SPIRITUALISM is the worst form of infidelity, because of its wonder-working, and snake-like charming propensities. We present in this article a few extracts, showing from the writings of spirits and Spiritualists that the tendency of Spiritualism is ungodly and corrupting; that it leads to adultery, fornication, desertions, unjust divorces, prostitution, abortion, insanity, and suicide.
1. THEIR COMMUNICATIONS ARE UNRELIABLE.—
Judge Edmonds says of this phenomenon: "It indulges in untruth, and contradictions, and this against the will of the medium."
Dr. Child says: "Nor can we doubt, I think, that there are a diverse host of badly misdirected spirits. The lower spirit seeks to undo the good work of the higher, and to harrass and annoy and subject to suffering, medium and sitter. They will deceive us for their amusement. Where is the medium but what has either seen or felt this? I have both. But wise spirits, who are to us the revelators and executors of the divine will, designably deceive us for our good."—Banner of Light, Oct. 26, 1861, p. 8.
A. J. Davis says: "They [the spirits] can psychologize a medium to see them, and to describe them in the style which would produce the deepest impression on the receiver. The will power and knowledge of the intimate connection between mind yet in the body and mind disembodied, are familiar to most spirits. They can easily represent themselves as being old or young, as in worldly dress or in flowing robes, as is deemed best suited to accomplish the ends of the visitation."—Herald of Progress, Feb. 1, 1862, p. 4.
2. THEIR TEACHINGS ARE CONTRADICTORY.—
Spiritualism teaches the immortality of the soul. What purports to be the spirit of J. C. Calhoun, says, on the authority of N. P. Tallmadge, that the great object of Spiritualism is to convince skeptics of the immortality of the soul. Spiritual Tract No. 2, denies this position, and says that "there are human beings who do not attain a future life." Prof. Hare says, on the other hand, that Spiritualism is the only positive proof of the immortality of soul, &c., &c. I can also produce testimony from spirits and Spiritualists, stating 1. That there is an infinite number of Gods, that there is but one God, and that there is no God. 2. That spirits are material and that they are immaterial. 3. That spirits are subject to disease, and that they are not subject to disease. 4. That there are bad spirits and that there are no bad spirits. 5. That the spirits go to hell, and that there is no hell. 6. That the woman of Endor was a medium, and that Ben. Franklin was the first spirit that opened the way for these communications.
3. SPIRITUALISM IS IMMORAL IN ITS TENDENCY.—
Dr. Randolph, for eight years a medium and lecturer, and hence well acquainted with all its workings, in his renunciation of the system makes the following confession: "A. J. Davis and his clique of Harmonialists say there are no evil spirits. I emphatically deny the statement. Five of my friends destroyed themselves, and I attempted it by direct spirit influences. Every crime in the calendar has been committed by mortal movers of viewless beings. Adultery, fornication, suicides, desertions, unjust divorces, prostitution, abortion, insanity, are not evils, I suppose. It has also broken up families, squandered fortunes, tempted and destroyed the weak. It has banished peace from happy families, separated husbands and wives, and shattered the intellect of thousands."
Dr. Hatch, another reformed Spiritualist, says: "The most damning iniquities are perpetrated in spiritual circles, a very small percentage of which ever comes to public attention. I care not whether it be spiritual or mundane, the facts exist, and should demand the attention and condemnation of an intelligent community."
1. It denies that there is any such thing as sin.—
A spirit, when speaking of sin says: "Spiritually and divinely considered, there is no sin. Full well we know the book you call the Bible teaches of sin. Full well we know the whole Christian world recognizes such a condition, but, to us, there is no sin."—Banner of Light.
Another says: "All men and women are equally righteous, because all are good. No matter where we find them, or under whatever condition they exist, they are good."—Id.
2. It opposes all law.—
The "Healing of the Nations" says: "Good men need no laws, and laws will do bad or ignorant men no good." "True knowledge removeth all laws from power, by placing the spirit of man above it."—p. 164. "Man is not accountable, in the manner in which this supposition would imply, for the original or present imperfection."—Nat. Div. Rev., p. 392. See also Love and Wisdom, pp. 180, 182, 184, 192.
3. It annuls the marriage contract, and thus opens the flood-gates of sensuality and corruption.—
The following is from the "Light from the Spirit World:" "Marriage is a law of heaven; the marriage of the spirits is the only marriage to abide in any condition. The marriage institution of man is wrong, and must be annulled on the race is redeemed."
T. L. Harris says: "Spirits declare that there is no marriage, as a natural law, but that polygamy or bigamy are as orderly as the monogamic life. A new attraction becomes the lawful husband or the lawful wife."
Dr. Hatch says: "The abrogation of marriage, bigamy, accompanied by robbery, theft, rapes, are all chargeable upon Spiritualism."
T. L. Harris says, Mod. Spir. p. 78: "The marriage vow imposes no obligations in the views of Spiritualists. Husbands who had for years been so devotedly attached to their wives that they have said nothing in the world but death itself could part them, have abandoned their wives and formed criminal connections with other females, because the spirits had told them that there was a greater Spiritualist affinity between these husbands and certain other women, than between them and their lawful wives. Wives, too, the most devoted, and loving, and true to their husbands, that had ever contracted the marriage obligation, had left their husbands and children, and lived in open immorality with other men, because the spirits had told them that they ought to do so, on the ground of there being a greater Spiritualist sympathy, between them and these men, than between them and their husbands."
4. It denies the existence of God.—
As we closed the remarks upon the mission of Infidelity, by its declaration that there is no God, we here present a few extracts showing that Spiritualism utters the same sentiment. One that claims to be the spirit of Joseph Foster, communicating through the "Banner of Light," says: "Ah! there is no God, there can be none. . . . . What is the use of telling them of a God?" The "Age of Freedom," says: "Belief in a God is degrading."132What purports to be the spirit of Edward B. Richards, published also in the Banner of Light, says: "I've lost my faith in God, and I'd just as soon think of believing in a God of fire, as believing in any kind of a God, for aught I see of him or his work. There is none—there's nothing at all you can call God. I am satisfied that all who do the best they know how to, get along the best, and the less you try to know of God the better off you will be. I've seen folks here who believed in God, and they are disappointed, and say there aint any God—nothing of the kind."
4. COMMUNICATIONS FROM SPIRITS, AND THEIR REPRESENTATIONS OF THE SPIRIT-LAND, ARE TOO PUERILE, ABSURD, AND RIDICULOUS TO COMMAND SERIOUS ATTENTION.—
Spirits are represented as tending saw mill, keeping tavern, dancing, smoking, chewing tobacco, having fun generally, drinking buttermilk, gin and whiskey, and getting drunk as men do on this earth. The pretended spirits of Washington and Franklin give communications betraying the utmost ignorance of the English language and orthography. Communications are also given purporting to come from cats, dogs, horses, and woodchucks. Compare this with the Bible revelations of a future life, and the abode of the saved, and decide which you would prefer.