The Assurance of God's Word

Now, I find a great many people who want some evidence that they have accepted the Son of God. My friends, if you want any evidence, take God's word for it. You can't find better evidence than that. You know that when the Angel Gabriel came down and told Zachariah he should have a son he wanted a further token than the angel's word. He asked Gabriel for it, and he answered: "I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of the Lord." He had never been doubted, and he thundered out this to Zachariah. But he wanted a further token, and Gabriel said: "You shall have a token; you shall be dumb till your son shall be given you."—MOODY.

What Is Heaven?

1902

It is a place of overpowering brightness. Everything that ever came from thence tells us so. Chariots so bright that the only thing to which they could be likened was fire. Angels with faces shining so that men must veil their eyes before them. Moses and Elias so surrounded with glory that the three disciples were overcome with the vision on the mount of transfiguration. The walls are like a great jewel, the streets of pure gold and every single gate a pearl. You know the brightness of one little gem as it sparkles on your finger, but O! the wonderful thought that every gate is a pearl, and the day will come when we may go sweeping through the gates if we will. God has done everything that He could do, and our entering in now rests upon ourselves. But the brightness of heaven, aside from the presence of Christ, is not due to the gates, nor to the walls, nor to the streets, but to the presence of those who have been redeemed.

I have been told that the deeper the water the larger the pearl. Whether that be true or not I can not tell, but I know that from the greatest depths God sometimes takes His brightest jewels. It is no cause for discouragement if you have been a great sinner. Paul was a persecutor, Bunyan a blasphemer, Newton a libertine, and yet they shine to-day as the jewels of Christ. Geologists tell us that the diamond is only crystallized carbon, charcoal glorified. This book tells us something better than that, that "though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool."

Heaven is a place of unutterable sweetness. Can you imagine the number of little children there? Can any one describe the sweetness of a child's song? And when you remember that your own little one may be there! What wonderful singing it is as their lips are touched by the finger of Christ, and their hearts are thrilled with His presence. — Rev. Dr. J. Wilbur Chapman.

The "Holy House" — Jesus' House Appears

1906

Legend of the Home of Mary and the Saviour

Let me first give the main outlines of the legend. At Nazareth was preserved with pious care the House of our Lady. The dwelling place in which she received the gracious message of the Incarnation, the lowly home which sheltered the Holy Family for so many years, was a very precious sanctuary. On May 10, 1291, a month after the taking of Tripoli and Ptolemais, this Holy House was carried by the hands of angels from Nazareth to a place in Dalmatia between Flume and Tersatz on the Adriatic shore.

It was a one roomed edifice, built of red square stones, fastened with cement, and bore proof of age and Oriental design. It stood without any foundation and had a wooden decorated ceiling. The walls were covered with frescoes; there was a door and a narrow window; inside there was an altar of stone, an ancient crucifix, a small cupboard, containing a few vessels of common use; a chimney and hearth, above which was a cedar statue of our Lady with the Holy Child in her arms. The pastor of the place learned in a vision that the building was the House of Our Lady; the stone altar that at which St. Peter celebrated mass, and the statue the work of St. Luke the Evangelist. In proof of the vision he was cured of a serious illness. A deputation of four responsible persons forthwith were sent to Nazareth to investigate the mystery, and there they found that the house was no longer to be found.

Measurement and other means taken proved that the house that had suddenly appeared in Dalmatia was indeed none other than that which had as suddenly left Palestine. Three years after, on December 10, 1294, the Holy House again disappeared, and under the pontificate of Celestine V. came to Recanati, a little town in the March of Ancona, when it fixed itself in a laurel grove belonging to a pious lady called Loreto. It was discovered by some shepherds and soon became recognized, and was henceforth a much frequented place of pilgrimage. Eight months afterward the house removed to a small hill, three miles from Recanati, to land belonging to two brothers, who, however, fell out shortly afterward over the division of wealth which began to flow to the new shrine.

