ABC of Spiritualism 49 & 50 & 51/100

49. How might the message work among Spiritualists be lifted to a higher plane?

1. By more study of the conditions necessary to the exercise of reliable mediumship and attention thereto.

2. By classes of instruction for all Spiritualists under a good teacher.

3. By requiring a Three Months’ Course of reading and Catechism instruction for all beginners and investigators before they are admitted to Seances.

4. By emphasizing the fact that Spirit Messages are chiefly and primarily for spiritual instruction and comfort and only incidentally for material interests.

5. By requiring all church mediums to confine their public messages to spiritualities and compelling those who seek information and instruction from the spirit world on material affairs to do so in private sittings.

50. What are the chief outward hindrances to the acceptance and spread of Modern Spiritualism?

Ignorance of the Philosophy and Phenomena presented by Spiritualism to the world. The Power of Numbers, Wealth, Prestige in the church which has ever opposed Spiritualism. The Practical Materialism of the age largely immersed in money getting. Fear of Social Ostracism on the part of those who are attracted toward the movement.

51 What Causes within the spiritualistic Movement retard its growth?

Too radical statements of doctrine to those whose are not prepared for them; attacks on the Bible and Christianity as if Spiritualism was utterly out of harmony with them (Spiritualism has its own rational interpretation of the Bible and is not at war with Christianity properly understood, the Christianity of Jesus); illiterate workers who crowd their way to the front and assume the platform without very much of a message and with very poor qualifications for expressing that message; lack of harmony among mediums and societies, engendering rivalries and jealousies; officials who have sought office and position and obtained them and are not qualified for leadership.