The Spanish Fork press. [volume] (Spanish Fork, Utah) 1902-current, 1908-04-02
sPiRiTIsM.

with the most lamentable delusion,
Which?
Ones mere opinion amounts to
naught unless that opinion is based
upon a most careful painstaking and
unbiased investigation. Even then, the
result of that opinion is wholly, as 1t
necessarily must be, from the investi-
gators point of view. 1t is the weigh
ing of the evidence that constitutes
the proof.
After thorough and unbiased in
vestigation extending over more than
a quarter of a century; an investiga-
ton including every phase of spiritism
extant, have been led, step by step,
to the following conclusions. viz:
/. | believe in the alleged phe-
nomena of spiritism, but not in the al.
legged cause.
2. That every true manifestation of
spiritism may be accounted for upon
purely scientific grounds.
3. That the phenomena are not due
to or ever dependent upon outside in
telligences.
4. That there is no valid evidence
whatever that spirits of the dead have
ever communicated in any name"
with the living,
s. That not all spirit mediums are
frauds, but all spirit mediums that are
not frauds are selfdeceived when at
tributing either their power or their
information to spirits of the dead.
6. That clairvoyance and clairaudi-
ence are legitimately within the sphere
of psychic phenomena. but are wholly
Independent of disembodied spirits.
Z. That premonitions and impress
sions are God-given gifts to all His
children.
In 1874, during my investigation OF
| what was then designated as spirit
ualism (spiritism), had the pleasure
of meeting the man Ia spiritualist)
who had the distinction of having
| given the first public lecture ever heard
on this subject.
These seances, being of private
| character, were the more interesting
and with less likelihood of fraud ant
furnished more satisfactory oppor
tunity for careful investigation.
AS now look back over these inter
vening years / can see clearly wherea
at that time Il saw, as through glass
darkly."
1t may not be out of place to stat
that at that time and for many year
thereafter l was, in consequence
many wonderful and unaccountabl
personal experiences, a believer 1
spiritism; but land want that wor
"but" fully emphasized) believe
with a mental reservation as to tn
cause of the phenomena. l have a
ways been thankful for that shadow
a doubt; for, in later years, 1t prove
to be "the pillar of cloud by day" an
"the pillar of fire by night which lie
me safely out of the wildness of igno
ance and superstition.
Ever since childhood have been a
"impressionist,' and those impre
sions, having been verified, were tn
cause of my early and continuous Il
vestigations. 1t was years before
learned to distinguish the one (spiri
ualisD from the other (impressionistl
but having distinguished have learne
also, to discriminate.
In the winter of 1899, in Clevelan
O., had the pleasure and the hon'
of meeting the late DR.. Thomson ia
Hudson. In the many interviews tn
followed the first meeting we
changed notes on our observation
and experiences along the lines
psychic phenomena.
We found, to our surprise, that
had been travelling on parallel roa
for nearly 80 years. Our conclusion
in the main, were identical; especial
regarding "spiritualism" and hypn
d ism. We differed in a few min
points, each looking from his oN
viewpoint; therefore, we agreed to d
agree.
shall now take up, one by one, t
y defense of each plank in the platfol
% forming the basis of my argument
e. hereinbefore stated
e. /. 1t may be thought strange Il
Is anyone could or would accept the pI
H. nomena of "spiritism" after so ma
| Years Vi ldllnlul oAhhs hN'iNAo
lie cepted the phenomena, they would a
II accept the cause.
OF Many persons have said to me Il
d they could find out all there is in Isl
~ itism" in about 20 minutes instead
as many or more years. Possibly
he 1. e., all that their prejudice would all
II them to investigate.
ce Because every phase of Spirit
no can be faxed is no assurance that it
he There are honest and conscientit
e. mediums lin the minority, | will
lie mit), but they are not conscious of
VI origin Of their power, They attrib
u. in all sincerity to departed spir
ol Why? Because they have been so
q, formed and having accepted the
n formation II has become verify
q consequence of the autosuggestion
n AS has been stated in a previous
n, ticle, the subjective mind is amens
to suggestion. II will reason ded
d.