To save strife between the brothers the house was suddenly lifted once more, and this time settled down, finally, in the midst of the public way, which, had to be diverted in consequence. Here, too, in the course of time a chapel was built, which gave way in time to the present basilica. The famous pilgrimage of Loreto goes on today. Popes, kings and princes have visited this shrine and left great gifts. Later on a festival with liturgical rites was instituted; and in time the feast of the translation of the Holy House was extended to many countries. — Fortnightly Review.

Is Mars Inhabited — Swedenborg's View

1909

Long before any modern astronomer had put the question, however, it had been answered in an interesting way by Emanuel Swedenborg, the noted statesman, scientist and theologian of Sweden, who lived from 1688 to 1772. As is well known, in his latter years he claimed to have conscious converse with angels and spirits, and to have had innumerable experiences in the spiritual world, in order that he might make known to mankind things otherwise unknown. At the beginning of his little treatise, commonly entitled "The Earths in the Universe," he says:

"Since, by the divine mercy of the Lord, the interiors of my spirit have been opened, and thereby I have been enabled to speak with spirits and angels, both with those who are near our earth and with those who are near other earths, and since I had a desire to know whether there are other earths and what is their nature and that of their inhabitants, therefore it has been given me by the Lord to speak and converse with spirits and angels from other earths — with some for a day, with some for a week and with some for months — and to be instructed by them concerning the earths from which and near which they were, and concerning the life, the customs and the worship of the inhabitants, as well as various other matters worthy of narration; and since it has been granted me to learn those things in this way, I am permitted to describe them from what I have heard and seen."

Concerning the planet Mars, and its spirits and inhabitants, he wrote in part as follows:

"The spirits of Mars are the best of all among the spirits that are from the earths of our solar system. * * * They regard it as wicked to think one thing and speak another, and to will one thing and show another in the face. They do not know what hypocrisy is, nor what fraudulent pretense and deceit are. * *

"The angelic spirits (from that planet) spoke with me about the life of the inhabitants on their earth; that they are not under governments, but are arranged in societies larger and smaller, and that they take into their societies such as agree with them in mind, which they know at once from the face and speech, and are rarely deceived. Then they are friends at once. They said also that their consociations are delightful, and that they speak with one another of those things that are done in the societies, especially those done in heaven; for many of them have manifest communication with the angels of heaven. Those in their societies who begin to think perversely, and from this to will evil, are cast out of the societies, and left to themselves alone, and thus pass their time very miserably out of society, among rocks or elsewhere; for the society no longer takes thought for them."

The above statements do not throw much light upon the inventive or mechanical ability of the inhabitants of Mars; or upon the problem of the existence of immense irrigating systems on the planet. Concerning such canals Swedenborg says absolutely nothing.

It is, of course, impossible to prove the above statements of Swedenborg by any means that we have at our disposal at present. It is also impossible to disprove them. Some people believe them to be true. They are at least of interest in view of the present scientific problem of the presence on Mars of intelligent beings.

—Only excerpts of article printed in The Galveston Daily News, Galveston, TX, Sept. 19, 1909, p. 18.

In Memory of One Who Passed Away – "Sleeping in Jesus"

1878

IN MEMORY OF C. D. DOMBAUGH.

On Jan. 17th, C. D. Domhaugh, who from boyhood has been loved, was laid to rest in the presence of a large concourse of sorrowing friends. On Tuesday afternoon a bright winged angel visited his chamber and whispered "Gentle spirit, come away." Like one falling into a gentle sleep he passed away from earth, at an age when life's hopes are brightest and its promises seem on the verge of fulfillment, the silver cord was loosed and the golden bowl was broken. He sleeps in Jesus.

He has gone to the mansions above
To join with the glorified there;
His spirit is bathing in oceans of love,
Now free from all sorrow and care.

He's sleeping in Jesus, he rests with the blest,
His home is beyond the blue sky
Where saints of all ages will ever find rest,
And heart treasures never will die.

