SPIRITISM AND MESMERISM.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1541, 5 August 1886, Page 2

SPIRITISM AND MESMERISM.

TO THE EEITOR. Sir, —Your issue of the 31st ult., contains Mr Gibson’s criticisms onjuy letter on the above. With your permission, I ■ desire to say a little more on the subject. I do not consider his "guesses” and criticisms worthy of notice, and 1 will let the public judge them for themselves. He says it is an untruth that spirits arc backward in speaking of God. Before proceeding further with that point, I want him to prove his assertions. As Mr Gibson says I have not investigated either the Scriptures or spiritism, I will ask him to kindly enlighten me a little by answering me a few questions. First of a ! l I ask him to quote Scripture in favor of spiritism ? Also, how does he propose to set aside that portion of the Scriptures which so explicitly condmens it! To' show cause why spiritists should not be plnced on a level with heretical To draw a line between Eve’s delusion when the devil appeared to her in the shape of a serpent (as a medium), and that of spiritists ? Spiritists toll ns that when a medium is in a trance the soul is disengaged from the senses and established in relation with the whole world ; that it can travel through space like pure spirits, with the rapidity of lightning; that it can be multi-present. If so, I ask Mr Gibson, how is this done I Until these phenomena are accounted for we have not advanced one step. When a somnambulist describes what he sees at a distance, it is evident he does not see with his natural sight. How does he seel Spiritists tell us his soil! in roaming free all over the world, being disengaged from the trammels of his senses. But how can the soul be free from i'he influence of the senses, and remain „.ill united to the body in order to animate it 1 Or, remaining in the body, bow can the sort acquire such lucidity «nd agility How can a medium, for instance, accurately describe places in America, Europe, or Africa, although he never visited them 7 How, through magnetic sleep, can mediums see at a distance of 10,000 miles? How cm they discover the diseases of the human body, prescribe remedies, etc.; bow can they tell what will happen in future % In the Spritualistic newspaper of July 15th, 1871, Lord Lindsay affirms having seen bis friend Mr Home carried out of the window into the room next to where he was and brought in at another window by spiritis hands, Home, during the transport, was floating in the air, The window was about 70ft from the ground. The same Lord Lindsay testifies to having seen bright flames in one corner of the room during these manifestations, Dr Butbelrdf also states having seen phosphorescent lights floating in the air, immediately followed by apparitions. Can these things be explained without the agency of the demon ? Let Mr Gibson answer this. Judge Edmonds, of New York, declared that his neice often spoke and sung Italian when in a trance, Improvising both words and tunes, although she ' was entirely [unacquainted with the language. He affirms having heard mediums speaking Spanish, French, Polish, Greek, etc. Surely in such cases there must be someone to move the tongue of the medium, and put the words on his lips—a foreign language is not learned in a day. If we admit of an intelligence distinct from the medium and those present, then comes the question : What is that intelligence? Is it not that which animated ancient statues, and pythonesses? Is it not that which at present animates the Buddhists ? Let Mr Gibson answer that. Before concluding, sir, permit mo to inform Mr Gibson that I will cease calling him u "spiritist” when I have the pleasure of calling him a Christian. Thanking you for allowing me space, I am, etc., J.P.