Law of Brotherhood and Love

Yes, now we are all three here.

Oh, not at all, a dull place. Sister. It's quite radiant if you could but see, really. It's as the Living Dead Man said: We generate our own light here, and so it is always just as bright as we are within [Letters from a Living Dead Man], which naturally varies with each individual, but when several of us unite we make any room gay.

It's first to discuss the Western trip.

The Master says he will arrange things as well as possible. He likes the idea, because it means so much for his mother. He feels if he can bring pleasure to her before she comes over here she can live better here. Her life lacks the happy elements, and she worries so much she is enveloped in a cloud most of the time. Tee is her brightest light, and he can do her more good than anyone there, with the exception of the grandchildren, John especially. Hughey wishes her to see more of you and John, as well as Tee. To this end we will all work. But remember, the plan must be made by you and Tee, and we will fill in only the parts you can't manage yourselves.

Harry and I will go with you as our holiday, and I believe Harry will enjoy it as much as you can. He so loved a camp, especially sleeping out under the stars. You have a few pleasures we can't have here. That's why Harry insists we reincarnate. There is a zest and charm about a rough camp and a red fire with smoke in your eyes, and burned meat, which beats any meal civilisation can get up. Harry says he is sure the lure of the flesh, and what that means in the hand to hand grapple with material conditions, will draw him back to rebirth, but not yet. He must know more of this place, and work out some things with you and Tee before you return in a group to rebirth and work on earthly planes again.

The book  [Letters from a Living Dead Man] you are reading has fired Harry, and he and the Master both determined to prove what is there stated. Even Hughey hasn't been about as much as he might, because of his work and service; but at this time, as a reaction after the war struggle, he will travel and study more, serving less for a time.

Harry has found a company now who claim they can show him a soul reincarnate. With this proof before us, we shall, for a time at least, stop our creative work and try to find our past lives, and by the trend of these see what we lack most, and readjust our work accordingly. We never knew until last night when you read it, that we both, with Hughey's help, might have built a protecting wall about you so those evil souls couldn't have disturbed you. Now, however, you have protected yourself, so perhaps it is just as well.

There is so much to learn, and we love it all. Harry says he was getting too much absorbed in the marvels of the law to follow up other threads. We all feel that we have learned enough of the Law of Love and Brotherhood to have it become a part of ourselves, so we may follow other lines of knowledge now.

You can see now that the new ideas don't all come from us; that you can teach us as well as we you. It's a mutual exchange of benefits.

Helen

Yes, Sister, Helen. I can write if you wish it this evening, but prefer daylight. Yes, Harry and I sat with you on the bed and listened to that book. He is going to hunt up that man, and get more data on reincarnation. He knows several Masters who teach other things, mostly science along medical lines, but he hasn't been off alone yet on any separate quests for information. Can't Tee read us some more before dinner?

Thanks. We are all ears.

Helen

I am here Sister, Helen.

What do you think we had better do about the preface to the book of our letters?

Harry says you really needn't write it at all.

He thinks as the letters are for private circulation only, what need of the conventional preface? Besides B. wouldn't care for those first letters, anyway. Both she and R. are easily shocked, and Harry's letters written just after coming here have a strong earthly flavour. They are in fact, decidedly human. To some this fact is additional proof of the individual existence after bodily dissolution. Again, however, those strictly masculine passages shock the sense of decorum. They seem, in a way, sacrilegious. The so-called dead are in reality no more holy than they were before they died; but on the other hand custom has built up a sort of sanctified atmosphere about those passed beyond, which it may not be worthwhile to disturb. It's another of the beautiful Santa Claus myths which hurt no one.

So as Sister suggests suppose you print the letters as leaflets; then use discrimination in their distribution. Let them stand on their merits, without any word of comment or explanation.

Yes, Sister, we didn't wish you to stay longer because of what Mamma was doing. You can help her with her giving away her things. Tell her to give as many things outright as she can. It will all help to lighten her own craft, and she can do far higher work there as soon as she has fewer possessions about her. Let her keep what lace and jewellery she can and will wear herself. Only a few choice things she can keep. Let her decide what, and where the things are to go, and then ship them out of the house. This alone will raise her vibrations to a great extent. Simplify life. Cut down the clothing as low as her best judgment counsels. Let her keep no more about her than she could travel with in two trunks.

We wanted you to help her do this. You had better send the pink dress to B. You won't wear it. Send away to her what you see you won't wear this winter. Lace and a few good bits of jewellery you can use, and these won't hurt your progress. Everything else should be wisely passed on. Cut down! Cut down! And then again, cut down!

