He Will Be a Spiritualist.
By John H. Waggoner
Some of my friends have lately informed me (as if it were news) that the spiritualistic oracles had prophesied that I would soon be a spiritualist. I would say that to prophesy in this manner has been a standing pastime with those oracles for the last eight years. When Moses Hull denied God and his word in 1863, the prophecy was extensively circulated that I would be a spiritualist before the close of that year. Now according to their “philosophy” all things are equally right and therefore it is perfectly right to lie; yet they so far deferred to the feelings of those who have yet a conscience against lying as to insist that their prediction was true, and have therefore followed me for several years with the report that I was a spiritualist. By another rule of their philosophy a lie is only undeveloped truth, yet these two falsehoods have not developed into truth as yet. Of the future I would speak with becoming humility. I have long ago discarded the view that it is not possible to fall from grace, and I endeavor to heed the injunction to “be not high-minded, but fear.” We “are not ignorant of Satan’s devices.” Realizing to some extent his power, his malignity, his wiles, the number and boldness of his subjects, and the fearful spread of his falsehoods and his influence, I rely solely upon divine protection, knowing full well that if I so depart from God as to drive away his Spirit, the spirit of darkness and evil will soon have undisputed sway over me. Dear readers, there is a power in spiritualism; an influence with which it is not safe to dally. As you value eternal life, I entreat you to heed the warning and avoid that influence which bewilders the mind, destroys the sensibilities, and drowns its victims in eternal ruin. As this prophecy is persistently kept before the people, it is well to inquire how people become spiritualists, and what change must take place in order for me to be a spiritualist. 1. People do not generally become spiritualists by intelligent conviction, but by means of a mesmeric influence thrown over them. Take the case of Moses Hull. He was led to destruction through a discussion with what he declared to be “some demon speaking through W. F. Jamieson.” Of this discussion he said:— “The arguments given through Mr. Jamieson were no stronger than those used by normal speakers with whom I have debated, but the influence I was not prepared to resist.”
And I might mention other and more recent cases where the fall of the victims is easily traceable to the same cause. True, they are not always aware of the fact, and they may not realize that their refusal to “receive the love of the truth” had prepared the way for this “strong delusion.” See 2 Thess. 2: 10–12. A spiritualist lecturer recently said that people become spiritualists because they think. Let Mr. Hull testify again:— “There was not only an unseen intelligence speaking through Mr. Jamieson, but there was an influence over the audience, and I am now satisfied over myself, such as I had never before witnessed, the power of which was so strong that for several days I was not only bewildered, but was really not myself.”
All who are acquainted with the operations of spiritualism will credit this testimony. Because they think? No. But because they are bereft of reason, and their volition is destroyed. Does a person mesmerized think? Is not the power of thought and volition usurped by another in mesmerism? All who are at all acquainted with this subject know that the influence exerted by spirit mediums is similar to that of mesmerism, only that it is much stronger, and does not, as in mesmerism, depend upon personal contact, but may be exerted at some distance. Mr. Hull well characterized it—he was bewildered—not himself. Do spiritualists deny this fact? Look for a moment at their testimony. Prof. Brittan, a noted author among them, said:— “The trance mediums for spirit intercourse are equally irresponsible. Many of them are totally unable to resist the powers which come to them from the invisible and unknown realms.”—Answer to Mahan.
Think, do they? Reduced to a state of irresponsibility by an irresistible influence. Where, then, is their manhood, of which they so much boast? Reduced to a mere machine by some invisible demon. And we are accused of not thinking because we will not resign our will and reason to such control. Judge Edmonds gives the following account of an influence that fell upon Dr. Dexter, his associate in his spirit investigations: “It was altogether a very extraordinary manifestation. It was conducted throughout with unusual and indeed unknown violence. He took entire possession of the Doctor, not merely of his arm, as others did, and the Doctor said he felt an almost uncontrollable desire to strike me, and to commit other acts of violence.” Works, Vol. 2. p. 512.
With such testimony their works abound; indeed, the spirits promised years ago that their power would be more and more manifested as people became more and more passive! And Prof. Brittan said Davis was no more responsible in his writings than we are in our dreams. They are the last who should claim to be a reasoning, thinking people. All testimony confirms this fact, that people do not generally become converts to spiritualism by intelligent conviction, but by impressions173on the senses. I pray that God will keep me from the snares which would render me passive to such an unhallowed influence. 2. What change must I undergo to become a spiritualist? Having in my possession a large number of spiritualist books, by the most noted and best endorsed of their authors, and having read considerable in their periodicals, and heard some of their public utterances, I am prepared to judge and speak advisedly on this point. 1st. I must deny God. To this all spiritualists run with undeviating certainty. 2d. I must deny the Bible. A great change indeed; for I dearly love it now; but I cannot be a spiritualist and hold on to the Bible as the inspired word of God. 3d. I must deny Jesus Christ as my Saviour. This strikes to my heart; feeling as I do my urgent need of him. And my prayer is that he will not deny me. But not a word is necessary to show that no man can be a spiritualist who trusts in Christ for salvation. 4th. I must renounce all reverence for everything I now hold sacred in Heaven and on Earth, whether persons or principles. 5th. I must renounce allegiance to all authority and all law whether human or divine. 6th. I must renounce every institution which would restrain my actions, marriage institution included. 7th. I must renounce all sense of responsibility, and deny such popular distinctions as right and wrong. 8th. I must so far contradict the last-mentioned denial as to affirm that, while it is perfectly right to violate law, it is wrong to take any steps to prevent, or punish for, the violation. I know not of a single author of any repute among spiritualists who does not teach either directly or indirectly, all that I have here set down; many of them in the most direct terms. Reader, do you like the character to be developed under the teachings and influence of spiritualism? And do you blame us for shunning that influence which leads the victim passively into such abominations? The heathen would blush to acknowledge such abominations; yet they are boldly avowed by spiritualists, both male and female.