Silver Birch and Gordon Higginson

Here is the characteristic welcome that Silver Birch, guide of Hannen Swaffer’s home circle, gave to three mediums, all friends of his, who were visitors that night:

“It is always a great pleasure and privilege for me to meet any of our co-operators with us in spreading divine truths which are so much needed in your sick, violent, destructive world of today. The opportunities for service are there for all who are ready to help.”

The guide told Gordon Higginson, “Even you are not always aware of the tremendous help that you have received at times when you needed it most.’’ After the visitor agreed with this comment, Silver Birch told him of the spirit presence of some who were close to Gordon and added, “They have never left you.”

Higginson: “I thought they would be here tonight.”

This led the guide to say: “Death cannot separate those whom love and affection have joined. You have demonstrated it so many times to others, so you must know it is a truth which will always be yours. You did not choose an easy path. Like others you chose a difficult one. You wanted to meet the challenge. I know that. You have not failed. You have made your mark. If you have not always succeeded in winning the esteem and co-operation of those who should be your closest allies, you must be sorry for them because they have had the opportunities and have not taken them.”

Higginson: ‘‘It is very worrying at times.’’

“The work will not fail,” said the guide. “The power of the spirit will not be dissipated. The breakthrough that has been established will never cease. The bridgeheads have been consolidated. They will continue to extend and increase as opportunities and conditions make this possible.”

Higginson: “We seem to have so many barriers to overcome, and difficulties and opposition to face.”

"These are good for you.” said Silver Birch

Higginson: “Sometimes it is frustrating because there seem to be so many changes that must be made.”

Silver Birch reminded him of a previous visit. “You asked me about a problem you had and I said the many are more important than the few.”

Higginson: “That is correct. I was looking at the various notes I have taken afterwards. Those were the words.”

“And it still is true today. You have to face the challenges, the obstacles, difficulties, frustrations and irritations often caused by those who should not create them. But this is the problem on which we constantly engage ourselves. You know the phrase, ‘How the angels weep.’ We weep because we do our best. Then we see that the one who should be serving turns away from the path and the glorious opportunity is lost. But the work will go on.”

Gordon said: “What does worry me is that in the past we had many wonderful and dedicated people to do the work. It seems to be more necessary now. Yet it is difficult to find the right people.”

“It is because they have not had enough of the challenges to face and hurdles to overcome. That is why you should welcome all these. When you come to my world you will thank the Great Spirit for all those difficulties, and take for granted the things that were easy. The easy ones are no problem.”

Gordon persisted: “We have lost the mediums. Spiritualism is built on mediumship. We wonder what is going to happen as far as new mediums are concerned.”

“You must try to realise there is an overall plan conceived by the highest intelligences in our world. I have been present at some of their council meetings. This plan has taken cognisance of every possible factor. The blueprint is there and it will fulfil itself in your world. “The Great Spirit, filled with infinite wisdom, created man with a measure of free will. If the Great Spirit had wanted man to be a puppet or a marionette, with no choice, that would have happened. But infinite wisdom decided that man should have a measure of relative free will. He could make a choice as to whether he would be a selfish individual concerned only with his own material desires and welfare. “That is the choice, but advisably I used the words ‘relative free will.’ This allows man to hamper, delay, obstruct temporarily what I call the infinite processes of creation. But man cannot halt them. He cannot prevent the divine plan from fulfilling itself in your world.

“You talk about the lack of mediums. There are sufficient mediums for the services that are to be performed at this stage of your evolution. As people are ready to receive so more mediums will be provided. They will not necessarily come within the purview of your organisation or any other. They may be in home circles, or individuals working on their own. They may not even call themselves Spiritualists, mediums, psychics or even sensitives. But the label does not matter; the service is important."

“Have no fear for the morrow: concern yourself with today. You play your part; we will play ours. I promise that we will never fail you, though alas it can be said often the people in your world fail us. That is when the angels weep.

“No call for help, no desire to serve will go unheeded as far as we are concerned. We know your spiritual, mental and physical requirements. We will supply all that is needed at the time when you need it. But as I have said before, we can do things only in our way and in our time, we cannot do them in your way and in your time. Forgive me if I say that you are not the best judges of when the time is appropriate for spirit power to descend. All is determined by the state of the soul. If it is ready to receive it will do so. If it is not ready to receive there is nothing we can do."

‘‘It is true there is to some extent a lack of spiritual education. It is also true unfortunately that we see vanity, egotism and guide worship. Fundamentals are neglected while bypaths are explored that have no real contribution to make to your world. Have I answered you?”

“Certainly,” said Gordon. “You seem to know well in advance the situation around us.”

“If you could be where I am, you would banish every possible shadow of worry, fear or apprehension as to what the morrow will bring. You have the greatest power in the universe working through you. It will not fail.”

Higginson: “I suppose we do have to make decisions.”

“That is your element of free will. Do the best you can is all we expect of you. If you were perfect you would not be in your world. You have the inestimable privilege of serving others. That is the most important contribution you can make. That is why you were born into your world.
“Every soul in your world gets the opportunity to fulfil itself. The natural laws are so devised that none can be outside their operation. They are inexorable and never fail. The seasons automatically follow one another. The tide ebbs and flows with ceaseless mathematical regularity. The flowers, trees, birds, the whole of creation always sings its paean of praise to the supreme power that devised such a wondrous plan on earth in which everything fulfils itself according to its nature.”

“I follow completely what you say. I feel it is fortunate I came here tonight. What worries me is that there are so few people doing this work. When the medium you use is not here, where are we going to get such wonderful inspiration?’’

