A Series of Letters from the Spirit of a Well-known Lady —
Letter Number Sixteen
No men or women should follow any calling that they do not like—that does not make them happy.
I know many hard-worked sewing women, on earth, who repine thus—How I wish I were rich and could queen it in society. At my next reincarnation—I am now speaking of those who believe in reincarnation—I hope I shall be born into the family of a king, prince, or millionaire, that I may be a queen in society and a fashionable leader among the elite.
My poor darlings, you won't have to wait to be reincarnated, neither will it be at all necessary. You can be a queen in the spirit world just as soon as you are ready. You can be a leader among the elite just as soon as you are fitted to lead and have wisdom enough. It is knowledge that will make you happy here, not riches. I was once a needle-woman myself, in my earlier days on earth. Ah! I know just how you feel, and I will help all sewing-women; that is part of my mission.
I, at length, grew old and large, as I said before, but now I am youthful and light and, they tell me, very beautiful. I can trip the light fantastic toe with the best. I wanted to be a leader also, for, although of noble birth, my fortunes had fallen; but it is all right now. I became somewhat of a leader in thought, later in life, as well as an authoress. Ah! I made many mistakes and who does not? Our mistakes make us stronger in the end. By a mistake I mean that which we do not know to be such that which we think is right at the time—that is mistake; but when one knows a thing to be wrong, that is evil, fraud, sin, that will have to be atoned for with pain and suffering; our mistakes, even, must be atoned for, but they do not bring the same remorse and suffering that wilful sin or evil does.
I forgot to tell you that my reception did not consist of great men alone, there was an equal number of great or gifted women present. I am a woman and I am determined to take the part of women. Do you think those men would have been very happy all alone by themselves? Why, they would need women there, if for no other reason but that they might worship them. Yet we did not worship them, we didn't think they were a bit better or more gifted than we were, and we were women just as much as we had been on earth, and they were men just the same as they had been.
I tell you, friends, we were even more womanly than we had been, and the men were more manly. Don't let that old, foolish idea get into your minds—that the spirits and angels are neither men nor women, but all as one sex. Nothing can be more untrue. The same law holds good here as on earth. We do not bear children, to be sure, but I never had a child when I was on earth, and there are thousands of other women who never bore children, but they are women for all that, just as much women as though they had borne children, and no woman bears children after a certain age. Is that any reason why she is not a woman, and just as much a woman as though she had?
Now you ask me—Is there, then, love between the sexes? and I answer most emphatically, yes! What ennobles a man or woman more than deep and constant love—eternal love, if you please? On earth it is the foundation of all things; without it nothing can be; without it there can be no men or women. Love is the creator of all things—sexual love, not platonic. How else could justice ever come to those who die young or in infancy? Are they never to know the joys of love? Out upon such nonsense! Are the unmarried and lonely never to know love and companionship of husband and wife? Are those who are most miserably mated to vicious, debauched and drunken husbands—or sometimes the reverse—are they never to know the joys of true love and companionship of a good, true husband or wife? Think again, my friends.
No; our spirit children grow up, they love, they mate and marry very much as you do, except that they are taught to whom they rightly belong and make no miserable mistakes.
A good and pure girl does not marry a vile man. Goodness is matched with goodness and purity with purity, and that is as it should be on earth.
Why, you ought to see some of the glorious weddings we have here. The act of a priest saying a few words over them does not marry them here.
Now, I don't want to be misconstrued. I don't want anybody to think that this is not necessary on earth. No doubt it is, although it does not constitute true marriage; but, of course, as you are now, it is necessary, at least you think it is, and as one thinks so it is; but we do not marry that way here. A patriarch may say a few words of blessing over a young couple; but we celebrate marriage here as on earth, and our celebrations are often most grand and impressive. I hope to write you about one sometime, but I will add here that the sole end and aim of marriage is not propagation. It appears so sometimes on earth, but you will soon learn better when you get here. Husbands and wives on earth who have been married a great many years and have ceased to bear children, if they ever had any, find that their happiest time has been after they are too old to have children; they are more truly united, if there is any unity between them at all, than they were in their younger days; their love for each other is stronger; they grow into a oneness, or unity, that they knew nothing of at first; and if they are truly united they go on together in this life, happy and joyful.
Now, Professor Franz Petersilea has told me that he wrote, twenty years ago, about the employments in heaven. At that time no one seemed to accept it as true, not even Spiritualists. He sent the book, which he called The Discovered Country—for truly he felt that he had discovered a country new to him—by influencing his son, to a number of publishers, who, on glancing it over, considered that he was losing his mind, and returned it with most uncomplimentary remarks; but the son did not lose heart. He knew that the spirit of his father wrote it; he had evidence upon evidence of the fact, and he knew, also, that his father was not capable of falsehood, especially to the son he loved best of all the world; and now see how the world has moved on. Such men Rev. M. J. Savage and Rev. Heber Newton, and many other divines, not only believe it but preach it from their pulpits; and who now thinks of calling them insane? Nobody. And now nearly all Spiritualists believe it. They are a little more chary about animal life, but let that pass at present, except a word or two.
That great and good man, Dr J. M. Peebles says, as I now read in the mind of the medium, and as Professor Petersilea wrote twenty years ago—The Spirit World is no shadowy realm but real and permanent. There are forests, fields, flowers, sparkling fountains, flowing rivers, pleasant grottoes, immense libraries, palatial mansions with gorgeous domes constellated and astral; cottages and princely palaces with tessellated floors, tapestried walls, diamond pointed ceiling and scenery of transcendent loveliness.
Now I advise every one who has read this in The Progressive Thinker to copy it out in large, golden letters, and hang it in a conspicuous place in their very best room, and read it over thoughtfully every time the eye rests upon it. Professor Petersilea wrote the same thing twenty years ago, but no one believed him.
