A LECTURE
-- ON THE -->
Evolution of Life in Earth
-- AND ~
--SPIRIT CONDITIONS,--
ºBY-S->
JULIET H. SEVERANCE, M. D.
MILWAUKEE WISCONSIN
º
MILWAUKEE: - º
& CRANDALL, PRINTERS, -
114 *ś STREET. -
Lºº. - -
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A LECTURE
-º- ON THE →-->
Evolution of Life in Earth
*—as AND -S->
e-SPIRIT CONDITIONS-3
*—º-BY-S->
JULIET H SEVERANCE. M. D.
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN,
---
MILWAUKEE:
EY & CRANDALL, PRINT
114 Michigan street.

The Evolution of Life in Earth and Spirit
Conditions.
GENTLEMEN AND LADies:—
ONG ages ago, our earth was a crude, unrefined mass
º - : of matter. No beautiful verdure coveredits bosom, no
ºf animal life existed upon its surface, but barrenness and
º desolation was everywhere present.
º By and by, the action everywhere manifest in mat-
ter—designated as molecular motion—refined it to the extent
that vegetation was produced, but so nearly allied to the earthy
matter upon which it grew, as to be scarcely distinguishable
therefrom. As this crude formation of vegetable life, by its
action of growth and decay refined matter still farther, it fitted
it to manifest itselfin beautiful ferns and various forms of vege
tation were evolved, each finer, more advanced and intricate
in its combinations than its predecessor, and more surpassingly
beautiful. The same law holds good in the animal kingdom.
The lowest form of animal life being little more than vegetative,
and requiring the closest examination to see where the dividing
line was drawn. But the cause of progress was then, is now,
and ever will be action, action.
Little by little, up the mount of progress, Earth moved
along. Poisonous vapors filled the air; poisonous weeds grew
upon her surface, producing poisonous reptiles—all in harmony
with each other—each doing its work in the refinement of the
planet, and each by its formation, growth and death, giving


-4-
birth to higher life and greater beauty by constantly changing
conditions, and assuming new forms—as change is progression
—until, after ages upon ages had elapsed, man was produced,
which is the highest form of animal life capable of being grown
upon the planet, embracing within itself the elements of all
below. Man is declared to be an epitome of the universe.
The first development of the genus homo, was not such as I
see before me to-day; forms of symetry and beauty, with faces
lighted up with the clear brilliancy of cultivated intellectual
and spiritual natures; nor were they such as we were once
taught to believe existed, by the Eden Romance; but such as,
could they be seen to-day, would be transported through the
country as exhibits of the wonderful freaks of nature. They
were crude, coarse, mammouth productions; corresponding
with the coarse flags and gigantic trees in the vegetable, and
the huge leviathans and mastodons in the animal formations.
The evolution of matter does not cease with the formation of
physical man, even in his present advanced condition; but
constantly, every atom in the human being is in motion, and
a finer form of matter is evolved—not visible to the coarse,
material senses—which we call spirit matter. This is the next
step in evolution above the physical. Every part of the organ-
ism develops a corresponding material, which, at the separation
of the spirit and body by what we term death, is attracted to-
gether, particle to particle, forming the spirit body; and the
texture of spirit bodies differ as does the texture of forms phys-
ical. As it is action that develops and refines matter, it follows
that organ or part, most exercised, will develop most of spirit
matter; for instance, a man who exercises his frontal brain–
his reasoning faculties—far more than any other portion of his
brain or body, will develop more spirit matter from these
organs, so that when the spirit separates from the physical, the
spirit body will have a disproportionally large front brain, while
the least exercised portions of brain or body will be very defec-
tive; making an unbalanced spirit. A man who lives on the
animal plane, indulging appetites and passions, with no aspi-

–5–
rations above animal gratifications, will find—on entering spirit
life—that he has an enormous basilar region, little front or top
brain, and perhaps a very differently formed head from that
which he possessed here; caused by the continued intense action
at one point, evolving a great amount of the spirit element;
while there was so little activity at the other parts that little
spirit matter was developed.
The same with the body, the spirit being the natural out-
growth of the corresponding part of the physical; hence you
see what change of form may be ours on entering spirit life.
A person with finely formed limbs here, by non-use of them,
may find himself almost a deformity there, hence the importance
of a harmonious action of every organ and part of brain and
body, not only for our health, beauty and happiness here; but
in order that we may commence our life in the next sphere in
the best possible condition.
These ideas may seem strange to you, but are they not
reasonable? What better method have we for accounting for
the existence of the spirit than its birth from the body by the
natural, ever pervading law of evolution.
I have seen with my clairvoyant vision—as have others
also-this process go on; have seen the spirit matter separate
particle by particle from the physical, standing as a vapor
around the body; and then, true to the law of attraction, each
particle was attracted to its corresponding particle, forming a
separate existence beside the physical body from which it was
developed. As a butterfly from the chrysalis is born to a higher
life; so the spirit is the natural outgrowth of the body.
The purity or impurity of the physical also affects the spirit
matter eliminated; and some spirits are—from the physically
impure conditions in which they have been gestated—diseased
when born into spirit life, as a child is diseased from the con-
dition of its mother, and must go through a process of purifi-
cation there, analagous to disease here, which would not have
been necessary had the persons lived rightly here. You see
the close connection between the physical and spiritual, makes
bodily health of utmost importance, and physical and mental

