A Special Visit to the Spirit World

The writer of the following narrative, writes compiler, J. R. Francis, in the Encyclopaedia of Death and Life in the Spirit World – Opinions and Experiences from Eminent Sources, is Mrs. M. J. Jefferson, of Chicago, Ill., a lady well advanced in years, whose mediumistic gifts are, we are informed, many and very fully developed. She has a widely extended reputation as one to whom no destitute person applies for relief, either material or spiritual, and leaves empty-handed. She states that the time of her absence from the physical body was about an hour, and that in her attempt to describe what she saw and heard, she finds human language wholly inadequate to give other than a very feeble conception.

On Thursday, 5 January 1885, I was suddenly attacked by an illness that caused faintness, during which I left my earthly body, my controlling spirit taking possession of it, I at the same time being fully conscious of all that was transpiring. I ascended in a light, misty cloud until I reached an enclosure surrounded on three sides by a wall. While I was wondering how I could pass further, a large door was opened in front of me by an attending spirit, who was magnificently dressed in a long purple velvet cloak, trimmed with what appeared to be white fur. His hair was also pure white, braided, and hung down to the bottom of his cloak. The place occupied by this spirit was tinged with the loveliest blue I ever saw, and profusely decorated with the most beautiful blue flowers, beyond the power of earthly language to describe. 

As I recovered from my surprise he turned to me and said: You are now going through the dark vale. Then came four bright, beautiful spirits, all dressed in a pure white fleecy fabric, each wearing a wreath of white flowers, and carrying in one hand a large bouquet of the same. With the other hand each held a corner of a square platform, slightly elevated from the ground. This platform I can describe only as being composed of most beautiful white satin, trimmed with deep white lace, woven with and intermixed with silver thread, and flowers embroidered with silver tinsel. On this platform was a reclining seat, made of soft white down. On this seat they placed me, and said: We will now carry you on to the next gate. As they bore me along towards the gate, the surroundings became more and more luminous, and when we arrived at the gate two lovely appearing and kind spirits in attendance opened it.

The attending spirits each held in one hand a wand, similar in appearance to a shepherd's crook, so beautifully ornamented with jewels of a variety of colours, and of such intense brilliancy that my pen fails to describe the magnificence of the ornamentation. These spirits had dark hair and beards, and were attired in loose white robes of a most delicately beautiful fabric heavily trimmed with gold lace and jewels. They pointed to an arch beyond the gate, composed of four hundred and three bright and lovely spirits. One spirit on each side formed the foot of  the arch, and from the shoulders of these two went up two hundred spirits on each side to a centre spirit, who was standing, holding a crown of indescribable beauty. Upon seeing us the arch marched three steps toward us, and all spoke as with one voice: 'We have come to meet you, my sister, and welcome you, at the same time presenting me with the crown! At this moment groups of spirits came in from all sides, singing and playing on various kinds of musical instruments, sweeter music than I ever before listened to. I was completely overcome with the grand and magnificent scene before me.

The names of the two spirits who formed the foot of the grand arch were given: One was Thomas Porter, my first husband, now in the Spiritland. They each held in their outside hand a lovely banner most beautifully decorated, upon each of which was inscribed these words:

You have done your noble work of charity secretly, but you shall be rewarded publicly.

When the singing and playing ceased a bright and beautiful spirit approached me. She was most elegantly attired in an exquisitely-fitting dress, the magnificence of which I will not undertake to describe, as all human language would fail me in any attempt to do so. As she took my hand she said: I am Fannie Conant; I did not know you in earth life, but now I know your worth; come with me and I will show you your reward. We walked side by side for a long distance, but from this starting point I cannot portray the scenes which were continually being displayed on both sides—the indescribable scenes of grandeur and beauty, the transformation scenes, of all imaginable shapes and descriptions. The most beautiful of all were two fountains in front of us, the drops of water from which, as they fell, changed into diamonds and other precious stones, upon which we walked. At the commencement of our walk fountains of pure water were playing on both sides of us, forming a double arch, at the apex of which the waters changed into bright, transparent jewels, of all sizes and descriptions, of indescribable brilliancy, and as they dropped but a short distance in front of us, they formed the path upon which we trod.

As we journeyed along, witnessing the numerous transformation scenes, I recognised the familiar faces of many near and dear friends who had gone to the happy land before, all dressed in gay costumes of exquisite taste. As we journeyed along and neared the end of our walk, the surroundings became brighter and brighter, until too dazzling for me to look upon. As she noticed this my companion, Fannie, remarked that once these scenes were too bright and dazzling for her to behold, but she had become accustomed to them. She then waved her hands to the right and to the left, and directed my attention to the beautiful transformation scenes displayed on all sides, each one more beautiful than the former, and all the surroundings beautifully festooned and decorated with rich, thin, almost transparent fabrics of all bright colours. She then said: These scenes and what are soon to follow are your rewards. At this point, it being the end of our walk, a beautifully-modelled boat appeared, with sixteen bright and handsomely uniformed spirits. Fannie said: They will testify that these beautiful scenes are your rewards, and they will conduct you back to earth; tell our beloved Banner of Light what you have seen. Then she shook hands with me, bade me goodbye, and vanished from my sight.

At this moment, and before the form of Fannie had entirely disappeared, there came in her place a spirit of angelic beauty, who spoke, and said she would aid in conducting me to earth. After seating me in the beautiful boat, which seemed to have been made of silver and trimmed with gold, it moved off as if propelled by an invisible magic power, without any apparent effort of its occupants. It floated along smoothly and easily over the pure crystal waters of a beautiful river, lined on each side with the loveliest foliage, upon the branches of which were suspended creeping vines, profusely loaded with the most beautiful flowers, that sent out an exquisite perfume which no language can describe. The air was filled with the music (both instrumental and vocal) of unseen spirits, and of all kinds of birds of beautiful plumage. Soon the boat stopped, and my spirit guide said: Now you must return to earth. I said I did not know the way. She replied, I will show you, and as she waved her wand, and pointed downward, I saw a misty cloud opening to the right and left, and soon I beheld my material body.

It was not a pleasant scene for me. I did not wish to return. The spirit took me by the hand and said: Your mission on earth will soon be at an end, and then you will return and dwell with us forever. Then she invoked a blessing upon me and vanished from my sight.

I then took possession of my body again, and I have been better since, my health being much improved by this pleasant visit to the Spiritland. I have been taken to the Spirit World several times before this, but have never before seen so many of its beauties as were exhibited to me on this occasion. The Spirit World to me is a reality.