Spiritualism
Spiritualism has left its dark
trace on the human family almost from man's earliest
existence. Some have believed and many have disbelieved in
the reality of communing with de parted spirits.
Spiritualists have flooded the world with their literature
and "lying wonders" to prove that what they
claim is real; and should we throw away our reason and be
guided by fickle stories concocted by men and devils we
should surely arrive at a hasty conclusion that the
spirits of departed friends could be conversed with, seen,
etc.
That spiritualists have communion
with spirits is not hard to believe, but that they commune
with the spirits of men and women who have had an
existence in this world is incredible, to say the least of
it. That spiritualists do have communion with spirits can
be easily proved, but these spirits are invariably the
spirits of devils, and not the spirits of the departed
dead they feign to be. Some scientists who have possibly
been a little skeptical concerning the supernatural have
tried to account for the manifestations of spiritualism in
phrenology; but in so doing they expose their ignorance of
its real source. This is one weakness in infidels,
scientists, and philosophers, to account for everything in
a natural way. On the other hand, a weakness in professors
of religion to ascribe everything which is superhuman to
the divine has led many to believe in spiritualism and
kindred superstitions.
There are three great sources from
which all things must emanate; the divine, the natural,
and the diabolical. Spiritualism neither proceeds from the
natural nor the divine; hence the only source left for it
is the diabolical. This we shall proceed to prove is its
true source.
SPIRITUALISM NOT OF GOD.—The
first and surest proof that anything is false or true
is the Word of God, to which we shall appeal.
"Every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus
Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this
is that spirit of anti christ, whereof ye have heard
that it should come; and even now already is it in
the world." John 4:3. Spiritualists virtually deny
the divinity of Christ, and if in every other way
they were as spotless as snow this is enough to prove them
false and not of God.
Spiritualism is not of God, because
it does not teach and practice the gospel. It never leads
anyone to conversion or real salvation, but deals in
mysticism. Spiritualism is not of God, because those who
have forsaken God, or never knew Him, can communicate with
spirits through spiritualistic mediums. Saul, the king of
Israel, said, "God is departed from me, and answereth
me no more" (1 Sam. 28:15); and yet he could get an
answer through the witch of Endor, who was nothing more
nor less than a spiritualistic medium. God would not
answer him, and yet he received an answer through
spiritualism; hence spiritualism is not of God. This
syllogism is unanswerable, and proves conclusively that
spiritualism is not of God.
Spiritualism is not of God because
all spiritualists are at times compelled to practice
fraud. They acknowledge that at times their spirits fail
to work and at such times they resort to sleight of hand,
fraud, and ocular deceptions to maintain their cause.
SPIRITUALISM NOT A NATURAL
PHENOMENON.—The fact that spiritualists have sometimes
been found to practice fraud has led some investigators to
conclude that it is all sleight of hand. Others have
attributed it to hallucination, or have tried to account
for it in phrenology. I have before me two large books
that are given almost exclusively to researches in
spiritualism; one especially by the learned William A.
Hammond, M.D., containing three hundred and sixty six
pages, all of which are given to trying to prove
spiritualism a natural phenomenon. Such men possibly would
not hesitate much to try to prove that the casting out of
evil spirits by Jesus of Nazareth was only hallucination,
or could be traced to natural sources. Spiritualism and
witchery in the Bible are always in opposition to the
Spirit of God, which is a proof that it is not a natural
law. True, unregenerated human nature is opposed to the
Spirit of God; but all other nature accords with the
Bible.
The case of the "wise
men" of Egypt clearly proves that spiritualism is not
a natural phenomenon. "For they cast down every man
his rod, and they became serpents." Ex. 7:12. Now let
the mental philosophers and phrenologists tell us, if they
can, where in the human cranium or brain, the organ is
located that enables us to turn rods, walking canes, etc.,
into serpents.
SPIRITUALISM PURELY DEVILISH.—We
h a v e clearly proved that spiritualism is not of God,
and not a natural phenomenon, so the only source left for
it is the infernal or devilish. From this source it truly
emanates. It is of the devil, because God commanded the
children of Israel to have among them no such characters
as witches, enchanters, or those who consulted with
familiar spirits, or who used divination. "Thou shalt
not suffer a witch to live." Ex. 22:18. "There
shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son
or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that that
divination, 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 necromancer." Deut. 18:10, 11.
