Modern spiritism; its science and religion - SpiritArchive.org

SPIRITISM AND THE DEAD 99
Humanity may descend to the bestial; but not to
the devilish, without actual "possession.".
It will be understood that I do not here give the
views of individual Spiritists who may not at all
agree with the above. I think, however, it fairly
represents the general Spiritist doctrine, and thebelief
of the leaders. Sir Oliver Lodge, however,
in a recent article does speak of "many grades of
development in the other world, some lower than
humanity."
Is
Necromancy Possible?
Bearing in mind, then, the general drift of the
above, let us consider the views for and against the
existence of the possibility and practice of necromancy
in the present day.*
Those who are in favour of it,
the general believers
in Spiritism, are a very numerous band,f but I think
I am quite right in saying the majority
of actual
Spiritists cannot say the fact is yet absolutely
proved.
Even Sir Oliver Lodge says, "I am, for all personal
purposes, convinced of the persistence of human
existence beyond bodily death; though I
am unable
to justify that belief in a full and complete manner."!
F. W. H. Myers finds that Spiritists have proved:
* It is an error to think that the forbidding of a practice
necessarily proves its possibility. Such is not the case. It may
be forbidden, not because of its possibility, but because (as in
necromancy), the attempts bring humanity 'into touch with
dangerous, non-human spirits, intent on evil.
f I allude here to the audiences and camp followers of Spiritism,
and not to the small company who have studied the subject.
J It is, I suppose, needless to repeat that the humblest believers
have known all this and more for nearly 2,000 years.
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