THE KEY TO THE LUNATIC ASYLUM

New Zealand Tablet, 23 September 1920, Page 16

THE KEY TO THE LUNATIC ASYLUM

Not the least among the evils that the Great War has brought upon us is the revival of interest in Spiritualism (says the New York Truth). Books on Spiritualism and psychic research are being published more rapidly than ever before. "One half of the desolate world," says one writer, "seems to be crying out for the raising of the curtain between this world and the next —and with no language but a cry." It is an opportune time, therefore, to remind Catholics,that the Church forbids them to take part in spiritistic seances. This prohibition of the Church is not so well known as it should be. By a decree of the Congregation of the Holy Office, dated April 24, 1917, attendance is forbidden at any spiritualistic communications or manifestations whatsoever, either in the capacity of an active participator or merely as an interested spectator. * In answer to a question, the Holy Office ruled that it is not allowable "through a medium or without a medium, with or without the aid of hypnotism, to take part in spiritistic conversations or manifestations of any kind, even where they have the appearance of propriety and piety; either by making inquiries of souls or spirits, or listening to their answers, or merely looking on—even under the tacit or express protest of intending to have nothing to do with evil spirits." Humbug and Trickery. Many of the apparent disclosures of Spiritism are pure humbug. A great deal more can be attributed to the sub-conscious mind. But, making due allowance for the fraud of mediums and the trickery of mental telepathy, some of the manifestations of Spiritism can only be explained by the action of an outside agent.

How much of this is due to extraneous spirit intelligence is a mooted question among authorities on Spiritism. But the latest Catholic writer on the subject, Father Liljencrants, whose book has just been published, tells us that “all Catholic theologians who treat of the subject uphold the view that where a preternatural element is found in Spiritism, it is to be referred rather to the agency of evil spirits than to souls of the departed.” This simply sustains the opinion of the average good Catholic that Spiritism is the work of the evil spirit. The good Catholic needs no further reason to make him avoid such things. It needs no prohibition of (ho Church to render unlawful the dealing in friendly intercourse with the devil. That is forbidden already by the law of God and the natural law. Such acts fall under the head of divination and are sinful. The immorality of all forms of crystal-gazing, table-turning, and of the planchette or ouija board, consists in the use of them for occult purposes, with the sinful intention of obtaining a revelation of the future. Furthermore, it is trafficking with the devil, which is inherently immoral. As such they are forbidden by the First Commandment. t. The Church has another reason for forbidding Catholics to dabble in Spiritism. She is ever solicitous tor the welfare of her children, and seeks to warn them from harm either to soul or to body. She knows trom her long experience that Spiritism is certainly pernicious, that it wrecks the nerves and brain, undermines the moral sense, and leads to physical and spiritual ruin. Like a wise mother, she warns her children against it. .

Danger 'of Insanity. The leading Catholic authority on the subject Dr. RaujDert, has called attention to the appalling number of meddlers in Spiritism who have ended 1 in the insane asylum. A non-Catholic writer warns the public to think twice, . and again,, twice, • before they embark on these perilous seas of spiritualistic tion. Let them beware, for three of my friends—

men of eminence who really believe in Spiritualism have forbidden the very name of it to be mentioned in their homes ; have forbidden their wives and children to touch it, as if it were a thing accursed. And why ? Because not being really known and explainable, it puts their minds on the rack and by the black magic which is always a part of it, so often leads to insanity and death.” '

Playing with the ouija board may seem an innocent amusement to high-school girls and boys, but it is a dangerous form of Spiritism that is forbidden under pain of sin. Attending spiritistic seances may be considered a thrilling escapade by their elder brothers and sisters, but no good Catholic will have anything to do with them. Such “diversions” dehiand a state of mind passivity which opens the door of the soul to the perilous access of the spirit world, and will inevitably lead to loss of faith and to physical, mental, and moral degradation.

"If the ouija fad and Spiritualism craze continue," Dr. Ilickson, Director of Psychopathic Laboratory of Cook County, Illinois, said recently, "we will find practically every demented, semi-demented, undeveloped and praecox case in the country talking to the other world." According to a general estimate, Dr. Hickson said, hundreds of Chicagoans are daily losing their rationality, if not their reason, over the ouija board and "spook" craze. The "weegee" is the key to the lunatic asylum.