MODERN SPIRITUALISM.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume v, Issue 232, 12 October 1877, Page 15

MODERN SPIRITUALISM.

We clip the following from the report in a South African paper of a lecture delivered on the above named subject by the most Rev. Dr Rickards :—: — There was evidently a most marked difference between stage effects and phenomena produced without preparation in an ordinary room, and in the presence of gentlemen of high standing and education, sceptical as to the presence of invisible spirits, and most attentive to detect and expose trickery of any kind. Slade and other cele- j brated American mediums found the Christian atmosphere of England very different from that in which their sham miracles were exhibited in America, where they were surrounded by crowds who are the ardont disciples of " know-nothingism," Men of this class whose fathers or even grandfathers cast away every shred and tradition of Christianity, and who are now taking to Spiritualism as a religion were not likely to be frightened into faith. No wonder the spirits were capricious when evoked to exhibit their wonders before Christians in whom, at the very best, they could only hope to stir up that " Fear of the Lord which is the beginning of wisdom ;" and no wonder, therefore, that the American mediums were obliged by the nature of the case to arm themselves with a few handy tricks against the obvious consequences of this capriciousness and failure. The detection of these tricks, no more than the stage effects of Cooke and Maskelyne, touched at the heart of " this epidemic more dangerous than cholera." which is devastating America, Several objections were briefly answered, as that the Almighty would not give evil spirits such power ; that the spirits might be the souls of the dead ; why the spirits did not enrich their dupes with useful and practical knowledge ; why these wonders were wrought in the dark ; how spirits could act on matter, kc. All these difficulties were shown to be easily solved in the thesis maintained by the lecturer — that underneath a great deal of strange natural phenomena, and a greater amount of trickery and juggling imposture, there are unmistakeable signs of the working of a preternatural power, which is certainly not divine, nor in any way connected with the blessed angels and saints of God. If this be not the correct theory, it is clear from the whole lecture that what was stated in the Times of December 26th, 1872, is more certain now than it was then :— « It is evident either that the subject (Spiritualism) is surrounded by unusual difficulties, or that in this matter our scientific men have signally failed to do their duty to the public, which looks to them for its facts. We believe the latter to be the case."