SPIRITUALISM.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 622, 27 September 1909, Page 5

SPIRITUALISM.

! ; ■ ''"':-.-!:--• ' :-' V !: ;''cb|^MANbEb; BY ;COD^DENOUNCED: PUMMT-V' v!' :; : :^: :-:''; : i. ;;!;!; j ; ;'i to : ,W^ i7y £ \ At', the ,'Ne'w ■ Century 'Hall last evening -Mr.-. ; ; :' -yftilljam M'Lean.'pfesident of'thoWellington :.V. v Associatioh,,- of ' ::Spiritualists,'.registered,'!lec-v:-';'iured<to;:a; !large J audienceX; His : lecture,'-en-! :' ; ':;vtitled'.! 'Spiritualism Commanded ,by God ; and: .y^Denqqnced^b^ ; x!^%/:p^ s^,,^*a n t |o i at 'the''conclusion, ! v!y;flo!yresiyedywarm'rounds of-applause; I;The ; ;:; ; yleotu^e,:;!:whic£;;!is!:p'ublishcd';in-iiull '; by,.' ar- !; as follows— ; -a ;- ; -./, : •'■:. : - i : yj.'-'. At -'St;-John's' 'Fresbytor'ia'ri'Church!on Su'n-'i'r'/day;--September-5,-1909, and as reported'in ;?! The-Domiotpn l of.:September 6,'t^eßev. Dr. !'V/': : :Gibb':delivefcd'!-his;theological 'views 1 on','this ;.,: ;;much3abused;!' l ism','' which:-at,' the!'!'present V -.;!moment isy exercising!: tho minds 'not only of ';:'!-thei.Christian; churches,'!.but ; the "■ wholo com- ; '■'niunity.:l ; had fain-hoped that the Christ.:..:ian; Church .'.would: have'-stopd^aside-ifdr'the -..! present..; and.'.-allowed .-.certain ',- phenomena,..V.vnich .have, boon violently challenged-by the ■ ■: city; press,- to; have developed a little> more .' ■■■'/, before 'the -Church had .pronounced -one'way ;■';.-■ of-'another ■l^l^ ; .o;;;.'■• -.v^- : ..-!; , ; '■:'■ '. V;y; '-- •' •v.'!; ■ 'But,;;'aß! usual,-, there are '.'-.-■ -;' who -are to'" rush!' in where 'angels' ■■; j',!!fear!;to;!; tread^-and;,'as^.l>r-,!Gibb.. has:'.been . y' ; h"asty. onbughto pronounce judgment upon, a . :.^matter want ,-: v'qf: knowledge,n,am-sure he willj'as.a-strong' '.;.; admirer .of^^.t%..A'pdstlp!-Panl,..agree, with .me'; '~-tha't!Paul ~was.'.right!; . ;wh'pri/: h e said ■.•-."Prove. :'v,l all, things Sarid^hold;.-fast,! to" that i which!.'is : y ;y : good.' iv- : :;;;:;;;i: ; vr;:!;"':-'';': ; ;.!"/,v 7 : : >" -r'V;:>:■ ,;'.!,.; v (Let..me.ask;!has\the;reverehd and!learned- ; :Soctdr'of '|5t. vJohn's: proved anything'at all ;;. J about Spiritualism?•'.,;According, to .his.own' ;;':>StaWm'e!nt,'-'if .he!is correctly!reported.in The ■-'■ !! hii 1 ; does hot deny the fahenomena :-! ; '(if; ;'!::e'yents;he: : shot«-s'ome!wisdom;v:;;vK; .;:>h; ; : .v!,,., ,; Thei .time.'-was when' h6';'was ; not.'!yory. sound , ; .;.ori'thati'phase.of,.the .'subject,-;and as.he does !.:- not.:npw.-deny.theiphenomena.of. Spiritualism, :;..what.!does:.!the -;phenomena iconsist .of ?.;: In ■~- is.clearißeeing. If ■"!. - there/were 'no' -spirits''fo;.6ee;i there: would be !;.; .noynee'dfor.yclM '.;-;i',wo'uld -put lit," of-spirits;. >The- ,' : .'ofVv'healbag^i3;:! ; /Blso : :^a\S^ha'sei!- ; ;of-, ' •; ;fthe.,phonbmena"lv,l,ahi sure.;the,-,reverend -arid' < deny-'-, that ithis: . 'gift .was';strongly' impressed'.upon l .the -!early. 4'o : Chnrch,:;albeit|:that;a'- ; affirm,;tiat;J)rVi'!Gibb J .;.'.:! judged!-; by <'the -'Scriptures,.'- canndt" V claim ;: to; a'bch«verim'":Cnrist.'" :'■;'ilow;His'; injunction: in'-theseVvefy':clear,:;arid ; '.emphatic!,words:''"He!that .bolieveth'.bn'Mej ■V-';'! the - wprks;;that'.;;l'.'d6 ' shall .he' db; also, 'and; !;'". ,V : '/-lXJ.y,;.l2).',(;Dpea.tho i !i : . ;,the'sick'.;qr! iijake; th'e' 'blind to see,:pr the!deaf •'•'.Vvtb; hear,!-or* raise 'the dead?