Spiritualism.

Thames Star, Volume XII, Issue 3805, 9 March 1881, Page 3

Spiritualism.

Mr W. G. Simon, who it will be remembered lectured here on Spiritualism a short time ago, has been expounding his views tp a Dunedin audience. The Morning Herald says :—

Mr W. Gr. Simon, the latest acquisition to the Dunedin Freethougbt platform, delivered his introductory lecture in the Princess Theatre last evening. There was a fair attendance, and Mr 3. Braithwaite was in the nhair and briefly introduced the lecturer. Mr Simon's text was " Spiritual Phenomena." and in his opening remarks be said his object was to remove existing obstacles in the way of truth. He intended to show that the reasoning capacity was the grandest gift they possessed. By it they were capable of ascertaining everything, not Tor the purpose of bearing down established principles that had been revereEeedJby others, but of attaining to truth that they might build up their moral and intellectual selves, develope bepond superstition, and establish harmony of thought, and consequently, through it, the brotherhood of man. Mr Simon 'then referred at length to the philosophy of Spiritualism and science. He also maintained that the teachers of other systems of religion were in duty bound to investigate the phenomena of Spiritualism, which explained the foundation upon which religion was built. To investigate Spiritualism would not deatroy religion, but was productive of intellectual development and of a higher and nobler attainments. Speaking generally, Mr Simon in his lecture claimed for Spiritualism highly moral and ennobling effects, and therefore urged that on these grounds it should receive the attention of the people of the present day. As an orator or elocutionist, we presume no one would claim that he possesses much ability, and his reasoning and conclusions in many instances would not meet with the approval of any one who knows what logic or science is.