Chapter I: Spirit Violet

Katie Ammidown Kinsey—the beautiful spirit to whom we are indebted for the larger part of the contents of this book—was the second daughter of Joseph and Ann Frances Kinsey, of Cincinnati, Ohio. Born in that city Oct. 7, 1856, the subject of this sketch lived in the home of her parents—save when she was away at school—until her twenty-first year, when, in the July of 1877, while making a visit at the home of an uncle in Milton, Indiana, she was suddenly summoned to enter the spirit world after an illness of only a few days.

The character and disposition of Miss Kinsey were of the most exemplary and lovely nature. Of her it could be truly said: “None knew thee but to love thee, nor named thee but to praise.” Hers was no common life; imbued with an earnest and deep sympathy for humanity, and ever desirous of doing good, her days were spent in thoughtful care for others, and in seeking to give practical expression to the golden rule. In a memorial address framed by the officers of the Sabbath school, at which Katie was a regular attendant, and presented to her parents as a token of the rare appreciation in which she was held by all, are to be found the following commendatory words of her earthly life:—

“Her heart was open, frank, and transparent; we all recognized the
loveliness and beauty of her character and life, and they have left an
impression not easily removed. She has always been the same sweet,
gentle spirit; no expression which was not fitting to be made
anywhere, no harsh word or unkind look marred her beautiful life;
always ready to discharge cheerfully any duty assigned to her, and
always well. As a scholar she seemed to absorb all that was taught,
and to drink in the great truth of redeeming love. Her long connection
with our school, and her interest in everything that would promote its
welfare, we record as worthy of all imitation.”

For some time before her physical decease Miss Kinsey displayed a taste for literary pursuits, which was very gratifying to her friends, as well as pleasing to herself. For a number of months previous to her last illness, she had filled the position of editress of a lively little paper called _The Spectator_, published by the Friends’ Lyceum, an organization of which she was a member; and it is needless to remark that she managed the sheet with becoming skill, ability, and discretion.

Widely was the death of their beloved president and editress deplored by the various members of the society, and a set of resolutions, expressing grief at their loss, and the esteem in which she was held by the organization, was framed and adopted at its first meeting following her decease.

Notices of the death of Miss Kinsey appeared in the Cincinnati papers, and bore expression to the universal love and respect in which she was held; while letters of condolence were forwarded to her parents from all quarters.

Shortly after the decease of their daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Kinsey collected the memorial addresses, resolutions, letters of sympathy, newspaper articles, etc., on her death, and in connection with the literary productions of their ascended child, published them in an elegantly bound volume, copies of which were presented to the numerous friends who had known and loved her.

This memorial volume bears the following inscription upon its title page:—

“Thus, far beyond all noise of earthly strife,
Or silent death, rest ’neath the long, green sod;
Thou art gone triumphant into perfect life,
The soul’s _true_ life in God.”

The articles that follow, from the pen of Miss Kinsey, will indicate to the reader her mental ability, and the liberal opinions entertained by her. They were written while filling the position of editress of _The Spectator_, and published in its columns on the dates specified:—

SYMPATHY.

“Of all the gifts given to man, the power to sympathize is the most
God-like, and the man who has it not knows not what life is; when he
reaches his journey’s end on this side, having been supremely selfish
all the way, he will discover that what he called life was but a
living death after all.

“Love and sympathy seem nearly synonymous, but the former can be
selfish, while the very essence of the latter is thought for others.
Genius is but an intense power to sympathize, coupled with ability to
express the same. In fact, this one word makes a part of so many good
things that to enjoy life at all we _must_ sympathize with nature,
man, or God.

“A sympathy with nature is the source of marvelous comfort;
Shakespeare understood it when he said:

‘And this our life, exempt from public haunt,
Finds tongues in trees, books in the running brooks,
Sermons in stones, and good in everything.’

“There are times when life grown burdensome hangs like a leaden weight
upon our necks; we would get away from ourselves, and it is necessary
to use all our power to crush the wish that we had never been born;
then if we can go into the fields or woods, and, throwing ourselves
upon the ground, rest our heads on the loving earth, how soon we find
relief. The quiet breeze is like a friendly hand upon our brows; the
voice of the brook, the song of birds, and hum of insects are like
balm upon a wound; we are children in our mothers’ arms, and the grand
old trees are our brothers and sisters. Whatever human friends may
leave or disappoint us, we have always sweet sympathizers in the
flowers, trees, brooks, rocks, grass, and everything which springs to
life in the fields or woods, on the mountains or in the valleys.