•'- arid, : if !:nbt;'. why, ' ;!. of.fSpiritualisni! <(said '.the ;'preacher),: regarded ~';■ BsJa-treligibri/'SpirHualism >;'j'thq; ; 'raqst-,-prbnbw '■;■'_ -'V.tp ', the^freligioii "of, Christ..!!; It irele'-, ;..:gate4,the'Lo'rd: : ;J ;■ Saviour■ bf-;,.th9s trorld. r : !^,Thiß,'isya^ve^;swee'ping.;cbndemnatiPp,^arid' :■ .the;pity, of ; it!;allVis that .they; are; only.the. '■•: ;bf;;a'prcacheri : rasHto whose: atti- : -:r tuda .'towards',; 'thra^unique;;. Sayiour;' ..'of vthe J.'.'.! :w,oHd,-.l;h , ava:sJfeady, : pxp! , essed ■my'bpihioh.;, ;^;(vNeithef' ; 'd6es!;Ho'spfeach\'fthP;^^ ;'.;!; Christ, v .^:';.ttesiij-:-'charitji'.and.;adTO ;,. much':to.seu.'all'tKey,;ihaVe,- : ;a : h'd-give;;it-;to. .;. ; ,ythe : ,ppof.':;7As. further: evidence that;Dr./!Gibb // p V;^,iiirfpld,:lct/m'e: ; eently: ,: .',','f. thc:larger/ahd!shbrtef; catechism'.' of the Pres-i ;;V.;byterian!.;!Churchi';l';find^thatiVßy,;the:dec^^ 'pv'ofjGod.;^ ;>;! spine I angplsj'are; predestined-,unto, !;■;; everlasting^iife'.vf^nd^otherSjffo^ ;;.';eyerlastin^Xde'att'^', ; ;';',!'F^rt^ :; ;i 'and ;.;:men^ -; •;' dppmedyaio;- particularly. -;ahd; ;;unchans;dabl.v! .;'': designed,' -an' 3 itheiV.riumbef.'iis so-certain: and" :;.,;'.definite! tnafe'if cannot .berelthottiricreasbd or''; ; v ■^.-di^^inishcdJ■ : -'-. l At^tho. I •P^s"of^JSdß^le•4t.^the'r , ;.*.!: wjeked;!;shall;:be;.;' setl'ori Ghrist's'Ueft,: hahd,'= ; j!. !; arid;thereupon '.shall ■}. be? cast;'intb;'Jiell J to! b'e'S;punished?,with'ririspeakableVtormeri >.'vDo'dy.';nn'disoul,^yith';tho : ;.(;.. forevef.'j 1 '; (Tho, : Cafge'rA.Cntechism'.-Page;2l9':)' ..,;;Dobs bufifrioridrpfcachithese'horrible dogmas' ; r ~i!t!: -■~;; affirmativb^ithb.,';^ yMvqrdjri'atipft'as a;ritinister,of;tlie Gospel? ;"Db ';:;y'ybu^ : siricerely.-.rec«ive.and''adopt r thb cbnfes-' jt -.reiori■ ofyfaith qf .thia church?^!;etc;'-,; Arid:the. ! ;'7;; Mowing.:.aw qonfessioa of! faith'!of the Presbyterian ~;.'j.Cb'urch, i {...to;:r-.which;;. I'i'assumeyithe:.worthy :y,f;Preachef..'has ;, lbyaUy;'subscribed.''7'''.!. ■''"■;'• '!": v :,! Ori;:pag«!,as2i;;i; : .find:-,!!'Th«-end'ef : -r.^;.appqiriting;;this'; ! -_Judgriierit;-Day;is' for the .'7,1 the^. f eteriiAl ;salvatiPn;:pr;'.the'v'olect, : and.in ;-'.;; the -.'damriatiori.:'of > the : ;,reprobate. : .. • Thcse',' : .-re-' ;;'•.;. probatbs':-sbilli',b«;cast';irito!,eternal torinerits', : ..:;;',and!be''punished ? r:-:.-frpni-;thp;^reseriob'bf'.the;Lord '.;:',!-q£^his!!powef.;":?, f'jkfi !v;-^ : : ; ' : '-' ! t; ; '' !'''■-,';'! : '>/-' V '■' ;;!;i ; ';;i!Fribnd'Gibb'may';'say/thaVhq:'does not now,' : :';!Pryvatfariy'-'tithp'}-: preachr!ih'fl.?cru€lv''dbghias ; ' '.: ybut'■ if ; be^yh'asJ subscribed; to-.the, ylshatripd'. the" whole 'v vj^th^and-ibthing-.but;-'th'e ;truth. Let;m« '-V':''^?^^oto>;-'friend'i'a\,?BJßßai^e'-.i jfroin-;'! ai'. sermon* ,!■>;, ;.,«eliyefed/.by. ai'.'.eminerit' followbr • of the uni- !; ;r. flue 'J Saviour! ipf ;;■ .'■ ■ V: : .;■' The i. godly' ; ,r v^the'Condemnation of,'her ungodly-husband.. oi ;;The gp^Jlrasband. 'shall-say,'!'A'men"VtbVtho! 'damnatibriof hef. who "lay, in .his bosom. 'The : ■f;/e«v|ly;;p^tj^all i ,sayKHal]elujah:','atKthe! ;j; (passing.of jtheir!, urigb'dly~child : and'.'the, godly from '. the.-heart, approve ~..;, the'i'damriatipri' of >his';wicked.,; parent.. >,;.:' ; .'i ; -:.-,!'.,<But'eribugh'.ofisrich.awfulprbaching, which; ; ; i:true;;in^hbVpast,, s ia':still ;truo'W.'lf.; itVwas; ;>!' and ! Lhope;!it'is iadmitted-:V'---;that'i'DrVvG;ibb:!'!dqes-'n6t'p'reM ' !;;'o_f fptertiity>'o'f ; :!