Experimental investigation of the spirit manifestations, [electronic ...

274 ADDITIONAL CORROBORATIVK EVIDENCEFirst I'idl.1396. ^' Table turning and mediumship are nothing more, in the opinionof M. do Mirville, than the work of the devil ! I give an abstract of hisdoctrine as found in his Pncumatology.' In the letter/ he says, ' whichI had the honour to address to the Societc Mesmerismc of Paris on thenon-intervention of the devil in therapeutic mesmerism, dated Sept. 20,1847, and published in numbers 54, 56, and 57 of the Journal of Mcujnctism,I established the existence of the devil, with the attributes given himin the Scriptures, as well as the power he possesses, with divine permission,to act morally and physically on mankind, as set forth in the same holybooks.'1897. ''In view of what I have just said, I cannot be mistaken by M. deMirville with respect to demonology. But while admitting the existenceof a devil, and his power over man, I cannot agree with the opinion of M.de Mirville in his Fncumatology, which admits the direct intervention ofthe devil in table turning and table talking, as well as in the powers ofmediums; a view of the subject which I hold to be at variance with theteachings of the Catholic Church on the possessed, and the manner of deliverancetherefrom, the evil spirit, which I proceed to explain.1398. ''It is an axiom as old as the world—in proportion as the causeis removed the effect ceases; suhlata causa tollitur effectus. The truthof this maxim, in reference also to diabolical possessions, is found to beexplicitly proved in the Holy Scriptures. A mute is presented to Christto be cured : ohlatus est ci mutus. The Divine Master, knowing thatdumbness is caused by the devil, hastens to remove the cause, by chasingthe evil spirit from the body of the possessed, which being done, the mutespoke in the midst of the people ravished with admiration.'And he wascasting out a devil, and it was dumb. And it came to pass when the devilwas gone out, the dumb spake, and the people wondered.' St. Luke xi. 14.1399. " There was at Philippi, in Macedonia, a girl who, being possessedof the evil spirit, had the gift of divination to such an extent, that peoplecame from all parts to consult her, much to the benefit of her masters. St.Paul having chased the demon from the body of the possessed, she lostthe gift of divination ; which exasperating her masters, they dragged St.Paul before a magistrate like a malefactor. (Acts xv.) Admitting theseprinciples, it follows that if the devil intervenes directly in tables and mediums,as Christ drove him from the mute, and St. Paul from the girl ofPhilippi, then, a fortiori, should clairvoyants lose their lucidity, tables bemade to stand still, and mediums be deprived the power of tracing a linehowever short ; suhlata causa tollitur effectus. The cause being removed,the effect must cease.1400. '' Our next object is to refer to the means for removing the evilspirit wherever found; and consulting the Catholic ritual affords us this