CORRESPONDENCE.

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 17022, 20 December 1920, Page 7

CORRESPONDENCE.

SPIRITUALISM AND THE ! church. ; t TO THE EDITOR OF ''THE PRESS."' 1} Sir, —Having read tho criticism re- i • garding Spiritualism in your paper this ; i morning, I ■feel that I should bo lack- c ing in my duty were I to let that- erui- | oism pass without making a reply to , it. "i wonder how many of the clergy j that wrote to your pc.per this morning j have thoroughly examined and studied , this subject-. 1 think you will agree with me that before one is competent to speak upon or judge any subject undor discussion, it is absolutely necessary that tho person delivering judgment concerning* the matter thould have studied the subject thoroughly, and made himself aware of tho facts relat- , ing to the subject- matter under discussion. Speaking from_ experience, I find that tno great majority of these _ condemning the teachings and plienomena of Spiritualism are men and women who have never given any serious consideration to the matter what- t over, but it is ever so, and you will) - ■always find that- the people that know ; least have tho most to say. I li.avei . carefully studied Spiritualism and tiho , occult for the past twenty years; I ' have also been brought up_ in the ; Church since my earliest inf-.tney, and having witnessed manifestations of a psychic and spiritual nature, I surely - can claim to speak on the matter with j some .authority. So far as I am aware, Spiritualists do not, and never have, ( denied tho Christ or the Bible, but, ( on the other hand, they take the Bible , as their guide, and prove all their teach- ] ings from its pages. I know there aro frauds and char- j latana amongst Spiritualists, just as thero are frauds amongst all other de- , nominations. Will any of tho clergy that wrote to your paper this morning deny the fact that .there are many j frauds and hypocrites attending their • own churches? I might just mention right hero that I know of many instances whore regular churohgoers be- , C'ievo an Sffrtiiualism,- and, what is more, some of them are good psychics , and ofttimos receive messages from tho otfier world, whether their ministers •know of it or believe it. Since studyins Spiritualism, I have added to my faith knowledge, and mv Bible is dearer to me, and the Master Christ more of a reality to me than ever boforCj because of the knowledge I have_ gained through the ftudv and -investigation of thi3 subject. The Bible is full of Spiritualism from beginning to end,' and why the clergy repoatedly ignore this fact and refuse to even discuss those passages of Scripture bearing upon tho matter puzzles me not a little. When wo have men like the Rev. Arthur ( Chambers and Dt. Basil Wilber force, of . Westminster Abbey, and. hundreds of ; intellectual and spiritually-minded ! ministers believing in_ and preaching Spiritualism, I think it ill becomes a follower of the Master Christ to designate these good men as deceivers, all just because their ideas happen to bo different from their own. Do the clergy that sneer and jeer at Spiritualists know that there are many millions of believers and followers in the Spiritualistic movement? How dare these clergymen get up and say that all theso men and women are wrong, and must ; suffer just because they hold different views to themselves. I think if the 1 ministers of our churches lived tho Christ's teachings, and went about doing good instead of continually finding fault and condemning their fellow- j brothers and sisters because of_ a differ- | ence in ideas. Christ would think more j of them, and the world would be tho i better fsfr it. Our beloved Master I spent His lifo in doing good, offering tho cu-d of cold water to the thirsty and extending the hand of fellowship to all that 1 sought His help, irrespective as to whether, the seeker belonged to any Ohtirch or not. As far as I am *. concerned, I am quite prepared tp meet any of the clerey or those that condemn this-thing without the necessary know- | ledge, and give tho pToofs whereof I snealc. In conclusion, I woiild say, Judge not, that ye' bo not judged.