Certainitis，wefindsufficientthatisdivineinhislifeandteachings，withoutprofessingtobelieveinthefablesofPage84theologiansrespectinghisbirthandparentage。Wearecontenttotakethesimplerecordasitstands，andtoregardhimasthesonofJosephandMary，endowedwithsuchpurityandharmonyofcharacterasfittedhimtobetheApostleandRevelatorofthehighestwisdomevertaughttoman。ItisthefundamentalarticleinthecreedofmodernChristianity，thatJesuswasdivineinhisnature，andofmiraculousoriginandnativity。
Now，nohumanbeingofordinaryintelligence，unwarpedbyeducationalbias，wouldeverprofesstobelieveinsuchamonstrousfigment，whichonlyshowstheblindnessofsuperstitiousprejudice。\"Hereissomethingtwenty-fouryearslater。AséancereportedintheBannerofLight，Oct。9，1886，givesthefollowingquestionsandanswer：——\"Ques。——Do’spirits’generallybelieveinthedivinityofJesusChrist;thathewastheSonofGod;thathewascrucified，dead，andburied，androseagainthethirddayforthesavingofallwhoshouldbelieveinhim？
\"Ans。——No;spiritsgenerally——advancedspirits，thosewhoareintelligent，havingstudieddeeplyintotheprinciplesoflife——donotacceptthetheoryofthedivinityofJesusChrist;theydonotbelievethathewascrucifiedformankind，intheacceptedunderstandingofthatterm。\"SomeyearsagoaclasswasformedinNewYorkCityforthepurposeofinvestigatingwhatiscalledthespiritualphilosophy。Beforethatclass，Dr。Weissesaid：——\"FriendOrtonseemstomakeratherlightofthecommunicationsfromspiritsconcerningChrist。Itseems，nevertheless，thatallthetestimonyreceivedfromadvancedspiritsonlyshowsthatChristwasamediumandreformerinJudea;thathenowisanadvancedspiritinthesixthsphere;
butthatheneverclaimedtobeGod，anddoesnotatpresent。Ihavehadtwocommunicationstothateffect。IhavealsoreadsomethatDr。Harehad。IfIamwronginmyviewsoftheBible，Ishouldliketoknowit，forthespiritsandmediumsdonotcontradictme。\"Page85ThepeculiarinsultherepurposelyofferedtotheSaviourwillbeappreciatedwhenitisnotedthatataboutthesametimethespiritslocatedThomasPaine，thewell-knownskeptic，intheseventhsphere，onesphereabovethatofChrist。Hemustthereforehaveprogressedveryrapidly，seeinghesoquicklysurpassedChrist，whohadover1700yearsthestartofhim。
BeforethesameclassDr。Hareisreportedtohavespokenasfollows，whichwegivewithoutassuminganyresponsibilityforthespiritualgrammarthereinexhibited：——\"HesaidthathehadbeenthusprotectedfromdeceptionbythespiritsofWashingtonandFranklin，andthattheyhadbroughtJesusChristtohim，withwhomhehadalsocommunicated。Hehadfirstrepelledhimasanimpostor;butbecameconvincedafterwardthatitwasreallyhim。
Herelatedthathehadlearnedfromthathighandholyspirit，thathewasnotthecharacterthatChristendomhadrepresentedhimtobe，andnotresponsiblefortheerrorsconnectedwithhisname，butthathewas，whileonearth，amediumofhighandextraordinarypowers，andthatitwassolelythroughhismediumisticcapabilitiesthatheattainedsogreatknowledge，andwasenabledtopracticesuchapparentwonders。\"WhenChristwasuponearth，itwasenvy，jealousy，andmalicethatmovedthePhariseesagainsthim（Matt27：18）;anditseemsthatheisfollowedbythesamefeelingsinthespiritworld。Thisisnatural;forhewhofiredtheheartsofthePhariseeswiththeirmalignantspirit，isthesameone，aswehaveseen，whoisworkingthroughthepowersofdarknessintheunseenworldto-day。AnywaytodegradeChristinthemindsofmentoalevelwith，Page86orbelow，themediumsofourtime，andmakeitappearthattheycandoasgreatwondersashe，seemstobetheobjectinview。
ThereisplainlymanifestanirrepressibledesireonthepartofspiritsandmediumstoshowChristtobeinferiortotheleadersofothergreatreligionsoftheworld，asBuddha，Confucius，Zoroaster，etc。Thus，ataséanceheldin1864（BannerofLight，June4），thespiritswerequestionedasfollows：——\"Ques。——HaveyoueverseenConfuciusorZoroaster？
\"Ans。——Yes，manytimes。
Q。——Intheorderofdegree，whichstandsthehigherinmoralexcellence——JesusChrist，Confucius，orZoroaster？
\"A。——Confuciusstandsinmoralityhigherthantheothertwo……Jesushimselfclaimstohavebeeninspiredtoalargeextent，bythissameConfucius。Andifwearetoplacerelianceupontherecordsconcerningeachindividual，weshallfindthatJesusspokethetruthwhenhetollsusthathewasinspiredbyConfucius。\"Indeed！Wherearetherecordsreferredto？WhereandwhendidJesus\"speak\"
thewordsattributedtohim？Andwheredoeshetellus，thathewasinspiredbyConfucius？Sowearetobelieve，arewe，thatthegospelofJesusChrist，isonlyarehashofwhatwasoriginallywroughtoutinthebrainofConfucius，andnotwordsfreshfromthefountainoflightgivenhimbyhisFatherinheaven，tospeak，asheclaimedthemtobe？
Yethewasahighandholymedium。Wewonderwhatstandardofholinessandperfectionthespiritscanhave。
Butstilllater，in1896，wefindthespiritsputtingforththesameteachinginreferencetoJesusChrist。In\"Automatic，orSpiritWriting，\"
pp。148，149，wehavethis：——Page87\"Ques。——DoyouacceptJesusasthemodelofspiritualknowledge？
\"Ans。——Shallyougiveusabetterexample？
\"Q。——Well，wearewillingtoaccepthimasoneofmany，butnotaschief。
\"A。——Changethename。Callhimbyothernames——Buddha，Krishna，orMohammed，thespiritisone——iseverandeverthesame。Spiritisone，notmany，howeveroftenthenameischanged。
\"Q。——WerenotJesus，Buddha，andMohammeddistinctpersonalities？
\"A。——Nomorethanallatomsemanatingfromthesamesource——
partsofthegreatAllofBeing，partakingofthegeneralcharacteristicsofthegrandwhole——butyieldingtoenvironments，showedmarkedindividualism，suchastheforceofthetimesinwhichtheyappearedwouldcreateintheircharacters。
\"Q。——Aretheseleadersofreligiousthoughtnotdistinctindividualitiesnow？
\"A。——No，notonspiritualplanes，whichdonotrecognizeanynow。\"ThustheypersistindenyingthatJesusholdsanypre-eminentpositionasareligiousteacher。HemayaswellbecalledBuddha，Krishna，orMohammedasJesus。Theyareallthesamespirit，allatomsofthegreat\"AllofBeing，\"allasmuchalikeasthreedropsofwaterfromthesameocean，andwhatismorebewilderingstill，theyhavenowalllosttheirindividualityinthespiritworld。How，then，canitbetoldthatChristisinthesixthsphere，andPaineintheseventh？Suchteachers，thoughtheymayclaimtobegoodspirits，arebrandedasantichristbybothJohnandJude。Johnsays：\"WhoisaliarbuthethatdenieththatJesusistheChrist？HeisantichristthatdenieththeFatherandtheSon。\"1John2：22。Again，\"EveryspiritthatconfessethnotthatJesusChristiscomeinthefleshisnotofPage88God。\"1John4：3。Accordingtothespirits，JesusChristhasnomorecomeinthefleshthanhaveBuddha，Mohammed，Confucius，Zoroaster，oranyotherreligiousteacher。Theyallsimplyyieldedtotheirenvironments，andshowedmarkedindividualismwhileonthisearth，andhavenowbecomeabsorbedinthe\"greatwhole\"inthespiritworld。Thus，asJudesays（verse4），theydeny\"theonlyLordGod，andourLordJesusChrist。\"
