THE LOW HEAVENS OR SPHERES

 The Earth Sphere. The Second Sphere. Condition of Low Spirits.
Means of Progression. Condition of Bigoted Sectarians.

 "Every man's work shall be made manifest, for the day shall declare it. * * * If any man's work abide which he hath built, thereupon he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned he shall suffer loss, but he himself shall be saved, yet so as by fire."—I Cor. iii. 13 to 15.

"God speaks through anguish in the hidden soul, God speaks through sorrow in the human breast."

The spirit-world literally envelops us, and the surface of our earth, for all practical purposes is one of the spheres, and the lowest of them, for multitudes of degraded disembodied spirits are bound to it by their gross natures, and here continue to exist for various periods of time, and it may properly be termed the earth-sphere, while the spiritual zone or sphere removed from and nearest the earth is termed by spirits the first sphere, or heaven, and in the treatment of the subject they will be thus designated.

But the first sphere, though the lowest in the order of arrangement, is not the lowest in the order of progression, for this sphere in the American heavens is chiefly appropriated to Indian spirits, and really is a heaven, while the second sphere is the next lowest to the earth-sphere in the order of progression. Spirits term all these spheres, heavens, the first being according to their nomenclature the "Indian heaven" and the second the "heaven for low white people, or wicked heaven," but feeling a degree of repugnance to terming the second sphere a heaven I have throughout this work designated both the first and second heavens as spheres, and all above these as heavens.

 From the above it will be perceived that the first sphere is practically ignored in its relationship to the white race, and the next step from the earth-sphere, in the order of progression, is to the second sphere, and I would suggest that the reader impress this arrangement on his mind before proceeding further.

 One of the lessons that is most difficult for novices in Spiritualism to learn, and bear in mind, is the fact that spirits are but human beings, neither specially created angels, nor demons, fallible, sometimes weak and ignorant, and while some are on intellectual and moral planes above us, quite as often they are found to be on planes below us. There are no (lemons, or devils, as these terms are popularly understood. There are spirits of all grades of depravity and wickedness, and some of these may justly be regarded as demoniacal in their natures, but they are nevertheless human spirits, and sooner or later will enter the paths of progression, and ultimately become purified and exalted angels. God's mercy embraces all His creatures. There is not a fiend-like spirit in the lowest spheres, or hells, nor an angel in the spiritual realms, as far as my instructors have knowledge, that has not originated, either on our earth or some other celestial globe.

 The tendencies that lead to sin and crime are but manifestations of minds diseased, and the latter are frequently associated with diseased bodies; as these suffer from functional derangement so the former do from derangement of the moral and spiritual functions, and the only remedy is appropriate moral treatment under favorable conditions. Sin and punishment are sowing and reaping cause and effect, and the law of compensation requires of every man in the life to come full atonement for unrepented wrongs and none can progress, nor find rest, until the penalty has been paid, either by rectifying the wrong, or making atonement by sincere repentance and good works. But strictly speaking there is no arbitrary punishment hereafter, there is only necessary discipline. Evil in its nature is transitory, the good only endures for ever. Good is the substance of which evil is only the shadow. Some people when they enter spirit life find themselves surrounded with desolation; they are in affinity only with such surroundings, as the camel is with the surroundings of the desert.

 Condition accurately follows character. "When at one time Wesley was preaching he was addressed by a drunken man in the audience, who said: "I don't believe in heaven, Mr. Wesley." The reply of the latter was, "In your circumstances I don't see how you could."

 It is sometimes said, even by spirits, that heaven and hell are not localized. In one sense this is correct, for while earth-bound spirits find their hell on earth, and others find the second sphere in A less degree hell, neither this earth nor the second sphere, is in the same sense, hell to good spirits who may visit the one or the other. But it is equally true that this earth and the second sphere are localities, and all spirits who are restricted to these localities are unhappy, and it may be said that they are in hell, and in these two places all unhappy spirits are to be found. Therefore as to depraved spirits hell is literally localized, and while the sphere of earth is hell to the lowest and most degraded spirits the influences which pervade it, when these are permitted to prevail over a man's moral nature, reduce him to the level of earth-bound, disembodied spirits, and he is in hell, as they are, and not only are many mortals subject in greater or less degrees to these influences, but many spirits who have advanced to the third heaven and who in this life were untruthful, or immoral, when they revisit the earth and resume their former earthly conditions are as untruthful, or perhaps immoral, as when in the flesh, and this, notwithstanding when they are in their homes in the third heaven they are free from all such failings. Good spirits, as a rule, are unable to long remain either on earth or in the second sphere without inconvenience, they cannot successfully resist beyond a certain point the depressing adverse influences of either place, while on the contrary were the lowest spirit, with all his imperfections, introduced to the realms of bliss he would only find his miser.), increased, and would avail himself of the first opportunity to return to his own place, where his surroundings would be in harmony with his own feelings, and condition. Heaven to him would be a worse hell than the lowest spiritual sphere. Heaven and hell therefore are localities as well as conditions.

