The Afterlife of Leslie Stringfellow

I read metaphysical books in hopes of learning something.  However, when I can learn something and be entertained at the same time, as was the case with The Afterlife of Leslie Stringfellow, by Stephen Chism, it's a real treat.  Reading this book was like watching a good movie.  I could picture the characters, their homes, and their environment as the story unfolded.  I'd have to rank it as one of the most entertaining metaphysical books I have read. 

This 2005 book is based on a 1926 book, Leslie's Letters to His Mother, by Alice Stringfellow.  That book resulted from afterlife communication received from Leslie Stringfellow, who had died in 1886, at age 19.    The "letters" came by means of automatic writing through a planchette to Leslie's parents, Alice and Henry Stringfellow. Although the communications began soon after his death and continued for some 15 years, Alice's book was not published until 1926, as she did not think it would be of interest to anyone. As it was, only a hundred or so copies were published, mostly for family members.

Henry and Alice Stringfellow were no country bumpkins.  Henry was a world-renowned horticulturist, having graduated from the College of William and Mary before earning graduate degrees in both theology and law.  Alice was a graduate of Hunter College in New York.  Leslie's death hit them hard.  While visiting a medium in Galveston, they were directed by spirit to invest in a planchette - a device that holds a pencil and is moved by the communicating spirit as the hands of the two sitters rest on it.  "Neither Alice nor Henry believed they had any control over the movement of the instrument," author Stephen Chism offers. "The Stringfellow's letter-writing sessions were to become a secret family ritual which lasted for over 15 years."

Chism, a librarian at the University of Arkansas, tells of the synchronistic events that led to the discovery of the 1926 book and then details his in-depth research into the history of the Stringfellow family.  "As he was dying, Leslie claimed he could see light from Heaven," Chism writes.  "He promised Alice that he would contact her ‘if such a thing were possible.'"   

In 1897, Leslie encouraged his parents to adopt a child, a distant relative who had been orphaned at age two, as he felt they were too dependent on hearing from him.  He wanted them to concentrate on living this life rather than constantly thinking about joining him in the next one.  The child would be renamed "Lessie" and would go on to become a reporter and editor in Fayetville, Arkansas.   It was Lessie who helped her mother put together their many "letters" into a book. 

In his "letters" Leslie tells of his active life on his side of the veil.  He states that he was weak when he first arrived on the other side, but he quickly regained his strength.  "Here every man's home is an index of his character [on the material plane]" he informs them, pointing out that a large number of souls are stuck in the lower planes of existence. However, while he realized that there were many spheres or planes above him he informed them that he was very content.  "Never doubt for a moment that this world is a thousand time better in every way than yours," Leslie tells his parents. "When I compare even my happy life on earth with what I now have, I can but see the contrast."

A few other messages from Leslie:

"Father is pretty shaky tonight and I can't write much.  We see your spirits which seem like a kind of rainbow shining all over your body and head.  This is called the ‘aura' or halo and when anything is wrong it becomes dim.  Father's is dim tonight.  Yours is quite bright."

"No, none of us has seen Christ because we could not stand the brightness.  He is so good and pure and has been gone so long he is far above where we are permitted to go."

"People do often cling to their earth religion, whatever it may be, after coming here, but the mistaken ones finally find their error and change their views.  The true religion is to love God, who is our father, and to do all one can to help make others happy and better."

"You must know that a large number of the human race come over here with both body and mind sunk in the lowest depths of ignorance and vice, and that at times all of us receive impressions to go to their aid and to help them out of their darkness."

Leslie's messages are consistent with messages received by other mediums, pointing to an evolution of the spirit through higher and higher spheres rather than a humdrum heaven or horrific hell.

It is a fascinating and captivating read. Every hospice should have several copies of this book available for its residents.