This is an example of spirit communications.

Spirit Hermes, the Egyptian, continues his narrative, concerning the loss of his beloved father—

No; not the loss—and yet it was a loss to me, for now I did not have his bodily presence open to my senses. 

But was he not with me in spirit, and much more able to aid me? 

Knowing more than ever he did, he could now pass impressions on my brain—fitting me by such impressions, for the great work, which he had designed me to undertake—that was—to go forth amongst the people of Egypt and proclaim the elevating truths I had received from him. 

At our last sitting, I told you of the result of his appearing to me in spirit-form. 

The clouds, which had darkened my mind were dispelled, and once more the sun broke out on my heart that had been so sad and downcast.

At last, the veil of night was drawn aside, and the morning beams of the glorious luminary of day lighted up the land. 

I felt I was not alone—the Spirit of my beloved father and friend was still hovering near me. 

He had, while he was in the body, made me solemnly promise that I should on no account allow the usual custom of embalming the dead body to take place, but that it should be at once consigned to the dust—there to mingle with its native elements. 

I have no further use for the frail tenement, he said. 

Even as, when I clothe myself in a new garment, I cast aside the old and worn-out one, so let my old worn-out body be returned to the ground. 

Bearing this in mind, when my brethren proposed to begin the usual ceremonies attendant on embalming, I said—

No; it cannot be done. 

Oh, why not? said they, you know it is quite a part of our system, and, besides, it is surely right that we should honour one so eminent as he who has been taken away. 

I told them that I had sworn to him that 1 would bury his body according to his desire.

After a long disputation, they consented to take part with me in the work of laying the dead body in the cold earth, where it might dissolve into the elements of which it was composed.

What a solemn funeral procession that was, as it slowly passed over the courts of the ruined Temple of Thebes! 

It was in ruins because we had no heart, neither did we have the means to repair that which had been ruthlessly broken down—the oppressors' foot was still on the neck of Egypt. 

No longer did she feed the hungry people—

No longer did she give laws to kings, for, like other great nations of the earth, she, too, had fallen from her high position and lay enfeebled in the dust.

There were no gorgeous trappings there—

No ornamental chest with embalmed body of the deceased, but, clothed in his white robe, the body was borne along by the priests, their heads bare and their feet unsandalled, followed by a train of weeping women. 

As we proceeded, we sung hymns, which had been composed by him whose body we were carrying to the grave, and when we reached the place of burial, I bent my knee in prayer to the Great God in the heavens—not now to Him, as behind the veil—ah, no; for my mind's eye was now open to behold Him as the Father of All, who was revealed to us in all his beautiful works in the heavens above and over all the earth. 

Slowly, and sadly, we lowered the body into its resting place, and while we shovelled the earth back into the grave, there burst upon our ears a strain of glorious music, flowing, as it seemed, from the united voices of ten thousand of the heavenly host. 

Our souls were enraptured by the celestial harmony, as it filled the air around and above us. 

We felt, as it were, at the gates of Heaven—

Hearken, brother! 

Listen to the music! 

Yes, yes, I responded, let us join in the celestial chorus, and our voices and hearts went out in praise.

That day I spoke with a different tongue. 

I had been accustomed to go through the temple service by mere rote. 

But now my tongue was loosed. 

I felt an influence upon me I never felt before. 

The priests rallied around me, and thus I spoke—

As Head Priest, I stand here before you, brethren of the Temple, but from this time henceforth I become a simple man. 

No longer shall I bend the knee to Isis—no longer is there to me a God behind the veil.

The Hidden One hath been revealed. 

Why, O why should we continue any longer to uphold that which is wrong? 

Let us go forth and proclaim throughout the land that which we know of the true God, of him who is the Creator and upholder of all in heaven and earth. 

This is the work enjoined on me by him whose mortal body we have just laid in the dust.

This is his command given by himself when he appeared to me in spirit-form last night, and how can I disregard the holy injunction, confirmed as it has just been by the voices of the Host of Heaven? 

I dare no longer hesitate. 

I feel his Spirit speaking through me—

His mantle has fallen on me. 

O that it may also fall on you! 

Hear me, my friends. We live—we cannot die—

We but cast off the old garment of earth, never more to be put on and clothed anew—

We enter into another and a better sphere of life, in which we will not only rejoin our dear friends who have passed from our sight, but we shall meet with our beloved teacher and guide—with Socrates, Solon, Plato, and the wise and good of all the ages and nations who have been faithful in the use of the talents committed to their trust. 

These men did not hide the truth but proclaimed that which they knew. 

Let us, also, go out to the world, and preach love to our fellows—

Love to all mankind, as the truth of God—

There is a life far surpassing this mortal life beyond death, and that that life shall have no end. 

I have spoken unto you the words, which I received from our aged father and guide. 

May we meet him and all the good and wise in the Great Temple, where all shall mingle in holy communion of light and love.

In words somewhat similar to those now spoken, I addressed the company that surrounded me, but I cannot in present circumstances do justice to the address.

After the burial, we retired to the temple, there to fast and pray, and that night, in solemn conclave, we resolved that henceforth our efforts would be put forth to raise up Thebes from her debased state—

A lamp should be lit up within her that would in due time give light to all around. 

The prospect of ultimately delivering the nations from the prevailing darkness of ignorance and idolatry was all the more promising, inasmuch as we knew that there was One growing up who would yet become the Great Deliverer of the Nations, and that in Persia, the Chief of the Magi was also on our side.

We broke off from the old and worn-out and corrupt system to which we had been attached by many a tie, and formed ourselves into a new school of theology. 

This party continued for some time, but I learned afterwards that it did not stand, having, like many other movements that at first promised well, become corrupt in its course. 

But the light kindled by Jesus in Judea still burns on, and will continue.

Though no longer an inhabitant of earth, I am still animated by the same desire to help on the great movement, by which the darkness and misery of men shall be swept away, and truth and love be established over all, and in all. 

O for that good time—would it were come! 

Is there the same spirit now animating those who profess to be followers of Jesus? 

There are, I know, a few of earth's sons toiling hard in the wide field of the world, but so very few that the time of deliverance is yet far off.

But you are men who, like me when in the body, have cast aside some of your old ideas, and the light begins to twinkle. 

See that your light increase in strength and brightness—

This will be the result if you be true to your convictions. 

Fear not though your fellowmen shoot at you the galling arrows of scorn and ridicule, but despite scorn, malice, and persecution, boldly proclaim the truth of spirit-communion.

Endeavour by all means to commend your doctrines to others by lives of purity and goodness. 

Without this you will fall—

With it, and the asked-for blessing of the Great Father, in the gift of His ministering spirits, who, standing around the Throne of the Prince, are ever ready to do his pleasure, your eyes will soon behold the blossoming fruits of your labours.

Hafed, Prince of Persia—His Experiences in Earth Life and Spirit Life; being spirit communications received through Mr David Duguid, the Glasgow trance-painting medium; with an appendix, containing communications from the spirit artists, Ruisdal and Steen. Illustrated by facsimiles of various drawings and writings, the direct work of the spirits; David Duguid, Hay Nisbet; James Burns, London, 1876