 There are spirits who in this life were so debased, so gross, so steeped in depravity, that they remain in their degraded condition and continue to inhabit the lowest spheres for long periods of time, for ages, and in some rare instances even for centuries. They have no desire for improvement, and progression, and until they experience this desire their advancement is impossible, but in time, remote though it may be, this is awakened within them.

 The spirits of misers, sometimes, are bound to their hoarded earthly treasures, and they are released from their bondage only when their wealth has become distributed among or squandered by their heirs, and it frequently happens that when they are brought to realize their abject condition they labor more strenuously to scatter their wealth than they did to amass it, and not unfrequently with success.

There are certain spirits, who, although they left their earthly bodies years since, are persuaded that they still inhabit them. They really are living on the earth, and the difference in their habits, mode of life, and surroundings, is not sufficient to convince them that they are no longer mortal. These earth-bound spirits are generally on low intellectual and moral planes, and placed as they are they are unable to reason clearly on their situation, and perhaps a score or more of years may elapse before they can be brought to comprehend their changed condition, and advance, even to the second sphere.

 Many earth-bound spirits use their limbs only in locomotion, not possessing the power to pass more speedily and easily from point to point, and others, who really possess the power, are unconscious of it, and do not attempt to exercise it. Of course all these in time attain to that state in which this power is freely and fully exercised.

 The victim of the murderer, when on a low plane, as well as the murderer himself, is sometimes irresistibly attracted to the scene of the crime, or perhaps to the spot where his body is deposited, his last terrible experiences having psychologically bound him to that locality. "My bones must be removed from their resting place or my soul must suffer continual torture," were the words of the spirit of a murdered woman, of this low condition. In time such unfortunate creatures escape from their thralldom and ascend to the second sphere.

 Earth-bound spirits infest our public conveyances, steamboats, etc., they frequent the lowest quarters of our cities, and low dance houses, liquor saloons, brothels, gambling saloons, etc., are crowded with them. They subsist mostly on the emanations from earthly food. Restaurants and kitchens, especially when unclean, are resorted to by them when hungry, they also frequent hotels, and private houses, where rich and luxurious repasts are habitually served, and inhale the odors and impalpable elements arising from these. Some attach themselves to gluttonous persons, who are mediumistic, and are able to abstract the more sublimated and vitalizing elements of the food from their victims as fast as it is swallowed, and thus a morbid appetite is created which impels the person to continued and extraordinary efforts to satisfy it. He really is eating for two persons, one of whom is invisible. Such spirits are veritable vampires. Liquor saloons are crowded with this class of spirits, and not a person who possesses medial power in any degree, and most persons possess it in some degree, there moistens his lips with wine or liquor, who is not at once obsessed by miserable, degraded spirits, and by them urged—often irresistibly—to further indulgence, until, as it frequently happens, the victim becomes prostrated by the demon of drunkenness, with perhaps the obsessing

 Spirit lying equally unconscious and helpless at his side. These remarks, slightly modified, are also applicable to gambling saloons, and brothels. Could the frequenters of these abodes of sin and evil have their spiritual eyes opened, as were the eyes of the servant of Elisha, they would rush with horror from such scenes, and in their subsequent sleep they would be tortured by dreams only less horrible than the reality which had been presented to their spiritual sight.

