A Death-Blow to Spiritualism
306 Art. XII.?
Spiritualism may be pronounced as being on its last le”-s; it made a desperate effort to promulgate its erroneous doctrines, but has signally failed. Meetings have been held during the past year in various parts of England, by a certain class of the community, to uphold this form of charlatanism. The following letter from one of the chief supporters of Spiritual- ism appeared m one of our contemporaries at the time when it was announced that a Committee had been formed for the pur- pose of investigating the working of the Lunacy Law. The summons to the votaries of Spiritualism, however, did not have the desired effect, and its supporters were conspicuous bv their absence:?
flr’^Wtlllt,y0U?k,md’y,aIl0W me in -vour columns to remind your readers that the Select Committee of the House of Commons’ <? to inquire into the operation of the Lunacy Laws as regards the security of personal liberty mil commence its sittings at eleven o’clock on Thursday next, and continue them on subsequent Tuesdays and Thurs- days. Greatly as this question concerns the general public, recent events have made it of especial interest to Spiritualists and all others who leaving the beaten paths of orthodoxy and commonplace, dare to utter their own thoughts, whether in science or religion It is im- possible that this inquiry should close without going deeply into the rights of conscience and iree thought, since the most serious charges against the Lunacy Commissioners and the madness-mongers arise from incarcerations, alleged to have been solely on account of Spiritualism or other intellectual eclecticism. I earnestly trust, there- fore that all who conveniently can will attend the Committee, as a mark of public interest in its proceedings. Ladies may be glad to know that seats are not provided, and that therefore it is well to go furnished with a camp-stool. ?
Louisa Lowe, Hon. bee. of the Lunacy Law Reform Association. 64 Berners Street, W., March 12, 1877.
The writer of the above letter offered herself as a witness before the Lunacy Committee, and little did she think, when she drew attention to her case, and by the evidence admissible in consequence, that the death-blow would be given to Spiritual- ism. It might have been better if the Secretary of the Lunacy Eeform Association had wisely hidden from the public gaze the letter which we here append, and received by her in answer to a request to be re-examined before the Committee. Our readers will be able to j udge for themselves what opinion is formed by the House of Commons as represented by their Committee on Spiritualism.
House of Commons : July 3, 1877. Madam,?I am directed by the Select Committee on the Lunacy Laws to inform you that when the Committee entertained the idea of recalling you, it was before the evidence furnished by your own pamphlets and letters had convinced them that you had been under insane delusions. The production of these documents has, in fact, altered the case. The Committee understands you now wish to raise the question as to whether the author of these pamphlets and letters ought not to be considered of sound mind; this is, in their opinion, entirely foreign to the purpose for which they were appointed, and, therefore, not wishing to express any opinion on your present state, they consider that they would not be justified in reopening this ques- tion, and that they must consider your cass as closed.?Your obedient servant, C. E. Austen Leigh.
We are not at all surprised at the view taken by the Com- mittee on Spiritualism. We have frequently shown it to be either an” imposition or a form of madness, more often the latter. It has become apparent to us that Spiritualists cannot argue in any way to prove the truth of their doctrine; they can abuse, and this is generally characterised by a certain tone peculiar to this indeed ” peculiar people.” Poetical effusions received anonymously through the post, conspicuous by the absence of a stamp, is one way they have of venting their wrath upon those who endeavour to expose their erroneous ideas ; again, pictures of spirits sent on envelopes, with blasphemous quotations subscribed, is another of the numerous methods adopted by Spiri- tualists to portray their ire, and at the same time to betray their madness.
We maintain that ere long it will be a thing of the past. It has been revived from time to time, but never has it received such a frightful blow as that administered by the Lunacy Committee. Whatever are the results furnished by the evidence afforded by witnesses to the Committee, we may rest satisfied that they have pronounced Spiritualism to be a delusion. This we have long contended, and we are glad to find the House of Commons endorse our opinion through their Committee as representing the whole House.
It is a surprising thing to see this community in possession of two organs in which they can express their delusive ideas, and the absurdities they abound in must be read to be fully appre- ciated. It is really amusing to take up one of these extra- ordinary productions and read the accounts of the supposed spiritualistic revelations, the productions of either a diseased imagination or an inventive faculty. Accounts are given of the wonderful healing power of these people, and cases are cited in illustration where internal weakness, deafness, and other com- plaints are treated with considerable benefit by these powers. We read that a young lady offers to cure cancer, consumption, dipsomania, or insanity by postal or other treatment; and not only this, but takes pupils in the healing art. Such prepos- terousi nonsense needs^ but small comment. We admit that it is a difficult thing to imagine the poor victim suffering from organic disease, reduced to the utmost extremity, or the chronic tippler, who is rapidly drinking away his very existence, spend- ing their guineas for postal treatment. Anyone who for one moment can believe in this must either be a fool or a lunatic. “W e pronounce Spiritualism to be a form of imposition pro- fessing to have religion as a background, and we trust that the day is not far distant when its present believers will either confess their disbelief and ignore what we consider as a dis- grace to all humanity, or, still believing in the reality of what is a delusion, be safely kept under proper care and treatment in a well-regulated asylum. We speak strongly on this subject, as we have seen so much mental alienation caused by ” Spiritualism. must indeed be discouraging to the various supporters of Spiritualism to see their beloved doctrines suddenly dashed to the ground, and pronounced to be madness by a Parliamentary Committee. We are glad to see such trash exposed; it has had its day, and the believers in its insane doctrines will soon become few and far between. In order to prove its absurdity no reasoning powers are required. It is a matter of sheer common sense, and we maintain that the real believers in its erroneous views are^ only fit to be^ treated as persons of unsound mind and the victims of delusions, and should be taken care of by their friends. A pamphlet published at the beginning of the year gave rise to much discussion on the alleged increase of mental disease which might justly be attributed to the baneful effects of Spiritualism, and much discussion ensued. What was there stated is in accoidance with well-substantiated facts, and the Lunacy Committee, having pronounced supposed spiritualistic revelations to be delusions and its believers lunatics, have by their verdict given the death-blow to Spiritualism.
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