“All Truth is Wonderful�?/FONT>

Apart from a short break in the summer, in latter years the circle met monthly. The guide’s medium, Maurice Barbanell, would drive home after a day’s work at “Psychic News�?- he was the paper’s founder and editor - greet guests invited to attend and settle comfortable in a settee whilst those present chatted quietly until Silver Birch manifested.

So it was that for many decades Silver Birch imparted his words of wisdom in a small flat in a pleasant part of London whilst buses and taxis took weary workers home. For unknown to them, and those walking in the tree-lined street outside, one whom the world regards as dead offered wise counsel as the Seen and Unseen temporarily merged.

“To you, this is a little room,�?said Silver Birch. “To us, it is a grand temple. These little walls have vanished. There is radiance, illumination dazzling in its brilliance. Hundreds upon hundreds are assembled here, each with a mission to perform; some to serve, some to be served.

“That vast concourse belongs to all peoples and nations, to the present and to the past. There are prophets, seers, sages, wise men of the East and the West, of high and low estate, philosophers of Greece and Rome, Syria, Chaldea, Persia and Babylon, mingled with those of later generations from Italy, France and Germany. They exchange their knowledge and focus it all so that it shall be at your service.

“That is only one fragment of what is happening. There are your own, those you know and the many whom you do not know in your material consciousness but whom you do know in that larger consciousness in which you dwell for fleeting moments.�?

Earlier in the sitting, after Silver Birch had given some information regarding healing, one of the sitters remarked, “That is a wonderful truth.�?

“All truth is wonderful,�?replied the guide. “It is error that is so foolish. And yet there are so many who would rather cling to error, because they are familiar with error, even though they know it is error, rather than seek the strange landmarks of wonderful truth.�?

“They would rather be weak when they could be strong, they would rather dwell in darkness with undisturbed faith built on error than seek the light. The path of the truth-seeker is not an easy one, for the pioneer does not achieve truth with ease.�?

“The things that are most valuable and most highly priced are not lightly earned, but only through perplexity and doubt, with earnestness, with reverence, with the desire to know as your motto, can you achieve those truths which mean so much.�?

But always remember this also. The soul must be prepared. No truth comes to you until the soul has earned that truth. Til then, your efforts are in vain, for you are not ready and equipped. That is what was meant by casting pearls before swine.�?

Then a sitter mentioned an effort to revise the Bible that seemed foredoomed for failure.

“Let them try,�?said the guide. “Encourage all those who are on the side of opposing vested interest. Let this new spirit of reform permeate where it can.�?

“Not all is achieved in a blinding flash of revelation. Sometimes another method has to be employed - the little drops of water that drip away on the stone until they wear it away.�?

“Ours is a great task. We do not seek to perform wonders that will enable ignorance to stare us with mouth agape and with wide-eyed astonishment. We do not seek to convert masses in one instantaneous revelation.�?

“Ours is the constant fight against selfishness, self-interest, the powers that belong to all the darkness of life. Prejudice, superstition, error, jealous, greed, avarice, hate - against these we are at war.�?

“We seek to advance our cause wherever we can, wherever we find receptive hearts, receptive minds, receptive souls.�?

“For years it was with difficulty that we laboured. The opposition seemed so gigantic, the obstacles insuperable, yet we toiled on unceasingly, knowing always that with the power of the Great Spirit behind us and with a few faithful, valiant hearts to co-operate with us, we could not fail.�?

“You who live today can see the fruits of nearly a century of arduous toil. All this is as naught compared with what shall be achieved, for the tide has turned. Now we are marching forward to victory and nothing can stop us ....�?

“Just as calmly, yet as emphatically, do we declare we are marching forward to victory. Light triumphs over darkness, knowledge defeats ignorance, joy replaces sorrow and truth is the victor.�?

Then obviously addressing Spiritualists the world over, the guide said:

“I want you who are engaged in this task to know always that the power behind you desires to serve you as you serve others.�?

“How I wish that the blinkers were removed from your eyes, so that you could see. How I wish that you could know as I know.�?

“You would never despair. Gloom would find not even a tarrying place in your beings, for you would realize the strength that surrounds you.�?

Giving a hint of the system used on the Other Side to communicate inspiration from the higher planes, Silver Birch explained that “ours is an ascending ladder.�?

“Each rung is joined to the one above,�?he went on, “so that the lowliest in your world of matter has access to the highest in the realm of spirit.�?

“The ladder of Jacob was not a figment of the imagination, but the symbol of an eternal reality, for up that ladder every soul can climb, rung by rung. From earth to heaven it ranges, supported always by the power of the Great Spirit.�?

The guide devoted this particular sitting to conversation more personal to the sitters than was his usual custom. He had been discussing difficulties before he uttered the following benediction which is applicable to all:

“When shadows cross your path, remember they are but shadows, not reality. When clouds obscure the sun, remember they are but clouds. When beset by trial and difficulty, remember these are but birds of passage that will continue their flight when they have but rested for a short while.�?

“The knowledge that you all possess is more priceless than all the treasures of the world of matter. We do not bring you gold or silver, diamonds or precious jewels. Rather do we seek to bring the priceless jewels of the spirit, the greatest treasures that you can have.�?

“Prize them. Put them in a setting of love and realize that these are the gifts that the Great Spirit bestows you with loving care and divine affection.�?

“Look up always, not down. Realize that the mighty and majestic power which brought you into being and breathed into you the life-giving essence of its own spirit will uphold and sustain you day by day.�?

“Incline your hearts to His, subdue your souls to His, fill your minds with the wisdom that comes from His inexhaustible reservoir and know that those who seek to give service and labour for the upliftment of the weak, the fallen and the needy are protected by the mantle of the spirit.�?