— Yours, etc., _ TRUTH-SEEKER. TO the editor of "the press." Sir, —It would be difficult in tho brief space *that your paper affords for correspondence, to set out even a> few of the points that require consideration before pronouncing judgment of a nature upon Spiritualists and their claims. . I find a great lacking of charity running; through the well-intentioned epistles ot your contributors. If there _ is no .truth in the claims of the Spiritualists their cult, will not long remain a menace to the laws of progress. If there is some truth, then it will prosper in spite of all the woll-intentioned persecution that eiin be brought to beat? upon it. Wo have not yet touched the fringe of what the Master meant when He said: '-'Greater things than, these will ye do in My name." His resurrection was surely a materialisation proving the law which _ the _ despised Spiritualists are • probing into, or groping for. Not all who say, "Lord; Lord," will enter in at that day. "Seek and ye shall find," etc., surely meant something more.than we pretend to be contented with spiritually, and if it doesn't, it were hardly worth. His while to have used tlio words. Wo have plenty of records in history of investigators dying for their perseverance, and I would rather err with the investigator than against liim, because it is the motive gnd not tho action that .counts as virtue. There is no law of construction that is not God's law, and if thoi Spiritualists can dq anything according to law, if it is ojily to produce a spirit photograph, it is still a scientific achievement, and as such is beautiful. I am not a Spiritualist in the acceptedi meaning of the term, but I de admiro every investigator who works earnestly for the unravelling of God's beautiful mystery, culminating in man with infinite possibilities, even to .godliness.— Yours, etc., T. E. L. ROBERTS. [Wo have slightly abridged this letter for reasons of space.—Ea. "The Press."] • t TO THE EDITOR OT "THS PRKSS." Sir, —Seeing that your paper Has been broad enougii to ask tlie opinions of nearly all tlio orthodox branunes of the Christian Church upon the subject of Spiritualism, I feel sure that you will, with equal generosity, grant me (as the Pastor ot tho Worcester street ( Spiritualists' Church) space to explain ! our attitude. j There seems to be a greal deal of con- ' fusion of terms used by some of your : correspondents. This is doubtless due to lack of knowledge—not to lack of earnestness. Psychism and spirituality are utterly different things, and we, as Christian Spiritualists, have as little sympathy with "Spiritistsor fnere Psychics, as ; any of our fellow Christians in the or- ; thodox churches. Psychism is merely j the manifestation of the powers of_con-' sciousness through organised matter: spirituality is the self-realisation of God ! —a vastly different thing, and a great psychic is not of necessity a great spiritual person, but a great spiritual person is of necessity a great psychic. "Seek ye first the kingdom of God and righteousness, and all these things shall* be added unto you." Hitherto, as a" humble follower, I have sought to follow the esamgle of the Lord Jesus Christ, Who, when Jle was reviled, reviled not again, and with gentle rej monstrance bade Peter sheathe his sword, and it is only lest in these latter ' days, those who are cleaving too. much to the letter that killeth, instead of heeding the spirit that giveth life, should allow themselves to bo led astray by that material conception that we are "told shall deceive even the very elect, that i feel called upon to solemnly issue this warning. I would say in all earnestness to my fellow Christians, what-