 And not only are these earth-bound spirits attracted by the odors and emanations from our food, which nourish their grosser natures, but another reason why they frequent the scenes of their earthly life is the necessity, probably not recognized by themselves, of obtaining that spiritual or vital nourishment which they are deficient in, and which they find in the atmosphere of mortals. This craving of their natures brings them into rapport with mortals on their own moral and spiritual planes, and their evil influence is felt, and frequently becomes manifest, in these classes of persons, and many times they are attracted and attach themselves to persons on higher planes, who, though not actually given to evil practices, yet are not earnestly opposed to them, and who under the temptations of such low spirits soon fall into them, and are reduced to the level of their tempters. The fall of such persons would frequently be prevented, were they to know and realize that they also have good spirit friends around them who would effectually assist them if they would only welcome them, and by their prayers and desires strengthen their hands so that they could put to flight these dark and degraded spirits.

 In those cases, also, which so perplex and astonish society, where men and women of education and refinement become infatuated with and marry ignorant and coarse persons, far beneath themselves socially, intellectually, and perhaps morally, the explanation of the enigma frequently is to be found in the fact that they are possessed of medial power, and are surrounded by material influences, living in a spiritually stagnant, perhaps corrupt atmosphere, and are obsessed by degraded spirits, whose gross impulses urge them to efforts to promote a union, at which if left free to think and act the natural instincts of the unfortunate individuals would revolt.

 Spirits of depraved natures who have entered the spirit-world with vengeance in their hearts, sometimes through the possession of strong mesmeric power, and favored by opportunity, are able to wreak it on the objects of their hatred in this life. They influence their victims to the commission of evil deeds, to the pursuit of evil courses, and to the neglect of necessary duties, and frequently excite feelings of animosity in the minds of persons possessing latent medial power, and of evil tendencies, against the objects of their dislike, and influence them to injure them morally, socially, or pecuniarily

 Our prisons and insane asylums are infested With the spirits of criminals, and insane persons, who in this life were on low moral planes, and the inmates of these institutions are often injuriously influenced by them. For this reason insane persons should not be herded in asylums, but should be kept apart from each other, and surrounded by people of sound minds, and exemplary morals, so that the atmosphere in which they exist should be favorable to their recovery and not retard it, as under the present asylum system.

 Quarrels are of frequent occurrence among spirits in the earth and second spheres, and sometimes they resort to force, and inflict suffering on each other, they being nearly as sensible to pain from violence as we are, but no violence beyond that of a blow can be inflicted by one spirit on another, provided the latter is disposed to escape, for before the blow can be repeated he can by his volition place himself beyond the reach of the former, and he can as easily escape from the combined attacks of a dozen, for ill-disposed spirits have not the power to restrain the liberty of others. At the worst spirits have no power to permanently injure one another.

 Mortals can frequently render important service to unhappy, ignorant spirits. In their miserable state they can be more favorably influenced by mortals, on planes higher than their own, than by higher spirits, and they frequently seek consolation and instruction through us. At many circles for spirit manifestation the principal object of the directing intelligences is to benefit poor, benighted, unhappy spirits, the good of mortals, though constantly kept in view, being secondary. It is thus at the Banner of Light circles in Boston, and the members of other circles should not object to their time being occupied for this purpose, for frequently some of the best fruits which are gathered at circles are the knowledge gained, and the deep and abiding impressions made on the minds of the members by witnessing the contrition, and listening to the humble confessions, and subsequent expressions of thankfulness and joy, on the part of unfortunate and unhappy spirits, who through the means thus furnished are enabled to take the first step in the path of progression. It should never be forgotten that spirits in the flesh can frequently at the cost of little time and effort, be instrumental in conferring inestimable benefits on unhappy fellow-beings who have crossed, what to them has been, the dark river, and who from the other side now earnestly implore the counsel and encouragement which they derided, or disregarded, in this life.

 Ignorant, degraded, earth-bound spirits, who in this life were blind, deaf, lame, or otherwise physically imperfect, are sometimes afflicted in like manner, for a time, in the next life, but when they leave the earth-sphere they become freed from their infirmities. Even consumptives of this class sometimes are there afflicted with a cough, such as they suffered from in earth-life.

 Earth-bound spirits are not prohibited from visiting the second sphere. It is their affinity with earthly things that holds them to earth. Some of them, of the better class, do occasionally visit that sphere, while others are restrained from doing so by lack of knowledge, or inclination, or from fear that they may be lost on the way.