SomuchfortheirdenialofChristinhisperson。Theyalsodenyhiminhisoffices;fortodenyandridiculewhathecametodo，isoneofthemosteffectualwaysofdenyinghim。ThegreatworkofChristwasthesheddingofhisbloodtoatoneforthesinsoftheworld;andthespiritsareparticularlybitterindenouncingthatidea。Ifsuchsentimentswereutteredonlybyopenandprofessedscoffers，itwouldnotdosomuchharm;
butitisnotunusualtofindthosebearingthetitleof\"Reverend\"descantingonthesethemesinamannertoshowthemselvesantichrist，accordingtothedefinitionofthattermbyJohn。Andeventhisneednotsurpriseus;
forthesurewordofprophecyhasforetoldthatsomewhohaveonceheldthetruefaithwilldeparttherefromtogiveheedtoseducingspirits，anddoctrinesofdevils。1Tim。4：1。
OneR。P。Wilson，towhosenameisattachedtheministerialtitle，inhislectureson\"SpiritualScience，\"said：——\"Althoughasabelieverintruespiritualphilosophy，wecannotreceivetheorthodoxviewsofsalvation，yetwerecog-Page89nizethebirthofaSaviourandRedeemerintotheuniversalheartsofhumanity，whereintrulythedeityisincarnate，dwellingintheinteriorofman’sspirit。WebelievethateachsoulofmanisbornwithhisorherSaviourwithinthem;forasmanisanembodimentoftheuniverseinepitome，hecontainsinhiscentralnatureanincarnationofdeity。Thegermofimmortalunfoldingsresideswithinthespiritofit，whichneedsonlyappropriateconditionstocallforththeexpandingandelevatingpowersofthesoul。\"In\"SpiritualScienceDemonstrated，\"p。229，Dr。Haresaid：——\"Sincemyspiritsister’stranslationtothespheres，shehasrisenfromthefifthtothesixthsphere。Ithasbeenallegedbyherthatherascentwasretardedbyherbeliefintheatonement。\"A\"spirit\"callinghimselfDeaconJohnNorton，asreportedintheBannerofLight，said：——\"Iusedtobelieveintheatonement;IhonestlybelievedthatChristdiedtosavetheworld，andthatbyandthroughhisdeathallmustbesavedifsavedatall。NowIseethatthisisfolly——itcannotbeso。ThelightthroughChrist，theHolyOne，shoneindarkness;thedarknesscouldnotcomprehendit;andthusitcrucifiedthebody，andChristdiedamartyr。Hewasnotcalledinthatway，thatbythesheddingofhisblood，thevastmultitudecomingafterhimshouldfindsalvation。Everythinginnatureprovesthisfalse。TheytellmeherethatChristwasthemostperfectmanofhistime。Iamtoldherealsothatheisworthytobeworshiped，becauseofhisgoodness;andwheremanfindsgoodnesshemayworship。God’sfaceisseenintheviolet，andmanmaywellworshipthistinyflower。\"InthepantheismofSpiritualism，everyobjectinnature，thetinyflower，thepebbles，thetrees，thebirdsandbees，areworthytobeworshipedasmuchasChrist。Inonebreaththespiritsextolhimasamostperfectman，pre-eminentingoodnessandPage90worthytobeworshiped，andinthenext，placehiminapositionwhichwouldmakehimthegreatestfraudandimpostorthateverlived。SuchinconsistenciesshowthatChristisamiraclewhichevilmenandevilangelsknownothowtodisposeof。
AstheydenyChrist，theymust，logically，denythedoctrineofhissecondcoming。ThisdoctrineismadeofespecialimportanceandprominenceintheNewTestament。Thenatureofthatcoming，itsmanner，andthecircumstancesattendingitaresofullydescribed，thatnoonewhoadoptstheBibleviewcanpossiblybedeceivedbyfalsechrists。Butthechurchandtheworldhavebeenturnedawayfromthetruedoctrineofthesecondadvent，andthewayisthuspreparedforthegreatdeceptionsofthelastdays。Spiritualismisoneofthese，andclaimsthatitisitselfthatsecondcoming。JoelTiffany，aformercelebratedteacherofSpiritualism，hassaid：——\"ImustlookforthecomingofmyLordinmyownaffection。
Hemustcomeinthecloudsofmyspiritualheavens，orhecannotcomeforanybenefittome。\"AndthroughMrs。Conant，afamousmediumoftheearlydaysofSpiritualism，thecontrollingspiritsaid：——\"ThissecondcomingofChristmeanssimplythesecondcomingoftruthsthatarenotthemselvesnew，thathavealwaysexisted……
Hesaid，’WhenIcomeagain，Ishallnotbeknowntoyou。’SpiritualismisthatsecondcomingofChrist。\"——BannerofLight，Nov。18，1865。ButtheBibledescriptionofthiseventis，therevelationoftheLordhimselfinthecloudsofPage91heaveninthegloryoftheFather，thereverberatingshoutoftriumph，thevoiceofthearchangel，thetrumpofGod，theflashofhispresencelikethatofthelightning，thewailingofthetribesoftheearth，astheythusbeholdhim，whileunpreparedtomeethim，andtheresurrectionoftherighteousdead。Andwhereandwhenhavetheseinseparableaccompanimentsofthateventbeenseen？Theydonotoccurwhenapersonisconvertedfromsin，nordotheyoccurintimedyingchamber，norhavetheyoccurredinSpiritualism;anduntiltheydotakeplace，thesecondcomingofChristisnotaccomplished。
Manyseektodisposeofsuchtestimonyasthis，bymakingitallfigurative，ormeetingitwithabolddenial，asinthecaseoftheresurrectionofthebody。Andthewayhasbeentoowellpreparedforthisconditionofthings，bymuchoftheteachingofpopularorthodoxy，whichturnstheearlyrecordsoftheBibleintochildishallegory，pervertsthetruedoctrineofthecomingandkingdomofChrist，anddeniestheresurrectionofthedead，bydestroyingitsnecessitythroughtheimmortalityofthesoul。
Onthevitalpointoftheresurrection，Dr。Clarkemakesthisnoteworthyremark：——\"OneremarkIcannothelpmaking，——ThedoctrineoftheresurrectionappearstohavebeenthoughtofmuchmoreconsequenceamongtheprimitiveChristiansthanitisnow！Howisthis？——Theapostleswerecontinuallyinsistingonit，andexcitingthefollowersofGodtodiligence，obedience，andcheerfulnessthroughit。Andtheirsuccessorsinthepresentdayseldommentionit！Sotheapostlespreached，andsotheprimitiveChristiansbelieved;
sowepreachandsoourhearersPage92believe。Thereisnotadoctrineinthegospelonwhichmorestressislaid;andthereisnotadoctrineinthepresentsystemofpreachingwhichistreatedwithmoreneglect。\"——On1Corinthians15（originaledition）。[1]InviewofthewaytheBiblehasbeentreatedbyitsprofessedfriends，itisnowonderthatinfidelityprevails，andSpiritualismprospers。
