CHAPTER VI

SPIRITISM ANCIENT AND MODERN
General Remarks. — Proofs That It is Demonism. — Who Are These Spirits Which Personate the Dead? — Obsession at the First Advent. — Modern Spiritism and Its Tendencies. — Warnings from a Spiritist and Sweden- borgian. — Many Possessed of Devils Today. — Spiritism Reviving. — Spirits Now Organize Churches. — "In the Secret Chamber." — "We Are Not Ignorant of His Devices." — Satanic Powers Malific. — "Be Not High- Minded, but Fear." — These Are the Strong Delusions. — Hypnotism and Telepathy Modern Demonism.— Communication with the Dead. — Rev. I. K. Funk, D.D., "Touched." — Rev. R. Heber Newton's Views. — Suggestive Facts Noted. — Experiences in Spiritualism. — Of an Irrelevant Character. —The Spirits Betray Their Evil Intention. — A Remarkable Vision. — "Why He Had Been Summoned to Me." — Arrest the Progress of Evil. — The Triumph and Defeat of Satan. — Physically Healed. — Preaching to the Dead. — Preaching to the Spirits in Prison. — Spirits Once Disobedient. — In Chains of Darkness. — Once Disobedient — Still Disobedient. — Fight- ing Against God. — Through Mediums and Obsessions. — "Know Ye Not That the Saints Shall Judge Angels?" — How Jesus Preached in Death.
"Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the world-rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places." — Eph. 6: II, 12, American Standard Revised Version.
HpHAT which we believe to-be the truth respecting Spiritism -*■ is antagonized from two standpoints, (i) The majority of people have no confidence in Spiritism, but believe its claimed manifestations and proofs are fraudulent. (2) An increasingly large number are disposed to deny the existence of the evil spirit beings called demons, and of the prince of demons, called in the Scriptures the Devil and Satan.
Rev. Adam Clark, D.D., has well said :
"Satan knows well that those who deny his being will not be afraid of his power and influence; will not watch against his wiles and devices; will not pray to God for deliverance from the Evil One; will not expect him to be trampled down under their feet, if he has no existence; and, consequently, they will become an easy and unopposing prey to the enemy of their souls. By leading men to disbelieve and deny his existence, he throws them off their guard. He is then their complete master, and they are led captive by him at his will. It is well known that among all those who make any profession of religion, those who deny the existence of the Devil, are those who pray little or none at all ; and are, apparently, as careless about the existence of God as they are about the being of the Devil. Duty to God
(103)
104 Life — Death — Hereafter.
is with them out of the question; for those who do not pray, especially in private — and I never saw a devil-denier who did — have no religion of any kind, except the form, whatever preten- tions they may choose to make."
If it be asked how Spiritism could do injury to those who con- sider its claims to be deceptions and frauds and its votaries to be dupes, we answer that a large majority of its votaries are those who at one time thoroughly and heartily denied its claims and considered them impositions. Those who most thoroughly disbelieve in Spiritism are often the most ready to test its professed claims; and when convinced that many of its claims are genuine and many of its manifestations supernatural, these former disbelievers are more liable to become its devotees : whereas, if they had known just what Spiritism is, and how and by what power it operates, they would be on guard, and their judgment would have a support and guidance which it otherwise lacks. It is the lack of the true knowledge of Spiritism (im- parted through the Scriptures and confirmed by indisputable evidences from outside the Scriptures) which causes so many to fall a prey to this delusion.
True, there are frauds committed in the name of Spiritism ; but these are chiefly in connection with attempted "materializa- tions." That Spiritists have done and can do, through some power or agency, many wonderful works beyond the power of man, has been abundantly proved in a variety of cases — some of them before scientific men, total unbelievers. Tambourines have been played while in the air beyond the reach of human hand and suspended by some invisible power; chairs have been lifted into the air while people were sitting upon them, and with- out any. connection with any visible power or agency; mediums have been floated through the air, etc. The rapping tests, the table-tipping tests, the autograph tests and the slate-writing tests have been proved over and over again, to the satisfaction of hundreds of intelligent people in various parts of the world. And Spiritism reckons amongst its adherents judges, lawyers, business-men and numbers of women of ability. These people have tested the claims of Spiritism and have candidly avowed their faith in it. And it is unwise, to say the least, to sneer at such as fools or knaves — fools if simply deluded by tricks and sleight of hand; knaves if they are willingly and knowingly lend- ing their time and influence to the perpetration of frauds.
The writer was inclined to be skeptical with reference to all the various claims of Spiritism until convinced to the contrary by a Christian man, in whose testimony he was justified in hav- ing full confidence. This friend was not a believer in Spiritism, but, being thrown into the company of some Spiritists for an evening, the suggestion was made, "Let us have a seance." The
Spiritism Ancient and Modern. 105
company present assented, our friend remaining from curiosity. They sat down to a table, placed their hands upon it in the usual manner, and one of the number present being a medium in- quired, "Are there any spirits present?" The answer, indicated by raps upon the table — one for A, two for B, three for C, etc. — spelled out the information that spirits were present, but that they would hold no communication that evening. The medium asked "Why?" The answer rapped out was, "Because new mediums are being* appointed all over the United States." The company was disappointed and through the medium asked that as a .test the name of some prominent person dying that night should be communicated. The request was complied with and the name of a Russian dignitary, which we cannot now recall, was spelled out. This was before the Atlantic cable was laid, and my friend, anxious to test the matter, kept watch of the newspapers and finally, nearly a month after (the time requisite for Russian mails in those days) he saw the announcement of the death of the Russian notable bearing that very name.
Our friend was convinced that Spiritism was not all a "hoax," and was anxious for another meeting. When it took place, in view of the answer at the previous meeting, the medium in- quired, "Are there any other mediums present? and, if so, how many?" The answer was "Four." The medium asked the spirit to please indicate which four of those present were mediums, and as each one called his name the mediums were indicated by a rap upon the table, by some invisible agent. Our friend was one of those indicated and right proud he felt of the honor. This occurred in Wheeling, W. Va. Shortly afterwards he visited an aunt, a widow. Anxious to display his newly con- ferred powers as a medium, he asked his aunt and her daughter to join him in a "seance." They were surprised, and the daugh- ter said, "Why, are you a medium? I am a rapping medium also, brother Harry is a tipping medium and mother is a writing and trance medium." Our friend had never witnessed the powers of any but rapping mediums, and was very anxious that his aunt should display the powers of her mediumship, and was shown writing done by her which was an exact fac-simile of his dead uncle's autograph upon checks. And strange, too, his uncle wrote a fine hand, while his aunt could not write at all, except under this influence.
Wishing to test her powers as a talking medium, the three surrounded a small table, and the aunt called for a spirit to communicate through her. The answer given was that there would be no communication, because there were no unbelievers present to convince. They persisted, however, and got the aunt to call again for the spirit. The answer this time was that her hands were forcibly lifted from the table and brought down upon it
106 Life — Death — Hereafter.
with a bang. This was something surprising to them all. The spirits evidently were provoked at the pertinacity of a second call after their refusal. But after discussing the matter for some ten minutes our friend prevailed upon his aunt to call again for the spirits and see what else would happen. She complied, and in response her hands were lifted from the table and brought down with fearful concussion, three times in rapid succession, sounding as though very bone would be broken; and with her eyes staring out wildly and shrieking Oh ! Oh ! Oh ! she jumped from the table in a semi-delirious condition.
That spirit, whoever it may have been, was evidently angry and wanted it understood that it could not be trifled with. Our friend informs us that never after that would his aunt have anything to do with Spiritism as a medium — she had caution enough to let it alone. But our friend was anxious to witness the powers of a "tipping medium," and in the evening when his cousin Harry came home he insisted on having an exhibition of his mediumship. Harry complied and amongst other tests was the following: — He placed a small, light table in the center of the floor and said, "I call for the spirit of our old dog Dash to come into this table." Then addressing the table he said, "Come, Dash !" The table balanced itself on two feet and hobbled after him around the room.
We should here remark that our friend who vouches for these matters will no longer exercise any of his powers as a medium. He is a prominent Christian man now living in Pittsburgh, Pa. His views with reference to Spiritism are now the same that we are here endeavoring to present.
The claim of Spiritists is, that these manifestations and com- munications from unseen intelligences are from human beings, who once lived in this world, but who, when seeming to die really became more alive, more intelligent, freer, and every way more capable and competent than they had ever been before. It is claimed that the purpose of these manifestations is to prove that the dead are not dead, but alive ; — that there is no need of a resurrection of the dead, because there are no dead — the dead being more alive than ever, after passing into what is termed death. We shall not stop here to show how inharmonious all this is to the testimony of Scripture upon this subject, but merely cite the reader to the Word of the Lord, reminding him that, "If there be no resurrection of the dead, . . . then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished." — I Cor. 15: 13,18; Job 14:21; Psa. 146:4; Eccl. 9:5,6.
Here is the point of infatuation. As soon as the unbeliever in Spiritism has been convinced that an unseen intelligence com- municates through the medium he is all interest. Nothing else offers such proofs from invisible sources as does Spiritism; and
Spiritism Ancient and Modern. 107
many seem not only willing but anxious to walk by sight rather than by faith. Every one has friends who have died, and thou- sands are anxious to communicate with them if possible, and to receive from them some message or some advice. It is not sur- prising, therefore, to find people greatly absorbed in these mat- ters, and very willing to be directed by those whom they esteem their truest friends and most competent advisers.
They visit a medium for the purpose of holding communica- tion with the dead. The medium describes the hair, the eyes, etc., and certain little peculiarities, such as a mole or an injured or deformed finger or foot (which the father or son or sister or wife identifies as the description of the loved one deceased) and delivers a message which, however vague or indefinite, is construed to be very important. The novices are filled with a sort of reverent joy mixed with a humble feeling of the inferi- ority of their own condition, and with a pride that they have been counted worthy to receive communications from "the spirit world," while so many good and great people are not so favored, but are "blind to the wonderful facts of Spiritism." The feel- ings thus started are somewhat akin to some kinds of religious feelings, and straightway the "converts" are ready to believe and obey the advice and instructions of those whom they believe to be so much wiser and holier than themselves, and so deeply interested in their welfare, present and eternal, as to leave the joys and ministries of Heaven to commune with them and in- struct them.
The majority of people have no true Christian faith built upon the foundation of the Word of God; they have a wish for a future life, and a hope with reference to their dead, rather than a faith with reference to either. As a consequence, their minds being convinced that they have had communication with those beyond the grave, everything relating to the future life becomes more real and more interesting to them than ever before. And many such, wholly ignorant of religious feelings, say to themselves, Now I know what it is to have faith, and a religious feeling with reference to the future, and they congratu- late themselves that they have received a great spiritual blessing.
But this is only the first lesson, and these comparatively up- lifting experiences belong chiefly to it. Later experiences will demonstrate, as all Spiritists will freely acknowledge, that there are "evil spirits," "lying spirits," which time and again deceive them ; and the messages and revelations, often foolish and non- sensical, gradually lead the investigator to a disbelief of the Bible and the Creator, while it teaches and exalts "the spirits" as the only sources of knowledge aside from nature; and thus the way is paved toward advanced lessons on "spirit-affinities," "free love," etc. But after the first deception and shaking of
io8 Life — Death — Hereafter.
confidence the explanation that there are "both good and bad spirits" is generally satisfactory; and the poor victim follows blindly on, because assured that he communes with some super- natural power.
