The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1913-04-24
HE PEOPLES FORUM.
DemonolOgy.

sented in your issue of last week. may
be seen IN the fact that
~ 1t assumes that the Jews re-
garded mental diseases as demon pos
sessions, which was inconsistent with
the facts.
(2) 1t is not consistent with the de-
tails of the gospel narratives. If He
only quelled outbursts of madness by
His word. how could the disciples give
details of imaginary conversations with
demons, giving the words used by both
parties and also the controversies grow
ing out of these cases of casting out
/ demons as well as the Jews recognl-
ton Of the fact of casting out demons,
their manner of accounting for it and
( our Savior's reply. See Matt. l2:22-29
Mar. 3:22 and Luke Ills.
/ o. II the authors of the gospel re-
corded the facts as they saw them and
words which they heard, the correspond
/ ence is natural.
/ ~ If each one gave an account of
/ the events refracted by his individual
| preconceptions and fancies, this mixture
and verbal correspondence is ineXpli-
cable.
(5l If this theory is true, how can
[ such Misrepresentation of the records
and perversion of truth meet with no
challenge or re5uke from any contem-
porary eye-Nitnesses of the events.
either Christians or jews?
| 60 Accounts given OF this same class
| OF phenomena by writer's in different
/ natlonalItieS and ages show an unde-
J signed and complete correspondence
( even IN details, thus proving that
records of the evangehsts present facts
/ as they occurred.
( A generally accepted principle of the
/ Interpretation requires US to believe
! that the language of the Bible in refer
ence to the demon possession is to be
taken literally-that is, there were
spirits who possessed the bodies of
men and gave unmistakable evidence of
! that possession. They cOnversed through
the organs of speech Of the persons and
gave evidence of personality, desires,
fears, and acknowledged Gods author
lily over them. Jesus cast them out and
gave His disciples authority to do like
wise, yet it is no wise clear that it
ceased with the Apostolic age.
In addition the common consent of all
nations Is in harmony with the consent
and teaching of scripture.
That such events have been repeated
in the history of the world is simply a
matter of evidence and of such a char
acter as not to be refuted.
1t is remarkable how far the svmp-
toms of demon possession as they are
reported by DR.. Nevius. corresponds
with those of the new testament.
! DR.. Nevius gives over twenty similar
characteristics.
! ~ In China persons of both sexes
and all ages are afflicted, as are cases
in the scriptures.
~ Attacks are occasional and COM
mence with some physical disturbances
or bodily CONFUSION. So in the scrip
tural account. Luke 9:39. A spirit
taketh him and he crieth out, and tear
eth him, and foameth, etc. Mark 9I8,
/ Luke 1929
Outlines the demon declares he will
not cease to torment the victim until he
submits to his will. The victim pines
away and eventually dies. This cores
( ponds to the scriptural account. 1t is
/ verified by instances recorded in the
Bible.
az Sometimes the subject receives
bodily scars and injuries as if from an
unseen hand.
? w OOlilc CdoCO are easily Cast Out,
others with difficulty. 1t is exactly so
in scriptures.
/ t6) Some of the spirits are more or
less violent or daring, while each one
has its own pecularities.
/ ~ Some of the persons possessed
ShameleSSly tear off their clothes and
have an utter disregard of all propriety
and decencY in language and behavior
4 tr,Cln "a, - 81. e
for now and then you will find some of
the devils choice servants who claim
to be in close touch with spirits-who
have the powers of mediums so utterly
indifferent to the proprieties of decent
society that they will lead shameful and
licentious lives. This was the case in
New York state years ago, when some
of the leaders of the spiritualistic cult
became so immoral that the outraged
sense of a decent community rose up
against it. 1t doesn't take a community
long to rid itself of gross evil and an
abomlnable fraud, when once it is
aroused to sense of the evil, the ten
dency of which is only downward, NOR
ally and spiritually, and its results evil
only.
(8) 1t has occasioned much surprise
I lidl some Oh IIle pOSSeSSeu nave eNlnCet
such knowledge of God and especially
of our Savior and acknowledged His au.
I thority and power This corresponds
exactly to statements of scripture. 1t
is easily explained. The devil is smart,
beyond mans conception. He is ubi-
quitous. He knows much of what is
going on in the world and more about
US than we may think. He can easily
communicate his knowledge through his
evil spirits to mediums and they in turn
use it for his interest and the adyan-
tage of his kingdom
90 The same body was possessed by
several demons at once-three, SIX or
more. 1t was so in scriptures when We
have an account of Mary Magdalena
having seven; and one by a legion.
Luke $50, Mark SO.
Q0) A common instinct of the spirit
is for body to possess and their pos
sessing inferior animals.
You will recall that this is fact in
scripture when they asked to be al
lowed to enter the swine. Mat. 12:43;
1871.
Ill When cast out they sought to
return again. Matt. 1874.
Q2) Another correspondence is the
tact that in attempts to cast out demons
in the name of Christ there has been no
failures.
OBJ Demons are cast out by others
than Christians and by different meth