 Great numbers of spirits inhabiting the second sphere are but slightly removed, in point of character and condition, from those in the earth­sphere. These spend much of their time on earth, but there are also those who rarely, and some who never return to earth. Some of the latter are afraid to take the necessary and first step of launching out in space; others discredit the possibility of returning, and others, still, are not in any degree attracted here; for feeling remorse for their past conduct and striving to progress they have no desire to return to the scenes of their sin and folly. The most depraved and violent spirits in the second sphere are separated from the others, and held under surveillance. They literally are imprisoned, and deprived of the liberty which other spirits, less guilty, to a certain extent enjoy.

 Spirits in the low spheres are governed by the psychological power of certain spirits in the heavens above them, who are appointed to perform this duty. Spirits in these spheres require a restraining and corrective authority to be exercised over them, as do the lowest classes of society with us. But there, they are governed with wisdom, justice, and kindness, and solely with the view of elevating them to higher moral and intellectual planes, and so perfect are the means employed that this object is sooner or later invariably attained. The keenest suffering that spirits in Vie second sphere experience is imposed by higher spirits with the view of exciting remorse and inducing repentance for their earthly misdeeds. Their distress is wholly mental, and is the result of the exercise of psychological power by these higher spirits, most commonly their former guardians, who by this means impress their minds with the most vivid recollections of their sins and crimes, and they cannot escape from the contemplation of these until they are brought to view them in their true character, as odious, and abhorrent, and have atoned for them by humble and sincere repentance. All spirits in the low spheres have these mentors, or guides, who are unseen by them, and whose duty it is to thus impress their minds, and my instructors have no knowledge of any other spirits who possess the power of rendering themselves invisible to others, and these spirits can exercise this power only in relation to their charges.

 Thus the guilty spirit's accusing angel is memory, the memory of earthly misdeeds, but where by remorse and repentance the stains of guilt have been washed away, the remembrance of former sins becomes so obscure that an effort of the mind is required to recall them, and it rarely happens that any inclination is experienced to do this, and in time the memory of them becomes entirely obliterated. The minds of spirits receive and reflect the rays of spiritual light as variously in character and degree as material objects do those of the sun, and in gross natures the deep dark soil must be pierced and broken up by the barrow of remorse, and repentance, before the soul can blossom with reformation, and bear good fruit.

 Missionaries also are sent to labor for the reformation of spirits in the, second and earth spheres, some of them being those who have suffered injustice at their bands in this life, and to whom is assigned the highest and noblest duty that angels can perform, that of striving to elevate those who have wronged them.

 Progression is the grand law of the spirit-world, and although some spirits may not take the first step in the path of progression for a long time, even for ages, yet there can be no change for the worse. Retrogression is there unknown. The sufferings of the less guilty, and these are in the majority are rather negative than positive, and these generally advance to the third heaven within a few years, some even sooner. Many perpetrators of violent and bloody deeds are not there held to strict accountability and severely punished, on account of their failing to realize the enormity of their offenses at the time of their commission, they then being virtually insane. John Wilkes Booth, the assassin of Lincoln, was insane, and obsessed by depraved and violent secession spirits, and remained but a brief time in the second sphere. So Mr. Owen, who has frequently met him, as well as Mr. Lincoln, in spirit life, assures me. He is still known by the name he bore in earth life, and little or no stigma is attached to it in the estimation of advanced spirits, they having a clear understanding of the fact that he was not morally accountable for the offense. Spirits in the second sphere, who here have led infamous lives, when they arise from that sphere and enter the third heaven, have permission to change their names, and many avail themselves of it, but the change is not compulsory. All who have no reason to blush for their names continue to be known by them in all the heavens that we know anything of.

 The immediate future of the drunkard in the next life is, to a great extent, dependent on his moral condition in this, irrespective of the sin of intemperance. Though all drunkards are for a time in that life unhappy all do not fare alike, for while one, who during his whole life here has been depraved and whom habits of drunkenness has only further degraded, may find his abode for many years in the earthly sphere, another, with superior instincts, with a moral record good excepting only as intemperance may have clouded it, may after a brief stay in the second sphere, through the cleansing influence of remorse and repentance, and the aid of kind angel ministration, become purged of the, impurities the curse has entailed and be permitted to enter the third heaven. This may all take place before the former has experienced the slightest regret for his mis-spent life, or the slightest desire for improvement. The penalty, greater or less, though aggravated by intemperance, is inflicted mainly on account of moral transgression in other respects. The same principle, or rule, determines the grade of punishment, varied by the circumstances of each case, awarded to suicides and ordinary criminals, and even to murderers.

