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January 24th, 1917.
Received by:James Padgett
Washington D.C.
I am here, William B. Cornelies.
Let me write and tell you that I have listened to your conversation
tonight, and have been much interested in what has been said, and
especially in that part of your talk where you spoke of the Divine
Love and the transformation of the soul into what you called the
Essence of the Father.
Well, I desire to say that I have considered spiritual or religious
matters for a long time and the ideas that you have expressed are
new to me, and open up to my investigation a new field of the possibilities
of the soul in its progress. It may seem strange to you that I,
who have been in the spirit world for a great many years and been
interested in the investigation of what I considered spiritual truths
should not have heard of this doctrine of the transformation of
the soul into the Essence of God, but it is a fact. Of course, I
have come in contact with many variety of spirits, and some who
claim to possess this Divine Love, but I never entered into any
conversation or discussion with them as to this question, as I was
satisfied that they were spirits who had imbibed on earth the orthodox
Christian beliefs, and were still possessed of the same, and that
their claims to what they called this love, were based upon what
might be called their beliefs in an imaginary, unsubstantial something,
which satisfied them, but which was not worthy of the consideration
of spirits who had given their whole lives in the spirit world,
to the study of spiritual truths, based upon the laws of the spirit
world as they became known to the intellects of men, capable of
studying and analyzing these laws, and the truths that they contained.
I have many associates who devote their time and thought to the
investigation of these laws and the truths that are deducible from
them, and who are men, or rather spirits, who do not accept any
thing or declaration as a truth that cannot be proved by scientific
principles and tests.
We, of course, are not of the sentimental or transcendental kind,
but confine ourselves to the pure and exact investigation of the
laws that govern what we perceive to be the actual condition of
spirit substances.
But your conversation has made an impression on me, and perceiving
that you men are earnest in your discussion, and seem to have a
firm conviction as to the truth of the fact that the souls of men
and spirits may be transformed by this love, with which I am not
acquainted, I commenced to think that there may be some spiritual
truths that lie beyond the scope of the investigations that I and
my companions may have given to spiritual truths. And so thinking
I should like to ask you some questions as to these matters, and
if possible, learn if as a truth, there exists such a thing as this
Divine Love as contradistinguished from the love that we all possess
to a greater or lesser degree. So if you are inclined to answer
my questions I should like to propound to you a few at this time.
Well I have heard what you said, and I have asked if Prof. Salyards
is present, and a beautiful intellectual looking spirit comes to
me and says that he is the Prof. and that he knows what you said
and that it will give him great pleasure to answer my questions
and to give me a full explanation of what this Divine Love is and
the manner in which it transforms the soul into the Essence of the
Father. And he directs my attention to a number of bright spirits,
and says that they are living examples of the fact of the existence
of this Love, and of the effect that it has on the souls of spirits
who possess it. And he says further, that as the appearance of the
spirit body discloses the condition of the soul, that if I will
look carefully I will find an appearance in all these spirits that
I do not find in spirits who do not claim to possess this love.
And upon a careful scrutiny I realize that what he says is true.
He invites me to a conversation, and I will go
with him.
I thank you for your consideration and will bid
you goodnight.
Very respectfully Yours,
William B. Cornelies
I was an inhabitant of England.
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