The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-08-18
Spiritualism and the Bible.


In a recent issue OF your paper "a Bible Spiritu-
alist" wishes to know "Why the Lord prohibits,
under the most fearful penalties, the consulting
with familiar spirits or even with those who have
such spirits" Or, as l understand him, he, with
other Spiritualists, wishes to know what evil can
grow out of an open communion between this and
the other world. The question Is fair one, and
should be fairly answered. The answer have be-
fore given to the world in more elaborate manner
than can be given In a newspaper article; but the
Importance Of the subject, and the influence which
Spirtuaism is eXerting, will forbid the idea Of its
being too frequently repeated. This will also justify
me In requiring more space than is usually given to
q moral topic. First few fundamental principles.
Spiritual medumshp. in whatever form 1t mani
tests ITSELF is simply law of intensity growing out
Of peculiar susceptibility to spiritual Influx. 1t
may arise from either constitutional conditions or
be induced by certain continued habits OF life.
The human constitution during mundane existence
Is the only battle field between heaven and hell !;
and this contest every individual il compelled to
take an active part, 80 that he vino is not for is
against or other of the parties-there is no
neutral ground. BY the freedom of the human will
man is placed In moral equilibrium between these
two contending forces, and the septum which In
terposes between his external consciousness and
the contending hosts is gradually absorbed sud-
denly rent according to the degree OF his activity
on the one side the other. II IS in virtue of this
principle that every individual, to greater or
less degree becomes a medium for alternating the
forces OF either heaven or he'll and whatever prin
cple finds access into the natural plane OF life goes
to make up the general stock OF the moral consul
tuition OF the world, and like every other principle
IN nature reproduces itself In geometrical pro-
gressiOn.
The sources OF spiritual influx may be from either
heaven or he'll; but its ingress into the individual
from these two sources is through two directly OPP
posite principles OF the human constitution. Influx
from heaven Is through the interiors or religious
nature, into the exterior; but influx from he'll Is
through the exteriors or sensual nature. into the
interiors. Standing as these do In directly antag-
Onisc relation to each other one is opened in the
degree as the other Is closed, so that each indvi-
dual becomes a receptacle of divine influx in the
ratio as the exteriors are closed and the interiors
are opened; but the hellish influx in the ratio as
the exteriOrs are opened and the interiors are
closed. And the only means OF closing the exterOrs
to the ingress OF the hes is by Keeping the Com
mandments, which consists in suppressing, from
exteriors are opened and the interiors closed by
the habtua violation OF their precepts. by closing
the external avenues of ngress the Lord descends
into the ultimate planes OF the individual by first
casting out every infcstng or possessing influence,
and so setting in order the entire constitution.
mandments.-
Evil spirits are in possession of such internal
acts, and at the same time hid from mortal view,
researcher after truth. To this end they can
transform themselves into angels OF light; they
with whom we may desire to communicate; they
can read our thoughts, reveal past and future
events they can perform n snGn wonders as to
Were angels and devils permitted alike TO commu-
nicate by what means, then, could we distinguish
between themY This would be impossible, and the
door would be thus open for the most terrible i'm
positions upon neutrality-suspicious. which could
not fail to ultimate in complete subversion Of all
social order. TO avoid such u calamity we are en-
plicitly commanded to regard not them that have
familiar spirits, neither to seek after wizards to be
lxft rnI fhnf IN anil hof
disregards this precept shall be cut or from among
his people. Hence to those who heed the divine
that as intercourse with familiar spirits is forbid
den, angels cannot occupy forbidden ground.
SO whatever spirits communicate be their pre-
fences what they may they are OF no higher order
than devils, whose unceasing efforts are for the
destruction OF mankind. An honest man cannot
rob his neighbour for in the attempt TO commit such
an outrage he would become u villain. Neither
can an angel commune with mortas IN the manner
of familiar spirits for In any such attempt to VIC.
late y divine prohibition he would become q devil.
1t Is folly TO say that God has not sufficiently re-
garded the interest OF mankind in this particular,
for he has abundantly warned US against the iniu-
ence OF seducng spirits or giving heed to doctrines
OF devils. Hence whoever does it does 1t at his
peril and I'm open violation OF the divine injunction,
and facts abundanty demonstrate that no vice is
more pernicious In its consequences.
To become magnetized by spirits Is to become
charged with the properties Of demons. Through
the influence of their Internal aura the Imagination
may be made TO TEEN with all desired images pro-
jected into the mind; their ears are opened to
are quickened into newness of life, and their
Judgment is made to approve OF every sinful i'm
pulse. All now becomes smooth sailing; no evil to
suppress, no moral good to crave that they do not
already possess. The demon well knows how TO
soothe his medium, producing at VIII pictured
scenes OF heaven upon the imagination, and
pleasing emotions upon the senses. The spiritual
clarvoyant and clairaudent whom they have en-,
shaved are in this condition. Thus charmed and
infatuated, no appeals can be made to arouse them
from their fearful condition. With them sensation
~ more than philosophy, passion more than re-
ngion. The demon, like the skilfnl mesmerist,
however depraved, can will his subject into q sen
sational rapture and produce the widest mental
halucination. This continues until the demon
secures full possession Of his oracle and then Old
heatbenism becomes reestablished and he'll has
free access TO earth.
But now comes the change: the demon instead OF
soothing his medium, rules with rod OF iron and
mounts his new victim and rides him or her into
every shameless abomination. Every lawful effort
10 defeated and every wicked desire Is gratned
Having returned to new human b0dy-to all prac-
tical intents its own-a new career OF power now
opens before the smooth and subtle Anarch. They
use the brains Of their mediums as the workshops