is its power of laying hold of, and, in the camera of the eye, picturing distant objects. Etherealise the eye, and you have vision extended in proportion; therefore "spirits" (we call such etherealities spirits for want of a better name) are likely to be pos sessed of vision-powers fitted to see the whole mechanism of the material universe as developed in solids less ethereal than themselves—and to see the rolling planets of a size and with a brilliancy as great in contrast, as a rushlight is to the Drummond-light; and be possessed of an internal ethereal organization, adapted to the state of existence they enjoy. Is this fancy? No-otherwise magnet-power is a fancy.

These ideas are the outflow from analogy, and we are rapidly approaching to the proofs that they are really true. The existence of spiritual beings would be an interesting class of knowledge; and we need not rest their mode of life on Fancy, as she floats and wings her way in the ether of imagination. But their existence would only be an additional proof of the creative energy of God, unless we could find that not only do those intelligences see us and act upon us, but that we have an individual interest in the question-super or above the fleshly or physical state we now are in; a question superior to that for a dog patted or whipped by his master-that we have a reversion to life in that state of ethereality, because we are the head of the physical and mental elements on earth.

The possibility, the probability, the feasibility of the existence of spirits we have shown in the foregoing links of thought; and it will now be our duty to trace their existence by the laws of evidence, as a chemist traces unseen gases and other ethereals, by their action on ponderable substances, be they animate or inanimate. To effect this, we must bring into action the five senses of man-hearing, seeing, tasting, feeling, smelling; and, in addition thereto, we must bring into play our perceptive senses, so that by physical and mental processes we may be able to give a REASON to any man for the faith that is in us. "Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." Before we close this volume, we

shall have the further evidence of things not seen, whereby our faith will be erected on a rock which the winds of erratic education may assail, but in vain, leaving the fabric of fact unscathed and standing out in the deep blue sky of truth in sharp and well-defined lines—a beacon to the traveller, a resting-place for the bereaved, and an observatory for the heaven-watchers,

SECTION X.

MEDIUMS.

MEDIUMS is a modern name for those human beings amongst their fellows, who are more delicately formed, finer-nerved, and more susceptible to external influences than their neighbours ;-are more susceptible to the weather, or atmospheric changes;—are in general society more passional, more excitable; are kindly disposed, and easily guided to good or evil by their associates;-such persons are often used as tools, by energetic plotting men, to effect a purpose; they are the means or mediums by which an object is to be accomplished for another. In general terms, a doctor is the medium through whom knowledge is conveyed to a patient as to how a cure is to be effected; so in any given branch of business, the known capabilities of a person make him the medium for transacting that business. So is it with spiritual mediums, the susceptibility is the qualification, and the cause of selection; and if a first-rate talented sensitive cannot be found, a second, or third, or fourth-rate one must be used, if necessity requires; the same as in ordinary business. Under the sections of Clairvoyance, Biology, and Mesmerine, the power of man upon man has been shown,--and how much more energetic and subtle must be the spirit living in the ethereals-moving and passing through the corporeals or solids, be they earth or flesh. (As illustrated by magnet aura through a table.) I have proved the probability of there being spiritual beings, with ethereal or soul-bodies, and the reader, to facilitate examination, must allow me the fact of their existence, on condition, that hereafter I satisfactorily prove it by evidence.

The line between the powers of sensitives, as produced by themselves, and a supernatural power acting on them, is so fine, as easily to be mistaken the one for the other;—but as we leave that line, the amplifications of power beyond that of the medium, are so obvious, as not to leave a shadow of doubt, that the result is from a cause not originating in that Medium;

-in other words, clairvoyance and mesmerine do not cover the facts of spiritualism, but spiritualism covers the facts of clairvoyance and other results of mere man-power. When I

take into consideration the form of some Medium's eyes, and the effect of light as a means of conveying images distinctly to the camera; I am disposed to grant a "long range" power of observation to the clairvoyant, and also to the power of seeing ethereal substances,—and as a consequence, spirits inhabiting souls; but a very careful examination of the facts I have witnessed, natural and supernatural; have led to the conviction that the spirit in man does not, as asserted by many clairvoyants, leave the body, and go to localities called heaven, but that as a spirit, surrounded by spirits, scenes are witnessed'; and as a rule, such clairvoyants are under spirit guidance, and by a method explained in the section on SECOND SIGHT, the clairvoyant has imaged on the camera of the eye, the knowledge required-sometimes by pictures-sometimes by writing.

Mediums appear to be selected, because of their peculiar organizations; and those peculiarities of structure, differing in degree, determine the character of the manifestations to be developed through them. We perceive that one man has as a leading gift, the power to develope the lifting of heavy substances from the floor, without any human being or any human mechanism touching it. Another has his visual powers so strong, as to see essences flowing from substances; as, for instance, the aroma from flowers, the fumes from metals, and also to see spiritual beings. Others have the gift of healing diseases, their bodies chemically containing healing elements, which, directed by spirit mind, and mingled with spirit soul; neutralise disease, and produce health. The mediums, of themselves, are powerless; they may will, till their hearts ache, but they cannot produce an effect, but when the spirit joins them, and works with them; then the effects are produced. This is not fancy, because mediums are conscious of the

moment the power comes on them; and then they act without hesitancy-indeed they become mere machines or Mediums; they are conscious that they only are instruments of an unseen power. I have conversed with many, and there is a oneness in their reports. I will give a flying sketch of their statements. One states, "I feel my hand and arm becoming buoyant, as if resting on the top of sea-water; and, if I take up a pencil, and have paper before me, my fingers, hands, and wrist move, make words, write recipes, draw leaves and flowers, and mesmerise sick people, without the slightest volition of my own mind; it first came upon me, after I had lost faith in special providence. I believed in general providence, or the existence of great laws to govern matter, and that man being in the vortex as an atom, was subject to those laws. In family and public life I had influence, and doubtless my views acted upon those within the range of that influence. I was, while examining the phenomena, said to be of a supernatural character, suddenly laid hold of gently, and then more strongly; and having an anxious wish to prove for myself the truth of these things, I willingly allowed the 'influence' (as it is called) to act upon me. While under that influence, without any volition of my own mind, my arm and hands have gyrated into various positions like a steam-engine for rapidity, first one kind of movement, and then another. would stop suddenly, as by a shock, and not the slightest fatigue or weariness was felt in the arm or body-the hand, then, would float to the Bible, turn over leaves, and the finger rest on verses which illustrated the fact of special providence

It

-or God's care of the individual man-would then take a pencil, and draw leaves and flowers of an unknown kind, and that artistically; though I knew nothing about drawing or colour-mixing. I simply let my hand and fingers twist and make marks just as they liked. Those drawings I still keep; and they are evidences to me. The same has been done in relieving sickness, and in writing family being cured by that means, I simply agreeing to let my

out prescriptions-six of my