was next in council, and spoke of the sorrowful effects everywhere seen flowing from the avarice of man. He REVELATIONS. 25 then spoke to Franklin, complimenting him for the part he had been called to represent. He told of the hardships the toiling millions of the earth had endured from cycle to cycle ; told him that Jesus, who was crucified as a malefactor, was a sac- rifice in their behalf, and was now at the head of the masses in spirit who had been despised and cast out, leading them up to higher and better conditions ; said the ancient of days, so long foretold, had come, and the covenants and commandments of the Great Father would be reinforced that all should par- take of his blessings ; and told them they were gathering up at the call of the angel of time, and must prepare themselves for the enforcement of the law of eternal justice. An ancient Jewess was next present ; said they had taken their harps down from the willows again, and were prepared to engage in the work ; said they were standing by the river calling to their sisters, and asking permission to join with them in promulgating to the children of earth the news of their glorious resurrection. A Forest Maiden then told of the power and wisdom of the Great Spirit, and spoke of his love for his earthly children ; told of the progress the red race had made in their upper hunting-grounds ; said the pale-faces would tremble at the power of the' Great Spirit. Then she spoke to them about their injustice to each other, for their suffering victims were crying aloud for justice. After which India again closed the session by invocation to the Great Spirit. December 20, 1871. — After India's invocation to the Great Spirit, by whose power all things created were sustained, he said there was a gathering up of those who had appeared be- fore the council, and so arranged for Confucius to address them. After speaking of the magnitude of their work and of the pleasure it was to those engaged in gathering up the forsaken and friendless, he retired, and the voice of the good Father Confucius was again heard. He commenced his remarks by referring to the power and wisdom and the per- fection everywhere displayed in the works of the Great Father ; and then addressed the popes and cardinals, the bishops and priests, and the pirates. He told them of the terrible sufferings which had been entailed upon the* inhabi- tants of the earth through their injustice to their brothers. He asked them if their temporary gratification in their strug- gle for earthly power had paid them for all the human suffer- 26 REVELATIONS. ing they were still compelled to witness ; said the time had now arrived, and they would be offered an opportunity to assist in undoing their work. He told them they had failed to do the work of Him they professed to follow ; they had walked the streets in their pride, with their book under their arm, to their costly sanctuaries, and pandered to the demands of the rich and of those in power ; while the poor, who had alwa}^s been the suffering victims of the lovers of Mammon, and who were of the same mould of nature as themselves, were everywhere neglected. He told them they had all sold their Master, not for thirty pieces of silver, but they had sold him for the Mammon of unrighteousness and worldly position, and at last they had awakened to the knowledge that by so doing they had sold themselves. He then addressed himself to the others who had been gathered up, and who represented the various conditions of life, — to Everett, with his newsboys and vagrants and young thieves, whom he had been gathering up among the haunts of vice and suffering which they had found in every city. He complimented him for his perse- verance in the work of his Master, and told him that all, what- ever their condition, were the Great Father's children. Then to Scott with his soldiers. He told them they were looking much better than when they were sent to the spirit sphere crushed and mangled from the battle-fields, where brother warred against brother in their cruel struggles for the princi- palities of earth. He then spoke of the magnitude of the heavens above them; said the stars were the windows that opened into the heavens beyond, and that every star was an evidence of the Great Father's love for his children. Then he explained that at the next session they would all have their orders, and they must be prepared to return to the inhabitants of the earth, where they would have to labor as best they could until they had undeceived them. One of the Forest Maidens then said she had come from the upper hunting-grounds of the red man by the command of the Great Spirit, to listen to the talk at the council-fire at the wig- wam of the white squaw ; the Great Spirit had heard the cry of suffering and sorrow that comes from the poor and friend- less of the pale-faces who now inhabit the lower hunting- grounds of the red man. She would return to the Great Spirit, and tell him all that was said at the council. After which, India again closed the session by invocation to the Great Spirit. REVELATIONS. 27 December 24, 1871. — After India's invocation to the Great Spirit, asking for wisdom to guide their labors that all might be approved and mortals elevated from their darkness, he said the review would continue, and that Mrs. Townsend, the Quakeress, that Everett with King, and Metamora, would speak for those they had been appointed to represent; after which Confucius would address them. He then retired. Mrs. Townsend was next in council. She spoke in behalf of the girls, and of the various conditions during their earthly lives, which had led them from the paths of virtue and happi- ness, and of the darkness and suffering in which they were found in spirit. She then spoke of the progress of their labors, and of the pleasure they received from the improved condition of those who left the dark sphere and were clothed in new garments, and prepared to engage in the work of amelioration. Afterwards, Everett spoke in behalf of the boys and youth of the various cities, who had been friendless and with- out homes ; said their condition was fearful to contemplate : many had found the end of their physical life in a loathsome prison, many had died in want of the most common necessa- ries of life, and still found themselves in the same condition in spirit. Said that he had felt an interest during his earthly life, and devoted much time in cultivating the young mind ; but he had known nothing of the terrible destitution and suffering among the poor and unfortunate people who were cast off and neglected in every part of the country ; said he felt ashamed when he was awakened in spirit to their true condition, and had gladly applied himself in the work of res- titution ; said he desired to introduce one of his New York boys before the council, and let him speak for himself. Upon which he withdrew. The boy was then introduced, and told of his own suffer- ings, and of his efforts to obtain bread for his poor broken- hearted mother, with her five friendless children ; how his father had died, and left them all destitute, from the effects of his own heavy burdens ; how himself and his class were watched and hunted down by the officers of the law, and fre- quently unjustly imprisoned ; spoke of their temptation to take from those living in luxury, and surrounded with wealth and ease, in order to keep their own from starving. He then spoke of their happiness in spirit since they had been furnished a good place to stay, where they were not called " vagrants " and then kicked out. 28 REVELATIONS. King next spoke of his class ; said the difference between their Master's work and that of their own had shown itself on every hand, and he was thankful that even now he was per- mitted to take a part in spirit in the work of restitution ; for he knew that millions had been hurried out of their physical bodies without any one to care for them, or to ask where they had gone, or what would be their fate. After finishing his remarks, he retired. Metamora was then present, and spoke in behalf of his own race. He told of the freedom they enjoyed on their lower hunting-grounds before the pale-face race came among them with their avarice and their weapons of destruction. He spoke of their beautiful forests, where the deer was undis- turbed by the sharp report of the deadly rifle ; and of their lakes and rivers, full of fish from the bountiful supply of the Great Spirit. He told of his i*ace, and how they were driven from their wigwams, and their forests cut down ; and said "the trail of the pale-faces was still marked with the blood of his race all over the red man's hunting-grounds. The good father Confucius was next present, and spoke to the assembled host. He told of the rise and fall of empires, and of the untold suffering man had entailed upon his race in his terrible struggle for earthly power. He spoke of the per- ishable nature of earthly principalities that crumbled away before the natural action of the immutable laws of the Great Father ; told them the time had now arrived for the law of justice to be enforced, and spoke of the suffering entailed upon the innocent from the errors that had been propagated by a designing priesthood. He told of the efforts of the in- habitants of the spheres to improve the condition of their earthly friends, and of how their labors had been received ; asked them how the Master they had professed to follow could even trust his disciples in spirit, when they turned away and forsook him while in their physical forms. And told them all, the time bad come for them to undo their work, and that all that were instrumental in producing the present unhapp} 7 " con- dition among the inhabitants of the earth were held responsi- ble by the law of Eternal Justice ; and they must return and labor for the amelioration and elevation of their earthly broth- ers until the effects of their errors and falsehoods were destroyed. The Great Father had called for His children, and He knew them all by name ; and they must hunt them up, and see that they were ready to answer. After saying he would soon address them again, he retired. REVELATIONS. 29 A woman of ancient days gave them encouraging words. She spoke of the wandering of her people among their earthly Palestines in search of their promised land. She told them the Great Father, who had watched over them all, and supplied them with blessings, was still good, and that when His chil- dren were in a proper condition, He was ready to receive them. One of the Forest Maidens then spoke of her race when they were many and covered the lower hunting-grounds given to them by the Great Spirit; said they were happy and satis- fied with the blessings the Great Spirit sent them, until the pale-faces came and disturbed them. Now the glory of the red man's race was departing from the lower hunting-grounds, and the pale-face race would have to answer for their injustice to their red brothers at the call of the Great Spirit ; the red man's upper hunting-grounds were large, and the Great Spirit supplied and loved his red children. The usual time having again expired, India, after commend- ing their work to the care of the Great Spirit, closed by invo- cation. December 27, 1871. — After India's invocation to the Great Spirit in commemoration of continued blessings, he said Con- fucius would address the spirits concerning their new labors. After a few encouraging remarks, he retired. And Confucius' earnest voice was again heard. He told them of the necessity of taking Charity with them as they went out to engage in their labors with their earthly brothers ; and he told them that Charity must be worn as a mantle, and used among the pres- ent generations, as they engaged in the work of removing the errors and their effects which had culminated from their own false teaching. He told them how short-sighted they had been when they set bounds to the love of the Great Father for his earthly children ; told them to go back with him to the time when he was a pilgrim of the earthly sphere, and he would show them some of the inhabitants of this planet long before his time. He then said to them, as they looked through the opening of a sphere, " You see those bright spirits ; they were all once inhabitants of the earthly sphere, where they long ago learned to deal in justice with their brothers, and who are now engaged in the higher pursuits of life." He then told them that the time had come for a work of purification, and that the toiling millions of earth must be restored to their rights, 30 REVELATIONS. and the earth and man purified and prepared for a revisit of its ancient inhabitants. He told them not to be deceived : it was not the Saviour and his disciples they had been shown. It was a band of bright spirits that once inhabited the earthly kingdom, and learned the laws of Eternal Justice long before the days of Judaism. After a few general remarks connected with the council, he again retired. Then one of the bishops made a few remarks; said his people had desired him to ask for one more sight of the bright spirits which had been shown to them. If it was true they were once inhabitants of this planet, they would cease their opposition, and do all in their power that was just and right in order to prepare to associate with those who had passed on beyond them. He then gave way. A woman of ancient days next addressed the council. She encourged them as a band of reformers whose labors in the cause of justice would receive the approbation of the Great Father ; said that she and her sisters had come to join with them in their work for the progress of humanity. One of the Forest Maidens next spoke of the great power of the Great Spirit; said he was angry with his pale-faced children, who had not dealt in justice with their brothers on the lower hunting-grounds of the red man ; said the winds and the floods would teach the pale-faces of the Great Spirit's power. She had listened to the talk in the council- at the wig- wam of the white squaw, and she was going to the mountains where the snows were deep, and where the red man and his squaw and pappoose had got nothing to eat. And as the usual time had expired, India again closed the ses- sion by invocation to the Great Spirit. December 31, 1871. — After India's invocation, he said the woman would occupy the spare time, while Confucius made preparation to gratify the request of the monks that were anxious for another view of the progressed spirits. Mrs. Jackson was then announced, and spoke of the work they were engaged in ; said they still felt an interest in the welfare of their country, and were ashamed of the corrupt condition that was fast destroying the energies of the people and everything else that was American. She spoke of the habits of society of her time, — said the women then were satisfied with an eight^ard calico dress, and one of gingham for Sunday was all they required : and they were contented and REVELATIONS. 31 satisfied with their homes as long as their country was blessed with prosperity. She regretted the extravagance and idle- ness of the age, and said her husband often remarked, by the Eternal ! such things could not be sustained much longer in their country. She was pleased with an opportunity of speak- ing, but gave way for one of their companions. Mrs. Adams was next announced. Said she was inclined to be charitable with her countrymen, for it was well known that foreigners had introduced the habits and customs of the older nations among the people, and they were disturbing elements that had a tendency to demoralize and corrupt society ; and it was true the inhabitants of the day were more spiritual than at her time, and she thought that had a tendency to disturb and lead them into extravagance. It was true, many things were hard to endure, and were the cause of much suffering ; but she thought it imparted its own lesson to the people, and might result in good. She, too, was thankful for the oppor- tunity of speaking, and gave way for one who said that — France was her native country ; but she had crossed the water to join her sisters of the council, to engage with them in the work of restitution. She thought the time had come when all nationality should be set aside, and all that could work should work for the elevation of the toiling millions, who were crushed by craft and caste until their sufferings were past en- durance. It was known that all inherited natural rights by their birth, and such rights must and would be respected when they enforced the law of Eternal Justice. The familiar voice of Confucius was next heard. He ad- dressed the assembled host in forcible language ; told them to follow him back step by step to the time their sacred history commenced, and then told them the story of their Garden of Eden was a fable. He showed them a group of bright spirits who were inhabitants of this planet thousands of years in ad- vance of the time when their records commenced, and told them the light of those they saw was reflected from others who had passed on before them. He then showed them a beautiful scene : it was the birth of a child into the physi- cal world. He said, before mothers fell from their high and holy calling, the mother was surrounded by her friends, and her couch strewn with flowers, while anthems of praise were ascending to the Great Father in thanks that another child had been intrusted to their keeping. He told them then to lay aside their black robes and cowls, and return to the 32 REVELATIONS. scenes of their earthly pilgrimage, and engage this time in the work of restitution, elevate the downcast millions, and teach them the .Great Father is ever good, and that all are his chil- dren, and that all must stand on one and the same platform. After a few kind and encouraging words, he retired ; and India closed by invocation. January 1, 1872.- — Unexpectedly our Irish friend, the " healer," was present this evening ; said they were anxious to commemorate the advent of the new year, and had made their call for that purpose ; and, after a few more appropriate re- marks, said, if we had no objections, he would like to intro- duce a friend. No objections being made, his friend gave the name of Morgan. Morgan said he was the man that was accused of divulging some of the mysteries of an Order that had been popular in our country. He was willing to converse on different subjects connected with the Order, but declined to tell how he was re- lieved of his body ; said that was for the Order to answer. After saying what he desired, he thanked all for their atten- tion, and retired. One of the children from Miss Landon's school was next present, and delivered a beautiful epilogue. It related to the labors of the council, and was grand in its conception. And when asked how it was possible for her to commit such things to memory, her answer was it was inspiration ; said she had only to open her mouth for it to flow out. She was delighted to be remembered, for we had divined who it was, as she had been before the council to speak before. After the girl retired, the " healer " made a few remarks ; spoke of the pleasure the interview had given, and closed with an appeal to the blessed Saviour Jesus, who had labored and suffered for mortals. January 3, 1872. — After India's invocation to the Great Spirit, he said remarks would be made by different individu- als in regard to the labors they were about to engage in ; when he retired. A very intelligent advocate was present, and spoke in be- half of the African race ; said he had investigated the history of the different nationalities back for many ages, and was un- able to find any good cause why his race should be bound to serve his white brothers. He was satisfied that color was the RE VELA TIONS. 33 effect of climate, and that all races should be protected in their natural rights in the pursuit of earthly happiness. He was glad the law of justice was to be enforced, and was sat- isfied the black man, with an equal opportunity, would soon make rapid progress. He was pleased with his opportunity to speak, and said he would be always ready to defend the rights of his race. The next speaker thought it was best for them to com- mence their new labors with mortals by directing their ener- gies among the different grades of society. They all knew that in spirit each one went to the sphere of his attraction ; no one could stay where he was not in harmony from natural progress, as they all received their light from those who had passed on beyond them. . He thought it could not be ex- pected that the wealthy, who were the admitted guardians of the poor, were going down to associate with the poor and the depraved class by which they were surrounded ; he thought it best for them to work with those nearest to them in condition, and so on to the bottom ; said he was creed- bound during his earthly life, and left his body at Salem, Massachusetts, sixty years ago. The next speaker said her name was Jones ; she had been in the sphere over sixty years, and she did not agree with the former speaker; said the poor had been disciplined through their poverty, and were more virtuous and benev- olent, and occupied a higher sphere in spirit than any of the so-called educated and wealthy classes. She said that mil- lions of the toiling sons and daughters of earth, who were disciplined through poverty and suffering, and knew what truth and virtue were, would be an honor to the parlors of those who squandered their time in idleness and luxury,, and the sooner their condition was ameliorated the better it would be for humanity. Confucius then made a few cheering remarks ; told them the Great Father had not forgotten them, and they must per- severe, and all be faithful in their work of establishing the law of Eternal Justice. He then said at their next session the apostles would be called to an account. One of the Forest Maidens was then present ; said she had come to the council with her brave, who " was bold and true, and she no other brave had ever known." They had re- turned to the lower hunting-grounds of the red man by com- mand of the Great Spirit, to keep the camp-fire burning 3 34 RE VELA TIONS. until the pale-faces had learned to deal in justice ; said the brave, who worshipped the Great Father, was then with a group of bright spirits, chanting an anthem in thankfulness for the harmony and good order of the council. After which, India again closed the session by invocation to the Great Spirit. January 7, 1872. — After India's invocation to the Great Spirit, again asking for wisdom to guide their councils, he said the apostles would have an opportunity to make their own statements ; he then retired. And Thomas was the next in council, and there made the following statement. Said he did doubt, for he could not believe in the bodily resurrection of his Master, for he had been told, time and again, through the organism of his Mas- ter, of the grandeur of the Spirit Sphere, and that flesh and blood, that belong to matter, had no inheritance there. He then said the story of their deprivations and sufferings had not half been told ; they were hooted and stoned by the mob ; often without food to appease their hunger, or clothing fit to be seen in public ; said the mission of his Master was then but little understood, and those in power cared nothing for his beautiful teachings, and the opposition and hatred of the priesthood were past endurance ; but when they retired to their frequent haunts in the forest, where they were undis- turbed, they were encouraged by their Master, and by others who spoke through him, — the same, and by the same law, that he was then speaking, — and who encouraged their labors. And said their Master returned to them at four dif- ferent times after his crucifixion, and spoke to them through the organism of one of their number ; and told them of his triumph over death, and counselled them to persevere in their labors in elevating humanity ; said they did try to follow the examples and precepts of their Master, whom they loved, but after all their labors and sufferings, they were misunderstood and misrepresented by mortals. He was glad an opening had been prepared, that he could speak again with his earthly brothers, and whenever he was called he would be ready to answer. After expressing his gratitude for the pleasure of speaking, he said one of his brothers was ready, and he would retire. And the next one said he was — : The terrible Judas Iscariot, and also was thankful for an opportunity to speak, and readily confirmed all his brother REVELATIONS. 35 Thomas had said, and was anxious to set himself right before the world in regard to his being so long called a traitor to his Master. All he desired was to state the facts, and let others judge for themselves. He then made the following statement. At one of their scanty meals in the forest, where they were secreted from the violence of the mob, his Master remarked that one of their number would betray them, or notify the priesthood of the place of their seclusion. When he went out, he thought nothing more of the remark, but was soon entranced by a Jew spirit, who informed the mob who was then in search of them, armed with authority for their Master's arrest. After he had led them back to their retreat, and had accomplished their design, the spirit left him, and he was conscious of what had been done. He did feel badly, and would have given a hundred lives in order to have re- stored his Master ; but it was then too late, for the hatred of their traducers had no bounds. After the crucifixion, the body was entombed, and the armed guards stationed to watch it. They were overpowered with affright at the appearance of the angel band, who had come for their Master, who did afterwards appear, and confirmed the desired knowledge of a glorious resurrection. He then said the clairvoyant eye of his Master saw the Jew spirit that obsessed him, and knew what would be the result. He thought they were not re- sponsible for the stories — promulgated by a designing priest- hood — about the atonement and a bodily resurrection, and was thankful the time had arrived when he could speak with mortals in his own defence. He had long ago seen his Master in spirit, and received his forgiveness. But as his time now was limited, and his brother was then waiting, for the present he would retire. And John was next in council. He had come to confirm the statements of his two brothers. All they had said was true. Although at the time they were the earthly companions of Jesus, their Master, they but poorly comprehended the beauti- ful teachings from the unseen world. His own vocal organs were also used for the purpose of instructing the people, and many a beautiful vision of the spirit spheres was shown to him for his own instruction, although at the time not fully comprehended. It was true, the guards stationed to watch the mangled lorm of their Master could give no account of his glorious resurrection ; and when He stood in their midst, in the semblance of his physical form, it was materialized for 36 RE VELA TIONS. the occasion, that they might have the evidence of his pres- ence with them in spirit, and of his triumph over the powers of darkness. For his crucifiers had denied the evidence of his glorious mission, and scoffed at his humanity ; and they themselves expected the literal fulfilment of ninny of their Master's sayings, which they have since learned were con- nected with the establishing of his kingdom in spirit; from which he did return, and hold communion with them after his ascension, and it was the knowledge of the communion of spirit upon which they based their association. They were not accountable for the corrupt condition of Christianity, nor for the corrupted records sustained and upheld by a designing and willing priesthood. After saying that the time had now arrived for the establishment of their Master's kingdom upon the platform of Eternal Justice, he retired. One of the Jewish rabbi was next in council, where he said: "Here we are all the way along the river, — Jews on one side, and Nazarites on the other. How could they accept as truth the dogmas of a rabble grown up in their midst? They who were educated, and daily worshipped in their tem- ples dedicated to the God of Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, as they had been taught by Moses, who was the prophet of God, that led the Israelites from their Egyptian bondage, — they knew nothing, and they cared nothing for the doctrines they claimed to promulgate, and they looked upon Jesus as a blasphemer when he proclaimed himself the Son of God, while all knew of his humble origin ; and they put him to death as a troublesome leader of a ragged mob, who was constantly disturbing the public peace." They were still sat- isfied to worship the God of their fathers ; although they had not seen him, still he had blessed them in basket and store, and they were looking for the time when their cities would be rebuilt; and their nation again united, as they had been before. But the time was long; they had waited, and his people must be patient ; they wanted no other God to worship. One of the Forest Maidens then addressed them, and told of the time when the race of the red man covered the lower hunting-grounds, and was blessed by the Great Spirit, many thousand moons before the Israelites or the Judaites had soiled the beautiful hunting-grounds with the trail of their many abominations. As she then retired, India closed by invocation to the Great Spirit. REVELATIONS. 37 January 10, 1872. — After India's invocation to the Great Spirit, asking for wisdom and strength to allay the opposing forces, that the result of their labors might in the end be approved, he said the new temple they were erecting in spirit, where Justice " would be enthroned." was fast taking shape and form, as each one called anxiously applied them- selves in the new work, and that one familiar with the history of the Great Media and his disciples was present to speak of things in connection with the labors of the council. He then retired. And one who spoke as one with authority said he was pleased to be a witness of the labors already performed by the council, for he knew what would be the result. He had been a familiar witness of the labors and sufferings of the humble and forgiving Nazarene, who willingly suffered mar- tyrdom that he might accomplish the connection between " spirit " and " mortal ; " and although his advent had been foretold by sages and seers, those who were looking for him rejected and cast him out; so again, when he returns in spirit, he has found- but few laborers in his earthly vineyard, and those who were expecting his return, and have prepared for his reception, have turned away and rejected and crucified him again. But the angel of time has called, and the book of life was opened, and the nations of the earth must prepare for the Judgment. After speaking encouragingly of their labors, he said the time had now arrived — foretold by the ancient prophets — when the spirit kingdom would be estab- lished, when the poor and the toiling millions of earth, who were crushed and cast out through avarice, would be restored to their birthright. After his closing remarks, he retired, and India again closed with a beautiful invocation to the Great Spirit. From the above session until the 27th of November, at the usual sessions, the time was occupied in gathering up promis- cuous spirits from the dark sphere, and many heart-rending accounts were listened to from the different parties who were permitted to tell of their own sufferings before the council. November 27, 1872. — At this session, after India's invoca- tion to the Great Spirit, expressing thanks for the privilege of meeting together after the gathering in of another boun- tiful harvest, he said there were many anxious to join them in their labors, and the council had made the necessary^ prep- 38 RE VELA TIONS. aration to listen to their various reports. After which the familiar voice of Madarn Pitcher was again heard. She was one of the workers, and had often encouraged all in their labors. She had brought up an old friend, by the name of Warren, she was desirous of introducing to the council ; said she had known him many years past, when she was in her earthly form. Their labors in spirit were making rapid progress with the inhabitants of the dark sphere, and the time would soon arrive when justice would again find a place among the inhabitants of earth. After a few words of instruction, she gave way for her friend, who was glad to respond. He said his name was Warren ; that he belonged to a nu- merous family of that name, and had lived in Charlestown ; said he Avas anxious for some change, for many of his own were looking to him for light ; they were strongly tinctured with the old Puritan notions, which had failed to give them satisfaction in spirit. And he appealed to the old lady, whom they found to be a bright guide, who had kindly pre- pared the way and introduced him to the council ; he remem- bered the old lady from an acquaintance of many years past in Boston, and right thankful he said he was for the opportu- nity to speak ; said there was great disturbance among them, and he did not know what would be the result. He spoke of the terrible war the people had struggled through, and how much they were demoralized ; he thought it had caused their disturbance in spirit. The next one in council said his name was Tuckerman. He had lived in Boston, went from that place to New York, where he engaged in the business of a broker, and was a teacher part of his time during his earthly pilgrimage ; said he found things in spirit altogether different from what he hatl anticipated. He was thankful for the opportunity to speak, and said he would gladly engage in a work that would forward the time when justice should have a hearing among the affairs of men. The next one then said her name was Livermore. She was a native of Massachusetts, had lived in New York, was fifty- six years old at the time of her change, had been fifteen years in spirit, and was anxious to join with the band, and unite her labor with theirs in their great and good work for the eleva- tion of the race. Another one said her name was Bancroft. She was of REVELATIONS. 39 English birth, and was anxious about the condition of Mrs. Stuart, once a member of the so-called royal family, who desired a change ; and she had sought the opportunity to speak in her behalf, hoping she might have a hearing at our next session ; said she had been eighty years in the sphere, and was familiar with the labors of the council. She then remarked that the one known as Margaret Fuller had just entered with Mrs. Greeley, but she was then too feeble to give a communication. After speaking in high terms of the good that had already resulted from their labors, she retired. And the companion of Mrs. Townsend, the Quakeress of Philadelphia, was then present. He spoke of the work they were all engaged in, told of its magnitude, and of the great results already accomplished by penetrating the dark sphere, where they were still gathering up the friendless and for- saken spirits, who were ignorant of any higher condition ; said they were now well organized, and there would be no delay in their labors until all was finished, and justice once more found a resting-place among the inhabitants of earth. He told of the fearful conditions they found among the igno- rant and degraded spirits who had not relaxed their claim on mortals, and of some of the results that must follow, and dis- turb our present relations in the affairs of life. After the usual encouragement, he retired. One who claimed to be of Irish nationality spoke in warm terms in behalf of the people of his own country. He told them the time had now come for them to work their way up to the new Mecca, and they must be about it, and not be lag- gards in the good cause of human progress. They had all been sufferers in the past for the want of light that had been but dimly reflected ; but now he knew the blessed Jesus, their Lord and Master, was at the head, and none should fear to follow. He thanked all who had been instrumental in assist- ing his people out of the purgatories in spirit, that were still connected with the purgatories of earth, where the good Lord only knew what had been their suffering. After speak- ing to his own people, and giving them instruction about what should be done, he said there was a warrior present, who gave the name of Tecumseh, who desired to speak at our next session. He then gave thanks, and asked the Master to remember them in his work. One of the Forest Maidens then spoke of her own race, who were now in the upper hunting-grounds of the Great 40 RE VELA TIONS. Spirit, and of his power and love for his earthly children, who had turned away from his great law of justice, and built their storehouses so large that much suffering was caused, and the cry for bread had gone up to the Great Spirit from many of the pale-face race on the lower hunting-grounds. After which, India again closed the session by invocation to the Great Spirit. December 1, 1872. — After India's invocation to the Great Spirit, giving thanks for light and strength to sustain them, and after saying Confucius and Burns, Choate and Berry, were then before the council, he retired. And Confucius again spoke at length to the assembled spirits, gave them counsel in regard to their labors among mortals, told them of the suffer- ings that were entailed on the inhabitants of earth — the effects of their own errors which they had designedly propa- gated in order to strengthen their power ; spoke of the love and forbearance of the Great Father, whose blessings were intended for all his children, and who never sanctioned any of their unholy abominations ; told them to return and undo their work, and see that justice once more had a resting- place among their earthly brothers, and then — and not till then — could they expect to find rest. He then spoke favor- ably of what had been accomplished the past year, and gave renewed encouragement ; told them their earthly witnesses must be protected in order to secure the benefit of their own labors, and labor they must to insure their own salvation. He again retired. Burns once more spoke of the bonny lads and lasses of his own native country, repeated the story of Tam O'Shanter, and the devil who sat in the window of the old kirk, fiddling for the dance of the fairies. After relating some of his own experience in spirit, he improvised a beautiful poem con- nected with their labors. After repeating it, he said they had just brought a dead man into- the council, and retired. Choate was next present. Said the man referred to by Burns was Greeley, whose friends had just then arrived with him, and who was also anxious to speak, but said it was thought best he should delay until another session. He then spoke of the terrible condition of society in their own coun- try — spoke of his Boston friends and of their recent afflic- tion ; said it was just, that nothing else would ever turn their attention from the worship of their worldly Mammon REVELATIOXS. 41 to the fulfilment of the law of Eternal. Justice. He spoke to his spirit friends in regard to their labors as the} 7 returned from among mortals ; said no one should shrink from his duty on account of a former friendship ; told them they had much to undo, and none knew better than they did the evil effects of their own errors. After thanks for the opportunity of speak- ing, he retired. Berry was next in council ; said he was at one time con- nected with the " Banner," published in Boston. He had left that office, and went into the recent rebellion for the overthrow of chattel slavery ; and he was delighted with his experience in spirit life, for the countless hosts of the spirit spheres were there working for the establishment of justice among the inhabitants of earth. He thought the baptism of fire that this country had been passing through would quicken the per- ceptions of all to the duties they owed each other. The one known as Shadow was the next to speak. She complained of the hardship of her sister squaw, who was making a bath-tub of herself in order to clean up the filth that others had created ; said they had got their work well organ- ized, and the pale-faces would soon have evidence enough that the Great Spirit had not forgotten the red man's wrongs. One of the Forest Maidens next tolcl of the upper hunting- grounds of the red man, and of the wisdom and power of the Great Spirit manifested in all his works. She tolcl of the degradation and suffering inflicted upon the remnants of her race from the covetousness and injustice of their pale-face brothers. — all of which she would go and tell to the Great Spirit. And then India said, Tecumseh, Mary Queen of Scotland, and Greeley, would speak for themselves at the next session, and again closed by invocation to the Great Spirit. December 4, 1872. — After India's invocation, again asking the Great Spirit for strength and wisdom to guide them .in their investigations, so that in the end they might receive His approval, and after saying Mary, Scotland's queen, would be the next in council, he retired. Thereupon Mary was pres- ent, and told of her terrible suffering ; said the scenes of her earthly life had been constantly before her, and she had found no rest for her troubled spirit. She was ready and willing to do all that was possible in order to obtain relief; the agonies she had endured in the dark sphere were beyond 42 REVELATIONS. comprehension; she was thankful she had been called, and trusted it might open the way for her to improve her condi- tion. After speaking again of her long and terrible suffering, she retired. And the old warrior — Tecumseh announced himself; said he had come to the council with his braves, where the pale-faces had made the watch-fire burn at the wigwams of his white brother on the lower hunting-grounds of the red man, given to the red man and his posterity many moons since by the Great Spirit. They had come to the council of the pale-faces to listen to their talk about justice. The red man loved justice, and they had come to the council to ask about justice for the remnant of the red man's race that was still upon the lower hunting-grounds. It was not sanctioned by justice for them to be hunted down and robbed by their pale-face brothers. The Great Spirit had spoken to his red children in their upper hunting-grounds, and the red man's race was again on the war-path, and would ask for justice for all. They had come to rekindle the watch-fires on the mountains, and should come again to the council. And then Greeley was the next present; said he was gratified to meet his friends in spirit, and pleased with the opportunity they had provided for him to again speak, for he felt keenly the ingratitude of his earthly friends, and was glad to get away from them, although everything seemed strange to him. It appeared like a. dream, and he was not sure that he could trust his own vision, but seemed to be more natural at the end of the interview ; spoke about his paper, and was anxious to get back to his office ; finally con- cluded he wanted rest, and desired no one to tell where he was at present, for it was gratifying to believe he was among friends that would not desert him. One of the Forest Maidens then said she had come from the upper hunting-grounds, as by the Great Spirit sent to listen to the talk of the pale-face braves at the wigwam of the white squaw, where all told of their many sorrows, and where they knew not of the love of the Great Spirit. She told them to go back and teach the pale-face race to learn justice, and they would see more of the love of the Great Spirit in the wonderful manifestation of his mighty power amoDg his pale- face children, whose sorrows were the result of their own injustice. Thereupon India told of the terrible condition of the mil- lions sent friendless and homeless into the dark sphere in RE VELA TIONS. 43 spirit, ignorant of all the duties of life; and closed the session by invocation to the Great Spirit, asking his accept- ance of all that was acceptable in connection with their labors. December 8, 1872. — After India's invocation to the Great Spirit, he spoke encouragingly of what had already been accom- plished, and said there were many that were anxious to unite with them in their investigation, and at the next session two or more would be introduced. Josephus, one of the his- torians of the Jews, would be the next in council. He then withdrew. Josephus was then present, and told of his experience in connection with Jewish history. He said that many changes and alterations had found a place in the records of his own age through the ingenuity of modern writers. It was true they did fail to comprehend the mission of Jesus, their final Saviour, as many strong proofs of his being the true Messiah had been suppressed by those in power. His people were willing to join the Nazarites now, and follow the lead in spirit of him they crucified for telling them of the promised land above their earthly Palestines ; they refused the light offered to them, and had wandered in darkness and doubts, looking and waiting for the rebuilding of their cities and temples, when they should have been pressing their way upward in search of" the temple not made with hands." He told of the terrible suffering they passed through after the rejection of their Messiah: they had wrangled and fought with each other, without any apparent cause, until their nationality was lost, and the remnant of their people become wanderers and living witnesses of the mistakes of their national 'priestliood throughout the civilized world. He was thankful for an opportunity to speak, and glad to be a witness that his peo- ple were anxious to bow before him they had crucified, and pray for his forgiveness, weary, and willing to find rest any- where in his kingdom. After saying he would be ready to answer whenever he was wanted, he retired; and one of the ancients, who gave the name of Bebo, who had come to represent the inhabitants of South America nineteen hundred years ago, made his appearance. He told of the progress of that age, of the customs and habits of the people, and said in many respects it was far in advance of the mass of the peoples of the present age ; in 44 REVELATIONS. agriculture and the mechanical arts they were well developed. But, like the nations before them, they lost the light that came from above, and became worshippers of the Mammon of unrighteousness, and were cut off by a terrible destruction from the face of the earth. He said they were a people of Jewish origin, but they had no knowledge of the flood spoken of at the time of Noah ; he' thought it did not reach their part of the country. But there were many ways in which the inhabitants of the earth were destroyed when they turned away from the covenants and commandments of the Creator, and disregarded the law of justice in their intercourse with each other. He was gratified to know he could speak again, and at some other time would give a more extended account of the tribes of his day After which he retired. And then — Another of the ancients gave an interesting history of the changes of the planet as it progressed from the material up to the spiritual, where the inhabitants of its production would all eventually find a home. He then told of the working of the mighty hosts of the invisible world for the establishment of the law of justice among the affairs of men ; said his name was Thomas, and he was familiar with the history of the Nazarene. One of the Forest Maidens was then present. She had come from the upper hunting-grounds of the Great Spirit. She told of the numerous race of the red man who once covered the lower hunting-grounds of the Great Spirit, where they were taught the great law of eternal justice, long be- fore the pale-face race with their avarice and their injus- tice had desecrated the lower hunting-grounds of the red man. After which, India again closed the session by invocation to the Great Spirit. December 11, 1872. — After India's invocation, again ask- ing the Great Spirit for light and strength that their labors in spirit might be approved, he said the parties referred to at a former session were waiting, and retired. And Prout was the next in council. He had a desire to comprehend the wonderful mystery in order to be useful. He spoke of the magnitude of the- eternal world of spirits, whose limits were incomprehensible ; said he had but just entered upon its border, and was glad to be called into a sphere of labor where his former knowledge would be made REVELATIONS. 45 useful. As far as he had been able to extend his geological investigations, he had found abundant evidence of the wis- dom made manifest in the wonderful works of the Great Cre- ator. After again expressing his thanks for an opportunity to speak, he introduced a friend by the name of Renfrew, who expressed his gratitude to find that he also had been remem- bered. He related things in connection with his earthly pil- grimage, and then spoke of his experience in spirit ; said he had spent most of his time with a few of his former friends, who had preceded his own initiation. He was anxious for any position in which he could be useful and assist in the ad- vancement of the human race. He had brought a friend to the council who was in trouble. He had been a clergyman of his acquaintance in a western State, and had been removed unexpectedly by an accident on one of the western roads. He was at the time engaged in the building of a church, and still felt an anxiety in their temporal welfare. After express- ing thanks, he gave way to his friend, who introduced himself. He said he had been known among his earthly friends by the. name of Bullard, and was relieved of his physical form by the fall of the Gasconade Bridge at the opening celebra- tion of the Pacific Railroad between St. Louis and Jefferson City, in Missouri. He spoke with much feeling, thought it was strange his congregation had paid no attention to his efforts to enlighten them since his release from his earthly body ; said he had given many demonstrations of his pres- ence in his church, where he had been so much interested ; and if his followers believed in the manifestation of spirit so often and plainly reported in the scriptures of the past, he knew not why they had not been prepared to receive his tes- timony. He was very thankful for the opportunity to speak, and would do all in his power to hasten the advent of truth and justice among the inhabitants of his country. ' One of the Forest Maidens next told of the wisdom and love of the Great Spirit, and of his mighty power everywhere manifest in his works. She had come to the council of the white braves, and had listened to their talk. She was pleased she could go and tell the Great Spirit his pale-faced children had been talking about his great law of eternal justice. She then withdrew. India again closed by invocation to the Great Spirit in thanks for the good order in council. 46 REVELATIONS. December 15, 1872. — After India's invocation to the Great Spirit, he said one of the ancients, known by the name of Maroni, would have the privilege of speaking, and while he was speaking, it would be decided who would be called to follow. Maroni was then before the council, and made the following statement. Many ages past, he inhabited an earthly form, and after many trials and sufferings, he was disobedient to the known commands of the spirit, and for his disobedience had been assigned the duty of keeping a record of the things of time. And most terrible, he said, had been his suffering : he had w^andered up and down the earth, but found no rest; he had time and again climbed to the mountain-top and cast him- self down headlong, but could not be destroyed ; in his agony of spirit he had time and again prayed for annihilation, but annihilation came not to relieve him. He had witnessed the rise and fall of nations, and kept a record of man's inhuman- ity to man, as he had watched over their mangled forms on the battle-field, where they had struggled for the powers of earth. But, thankful to the Great Father, his name at last had been called by the angel of time. 0, how his spirit had leaped before the platform of Eternal Justice, where he could lay clown his bundles and find rest ! After Maroni retired, one who gave the name of Brown, of Kentucky, was before the council, and said he was glad he had been called to represent his State, for they were willing that all they had accumulated in their traffic with the colored man should be destroyed ; and they would also make every possible restitution in their power in order to satisfy the de- mands of the red man's race, who were again upon the war- path, with their watch-fires on every mountain. His people would present no obstacle to the law of eternal justice, for they were tired of the effusion of human blood, and would gladly throw down their weapons of destruction and enter into rest. After thanking all for the privilege of speaking, he retired, and a man of Irish nationality spoke in behalf of the people of his country. He thanked the good Lord that the time long foreseen by ' the ancient prophets and seers had come at last, when the principalities and the powers of the earth must give way for the kingdom of their Lord and Master — a kingdom of right- eousness and justice that would rule among men. How his spirit rejoiced in anticipation of the glory that would follow REVELATIONS. 