Now, Dearest Dr Peebles, I once knew you when I was in the form. Perhaps you will remember me and guess who I am. I will whisper my name in your ear at home, but it will never do to write it. Those words that you uttered were the grandest truths you ever uttered; but, dear Doctor, just think for a moment. Would not those forests look a little lonely without a particle of animal life there? Animal life is higher up the scale than forest life. Would not those groves and meadows lack something if there was not a bird there to sing? Would not those waters appear void without the beautiful fish? Would not those cottages and homes look as though they lacked something without a domestic animal, pet such as horse, dog, cow, cat, bird, especially the dear little hummingbird and butterfly; and all these things are higher than the groves, the waters, the mountains, the fields, and so forth. Why did nature, or spiritual law, leave out the higher, or the middle strata of life, and accept, or form the lowest and the highest, the highest being the spirit of man, or human spirit? Dear Doctor, remember that spirit is life and life is spirit, no matter what that life may be, or in what form it appears.
I now read in the mind of the medium—But Dr Peebles once said, or wrote, of a singing bird in the heavens, or spirit world.
Doctor, if one bird has been permitted to exist in the spheres, how can it be that all others are excluded? If one bird lives, all must, else it would be a miracle, and there are no miracles; and if one bird lives, all animal and insect life must live also, for natural law could not allow the birds to live and not other animal life as well, for a bird is but a flying animal. 0, Doctor, the truth is grander than even you thought it to be—but to go on with my subject.
It is now conceded by nearly all Spiritualists, and taught by many divines, notably Rev. Savage and Rev. Newton, that there are employments in heaven much like those of earth; and this is true. Now if there are employments, you must see at once that there must be amusements as well; and this is true; but the cruel sports are all left below and will go out of date there after awhile. People don't go fishing here, for fun, with a cruel barbed hook for the poor fish to swallow and then writhe in agony until they die. Men don't go out, here, to shoot poor, little birds, and other small, harmless animals, for fun, and consider it fine sport; neither do they set hounds to chase poor little, defenseless rabbits and hares, that they may, at last, shoot cruel shot into their panting sides. Think of it, ye men who have immortal souls. Put a picture before your eyes of one poor, little, innocent hare, flying for its life before a pack of great baying hounds, and great men on foot and on horseback, flying after the hounds and rabbit that they may shoot the poor, little, terrified, defenseless mite. Look at yourselves, ye great, egotistical egos, and see how ridiculous you appear, and what horrible ogres you really are.
No; there is nothing of that kind here in the spirit world, but all innocent and harmless amusements and sports we have. Theaters abound in the spirit world, but representations of vice and crime are left out. Our theaters are great educators of the spirit people. Many who would not understand a scientific lecture would enjoy and comprehend the same truths if given in a sparkling play; and, then, our youths and children need them, and they are enjoyed by both the learned and the unlearned, and, speaking in earthly parlance, by both young and old; then, we have great rejoicings and festivities of all kinds which are adapted to innocent minds and also wise ones.
If we have water we also have boats, but they are pleasure boats. We do not have locomotives or cars; we do not need them. We do not have mills or factories; we do not need them. But concerts, theaters, lectures, balls, parties and receptions we do have in plenty, and a thousand other things that I cannot describe, for they transcend anything you have upon the earth, consequently I am not able to give it through the mind of a medium.
No need to be reincarnated, my dears. You will find all that you need without it.
All you on earth who have aspired to be actors and actresses, but owing to circumstances could not, will find ample opportunity here. All who have aspired to be singers and musicians, but were disappointed, will become such here. Why, you ought to hear some of our prima donnas; nothing like it was ever heard on earth—and operas glorious! Plenty of opportunity for Wagner and all other great operatic composers. If you want to follow the calling of a music teacher, such calling you may follow with profit and pleasure and then give pupils' concerts and other concerts, with grand Rubinstein often as leader, and as often Wagner, Mozart, and all the other mighty musicians. You may also lead, yourself, if you please and are qualified; and for lectures, teachers of all grades and descriptions, plenty of employment here. No money in it, of course, but plenty of love, honour and respect—but for the old school of doctors there is no employment. You will have to make the most of your time on earth, for there is no sickness among the spirits except that of the mind. But the hypnotic suggester will have a good time and plenty to do. Better turn your minds in that direction, my good doctors, else you will not be wanted. And you, creed-bound, orthodox divines and Catholics, better come along with the rest or you will be left far behind.
Now, again, I read in the mind of the medium about an earthly teacher who adopted a little baby girl and taught her through what to her meant play or amusement; and she became one of the most learned of children. That is precisely what we do here, and the way we do it. Everything that a child or youth learns here is placed before it as pleasing amusement or play, or something that is delightful and beautiful; and that reminds me that you all ought to buy the book called, Mary Ann Carew, written by herself through this medium. You will find it at the office of The Progressive Thinker. This lady was the mother of Carlyle Petersilea. She passed into spirit life when he was but three years of age. She had little children in the spirit world and left two or three on earth. In that book she describes how children are educated—tells of her own and others. The book is an exquisite history of her own experience in the spirit world, and her maiden name on earth was Mary Ann Carew. She was the first wife of Professor Franz Petersilea; a lovely and beautiful creature. I have often met this lady here, and know whereof I speak.
We have no prisons, no penitentiaries, no police courts, no courts of any kind. All you officers and keepers of those things, better turn your attention toward education, and ameliorating the condition of mankind, so that, after a little you may be able to turn your prisons, jails and penitentiaries into educational halls and institutions of learning; then you will not feel so strange when you get here, and will find plenty of employment. All things of this nature that you commence on earth will reach up into the spheres and you can go right on with them, much to your delight.
Yours truly, MADAM —