The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1878-06-06
"BIBLE SPIRITUALISM"
C0MMUINlCA TON FROM JAMES G.
CLARK, THE vGlcIe FROM NEW
YORK.


The present agitation in Chicago over
the topic Of Spiritualism recalls to mind
All interesting discourse by the Rev.
Mr.. Hunter, of the Reformed Episco-
pal Church, and published in your is
sue OF March 4th, i'll which the reverend
gentleman proclaims his belief in ''Bi-
ble Spiritualism," and places himself
substantially on the. platform of the
Christian Spiritualist, recognizing the
fact Of the presence Of our departed
friends, but denying their power to
make themselves known.
Can Mr.. Hunter define Bible Spirit
ualism?
We read that spirits not only took an
interest in the affairs Ut mel, but that
they appear among men, ''wrestling''
with jacob, eating dinner with Abr;.-
ham, showing themselves to certain of
the disciples on Mount Tabor, aud even
unlocking the prison doors, and releas-
ing Paul and Silas. Doubtless there
were various other manifestations"
bogus, thrilling, profound, or otherwise,
according to the grade of the spirits,
i'll Bible times, but which were not re-
corded, either because they were unim-
pOrtant, or because manifestations Of
the kind were MT generally questioned
us they are i'll these days OF skepticism
on the subject Of immortality, both in
and outside Of the churches.
1t is an easy matter for readers of
the Bible to ascertain the nature of
Bible Spiritualism, as the book ;.bounas
i'll accounts of manifestations of yari-
GUS grades and character.
st. Paul recognizes the fact that we
fight, mot against flesh and blood"
but against unseen influences, good and
bad, and that life is 4 conflict between
the two. He even councils his flock to
''tfy the Spirits" etc.
Of course, Mr.. Hunter admits this.
But what does he mean by saying:
1.-THE dispensation of miracles has
| ceased?'
How does he know this threadbare
assumption to lie true? Is there any
authority in reason or the Bible for the
assertion? If so, will lie indicate it?
If intervention by the invisible in the
affairs of men was ever Il fact, when, in
what year, and day of the month, was
the law permitting such intervention
repealed? If Mr.. Hunter is not posted
in dates, let him give his authority for
the fact.
Certainly, it ever Spiritualism was
necessary i'll the days when men talked
with God and the angels, it is more mec-
ess;sry now when i large and intelligent
minority are denying the very existence
Of God aud the angels. have long
been an impartial observer of the thing
called Splritualism, and while have
kept my eyes open to the great chance
Tor fraud, and have rarely attended pro-
mlscuOuS circles and taken but little or
| SsAf In
the Eddys, Fays and HuntOOns,
have found outside Of all the colifu.
siOns, and in my own personal expert
ence when alone, sufficient evidence to
convince me Of the guardianship exer-
cised over us by departed friends.
Some of US Gun testify to certain
facts which neitl,er come nor 60 ut the
| bidding Ut ''mediumS'" false or true,
and to us the Exposures" Of swindIerS
have as little to do with our faith rs
the arrest of gang Of counterfeiters
has to do with the value of gold. A
| good dollar is no less y dollar because
it lies at the bottom of pile of brass
dollars higher than the Tower of Babel.
The most remarkable and convincing
expressions of Spiritualism, both in tile
past and the present, cannot be dupli.
Gated at will either by false or genuine
mediums. Yet they are none the less
facts for all that, as an aerOlite is no
less fact because it is not duplicated
by another's falling in the same place
In order to ''c0nvince' some skeptic
who thinks nature sham unless size
| gets up Il special meteOric display for
the sole purpose Of . removing his
doubts.
1t is always safe to avoid mediums
and ministers who promise accurate in
formation concerning the invisible
world. Nature, whether in the realm
of the physical or spirit ual, ''neyer re-
pe;Its herself" All her facts. have diff
ferent faces, though springing from the
same root.
I, for one, ana glad Of this effort to
| expose the shams that cluster about
Spiritualism. 1t has long been needed.
And when the same vigilance is exer.
cised concerning the religion of swind-
lers that infest our churches, profess:
ing Jesus, and living An opposite char.
aeter among their fellows, W. shall have
a better state Of things. Let the good
work go on. No one will I've hurt. un.
less they deserve it. And when the ex.
element is all over there; will be less
division among all sincere believers in
the great truth that faith in the souls
immortality is the prophet of all human
progress. Every Indicator points to
the conclusion that the issue will final.
ly resolve itself, not in dispute Ike.
tween Christians and Spirituaiists, but
rather between ''scientific" atheism on
ore hand, and an enlightened Spiritu.
alism on the other. The earnest and
candid men and women among Chris.
tians and Spiritualists cannot mucl,
longer lie blind to the great essential
fact that they are natural allies. Spir.
itualism has only to renounce vast Il.
mount of clap-t rap. and the Christians