47 the advent of his Master's kingdom of joy and peace in the Holy Spirit, for the children of earth had suffered, how long ! from the bigotry and injustice of their brothers. He counselled his countrymen in spirit, Avho, from whatever cause or condition, had been instrumental in propagating error among mortals, to hasten back to earth, and, like good soldiers of the cross, undo their work, and be ready to meet their Master. He then expressed his gratitude for the atten- tion his country people had received, and retired. And another of the Forest Maidens was before the council. She had come from the upper hunting-grounds as by the command of the Great Spirit, to listen to the talk of the pale- face braves. The Great Spirit heard many complaints of the sorrows of his pale-face children from the avarice and injus- tice of their brothers. The Great Spirit's red warriors were many, and he had sent them out to see that his law of eternal justice was again- established on the lower hunting-grounds of the red man. And then, after giving his usual directions, India closed the session by invocation to the Great Spirit. December 18, 1872. — After India's invocation to the Great Spirit, he said many of the friends of the media were present and anxious to identify themselves, and the session would be assigned to them for that purpose. And as he retired. Eight others had the privilege of speaking through the vocal organs of their earthly friends, and relating a variety of circumstances by which they desired to be remembered. Each one gave his name, and they told of their condition in spirit, expressed much gratitude for the pleasure they enjoyed, and were anxious to be remembered. One man, who gave the name of Stone, said he had been well known in Boston, where he was familiar with the covenant of the communion of spirit, and had found his friends in spirit waiting for him at the end of his earthly pilgrimage. He was rejoiced to know the time foreseen by prophets and seers would soon be ushered in, when the sorrows of doubting mortals would be submerged by the ever healing tide that would flow from the fountain of the Prince of Peace. Another man, who gave the name of Hutchinson, had been anxiously waiting for an opportunity to telegraph back to his earthly friends, and he knew of no other way. He said he was one of the travelling band of brothers that was known 48 REVELATIONS. in the States as the singing family, and he had gathered up all of his own who had laid aside the mortal, and they were still singing progressive anthems for the amelioration and the elevation of spirits who inhabited the dark sphere. He was gratified with an opportunity to speak, and also anxious to be remembered by his earthly friends ; when he retired. India again closed the session by invocation to the Great Spirit. December 22,1872. — After India's opening invocation to the Great Spirit, once more presenting the labor of the coun- cil for his approval, he said that many had presented them- selves who were anxious to join the council, and be known by name to their earthly friends as coworkers in building up the platform of eternal justice, but time would only permit a few to enjoy that privilege. All that were then present of the different nationalities could pass, and as they passed he men- tioned the names of many who had formerly occupied prom- inent positions in the affairs of life. He then gave the names of three bishops — Watson, Comer, and Waterhouse — who had been designated as the ones having the privilege of speak- ing, to be followed by Bruce. And as he then retired — Watson was the next in council, where he addressed his people, and told them the time had now arrived for the an- cient prophecies to have their fulfilment, and it was what they had long and earnestly prayed to see. For he had revised his hymns, and was ready to engage in the work of redemp- tion ; and wherever there was a spirit or a mortal in bondage caused by any errors of his teaching, he was ready to go and work until he had accomplished their release. They had long lamented the sad condition of mortals who had turned away and denied the spirit, and were blindly struggling to increase their earthly power, when all history repeated the story of decay and national destruction, the result of avarice, idleness, and pride. He counselled all to accept of the pres- ent opportunity, and assist in re-establishing the great law of eternal justice. After extending his thanks for the opportu- nity of speaking, he retired. Then Comer addressed the council. He was thankful his name had been called, and that he was granted the privilege of speaking. He had heard the remarks of his brother, and was also anxious that mankind should be redeemed from their errors. It was of but little consequence, so far as he was con- cerned, by whom such errors had been inculcated ; they had REVELATIONS. 49 all found to their own sorrow they had been the dupes of the errors and falsehoods of others. Man had ever been strug- gling for the principalities and powers of earth, and had made to themselves gods who had sanctioned their inhumanity. He was willing the principalities of earth should all be de- stroyed, if by so doing justice could be established. But he thought the gods, who worked all things after the counsel of their own wills, wherever they were, must be responsible for the present condition of affairs. He would stand in his lot, and do what he could to assist in the progress of the race. After the usual expression of good will, he retired. Waterhouse was then before the council, and told them that good men with angels and spirits had long prayed for the establishment of justice in the councils of men ; said the terrible suffering entailed upon mortals through avarice and injustice had disturbed the harmony of the spheres. He had been to the council many times, and was pleased to add his testimony in favor of its important work. The ancient sages were gathering together and rejoicing at the birth of a new kingdom, where the scattered tribes would be gathered in, and unite in a new anthem of praise for their long-lost Messiah. He then spoke with encouragement to those who had been honest and sincere in what they had promulgated, and thought all should be anxious to engage in the great work of restitution. He felt grateful for the privilege he had been permitted to enjoy, and was thankful he could stand as a witness for his people ; when he retired. Bruce was next before the council, and said he willingly responded to the call, and would be a witness of the avarice and injustice of the nations in their struggle for power.. Great had been his sufferings, and also the sufferings of his people unjustly inflicted upon them, from the tyranny of the trusted guardians of the English nation. His people were gathering up and had anxiously waited for the call of the angel of time, when the nations of the earth would have to appear and take their place around the platform of Eternal Justice. He then spoke of the terrible sufferings of the darkness and sorrow in spirit of those who through avarice and injustice had struggled for the perishable principalities of the earth, and who had travelled up and down fearfully waiting for the judgment. He said that his bonny Iassy and himself had stood in their lot, and patiently waited for the unfolding of events, and felt grateful for the call. 4 50 REVELATIONS. An Indian girl gave the name of Signal Star. She had come to the council to learn, and the guards had let her pass ; and she repeated a number of wise proverbs that were shown to her in spirit. After saying the things given in the council should not be given out until the Great Spirit gave directions, she retired. One of the Forest Maidens then told them the Great Spirit had been bountiful with his blessings to his pale-faced chil- dren; He gave them seed-time and harvest, and his lower hunting-grounds produced enough for all. It was their own fault that the cry of sorrow had gone up to the Great Spirit ; they had revelled and danced with their store-houses full, when the poor pale-face squaws and their pappooses were shivering in the cold, and crying to the Great Spirit for bread. When India closed again by invocation to the Great Spirit. December 25, 1872. — After India's invocation, thanking the Great Spirit for the privilege of gathering together to review their work at the end of another year, asking his approval of all that was just and right, and forwisdom to guide in council, he said it was the purpose of the present session to commem- orate the birthday of the Great Media, who was a voluntary martyr in order to enlighten and save the tribes of the earth from their bondage to the perishable things of time, and again asking for protection and for wisdom to govern their councils the coming year. After a few more words of encour- agement, he said Mrs. Townsend and Mrs. Fuller, and others of the council, would speak, and retired. Mrs. Townsend was the next to speak, and said she felt grateful for the opportunity to meet with so many in council to commemorate the birthday of their blessed Saviour, he who had agonized in Gethsemane, and been cruelly nailed to the cross, in order to open the way for mortals, and lead them to their immortal home. She thanked the Great Father that they were now permitted to be coworkers with him in gathering up the lost and friendless spirits in their dark condition, in order to prepare them for their entrance with Jesus their Saviour into his Father's eternal kingdom. She then spoke to her coworkers in spirit, and congratulated them on the success of their labors ; it was true they found many things incredible to believe from the sufferings of those who had been degraded and sent headlong into the invisible world, but they were encouraged by the thought that some time such things would RE VELA TIONS. 51 have an end. She would gladly prolong her remarks, but their time was limited, and she would give way that others might have time to speak. Margaret Fuller came next. She spoke of the beneficial results of their labors ; they had gathered up from the dark sphere millions of unhappy spirits who were without friends, and knew of no other condition. They were now clothed and rejoicing in their salvation. And a mighty host had assem- bled from the higher sphere to witness the evening's exhibi- tion, in acknowledgment of the glorious triumph of their Master's labors, whose birthday they had then assembled to commemorate. She spoke of Everett and his army of boys, who had been cast out from their friendless haunts about the various cities, and of their fearful condition ; but now their eyes sparkled with delight as they responded to the call of their teachers. She then spoke of her friend Greeley, he also being delighted with his change ; and after her usual encouragements, she gave way for another. Everett was the next to respond. He was pleased that he could be a coworker with others in the accomplishment of such important results. It was true, during his earthly life he had no inclination to mingle with or look into the condition of the so-called lower orders of society ; he had known but little of their many sorrows. He thanked the controlling powers that he had been aroused in spirit to a proper under- standing of his duty, and he was beginning to realize some- thing of the pleasure that flowed from a successful endeavor to ameliorate the sufferings of others ; for he had been with some of his boys into every den of vice and demoralization and human suffering in the various cities, he had been into cold and slimy underground tenements where the light of the sun had never shone, and where human beings were com- pelled to live destitute of every human comfort, and that in cities where they had boasted of their Christian civilization. He encouraged all who had engaged in the work of restitu- tion, told them the fruits of their labors were with them, and worthy of their leader whose birthday they had assembled to celebrate. He then addressed a few cheering words in behalf of their earthly witnesses, who had patiently sat in the council, when — Webster was the next to speak. He told of the demoral- ized political condition of the country, told of the sufferings of the southern States resulting from the recent cruel conflict, 52 RE VELA TIONS. and of the fearful increase of pauperism and crime in the northern and eastern States ; and then told Washington it was the natural fruit resulting from his signing the national con- stitution with its provision for human bondage ; told him, if he had refused to sign that declaration of human rights, until it made provision for the equal freedom of all mankind, the present fearful judgment of the Great Creator might have been averted. He still felt that his own counsel to his country- men had been disregarded, and was pleased to realize the time had come when justice would soon have a hearing among the people. He never had owned a plantation, he had never enslaved the colored man, and he thanked the controlling powers for it, for he had been slave enough himself. After speaking of their present organization and its good results, he retired. Then Shakspeare was before the council, and spoke of their various labors, and the gratifying results ; told of the lost and forsaken females that had been gathered up, and of the noble sisters at their head ; spoke of Scott and his army of soldiers who were ready to do battle again this time in the true cause of eternal justice. He spoke of Everett and his coworkers, and of the vast assembly of boys that were made thieves and ragged vagabonds, and crushed in their growth, in the lower world, from the avarice and injustice and inhumanity of man. He then encouraged them all in their work," and told them, although many of the scenes had been sorrowful, it was a noble play upon a large stage, and worthy of their great Leader. He then recited a beautiful epilogue, and retired. The chieftain Metamora was next present. He had come to the council of the pale-faces, not to disturb their devotions in memory of the birth of an ancient brave, but he had come to the great council with the claims of the red man to the lands the Great Spirit had given to their forefathers. He told them his warriors were again out on the war-path, and the hatchet should not be buried until their rights were re- stored, and not until justice, which the pale-face race was talking about, was extended to the balance of the red man's race. He then spied out Forrest, and gave him the hand of fellowship, and told him to go with him and he would show him the upper hunting-grounds which the Great Spirit had assigned to the red man, and where his white brother would always be welcome. After a few words to his warriors, he withdrew. REVELATIONS. 53 One of the Forest Maidens next told of the time when the red man's race covered the lower hunting-grounds of the Great Spirit. She had come to the council by the command of the Great Spirit, who was not pleased with his pale-faced race, who had driven the red man from their hunting-grounds ; and the Great Spirit's law of eternal justice would make much sorrow among his pale-faced children for their disregard of his high commandments given to their fathers. And as she withdrew, India closed the session by invocation to the Great Spirit. December 29, 1872. — After India's invocation, again thank- ing the Great Spirit for the success and harmony of their labors, he said Mrs. Washington, and Penn, and Booth, would speak before the council. After a few remarks to his co- workers, he retired. And then Mrs. Washington was again before the council, and said it was a pleasure to answer the call in behalf of America, for she was gratified to know that her country — the America she had loved so well — would be permitted to retain its own in spirit, for the time had arrived when the nations were called to stand in their place, and must appear. She felt to rejoice that George and herself had been thought worthy to take a part in re-establishing the great cause of eternal justice. She encouraged all to persevere in their labors, and then gave way for her brother and coworker. The next, Penn, was before the council. Said he was thankful the time was drawing near to its close when there must be a settlement, for the cry of the suffering and want from avarice and injustice had disturbed them all ; and he had come with his parchments, and his red brothers that stood around him were witnesses that he had always dealt justly with them ; and he had told King Charles, when he got the grants for his lands, they were not his to grant, — they be- longed to the natives the Great Father in his wisdom had seen proper to place there. He had dealt with his red broth- ers the same as though he had had no king's grant. He then told the guardians of the people of the other States if they had any parchments, to get them ready to hand up to the council on the platform of Eternal Justice, for the time had arrived when there could be no more dodging. After a few pleasant remarks, he said his people claimed to be the de- scendants of Rachel, and that justice had # been their coat of arms. He then gave way for his brother. 54 RE VELA TIONS. When Booth was again before the council, he spoke of the great stage on which they had been called to perform, for the time had now arrived in which each one had to take his part. He then discovered Greeley and Forrest in his audi- ence. He told Greeley if he had taken the spirit of truth with him in his late contest, he would not have left his earthly home broken-hearted. He then said to Forrest that he had played well his part, and he could now make his appearance upon the great stage in the battle of the Almighty with his mammon-loving children of earth. He told Greeley he would instruct him in his part at the next session. He then ad- dressed his coworkers in spirit, and told them to give heed to the prompter, as the scenes changed, that each one might take his place. He then withdrew. The next one was a Miss Forrest. She said she was taken from her earthly home during her childhood, and had been schooled in the paradise of the Great Father's love. She had come to meet her brother, and assure him she still loved him, and to tell him that his own loved ones were waiting to give him a happy greeting. She then retired. One of the Forest Maidens next told of the condition of her race, who still inhabited the lower hunting-grounds of the red man. Great wrongs had been inflicted upon them by their pale-face brothers. The Great Spirit had sent his red warriors back to claim their lands, and assist in re-establishing his great law of eternal justice on the lower hunting-grounds of her race. And India again closed by invocation to the Great Spirit, once more asking that their labors might be acceptable, and be approved. January 1, 1-673. — After India's invocation to the Great Spirit, he said the rational investigations would commence, and that Washington and others had been cited to answer before the council. After again asking for wisdom and for strength sufficient for the work, he retired. And Washington was before the council, and questioned about the condition of America, of which. he was called the father. He replied by saying he was aware that many wrongs existed at the time they adopted the national consti- tution, and that no one could regret the present disorganized and unhappy condition of the American people more than himself; but it was true, at the time they asked for and relied upon divine^ wisdom to govern them in their councils; REVELATIONS. 55 and it was shown that the enslavement of the African race was lawful and right among the Israelites, and that their divine laws were still in force with the American people, who had received it as sacred, and sanctioned its authority. He said it had been his desire that the principles advanced in the declaration, that all men were endowed by their Creator with just and equal rights in the various pursuits of life, should have been sanctioned and sustained by the constitution ; but at the time it was thought the service of the colored man was necessary in order to develop the resources of the coun- try, and their continued enslavement was sanctioned by the different States at the ratification of the national constitution. It was true great wrongs had been entailed upon the race of the red man, as well as the black, and he had suffered, and still sorrowed over the fearful results ; but then what could one man do? He was willing and anxious to be judged by the One whose right it was to establish the law of Eternal Justice. The facts being before them, it was not necessary to extend his remarks, and he would give way for his brother. And Paine was the next one in council. He had been charged with stirring up strife among the American people by scattering broadcast his infidel writings. But he claimed that priestcraft had proved a stumbling-block in the way of the intellectual progress of the human race, and that it was still, and always had been, an expensive and useless burden upon the people. At the time mentioned, he was compelled to write by an unseen power that was hastening the birth of American freedom. He said he had told Washington, when they were struggling to free themselves from the bond- age of foreign despots, to see and have all mankind protected in their natural rights when they ratified the new constitu- tion, for it was a divine right that all men should be free in the pursuits of daily happiness, and free to worship their Cre- ator in accordance with the dictates of their own conscience. He said it had been a struggle even to' protect that clause from being expunged from their records at the command of a selfish priesthood. He was now thankful he had been called to stand on a platform of Eternal Justice, where he could defend the rights of man. If he had done wrong, he was willing to be judged by a just judge. If the country were free from bigotry and priestly power, its hospitable homes could be equally enjoyed by all. Even now they were obliged to set themselves off and alone in order to secure the 56 REVELATIONS. communion of spirit, and help work out a more favorable and better condition for the oppressed, and over-burdened, and suffering inhabitants of earth. He was willing to submit to a final decision, and as their time was limited, he would give way for his brother. And Penn was again before the council, and said he will- ingly responded to the call, for he had the parchments with him to prove he had not departed from the law of justice in his earthly transactions with his fellow-man. Justice was the foundation of the religion of his people, and they look upon all as the children of one Creator who inherited the earth in common. He again claimed that his people were the descend- ants of Rachel, and he said if any of them had departed from the faith of their forefathers, he wanted them judged the same as others who worshipped the mammon of unrighteousness, and by their injustice had filled the earth with their abomina- tions. As he retired the name Smith was called. When Smith was next before the council, he spoke of his own sorrowful condition ; said he was called to answer for a, people who had been beguiled by the serpent, and was fol- lowing after the kingdoms of the earth. He then acknowl- edged he had been intrusted with the spirit of truth, and should have been foremost in the work of building up the spirit kingdom among mortals. But, 0, how sorrowful the thought he had surrounded himself with bad men who turned away from the counsels of spirit, and followed after the lusts and the mammon of earth, and who were still creating wrath for themselves and their followers ! His only excuse in justi- fication of himself and people was the example of leading men of a past age, whose records were still among his people, who had been taught to venerate and to believe that they had received Divine approval. He was willing to do all in his power in order to mitigate the evils that were still flowing from his own example. He asked for mercy, and prayed that his people might not be shut out of the kingdom of which he himself had so unfortunately proved to be unworthy. He admitted that the western mountains would be the only refuge of thousands that were born under the curse of a broken law that was still sanctioned by the leaders among those who had been his followers. He then withdrew. And Miller was next before the council, where he was asked about being the leader of a sect who was deceived, and who had squandered away their earthly homes, and be- REVELATIONS. 57 come a burden to society. He replied by saying that he was thankful for an opportunity to speak for himself and his peo- ple. He had been honest in his interpretation of the scrip- tures of a past age, and had been impelled to believe, by an unseen power, that the coming of the blessed Saviour with his holy angels to establish his kingdom with mortals was then near at hand. He then thought that himself and his people would be the first to receive them. He was glad his error was of the head and not of the heart. It was true they were in error, and had failed to comprehend the coming of the Saviour with his angels in spirit, and naturally had expected their appearance in materialized forms. He then said that his people had not been worshippers of the mammon of unright- eousness, and they would become coworkers with their Master in building up his kingdom on the platform of Eternal Justice. He expressed a desire that their errors might be forgiven. . Ann Lee was next before the council, where she answered for a sect known by the name of Shakers ; and said she was glad she had been called to represent a people who had be- come tired of the corrupt and false condition of society, and had tried to purifj^ their earthly surroundings. It was true they had suppressed the spirit that was intrusted to their keeping, and confined it to the narrow limits of their own order. And they had disobeyed the command to multiply and replenish the earth ; but they had encouraged industry by their examples to others, and they had tried to establish justice in their intercourse in the business affairs of life. She asked that she might be judged in charity, and that her people might go out with the spirit of truth among mortals, and assist in building up the waste places upon the true princi- ples of Eternal Justice. After saying she was the mother of a family of children, and had suffered from the injustice oT others during the earlier part of her earthly pilgrimage, she also withdrew. One of the Forest Maidens was the next in council. She had not come to make any excuse for her race, she had come to listen to the talk of the pale-face squaws and braves, and she could tell them that the spirit warriors of her race had been on their trail all over the lower hunting-grounds. She had many complaints to carry back to the Great Spirit about the injustice of his pale-faced children. And India closed the session by invocation, again thanking the Great Spirit for the success of their labors during the past year, and asking for his continual blessing. 58 REVELATIONS. January 5, 1873. — After India's invocation to the Great Spirit, asking that all might have wisdom and strength suffi- cient for their labors, he said that Columbus and Williams, with others, had been called in order that each one could have an opportunity to answer for themselves. When Columbus was next before the council, he was asked why he interested himself in the discovery of the continent of America and the final destruction of its native inhabitants, by the introduction of a race who disregarded their rights ? He replied by saying, at the time he was a poor man, a native of Italy, and for thirty years he was impelled by an unseen power to start out in search of another continent ; the vision was constantly before him night and day, and it seemed im- possible for him to disregard the call. He travelled from city to city in search of aid, telling of his vision only to be laughed at by others, until the good queen Isabella of Spain, through sympathy in his undertaking, inspired her husband the king to assist with means in order to procure a scanty outfit for his voyage ; and when he finally got under way, there were but few that cared whether he ever returned. He moved on into an open and unknown ocean, with the vision still before him, impressed with an inward faith that he should find a new continent, inhabited by a race of human beings then unknown to the civilized world. He had pushed along and overcome every opposing obstacle until the vision of his soul was finally realized. He found a new and fertile coun- try inhabited by a race of human beings simple in their habits, but spiritually developed and kind to each other, as they looked up to the Great Spirit as the Creator and Author of their blessings. If he had done wrong by his obedience to a power that he could not dispel, he desired to be forgiven ; and he also claimed that he had already been made to suffer from the injustice and wrongs of his own countrymen, who had preferred false charges, and had him imprisoned, in order to gratify their avarice. He then spoke of the changing cycles of time, and of the important results flowing from his discovery of America. Then Williams was the next one in the council, and said he had not been called to answer in behalf of his own people, for they had already been well represented. It was concern- ing his former residence in the colony of Massachusetts, and he was ready and willing to answer, for it was known that he had to flee from the colony in order to escape from the tyr- REVELATIONS. 59 army of his persecutors ; and he was persecuted on account of his religious opinions, for he believed then, and he still be- lieved that the natives they had found in peaceable possession of the country were the rightful owners, and that justice required that their rights should have been respected. It was owing to the fact that he was impelled to advocate their rights from a natural sense of justice, that he had had to flee in order to protect his life. He asked that the noble red men, who received him and gave him protection, should be remem- bered for their humanity and suitably rewarded ; and that the inhabitants of that land where he had found protection, and still had an interest, should be acknowledged, and made fore- most in the light of the new dispensation based upon the broad platform of eternal justice ; and that all who had wronged him by their selfish zeal might be judged in charity, for he had nothing charged to their account. All, so far as himself was concerned, had long since been forgiven. He then expressed his thanks for the notice he had received, and retired. St. Patrick was next before the council, and said he was called, not to answer for the people of his own country, but to say a word or two in behalf of his countrymen, who were now residents of America. He would say, if the people of his own nationality had been taught to reverence him as the patron saint of their country, it was not his fault, for he had instructed them, when a frail mortal among them, as best he could, by the light of the spirit given to him. But it was his desire now that one and all should lay aside their idols, and turn away from their earthly principalities, and look to the living Spirit to guide them in the ways of truth, and up to the platform of eternal justice, where they would learn to venerate the blessed Saviour for his compassion for the race, and worship the Great Father for his untold blessings. He well knew his countrymen had been kept in ignorance of the living truths from the blind zeal of a selfish priesthood, and he prayed to the blessed Saviour that they might be en- lightened and judged in mercy. He expressed gratitude for the attention his countrymen had received before the council, and withdrew. And Metamora was again before the council, and said Red Jacket, Tecumseh, and their warriors were with him, and they had come to the wigwam to listen to the talk of the pale-face braves. He told them it was their avarice that sent them in 60 REVELATIONS. search of new continents, and not the Great Spirit. If they had been directed by the Great Spirit, they and their race would have learned to have dealt in justice with their red brothers, who had come to the great council to demand that justice should be extended to the balance of their race ; and the hatchet should never be buried again until their rights were restored. He had talked with the Great Spirit in the upper hunting-grounds that very day, and the Great Spirit told him to go to the council and charge his white brothers with their covetousness and their injustice, and tell them they had forgotten the Great Spirit, and had turned to the worship of the gods of Mammon. He told them how his red brothers had met them with open arms, and fed them from their baskets, and taken them into their wigwams for protection, and their only reward had been their base ingratitude. He asked them how they could expect mercy when they had shown none to their brothers ; they had driven the red man's race from their hunting-grounds, and shot down their squaws and their help- less pappooses in their own wigwams, like fiends destitute of human sympathy, and he would never be satisfied until justice was restored to his race, and their lower hunting-grounds given up to the true worshippers of the Great Spirit. Meta- mora and his race were on the war-path. One of the Forest Maidens was next before the council, and she had brought up to the platform many of the children she had gathered up in the wigwams of the pale-faces since the last council, where they had no fire to keep them warm, and noth- ing to prevent their starving. " 0, see, Great Judge, how many there are: ten times ten, and ten over, — all without fire or food.'' She had put her hand on their little hearts, and stopped their faint pulsation, and had brought them up to the Platform of Justice to be warmed. If she had done wrong, they must tell her, for there were many more among the wig- wams of the poor pale-faces where there were neither blankets nor bread. The Great Spirit would hear the squaws cry when they had no bread for their pappooses. And India closed the session by another invocation to the Great Spirit, again asking for his continued guidance and care. January 8, 1873. — After India's invocation to the Great Spirit, he said Morgan was before the council, and would have an opportunity to speak ; after which they should commence the examination of the records of the Israelites; and he retired. REVELATIONS. 61 When Morgan was next before the council, and asked why he had exposed the secrets of an association of men that were following the light of the ancient mysteries, he said it was gratifying to have an opportunity to defend his action before the great platform of Eternal Justice, and would say that he had had a desire to attain to a knowledge of the living truths, and that no Order, controlled and sustained by the powers and principalities of earth, had any right to limit or suppress the aspirations of his spirit. But he was even now ashamed to admit that he had been a coward during his connection with the Order, and had failed to tell all that he knew of their evils or its effects. It was known by every intelligent member that they had fallen from the high calling the Order once occupied, and had broken the connection with the celestial Lodge by turning away and disregarding the call of the living Spirit ; and they were using the symbols once held sacred in their struggle after the Mammon of unrighteousness. He said he had been impelled by an unseen power to expose the iniquity of the Order, and he still thought he had done right, for no true man could remain bound Up by an order where all drank from the same skull-bone with a brother whose hands were stained with his brother's blood, after the time had arrived for them to take down their cross-bones, and acknowledge that all were the children of one and the same Creator, and learn that they must deal justly with each other. If there was any brother in the spheres who refused to meet him on the square and give him the hand of fellowship, he could remain behind ; he desired to prevent no one from pressing on towards the living temple. He had suffered, and was willing, if necessary, to suffer more, if by his suffering his brother found rest. After again expressing his satisfaction for the opportunity to speak, he retired. Then one of a tribe of Pequots was before the council, where he had come in order to represent the one known in history as Adam, and believed by some of the inhabitants of the present age to have been the first man created. But he could answer for himself and the tribe of his age that they had no history of Adam and Eve, or any knowledge that any such parties had ever had an existence. His own tribe had wan- dered away from the land of their forefathers, and finally become the residents of an unsettled but beautiful and fertile country. It had been formed by the receding of the waters, and produced spontaneously all that was necessary for their 62 REVELATIONS. earthly existence. It was truly a land that flowed with milk and honey. They had been wandering many years in search of their new home through a barren and to them an unknown country, and the older members of the tribe had dropped off one by one in the wilderness, until at last all records of the country they came from, or the route they had travelled, were lost. But their descendants remained in their new home, and for a time were contented and satisfied with their earthly condition. The animals were tame and confiding, and all things seemed to partake of the harmony of universal nature. In the twilight of the evening, spirit messengers mingled and commingled with them about the doors of their rustic cabins. It seemed as though they had been led by a band of celestial messengers from their wandering in the wilderness into their new and fertile home. And as they increased in numbers, many became discontented : they wanted to go and come as the spirits around them did, in order to be satisfied. Such was the natural condition. It was not the beginning of crea- tion, but the commencement of an age or cycle of time. And as the tribes increased in number, their worldly wealth in- creased, and avarice soon found a resting-place among them ; when the herdsmen and the tillers of the soil disagreed and engaged in bloody conflicts, and the spirit of peace and truth departed. He said he had been shown that the first inhabi- tants on this planet had entered through a narrow passage in the east, and had long inhabited that hemisphere, without knowing of any other continent The next entered through a narrow passage in the west, and had long been a distinct and peculiar people. The next entered through a narrow passage from the north, bringing with them the evidence of civilization from beyond. They had cattle and all kinds of goods, and travelled a long way before they made a settlement. The people who entered from the south were divided ; and as the country changed by the receding of the waters and the natu- ral action of the sun upon the land, they increased rapidly in numbers, but had no knowledge of each other's language. He said -the people known as worshippers of the sun, spoken of in the Hebrew records, were the people that came from the southern hemisphere, and that the tribes on the American con- tinent, who used the bow and arrow, were the descendants of the tribe of Nimrod, one of the wandering tribes of Israel. After saying he would be ready and prepared to answer, if any inquiry should seem necessary, he retired. REVELATIONS. 63 One of the Forest Maidens was next before the council. Said she had come to the wigwam of the pale-face squaw on the lower hunting-grounds of the red man ; she was glad the Great Judge was listening to the talk of the pale-faces, for they had much to do in order to make restitution to their brothers. Much sorrow and much suffering would come to them in judgment for turning away from the covenants and commandments of the Great Spirit, and disregarding his great law of Eternal Justice. And India again closed the session ,by invocation to the Great Spirit. January 12, 1873. — After India's invocation to the Great Spirit, asking for wisdom and strength sufficient for their in- vestigations, he said it was possible there would be more or less contention about the ancient inhabitants speaking through mortals of the present age in their own familiar language ; but he said they had interpreters, and had schools in spirit, where they had been instructed the same as the dead languages were now rendered into the English, and as witnesses of a foreign language were examined in courts of justice through an inter- preter. He then said that Seth, Enoch, and Noah were the next to be examined ; and then withdrew. After which — Seth was next before the council, and spoke of the habits and customs of the tribes during his own earthly experience. He said the country was fertile, and the tribes divided by different pursuits. Some tended the herds and flocks, and others cultivated the soil, while many formed centres of trade, where the accumulations of industry were bartered and ex- changed. Many of the tribes were selfish and quarrelsome, and often broke up and wandered into other sections of the country, where they would settle down and renew their labors. And at the time of his own experience the tribes had become numerous in different settlements over the continent ; they had no books or schools of instruction, and no records or history of their forefathers; their form of worship was the communion of spirit, and they had a covenant given by spirit that taught them by signs and symbols of their duties in life and of the resurrection, — which had become an established order among the leaders and representatives of the tribes; and, as far as he knew, there always had been sages and seers among them, who were instructed by the ever-living Spirit. He was pleased to know he was remembered ; he would stand a witness for the tribes of his own age and generation ; and then gave way. 64 REVELATIONS. Enoch was next before the council, and said, so far as he knew, all that his brother had related was true. He then said that the tribes were designated by the name of their leaders, which were often retained through many generations ; that the tribe of Cain was known as tillers of the soil, and that of Abel as herdsmen ; and their frequent quarrels, often ending in the shedding of blood, had brought them into notoriety. There was no truth in the stories of the historians that men lived at that age longer than at the present, only as they were represented by the names of their tribes. It was reported that he had walked and talked with God, and that he was, and then that he was not, for God took him. He said he had walked and talked with spirits, and the highest spirit was God ; that, when he was done with his physical body, he left it, as others had left their own, in obedience to the natural law; and when the tribes listened to the voice of the ever-living Spirit, and obeyed the law of justice, they were blessed ; when they turned away and corrupted themselves with the evils of covetousness they were soon overwhelmed by their own abominations, and devastating wars, with flood and famine, cut them off from the face of the earth. He was pleased to know that he was still remembered, and would stand as wit- ness for his tribes. Noah was next before the council, and was glad of an oppor- tunity to confirm what his brothers had said, and should avail himself of the offer presented in order to say a few words in his own behalf. Said he knew of no flood during his day and generation, unless it was a flood of ignorance and selfishness among the tribes. He thought the story of the Ark must have originated in the imagination of the historian, for the only ark he had the credit of building was the ark of the cove- nant, and that was a box which contained the symbols of their Order, which conveyed to them a knowledge of their immortal home, for they were overshadowed by the angels as they entered into the Holy of Holies. He said the story incor- porated in the Jewish history of his planting a vineyard and getting drunk on the wine had done him and his posterity great injustice. Much of the time, with its events, during his age was not recorded ; he had no doubt the Hebrew historian had thought to cover it up with his story about the flood. He then said their lands were fertile, and the tribes had made rapid increase. Although they had no knowledge at the time that any other continent was inhabited, what was true of them REVELATIONS. 65 was also true of the settlements of other continents. When the tribes obeyed the covenants, they were blessed, and when they turned away and followed the crooked path, it led them on to destruction. They had been told in his age they would return to the earth in spirit, and talk with mortals, and he was glad the Ancient of Days had come when the law of justice would be re-established. After a few words with his own tribes, he retired. One of the Forest Maidens was next before the council. She had come from the upper hunting-grounds of the red man to tell the pale-face race of the love of the Great Spirit, and how they had brought sorrow and destruction upon them- selves by their covetousness and by their injustice, and by their disregard of the Great Spirit's Law of Eternal Justice. And India again closed the session by invocation to the Great Spirit. January 15, 1873. — After India's invocation to the Great Spirit, once more asking for wisdom and strength in order to govern them aright in their council, he said Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were present, and would answer; whereupon he retired. Abraham was next before the council. He said the his- torian had made sad work of the records of his age, for there was no truth in the stories about their having so many wives ; they had bondmen and bondwomen that were bought of the wandering tribes in search of new homes, and it was the chil- dren of the bondmen that went out from their camps and formed settlements of their own. They had followed the cus- toms of their fathers, and obeyed the same unwritten law, and worshipped the same God, in obedience to the voice of the Spirit. They had flocks and herds, and cultivated the soil, and manufactured their own goods, and lived in tents; and when the lands became exhausted in one section, it was their custom to move into other fertile localities ; and for many centuries the tribes were contented and satisfied with their blessings, as they were taught by the Spirit that when their earthly pilgrimage was ended they would be gathered home to their fathers, and be at rest. It was their custom to offer oblations to the Great Creator from the first-fruits,. in thankful- ness for his blessings. And it was true, at a time when he was agonized in mind from a dereliction of his duty, he did make an offering of his son for a sacrifice ; and the offering was ac- 5 66 REVELATIONS. cepted, and an angel sent to stay the sacrifice. The time of the gathering up had come, as they had been foretold. And he rejoiced that he had been called to stand up for his own tribes. After which — Isaac was next before the council. He and his people had followed the examples of their fathers ; they obeyed the same covenants, and partook of the bountiful blessings that flowed from the same living Source. The lands they cultivated were fertile, and his people were frugal and industrious in their habits, and their daily wants were well supplied. Their handmaids manufactured cloths for their own apparel, and exchanged with wandering bands from Arabia and Chaldea, who carried their goods on the camel's back. Said they had neither books nor schools, and no written records ; the lead- ing events of the age were kept on scraps of bark in marks and signs that had never been truthfully interpreted. Their habits and customs were the same as those of other tribes who inhabited new and fertile countries. When they obeyed their covenants, and followed the light of the Spirit, they were blessed ; when they turned away and corrupted themselves with their own selfish abominations, they received their re- ward. And he was thankful that he could stand in his own place and answer for his tribes ; for the time had arrived for the children of the bondwoman to be gathered together and ac- knowledged, and to prepare to enter the promised land above their earthly Jordans. And he gave way. Jacob was next before the council, and said he would stand for his people, for they had drawn from the same well that supplied and quenched the thirst of their forefathers, and that well was a knowledge of the true God, who had watched over and blessed them with the communion with the spirits of just men made perfect b} r a resurrection from the corruption of the flesh. And they had the covenant made with their fathers, whose signs and symbols brought them into union with the ever-living Spirit, and taught them their duties to each other. It was the children of the servants and the bond- woman that wandered away into forbidden paths, and through ignorance and vice fell from their high estate, and covered the land with their abominations like the waters of a flood. He rejoiced to know the birth of a new era had arrived, when the people should have a flood of knowledge that would lead them to the living temple, where the tribes of the bond and of the free would mingle together. He said they had no REVELATIONS. 67 authentic records for many generations from his age to that of the Jews, and the historians had covered it up with many incredible stories : they could answer for themselves ; he was called to answer for his own people. Then one of the Forest Maidens was before the council, and told how she had followed the trail of the old patriarchs in their wanderings over the eastern continent ; she found they had been well supplied with the wampum they took from the land of their forefathers. She told them the effects of their many wrongs were still felt by the tribes on the lower hunt- ing-grounds. And India closed the session by invocation to the Great Spirit. Januaey 19, 1873. — After India's invocation to the Great Spirit, he said the statements of Moses and Aaron would next be in order ; whereupon he retired. And Moses was next in council, where he said it was true he was the lawgiver to the people of his age, and was en- dowed with the living Spirit to lead them from the bondage of ignorance and oppression, away from the Pharaohs and taskmasters that oppressed them, in search of a land of free- dom which should always flow with milk and honey. He taught them the covenants of God made with their fathers, and the commandments given through him on the mountain. When they obeyed the covenants and commandments of God, they were overshadowed by the Spirit and led into paths of peace. Many of his people were stiff-necked and rebellious, and turned away into crooked paths, and corrupted themselves with their own abominations. They set up statues and images of their own " dumb gods " that could not speak, and fell down and worshipped them. They surrounded themselves and their gods with the mammon of unrighteousness that brought their own destruction. It was of heavy and grievous burdens the people complained ; it was through prophet and " seer " they were warned by the living Spirit to turn back and forsake their evil ways, and obey the commandments of God. It was the same with his people and their forefathers as it was with the people and their forefathers who were led by the Spirit of God to the American continent, where they could establish a government and enjoy their freedom. Their constitution was the covenant they made. Who had obeyed it? How had they treated the people they found in the country that was intrusted to their care ? And had they listened to the Spirit • 68 REVELATIONS. of God that was speaking to them on the mountain, and in the bush, and through the mouths of his " prophets " and " seers " ? Were not they still worshipping the idols and images they had set up to be the gods of the earth, although they had received the Law, and the covenants and commandments that were' given to his people, and would be judged by them ? And that might explain the cause why fire and floods and famine were fast devastating the land, and the cry of suffering that returns in answer to the broken law ! He again spoke of the self-will and stubborn condition of his own people, and then gave way. And Aaron was next in council, and said he was intrusted with the ark and covenant of their forefathers, and assisted in teaching the tribes the rites and ceremonies of the Order, which brought them into union, and taught them of their duties to each other, and of a reunion beyond the veil to meet with their fathers and be at rest. And all that gave heed to the voice of the Spirit, and obeyed the covenants and com- mandments, received the promised blessings. It was his duty to present as an offering of the tribes a gift of their first-fruits to the Great Creator, as a token in remembrance of their many blessings. It was also the duty of the priesthood of the Order to attend to the sanitary affairs of the tribes, and, when necessary, to heal the various maladies. All that obeyed en- joyed the blessings. But many turned away and followed after their own evil doings, and they set up images and dumb idols to worship, and corrupted themselves with earthly mam- mon that perished, until the cry of suffering from the oppressed brought the judgments from the eternal world that follow the broken law. And he withdrew. A Forest Maiden was next before the council. She had listened to the talk of the braves, and knew well the cause of their many sorrows. Her tribe and their forefathers had obeyed the voice of the Great Spirit, and when their hunting was finished below, the Great Spirit called them up to his upper hunting-grounds. But still the cry of oppression and of suffering is heard from the pale-face race, and again the race of the red man is on the war-path by the command of the Great Spirit, to re-establish his Law of Eternal Justice, and they would guard the wigwam of the white squaw. When again India closed the session by invocation to the Great Spirit. REVELATIONS. 