Modern Spiritualism Part 5

The Scriptures plainly point out the working of these agents of wickedness, and warn us against them. In 1 Tim. 4:1, we read: "Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils." This shows that these spirits make it an object to seduce, or deceive, to draw men away from the true faith, and cause them to receive, instead, the doctrines they teach, which are called "doctrines of devils;" and this scripture is written to put men on their guard against them.

Again Paul says: "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against princ.i.p.alities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness [margin, 'wicked spirits'] in high places." Eph. 6:12. And he adjures his readers to put on the whole armor of G.o.d to be able to resist them.

The apostle Peter exhorts to the same purpose: "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: whom resist steadfast in the faith." 1 Peter 5:8, 9. If our ears do not deceive us, a good deal of this roaring is heard in the ranks of Spiritualists, where, by invisible rapping, agitated furniture, clairvoyance, clairaudience, writing, speaking, marvels, and wonders, he seeks to set the world on tiptoe of curiosity and expectation, and bewilder men into a departure from the faith and the acceptance of the doctrines of devils. He is cunning enough not to "roar" in a way to frighten and repel, but only to attract attention, and lead mult.i.tudes, through an overweening curiosity and wonder at the marvels, to come thoughtlessly within the sphere of his influence.

The prophet Isaiah also has something to say directly upon this subject: "And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their G.o.d? for the living to the dead?" Isa. 8:19. That is, is it consistent for living people to go to dead ones for their knowledge?

The following verse shows where we should go for light and truth: "To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them." The time has certainly come when many are saying just what the text points out, and seeking to the dead, to familiar spirits, and wizards, for knowledge. Those practices which in the Bible are enumerated as "charming," "enchantment," "sorcery,"

"witchcraft," "necromancy," "divination," "consulting with familiar spirits," etc., are more or less related, and are all really from one source. So in modern times different names indicate substantially the same thing. Thus Mr. Hudson, in "Psychic Phenomena," p. v, says:-

"It has, however, long been felt by the ablest thinkers of our time that all psychic manifestations of the human intellect, normal or abnormal, whether designated by the name of mesmerism, hypnotism, somnambulism, trance, spiritism, demonology, miracle, mental therapeutics, genius, or insanity, are in some way related."

Seven, at least, of the foregoing names are no doubt in the warp and woof of Spiritualism; and he might have added mind-reading and Christian Science. And Spiritualists admit that their work is the same as that described by the Bible terms above quoted. Thus, Allen Putnam, a Spiritualistic writer, says:-

"The doctrine that the oracles, soothsaying, and witchcraft of past ages were kindred to these manifestations of our day, I, for one, most fully believe."

In a pamphlet by the same author, ent.i.tled, "Mesmerism, Spiritualism, Witchcraft, and Miracle," p. 6, he says:-

"As seen by me now, Mesmerism, Spiritualism, Witchcraft, Miracles, all belong to one family, all have a common root, and are developed by the same laws."

To all these, therefore, the text under notice (Isa. 8:19, 20) applies. We are to bring them to the standard of "the law and the testimony," and "if they speak not according to this word ... there is no light in them." The living should not seek to the dead.

In Rev. 16:13, 14, the same spirits are again brought to view, and called "unclean spirits," and "spirits of devils." Their last work of deception is to go forth to the kings of the earth, and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of the great day of G.o.d Almighty. Thus all that is revealed of them from beginning to end (and scriptures might be multiplied on the point) furnishes the most cogent reason why all should be keenly awake to their existence and their work, and be ever watchful against their influence and approach.

Chapter Five.

WHAT THE SPIRITS TEACH.

It has been shown in the preceding chapters that the unseen "controls"

(the beings who control the mediums) in Spiritualism, are not the spirits of the dead, but are fallen angels or spirits of devils. This fact will be confirmed by a brief glance at some of their teachings; for we are to remember that if they speak not according to the law and the testimony there is no light in them. It matters not that what they teach may be supported by signs and wonders beyond the comprehension of the human mind.

That is no guarantee of truth; for such phenomena are to be wrought, as will soon be shown, to prove a lie. The Lord anciently put his people on their guard in this respect. Deut. 13:1-3, 5: "If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder, and the sign or the wonder come to pa.s.s, whereof he spake unto thee, saying, Let us go after other G.o.ds, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them; thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the Lord your G.o.d proveth you, to know whether ye love the Lord your G.o.d with all your heart and with all your soul." "And that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams, shall be put to death; because he hath spoken to turn you away from the Lord your G.o.d, ... out of the way which the Lord thy G.o.d commanded thee to walk in."