"For all that do these things are an abomination unto
the Lord." Deut. 18:12.
Another clear proof of its
diabolical origin is the Egyptian sorcerers, who opposed
Moses and Aaron, the servants of God. These magicians cast
down their rods and they became serpents; but God, to show
that He was almighty, caused the serpent which came from
Aaron's rod to swallow up the rods of the Egyptian
sorcerers.
Though spiritualism is a devilish
reality, it is not to be feared by the children of God;
for one child of God by faith can chase a thousand, and
two put to flight ten thousand wicked spirits. If you want
to see a spiritualist's seance put to confusion let
someone with faith in God step in and rebuke the devil and
wicked spirits. The only way to become a spiritualistic
medium is to abandon oneself completely to the devil, to
be used of him at his will. It has been said that when a
person is to become a medium he must place his hands upon
a clean silver plate, and take an oath that he will be as
clear of God as that plate is of dirt. Whether this
statement is absolutely true or not, it is a fact that all
mediums are simply possessed with devils and by them led
at their will.
Spiritualism in general is a hotbed
of free love spirits, unclean spirits, and every other
diabolical spirit Satan sees fit to impose upon them. In
short, it is the devil's headquarters on earth. While
false doctrines and wicked spirits are by no means
confined to spiritualism, it is the nearest in the image
of Satan. It is the purest breed of earth born children of
the devil.
The reader has by this time arrived
at the conclusion that while the writer believes
spiritualism a reality he sees no good in it. Possibly the
most convincing proof of its reality and diabolical origin
is the workings of modern spiritualists. Hundreds of cases
could be inserted here where spiritualists have performed
wonders; but as spiritualism is so general in America, and
mediums, clairvoyants, etc., are so numerous, we will
leave out for the greater part its devilish
manifestations. If we were trying to refute the reality of
their communion with spirits, then we should have need of
detail, but we freely admit that spiritualists do commune
with spirits, but these spirits are the spirits of devils
and never the spirits of the dead. The best and only
successful way to oppose spiritualism is to grant that
mediums can have communion with spirits, and then prove
these to be evil spirits, which is an easy task.
OUTPOSTS OF SPIRITUALISM.—The
adherents of spiritualism are by no means confined to the
ignorant; but, on the contrary, some of the most
intelligent men and women of the present age have been
duped by spiritualism. However, intelligence or knowledge
is not wisdom, and many who are less informed in
philosophy are wiser in spiritual things. Knowledge is
dangerous, but wisdom is trustworthy. A desire for the
mysterious has led many a person into the dark fogs of
spiritualism and many other errors.
Hypnotism, mesmerism, and voluntary
somnambulism, while not proceeding directly from the
operation of evil spirits, are often used to lead souls on
to believe in and partake of spiritualism. Witchery,
sorcery, fortune telling, clairvoyance, powwowing,
conjuring, magnetic healing, and dozens of other
inventions of men and devils are outposts of spiritualism,
and should be avoided by every child of God.
The ouija board is also an
effectual means in the hands of Satan to lead unsuspecting
souls into the dark realms of spiritualism. The case of
Annie Moore Cable, an intelligent young lady who commenced
with the ouija board, and ended in the insane asylum,
should be sufficient warning to all to keep clear from all
such traps of the devil. When once Satan has succeeded in
ensnaring a soul in the net of spiritualism, he can then
control it as seems best to him. He can then impose
insanity, free love, or any other vile spirit upon his
dupe, to destroy both soul and body, and accomplish his
fiendish desires.
HISTORY OF SPIRITUALISM.—To point
out the most remarkable events in the history of
spiritualism would require many volumes, so we shall
content ourselves with a very brief outline of its
diabolical career. Possibly the first record we have of
spiritualistic manifestations was of the Egyptian
sorcerers; but the Egyptians were not alone in such
manifestations, for almost, if not absolutely, all ancient
nations were more or less cursed with spiritualism,
divination, sorcery, etc.
