WHERE ARE THE DEAD?

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume VI, Issue 966, 3 December 1879, Page 2

WHERE ARE THE DEAD?

Mrs. Hardinob-Bbittbn, the celebrated Bpirit medium, lectured last week m the Lome-street Hall, Auckland, to a crowded assemblage of listeners on her advertised subject: "Where are the Dead? or Life m the Spirit World." After referring to the teachings of Christianity concerning heaven and hell, and pointing to the notions of ancient people with regard to the state of the soul m the spirit world, the lady went on to explain the beliefs entertained by spiritualists. There was no such thing, she»sserted, as finality, either here or beyond the grave — for progression reigned throughout the works of the Great All-Father, and there was also no such thing as space. Each planet was surrounded by spirit zonics. Those of one orb impinging upon those of another, until the blue vault which wo had come to look upon as a vast and empty void, dotted here and there with distant solar systems, became a teaming universe instructed with intelligence. As far as could be known the earth was encircled by seven of these zones, the first commencing m our atmosphere and the others being further and yet further removed from it. The refined and more sublimated spirits flew direct to the further zones upon death while those of coarser and more sensual natures were obliged to commence from the lowest and gradually qualify themselves for admission into the higher stages of spirit existence. The first sphere was the earth with its population of materialised beings. The second sphere was the world of spirits — the soul world of this earth. There was not an atom of matter that the eye reata on here that had not its counterpart there. It was the abode of the dwellers on the *;hreshhold of those who by crime, immorality, or selfishnes, had failed to prepare themselves upon earth for entrance to a higher sphei'e. The third sphere was the home of the little childron — the land where the broken buds of mortal life are re-planted m the Father's garden — the home where the immature spirits of earth are gathered up m arms of spiritual fathers, mothers and teachers. The next sphere, was that of knowledge — the wisdom sphere, where abode the great inventors, artists, sculptors, writers and statesmen of the earth. Above it was the sphere of love. Higher still the sphere of wisdom and love combined. The inhabitants of it were dwellers upon the threshhold of a new series of spheres, the bliss and character and beauty of which it was beyond the language to convey, or of his thoughts to conceive. There were superbly glorious and infinitely holy beings who inhabited them. Mrs. Britten concluded here lecture by reciting a beautiful poem, which possibly takes its name from the oft-repeated refrain "Over There.';