–6–
culture a promoter of spiritualization and beauty in the blest
hereafter.
At every step in evolution, matter has an expression true to
its degree of unfoldment. The higher the development the
more perfect the expression, until voice is reached in the ani-
mal; the first a slight tone, but improving with every step in
progress. The same species of birds sound the same notes,
sing the same songs; the different members of the same spe-
cies of animals, giving the same expressions, only varying in
pitch and volume, until we come to man. Here we have in
the earlier races, very imperfect language, little expression of
countenance, because the earthy elements as yet predominated
over the spiritual; but as the races became more advanced,
language was more perfect, and emotion greater, and often
more can be conveyed in a look, by one whose spiritual is
largely developed, than words can express. But there is a
deeper, fuller, sweeter language, where spirit speaks to spirit,
through the law of sympathy, and sound would mar the har-
mony. Oh! the eloquence of silence, when soul communes
with soul; with the dear invisibles who hover around us; in-
visible to gross mortal sight, but seen by the clear spiritual eyes
of those who, although wearing the garb of mortality, may yet
live more in spiritual realms than earthly habitations.
Man's religious ideas always correspond with his develop-
ment and surroundings, and the growth of the races may be
likened to the growth of a child. The first instinct of child-
hood is for self sustenance, with no idea beyond; no robery
of its neighbor, or thought of accumulation for the future, and
when this is obtained, satisfaction is the result. So with the
early races; simple, childlike, subsisting upon the fruits of the
earth, without utensil of husbandry or implements of war, they
lived—almost vegetated,—simple-minded, harmless, ignorant.
The first organs developed in the child are the sellish, ac-
cumulative, destructive faculties. The child observes some-
thing it wants; tries to obtain it, if it is withheld struggles to
possess it; becomes angry, screams, strikes, and if satisfied in

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that direction, looks immediately for something more to acquire,
and is devoid of aught but selfish feelings.
The races correspond in their development. The acquisitive,
combative, destructive faculties are developed; they make war
upon each other, pillage and plunder, and their Gods are Gods
of war and peace, of battle and conquest. The child still
grows, full of selfishness and passion, and its will-power is
strongly developed. It must be taught the right of the parent
to rule. Absolute control, enforced obedience is necessary and
right for the child, and it acts thus and so, from hope of reward
and fear of punishment. It has not learned the law of kind-
ness and sympathy, but is tyrannical and selfish.
Thus it was at the time of the “Mosaic dispensation.” Sel-
fishness, war, rapine and murder, was the law of the land —“an
eye for an eye, blood for blood.” At all periods in past history
we find some one person more advanced than the rest, in
almost every land. At that time, Moses, we are informed, took
the rule in his own hands with a “thus saith the Lord,” for
without thus appealing to their superstitious ignorance, he
could not have controlled them. He taught them that instead of
many, there was but one God; and in Him was embodied their
undeveloped ideas of perſection. They made Him after their
own image, as every one who believes in a God always does;
for there is no evidence of any such existence outside the fertile
imaginations of the ignorant; and the more profoundly ignor-
ant the individual, the more he knows and talks about God.
Theirs was a God of war; cruel, vindictive, given to anger,
unmerciful, unlovable in character; selfish in caring for aspecial
few, and hating the creations of his own hands. The terrible
outrages, awful carnage, beastiality and crimes that were per-
petrated by the direct command of God—who was only an in-
carnation of their own selfish natures—is a catalogue appalling
to read, but shows us through what terrible conditions man has
come up during the ages to his present state.
As the child grows older, his love of the beautiful, his rev-
erence, his benevolence is unfolded. He loves to listen to