The nature of all heathen worship
made it an excellent hiding place for Satan, and he was
not slow to make good use of the opportunity; consequently
the ancient priests of all religions, being ignorant of
the true God, fell into spiritualism, sorcery, and
witchcraft. By means of such manifestations as could be
accomplished through sorcery, the ignorant heathen were
induced to believe that their dumb idols of wood and stone
possessed the power to bless or curse them, hence they
lived in constant dread of their gods. All heathendom
today is pervaded by spiritualism, and here spiritualism
has its origin. It is to be wondered at that men of great
learning, who are versed in mythology, could be duped into
modern spiritualism; nevertheless it is true that many
learned men and women are spiritualists. Spiritualists are
not, as many suppose, exclusively the ignorant and
unlearned.
Spiritualism continued to increase
till, at the birth of Christ, this world had become a
teeming mass of spiritualistic mediums, conjurers, and
idolatrous sorcerers. We could here fill pages with the
manifestations of the astrologers, witches, and so-called
wise men of ancient nations; but to the most of people
ancient history seems too far away. Babylon, Media,
Assyria, and even Egypt, Greece, and Rome, to the most of
people seems like a half forgotten dream or a dim specter
of past ages. At the time of the birth of Christ the whole
world was under the control of the Roman empire and every
nation had been allowed to retain its own gods and worship
them as they pleased. This gave an excellent opportunity
for all kinds of sorcery and divination. That spiritualism
and kindred works of the devil were prevalent is obvious
from the reading of the Acts of the Apostles. Jesus
encountered the devil in almost every form, casting him
out by the power of His Word.
The first notable case of
spiritualism we read of after the ascension of Christ is
that of Simon the sorcerer, who was met by Peter and John
when they visited Samaria. The account given of this agent
of Satan in holy writ is very short, but we read that he
"used sorcery and bewitched the people of Samaria,
giving out that himself was some great one." Acts
8:9. For a while it seemed that Simon had renounced his
sorcery, but on seeing the Holy Spirit given by the laying
on of hands, he offered the apostles money that he might
receive the same power. "But Peter said unto him, Thy
money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the
gift of God may be purchased with money. Thou hast neither
part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in
the sight of God." Acts 8:20, 21.
We read no more of Simon in the
Bible, but Eusebius tells us that he continued in his
sorcery, and finally went to Rome, where he obtained many
followers. Justin tells us that he was deified at Rome,
where a statue was raised to his honor. This statue stood
in the river Tiber on an island between two bridges, and
had on it the superscription in Latin "Simon) Deo
Sancto," which is, "To Simon the Holy God."
He doubtless held the people in his control by witchery,
as he did at Samaria.
The same vile spirit that followed
Simon Magus still clings to spiritualism. It is said that
while he was at Rome a certain woman whose name was Helen
joined herself to him, and was called "The first idea
that proceeded from him." Eusebius tells us that this
woman was known to have been a public prostitute. Eusebius
further says, "Every vile corruption that could
either be done or devised, is practiced by this most
abominable heresy, of a sect that ensnare those wretched
females who are literally overwhelmed with every kind of
vice."
In the sixteenth chapter of the
Acts of the Apostles we read of a certain damsel possessed
with a spirit of divination, who followed Paul and his
co laborers until Paul cast out the spirit of the
devil. Her masters seeing that the hope of their gains was
blighted became much enraged and sought to have Paul and
Silas imprisoned. This damsel was a fair type of modern
spiritualistic mediums; and if the evil spirits were cast
out of them their hopes of gain would be defeated, and
their pretended communion with the departed spirits of
human beings would be discontinued.
Shortly after the death of the
apostles spiritualism found a permanent home among the
priests and monks of the Catholic sect, where it has been
harbored and petted ever since. For a history of
spiritualism from the third to the fifteenth century the
reader is referred to the many histories of Catholicism,
with its pretended communion with departed saints,
purgatory, lying wonders, etc. Like all other
spiritualistic movements they have had some manifestations
of the spirits of devils interspersed with their own lying
wonders and deceptive imaginations.
Spiritualism did not cease,
however, with the fifteenth century, nor is it now
confined to Catholicism. "According to quotations
given by Chevreul, the divining rod was used at at the end
of the seventeenth century for obtaining answers to
questions as table tilting now is."—Encyclopedia
Britannica. Many instances could be cited where
spiritualism has left its trail through, and near the end
of, the medieval period; but we shall now notice modern
spiritualism in its Protestant robe. I say Protestant
robe, because it has crept into many Protestant sects in
one form or another. And why should we wonder at either
Catholicism or Protestantism, being filled with sorcery
since John says, "Babylon the great is fallen, is
fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the
hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and
hateful bird"? Rev. 18:2.
