COMMUNICATIONS FROM PRESIDENT GARFIELD, MADAM EHRENBORG, GOVERNOR J. D.
WILLIAMS, PRESIDENT ABRAHAM LINCOLN, JUDGE EDMONDS.
Nov. 21. Among other things during this sitting with Mrs. Green I received
the following:
"Good morning friends of truth. On passing out of the physical form and
awakening to the consciousness of the perpetuity of my being, and a
realization of my continued individuality, I was overwhelmed with the
triumph of the spirit over the empire of crude matter, and as I gazed upon
the worn, shattered and emaciated body, and in the presence of many
kindred and other loving spirit friends, the first thought that occupied
my mind was, is it possible that I have lived so long in the presence of
this great truth and have known so little about it? Then followed a
feeling of self-chiding, yea remorse, that I had neglected so many
opportunities to learn that wisdom so much needed by the newly arisen
spirit, and how much I had really missed by not acquiring knowledge of the
spirit world, the future of the spirit, and the laws of spiritual
government. Resulting from reflections like these came the impelling
desire to return through whatever avenue I might find to speak to a fond
mother, devoted wife, loving children, and sympathizing friends, to
announce, if no more, that I not only still lived, but was fully conscious
of and keenly alive to their grief and sorrow. But I would do more. Having
passed safely and gloriously the ordeal of so-called death, and crossed
the dreaded rubicon, I am now employing my best energies in learning the
initial and rudimentary laws appertaining to spirit life and spirit
growth, which I ought to have learned on earth, in the fervent hope and
desire that I may be of service to my country and countrymen. If I have a
friend who would hear and heed me, I would say to him as my best counsel,
see to it that you learn more of the spiritual side of life while here in
the body, that when you pass to the higher life your spirit may be
accelerated in its onward march along the highways of progress in the
heavenly spheres.
"J. A. GARFIELD."
At the seance the 7th of November, 1881, I placed a sealed letter, with no
address on the envelope, on the stand, and no one in the body except
myself knew the contents, as I had written it early in the morning at my
home, on Mt. Auburn. I deem it best to give my letter and the answer to it
in full, as it demonstrates beyond all possible controversy the ability of
spirits to read and understand written matter effectually concealed from
mortal view by being securely sealed up.
"To my dear exalted spirit friend, Madam Fredrika Ehrenborg: You always
was on earth a valued friend of mine. Since your entrance into the spirit
world I have been lead to appreciate more fully your good qualities of
head and heart; and your kind spiritual ministrations to me I fear I can
never repay. They have made me very happy indeed. You brought the highly
exalted Swedenborg, and your angel husband to make God's truths clearer
to us, and we know we can not return this loving kindness in any other way
than in by trying to live up to them in our daily lives, and in making
them known to others. During my whole life I have had so very few real
friends outside of my family, but I now know that my good spirit friends
have more than restored the loss of earthly friends, who I may have
lamented. For a long time I have been thinking to send you a special
offering of my sincere, heartfelt thanks, which I now do. Your sincere and
humble earth friend,
"C. J. HELLEBERG."
The answer soon came in the following words on the insides of the double
slate:
"To my highly respected earth friend, C. J. Helleberg: I know since my
entrance upon a higher life more than before that you value my friendship
to a very high degree, which I have tried with my spirit to reciprocate.
You need not feel yourself under obligations to me or mine, for I take
great pleasure in administering to your wants, and I am exceedingly happy
to be able to do so, and that you appreciate we know. We are aware that
our communications to you have made you and yours happy, and it rejoices
us to know that we have been the instruments in doing good, and as you
say, 'You can not return our loving kindness in any other way than by
trying with all your might to live up to them in your daily lives, and in
making them known to others.' That is just what your spirit friends wish
you to do. You need not grieve for earthly friendship; those ties have
soon to be broken, but have your thoughts on spirit life and friends? My
noble husband and Mr. Swedenborg are here with us. Accept my heartfelt
thanks for your good wishes toward me, and for your kind allusion to my
noble companion. Love to your dear companion, and believe me ever your
friend and guide. This is in answer to your sealed letters.
"FREDRIKA EHRENBORG."
