The Astounding Growth of Spiritualism
By George W. Rine
It is only a few years since the phenomena of Spiritualism were generally discredited, scouted, and ridiculed, and its mediums denounced as impostors and charlatans. Men of science were notoriously skeptical, and held all psychical phenomena in contemptuous disdain. As long as the world of culture and learning tabooed Spiritualism, the masses regarded it with suspicion. For many years its votaries were made up of the credulous and those having a pronounced predilection for the weird and mystical. Finally, in 1882 the British Society for Psychical Research was organized. Soon an American branch made its début. Similar societies were shortly in evidence in France, Italy, and Russia. A few scientifically trained men saw clearly that the phenomena produced at Spiritual séances could not be laughed away, for they existed, whether investigated or not. In spite of their violent prejudices, such world-renowned scientists and authors as Sir William Crookes, Sir Oliver Lodge, F. W. H. Myers, in England, and Prof. William James, Prof. J. H. Hyslop, and Dr. Richard Hodgson, in America, Professors Lombroso, Morselli, and Schiaparelli, in Italy, Professor Charles Richet, and the astronomer Flammarion, in France, and M. Aksakoff, in Russia, condescended to subject the alleged psychical phenomena to rigorous scientific test. Every precaution that scientific prejudice could suggest was taken to prevent fraud or trickery on the part of the mediums whose alleged powers were to be investigated. The most famous non-professional mediums in the world were induced to sit for these scholarly skeptics. Among these mediums were Mrs. Piper of America, Mrs. Verrall of England, and the noted Eusapia Palladino of Italy. Tho these savants began their investigation in a spirit of ultra-scientific skepticism, they were soon obliged to confess that at least most of the phenomena were absolutely real and could not be attributed to fraud or hallucination. The first reports issued by Crookes, Lodge, Lombroso, and others provoked only shouts of laughter on the part of scientists and other scholars who had stood aloof. Many of these, however, were induced to enter the lists of the inquisitors. Most of these soon underwent a change of heart, until to-day there are actually scores of the world's most eminent thinkers who not only testify to the genuineness of the powers of Spiritualism, but give them a spiritistic interpretation. By "spiritistic interpretation" is meant that the supernormal messages received by "psychics" emanate from spirit personalities dwelling in a supermundane world. Accordingly many of these learned psychical researchers now maintain that the musty old pagan doctrine of human immortality has been scientifically demonstrated. The great Flammarion recently said, "If it [psychical research] helps us to know something of the human soul, and affords us scientific demonstration of its survival, it will give humanity a progress superior to any she has yet received by the gradual evolution of all other sciences put together." Sir Oliver Lodge writes, "The old series of sittings with Mrs. Piper convinced me of survival, for reasons which I should find hard to formulate in any strict fashion, but that was their distinct effect." The lamented Dr. Myers said respecting psychical research: "What other effort after knowledge is equally worth our pains? What possibility lies before mankind of equal magnitude with this possibility of demonstrating the existence of an unseen world, and man's communication therewith or existence therein?" Much more of the same tenor might be adduced, but space forbids. Within the last ten years literally scores of volumes have been written by these scholars, discussing in learned terminology every conceivable phase of spiritualistic phenomena. The writer counted thirty such books recently in the Oakland public library, and they all bore the marks of being extensively read. The absorbing interest evinced during the last twenty years by the world of science and letters, in Spiritualism and kindred movements, has given these movements a tremendous prestige in the eye of the public. It has enveloped them in an air of respectability and dignity. That hideous multifarious octopus, Mysticism, including of course Spiritualism, has gripped the public imagination. Of Satan the Scriptures declare, he "deceiveth the whole world." And Satan is doing that very thing now to his heart's content. In season and out of season the people are taught that scientifically conducted psychical research is the paramount science of the present day. It takes precedence of all other sciences, because its object is more vital and far-reaching. The people are led to believe that only by means of psychical research can we determine whether a future life is possible to man. The Bible, the fountain of pure knowledge and divine wisdom, is wholly ignored. Instead