The herald., 1896-05-18
MAGIC AND CHRISTIANITY
The Topic Of Rev. J. S. Thomson
Yesterday
AT SIMPSON TABERNACLE
Rev. job Turner, the Deaf Mute
Missionary
+ SIMPSON TABERNACLE
Of 0oodness-A Theosophist On
the Closing Cycle

A few who have ears to hear and
hear, and a number who have ears and
cannot hear, had the pleasure OF wit
Messing yesterday afternoon most I'M
pressive services, consisting OF prayer,
praise. the administering OF the holy
communion and the delivery of scrip
tural address by the Rev. Job Turner,
deaf mute missionary, in Christ
church on South Flower street, OF
which the Rev. A. 8. Clark is pastor.
For the benefit of the few who were
not acquainted with the sign language
much Of the service was accompanied
with Interpretations by the Rev Clark.
Rev. Turner, however. Is such an adept
at the art of calculating his ideas by
means Of gestures and signs that mucn
was Ineligible without the explanatory
words and without familiarity with the
subject and 1t was easy to detect when
the accompanying words were too SLOW
or too much In advance.
A portion of the regular opening serv-
ice of the church, the first Psalm. the
absolution, the creed and the Lords
prayer. were given with the hymns,
Nearer. My God, to Thee and Rock of
Ages, with the assistance of Rev. Clark.
In the latter hymn the quiet language
was so expressive that in the lines I'm
my hands no price bring, simply to thy
cross ! cling" it seemed as though the
thoughts were so realistically conveyed
that they must have been understood
by sight alone.
The sermon was taken from Luke TX:
SO, 1t Is good for Us to be Here, and was
in part as follows: Nearly nineteen CEN
turtles have past since the Savior stood
on the Mount OF TRANSPORTATION, hold
ing hallowed converse with the Great
Jehovah. touching the fulfillment of his
sacred mission to earth. This glorious
mission has brought TO the JEWELLERS of
hp orc haVnnn A
Not the least of these is that spirit and
effort which brought about the educa-
ton and enlightenment. Of the deaf,
our speechless class, which was num-
bered with the helpless.
1T is good to be here IN the sacred
gratitude we feel toward the Great
Healer for 1t was the Savior who first
unlocked the ear and set free the tongue
of the unfortunate, and 1t is by Gods
grace that the fingers were taught the
cunning of imparting knowledge and
that the eye harnessed language.
Though sound comes not and intelligi-
BILE utterances fail us, yet are we blessed
in the avenues opened by intelligent
loving education, by which we are made
partakers of the enjoyment of all that
letters give to the large majority.
1T is good to be here that we may hold
communion with one another, inspiring
to noble, high and unselfish purposes.
awakening kindly charity toward each
Otner, putting aside every lncllHdtlOH u
wrong, either by word or deed.
1T is good for us to be here when we
can say adieu to one another with broth
erly love, glad in our hearts for this
meeting and heart swelling with trust
ing hope that at the great gathering
on the beautiful shores of eternity we
shall meet again where our natural
senses shall be made whole, as our
hearts shall be made perfect washed
in the blood of the Lamb. Then will
the harmony of heaven. the first
sounds that shall reach our ears, be
thousand fold more melodious than
thought can divine, and our voices unit
ing in sweet accord, swell the sym
phonies of the celestial hostts.
Rev. Turner is very venerable look
ing and of round and genial counte-
nance, though deeply marked with fur
rows. In observing this to the Rev.
Clark after the meeting, this gentleman
remarked that 1t was owing to. Mr..
Turner's wonderful power of conveying
thoughts and impressions by means of
quick changes of facial expression; that
he was an admirable caricaturist and
mimic, and full of humor. jokes and
even puns. making him a most enter
tanning companion. He was very Gull
tured and could converse with ease in
the French and Spanish languages. His
greatest ambition was to go as a mis-
sionary to Japan. the language having
no terrors for him. Rev. Clarke also
stated that the Santa Fee railroad had
given Rev. Turner a pass over it's lines
and that some of the other railroads
We're endeavoring to furnish him free
transport also. He makes semi-yearly
trips from New York through the south
to this coast in his missionary labors
lie Is now on his way to Berkeley to the
state institution for deaf mutes, where
his visits are hailed with the greatest
pleasure. AS a man of travel and Gull
ture he is able to bring them many
ideas of interest that in their restricted
possibilities for intercourse would 9TH
erwise be withheld
the association for the Improvement
or dear mutes in Los Angeles, Of which
Mr. Thomas Widd is president, is do
ing good work Mr. Widd, native of
LONDON. england. and also a deaf mute.
has spent his life in working among HIS
Fellows. He founded the Montreal in
stitute for deaf mutes, and for the ast
seven years has labored in this citv.
In consideration of his service he has re-
Gently been licensed as Law reader nv,
the bishop. The services Of the asso
citation are held in the st. Paul's guild
room. 7N'"
At UNITY
Yesterday morning the pastor of ITnitv
church, Rev. IS. Thomson, preached
sermon on Magic and Christianity TAX
ing the text, A certain man, called ST.
mon, used sorcery, and bewitched the
"" NeNAAi0iAo 6ifliiS OUT Inat him.
sell was some great One-ActS viii. 0.
Magic Is superstition in rites and cere-
monies. Some of the rites and ceremon-
les In our churches, such as the laying on
of hands, and the use of the bishon's
crook, are relics of magic. Magic is a
very large subject, and a study of its
principles shows that it is related to an
lmal magnetism hypnotism, necromaney.
incantation, divination, omens, charms
dreams and entertainments. 1t seems to
be as old as religion; and 1t was practiced
by the ancient Egyptians, as the Book
OF the Dead informs us. The Jewish high
priest OWNED the will of God by means
OF the urim and thummim on his breast
plate. A study of magic requires pro-
found knowledge of Sanskrit, Hebrew,
and Arabic. and the classical languages
OF Greece and Rome must be studied
thoroughly for the same purpose. Egyp-
tology and deep knowledge of Masonic
lore are also necessary. That myster-
lous work, called the Cabala, cannot be
understood without perfect knowledge
OF the Hebrew language.
In the Old Testament q great deal is
said about magic and kindred subjects
Joseph as magician interpreted the
dreams of Pharoeh. and used the divin-
er's cup. found in Benjamin's sack. The
rod With which Moses and Aaron per-
FORMED many wonders in Egypt and in
the wilderness of Arabia was magic
ian's wand. Aaron's rod devoured the
magic rods OF the Egyptian enchanters,