–8–
stories; and through parables and figures, he is taught by his
teacher many beautiful lessons. He loves his teacher and
takes him for authority. He believes if he is good and learns
his lessons he will have a prize when school closes; his teacher
tells him so; and if a question is raised on any subject, it is
easily settled with “the teacher says so.”
As the races advance, we are informed, a teacher was devel-
oped, through very wonderful methods, to fill a demand for a
more advanced doctrine, who, after living, teaching, being ma-
ligned, scorned and ill-treated—as all advanced teachers have
always been—was put to death as an impostor; but afterwords
worshiped, thus verifying the words of the poet:
The demons of our Sires become,
The saints that we adore.
The first institution claiming to be based upon the teachings
of the Nazarene was the Catholic Church, in which not only
he, but his mother also was worshipped. This church had a
creed, a measure that all must come within, and the right of
private judgement was denied the people; the priests being the
only ones who could rightly interpret the word of God. But
their creeds and measures could not prevent the growth of now
and then a soul, who would see new light, percieve more of
truth, and advocating that new truth through persecution and
death, mark an other mile-stone on the road of progress. From
Catholicism Protestantism was born—a step in advance to be
sure. Protestantism stoutly maintains the eight of private
judgement—provided you think as / do—denies the power of
the priest to forgive sins; but expects salvation through re-
pentance, and the merits of the blood of Christ, the same as
the Catholic does. In the protestant church we have sects
innummerable, almost; founded on some slight increase in
knowledge, some little growth beyond the prescribed measure,
for, mind you, just so soon as any person percieves a truth in
advance, if only a step, of the creed enunciated, he is scouted
as a heretic and branded as mad; but by his persistent advocacy

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of that truth, by perhaps sealing it with his blood, one step is
taken in the advance position. -
Each sect believing they had all there was of truth, set stakes
and said to the spirit of progress: “Thus far shalt thou go and
no farther,” and after bearing, for the sake of that truth, perse-
cutions, torture, even the rock and gºett, as soon as that was
established and generally recognized, would themselves be ready
to enact the same role with those who might take a step in
advance of them. They would amid great trials and sufferings
flee their country to escape tyranical persecutions, for con-
science sake, and then establish the same tyranny over those
differing from them. They would sing praises to Christ, and
live the law of Moses; had Christ on the brain, but Moses in
the heart.
It is soul-sickening to trace the progress of truth through the
ages, and note the religious wars, bloodshed and carnage of the
churches, fighting under the banner of him whom they claim
said, “put up thy sword—love thine enemies—if a mansmite
thee on thy right cheek turn to him the left also.” But in all
these expressions of character, the condition of the people was
manifested, their degree of growth exhibited; each acted true
to their organization and could not receive a truth beyond their
comprehension.
As the child grows to manhood, his reasoning faculties are
developed; the last of the faculties to reach their full growth
and strength. He must then, when told a thing is so, know
the reason for it, the why and wherefore; must have it proved
by actual demonstration; can not take father, mother or the
teacher as authority, but must have demonstrations that he can
see, hear or feel, that he can take cognizance of by the senses—
as it is only through the senses that we can receive any positive
knowledge—and from facts form theories and conclusions.
The same with mankind as it advances from one step to an-
other, from one belief to another, finally coming to the man-
hood of the race; the era when the demands of reason must be
met, proof of immortality must be shown, and before the test of

--O-
reason all the theories of the churches faded like mists before the
mowning sun. They found in these sacred oracles the most
contradictory statements, absurd conclusions, immoral teachings
and obscene language. Ignorance, superstition, and knowledge
strangely commingled, but nowhere proof of immortality, much
less light on the conditiºn of the future state. Found from this
same book—said to contain all men ever need know—were taught
the most contradictory doctrines of the duties of life; rules of
moral ethics, etc. Found that the salvation of the world was based
upon the birth and death of Christ, who was born without a father;
sent by the Lord of heaven and earth to be slain to appease
his own wrath, and pacifiy him in his anger against the creatures
of his own hand. These seemed to the reasoning mind like
childish stories, absurd notions, opposed to natural laws and
scientific facts, and the enlightened world was fast running into
materialism. The great minds of the age were-for lack of
proof of the contrary—denying the facts of immortality, and
adopting the belief that all there was of life was this brief ex-
istence on the earth; and that man—like the flower of the
field—was cut down and returned to the elements from which
he was formed. The intellect was untempered by the spiritual
nature.
To meet this demand for proof came Spiritualism with its
positive demonstrations. Those who had reached the manhood
plane were ready to receive it in its broadest philosophical
sense, because it could be proved Spirits came to us, could be
seen, heard and handled. They brought to us proof of a life
beyond this, and demonstrated their ability to return and com-
mune with us here; and oh! the joy it brought to the weary
waiting heart. How the mother rejoiced to know that the
dear jewel, the household treasure, that she had consigned to
its dark, cold earth-bed, in hopeless despair, was not there in
the clay tenement; but that her child had only laid off its outer
garment, and was clothed in spirit form and still hovering near
her, clasping her neck, caressing her, pressing the affectionate
kiss upon lip and brow, and, although perhaps unseen, seeing

