Spiritism.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 11562, 19 May 1905, Page 2

Spiritism.

TO THE EDITOR.

Sir, — A large number of' your corrosondents appear much interested in Spiritism. This is not much to be wondered at when the startling claims of this cult are examined. It .iprofesses *to have discovered means by which the veil that divides between the spirits of the living and the dead "may be drawn aside and tlie great -secret made known. "Mediumship has been discovered py which we may havo converse with our dear departed ones and learn of them of that bourne whether all are departing." The advocates of Spiritism invite tests,' and in many cases extraordinary evidences are given in proof of their claims. It is true vthat many regard 'the whole matter as a system of jugglery, or at best a puerile superstition unworthy of investigation. But we find to-day in its ranks kings, poets, philosophers, and scientists, each hoping to discover in its occult operations that which shall satisfy their "longings after immortality." .The subject is one that I have closely examined in this and. other lands, for over thirty years. While Spiritism is as old as humanity, and is found in all nations, savage and civilised, its, modern aspect in civilised, .nations may be said .to Have begun | with Swedenborg. As is well known to his readers, he professes to. have had converse with thousands of disembodied spirits — good arid •'evil: Spiritists, -however, gen-

orally assign their origin to a family of the name of Fox, of New York State, U.S. America, 1874-78. Members of this family proiessed to receive messages from the spirit world through table turnings and lappings. From these incipient begmniugs Spiritism has spread over the civilised world, till to-day it computes its numbers by millions. The diversity and positive contradiction of the teachings of the spirit controls are advanced as evidence of their humanity. At Oneida Creek, U.S.A., a Spiritist- community exists under the leadership of John H. Noyes. By the teaching of the spirits its members have promiscuous sexual relationship. Children born among them are cared_for and ediicatcd by the community. Th© antithesis to this is found among the Shakers, under Elder Evans. In their case the spirits have directed the separation of the sexes. "Having attained to the resurrection condition, "they neither marry nor are given in marriage.'' This community is kept in existence by proselytes. Between these extremes, individual Spiritism assumes endless aspects. Large numbers are free lovers, and teach that restraint of the passions is rebellion against nature and God. These explain, however, that God is not a personalty, but the aggregation of human spirits. Other Spiritists condeinu Buch teaching, and practice as the teaching of spirits of the 'Lower spheres." Few, if any, Spiritists accept Jehovah as th© supreme being. They generally, in speaking of Him, call Him by the more primitive name of "Yahveh, and th© tribal God of th© Hebrews." Whatever divergences Spiritists have among themselves, they commonly agree in denouncing, or possibly in explaining away, what may be called the cardinal doctrines of Christianity: Ist, That Jesus of Nazareth was God incarnate; 2nd, That Jesus died to make expiation for the sin ojL the world ; 3rd. That Ho rose in His physical body from the grave; 4th, That He will return again to judge the world. It is a curious fact that many advocates of the Higher Criticism (?) take the same ground on these points as do the Spiritists. This condition of matters need cause no surprise to Bible students. .A. prophecy uttered some 1900 years since (Ist Tim. iv, I—3)1 — 3) declares that 'in the last days some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and teachings of demons. et seq. Th© word demon is accepted by many of the more intelligent Spiritists to define the controlling spirits of mediums, as the Greeks, among other definitions, applied the word to the spirits of the dead, both good and bad. In my close examination of "spirit phenomena," where it did not consist of trickery or self-deception on the part of mediums (very common occurrences), there is evidence of the operation of occult laws used by intelligent beings. That thess beings are human spirits admits of more than grave doubt. ' One strong evidence, ag.iinst the presumption is that whilst the controlling spirit affirms itself to be one wii» it is known haß died in the "faith and full communion of tlfo Christ of the New Testament, it invariably denies or explains away the very foundations of the faith in which th© sleeping one had rested. But "seeking to ths dead," or having dealings with familiar spirits is emphatically condemned in the Bible. A great deal of the work of Jesus was exorcism of these controls from the bodies of the controlled. Spiritism is the cause of all the ills that human flesh is heir to. None can be at one and tho same time a Spiritist and a Christian. They are as opposed to each other as darkness is to light. Let those Spiritists who professedly honour Jesus remember that Ho was a Jew and claimed as His Father that Jehovah whose writings or, commands they so heartily condemn. I have never, in all my experience, discovered any moral or spiritual - benefit to accrue from the cult ; but on the contrary an immense amount of evil, destructive alike to body and soul. — Yours, etc.,

J. MOORE RITCHIE. Wellington, May 12th, 1905.