第3章

Ihavegottoworktokeepyouawayfromus，andthat\'snoteasyforme。”——“Raymond，“ p。248，ed。1916，Doran。Noticeinthisthethinlyveiledenticementtohastenthedaywhenfatherandsonwillbetogetheragain。AndthisisnottheonlyoccasionwhensuchasuggestionwasmadethroughthespiritmediumtoEngland\'sdistinguishedscientist。The“spirit“Feda，pretendingtospeakforRaymondthroughthemedium，Mrs。Leonard，saysthis:Page78“Hedoeswishyouwouldcomeover。Hewillbeasproudasacatwithsomethingtails——twotails，hesaid。Proudasacatwithtwotailsshowingyouroundtheplaces。Hesays，Fatherwillhaveafinetime，pokingintoeverything，andturningeverythinginsideout。”——Id。，page269。Thereisnodisguisingtheenticementhere。The“spiritutteringthosewordsisputtingintothemindsofthosewhoconsultthespiritsthethoughtofhasteningbytheirownhandsthetimewhentheyshallrendtheveilandspeak(astheysuppose)facetofacewiththelovedonesgonebefore。 Ifthelovedonesgonebeforearedearertothemthanthelovedoneswhowouldbeleftbehind，thetemptation，throughfrequentrepetition，preysupontheminduntil，inmanycases，themindyields，andthevictimofthedelusionsnapsthebrittlethreadoflife，andbreakstheunchanginglawofGodatthesametime。ThatsoulwillstandunshrivenbeforehisMakerinthegreatjudgmentday。Satanhasaccomplishedthatsoul\'sruinthroughthedeceptiveteachingsofSpiritism。 Theideathatwehavebeenconsidering，——spiritsuggestionstosuicide，—— isdirectlytaughtintheworkputoutbytheRev。G。ValeOwen，vicarofOrford，Lancashire，underthetitleof“TheLifeBeyondtheVeil，“Book3(“TheMinistryofHeaven“)。Mr。Owen，whosehandistakenchargeofbythespiritsatacertaintimeintheday，iswritingoftheexperienceofJudasIscariotatthetimeofthecrucifixionofChrist。Thesearethewordsthuswrittenunderspiritcontrol:“Asthebetrayer[JudasIscariot]lookeduponthefaceandformofHim[Christ]，therecameintohissoulavoicewhichmockedandsaid:\'AsyouwouldhavegonewithHimintoHiskingdom，andtherehavetakenhighplaceofpower，gonowintothekingdomofHisadversary:thereyoumayhavepowerfortheasking。Hehasfailedyou。GonowwhereHewillnotbeathandtorewardyouasyouhaveservedHim。\' “Sovoicescameabouthim，andhestrovetobelievethem，andtolookintothefaceoftheOneonthecross。Hewaseager，andyetinfearofthoseeyesintowhichhehadneverbeenabletolookwithcomfortatanytime。ButthesightofthedyingChristwasalltoodim，andHedidnotseeJudah[JudasIscariot]there。Andstillthevoiceshummedonandtauntedhimandcajoledhimmoregently，andatlength，inthegloomabouttheplace，herushedaway，andletouthislifeinaPage79placewherehefoundsolitudeandatree。Hetookoffhisgirdleandhunghimselftodeathonatree。”——“TheLifeBeyondtheVeil，“ book3，p。144。ThevoicesthattauntedandcajoledJudasIscariot，andinducedhimfinallytotakehisownlife，asthisspirit-controlledwritersays，werevoicesfromthesameclassofbeingsthatsubtlyinsinuatedtoSirOliverLodgetospeedthetimeofhisdeparture。 Thespirit-guidedhandofthesamewriter，Rev。G。ValeOwen，recordsthissentiment，whichwecanbutregardasanencouragementtothesameend:“Thusyouwillseehowlittleitmattersthat，whenthetimecomesforyoutocastoffthebodyofearth，youstanddiscarnate。Yourearthbodywasabodyofvibrationsandnomore。Verywell，younowhaveabodyofvibrationsmoresubstantialandenduring，becauseofahigherquality，andnearertotheenergizingWillwhichbroughtitintoexistence，andsosustainsit。”——Id。，book2，p。126。Thisteachesonetoplaceaveryslightvaluationuponthispresentlife，andtolookforwardwithlongingtothetimewhen，snappingthebrittlecordoflife，oneistostepfull-fledgedintothelifeofhigher“vibrations，“ wherehewillbenearertoGod。Therecanbenoquestioninthemindofright-thinkinghumanbeingsbutthatsuchteachingencouragessuicide。 Therearespecificinstancesonrecordofitshavingdoneso。Thefollowingwillbetothepoint: OnJune5，1919，aninquestwasheldinWhangarei，NewZealand，overthedeathofawomanwhowentbythenameofJessieWest。Thewoman\'sbodywasfoundonJune3floatinginthewater，shehavingdrownedherselfintheWhangareiRiveronthepreviousnight。ThefollowingquotationistakenfromthereportoftheinquestaspublishedintheAuckland(NewZealand)StarofJune5，1919:“Deceasedhadsaidshewasmarriedtoanelderlygentleman； thatshehadmarriedhimforhismoney，notforlove。DeceasedusedtoholdSpiritualmeetingseverynightinthedeceased\'sroom。TheyheldameetingontheMondayevening。\'Weusedtosing，sayalittleprayer，thespiritswouldcome，andwereceivedspiritualmessages。Herspiritwouldsay，“LoveFreddie。”\'Freddiewasafriendofthedeceased\'s。Witnessdidnotknowhisothername。Page80“Witness，whowasvisiblyaffected，andevidentlygaveevidencewithdifficulty，continued:\'Weleftthehotelathalfpasteight，walkeddowntothetownwharftogether。Shesaidshewasgoingtoafriendthatwantedher。Itoldhernottogo——nottobefoolish。Shesaid: “MyFreddieiscallingme。”\' “THECORONER:\'WherewasFreddie?\' “WITNESS:\'Heisdead。Itwashisspiritcalling。\' “Continuing，witnesssaid:\'Wewalkeddowntothewharf。Whenwegotthere，deceasedtookoffhercostumeandotherclothes，gavethemtome，anddeceasedkeptonlyhernightdresson。Ithenleft，asdeceasedtoldmetogo。\' “Witnesssaidsheknewwhatdeceasedwasgoingtodo；shehadtoldwitnessaweekagothatshewasgoingtodrownherself。 “InanswertoSergeantMoore，witnesssaiddeceasedtoldhernottotellanyone。Sherealizednowthatshewasfoolishtogoawayorleavedeceased，whohadsaid，\'Letmego；Ihavenothingtolivefor；\'thatherlovedonewasgone，andhewascallingher。 “THECORONER:\'AtthismeetingofSpiritualistsdidyouhearanybodyintheroom?\' “WITNESS:\'No；butIheardasoundintheroom。Itwasnotthedeceasedspeaking。Iheardavoicesayto“loveFreddie。”TheyhadbeencarryingonthisallegedSpiritualismaboutamonth，orthreeweeks。 “THECORONER:\'Didyounottrytopersuadehernottodoit?\' “WITNESS:\'Yes，Isaidtoher，“Don\'tgo，Jessie；youareyoungyet；youhavealottolivefor。”\'Deceasedreplied，\'No，Ihavenothingtolivefor。MyFreddiehasgone；Imustgo，too。\' “WilliamThomasSimons，licenseeoftheWhangareiHotel，saiddeceasednevercomplained，butalwaysseemedcheerful。Herconductwasneversuchastoleadanyonetosupposeshewaslikelytocommitsuicide。”Butshedidcommitsuicide，andshewasurgedontothecommittingofthatdeedbecauseofherbeliefintheteachingsofSpiritism——thatthedeadarestillliving，stillconscious，stillabletolove，andstillyearningfortheassociationoftheirformerfriendsandlovedones。 HadshebelievedtheScriptures，whichplainlydeclarethat“thedeadknownotanything；“that“theirlove，andtheirhatred，andtheirenvyisnowperished；“that“thereisnowork，nordevice，norknowledge，norwisdom，inthegrave，whitherthougoest“(Eccl。9:5，6，10)；that“hisbreathgoethforth，hereturnethtohisearth；inthatverydayhisthoughtsperish“(Ps。146:4)——hadshebelievedtheseteach-Page81ings，shewouldhaveknownthatthevoiceswhichsheheardcallingherandurginghertodestroyherselfwerethevoicesofdemons，doingtheworkofhimwho“asaroaringlion，walkethabout，seekingwhomhemaydevour。”1Peter。5:8。Orhadthatpoor，deludedsoulunderstoodandbelievedthisscripture，“Heshallreturnnomoretohishouse，neithershallhisplaceknowhimanymore“(Job7:10)，shewouldhavedetectedtheimpostor，andbeenabletosay，asdidourLord，“Gettheebehindme，Satan。”ThatJobtherereferredtothingstemporalratherthaneternal，isseenbythisadditionaltestimonyfromthatafflictedbutfaithfulpatriarch:“IknowthatmyRedeemerliveth，andthatHeshallstandatthelatterdayupontheearth:andthoughaftermyskinwormsdestroythisbody，yetinmyfleshshallIseeGod:whomIshallseeformyself，andmineeyesshallbehold，andnotanother[or“notastranger，“margin]。” Job19:25-27。Thereisinthatutteranceademonstrationofstrongfaith，savingfaith，—— faithinthepowerandloveofGod，faithintheredemptiveworkofChrist，faithintheresurrection，andfaiththathehimselfwouldhaveapartintheresurrection，throughourSaviour\'sworkonhisbehalf。Thatfaithisfurtheremphasizedinthesewords:“Somanliethdown，andrisethnot:tilltheheavensbenomore，theyshallnotawake，norberaisedoutoftheirsleep。OthatThouwouldsthidemeinthegrave，thatThouwouldstkeepmesecret，untilThywrathbepast，thatThouwouldstappointmeasettime，andrememberme！ Ifamandie，shallheliveagain?allthedaysofmyappointedtimewillIwait，tillmychangecome。Thoushaltcall，andIwillanswerThee:ThouwilthaveadesiretotheworkofThinehands。”Job14:12:15。Job，aninspiredprophetofGod，hadnoinstructionfromDivinitytotheeffectthatwhenhediedhewouldpassatonceintoahighersphereoflife。