THE EVILS OF SPIRITUALISM.
Confession of One who Knows.
Bro. R. M. Kilgore of Iowa, sends us a tract which has lately fallen into his hands, entitled, “Important Discovery: The Facts, Fancies, and Follies of Spiritualism Explained,” by Wm. B. Potter, M. D. Mr. Potter professes to be an earnest friend of Spiritualism; but how shall its false and contradictory statements be explained, and its abominable evils, and hideously-immoral tendencies, be reconciled with goodness and true progress? This Gordian knot Mr. P. endeavors to cut, by his new discovery that “no spirit can control a spirit or mortal of more than one sphere below himself.” With this explanation, he thinks all is clear, and the way fully open for the future advancement of Spiritualism. With this part of his theory, we are, however, not so much concerned, as with his frank statement of the present evils of Spiritualism, of which the honest and uncontaminated ought to be warned. He says:— “Among the innumerable follies, of which Spiritualists have been guilty, the greatest, is following the advice of free lovers, libertines and low spirits in refusing to disfellowship the persistently vicious, when it is a notorious fact that many mediums are practicing the most detestable trickery, deceit, fraud and falsehood. That leading teachers, noted mediums, and popular speakers, have deserted companions, obtained divorces, gone off with affinities, or practiced promiscuous intercourse to get spiritual elements, or to impart vital magnetism for the cure of diseases. Hundreds of families have been broken up, and many affectionate wives deserted by affinity seeking husbands; many once devoted wives have been seduced and left their husbands and tender, helpless children, to follow some higher attraction; many simple minded girls have been deluded by affinity notions, and led off by affinity hunters, to be deserted in a few months, with blasted reputations, or led to deeds still more dark and criminal, to hide their shame. Yet, in the face of all this, at the National Convention of Spiritualists, at Chicago, called to consider the question of a National Organization, the only plan approved by its committee especially provided that No charge should ever be entertained against any member, and that any person, without any regard to moral character might become a member. The late National Convention of Spiritualists, at Philadelphia, through its committee, refused to even read a proposition to disfellowship known libertines, but formed a permanent National Organization with annual delegated conventions, from which the lowest and most beastly licentiousness shall not exclude any one.” “Notorious free-lovers and libertines have been special and honored correspondents of spiritual papers. Conventions of Spiritualists have accepted as delegates, and elected to office well known, persistent and habitual libertines. The outside world has no just conception of the folly, free love, and licentiousness among Spiritualists; especially on the part of healing, and developing mediums. We could give their names, but we spare them until we see what the National Convention, at Providence, in August, will do to free Spiritualists, as a body, from libertines, and dishonest mediums. We do this the more readily as we intend to notice the action of the Convention in Tract No. 5, and because we think the mass of well-disposed Spiritualists are beginning to see the folly of fellowshipping known and persistent libertines, and impostors.”