A Birth Out of Dark Conditions

On one occasion D. C. Densmore, an excellent medium, stated in his Voice of Angels that while quietly sitting in his office waiting, Micawber-like, for something to turn up, and while contemplating the boundless sea of humanity struggling to better their condition, some in one way and some in another, he saw his angel daughter, Tunie, coming towards him, followed by a fine, intellectual-looking gentleman, and although this stranger could neither see her nor hear her talk, yet he could both see and hear Mr D., and being entirely unconscious of her presence, it was thought that in coming he was actuated by his own mind; yet it was through her unseen influence that he came. Recognising no one but himself and perceiving that he wished to communicate something, Mr Densmore arose and received him in the same manner he would a stranger in the mortal.

After introducing himself, he hesitated as if in doubt what further to say. A few days previous Tunie had told Mr Densmore she intended as soon as possible to introduce a gentleman to him who by accident passed into the Spirit World in the full vigour of mature manhood, and that, having imbibed the idea before he died that there was no other life than the earthly one, he landed in the world of causes with that thought uppermost in his mind, and although he had been there many months, no one, as yet, could convince him he had changed worlds. To convince him of his error, Tunie said, was the object in bringing him to Mr Densmore. This information partially prepared him as to his spiritual condition, and as she told him at the time he was so firmly filled with the idea that there was no other life after the death of the body, she doubted favourable results; yet she thought it best to try. Although Mr Densmore had but few doubts of his being the one she referred to, still, judging from his intellectual appearance, he was not quite sure, as he hardly thought it possible that such a one could be carried away with such erroneous views. But through the suggestive expressiveness of Tunie's lovely face, he felt assured the gentleman before him was the one she had spoken of.

After getting his confused thoughts together, the visitant commenced speaking as follows: I came here, sir, through the influence of some well meaning, but deluded strangers, to ascertain whether I am dead or alive. They also assured me that my wife, who has been dead over ten years, was mostly instrumental, through others, in getting me here. Now, don't you think it a singular, not to say ridiculous, mission for a well, healthy man, in the full vigour of strength and manhood, as I am, to be running around to find out whether he is dead or alive? The idea is so supremely ridiculous and absurd I can find no words strong enough to express my surprise that there could be anyone, claiming one iota of common sense, who can entertain such a palpable absurdity a single moment; yet it is so, for there are old and young, good looking and bad looking, learned and unlearned, all telling me I am as dead as a pilchard, and while they are telling me this, I am telling them, in tones that can be heard five blocks away, that I am alive, and as well in mind and body as they are, but all to no purpose, for they keep repeating the same thing over and over again. Now, sir, how are we going to settle this matter—that is, find out who is right and who is wrong? If a man can't tell whether he is dead or alive, I don't see how anybody else can. Look at me, sir; examine me critically [straightening up to his fullest extent]; feel me, sir, and see if my muscles are not as hard and rotund as yours. Look at my teeth [opening his mouth], and see for yourself if they are not as perfect as anybody's. Hear that [stamping one of his feet on the floor], and then tell me, if you can, that a dead man can make such a noise as that. I'll tell you what it is, sir, I have seen plenty of people carried away with all sorts of hallucinations, but never before heard of anything half so foolish and silly as this. Now, sir, after listening to what I have said and done in your presence, tell me, upon the honour of a gentleman, if you think I am in reality a dead man?

This was a poser to the medium, Mr Densmore. For here the visitant was, to all appearances—as far as his own sense of seeing, feeling and hearing was concerned—as much alive and in as good health of body and mind as he ever was, and he not only knew it himself, but demonstrated it to others.

