MR. W.T. STEAD.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIII, Issue 22, 23 May 1912, Page 2

MR. W.T. STEAD.

"DELIGHT AT MY NEW SUR- .. liOUNDINGS."

A SPIRITIST COMMUNICATION

Mrs Charles Bright, editor of the Harbinger of Light, the Australian spiritualist paper, relates in the current issue'that she has had a communication from Mr Stead since he was lost in the Titanic disaster. She writes:—

"It is not possible to write these notes without first mentioning the great defender and exponent of spiritualism, Mr W. T. Stead, whose tragicleaving of the earth life has thrilled ns ail. For those of us who realise to the full the transitoriness of life on tiiis planet, viewing it merely as a seed time of human existence and a school for the development of the character, there is no room for terror, and even regret is shorn of .half its bitterness at lives apparently cut short. For there is no actual break in life, which goes on beyond the change called weath with renewed vigour and with opportunities that can scarcely be gauged in this struggling existence.

"There has occurred in connection with Mr Stead's transition one of those remarkable and unsought-for experiences which come unexpectedly in tkt early morning, when my spiritual and bodily powers are being replenished for the work that is set before me to do. Much of it would appear like a fairy tale to the uninitiated, as well as many similar experiences whose corroboration has come afterwards in my daily life. Suffice it to say that 1 was conscious of a great upliftment and the words, 'Stead is here,' came clearly to my spiritual ears. Then rapidly sonic writing which I was enjoined by him to give somehow or somewhere in this issue of the paper. He had read my article, that was not to he disturbed, but in 'Personals' or elsewhere, to let the world know something of the joy of the new-found world.

" 'Just toll them,' ho said, 'that I am full of delight at my now surroundings; full of delight that this world is oven more full of joy and ecstasy than f had essayed to tell people in earth life; so full of joy that I want to wipe the tears from eyes that weep through this terrible disaster; so full of joy that 1 want to take doubt from every downcast soul. So full of delight that I can help my beloved even more than when on earth. My affairs will go on all right. For myself it was a swift passage—a short, despairing time

time—chaos, confusion, only to find myself lifted out of it by loving spirits nil round me. Everything >so real and so tangible that T felt as if on some enchanted island, hawing escaped from a ship wrecked on its shores. So close is this spiritual realm to the earth that we can understand how those with open vision get glimpses of beautiful scenery and angelic beings. The poopie still on earth are in a fog, rushing after what is of no value, and only those can bo happy who get attuned to spiritual things. 1 can write through you so easily.' "