THE PURPOSE OF DIVEPSTTY 420 



every spirit has been derived from tlio Deitv, onlv liuiited 

 by the time at the disposal of each of us. In tlie sj)ir it- 

 world death will not cut short the period of educational ad- 

 vancement. The best conditions and opportunities will be af- 

 forded for continuous progress to a higher status, while all 

 the diversities produced here will lead to an infinite variety, 

 charm, and use, that could probably have been brought about 

 in no other way. 



This is also the teaching of modern spiritualism, and by 

 this teaching its existence is justified and its truth upheld. 

 Such teaching pervades all its best literature, of which Poe's 

 Farewell to Earth, given through the trance speaker Miss 

 Lizzie Doten, in 1863, is one of the most remarkable.^ He 

 tells us of the educational value of much that we term pain 

 and evil in the following lines : 



" Gifted with a sense of seeing. 

 Far beyond my earthly being, 

 I can feel I have not suffered, loved, and hoped, and feared in vain; 

 Every earthly sin and sorrow I can only count as gain, 

 I can chant a grand ' Te Deum ' o'er the record of my pain." 



Again, he shows us that struggle and effort are essential 

 for progress there as here : 



*^ Human passion, mad ambition, bound me to this lower Earth, 

 Even in my changed condition, even in my higher birth. 

 But by earnest, firm endeavour, I have gained a height sublime; 

 And I ne'er again — no, never! shall be bound to space or time; 

 I have conquered! and for ever! Let the bells in triumph chime! 

 * Come up higher ' ! cry the Angels. * Come up to the Koyal Arch ! 

 Come and join the Past Grand Masters, in the Soul's progressive 



march, 

 thou neophyte of "Wisdom ! Come up to tlie Poyal Arch ! '* 



1 Of the more serious books tlealing witli tlie ethics and j)liilosophy of 

 spiritualism, I will only direct the reader's attention to two: Spirit 

 Teachings, by W. Stainton Moses, M.A.; aii.l Psychic Thilosophy, as the 

 Foundation of a Religion of Natiiral Law. hy \'. (,". Desertes. To such 

 of my readers who wisli to obtain some knowledge of the higher aspects of 

 modern spiritualism, I strongly reconunen«l these two works. 



