The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1873-08-07
Written for the ADVOCATE:
SPIRITUALISM.


ism" has been one of the most success
full. Beginning with low family living
in Hydesville, v. Y, twenty live years
ago, it has spread over this country and
Europe, until it claims, how truthful,
we know not, millions Of adherents.
While some good men have been de-
ceived, and connected themselves with
this delusion, its principle adherents
have been from the restless and inquisi-
tive, who have no fixed sentiments con-
cerning religion, but are ready to listen
to any voice and obey any command ex-
cept the bibles, and last but not least
in numbers, the sensual and deUiliSh,
who find "Spiritualism" good place to
perpetrate their 6endish schemes, and
indulge their base passions.
1t would seem that the only thing
necessary to convince any one of the
demoralizing tendencies of "Spiritual-
ism" is but to read few pages of their
literature. Their public pray ers are
some times offered to Satan al other
times to Nature which they address as
Father and Mother. They teach US we
are the victims Of fate, and we can no
more help our actions than we can our
existance; the soul migrates from one
body into that of another; the idea of
miracles is absurd; Christ never claimed
to raise the dead and he knew he could
not do it; the bible is bundle of
tracts, full of fables and koran super
stitions and is of no more authority than
the Shasters, or the writings of CoDfu-
cius. Jehovah is called the Asiatic po.
tentate, discovered by Astrology; the
idea Of an overruling God is crushing
superstition.
In Convention Of "Spirituaists" re-
Gently, in Michigan city, indiana, Mrs,
Todd, of Pacific Coast notoriety, de-
clared that Jesus Christ was born at the
expense of virtue, and that Mary was 20
more to be honored than prostitutes Of
this day; the Holy spirit is the spirit of
some good man; no charge should ever
be made against any member of the
"Spiritual Fraternity" for any crime
whatever; there is no evil that can be
avoided; what we call sin and evil in
human actions is necessity and being
a necessity 1t is laacful and right; lib
ertinlsm does not injure the immortal
soul Of man; Christ has imposed exces-
sive and impractical restraints on US;
there is no difference between Herod,
Nero, and st. Paul, Jesus Christ and
Judas Iscariot, for each had the expert
encc he needed; all are to be angles, sin
is blessing aud Lucifer is on his way
to heaven; legal marriage is selfish, car
nal, worldly, and belongs to Mommon;
cursed be the relation of husband and
wife.
1t may be thought by those uuac-
quainted with their literature that [
have stated the case too strongly. / re-
ply that I am fully prepared to sustain
every word of the above by their own
writings. The most bitter and unscru-
pulous infdels of the past never spoke
more disrespectful of Christ and Chris
tianity than do modern "Spiritualists,' y
nor were there views uttered which were
better calculated to overthrow all we'll
regulated society than their open avowe|
of Glove. With all its vain boasting
"Spiritualism" has never revealed new
truth to help humanity, nor has it made
anybody any better. On the other hand
it has filed the hearts of many with
doubt and distressing fears, and it has
entered the doors of thousand happy
homes and degraded their inmates. sep
Grating husbands and wives and crush
ing the hearts of their children. We
never knew family swayed by this de-
lusion which renamed happy.
Concerning its phenomena we can sa.
nothing. On certain mysterious feats i
builds its reputation, but these, com
pared with the feats Of jugglery prac
ticed by the Chinese and others, dwlndl'
into insignifcance. But were we to ad
NIT that actual spirits are engaged ii
this then it is not hard to tell whenc,
they come. Could good spirits tell u
that all the crimes forbidden in the deca
logue are SO many and We must of ne
cessity practice them. "Splritualism
SO teaches to all "Spiritualists." W
commend the following from Saint Pau
Snow the spirit speaketh eXpressl
that on the latter times some shall dc
part from the faith giving heed to Sc
ducing spirits and doctrines of devils
VIDI.
A Iodu raturninu from an unDrOtitab bl