As a people we have received as clear presentations of future events as did the disciples of Christ, when they were clearly informed well in advance of His approaching death. Yet the actual crucifixion of their Lord took the disciples by great surprise. History has a way of repeating itself. It could well be that we, in spite of our clear presentations of coming events, may likewise be taken by great surprise.
It would be a dangerous mistake for us to subconsciously consign the phenomenal workings of Satan to some vague and far-distant period of time. Falling into such an error would make us slumber like the disciples, who only fully awakened when the crucifixion had become an accomplished fact. Only as we are now aware of the trends of the stealthy events occurring around us can we intelligently prepare for the final deception.
In the great cities of this world, especially those having suffered the actual ravages of war, one is able to observe certain noteworthy and ominous developments within modern spiritualism—developments destined some day to influence the entire world. The city of London during the past three and a half years has provided a personal opportunity to observe several such indicative trends. This article does not attempt a detailed analysis of these particular developments, but it is an account of certain significant events personally witnessed. Spiritualism's "new look" is indeed a formidable sight!
Decades ago the messenger of the Lord predicted the eventual amalgamation and consolidation of vast forces of evil designed to deceive the world and counteract the loud cry of the third angel's message. If you keep the words "amalgamation" and "consolidation" in the forefront of your thinking, the things you are about to read will be much more significant.
One of the most significant changes in modern spiritualism, the reality of which no careful student of the phenomenon will deny, is the growing concept by which it is becoming known as "Christian spiritualism." Obviously this clever phrase succeeds in its design to reduce some of the historic Christian prejudice against spiritualism.
In the brief space of this article we shall consider three significant trends: First, spiritualism's enlarging emphasis on physical healing; second, the Lyceum Movement designed to establish children in spiritualistic principles; and third, a new vigorous type of public clairvoyance which is performed in full glare of the public platform and which employs many evangelistic techniques so familiar to us as a people.
London Healing Campaign
The activities of Mr. Gordon Turner and his Greater London Healing Campaign illustrate spiritualism's growing emphasis on spiritual healing. Under his leadership 32 spiritualistic spearhead campaigns were launched last year in the city of London alone. The first step in one of his healing campaigns is the distribution of from 50,000 to 100,000 handbills, accompanied by prominent newspaper advertising. Posing beside one of his billboards, Mr. Turner typifies the aggressive spirit stirring much of modern spiritualism. His campaign is a determined propaganda aimed at filling spiritualistic churches with newcomers by demonstrating spiritual healing. With his own evangelistic Spiritual Fellowship Team, consisting of from ten to fifteen healers, and aided by local church healers, he often rents the largest auditorium in the area. His healing services include a stirring evangelistic gospel song service interspersed by special musical numbers. Public interest is shown by long queues awaiting entrance to these healing services. Often overflow crowds, unable to enter the main auditorium, throng the nearby corridors and must be content with a brief personal appearance of Mr. Turner.
His Greater London Campaign has enjoyed such public acclaim that plans have already been laid for an all-England campaign whereby every city will be systematically covered in the same way. A typical comment of those treated is that of Mrs. Henry Thurston: "It was wonderful! Like millions of tiny electric shocks down my neck and back. Every bit of pain and stiffness vanished in a second."
It appears that during the course of his London campaign only two out of many press reports were openly critical of his healing services. A recent survey revealed that an average of only ten people out of each three hundred in attendance were actual spiritualists. Furthermore Turner estimates that 50 per cent of all patients treated at healing services eventually become active spiritualists. It has been further estimated that owing to the work of Mr. Turner's healing group alone, there have been some 10,000 accessions to spiritualist churches in London during the last twelve months. The activities of Mr. Turner illustrate the growing impact of spiritualistic healing.
Harry Edwards
Probably the dean of England's spiritual healers is Mr. Harry Edwards, whose reputation is presently growing to international size, and who, according to the British press, has on various occasions reportedly ministered to several members of the royal family. Established in a spacious sanctuary on the outskirts of London, Mr. Edwards and his specially trained corps of assistants find considerable difficulty in coping with the flood of demands for healing. On more than one occasion Mr. Edwards has been invited to conduct his healing demonstrations at Sunday evening services of the Church of England.
It is not an easily forgotten sight to watch an aged, crippled arthritic being carried to the platform while grimacing in pain, and after five minutes of painless spiritual healing see her walk unaided, though unsteadily, back to her seat, apparently healed. The reader can well imagine the audience reaction to such a demonstration. Did not the messenger of the Lord declare that through spiritualism Satan will appear as a "benefactor of the human race," and that under his deceptive working "the sick will be healed before us," and that there will be many undeniable wonders?
