Modern Spiritualism: Its Rapid Spread and Appeal by Joseph Harvey Waggoner

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jul 21, 1874

Modern Spiritualism: Its Rapid Spread and Appeal

By Joseph Harvey Waggoner

Modern Spiritualism.—No. 1.

SPIRITUALISM needs no formal introduction. Though but a few years in age, it is now well known in every land. Its history is already woven into that of every nation. Its adherents are numbered by millions, among whom are found the learned and the honorable, with princes and kings of the earth. Professors of all religions, and they who scout all religion, and even deny the existence of a Supreme Being, stand together as its open advocates. Infidels and religious teachers, who had waged a life-long warfare with each other, stand side by side in the ranks of spiritualists.

To some, this is proof that it is good and right. Union is, with them, a sufficient test of truth. They trust in the strength and influence of numbers. With them we disagree. Pilate and Herod, long estranged, became friends when they mutually consented to the death of Christ. It is as wrong to “follow a multitude to do evil” as to go into evil single handed.

But the question arises, Why do classes differing so widely unite in favor of spiritualism? Its advocates claim that it is the power of truth which unites them. We have another solution to offer, which is more consistent with the facts which they present to us.

Early in the career of spiritualism, it was announced that its object was to “unite mankind in the belief of the immortality of the soul.” And, accordingly, we find men of every class who believe in the immortality of the soul, uniting in their adherence to spiritualism, and gradually embracing all its errors of doctrine and of practice. Rev. A. D. Mayo, in a sermon preached in Albany, N. Y., on the subject of spiritualism and immortality, said:—

“We, in America, were getting so far away from that sublime doctrine, in our life and theology, that human nature could endure it no longer, and by a great rebound has shown how the soul of man needs the assurance of an endless existence. But this great cry of the popular heart after a rational faith in immortality will shiver numberless churches, and burst the bonds of many now enfolded in materialism, or petrified into theological marble. We shall learn out of it what it means in this nineteenth century to believe in the immortality of the soul.”

It is the intention in these remarks to show the object of spiritualism rather than to argue the doctrine of immortality. The truth as taught in the Bible, on this subject, is fully developed in books, pamphlets, and tracts, published at the Office of the REVIEW AND HERALD. But one idea we ask the reader to consider while we unfold the teachings and practices of spiritualists. It has been claimed that what is by Dr. Mayo and others

called “materialism,” that is, a denial of the soul’s immortality, and a belief in immortality through “Jesus and the resurrection,” is akin to infidelity, and a denial of the cardinal principles of revelation; and that it leads away from the purity of the gospel.

It will be seen, however, that the doctrine of the soul’s immortality has associated in its advocacy the worst elements of society, and the greatest errors in belief, and the vilest practices are common with those whose chosen work is to teach and to demonstrate that doctrine. If a tree may be known by its fruit, or a doctrine by its associations, then the doctrine of the natural immortality of the soul may well be regarded with suspicion.

That the phenomena of spiritualism are facts of existence we do not deny. Our point of dispute is in regard to its nature or character. That its phenomena are attended with evidence of power and intelligence beyond the control of the mediums and spectators is now generally acknowledged. Of this, Judge Edmonds says:—

“It forecloses every objection urged against it. If it is supposed to be by the toes on the floor, it is transferred to the table; if supposed to be done by machinery, it is done high up on the wall, or on a railroad train in motion; if supposed to be deception in the dark, it is done in broad light; if supposed to be delusion, it comes to so many different persons, and is perceptible even to animals; if supposed to be collusion, it is done in so many places that collusion is out of the question; if supposed to be ventriloquism, it is done without a sound; if supposed to be our mind, it is done against our will. Thus every supposable explanation is met and answered by itself and its manifestations.”

“It speaks many languages; it answers mental questions; it tells things unknown to the medium; it foretells things to happen; it identifies individuals; it comes and goes at its pleasure and not at ours; it indulges in untruth and contradictions, and this against the will of the medium; it tells things not in the mind of any one present; it displays a will and purpose of its own, just as the human mind does; it comes everywhere and in all parts of the world with the same characteristics; it takes pains and contrives means to obviate objections to it; and, finally, it shows the phenomena of moving inanimate matter without mortal contact, and displaying intelligence.”

Dr. Hare, a man eminent for his learning, in his investigations of spiritualism constructed a machine with a face like that of a clock, containing, instead of figures, the letters of the alphabet, with a single index, or hand. This was set on a table which was on castors, and so arranged that the table would easily move if the medium exerted any direct power on it. Then with the dial toward himself, with the medium on the opposite side of the table, and without any movement of the table, questions would be answered by the index pointing to the letters on the dial out of sight of the medium. It was a certainty that the medium had no control of the machine.