in venting your ill feeling towards thi;> new revelation, vou unconsciously, lik« Peter, laid yoiirsoives denying your L 1 know that this new revelation has j the imprint and approval of the C ; Himself, 'Who has never ielt iiis peopU- ; •'o'rphar.od." but still exists in actuality j in the spiritual world, ever guiding -tils : children upon their upward way. ibeic is a grave danger rhat members ot uio orfhodox churches. will alien*} -e . selves from the Christ Ilin.solt r.nd w U lack spiritual sustenance inducing in the stone ot orthodoxy, instead of the heavenly manna re.cn c from the spiritual world. „: n( ; c d Thanking vou for your broad-minded tolerance. —Yours, etc-, , . rr w VIVIAX 11. RSpiritualists' Church, December 18th. clenry,'' as follows. 1,a3 Dear Rev. Sirs,mc * 4 .„ ri :)-v afforded us-quite a unique oPP^ 11 " ; f saucing the intensity of the Utl the Churches. It always. fc r tonic that you are putting up thes same of fioiht as did the cor.-vnatii J Pharisees "when a then new r «™ la j l j ' fc was aiven to tho world I notice. tliat the phenomena a-c not d;s l nlt n c |lVibut'iii<* Tre ill fairly unanimous in attnbiitmg tlioni t-o dcmonisni. You seem to bo insensible to the utterly P£ sl ; t-ion you are striving to mnnitam. not roco ,r nisin2 tluit Sniritvialisni a S stand and fall together. T.c think 50 more closely aesemblc tho primitivo Christians th..ii. do modern Christians, Qtuilvcrs -- JP. ed. A reverently conducted seance is always held in tho spirit of where two or throe are gathered together >in My namo thero am I m the midst. U.ic of -vou was quito right, but- a little disrespectful, when he implied that wo were playing "the same old game, lou all, perhaps, feel deep down m hearts tint Spiritualism is tho basis ot all the religions that ever was and over will be. It must be. You know, too, the raiso'iv d'etre of your existence your 'Sunday schools. The Sunday school training sticks —I have twinges j myself occasionally. "V\ c Spiritualists ! arc as much in earnest as _ aro you I Churchmen, and wo do not indulge in. "leg-pulling," as the "ant : fat" humourist suggests, -when discussing a serious subject. If I wore addressing you co - lectively, I would here say, "T thank you, gentlemen, for Your attention and attendance. It would take too long a letter to deal with all your inaccuracies, and cui-bono ?'' The ripo time comes to each one of us nt the right time. PETIiR TROLOVE. DISTRESS IN CENTRAL EUROPE. TO TUB EDITOR t>F "THE TRESS.'' Sir, —lii view of the unfortunate stafe of affairs in. tlio Old V\ orld —its unparalleled sufferings wherever one looks —I should be sorry as a citizen of tho Empire to say ono unnecessary word iviiich would in the least teud to render more difficult of solution tho knotty problems confronting our statesmen a,t Homo; but the "appeal for relief' from Lord Milner { announced .in your issue of this morning savours somewhat of trifling with our national conscience. The responsible powers have not acted up to a full sense of their responsibilities. Immediately wo won the war they should have confiscated to outraged humanity tho hundred thousand million marks claimed by William Hohenzollern from Germany. It would have sufficed for a few years to relieve the distress in Cen- , tral Europe, nnd thus obviate the neces, sity fpr Lord Milner's present appeal. |I stressed this point in my letter which | appeared in your issuo of the 4th inst., | but as the Secretary of State for tlio j Colonies has seen fit to make this apI peal, I think it is "tin to him" to explain why £he Allied Powers have failed so signally in dealing with tho ex-Ivaiser and his untold wealth. I think we are quite within our just rights in seeking <an explanation. We who are left ought to see to it that Hohenzollern is brought to account for tho shedding of tho blood of millions which' he has caused and that his fenormous wealth is devoted to feed the starving nations he has betrayed.—Yours, etc., W. L. CHRYSTALL. December 17th. HOLIDAYS AND PAY. TO THE EDITOR OF "THE PRESS." Sir, —Considering the annual holidays of many firms will shortly commence for a period of two to four weeks; may I aslc you to publish a request that is the wish of many employed by various firms. Why not, at the commencement of the term, pay tho salary of the staff in advance, so that they and their families may enjoy the vacation, without having to touch their savings, which, as a rule, are invested, and not easy to draw onP Cannot this be arranged, for the sake of tho man with a large family?— Yours, etc., FATHER, OF EIGHT.

