A Home Beyond This Earth

The spirit of Martha Washington continues her narration of the heavenly spheres, the character of its inhabitants, and their occupations. As Martha explains, there have been many adventurers to this summer land of life, but none who have been permitted to behold but a shadow, as it were, of the wonderful and glorious reality. As we are faithful seekers after true knowledge from this glorious summer land of promise and eternal life, Martha promises to try to lift the curtain and open to our view glorious scenes, which once discerned, will never be forgotten.

I have visited many points of the first sphere from earth and find a great similarity in all other things, as well as in the inhabitants. Nearly all are drawn here on first entering the spirit world as they are still charged with earth's magnetism, and, of course, need the chemicals nearest earth to sustain them. Very soon, many are drawn higher by becoming more spiritualised with heavenly aspiration, and must then be sustained by a natural attraction. Those who remain longer, are led to return to earth, where they control mortals to carry out their habits and tastes acquired in the earth-life, for they are still governed by their sensual or physical condition, and it is only by degrees that they can be withdrawn from its material associations.

When the spirits of the first sphere above the earth commence to learn that they have changed their garments, and become disembodied from the earthly habitation, it takes even then a long time to prepare them for the next sphere. Many spirits come to earth to be educated and we hope the time is not far distant, when regular schools will be formed on earth to educate and release unfortunate spirits who have passed from earth in darkness. We most sincerely thank all mediums for the grand and noble work they are doing in this most glorious unfoldment of the greatest boon ever given—the knowledge of a home beyond this earth. Yes, a home, and what a glorious home; where all friends are gathered at a moment's warning, to give and receive each other's blessing and experience.

Why friends of earth, you who are on this little ball, so limited by physical conditions and climatic changes—who, when separated, cannot meet only through dangers and privation, and at prolonged and stated times; think of your loved ones who may dwell in spheres far remote: who can, on a thought, instantly be present at your bidding, and to yourself, the same power to pass to unlimited spheres, at wish. Oh, is it not beautiful, not only to know this, but also know that it is eternal—that your loved ones will ever be free; ever living to see and know, and enjoy this life, this great joy with you. When we see the mourners of earth following the remains of their loved ones to the tomb, so sadly, so silently, feeling that they have laid them forever out of sight, Oh, how I long to say to them, rejoice, for the birth of their glorified spirits which now stand beside you, and are trying to lift the veil from before your eyes, that you may see them in all their radiance and life—that it is you who need the sympathy and love, not they. They are freed from their network of earth-life texture, and are now clothed upon with garments whose silvery sheen is brighter than the stars set in the diadem of heaven. It is to teach mortals what the use of life should be—how to make it more useful and glorious here, and to do works for coming time, that we return to earth. The knowledge we impart will enhance the pleasures of this world and add stars to the crown of the spirit life.

Third Section

We will now speak of the second sphere, to which those have passed who have become conscious of the spiritual, and are quickening with a sensitive desire to comprehend the true relation of their spiritual surroundings. In this sphere, everything is similar to the first, save, of a more spiritual and refined nature. All things pertaining to life exists here and are a necessity to the condition of the atmosphere, and life of spiritual man. It, like all spheres, continues to throw off an aura, which goes to sustain the one above, which gradually doing away with the lower or animal creation, as a necessity, supplying the higher with a magnetic aura, which, passing through a process of refinement, sustains the spiritual life beyond, until the spirit has outgrown the necessity of nourishment of all animal life, and has become a perfect spiritual being, where it is supplied by quickening life, infilled with light reflected from the higher atmosphere of infinite worlds.

You must know that there must be order in the great unfoldment of man, from his earthly condition to the higher life, in which abound all the material chemical productions of earth, until we reach the fourth sphere. From there, you will perceive a change, which will again change the chemical, but not the being. 

Here a new light is given, a new voice which proclaims a new birth—a new spiritual birth—where all the dross of material conditions is removed at the threshold, to again step forth to an unseen world, to be met by the glorified, who have borne the palm of the purified in spirit, and where the golden light of God's glory begins to illuminate the horizon. On being ushered to this sphere, the most wonderful and glorious effulgence of light breaks upon the newborn spirit and reveals to them what the senses could never have conceived. Here you behold a host, who are gathered to chant forth angelic music. From this sphere, you will commence your angelic ascensions to the fifth, sixth and seventh until you reach the great ocean of eternal beauty, where sphere after sphere unfolds among the planetary nebula of the spiritual kingdom; where are concentrated hosts of glorious spirits at work, carrying out the fulfillment of life in every sphere and planet. In the third and fourth are the workers, who are chemically analyzing earths and other sphere atmosphere, and who are making rapid strides toward a grand discovery, soon to be made known upon your earth, as new power, by, and through which we, as well as mortals, can comprehend each other, without the doubt and uncertainty that now exists, as to whether we are life, existence or phantom.

Yes, also some new discoveries, regarding a new planet with a nebula, which will impart power to talk as clearly to your comprehension, as you do to each other upon earth today.

I will sometime take this medium up to my sphere, that you may know from a heavenly sight, that that of which we write is real; that the communicating of the loved ones, that have preceded me, are truthful portraitures of the heavenly home. The next time, I shall speak from my own observation. It has been reserved for me to define myself as I go along so that every step may have a bearing one upon the other; not that we labour to rise step by step but to comprehend the true causes that lead us onward, as in earth life. You, today, are solving a question by assistance from the realms above, and I, like you, have instructions from the philosophers and sages of the past, who have long been in advance, and who have been reading the book of life, eternal, to the children who come to be taught.

The Carina Nebula—Star Birth in the Extreme (Top); Great Clouds (Middle); Pillar (Bottom)—NASA, ESA, N. Smith (University of California, Berkeley), and The Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA) | N. Smith (University of California, Berkeley) and NOAO/AURA/NSF