We see a great work ahead for you and Mamma, so we want you both cleared for action.

Helen

Sister: Several of us wish to write today, so plan to stay at home. Perhaps I had better write first, as I'll tire you least of anyone. What you wished to know was why I didn't write for over twenty years. Two reasons: First, because it was bad for you; and second, because I was being trained for service.

When anyone on your plane has the gift you have of being an able transmitter, or a true medium of communication between the two worlds of earth and spirit, they are, by that quality, a target or focus for all those who live upon the earth on human magnetism. Those vampires—for such they become if allowed—have the power to draw off all the surplus vitality of one on your plane, till that one has no reserve left with which to combat disease should he fall a victim to that.

Worse, these harpies from our side have neither judgment nor mercy, and they often take not only their victim's surplus, but what he needs to live upon from day to day, reducing him to a physical as well as a mental wreck. This I learned soon after coming here, and so, not because I lost interest, but as a matter of safeguarding you, I kept away.

I learned that there are safe means of communication open to those whose vibratory rate is high enough to take them above the lowest plane where the vicious live. So, never doubting that sooner or later we would resume our lost connection, I did my part to raise myself above the danger zone.

Harry has spoken often of how strange it was that you held me so faithfully in your thoughts all these years, as if I were as vital a personality as when I left. I was often with you, especially down in Cuba, and before John came. Harry is sure it indicates a far older and stronger tie in some mental past shared together, loving and loved. Perhaps he is right; I can't say. I prefer proof to surmise. When I see a soul incarnate itself I shall know. Meantime I listen. It is quite possible such a place exists, as this universe is so vast it would take centuries to see it all, and seeing, to understand.

I am one who works and waits for my family, studying and helping all I can. There is time to learn all.

The Living Dead Man's book speaks of a Churchly Conventional Heaven. Maybe it does exist, but we haven't seen it, and we have consoled many who were hunting it. I, however, have never travelled far, but will travel later. Growth is what we seek now. The Living Dead Man was old and wise before he came over here, so he had a right to travel more than we. His book has made a deep impression on us here. Grandma E. was especially interested. She and Harry are most congenial. Perhaps she would like to write now, so I will be the link that guides your hand from now on, and let each of those who wish so much to talk to you do so.

Helen

I am your old grandma, Mamie, but Helen had better hold the pencil [the first line of this letter was written in a finer hand than the usual style of these communications]. It does not seem long since you took me home on the train and were so thoughtful and kind to me. I neither look nor feel old now, but I am no less your grandmother, for all that.

Ask your mother to look for that portrait of me she has stored away somewhere, and take it to N. N. loves me very deeply. She remembers me in a way that is very gratifying. L. should be generous as well as charitable with N. as they both belong to our workers here, and should feel their comradeship while there.

Let L. gather up a few keepsakes and take them with her to N. What other richer gifts she has in mind she may send later, but I hope she will not meet N. now empty-handed. I know that a beautiful gift with sentiment behind it warms the heart. It will help me to grow here if my children are in sympathy and harmony.

L. has a generous heart, and her father's quick, impulsive nature; traits I have learned to appreciate since coming here.

Your father, L., takes a keen interest in all you strive to do. Of all our children you are nearest his heart, because he understands you best.

Give G. the portrait of his father. He longs for it, and it can do him no harm. L. need not fear making mistakes about dividing her keepsakes wisely. With you to advise, through whom we so easily pass our own desires, she can't go far wrong.

Ask your mother to try to give N. the little dressing table she used to have. This will be hard to do, I know, but it is the thing N. wishes most, and the gift will warm her heart as no amount of money would. Besides, the sacrifice on L.'s part will lift her higher here than any other one thing I can see. I hope she is now strong enough to make this gift.

We watch so eagerly every step she takes toward unselfishness, her father and I, and are made as happy as we were when as a baby she learned to walk between us. Each wavering step toward the right path is rejoiced over and applauded with an interest and enthusiasm no young parents could exceed.

She must not forget that she is our first child to set her feet on the upward path. We should have felt ourselves failures but for her. You see it is pathetic, don't you, that we feel this sense of failure about our children? J. is not a failure, but we did not train him. C. is a good boy, but we have left none who have repaired our mistakes, so we look to L. to do more than her share. If she only does that for us we may rest easy, and feel happier about the work we failed to do.

Thank you for writing all this. I see you will not fail with your boy, Mamie. He is quite a remarkable child already, and with our continued help should accomplish many fine things.

Perhaps I may come again some day. I appreciate the loyal devotion to my memory, and I shall strive to merit all you have given.

L. C. E.