BISHOP BRODIE'S STATEMENT.

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 17021, 18 December 1920, Page 8

BISHOP BRODIE'S STATEMENT.

A BLASPHEMY NURTURED IN FRAUD. His Lordship Bishop Brodie, in giving ail outline of the attitude of his Church towards Spiritism or Spiritualism, said: — An interview of this nature on such a subject must necessarily convey only a very incomplete idea of the Catholic doctrine and practice regarding the subject. Catholics are taught by their Catechism that to take part in spiritualistic seances is a grievous sin, strictly forbidden by the first commandment oi God. The teaching is supported by the following decision of the Sacred Congregation for tho Preservation of Faith and Morals; in answer to tho question: "Is it allowed, either through mediums or through hypnotism to assist at seances or manifestations of spiritism, even when such meetings show the appearanco of piety or honesty, or at such meetings is it permitt-ed to interrogate tho alleged spirits, or even, whilo professing disbelief in spiritism to take part in such meetings as a mere spectator ? Tho "answer -was decisively "No" to each and every part of this question," and this answer received tho approval of our Holy Father Benedict XV. on April 25th, 1917. Thus Spiritism stands clearly condemned by the highest authorities of tho Catholic Church. "Why tho condemnation? Spiritism an Abomination. 1. Because Spiritism is plainly contrary to Scriptural warning. In Deuteronomy xviii. we road: "Neither let there be found among you anyone that seeketh the truth from tho dead, for the Lord abhorreth these things, and for these abominations he will destroy them." Leviticus xix, "Go not aside after wizards, neither ask anything of soothsayers to bo defiled by them j I am tho Lord thy God." 2. Spiritism is by implication a horrible blasphemy. Our Saviour says: "I am the "Way, the Truth, and the Life ; but Spiritism implies that our Saviour s teaching is incomplete, unreliable, and false, and substitutes tlio vague, dreamy mumblings of alleged mediums, many of whom have been convicted of deception and fraud. 3. Spiritism is a natural outcome or tho rojection of revealed truth; the soul of man is essentially spiritual, and strives after tho supernatural; but tho rejection of revealed truth forces the pitiablo victim to fashion a destiny of his own; the Spiritist rejects the strong, consistent, logical, heart-easing _ doctrine of Christian faith, and substitutes tho silly pranks and absurdities of the darkened seance room. 4. Spiritism stands condemned even by the evidence of its own advocates. Sir Oliver Lodge, writing on the mode of existence in the spiritual world, says, "Information of tho higher kind has often been received, but seldom published, and it is difficult to know what value to put upon it, or how far it is really trustworthy.'' Judge Edmonds, j the noted American Spiritist, whose! namo Sir A. Conan Doylo mentioned as that of his first guide and adviser, wrote: "Wo have to contend against our owir fanaticism, for I assure you from mv own experience and observation that tho fascination of this intercourse is so great that its tendency is to lead men astray from their proper judgment and to instil a spirit of fanaticism most revolting to the calm and rational mind.'' No Clear Messages. Sir W. F. Barrett, another friend of Sir Conan Doyle, writes, "Why have we no messages that will stand critical enquiry, from the greatest -and saintliest men and women who ever lived oh earth? Why is there no clear, and consistent account of the surroundings and tho occupations of those who have passed into the spiritual \vorldP" ("On, the Threshhold of tho Unseenr") _ ! Mr Horace Greeley, the noted American journalist, whose honesty of purpose, whose ability and breadth of view are admitted on all sides, gave this valuablo opinion: ho started as a student, even a follower, of Spiritism, ho was personally acquainted with the Fox sisters, the first known mediums, and was even present at their seances. | In his recollections ho thus sums up; Spiritism:— - j 1. -Those spirits who claim through the medium to be Shakespeare, Milton, Byron, etc., and try to prove it by writing poetry, invariably come to grief. 2. As a rule tho so-called spiritual communications aro vague, unreal, shadowy, trivial. 3. All attempts of the so-callcd mediums to guide speculators as to future 2vents have proved melancholy failures. 4. I judge thaf laser notions respecting marriage, EJ'oJrce, chastity, and stem morality rally havo advanced in the wak'e'ot Spiritualism: I judge also that the aggregate of both insanity : and suicide has been increased by 1 Spiritualism. __ A learned writer, I'ev. Father Neut, thus concludes his criticism of Sir A. : Conan Doylo's work, ''The New Hove- ! lation": It is in tho name of such trash that wo aro asked to surrender our faith and substitute for it a confused mass of hypotheses, while some 1 af the very champions of Spiritism who ] havo a reputation to safeguard doubt ] what value can be fixed on it at all, or how far it is trustworthy, and tho argu- ( i mentation which seems to justify thei summons is but an insult to logic and I reason as halting a3 tho wobbling of a 1 lame duck. Because some alleged i spirits aro supposed to prove life in! "the beyond" we are called upon to! irop Clirist's Christianitv which, as! (veil as natural religion, lias ever been j teaching tho immortality of tho soul, and a life after the present. And the' religion oi?i j red as a substitute is im-| i pudentlv said to como from Divine | ■ sources, a religion born in and nur- : tured in fraud, ar divine religion that j < sxcuses cold-blooded lying and low i : tricks, a religion which wrecks tho i nervous system and puts men on thej ; way to a lunatic asylum.