the heavenly inhabitants, we are like a man in
a darksome cell through which a dim ray of light penetrates. He observes
but few objects, and these very obscurely. But as soon as our soul is
freed from the body, soaring heavenward like a bird released from its
cage, its vision is at once marvelously enlarged. It requires neither eyes
to see nor ears to hear, but beholds all things in God as in a mirror. "We
now," says the Apostle, "see through a glass darkly; but then face to
face. Now, I know in part; but then I shall know even as I am known."(192)
In our day we know what wonderful facility we have in communicating with
our friends at a distance. A message to Berlin or Rome with the answer,
which a century ago would require sixty days in transmission, can now be
accomplished in sixty minutes.

I can hold a conversation with an acquaintance in San Francisco, three
thousand miles away, and can talk to him as easily and expeditiously as if
he were closeted with me here in Baltimore.

Nay more, we can distinctly recognize one another by the sound of our
voice.

If a scientist had predicted such events, a hundred years past, he would
be regarded as demented. And yet he would not be a visionary, but a
prophet.

Let us not be unwise in measuring Divine power by our finite reason.

If such revelations are made in the natural order, what may we not expect
in the supernatural world? If science gives us such rapid and easy means
of corresponding with our fellow beings on foreign shores, what methods
may not the God of Sciences employ to enable us to communicate with our
brethren on the shores of eternity?

"There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in
your philosophy."

That the spirits of the just in heaven are clearly conversant with our
affairs on earth is manifest from the following passages of Holy Writ. The
venerable Patriarch Jacob, when on his deathbed, prayed thus for his two
grandchildren: "May the angel that delivereth me from all evils bless
these boys!"(193) Here we see a holy Patriarch--one singularly favored by
Almighty God, and enlightened by many supernatural visions, the father of
Jehovah's chosen people--asking the angel in heaven to obtain a blessing
for his grandchildren. And surely we cannot suppose that he would be so
ignorant as to pray to one that could not hear him.

The angel Raphael, after having disclosed himself to Tobias, said to him:
"When thou didst pray with t