 Where death is yet distant there is no sin which cannot be expiated in this life by earnest and sincere repentance, full and ample reparation for wrong committed, where this is possible, the performance of good works, and permanent reformation of character. The dark record of misdeeds, thus atoned for in this life, is obliterated by the recording angel. Many a darkened soul through these means, with angelic assistance, has become qualified, while yet in the flesh, for an elevated position in the next world, and repentance and reformation commenced even in view of the approach of death, if earnest and sincere, will materially assist the spirit's progress in the next life.

 Good spirits, from their more elevated positions, do not view our misdeeds altogether as they are viewed by the world. They perceive in a clearer light, not only the actuating causes, but the more remote pre-natal conditions and influences that originally determined our tendencies and inclinations; they perceive the unfavorable circumstances and temptations that surround us, and the weakness of our natures, and in a pitying and compassionate spirit allow for our follies, and to a certain extent even for our vices, and while recording in their memory our good intentions, and deeds, they constantly strive to forget the wrongs we have committed. While sometimes they are compelled to mourn over our misdeeds they rejoice and are made happy by our good actions. They view all our acts with sympathetic eyes, in the light of charity and love.

 Those of my readers who are Spiritualists, perhaps have found comparatively little thus far in these pages to which they cannot yield, at least, a qualified assent, but in the description which follows of the character of the second sphere, and the heavens above it, they will have both their faith and patience severely taxed. With this hint of the trials in store for my readers I will proceed.

 In the second sphere of the American heavens, or the Wicked heaven, as it is termed by the higher spirits, amid the gloom and desolation which prevail, are to be found cities, constituted of compact blocks of dwellings, separated by streets running at right angles; in these respects resembling our own cities. The dwellings present a dingy, forlorn appearance, and suggest ideas of uncleanness, and discomfort, and there are certain quarters of some of these cities in which the dwellings resemble our tenement houses, and swarm with spirits, as ignorant and degraded as the majority of the same classes are here. The streets present a rough, neglected, and repulsive appearance, and the atmosphere is depressing and cheerless. There are a number of these cities in the second sphere, and they are situated in the midst of dreary, barren plains, the desolation of Which is but slightly relieved by a meagre, stinted vegetation. The inhabitants of these cities are clothed in garments which correspond to their degraded moral, and intellectual conditions, and their unhappy countenances reflect the passions, vices, and ignorance of their natures. In the lowest quarters of these cities, where are congregated the lowest and most degraded of the population, as above mentioned, many of the dwellings swarm with tenants, individuals and families living promiscuously in confusion, discord, and wretchedness, and many of them in the practice of the lowest vices, and grossest sensuality, while the air is polluted with profane and indecent language.

The food in the second sphere, as in all the heavens above it, is fruit, but it is of inferior quality, and restricted to a few simple varieties, and with water is apportioned to each, family and person in quantities sufficient to merely satisfy the cravings of hunger, not to fully gratify their desires.

 There are other quarters of these cities which are superior to these, the streets being cleaner, and in better condition, while the dwellings present a neater appearance, both externally and internally, and their tenants are not compelled to herd together like cattle, as they do in the lowest quarters, and they present a better appearance every way, being better clothed, better fed, more decent, more intelligent, and less immoral. Here also are to be found flowers, of a few varieties, which the inhabitants cultivate; but there are no gardens. The majority of these people have been removed from the lowest quarters, having earned this favor by an amendment of their conduct and disposition. They have taken the first step in progression.

 There are missionaries, as before stated, among these people, sent from the third and fourth heavens, who labor With them and strive to excite desires within them for something better, and higher, and Who do all they can to instruct and elevate them, and bring them out of the darkness and ignorance which enshroud their minds, for the great majority of them are extremely ignorant, and the greatest obstacle to their progress and elevation is the lack of capacity to realize the depths of their degradation, and it is to this point that the labors of the missionaries are principally directed, and While the majority of them are, for the time being, insensible to their appeals, and teachings, and treat them with scorn and derision, on the other hand the labors of the missionaries are constantly rewarded with success in bringing others into the light, so that they are able to view themselves truly, or at least partially as they are, and as soon as their repentance has worked reformation in any considerable degree their teachers report their improvement to the proper authorities, and permission is accorded them to remove, first to better quarters of the, cities, and then, if their improvement continues, in due time they are permitted to advance to the third heaven.