By this means Dr. Hare was convinced that there was intelligence in it beyond the control or knowledge of the medium, and so was brought to acknowledge his belief in that fundamental doctrine of spiritualism, the immortality of the soul. But it did not cure him of his infidelity, for he continued to the last strong in his denial of the truth of the Bible. He even affirmed that “the spirit of Jesus Christ” endorsed his writings, and that he received credentials “as a teacher of truth to the world,” which were “obtained under test conditions,” and were signed by “Geo. Washington, J. Q. Adams, Dr. Chalmers, Oberlin, W. E. Channing, and others.” And thousands of professed Christians have left their churches and joined the ranks of spiritualists because in the phenomena of spiritualism they thought they found evidence of the natural immortality of man which they could not find in the Bible. And with wonderful unanimity they deny the Bible altogether soon after they become spiritualists. This would be truly mysterious were the doctrine of the immortality of the soul plainly taught in the Bible, as the majority affirm.

More recently Dr. Crookes, of England, one of the most eminently scientific men of the age, has published in the Quarterly Journal of Science, of which he is editor, the partial results of his investigations of spiritualism, carried on during the past four years. He arranged the phenomena in thirteen classes, and has become fully satisfied that it is neither delusion nor collusion on the part of the medium. His experiments and evidences are far more striking than those given by Dr. Hare. He even saw hands extemporized in the atmosphere, which he was permitted to feel and hold in his own hand, and which, when he forcibly retained them in his grasp, dissolved into air! He promises to soon publish a book and give a full account of his experiments.

Rev. Mr. Kelso of the M. E. church, and author of several books, told the writer of this that he was on the first committee which examined the mediums in Cincinnati. He has now fully embraced spiritualism, convinced by its phenomena. Recently he published an account of an interview he had with his deceased sister, whom he plainly saw, and with whom he conversed.

Thus it will be seen that spiritualism is making rapid strides toward universal favor with those who believe in the current doctrine of the immortality of the soul, and especially with those who long for evidence of that doctrine which they cannot find in the Bible. The investigation of this subject has convinced many thousands that that doctrine cannot be proved by the Bible, and spiritualism steps in to furnish evidence to those who desire it, and to “reduce immortality to a scientific verity.” And they who prefer science (even “falsely so called”) to the Bible, are not slow to accept the evidence, even though a denial of the Bible be the result.

But spiritualism is not unknown in the Bible. It is pointed out and identified in Bible history and prophecy, and is the subject of many earnest warnings. That it is allied to the witchcraft of ancient times is admitted by spiritualists themselves. Allen Putnam, a spiritualistic writer, says:—

“The doctrine that the oracles, soothsaying, and witchcraft, of past ages were kindred to these manifestations of our day, I, for one, most fully believe. As seen by me now, mesmerism, spiritualism, witchcraft, miracles, all belong to one family, all have a common root, and are developed by the same laws.”

Judge Edmonds, Charles Partridge, Uriah Clark, &c., well-known authors among them, say the same.

Witchcraft and its kindred words are thus defined by Dr. Webster:—

WITCHCRAFT. The practices of witches; sorcery; enchantments; intercourse with the devil; power more than natural.

SORCERY. Magic; enchantment; witchcraft; divination by the assistance or supposed assistance of evil spirits; or the power of commanding evil spirits.

ENCHANTMENT. The act of producing certain wonderful effects by the invocation or aid of demons, or the agency of certain supposed spirits; the use of magic arts, spells, or charms; incantations.

DIVINATIONS. The act of divining; a foretelling future events, or discovering things secret or obscure, by the aid of superior beings; or by other than human means.

NECROMANCY. Properly the art of revealing future events by means of a pretended communication with the dead.

FAMILIAR SPIRIT. A demon or evil spirit supposed to attend at a call.

The first mention of these works is found in Ex. 7, where it is recorded that the magicians of Egypt wrought by enchantment to turn away the mind of Pharaoh from the message delivered to him by Moses. The Lord always forbade witchcraft, or sorcery, and all kindred works. “Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live.” Ex. 22:18. “Regard not them that have familiar spirits, neither seek after wizards, to be defiled by them. I am the Lord your God.” Lev. 19:31. “A man also or woman that hath a familiar spirit, or is a wizard, shall surely be put to death.” Lev. 20:27. A most important text on this subject is the following:—

“When thou art come into the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations. There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. For all that do these things are an abomination unto the Lord.” Deut. 18:9–12.

So clearly are the works of spiritualism here pointed out, and so emphatically are they denounced as an abomination in the sight of God, that spiritualists find it necessary to ward off, by some means, its testimony against them. Judge Edmonds, in his Reply to Bishop Hopkins, who had quoted this text, said:—

“It is true that in the law of Moses there are injunctions against dealing with witches, or those having familiar spirits. But does the reverend prelate mean that his Christian hearers shall understand that the law is still binding upon us?”

And Mr. Woodman, in his Reply to Dwight, says:—

“So if intercourse with departed spirits was prohibited by the Old Testament, that circumstance would furnish no presumption that it was wrong.”

We think those writers must have been aware that such things are denounced in the New Testament in terms equally strong. In Gal. 5:19–21, Paul enumerates “the works of the flesh,” among which he places witchcraft, and says “that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.” And in closing up the Revelation, after pronouncing a blessing upon them that do the commandments of God, that they may have right to the tree of life and enter the glorious city, Jesus says, “For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.” Rev. 22:15.

Thus vainly do spiritualists turn for consolation from the Old Testament to the New. The word of God is always against them.

J. H. WAGGONER.