Hehadneverbeeninformedthatwhenthedoorofthetombcloseduponhim，hewouldpassatonceintothepresenceofotherliving，sentientbeings，minglingwiththeminthebusyactivitiesofahigherandgranderandmoregloriousexistence。No；hesaid，“IfIwait，thegraveisminehouse:Ihavemademybedinthedarkness。”Page82Job17:13。Speakingagainofthedead，hesays:“Hissonscometohonor[thatis，tohonorablepositions]，andheknowethitnot；andtheyarebroughtlow，butheperceivethitnotofthem。”Job14:21。Inotherwords，hebelievedandhewrotewhatthewriterofthebookofEcclesiastesbelievedandwrote，andalsowhatthewriterofthePsalmsbelievedandwrote。Hereisatriumvirateofwitnesses，allspeakingbyinspirationoftheHolyGhost，alltestifyingtothesamething，andallteachingthatthedeadareunconscious。TheyarequietlyawaitingthatappointedtimewhentheCreatorshallcall，andtheyshallstandupintheirplacetoanswerHim。 TheywhobelievethetestimonyoftheseinspiredwitnesseswillneverbecaughtinthedeceptivesnarewhichSatanlaysforthefeetoftheunwaryinthedoctrinethatthedeadareconsciousandactivelyinterestedintheaffairsofthosetheylovedinlife。Theywhobelievethosepropheticpenmenofthedivinewillcanneverbedriventosuicidethroughthebeliefthattheirdepartedfriendsarecallingtothemtodestroythemselvesinorderthattheymayjoininhappyassociation“ontheotherside。” Thosespiritsthatspeakoutofthedarkness，urgingindividualstobreakGod\'slaw(“Thoushaltnotkill“)\'convictthemselves，bythatverysuggestion，ofbeingtheenemiesofGod，andthereforetheenemiesofmankind。Theyknowthathewhobreaksthatdivinecommandgoestohisgravewithnomediator，nothingtoshieldhimfromthejustpenaltyofthatlaw——death。 Spiritismteachesdoctrinesthatareplainlyopposedtothedivineprecepts； doctrinesthatmakeitpossibleforthecunningsophistriesofSatantoluremenandwomentotheirdoom。Thereforeitcannotescapethechargeofjointresponsibilitywiththegreatdeceiverforthedeathofthosewho，throughtheenticingwordsofspiritvoices，areurgedoninacoursethatcanendonlyintheireternaldestruction。 OnMay27，1909，afamouspsychicofFlindersStreet，Adelaide，Australia，Mrs。AddersonMiller，grantedaninterviewtoPastorE。S。Butz，whowroteoutareportoftheinterviewandsubmittedittoherforauthentication。 InthatPage83interview，whichwasalengthyone，occursthisquestionwithitsanswer:“Question——Aresuicidesledtothedeedbyevilspirits? “Answer——Yes，allofthem。”Thisspiritmediumspeakswithouthesitation，andaffirmsthepropositionwehaveputforward。Spiritistswilldoubtlesscontendthatitisonlyevilspiritswhoencouragesuicide，andthatgoodspiritswouldteachandurgethecontrary。Butwecontendthatanyspiritthatcomestoanyindividualclaimingtobethediscarnatespiritofanydeceasedhumanbeing，isanevilspirit。Itpurportstobewhatitisnot。Itisadeceiver，andisdeceivingforawickedpurpose；forbythedeclarationsofGod\'sownspokesmen，therighteousdeadarequietlyrestingintheirgraves，awaitingthecommandofGodthatwillspeakthemintolifeagainatthesecondcomingofourLord；andthewickeddeadareawaitingtheirsummonsalso，atalatertime，tostandupontheirfeetandreceivetherewardwhichajustGodconsidersmeetfortheirevilcourse。 FrederickC。SpurrwellsaysconcerningKingSaul\'sexperiencewithSpiritism:“Thestoryofthefirstsé；ancerecordedintheBibleisverysuggestive。SaulhadlosthisholdonthelivingGod。Thedoorofheavenwasclosedagainsthimbyreasonofhisownmoralunfitness。 Hewasadegenerateinmorethanonesense；andhetriedtofindinthesé；ancewhathehadmissedinhissoul。Whathefoundwasnotthegatetoheaven，butthedoorwaytotheabyss。Thespirittoldhimnogoodnewsaboutthebeyond。WhatitdidtellhimledtoSaul\'ssuicide。WhenmenarelivinginthejoyofcommunionwiththelivingGod，theydonotneednordesirethequestionablerevelationsofthesé；ance。 Itis，generallyspeaking，peoplewhoarebankruptoffaithwhoseektoforcethedoorofthegreatmystery。”——AustralianChristianWorld，Feb。20，1920。IntheMelbourneArgus，ofFeb。8，1921，waspublishedthereportofacoroner\'sinquestuponthedeathofthe“veteranactorandplaywright，GeorgeDarrell。”TheinquestwasheldatSydney，thebodyhavingbeenwashedashoreatDeeWhy，nearManly，NewSouthWales。Mr。DarrellleftanotetoMrs。Barnet，hislandlady，tellingthathewas“goingonaPage84journey，“anddirectingherwhatdispositiontomakeofcertainofhisbelongings。 Mr。NathanielBarnetgaveevidenceattheinquestthatDarrellhadbeendespondentforsometime；thathewasworriedatnothavingheardfromhisson；andthathewasagreatbelieverinSpiritualism。This，witnessbelieved，madehimregardlifeinthisworldasnotbeingofmuchconsequence——asa“meredetail。” Averdictofsuicidewasrendered。Therewasnoevidencegivenastowhetherthedeceasedhadbeenhearingvoicesfromthedarknesscallinghimtotheotherside；buttheteachingsofSpiritismthemselvesleadexactlywherethewitnessintimatedthattheydid，——toacheapeningofone\'sestimateofthevalueofthispresentlife，andadesiretocutadriftandlaunchoutintothe“higherlife。” Dr。OttoG。Freyermouth，famousneurologistandpsychologistofAmerica，hasthoughtitnecessary\'toissueawarningagainsttheouijaboard，theuseofwhichhasbecomesoprevalentthroughouttheworld。HecallsattentiontothreecasesofinsanitythathadoccurredatOakland，Calif。 FromhiswarningIquote:“Thethreecaseswerewomenwhohadbecomevictimstotheirowndevotiontotheoccult。One，fullyclothed，waswalkingcalmlyintoalakewhenrescuedwithdifficulty。Anotherconstantly\'heardmysteriousvoices。\'Thebrilliantmindofthethirdhadbecomeshattered。”——Washington(D。C。)Herald，Nov。7，1919。Atreewhichbearssuchfruitneedstobeuprootedratherthancultivated； forwhenonehaslistenedformonthsoryearstothese“mysteriousvoices，“ andsincerelybelievesthemtocomefromlovedoneswhohavegonebefore，hewillbeverylikelytoheedthesuggestionofsuicidewhensuchvoicesbringittohim。 OnTheThroneofSin:InsanityandSpiritismPage85Chapter9InsanityandSpiritismTHEclaimhasfrequentlybeenmadebymedicalmenthatabeliefinandadherencetoSpiritismconducetomentalunbalance。Theassertionhasbeenmoststrenuouslydeniedbyleadersinthespiritisticcult，andyetthosewhomakeit，apparentlydosointheutmostgoodfaith。Mr。T。 Massie，M。B。，says:“Ihavehadtwentyyears\'experienceininvestigatingthementalconditionofsome2，500allegedlunatics。FromsuchpersonsIhaveheardmanystatementsassuringmeofthepresenceofspiritforms。Ihaveneverhadanyhesitationincertifyingsuchpersonstobefitforanasylumtreatment。”—— SundayTimes，Sept。9，1917。ASpiritistwriterhopes“Mr。Massiediscoveredsomethingmoreineachofhispatientswhichjustifiedtheirbeingincarceratedinalunaticasylumthantheirgiftofclairvoyance——“TheProofsoftheTruthsofSpiritualism，“ byHenslow，p。140。Itisveryevidentthathedid，andthathefoundtheonethingleadingintotheother，andconsideredthatasylumtreatmentmightsavetheindividualfromcompletelossofreason。Wepersonallyknowofsuchresultsfollowingacontinuanceofsuchexperiences。 Rev。Dr。Hastings，inapowerfulsermonagainstSpiritism，deliveredinHolburnUnitedFreeChurch，Aberdeen，Scotland，“quotedfromaneminentsuperintendentofaRoyalLunaticAsylumtoshowthatmanypeoplewereprejudiciallyaffected，andinsanityensued，throughdabblinginSpiritism。”——ChristianHerald，April15，1920。HedeclaredthatSpiritismwasunavailingintheworkofestablishingcommunionbetweenmanandGod，“becauseithadnomessagetotheheartandthelifefromChristorfromGod。”Itdoesnotevenclaimthatithasanysuchmessage，butonlymessagesfromthedead，who，accordingtotheWord，areutterlyunabletogiveanymessagestoanybody。Page86Morethanthis，Spiritismteachesthatmenthemselvesaregods，putsGodHimselfbeyondthereachof，andentirelyoutofcommunionwith，thespirituallyhungrysoulswhoneedHim，andrepudiatestheentireredemptiveworkofJesusChrist。Nomessagethathasevercomethroughthosewhoclaimtobethespiritsofthedead，haseverhelpedanysoultocomeintocommunionwiththeheavenlyFather，orstrengthenedfaithinthegospel，orupheldtheLordJesusasthepropitiationforthesinsofthepeople。Ontheotherhand，thesemessages，whileclaimingJesusasagreatteacher，havedisputedeveryclaimtoDeityonHispart，thussettingHimforthasanimpostor，anddenouncingtheideathatHissacrificeonCalvarywasoreverwillbeefficaciousinwashingtheguiltofsinfromanyhumanbeing。Furthermore，someatleastofthemessagesthathavecomefromtheseallegedspiritsofthedeadhavedrivenmenandwomenintoasylumsfortheinsaneorspurredthemontoself-murder。 Dr。A。MaxwellWilliamson，medicalofficerofhealthforthecityofEdinburgh，publishedthefollowingstatementinaScottishnewspaper:“TheoverwhelmingmajorityofthosewhodabbleinSpiritualismareneurotic。