CHAPTER XXXII.

EUROPEAN CORRESPONDENCE.

"Life can be as lovely as its best moods.

In the wine of love is the truth of life.” — GAIL HAMILTON.

EARLY in 1870, Hudson Tuttle proposed to Mr. Peebles that they publish "A Year-Book of Spiritualism;" the former editing the American department, and the latter the European and Asiatic. Appreciating its need, these gentlemen corresponded with the leading Spiritualists throughout the world, and ushered in 1871 with a beautiful eclectic work, published by "The Banner of Light" Company, statistical, representing Spiritualism in all its phases by its scholars Each year they will issue a new volume, marking the progress of the angels' gospels.

Mental impressibility, conversation, and public speech, epistolary correspondences, and the press, are the methods of Spiritual commerce. Mr. Peebles employs them all. Whilst in Europe, his correspondence was immense, as in America. At times he was obliged to engage an amanuensis. Aside from the personages herein noticed, he received valued letters from Mrs. DeMorgan, author of "From Matter to Spirit; " M. Martin Tupper, author of "Proverbial Philosophy;" Mrs. McDougold Gregory, wife of a distinguished professor of Edinburgh College, who, in the spirit-land, sends to her the angels' wisdom; Mrs. Max Mütler, wife of the great Sanscrit linguist; Gerald Massey, the Spiritual poet; Tennyson; Baron von Schickh, the Austrian Spiritualist; Baron Guldenstubbe; Rev. John Page Hopps; Robert Chambers; Prince George de Solms, introducing him to his grace, Bishop Bugnion, who is one of the greatest scholars in the world. These mementos of love, flowering with Spiritual thought, and so beautifully haloed in friendship, we have no right to publish.

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"FLORENCE, Dec. 13, 1869.

"MY DEAR PEEBLES, I am very impatient to meet you. I have told you before how my soul has been drawn towards yours. But do try and stay weeks in Rome: in two or three days you can see literally nothing of its many wonders. I shall want to be with you nights while you are there, and share the same apartment with you: for there will be so much sight-seeing days that we shall have no time to give to the discussion of the many matters I wish to talk with you about; and I love dearly to talk a while after retiring. I hope you will not deem this a very strange request. The Guppys are very kind-hearted and generous.

"I was persuaded into giving a séance the other night at the villa of a beautiful countess here, one of the loveliest women I ever saw. The manifestations were most marvelous... I shall want you to see Prince George de Solms while you are Our acquaintance has ripened into a sincere friendship. I have a letter from him every week. He bears his princeship in a sensible way. Give my love to Damiani. God bless you, my dear brother!

in Rome. He is genial.

Fraternally thine, "FRED. L. H. WILLIS."

"FLORENCE, Jan. 1, 1870.

"MR. J. M. PEEBLES: Dear Sir,-Under the guidance of the spirits, charged by Providence to direct the movement that will conduct humanity to regeneration, you are perhaps the chosen instrument in America. Could I, in my naughtiness, trust to the many assurances of my Spiritual guardians, I might believe myself to be a chosen one for this side of the Atlantic. Vanity, self-love, pride, have nothing to do with the thought: the belief to be such an instrument may be cherished without any sentiment of worldly purpose; and what if erroneous, if it gives a holy strength to perform what tends to explore and work out always for the diffusion of truth, if it induces even to the sacrifice of one's self to attain the glorious aim?

"Well, dear Mr. Peebles, if you have for the arduous work the confidence in my aid that I feel entirely in yours, let us work together, you from the West shore, I from this side of the ocean; and we shall in spirit stretch our arms, and meet to grasp strictly our hands, and form the bridge upon which, according to the ardent wish expressed by the spirit of Allan Kardec, may be laid the chain of union between the American and the European continent-schools of Spiritism.

"The Aurora' ('Daybreak') will be ready about the 15th or 20th of this month. I will direct some numbers by post to Mr. Burns; and a parcel of fifty I may send from Leghorn to New York, directed, if you will let me know. In America are many Italians, through whom much good may be done in the way of spreading our dear doctrine. An opportune distribution gratis will be the best means.