Brief was his stay with his friends here below,
Ere the spirit wing spread for the flight,
And the love kindled flame in his heart shed a glow
On the tomb and its shivering night.

He has gone from earth's toil, gone from its cares,
Where angels their melodies raise;
Gone to that land where the saints' fervent prayers,
Shall turn into rapturous praise.

—Daily Star, Marion, Ohio, Jan. 18, 1878, p. 1.

Prayed for Their Guardian Angel — And the Angel Came!

1921

A British Clergyman and His Wife Tell About a Most Remarkable Visitation — and All England Marvels at the Story and Its "Corroboration."

LONDON, Dec. 20. — Rev. Maurice Elliott, vicar in the village of Snitterby, Lincolnshire, believes in his guardian angel with the same certainty that he believes in the existence of his village grocer. For the clergyman, according to his sworn testimony, has seen this angel with his own eyes, has heard the sound of his voice, has touched his glistening robe. The angel came at a crisis in the clergyman's life and by his good counsel enabled him and his wife to meet the situation without disaster.

The revelation of Mr. Elliott created considerable talk all over England, but a sensation was caused when it became known that many of the facts of his visitation had been corroborated by a celebrated London physician. Since that time a number of other physicians declare that they have met with similar cases and believe Mr. Elliott's story implicitly. There is as much reason to believe that a person has a guardian angel, they say, as it is to believe any of the commonly accepted physical facts of life. They contend, that such a belief is as provable, by resort to the ordinary senses, as, for instance, the law of specific gravity.

Dr. Elliott is a popular member of the clergy and is highly regarded as a thinker. His interview with his guardian angel came at a time, he said, when his wife was about to have a child and her life was in serious danger.

He was very fearful regarding her condition and sought the advice of a London specialist. The specialist advised an immediate operation, but admitted that such an operation would involve a dangerous risk.

"My wife and I," said Dr. Elliott, "prayed with all our hearts for guidance in this troubled hour. We prayed that if there was an angel specially appointed to protect and guide me and mine — that he appear to us and counsel us. And the evening before my wife was to go into a nursing home he did appear.

"The angel was a male. His figure was more majestic than that of men on earth. His eyes were extraordinary in their beauty and brightness. Ha spoke with a voice that was bell-like. He came to us in our room and at his appearance we felt not the slightest sense of terror — only a feeling of complete calm. He spoke in everyday language. It was as if a link between us and heaven had been established.

"We asked him what we must do about the specialist's advice. He replied that the specialist was wrong in advising an operation and that such a course would be fatal. 'Don't have it,' he told us. 'The physician's diagnosis is wrong.'

"The angel's visit decided us. When the physician came the next day to see us about the removal of my wife to the nursing home, we told him what had happened and that Mrs. Elliott had made up her mind to forgo the operation.

"Naturally, the doctor was astonished beyond measure, but did not argue the matter with us. I might add that he has, himself, taken a keen interest in the case ever since.

"A few days later we again asked Divine guidance. We wanted the angel to direct us to a medical man who would confirm the angel's statement. Again our prayers were answered. The angel appeared to us as he had on his first visit and told us to go to Brighton where we could meet the doctor we so much desired to see.

"Following these instructions we packed our bags and left the next day for Brighton. Before we arrived at the station the angel came to us in our compartment I do not imagine anyone else in the coach saw him, for nothing was said of it. The angel walked with us through the town and guided us to a hotel. He walked normally. There was no gliding or passing through substances. I noticed that he wore sandals. He conversed with us a good part of the time.

"After giving us full instructions as to the doctor we would meet there, what the doctor would look like and when we should approach him, the angel dematerialized and since then has not appeared to us."

The second day at the hotel, Dr. Elliott says, he recognized the physician from the angel's description as the man passed down the corridor into the drawing-room. Dr. Elliott followed him into the drawing-room and stated his case without asking him if he were a physician, so sure was he that the angel was correct,

The physician was naturally much astonished at being approached by a man who didn't even know his name, but though he had come to Brighton for a rest, finally consented to make an examination of Mrs, Elliott and a diagnosis of her case. He did not think an operation was necessary — in fact, he advised strongly against it.

