How Readest Thou? by Editor

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Feb 28, 1884

How Readest Thou?

By Editor

IT is often a surprise to us to learn that people find in plain language the very opposite of what the language speaks. Under the head of an "Inside View of Spiritualism," we have of late published several extracts from a book which we wrote several years ago, entitled "The Nature and Tendency of Modern Spiritualism." These articles were on the "Dangers of Mediumship," and the certainty of being deceived by spiritualistic communications from the impossibility of identifying the spirit communicating. Our positions were proven by extracts from well-accredited spiritualist authors. And forthwith came a letter, written in a style to indicate that the writer was not altogether an ignorant man, in which he expressed great surprise that we are so blind as to advocate Spiritualism, and thinks if we would try to become better acquainted with it we would know that it was evil. Now we have studied Spiritualism closely, collecting quite a library of publications

by their best authors, and the result of our study may be learned from our book which is advertised in this paper. But we hope no one will read it and then ask why we advocate Spiritualism!

More recently we have received a letter from a man who expresses equal surprise that we are opposed to the work of Good Templars, and to temperance reform! In this case the writer appears to gather his mistaken ideas from our opposition to the so-called "National Reform" party which seeks to add a "Religious Amendment" to the Constitution of the United States.

These instances remind us of the case of a learned minister who preached a sermon in opposition to Ingersoll and other atheistical teachers. At the close of his sermon he was accosted by a man who said to him: "Notwithstanding all you have said, I cannot help to think there is a God!"

From these cases we draw a lesson. While men read and listen thus, is it any wonder that there is disagreement in regard to the teachings of the Bible? Many blame the Bible because people do not think and believe alike in regard to it. There would be some show of reason in the objection if they thought alike in other things, or came to a correct and harmonious understanding in regard to the plainest matters on other subjects. The Bible is right, but human nature is perverse. Men read it with carelessness, indifference, or with prejudice, and such a reading is called investigation, and the ideas thus gathered are mistaken for intelligent conviction. And then the Bible is reproached as being the author of confusion.