-;;,',tion; y;y! : telligeri , ce : ''pfy..the,'age ; w!in-nbt!per'mit,it^ : Arid:: ;'.' ,■:■■« :;.'; tp'oars ;Vpblite,- .and snugly ■. keeps -.damnation .'■f ; P^t : of.sight,.yAb'd,;yet,'becausevWe Spiritual-'; :■, .'lsts.|refuSe;,to;accept iuch' Jibr'rible. man-made. ■•'■', -. e ''?*4? '-Mfc 'dpghias.yDr.'- Gibb'PPridemris ..Pur "! : ; I ™Sl'bn>as.;a; sham'-ywithou't'.iilquiring -what ! '■■ ■ >°jr'yKligib'ri!^rea]ly!;is:!!%yLet!me: at once"saf ; .■;yth|t allSpiritualistay'sb far7as:my/kiibwleclge,y. exterids,:.;,acceptyGod;;.und«r'!.'various' defini- : v!>.*tion|.;}sbme!; as;a'\Gbd!qf in'other >.! *brds,-,:,Gpd ;is .Love; ''iafldvLbve •' is -God; -or,' ■;'&od,..isy,Spirit;.; arid:, Spirit' is 'God. ! With, .•■'.•/■grfra\M;-.the. unique; Sayibui''ofithe:-.W'orld-, ; v.c.-.mp'^k.:?- After .Vail/- is :th'e!-:world''saved?' arid 'i; '■' l ]. :: s&>-' i yri i y. : ipt:^y:l: ; 'eriiirierit . '-iydrtme -will Iqbk ground-.this :gfbat anu:-bea'uti- ., -, ful ■,wq"r|d';(one';;only:''of ..thei many: millibris of ...'epd's'.'greatycrea-tipns). and-.what do we'firid? :;';> Mt.i .world 'a's-ls'.^^and- I r'wbu!d : likevit/'tb ,be,> '.'■■V'JW'i'ay.Toria,'^ ')■■.;. y JMCkly .that ithdre; are .good-,niori;an(i;:.wbmeh; '..,•,'■ just ; turn;theylcaf!bve'r. and look abroad ancl' ..... bals,'_ thq-Americari -arid some, other scheming'' ■ ;';;ppliticiana.:wthe.yyworld '!'bver,'!-!the : : : Chrirch ; -;!;.; creeds^some, of J which'lyhaveVjust !describe'd, ;.-..,the.'selfisnnesSj.Uhp'mlyyscheriies,; the daring! : to 'corner -.■• the hiiman -:rieeessitics , of .'/Christ's .pob'r,'tho (;■ gambling f(Jens,'ithe, y./y the.murders,,-the oyorcrbwdetl gabls.ythe ever-' 1 -.'ijincreasing':population bf.'the'merital'hbspitals y yyall'bver'tho.Wprld, the, ;.!> chist'-'hiobs, -bu'rriing!persons ;alive,'and the', >. : !30,'00p,000 tabulated in.thb.past'crimsoking hill I -■;•; and, plain with'theria'dness;of.war-e-all thrus.t I y: iuto;;thq,'spirit';^orld;avhat;theri?': ; Are',theso. y.yangels;now, after': a : feV,^eath-.gasps, made !;,-;y..saints andesages? ■'!Just;consider,.tn?'fever- .'!•";' ish'Vabe'by.'y!the ! : two .greatest' Christian 'ridi' ■tipns'.'pf.ythe yworld,.'-; ; the';rush:'.for: -Dreadyy .noughts, - to .cr'ush'mit; the 1 lifer ..:;'-,-of God's;pwn.children's'orit' info'this world tq ,'!-. -'.be 'destroyed..by. these.Christin.p-made .guns. ~'! I.'ask, in-the-iiamo,bf:,truthi ; iobs!or docs not ■' ',■■:■: this world; still;nced, saving'?,,and' if the.fear ;;yyof -hill (which: is tho hangman's whip) has ,'.".;. not saved .them in the past, it is tiriie.tnat all /■■■ teachers,. .'• whether ,•; Christian, '; pagan, or ;-.: : !Spiritiialist, .should - have; liberty, .to worship y.Snd in their own wny.wnthont.tneinterference ■;•',''"!or boas'ifulncss:ofy'one claiming'to bo \a' ser-! !-;:,-';,nint(bf.;the. liieek; arid lowly Jesus,': who never ■;■'" claimed';to .be.ahympre !the Sbn.bf God -than. ';! i .'lhe'.'preacher, ■;for we. are- all. Sons .of : God—•

