The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-02-18
Rev. Mr.. Wendell Says Spirits
Chose Him as Messenger.
the CHURCHES ARE INDIGNANT
He Denies That He Is a Splrltuallst and
Warns Members Of the Lutheran Church
Against Belief.

New York Feb. 1s-"Yes. can see
and hear spirits. / saw the spirit of my
brother Karl and received n message from
him saw the Archangei Raphael, who
told me that he was to be the messenger
OF the Lord Jesus"
Thus spoke the Rev Hugo r. Wendell.
pastor OF the Trinity German Lutheran
church OF Trenton, n. j., Sunday.
Just because / have the gift OF see
ing and hearing spirits my enemies are
trying 10 make out that ! am a spirit
uslist but | am no such thing. There
Is vast difference between being able
to see and understand spirits and being
member OF a spiritualistic denomina-
tion. IL IL contrary TO the teachings OF
the Lutheran church for any member OF
any follower To believe I'm spiritualism.
and | certainly never had any idea OF
breaking the law OF my church, nor did
i ever experience any wish to do so.
But that l can see and hear the
beings OF the spirit world is something
that / cannot deny. Why should I? Is
IL a crime that these members OF the
spirit world reveal themselves to me-?
] surely ought not TO be punished be-
cause l am selected by the spirits as n
tion.
II have never denied TO my congrega-
tion my ability 10 see and hear the
spirits.
Two instances especially impress
themselves on my mind. the two | men
toned before. IL was on Oct. 81. last
year. that n communication reached me
from the spirit world that gave me great
comfort and JOY. IL was about p. m,
nd \ taA i'm
VISIT FROM SPIRIT BROTHER.
Suddenly became aware OF a re-
markably brilliant light that filed the
whole -rnon--I-lookeG- amazed. l
was alone so far human presence was
concerned. yet Immediately l knew there
was spirit form present. l felt an i'm
pelling power that caused me to lift my
pen from the table and draw n pad in
front OF me. Then this power caused
my hand to tremble and then steady itself
as i began to write. The words were
framed by the spirit and my hand was
moved by the spirit. When my hand
stopped writing / looked down on the pad
and read these words:
~ am your brother Karl Your pray
ers have come before God in heaven and
he has heard them
Two days after last Christmas Raph-
me. Again my hand was made TO pick
up my pen and to write. and this time
the message was L am TO be the mes
senger of the Lord Jesus
"Other spirits have revealed themselves
to me. and have rendered communlca-
tions. Sometimes they have sent the
messages to members OF their families
who are In my congregation.
MY enemies called meeting OF the
| council OF my church to discuss the com
| mun!cations sent me by the spirits. The
| council met last night and decided thS {
| | was not guilty. | was completely ex-
onerated Of the charge made against me
| OF indulging in Spiritualistic practices" D."
POPULAR WITH TRUSTEES.
A member of the council told n repor-
| ter that the Rev. Mr.. Wendell had great
! personal influence over his congregation.
| and was so popular with the trustees
| that all the many efforts made by a part
/ OF the congregation 10 obtain his dis
| mssal had been easily defeated.
Because OF their inability 10 obtain the
| dismissal of Mr.. Wendell two OF the trus-
| tees resigned last January. They char
u, ged that he was Spirituaist. Mr..
! Wendell by the constitution of the church
! is president OF the church council.
There is great Indignation among the
| other congregations because Trinity.
which IL the largest Lutheran church in
| Trenton continues to countenance Mr..
Wendell. The Rep.-Jehn c. Mates, pas
| tor OF the Evangelical Lutheran church
| of the Saviour, is particularly indignant,
and on Sunday evening al the close OF
! his sermon voiced his feeling. He read
the second commandment and gave Mar
| tin Luther's comment on II. that n be-
lever should not conjure with the name
Of God lie then quoted Deuteronomy
! xviii. II, and Leviticus xix, 81, and In
| closing his remarks said
/ "All pretended communications with
the dead are forbidden by the word OF
| God and by the confession OF the Luther
an church. Anything OF the kind Is a
most damnable heresy. ANY Lutheran'
l OF whatever connection participating ir
such seances will lay themselves open e
censurc, discipline and excommunica
| ton"