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

INTRODUCTION. 23these inventions at the time the IMoliammedan conquests were commenced.39. How important avouM have been the art of printing to tlie promulgationof a correct knowledge of the revelation which was the allegedobject of Christ's mission !40. Of those who believe in revelation, it may be inquired, Why theHebrews were preferred, as the receivers of divine inspiration, to themore civilized Greeks, llomans, Hindoos, or Chinese? If revelation wasrequisite to one nation, was it not equally necessary to all ?41. AVherefore, after Christ had undergone crucifixion in order tomake people Christians, should jNIoharamed have been allowed to massacreor enslave them for being Christians ?42. There is even now great difficulty in effecting these intercommunicationswith spirits in this country of universal legal tolerance. I saylegalj since there is, as Owen alleged, ^^ too much Christian despotism ofanother kind."43. Almost every editor is, more or less, a censor to the press, and apeon of popularity. The tendency is not to o-epress, but to gratifij, and,of course, promote existing bigotry. This bigotry and its Siamese brother,intolerance, have, in all countries and ages, been exercising a mischievous,though often a icell-intendedy vigilance, over any innovation of anature to emancipate the human mind from educational error; and, wheneversupported by temporal power, has resorted to persecution—even tothe use of the sword, of the rack, or the fagot ; and, in this country ofboasted freedom and much-vaunted liberty of the press, sbows its balefulpower by defamation, or alleging disqualification for employment, whereveritsinfluence can be exerted.44. A conspicuous printer in this city refused to print an edition ofmy recent pamphlet, as he would allow nothing to go through his presswhich was against the Bible. This shows how far fanaticism will go,even at this advanced era of scienceand in this country of vaunted intellectualfreedom.45. Two hundred years ago. Spiritualism would have been as much persecutedas witchcraft.46. In reprobation of unbelief in the scriptural proofs of immortality, ithas been usual for self-complacent believers to urge that the " wishwas father to the thought;'^ that a sincere desire to perceive the truthcould not exist without conviction ; but the opposite must have been theprevailing weakness among unbelievers in Scripture who have becomespiritualists, if they are now over-credulous in admitting the evidence onwhich Spiritualism isfounded.47. I declare solemnly, that I always was intensely anxious to know the^truth; that although, theoretically, I doubted the possibility of changingthecourse of things by prayer, yet I did often lift my thoughts up to.