THE BEGINNING OF A NEW ERA.
From a careful review of her historical studies, Fern Fenwick came to
the conclusion that the competitive system was responsible for a
majority of the evils which had so retarded the world's progress. She
discovered that this same system was the father of a conscienceless
commercial spirit which had existed for many centuries as the basis of
all social organization. That as such, it was a constant menace to all
good society; the embodiment of a cruel selfishness of a savage type,
which insisted that might makes right--that the strong should thrive by
preying upon the weak. In this position it boldly denied the immortality
of the soul, so far as the weaker workers were concerned. Therefore the
cheap lives of these poor people had no claim to be considered as
sacred, because they represented so many human souls. In the absence of
any practical or effective protest from the religions of the world, this
monstrous system of selfishness had in all these years, grown unchecked
and unmolested in its methods of cruel greed. From the shadows and gloom
of these threatening conditions, existing so manifestly in direct
violation of all progressive law, came a demand that the negative belief
in the immortality of the soul, be speedily replaced by a positive
knowledge of it. A knowledge sustained and supported by practical
demonstrations, through the action of natural law, whose manifestations
and demonstrations should be so direct and indisputable as to appeal
convincingly to the hard headed thinkers, who as a class, seemed to
represent a materialistic element that threatened to overthrow all
belief in immortality.
In answer to this demand, about the beginning of the last half of the
nineteenth century, there happened an event of the utmost importance,
potent with promise for the mighty spiritual unfoldment and general
advancement of the people of the twentieth century.
In the humble home of the Fox family, at the little village of
Hydesville, near Rochester, New York, by the co-operative efforts of
mortals and spirits, there was constructed and established a line of
communication between the two worlds--the mortal and the spiritual. Two
little children, the Fox girls, were the mediums, a combination of
operator and electric battery--or, in other words the necessary
instruments for successful spiritual telegraphy. In this obscure home of
the poor and lowly, in a quiet way, unheralded and unannounced, there
came to the world a knowledge of the existence of one of nature's
grandest laws, the law of mediumship; thereafter the way was open, on
the physical plane of existence, for an unlimited series of practical
demonstrations of the immortality of the human soul: the continuity of
conscious life was substantiated by an endless variety of proofs of the
most convincing character.
With this solution, of the destiny of the human soul as an immortal and
imperishable entity, came the solid ground on which to build a permanent
foundation for a social and industrial organization, on a basis of
unselfish, harmonious co-operation in perfect accord with planetary
evolution, and the real object and purpose of human life.
This strong combination of the working factors of the problem,
suggested to the mind of Fern Fenwick the importance of first attempting
to interest the minds of the people she wished to control, in the
question of immortality as a natural fact that followed the dual nature
of all human life, as a result of planetary evolution. Once interested,
she could then convince them of the immortality of the soul, as a
conscious, imperishable entity, by practical demonstrations through the
law of mediumship.
These demonstrations would make it clear to them that life on the
physical plane of existence is transitory and ephemeral; somewhat in the
nature of a very brief period of primary experiences; that life on the
spiritual plane of existence is permanent and enduring; that therefore
the pathway of progress for the human soul must be almost entirely
within the realms of the world of spirit; that this great truth should
have careful consideration when dealing with questions affecting human
lives; that the dominant immortal spirit of the dual individual
possesses a corporeal body, or mortal form, as a crude outward
expression of the indwelling spirit in its earthly existence; that this
mortal form enfolds all the possibilities of a life of eternal
progression for the Ego or spirit as a conscious identity on the
spiritual plane of existence; that the change called death is a natural
one, to be approached calmly without a fear; that it is really a new
birth, which does not disturb the continuity of life.
Once convinced of the verity of these great truths, all lovers of
humanity, all progressive people, all earnest thinkers, would readily
understand and appreciate the sacredness of human life, as the flower
and fruit of the planet--its highest expression; they would then be
prepared to co-operate with any progressive movement for the
advancement of the race.
To make the necessary conditions for the accomplishment of this great
work was the grand purpose of Fern Fenwick's Washington life. With this
purpose in view, Fenwick Hall had been especially fitted and equipped.
For this she had cultivated a large circle of acquaintances among the
fashionable leaders of the best society of the Capital City. Caring but
little for the ceaseless round of soul-wearying social functions which
so completely absorbed these people; yet filled with a determination to
win them to a higher life, she bore herself bravely through the season
which proved one long procession of social triumphs. Inspired by the
intensity of a grand purpose; endowed with a clear, musical voice,
perfect health, youth and beauty, combined with a charmingly
irresistible personal magnetism; armed with the quiet dignity of
perfect self-control, and the genius of her brilliant mind, so broadly
cultured; an adept in psychic lore; an entertaining and eloquent
conversationalist, our heroine created a profound sensation in the most
select circles of the social world. Everywhere she was the center of
attraction, surrounded by admiring throngs of cultured people,
representing wealth and leisure, who hastened to pay homage to her as a
Twentieth Century society goddess, whose wand of magic controlled
millions of money. In the homes of the exclusive few, she was hailed as
a thrice welcome guest; celebrities, ranking high as statesmen,
soldiers, poets, artists, authors, representative professional men and
leading men of business, were completely charmed and curiously
fascinated by this new queen of the social realm, and vied with each
other in eager efforts to win her favor and perhaps her friendship, in
the hope of gaining admittance to the very limited circle of fortunate
people who were the recipients of invitations to the famous dinners,
receptions and entertainments at Fenwick Hall. These people
instinctively felt the attractive power of some silent, mysterious
force, some high motive, which, combined with dazzling beauty and
brilliant genius, drew them to her side, without the wish or power to
resist.
