ABC of Spiritualism 38 & 39/100

38. But Spirit Messages often contain trivialities and recite petty incidents in human life. Can such trifles engage the attention of Spirit Intelligences?

Semingly trifling incidents in human life noted and reported by our spirit friends prove the nearness of our spirit friends and their watchcare over us. If such incidents deepen the conviction of the truth of spirit return in any human mind, they are no longer to be regarded as trifles. Sir Oliver Lodge, Dr. J. H. Hyslop and other Researchers hold and emphasize this view.

39. If Spiritualism is a Progressive Religion, why are there so many Spiritualists who do not care for books, lectures, class work or study of the Spiritual Philosophy?

The answer is that these people do not represent Spiritualism but “Spiritism.” They are as a class “Phenomena Hunters” and have gone off the path of self development and progress which true Spiritualism prescribes, to worship strange Gods. They center all their interest in the movement upon the messages and these they exalt into a “fetish” and seek to escape all responsibility for the use of their own reason and moral sense, by rushing to the spirit world for advice on every occasion.

These people are not true representatives of Spiritualism but, unfortunately, they constitute a large proportion of the movement. They represent in Spiritualism the old wing of the church army who sang lustily, “Jesus paid it all,” and who trusted their salvation to the sufferings of the Crucified—since these worshippers of the phenomena apparently believe that “the spirits will do it all “ and that life will be replete with joy and happiness if they will faithfully follow up every available message circle.