The Second Convention of the British Association of Progressive Spiritualists was held in Bell's Crown Temperance Hotel, Clayton Street, Newcastle-on-Tyne, on Wednesday and Thursday, July 25 and 26, 1866. On the previous evening, many of the members had arrived, but it was rather late on Wednesday morning before business could commence, on account of the hour at which the various trains came in. The attendance was more numerous than at the first Convention, and to give a list of them would occupy too much space. The following selections, however, will give some idea of the extent of territory represented:—Newcastle-on-Tyne: Mr James Carpenter, Dr M'Leod, Mrs M'Leod, and Miss M'Leod, Mr Job Sutcliff, Mr Paterson, &c. Darlington: Mr and Mrs Hodge, Mr and Mrs Dixon, Mr Thomas Watson, Mr Richmond, &c. Huddersfield: Miss Chapman, Miss Alstone, Thomas Etchells, Esq., &c. London: Mr and Mrs Spear, J. Bums, Progressive Library, Mr W. C. Butterwick, Mr Pilborough and Mr Champernown, Kingston-on-Thames, S.W., &c. James Colthurst, Esq, Cork, Ireland; Mr and Mrs Dennis, Carlisle; Edwin Harrison Green, Esq., Marsh House, Brotherton, South Yorkshire. Hartlepool: Mr and Mrs Cowley, Mr Gregory. Mr Jones, Bradford-on-Avon; Mr Heslop, Bradford, Yorkshire; Mr Lister, York; Mr Catherall, Hexham, &c., &c.

First Session, Wednesday, July 25.

It was nearly eleven o'clock before the arrival of certain members would allow the proceedings to be commenced. John Hodge, as President, having been installed in the Chair, J. Burns appointed Secretary of Convention, and M. Heslop, Verbatim Reporter, the session was instituted by singing "All people that on earth do dwell," Mrs Jones accompanying on the pianoforte. J. M. Spear then pronounced the following invocation:— page 6

O Thou in whom we live and move, and from whose beneficent hand we derive all the comforts we enjoy, whether of a temporal, religious, or spiritual character; unto thee we lift up our thoughts, and with them our hearts, blessing thee for the privilege we enjoy in meeting together to take by the hand our brothers and sisters who have come into the enjoyment of the faith, that there is a communication between the earth and higher worlds. We bless thee for the revelations of the past, for the faithful seers, prophets, and teachers who have come forth to labour for the good of other people. We bless thee, Father, that thou dost permit us to meet here together, to feel that we have communion with thee, and that our brothers, sisters, fathers, and mothers who have gone before us are not dead, but still live; hence, live to come and do us good. We ask thy wisdom to guide our President and Secretary in forwarding this Association; and may they go forth from this Convention and over this country hand in hand, and may our voices be heard even across the Atlantic, and be the means of establishing a spiritual communion between the two countries. So may there be spiritual ties to bind us heart to heart and soul to soul. Inspire those in dark places, and bring them to a knowledge of the life of labour, glory, and progress of this present age. Help us, holy Father, to feel thou art our comforter; and when we are called to pass through the shadow of death may we have no cause to fear evil, for thy rod and thy staff shall comfort us. Gracious Father, to thee we commit ourselves and all we have or expect to have in this world; and as others have laboured in their time, so may we labour, and may the time come when the superstitious contrivances are swept away, and the wall? of separation broken down, and may those engaged in war convert their instruments into implements; for all shall know thee, from the least to the greatest: and to thee we render all the praise, now, henceforth, and for ever.

Amen.

The President delivered the opening address, of which the following are a few condensed sentences :—

Ladies and Gentlemen, Friends of Progress,—It is not my purpose this morning to inflict a speech upon this meeting. It would be quite out of place were I to spend an hour relating to you my individual experience and history. A person's experience may be interesting in the small circle of his friends, but there are few men whose history is capable of interesting the crowd. The history of our Convention also would be interesting to a few of us here, but to all it would not. It is so young and so tender in years that the baby is too weak and delicate to be taken up in muscular arms. I cannot well express the pleasure I have in meeting all of you here. It is a broad platform which we are now creating in this country. All sections of the thinking and religious mind will meet with us in time to come. Some will like to open our meetings with singing, and others will not; some will like to begin and end with prayer, and others will not. So that we ought, if possible, to have an understanding with each person, and thus have a broad and distinct basis for the various and distinct phases of human thought;, for we have no creed or dogma whereby to test the suitableness of candidates for fellowship. I think, friends, that the time has come for action. It has come when those who are favoured with spirit communion must take their stand in some shape or form before the world; page 7 and here we are to-day in this capacity, meeting for the purpose of considering the ideas with which we have been impressed, and to make known those thoughts which have come from the other land. Hence, as an association, it will be well for us to be satisfied that we are right; and occupying the right position, let us, like our American friends, "go ahead;" and if we are certain of the first, we are sure of the second. So far as I am able to judge, I think that the position we have taken as spiritualists is right, and I think also that the direction in which we have struck out is the correct one, yet one that will bring upon us a great deal of persecution and disrespect; but if we have the disrespect and disregard of our fellow-men, we have the countenance and support of good spirits and higher intelligences;and to carry forward the great work inaugurated by them is our mission. With such coadjutors, the jeers of the world are only a stimulus to action. Let us, then, in accordance with our impressions, go forward with this great work till the love of truth and right illumine every human soul. Our cardinal truth is the fact of man's communion with higher intelligences, and his eternally progressive destiny. And such being the nature of man, many minds must be in darkness as to the more advanced thoughts and ideas; hence the obloquy and scorn heaped on those who occupy an advanced position. But if such a position be ours, let us thank God for the high and distinguished privilege, and take courage.