- 1 - -
and felt, loving and beloved; watching over the dear mother,
nestling beside her when at rest in the still hours of the night,
and waiting to enjoy her presence forever, when she shall have
donned her better garments, and taken the little boat ride across
the dark river.
I know human beings live after the change called death, by
the same means that I know you live beforeme to-day; through
my senses. I have seen them, felt them, heard them, clasped
their hands and received words of love and sympathy from
them.
But how did the church receive Spiritualism? In the same
manner it has every reform; by persecution. But why is
Spiritualism so obnoxious to the masses of the people? For
the same reason that every new idea has always been; because
it is beyond the growth or comprehension of those who
oppose it. It is not their fault but their misfortune; they can
not receive a quart in a pint measure. The child must have
garments adapted to its size; the garments of manhood illy fit
the growth of childhood; but its clothing must be made larger
and larger, as the child grows in stature; but we must not for-
get that there are other babies who must go through the same
process of growth, and not condemn their clothing because we
have outgrown them. Different beliefs are the outgrowths of
the different degrees of development of man, and belong to him
at that stage of growth, and persons who are wise, will not con-
demn others for their opinions—however childish they may
appear—any more than a baby for wearing the garb of infancy;
be sure however to furnish proper conditions for healthy
growth. All churches, all institutions are the expression of the
highest idea of their founders, and steps in the ladder of pro-
gress; useful in their time and place, but should not be allowed
to block the path or stand in the way of the advancement of new
ideas. The great mistake in the past has been, that these insti-
tutions have believed they had in their keeping all there was
of truth—not recognizing the universal law of evolution—and
they sat stakes; established measurements within whose dimen-

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sions all must come; and if any individual outgrew by a heads
length the prescribed limit, the head must be sacrificed, so
that the lines be kept inviolate.
Spiritualism sets no stakes, establishes no measures, but
emphasizes evolution; eternal progress. It is often urged
against Spiritualism that no two of its advocates agree. Very
likely.
We find in nature unity in variety. We observe that no two
leaves of the forest are precisely alike; no two animals of the
flock exactly similar; no two human beings have the same
physiognomical or phrenological development. Now, if no two
persons are mentally or physically organized alike, it stands
to reason, that if left untrammelled, no two would think the
same; and with freedom to express different views and opinions,
without fear or favor, we have the best means for intellectual
and spiritual growth; for mental friction brings out the fires of
genius, and the depth of philosophy as nothing else can.
We find, also, no two persons wholly dissimilar, but sufficient
unity exists for all practical purposes, if the spirit of toleration–
rather justice—prevails; for the simple rule which accords to
every person, what each one claims for himself—freedom to
think and opportunity to express his honest thought – would
remove all chance for inharmony.
If the largestmental liberty be maintained, with the broadest
platform for free discussion, where each can speak his honest
thought and receive a courteous hearing; there will be no need
for any other movement, as this will receive, gladly, all new
ideas and welcome honest investigation. But if any standard
is erected—any stakes set—as some propose, then some more
advanced movement must supercede Spiritualism, for truth is
limitless, and to keep abreast of the onward march of progress
requires constant pressing forward; and let any individual or
institution halt, or cease in its efforts; it fossilizes, and remains
as a reminder of what was life in the past, but with that life

–13–
extinct; and must be buried with the past institutions that have
done their work and ceased to exist.
Then let us see to it that no false friend, either in the form
physical or spiritual, consign our cause to the dark confines of
the tomb, by limitations.
We enter the next state of existence just as we leave this,
are wise orignorant, moral or immoral, the change making no
difference in our natures.
Life may be compared to a graded school, and earth-life the
primary department, where certain lessons are to be learned,
certain experiences gained, that can be acquired only here. If
a person dies prematurely orotherwise fails to learn the lessons
that belong to this department, before leaving the physical
body, he is not qualified to take up the studies of the next
grade; but, as it would be in our schools, he is sent back here
to learn what he should have acquired before entering the
higher grade; must learn the rudiments of life's great studies
before he can take up the higher branches; and these lessons
and experiences must be learned at a disadvantage through
other organisms, many times, which accounts very largely for
the unreliable communications given through mediums; the
controlling spirit being ignorant. When we learn to take every
communication from spirits, the same as we do from any other
source, subjecting it to the test of our reason, we shall have
made great progress. Mediumship, like every other good thing,
has its abuses as well as its uses.
It is through mediumship alone, that we know anything of
spirit life; and little as we have learned, compared with what
is yet to be acquired, it is of priceless value. The early ortho-
dox training of nearly all who have come to know something
of this modern unfoldment; and their present environments,
make it almost impossible to disconnect superstitious ideas
from the truth. People had so long believed that all from the
other life was pure and holy, that they simply transferred their
blind devotion from the Bible to spirit communications. It was
hard for them to comprehend, the now well established fact,

