de l'ester—again you are at home, and we, your ever faithful friends are here to greet and congratulate you on your improved health.
gentola—and i with greater pleasure than i can express reciprocate your friendly greeting. yes, during my visit i was on several occasions conscious of your presence, once especially so.
de l'ester—that was when you questioned your architect escort as to the dimensions of the rotunda of the building you were observing. mentally you were comparing it with the rotunda of the galarēsa̤.
gentola—that was the time to which i have alluded. i knew you were touching my head, and once i knew that you and george were walking beside me.
de l'ester—indeed we did not at any time leave you unattended. we never do. you have such a genius for falling and other mishaps, that ever we are on guard to if possible avert them. no, we will not go to ento to-day, but with your permission we will talk with you.
gentola—i shall be only too happy to have you do so. may i ask for your opinion of our world's fair? did it at all interest you?
de l'ester—truly, we all feel a degree of pleasure and pride in such an exposition of the achievements of earth's peoples. it was a grand result of ages of evolution, and a
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fine illustration of the history of their progress. should we say that largely the marvellous exhibit was the reflex of activities of the spirit side of life, you scarcely would credit the assertion, nevertheless it is true. all spirits submerged in mortals, subconsciously are en rapport with the spirit spheres, and when the subjective and objective consciousness are fully en rapport, they establish a medium, through which very advanced spirits of exalted spheres can convey into visible expression the results of their wisdom and attainments. but this is a topic we cannot now consider.
we observed that you were greatly interested in the parliament of religions, and the various ethical and other congresses. could the audiences have seen the multitudes of spirits who listened, applauding or disapproving, they would have been astounded. myriads of earthbound spirits were there, and spirits too from the higher spheres, not only of our own planet, but of others, and all were deeply interested in the proceedings. if it be true that in a multitude of counsellors there is wisdom, at the parliament that somewhat rare jewel should have shone resplendent. the numerous representatives of earth's leading faiths, each vieing with the others in presentations of their claims, as possessors of truth, afforded a stirring spectacle. we also observed your lively interest in the orientals and their expositions of their various faiths, which are more truly spiritual than are some of more modern times. you have come to understand that a people may believe an erroneous doctrine, yet be a spiritualized people. what they may accept as truth is not so momentous as is their manner of living it. the spirit of the golden rule is found not only in all the great religions of earth's peoples, but in all the religions of all peoples everywhere, and if those who profess a belief in
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it practice it they are not far from the kingdom of heaven. yes, positive beliefs in this or that do, to a degree, influence conduct, and it is quite as true that beliefs are the results of heredity and environment, which are most forceful mediums for the perpetuation of good and evil, characteristics of human good and evil being terms expressive of states of development. truth is god, perfectly expressed, and truth may be likened to light which, falling through color, takes on the hue of the medium through which it falls, but is light still. so truth though discolored by its passage through the medium of hindu, buddhist, confucian, christian, and other imperfect faiths, is truth still, and ever its radiance steadfastly shines for the guidance of humanity.
gentola—you have mentioned my interest in the orientals. i assure you that when i first saw swami vivekananda and other orientals enter the great hall, i was quite startled. it seemed to me that at some time somewhere i had known them, or people like them, and i found myself trembling from a sort of shock or surprise. to this day i cannot account for the peculiar sensation.
de l'ester—do not try to account for it; later on you may be able to do so.
gentola—doubtless you are aware that among scientists of our planet there is much speculation as to a possible missing link between the earliest humans and the most highly evolved animal forms preceding them. while observing at the parliament the representatives of various races it occurred to me that between them and their animal progenitors there may have been a variety of missing links.
humboldt—gentola̤, i fear that you have not well remembered some lessons we have endeavored to convey to you. in the so termed chain of human evolution, no link is missing. the expression is misleading, and altogether
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unscientific. in a chain no one link is an outgrowth of another link. it is an individual, special, observable creation of the artisan, but from the earliest physical expression of the human to the period when the earth man became a spiritualized being, the degrees or stages of his unfoldment were so indistinct, so slightly emphasized as to have been imperceptible, save by the infinite one.
gentola—do you know at what stage of his evolvement, and how the earth man became spiritualized?
humboldt—you have been informed that apart from the physical plane the term time has no significance. when we freed spirits think of eternity we think of that which had no beginning and can have no ending. when we think of the universe, we think of that which is dimensionless, and when i say that always throughout the dimensionless universe, new worlds have been, and are coming into existence, and that dead worlds have been, and are undergoing disintegration, i but state accepted facts. always, when new worlds become fitted for it, they receive that which earth's scientists have not yet discerned—the quickening potentiality, the life impulse, which is the divine energy pervading the universe. in their tepid waters the first life expressions of the vegetable, of the animal, and of the human animal are manifested. on our planet, as on other planets, quickened protoplasmic, human germs passed through all the gradations incident to their onward, upward, ceaseless progress toward a period when as hairy creatures with low retreating foreheads, protruding jaws, repulsive features, and unshapely limbs, upon which they scarcely stood erect, they instinctively drew themselves apart from all other life forms. no, in no sense were they related to anthropoids; animals they were, but human animals, with faculties so specialized as to place them above all other creatures. ages elapsed,
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and when sufficiently evolved, they became spiritualized. how? as you cannot yet accept a belief in re-embodiment, you may not accept my statement and the added testimony of these friends, that in the spirit spheres of inhabited planets of our solar system and of other systems of worlds, there are myriads of spirits, of low planes of development, who, through the ministrations of those known in the spirit worlds as angels of the visitation, are conveyed to such human creatures as i have spoken of, and through their organisms they are re-embodied, and become reborn as their spiritualized children. and that was how the first spiritualized humans appeared on earth, and how they appeared on other planets prepared to receive them. could i not read your thoughts, your perplexed expression would assure me that another question is on your lips.
