WELLINGTON.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XII, Issue 23, 26 September 1884, Page 19

WELLINGTON.

(From our own correspondent.)

On Friday evening last, the Rev. Father Le Menaat des Chesnais delivered at the Theatre Royal, a further lecture on spiritualism, under the title " Spiritic and Magnetic Manifestations in the 19th Century. The interest which the former lecture created, the object for which the lecture was delivered, viz.-St. Patrick's College, and the wellknown oratorical ability of the rev. lecturer, had the effect of bringing together a large and appreciative audience on this occasion. Prior to the lecture being delivered, a grand vocal and instrumental concert was given by the choir of St. Mary of the Angels, under the able conductorship of Mr. J. F. Kearsley, assisted by lady andgentiemen amateurs. The concert was commenced by an overture from <• II Barbiere di Seviglia," which was iendered with splendid eff.ct and received the fullest meed of applause. A chorus by the choir. " Brightly the Rosy Morn," was the first item on the vocal part of the progismme, and was very creditably executed. The effect of this piece was somewhat however marred by the disparity m the number and tone of the male, as compared with the female, voices. The merit of that fine song " The Pilgrim of Love," was fully brought out by Mr. Read. This young gentleman, who possesses a really good voice; was vociferously applauded, and had to respond to an encore. The remainder of the programme having beeff gone through, tne rev. lecturer, accompanied by the Rev. Father Kerrigan and a number oE Catholic gentlemen, came on to tbe stage. Mr. W. vy. Johnston, who occupied tbe chair, briefly introduced the lecturer ra suitable terms. The Rev. Father on coming forward was greetel with considerable applause. He said that the subject of the lecture which he proposed to deliver that evening was " Spiritic anci Magnetic Manift stations in the 19th Century." He referred to the previous lecture which he had recently delivered, briefly touching upon the main features of it, as this lecture was a continuation thereof. Voltaire had said that if the existence of spirits could be shown, the Demon would be the conqueror of Christianity and greater than God. Freethinkers contended that there was no Demon, but he would undertake to prove there was. Magic was an occult science by which men performed extraordinary things without the intervention of God, It was practised by the Chaldeans, and other ancient people of the world, who tried many methods to obtain knowledge from the Gods. The old magicians pretended that they could bring man into communication with the gods, and this was the reason why their priests were held in such high veneration by the pagan people. The lecturer explained the Manner in which the magicians essayed to evoke the gods of the oracles, etc. Mesmer and the means by which he produced many remarkable phenomena were next dilated upon at considerable length ; the lecturer here mentioning many extraordinary circumstances which had happened in connection with Mesmer a seances, such as bringing persons under his complete control by merely touching them with his wand ; by a single gesture causing people about him to go asleep, and then by another gesture awakening them ; compelling a subject to follow him wherever be liked ; imprisoning spirits, seeing apparitions, etc. Disciples of Mesmer asserted that if all the phenomena were related connected with Mesmer, people would not believe one half of it. Some of these disciples admitted that the effects were sometimes so remarkable that Mesmer had to be removed from the seance, or he would have died of excitement. Tha lecturer next alluded to many well-authen-ticated phenomeua of table-turning, slate-writing, spirit-rapping,

and clairvoyancy, which had occurred in Europe and America, some of which were marvellous in the extreme. He said there was no doubt that, as in everything else, there was a good deal of tricker? about these things, as, for instance, phantoms could be made to appear by phosphorising paper and placing it in a dark room. The various phenomena he had mentioned could not certainly be characterised as trickery, something more than trickery was required for such manifestations. There was an affinity between ancient necromancy and the modern phenomena of spiritism. The lecturer attributed these phenomena, not to the dead, bnt to demons, who he believed assumed the shape of the dead in order to mislead the living Toe manifestations at spiritualistic seances were the outcome of demonical agency, which in this manner endeavoured to lead men astray from the true religion. He (the lecturer) was not alone in this opinion, it was that of many others, both theologians and scientists, who had investigated the subject. He mentioned how in India. a few days after the death of the Bhudda, a new-born babe spoke forth recounting the important event connected with the life of the deceased Bhudda, and extolling his praises. He was aware that nuny modern scientists and writers had attributed the phenomena of spiritism, not to evil spirits or to the dead, but to trickery, mesmerism, animal magnetism, etc., but they were all wrong, they could not be thus explained. They could only be explained by the same means as the new-born babe was made to speak in extolling the praises of Bhudda, i.e., by the demon. Tertullian, 1500 years ago, Bpeaking to the pagans on the subject of the phenomena of the magicians, said : "Do not believe it is the dead who speaks, but the demon who assumed their voices in order to deceive you." Spiritualists deny the existence of evil spirit* and of everlasting punishment, but he contended that they never had and never ceuld give proof of these assertions. He dened them to do bo. They were mere assertions which wers utterly false, and until they showed that the teaching of theology upon these matters was false, they bad nothing to stand upon whatsoever. He defied them to give a single proof of another assertion of theirs— tbat the vilest criminal will be admitted into the company of the blessed. Their language was blasphemous in these matters. God had warned us to beware of evil spirits and have nothing to do with sorcerer*, and to be on our guard against false teachings. He then clearly pointed out the unmistakeable teachings of our holy mother the Church as regards these matters, and how we should be on our guard about these false doctrines. He mentioned that any Catholic priest if he obtained the power from his bishop could drive out evil spirits. Tne Bey. Father concluded his lecture in an impassioned and eloquent appeal to his hearers to unite in their efforts to put down spiritualism, which he characterised as one of the worst superstitions of the day, and resumed bis seat amid prolonged applause. The lecture was listened to throughout with the most rapt attention of the audience. There were several non-Catholic clergymen present during the delivery of the lecture.