The Life Elysian. Translated into Simplified “Modern English”. Chapter Eight. Angels and Angels.

"It’s impossible for you, during a short visit, to fully grasp the vast scope and details of our work here," Ladas said as he prepared to show me other aspects of his work. "But I will point out one or two key areas that are likely to be personally helpful, and which also demonstrate the wide reach of our operations. I can’t give you an estimate of the resources we have available to ensure success, because only God knows the full extent, but based on past experience, I can say that these resources are always reliable and sufficient for any need."

"Nor could I explain all the knowledge I’ve gained from my long experience in a clear, organized way.

We don’t work by a set rule or any theoretical formula; if we did, the process could be studied and categorized. But while we recognize that sin follows certain clear and defined paths, when we minister to a soul in need, we approach each case with the care of dealing with something new, rather than simply classifying it. God doesn’t group things together but deals with each individually. It’s the one lost sheep we’re most concerned about finding. Although 'God wants all men to be saved,' we never forget that 'all' means individuals, each of whom must be reclaimed as quickly and lovingly as possible."

"This is the old gospel of Christ, the one He brought to Earth from here—the 'old, old story,' so different from the made-up fables of Earth, so much like what a heavenly message would be, that all people sought Him to hear its music. It’s the Christ-song, set to the same melody of loving devotion to the lost, that we sing in our current ministry—the love-song God created to reach the ears of those who would become slaves of hell, and through hope and trust, lift them higher, higher, higher, until the morning comes, the dissonance fades, sight is restored, and they are home."

"Earth has broken the sweetest strings in the divine harp and replaced them with poor substitutes, ruining the melody. In God’s Garden, an enemy has scattered weeds, choking the flowers and poisoning the fruit, making Christ’s work ineffective through false traditions. As a result, the true message of the gospel has been returned to us. The Christianity that Earth has lost is the original gift of immortality, which the Father’s love extended to Earth so that people could sooner enjoy the fruit of the tree of life. Oh, that love of God! It couldn’t wait to show itself through redemption but rushed ahead to provide salvation before the fall. It knew and prepared for the weakness of the flesh and wanted to surround humanity with every possible safeguard from the dangers of the animal instincts that were being outgrown. So, in the middle of Eden, prepared for further development, love placed the tree of life beside the river of life, offering its shade as a holy rest, with the soothing sound of the water singing lullabies, the sweet fruit of immortality hanging overhead, and angels from the homeland coming down to offer guidance and counsel.

"Such were the provisions of love. But away from the river, the tempting fruits of selfish desire were found. The animal instincts took over, the habits and appetites of the pigsty were stronger than the weak control of a newly formed morality. The new man fell under the control of the old brute, and the spiritual vision became clouded."

"The teachers on Earth have promoted the idea that the tree of life no longer exists, as if God’s eternal love had suddenly turned to hatred because of man's weakness. How impossible! The tree of life still stands in the middle of God’s Paradise, and its leaves are forever for the healing of the nations. You will find the fruit of that tree in every part of this life, and its ministry and power are the work of everyone you meet. Nothing has changed. The fruit, the life, the music, the love, the angels—all remain from eternity to eternity, and the Father loves so much that He will still fulfill His eternal purpose, and nothing will be lost."

"I say that the true gospel of Christ has essentially been left to us now, and since I see that you’re eager to actively participate in this renewed ministry, I think the best way to help you is by pointing out a particular danger that stands in the way of reopening communication between us and the Earth."

"I would be very grateful for any advice you can give me on this," I replied. "Not that I know if my hope will be realized, but I would like to be well-prepared if I am so honoured."

"The powerful impact of the gospel, as preached by Christ, comes from its alignment with natural law, which was fully shown in the life He lived. God was in and working through Him to bring the world to righteousness by evolving the spiritual from the natural. The active life of Jesus reached toward the Christ, always using what He had already achieved as a base to strive for even greater possibilities. Modern Christianity has strayed from this original path, abandoned the personal example of the Christ-life, and instead created a human theory about that life, outlined and set by the leaders of later Christianity in councils.

This man-made form of godliness lacks the power of Christ to transform the lives of people, and religion has become dry and lifeless. However, neither the unfaithfulness of people nor the corrupting effects of sin have stopped God's plan. Angels are now re-assigned to the ministry, and knowing how the law works, they will use it to bring the world to Christ. But even within this ministry, there is a danger we must be careful to avoid."

