THE SPIRIT WORLD.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20622, 22 July 1930, Page 12

THE SPIRIT WORLD.

Sir,—'The Rev. A. A. Murray, in a letter published July 17, slates five points' as "Christian fundamental:-,." With duo respects to the reverend gentleman's theological acumen, I should like to suggest that his five points are really "denominational fundamentals." Mr.' Murray must admit that Spiritualists arc sincere, even if they are unorthodox. If a physical Christ came to Auckland I wonder where Ho would most likely be found; In the pulpit? Among the listeners? The Bible circle? The vicarage, the manse or parsonage? More likely at Mount Eden gaol, helping some unfortunate human to carry out his or her allotted task, or perhaps at Jasper's shelter washing the feet of some poor weary brother. The lowly Christ is now unapproachable except through fivo fundamentals of theology . F.C.G.

Sir,—ln reply to "Watson" I would like to point out that his disappointment in Sir Conan Doyle's message is reallv duo to his lack of knowledge of spiritualistic literature. In the case of one who has only recently passed out of the body of flesh and into the world of spirit, there are many unforeseen difficulties to be overcome before he is able to establish any comiqnnication whatsoever with the world he has left behind. In most cases the newly-arrived soul requires a prolonged period of rest before his guides will permit him to return to earth conditions. In the case of Sir Arthur, hi 3 great zeal for the cause and his strong desire to communicate at once would, no doubt, help him to overcome many obstacles, and in addition to that, his scientific knowledge of spiritual laws would help him greatly to get his communication through. To quote his own words: "My heart overflows with thankfulness because now I know, from wonderful personal experience, that that which I so firmly believed myself and expounded to others for so long, is an actual and marvellous fact." What more could he say in a brief message! Thosa words are really the sum total of all his teachings during the last 10 years or more. Whtitoed SpuuxuAtisr.

Sir,—The most telling pose of a partisan is that of the unbiassed observer, and wo have au example of such in "Novocastrian's" article on "The Spirit World" in Saturday's Supplement. It reminds "one of an inquiry into vegeterianism by a butcher, or of opossums by a fruitfarmer, or the Victorian era by a modern flapper. The result is in every case a foregone conclusion. As Dogberry says, "It is proved already that you are little better than false knaves, and it will go near to be thought so shortly." If the Christian opponents of spiritualism examined the Bible and Christian belief with half as much care and prejudice as they exatniue spiritualism, most of the churches would be closed in a few years. It is strange that people who will accept without question such things as Noah's Ark and Jonah and the whale will throw doubts on ordinary phenomena that can be tested, in a manner that would do credit to a hardshelled Rationalist If "Novocastrian" wishes to pose as a fair-minded critic, will lie give us the date of the article in tho Hibbert Journal by Sir Oliver Lodge, so that we may know whether it is the considered opinion of that gentleman after his many years of experience; or whether it is an utterance of many years ago before he had arrived at the feeling of certainty he has often expressed in recent years. Also, will he give the chapter anc} page in "Raymond" where the alleged utterance of Raymond in regard to Christ may be seen. I have a copy of the book (1919), and I cannot find the passage referred to. In any case, it is a complete travesty of the attitude of Raymond to-, ward Jesus Christ. In the account I have, he speaks of Him with the greatest respect and reverence. I think the best, thing for anyone who wishes to know thb truth is to read the evidence on b'oih sides, and treat it as fairly as lie can. "Nothing extenuate, and naught set down in malice," is a good rule to observe. The truth has nothing io fear from a fairminded inquiry. FAiarLAX.