Modern spiritualism in American, as
we know of it today, had its first outbreak with the Fox
girls in Hydeville, Wayne Co., N. Y., about the year 1847.
Since that time the mediums, clairvoyants, and sorcerers
have multiplied to an amazing extent. Some years ago,
according to Judge Edmons, there were in the United States
alone somewhere from eight to eleven million who believed
in spiritualism. This number possibly included all of
every denomination who believed in communion with the
dead, as there are many confirmed spiritualists who do not
belong to the organization by this name.
"Nevertheless the organization is of considerable
extent. There were in America, in 1870, twenty State
associations and one hundred and five societies of
spiritualists, two hundred and seven lecturers and about
the same number of public mediums."—I Stanley
Grimes. This number has doubtless been greatly increased
since 1870.
MEDIUMS.—This is a name given to
an order of spiritualistic performers, and is certainly a
very appropriate name, from the fact that they act as a
common medium for the devil, to transport his vile
messages to the souls of men and women. They are a
"medium" between men and devils; or in other
words, half human and half demon.
There are many different kings of
mediums, generally distinguished by their different ways
of manifesting the mind of the spirits by which they are
controlled. They are: (1) Physical mediums, who are
supposed to be able to do mechanical or chemical feats
without the use of mechanical or chemical means; in other
words, they are supposed to do things which from a natural
standpoint are impossible; such as taking fire in the
hands with out being burned, increasing the height of the
body, suspending the body in the air, etc. (2) Seeing and
auditive mediums, who see and hear spirits. (3) Sensitive
mediums, who claim to be sensitive to the touch of
spirits; such persons are doubtless more sensitive to the
touch of infernal spirits than they, are to virtue and
truth or to the Spirit of God. (4) Speaking mediums, who
make known in words the mind of the spirit which controls
them. This is always done in a trance state. (5) Curing
mediums, who profess the power to heal disease. And no
wonder if they should succeed sometimes, as the spirits of
devils may work miracles. Rev. 16:14. (6) Pneumatographic,
or writing mediums. These are more rare than other
mediums. In the case of pneumatographic messages they are
supposed to obtain writings direct from the spirits
without human intervention; while in writing mediums the
spirits cause the medium to do the work. All successful
mediums are devil possessed and are perfectly sold out to
Satan to do his bidding and accomplish his will.
CONCLUSION.—When we view the
whole maze of spiritualistic confusion we would almost
think it impossible that intelligent men and women could
be deceived by it; but when we remember Confucius, who had
more followers than any other man who ever lived, when we
think of Mohammed, who claimed that he was taken by the
angel Gabriel to the seventh heaven, that from there he
ascended to the throne of God, we do not wonder quite so
much at people being deceived by spiritualism. Think of
that notorious falsifier—Mohammed—who claimed that
after he had climbed to the throne of God he saw written
there, "There is but one God, and Mohammed is his
prophet." And to think that the followers of such an
imposter are more than the followers of Christ, the Son of
God, surely reminds us of the saying of Jesus, "Wide
is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to
destruction, and many there be which go in thereat."
Matt. 7:13.
Then there are the Shakers with all
their shaking and gesticulations; and men believe in them.
And the Catholics, who are more in number than any other
so-called Christian sect, with their pope, priests, and
purgatory, invoking of saints, "hail Mary
prayers," etc. Then there are the Mormons, with their
pretended prophets, priests, presidents, counselors,
concubines, saints, and seventies, and a hundred other
things. And when we think of all these—to say nothing of
the priests and pretended virgins of the ancient Grecian
temples and the monks of the middle ages—we do not
wonder so much that people would believe in and be
deceived by modern spiritualism.
One thing which greatly helps the
devil in getting people into spiritualism is the early
education many children receive. In school, in the
kindergarten, and at home around the fireside they hear
fairy tales, ghost stories, and "old wives'
fables," till they are led to believe in them from
their youth. Children who are led by their parents and
teachers to believe in Santa Claus, fairies, and ghosts
are easier led into spiritualism. If our schools and homes
could be entirely rid of all pagan superstition, and
people could be led to trust more in Providence and less
in luck, horseshoes, charms, fables, and "old
sayings," we could better combat the powers of
sorcery, witchcraft, and spiritualism.
