In our last discourse we endeavored to show that the reality of spiritual existence does not depend upon its materiality, and that by far the greater portion of life is not material, but is real in its divine spirituality.

We will endeavor on this occasion to show some of those states that border upon the material existence, not because they are material, but because of the conditions of the spirits who suppose that materiality is necessary to life. It is unquestionably true, however, that no human being, however degraded his or her condition in mortal life, passes into spirit life without taking one step in advance. We mean by this that they do not take a step in advance of those who are elevated, and pure, and spiritual, but for them individually the change is one step forward, and they are brought nearer to the source of things, and their own real condition more nearly revealed to them.

It is said by many - and this doubtless has its origin in the old theological idea - that the earth is haunted with demons instead of angels, and that the demon of terror is walking around in order to ensnare you with temptation. So in Spiritualism there is one bugbear - evil spirits; and our discourse this morning would border upon those conditions that are called evil, and their prototypes in spirit life, and their influence or capacity over mortals.

Every one in human life occupies a position which his or her spiritual unfoldment will warrant; we mean by that spiritually. You each individually are not governed or swayed by your surroundings except in the degree of your weaknesses. Those weaknesses make you the subjects of what are called temptations.

Now, spirits in spirit life pass there with their unfoldment or their spiritual ignorance, but the fact of their passing into spirit life gives them no greater power, no more control over others; nor does it indeed make them a positive force over human life.

As we have explained to you that spirit is a reality in spirit life, so we would explain to-day that the primal force and positive element of spirit life must be that which is most spiritual; as Truth, Goodness, Purity, are the higher expressions of man's spiritual condition, so there must be most power in goodness, truth and purity in a world where those elements constitute the primal and positive force.

Let us explain: There is no vitality in the atmosphere where the sun's rays cannot penetrate; there is no atom, probably, composing all of the organic structures of the earth that has not at some time been vitalized by the sun's rays. And it is because of this great primal motor power in the solar system that your planet is enabled to develop her organic structures and vital life. The vital life of spiritual existence is Goodness; the negative of light in the earthly state is darkness; the negative of goodness in the spiritual state is evil or ignorance.

Now, as it is utterly impossible for the shadow that lurks in the corner there to come out and fill this room, but as it is quite possible for the light to penetrate into that shadow and make it less a shadow, so in the power of the spirit the good is the light of the next existence, and only those who are in the darkness of ignorance can be in the shadow-land; and as shadow is negative, not positive, it cannot encroach upon light or goodness. A shadow added to another shadow may make added darkness, but there can be no power to overcome the light; even the simplest ray of light penetrating the darkest dungeon cell of earth, will reach the remote corner and quicken the little grain of seed. You have many times, perhaps, seen a root in some remote corner of the cellar begin to grow if there is one ray of light to pierce the darkness; but the shadow cannot pierce the light.

" Evil spirits," as you term them, therefore, are the shadows of the other world; they cannot darken your sunshine; they cannot break in upon your light; but coming in contact with your light your goodness may illumine their darkness; but they cannot overshadow your goodness by their darkness.

The great primal curse of man is - first: the fear of death, and then the fear of evil. Fear itself is as great a vice and as deep a shadow as one can well possess; for fear proves not only a doubt to one's own moral condition, but a distrust of the Infinite love and moral probity of God. Therefore, as "perfect love casteth out all fear," so perfect goodness must cast out all fear of that which can come from the shadow of evil.

But as human states are imperfect, and as none are absolutely good, so none are wholly evil. But what we wish most to call your attention to is - -first: that while in human life the degraded, and the ignorant, and the criminal only reveal to you, or you only perceive their shadowy side, that there still is not one of these in whom there is not some ray of light from the positive side of existence - the spiritual; and when death comes to release them, or when the change called death intercepts their human existence, and they are placed face to face with the reality of their own condition, they are not, therefore, filled with power but with weakness.

Have you ever seen a man confronted with his crime, shrinking away from the consciousness of detection with fear and cringing? Have you ever seen in the midst of truth how falsehood betrays itself and strives to fly away from the peaceful yet clear light of the vanquishing nature of truth? Such is the condition of ignorance and crime. In spirit life, immured in one's own condition, one may not be aware that one's state is a state of negation, because to the individual the reality of one's own state becomes more and more apparent, and more and more appalling. Such must have been the states of darkness into which Dante gazed when he looked into purgatory; this condition within the individual where they bear with them their atmosphere of darkness, and conscious of their own condition, how could they be powerful to do harm to others?