Occultism, Spiritism, Materialism

In "The Laws of Being" it was stated that the subject of Psychology would be continued, and the laws of the Occult forces controlling the soul of man, as manifested in the life beyond the grave, illustrated. In these pages, that promise is intended to be fulfilled, and an effort made to show the conditions of the spirit spheres from the earth side of observation.

The previous volume and the present are each complete in itself, yet a thread of understanding connects them. "The Laws of Being" relates more especially to man's sphere and being on earth; these pages, to his sphere and being in spirit, or the continued life after death.

In a work of this character it is essential that a knowledge of facts, and the source from which they are obtained, should be within reach of the author, and it is therefore here stated that this work is given as the experiences and knowledge of the writer, obtained by association with spirit-life, or disembodied mind.

In the preceding work on Psychology, the teachings were clairaudiently received as lessons, and as received transcribed. By some persons it may be said that this clairaudience may not furnish statements any more reliable than other statements from living or dead. This objection will not apply to this book. There is nothing herein contained dictated especially for these pages; every line is the result of experiences, manifestations to, and observations made by the writer. Deductions from this logic of facts the readers must draw and apply to their individual benefit. Three essentials I maintain as the substantial features of this volume.

First. There is no drawing from the imagination. For myself, I have a special dislike to tales of fiction. Life with all its realities has always been too momentous to leave room for fictitious representations; and through spiritualistic manifestations I have had such a realization of its esoteric conditions, that no higher drama could be pictured than its substantial facts.

It is the heart of truth we all want to know, the psychology of man's nature on earth and in spirit; and all tendency to exaggerate the nature and marvels of these laws should be strictly avoided. The spiritual side of man's being is the subject of these pages. Knowing of its deep importance, it is with deep, reverential feelings that I enter upon the task of giving this knowledge of super-mundane life to my readers.

Second. Its purpose is to give and show things in substantial matter of fact without unnecessary elaboration, considering that such is more easily digested by general readers, and such I aim to suit. Brevity being the gem of understanding, I adopt it in what I have to say.

Third. It promulgates no theory. I hold as great an antipathy to theory as to fiction. Humanity has been doctored to death with theory; from all times, b} T every imaginary, constructive mind, theory has been evolved. The new dispensation is one of facts, and has eclipsed theory by demonstration, which is the logic of facts to inquiring minds. For these reasons, all the examples in these pages are given to show things as they are without a veil; perhaps, draw the veil aside and show what has hitherto been concealed. This, to many, may be objectionable, and the query will arise, What good comes from showing the dark shades ? But these only relieve and subdue the glare that is usually thrown around spirit-things.

There is no other motive involved than the pure and ardent love of conveying to humanity the facts of spirit-things, and that others may be enabled to see the same as I have seen them. It is intended to give to others a key by which they can open the door themselves. It is because of its importance to all, that I would throw a penetrative light into its secret chambers, and reveal what has hitherto been concealed.

It is a very common aphorism of the incredulous to say, "No one has been and returned from beyond the grave to report what lies there." The writer has not exactly been in the grave, nor in the land over beyond and returned; but spirit conditions and intercourse have been so familiar and so clearly shown me, I have lived not only upon the earth, but in the land beyond; the pages of this book will therefore show both sides. 1 have not been a public medium, but a medium in the spirit spheres, on the spirit side of life, to revive and externalize enthralled souls, a channel for bringing lower to higher conditions; giving light to darkness, and conveying from the most exalted spheres illumination to those who needed light.

Some may consider it unfair that those long since passed away from earth should be brought up to be gazed at as examples of earth's conditions and their bearings on the future state, or life after death. These, however, are only given as truthful examples, showing what these earthly conditions have to do with the next sphere of action.