The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1913-04-03

otAAPhOAAAo bAieAb eAlC AOIitilOll W NdoCo VI
demon-possession and to ordinary de-
engagements of the nervous system. and
strange to say, he fails to notice
symptoms which specially characterize
cases of possession. which are not path
illogical and do not harmonic with his
theory. 1t is admitted that mania,
epilepsy, idiocy, hysteria have symp-
toms similar to those of possession.
This, however, does not prove that so
called cases of possession are only varied
forms of these diseases.
The same symptoms may be due to
very different causes, and belong to
very different diseases. This fact is
the well known cause of the difficulty
which physicians so often meet in the
diagnosis of diseases, often being oblig-
ed to wait until the disease develops
some new and pronounced symptoms
which at once reveal It's true character
and distinguish it from every other dis
ease with which it has symptoms in
common. We must know what the
symptoms which peculiarly differentiate
demon possession are. Among these
may be mentioned first, the chief dis
tinguishing marks of demon possession.
viz: The automatic presentation and
persistent and consistent acting out of
a new personality. This shows itself
in the positive assertions of the person
speaking, declaring that he is demon
and then giving his name aad dwelling
place.
1t shows itself in the use of pronouns.
The first personal pronoun Away repre-
sents the demon. while bystanders are
addressed in the second person and the
subject possessed is spoken of in the
third person, and regarded for the time
being as in an unconscious state and
practically non existent This new per
sonality also manifests itself in senti-
ments, declarations, facial expressions,
and physical manifestations harmonic
ing with the above assumption 1t
would be quite impossible to account
for them on the ground of deception or
imposture, even in the case of adopts in
the art of stimulation.
1t may be said, this new personality
is analogous to or Identical with as
sumption and apparent personality not
unfrequently met in the same persons.
But they are different. In the case of
demonia there is a clear and distinct
recognition by the new personality. of
the continued and distinct existence and
individuality of the subject possessed,
the new personality speaking of the
possessed subject in the third person,
which popularity is wanting in insane
persons.
The demoniac when in the normal
state characterized by the new person
ality. really seems and acts in all re-
spects. like an entirely different person,
while the insane person is his diseased
self, and the assumed personality is d
transparent uureality, so unreal too,
that almost anyone even the partially
skilled can detect il:
Another mark of demon possessed Is
the evidence IL gives of knowledge and
intellectual powers, not possessed by
the subject, nor explainable on the
pathological hypothesis, such as the
sudden acuuiescence Of powers Of ora
tory aud poetic expression and gift of
ventrlloquism and gift of languages uE-
known by the subject.
Sail another mark. intimately con-
nectedly with the assumption of the
new personality Is that with tie change
Of personality, there is a ,Jmplete
change Of moral character. The char
acter presented is debaseda and malicious,
with extreme aversion to and hatred of
God, and especially to Christ and His
religion. Prayer or the reading of the
Bible may throw the patient into a
paroXysm Of opposition and rage We
may say, right here, that not all phvsi-
clans make light Of the possession
theory. DR.. Forbes Winslow, one of
the foremost British alicnists, one Of
the leading in medical psychology, was
an avowed believer in demon possession.
G. H. Pember, of London, states in
his Earth Earliest Ages and their CON
nection with Modern Spirltualism' that
DR.. Winslow said to him. that large
proportion of the patients in our asylums
are cases of possession and not mad
ness" He distinguished the demonac
by a strange quality, and by the fact
that, when temporarily relieved from
the oppression Of the demon he is often
able to describe the force which seizes
upon his limbs, and compels him to acts
or words of shame against his will
Medical science has not established
their theory-thev are divided among
themselves. Even DR.. Taylor, though
he labors hard to account for demon
possession by the pathological theory,
was compelled to admit that the pos
session theory is genuine, rational and
philosophical in its proper place" We
will therefore retain it in its proper
place, until theory is found which ex-
plain the facts at least equally as well.
1t is not too much to say that those
who believe IN the word of God do not
hesitate in accepting the doctrine of
Demonologv as true-that there were ac-
tuaI possessions of the devil in NewTes-
lament times. 1t is so popular in this
day of almost universal skepticiSm and