Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1901-03-01
Washin9tun Standard
OLYMPIA, WASH.
FRIDAY EVENING. MARCH /, 1901.
Let Us Be Tolerant.

The Tacoma Ncirs has raised the
question, Shall Spiritualist Mediums
Pclorm the Marriage Community?'
based upon Il late society paragraph in
= Tacoma newspaper announcing that
a couple had been united in marriage
by Rev. 4. l.. Chapman Moe One Of
those argus-cyed gorconS Of society
raised the question OF quo rarranto
An investigation As to the identity oil
the officiating clergyman (or clergy.
woman, as it turned out to be- devel.
oped the fact claimed by the censor
that the name was not found in the
list OF regularly ordained ministers oil
the city, but the directory gave the in
formation that Mrs. Anna l.. Chap.
man-Moe was psychic reader and
magnetist,' residing at No. Of, Olym.
pic Hotel. She was, Of course, inter.
viewed by the News representative, and
when questioned as to her legal au.
thority to perform the marital rite,
declared that she was regularly Or
dained minister OF the State Spirit
uall Association OF Washington, an
incorporated body, under which she
claimed to be vested with equal au-
thority OF the representative of any
other religious organization in the
State.
IT religion is purely and solely a
matter OF conscience, We see no reason
why the Spiritualists may not band
together and enjoy all the privileges
and immunities accorded to other pro-
fessed ecclesiastical sects. To the OBJ
lection that there are acknowledged
frauds perpetrated under the cloak OF
inspirational powers claimed by So
called mediums, we have only to cite
the fact that the devil may be found
IN every sanctuary, in one guise or an
other. A creed that deals with ply
steal manifestations of occult power, it
must be admitted, possesses an attrac-
traction for those sanguine tempera-
ments that reach out so anxiously to
fathom the mystery of final human
destiny, or to clasp hands with those
who have, they are prone to believe,
solved life's mystery, and are constant
ly seeking, like the inhabitants of
Mars, to communicate with poor NOR.
tails of Earth. That deceivers should
find this promising field for endeav-
or, is but natural. but that does not
prove the impossibility, or indeed i'm.
probability, of spirit communication,
or that there is no truth or honor
among professed believers in that form
OF social intercourse. To be a relig-
ionist, of any Unconventional creed,
imposes an obligation of faith which
IN vain seeks for some substantial
foundation upon reason, and to as.
sumo that scientific research has at
tanned stage where it may authorize.
lively assert that the span between
present and future, between earth.life
and spiritual existence, whatever it
may be, between the gross environ
ments Of Earth and the infinite aspir-
atoms of the soul, can never be
crossed, is the height of absurdity
when viewed by the light OF wonderful
achievements OF the last half of the
nineteenth century.
So we say, if the law is not broad
enough to authorize the ministerial
acts OF opponents OF belief that is the
comfort and solace Of a very large
class of people OF average respectable
ity and good reputation, let it be
amended 80 as to confer that privilege.
Equality for all and special privi-
leges for none should be the motto of
. free mans government.