THE SPIRITUALIST.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 746, 18 June 1886, Page 6

THE SPIRITUALIST.

JEWISH FOLK-LORE. A remarkable coincidence exiets between the habits of the Austro Hungarian Jews and the Negroes of Jamaica. In Dr Gerson Wolf’s work on the Jews of Austro-Hungary, he states, that on the occurrence of death ‘the mirrors in the dwelling house are either covered over or turned towards the wall, and are only re-arranged after the thirty days of deepest mourning have elapsed. The reason given for this is that we should not pander to our vanity during this time of mourning, and that evil spirits which are supposed to lead their dances then should not look at themselves in the glases. He adds that the water in the house, and sometimes that in the next three houses, is poured away, for which the following explanation is given: Samuel, the angel of death, is a many-eyed creature. He stands at the head of the dying man, and when about to execute his purpose swings forward the sword which he holds in his hands (and alows the drop of gall-poison hanging on its point to fall into the mouth of the victim, thus putting an end to his life.’ Coming into contact with the dead renders the sword unclean, and therefore the angel of death is obliged to cleanse it. It is feared that lie will make use of the nearest vessel containing water, and therefore all stored water is emptied out. . . - During the thirty days of mourning the bed of the deceased remains unoccupied : at its head is placed a burning light, because, according to Solomon, £ The spirit of man is the candle of the Lord ’ (Proverbs xx., 27). Also a glass of water and a towel, so that the departed spirit may wash and dry itself. During this time the water evaporates, and those who are unacquainted with this law of nature are convinced of the truth of their superstition that the soul of the deceased bathed itself therein. Mr James Grant, in ‘Vereof Ours,’ describing a scene in Jamaica, says : £ All the mirrors or looking-glasses that were left unbroken were covered or turned to the wall, less the spirit of Massa Bellingham or of Missy Virginia, if she, too, were dead, should be reflected in them ; all the water in

the house was being emptied, that death might cool his dart in it, and beside the dead planter a jar of water with a light to. keep nine days, was placed to enable the.spirit of the deceased to quench his thirst if it returned. And many other mummeries imported from Africa by the negro slaves of old were in process at Mango Garden.’ The Talmud abounds with numerous spiritual legends. One Rabbi says, *lf you want to see spirits, sprinkle your bedside with fine ashes, and if in the morning you see cock's claws, it is a sign spirits have been there. Another says ‘Get the caul of a black she-cat, the first born of a black shecat, who is also a first born of the black shecat. who is also a first born, pulverise it and put it in your eyes, and you will then see spirits.’ Now some people would say the Rabbis were facetious, but I rather believe this was writen to throw dust into the eyes of the curious inquirers. Rabbi Manase arelates the following story :—‘He was one day walking in the mountains of Spain, and he saw a man at a distance gathering sticks, and having collected a bundle he lay down, having first set light to them, and he was consumed to ashes ; he then saw an angel come with a broom, sweep up the ashes, and lo ! the man was there again.’ The Rabbi being a great Cabilist, he knew it was a spirit and questioned him on the subject; the spirit replied, ‘ I was condemned to go through this suffering for one hundred years on account of the great sins I committed, and twenty years only have gone by ; but had my sone said for me the usual prayer, said for the peace of the soul of the departed, I should have been released.’ He then told the Rabbi the name of his son and where to find him. Manasea went to Jeruselem, found the son and prevailed upon him to say the prayer. Next morning the spirit appeared with a star on his breast, and said one year is reckoned off my punishment, and when my son has said the prayer eighty time 3, I shall be forgiven.’ ‘ Isaac Loria, called by the Jews Ari, was born at Jeruselem in the year 1534, over three hundred years ago; having lost his father when young, he was educated by his rich uncles in all the Herbrew lore At the age of twenty-two he was a great Talmudical scholar. He was fond of leading a secluded life. He dwelt in a cottage on the bank of the Nile, and gave himself up to meditation and reveries. Here he had constant interviews with the Prophet Elias, who communicated to him sublime dectrine3, and when asleep his soul would ascend to the spheres and converse with the souls of the great teachers of by-gone day 3. When he was thirty-six years of age the Prophet Elias appeared to him again and told him to go to Palestine, where his successor was awaiting him, and there surrounded by his disciDles he received such sublime teachings from* the spirits of the departed Rabbis and philosophers that he thought he was the Messiah.’ So you see that though the people are forbidden to hold spirit communion, to the learned Rabbis it is permitted. The Rabbis say three things are required of every Jew to believe. The unity of God. The divinity of his laws, and rewards and punishments in a future state, and that no punishment is eternal, all must ultimately become angels. Is this not what all advanced Spiritualists believe ? Then each individual must be his own saviour. Aben Azera, said to the mediator between God and man, is none but reason and common sense. Mamonides said, ‘in social life we recognise no difference between Jew and Gentile,’ and other great Rabbis say the good of all nations shall participate in future bliss, and Isaac Anna said, ‘ every true, good and virtuous man is our brother.' Another Rabbi said, ‘the good actions which we perform in this world take form and meet you in the world to come.’ Rabbi Ishmael said, ‘no atom of matter in the whole va3tness. of the universe is lost ; how, then, can man s soul, which comprises the whole world in one idea, be lost ? Secondly in all nature death is but a transformation, with the soul it is the portal to a new and higher realm. Thirdly, our thoughts and feelings emanating from tlie soul are not of an earthly nature.’ Archaeologist.