interview with members of the evon-thia, january 10th, 1895.
de l'ester—yes, madame, again we are here to greet you, but our visit must be brief, as neither you or we can afford to overtax your returning vital energy. nearly four months of earth's fleeting days have elapsed since your spirit gaze rested upon the dead form of the mortal valloa̤ and upon the living form of the spirit maiden as in the arms of her equally youthful mother and of her aunt sylvian she was borne from the darkening chamber and the presence of her stricken father and of her weeping lover, whose tearful eyes beheld her departure. that during this lapse of time we have maintained over you a careful watchfulness you may feel assured, and you cannot so much regret as do we, that at the culmination of our mission we felt obliged to tax to the utmost your depleted vitality, and we rejoice that under the constant ministrations of loving friends, you are recovering your usual strength. we are aware that your peculiar experiences of the past two years are as slightly remembered dreams, yet to a degree you are curious as to what recently has been transpiring on ento. shall i inform you as to the progress of the new faith?
gentola—it will greatly please me if you will do so, for i feel more than curious to learn how it may be affecting the people.
[pg 526]
de l'ester—i am sure that it will gratify you to learn that dano's parents are converts to the new faith, and that their hitherto sombre faces are irradiated with the joyous expectation of immortality, not only for themselves but for all of andûmana̤'s children. through dano andûlēsa̤ they receive cheering messages from their daughter onta̤ and other dear ones whose words they value as jewels beyond price, and the passing days do not suffice for their continuous adoration of the goodness of andûmana̤, who has heard and granted the desire of the hearts of his children.
dano has renounced his claim to the supreme rulership of the planet and has declared himself a priest of the new revelation, which he devotedly offers to the despairing multitudes, who eagerly listen to his eloquent presentation of its wonderful declarations. all over the planet the minds of the people are profoundly stirred, and some are filled with consternation, dreading they know not what. though still clinging to the old beliefs, others timidly reach toward the new faith which promises that for which ever they have prayed, and still others are in a state of dumb amazement, not daring to voice either hope or fear. of course, largely, the priesthood stand aghast at the threatened downfall of the time-honored religion, which ever has made them the dominant power of ento. they declare that dano's utterances are the result of mere hallucinations, and that the experiences of omanos fûnha̤, of which he speaks openly, are outgrowths of grief over the death of valloa̤. on the other hand, an ever increasing number of priests and priestesses are listening to the most high priest ozynas dûlsa̤, and joyfully professing their belief in the new revelation, which he boldly declares to the multitudes who daily crowd the great temple zim. to them he relates his experiences with tymonas in the inner
[pg 527]
sanctuary, and with amazement, not unmixed with terror, they ponder over his strange revelations. he has gone so far as to prohibit animal sacrifices and offerings to the deific ones, whom he pronounces myths, andûmana̤ being the one and only god, whom fervently he adores.
how fares omanos fûnha̤? one moment he cries to andûmana̤ to restore to him his lost valloa̤, to grant to him one glimpse of her beautiful and beloved form and face, one tone of her voice, that was the sweetest music of his desolated life. anon, he entreats dano to comfort him with a message from the dear ones who are veiled from his sight, and at times his clairvoyant and clairaudient senses become so quickened that he communes with them. then his soul is so filled with ecstatic fervor that to all about him he proclaims that truly life is continuous, that the dead do communicate with the living, and they, with beating hearts and breathless attention, listen to his rapt utterances. as time passes he grows into a clearer perception and realization of the truth, and soon his feet will stand upon firm ground; then confidently and authoritatively he will offer to the people that which shall be to them as the very bread of life.
