The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1879-08-28
LI1'ER4lR NOTICES.

The Dangers Of Modern Spiritualism
by Rev. VIM. 3. Hayden.
This is Il series of lectures delivered
by the above-nNmed clergyman, of the
New or Swedenborgian Church. It is
altogether the faircst, most candid,
and most Intelligent Of anything we
have read from the opposers Of Modern
Spiritualism. Mr.. Hayden understands
what he is talking about, he is famil-
lar with his subject, a thing which
cannot be said of such shallow think
ers and supercilious cyclists as Car
penter, Lankcster, Beard, and others.
Mr.. Hayden admits ~ that the mani
festations ase produced by spirits, and
~ that they may he and probably are
sent, or at least permitted 1T this time,
to serve some wise and great purpose in
tho spiritual economy Of the Lord.
But Mr.. II. is a Swcdenborgian, and
SO quotes Swedenborg to show that
these spirit manifestations are mostly
disorder]y and dangerous.
We have read the book with great
care and interest, and We Sum up the
effect on our own mind as follows:
l. That if communication with spir-
its is disorderly and dangercu US, so is
communication with our fellow-men in
the flesh. No one can associate with
his fellow-men without daily coming in
contact with disorderly spirits in the
body, and without receiving influences
which are dangerous. Every one rec
ognlzes this. God does not forbid such
! communication, but encourages it, and
holds us responsible for what we receive
and what we do as result of such
| contact and intercourse. If it is wrong
to communicate with men out of the
body, it is also wrong to communicate
with men in the body. No man fol-
lows all the suggestions he receives
from his fellow-men in the body, and
no one should follow all the advice or
suggestions received from men out of
the body
2. Swedenborg condemns himself
when he says spirit communication is
dangerous and disorderly. He commu-
nicated with spirits for thirty years,
| but claims that lie was under the con-
troll of the Lord. But why are not all
men under control Of the Lord. Every
ignorant preacher III the backwoods
puts forth the same claim. IF it. was
right for Emanuel Swedenborg to be a
medium for spirit communication, it is
right for all. God is no respector of
persons. What is right for Ole is right
| for all.
8. Swedenborg teaches that in the
! primitive state, the whole race was in
daily communication with spirits and
angels and that this was lost by what
is called the fall. This shows that it is
the happy and innocent state and that
it should be restored. Moreover, we
understand that he teaches that it is to
be restored. But if it be dangerous,
disorderly and forbidden by the Lord,
NV" 40 ~ CSCA w w 1tSIOleus
These are few of the leading
! thoughts which forced themselves upon
our mind while reading the book. New
ertheless we find much in it to COM
mend ard with which we are in full &C.
cord. Anything from this source is so
far i'll advance of effete and materialistic
Orthodoxy, that one cannot fail to be
interested and benefited by reading
the New Church literature.
On page Sc, we marked the following
passage:
It is hardly necessary that we alludc
TO the fact that Spiritualism is frag.
| mentAry and variable in the matter of
its disclosures. While it Is not denied
that some important and evident
truths have been and are being SO
communicated, it is just as clear that
many pernicious errors have gained ad-
mittance through the same door, that
the contents Of the revelations are dis
cordant and heterogeneous. The dit.
crcat 1)tuts arc not ~ agreement Nth cUch
other. Besides the friyilousness Of