Chapter 15

On Saturday, Feb. 17, 1838, I was again awakened at 3 o'clock A.M. as at my former commission, and commanded by my leader, to write again to the bishop and explain my message given to the congregation to assemble on the next day in a Protestant School house unless the bishop would acknowledge his fault and do what was required. I assured him most solemnly, that all those steps were done under strict direction of the spirit who had confirmed my mission; therefore "nisi haec feceris, tecum in sacris communicare non possum." It is to be understood, that I wrote to him in Latin, and said: "If thou, Bishop, wilt not do this," that is, if thou wilt not sign the Epistle and co-operate with us, "I can have no ecclesiastical communion with thee." The Epistle was then carried and handed to him at 8 o'clock A.M. of that day.

Soon after that a deputation of our congregation came to me. They reported that our message according to our agreement, was spread in the congregation, but there was a means, to satisfy the spirit; because the Catholic Cathedral Church does not belong to the bishop, but to the nations. The deputation assured me that Roman Catholics and Protestants of different nations have contributed freely to build that church, and I could explain freely in the church what I had to communicate to the congregation; since neither the bishop nor any of his priests understood German. It was evident, that one of the three was under the influence of a prudent spirit. But I replied, that in steps of such consequence I must act strictly according to the order of the spirit. They should therefore go to the bishop. Perhaps they might move him to sign the Epistle. They went; but they returned with the message, that they found the bishop not well, entreating me very much that although he could not sign my encyclic Epistle, I should go in the church, and difficulties would be then amicably settled. From that circumstance I understood, that the bishop did not comprehend what it was, to receive a commission by Heavenly messengers, which was sufficiently attested as sent from Heaven. Therefore I said to the committee, that after the bishop had remained in such a darkness, I must strictly act according to the direction of the spirit who has sent me. Then the man who was under influence was stronger moved to urge me to go in the church, without regard to the bishop, and explain what I wished to communicate to the congregation. When the other two belonging to the committee thought that I could not be moved, they left my room. Then the third was stronger moved by his leader than before, to urge me to go in the church. Then my leader brought to me the distinct message that I should go into the church and perform independently from all bishops, what would be shown to me to be performed. At that unexpected message I said to the man, that I have received the communication which I needed to tell to the congregation, that they should assemble on the next day in the church.

From the message I understood, that after having excommunicated the bishop from my ecclesiastical communion, and in my last letter more distinctly than in my first, I had to omit in my performances in the church all that shows any communication with the bishop or with the Pope, whose representative the bishop was. But I knew long before that, that the Roman Catholic Church was a prophetical church, and I had to perform the prophetical ceremonies which were in use at those days on which I had to go in the church. The prophetical spirit has so provided for what I had to perform from that moment in the church, that at every performance also the passages which were taken from the Bible into the Roman Catholic mass-book and ritual, corresponded exactly with what I was doing.

