Journeys to the Planet Mars

CHAPTER I.. Interview With the Evon-Thia.

INTERVIEW WITH THE EVON-THIA.

De L'Ester--Madame, we greet you, and rejoice to perceive that our last prolonged visit to Luna has not proven detrimental to your health, but hereafter we must endeavor to be more prudent. Now, I pray you, to attentively listen to what I may say to you.

During the years of your present re-embodiment, for a definite purpose, and toward a definite period, certain Spirits have occupied themselves in shaping the unfoldment of your Mediumship, the anticipated period has arrived, and with blended emotions, we, your Spirit friends, question the momentous future, which we trust contains the glorious fulfillment of a stupendous undertaking. Soon after your son Bernard passed to our side of life, we informed you that you no longer would be used for automatic writing, but that later on your Mediumship would be manifested through an altogether different expression. We did not then, and we do not now deem it advisable, to more than refer to this change of phase, considering it best that, through your own experiences, you shall grow into an understanding of what otherwise no one can make plain to your comprehension. Our paper on Earth's Satellite nears a conclusion; indeed, for the present, in that direction, to-day will end our investigations. May we hope that your recent experiences have proven sufficiently interesting to have awakened in you a desire for a larger knowledge and a more comprehensive view of the wonders of Starry Space?

We are aware that in the minds of Earth's thinkers there is a lively interest relating to a world of our Solar System, astronomically known as the Planet Mars. We, too, are greatly interested in the same direction, and it is our ardent desire that we may use you as a means through whom Earth's peoples may obtain a closer acquaintance with the Planet, and through whom we may accomplish an aim very dear to our hearts. We also are aware that your desire to acquire knowledge, at even a sacrifice of personal ease, and other allurements, will induce you to regard our proposal with favor, so I shall not urge you into hasty compliance with our wishes. You carefully will consider the matter, and we with some anxiety will await your decision.

Now close your eyes, tranquillize your thoughts, and quickly we again will visit Luna.

October 4th, 1892.

De L'Ester--Yes, again we are with you, and are delighted to find you fully recovered from your exhaustive experience of yesterday. Are we to felicitate ourselves upon your having favorably considered our proposal? You hesitate; yet in the past you have trusted yourself to our care and guidance. Surely you safely may trust us for the future.

Medium--If I seem to hesitate, it is not that I fear trusting myself to your care, but you are aware that this phase of Mediumship is very devitalizing, so you will understand that I a little shrink from incurring possible injury to my health. Then, too, if you may consider it advisable, I should like to be informed concerning the proposed undertaking. Since my early youth I have greatly desired to study astronomy, but always circumstances have prevented my gaining more than a very slight knowledge of this, to me, most wonderful of sciences, so, as in the undertaking some astronomical features are involved, without further hesitation I accept your proposal to attempt to make use of my organism for what I feel assured is a wise and beneficent purpose.

De L'Ester--Madame, in our undertaking much is involved that will be unfolded as we progress toward its fulfillment. Aside from the principal object in view, we desire, and hope to give through you, descriptive sketches of the geographical divisions, geological formations, fauna, flora, race characteristics, social conditions, religious beliefs and rites, government, educational methods, arts, sciences, architecture, mechanics and other features of the planet Mars. Certainly we fully understand the devitalizing effect of your peculiar Phase of Mediumship, and I will not conceal from you that your acceptance of our proposition may bring about possible undesirable consequences which we cannot foresee, so again I say, we will not urge you, but should you comply with our wishes to have you accompany us in a series of journeys from Earth, to Mars, our gratification will be boundless, and your experiences will be so unique that in any event you will find no cause for regret. Friends who are known to you, and others with whom you will become acquainted, will share with us the responsibilities and pleasures of the undertaking. For the most part these persons are interested in such sciences and pursuits as engaged their attention while in physical form, thus they are specially fitted for such purposes as they have been chosen to serve.

No, madame, we do not anticipate even a remote possibility of a fatal disaster to your physical existence; but, through exhaustion, your health might receive injury, so you will weigh the matter well before positively deciding to devote yourself to what I may assure you is a beneficent purpose. Should your decision meet our wishes, after the first step shall have been taken we will expect you to be steadfast to the end.

We, as well as yourself, have duties and occupations, and in the event of your positive acceptance of our proposition, it will be necessary that we shall make certain arrangements for the successful inception and after-progress of our journeys and investigations.

You are not yet fully developed in your peculiar Phase of Mediumship, and unfortunately you are extremely skeptical and over-cautious, which renders you very positive, and doubtless there will be occasions when it will be difficult to harmonize conditions; still, as you possess in an unusual degree the graces of patience, perseverance and earnestness, may we not expect that you will prove equal to such occasions as may occur? Indeed, we feel assured that you will.

Medium--You know the conditions under which I consent to place myself at your service, and in as far as my ability may serve, I shall endeavor to meet your wishes.

De L'Ester--Your conditions are perfectly reasonable, and we promise you that we faithfully will observe them. Shall we then consider your decision as final?

Medium--Yes; and as I also shall have to arrange my affairs so as to place myself at your service, I shall require a delay of two days. On the 6th I shall be ready to accompany you.

De L'Ester--At what hour?

Medium--At 9 A.M.

De L'Ester--Let it be so, and remember that during the hours you may be with us you positively must secure yourself against intrusion. This is imperative. Do you understand the necessity for this requirement?

Medium--I do, and shall arrange for it.

De L'Ester--Then on the 6th day of October, 1892, our initial journey will occur. Until then, adieu.

October 6th, 1892.

De L'Ester--Good morning, madame, I am pleased to find you quite prepared for our journey Starward. Accompanying me are George Brooks, an Englishman, whom ere now you should have known; Agassiz, one of earth's noted naturalists, and his close associate, Alexander Von Humboldt, whose fame is not confined to Europe. Allow me to make known to you these friends who are Members of the Band whom I have the honor of directing.

Medium--Gentlemen, I indeed am pleased to make your acquaintance.

Agassiz--Madame, our acquaintance is not of to-day, and our mutual friendship dates further into the past than at present you are aware of. Through the immutable Law of Attraction, humans are as links of an unbreakable chain, and real friendships are as enduring as eternity.

Von Humboldt--As no words of mine would add force to this statement, I shall only say that I am, and ever will be, your friend Alexander Von Humboldt.

George Brooks--And may I add that as all humans are akin I not only am your devoted friend, but, after a fashion, am your brother George Brooks.

De L'Ester--And it has been arranged that George shall assist you in your flights through space, and that I shall take upon myself the responsibility of conducting our observations and investigations. To each member of our Band has been allotted some special duty, thus no confusion can occur, and from time to time Spirits of our Spheres, and of other Planetary Spheres, for certain purposes, will join us. When desirable, further explanations will be offered you.

Ere we begin our journeys to another world, we will turn our thoughts toward the Infinite One, in whom we indeed live, move and have our being.

Earnestly, humbly, prayerfully, we turn toward Thee, Thou Eternal, Infinite Intelligence, who art the All Pervading, All Knowing Energy, controlling every atom of the Universe. Ever Thy children are seeking after truth. Ever they who blindly grope their ways through mortal existence, unconsciously, are striving to draw nearer to a realization that Thou art. Oh, Thou Dual, yet indivisible One who art the All and in All, as now we are entering upon a mission of loving endeavor, with loftiest aspirations, and with perfect trust we offer ourselves for loving service, well knowing that in Thee are the issues of all things, and that Thou wilt give Thy angels charge concerning us. Amen and amen.

Continue reading Journeys to the Planet Mars free in the Wunder reader →