p. 189 | DEVILS IN THE PULPIT by James White

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Apr 16, 1857

DEVILS IN THE PULPIT.

By James White

IN the Spiritual Telegraph of Feb. 7th, 1857, I saw the following notice: "Dr. C. P. Sanford, Speaking Medium and Normal Lecturer on Spiritualism, will respond to calls for public lectures. Address Pendeville, Columbia Co., Wis."

The manner in which Dr. Sanford became a spiritual lecturer is thus given in an editorial correspondence to the Telegraph by S. B. Brittan, dated Adrian, Mich., Nov. 2d, 1856. I give the statement in full that the authorities may be known:

"In the course of my brief but agreeable interview with the friends who met me at Leroy, Mr. George W. Covell, of Alexandria, Genesee Co., N. Y., related the following interesting fact which very much resembles one communicated in my last letter: Rev. Carlos P. Sanford of the Methodist Episcopal Church, while preaching against Spiritualism somewhere on the Western Reserve, had his organs unexpectedly controlled by spirits, who used him to refute his own arguments, and to defend the faith he had labored to destroy. This occurred about two years since. Mr. Covell assures me that the Rev. Mr. Sanford now resides in Wisconsin, and that he is a public teacher of the spiritual faith and philosophy."

An incident similar to the above was related to me last Winter, as having occurred in this State; but in this instance it was said that the medium present took the place of the preacher and continued the discourse according to the will of the demons by which he was influenced. Such an occurrence I have never seen, though I have seen repeated efforts made by mediums to control speakers or silence the testimony of the word.

The number of ministers who have become spiritual lecturers and mediums is very large; and while the churches profess to regard the whole matter as a humbug, it is working its way gradually into those bodies, and becoming more powerful and popular.

This last feature, its popularity, will soon give it influence in the world-loving churches, by which will be fulfilled Rev. xviii, 2. J. H. W.