THE UNDISCOVERED COUNTRY

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 238, 6 April 1912, Page 5

THE UNDISCOVERED COUNTRY

APPEAL 'FROM THE SPIRITUALISTS. By Telegraph—Press Association. Christchurch, April 5. The sixth annual convention of the National Association of Spiritualists opened this afternoon. It was attended by delegates from different parts of the Dominion. The retiring president, Mr. W. C. Nation, in "his address, said that the time had come when they must seek the protection of the 'Government for thengenuine andi : honest mediums, who, at present, were liable any day to be haled before a magistrate on the flimsy pretext of fortune-telling. A Bill had been drafted by Mr. McLean, which Would be put before the delegates, who must say 'how 'they judged olf its .adaptibility 'to bring about legislation. The administrators of the law have no knowledge of psychic gi'fts, and, therefore, are not competent to deal with those who possess and use them. For this reason they claimed the same protection of the Crown for their mediums as is given to clergymen and,the Church. They were told that this law is put in force Ito deal with those who practise fraud and' that was what the spiritualists were aiming at in 'seeking legislation, because they 'objected to any person practising fraud in the name of spiritualism. He concluded this l portion of his remark's by condemning the police methods of obtaining evidence against mediums, and said: "We, as spiritualists, object 'to the sanctity of the home being invaded by a policeman or detective as ignorant as Paddy'e pig 'of psychic manners, and securing a conviction under an Act that is a disgrace to the statute book." He also dealt with the relationship between the Church and Spiritualism, : and also with psychic matter's! generally ' The convention will resume to-morrow.