dano, whose clairvoyant and clairaudient senses are unfolding in a surprising manner, holds continuous communication with valloa̤ and other freed spirits, who are instructing him, and his faith has grown into actual knowledge. thus he no longer doubts or questions the reality of his own experiences, and of course, this state of mind renders him very receptive to exalted influences from the spirit side of life. in his zeal to offer to the people the wondrous truths which have been revealed to him and to others he addresses them in temples and elsewhere. recently we listened to the youthful disciple, as, with glowing face, luminous eyes, and form trembling from emotion,
[pg 528]
he spoke to a large assemblage of people in a temple of da̤o. firstly he addressed himself to the people, then, as one who speaks because he must, in tones that filled the vast edifice, he cried, "oh, ye priests, ye blind leaders of the blind, open your eyes that you may see, your ears that you may hear the glorious truth, which, through his appointed messenger, andûmana̤ hath revealed to his despairing children. long have the peoples of ento listened to the manifestations of the ignorance of bygone centuries, and now that light hath entered the darkened chambers of our minds, you would build yet higher walls of superstitious reverence for what hath been misnamed religion, which ever hath stood between us and the light. ever you have walked in the shadows of a hopeless faith, and your mummeries have so dulled the senses of the people that, as from birth to death they grope their ways, bewildered they sink into the darkness of hopeless despair. then awake, oh, awake, ye sleeping guides of the people, for a new day hath dawned for the children of ento, a day whose effulgence shall fill all hearts with gladness inexpressible."
"since most ancient times it hath been taught that the home of andûmana̤, the supreme one, is in radiant diafon ēvoiha̤, which sheds life giving beams on land and on sea. now, concerning this matter i will tell you an amazing truth. those exalted ones with whom i am permitted to hold converse, some of whom once were men and women of ento, but who now dwell in realms so glorious that mortal eyes cannot endure their radiance, declare that andûmana̤ is spirit, and is everywhere, formless, unseeable, unthinkable, even by those who have attained to the highest wisdom. also they declare that ento is but one of innumerable worlds peopled with beings like ourselves, and that the shining points in the night sky, which we, in our ignorance, have regarded as the lamps lighting
[pg 529]
astranola̤, are worlds, many of them vaster far then ento, and that the dreaded gods and goddesses are the myths of ancient ignorance, perpetuated by a sincere but unenlightened priesthood."
this and much more he teaches, and both priests and people, in doubt, fear and perplexity question as to which may be true, the old, hopeless, cheerless faith, or the new promise of joys immeasurable. but the leaven is leavening the masses, and ere long priests and people will embrace the truth.
you are aware that through electrical and vibratory forces between all portions of the planet communication is instantaneous, thus quickly to nearby and remotest places the utterances of ozynas dûlsa̤ and of dano are heralded, and you cannot imagine the effect, which is beyond our fondest expectations, and it is but the beginning of what necessarily must result, for now that the positiveness of the spiritual atmosphere is penetrable, hosts of spirits from various realms will see to it that the darkness which long has enshrouded the lives of the entoans shall flee away, and then the effulgence of the grandest truth that mortals can know will forever abide with them.
gentola—you who more easily read my thoughts than i can express them will understand that what you have related fills my heart with joy. even at greater cost to myself i would not for a moment hesitate to undertake a like mission. but, friends, may not i soon again go with you to ento?
de l'ester—yes, soon, but not until you shall have grown a little stronger. then we will make good a promise made to you, but which you do not now remember. that you may more quickly regain your strength we advise that you shall go outdoors every day, so that your feet may come in contact with the earth, thus you will rid yourself
[pg 530]
of devitalized magnetism, and at the same time you will accumulate energized magnetism, which you greatly need. it would delight us to prolong our visit, but we must consider the urgent necessity for your speedy return to health. with kindest, truest regard, we must say adieu.
[pg 531]
opening of the waterway into etzoina loisa.
january 19th, 1895.
de l'ester—good-morning, madame. as we promised, so have we come in a body to escort you to ento, and we have joined in your earnest invocation to divine influences to guard and guide you in the ways of truth, and to inidora̤'s fervent response, "evoiha̤a̤, ino ēvosta̤n, tsû felistan, ra̤û, ra̤û, ra̤û," we also have responded, for we, too, desire the guardianship and guidance of exalted spirits, whose angelic ministrations assist all aspiring souls. this morning we find you difficult of control. you appear timorous and disturbed. cannot you trust yourself to our care, who never have failed you? compose yourself, pray, and passively yield yourself to our protection, but first instruct your watchful vena to not allow you to be disturbed for two or more hours. that is well arranged, and now close your eyes and be at rest.