69 January 22, 1873. — After India's invocation to the Great Spirit, he said Joshua was then waiting in order to make his report, and withdrew. And Joshua was the next in the council. He said it was true he was the chosen leader of the tribes after the death of Moses, and in about eight months they crossed the Jordan, and entered the promised land. The tribes they drove out were idolaters who refused to wor- ship the God of Israel and obey his commandments ; for it was over four hundred years from Abraham's reign to that of Moses, and the tribes had accumulated fast. Many had turned away from the covenant of their fathers, and become the wor- shippers of unknown gods, and set up governments of their own ; while those who followed the ark, and listened to the voice of the Spirit, were the true worshippers of the God of Israel, and had no doubt, although they had many trials and hardships to endure, they would finally inherit the promised land. They were compelled to prohibit the communion with familiar spirits, for they spread conflicting statements among the tribes, and created discord and trouble in the camps. He then said Moses talked to the God of Israel on the mountain through the Spirit, as he himself was then talking VJefore the council, and that all high mountains were frequently enveloped in clouds. At the time it was said the sun and the moon stood still, there might have been an eclipse ; but, so far as he knew, there was no violation of the natural laws. Many of the habits and customs of his age had been magnified in order to suit the demand of the age that followed. It was true they cut the foreskin, but it was for a sanitary purpose : it pre- vented disease among the tribes, and had long been the prac- tice. The spirit that he consulted spoke through Miriam the prophetess, who sat in the inner temple in the Holy of Holies, where the leaders of the covenanted people were permitted to approach, and inquire of the spirit during their search for the promised land. He then retired. One of the Forest Maidens was next before the council, and said she had come to the wigwam of the white squaw, and had listened to the talk of the old brave who was good ; but he and his tribes had been mistaken. She then pointed to a pano- rama of Africa, and to one of China, and showed him where his forefathers had crossed and entered their Garden of Eden, that had long since been covered up by the flowing of the mighty waters. She told him the race of the red man were inhabi- tants of the same lower hunting-grounds long before his race 70 REVELATIONS. had left the homes of their forefathers. She told him that Moses, whom they had started out from his little boat on the water, had been cruel, and made laws for the people that were oppressive and that he himself never obeyed. She told him the stories of their evils and their abominations, which had been recorded and handed down to posterity as sacred, and which told of their wrangling and fighting, and cor- rupting themselves with their many wives arid concubines, with the shameful accounts of strangling their offspring, had covered the lower hunting-grounds with crime, and the blood of their many victims was crying to the Great Spirit for jus- tice. She then withdrew. And again India closed the session by invocation to the Great Spirit. January 26, 1873. — After India's invocation to the Great Spirit, he said Deborah, Abimelech, Ruth, and Samson were the next in order. And as he retired — Deborah was before the council, and acknowledged she had assisted the covenanted people in their wars on the tribes that inhabited the surrounding country ; but said she was deceived by the leaders, who claimed that all such wars were sanctioned by the God of Israel. It was their custom to exclude females from what they called their sacred covenant, in order to keep them in ignorance that they might more readily make them the slaves of their tyrannical power. The spirit within told her such things were wrong, but they were sure to crush it out, or make it subservient to their stubborn wills. There was not a time from Seth to that of Abraham, or from Abraham to that of Moses, that a woman was admitted into the mysteries of their sacred order, unless it was to deceive* her that her offspring might be a charmed leader for the purpose of keep- ing the iron yoke on the necks of the people. She told them they had been crafty and cunning: they sent out their spies filled with deception, to hunt out other tribes who were trying to live in peace, and who could look up to the heavens above and see the same symbols they had made a mockery of in their pretended holy order, when they sent out their fighting bands to slay and lay waste, and commit unlawful and unholy abom- inations all over the land, while they lived on what they ex- torted from the industry of others, and satisfied their unholy desires with the bondwomen and the virgins saved from the slaughter among the surrounding tribes. She rejoiced to know REVELATIONS. 71 the time had come when she could stand up in judgment against them ; and as the Spirit had prophesied through her in their camps on the plains of Palestine, she would prophesy again they would have to return and undo their evil work, and cleanse themselves of their many abominations, before they could return and stand by the side of the fair daughters of Israel, who have found the living temple of the true God above their earthly Jordans. She then addressed a few cheer- ing words to her companions, and retired. And — Abimelech was next before the council. He remarked there was but little he could say in justification, for the prophetess had told the truth ; said they were called upon to be leaders of a people in an age when they were ignorant and full of super- stition, and he was compelled to do as the leaders had done before him. What he had done that was wrong he had many times regretted, and he asked that he might be judged in charity. If it was to go back and assist others in a work of restitution among mortals, cheerfully he would accept the duty assigned to him, for his sorrows had long been burdensome to endure. And he withdrew. When Ruth was next before the council, she said that in- justice had been done to her mother as well as herself in the records of the Israelites that were still among the people. There was no truth in the story about her gleaning in the fields of Boaz, or of her crawling around his feet on the threshing-floor. Her mother was a Moabitess and a relative of Boaz, and had a business transaction with him about her land at the time they were made so conspicuous by the his- torians. Their manner of living was similar to that of the poorer class of the present age : they were scattered about the neighborhood, lived in tents or cabins, and cultivated the soil from which they obtained their living. They had neither books nor schools of instruction, were often taught by spirit through many media, when their arbitrary rulers would permit the peo- ple to hold communion with spirits. It was a common opinion in her age that when they left the mortal body they would be reunited with their friends in spirit and be at rest, although they were treated as menials and inferiors by the males, and never intrusted with any of the mysteries of the ark of the covenant. She had been called a "gleaner," and she should continue to glean until her sex were redeemed from their long and unjust degradation. She then gave way. And — Samson was next before the council, where he also com- 72 RE VELA TIONS. plained that many of the stories told about himself had been greatly exaggerated ; said he was a strong man by nature, and he was also a media through which spirit-power was often made manifest ; said he was something of a wag, and delighted to be among the lower orders of the people, and tell them incredulous and foolish stories in order to excite their curiosity. There were times when they got into a row, the spirit would come upon him, and he tore things up ; but it generally left him exhausted and frothing at the mouth. They put out his eyes in order to destroy his mediumistic influence ; for the leaders were envious and jealous of all power they could not control for their own selfish designs, in order to perpetuate their rule over the people. Said he had been in many a row among the inhabitants of the earth since his own release from his body, and he was glad the time had come for a settlement. One of the Forest Maidens was then before the council, and in beautiful language reviewed the history of the age of which they had been speaking. She told them they should have trusted the mighty power and the love of the Great Spirit made manifest through his blessings that were every- where bestowed upon his children. They had turned away with ingratitude, and wrangled and fought with each other until the lower hunting-grounds of the Great Spirit were soaked with the blood of their victims ; and they had thought to appease his anger by their bloody sacrifices to the gods of their own wicked and foolish imaginations. And such things are still called sacred, and are taught to the Great Spirit's pale-face children. She then told Deborah and Ruth to go with her, and they should sit upon the platform of Eternal Justice, by the command of the Great Spirit, in judgment upon all who had degraded and deceived them. She then told Abimelech and Samson to gather up their scattered tribes, and go back and use the power they were intrusted with and abused, to tear down the false temple, and destroy the records of their unholy and their evil abominations, that were still corrupting the tribes on the lower hunting-grounds. And India closed by invocation to the Great Spirit again with thanks for his continued blessings. January 29, 1873. — After India's invocation to the Great Spirit, he said Samuel, and Saul, and David were next in order, and would have the opportunity to make their own statements. As he retired — REVELATIONS. 73 Samuel, the seer, was before the council, and told of his own experience with the tribes of Israel. He said the cov- enanted people were instructed by the Spirit; and when they were obedient to the voice of the true Spirit, they were led into pleasant paths ; but as many turned away and had other gods to worship, they were brought into frequent conflicts that ended in the shedding of blood. The wilderness through which the covenanted people had to pass typified the general ignorance and superstition of the people of that age, that covered the land as they wandered about the country in search of new homes, while their disregard and disobedience had caused them much suffering. When he anointed Saul to be their king, he had forebodings that evil would be the result, and it proved to be the cause of much dissatisfaction, although many of the incredible statements that had been incorporated into what was called the " sacred records " never had any foundation in truth. They consulted with the spirits the same as the people of the present age, only it was con- sidered more sacred, and generally controlled by the leader. He himself was a " seer/ 7 and foretold many of the evils with which the people had already been afflicted. And he gave way. Saul was next before the council, and said it was true Sam- uel did anoint him king, or a leader of the tribes, in accord- ance with the custom of the age ; but he soon joined in with the rabble, who wanted a stripling of a boy anointed in his place, and said the tribes were idling away their time, run- ning about after "seers" and " soothsayers,'' a-trying to find out what God wanted them to do. He tried to stop it, and prevented their running after such things as much as pos- sible, for he thought he was competent to manage their affairs without running after the God of Israel every day to see if he was satisfied. But the more he opposed, the stronger was the dissatisfaction, until it seemed as though all the spirits from the infernal regions were let loose, and they finally succeeded in dragging him down, and putting the stripling in his place. He said David was crafty and artful, and when it. was noised around he was to be their king by the command of their imaginary god, it gave him great im- portance among the tribes. And he (Saul) had made a decree that the man who should capture two hundred of the Philis- tines, and march them into the king's camp, should be entitled to one of the king's daughters, when David by stratagem de- 74 REVELATIONS. ceived them, and marched them in, and secured the prize. He said the evil spirit that tormented him was his knowledge of their hypocrisy, and the envy and the discord by which he was surrounded ; and when he went to the prophetess called the Woman of Endor to inquire of the spirit, and Samuel made his appearance, he knew then his time was up, and he might as well quit. There was no truth in the unnatural stories incorporated into the old records ; the same natural laws that control now controlled in his day ; all that seems unnatural should be disregarded. And David was next in council, where he also complained of the injustice he arid his fathers had suffered from the falsi- fying of their records. He was a leader of the covenanted people, and had been faithful in the discharge of his duties, as he was taught by the Spirit and by the records of his fore- fathers. It was the tribes that disregarded the teachings of their holy covenant, and went into forbidden paths, that had covered the land with their evil doings. His people had been traduced, and the ark and covenant, and the symbols of their sacred order destroyed, until they were compelled to protect themselves with the " hod " and " trowel " of a com- mon tradesman. The stories about their many wives and concubines were not true: they had been incorporated into their history by the rulers of a later age, who had turned away and disregarded the teachings of the Holy Spirit, and followed after the gods of the earth, and corrupted themselves with their own abominations, and with the perishable and transitory things of time. The temple he had instructed his son to build typified the celestial temple not made with hands, which they had hoped to find when they crossed their earthly Jordan and were gathered home to their fathers. There was still a remnant of his people who had been faithful to the covenant made with their fathers ; and although they had been driven from their homes, and their holy temple de- stroyed, they had not been deserted by Israel's God, who would yet gather up the lost and scattered tribes, where they could sit down in their promised land with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and be at rest. He then retired. And one of the Forest Maidens was in council, where she spoke of their evil doings. If their records had been falsi- fied, why hadn't they all been to work to blot them out, and put an end to their unholy teachings, that were still cor- rupting their pale-faced brothers all over the land ? She had REVELATIONS. 75' followed in the trail of their many evils that were sanctioned by the leaders of the tribes as by command of their God of Israel, until the wail of sorrow from the suffering pale-faces had disturbed the harmony of the upper hunting-grounds; and she had come to the council to say that the Great Spirit had never sanctioned any of their many wrongs that were handed from tribe to tribe, who knew not what to do. And India closed the session by invocation to the Great Spirit. February 2, 1873. — After India's invocation to the Great Spirit, he said that Solomon and Nebuchadnezzar were next in order, and, after a few encouraging remarks, retired. After which — Solomon was next in council, where he confirmed the his- tory of his being installed in power after his father David's death, and fulfilled his instructions about the building of a temple that was dedicated to the God of Israel. It was a magnificent building, and in keeping with the order given to their fathers, which was handed down from generation to generation with the ark and covenant, and with a history of their wanderings, which had then become sacred. He said Hiram, his master workman, was a true brother, skilled in all the arts of his time, and the report of his being slain by a conspiracy of the uncler-workmen was not correct. There was a conspiracy, as the temple was nearly finished, among the under-workmen, who were anxious to know where the instructions were given that had resulted in the erection of a grand temple which displayed the symbols of their " sacred order; 7 ' for none but himself and Hiram, and one or two others, were permitted to enter the inner temple, and ap- proach the Holy of Holies, where the voice of the Spirit gave instructions through the high-priest, who alone was permitted to enter. They were advised of the conspiracy by the Spirit, and placed an under- workman on guard, in Hiram's outward apparel, who was slain, and the insurrection subdued, and Hiram returned to his friends. Hiram was not a son of a widow, for his father was living, and master of the " arts " he had imparted to Hiram. Their order was sacred : it was given from God, through his spirits, to their forefathers. And when they obeyed the voice of the Spirit, they were directed aright. And when a brother met his brother around the ark of the covenant, or before the horns of the altar, and upon his bended knees acknowledged 76 REVELATIONS. his transgression, and asked to be forgiven, what true brother would refuse the hand of fellowship ? How could he expect that God would ever forgive his own transgressions, if he refused to forgive his brother, and bade him go his way and sin no more? He acknowledged to his sorrow that he disre- garded the warning voice of the Spirit, and followed after the evils and the vanities of the world ; for he was left in his youthful inexperience, surrounded with wealth and power, and, tired of the uneasy and dissatisfied rabble that were ever around him, longed to be away where he could be at rest. He said the women that were now called his concu- bines in what was called the " sacred record " were the media of his day, through which the Spirit spoke to mortals. He thought it too sacred for the common herd, who was too igno- rant to comprehend their teachings; and he had them gathered up and provided for at his own expense, where they were free from want and not corrupted. But after the novelty of the grand temple had passed away, and they neglected the teachings of their holy covenant, and satiated themselves with the vanities and follies of the world, the Holy Spirit was withdrawn, and they were left in Egyptian darkness. And when he turned again and would have given his kingdom for the Spirit, he sought it in vain. He then withdrew. Nebuchadnezzar was next before the council, and ready to answer. He then said it was true he did go and clean out their holy temple, and they had turned him out to feed on grass in what they had called a " sacred record," in order to pay him for his trouble. He had found the wealth of an empire piled up in one magnificent building, which they called " holy," while the people in all the surrounding country, who were also the children of God, had been impoverished by the extravagance of their leaders, and were found starv- ing for the common necessaries of life. He thought it was time that some one was found with humanity enough to go and clean out their sacred temple, and scatter its untold wealth among the suffering people. He felt justified in what he had done, and, if it was in his power, under similar con- ditions, he would do it again ; for there was no necessity of any such extravagance in order to teach the people of the wonderful works of the Great Creator. The sun and the moon with the stars in the glorious heavens above were con- stant witnesses of his everlasting power, while seed-time and harvest should have taught them of his love, by the provision REVELATIONS. 77 made for their daily happiness. He then said the temple was a grand display of workmanship, and that no description he could give would do justice to it ; for there were many rooms they failed to open, and in one, two of his men were deprived of their lives ; which intimidated the balance, and they fled in fear. He himself fell to his knees, imploring for mercy, asking, if he had done wrong, to be forgiven. At the time he was king, Babylon could command about forty thousand warriors. But most of the foolish stories that had been handed clown from one generation to another were nothing but fictions of the age, gathered up and called " sacred," in order to suit the demand of the credulous. The vision shown to him in his dream, and the interpretation given by Daniel the " seer," had in part been fulfilled. He was dethroned, and turned out to wander like the beasts of the field, shorn of his power. Many kingdoms and cities have gone down, and many are soon to follow, and the majesty and power of the Eternal One acknowledged by his earthly children. Then he retired. One of the Forest Maidens was next in the council, where she replied, and told of the fearful mistake they had made by their cruelty and oppression, for they had crushed out and destroyed the freedom of the tribes when the lower hunting- grounds belonged to the Great Spirit, where all were equally entitled to their daily blessings. But the avarice and the injustice of the leaders, and the stories about their wrangling and fighting, with their many told evils, which had been handed down from tribe to tribe and from generation to gen- eration, had covered the hunting-grounds with the blood of their brothers that was now crying to the Great Spirit for justice. She then retired. India closed the session by invocation to the Great Spirit. February 5, 1873. — After India's invocation to the Great Spirit, he said Hezekiah and Confucius would speak, and after his usual encouraging remarks, retired. And Hezekiah was before the council, and said he was the acknowledged leader of the tribes that followed the covenant made with their forefathers about one hundred years after their temple was sacked by the Babylonians under the command of Nebuchadnezzar. The temple had been plundered and des- ecrated by the common rabble, who knew nothing of the teachings of their holy Order. He had their abominations 78 REVELATIONS. removed, and re-established the priesthood, and renewed the law and order among the tribes. The temple was consecrated to the God of Israel ; but none but the worthy were per- mitted to partake of the rites and ceremonies connected with their holy covenant. They had signs and passwords for their own protection ; and he knew of only twelve that were found worthy to enter the inner temple, and approach the Holy of Holies beyond the veil, where they listened to the voice of the Spirit. He said the tribes of his age were a wandering, dissatisfied class of people, never long contented with their condition, and their laws had to be severe in order to keep them in subjection. The priesthood were servants of God in fellowship with the covenant, and subject to the call of the people to look after their sanitary condition, and when necessary to " heal " their infirmities. He thought the rem- nant of the Judaites who were still faithful to the covenant of their fathers would soon return to Jerusalem, and rebuild their holy temple, and once more inhabit the plains of Pales- tine. After expressing his gratitude, he retired. And Confucius was next heard by the council. He thought the accounts of the Judaites and their forefathers, which they had presented in their own behalf, were quite consistent with their faith ; but if they had known of the wonderful and mighty works, and of the love of the Great Father, they would never have imbrued their hands in his children's blood. They had desecrated the earth the Great Father had given them and their children for an inheritance with their unholy wars and their many evil abominations. The Great Father's holy temple was at all times within their view high in the beautiful heavens above them, where they could not destroy it ; but they could deceive the children intrusted to their care by their unholy devices, and put heavy burdens upon them too grievous to be borne. He told them to look, and he would show them the country their forefathers once inhabited, and where they had learned to love all of the Great Father's chil- dren ; for they knew how to appreciate his many blessings. He then showed them a walled city with its temples, and told them to observe the little band of pilgrims who had emerged through one of the open gates. " Follow them now through the desert and across the sandy plains ; see where they build mounds to commemorate the memory of the ones the Great Father has taken to his Upper Home. Now, after long and tedious wanderings over barren plains and sandy REVELATIONS. 79 deserts, you see they have reached the water, and as you look beyond, you see the beautiful land, with its fruits and flowers enticing them to try and reach it. Behind them is a forest, and they are now preparing bark to form into boats. See how they are tying it together ! And now you see again some of the boldest of the little band are in the boat, making their way across the water ; and as you look you may see them land, and to all appearance they are delighted with the pros- pect. And now look again : you see the night approaches ; but another little boat has been prepared, while more of the pilgrims are in it you see crossing over the water. 0, yes, they are females, and the wives of those who before had reached the shore. They are anxious to be with their husbands, and as you watch they gain the land, and meet their loved ones. And now again, as we look, the morning has dawned, and a storm is troubling the water ; but still the travelling pilgrims wait for tidings from those from whom they had parted. They have fears about their safety ; but they wait ; and as they wait, a thick fog is settling down that shuts out the distant landscape ; and, as you look again, the pilgrims are travelling on to the northward. But as the smile of the Great Father returns and the fogs dry up, you may find your Adam and Eve in their beautiful Garden of Eden ; and, as we take a little time to investigate, we shall find it was in reality an earthly paradise, for they found in abundance the good things the Great Father provides for his earthly children. And as we follow the little band of wayfarers in their new home, we find they are blessed with an increase, and their children's children multiply, and the Great Father was not angry. But as we follow them, we find that avarice has found a place in their Eden, and they are no longer satisfied in their beautiful homes. They wandered away in by and forbidden paths, and corrupted themselves with their many evils, until by wran- gling and fighting, and by their discontent with their unholy wars, they cursed the earth with their covetous abominations, while the blood of their suffering and starved victims is still crying for the Great Father's law of Eternal Justice. " Now look again, and remember what you see. In yonder beautiful paradise are growing all things that the eaiith pro- duces that were intrusted to your care. You see its crystal fountains, with its golden arbors laden with festoons of varie- gated flowers ; and there you see little children in every direc- tion, diverting themselves with innocent amusements. They 80 REVELATIONS. are the little waifs that your unholy abominations during your earthly lives cast out from their mother's womb before its time ; but the Great Father, in his love for all, has gathered them up and provided for them in his paradise above. No wonder you shiver with affright ! But you can't go where they are until you go back and undo your work, and make res- titution, and cleanse yourselves from your evils. And you must suffer, as women had to suffer in travail, before you are made clean." And he withdrew. One of the Forest Maidens was next before the council, where she said the old brave who worshipped the Great Father had told much truth, and it would be well for them to heed it, for the Great Spirit was not pleased with the condition of his pale-face children on the lower hunting-grounds. The Great Spirit had sent her race to see what his pale-faces were doing on the red man's hunting-grounds. " hear, Great Spirit, they have stained thy beautiful white mantle with the blood of the victims of their cruelty, while the cry of many is heard who have no wigwams, no bread, and no blankets to make warm ! 0, Great Spirit, listen to their sorrows, and lift up thy great arm in anger, for many are starving and are freezing all over the hunting-grounds ; and no one obeys thy great law of Eternal Justice on the lower hunting-grounds among the pale-faces." And India again closed the session by invocation to the Great Spirit. February 9, 1873. — After India's invocation to the Great Spirit, in thanks for his continued blessings, he said that Ezra, and Nehemiah, and Esther were next in order, and would be present and make their statements. And he retired. Ezra was before the council, and said he was priest and scribe under the law of Moses ; that he was in command of the covenanted people after their return from their Babylonian captivity. But, as a general thing, the kings who held the temporal power cared but little about the counsel of. spirit, unless it could be used in order to strengthen their own do- minions. The tribes were a wandering, discontented class, many of them inclined to be idle and easily discouraged ; and as he thought it required stringent laws in order to govern them, the law and the commandments given through Moses were read to them in their assemblies. It was true the cus- toms of his age and time, connected with their form of wor- REVELATIONS. 81 ship, seemed trifling ; and in some sense they were ; but then, he said they had a trifling class of people to instruct, for they were stiff-necked and rebellious, as well as superstitious, and constantly wandering off into surrounding evils, disregarding the warning voice of the Spirit given through covenants and commandments and through the mouth of the prophets. It was the same with them as they found it at the present age : how few of the people give heed to the warning voice of the Spirit that has been heard throughout the land, telling all to turn from their evil doings, and again obey the laws of God ! He felt to rejoice that he had been called to stand up for his people. It was true the time had come when the God of Israel would set up his kingdom so long foretold, when the principalities and powers, with their earthly temples, would crumble away before the great law of eternal justice. Nehemiah was next before the council. He confirmed the statements of his brother-prophet, for he also had been a teacher of the people, who had always disobeyed the voice of the Spirit, and turned away, and set up images of their own, and fallen down to the worship of other gods. Their temple was broken up, and the symbols of their holy order were car- ried away and desecrated ; but they worked bard to have it rebuilt, in order to re-establish the covenant of their fathers, where they could approach the Holy of Holies, and listen to the voice of the Spirit, which led their fathers from the wilder- ness of doubts and fears over the Jordan and into their prom- ised land. True, many of the fables of his day had foolishly been incorporated into the " sacred records." In order to judge of their age, we must put ourselves in their place. Life was a warfare, and the spirit rebelled against its earthly sur- roundings. All who obeyed the warning voice escaped the errors and the evils that end in sorrow. But the people of every age have gone into forbidden paths, and we see }'our own is no exception. They are building temples, and setting up images, and are divided and wandering away, and worship- ping the gods of their own imaginations ; they heed not the voice of the Spirit that is speaking to them, as it did to us on the mountain and in the " bush ; " they will hear if it tells them how to increase their mammon of unrighteousness ; but when it tells of their home above, and of the law of justice, they turn to their earthly idols. He then gave way. And — Esther was next before the council. She was pleased that the time had come when she could stand and speak in behalf 6 82 REVELATIONS. of her sisters of Israel and of Judah ; and she asked that her name be stricken from the " ancient record," and that of her sister — the noble Vashti — replaced where it belonged, and from where it had been unjustly removed by the caprice and tyranny of her lawful husband. They had ascended in spirit above the skull and cross-bones that their earthly brothers put up to affright them, and who at last had found themselves without a password. She told them of their pride when sur- rounded by earthly power, and of their inhumanity to the mothers who had travailed in pain in order to give them an existence, and had watched over and cherished them when in their helpless condition ; and how with ingratitude they trifled with, and corrupted and set aside those given for companions. She told them their sisters had been initiated into a sphere where they had been taught more of the justice and love of the Great Father; and when they returned to the earth, and made restitution, and purified themselves from their many evils, they would get the password to come up higher. One of the Forest Maidens was next before the council. She had come to the wigwam of the squaw from the upper hunting-grounds of the red man, to listen to the talk of the pale-faces. If her skin was copper-color, it was pure, for she had never partaken of the evils the pale-face braves, in their struggle for power, had scattered broadcast over the lower hunting-grounds of the Great Spirit. She asked them where the temple was they built by putting many burdens on their brothers, and then shut them out by their unholy craft, and by passwords and by signs a favored few could enter in, and feast upon the first-fruits of the land ; while your priests, in mockery to the Great Spirit, were burning incense to your unknown gods, and keeping the people in bondage. She told the fair daughters of Israel and of Judah, who had been trifled with and kept from their proper positions, to sit upon one corner of the great platform of Eternal Justice, and wait until their brothers cleared themselves from their unholy abomina- tions. She told the braves to study their craft well ; when they got the password from the Great Spirit, who was the Master Workman, they could take down the cross-bones they had put up to frighten others, and come up higher. She then with- drew. India closed the session by invocation to the Great Spirit. February 12, 1873. — After India's invocation to the Great REVELATIONS. 83 Spirit, he said three of the scribes were present to give an account of some of the ancient writings. And as he re- tired — One of the ancient scribes was before the council. He had come to answer for the Book of Job, and said the object of the writing was to teach the tribes of his day the conflicts of the spirit with its earthly surroundings, while by its personality was intended to represent the various demands in the human organization. It was common for man to complain of his con- dition, and compare it with that of others, and often say, If such a one had been differently situated, he would have done no better than those who had come short of the object they had desired to attain. It was a common thing for the spirit of envy and discontent to enter in and disturb the harmony and the happiness of many families. Sickness, common mis- fortunes, disturbance in the business affairs of life, with loss of property and the breaking up of familiar ties, had caused many to fall, as Job did in the fable, from their high estate, and express similar doubts of the goodness of God. He said the phraseology of the poem had been somewhat altered, and it had failed to convey to the minds of the people what had been at the time desired. He then expressed his gratitude, and withdrew. And another scribe was then before the council, and said he would answer for the psalms and spiritual songs that had been ascribed to David. He stated that many of the scribes of his time were " seers," and gave vent to their spirit visions in songs of praise adapted to the wandering condition of the tribes in search of their promised land. They had the ark and the covenant made with their fathers, and they remem- bered the promise made to Abraham and Isaac, and their souls were full of devotion to the God of Israel, who had watched over their forefathers in their bondage, and led them away from the taskmasters who had oppressed them ; and as they moved along the plains and valleys, and camped by the side of beautiful waters, and could see their flocks and herds in- creasing, could they do less than remember the High and Holy One for his untold blessings? and they clothed their thoughts in devotional songs for the tribes to sing his praise. Another of the scribes was then before the council, and said he had come to say he was a " seer " as well as scribe, and had clothed the thoughts and sayings of Solomon, and other men of age and experience, in language, in order to guard 84 REVELATIONS. the youth from entering into the by and forbidden paths in which others had found to their sorrow disease and moral death. And why shouldn't the young be warned in order to escape, for no language could portray the suffering transgres- sors had to endure. It was the language of spirit to mortals to save them from the chastening rod of a broken law ; and as he was the instrument through which the young and the un- experienced of his age were warned to flee from the evils by which all were surrounded, he would still cry aloud, for they found the mark of the beast in every land, and her ruined victims still lay helpless by the way, although the crumbling cities with their fallen images and ruined temples should be a warning to others ; while the cry of suffering again coming from every quarter should teach the young of the present age to beware and not trifle with the immutable laws or covenants and commandments of God. Then one of the Forest Maidens was next before the coun- cil. She told the scribe that some of his teachings had been good, but the avarice of his race, which they had shown by their wranglings and fightings and their unholy devices, had filled the hunting-grounds with much suffering. She had come to say the time had now come when such things must be re- moved from what was still called a " sacred record. 7 ' And the pale-face race must understand that such things were never sanctioned by the Great Spirit. They had been tracked from the home of their forefathers across the water, and into their earthly paradise, which by their own evils was soon turned to what they have called Hades. And they had been followed up and down the beautiful earth in the valleys and by the rivers, and everywhere their trail was found. They had stained the earth with the blood of their brothers, when they should have been taught by the changing seasons that the Great Spirit was good to all, as the beautiful heavens above gave evidence of his mighty power ; but they had disre- garded the Great Spirit, turned away from the light given through prophet and " seer," and worshipped their earthly gods, until the hunting-grounds were full of evil, and the cry of suffering again was calling for the great law of Eternal Justice. And India again closed the session by invocation to the Great Spirit. February 16, 1873. — After India's invocation to the Great REVELATIONS. 85 Spirit, he said the next three books — Jeremiah, Isaiah, and Ezekiel — were the work of "seers" and scribes, and that Daniel was next in the order. And after his usual encourage- ments, he again retired. And — Daniel was next before the council, where he said he had been a " seer," and often had visions as he lay upon his couch in the still of the night, that foreshadowed approaching events. When Nebuchadnezzar demanded the interpretation of his own vision, he was much disturbed and troubled in mind, for it was matter then of life or of death ; and after many nights of fear and anxiety, the dream and its interpretation was made plain to his vision : he was shown that the empire would be divided, and the king dethroned and turned out to roam like the beasts of the field, shorn of his temporal power; the gold and the sil- ver, the brass and iron, and the clay represented the kingdoms and the principalities and powers of the earth that would fade away before the final establishment of G-od's eternal kingdom represented by the little stone that was cut from the mountain. When he gave the interpretation to Belteshazzar, who saw the handwriting on the wall at the time he was revelling with his princes and their wives and concubines, and desecrating the vessels taken from the temple Solomon dedicated to the God of Israel, he was shown the time had come for the kingdom to be broken up and divided between the Medes and the Per- sians. And as the temple built by Solomon as directed by spirit was to teach them of the temple above not made with hands, and as they had to cleanse themselves from their earthly abominations before they could enter the Holy of Holies, that was in the inner temple beyond the veil, in order to enjoy the communion of spirit, so the present inhabitants of the earth must learn they are living in earthly temples surrounded by everything that was represented in the temple built by Solo- mon. And if they desired to enter the temple that is eternal, they must cleanse themselves from their earthly evils, and listen to the voice of the Spirit in order to get the password that opens the door beyond the veil. And as the temple built by Solomon had to be cleansed, after it was desecrated, before the Spirit could enter and hold communion, so the Book that has been handed down through the generations who have been taught to worship and call it " holy," and who have looked to it for light as the covenant tribes did to their temple, would also have to be cleansed of its errors, and the stories of all the earthly abominations the Nebuchadnezzars and the Belteshaz- REVELATIONS. zars had foolishly incorporated among its sacred pages. He then spoke of the closing up of the present cycle of time, and of the pleasure he had experienced in again speaking to mor- tals, and withdrew. Parson Brown was next before the council. He had come to express his gratitude in behalf of his people as well as him- self for the privilege they had been permitted to enjoy in listening to the explanations given by the representatives of a past age, in which his people had been much interested; and he was satisfied that many things so long a m} r stery to his own mind had been satisfactorily explained; and they were ready now to do all in their power in order to remove the cloud that still obscured the minds of mortals. And after again expressing his thanks, he retired. And one of — Everett's New York boys was before the council, and told of the rapid progress made in their school ; said the boys like himself had been with the leading men, who now felt an inter- est in their welfare, in every city, and had showed them how the poor people were compelled to live, and also the reason there were so many thieves and paupers. They had been to Washington, and left some to look after the Credit Mobilier thieves. It was a busy time with them, and they were setting traps that would expose more of the big thieves who were robbing the people. He said the little thieves and beggars, in whom we had taken so much interest, all sent their love, and would do all in their power to assist each other. One of the Forest Maidens was next before the council. She spoke encouragingly to the leaders of the tribes who had been called to answer for their evil doings, and clean the rec- ords they had left, that were full of stories about their wran- glings and their fightings, and their many wrongs, that all knew were not sacred. She told them their temple with its holy order had been misunderstood, and they used the light that was given them to increase the burdens of the people. She told them the Temple of the Great Spirit, that overshadowed the lower hunting-grounds, should have taught the pale-face race of the Great Spirit's power, and of his goodness, and of the duties they owed to each other as they travelled over the lower hunting-grounds. And India closed the session by invocation to the Great Spirit, expressing thankfulness for his continued blessings, and asking for wisdom to guide their labors. REVELATIONS. 87 February 19, 1873. — After India's invocation to the Great Spirit, he said some of the ancient prophets were present, and would be the next to speak. As he retired, the prophet — Hosea was before the council, and said he was used by the Spirit to instruct the tribes and warn them of the effects that would follow their evil doings. When they lived in peace, and dealt in justice with each other, it was well enough with them ; but they were not contented ; they would turn away and follow after the abominations of the age, and often get themselves into trouble. The tribes were ignorant, and superstitious, and selfish, and, right or wrong, followed the dictation of their leaders. They were warned by the Spirit of the judgments that would come upon them for their diso- bedience, and often did suffer from the fearful calamities sent among them, when they would turn from their evil ways for a time and listen to the counsel of spirit, and do better, and for a time peace and quietness would prevail. But, as a general thing, they preferred to worship their images and their dumb gods, that could not reprove them for their evil doings. But when the cry of the oppressed was again heard, God sent his spirits, who through prophets and "seers" gave warning of the terrible sufferings they were bringing among the tribes by their own wickedness and their disregard of the law of justice. Joel was next before the council. He also had been, like his brother Hosea, sent among the tribes, an instrument through which they were warned by the Spirit to turn from their evil ways, and learn to deal in justice with each other. They were told to obey the covenant of their fathers, and turn away from their idols ; but they were a stiff-necked, re- bellious race, and would not obey the voice of the Spirit, which had led their forefathers from their Egyptian bondage into the pleasant and fruitful valleys along their earthly Jor- dans ; but they had turned away and followed after the gods of their own evil imaginations. When they felt the chasten- ing rod of the God of Israel, they did repent in sackcloth and ashes, but in their prosperity they turned back to their earthly idols. He said he was glad they had been called, for they could hear him speak through the mouth of another, as the Spirit had spoken through him to warn them of the terrible chastening that would follow their transgressions. And as they had long wandered up and down their barren and for- saken country, where their towns and villages and their idols 88 REVELATIOXS. lay in ruins, they could count their loss for turning away from the voice of the Spirit of the God of Israel. And Amos was the next one in council. He had been a prophet, and felt a desire to again speak for his people, for they had wandered into many forbidden paths, and had sat in sackcloth and ashes, with their harps hung upon the willows, waiting for the voice of the Spirit to again lead them from their bondage ; for they had travelled over and over their own once fertile and beautiful country, and knew well the cost of their own evil transgressions, for their sufferings had been long and terrible to endure. He was the one of his age through which the Spirit warned the tribes of the chastenings that would follow the broken law ; and many a time it would come upon him in their camps ; and although he knew not at the time what was said, when he awoke to consciousness he found himself exhausted and the tribes flat upon the ground, a- wailing over their transgressions. He said it was the work of the scribes of the camps to gather up the sayings of the Spirit, and clothe them in the language of the age ;. and he did feel to rejoice that he could now stand before the platform of Eternal Justice, a living witness of the truths advanced by the ever-living Spirit. Obadiah the prophet was the next before the council, and said that but little space had been assigned to him in the old records, and he should not have much that seemed necessary to offer for the instruction of the tribes of the present age, of the warnings, and of the fearful judgments of the God of Israel that had come to his tribes, for their transgressions had been realized, and they and the desolate and barren condition of their once happy country were a standing witness of their mistakes when they turned away and disregarded the warn- ing of the Spirit that watched over and led their forefathers from their Egyptian bondage. He thought the past should be a warning for the present tribes, who had turned away from the covenants of their fathers, and were building temples, and setting up images of their own to worship, surrounding them- selves with the gods of the world, and again disregarding the voice of the ever-living Spirit. He thought the present age corresponded with that of his own, for the Pharaohs and task- masters are still oppressing the people, and their wail of suffering again ascended to the God of justice, who had sent his spirits to give a warning to the people to escape the terrible judgments that must follow their transgressions. And REVELATIONS. 89 when their temples and their images, their towns and cities are mouldering in ruins, they will remember in sorrow, as his people had, the warning voice of the Spirit. He then with- drew. And Jonah the prophet was next before the council, where he said it was true that he had performed the part of a coward, and tried to escape the fulfilment of a duty he had been directed by the Spirit to accomplish. He was told to go to Nineveh, and warn the people of the fearful judgments of God that awaited them if they did not abandon their wicked ways. But instead of doing as he should have done, he made an effort to go another way, for he engaged passage on a vessel that was bound for Tarshish, but was soon after overtaken by a terrible storm. It was true he did secrete himself through fear, but he was not asleep, for he felt con- demned for tiying to shirk the performance of his duty. He said the master of the vessel treated him with kindness, and directed his men to make for the shore in order to land him ; and the more they tried, the more the elements opposed them. But as a final result, he promised his God, if he would get him to the shore alive, he would go to Nineveh, and obey his command, when the feeling came upon him that his life would be spared, and he went into the water without fear of danger ; and the storm abated, and he was taken to the land without the assistance of any kind of whale. But said it was a marvel to the inhabitants how he got to the land, which was no doubt the origin of the fish story. He obeyed the com- mand, and went and warned the inhabitants of the city, who for a time repented of their transgressions, and were warned by the Spirit, and the terrible judgments that finally com- pleted their destruction were for a time delayed. It was said he was angry because the city was not destroyed at the time as the Spirit had prophesied through him, but then he had had no knowledge of the people's repentance, and had been him- self of a selfish nature. If he had done wrong, he asked to be forgiven. He thought the story about the gourd was like that of the fish, and most likely had originated in the fruitful imagination of the historian. Nineveh was then a walled city of wealth and importance, and was finally overwhelmed in its wickedness, and destroyed. He was satisfied from observa- tion there were plenty of Jonahs among the inhabitants of the present age. And one of the Forest Maidens was next before the council. 90 REVELATIONS. She had come from the upper hunting-grounds by the command of the Great Spirit, to listen to the talk of the pale-face braves. She told the old braves their tribes had been troublesome, and created great suffering on the lower hunting-grounds ; and while the Great Spirit was good and sent his blessings for all the pale-faces, they built big storehouses, and shut up the fruits intended for the Great Spirit's children, while many were crying for bread. The Great Spirit says to the red man's race, u Go to the lower hunting-grounds, and see about the distrust and the complaint among the pale-faces." He gives them plenty for all, and why should the cry of want and starvation come back to disturb the upper hunting-grounds? They go and tell of their avarice and injustice. The Great Spirit says, " Go gather them up : they are unworthy to remain longer on the hunting-ground." And she would tell all she had heard. And India, as usual, closed by invocation to the Great Spirit. February 23, 1873. — After India's invocation to the Great Spirit, again asking for strength in order to sustain their labors, he said the business of the session would be to call the leaders of the tribes, as each branch was called, to place them- selves around the platform of Eternal Justice. But the one who had represented Adam would remain uncalled, until after the Great Media and his disciples had made their state- ments. And again asking for wisdom and strength to guide them, he withdrew. And Seth was called. He responded by saying he felt grateful for the privilege of again taking his place as leader among the tribes he loved, and whom he had tried to guide as well as his poor frail human nature permitted. He spoke of the covenant they made with the High and Holy One, who inhabits eternity ; said he had listened to the voice of his Spirit, and had tried to obey its teachings. He then gave an expression of his gratitude. And Enoch was next called. He was gratified to know he was remembered, and he would take his place at the head of his tribes. Said he cheerfully joined with what his brother had well expressed, and that he had tried to do his duty. If he had failed, he hoped to be forgiven. And he withdrew. Methuselah was next called. He said he had been a leader and a representative among the tribes, and had done what he could in order to keep them in the strait and narrow path REVELATIONS. 