SPIRITUALISM.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 51, 9 June 1910, Page 3

SPIRITUALISM.

To the Editor. Sir, —My attention has (been drawn to a letter in this morning's "News" in which a Mr. A. Mofflin takes exception to my article which appeared in Saturday's issue on "God's Denunciation against Spiritualism." Mr. Mofflin does not attempt to deny that God does denounce this as a great evil in very strong terms, actually ordering Israel to put the spiritualist to death, and giving a very valid reason, viz., that it denies those who practise it. Mr. Mofflin states that 1 have "unjustly associated spiritualism with sorcery, witchcraft, et genus omne." 1 did not use the words "et genus omne." It is not unjust to say that spiritualism is the modern word for witchcraft, sorcery, necromancy. What did the witch of Endor perform? Was it not that which is called a seance to-dav? And the word "sorcerer" means '■one who practices witchcraft," and the same word is used for both. See this word in the 'hooks of Exodus, Daniel and Isaiah. The word "necromancer" means "one who enquires at the dead." 1 know that "half a lie is ever the blackest of lies." If I have written something which is incorrect, I will withdraw it at once. Meanwhile lam right in stating that spiritualism is that which is denounced by God as witchcraft. I have yet to learn that an angel means a spirit, and that God sending an agel to Mary at the tomb is the same thing as consulting, or supposing to consult the spirits of the dead. Let Mr. Mofflin give us a concrete case of where a good man, with God's approval, communicated with the spirits of the dead in Biblical records. I do lint know oi when or where Moses, Aabrnliam, Lot and Samuel dealt in spiritualism or 'witchcraft. I request Mr. Mofflin to inform me. I have 110 need to attend a seance. The. Poxes, of America, after practising spiritualism for years, admitted that it was all due to trickery. John Marriott, vide Pearson's Magazine for March, attended twentyone seances, and proved to the satisfaction of himself and others that : enty of these were frauds and the other one did not work properly or did rivr. come off —I forget which. .Sir Augn-rne Hirrel), at a meeting in Bristol about a year ago, stated "that there had not been a verified <*>se of spirit communica* tion." Sir 0. Lof's;e and Sir W. Crooks "do not discredit, i ho /possibility of communication with ifie spirit world." Mr. Mofflin has worded this very carefully. I presume Mr. Mofflin remembers the Wlslington fiasco with Mr. Bailey, of Austvslis, soma months ago. There is a book writ I 'n'by Thrjruas Jay Hudson an "Psychic which I would -e----*ommend Mr, Mofflin to In the work he says that h< » real and in--Ir-liigent communicatioi ram the spirit I of his dead sister, and ' ie never had a sister!" This is what Mr. Mofflin calls "pure, loving and educative," and, I shall a&l—and I hope I will not be considered irreverent--amusing. R. J. Campbell's thwlogy or "farrago of Tion^nse" as Professor Fairbairn called it, is only a side issue. I will discuss it at a future date if Mr. Mofflin washes. Many leading minda agree with Dr. Hairbairn.' It is simply a Unitarian affair, and will soon ibe with its fathers. Thanking you for this space,—l am, etc. JOI-TC LAIRD. Baptist Church, 8/0/10.