INTRODUCTION.

He will, of course, make the same known to the world by proof on which the public may rely, always being careful to distinguish properly between vague imaginings and tangible fact. And even if it is admitted that a youth of twenty years—with only five months of school tuition and having been subjected throughout his life to the most unfavorable circumstances—could have (unknown to his most intimate associates) familiarized his mind by any external process with all important writings extant in all languages upon the subjects of cosmogony the study of the origin of the universe, astronomy, geology, ethnology, archaeology, mythology, theology, psychology, history, metaphysics, etc., etc.—the wisdom with which selections have been made from all these, the ability displayed in their classification, the bold and familiar criticism displayed in reference to them all, and especially the soaring flights of mind into regions not previously explored by any earthly being, will still constitute a phenomenon demanding explanation.

The fact is, however, it is known with absolute moral certainty to Mr. Davis’s most intimate acquaintances that he was, while in his normal state, totally uninformed on all the great leading subjects treated in his book until he read the manuscripts of his own lectures.

The question of whether Mr. Davis may have received much of the contents of this book by sympathetic influx original: "sympathetic influx"; a term used in spiritualism to describe the telepathic transfer of thoughts or feelings from one mind to another from the minds of those associated with him, we would prefer to have discussed by others—if, indeed, such a question can possibly occur. Suffice it to say that, for the best of reasons, we know that such a thing could not be. Many facts, principles, and theories are presented in this volume which were previously totally unconceived and unbelieved by any of Mr. Davis’s associates, especially on cosmological, theological, and spiritual subjects. One of Mr. Davis’s associates, at least, has been truly described as being in a merely "rudimental state" (see page 3 of the author’s address to the world); and the other, we presume, would have as little difficulty in proving that his mind has not been overburdened with knowledge upon the subjects discussed here. Should it be necessary, the evidence regarding this point will be presented hereafter, though this may not be the most gratifying to the personal vanity of the person who must take on the task of presenting it to the world.

If this law of sympathetic influx is admitted, however, it should be duly explained and defined before one concludes that it might not, under favorable circumstances, be a medium through which spirits of the higher world may transmit their knowledge to mankind on earth. Certainly, the sympathetic transmission of a thought from one person to another while both are in the body is quite as inexplicable as the transmission of the thoughts of a disembodied spirit to a person rendered properly susceptible to such influence. Regarding this subject, however, see the author’s remarks on Animal Magnetism an early term for hypnosis or mesmerism, Clairvoyance, and the source of his impressions in the first part of this volume, in which the nature and grounds of his claims are duly set forth.

If the previous statements concerning Mr. Davis’s past life, opportunities, and education are correct, then it irresistibly follows that this book must have been dictated by some other and higher source of information than that accessible to the physical senses. That source of information we claim to be the SPIRITUAL WORLD. The evidence of this will be apparent upon reading the whole volume, and especially that portion of it found between pages 33 and 57.