george, we are ready for our journey, and you, comrades, will lead the way. you no longer are afraid, and is not this motion and the views grand, glorious and exhilarating? truly, it is well that your experiences while with us are as half remembered dreams, otherwise they would unfit you for the routine of mortal existence. you now understand that this journey to ento is the fulfillment of our promise to afford you the pleasure of witnessing the opening of the great central waterway into etzoina̤ loisa̤. yes, the
[pg 532]
further wall of the loisa̤ has been pierced, but the continuation of the system is not yet in readiness for either navigation or irrigation. yes, we will proceed directly to etzoina̤ loisa̤, else we may miss some features of the pageant. now that we are nearing the lake we will descend to such an altitude as will afford you a view of the entire spectacle. at times we lose sight of the fact that your vision is not so far reaching as our own. a little lower, george. now is every object clear to your vision?
gentola—quite so.
de l'ester—then for the present we will remain where we are, and we have arrived none too early, for, coming from every direction are air transports laden to repletion with eagerly curious entoans, and from north, south and west small water craft laden with men, women and children are hastening along the canals leading to the lake, where already a multitude of people have assembled. look westward, madame, and attempt a description of the scene presenting itself.
gentola—as far as my vision reaches i see the sparkling water of the great waterway, and of the intersecting canals. scarcely four months have elapsed since we visited this region and at that time you informed me that only recently had the barren lands come under the influence of irrigation. in this brief interval nature has accomplished a miracle in so quickly converting what then was little more than waste lands into fertile fields, covered with luxuriant verdure and blooming plants, and it is quite as amazing to observe the many villages and structures of various kinds which have been erected since we were here. it seems incredible that such vast improvements should have been accomplished in such a brief time. some of the peoples of our planet are very enterprising, but i question their ability to successfully compete with the quiet, persistent,
[pg 533]
industrious entoans, whose very superior mechanical appliances greatly facilitate their undertakings, but even then the results are surprising.
dear me, what a wonderfully strange scene. those air transports hover over the lake like great birds, and the rising and falling tones of their whirring climbers are really musical. i wish i were clever enough to understand how they are constructed and controlled in their movements, and how—oh, de l'ester, george, bernard, see, see, yonder in the west is a fleet of large vessels and numerous smaller ones coming toward etzoina̤. how swiftly the great vessels are advancing, leaving in their wake tumultuous billows of snowy foam. the foremost vessel is quite covered with rodels, and there are ropes of rodels, wreaths of rodels, banners of rodels, and around the entire deck is a fringe of rodels trailing their creamy beauty quite to the surface of the foaming water. surely it has taken all the rodels on the planet to so bedeck the great vessel. all the large vessels are similarly decorated, each one with a single variety of flower, and how very beautiful they all appear. now i hear strains of music, and on the decks of the vessels i perceive many people, and as the fleet draws nearer, nearer, i perceive on the rodel-decked vessel a group of persons whom i seem to remember. yes, surely, one is the supreme ruler, omanos fûnha̤, and by his side is basto andûlēsa̤ and other stately looking officials, accompanied by a number of lovely women, one of whom is madame ontellena andûlēsa̤, by whose side are the most high priest ozynas dûlsa̤, and dano, in priestly garb. ah, how vividly the closing scene of our mission returns to my memory, but i must not now think of that. on dano's youthful, handsome face is an expression of exaltation and of peace passing the understanding of those who know not that the individual conscious existence of spirit has
[pg 534]
neither beginning or ending, and it fills my heart with gladness to know that into the lives of the once despairing entoans has entered the joy of the new revelation. de l'ester, really i cannot convey a correct idea of this marvellous scene, so i pray you to permit me to desist from attempting the impossible.
de l'ester—as you will, madame, but i am of the opinion that my attempt will be quite as unsuccessful as your own. however, as no one is expected to describe the indescribable, our failures may be excusable.
below us is the quiet lake, mirroring in its unruffled water the nearly cloudless azure sky and the slowly moving air transports laden with people who evidently are enjoying the unusual scene. on either side of the entrance to the lake large numbers of people are massed, and as you perceive perfect order and decorum are observed. indeed, among the entoans, disorder is considered not only impolite, but indecent, as really it is.
the group occupying the foreground on this side of the entrance to the lake is composed of those who have conducted the stupendous undertaking, which has demanded infinite patience, endurance, versatility and engineering skill of the highest degree of excellence, yet not alone to engineering skill is due the credit of this achievement, for chemistry, too, has been a powerful factor in the destruction of the nearly impregnable vitrified wall of the lake. but the moment for the grand entry has arrived, so attention all.