As an illustration of this wc mention the case of an old gen- tleman, a Pittsburgher, an avowed Spiritist and an earnest de- fender of Spiritism. We knew something of his history through a mutual friend; how that, while holding a communication through a medium, supposedly his "evoluted" wife, the latter said to him: "John, I am perfectly happy only for one thing; and that is on your account." He answered, "Oh, Mary, do not allow my affairs to mar your bliss ! I am comparatively happy for an old man and comparatively comfortable." But the an- swer came, "Oh, no, John, I know better ! I know that you are lonely, very lonely, that you miss me very much, and are suffer- ing from lack of many little attentions; and that your home is comparatively dreary." Mr. N. had full confidence in Mary's judgment, and the message carried great weight; and his home and its affairs gradually grew less happifying, and he gradually grew dissatisfied; and so at a subsequent "seance" he inquired of Mary what he could do that would relieve her burden and make her Miss complete. She replied that he should find a suit- able companion and re-marry. But the old gentleman (seventy years old) objected that even if he could find a suitable com- panion, such a one would not have him. But at frequent inter- views the supposed spirit of his wife insisted, and as he thought further over the matter he grew more lonely, and finally asked Mary to choose for him, as she had so much better judgment than any earthly being could have on the subject. The medium affected great indignation at the answer, and would not com- municate it at first. The more she objected to giving the an- swer, the more anxious Mr. N. became to have it, and finally the medium explained that the spirit of his wife had said that Mr. N. should marry her (the medium) ; but that she was indignant that the spirit should think that she wTould marry an old man like him.
But the more Mr. N. thought the matter over the more he was inclined to be, as he supposed, led by the good spirit of his wife into ways of pleasantness and into paths of peace; and he urged upon the medium that it was the duty of humanity to obey the behests of their best friends in the "spirit world." Finally the medium consented that if he would deed over to her what prop- erty he possessed she would agree to follow the directions of the spirit and marry him. The matter was consummated in legal form, and Mr. N. with his medium wife and her daughter pro- posed to make the formerly cold and cheerless home of Mr. N. all that his spirit-wife had wished for him. It was a very short
Spiritism Ancient and Modern. 109
time, however, before the poor old gentleman was very glad to abandon home and all, to get free from the two "she-devils," as he afterward knew them.
But did not this shake the confidence of Mr. N. in Spiritism? By no means. He merely communicated with his wife again through another medium and was informed that a lying spirit had misrepresented her entirely and that she had given no such bad advice. Knowing these facts concerning his history when we met him shortly after, and he tried to urge upon the writer the claims of Spiritism, we said to him, "Mr. N., wc will admit that Spiritism is backed by some super-human phenomena, but we deny that the powers which communicate represent them- selves truthfully. They claim to be friends and relatives who once lived in this world, but the Scriptures assure us to the contrary of this that there is no work or knowledge or device in the grave, and that the dead know not anything. (Eccl. 9: 5, 10.) They declare that the only hope of a future life is by a resurrection from the dead. You know, Mr. N., that whatever these powers may be which claim to be the spirits of your friends, their testimony is entirely unreliable. You cannot be- lieve their most solemn declarations. They are what the Scrip- tures term "lying spirits." We proceeded to give him, as we are about to give in this article, the identity of these spirits as set forth in the Scriptures. He heartily assented that some of the spirits were unreliable, "thoroughly bad," but claimed that others were very good, very truthful, and had frequently given good advice which had been very helpful to him.
It is claimed by many Spiritists, especially by novices, that the influence of Spiritism is elevating; but those who have passed through the various stages of experience in this so called re- ligious system have found, and have publicly declared, that its influence is quite the reverse of elevating — it is demoralizing.
The method of operation is explained by The Banner of Light, a leading Spiritist paper, in answer to the query, thus : —
"O. Where a spirit controls the hand of a medium to write, is the impression always made through the brain?
"A. Sometimes the control is what is termed mechanical con- trol ; then the connection between arm and brain is entirely sev- ered, and yet the manifestation is made through what is called the nervous fluids, a certain portion of which is retained in the arm for the purpose of action. But when the manifestation is what is called an impressional manifestation, then the brain and entire nervous system is used."
Explaining the difference between Mesmerism and spirit con- trol, another journal, the Spiritual Age, says:
"Suppose I magnetize you today; and that I, the mesmerizer, speak, write, act through you, you being unconscious: — this is
no Life — Death — Hereafter.
Mesmerism. Suppose, further, that I die tonight; and that, tomorrow, 1, a spirit, come and magnetize you, and then speak, write, act through you; this is Spiritualism [Spiritism]."
The value of Spiritism to the world is thus summed up by the well known Horace L. Hastings : —
"According to the theory of Spiritualists there are a hundred times as many disembodied spirits about us as there are men in the flesh. Among them are all the poets, authors, orators, mu- sicians and inventors of past ages. They know all they ever knew when they were in the flesh, and have been learning a great deal more since; and with their added powers and ex- tended experience they should be able to do what mortals have never done before. They have had free access to the public mind and public press, with no end of mediums ready to receive their communications, and thousands and thousands of inquirers who have anxiously questioned them, and earnestly desired to obtain information from them. They have had tables and slates and pens and pencils and banjos and pianos and cabinets and bells and violins and guitars ; and what have we to show for it all? Their business in this world has been to instruct men, to help them, to make them wiser and better. They have talked and rapped, they have tipped and rattled, they have fiddled and scribbled, they have materialized and dematerialized, they have entranced and exhibited; they have told us many things which we knew before; many things which we do not know yet; and many other things which it was no matter whether we knew or not; but when we come to real instruction, reliable information, or profitable and valuable knowledge, Spiritism is as barren as Sahara, as empty as a hollow gourd."
We have in the Scriptures most abundant and most positive testimony that no communication could come from the dead until after the resurrection. Furthermore, we have positive Scripture testimony (i) that not only some, but all, of these spirits are "evil spirits," "lying spirits," "seducing spirits." The Scriptures forbid that humanity should seek to these for infor- mation, and clearly inform us that these demons or "devils" are "those angels which kept not their first estate" — some of the angels to whom was committed the supervision of mankind in the period before the flood, for the purpose of permitting them to endeavor to lift mankind out of sin; that by their failure all might learn that there is but one effectual remedy for sin, viz., that provided in Christ. These angels, instead of uplifting humanity, were themselves enticed into sin, and misused the power granted them, of materializing in human form, to start another race. (Gen. 6: 1-6.) Their illicit progeny was blotted out with the flood, and themselves were thereafter restrained from the liberty of assuming physical bodies, as well as isolated
Spiritism Ancient and Modem. in
from the holy angels who had kept their angelic estate inviolate. The Apostle Peter (2 Pet. 2:4) mentions these, saying, "God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell [Tartarus] and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment." jude (6) also mentions this class, saying, "The angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation [proper condition] He hath reserved in everlasting chains — under darkness unto the judgment of the great day." Notice three points with reference to these evil angels.
(1) They are imprisoned in Tartarus, restrained, but not de- stroyed. Tartarus is nowhere else rendered "hell," but in this one passage. It does not signify the grave, neither does it signify the Second Death, symbolized by the "lake of fire and brimstone"; but it does signify the air or atmosphere of earth.
(2) They have some liberties in this imprisoned condition, yet they are chained, or restrained, in one respect — they are not permitted to exercise their powers in the light, being "under chains of darkness/'
(3) This restriction was to continue until "the judgment 01 the great day," the great Millennial Day — in all a period of over 4,000 years. As we are now in the dawning of the Millennial Day — "the great day" — it is possible that this should be under- stood to mean that some of these limitations as to "darkness" may ere long be removed, gradually. If so, if the "chains of darkness" should be released, it would permit these evil spirits to work deceptions or "lying wonders" in the daylight (as they are now attempting to do) to the delusion of mankind more than ever has been known since the flood.
These fallen angels, or demons, are not to be confounded with Satan the prince of demons, or devils, whose evil career began long before — who was the first, and for a long time the only, enemy of the Divine Government; who, having been created an angel of a superior order, sought to establish himself as a rival to the Almighty, and to deceive and ensnare Adam and his race to be his servants; and to a large extent, for a time at least, he has succeeded, as all know. As "the prince of this world," who "now worketh in the hearts of the children of dis- obedience," he has indeed a very multitudinous host of deceived and enslaved followers. Naturally he would appreciate the de- flection of the "angels who kept not their first estate," and who were restrained at the time of the flood ; and hence he is spoken of as their chief, "the prince of devils"; and no doubt as a superior order of being he exercises some degree of control over the others.
These fallen angels, "demons," have probably very little to interest them amongst themselves ; evil beings apparently always
H2 Life — Death— Hereafter.
prefer to make game of the purer, and apparently take pleas- ure in corrupting and degrading them. The history of these demons, as given in the Scriptures, would seem to show that the evil concupiscence which led to their fall, before the flood, still continues with them. They still have their principal pleasure in that which is lascivious and degrading; and the general ten- dency of their influence upon mankind is toward working mis- chief against the well-disposed, and the debauchery of those over whom they gain absolute control.
We are well aware that many Christian people have reached the conclusion that the Lord and the apostles were deceived, when they attributed to the works of demons conduct that is now considered human propensity and mental unbalance and fits. But all should admit that if our Lord was in error on this subject, His teachings would be an unsafe guide upon any subject.
Notice the personality and intelligence attributed to these demons in the following Scriptures — "Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well; devils also believe and tremble." (Jas. 2:19.) Do human propensities "believe and tremble"? The demons said to our Lord, "Thou art Christ, the Son of God ! And He, rebuking them, suffered them not to speak [further], for they knew that He was Christ." (Luke 4:41.) Another said, "Jesus / know and Paul / know, but who are ye?" (Acts 19 : 15.) The young woman from whom Paul cast out the spirit of soothsaying and divination (Acts 16: 16-19) is a good illustration. Can it be claimed by any that the Apostle deprived the woman of any proper talent or power? Must it not be con- fessed to have been a spirit which possessed and used her body ? — an evil spirit unfit to be tolerated there?
Many of those who claim that the demons of the Scriptures were the spirits of wicked men and women who died, and that these are the "lying spirits" acknowledge^ by Spiritists, have still another difficulty; — for generally they claim that the spirits of wicked dead go to hell-torments, as they wrongly interpret shcol and hades to mean. If so, how could they be so mutfi at liberty?
"Witchcraft," "Necromancy," the "Black Art," "Sorcery," etc., are supposed by many to be wholly delusions. But when we find that they had a firm hold upon the Egyptians, and that God made special provision against them with Israel, we are satisfied that He made no such restrictions either against that which is good, or against that which had no existence whatever. The instruc- tion to Israel was very explicit : they should not have any com- munion nor make any inquiries through necromancers (those who claimed to speak for the dead; i. e., spirit-mediums) ; nor with anv wizard or witch ; nor with any who had occult powers,
Spiritism Ancient and Modem. 1 13
charms; nor with those who work miracles by means of sor- cery and incantation. — Read carefully all of thefollowing Scrip- tures— Exod. 22 : 18 ; Deut. 18 19-12; Lev. 19:31; 20 : 6, 27 ; 2 Kings 21:2. 6, 9, 11; 1 Chron. 10: 13,14; Acts 16: 16-18; Gal. 5:19-21; Ifcv. 21:8; Isa. 8:19, 20; 19:3.
