SPIRITUALISM.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 18725, 23 June 1926, Page 13

SPIRITUALISM.

to THE JKDITO3 0* TH« FSESBSir,—"Clifton" can deal with tie conjuring Mr Cohen. In passing I can't compliment him on his tact m posting mo a notice of his "entertainment." Like Houdini, he is barking at the heels of Spiritualism for the advertisement. I could by lino the letters of the gentlemanly vicar of St. Michael's and the less-Bo "Ajax? It is true that the growth of Spiritualism is adding t0 anxieties of all the churches, is only one church that can deal us and Labour, and that is the church that can still exact obedience. Materialism would have gobbled up alj tlie churches, but that one if it bad not been for the advent of modern i-pir-itualism; yet Mr Perry is ™ ho says it is "hoary with age * might have said —co-oval with kind). The Churches are on very hm icw when they turn to rend Spiritualism -thev are attacking their foundations. Yes, 'Mr Perry. "Prav for -me is a commou seanc© room request. 1 now several people whom Spiritualism lias sent back to church with enlarged views. The church had lost them otherwise. Turning to the le ss-so .... .. » i _ tArm

"Ajax," I see he prefers the Spiritism (I prefer shortening it to Spm if the printer will let me): will take the gloves off to his puny thunderbolt crackers, but I see lie is one of my faithful readers, so 1 will just tap him lightly. Yes, good "Ajax," I do believe the same f°rce_is behind modern Spm, as was behind tne world uplift of 2000 years ago 1 here have been many—even the Ineosophists will tell him that. Don t blame Spm, mv dear "Ajax," if all you have received lias been "inconsequential and trivial." Perhaps that is all Ajax is fitted for, or is capable of receiving. He should be careful when making assertions that can be turned against Him. The proportion of lunatics is greater among church folk than among Spiritualists. Many "nervous wrecks have been prevented and suicides averted by Spm. Proof is a personal matter to be judsred bv.evidence. Seek and ye shall find, All of us are potential mediums.—

Yours, etc., PRfRR TROT/OVE. St. Andrews Hill, June 22nd. TO THE EDITOR Or THE PRESS Sir —The opposition have had their say in your columns this morning, and an interesting-say it is, for in their conclusions there is an element o mutual extinction. Either the Rev. Chas. Perry is right when he says "There is a great deal in Spiritualism which ,is not fraudulent," and your other correspondent, J. Neville Cohen, wrong: or "vice-versa. Mr Perry, in a very fair statement, admits communication" but favours, apparently, "one-way" communication only, y X Is it not very' much more reasonable to suppose that "communion" (in any real sense) presupposes mutuality? 1 tninK I am right in saying that in the works of F. W. Myers the vast majority or the authenticated cases quoted are "voluntary" manifestations. • Possibly your correspondent, "Churchman, and others may have "a bone to pick with St. Paul (see Corinthians xu.) for including in his category of ' spiritual gifts" that of "the discerning of spirits," and aJso ©ven that of 1 pro* phecy." Being still frankly sceptical of the conclusions of certain of your correspondents, I. will again subscribe myself.-rYours, etc., SCEPTIC."

TO THE . EDITQB OF TOT PBESS. Sir, —Tour many correspondents writing about this subject are obviously ignorant of the basic beliefs of the Spi&t' fwotan;. "^erwise more helpful lett-' r; Eagle's win*,,, niightenment would ges: Red Lodge . 6 , . havian: Three HostT: tnan has been the case.''v£ e , a ?,,°^' ; -nd most important .principle 01 is, "The Fatherhood of God, and the Brotherhood of Man," thence "The Continuity of Life," "The Communion of Souls," etc. Whilst one'respects the opinions expressed by the Bev. Charles Perry in to-day's Peis3, they are apt to create the impression that Spiritualists have no God, consequently have no Supreme. power to worship,, or look to for guidance, and reverence. There are many forms of faith and worship in the-Christian religion, which differ from each other to ■-. such- an extent, as to make the non-partisan wonder- if all come under the Christian banner. I think, that, if all the Christian churches were .agreed on all points of worship, and were in absolute harmony in every phase of doctrine, then, and not till then, should one church pose as an authority on the rites and beliefs' of others. Eeverting to the Eev. Mr Perry's letter, I would like to point.out.that the disturbance of, the souls of the departed is not such an easy matter, as generally imagined. Surely it is logical that the spirit world, being finer, grander, but stronger, than the material world, therefore is superior, and being so, the forces that rule it must be stronger than the forces that rule the material, consequently it is not possible for mortals to disturb the spiritual souls, by the mere fact of. so wanting. .Practically every religion in some form or other offers prayers for the departed, thereby acknowledging the continuity of life. Likewise with ■ Communion of Souls (although some " call it Communion of Saints). The Spiritualists believe that by prayer and devotion, together with, their knowledge ; that the spiritual friends do directly benefit by such. Above all there are 1 the stronger powers of love, mercy, and 1 justice, that have wider scope of exer- . else in the spiritual world than .the material, and souls generally still want to express one or all of these attributes and if the spiritualist is doing wrong L aiding the P fulfilment of these noble I ideals, then he has God to account to, , -Yours, ete. fj AppLEGAKTH . Christchurch, June 22nd.