THE FUTURE OF SPIRITISTIC WORSHIP.
By J. O. Corliss
[This is article twelve of the series.] THERE is a diversity of opinion as to the outcome of spiritistic developments. Some have felt inclined to make light of the whole thing, as tho it were one of those incidents which succeed each other, to be popular for a time, and then vanish out of sight. If it were a new thing in the world, this might be the case. But, inasmuch as, in one form or another, it has been prominent since the meeting with Satan and the first pair in Eden, there is no such a prospect. The foundation principle on which the whole thing is built is the falsehood told by Satan to the woman to induce her to turn against the authority of God, namely, "Ye shall not surely die." Gen. 3:4. The belief of this sentiment, which was in direct opposition to God's earlier instruction, placed the first pair in the ranks of heaven's enemies. It is therefore not surprising to learn that this same sentiment has ever since been the belief of all heathen nations. The singular part of the account is that a great portion of the religious world,—those who profess to be loyal to Jehovah,—should adopt as a fundamental doctrine the very sentiment that first placed man on the side of God's enemy, and which is now maintained by the worshipers of stocks and stones. On this ground, if on no other, Christians should question the stability of the doctrine. The Bible very clearly points out that in olden times God visited severe punishments upon those of His people who were found believing this doctrine of the heathen around them. Among other words of caution given the people of Israel, as they were about to enter the land of Canaan, after their bondage in Egypt, the Lord said: "The soul that turneth after such as have familiar spirits, . . . I will even set my face against that soul, and will cut him off from among his people." Lev. 20:6. This was the law against following after spirit mediums then. Now for the reason: "Ye shall not walk in the manners of the nation, which I cast out before you; for they committed all these things, and therefore I abhorred them." Verse 23. Consulting persons having familiar spirits was one of the "all these things" mentioned as having been practised by the former heathen dwellers in Palestine, and which made them so abhorrent to God. It was, in fact, one of the prominent signs of heathenism. For this reason God would have none of it among His chosen people. It was partly for this cause that Saul, the first king of Israel, was deserted of God, and permitted to be slain by the enemies of Israel. Instead of inquiring of God for direction in guiding the people committed to his care, he went by night to counsel with a woman of Endor, who claimed to be endowed with the power to receive messages from the dead to the living. 1 Sam. 28:7-17. Soon Saul fell in battle, and the record is that he "died for his transgression which he committed against the Lord, . . . and also for asking counsel of one that had a familiar spirit, to inquire of it." 1 Chron. 10:13. Heathen nations have ever had their conjurers, seers, and medicine-men, of whom all members of their tribes have stood in fear, because of their supposed connection with departed spirits. But until the present generation the prominent features of this heathen cult, outside of its basic principle, were confined to those outside of Christianity. In 1848, however, there appeared what was then known as the "Rochester knockings." These raps on tables and other articles of furniture came in response to questions asked by the mediums, and varied in the number of distinct sounds each time, according to whether the question propounded demanded an affirmative or negative reply. Leading men, like Judge Edmonds, of New York, investigated and reported that the table-rapping came from some intelligent source, which they believed to be the spirits of the dead. Some believed, and others scoffed. Meanwhile other features developed, such as slate-writing, table-tipping, and trance communications. Next, undoubted miracles of various sorts were announced, and thousands were drawn toward the wonderful movement. But for one thing it seemed as tho the whole world would go after it. Its success seemed so nearly achieved that its prominent advocates began to speak and write against the Bible, against Christ, and against God. This was too much for some staid church-members and others, who, while endorsing the doctrinal basis of the thing, that the dead can return to converse with and so influence the life-work of the living, halted at the verge of its noisy infidelity; and so the tide was for a time turned. Later, however, Spiritistic believers changed their tactics. They ceased berating Christianity, talked more rationally about God and the Bible, and even adopted forms of Christian worship in opening and closing their meetings. The infidelity contained in the practise of spirit inquiry has been covered as best it could be, until many are again looking favorably upon Spiritism, while yet retaining their formal connection with some branch of the Christian church. This state of things has called out a prediction from Mr. J. J. Morse, of England, which was printed in Borderland of January, 1894, and is as follows:— Practically my conclusion is that presently Spiritualism will be a concrete term covering and embodying the best and truest thought and practise conducive to a new religious life, a truer moral impetus, a loftier social ideal, and a better political estate, for us here on earth. It will rest on the rights and nature of man, the facts of existence, and the laws of being. The pulpit will cease to denounce, the press to sneer, society to ostracize. For the present let us remember that no happy future is ours unless it rises from a virtuous and earnest living present. Let us labor to help our cause to future greatness by our present earnestness. This very thing is now being fulfilled, and Spiritism, once everywhere spoken against as an ism, is now being accorded a place among the recognized religions of the day. At the present rate of progress it is making, there is no reason to dispute the statement that it will sometime be considered blasphemy to speak against the work of Spiritism. But this can only prove true upon the fulfilment of another prediction given in the Word of God. Referring to the closing scenes of earth's history, and that which is to lead the whole world into a position where it will not only be unprepared for the coming of the day of God, but will actually be arrayed against Christ, to oppose His triumphant coming to earth (Rev. 19:11-20), the prophet lets out the secret of this spirit of opposition. He says: "I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet [expressions applying to Satan and the persecuting nations of earth]. For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty." Rev. 16:13, 14. By this it will be seen that the whole world, including heathen, is to be involved in this terrible catastrophe, and the cause of the dreadful finishing stroke is the work of unclean spirits which issue from the mouths of Satan and those nations under his direction and control. This being true, there must issue from the depths of heathen doctrines some form of Spiritism which, with other phases of it, will take its place among the religions of the civilized world. The initial step in this direction has already been taken, and soon the world may expect to see a close fellowship between an ancient heathen cult bearing a modern name, and that phase of Spiritism so readily endorsed by many who think themselves Christians of an advanced class. But the consideration of that point must be reserved for a following paper. [The next article in this series will be "The Connection between Theosophy and Spiritism."]