The Spiritualist Lyceum Movement
It was not without planning for the future that the Spiritualist Lyceum Movement was organized. According to its officers, its program, which is somewhat different from that of the ordinary Sunday school, is designed "to give young minds the natural principles of Spiritualism, so when they grow up they will come to it in the natural way." It is a most unusual experience to see hundreds of Lyceum children crowded into a town hall and singing earnestly, "Perish policy and cunning, trust in God, and do the right." Lyceum programs consist of hymns, devotionals, physical recreation, and clairvoyance.
It is not difficult to imagine the impact of an animal séance upon the impressionable mind of a child. A young boy told the story of his pet dog, Prince, killed six months before by an automobile. Imagine this lad's feelings when in the midst of a children's séance Prince suddenly apparently materialized to perform favorite tricks and to enjoy the affection of his little master. Just how successful would we be in convincing this boy that what he saw and heard was not actually his beloved dog at all?
Deep impressions are made upon children and adult animal lovers alike, by the growing number of spiritualistic healing sessions devoted to the treating of sick animals. By employing such techniques the Lyceum Movement is making a powerful and growing appeal to juvenile minds.
During one of the Lyceum physical recreation events one boy was asked, "And why do you like to learn to march?" His immediate reply was, "So I can march with the Spirit People." No wonder the Lyceum Movement is considered by many to be one of the most important facets of modern spiritualism.
Demonstrations of Public Clairvoyance
Another spiritualistic program that further illustrates the growing spirit of outright aggressiveness that is daily becoming more evident on the part of spiritualists is that of the public demonstrations of clairvoyance. These demonstrations clearly reveal a determination to lift spiritualism out of and away from the dark confines of the séance chamber, and to parade its bewitching influences across the public stage in full view of astonished audiences. Likewise launched by an intensive advertising campaign, these demonstrations of public clairvoyance are usually prefaced by an earnest song service and prayer. The specific aim of these programs is to prove the continuation of life after death by means of psychic phenomena, thus gaining new converts to the ranks of spiritualism.
Remembering the words of the Lord to Ezekiel, "Go in, and behold the wicked abominations that they do here" (Eze. 8:9), I went to see one of these demonstrations, that I might better understand the problem we face. More and more we will be confronted with these subtle inroads of spiritualism into the Christian church.
Typical of this new and aggressive approach are Mr. Joseph Benjamin's twice weekly meetings of spiritualistic evangelism. In spite of the shilling admission charged at the door, he usually draws a capacity crowd. For one and a half hours he ranges the platform, seemingly holding the audience in the palm of his hand. His demonstrations of psychic messages are liberally interspersed with numerous Biblical quotations, many of which are cleverly lifted out of their context and misused with strange effectiveness.
On the way to one of his meetings I detrained at the underground station nearest the auditorium. While I was looking for the hall a pleasant couple approached and asked, "Can you tell us the location of Foresters' Hall?" Upon stating that I was looking for the same auditorium, we set off in a search together. Within minutes my new-found friends confessed this would be their first attendance at such a program. Upon my asking their particular reason for deciding to attend, they replied freely, "Because of a printed announcement delivered at our door." Then after a few moments the gentleman continued, "But I suppose we came for another reason also." By that time we had reached the auditorium and by coincidence found three seats together.
The song service was followed by an earnest ten-minute devotional in which the psychic asserted that death is more than a mere continuation of life. In addition he affirmed it also offers a second chance to finally develop the characters we have failed to perfect in this present life. The speaker also propounded the belief that spiritualism is quite in accord with evolution. "Spiritualism," said he, "extends the doctrine of evolution right beyond the grave." He concluded with the significant statement, "All believers in evolution must be considered as obvious candidates for the eventual belief in spiritualism." The foregoing statement will bear the most careful consideration on our part.
After another hymn the lecturer launched into one of the most amazing and sobering presentations I have ever witnessed. Midway in his messages, supposedly originating from spirit guides in the other world, he paused, and said, "Among the many newcomers in our audience tonight are a lady and gentleman who arrived on April 6 from Cape Town, South Africa. Turning suddenly, he pointed straight to the back row where we were sitting, and continued, "The name is coming through now. . . . . . Yes, Mr. and Mrs. John R________ ," indicating my new-found friends I had met on the way to the meeting. The faces of these good people were studies in amazement. "Less than six weeks ago," he continued, "the beloved sister of Mrs. R— passed over to the other side." Without the slightest hesitation he added, "In this morning's mail she received a long air-mail envelope with a letter and enclosed snapshot of her sister." Pausing for a moment, he then announced, "This picture was taken on the beach at Cape Town two days prior to her death in an automobile accident. And furthermore," he said decidedly, "Mrs. R has the picture with her this evening in the right-hand pocket of her brown purse."