"Surely the ministry of angels cannot fail in its purpose?"

"Actually, it can! This is why I want to be very careful to make sure you understand what I need to show you. There are angels and there are angels. The freedom to return to Earth is available to all, and people are generally more in tune with those who are in the earthly state than those who are above them. This creates the danger I want you to recognize clearly. The souls who first feel the call to return and are more readily welcomed are those who know nothing about true spiritual life and governance, but they speak and share their ignorance in a mix of ideas and teachings that are even worse than the confusion of Babel."

"What, then, is to be done?"

"The victory has to be taken from their control. People are now learning to appeal to reason instead of blindly trusting authority, and an invasion of Earth is being planned, as you may know, by those who are capable of explaining the entire law of God and making the truth clear."

As Ladas prepared me for what was to come, he had sent and received several messages, after which he explained:

"I am making inquiries to find a better example of this issue. I don’t want to exaggerate or downplay it, but I want to show you a fairly representative case and let you draw your own conclusions. I have an opportunity now; come and see for yourself."

As he finished speaking, we arrived in the spacious drawing room of a successful city tradesman, where about a dozen people had gathered for a spiritualistic séance. Among them were two clergymen.

One, Mr. Newman was unsure about the legality of the planned event, but the other, Mr. Oldfield, assured him it would be more amusing than serious and without any objections. Anthony Mairn, the president of the local Spiritualist Association, had been invited to meet the clergymen, possibly hoping to convert them. The rest of the group consisted of Arthur Settle, the host, his wife, daughter, and their friends, all eagerly curious about what would happen. The medium, the uncertain center of hope and doubt, was Madame Hansbrac, a well-known clairvoyant in society. She had found a husband to be somewhat of a nuisance and arranged for him to receive an allowance in exchange for not bothering her. With no children and little difficulty in arranging matters, Madame moved to a more fashionable location, and everything went smoothly. She had a fee of three guineas a week from Mr. Settle for business consultations, and the current séance was a special event with an additional fee to be agreed upon.

These details are important to show the underlying spirit and motivations behind the entire event.

Someone might ask how I learned these details. It’s a good question, and the answer sheds light on what happened next. Every mind in the room was open to our observation, like an elementary textbook. We could read whatever we wanted, turning page after page, and freely exploring the hidden, unguarded parts of the past, where there was plenty of material for the two spiritual attendants already waiting on Madame Hansbrac.

Just a quick note about whether we had the right to use this knowledge. I believe we have every right to read whatever we choose from it, since it’s our natural source of true information about individuals. All judgments and decisions in the spiritual realm are based on and determined by records written on the soul. I’ve mentioned this many times before. For example, in our recent conversation, Ladas referred to my desire to join the mission to Earth, which he read from my mind, just as I’ve just read what was written in the minds of those around me. What’s not right is using this knowledge for deception, which is often done by unreliable and dishonest intermediaries.

"Did you ever try planchette, Miss Arbonne?" asked Miss Settle during the fifteen minutes Madame always allowed for her sitters ‘to establish the necessary harmonious condition for the séance.’

"No, never."

"Oh, but you should; it’s the most fun you can imagine. I’ve had my planchette properly dedicated—"

"What’s that, if I may ask?" inquired Mr. Newman.

"I’m not sure how to explain it. It’s like setting it aside for use by a particular spirit, to keep others who aren’t known from using it."

"Is planchette really useful?" asked her lady friend.

"It’s just delightful. You can ask about anyone, and it will tell you everything."

"But can you trust that it’s telling the truth?"

"W - ell, maybe not always, but I think it’s right more often than people give it credit for."

"Do you know," Mr. Newman said to his fellow clergyman, "my conscience doesn’t quite agree with this intrusion into the realm of the sacred dead."

"Because it’s new, my dear sir—new ground, and naturally, one treads carefully on it. Wait a while, and you’ll lose all your doubts in a wonderland that Alice never got to enter."

"You’ll start with prayers, of course?"

"Oh, no, if there was anything churchy about it, I’d quit right away," Miss Settle replied with definite irritation.

"But, my dear young lady, do you consider the seriousness of the occasion?"

"No, I don’t. Society doesn’t bother with solemnities. I think it’s time you clergymen kept religion in church and let us enjoy our fun without interference."