"Believe me, dear sir, yours very sincerely,

66 GIROLAMO PARISI.”

"16 RUE DE LA BIENFAISANCE, PARIS, Thursday.

“MY DEAR FRIEND, - I envy you; wish I could be as useful in this great Spiritual movement as yourself. It is a glorious thing to be doing God's work, and help extricate humanity out of its benighted darkness. You can have the five works of Allan Kardec for ten shillings.

"I will try and get you a photograph of Favre. The young Baron did not send you the one he promised, because he could not procure it as expected.

"I shall be glad to be kept posted as to your movements in the East. I have not

relinquished the idea of visiting America, and should like nothing better than to accompany you to that land of promise.

"I would like exceedingly to hear your lectures in London. Remember me to the worthy Burns and family. I am, my ever dear brother, yours very sincerely,

“ GLADSTANES.”

"Our Sargent," of Boston, traveling then in Europe to recuperate his health, is a full-orbed Spiritualist of literary rank, being author of "Peculiar," "Planchette," "The Woman who Dared," and other popular works. His letter is sunny with good sense and energy:

“CANNES, A.M. (FRANCE), March 21, 1870. "MY DEAR MR. PEEBLES, I see that the Spiritualists of England have given you a most affectionate welcome; and I cordially wish you prosperity in your gallant efforts to spread the truth as you see and understand it. If more men and women had but courage to speak their convictions, how many social and dogmatic shams would have their day of death accelerated! But there is so much fear of treading on the toes of conventionalism! The great work of Spiritualism will be, to emancipate thought, to take us out of time-worn ruts, and make us breathe the exhilarant, divine air of liberty, calling no man master, and swayed neither by spirits in the flesh nor out of the flesh (though their name be Legion) to accept what violates our reason and our sense of right.

"But the wide, the unbounded prospect spreads before me. I must close. “Affectionately and sincerely, "EPES SARGENT.”

Countess Mde. Medina Pomar, a devoted Spanish Spiritualist, in a friendly note of encomiums upon Mr. Peebles's labors in London, adverts thus to the doctrine of re-incarnation,

“We were much disappointed not to have the pleasure of your company last Sunday, whom we waited for so long in vain. Can you not come next Sunday evening? I am anxious to meet you, and have a long conversation with you upon that branch of Spiritualism entitled re-incarnation."

"STRADA FIORENTINE, No. 9. NAPLES, April 12, 1870.

“You ask a paragraph from me on the state of Spiritualism in Italy. I will write as you wish, at the first opportunity, if it be only half a page. I shall also do all in my power to contribute to the financial success of your · Annual.'

"I have read with intense interest the accounts of your Sunday-evening discourses in the metropolis of England. Oh, how I regret not being present at those rich feasts of mind! Go on, dear brother, with the grand work of re-generation; and may the dear spirits strengthen your body, thus rendering your task easy!

"You have no doubt by this time seen the good queen of England; whom, I am sure, you must have admired for her great affability: but, if she had none of those graces which distinguish her, the fact of her being a Spiritualist forms her greatest claim to our love and admiration.

"Pray, take care of your precious health, and believe me to be your true friend and brother, G. DAMIANI."

Elder Frederick W. Evans, English by birth, through the church into materialism, and this into Spiritualism, and thence by his own mediumship into the "resurrection state of true believers," termed Shakers, the Essenes of this century, addressed Mr. Peebles a lengthy communication whilst in England. its sweetness,

We extract from

"MT. LEBANON, April 29, 1870.

“J. M. PEEBLES: My much esteemed Friend, I often think of you since you began your Old-World ramblings; am glad to learn that the 'Auto' reached you safely. I know of no one whom I should prefer to have it. You are one of a class of souls who are inspired from the seventh heaven! Spirits from thence follow you continually; and once in a while, in the stillness of your soul, they minister the elements of the ‘Harvest Home,' - a joyful sound in the rural districts of Old England. Grand idea, beautiful

type is that, when the last load of wheat from the harvest-field is coming in with the laborers, on the top of the golden mountain, as it moves along towards the garners of the husbandman, joyfully shouting at the top of their voices, Home, home, harvest home!'