“A sympathy with our fellow-beings is higher than that with nature,
because more active and requiring forbearance. ‘Put yourself in his
place’ has a world of meaning. We should strive that ours may be the
finger which shall touch the secret spring in our neighbor’s heart,
which shall unlock the good lying dormant there for want of help to
bring it out. Strive to realize their griefs and temptations. If we
could for one short hour put ourselves in the place of some one whom
we now condemn with so much bitterness; if we could see how
circumstances have wrapped their fatal web around him, how much the
fatal tendency to do evil is the terrible legacy of his parents, how
often would harsh judgment lie low in the dust, and loving mercy cover
with her shielding mantle? If we could throw off this crust of ice,
with which so many of us seem to have encased ourselves, how much more
good we could do? _Now_, we stand apart; _then_, joined together, each
helping the other, we would fulfill the purpose of our being.

“Sympathy with God! Is it blasphemous for weak mortals to think of
such a thing? No! The loving Father alone is acquainted with us, and
is therefore the only thorough sympathizer we have. ‘He knoweth our
frame; He remembereth that we are dust.’ We commence to be in harmony
with God just as soon as by cultivating sympathy for man, we become
fellow-workers with Him.”

MARCH 2, 1877.

GIRLS.

“Girls are queer creatures, but we cannot help liking them. Under all
the silliness and vanity there is a vein of gold in everyone which is
undoubtedly genuine,—it comes to the surface sometimes, but is often
so deeply imbedded in nonsense that a superficial observer would not
have the slightest suspicion of its existence. Part of this want of
sense is natural, but a great deal of it is acquired in a negative
way. The majority of girls have very little object in life, and cannot
see the use of accumulating material which they never expect to use;
to be sure they all intend to be married some time, but, judging from
the specimens of male suitors, they see that which requires but very
little effort and less sense. So, when papa and mamma, after a great
deal of consultation, decide upon a good school their daughter goes
there, but she could hardly tell you why. If she has no positive love
for study, her chief end and aim, while in school, will be to shuffle
off the lessons for the day with the utmost dispatch, and ‘there’s an
end.’ When school days are over, she expects to have nothing more to
do with the subjects there considered, excepting a little reading,
writing, spelling, and arithmetic. She is to enter society, which to
hundreds means spending the days with a little house-work, making a
good many calls, and doing some shopping. The evenings are devoted to
dancing or talking with vapid-brained young men, who never had an idea
in their lives, and consider it an insult if a lady ventures one. Or
worse than this, perhaps they must talk with young men whom they know
_have_ sense, but will not condescend to use it in their presence.

“After a while the girl is expected to marry one of these individuals.
They do very well for a partner in a cotillion, but how about life?
Let us see what she has to say about it, talking to a confidential
friend: ‘Oh, yes, it is decided that Mr. B. and I are to be made one.
I can’t say I love him devotedly, and really think him decidedly
stupid sometimes; but I suppose it is all for the best, for you see I
cannot do a single thing, and if papa should be taken away or lose his
health, having nothing to depend upon but his salary now, what would
become of us then? As it is, Mr. B. is rich, and I can give a nice,
comfortable home to both mamma and papa at any time after we are
married.’

“What silly and romantic ideas we had about marriage when we went to
school? How soon they vanish in real life! _Here_ we have to take the
best we can get and be thankful for it. We believe the above to be a
fair sample of hundreds of the marriages made at the present day. The
man wants a housekeeper, the woman a home. Each gets what he or she
bargained for, and so much more that it is not strange the daily
papers are full of accounts of divorce suits. Let the girls, as well
as the boys, be educated to do something whereby they can make an
honorable living, and we believe a great deal of unhappiness will be
prevented. It seems to us but justice to allow women to do ‘whatsoever
their hands find to do with their might,’ whether it be dressmaking,
cooking, washing and ironing, or practicing law and medicine. It also
seems no more than right that she should have a voice in the affairs
of the country under whose laws she lives and educates her children.