-14–
that spirits are only human being; and some are untruthful,
designing, even murderous; their magnetism being a positive
injury to any one who has the misfortune to come under their
influence. That there are those also who delight in misleading
the honest inquirer for selfish purposes, the same as before en-
tering spirit life, they would sacrafice the innocent and unsus-
pecting to gain their ends. Those who are wise in these things
will—while admitting the uses of every kind of phenomena to
prove the fact of spirit life and return—demand that the same
degree of culture and refinement; the same intelligence and
courtesy be manifested by spirits with whom they associate,
as they would require of persons in the physical form; and will
no sooner yield their individual opinions and judgments in
methods of action to them. Many in the past, and some I
fear at the present time, take spirits as authority, will follw their
direction, tell what “the spirits say” upon any subject, or what
“the spirit world” wishes them to do, or say; as though it was
any more sensible than to quote what the people wish them to
do, and then follow that ; or what this world wished them to
do or say. These statements only show the ignorance of those
who utter them. The spirit world is no more unanimous in its
ideas or wishes than this world, and no one could know what
its views or desires were, any better.
We are all influenced more or less by other minds, both in
and out of the physical form, and the same psychologic, or
magnetic law by which an operator influences his subject here,
extends into the next sphere of life; it being a law of mind,
operating wherever mind exists; the positive controlling to a
greater or less degree the negative. It is by this psychologic
law that our mediums are controlled to speak, write, or give
various other manifestations,
This kind of speaking has done great good in demonstrating
the fact of spirit power; but when greater growth is attained
by the people, the ideas, the phylosophy advanced, will be
what will be judged; not the source from which it emanates,

-1 5–
whether it be mortal or spirit, or whether from the highest or
humblest individual.
The spirit and physical side of life are so inter-dependent
that one can not advance without corresponding progress in
the other. Spirit realms are peopled from this world and are
consequently very like this, and can not be very far in advance
of this; for while some of them have the advantage of having
lived much longer than any on the earth; we have the
compensation of being born with more advanced conditions
and enviornments the planet being more matured, refined,
and capable of producing a higher grade of being.
The advantages for growth in the next life, whether they are
better or not so good, depends upon the condition of the indi-
vidual when he makes the change. Here business and for
various other reasons the good and bad, the developed and
undeveloped (these terms are all relative, there being no abso-
lute conditions either good or bad) are thrown together in
many ways, when there is really no natural attraction, and the
uncultivated, undeveloped are benefitted by the association,
even if it be a forced one. They get new ideas from necessity
and the association helps their growth, through the law of
magnetic exchange. A good honest intellectual and moral
man is really a benefactor wherever he goes, throwing off
elements that will affect those he comes in contact with for
their good. In spirit life the law of attraction controlling, each
person is drawn to his kindred spirit, “like attracts like,” so
his chances for improvement are not as good as they are here.
He lives in his congenial elements until surfeited with his ignor-
ance and sin, drinking the dark waters of dissipation, until in
his misery, (for ignorance is the only cause of misery,) he cries
enough, and longs for a better life. This aspiration and effort,
attracts spirits from higher spheres, who go as missionaries or
teachers to him, with human love and sympathy, to instruct and
aid him to advance into higher conditions, which he can do
only through effort to do good, for it is through efforts to
benefit others that we can best help ourselves. On the con-

—16–
trary those who have lived here, with high and noble purposes,
true and worthy lives; doing good to their fellows, and blessing
the world while in it; have better conditions for growth there,
for association with those of their own kind only; and the
soul hunger for companionship with congenial spirits, so uni-
versally felt here, by those who are in advance of the masses of
the people, is supplemented there with such a communion of
kindred spirits whose aims are similar, whose work for the good
of mankind is in unison, that the pains and struggles of this
life, with its cold neglect, its better wrongs will be forgotten, in
the bliss of sweet sympathy and tender communions of those,
whose spirits are attained to the same harmonies.
“For there, up there 'tis heart to heart.”
It is because people fail to observe and understand the fact
and laws of spirit control that we have so many cases of ob-
scession, where undeveloped spirits—either from lack of under-
standing, or desire for mischief—take possession of persons and
cause irregular, erratic and violent manifestations; often result-
ing in landing the victim in some lunatic asylum, where, in the
elements surrounding them, cures are very unusual. I have
had many cases come under my professional care—that had
been, by experts, pronounced incurably insane—which were
cases of obscession, and only required right conditions to dis-
possess the spirit, to permanently cure them. This law, not
being understood by the people, or by the medical profession,
causes an untold amount of misery and suffering that might
otherwise be avoided. The scientists, so called, have vied
with the theologians in their exhibit of intolerance, and thus
prostituted their normal functions to dancing attendance on
theology.
The legitimate functions of the scientist is the careful and
unbiased examination of all phenomena as to its causes, in the
interest of truth. A true scientist can be no partizan. But
with few exceptions, those claiming that honored name, have
ignored the subject; have passed by with silence, or a sneer
well attested phenomena, of mightiest import; manifest in