The Bible story of King Saul's "seance" with the witch of Endor, a necromancer or spirit-medium, as related in 1 Sam. 28 : 7-20, is an illustration of what is claimed to be performed today. Although the law with reference to these mediums was very strict and the punishment death, there were some who were willing to risk their lives because of the gains which could thus be obtained from people who believed that they were obtaining supernatural information from their dead friends — just as with spirit-mediums today. King Saul was well aware that there were numerous of these mediums residing in Israel contrary to the Divine injunction and his own law, and his servants appar- ently had no difficulty in finding the one at Endor. Saul dis- guised himself for the interview, but no doubt the crafty woman knew well the stately form of Saul — head and shoulders taller than any other man in Israel. (1 Sam. 9:2.) Hence her par- ticularity to secure a promise and oath from his own lips that no harm should befall her for the service.
The method used by the evil spirits through the medium at Endor were similar to those in use today. They caused to pass before the medium's mental vision the familiar likeness of the aged Prophet, Samuel, wearing as was his custom, a long man- tle. When she described the mental (or "astral") picture, Saul recognized it at once as a description of Samuel ; but Saul him- self saw nothing — he "perceived," from the description, that it was Samuel. Easily convinced, as people under such circum- stances usually are, Saul did not stop to question how it could be that Samuel looked as old and stooped as he looked in the present life, if he was now a spirit being and far better off; nor did he inquire why he wore the same old mantle in the spirit world that he had worn when he knew him as an earthly being. Saul had been forsaken by the Lord and was now easily de- ceived by these "lying spirits," who personated the Prophet and spoke to Saul in his name, through their "medium," the witch, necromancer, Spiritist.
The fallen spirits are not only well informed in respect to all the affairs of earth, but they are adepts in deceit. In answering Saul, the manner and style, and as nearly as could be judged the sentiments of the dead Prophet were assumed — the better to deceive. (Thus these "lying spirits" always seek to counterfeit the face, manner and disposition of the dead.) The response was, "Why hast thou disquieted me to bring me up?" This answer corresponds to the Jewish belief — that when a person
1 14 Life — Death — Hereafter.
died he became unconscious in "sheol" the grave, waiting for a resurrection. (Job 14:12-15, 21; Psa. 90:3; Eccl. 9:5, 6.) Hence the representation is that Samuel was brought up from the grave, and not down from Heaven; and that his rest or peaceful "sleep" was disturbed or "disquieted."— Psa. 13:3; Job 14 : 12 ; Psa. 90 : 5 ; John 11:11,14.
Saul was easily deceived into thinking that the Prophet Sam- uel who had refused to visit him, to have any further converse with him while alive, had been forced to commune with him, by the wonderful powers of the witch. (See 1 Sam. 15:26, 35.) Saul's own testimony was, "God is departed from me and answereth me no more, neither by prophets, nor by dreams." — 1 Sam. 28: 6, 15.
Any rightly informed person will readily see the absurdity of supposing that Samuel would hold any conference whatever with Saul under the circumstances. (1) Samuel (when living) was aware that God had forsaken Saul, and hence Samuel had no right to speak to him and no right to give him any infor- mation which the Lord was unwilling to give him. And Samuel would not do so. (2) It is thoroughly absurd to suppose that a spirit-medium under condemnation of the Lord and prohibited of the right of residence in the land of Israel could have the power at the instance of a wicked king, whom God had deserted, to "disquiet" Samuel and to bring him "up" out of sheol. Was Samuel down in the earth, or was he afar off in Heaven? and had the witch the power in either case to command him to pre- sent himself before King Saul to answer his question? Or is it reasonable to suppose that any spirit-mediums have the power to "disquiet" and "bring up" or in any other manner cause the dead to appear to answer the speculative questions of the living?
The "familiar spirit" of the witch, personating Samuel, fore- told nothing which Saul himself did not anticipate. Saul knew that God's word had been passed that the kingdom should be taken from him and his family, and he had sought the witch because of his fear of the Philistine hosts in battle array for the morrow. He expected no mercy for himself and his family, God having told him that David would be his successor. He even anticipated, therefore, the statement which was the only feature connected with this story that indicates in any degree a supernatural knowledge; viz., "Tomorrow shalt thou and thy sons be with me: the Lord also shall deliver the host of Israel into the hands of the Philistines." The well-informed demons knew full better than did Saul the strength of the Philistines' position and army, and the weakness of Saul's position and army, and that he himself was already panic-stricken and mak- ing this inquiry of the witch-medium because he was distracted at the situation. Any one familiar with the warfare of that time
Spiritism 'Ancient and Modern. 115
would know ( I ) that one day's battle would probably settle the question; and (2) that the death of the king and his household would be the only logical result. Nevertheless, the "familiar spirit" erred, for two of Saul's sons escaped and lived for years. It is even denied by scholars that the battle and the death of Saul occurred for several days after the visit to the witch.
It is not surprising that Satan and the fallen angels, his con- sorts in evil, should know considerably more than do men, con- cerning many of life's affairs. We must remember that by nature they are a higher, more intelligent order than men; for man was made "a little lower than the angels (Psa. 8:5). Be- sides, let us remember their thousands of years of experience, unimpaired by decay and death, as compared with man's "few years and full of trouble," soon cut off in death. Can we wonder that mankind cannot cope with the cunning of these "wicked spirits," and that our only safety lies in the Divine provision that each one who so wills may refuse to have any communication with these demons? The Word of the Lord is, " Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." (Jas. 4:7.) "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roar- ing [angry] lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour : zvhom resist, steadfast in the faith." — 1 Pet. 5:8, 9.
But while able to tell things past and present, these evil intel- ligences are quite unable to do more than guess at the future. Yet these guesses are often so skillfully stated as to satisfy the inquirer and yet appear true, if the result should be the opposite of his expectation. Thus the oracle of Delphi having been con- sulted by Croesus demonstrated to him a super-human knowledge of present things, and when he, having thus gained confidence in it, inquired through its mediums, "whether he should lead an army against the Persians," the answer as recorded by Hero- dotus the historian was, "By crossing the Halys, Croesus will destroy a mighty poiver!" Relying upon this, Croesus attacked the Persians and was defeated. His own mighty power was de- stroyed ! History is full of such evidences that the demons know not the future ; God's Word challenges all such saying :
"Produce your cause, saith the Lord ; bring forth your strong reasons, saith the King of Jacob. Let them bring them forth and show us what shall happen; let them show the former things [things before or to come] what they be, that we may consider them, and know the latter end of them ; or declare us things for to come. Show the things that are to come hereafter, that we may know that ye are gods." — Isa. 41 : 21, 23.
But where was Samuel the Prophet, if Saul would be with him the day following? Clearly the meeting place would not be Heaven, for wicked Saul was surely unfit to enter there (John 3:5) ; nor could the meeting be in a place of flames and tor-
Il6 Life — Death — Hereafter.
ment, for surely Samuel was not in such a place. No; the "familiar spirit" spoke to Saul from the standpoint of the gen- eral faith of that time, taught by Samuel and all the patriarchs and prophets ; namely, that all who die, good and bad alike, go to sheol, the grave, the state of death, the sleep from which naught can awaken except the resurrection power of Michael, the arch-angel (Dan. 12: 1, 2) ; — except it were claimed that the witch's "familiar spirit" could awaken the dead in advance; but this, as we are showing, was a deception, a fraud, the "lying spirit" personating the dead and answering for Samuel. Of this passage Charles Wesley wrote : —
"What do these solemn words portend?
A gleam of hope when life shall end? —
Thou and thy sons shall surely be
Tomorrow in repose with me: —
Not in a state of hellish pain,
If Saul with Samuel remain;
Not in a state of damned despair,
If loving Jonathan be there." One remarkable thing in connection with the manifestations of these fallen angels, or "demons," is that people of ordinary common sense are so easily deceived by them and accept such flimsy proofs respecting the dead, which they would not accept respecting the living. The inquirer will accept through the me- dium a description which fits to the individual and his manner, clothing and appearance years before, and will hold sacred a message purporting to come from him, whereas the same indi- vidual would be more on guard against deception by a living imposter, and his message through a servant.
The mention in the Scriptures of these necromancers, witches and mediums, leads us to infer that through mediums evil spirits for centuries sought fellowship with the Israelites. But it is apparently the custom to change the manner of manifestation from time to time: just as witchcraft flourished for a time in New England and Ohio, and throughout Europe, and then died out and has been succeeded by Spiritism, whose tipping and rap- ping manifestations are gradually giving way to others, clair- audience and materialization being now the chief endeavors, the latter, being very difficult and the conditions often unfavorable, are often accompanied by mediumistic assistance and fraud.
In the days of our Lord and the early Church the method of operations on the part of these demons had changed somewhat from the practices in the days of Saul, and we read nothing in the New Testament about witches, wizards and necromancy, but a great deal about persons possessed by devils — obsession. Ap- parently there were great numbers thus possessed throughout the land of Israel : many cases are mentioned in which our Lord
Spiritism Ancient and Modern. 117
cast out devils; and the power to cast them out was one of those conferred upon the twelve Apostles, and afterward upon the seventy that were sent out. The same power was possessed and exercised by the Apostle Paul. — See Luke 9:1; 10:11; Acts 13:8-11; 16: 18.
Mary Magdalene, we remember, had been possessed of seven devils (Luke 8:2), and being set free from their control, she became a very loyal servant of the Lord. Another instance is mentioned in which a legion of spirits had taken possession of one man. (Luke 8:30; 4:35, 36, 41.) No wonder that his poor brain, assaulted and operated upon by a legion of different minds, would be demented. This tendency of these fallen spirits to congregate in one person indicates the desire they have still to exercise the power originally given them ; namely, the power to materialize as men. Deprived of this power they apparently have comparatively rare opportunities of getting possession of human beings. Apparently the human will must consent before these evil spirits have power to take possession. But when they do take possession apparently the will power is so broken down that the individual is almost helpless to resist their presence and further encroachment, even though he so desires. Our Lord in- timates such a condition (Matt. 12: 43-45), suggesting that, even after an evil spirit had been cast out and the heart swept and garnished, if it were still empty, there would be danger of the return of the evil spirit with others to re-possess themselves of the man; — hence the necessity for having Christ enthroned within, if we would be kept for the Master's use, and be used in His service.
Apparently these evil spirits have not the power to impose themselves, even upon dumb animals, until granted some sort of permission; for, when the "legion" was commanded to come out of the man whom they posssessed, they requested as a privi- lege that they might have possession of the bodies of a herd of swine ; and the swine being according to the law unclean to the Jew, and unlawful to eat, the Lord permitted them to have pos- session of them, doubtless foreseeing the results, and with a view to giving us this very lesson.