3。TheyDenytheBible。——ThedenialofGodandChrist，assetforthaboveis，ofcourse，adenialoftheBible;andnotmuchneedthereforebeaddedonthispoint。Wequoteonlyafewrepresentativeutterances。
DoctorHare（\"SpiritualScienceDemonstrated，\"p。209）says：——\"TheOldTestamentdoesnotimpartaknowledgeofimmortality，withoutwhichreligionwereworthless。Thenotionsderivedfromthegospelsarevague，disgusting，inaccurate，anddifficulttobelieve。\"AstotheOldTestament，itwouldseemdoubtfulwhetherMr。Hareeverreadfarenoughtofind（1）Jobexclaiming：\"ForIknowthatmyRedeemerliveth，andthatheshallstandatthelatterdayupontheearth：andthoughaftermyskinwormsdestroythisbody，yetinmyfleshshallIseeGod：whomIshallseeformyself，andmineeyesshallbeholdandnotanother;thoughmyreinsbeconsumedwithinme\"（or，asthemarginreads：\"Myreinswithinmeareconsumedwithearnestdesire[forthatday];\"or（2）David：\"Ishallbesatisfied，whenIawake，withPage93thylikeness;\"or（3）Isaiah：\"Thydeadmenshalllive，togetherwithmydeadbodyshalltheyarise。Awakeandsing，yethatdwellinthedust;\"
or（4）Ezekiel：\"Behold，Omypeople，Iwillopenyourgraves，andcauseyoutocomeupoutofyourgraves;\"or（5）Daniel：\"Manyofthemthatsleepinthedustoftheearthshallawake，sometoeverlastinglife，andsometoshameandeverlastingcontempt;\"and（6）Hosea：\"Iwillransomthemfromthepowerofthegrave，Iwillredeemthemfromdeath。\"Job19：25-27;
Ps。17：15;Isa。26：19;Eze。37：12;Dan。12：2;Hosea13：14。AndasfortheNewTestament，itisnodoubt\"disgusting\"tomanySpiritualiststoreadthat\"thefearful，andunbelieving，andtheabominable，andmurderers，andwhoremongers，andsorcerers，andidolaters，andallliars，shallhavetheirpartinthelakewhichburnethwithfireandbrimstone：whichistheseconddeath;\"andthatwithoutthecity\"aredogs，andsorcerers，andwhoremongers，andmurderers，andidolaters，andwhosoeverlovethandmakethalie。\"Rev。21：8;22：15。
CommunicationsfromspiritsareofferedinplaceoftheBibleasabettersourceofinstruction，theBiblebeingdenounced，asabovequoted，as\"vague，inaccurate，anddifficulttobelieve。\"Abriefcomparisonofthetwowillfurnishpertinentevidenceonthispoint。Take，ontheBibleside，forexample，aportionoftherecordofcreation（Gen。1：1-5）：——\"InthebeginningGodcreatedtheheavenandtheearth。Andtheearthwaswithoutform，andvoid;anddarknesswasPage94uponthefaceofthedeep。AndtheSpiritofGodmoveduponthefaceofthewaters。AndGodsaid，Lettherebelight：andtherewaslight。AndGodsawthelight，thatitwasgood：andGoddividedthelightfromthedarkness。AndGodcalledthelightDay，andthedarknesshecalledNight。Andtheeveningandthemorningwerethefirstday。\"Thefactsstatedinthisrecord，theprofoundestmindscannevercomprehend;
thelanguageinwhichtheyareexpressed，alittlechildcanunderstand。
Thestatementsareplainandsimple，aperfectmodelofperspicuousnarrative。
Placebythesideofthisanaccountofthesameeventasgivenusfromthe\"spheres。\"ThespiritshaveundertakentoproduceanewBible，beginning，liketheold，withthecreation;andthisisthewayitstartsout，throughthemedinmshipof\"Rev。\"T。L。Harris：——\"1。InthebeginningGod，theLifeinGod，theLordinGod，theHolyProcedure，inhabitedthedome，which，burninginmagnificenceprimeval，andrevolvinginprismaticandundulatoryspiral，appeared，andwasthepavilionoftheSpirit：Ingloryinexhaustibleandinconceivable，inmovementspherical，unfoldedinharmoniousproceduredisclosive。
\"2。AndGodsaid，Letgoodbemanifest！andgoodunfoldedandmoral-mentalgerms，ovariumsofheavens，descendedfromtheProcedure。Andthedomeofdisclosivemagnificencewasheaven，andtheexpandedglorybeneathwasthegermofcreation。AndthedivineProcedureinbreatheduponthedisclosure，andthedisclosurebecametheuniverse。\"Wewillinflictnomoreofthis\"undulatoryspiral\"nonsenseonthereader。
Henowhasbothrecordsbeforehim，andcanjudgeforhimselfwhichisthemoreworthyofhisregard。TherehavebeenSpiritualistswho，writingintheirnormalstate，andnotyetfullydivorcedfromtheinfluenceoftheirPage95formereducation，haveacknowledgedtheauthenticityoftheBible，andthedoctrinesofJesusasrecordedinthegospels。Butthese，itisclaimed，aretobeunderstoodaccordingtoaspiritualmeaningwhichunderliestheletter;andthisspiritualmeaninggenerallyturnsouttobecontrarytotheletter，whichisavirtualdenialoftherecorditself。Butthequotationsheregiven（onlyaspecimenofthemultitudesthatmightbepresented）
aregivenontheauthorityofthe\"spirits，\"whoseteachingsarewhatwewishtoascertain。
THEYDENYALLDISTINCTIONBETWEENRIGHTANDWRONGThereisimplantedintheheartsofmenbynature，asenseofrightandasenseofwrong。EventhosewhoknownotGod，norChrist，northegospel，possessthispowerofdiscrimination。ThisiswhatPaul，inRom。2：15
calls\"theworkofthelawwrittenintheirhearts，theirconsciencealsobearingwitness，andtheirthoughtsthemeanwhileaccusingorelseexcusingoneanother。\"Thatthisdistinctionshouldnowbedeniedbyaclassinacivilizedcommunity，professingtobeadvancedthinkersandteachers，amongwhomarefoundthelearned，therefined，andtheprofessedlypious，showsthatwehavefallenuponstrangetimes。Tobesure，manyofthemtalkfluentlyofthebeautyandperfectionofdivinelaws;butinthesenseinwhichtheywouldhavethemunderstood，theyrobthemofallcharacteristicsoflaw。ThefirstgreatessentialoflawisPage96authority;butthistheytakeawayfromit;thenextispenaltyforitsviolation;butthistheydeny，andthusdegradethelawtoamerepieceofadvice。The\"HealingoftheNations，\"anauthoritativeworkamongSpiritualists，pp。163，164，says：——\"Thusthybodyneedsnolaws，havingbeeninitscreationsuppliedwithallthatcouldbenecessaryforitsgovernment。Thyspiritisabovealllaws，andaboveallessenceswhichflowtherein。Godcreatedthyspiritfromwithinhisown，andsurelytheCreatoroflawisaboveit;theCreatorofessencesmustbeaboveallessencecreated。Amidifthouhastwhatmaybeormightbetermedlaws，theyarealwayssubservienttothyspirit。
Goodmenneednolaws，andlawswilldobadorignorantmennogood。Ifamanbeabovelaw，heshouldneverbegovernedbyit。Ifhebebelow，whatgoodcandead，drywordsdohim？
