I AM HERE. John.

I desire to write tonight and, if you think it is not too late, we will do so.

Well, I will not make my message very lengthy, but will try to concise it in short sentences.

I want to tell you that when a man gets to know the Truths of the Father, he will become a very happy and wise man; for these Truths have only those principles in them that create happiness and wisdom.

I know that men believe many things on account of there being ancient or having the authority of their forefathers, or the authority of some great saint or writer who lived many centuries ago. But such a basis for truth, while worthy of consideration and examination, does not of itself, because of being old, afford any certainty that what is thus accepted contains the Truth.

Truth is a very old thing, and existed for many thousands of centuries before the times in which these ancient writers, as you call them, lived. And, in fact, those days of the writers, in comparison to what has gone before, are as yesterdays. Therefore, you will see that, just because the declarations of these writers are what you consider very ancient, they should not be received as having authority.

Truths of those days, and of the long ages prior thereto, and of the present time, are all the same, as Truth never changes or assumes new forms, no matter what the conditions of mortals may be as to intellectual or spiritual development. And these Truths may be revealed today, and are constantly being revealed as time progresses. And they should be accepted with as much credence and satisfaction as any Truths that were ever disclosed in ancient days.

In their spiritual natures or perceptions, men are just as susceptible now to the reception of these Truths as they were in the times of Abraham or Moses or at any time since.

THE MIND OF MAN WAS GIVEN TO HIM TO BE EXERCISED IN THE WAY OF INVESTIGATION AND SEARCH, AND NEVER WAS IT CONTEMPLATED THAT THE TIME WOULD COME IN HIS CREATION WHEN HE SHOULD ACCEPT ANYTHING AS THE ULTIMATES OF TRUTH AND CEASE HIS INQUIRIES. FOR TRUTHS ARE SO MANY AND GREAT AND DEEP THAT, SO FAR, IN THE MORTAL UNIVERSE, MAN HAS ACQUIRED ONLY A SMATTERING OF THESE TRUTHS. AND TO REST SUPINELY IN THIS ACQUIREMENT, UNDER THE BELIEF THAT THERE IS NOTHING MORE IN EXISTENCE THAT MAN MAY KNOW, VIOLATES AND SUBVERTS THE VERY OBJECT OF HIS CREATION. AND WHAT I HAVE SAID HERE APPLIES TO SPIRITUAL TRUTHS AS WELL AS TO MATERIAL ONES.

The churches, I know, declare and try to enforce the declaration that it is not possible to discover, or have revealed to men, the essential principles of spiritual Truths to a greater extent than has already been declared in the Bible and the churches’ interpretation of the same; and, therefore, that it is contrary to God’s Will that man should seek further for any additional Truths; and that men should accept, without question, the sayings of the Bible, and the dogmas and creeds of the churches which their claim is founded upon, and which they declare are the true principles of spiritual Truths. And, for many years, this has been the demand of the churches, and the members thereof have acquiesced without question or doubt.

Now, this has been one of the great causes why men have not progressed more, not only in their spiritual nature but also in what may be called their natural qualities. They have remained satisfied, and what was believed by them centuries ago is believed today. I say all this to show how stagnant the intellects of men have been and have remained for all these long ages, as they depend on search and investigation for growth. I further recite this to show the necessity for men to seek and criticize, and to accept or reject as the results of the search may demand.

In recent years, though, men have made greater progress, and the individual has come to the front. The old accepted fabrications of truths have been assaulted and shaken and denuded of their falsities to a considerable degree, and so it should be. Men must seek and criticize, and accept or reject as their own conscience and reasoning powers dictate; and therein will be freedom of the mind as well as of the will.

The soul, also, has been smothered in these dogmatic beliefs; and, as a consequence, its development has been slow. Knowledge of spiritual things has not come to men as it should have done, and as is necessary to teach them their destiny and the Truths which should control their lives on earth, and which will control their progress in the spirit world.

Well, as you are tired, I will postpone the balance of my discourse. When you feel tired, I think it best to discontinue the writing instead of attempting to force yourself into receiving it.

So, I will not write more. Believe that I am

Your brother in Christ,

JOHN.