The Secretary was then called upon to read his report. Dr M'Leod, on rising, read the call to the Convention, making a few remarks thereon, and inviting all present to associate in the proceedings as "members of the Convention." He referred to his final note to the report of last year's proceedings, read letters from gentlemen who were not able to be present, and then presented the following

Report.

Ladies and Gentlemen, Brothers and Sisters,—First allow me to congratulate you on the excellent muster you have made. The success of this meeting is a certain and undeniable evidence of the progress of our promising Association of souls in general, but of spiritualists in particular. To the many mediums present and to the friends from distant parts, London, Ireland, &c., I tender my hearty thanks for their attendance, and a most cordial welcome. My heart is full. Thanks be to our God! His love endureth for ever!

As you are already well aware this Association began its existence outwardly in Darlington last year. The chief friends who began the movement are here also to-day, and I would now ask of these gentlemen—Brother Hodge and his coadjutors—whether or not they have page 8 cause to rejoice at what they see as the results of their labour this day? It is only another illustration of the saying, "Cast your bread upon the waters," See.: and I argue that our third Convention will be "something to talk about."

What was done at the first Convention has been reported. At that meeting you were pleased to appoint me Secretary for a period of twelve months up to this date; and it now behoves me to tell you what has been done in connection with this Association, so far as that Secretaryship is concerned, during the past year, and to lay before you what may be called "my report." In the first place, let me tell you that I have grown considerably myself since that time. Then I was not much of a spiritualist—at least, in my own estimation—though I believed in the "phenomena," for I was a great "phenomena hunter" then.I have higher occupation now; not so well off for this world as I was then, but hope I am laying it up for the next! and a trifle more in earnest, as you shall find in the year 1867.

To begin at the beginning, I was afraid that, so far as the progress of the Association went, I should have nothing to report, I had so much opposition to start with. I received letters from all quarters deprecating the establishment of an Association of Progressive Spiritualists, and predicting all sorts of temporal evils to me, and ruin to it, if I persisted in my work. I had sterner opposition, however, from other quarters—from men of great social position and generous behaviour. This opposition to my progress was the most dangerous, because the arguments I received were couched in loving terms and in the politest language. I was told, in short, that an association of spiritualists was an "impossible thing," and that, whatever we did, my friends hoped that we should at least progress from Spiritualism to Christianity ! To me, however, all these were only so many more incentives to renewed action, and I laboured away at Association business keener than ever.

But until this morning I am sure I was altogether unable to report what progress our Association had made. I could say nothing either as to its advancement or retrogression as a body; and as to cash received as donations, &c., the Treasurer and myself intend to render an account to the subscribers, at the conclusion of this Convention. This account will be a private affair, and will be given to subscribers only, as it concerns no one else. Perhaps it would not be wise to let the "world" see a manifestation of our wealth; perhaps some might join us in consequence! Suffice it to say, that we have had marvellous support from various quarters, and that we have that cheering thing which all business men admire—a balance in hand.

Still, in my capacity of Secretary—being by nature a terribly go-ahead soul—I could have done much, a great deal more than I have done, or attempted to do, in order to spread abroad a knowledge of Spiritualism, but the propagation of opinion or the diffusion of knowledge of an unpopular nature are expensive, operations in England, as you all can testify. Nevertheless, I have done what I could both publicly and privately. Had I only been a sort of Peabody, what a row among the supporters of rotten "notions" and indefensible "fudges" would have been at this moment the "order of the day."

The friends in London have during the past year done a great work in the support which they have given to Miss Emma Hardinge. Her engagement in London, and whatever seeds of the glorious truths of Spiritualism she may have sown there, are mainly due to the spirit and energetic character of Mr Benjamin Coleman. But these lectures of Miss Hardinge to the wealthy and influential classes of the metropolis will show great fruits in time.

