Chapter XXIV: Part II (2)

The only immortality they offer is the immortality of evil demons or the angels who kept not their first estate. But even of such an immortality for the human soul, they offer no proof. They are lying spirits, and their word is worthless, and their identity with human souls once united to human bodies which they personate, is not and cannot be established. They deny the resurrection of the dead, which St. Paul preached at Athens, and they give, as we have seen, no proofs that the soul does not die and perish with the body. Their doctrines are simply calculated to deceive the unwary, to draw them away from their allegiance to the Lord of heaven, and to drag them down to the region where dwell the angels that fell.

The ethical doctrines of the spirits are as bad as can be imagined, and the morals of the advanced spiritists would appear to be of the lowest and most revolting sort. It matters not that the spirits give, now and then, some good advice, and say some true things; for the object of satan is to deceive, and his practice is usually to lie and deceive by telling the truth. The truth he tells gains him credit, and secures confidence in him as a guide. But he takes good care that the truth he tells shall have all the effect of falsehood. He gives good moral advice, but he removes all motives for following it, and takes away all moral restraints. He wars against authority in matters of faith and morals, as repugnant to the rights of reason, and in political and domestic life as repugnant to liberty and the rights of women and children. All should do right and seek what is good, but no one should be constrained; only voluntary obedience is meritorious; forced obedience is no virtue. The sentiments and affections should be as free as the air we breathe, and to attempt to restrain them is to war against nature herself. They are not voluntary either in their origin or nature, and therefore are not and should not be subjected to an outward law. Love, the apostle tells us, is the fulfilling of the law, the bond of perfection. How wrong, then, to undertake to put gyves on love, to constrain it, or to subject it to the petty conventionalities of a moribund society, or the rules of an antiquated morality! Taking no note of the distinction between the supernatural love, which Christians call charity, and love as a natural sentiment, and as little of the distinction between the different sorts of love even as a natural sentiment, as the love of parents for children and children for parents, the love of friends, the love of country, the love of truth and justice, and the love of the sexes for each other, or simply sexual love, satan lays the foundation, as we can easily see, if not blinded by his delusions, for the grossest corruption and the most beastly immorality.

Hence the spiritists very generally look upon the marriage law as tyrannical and absurd, and assert the doctrine of free love. The marriage is in the love, and when the love is no more, the marriage is dissolved. None of our sentiments depend on the will; hence, self-denial is unnatural, and immoral. Prostitution is wrong, for no love redeems and hallows it; and for the same reason it is immoral for a man and a woman to live together as husband and wife, after they have ceased to love each other. It is easy to see to what this leads, and we cannot be surprised to find conjugal fidelity not reckoned as a virtue by spiritists; to find wives leaving their husbands, and husbands their wives, or the wife choosing a new husband as often as she pleases or wills; and the husband taking a new wife when tired of the old, or an additional wife or two, Mormon-like, when one at a time is not enough. {299} Indeed, Mormonism is only one form and the most strictly organized form, of contemporary spiritism, and woman's-rightism is only another product of the same shop, though doubtless many of the women carried away by it are pure-minded and chaste. But the leaders are spiritists or intimately connected with them. The _animus_ of the woman movement is hostility to the marriage law, and the cares and drudgery of maternity and home life. It threatens to be not the least of the corrupting and dangerous forms of spiritism.

Mr. Grant, who is a staunch Protestant, and hates Catholicity with a most hearty hatred, gives, on adequate authority, a sketch of the immorality of spiritists which should startle the community: we make an extract:

"We pass to notice some further facts relative to the
_moral_ tendency of spiritualism. We have read its
_claims_, and found them very high; but there is abundant
proof to show that, instead of its being 'ancient Christianity
revived,' it is the worst enemy Christianity ever had to meet.
We believe it to be satan's last grand effort to substitute a
false for the true Christianity. His snares are laid most
ingeniously; and, unless very watchful, ere people are aware of
it, they will be caught in some of his traps. Thousands and
millions are already his deluded victims, and, like a terrible
tornado, he is sweeping with destruction on every side.
Occasionally we hear a warning voice from one who has escaped
from his power, like a mariner from the sinking wreck; but
most, after they once get into the spiritualist 'circle,' are
like the boatman under the control of the terrible whirlpool on
the coast of Norway--destruction is sure.

"The next witness we introduce is Mr. J. F. Whitney, editor of
the New York _Pathfinder._ He was formerly a warm advocate
of spiritualism, and published much in its favor. He says:

"'Now, after a long and constant watchfulness, seeing for
months and years its progress and its practical workings
upon its devotees, its believers, and its mediums, we are
compelled to speak our honest conviction, which is, that the
manifestations coming through the acknowledged mediums, who
are designated as rapping, tipping, writing, and entranced
mediums, have a baneful influence upon believers, and create
discord and confusion; that the generality of these
teachings inculcate false ideas, approve of selfish,
individual acts, and endorse theories and principles which,
when carried out, _debase_ and make them _little
better than the brute_.'

