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William Stainton Moses SPIRIT TEACHINGS THROUGH THE MEDIUMSHIP OF WILLIAM STAINTON MOSES ( “M.A. (OXON.)” ) AUTHOR OF “PSYCHOGRAPHY,” “SPIRIT IDENTITY,” “HIGHER ASPECTS OF SPIRITUALISM”, “PERSONAL REMINISCENCES OF EPES SARGENT,” “SPIRITUALISM AT THE CHURCH CONGRESS,” ETC. ETC. SPIRITUALIST PRESS 23 Great Queen, Street London, WC2B 5BB TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE PREFACE ...............................................................................................................................................................................................................6 BIOGRAPHY OF STAINTON MOSES...........................................................................................................................................................8 INTRODUCTION...............................................................................................................................................................................................18 The method by which the messages were received ................................................................................................................................18 The character of the writing ......................................................................................................................................................................18 The communicating spirits.........................................................................................................................................................................19 The circumstances under which the messages were written................................................................................................................19 How far were they tinged by the mind of the medium? .........................................................................................................................20 Power of controlling by will the production of writing .......................................................................................................................20 These communications mark a period of spiritual education.............................................................................................................20 And, though to him who received them of great value, are published with no such claim on others..........................................21 IMPERATOR'S BAND .......................................................................................................................................................................................22 SECTION I .........................................................................................................................................................................................................24 Special efforts to spread progressive truth at this special epoch thwarted by the Adversaries ...................................................24 Obstacles in the way --- The efforts now made greater than men think .............................................................................................24 Revelation: its continuity---Its deterioration in men's hands---The work of destruction must precede that of construction..................................................................................................................................................................................................25 Spirit -guides: how given ---Spirits who return to earth---The Adversaries and their work.........................................................25 Evil --- The perpetuation of the nature generated on earth --- The growth of character...............................................................26 Each soul to his own place, and to no other --- The Devil ...................................................................................................................26 SECTION II........................................................................................................................................................................................................28 The true philanthropist the ideal man --- The notes of his character ................................................................................................28 The true philisopher --- The notes of his character---Eternal life---Progressive and contemplative---God, known only by His acts ............................................................................................................................................................................................28 The conflict between good and evil (a typical message of this period)---These conflicts periodic, especially consequent on the premature withdrawal of spirits from the body: e.g., by wars, suicide, or by execution for murder --- The folly of our methods of dealing with crime ...................................................................................................................29 Of herding criminals together and hanging the worst of them--Remedial methods preferable....................................................29 For in sending a spirit prematurely forth from its body with rage and vengeance, we send him with enlarged opportunity to work mischief---We do this in the name of God, of whom we have a very false conception................................30 Pity and Love are more potent than Vengeance---The sublimity of the idea of God revealed in Spirit-Teaching compared with the old idea .......................................................................................................................................................................31 SECTION III.......................................................................................................................................................................................................32 Physical results of the rapid writing of the last message: headache, and great prostration---Explanation .............................32 Punitive and remedial legislation---Asylums and their abuses---Mediums in madhouses ............................................................32 Obsessing spirits living over again their base lives vicariously ........................................................................................................33 Children in the spirit-world: their training and progress---Love and knowledge as aids---Purification by trial--- Motives that bring spirits to earth again................................................................................................................................................33 Return to earth not the only mode of progression---States of probation or purgation, and spheres of contemplation...............................................................................................................................................................................................34 Spheres and states within them---The descent of spirit through choice of evil................................................................................34 Its hatred of good and gradual assumption of materiality till it sinks lower and lower ...............................................................35 The Unpardonable Sin................................................................................................................................................................................36 SECTION IV.......................................................................................................................................................................................................37 Time: April and May, 1873---Facts of a minute nature given through writing, all unknown to me............................................37 TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE SECTION V........................................................................................................................................................................................................39 Mediumship and its varieties---The physical medium........................................................................................................................... 39 Clairvoyants---Recipients of teaching, whether by objective message or by impression---The mind must be receptive, free from dogmatism, inquiring and progressive.................................................................................................................39 Not positive or antagonistic, but truthful and fearless.........................................................................................................................40 Selfishness and vaingloriousness must be eradicated---The self-abnegation of Jesus Christ.......................................................40 A perfect character, fostered by a secluded life, the life of contemplation........................................................................................42 SECTION VI.......................................................................................................................................................................................................43 The Derby Day and its effects spiritually.................................................................................................................................................43 National Holidays, their riot and debauchery---Spirit photographs and deceiving spirits.........................................................43 Explanation of the event: a warning for the future ...............................................................................................................................44
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