W. T. STEAD AND P. TROLOVE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18939, 9 December 1929, Page 10

W. T. STEAD AND P. TROLOVE.

To the Editor. Dear Sir, —The other day you published a letter from Mr Peter Trolove in which that gentleman gave a report of what purported to be statements made at a seance by the spirit of the late Mr W. T. Stead. As Mr Trolove has already admitted that he applies no test whatever to ascertain the genuineness or otherwise of the identity of the “spook” he must admit that, for all he knows to the contrary, it may we” have been Beelzebub himself that wa c masquerading as the spirit of Mr Stead ! The nature of the message alleged to have been heard is such as to more than confirm the belief that it verily was the Evil One that uttered it. If the contents of this message be examined we find evidence of the malignity of the demon towards Christianity in the expressed hostility to “dogma.” Now, what is dogma but the verbal formula expressing Christ’s explicit teaching' 1 That is all it really it; so, when we find it denounced by a visitant from the spirit world, we have no difficulty in knowing the nature of the “oracle” delivering the message. Surely Mr Trolove doesn’t imagine that Satan has any scruples as to the means he employs to deceive mankind ? It would be ludicrous to expect the arch enemy to be so “gentlemanly” anot to stoop to any and every subterfuge (even to claiming to be the spin, of someone we knew well on earth, but who has passed away), in order to gain his ends. And doesn’t the unsuspect ing credulity of Mr Trolove, and others like him, who pin their faith to the absolutely unverified claims of their ghostly visitants, lend itself admirably to the deceiver? This being so, Satan would be an even greater fool than he is, it he failed to take advantage of his opportunity. How he must grin in fiendish glee at the “easy marks” he nnds in the simple souls that entrust their eternal welfare to the “advice” he chooses to give them! Everyone to his taste; and if Mr Trc ove prefers to get his religion from sources so palpably liable to be deceptive, that is Ins own concern. When he act . t . he Part of propagandist. hls ,. delusions broadcast through the medium of the newspapers, ‘ n ,® quite a dilierent thing; and it is r‘i > e tQ^ point °ut to thus, ter? the V able to . be misled by his let .ers, the danger of being deceived—nay Its certainty if they foolishly giye ere sage?”V heSe S °- Called spirit “me* „ages. —i am, etc., CREDO IN DEO.