The occurrences which will now be related have come under the observation of the one who is addressing you, and are, therefore, literal experiences. In proof that the spirit world is what we make it and that you take with you your moral condition, I wish to give an instance of one individual, who, not believing in the law of progress on earth, considered that the world does not improve. He had no knowledge of science, no knowledge of religion othert han that ancient bigotry which relegated souls to one condition or the other of extreme happiness or extreme misery.

He lived fifty miles from Boston, in Massachusetts. He had nut seen railways nor telegraphs, nor other modern improvements; did not believe in them, and believed that all who told him that there were such things in existence were in league with Satan; that no such ideas could possibly have an existence in literal form on earth. This old man would not take the trouble to go twenty or thirty miles from his own place to prove the reality of the improvements in the world.

He passed from earthly life, having only one affection remaining on earth, and that was an only son who had gone out from his paternal dwelling and taken up his abode in the Far West. Not being able to read or write, the old man had only heard of him through the kind offices of neighbors or friends who might have heard something of his doings in the west. The great desire of his heart before leaving the earthly life, was to see his son; and when the final dissolution came, he did not know that he was passing away from earth, but supposing himself still in the physical form, he carried out the intention that he previously had, to walk all the way to the Rocky Mountains to visit his son.

Of course, being freed from the physical body, his spirit felt the strongest attraction that there was in the man, and his spirit took up the line of march all the way from New England to the Rocky Mountains, plodding away day by day, walking the entire distance because he did not know any other method of going. Not believing in steam nor comprehending the power of electricity, how could he know the greater power of the human thought?

Inquiring of those whom he met (earth-bound spirits like himself) the distance and the better way to go, he readily found his way to the wilds where his son was dwelling.

When he arrived there his first thought was, ofcourse, of the recognition that should greet him; to his amazement his son made no response. The old man embraced him; there was no answer, and to all of the pleading of his voice there came no sign of rejoicing. For the first time did that man know that he was a spirit and his son still in mortal life. For the first time was he brought in contact with the fact that he had not the same physical form that he once occupied.; and of course with that came the first step toward enlightenment. The son, all unconscious of doing his father any wrong, might, perhaps, have thought of him during the time that the spirit father was so desirous of speaking to him; may have sent a message to the old man, still believing him in earthly life, but for the spirit father there was no recogition since he could not make him conscious, spiritually, of his presence, and there was no physical bond now between them. This is one fact.

All human beings, according to their spiritual growth, therefore, are either amazed, perplexed, bewildered, or rejoice when the enfranchisement of death finds them in spiritual condition to comprehend its meaning; but all are fettered as was this old man by some limitation or lack while in material life, and it behooves those who are inclined to pursue spiritual knowledge, to see to it that the measurement of spirit is not too literal and by earthly standards; for .you will find yourself, like this poor old man, limited to your comprehension when you pass into spirit life; for to space, time and eternity there can be no limit, only what you apply to them; therefore we give this illustration.

Another and exactly opposite instance is a case of one whose life was fully illumined while here with the consciousness of spiritual existence; who was not only aware that matter possesses properties which the human senses can detect, but also, that spirit possesses attributes independently of matter, superior to material law, not governed by the conditions of distance, time or space. We know of an instance where, during the earthly existence, a friend was devloped to the degree, not only of perceiving clairvoyaiitly material objects in their interior working, but also, of perceiving spiritual principles, and spirits passing to and fro upon the earth without the aid of the material body; became familiar with distant cities, visited distant lands and so absorbed the general knowledge of the structure and inhabitants of the earth , that material travel was unnecssary.

Not only was this true, but by spiritual power this person that we speak of became possessed of knowledge, not by reading of books, but when a new work was published the substance of it was known to this man by spiritual impression; the substance of the thought that was in the world, even the most advanced thought of science was likewise perceived, and the other world was a palpable existence.

The spirit of that individiial of whom we speak had often passed into spirit life and seen it; had become aware of the nature of spiritual existence, of the possession of spiritual attributes, and held converse and communion with disembodied spirits as freely, or even more so than with mortals.

The result was, that when the change called death came, he was aware of the first pulsation of the change, as one standing upon the beach might be aware of the slowly receding line when the tide begins to ebb.

The spirit, o'ermasterful and tilled with consciousness, traced the gradual ebbing of the physical life; traced the silent departure of breath and pulsation from the body as one would watch a curious phenomenon not connected with themselves. And so interested was he in this that it seemed not a part of his own vital existence, but some physical fact merely that he was observing.