SPIRITUALISM DEFENDED.

NZ Truth, Issue 818, 16 July 1921, Page 9

SPIRITUALISM DEFENDED.

Dear "Truth," — In giving evidence m court at Christchurch recently, certain mediums on trial for fortune-tell-ing made some very inaccurate statements, casting grave reflections upon the religious teachings or Spiritualism. I notice that the National Association of Spiritualist Churches has been content to let this matter pass by, and' m. so doing', has shown its weakness m not defending- the cause for which ir stands, and is supposed to uphold' m every way. Spiritualism does not sanction a breach of the law, .and m no way does foretelling-, the future form any part of its teachings. The movement m New Zealand to-day is, m a. rut, and will remain there just so long as this sort of thing- is to be tolerated. The N.A.S.C. is supposed- to represent SplrituaMsm m New Zealand, and may T. ask what measures it is' taking- to clean things up. It is useless to talk twaddle m defence of giving readings, m the face of all that lias happened m the past, and is still happening and keeping: Spiritualism from taking- its rightful place. How many -"crooks" have passed through the ranks, m the past years, many holding- "certificates" which they have been able to flourish m. court, and .■how.m any people m New Zealand' today are trading' m "readings", with these same "certificates" framed and placed m a prominent place on the walls of their rooms? Yet, m face of all this, "certificates" are being- handed round to-day, and people are doing a flourishing business m "readings of various kinds." ifrom half-a-crown up jto half-a-guinea. When will our Spiritualist churches be staffed with meh and women of integrity, -who would not stunt their spiritual- -growth by sitting- m a room all day, giving readings and making a fortune thereby? When' will a body "of true Spiritualists be raised which' will do its duty, and stamp out all those people who, by their actions, bring the Cause into disrepute? . . We, who are true Spiritualists, aue longing- for that time to . come— the time -when a national association -will do more and say less. The true movement does really exist; but it is hard to seo. it through the dense clouds of darkness which obscure it continuallyYes, Mr. Nation, Spiritualism must be ■ defended — defended and protected from those m its ranks who have, d-ragged U down and kept it down. ,What we require m New Zealand is a body of men and women who will truly defend it from all impurity, and bring- it before the public m its true I colors. The only person "who has> worked exceedingly hard to accomp--lish this is Mrs. j. W. Stables, of Wellington. While this lady held office as National President, she labored strenuously to clean the movement up. and? she really did something for the Cause. Many people throughout the Dominion to-day, thank her most sincerely for the solid year's work she put m with a view to lifting Spiritualism to a greater height m this country. Until the present N.A.S.C. decide to do the same kind of work as Mrs. Stables, things -will not go well for Spiritualism. The cleaning must beidohe and the question is, who &lfn,ll do it, the N.A.S.C. or th& Spiritualists themselves m their : t>wn interests? In conlusion, let me thank "Truth" for showing- up all the frauds and charlatans of the past, and' may it continue to do so for the future, and so help us to keep our movement clean, until the N.A.S.C. see fit to give the matter their earnest attention. — Yours, etc., SPIRITUALIST. . Masterton.