In September, 1865, I called a meeting of the Committee together at my house. Very few attended. The result of this meeting was the issuing of a circular, of which the following is the chief portion:—

The principal objects we have in view are, as an Association, to meet once a year, or oftener if it be deemed desirable, for the purpose of social communion, interchange of sentiment or opinion;to record and catalogue our united experiences, and the progress which Spiritualism is making in and around us; to devise means for propagating and diffusing among our fellow-men and women the principles and soul-saving truths of this divine philosophy, by the distribution of the best tracts and books we have upon the subject, and the delivery throughout the kingdom of lectures by persons of approved character and ability.

All spiritualists are most affectionately solicited to join our Association, by the simple and easy process of forwarding their names and addresses to the undersigned Secretary; and donations, subscriptions (the "sinews of war"), or books (carriage free), to our Treasurer, Mr Joseph Dixon, of Bondgate, Darlington, who will thankfully receive and acknowledge the same.

The present promoters have no other objects or end in view, so far as they are individually concerned, but the eternal welfare of mankind, the glory of God, in the most enlarged sense of the expression, and socially, morally, and religiously, the regeneration, sanctification, and redemption of the whole human family. By authority.

N.B.—Inquirers are kindly informed concerning a few of those things which Spiritualism teaches:—

1.	That the spirit is the real man, the body only its physical envelopment during this initiatory or caterpillar state of man's existence. That as a caterpillar passing through the chrysolid state puts forth the perfect form and all the limbs of the butterfly, which naturaly us tell us were all wrapped up in the caterpillar; so the spirit, stepping out of the body, stands revealed to the spiritual world a perfect man or woman—perfect in all the powers and members of man. That he steps into no shadowy or sky region, but into an actual world, with its woods, rivers, green fields, mountains, cities, and various employments of life, as on earth, but in a more vivid and real status.
2.	That there is no such thing as death: it is but a name given to the issue of the soul from the body. "That which thou lowest is not that body which shall be. There is a natural and there is a spiritual body" (St Paul.) The spirit-man is perfect spirit-man, and goes to his place in the "many mansions; " and here, in the body, men and women choose for themselves, by their eonduct generally, the "mansion" they would prefer, and to which they will assuredly go—by 'preference. This point will be better understood by those who choose to study and enlarge their knowledge of spiritual matters.
3.	That there is no such place as Hell, as it is popularly preached and un-derstood; but places of Progression, which truly are full of torments of various kinds—according to the deeds done in the body. The word purgatory conveys the idea of such places, where the souls of the abandoned (here), the murderer, adulterer, seducer, the cruel, lying, hypocritical, &c., go to expiate their offences, and, so to speak, learn better things, when they will receive page 10 promotion to a happier and higher sphere; though what term it may take to do this expiation, God only knows! and thus it is infinitely preferable for us all to despise everything in our present state, except virtue alone. Spiritualism teaches, in this regard, a succession of spheres and stages; a succession of regions of abode on the great journey towards the central heaven of God.
4.	That there is a communion of saints and a besetment of devils, evil spirits. "Millions of spirits walk the earth unseen, both when we wake and when we sleep but, thank God! we all have the power to choose our own company. At every hour, every moment that mediums sit down to a seance, there is a pressing levee of spirits. It is not that Spiritualism brings or evokes them, it is that they are ever there, in our streets, our fields, houses, bedrooms, workrooms, churches, and chapels. If our spiritual eyes could be opened suddenly, it would be a sight more astounding than that which the prophet at Samaria displayed to the army of the Syrians. This is one of the greatest facts which Spiritualism teaches. It is thus that we have the blissful communion of departed saints, and of such saints as never had their niche in any ecclesiastical calendar; saints of our own lineage and family; saints of our early friends, departed in the youthful bloom and ardour of affection; saints of children whom we cradled and nursed, but whom God took softly from our enfolding arms, and who now watch over us with the love we sent with them, fresh dipped in the warmest fountains of the Divine; saints of elder friends whom we knew in our youth, and whom we reverenced; saints, by scores, forgotten at the moment in our long busy pilgrimage, but who now start up with familiar voices, and real lovely memories, making us feel how infinitely rich in love and widely-spreading soul alliance is that infinite world, where—though dogs and sorcerers and other abominations haunt its threshold—all within lie the measureless sunny realms of beauty and peace.
5.	No fear of Death. And finally, Spiritualism teaches a system of religious truths based upon the gospel of Christ, and affirmed afresh by spiritual ministries to this common-place age. It is illustrating and making known to us the laws and conditions of man's mental and soul life, of angelic and spiritual existences, and is opening up new, glorious, and interesting regions of discovery; and that Spiritualism in its legitimate action does this, we appeal to thousands who have mentally and morally benefitted by it. Why then, should the timid churches fear and tremble? Why should good men fear its approach, and call out "Demonology!" and run away? It is the mil only who need fear; and blessed are they who hear, see, and believe; but thrice blessed they who have not seen and yet believe. It serves to develop the normal capabilities of the mind, to purify the natural affections, to rationalise our views of religion, nature, and God, to quicken the soul's aspirations after a higher life, ennobling the whole character.