as he advances toward the prow of the vessel what an imposing figure omanos fûnha̤ presents. his tall, fine form, clothed in crimson and gold, his long, curling, raven hued hair, bound back from his serene brow by a richly gemmed gold fillet, his large, dark, expressive eyes, like two veiled lamps, lighting up his bronze hued face, his
[pg 535]
handsome features expressing kindliest emotions, all contribute to render him a very striking and attractive man. now, to stirring music, the rodel-decked flag ship moves toward the entrance to the lake, followed by the flower clad fleet of seventeen huge vessels. from a hundred or more air transports showers of rodels and other blooms rain down upon them and the air is rent with the enthusiastic acclamation of the people in the transports and of the multitudes below. it quickens one's pulsations, this wave of human emotion, but see now the flag ship pauses at the entrance of the passageway through the wall of the lake and the most high priest advances to omanos fûnha̤'s side, bearing in his hands a great tray of rodel blooms. we will descend a little so that you may more closely observe the ceremony of the union of the waterway with the lake.
omanos funha—even as these fragrant rodel blooms open their golden hearts to the radiant beams of diafon ēvoiha̤, so we, oh andûmana̤, open our hearts to thee that thus we may receive thy love, which is the light and life of thy children and of all living things. through the knowledge which thou hast imparted to thy chosen ones they have brought to a successful conclusion this gigantic undertaking which through thy beneficence, shall be a perpetual blessing to the peoples of ento, to whom, oh thou supreme one, it hath pleased thee to reveal that truly we are the children of thy love, and that through endless time we shall continue to live and to praise thee for all thy goodness to us. ra̤û, ra̤û, ra̤û.
de l'ester—through an atmospheric system of communication every word uttered by omanos fûnha̤ has been made known not only to the vast assemblage in the air and below us, who reverently have joined in the invocation and fervent amen, amen, amen, but to the peoples of the entire planet.
[pg 536]
omanos funha—these rodel blooms, which no longer shall serve as emblems of death but of life and its joyous occasions, i now cast upon the lips of this great waterway as, for the first time, they kiss the sparkling water of etzoina̤ loisa̤.
de l'ester—amid profound silence the barrier separating the waterway and the lake is quickly removed and omanos fûnha̤ casts the rodels in front of the slowly moving vessel. now an immense banner of rodels is run up to the apex of the flagstaff and a grand volume of musical notes fills the air with sweetest melody. now the great vessel, followed by the fleet, moves swiftly through the ample passage, while from overhead as well as from below cheers upon cheers rend the air and from the transports, which keep pace with the fleet, showers of blooms in glowing beauty rain down upon the heads of the people crowding the upper decks, and now the flag ship has plunged onto the lake as though purposing to pass straight across to the further side, but no, it turns to the right, leading the fleet in a triumphal procession around the lake. may i ask for an expression of your impression of the spectacle?
gentola—truly, it is both magnificent and to me, very wonderful, and i shall not forget, dear friends, that to your kindness i owe my thanks for the pleasure of witnessing it. yes, i feel assured that if i shall attempt to tell my friends of this strange experience they will conclude that my imagination has been running wild, or that i have been dreaming, and as i gaze upon the flower-decked fleet so noiselessly, so swiftly, passing around the lake, upon the air transports hovering above them and mirroring themselves in the now gently undulating water, upon the multitude of people, in boats and motor vehicles, or swarming on the broad rim of the lake, really i am at a loss to
[pg 537]
realize the situation, and shall not find fault with any one who may question, either my sanity or my veracity.
de l'ester—we who understand the relation between what some of your wise ones term the conscious and subconscious self, but which we recognize as the intelligent, human animal soul, and ego, or spirit self, readily comprehend your difficulty of realization when applied to matters outside the plane of your earthly existence, and until you become a fully freed spirit you cannot escape certain physical conditions. but come, friends, we will pay omanos fûnha̤ and dano a brief visit. at this moment they are the central figures of a group of personages intent upon viewing the eastern exit of etzoina̤ into the continuation of the system, which ere long will be in readiness not only for navigation but also for the irrigation of the wide stretches of arid lands extending eastward. now the flag ship, followed by the fleet, continues its course around the lake, whose rim presents a living front of enthusiastic people, whose unceasing acclamations express their satisfaction over the completion of a most difficult and seriously necessary enterprise.