\"Trueknowledgeremovethalllawsfrompowerbyplacingthespiritofmanaboveit。\"AcorrespondentoftheTelegraphsaidofthiswork，\"TheHealingoftheNations：\"Accordingtoitsteaching，noplaceisfoundintheuniversefordivinewrathandvengeance。AllarealikeandforevertheobjectofGod’slove，pity，andtendercare——thedifferencebetweenthetwoextremesofhumancharacteronearth，beingasamereatomwhencomparedwithperfectwisdom。\"Thisisafavoritecomparisonwiththem，——thatthedifferencebetweenGodandthebestofmenissomuchgreaterthantheextremesofcharacteramongmen，——themostuprightandthemostwicked，——thatthelatterisamereatom，andnotaccountedofinGod’ssight。ThatthereisaninfinitedifferencebetweenGodandthebestofmen，isalltrue;forGodisinfiniteinallhisattributes，andmanisveryimperfectatthebest。ButtoarguefromthisthatPage97Godisinferiortoman，sothathecannotdiscerndifferenceincharacterhere，evenasmancanplainlydiscernit，seemsbutmad-housereasoning。
Whatwouldwethinkofthemanwhohadthesameregardforthethiefasforthehonestman，forthemurdererasforthephilanthropist？Toignoresuchdistinctionsasevenmenareabletodiscernwoulddestroythestabilityofallhumangovernments;whatthenwouldbetheeffectonthedivinegovernment？
Godhasgivenhislaw——holy，just，andgood——tomen，andcommandedobedience。Hehasattachedthepenaltytodisobedience：\"Thesoulthatsinneth，itshalldie，\"\"Thewagesofsinisdeath。\"Eze。18：20;Rom。
6：23。Andinthejudgment，thedistinctionGodmakesincharacterwillbeplainlydeclared;forhewillsettherighteousonhisrighthand，butthewickedontheleft。Matt。25：32，33。
Thisviewofthefailureoflaw，andtheabsenceofallhumanaccountability，naturallyleadstoabolddenialofsinandtheexistenceofcrime。The\"HealingoftheNations，\"p。169，says：\"UntoGodthereisnoerror;alliscomparativelygood。\"ThesameworksaysthatGodviewserroras\"undevelopedgood。\"A。J。Davis（\"NatureofDivineRevelation，\"p。521）says：\"Sin，indeed，inthecommonacceptationofthatterm，doesnotreallyexist。\"
AdiscoursefromJ。S。Loveland，onceaminister，reportedintheBannerofLight，containedthisparagraph：——Page98\"WithGodthereisnocrime;withmanthereis。CrimedoesnotdispleaseGod，butitdoesman。Godisinthedarkestcrime，asinthehighestpossibleholiness。Heisequallypleasedineithercase。Bothharmonizeequallywithhisattributes——theyareonlydifferentsidesofthesameDeity。\"In\"AutomaticWriting\"（1896），p。139，aquestionwasaskedconcerningevil，meaningsinandcrimesamongmen。Thespiritansweredthatthesewereconditionsofprogress，andweresonecessarytoelevationthattheyweretobewelcomed，nothated。Thequestionsandanswersareasfollows：
——\"Ques。——Canyougiveusanyinformationinregardtotheso-calledDevil——oncesofirmlybelievedin？
\"Ans。——Devilisawordusedtoconjurewith。
\"Q。——Well，then，astheworditselfdoubtlessarosefromtheword’evil，’whichmeanstousunhappiness，canyougiveusanexplanationoftileexistenceofevil\"A。——Evil——asyouwhoarethegreatestsufferersfromit，nameoneoftheconditionsofprogress——isasnecessary，aye，moreso，thanwhatyoucallgood，toyourandourelevationtohigherspheres。Itisnottobehated，butwelcomed。Itisthewinnowingofthegrainfromthechaff。Childrenoftruth，don’tworryoverwhattoyouseemsevil;soonyouwillbeofusandwillunderstand，andberejoicedthatwhatyoucallevilpersistsandworksasleaveninthegreatworkofmindversusmatter。
\"Q。——Butitseemstousimpossiblethatbrutalcrimeslikemurder，assassinations，orgreatcatastrophes，bywhichtheinnocentaremadetosufferatthehandsofmaliciousandcruelpersons，shouldworkforultimategood？
\"A。——PercipientsofthegrandwholeofBeingcanunderstandbutmaynotstatetothoseonyourplane，theunderlyinggoodmakingitselfassertedeventhroughsuchdreadfulmanifestationsofhumanimperfectionsasthecrimesyouname。
\"Whenaskedwhycertainwrongswereallowedtobeperpetuated，thisanswerwasgiven：——Page99\"Thereisalawofpsychicalessencewhichmakesnecessaryalltheseephemeralentanglementswhichtoyouseemsosevere，andyouwillyetseefromyourownstandpointofreasonwhysuchhardshipsmustbeenduredbyquestioningsoulsonthehighwayofprogress。
\"Q。——Butdoyoufromyourvantagegroundoflargerknowledgegrowcarelessthatsuchinjusticeisdone？
\"A。——Wedocare，butcannotremedy。
\"Q。————Whycan’tyouremedy？
\"A。——Becausehumanityisbutanembryoofexistence。
\"Q。——Ifyoucanperceivethetrialsandsorrowsofmortals，andcaninterferetosavethem，whydoyounotmoreoftendoso？
\"A。——Whenundevelopedsoulspaythepriceofdevelopment，westandaloof，andlettheplaygoon。Interferencewilldonogood。\"Inviewofsuchaconfession，whatbecomesofthemanyclaimsputforthbyotherspiritsthattheyareeverhoveringneartheirfriendstoassistamidguardthem，tohelpandinspirethem，andkeepthemfromevilanddanger？Thesesaythatthoseterriblecrimes（andthiswouldincludeallcrimes）areallnecessary，thattheyaretendingtodevelopsouls，andbringthemtohigherspheres，andthusarejustaslaudableasgoodactions;
sotheysettlebackinagleefulmood，and\"lettheplaygoon;\"letwickedmencultivateanddevelopandpracticetheirevilpropensities，andtheinnocentsuffer。Wellmaymenpraytobedeliveredfromsuchaspiritassemblyasthat。
In\"HealingoftheNations，\"p。402，Dr。Haresays：——Thatanythingshould，evenforaninstant，becontrarytohiswill，isinconsistentwithhisforesightandomnipo-Page100tency。Itwouldbeamiraclethatanythingcountertohiswillshouldexist。\"Alectureonthe\"PhilosophyofReform，\"givenbyA。J。Davis，inNewYorkCity，bearstestimonytothesameeffect：——\"IntheHebrewandChristianScriptures，itisaffirmedthatsinisthetransgressionofthelaw。Butbyanexaminationofnature，thetrueandonlyBible，itwillbeseenthatthisstatementiserroneous。
Itgivesawrongideaofbothmanandlaw……ItwillbefoundimpossibleformantotransgressalawofGod。\"ThustheyveryillogicallyassumethatifGodhasthewillorthepowertopreventevil，itcouldnotexist，andtherefore，ifthereissuchaGod，heisresponsible，forgettingthatGodislong-suffering，andbearslongwithvesselsofwrathfitted，fordestruction，beforetheypassbeyondthelimitsofhismercyandperish。ButMr。Davissaysfurther：——\"Reformersneedtounderstandthatwarisasnaturaltoonestageofhumandevelopmentaspeaceisnaturaltoanother。Mybrotherhasthespiritofrevenge。ShallIcallhimademon？IsnothisspiritnaturaltohisconditionWarisnotevilorrepulsiveexcepttoamanofpeace。
