tainous grandeur, holy in their significant teachings, and God-like in their boundless magnificence and eternal power. In such truths we perceive the "breath of Nature, and behold her endless bloom." She unbosoms her every grace to the truth-worshipper. Her disclosures are to those only who love her wisely; to the uncertain child, the ruthless man, "her face is vailed" both day and night. But to her devoted lovers, Nature is lavish and tender forever, and she is also just in all her requirements.

To the true Spiritualist (using the term in its largest sense) are vouchsafed those immortal principles of Truth, which exalt humanity and enrich eternity. The positive radiance of individual immortality, breaking with infinite light and luster upon this unhappy world, reveals our manifold imperfections. Antiquated errors, and timecemented systems of injustice and wrong, betray their hideous proportions. The abundance of good light exhibits the darkness of evil in every place and nation. That mind which has stricken off the shackles of mental slavery, and which, with new-born gladness, realizes the eternal dignity and birthright of individual life, is certain to sing the songs of Freedom and of boundless Reform.

Hence, it is the undoubted province of the true Spirit ualist to reverence the principles of Progression, and, at the same time, to stand like a mountain of adamant against the regressive waves of superstition. Perforce of his powerful convictions, and in consequence of the incessant urgings to righteous conduct emanating from his best guardians in the Spirit Land, the believer is, of necessity, an opponent to church-taught errors. A higher conception of Father-God dawns upon his awakened understanding. Instead of infinite rage and inconceivable torments, of implacable wrath and unmerciful justice in the universe,

the true Spiritualist sees an unchangeably perfect Fountain of deific principles, consisting of equal parts of Love and Wisdom, by which the stupendous whole, with its countless families of life, is enlivened and progressively carried onward forever. Nothing is lost; everything is saved. "Not a sparrow falleth" beyond the realm of progressive law. The infinite good pervades and persuades the material universe, which is the source of every imperfection. Mind is positive to matter; therefore GOOD (or God) is the master of evil (or matter); consequently, in opposition to all church-errors the Spiritualist must plant himself. He involuntarily works for the prevalence of the best thoughts and ideas. The principles of eternal and all-saving Progression are as dear to his heart as is the spirit of God to the bosom of Mother Nature. Wonder not, therefore, if the Spiritualist, instead of preaching "hell and heaven" to the world, proclaims the gospel of eternal advancement, with the philosophical effects attending man's disobedience.

Again, the Spiritualist must of necessity be an unselfish friend of good political government. He cannot vote for a well-known conservative in matters of national import. Although his worldly interests say one thing, and, notwithstanding the inducements of his most deeply-cherished acquaintances, the hand of the true Spiritualist will act responsive to his divine light. The degradations and discordances of the world, and the everywhere visible causes of human unhappiness, move the noble nature to righteous deeds. He yearns for the universal realization of true spiritual and physical freedom. The palaces of the kings are nothing compared with the mansions of happiness in immortal spheres. The Presidential chair is a contemptible niche in the nation's structure compared with a seat in

the golden chariot of spiritual progression. The honor of the first is like the rosy tints on spring flowers, which excite and please for the brief season only; but the honor of comprehending a truth is dignifying to the soul forever; while no truth, even with worldly distinctions, is attended with selfish action and ultimate disgrace. The true Spiritualist, consequently, is a political reformer.

But there is a work in which the true Spiritualist may be the agent of inconceivable benefit to the race. His truth-invigorated soul, while living and laboring practically amid the din and bustle of the rudimental world, is lifted to a loftier sphere of communion. The summum bonum of his existence is not "to eat, drink, and be merry, for to-morrow we die;" but, while doing justice to the physical opportunities of present life, he never sinks down. beneath his manhood's noble station. He sees the great work of the world. With the poet he says:

"Ages pass away,

Thrones fall, and nations disappear, and worlds
Grow old and go to wreck; the soul alone

Endures, and what she chooseth for herself,
The arbiter of her own destiny,

That only shall be permanent."

Impressed with the sublimity of this truth, the Spiritualist is prepared to stand unmoved and sweet-spirited amid the conflicting elements of sects and parties. His earnestness is deep as the sea, and his opposition to prevailing errors may be mighty as that of truth itself. Yet it is welltempered and universally charitable. He cannot say to any man, "I am holier than thou," but he can say: "Here is what I recognize as truth. I hold it as best for all men. I did not originate it. It is yours; it is mine; it is universal."

To be uniformly kind-hearted in his reform efforts, and

forbearing with those who, less favorably organized, or more unfortunately situated, do the deeds of darkness-such is the privilege of the true Spiritualist. No fanatical reformatory schemes; no invasion of others' homes and territories; no embarrassments thrown around the rights of the neighbor; no submission to palpable injustice done by your neighbor; do right yourself, and so help keep others on the track-thus worketh the true Spiritualist. For he well knows that the laws of progress, that the opportunities for individual improvement, are not confined to the present world. Thus the true Spiritualist is a fountain of infinite HOPE. However dark the day, he never gives up to the treachery of despair. As germs of beauty burst their embarrassments, so

"You and I, one day,

Shall burst this prison-house of clay;
And borne above by unseen hands,

Shall blossom in celestial lands."

Natural Principles and Deductions.

II. QUESTION: "You say, to the true Spiritualist is vouch. safed those immortal truths, which exalt humanity and enrich eternity.' Will you mention a few of such truths, with your deductions? What is a natural principle? and how is man's mind related to it?"

ANSWER: A natural principle, though million-phased and invisible to the senses, is forever one and inseparable.

Man's mind, though submerged in matter and buried in abject ignorance, is destined for harmony and wisdom.

Nature is the visible manifestation of God; but God is equally a manifestation of Nature: each inspires, directs, companionates, and reflects the other.

You cannot learn orthodox theology from Nature; neither can you obtain creedal religion from God; for God and Nature, though infinitely diversified, are essentially and practically One.

The great living principles of interior truth and goodness, which constitute the vitals of Christianity, are indigenous to the spiritual constitution of man.

When man's spirit is awakened in the direction of truth and righteousness, whether by an angel's influence or the tongue of man, then his intuitions arise to the pyramidal hights wherefrom great truths become visible and attractive.

The Mussulman and Methodist are equally subjects of inspiration. The Presbyterian is no nearer to God than the Persian, or the worshiper of Brahma and Buddha; for God and Nature are no respecters of persons or creeds.

Man's success in life will be in exact proportion to the measure of his capacities, the propitiousness of his circumstances, and the extent of his obedience to the natural laws of his body and mind. If he is good-spirited and truthloving, he will be benefited by every error and chastened by every misfortune.

If it be true that John saw an angel standing in the sun, or if it be true that any man at any time ever saw a spirit, it is most reasonable to presume that the same experience will continue to form a part of all human history.

There is a divine power working in all that occurs in human life and society-indeed, unless there be such a power, life and society would be impossibilities. Without rills and rivers there could be no lakes, no seas. river of life, clear as crystal," is from the heart-currents and love-rills of the infinite Father and Mother.

"The

True religion is derived from Nature. Miracles innumerable are incessantly performed by Nature to attest the divinity of her mission. Stars in the sky, and the grass beneath, are her signs and wonders. And truth is the golden door of entrance to the human heart.