The child born after this remarkable experience is a strong, healthy girl. Dr. Elliott says that when the baby was christened in Winchester Cathedral a company of angels was plainly manifest to himself and his wife.

A Vision of the Savior

For reasons of medical ethics, the physician who attended Mrs. Elliott would not permit the use of his name, but he confirmed the Brighton occurrence in detail.

Having a large practice the physician said he had gone to Brighton for a few weeks' rest. He did not register as a medical man and nobody connected with the hotel or in the town knew him as such.

"Being on a holiday which I much needed," he said, "I naturally did not care to accept any cases. But when I asked Dr. Elliott how he knew I was a physician he told me his remarkable story. It interested me so much that I agreed to see his wife. I examined her and my own diagnosis of the case accorded exactly with what the angel had told them. They appeared much relieved when I gave them my opinion.

"While I have had no experience with spiritualism, in fact, I know scarcely nothing about it, I believe that with God all things are possible."

Concurrent with the Elliott case is that which is vouched for by Rev. W. J. L. Sheppard, who has been preaching at Braintree parish church, fifty miles out of London. A member of the congregation, a business man who had been associated in no way with spiritualism, told the pastor that he had seen a vision of Christ on the cross behind the chancel rail, during the progress of the service.

Rev. Dr. Sheppard recently announced the vision from the pulpit, saying to his startled congregation:

"During the evening service last Sunday a well known Braintree business man in the congregation saw a vision of the crucified Savior in the chancel of this church. He said he first saw the vision while kneeling in prayer. A bright light from a halo on the head of the crucified Christ filled the whole chancel and blotted out every other object. This is not a case of an emotional woman seeing a vision, but of a hard-headed man. The vision must be "taken as a divine revelation."

The business man told Mr. Sheppard that when he first saw the vision he bowed his head to collect his thoughts. He thought at first that it might be an optical illusion. When he looked up again the vision of the crucified Christ still filled the chancel. He looked at it about four minutes the second time. The vision did not speak or beckon to him, but looked with pleading eyes. Finally, the light from the halo faded gradually away and the vision disappeared. The man became quite ill and broke into a violent perspiration.

—Fort Wayne Journal Gazette, Fort Wayne, Indiana, Jan. 1, 1922, section 4, page 2.

Easter Gifts

1917

The very pleasant Easter custom of sending Easter cards to our friends or of making them simple and inexpensive gifts is a good one provided we do not carry it to an extreme. The springtime is a busy season when every one is weeding out one's possessions rather than seeking to add to them; hence numerous large gifts would prove a burden to the recipient. Eggs have always been associated with the day as symbolic of the resurrection. Bonbonnieres of this shape or candy eggs are always popular.

Flowers and growing plants are especially appropriate to the day, Easter lilies being always in demand. A corsage bouquet of violets or of lilies of the valley is a pretty gift to a girl. The man who makes it must be careful to have it sent to the house of the girl in time for her to wear to church on Easter morning. Neckties or scarves are suitable gifts to make to a man who is a relative or friend, provided one knows his tastes. — Florence Howe Hall in Chicago News.


ANGELS

God hath sent His angels
To the earth again,
Bringing joyful tidings
To the sons of men.
They who first at Christmas
Thronged the heavenly way.
Now beside the tomb door
Sit on Easter day.
Angels, sing His triumph
As you sang His birth.
"Christ the Lord is risen,
Peace, good will on earth."
In the dreadful desert
Where the Lord was tried,
There the faithful angels
Gathered at his side.
And when in the garden,
Grief and pain and care
Bowed Him down with Anguish
They were with Him there.
Yet the Christ they honor
Is the same Christ still,
Who, in light and darkness.
Did His Father's will.
And the tomb, deserted.
Shineth like the sky.
Since He passed out from it
Into victory.
God has still His angels
Helping, at His word.
All His faithful children
Like their faithful Lord.
Soothing them in sorrow,
Arming them in strife.
Opening wide the tomb doors
Leading into life.
Father, send Thine angels
Unto us, we pray;
Leave us not to wander
All along our way.
Let them guard and guide us
Whereso'er we be,
Till our resurrection
Brings us home to Thee.
—Phillips Brooks