Whomadethenon-resistant？PolygamyisasnaturaltoonestageofdevelopmentasorangesarenaturaltotheSouth。ShallIgrowindignant，andbecauseIamamonogamist，condemnmykinsmanofyore？Whomadehim？Whomademe？
Webothcameupundertheconfluenceofsocialandpoliticalcircumstances;
andwebothrepresentourconditionsandourteachers。Thedoctrineofblameandpraiseisnaturalonlytoanunphilosophicalconditionofmind。
Thespiritofcomplaint——ofattributing’evil’tothisandthatplaneofsociety——isnatural;butisnaturalonlytoundevelopedminds。ItisaprofanationsortofatheismofwhichIwouldnotbeguilty。\"Page101TheBiblesays，\"Woeuntothemthatcallevilgood，andgoodevil;thatputdarknessforlightandlightfordarkness。\"Isa。520。Anditmakesanotherdeclarationwhichfindsabundantconfirmationinthesentimentsquotedabove：\"Becausesentenceagainstanevilworkisnotexecutedspeedily，thereforetheheartoftheSonsofmenisfullysetinthemtodoevil。\"
Eccl。8：11。
Havingthusattemptedtodestroyinthemindsofmenalldistinctionbetweengoodandevil，allbeingalikeinGod’ssight，andallequallygood，theytrytomakethewayalittlebroaderandeasierformentogivefullreintoallthepropensitiesandinclinationsofanevilheart，byteachingthatthereisnoLawgiverandJudgebeforewhommenmustappeartogiveanaccountoftheirdeeds，butthattheyareresponsibletothemselvesalone，andmustgiveaccountonlytotheirownnatures。ThusHon。J。B。
Hall，inalecturereportedintheBannerofLight，Feb。6，1864，said：——\"Ibelievethatmanisamenabletonolawnotwrittenuponhisownnature，nomatterbywhomgivenByhisownnaturehemustbetried——byhisownactshemuststandorfall。True，manmustgiveanaccounttoGodforallhisdeeds;buthow？——Solelybygivingaccounttohisownnature——tohimself。\"AtaséancereportedintheBannerofLight，May28，1864，thefollowingquestionwasproposed，andtheanswerwasbythecommunicatingspirit：——\"Ques。——Towhomortowhatisthesoulaccountable？
\"Ans。——TonoDeityoutsidetherealmofitsownbeing，certainly;
tonoGodwhichisacreationoffancy;tonoPage102Deitywhodwellsinafar-offheaven，andsitsuponawhitethrone;tonoJesusofNazareth;tonopatronsaint;tonopersonality;
tonoprincipleoutsideourownindividualselves。\"The\"HealingoftheNations，\"p。74，says：——\"Manishisownsaviour，hisownredeemer。Heishisownjudge——inhisownscalesweighed。\"AlittleovertwentyyearsafterthebirthofSpiritualism，Aug。25，1868，theFifthNationalConventionofSpiritualistswasheldinCorinthianhall，Rochester，N。Y。，atwhichaformal\"DeclarationofPrinciples\"wassetforth。Fromtimeseventhandeighthparagraphs，underprinciple20，wequotethefollowing：——\"Seventh，Tostimulatethemindtothelargestinvestigation……thatwemaybequalifiedtojudgeforourselveswhatisrightandtrue：Eighth，Todeliverfromallbondagetoauthoritywhethervestedincreed，bookorchurch，exceptthatofreceivedtruth。\"Thisisthesameprincipleofman’sresponsibilitytonoonebuthimself，authoritativelyadopted。Whatapicturehavewenowbeforeus！Destroyman’sbeliefin，andreverencefor，GodandChrist，astheydo;leadhimtoridiculetheatonement，theonlyremedyforsin;makehimdisbelievetheBible;takeawayfromhismindalldistinctionbetweenrightandwrong，andassurehimthatheisaccountabletonoonebuthimself;andhowbettercouldonepreparethewaytoturnmenintodemons。Allthisthespirits，bytheirteaching，seektodo。Andcananyonefailtoforeseetheresult？
ComparativelyasmallproportionoftheinhabitantsofthiscountryPage103havecommittedthemselvestotheseviews;consequentlybutlittleofthelegitimatefruitasyetappears;buttakehumannatureasitisandsupposealltheinhabitantsofthislandtoactontheseprinciples，andthenwhatwouldwehave？——Apandemonium，asceneofanarchy，riot，bloodshed，andalldepthsofrottennessandcorruption——inshort，aworldwherenoplaceandnohumanbeingwouldbesafe。
Thatthisstatementisnonetoostrong，willappearaswelookamomentatsomeoftheresultswhichhavealreadydevelopedthemselvesamongthefriendsofsuchviews，andastheirinevitablefruit。Thetendencycanbynopossibilitybeotherwisethantoatheismamidallimmorality。Ashasbeenalreadyremarked，therepulsivefeaturesweremademuchmoreprominentintheearlystagesofSpiritualismthanatthepresenttime。Theyarenowheldinthebackground。Theliteraturetouchingthesepointshasbeenremodeled，andanairofrespectabilityandreligionassumed。Mostofthequotationsthereforedatesomeyearsback，andwouldbecharitablywithheldwerethereanyevidenceofreformeitherpresentorprospective。Butwhereorwhenhavetheseprincipleseverbeenofficiallyrepudiated，andevidencegiventhattheconsequentpracticeshadbeenabandoned？ThattherearemanySpiritualistsofuprightandmorallives，andhonorablemembersofsociety，inthebestsenseofthatterm，wegladlybelieve;butisnotthisbecausetheyarelivingabovePage104theirprinciples;anddue，nottotheinfluence，butrathertothenon-influenceofrealSpiritualismupontheirlives？ThequotationsgivenarefromthosewhohavebeenprominentamongSpiritualistsasauthorsandspeakers。Iftheyoverdrawthepicture，theresponsibilityiswiththem。Dr。B。P。Randolph，authorofawork\"DealingswiththeDead，\"waseightyearsamedium，thenrenouncedSpiritualismlongenoughtoexposeitscharacter，thenreturnedtoitagain，unabletobreakentirelyawayfromthespellithasfasteneduponhim。Hegiveshisopinionofitinthefollowingscathingwords：——\"Ienterthearenaasthechampionofcommonsense，againstwhatinmysoulIbelievetobethemosttremendousenemyofGod，morals，andreligion，thateverfoundfootholdontheearth——themostseductive，hencethemostdangerous，formofsensualismthatevercursedanation，age，orpeople。Iwasamediumabouteightyears。duringwhichtimeImadethreethousandspeechesandtraveledoverseveraldifferentcountries，proclaimingitsnewgospel。Inowregretthatsomuchexcellentbreathwaswasted，andthatmyhealthofmindandbodywaswellnighruined。I
haveonlybeguntoregainbothsinceItotallyabandonedit，andto-dayhadratherseethecholerainmyhouse，thanbeaspiritualmedium。
\"Asatrancespeaker，Ibecamewidelyknown;andnowaverthatduringthe’entireeightyearsofmymediumship，IfirmlyandsacredlyconfessthatIhadnotthecontrolofmyownmind，asInowhave，onetwentiethofthetime;andbeforemanandhighheavenImostsolemnlydeclarethatIdonotnowbelievethatduringthewholeeightyears。Iwassaneforthirty-sixconsecutivehours，inconsequenceofthetranceandthesusceptibilitythereto。
