The Two Spiritual Forces.

This chapter cannot be better closed than by comparing the two forces operating upon the lives and character of humanity.

Of those who yield themselves to the possession of Satan, enough has been said. The results are only such as might be expected. The Bible brands Satan as a liar and a murderer. Of those who yield themselves to his vicious control the Saviour said:

"Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it." John 8:44.

When such an evil being takes possession of a man, he will do the works of Satan who possesses and controls him. Then the condition of the victim is, Satan in you the certainty of perdition. He is the author of all evil, the cruel power behind all evil, drawing the one possessed downward to the very depths of darkness which he himself has already reached.

Of the poor victims who have yielded themselves to Satan's control, Paul expresses the hope that "they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will." 2 Tim. 2:26. How well the conditions expressed in this verse. apply in the cases mentioned and the circumstances, connected with them! The power of God alone can break the chains that bind them.

On the other hand, Christ came to save the world

and rescue humanity from the grasp of Satan. Of the natural, unconverted condition of those whom He came to save, Paul writes:

"At that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world." Eph. 2: 12.

Christ desires to come into the lives of all such, for the purpose of bringing hope, faith, and consolation. He says:

"Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me." Rev. 3 : 20.

"If a man love Me, he will keep My words: and My Father will love him, and We will come unto him, and make Our abode with him." John 14:23.

Paul, speaking of the mystery of the connection of Christ with humanity, writes:

"To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory." Col. 1:27.

Of the object of this union, Paul tells the church at Ephesus that Christ desires to come in to the sinner, and "to make in Himself of twain one new man, so making peace." Of the result he adds, "But now, in Christ Jesus, ye who sometime [at one time] were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ." Eph. 2:15, 13.

What an infinite difference in these two powers of possession! Summed up in few words, it means our choice of possession by Satan the destroyer, or Christ the Restorer. Who can hesitate in making this mo mentous decision?

M

ODERN Spiritualism had its origin in Hydesville, near Rochester, N. Y., in 1847. But as the first public demonstrations were given in Rochester, they soon took the name of "Rochester Knockings." Later the general name of Spiritualism was applied to this and all other manifestations which were supposed to emanate from the spirits of the dead.

The facts concerning the origin of Modern Spiritualism, as gleaned from "Greatest Events of the Greatest Century," and other reliable sources, are as follows:

In the fall of 1847, Mr. Michael Weekman, residing in a humble house in Hydesville, heard at different times distinct raps upon his door. Upon examination no individual would be seen at the door, and no cause

for the rappings could be found. Growing nervous over
the matter, he abandoned the house as "haunted."
did not remain vacant long, however, as it was soon
occupied by Mr. John Fox and family.

But the manifestations continued to be given in the house, and increased with the coming of the new tenants. By March, 1848, the rappings were of nightly occurrence, and soon furniture was moved about without hands. It was observed that the rappings were most frequent near the bed occupied by the two Fox sisters, Catherine, or Kate as she was called, and her older sister, Margaretta.

Be

The Fox Sisters.

The most careful investigation failed to account for these phenomena. The mystery only grew the deeper, and the manifestations more frequent and prolonged. As they always occurred in the night, the rest of the family was greatly disturbed.

Wearied by loss of sleep for a succession of nights, on Friday, March 31, 1848, the family made arrangements which they hoped would cause the annoyance to cease, and allow them to obtain much-needed rest. The bed of the two sisters was taken into the room occupied by the parents. But hardly had they retired when the children cried out, "Here they are again." The noises then became more distinct and startling. It was a windy night, and it was suggested that it

might be the rattling of the window sashes. Mr. Fox tried several, and each time as he would rattle them, Kate noticed that the noises seemed to reply. This gave her an idea, so turning to the place from which the rappings came, she snapped her fingers, and said, "Here, old Splitfoot, do as I do!" And the knocking sounds instantly responded.* A Spiritualist author, recounting these circumstances, says, "That was the very commencement. Who can tell where the end will be?"

Notice how these sounds developed intelligence. Kate next tried bringing her thumb and forefinger together silently, and each time the noises would respond. The power from which the noises came could see, then, as well as hear. "Only look, mother," said Kate. And the experiment was repeated and answering raps were heard each time she brought her thumb and finger together.

The further particulars of the occurrences are taken from a work by Robert Dale Owens, entitled, "Footfalls upon the Boundary of Another World,” p. 290. These particulars were obtained

*The use of the word "Splitfoot," by the girl, shows that at that time she recognized the Satanic nature of the manifestations.

THE PROGRESS OF

SPIRITUALISM.

Upon this point Smith

writes:

"It began in a way to excite the wonder and curiosity of the would give wings to its progpeople, the very elements that ress through the land. Men suddenly found their thoughts careering through new channels.

"An unseen world seemed to make known its presence and invite investigation. As the phenomena claimed to be due to the direct agency of spirits, the movement naturally assumed the name of 'Spiritualism.' It was then hailed by multitudes as a new and living teacher come to clear up uncertainties, and to dispel doubts from the minds of men. least an irrepressible curiosity was everywhere excited to know what the new 'ism' would teach concerning that invisible world, which it pro

At