“The sterner sex need have no fears that when woman has the ballot she
will usurp their privilege of smoking, swearing, wearing the hair
short, fighting at the polls, and other such delicacies; neither will
she monopolize the stump at election times, and harangue the people,
calling everyone who disagrees with her names that decent people would
blush to address to a dog. Some people pretend to fear that when women
vote they will have no time for domestic affairs, and that the
institution of home itself will be destroyed. Heart-rending pictures
are drawn of _pater familias_, seated by the deserted hearth-stone,
vainly endeavoring to quiet a weeping infant, while its mother has
gone to the ‘pollsys, wollsys.’ As the old woman said: ‘We feel for
that man, but we can’t find him’; neither can we find the mother who
would intrust her infant to such doubtful care. From the fuss made
about the time taken from domestic duties one would think it took a
week to put a small slip of paper into a medium-sized box. Why, we
have known of men who could put in half a dozen in less than half that
time, and no one suspects women to be less clever than men.

“As for home, who made the home in the first place? Woman, of course;
and she loves it as she loves her life. Here the golden vein in her
nature _will_ come to the surface and sparkle resplendently. Will her
home be any the less sweet when she feels that she can indeed be a
help-meet to her husband if disaster overtake him in business? Will
her children be less dear because she has the consciousness that she
can protect and care for them if the head of the house be taken away?
Will she love her husband less, knowing that she married him to have a
loving companion, and not simply a person to support her?

“A woman naturally wishes to respect and look up to her husband,
therefore, we have decided that society, when it is perfected, should
be looked upon as a flight of stairs,—conceding to man the position on
the highest step, if you please, but there is a woman on the one just
below, and the steps are not very high. In this way they alternate
until we reach the lowest step, and what find we there? A disconsolate
old bachelor, with disheveled hair, croaking a tune, the burden of
which is that women have no business to vote.”

MAY 18, 1877.

The following little gem, published by Miss Kinsey in the _Spectator_ early in 1877, is here reproduced at the earnest solicitations of many friends:—

OLD AGE.

“It is a melancholy fact that the majority of mankind hate to grow
old. If sin was looked upon with as much shrinking and dread as is the
idea of growing old, there would speedily be a great reformation in
the world. This is a bad state of affairs; an evidence, in fact, that
we are looking through the wrong end of the glass. If we had a journey
to make, at the end of which there was a delightful country, more
beautiful than anything the imagination could picture, where all that
heart could desire should be ours, the one nearest his journey’s end
would not be looked upon as the most unfortunate. Yet this is often
the case in life; looking upon one far in advance, we think, because
his body is feeble and nearly worn out, he must be unhappy; he would
not be so if, having understood the journey, he had taken pains to
know and accept the blessings by the way.

“We confess that, looking upon life as seen now, there is often much
excuse for those who think youth the only pleasant season. Stopping to
think a moment, we see this is all wrong. Advancement, not
retrogression, is the proper watchword in all undertakings. Is the bud
more perfect than the flower, or the flower than the fruit? Old age is
the ripened fruit of life, and it remains entirely with _us_ to see
that it shall be sweet and pleasant to the taste, instead of bitter
and disagreeable. One cause for the latter condition we find lies in
persons who, having been disappointed themselves, say to their
children: ‘Have a good time while you are young; old age brings
nothing but care and responsibility.’ Better give a child poison at
once than start him out with that idea. Some will say: ‘Children are
so happy, being so innocent; do let them be children forever.’ The
innocence of childhood is unfortunately the result of ignorance, and
can never make character; one who does good because he knows not how
to do evil has no more character than the one who does evil because he
knows no good.

“In youth, knowing little, we have small ideas of life, and
consequently cannot have a broad and full enjoyment of it. But we
might as well remain children if the knowledge we gain with years does
not make us wiser and prevent us running off into every by-path we
see, getting nearly swamped in somebody else’s opinion, and having to
retrace our steps. Behaving in this manner, we cannot expect to reach
old age without being tired and disgusted with the journey. Having
worn out our brains endeavoring to make two parallel lines meet, and
our bodies trying to follow them to the impossible point, time has
been too short to consider that which is spiritual, and we must be
miserable at the thought of entering a life entirely so. As the body
becomes feeble the soul should grow strong and triumphant, for then we
_know_ that our feet are just upon the border of the ‘Promised Land,’
only waiting till the thin mist which hides it shall be dispersed by
the sunlight of God’s will.”

For some years Mr. Joseph Kinsey, the father of Miss Katie, has been an earnest and devoted Spiritualist, and his opinions concerning the future life of man are well-known in the community where he resides, and among the business men of the country with whom he associates. His daughter, however, had not become convinced of the truths of the spiritual philosophy previous to her death. Let us quote her own words on this subject as given through her chosen medium, in a communication to her father some years after her transition to the higher life:—

“I was not well enough acquainted with Spiritualism, dear father, to
understand and accept its revealments; nor was it until I myself
became a disembodied spirit, and realized that I possessed the power
to return and intelligently communicate with my mortal friends, that I
cared to investigate its claims, and to profit by the teachings and
privileges that Spiritualism affords to man.”