Happening to look up at this juncture, Mr Densmore saw a well-dressed, intellectual-looking lady, about thirty-five years old, gently leading two children by the hand, apparently eight or ten years of age; they followed Tunie towards where the stranger was standing. Perceiving by Tunie's looks that the lady was the earthly companion of the incredulous gentleman, Mr Densmore anxiously awaited results. Knowing that spirits on the lower planes in spirit life can neither see nor hear those on higher ones until they have thrown off some of the adherents of their earthly conditions—which can only be done by coming en rapport with those on the mundane plane—he knew that the unfortunate visitant could never be convinced of his error until his spiritual senses were opened, so far, at least, as to see and hear those around him. This usually occupies two or three seances to accomplish. Happily, this was not the case with his strange visitor, for by this time his sense of hearing was developed. Perceiving this, his wife purposely engaged in earnest conversation with her friends relative to his life's history—which was a remarkable one—and which nobody but his wife and himself knew anything about.

Soon after she commenced talking Mr Densmore noticed him listening intently to something which made him very nervous, as he kept looking first one way and then another, seemingly anxious to ascertain from whom and whence the talking came, and in the meantime edging nearer to where he was seated. At last, apparently unable to bear the suspense longer, he asked Mr Densmore, in a suppressed tone: Who is that talking? He told him it was his wife, in conversation with her friends, naming them. Upon hearing this, he straightened up and said: That can't be so, for my wife has been dead over ten years, and some of the parties you mention more than twenty. Hence, it cannot be them. And yet [soliloquisingly], how came strangers with the secrets of my life? Continuing his reverie, he said to himself: This thing must be looked into. Say, stranger, addressing Mr Densmore, how came these ladies here, and where did they come from—one of whom claims to be my wife?

He was told that his wife came there to meet him, through the law of mutual attraction, to assist him out of his low spiritual condition into a higher one, just as she always assisted him in earth life to gain a competence for his family.

At this time, although his sense of hearing was unfolded, he could not see. He then said: I can hear people talking, and one voice sounds very much like my wife. I wish I could see who it is. At this announcement one of the party approached and made passes over his head and eyes, when all at once, seemingly as by magic, the film that obscured his vision was removed, and his spiritual eyes were opened, but by his motions, it was evident that the light was too strong for his newfound spiritual eyes, for he placed one hand over his natural eyes, to screen them from the light, as one would when coming out of dense darkness into a brilliantly lighted room. After remaining thus for a few moments, with his head turned to one side to more effectually screen his eyes, the lady still making passes from his head downwards, he drew a long sigh, as if relieved of some great burden. He then removed his hand, and looking wonderingly around, said: Where am I? In answer to which the magnetiser replied: You are at home once more with your family, whom you have mourned for many years as lost to you.

Up to this time, although he could see, he did not recognise the lady making the passes, although a sister of his wife, but after looking at her intently for a moment, he exclaimed: Why, Mrs M.! Is that you? I thought you died a dozen years ago. Then pressing his hand to his forehead, as if trying to collect his confused thoughts again, he said: If you are alive, as you seem to be, why may not my wife and chicks, who were snatched from me ten years or more ago, be alive also? Hearing this, his wife, who had purposely kept out of sight until the opportune moment arrived, advanced with her two children towards him, when Mrs M., his sister-in-law, said: Allow me the inestimable pleasure of introducing to your special care and attention Mrs K. and children, while tears of joy were streaming down the cheeks of all present, in the midst of almost oppressive silence, when he exclaimed: Oh, May! May! Are you indeed my long lost wife? And here (looking at his children), as my soul liveth, is little May, and Bessie, too.

In conclusion Mr Densmore said: Here language fails to depict the scene that followed the grand denouement, and I will not attempt it. Suffice it to say, I have witnessed many similar scenes before, yet this was the most soul-absorbing one, drawing out all the finer sensibilities of sympathetic souls, that ever fell to the lot of mortal to witness. After the first ecstatic greetings between husband, wife and children were over, and while the wife was leaning lovingly upon her husband's arm, with his other gently encircling her waist, with a child on either side, and while tears of joy were still trickling down the cheeks of all present, the happy united family group, followed by their relations and friends, quietly passed out of sight, all joining in singing the doxology, and then I found myself alone, meditating upon the scene I had just witnessed.