De L'Ester—Truly a large question, to which I must make a very brief reply. Your scientists declare that protozoa are the first, consequently the lowest, forms or expressions of life. The statement to a degree is correct, but as the life, the active principle of the cell, relatively is as great as the active principle of a universe, one cannot accurately designate it as either high or low. Life, the imponderable potentiality of the universe, is a unit, expressing itself in every atom, in the formation of every cell, floating in the tepid waters of new Worlds. It is as truly substance as is the cell brought into form through its intelligent activity. It is the Infinite, Intelligent Energy, permeating all that is. It is the Infinite Spirit whose countless manifestations we recognize, but whose nature is beyond the conception of angels or of archangels. It is that which we term GOD. On all Planets sufficiently evolved life expressions first appear in cell formations. In these cells, for which scientists have various names, are all the potentialities necessary for the evolvement of all forms of animal and vegetable life. Through the ceaseless activity of Infinite, Intelligent, Immutable Law, these germ cells, step by step, are evolved from lower to higher planes of expression, and this is a truth, the cells containing the potentialities of the human animal are unlike those containing the potentialities of the mere animal. Infinite Intelligence makes no mistakes, and in the primordial cells are all the possibilities of all specific orders of animal and vegetable life. In every direction life expressions strive to advance on straight lines, and however thwarted and baffled, go forward with invincible, intelligent energy toward definite ends. But the subject is inexhaustible, and we must for the present defer its further consideration.
We are now resting in space, about one English mile above Mars' surface. Freed spirits see where mortal vision perceives naught. As you now are, to a degree, liberated from physical limitation, you perceive that all your senses are enlarged and intensified, and you will not find it difficult to carefully observe the view presenting itself, and to describe what you may perceive.
Medium—I cannot realize that I am gazing on the planet Mars, for it is so strangely similar to our own far distant Earth, I see cities and towns, some near by, others in the dim distance. There are Lakes and streams of shining water and there are wide spreading plains over which I see some animals moving, but I do not see them very distinctly. Directly beneath us are fields of waving grain and meadows green with verdure, with here and there clusters of many bright hued flowers. Away off yonder I see what appears to be moving trains of railway cars, but the motive power must be different from that in use on our railways, for I do not see either steam or smoke, and the locomotive is quite unlike any I have seen. What direction is that? South? Well, far Southward I see a considerable body of water, and on it, moving in all directions, are large and small vessels, some with sails, others without any visible motive power. But, dear me, what is that moving so swiftly through the air? An air transport? How very wonderful, but I see neither sails, balloons or any propelling power. I wonder how they rise, and what keeps them from falling? George, it is very impolite in you to laugh at me. Of course I am excited; so would you be were you in my place. Oh, that one over yonder town is slowly, slowly dropping down, and now it has landed on a great platform and passengers are alighting and others are entering, as one might enter a railway car. Now it is ascending with a sort of undulatory movement, dipping and rising like a bird in flight, and now it has risen to quite a height, and is going toward the South. Cannot we go nearer to one of the strange conveyances? I am very curious to learn more about them. How they are constructed, and what their motive power is, and what sustains them in the air, and what—George, if you do not stop laughing at me you will let me fall. De L'Ester, do tell me something about them.
De L'Ester—Patience, patience, madame. Your curiosity is quite natural and commendable, and in good time shall be gratified, but as this is an experimental trip we do not think it prudent to hold you longer. As you grow accustomed to unusual conditions gradually we will prolong our journeys, but now we must return you to your Earth home, and if we may find you sufficiently vitalized, to-morrow, at the hour of 9.30, we again will come for you, and we promise you that your experience of to-day is but the beginning of a series of the same, which will greatly add not only to your pleasure, but to the profit of many, for whose benefit our journeys have been planned.
Now, Earthward, George. Yes, the sensation of moving with such tremendous velocity is peculiar. To move so swiftly as to experience a sensation of immobility is quite beyond the conception of mortals, who cannot conceive the fact of an ever-present now in a spaceless universe.
Here you are in your quiet room, and none the worse for your starward journey. Now you are in your normal state and I have something to say to you.
For a reason that later on you will appreciate, you are not to read what your conscious self has been made, and will yet be made to write. Do you understand? Then at the conclusion of each journey put away whatever may have been written, and in some coming time together we will read it, and then you will comprehend why I make this request.
May divine and loving influences guide and guard you. Au revoir.