Spiritualism teaches the most delightful truths, which should be thrice welcome to all good Christian souls. It has converted thousands from gross infidelity. It will cure millions of involuntary semi-scepticism. It will render a future existence real to the whole human nice. It will re-invigorate every great religious and moral truth heretofore revealed to mankind. It will intensify all the sublime motives—all the sublime feelings that urge human nature on to a heavenly destiny. It will advance from step to step of demonstration till death shall be disarmed of all its terrors. It will usher in a new era of Faith, Hope, and Charity. It will bind us closer in love to one another, and ultimately bring us all home to the bosom of our Father and our God.

Directions how Inquirers are to Commence the Study of Spiritualism.

By Adin Ballou.

1. Be not ashamed, nor afraid, nor unwilling to embrace truth come whence or how it may.—2. Respect your own senses and judgment enough to trust them decently.—3. Procure all the reliable testimony you can, in print and otherwise, concerning spirit manifestations, ancient and modern, weigh it deliberately at home, and be in no haste to examine cases, until you have page 11 good opportunities; then improve them.—4. Hold no sittings with a medium whom you believe morally capable of deception or trick: confide or refrain. 5. Have few persons present, and none but candid, sensible, and well-behaved ones.—6. Be serious, deliberate, frank, and unaffected; propose what tests you please, and abstain from all pettifogging lawyerism, pertinacity, and over-urgency; be content with such developments as come freely, and set everything down for what it is worth. You may desire much, and get very little. Remember you are not required to give credit for more than you receive, nor to take chaff for wheat.—7. Take care not to overtax the nervous energy of the medium by long sittings or undue excitement. Keep an even mind. 8. Take notes of all important phenomena and incidents.—9. Accept or reject, or hold in doubt, what purports to come from the departed spirits, for what would be sufficient reasons if the same came from spirits in the flesh. This must be the standing rule.—10. Treat all persons concerned, whether departed or undeparted spirits, as enjoined in the golden rule; and if there be evil, overcome it with good. Be uniformly just, considerate, and kind.

A short time after this we tried a couple of addresses on Spiritualism at Darlington. Your humble servant was the lecturer, and I did my best to enlighten those who came to hear me. Friends said that I had acquitted myself well; that is, that I did my best to lay down plainly and fairly a few of the principles of Spiritualism; and I have every reason to believe that the fruits of these lectures will soon be made manifest. The receipts at these lectures very nearly met the expenditure.

On Wednesday and Thursday, March 21st and 22nd, I tried two more lectures at the ancient and priestly town of Hexham. (I am glad to see to-day two distinguished friends from there; these friends are worth many lectures.) This was done, I may be permitted to tell you, as an experiment, or feeler, in order that I might form some sort of estimate as to how the same sort of elaborate and expensive advertising for it was indeed upon an extensive scale) would do in larger towns and more populous districts. These two lectures, however, hit me rether hard. They cost about £10, the receipts on both nights amointing only to the gross sum of twenty-two shillings. However, I must here mention that a kind friend was thirty shillings towards helping me to defray the cost. The chief advertisement occupied 1)5 lines of a newspaper column, and was sent out in demy sheets all over the district, as well as in small bills. And besides announcing the meetings, it likewise intimated that I would attend at the Assembly Rooms on the following mornings for the purpose of healing the sick.

During these twelve months past it would surprise you were I to place on record a list of the number of persons with whom I have corresponded in virtue of my office as Secretary of this Association. I dare venture to say that I have written and despatched upwards of one thousand letters of various sizes and contents, answering inquiries, making inquiries, sending abroad our circulars all over the country, to Ireland and America, &c; and I hoped to increase my spiritual correspondence in this year.

No doubt I have been laughed at for a deal of my pains, for the labour I have taken—labour which has resulted in this magnificent Convention—but I have tried to do my duty. I have been a living page 12 secretary, and not a dead one. I will not notice my personal sufferings—the outrageous unkindness I have received from friends—the jeers and persecutions of my foes. They are not worthy of record in a place like this. I make no special complaints, but "still go marching on!" In order to do something towards increasing my practice in Newcastle, well-meaning friends have addressed me in a large round hand," Dr M'Leod, Spiritualist, Newcastle-on-Tyne."

In a great many of these communications, I am sorry to say, the natural meanness of some spirits has been inconveniently displayed. I happen to be known as a healing medium; not only a doctor by profession, but—thanks be to the Father—I possess extraordinary powers to heal by the laying on of hands. It was made known to the public through an article I sent to that excellent journal, the Spiritual Magazine. This brought down upon me a great many letters from different individuals, craving my assistance, or opinion, but neither enclosing or promising any remuneration for my trouble, not even (except in a solitary instance or so) a postage stamp for reply. It would seem to be taken for granted by some spirits that the source from which I derive my healing power should also settle my tradesmen's accounts. I make mention of this matter only in a pleasant way, and, as our friends over the water would say, a caution to healers in general.