91 that led to the promised land by the light of the covenant made with their fathers. They had all been poor, frail mor- tals ; and when they had wandered into forbidden paths, they had suffered ; and he prayed that all might be forgiven, and then cheerfully stood in his place. And Noah was next called, and he was ready to take his place among the tribes ; and as he built the ark that saved the records of their covenant from the fire and the floods, the wars and tumults their transgressions 'had brought among them, and had preserved it from the flood of ignorance that followed and covered the land, he was willing to assist the tribes of the present age in building another ark in order to save their covenant from the general destruction their own abominations had brought among them. Said he was thank- ful a remnant of his race was saved. Abraham was next called. He said he was happy to again take his place at the head of the tribes ; that he had tried to teach by precept and example obedience to the teachings of their covenants with the God of Israel, who had watched over them in their fruitful homes along their Jordans and Palestines. If they had waited and sorrowed, he knew they would again hear the voice of the Spirit telling them to take down their harps, and come up together and unite in a new song of redeeming love. He had always prayed that their human frailties might be forgiven, and he did feel to rejoice. Isaac was next called. He was ready to take his place, and responded to the remarks of his father Abraham ; said he tried to be faithful to the tribes intrusted to his care, and teach them in the laws and the covenants made with their fathers. He then said he would answer for his son — Jacob, who stood ready at the head of his tribes in order to take their place among their kindred, and said that Elijah and Elisha had come up and taken their places, and there was a general shout of joy again sounding in the camp of Israel. He then withdrew. And Moses was next called. He was ready to respond. He had come with his people, and they were ready to take their place among the tribes of Israel. Said he was zealous in his command over them, and had tried to make them obey the covenants and the commandments of his God. If he had been tyrannical in his administration of the laws, it was owing to his human frailties. They were a self-willed, stiff-necked people to manage. He rejoiced that the time had come when 92 REVELATIONS. they could once more hear the Spirit's call to prepare them- selves and get ready to enter the promised land, which they had now found was above their earthly Palestines. After giv- ing them instructions, he retired. And Aaron was next called, and was also ready to respond. Said he was a teacher and a healer among the tribes. He had tried to fulfil his duty in order to increase their spiritual growth, as well as heal their earthly maladies. He was thank- ful to be remembered, and would take his place among them. If he had erred in the performance of his duties, he asked to be forgiven in consideration of his human frailties, and with- drew. And Joshua was next called. He cheerfully responded he was ready with the tribes intrusted to his charge. He said they were ready to take their place among the mighty hosts that were gathering together and chanting a new song of praise to the God of Israel for the place assigned them around his platform of Eternal Justice. Deborah was next called, and said she was thankful she had been remembered, and she was willing to forgive her brothers, owing to their earthly imperfections ; said she had been gathering together her frail sisters, who were driven from their camps in disgrace, who had decked themselves in scarlet in order to attract the travellers in the crooked and forbidden paths, and who at last had been cleansed by the waters of affliction, and had heard the call of the Spirit to prepare them- selves for a new start in search of their promised land. Ruth was next called. She sanctioned the remarks of Deborah, and said they had been taught by their fair sisters of the Gentile race, who had gathered up their own frail ones who had been wandering in sorrow and affliction, and had brought them up and clothed them in new garments. She then said they had been out and called in the long-lost ones who in sorrow had been driven from their own camps, and there was a general rejoicing among the mothers of Israel for the lost ones returned. Samson was next called. He said he had not been of much importance among the tribes, although he had attained a noto- riety on account of his being a strong man. He supposed he was a channel through which the power of spirit was often manifested ; and if there were any more temples to be pulled down, or gates to be carried away, or Philistines to be slain, he was ready and willing to engage, and was pleased with the place assigned to him among his people. REVELATIONS. 93 Samuel was next called. He said he was glad he had been remembered, and his people were ready to take their place, for it was truly a time of rejoicing and of happiness for the long scattered tribes of Israel and of Judah, who had renewed their songs of thankfulness and praise at the call of the Spirit. And he was ready to perform any duty the God of Israel, whom he had tried to serve and obey, now required of him. Said they would stand in the place assigned to them around the platform. Saul was next called. He also was ready with his tribes. Said he had done the best he could in order to protect them ; he was glad to be remembered. They would stand in their place, and be ready at the Spirit's call. David was next called. He responded by saying he was ready to take his place among the tribes of Israel, whom he had loved as they followed him in search of their long promised land. He regretted his mistake in his anxiety to build an earthly temple, but he had learned by his affliction that the only temple the High and Holy One had required of his " earthly builders " was the temple of the physical body. How much superior it was to the one they built with wood and stone ! for while the one was transitory and had long since gone to destruction, the other was reproducing, with its feet estab- lished on the foundations of the earth. Its head was the Holy of Holies inhabited by the living Spirit. How they had trifled with it in their wrangling and fighting ; how they had broken them in pieces in their struggle for earthly power ! But they had done it in their ignorance and in their mistaken zeal. And long and earnestly he had prayed to the God of Israel that they all might be forgiven ; and surely it was with feel- ings of everlasting gratitude he responded to the call of the Spirit, and was prepared with his tribes to stand in their places around the platform. Solomon was next called, and he also with his people was waiting to stand in the place assigned them, and then said he felt his own un worthiness as he stood among them stripped of his earthly power ; and he asked them where was all the glory of their costly temple which they had built in untold splendor, with its golden candlesticks and its vessels of gold and silver, with its ornaments and jewels and precious stones? All had long since disappeared, and he had stood shorn of his power, and the humblest one among them as they roamed over their barren fields, and watched the mouldering fragments of 94 REVELATIONS. their temples and altars, waiting for the rebuilding of their earthly temples. 0h ; yes, he saw it now, they had mistaken the promise ; the temple they should have found was in the spirit kingdom, and their promised land was beyond and above their earthly Jordans. Yes, he had seen the temple in all its grandeur, but he himself had no part in its erection. And he stood without, with his arms akimbo, with no password to enter. He then freely forgave Nebuchadnezzar for the de- struction of their earthly temple, and said he would wait, with one foot upon the platform of Eternal Justice, until the Spirit again gave the sign. Nebuchadnezzar was then called. He responded by saying he had come with his people, and stood ready to represent them before the platform of Eternal Justice ; said he did not ask to step on to it ; and if the golden candlesticks and ves- sels of gold and of silver, golden urns and cups, and ornaments of ivory, and precious stones, that he took from their earthly temple, were wanted, he could not bring them, for they were exchanged for food in order to feed the starving thousands that were impoverished by the foolish extravagance displayed in its erection. He said he was ready to go and assist in cleaning out other temples, which had caused the sighs and groans of the burdened masses for the aggrandizement of the few who by signs and passwords could enter and revel at the expense of the toiling and starving millions. He felt grateful to the High and Holy One to know the time had come for such things to have an end, and he would wait and take his chance of getting on the platform some other time. And Hezekiah was then called. He and his people were ready to take their place among the assembling tribes of Israel and of Judah, for he had tried to be faithful to them when he was intrusted with authority. And he had them instructed in the covenants and commandments, which they still believed were sacred. He was glad of his call, and pleased with his re- ception among his tribes. Ezra and Nehemiah, and the author of Job, who had been " seers " and scribes among the tribes, were ready again to take their place, and right glad to be en- gaged again in the great work of eternal compensation. Esther was next called. She was pleased that she had been remembered. She was united with others, and working for the restoration and the elevation of their sisters to the position the God of Israel placed them, upon an equality by the side of their husbands and brothers around the great plat- form of Eternal Justice. REVELATIONS. 95 Jeremiah, and Isaiah, and Ezekiel, and Daniel were next called, and were ready to take their places among the tribes. And as the Spirit had spoken through them, and warned the tribes of the judgments they would suffer in compensation for their evil transgressions, they would now prophesy through others, and again tell of the sure and terrible judgments that will find out all who disregard the covenants and command- ments of the God of Israel, and turn away from the warning voice of his Spirit. Belshazzar was next called. He said he was a witness to the fulfilment of some of their prophecies, for he had wandered up and down the earth in sorrow for his transgressions. He knew he had abused the power with which he was intrusted, and he felt, as he approached the platform of Eternal Justice, that his punishment was just. He was glad to be remembered by his people, and had often prayed that his errors might be forgiven. And when the following number of the prophets, and u seers," and scribes were called, and responded by saying they also were ready and waiting to take their places, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habak- kuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi, each one had been obedient to the call of the Spirit, as had. been wit- nessed from the various manifestations. Many of their sayings and writings had been misinterpreted and misunderstood from the general ignorance and superstition of the age that fol- lowed the terrible judgments of God sent among the tribes of Israel and the tribes of Judah in compensation for their evil doings. And as they had been called, they would form a band and stay among the people, and speak through the mouths of others as the Spirit spoke through them, and warned them again of the judgments they were fast bringing upon themselves b/ their disregard of the great law of Eternal Justice. One of the Forest Maidens was then present. She said she had been sent from the upper hunting-grounds to be a wit- ness of their condition. She was glad to see them gathering up in order to make another start in search of their promised land. She told them there were some of their tribes they had not found, but the Great Spirit had sent for them. " See, here they come : they are the old, gray-bearded prophets who told you the Great Spirit was a god of justice who would punish you for your evil doings, that fire and flood, that pesti- 96 REVELATIONS. lence and famine were the reward of all nations who disre- garded the Great Spirit's law of Eternal Justice. See the marks of the stones and the missiles which you hurled at them as you drove them from your camps and villages out into the caves of the mountains! Come up, old braves, — your new garments are ready, — and sit down upon the platform of Jus- tice ; and your scars will soon disappear after being examined ; while Israel and Judah can sit upon the steps and wait until the Great Spirit look and see if all be on the square; then they may get the password to come up higher into the new and ever green fields that never perish, and where the temple of the Great Spirit is eternal." India again closed the session by invocation to the Great Spirit, with gratitude for continued blessings. February- 26, 1873. — After India's invocation to the Great Spirit, once again in acknowledgment of his protection, he said the evening's session would be occupied by Confucius, in order to complete their arrangements for the investigation of the Second Covenant. He said the mother of the One we called the Nazarene, and his reputed father Joseph, would be present and give in their testimony before the council. When, after again asking for strength and wisdom sufficient for their labors, he retired, and the familiar voice of — Confucius was again heard by the council. He gave ex- pression to the pleasure it afforded him of again being present, and told them they had Israel and Judah on the one hand, with the Christian dispensation on the other. He then addressed a few pleasant words of recognition to the band of reformers, and asked them to step up and be seated on the platform of justice, for it was long enough and broad enough for all who had worked for the elevation of the Great Father's oppressed and starving children. He then turned to the leaders of the tribes of Israel and of Judah, and wanted to know if they were satisfied of the perishable nature of all their earthly glory ; and then spoke of their barren fields and dried-up Jordans, of the ruins of their towns and cities. He asked them where their- earthly temples now were, with their images/and then told them they purchased the vengeance of the Great Father, who heard the cry of his children, whom they oppressed when they forgot the Living God, who made the heavens above them, with the beautiful earth which they had polluted with their unholy RE VELA TIONS. 97 devices ; for they had set up gods of their own, which they had called on to sanction their cruel and bloody wars ; and when their oppressed and suffering people tired of their un- holy abominations, they had their prophets who could pretend to call down fire from their angry gods, in order to frighten and keep them in subjection ; for their gods were like them- selves, who revelled in blood and carnage until they lost the higher aspirations of their nature ; and every tribe had a god of its own. He told them they disregarded the covenants of their fathers, and had turned away from the commandments that were given to them from the mountain by a high order of spirits ; and that the Great Father could have loved them all,had they lived up to the principles which they were taught by covenant and by commandment. He told them their records contained a history of their evil doings, which had corrupted the generations down to the present age ; and that the Great Father, or Jehovah, or Almighty God, or by whatever name known, who was pure and holy, could never sanction such unholy deeds. " No, no ! " They must go to work, and dig up and uncover their crimes, for the Great Father has ordered all things to be exposed, and be ready for the judgment. " Now go with me/' he said, " and we will follow this poor laborer crushed with heavy burdens. You see he has been carrying brick and mortar for your temples. Now see, he is met at the door of his humble tent by his faithful wife and their little ones. And what has he got to refresh and strengthen his weary body? You see nothing but a little bread and water. And as he partakes of it in sorrow, and his children nibble their dry crusts, he curses the Great Father for the conditions that surround him, for he has been told of the wicked revelry of the king and his courtiers. Now we will have a look at the king's table. Here, you see, is beef and mutton, and here is fish and fowl, with fruits of every kind, and wines of various flavor. Here is all of every variety the Great Father in his love has provided for his earthly children; but you see they have been hoarded up for the few who never labor. But, in mockery to the one they call " God," they make laws that crush the toiling millions and keep them in bondage. And yet you had every imaginary blessing, even to the com- munion with spirits. But you was not satisfied : you still wanted and asked for a Messiah. Now go with me r and look again. You see by the side of a hill a deserted cave, or hovel,, where wayfarers have stopped to rest their weary limbs j. and' 7 98 REVELATIOXS. as you enter, you see by the light of a single candle a woman in travail. Now see, a child is born : it is the temple of the Great Father's earthly builders. And now, as you look again, you see the pure Spirit from the Great Father comes down to inhabit the new-born temple during its earthly pilgrimage." He then gave directions about the continuation of their work, and retired, when — Wesley was next before the council. He remarked that he got as close to the Good Father as he could, in hopes that he might attract his attention. He said he was persevering when in his body, and he found the law held good. He thought the present inhabitants were covered up with transgressions. He thought the flesh would have to be cut from the bones in or- der to find the spirit. He said he had been familiar with the communion of spirit when in his body, and had given what he could to his people ; that he had stood and talked to them until his clothes were wet with perspiration: but he was hide- bound, and covered up with foolish creeds. If he had done any good during his earthly life, he did not know where to look for it now ; but said he was delighted to have an oppor- tunity to express his present opinions, and withdrew. And one of the Forest Maidens was next before the council. Said she was sent from the upper hunting-grounds of the red man's race to the wigwam of the white squaw, to listen to the talk of the old braves. She was pleased to meet with Israel and with Judah, who had gathered up their wandering tribes by command of the Great Spirit. She told them the promised land they had so long been looking for was near at hand. She told them to look, and she could show where their fore- fathers started from. " Now you see a little band of pilgrims, with their forage bound to the backs of a lot of asses, which were then in use for carrying burdens. Now you may see them resting in a grove by a stream of water, where the squaws with their pappooses are seeking rest and nourishment. But yonder in the distance you can see a cloud of dust, and under it is an army who are seeking the destruction of the wandering band of wayfarers. See them look into each oth- er's faces in affright ; and as they gather their little ones, and flee into the forest in different directions, and are still waiting to be united." She then retired. And India closed the session by invocation to the Great Spirit. Maech 2, 1873. — After India's invocation to the Great REVELATIONS. 99 Spirit, lie said that Mary and Joseph were present, and would make their own statements. And as he retired — Mary, the mother of Jesus, was next before the council, and made the following statement. She commenced by saying that after the death of her father, her mother was left without means for her support, and she procured a situation in the temple, where she was instructed in the duties of a priestess who had to look after and assist in the care of the afflicted. It was an order or sisterhood of that age, whose office was con- sidered sacred among the people. It was at the time when there was a general commotion among the opposing sects at Jerusalem, and the people had lost the light of the Spirit which was taught them through the covenants made with their fa- thers, while many denied of there being a resurrection of the spirit. It was evident at the time that some change was expected in answer to the general demand ; for they had turned from the light, and were fast going into mental dark- ness and evil. Such, she said, was the condition when it was given out in the temple by the Spirit among the priesthood of the covenant, that an earthly temple must be furnished by earthly builders ; that a pure spirit from the higher spheres could be reincarnated, to work through mortals for the build- ing up of God's eternal kingdom in order to increase the hap- piness of his earthly children. She said the demand at the time appeared to be rational, and she consented to be the earthly recipient of the heavenly blessing. She knew the one assigned to be a partner of the consummation to be pure and devotional, while her own soul went up to God in thankfulness for his protection ; and she knew of no law but that of obedi- ence to the command. But afterwards, when she was con- scious of being enciente, her sorrows began to multiply, for she was a poor girl, without influential friends, and knew she must soon be cast out of the temple, for the law of the Jews was severe, and had it been known, both must have been put to death. The story of her being overshadowed by the Spirit, and of the child being holy, was advanced by the priesthood ; but it gave her no relief, for she knew the people would not believe it, and she would nave to bear her affliction alone. But she said it was soon arranged in the temple that she should have a husband who would watch over and protect her from the scandal that otherwise seemingly must follow ; and accord- ingly the priesthood made arrangements with some of the 100 RE VELA TIONS. order outside of the temple, where soon the needed one was found ; and she was married to Joseph, who fulfilled the obli- gation as a sacred duty, destitute of feelings so desirable in order to secure earthly happiness. She went to his home at Nazareth, where he owned a small house, and was by occupa- tion a carpenter. She said Joseph was a good man, but was dependent on his daily labor for their support ; and as he medi- tated on his condition he seemed crushed in spirit, and he finally decided they would leave their home at Nazareth, and go to Egypt, he thinking at the time he might put her away and be freed from his obligation. But he had dreams and night- visions that disturbed him, and they were told by the " seers M of the Messiahship of her son before his birth, although neither of them could seem to comprehend it ; and, after wandering about the country, camping in the beautiful groves and by the streams, and the time was drawing near for her expected maternal relation, they concluded to retrace their lonely and sorrowful way back to their disconsolate home at Nazareth ; and after many days of weary toil, when within three miles of their home, she was in travail, and compelled to stop in a little deserted cave by the hillside, where she remained alone until Joseph hastened to the village and procured the assist- ance of a midwife. On their return in the shade of the even- ing, her child was born. And when she was told it was a male child, her spirit was strengthened within, and she seemed to realize that there was truth in what had often been foretold. And after they were removed to their humble home, as he grew in stature he developed many peculiarities. He was often self-willed, and showed but little feeling for his reputed father. When they worked together, they often disa- greed, and Joseph would send him home, where he would say he knew how to do the work better than that man did. And he finally told her that Joseph was not his father ; said some- thing within had told him so. He would not go to school ; he seemed to know what the books contained better than the teacher, and was often reputed to be quarrelsome. He showed remarkable spirit power among his playmates. When a boy he would prostrate them on the ground, and to all appearance they were dead. But when he desired to restore them, by the force of his will and the motion of his hand, they had to arise at his command. She said the first time he went to Jeru- salem with them he was about fourteen years of age, and he seemed to be angry at the display of wealth and extravagance. REVELATIONS. 101 He disputed with the scribes at the temple, and told them that such a display was wrong when so many of the people were in want of bread ; it was a sacrilege. His remarks were sure to attract attention and draw a crowd about him, for they were of a nature far beyond one of his age. And as he ad- vanced in years, he seemed to comprehend the object of his earthly mission, and often spoke to her about it. She said tkey were poor and attracted but little attention, indepen- dent of the radical remarks and other peculiarities of her son, who was about twenty years old when Joseph died and left her with three other children. Jesus was a common name of that age. He was distinguished from other boys of the same name by his being called the " carpenter's son." He showed but little attraction for her, and the other children said he had the work of his heavenly Father to do ; and as he advanced, it seemed to absorb most of his attention, and he was beginning to make many enemies by his bold attack on the priesthood and others in power who had departed from the light of the spirit ; and for about two and a half years after he had chosen his disciples he was all the time among the people, teaching them of the heavenly kingdom, and healing their diseases, over which he had wonderful power. She said the earthly expe- rience of her son as well as her own was sorrowful after his labors and sufferings, which had been but little understood. He came to her in spirit, and had been all that a loving son could be to a mother. She had no knowledge at the time what was done with his earthly body after it was taken from the tomb. She knew it was not resurrected to a newness of life, for she had seen him in his spirit form, and was satisfied. Said she had found full employment among the suffering ones of earth since her own transition, and it would be far more pleasing to her if those who profess to venerate her memory would devote the time to ameliorate the sufferings of the tens of thousands of her sorrowing earthly sisters. After saying she would answer whenever she was called, she retired. And — Joseph, the husband of Mary, was next before the council, and made the following statement. He commenced by saying that it was true that Mary and himself had a lonely time dur- ing their earthly pilgrimage together, for neither of them could comprehend the mystery of God making itself known to mortals. And he found himself in a position, although voluntary, in which he had found that duties were required 102 REVELATIONS. of him to fulfil he was poorly qualified to sustain ; and he also knew how the jeers and scoffs of his comrades would be hurled at him as the dupe of some designing priest. But he loved the Order, and he felt there must be something sacred in connection with it, and that it was his duty to ful- fil the obligation he had taken upon himself. Notwithstand- ing he felt crushed in spirit, and it made their home one of sorrow, for he was poor, and had to sustain his family by his labor, in an age when all of the laboring mass were poor. But developed in spirit and full of devotion, still they could not comprehend God or the manifestation of his Spirit; they could not comprehend there was an individualized spirit resurrected from the material body at the time of dissolution, and was still among them ; neither had they been taught of a spirit- home above their earthly Jordans. After their return from Egypt and the birth of Jesus, as had been related by Mary, nothing of much importance transpired. There was no truth in the story about the slaughter of the children by order of Herod ; but the wise men who it was said had seen the star in the east, were the Chaldean astrologers who had foretold the birth of the child Jesus, and of the results that would follow. He said they did come to their home and saw the child, and left them material aid ; and the boy, as he grew up, had many peculiarities, as related by his mother. He was of delicate form and quick of comprehension, and was of a thoughtful and melancholy turn of mind, and seemed to comprehend that his life was to be devoted to the elevation of humanity. He was adverse to manual labor, and impulsive and restless under re- straint; and as he grew to manhood he gathered about him a multitude of the so-called lower orders of society, and went out in opposition to the established customs of the age ; and he soon fell a sacrifice to the bitter hatred of the priesthood that was then in power. After his crucifixion, the officers of the guard set a watch at the tomb where the body was lying, for they expected his disciples would endeavor to take it away; but in the quiet of the night the guard was over- shadowed by the Spirit and made for the time unconscious, when all that was mortal of the mangled form was taken by the power of the Spirit to its final rest. After saying he passed out of his earthly form about twelve years prior to the crucifixion of Jesus, and was a witness in Spirit of the clos- ing and sorrowful scenes then connected with his earthly mis- sion, he withdrew. REVELATIONS. 103 An ancient Hindoo was next before the council, and made the following statement. He said he was permitted to listen to the reports made by the other two, for the man they had been talking about had at that time created some interest among his countrymen, and they felt an anxiety now to hear something about it again, for they had found out that the images they had been taught to worship had no power in spirit, and as yet they had not found out who to look to ; said the god, wherever he was, had been good to them, but they could not see him. It was evident he sent good things to all of his children, but as yet they had not found out where to look in order to find him. He then expressed the gratitude of himself and his countrymen for the opportunity of fur- thering their investigations. And India again closed the session by invocation to the Great Spirit. Maech 5, 1873. — After India's invocation to the Great Spirit, again thanking him for his wise protection, he said Peter, and James, and John were the next in order to make their statements. And as he retired — Peter was the next before the council, and said it was true he was one of the twelve who formed the little ragged and despised band who followed after and listened to the heavenly teachings of the one they called their Master. He had been a fisherman by occupation, and their habits of life were simple. As they sat in their boats on the beautiful waters, watching their nets and lines, by which they obtained their scanty living, what was more natural than that they should desire to learn something of the beautiful heavens above them, and of that wonderful and mighty power that upheld and sustained them, and had surrounded all with terrestrial beauty ? And when they found their Master, endowed as he was with a capacity to teach them of a home in spirit in his Father's kingdom, where there were mansions for all of his earthly children, and who himself devoted his time in healing their infirmities and trying to ameliorate the sufferings of afflicted mortals, who were cast out and left forsaken and broken-hearted, no wonder the sorrowing ones followed after him and listened to his voice, as they partook of the bread of life which he broke, as he gave them freely to drink from the well of " living waters." It was true their Master was bitter in his anathemas against the systems that sustained a bigoted priesthood, and built up an aristocracy among the few that 104 RE VELA TIONS. crushed the rights and liberties of the people ; and he told them their earthly principalities would perish, and also their temple, represented the idols they were teaching the people to worship, when they should have taught them of the " tem- ple not made with hands." It was their custom to go into the outskirts of the city of Jerusalem and the surrounding villages, where the common people would assemble in crowds, and gladly listen to the heavenly teachings of Jesus. Many times the excitement was great, for the people left their em- ployment in order to follow their Master, and be themselves witnesses of his wonderful power ; and many times they were forced to flee for their lives from the opposing force, led on by the craft that was always bitter with their persecution. At times, when the excitement was great, they returned to their occupation, and waited until the Spirit would again call them to their work among the people. Many times their Master, whom they loved, would sit by the stream, tired and hungry, and weep over the condition of the multitude, and the hardness of the hearts of the Pharaohs who kept them in bondage, for they were constantly watched by the spies of those in power, who sought in every possible way to deprive them of their freedom ; and they were often hooted at and stoned, and driven from the little towns, for fear the people would leave their employment, and assemble where they could be taught by the living Spirit. He said they kept no record of their labors, and the only key intrusted to him was the key of knowledge, which had opened the way to his " spirit home " in the Great Father's eternal kingdom. After saying he would be at all times ready to answer his call, he retired. And — James was next before the council. He had also been a fisherman, and was one of the twelve who were witnesses of the cruel treatment and the sufferings of Jesus, whom they delighted to call their Master; and they left their nets to follow him, for he taught them of heavenly things. His teachings were new and soul-inspiring, and the hungry multi- tude from every quarter gathered together to be fed with the bread of life. And as he taught them of the living temple above, and healed their physical infirmities, they found the living Spirit, and did rejoice ; while those in power were waiting for a Messiah that would crush their national foes and strengthen their temporal power, those who turned away from their Master's heavenly teachings, and scoffed at him RE VELA TIONS. 105 and his humble followers, — he who in the height of his terrible anguish prayed to his heavenly Father that they might be forgiven. He then turned and asked those who had crucified their Messiah if they were ready to listen now, and go at his second call; and told them they had looked many times, since they had been surrounded with the ruins of their desolate towns and cities, for the meek and forgiving One whom they cast out and crucified when trying to teach them of their spirit home. But they did not want to know ; they had other attractions. So they nailed him to the cross, between two thieves of the lowest order. He told them to be on the watch for the call of their Messiah at this time, and be ready, or they might be left again. He said they had no authority from their Master to establish any church, and that they left no such authority ; for they were taught by their Master, and by the Spirit after their Master's ascension, that all were heirs to an immortal life, and were entitled to the common blessings while preparing for an entrance into the Great Father's eternal kingdom. He then said it was true that the earth did quake at the time of the crucifixion, and the powers of the earth were shaken ; the sun was darkened by a cloud, and the walls of the temple were rent ; and that after the body was taken down from the cross, it was wrapped in linen and laid in the tomb, where an armed guard was sta- tioned by the authorities to watch ; but during the night the scene was changed, for the angel band who had watched over their Master terrified the guard, and removed the mortal part from their sight. And when his crucifiers, who were ever on the watch, returned, they found the guard was shaking with affright, but could give no account of what had transpired. But he himself, and his brothers, with many others, after- wards had abundant evidence of their Master's presence with them in spirit, and then knew that he had triumphed over the powers of darkness, and was satisfied. He then retired. And John was next before the council. He confirmed what his brothers had stated, and said he also had loved their Mas- ter when he was with them in his earthly form, and had been blessed with his confidence and love in return. He thought there was no necessity of his repeating what his brothers had told ; but he would say, as they had carefully inspected the present condition of earthly affairs, they found it the same as it was when they were witnesses of their Master's labors, when he was trying to give to the people a knowledge of 106 RE VELA TIONS. their " spirit home," above the transitory things of time, in the eternal kingdom ; while the leaders, now as then, had sur- rounded themselves with their earthly principalities, and had determined not to be disturbed, and were building costly mansions, and revelling with the things of time, and cared nothing about the things that belong to eternity. And as others had arrived upon the field of action, and found that worldly wealth secured place and power, they commenced the struggle with a disregard for the rights of the multitude whom God had created with a love and desire for the enjoy- ment of his blessings. But avarice had been the evil spirit which had robbed them of their earthly enjoyments, and de- prived them of a knowledge of their heavenly home, and filled both worlds with sorrow, and left them in their worldly pride clinging to their earthly gods. Happily for himself and his brothers, they were fortunate enough to be found among the multitude, and were not troubled with the mam- mon of the world. A desire had naturally grown with them to know something of the world beyond ; and when they found their Master, and heard him explain the mysteries of the ages, and show how spirit and matter were combined, they gladly followed him, and were blessed ; for he taught them as they witnessed the manifestations of his power among the thousands of the poor and friendless, who were ever anxious to hover around him, where he cast out and healed many of their earthly afflictions, with their evil thoughts and passions, which have always been born with the flesh. And the multitude did rejoice when they found a Saviour, who could awaken new thoughts and desires as he taught them of heavenly things, while those of the little band whom he had chosen to be his witnesses, after being cast out and rejected by those in power, when driven by envy to their quiet forest retreat, would sit around him by the hour as he taught them of his Father's spirit kingdom; and it did seem as though the heavens were opened, and they could comprehend more of the mighty works of the High and Holy One who inhabits eternity, and they were encouraged to persevere with their Master in his work for the elevation of suffering humanity. He knew they were cast down and sorrowful at the crucifix- ion, but then they were soon restored by the presence in spirit of him they loved, who again and again inspired them to hold out to the end, with his assurance that he would be with them, which was true ; for when their earthly pilgrimage RE VELA TIONS. 107 was ended, he met them on the shore of the " ether " world, where he had shown them the untold splendors of his heav- enly Father's eternal kingdom ; and after travelling through the spheres, and sitting down together, joyfully contemplating its magnificent works, the Father told them he had other chil- dren that were asking for light in the darkened sphere below. He then remarked that they (the apostles) left no written rec- ord of their earthly labors ; said the modern Church had fol- lowed nearest to the forms of the temple-worshippers among the Jews. Their Master's mission was to teach of a resurrec- •tion of the spirit from its earthly form, and of its final home in the eternal world ; and those who desired to attain a home there would have to abandon their earthly idols, and gather up a knowledge sufficient to light them on the way. After say- ing he would respond whenever he was wanted, he retired. And one of the ancient Hindoos was before the council, where he made the following statement. He told them that he had been in the spirit sphere about two thousand years, and that his people that were with him a long time ago had made the discovery that the earthly idols they formerly worshipped had no power in spirit ; they were supplied with the necessaries for their sustenance, but had no knowledge from whence it had come, for as yet they had seen no god. They had watched the " dumb idols " which they were taught to worship, a long time after leaving their earthly bodies ; but they found they were made hollow, and what things the people gave to them to appease their supposed anger, the priest who was in charge, often, by putting his hand in a hole he could open behind, got them out, and carried them away in a bag. He said they had waited a long time, and had finally concluded that it was not right to have the people deceived. They wanted to teach their people that God was a spirit, and not angry when a storm disturbed the atmosphere, but that it was intended to purify the elements that sustained their earthly existence. Said their Hindoo children were attending the school that was established in spirit; and when they were sufficiently in- structed they would go and mingle with the Hindoo children in their own country in every family, until they were familiar with their friends in spirit. He said teachers had been sent to them in their spirit sphere, who had taken them from their earthly idols, and had gone back with them to the time when man first desired something to venerate, — when their natural wants were supplied by an unseen power for which they were 108 REVELATIONS. anxious to repay with gratitude. And they were a queer- looking people, and had awtul-looking gods whom they had worshipped, so it was evidently not wrong for them to go to their idols when they had nothing higher to venerate. But they still thought it was wrong for the priest to deceive their earthly friends about their " dumb idols; " said his people were pleased to listen, and would come again. And India closed the session by invocation to the Great Spirit. March 9, 1873. — After India's invocation to the Great Spirit, he said Magdalene and Paul were the next to make their statements, and after his usual encouragements, retired. And then Magdalene was the next in council, where she said it was well known she was a native of the village of Magdala; her name was Mary, but from habit her friends called her Mag- dalene, to distinguish her from other Marys, Mary being at the time a familiar name among the people. She unfortunately inherited a feeble and diseased constitution from her parents, and was afflicted with what the physicians of the present age have named the " St. Vitus' dance," which often resulted in her losing the power of speech. It was about the time that Jesus of Nazareth commenced his labors among the afflicted, and had acquired great reputation for His wonderful power over the various kinds of maladies the poor were suffering with ; and through the intercession of her friends she applied to him for help, and in three days' time, through the wonderful effects of his healing power, her bodily affliction was re- moved, and she was finally restored to health. It was then a common opinion among the lower orders of the people that all physical afflictions were caused by an evil spirit. It was thought when a bodily infirmity was removed, that the evil spirit, or devils, or demons, were cast out. She said she was thirty years of age at the time she recovered her speech and was restored to health by the healing power of her Saviour, and she had never ceased to love him for his compassion among the poor and sorrowful ones by whom he was daily surrounded ; for he devoted his time to the healing of all without money or price, and after healing their infirmities, he taught them the way to their heavenly Father's eternal king- dom. It was his increasing fame that brought the people from the surrounding country with their afflicted friends whom he had healed and restored to sight, and that excited the envy REVELATIONS. 109 and the hatred of his persecutors, who had sought on every hand for some charge which they might prefer against him for a violation of the Jewish laws. His terrible anathemas for their injustice which had caused great suffering among the people alarmed the high-priests and the rulers who were fear- ful of losing their power; for he had foretold their nation's calamities, and of the destruction of their temple, which in judgment would follow them for their evil doings. It was soon after that they condemned him to an ignominious death, and tried to make him carry the cross, an emblem of their cruelty, to which they had him nailed. And it was then that his little band of followers, as well as herself, were over- whelmed with affliction at the crucifixion, although with her clairvoyant sight she could see the bright band of angels that came to assist and strengthen him through the terrible ordeal ; and when it was done, she saw the heavens open -and the band reascend back to their heavenly kingdom. Although as yet she had not been permitted to enter that bright sphere, the sight of it had never departed from her memory. She said it was on Friday that Jesus was crucified, and after the cruel sentence was finished, the body was taken from the cross, washed and anointed, wrapped in clean linen, and laid in a new tomb and covered with a stone which was afterwards sealed. The following morning she' was the first at the tomb, for she had loved the One who had taught them of heavenly things. She found the stone had been removed, and the body was gone ; but she soon after saw him in spirit, when he spoke to her, and she knew his voice. The other Mary spoken of as having been at the tomb was the mother of one of the disci- ples. It was a sorrowful time for his little band of devoted followers ; but he often met with them, and encouraged them during their earthly pilgrimage after his crucifixion. She then withdrew. And Paul, the apostle of the Gentiles, was next before the council, and made the following statement. He said there were only about one hundred and thirty of the followers of Jesus left at the time he got his commission ; they had dwindled down by persecution and death ; and he was then on his way with authority to arrest them, when Jesus stopped him in his mad career, and authorized him to go and promulgate the ever- lasting gospel of a risen Saviour to the Gentiles. It was the Jews who professed to disbelieve what he had told them after he was stopped persecuting the little band of humble followers 110 REVELATIONS. of Jesus. But he himself knew what he was about, and he had tried to fulfil the mission which he had received from his Master with fidelity and truth. And although the records of his labors had often been mutilated, altered, and misrepre- sented, there was still enough to show that he had no author- ity to establish churches, or to build temples, where the people would continue to worship Dagon and Diana. He then directed his attention to the hosts of Israel and of Judah, who had been gathered around the platform of justice. He explained the spirit covenant made with their fathers, and spoke of the covenants and the commandments given through Moses, and of their loss by their disregard and their turning away from the celestial teachers. He showed them that Jesus of Nazareth was the Messiah for whom they had asked ; but they mistook his glorious mission, and cast him out and cruci- fied him. " You wanted an earthly king who could increase your earthly glory: his work was to fulfil the law given to you through Moses, and establish the covenant of love, and set up his spiritual kingdom on a platform of justice that would have been respected and become universal among the nations of the earth. He had illustrated the works of the Spirit by his own labors of love among the poor and the forsaken ones you had cast out, and who were suffering with disease and with poverty in the hovels and by-ways of all your surround- ing towns, where he found them and healed them, and then told them of the mansions in their heavenly Father's kingdom. But your envy was aroused : you could not receive him in his meek and lowly condition, so you crucified him and lost him, while in spirit he turned to the Gentiles in order to complete his work. But you may have the offer again to accept him for your king, and we shall see now if you are willing, while we again turn to the Gentiles, and see what they have clone with our Master's gospel of peace and love which was intrusted to their keeping. " Why, what can be the meaning of all this vast multitude who have been gathered up around a platform of Eternal Jus- tice ? What ! all belong to the Gentile race ? Yes. Why are there so many poor mothers in rags, with children in their arms who have starved for nourishment? Heavenly Father, what an army of the fair daughters of earth all branded with the mark of fornication ! % And here again, — why, what a vast multitude of little ones ! and all branded with the mark of thieves ! And what do you say, — you had to steal or starve, RE VELA TIONS. Ill and that you have got a school now, where you are instructed ? Well, here again are all the ' old folks ' gathered together and happy, and who have been your saviors. And here, as we look again, we see the great platform of Justice, which has been established with those of every nation and of every color, who have been gathered around it, waiting for the hum- ble Nazarene to come and pronounce his blessing." He then told them the first covenant which Jesus came to fulfil and establish, was a communion with spirit; but the Judaites by their own neglect had failed to comprehend it, and rejected and crucified their Saviour, and continued to worship their Egyptian gods. And the second or gospel covenant, which he was commissioned by the risen Saviour to give to the Gentiles, was also a communion with spirit ; but the Christian Church had likewise failed to comprehend it, and had cruelly cast out and crucified Jesus the second time, while the Pharaohs were building temples, and setting up their earthly images for the suffering and oppressed people to worship. But the fishermen and the beggars have again heard the call of the spirit, and have joyfully received and are waiting for his kingdom. He then said the Essenes of his day were a fraternal brotherhood who had held communion with spirit outside of the Jewish Church, and of which he was a member. It was established by the Israelites, and sanctioned by Solomon in the building of his temple. They had symbols for instruction, and signs and passwords for self- protection. His own symbolic teaching was addressed to the brotherhood to confirm the truth of a resurrection of the spirit, which was the everlasting gospel of peace and love he was authorized to deliver to the Gentiles, for which he was now called to witness. As he retired, * One of the ancient Hindoos was before the council. He remarked that he was allowed to come for information, ex- pressed great pleasure at knowing he had found an idol that could speak and tell them about a spirit-god ; said they had watched over their dumb gods of the earth a long time, but had found out they had no power ; and they had also failed to find out where the god was that had so long sustained them. They were called " heathens," and they were per- mitted to attend the council in order to acquire more knowl- edge for the purpose of instructing their own countrymen. He confirmed the story told by one of his people, about the Hindoo priests having bags in which they carried away the 112 REVELATIONS. treasures the people had given to appease the anger of their earthly gods* When India closed by invocation to the Great Spirit. March 12,1873. — After India's invocation to the Great Spirit, he stated that Pilate, who consented to the crucifixion of the Great Media, was present, and would make his own statement ; after which, if there was time, others might have an opportunity to speak. Once more rendering thanks to the Great Spirit for continued blessings, and asking for wisdom and strength sufficient for their labors, he retired. When Pilate was next before the council, where he related the following in connection with the condemnation and cruci- fixion of Jesus of Nazareth. He said the laws of the Jews were severe, and in that case intensified by the hatred of a jealous and corrupt priesthood. He then spoke of the labors of Jesus among the outcasts and lower orders of the people, by whom his merits were appreciated, and where it was evident he was accomplishing a great amount of good. It was the growing popularity resulting from his labors of love and sympathy with the afflicted that hastened his destruction ; for the crafty priesthood was aroused, and they sent out their minions to hunt him down, and wherever they found the little band, they were hooted at and made the butts of false- hood and slander, and often stoned and compelled to flee to the forest for protection, with no one who had courage to assist, owing to the crafty and the cruel power then at their command, by which they had managed to keep the people in ignorance and bondage. No wonder he sorrowed and wept over their fallen condition, when he knew that all were his Father's children. He had love and compassion for all ; but he rebuked their selfish wickedness, and despised their show of pomp and wealth, for he knew it had all been wrung from the sinews of the oppressed and afflicted multitude, which he had found in every direction about the city. It was his labors and his compassion that were fast arousing the people to a proper sense of justice. He then turned to those who had demanded the death of an innocent man, and told them they well knew their craft was in danger, and they cried the louder, demanding that Jesus should be crucified. " When I told you the man was innocent, that I could find no charge against him worthy of death, you still demanded he should be crucified. When I was still anxious to save him, and RE VELA TIONS. 