ABC of Spiritualism 100/100

100. What will be the future of Spiritualism? The question may be considered as referring to organized Spiritualism and also as referring to the Teachings of Spiritualism. The fate of organized Spiritualism depends upon the wisdom, prudence, consecration, harmony and progressiveness of its leaders and membership. The Teachings of Spiritualism under the organizations, through the press; through Psychic Research; through great Apostles of the Cult working independently (Sir Oliver Lodge, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Flammarion, and many others); through the growth of liberal ideas incident to our age; through the…

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ABC of Spiritualism 98 & 99/100

98. What is the most effective way of promoting pure Spiritualism? Raise the standard of thought, life and character in the individual Spiritualist and bring our public services in their methods, ministry and mediumship up to the requirements of this age. Let Spiritualists everywhere study their Harmonial Philosophy and incarnate it in their lives. There is nothing so eloquent as a good life. 99. Should Spiritualists oppose and attack the churches? No. On the contrary let them recognize the good the churches are doing in many ways. Spiritualists should not…

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ABC of Spiritualism 96 & 97/100

96. Will the churches cease their opposition to Spiritualism and accept the teaching of Spirit Return? That the churches will absorb more and more of the Spiritual Philosophy and the distinctive teachings of Spiritualism seems a certainty. They cannot, if they would, avoid this, since Spiritualistic ideas are in the air and the thought, literature, art, music and stage of today are reflecting more and more of these ideas upon the public mind. There does not seem any signs of general rapprochment between the churches and Spiritualism, though here and…

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ABC of Spiritualism 94 & 95/100

94. Why, if Spiritualism be true, are there such efforts made in all the cities to harrass and persecute Mediums? No doubt the opposition to mediumship springs from a Variety of causes. Ignorance and church prejudice in many cases are inspiring causes. It must be frankly confessed, however, that the misconduct, fraud and trickery that have characterized much professed mediumship, especially of that traveling fraternity of fakers who steal the livery of Spiritualism to serve the devil of their own greed of unholy gain, has furnished the public a seemingly…

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ABC of Spiritualism 92 & 93/100

92. Is there reason for thinking that Music, Art and Authorship of the highest type are direct inspirations from the spirit world upon earth sensitives? The character and habits of musical composers and of the highest grade of artists and authors inspires the belief that these three classes of workers are mediums, developed or undeveloped, and that they are largely channels for the lofty music, art and literature given through them to the world. 93. Is there Special Reason for believing that the true Poet is a prophet, inspired and…

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ABC of Spiritualism 90 & 91/100

90. How, according to Spiritualistic teaching, do the arisen spirit friends pass their time in spirit life? In a great multitude of engagements. Among these we may mention the following: In study of the new realm and intercourse with its inhabitants; in attending lectures, meetings, schools and colleges; in researches in science suited to their former tastes and avocations; in recreations and amusements; in travel and adventure; in music, art and authorship; in ministrations to the ignorant and undeveloped souls; and in communion with earth friends, and a practical prolongation…

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ABC of Spiritualism 88 & 89/100

88. Do the departed, according to Spiritualism, find heaven and hell as depicted by Church teaching? Not at all. On the contrary they find a very natural world on a plane of vibration higher than this, but very similar in many ways, yet more beautiful. They deny any vision of a great white throne, any manifestations of a personal God, any appearance of Jesus, or any lake of fire and torment for lost souls. They do assert, however, that great moral distinctions are found in the spirit realm. That some…

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ABC of Spiritualism 86 & 87/100

86. Does Spiritualism recognize rewards and punishments in the life after death? Yes, but natural rewards and punishments of the same kind as here. It does not find any arbitrary rewards and punishments there any more than here. All rewards and punishments in all the realms of God’s great kingdom, are found in the outworking of nature’s laws. They are not either favoritism on the one hand, nor vengeance on the other. Man sins and suffers here, or obeys the law and reaps reward. And as below, so above. No…

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ABC of Spiritualism 84 & 85/100

84. It is boldly asserted that Modern Spiritualism, despite its Professed communications with the Spirit Realm for the past seventy years, has really discovered nothing definite concerning Life after Death. Is this true? A greater untruth could scarcely be uttered. It is admitted that communication with the Spirit Realm is still in a tentative and an experimental stage. It may be frankly confessed that there is yet much to learn about the conditions and laws that govern spirit return. There are, doubtless, many improvements to be made in our knowledge…

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ABC of Spiritualism 82 & 83/100

82. What does Spiritualism teach us in regard to man’s duty to his native land or the land of his adoption? That every man owes a debt of loving and loyal service to his own land, to which he should render a supreme devotion. No man can serve two masters and no one can render a supreme devotion to two flags. This does not imply any spirit of antagonism to other lands. It simply states the law of reciprocity that should exist intact under all circumstances between the citizen and…

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ABC of Spiritualism 79 & 80 & 81/100