I do not wish to take up more of your time than is barely necessary to give you some sort of a report of my proceedings; but I could give you some curious and interesting spiritual experiences. Such as having a ring taken from me and magnetised in the spheres and then brought again to me, marvellous cases of healing, and so on.

Now, as I have a paper to read to this Convention besides this report, I will not address you further at present, but say once more that I am highly delighted to see our association so well represented this morning by members. May the blessed Father and his good and holy angels grant us a glorious and refreshing season together!

The Chairman was not aware that it was necessary to discuss the report, but would like to hear any remarks from those present. All were at perfect liberty to speak that which seemed good to them.

J. Burns said this was a time for emulation, not criticism. We ought all to have as good a personal report as the Secretary to lay before the Convention. The duties of the Secretary were only to do the business of the Association as an organisation, and not to do all the work in converting the world to Spiritualism. That was the work of each individual member, and the personal labours of the Secretary did not in the least diminish their's. He thought each active member should make a short statement of their efforts and success in the cause during the past year. For his part, he took every opportunity of bringing the matter before the public by the distribution of books, tracts, papers, page 29 conversations, and lectures. He had devoted his life to the cause of human progress; and high and above all other departments of progressive work towered that of spiritual knowledge and mental freedom. In his lectures on Human Nature he constantly interpolated the principles of Spiritualism with the subject matter under discussion, and he found that the great living soul of humanity responded to every utterance. In his personal contact with progressive minds he constantly brought Spiritualism up, and had the pleasure of founding a little colony of interested persons in every place where he lectured. His experience was that a great portion of the people were for the principles of Spiritualism, if offered to them so as to suit their stage of development; and in all his experience he found neither persecution nor disrespect for the loving and timely advocacy of the truth, unless it was from a certain class of spiritualists themselves. He was glad to know that the cause was rapidly gaining ground; and if all spiritualists did their individual duty it would advance with great success.

J. M. Spear thought that some less expensive mode of missionary labour ought to be instituted to bring the claims of Spiritualism before the people. He, however, rejoiced in the earnestness of Dr M'Leod. He earnestly desired associated effort, so that the printing press and human voice might be made more useful in this work. He had tried to get up a public Convention in London, but met with no response. He therefore called a Convention at his own rooms, by inviting gentlemen from all parts of the country, and they had two days of very profitable intercourse. He said he still carried on a large correspondence with spiritualists throughout the world. A gentleman in Russia, a correspondent, was translating the principal spiritual works into the Russian language. He had received many letters respecting the Darlington Convention. It had done good, yet he regretted that for want of a free, liberal press its influence had been confined to a comparatively narrow limit. He hoped the Association would soon have an organ of their own. He was rejoiced to see the present excellent meeting, and hoped much good would be done.

J. Dixon expressed himself well pleased with the progress of the movement at its present stage. It was feeble, and could not yet sustain the operation of public movements. He thought their organisation could not be earned on after the pattern of other organisations in existence. He had not much faith in public lectures, and thought individual influence more effective. For his part, it had taken him upwards of three years to store page 14 his mind with the great truths taught by the spiritual philosophy. He loved those truths, and since his acquaintance with Spiritualism he had enjoyed a continual feast, for which he thanked God with his whole heart. As he received he felt disposed to give unto others. He needed no platform for his work. He was surrounded by those with whom he could talk, and to whom he imparted the truths he had learned. In this way he had removed many old errors from the minds of his neighbours, had made converts to the truth of Spiritualism, and opened a way for rays of light to enter not a few human souls, thus increasing their happiness and enjoyment of existence. During the whole year ho had been so employed. This was his work, not to form organisations or make speeches. He had also developed a very truthful medium, and in his official position as Treasurer had formed many correspondences of a highly useful and interesting nature. He thought the Association had done well, and hoped it would progress in the same ratio next year.

The President was glad to hear that Brother Dixon had not given all his acquirements away. He commended his mode of operation, and said we wanted more such speeches on an occasion like the present.

Those. Watson agreed with the remark of Emma Hardinge, when she said Spiritualism had taken a northern direction, but not so far as to be starved to death. He did not take such a desponding view of the progress made as some did. He knew many earnest and true spiritualists. They did not want to form a sect. That was not their business, but it was their duty and high privilege to open the prison doors to others, and usher them into the light and liberty of God's truth. During the past year he had been doing what he could, and he thought they were not behind the times. Things did not perfect themselves in a day; besides, their work was one of growth and progression as to the cause as well as in individual cases. His own experience was that he had been several years in finding the point at which he had now arrived. He long had had intuitions of what he needed, and Spiritualism exactly filled his soul longings and answered his requirements.

