按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
human thought and action as none other has done within the Christian era。
We shall look at it both in its strength and in its weakness； for where one is
dealing with what one knows to be true one can fearlessly insist upon the
whole of the truth。 The movement which is destined to bring vitality to the
dead and cold religions has been called 〃Modern Spiritualism。〃 The
〃modern〃 is good； since the thing itself； in one form or another； is as old as
history； and has always； however obscured by forms； been the red central
glow in the depths of all religious ideas； permeating the Bible from end to
end。 But the word 〃Spiritualism〃 has been so befouled by wicked
charlatans； and so cheapened by many a sad incident； that one could
almost wish that some such term as 〃psychic religion〃 would clear the
subject of old prejudices； just as mesmerism； after many years of obloquy；
was rapidly accepted when its name was changed to hypnotism。 On the
other hand； one remembers the sturdy pioneers who have fought under this
banner； and who were prepared to risk their careers； their professional
success； and even their reputation for sanity； by publicly asserting what
they knew to be the truth。
11
… Page 12…
THE VITAL MESSAGE
Their brave； unselfish devotion must do something to cleanse the name
for which they fought and suffered。 It was they who nursed the system
which promises to be； not a new religionit is far too big for thatbut part
of the common heritage of knowledge shared by the whole human race。
Perfected Spiritualism； however； will probably bear about the same
relation to the Spiritualism of 1850 as a modern locomotive to the
bubbling little kettle which heralded the era of steam。 It will end by being
rather the proof and basis of all religions than a religion in itself。 We have
already too many religionsbut too few proofs。 Those first manifestations
at Hydesville varied in no way from many of which we have record in the
past； but the result arising from them differed very much； because； for the
first time； it occurred to a human being not merely to listen to inexplicable
sounds； and to fear them or marvel at them； but to establish
communication with them。 John Wesley's father might have done the same
more than a century before had the thought occurred to him when he was a
witness of the manifestations at Epworth in 1726。 It was only when the
young Fox girl struck her hands together and cried 〃Do as I do〃 that there
was instant compliance； and consequent proof of the presence of an
INTELLIGENT invisible force； thus differing from all other forces of
which we know。 The circumstances were humble； and even rather sordid；
upon both sides of the veil； human and spirit； yet it was； as time will more
and more clearly show； one of the turning points of the world's history；
greater far than the fall of thrones or the rout of armies。 Some artist of the
future will draw the scenethe sitting…room of the wooden； shack…like
house； the circle of half…awed and half… critical neighbours； the child
clapping her hands with upturned laughing face； the dark corner shadows
where these strange new forces seem to lurkforces often apparent； and
now come to stay and to effect the complete revolution of human thought。
We may well ask why should such great results arise from such petty
sources？ So argued the highbrowed philosophers of Greece and Rome
when the outspoken Paul； with the fisherman Peter and his half…educated
disciples； traversed all their learned theories； and with the help of women；
slaves； and schismatic Jews； subverted their ancient creeds。 One can but
answer that Providence has its own way of attaining its； results； and that it
12
… Page 13…
THE VITAL MESSAGE
seldom conforms to our opinion of what is most appropriate。 We have a
larger experience of such phenomena now； and we can define with some
accuracy what it was that happened at Hydesville in the year 1848。 We
know that these matters are governed by law and by conditions as much as
any other phenomena of the universe； though at the moment it seemed to
the public to be an isolated and irregular outburst。 On the one hand； you
had a material； earth…bound spirit of a low order of development which
needed a physical medium in order to be able to indicate its presence。 On
the other； you had that rare thing； a good physical medium。 The result
followed as surely as the flash follows when the electric battery and wire
are both properly adjusted。 Corresponding experiments； where effect； and
cause duly follow； are being worked out at the present moment by
Professor Crawford； of Belfast； as detailed in his two recent books； where
he shows that there is an actual loss of weight of the medium in exact
proportion to the physical phenomenon produced。＇1＇ The whole secret of
mediumship on this material side appears to lie in the power； quite
independent of oneself； of passively giving up some portion of one's
bodily substance for the use of outside influences。 Why should some have
this power and some not？ We do not knownor do we know why one
should have the ear for music and another not。 Each is born in us； and each
has little connection with our moral natures。 At first it was only physical
mediumship which was known； and public attention centred upon moving
tables； automatic musical instruments； and other crude but obvious
examples of outside influence； which were unhappily very easily imitated
by rogues。 Since then we have learned that there are many forms of
mediumship； so different from each other that an expert at one may have
no powers at all at the other。 The automatic writer； the clairvoyant； the
crystal…seer； the trance speaker； the photographic medium； the direct voice
medium； and others； are all； when genuine； the manifestations of one force；
which runs through varied channels as it did in the gifts ascribed to the
disciples。 The unhappy outburst of roguery was helped； no doubt； by the
need for darkness claimed by the early experimentersa claim which is by
no means essential； since the greatest of all mediums； D。 D。 Home； was
able by the exceptional strength of his powers to dispense with it。 At the
13
… Page 14…
THE VITAL MESSAGE
same time the fact that darkness rather than light； and dryness rather than
moisture； are helpful to good results has been abundantly manifested； and
points to the physical laws which underlie the phenomena。 The
observation made long afterwards that wireless telegraphy； another etheric
force； acts twice as well by night as by day； may； corroborate the general
conclusions of the early Spiritualists； while their assertion that the least
harmful light is red light has a suggestive analogy in the experience of the
photographer。
＇1＇ 〃The Reality of Psychic Phenomena。〃 〃Experiences in Psychical
Science。〃 （Watkins。）
There is no space here for the history of the rise and development of
the movement。 It provoked warm adhesion and fierce opposition from the
start。 Professor Hare and Horace Greeley were among the educated
minority who tested and endorsed its truth。 It was disfigured by many
grievous incidents； which may explain but does not excuse the perverse
opposition which it encountered in so many quarters。 This opposition was
really largely based upon the absolute materialism of the age； which would
not admit that there could exist at the present moment such conditions as
might be accepted in the far past。 When actually brought in contact with
that life beyond the grave which they professed to believe in； these people
winced； recoiled； and declared it impossible。 The science of the day was
also rooted in materialism； and discarded all its own very excellent axioms
when it was faced by an entirely