The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1878-09-05

OF good faith.
SPIRITUALLSM FURTHER TESTED.
EDITOR ADVANCE: Since writing
my last article, I have been reinvestigat-
ing the system OF Spiritualism, but
have met with nothing to change my
views as to the fact that Spiritualism
is and must necessarily be demoraliz-
ing in its influences on society and
still think that the remarkable words
Of Paul Nov the spirit speakith ex-
pressly that in the latter days some
shall depart from the faith giving heed
to seducing spirits and doctrines Of the
DEVIL" applies with very great force to
the present age and gives the character
of the spirits consulted and the persons
who consult them. And I think Paul
is very we'll supported by the persons
who havelbeen called up to testify and
and who aftirms that Spiritualism is
the work of evil spirits and evil spirits
alone, and this fact l want to make
very prominent and for that purpose
shall introduce the testimony of Mrs.
Hatch, one from the very heart of
the Spiritualistic ranks. This l trust
will be acceptable to the Spiritualists
although dealing a heavier blow against
it for its great corruptions than any we
have introduced yet. Mrs. Hatch is
one OF the most prominent and popu-
lar mediums to be found among Spirit
nalists. She, seeing the corrupting
influence OF tue system upon the pollut-
o1 1nE10l bnr<1no rn,l,0 IL
a bold attempt at reforming them. A
hopeless task. In a lecture delivered
in New York City, January 10, 1862,
entitled '"Theory and Practice,'' she
says:
There is ! o doubt that the shaft which
Spirit,,alism has sunk has struck the
vein of that floating population III the
United States and other countries who
form large class who have. never be-
lieved in anything, but are ready to
adopt any form Of belief as OCCASION
may require. They are the distruct.
ives who tear down old edifices iEdis-
! criminately and put up nothing in their
stead. They decay Christianity and
all other supports of law and order
recognized by society, and in their
| hands Spiritualism has become one of
the most prepoSterOuS systems both as
to theory and practice ever brought
before the community. Thus it hap
pens that we have us advocates of Spir-
| itualism all the offscourngs of society
in a new shape, and when the world
| recognizing these as leaders i'll our
ranks, it stands aghast and says, ,,why
these are the old nuisances revived. :"
| Thus Sp:rtualiSm is but another name
| for that which leads to immortality and
the tearing down of all that is dear and
sacred III our instit tuition. 1t opposes
Christianity and even seeks to violate
the sanctity of the fireside, and we are
sorry to state that the conduct of those
in general who profess to he Spiritual
lists confirms this judgment, and soxi-
ETY. has too good grounds for complaint
and apprehension"
The general tendencies of Spiritual
ism have been not to elevate but to
degrade its disciples in the moral and
social scale, to break down all barriers
which have been considered essential
to a well ordered community. Thous-
ands have been led to do what they
knew to lie wrong because they have
been assured that spirits directed it.
Mrs. Hatch has been belii nd the cur
tain where she has seen 4 part of what
has been hid from the public gaze.
She says, Spiritualists have generally
the reputation of being impure, athe-
istical, everything in short that is i'm.
proper and unsafe.'
There is usually some ground for
opinions so widespre I'd. With sorrow
we say it, manyare the families that
have been desolatcd by it, many thous.
ands are the hearts and minds which
have been broken and overthl own
through this fatal delusion. Thus we
see that Spirtualism is simply the
work Of devils and Il stream does not
rise above it's fountain. Wicked men
and seducers wax worse and worse
deceiying and being deceived.
AMOS ELLIS.