SILVER BIRCH SPEAKS...

First published 1949

　IN the living-room of a London flat, the voice of a spirit guide who calls himself Silver Birch speaks through the lips of an entranced medium. He expounds a way of life to the people of this day and age. This highly evolved being has adopted the anonymity of a simple North American Indian in order to cloak his true spiritual status. He always stresses the fact that it is the message that is important, and not the messenger.

　The mission of Silver Birch is to spread knowledge of the unchanging truths that govern the universe. In fluent, beauti-ful, but simple language he presents these truths.

　As I write, the world is, once again, in a turmoil of doubt and distrust. Ugly rumours ride abroad; fear stalks the earth; poverty and hunger prevail in many lands; suspicion divides hemispheres; the proffered hand of fellowship is rejected through lack of trust and good will.

　There are few who would not agree that, were we to apply the uncomplicated, practical teachings of Silver Birch to our daily lives, the era of the brotherhood of man would indeed have dawned. 

　It is to spread this spirit guide's wisdom that the members of what is called Hannen Swaffer's home circle meet regularly. Silver Birch's words are taken down verbatim in shorthand during the sittings. His teachings are spread far and wide through the medium of various publications and books.

　This beloved Indian has thus made countless friends throughout the world, the majority of whom have never sat in our circle or met us personally. Some, in dire distress, have written for guidance in times of sorrow.

　Silver Birch is always ready to offer his help and his philosophy wherever it is needed. The degree of consolation and assistance received in hundreds of cases may be judged by one example contained in the following correspondence between Hannen Swaffer and a stranger to him, Cecil Napier, a resident of South Africa. He wrote:

　"I hope you will forgive a stranger writing to ask for advice.

　"Let me tell you a little about myself. I think it will help you to form a mental picture of the writer, a man of fifty-six who has spent the greater part of his life in the great waste places of Africa, many hundreds of miles from what you would call 'civilisation,' wandering through the bush and the desert as we hunters do, sleeping under the stars when night falls, seeing and hearing only the native people for many months at a time, and asking for nothing more of life.

　"Men such as I think a great deal. We live very close to nature and know her in all her moods. She teaches us some-thing that the city dweller misses, some inner serenity that nothing can destroy.

　"And most of us have faith, some faith or other, no matter what. Perhaps it is just a belief in God, rather taken for granted. But, nevertheless, it is a faith, something to which we can look for help in times of trouble, from which we can pray for guidance. 

　"But I have none ...nothing at all. All my life, as far back as I can remember, I have been an atheist. Not that I did not want to believe in a God, but because I have never been able to reconcile the accepted religions with my own sense of logic, with my own conscience.

　"And so the years have passed. If I have always come to the door and not been permitted to lift even one corner of the veil, I have found comfort and happiness in being able to live as I have done, close to the great heart of Africa.

　"Now it is all changed. ... No more for me the camp fires at night ... the call of the night prowlers seeking their meat. . .the glowing eyes out there in the blackness, like ghostly red danger signals.

　"For I must live in a city, with its tinsel and its artificiality, with its false friendships and its synthetic pleasures. And because some part of me seems to have been left behind in the bush, because my life has lost all interest and is simply mechanical, I have longed more than ever to find something to which I could turn, something real in this world of make-believe.

　"Because my wife has felt my need, because she herself has found much comfort from her books, she asked me to read Teachings of Silver Birch and others.

　"I believe that my long search has ended at last, that be-cause so much has been taken away from me, I have been shown how to replace that loss. This book made an instant appeal to me, so much so, that Silver Birch himself could almost be beside me, teaching, helping, so understanding and patient and with such great pity. I have wondered if that could be so in fact, because my whole soul has gone out to him, because I have such a longing for a closer contact.

　"I am writing to ask you if such a thing is possible. Here, in far-away Africa, can you help me in any way? Can you ask Silver Birch himself for me? And perhaps, through you, he will tell me what to do. Is this asking too much, for a stranger?

　"Perhaps if I had been able to express myself better, you would be able to realise how much this means to me. Just as we have sickness of the body, so we have sickness of the soul. My body has always been perfect, knowing no disease or sick-ness of any kind. But my soul is sick to its very core, sick of life, sick of everything.

　"I have a very great love for my wife. But for her loyalty and love I should no longer be here. I know all that she has given up for me in the years when she shared my wanderings, never complaining at the hardships and the dangers.

　"At times she has been really frightened, when the rains came and put out the fires at night and I and my 'boys,' as we call the natives, have had to fire shots, yell and beat a tin the night through in order to keep the lions from attacking. But she must live beside the sea because of her health, and I must stay by her side.

　"This, then, is the picture that I have tried to paint for you, a poor effort I realise, but the best that I can do? Can you help me?

　"I should so much like to know more, to understand enough to give me the belief in Spiritualism that I have not found in any other faith or religion and yet which I believe from my reading of Silver Birch's teaching can be found therein.

　"I have read several other books, but none has impressed me as the teachings of Silver Birch. It is because he is the guide of your circle that I haveーafter much thoughtーdecided to write to you.

　"My wife had some diffidence in talking to me about her own unshakable faith in Spiritualism, knowing me to be an unbeliever and probably thinking that I should laugh at her. Many years ago we decided never to talk about religion because she has always believed in God whereas I have not. And I think that it has been a great and pleasant surprise to her to find that I have become interested, if not a convert, which may come later on.

　"So I shall look forward to a letter from you, and if it does not arrive, I shall still understand and, great though my dis-appointment will be, I will go on seeking to the best of my ability... alone.”