79. What will be the Spirit of the Future Religion? It will be expressed in Lincoln’s immortal words: “Charity for all and malice toward none.” In Stead’s noble aphorism: “The union of all who love and serve in the interests of all who suffer.” In the Wisdom of the Brahmins: “It is not blessedness to know That thou thyself art blest: True happiness is not by one Nor yet by two possessed; Not to the many is it given But only to the all; The joy that leaves one soul…

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ABC of Spiritualism 77 & 78/100

77. What relation is there, if any, between the New Thought Movement and Spiritualism? Spiritualists regard the New Thought Movement favorably and look upon it as one of the many indirect results of the great tide of thought and sentiment that sprang out of the origin and spread of Modern Spiritualism. The Optimism of New Thought; the high concept it has of human powers and possibilities; the Metaphysical Healing it practices; the wide departure it has made from Orthodoxy in abandoning the Old Theology and accepting the New Theology—and many…

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ABC of Spiritualism 75 & 76/100

75. How do they look upon Christian Science as a system of teaching? As a mixture of many and in some cases, opposing elements. The distinctive features of Christian Science teaching they trace to Phineas P. Quimby, Mrs. Eddy’s healer and teacher. (See Letter of Dr. Quimby’s son, published in November, 1918 “Reason Quarterly.” See also the McClure Magazine series of articles on Mrs. Eddy and Christian Science.) The Scripture interpretations of “Science and Health” Spiritualists trace largely to Emanuel Swedenborg and its Idealism to Berkeley and other philosophers of…

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ABC of Spiritualism 72 & 73 & 74/100

72. What is the attitude of Spiritualism toward the various Schools and Methods of Healing throughout the land? Spiritualists find some good in all the systems in vogue but look upon most of them as defective, believing that no system of bodily treatment can be radically and permanently effective. They look upon man as a unity and so long as the real man—the thinking, feeling and willing self—is left out of the treatment, so long will that system prove inadequate and transitory. 73. What is the attitude of Spiritualism toward…

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ABC of Spiritualism 70 & 71/100

70. Have there been other remarkable healers in the Spiritualistic movement? Yes, too many to mention here. One very well known to the writer, Mrs. J. H. R. Matteson of Buffalo, who passed away a few years since after a wonderful record of 33 years in healing thousands—large numbers of them having been given up by regular physicians. It may be objected that as Mrs. Matteson administered herbal remedies her healing was not metaphysical. It was very largely so because her remedies were the result of spiritual teaching and control,…

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ABC of Spiritualism 68 & 69/100

68. What objections do Spiritualists raise to the medical profession and to ordinary materia medica? The great objection to ordinary medical study and practice that Spiritualism raises is rather to its defects than to what it contains. It holds that the medical study and practice up to the present time has dealt almost solely with the body which is merely the house in which a man lives; that every system of medical study and practice which does not include a thorough and practical knowledge of man’s mental and spiritual forces…

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ABC of Spiritualism 65 & 67/100

65. What is the Mission of Spiritualism? Spiritualism is a World Teacher, Inspirer and Comforter of humanity. It aims at the unfoldment and uplift of the race. It emancipates the mind from error. It interprets to man the great volume of nature. It is the best key with which to unlock the storehouse of Spiritual Knowledge. It is an illuminating teacher on the Bible and Christianity: It explains the enigmas and riddles of life. It brings all realms of nature under law and asserts that man’s whole duty in life…

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ABC of Spiritualism 63 & 64/100

63. How may the Clergy be aroused to action on this subject? Members of their congregations interested in Spiritualism should ask their clergy to preach upon the subject. Get a copy of “Conundrums for the Clergy,” an inexpensive pamphlet, and send it to the minister. Collect a number of Bible passages and Bible incidents in which Spiritualism is taught or implied, and ask the minister to explain his interpretation of these in the pulpit. 64. Is there a safe and rational way of unfolding one’s own Mediumship? All men are…

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ABC of Spiritualism 61 & 62/100

61. Are there other reasons for the Silence of the Clergy on Spiritualism? Doubtless there are many other reasons and among them we may mention: 1. Many ministers actually believe in the truth of Spirit Return, but fear to take a stand that may possibly mean the loss of their pulpit and salary. Many ministers are good for very little in this practical age except ministerial work. They fear to launch their bark upon an unknown sea. 2. Many clergymen who suspect the truth of Spiritualism are afraid to voice…

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ABC of Spiritualism 58 & 60/100

58. Has Spiritualism any solace for the sorrowing? It is especially the One Religion of Consolation. Its teachings brighten the atmosphere of human life. Its demonstration of the after life has proven the Nectar of divinest comfort to the heart-broken and despondent. It is today the great Mother of Comfort to a world in tears over ten million slain in battle and unaccounted deaths resultant from the war. Spiritualism brings “the touch of a vanished hand, the sound of a voice that was still.” That is why out of all…

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