\"ForsevenyearsIhelddailyintercoursewithwhatpurportedtobemymother’sspirit。Iamnowfullypersuadedthatitwasnothingbutanevilspirit，aninfernaldemon，Page105who，inthatguise，gainedmysoul’sconfidence，andledmetotheverybrinkofruin。WereadinScriptureofdemoniacpossession，aswellasabnormalspiritualaction。Bothfactsexist，provableto-day;
Iampositivetheformerdoes。A。J。DavisandhiscliqueofHarmonialistssaytherearenoevilspirits。Iemphaticallydenythestatement。Fiveofmyfriendsdestroyedthemselves，andIattemptedit，bydirectspiritualinfluences。Everycrimeinthecalendarhasbeencommittedbymortalmoversofviewlessbeings。Adultery，fornication，suicides，desertions，unjustdivorces，prostitution，abortion，insanity，arenotevils，Isuppose。I
chargeallthesetothisscientificSpiritualism。Ithasalsobrokenupfamilies，squanderedfortunes，temptedanddestroyedtheweak。Ithasbanishedpeacefromhappyfamilies，separatedhusbandsandwives，andshatteredtheintellectofthousands。\"ThefollowingisanextractfromthewritingsofJ。F。Whitney，editoroftheNewYorkPathfinder。HisviewofthesubjectaccordswiththatofDr。Randolph：——\"Now，afteralongandconstantwatchfulness，seeingformonthsandforyearsitsprogressanditspracticalworkingsuponitsdevotees，itsbelievers，anditsmediumswearecompelledtospeakourhonestconviction，whichis，thatthemanifestationscomingthroughtheacknowledgedmediums，whoaredesignatedasrapping，tipping，writing，andentrancedmediums，haveabanefulinfluenceuponbelievers，andcreatediscordandconfusion;
thatthegeneralityoftheseteachingsinculcatefalseideas，approveofselfishindividualacts，andendorsetheoriesandprinciples，which，whencarriedout，debaseandmakemenlittlebetterthanthebrute。TheseareamongthefruitsofModernSpiritualism，andwedonothesitatetosaythatwebelieveifthesemanifestationsarecontinuedtobereceived，andtobeaslittleunderstoodastheyare，andhavebeensincetheymadetheirappearanceatRochester，andmortalsaretobedeceivedbytheirfalse，fascinating，andsnakelikecharmingpowers，whichgowiththem，thedaywillcomewhentheworldwillrequiretheappearanceofPage106anotherSaviourtoredeemtheworldfromitsdepartingfromChrist’swarnings……Seeing，aswehave，thegradualprogressitmakeswithitsbelievers，particularlyitsmediums，fromlivesofmoralitytothoseofsensualityandimmorality，graduallyandcautiouslyunderminingthefoundationofgoodprinciples，welookbackwithamazementtotheradicalchangewhichafewmonthswillbringaboutinindividuals;foritstendencyistoapproveandendorseeachindividualactandcharacter，howevergoodorbadtheseactsmaybe。
\"Wedesiretosendforthourwarningvoice，andifourhumblepositionastheheadofapublicjournal，ourknownadvocacyofSpiritualism，ourexperience，andtheconspicuouspartwehaveplayedamongitsbelievers，thehonestyandthefearlessnesswithwhichwehavedefendedthesubject，willweighanythinginourfavor，wedesirethatouropinionsmaybereceived，andthosewhoaremovingpassivelydowntherushingrapidstodestructionshouldpause，ereitbetoolate，andsavethemselvesfromtheblastinginfluencewhichthosemanifestationsarecausing。\"EveryonewhoknowsanythingaboutSpiritualismhasheardofCoraHatch，whotraveledextensively，andmanifestedherpowersasanextemporaneouslecturerbeforeastonishedmultitudes。Oneofherhusbands，Dr。Hatch，renouncedSpiritualism，andthefollowingisfromthetestimonyheboreconcerningit：——\"Themostdamninginiquitiesareeverywhereperpetratedinspiritualcircles，averysmallpercentageofwhichevercomestopublicattention。Icarenotwhetheritbespiritualormundane，thefactsexist，andshoulddemandtheattentionandcondemnationofanintelligentcommunity……Theabrogationofmarriage，bigamy，accompaniedbyrobbery，theft，rape，areallchargeableuponSpiritualism。ImostsolemnlyaffirmthatIdonotbelievethattherehas，duringthelastfivehundredyears，arisenanypeoplewhoareguiltyofsogreatavarietyofcrimesandindecenciesastheSpiritualistsofAmerica。Page107\"ForalongtimeIwasswallowedupinitswhirlpoolofexcitement，andcomparativelypaidbutlittleattentiontoitsevils，believingthatmuchgoodmightresultfromtheopeningoftheavenuesofSpiritualintercourse。
ButduringthepasteightmonthsIhavedevotedmyattentiontocriticalinvestigationofitsmoral，social，andreligiousbearing，andIstandappalledbeforetherevelationsofitsawfulanddamningrealities。\"MuchtestimonyofthisnaturemightbegivenfromthosewhohavehadsimilarexperiencesandequallyfavorablefacilitiesforjudgingofthecharacterofSpiritualism。Wepresentonlyafewextractsmore。
Dr。Wm。B。PotterofNewYork，inanarticleundertheheadof\"AstoundingFacts，\"andalsoinatractentitled，\"SpiritualismasItIs，\"givestheresultofhisexperienceandobservations。Histestimonyisthemorevaluable，sincehewritesnotfromthestandpointofonewhohasrenouncedSpiritualism，whosefeelingsmayforthetimebeoverwrought，andhislanguagestrongerthanwouldbeusedincalmermoments。Whenhewrote，hewasstillanadvocateofSpiritualism，andspokeasafriendwhowould，ifpossible，induceSpiritualiststoreformtheirfaithandtheirmannerofliving。Hesays：——\"FifteenyearsofcriticalstudyofSpiritualliterature，anextensiveacquaintancewiththeleadingSpiritualists，andapatient，systematic，andthoroughexaminationofthemanifestationsformanyyears，enableustospeakfromactualknowledge，definitelyandpositively，of’SpiritualismasItIs。’Spiritualliteratureisfullofthemostinsidiousandseductivedoctrines，calculatedtounderminetheveryfoundationsofmoralityandvirtue，andleadtothemostunbridledlicentiousness。Page108\"Wearetoldthat’wemusthavecharity，’thatitiswrongtoblameanyone，thatwemustnotexposeiniquity，asitwillhardentheguilty，’that’noneshouldbepunished，’that’manisamachine，andnottoblameforhisconduct，’that’thereisnohigh，nolow，nogood，nobad，’that’sinisalesserdegreeofrighteousness，’that’nothingwecandocaninjurethesoulorretarditsprogress，’that’thosewhoacttheworstwillprogressthefastest，’that’lyingisright，slaveryisright，murderisright，adulteryisright，’that’whateveris，isright。’