The 23d of January, 1882, came the following from the former Governor of
Indiana: "Good morning my dear friend in the cause of truth. I have been
present at many of your sittings, and this morning I feel the power strong
enough to write and give expressions to a few humble thoughts in regard to
what I have done since my entrance to the spirit world. My battles here
were to put down aristocracy and the expenses of our government. I fought
hard for that. I did not believe in drinking ice tea at the expense of the
government. I was satisfied with a good old fashion tea like my mother
made, and a suit of blue jeans. I am still at work in our spiritual
congress to that end. If there is not something done speedily our
government of our forefathers is gone, and instead a stronger one, or
monarchy. Capitalists gnawing at its vitals, and it must inevitably
succumb. Spirit world is constantly at work to change the influence. We
are coming to every channel we can to speak, and our prayers are that we
may be heard and heeded. With my blessing on you both, I bid you good day.
"J. D. WILLIAMS."
"A. Lincoln, J. A. Garfield, O. P. Morton, A. P. Willard, Emanuel
Swedenborg, Fredrika Ehrenborg, Madam Amalia de Frese, Polheim,
Wilberforce and Otto Jacob Natt-och-Dag are present.
"EMIL."
December 12th came the following:
"Kind friends: I am with you this morning to encourage you by the
utterance of a few thoughts. The authority of the priesthood over the
consciences and judgments of men is fast losing its hold, and creeds are
in the course of ultimate extinction. The overthrow of the institution of
slavery in the United States was precipitated by war, and I shudder to
contemplate even the possibility that the final conflict between the
prevalent creeds predicated on false theology, and succored by
superstition on the one hand, and an enlightened rationalism, etc. on the
other, may unhappily eventuate in bloody issues. Creeds are doomed to
perish. God grant they may pass away without the costly sacrifice of
blood. The pages of both sacred and profane history record crimes of the
darkest and deepest magnitude enacted in the holy name of religion. In her
fair name the soil of the earth has been crimsoned with the precious blood
of martyrs, and the ghastly horrors of the inquisition have been feebly
and imperfectly told. The real truth of those horrid deeds has been
faithfully chronicled in the archives of the spirit world. Without malice,
and in all charity, I speak of them to-day, but the truth must be boldly
stated. The history of the Christian system of religion is, in part, a
history of foul assassination, bloodshed and rapine, and all under the
impious pretext of advancing the kingdom of heaven and magnifying the
glory of the Lord. Not only have the brave souls who dared to lift voice
or hand against the hideous monster of religious fanaticism and tyranny
been sacrificed as heretics, but noble and queenly women--yea, innocent
and unoffending children--have fallen victims to its merciless cruelty and
gluttonous rapacity for greed and power. Religion and tyranny have marched
hand in hand together along the highways of the past, and with the stake,
the javelin, the executioner's ax, and every conceivable instrument of
torture, have left behind them ruin, desolation and death as fitting and
enduring monuments of their utter unrighteousness. Does this terrible
history, so replete with evil, offer us evidences of Godlike excellence?
Can such a religious system, founded in falsehood, fostered by
superstition, nourished by the blood of innocence, and pre-eminently
distinguished by so frightful a history, much longer command the tolerant
and kindly consideration of the advanced intelligence of the world, or
continue to inspire the conviction that it emanated from God, and has been
sustained all these centuries by the fostering care of his goodness and
love? In view of all this, is it surprising to any one that He who taketh
cognizance of the minutest details of human conduct has commissioned his
angels and the spirits who have escaped the environments and passed beyond
the limitations of the flesh to return to those in mortal on the
redemptive mission of demonstrating a continued life beyond the grave, and
revolutionizing the religious thought, moral tendencies and spiritual
conceptions of mankind. I repeat, creeds are doomed to perish, and this
angel ministry, fraught with freedom, truth and righteousness, will erect
her gorgeous temples over their buried ruins. Thanks be to God that I
obeyed the majestic voices wafted from the spirit world, inducing, as they
did, the liberation in our land of four millions of the enslaved children
of chattel bondage. Enjoying the communion with spirits, and learning of
them and their bright homes, the heritage of the father's love, I was,
while yet inhabiting the tabernacle of clay, made glad and filled with
superhuman joy, and in consequence was the recipient of strength and
happiness in this glorious land of the spirit. Go ye, therefore, and do
likewise. Good day.
"A. LINCOLN."