Ihadamanhereinmyroomrecentlywhohadvisions。Ihadtotellhimquitefrankly，asamedicalman，thatifheencouragedthese，hewouldfindhimselfveryseriouslyill，andindangerofmentaldisturbance。 Thosewhosufferfromthesepracticesarereallyonthesameplaneasvictimsofshellshock。 “UnlessSpiritualismischecked，itwillmeansocialsuicide。Wemustputourheelonthiscontamination。CleanmindsandhealthythinkingwillgiveusA-1men:thisthingwillbreedweaklings。Itisun-Christian，unscientific，andfromanationalpointofviewitsspreadmeansamentalandphysicaldeterioration。”——SouthernCross，Dec。3，1920。Spiritistswilldenouncethistestimonyasthatofonewhoisbiasedandbigoted；butthosewhoarefairmindedandarenotwhollycaptivatedbytheSpiritistpropaganda，mustgiveDr。Williamsoncreditforgivingsinceretestimony，basedonexperiencewiththeresultsoftheteachingsandpracticesofSpiritism。Hehasfoundtheresultspernicious。 TheRev。S。H。Anderson，oftheParisCityMission，writesintheChristian:Page87“Recently，aftercelebratingamarriageservice，Iaskedthebridegroomnewsofhisuncle，whohadbeenaleaderofnecromancersinMauritius。Theyoungmananswered:\'Helosthisreason，anddiedinalunaticasylum。\'Sometimeago，preachinginaMcAIlMissionHall，at8BoulevardeBonneNouvelleinParis，againstSpiritism(as\'Spiritualism\'isstyledinFrance)，IshowedhowtheWordofGodcondemnsit。Thereafter，agentlemencameandthankedmeformyaddress，andsaid:\'Weweresevenfriendswhousedtoconsultthespiritsofthedead。Sixbecameinsaneandwereinternedinalunaticasylum。Seeingthat，IgaveupSpiritism，andprovidentiallycametohearthepuregospelofJesusChrist，andamnowabeliever。”SaysElliotO\'Donnell，inhisbook，“SpiritualismExplained:“Itisanindisputablefactthatthelunaticasylumsatthisverymomentarefullofpeoplewhohavebecomeinsanesimplythroughattendingspiritualistsé；ances。”TheeditoroftheHarbingerofLight(July1，1921)referstothisstatementas“thelunacymyth，“anddismissesitthus:“Ifit[thestatementreferredto]containedamodicumoftruth，weshouldbegintofeelalarmedatbeingassociatedwithacausethatcouldpossiblyproducesuchdirefulresults。”Hedeclaresittobe“basedeitheruponwhirlingimaginationordeliberatefalsehood。”Inouropinionitisbaseduponneither，butupontheobservationoftheresultsofthebeliefin，andthepracticeof，Spiritism。Thereismuchmorethanamodicumoftruthinthestatement，anditwouldbewellifall——Spiritistsaswellasthosenotyetfullyensnared——wouldbecomealarmedatbeingassociatedwithacausethatproducessuchdirefulresults。” Spiritism，denyingboththeChristandtheGodoftheBible，anddeclaringtheBibleitselftobeonlyacompilationofmythsandlegends，hasflungdownachallengetoChristianity，andsendsusforwisdomandconsolationandguidancetothegibbering，muttering，incoherenttestimoniesofspiritmediums，who，professingtospeakforthedead，arevoicingthesentimentsoffallenangels。 WithourBiblegone，wewouldturnforacheerless“comfort“tothecoldanddumblipsofthetomb。WithourSav-Page88iourgone，wewouldturnforsalvationtothecontradictoryandwhimsicalmouthingsofspiritmediums，thatthrowusbackuponourownsin-smearedrecordforapassporttothehabitationofimmaculateDivinity。WithGodwhereSpiritismputsHim，Heisbeyondourutmostreach，andweareleftwithouthopeandwithoutGodinaworldsoddeninsinandspeedingtoitsdoom。Withsuchacheerlessoutlook，andwithvoiceswhisperingsuggestionsofsuicide，isitanywonderthatmanymindsbreakunderthestrain，andinsanityorself-destructionensues?Itwouldbealmostamiracleiftherewerenosuchresults。 OnTheThroneofSin:ADangerousDelusionPage89Chapter10ADangerousDelusionSPIRITISMisoneofthemostdangerousdelusionsthathaseverbeenintroducedtothehumanfamily。Infact，thewriterknowsofnodelusionmoredangerousthanSpiritism。Asalreadyshown，theBookofGodcontainsmanywarningsanddenunciationsagainstit，andtheresultsofitsacceptancehaveabundantlyprovedthateveryoneofthoseinspiredwarningswasneeded。 ItwasspecificallypointedouttotheIsraeliteswhentheyenteredCanaan，thattheinhabitantsofthatlandweredispossessedandevictedbecauseoftheirpracticeoftheverythingsthatSpiritismpractisestoday。SaidJehovah:“WhenthouartcomeintothelandwhichtheLordthyGodgiveththee，thoushaltnotlearntodoaftertheabominationsofthosenations。 Thereshallnotbefoundamongyouanyonethatmakethhissonorhisdaughtertopassthroughthefire，orthatusethdivination，oranobserveroftimes，oranenchanter，orawitch，oracharmer，oraconsulterwithfamiliarspirits，orawizard，oranecromancer。ForallthatdothesethingsareanabominationuntotheLord:andbecauseoftheseabominationstheLordthyGoddothdrivethemoutfrombeforethee。”Deut。18:9-12。WhattheBibledenominates“aconsulterwithfamiliarspirits，“wenowcallaspiritmedium，apsychic。Anecromancerisonewhopretendstoholdconversewiththedead。Wizardsandwitchesarethosewhohavedealingswithevilspirits——sorcerers。Anenchanterisalsoonewhopretendstousesomesupernaturalorsecretpowerstoworkaspelluponanother。AllthosethingstheancientPalestiniansdid，andallthosethingsaredonetoday——mostofthemintheordinarypracticeofSpiritism。Inshort，thatiswhatSpiritismis。 TosuchanextenthadthoseinhabitantsofCanaancarriedSpiritism，andsodishonoringtoGodhadtheirpracticesbecome，thattheireviction，andin\'somecasestheirextinction，wascommanded。Becauseoftheexecutionofthatjudgment，infidelshaverailedagainstGodinindignationformanydecades。AndPage90yetGodhadwaitedwithinfinitepatiencethroughcenturiesforthosewickedpeoplestodepartfromtheirdebasingandGod-dishonoringpractices。Infact，HeheldIsraelbackbecause“theiniquityoftheAmorites“was“notyetfull。”Gen。15:16。Whentheyhadfilledupthecupoftheiriniquity，Godfinishedwiththem。InLeviticus18:25Hesays:“Thelandisdefiled:thereforeIdovisittheiniquitythereofuponit，andthelanditselfvomitethoutherinhabitants。”ThepracticeofSpiritism，aspreviouslyshown，wasoneofthethingsthatdefiledtheland。Godborewithittilltherewasnoremedyorhope，andfaithfullywarnedthosewhomHegavepossessioninplaceofthedefilersofHisland，thattheymustnotfollowtheevilwaysoftheevictedinhabitants。 TodaySpiritismisfillingtheearth，notaportiononly；andtheworkwhichGoddidinriddingthelandofPalestineofSpiritismanditsfruitsHeispreparingnowtodoforthewholeworld。Godhasbornelongandpatientlywithearth\'sinhabitants；butthemajorityofthemhavespurnedHiswarningsanddespisedandevenpersecutedthosewhomHeusedinmakingthosewarningsknown。 Againstthepossibilityofswiftandcertainjudgmentforthesethingsthemultitudescoff，andagainstitsjusticeinfidelitywillvehementlycontend；butGodhasdeclaredHispurpose，andscoffingsandrailingswillnotavail。TheapostlePeterhasleftthisinspiredwarning:“Bemindfulofthewordswhichwerespokenbeforebytheholyprophets，andofthecommandmentsofustheapostlesoftheLordandSaviour: knowingthisfirst，thatthereshallcomeinthelastdaysscoffers，walkingaftertheirownlusts，andsaying，WhereisthepromiseofHiscoming? forsincethefathersfellasleep，allthingscontinueastheywerefromthebeginningofthecreation。Forthistheywillinglyareignorantof，thatbythewordofGodtheheavenswereofold，andtheearthstandingoutofthewaterandinthewater:wherebytheworldthatthenwas，beingoverflowedwithwater，perished:buttheheavensandtheearth，which\' arenow，bythesamewordarekeptinstore，reserveduntofireagainstthedayofjudgmentandperditionofungodlymen。 “But，beloved，benotignorantofthisonething，thatonedayiswiththeLordasathousandyears，andathousandyearsasoneday。Page91TheLordisnotslackconcerningHispromise，assomemencountslackness；butislong-sufferingtousward，notwillingthatanyshouldperish，butthatallshouldcometorepentance。 “ButthedayoftheLordwillcomeasathiefinthenight；inthewhichtheheavensshallpassawaywithagreatnoise，andtheelementsshallmeltwithferventheat，theearthalsoandtheworksthatarethereinshallbeburnedup。Seeingthenthatallthesethingsshallbedissolved，whatmannerofpersonsoughtyetobeinallholyconversationandgodliness，lookingforandhastinguntothecomingofthedayofGod，whereintheheavensbeingonfireshallbedissolved，andtheelementsshallmeltwithferventheat?“2Peter3:2-12。Goddestroyedtheinhabitantsoftheearthoncefortheirwickedness；thecitiesoftheplainofSodomperishedinfirefortheiniquityoftheirways；HedroveoutordestroyedtheinhabitantsofPalestine，andputanotherpeopleintheirplaceforthesamereason；butnow，intheendofHiscontroversywithsin，Hetellsearth\'sinhabitantsthathewillbringanall-consuminganduniversaljudgmentupontheworld。