With occasional brief interruptions, our journeys to the Planet, astronomically known as Mars, but to its inhabitants as Ento, which in the Ento language signifies "chosen, or set apart," extended from October 6, 1892, to September 16, 1894. During this period, through a rather rare phase of mediumship, which we term semi-automatism, the objective, or soul consciousness of our instrument was controlled to write certain observations and experiences, but through various unavoidable conditions, the record was somewhat imperfect, fragmentary and altogether too voluminous for the purpose in view. Hence, when after quite two years, during which she gradually recovered from the devitalized condition, to which her devotion to a most worthy object had reduced her, she expressed her readiness to permit herself to pass under my control for the purpose of revising the manuscript, the contents of which she was almost wholly ignorant, I found myself a little dismayed over the magnitude of our mutual undertaking, which I well knew would tax our endurance to the utmost, and certainly, only patient, persistent endeavor on the part of our instrument, and myself, has resulted in what, at the best, we all consider a not very satisfactory rendition of experiences as unique as ever have occurred to one yet embodied in physical form. So unique, indeed, that she shrinks from the probable, nay, the certain unpleasant criticism which the presentation of not new, but unrecognized facts, may elicit, and it is only through the persistent entreaties of friends on both sides of life that finally she has decided to offer for publication the rather sketchy narrative of our journeys to Ento. Possessing neither a natural, nor a cultivated ability, for a pictured presentation of form, our spirit artist, Aaron Poole, has found it difficult to, through her automatism, represent even some of the simpler examples of the Flora of your neighboring Planet, but I may assure you that, though from an artistic standpoint, they are somewhat crude, they convey a fairly correct idea of the form and color, of the species of plant life they represent. Also, I may state that our mission to Ento was undertaken for a specific purpose, the record of its various features being a secondary affair, but of sufficient importance to induce us to undertake the task, which to all concerned, has been purely a labor of love. Largely, it has been written for the purpose of affording our Earthians information which only through the mediation of discarnated spirits can be obtained. To scientific inquiry, in whatsoever direction, there is a limit beyond which the physically embodied man cannot penetrate, but to freed, most exalted spirits from whom we receive instruction, the depths of unthinkably boundless space are accessible. To spirits less exalted as we are, the planets of our solar system afford free fields of observation, and in some far distant time you and we, dear reader, through loving service for Humanity, may find ourselves so purified, through earnest investigation and lofty aspiration, so learned, so exalted, that together we may journey beyond suns and worlds of which your photographers catch imprints, as faint as smiles on the white faces of your dear dead. And may we hope that in reading of our mission to Ento, you may find some expression of thought, some lesson which may aid you in ascending the heights, ever leading toward exalted states of being, thus nearer to a realizing sense of the all pervading, infinite spirit of an infinite universe. We pray that it may be so.
To all who love their fellow man, to all who love truth, for truth's sake, and who earnestly, prayerfully seek for it wheresoever it may be found, we dedicate this narrative of loving endeavor.
Carl De L'Ester,
Counsellor and Guide of one of the Spirit Bands, in Planetary language known as Evon-thia (for love's sake).
JOURNEYS TO THE PLANET MARS.
INTERVIEW WITH THE EVON-THIA.
De L'Ester—Madame, we greet you, and rejoice to perceive that our last prolonged visit to Luna has not proven detrimental to your health, but hereafter we must endeavor to be more prudent. Now, I pray you, to attentively listen to what I may say to you.
During the years of your present re-embodiment, for a definite purpose, and toward a definite period, certain Spirits have occupied themselves in shaping the unfoldment of your Mediumship, the anticipated period has arrived, and with blended emotions, we, your Spirit friends, question the momentous future, which we trust contains the glorious fulfillment of a stupendous undertaking. Soon after your son Bernard passed to our side of life, we informed you that you no longer would be used for automatic writing, but that later on your Mediumship would be manifested through an altogether different expression. We did not then, and we do not now deem it advisable, to more than refer to this change of phase, considering it best that, through your own experiences, you shall grow into an understanding of what otherwise no one can make plain to your comprehension. Our paper on Earth's Satellite nears a conclusion; indeed, for the present, in that direction, to-day will end our investigations. May we hope that your recent experiences have proven sufficiently interesting to have awakened in you a desire for a larger knowledge and a more comprehensive view of the wonders of Starry Space?
We are aware that in the minds of Earth's thinkers there is a lively interest relating to a world of our Solar System, astronomically known as the Planet Mars. We, too, are greatly interested in the same direction, and it is our ardent desire that we may use you as a means through whom Earth's peoples may obtain a closer acquaintance with the Planet, and through whom we may accomplish an aim very dear to our hearts. We also are aware that your desire to acquire knowledge, at even a sacrifice of personal ease, and other allurements, will induce you to regard our proposal with favor, so I shall not urge you into hasty compliance with our wishes. You carefully will consider the matter, and we with some anxiety will await your decision.