Just in so far as our capacity to understand increases, are we given information from those in the Etheric World, whose duty it is to guide and direct us here on earth.  The ordinary individual attending a seance for the first time will doubtless get into touch with some friend or relative who will without difficulty give him ample proof that he still lives.  This satisfies the great majority of enquirers, but only to those who wish to get beyond ordinary conversation is deeper knowledge imparted.  A high dignitary of the Church of England recently publicly expressed the view that only trivial remarks were ever made at seances.  He had never been to a seance, but this is what he thought was the case.  If he had gone to one and received trivial remarks, as he called them, from friends of his on the other side who were anxious to prove their existence in another world, the reason of their being trivial would have been that his mind was entirely limited to earth conditions.  I was with him once in the company of a man of eminence who had made a great study of psychic phenomena and the conditions ruling in the Etheric World.  Though every opportunity was given to this churchman, he never took the trouble to avail himself of the opportunity offered.  His mind was not capable of grasping the subject, and so it is with everyone save those whose minds are capable of grasping the deeper problems of life.

It is therefore only those who have kept an open mind, and have put aside prejudice and are willing to learn, who receive information surpassing that of others, however learned, who have acquired their knowledge only from what can be seen and heard outside the seance room.  Spiritualists are thus guided by higher intelligences in the Etheric World, and the basic teachings of Spiritualism come from the great minds of those who, though they have passed through death, yet endeavour to guide and help mankind on earth.  The basis of their teaching is very simple, so simple that the simplest of us can understand it.  The basis of Spiritualism is contained in what are called the Seven Principles of Spritualism and are accepted by Spiritualists in every part of the globe, not as an act of faith, but because the same teachings are given from the Etheric World to all who make contact with it, no matter where they be.

Those who call themselves Spiritualists believe that it can be accepted as scientifically proved that:—
 

(1)  The universe is governed by Mind, commonly called God.  That all we have sensed, do sense, or will sense, is but Mind expressing itself in some form or another.

(2)  The existence and identity of the individual continues after the change called death.

(3)  Communication under suitable conditions takes place between us here on earth and the inhabitants of the Etheric World, into which we shall all pass at death.

On these three fundamental principles, which Spiritualists believe are scientifically proved, the following logical deductions are naturally drawn from the information which comes to us from those who have passed on to this larger life.
 

(4)  That our ethical conduct should be guided by the golden rule, given first to the world by the great Confucius, "Whatsoever you would that others would do to you, do it also unto them."

(5)  That each individual is his own Saviour, and that he cannot look to someone else to bear his sins and suffer for his mistakes.

(6)  That each individual reaps as he sows, and that he makes his happiness or unhappiness just as he harmonises with his surroundings.  That he gravitates naturally to the place in the Etheric World in harmony with his desires, as there desires can be gratified more easily than here on earth.

(7)  And finally, that the path of progress is never closed, and that there is no known end to the advancement of the individual.


There is no darkness but ignorance.  Spiritualism is filling the world with intellectual light.


Only a few years ago we found a great nation, Germany, led by a small number of officials into the most ghastly war in human history, which involved the greater part of the civilized world.  Up to within a year or two ago, only the Roman Catholic church ruled Spain, and in consequence Spain is one of the most ignorant countries in the world.  Many other instances could be given from the beginning of history of how a small minority or an individual has kept a nation in ignorance and servitude, or driven it on to war.


The ignorance amongst the masses is still pitiful . . .


All the discoveries of science are tending in the direction which Spiritualists have been led to expect from their communications with the other side.  Though science has made no pronouncement on the subject, yet the number of Spiritualists amongst scientists is steadily increasing, and I could mention the names of some of our leading men of science who are Attending Seances Regularly and gaining knowledge thereby.  One of our most outstanding physicists is attending seances regularly but does not wish the fact to be known to the public as it is not yet orthodox to do so, but his mental outlook is widening, and he is gaining new knowledge which his more orthodox brethren are still lacking.

It is all a question of mental development.  It is difficult to discover reality wrapped up as it is in appearances.  It is difficult as the result of our early scientific and religious training to believe that it is possible for another world to exist about and around us, and especially so because this knowledge is quite beyond our every-day sense perception.  Not everyone has got the objective proof that Spiritualists have received.


For all of us, therefore, there is a path of eternal progress laid out, and we have but to follow it.  If the desire is there the path will be followed; if not, then, until the desire for progress is ours, we shall spend our existence only partially developed, and miss for a time the way which is ours as part of our inheritance.