July 1892 - The Emma Hardinge Britten Archive

Historical Spiritualism. 159
-thousand years ago. That, also, which was known by
the researches of yesterday, is open to every faithful and
,earnest investigator in the researches of to-morrow.
The bigot may anathematize. the sceptic may scoff, the
N icodemuses of life may choose caste and public opinion
sooner than risk the loss of the world's favour by espousing
.an-as yet-unpopular faith. Meantime, the great
revelation "goes marching on," planting its standards of
faith unaided by human hands in every land, rending in
twain the veil of mystery which has so long hidden the
realities of life beyond the grave, and shouting in trumpet
tones, that resound from pole to pole-" Man, arise and
save thyself!"
Our next opening essay will be on "Spiritualism as the
World's Reformer."
•
HISTORICAL SPIRITUALISM.
CHAPTER IV.
By EMMA H. BRITTEN.
WITCHCRAFT; OR, THE DARKEST DAYS OF EUROPEAN
HISTORY.
In giving a passing glance at the dire and lamentable
:subject of this article, I desire it to be distinctly understood
that I do not propose to offer any detailed history
,of the dreadful superstition that disgraced the nations of
Europe from the eleventh to the close of the eighteenth
c:ntur!es, beyond such brief notices of the reign of
dIabolIsm called "witchcraft" as will serve to connect the
Spiritualism of the Saints and Ecstatics of the Catholic
Church, as mentioned in the last number, with the
Spiritualists of our own time.