On the 18th February, 1838, which was Sunday Sexagesima, I came the first time independently from all bishops, into the Roman Catholic Cathedral Church of Boston, Mass. to do what would be shown to me by inspiration. The church has prepared for that Sunday from the 11th and 12th chapters of the 2d Epistle to Corinthians the sufferings of the Apostle Paul and his report, that he was caught up to the third Heaven. When I was reading at the Altar that section, and came to the quoted passage, "I was caught up to Heaven." Paul the Prophet, as he appears in our mission, did not know, whether it was in or out of his body. But I know I was entranced, while my body was immoveable at the Altar, and Heavenly power was communicated to me, and I was ordered to explain to the audience the testimonies of my mission, commencing with the initiation which I have received twelve years before that. To wit, A.D. 1825 after my having been six years secular Priest, testimonies were given, that I was called to join with Priests of the Benedictine Order. I felt that there were sufficient testimonies of my call from Heaven. But after my having moved into the monastery, matters appeared so contrary to my expectation, that I thought, that my surest way would be to write to the next bishop and to continue to labor as secular Priest. In that my determination to write on the next following day to the Bishop of Lavant, I went to rest. But I came from my sleep into a trance of unspeakable Heavenly light, during which I was surrounded by a company of spirits and magnetized or initiated by them for the great labor which I had to perform, and the temptations against which I had to act. At that initiation I did not see my mother, but I heard so distinctly her voice and with so powerful impression that it could not be effaced from my mind, when she said that I should remain in the monastery. Amongst all communications which I received in Europe from Heavenly guides, this was the only one, which I have received from my mother; and nobody else could impress a stronger conviction than she did, in the most momentous instance in which I needed a Heavenly comfort. And that initiation by Heavenly messengers strengthened me, till I received on Sunday Sexagesima, February 18, 1838, the great initiation at the Altar of the Cathedral Church of Boston for my public appearance in my present charge and was commanded by the martyr Revel. xiv: 14 to commence my address with the initiation which I had received twelve years before that. The Roman Catholic Church has prepared for that Sunday Luke viii 4-15, and I explained according to the 10th verse the mystery of our mission. I had to mention some points at my public initiation to my present mission in which I had to perform in the first place in the Roman Catholic Church what was required according to prophecies to give the Pope and his bishops the most solemn divine testimony, that their prophetical administration is accomplished, and that their highest duty is to become with us messengers of the dispensation of the fulness of times Ephes. 1:10, in which all in Heaven and on Earth should be united and pacified in Christ. For this purpose the church or the people must be cleansed. To show them the necessity of the cleansing of the sanctuary, after that my public appearance in the glorious mission, demons were compelled to bring to daylight the secret abominations, of which we have in the brief hints of this treatise to mention one instance, which is in peculiar connexion with the three on the title-page named witnesses and with other regents. One man was found in our congregation, who was not in the catalogue of the 144, who have signed their names into our catalogue on the 7th January, 1838; but he was in the catalogue of those who have been given to me before that signing as belonging to the congregation, and that man appeared in that catalogue as being married, and when after our public appearance in the present mission the abominations commenced to be detected, that man was found, that he was not married with the woman with whom he lived as being married. I sent to him word, that if he wished to know his duty, he should come to me. But he would not come. This happened in the week after my public appearance in my present charge. I asked, whether the case was known in the congregation, and I was told, that it was known. On the next following Sunday, which was Quinquagesima or the next Sunday before Lent, I received the order from my leader to excommunicate that man publicly. I delivered a sermon appropriate to the case, mentioned that such a man was in the congregation, without naming him, and made the declaration that such a man does not belong to the church of Christ or to our congregation till he is converted from his illegal connection.

After that many other performances of our mission took place, which cannot be mentioned here, except the following:

According to the agreement the signers of their names and contributions for our support and to defray the necessary expenses, had to bring a portion of their contribution before Palm Sunday 1838 which is the Sunday before Easter, and if somebody should be hindered in doing what he agreed to do, he should come and mention his reason, or if he could not come himself, he should send word by some other. In the case, that he would neglect to do the one or the other, we would send, to inquire for the reason of his having neglected his duty. This was to be mentioned for the right comprehension of the unexpected events which we must in this connexion of things report as briefly as possible.

In the night from Palm Sunday to Monday I was at one o'clock by a shock suddenly awakened and I heard the voice: "Arise and take from the catalogue those who had neither brought their contributions, nor the excuse why they could not do so, and excommunicate them on the next Sunday solemnly from Christ's Church." I arose directly, made light, took them from my catalogue and put them on another paper. Then I became suddenly very drowsy and returned to bed. When I arose at the usual time, I reflected upon the unexpected communication, and I thought, that my duty was to inquire for the men, and that only under the condition that they would obstinately resist to submit to the rules of our order, they would deserve a public declaration, that they do not belong to Christ's Church. Also it appeared quite strange, that Easter Sunday was appointed for that excommunication. I thought, that if I would send for and converse with them, I would perhaps find out the reason of such an unexpected order. Besides all other things I had also the most convenient lodging for my performances in the new mission. But here we select only those points which are preparatory to the development of deep secrets by which the three extraordinary men mentioned on the title-page become extraordinary witnesses of our mission. The merchant with whom I boarded knew most persons of our congregation. Therefore I took the paper on which I put the names according to the Heavenly commission, and asked him whether he knew any of those persons who were on the paper. After his negative answer I called our messenger to give him the paper with the order to inquire at those who were acquainted with most people of our congregation, to find out those persons and invite them to come to me about important matters, without telling the case which I myself did not understand. But at the moment, when I would give him the paper, I was severly shaken and heard the voice, not to inquire for any body but to perform that which I had been commanded to do. The order having been given by the leader from whom other most important orders came, I was satisfied, that with the order were deeper things connected than I could expect. I asked the messenger whether he heard any voice. He replied, in the negative. I understood that I was taken by him into the inner state, when he shook me and said to me not to inquire for anybody, but to perform the order.