The same Apostle who speaks of these evil spirits as "lying wonders" and "seducing spirits" (1 Tim. 4:1; 2 Thess. 2:9; compare Ezek. 13:6; 1 Kings 22:22, 23) tells us that the heathen sacrificed to these demons. (1 Cor. 10:20.) And so, indeed, we find that in various parts of the world there are demon manifestations, Amongst the Chinese these demon pow- ers are frequently recognized, and sacrifices are offered to them ; so also in India and Africa. Amongst the North American Indians in their savage state these evil spirits operated after much the same manner as elsewhere. An illustration is given
Ii8 Life — Death — Hereafter.
by Missionary Brainard in a "Report to the Honorable Society for Propagating Christian Knowledge," explanatory of the diffi- culties and obstacles to the spread of Christianity among the Indians with whom he had been laboring, as follows : —
"What further contributes to their aversion to Christianity is the influence which their powaws {conjurers or diviners) have upon them. These are a sort of persons who are supposed to have a power of foretelling future events, or recovering the sick, at least oftentimes, and of charming, enchanting, or poison- ing persons to death by their magic divinations. Their spirit, in its various operations, seems to be a Satanic imitation of the spirit of prophecy with which the Church in early ages was favored. Some of these diviners are endowed with the spirit in infancy, others in adult age. It seems not to depend upon their own will, nor to be acquired by any endeavors of the person who is the subject of it. . . . They are not under the influence of this spirit always alike ; but it comes upon them at times. Those who are endowed with it are accounted singularly favored.
"I have labored to gain some acquaintance with this affair of their conjuration, and have for that end consulted and queried with the man mentioned in my Diary, May 9, who, since his conversion to Christianity, has endeavored to give me the best intelligence he could of this matter. But it seems to be such a mystery of inquity, that I cannot well understand it, and do not know oftentimes what ideas to affix to the terms he makes use of. So far as I can learn, he himself has not any clear notions of the thing, now his spirit of divination is gone from him.
"There were some times when this spirit came upon him in a special manner. Then, he says, he was all light, and not only light himself, but it was light all around him, so that he could see through men, and knew the thoughts of their hearts. These "depths of Satan" I leave to others to fathom or to dive into as they please, and do not pretend, for my own part, to know what ideas to affix to such terms, and cannot well guess what concep- tion of things these creatures have at these times when they call themselves (Call light." But my interpreter tells me that he heard one of them tell a certain Indian the secret thoughts of his heart, which he had never divulged. . . .
"When I have apprehended them afraid of embracing Chris- tianity, lest they should be enchanted and poisoned, I have en- deavored to relieve their minds of. this fear, by asking them why their powaws did not enchant and poison me, seeing they had as much reason to hate me for preaching to them, and de- siring them to become Christians, as they could have to hate them in case they should actually become such? That they might have an evidence of the power and goodness, of God en- gaged for the protection of Christians. I ventured to bid a chal-
Spiritism Ancient and Modern. 119
lenge to all their powaws and great powers to do their worst on me first of all ; and thus I labored to tread down their influ- ence."— Memoirs of Brainard, pages 347-351.
The New York Sun published the following account of the experiences of Capt. C. E. Denny, Indian agent for the Canadian Government among the Blackfect Indians. Capt. Denny says : —
"On my arrival in the northwest territories with the north- west mounted police, in 1874, I was curious to find out how far these "medicine men" carried their arts, and also what these arts consisted of. I heard from Indians many tales of wonders done by them, but it was a long time before I got a chance to be present at one of these ceremonies. The Indians were reluctant to allow a white man to view any of their "medicine" cere- monies. As I got better acquainted with several tribes, particu- larly the Black feet, I had many chances to find out the truth re- garding what I had heard of them, and I was truly astonished at what I saw at different times. Many of the medicine feats did not allow of any jugglery, the man being naked, with the exception of a cloth around his loins, and I sitting within a few feet of him.
"All Indians believe in their familiar spirit, which assumed all kinds of shapes, sometimes that of an owl, a buffalo, a beaver, a fox, or any other animal. This spirit it was that gave them the power to perform the wonders done by them, and was firmly believed in by them all.
"On one occasion I was sitting in an Indian tent alone with one of the "medicine" men of the Blackfeet Indians. It was night and all was quiet in the camp. The night was calm, with a bright moon shining. On a sudden the Indian commenced to sing, and presently the lodge, which was a large one, commenced to tremble; and the trembling increased to such a degree that it rocked violently, even lifting off the ground, first on one side and then on the other, as if a dozen pair of hands were heaving it on the outside. This lasted for about two minutes, when I ran out, expecting to find some Indians on the outside who had played me a trick, but, to my astonishment, not a soul was in sight, and what still more bewildered me was to find on exami- nation that the lodge was firmly pegged down to the ground, it being impossible for any number of men to have moved and re- placed the pegs in so short a time. I did not enter the lodge again that night, as the matter looked, to say the least, uncanny.
"On another occasion I visited a lodge where a 'medicine smoke* was in progress. There were about a dozen Indians in the lodge. After the smoke was over, a large copper kettle, about two feet deep, and the same or a little more in diameter, was placed empty on the roaring fire in the middle of the lodge. The medicine man who was stripped, with the exception of a
120 Life— Death— Hereafter.
cloth about his loins, was all this time singing a 'medicine' in a low voice.
"The pot after a short while became red-hot, and a pole being passed through the handle, it was lifted in this state off the fire and placed on the ground, so close to me that the heat was almost unbearable. On the pole being withdrawn the medicine man sprang to his feet and, still singing his song, stepped with both naked feet into the red-hot kettle and danced for at least three minutes in it, still singing to the accompaniment of the Indian drums. I was so close, as I have before said, that the heat of the kettle was almost unbearable, and I closely watched the performance, and saw this Indian dance for some minutes with his bare feet in it. On stepping out he seemed none the worse ; but how he performed the act was and is still a mystery to me."
Similar feats are performed by the fetish men of India "under control"; and tests given by "spirit mediums" "under control" sometimes include the handling of fire, red hot glass, etc., with bare hands without injury. God has protected His faithful in the flames (Dan. 3 : 19-27), and it seems that He does not always hinder Satan's use of such power.
Dr. Ashmore, of long experience as a missionary in China, says :
"I have no doubt that the Chinese hold direct communications with the spirits of another world. They never pretend that they are the spirits of their departed friends. They get themselves in a certain state and seek to be possessed by these spirits. I have seen them in certain conditions invite the spirits to come and to inhabit them. Their eyes become frenzied, their features distorted, and they pour out speeches which are supposed to be the utterances of the spirits."
An old issue of Youth's Day Spring contains a letter from a missionary describing the condition of the Africans on the Gaboon river at the approach of death. He says :
"The room was filled with women who were weeping in the most piteous manner, and calling on the spirits of their fathers and others who were dead, and upon all spirits in whom they be- lieved, Ologo, Njembi, Abambo, and Miwii, to save the man from death."
A Wesleyan missionary, Mr. White, says:
"There is a class of people in New Zealand called Eruku. or priests; these men pretend to have intercourse with departed spirits."
No part of humanity has been exempted from the attacks of these demons, and their influence is always baneful. India is full of it. So generally accepted at one time was the belief in demon-possession, that the Roman Catholic Church, through her priests, regularly practiced "exorcism," or casting out of demons.
Spiritism Ancient and Modern. 121
The very earliest recorded spirit manifestation was in Eden, when Satan, desiring to tempt mother Eve, used or "obsessed" the serpent. Mother Eve claimed that she was deceived by the serpent's misrepresentations. God allowed the claim as true, and sentenced the serpent, which there became the symbolic repre- sentative of Satan. As the father of lies he there took posses- sion of a serpent to deceive Eve and lead her to disbelieve God's command by the false assurance, "Ye shall not surely die" ! So ever since, though he has varied his methods and mediums, all of them are to deceive — to blind the minds of mankind, lest the glorious light of the goodness of God, as it shines in the face of Jesus Christ our Lord, should shine unto them.
Thanks be to God for the promise that, in due time, the King- dom of God shall be established in the earth, in the hands of our Lord Jesus and His completed and glorified Church, and that one of the first works of that Kingdom, preparatory to its bless- ing "all the families of the earth/' will be the binding of that Old Serpent, the Devil and Satan, that he may deceive the na- tions no more for the thousand years of Christ's Reign; until all men shall be brought to a clear knowledge of the Truth, and to a full oportunity to avail themselves of the gracious provi- sions of the New Covenant, suretied at Calvary through the precious blood of Christ.
While the name Old Serpent includes Satan, "the prince of devils," it is here evidently used as a synonym for all the sinful agencies and powers which had their rise in him. It therefore includes the legions of "evil spirits," "familiar spirits," "seduc- ing spirits."
Spiritism, as a deceiving influence under the control of Satan, is foretold by the Apostle Paul. After telling of the work of Satan in the great Apostacy of which Papacy is the head-center, the Man of Sin, the Mystery of Iniquity,* the Apostle draws his subject to a close by pointing out that Satan, toward the end of this Age, will be granted special license to deceive by peculiar arts all who, having been highly favored with the Word of God, have failed to appreciate and use it. He says : "For this cause God will send them strong delusion [a working deception], that they may believe a lie: that they may all be condemned, who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness [doc- trinal or practical]." — 2 Thess. 2: 11, 12.
We shall not be at all surprised if some later manifestations of the powers of darkness, transformed to appear as the angels of light and progress, shall be much more specious and delusive than anything yet attempted. We do well to remember the Apostle's words : "We wrestle not with flesh and blood, but with
*See Studies ix the Scriptures, Vol. II, chapter 9, pages 267-366.
122 Life — Death — Hereafter.
princely powers of darkness, with the spiritual things of the evil one." — Eph. 6:12.
In 1842, six years before "modem Spiritism" began to oper- ate, Edward Bickersteth, a servant of God and student of His Word, wrote:
"Looking at the signs of the times, and the long neglect and unnatural denial of all angelic ministration or spiritual influ- ence, and at the express predictions of false Christs, and false prophets, zvho shall show signs and wonders, insomuch that if it zvere possible they should deceive the very elect, and at the fact that when men receive not the love of the truth that they might be saved, for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they shall believe a lie; I cannot but think there is a pain- ful prospect of a sudden recoil and religious revulsion from the present unbelief and misbelief, to an unnatural and undistin- guishing credulity."
Satan is the inspirer and supporter of every Anti-Christ; and as he led those who had pleasure in error rather than the truth to the organization of the great Anti-Christ, Papacy, symbol- ically the "Beast" of Rev. 13, and as he has successfully pro- duced a Protestant "Image of the Beast," with life, which will cooperate with the chief Anti-Christ, so in combination with these will be the powers of darkness, the powers of the air, the lying and seducing spirits, operating in some manner or in a variety of ways — Spiritism, Christian Science, Theosophy, Hyp- notism, etc.
"Rev. Father Coppens, M.D. [Roman Catholic], Professor in Creighton University," delivered a discourse on "Borderland of Science," from which we extract the following on the phe- nomena of Spiritism: —
"What must we think of the nature of Spiritism, with its spirit rappings, table-turning, spirit apparitions and so on? Can the facts, which are not imposture, but realities, be explained by the laws of nature, the powers of material agents and of men? All that could possibly be done by the most skilled scientists, by the most determined materialists who believe neither in God nor in demon, as well as by the most conscientious Christians, has only served to demonstrate, to perfect evidence that effects are produced which can no more be attributed to natural agency than speech and design can be attributed to a piece of wood. One principle of science throws much light on the nature of all those performances ; namely, that every effect must have a pro- portionate cause. When the effect shows knowledge and design, the cause must be intelligent. Now many of these marvels evi- dently show knowledge and design, therefore the cause is cer- tainly intelligent.
