The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-04-03

book is 70 me one OF the most impressive |
phenomena Of Spritualism. Here Is
clergyman Of the Church of England, es-
tablished in High Church views, VINO mus
his hand automatically writing, out long |
dissertations On theology, strongly thonngnt, |
logically arguSd and clearly expressed, IN
which all hlsl frmest opinions are cha'-
lenged, his most cherished CONVICTIONS
controverted, he himself replying vigor-
ously to these strange ideas, reasoning
against these abhorrent notions with all
his might, only'to find each argument met
and overcome, the debate continuing
through many months in systematic
manner, the outcome OF which is no is con,
verted to the most pronounced broad
Guardianship, as q revelation 10 MN
from the spirits which are guiding MN INTO
truth.
What il the candid outsider to make OF
such a phenomenon? Is this trend OF
Spiritualism only the Unconscious SELF
at work in theology? How, then, Is the
untroined brain in advance OF the trained
brain?
Or is broad craftsmanship after all, in
more real sense than many of its stalwart
champions have believed OF it, an inspira-
ton from the spirit sphere, revelation
from God?
1T WILL REVIVE FAITH IN GOD.
IL. Spirtualsm, in its modern form, has
come at the very time when. II 1t be
what 1t claims to be, it is most impera-
lively needed. History-be its stories le-
gends or be they annals--records no such
outbreak Of spiritualistc phenomena as
our age has witnessed since the birth OF
Christianity. There has been since that
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importance In the evolution OF religion,
until we reach our own time. Never
since then has there been period as crit
ical for religion. The decay of faith in
that era has Its parallel in the decay OF
faith in our own generation. The causes
are identical. The intellectual system OF
paganism had been then ougrown as the
intellectual system OF Western Christianity
is now outgrown. Materialism had eaten
the heart out OF religion then, US ii has
done now.
The change in our day Is an even more
radical revolution than was that OF old,
owing to the absolutely new knowledges
| which are rushing in upon the mind OF
man too fast for him TO order into the old
capitalization OF faith, and owing 10 the
unprecedented wealth which Is heaping
up in his hands rs a result OF the new
| industrial development, too fast for him
TO master in the interest OF the spiritual
life.
That to hosts OF men the dogmatic sys-
tenn OF ages seems TO be tumbling TO pieces
Is not the worst feature OF our age, though
in such breakup all belief Is sure to be
temporarily blurred. But, in our time, as
never before in the history of man, 1t has
been hard TO hold fast 10 the universal,
essential verities OF fate--God, the spirit
ual nature OF man aud immortality. A
veIy tidal wave OF materialism has been
setting in upon civilization through our
generation, threatening 10 submergo all
the old faiths by which man has lived. II
there be any spirit spheres environing our
earthly life, out from whose mysterious
depths mighty influences can come in
upon the mind OF man; II ever those spirit
spheres have brooded low above our
world-surely the time has come for such
blessed inspirations. At this hour OF his
tory Spiritualism appears. As the chill
air OF an oncoming glacial age Of agnosu-
cism creeps upon man, 10! a soft, warm
breath from the South sweeps in over the
soul and the heart OF man thaws again in
the sunny faith OF old. Is this only the
coincidence Of chance, or, as IL appears TO
be. the correspondence OF design
AN Angel CHAINED TO 4 BRUTE.
As each successive phase Of the view OF
spirilualism here taken has raised ques-
ton, 80 the general effect, when we reach
the end Of our circuit and draw OF until
the separate Impressions focus in one pic
turc, Is 10 emphasize that interrogation.
These singular suggestions Of order these
lusing impressions OF purpose and plan,
these curious correspondence with what
reason would demand OF a genuine Spir-
itualism-are they all meaningless, the
play OF chance, the stimulation OF craft, the
disorder Of disease, the spectral shadows
Of intelligent agents turning out TO be only
the Elusive projections OF our own uncon-
scious selves, or are they In reality the
tokens OF a movement intelligently d.
reetcd by unseen being toward the grand
est OF services for human progrcss2
II 80 II be, what are We TO make OF the
other side OF this strange subject; the side
OF which everybody knows. and TO which,
therefore, there was no necessity OF my
turning, the indisputablc facts which seem
irrcconcilable with any such spiritual
agency in the movement, any such proyi-
dental purpose back Of Il, the not uncom-
mon intellectual idiocy OF the seance, its
notorious lrickerics, its grotcsque pranks,
lis at least occasional dark experiences Of
evil influences, lis suggestions at times Of
diablerie rather than Of the gracious aciionloI
spirits sent forth TO minister 10 tho heirs OF
sayation2 Doubtless, II is not impossible,
even now 10 frame theories which shall
blend these rcpulsiyc aspects OF the subject
with the nobler view Of II in which the
faithful rejoice. but, none the less, the
average GENTLE finds In this other side
that which holds him back from the con-
viction TO which tho views here taken
would seem logically 10 lead. Such de-
cision, indeed, could only be taken from q
/ further and closer study OF the subject al
inst hand. Tho conclusion OF this outside
view Of Spiritualism must then needs be
not period but a question mark.
Is IT AALyATloN2
Can Il really be true that we have en-
tered the period which Kant forcsaw when
no predicted the coming Of day whorcin
there should be experienced "a com.
munion actual and indissolublc' between
spirits clothed In flesh aud spirits clothed
In finer iorms2 Is ours indeed the ago
looming before Millions soul when lac
wrote.
The DAY may conc when man
With angels may participate
Or are we still In the Old World, whcro
man has ever stumbled yainly after will.
o'.tho wisps, phosphorcsccnt mockerics oi
the true light, falsely promising to lead
the soul 10 soinc terra Trina OF lalth, and
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