MR PEEBLES AT THE QUEEN’S THEATRE.

Evening Star, Issue 3119, 17 February 1873, Page 3

MR PEEBLES AT THE QUEEN’S THEATRE.

Last evening Mr Peebles, the apiritualiat, again lectured at the Queen’s Theatre. The building was alittle more than half filled ■ypth people. The lecturer commenced by remarking that during the past he bad re-, ceivedteypial enquiries from different people regarding the doctrines, object, and aims of ' piritualism, all of which he would answer at the close of his lecture. He alluded to the anonymous letters which had appeared in the daily newspapers, but particularly to one challenging him to a public discussion. He had a desire to challenge the clergy of this city to a discussion, extending over four evenings on Ihc doctrines, phenomena, and aims of Spiritualism. Such a discussion would show what was true in his teaching, as well as what was acqepiable in! the socalled orthodox theology. After Hr Dunni had read a poem, entitled ‘Ao f-ect in Heaven,” Mr Peebles read the following text:—-“ Arid Pilate saith tinto Jesus, what is true ?” The question here put yyaii what was true ip regard to the' O.rfgin of the human face and the destiny of the souls o| men. Truth and error wero co-relative terms, apd whercyep tby former existed it tended to beaytffy and advance human nature. H§ regarded wan a? the crowning glory of God's \yopka, possessed of the sovereign right to search after and possess truth, The great error of the civilised man wag in leaning too much on others instead of trusting in his own powers. It could be scarcely doubted, but it was so with artists, theologians and men of science for centuries past. Still, there.were some who thought independently, and to their efforts wo were indebted for tb e steam engine," th# electrip telegraph, aqd the liberty of thought I and action many nations enjoyed— politically i and religiously. It vyas the practice, fu the days of Christ, for to devote themselves to the work of marching after truth. In like manner the thinker of the present day should do so. If be would enquire of the Persian, the Indian, or the Chinese, they would pl»ee their Vedas, Shastrao, or the writing of Confucius, in hit hands, and say, “These contain the truth, follow their teaching.” So in Turkey, % Mahomedan would present his -fyOiaa, anti, iay this book was given by insnifatio'A' through the etngel Gabnel, \ believe in it, “So the jews would present 3 their Old Testament aa the Word of God given by inspired writers. At length the enquirer would roach the Churches of England or America, and ask, “What is truth,” and they would reply, “ Read the Bible and the works of Calvin and Knox, and you will £nd it.” But then the Baptist y/ouldj cbnie ih' and say, with, Regard/' to ' their'’' practice, “ spnpkUng Is not’'the' baptism of’ John 1 , and therefore it is not correct.” 'The Methodist would" say baptism is not of importance—repent and be converted,' a,nd yo.u'wflli be saved,;' while the Episcopalian would say, unite with us—ours is thy Apostolip Church, Then the .Homan Catholics would point ou,t that their Church was ! the Church of history, possessing the true faith, and that no oue outside her communion would or oould be saved T he Unitarians, whom he considered the most liberal-minded of people, would say “ Head the Bible without prejudice or influence, and you will find truth. ” Daring his journey over A mcrica he spent a fortnight with the Mormons, but he could not respect them because of their practice of bigamy. While with Brigham Young 03 this pomt jhe pro- 1 phet replied, “Gh, 1 gei my authority from ygnr Bible. < Did nd't ’ the wisest Sf your Bible men' and others keep several wives, : Chri't himself did not forbid it, j don't ; think I have gone fat astray, fpi; I haVe only fourteen wi ms.'”, '■ wdlil'd be asljid by the enquirer all through what was truth. Th[ere was much in Chvfs- , fie admired, he jopjkjed upon the : teaching of Cliyigh ai i divine. Thqt whicli, men polled, Christianity wu ß U°t the teaeh-> : ing of jcsivs, and it had proved a ; failure, j’he teaching of Christ was “love Oiip auothov.” Hut that this was not practised was clearly proved by the present state of society. In a recent English paper it was shown that there were 165,000 paupers in London, starving and dy%?> while there was one bishop, enjjayiim. an income of L40,0d0 annum, • and others to tbeac by ipnis, who h,ad nowhere to jay ; his head, was, “.fend my l#mk v fn Ameyina, whepe there were 40,000 clergymen, the poor wore pot taken paye of. During the latp wav many of them oast aside their robes apd took part i° the 60J battles which were fought • and this while Jesus their master taught the doctrine of peace. It was no wonder, then, that Humboldt, Tyndall, Dickens, and a host of others were not Christians. He knew of professing Chris* tiana who let houses to be used os dram* shops, places of ill fame ; he knew them to put sand in the sugar they sold, adulterate ‘ the coffee, and water the grog, ft might well be asked in the face of, ajl 1 '"(jhih what was truth % hM truth Whs the divinese conception of any one subject ; truth mid Christianity, as taught by Christ, •accorded j but truth and the Christianity of 'the preront day did not accord. Those who sought after truth, following the mind of Christ, would find it. “They who believe shall do the things that I do,” said Jesus, and what were these but the gifts cf heshhs discerning, &c. This life 'bht'’ beginning of a uoyov,-ending existence of beauty and fjoojh, jviid those who learned the truth Iwoiild have the power of progress from step ’to stop in the knowledge of God’s works. He then proceeded to shew that the doctrine

