Glimpses Of The Next State.Pdf - Spiritualists' National Union

193wish the Pontiff had issued such an injunction as this: “The investigation of spiritisticphenomena is dangerous for nervous, excitable people, who have not prepared themselves for it bystudy and contemplation, and should only be undertaken with great caution.” This would havebeen a wise course to take, and could not have failed to effect much good; for there is evil in theabuse of everything—in spiritism as much as in whisky; and, assuredly, there are people who oughtnever to touch either.I need not say that I utterly deny the truth of the Roman Catholic doctrine of spiritism beingthe insinuating work of devils. If I thought there was a grain of sense in it, I should not be writingthis book. It is from my private records chiefly that I am able flatly to contradict the Romanemissaries. It would require an army of detective devils to find out so much about my life andfriends as has been related to me in the direct voice at Detroit, Mich. Sooner or later, a falsestatement would be made, and the fraud would be discovered. The communications made to me allfit in with one another admirably, and tell of events covering the space of half a century. Even thesealleged devils have their limitations; such a scheme of lying must betray itself in the course of time.And, I ask, what could be the motive of such a conspiracy of wickedness? Can it be to theinterest of devils to lead a man up, step by step, to a knowledge of immortality? Would it not bemore to the interest of these alleged spiritual desperadoes to impress upon him that annihilationwas the truer doctrine?“Yes,” replies the Roman Catholic, “ but while appearing to you in the guise of beneficentteachers and angelic visitants, these devils—in whom we believe—are leading you away from theorthodox doctrine that man can only be saved through the blood of Christ and by His grace. Novisitor from the spirit world, as you know, ever teaches that man can only attain salvation throughChrist.”It is this view of the Roman Catholics which caused me to say above that their objections tothe investigation and practice of spiritism cannot be ignored; for it truly represents their honestbelief, and this belief is shared by thousands in the Anglican Church.It is quite correct to say that no visitor from the spirit world teaches that salvation can beobtained only through Christ. They teach, universally, that man is his own saviour, and can obtainhappiness or suffer misery only through his own acts. This, of itself, is evidence in favour of thegenuineness of mediums. Undoubtedly it would be more popular, and bring more grist to the mill,if the controls and other spirits adhered to the theology of the Western Churches; but they do not,either in Protestant or Roman Catholic countries. Over the whole area where spiritistic influence isfelt, the teaching, in all essentials, is Unitarian. Jesus Christ is revered, and his holy example is notdisputed; but no hope is held out to man that he can progress through any other channel than thatof his own efforts. His sins are not forgiven on account of any sacrifice of the sinless. He reaps whathe sows. Death-bed repentance is of no avail; he cannot escape the consequences of breaking thelaws of nature, and he carries with him into the next life an indelible record of all he has done in thepresent state of consciousness. At the same time hope is held out to him. If he makes reparation,where such is possible, for breaking the golden rule, and has a sincere desire to rise, he will beafforded facilities for doing so. Every soul goes to “its own place.” No priest can avert a man’sdestiny; he can only avert it himself by obeying the laws of nature in this life, and doing his best inthe next state to rise higher in spiritual development.It is not surprising, then, that the Catholic Church continues to make every effort to preventher children from becoming spiritists; to be consistent, it cannot do otherwise. Its opposition cannotaffect the ultimate truth; for all we know, it may be a useful drag on over-enthusiasm, and one ofthe many instruments used by Providence for postponing the period when all men shall come in,voluntarily, to believe the truths of spiritism. In the meantime nothing is to be gained by trying toconvert Churchmen or materialists. By their mental attitude of hostility they can preventmanifestations from taking place, and thus nullify the benefits which otherwise would be gained byearnest investigators. If a man can really bring himself to believe that the manifestations of allspirits are the work of devils, he is unfit to appreciate the delicate and gentle phenomena which areseen and heard through the agency of good psychics.