This eighty-four page book, by writer Grace Duffie Boylan, small enough “to hide in a mourner’s sleeve”, was principally intended to amplify the common spiritualist theme “There is no death”, and to comfort those mourning the loss of their sons and husbands in battle. It is said that “Grief is love that has nowhere to go.” While I have experienced what little grief life has handed me to be an ultimately helpful dredging of the harbor of my heart, this little sleeve book warns of the pain that this may cause to those who have crossed over. “The one thing that troubles the men who come here is the fact that the ones that love them are in agony.”
I found this account particularly fascinating as Bob, no longer incarnate, stayed within the field of combat, marching “through the German barbed-wire barricades and in front of the howitzers” aware that “the body that could be hurt had been shed on the red field.” After crossing over he remained “in the service” working with other servicemen to aid those coming off the battlefield, as well as comforting those in the trenches and the wounded. At one point he says “a new company is to relieve us, and we will ‘proceed to our destination.’” After starting out for their “Port of departure”, his group of forty were ordered to “right about face” and return to their encampment.
There is an interesting normalcy in many accounts of death as related via mediums, versus the often dramatic and supernormal tales told by near death experiencers. While NDE’s may be a peek into coming attractions beyond the immediate terrestrial sphere, this book emphasizes a reason to remain close to the Earth for a while, to be of service until relieved. It is only at the end of this little book that Bob leaves the encampment with his troop and disembarks to his next posting. A most pleasant read.
Peter O’Fallon would base his film A Rumor of Angels (2000) on Boylan’s touching story.
This little book is available free as a PDF at https://www.loc.gov/item/19019926/ Also, I was able to download a $.99 version on Apple Books, published by Pantianos Classics.
Leave a Reply