Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1919-10-03
BISHOP GAMBLERS MESSAGE

women of fashion change the style
of their gowns.
In the first place, it should be
understood that this spiritism of Sir
Oliver Lodge and Sir Conan Doyle
is nothing more nor less than in
verted materialism. t really mate
rializes the spiritual world instead
of spiritualizing the material world
1t ought to be as unacceptable to
thorough-going materialists as it is
to sensible Christians. 1t adds not
one reliable fact nor dependable prin-
! ciple to either philosophy or theol-
ogy. 1t is bald, blank superstition;
simply this and nothing more.
According to the teaching of ST.
Paul and all the writer's of the Holy
Scriptures, spiritual things are not
made known to us through the
senses. Wherefore, the great Apos-
tie to the Gentiles wrote to the
church at Corinth, where just such
Wltchcraft was quite prevalent in
his day, Eye hath not seen, nor ear
heard, neither have entered into the
heart of mind the things which God
hath prepared for them that love
Him. But God hath revealed them
to US by His Spirit Ct Corinthians
i1:9-10). He thus excludes from both
the senses and the carnal reason the
knoWledge of the spiritual world
which men need to acquire. And
Paul is right. No attempt to caves
drop the celestial world can be sue
cessful; no prying Tom can get any
thing out Of the spiritual world
Moreover, these materialists who
claim to get communications from
disembodied souls proceed on the
false idea that the Holy Scriptures
are insufficient for human needs,
and that they must extract from
spirits some additional knowledge
to make up for the deficiency of
revelation which inheres in Gods
word. They would have us believe
That Jesus has not adequately
brought life and immortality to
Light in the Gospel and that it has
remained for them, quite indepen-
dent of God, to get in communica-
ton with some departed spirits
and find out for mankind what our
heavenly Father neglected to tell
US.
This assumption Of divine negli-
Gence to reveal all that men need
~ F-lAOW anu IllSlI ABILITY 10 supple
ment divine revelation by getting in
communication with departed spir-
its is utterly false. 1t is an indict-
ment of Gods mercy and a proud
claim Of great penetration for them
selves.
They and we need to recall what
Jesus taught in the parable of the
rich man and Lazarus. eff they hear
not Moses and the prophets, neither
Will they be persuaded, though
one rose from the dead" duke
Xvl:3D. There is the most striking
assertion of the suffciency of the
divine revelation for mans need
OF salvation.
And if anything were needed to
confirm this assertion, the history
of spiritualism in all ages would
supply the needed confirmation.
Splritualism has never added one
single truth to the sum of human
knowledge of spiritual things. 1t
has been utterly strife of religious
results. 1t has done nothing to in
form the intellect. or reform the
life. No soul has ever been regen-
Grated by it's pretended communica-
tons, but, like a will-o'- the-wisp,
it has allured many credulous souls
to spiritual tragedies in which all
faith has been destroyed and all
piety wrecked.
1t was the ruin of Saul, the first
king of Israel. In the early years
of his reign he undertook with
the greatest zeal to purge the ma
ticn of all sorts of witchcraft; but
the last night of his life he was
groVelling in the cave of the witch
of Endor.
Our age of doubt cannot find a
way out of it's gloom and distress
by resorting to spiritism. In sin
cere repentance and humble faith
it must return to God.
Materialism has MANNED it's faith
and mangled it's life. 1t can not find
it's way by following this mislead-
ing materialism into the world of
spirits. 1t must retrace it's mis-
| guided steps, and return to God.
| Without God, it must be without
| hope.
The case of poor Sir Oliver Lodge
is positively pitiable. He lost his
| son in the war; but he shows him
self quite unlike King David, who
| said when his son died, But now
he is dead, wherefore should !
| fast? Can I bring him back again?
| [ shall go to him. but he shall not
! return to me" Oh Samuel xii:23).
Rut poor Sir Oliver. renouncing
! faith and passing bV God tries to