FARMERS AND THE OUTLOOK. TO THE EDITOR OP "THE PRESS." Sir, —Some farmers' letters in your correspondence columns attracted , my attention. During the war. while prices were liigh, farmers, undoubtedly, had no reason to complain, but the position lias changed, and their loss must eventually prove a loss to everybody. One fact must not be forgotten.- Farmers did not squander their profits to tho same extent as many other sections of the community did, and this reserve of capital must prove helpful to the Dominion. Small farmers took tho opportunity of redeeming their mortgages nnd of. purchasing implements, etc., which will prove a source of usefulness for years to come. I shall take the question of implements for an illustration of economics, so far as the changed position of tho wool market affects tho farmers. Here it is: ■ 'It would take the fleeces of 600 crossbred sheep to buy a new reaper and binder now, while the fleeces of 250 would have sufficed for tho same purchase last year. I could give numerous illustrations, but will not trespass upon your space. Sufficient to say that, if vhe fat lamb and the bushel of wheat also depreciate in valuej none but the 'long-established farmers can afford to build sheds or buy machinery at the prices now obtaining. They will bo forced to adopt a policy of rigid economy in regard to buying, and will find it necessary to cut down tho employment of labour to a minimum. Just an additional paragraph in respect to the financial stringency. 1 predicted this somo timo ago, and was called a pessimist. 1 do not claim to know anything about the intricacies of finance, but I have sufficient intelligence at my command to know that the position in Britain and other counino.<! would in timo bo reflated here. Further, many nations have been reduced to starvation as a result of the war, and tho lessons of economy forced Tipon them by hard circumstances will enable them to place their goods upon tho market' at prices our own people cannot produco them. Our standard of living has been too high for advantageous competition, and wo shall, in time, be forced to recognise this. Financiers and commercial men can talk on, but i,hev> plain views cannot be side-track-ed. If your persistent articles regarding economy, had been observed, a big reserve of capital would now be in haiid to meet any future depression which I feel still will not be very serious.— Yours, etc., SMALL FARMER. LINCOLN COLLEGE. TO THE EDITOR OP "TH£ PBBStf." Sir.—l read in your issue of tho 17th the account of the farmers' day at the College, with a certain amount of disappointment. It seems to bo the old eternal wheat, oats, barley, and the like. Now, wo all know that there never wa3 a time when intense cultivation was required moro than it is today, and I assume that an Agricultural College should give the country a positive lead in all improved methods in agriculture. I looked in vain for something new by way of demonstration in tillage. I did not notice aitftluAK..about

c-hampion plots' of lucerno of different variolic#, produced by different nuv thocls. I did not notice anything about an improved method of subsoi'.ing by wav of moisture conservation (so absolute! v essential to Canterbury plains), ami showing the results. I did not notice anything about a demonstration showing how to deal with one of the fanners greatest enemies, the common jxrass sirub, which eosts the country rnanv thousands of pounds per year. It is all very well to dump a college ibnvn j on «o!no of th"> host laud in New Zoar i land and grow fair crops. "NYe want | a great deal more than that. Can. the Collefie issue a balance-sheet show-. iijr- a. fair profit at a rental on the basis . off sny, 'J per cent-, on the capital) value? Perhaps I may be told that it j is an experimental institution. 'N ery | well, all T want to know is how many years are required to produce • better "results than anybody else? —\ours, etc., ANDREW DENISON. Broadivcld, December ISth. LABOUR T1?OT : BIjES. TO THE EDITOU OF "TH>" T'RF.SS.' Si r- —Sec inn tliero is to be industrial • iicht, which hitherto always has meant gTving in to the unions, has tlio \ tima couio for employers, {is a class, to; show they can be .workers, although i workers as a class cannot becomo em- j plovers. As extremists who control the workers are out for wrecking capital at wliatever cost, "ilthougli they know it has brought tho worker to a worso condition than ho was over in before in ltussia, it is time for all who indulge j in luxury to get up nnd do their bit.; Why is not every boy in school, and young man in universities, taught a, trade, so tliat they can take their yart ! Capably when industrial disputes threaten to destroy their country, if-; stead of so much sport? Did not the; Roman young: men play and think of ■ little else, when their Empire was crumbling under them P | In this present troll l>lo with toe stewards, we know that tho firemen will probably go out in sympathy, and therefore wo must put up with a cessation of travelling till they find it worth while to go back, but in the future could not tho stewards be dono away with to a great extent, since the checking system enables everyone to carry tho lightest luggage which everyone able to travel alone, could do? Then tho boots are supposed to bo ele-aned, and hot water brought, neither of which was dono for me tho last time I travelled. The only timo I saw a, steward was when ho rushed up to tako my bag to the train, which was quite unnccessarj'. History tells us that nations have been ruined through luxury and indolence; therefore, it lxs hoves us to be up and doing. Lead the simple life, work, and beat ' tho strikers at their own game. Let women occupy themselves less with finery, and tho men less with racing. If we wait till'industry is wrecked and circumstanccs oblige us to do this, we shall know that wo might have helped to prevent tho innocent suffering with the guilty.—Yours, etc., A WORKTOP WOMAN.