of looking to David, Isaiah, the Gospels, Paul, and Peter, the people are looking to Hyslop, Lodge, Wal5lace, Lombroso, and Carrington for an answer to the age-long question, "If a man die, shall he live again?" One of the latest books from the pen of Professor Hyslop bears the title, "The Coming Science." The author says that if people generally were asked as to what they thought would be the coming science, some would answer, biology; some, radioactivity; some, psychology; and others, industrial chemistry. But he declares it will be none of these, but it will be psychic research. He contends that the era of the animal or brute force, and the succeeding era of intellectualism, are in the past, and that the world is entering the era of spirit, or the spiritual plane. He says, "All religions are based upon the double idea of some all-seeing deity, and upon the persistence of consciousness, or the immortality of the soul." In the next breath he stultifies himself by declaring that "no religion offers any evidence of that fact—immortality." Why is it that Professor Hyslop has studied his Bible to so little profit? The Christian religion is based upon the teachings of the Bible, and that Book teaches in the clearest possible language that man is mortal, but may ultimately attain to immortality through Christ our Lord. In the very face of this unmistakable Bible testimony, Professor Hyslop goes on to say: "Psychical phenomena offer the only proof that we can ever obtain that a soul or consciousness can ever exist apart from brain functioning. To prove this is the paramount duty." This certainly is a choice bit of that "wisdom of man" which "is foolishness with God." Even the late Mr. Gladstone averred that the psychical research work was "the most important work in the world—by far the most important." How long before psychic research will largely supplant the preaching of the Gospel? Thus millions of souls are turning for light to the darkness and blackness of Spiritualism instead of to the supernal light of the divine Word. "The entrance of Thy words giveth light," wrote by inspiration the psalmist. But the world still loves darkness, and is accordingly putting "darkness for light, and light for darkness." In his recent book, Mr. W. J. Colville says, "It is almost impossible to avoid meeting talented and influential people who are actively engaged in this important and alluring study." Of course he means the study of psychic phenomena. He declares that France, so impressionable, is honeycombed with clairvoyants; that the large cities of Europe, America, and of Australia are great centers of psychic investigation, leading rapidly to results that are demolishing materialism and putting to rout perverted religious dogmatism. Through his popular book, "The Unknown," Flammarion is leading thousands of the French people to study Spiritualist phenomena who would otherwise never have thought of it. The late famous French dramatist, M. Sardou, has wonderfully popularized Spiritualism by his famous plays. Mr. Colville has no doubt that very soon the stage will prove one of the most efficient aids in propagating a knowledge of psychic forces. He says such plays are immensely popular. Again he asserts, "It is beyond question that a comprehensive spiritual [Spiritualist] philosophy is the coming philosophy, uniting, as it does, science with religion, and restoring a knowledge of a spiritual universe." Europe, he declares, is undergoing a spiritual renascence, and France is leading the advancing hosts that are patiently and industriously marching forward to ever-increasing victory. Knowing that the Scriptures are impregnably true, we are forced to conclude that these scientists have been the dupes of the "deceiving spirits" to that extent that the scientists have been led to regard the "spirits" as the discarnate spirits of the human dead. The way has thus been opened for new and ever-widening spheres of demoniacal activity, and for the supply of new and more efficient human channels, or "mediums," through which the spirits may operate. The door has been thrown wide open to the promulgation and acceptance, by credulous humanity, of the doctrines of demons. The devil has thus prepared the way to practise upon humanity the most gigantic deception in the history of fallen man. The whole body social is swiftly becoming infiltrated with the leaven of this wicked movement. Are we not living in a critical age, in an age fraught with tendencies of eternal moment? Read again Rev. 16:13-16, and you will be impressed with a sense of how swiftly the nations are getting ready to be deceived by those "spirits of devils" who, by "working miracles," will "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." Then it is that the Master solemnly declares, "Behold, I come as a thief." How many of us shall escape this overmastering delusion, and so meet the coming Lord of life in peace and gladness?