113 offered you Barabbas, who was a criminal, in place of Jesus, you still cried, ' Crucify Jesus.' T then said you were con- demning an innocent man, and washed my hands of the crime, in your presence. Your reply was, ' Let his blood be upon us and our children.' And now again, before all the assem- bled hosts who have been gathered around this great platform of Eternal Justice, I acknowledge my sorrow for the part I performed, and humbly ask to be forgiven. If there is any- thing I can do in order to blot out the stain, I shall gladly comply, for there has been no time during all these long cen- turies, when I could forgive myself for submitting to the terrible crime of shedding the blood of an innocent man. But your Jewish and priestly bigotry was excited ; his love and compassion for the afflicted, and his wonderful power to heal their maladies, had made you mad, and you nailed him to the cross, the most ignominious death your cruel laws devised. You tried to make him carry the cross on which you nailed him, but his delicate frame was unequal to the task. After satisfying your thirst for his blood in his expi ring- agonies, he asked, not to be relieved, but that you might be forgiven, and receive the heavenly truths he had faithfully been trying to teach you." — He then affirmed that the heavens were darkened, and the earth shook to its centre, in evidence of the terrible crime that was then committed ; and they well knew the guards they stationed at the tomb to watch the lifeless form were overpowered with affright at the appearance of the angels, and could give no account of what had become of the body, or of how it was taken away. " But you still suppressed the truth, and deceived the multitude, in order to keep them in bondage. Thousands did believe in the divine mission of Jesus, but the terror of your cruel laws prevented a public manifestation of its truth. — And now, as we turn again, we have another manifestation of the same craft, in a new form among the Gentiles. They have built up their temples in order to hide away the living Spirit, and keep Jesus still nailed to the cross for the purpose of perpetuating the bondage of the people ; and by the same priestly craft, in order to hold their cruel power, they crucify anew the sons and daughters of God. They invent engines of destruction — the rack and the screw, and all manner of devices — whereby quivering and bleeding forms have been torn asun- der ; and all to gratify their thirst for power. But the time has now come for a settlement, and you must hunt up the 8 114 RE VELA TIONS. mangled forms of your bleeding martyrs, and bring them forth, for their Heavenly Father has called for all, and he has every name written in the Book of Life." He then withdrew. One of the Hindoos was next before the council, and said he was pleased with what he had seen. His people were gathering up in spirit in order to make a move, but they had no knowl- edge of where they were going. They had looked a long time for the Great God, but could never find him. He said they had been taught by their Koran to look for a great star-spirit that would come to them and swallow up their gods of silver and gold, of brass and iron. He thought it might be the star- spirit would gather up all that were attracted to his bright- ness, and they would become a bright star ; while others, who preferred the gods of gold and silver, would remain behind, and be a dark star. His people in spirit thought the Great God must have wonderful power in order to have so bright an eye. They thought all should be kind to each other, in order to look up to the Great Eye and not feel ashamed. He then told them they need not sneer at his people for worshipping their idols, for they wanted to show their gratitude to something in return for so many blessings ; and they had not broken their images in pieces as they did the speaking god that came to them. He thought the reason their priests were so greedy was, they knew it was time for the star- spirit to swallow up the dumb gods ; and so they were trying to get all they could before he came. And — One of the Forest Maidens was the next before the council. She told them she was sent by the Great Spirit to assist oth- ers in gathering up the scattered tribes of Israel. She then addressed Israel and Judah on one hand, and Gentiles and pa- gans on the other. She told them of the closing cycle that was near. " The Great Spirit say, Go down and gather up my pale-face children on the lower hunting-grounds, and then tell him why the cry of sorrow has come to disturb him. Great Spirit says he gives plenty for all his children, and he must know why they don't get their supply." As the Great Spirit looked, and she looked too, it was found that " some of his children have big storehouses and much wampum, some have none ; some have much blanket, some have none. When we go tell Great Spirit some of his pale-face children have no fire to make warm, many have been frozen, and many too go dead with hunger, Great Spirit say, Much wrong ; go gather them up ; no have such things much longer." And she would RE VELA TIONS. 115 away to the upper hunting-grounds, and tell all that was said in the council, And India closed by invocation to the Great Spirit. March 16, 1873. — After India's invocation to the Great Spirit, he said that Barnabas and John were the next in order to give their testimony. After giving his usual instructions, he retired. When — Barnabas was the next before the council, and spoke of his labors with Paul in his mission to teach the Gentiles the gos- pel of a risen Saviour, and of peace and good will to man. He said Paul was educated, and had high views in regard to his duties, and kept himself away from the little band of the early followers of Jesus that remained about Jerusalem. But after he was sent to Paul, and there was an understanding that all their labors were directed by the same spirit, Paul entered the work without hesitation, and by the outflowing of the Spirit convinced many of the truth of his glorious mission, which was to teach the Gentiles of a resurrected spirit that was immortal. He then said the Jewish Church and those that worshipped at the synagogues were bitter in their oppo- sition to the lowly followers of their Master, after his crucifix- ion, and many that were satisfied of the divinity of his mission were afraid to acknowledge it. But as the disciples persevered in their work with the Spirit, and the evidence continued to multiply by various manifestations of their power over the af- flicted condition of the unfortunate, thousands did believe, and made public avowals of their faith in the presence of the rulers of the synagogues. He stated that much of their labors were with an Order who had faith in the communion of spirit, which was taught through the covenant made with the ancient patri- archs, although, from the frequent disturbance and the chas- tenings that followed, the light had departed. But many were anxiously expecting the Spirit's return, and gladly lis- tened to it through the promised Messiah. All such received it, and again rejoiced in their lonely march during their earthly pilgrimage. But he said the communion of spirit was again lost by the brotherhood, for as the worldly church increased in power and wealth, they increased their terrible persecu- tions, until the Order was again broken up and the Spirit de- parted. He then said there was no necessity of his extending his remarks, for we had the evidence with us on every side, from those who still cast out, and persecute, and crucify the Spirit. And he retired. 116 RE VELA TIONS. John the apostle was again before the council. He com- menced by addressing the assembled hosts of Israel and of Judah. He reminded them of the mistake they had macle when they rejected and crucified their offered Messiah, and of their loug and lonely wanderings in their barren and deserted country. He spoke of the perishable nature of all earthly principalities, as witnessed by the mouldering ruins of their own cities and temples. He then told them to look, and, point- ing up through an opening in the spheres, he showed them a beautiful plain with a temple, surrounded with the children they had parted with by their wrangling and fighting during their earthly wanderings, but who had been gathered up and provided for by their Heavenly Father, who has mansions for all. " But in order to attain those mansions, you must obey the teachings of Him you crucified, and purify yourselves from your earthly abominations, and become as innocent again as little children. Now the scene is closed, but you can get yourselves in readiness, for the humble Nazarene has come again with power to establish his Father's eternal kingdom ; and you will have the offer once more to receive, or to again reject him. 17 When, after a few pleasant words of encourage- ment, he again retired. One of the ancient Hindoos was again before the council, where he gave a statement of the pleasure his people enjoyed from the many strange scenes that were transpiring. They had been a long time looking and trying to find out where the great God had been staying, but it seemed to. be impossible for them to find out. They were very soon satisfied, after leaving their earthly habitations, that they had been deceived by the priests who had taught them to pay their devotions to the dumb gods, for it was very evident, if it hadn't been for the treasures they gave to them, the priests themselves would soon have found some other earthly gods to worship. They were delighted with the opening that was shown them up where the children were kept. He thought, if God was a spirit, and he sent a little spark of his bright spirit down into the earthly bodies, where it staid- until it was worked over and over, and made them all bright before he let it come back, his people would be satisfied, for their chance of getting back to the true God was as good as any other's. He thought, if those Judaites, that were often among the people of his country to fight, had not killed the god that was evidently teaching them about the home of the Spirit- God, he would have given REVELATIONS. 117 the same kind of instructions to the people of his country, who would have been taught not to give all their treasures to their earthly idols which it seemed were only used to support a profligate and idle priesthood. As the Hindoo retired, One of the Forest Maidens was the next before the council, and said she had come from the upper hunting-grounds of the red man to speak to the many tribes of Israel and of Judah, who have wandered many moons on the lower hunting-grounds in search of their promised land. She told them it was the call of the Great Spirit for the Eleven to gather up their scat- tered tribes, and be ready to make another move. The Great Spirit was speaking to his pale-face children, and all must obey his voice. And she would away from the wigwam watch-fire back to the upper hunting-grounds. And India again closed the session by invocation to the Great Spirit. March 19, 1873. — After India's invocation to the Great Spirit, once again asking for wisdom and strength sufficient for their labor, he said Demosthenes was present, and desired a few moments' attention. And he again retired. When Demosthenes was the next before the council, where he made the following request. He said he had come to ask for help in a battle where the weak and helpless were strug- gling with an earthly principality whose leader had been wounded in the hip, and who was marshalling his forces and making a wilful effort to crush out the freedom of speech and also that of the press, and by priestly array extinguish the voice of those who would expose their evils, their wickedness, and hypocrisy with their creeds and dogmas with which they have kept the race in bondage. And after saying that he was thankful to know that he could make his appeal to a band of spirits who had sanctioned the formation of a platform of Eternal Justice, he well knew his appeal would not be in vain. He then gave expression to his gratitude, and withdrew. And Anna Ora, a Greek slave, was the next before the council, where she made the following statement. She said it was the custom during her earthly pilgrimage for the tribes to make war on the surrounding tribes, and when victorious, they selected the young and helpless of her sex, and kept them for their harems, and then sold the balance of their cap- tives for other kinds of slavery. Those sent to the harems were compelled to submit to any kind of exposure their brutal 118 RE VELA TIONS. masters demanded, and were often required to follow them in their pursuit of other conquests. Their terrible hardships often crushed out all human feelings, when they retaliated by- destroying the lives of their masters. Her mother was cap- tured, when she was in her childhood, by the Turks, and sold in bondage. She said Pythagoras was a teacher in the country where she was during her earthly pilgrimage, but the people had no knowledge of the communion of spirit, and were taught to worship dumb idols. She said their experience in their spirit sphere had been also one of fear, for when any change was coming to them, they were expecting to be cap- tured and be again confined to slavery. She then retired. And a woman whose lot was cast among the Turks, was next before the council. She made the following report in regard to the inhabitants of her country during her earthly pilgrimage, where all the people in the common pursuits of life were kind and faithful to each other, obedient and full of love for their parents; for then they had no knowledge of any other creator. They found the sex about equally divided, which had naturally taught them the marriage covenant. And as their unions were from natural attraction, they were blessed with healthy offspring and were happy in their domestic rela- tions. But it was different with those who had power and wealth, for they never seemed to be satisfied ; and it was with them as it has been in all ages — their many evils in the end secured their own destruction. She said she had been happy with her parents and friends in their spirit sphere ; but there seemed to be a gathering up among them at present, although as yet they had not been informed of what was expected would be the result. She was pleased with the opportunity of again speaking through the physical organization, and she thought it might be possible they would be permitted to return to the people of their own nationalit}^ and teach them of the immortal spirit, and of its resurrection, and lead them above the transitory and perish- able things that surround them to their spirit home, where the long-lost. and forsaken ones would again be united in much happier unions. She then expressed her thanks, and retired. And the next was — An ancient Egyptian " seer " before the council, where he answered by saying he was glad the time had come which was foretold in his age when the}^ should return to the earth and again converse with mortals ; and they had waited and REVELATIONS. 119 wandered in spirit, and longed for the time to come ; and now it had come, when they should see of the salvation of which they had been foretold, — when the High and Holy One would manifest his power and love to his earthly children, and raise them up from their darkened earthly condition to a knowledge of their home in spirit. And as he could look about him and see the gathering up of the numerous tribes who had answered to the call of the chosen ones, sent to lead them away from the dark and forbidden paths in which they all had wandered, he was thrilled with amazement as he contemplated the various manifestations of the power and love of the great Creator. And once more he would send out his voice in renewed warn- ing to the inhabitants of the earth to forsake their evil ways, turn back and commence a new life, obey the covenants and the commandments of God, and listen to the voice of his Spirit, and shun the downward paths that lead to sorrow and to destruction. After an expression of his pleasure, he said if his own people had obeyed the warning voice of the ever- living Spirit, they would have been nearer to the eternal kingdom. When he retired, and — An ancient Hindoo was next before the council, where he had come in order to see what he could learn that might be of use to his countrymen. He told, as others had, about their earthly idols, and was anxious to learn something about the great Creator, and for what purpose so many were gathering around their former leaders. His people were pleased with the bright things which had already been shown, and they were trying to get up and look over and see where the greatest of all lived. They had commenced a pyramid of their own countrymen by standing one on the other; he thought there would be enough of their own to reach up where the top one could see. They wanted no nation to assist, for fear they might be called away, and all their labor be lost. They were watching and listening to all that was said. He thought the old Egyptian could tell who built the pyr- amids in his country ; but his folks didn't know what the squaw that had the bow and arrows was talking about when she told of the Great Spirit, and of the upper hunting- grounds. He thought they had better use language that all could understand. And one of the Forest Maidens was next before the coun- cil, sent, she said, by the Great Spirit from the upper hunting- grounds of her race, to tell of his mighty power ana of his 1 20 RE VELA TIONS. love for bis children. She was glad to see Israel and Judah gathering in their scattered and wandering tribes in order to follow the spirit to the lands which they had found were above their earthly Jordans. She and her sister squaws were sent by the Great Spirit to look after and report the condition of his pale-face children on the red man's lower hunting-grounds, where they had found many suffering and crying to the Great Spirit to protect them from the avarice and the injustice of the pale-face race. " Great Spirit say, Squaws go mark the wigwams' doors, and let my warriors know who and where to find all that have disregarded the laws of Fternal Justice." She then withdrew. And India closed the session by invoca- tion to the Great Spirit. March 23,1873. — After India's invocation to the Great Spirit, he said Aristotle's statement was next in order. He then retired, and — Aristotle was before the council, where he made the follow- ing statement in connection with his former records pertain- ing to the laws of maternity ; and said he was anxious to have it understood he was still satisfied with the accounts he left concerning his investigation in that direction ; and would further say — confirmed now by continued research in spirit — that it was wrong for females of delicate health and feeble constitution to accept of the sacred and responsible duties connected with the maternal relations, and that healthy and strong females should only become the mothers of three or four children, with a vacancy of two or three years from birth to birth, in order to attain that necessary perfection so de- sirable to insure happiness. And furthermore he wanted it understood by all that the birth into spirit-life from the .phys- ical was just as natural and controlled by fixed and unchange- able laws ; and if parents desired happiness, and desired, as all parents should, to entail happiness on their offspring, they must conform to the immutable laws of the Great Creator. No one could plead ignorance to the laws, for all know that effects follow causes, and they could see the effects of the parents' transgressions visited upon their helpless and suffer- ing children all over the Christian world ; and it was reason- able and natural to know how that a spirit born from a dis- eased and sickly physical form must necessarily for a time partake of its earthly condition. He then remarked that he had found every requisite facility in spirit necessary for the RE VELA TIONS. 121 furtherance of his philosophical researches. And, after ex- pressing thanks for the pleasure of again speaking with mor- tals, he retired. And one of the mothers of ancient Rome was next before the council, where she expressed the pleasure that herself and people had found in the present call or quickening of spirit. She then told of their condition during their earthly pilgrimage. She spoke of the care Roman mothers had manifested in watching over and guarding the' marriage cov- enants of their sons and daughters, that no inharmony might enter that would blight the physical prospects of their offspring. She then spoke of their own progress in spirit, and said if it had been retarded, they had found the primary department what they themselves had been instrumental in making it. She then spoke of their gratitude to the high controlling power who had permitted them to witness the gathering up of the scattered tribes of the Pagan and Gentile nations, and then withdrew. When one of the Hindoos was the next one in council, and said he was permitted by those in charge to come and speak in order to satisfy his people, who were anxious to find out something about the Great Creator, for they had finished the pyramid they were building, and four of their people had looked over from the top, and were told to go back and read the law in the Koran, and they would find that all who tried to get in were thieves and robbers. He said they had seen the star-spirit spoken of in their Koran, but he had not said anything to them ; they thought he was pleased, for he looked good-natured. And another one had told them to have all their things in moving order, for soon they would have to go up higher. He thought the people who had bows and arrows had belonged in a country away beyond Asia Minor, for they had seen people that looked like them there since they inhab- ited their present spirit home ; and said the mound and pyramid builders were ancient tribes who built them for land- marks, and put their Korans in them in order to know where they belonged when they returned to inhabit the same part of the country. One of the Forest Maidens was the next before the coun- cil. She had come to speak to the many tribes of the many nations the leaders of which the Great Spirit had ordered to gather aronnd his great platform of Eternal Justice, where all were asking the way up to the Great Spirit. She told 122 REVELATIONS. them the Great Spirit was good, and loved all his children ; but they had encumbered themselves with their many evils, and forgotten their relationship to the Great Spirit and his home in the upper hunting-grounds. They had found much suffer- ing and many evils, which they inherited, and which they had willingly entailed upon others, although they had often been told that all were brothers and belonged to the Great Spirit. And India closed the session by invocation to the Great Spirit. March 26, 1873. — After India's invocation to the Great Spirit, giving renewed thanks for continued blessings, he said the present session would be devoted to the children, and that all those who had left their earthly forms in their child- hood would pass before the council in review, headed by their teachers. And as he retired — Miss Landon with her band of juveniles was among the numerous gathering, and she was before the council and made a few remarks. Said she felt unworthy of the privilege that had been assigned to her to speak in the presence of the assembled nations in a spirit sphere wjhere the great law of eternal justice was now established ; said she would willing- ly be clothed again in the mortal, and pass through another pilgrimage in compensation for the great pleasure the present gathering had given to her, as she was given now to compre- hend its truth in all its grandeur, where the children of all nations who had been protected by their Heavenly Father's love, were again allowed to be represented in childhood in order for each anxious mother to recognize her own. And, as they came from their celestial paradise with flowers prepared to greet the weary wanderers of a lower sphere, who could measure the depth of gratitude that was flowing from each mother's heart as she clasped in her arms again her long-lost treasure ! She said that her own heart yearned in her earthly life, where she founc} no counterpart ; but in God's paradise of love, among the children intrusted to her guardian care for instruction, every desire in her nature had found compen- sation. And now let the mothers of every nation and tribe unite in an anthem of praise to God for his redeeming love, while the children prepare their triumphal arch for those who come from a higher sphere to instruct and assist in the final establishment of the great law of Eternal Justice. After expressing renewed thanks with heartfelt and grateful emo- tion for the part intrusted to her, she retired. And next — RE VELA TIONS. 123 An angel of light was before the council, and in beautiful words addressed the assembled tribes of Israel and Juclah, and also the Gentiles as well as the faithful Pagans, whom he said, in their sincerity in their worship, had in confidence . bowed down to their harmless idols. He then told them all to look up through a grand arehway then opening in the spheres above, and listen to the anthem going up to their heavenly Father's throne, in gratitude and love for the work already accomplished in successfully estab- lishing the great law of justice in a darkened sphere of spirit, where all had awakened to a knowledge of their spirit resur- rection. For the temple not made with hands in the kingdom above is now before you, while the bright inhabitants of the celestial spheres, who have never yet visited the earth, are look- ing down with wonder and delight as they join in the anthem of praise to the Great Father of all who has accomplished the work. And now he would ask them how the grand work they were permitted to witness had been established. Israel and Judah had both refused to accept it. Judaism, over eighteen hundred and forty years ago, cruelly rejected and cast out their Messiah. The Father sent them to teach them what Israel had failed to comprehend, from the law and the proph- ets or the covenants of the patriarchs, that the promised land was in spirit above their earthly kingdom ; " and when the lonely one you crowned with thorns and crucified in derision wept for your blindness and prayed that you might be for- given, he turned in spirit to the Gentiles to assist him in the accomplishment of this his glorious work. And now let the Gentiles answer for the earthly principalities and powers they have built up in the place of this their accepted Master's eter- nal kingdom, and for the condition of humanity intrusted to their charge through his gospel of peace and good will to all then made manifest through his resurrection, and through what has now been accomplished, as you are witnesses of the great joy of the lost and forsaken ones that have been gathered up and clothed and made happy. No wonder you are looking with amazement on a work of such tran- scendent glory, and ask yourselves how has the work been done. Wait and watch, for further developments are near at hand." He then addressed a few chosen words of en- couragement to all who had been engaged in so grand a work, and retired. And — One of the Hindoos was before the council, where he told 124 REVELATIONS. of his people's delight at what they had been permitted to witness ; but they were startled with surprise at the sight of so many children with such untold quantities of beautiful flowers. They had watched the triumphal arch that led to the sphere above, and saw many wonderful things ; but the spirit who had last spoken had escaped their observation, for while they were all looking in one direction, he must have got in possession of their speaking goddess in some other way. They were satisfied from what they had seen and heard that the Spirit God must be their Father, and they were going to ask him to let them go to their own countrymen, and tell them of all the wonderful things they had seen ; and if it was consist- ent and possible, they would make their dumb idols speak, and tell of the glory and power of their Great Spirit Father. He thought the Great Father wouldn't be angry with them for giving their treasures to their idols, for the priests that had carried them away had never told them of a Spirit Father. His people in spirit were anxious the Father should send some one to teach them, but thought they had been deceived so many times they wouldn't know whom to be- lieve. One of the Forest Maidens was the next before the council, where she told of her race who had been sent from their upper hunting-grounds by the Great Spirit to report the condition of his pale-face children, who had taken the lower hunting-grounds of the red man's race. She had come to the wigwam of the white squaw and the brave, where the coun- cil-fire of the Great Spirit was bright. She had listened to their talk, and was glad the time had come for the gathering up of the scattered tribes who had long wandered in dark- ness. She told them the Great Spirit loved all his children, and it was not his fault they had turned away from the light of the Spirit, and disregarded his covenants and command- ments given by prophets and seers. When India again closed the session by invocation to the Great Spirit. March 30, 1873. — After India's invocation to the Great Spirit in memory of his continued blessings, he said two ancients — one a Jew, and the other an Egyptian — were next in order. After his usual good counsel and encourage- ment, he retired. When an ancient Jew, who gave the name of— REVELATIONS. 125 Nathaniel, was the next before the council, where he related something of his earthly pilgrimage ; said he was a descend- ant of the tribe of Judah, and a leader in the brotherhood or fraternal order since called Essenes, who kept the covenants and the commandments given to the ancient patriarchs, who were persecuted and cast out of the Jewish church by the priesthood. His people had heard the call, and had gathered up in order to take their place among the scattered tribes, for they were told the Ancient of days would come, when they should all be gathered together, and speak, and mingle again with mortals. And he was rejoiced to know he had been found worthy to stand up and represent his people in testimony of the things which had been so long foretold, although they had wandered and waited in their deserted and barren country, watching for a change to come. And now they had turned to their Messiah, and had found he was the Jordan and the Palestine that led them to the promised land, where they should find the Great Father's temple built with- out hands. He was glad he had waited with his people, for they were all willing now to follow the voice of the Spirit, and come up and take their place among the lost and scat- tered tribes of Israel and of Judah, and follow the lead of their promised Shiloh, who at last had opened the way to their heavenly Father's eternal kingdom. He spoke again of the terrible persecutions of his people, who had held to the faith and were looking for their promised leader, while the Judaites had held to the earthly church; which had de- parted from the faith, and finally rejected and cruelly crucified their promised Messiah, but who had paid for their blindness through ages of darkness and suffering, waiting to hear his voice again. Now they have gladly heard the call in spirit, and are gathered together, uniting in songs of joy throughout their camps, anxiously waiting to see the glorified One they crucified. After addressing a few remarks to his own people, he retired. And — The ancient Egyptian was next before the council, and said his people had answered the call of the angel of time, and had come up to their place among the nations, who in truth were being resurrected from the fear which had surrrounded them all for ages. The mystery of the past was fast dis- solving, and the bodies they had embalmed to await their call in spirit would not be wanted, for they now found living bodies through which they could talk with mortals. He then 126 RE VELA TIONS. said his own pilgrimage in an earthly body was after Abra- ham, in the patriarchal age, and before the time of Moses, who was a leader among the covenanted tribes. His own nation, the Egyptians, in his time had made great advance- ment in all the arts of that age, the records of which had been lost, owing to the wandering and wayfaring habits of the tribes, and much time with its events had disappeared from mortals. But the recording angel would have the ac- count right in spirit, where everything must take its proper place. The mounds and pyramids contained the records of different tribes, who had left them for landmarks, in order that each might claim their own. The laws among his people were based on the great law of justice, and rigidly enforced. Whoever disregarded and violated the law was embalmed at the public expense, without a head, that others might take warning. They built no prisons, and had no criminals sup- ported by the public, to demoralize the industry of the people. Their women were noble and true wives and moth- ers, and were satisfied with their natural position ; they looked to the sterner sex, who then had not forfeited their manhood, for protection. They had no "media," who held communion with the inhabitants of the invisible world, to which they looked for light ; but they had attained to a high order of human development, and were impressed through the brain, as their inventions and scientific attainments had already substantiated. More evidence of their early national progress would come to light through the spirit development of the people of the present age ; for they were a set of dig- gers, and they would continue to dig until the hidden mys- teries of the past had all been explained. He said it was the custom of his people, when the last one of a tribe or family was embalmed, their treasures went with the body in order to prevent the evil of covetousness among them. One of the Hindoos was next before the council, and said his people were progressing in spirit, for they had been inter- ested observers of all that had transpired. He then related the following incident of a party of them who were in search of the Father. And when they could go no further, they called to him as loud as they could call, and then asked, if he couldn't come to them himself, wouldn't he please send them some one that could teach them and tell them what to do? They didn't have to wait long before they observed that some one was coming who overwhelmed them all with affright; #E VELA TIONS. 127 and when the One drew near, they fell with their faces down, as they had been taught to do before their earthly idols. But soon they ventured to look, and a bright spirit, who was smiling, spoke to them as it moved around ; but they were still fearful that it belonged to some other nation, and if it was injured, they would certainly get in trouble. But soon other spirits appeared that were like their own countrymen, and told them not to be frightened, for they could tell them what to do, if they were so anxious to find the Great Father. They were then satisfied with the promise ; they returned, and should tell of their progress hereafter through their speaking goddess. As he then retired — One of the Forest Maidens was the next before the council, where she had listened to the talk of the old braves, and was glad the time had come for them to gather up their tribes, in order to learn more of the goodness and love of the Great Spirit, who had sent out the red man's race from his upper hunting- grounds to follow the war-path of his pale-faces, and point out all who have treated the Great Spirit with ingratitude, and their own brother with injustice ; " for the Great Spirit has again inquired about the condition of all of his pale-face children." After which, India once more closed the session by invocation to the Great Spirit. March 31, 1873. — After India's invocation to the Great Spirit, he said the spirit band had assembled to commemorate the events of the last quarter of a century ; and among other things he spoke of the radical change in the minds of men, as an evidence of the power of spirit over matter, as one thing after another had been removed which had delayed the union between spirits and mortals. He then spoke of the tiny rap brought to notice in the humble home of the Fox family, at Hydesville, in the State of New York, where the mind of the child was impressed by spirit to answer the rap they made through matter by the snap of its fingers, and from that to the A B C of the English language, which was a triumph in spirit that was sent up in gratitude to the Great Spirit, that reverberated with renewed joy from sphere to sphere. He then said, as we were witnesses in the flesh of the mighty changes that were transpiring, we might be assured the work of reform would never cease until the covenants and the commandments were re-established, and all had a knowledge of their birthright. They felt to rejoice that by the sanction 128 REVELATIONS. and help of the Great Spirit they had been successful in their united labors in lighting up a dark sphere in spirit, where they now had established the great platform of Eternal Jus- tice, around which the nations of the earth were then assem- bling, each and every one in their own order. And after expressing gratitude to the Great Spirit, who had sanctioned and sustained them in their labors, said he would retire ; and then John, known as the " revelator," would be present, and review their work. And John was next before the council, where, after speak- ing of the magnitude of the work, and its wonderful success, he turned to the vast assembly, and commenced the following review. He first spoke to Israel and Judah, with their nu- merous tribes. He told them the apostles, of which he made the twelfth, had been directed to take their seats on the plat- form of justice which had been established ; around which they had been called together, and could view the scenes which he was allowed to present before them. " And now, as I draw the curtain in this direction, you can all see — but for a moment — up into the paradise of God's love, where all the children that were cast out and lost from their earthly life are gathered in by their heavenly Father, where they have been reared up in purity and love. Look, now, as you see them change from childhood, — as they take the place assigned them with angels and archangels among the heavenly hosts ; while here we have another scene, of children all dressed in blue. See ! they are the little ones of every nation, that have been gathered up in spirit from their lost, and abandoned, and neglected condition during their unhappy experience. Yes, they are the children of the poor, from the highways and the alleys from every town and city. Some left their little bodies in the prisons, and some by the roadside, for the want of bread and clothing. You can all see how much they were left to suffer by their little careworn faces. But here they have been gathered up and clothed, and have a school provided, whe*re they are taught the immutable laws of the Great Creator. Now, here we have another scene ; all this vast assembly of females dressed in. blue were abandoned and deserted, — sent into the dark sphere in spirit, with the brand of their misfortunes impressed upon them ; but here they have found saviors who have gathered them up and clothed them ; while here, in the next scene, are the men who were their companions in crime. You can see they have all REVELATIONS. 129 suffered for violating God's holy laws ; but they have been gathered up and taught their duties to each other. Now, here is another sight : all these were the victims of oppres- sion from injustice and poverty ; they were sent in disgrace from your prisons and your guillotines ; and you that were their trusted guardians have been their murderers, terrible as it may seem ! While here in the background is another vast assembly ; they were once your honored clergymen who professed to teach others from their so-called 'holy records.' the way to the Great Father's eternal kingdom ; but we all can see they haven't been able to find the way themselves. Look, now, as I raise the veil and show you the kingdom, you are thousands of millions of miles away from, you can for the moment see the beautiful ' throne,' where the Great Father and his Son whom you did profess to follow, are in union in their great work for the elevation of humanity. " Now, then, you that professed to be authorized teachers of this vast assembly of God's children, answer this question : Who gave you the authority to teach them of an angry God, who was their creator, and of an endless hell, where all but a chosen few would forever be in torment ? 0, you needn : t open your Book : we know what it should teach. Now, all that have taught the people the everlasting gospel of a spirit resurrection, and of a spirit kingdom where peace and good- will would be the heritage for all, can now come forward and step up on to this platform. What ! not even one starts ! Well, then, all who have alleviated the afflictions of the widow and the orphan, clothed the naked and healed their maladies, comforted the afflicted, and administered to those in prison, can step on to the platform. And 0, can it be possible that none claim the right? Well, then, now we will show the mangled forms of your martyred brothers, who have come from under the altars to accuse you ; while here also are your engines of torture ; and here is a body provided for this occasion. Now take it up, and place it in that machine of your invention, and show all the hosts of the heavenly spheres how you mangled your victims in your •' holy zeal ' for earthly power. 0, you did do it yourselves, you say. Well, then, call out now your menials that you employed to do it for you — and you are 'the ones.' Well, place that body in that machine, and fasten the legs and arms as you have so often done. 0, yes, all can see the cruel sight. Now, take hold of that crank, and tighten the chains on your helpless and suffer- 9 130 RE VELA TIONS. ing brother, and let all see the knives penetrate his quivering and mangled form. See his eyes start from their sockets, as the limbs are torn asunder ! — Yes, you tremble ; and no wonder, for your unholy deeds have filled the earth with fear and suffering ; and still you are our brothers, and we pity you. We have got no engines of torture here to increase your sufferings, but as yet we can't receive you. Your hiding- places in the dark sphere have been lit up by the labor of others, and you have no longer any place for seclusion ; and your judgment is to return to those who are still under bond- age from the effects of your own evil abominations, where you must work until the last remnant of your suffering vic- tims is forever emancipated from the earth, which you are not to touch, but must remain suspended between that and the heavens above you, until your work has been accomplished; and then, and not till then, can you be received into the heavenly king- dom. And now, behold, is another scene. Here we have the soldiers who in affright have been sent headlong into the spirit sphere from bleeding bodies that were torn asunder in the rage of battle, where brother has been made to war with brother in the terrible strife. Mortals inaugurate to secure the perishable things of earth. And here again, as the veil is drawn aside in this direction, you see the horses ready for their riders, that will now go forth to the earth to battle with the powers of darkness. And here we have the i old folks/ who have been gathered up and made happy ; although they look amazed at the fearful scenes brought before them. And here come the representatives of a numerous and mighty race from a ' higher sphere/ that have never departed from the teachings of the Spirit ; they have never been bound by any of your laws, or contaminated themselves with earthly princi- palities ; but they looked up to the Great Spirit with gratitude, and worshipped him in purity and love. See, they offer to take the place of those who were judged to return to the earth, where they must labor until the records of their mis- deeds are obliterated ; but they offer to go in their place and accomplish the work for them. And here again is Israel and Judah with all their scattered tribes : but we don't pronounce your judgment — we leave that to the Gentiles. But I see the time approaching when there will be no more death ; I see the physical graduall}' disappears, and the spiritual takes its place. I see a new heaven and a new earth, for the New Jerusalem, with its spirit-temple, ascending to the place RE VELA TIONS. 131 assigned it by the Great Creator ; while the action of the water on the surface of the earth ; as it comes in contact with the fire beneath, will cast up new continents where spirit will individualize matter through its own wonderful laboratories up to man." Whereupon, after a few words of instruction as well as encouragement, he retired. And — One of the Forest Maidens was then before the council. She had come to the wigwam of the white squaw to listen to the talk of the old braves. She was pleased to see all the wandering and scattered tribes brought up at the call of the Great Spirit. Her race had come down from their upper hunting-grounds, and would assist in removing the many stains from the long trail of the pale-faces, which had caused much sorrow. She could see signs in the east and in the west, and signs in the south, that would soon make great commotion among the pale-face race that had turned away from the covenants of the Great Spirit, and from his law of Eternal Justice. After which, India made a few encouraging remarks, and then closed by invocation to the Great Spirit. April 2, 1873. — After India's invocation to the Great Spirit, once more acknowledging their dependence on him for strength in the prosecution of their necessary labors, and asking for wisdom sufficient to guide, that their work might be approved, he said Calvin and Bullard were next in order to make their statements, and retired. When Calvin was then before the council, and again affirmed that when he seceded from the Church of Rome, and pro- claimed the doctrines of the atonement through the death of Jesus, with a burning endless torment for unbelievers, he was conscientious, and thought he was doing right. He knew then the Church which he left was a corrupt and cruel power, and was destroying human life with her engines of torture and her inquisitions, in order to augment her power and in- fluence over the people. It was his honest opinion that all transgressors deserved to be punished, and according to the way he had been taught to interpret the Scriptures of a past age, he felt sure at the time that the condemnation of the unrepentant was unavoidable : but as soon as they were satisfied of their mistake, they had gladly been at work in spirit, in order as fast as possible to remove the errors they had inculcated from the minds of mortals. He was also per- 132 RE VELA TIONS. raitted to say the clergy, since the Reformation, were not in- cluded in the judgment already pronounced ; for when they were arraigned, a year previous, and shown their errors, they had gladly accepted of the opportunity offered to them to commence a work of reformation, and they had found their labors in that direction the past year had proved to be a strong argument in their favor. But he said it was still true that the present advocates of the doctrines of the Church of Rome were now working with all their cunning tricks in order to get the political control of the North American continent. He said they were holding nightly councils, and had telegraphic communications with Europe, in order to further their present designs ; but he could say with great pleasure that arrange- ments had already been made in spirit that would result in their final disappointment. And tie retired. Then Bullard was again before the council, where he also confirmed the statement of his brother Calvin. He said that for a time they were all shaking for fear they wouldn't be able to pass the dreaded judgment; but, happily for them, they found in One a mediator who had prevailed in their behalf, and they were allowed to continue in the work of restitution which they had got thoroughly organized ; and he was sure no effort would be spared on their part until the desired work was accomplished. He was well aware the place for his labors was dark, and had long been cemented with the ecclesiastical magnetism of the Church of Rome ; but he knew the connec- tion was broken, and that light would flow in until the eyes of the mentally blind were opened, and all could see and ac- knowledge the grandeur of their Saviour's labors. He should stand by his own flock until they realized the truth of the everlasting gospel, and acknowledged the resurrection and the communion with spirits, and their final gathering up in the everlasting kingdom as the grand consummation of the labors of the One they had all professed to follow. When, after speaking of local affairs in connection with his old west- ern home, he retired. One of the ancient Hindoos was next before the council, where he expressed gratitude for himself and for his people for the pleasure as well as the knowledge they had already received. He said he could distinguish, among the different tribes that had come, the ones that formerly often made war on the Hindoo people. It was true, when they were success- ful in their battles, they thought their gods were pleased, and RE VELA TIONS. 133 they never failed to make them rich with the things they cap- tured from the tribes of other nations ; but they had long since learned in spirit that such things were encouraged by the priesthood, who had the care of their gods, in order to delude the unsuspecting people. He was in hopes the time would soon arrive when they could enlighten the people of their own country in order that such cruelty might cease to have an existence, and the dumb idols so long used to deceive them be thrown out of sight. And India closed the session by invocation to the Great Spirit. April 6, 1873. — - After India's invocation to the Great Spirit, he said the people known with us as Mormons, or " latter-day saints," as they had been called, would be the next in the or- der of investigation. He then retired. Smith, known as the Mormon leader under its first organi- zation, was before the council, and said that he himself and his followers were arraigned before the platform of Eternal Justice, in judgment before the assembled nations, for the errors and the evils they had entailed upon their deluded and unhappy followers by turning away and disregarding the com- munion of spirit intrusted to them as the humble followers of Jesus their Saviour ; but he was satisfied, however great had been his own humiliation and suffering, that the judgment would be right, for they were intrusted with a work designed for the elevation and salvation of the race from the degrada- tion of their moral death. It was well known by those who stood as their accusers that they were intrusted with the com- munion of spirit, and with the gifts of healing and speaking the languages of the different nations, as well as that of proph- esying ; and, notwithstanding all this, they fell from their high calling, and failed in accomplishing the grand work which was intrusted to their care, and at last taken from them as un- worthy, and given to others to finish. No one could tell how great had been his sorrow as he had waited for the judgment, for they grieved away the Spirit, that would have guided them aright, by their own degraded and selfish evils ; and when they turned to the ancient recorders of Israel and Judah for light, it only increased the burden of their afflictions. He said he was aware of the wrong he did, but, unfortunately for him, he had surrounded himself with bad men who finally secured his fall. 134 RE VELA TIONS. And then Pratt was the next before the council, where he remarked that he had nothing to say in justification of their failure to accomplish a great work which was intrusted to them ; they had fallen from their high calling \>y giving way and partaking of the errors and evils around them. They knew of their mistake when they lost the communion of spirit with which they had been blessed until they disannulled the covenant they made by their disregard of the commandments, and the spirit departed and left them shorn of their glory. But still they were loath to give up their earthly power, al- though they knew they had forfeited their trust and were unworthy ; and not until they were cut off by untimely death, and found themselves naked in spirit, could they realize how great had been their failure. And as they were now arraigned around the great platform of Justice, and could see what had been accomplished by the labor of others, they felt the more keenly what they had lost, and would cheerfully comply with whatever judgment was assigned to them, in order, as far as possible, to make restitution. He then addressed a few con- soling words to his brothers in their affliction, and told them they would profit from their past experience, and this time they would be faithful in whatever was intrusted to them in order to be accomplished. Then he withdrew. And John the " revelator " was again before the council, and there said that he himself and his brother disciples had come by the direction of their Master, who himself had come to judge the " quick and the dead," but who had assigned to him and his brothers the duty of sitting in judgment on the Mor- mon leaders, who were intrusted with an important mission, which they felt grieved to know they had utterly failed to accomplish ; for he himself was one who with many others in spirit were sent to them to assist them in their work of estab- lishing a platform of justice in order to build up the spirit kingdom among the inhabitants of the earth. But as they had failed in the grand mission, and given up to the control of the powers of darkness, and given place to their own evil desires, their judgment was to return to their earthly scenes, where they must continue to labor among its deluded inhabitants until every evil resulting from their own disobedience was forever eradicated from the sphere of mortals ; and then, and not till then, they could return to the platform of Eternal Jus- tice, and once more receive the hand of " true fellowship." He told them he was truly sorry for them : they all felt a deep RE VELA TIONS. 