M. A. Alstone, in an eloquent and appropriate address, spoke of her high advantages in being a spiritualist. It would make her happiness complete if she could do for the world what Spiritualism had done for her. From the age of thirteen she had been a Wesleyan, but all was dark. She wanted something to take her higher and satisfy the cravings of her mind. She went amongst the spiritualists of Huddersfield, and found the page 15 teachings to harmonise with her spirit life. Her burden seemed now light, and under it she lived to tread the progressive slopes of a future life. By impression she had resolved on attending the Convention, and she felt improved thereby.

E. Harrison Green felt it to be his whole desire to labour for the human race. No one could do better than investigate Spiritualism. He was a member of the Huddersfield circle, and felt stronger for the stand he had taken before the world in regard to Spiritualism. He thought suitable lecturers were wanted; also, the silent working of the mind in circles, which was more accessible, if suitable circles could be more numerously formed. A higher development was also required in these circles which would extend itself amongst the neighbours, and radiate to others from the inspired lips of those from whom angels speak. In Spiritualism he had found a broad basis of humanitarian love which was in harmony with the great life work of Jesus, whom, as a spiritualist, he respected. Many true spiritualists were working in private till the proper time for extending the field of labour. He regretted that Emma Hardinge had not been favoured with a more extended field of usefulness in this country. He held that the various phases of spiritualists should not criticise or find fault with each other, but shake hands, and work in their different planes of thought to spread this great religion, which was a religion and philanthropy combined, satisfying all the needs of man, and honouring the great God who was the author of all mankind, including the great mediums of the past time. He was of opinion that Spiritualism would yet gain upon the hearts of the people of this country, and would take deeper root here than in any other portion of the globe; and the time would come when spiritualists would be looked upon as the benefactors of the race, removing many superstitions, and planting in their stead the light of eternal truth. He travelled thirty miles weekly, and sometimes more, to attend his circle.

J. Richmond gave the Convention a word of encouragement. He said, keep up your correspondence, make visits and speak to your friends, deliver lectures as you may find opportunity, and make every effort to lift up the darkness of superstition. Work as you have opportunity, and the harvest will follow. Do not grapple with the powers of darkness, unkindness, and cruelty. They are too much for you. Let them alone. It is the light that disperses the darkness; therefore give truth and good feeling, and you will reap. He was pleased to meet the friends. He loved them all, he loved the movement.

James Colthurst would encourage all to investigate Spiritualism, whatsoever their means or talents might be. He had become acquainted with Spiritualism, and found in it what he had not found in any other system of theology or philosophy in existence. He had a life of leisure, and had devoted his whole time to intellectual pursuits. He saw that all other departments of progress wore as nothing in practical importance to mankind compared with Spiritualism. At home he could not do much for the cause. The middle classes in Cork were intelligent, but very bigotted. His own friends, as well as the society in which ho mixed, were opposed to him, vet he took occasion to introduce the matter in conversation. He subscribed for the Banner of Light, and lent it, advertised good books in the Cork papers, till, through these and other efforts, the public were now conversant with the leading propositions of the subject.

C. H. Spear (Mrs) thought the harvest from last year had been plentiful. The first Convention had given courage and life to local societies. Other towns looked to Darlington as their copy. The report had been invaluable; it had done much, and had given good. She gave many interesting items of progress witnessed by her in her labours with Mr Spear in Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Liverpool, Glasgow, &c., and concluded by presenting the fraternal regards of the Birmingham Society to the Convention.

J. Burns stated that he had received a valuable letter from Thomas Martin Simkiss, of Wolverhampton, and that the "Iron Country" might be represented at the Convention he begged to read a few extracts, as follows:—

"I very much regret that the distance from Wolverhampton precludes my being with you, otherwise I should have much rejoiced to have met the progressive friends in Convention. I am very much pleased that you made such a good and decided start last year in the right direction, viz., Pro Fession, and would not shackle yourselves with the fetters of so-called 'Christian Spiritualism,' which to me is most sectarian, being on a par with 'Jewish Spiritualism,' 'Mahometan Spiritualism,' and even with 'Fetischism.'No Spiritualism suits me that is not as broad as humanity, as open to investigation as the sciences, and as free as they are from Cant. I am and have been an harmonial philosopher for the past thirteen years, the first six of which I resided in America, and saw much of Spiritualism in its varied aspects.

"There are but very few spiritualists here at Wolverhampton. In my intercourse with them I am most anxious to make them harmonial philosophers and friends of progress, rather than mere technical spiritualists. Mr Glover commenced Spiritualism some six months ago, and has prospered very rapidly as a drawing, mechanical, and page 17 inspirational medium, and lately as a seeing and psychometrical medium. My wife is a trance-speaking medium, but is at present going through different stages of development; and I doubt not but that in time she will be of exceedingly great service to the cause of Spiritualism in this country.

