THE REVIVAL OF SPIRITISM.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVII, Issue 17651, 11 December 1920, Page 11

THE REVIVAL OF SPIRITISM.

'Published by Arrangement.)

'To the Editor.) Sir. — Modem spiritism (or spiritualism, as it is misnamed) is nothing but an ancient heresy, which was revived in 1848 at Rochester, New York, by two girls named Fox. Since then, through the activity of its author, the devil and his numerous assistants, it has progressed rapidly toward its filial ending, as it is revealed in the Holy Scriptures of truth. The great prophet Isaiah, who lived one thousand years before the birth of Christ, issues a challenge to spiritists, ancient and modern. " And when they shall say unto you, ' Seek unto them that have familiar" spirits, and unto wizards that peep and mutter; should not a people seek unto God, unto the dead, on behalf of the living. To the law and to the testimony. If they speak not according to this -word it is because there is no soundness in them.' " To the scriptures, then; and what do they eay? God strictly forbade the children cf Israel to have any intercourse with spirits, or to suffer those who did so to live. The penalty for practising as a medium m those days was death, and that by God's decree.—Exodus, xxii., 18. Leviticus, xix, 31; ch. 6 and 27. Again, just prior to their entrance to the Promised Land, the warning was repeated, and they were told that the Canaanites were being driven out because they had practised spiritism, as we call it. Another notable example is that of Saul, the great king, who lost his life because he disobeyed God and consulted the witch, or medium, at Endor. —I. Chron., x, 13. In Isaiah xliv., 25, (he result which, sad to say, often overtakes the medium, namely, the awful state of insanity which this doctrine has brought upon so many, is forecasted. "He maketb. diviners mad."

Coming to the New Testament, this modern outburst is foretold in I. Tim. iv., 1. How this is being fulfilled in these days in which we live ! Note carefully tile character of these spirits. They are seducing or deceiving spirits, and they have evidently deceived Sir A. Conan Doyle, Sir Oliver Lodge, and thousands of others. One of their cleverest and most hellish deceptions is that of inducing people to believe that they receive messages from the departed dead. Such, a thing is unknown and unknowable.

■What is the object of spiritism? The author of it is too subtle to acknowledge it and avow it openly, but it is supplied in scripture. The object is really devilworship, and it will be achieved in the days of the anti-Christ, who soon ■will dominate the social, religious, and political world. Read Mark 5, Rev. xiiL, 4,T. Cor. x., 20. When the Blessed Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God Himself, was here upon earth, Satan attempted and failed to induce that One to fall down find worship him.

Its Future Development.—The antiChrist who is to come, will be a great spiritist, and after the Lord Jesus Christ ha? taken to the Father's house all those who are truly born again of the Spirit of Cod through faith in Christ, as the sinHearer (and that is true spiritualism), thru the power of the devil will be manifested and the anti-Christ will work miracles bv Satanic power. 11. Thess., viii . 12. Rev. 13.

Very briefly we have outlined the his-toi-y. the' origin and end of this terrible ttvsteio, and its awful objective, the -worship of the arch-enemy. It only remains to entreat all wise men and women to avoid it as they would the plague, and for Christians to pray for the deliverance of its poor deluded devotees. Samuel E. Bush.