AndthereasonforthisdestructionisthesamereasonthatledHimtopunishtheworld，orcities，orpeoples，inthepast。Theircitiesornationsweredefiled；buttoday，asbeforetheflood，thewholeworldisundergoingdefilement；andoneofthedefilingagenciesleadingtothatcatastrophicclimaxistheverysamethingthatcausedJehovahtodriveoutthePalestiniansbeforethearmiesofIsrael——Spiritism。 Thatseductivedelusion，whichwoulddriveGodoutofHisuniverse，dispensewithJesusChristastheSaviourofmen，andmakearaceofgodsoutofaraceofsinful，selfish，dyinghumanbeings，isestablishingitssoul-witheringpropagandainallthenationsofearth。Wearenotsurprisedatthat；forInspirationnearlytwothousandyearsagowarnedtheworldthatthusitwouldbeinthelastdays。Saystherevelator:“Isawthreeuncleanspiritslikefrogscomeoutofthemouthofthedragon[Satan]，andoutofthemouthofthebeast，andoutofthemouthofthefalseprophet。Fortheyarethespiritsofdevils，workingmiracles，whichgoforthuntothekingsoftheearthandofthewholeworld，togatherthemtothebattleofthatgreatdayofGodAlmighty。Behold，Icomeasathief。Blessedishethatwatcheth，andkeepethhisgarments，lesthewalknaked，andtheyseehisshame。Andhe[“they。”R。V。]gatheredthemtogetherintoaplacecalledintheHebrewtongueArmageddon。”Rev。 16:13-16。Page92Theprophetsawthoseuncleanspirits——thesamespiritsthatGodwarnedHispeopleagainstinthedaysofIsrael，thesamespiritsthathadcausedtheheathenpeoplesofCanaantodefiletheland——goingoutintoallpartsoftheearthtoworkwithallmanneroflyingwondersandalldeceivablenessofunrighteousness(2Thess。2:9，10)，forthepurposeofnullifyingthegospelworkandstampingoutalltruereligion。Saystherevelatorinanotherplace:“Rejoice，yeheavens，andyethatdwellinthem。Woetotheinhabitersoftheearthandofthesea！forthedeviliscomedownuntoyou，havinggreatwrath，becauseheknoweththathehathbutashorttime。” Rev。12:12。Spiritism，whichisoneofthemostpronouncedworkingsofSataninthesedays，isthemostdangerousdelusionwithwhichhumanitynowhastodeal。 Itisnotanewdelusion。Satanhaspropagateditthroughallthegenerationsofthepast；buthehasgivenitadressinourdaythatcaptivatesthemindsofmillions，eventhemindsofgreatscientists，andtheseheusestomakehissnareofruinthemoreinviting。TothosewhoarecaptivatedbySpiritismandsurrenderedtoit，thegospelofJesusChrist，whichalonecansavemen，seemsasuperfluityandhasnocharms。Thenwhenprobationcloses，whenthecurtainfallsonthelastactintheblood-redtragedyofsin，suchcaptivatedsouls，havingspurnedtheonlywaytoeternallife，findthemselvesinthatcompanythatmustgodownintoeternaldeath。ItisSatan\'spurposetocarrydownwithhimintoeverlastingruinasmanyofearth\'sinhabitantsashecansweepintohisnet；andSpiritismhasprovedhismosteffectivemeanstothatend。 Butmendonotreachsuchadangerousclimaxatonebound。Prof。FredericW。H。Myerstellsus，inspeakingoftelepathy:“Ifwehaveoncegotaman\'sthoughtoperatingapartfromhisbody，……thereisnoobvioushaltingplaceonhissidetillwecometo\'possession\'byadepartedspirit，andthereisnoobvioushaltingplaceonmysidetillwecometo\'travelingclairvoyance，\' withacorrespondingvisibilityofmyownphantasmtootherpersonsinthesceneswhichIspirituallyvisit。”——“HumanPersonality，“Vol。I，p。250，ed。1920。Page93ThisscientistseesclearlytheissueinvolvedinthatfirststeptowardSpiritism，whichmentermtelepathy。Hestatestheissueclearly。Thepracticeoftelepathyleadsoninto“possession“bya“departedspirit。”Thosedishumanintelligenceswhorepresentthemselvesas“departedspirits“aredemonsandnothingelse。Theoneswhomtheyclaimtorepresentarequietlysleepingintheirdustybeds，awaiting“thevoiceoftheArchangelandthetrumpofGod“towakethemfromtheirlongsleep。If，then，demonpossessionisthegoaltowardwhichthefirststepinSpiritismleads，howimportantitisthatweavoidthatfirststep！ Mesmerism(orhypnotism)andtelepathyarebothbranchesofSpiritism。 Thedangersinvolvedinthepracticeofhypnotismareonlytoowellknown，andthosewhoareadeptsintelepathyhavedemonstratedtheirabilitytobringabouthypnosisbytheexerciseoftheirtelepathicpowers。Intheexperimentwhichfollows，thesubject，awoman，wascompletelybroughtunderthecontroloftheexperimenter，thoughataconsiderabledistancefromhishome，andbroughttohimthroughtheexerciseoftelepathichypnosis:“Thesubjectoftheseexperiments……wasProf。PierreJanet\'swell-knownsubject，MadamB。ThefirstexperimentswerecarriedoutwithheratHavre，byProfessorJanetandDr。Gibert，aleadingphysicianthere…… “Intheevening(22d)wealldinedatM。Gibert\'s，andintheeveningM。GibertmadeanotherattempttoputhertosleepatadistancefromhishouseintheRueSé；ry，——shebeingatthePavilIon，RuedelaFerme，—— andtobringhertohishousebyaneffortofwill。At8:55heretiredtohisstudy，andMM。Ochorowicz，Marillier，Janet，andA。T。MyerswenttothePavilIon，andwaitedoutsideinthestreet，outofsightofthehouse。 “At9:22Dr。MyersobservedMadamB。cominghalfwayoutofthegardengate，andagainretreating。Thosewhosawhermorecloselyobservedthatshewasplainlyinthesomnambulicstate，andwaswanderingaboutandmuttering。 At9:25shecameout(witheyespersistentlyclosed，sofarascouldbeseen)，walkedquicklypastMM。JanetandMarillierwithoutnoticingthem，andmadeforM。Gibert\'shouse，thoughnotbytheusualorshortestroute……Sheavoidedlamp-posts，vehicles，etc。，butcrossedandrecrossedthestreetrepeatedly。Noonewentinfrontofherorspoketoher。Aftereightortenminutesshegrewmuchmoreuncertainingait，andpausedasthoughPage94shewouldfall。Dr。MyersnotedthemomentintheRueFaure； itwas9:35。Atabout9:40shegrewbolder，andat9:45reachedthestreetinfrontofM。Gibert\'shouse。Thereshemethim，butdidnotnoticehim，andwalkedintohishouse，wheresherushedhurriedlyfromroomtoroomonthegroundfloor。M。Giberthadtotakeherhandbeforesherecognizedhim。Shethengrewcalm。 “M。Gibertsaidthatfrom8:55to9:20hethoughtintentlyabouther； from9:20to9:35hethoughtmorefeebly；at9:35hegavetheexperimentup，andbegantoplaybilliards；butinafewminutesbegantowillheragain。Itappearedthathisvisittothebilliardroomhadcoincidedwithherhesitationandstumblinginthestreet。”——Id。，pp。525-527。Thepersonwhosubmitstosuchexperimentsasthisdeliberatelyplaceshimselfinmentalsubjectiontothewillofanother。ThatotherispractisingoneofthebranchesofSpiritism，andthegoalatwhichthatpracticeaimsis“possession“bysomespiritrepresentinghimselftobethespiritofonewhoisdead。Such“possession“leadsthe“possessed“oneacaptiveatthechariotwheelsofSatan。GodholdseachindividualaccountabletoHimselfdirect，andhewhosurrendershissoultothedictationanddirectionofanother，sinsagainsthisownsoul，andputsanotherpersonintheplaceofhisGod。ItisaninsulttoourCreatorthustoplayfastandloosewithourdutyandresponsibilitytoHim。Thereisnomoredangerouscourseforahumanbeingtoadopt。 Thequestionarisesinmanyminds，Whatreallyhappenswhenapersonbecomesaspiritmedium?Thatquestionisansweredinthefollowingquotation:“Letussupposeweare\'spirits，\'whateverthatmeans，inafutureexistence，whereverthatmaybe，andtrytoimaginewhatwewoulddo。 “Inthefirstplace，weassumethatwewouldwanttocommunicate，ifpossible，withthoseweleftbehindonearth。 “Buthowshouldwecommunicate?……Speakingnecessitatesmaterialorgansofspeech；writinginvolvesabodilyhandtograspapencil。Thespiritisimmaterial；hasnobody；needsnonetocommunicateinitsownworld。 “Immediatelycomestheanswer:Thespiritmaytemporarilyusesomelivingperson\'sbody！Exactly:andthatisjustwhatitseemstodo。Really，whenyouthinkaboutit，isnotthatthenaturalandsimplethingforadisembodiedspirittodo?MyerssaysheconsidersthemainobjectionusuallyraisedtomediumisticcommunicationsreallyPage95aconfirmatorypoint。Hesays[NationalReviewfor1898，p。232]:\'Ishouldhaveexpectedknowledgeofafutureworldtocome，ifatall，throughsomeusemadebydisembodiedspiritsoflivingorganisms。\'——“AretheDeadAlive?“byFremontRider，pp。261，262。Thisis“spiritpossession，“and“spiritpossessionisinreality“demonpossession，“theveryconditionfromwhichJesusreleasedcertainpersonswhenHewashere。ItcanthusbeseenhowdifferentwastheattitudeofJesustowardsuchacoursefromtheattitudeofthosewhointhisdayinvitesuch“possession。”Jesussaid，“Comeoutofhim，andenternomoreintohim。”Mark9:25。ButSpiritistsinvitetheverydemonswhomJesuscastoutofmenandwomen，tocometothemandenterintothemandtakepossession。 