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A Learned Professor on Spiritism

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Dec 2, 1909

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 86, No. 48.

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A Learned Professor on Spiritism

By GEO. O. STATES

GEO. O. STATES
The Literary Digest of October 2 contains some interesting extracts from an article on Spiritism, by Prof. William James. After stating that he had been investigating this question for twenty-five years, he admits himself “constantly baffled” as to what to think of this or that particular story, for the sources of error in any one observation are seldom fully knowable. “I find myself believing that there is ‘something in’ these never-ending reports of physical phenomena, although I haven’t yet the least positive notion of the something. It becomes to my mind simply a very worthy problem for investigation.”
After mentioning some of the mysteries of these phenomena, he says: “If there were in the universe a lot of diffuse soul-stuff, unable of itself to get into consistent personal form, or to take permanent possession of an organism, yet always craving to do so, it might get its head into the air, parasitically, so to speak, by profiting by weak spots in the armor of human minds, and sipping in and stirring up there the sleeping tendency to personate.” He closed by saying: “I personally am as yet neither a convinced believer in parasitic demons, nor a Spiritist, nor a scientist, but still remain a psychical researcher waiting for more facts before concluding.”
Aug. 24, 1850, just a few years after the manifestation of Spiritualism, we were told that the “mysterious rapping” was the power of Satan: “I wasshown that by the rapping and mesmerism, these modern magicians would yet account for all the miracles wrought by our Lord Jesus Christ, and that many would believe that all the mighty works of the Son of God when on earth were accomplished by this same power.” Just before the final deliverance of the saints, God would work powerfully for his people, and these modern magicians would be permitted to imitate the work of God.
“Could our eyes be opened, we should see forms of evil angels around us, trying to invent some new way to annoy and destroy us. And we should also see angels of God guarding us from their power.” “I saw that we must watch, and have on the whole armor, and take the shield of faith, and then we should be able to stand, and the fiery darts of the wicked can not harm us.”—“Early Writings,” pages 59, 60.
“I saw that the saints must get a thorough understanding of present truth, which they will be obliged to maintain from the Scriptures. They must understand the state of the dead; for the spirits of devils will yet appear to them, professing to be beloved friends and relatives, who will declare to them that the Sabbath has been changed, also other unscriptural doctrines. They will do all in their power to excite sympathy, and will work miracles before them, to confirm what they declare. The people of God must be prepared to withstand these spirits with the Bible truth that the dead know not anything, and that they who appear to them are the spirits of devils.”
“I saw the rapidity with which this delusion was spreading. A train of cars was shown me, going with the speed of lightning. The angel bade me look carefully. I fixed my eyes upon the train. It seemed that the whole world was on board; that there could not be one left. Said the angel, ‘They are binding in bundles ready to burn.’ Then he showed me the conductor, who appeared like a stately, fair person, whom all the passengers looked up to and reverenced. I was perplexed, and asked my attending angel who it was. He said, ‘It is Satan. He is the conductor, in the form of an angel of light. He has taken the world captive. They are given over to strong delusions, to believe a lie, that they may be damned. This agent, the next highest in order to him, is the engineer, and other of his agents are employed in different offices as he may need them, and they are all going with lightning speed to perdition.’ I asked the angel if there were none left. He bade me look in an opposite direction, and I saw a little company traveling a narrow pathway. All seemed to be firmly united, and bound together by the truth, in bundles, or companies. Said the angel, ‘The third angel is binding, or sealing, them in bundles for the heavenly garner.’ This little company looked care-worn, as if they had passed through severe trials and conflicts. And it appeared as if the sun had just risen from behind a cloud and shone upon their countenances, causing them to look triumphant as if their victories were nearly won.”—“Early Writings,” pages 87-89.
Is it any wonder that Professor James, after such a long investigation, is baffled, and is still waiting for more facts? He believes in the conscious state of the dead, and when Satan appears “transformed into an angel of light,” he will naturally think that seeing is believing, and so be deceived.
God has given this people light above any people on the earth, and our only safety will be in standing on a “Thus saith the Lord,” and heeding the counsel God has given us through the spirit of prophecy. Simply a theory of the truth will not keep us in the trying scenes before us. We must have an individual connection with the Lord, and stand on the Word, no matter what the surroundings. Leading men among us have given up the truth, and no doubt others will, but we must not follow men, except as they follow Christ.
Cedaredge, Colo.