Part 4

“THOSE WHO LOVE THEIR FELLOW-BEINGS”

I saw a countless multitude growing brighter, more resplendent, as I was led nearer. Among them were those more radiant than the others--greater, it seemed, in the scope and power of their spirits.

I recognized--not always from personal knowledge on Earth--some of the individuals who were there, centers of groups of radiant ones, those who, when in Earth life “loved their fellow men”; and who, by word and deed had sought to overcome the errors and abuses heaped upon humanity. Their battles with tongue and pen (no armaments or weapons of war), their shining armors of Righteousness--were finally known and appreciated by many minds (souls) on Earth.

One whom I had known from early childhood came toward me with the group of his friends and relatives, whom I had also known. He greeted me as he was ever wont to do when we both were in Earth-forms. Though advanced in years before he left the form, he was ever youthful, ever calm and peaceful; yet firm and forceful in his advocacy of his convictions of Human Brotherhood, and the final triumph of the spirit over errors of human conditions in Time and Sense. By those who knew his life and works he was considered a “leading and inspiring mind”; to many he was a Prophet of the “Good time Coming.” How my spirit thrilled with this meeting with him and his household and the group of friends who were with him. One question I had often asked in mind, or had wished to know concerning it:

Had he--this friend with whom I was then conversing, met in spirit states the one who in a distant land of Earth had said: “---- ---- is the greatest man America ever possessed”?

The one who said this to a prominent writer was also a “lover of his fellow men,” but the two had never met in Earth life. The question was not asked; before it could be formulated the answer came: “Yes, we have met and often confer together. In all essentials relating to the Supreme Realities of life and the growth of human beings toward perfection through knowledge of Divine Truth and Love we are in perfect accord.” I then perceived from among that goodly company the one approaching of whom we had been speaking; our thought of him and our appreciation had attracted him to us. Long and earnestly they spoke of the things to be when the children of Earth shall be set free from the shadows caused by ignorance. I more and more perceived some of the personalities of those illuminated ones, and more than once was I surprised that those who had been of such widely different conditions, environment, education, habits of mind, and, one would think, opposite spiritual states could be together!

The Presence aware that the surprise would exist, said:

“As you already know, differences of birth, nationality, outward rank and even of education, are not real differences in spirit. These are (and were) all lovers of their kind--lovers of Peace through Enlightenment and Righteousness, and they are now, as they were when on Earth constantly seeking through interchange of high Ideals, to find the best means for helping others--to lift the clouds of ignorance from the minds of earth; even now one is within your vision whose presence here will surprise you.” I saw a stately form and recognized the one who, as the head of a great Ecclesiastical organization had in the “Prayer for Peace” issued a short time before he had passed from his Earth-form given the following significant sentence:

“MAY THEY (THE NATIONS) REMOVE THE CAUSES OF WAR.”

As a lover of humanity, a promoter of Peace, he seemed to stand near these shining ones, many of whom when on earth (and now) have never recognized any Ecclesiastical Authority. Of course, I knew that all such lines, barriers, and human standards are removed--or rapidly vanish--in spirit states among Enlightened minds. And that they realize, as this one must have realized, that the Earthly “Office” and all its outward symbols and adornments cannot continue in a realm where the real nature stands revealed--the nature of the spirit.

All these composing this radiant assemblage were intent on reaching and for their good, acting upon the minds of those on Earth for the “Promotion of Peace on Earth and Love to All.”

Alas and alas! “Those engaged in actual war--the war raging between one-half the nations of the Earth that call themselves ‘enlightened’ cannot be reached until the leaders and rulers have learned the lesson taught by bitter experience.” So the Presence said, and so I had perceived, saddened by the thoughts of the awful human suffering that must ensue.

THE SHADOWS OF THE CONFLICT

Then I was shown the dense Shadow--the awful darkness that seemed an engulfing abyss: the scenes of the conflict now raging on Earth. That which I saw (then just begun), seemed, however, more to represent the spiritual and mental states of Rulers and Leaders than the physical scenes of battles. I saw the bright spots where the ministrants of mercy were rallying, regardless of nationality or “class,” to aid those physically wounded, to breathe a word of comfort to those injured mortally who were “passing on.”

Above the terrible scenes of battles I saw those in the “rank and file” of the armies and navies who were so suddenly wrenched from their bodies. Their first thoughts (as their last thoughts had been), were of those loved ones from whom they were suddenly parted when ordered “to the front.” They were aided to find the dear ones (alas where were the “homes”? now desolate. Many of the families scattered and in deepest suffering, great physical want, and greater grief.)

They tried, often without avail, to comfort and aid the dear ones, their own states of mind and grief over the separation preventing them from effectively ministering to their loved ones. They soon became aware that the aid could not be material, that spiritual strength and consolation must be from spiritual sources and that they might, if themselves strong in spirit, move upon the minds of others in human life to aid those dear to them.