-17– -
almost every city, town and hamlet in the country; thus writ-
ing themselves down, not scientists, but bigots. There have
been some honorable exceptions. Prof. Hare, after a careful
scientificinvestigation of phenomena, came out astrong believer
in Spiritualism, in the early days of its modern manifestation.
Added to his, in the role of honor should, be placed the names of
Professors Mapes, Crookes, Wallace, Zollner and a few others,
who will be venerated in the future, as worthy one of the highest
encomium ever pronounced upon any person, that of an honest
man. Scientists, like theologians, never discover new truths,
or advocate unpopular doctrines; but after they have been
popularized, by the discovery and advocacy of others, they
stand ready to adopt them with a flourish of trumpets as theirs,
and will claim all the credit.
In spirit life, as in this, every shade of opinion, and all kinds
of belief, are found to exist; with different degrees of de-
velopment, from the lowest to the highest; people going
there in all these various stages of growth, will hold them
until through natural processes, they evolve to higher planes.
While there is liberty, there is no opportunity for the unde-
veloped to molest the more advanced, for it is impossible for
them to enter planes of life that are above them, the law of
attraction holding them to their own. Spirit life
is an evolution from this; a continuation of life,
that is without begining or end, but constantly
changing form and expression. With an eternity in
the past, with its histories rock-written and magnetically im-
pressed upon everything, subject to the cognizance of the sen-
sitive phychometrist, to be revealed to the present, and an
eternity in the future with its wealth of knowledge, its vast
stores of wisdom to be gained; its never-ending opportunities
for growth; its unlimited resources for doing good; who would
not rejoice to live; and that every truth learned; every shadow
of ignorance banished; every revelation of nature rightly inter-
preted, helps to dispel the dark clouds of misery and suffering

- —18–
that shadows the hearts and lives of humanity, and lift them
into spheres of greater enjoyment and usefulness.
The whole aim and object of life then is culture, physical,
mental and spiritual.
We, as a people, lay great stress upon education. We boast
of our public schools, our seminaries, our colleges; but do
they educate? Is the art of repreating words without know-
ing their import; of reciting other people's ideas, without com-
prehending them; of being crammed with dead languages,
mathematical calculations, various scientific researches, without
understanding them, constitute education? If so, then all it
requires to be the possessor of all the lore the world contains, is
books and a verbal memory. If this is all, then have our
schools developed, many educated men and woman. But on
the contrary, if it means growth, development of inborn pow-
ers, an understanding of the simple natural laws governing
every-day life, then few indeed are educated. How many of
our “educated(?),” know the elements necessary to grow a human
body properly, or understand the simple processes of digestion
and assimlation, a thing of vital importance to every one? I
had a patient that was college educated, could speak with
fluency, several languages, but could not tell where her liver
was located. How many know anything of the principles of
equity in finance, or the relation of capital and labor; or even
the principles upon which common courtesy is based; in fact,
anything of practical importance? How many are prepared to
take up life's duties understandingly, and perform them heroic-
ally P. Our students leave college physical wrecks, with their
memories stored with past theories, many of which, in the
experiences of life, they will have to unlearn; (the only real
development seeming to be in the line of self-conceit,) without
practical ideas; and if they are a success, or of use to the world,
it is in spite of their teachings. But we are improving on the
old, and are on the eve of a change in methods in these things.
The Kindergarten is a move in the right direction, to be fol-
lowed by an abolition of routine work, that all must go through;