 All the cities in the second sphere are enclosed by walls which, strange to say, to all spirits are impassable, and there are gates, constantly guarded by spirits who are somewhat more advanced and intelligent than the inhabitants, upon whom are imposed the duties of wardens, in expiation of former sins. But the inhabitants, with some exceptions, are permitted to freely pass in and out of these gates, and make excursions into the surrounding country, but they find little enjoyment in these visits as all without is a barren wilderness. The most of them also are at liberty to visit the earth whenever they choose, and many avail themselves of the permission, while perhaps the majority do not. Their course to earth is by an avenue, or passage way, through the first or Indian sphere, but they perceive nothing of this sphere while passing through it, their view being limited by the walls which bound this passage way on each side.

 The country immediately surrounding all these cities in the second sphere is a wilderness of barren plains, with here and there scrubby trees and stinted, unsightly shrubbery not a stream of water, though perhaps here and there a stagnant pool, not an animal of any species, it is indeed the picture of desolation, a poverty stricken region in the tritest sense of the words. A few scattered buts are to be seen, some of them only partially elevated above the surface of the ground, the occupants of which vegetate, as they formerly did on earth, and who continue this miserable existence until, through the efforts of kind and self-sacrificing missionary spirits, aspirations for Something higher and better are implanted in their minds.

 As to the broad country more remote front the cities, this is of the same general character, and multitudes of poor unhappy spirits, in tattered, wretched garments, are, scattered over it, some living in huts, like those just mentioned, others in the cliffs and ledges of rocks, and others still in cavities in the earth. Multitudes of other discontented, restless beings, without definite motive or object, constantly wander over these desolate regions, approaching and ascending in succession every elevated spot, with vague hopes that from its summit some object or scene of a more cheerful character may meet their gaze, and each time only to meet with sorrowful disappointment. On every hand are the same sterility and desolation, while sombre, leaden clouds overspread these dismal regions and effectually exclude every direct ray of the glorious orb which, instinctively, they know is shedding its mellow light on happier beings in the heavens above them.

 My instructors have discovered six divisions of the second sphere; the first being the abode of the ignorant and degraded; the second, of those who are intelligent and cultivated, but whose natures are to a considerable extent depraved; the third, of those who possessing intelligence and refinement, and being more inclined to do right than wrong, have yet from weakness of character, and force of circumstances, been led into sin and crime; the fourth, a division appropriated to the spirits of ignorant and degraded American Negroes; the fifth, the abode of ignorant and bigoted Roman Catholics, and the sixth, the place set apart for bigoted and intolerant Protestants, and my, instructors have reasons for believing that there are still other divisions which they have not yet discovered. These, collectively, constitute the "hells" of Swedenborg.

 The first of the above mentioned divisions, being the abode of ignorant and degraded spirits, we have already described, the second, the abode of intellectual and cultivated but more or less depraved spirits, differs from the former in respect to the dwellings and streets in the cities being superior to those in the best quarters of the cities Of that division, while the adjacent country is of the same desolate character, and in all other respects the resemblance is complete. Here also missionaries from higher heavens are to be found Striving to impress the minds of these morally darkened souls with a sense of their errors, and deficiencies, and to cause them to realize that their dearest friends in the heavens above are anxiously, yet hopefully, awaiting them, so that repentance and reformation may follow. But their friends, unless it be for special reasons, are not permitted to visit them, this also being true of all other spirits in the second sphere.

 Mr. Owen visited this division, as he had previously visited the first, and was exceedingly interested in what he observed, and also in what he learned from his guide. All the spirits he there met were intelligent, and all evinced cultivation and refinement in greater or less degrees. Among them were lawyers, physicians, clergymen, merchants, etc., and accomplished and refined ladies. Though they were all at liberty to re visit the earth he was told by all he conversed with, about twenty, that they had little or no desire to do so, and rarely or never availed themselves of the privilege.

 The general character of the third division of the second sphere is similar to that of the second, and of the fourth I have learned nothing but the fact of its existence, and its appropriation to degraded American Negroes. The fifth and sixth divisions we will now proceed to describe.

