The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1910-07-28
A Defence of Spiritualism.
J. E. Darling of Winterport Replies to the
Author of Demonology or Spiritualism
Pncient and Modern.

J. E. Darling of Winterport Replies to the
Author of Demonology or Spiritualism
encient and Modern.
To THE EDITOR OF THE JOURNAL. l noticed
in your issue of July 2lst, reference to book
published more than quarter of century
ago wherein the author chose to belittle the
religion of spiritualism. The best evidence
that this author was in error regarding the
subject is the fact that called modern spirit
ualsm has successfully withstood for more
than six decades of time Tie terrific onslaughts
from pulpit and press. They have been to it
like the countless waves which have dashed
against the Rock of Gibraltar only to resolve
themselves into spray. To keep an error be-
fore the people and make them believe it true
has always cost great deal of time and money,
but truth is ever self-supporting under all Cir
cumstances. If spiritualism had not been a
truth it would have been dead and buried
years ago under the avalanches of mud and
filth that have been unjustly attached to it.
Spiritualism has always suffered more at the
hands of its professed followers than it ever
did from its open enemies. | have been stu
IL
ter of century and have had strong desire
and splendid opportunity to know whether
Spiritualism is true false, and l go on record
here and now and declare that to me Spiritual
ism is sacred truth and in its essential prin-
ciples believe it to be as good, as pure, as
exalted and holy as the Angels from whom it's
teachings come to bless mankind and help
them on their way through the mire and dark
ness of their mortal journey. This author
says that ''lnquity is grizzled, revengeful
monster, &c, l have always suspected this,
and am glad to note the admission of such an
atmosphere by one who claims knowledge.
The author evidently forgets, however, that
Jesus said, "let him that is without sin east the
first stonet' There were no stones thrown
then, MIR. Editor, and there would not be any
now if the same rule was applied. This writer
says further: "Up to twenty three years of
age accepted the teachings of Spiritualism
and consequently rejected everything that con-
fiicted with them, including the Bible This
statement proves to me that this man was in
the wrong regarding Spiritualism. for get all
my authority for the phenomena and philoso-
ply of Spirituaism from the Bible II is a
spiritualstic text book from beginning TO end
Its Spirituaism is its beauty. its grace and its
interest Those Bible writers were not false
historians. The same laws which govern the
universe now governed it then and We have
the same phenomena presented 70 Us by our
mediums today. and IL has always seemed TO
me that the Spiritual medium Of today comes
nearer 20 the standard erected By Jesus him
self than do those who by long prayers and
loud professions try 70 make themselves and
the world think that they are the true follow
ers ~ Christ. Fortunately We are rot left in
the dark in this matter. for our elder brother
Jesus has left US rule so that we may know
who his followers are. Jesus says. in the 10th
chapter Of Marx: These signs shall follow
those who believe on me: they shall heal the
sick. they shall discern the spirits; they shall
speak with unknown tongues. they need take
no thought before hand what they shall speak
for in that hour II will be given them" think
that fact will bear me out in the statement.
Mr.. Editor. that the professed followers of
Christ as rule not only do not heal the sick
themselves but they found TO be the first
to sneer at and deride mediums who discern
spirits. Truly it may be said today that he
came TO his own and they received him not
St. Paul says, in Corinthians; "Now concerning
spiritual gifts, brethen, l would not have you
ignorant" He then goes explaining these
gifts in an interesting manner
Psalms Gill says: For he shall give his an
gels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy
ways The ministry of unseen beings is one
of the most important doctrines of the Chris.
tian church. 1t is also one of the most neg
lected. The intervention of angels in human
affairs is very conspicuous element in the
Sacred Books and hardly great event is re-
corded there in which they have not been
prominent actors. Spiritualism boldly asserts,
what every parsonage of the new ana every
prophet of the Old Testament would assert,
that heaven is within speaking distance and
that the constant companionship of angels is
one of the inalienable rights of aspiring souls.
If SO called Christians had thoroughly believed
the Bible and accepted the revelations in this
regard, what is called Modern Spiritualism
would never have been born.
The truth is that the Spiritualists have ap-
propriated one of the most excellent and need
full truths of the Bible which for some reason
the pulpits have thrown aside, and upon that
one truth Spiritualism has built an enormous
structure underneath whose roof hundreds Of
thousands of Earths children find shelter from
the storms of life. To know that above and
around you are multitudes of spirits; some,
perhaps. the spirits of your dear ones of long
ago; that it is part of Gods providence that
they should accompany you, in order, as the
Psalmist says, "to keep thee in all thy ways
that their mission is to lovingly influence you
and guide and guard you to the best of their
ability during your earthly pilgrimage, and
that now and then they creep SO close to your
consciousness that you are aware of their pres
ence, and that at all times they will earnestly
endeavor to serve you-what other effect can
such a knowledge have upon you than to check
your mad impulse, give you serenity of mind
amid disturbing experiences, enable you to bear
inevitable sorrow with resignation and render
the other life so real that you will some day
say farewell to this life without regret That
is the doctrine of the Bible, and if we fail to
heed it we blindly neglect one of the most i'm
portant revelations of God.
The author further says: "In all my expert
ence with Spiritualism l never knew one per-