What is the second stage of existence?

I find that this world is the old world duplicated and enlarged, though composed of rather better material, like a new and improved edition of an old book.

An overland journey is impossible on your earth, as the connecting land-links are gone. 

The convulsions of Nature that have broken up your land into islands and separated the great continents have not apparently taken effect in this sphere. 

The Pacific and Atlantic Oceans have dwindled into comparatively small lakes, and the extent of territory is much greater on our side than on yours.

The long stretch of land from the Eastern States to California is much more thickly settled in the spirit-world than on earth. 

Passing through California, and journeying to China and Japan, I found those countries in a high state of civilisation, holding very friendly relations with our own country, anxious to disseminate knowledge and grant equal rights and advantages to all. 

Civilisation proceeds in the spirit-world much as it does on earth.

I forgot to state that the city of Jerusalem, which I visited is almost a facsimile of the Jerusalem described in the New Testament. 

It is a very ancient city, and is built with all the luxuriousness of Oriental design, rather like the ancient Nineveh―some of the streets being literally paved with gold (gold being very abundant in the spirit-world, yet even there it is considered a precious metal).

It is especially noticeable that this world in its general aspects resembles the natural world, but in its minutiae, it differs widely. 

Countless industries are carried on here, and there seems no end to the multiplicity of inventions peculiar to spirit-lives, yet unknown to the inhabitants of earth.

My experience here has been very gratifying and the second stage of existence is perfectly in consonance with one's spiritual aspirations.

One peculiarity of this state is its juxtaposition to earth, and the constant intercourse, which is kept up between the two worlds induces a ceaseless travelling back and forth.

I have been greatly astonished to see the vast floating population that hang around the earth like parasites who live unseen in and among certain classes of mankind. 

Advanced spirits are continually developing new plans for the improvement and guardianship of this class, yet many elude our supervision and cause great disturbances on earth. 

From my remarks, you will perceive that spirit-lives do not live in a state of perfection, but benevolent schemes for the improvement and benefit of such uneducated spirits are constantly being planned, and statesmen devise methods to adjust differences that arise between the educated and uneducated.

The ignorant portion of the community is almost as numerous in this world as on earth.