Spiritualism. [Registered As a Nkw8papkr For, Transmission in Tub United Kingdom and Abroad.]

A WEEKLY JOURNAL DEVOTED TO THE HISTORY, PHENOMENA, PHILOSOPHY, AND TEACHINGS OF SPIRITUALISM. [REGISTERED AS A NKW8PAPKR FOR, TRANSMISSION IN TUB UNITED KINGDOM AND ABROAD.] No. 205.— VOL. V .] LONDON, MARCH 6 , 1874. [Double Sheet—Price ljd. EVIL: ITS ORIGIN AND REMEDY. j the theological world than upon any other individual point in reli On the evening of Tuesday, the 24th ult., Mrs. Tappan de gion. Whereas some will have it that the powers of evil are livered the third and last of a course of lectures got up by Mr. always co-equal with those of goodness, and that an identified and J. Haxbv in Milton Hall, Camden Town. Each successive lecture embodied form of evil in the personal Satan or Devil is thoroughly was attended with better results thau the one preceding it, and on and absolutely required, others—and these form by far the majority the evening in question the hall was comfortably full, a fact which at present in Christendom—fancy it relates rather to the principle could not be otherwise than gratifying to the lecturer. Amongst of error prevalent among men than a distinctive personalitv. In the audience we noted some faces invariably to be met with at our opinion—and you must allow us all the scope that not onlv all such gatherings—the habitues of spiritualistic services in Lon religious hut scientific inquiry demands—contemporaneous history don: but the majority appeared to be casual listeners or neophytes. furnishes, in our opinion, an idea of an evil existence or power els Mrs. Tappan was accompanied on to the platform by Mrs. and the opposed to good, as always coeval with the existence of nations, and Misses Maltby, and Messrs. Tebb and Burns, the former of which it occurs in this wise. Among the masses of barbarous and un gentlemen occupied the post of honour. After a short introductory civilised peoples there is always some idea of the worship of a speech, very appropriate to the occasion, in which he briefly called divine being who represents goodness, whose powers are supposed attention to the undoubted marks of progress presented hv Spiri to he propitious, who is favourable to the existence of life : and tualism both in London and throughout England, Mr. Tebb asked whatever is unfavourable to life is supposed by them to he evil. the audience to nominate a committee of five to choose the subject Amongst the most ancient nations of which we have any records— of the lecturers discourse. The following gentlemen were elected the remote Indies, the Chinese, the various regions of Eastern Asia on the committee:—Messrs. Daw, Scannell, Dixon, Elder, and that are now divided into different sections of Brahmicism and Fennel, only one of whom—Mr. Dixon—was a Spiritualist. While Buddhism, in the regions of Mohammedanism, in ancient Persia, these gentlemen were deciding as to the subjects to be presented we find varied powers invariably represented in their religion. to the audience for selection, the Misses Maltby kindly favoured These agree with the powers that control the physical forces among the company with a well-executed duet on the pianoforte, receiving them. The sun—representing light and day and life; also the as their due meed a hearty round of applause. The committee, spring, representing the advent of life and the delightsomeness of after a few moments’ consultation, handed the chairman five themes all that brings vegetation and growth—was the symbol of the from which the audience should select the subject to be treated. powers of good. The Egyptians represented this principle in the A vote being taken on each one in succession, the following, signed form of Osiris; among the Persians his name was Ormudz, or Scannell, carried the majority:— light; and even among the remotest nations there was some sym bolism of the god of day, or sunlight, that typified the Divine The Origin of Evil : it s Int roduct ion int o the World, Mind. Even the Brahmin sees him remotely representing all the and the Remedy sug gest ed by Spir it ua l ism. powers of nature; and the Buddhist distinctly portrays him^ not Before proceeding to the elucidation of this subject (commenced only in all forms of life and light, hut in the soul of man itself. Mrs. Tappan on rising), we will invoke the Author of all Good— Whatever was antagonistic to light the ancient Egyptians attri the divine and perfect Spirit, whose light and influence pervade all buted to the powers of evil; hence