LECTURE ON SPIRITUALISM.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVII, Issue 17650, 10 December 1920, Page 8

LECTURE ON SPIRITUALISM.

Tho lecture on " Spiritualism fnom the k Insido," which was delivered by Mr. E." H. Portcre in the Town Hall last evening, could not bo taken seriously; a; a reply to Sir Arthur Conan , Doyle. Indeed, as &. lecture against the doctrine of spiritualism it could hardly bo expected to find • favour With tho strongest opponents jf • the creed. Ho commenced by quoting an article from "Borderland," a spiritualistic organ edited .by the lato Mr. W, T-. Stead, ; which described, how ; an armr officer who had delevoped great ability as an auto-writer," had become possessed of a. demon spirit, which had told Mr. Stead how it had tortured the man, etc and he proceeded to affirm .that 70 per cent, of the people "in asylums were possessed of demons. • He mentioned three cases in bis own experience, two having been spiritualists. Ho then entered upon a. rambling discourse upon mediumship, which left one in doubt ,11 to what was really meant. Here and there no interposed advice to people to trust in God and rely upon their priests and pastors. On one . occasion a man interjected. "Shut up," and -a. few , people left the. ball. • Several hundred 7 people wero present, including a number of clergymen. The smiles on many faces an the audience was leaving, had only one meaning. ' - . /