 Were one world in the universe a hell,

Were one soul in the universe a fiend, Damned hopelessly to everlasting pain, 'Twould be the torturing atom that inflames The vision. Every world and every sphere Would weep in woful sympathy with wo. The consciousness of all created life

Would yearn and grieve and anguish. God Himself, Who, in the universal consciousness Dwells throned and radiant, would receive no joy, But only grief, from His fair universe. "—Harris.

CONDITION OF BIGOTED SECTARIANS.

 Sects are nominally perpetuated in the American heavens up to the seventh, but not the sectarian spirit, and all the principal sects, excepting the Roman Catholic, have their churches in those heavens, but there are no distinctively Roman Catholic churches above the third. In the heavens of Catholic countries there are Catholic churches in all the Leavens but the lowest, at least up to the eighth. Of those Catholics who go to the American heavens the more liberal, intelligent, and moral at once enter the third, While the bigoted and ignorant go to the second sphere, the same as Protestants on the same low planes, but they do not associate in either of these heavens With the latter, for in the second sphere there is a city and district of country Surrounding it known as Purgatory, and all bigoted or otherwise wicked Catholics who enter that sphere go to this place. There are priests among them, as there are Protestant clergymen among others in the same sphere.

 The majority of these, upon their arrival, are assigned to the lowest quarters of the city, where they remain until through the labors of missionaries from higher heavens they become in some degree divested of their intolerance, and bigotry, and in other respects have improved, when they are permitted to remove to better quarters of the city and here they remain until they have become completely purged of their religious intolerance, when they are permitted to go either to the heavens of their native countries, if they are foreigners, or enter the third of the American heavens, if they prefer to do so. All bigoted Catholics, foreign and native, who die in this country go to this purgatory in the second sphere, and those among them who from there enter the third American heaven, together with those who directly enter it after death, advance no higher until their belief in the dogmas, rites, and ceremonies of their Church has become nearly or quite eradicated from their minds. In the purgatory of the second sphere are to be found churches, chapels, monasteries, and monastic orders, nunneries, etc., as here, and the adoration of the Virgin and a host of saints, together with the observance of fasting and holy-days are there perpetuated. Papal infallibility, the efficacy of mass and confession, are as essentially dogmas there as here. In the third American heaven Catholic churches and chapels also are to be found but no monasteries, nor nunneries, and most of the external forms of Catholic worship are there perpetuated, but their observance is, by the majority, more nominal than real, reason having obtained the ascendency over blind faith. They are learning that dogmas and creeds are only bars to progression.

 In the Irish heavens the first, second, and third, are low, and there are no Roman Catholic churches in either of them, but when spirits in these spheres advance to the fourth, or first real heaven, they there find churches, and rapidly progress, and in the heavens above the fourth, are also to be found churches, but they are divested of their idolatrous emblems and practices, and the worship is no longer to the virgin, and saints, but to God, and both priests and people are liberal and intelligent.

 Bigoted and intolerant Protestants when they enter the spirit-world are also imprisoned in the second sphere, and under similar conditions, and the means taken to enlighten them and to eradicate from their minds bigotry, and intolerance are also similar. In that sphere are multitudes of this class, all the orthodox Protestant sects being liberally represented. These are associated in societies and conduct their religious meetings under the same forms, and in the same spirit, and with the same zeal as when here. They are there as anxious to make converts and as thoroughly convinced that they, exclusively, are in possession of the truth, and that all others are in error as ever they were, and as here, they are yet proscriptive and intolerant Of those who are unable to view religion and morality in the light that they do.

 Many of these continue to cherish their erroneous ideas and to exhibit an un-Christian spirit for long periods of time, and with some, even scores of years may elapse before their eyes become opened to the truth. They continue to believe that all are deluded but themselves. They are ever searching for the anthropomorphic Jehovah, and their personal Saviour, and impatient, even indignant, when higher and wiser spirits endeavor to enlighten their minds on the subject. Some of these are existing in constant dread of the approaching judgment day, when they may be consigned to eternal misery, and with heaven within their grasp they are sorrowful and wretched.

 They know not what they do, they think the thought Some narrow bigot has imparted them; All their essential nature lies asleep; The real man is dormant as the grave."