TheyarereversingHiswork，andsurrenderingtheirsoulstoruin。AndallthisisinvolvedwhenonesetsoutuponthepathofSpiritism。Thosewhohavedoneso，andthensoughtforfreedomfromsataniccontrol，havefoundtheirpathathornyanddifficultone。 Iwillgivetheexperienceofonewomanwhohadbeenaspiritmedium，andwho，uponlearningwhatSpiritismreallyis，determinedtocutloosefromit，andgiveherselfentirelytoGod。PastorE。S。Butz，ofCooranbong，N。S。W。，knowingpersonallyoftheexperienceofthispersoninbreakingawayfromSpiritism，interviewedher，andthefollowingisaverbatimreportoftheinterview:“Question——Willyoupleasetellmehowthisbegan? “Answer——Itbeganinthebush，hundredsofmilesaway。Mychildren，whowerealldead，cameandsangmostheavenlysongstome。Myfirstexperienceasafortunetellerwasforchurchbenefits——EnglishandMethodist。ThefirstnightIcleared£；25。ThisledmetotheconclusionthatIcouldaseasilymakemoneyformyselfasanyoneelse，andhenceIbegantopractiseinTasmania，Melbourne，Sydney，andBrisbane。 “Ques——Whatwerethespiritsthatcontrolledyou? “Ans——Thereweretwo:one，thespirit(purported)ofadepartedclergyman，andunderthespellofthisspiritmysermonswerewonderful，sotheytellme，mymindbeingvacant；theother，anevilspirit，ofadepartedredIndian。 “Ques——Howwereyouaffectedonenteringourmeeting? “Ans——Thespiritsclutchedatmythroatandmadeitquitesore，andtriedtodragmeout。Sincethentheyhavetriedtodrownmemanytimes。Page96“Ques——WillyourelateyourexperienceonyourjourneyfromCairnstoBrisbane? “Ans——Yes。SeveraltimesIwasviolentlythrownoutofmyberth，theresultbeinginternalhemorrhage，causingmetovomitlargeclotsofblood。IhadgivenmyhearttoGod，anddeterminedthatIwouldprayandstudymyBible，andononeoccasiontheysnatchedtheBiblethreetimesoutofmyhands，throwingituponthefloor；butIdeterminedtohavethevictory，andappealedto\'Godforhelp。 “Ques——Howlongdidthesethingscontinue? “Ans——Rightuptothehourofmybaptism。 “Ques——Pleasegiveadescriptionofthehappenings。 “Ans——Atfouro\'clockinthemorningthespiritstookmebytherightarmandthrewmeoutofbedontothefloorbetweenthebedandthewall。[Iwascalledintoherroom，andhelpedtolayheronthebed，andprayedforheratthistime。E。S。BUTZ。] “Ques——Isthatwhatmadethedeepbruiseonthemuscleofyourrightarm? “Ans——Yes。Itisverypainful，thesizeofalargehen\'segg。 Iwassurroundedbymanydemons，whoclamoredformylife，saying，\'Sheisnomoreusetous；letuskillher。\'Thedarknessthatenvelopedmewasverydense，andIaskedGodtohelpme；andassoonasIcriedtoHimforhelp，Jesuswasbymyside，andIwasrescuedfromtheirpower。MyonlyhopeIknewwasinJesus。Sincemybaptismthespellofthespiritsovermehasbeenbroken，andIamverygratefultoGodforHisgoodnessandmercytome。“Signedinthepresenceoftwowitnesses，“MRS。WHIRLAND。”Manyanotherhashadequallyterrifyingexperiencesintryingtobreakawayfromsuchdemonpossession。Mrs。Whirlanddidnotunderstandthat，whenshebegantellingfortunesformoney，shewasenteringuponSatan\'sground，thatshewastakingthefirststeptowardthegoalofspirit，ordemon，possession。Whenthatinnocent-appearingtrapwassprung，thevictimfoundthatshewasdealingwithforcesagainstwhich，inherownstrength，shewaspowerlesstocontendsuccessfully。Howtrueitisthatinsuchcontests“wewrestlenotagainstfleshandblood，butagainstprincipalities，againstpowers，againsttherulersofthedarknessofthisworld，againstspiritualwickednessinhighplaces。”Eph。6:12。Itisdangerous，therefore，eventodabbleinSpiritism。 SpiritistleadersthemselvesareconsciousofthedangersinvolvedinthepracticeofSpiritism。TheeditoroftheSpiritistPage97journalLight，publishedinLondon，hashimselfthoughtitnecessarytoissueawarninginthisconnection，andthatwarningwasrepublishedintheHarbingerofLight(Spiritist)，ofMelbourne，Australia，initsissueofDecember，1921。Thearticlewasentitled，“ExploringtheBorderland；SomeNeededCautions，“andwasbasedonanextractfromwhatisknownas“TheDowdingScript。”Thewriterofthisarticle(W。T。P。) says，amongotherthings:“Iwouldhazardtheguessthatfullyseventypercentofwhatarebelievedtobemessagesfromdisembodiedhumansoulsnowbeingreceived，arenothingofthekind。LetitbestatedatoncethatIamexpressingmyownbelief，baseduponcarefulresearchextendingovermanyyears，butthatmyopinioncarriesnospecialauthoritywithit。Itisnaturalthatthewarshouldhaveenormouslystimulatedinterestinthepossibilityofcommunicatingwiththewiderworld。Becauseofthisveryfact，Ithinkthatthewarningquotedattheheadingofthisarticleistimely，andshouldbeheeded……Theactualsourceoftheideasreceivedisnottobefathomedeasily…… “Therearegoodreasonsforbelievingthatlargenumbersofuntrainedpeopleare\'tearingattheveils\'fromBorderlandintheattempttoreachourworld。Forthisreasontheneedforwarningatthisjunctureis，inmyopinion，fargreaterthanisrealizedevenbytheleadersoftheSpiritualisticmovement。 “Forcesarebeingunchainedatthepresenttimeaboutwhichweknowverylittle。Itisdangeroustoadegreeforuntrainedpeopletoattempttoharnessortobecomechannelsfortheseforces。Advancedstudentsthemselvesareonlydimlyawareoftheirorigin，use，potency，andcharacteristics。 Theamateurwhoattemptstopiercetheveiltapssuchforcesunconsciously，andhasnoconceptionofwhatheisdoing。IfIstressthispoint，itisbecauseIbelievethatthedangersaretoolittleunderstoodatpresent。”Itisveryevidentthatthewomanwhoseexperiencewehavereferredtotappedforcesthatshedidnotunderstand——untilshesoughtreleasefromthem。Thentheiruncanny，cruel，andsatanicnaturewasrevealed。Mr。W。 T。P。doesnottrusttheforcesthatare“tearingattheveil；“andifhe，aconfirmedSpiritist，cannotanddarenottrustthem，whyshouldanyoneelse? Butthequestionarises，Howisonetobecomeapastmasterinthatcultwithoutpractisingit?Onemustgointothewaterinordertolearntoswim。IfSpiritismisdangerousforPage98“amateurs，“noonecaneverbecomeaSpiritistwithoutsubjectinghimselftothatdanger。Trueitis，asW。T。P。declares，“thedangersaretoolittleunderstood。”Noonewhobelievesthatanyofthemessagescomingfrom“spirits“arefromthespiritsofthedead，understandstheforcesheisdealingwith。HemayhavebeenaSpiritistforageneration；butifhebelievesthespiritsarewhattheyrepresentthemselvestobe，hehassteppedintothedevil\'strapandsprungitwithhimselfinside。 W。T。P。isanexperiencedSpiritist，havingcarefullyinvestigatedthecultformanyyears，andyethehasnodefinitestatementtomakeregardingSpiritism，excepttowarnamateurstobewareofit。Hehazardsa“guess“ thatseventypercentofSpiritistmessagesarefraudulent。Hedoesnotseemtobesurethatanyofthemarewhattheypurporttobe——andthisaftermanyyears\'investigation。 Thewriterisverycertainthatnoneofthemarewhattheypurporttobe。Theypurporttobemessagesfromthespiritsofthedead；andweknow，fromthemostdependableandtrustworthysourceintheworld，thatthedeadareinnopositiontocommunicatewiththeliving，andhaveneitherthepermissionnorthepowertodoso。Wheneverthetemptationcomestooneto“seektothedead“throughonewhohas“afamiliarspirit，“letthattemptationbemetwiththeunshakableandever-constantwordofGod: “Thedeadknownotanything；““theirlove，andtheirhatred，andtheirenvy，isnowperished；““inthatverydayhisthoughtsperish。”ThatisashieldthatwillquenchallthefierydartsofthesatanicforcesthatarefillingtheearthtodaywiththedoctrinesandthepracticesofSpiritism。 TheperilsattendantuponacceptingthecultofSpiritismwerewellsetforthrecentlybytheRev。A。V。Magee，sonofthelateArchbishopMagee，inasermoninSt。Mary\'s，Soho(CharingCrossRoad)。Hesaid，interalia:“Thereistheperilofthefraud。AllSpiritualistswouldagreethatthespiritsbeyondhadthepowerofpersonatingvariouspersonalities。 Withtheirknowledgeandlowmoralcunningandcruelty，theyhadthepowerofinfinitefraud，fortheycouldrepresentthemselvestobesomeoneelse。 Theynotonlyrepresentedthemselvestobesuperiorintelligences，buttobethedepartedfriendsofthosewhosoughttheaidofPage99spirits。WhenpeoplethoughttheyweregettingmessagesfromoneoftheirlovedonesintheUnseen，theyweregettingamessagefromanimmoralpersonality。Thatwasthetragedyandthecrueltyofthewholething。 “Notonlyinsanity，butimmoralinfluenceswereassociatedwithSpiritism。 Hehadreceivedstatementswhichhecouldimplicitlytrustconcerningundergraduateswhohadoriginallydonebrilliantlyinthecolleges。Hisfriend，whorelatedthecircumstance，toldhimofanundergraduate，whomheknewintimately，rushingonenightintohisroomatcollege，andaskingingreatdistressforbrandy。