This phenomenal wave of popularity continued to increase until a choice
of the best people in every branch of the social world, was at the
command of this new leader of the exclusive set; they were ready to
assist in carrying forward any progressive movement she might choose, by
her championship to make the fashion. However, this universal
willingness to follow her leadership, seemed based on a firm conviction
in some way unconsciously established in the minds of her devotees, that
all of Fern Fenwick's plans and purposes were for the good of humanity,
wisely guided by a skill and judgment most remarkably rare--apparently
far beyond her years! The whole situation was a complex problem they
could not analyze: they did not even try!
With the advent of modern spiritualism in 1848, came the first
opportunity to bring woman forward as a teacher and leader in the great
work of elevating and spiritualizing the masses. As a heritage from her
sister oracles, who spake in the mystic temples of the ancient past, the
modern woman was endowed with the divinity of a rarely sensitive and
highly refined spiritual organization. By virtue of this endowment, she
speedily demonstrated her peculiar fitness for this new mission. Her
eloquence and inspiration charmed the multitude from a thousand
rostrums. Her work in this new field was so startlingly brilliant,
important and successful as to attract the attention of the whole
civilized world; affording a remarkable object lesson which demonstrated
her possession, as the mouth-piece of inspiration, of a wonderful
magnetic power to sway the people; to enthuse, interest and educate them
up to higher mental, moral and spiritual conditions; by making them
aware of the vast import of the true purpose of human life; by helping
them to realize to a limited degree, the significance of immortality,
their individual responsibility in relation to the universe, as
important factors in the evolutionary advancement of the race toward the
millennium of its final destiny.
These inspired teachings touched a responsive chord in the hearts of all
womankind as they began, dimly at first, to perceive the all-pervading
force and rythm of the dominant key-note to the evolution of the race,
which in thunder tones ever proclaims the mighty truth, that all
progress of the race depends entirely upon the elevation, education and
refinement achieved by woman. They also began to understand something of
the glorious possibilities of a perfected womanhood, as a regenerator of
mankind. A magnificent array of future victories for woman's work loomed
up before them as a command to awake; to prepare for the coming dawn of
the twentieth century--the beginning of a new cycle in the life of the
planet; the commencement of woman's golden era! To woman the command was
imperative that she must strive for more wisdom, for more light on her
holy mission as the evangel of evolving life; that she might reach a
higher consciousness of her individual responsibility as the keeper and
guardian of the sacred temple of human life--a temple in which is ever
repeated the evolution, ontogeny, and phylogeny of the race; where, by
this most mysteriously beautiful of all processes, there is constantly
being welded together the planetary growth, physical, mental and
psychical experiences of ages upon ages in the past; with the higher,
purer, better and more spiritual possibilities of the race in its
planetary progress for uncounted ages yet to come.
From this general awakening there followed--for the purpose of securing
that practical education of training, which actual contact and
individual experience alone can confer--a vigorous effort on the part of
the brightest and most progressive women of the Nineteenth Century, to
enter, singly and as organizations, into all the activities of life.
Hampered by the blinding prejudice of a long line of centuries; many of
these earlier organizations, as might have been foreseen, were
unsparingly criticised as exhibitions of ill-directed foolishness,
altogether crude, unprogressive and unsatisfactory. Nevertheless, the
dominant spirit of courageous and persistent effort, combined with high
purpose and pure motive, soon won the approval of the better classes and
accomplished a marked improvement in both work and method. This rapid
improvement pointed unerringly to future achievement of that success
shown in the conditions which prevailed at the close of the century,
whereby woman was very generally recognized as a necessary and
successful co-worker in all the suitable employments of life.
Fern Fenwick, in full sympathy with the movement, was alive to the
demands of the situation. With the purpose of concentrating the efforts
of all the women's organizations which held their annual conventions in
Washington, into one channel, leading to perfect motherhood, as the
result of woman's social and financial independence; she identified
herself with them as a generous contributor. Soon she became the friend
and trusted adviser of all of the leaders. She placed Fenwick Hall at
their disposal, for use as a general headquarters. In this way, a wise
direction of the combined women's movement into a united work along
lines in harmony with planetary evolution for the perfection of the
race, became an integral part of Fern Fenwick's broad plan for a life
work.
By the end of Fillmore Flagg's first year at Solaris Farm, Fern Fenwick
had matured her plans for her own peculiar work. Much to her
satisfaction, the necessary conditions had been created, the whole
movement organized and well in hand. Fillmore's work for the education
and elevation of the agricultural classes, had given her energy and
inspiration to accomplish a similar and co-operative work among people
of wealth and leisure, who, ignorant of the true object and purpose of
life, were unwittingly wasting precious years in leading indolent and
aimless lives, by lending themselves body and soul to the care and
canker of the fashionable game of killing time. One year's experience
had taught her that the task was a difficult one, to accomplish which
required time, patience and perseverance, reinforced by courage, skill
and tact.