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Education in the Home, No. 26

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Pacific Press Publishing Company · Mountain View, California · Nov 29, 1905

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 31, No. 48.

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EDUCATION IN THE HOME. NO. 26.

By Mrs. L. D. Avery-Stuttle

BY MRS. L. D. AVERY-STUTTLE.
“SPIRITUALISM!” exclaimed Mrs. Wilber. “I’d no idea the word was in the Bible. I’m sure I’d like to know what is written on that subject, of all others.”
“I don’t think that the identical word is in the Bible,” replied Brother Hartman. “Still, I am persuaded that God’s Book is full of warnings against the subtle snares of this latter-day delusion.”
“Well, now,” objected Mrs. Gray, “I see nothing so very bad about the doctrine,—in fact, I know several really good, well-meaning people who belong to this cult.”
“O, certainly,” replied grandma. “I, myself, have a few dear friends among them, and I can not wonder, for it is but the logical outcome of a belief in the natural immortality of the soul.”
“John, will you please tell us what you consider to be the particular stronghold, and consequently the most dangerous error, in that mighty stronghold of deception—Spiritualism?”
“I consider it to be the belief in the immortal, conscious state of the dead, and their frequent return to this earth.”
“Elsie, have you any Scripture proof of the inconsistency of this belief?”
“God does not desire the living to seek knowledge from the dead,” replied Elsie. “Indeed, He has often told us the utter folly of it by assuring us many times in His Word that the dead are unconscious. I think, father, that we will find a text referring directly to Spiritualism in Isaiah 8:19, 20, R.V.;” and Elsie read slowly and impressively: “And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits and unto the wizards that chirp and that mutter; should not a people seek unto their God? on behalf of the living should they seek unto the dead? To the law and to the testimony! if they speak not according to this Word, surely there is no morning for them,” or, old version, “it is because there is no light in them.”
“Very good. We see that God has warned us against going for knowledge to the dead, because He says also, in Eccl. 9:10, that there is no ‘device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave.’ Mrs. Wilber, can you tell us something about the origin of Spiritualism? Where and when do you think the doctrine was first preached, and by whom?”
“Really, Mr. Hartman, I don’t think it was very long ago. When did you first hear of it, Mr. Gray?”
“I believe the city of Rochester, New York, is conceded to be its birthplace, and that it was first known as the Rochester knockings; but it has certainly made great headway since then,” replied Mr. Gray.
“Do you agree with him, grandma?”
“Mr. Gray refers to modern Spiritualism, I think,” grandmother replied, “but ancient Spiritualism is hoary with age. It was born in Eden, and was introduced to our first parents by the wily serpent, who took for his text the familiar words, ‘Ye shall not surely die,’ and he has been repeating it ever since, with pretty good success.”
“That is not a flattering origin, to be sure,” said Walter Gray, smiling.
“No, my boy,” replied Brother Hartman, “and those words, among the first Satan ever addressed to mankind, ‘Ye shall not surely die,’ are the foundation stone of almost every false system of worship in the world.”
“I can’t see how you make that out!” exclaimed Mrs. Wilber. “It just seems to me you are trying to prove too much, aren’t you?”
“Well, my friend,” replied Brother Hartman, smiling, “how much would there be left of Catholicism if you take from it the belief in the natural immortality of the soul? Surely, the virgin Mary and all the canonized saints of the Catholic calendar are dead. But, says Satan, ‘Ye shall not surely die,’ and they believe him, and fondly imagine that these dead people are conscious and in heaven, and pray to them accordingly.”
“A new idea, surely! I never thought of that!” exclaimed Mrs. Wilber.
“And then,” continued Brother Hartman, “that heathen belief in the transmigration of souls rests upon this very foundation. Indeed, the savage Indian, who fondly hopes that at death his conscious spirit departs to the happy hunting ground; the modern Spiritualist, who converses with what purports to be the spirit of his dead friend; and that large class of people of whom the Japanese are representatives, who fight bloody battles under the supposed direction of their dead ancestors, all build their faith upon this first deception of the devil, Satan’s first lie. Mattie, can you give us any instance of men making use, anciently, of Spiritualism, or witchcraft, as the Bible terms it?”
“O, yes, father; there are many instances. Jannes and Jambres must have been mediums, I think. Anyway, they tried to perform some of the miracles which Moses did before Pharaoh, and they succeeded well enough to deceive the foolish king.”
“Yes,” interrupted John, “and in 2 Timothy 3, Paul warns Timothy against this class of persons.”
“Grandma, do you think there is as much danger of being deceived by Satan to-day as anciently?” asked Elsie.
“Certainly, my dear child; the danger is much greater, for we read that Satan is come down with great wrath, knowing ‘that he hath but a short time.’”
“What, Mr. Hartman!” exclaimed Mrs. Gray nervously, “you don’t think, do you, that Satan can perform actual miracles?”
“I will answer your question by asking another. It is written, you remember, that Satan carried our Saviour to a great and high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of earth in a moment of time, and that he took Christ bodily and sat Him upon a pinnacle of the temple. Was not this a miracle?”
“Yes,” added Elsie, “and in the case of the death of the sons of Job, Satan must have had power over the very winds.”
“Walter,” said John, “I would like you to read Rev. 13:13, 14, for this proves that Satan not only has power, but that he will use it to the very last in deceiving mankind.”
“And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, and deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do.”
“Well, mother,” continued Walter, “you see Satan does have power to perform miracles.”
“Yes, yes; I see; I had never thought of it in this light before. I fear I have underestimated very much, the wonderful power of the archdeceiver,” replied his mother.
“Now, little Beth, I will ask you to read a passage that sets the matter in a very strong light. Grandma will help you find the place.”
Very slowly and deliberately, Beth read Rev. 16: 13, 14.