"A table cannot understand and answer questions; it cannot
Spiritism Ancient and Modern. 123
move at a person's bidding. A medium cannot speak in a lan- guage he has never learned, nor know the secret ailment of a patient far away, nor prescribe the proper remedies without knowledge of medicine. Therefore these effects, when they really exist, are due to intelligent agents, agents distinct from the persons visibly present, invisible agents therefore, spirits of another world.
"Who are these agents? God and His good angels cannot work upon these wretched marvels, the food of a morbid curi- osity, nor could they put themselves at the disposal of pious men to be trotted out as monkeys on the stage. The spirits which are made to appear at the seances are degraded spirits. Spiritual- ists themselves tell us they arc lying spirits. Those lying spirits say they are the souls of the departed, but who can be- lieve their testimony, if they are lying spirits, as they are ac- knowledged to be? This whole combination of imposture and superstition is simply the revival in a modern dress of a very ancient deception of mankind b,y playing on men's craving for the marvelous. Many imagine these are recent discoveries, peculiar to this age of progress. Why, this spirit-writing is and has been for centuries extensively practiced in benighted pagan China, while even Africans and Hindoos are great adepts at table-turning. It is simply the revival of ancient witchcraft, which Simon Magus practiced in St. Peter's time; which flour- ished in Ephesus while St. Paul was preaching the Gospel there. It is more ancient still. These were the abominations for which God commissioned the Jews in Moses' time to exterminate the Canaanites and the other inhabitants of the promised land."
The claim of Spiritists is that Spiritism is the new gospel which is shortly to revolutionize the world — socially, religiously, politically. But, as we have just seen, Spiritism under various garbs has long held possession of the world and borne bad fruit in every clime. It is over seventy years since the rapping and tipping manifestations first occurred, in Rochester, N. Y. (1848), and gave start to what is at present known in the United States as "Spiritualism." It began with strange noises in a "haunted house," and first answered a little girl, who addressed the unseen author of the noises as "Old Splithoof." It had a rapid run of popularity, and judges, doctors, lawyers, ministers and hundreds of thousands of others speedily became its vota- ries, until its friends and its enemies claimed that its adherents numbered over ten millions. Believing in the consciousness of the dead, ignorant of the Scripture teachings on the subject of death and of their prohibition from holding communion with "mediums"; and very generally disbelieving in evil spirits, it is not surprising that intelligent men and women, having proved to their own satisfaction that supernatural powers were in their
124 Life — Death — Hereafter.
midst, as manifested by the rappings, tippings, slate-writings, answers to questions through mediums, clairvoyances, etc., should believe these invisible powers which desire to converse with them to be what they profess — their deceased friends. Even allowing that there are certain tricks of legerdemain, and certain frauds along similar lines, we cannot wonder that intelli- gent people would believe their own senses in respect to in- stances which they had personally investigated.
As a result, for a time many of God's people were in great danger, because of their failure to take heed to the sure Word of God's testimony (the Bible) on this subject. Indeed, the per- sonating spirits seem at first to have been very careful in all their references to the Bible, sometimes advising the religious ones who attended seances to do more reading of the Bible, more praying, etc. But this was only to allay their suspicions and fears and to get them more fully under their influence. Gradually the teachings became more and more lax, and the student was given to understand that the Bible was better than nothing to the uninitiated world, but to those who had come to have intercourse with the spirits direct, the Bible was useless — and worse, a hindrance.
Well has an able writer upon the subject said of Spiritism:
"A system which commences with light, innocent, trifling and frivolous performances and communications, but which ends in leading its followers to deny 'the Lord that bought them,' and to reject the Word of God which liveth and abideth forever, gives evidence that there may be a deep purpose under all its fantastic tricks ; and that the craft of the Old Serpent, who is a liar from the beginning, may underlie those trifling and unimportant com- munications which, by stimulating curiosity and inspiring confi- dence, lull to slumber the suspicions of honest but undiscerning souls, until they are in the fatal coils of the Enemy of all righteousness."
These demons who personate the dead, seeing that a New Dispensation is opening, were prompt to apply their knowledge so far as possible to the advancement of their own cause, and freely declared a New Dispensation at hand, and Spiritism the guiding angel which was to lead mankind safely into it; and they have not hesitated to declare that the New Dispensation means the utter wreck of the present social order, and the estab- lishment of Spiritism as the new order. In some instances, where they thought it would serve their purpose, they have not hesitated to declare the Second Coming of Christ, and on one occasion at least it was distinctly stated that Christ had come a second time; and it was intimated that they were ready, if any one chose, to grant communication with Christ through the medium.
Spiritism Ancient and Modern. 125
Many of God's people have been saved from being ensnared into this great evil, by what we might term their own spiritual sense, by which they discerned that there was something in con- nection with Spiritism quite at variance with the spirit of our Lord and the sentiments of His Word. We may safely conclude, however, on the strength of the Lord's promise, that none of the fully consecrated — the "elect" — are suffered to be fully en- snared.— Matt. 24 : 24.
The strongly marked tendency of Spiritism toward free- loveism served to bring it into general disrepute amongst the pure minded, who concluded that, if the influence of the dead was properly represented in some living advocates of Spiritism, then the social conditions beyond the vale of death must be much worse, much more impure, than they are in the present life, instead of much better, as these demon spirits claim.
We could make voluminous quotations from Spiritist writings, proving that it totally denies the Bible, and that it is in direct opposition to its teachings ; that it has denied the very existence of God, teaching instead merely a good principle, and that every man is a god. It denies the atonement and the Lordship of Christ, while it claims that He was a spirit-medium of low degree; and furthermore, abundant testimony could be quoted from prominent Spiritists proving that the tendencies of Spir- itism are extremely demoralizing. We will content oursefves with one.
Here is the testimony of J. F. Whitney, editor of the Path- finder (N. Y.). Having been a warm and evidently an honest defender and advocate of Spiritism for a long time and well acquainted with its devotees, his is a testimony hard to impeach. He says : —
"Now, after a long and constant watchfulness, seeing for months and years its progress and its practical workings upon its devotees, its believers, and its mediums, we are compelled to speak our honest conviction, which is, that the manifestations coming through the acknowledged mediums, who are designated as rapping, tipping, writing and trance mediums, have a baneful influence upon believers, and create discord and confusion ; that the generality of these teachings inculcate false ideas, approve of selfish individual acts, and endorse theories and principles which, when carried out, debase and make man little better than the brute. These are among the fruits of modern Spiritualism.
"Seeing, as we have, the gradual progress it makes with its believers, particularly its mediums, from lives of morality to those of sensuality and immorality, gradually and cautiously undermining the foundation of good principles, we look back with amazement to the radical change which a few months will bring about in individuals; for its tendency is to approve and
126 Life^-Death — Hereafter.
endorse each individual act and character, however good or bad these acts may be."
He concludes by saying: "We desire to send forth our warn- ing voice, and if our humble position, as the head of a public journal, our known [former] advocacy of Spiritualism, our ex- perience, and the conspicuous part we have played among its believers, the honesty and fearlessness with which we have de- fended the subject, will weigh anything in our favor, we desire that our opinions may be received, and those who are moving passively down the rushing rapids to destruction, should pause, ere it be too late, and save themselves from the blasting influ- ence which those manifestations are causing."
So bold and outspokenly immoral did some of the prominent representatives of Spiritism become, especially the female me- diums (and most of its mediums are females), that the moral sense of civilization was shocked; and for a time demonism under the name of "Spiritualism" languished. Now that its past is measurably forgotten or denied, it is reviving, but along some- what different lines. The new method seems to be to have less tipping and rapping and fewer special mediums, or rather to make of each believer a medium, by the use of mechanical appli- ances. Indeed, almost all who become investigators are assured that they would make excellent mediums. This flattery is no doubt intended to lure them on, the ability to do "wonders" hav- ing a great fascination, especially for people of naturally medio- cre talents. Nor is the statement untrue : none but idiots are so stupid or so ignorant that they cannot be used as mediums; and they may become powerful mediums in proportion as they yield themselves obediently to the "control" of these "seducing spirits" and their "doctrines of devils (See I Tim. 4:1) and are "led captive" by Satan at his will. — 2 Tim. 2 : 26.
The term "seducing spirits" exactly fits the case. From amusement of curiosity and answering of questions, sometimes quite truthfully, they proceed to gain the Confidence of their victims, and in a plausible manner to break down the will power and make slaves of them. Then they tyrannize in a most dia- bolical manner, leading into excesses of various kinds. Should conscience rebel or an attempt be made to get free from this slavery, all reserve is cast aside and the victim is taunted with his fall, persuaded that there is no hope for him, and that his only future pleasure must be in diabolism — Scriptures being skillfully quoted and cited to apparently prove this.
A case of this kind came under the writer's observation. A gentleman who had occasionally attended on preaching asked that an interview be granted his sister whom he would bring from Cleveland for the purpose. She was, he said, laboring under the delusion that she had committed the unpardonable
Spiritism Ancient and Modern. 127
sin, and he hoped we could disabuse her mind of the thought which sometimes made her ''wild." We consented, and she came. She conversed rationally enough but assured us that her case was hopeless. We explained the Scriptures relating to the "sin unto death" and endeavored to show her that she had never had sufficient light to come under its conditions, but we could make no headway. She declared that she had been in a salvable condition once, but was so no longer.
She told us how she had met in California a man who* had a familiar spirit and occult powers ; at first disbelieving, she after- ward became his co-worker in "mysteries" resembling witch- craft, and had finally inveigled and injured a dear female friend. Since then remorse had seized her, and she had been tortured and at times frenzied and hope had forever fled. Before she left us she seemed comforted a little by what we told her of Divine compassion and the abundant provision made in the great Ransom for all given at Calvary. But we have heard since that she lost hope again and has been placed in an asylum to hinder her from taking her own life. She could not be trusted alone: she would attempt to throw herself headlong from a window, or while quietly walking the street would attempt to throw herself under passing vehicles; — reminding us of the case mentioned in Mark 9 : 22. We have regretted, since, that instead of .merely reasoning with the poor woman we did not, also, in the name of the Lord, exorcise the evil spirit which evi- dently possessed her ; or, failing to cast it out, at least have in- structed and helped her to exercise her will power to resist the demon.
There are good spirits, as the Scriptures freely declare; and these holy angels are charged with the care of all who are fully consecrated to the Lord. These, however, do not operate in darkness, nor through "mediums," and have better employment than tipping tables, rapping out answers to foolish questions and entertaining humanity. "Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?" (Heb. 1:14.) There is no warrant, however, for seeking or expecting communications from these holy guardian angels: God's will being that His "elect" shall walk by faith and not by unusual manifestations or sights or sounds. To this end He has prepared His Word as a storehouse of knowledge from which His faithful shall be supplied with "meat in due season"; and He declares it to be sufficient that the man of God may be thoroughly furnished unto every good work. — 2 Tim. 3: 17.
