Who Laid the Track? by G. W. A.

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Dec 12, 1865

Who Laid the Track?

By G. W. A.

BELIEVERS in the mortality of man charge modern orthodoxy with having fully prepared the track for the car of Spiritualism to run upon. This charge always grates harshly on orthodox ears, nevertheless the imputation is a most just one. And however much a popular church may disavow any such intentions, it is continually placing itself in the ridiculous attitude of denouncing Spiritualism with one breath, and in the next of furnishing the only argument essential to its existence. Modern Spiritualism is the legitimate result of that gigantic fable, the immortality of the soul and consciousness in death; and were it not for this huge error, Spiritualism, that vile counterpart of Satan, could not live one hour. Thus, in a word, as the immortality of the soul is a patent doctrine with the various popular sects, these same religious bodies are responsible for all the hurtful consequences which result from teaching that doctrine.

I have in my possession a book entitled, "Man all Immortal," written by the Rev. D. W. Clark, formerly editor of the Ladies' Repository, which sustains the above position in language as plain as can be uttered. On page 206, while speaking on the head of "Intercourse between the Dead and the Living," Mr. Clark addresses his readers as follows:

"Among those myriads of angelic messengers, is it not possible that there should sometimes be found one who was once an inhabitant of earth? Is it not possible that our DEPARTED KINDRED—our parents, our companions,

our dear children that have passed from us in the bloom of life, a loved brother or sister—MAY REVISIT EARTH, and come to minister to us in that which is holy and good—to breathe around us influences that will draw us heavenward? If it be possible to revisit earth, this, no doubt, is the glorious mission on which they would desire to come."

This paragraph as confirmatory of what we have just said speaks for itself, but on the next page this popular essayist again adds:

"Dr. Adam Clarke expresses it as his opinion that spirits from the invisible world, including also human spirits which have gone there, may have intercourse with this world, and even become visible to mortals. They are not brought back into mortal life, but only brought within the sphere of visibility. All along the Bible the thing, at least by implication, is again and again recognized. As when Peter, miraculously delivered from prison, appeared at the gate, the frightened disciples exclaimed, 'It is his angel!' or when the Saviour appeared walking upon the water, 'they supposed it had been a spirit.'"

Surely we need not query whether this expounding of Methodism has prepared the way for Spiritualism, and even taught it. But on page 211, while describing the death scene of a little child, Mr. Clark again encourages this idea of spirit communication, and inquires:

"And what is there inconsistent in all this? Among the 'ministering spirits,' who would be more ready to run to our relief, to hover around our dying bed, and to welcome our disenthralled spirit, than the dear friends and kindred of earth, who have gone before us to God? Who would be more likely than the mother who watched over us, the sister of our love, or the prattling child that passed from our sight, to come down to greet us at the swelling of Jordan, and welcome us to the partnership of their joy?"

So teaches Modern Spiritualism. This is just their claim. What harm, say its zealous votaries, when they would urge their detestable philosophy upon us, what harm is there in having our dear departed friends return to us in the spirit-form and sympathize with us in our toils, and impress us for good? and what is there unpleasant about this? Ah, the thing at first does indeed look beautiful, and like all the great Deceiver’s illusions it is nicely prepared, and looks so innocent and good, but at last, as the wise man says, "it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder." It looks guileless, yea, useful at the outset, but it ends with consequences most disastrous.

But who is responsible for this new spiritual science which is sweeping the earth like a prairie fire, and now numbers its converts by the million? Verily the orthodox churches. How could modern necromancers conjure up the dead, and rap, and tip, and write, were it not for the church-taught doctrine that man is conscious in death? Again we inquire, Who laid the track? and reply those who believe and teach the doctrine of the natural immortality of the soul.

G. W. A.