the opinion of Dr.' Gibb to tho contrary, not-; withstanding ;'Dr. Gibb says that no man could be a Spiritualist iri thesonse in. which associated Spiritualists understood the term without ceasing to bo a Chriatiau. This is purely'assumption. There are millions of Spiritualists' who are trying - to live '--the' Christ life, but, because, intelligent;Spiritualists have, discarded tho Atonement,; is-that any reason, why theyyshould-be. arraigned .'at the bar of hia presumptions,' and illogical opinion ? Because forsooth Spiritualists disregard' your theological hell, which you yoursolf are ashamed to own, you denounce'them and'arraign therii as a sham of shams.. Surely if Spiritualism has emptied your theological hell, and by searching has discovered it'to be bno'of!- the myths -of the past, why find' fault?-V ■■•:,' ',- ■':'■', '■■■'■ .'■■■ ' ! The late'' Henry Ward Beecher, in a;, sermon on eternal' punishmont, said :—" It goes to my yhcart to. say these things. 'This is not the. side that I seem. to myself called to preach,'yet it is there, andif I'am'faithful. tq:, my whole duty .1 must preach ■ it; so sometimes I do with tears and sorrow. It '.makes! me sick. ■: The eternity of, future; punishments is the point where almost all agonising doubts and struggles of! Christian ' theologians have, arisen, and .what.are called the urisolvabloy mysteries of divine government. ;It seems to me that if -the doctrine of., the eternity of: punishment were removed,; nine out of ten would'disappear ,of themselves,, for I' believe they result.^ simply from that one term, suffering.eternity." - Surely. Dr. : Gibb shbuldnptobject'.ifi reliable spirits • should '.come back and, inform ; us that they have failed to'find a bottomless'pit.' Surely, in this age_ of Christian en-lighten-nient,'no'preacher will now give out the'hymn—' ;?..,', :'■';''..'-'-'' W ; .',XI ;'.',.- ".-Awake,: Almighty God,-' ' ■■".:'. -".f : ...'; -Arid ball, Thy. wrath to mind.' ..,;'■-■ '; .Give yfhem 'ike! forests', to the fire ,-,;;,-And. :stubble to .the 'wind.'-'.:; y;-!,-".!^ ;The,rioted .and: eloquent 'divine'?'Sauriri, speaking :of .'.the dreadful dogma of endless .torm'eritj'saya:—"l sink, ' awful''responsibility of !my ; subjects., I .find ; 'in; the thought •a, mortal poison which . dif-. fuseth into;every period of my,We, render-, irig .society'.-.irksome,, nourishment, insipid;. pleasure .disgustful 'and: life -a cruel, bitter. J cease, to wonder that the fear of: hell hath made; some, iriad and others; melancholy.".. I havb.'never'known- the;beautiful truths! of spiritualisrii to'- make- people either.■" melaii-'.cnoly'".';or-;insane.. .Lunatic.'.asylums;. Were .cpnstruoted,yarid ' alas.yfilledy.tp bVerflqwing' long before the advent of' modern Spiritualism. - : Orthodox creeds have ,'thou-1 ! sands..'; upon .^thousands.; into insa.nity, ■ and suicided;'.;::;■/';,;■;; ,;;!,;■ ''■;;' r ,i, ''■:'■-: : '-.-"-: ; -' : :.; : ;i

. ':OneVlias'only to. read the history of".iii-■ ! sanity! inGreat:Britain,.'the, history .of monism Vbf! the!, ages,; : to "find whose'!religionhas' bkenVresponsible for the^apalling.-list.'of i,God's,"creatures who have, ended' their- days Hwithin' tbe .pfecinots ;bf.<■'&'. h'ell !upon .earth.! 'Drv.'.Gibb.has. ;no.'! right'to' arraign; tbe.ppor, "Spiritualists.;.'!' He,■■'.: should /remember- that i-artdr; all .they are God's'creation to be. ar-; '(raigned by-Him 'and not,by Dr. '.Gibb.: He should !"also!. remember that they were nearly, .all'like!: myself,"members, at! some time .'.of'some chuitih-or;other.... He'■ should. alsb-'re-; ■member,, tb'.bo :ch aritable,.'. for .some .Spirit-' ualis'ts; kriow.-the! Bible -just, nearly as; well l as.himself.-V...Somebfrtnem ■ also; Dr. Gibb-must,'know; ..that -the! Bible! is; not, Infallible,;.';!'^!;! 1 .:,'! ;• .".■' '''V;!" 1 "'"-v!, 1 ; ~>:!;';! i!-In: testimony, to! the urirest and, unsettled condition ;of'.tne -prominent minds of Christ-. :bndomi-inv : regard.to.the-.'general idea.ofyin-! Irdayi'mention/that in 1847.'