"Again he says: 'Seeing as we have the gradual progress it
makes with its believers, particularly its mediums, from
lives of _morality_ to those of _sensuality_ and
_immorality_, gradually and cautiously undermining the
foundation of good principles, we look back with amazement
to the radical change which a few months will bring about in
individuals.'

"He says in conclusion: 'We desire to send forth our warning
voice; and if our humble position as the head of a public
journal, our known advocacy of spiritualism, our experience,
and the conspicuous part we have played among its believers;
the honesty and the fearlessness with which we have defended
the subject, will weigh anything in our favor, we desire
that our opinions may be received, and those who are moving
passively down the rushing rapids to destruction, should
pause, ere it be too late, and save themselves from the
blasting influence which those manifestations are causing.'

"Forbidding To Marry.

"Among other instructions of the spirits, the apostle Paul has
assured us that they will be opposed to the marriage
laws,'forbidding to marry.' I Tim. iv. 3.

"At the Rutland (Vt.) Reform Spiritualist Convention, held in
June, 1858, the following resolution was presented and
defended:

"'_Resolved_, That the only true and natural marriage is
an exclusive conjugal love between one man and one woman; and
the only true home is the isolated home, based upon this
exclusive love.'

"The careless reader may see nothing objectionable in the
resolution; but please read it again and observe what
constitutes _marriage_, according to the resolution,'an
exclusive conjugal LOVE between one man and one woman.'
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The poison sentiment is covered up by the word '_one_.'
What constitutes marriage now, according to the laws of the
land? Do we understand that, when we see a notice of a
marriage in a paper, which took place at a certain time and
place, that then the parties began to love each other
exclusively? Certainly not; but at that time their love was
sanctioned by the proper authorities, and thus they became
husband and wife. But the resolution states that the
_marriage_ should consist in the 'exclusive conjugal
_love_.' Then it follows, when either party loves another
exclusively, the first marriage is dissolved, and they are
married again; and if the other one does not happen to find a
spiritual 'affinity,' then there is no alternative left but to
make the best of it, as many have been compelled to do.
According to this resolution, one is married as often as his
love becomes '_exclusive_' for any particular individual.
This is one item in the boasted 'new social order,' which the
spirits propose to establish when the political power is in
their hands. It is called by them the 'Divine Law of
Marriage.' A large number of spiritualists are already
carrying out this resolution practically, regardless of the
laws of the land.

"A similar resolution was presented at the National Spiritual
Convention held in Chicago, from Aug. 9th to 14th, 1864 It was
offered by Dr. A. G. Parker, of Boston, chairman of the
committee on social relations. This point is strongly urged by
the spirits and spiritualists.

"At the Rutland Reform Convention, which closed June 27th,
1858, the resolution under consideration was earnestly
advocated by able men and women. Said Mrs. Julia Branch, of New
York, as reported in _The Banner of Light_, July 10th,
1858, when speaking on the resolution: 'I am aware that I have
chosen almost a forbidden subject; forbidden from the fact that
any one who _can_ or _dare_ look the marriage
question in the face, candidly and openly denouncing the
institution as the sole cause of woman's degradation and
misery, are objects of suspicion, of scorn, and opprobrious
epithets.'

"She further remarked in the defence of the resolution, and the
rights of women, 'She must demand her freedom; her right to
receive the equal wages of man in payment for her labor; _her
right to have children when she will, and by whom_.'"

Much more to the same effect, and even more startling, we might quote; we might give the account of the spiritist community at Berlin, Ohio; but we have no wish to disgust our readers, and this is enough for our purpose; it is sufficient to prove to all, not under the delusion, that spiritism is of satanic origin, and to be eschewed by all who wish to remain morally sane, and to lead honest and upright lives. We are not disposed to be alarmists, and, like the majority of our countrymen, are more likely to err on the side of optimism than of pessimism; but we cannot contemplate the rapid spread of spiritism since 1847, when it began with the Fox girls, without feeling that a really great danger threatens the modern world, and that there is ample reason for all who do not wish to see demon-worship supplanting the worship of God throughout the land, to be on their guard. Mr. Grant, who seems to be well informed on the subject, tells us that since that period, spiritism "has become world-wide in its influence, numbering among its ardent supporters many of the first men and women of both continents. Ministers, doctors, lawyers, judges, congressmen, governors, presidents, queens, kings, and emperors, of all religions, are bowing to its influence, and showing their sympathy with its teachings."

