SPIRITUALISM.

Manawatu Times, Volume X, Issue 1201, 19 March 1884, Page 2

SPIRITUALISM.

To the Editor. Sir, — Will your kindly give space m your journal for the subjoined extract on the much- vexed question of Spiritualism. It is clipped from the columns of the " Spiritualist " newspaper — one of the organs of the new faith, under date Nov. 6th, 1874, and has been lying at the bottom of my trunk nearly ever since. It doubtless crept into that journal through a momentary lapse of editorial vigilance, or an ill-judged act of editorial candour, for which, if I remember ' rightly, the paper was soundly abused at the time. We have been told much of late about the harmony existing between Spiritualismjandthe Bible, but an extvaot or two taken from that dear old book will amply serve to show that the boasted harmony is of an nature similar to that subsistimg between fire and water, or between midnight an I noonday. The acknowledged aim of Spirit* ualism is that of intercourse with the world of spirits, apart from the Creator Spirit Himself, and this — whether we admit the success of its aim or not — at once identifies it with j that crime repeatedly and strenu--1 ously forbidden to God's people of 1 old, a crime known throughout the Bible by the synonymous terms of 1 witchcraft, necromancy, magic, en- ! chantment and sorcery. I will only mention one or two references, but if your readers will take the trouble to turn up all the parallel passages m which the words above named oci cur they will not, I think, be at a loss to form a just estimate of the merits of Spiritualism. One passage taken from the Old Testament runs thus : — " There shall not be found among you anyone that raaketh his son or his daughter to t paes through the fire, or that useth ! divination, j or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits or a wizard, or a necroman« cer. For all that do these things are an abomination to the Lord, and because of these abominations the Lord thy God doth drive them out from before thee." Deut. 18, 10-12. But it has been replied : This prohibition was only binding on the Jews, and has no more reference to us than any other part of the ceremonial law. If then we turn to the I New Testament we find that the rei ferences to the same sin, though less frequent, are still more solemn and terrible. " The works of the flesh are witchcraft . . . Without are dogs ana 1 sorcerers. All sorcerers shall be cast into the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone." There are some who regard Spiritualism as the phantasm of a disordered brain, a mez*e cloud shape, not worthy to be met by solid argument, but rather to be blown away by the. rude breath of ridicule. Such persons are little aware of the extent to which Spiritualism has pern meated and influenced modern thought. It counts its followers by millions — is one of the giant forces of the day, and is no more to be overthrown by ridicule than a gran* ite fort by the stroke of a feather pillow. I have seen much of the literature of Spiritualism. It is to be fouud m cartloads m the reading rooms of the old country, and though it would be false to say that I have studied it deeply, I have yet seen enongh to convince me that while its utterances are Babel, while it would be wholly impossible to formulate a system of doctrine or theology from it, there yet runs through the whole a well denned negative harmony — a denial of the Divinity and Atonement of our Lord Jesus Christ. Says the apostle John : "Try the spirits ; every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come m the flesh is not of God. Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ." If these lines should be the means of deterring any from, tampering — at theiv soul's utmost peril — with this latest development of Satanic power, they will not have been written m vain. I am, &c, Geo. J. Bruce. Palmerston North, March 18, 1884