"But what language of mortals shall describe the unutterable joy and glory of the final harvest home of earth's inhabitants, when the last sheaf, a human soul, shall be brought into the resurrection state, and 'the end, the end, has come?' 'The harvest is ended, and all are saved! shall be shouted from one heaven to another.' Home, home, at last! The harvest of earth is gathered; and we shall all together raise the shout of 'Harvest home!' ..

Accept of the love of our order, and of your friend the writer in particular. Good angels have you in their keeping, and will guide your feet aright towards the Zion of God as your final home; and in due time after you will come the souls whom you have quickened in their spiritual germs to seek a new life.

"Farewell. From your brother laborer in the Lord's vineyard,

"F. W. EVANS.”

This German correspondent is a scholarly Spiritualist; and "Luos" referred to is a most powerful spirit of rare intelligence and agute

ness,

"BADEN, GERMANY, May 13, 1870.

"FRIEND PEEBLES, It is a great blessing to be in communion with such an elevated spirit as 'Luos,' who has now been in communication with us for about fifteen years, and who formerly enabled my wife to perform wonderful cures by the layingon of hands. Spiritualism has only a beginning here, through our initiatory means; but at Leipsic it is all rife through the energy of Count Poninski, who has been lecturing there. I am told a circle has been formed at Dresden, and a Spiritual journal pubished in Saxony by Dr. Berthelen. At Vienna a Spiritual circle exists; but progress is exceedingly slow at present in materialistic and priest-ridden Germany. You have done great things in England; and it is therefore a misfortune you are obliged so soon to return to the United States. Clerical, sectarian orthodoxy is a sad dead-stop to progress; but it will have to give place eventually to the divine revelations of Nature, and the teachings of the 'angels of the Lord who encamp round about them that love him.'

My wife unites with me in expressing to you that loving attachment which only real Spiritualists can be truly sensible of. Ever yours,

"A. KYD."

Invited by influential citizens, Mr. Peebles intends at some future day to visit Australia, "The Continental Isle," and sow the Spiritual seed. Messrs. Naylor and Terry speak of many efficient media there. Mr. Naylor is editor of the new Spiritual journal, "The Harbinger of Light,”—

"MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA, May 15, 1870.

"J. M. PEEBLES: My dear Sir, -... I read your 'Seers of the Ages' with avidity, and made use of your valuable information in several lectures; which I delivered last year, copies of which, together with 'Glow-worm,' shall shortly be forwarded to you. "I am, my dear sir, yours fraternally,

"B. S. NAYLOR.”

"MELBOURNE, VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA, May, 1870.

“J. M. PEEBLES, Esq.: My dear Sir, -Spiritualists here are not very demonstrative: but we have many earnest workers, preparing the ground, and sowing the seed; which is already springing up in many unlooked-for places. We wait our time to organize, and expect, when we do so, to have the requisite material to secure strength and cohesion. "Yours fraternally, W. H. TERRY."

Making inquiry of Anna Blackwell about the Kardec books, Mr. Peebles received a beautiful letter, from which we extract a few thoughts. Her writings grace the pages of English magazines.

"DEAR MR. PEEBLES,

"PARIS, Wednesday, 1870.

These views of re-incarnation purport to be given by the spirits of the Evangelists, sent by Christ (our planet's presiding sidereal spirit), to explain what the ignorance of the time compelled him to leave under a veil. ... Christ lived right from the beginning, which we have not done; he reached the sidereal degree eternities before us; he is divine only in the figurative sense in which we all shall be when we reach that degree, thus giving its final death-blow to the polytheism of which the first Christian form of belief is the last example. For, when once the world comes to see that that most glorious and beautiful spirit is no more "God" than we are; that he was made, tempted, educated, just as we are, though "without sin," there will be no danger of any other polytheistic notion obtaining credence!

Yours very truly,
"ANNA BLACKWELL."

Inquiring of Mr. Sammons about Spiritualism in South Africa, Mr. Peebles was informed there had been a little agitation in that isolated spot. We extract a paragraph :