XXXIII

THE FAREWELL IN LONDON

"Gather up the fragments that nothing be lost." — Jesus.

"Storms purify the air we breathe. Rains that rust the corn revive the grass. The refuse of the yard makes the peach and pear grow more luxuriantly. Stars that fade from our skies only pass to illume other portions of the sidereal heavens. The dewdrops that glisten in morning-time from a million plants are only exhaled by sun-kisses, to form clouds in aerial regions, to fall in copious showers gladdening the earth, while moving on in rills and rivers to the ocean again. Nothing is lost. Our loved ones, whom the world calls dead, have only passed to the Summer-Land before us, to return again as ministering spirits."

How applicable these words of our brother to himself! Hardships in Asia, fogs and damps in London, together with severe mental labor, had bleached his locks to a venerable gray, a change in which he takes a strange pride; longing for the day, close at hand, when they will be white as snow. Friends in America entreated his early return home. Friends in England with equal assiduity plead for him to remain, if consistent, thinking the summer-flowering might recuperate his wasted energies. He carried the question up to the oracles; listened to the still voices of his ever-faithful guardians; and concluded to return, for there were pressing duties in the Spiritual work claiming service in his own America. Learning his purpose, the Spiritualists of London resolved upon some token of their gratitude, and appreciation of his labors in the Queen's realm. His farewell address, delivered on Sunday the 29th of May, was replete with his most inspired thought. We select an extract to indicate its drifting wave:

"The philosopher sees in the falling and decaying of a leaf, even, the action of life-forces, which speak eloquently of resurrections and reconstructions upon the higher planes of vegetable existence. Newton, in an autumn day, lying beneath a tree laden with golden fruit, saw an apple fall to the earth; and the law of gravitation flashed across his mind. Franklin, with kite and string, called the electric fluids from heaven, and threw an eternal fact into the face of all past ages.

"Now cables stretch across oceans, and magnetic wires girdle the globe. A psychologic star appearing in the Syrian skies of the East directed the clairvoyant eyes of wise men — magi, or seers - to a lowly manger, within which lay concealed causes that should ultimately usher in a better and more harmonial era.

"A tiny rap was heard in the Fox family, near Rochester, N. Y.,- in and of itself, a minute event; and yet behind those mystic sounds were hidden living, tangible demonstrations of a future existence through the present ministry of spirits. The rapidity with which this truth has diffused itself into poetry, history, philosophy, and the theologies of the different denominations, astonishes even its most enthusiastic advocates. Its banner floats to-day beneath all skies. It is kindling a new light in Asia, shining in beauty upon the hills of Hindustan, sparkling over the plains of farther India, beaming in splendor throughout the courts of Europe, sounding an alarm from the distant isles of the ocean; and each tone is musical with the living fact of immortality,- immortality for all the races of men. The army of Spiritualists is constituted of millions of devoted followers. It is throwing from the press, constantly, books, pamphlets, monthlies, and weeklies. It has in America six weekly organs, and others which devote some space to the subject; between one and two hundred organizations, denominated Children's Progressive Lyceums; besides a National Association, several State Conventions, and thousands of societies supporting regular Sunday-services. The soundest jurists, the most logical thinkers, some of the most distinguished Congressmen, and certainly the most eminent of American poets, are Spiritualists.

'In England you publish Human Nature, The Spiritual Magazine, The Spiritualist, and last, but not least, the stirring weekly, The Medium and Daybreak. Each admirably fills its own legitimate position; and in the kingdom of Great Britain, the realm of thought, there is room for them all. The Macedonian cry comes from all quarters, 'Come over and help us!' Send us mediums; forward us periodicals; furnish us lectures; give us food,- even that bread of God that cometh down from heaven, and giveth life to the world. Our friend Burns is sending books, not only to the Continent, not only to Australia and New Zealand, but to the farthest isle of the ocean. Surely the heavens are opened, the angels are in the clouds of heaven, and ministering spirits are working with us for the world's redemption. Lift up your heads, O faithful souls! for your redemption draweth nigh.

