Teachings of the Spirits.
By G.
HERE is a clip from the Banner of Light, in the issue of Nov. 11. By it the reader may determine the attitude of Spiritualism toward the Word of God and our holy religion. Certainly no spirit but one whose abode was in Tartarus would utter such sentiments as the following. It bears the impress of Satan's hand, and is quite plainly "a doctrine of the Devil." Listen to a few questions and answers: "Q.—Why does it say in Genesis, 'He that sheddeth the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed also?'" "A.—If that has any meaning at all, the meaning is so very small that it is of no account." "A.—It is very hard to tell," "QR.—I suppose Moses wrote it." "A.—We suppose he did not." "Q.—Why do you think he did not write it?" "A.—Because it was written long after he passed from earth. That is proof enough." "QR.—The Bible tells us Moses wrote those words." "A.—Your Bible tells you many things that are false." "Q.—How can you prove that it is false? Can't you tell me whether God had power enough to inspire men like Moses to write truth or lies?" "A.—There are different degrees of inspiration. You know that every word that is written, every thought that exists, either spoken or unspoken, written or unwritten, is inspired by God. Moses was no more inspired than you or I. Now do not charge us with blasphemy, for we probably have as much reverence for things sacred as you possibly can have, but we have very little for that record you speak of." "Q.—Can you tell me what nations are most governed by the Bible?" "A.—That you know as well as we do. Perhaps we shall say those who are the most bigoted." And so on ad infinitum. Another spirit, professedly of one slain in battle in the late rebellion, in referring to the belief of his friends that they must wait till the "resurrection of the body" before they saw him, says: "Oh, what a wild mistake! Why, the brain that gave birth to such an idea as that, ought to be annihilated; ought to sink into oblivion." And another one being questioned as to the existence of God, replied: "I aint seen him, though. No sir, I aint. I don't know where he lives; guess he don't live anywhere." The foregoing is a fair specimen of the blasphemous teachings of these spirits of darkness. In reference to our duty concerning it, the prophet's admonition is: "And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their God? for the living to the dead? to the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, IT IS BECAUSE THERE IS NO LIGHT IN THEM!" Isa. viii, 19, 20.