Spiritualism And Necromancy

Spiritualism And Necromancy by the Rev. A. B. Morrison, of The Southern Illinois Conference, was published in New York in 1873.

Contents:

Chapter I. Spiritualism and Necromancy,
Chapter II. Spiritualism an Agency of Satan
Chapter III. Spiritualism and Demonology
Chapter IV. Spiritualism an Agency of Satan
Chapter V. Spiritualism and Antichrist
Chapter VI. Deception of Spiritualism
Chapter VII. The Spirit of Inquiry in Man; or, The Office of Philosophy
Chapter VIII. A Word to Spiritualists
Chapter IX. Bible Spiritualism; or The Ministration of the Spirits
Chapter X. Spiritualism a Lover of Darkness

Preface:

.....AFTER the publication of our two sermons, or lectures, on Spiritualism and Necromancy, our mind turned naturally to a further investigation of the claims of spiritualism; and as we studied the subject deeper and closer, we determined to write out our discoveries and deductions, for our own use. This we have done in the form of lectures, something after the manner of sermonizing; for such is our habit of thought.
.....The production has been so interesting to us, and our former publication having received such favor, we have been encouraged to give this also to the public; being impelled to do so with strong hope of doing some good, by arresting the tide of the ruinous heresy of spiritualism. We are aware that we shall meet the anathemas of those who have already fallen into this snare of the devil: but we hope to win back, to God and reason, honest souls who have been tempted to tamper with this serpent of sin.
.....In our fifth and seventh lectures we look, too, for opposition from "the orthodox;" but, after careful study, aided by such helps as we could command, we have deliberately and solidly concluded that "the Man of Sin " is not the "Old Man at Rome." We are willing to admit that he is a sinner, and that he is possessed of the spirit of Antichrist; but we can not determine, by Bible or history, that he is the Antichrist of prophecy. Our seventh lecture, on the Spirit of Inquiry, or Office land Use of Philosophy, is largely extracted from a review we wrote, a year ago, of Dr. Cocker's "Greek Philosophy;" and, as it had never been given to the public, and seemed to us to meet and express a felt want of our nature, so evidently manifest in the restless instability of man away from his God, we determined to insert it in this publication. Having prepared it in a little different form for ministerial criticism, we submit it to the laity without fear, trusting that it will do goo, by showing in easy thought to the common reader that man, estranged from God by sin, is ever restless and unsatisfied until he be restored to the Father, through the merit of the Son. The other chapters treat directly of Spiritualism, with all its diabolism and hatefulness.

Excerpts:

.....Dr. Waterland, an author of some note, says it properly means one who consulted the dead, and he describes their manner of doing so: "They, the ‘wizards,' went to the grave of the dead in the night, stretched themselves upon them, and muttered as from the belly, or in ventriloquism." To this Isaiah is thought to refer, in the nineteenth verse of the eighth chapter. Hear the quotation: "And when they shall say unto you. Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep and mutter: should not a people seek unto their God?" Then Isaiah challenges thus: "To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them."
.....Now, are there any such "peepings" and mutterings in spiritualism? Let us see; and we will not, dare not now, descend to the low, sluttish séance of home manufacture, where the lowest order of ignorant men and women cherish the baser passions, whose spawn is treachery and free-loveism, and the consequent concomitant, violation of the conjugal vow; but we prefer giving its fairest lights.
.....An unmarried and, we are told, eloquent divine, of Alton City, determined, some months ago, to "leave his own little corner of the Lord's vineyard to grow up in weeds," and visit the great Mecca of spiritual manifestation, which "Mecca" is an obscure village in the State of New York, called Moravia; and the result of his visit is in print, and so becomes public property. We quote only a few of the leading features of the article; for, as it appeared in the St. Louis Democrat, July 10th, most of you have read it.
.....He says: "Kind reader, imagine yourself in a country house," etc.; "a circle of seven is formed, hands are joined, the medium faces us." "The light is excluded; but a lamp is burning." "The only door is bolted;" "now the lamp is extinguished—all is dark." Suddenly, "the piano begins to play. Nothing is touching the keys; but the playing goes on." "Now, voices, seemingly above us, join in the song with great power......