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will bear repetition； that the use of the seance should； in his opinion； be
carefully regulated as well as reverently conducted。 Having once satisfied
himself of the absolute existence of the unseen world； and of its proximity
to our own； the inquirer has got the great gift which psychical
investigation can give him； and thenceforth he can regulate his life upon
the lines which the teaching from beyond has shown to be the best。 There
is much force in the criticism that too constant intercourse with the affairs
of another world may distract our attention and weaken our powers in
dealing with our obvious duties in this one。 A seance； with the object of
satisfying curiosity or of rousing interest； cannot be an elevating influence；
and the mere sensation…monger can make this holy and wonderful thing as
base as the over…indulgence in a stimulant。 On the other hand； where the
seance is used for the purpose of satisfying ourselves as to the condition of
those whom we have lost； or of giving comfort to others who crave for a
word from beyond； then it is； indeed； a blessed gift from God to be used
with moderation and with thankfulness。 Our loved ones have their own
pleasant tasks in their new surroundings； and though they assure us that
they love to clasp the hands which we stretch out to them； we should still
have some hesitation in intruding to an unreasonable extent upon the
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THE VITAL MESSAGE
routine of their lives。 A word should be said as to that fear of fiends and
evil spirits which appears to have so much weight with some of the critics
of this subject。 When one looks more closely at this emotion it seems
somewhat selfish and cowardly。 These creatures are in truth our own
backward brothers； bound for the same ultimate destination as ourselves；
but retarded by causes for which our earth conditions may have been
partly responsible。 Our pity and sympathy should go out to them； and if
they do indeed manifest at a seance； the proper Christian attitude is； as it
seems to me； that we should reason with them and pray for them in order
to help them upon their difficult way。 Those who have treated them in this
way have found a very marked difference in the subsequent
communications。 In Admiral Usborne Moore's 〃Glimpses of the Next
State〃 there will be found some records of an American circle which
devoted itself entirely to missionary work of this sort。 There is some
reason to believe that there are forms of imperfect development which can
be helped more by earthly than by purely spiritual influences； for the
reason； perhaps； that they are closer to the material。 In a recent case I was
called in to endeavour to check a very noisy entity which frequented an
old house in which there were strong reasons to believe that crime had
been committed； and also that the criminal was earth…bound。 Names were
given by the unhappy spirit which proved to be correct； and a cupboard
was described； which was duly found； though it had never before been
suspected。 On getting into touch with the spirit I endeavoured to reason
with it and to explain how selfish it was to cause misery to others in order
to satisfy any feelings of revenge which it might have carried over from
earth life。 We then prayed for its welfare； exhorted it to rise higher； and
received a very solemn assurance； tilted out at the table； that it would
mend its ways。 I have very gratifying reports that it has done so； and that
all is now quiet in the old house。 Let us now consider the life in the
Beyond as it is shown to us by the new revelation。
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THE VITAL MESSAGE
CHAPTER IV
THE COMING WORLDTHE COMING WORLD
THE COMING WORLDTHE COMING WORLD
We come first to the messages which tell us of the life beyond the
grave； sent by those who are actually living it。 I have already insisted upon
the fact that they have three weighty claims to our belief。 The one is； that
they are accompanied by 〃signs；〃 in the Biblical sense； in the shape of
〃miracles〃 or phenomena。 The second is； that in many cases they are
accompanied by assertions about this life of ours which prove to be correct；
and which are beyond the possible knowledge of the medium after every
deduction has been made for telepathy or for unconscious memory。 The
third is； that they have a remarkable； though not a complete； similarity
from whatever source they come。
It may be noted that the differences of opinion become most marked
when they deal with their own future； which may well be a matter of
speculation to them as to us。 Thus； upon the question of reincarnation
there is a distinct cleavage； and though I am myself of opinion that the
general evidence is against this oriental doctrine； it is none the less an
undeniable fact that it has been maintained by some messages which
appear in other ways to be authentic； and； therefore； it is necessary to keep
one's mind open on the subject。 Before entering upon the substance of the
messages I should wish to emphasize the second of these two points； so as
to reinforce the reader's confidence in the authenticity of these assertions。
To this end I will give a detailed example； with names almost exact。 The
medium was Mr。 Phoenix； of Glasgow； with whom I have myself had
some remarkable experiences。 The sitter was Mr。 Ernest Oaten； the
President of the Northern Spiritual Union； a man of the utmost veracity
and precision of statement。 The dialogue； which came by the direct voice；
a trumpet acting as megaphone； ran like this：
The Voice： Good evening； Mr。 Oaten。 Mr。 O。： Good evening。 Who are
you？ The Voice： My name is Mill。 You know my father。 Mr。 O。： No； I don't
remember anyone of the name。 The Voice： Yes； you were speaking to him
the other day。 Mr。 O。： To be sure。 I remember now。 I only met him casually。
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THE VITAL MESSAGE
The Voice： I want you to give him a message from me。 Mr。 O。： What is it？
The Voice： Tell him that he was not mistaken at midnight on Tuesday last。
Mr。 O。： Very good。 I will say so。 Have you passed long？ The Voice： Some
time。 But our time is different from yours。 Mr。 O。： What were you？ The
Voice： A Surgeon。 Mr。 O。： How did you pass？ The Voice： Blown up in a
battleship during the war。 Mr。 O。： Anything more？ The answer was the
Gipsy song from 〃Il Trovatore；〃 very accurately whistled； and then a
quick…step。 After the latter； the voice said： 〃That is a test for father。〃 This
reproduction of conversation is not quite verbatim； but gives the
condensed essence。 Mr。 Oaten at once visited Mr。 Mill； who was not a
Spiritualist； and found that every detail was correct。 Young Mill had lost
his life as narrated。 Mr。 Mill； senior； explained that while sitting in his
study at midnight on the date named he had heard the Gipsy song from 〃Il
Trovatore；〃 which had been a favourite of his boy's； and being unable to
trace the origin of the music； had finally thought that it was a freak of his
imagination。 The test connected with the quick…step had reference to a
tune which the young man used to play upon the piccolo； but which was
so rapid that he never could get it right； for which he was chaffed by the
family。 I tell this story at length to make the reader realise that when
young Mill； and others like him； give such proofs of accuracy； which we
can test for ourselves； we are bound to take their assertions very seriously
when they deal with the life they are actually leading； though in their very
nature we can only check their accounts by comparison with others。 Now
let me epitomise what these assertions are。 They say that they ar