.'the; -American-! Bible .Society, appointed■ al.,com•mittee .'of -its; members to .prepare.'a stand-; !ard: edition' of;' the; King James -version-: of '.the; Bible (f reei rbm errors). yThis obtinnit-? vt^\'.Erepar^ i -;snbh''fan.'-'ei-tibn:.Vtb...ft'e of ..their' ability,- : .oorrecting as-.they',,stated;! 24,000 .errors, ',The- Bible Society 'approved ; what,/their.'committee; had so -industriously, 'effected;' adopting .'all■'tho .ohanges, and"cast, new-plates! for' their issues..-They' put forth' '.volume;from their;fresh'stereo;types!.;f;.This>'th'ey kept .'in : circulation..uniijuesiioned fbr-seyeral years; \ In/.lßS6.!they■ ■sont ;.a ■ !'cbpy • of - this; rarrectedi-'edition:. to ■ Jseveral;'.states' men'in;:England vsis : -a,'- cpmpli-: Va' copy .'.'also "■■■ to ; Queen" Victoria; -acc&panied, by. theyi.tbM ; her'.Majesty''!tbat' : they.'; believed ;it !to' : ;bb!s;ari"'untfstially,. correct '!editi6n; , -'''And jafirecent 'able^writer,;declared ithislcorreoted! 'editibh'-'to'sV/J^witness '. to the. fidelity,." the' jlea-rhing patient -laborioushess' of,' ■the '•cbmmitteei-'bh; versions; ■;■• the'- most "fair. .'andjbeautifuKt'hing .the American .Bible; Society.; ever :gavb ,to' .the world.: But;: alas, .became'known, jthe'rev;;cojhraericed ; ' among. : the^. '.clergymen themselves,' a! war.' of opposition... against .the, B'ew!iyfrsion.. .'.Almost! befpro Queen Victoria' jcpuld.iha'vc received-!'her copy,;.!in r ,January, ;1857, -, tho;Eev: A. C. Coxe, then rector of, a ;parish,,in''..Baltimore, afterwards one of -the bishops;!,of. !the i Episcopal-^^.CSiu'roh,.-published '•a!^j»mphlet,,'in\;which he'^ : charged; that .''Chmtian'men '.had -surreptitiously,""gone .'into ,'• the!;■ circulation: of ■• a bold, modernised. ;yulgaTised'iwork,V. and.;, violently .''arraigned l the Bible Society , for seeking,l:as he'Vsaid, ;to■":'',super®ede' : !ithe.,;time-honoured _ version : ;in;!ite : >■- most;.."violent'; I .and! manner!!until,. 'finaUy;'!;'bigotry,; : and.: superstition triumphed; oyer -this'.embryonic attempt. at .'thejcorrecr .tibn.of the;glaring.!errors : ; of'the King James version! of!£he.'-Bible:!,and.during the-'.fbllbw-:ing winter! ;the(.;Bible Society:;actually.•,' sup-, .'pressed, its corrected!edition,! arid went'back ,tb;the : publication"of !the former',version with, its twenty-four .thousa'nd;:! discrepancies. ','.',•

':'; Dr. Gibb asks Spiritualism should -be 'considered' in!;, the light', of i. the -four-tests of any : religjoa3re'ally worthy -of. the name. Such-a:religion must give light-to the m'ind;peace';. to ], the. conscience, • love; to'tie .'• heart,' and" power: to,-the' will. v.' Christianity.-alone, l he says;'-perfectly!assured.these'.;tests..\These assertions i!are?;mere '','Gibbisms;";! „;-v : !;!;■ u,';. .; ! Let'.'':'me ; -;assure the that / pure Spiritualism: does light,- to "'the 'mind; and,!'anyhoff, .\what does 'the reverend gentle-.'. !man'.kriowrabout..mindj ; if .he.does .not'believe that- apart from, matter, and that certain minds -when freed' from"!the ■ .and: .do return ;■ just "as!- truly' ss'.-Christians would "affirm-/.withv their..';last';, breathy that Ghristlwas : seen, by . at' least-five :hundred witneases.!;;-Letf me "giyeV.cne-short/extract from -the': speech ■! of- ; ,a' spiritv.who .'labb'u'redrlong::in-.the- vineyard;of -which Dh Gibb olaims to' beia shining^light;... Speaking't6Vthe,'cle'rgy..he'fsaid:::.;.: -' .'!•'■!;;;':.,!':■•': ''\'.,y.