gentola—yes, that is so. i am wondering where the first spirits ever embodied came from.
humboldt—my dear madame, when we shall have learned when the first world came into existence, we also may learn where the first embodied spirits came from. concerning these propositions, my ignorance compels silence. on what authority do i make the statement relating to the spiritualization of the human animal? upon such authority or proofs as i have accumulated through visiting worlds in various stages of evolvement. worlds yet too young to receive in their waters the first influx of life germs. worlds in whose tepid waters, protoplasmic cells, the wombs containing the germs of all life forms are teeming. worlds which have evolved vegetable and animal forms so huge, so grotesque as to be appalling. worlds on which the human animal is on the verge of becoming spiritualized. worlds where having become a spiritualized conscious being, man is looking about him in fear and
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amazement. worlds where man has evolved varying degrees of civilization, and yet other worlds, where the peoples, compared with those of ento or earth, are as gods.
gentola—you will pardon me, sir, if my question may have seemed to involve a doubt as to the correctness of your statements. no such thought was in my mind. on the contrary, i so implicitly believe what you have said, that i realize that i am as an atom of a boundless universe.
bruno—but relatively the atom is as great as the universe. you have been told that an atom is a universe in embryo, for in it are all possible qualities, and in it are all the activities of infinite intelligent energy. so were you no greater than an atom, you yet would be a necessary factor of infinity.
gentola—i do not question the truth of your statement, which humbles rather than exalts my estimate of my own personality.
bruno—he, who was the divinest man of any of earth's saviors, counselled his disciples to be as humble as little children, that thus they might be great in the kingdom of heaven, and you will learn that the further you progress in an understanding of the infinity of god, who is the all, and in all the more will you desire to humbly adore the divine spirit of the atom and the universe.
gentola—i realize that i know so little. that i only am approaching the threshold of the temple of knowledge. you, on the spirit side, better than i, comprehend the limitations of mortals, so you will not wonder that i grow impatient, because of my slow progress in a spiritual direction; but with you, dear friends, to aid and instruct me i shall hope to grow in grace and in a knowledge of the truth.
de l'ester—courage, gentola̤, remember that ever the stream must flow onward to the sea. so if in your present
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incarnation you cannot attain to loftiest heights the law of eternal progress will oblige you to unfold the divinity within you. neither you nor we will ever find a halting place on this endless journey, which is ever onward, ever upward toward the unattainable perfection of infinite spirit, intelligence, energy and love.
but we have grown too serious, and will talk of lighter matters. with curiosity and amusement we regarded your perplexity, upon viewing for the first time the beautiful white city. you were quite bewildered by the oddly familiar appearance of the architecture, decorative, and other features of the buildings, bridges, statuary, and so on. le tout ensemble reminded you of scenes you could not at once localize.
gentola—yes, really i was for the moment rather bewildered. i thought that i must have dreamed of a similar scene, then it came to me that on ento i had beheld that of which the white city reminded me. did not you all think it beautiful?
de l'ester—very, and we now promise you that some day we will show you a greater and far more beautiful white city, than that ephemeral one on the shore of lake michigan.
gentola—i shall try to remember your promise. may i ask where are inidora̤ and genessano?
de l'ester—since your last visit to ento a dread catastrophe has occurred, and they and other ento spirits have been, and yet are engaged in aiding sufferers, both in and out of the physical body. they were to meet us here, and we expect them at any moment.
to-day is the 29th of october, 1893. when will it suit your convenience to accompany us to ento? we hope that you may name an early day.
gentola—you cannot be more anxious than am i to
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resume our journeys. on november 1st i shall be ready. ah, here are inidora̤ and genessano. you are most welcome. i have been inquiring about you, and with regret have learned that some calamity has befallen ento.
inidora—i can say for my brother and myself that we are delighted to again meet you, and doubly glad that soon you with our band will resume the duties of our mission to our sorrowful people. yes, truly, a dread calamity has befallen the inhabitants of a densely populated region in a locality, corresponding, de l'ester says, to about the latitude and longitude of berlin, in germany. it is regrettable that fear of ridicule, in case of mistakes, renders you too positive to be able to record some scientific matters. believe that i do not mean to chide you. you do your best, and we are satisfied with your efforts.
