The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1872-01-02
Spiritualistics Exuviae No o.
SPIRITS.

without one particle OF proof writer oc'
cupies the columns of the Register with
such language as the following, "Il Spir-
itualism brings rs the tidings of great
joy, that our dear ones, who have passed
through the valley of the shadow Of death
are permitted by the Divine Father,
to be ministering spirits, to Us. their
mourning friends ETC." 1T reveals to us
their real condition, whether of light or
darkness" Now that such are "minis-
tering spirits" is the very point to be
proved. That some have thought so, or
believed so, or seen some strange things
which they think proves such matter to
be true, we readily concede. But, if
this be proof, then thousand coutradic-
tory, aud hence, absurd things have been
demonstrated.
Indeed this same very acute reasoner
and writer nullifies these statements her
self. For example, when, in sentence
or two further on it is conceded, that
there are "light and dark spirits" that
$, | suppose, those who teach truth, and
those, on the other hand, who teach lies.
But hear all its confusion. For who
can, tell what is false or true? If an in
dividual should receive communication,
which was in accordance with his precon-
ceivcd and settled opinions, would he not
be likely to regard it as truth But if
he did not receive ono thus accordant
would he not reject it as error? Is not
this the way Spirtists do? Don't they
then really make their own prcconcep-
tions the standard? What then are
these spirit utterances but their own ?
luppose communication should come, as
Spirituaists admit, and as the writer in
in the Register also really admits contrary
to the reason, or judgment, or opinion of
any one of them, what would they do
with it? Would that very convenient
fiction concerning Light Spirits and dark
Spirits come in here Would not they
say that the latter sort were obtruding
their falseboods upon thcm? or course
they would, and so they invariably do.
What then have we got in all this sys-
TEN ? Nothing but reproduction of
ones own self-ism-tho sheerest piece Of
self-conccited and self-worshiping nom
sense and folly.
But | am not without proof at this
point, from the teachers of this wicked.
ness themselves. Denton says in his tract,
rs Spiritmalism True ?" page 43. do
L, then, endorse all that profess to come
from tho opir;t ,rorlJ . Rv M ,,o.oa
= Nor do ! endorse az good or true all
that in reality comes from tho spirit.
world. "The spirit world cannot but
abound with ignorant, vicious, undevel.
oped spirits. Shall we submit to their
dictation? Shall we give up ourselves to
their influence regardless of their charac-
ter? The consequences might be, as they
have frequently, been, most disastrous
We must stand by our oion sense of achat
rs true, right, and pure. never move a
step without good reason. Prove to us
that you are in communication with
Franklin, Chauning, Parker, George
Fox, or Jesus, what then? We must still
take what they say for what it seems to
be worth, when weighed in the seal. of
our judgment. I'VE have learned that
mans soul is to him the highest tribu-
nal in the universe BY that he must
stand first, last, and always. All revela.
tions must appeal to that, ami nothing be
accepted that it rejects; each for himself,
making daily, the heaven that he desires,
aud bearing it with him to the land of
souls"
What more explicit could be stated.
Hele we have the whole sum total of this
wretched, yet insidious farce Is it any
that, in such world as this-a
world whose moral state is that of depar.
ture from God, and in which departure
man is disposed, in some form, to self-dei.
hcation. Spiritualsm should fud numer-
Gus ad herents especially when it pre-
sents. what are taken for supernatural
authorization of its doctrines. All sys.
TENS Of in6delity, ure negative and de-
structve in their nature and while they
are designed, like tho system We are ex.
amining. to fatter the human heart, and
administer support to its false opinions,
this, by bringing in what seems at first
sight, to be positive and constructive
phase and uniting as this phase does with it.
seltldeas or notions which serve to CRAFTY
the human heart in its craving desires for
u knowledge Of the invisible, together
with false,yct pretendedly real admins
tration OF sympathy, through the iancied
presence Of, and communication from de.
parted friends, aud we have the peculiar
elements Of Spiritualism as a powerful
system of misbelief and delusion.
Bat in what have presented especially
IN this admission Of the writer in the
Reytster, and the positive statement of
Denton, we see the utter hollowness and
stark absurdity Of this Gun ing delusion.
ut the same time it points out the unsat-
isfed state OF mind Of the skeptic, and its
fearful, looking for ofjudgmeut and fiery
indignation.
This writer in these columns confess.
es. "Thcre was time when the relig-
ion you profess believed in. But my
soul was filled with terror at the thought
of death" Now every one knows, who
has inward experience Of the religion of
Christ, nay, who really knows what that
religion is, that it was not any belief in
that faith at all. 1t was only the asser.
tlon of lac that filed this "soul with ter
ror," aud from which, the faith of Christ,
when received and trusted fully and eff.
Iectually, delivers the soul For Christ
is the end of the law to every one that
believes" The statement, then, we have
Just quoted, shows that the writer knows
nothing, whatever, by any experience, and
hence practically nothing at all, Of the re.
lgion which is rejected. So far from
that. the disease is wholly substituted for
The cure. As well might patient, suf.
Ierng, from rheumatism, claim that he is
thoroughly acquainted with what cured
he attack, while ho is still afflicted with
I, aud before be knew or had heard of,
81 used any remedy. or the meons ar