From Monday to Tuesday in the week before Easter I was again shaken and awakened by my leader at 1 o'clock A.M. and heard his voice: "Arise and write for the book the order given on the preceding night to be executed on next Sunday." To understand this order I must remark, that soon after my declaration made to Bishop Fenwick of Boston, that if he refuses to sign the Epistle I can have no ecclesiastical communion with him, which declaration was a polite manner in which I excommunicated the bishop, I commenced to write a book, showing that my extraordinary steps were made under higher direction testifying my extraordinary mission; because as soon as I was ordered to separate from the bishop, and to perform independently from all bishops in the Roman Catholic Cathedral Church, what would be shown me by the spirit, I understood my extraordinary mission; although I did not know, what the Heavenly Congress intended to perform by my mediumship. And when I was commanded by the spirit at 1 o'clock from Monday to Tuesday before Easter 1838, to arise and to write for the book, which is now called the first of my five German volumes, I felt more than before the importance of the obligations of the 144 witnesses who have signed their names in my catalogue; and from this view I wrote that night what I inserted in the most suitable place of the manuscript, that it was then published for a testimony to all nations, that I did know nothing in regard to the deepest mystery which was intended by the Heavenly Congress with that excommunication.

One point more as preparation for the great celebration of the Easter Sunday, April 15, 1838. On Wednesday before Easter the man who was excommunicated on Sunday Quinquagesima from our congregation, came to me after having separated from the woman with whom he was not married. I understood that he was under influence of an invisible power brought to me, and that I had to take him into our communion and make it publicly known on Easter Sunday in the same general terms without mentioning his name, in which he was separated. And I said to him, that I will mention this in our next meeting on Easter Sunday.

When all was prepared on that great Easter Sunday, in the midst of our usual prophetical performances at the Mass I ascended the pulpit and delivered under inspiration a sermon preparatory to the excommunication, instructed the audience then regarding the excommunicated by a distinct report, how I was three times ordered to perform that excommunication, that therefore those who are comprehended under the names of the excommunication, are as certainly excommunicated from Christ's Church, as I am confirmed as his messenger for establishing his reign of Truth and Justice, Harmony and Peace on the whole Globe by all the signs and wonders many of which they had already heard in my addresses, others they will read in the book. The congregation knew, that I was printing a book in Cambridge near Boston, showing that what I was doing I was doing under the direction of Heavenly messengers for the fulfilment of the greatest promises. Amongst all the signs and wonders many of which you have also read in this book, one of the most remarkable signs was, that after my having excommunicated Benedict Fenwick, Bishop of Boston, in both letters, that of the 16th as well as that of the 17th February 1838, although more expressedly in the last than in the first, neither the Bishop nor any other Priest did interfere with my using the Roman Catholic Cathedral Church of Boston, but I performed without the least disturbance all that has been shown to me by the holy martyr Revel. xiv:14 and his company. I assured the congregation at the same time that the excommunication will not injure those who are comprehended in the names of the excommunicated, except if they remain obstinate after the excommunication is made known.

After the necessary solemn preparation, the excommunication was performed in the most vigorous manner, and the names of the excommunicated were read so loud and distinctly, that they could be heard in every corner of the church, for the peculiar purpose that no name might be confounded with another name.

After that act I continued the Mass and distributed the Eucharist to a large number of the congregation whom I prepared on the previous days by hearing their confessions; because, as I have mentioned before, in my extraordinary mission in the Roman Catholic Cathedral Church all that which was practised was to be repeated for a testimony that it was accomplished. Without there being room here to write about the confession we mark only in general, that it had also its time in the old Heaven, but we have better means of education in the new Heaven. But it is to be remarked that also the man who had been excommunicated on Sunday Quinquagesima, came to me to the confession before Easter and was received into our congregation, and this was then on Easter Sunday directly after my solemn sermon before I commenced to prepare the audience for hearing the excommunication of those who were to be excommunicated, distinctly announced to the congregation, and that same man received then with the others the Eucharist from my hand. Then he, after our service, accompanied me closely, without saying a word, to my lodging, and said when I was entering the house, that he wished to talk with me privately. When we were alone, he entreated me pitifully to receive him in Christ's Church or in our congregation. I was surprised, and asked him, whether he forgot, that I received him first privately, and whether he did not hear that I made that known to the congregation on that same day, and that he took also the Eucharist from my hand as the confirmation of being in our congregation. He replied that all this was true, but that he heard distinctly his name, when I read those who were excommunicated, and that the Spirit said to him, that he should go directly to me and tell me this.

