Denton and Haughton Examiner, etc. — 1887-03-26 (Denton, Greater Manchester, England)

UNSCIENTIFIC, UNSCRIPTURAL, UNTRUTHFUL AND LYING, AND IMMORAL. He stated how Mr. Burns, of London, editor of the spiritualist journal, the Medium, ran amsy from him three tiines; how he had four nights' dobate with a spiritualist "medium" and lecturer, Mr. B. AV. Wallis out of whom he (Mr. Ashcroft) cast 15 spirits; that Mr. Wallis never replied to the four pro. positions of debate, nor answered one of the lit ques. time put to him, nor falsified one of the 268 quota. tions from 66 spiritualist writers, exposing the evils of spiritualism. He also stated that 127 falsehoods or lies were published by the spiritualists in their report of the said discussion. He proceeded to explain how scientists oppose the theory of spiritualists, showing that even when the phenomena was real it was caused by animal tnagnetism; that a table charged with magnetism will tilt or rap, and that questions will be answered through it by one of the sitters, whose hands are on the board, knowing this answer, and having the mind actively fixed upon it while the rest remains passive. He had seen a table charged with magnetism jump about and go upstairs. He quoted scripture to prove that God forbade people toseek communication with spirits. He asserted the witch of Dolor did not bring up Samuel; that she could not do it. He also exhibited a number of magic lantern views on a screen, explaining how the "mediums" produced the trickery of spirit phenomena and ghosts.—On Thursday even. ins, the Rev. S. Forrest presided. In the main the lecture was something similar to that of Tuesday evening. The lecturer proceeded to prove that spiritualism was untruthful and lying; that spiritualists , theinselvee said their utediurns lied, and that spirits told all sorts of falsehoods even in the name of God ; that they tell lies about Cod, heaven, the Bible, Christ, and Christians; about their spirit spheres, progression, pardon, prayer, and perdition--giving proofs from their journal, the Medium ; that spiritualism is ins. moral; that its advocates say their spirits are worse Hero the worst of men; that these spirits make men lie, drink, swear, commit adultery, rob, and murder, yet they remain innocent, should not be punished, but pitied and rewarded because their bad spirits make them do these thingo. The lecturer continued to show the bud influence of spiritualism on our churches, Sunday schools, and families clueing with an appeal to the Openshaw spiritualists and Christians. A meUm was put as to whether Mr. Ashcroft had proved his propositions, and it was carried with a forest of hands. The imtitrary motion was then put, and for this some half-doom hands were raised. The lecturer offers £l,OOO to any magnetic or healing "medium" elfiet a cure in a oertain given case, and £lOO to any of the mediums who can produce real spirit manifestations for him, lie challenges any of them to debate, awl will even take a number of them at once. He is willing to meet Messrs. Burns, Wallis, Johnson, Mrs. Butterfield, and scone other mediums whom he named, all on the platform at once—Both lectures were received with repeated applause.