The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1913-03-27


know their intent. We only know they
sent the herd rushing headlong into the
deep to certain death.
1t is easy enough to say the thing
does not exist, or to cut off all inquiry
by saying they were what we call cpl
leptics or maniacs. 1t may be there
was some truth in the declaration that
these were connected with bodily mala-
dies, as they were at once classed with
various sicknesses and at the same time
distinguished from them by the Evan
CYCLISTS. Matt. 4:24; SIG; Mar. 1:34.
To Identify the two will not satisfy
any reverent student of the Word of
God, for. the word of the Master is of
more weight with such statement
than all the nostrums of a skeptical
science, or the superstltions and conjec-
lures of all the critics of the world.
Jesus speaks of demoniacs not as per
sons of disordered intellects, but as sub
jects OF an alien spiritual might. He
addressed the evil spirits as distinct
from the man. Hold thy peace and
come out Of him." Mar. 1:25.
We are told that Jesus simply humro-
ed the fancy of the afflicted Just to
facilitate their cure. But He uses the
same language in His confidential dis
courses with His disciples, as Matt. los:
Heal the sick, cast out devils" etc.
and 1921: this kind goeth not, etc. To
say that Jesus, the source of Truth,
would thus fall in with the errors of
men and uphold and confirm them in so
serious an error as the belief in satanic
influences when it did not exist, is to
make Him a deceiver and promoter of
falsehood. Explanation by imb0Sfnre.
The fact that deception was, or NAV
be practiced, is no evidence that the
thing did not exist. 1t does not prove
the reality of the phenomena,in all cases.
The question is not, are any of these
phenomena to be referred to imposture,
but are they all to be so referred? Such
an hypothesis is untenable. 1t has been
shown and by such men as DR.. Nevins,
that the subjects of these manifesto
tons are, while in the abnormal state,
apparently without their normal con-
sciou7ness and capable Of deceiving or
being deceived.
If it be assumed that this supposed
absence Of normal consciousness is itself
only deception and imposture, this as
sumption presupposes a degree of sus-
ceptibility to imposture in all nations
and ages which passes credence to say
nothing of the evidence which is, in
large number of cases, full and conclu-
slve that the subject, so far from trying
to deceive others 10y inducing them to
believe he is possessed, is using all his
powers of body and mind to free himself
from an rndiction which he bemoans
and abhors. Certainly a demon pos
sessed person does not want others to
know that he is under the influence of
evil spirits.
Spirtualist IN his last communication
gets rather gay. He quotes Shakes
peare. 1t matters not to me whether
or not he believes me, All the same
pity his poor deluded soul in the bonds
of iniqulty, loving darkness and clinging
to the evil. He quotes Scripture very
profusely to justify his position. 1t is
pitiable that peoson like him, who sets
himself up as leader of religious
thought, should be so ignorant of the
plain meaning of Scripture, and evil
IDENTIFY thinks that he can overwhelm
your readers by his numerous quota
tons, that they will all think him to be
a wise man because he cites so many
verses. He doesn't know, apparently.
how to interpret the language. What
has Gen. 3:8, or 1871, or 1924. when the
angel wrestled with Jacob, to do with
modern spiritualism? Or what has Elk.
1l:9, or Dan. SO, the writing of the
divine hand upon the wall at wicked
Belshazzar's feast, which was rebuke
for his defiance of God and the record
ing of his doom.
| will not take your space to answer
these quotations Of "Splritualist" sew
orally, but how he could quote them
with the idea that they prove his posi-
tion is bevond my comprehension. Not
q single one Of them rightly interpreted
could be so construed as to prove the
modern abomination of spiritualism.
Every Bible student believes those pas
sages to teach just what they are meant
to teach, but only by perverslon and
wrestling them from their natural mean
ing can they be made to have even the
semblance of teaching splritualism. To
my mind it is a clear perversion of
Scripture.
If his quotations are an evidence of
his knowledge of the Bible, he is sadly
deficient, for he gives evidence of his
ignorance Of its teaching or his willful
perverting the Holy Word. l do not
propose to say harsh things about him,
for it requires no brains to do that.
He harps on investigation, and boldly
invites it. Why did his medium fatty
refuse to proceed with his meeting but
declared it off when honest men were
present to investigate? Why did the
medium refuse to proceed unless a wo-