\"HardlycanyoufindaSpiritualistbook，paper，lecture，orcommunicationthatdoesnotcontainsomeoftheseperniciousdoctrines;indisguise，ifnotopenly。Hundredsoffamilieshavebeenbrokenup，andmanyaffectionatewivesdesertedby’affinity-seeking’husbands。Manyoncedevotedwiveshavebeenseduced，andlefttheirhusbandsandtender，helplesschildren，Infollowsome’higherattraction。’Manywell-disposedbutsimple-mindedgirlshavebeendeludedby’affinity’notions，andledoffby’affinityhunters，’tobedesertedinafewmonths，withblastedreputations，orledtodeedsstillmoredarkandcriminal，tohidetheirshame。\"Thesamewriteralsomentionsafactwhichshowswheretheresponsibilityofallthisloosenessofmoralsbelongs。Hesays：——\"AttheNationalSpiritualConventionatChicago，calledtoconsiderthequestionofanationalorganization，theonlyplanapprovedbythecommittee，especiallyprovidedthatnochargeshouldeverbeentertainedagainstanymember，andthatanyperson，withoutanyregardtohisorhermoralcharacter，mightbecomeamember。\"Thefactthatnoplancouldfindapprovalwhichdidnotprovidethattheyshouldneverbeblamednorcalledtoaccountforanyoftheirdeeds，showsonwhatpointstheyfeltthemostanxious，andplainlyprovesthattheybelongtotheclassofwhichChristspoke，wholoveddarknessratherthanlight，Page109andwhowouldnotcometothelightlesttheirdeedsshouldbereproved。
John3：19-21。
Itisunpleasanttowadethroughpoolsoffilth，andwethereforesparethereaderquotationsfromthoseSpiritualistswhohavenotonlyavowedthemostrevoltingpracticesoffreelove，butopenlyadvocatedthesame，andendeavoredtoinduceotherstocomeoutlikewise，onthegroundthattheywereonlyhonestlyandpubliclyadmittingwhattheothersbelievedandpracticedinsecret。ForthesamereasonwepassbythenotoriousWoodhullandClaflin，andHullandJamiesonepisodes，inthisfield，which，intheillustrationandlanguageofanother，\"burstuponthecountrylikearotteneggthreethousandmilesindiameter！\"
Itmaybesaidthatthesethingareinthepastandthesituationhasnowgreatlychanged。Forthebenefitofthosewhothusflatterthemselvesweintroduceonemorequotation。Itisfrom\"TheLawofPsychicPhenomena，\"
byT。J。Hudson（A。C。McClurg&Co。，Chicago，1894）。Thelanguageiscandidandconciliatory，andtheauthorcannotbeaccusedofanyundueprejudiceonthequestionofwhichhespeaks。Onpage335，hesays：——\"IdonotchargeSpiritualistsasaclasswithbeingadvocatesofthedoctrinesoffreelove。Onthecontrary，Iamawarethat，asaclass，theyholdthemarriagerelationinsacredregard。Icannotforget，however，thatbutafewyearsagosomeoftheirleadingadvocatesandmediumsproclaimedthedoctrineoffreeloveinallitshideousdeformityfromeveryplatformintheland。NordoIfailtorememberthatthebetterclassofSpiritualistseverywhererepudiatedthePage110doctrine，anddenounceditsadvocatesandexemplars。Neverthelessthemoralvirustookeffecthereandtherealloverthecountry，anditisdoingitsdeadlyworkinsecretinmanyanotherwisehappyhome。AndIchargealargeandconstantlygrowingclassofprofessionalmediumswithbeingtheleadingpropagandistsofthedoctrineoffreelove。Theyinfesteverycommunityintheland，anditiswellknowntoallmenandwomenwhoaredissatisfiedorunhappyintheirmarriagerelations，thattheycanalwaysfindsympathybyconsultingtheaveragemedium，andcan，moreover，findjustificationforillicitlovebyinvokingthespiritsofthedeadthroughsuchmediums。\"Wehaveitalicizedthatpassageintheforegoingwhichshowsthatthedeadlyevilisstillworkinginsecret，andthatalargeandconstantlygrowingnumberofprofessionalsareaidingandabettingtheiniquity。
DANGERSOFMEDIUMSHIPAfewtestimonieswillshowthatwhenonegiveshimselforherselfuptothecontrolofthespirits，suchonestakeamostperilousposition。Thespiritsinsistontheirvictimsbecomingpassive，ceasingtoresist，andyieldingtheirwholewillstothem。Someoftheirpersuasivewordsarethese：\"Comeinconfidencetous;\"\"Letourteachingsdeeplyimpressyou;\"
\"Youmustnotdoubtwhatwesay;\"\"Learnofus;\"\"Obeyourdirectionsandyouwillbebenefited;\"\"Seektoobtainknowledgeofus;\"\"Havefaithinus;\"\"Fearnottoobey;\"\"Obeyusandyouwillbegreatlyblessed;\"etc。，etc。Mesmeristsoperateinthesameway。TheygaincontroloftheirsubjectsinthesamewaythatthespiritsmesmerizetheirmediumsandwhenunderPage111theircontrol，thespiritscausethemtoseewhatevertheybringbeforethem，andhearaccordingtotheirwills，anddoastheybid。Andthethingstheysupposetheyseeandhear，andwhattheyaretodo，areonlysuchthingsasexistinthemindofthemesmerizingpower。Thesubjectiscompletelyatthemercyoftheinvisibleagency;andtoputone’sselfthereisamostheaven-daringandhazardousact。Mr。Hudson（\"LawofPsychicPhenomena，\"
p。336）says：——\"Totheyoungwhosecharactersarenotformed，andtothosewhosenotionsofmoralityareloose，thedangersofmediumshipareappalling。\"Tofurthergaintheconfidenceofmortals，thespiritsclaimtobetheoneswhoanswertheirprayers。lit\"AutomaticWriting，\"p。142，wehavethis：——\"Ques。——Willourfriendstelluswhetherfromtheirpointofview，thereisanyrealefficacyinprayer？
\"Ans。[byspirits]。——Shallnot’asoul’ssinceredesire’arouseilldiscarnateandfreespiritsefforttomakethatsinceredesireareality？
Whatgoodcancomefromaspirationsonmortalplanes，savethroughtheeffortstomakethoseaspirationsrealizedonspiritualplanes，bythewilloffreedspirits？\"Mediumsareunabletoresistthepowersoftheunseenworldwhenonceundertheircontrol。ProfessorBrittan（\"TelegraphicAnswertoMahan，\"p。10），concerningmediumship，says：——\"Wemayfurtheraddinthisconnectionthatthetrancemediumsforspiritintercourseareequallyirresponsible。Manyofthemaretotallyunabletoresistthepowerswhichcometothemfromtheinvisibleandunknownrealms。\"Page112Dr。Randolph（\"DealingswiththeDead，\"p。150）showsthedangersofmediumship，asfollows：——\"Isawthatone，greatcauseofthemoralloosenessofthousandsofsensitive-nervedpeopleonearth，resultedfromtheinfernalpossessionsandobsessionsoftheirpersonsbydelegationsfromthoserealmsofdarknessand（toallbutthemselves）unmitigatedhorror。Asensitivemanorwoman——nomatterhowvirtuouslyinclined——may，unlessbyconstantprayerandwatchfulnesstheypreventitandkeepthewillactiveandthesphereentire，beledintothemostabominablepracticesandhabits。\"Thissamewriter，inthesamework，pp。108，109，says：——\"Thoseill-meaningoneswholivejustbeyondthethreshold，oftenobtaintheirendsbysubtlyinfusingasemi-senseofvolitionalpowerintothemindsoftheirintendedvictims，sothatatlasttheycometobelievethemselvestobeself-acting，wheninfacttheyarethemerestshuttlecocksbandiedaboutbetweenthebattledoresofknavishdevilsononeside，anddevilishknavesupontheother，andbetweenthetwothepoorfallenwretchesarenearlyheart-reftanddestroyed。\"AworkbyA。J。Daviscalled\"TheDiakka，andtheirEarthlyVictims，\"mentionsthenatureofthesedenizensofthespiritworld，andtheirwonderfullocation。