This conversation wasn’t exactly moving toward harmony, so Madame asked Miss Settle to "play something soft and dreamy," after which her clairvoyant descriptions and messages began. However, I’m more interested in recording what I saw than what was said just now.

By this point, the various spiritual energies had merged, forming a light around the entire group, and we remained undetected on the outside. The quality of the aura, which reflected its true spiritual tone, could be described as a mix of curiosity, amusement, and doubt. There was no sign of spiritual longing or desire at any point during the session.

Clairvoyance is a somewhat misleading term for the range of phenomena usually associated with it, since only a small percentage of these experiences involve actual vision, and most are perceived through spiritual connection rather than any specific sense. This was definitely the case with the readings Madame gave in this instance.

All the information, and much more, could easily be gathered from the mental energy surrounding the group, though I would be unfair to the medium to say that she was aware of this. She received impressions from somewhere that were interpreted with surprising results for those whose eyes couldn’t see the visions I could observe. This information about people and events, clearly coming from sources outside the normal, was accepted as being given by spirit guides present, but Madame neither confirmed nor denied this explanation. To her, the ability she exercised was simply a way to earn a good living, and the satisfaction shown by the sitters meant more business. The sitters were more than satisfied, so there was no reason for her to be otherwise.

But as amazing as her revelations were at first, there’s perhaps no other aspect of psychic phenomena that becomes as quickly repetitive. The medium was watching carefully for the first sign of this, and when it came, she requested more dreamy music and prepared for the second part of the performance.

She was then put into a hypnotic sleep by one of her regular attendants, a condition I observed with great interest for the first time. When she was asleep and the music stopped, I noticed her controlling spirit make a suggestion, to which the medium reacted by starting and taking on the persona of a little mulatto girl known as ‘Frisky.’ It was a curious mix of a half-shy, half-precocious child, biting the corner of a handkerchief and shaking herself as she spoke.

“Good evening, all of you,” she began with a playful, childish lisp.

“Good evening, Frisky,” came the chorus of responses from everyone who recognized the impersonation.

“Well, what do you have to tell us now that you’re here?” Mr. Settle asked.

“Oh, I has to tell you, zat a lady will call to see you at the shop tomorrow.”

“Do you know her name?”

“Yes, but I must not tell you.”

“Well, what can you tell me about her?”

“She has got a lot of money, and if you’re very, very, very patient with her, she will buy a lot of nice things.”

“Who told you this?”

“Joey says I must tell you.”

“All right, I’ll be sure to be patient with her. Thank Joey for the message.”

“Oh, I say! Look! Look!” she exclaimed, pointing at Mr. Newman. “Look at the long face of Mr. Parson.”

“I’m very surprised that you have nothing more than these trivialities to tell us from the other side of death. That’s why I look so serious,” Mr. Newman replied.

“Is you?”

“Yes, more surprised than I can make you understand.”

“If you wait until you come on our side, you will be more surprised than I can make you understand.”

“I can easily believe that, but can you tell us something about it?”

"No! Frisky never speaks of such things, Mr. Newman, and we don’t care for anything creepy, I can assure you. It will be time enough to think about that when we get there—won’t it, Frisky?" Miss Settle interrupted.

"Yes, quite. I want to make you happy."

"Then tell me, do you know anything about last Wednesday night when I was in my room?" the same lady asked.

"When you went to bed?"

"Yes. Who pulled my hair?"

"I did. So, you would know I was there."

"Well, that was very kind of you. Will you do it again?"

"Sometime; but I must go now."

My first lesson about the value and effect of spiritual connections was over, providing me with useful knowledge I wouldn’t forget.

"Do you now understand my point about the danger ahead of us?" asked Ladas as we left the scene, where a banquet of angelic food could have been, but wasn’t.

"Yes, I think I understand now. It’s the principal Christ referred to when He said, 'Everyone who asks receives,' and every person gets exactly what they ask for—finds exactly what they seek. I see it now like I never did before, and I won’t forget it. But you also said that the danger can and must be avoided."

"It will be so; my confidence in this is what led me to point it out to you. Knowing what it is, you will naturally avoid it in your future interactions. But at the same time, I want you to understand that what just happened is not without value, as it draws attention to the existence of psychical phenomena that are worth investigating.