Pastor Defends Proposition of Existence of Real Angels

Lincoln, NE, 1909

BELIEVES IN REAL ANGELS

Dr. Herbert Yeuell Defends Proposition of Their Existence.

The sermon of the evening at the First Christian church last night by Dr. Herbert Yeuell was upon the theme, "Why the Angels Rejoice." The Bible reading was from the fifteenth chapter of Luke, containing the greatest of all parables, the "Prodigal Son." The usual spirited song service was conducted by Prof. A. F. Buss.

A touching solo was sung by Mr. Sturgiss, entitled "Jesus is the One."

The text of the sermon was from the tenth verse of the fifteenth chapter of Luke, "There is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth."

Dr. Yeuell unequivocally and firmly defended the proposition of the real existence of real angels. The fact that we have never seen an angel is no proof that none exist. Neither have we seen gravity or ether or air. We take many things upon faith in the affairs of life. It is only fair to take spiritual things upon faith as well. The whirring of angels' wings are heard throughout all of the history of God's universe, and the development of His people.

The evangelist scored the doctrine of spiritualism and deplored the confusion that its advocates have spread. The angels of God are not dark winged shakers of tables, giving weird knocks and signs. The angels of God are creatures of real dignity and power. They are real instrumentalities of God, in working out his purposes in sacred and profane history.

Their song, "Glory to God, Peace on Earth, Good Will to Men," has reverberated throughout the whole Christian era.

Dr. Yeuell maintained that figuratively the humble followers and doers of God's will upon earth are in a sense his angels, but this does not disprove the existence of the supernal, heavenly messengers.

The philosophy of heaven is plain that the ninety and nine are not large enough an average for the heavenly fold. God wants that last hundredth sinner to return to the fold.

Jesus Christ lived in close touch with the angels of God. They buoyed Him up. They often surrounded Him in loving ministration.

They surrounded Jesus in His times of crisis. They rejoiced and exulted in His demonstration of power in so many instances.

The angels of God are real, effective and potent influences in the universe. We cannot afford to discredit their existence or their ministrations.

At the close of the sermon the ordinance of baptism was administered. This service is always especially beautiful as administered in this new church building, owing to the very effective illumination.

The sermon for tonight will be upon the theme, "Nebuchadnezzar's Furnaces." Meeting will begin sharp at 7:30. All are invited.

—The Nebraska State Journal, Lincoln, NE, Dec. 8, 1909, page 7.

Evangelists Raps Spiritualists, They Rap Back

Anaconda, Montana, 1905-06

EVANGELIST DANIELS RAPS SPIRITUALISM

SCANDINAVIAN PREACHER SAYS IT IS OF ANCIENT ORIGIN

HE ROASTS THE MEDIUMS

Denies the power of humans to call up the spirits of the dead and says that if they can only evil ones would respond.

If John J. Daniels, pastor of the Rockford, Ill., Swedish church and traveling evangelist, has the right of it spiritualism is a humbug. Evangelist Daniels, who is now on an evangelistic tour of the coast, preached in Swedish last evening in the church on the corner of Alder and Fifth streets to a large and interested audience.

Mr. Daniels showed that there is nothing new about spiritualism; that there were spiritualists in the days of Moses. It was a medium, he said, that called up the spirit of Samuel for Saul. He said that modern spiritualism is supposed to have originated in the year 1848. A family by the name of Fox in Hydesville, N. Y., was much disturbed by spirit rappings and when Miss Kate Fox spoke to these rappings she discovered that they were made by the spirit of a murdered peddler. The spirit would answer questions by rapping once for no and three times for yes. All spirits are said to follow this rule.