Furthermore, it may be set down as a sure sign of evil (either germinating or developed), for any one to attempt to get con- trol of the will and mind of another — as in mesmerism, spirit- mediumship, hypnotism and the like. The Lord respects our
9
128 Life — Death — Hereafter.
individuality and appeals to it, and urges our self-controX in harmony with the principles of righteousness laid down in His Word. But Spiritism asks an abandonment of self-control in favor of spirit control. No one of ordinary prudence would dare to give up the use and control of his mind and will to fellow-men, much less to unseen powers which merely profess to be good and great and wise. No Christian who has the slightest confidence in the Bible as the inspired Word of God should sub- mit hrmself to these influences as a "medium," or even become an "investigator" of that concerning which God's Word has given us so explicit warnings — that it is a way that leads from God and righteousness to sin and ruin, mental, moral and physical.
One of the simple modern devices for awakening interest artd leading on to fuller "mediumship," "possession" and "control," is described in a letter received from a Christian lady, a school teacher in Georgia, and a deeply interested student of God's Plan of the Ages. The writer says: —
"I have been having a rather strange and perhaps unwise ex- perience lately. My husband's brother is a Spiritualist, takes the Progressive (?) Thinker and is thoroughly imbued with its teachings, and, when I visit there, he reads articles from it and asks my opinion concerning them ; especially those from persons claiming to have received messages from 'departed friends' through the aid of the mediums. Now I never have thought it 'all humbug' as many do, though there is much fraud connected with it — for it seems to me that the Bible plainly teaches that spirits have had, and will have, the power to communicate with men. I have told him that I believed those communications came from fallen angels who personated the dead for the pur- pose of deceiving men into believing Satan's old lie, "Thou shalt not surely die." But as my brother-in-law does not accept the Bible as the Word of God, my. opinion had little weight with him. His wife (who is a firm believer in Scripture Studies) is much troubled over his belief; and both have found their difference of opinion anything but pleasant, though his wife avoids the subject as much as possible with fidelity to the Truth. Some time ago he bought a Psychograph, an instrument used by mediums for communing with spirits, but he could not use it.
"A few days ago it was placed in my hands, and, as I found I was a medium, I resolved to "try the spirits." [This is a mis- application of Scripture, as shown later. Editor.] About the first thing it said to me was that there is a valuable gold mine on our place : that did not surprise me, as we had been told that a "vein" had been traced across the place. It described the ex- act location to dig for it ; said it is only y]/2 feet below the sur- face. So that will not be difficult to prove. Then it gave me
Spiritism Ancient and Modern. 129
some Scripture messages, Col. 1 : 4, 5 and 2:4. I asked what was meant by "enticing words" and was answered, Bellamy, Christian Science, Spiritualism, Ingersollism, etc. I asked who was talking, and was told Epaphras. That did not seem to please my brother-in-law very much, and he said he would like to hear from some one we had known in the flesh, so I asked if such an one were present, and was told, "Yes, Eastman" (a stranger to me, but my brother-in-law and his wife, who alone were present, were both acquainted with him). When asked what he wished to say he cited us to Titus 3 : 5, said the doctrine of The Studies is true, and that his wealth had hindered him from gaining the prize of the high calling. 'I,' said Eastman,' was not thought a very good Christian, though a member of the church.'
"The next day I tried the wheel, or Psychograph, again, and was told that a dear good friend of mine who had lived in speaking distance of me for several years was talking to me. She asked me to write to her husband and tell him that she said, a certain boy (giving name) was having a bad influence over their boy. She told me that my husband (who is in Florida) was hurt and was very lame, and I got a letter from him day before yesterday confirming it. She said she regretted that she had not given Scripture Studies the attention that I had wished her to, that she had life on the angelic plane; she also told me of the "mine." I asked did she know the one claiming to be Eastman, and she said yes, that it was a deceiving spirit personating him, and that I would best not make use of the means through which I could receive such communications. One claiming to bz Cephas cited me to the first chapter of Daniel. Another, claiming to be my father, said in substance the same. All said the same about the gold "mine," and all professed to believe in Christ and that Scripture Studies are correct ex- ponents of God's Word, and told me that I was failing to make the best use of one of my "gifts" — teaching; that I should teach publicly as well as individuals, but was cautioned with 1 Cor. 3 : 7 amd Eph. 4 : 2.
"During the little time I experimented with the instrument I was told many things (a few of which were not true) that would take too much of your time to tell you; and several of the 'spirits' claimed that they would heal the sick through me, if I would only trust them. A great deal of Scripture was given, and all very appropriate to those for whom it was given; but the Devil quoted Scripture to Christ; and I still think the same as I did before "trying the spirits" — only I was not sure that fallen angels would admit, even for the purpose of deceiving, that Christ had "come in the flesh" ; but it seems now they will. Probably 1 John 4: 1-3 refers to doctrines of men wholly. Of
130 Life — Death — Hereafter.
course, it would be possible for those who shall have "part in the first resurrection" to speak through such a device, but is it prob- able that they will? I will be glad to hear from you on this subject."
[That passage has reference to men — doctrines among men. It may be remarked here that the evil spirits not only have knowledge of present events, but by some power can frequently closely approximate the future. In one instance under our notice two deaths within a year were foretold : one of the par- ties died, the other became seriously ill, but recovered. Some power is in Satan's hand, but with limitations. Compare Heb. 2:14; Psa. 97:10; 116:15 and Job 2:3-6. — Editor.]
"What experience I have had tends to confirm your teaching — that the communications are from the fallen angels. They are very unreliable. One can but feel how impossible it will be in these closing days of the Gospel Age for any one to "stand" who has not a firm foundation for faith." .
Here is an illustration of the insidious methods of these demons. Like Satan and the evil spirits of our Lord's day, they will confess Christ and the Truth. Similarly the woman "pos- sessed" followed Paul and Silas several days saying truly (Acts 16: 16-18), "These men are the servants of the most high God, which show unto us the way of salvation." But for that matter, abundant evidence could be adduced that they would confirm and approve almost any doctrine or theory held precious by the inquirer in order to gain his confidence, and thus a fuller power over him.
Respecting the "mine" — that is a bait to draw and hold the interest. It is questionable whether the fallen angels can see deeper into the earth than can* mankind. Of course, it might happen that gold in paying quantities might be found on any of the gold-bearing veins of Georgia, but the experiences of miners in general and of drillers for petroleum who have been "directed by the spirits," or who have used "divining rods," has been that, in the end, they lost money by following such directions. The presumption must therefore be that, if the "lying spirits" are not deceiving by misrepresenting themselves as possessing knowledge when they have none, then the same malevolence which leads them as "seducing spirits" to lure mankind to moral and mental wreck, leads them to take pleasure in misleading them to financial wreck. Lying spirits, like lying men, are not to be believed or trusted under any circumstances.
Concerning the advice to "teach" : coming from such a quar- ter, it should rather incline us to fear that the demons saw in the lady a weakness in that direction from which she would be most easily assailable. It is safe to conclude in advance that
Spiritism Ancient and Modern. 131
their advice is either directly or indirectly intended to do us harm. And notice the cunning which sought to guard against suspicion by quoting texts cautioning to humility!
True, the people need instruction, and all instructors are "teachers" ; but it is very unsafe for any one to think of himself or herself as a teacher. The preferable plan, by far, is for each to be a pupil in the school of Christ, the great Teacher, and to be ready to learn of Him through any channel, or to be used by Him in helping to make plain to others His teachings. Each one who learns anything of the Lord should tell it to others, not as his own wisdom and teaching, but the Lord's, and himself merely the channel which gfadly passes the water of life on to others. No wonder the Holy Spirit cautions us, "Be not many of you teachers, my brethren, knowing that we "[teachers] shall have the greater judgment [or severer trial]." — James 3: 1.
With the thought of teaching others is closely associated the thought of superior wisdom; and from the first this has been Satan's bait. To mother Eve his promise as the reward of disobedience was, "Ye shall be [wise] as gods." And the tempta- tion to her was that she perceived from his arguments that the forbidden fruit was desirable "to make one wise." Alas, the wisdom which Satan gives is very undesirable! It is "[1] earthly, [2] sensual, [3] devilish" ; as many, too late, have dis- covered. But on the contrary, "the wisdom which cometh down from above is first pure, then [2] peaceable, [3] gentle, [4] easy to be entreated, [5] full of mercy and good fruits, [6] without partiality and without hypocrisy." (Jas. 3 : 15-17.) No wonder the inspired Apostle said, "I fear lest by any means as the ser- pent beguiled Eve, by subtilty [cunning], so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity [purity] that is in Christ." (2 Cor. II': 3.) Let us therefore lose no opportunity for telling the "good tidings of great joy"; — but let us lose sight of our- selves as teachers and point all, as brethren and fellow-pilgrims, to the words and example of the great Teacher and of the twelve inspired Apostles whom He appointed as our instructors, our teachers.
We advised the Sister further, that it was very unwise to dis- obey the Divine instructions (Isa. 8: 19, 20) by having anything whatever to do with these "seducing spirits." These are not the spirits which we are to "try" "whether they be of God," for God has already forewarned us that they are not of Him, but that they are '"wicked spirits." As well might we use the Apostle's words as an excuse for trying all the various brands of intoxi- cating spirits to see if one could be found which would not make drunk. These "familiar," wicked spirits, claim that they are numerous, a "legion" possessing one man. They would ask no more than that humanity should "try" them all. A fair trial, or
132 Life — Death — Hereafier.
"test," is just what they request and they succeed sooner or later in enslaving most of those who test them.
In the passage which says, "Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they be of God" (i John 4: 1-6), the word spirits is used in the sense of teaching, or doctrine, and has no reference to spirit beings. This is shown by the verses fol- lowing, which declare that we are to "try" or discern between "the spirit of truth and the spirit of error." And this may be quickly done, for all false doctrines either directly or indirectly deny that "Christ died for our sins"; that "the Man Christ Jesus gave Himself a Ransom for all."
Assuredly we should not expect that the Lord, nor any in harmony with Him, will ever make use of methods which the "lying spirits" use and which God in His Word has condemned and forbidden. To do so would expose God's people to all the "wiles of the Devil."
The Sister sent us an advertisement of the Psychograph which says:
"Do you wish to investigate Spiritualism? Do you wish to develop Mediumship? Do you desire to receive communica- tions ? The psychograph is an invaluable assistant. Many, who were not aware of their mediumistic gift, have, after a few sittings, been able to receive delightful messages. Many, who began with it as an amusing toy, found that the intelligence con- trolling it knew more than themselves, and became converts to Spiritualism."
Thus does Satan now make use of the belief common to all denominations of Christians as well as heathendom, that the dead are not dead but are angels hovering round us; and what i.s more calculated to "seduce" them than just such a toy?