These frivolous and ignorant individuals, who represented our side in their actions, have the power and enjoyment of producing effects that appeal to reason and should lead to further inquiry. So far, they are doing necessary groundwork by laying a foundation on which the whole system of spiritual law can be built. What must happen now is that the inquiry should not stop here, and the possibilities should not be limited to mere amusement, curiosity, or unreliable fortune-telling. This is the real danger I want to point out to you."

"And how do you plan to prevent it?"

"Myhanene would be a much better authority for you to consult on that matter, as he is one of the leaders in the new movement working towards that goal. However, I can suggest one direction it must take. You noticed how the spiritual, mental, and moral energies of everyone present combined to form an attraction for spirits that were exactly like the group as a whole?"

"Yes, I noticed that very carefully."

The dominant influence in all séances comes from the person through whom the communications pass. The two who have just been controlling Madame’s mind and body form a stronger and closer connection with her at each gathering, unless she breaks the bond through spiritual effort. This active, clear influence largely controls and shapes the uncertain, vague energy of all the others who attend her séances. Therefore, in the new movement, the first priority is to find people whose moral and spiritual qualities are high, and to find guiding angels among those who are free from earthly attractions and capable and honest enough to speak about life as it truly is and can be. But now, I must show you another example of a very different kind. You’ve seen how the careless and shallow are drawn together, but you must also see how the harmful and malicious take control."

We entered the combined foyer and bar of a popular variety theatre, where the lounges, chairs—yes, even the counter—were crowded with women, who were an unadvertised but well-known part of the attractions of the place.

These women, dressed in fashionable styles from court establishments, displayed hats and lingerie in a tempting way to attract the foolish and weak, those whose wallets were full enough to justify their passing the artistically draped, almost closed curtain. On the surface, it was a scene of delicate and painted immorality that few men would pass without at least a second glance.

The physical eye, however, has limitations and can only see part of the solar spectrum. Unfortunately, mental and spiritual vision—while not naturally limited, but rather due to intentional purpose—is similarly restricted. So, to those on Earth, only one side of the picture was visible, but to me, both sides were clearly seen. I can even say that I was able to see how the past and present were mixed for destructive purposes, and the future already shaped with alarming and unsettling horror.

The scene was more than just a repeat of what I had seen before, as the dead and the living met on equal ground, each tempting and relying on the other, where only God could justly decide where guilt lay—or, no, not innocence, as such virtue would be tainted in crossing the threshold of this temptation.

On one side were the libertines, the drunks, the immoral, stripped by the grave of their gilded masks and hypocrisy. These were not so much people openly corrupt and sinful (though many were victims of others’ lust and schemes), but those who had lived on Earth with social masks to hide their moral decay and pollution. Now they had reached their true level and fought desperately to break free from the oppressive chains of selfish pleasure or sought wild but futile revenge by trapping others. On the Earth side were men who drank, flirted, and schemed to bring others down, or with foolish trickery boldly faced the tempter in his own den; women who had only fallen as far as the tempting excitement and moral atmosphere the place offered; young men who had been innocently tricked by manipulators seeking to gain power.

But why go on any further? In short, it was a place where hell's grip was loosened, at the daring challenge of Earth, to fight for the souls of men and women.

Amid the constant comings and goings related to this tempting and luxurious attraction, my attention was soon drawn to two young men, or perhaps I should say a man who was still young, accompanied by a younger boy. Neither the carpet nor the curtain made any sound to announce their arrival, and I had seen many pass in and out without anyone noticing. But when these two entered, there was a brief pause in the conversation, and everyone instinctively turned to look at them. A chill passed through the heated atmosphere, causing the women to pull their wraps a little tighter, but the moment quickly passed, and the laughter and conversation continued. The eyes of those on Earth saw nothing of what I saw. Heaven and hell were both aware of it, but the veil of sin hung like a shadow where sight was most needed.

From the record on each of their souls, I learned the backgrounds of these two interesting men.

The younger one had just reached adulthood and gained freedom from his father’s condition, which required him to obey his mother completely, or risk losing the comfortable inheritance and a good business that still had potential to grow. In controlling a boy with such an impulsive spirit, the mother’s task had not been easy, and almost before his time was up, he was eager to leave and satisfy his curiosity about what London really was. He had reluctantly agreed to accept a companion chosen by his mother, which eased her worries, as she could trust the chosen guardian for his father’s sake.