Heministeredittohim，andgothisstory。Thisyoungmanandtwofriendshadbeenplayingwiththeplanchette，andinthecourseoftheprocesshehadfeltaforcepressinghimselfagainstthewall。Helookedafterwardintoasauceronthetable，andsawthereflectionofamosthorribleface，andfledinterrorfromtheroom。Thatyoungman，whohadpreviouslydonesobrilliantly，tookonlyathirdclass，andfelllaterintodissipatedhabits。”——TheWellington(NewZealand)Dominion，Dec。31，1919。Theforceswhichthatyoungmantappedsucceededinruininghiscareeranddestroyinghissoul——unlesssomedayheshallcometohimself，understandwhatthepoweristhatenthrallshim，andthroughcompletesurrendertoGod，layholdupontheonlypowerthatcanbringhimdeliverance。SurelythewarningissuedbyW。T。P。isawarningwhichoughtnottofallupondeafears。 Hereisanothercaseattendedbymostdistressingresults。IgivetheincidentjustaspublishedintheMelbourneArgus，ofApril10，1922，anddatedLondon，April9:“M。Coué；。ofNancy。whoisdescribedasanauthorityonautosuggestion，isonavisittoLondon。wherehehasheldaremarkableseriesofsé；ances，inwhichapparentlyanumberofcureshavebeeneffected。LadyBeatty，whohadbenefitedbyautosuggestion，inducedM。 Coué；tovisittheTootingNeurologicalHospital，wheresoldierssufferingfromshellshockareundertreatment。Onehundredpatientsattendedademonstration。Afterhalfanhourasoldiersufferingfrombodilytremorswentontheplatform。M。Coué；madepasses，andsuggestedtothepatientthatthetremorswereunreasonable。Suddenlythesoldiergaveapiercingshriek，contortedhisfaceandbody，andwrithedonthefloor。 Theeffectofthisfrenzyuponthespectatorswashorrible。Manaftermanshriekedandflunghimselfonthefloorinuncontrollablehysteria。Thedoctorsandnursingsisterswereunabletocalmthem。LadyBeattyranoutofthehallindistress，andM。Coué；abruptlyterminatedthedemonstration。”Page100Therestorativeworkofmonthswasundoneinamoment，becauseM。Coué； hadtappedforceshedidnotunderstandandcouldnotcontrol；anditcannotbechargedagainsthimthathewasanamateur，forhewasadvertisedasanauthorityonautosuggestion，andhadbeenconductingaremarkableseriesofsé；ances。M。Coué；couldnotprotecteventhesepitiablevictimsofshellshockfromthemercilessforcesheprofessedtobeabletobringtotheirhelp。 Itisrecognizedthatwhenoneyieldshimselfunreservedlytothecontrolofafriendwhomhehaslongknown，heisplacinghimselfinaverydangerousposition。ButwhenheyieldshimselftoforcesandpersonalitiesconcerningwhichevenexperiencedSpiritistsaredoubtfulandwary，hispositionisallthemoredangerous。Itistheveryacmeoffollysotodo。ButthatisexactlywhatonedoeswhenheyieldshimselftoSpiritism。Thisisadmittedinthefollowingparagraph:“Inthelighttrance，whichisthetypicalconditionforcommunication，themediummayeitherspeakorwritethemessageswhichcometoher。Inthemorecommonexamplesshemerelyrepeatsmessagesgivenherbypersons\'ontheotherside。\'Initsmostdevelopedform，however——thatismotorautomatism(asinMrs。Piper\'scase)——thespiritclaimstotakeentirecontrolofthemedium\'sbody(inotherwords，tobeanexampleof\'possession，\' likethe\'WatsekaWonder\'alreadynoticed)。Themediumthenspeaks，notinherownvoice，butinthevoice——sofarasshecandoso——oftheallegedspirit；herhandwritingisnotherown，butchangeswiththatofeachspiritwhousesherbody；hergesturesarenothernormalones，butmaybecharacteristicofthediscarnatespiritwhoclaimstobepresent。 Inotherwords，themediumspeaksandactsineverywayasthespiritwhoclaimstobeincontrolofherbodywoulddo。\'Theinfluenceofthesubject\'smind，\'saysDr。Hyslop，\'consciousandunconscious，iscompletelysuppressed，andthenervoussystembecomesadelicatemachinefortheintromissionofmessagesfromwithout，affectingitasanautomaticpieceofmachinery。\' “——“AretheDeadAlive?“pp。268，269。ConcerningthissamematterProf。FredericMyerssays:“In\'possession\'theautomatist\'s[themedium\'s]ownpersonalitydoesforthetimealtogetherdisappear，whilethereisamoreorlesscompletesubstitutionofpersonality……Thesephenomenaof\'possessionarenowthemostamplyattested，aswellasintrinsicallythemostadvanced，inourwholerepertory……It[theperson\'sspirit]soPage101farceasestooccupytheorganismastoleaveroomforaninvadingspirittouseitinsomewhatthesamefashionasitsownerisaccustomedtouseit。 “Thebrainbeingthuslefttemporarilyandpartiallyuncontrolled，adisembodiedspiritsometimes，butnotalways，succeedsinoccupyingit，andoccupiesitwithvaryingdegreesofcontrol。”——“HumanPersonality，“ Vol。II，pp。189，190。Whenonethusconsentstoabdicatethethroneofhisbeing，hevirtuallytemptsthedeviltocomeinandrulehisbeingforhim。Againstsuch“possession“ ourSaviour，whomSpiritistsprofesstohonorasagreatteacher，warnedHisfollowersinthesestrikingwords:“Whentheuncleanspiritisgoneoutofaman，hewalkeththroughdryplaces，seekingrest，andfindethnone。Thenhesaith，IwillreturnintomyhousefromwhenceIcameout；andwhenheiscome，hefindethitempty，swept，andgarnished。Thengoethhe，andtakethwithhimselfsevenotherspiritsmorewickedthanhimself，andtheyenterinanddwellthere: andthelaststateofthatmanisworsethanthefirst。”Matt。12:43-45。Thatiswhatonedoeswho，havingbecomeconvertedfromtheevilofhiswaysandbeencleansedfromhissin，butrefusingtotakeadvantageofthefullnessoftheChristianlife，leaveshissoulemptyasaninvitationtodemonpossession。Jesusdeclared，“Thelaststateofthatmanisworsethanthefirst。” Butevenwiththiswarningbeforethem，therearesome——yea，many——whodeliberatelyinvite，ortempt，thesewickedspiritstocomeinandsituponthethroneoftheirbeing。Whocanexpect，undersuchconditions，toescapetheunhappyendwhichourSaviour\'swordsimply? Anillustrationoftheadvantagetakenofpersonswhothusdeliberatelyyieldtheirbeingtothecontrolofanother，isgivenbyRev。Prof。G。 Henslow，M。A。:“IhaveseenalettersentbyaladytoMr。Stead\'sofficewhenhewasissuingBorderland；asfarasIknowitwasneverpublished，butshestatedthatasregardingherownmusicalpowerstheywereofaquiteordinarycharacter，butwhenatthepianosheseemedtobeobsessedbysomegreatmusician，whowasintolerablyexigeant[exacting]，makingherplaymarvelouspiecesofmusictillshewaspracticallyexhausted。”——“TheProofsoftheTruthsofSpiritualism，“p。177。Page102Shehadlostthecontrolofherownperson，andwasbeingperformeduponbyanother，intolerablyexacting。Shewasnolongerafreemoralagent； butsomeotherpersonality——andinnosenseabeneficentone——wasusingherashepleased，andnotasshepleased。 InthereportofalecturegivenbyArchdeaconColley(Spiritist)atWeymouth，England，Oct。6，1903，wearegivenaviewofthephysicalandmentalconditionofonewhohadsurrenderedhimselfuptotheworkofaspiritmedium。Thelecturerhadbeenoutliningtheprocesswherebyspiritformswerematerializedthroughthepersonofthemedium，andincidentallymentionedthisstrikingpeculiarity:“Cautiously，therefore，hadtheytoawakenhim[fromhistrancestate]，forhewasratherofanervoussort。OftenwhenIhavebeensleepinginthesamebedroomwithhim，forthenearobservationofcasualphenomenaduringthenight，andespeciallywhenhewasnaturallyasleep，forconversationwiththedirectvoicesthatcamethroughthedark，I，onsuchoccasions，wouldholdmyhandoverhismouth，andhewouldnowandagainbestartledintowakefulnessnotunmixedwithfear。ForhecouldseethephantomswhichIcouldnotwhenIhadquietlyputoutthenightlight——forhewouldnotsleepinthedark，whichmadehimapprehensiveofphenomena，physicallypowerfultoanextraordinarydegree。”Hereisafull-grownmanwhoisafraidtosleepinthedark——theverybesttimeforsleeping——andmusthavealighttosleepby。Heseesphantasms，“physicallypowerfultoanextraordinarydegree。”Howhadhelearnedoftheirextraordinarypower?Evidentlyhehadbeenmadeawareofitinsomesuchmannerashadtheladypreviouslyreferredtointhischapter。IfSpiritismisgood，beneficent，healing，strengthening，elevating，health-producing，trulyspiritual，andlife-giving，whyisoneatleastofitsmostsubmissiveexponentsandpractitionersafraidtosleepinthedark，annoyedbyphantasmsthatrobhimofhisrestinsleep?LetSpiritistsanswer。OfourLorditissaid:“HegivethHisbelovedsleep。”Ps。127:2。NowhereisitdeclaredofHimthatHeannoysHisbelovedwithphantasmsorfrightensthemwithterrifyingdreams。WhatGodgivestomankindasaboonandblessingthesespiritsofevilseektorobthemof。Page103Mr。CoulsonKernahan，whohasgivenmuchpainstakingstudytothedoctrinesandphenomenaofSpiritism，haspublishedabookentitled，“BlackObjects，“ whichisaverydistinctandveryemphaticwarningagainstSpiritism。