Evening star., 1924-05-23
Defends Spiritualism.
Writer Takes Issue With Lectures
of Priest on Subject.

To The Editor of The Star:
y priest of the Catholic Church, the
Rev. Carlos de Heredia, S. j., recently
| lectured in Washington on Spirit
| ualism." This gentleman, was, in his
| youth. If the statement from q recent
| Washington morning journal be cor
rect, a pupil of Hermann, the well
known prestidigitator. He is expert
| in jugglery and legerdemain. In his
| travels throughout America, lectur-
! ing on this subject of spiritualism,
the Rev. Mr.. de Heredia seeks to
show that certain types of physical
! phenomena and manifestations, pro-
| duced through spiritualistic agency,
may be reproduced through slight-of-
hand and conjuring. He purposes to
expose fraudulent mediums and clair
Lvoyants.
The object to expose fraud would
not seem unworthy. And yet, in these
continuous lectures. to touch only the
| infelicities and the Jagged eAcres
cences of the subject would not seem
quite just and generous. Through
| omission the serious and scientific
aspects of the subject are not given.
By means of expert jugglery the
Rev. Mr. de Heredia may, no doubt,
| counterfeit types of such presenta-
| tion, but it would only be clever
counterfeit of what is often genuine,
! though at times may be spurious.
No profession is without it's shadows.
| Few churches have been impeccable.
Frequently the Catholic Church has
within it's own fold and for its own
purposes Joan of Arc saw visions
and heard strange voices.
In 1909 her solemn beatificaton
as Teresa, The Little Flower" has
recently received such beatificaton.
1t is said of her: Throughout the
Catholic world 1t Is expected that the
anniversary of Teresa's beatification
will be marked by one of these Show
er of Roses or special blessings tnat
are said to characterize all her feast
days, in fullfillment of her dying
promise to shower roses from
Heaven"
This would seem an extreme ex-
ample of irit-manifestation, such
I am not a spiritualist in the sense
of believing that spirituahstic
church is necessary, or can ever sup
ply the deep spiritual needs that our
own Christian church gives, or that
mediums or the usual table-tipping
are conductive to human happiness
and enlightenment Through personal
experience. however, largely subject
i've, has come the personal conviction
that those who have passed on may
communicate, and do communicate in
a beneficent way, and for the spirit
ual, but not the material advantage
of those who remain. There are nat
ural laws also that follow cause and
effect Saint or profiigate, alike. cross
ing the streets of Washington with
closed eyes, may not open them again
in mortal places.
Tn hn Jacf
science and the cautious research
of men of distinction, of high attain
ment. of undoubted reliability and
probity, unusual development and
phenomena have been attained, to
which facts the public is not yet
awakened. Among such serious and
distinguished investigators in Eng
land may be mentioned Sir Oliver
Stanton Moses: in France, DR.. Gus
tav Geley, Prof. Richet; in Germany,
Baron Won Schrenck-Notzing; in Den
mark, SEVERN Lauritzen. Other names
that have contributed to volumi-
James Hyslop, Phi. D.; F. NJ. H. Myers
Frank Podmore.
In an environment and atmosphere
not always felicitious, the spiritual
list holds the greatest truth, yearn-
ed for by all, felt but dimly by many
that the dead live and do communi-
cate through powers Of stimulation
for spiritual needs. The realization
of this latter fact, not with diluted
faith, but in overwhelming convic-
tion, permeating all churches, re-
ligions and peoples. I believe to be
the message and the one function
of the spiritualistic church. And for
this reason alone its existence would
seem worth while. For its message Is
one of illumination. If we realize the
blessed dead may and do communi-
cate we know that they live.
| OTTO T. SIMON.