135 regret for the errors they had committed, for it was true all were brothers ; but the time had come for the gathering up, and all would be judged in accordance with their deeds, whether it was for their good or for their evil. He then once more gave encouragement and counsel to those engaged in the finishing up of the work, and retired. When one who had been with others who had suffered was next before the council, where she said, she, with a numerous band of the Mormon children, had come as witnesses to accuse those who had but just received their judgments. Her band were the representatives of many children that were cast out from their earthly lives, the result of some of the evils incul- cated by the " latter-day saints ; ;? but they were permitted by their Heavenly Father to leave their paradise above and re- turn to earth to those who should have been their guardians, and where they would assist them in their noble enterprise in exterminating the many evils that have so long afflicted mor- tals. They were witnesses of the work that was already ac- complished in the dark sphere of spirit, where the great law of Eternal Justice had been established; and they wanted a part in finishing the work, where Judgment with Charity would finally incorporate the great law of Universal Love with suf- fering humanity. As she then retired — One of the ancient Hindoos was the next before the coun- cil, where he spoke of the children, and said they all had flowers they brought with them from what was called their paradise above, and had built up a grand pyramid with a different kind of flower w^iich represented the people of every nation. He thought it was a magnificent display of their superior cultivation. He also remarked that those who had to go back in order to clean themselves looked rather sorry, but then it was kind in their children to offer to go and assist them in their labors; and said no doubt it would in the end alleviate their suffering. His own people were all a- doing splendid; the star-spirit had been among them again, and given instruction in regard to what they must do in order to be ready to go higher up in their long search to find the Great Father. As he then retired — One of the Forest Maidens was the next before the coun- cil, and she had come to represent the numerous race of the red man. They had come by direction of the Great Spirit to be his witnesses at the gathering up of the many nations and tribes, at the great council of the Great Spirit ; and many of 136 RE VELA TIONS. his children were ashamed, as they gathered around the Great Spirit's platform of Eternal Justice, where they could see that they had not dealt with justice when they were on the lower hunting-grounds the trusted leaders among the Great Spirit's pale-face children. She then withdrew. And India closed the session by invocation to the Great Spirit. April 9, 1873. — After India's invocation to the Great Spirit, again asking for wisdom and strength to assist them in their labors in order to have them approved, he said Conftu- cius was present, and by request of the assembled tribes would again address them. He then withdrew. And the good Father Confucius was again heard by the council, and said he had then come to answer the desire of the many who were anxious to know what had become of the people shown to them a-travelling north at the time they left their companions, who found their Eden over the water. He would now inform them they were a band of pilgrims who had left their homes and their friends in China, and perse- vered in their travels through the deserts and barren plains in search of unknown lands, not knowing where they were going to form a settlement. But after their separation, where further communication for the time was suspended by a heavy rain and the dense fog that settled on the water, and after waiting two days without tidings, they started in hopes of finding an opening that would take them to their friends* in some other direction. " But as w>e follow them north, we find that the waters prevented their further union, and they continued their travels until they found a fertile and beautiful country beyond the northern icebergs, where they have become a great and a prosperous people, as you see them represented here in spirit, and as you know the desire has gone out among the nations who have fitted and sent out different expeditions, expecting to find them. And now, as we turn back, we shall find the pilgrims that were then left in their beautiful garden, where they were happy and increased in numbers, from your Cains and Abels, down to Enoch, — who, it is said, was a just man, who walked and talked with God, — and Methuselah and Seth, with all their descendants down to Noah, where the historians have intro- duced a flood in order to destroy them; but you see they are all here gathered up, and represent many of the different RE VELA TIONS. 137 nationalities and tribes, who are here to establish their one common origin. Here you see the red man with his numer- ous descendants, who have ever been true to Nature, and worshipped the Great Spirit manifested to them through the mysterious and wonderful works everywhere seen around them, and who now stand in spirit nearest to the Great Fa- ther, uncontaminated with the mammon of unrighteousness with which so many are scarred. They are the tribes, with their many descendants who followed a stream that led them to the gold fields of the western El-dorado, where they re- mained uncorrupted with the principalities of the earth. And here are the tribes with their descendants who have become pale in the face through the corruptions of the flesh, who first led the way to South America. The earth then was more level and fertile, with less water upon its surface. And as the tribes separated and formed settlements in different local- ities, it was often centuries before they would know of each other's nationality. And here now we have the confiding Hindoo, with his numerous descendants, who have bowed in reverence to their dumb idols in order to satisfy their venera- tion. And you now see all the tribes represented who have been called up before the Great Father's platform of Eternal Justice, where all his children can establish their relationship to each other, and prepare to go nearer to Him." When, after instructions concerning their investigations, he again retired, and — One of the ancient Hindoos was then before the council, where he expressed his satisfaction with what he had then heard, and told of the progress his people, who had been called " heathen," were making. He spoke of the wonderful scenes that had transpired since they had all been called up together. He said each nation, or class, was kept by itself, and each class had chosen one of their own in order to represent them in the council ; and when any charge was made that w 7 as wrong, any one who could refute the statement held up a hand, and then the opportunity was given in order to set them right in their investigations. His people were thankful for the kindness they had received, and would show their gratitude by giving more strength to their speaking goddess. One of the Forest Maidens was next before the council, where she had come to listen to the talk of the old brave who was wise, for he had long been in council, and who wor- shipped the Great Father. She and her race were the children 138 RE VELA TIONS. of the Great Spirit, who had sent them from their upper hunt- ing-grounds to work with his pale-face children, who had never practised his law of justice and of charity with judg- ment and love for all. When they learned the Great Spirit's laws, and obeyed them, all the pale-face race would see the mistake they made by going into the by and forbidden paths that led them away from the Great Spirit, who had ever pro- vided for his earthly children. India closed the session by invocation to the Great Spirit. April 12, 1873. — After India's invocation to the Great Spirit, he said Maroni and John were .the next to speak; when, after his usual instructions, he retired. When Maroni was then before the council, and told them that he had wandered up and down the earth for many cen- turies to witness the fearful struggles for temporal power among the aspiring leaders of men, with no power to remove the cause of human suffering. No human imagination could ever realize his unhappy condition. Thirty-five hundred years ago, he was one of a tribe who then inhabited the North American continent ; they had wandered away from the home of their fathers, and disannulled the covenants made with the patriarchs that taught them of a Father's home above, and went out in order to build up principalities of their own, where in their prosperity they forgot the great Ruler among the na- tions of the earth, and by their disregard of his just laws soon found themselves overwhelmed by a terrible destruction in the midst of their own foolish and evil devices. But time and again their descendants would forget the chastenings of their fathers, and pursue the same unwise and selfish counsels, only to be again overtaken and punished by the judgments that would follow their own evil doings. And such had been the experience and the history of his race for ages,' as they had wandered up and down in spirit, suffering and sighing over their perishing and crumbling earthly principalities, which by their own disregard of the covenants of God they had entailed upon their race. But now their sighing was turned to joy, for they had found the great platform of Eternal Justice, where all could sit upon a common level and once again review their former relationship ; and where each one could sit and judge himself, and not be the judge of his brother ; and where no one could complain of injustice ; but where justice and charity, judgment and love, would triumph REVELATIONS. 139 over the power of darkness ; where the Great Father and Creator of all, and Jesus the saviour and brother of all, would be known and acknowledged and adored by all and by every race. As he then retired, the Apostle John Was again before the council, where he made a few remarks to the assembled tribes, who had been assigned each nationality a place by themselves on the platform of justice, where for a short season they would be permitted to remain undisturbed in order to sit in judgment on themselves preparatory to their entering a higher sphere. He told them it was a glorious sight, and one they had worked long and patiently in order to accomplish, assisted and sustained in their labors by the angels of the higher spheres. He told them in the centre of the great platform were seated the prophets and seers who had been faithful in their labors for all ; and there was Jesus, who in compassion for suffering humanity volunteered to lead them up to his Great Father's eternal kingdom, and who had willingly and patiently endured the terrible ordeal of the cross that He might show them his triumph over death and the tomb. " While here is the little band that He had then gathered around him, who had wit- nessed his terrible sufferings, as well as that of his glorious triumph, and who might now lift up their heads with joy, as every tribe and every nation gladly bowed their knees in grat- itude, and acknowledged the purity of our Master's heavenly mission." He then remarked that other plans had failed to accomplish the grand work, and mankind in their mental blind- ness had clung to their earthly kingdom, which they had built up through avarice and human bondage, in their cruel strug- gle for temporal power. " But when the present council assembled in spirit, despatches were sent from sphere to sphere, and the dark sphere had been awakened from their long sufferings, and gathered together, where the result is now before you, where all are sitting upon the platform of Eternal Justice, and judging themselves as they contemplated the wonderful power and the boundless and endless love of the great Creator. And their earthly brothers have already heard the sound, and are reaching up and asking for more light in order to dispel the darkness and the doubts that sur- round them." After assuring them of the reality of the beauti- ful scene before them, he retired. And One of the ancient Hindoos was then before the council, where he made a few remarks to his own people, and then 140 REVELATIONS. said they had taken their place on the platform where they were preparing to go with the other tribes, and that his peo- ple would take the lead headed by their bright star spirit, who was going to show them the great Father. He said the bow-and-arrow girl was there with her race, and wouldn't speak. India closed the session by invocation to the Great Spirit. April 16, 1873. — After India's invocation to the Great Spirit, he said John would again address the assembled tribes. After which Martha would have an opportunity to speak. When; after his usual instructions and encouragements, he withdrew, and the Apostle John was again before the council, and said he had come in order to make a few remarks to the tribes of Israel and Judah who were sitting in judgment on themselves upon the great platform of justice ; and then called to their minds the terrible conditions they had left behind, which their own children had entailed from age to age down to the present time. He spoke of the present sufferings among mortals result- ing from the false institutions which they themselves had sus- tained. He then spoke of their leaders and representatives who had been sent back to assist in breaking up the powers of darkness that cling to their earthly principalities. What if suffering and sorrow did prevail for a time? was it not that justice should again be recognized, and the spirit kingdom established where all would be taught the way from their transitory and perishable abode up to the great Father's eter- nal kingdom ? He told them they knew well how much they had lost by their disregard of the prophets and seers which had been given to instruct them. And Jesus their Messiah they had rejected and crucified ; turning again from the heavenly, they had clung to their earthly kingdoms ; while the Gentiles had also rejected and cast out the Spirit, and are again crucifying the body in order to build up and strengthen their earthly power. But the time had come and the call gone forth, and all must answer, for the Book of Life was opened. " And as you go forth to do your work, see that the naked are clothed and the hungry fed from the bountiful provisions the Great Father has made for all ; see that the prison-bars are broken, and that all are made free ; for such has been the order. The work must be done, and but little time is given for it all to be accomplished." After a few words of encouragement, he spoke of Martha as one of the REVELATIONS. 141 little band who had been a witness of the sufferings and per- secutions of their Master, and then retired. Martha was the next before the council, where she said she was a witness of the teachings of Jesus; and the gathering up of the nations and tribes, now having its fulfilment, was all foretold by their Master when he was with them in his plrysical form. Said she was one among many others that left their homes and friends in order to be near to him and listen to his heavenly teachings. He told them of his Father's eternal home, and of his mansions, and of his love for all of his earthly children ; but the Jewish priesthood then in power was strong in its op- position, and treated Jesus and all that followed him with con- tempt. But she said he often told them the scene would be changed when he returned with all the angels to establish his Father's kingdom, for then those who rejected and cast him out would realize their loss, and repent in sorrow, and gladly receive him ; when the little band who were then the chosen witnesses of his sufferings should be with him, and witness his glorious triumph over the powers of darkness ; when all the nations of the earth would be gathered together in judg- ment. She then spoke of the success of his labors in estab- lishing the great platform of Eternal Justice in Charity, Judg- ment, and Love, where all had bowed in humbleness before him, and with feelings of everlasting gratitude acknowledged the divinity of his earthly mission. She then spoke of the wrongs he patiently endured at Jerusalem ; said he was pure and sympathetic by nature, and full of love and compassion for the poor and afflicted, and devoted much of his time in teaching them, as well as healing their various maladies with his wonder-healing power. He was severe in his denuncia- tions of the Jewish Church and its false systems, which had caused much human suffering. And at the time of his cruci- fixion the sun was darkened, and the earth shook to its centre, and thousands who before had scoffed at and rejected him, believed and acknowledged he was their Messiah. She then spoke of their own dejected and sorrowful condition until they fully realized the glory of his triumphant resurrection, when they knew, as he often told them in spirit, they would partake of his joys. She then spoke of the many changes, and of the similar conditions by which we were now surrounded, and then retired. When ■ — One of the Hindoos was next before the council, and said he was permitted to come with his girl ; and then he related 142 RE VELA TIONS. the following story about the girl that was with him, and was to have been his wife if the gods hadn't taken her away. After she was gone, he was unhappy and wanted to go himself, when, in about three years, the gods were good, and relieved him also of his body. But he was disappointed in spirit, for his girl didn't come to him, and he didn't know where to go to find her. After many conflicts with himself, he was of the opinion she had gone, and cared no more about him. In a long time after, when overburdened with sorrow, one of his country- men came along and asked him what was the matter, and why he was so unhappy. He thought he would keep his own se- crets, so he made him an evasive answer, when his country- man looked at him sorrowfully, and after a while told him he knew what the matter was ; but, as he hadn't given him a sen- sible reason, he disappeared. After that, he felt worse than ever, and he began to regret that he hadn't given him a civil answer, in order to have found out, if he could, what he bad known ; and for a long time he was left to himself, to fret over his lonely and unhappy condition. But finally the same spirit found him again, and found him willing to inquire about what he knew ; and they sat down together, and had a talk. His spirit friend then told him about his girl, and asked him if he hadn't thought more of her than he did of the gods, and if that wasn't the cause of his trouble, and then told him he would take him where his girl was, if he was still anxious to see her. When he knew by his answer he wanted to go, they started, and were two days in getting to her home ; and it seemed as if they were drawing near to the place where they would have to cross over the water. But it all disappeared as they entered the place, where he found his girl surrounded by a beautiful home, with everything they could desire, and she was happy to see him. And when he asked why she hadn't come to him in his sorrow, she answered by saying it wasn't proper for her to be looking for him among his male companions, who would have said she was a foolish girl, and would have taken the liberty to have made improper remarks. She told him it was proper that he should have been notified of her present home by one of his own sex. If he still loved her, now they had got everything they desired fixed up to please them, and both felt happy, it would be best for them to take hold of hands, and go and ask the Great Father if it were right that they should be united, and if he was willing for them to remain together. They both thought now there REVELATIONS. 143 would be no objection ; but should there be any, he would come and let us know. And then — One of the Forest Maidens was next before the council. She had come to the wigwam of the white squaw to listen to the talk of the pale-faces, and she was glad to know the tribes had gathered up at the call of the Great Spirit, who had sent her race to the lower hunting-grounds once more to pitch their tents among the Great Spirit's pale-face children ; and the red warriors were again on the war-path, and were looking for all who had so long dealt unjustly with their brothers. " Great Spirit say to his many red squaws in their upper hunting- grounds, Squaws, go mark the wigwam-doors of my pale-face children, who by their avarice and their injustice have dis- turbed the hunting-grounds with their crimes and with the cry of want and of suffering ; let the red warriors know where to find them." ' And India again closed the session by invoca- tion to the Great Spirit. April 20, 1873. — After India's invocation to the Great Spirit, and after giving instructions, he said Webster would first be heard, and would designate who should follow. He then withdrew. Webster was again before the council, and said he was au- thorized to make a proposition to his red brothers, in order, if possible, to settle their claims for the great injustice the Amer- ican people had inflicted upon them and their race. It was true the North American continent belonged to the Americans and their red brothers and their descendants, who should have lived together in peace and good fellowship, and developed the wonderful resources of the country. He also acknowl- edged the injustice with which they had been and were still treated by their white brothers ; but he was authorized and instructed to give up the possession of the lands, if their red brothers would pay for the improvements and be satisfied; when the American representatives present acknowledged the offer to be just, and were ready to accept it. But Metamora, who spoke for his race, said his red brothers were willing, in consideration of the spirit-knowledge imparted to all the Great Spirit's children through the assistance of their white brothers, to relinquish their claim to the land, and when justice was established with the remnant of their race on the lower hunting-grounds, they would bury the hatchet, and sit down with their white brothers near to the Great Spirit, and smoke the pipe of peace. 144 REVELATIONS. Webster then remarked that he had long foreseen the ter- rible conditions that would in the end submerge the country, and had tried, when with us in his body, to pursue a more reasonable course, in order, if possible, to avert the impend- ing evils ; but his timely efforts had been misconstrued, and himself cast out by his countrymen. Nevertheless, he still proclaimed the principle of " No north, no south, no east, no west: " and the law of Eternal Justice should be administered to all. The- black man's race had enough to reach them the helping hand, but no one had spoken for his red brothers, or had given them the hand of fellowship, neither had any one in Congress asked for justice for the red man's race. Alter a few pleasant words, he introduced his friend by the name of Hill, and again retired. And one who gave the name of Hill, of New Hampshire, was next before the council, where he said he felt a just pride in having the pleasure of speaking, and he should endeavor to be brief. He then spoke of the lamentable condition the country was in, and of the burden of taxation of which the people complained, which was the natural result that flowed from avarice and injustice. He then adverted to the habits of the American people, and said they had been but poorly instructed, for they were all taught from their childhood to love and worship Mammon instead of the commandments from the Great Creator. It had been the universal practice of the parents to tie it to the necks of their children, for them to look at and handle before they had learned to talk. He thought it was nothing strange they parted with honor and everything sacred in order to obtain it. The schoolboy was told in every lesson to aspire after wealth and position by following the examples of others who in the fearful strife had attained it. Such things were wrong, and had corrupted the minds of the people until the cry of wrongs and of injustice was heard all over the land ; and the people had forsaken the wise counsel and were overwhelmed by their own corruption in their strug- gle for wealth and power. He then said that he had been a Democrat when Democracy demanded justice for all. He still loved his country, and wanted it represented by men and not by the lovers of Mammon. When, after speaking of their combined and successful labors in spirit, he said he was pleased to stand with his countrymen who had rallied around the new platform of Eternal Justice, where they had renewed their covenant to labor for the emancipation of the race. He then retired. RE VELA TIONS. 145 A woman who gave the name of Bean, was the next before the council, where she said she was a native of Florence, in Italy, and was by favor permitted to speak. She gave ex- pression to her gratitude for the opportunity, and spoke of the wonderful work already accomplished through the suc- cessful labors of those who had the work in charge. She then spoke of Israel and of Judah, with the many tribes gathered about them ; and then of Egypt, and Africa, and China, with their untold numbers gathered around them, all waiting for the order to move from the one who was their leader. She then spoke of the sages who had united in the accomplishment of the great work ; spoke of the one at their head with a red signet that united him with the Great Father, as an evidence that they had triumphed over the powers of darkness ; and through Justice and Charity, Judg- ment and Love, the kingdom would be established with mortals. She again gave evidence of her gratitude, and then retired. And one of the Hindoos was next before the council, where he expressed his gratification, and said his folks were going to have a place by themselves, and they were making arrange- ments about how nice they would have it prepared. He thought it should be a grand chair, with a canopy over it, for the Great Father to occupy when he came to see them. The great star-spirit had told them they were all the children of the Great Father ; and now they were anxious to go where they could see him, and know they could all be his children and be nearer to him. After which India, as usual, again closed the session by in- vocation to the Great Spirit. April 23, 1873. — After India's invocation to the Great Spirit, he said Washington was present in order to speak ; that Arnold would be the next one heard, and would state who was to follow. When, after again expressing his thanks for what had already been accomplished, he retired. And Washington was again before the council, where he remarked that it was with feelings of more than common gratitude in which he availed himself of the present op- portunity in order to say a few words in the presence of the former representatives of his country, who had gathered around the great platform of Justice. He had long reflected on the present degenerate condition of the people of the 10 . 146 RE VELA TIONS. beautiful country of which he had been called the " father/' and he was pleased to see around him again good and true men — the men who stood firm in the day of trial, and de- fended their country from the aggressions of foreign despots and taskmasters that their children might inherit the greatest of all blessings — freedom. He then thanked the Great Father of all that they had been permitted to realize in what had been their country's failure ; and as they united in their labors in building up their new America in spirit, it was founded on the imperishable foundation of " eternal justice for all." He then told them that what they had to do in order to rectify their former mistakes should be doue, and that, too, without unnecessary delay. They all knew that chastening was sent in mercy that a great good might have its birth among mortals. After saying that Arnold, who had been put upon the record as a traitor to his country, had sought for a time to say a few words in his own behalf, and as it was unnecessary that he should prolong his own re- marks, he would give way. And — Arnold was the next before the council, where he said it was with feelings of everlasting gratitude he accepted of the great favor awarded to him in order to speak of his own mis- fortunes before his countrymen, who had rallied around the new platform of Eternal Justice, where he desired to say a few words in his own behalf, for he, too, had been a victim of false education. He was taught in his youth to worship the Mammon of the world, and in the day of his trial, with his human weakness he had bowed like others to the gods of the earth. He then said that with his love for money he had acquired the pernicious habit of gambling, and often re- sorted to it with a desire to strengthen his fortunes in order to command respect. He said it was true he was found wanting in the hour of his trial, and had been arraigned time and again by his country, who had called him a traitor. And he would say now, if the elements were in his nature, that his Creator had used him for a warning to others that the principles of human freedom might be the firmer established among his countrymen. Unfortunately for him, his propensity for gambling was strong, and he gratified it with those who sought the destruction of his country's freedom ; and at the time of his fall he followed the fortunes of those who had put the temptation before him, and who treated him as a compan- ion as long as his money lasted ; but when that was gone, RE VELA TIONS. 147 he was left to reflect upon the terrible disgrace he in a day of trial by his own weakness foolishly fastened to his name. And none but his Creator could ever know the extent of his sufferings and of his fearful humiliation in having to flee from his comrades that he should have protected with his life in the hour of danger. And though he failed and fled in the hour of his trial, he would now ask what those who remained had got to boast of, for it was well known all their institutions were a failure. Notwithstanding he had been held up as a warning for the benefit of others ; every " department " now was full of traitors, while avarice and injustice, with crime and human suffering, were daily increasing in every town. They had failed to build on a sound foundation, and they too were now humiliated and mortified by seeing all their boasted institutions fast fading away. He then said he would willingly return with others, and assist in the work of establishing the foundations on the solid and substantial platform of Eternal Justice for all ; and when that was accomplished, and not till then, they might ask to be forgiven. When, after once more expressing his gratitude for the opportunity of saying what he had, he remarked that a tried and faithful armor-bearer was then waiting to speak, and he would retire. When the — Baron Lafayette was the next before the council, where in beautiful language he portrayed the grandeur of the expan- sion of the individualized spirit as it unfolded in the sphere above, and was conscious of meeting again, face to face, with the loved ones it mingled with during its earthly pilgrimage. He then spoke to Washington in regard to the glorious destiny of his country ; said it had been shown to him when they were struggling together in order to free it from the grasp of foreign taskmasters. He was then shown that it would be the country where the angel world would reveal themselves to mortals. He told him it was under the forest-trees, where he so often knelt down in supplication to his heavenly Father for blessings for his earthly children that were then struggling for the priceless boon of freedom. And as he was again per- mitted to meet with them as they had gathered together on the great platform of Eternal Justice, to renew their cove- nant with Charity and Judgment and Love combined, they would complete the work. He then told them of what he was shown when they were struggling for their country's freedom. He said he had retired to the favorite tree to 148 REVELATIONS. meditate on what then seemed to be their apparent helpless condition, and he saw the heavens above him opened and the angels were gathering together, when he heard a great noise as it were " the rushing of the mighty waters/' and was told it was the gathering in of the peoples and nations of the earth, who had been called up by the angel of time to answer to their names recorded in the book of life. And what he was then shown, which had seemed like a vision, was now having its fulfilment. He then told Washington that he him- self must have had visions of his country's coming glory, for he had often made remarks which have since proved to have been prophetic. And now the} r all had a realizing sense of the scenes of the past in what they could behold around them ; and they should be thankful to know they had a part in the great drama that was gathering the nations of the earth together where one language and one spirit were uniting all the Great Father's children ; so let those who have been assigned to labor with mortals persevere in their work until the law of justice is established, and then Charity and Love will reign triumphant over the beautiful plains of earth as they now do in the spheres above. After speaking of the great pleasure the present interview had given to him, he retired. One of the Hindoos was the next in council, and again told of his own people's pleasure in what they were hearing from others ; and the star-spirit had been teaching them that all nations were the children of the Great Father, who was their Creator ; and as they progressed into a higher knowledge of his mighty works, they would understand that all were brothers, and the discordant elements in their natures would disappear when they would stop their wrangling with each other and live as brothers should live together in peace. The bow-and- arrow girl had said that in two moons they would all move up nearer to the great Spirit-Father ; and when they found out more about him, one of their people would come and let us know. One of the Forest Maidens was next in council, where she said she had come to the light where the camp-fire was kept burning, where she had listened to the talk of the pale-face braves ; and she was glad to hear them acknowledge the power of the Great Spirit, who had sent out his red warriors to find out the trail of his pale-face children that so long had disregarded the Great Spirit's law of justice. She then spoke to Israel and to Judah, with their many tribes they had gath- RE VELA TIONS. 149 ered together, and were anxiously waiting for the promised land they had wandered far from during their long pilgrim- age on the lower hunting-grounds, where they cast out the spirit and turned away from the One who had told them his Father's eternal kingdom with its many mansions was above their trifling, perishable, earthly principalities. After which once more India closed the session by invocation to the Great Spirit. April 27,1873. — After India's invocation to the Great Spirit, he mentioned the names of Bennett and Greeley, and of Webster and Choate, who were present in order to speak at the present session ; and after a few cheerful remarks he withdrew. Bennett was then before the council, and remarked that he was gratified to have an opportunity to speak in the presence of so many of his old friends who had gathered around the great platform of Eternal Justice. He acknowledged he had been short-sighted and strongly prejudiced in his opinions during his earthly temptations ; and he had advanced the interest of men as well as of measures not calculated to en- hance the public good. And, so far as he himself and his paper with its influence were concerned, he was willing to return and labor with mortals until the effects of his own errors which he had so willingly made public were, if possi- ble, removed from the minds of his countrymen. What if it did disturb the business affairs of their friends? They all knew its object was to promote the general good. And the work must be done. And, so far as he himself was concerned, he desired to make a specialty of the terrible crime of adul- terating and poisoning the wines and other liquors used as a beverage and for medicinal purposes by all nations. He wanted those who had reflected upon the evil to join in the work, and they would stir up the minds of mortals until the great crime was better understood and abolished. All knew of the terrible sufferings of the confirmed inebriate, and they knew that wines and other spirits, when pure and properly used, were no injury to the health or the public good, but were useful and should be protected. He knew, and his friend Greeley well knew, the amount of crime and suffering propagated among mortals by the deception and the false statements of those who adulterate and control the markets ; and they had both failed to speak, when they had control of 150 REVELATIONS. the press, on account of the wealth and power of those engaged in the traffic. But now they knew of the evil and its fearful consequences, and had no excuse, and he should never be satisfied until the crime was forever abolished. He would leave the subject before the platform for further con- sideration, hoping that others would realize the need of some change. He regretted that a subject of so much impor- tance had not received his attention during his earthly pil- grimage. But so far as he himself with his press had failed, he desired, where it was possible, that he might be forgiven. He expressed his pleasure for the present interview, said his friend was waiting to speak, and he would retire. And then Greeley was again before the council, where he remarked, it was true they could see the results of their errors and would gladly unite with others in the work of eradicating their unfortunate effects among mortals. And he was glad to be united with those in spirit willing to engage in so good a cause, where, if he had failed to be president of his country, he was satisfied he was now in a position where he could do his country more good, and as he had been some- what identified with the farmers, he should continue to advo- cate their rights until they were strong enough to stand up and protect themselves. It was their industry that created a large portion of their country's wealth, as well as the food for its inhabitants, and it was their right to make and execute the laws that controlled it. He said it was well known that pol- iticians, with other non-producing classes, were not wanted in the commercial centres, and the time had arrived when they must find homes on the public domain, where by their own industry they could soon learn to procure an honest and more independent living. He had made up his mind to stand by the farmers of his country, and hereafter it should be his pleasure to protect and advocate their rights, and all who would, could have the pleasure of going with him. When, after a few pleasant remarks connected with local affairs, he gave place to his friend, who had been a farmer. And Webster was next before the council, where he spoke of the changes that had been introduced among the people since his own pilgrimage among mortals. Then the farmer was considered the main support of the country. The towns and cities were small, and all the people had some kind of honest employment. Every family had its garden, with a cow and pig to look after, and the people were then REVELATIONS. 151 uncorrupted and contented and happy. But now, he said, how sad the change ! Avarice and pride with their demor- alizing effects had already corrupted every department of trust, and nothing 'but the chastening power of the great Ruler among the nations could ever bring the people to a realizing sense of their fallen condition. He had found the farm during his own experience the safest place to protect and secure the happiness of himself and family, and he should go with his friends and stand by the farmer. After express- ing his thanks, he retired ; and then — Choate was the next before the council, where, after expressing his gratification for the present opportunity of meeting with his old friends who were again prepared to renew their labors, he said he had decided to go with his brother Bennett and defend the people by exposing the curse entailed upon them and their children from the adulteration and the poisonous mixtures with which corrupt and unprin- cipled men have supplied the markets. He said the prohibi- tory question had been, and was still, agitated until the coun- try, to the shame of humanity, was overrun with inebriates. The excitement had foolishly been prolonged until the school- boys were affected by the contagion and had gone to drinking the poison and destructive imitations with which every mar- ket was readily supplied, and had become drunkards before they arrived to manhood. Such unjust abominations were wrong ; and all knew who had sanctioned the new covenant, such things were not tolerated by the great law of Eternal Justice. When, after a few encouraging remarks in connec- tion with their labors, he retired. One of the Hindoos was the next before the council, where he made a few remarks concerning his own people ; said they were pleased with the privileges which they had enjoyed, and were making rapid progress, and were anxious to learn all they could. He then spoke of the ancient tribes that were still gathering in, which none of his people had ever known or heard of before. He said they looked to be very old, and were creating great curiosity among the other tribes. He then spoke of one of the bow-and-arrow girls, who wor- shipped the Great Spirit, who was waiting to speak ; and he would retire, and the next time another one of his people would tell us of how fast they were learning from the teach- ing of their great star-spirit. One of the Forest Maidens was next before the council, 152 REVELATIONS. where she had come to listen to the talk of the braves, and tell them by the command of the Great Spirit of the much suffering of his pale-face children all over the lower hunting- grounds, where the tyranny and oppression, and the great wrongs of those in command, had reached the sphere of the Great Spirit, who had said to his red warriors, " What means this cry of sorrow? prepare for the war-path; " and who .aid to his red squaws, " Go mark the wigwam- doors where the cry of suffering is heard on the lower hunting-grounds." And she came to the wigwam of the white squaw, where the coun- cil-fire was bright, and had listened to the much talk of the white braves, who had told of the many wrongs of their pale- face brothers ; and she would away and tell the Great Spirit of the work of his pale-face children. After which India closed the session by invocation to the Great Spirit. April 20, 1873. — After India's invocation to the Great Spirit, once more acknowledging their dependence, he said Red Jacket and Tecumseh were present, and would next be heard ; and then retired. Red Jacket was next before the council, and again spoke in behalf of his race. He told them to go with him to the far western mountains, and see their hiding-places, where they had been compelled to skulk away to avoid the tyranny and oppression of their white brothers, who with authority had driven them from their hunting-grounds and their fishing- streams, by the Great Spirit given, away into the cold and barren mountains. The avarice of their white brothers had taken all, and nothing was left the descendants of the red man but starvation and death. 0, you need not point to your scaiiess veteran, who, you say, was sent here by the treachery of the red man. The Great Spirit can show a thousand to your one who have been sent here by the deceit and the treachery of the pale-faces, who are now telegraphing from city to city, and making preparations for exterminating the last remnant of the red man's race from the hunting-grounds where the bones of their forefathers have been desecrated by the avarice and the many evils of their pale-face brothers. Red Jacket and his red brothers have worked with you here, and they have worked with your media on the lower hunting-grounds of the red man, in order to build up your great platform of Justice ; but Red Jacket can't sit down with you here until justice is extended to the balance of the red REVELATIONS. 153 man's race on the lower hunting-grounds. So you must see to it. and remember that Red Jacket and his braves are again on the war-path. They had dug up the tomahawks once more, and if the balance of their race must be exterminated through .the covetousness and the injustice of their pale-face brothers, e^ert town and every city on the lower hunting-grounds of the ^red man shall waste away like the burning flax in the mighty winds of the Great Spirit. When, after a few words of instruction to his warriors, he retired. The old chief Tecumseh was next in the council, where he said that justice must be established on the lower hunting- grounds, if it had to be done through suffering; for all the rights of the red man's race had been disregarded by their white brothers. They had driven them from their forests and from their beautiful lakes where game and fish were always bountifully provided by the Great Spirit for the subsistence of his red children. It was known that the many crimes of demoralized pale-faces had time and again been charged to the race of the red man, and his squaws and their children were driven from their homes, and were dying daily of star- vation, authorized and sanctioned by the white man's govern- ment. Such inhumanity could no longer be endured; the camp-fires would be put out, and their pale-face brothers would be made to feel in their own homes the many wrongs which they had inflicted on the race of the red man, and they would learn that the Great Spirit had not forgotten his great law of Eternal Justice. Before another moon the red man's race would be on the war-path. He again referred to the ter- rible sufferings of his race, who had been hunted down like the wild beast of the forest to satisfy the avarice of the white man, and retired. A Modoc squaw, with her pappoose and others of her tribe, was next presented to the council, where she said four moons past, when the Great Spirit's white blanket covered the hunt- ing-grounds, they were driven away from their camp-fires by the pale-face soldiers. They had no blankets and no fire to make warm, so they all sung the death-march; and the Great Spirit took them home to his upper hunting-grounds. She said they suffer much with cold and with hunger ; but the pappoose no cry for fear the pale-face find them. And the Great Spirit was good. He sent them in a vision, and made them warm, and they all wake up in the upper hunting-grounds, and find everything necessary to make them comfortable and 154 REVELATIONS. happy. She then told of her brave, who was among the red warriors on the lower hunting-grounds, where she had been every day in order to see him, where he was driven by the pale-face soldiers, and had no much to eat. That very day she had seen him eat the bark of a tree to appease his hunger. She was shown that in four moons her brave would come to her and their pappooses ; and she would have a couch pre- pared for him, and would make him happy. She then told them the pale-faces were no much good to her people ; they no let them fish and hunt where the Great Spirit gave them fish and game for the red man's squaw and pappoose ; and w T hite man no give Indian much for his furs. Indian no have much to eat, no have much blanket to keep warm. Squaw go naked, pappoose cry for bread ; red braves get angry, say pale- face thief no good on the red man's hunting-grounds. She then, after answering a few questions to those who had gath- ered about her, told them to go to their countrymen on the lower hunting-grounds of the Great Spirit, and teach them of the great wrongs their race were inflicting on the children of the red man, driving them away from their beautiful forest- homes. As she then retired — A woman introduced herself to the council by the name of Gray ; said she was a former resident of Boston, and had been in spirit-life about seventy years ; and she regretted to know our country had made such havoc of their glorious opportunities ; but now the cup of their iniquity was full, for the time had come when they must reap the reward of their evil doings. She was a witness the statement of the children of the red man of the forest concerning many and terrible wrongs was true. She said their interests had been shame- fully neglected by the people's representatives, while bad men, instigated by their covetousness, had robbed them of every right, and coarse and brutal soldiers in the government employ were still hunting them down and driving them from their forest-homes like the wild beasts of prey. The suffering the representatives of the people, by their disregard of the great laws of justice, had, from time to time, entailed upon the wards of the nation, was fearful to contemplate ; but God was just, and his law of compensation was doing its work, and the powers of darkness would give way before it. She was pleased with her opportunity to make a few remarks ; and said those of her sex who had been engaged in the good work of building up the great platform desired to be remembered; and as she then retired, one of — REVELATIONS. 155 The confiding Hindoos was next before the council, and told how finely they were getting along. Said the great star-spirit had given them the box which had formerly been intrusted to the other tribes. He described its appearance, said it had handles, and was carried by four men. It had been in Egypt and in Arabia, and was known by all the ancient tribes. His people did not know what was in it, for they had not looked ; but they had dressed it up in beautiful external apparel, and had a gold cloth to cover it ; and the star-spirit had told them, when they all started to go to the Great Father, his people should take the lead and carry the box in front of the other tribes. One of the Forest Maidens was next in council. She had come from the upper hunting-grounds to the council of the old braves, where the red warriors had gathered, and asked that justice should be extended to the balance of their race, where the cry of their many wrongs has gone up to the sphere of the Great Spirit, who has seen with his great Eye the many sorrows his red children have had to endure from the avarice of their white brothers, who have built their wigwams high, and want much wampum. White man's storehouse large and full of the good things the Great Spirit give for his earthly children. White man have all; red man nothing. Great Spirit send white blanket to cover the lower hunting-grounds ; white man stain it with the blood of the Great Spirit's red children. Squaw and pappoose come to the Great Spirit with no blanket, with no bread, with no fire to make warm. Great Spirit call all his red warriors, and say, " Quick, go find the pale- faces that make such work as this, and fetch them up here." You see where they can stand by the platform of Eternal Jus- tice, and learn more about the Great Spirit's children on the lower hunting-grounds that were once covered with the numer- ous race of the red man. India closed the services by invocation to the Great Spirit. May 4, 1873. — After India's invocation to the Great Spirit, he spoke of the prevailing habits and customs of the present inhabitants, who, in their thirst for the Mammon of the earth, had ransacked the continent, cut down the forests, and dug up the soil in search of hidden treasures, regardless of the rights of the red man's race, until their wrongs had reached the throne of Justice ; and the Great Spirit had opened the book of life, and was calling the nations to judgment. He then 156 REVELATIONS. remarked that Parker was present, and would be the first to speak, after which Pierpont would follow. He then withdrew. Parker was again heard in the council, and said he had come with his friend, who had been relieved from his labors in connection with the Banner, where he had been faithful in the work of establishing the truth of the communion of spirit with mortals. And he felt a pride in having the privilege of introducing his brother to his friends and coworkers on the great platform of justice, where he would receive the hand of fellowship, and hear the welcome benediction of " Well done ; for you have been true and faithful to your trust, and can pass higher, and enjoy the fruits of your earthly labors ; for the dark pall that has covered the sphere has floated back, and here justice has been established, and here the tribes and nations of the earth have gathered together, where each claims its own. No wonder, brother, you shrink back in astonishment at the magnitude of the work accomplished. But as you gain in strength, more light will be given to you, that you may penetrate and partake of the glory and of the grandeur and beauty of the scenes, as the mysteries, one by one, will disappear above the darkened sphere of earth." He then introduced his friend and brother, by the name of White, as one who devoted his time and means in order to advance the work of restitution. And after a few words of encour- agement as usual, he retired. Pierpont was then again before the council, where he ex- pressed his pleasure in meeting his brother White, where they could show him what had been so successfully accomplished in spirit, while he had faithfully battled for the truth among the bigots and scoffers of earth. He told him the dark sphere in spirit had been removed, and a platform of justice estab- lished by the assistance of two who had retired where order prevailed, and had patiently sat with them, night after night, and year after year, until the work was finished. Here you will see schools have been established where the lost and forsaken ones of earth have been gathered up from the dark sphere and instructed in the duties of life, and told of their eternal home, and who are now laboring to ameliorate the con- dition of others. And here you will see that all nations have answered to the call of the angel of time, and each one has taken its place in its own order, as their names were called from the book of life. And here are those who have now come to thank you for your labors in their behalf, and as you REVELATIONS. 