Mr. Grant should not say, "of all religions;" some Catholics may have become spiritists, but they cannot become so, and persist in following spiritism without severing themselves from the church. Some spiritists have been told by the spirits to become Catholics; but the church has required them to give up spiritism, and they have either done so, or left her communion, like Daniel Home, and returned to their communion with the demons. The church forbids her children to have any dealings with devils. But with this rectification the statement is not exaggerated. {301} The spread of spiritism has been prodigious, and proves not only the power and cunning of satan, but that the way for his success had been well prepared, and that no small portion of the modern world were in the moral condition of the old world at the epoch of the great Gentile apostasy, and ready to return to the heathen darkness and superstition, the vice and corruption, from which the Gospel had rescued them, or, at least, had rescued their ancestors.

We know not the number of spiritists in our country. We have seen it stated that they reckon their numbers by millions; but there can be no doubt that they include a very large portion of our whole population. Has this fact anything to do with the astounding increase of vice and crime in our country within the last few years, the undeniable corruption of morals and manners, and the growing frequency of murder and suicide? Senator Sprague, an honorable and an honest man and a true patriot, stated, the other day, in his place in the Senate of the United States, that our country is morally and politically more corrupt than any other country in the civilized world. We hope he is mistaken, but we are afraid that he is not wholly wrong. It is idle to attribute this corruption to the influences of the late civil war, and still idler or worse than idle, to attribute it, as some do, to the heavy influx of foreigners; for, though among those are many old-world criminals, the great body of the foreigners, when they land here, are far more moral, honest, upright, conscientious, than the average of native Americans; and though they soon prove that "evil communications corrupt good manners," much of the patriot's hope for the future depends on them, especially the Catholic portion of them, if, in due season, their children can be brought under the influence of the church, and receive a proper Catholic training.

Unhappily, the simple, natural virtues of former times, such as existed in ancient Greece and Rome, and exist even now in some pagan and Mohammedan countries, have, to a fearful extent, been lost with us, and the sects have nothing with which to supply their place, or to oppose to this terrible satanic invasion. They have indeed done much to prepare the way for it, and are doing still more, by their opposition to the church, to render it successful. But, though the danger is great and pressing, we are not disposed to think, with Mr. Grant, that we are in what he calls the "world's crisis." The danger is far less than it was; because the satanic origin and character of the so-called spirit-manifestations are widely suspected, and are beginning to be exposed. Satan is powerless in the open day. He is never dangerous when seen and known to be satan. He must always disguise himself as an angel of light, and appear as the defender of some cause which, in its time and place, is good, but, mistimed and misplaced, is evil. He has done wonders in our day as a philanthropist, and met with marvellous success as a humanitarian, and will, perhaps, meet with more still as the champion of free love and women's rights. But he has no power over the elect, and, though he may besiege the virtuous and the holy, he can captivate only the children of disobedience, who are already the victims of their own pride, vanity, lust, or unbelief.

The end of the world may be at hand, and these lying signs and wonders may be the precursors of antichrist; but we do not think the end is just yet. Faith has not yet wholly died out, and the church has seen, perhaps, darker days than the present. {302} The power of Christ, or his patience, is not yet exhausted; the gospel of the kingdom has not yet been preached to all nations; three fourths of the human race remain as yet unconverted, and we cannot believe that the church has as yet fulfilled her mission, and Christianity done its work. Too many of the sentinels have slept at their posts, and there has been a fearful lack of vigilance and alertness of which the enemy has taken advantage. The sleepers in Zion are many; but these satanic knocks and raps, and these tippings of tables, and this horrid din and racket of the spirits to indicate their presence, can hardly fail to awaken them, unless they are really sleeping the sleep of death. The church is still standing, and if her children will watch and pray, she can battle with the enemy as successfully as she has done so many times before.

Many Catholics have had their doubts of the reality of the alleged spirit-manifestations, and, even conceding them as facts, have been slow to recognize their satanic origin and character. But those doubts are now generally removed. The fearful moral and spiritual ravages of spiritism have dispelled or are fast dispelling them, and it will go hard but here and now as always and everywhere, what satan regards as a splendid triumph shall turn out against him and bring him to shame. Thus far in his war against the Son of God all his victories have been his defeats.

One thing is certain, that the only power there is to resist this satanic invasion is the Catholic Church; and there is, unless we greatly deceive ourselves, a growing interest in the Catholic question far beyond any that has heretofore been felt. Thinking and well-disposed men see and feel the impotence of the sects; that they have no divine life, and no divine support; that they stand in human folly, rather than even in human wisdom. Eminent Protestant ministers eloquently proclaim and conclusively show that Protestantism was a blunder, and has proved a failure; and there springs up a growing feeling among the more intelligent and well-disposed of our non-Catholic countrymen, that the judgment rendered against the church by the Reformers in the sixteenth century was hasty, and needs revision, perhaps a reversal. This feeling, if it continues to grow, can augur but ill for the ultimate success of satan and his followers.

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Daybreak.