"Mr J. M. Spear has been with us for three days, and much good has been done by his visit. Finding what a strong harmonialist I am, his spirit guides have designated me the ' British Harmoniser,'and talk great things concerning my future work. But the future will be all right provided we make the now, the present, all right as well as we can ourselves.

"At any rate, my wife and I are given up body and soul to work for the progression of the human race hi unison with progressive spirits, and in doing so we will endeavour to work harmoniously, and not erratically, following impulse where reason lights not. I have a small room, or hall, which is open to the public every Sunday evening, when I read one of A. J. Davis's "Morning Lectures," after which follows one hour's open discussion thereon, and from which great good is slowly and surely accruing. We progressives in this country must be content to be martyrs in our up-hill work of leavening the public, knowing of the blessed future of humanity. What a glorious and satisfactory sight it will be for us who have helped it on, as we look down from above, beholding it and helping it on still more ! And with what a host of congenial progressive spirits shall we be in eternal sympathy!

"Yours for progression, not erratic and spasmodic, but harmonious, steady and sure,

T. M. Simkiss."

Mrs Jones said Old England was not so dull and dead as some thought it was. She narrated some of her experience in connection with Psychology and the people. In 1835 she was a public speaker. She made a tour of England with a friend, on foot, entered the cottages and houses of the people, and in the lone country villages distinctly saw that England was not destitute of Spiritual influences even then. She had quiet audiences in the desperate districts round Dudley, and the clergy wanted to know what she did to manage them. But the people of England wanted to be quietly and kindly visited like lambs, and not as if they were wolves. Only touch the spark of God's spirit in the heart of all, and it will burn up and illumine their after lives.

William Jenner Champernown gave a very interesting statement of the wonderful performances done in the presence of mediums under his care. He said it was no uncommon thing in his experience for material substances to pass through the wall. He was accompanied at the Convention by Master Turketine, a boy about fourteen years of age, through whose mediumship the most remarkable physical manifestations had been produced. At 2 page 18 one stage the medium would be tied with cords in the most ingenious manner, even exceeding the care and intricacy with which the Davenports were tied. Yet the spirits would unloose him in a far shorter period of time than could those who tied him. His cap had been taken from his head, and secreted by unseen agency; books and other articles had been taken away right under their hands and before their eyes in the house; heavy substances, such as an iron scraper, had been moved from the front door to the back door; various boxes and other articles had passed from one room to the other, while doors and windows were completely shut, and in the presence of the circle; and lately the spirits had taken to the performance on musical instruments. They now performed on upwards of a dozen instruments, sometimes several at a time, and they were yet progressing in these phenomena. The spirits had ordered them to bring the medium to the Convention for further development and not for the purpose of exhibiting, as he was not sufficiently developed yet to produce the phenomena in promiscuous audiences. The speaker exhibited to the Convention many specimens of spirit writing, some of which were direct, without the intervention of any human hand in the flesh. He also produced a great variety of spirit drawings, of different degrees of merit, but all interesting to the investigator into these remarkable phenomena. Their circle also was favoured with spirit voices, singing, lights, colours, and other remarkable manifestations. The speaker then referred to a series of important communications through another young medium—Master Wallis, fourteen years of age. He read a number of extracts, of which the following are selections:—

"God is the King of all creation. God is that part of man which aspires to holy things, keeps him from sin, and makes him inspired! God is in all men's hearts. Some try to question God's Spirit, and some obey the motion of the Spirit. Be ye of the latter kind. In reading the Holy Scriptures, be ye led by the Spirit of Divinity. The Bible (that is, the truths in it) are like a nut within a shell; you must take away the outside to get at the kernel. My dear friends, do not trouble yourselves about earthly affairs; they are in the keeping of God. Be ye of a pure heart and steady faith in that which is good; and be ye persuaded of the truth in your own minds. Be not narrow-minded, but liberal in your faith and ideas. Be ye mindful of the saying that we are all brothers. O, heavens! O, glory! O, immortality! When your bodies are dust, then begins your glory! When you are dead in body you are living in soul! When your friends are mourning they ought to be rejoicing; for the day time when you leave this body is the day when you throw off the coils of the flesh, and are ushered into the bright and happy Summer Land."

"We have that within us whereby we think, reason, and argue, page 19 which tells us we are not of the earth, earthy, but that our grand destiny is before us; that which also tells us in unmistakeable evidence that Progression is the grand law that is to turn the world upside down, which will shake the present theology and ecclesiasticism to the ground, and scatter the creeds and sects to the four winds of heaven; which testifies that the mundane sphere is progressing now, that heaven and its joys are not only for those who believe this or that creed, or form of religion, but that God designs all who are true to their own soul-consciousness shall be happy and blest there; and that all, even those who do not now wish it, after certain probation, learning, and necessary punishment, progress when they deserve to do so. This is what the mind or soul tells us if we would listen without prejudice. . . . Before man was seen, or prior to his advent, this earth was being formed for him. "Who formed it? He that formed those other worlds surpassing ours in size. The same infinite power which is superior to matter, and of whom we are all the offspring, the part; for we are all of God, of Jehovah, the great Spirit, who is the same that Mahomet believed in, and the one great Spirit whom even savages worship."