157 grow stronger from the s}^mpathy and the love of those who will gather around, you will soon be able to comprehend more of the endless and boundless works of the great Creator ; and as the evening has been devoted to the pleasure of giving you an introduction to others engaged with you in your earthly labors, here you will find many who are now prepared to greet you. After speaking of their amazement at the grandeur of the scenes they had witnessed, he ex- pressed his thanks for the privilege of being present, and retired. One of the chiefs associated with the band of spirits who held communion at the Banner office was the next in council : and said he had come with his tribe to give his white brother a welcome to the upper hunting-grounds of the Great Spirit. He knew the brave had been good to the red man's race on the lower hunting-grounds, and he would take him to their upper hunting-grounds, and give him strength, and then he would see and comprehend more of the grand works of the Great Spirit. After which, an Irishman was next in council. Said he had come, with many others, in order to acknowledge their gratitude to their friend for the knowledge of the communion of spirit imparted to them and to many of their countrymen through his faithful labors. He had broken the shackles of error and superstition, and helped light up " the purgatory " that held them in bondage. And as they drew nearer to the blessed Jesus, " their Lord and Master," they felt grateful to their brother for his labors in their behalf. One of the Hindoos was the next in council, where he said he could show the man what had been done for his people, and how they had been told about the great Father, and had given up worshipping their earthly idols, for they had found a speaking god. And the great star-spirit, which their Koran had told of, had been with them to instruct them about the Father, and had given them a box to have in their posses- sion, and had told them when they went to the Great Father, the Hindoos should take the lead of all the nations and tribes, and carry the box at the head of all the great, grand army. He told him they had been back to their people and showed them the star-spirit that would take them away from their idols : and then told him they had discovered that the people where he had come from had their earthly gods that were fond of gold. It seemed as though it had always been that 158 REVELATIONS. way with their own gods. And when there was a storm or an epidemic among the people, the gods were sure to be poor. And then those fellows that had them in charge told the people the gods were angry, and must have more of their gold and silver. And it often took all they could get to keep them satisfied. Well, here are more of your friends waiting to speak with you ; and here is the bow-and-arrow girl with all of her tribes, and he would have to go. After saying " Good by, mister man .; when you have more time, we will show all the nice things sent to us by the Great Father," he retired. One of the Forest Maidens was next in council, where she had come from the upper hunting-grounds, and told them the Great Spirit was ever near his children who worked in order to es- tablish his great law of Eternal Justice. She then said the white brave who had been shown the platform where his friends had gathered in council was well known, and she had brought him a commission from the Great Spirit, that would authorize him to return to the lower hunting-grounds with authority to renew his labors, and complete the work of establishing Jus- tice and Charity, Judgment and Love. Then all would know the Great Spirit, and be contented and satisfied, and cultivate the beautiful lower hunting-grounds of the Great Spirit, and partake of his daily blessings. And then again, as usual, India closed the session by invocation to the Great Spirit. May 7, 1873. — After India's invocation to the Great Spirit, he said, owing to unfavorable weather, the session would be short, and occupied by the women ; and, as he retired, — Mrs. Townsend was the first in council, where she gave a statement of the surprise and the joy they had experienced in seeing the ancient tribes gathering together. She said it was the consummation of a glorious work which they had not anticipated. She spoke of the old folks and their happiness in their new apartments. She spoke of the children, and of their schools, and of their progress, and of the great pleas- ure all enjoyed who had a part in the accomplishing of the work. When, after her usual encouragement in connection with their labors, she said her sister Fuller was also present, and anxious to make a few remarks. After again expressing her gratitude, she retired. Margaret Fuller was the next in council, where she remarked that although they were present at every session, it was pleasant to have an opportunity to speak, and said they were RE VELA TIONS. 159 more than thankful for the varied scenes they had been per- mitted to witness, by the gathering in of the nations and tribes, each in their own order, where many things that were written but not understood had been represented to the sat- isfaction of all. Said no language could ever portray the gran- deur of the wonderful scenes to mortals. She then spoke of her friends Mrs. Greeley and her husband ; also of Mr. White, recently of the " Banner," and said they were greatly astonished to see what had been accomplished, and were anxious to con- vey a knowledge of the scenes they were permitted to see back to their earthly friends ; said the time was fast approach- ing when there would be an inquiry and a demand for such information by many who had turned a deaf ear to the voice of the Spirit among mortals ; for all things in spirit were now working together in order that it may soon be accomplished. She then expressed her gratitude for the privilege of being one of the many engaged in the work, and said one of the old mothers was anxious to say a few words, and she would retire. One of the old folks was the next in council, where she said her name was Wright, and her husband's name was George, and that they were natives of New Hampshire. She then told of the happiness of the old people in their new apart- ments, where they were forming a new acquaintance, and tell- ing of the many incidents which happened in their youthful days, and where the children from the schools now often came among them and read selections from the books given them to study, which embodied the experience of the teachers of other planets, which had proved to be very interesting to the old people. She spoke of the old ladies who had an oppor- tunity of speaking, and said they sent their regards, and were anxious to be remembered, for we could never realize the change in their condition, or tell how lonely they had been when no one had taken interest in their welfare. After ex- pressing her gratitude for what had been done, she said her George had come with her and was waiting, and she would retire. One of the confiding Hindoos was next in council, and he said they were getting everything fixed up in splendid order, and more things had been given to them that belonged to the box which the star-spirit had given to them. And there was a book " and a crook," with a compass and a square, with four dresses, which had belonged to the box. And there was to be an investigation, to know why the symbols had been 160 REVELATIONS. desecrated, and why the knowledge they were intended to convey to the people had been neglected and lost. He said all the tribes who had had the box and symbols in their pos- session were cited to appear with their witnesses, and be ready to answer for themselves. They were told the book contained information in regard to their spirit-home, which was given when the covenant was made, and should have been taught to the people, and he guessed the Great Father was going to find out why it hadn't been done. He then said the girls with the bow and arrows, who told about the Great Spirit, were all busy looking after and assisting in the arrange- ment of the other tribes, and would speak through their god- dess some other time. He then retired. And India closed the session by invocation to the Great Spirit, once more asking for strength to accomplish their labors. May 11, 1873. — After India's invocation, he said it was ar- ranged for the purpose of giving Ames, and Brooks, and Chase an opportunity to speak. He said it was also now in order for each nationality to make provision for their own people around the platform, and that Pilate would speak first in behalf of the Jews, after which the others would have an opportunity to speak. He then retired. Pilate was again before the council, and said he felt a pride as well as a pleasure in being called to represent those with whom he mingled during his earthly trials. He told them to put aside all doubts and fears of the past, and enter into a full- ness of the spirit-blessings again offered to them ; for it was true Jesus of Nazareth, whom they rejected and cruelly cruci- fied, was their true Messiah, who had come again, and had opened the way that would lead them up to his Father's king- dom. He warned them not to be left behind the second time ; but let all the fair daughters, with the wandering fathers and sons of Israel and of Judah, tune up their harps and be pre- pared to join the innumerable hosts, as tribe after tribe are called, and again take their place in their march for the promised land. After speaking of their own loss in rejecting their promised Shiloh, and of their national destruction which followed, with their doubts and fears and their many sorrows in'spirit, waiting for the fullness of time when He would again return with power to establish his spirit-kingdom, he said the time had come, and they had all bowed in gratitude, and had acknowledged the magnitude and the wisdom and the tri- REVELATIONS. 161 umphant success of the humble Nazarene's " glorious mission." The time had come when the principalities and powers of the earth would again be shaken ; and he thought their own blind- ness and suffering, with their national destruction, should be a sufficient warning to others not to disregard the voice of the ever-living Spirit, and then be rejected and go, as they did, blind and headlong into darkness, with sorrow and national destruction, and no one to lead or relieve them. He once more spoke of his gratitude for the present interview, and retired. After which Chase was before the council, and told of his surprise in finding himself in spirit surrounded by so many of his old friends, and many he had once thought to be his enemies. It was now beyond his comprehension. And there was Brooks, and there was Ames, who had been hunted through their last session at Washington by a nest of vipers in human form, who were ever ready to sting with their poison venom those whom they could not control. He then spoke of his own condition. He had entered the spirit sphere with no prep- aration, naked and helpless, without knowledge of where he was going ; and if it had not been for the friends who had come to his rescue, he knew nothing of what would have been his condition. He thought it was strange so much bad been accomplished, and nothing said about it among mortals. The opportunity given him in order to speak had increased his strength and renewed his faith, and he should ever feel grate- ful; but the grandeur of the scenes in spirit was more than he could realize, for it still seemed to him like a vision. But as their time was necessarily limited, he must give place for his friend. Ames was the next in council. He confirmed what his friend Chase had said, for it was true all three of them had been called up in the presence of a large assembly ; but whether it was in order for a final settlement of the Credit Mobilier, or for something else, he could not say. But it was true he had showed them up at Washington, and made an expose that was evidently needed for the good of his country, and for which he had nothing to regret, but was glad the duty had seem- ingly fallen to his lot. He then spoke of their reception in spirit, and said as yet it was entirety beyond their compre- hension, for it was unexpected, and something for which he had made no provision. But the old and true patriarchs of their country had met them and given them a cordial reception ; ' 11 162 RE VELA TIONS. and, so far as he himself was concerned, he was truly happy to realize he had made the change, and he was ready to engage in any enterprise calculated to benefit humanity. He was pleased with his opportunity to speak, and desired to com- municate again, after he had had more time in order to look about and become more familiar with his change. When, after expressing gratitude, he retired. Brooks was the next before the council, and made a few re- marks. He thought it was unaccountable, for he could not comprehend the wonderful change through which he had passed ; but stated that when he first awaked to consciousness he was alone, and he looked about himself and tried to real- ize his situation, when the thoughts that had been the last were the first to make their appearance, and as he was sitting in what seemed like reflection, he heard a voice say, " Brooks, didn't you do the best you could, under the circumstances by which you were surrounded ?" and he answered, " Yes, he thought he had, for he couldn't see that he could have done any different ; " when gradually the mist that had surrounded him seemed to disappear, and he could see the shadows of forms as they appeared in the distance, evidently moving towards him ; and soon the charm was broken, and the " mys- tery of mysteries " solved, for he was greeted by his friend who had been dear to him, and who he knew had long since passed beyond the transitory things of time. He then ex- pressed his thanks for the unfolding of another mystery, in the great privilege he had been permitted to enjoy by speak- ing through the vocal organs of an earthly form. He then retired. One of the faithful Hindoos was the next in council. He told of the progress of his people ; they were gaining fast, for the star-spirit had been with them again, and had told them more about the Great Father ; and they were getting anxious to go and see him. He then told of many things in connec- tion with their present arrangements in spirit, and said the men that spoke last were as much amazed as his people were when they found the great star-spirit. India again closed the session by invocation to the Great Spirit. May 16, 1873. — After India's invocation to the Great Spirit, he spoke of the return of another birthday of their media, and again thanked the Great Spirit for the wisdom and strength RE VELA TIONS. 163 which had sustained them the past year, and for all that had been accomplished. He then stated the programme for the present session ; said the relatives by family ties, as well as all in spirit who had been enlightened and benefited by the labors of the band, would form on the inner circle in spirit, and all others would then form as by order of creation, each nation- ality by themselves ; and then a brother of their media, who stood next by birth, but was removed from the scenes of earthl} r life during his infancy, would speak first ; after which Miss Landon, one of the teachers in the children paradise, would be present with the children as they passed into the new temple and under an archway of beautiful flowers, while in the temple would be found everything the planet has thus far produced for the children's inspection. Said the) 7 were still called children, for they had entered their paradise dur- ing infancy, and had retained their confidence and purity. And then, as all were waiting, he retired. The brother referred to above was then before the council, where he spoke of the beauty of their home in a higher sphere, where kind teachers had always been near in order to culti- vate their minds and explain the mysteries of the wonderful things developing in the Great Father's kingdom ; spoke of their pleasure of being present where they could witness the gathering together of the nations, and tribes, and families of the earth. He said the changing scenes produced by the labors of the band had given a pleasure never anticipated ; spoke of his pride in having the privilege of speaking through the earthly organism of his sister in the presence of his own companions, and said they had brought many flowers, which they had been taught to cultivate in their spirit gardens in order to commemorate the return of his earthly sister's birth- day. He then spoke of their happiness, as they had often been permitted to meet and mingle and scatter their flowers among the old and weary ones that were coming up, in order to cheer them on the way ; and after speaking of the kindness and the love of their teachers and guides, he left his love for his sister and earthly friends, and then gave way for another. Miss Landon was again before the council, where she was evidently much affected by the magnitude of the scenes around her. She first spoke of the vast numbers of children who had been cultivated and instructed in the paradise of the Great Father's love, and of the great pleasure they enjoyed in meeting and mingling with their friends, and scattering 164 REVELATIONS. their beautiful flowers among the weary and tired ones who had long wandered in the sphere of earth. She then spoke of the labors of the band, and of the great interest presented in the changing scenes during the past few months ; and as they had witnessed the gathering in of the vast nations and tribes who had inhabited the earth, and had listened to their wonder- ful accounts, they could only marvel at the continued evidence of the magnitude of the mighty works of the great Creator. She then appealed in beautiful language to the different nationalities of both color and condition who were gathered together in spirit around the great platform of Eternal Justice, where one spirit and one language had taught them they were all the Great Father's children. She then asked them if it was possible to ever realize the debt of gratitude they owed the One who had been their saviour. And after giving expression to her own grateful feelings, said some of her school-children who were relatives of her earthly sister were anxious to say a few words on the return of the birthday ; and after desiring that she herself might be remembered, she retired. And Alwyn, and Anna, and Frank, and Fanny, each one in their turn had the pleasure of making a few appropriate re- marks on the event of another birthday. Another relative from the same school, by the name of Ella, said she had come with the others, and all had fetched sub- stantial tokens of their love from their own handiwork to com- memorate the event that would be laid up in the new temple which they now had the pleasure of passing through to await the new birth into the kingdom which they had patiently helped to establish. She then spoke of their happiness, and said the children from their schools were distributing their flowers among the old people, who seemed to grow younger as they enjoyed the sport. And as she retired, one of the — Forest Maidens was then in council, and said she had come with her race, who were sitting in their canoes listening to what the pale-faces had to say. She then spoke of the mighty host who had assembled together as an evidence of the power of the Great Spirit. But her people had put out .the camp- fires, and were sitting in sorrow for the injustice the balance of their race had to endure, which the Great Spirit had per- mitted to remain on the lower hunting-grounds. Her people were many in numbers, and they had many complaints to make of the great wrongs of their pale-face brothers, and they had gathered up in council, and put aside the pipe of peace, REVELATIONS. 165 and were sitting together with their blankets over their heads, asking the Great Spirit for justice for the. remnant of the red man's race. One of the Hindoos was the next in council, and told of the progress of his own people since they had found out the Great Father was a spirit ; and he thought they were about ready to make a move in order to get nearer to him. The star-spirit had been teaching them many things that were interesting, and they were all anxious and willing to learn. He then said the bow-and-arrow girl would not speak, for they had put out their lights and gone out ; but he couldn't tell where they had gone, unless it was to look after their pale-face brothers. And India closed the session by invocation to the Great Spirit. May 18, 1873. — After India's invocation to the Great Spirit, he said Scott, and Prescott, and Cooper were the ones designated in order to speak at the present interview ; and after a few remarks in connection with their labors, he retired. Scott was again before the council, where he spoke of the injustice the race of the red man had had to endure, as well as those still remaining in the western mountains, where they were driven by the avarice of the land-sharks, whose aggres- sions had caused much of the trouble of which his red brothers had complained. He said the government hirelings had been sent among them, and they were shot down in their defence- less condition like the beasts of the forest, until all they had not killed had been driven from their homes to suffer. He wanted it proclaimed by those in council on the new platform that the rights of his red brothers must be protected ; and if the policy of extermination is still pursued, let it cost enough in order to be a warning to other nations and peoples not to disregard the great law of Eternal Justice. He spoke in cheering terms of the progress of the work, and said the boys who had rallied around their new standard would see that it was not disgraced. After speaking of the pleasure they ex- perienced from witnessing the varied scenes among the gather- ing tribes, he retired. Prescott was the next in council. He told of the pleasure it afforded him to be remembered by his countrymen who bad assembled on the broad platform of justice, around which the nations of the earth were gathering. He thought it a great privilege to have an opportunity to speak through an earthly 166 REVELATIONS. form to those still wandering on the shores of time, and en- couraged his friends in their work. He loved the law of jus- tice, and would do what he could in order to have it success- fully acknowledged among those they had left behind. Said he was afflicted, when in his earthly form, by the early loss of his sight ; but he found by persevering he had made the ear do the work of the eye, and had given his thoughts through the pen, and left in book-form much that was valuable to his countrymen. And he would volunteer to go with others and assist in the work to enforce the law of Justice, with Charity and Judgment, until the law of Love became universal. When, after a few pleasant remarks for the encouragement of all in their work, he said he was formerly a resident of the historical town of Salem, Massachusetts, and knew something of the mystery that had formerly been connected with the com- munion of spirits ; and as he retired — Cooper was then in council, where he said he had devoted his time to a search after knowledge, and had been the author of a number of books during his earthly trials ; and he was also pleased with an opportunity of meeting with so many of his old friends among his countrymen who had assembled around a platform where justice bad been established in spirit, and he was ready to assist in its enforcement among the in- habitants of the earth ; and he was truly sorry, so far as his own country was concerned, that it had been so long disre- garded. He felt grateful for the opportunity of again using the vocal organs of an earthly tabernacle, and would cheer- fully engage in the work for the amelioration and the eleva- tion of mortals who were looking for, and anxiously asking for, knowledge. McCarty was the next in council, and said he had been per- mitted to come in order to speak a few words in behalf of the people of his own country. And he then urged his country- men to persevere in the enforcement of the great law of Jus- tice which he said had, as a recognized principle, too long been disregarded among the inhabitants of the earth. He entreated his people, by the love they had for the blessed Jesus, who had died for them on the cross in order to lead them to his heavenly kingdom, to press on, be faithful in their work, and never tire until the principalities and the powers with their earthly kingdoms gave way for their Master's heavenly kingdom. Then would Justice have a place among mortals, and Charity, with Judgment and Love, do its work. RE VELA TIONS. 167 After expressing his thanks for the great privilege extended to his countrymen, as well as himself, he retired. A Hindoo was the next in council, and there spoke in behalf of his own nation, and said they would turn away from their earthly idols as soon as they were taught about the great star-spirit. He then said the bow was a symbol in the cove- nant the star-spirit was teaching his people, and that was the reason the bow-and-arrow girls always had the bow in their hands when they came to the council to speak. He thought that was the cause of the Christians telling about the rain- bow in their Koran, for they had no doubt forgotten the ex- planation that was given when the covenant was made. But as the bow-and-arrow girl was waiting to speak, he would go, although he thought, if she had a mind to do it, she could tell all about it. One of the Forest Maidens was then in council, where she had come from the upper hunting-grounds by the com- mand of the Great Spirit, who had been told of the many wrongs the race of the red man endured, on the hunting- grounds- below, from the avarice of their white brothers who had driven them from their wigwams, where their sufferings from starvation were known. And she had come to the great platform to demand, in the name of the Great Spirit, that hereafter the pale-face race heed well the Great Spirit's law of Eternal Justice, in all their transactions with the balance of the red man's race. And India closed the session by invocation to the Great Spirit. May 21, 1873. — After India's invocation to the Great Spirit, he said the present session would be devoted to a review of the children's school, and some of them would have an opportunity to speak, in order to give some evidence of their rapid progress. When, after speaking of the success of their labors in spirit and of the untold pleasure it afforded, he retired. One of the children by the name of Zask, of New York, was before the council, where she said that her own sorrowful expe- rience was the same as that of thousands of other poor children in every city. She was neglected in her poverty until shame for her own naked condition departed, and she soon became familiar with the nakedness of others who were deprived of sufficient clothing to cover their bodies, and their natural 168 RE VELA TIONS. feelings of shame were turned into hatred with a desire for revenge on others that were living in extravagance and luxury on every side ; and after a few years of sorrow in their con- flict with poverty and crime, they were sent untimely from the physical plane to the spirit world, where they found themselves in the same condition, full of envy and self-will, with a natural hatred for everything around them. Such she said was their condition in spirit when they were found by those who had proved to be their true friends, for they had gathered them up, and cleaned and clothed them in suit- able apparel, and had shown further interest in their welfare by establishing schools where they were all organized in classes, where the neglected ones, without regard to condi- tion or color, were now being taught by competent teachers a knowledge of the Great Father and his immutable laws, now manifested in the unfolding of all things that surrounded them, and also of their duties to each other, who were all children of the same great Creator. She then spoke of their wonderful improvement, and of the kindness and patience of their teachers in their efforts to overcome their former bad habits. But they were happy now, and the number of their classes appeared to be endless. She had no doubt they would cover the planet, for they could be counted by millions, while many of the children who had never known their earthly parents before had now been permitted to see them. And all had been told of the One who said, Suffer little children to come unto him, and forbid them not, for of such was the kingdom of heaven. She then spoke of their love for the one they called their earthly mother, who had let them come, time and again, to tell of their sorrowful condition before they were gathered together and their schools established. She then retired. The next before the council was Reade, of New York, who confirmed all his schoolmate had said, and then gave a vivid description of his own sad experience among the humble and degraded poor. He portrayed the present condition of the poor children in every city, as had been witnessed by the thousands whom the poor boys had taken with them in order to show all how the poor were degraded and had to live in every town and city. And, without regard to the feelings of those who had assembled to witness their present exhibi- tion, he told them how the continued neglect of the suffering poor drove them into crime from their childhood, and it was REVELATIONS. 169 no wonder that life and property now had no earthly security. He was thankful to the good missionaries who had found them in their nakedness in spirit and had clothed them, and were teaching them of their natural rights. He thought if others had to suffer from the effects of their own neglect, the fault was their own ; and they had better hunt up those in poverty and want, whom they had failed to give instruction and find something for them to do. He spoke of the kindness of their teachers, and of the interest manifested by those who had returned with them to the prisons and to the scenes of their former poverty-stricken homes. After expressing his grati- tude for their change, he retired. The next one before the council was a colored girl, who said she had formerly lived among the slaves of one of the southern plantations, where bad treatment and ignorance had made her like a wild hyena, and that was her condition when she was found in the spirit ; but the kindness of her teachers, with their good counsel, had learned her to over- come her faults. She was happy now with her schoolmates, who were all treated alike and taught the same lessons with- out regard to color. She was pleased with the privilege of speaking, and said she desired by her good behavior to be worthy of all the kind treatment she was receiving ; and, after expressing her gratitude, she retired. Miss Landon was again before the council, where she spoke of her own experience as a teacher among the little ones who had passed to the higher life during their infancy. She said it was a great pleasure for them to come with their flowers and mingle in the schools with the children whose earthly conditions had been sorrowful. She expressed great pleasure in witnessing the wonderful change in their present con- dition. She also said they had found much enjoyment, and they loved to go among the aged of every condition, and dis- tribute their celestial flowers, and cheer them on their way in their advance to the higher spheres ; for it truly was a pleasure to those who had been neglected and deprived dur- ing their earthly trials', to be gathered up in spirit, where they aTe now clothed as well as instructed and made happy. And she instructed the children under her own care from the paradise of God ? s love, as they mingled with the others, whose care-worn faces still showed signs of their earthly sorrows, that they should make no distinction on account of color or condition, for all were the Great Fathers children, and all 170 RE VELA TIONS. equally entitled to his blessings. And after speaking of her own gratitude for the place she had been called to fill, she again retired. The next one in council was a Jewess, who said she was permitted to say a few words in behalf of those of her own race who had been gathered up in spirit, where all were in- structed in the same language in the • great law of Eternal Justice. She felt to rejoice that her sisters of Israel and of Judah had been permitted to cross the waters where they could mingle with their sisters of other nations, where by the same spirit they could learn of their Messiah's heavenly kingdom. She felt a gratitude, she said, that was impossible to even express, as the wonderful scenes were conveyed to her mind ; and, after expressing her thanks for the privilege of speaking, she retired. One of the Hindoo children was the next in council, where she said she had come to answer for their class in the school where all the Hindoo children were progressing. She recited a very interesting composition as an evidence of their im- provement, and said they were all delighted with the kind attention given to them by their teachers ; and, after saying her people all thanked us for the privilege allowed to them in order to speak, also for the interest taken in their wel- fare, she retired. The next one before the council was one of the Indian chil- dren, who told of the interest that was now manifested in their welfare by all the teachers of the schools, where they were teaching them that all were the children of the Great Spirit, and that the people of every nation and color were taught the same lessons in the same language ; and they were also told that the Great Father and Great Spirit and Great Creator were all the same, whose great wisdom and power were every- where made manifest by the wonderful and grand develop- ments of all things around them ; while they were much gratified with an opportunity of going to school, and said they were making rapid progress as they committed to memory the lessons given to them by their teachers; and they loved the good pale- face children now, since they had been taught that all nations and tribes belonged to the Great Spirit. When India again closed the session by invocation to the Great Spirit. REVELATIONS. 171 May 25, 1873. — After India's invocation to the Great Spirit, he said the present session would be devoted to an organization of all the nationalities brought up at the present closing cycle, and it would include all represented by what was called the Bible history of creation, and that Elijah, one of the old prophets of Israel, was first in order, after which others would follow. Said they would defer the coming Wednesday evening session, and they would have everything in readiness for the following session ; and then spoke of the opposing forces with which they had had to contend during his experience for the past eighteen years, and of the pleasure it afforded them in knowing they had been successful in their labors in spirit, and had triumphed over the power of dark- ness. Said the inhabitants of the earth were already feeling the change that was fast coming around by the wasting away of their present institutions, and as the old passed away, the new would be received, and the law of justice acknowledged. He then withdrew. The next in council was Elijah the prophet, who spoke of the present gathering up of his people as a consummation of the visions of which he had long ago foretold, and for which he and his brother prophets had often been stoned and driven from their camps. But now the fullness of the Gentiles had come, and he who was their Leader had returned again, after being himself rejected, and cast out, and crucified by those who did not know him. But now, after wand ering'and waiting in sorrow, all were glad to hear his heavenly voice, and were ready to accept and honor him as their true and only Messiah, who had come again to offer them the heavenly kingdom. And he counselled his people to see to it that none of the tribes of Israel or of Judah were this time left behind. He knew they had been rebellious and unforgiving; and they had suffered, and that should be a warning to others not to cast away the Spirit, or trifle with the God of Israel. He told them of the mistake they had made hunting up and down the earth expect- ing to find the promised land that was far above their earthly Palestines, and urging them all to be prepared, and for each section to obey those found worthy to lead them. He then spoke of their improved appearance and of the sparkling of their eyes as they now united in their new songs of praise for the return of their long-lost Messiah. And after referring to the fullness of his own gratitude for their blessings, he re- tired. 172 REVELATIONS. The next before the council was an Irish prophet, who said he had come from his loved country with a commission in order to represent his own people in the gathering up of the nations of the earth around the great platform of Eternal Jus- tice ; and he exhorted them all to be prepared to follow the lead of the blessed Saviour whom they had professed to love, but of whom in reality they had known so little. They all knew now that their purgatory was forever closed, and they had nothing to fear, and must soon remove the principalities of earth, that were the stumbling-blocks in the way that prevented the progress of humanity, and turned them away from the com- munion of spirit that told of the heavenly kingdom of their Lord and Master, who voluntarily suffered upon the cross that he might triumph over the power of darkness, and open the way from the mortal and perishable things of earth to the imper- ishable and eternal kingdom, where all would partake of his glory. When, after telling them not to be laggards in their part of their Master's work, but have their lamps filled and ready, he retired. One of the Hindoos was the next in council ; and he had come in order to represent his people. He said they were all ready, for they had gathered around the box that had been intrusted to their care, and that was placed upon the platform of Justice by direction of the great star-spirit, who had also commissioned him to say that all the nations and tribes who had never been intrusted with the covenant would now have the privilege of forming on the same side and next to his peo- ple, and all the nations and tribes who had the covenant, and turned away and disregarded the teachings of the Spirit, must all form by themselves on the opposite side of the plat- form, and all the nations and peoples who had the gospel of a risen Saviour, and had used it in order to build up their earthly principalities, must now go and take their place by the side of those who had disregarded the covenant ; while the Chinese and the older nations were gathered up together, and had a place by themselves. And the bow-and-arrow girls, with all their race, were stationed next to the great star-spirit. After telling about the anxiety some of the tribes manifested in re- gard to the box intrusted to his people, and the great pleasure it afforded them, he retired. One of the Forest Maidens was the next in council, where she had come to stand for her race, who were many, like the trees of the forest. She told of the mighty power of the REVELATIONS. 173 Great Spirit everywhere manifested by the boundless and end- less blessings bestowed upon his children. Yes, they loved the Great Spirit, and had returned to the platform where Justice had been established, and they would re-light their camp-fires and be in readiness to obey his command, for the time had come when justice must be established among the pale-faces on the lower hunting-grounds. She then spoke of the many nations and tribes who had answered the call of the Great Spirit, and gathered around his great platform of Eter- nal Justice, where Israel and Judah, with their many tribes, were again listening for the voice of the Spirit to lead to the promised land, which they had found was above their earthly Jordans, where they had long been in bondage. She then told of the red warriors, and the many archers of the red man's race, that were ever ready to obey the Great Spirit's command. And India closed the session by invocation to the Great Spirit. June 1, 1873. — After India's invocation to the Great Spirit, he said they had finished the work of gathering up the na- tions and tribes in spirit, and were then ready for the great Media to come and review their labors, and give further in- structions. He then said the one we called the u healer " would take control, and give further instructions in connection with the present session. He then retired. The familiar voice of the " healer " was the next heard in the council, where he expressed his amazement at the gran- deur of the scenes before him, and said no language was suf- ficient to convey to mortals, in order for them to comprehend, the magnitude and the glory of the things which he was then permitted to behold in spirit. It was the gathering in of all the wandering and scattered tribes of Israel and Judah with their different nationalities, who were now resurrected and brought up to meet the Gentile nations around the great plat- form of Eternal Justice, where they were waiting to hear the voice of the blessed Saviour, who was present with his twelve apostles ; and each one was assigned his place. He then said it had been appointed for John to first make a few remarks, after which the blessed Jesus, who had come in the clouds of the heavens with all his holy angels, would take control and pronounce the judgment. He then withdrew. John the seer, and one of the twelve, was again before the council, and remarked it was truly a glorious consummation, 174 REVELATIONS. and one they had long desired to see accomplished, when their Master would sit in his chair of justice, in his spirit-kingdom, and be acknowledged by the nations and tribes of the earth who had answered to the call of the gospel of the communion of spirit, as they gathered from a resurrection to the judg- ment. Yes ; truly it was a scene that was worthy of con- templation, for it was as long and as broad as the planet from which the black and the white, the red and the copper-col- ored races had come up, each nation and tribe in their own order, to bow their knee in gratitude and veneration to Jesus, whom they gladly acknowledged to be their Saviour, for they knew he had voluntarily been a martyr that he might triumph over the powers of darkness, and lead them away from their transitory and perishable earthly kingdoms. And well they might rejoice, for it was truly a fulfilment of the sayings of the past, for they had seen the angels of light descending and ascending, bearing the triumphant news of the birth of another kingdom. And there was a new heaven and a new earth, where Justice and Charity, with Judgment and Love, would do their work ; and the heavens were opened, and the arch- angels had assembled to bear witness of the grandeur of the scenes before them, while anthems of praise were flowing from every nation and tribe, and from every camp, in order to commemorate the wonderful triumph of the meek and the lowly Nazarene. He then said, as no language was sufficient to portray in full all that had been accomplished, he would re- tire and let Jesus, their Master and Leader, speak for himself. Who, after taking control, said it was true the kingdom was established and never to be destroyed. He then said that after many unsuccessful efforts, his Father told him to com- mence the work in the dark sphere connected with the physical plane, where the spirits still partook of their earthly condition. And many had been the sorrowful scenes through which they had had to labor, where unhappy spirits, fearful of the doom which had been impressed on their memories, would flee in terror from their sight, and hide away among the neglected and dark conditions they had everywhere found among mortals. But, he said, by untiring perseverance they had* succeeded in lighting up the dark sphere, and, searching out the retreats of the lost and forsaken and sorrowful ones, had by kindness established confidence and trust, until they were instructed in the schools which they had organized in a knowledge of their inheritance to the higher and happier REVELATIONS. 175 spheres in spirit. He then said that he first went to those who had professed to be his followers ; but they had refused to receive him, and rejected and cast him out. Said he had been in their costly temples, where they professed to worship : and he had been in their palaces, and found them stored with every luxury that nature and art had produced ; and he had been in the neglected hovels of the poor, who were cast out and denied the possession of their lawful inheritance ; and he had been in their prisons, where their brothers and his broth- ers were chained to the rocks with their backs bowed down with needless and cruel torture, often in dark and loathsome dungeons. And such things were sustained and upheld by those who profess to be his followers, and who build their costly temples in which they offer their devotions to him and his Father for their daily blessings. He then turned to the Jews, who were gathered before the platform of EternalJustice, on which his disciples were seated, who were the witnesses of his cruel and terrible persecutions during their own earthly trials, and told them it was true he was poor and despised, and without an earthly father, when they cast him out and crucified him, and they all knew what had been the result. He told them he came to them in order to restore what had been lost, and that was the covenant made by spirit with their forefathers, and which was given in beau- tiful symbols, and taught them of a resurrection of the spirit to its immortal home in their heavenly Father's Eternal King- dom ; but they had lost the chart that opened the way to their spirit home that was above, while they had wandered in the forbidden paths, and built up for themselves homes among the perishable things of earth. " And where now is all your glory — you that have been kings and rulers over the nations ? Have you been satisfied in your rambles over your barren fields, and among the crumbling ruins of your temples and your images? You would have done better if you had lis- tened to the voice of the spirit that told of the promised land above, where the fields are ever green, where the temples never perish." He then spoke of their labors and of their triumph in the work of establishing the great platform of Justice, and it was as broad and as long as the needs of humanity. " And the first on my right hand are those who were cast out from the brothels and prisons of earth, and who have been gathered up from their friendless and sorrowful condition, and clothed and instructed in the natural laws of 176 REVELATIONS. their heavenly Father. They can first pass on and enter the kingdom. And here next are the ones who have been called 'heathen.' They stand with the ark and covenant of symbols which were lost ; but they have gladly received its teachings, and they too are now ready and can enter the kingdom. And here next are the poor mothers who were neglected and cast out with scarred faces and matted hair, and without rags enough to cover their nakedness, who still show the marks of their sufferings. And here, next to join them, are their chil- dren, who have now been clothed and schooled ; and they, united, can pass on and enter together. And here on my left hand are those who made use of my name, and what they have called my gospel, in order to build up their earthly king- doms, and have aggrandized themselves at the expense of their brothers. They can return back to the scenes they have left, and undo their work, and assist me in establishing the law of justice. And here are those who, to gratify their avarice, monopolized the blessings and increased their wealth by the toil and oppression of others, for their own selfish aggrandizement causing the unhappy and sorrowful condi- tions we have everywhere seen around us. They are now judged to return where they must visit the homes of the poor and the abodes of suffering mortals, and sit with them at their tables, and watch by them as they lie upon their pallets of straw where the mildew and filth are oozing from the cold damp walls by which they are often surrounded, and wipe the death-damp from their starved and emaciated brows, and take away their fear and prepare them for their birth into spirit life. And here are all who were intrusted with the covenants, and have made them of none effect. They too must return and form themselves into bands, and work diligently for the overthrow of the principalities and powers of earth that have been established through injustice, unbind and break the prison-bars, and set the captives free. See that quick work is made of it, and that justice is everywhere established, for we have those in the body who have been co-laborers with us in the work. And it must be finished, so that when they are ready to come, we may enter the kingdom together. And here too are our ever- welcome red children of the forest, who have never departed from the covenant of the communion of spirit, and who have ever lived near my Father's kingdom. They will be with us in council until all is finished." Then, after a few personal remarks, he retired. REVELATIONS. 177 One of the confiding Hindoos was the next in council, where he spoke of the pleasure and of the satisfaction of his people for the position assigned to them among the nations. Said they were proud of the box and the covenant, and symbols given to them by the star-spirit, who had told them about the Great Father ; but he thought the}' would not stay in the Father's kingdom until the great star- spirit could go and stay with them. He then said, when the star-spirit was talking, all were listening in amazement, but they could not see him. But when ha was again seated in his chair on the great platform, it was then that all nations and tribes were on their knees, and all held up their hands in acknowledgment of his just and righteous judgments, and all had volunteered to return and assist in the work until the great law of Eternal Justice was triumphant. And then he thought the Christians might obey the teachings of their Koran, and beat their swords into ploughshares and pruning-hooks, and all worship the Father under their own vine and fruit-tree. India again closed the session by invocation to the Great Spirit. June 8, 1873. — After India's invocation to the Great Spirit, he spoke at some length on the present condition of human affairs, and compared it with the condition of the Jews at the time they rejected and cast out and crucified their Mes- siah. He said the conditions were very similar: the first had cast him out when in the body, and the other had rejected and cast him out in spirit; and he said the conditions that would follow would be much alike, and would end in the overthrow of our nationality, which had caused great suffering among the people from the increased burdens imposed by those who made and administered the laws. He then retired. The one next in council said he was a Jew, and was a wit- ness of the crucifixion, and familiar with the history of that age, and compared it with the present. He thought the Gen- tiles had no cause to complain of the Jews, for they had com- mitted the same fatal mistake after an experience of eighteen hundred and fifty years. He thought the chastening of the Jews with the destruction of their earthly principalities, and of the small remnant that was left, and they scattered over the earth with no nationality, should be a warning to all other nations how they trifled with and cast out and crucified again the Spirit of the ever-living God. He then said their own 12 178 RE VELA TIONS. sorrows had been terrible to endure ; they had wandered and waited all the long years among their once beautiful but long since dried-up and deserted Jordans, waiting for their Messiah to come again and tell them of the promised land that was above. And they had taken up their harps, and had tuned them anew, and were glad to listen to his voice, and they were now ready and willing to follow. After expressing his grati- tude for the privilege of beiug present in order to speak for his people, he retired. One of tjie Hindoos was the next in council, where he told of the wonderful things that were fast taking place among his people ; and he thought they would soon have them all look- ing after the star- spirit, and turning away from their earthly idols. He then said that he also was full of gratitude for the privilege of speaking for his people, and they would do all they could in order to give their little goddess, who had let them speak, all the strength they could during the coming week. He then retired. One of the Forest Maidens was the next in council, where she spoke of the present condition of the remnant of her race, who had been driven from their wigwams, and from their fish- ing-lakes, and from the wild game in their forest-homes, by their pale-face brothers. And she would tell the Great Spirit of the injustice that was then being done to his red children, where some were already singing the death-song, who had been hunted down by the pale-face race, who had chained them together, and were driving them to their death as they did the beast to its slaughter. India again closed the session by invocation to the Great Spirit, again thanking him for strength and for light that had resulted in what they had accomplished. June 15, 1873. — After India's invocation, he said there would be a gathering of some of the leaders at the present session for a business purpose, and that Everett and others would be heard, in order for the arrangement of their present work ; and, after speaking of what had been successfully ac- complished, and of the great pleasure it gave them in spirit, he again retired. The next in council was Everett and Lincoln, with King and Booth, who all spoke with interested feelings in connection with the work that had been already completed ; and they cautioned all to be aware, and not let sympathy interfere with REVELATIOXS. 