De L'Ester—You are too deeply moved. I pray you to tranquillize yourself, else we cannot hold you, and you may suffer injury. Believe me, believe us, when, as now, we declare that in our Spirit consciousness only a recognition of good is possible. Conscious mortal mind is unable to perceive beyond the plane of mortal being; only the subconscious or Spirit Self rises to the height of real perception. Although now you are partly freed from physical influences, you yet are held on the plane of mortal being, and cannot comprehend that which Spiritually you but dimly perceive. Although Spiritually you realize that the Infinite All Pervading One is wholly good, your mortal consciousness is so dominant that, like all mortals, you yet are seeking the shadows of physical demonstrations and are slow to comprehend that the activities of the Universe are harmonious realities, working through intelligent means, toward intelligent ends, and that ever the ends are Good, for Evil, per se, does not exist. Along all lines progress, like the fabled phœnix, rises from the ashes of consumed ignorant conceptions concerning Spirits, and out of seeming evils positive good emerges. Only conscious mortal mind fears death and disaster. Like an armed warrior it stands at the entrance of the citadel of mortal existence, challenging all invaders. It is the Human Soul arrayed against intangible, supposable foes, who ofttimes are unrecognized friends.
To freed spirits, aware of their indestructibility, and of their inherent tendency toward ever ascending planes of progression, the ever changing conditions of substance are of but slight moment. Only through their loving sympathy for their suffering or terrified brethren of the physical plane do they experience special regret over the occurrence of physical disasters. So assured are we that out of apparent evil only good, or what is the same, higher conditions must result, that in all sincerity, unitedly we declare that not only do we believe, but we realize, that whatever is is right.
We perceive that you do not wholly agree with our conclusions, but time will not end to-morrow, and you may change your mind. Also we perceive that your natural love of life inclines you to cling to mortal conditions, and that is well, for your experiences yet lack completeness. But be assured that when the change termed death shall come to you you will be undismayed, and in our Spirit World, with serenity you will regard the dreamlike memories of your past terrors and dread anticipations. With unquestioning trust you then will realize that the Infinite Intelligent Energy is only good.
As from the apex of this mountainous mass we gaze across the expanse of the lake in whose quiet depths are mirrored the azure sky and snowy clouds, it is difficult to realize that in a bygone age suddenly the surface of the Planet was rent asunder and in the rift a molten moon molded itself into a convex basin, in whose rim and bottom, during cooling and contraction great crevices opened through which annual floods have poured and perennial springs have welled up from their depths, thus affording an unfailing supply of clear, cold, delicious water. No, the eastern wall of the lake will not be wholly pierced until the System shall be prepared to receive the outflowing water, and that will be later than the culmination of our Mission. To the Entoans this lake ever has been a mystery. Were they learned in astronomy they of course would understand its origin.
From its eastern wall onward around the planet to the western shore of Indoloisa̤, the lands of this Torrid zone generally are so arid as to be altogether infertile. At intervals there are limited oases where, through natural or other means, the soil is sufficiently moist to admit of cultivation. The inhabitants, through air transportation, enjoy communication and association with other peoples.
In our progress eastward we will cross several low mountain ranges, a number of lakes and some inconsiderable streams flowing from the north and losing themselves in the oases of which I have spoken, and soon we will near a rather extensive lake on whose northeastern shore is a city of about three hundred thousand inhabitants. Its name Roûva̤ (favored) probably was chosen because it is favored by an abundant water supply. But I shall not further anticipate what presently you will have the pleasure of observing.
This seems an opportune time to inform you that this morning, previous to our coming for you, we visited Da̤o, finding all things relating to our Mission indicating a successful issue. Valloa̤, pallid as a white lily, is as a bird poised for flight, her senses so marvellously quickened that she perceives and converses with the radiant ones surrounding her. Dano, too, unfolds surprisingly, and eagerly, anxiously awaits the fulfillment of your promise to be with him in his hour of supremest trial. Through grief over the certainty that his idolized child nears the end of her young life, Omanos Fûnha̤ is wellnigh prostrated. Only through the dawning hope of again finding his adored daughter, the wife of his youth, and other dear ones, is his despair a little lessened, and bravely he smiles into the troubled eyes and wan, lovely face that soon will wear the reposeful smile of the dead.
Now, friends, we must attend to material affairs. The region over which we are passing is a reminder of an American desert, minus a fauna and flora, of which there is no indication, but when the beneficent system shall have watered its parched soil all that will be changed. Gentola̤, you perceive that away northward and southward there are irrigated tracts, made possible through immense reservoirs which the annual floods fill to repletion, and which with the addition of occasional showers, suffices to moisten the thirsty lands. Also there are deep wells which supply water for domestic and other purposes. Certainly the general Government spares neither expense or labor for the protection of those engaged in the conflict with such adverse forces. Yes, doubtless, in time, the System will reclaim Ento's entire waste lands, and again the equatorial regions will become the most fertile and populous portions of the planet.
For the reason that the waste over which we have passed offers little to either instruct or interest you or our dear lad, Bernard, we have journeyed rather hurriedly. For the scientist, deep under its surface there are treasures untold. Histories of races so ancient that neither record or legend hints of who or what has been buried there. No trump of Angel ever will awaken to animation the ashes of peoples who ages ago lived and loved upon the highlands and amid the verdant vales of the long since levelled lands, but as no atom of the universe can go astray or cease to be, somewhere those ancient ones yet are living, loving and filling their allotted places among the countless myriads of the children of the Infinite Father, Mother God.
Before us, gleaming in the sunlight, is Hûnda̤ffon (name of Andûmana̤'s cup bearer) and lining its northwestern shore and gracing its slightly rising background is Roûva̤ Tylû, one of Ento's ancient cities. We will alight on yonder lofty Temple dome, near the centre of the city.