This trusted guardian of the boy’s well-being was known as a careful and honourable man in his northern home, naturally averse to excess and extravagance of any kind, and further protected by his church connections. As I mentioned, he was not the boy’s choice, but the boy had accepted him with mental reservations, just to please his mother.

Had she been able to see and understand as I could, she might have listened to the boy’s first objection and even let him go alone.

Many men appear virtuous because temptation has not come to them at their weakest point, and this was the case with the trusted friend of this mission. He was discreet and self-controlled, not so much because of choice or principle, but because of his tight finances. When all expenses were to be covered by another well-funded source, the qualities for which he had been chosen disappeared, and he became just like any other man with his own desires and weaknesses.

Fortunately, the mother’s greatest trust wasn’t placed in any human being—she had found a stronger refuge and shelter in times of trouble. Through tearful prayers at the throne of grace, she had surrounded her son with a protective shield that could resist even the unfaithfulness of his supposed guardian. True prayer—complete trust that God can and will do what is beyond our own ability, if we seek it faithfully—has great power. Under its protection, all would be well for the boy.

Here was the secret of his unsettling entrance into the foyer.

God had heard the mother’s prayer and sent His angels to watch over the boy. On each side of him, he was guarded by a messenger from a higher realm than that of Omra, shining with the glory of their power to deflect all the tempter’s attacks. The mother sought to protect her son from himself, and though she wasn’t physically near, she had entrusted him to the God she loved and served, and God was faithful to fulfill the righteous wish of the mother.

But someone might remind me how often I’ve pointed out that higher ministers take on a neutral grey appearance when they interact with those in lower conditions and ask, “Why didn’t these guardians of the youth follow this rule?” I will explain. In all the cases I’ve referred to where this change has occurred—like in the case of Ladas and myself on this occasion—the visits were made either to assist or observe. The two guardians present with the boy were there to protect and keep him safe from the temptations of lower forces, to put him in situations where he could face challenges and rise above whatever temptation might come his way. He must be saved.

His mother had left it to God—whom she served—to make sure it would happen, and her confidence was strong enough to ensure it would. God would take care of it.

The two sat down on either side of a small table, and the waiter came to take their orders.

“What will you have?” asked the elder.

“A small lemonade.”

“Won’t you have something in it?”

“You know I won’t.”

“I think I will. Just a little dash of brandy in mine.”

The waiter left to fulfill the order, and at the same moment, one of the greedy, thirsty, tempting souls approached, driven to a frantic state by his inability to drink from the glasses he had tried to bring to his lips.

He was quicker than I at noticing that the guardian had let go of his usual self-control, and sensing the chance for success, he became bolder in his approach. The defenders of the boy closed in around him and asked for our help.

“You’re not an abstainer when you’re in London, then?” asked the guardian.

“I’m never rigid in my beliefs; but tonight, I feel a bit worn out and need a pick-me-up. I think it’s been ten years since I’ve tasted anything before.”

"Then I shouldn’t taste it now."

"I think you would if you felt like I do; in fact, I don’t believe a drop would do you any harm right now."

"What would my mother think if she heard your advice? Would she believe what she was hearing?"

"Your mother would have full confidence in my judgment, Artie.

The journey and the rush to get here, along with all the hustle and excitement, have been almost too much for me. Plus," he added, holding up the glass that had just been delivered, "see how little they’ve put in. It hardly colours the lemonade. It’s just enough to do some good. Here’s to a fun week in town."

As he raised the glass to his lips, the earth-bound soul threw itself onto its victim, and while he drank, there was a brief but intense struggle for control. The glass was emptied and set down with a dismissive gesture at the small, weak drink. The guide's eyes burned with a strange, fierce light, and calling the waiter, he ordered in a commanding voice:

"Bring me a large Scotch, neat."

His companion looked at him, speechless and shocked.

What had happened?

The man who had been chosen as a responsible guardian for an inexperienced and somewhat passionate youth had fallen under the influence and power of an earth-bound soul—in other words, he had become possessed by a demon, which had attacked him at his weakest point and conquered him. He had deliberately walked into the stronghold of temptation, set aside all principles, clung to only the slightest bit of character, and leaned over the edge of indulgence, ultimately falling into ruin.

But the mother's prayer had saved the boy.

There’s nothing more to say. I had learned my second lesson and experienced firsthand the power sin gains through association. Didn’t Christ understand the serious consequences of this when, in His example of prayer, He included the request: "Lead us not into temptation"?