After her departure from the mortal form, Miss Kinsey embraced every opportunity to communicate with her father and other friends; but it was not until Dec. 22, 1878, that she appeared at a circle in South Boston, Mass., and controlled the now well-known _Banner of Light_ medium, Miss M. T. Shelhamer, who was at that time the message medium of the _Voice of Angels_,—a spiritual journal then and now published semi-monthly in Boston,—and gave the following lengthy communication, which appeared in that journal Jan. 15, 1879:—

“It was in the beautiful summer time that I passed away from earth,
but not from the love, the true home affections, of my parents’
hearts. Then the birds, the zephyrs, and the flowers made life
beautiful and glad, and earth rang with the melody of perfected
spring. Now the blasts of winter have appeared,—the cold blast and the
biting storm. I loved the glad, warm summer; I loved the winter too,
with its diadem of glittering ice-gems, and its white drapery of snow,
covering all unsightly places with a robe of purity, just as the
mantle of charity, drawn by the hand of pitying kindness, covers all
unsightly blemishes in the lives of those around it. I come with
gladness tonight, not weak and worn out with pain, but strong and
robust, to bring the stalks of creamy, white Christmas lilies, that
breathe only of purity and peace, and to plant them in the hearts of
my darling father and mother, with the blessings of _all_ their dear
ones who have developed, and are developing the graces of spiritual
culture in the higher life.

“Oh, father, oh, mother, life is so beautiful! Here the forces and
attributes of the spirit do not ripen at the expense of the external
form. Spirit growth is so natural, so in harmony with outward law,
that the inner keeps pace with the outer, and both expand together.
The student presents no paling cheek, no wasted frame, for knowledge
is gained while living in accordance with nature’s laws. My spirit is
expanding, developing; I am daily gaining strength. My instructors are
judicious and kind, and it is so glorious to express with perfected
language the true, pure essence of thought that permeates the spirit.

“By-and-bye we will meet and greet you, oh, so lovingly in our own
dear spirit home. Until then we come to you daily, nestling in our
sweet, old home, drawing love and sympathy from your souls, bringing
peace and affection to crown your spirits. Eight jewels[1] flash a
radiance of celestial love toward you tonight from this distant place.
Eight gems, polished by the hand of the Great Lapidary, shine in the
crown of light that awaits you above.”

Footnote 1:

Referring to herself and brothers and sisters in the spirit world.

“‘Yes, sir,’ addressing Mr. Robert Anderson, the chairman of the
_Voice of Angels_ circle, ‘I have returned from spirit life before,
but not here. We frequently come. We have manifested tangibly and
satisfactorily to our friends at different places. Last summer we did
so in an unmistakable manner at the West. A year ago, some of us tried
to manifest at Mrs. Boothby’s, in Boston. We come as often as we can.
Our home is full of harmony and love, and it strengthens our spirits
to come, while it consoles our parents to believe that we are with
them. My uncle, who passed away many years ago by accident, has gained
a great deal of experience and knowledge with my father at the bank,
and in other business places; and he blesses father for his faith in
spirit ministration, for it is of great assistance to him.

“The spirit editor[2] of the _Voice_ tells me that if I desire at any
time to write out my thoughts, or to give expression to my ideas
through this medium (Miss Shelhamer), he will be pleased to publish
them. I thank him, and may avail myself of his kind offer; should I do
so, father and all my friends will recognize me under the _nom de
plume_ of Spirit Violet, as that is the name I shall assume. I love
the violets, their sweet perfume sheds an atmosphere of beauty around
me, and they breathe of innocence and peace.

Footnote 2:

L. Judd Pardee, through whose agency the _Voice of Angels_ was
established and managed, in connection with D. C. Densmore, the
publisher.

“I know not as I have given all I could wish, but must not trespass
longer. I thank you very kindly for receiving me. My name is Katie A.
Kinsey. I come from Cincinnati, Ohio. My father is Mr. Joseph Kinsey
of that city.”

The paper containing the above was forwarded according to the spirit’s direction to Cincinnati, and elicited a letter of inquiry from Mr. Joseph Kinsey, of that city, as to how and where the message was first obtained. Dr. D. C. Densmore, the publisher of the _Voice of Angels_, replied, giving all the facts of the case, as he had received them from the managers of the circle. The following response, received in due time by Dr. Densmore, and which explains itself, was published in the _Voice_ of Feb. 15, 1879, the very paper which contained the first literary production of Spirit Violet, given through the mediumship of Miss Shelhamer:—

“CINCINNATI, Feb. 3, 1879.

