Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-05-01
SIR Ot1Uer Lodge
Tragic Belief That
He Talks w 9TH
HIS Dead Son
BY Bishop ". L. Gambler

LEeneS III LuuuEnL- wei - AZ saNA-SA's
frequently meet Men who have been
addicted 10 materialistic studies, and
who have committed themselves TO ma
teriaiistic philosophers. very often Tall
into the folIies of spiTitualism. such
contradiction Is logically most amazing,
but as a matter OF experience II IS not
uncommon. We have a case in point
Just now in the published views of Sir
oliver Lodge The case Is really pa
lhetic and in a sense tragic
Sir oliver Lodge. as is well known.
has been the president OF the British
Association of Scientists. and has been
the forefront OF the worlds SCIENTISTS
but now he has accepted some OF the
most absurd notions of spiritualism-
II appears that his son Raymond was
given a commission in the British army
organized by Lord Kitchener. and IN
less than a year from the date or ms
enlistment. he died at the front. The
shadow OF this great grief which telI
upon the fathers heart seems 10 have
extended to his head also, and in his
recent book. entitled Raymond, ne
gives what he calls the evidences OF
his communications with his son. who
Was killed in battle Marks or sorrow
are found on every pase OF the worA'
and these lines OF grief exclude any
disposition TO deride what IS written oy
Nevertheless. il Is past understanding
rov- such- a man as Sir oliver Lodge
an accept such fautastic and foolish
rhings-
he believes that Raymond keeps IN
touch with his family through me
siurns~ Among these mediums is one
called Mrs. Kennedy VINO Claims 10
have the gift Of automatic writing uh-
der the impulsion OF invisible spirits. a
sc -rE
lows. 4 shall bring Raymond 10 his
father when he comes. He Is so jolly
everyone loves him. 1t is ripping TO
see a bow like this. He has been sleep
ing a long time. but has spoken To-
dsv'~ Think of a great scientist At
taching any importance 10 stun OF -thet
kind. Other things communicated 10
the father b. another medium are mat
Raymond did not like white robes al
arst and decided to wear his own cIoIhes
for a while" but il is suggested that
he will soon dress like the natives
that RAYMOND has nice 'doggie'-has
got q nice tail, not little stumpy
tail"
Under the stress of sorrow this great
scientist accepts as true these aDsuru
communications and il is quite likely IN
this time OF worldwide confusion ana
distress many thousands OF people VIII
take rna same COuLSN- All as "a N~N---
very easily becomes an age of supersu-
ron. especially when the souls of men
are tried BIZ great griefs. saul, the
first King of Israel, having torsaken the
God Of Israel. turned 10. the witch OF
-Endor when he was threatened with
calamity in battle In Ike manner dur
ing the French revolution the material
lists OF Paris resorted 10 the seances OF
Nesner- and the tricks Of Cagliostro. IN
these trying times we may look Tor d
renetitfon Of the same sort OF folly.
E.xtrsr,e creduItty is the natural reac-
tIon from skeptfcfsm, when trouble be-
sets men: and il is astonishing what
preposterous things the human nina
can believe after years Of faithless re-
lection of the Holy Scriptures.
The dezthless aspirations OF. the hu-
man heart can not be denied the COM
forts OF faith without taking vengeance
on the human mind which rejects the
revelation OF the true God. Men must
End some repose Of soul in the spiritual
world. and when they refuse TO believe
in Christ. who hath brought lift and I'M
mortality TO light, they are driven Tor
comfort to all sorts Of superstitious
theories.
But the human spirit cannot survive
BY feeding on the husks of spiritualism
The heart cannot be supported long by
hope OF men is in God. In the Holy
Scriptures we lind light enough to fur
rish Us q sure and sufficient rule OF
both faith and practice: and If men will
not hear Moses and the prophets,
neither will they believe the one who
rose from the dead" The puertle pro-
auctions Of Spiritualism are too feeble to
sustain the weight Of the worlds woe.
And spiritualism Is as Intellectual for
inspiring noble conduct as il is power
less for soothing poignant grief. 1t has
done nothing for the uplifting Of man
kind i'm character. nor in relieving the
needs OF the human race by the erection
OF any humane institutions Prebendary
G. \. Row in mis- admirable discussion
OF the Historical Evidences of the
Resurrection OF Jesus Christ" contrasts
the steriIiyt of spirituaIism and the
vast fruitfulness OF christianity in the
most instructive manner. He says:
What. I ask. has the whole mass OF
ghost stories. .marvels. and current spir-
itualism done to reform the world? We
have heard much I'm these modern days
OF spirfruslism, and its wonders: has
any great institution been erected on
It's basis. or is there any probability
that there ever will be- Are mankind
or any portion OF them the better or the
wiser for its disclosures To these
questions there can only be one answer:
Spiritualism, with all its alleged powers
OF penetrating into the secrets of the
unseen world. and all similar marveIs.
has achieved nothing: il has made man
neither holiers1or wiser; nay, II has not
affected a discovery which has enlarged
the knowledge. or even made the for
tune OF any of its vOtaries"
These things men should bear in mind
in these times when both doubt and
despair prevail so widely in our perturb-
ed and confused world We cannot wise
~ look 20 any other source than Jesus
Christ and his salvation for comfort
in sorrow and help in every time of
need II in Him we can not find light
and life and truth. the nour quest for
these high things elsewhere is hopeless
To be without Him Is 20 be without God
. and without hope IN the world.
What a pity that Sir Oliver Lodge
instead Of resorting to the mediums. do
not betake himself 10 the Holy Scrip
lures and to earnest prayer, In that
quarter he would have found true light
and solid comfort. In fact. mediums
since the days Of the Witch OF Endor
have not brought light but darkness.
and evidently the noble mind of this
great philosopher has been darkened
and dishonored by his dealing with
these familiar spirits"
The urohets Of old complafued that