Spiritualism Advancing.
By M. E. Cornell
NOTHING can be more certain to the careful observer of passing events, than the rapid progress of Spiritualism in every part of the world. Their converts are now numbered by millions; and the spirits are predicting mighty strides for it the present year. It has been “exposed,” “exploded,” and “explained,” again and again, and still its wonders, its mystery, its power, and its progress are greater than before. There can be no doubt that it is Satan’s master-piece, to deceive if possible the very elect. The prophets have spoken of the enemy coming in like a flood, and that Satan in the last days would work with “all power and signs and lying wonders.” Truly perilous times have come, and the truth only can shield from the strong delusions of the enemy. The Interior, Jan., 1875, Presbyterian paper, of Chicago, speaks of it as follows:— “There is no doubt that spiritualism, despite the Katie King and similar fiascos, is making rapid progress among the more intelligent classes. Those who are familiar with it claim many persons as believers who occupy high judicial, legal, ecclesiastical, and literary positions. The whole number of believers in this country are reckoned by the million; but as organization is contrary to the policy of the “spirits,” it is not easy either to verify or dispute their statistics. They are ardent propagandists, however, and very skillful as well. Refer to the exposures of trickery as an evidence against the delusion, and a spiritualist will very coolly admit the imputation, but tell you he does not depend upon the frauds, but upon the facts, for his convictions. It is not difficult to surmise the reasons for the recent large success of the delusion. Attacks upon religious views from the standpoint of abstract science are now incessant and at all points, and they are read by everybody. The result is, that great numbers of people are drifting, groping, having no fixed convictions. . . . The religious nature of these people hungers and chafes in the gloomy wastes of skepticism; and they are quite ready to accept a delusion which tempts them with the offer to let them see for themselves the vistas and inhabitants of the world of spirits.” M. E. CORNELL.