— 19-
but each will be considered individually, his natural talent en-
couraged, his interior nature grown. As in the floral garden
we find the rose, the pink, the lily, the sunflower and marigold,
each developing in its own individualty, unlike, but beautiful in
its kind, so children will be helped to unfold naturally from
within, care being exercised always that the best germs—as in
vegetable life—be planted, for you cannot raise “grapes of
thorns, nor figs of thistles.”
The first in importance is physical education, muscular de-
velopment, for this lays the foundation for mental strength and
moral purpose. As rightly directed action grows the intellect-
ual powers, so physical strength and integrity is the result of
proper physical training. This has received but little attention
as yet by the American people. The Germans have their
“Turn-Vereins,” in which both girls and boys are muscularly
developed, by well regulated methods—thus setting us an ex-
ample we cannot too soon follow. Dancing is also a useful, as
well as pleasing, exercise; cultivating not only muscular activity
and nerve power, but also grace and ease of carriage and man-
ner, which is an essential in good society. This does not, how-
ever, necessitate late hours, suppers, or any other evil. Every
home should have its pleasant evening entertainment, a select
company, with music—which always has a refining, elevating
influence—which some member of the family should be able
to execute; and thus for two or three hours enjoy the beauties
and benefits of the Terpsichorean art.
The Church is said to have recently awakened to the fact
that the Devil had all the best times, and changed their meth-
ods in regard to singing accordingly. So people are begining
to learn that the Devil has monopolized many of our most use-
"ful recreations, and are changing their condemnation for regula-
tion.
I have treated more at length of physical conditions neces-
sary to development in my lecture on Life and Health, hence
will not repeat it at this time. Spiritual development is largely
the result of experience, causing intense action of the depths

-20-
of our natures. The experiences of sorrow, though bitter to
the taste and hard to be borne, bring forth sweetest flowers
and richest fruitage. Tears shed in the heart's deepest agony,
are not in vain; they do for the spirit what the falling waters
do for vegetation; enrich the soil, swell the buds of goodness
and virtue, and unfold, petal after petal, the immortal flowers
of life. From the deepest agony of despair, come some of
our most useful lessons. It is thus our sympathies are grown,
and our hearts made tender for others woes. Who that has
never known sickness, can feel for the invalid; can realize the
soreness of nerves, the sensitiveness of brain, and susceptibility
to every kind of discordant sound; can smooth the pillows,
arrange the room, moving about with noiselesstread and gentle,
tender ways? Who, that has been nursed upon the lap of
luxury, with every desire satisfied, every want supplied; with
plenty smiling on the board, and contentment filling the house,
can feel for the poor homeless wanderers, with no place of
shelter, no stored treasures ready to come forth at nature's de-
mands, but want, misery and hopeless neglect, their portion.
Can the mother—as she decks her child with everything that
will please the eye, or gratify the fancy—feel for the poor
woman, who, with aching head and waning strength, toils
by day and by night, to keep starvation at bay 2 She too, has
a child, a little delicate rose-bud, that she is trying to shield
from the chills of this cold, selfish world; and when she sees
that little form grow thiner and paler day by day, and the little
shrunken limbs lose their wonted activity, and knows that
hunger and want are robbing her of her jewel, where can she
go for help, to whom apply for succor 2 The proud woman
turns from her with disdain; she knows not of want, has had
no experiences to mellow the soil in which the seeds of kind-
ness and sympathy germinate.
The poor woman strives by honest but ill-requited toil to
sustain herself and child, but failing, she resorts to crime, for
which society pays a recompense. And what mother, under
such circumstances, can say she would not do thus. Nothing

is too great to sacrifice to save our only treasure, our hearts'
idol, from such a fate. Can you say that in that poor woman's
suffering and travail of soul, she is not burnishing the spirit,
purging it of dross, and preparing it with lessons of charity
and unselfish love, for a brighter home in spirit life? Surely
there must be compensation somewhere for such injustice. To
such an one could come a sorrowing andforsaken soul, and find
sympathy and counsel, for, having tasted of the bitter waters
of a like experience and learned its lessons, she can stand as a
teacher to others in a similar condition. Then chide her not
for thus “falling,” as you say. She has acted true to a noble
feeling; the highest, holiest sentiment of the soul—self-sacrific-
ing love, a feeling you may never have felt or known. Rather
revere than condemn; and when you would stay this evil in the
land, remove the cause. Raise your voices for woman's equality
with man in every position in life, which would ensure equal
pay for equal labor, and the same opportunities for renumera-
tive employment. Women are not naturally depraved, they
prefer virtue to vice, but it is often as I have described, the only
resort.
Turn not away, you who have never been tempted, for your
innocence is not virtue, or goodness. The child is innocent;
it does no wrong, knows none; that is not virtue, but a negative
condition, neither good nor bad, but innocent. So with some
people, they are innocent. Goodness, virtue, is quite another
condion, it is wisdom which comes from knowledge, which is born
of experiences. Many innocent ones will find when the veil is
lifted and they are seen as they really are, that many a poor,
down-trodden, dispised, child of earth will stand far ahead of
them in spiritual unfoldment. Then wrap not around you the
garment of self-righteousness, with the “I am more than thou,”
but letsweet charity grow in your hearts, ever cherishing the
feeling that all mankind are one family, and as the sick or un-
fortunate child always receives the tender care and solicitude
of the family, so every erring, weak mortal should be treated
with tenderest consideration and sympathy.

