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GEO. O. STATES

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · Apr 19, 1906

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 83, No. 16.

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GEO. O. STATES

By GEO. O. STATES

Spiritualism

GEO. O. STATES

Moses Hull recently lectured in San Jose, Cal., on the educational work of spiritualism. His text was John 3:8, and he applied the new birth to death. When the spirit is freed from the body, he declared, it can come and go, but is invisible. The body is the temple to be put off at death; while our friends are all around us, yet they are invisible in our present state. There is no such thing as a resurrection of the body, he claimed, for the Bible says that “flesh and blood can not inherit the kingdom of God.” Science is fast proving the doctrine of spiritualism, and the time will soon come when the real man will see as readily from the back of his head as through the eyes, which are simply the windows of the soul. God is a spirit, and man is a spiritual being. The speaker said he was once a materialist, and for twelve years preached the Adventist faith, but had now received greater light, and had something better. While he did not say it in so many words, yet the thought was that man could save himself.
When spiritualism first started, he said, all the education thought to be needed came from the spirits, and as a result many ignorant persons were mediums, and it had fallen into disrepute. In the past many bright young men had come to him and asked, “Have you a college where I can get an education so as to be fitted to go out and propagate the grand principles of spiritualism intelligently?” “We have had to say, No,” Mr. Hull continued, “and as a result they have gone to some theological college, and, when graduated, a pulpit with a good salary was offered them, and we lost them. We have learned that in order to reach the intelligent classes we must educate our young people.”
As I listened to his address, I could see that he had not lost his old-time vigor, and he talked as if he believed what he said. I was forcibly reminded of the text, “And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie.” The people listened very attentively, and it was evident that those who believed in the immortality of the soul would naturally accept his arguments. After his lecture a prominent judge gave a short talk, and said that the secret of the Seventh-day Adventists’ success was their educational work; and if spiritualism ever succeeded in reaching the intelligent classes, they must have educational institutions.
For over fifty years the Lord has been giving us warning of this very condition, and has told us that the great deceiver would present spiritualism in a refined manner in order that it might reach the intelligent classes and make its way into scientific circles. “The prince of darkness, who has so long bent his master mind to the work of deception, skilfully adapts his temptations to men of all classes and conditions. To persons of culture and refinement he presents spiritualism in its more refined and intellectual aspects, and thus succeeds in drawing many into his snare. Spiritualism is now changing its form, and, veiling its more objectionable features, is assuming a Christian guise.”
As I listened to him and noted his references to the Bible, I could see how these statements from the spirit of prophecy are being fulfilled. In a communication given some time before he left the truth, it was said of him, “He was presented to me as standing upon the brink of an awful gulf, ready to leap. If he takes the leap, it will be final; his eternal destiny will be fixed. Brother Hull, you were shown me under the soothing influence of a fascination which will prove fatal unless the spell is broken. You have parleyed with Satan, and reasoned with him, and tarried upon forbidden ground, and have exercised your mind in things which were too great for you; and by indulging in doubts and unbelief, have attracted evil angels around you, and driven from you the pure and holy angels of God.”
In 1892 I met W. F. Jamison, with whom Elder Hull had his discussion in 1863. He told me that after the discussion, Mr. Hull seemed very much excited, and said, “I am convinced, and want you to get me a position so I can go out and propagate these grand principles.” Mr. Jamison told him that he was beside himself, and did not realize the step he was taking, and to go home and calmly consider the step, and then, if he desired, they would be glad to employ him. As I heard Mr. Hull profess faith in the Bible and turn to it to prove his points, I recalled the statements: “And as the spirits will profess faith in the Bible, and manifest respect for the institutions of the church, their work will be accepted as a manifestation of divine power. The line of distinction between professed Christians and the ungodly is hardly distinguishable. Church-members love what the world loves, and are ready to join with them; and Satan determines to unite them in one body, and thus strengthen his cause by sweeping all into the ranks of spiritualism. Through spiritualism, Satan appears as a benefactor of the race, healing the diseases of the people, and professing to presenta new and more exalted system of religious faith; but at the same time he works as a destroyer. His temptations are leading multitudes to ruin.”
In view of such timely instruction, which the Lord has been sending to us for so long, it seems to me that now is the time when we should earnestly study these things, and also endeavor to place the light before others, that they, too, may be shielded from the great deception of Satan.
  • San Jose, Cal.