Fanaticism by Joseph Clarke

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Michigan · Oct 27, 1863

Fanaticism.

By Joseph Clarke

It makes one ashamed, and almost provoked, to think of the ridiculous pranks of fanaticism in the past, and some even now.

One would not wear decent apparel; another would not eat pork, nor fellowship those who did; another thought he could remit sins; another starts out on a special message to the world, comprising the whole eighteenth chapter of Revelation; another dreams, and at once he looks with suspicion upon his best friend, he can discern just when the devils enter the room, he can fairly feel it; another feels it his duty to cry out against every advance move of the cause; another thinks that the new postage currency is a mark of the beast; another won't get his deeds recorded; another has a duty to speak out on all occasions the present truth, most ridiculously and offensively; another won't vote for Brough, and anathematizes those who do; another thinks that the United States must be opposed, because this government is yet to act a part against God's people, therefore he goes in for Vallandingham; another has got some of the quills of the eagle spoken of by Esdras, in the secretary department of the government, and he discourses in the bar-rooms and groceries on what he calls the prophecies, and never feels so well as when he gets some bigoted sectarian boiling over with wrath; another has such a burden that he neglects to get his firewood; another likes the works against Spiritualism, and always has believed in witches, spells, &c. If his cow dries up, some one has put a spell upon her; if the barber cuts his hair he must gather it all up, every bit, and bury it (I think, something very particular, at any rate), lest he should have the sick headache; and it must be cut, too, just when the sign is in the "feet" (I think), somewhere very accurate, at least. An enlargement of the heart is in consequence of a spell put on him some twenty years ago by a Welch witch, who gave him hot punch and sent him home in a profuse sweat. He thinks "spooks," "spells," "charms," &c., are a part of the enginery of Spiritualism, and present truth throws light upon it all. Oh! he loves present truth. Another thinks that his dreams are inspired, and goes off on all kinds of excursions in obedience to what he thinks the mind of the Spirit.

But enough for the present. I will give a definition to the word fanaticism, which is not found in books, and may prove a benefit to some future lexicographer:

Fanaticism is a mixture of bigotry, ignorance, conceit, self-exaltation, and spiritual pride. "We are not ignorant of Satan's devices." 2 Cor. ii, 11.

JOSEPH CLARKE.