Miss Kate Fox and her sister discovered that it was possible to communicate in this manner with any spirit of the dead, especially with relatives, but the spirits would answer questions only through mediums. The Fox sisters were the first mediums in modern spiritualism.

Many Kinds of Mediums

Mr. Daniels stated that since 1848 the means of communicating with spirits has developed wonderfully. There are now many kinds of mediums. We have slat writing mediums, spirit circle mediums, trance mediums, materializing mediums and medium photographers.

Modern spiritualism has progressed rapidly and there are many thousands in all civilized nations. They have more than 10 newspapers developed to their interests, and, according to the last census, there are 50,000 spiritualists in the United States. There are many among the Scandinavians of both the old and the new world.

These people have no common doctrine. They believe there is a God, but they do not believe in the divinity of Christ, and they interpret the Bible to suit their own peculiar notions. Some mediums claim they have communicated with the spirit of Christ and the spirits of the apostles. In these communications Christ disowns the divinity, and the Apostle Paul congratulates the spiritualists on having found the light and the truth.

Spiritualists do not believe in the resurrection of the dead, buy they believe with Swedenborg in a development in the spirit world. They do not believe there is a hell, but many of them profess to believe in the theory of reincarnation.

Only Evil Spirits

Mr. Daniels expressed believe in a spirit world, but did not think that mediums had the power to call the spirits of the dead or communicate with them. He thought that if they could communicate with any spirits it is only with evil spirits. The phenomena of spiritualism can be ascribed almost wholly to trickery and to hypnotism. When the mediums go into trances they are in a hypnotic condition. When in this condition they make some wonderful and startling guesses, as they are all clever mind readers.

In conclusion he showed that spiritualism produced sin, vice and immorality. He said that spiritualism is the religion of free love, and mediums were usually grass widows. They have a superstition that a seventh daughter of a seventh sister is the best medium, but according to the speaker the seventh wife of a seventh husband was the best. He warned people who investigated spiritualism against allowing themselves to be hypnotized, as it greatly weakens the will power.

Mr. Daniels will speak in the same church to-night on "Infidelity." He expects to remain in the city for a week or more, and he will then go to Missoula and on to the coast cities and towns.

--The Anaconda Standard, Anaconda, Montana, December 14, 1905, page 5.


ANOTHER REPLY TO THE SWEDISH EVANGELIST

EDITOR TUTTLE WRITES ABOUT THE SPIRITUALISTIC FAITH

HE ASKS FOR A FAIR DEAL

Fewer divorces and less criminality among spiritualists than any other faith, according to Mr. Tuttle's statistics

Hudson Tuttle, the acknowledged chief of the spiritualists of the United States, writing from Berlin Heights, Ohio in reply to the sermon preached in this city some time ago by a Scandinavian evangelist, has the following to say:

Editor of The Anaconda Standard: "In your issue of Dec. 14 appears a report of a sermon by Evangelist Daniels, in which he roasts mediums and denies the power of humans to call up the spirits of the dead, and says if they can, only evil ones would respond. In his discourse he assails spiritualism, making charges so far from the truth that he shows either utter ignorance of the subject or a design to mislead. If his object is to lead believers away from what he thinks a great sin and delusion, should he not have in some small measure the charity of the Master? Can he hope to win by epithets and false representations? As this sermon is one of his stock, constantly repeated wherever he goes, he ought to know that his statements are correct and the ground solid beneath his feet.

"He commences by saying that there is nothing new about spiritualism, as though someone had made that claim. Spiritualists make no such claim. To the contrary, they hold it to be as old as the rain. The Bible, from beginning to end, is filled with records of spirit ministrations, and there is not a phase of mediumship between the spirit world and this not given in its pages. History records manifestations of spirits in all ages and among all races, from the savage to the most civilized. All the spiritualists claim is that in its modern form it belongs to the present. The study of the laws and conditions of the psychic or spiritual domain by the methods of physical science -- experimentation, careful observation of phenomena and co-ordination of facts; the deduction therefrom of a philosophy of life, here and hereafter; the foundation on this basis of a system of ethics and of a religion which is devoted to righteousness— this is spiritualism as understood by its believers.

