Why do so many spirits hang around earth?

The question is often asked—

Why do so many spirits hang around earth and mar the happiness of mortals?

I answer that they lived solely for earth and destroyed all aspirations for good, ignoring everything outside of physical necessities at the expense of every sympathy, regarding nothing, but sensual passions, thereby severing the tie of spirituality that would elevate them to higher conditions.

On changing worlds, they are drawn by their desires to such gratifications, as they most enjoyed in earth life, thereby holding them around their former haunts and associates, who are on the same plane of desires with themselves, often controlling some unhappy mortal with tastes and passions like themselves until they are gratified at the expense of the unfortunate being.

Could mortals see their true condition, they would strive to overcome the lower passions and cultivate a spiritual elevation to do good, and cultivate the higher and holiest principles of life—that when the change comes there will not be such powers to drag them like leaden weights down to earth.

—Mary Washington in Spirit