■;-v:' : ;'JJfettiren,yy(Jn {.stand.aloof .'from 'the"'in-' ve.stigatibn.-of ;the 'grandest' pnUp,sophy;';Gbd 'h'as'-.oyervgiy.en.tb ; ihe.iwprld,;'the 'brightest "dißperißatiofl;''eyer.;eai6ye4/'.'.thD;Vcry(OUlminationvoffthe'; Mosaic,.; prophetic,' and • Christian' dispensations. ■ You fail to go',into! the; King -: dom : 'spiritual,;J::ahdH'you .keep ; bthefs; out; who'.would;..but 'for ;tnel.ir6n-Douhd-Ycreeds' and'."abgmatic,;'theprie's''of' the.'■:. Christianity: you profess i. to ■observe' and ; u'nderstandj'.'You •are''leading the ,-bfind'.when;'you"-:are:;'more blind than .they;' Your: blindness .and.'; th<; ■;.. Would' be/dispelled ,and ail:.{be '•:/gloriously-, bright if-you would'step'into the' pool r while the angels stir, the ...waters thereof. - ! You/are waiting • by the margin bs • the v man : of ;■■ old to {have 'the'; truth ■forbedvurxra.: you ..by,.the interposition- of, a yet;',strbnger,power.; That power will coma and should you pass;to the Spirit, life/before, it;does; you ;will have to retnrni.to'/earth. 1 and, : 'canceltho',false/teaoh*: ingsi-you'-are giving- to the world; just'-.be-cause you will /not have" light';'aiid liberty.: .The- stone -'.which'; {the- builders {rejected ''became the' head' 1 of"the.corner,';so you'-will see'.'the v 'noble. and; all-saving .stnictiir'e. of Christianity lias-been, made "to, tremble, and woll,irugh^fall:,.b&cause',. , qf /thelcprnerYstbnb. being : removcd froni • the setting which Jesus, arid his; Apostles: fixed. I- have done,'?, said the •spirit i ;' ' 'but'• must; exhort' in• conclusion that.you,think less l about • worldly applause awl 'manufacturing - fine and - eulogistic discourses;' God requires none. of.', these for His honour and the''glory; : ;-'';Lbok' to the'develepmont of tho inner' : man, {which, must'be rcstored to-tho image of. God.or'he,cannot'lm iri4 his'.' bt' : : ; love,-; and'.endless beatitude;" :■ .','; { -■■■'■'.•;' *>;""_'""-'-?""■'";-"-"*':""-" .:-"-,' ': Dr.! Gibb says'• he could find., he light in Spiritualism ' on. :Gpd '.'as -'Fathbr; ;;even, G as personal, was/practically .unknown, to its literature.- What: a 'grand : manifestation in-' his want; of-knowledge of this tho grandest philosophy 'of, .the present, age :'■-of {: reason. \Vhero.'have 'you-looked, for- light? . ,Hav you prayerfully and' humbly asked God and theangels to givo you light? or have you, likeYtho German Philosopher, merely - shut your eyes and'become dear to the- entreaties of Paul, who says, -'"Try tho spirits, and see whether'they; bo of God." There is. no' rsa! objection to; your' attitude • to Spiritualism, providing yon are honest in \vbuf corivietiohSj but of this-1 have.my-doubts, "a« no.-intpU.

gent clergyman of the present day and pc eration accepts God as a personal God. Directly you figure out a personal God, you at once belittle and limit His power. No man has'seen God at any time. If this bo ;true. : 'why should the literature of Spiritualism acknowledge a statement of a personal God when they are unable to define him beyond tho definition already given, "That God is Love, and Love is God." Then you affirm that Spiritualism knew no Saviour; certainly, Spiritualism Imows no Saviour which at the eleventh hour is requested to shoulder a 1*5 life of sin- and wickedness. ..Spiritualism believes and teaches that every wrong act and every unkind thought (just think of this, Brother Gibb) must be accounted for. Thoughts are things; and your thoughts and my thoughts, by the influence they. exert, may possibly. determino the ultimate destiny of immortal souls.'Some scientists have described thoughts as 1 electric corpuscles—darting hither and thither with inconceivable rapidity in search of a congenial lodgmo-it, and every opportunity neglected ' to' help to bring- about the Fatherhood of; God and the Brotherhood of Man will have. to be accounted for and paid for to the utmost farthing v Even false teaching, ; if' taught knowingly, will have to be rectified. Experience;-said Dr. Johnson, is the great'test "■ of truth/and is'perpetually contradicting the theories of men. I have bad some experience of the Christian belief, and some of the spiritual knowledge. A good Christian need-fear nothing of the future life, and a good Spiritualist ,will gladly.welcome the change. I do not, and, never have, condemned Christians. I may, and still do, condemn' some of their man-made creeds and dogmas,' but! as to the honest (not the boast-' ful) olergyman and his worshippers "■ I hold the,kindliest thoughts r for their future,happiness.. God's kingdom and God's-love-is sufficient!for all; there should be-no need to condemn' whioh _ road lie 'take to the ' 'many mansions," for.' each ..will get just- what -he deserves . and; no .more.' ■ •■' "In ,my .'Father's House'are:many.mansions," said .