SPIRITUALIST MEDIUM’S APPLICATION.

Evening Star, Issue 19931, 30 July 1928, Page 9

SPIRITUALIST MEDIUM’S APPLICATION.

_ TO THE EDITORSir,—Alay I encroach upon your space to reply to a few of the remark# in the above'case, as published in your columns of Friday? It is a pity our magistrates do not take the trouble to find out what spiritualistic teachings and principles really arc. By an Act of Parliament, passed in September. 1924, Spiritualism became a recognised religion, with the same status as any other church, thanks mainly to the untiring efforts of the late Air Poynton, S.AI., who was a broad-minded man. All officers and members of the Spiritualist Churches of New Zealand pledge themselves to uplift the movement, and they are always the first to denounce anything of a fraudulent nature. Because many people are mediums it does not follow they aro spiritualists, as many who are' Spiritualists are not mediums. The philosophy of Spiritualism is beautiful, and many within its ranks are endowed with great psychic gifts, enabling them to give much comfort to those who arc mourning tho loss of sonic loved ono by proving the continuity of life after death. Why should it be a subject for ridicule, for the spirit of an “Indian” to control or guide a medium any more than one’s own loved ones? There is no colour,caste, or creed m the world beyond,and if wo, as Spiritualists, accept the “ universal brotherhood of man,” as well as (he “universal Fatherhood of God.” then wo must accept the ministrations of I hose who were coloured when on earth. Our other principles are “ the immortality of the soul and its personal rharacf eristics,” “the proven facts ol communion between, .spirit people and mortals,” “personal responsibility,” “compensation and retribution here and hereafter for all good or evil deeds done here,” and “a path of eternal progress, open, to every human soul who wills to tread it by the path of eternal good.” There is no need lo comment upon these; they speak for themselves. Aly main object in writing was the remark of Air Bundle that “ children of the ages of those referred to in tho above case should not be allowed to attend Spiritualist meetings, as such might have a corrupt influence on their minds. 1 make a strong protest against this remark. I do not say it is wise to allow children into circles frequently, but I invite Air Bundle, or anyone interested, to come along to the Trades Hall, Aloray place, any Sunday afternoon between 2.30 and 3.30, whore 1 conduct the Lyceum (Spiritualists’ Sunday School), and, assisted bv other adults, give the children Spiritualistic teachings: and tell me if he can find a happier or brighter group of children Ilian gather there each Sunday. From babyhood they are trained there, and parents come ns well and learn tho same truths. We teaeh them that deeds arc better than highsounding words; true, earnest, faithful work is prayer; that as they sow they must reap. We instil lofty thoughts and pure ideals, and that they must be responsible for their own. lives. The mothers, too. learn more of (heir responsibilities and_ realise that their motherhood is a Divine gift, Unit thoughts are tilings which can make or mar, and therefore their thoughts must be of the highest to have tho greatest effect upon their lives. We point out tlm wonderful life of Christ and ITis teachings, and take Him as nn example and try to teach them the esoteric meanings underlying f]is teachings. We know full well there is as much’ fraud ami Immlnig in the Spiritualistic ranks as in other religious bodies, but that does not take away the fact of tho wonderful truths in it all. AVben such men as Sir Oliver Lodge, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Dennis Bradley, Hubert Blateliford. and (ho late Dr Crawford, AL Camille Flammarion, and scores of others proved all these things to their complete satisfaction and openly avowed their belief, Spiritualism will continue to progress in spite of tli(> rnnd tiling at it continually. Several of those men are bringing up their children on these teachings, and at t imes admit them to the seance room, whore they do not call up tho spirits, but where the spirits of their own loved ones and others eagerly come to them. I am so proud of my religion and all it stands for that I am not going to hi.de my’identity under a nom-dc-plume, bn , openly sign myself

Bose Buegess, Licensed Pastor of tlm Spiritualist OlmrcK of X.Z. and National Conductor of Lyceums in N.Z. under Act, September, 1024. July 28.