_Sixty-four Queries addressed to a Convocation of Worthies from the
Spirit World; also, the Replies given by them, and confirmed under
conditions which no mortal could pervert._
548. Having received many pages of communication from my father,
sister, brother, and certain other spirit friends, on the subject of
the spirit world, and having been urged by him and other inhabitants of
that world to publish the information thus communicated, I represented,
at a time when this honoured being reported his presence, that I felt a
reluctance at publishing solely on the authority of _my relations_; and
requested that certain distinguished spirits, who, as I had been told,
had attended one of my lectures at Boston, should sanction a synopsis
of the facts which I had learned respecting the spirit world. (409 to
547.)
549. The propriety of my request being admitted, it was appointed that
on Monday, the 18th of February, 1855, at nine o’clock, there should
be a convocation of some of the worthies in question at the dwelling
of the excellent medium employed. Accordingly, soon after my arrival
there, at the appointed time, my father reported himself, and the
following names were spelt out as being present:
George Washington,
J. Q. Adams,
Wm. H. Harrison,
A. Jackson,
Henry Clay,
Benjamin Franklin,
W. E. Channing,
H. K. White,
Isaac Newton,
Byron,
Martha Washington,
Besides relatives and friends.
550. The queries subjoined were then read successively, pausing, of
course, for an answer to each in turn.
551. The answers were given through an instrument analogous to that
represented by Fig. 1, Plate 4, and described on the page opposite to
the plate.
552. Finally, after all the queries had been answered agreeably to the
usual conditions, a confirmation of the whole was given _under test
conditions_, as explained in the page opposite Plate 4.
553. Relying on these conditions as competent to secure the issue
against the control of the medium or that of any other mortal, the
question was put, “Have all the answers been correctly communicated?”
In reply, the index moved so as to point to the word “Yes,” and the
following address was made at the same time:
554. Friend, we have heard your questions, and severally affirm that we
have answered them as recorded by you.
555. It is to be understood that all the subjoined inquiries were
answered simply in the affirmative, excepting where a qualified answer
made more words necessary than the word “Yes,” by itself. The queries
having been previously reduced to writing, the answers were written
down by me at once.
556. (1.) Is it true that within a space lying between the earth
and the lunar orbit there are seven concentric regions, denominated
spheres, which may be called the country of spirits; that this country
has all the features of terrestrial scenery, but with a much greater
beauty, even in the third sphere, while the beauty of the other four
spheres is greater in proportion as they are higher?
_Ans._ Yes.
557. (2.) Is it true that in those regions there are mountains, plains,
rivers, lakes, brooks, rills, trees, flowers, birds, beasts, and every
attribute of the most admired portions of this lower sphere?
_Ans._ Yes.
558. (3.) Is it true that, by the higher spirits, music, poetry, and
all the sciences and fine arts, are highly and zealously cultivated,
and that the pleasures of social intercourse are more highly enjoyed
than upon earth?
_Ans._ Yes.
559. (4.) Are the narratives of their translation to the spirit world,
which I have received from my sister, brother, William Wiggins, and
the spirit Maria, to be relied on as coming from them, and as correct
in their representations of the usual process of transference to the
spiritual world after death?
_Ans._ Yes.
560. (5.) How many spheres are there, this world being the first in the
series?
_Ans._ Seven.