-the ■ meek and 'lowly*. Jesus. Each. poor Spiritualist will just get what he deseircs. You-are.fur-nishine your, home here,-' and: Brother GibVs opinions;.as 'to -whother .Spiritualism casts any' light on the human, spirit in this or any other!;-world is of very, 'little 'j Value. If he followed Paul's advice and tried the spirits, he-must have mot with a poor lot. - Spirits, 1 like.: !himself, rsometimes . need .prayerful advice, .';•■'■'•■■■'" ;' .'■:'". : ':';■ ..i- •■

■ Then Dr. Gibb says: "Even .'when the communications of -thecontrols were' intelligible: : the messages were trifling and • insignificant.'' My answer'to this, is-to change: the controls, if. their" advice-was poor, then pravifor-them, and in thus,doing-you will: get a'better class of controls.... like attracts like,' so I hope the good doctor was not encouraging a.poor of ■ spirits,-; but the. value of, the , communications- after, all form the, one. supreme questiftny "If a man die, shall : "he -live again?" ' The great scientists-of /.the ; age affirm yes. Some of the. brainiest., clergymen of the .day declare in favour of Spiritualism.' The Yen. "Archdeacon Colley says :-~'Spirifriialism. comes .as a real'; godsend i.to, save men. from the sadducean; materialism '■• that looks .for no hereafter '.beyond: the, grave." : : . Dr. Gibb said' there, might.be something;in the iphenom'eria 'of .Spiritualism;,: ','there very, often was .knavery, at Jea'st,".but, even if all .its-claims were:fully:substantiated, it. would throw no light on .ultimate mysteries; would 'do. nothing to advance our knowledge'of spiritual things j and /if:; a real mango tree was made to grow; at. a seance, what would it> signify for the) spur of man or ihe- Being of: G0d8,.; It it,; had. really -happened;,': wt should be : still in the/region, of pnenoinena -and as .far as. ever irom ; ;the last grea iseorets. ■'■•:';..■'■'"f-','■■■.■,' ;■".-}y--- ,] '' v * :'-'

. . May/I ask; what does alf this .amount to? ' Surely ...the region/,-; of ; phenomena is ; ; better than;,thp', of; faith, vis it; not;a fact; ithat.the; whole'..of.'the" Christian ; religion 'restsjon'tho s phenomena, connected .with the 'birthj; Cdeath, and 'resurrection. ;.of- .'Christ? The wh61.6:0f the Christian; philosophy,'therc-. fore, rests on phenomena .pure and;; simple,, and if; spirits do return, and. I affirm.(positively 'that they- do;: what docs it mean? AVe have.a'right to -'base-jour-, philosophy on-the evidence'of''good'spirits.'■:'.'.: ■' ■ ''.' '.'■•' K R. Sanborn says: "Thereare sad; hearts for, whom :death .has.' nlade - this world ;a > 't6mby. i wKcih''h'ave / been''cheored ; and :lifted;'into.lightVand gjpry by;the.scintillating; ,of love' from an unknown world, which,i unseen, lies; all around -us all,. and . souls .to ;whom tKis'/World ;has been a hell have been [suddenly* awakened to.find it a heaven, : surp'assingVahy..tale/of seer-or fairy'.''-. ,'_^ ! •

; : The.;.Pvev. ;B. F. ; MIA. ! ,v.'LL.D:,; Canada, 'some, years ,of. in--vestigatibn .'-under: av greatV .variety.,- of. circumstances -. I' dare affirm that .the ethical, system' taught iin these spirit; communications; has never been -surpassed- in the; lofty, character of the'.duties, it proclaims, : or the fbriri.ahd variety; of the motives it'urges to sebure; obedience to law. The spiritual beauty,! interest, ■>. divinity of many'.of' these spirit messages; renders the (thought nfHheir diabblical origin a moral 'impossibility,' and the'expression of that thought a blasphemy." ! : ,'-!fcv'. Charies Wioksteed,■■'■B.'A;,' .'auihbr of. '.' A 'Vindication of the Beneficent Influence of'.Christianity "■ (London, 1887), etc., etc.; !says:— iyyvy-y!: y ',:y ::.y-..t-: : ;;/. ■'■.(:' -.