Thetitleofthebookwassuggestedbythe“nondescriptblackobjects“whichissuedfromthecabinetatthesé；ancesofEusapiaPalladino。InallhisexperienceMr。Kernahancanrecallnosé；ance“whereanythingwhichthrewspirituallightuponthethingsofeternity，orimpartedteaching，oreveninformationofworth，wassaid。”HedeclaresthatthepresentaimofSpiritismis，byhint，byimplication，byinnuendo，andevenbyoutward“annexation，“todestroyChristianity；to“destroybeliefintheatonement，andtoshowourLordasapsychic，notasaRedeemer。”Itseemstohimas“anotherandnewworldforaformofnecromancy。”InpointingoutthedangersofSpiritism，heespeciallyurgesalltokeepthefoulhandofso-calledexperimentofftheyoung。 Mr。FrederickC。Spurr，whohashadsomeexperienceindealingwithspiritmediums，soundsthisnoteofwarning:“Somearelikelytolosetheirsanityunlesstheyareverycareful。Awell-knowndoctortoldmetheotherdaythatquiteanumberofmenandwomen——morewomenthanmen——ofhisacquaintancearebetrayingsignsofcerebralexcitementdueto\'spiritual\'investigations。Twomediumsknowntomearecertainlydegeneratesasaresultoftheirdabblingwiththeoccult。Theextraordinaryappearanceoftheireyessuggestsincipientmadness……Themediumshavegivenuslittleenough，thusfar，tosatisfyourcuriosity。Theyhavegivenusmuchtoawakensuspicion。”——SouthernCross(Melbourne，Australia)，July18，1919。Thewriterhasnoticedthesamestrikingpeculiarityinoneatleastwhopractisedasaspiritmedium。 WhileSirArthurConanDoyleisadvisingwomengenerallytotrytheirpowersofautomaticwritingandthusbegintodabbleinthedangerousdelusionofSpiritism，othershaveutteredurgentwarningsagainstit。ThelateDr。AlfredRusselWallacestronglydeprecatedsuchattemptsbyamateurs。 Inprivateconversationheusedtotellofamanwho，havingpractisedautomaticwriting，becameabsolutelyincapableofwritingthesimplestnotewithouthishand\'sbeingusedbyotheragencies。Hewasnotabletohinderthisbyhisownwill，andPage104inordertoeffectacure，hewasobligedtoabstainforyearsfromusingapencilatall。SirW。F。Barrett，inaverygravepassage，discourages“youngpersonsandthosewhohavelittletointeresttheirtimeandthoughts，“ from“makinganyexperimentsinthisperplexingregion。”Dr。Wallacehad“astrongbeliefintheexistenceandactivityofmalignantlow-gradespiritswhoseektogaincontrolovermen。”WhileSirArthurConanDoylehasneverknown“ablasphemous，anunkind，oranobscenemessage“tobetransmitted\' fromtheotherside，SirW。F。Barretthasbeenlessfortunateinhisexperience。 Thisgreatauthoritywrites:“Itnotinfrequentlyhappens，assomefriendsofminefound，thataftersomeinterestingandveridicalmessagesandanswerstoquestionshadbeengiven，mischievousanddeceptivecommunicationstookplace，interspersedwithprofaneandoccasionallyobscenelanguage。Thesittersthrewupthewholematterindisgust。”——SouthernCross，July10，1919。Itmaybewelltogivehere，inherownwords，theexperienceofayoungwomanwho，wellonherwaytobecomingaspiritmedium，prayedforlightconcerningthemysteriouscommunicationsshewasreceiving，andhadrevealedtoher，throughthespiritsthemselves，theirtrueidentity。TheladyiswellknowntotheeditoroftheAfricanSentinel，andherexperiencewaspublishedintheissueofthatmagazineforSeptember，1921。SheisnowanearnestChristianandamemberofanevangelicalchurch。WhatshepassedthroughasaresultofdabblinginSpiritismshouldserveasawarningtoanyonewhoisnowleaningtowardSpiritismoriseventemptedtoacceptitsteachings。Woulditbetoomuchtohopethatthosealreadyensnaredinitscruelmeshesmighttakethiswarningseriously?Somewillnot，weknow；butforthosewhodothereisstillhope。Theladydoesnotwishhernamedisclosed；butwecanvouchfortheauthenticityofthereportshehasgivenofherexperience。Thisistheaccount:“Earlyintheyear1906，whilewewerelivinginSanFrancisco，Calif。，myhusbandwasstrickenwithrheumatism。HewasstillinbedwhenthegreatearthquakecameinApril。Wehadonechild，adaughter，thenonlyfouryearsold。 “Justafewdaysbeforethequake，Iwantedtofindoutifmyhusbandwouldgetwell，andIwentforaprivatesittingtoaDr。How-Page105land，anotedmedium，knownasthesingingevangelist。Idonotknowwhathesaidabouthim，butIrememberasifitwereyesterdaythathesaidtome，\'Youwillhaveyoureyesandearsopened。\'Iaskedhimwhathemeant，andhesaidthatIwouldfindoutaboutthefirstofJuly。IthoughtsolittleofthisthenthatwhenIwenthomeItoldthefolksaboutit，andwelaughedaboutit，thinkingitagreatjoke。 “AtthattimeIwasacquaintedwithsomeofthephenomenaofSpiritualism，butdidnottakeitseriously。Weusedtositaboutatableandtalktothespirits，whowouldtipthetableforus，andknock。Inthatwaywewouldamuseourselves，andthoughtwewerehavingagoodtime。 “Thenthegreatquakecame，followedbythefire。Ifoundmyselfwithoutahome，withasickhusbandtocarefor，andafour-year-oldchild。Assoonaswecould，wewentacrosstheBaytoFruitvale，wherewefoundtemporaryquartersinarefugeecamp。Whilethere，ImetalittleFrenchwoman，whoseemedtothinkthatIcouldtellfortunes，andshebeggedmetotellhers。 Shewasatotalstrangertome，sofarasherpastwasconcerned，butbysomemysteriousinfluenceIwasledtotellherthatherfatherhadkilledhimself，andhowhedidit。Idescribedthemancorrectly，andtoldherthathewasstandingrightbyher。Shewasfrightened，andaskedifhewasinthetent。ShesaidthatallIhadtoldherwasabsolutelytrue。 “Notlongafterthisweleftthecamp，andtookalargehouse\'thatwasgivenovertorefugeesofthefire。Myhusbandwasstilloncrutches，butabletogetabout。Onemorning，heandthebabyweredownstairs。I wasdoingthelittleworkofcleaninguptheroom，whensuddenlyanunseenpowerthatIcouldnotresistpushedmeovertothetable。Somethingsaidtome，\'Getpaperandpencil。\'ThisIdid，andsatdownatthetable。Immediatelymyhandbegantomove，andIreceivedalongmessage，purportingtobefrommyfather。Thehandwritingwasjustlikehis。Icalledmyhusbandupstairstoreadit，andhesharedmyastonishment。ThenIrememberedwhatDr。HowlandhadsaidaboutgettingmyeyesopenedaboutthefirstofJuly。 Thiswasearlyinthatmonth。 “Fromthatdayon，itseemedthatIpossessedsomewonderfulpower。 Iwouldhearknocks，andfrequentlyatnightwasdisturbedbysomethingpullingatmypillowandblowingoutthelights。 “Iwasinthehabitofkeepingthelightburningallnight。OnenightIleftthelampburningonachairnearthebed。InthemorningIfounditout，butthoughtthatthewindmusthaveextinguishedit。Thatforenoonaladyfriendofminecameandaskedmeforasitting。Itookapencilinmyhand，andthisiswhatitwroteonapieceofpaper: “\'Anna，youmustnotgotosleepwiththelampburning。Ifyoumusthavealight，takeacandleandputitinacan。Therewasanotherbigquakelastnight，andIcameandputoutyourlamp。\'Page106“Ilaughed，forIdidnotbelievethemessage。Suddenlyahandseemedtogripmyarm，asthoughinterribleanger，andIcriedoutwiththepainofit。Thespiritwroteagain，\'Getup，andlookatthelamp。 Andnexttime，donotlaugh。\'Thenwealllookedcloselyatthelamp，andtoourastonishmentsawthatthewickwasturneddownasfarasitcouldbe。 “AtfirstIseemedfrozenwithhorror。Andthenthethoughtcametomethatitmustbethatsomeofourdepartedfriendswerewatchinginalovingandtenderway；foratthattimeIbelievedthatatdeathonewentimmediatelyeithertoheavenorhell。 “Myoccultpowersweredevelopingrapidly，andatthesuggestionofafriendIwenttoOaklandandconsultedaMr。Earl，anotedmedium，whomIhadseendosomewonderfulthings，andaskedhiscounselaboutmyqualifyingforindependentslatewriting。WhenItoldhimmyexperience，helookedatmeinastonishment，andsaid，\'Youhaveaccomplishedinafewweekswhatmanyhavebeenabletoaccomplishonlyinmonthsorevenyearsofpatientsittinginadarkroomdayafterdayforanhouratatime。\'Hetoldmetocomeback，andfor$20offeredto\'develop\'me。Thisseemedpromising，butwherecouldIget$20?Myfriendgenerouslyofferedtolendittome。Ithankedher，andtoldherIwouldletherknowwhenImightbereadytogo。 “Itwasthen，whileconsideringwhetherornottogobacktothismedium，thatIrememberedmyearlytraining。IhadbeenbroughtupastrictMethodist。 Ibeganearnestlytopray。IaskedGodthatifthispowerwasgood，tohelpmetouseittoHisglory，butifnot，toshowmeclearlythatitwasevil。 “OnemorningIwasalone，sittingatthetable，waitingforamessage，whenaverypeculiarfeelingcameoverme。Icouldhardlygetmybreath。 Ifeltcoldandclammy，andthoughtthatImightbedying。SuddenlyIrealizedthatIwasbeingthrownintoatrance。Iwashorriblyafraid，andstruggledwithallthestrengthIhadagainsttheinfluence，sometimesmentioningthenameoftheLord。WhenitseemedthatIwasjustaboutgone，mylittlegirlcameinthedoor，andrusheduptomecrying，\'Mother！