Bozeman avant courier. [volume] (Bozeman, Mont.) 1872-1882, 1874-09-25
NPIRITUALIHM.


30-
(From the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle.]
Modern spiritualism has been for q
number of years the distinctive religi
Ous belief of thousands of people-ot
how many it. would be impossible to
estimate as it erects no temples, sum.
mons together no congregations fol
stated worship, and numbers many
adherents who do not publicly profess
it's articles of faith: That q trust in
spiritualism permeates the respectable
and enlightened classes Of community
is evident. There are intimations, sug-
gestions. investigations which enforce
the conclusion that many persons are
puzzlins themselves over its problems,
even if they have not entirely yielded
themselves to its influence. Despite
all discOuragements, including the
bitter opposition of the church and
the sneers of science, the body of spir.
itualists both in this country and in
Europe has steadily increased, SO that
now, if every one of its adherents
would publicly confess his faith they
would make a very respectable show
in numbers, as compared with any
other religious denomination.
The growth of spiritualism is an out
come of the times that should receive
respectful consideration. For our
selves we have been attracted by it.
Without having made any careful in
vestigation of its phenomena, we con-
fess that we have not vet been able to
see that it reveals anything of vital
consequence either for this life or the
life that is to come. 1t seems to us to
be vague and shadowy in it's form, and
irrelevant to the great issues of being
in its teachings.
Feeling thus, we, at the same time,
have no disposition to ridicule the
faith which pours light upon the mys-
teries of the future for so many of our
friends and neighbors, and gives them
that hope and consolation which they
have in vain sought from other sources;
and we know the time has gone by
when any of us can afford to meet the
real or assumed revelations of spiritu-
alism simply with the weapons of in
vective or of ridicule. II spiritualism
is tn he dethrOned. in the hearts of its
dev0tees, it must be by something
stronger than those instrumentalities
which have always proved impotent
against great moral or spiritual
movement. The revelations must be
shown to be Authorizations; the faith
must be demonstrated to have no sub
stantial basis; arguments must con-
quer crcdulity. If thousands are be-
ing led into the mazes of error they
are not to be rescued thcrefrOm by
.jeers at their weakness or by derisi0n
at their gullibility.
Spiritualisin has at last been cleva-
ted to the dignity of a religious senti-
mcnt, and it must he treated as such.
Too many men of apparently calm
Judgment, of analytical power, Of in
cisiye intellect, have acknowledge
themselves as spiritau.;sts, for the
outside world to treat their opinions
otherwise than respectfully. We
have said tnat sriritaulism has pro-
gressed despite the sneers Of science;
but it begins to look as if even science
OR scientific men-were espOuslng
it's cause. The. conversion and ex-
perience of Prof. Crooke, one Of the
ablest of English scientists, were
some time ago. And now
Mr.. Alfred Russell Wallace, in the
FOrtnightly Review, comes forward
with "a Defence of Modern Spirita-
ulism." Mr.. Wallace is an eminent
traveller and ornithologist, who has
published q number of works which
are regarded as authorities in gecgra-
ply and natural history, and does not
seem to be o man likely to be taken
captive by a fantasy. He has been
to processes of close in
vestigation, and it is through such
processes that he claims to have ar
rived at an understanding of the
truths of modern spiritaulism.
With the data at its disposal, the
physical phenomena Of which he has
been either the witness or which he
has received upon testimony which he
considers trustworthy, he arrives at
Is clear statement of the religious |
doctrines of enlightened spiritualists
IS has yet been made. These are the
our propositions to which he reduces
Lose doctrines:
1. Man is duality, consisting Of an
spiritual form. evolved CO.
ncidently with and permeating. the
physical body, and having correspond
no organs and d0yelODmeNt.
2. Death is the separation Of this
luality and effects no change in the
pirit, morally or intellectually.
3. Progressive evolution Of the intel
ectual and moral nature is the des-
iny of individuals; the knowledge,
and experience Of earth
ife forming the basis of spirit-life.
4. Spirits can communicate through
endowed mediums. They
nc attracted by those they love or
with, and strive to warn,
'rotect and influence them for good
y mental impression when they can
lot effect any more direct cOmmunica-
ion; but, as follows from clause two,
heir communication will bc fallible,
md must be Judged and tested just a.
re- do those Of our fcllow-mcn.
The article of Mr. Wallace has at. L
racted PROFOUND attention in England, 4
nd is beginning to be noticed with
uriOsity in this country. In c0nnec-
ion with the articles Of Professor |