"The apostle Paul, when about to leave an Asian church for Rome, wrote thus: Only let your conversation be as becometh the gospel of Christ; that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one mind, with one spirit, striving together for the faith.' And, as I am about to leave you for my native land, I feel, while appreciating your many kindnesses, to beg of you to let your conversation that is, your daily moral deportment - be such as to honor the divine principles you profess; so that whether I come and see you, or be absent, I shall hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, and that the spirit of harmony and charity, with a mutual cooperation for the upbuilding of Spiritualism. It seems not only opportune, but providential, that Dr. Newton, at this particular hour, with his wonderful healing powers, and yet abounding with the love of the angels, the gifts of the spirit, should appear in your midst. But gifted and consecrated as he is to the apostolic work of causing the lame to walk, the blind to see, the deaf to hear, he (like the gentle Nazarene) has not where to lay his head. O London, London, busy bustling, selfish, sordid city of millions, how little you appreciate

the brother whose hands are as palms of healing for the nations of the earth! It matters not what the people, nor what a catering public press, may say: God and God's angels are with him, and that to bless humanity. With clairvoyant eye he has seen the Christ Jesus that aids him.

"I see before me Mr. Shepard, who, aided and instructed by immortals, has himself become the very soul of music: I further see Mr. J. J. Morse, ever controlled to breathe tranceutterances, rich in philosophy and wisdom; Mrs. Everitt, whose mediumship has convinced thousands of immortality; and other mediums who are also present, and are sowing the seeds of heavenly harvests. And, further, I can not let the moment pass without speaking of the Progressive Library, under the supervision of our friend James Burns. This is The Banner-of-Light institution of Great Britain. It is a center, a grand rallying-place, for Spiritualists from every point of the compass; and as you love Spiritualism, as you love the promulgation of truth, and as you appreciate my feeble labors during the past four or five months, I beg, I entreat of you, to sustain and encourage Mr. Burns in his noble work. Few know his labor, his self-sacrifice, his tears, and devotion to the principles of our philosophy. In early morning he is at his post of duty; and often the midnight hour and the small hours of morning find him inditing articles, furnishing editorials, planning séances, and devising other means for the propagation of a broad, free, unsectarian Spiritualism.

"But now comes to me the saddest hour of the past several months. It is to thank you for individual and social kindnesses, and confess to you a deeper appreciation of Englishmen and English character the more thoroughly I have been brought into social relations with you for the advancement of a common cause. Not a jar has marred our general harmony. Those who were faint-hearted when these religious meetings commenced are now strong and united, awaiting the return of the distinguished worker, Mrs. Hardinge, to carry them on to still greater victories. Though far across the blue waters, I shall delight to hear of your affairs,― to learn of your temporal

and spiritual prosperity,and know that Spiritualism has become an acknowledged power in this great world's metropolis. With me, friendship is no idle word: I do not like, but I love my friends with a true soul-affection. Such friendship buds upon earth only to bloom in heaven. I shall never, never forget you, good friends, nor the many happy hours that I have whiled away in your society as a fellow-worker; and from my heart of hearts I can only exclaim, 'God and his good angels keep and bless you!' If in the enthusiasm of my nature I have said one harsh word, or breathed one unkind thought, forget and forgive. To err is human; to forgive, divine.'"

The Medium and Daybreak thus reports one of Mr. Peebles's Sunday meetings in London:

"It would be difficult to imagine a place more completely packed with human beings than the Cavendish Rooms were on Sunday evening. Dr. Newton was expected, and the Spiritualists and sympathizers turned out in a body to hear Brother Peebles and to meet the great healer. The usual attenders dropped in early; and the arrangements were so admriable, and the friends so helpful, that no discomfort or disappointment was experienced. Thanks are due to Mr. Humphrey for his efforts to seat the hall as thoroughly as possible. Mr. Peebles delivered an admirable sermon, exactly suited for the occasion, of which we can give only a few extracts. He said that in the Gospel as recorded by John we find this language: 'You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.' 'As I lift my eyes as far as I can, and take a moral survey of the universe, I see, or seem to see, men thrusting out their soulfeelers, and asking anxiously for the highest and best form of truth. It is no more natural for water to find a level, it is no more natural for the magnetic needle to turn to the north pole, than it is for the human soul to search for truth; and it is a fact, that truths must not only be born in mangers, but they must be crucified, and that, too, frequently between thieves. They must be baptized in tears before they can become mighty forces, swaying the masses, and leading them on step by step to higher and more divine planes of mental and spiritual life.