“Go forward, steady and sure in the knowledge which is yours. Use it wisely and well. Remember your responsibilities as instruments of the Great Spirit, who in our many ways we all seek to service, so as to hear His benediction, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant,�?may the Great Spirit bless you all.�?

The guide assured those in attendance, “You will all live after you have ‘died,�?and you will not realize until then what it is to live or to feel the real glory of life untrammeled, free to rejoice in liberty of spirit which your imprisoned souls cannot understand today.�?

“How can a bird which has never been outside the cage realize what it is to fly from branch to branch, to have no prison bars?�?

“Why was the soul imprisoned in the body at all?�?asked one of the sitters.

“Just as the seed is put into darkness, there to gain strength before it can burst into life, the seed of human life is put into darkness to obtain the strength of human experience before it can burst into the life of the spirit,�?was the reply.

“All the experiences of human life are part of the great scheme. Those experiences which you like least of all - the sadness, the bitterness, the tears, the disappointments, the suffering and the pain - these are very valuable for your souls.�?

“But you cannot realize that at the time. It is only when you can look back on the whole, and not judge by the part, that you can get a clear picture of the values of life. Through all your adversities the character is tried. Through tears and sorrow the soul is strengthened.�?

“We look at life not through physical eyes but with the knowledge of spirit life, where the true balance is struck. Those who live wisely are the ones who seek to turn all experiences into advantage to their souls, who do not try to flee from trial and temptation but seek to use the innermost strength to face difficulties, for it is in that spirit that character is evolved and strengthened. How very simple are these great truths, so simple that they are beyond many of your intellectuals.�?

Commenting on the fact that the circle was then composed mostly of young people, Silver Birch said, “I rejoice that, whilst you have so many years of physical life in front of you, you are enabled to appreciate the realities of spiritual truth.�?

“We regard it as a great privilege,�?remarked one of the regular sitters.

“And as a responsibility,�?said the guide. “That is the price of all knowledge. You all have the greatest privilege in the world of matter, the privilege of being able to use your knowledge for service. When all the things that are counted great in your world of matter have passed away, the service that you have rendered to one another will yield your eternal progress.�?

“We preach the religion of service, service, service, not of creeds, not of rituals, not of doctrines - unless they make you serve. Ceremony, observances, these are unimportant. What does count is that you exercise your spirit - the Great Spirit that is within you.�?

“What is your definition of religion?�?asked another circle member.

“To me, it means but one thing,�?said Silver Birch. “To serve the Great Spirit by serving His children.�?

This guide gave the complete answer to those who criticize Spiritualists for “disturbing the dead�?and, they say, “dragging them back unwillingly to talk to us.�?

“I cannot make you realize the pleasure it gives me to be able to talk with you through this medium,�?he said. “To be with you in the spirit is no new experience for me, but to talk with you face to face makes me very happy. Always remember, I am here to serve you. I am your friend, unseen perhaps, but your willing servant. If at any time I can be of service, you call on me. You disturb the dead!�?

One sitter asked about an experience that had befallen a relative of hers. He wondered whether it was an influence that was good or evil.

“You can all banish from your minds the thought that anything that is unenlightened - or, as you would say, evil - can ever touch you,�?the guide said. “You live and move under the protection of the Great Spirit and His laws.

“If there is no evil in your hearts, then only good can reach you, for only good can dwell where goodness reigns. None but the servants of the Great Spirit come into your presence. You need have no fears. The power which envelops you, the power which supports and seeks to guide you and inspire you is the power that emanates from the Great Spirit of all.�?

“That power can sustain you in all your trials and difficulties. That power can change your storms into sunshine, and bring you out of the darkness of despair into the light of knowledge. Your feet are set on pathways of progress. There is no need for fear ....�?

“Much that is regarded as important in your world is but a veneer that has only a passing value.�?

“True education is the growth of the soul,�?continued the guide. “You become educated as your soul-powers reach out and unfold their latent divinity.�?

“The mere acquisition of knowledge is of little value, and might be a very selfish pursuit unless the knowledge is acquired to be of service to others.�?

“Do not judge by the outer semblance. The difference between us always is that you judge from the outer manifestation while we who see with the eyes of the spirit see motive and purpose, which are more important. Strive to see the eternal realities behind the passing phases.�?

“Rank, title, profession or calling, the colour of skins - what are these in the sight of the Great Spirit? True wealth and true nobility are of the soul, the spirit, the mind, for these are the eternal realities.�?

“The Nazarene taught the same things: ‘The kingdom of heaven is within�? ‘Lay not up for yourself treasures on earth where moth and rust doth corrupt.�?We teach the same truth for truth is truth and eternal principles cannot change.�?

“I know it is hard for you who are encased in matter to think in terms of spiritual reality, but that is the purpose of your return, to try and help you to adjust yourselves to get the true focus and perspective of life.�?

“Remember that your world is but an infinitesimal fragment of your eternal lives. Do not confuse the shadows with the reality.�?

Silver Birch reminded the circle that, though they had grown accustom to the teachings that he brought, to others - some of them very weary, some of them sick at heart, some of them perplexed and full of doubt - the spirit message came as “a breath of sweet, fresh, clean air that blows away the lingering cobwebs and enables the mind to become invigorated.�?

“Sometimes the soul has to travel through much perplexity and doubt, through much sadness, weariness and disillusionment before it is ready for the light of spiritual truth,�?he continued.

“Our work is spreading - that much I know and can say with certainty. That is why I always stress the note of optimism and tell you we are marching forward to victory.�?/EM>