For the rest, I don’t think, if you will allow of my saying so, that you apprehend Swedenborg’s meaning very accurately always.  If Swedenborg saw sin and danger in certain communications, for instance, why did he consider it privilege on his own part to live in the world of spirits as he did.  True, he spoke of ‘danger,’ but it was to those who, themselves weak and unclean, did not hold ‘by the Lord.’  He distinctly said that in the first unfallen churches there was incessant communion, and that the ’new church, as it grew, would approximate more and more to that earlier condition.  There is a distinct prospect given in Swedenborg of an increasing aptitude in the bodies and souls of men towards communication with the Disembodied.  I consider that he foresaw not only what we are seeing (if these manifestations be veritable) but greater and more frequent phenomena of the same class,—­which does not in any way exclude considerable danger to some persons in the meanwhile.  And do you think I doubt that?  No indeed.  Unsettled minds, especially when under affliction, will lose their balance at moments,—­there is danger.  It is not the occasion for passion and fanaticism of sentiment, but for calm and reasonable inquiry into facts.  Let us establish the facts first, and then ‘try the spirits’ as the apostle directs; afterwards remains the difficulty of assuring oneself of the personalities.  I don’t think you should complain of the subject being unsatisfactory to you, because you don’t get ‘a sublime communication,’ or a characteristic evidence of some spirit known to you.  Much less would satisfy me.  But it seemed to me that the consideration of the subject disturbed you, made you uncomfortable, and that you didn’t approach any conclusion, and with that impression and not because of ‘contempt,’ be sure, I advised you to let it rest.  Why should we beat our heads against an obstacle which we can’t walk through?  Then your liability to influence is against you here as much as your attraction towards such high speculations is in your favour.  You have an ‘open mind,’ yes, but you leave all the doors open, and you let people come in every now and then, and lock them, and keep them locked as long as said people stand by.  The teachings of Spiritualism are much like the teachings in the world.  There are excellent things taught, and iniquitous things taught.  Only the sublime communications are, as far as I know, decidedly absent.  Swedenborg directs you to give no more weight to what is said by a spirit-man than by a man in the body, and there’s room for the instruction.  ’Heralds of Progress’ on one side, ‘Heralds of Light’ on the other, if a right thing is said, ‘judge ye.’  If infidels are here, there are devout, yes, and very orthodox Christians there.