Mother！\'Thatseemedtobringmeto。Icannotdescribethisfeeling；onlythosewhohavepassedthroughsimilarexperiencesknowwhatitislike。 “Afterafewweeks，IdecidedthatIwouldnotgotoMr。Earltobedeveloped，forIthoughtIcoulddoitmyself。Iamnoartist，butwhileundertheinfluenceofthespirits，Icoulddrawalmostanything，mostlyflowers。Inadditiontomywritingpowers，Ibecameabletoanswersealedquestions。EverymorningIwouldgointoaroom，pulldowntheblinds，andsitandwait，tryingtodevelopindependentslatewriting。AndyetIwasprayingallthetime，too。Itmeantmuchtome，forIknewthatasamediumIcouldmakeaneasyliving，eventhoughmyhusbandmightnotgetwell。 “OnedayIwassittingatthetable，pencilinhand，whenitbegantodrawinsteadofwrite。Whenthepicturewasfinished，itlookedlikePage107nothingIhadeverseen。IlookedatitforsometimebeforeIspoke，thenIaskedwhatitwas。Myhandmovedagain，andthisisinsubstancewhatitwrote: “\'Thisrepresentsthedevil。Iamnotoneofyourdepartedfriends，asyouhavethought。Youareprayingforlight。Ifyousticktothis，youwillbecomeawonderfulmedium，oneoftheworld\'sbest。IfyougiveitupandsticktotheBibleandserveGod，youwillhavemiseryuntold。Youwillgetalongnicelyforatime，thenyouwillbegintogodown，untileverythingyouhaveistakenfromyou。Thenifyoustillpersist，yourlittlegirlwillbetakenfromyou。ButifyouwillgiveupprayerandyourBible，youmaybecomeanotedmedium，andwillhavewonderfulpowerandgreatwealth。\' “YoucannotappreciatemyfeelingsasIsattherethatmorningfacingtheseominouswords，thespiritstillholdingmywristinaviselikegrip，asthoughawaitingmydecision。IdonotknowhowlongIsatthus，withoutspeakingaword。ThenIlaughedasIthought，\'Howfoolish！Howcouldthatbethedevil?Whyshouldhethusrevealhimself?\'ThespiritgavemyarmsuchanawfultwistthatIsoonstoppedlaughing，andthisiswhatIwasledtowrite: Ihavetoldyouthetruth。Nowisthetimeforyoutodecide。YoumustchooseeithertoworshipGod，ortobecomeamedium。Andyouhadbetternotlaugh。YouwillseeintimethatwhatIhavesaidistrue。\' “Iwashorrified，asitbegantodawnonmewhatIhadbeendoing。I realizedthenthatImustmakeupmymindrightthere，onewayortheother。 AsIhesitated，Isawontheonehandonlyhardshipandanawfulstruggle，notknowingwhatwasinstoreforme。ButIcouldnotthusboldlydenymyGod，andIsaid，\'IfImustchoose，IwillchooseGod；Hewilltakecareofme。\' “Whenmyhusbandcamein，Ishowedhimthedrawingandwhatwaswritten。 Helookedrathercurious，andaskedmewhatreplyIhadmade。HewasgladwhenItoldhim，butsaidthathedidnotbelieveawordofitanyway。 Icontinuedtoprayearnestlyforlightandguidance。 “Abouttwoweeksafterthisanewfamilymovedinnextdoor。Ibecameveryfriendlywiththelady，andhersonusedtocomeoverfrequentlyandvisitmyhusband。IsoonfoundoutthattheywereSpiritualists。Shewasawomanofcultureandeducation，andtherewassomethingaboutherthatwasverycongenial。Thesonhadhypnoticpowers，andtoldmethathewastryingtohypnotizeme。ItoldhimthatIwouldnotlethim，buthesaidhewouldgetmeoffmyguardsomeday。Thosewerefearful，tryingdays。 IhadseentheevilsofSpiritualismbythistime，andwasdiligentlystudyingtheBibleforallthelightIcouldget。ThissonwouldtrytogetmymindconfusedregardingtheBible。 “Oneevening，afterIhadputmylittleonetobed，myhusbandwasreadingthenewspaperandItheBible，whensuddenlytheBible，Page108slippedfrommyhands。Ibecamecold，andcouldnotspeakaboveawhisper。Myhusbandsawmeandputdownhispaperandaskedmewhatwasthematter。Iput\'myhandovermyheart，pointingtothebed，andwhisperedthatIwantedhimtoreadtomefromtheBible。Hedidwhathecould，buthesawIwasgoingfast，sohewentforthedoctor。Itwaslateatnightwhenthedoctorcame，andthenIcouldanswerhisquestionsonlybyshakingmyhead。Hegavemeasleepingpowderandleft。 “ThenextmorningIwenttoseethedoctor，andhesaidthatIseemedinperfectcondition，andhecouldnottellwhatwasthematter。Thateveningtheyoungmanfromnextdoorcameoverandsaidtomyhusband，\'It\'stoobadthatyoudidnotletyourwifegolastnight，shewasgoingintoatrance。Weshouldhaveheardsomewonderfulthings。\'ThenIrealizedthathehadkepthisword，andhadtakenmeoffmyguard。 “AssoonasIcouldImovedawayfromtheinfluenceofthisfamily，andIhaveneverseenthemsince。Soonmymindclearedup，andIfeltnaturalagain。IfelttopraisetheLordfordeliverancefromwhatInowsawtobefromthegreatenemyofsouls。 “Twoorthreeyearsafterthis，IwasrelatingmyexperiencetoaChristianlady。Shewasinclinedtodoubt，andbeggedmetositatthetablewithherandseeifIcouldgetsomewriting。Iwasreluctantatfirst，butatlengthconsented，andtookthepencil。Ihadtowaitquitealittletime，butfinallymyhandbegantomove。Itoldmyfriendtoaskaquestiontoherself。Thisshedid，anditwasansweredcorrectly。Thenthespiritwroteandsaid，\'Youhavebeenwarned。Youhadbetterhavenothingtodowiththis。\' “IhadasimilarexperiencesometimelaterinNapa，whenaMrs。Burtonpersuadedmetogiveademonstrationofwriting。Iwasagainwarnedinasimilarway。 “Inconclusion，IwillsaythatIhavegonethroughhellitself。YoucannotimaginethehorriblethingsthatIhavegonethrough，muchofwhichImustkeeptomyself。AllIknowisthateverywordthatIhaveputdownistrue。Ifsomedonotbelieveit，Icannothelpit。ButasGod，whomImustonedaymeet，ismyjudge，Ihavewrittendowneverythingfaithfully。”——AfricanSentinal，September，1921。Dr。BernardBosanquet，formerlyprofessorofmoralphilosophyintheUniversityofSt。Andrews，makesthispositivedeclarationinreferencetoSpiritism:“Thepresent\'psychicalrenewal\'seemstomeadangerousandwhollyirreligiouscraze。”——QuotedintheWorld\'sNews，Sept。25，1920。AndGeneralBooth，oftheSalvationArmy，says:Thepresentpsychicrevivalisbadanddangerous。”——Ibid。Page109Intheworkentitled，“China\'sMillions，“MissHarrison，ofSisiang，Shensi，China，warnsthosewhoaredabblinginSpiritistpracticesthatmissionaryexperienceinChinajustifiesadarkerinterpretationofthesephenomenathaniscommonlyprevalent。ShestatesinthatworkthatifChristianswhoknowthepowerofthecrosswouldgoandchallengethemediums，orratherthepowerspeakingthroughthemediums，commandingtheminthenameoftheLordtodeclarethemselves，theywouldconfess，thoughmuchagainsttheirwill，thattheyaredemons。Thenshegivesatypicalcasefromherownexperience，whichrecallstheaccountsofDr。Nevious，whichmadesoprofoundanimpressionuponthelateProf。WilliamJames。Shesays:“Wehaverecentlybeenhelpingayoungwoman，whoformanyyearshasbeentormentedbydemons，tofightthroughtofreedom。Whenitbeganspeakingthroughher，attemptingtodeceiveusintothinkingitwastheyoungwomanherselfspeaking，wedemandedofitananswertothequestion，\'Whoareyou?\'Ittriedevasion；butheldtoit，replied，\'Iam，Iam，\' severaltimes，andthenchangedto，\'Weare，weare，\'andfinally，\'Wearedemons。\'Asked，\'Howmany?\'wegottheanswer，\'Five。\'“Manyofthecasesofspirit，ordemon，possessionspokenofintheBiblehavetheirduplicatesinourday，especiallyinChinaandKorea。Itisacauseofnolittlewondermentthatwithsuchexamplesbeforeus，therearestillsomanyincivilizedlandswhowillplaywiththissatanicdeviceforsoulruin。Many，nodoubt，donotunderstandthatinpractisingmesmerism(hypnotism)，orsubmittingtoitwhenpractisedbyanother，theyarereallydabblinginSpiritism，butsuchisthecase。SaystheRev。A。Mahan:“Mesmericsubjects，andthosewhohavebecomeclairvoyantsthroughmesmericinfluence，have，toaverygreatextent，becomemediums，andofallotherpersons，mostreadilybecomesuch。Thisisafactwhichnoonewilldeny。 “MesmerizingandpathetizingareamongthecommonmeansproclaimedbySpiritualistsofdevelopingmediums……Toenterthemesmericstate，ontheonehand，andtobecomemediums，ontheother，oneandthesameconditionisrequisiteinbothinstances，namely，astateofmentalpassivity。”——“ModernMysteries，“pp。107，108。Page110Thatisthecruxofthematter。GodwillnotpermitSatantotakepossessionofanysoulthatisdeterminedtoserveGodandbeHisandHisonly。Thisstateofmentalpassivityisadeliberateinvitationtothewanderinghostsoffallenangelstotakepossessionoftheabdicatedthroneoftheindividual，andreignthere。Andsuchreigningsetsthefeetoftheonewhoacceptsitalwaysonthebroadhighwaytoeternalruin。TheprinceofruinandthePrinceoftheRestorationmeetatthesanctuarydoorofeverysoul，andeveryindividualmustdecideforhimselfwhichoftheseshallenterhisholyofholiestodwellthereasGod。Ifthedeceiveriswelcomed，thentheOnewhoistheway，thetruth，andthelifemustturninsorrowaway，andthatlifewhichmeanssomuchtohimwhopossessesit，isblightedinitsmorningandwitherswhenthenightofsin\'sdoomshutsdown。