nearly two centuries of your time have elapsed since ento has been subjected to a destructive earthquake. occasionally, in various localities, slight seismic disturbances have occurred, but not since the destruction of petucy has there been a serious convulsion. corresponding with your morning of the 26th of september, peculiar and alarming rumblings and tremors of the underground attracted the attention of the people on the southern confines of the province of dyrin. at intervals during two days and a night these disturbances occurred, and in affright many of the more timorous or prudent fled to other parts for safety; but thousands remained, praying to andûmana̤ and the deific ones for protection. their priests offered the propitiatory animal sacrifices and the temple altars were laden with offerings of the most precious things; but alas, andûmana̤ and the dwellers in astranola̤ were deaf to all entreaty. on the evening of the second day diafon ēvoiha̤ (the sun), enshrouded in a mantle of lurid clouds, from which angry gleams emanated, sank from view below
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the faintly outlined horizon, and for a space deathlike stillness reigned, and in mute terror the people waited. but not for long, for suddenly tremors, faint at first, but quickly increasing in violence seemed to shake the very foundations of ento. temples and other great structures tottered, then fell in shapeless ruins, and smaller edifices and private residences were utterly demolished. so appalling were the convulsions that the affrighted, frenzied people ran hither and thither, seeking to save their own and the lives of their dear ones; but many were crushed under falling buildings, and thus passed from death to unlooked-for life in our spirit realms. in one locality, suddenly a great fissure opened, and as suddenly closed, engulfing almost an entire village. then the disturbance subsided, and on the following morning the rising glory of diafon ēvoiha̤ gleamed athwart a pitiable spectacle. homes destroyed. great public structures fallen. the living seeking the dead, and rescuing the injured, and to our spirit vision spirits releasing themselves from their crushed physical bodies were some of the features of the deplorable event.
of course, our duty, as well as our sympathy, has impelled us to assist them, and we have been engaged in the work of restoring to full consciousness the many bewildered ones, who scarcely can be made to realize the marvel, the joy of continued existence. so touching has the experience been that many times my eyes have filled with tears. other ento spirits are engaged in the incomplete work, for as you are aware, some newly freed spirits, especially those who suddenly pass to the spirit side, remain unconscious, not only for days, but for prolonged periods. no, the spirit spheres of different planets are not alike, for all correspond with the conditions of such planets as they surround. yet in a sense the conditions of all spirit
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spheres are so in harmony with each other that spirits sufficiently progressed, and who have learned the laws involved in these conditions, can visit any spirit sphere of any planet. yes, i recall that once during my childhood a considerable seismic disturbance occurred under, and adjacent to the plateau on which was our home, and that the alarmed people hastened to offer sacrifices, and andûmana̤ spared his offending children. the band approving, you may be shown the scene of the late catastrophe. at present the conditions are so harrowing that it would not be wise to subject you to them. the local and neighboring crematories, not being equal to the incineration of the dead, many of the mutilated bodies have been taken elsewhere. the cries and lamentations of the living that no more shall they behold the forms of their dear ones is pitiable in the extreme. oh, that the time may quickly arrive when ento's despairing people may learn that their sorrowful belief in utter annihilation is false. that continuity of existence is a glorious reality.
gentola—with all my heart i pray that it may be so, and if i, in the slightest degree, may be made to further the fulfillment of your desire, i shall rejoice that i have not lived in vain.
genessano—emana̤ (friend), no one lives in vain. from the least developed to the highest evolvement of the human of any planet, all are fulfilling the infinite, intelligent, divine will. all are portions of the waves of human progress, and no one can go forward without directly or indirectly aiding his weaker, consequently less highly evolved brother. in the spirit worlds, so well understood is this law that sooner or later all spirits desire re-embodiment, that thus they may not only aid mortals less evolved than themselves, but that in so doing they also may advance their own spiritual evolvement. yes, it would appear
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that in this desire there is an element of selfishness. not so. it simply is the fulfilling of a law of the all wise, infinite one, whom you name god.
both inidora̤ and i long for the time when we shall be fitted to return to mortal existence. would we prefer re-embodiment on ento? i cannot say that our inclination is not in that direction, still the feeling scarcely amounts to a preference. then we well know that the angels of the visitation will choose birthplaces best suited, not only to our further evolvement, but where we may aid others in their progress. many spirits strongly desire to be reborn on the planet of their last re-embodiment, and conditions favoring, they may do so. spirits from the higher spheres, reborn on any planet, as saviors, leaders, prophets, or teachers, may or may not have been former inhabitants of such planet. through the law of fitness all re-embodiments are controlled. you, ēmana̤, largely because you cannot recall the past, cannot yet accept a belief in re-embodiment; but when you shall have returned to the spirit side you again will recognize its beneficence, just as in time all spirits recognize that infinite intelligence, love and justice give to all, that which is for their greatest good.
de l'ester—we now will leave you. on the morning of november 1st we will come for you, and you will not forget to take the usual precautions against being disturbed. i may mention that on your next visit to ento, you will have the pleasure of meeting the lady camarissa̤, mother of inidora̤ and genessano. she will meet us at camarissa̤. until then, adieu.
october 29th, 1893.
