told. The first I give in substance as related to me by witnesses, the second came under my own observation.

A young man in Chicago persuaded his widowed mother to let him go to the war. When she gave her consent, she urged upon him the immediate necessity of embracing Christ, as his new perils would render his life more precarious and uncertain than ever before. His response was, "Mother, I would if but for your sake if I could, but as I have often told you, I am unfortunate in my organization; I can not believe in your religion." Thus he went to the war an unregenerated infidel. with the enemy.

He fell in his first engagement When the telegraph flashed the news back to the old Christian lady, that her son was killed, she exclaimed, "My boy is in hell! He did not believe in Christ; he was a good boy but not a Christian: I must go to hell with my child; I could not leave him in that horrid place alone. No, a mother's love will follow her son there; I will go with my child."

Her minister told her that her son was a good boy, and tried to persuade her that he was not in hell. He had died in his country's cause. In an hour of peril like this, the cause of the country was next to the cause of Christ; there was hope for her son. All this argument was wasted on the old lady; she had drank deeply of the doctrines of the church. She argued logically, too; that her son had died out of Christ, and hence exposed to hell. The church had no consolation for her; she became partially insane, and it was only by the most vigilant and patient watchfulness that she was kept from committing suicide, in order, as she said,

to join her boy in hell. At last, after a great deal of persuading, she was induced to visit a test medium. Soon her son came, but unable to control much, gave place to his father, who related the circumstances of the boy's death, and told of his condition in the spirit world, giving her new light with regard to both hell and heaven. This interesting seance was concluded by inviting the old lady to visit another medium, giving the name and place, and informing her that it was probable that her son could control the medium. The taste she had got was enough to cause the old lady to long for more. She visited the other medium, and got tests from her own dear boy. This of course was followed by other manifestations, resulting in her complete emancipation from the church and its dogmas. The result was, she became calm and even happy. Her mind was restored to its balance, and the lunatic asylum cheated out of a victim.

Was this good? Every other help had been sought, and failed. No arm was found strong enough to rescue this old lady, except Spiritualism. There are thousands in the asylums to-day who have gone there from similar causes to that which come so near sending this old lady into a lunatic's cell. Let us extol the religion that would make even insane retreats houses of praise.

The only remaining incident to which I would refer, happened in Iowa. An ordinarily good man, in the heat of political controversy, became offended at something said, and swore he would have the life of the offender. During a fit of insanity, caused by intoxication, he undertook to execute his threat, and lost his life in the attempt. The man's brother, who was

a minister, said, "My brother was a wicked man. He was a drunkard, and died with murder in his heart. My brother is in hell; I know he is." He went to the newly-made widow, even while her husband's corpse was yet in the house, and said, "I would not have a funeral sermon; no minister can do his duty without telling you your husband is suffering the eternal burnings." The lady became distracted, and at times perfectly insane. The church had no consolation for her; even the Universalists could not console her; their theories seemed so much like hypotheses that their words had no effect. About sixteen miles from where this happened there lived a medium. Suddenly an irresistible influence came to him, and he ran as straight as a bee-line to the widow; he jumped fences and walls, ran through swamps and creeks, and scaled steep hills, letting nothing swerve him from his course, or purpose after he got there. When he reached the lady's house he demanded to see her; and though all regarded him as crazy, he was granted a private interview. What he said or did is not definitely known to outsiders, but one thing is known: the distracted lady became calm and cheerful; she said she had heard from her husband; that he was working out his own salvation on the other side, as he would have been compelled to have done on this, had he staid here. She found in the spirit world itself the consolation which could not be furnished by any of the religions by which she was surrounded.

I have now gone through an entire chapter, picking up here a grain and there a grain of good that has come from Spiritualism. I would not represent this as the harvest of good to be reaped, as the result of the

new religion. These are a few of the specimens only which have been gathered from "wayside gleanings." The great Spiritual mines are filled with such and better. "Eye hath not seen, ear hath not heard, neither hath it entered into the heart of man to conceive the things Spiritualism has provided for the world."

The great boon of all, the one needed when no other can reach the case, is the consolation it affords to those about to exchange worlds. The fear of death is gone! The fires of hell have been extinguished! The walls are taken down from the celestial city! The ivory or golden throne is removed, and flowers planted on the spot it occupied! Its God is not a tyranical king, with a crown upon his head and a scowl on his face, but a loving father and mother ever looking after the welfare and comfort of all the children! The dying Spiritualist knows he is not to be forced millions of miles away from those in whom he has an interest; he is not going away, but remains to bless and be blessed by those yet on earth's side of death's river. O, may the blessed consolations of Spiritualism cheer both reader and writer in the hour of dissolution!

CHAPTER XV.

MINOR QUESTIONS.

Asking and answering Questions, the difference. Can not answer every Question.- Spiritualism necessarily crude at first. - May be modified. - How do Spirits operate? - Their Power over the Will. - Does Mediumship indicate a weak Mind. —The controlling Spirit not necessarily with the Medium.Author's Experiments. - Spirits control more than One at a time. - Sometimes control without knowing it. A. J. Davis and Professor Vaughan. "Arabula" and "Human Nature." - E. D. Keene gives a Communication from a Man yet on Earth. Why do Spirits lie? - Fault often in the MediPsychological Experiments. Cause of Failure. - Reason why some get better Tests than others. Why do not all Mediums give Tests. Tests not always from personal Friends.- Psychology and Spiritualism.- All are Mediums. David and his Mediums. - Philosophy of Dark Circles. - Biblical Manifestations in the Dark. - The Explanation. - Morality of Spiritualism.- Mediumship a Quickener. - Spiritualism and Sunshine. - Webster, Clay, et al., whittled down. The Explanation. How to receive Spiritual

um.

ism.Why so many Indian Spirits. - The Indian Element positive. - Belongs in this Country. Better Magnetizers. More easily imitated Humbugs and the Self deceived. — Experience of the Author.- Where are the Ancients. Reasons why they do not return. — What Good can Spiritualism do? For what should we go to Spirits. Demonstrates a Future. - What will Science do? - Spiritual Sense. - Immortality Triumphant.

THIS chapter I design as an answer to the ever recurring questions concerning the modus operandi of many of the spirit manifestations. Nearly everything that I shall say here will be said by the request of individuals who have handed in questions which they wished answered in the present volume.

Asking questions is an easy matter. Answering them is sometimes a hard one. Questions are generally based on the ignorance of the one who asks;