The Worthington advance., 1877-08-16

Communicated

[Communicated.l '-
ARE YOU A SPIRITUALL87?
This question has often been asked
me during the past few days, and my
answer invariably has been, I am not,
according to the common idea attached
to the meaning of Spiritualist, Spiritu-
alism, etc.
That man has spirit, that his spirit
is immortal, and that departed spirits
may, and sometimes do return to visit
the children CT earth, I have not the
slightest doubt whatever. Those who
acknowledge this belief, are often spo-
ken of as belonging to one of the fol-
lowing three classes, to-wit: i. Radi-
cal or Fanatical Spiritualists. 2. Scien-
tific Spiritualists. 3. Christian Spiritu-
alists. The Objectionable features of
the class first named in order, have
brought them more prominently before
the world, and cast al odium upon the
name Spiritualist, regardless of the Pc
culiar phase of belief. It is we'll un-
derstood that about every ISM from the
earliest ages of the world to the pres
ent time, has fallen into the hands of Il
class of men commonly known as fa-
'eatics, and Spiritualism is not an ex-
ception to this rule. 1t embraces po-
litical hacks and discarded renegade
ministers of all denominations who
have no settled convictions either in
science or religion, or indeed upon any
other subject. They ebb and flow with
every tide, and are ''driven about by
every wind of doctrine.''
Having doffed their old worn out
hypocritical garments, that could no
longer be made to cover their naked
ness, under the name of a new relig-
ion, they have ''Stolen the livery Of
Heaven to serve the devil in,'' with
the delusive hope that the new cloak
will completely hide their llideous de-
fOrmity.
Ignoring alike every civil, religious,
and moral obligation, they would tear
down every temple, and destroy every
shrine and alter of pure worship in our
land. S,pping the foundations of So
cial order, they would rend assunder the
framework Of our civil institutions, and
foiSt upon the credulous their abOmin-
able doctrines of communism, special
affinity, and Free Lore. But these fa-
natics, ~ the estimation, of the eUorlJ
are the tit representatives and true ex-
Founders of this new.old doctrine.
Heaven defend us from such faith,
and from such teachers. No wonder
the world turns away with loatlling
and disgust.
The I'd class or the Scientific Spirit
ua!lSt, accepts many of the facts of
Splrltualisn, but attempts to account
for them upon scientific principles,
lie recognizes in spirit phenomina, the
play of an intelligent force. and it af-
fOrds him new and beautiful study in
mental and psychological science. He
IS, In many instances, q member of
some orthodox church, but his inveSti-
cations are made from the standpoint
Of science alone. The world is now
looking to him for the development II
new law that shall fully explain this
mystery of mysteries.''
The 81 class are known as Christian
Spiritualists; not generally as separate
organizations but are found in all our
orthodox churches. They accept the
Bible as Gods best revelation to man
and Christ as the Saviour of the worAl.
They also believe that in former times
God often spoke to man through His
ministering Spirits, and that lie can,
and will thus speak to him again, that
the glory which once descended and sat
between the wings of the Cherubim,
and the light which once shone on
Mount Sinai are not extinguis|,ed for
ever. They point with pride to many
of the ablest divines, and other cham
pions of this belief in this and former
centuries. It is generally conceded
That Jno. Wesley was one of the greatest
lights of the eighteenth century. The
following extracts from his works clear
~ Indicate his belief upon Spirit com
munion and manifestation:
"With my latest breath will I bear
my testimony against giving up to in
tidels one great proof of the invisible
world, | mean that of apparitions con.
irmcd ny the testimony OF all ages
Wcsley's Works vol. 7.
II can find no pretence to disbelieve
it," Vol. 4, p. 279.
"What pretence have then to deny
we'll attested facts because I cannot
comprehend them? It is true likewise,
that the English in general IA. ID. 1863
and indeed most men of learning in
Europe have gwen up all accounts of
witches and apparitions, us mere old
wives fables. l on sorry for 1t, and l
willingly take this opportunity of ell
tering my solemn protest against this
violent compliment, which so many
that believe the Bible pay to those who
do 'ot believe it. owe them no sucl,
service. | take knowledge, these are
at the bottom Of the outcry which has
been raised, and with such insolence
spread throughout the nation, in direct
opposition not only to the Bible. but
to the suffrage of the wisest and the
best OF men i'll all ages and nations.
They we'll know, (whether Christians
know it or not,) that the giving IN
witchcraft is, in effect, giving up the
Bible, and they know on the other hand
| that it but one account of the inter-
course Of men with separate spirits be
admitted, their whole castle i'll the air.
(Deism, 4 theism. Materialism,) falls
to the ground. 1 know no reason,
therefore, why we should suffer even
this weapon to be wrested out of our
hands. Indeed there are Numerous a..
guments, besides, which abundent-
" confute their vain imaginations.
But we need not be hooted out of one;
neither reason nor religion requires
this: Vol. 4, p. 279.
''1Iow often are spirits present when
we do not think of it. Vol. 4, p. 283.
Il was convinced likewise that she
had frequent intercourse with~ spirit
that appeared III the form of an angel
II Much good has already resulted
from this odd event. Vol. 4, p. 697.
See also full accounts in Wesley's s
n1