CHAPTER XVIII.

HUMAN LAW VS. SPIRITUAL LAW.

Dr. Ramon, of Cajal, an eminent scientist of Spain, thinks that he has made some discoveries that lead up to the domain of thought and the seat of memory. He thinks that. he has discovered that in the optic nerve is a certain apparatus whose only object is to enable the thought-center of the brain to excite the retina of the eye from within, and reflect without the aid of outward vision the scenes and events memory treasures in its depths.

This learned savant has no doubts but that the special organ of sight reflects from within as readily as from without, though he failed to reveal the source of these reflections. There may be some method in his theory, but until he can locate the soul his researches for the center of memory will be unavailing.

The soul not being a physical structure, will not be discovered through any microscope, no matter how delicate may be its lense. When they have learned something of the truth of clairvoyance then they will realize that through the sixth sense they may discover the seat of memory, but the soul never. The soul is the distilled incense of all life, and is so pure and refined that no material eye will ever discover it. If God is invisible to our physical senses, surely

the mortal eye can never discover the soul, or even the seat of memory.

Through the light of Spiritualism we are slowly making marvelous discoveries. The soul manifests itself most clearly near the organ of reverence, and that being a religious organ, may be the central location of the soul.

The spiritual and physical organs are separate and distinct, although seemingly connected under the head of physical life. The physical organs hold us down to physical things and physical enjoyments, while the spiritual organs are constantly at work trying to lift us up and trying to elevate and purify and prepare us for the change in life that will sooner or later come. When that change does take place, our spiritual organs will have a better chance to exhibit their powers, for the reason that it has no physical body to contend with. The soul then becomes free to act, has a greater chance to unfold the spiritual body, and can play upon it at greater ease.

So far as the soul is concerned, life is not a problem, but a continuous identity that has always been individualized, and always will be. If God has an eternal existence, surely man has the same immortal power, for he is no less a God than his father of whom he is a part.

The refining powers that purifies and develops matter, tends to purify the physical being of man, and at the same time the soul is preparing the spirit for its entrance into the upper home, which is always ready to receive the spirit body.

A constant watch is kept over us by those that have gone before, and when we enter the next world much rejoicing is heard, for a new soul is born into eternity. The most depraved have some one on the lookout for them when death comes to remove them from the toil and misery of earth life. The wife of the Hon. Mr. Moulton, of Grand Rapids, Michigan, related to me one day some of her experiences with mediums. She said a young man in her town was developed as a physical medium, and proved to be a remarkable one in his special phase.

One night they held a seance, with the medium in the center and the circle closely united, and all hands joined together, with the doors of the room locked and the key in the pocket of one of the sitters. Talking and singing was indulged in, as is common in all developing circles, when all at once the medium became silent, and it was soon discovered that he was missing and could be found nowhere within the circle, where they all knew him to be but a few minutes before. A light was struck, and a general search made, but nowhere could he be found. The man that had the key in his pocket then unlocked the door, and all the rooms on the first floor were searched, but no medium could be found. They then made a search in the upper rooms of the house, and on a bed i1. the farthest room they discovered him in a deep trance, and lying flat on his back on the bed with his hands crossed on his breast, and the wash bowl and pitcher resting on his hands in such a way as would go to show that it would be impossible for him to have done it himself. No one missed him when he went, and no one heard the door open or shut.

Now the question arises, Who spirited him away? Who lifted him over the heads of the circle, and who opened the door when it was locked and carried him up-stairs? The Bible says Peter was taken out of prison, and the doors were found locked in the morning and Peter was gone. It is easy enough for all Christians to believe the Peter story which happened two thousand years ago, but to ask them to believe Mrs. Moulton's story, testified to by other witnesses, would be too much for them to believe.

Oh, my Christian brethren, how wise you are in your own conceit, and what fools you are to believe one story and not the other. But you are made that way, and can not help it, and I for one am willing to forgive you.

Besides the physical phenomena we have the mental, of which the following is a sample :

The appended poem, composed by M. Armand Gleason,

and entitled: "Lilies That Grow for Thee," I copy from the Light of Truth, and accompanied with the following words by the author.

"The above subject for a poem was given me by a very dear friend. At that time she was a widow, and was feeling somewhat anxious regarding the situation of her business affairs. She had retired, and lay sadly reviewing the situation, when, to use her own words, 'I heard a voice distinctly saying, 'Out of these dark and muddy waters lilies shall yet grow for thee.' I was comforted; business matters adjusted themselves, and prosperity followed.”

"Long years ago, when buoyant youth and strength

Twin sister's sat upon life's tempting knee,

When business hopes and cares stretched out at length,
Like wing-spread gulls, along the restless sea,
When ambition reveled in fancy's dream

Of golden halls, wherein our willing feet

Might tread on diamonds rare, whose every gleam
Would bring forth other gems for us to greet.

With outstretched arms did I most earnestly pray
For fame and wealth to clasp my eager hand
And lead me up the jewel-studded way

To golden temples, wherein I might command,
I saw the chalice. Methought my finger tips
Were pressing, with honors, the tempting bowl;
But as I raised the sparkling wine to my lips,
It slipped and fell, revealing bitterest gall
Disappointed, crushed, it seemed my very soul
Lay buried 'neath waters so dark and deep
That Gabriel's trump, though e'en of solid gold,
Could never wake it from its bitter sleep.
Upon crushed ambition I lay me down

Shipwrecked and weary from the angry storm;
Pillowed my head upon my battered crown,

While crimson drops hung from every thorn.

Madly I tossed and writhed in keenest pain

From bleeding wounds angry thorns had but made;
Then prayed for peaceful death, when lo, methought
A gentle hand upon my heart was laid,

And hope one of earth's loveliest daughters

Breathed words which thrilled my very being through,

Out of all these dark and muddy waters

Lilies fair shall yet grow and bloom for you.

I rose, and lifting the cross I had but laid down,
Found it lighter and more easy to bear;
Saw glittering, in that old discarded crown,

Jewels I never dreamed lie hidden there.
The muddy waters I have nigh waded through,
Have bathed my feet in God's own helpful sun,
Have found the lilies all fragrant with dew,
As I stoop to gather them, one by one.

The future religion is based upon just such scientific facts as these. As we look upon nature, and behold its beauties, we can not but believe that it is of divine origin, and through its divine law we worship the holy power which we call God. Mankind may be classed as worshipful beings; and inasmuch as we are the outgrowth of nature, we continually look to it for our inspiration and strength. We are blessed with health and intelligence, which are given us. We can do nothing outside of law; hence if we worship at all, we must come under the law that governs and protects us throughout all eternity. A religion not governed strictly by law is not true, and will not stand the test of time. Jesus lived in obedience to law, and to the best of his ability endeavored to instruct his followers to live in harmony with it. *The spirits are now teaching us that we must live virtuous lives, love one another, and follow the Golden Rule.

We must grow into divine truth by good acts. Idle words or pretentions are naught. A one-day-in-the-week religion will not accomplish much in reforming men, and bringing them to the light, but a constant effort in the right direction will sooner or later make a complete change in men's habits, and cause them to outgrow all former errors and disabilities. Life, birth, death, and our daily living is under the government of law, and when we have learned the true destiny of the law we will have within us the true religion that Jesus proclaimed. A religion not governed by law has no merit in it whatever, and will sooner or later fall to the ground, and die a natural death. Christianity has failed to reform the world and make it better, by not following the example that Jesus set before them. Christianity took upon itself the privilege of regulating itself and prescribing its own duties, and in this way she alienated herself from the holy power of law and from the Deity. She