D. C. DENSMORE, North Weymouth, Mass.

Dear Sir,—I have your valued letter of the 20th ult., in reply to my
letter of inquiry for the particulars as to how and through what
medium that beautiful message came from Katie A. Kinsey, published in
your paper of Jan. 15th. Your very full statement of the facts and
circumstances, together with her sweet message of love, affection, and
sympathy, which has since been partially corroborated through J. V.
Mansfield, at 61 West 42nd St., New York, leads me to conclude that
the message is verily and truly from our darling daughter Katie, who
left her mortal form about nineteen months ago, aged twenty years. In
that message she brings to my remembrance occurrences in my father’s
family of nearly fifty years ago, of which she probably never heard in
her life. I send you this affirmation as a pleasing duty in sustaining
your work for the _Voice of Angels_.

Truly yours,
JOSEPH KINSEY.”

Shortly after the publication of the message above alluded to, Spirit Violet, Katie Kinsey, appeared to Miss Shelhamer for the purpose of writing for the press, and in the capacity of a literary spirit has attended that lady from that time to the present, forming one of her band of spirit intelligences, whose work it is to assist other spirits to communicate to their mortal friends through the message department of the _Banner of Light_, to instruct the denizens of earth concerning their duties to each other, and the best manner of preparing for their future life, and also to inform them of the condition, surroundings, and existence of spirits. Spirit Violet subsequently contributed regularly to the columns of the _Voice of Angels_, and it is from what she thus furnished to mortals from time to time concerning the real existence and experiences of spirits that we have selected the larger part of the contents of this book.

In a private letter written to her father some time since, the spirit thus explains how she happened to learn and avail herself of the mediumship of Miss Shelhamer:—

“When I learned that it was possible for spirits to take possession of
certain sensitives on earth, and through the organisms thus provided,
manifest their love and sympathy to their earthly friends, my great
anxiety to reach you and mother led me to eagerly seek for a medium
adapted to my purpose, and I availed myself of every opportunity to
express myself to you and others. I remembered that you were strongly
interested in the Message Department of the _Banner of Light_, and
that you held a high opinion of the abilities of the medium who
presided over it. So I expressed my desire to visit the _Banner_
circle to my spirit brother John, who promised to accompany me there
at an early date. But upon presenting myself at that circle I was
disappointed to find that it was utterly impossible for me to control,
or to influence in any manner, the medium whom I found there.

“Her magnetism did not in any degree assimilate with my own, and
though I visited her circles many times, and watched the ease with
which other spirits possessed themselves of her organism, yet I was
never able to perform a like operation.

“At those circles, however, I met the spirit Rev. John Pierpont, a
frequenter of that place, who noticed my anxiety, and at length
questioned me upon it. To him I related my troubles, and he kindly
volunteered to direct me to a medium through whom he thought I could
express myself. The spirit further stated that the lady to whom he
referred was under the charge of a band of spirits of which himself
and Mrs. Conant were members, who were developing her powers that they
might be utilized by the spirit world upon the _Banner of Light_
platform, as the lady who then presided at that office would soon be
unable to attend to her duties. And to further this end, a branch
office had been established at South Boston, where spirits who desired
to communicate with their friends, and were unable to do so at the
_Banner_ establishment, were given an opportunity to be heard through
the columns of the _Voice of Angels_.

“Mr. Pierpont then introduced me to the spirit brother of my present
medium, and I was invited by him to attend a circle at his earthly
home and to manifest myself through the organism of his sister.

“This occurred in the early fall; but though I became a regular
visitor at the weekly circles of the medium, it was not until the
following winter that I gained power to control her organism, and
indite that message which was afterward received by you through the
dear little paper. In the meantime I had made the acquaintance of Mr.
Pierpont, Mr. Pardee, John Critchley Prince, and other noble spirits
at those seances, by whom I was cordially invited to become a literary
contributor to the _Voice_.”

The selections from the writings of Spirit Violet, which this book contains, consist mainly of accounts and narratives of life in the spirit world, together with an intelligent exposition of methods employed by spirits in their labor for the benefit of mortals. We shall now leave the subject of this sketch to speak for herself in the chapters that follow, concerning those things that appertain to the realms of spirit life.