With trembling hands Mrs. R— took the picture from her purse, along with the letter in which it had arrived that very morning. "And how do I know these things?" he asked. "Because your sister is standing right here beside me on the platform this present moment!" From that point he proceeded to convey several comforting messages laden with personal information such as only her sister would supposedly know.
In but a matter of ten minutes, within the surroundings of a well-lighted, spacious hall, far removed from the dubious atmosphere of the usual seance chamber, Mr. and Mrs. John along with many others, were soundly converted to the basic premise of spiritism.
It is not difficult to understand how all the Bible evidence I endeavored to give them following that meeting seemed to make not the slightest impression on their minds. To them, an obscure Bible text declaring, "The dead know not anything," could not possibly counteract the thrilling, tangible evidences of survival in death which they had personally received.
Lewisham Rail Disaster
Recently many major newspapers of the world carried accounts of the Lewisham rail disaster on the outskirts of London, in which 98 people lost their lives. The way local spiritualist societies capitalized on this tragedy is an outstanding example of their growing spirit of aggressive confidence. Renting a large hall in the disaster area, they conducted a public meeting for the benefit of relatives and friends of those who had lost their lives. To an audience of more than 2,000, relays of mediums conducted a marathon transmission of comforting messages supposedly originating from crash victims. In view of such aggressive campaigns it is no wonder that such institutions as the London Marylebone Spiritualist Association alone boast 7,000 active members, and conduct 500 healing sessions a week, with fifteen full-time healers and mediums in constant attendance.
The London Atherius Society
This picture of the growing impact of occultism would be incomplete without mentioning at least two less orthodox aspects of spiritualism I have recently witnessed. The London Atherius Society, though bordering on the fringe edge of accepted spiritualism, can well provide a somber preview of possible things to come. Its unassuming and pleasant leader, Mr. King, a man well schooled in both yoga and spiritualism, specializes in a development of the positive yoga trance.
A number of years ago, while in one of his self-induced trances, Mr. King received his first message supposedly transmitted to earth from outer space. His society believes that great cosmic masters, among whom is Jesus Christ, periodically transmit vital messages to earth. Being supposedly forewarned of transmission times, the society is able to arrange for halls and advertising, thus enabling the public to attend these programs. Owing to the unusual content of these messages and the manner in which they are received, the Atherius Society has rapidly spread to a number of different countries.
The burden of these messages may be summed up as follows: (1) Our world is headed for atomic destruction. (2) The time is nearing when those who once lived upon this earth will launch a final campaign to save this world from annihilation. Inhabitants of other worlds will aid them in this great humanitarian project. (3) The Atherius Society is dedicated to the general elevation of spiritualism in order to prepare the way for yet another Great Master soon slated to journey to this earth. By his exalted teachings he will convert the world, saving it from self-destruction.
From time to time, according to the Atherius Society, great religious leaders, such as Christ, Peter, and other apostles, supposedly speak through their leader, Mr. King. On two different occasions tape recordings of these supposed messages have been broadcast by the British Broadcasting Corporation, radio and television services. B.B.C. sound technicians have subjected these voice records to oscilloscope (an instrument for showing visually the changes in a varying current) tests, and have expressed surprise at the variety of different tone structures that seem to emanate from the single human medium.
Close examination of these messages often reveals a peculiar beauty of sentence structure in their presentation of rapturous recitals of truth, half-truths, and outright errors. Many such messages deal with the horrors of war, and stigmatize killing as unthinkable and immoral because God resides in every life, the implication being that in killing others the killers are directly attacking the Godhead within their fellows. Satan's Eden deception, "Ye shall be as gods," has changed very little through passing millenniums.
A Counterfeit Voice of Jesus
I have in my possession what is purported to be an actual tape recording of the supposed voice of Jesus speaking through this human medium while in a positive yoga trance. I am able to personally testify that the voice on this tape in no way resembles the normal speaking voice of the entranced gentleman involved. I can further testify that this recording was made in a public meeting, with several hundred people in attendance.
Activities of the Atherius Society illustrate some new and varied forms in which spiritualism is now asserting itself. Much more could be revealed on this subject, some of which literally staggers the mind. There are even more sinister aspects of these unholy events. Unless we are constantly alert, one day we will awaken to find ourselves surrounded by a host of devilish mutations we did not even know existed!
(To be continued)