Thus the fact that one who professed to be a prophet could perform a sign or wonder, showing his connection with some unseen power, was not enough to s.h.i.+eld him from condemnation and punishment, if what he undertook to prove by that sign or wonder was contrary to the truth, and tended to lead away from G.o.d. The teaching of any system is an important part of the fruit it bears; and by that, according to our Lord's own rule, we are to judge it, and not by any power or mighty works connected with it, however wonderful they may be.

"'Tis not the broad phylactery Nor stubborn fasts, nor stated prayers That make us saints. We judge the tree By what it bears."

-_Alice Carey._

It is therefore pertinent to look sufficiently at the teachings of the spirits to ascertain their character. Here we shall find some most damaging testimony; for-

1. _They Deny G.o.d._-It is no pleasure to transcribe the utterances of practical atheism; yet enough should be given to show what they teach on the great fundamental principles of Christianity. At a seance, reported in the _Banner of Light_, July 11, 1868, the following questions were addressed to the spirits, and the accompanying answers received:-

"_Ques._-It is said in the Bible that man is made in the image of G.o.d. Please tell us what that image is.

"_Ans._-He is made in the image of everything that ever was, that is, or that ever shall be. He holds within his caliber everything that exists, that ever has existed, or that ever will exist. Now, G.o.d is included in this. If he exists at all, he exists everywhere (and we have taken in everything), every place, every name, every condition. I believe that the human stands above all things else, and holds within its embrace all the past, present, and future. In this sense he is created and exists in the image of G.o.d.

"_Q._-What is G.o.d essentially?

"_A._-Everything. Essentially you are G.o.d, and I am G.o.d-the flowers, the gra.s.s, the pebbles, the stars, the moon, the sun, everything is G.o.d."

The Devil, through the serpent in the garden, taught Adam and Eve that the soul is immortal, and has transfused the same idea very successfully through paganism, Romanism, and Protestantism; but he also said, "Ye shall be as G.o.ds;" and now, it seems, he is trying to make the world swallow this other leg of his falsehood; but by putting it forth under the form of the old pagan pantheism, that everything is G.o.d, and G.o.d is everything, he betrays the lie he uttered in Eden; for in that case, Adam and Eve were no more G.o.ds after they ate than they were before.

Another seance, reported in the _Banner_ about twenty years later than the one quoted above, April 28, 1888; an inquirer addressed to the "spirits" a question about G.o.d, and received answer, a portion of which is presented below:-

"_Ques._-Some Spiritualists, I learn, believe in a G.o.d; otherwise they would not pray to him-taking for granted that there is such a being. Please enlighten us.

"_Ans._-We have yet to come in contact with a thorough Spiritualist, one who understands something of spiritual life and the revelations made by returning spirits, who directly believes in a personal G.o.d. True, many Spiritualists and many returning spirits offer their invocations to the 'Great Supreme Spirit of all life and intelligence,' not because they expect to change the order of law, or to come into direct communication with, or nearness to, a Great Supreme Being, clothed in the image of man, but because they desire to enter an atmosphere of harmony, to uplift their own souls to a plane of thought which will bring spiritual inspiration to their minds. We make a distinction between that Great Supreme Overruling Force which we may call the Superior Spirit of Intelligence, Wisdom, and Love, and the personal Deity, clothed in the image of man, gigantic in stature, jealous and revengeful by nature, which has been set up and wors.h.i.+ped as the Christian Jehovah. We know of no Spiritualist-let us repeat it-who believes in such a personal G.o.d; but we can believe and accept the idea, though it may pa.s.s beyond almost our finite comprehension, that there is a grand universal Spirit permeating all forms of existence; that this great source of light, of activity and vitality vibrates with intelligence, and that it is superior to all organic forms, however grand they may prove to be."

The same views have been taught all along by the "spirits" of Spiritualism, as could be shown by extracts dating as far back as 1858, only ten years after the "Rochester Knockings." And though Spiritualism is now a.s.suming more of the sedate speech of organized Christianity, the spirits do not modify their teaching in respect to G.o.d. In "Automatic, or Spirit, Writing," p. 148 (1896), are given many messages from the spirits through the mediums.h.i.+p of Mrs. S. A. Underwood, wife of the editor of the _Philosophical Journal_, Chicago. The "spirits" set forth their teaching in answer to questions by the medium, some of which have reference to G.o.d, though his name is not used. Thus on page 148, this conversation is given:-

"_Ques._-You often in these communications speak of the binding laws of spiritual life-that because of them you cannot give us such and such information, etc. Now who makes those laws, and whence came they, and how are they taught?

"_Ans._-Thou say'st 'who'-therefore we cannot answer. Go back to the first question and ask one at a time.

"_Q._-Well, who makes the laws?

"_A._-Spirits are not bondaged by _persons_.

"_Q._-Then how do you come to know those laws?

"_A._-Pharos will now answer. Spiritual laws are spiritually perceived, as soon as the physical perceptions are got rid of.