george, we will alight, taking a position quite apart from the group surrounding omanos fûnha̤, and you, bruno, will attempt to impress dano to move in our direction. well done, well done. our young priest is so very sensitive that, with a startled, listening air, he turns his head, thinking that some one has addressed him, and now slowly and apparently aimlessly he draws away from the group and toward us. gentola̤, touch him lightly on his lips, and he will understand that it is the signal of your presence. ah, he is so startled that he covers his eyes with his hands, murmuring, "can it be, can it be? oh, art thou here, thou whose name is gentola̤?" in a moment he will perceive you, then you will follow my dictation.
[pg 538]
gentola—yes, dano, i am here, and joyfully greet you as a priest of the new revelation which has come to you and to your people, and i and those who are with me rejoice with you that the old dread faith surely is yielding to a belief in the glorious truth of the continuity of life, and that all men and women are their own saviors. we rejoice, too that we perceive that already this knowledge is illumining the minds of many, and be assured that even as the vertical beams of diafon ēvoiha̤ irradiate this beautiful scene, so, ere long, knowledge of the truth will irradiate the lives of your people, who will learn that the dwelling place of the supreme one is the limitless universe, yet that he is ever present in the hearts of those who seek to know him who is the father, mother god, the dual one, in whom we all exist.
nay, it is not an illusion—the forms you dimly perceive, are the spirit friends who have borne me across the vast space between earth and ento, and through me they extend to you a loving greeting. your joy that light from spirit realms is dispelling ento's long night of despair, finds in them fullest response, and an earnest assurance that they and countless spirits of ento's and other spirit worlds unceasingly will aid you and those who like yourself are teaching the gospel of the new revelation. and now, dano, for these friends and myself i must say info oovistû.
dano—i pray you, stay one moment. will you come again, will you surely come to instruct my ignorance, to strengthen me in the new faith, which is so glorious, so overwhelming, that did not my valloa̤, by her sweet presence and counsel sustain me, i indeed might faint by the way.
gentola—these spirit friends say that many times i shall come to you, that through me they may afford you
[pg 539]
such wisdom lessons as they and spirits of your and other spirit worlds have learned. they and i entreat you to be courageous and steadfast. trust to the guidance of valloa̤ and of other dear ones who ever are near you, and all will be well with you. again info oovistû.
de l'ester—omanos fûnha̤ and those about him are curiously observing dano, who now arouses as from a profound reverie. as quietly he returns to his friends on his fine, youthful face is an expression of smiling exaltation, and in the splendor of his dark, luminous eyes is the reflected radiance of realms unseen of mortal vision.
the ceremonial we have so slightly sketched is drawn to a close and now you must take a last view of the great flower-decked vessels, so swiftly pursuing their way westward. of the air transports, like huge birds winging their ways through the quiet atmosphere, of the numerous small water craft, gliding off through the canals, of the many motor vehicles, which rapidly bear away many of the dispersing assemblage, of the placid water of etzoina̤, in which the rays of the glowing sun sparkle like gleams of fire, and of the face of the verdure-clad lands which well may typify the resurrection of death into life.
ento, thou redeemed one, in our gladness we cry, hail, hail, thou who art one of the blest among the system of worlds, ever pursuing their unvarying, ceaseless journeys around our sun, which is but one of countless suns, encircling the one central sun, whose immensity and glory is beyond all conceptions of angels or archangels, whose vivifying energy controls the heart-beats of the universe, whose intelligent, tireless, ceaseless activity is that which is known of by many names, to us is known as god, the infinite one, whom only in accordance with the degree of our spiritual unfoldment can we apprehend.
now we must return you to earth, else we may not return
[pg 540]
you at all, and the time has not yet arrived for such a desirable consummation of your present life work. make your adieus to our friends, and, to your wistful eyed son, for george and i will see that you shall safely arrive in your quiet home, where vena impatiently and somewhat anxiously awaits you.
now unclose your eyes, for you and your soul again are united and vena breathes a sigh of relief as she sees you move and hears you call, "vena, please bring me a glass of water," and we may say the same for ourselves, for indeed we have held you over long for your safety, but obey our instructions and soon you will recover your usual condition.
yes, soon again we will make our presence known to you. until then, adieu.
the end
