Soul Sleep Julia Ward Howell

“One night recently I experienced a sudden awakening. I had a vision of a new era which is to dawn for mankind, in which men and women are battling equally, unitedly, for the uplifting and emancipation of the race from evil.

“I saw men and women of every clime working like bees to unwrap the evils of society and to discover the whole web of vice and misery, and to apply the remedies, and also to find the influences that should best counteract evil and its attendant suffering.

“There seemed to be a new, a wondrous, ever permeating light, the glory of which I cannot attempt to put in human words—the light of a newborn hope and sympathy blazing. The source of this light was human endeavor—immortal purpose of countless thousands of men and women who were equally doing their part in the world.

“I saw the men and women standing side by side, shoulder to shoulder, a common, lofty, and indomitable purpose lighting every face with a glory not of this earth. All were advancing with one end in view, one foe to trample, one everlasting good to gain. And then I saw the victory. All of evil was gone from the earth. Misery was blotted out. Mankind was emancipated and ready to march forward in a new era of human understanding, all-encompassing sympathy and ever present help. The era of perfect love, of peace, passing understanding.”

--JULIA WARD HOWE