".This' universal'hope (of ' the future'. '■[ • life) .has'further-had'its confirmation, in,; . .-the.positively- asserted and'- ■numerously,';' '~,: attested and' steadily believed' instances.' - ;;: or signs of the continued existence in '. 'a, spiritual: form'of 'person's who had' : passed, tho gates''of. death.. - Thousands ~,ajid .tens'-of thousands of • pur - fellow,. . -I creatures have; borne 'testimony, and.tes-'. .'.timony that.in 'any ordinary .case {would '■' , ; 'have been,, deemed by everyone suffi-'. ;-'' cient, ; that,- they; .had. seen ; . aid:., had — '-"; speech;of friends'who had'in■ the, body-, :{di,ed*.away:.froni this earth."/; '..-' :'.',.. YrDr.-.CibV-went on to urge that Spiritualism -eci'ually failed - to; fulfil the, other..'three ''oondHlp'ris^6f/'a■i:ml.■'•'reKgion'.^^ / ;It•. l had : >llb' message" for the guilty .conscience. 'It had borrowed' all; it' had to 'say.'about a 'loving heart';.from- {Christianity- 'Tvithdui,; acknowledgment;. .;Tho' .philanthropy, of 'the churches' .tneyiknew.'v.Tlieyi.had still to hoar-of the. practical; "philanthropy of . the-..associated Spiritualists.. ;As ,a religion,, a .spiritual power 'making Gpd'known and- helping men to"' achieve'-, their -rights :as{,,the;;redeemed children;; of; iGpd, 1, Spiritualism - .was ; , a•' sham from beginning 'to- end. {' In'' this : sense.at .least'.'.was''itVa,'palpable' : inipostu're.; ':'. { ' {:D'r{,fGibb'is;:m ,error.in his statement that Spiritualism "-had 'borrbweU ,'ilT;it • had,: from Christianity..;-^,;.Christianity .has'.nothing .to lend...except 'assumptions -and assertions. ]^ay'l{ask,,whether'Ohristianity;has,not bbrrowed'.'.largely from, paganism? 'This"opens upCa-'vefy large.field of. inquiry ~'and leaa-, hot-- here-.find ■;-time'.'to.. fully {reply :,■ to'; this charge,-.{but, his ';last unkind', remark,;.that. Spiritualism was a palpable .imposture, can .te equally,': applied {to stone. .Christian iteaohers.' I';will;■ however,;be.more generous' Gibb; and will' merely .say—■' that ;spiritual-i'sm',;'Hke{-;Christiahity,;'.is; what ; you; make -of; it, a' blessing -or, a \ourse. Spiritualism'; has' been'"fighting, rnateriaUsm,{' andbig6tryj"and-' with, -the 'combined 'forces 'of ;tlie ■ press; ; science; aid' the .{.materialists, > itstill ;surviv.e;s:and.is spreading all-over'God's> ;earth'.- ~'ln.proof':of.;'this,'■ let. me .quote, the •evidence -, of;, few. scientists .of. '.World-wide .reputation; ' Professor;Edgar.LnbiehLark'in, director of Lowe Observatoryj California,: in a .receht.articlesaid: "You know.;how stren-. uously I>liave -written; for, 40 .yegrrs rtllovor in 70 different papers and magazines.on.natural -science, and rigid material'4000 articles': which- I"- now see .'clearly, were .on'; the wrong side. Now I am 'studying" and: ,writing;-all, the .time -on- psychologXyand mental subjects.". .-',''■',". • • . ■;Professor '' Morselli,; of "Milan, ~says:—. .."Spiritualism,'bound up, ; as it is, •with'ttio beliefs of tho ancients, and:associated''"with all the:'great.religions and philosophies -of the • worlu,' deserves' to; engage, the attention' and respect.of the most liberal,"as-well as of tbo most prejudiced '-mahlbf - science.,-' It can"no v longer be;passed.-.over'with' derision and' almost {indifference, "becauso '.'it''' is'ah' hypothesis which commajids tJie 'assent, of' intellects .of, the "highest '■ order." . '.■■''■• :

Sir AYilliam Crobkes, ' F.R.S., Britain's! brilliant scientist, in referring to one of the materialised forms which was walking about iri his own house, says: "The impression was conveyed to my mind that it'was a. living woman by my - side instead of a visitor from the other world." /Alfred Russol. Wallace, F.RIS., iD.C.T;., LL.D., foremost living .European naturalist, says: V'Spiritualistic plienonieria' in their entirety do -not require, further confirmation." . Sir- Oliver. Lodge, .D.Sc., LL.B., celebrated British physicist. and principal • cj

Birmingham University, in a recont lecture, made the following statement:—"We,are.beginning to hear, now and again, the strokes of the pickaxes of our comrades on the other side."' "■''■-. ..'■,'' Professor Caesar Lombroso, Italy's greats est scientist, speaking of a seanoo at which his mother'appeared, declares: "I had the happiness of seeing my deceased mother again, and of embracing her and conversing with her." " Dr. Gibb said it was not uncharitable ; to say that the development of the psychic man generally hindered the development of the spiritual man. The saints, it had been said, had not been Spiritualists, and the Spiritualists had not been saints. Who said all this? Our critic has not told us his authority. Unless ,;he. wishes us' to understand .that it is Mr. Arthur Wait©, who said the history of Spiritualism was over-written everywhere,; with the fullest, evidence that no psychic phenomena led _to any spiritual result if pursued for their own,sake. What does he mean, by this statement —"if pursued for their own sake"? If ho means so long as people, pursue Spiritualism - for- its phenomena; then,l agree with him. but it is only the barnacles, the frauds who are not Spiritualists" that pursue it merely as phenomena hunters, just.in the save way as some so-called Christians pursue Chrietianity for the sake of business or appearance, or because it. is fashionable. I do not suggest that such worshippers are found at St. John's. Dr. Gibb should be the' best judge of that. -■.■■■■ ■■ ■ • i Let me, .however; Bay in conclusion; that either Spiritualism is of God, or it is'a huge delusion. If, it. be of God, then it is •■ idle for its opponents to try and pass it by with sneers and ridicule. Spiritualism is. in the world,.to stay, and the sooner that all prcachers'recognise this,- the better it will be for .themselves and humanity'generally'. '•How ; pure';at heart-and sound in head, . With what Divine affections bold, ' Should.be the man whose thoughts would hold Ah hour's'communion with the dead!" "'' .'■''' '''■'; ~ . Advt