The Prophetic Faith of Our Fathers, vol. 4

APPENDIX F - SPIRITUALISM CLAIMS PROPHETIC STATUS ¹

The official Centennial Book of Modern Spiritualism in America (1848-1948), issued by the National Spiritualist Association of the U.S.A., summarizes the history, beliefs, and achievements of Spiritualism during the century that had passed since its modern appearance at Hydesville, on March 31, 1848. It was then, according to Dr. B. F. Clark, that “a new dispensation was born,” which now claims millions of adherents—many outside the actual members of the Spiritualist churches. These include eminent judges, physicians, scientists, editors, writers, poets, clergymen, educators, and statesmen of various countries. ² Those “raps of Hydesville,” they allege, again established communication with the spirits of the “departed.” It progressed from raps to trances to materializations, though it had a stormy reception at first—mobs gathering and violence threatened, and the Fox family was castigated as a group of “sensational fakers seeking notoriety at the expense of every holy and beautiful impulse.” ³ But tremendous changes have since taken place. PFF4 1237.1

A premature attempt at organization was made in 1864. Finally, the National Spiritualist Association was formed in 1893, with its avowed purpose stated as that of the promulgation of the philosophy and religion of Spiritualism. A definition adopted in 1914, confirmed in 1919, and again in 1930, affirms that “Spiritualism is the Science, Philosophy and Religion of a continuous life.” In the association’s Declaration of Principles (formulated in 1899, and reaffirmed in 1919 and 1945), belief in “Infinite Intelligence” is stressed, with the contention that “the existence and personal identity of the individual continue after the change called death,” that “communication with the so-called dead is a fact, scientifically proved by the phenomena of Spiritualism,” that “the doorway to reformation is never closed against any human soul, here or hereafter,” and that the claim is to be particularly noted that “the Precepts of Prophecy contained in the Bible are scientifically proven through Mediumship.” ⁴ They hold that “Spiritualism has given a new Heaven and a new Earth in which to dwell.” ⁵ PFF4 1237.2

Two main planks in Spiritualism’s platform are: First, that those who have “passed on” are conscious and can communicate with us; that there is no death, but a continuation of life; and second, that there is hope in the hereafter for the most sinful; that every spirit, however wicked, will progress eventually through the ages to the light and beyond. ⁶ So, ultimate universal salvation is one of its tenets. PFF4 1238.1

The religious turn came about inevitably when more and more church people accepted Spiritualism. The first Spiritualist church was established in 1858 at Sturgis, Michigan. Now Spiritualist churches are found everywhere, with “ordained” ministers, all “Reverends” (mostly women), a ministerial association—even a colored ministerial association—and manuals, a yearbook, bureaus, hymnals, and even camp meetings. And their periodicals have included the Spiritual Telegraph (1852), Banner of Light (1857), Progressive Age (1864), The Spiritual Scientist (1874), The Light of Truth (1877), The National Spiritualist (1919), with a corresponding battery of British publications. PFF4 1238.2

Within the past hundred years literally thousands of books, pamphlets, and tractates have appeared for and against Spiritualism. Periodicals by the score have been issued containing hundreds of articles by the clergy, some defending and some condemning. ⁷ PFF4 1238.3

In support of the religious emphasis the following “Bible quotations” are quoted in the yearbook: 1 John 4:1; 1 Thessalonians 5:19-21; 1 Corinthians 12:1, 7-10, 28; 14:1, 3, 31, 32, 39, and others; also many Bible incidents are identified with Spiritualism in the manual. But Spiritualism avowedly embodies “the foundation stones of all the ancient faiths,” ⁸ as illustrated by quotations from Zoroaster, Homer, Plato, Moses, Buddha, and Jesus. However, the utter repudiation of the very foundation of the Christian faith appears in the assertions that a Spiritualist may “omit the tenets of the Christian church,” and there is no vicarious atonement, for each must work out his own salvation. ⁹ PFF4 1239.1

Dr. J. M. Peebles, one of their former leaders, defines Spiritualism in this prolix yet revealing paragraph: PFF4 1239.2

“The root meaning of this great word Spiritualism is clearly traced to God, Pure, Imminent [sic] and Immutable Spirit. ‘God is Spirit,’ said Jesus the Christ; therefore, God is Spirit, Spiritualism, centering, in and originating from God, becomes a most inspiring, a most sacred and holy word, the moral scale running thus: Spirit, spiritual, spirituality, spiritual-mindedness, Spiritualism—the ISM referring and relating to its main doctrines, the Father-Mother-hood of God, the Brother-Sister-hood of all races, the innate Divinity of Man, the Immutability of Law, the present-day Ministry of Spirits, the Guardian care of Angels, the Necessity of Holiness, the Importance of Prayer, the Beauty of Faith, the Sweetness of Charity, the Grace of Religion, and the unbounded Trust in God—the absolute embodiment of Love, Wisdom and Will.” ¹⁰ PFF4 1239.3

Peebles then makes the astonishing claim that Spiritualism was the religion of the primitive Christians up to the time of Constantine, when Christianity became crystallized into a sect. ¹¹ PFF4 1239.4

And to “communion with spirits” is attributed the annunciation of the birth of Jesus, that His miracles are spiritualist phenomena, and that He taught His disciples in seances. ¹² Peebles also contends that Christ’s second coming is with “holy angels and ministering spirits” and “this coming is perpetual.” ¹³ PFF4 1239.5