“We will find others as the time requires them. We will never neglect you; we will not withdraw. The power of the spirit has come to stay. None can banish it, and it will fulfil its divine purpose. Throughout all the centuries there have been sporadic upsurges which have failed for a variety of reasons. It will not happen again. Your world is at a precarious stage of its evolution. It is almost seemingly a touch and go situation. You will come through. Pay no heed to the Cassandras, to the prophets and criers of woe.

“The Great Spirit has placed a limit on the damage and harm that can be done by man in your world. There is no power in your world that is able to destroy the whole of it. There is no power that can kill the physical bodies of all who dwell in it. There is a limit to what man can do with the most complicated, efficient technological devices that he can invent.

“The power of the spirit is stronger than any power of matter that can be produced. Matter is inferior to spirit. Spirit is king and matter is servant. Spirit is supreme, matter exists only because of spirit operating through it. When spirit withdraws matter disintegrates. Spirit is the overruling power to ensure that you will come through. Base your confidence on the knowledge which should be the foundation of all your philosophy. When you are confronted with situations where your present knowledge cannot help you, then add some faith to it, founded on what you know. Faith has its part to play when it is reasoned, logical and credible.

“Trust us and we will help you whenever the time is ripe. When the conditions are necessary and right we can produce physical results in your world. We have done it many times and we will continue. Tell your people we will not fail them. Let them make sure they will not fail us.
“If money is lacking it will be found. No worthwhile cause is ever lost because the means have not been there. Is that not true? Have you not found the money is available when required? No servant of the spirit will lack the necessities of physical living. We will provide them. They will not go hungry. They will not starve, they will come through.

“Do you know the words ‘sursum corda’? They mean, ‘keep up your heart.’ So much has been shown to you, the sublimity of the power of the spirit, the most majestic force in the universe, the most radiant, the most beautiful, glorious and effective. It cannot fail. Do the best you can; that is all we ask of you, and do not be pessimistic.”

Higginson: “I am probably going through a pessimistic phase.”

“You have seen the light of the sun. When the clouds obscure it, remember they are only clouds that will gradually fade away and allow the radiance of the sun to illumine once again. The sun is still shining even when you cannot see it.’’

“I appreciate the effort you have made on our behalf, and all the wonderful help we have received. I go away very much better than I came.”

“We are reaching far more people than you realise. We are breaking through in many places. I am an optimist; nothing will shake my optimism.’’

Higginson: “Your message is put so simply and always is profound.”

“I am a little more privileged than all of you here. I have seen the operation of the natural laws in higher and far more serene regions. I marvel at the perfection, wisdom and love responsible for them.”

Higginson: “You make us feel so humble.”

“We are all humble compared with the mighty power that we try to represent.”

Silver Birch greeted the other visitors, both healers, Eileen Hambling and her daughter Lilanthea. Eileen said: “We owe a great debt to the Indian guides. One by one the mediums pass away. There do not seem to be any to take their places. We want more Indian guides to help us.

“Sound the war cry,” the guide jokingly told her. “The means will be found when the time is right. Of course mediums will have to die and come to our world. Physical immortality is not the plan of the Great Spirit. Earth is only a transient sphere for you. It is not your permanent home.”

Eileen explained that she worried as to what would happen when the time came for Silver Birch’s medium to pass on.

“Stop worrying: worry is a bad counsellor. Have no fear. The plan will fulfil itself. I look back at the beginning of my mission with just one instrument. Then I was unable to speak your language with any degree of efficiency. I realise how fortunate we are to have reached so many people. Others will follow. They will have the means at their disposal of reaching far more people than we have done because of technological devices that are to come.”

After welcoming her daughter, the guide told both healers: “You cannot measure what you are achieving. These are the imponderables. You heal physical bodies, but, more important, you touch souls. You allow the patient’s tiny seed of divinity to be stirred into activity and begin to flower. It is a start that ultimately will enable the individual to achieve fulfilment. Rejoice at the opportunities for service you enjoy. You were born to heal.”

Said Lilanthea. “Just occasionally it gets a little discouraging.”

“I know. I have not worked in your world for all this time without being unaware of human frailties. You have the divine potential, the divine armoury on which you can call. If that is not sufficient, call on us. We will not fail you.

“When you feel tired, frustrated or pessimistic, withdraw from the noisy, strident clangour of your world into the silence of your soul. Gradually attune yourself to all the rich radiance that is around you. Drink in all the beauty. Experience the calm, tranquillity, repose and steadfastness that this attunement has to offer. Then refreshed, take up the cudgels and start again.

“You must continue; you cannot draw back. Give service whenever you can. Deny none who come to seek your aid. Do not look for them. They will come to you. There is no need to go out like a town crier and say, ‘Who wants to be healed?’ They will beat a path to your door.”

When the time came to end the session, Silver Birch gave this benediction: “Let us be grateful for all that we have received. Let us strive to serve, so that we develop and unfold and are able to receive even more. Let us always seek to attune ourselves to the highest that we can reach.
“Let us try and make our wills the same as the will of the Great Spirit, so that we are aware of the divine love that comes to us, the cloak of protection that is around each one of us, and have that inner peace that comes to all those who strive to be at one with the Great Spirit. And may the Great Spirit bless you.”

Acknowledging the copyright of the Spiritual Truth Foundation

mac wrote:In connection with recent postings elsewhere mentioning SB....

When I read his teachings now I feel as lifted as I did when I first read them....and yet there are some who are not reached, not moved, not lifted. Yet these individuals purport to be Spiritualists or at least to subscribe to the philosophy etc

Hey, ho, takes all kinds to make a world..