As we left the grave I was well satisfied that the reflections of the poor man were mournfully true. I was not without misgivings that my Age of Reason sought not to gratify the mind in its hope of immortality. I said, “when will the day come that I can make known the truth, and correct the errors of my work?”
My mother replied, “The world is not yet prepared to hear such news. I will not wrong the truth by an attempt to reveal it.”
T. But will not a day come when spirits can unfold to mind in the body the wonders of this sphere?
M. When minds emerge from the darkness of their superstition, and spirits can control, without wrong to the medium, we can make known to them the wonders of this world of life; but, while they are controlled by their superstition, the revealment would subject the medium to severe penal sufferings, and the execration of all who are not controlled by us. The people are more tenacious of their creeds than what is consistent with the safety of such, as will be required to act in a wonderful manner to overcome their errors. I see, that when Jesus came, he was not opposed with more violent measures than religionists are prepared to adopt to suppress whatever contradicts their faith and practice. But there will come a day when spirits can reveal the truth, without involving the medium in trouble at the hands of its enemies, and when the inalienable rights of mind will be protected by the voice of public opinion. Be patient, therefore, my son; for the coming of that day will change the gloom of the grave into the joy of immortal rest. It will come with wonder, and mind will understand that the tomb is not the home of the soul.
The sun was now sinking behind the western hills. Then I said, “why are midnight and mid-day alike to spirits? Why is not the rudimental sphere developed as mind is here?”
“I see you will wonder, Thomas. Are not the night and the day alike unto God? Does he not make light, and create darkness? Are not light and darkness the result of causes which harmonize in the well being of mind in the body? Must not the spirit, wearied with its load of dust, have hours of repose and rest?”
“Very true,” I replied; “but why do they not see as spirits see?”
“Our vision is not as theirs; when we see, it is because the undulations of light, falling upon us, are unobstructed by other things. You will find light without darkness in your path, because there is more light in spiritual than earthly bodies. Light emanates from particles of matter thrown off from dense globes in straight lines, which coming in collision with each other, produce a concussion in such rapid succession, as to evolve what is called light. The law of what is called the solar system, governs worlds of other systems. A ray diverging from the sun meets a ray from earth, which produces what is called friction among the innumerable particles in their passage from one point to another. This friction emits a blaze from the two particles. These wonders are actually transpiring every instant, within scarcely perceptible distances, so that no darkness can exist when they occur. There is an ocean of rays commingling in their destined course, and forced along their pathway by attractive and repulsive forces in the great economy of nature. Now, it is only the grosser particles, migrating from one globe to another, that make light to the inhabitants of the rudimental sphere, while spirits are able to discover light, or, as I would say, see the friction, or light, emitted by the friction of lesser rays coming in contact with each other. When the sun is visible to minds in the body, rays from it fall in direct lines to earth, and rays from earth pass in direct lines to the sun. When rays pass in direct lines and meet, the concussion or friction is greater than when striking each other obliquely. Hence, the greater the friction, the greater the light. And the nearer to earth the contact of the rays, the more sensible the effect upon the retina of the human eye. This accounts for the darkness called night, and the light called day. At night, the rays, migrating from the sun to earth and earth to sun, must strike each other obliquely, and at a greater distance from the eye of man. But spirits are aided by the friction of infinitely more refined particles of matter meeting the inconceivably more refined particles of earth, occasioned by the influence of other planets upon it. As the attractive and repulsive forces are equal to the density, distance, and magnitude of the several orbs, so are the rays refined; and you will find that the balances are in just proportion throughout the immensity of the Creator’s works. We see that refined particles, or rays, more clearly give light to us, than the grosser particles, emitted by stronger attractions, do to minds in grosser organs of sight. Every thing is adapted to its condition. Nothing is unwise in the order of the divine government.”
But, when we were at the grave, I saw no mind relieved. “Thomas Paine was an infidel,” said they. “He ridiculed the Bible. He was not moral, even. He was addicted to intemperance. He lived with a strange woman. He would not repent, and be converted; and he died without having experienced religion. He must now atone for his conduct.”
I wished to say, but wishes were vain, “My wrongs were not wrongs of injury intentional to others. I had erred; and I would, if I could, have atoned for those errors; but my works were not worse than those arrayed against me. I saw no religion worth possessing in the creeds of men. I was not wise, but I could not find wisdom in the doctrines taught by religionists. My desire was law and justice; but neither were commended to my judgment, in the forms and ceremonies of the church. A change of heart was more mystical to me than the mythology of the pagans. A wise man hath said, ‘wisdom is mine,’ and what he said I was not ashamed to allow: but I was ashamed to allow what I could not explain, so that others could comprehend my meaning. I was not without reverence for good, but what was good gave me some uneasiness to determine. My rules were isolated, and sometimes contradictory. Nevertheless, I would attempt to draw up rules which I thought practicable, and when I saw what was not wise, I was never ashamed to acknowledge it.”