"Man is very great, and has great powers. Those powers are the greatest which belong to the divinity within him. Mind and soul, as terms, are nearly synonymous. They are both separate from the body, although now they are employed and moulded in, through, and with the body. Mind has more to do with head knowledge. Soul has to do with the divinity of man, and is said to belong to the heart.'

"Mind and spirit has ever existed. Mind called matter into action, and lo! behold this earth! Spirit, in its most exalted sense called the Infinite or Creative Spirit, begat spirits, clothed them with bodies, and, having prepared the habitation, caused food to grow, beasts, birds, and fishes to supply us with meat, and everything necessary; introduced the human species called Adam. Henceforth this world has been the habitation of man, who is the image of God. I say man is a part of the Divinity;that is, the spirit of man is, and that The Divinity is the spiritual whole—archangels, angels, men. These spiritual beings constitute God the I Am,'the Father of Spirits, each mind or soul being part of God. . . . When man recognises the Divinity and lives for immortality; when he recognises each human being as a brother, and that it is not the right order of things for a man to be ignorant, then may we thank the all-potent God for the coming of his kingdom."

"As the beauty of the morning—as the splendour of the shining sun upon the fields and flowers—as a spring morning, replete with loveliness—such is the glorified soul! A spirit it is escaped. A mind unchangeable. A body free from the earthly degrading tendencies which so much enthrall it in this life. An eye it has that can see, an ear which is unfolded, and senses spiritualised. It is a spirit beautified. O, glorious change! O, blessed revealment and fulfilment of wishes! O, the yearnings of the soul satisfied, and the sorrows and trials of life compensated for."

"How many thousands, yea, millions, would sink beneath their load of adversity to die, were they not upheld by the thought, the very page 20 sure hope of being at peace, resting in quiet happiness in the heavens of love which are above, beneath, and around us."

"Judge of Spiritualism by its fruits. How many has it turned from being materialists by the direct evidence that it affords of another world! How many doubts has it dispelled! How many rescued from vice and evil by its holy and loving communications and spirit teachings !"

"There are some who on earth commenced true life, and began to live; but there is so much to retard the soul's education on earth, that it can hardly be said to live till the body dies. Then the soul is free. What a sound and what glory in the word freedom! liberty! Liberty of soul! Then the soul is clothed with a spiritual garment, which you call its spiritual body, as adapted to the capabilities of your time. Clothed in this body, it takes some time usually for the spirit to awake and realise the great change which has taken place. Each of its senses has to be sphereolised, has much to learn; and there are spirits whose office it is to teach those who are just entering on spirit life. There are exceptions to this. There are some who almost instantly they leave the body are awake to the pure life of the spirits. These are those who have lived on earth good and spiritual lives, close in harmony with God. There are those who have to wait an eternity before they awake to aspiration and progression. These are they who have been fearfully depraved on earth, and have deadened the divinity within them."

"The spirit world is analogous to the material, and in the spirit world are beautiful gardens, verdant meads, lovely flowers, majestic mountains, little hills, tiny rills, beautiful radiant spirits robed in white, beautiful everything."

"Mind is reasonable and it is also spiritual. We cannot see it, yet we cannot think without it; it is a self-evident principle. The mind of man achieves grand works, is wonderful in its many ideas, in the many inventions it brings forth, advanced in its native perceptions and lofty aspirations, but as yet it is nothing to the grandeur of a living mind progressing through the spheres."

"He should not investigate into truth who is not prepared to examine carefully, criticise without prejudice, and draw reasonable conclusions from what is presented to him."

"Never seek to force truth upon any one. If an inquirer comes to you in an honest spirit, assist him. Do not labour too much for that which you know to be true. A quiet self-consciousness and a little pride is good for yourself and the world. Truth does not need much demonstration; it carries weight and conviction with itself."

"Live not for pelf!
Live not for pleasure, nor for self,
But live for truth and God!"

After reading a variety of extracts, Mr Champernown concluded by saying that there were many equally good left behind, that they had been all given since the month of March last, either written by the medium or spoken in the trance state. The last page 21 portions purported to come from John Bunyan, and many of the sentiments were highly characteristic of him. They had also communications from friends and relatives, and were on the most familiar terms with the departed members of their families.

The Session was closed by a few remarks from the President, who thought there had been very encouraging reports of progress presented. Mr Champernown's case was wonderful. The boy was quite young and uneducated, and yet he could speak those beautiful ideas which had just been read. These belonged to a high class of manifestations, and it was quite a privilege to receive them.