–22–
The greatest spiritual unfoldment comes through an exercise
of the affectional nature, and here is where to the spiriiual per-
son comes the greatest suffering, also, the greatest happiness.
Every human being needs love, as it is to the spirit as is sun-
shine to the plant. Without sunlight and love—light the plant
and the spirit becomes alike, withered and blighted. The more.
spiritually unfolded beings become, the more they are suscep-
tible to this subtle influence, the more it becomes a necessity
to them; and a yearning for love, an atmosphere of trust and
rest is ever uppermost in their hearts. Shared with one we love,
how labor is lightened. How easily trials are borne! How un-
complainingly can poverty be endured How the eye brightens
and the heartbeats quickly at the dear familiar footsteps! How
the heart bounds to meet its kindred heart! Oh! who can
picture the beauty, the glory, the strength, that comes from the
union of two congenial souls. You who have awakened such
feelings in the heart of another, and whose own beats respon-
sive to its deep, unwritten language; cherish it with fondest
care. Let no weeds of neglect, no frosts of coldness, nor un-
feeling words mar its beautiful existence; but feed it with pleas-
ant smiles, endearing expressions, gentle caresses, considerate
care and tender sympathies. Let not the heart-strings become
rusted by bitter tears shed over disappointed hopes; and your
souls will be doubly blessed, and the sunshine of your life will
be bright and glorious. The grand watchward of progress is
action; physical action, mental action, moral action, and above
all, harmonious action of the whole. What the reformer most
needs at the present time is courage; true moral bravely, that
will stand for the right regardless of consequences to self; that
will follow truth, lead whereverit may, for I tell you friends the
time is coming that will try men's souls. The great contest
between freedom and slavery; between Spiritualism and Catho-
licism; between radicalism and conservatism, is yet to be settled,
and there will be no place for neutrals any where. Those in
the intermediate positions will gravitate to the side they are
nearest in their unfoldment, and the question will then be

–23–
settled forever, in this country, between mental freedom and
eclesiastical rule; between the rights of a few and those of the
many; between aristocracy and democracy. Let us hope that
the intelligence of the age is such that this may be a war of
ideas unstained with blood, but I fear not; and let us labor to
make it such, to strengthen the forces of freedom, for many
now living will take part in this great conflict.
The success of the life of an individual is here generally
measured by the wealth he has acquired, or the popularity he
has attained. The position he is accorded is in consequence
of these conditions, which are often the result of injustice and
wrong toward others, and is generally accompanied by extreme
selfishness. The external conditions of life is the basis upon
which the merits of the individual, his valuation is set. In
spirit life it is different. There character and not reputation—
which here are many times antipodes—is recognized, and worth-
always commands its just position. Our good deeds here,
create our wealth there. Every tear we have wiped away;
every wrong we have righted; every crushed being we have
uplifted; every sad heart that we have made glad; every way-
ward life that we have reclaimed; every despairing soul that we
have filled with hope and stimulated to earnest endeavor;all these
acts, will be there transformed into gems of light. If we fill
our lives with these loving deeds, we shall make the world the
better for our living, and grateful hearts will prepare for us
bowers of immortal beauty, as compensation for our good
works and self-sacrifice here; and we shall be welcomed to our
rightful—because earned—possessions with rejoicing, and enjoy
the fruits of our labors in the companionship of congenial spirits,
and with them continue our loving ministrations; growing
richer, more beautiful and happier, throughout the endless
cycles of eternity.

+ =TO THE+=#-
LIBERAL PUBLIC
Having been a Student of the problems involved in Human Life
for many years, and a practicing Physician for over a quarter of a
century, I have been called upon to write and lecture upon most of
the practical questions of the day. The following Lectures were
prepared with care and have been delivered in many parts of the
Country, and I have consented to put them in pamphlet form in
order that they may reach those who cannot hear them.
The Evolution of Life in Earth and Spirit
Conditions.
The Industrial and Financial Problems.
Life and Health, or How to Live a Century.
Philosophy of Disease and How to Cure the Sick
Without Drugs.
Religious, Political and Social Freedom.
I will send them post paid, the five for 60 cents. Single, 15 cents
apiece.
Address, DR. JULIET H. SEVERANCE,
219 Grand Ave., Milwaukee, Wis.

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