there were erected altars, with things; who is the Source and Author of all being; the divine and sacrifices and symbols of darkness, that might propitiate the god of perfect Benefactor of mankind ; the living Soul within whose soul evil. We find in certain ancient records and Mithraic cav es of antique no darkness can abide, and who doth for ever work out Ilis high lore, on certain astrological tablets, the serpent- of the modern signs words and ways through the wondrous purposes of infinite love. of the zodiac. These tables, however, when considered in the^ light of modern science, show that the foundation of the idea of We trust the audience have not selected this subject because of the god of goodness reigning in the world was typified by the time their sympathy with it, since the powers of evil certainly cannot bo when the sun, entering the spring and summer solstice, poured out represented here more than those of good. But it is a most significant his light and radiance upon the earth, giving thereby renewed ltfo fact in modern thought that we are chiefly interested in that which and vigour, supplanting the powers of darkness, which were supp wed seems to have the least basis of existence; while that which con to preside over the winter time. Astronomy teaches us that, stitutes the primal law of life is scarcely heeded. The ills of man accounting for the precession of the equinoxes, the reign of evil must kind, the diversities of human existence, that which men fancy have commenced when the sun entered the Scorpion, the constellation haunts and possesses them—these are everywhere so much more of the Dragon: and hence the typical scorpion or serpent of the considered than the wondrous blessings that are on every hand ancient astrologist- was made to represent the time when the light bestowed. had disappeared or withdrawn from the earth it was supposed to Of course you are all familiar with the account of the origin of have been overcome by the powers of evil, and hence winter, the evil recorded in the Bible. The Olden Testament, forming the dismal darkness of winter-time, prevailed, l'o such an extent did Mosaic law, and at present adopted as a portion of the Christian the ancients believe this myth, that their good offerings were given Bible, gives vou a distinctive account of the origin of evil or sin in to the god of light, while their sacrifices and humiliations were the world. Vet, as this theory seems not to be considered final given to the god of darkness and winter-time. from your question, or as there seems to bo some diversity of You know among the Egyptians there were periods of flood, opinion in the world concerning a suitable interpretation of that lasting for a long time, and when the Nile overflowed it was neces record, and as all books that have been compiled by man and trans sary to put up indices, or figures corresponding to the cross, whereby lated from different and remote languages must necessarily bear a the rising of the tide could be gauged and the people warned to vague and uncertain meaning in modern interpretations—sometimes store up their provisions and treasures. It was then found that a meaning wholly diilerent from that of the original authors and tlm recurrence of these floods corresponded with the risinar of cer compilers—it becomes a serious question to consider whether the tain signs, and these astronomical signs wove the foundati >:i of the absolute record is literal or only of a figurative kind; and upon ancient religions. I he shepherds, and those nations from whom this one point undoubtedly has* arisen more of the controversy of the ancient Hebrews sprang, wore necessarily a people who watched •v u v x|V lit 1 M A N D P A Y B R E A K . March t?, 1374 i 11 r*. -* *•1 L * K -r ,s \w i ■ AN v% w u o iu ‘4 ; a 77 - o, . y.i . :.l! *1 > k ;r r>r ’. k-k ; a ; .. i ... , 1 . A w T AJ > I n , . v . - .ilKt v s. b. gmni? vV ; . nn i::\i a vi :*\ \l it \v;:h d.eft rence, xv'- .t.. — w . \i. ns \ i a max e..: -vta: \ >: ■ * • , * - ' V : > tt'.e .r *7 7 ■fem?. cv r f f '. 7* v ; • S' • ' ' ' . a N'x ' - i ' 500""S a ns. a •' -v-r t 1 | iott .'t ai. t iie ..; . e x i s t s -"I t ; X . Z t Js tic: t w r e . *.r A : n o t SI . N ; " V V . l . V . : . A . A O £ o v i l •:i axlii: ' m . • l’ . .. s . " - - - in ■ »v a .11’* ! T A » lOWl>' 0X7.V; 1110 v - • V- ' V I " :iou of iho hair.nn family a : oii-d 1777.7 - -' t. ...A ' OOUv.li .... 7 ;e ------- a ot’ :hem a: another, in •- tint e His divine ma * w o n ■; >t\• a vAV ^ .

Load more