　The letter, after some unavoidable delay, was read to Silver Birch at one of our sittings and his answer follows:

　"Tell this man that I commend to him the great ideal of courage, that he who lived so close to nature that he was familiar with all its changing moods should learn the lesson that behind nature there are laws which control all those moods. These laws are unfailing in their operation. Just as the Great Spirit has made provision for every facet of the universe and all that it contains in its infinite variety, so those laws have made provision for his soul.

　"It is no use hankering after what is gone. Life must not be lived in the past but in the present. Let him look within his own being to draw upon that well of latent power that the Great Spirit has placed there, call it into being to give him strength and repose so that he may face life with the calmness born of confidence.

　"Tell him to rejoice in the fact that he is bathed in the love of his own little lady whose faith should be an object lesson to him. Tell him to still the raging tempest of his own being and to seek the calm poise that comes from those who know how to find the Great Spirit because they have found themselves. If he would but be still and capture all that awaits him when his mind is quiescent, his turmoil would be over. Give him my love and say, 'Do not falter, do not fear, the Great Spirit

does not fail.'"

　Mr. Napier acknowledged the communication by saying:

　"I cannot find words to express the great comfort and pleasure I have received from Silver Birch's words, so beauti-fully expressed, which have touched me deeply. I am sure that you will be glad to know that I have progressed a long way since I wrote to Hannen Swaffer, and have just been appointed president of a new Spiritualist church here in Pietermaritzburg. If it is at all possible, I would like you to thank Silver Birch for me and tell him that I have been putting into practice for some time the very suggestions that he has made, and I have a strong feeling that he has personally helped me over the stiles and along the rough path and been instrumental in setting my feet on the road that he has in-dicated now in his reply."

　Referring to the guide as "that wonderful soul,” Cecil Napier continued:

　"It was through his teachings that I found the faith and happiness that had escaped me for so many weary years, that I came out of the darkness into the light. All this I owe to Silver Birch, his teachings having been brought to me by my beloved wife who has herself derived so much comfort from them. I am sure that you will agree with me when I say that I feel it would be an act of courtesy to tell Silver Birch this and to give him my sincere love and thanks. Will you do me this favour?"

　His words were given to Silver Birch, who told us to say: "I am very grateful to have this message from a soul who is now awake, and I will join in his prayers to the Great Spirit. But tell him just as he has found the light after being in the darkness, just as he has found truth after having been worried by error, so he must serve others, that their fears may be assuaged and they may find the peace with which his soul is now filled. What has happened to him must be an incentive; he must give it to others.

　"And will you give him a message from me to say that I hope the new centre to which he has dedicated his activities, together with his little lady, will be a place from which the light of wisdom will stream, so that many now in the shadows will find that light and bless him and her for establishing that lighthouse?"

　Silver Birch has been my own counsellor and friend over a long period of time. Though lofty in spiritual status, he has ever retained the common touch of humanity. He is the embodiment of compassion and of love, for his mission brings him into close contact with our earthly weaknesses and fail-ings. Yet, never have I heard him condemn.

　There is nothing vague or nebulous about Silver Birch. Unseen to physical eyes, his presence is real and tangible. His is a living, sentient personality, one which differs com-pletely from that of his medium whom I know very well.

　This spirit guide never fails to render loving service wherever and whenever it is possible. In my own days of trouble or difficulty, his wise words may sometimes have sounded cryptic at the period of utterance. But they have always fulfilled themselves and become completely under-stood in due course.

　The mantle of teacher and philosopher is readily laid aside by Silver Birch when warm, personal encouragement is needed. When death brings a temporary separation between loved ones, he will draw aside the veil dividing the two worlds so that comfort and knowledge may be vouchsafed to the mourner. Soon after my father's passing into the spirit world, a touching picture of his awakening was drawn for me by the guide.

　In his latter years, my father had become an enthusiastic adherent of Spiritualism. The knowledge of Survival had, in fact, changed his whole outlook and conduct of life. He cherished a deep affection for Silver Birch.

　When, soon after his death, I asked the spirit guide about my parent's reactions to his new life I was told: "Your father was a natural Spiritualist. But the splendour that has confronted him since his passing overwhelms him.”

　I replied, "That is because he so loved natural beauty."

　"And you know," Silver Birch continued, "for some strange reason he had a great love for me. I grasped him by the hand, as he awoke, to welcome him into this world whilst your big brother stood by. (My elder brother died in the 1914-18 war.) When your father saw us both, tears un-ashamedly rolled down his cheeks and his frameーwhich had grown big againーquivered."

　The guide went on: “All you people do not visualise the world of spirit as it is. It is far more real than I can ever con-vey to you. And now your father is completely awake. He is very, very busy and the results of his work will be seen. But do not expect the old lady (my mother) to be with you for long. It is much better that she comes here because, if she stays for too long in your world, there will be a great deal of pain.” (My mother passed over a few months after this message was given.)

　Although he is ever sympathetic towards all our problems, Silver Birch will not attempt to solve them for us. Were we to rely upon spirit guides to clear away all our difficulties we would become automatons, without characters or per-sonalities. We must use our own powers of reason and our own free will.

　Nevertheless, in times of doubt as to a right course of action, Silver Birch may illumine the whole issue by asking the simple question, "What is your motive? It is the motive that counts."

　And the motive of this guide's return to earth is crystal clearーit is to give service to all who will accept it.

                         　　     SYLVIA BARBANELL