of eternal punishments was not taught in the Scriptures, but that all good acts, as well as all evil, brought their reward. The punishment for evil was only a sequence of the act, but was not everlasting. Those who indulged in the doing of good, feeding the poor, and blessing the world by their lives, prepared themselves for a higher state in the spirit world. This was the gospel he preached. With regard to the questions put, the first was “ What good has ever come out of Spiritualism ?'* He had only to say that the question never was put by a cogent thinker. The experiences of Hare, Professor of Chemistry, llobcrt Owen, and llobert Dale Owen, all of whom were Deists, but by communion with the Spirit world, were brought to be blessings to their race, were positive tangible proof of the good of Spiritualism. The next question was, “Do American Spiritualists believe in marriage and freelove?” They believed in marriage, but if the words free-love meant lust, they certainly did not believe in it. If the words meant pure love, he would say yes, for we had the divine teaching that “ God was love.” They who practised this were happy and prepared to hold communion with its author. Lust was a thing to be loathed and despised, and he knew no angel teach it. Another question was, “Does not the Bible teach that punishment is endless ?” T here was no such word in the New Testament as applied to punishment, but the word endless was used with happiness. Hereafter there would be remorse and sorrow for misdeeds in this state, but there would be an escape from these. Then he was asked, “Do you propose to form a new faith or sect ?” This question he would answer in the negative. Spiritualism was simply a diffusing power to take hold on men’s souls, and raise them to higher life. Another question was, “ Why have, or use, dark circles ?” He would ask why seeds sprang in the darkness of the ground ? Why did machinery work better in darkness than hi the light? Why did many of the great events of Bible history occur at night ? Why was darkness required to develop a photograph? In fact, the question was so involved in deep occult science that it was hard to answer. Light was positive, darkness was negative, and where light was there was life and motion. Spirits were not gods ; they were only Spirit-men, learningas we arc now, and no doubt would ultimately find means of communicating with men more openly. He was also asked, “Do not Spiiitista intend destroying the Bible, and if so, where, we go for truth. ” The truths nf ths Bible would stand against all powers,; nothing would destroy thorn. His in th,ese truths had, increased apd strengthened during the p»?.t fifteen year? by communion with the spirit world. Hp hftd revived a communication signed “A. B. C., v fta follows?—“I have b,ad years of experience in Spiritualism, but thp spirits lied, and therefore 1 left it.” If the writer was in the theatre he would say to him, you have had years of experience in this world, it has lied to you, and why have you not left it. He had no doubt but there were lying spirits in the other world; but they were learning, progressing, and would ultimately pass into a better apd higher condition. The remaining questions he would answer on $n pijher, occasion. Hp, concluded by ogam expressing a desire to discuss the question of Spiritualism versus the Bible, taught by Christians, with ths qfqrgy of Dunedin.