179 justice as they mingled again with their earthly friends in or- der to finish up the work. They must see that all remained firm in spirit until justice was established among the natioDs of the earth, and though the principalities built up through injustice and oppression had to give way in order that all might be protected in their rights. They could remember what the Saviour had said, who had suffered for all, that " the work must be quickly done." • Booth then called their attention to a scene then presented to their view in the distance among the Israelites, where the Spirit was addressing them through one of their prophets, and warning them to turn from their evil ways, or sudden destruc- tion would be their doom. u See, the elements are thickening around them as they gather stones to hurl at the faithful old prophet in order to drive him from their camps ! and, as he retires in sorrow for their blindness, you see the storm breaks forth with fearful and terrific grandeur, and removes them from the face of the beautiful earth their unholy deeds had been desecrating. But here we still have them in spirit, where every one is a living witness of the power and the everlasting love of the Great Creator. 7 ' When, after the usual expression of gratification over the results of their combined labors, and a few remarks in connection with their present duties, he withdrew. One of the Hindoos and one of the Forest Maidens were in council, and had an opportunity of expressing their opinions and giving further testimony in connection with the affairs of their own nations and tribes, who had been gathered together with all the mighty host that answered to the call of the Angel of Time, and had come forth in order to take the place assigned them at the present closing cycle. India, after a beautiful invocation to the Great Spirit in thankfulness for his many blessings, adjourned the session until the 22d of June, 1873. When, after his invocation to the Great Spirit, he said, owing to the weary and tired condition of their media, they should have a short session. He then spoke of the changes that were transpiring among mortals that would awaken them to their condition. One of the Hindoos and one of the Forest Maidens were next in council, where each one spoke of the change that had taken place among the nations and the numerous tribes in spirit after the judgment, and that many who were permitted 180 RE VELA TIONS. to enter the kingdom had volunteered to return, and desired to remain with the others until their work was finished. The Hindoo said his own people were delighted, and they had sent ambassadors in spirit to the people of their own nationality that would awaken a new interest among the people about the star- spirit that was spoken of in their Koran. He thought they would soon be in condition to make their dumb idols speak with a living spirit, when the Christian would have to return and be a-looking after the heathen in their own coun- tries. They had also decided not to leave the star-spirit until all had been completed. India again closed the session by invocation to the Great Spirit, acknowledging their dependence, and asking for wis- dom and for strength sufficient for their labors. Juke 29, 1873. — After India's invocation to the Great Spirit, he said that Confucius would occupy the time of the present session in giving the necessary directions for the further prosecution of their various labors. He then withdrew. Confucius was again before the council, where he spoke approvingly of what they had already accomplished. He told of the labors of the prophets and seers, who had foretold of the glorious events which had already transpired. He spoke of the renewed happiness of the wandering pilgrims who had crossed over into the beautiful fields which the Great Father had provided for the grand reception of his wandering, wayfaring children. He spoke encouragingly to those whose work was not yet finished, and told them they must persevere, and they would finally be triumphant. He told them that the powers with their earthly principalities were already shaking upon their false foundations, while many who had again cru- cified their Saviour and scoifed away the living Spirit were already calling for the rocks and the mountains to hide them. He told them they had no occasion to delay their work, for the closing cycles of the past had shown, when mortals cast out the Spirit and clung to their perishable kingdoms, they only hastened their own destruction. And, after speaking of the magnitude of their work, and of its grand results when finished, he invoked the blessings and the protection of the Great Father on their renewed labors, and again withdrew. India closed the session by invocation to the Great Spirit, once more asking that wisdom and strength might be given to them, sufficient for the full accomplishment of their labors, REVELATIONS. 181 that in the end all might be approved. And, after a few words of instruction, he again withdrew ; when from July to the fol- lowing month -of October various reports were made at the regular sessions of the council by many of the different par- ties who had been connected with their previous labors, as well as by many others who had been brought before the council, where each one made their own reports that were often of a desponding and sorrowful nature. October 26, 1873. — After India's invocation to the Great Spirit, he told the assembled host in spirit that the time had now arrived when there could be no further 'delay with their labors, for there was evidently no excuse for their earthly friends who had been warned time and again to turn from their evil ways, and listen to the call of the Spirit, that would have led them out of their earthly bondage ; but the counsels of the Spirit had been disregarded, and they had turned a deaf ear to the warning voice, and were again struggling for the Mammon of unrighteousness, in order to perpetuate their earthly kingdoms, and must now be left to reap their own re- ward. He then said that Peter and John were waiting to make further statements, and retired, after his usual encour- agement. Peter, one of the apostles, was the next in council, and again confirmed the history of his Master's cruel sufferings and of the persecutions of his little band of followers, and then spoke of the changed condition that now surrounded them ; said the key that was given to him opened the door into his Master's spirit kingdom ; but all who had used the symbol in order to build up and strengthen their earthly principalities had found it had no charm in spirit, although many still kept it hanging to their girdles, in evidence of their earthly power, who had failed to open the door of the heavenly kingdom. He told them there was a lock their key had always fitted, and they could open the door and he would show them where it led. " 0, you stand back with affright ! Why, it only leads into the purgatory of your own making; but you may lock the door and throw away the key where it may never be found, for you have been saved independently of your own efforts ; and when you have undone the work you labored so hard in order to establish during your earthly pilgrimage, }^ou will get the key that opens the only door that leads to the Master's kingdom." After speaking of the wonderful change from the 182 REVELATIONS. transitory arid perishable to the celestial, where they had seen of his power and glory, he gave way for his — Brother John, who was the next in council, and said he was glad the time had arrived for the opening of another seal, for he had looked with amazement and delight on the mighty hosts who had answered the call of the angel of time, and had gathered around the great platform of Justice, as they listened to the opening of the Book of Life. Yes, it was true, it was a calling of the nations together to judgment, and it was what they had looked for and expected at an earlier day ; but, not- withstanding the time had been prolonged, the recording angel had been faithful, and every name was kept in remem- brance until the coming of the bridegroom, in order to invite them to the marriage feast. And as the time for a closing cycle was at hand, and could not be delayed, he would give way for one who was a leader among the people of his own day and age. And then, after a few words of cheerful en- couragement for all to persevere until they finished their work, he retired. An old man, apparently crippled with infirmity, was the next in council, where he acknowledged he had been a priest of the Order among the Jews, who did persecute Jesus and his followers. And he had come in order that he might ask to be forgiven, and have some place where he could sit down and see Jesus once more as he passed by. He then said that he himself and his people had wandered up and down their forsaken country, but could find no rest. They had lain them- selves down by the side of their once beautiful rivers, hoping to be washed away, and they had climbed to the tops of their highest mountains, and dashed themselves down headlong, praying for annihilation; but they had found it impossible. But, then, he knew he had hated the meek and compas- sionate Jesus, and he had exulted when the nails crashed through his hands. But, then, Jesus and his little band of followers were encouraged and sustained by the angels, while he and his people were surrounded by devils, and knew not what they were doing ; and they were thankful even now to be remembered and called up in judgment, and would sit together in sackcloth and sorrow, and when Jesus passed by again they would beg to be forgiven. He then retired. One of the confiding Hindoos was the next in council, where he told of the box the star-spirit had put into their possession, and how they had dressed it up and were now ready for in- RE VELA TIONS. 183 spection. He then showed them the temple of which the symbols had given them instruction, and then asked them if they could see any broken columns. He then showed them the cherubim that overshadowed the mercy-seat in front of the Holy of Holies, and asked them if they could see where a piece had been broken from one of the wings. He said the star-spirit had told him to ask the questions. He then showed them the children that had been gathered up in spirit, where they had been clothed and formed into schools. Then he showed the women who had no husbands during their earthly lives, and pointed to the clothing they had on when they entered the spirit world; and also to the men in another group, who had been their companions. He said all these conditions had been taken into consideration by the great star-spirit when he announced the judgment, and that the twelve who were to judge the tribes of Israel were now ready to complete their work. He then retired. One of the Forest Maidens was the next in council, where she told of the great love the Great Spirit had for all of his children, and the many tribes of her own race that were then working for the establishment of justice among the Great Spirit's many pale-faces, who again had turned away from the light and the love of the Great Spirit, and were wander- ing in darkness all over the hunting-grounds. And then India closed the session by invocation to the Great Spirit. November 2, 1873. — After India's invocation to the Great Spirit, he said that King and Pierpont, with others, would again be in council during the present session. After a few words in connection with their labors, he withdrew. King was again heard in the council, where he spoke of the results of their combined labors in spirit, and of the pleasure afforded them all in what had been successfully accomplished. He thought it would not be right for them to enter into the kingdom to remain until they had done more in order to re- lieve the oppressed and suffering condition of mortals. Said he could not help but feel his own unworthiness as he con- trasted his opportunities in life with others by whom he had been surrounded. He had had friends to strengthen and sus- tain him in his work, while others had struggled on alone and friendless ; and he thought it was in accordance with justice that all who had toiled their way up alone without the help 184 REVELATIONS. and assistance of others, should be left to enjoy the kingdom, while himself, and others like him, should remain behind until they had accomplished a change among the suffering and forsaken outcasts of earth that would be sure to enhance their own happiness as they returned and mingled together with their Master in the eternal kingdom. He should ever feel grateful for what he had been permitted to enjoy, and for the privilege of expressing his opinion again in the presence of his earthly friends. When, after expressing his anxiety for the early triumph of their resumed labors, he retired. The next one in the council was Pierpont, where he sus- tained the remarks of his brother, King, and said he should feel his own unworthiness if he had not in the last days of his pilgrimage in the flesh made some effort in order to strengthen and confirm the knowledge of the communion of spirits. He said that he had heard the voice and gladly held counsel with those who had passed on before him; and although he had been jeered, and called an " old fool," on account of his course, it had not disturbed him or deprived him of his happiness. He was thankful to know he had not turned a deaf ear to the heavenly messengers, for he had found them waiting for him and ready to cheer him on his way as he awoke to a newness of life above the dark, cold portals of the silent tomb. He was ready to join with all that would work for the ameliora- tion and the elevation of the human race ; and they would continue the work until all were saved, and Jesus their leader could say it was finished ; and then they could all return and enter his heavenly kingdom together. He then expressed his gratitude for another opportunity of speaking, and again retired. When the friendly and familiar voice of Paine was the next heard in the council, and said it was true that he was persecuted during his pilgrimage among mortals, and the light that was reflected through his organiza- tion was appropriated by others for their own special benefit, while he was turned out to be scoffed at by every bigot until many times he was friendless and without a home. And he could see no justice in their being delayed in their spirit progress, waiting for others who were still grovelling in their avarice after the Mammon of the earth. He told them they had all had their experience in the lower conditions of life, and he felt it to be their duty to press onward and upward, and if possible nearer to that great positive Mind that had brought them into existence. He was thankful for his earthly REVELATIONS. 185 experience, and thankful for the opportunity to give expres- sion to his present opinions. He then said, with expressive and beautiful language : " 0, thou Son of Mary, I thank thee for all thou hast done for me and for suffering and fallen humanity." Saying he had often felt sorry for the bigoted clergy who had been his traducers, for they had found Jesus, whom they all profess to worship, still surrounded by the suffering poor who have been cast out and degraded by mor- tals. He then said the Hindoos had taken their place among the moving tribes, and would not be represented at the present session ; but that Magdalene, who was a witness of the persecutions and the crucifixion of Jesus, would be the next to speak. And after expressing his thanks for his own opportunity, he again retired. Magdalene was the next in council, where she spoke of the change that was taking place among her own people, and said she was ever willing to stand among them as a wit- ness of the sympathy and the compassion of him who healed her of her earthly maladies. She told them they had seen him in spirit standing by her, with his hand upon her head, as a further evidence for those who had mocked and spit upon him and kicked him, as his frail body swayed under the heavy cross they tried to compel him to carry. She then told them she still could see those among them who had slapped her and her sorrowing sisters in the face, and told tliem to close their mouths as they spoke of the kindness and of the power of the One they had cruelly nailed to the cross. u Well, if the remembrance of your evil doings still makes you tremble with fear, why did you come here to arouse anew the feelings of indignation ? But look, you will see the One you crucified. And you have gladly acknowledged him to be the king of the Jews, also the King of kings in his glory." She then said that she had found her place near to their blessed Saviour in his kingdom, and she rejoiced to know that his great work would soon be understood, be acknowledged and appreciated among mortals. After speaking of the many evidences he gave of his divine mission to depraved and fallen humanity, and of their own terrible suffering after the crucifixion, and of their present happiness to know that fallen mortals for whom their Master suffered had cheerfully bowed and confirmed the divinity of His mission, she retired ; and again India closed the session by invocation to the Great Spirit. 186 REVELATIONS. November 9, 1873. — After India's invocation to the Great Spirit, he said one of the Jews who had officiated in the tem- ple at Jerusalem would give his own statement from the memory of events connected with the history of the great Media ; and after a few encouraging remarks connected with their labors, he retired. The next one in council was Hebus, who said he was fa- miliar with the history of Jesus, whom they had called the Nazarite ; and he had been a witness of the downfall and the suffering of the people of his nation for their blindness in turning away and disregarding the heavenly teachings of the One they crucified. They had all departed from the covenant and the counsels of their fathers, and were wedded to their earthly principalities, and could not endure- the rebuke of the one who had been taught in spirit ; for they could see the poor and the forsaken ones they had cast out of their syna- gogues gathering around him, and were rejoicing for the bread of life which was daily dispensed among them. He said he was endowed with authority at the time among his people, and he confirmed the statements others had made in connection with the birth ■ and mission of Jesus, and of his crucifixion, and the persecutions and sufferings of his early followers, who held fast the communion of spirit. He was glad the Ancient of Days had come, and that the nations and tribes had gathered together and had heard the judgment announced in spirit. It was true their trials and sufferings in their fallen and lost and forsaken condition had been of long endurance, and he was glad to be remembered even as a witness of their own blindness. He was glad to see around him so many of those with whom he had been familiar during their earthly pilgrimage, and it was evident they would not reject the light which was again brought by the return of their lost Messiah. After expressing his gratitude, he said he would give way for one of the women, who was also a witness of the events of his own day. The next one in council said her name was Elizabeth, and that she was a relative of Mary the mother of Jesus ; and she also confirmed the statements in connection with his birth, and of his rejection by the Jews, who refused to acknowledge his divine mission, but cast him out and nailed him to the cross. She spoke of the mental darkness and sufferings that followed, and then prayed that the people of the present age could be warned in time, and not, like the crafty and self- REVELATIONS. 187 righteous Jews, commit the same error and go willingly as they did into darkness and national destruction. She then referred to many incidents as an evidence of the similarity of the present closing cycle of time with that of the Jews. Both had lost the light of their covenants and were strug- gling to enlarge and strengthen their earthly kingdoms, while poverty and crime with their attendant sufferings were fast increasing. She hoped the nations of the earth would take warning, and turn back to the law and the prophets, and sit in sackcloth and repent of their evil ways. After expressing her gratification for what had been already accomplished, she retired. One of the Hindoos was the next heard in council, where he said his people were about ready to move, and they had the box with the symbols, and should carry it in the front of the great procession, for the star-spirit had taught them that the light that was reflected from it would lead them into the Father's kingdom, and that was the reason it had been given to the nations who had lost the chart and had been wandering in their own darkness. He said one of the bow-and-arrow girls was waiting, and wanted to speak, and he would retire. One of the Forest Maidens was the next in council, where she told of the mighty hosts of the red man's race, who had left their upper hunting-grounds in order to do the work of the Great Spirit; and they had gathered up the lost and scat- tered tribes who had long wandered in darkness and in doubts around their desolate and deserted homes up to the broad platform of Eternal Justice, where they had learned from the power given to the Great Spirit's central Son that they must remember hereafter the great law of justice in their dealings with each other in all of the hunting-grounds of the Great Spirit. She then retired. India closed the session by invocation to the Great Spirit. November 16, 1873. — After India's invocation to the Great Spirit, he said John the seer would first make a short state- ment, after which our friends — the " Healer," and Deepwater, also Shadow and White Fawn — each would have an oppor- tunity to make their own statements. The four last-men- tioned had long been trusted and confidential friends, who had been assigned duties to perform in order to assist and strengthen their media in the accomplishment of her part of the work, and whose familiar voices were often heard when the council was not in session. India then retired. 188 REVELATIONS. John, the revelator, was the next in council, and said that his present position was in part the result of his fidelity to the spirit during his earthly pilgrimage, and that they were finishing up the work that was then inaugurated through the mission of their Master's labors and sufferings. He told them that message after message had been sent to mortals, con- firming the truth of the resurrection of the spirit ; but owing to their dark condition of mind, they turned from the spirit and clung to their perishable earthly kingdoms ; while the spirit turned away in sorrow, and patiently waited the further un- folding of events, until by the successful lead of Jesus their Master, whose labors in behalf of suffering humanity had never ceased, they had at last been triumphant, and the dark sphere had disappeared, and in its place they had the platform of Eternal Justice, where they now sat in council and listened to the reports of all who have been sent to investigate the various affairs of suffering mortals. When, after a few re- marks connected with personal affairs, he again retired. Our friend known as the " Healer," was the next in council, and said he had been among the inhabitants of the earth, and into all of their churches and institutions where they professed to be the followers of the blessed Saviour ; but he said it was everywhere evident their professions were not true, for they had departed from the teachings of the spirit, and had cast it out, and were all following after the mammon of unrighteous- ness. He said they daily crucified their Master, and were wrangling and fighting with each other for more power, in order to build up and strengthen their earthly principalities. He had also been in their prisons, where the poor and the afflicted and the friendless were incarcerated — thousands after thousands who had been neglected and cast out by those in affluence and power. He had been into their insane asy- lums, where the obsessed were deserted and left to suffer. He then asked that a band of spirits might be sent with a special commission and with power to relieve those who had in their own terrible condition taken the control of the earthly forms of others. When, after a further statement of the craft and the deception of mortals in their struggle for the mammon of the earth, he retired. Deepwater was the next in council, where he confirmed the " healer's " report, and further said that he had been among those who were called " rich," and found them in their affluence : and he had been with the poor in their afflictions, REVELATIONS. 189 and found them neglected in their struggle for the comforts of life ; and he had found that among the wealthy the spirit had been rejected, and was only consulted with a view to obtain more wealth in order to build their storehouses larger. He had also been in their so-called temples of worship, that were dressed up in purple and gold, and found among them all the same effort in order to gratify their worldly pride. He had been in their council-chambers, and in their halls of legis- lation, and had found that craft with its many arts prevailed, and that justice was nowhere recognized in the business affairs of men. And after confirming the sorrowful condition of the neglected poor who had gladly received the spirit, he retired. Shadow was the next in council, where she said the Great Spirit had given her a mission among the spirits of the air, and she was a- doing her work. She was familiar with the suffering among the pale-faces that was caused by injustice, and she thought it was time the Peters and the Pauls and the Nazarenes went to work and did something in order to change the condition. She should do the work the Great Spirit had assigned to her without fear, if she had to blow them all from their great platform of Justice. After telling of the many sorrowful scenes she had seen among the pale-faces, and that she loved to work for the Great Spirit, she left. One known as White Fawn, was the next in council. She said she had been teaching her tribe in spirit how to cul- tivate fruits and flowers. She told of the kindness of the Great Spirit, and of how her tribe had improved, and had beautified their hunting-grounds in spirit through the knowl- edge they had obtained from the pale-face spirits. Said their home was near the paradise where the pale-face children were taught to cultivate flowers ; and she had been permitted to visit their gardens in order to learn how to lay out and improve and beautify the homes of her tribe. She invited those in the council to go with her and see for themselves how much they had improved their upper hunting-grounds ; and after saying she thanked the good pale-faces lor letting her speak, she withdrew. One of the Hindoos was the next in council. He said his folks were also thankful for the many favors they had enjoyed ; and when they found the Great Father, and were shown their place in his eternal kingdom, they would go to work and beautify it. He then said, as their goddess was not very 100 REVELATIONS. well, he thought she must be tired, and he would go, and the bow-and-arrow girl would not speak until the next session, for they had gone with a commission to their red warriors that were on every trail on the hunting-grounds. India closed by invocation to the Great Spirit. November 22, 1873. — After India's invocation to the Great Spirit, he said that Madison and Jefferson and Monroe would each one have an opportunity of making a few remarks. After which David would have a chance to make his report. He said it was desirable to have a short session in order to keep up the strength of their media, and he again withdrew. Madison was then in council. He said he was thankful, as the war-cloud was again hovering over their country, to be present with so many of his former associates, and have an opportunity to speak through an earthly form in the presence of earthly witnesses ; for it was still a pleasure to remember they had stood side by side in the defence of their country from the elements of foreign aggressors until freedom had its birth. And if those they had left behind in charge of the sacred trust had degenerated and forgotten its worth, and gone after their golden gods, he still rejoiced to know that the Power to whom they all belonged, although unseen, but felt and as yet but little understood, had given them their beauti- ful America in spirit ; and they had been called together as upon the mountain around the great platform of Eternal Jus- tice, and in the hearing of their earthly witnesses to renew their pledge and sign their names to a new constitution, which would proclaim to mortals the birth of the spirit to its immor- tal home. Such were his present sentiments ; and as he did not wish to prolong the time that was ever precious in the work of freedom, he would give way for his brother Jef- ferson, who was always ready to defend the rights of man. He then withdrew. Jefferson was the next in council, and said it was true he had ever tried to protect his countrymen from the encroach- ments of foreign aggressors, for it was evidently their inten- tion to have strangled freedom at its birth ; and if those they had left behind in possession of the priceless gift had become demoralized and unworthy, it was from their associa- tion with foreigners who had been permitted to participate in every department of the government. But he was thankful to know they had sent the " Chair of Justice " to Washington, REVELATIONS. 191 and it would remain there until every form of injustice was brought to the surface, and received from the voice of every true American its just condemnation. He then said their country below had been flooded by the people of every nationality ever since the birth of freedom ; and it was also true that, as soon as their flag was raised, they proclaimed the glorious truth of the freedom of every spirit to its immortal home. Here again came those of every nation, rejoicing and anxious to convey the tidings back to those they have left behind ; and he was glad, and if it was the will of heaven for them to stand shoulder to shoulder, the} 7 would do so until their last enemy was routed, and had joined with them in pro- mulgating the great and the glorious truth to the dark and craftbound and benighted world. After expressing his confi- dence in the successful accomplishment of their work, he withdrew. The next in council was Monroe, where he expressed his satisfaction in the remarks of his brothers, and said he felt a pride in the privilege awarded to himself to stand with them, for he had also taken a part in protecting his countrymen in their constitutional rights, and it was a gratification to him to know that at last chattel slavery was acknowledged to be wrong, and had been expunged from the records of the States. But as they had had to struggle through much opposition in order to secure an acknowledgment of the rights of man to think and speak in his own behalf, so also had they found many opposing elements during their present labors in order to establish a knowledge of the birth of the spirit to its im- mortal home. But, thanks to that unseen power through whose agency they had been sustained and upheld, both at last had been accomplished, and that, too, in their own coun- try; and now they had to stand up before the council, who had assembled on the broad platform of Eternal Justice as witnesses in the great cause of human progress, and he was pleased to see so many around him in spirit who had partici- pated in the struggle for national freedom, and glad to know they could realize now that something had been accomplished through their labors ; and they could contemplate the wisdom of that unseen power which moved upon them and their fathers in order that they might find a refuge on a continent where freedom could have its birth. Their country was now the home of the people of all nations, instigated by the wis- dom of that same mighty power that a knowledge of a higher 192 REVELATIONS. birth — the birth of man's immortal spirit — might become universal, and no longer be shrouded in darkness and doubt. And he would say, as they had again been called together and had rallied around the great platform of Eternal Justice, and renewed their pledges to uphold a new declaration of freedom, let them see to it one and all that their countrymen who had proved themselves worthy received a hearty welcome on their arrival in New America, and that hereafter they relax no efforts in their labors in order to remove every form of tyr- anny over the minds of mortals. He felt grateful for all that- had been accomplished, and encouraged them to work on until the great truth was everywhere established, and all were per- mitted to partake of its blessings. He then withdrew. One of our southern friends, who was known by the name of David, was the next in the council, and said his name had been called, but he was not ready yet to report. He had been out and had gathered up many things he was anxious to lay before the council who had built up the great platform of Eternal Justice ; and he would soon make his report, and everything should be established; for thus saith the Lord, and so said he. He had been to Washington, where Justice was doing its work with those who had forgotten the admoni- tion that " he who got riches not in the right was a fool, and should leave them in the midst of his days." India then closed the session by invocation to the Great Spirit. November 30, 1873. — After India's invocation to the Great Spirit, he said Henry, Calvin, Luther, and, if there was time, one of the ancient Jews would give in their reports ; and then, after a few words of encouragement in connection with their labors, he withdrew. Henry was the next heard in the council. He told them he was also thankful for the opportunity offered for him to stand in his place as a witness of the truth of the immu- table law of progression, and he felt a just pride in being permitted to see so many of his countrymen gathered around him in spirit who had participated in their struggle for national freedom. He rejoiced to know they all could realize now that something had been accomplished through the combination of their various labors, as they contemplated the wonderful wis- dom of that power that moved upon their fathers to find a refuge in a country where freedom could have its birth ; and REVELATIONS. 193 they conld again see the America they had loved for its asso- ciation with the name of liberty, flooded with the inhabitants of every nationality through the wisdom of that unseen and same incomprehensible power, in order that a knowledge of their higher birth — a birth of the individualized spirit to its immortal home — should no longer remain in darkness and in doubt. As they had been called to rally around the great platform of Eternal Justice, and had renewed their pledges to a new declaration that proclaims freedom for all the sons and daughters of earth, let them see to it one and all that their countrymen who were worthy, received a hearty welcome on their arrival to their New America in spirit, and that no effort should be relaxed until their descendants could sit down to- gether in peace, in the full enjoyment of both temporal and eternal blessings. After which he expressed gratitude to the higher powers, and then withdrew. Calvin was again in council, and said that since he was last before them he had labored diligently among the people for whose opinions and condition he was held responsible, and he could say, after a careful investigation, that their influence was dying out. He had stood by the side of the priest in his pulpit, and by his couch at night, and had impressed on the tablet of his brain, a fear of the terrible doom he had pictured for others, until his features became distorted with affright, and they would try to hide away and beg to be forgiven. He said they had felt crushed since the spirit had been withdrawn, for they had deprived themselves of their last and only re- source by turning away and disregarding its call • and they have asked to be let alone, and are satisfied with their present enjoyment in their earthly kingdom, and are willing to abide the consequences when they are called up in judgment. Then, after a few encouraging words to others who were in a similar condition with himself, he again withdrew. The next one in council was Luther, where he made his report by saying it was true their followers had turned back, and were gathering up and looking after their earthly treasures ; but as they were transitory and perishable, the darkness was fast gathering around them, for in their blind- ness they rejected the call of the One they professed to wor- ship, who had come with his heavenly messengers to finish his work. But they had cast out all who had rejoiced at their coming, for they had brought them the bread of life that oth- ers in their pride had refused to receive, and again closed the 13 194 RE VELA TIONS. door that shut themselves out of his heavenly kingdom. He confirmed the statements his brother had made, and said as time with them now was precious, he would not prolong his remarks, but would give way for their ancient brother whose history was known among the tribes of Israel. He then re- tired. The next one in council, in the feeble voice of age, made the following statement. He said he was one who had prayed that he might obtain knowledge, when an angel of light stood by him, and told him to arise and go and warn his people to forsake their evil ways, and turn again to the High and Holy One, that the evil days would not come among them. He was affrighted, and started in order to flee away, but the angel stopped him, and told him of the fearful conditions that must follow the people's transgressions. He then pointed with his finger to the closing cycle of the birth of their Messiah, and from that down through the cycles of time to the present, when he would come in his power with all the holy angels, and set up his kingdom. He then said that he had wan- dered with his tribe up and down their barren and desolate country, heart-broken and disconsolate, earnestly praying and waiting for the time to arrive when they should again be called. And now, he said, with everlasting thanks to that Eternal Power who had not forgotten them, once more their time had come, and they were willing and ready to take the place assigned them. And, after speaking of the long vista of time through which they had waited in darkness and doubt and in affliction, he said, " 0. brother of earth, stand up firm, and warn your own people in season, and tell them not to shut themselves out from the light of the Spirit, and so be com- pelled to wander in darkness and in doubts, and suffer as we have suffered ! " He then retired. One of the Hindoos was the next in council. He told them that his people wanted to keep the passage open for them- selves, for they had many things of interest to report. He said the star-spirit had told them, when he returned to the people who professed to be his followers, and were worshipping him in their own respectful way, he had rapped and rapped and rapped for the hundredth time, but they did not know him, and they would not let him in; so he turned back and had set up his kingdom in the dark sphere, where they had to clean up all the filth and all the terrible conditions that were cast out by those who had professed to worship him. And the REVELATIONS. 195 star- spirit now said, when they called to him he should not hear them. He said we would find in our Koran that when the rich man was told he must dispose of his goods and divide them among the poor in order to secure his passport to a place of rest, he turned away and was sorrowful, and was still look- ing after their promised Messiah's kingdom. And India again closed the session by invocation to the Great Spirit, asking for wisdom and strength sufficient for their labors. December 3, 1873. — After India's invocation to the Great Spirit, again thanking him for the privilege of assembling in convention with mortals in order to pursue their labors, he said the present session was assigned for the reports of some of the women connected with the band, and that Mrs. Townsend and Mrs. Fuller, and Mrs. Washington and Mrs. Jackson, with others, if -there was time, would have a chance to bring in their reports ; and he withdrew. Mrs. Townsend was next heard in council, where she said they desired to say a few words in connection with their present design, and, as they had finished up their part of the work in the dark sphere in spirit, they were ready to com- mence with mortals ; and she told them, in order to be suc- cessful and make speedy work of it, they must go into every condition of society — go into the mansions of the wealthy and into the more cheerful homes of the middle and indus- trious classes, and more especially into the hovels where they would find poverty and suffering among the unfortunate and the poor who were deprived of the common blessings. And they must see to it that the great law of Eternal Justice was everywhere enforced ; they must hold up and strengthen the weak, and teach the strong that all are entitled to the bless- ings freely bestowed by their heavenly Father, and from what they had learned in the dark sphere, where they had mingled with many sorrowful conditions, and witnessed the changes that had taken place. She felt that they were all competent for the work, but she warned her sister spirits of the terrible scenes they would have to encounter, and of the obstacles they would find in their way among mortals ; but she knew they would persevere and finally triumph over every opposing force. Then, after expressing her gratitude for the perseverance of their earthly witnesses, and encour- aging them to hold out until the work was finished, she gave way for her sister and co-laborer in their important work. 196 RE VELA TIONS. The familiar voice of Margaret Fuller was again heard in the council, where she expressed her gratification for the privilege of meeting with so many of her sisters who had come in order to renew their pledge to strengthen and sustain each other in the work that was now assigned to them ; and she was satisfied they were no strangers to the suffering connected with the darkened and sorrowful con- ditions among the inhabitants of earth ; but she thought, from the recent experience they had all passed through, they would now find it a pleasure to go among them and work for their elevation. And they would commence their work by going among those in affluence, and impress them to lay aside their costly apparel, and dress themselves in garments of less expense and more befitting their stations in life, and then take from their abundance and go among the sick and forsaken ones in their cheerless and desolate homes, and administer to their necessities ; see that employment suitable to their conditions is provided, and that each one has a part to perform in the various duties of life, and that all partake of the Great Father's blessings. She knew from her own experience from what they had encountered in the dark sphere in spirit, that such a work would give their earthly friends an abiding happiness which they had never yet enjoyed. And they must also go among their weak and frail sisters of earth, and take them by the hand, and give them strength and fortitude in order to withstand the fallen con- ditions that surround them, — elevate them in mind, and lead them away from the haunts of vice and of shame, and see to it that such traps that have been set in every town in order to beguile the weak and the friendless, are no longer allowed to exist. She well knew many sorrowful scenes would be presented ; but they must remember their leader in the work had set the example during his earthly pilgrim- age, and he would strengthen and sustain them until all was accomplished. After desiring to be remembered to their earthly sister whose organism they were permitted to use in order to accomplish their work, she gave way for her sister Washington, whose labors among them, she said, had been of great value. She then withdrew. Mrs. Washington was the next in council, where she gave expression to her pleasure for the privilege of being present with her sisters, who were still engaged in the good work, for she said they all loved their country and its inhabitants, REVELATIONS. 197 which, in the changing scenes of life, they had been called to leave behind them. She said that a great work had been accomplished in the dark sphere, and their America, which had been dear to them during their earthly experience, was assigned to them in spirit, where they had all assembled around the great platform of Justice, and where each one renewed the pledge to work together and never cease their * labor until the beautiful America, which they had left behind, was once again free, and free from the customs and the vices which to our shame had become prevalent from un- necessary contact with foreign nations. " Why," she said, " it was but a day or two ago that her George had remarked that it was impossible now to tell an American from a foreign prince, for each one has his gold-headed cane, and his fob chain, with his diamond pin, and other foolish and corrupting fashions that are eating out the substance and destroying the virtue and the happiness of the people." It was their inten- tion to save us from the terrible condition into which we had blindly fallen, for they disliked to see their countrymen cor- rupted and their beloved America under the control of the people of other nations. She said the fathers of our country, who still loved freedom, had assembled around the platform of Justice, and had formed, and pledged themselves to, a new constitution for their America ; and they had sent it up through the higher sphere in order to have it approved ; and they were now ready to commence their work with mortals. Said she was pleased with the opportunity which had been provided for them to speak, and desired to be remembered to their earthly sister ; said that George had expressed his gratitude to know they had found two of their country's children that were worthy and could be trusted with im- portant and necessary messages in connection with the fin- ishing up of their labors. She then said, as the time with them now was precious, she would withdraw and give way to her sister. Mrs. Jackson was the next one in council, where- she said she was also pleased with the opportunity of again being present with her sisters, and to know they had gathered together to organize for the purpose of elevating their earthly sisters, who had become weak and frail from their disregard of the precepts and examples of their grand- mothers and following after extravagant and gaudy fashions and customs of other nations. She said that her Andrew, 198 REVELATIONS. who a moment since was by her side, had remarked that the men they had left in trust with the freedom of their country had become as trifling and as frail as the women, and if there was not a change soon, all would be lost, and their country would be under the control of the peoples of other nations, for it was evident our statesmen had degenerated, for they were * gambling away the sacred rights of the people with less fore- thought than might be found among a lot of country school- boys. Rights that were purchased with the toil and blood of their forefathers were disregarded and not appreciated. She said they would have their sisters of America, instead of idling away their time in the marts of trade, gazing through the show- windows at the extravagant and expensive robes imported from foreign countries, go among the linens and the ginghams manufactured by their own countrymen, and there select their dress-goods, and take them to their homes and make them up with their own hands, and then devote their spare time in ele- vating and ameliorating the condition of their less favored sisters. She then said that she was still strengthened by the firmness of her noble husband, and they would see to it that the extravagance and corrupting customs imported from for- eign lands were put aside. After saying it was proposed that a woman of another country should speak, and she would with- draw and give her an opportunity, she left her regards, and retired. The next one before the council said she was born in Eng- land, where the fathers of America had their birth. Her sis- ter had been talking about the freedom of their country, and about the extravagance and the corruption of other nations ; but she said that her country had never enslaved the African on account of his color, and it was well known their courts had imparted justice to all, without regard to wealth or station. She was willing all should enjoy their own nationality ; and she thought where a prince had wealth and station that gave him power, he had a right to use it ; and she thought it was enough for each nation to look after the weaknesses and the imperfections of their own inhabitants. It was but a narrow channel that separated the one country from the other, and but a short distance back to the time when the children of each country were playing together. After expressing her pleasure for the opportunity of meeting her sisters who were engaged in a good work, and for her own privilege of speaking, and for the favors her own countrywomen had before enjoyed in the council, she withdrew. REVELATIONS. 199 One of the Forest Maidens was next in council, where she said she had come from the upper hunting-grounds as by the Great Spirit sent to the wigwam of the white squaw, where the white sisters were talking about the freedom of their country, and she had come to tell them their country formed once the hunting-grounds of the red man, given to them by the Great Spirit; but when the white man's brothers, on the other side of the channel, asked for pay for the red man's hunting-grounds, then the white man drew his weapons, and fought with his white brother for what he calls " liberty." But when the red man drew his bow in the defence of his squaw and pappoose in his cabin, the red man found that jus- tice dwelt not with his white brother. She then told them the parchments they had sent up were received in the red man's upper council, and signed, and they had carried them to the Great Spirit, who had approved them. And they now had lawful possession of the red man's lower hunting-grounds, and they must see to it that, through the bad seed that was sown, it was not rightfully inherited by the people of other nations. The Great Spirit had assigned them a country where the orange groves and the flowers are in perpetual bloom, and the red man's race was satisfied ; but they had come to pro- tect the wigwams of the white brave and his squaw, and their little boats were now moored by the willows, and the door into the council-room was their own private door, and they still loved our country, for it was the home of their fore- fathers. She then withdrew. The next one in council was a Hindoo woman, where she said she had come by permission of the star-spirit, who told her to say that she was also one of their sisters. It was true the dumb idols they had looked to for protection hadn't learned them much ; but she thought if they had had the Koran, that taught them how to live and about the gods that were above, she didn't believe they would have as much dirty work to perform among their people as the other women had been telling about. But the great star-spirit was teaching them in spirit what he had taught others through their Koran. She was glad to learn how to speak through their goddess, and she would go and learn to speak in the same way to the people of her own country, and said she thanked their god- dess for letting her speak, and she felt grateful for the privi- leges her people had received in the council. After which India closed the session by invocation to the Great Spirit. 200 RE VELA TIONS. December 7, 1873. — After India's invocation to the Great Spirit, he said that "Washington, and Calhoun, and George the Fourth of England, and, if there was time, others would be heard in the council the present session, and after his usual encourage- ments, he retired. The familiar voice of Washington was again heard in the council, where he expressed his satisfaction in the work as- signed to them, and advised a union in the present labors, and said the conditions that were unfavorable among those they had left in charge of the people's rights would soon be changed. Said he knew that much suffering had been en- tailed upon the people of their country from the development of institutions which they w 7 ere instrumental in founding, and which time and further observation had satisfied them were wrong, and the privilege was now given them in order to undo their work where the effect had not been beneficial. He said they had been granted all they had any right in justice to expect, and he thought it their duty to make a permanent and substantial foundation in finishing up their labors among mor- tals. Such were his present views, and he was thankful for an opportunity in order to express them ; and, as time w