It was a wonderful sight to behold the ministering spirits succoring, comforting, instructing those thus suddenly thrust into spirit states; none but those endowed with the Divine Gift of loving compassion--like a Florence Nightingale or a Clara Barton--could so successfully aid those spirits thus ruthlessly torn from their human ties and forms. It is an awful sight! Yet the spirit “Rescuers” are there! The “Red Cross” of the skies finds its way to those who need the help and guidance.

In a measure the Soldiers, all who must go to war on land or sea, are better prepared for the sudden change than those hurled into spirit life by “accident” of shipwreck or other disaster, or by volcanic or earthquake shock. The Soldier knows that he is to confront possible and even probable physical death--and being thus prepared often is less surprised and shocked when he finds himself “out of his body.” Yet, wherever the need may be, the “strong helpers” are there: above every scene of human sacrifice, whether Cataclysmic, “natural causes” or the result of human ignorance and neglect, or the self-seeking aggression of war, there are they--the dear ones, the strong ones, the saving ones!

All cannot be aided to at once perceive the new-found condition: everything must depend on the degree of spiritual preparedness, which is often greater among the humble and lowly--who have a line of simple life, simple love, simple duty to follow than among the more complex mental and moral states of the “leaders.” The real state, spiritually, determines the “condition” of the spirit in spirit life.

Nor were the “clouded” and “shadowed” scenes of Earth life found alone above the lines of battle. There were sometimes deeper shadows among the scenes of “pleasure” and “mirth,” mocking splendor of wealth and its opposite of want, squalor, misery, the toll of human sacrifice is not always in the “death” of the body. There are vortices more terrible than the volcano’s fiery breath or earthquake’s yawning mouth; the palace often seemed more densely shadowed than the hovel; while the dwelling, though a cottage, brightened with Love shone out like a star of splendor.

“Spiritual knowledge, the unfoldment of the highest from within, this alone can change the ‘shadowed states’ of Earth into brightness. Every life must be reached; every mind touched and awakened by the spirit; the ‘good’ that is within each must be brought forth.”

TURNING FOR RESPITE

From the storm-scenes of contending forces, from the darkness of Spiritual night, from the uncertain states, like dim twilight, one ever turns in spirit to the Beloved, to the groups of loved and loving ones that constitute the “Home of the Spirit.” “Spiritual rest is change,” respite from witnessing the unhappy conditions, the shadows of spiritual states that one cannot at once remedy. “Rest” is not idleness: communion, companionship, working together for those who can be aided--this is rest. The “Home Group” ever intent upon ministering wherever and whenever needed, afforded the respite sought. Such memories of Earth-experiences as had been kept alive in the sacred altar-flame of true affection and home ties; such interchange of Ideals and experiences as the later years had brought; such knowledge of the blending of the spirit and the mortal states, the guardianship and ministration of the loved arisen ones over those in Earth-forms, this was rest. Blessed respite; blessed communion; one would never be ready, it would seem, to part with such companionship.

Nor do we ever “part” with the truly loved. Whatever duties we must perform for those in spirit or human states, those most in accord, those nearest and dearest are ever with us “whether in or out of the body.”

Our human phrases, and even our usual thoughts seem superficial, weak and puerile when endeavoring to describe the divine realities of the Spirit. We never “part”; we can never be “absent” from the Beloved. Yet the shadows of human existence: “time and sense,” and outward “change” and “circumstances” are upon those who make “the house of clay” the limit of their mental and spiritual possessions.

REUNION WITH LOVERS OF “PEACE”

Returning again and often to the bright sphere composed of “those who love their fellow-beings”; from among them came those whom I had known--with whom I had, as a humble worker labored for some cause--this time a few, especially two or three last seen in Earth life at the Hague Peace Conference (1907). “Ah, how well we then knew--as well as even now when the conflict rages--that the nations (44 in number) were not all, indeed but few of them, seeking for ‘peace’; the permanent establishment of a Court of Arbitration for the world! Each was there to ‘test’ the others; nearly all endeavoring to gain some concession from the others to aid in their own selfish future aggressions”! Such was the thought flashed from my friend of the brilliant mind and noble heart who came with others to greet me. And the dear lady who took me in her arms and kissed me when we parted there at the Hague even as she did now, said: “We meet again, and here there is sweet Peace--but O, the horrors of the war! And you, you will return to Earth for further work.” She gave me her blessing with such love as her grand soul can give.

The other one, he of the brilliant mind and facile pen, he of the awakened and illumined spirit, said: “Yes, you will return to Earth for added work (even after those many, many years of work already performed), we will aid you, we all must aid those who are working to enlighten the minds, to awaken the spirits of those immured in the materialism of Earth. How dense we all are until awakened! Sorrow smites us, then the fountains of the Soul come forth; our spiritual Guardians can help us then, and we begin to know. That was my case on Earth. Now I realize how little I did know, but I am grateful that I was not an entire stranger to this realm of spirits, and there is all eternity in which to grow in knowledge.”