Thecountry（tospeakafterthemannerofmen）whichtheyinhabit，issolargethatitwouldrequirenotlessthan1，803，026diametersoftheearthtospanitslongitudinalextent。ThishehadfromaspirithecallsJamesVictorWilson，aprofoundmathematician！Thisspaceisoccupiedbyspiritswhohavepassedfromearth，whoare\"morallydeficient\"andaffectionallyunclean。\"——Page113Page7。Thesamespirit，Wilson，describesthediakkaasthose\"whotakeinsanedelightinplayingparts，injugglingtricks，inpersonatingoppositecharacterstowhomprayersandprofaneutterancesareofequi-value;
surchargedwithapassionforlyricalnarrations;onewhoseeveryattitudeisinstinctwiththeschemesofspeciousreasoning，sophistry，pride，pleasure，wit，subtleconvivialities;aboundlessdisbeliever，onewhothinksthatallprivatelifewillendintheall-consumingself-loveofGod。\"——Page13。Onpage13hesaysfurtherofthem，thattheyare\"neverresting，neversatisfiedwithlife，oftenamusingthemselveswithjuggleryandtrickywitticisms，invariablyvictimizingothers;secretlytormentingmediums，causingthemtoexaggerateinspeech，andtofalsifyinacts;unlockingandunboltingthestreetdoorsofyourbosomandmemory;pointingyourfeetintowrongpaths，andfarmore。\"
Whatthis\"farmore\"is，wearelefttoconjecture。Theadvertisementofthisbooksaysthatitis\"anexplanationofmuchthatisfalseandrepulsiveinSpiritualism。\"W。F。Jamieson，inaSpiritualistpaper，calledthesediakka\"atroopofdevils，\"andquotedJudgeCarterassaying：\"Thereisonethingclear，thatthesediakka，orfantasticormixedspirits，areverynumerousandabundant，andtakeanyandeveryopportunityofobtrudingthemselves。\"
HudsonTuttle，authorof\"LifeinTwoSpheres\"andotherSpiritualisticworks，speaksof\"acommunication，throughanotedmedium，toGeraldPage114Masseyfromhis’dogPip，’thesaidPip’lickingtheslateandwritingwithagooddegreeofintelligence。’\"Headds，\"Mr。Daviswouldsaythat’Pip’wasa’diakka，’andto-morrowhewillcommunicateasGeorgeWashington。
TheodoreParker，orBalaam’sass。Thisdiakkaisflesh，fish，orfowl，asyoumaydesire。\"
Someideaofhowthespiritssometimestormentthemediums，ashintedatabove，maybegainedfromthefollowinginstance。In\"AstoundingFactsfromtheSpiritWorld，\"pp。253，254，Dr。Gridleydescribesthecaseofamediumsixtyyearsofage，livingnearhiminSouthampton，Mass。Thesufferingsinflicteduponhim\"intwomonthsatthehandsofevilspiritswouldfillavolumeoffivehundredpages。\"Ofthesesufferings，thefollowingarespecimens：——\"Theyforbadehiseating，totheverypointofstarvation。
Hewasaperfectskeleton;theycompelledhimtowalkdayandnight，withintermissions，tobesure，astheiravowedobjectwastotormenthimasmuchandaslongaspossible。Theysworebyeverythingsacredandprofane，thattheywouldknockhisbrainsout，alwaysaccompanyingtheirthreatswithblowsontheforeheadortemples，likethatofamalletinthehandsofapowerfulman，withthisdifference，however;thelatterwouldhavemadehimunconscious，whileinfullconsciousnesshenowenduredtheindescribableagonyofthoseheavyandoft-repeatedblows;theydeclaredtheywouldskinhimalive;thathemustgotoNewYorkandbedissectedbyinches，allofwhichhefullybelieved。Theydeclaredthattheywouldboreholesintohisbrain，whenheinstantlyfelttheactionsuitedtotheword，asthoughadozenaugerswerebeingturnedatonceintohisveryskull;thisdone，theywouldfillhisbrainwithbugsandwormstoeatitout，whentheirgnawingwouldinstantlycommence……Page115Thesespiritswouldpinchandpoundhim，twitchhimupandthrowhimdown，yellandblaspheme，andusethemostobscenelanguagethatmortalscanconceive;theywoulddeclarethattheywereChristinonebreath，anddevilsinthenext;theywouldtiehimheadtofootforalongtimetogetherinamostexcruciatingposture;declaretheywouldwringhisneckoffbecausehedoubtedorrefusedobedience。\"Whocandoubtthatsuchspiritsaretheangelsoftheevilonehimself？
Dr。Gridleyinthesamework，p。19，givestheexperienceofanothermedium，forthetruthfulnessofwhichheoffersthefullestproof：——\"WehaveseenthemediumevidentlypossessedbyIrishmenandDutchmenofthelowestgrade——heardhimrepeatJoshua’sdrunkenprayers[Joshuawasastrongbutbrutishmanhehadknowninlife]，exactlyliketheoriginal，——imitatehisdrunkennessinwordanddeed——trytorepeat，orratheractoverhismostbrutaldeeds（fromwhichfordecency’ssake，hewasinstantlyrestrainedbyextraordinaryexertionandsevererebuke）
——snapandgratehisteethmostfuriously，strikeandswear，whilehiseyesflashedlikethefiresofanorthodoxperdition。Wehaveheardhimhiss，andseenhimwrithehisbodyliketheserpentwhencrawling，anddartouthistongue，andplayitexactlylikethatreptile。Theseexhibitionswereintermingledwiththemostwranglingandhorribleconvulsions。\"Thesedescriptions，itwouldseem，oughttobeenoughtostriketerrortoanyheartatthethoughtofbeingamedium。Butthereisyetanotherphaseofthesubjectthatshouldnotbepassedby。ThesefallenspiritswhoareengineeringtheworkofSpiritualism，tomaintaintheir\"assumedcharacters，\"and\"playtheirparts\"liketheaforesaiddiakka，representthatdisembodiedspirits\"justoverthethreshold，\"stillretainthecharacteristicstheyboreinlife，suchPage116asadispositiontosensualityandlicentiousness，loveofrum，tobacco，andothervices，andthattheycan，bycausingthemediumtoplungeexcessivelyintothesethings，therebystillgratifytheirownpropensitiestoindulgeinthem。ThefollowingsketchbyHudsonTuttle，averypopularauthoramongSpiritiualists，issomewhatlengthy，buttheideacouldnotbetterbepresentedthanbygivingitentire。In\"LifeinTwoSpheres，\"pp。35-37，hesays：——\"Reader，haveyoueverenteredtherespectablesaloon？Haveyoueverwatchedthestupidstareoftheinebriatewhentheeyegrewlessandlesslustrous，slowlyclosing，themusclesrelaxing，andthevictimofappetitesinkingoveronthefloorinbeastlydrunkenness？Oh，howdensethefumesofmingledtobaccoandalcohol！Oh，whatmiseryconfinedinthosewalls！Ifyouhavewitnessedsuchscenes，thenweneeddescribenofurther。