I saw that he was acting under the influence of a spirit, and to get some more information, asked him, how he could hear his name, when I pronounced loud and distinctly those who were on my paper for the excommunication, when I read them from the paper as being excommunicated, and that I could not be such a fool as to put the same name amongst the excommunicated, whom I took before privately into our Communion, and announced this also publicly, immediately before the performance of the excommunication. He replied, that he did not only hear distinctly his name, but saw it also on the paper from which I read those who were excommunicated, and if I would show him the paper, on which those are who were excommunicated, he would show me his name. Neither he nor any other man could read the names from that paper, which I had in the New Testament book, in my pocket, and from which I read to the audience, what was to be read from that book on Easter Sunday; but my pulpit was so arranged, that nobody besides me could see what I read. When he demanded to see that paper, to show me his name, I took the paper from that book, to satisfy him, that he was mistaken. As soon as I had shown him the paper, he fixed his finger to a name and exclaimed: "This is my name! this is my name!" The more I assured him, that he was mistaken and that he should look better the letters of the name, to see that it was not his but quite another name, the more he affirmed, that it was his name; and the more he looked at the name, the more he asserted, that it was his name. Then I named each letter of that name, asking him, whether he saw that it was the named letter, and when he answered in the affirmative to all letters, I urged him to spell the whole name. And he spelt the whole name, and it was "Kaiser." This German name means in English "Emperor."

As soon as the man, or rather the departed spirit who urged him, that he performed all this, spelt the name Kaiser, that is, Emperor, the spirit seemed to be quite satisfied. After a short pause he again operated upon the man powerfully, saying, that he had brought his name on the 7th Jan. into my catalogue. I understood always, that he meant that man whose name was Kaiser, and I said, that his name is not in the catalogue. But when he continued to assert, that it is in the catalogue, and I repeated that I perused oftentimes that catalogue and was quite certain, that his name is not in the catalogue, and we both remained, each on his point of certainty, I said at length, that I would convince him, that I was correct, if he would tell me, who was the next before him, who put his name in the catalogue. And when he named him and also others before and after him, I opened the catalogue, and saw, that on the 100th place, which was according to that direction his place, was the name "Kaiser," that means "Emperor," instead of the name "Geyer" that means "hawk" or "vulture." Geyer was the name of the man who had brought on the 7th January, 1838, instead of his own, the name Kaiser. But by all our precautions, that there might not be a mistake in any name and by all our uses of that catalogue until that moment no body discovered this!

That my business with that man required more time than could be spared, because others were waiting till I dispatched him, and then all that Easter Sunday there was other work so that I had no time to reflect upon that case, nor, if there had been time, had I dared to think, what might have been, behind the vail, without having received peculiar revelation. Having been occupied on that Easter Sunday with other business as well as with hearing confessions of those who came from far, I was then tired and went to rest. During my rest I was awakened by an Angel of the Lord, and heard the voice, that I should arise and write a communication. I arose, kindled a light and saw by the watch, that it was one o'clock after midnight, and felt that there was a company of Spirits present, while I received from one the communication which was to be delivered on that day to the congregation. That was the second day of Easter, a festival in the Roman Catholic Church, and we had our service. That communication not belonging into this epitome, was mentioned, because it was a preparation to what follows.

After having finished writing that communication between 1 and 2 o'clock, A.M. on Easter Monday, April 16, 1838, I felt much stronger than at the receipt of the first communication that I was surrounded by a company of Spirits, amongst whom, at that moment, my mother approached next to me, and with an unexpected power of her voice which made such an impression upon my spirit and my whole system as may be easier felt than expressed with words, delivered the message that, I received in our ecclesiastical communion the man who directed my attention to the Emperor who was excommunicated, and that that Emperor was excommunicated who pretends to be Apostolic Majesty, and that I must write down this and publish in the book which was at that time in composition.