at this hour? Shall we remain exposed among those who take the sword,' and thus perish,' by the side of those who rely on the sword? or, shall we find a refuge among those whose voice and testimony are for Peace, and whose weapons are spiritual? The war-spirit is thoroughly aroused throughout the land. How do you and your companions feel, in view of what is coming upon us?"

ANSWER: We reply, under the authoritative impression of the only unchangeable and divine sources--Nature, Reason, and Intuition; and yet, as the reader fully comprehends, we can give expression to only our individual perceptions of the lessons taught by these authorities; consequently, it will be the extreme of injustice to accept or rally around our individual standard as a "rule of faith and practice." It would be absurd and dangerous to individual independence for any mind fully to adopt our reasonings and impressions as a substitute for his own. sovereign cogitations and perceptions of right and wrong. With this protest to the question whether we can tell "what Spiritualists and Harmonialists should do under the circumstances," we proceed to consider the existing War between Union and Rebellion, or Liberty and Slavery.

In the first place, we ask attention to the workings of Nature's God in the paths of human history. Looking down the declivities of Time we behold successive stratifications of the race-first, Savagism; then Barbarism; next, Patriarchalism-each with its characteristic attributes and appropriate corresponding manifestations. Or, in a

religious and spiritual direction, we behold, first, a Force, or Mosaic Dispensation; second, a Love, or Christian Dispensation; and lastly, a Wisdom, or Harmonial Dispensation. These eras, or ages, succeed each other as progressively as a tree grows from germ to fruition.

Now it is established that the lowest contains the qualities and properties of the highest, undeveloped; and

reversely, that the highest is the reservoir or embodiment of all the elements and principles out of which it was successively unfolded.

The first era of spiritual development was characterized by Force. "An eye for an eye." Savage brutality, rapine, and spoliations, or land privateering, and sanctimonious slaughtering of innocent human beings, in order to subjugate them and obtain their property, were characteristics of the Savage or Mosaic era in history.

Then came the reactionary stage of development, termed the Christian, or the age of "Love ye one another." This period seemed to supersede its despotic predecessor. But this was not, and is not, the truth with regard to Christianity. Jesus did not supersede Moses. Christianity was merely supplemental; an appendix to the volume that was published. The so-called Gospel Age does nothing more than modify and smooth off the brutalities and angularities of the parent which produced it. Practice speaks louder than theory. And history is more truly an exponent of God than any hypothesis in either politics or religion. The testimony of history is that Christians are Jews in a modified form, with higher estimates of humanity, and with nobler applications of the principle of FORCE.

So also the third stage, the Spiritual and Harmonial, which inaugurates the era of Wisdom." It seems to nullify and overthrow the Christian era. But this seeming is also a misapprehension of its import and mission. The Harmonial Age does nothing more, and will do nothing more, than to give a new direction to the integral principies of its predecessors. The testimony of future history regarding this new Dispensation, will be that Harmonial Philosophy, with its fresher inspirations of light and love, gave higher and mightier impetus to the car of Progres

sion. There will of necessity come newer and fresher forms of truth, and yet broader streams of fraternal love, which will re-mold and still further augment the era of Peace on earth.

Thus, then, you perceive the logical necessity, in spite of all theory and behind all aspirations for peace, that mankind will manifest feelings in accordance with the inherent principles of progress. That is to say, although the enlightened Christian ignores "an eye for an eye," he is nevertheless ready to take up the sword for his country's sake, or for the defense of his religion. But, unlike the Mosaic man, he will not seek to spread his religion, or to enforce his politics, by means of carnal weapons. (Be sure that you draw a strong mark of difference between defensive and aggressive warfare.) In like manner the enlightened Harmonialist, although he would not fight even to defend his religion, nor take up arms merely to sustain a particular form of Government, would nevertheless stand firm as the everlasting hills, sword in hand it may be, to defend INDIVIDUAL FREEDOM.

Man is man through all history. And, thanks to Father God! he will continue to be man, through all eternity! His organization is unalterable-only his thoughts are capable of expansion, and only his motives susceptible of endless improvement. The Force of Moses was "good until the world grew to a position where something "better was developed: then Love gave Force a newer and a holier direction; but the world has discovered that both Force and Love need a controlling power. Therefore thebest" form of mind, called Wisdom, must take the reins of Government. When Wisdom takes up her sword against any members of the human family, who are yet unapproachable through the gentler and nobler attributes,

her motive will be INDIVIDUAL FREEDOM-not for one man but for all men-not to the people of one country, but FREEDOM to the individual citizens of all countries.

We are fully conscious of the fact that there is great danger in the theory that war is ever promotive of human liberty. But, on the other hand, there is greater danger in fostering a servile and cowardly spirit, and in submitting to the atrocious burdens and exactions of unyielding tyrants. The human race has made progress through a bloody resistance to tyranny, but the world is almost enough enlightened to rely immovably upon the unconquerable Will consequent upon an Harmonial Mind. Retaliation is a low and brutal exhibition of character, but "resistance to tyrants is obedience to God." This resistance should be moral and spiritual, but sometimes the physical is most effective, and for this reason it is sometimes the best prevention of formidable evils to mankind.

The Jewel of Consistency.

CLXLIV. QUESTION: "It is said that consistency is a jewel.' I have hitherto found fine specimens of that precious gem in your writings. Of late, however, I must confess to a feeling of disappointment. In your Medical Chapters you have opposed the allopathic practice of blood-letting. You pronounce it unnatural, and never necessary to adopt in the treatment of any disease. But you favor physical resistance in the present War! What is this war but an allopathical method of treating an 'inflammation'—thus, perchance, saving the life of the patient (Union,) by blood-letting'? Can you remove the inconsistency of your position?"

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ANSWER: We hasten to inform the questioner that the gem of consistency' is not half so brilliant in our estimation as the Jewel of Truth.' In a worldly point of view, judging of a position by the popular standard of what constitutes right and wrong, the jewel of Consistency is far more attractive, and vastly more influential, than the simple Truth.

Our internal self-questionings have always

resulted in compelling us to act consistently with our present discernment of Truth, however much such action may seem to conflict with what we thought, believed, and advocated yesterday. We have never promised to believe and teach to-morrow exactly what we believe and teach to-day, for the simple and unsophistical reason that being actuated by the ever-working energies of the principle of Progression, we may come in contact with new forms of thought between this and to-morrow, and fresher evidences of never before believed Truths, by virtue of which our convictions may undergo a modification, or, perhaps, a thorough alteration, with reference to a cherished sentiment; and the consequence is, that we are conscientiously compelled, in the presence of the additional force, or new evidence, to occupy another, and it may be a totally different, position. No disciple of the heaven-descended and allembracing principle of Progress can do otherwise.

He

must be consistent with Truth, rather than consistent with what he believed and taught yesterday, because he may have, and ought to have, more Truth to-day, and therefore more knowledge.

Pursuing this pathway for sixteen earthly years, and fearing no human threat or disapprobation, we have (strange to say!) been apparently more "consistent" than our critical opponents. And this, too, without the least effort on our part to make to-day's convictions square and dove-tail mathematically with those of yesterday. Another evidence of that unsought-for, and therefore involuntary "consistency," is furnished in the case of the supposed inconsistency to which the questioner very frankly directs our immediate attention.

In regard to the popular system of blood-letting," in the treatment of certain diseases by Allopathic physicians,