"As Rev. Daniels admits that spirits can communicate, there is no contention on that point. But he is not content with this theory. He declares that the phenomenon can be ascribed almost wholly to trickery and hypnotism. Hypnotism is one of those all-embracing terms which, when difficulties arise, sound learned, but mean nothing. But there is a residium left which neither trickery nor hypnotism can explain even to Rev. Daniel's satisfaction, and he calls in evil spirits to his aid. He takes the Bible as infallible authority, and by what right does he dare assert that all spirits that communicate are evil? He well says that spiritualism is not new. Yes, and is it not the same spiritualism recorded in the Bible? The witch of Endor was a medium when she called up the spirit of Samuel. Was he an evil spirit? An angel unloosed Peter from chains in prison; an angel appeared to Hager; two came to Abraham; angels came to Joseph. These are a few instances recorded, for the book must be almost quoted as a whole to give them all. Were these angels and messengers evil spirits? "What is a spirit? According to Matthew, xiv., 26; Luke, xxiv., 37, 'The soul of man separated from his body,' of this being it is said, Hebrews, i., 14, 'Are not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister to them who shall be heirs to salvation?' Is it not strange that while our good and loving friends are shut from us by an impassable wall, the evil spirits can approach, communicate and lead us to ruin? There is not a text in the Bible supporting Rev. Daniels in this conclusion, which is a libel on the God he worships.

"But his opinion, being no more than an opinion, requires only passing mention. His charges against the moral status of spiritualists are of vastly more consequence. They are such as no Christian gentleman should make unless doubly sure of their correctness. Only overwhelming sense of sinfulness and desire to save souls from ruin would justify such uncharitable accusations. As reported, he said: 'In conclusion he showed that spiritualism produced sin, vice and immorality. He said that spiritualism is the religion of free love, and mediums were usually grass widows. They have a superstition that a seventh daughter of a seventh sister is the best medium, but, according to the speaker, the seventh wife of a seventh husband was the best.' These are all threadbare charges, utterly without foundation in truth. He truly said that spiritualism has made rapid growth. It is estimated that there are 3,000,000 of spiritualists in the United States. It has representative journals in England, France, Germany, Australia, New Zealand and the South American states. It has a national association possessing a splendid home building at Washington, with a library and publishing bureau for the free distribution of its literature; a missionary force in the field and a lyceum or Sunday school for instruction of the children in its principles. This association has all the rights and privileges conferred by law on religious bodies.

"Is not a tree known by its fruits? Spiritualism has been before the world for more than 50 years. If it is the work of evil spirits, and hence immoral in its tendencies should not the record of crime indicate its influence? I have collected the reports of all great penal institutions in this country and Canada and find that not a single spiritualist is reported within their walls. There are more than 700 ministers of the gospel and several evangelists, but not a single spiritualist. I do not mention this strange fact in disparagement of the ministerial profession, but to emphasize the statement that spiritualism leads directly away from crime. As to the charge of 'free love,' in all the standard literature of spiritualism there cannot be found one word of endorsement of that doctrine. Is not a cause represented by the organizations formed for its culture and extension? Are not all churches represented by their creeds? The national association thus represents spiritualism, and its statement of principles has no word indorsing any other relation in married life than that of the purest love, mutual devotion and faithfulness to the vows which make two souls one in the journey of life. It publishes a ritual containing the marriage service, and its ordained speakers have the right to officiate at marriages. There are fewer divorces among spiriutalists than of other beliefs, for the marriage relation is held with greater reverence as not only continuing till death, but into the infinite life beyond."

--The Anaconda Standard, Anaconda, Montana, January 1, 1906, page 2.