The Oskaloosa herald., 1902-01-23
PRES. HINTON'S TALK
Explanation of the Beliefs of the
Spiritualists.

Mr.. Chairman: AS President of the
Iowa Spiritualists Association | bid
you welcome to Oskaloosa and her
homes. This welcome is not merely
formal, but is heartfelt, and extends
to each one of you as il named; it is
given in the spirit of the widest char.
ity and generosity. ! am glad to ex'
tend to you this welcome because il
typifies and reflects that true inspira.
ton for the betterment Of mankind.
| welcome you not only as members
of our beloved organization, but be-
cause | believe you to be actuated by
the highest purposes, ana the purest
motives that the human soul can pos
sess. / welcome you to this council
chamber of Iowa Spiritualists as the
incoming of great tidal wave of pro-
gress and reform. There is all about
us evidence of dissolution of systems
and the breaking of idols and chains.
To the lover of mankind the sun Of
hope never shone so brightly as at this
hour. We believe that the agencies
of the invincible world are moving up
on the hearts of the people for the
sublime accomplishment of the pur-
poses of Destiny. The world as never
before is in the travail where lies
the Truth?"
We see in the mighty intellectual
upheaval in the turbulent unrest, I'M
der old dogmas and theories, in the
bitterness manifested in the many
branches of the Protestant church
over things non-essentlal the strong
est proof in our belief of Spiritual re-
turn. A Mohammed ruler from noun
tain top viewed great battle between
two nations on the plains below. They
both worshipped the same God-pray-
ed to the same Divine Being. AS this
recollection came to the mind of the
Mohammedan, he exclaimed, Behold
how these Christians fight" What
bitter irony was yelled in this remark,
uncertain as to the truth of their posi-
ton they cut each others threats lest
truth perchance be found on the other
side. In no such spirit do welcome
YOU here; the greatest liberality, the
broadcast charity and boundless love
pervades this chamber, and into these
inspiring environments bid you come
and hold communion.
hope / may be pardoned for tres
nassing a little upon the Association,
by bringing before it, some sugges-
lions relative to our work. During
my occupancy of this chair | have
more and more realized the necessity
for organization in our work Let
others fight if they must over non
essentials as pertains to Spiritual liv-
ing, but let us fight for the advance
ment of the truth, pure and simple.
The orthodox world is weak today,
because its energy is wasted upon un-
supported intangibles. The world is
full of active, energetic, thinking men
and women, who are weary of thrice
told tales. who are restless at the re-
cital of jewish history for inspiration,
and refuse to sail the ocean of truth
in Noah's Ark The question is asked
in and out of the Orthodox church, "If
the world moves if advancement is
the leading thought of the age, why
should ] be chained to man made
creeds, dogmas, theories of twenty
centuries ago?
Brethren and Sisters, in the break
ing up of this shipwreck of faiths,
what should the harvest of the Spir-
itualist be? How shall we use our
life lines? There can be but one ans
wer; we must labor, but how? The
history of the commercial world dur
ing the past ten years proves that or
ganization is the key to success. This
of course includes concentration of ef-
fort. We must take conditions and
use them as we find them; we cannot
hope to change them at once. One
strong and enthusiastic worker can ac-
complish much, but when reinforced
by one hundred equally as we'll equip
ped co-laborers, his power will be aug
mented a thousand fold for by so
great ratio is the force of organiza-
ton. Who will dare estimate the re-
suit of such a concentration of effort?
Our beloved Iowa is indeed a fruitful
field, our possibilities are limitless.
My experience during the past twelve
months leads me to declare, that there
is a spirit of earnest inquiry among
our people, which if properly met by
the lovers of true reform will bring
hundreds into this army of true bene-
factors. This should be the highest
ambition of every true Spiritualist.
When we pass beyond the veil we can
expect no greater reward than the con-
seriousness that our best efforts on this
side have been for the betterment of
man.
Since my conversion to Spiritualism
it has been my constant joy to know
that naught but hope is in it's teach
ings. We weep at no empty grave of
departed Lord, we take no offerings
TO assuage the anger of an offended
Deity, we burn no incense for the
atonement for sins committed. Our
Savior is alive and with us always;
ministering Spirits are constantly
granting us the inspiring baptism of
their Holy Communion. Before ten
years shall have past away the prac-
teal, hard beaded, thinking men of
the world will confess that all that is
or has been known of the future of
man, will have come from the phe-
nomena and philosophy of Spiritual
ism. The Orthodox church even now is
waging campaign against our beau
tiful knowledge Why? Because it
discovers its pew-holders are restless
and inquisitive. The Catholic Priest
proclaims to his followers, Don't
think, I'll do that for YOU" While the
Protestant clergyman voicing the
same thoughts in different words,
shouts to his listless flock, have faith
and believe and all will be well. In
this antagonism we should find en-
couragement. An apple tree that pro-
duces seedlings only is never dubbed.
1t is the bearer of rosy. lucious fruit,
that provokes the attacks OF the van
dal. The carpenters son uttered a
great truth when he said, Beware,
when all men speak Well of you," and
so declare it is a hopeful omen when
at this very moment our beautiful
philosophy is engaging the worlds at.