I AM HERE. Luke.

I want to write a few lines on the subject that you and your friend, Dr. Stone, were discussing—that is, whether Spiritualism, as now understood and taught, supplies that which satisfies the soul of men in their longings for happiness and peace and contentment.

In the course of my spirit life, I have heard a great many preachers and teachers of Spiritualism, both in recent years and all along the ages, and from the time of my first entrance into spirit life. For you must know that Spiritualism is not a new thing, having its origin or belief in the recent years that followed the manifestations in America. All along the ages, spirits have manifested to mankind in one phase or another, and men have believed in Spiritualism and discussed it.

Of course, in former times, when the churches had the great power which enabled them to dictate the beliefs of men, Spiritualism was not so openly taught or discussed as in these latter years. Nevertheless, during the time that I have named, it has always been known to mankind. However, its teachings have never gone beyond the mere phenomena which demonstrated the continuity of life and the communication of spirits to its believers. The higher things of the soul’s development and the Kingdom of God, as you have been instructed, were never thought of, or, at least, never taught or believed in. Only the two facts that I have spoken of were discussed and accepted. The scientific men who are investigating them, even today, deal only with the phenomena, and are satisfied with the proof that man never dies.

At no time has the existence of the Divine Love or the Kingdom of God been sought for or taught by the teachers of Spiritualism. In fact, such things could not have been taught because they have never been known. God has never been anything more to Spiritualists than some indefinable “abstract force” whose existence is not of sufficient certainty to make Him anything more than a mere “principle,” as some call Him. And the laws governing all nature are the only things that such men believe must be looked to for their ideas of right and wrong and the government of their conduct of life.

The Spiritualists speak of the love of man for one another, the brotherhood of man, and the cultivation of the mind and the moral qualities. But they admit to no outside help. Or, if they do, they only admit to the help of some departed friend who may not be at all competent to help. But even such help is only that which one can give to another. And when the help of what is called the higher spirits is spoken of, it involves no different quality of help to them.

I know that spirits do help mortals, and also harm them. But, according to the ideas of the Spiritualists, all such help is based upon what they suppose these spirits possess in the way of superior intellectual acquirements or moral qualities.

The soul of man, which is that part of him that is made in the image of God, is longing (although it may be unconsciously) for that which will make such image become Substance, with its resultant happiness and joy. Yet, you will not find that any Spiritualist teaches or attempts to teach how or in what Way such Substance may be acquired, or even the fact that there is such a Substance. They do not know that the Divine Love, coming through the working of the Holy Spirit, is the only thing that can enable the image to be transformed into the Substance. Hence, they cannot teach the Truths. And, as a consequence, the longings of a man’s soul are never satisfied by the teachings of Spiritualism.

Do you suppose that if the great truth of Spiritualism had embraced the greater Truth of the soul development, Spiritualism would now be the weak, unattractive thing that it is, and that men would not have sought for and embraced it in vast numbers?

Spiritualism, with all the truths that belong to it, is the true religion of the universe, and one which would prove more effective in bringing men into a state of reconciliation with the Father than all the other religions combined. But it is powerless and without drawing power as a religion because it does not have the teachings which show men the Way to God’s Love, and to the satisfying of the soul’s longings.

But, someday, and in the near future, this defect will be remedied. And then you will see men and women flock to its bosom so that they can enjoy not only the happiness which communication with their departed friends gives them, but also the happiness which the development of the soul by the Divine Love gives them.

I do not know why the Great Revelation of this Truth to Spiritualists has been delayed for so long. It may be that mankind was not ready to receive it before. But the time has now come when the false beliefs of the orthodox churches and the want of belief of the Spiritualists will both disappear. Men will be made free and the possessors of the combined Truths of Spiritualism and the existence of the Divine Love, which will bring to them not only happiness and peace but also immortality.

I must not write more tonight, as you are tired. So, I will say good night.

Your brother in Christ,

LUKE.