Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1919-10-03
BY BISHOP w. A. GAMBLER

Extremes meet This trite
maxim finds daily exemplification in
many fields of thought. A certain
class Of tickle minds run now to one
extreme and now to another, boxing
the compass with the utmost uncon-
seriousness of their ffeklenss. This is
especially true Of some who seem in
religious matters to possess nothing
better than what a celebrated Amer
lean essayist has called "their casual
creeds." They are forever learning,
but never able to come to the know
ledge of the truth, and frequently
they adopt the most inconsistent be-
Iiefs in rapid succession. They are
materialists today and spiritualists
tomorrow, and without seeming to
know the two systems are mutually
destructive.
In keeping with these observations,
and in confirmation of them, is the
fact that an age of doubt generally
becomes an age of credulity.
In the days of the French revolu-
ton, when skepticism became a
mania, the skeptics in most cases
became amazingly superstitious.
Men who repudiated the Scriptures
with the utmost scorn and contempt
became constant visitors at the sa-
Ions of Mesmer and Cagliostro. just
as Saul, Thea first king of Israel, re-
sorted to the witch of Endor when he
had lost faith in Jehovah, the GOD
of his fathers.
Just now we are seeing the same
sort of thing repeated in England
and in certain sections of our own
country. The rankest materialists
are turning to the silly delusions of
spiritism.
A few years ago Professor James
took the same eccentric course, and
agreed with his friend, Professor Hy-
Slop, that the one who died first would
communicate with the other from the
spirit world, if it should be possible.
James died first and it was given
out that he had kept the agreement
and had sent a message to Hyslop
through a half-witted boy, sending
the communication through a chan
mel of least resistance, we may be
permitted to suppose. And what was
the wonderful message he sent to his
bereaved and expectant friends? 1t
was that he wished a Christmas pres
ent sent to Hyslop and that the pres
ent should consist of a black cravat
and two pairs of pink pajamasI Won
derful! What an addition to the sum
of human knowledge! What death
less friendship was that, which amid
the solemn experiences of the world
Of spirit still had a care for his
friends need of a cravat and pink
pajamas at Christmas! Professor
James was not so puerile while he
abode in the flesh, and was not ad-
dicted to the sending Of messages
through half-witted boys. In the
world Of spirits he has evidently been
deteriorating.
Before he died Crooks, the in
ventor Of the Crooks Tube" fell to
talking in a cabinet with a familiar
spirit, when he called "Katie;' but
| SO far as was ever known his misty
''Katie' told him nothing worth
speaking Of; at least katie" with
| womanly delicacy said nothing
about black cravats and pink paja-
| mas.
Now Sir Oliver Lodge has gone
after such foolishness, and Sir Co.
nan Doyle, who has ben especially
| concerned about the arts of detec-
| tives, thinks he detects communica-
tions with departed spirits and
adopts the same senseless system OF
criticism. The names and Influence
Of these famous men will probably
produce a considerable body of dis
| cipleS, and we shall have doubtless
reigning fad of spiritism for a
time among that class of empty
minds who boast OF maintaining a
| hospitable mind towards all sorts
| of Vagrant theories. The craze will
pass quickly, of course; but while
| it is running it's course, it will dc
much harm to weak-minded people
| Even some men who call themselves
preachers of the Gospel will be sub.
| ject to the spell; for there is in the
ministry a certain number Of mer
who make haste to accept without
consideration anything that is pub.
1ished as the belief of some con.
| spicuous man. These are they who
adopt every fashion in theology OF
literature that may happen to be il
vogue at any particular moment
They are not bent on knowing anC
preaching "the truth as it is il
Jesus" but in being modish in theil
pulpit performances. They change
fhoir aacilU opd ofta,