ESSAY AND DISCUSSION CLASS, Y.M.C.A.

Auckland Star, Volume I, Issue 245, 21 October 1870, Page 2

ESSAY AND DISCUSSION CLASS, V.M.C.A.

The Essay and Discussion Class, V.M.C.A., met at the Booms, Wellesley-street, last evening—Mr. G. M. Main in the chair—when a paper was read by Mr. F. G. Ewingtoa, on " Demonology." The essayist laid down three propositions—(l.) That demons were the spirits of deceased wicked men ; (2) that demonaical possession arose from such spirits revisiting the earth, and becoming embodied in living men ; (3) that having fulfilled the purpose intended —the exhibition of the lucar nate's power, and the divinity of His teaching, in the early days of Christianity—they are now located in ethereal space, immediately adjoining the earth's atmosphere. The above somewhat startling propositions Mr. Ewington elaborated in an interesting and ingenious paper, bristling with authorities, in the shape of • extracts from Scripture, the Fathers, and from the works of modern divines.

Judging from the discussion which ensued, the essayist was accredited with greater ability in " raising" ghosts than in " laying" them ; and the accuracy of his third proposition was unquestionable, as under the ordeal of trenchant criticism the improvised "demons" faded into " thin air." After all said and done, there can be no doubt that the conviction in the heart of man, that there are unseen spiritual agencies ever around him, influencing his weal or woe, is aa old as the raco itself. In our mental and spiritual nature, there are depths not yet soundei mysteries not yet explained ; and in the relation of cause and effect evolved from the " tangled skeiu" of human life, there is much which bears out the theory of the great dramatist, " There are more things in heaven and earth than are dreamt, of in our philosophy "

The attendance was largo, indeed the whole sitting accommodation of the class-roo v. was absorbed on the occasion. The eritidsm on the paper was well sustained until an advanced hour, a number of the visitors, by suspension of rules, being permitted to take part in the debate.— Herald.