By the same mail came the samples of The Progressive Thinker, a Spiritualist organ of the most pronounced type. We examined it, having in view matter for this article, and to our surprise found that several of its leading articles freely con- ceded that the vast majority of the communicating spirits are evil spirits which seek influence over human beings in order to work their ruin; and if possible to get possession of them to make them crazy. It told of written communications dropped into a room signed "Beelzebub" and "Devil." In one column under the caption "A Critical Study of Obsession," was an ac- count of a poor woman who had been so beset by evil spirits that she was sent to an Insane Asylum and who finally got rid of their torments; and it gives her statement, "I prayed them away." Asked, "To whom did you pray?" her recorded answer is, "To the Ever-living God. He only can answer prayer." And yet in another column God's name is blasphemed, under the cap- tion, "Peter and Paul," from which we quote these words —
Spiritism Ancient and Modern. 133
"Moses, who though said to be learned in all the Egyptian skill, was the very meanest of men, and for his God erroneously took Jehovah, a departed spirit of an Egyptian disappointed aspirant to some lucrative or ecclesiastical office."
In the same issue, under the heading — 'Thoughts Illustrating the Status of Spiritualism, and the Dangers that Beset the Honest Investigator," by Charles Dawbran, we have a notice of a book by an English clergyman, entitled "The Great Secret, or the Modern Mystery of Spiritualism." Introducing the author the article says : —
"His experiences commenced with the development of his wife as a writing medium, through whom, from time to time, he received such tests as delight the heart of the worshiper of phe- nomena. He also seems to have made the acquaintance of almost every public medium who has at any time been high priest or priestess of the Occult, to the worthy citizens of Lon- don. And he has apparently been a welcomed visitor to the homes and seances of every distinguished investigator or full- fledgeg1. believer in that city during the forty years of which he writes. He has included hypnotism in his investigations, and has been successful both as operator and subject. He has even dabbled a little in 'Black Magic,' at least sufficient to prove it a dread reality. So we have in this author a man most unusually qualified to deal intelligently with the subject. That he is now, and has for almost all these years been a believer is evident, for he narrates incidents and proofs which would carry conviction to every intelligent and unprejudiced mind. But his trouble has been that of every experienced investigator. He has not only witnessed much phenomena that could be explained as due 'to the normal or abnormal powers of the mortal, but where there has been an evident 'ghost' at work, mistakes, and at times evident fraud, have troubled his ecclesiastical soul.
"So we have little but the usual mixed experiences of the average intelligent investigator. A grain of wheat to a bushel of chaff is claimed by the Spiritualist as abundant compensation for the toil and trouble of long years of waiting upon the 'dear spirits.' And to some minds perhaps it is. But to others there have ever been fierce attempts to increase the crop of truth. And it is herein that the experiences of this clergyman become interesting to every truth-lover the world over. He, as we have said, has had abundant experience in both public and private seances, but his pathway to progress seemed blocked. He was just as liable to the usual imperfections of spirit intercourse after many years of such investigation, as in the very first sit- tings with his own wife and a few chosen friends.
"So the question became: 'Is progress possible?' And to solve this he tried an experiment which inspires the present
134 Life — Death — Hereafter.
writer to call this attention to his book. For as we have seen, the rest was what almost everybody can endorse, and say 'me too.' He determined to seek spirit intercourse from the highest plane possible to the mortal, so that if there be truth to the maxim 'like to like' he might attract the very highest, and repel those who come from the unseen to trouble and perplex weary mortals. He devoted a house to that purpose. Not merely were there rooms for use by mediums and circles of investigators or believers, but a chapel was prepared where he himself conducted a religious service twice a week, and it was at the conclusion of this service that a special seance was held by the believers present. The surroundings were most solemn. Frivolity was conspicuous only by its absence. The spirits had promised great results. For over a year at one time, and for months at others, these meetings were continued. But no promise was fulfilled. Prayers to God for light and truth proved no more efficacious than the eternal 'Nearer, my God, to thee' of the usual public seance, with its miscellaneous crowd.
"So our poor clergyman has his one grain of wheat after forty years of honest attempt to make at least a pint of it. He clings to that atom of truth with his whole soul, but his earnest attempt at progress has proved a life-long failure, although, ap- parently, every condition was favorable to success. Since such is the experience of the thousands, once zealous, who have become 'silent' believers from the same cause, we may well ask : Is modern Spiritualism fixed and bounded like the theological systems pf the past and present? Is there no hope of solving its problems, overcoming its barriers, and reaching a higher manhood on this side of the life line? Is the honest and con- vinced investigator presently to become discouraged, almost as a matter of course?"
The claim made by Spiritists that good spirits commune with good people, and evil spirits with evil people is thus disproved. Could stronger testimony than this be produced in evidence that all spirit communications are from evil spirits and are wholly unreliable? The writer, further on in the same Spiritist journal, gives the following account of the experiences of another "be- liever/' for which he vouches : —
"For a score of years he had been true to his convictions, endeavoring to reduce all belief to a basis of provable facts. His own sensitiveness permitted spirit approach, and sometimes the heavens had seemed to open to shower blessings on his soul. But foes came as readily as friends whenever the gate was ajar, so that, for the most part, safety compelled him to avoid per- sonal experience of spirit return. The active mind offers poor foothold to any spirit, so he accepted public office and labored zealously for the public weal. But at intervals the experiences
Spiritism Ancient and Modern. 135
reappeared, and it seemed as if the battle had to be fought all over again. He failed to find a direct cause which might ac- count for the presence of his foes. But they seemed to have certain gathering points. For instance, he could rarely visit a public library to select a book but that he would be followed and annoyed for hours by some 'invisible,' seeking to control him. It is true, each battle, when fought to victory, was usually fol- lowed by a brief and happy reunion with angel friends, but the sense of danger made him only the more earnest to close the door to all spirit return. His method of fighting off the influ- ence was to resolutely fix his mind on some matter of interest in his daily affairs. And this would, sooner or later, prove suc- cessful every time. Any attempt to gain help from the spirit side of life only seemed to give added power to the foe."
This man had evidently progressed in Spiritism so that he had become a "clairaudient medium." The supposed good spirits or "angel friends" which sometimes visited him were merely the same evil spirits called by the writer "foes"; but they trans- formed themselves to his mind by assuming an opposite attitude when they found him getting away from their influence — to keep him from abandoning them altogether, and in hope that by and by they would get such an influence over him that escape would be impossible. "
From the same journal, under the heading, "Incidents With Good Advice," after giving two cases of pronounced insanity, the direct result of "spirit control," we find the following advice : —
"The lesson I would draw is this: Never sit alone, if there is the least probability of the controls overcoming one's judgment. Even though their intentions may be good, as in Mr. B.'s case, yet their experience has been insufficient with regard to the management of mediums, and their operations may become very injudicious. Never permit a control to cause you to do that which your judgment cannot sanction, no matter under what promise it is given. Only evil-designing controls are liable to resort to such measures.
"These cases call to mind the thought that undoubtedly there are many others in the asylums, who are simply the victims of control. I could cite another case, where during her first con- finement, a young woman was given chloroform and other treat- ment which weakened her system to such an extent that a de- graded spirit took hold of her organism, and the language he made that previously moral girl use was deplorable. Under these conditions she was committed to the asylum, where she is at present and at last reports was, at times, able to control her body, and, of course, at those times she was considered 'rational' by the authorities.
136 Life — Death — Hereafter.
"Let all Spiritualists be sure to caution persons who are be- ginning their investigation by sitting alone to be very careful — and to make a regular practice of reporting, so that those of experience may know what is taking place and advise accord- ingly. And further, let us make a practice of looking into all cases of so-called 'insanity' before they are sent to the asylums; perchance it may be a case like those I have cited."
A "strong delusion," an "energy of Satan" truly, Spiritism is, when people with all these evidences before them still return to it time and again, even after being injured — as do the once singed summer moths to the deadly glare that fascinates them. There is a dense darkness in the world today upon Divine Truth; and thinking people, when awakened from the stupor which has so long benumbed their reasoning faculties, as respects religion, cry out for "Light, more Light" ; and if they do not get the true Light of the knowledge of God (which shines only for the honest and consecrated believer in the Ransom), they are ready for the false lights with which "the god of this world," Satan, seeks to ensnare all — Higher Criticism, otherwise called Agnos- ticism, or Spiritism, or Christian Science, or Theosophy. These, if it were possible, would deceive the "very elect" ; and are well represented as being Satan's ministers transformed as angels of light.
Another popular Spiritualist paper is The Philosophical Jour- nal. It continually urges that its gospel of Spiritism be tested, and declares it to be the one thing the world needs; and yet it also admits the frauds practised by the "spirits" upon medi- ums. It will admit that when detected as "evil spirits," "lying spirits," by misrepresentation, fraud, wicked suggestions or works, arousing the victim to resistance or relief through prayer, evidently the same spirits return as moralists, with reproofs, pro- fessions of sympathy and promises of aid in resisting the evil spirits, etc., only to improve the first opportunity of weakness or temptation to break down all resistance of the will and obtain complete possession — obsession. We clip a statement in support of this from one of its issues, signed by A. N. Waterman, one of the leading Spiritualist lights. Under the caption, "Real Au- thorship of Spirit Communications," he says : —
"It appears to me impossible that in this life we can know from whom a spiritual communication from the other world is made. We can have evidence, something like that which we possess in reference to the authorship of a telegram, but no more."
Would people of "sound mind" stake their all, risk an insanity which according to their own accounts is manifold worse in torture than ordinary dementia, and spend their lives trying to get other people to risk their all similarly, when for it all they
Spiritism Ancient and Modern. .137
have no more evidence than goes with a telegram ? Would they do so when the bitter experiences of seventy years testing had told them that the genuine are at most only as "one grain to a bushel" f
No, no ! Only desperately deluded people would pursue such a course. Evidently as the Holy Spirit in men produces "the spirit of a sound mind" (2 Tim. 1:7; Prov. 2:6, 7), so, on the other hand, the spirit of devils produces the spirit of an unsound mind.
Another letter received from Florida, from a brother in Christ, well educated in several languages, informs us concern- ing some peculiar experiences recently had with these "seducing spirits." He became aware of the presence of invisible spirit beings, and they seemed to manifest a curious interest in his work: he was translating Studies in the Scriptures into a foreign language.
Well informed along the Scriptural lines presented foregoing, as to who these "seducing spirits" are, he nevertheless forgot, or failed to heed the Divine instruction — that mankind should hold no communication whatever with these "lying spirits" and "have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness." The neglect of this instruction caused him serious trouble; and but for the interposition of Divine mercy, in response to his and our prayers, it might have made shipwreck of him — soul and body.
He was allured to the conference by a mixture of curiosity with a benevolent desire to do them good by preaching to them the glorious Gospel of Divine love and mercy operating through Christ toward all mankind; and the eventual hope of a judg- ment (probationary trial) for the fallen angels, declared in the Scriptures. (1 Cor. 6:3.) At first they gave close attention and appeared to take a deep and reverent interest in the mes1 sage; but before long they became very "familiar" spirits, in- truding themselves and their questions and remarks at all times and places, disputing with him and with each other in a manner and upon topics far from edifying, so that he remonstrated. Finally he demanded that they depart, but having gained his "inner ear" (having made of him what Spiritists would term a " ' clairaudient medium"), they were not disposed to go, and only through earnest prayer was he finally delivered. He should have been on his guard against their seductive influences; he should have remembered that whatever message of grace the Lord may yet have for these fallen angels he has not yet sent it to them, and that none are authorized to speak for the Lord without authority. "How shall they preach except they be sent?" The message of salvation thus far is to mankind only; and even here it is limited, for although all are to be counseled to repent of sin and to reform, yet the Gospel of Salvation is
138 Life— Death— Hereafter.
restricted to repentant "believers" only — "the meek of the earth." Joseph Hartman has published a book of 378 pages in which he recounts his experiences as a Spirit-medium (led into it by Swedenborg's teachings), his debasement almost to the loss of reason by spirit obsession, and his final recovery from its en- snarement of his will ; but strange to say, he is still a firm be- liever in Swedenborgianism and Spiritism, although, like others, he cautions every one to be on guard against their wicked de- vices. Poor deluded man, he still believes that some of these are "good spirits" !
