Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1882-11-24
DR.. Newman a Spiritualist.
HE AvOws HIS BELIEF IN COMMUNICA-
r1oNs FROM thu SPIRIT WORLD.

HE Avows HIS BELIEF IN CoMMUN1CA-
TIONs FROM rHa SPIRIT WORLD.
The sermon preached by the Rev. DR.. J.
P. Newman, at the Madison Avenue Con-
eregational church last Sunday has excl
ted considerable comment. His subject
was '.Do the Dead Return?" the sermon
being one of series on the Immortality of
the soul. He took the position that the
spirits of the dead inhabit an invisible
world and that communications are re-
ceived from them DR.. Newman, in con-
versation Monday, with Tribune repor-
ter, said:
There has been belief in spirits among
nearly all nations, and that there Is an in
teImediate state has been almost univer-
sally believed. In Bible times the two
worlds met. There was communication
between them as there is now between
New York and London-not so frequently
of course. If spirits exist the question
comes as to what form they have. In the
first place l say wherever there have been
appearances the spirits have been in hu-
man form 1t is physiological fact that
the human soul is cOextensive with the
nervous system. If you take away every
thing from the body but the nervous It's
sues, you still have left the human form.
Death is the evolution of the soul out of
this system of the human body"
s'Do you believe in a communication
with departed spirits?''
Nothing is more clearly taught in the
Bible. Not less than five persons are re-
corded there as having returned. Christ
had pre-existence. During the three
days intervening between His death and
resurrection, his spirit is represented as
Paradise, for he told the thief on the cross
that He would meet him there the day of
his death. Then He went to Gahenna,
for HE preached to the spirits who ''afore-
time were dlsobedient." The ScrIptural
record is in I. Peter I'LL, 10. There is no
doubt some accepted His teaching. This
is presupposed by the fact of his preaching
to them. He then returned to the earth
and is to return again."
"Was Christ in the flesh or the spirit,
in your opinion. after the resurrGctiOn?"
''He took up His body again, but it I'M
derwent transformation before HIS as
cension. Then there are the cases OF Sam
uel, Moses and Elijah. Moses represent
ed the disemboded spirits and returned
after an absence of l, 500 years. Elijah,
representing the embodied spirits--he was
translated you knOw-returDed after L.
600 years."
What was their mlssionp"
"They were evidently committee Of
two sent from the spirit world to inquire
Of Christ neither He felt himself compe-
tent to make their heaven permanent by
his death on the cross. They were famil-
lar with this world; they knew where
Christ was; what mountain top he was on
praying; they knew he was to die in Jeru-
salem-a future event.
Ibid you make use Of Paul's case IN
your argument?'
Eyes, that is another example. Under
the law OF levitatiOn he was caught up to
the third Heaven and heard, as he says,
things not lawful for him to utter, He
came back and lived twenty years after this
event. 1t was to him the inspiration of his
ministry, ard enabled him to endure mar
tyrdom. He is the only man that ever
longed for death. He knew all about it.
He had been Ghere."
What do you thiak Of Swedenborg's
theories ?"
There can be no doubt that he is cor
rect in his assertions that the spirits of his
friends come to him and communicate
with him. There are many eases where
there seems to be this communication of
spirits. When the father OF the eloquent
A'A0n tAA'S'Ss WAC OyAh Ill ANOW A0hP
shire he suddenly exclaimed My son is
dead!' His son did die at that very mo-
mems in Boston. l buried precious wo-
man few years ago. Her only son was
in Iowa. While ploughing in field he
suddenly stopped and said that his mother
was dead. The young man IS father, who
is mathematician. made calculation,
and found that the death and the impress
sion received by the son were coincident
in point of time to the moment"
"HOw did you get this evidence 7"
From the father and son. know them
both WE'LL"
I'm what Way do you account for the
transmission of such intelligence ?'
1.-THE mothers spirit may have commu-
nicated it to him. I have had several re-
markable instances of similar character
to those have cited in my OWL life"
do you believe in verbal messages from
the spirit world as we'll as spirit impress
sion ?"
''stepping away from necrom ancy and
things OF that sort, there are persons,
believe, who are messengers of the spirit
world.''
"By what means do they como into pos
session of this power ?"
Faith is condition. These persons
yield themselves to the influence. Others
through them, by consenting and exercis-
ing faith, may receive communications"
us moral character a condition ?"
bad spirits may communicate through
bad persons
''Do you believe in the theory that the
spirits Of the dead are familiar with the
condition and acts of the living. ?''
Just as the angels rejoice over re
pentipg sinner. our dead friends are famil-
lar with our condition, and our compan-
ions. A great army of evil spirits are the
companions of the wicked. While it is
beautiful to celebrate All Souls Day IT.
praying for the dead. it is a wonder to one
that nothing is said of the dead praying
for US, which is great Bible truth. 1t is
stated in Revelation that the prayers OF
saints are as precious incense ascending
from golden censers."
is it not unusual for clergyman to
declare his belief in the communication of
spiritsT'
1T is exceptional for one to take up the
SUBJECT and treat it logically and philo-
sophically. Many clergymen speak of the
existence Of spirits in sentimental way,
aud for rhetorical effect.''
May they not do this and yet not be-
lieve in Spiritualistic doctrines?''
'They do wrong if they do.'
"How long have you entertained your
theories on this subject?''
For twenty years.
The Emperor of Austria's brother,
Charles Louis, has for the fifth time been
elected burgomaster of Arstetten. His
forester and the village boot maker are