Mr. H. had come in contact with the "Planchette," a wooden device which holds a pencil and moves readily under the hands of certain mediums or "sensitives," even children, writing an- swers to questions propounded to it; and he had attended sev- eral tipping and rapping seances, and was convinced that they were not frauds, but the operations of invisible, intelligent spirits. He became actively interested while endeavoring to convince doubting friends of the genuineness of the manifesta- tions. Next he tried it in his own family and developed the fact that his little son was a drawing and writing medium. Next he was curious to investigate the phenomena of spirit materializa- tion. About this time his daughter "Dolly" died, and he was deeply interested in the apparitions or materializations which professed to be "Dolly." He, however, was incredulous, and in his own words, "gave it up under a cloud, and a suspicion of fraud." But after five years of experience he says : "Whatever doubts I may have entertained respecting the phenomena, I am clearly of the opinion that "honest materializations are now of frequent occurrence. Who the forms are, or whence derived, is a mooted question." We have just seen that if the manifesta- tions are "hottest" so far as the mediumship is concerned, they are frauds so far as the persons represented are concerned — simulations of the dead, by the fallen angels.
Later the table-tipping and rapping and drawing and writing tests were revived at Mr. H/s home, two of his children becom- ing adept mediums, and finally, he himself became a writing medium, to his own surprise and without expectation or solicita- tion. Now he could and did hold frequent converse, supposedly, with his daughter "Dolly," but really with demons who person- ated her, and others. He was caused to smell pleasant odors, etc. As a later development he became a speaking medium, and "under control" would speak and act without his own intention or volition; but with full power to refuse to be a medium to such "spirits" as he chose to refuse, because of their former rudeness or obscenity. Next he was granted the "inner ear," "Clairaudience," or ability to hear sounds not audible to others, and thus to hold converse with the "spirits" without any out-
Spiritism Ancient and Modern. 139
ward agency, as writing, rapping, planchettes, ouija boards, etc.
Of his "spirit friends" he says : "They described to me that their controlling circle consisted of 'twelve spiritual gifts or vir- tues' which composed a 'band' of very great strength; and under their guidance, they declared, I would become one of the great- est mediums ever known. I revolted — had not the least ambition for fame of that sort: they were the more determined."
Thus gradually was Mr. Hartman brought, against his wish, more and more under the "control" of the wicked spirits who finally obsessed him. The next experience was with a peculiar clairaudient "Voice" which represented itself to be the Lord, and took full control of him, directing his every act. It pictured all his errors and weaknesses in darkest shades ; and endeavored to destroy all hope. He was told to pray, and when he attempted to pray he was given such conflicting suggestions as to words as made it impossible. He was fast in the snare of the "wicked spirits"; "possessed," and controlled by "spirit-mesmerism," as he calls it.
But finally he escaped their bondage ; — a once strong will re- asserted itself, and he wrote the account to hinder others from being similarly entrapped. But he does not understand the mat- ter, notwithstanding his remarkable experiences. His experi- ences had proved that all the "spirits" which he had come in contact with were "wicked," lying, profane, and a majority of them vulgarly and disgustingly obscene; yet, believing these to be the spirits of dead men and women, he surmised that he had met a band of evil ones only, and that there were other bands of good, truthful and pure spirits of good people. If he had but known the Lord's testimony on this subject, it would have put the entire matter in another light.
After gaining will-control of himself he was still attended by these evil spirits whose character he now fully knew ; and they tried repeatedly to bring his will power again under "control," but had no power that he would not grant. He did, however, grant them liberty to use his hand in writing communications, and in reply to his questions respecting how and why they had abused his confidence, lied to him, were obscene and sought to bind and injure him, they answered that they were constitution- ally and thoroughly bad and that they were "devils" — again con- tradicting this and declaring that they were spirits of dead human beings. But to confirm him in Swedenborgianism they told him that there were no Swedenborgians among them. And Hartman evidently believed these self-confessed "lying spirits," for he concludes his book by quoting proofs that Swedenborg had passed through experiences of obsession somewhat like his own. He quotes from Swedenborg's Diary 2957-2996 as follows : —
"Very often when any one spoke with me, spirits spoke
140 Life — Death — Hereafter.
through me. . . . This occurred many times ; for instance twice today. I cannot enumerate the times, they are so many. . . . Moreover, they have laughed through me, and done many things. . . . These are those who introduce these things into my thoughts, and while I am unconscious of it, lead my hand to write thus."
Hartman says of Swedenborg further: —
"It is a matter of history that Swedenborg's maligners, not understanding interior temptations or spirit control, published that he was crazy, and that he did several foolish and insane things while living in London. ... He was under control of spirits who acted through his body, speaking through him and moving his body as if it were their own. . . . During a part of this transitional period he was unquestionably controlled by evil spirits. He says he had 'tremors and was shaken from head to foot, and thrown out of bed on his face.' ... 'I was in the temptation,' he says, 'thoughts invaded me that I could not con- trol, . . . and full liberty was given them. . . . While I had the most damnable thoughts, the worst that could possibly be, Jesus Christ was presented visibly before my internal sight.' "
Mr. Hartman comments : — "This we believe was an evil spirit pretending to be Christ, as in our own case the spirit pretended to be God."
To us it seems evident that Swedenborg was a spirit-medium and was an advance agent for promulgating and establishing the "doctrines of devils" respecting "seven heavens and seven hells," etc., etc., ad nauseam. Yet Mr. Hartman closes his book with a eulogy of Swedenborg, who, although admittedly pos- sessed of devils at times, he thinks was sometimes possessed and controlled by good spirits; while Hartman's own experience corroborated the Scriptures, that they are all "wicked," "seduc- ing," "lying" spirits.
In a pamphlet entitled, "The Nature of Insanity; Its Cause and Cure," by J. D. Rhymus, the author shows that in many cases insanity is merely demoniacal possession or "obsession.'' He says:
"In my own case I know that the brain was not diseased at all; my whole nature seemed to be intensified by conflicting emotions raging within my breast. I was completely enveloped and pervaded by thought, or in other words thought came as something impinged upon me, seeking expression through me, without being coined or generated by the action of my own brain, although fully conscious at the time, as I am now, that I possessed a strength t within me not my own will and brain power so-called; — yet it was so blended with, and manifested through my own powers of action, that I felt great exhaustion
Spiritism Ancient and Modern. 141
of nerve force, mental prostration as the conditions subsided."
After detailing his own case and his release from the thraldom of evil spirits, whom he supposed to be the spirits of wicked dead men (apparently he also was a follower of Swedenborg), he quotes a letter from a Philadelphia physician, as follows :
'The young lady to whom you refer in your letter is a Miss
S , who was once my patient and quite intimate in my family.
Her father was a sea captain, and was lost at sea, no one know- ing when or where. Her anxiety to learn something of his fate, led her to apply to a spirit medium. She was found to be very 'susceptible' and a remarkable medium. She did nothing to encourage the approach of spirits ; but they came all the same. They almost tormented the life out of her for a long time — how long I do not remember. They often made her get out of bed at night and perform all sorts of grotesque antics. She finally drove them off by repeating the Lord's Prayer on their every approach. Your sincere friend, ."
The same writer says : —
"Judge Edmonds of New York [a noted Spiritist and both a Clairvoyant and Clairaudient medium — now deceased], has re- cently expressed the opinion that many so-called lunatics in asylums are only under the influence of spirits." The Judge himself said: 'Some fifteen cases of insanity, or rather obses- sion, I have been instrumental in curing. This I said to the Academy of Science, in New York.'
"The Judge has had Catholic priests, after a thorough trial of their 'holy water and prayers,' send [to him] their mediumistic members when wickedly disordered, to be demagnetized and re- leased from the grasp of obsessional spirits."
Few are aware to what extent Spiritism is now active; how it is gradually reviving. Here is an account of Dr. Peebles' visit to Melbourne, Australia. He writes to The Philadelphia Jour- nal as follows : —
"Although I had come for a rest, I was immediately pressed into active service, and have been lecturing every Sunday eve- ning either in the Masonic hall (which seats 1300) or the Lyceum (700), both of them being filled at times to overflowing. I have also spoken in the Unitarian and Swedenborgian churches, and the Australian (Presbyterian) church, on vege- tarianism and other reform subjects.
"Several mediums speak about coming to Australia. Before leaving, let me tell you that the Melbourne press says there are already 500 mediums in the city and suburbs, while others say 200, but I see none who compare with Mrs. Freitag, and others. I cannot, conscientiously, encourage mediums to come to Aus- tralia, unless they are absolutely first-class test mediums. That's
142 Life — Death — Hereafter.
what the people clamor for — tests, tests, tests. Old bald headed Spiritualists, who had tests years ago, want them renewed, and so seek for tests instead of going on to a higher plane of har- mony, beauty and spiritual truth, becoming their own mediums."
Yes; the tests — rapping, writing, table-tipping, and even ma- terialization tests — are only the beginnings of Spiritism, and not the desired ends sought by the spirits. The end sought is pos- session, "obsession" ; and those who by strong self-control con- stantly resist absolute spirit-control are used as "test mediums," to catch others, and to exhort others, as above, to go "on to a higher plane of harmony," with lying, seducing, enslaving and demonizing spirits.
An English journal called Black and White gave a detailed and illustrated account of apparitions in the town of Tilly-sur- Seulles, Normandy, France. It said that the apparitions were of the Virgin Mary and had continued for several months, and were thoroughly vouched for. It adds : —
"The appearances, which seldom or never resemble each other even to the same voyants, always either ascend from the earth, as in the case of those of the Witch of Endor, or appear grad- ually bit by bit, first a leg, then an arm, and so on, at a slight elevation. All this is very queer reading.
"The trampled field of oats, the elm tree stripped of its branches by relic-hunters, the torn hedge protected by barbed wire and decorated with statues, pictures, rosaries, pots of flowers and votive tapers, remain to testify to a belief in the supernatural not less strong than it was in mediaeval times."
Black and White, after quoting from the Croix du Calvados (the official organ of the Roman Catholic Bishop of the diocese), that, "Although it cannot doubt the fact of the appearances, it is inclined more and more to attribute them to diabolic interven- tion," adds: —
"If anything, this is calculated to lend them still greater in- terest in the eyes of the world, which shows itself especially ready to dabble in Satanism, crystal-gazing, astrology, theoso- phy, spiritualism and magic, both black and white. The chief points in favor of this clerical decision seem to be that one Vintras, who lived in an old mill, still standing on the banks of the Seulles, below the older village of Tilly, prophesied these apparitions about the year '30. Vintras was condemned as a sorcerer and incarcerated at Caen by request of Pope Gregory