Vou. XXX BROOKLYN, N. Y., DECEMBER 1, 1909 No. 23 VIEWS FROM THE WATCH TOWER BISHOP FALLOWS NOT A SPIRITUALIST The New York World publishes an interview with Bishop Fallows, of the Reformed Episcopal church, as follows:— “Telepathy is an established fact. In recent years great strides have been made in the explanation of psychic phenomena and in the years to come the science of communication with the dead will be made a part of the curriculum of great educational institutions, As its study becomes systematized and more widely spread greater advances will be made and some day we will talk with the spirits as we now talk with material persons. “The Bishop made some startling statements in discussing the matter. He frankly states that he formerly fought shy of Spiritualism, and that he is just beginning to learn. “In the enlightened days to come,’ said Dr. Fallows, ‘we shall be able to converse with spirits of departed friends and relatives, Their state will be made known to us through these communications. They will be able to advise us on knotty probems. “There are great truths in Spiritualism. Many Spiritualistic phenomena we cannot understand, but we have to admit them. I have called the new science “Immortalism” because it depends for its existence upon the immortality of the soul, in which we all believe, and the preservation of identity beyond the grave. Immortalism is simply Spiritualism with all the fraud and trickery eliminated. On account of these frauds Spiritualism has been shunned by many right thinking people, but immortalism will claim their most earnest attention.’ “In support of his belief Bishop Fallows quoted from many eminent men who have expressed similar views.” Bishop Fallows will be recognized by many as one of the ministers who have recently been taking a great interest in Faith Healing clinics. We have already pointed out that to our understanding these cures are effected by hypnotic influences and that hypnotism is but another form of Spiritism. We believe that through this channel the fallen angels (“wicked spirits,” Eph. 6:12) are seeking to break down the human will, and that the results, shortly, will be direful in the extreme, leading to spirit control and every evil work. It was only to be expected that sconer or later Bishop Fallows and his associates in “faith healing” would be drawn into co-operation with Spiritism and more or less outwardly acknowledge it. But it is with pity that we note Dr. Fallows’ endorsement of the power and his denial of the name, as though the change of a name, the calling of it Immortalism instead of Spiritism, would effect any real change in its character. Immortalism is really a more deceptive name than Spiritism, because it seems to imply the deathlessness of those who have died and to give the inference that it is the dead who do the communicating. Spiritism is the more correct name for the cult because, as the Scriptures show, these various manifestations come not from dead men, who “know not anything” (Eccl. 9:5), but from spirits—wicked spirits—fallen spirits—‘“the angels which kept not their first estate’ and who were restrained at the time of the flood —1 Pet. 3:19; Jude 6. Poor Christendom! Boasting of its scientific attainments and learning and wisdom it is being led by its professors of colleges, its ministers and bishops, straight into the enemy’s camp --into Spiritism—demonism. Within the next few years we expect wonderful developments along this line, for is not the entire nominal church of Christ blindfold on this subject, and worse, mistaught, deceived into thinking that their friends are alive, whereas the Bible distinctly assures us that it is because the dead are not alive that they need “a resurrection of the dead” and that the Lord has provided therefor? Meantime while expecting these traps and snares to stumble many who are not Bible students and taught of God, let us who do recognize them beware for ourselves lest we be entrapped in another way—through the subtle influences of the same great adversary—inciting to anger, malice, envy, hatred, strife, evilspeaking, etc. We believe special testings along these lines are now being permitted that those who have not faithfully used God’s blessings for their establishment in faith and righteousness may stumble, may fall, may be tested by fiery trials along both these lines—faith and practice. ENCOURAGING IMMIGRATION INTO PALESTINE A bill has been introduced in the Turkish Parliament with a view of encouraging Jewish immigration into Palestine. It is proposed to do away with the so-called “red passports,” which had hitherto been given to every Jew landing in Palestine as an assurance that he would not stay there more than three months. It is believed that such a bill will greatly facilitate Jewish settlement in Palestine and remove the restrictions which deterred many Jews from taking up their abode there. [4521] SOCIALISM GREATLY TO BE FEARED The public prints still continue to make mention of the great strike and threatened revolt in the Swedish Metropolis, Stockholm. Various lessons are sought to be impressed by it— amongst others the prevalence of Socialism and what it portends. The following from the Moline Dispatch is a sample. The general comment is that when the patient and order-loving Swedes hecome riotous it marks a new epoch, and more or less justifies expectations of lawlessness anywhere, everywhere. The below article gives, we think, a fair reflex of European conditions and the influence of Socialism in the affairs of life today :— “The Socialists, of course, fail this time, but we should indeed be blind if we do not see in the incident a further warning of a tendency visible all over Europe. Within the last few months we have seen three important disturbances—in France, in Spain and now in Sweden. In each case there has been instant talk of revolution, while the actual and immediate causes of the outbreaks have been submerged by the other and greater forces in the background. No one wanted to know the immediate excuse for the strikes in France. The only interesting question was whether the shock might be enough to bring down the avalanche. In Spain the only pertinent question was whether the grievances of the people were at last heavy enough to break that patient camel’s back, and now in Sweden we are hastily assured that the strike would be quite unimportant but for the stimulus of Socialism. “Two things are evident throughout nearly the whole of Europe. The first is that the labor organizations are gradually uniting under one contro] and that any man of magnetic genius can snatch at their dictatorship. Pautaud nearly did this in France, and may do it yet. The second symptom is the growing affinity between European labor Unionism and Socialism, and it is to be remembered that over the larger part of Europe an avowal of Socialism creates no comment or surprise either among rich or poor. A Socialist has been made Prime Minister of France without a word of protest from any one. Socialism in Germany is the one supreme fact that keeps her statesmen awake at nights, while in the English House of Commons we find that the powerful Labor party is practically synonymous with the Socialist party. There are no Socialists in the House of Lords, but it would be easy to find a great many among the titled aristocracy. And now comes the strike in Sweden, and we find the whole standing army of the country placed on the alert, not so much to suppress the ordinary turmoils of such an occasion, but rather to discourage a possible attempt to begin the organized civilization of the country all over again. “Tt must, of course, be remembered that there is no cut-anddried definition of European Socialism. Over very wide areas it is little more than another term for social discontent and for constitutional attempts at reasonable reform. The German Socialist, for example, is by no means the long-haired firebrand with whom we are unpleasantly familiar. He may be simply an orderly advocate of measures that are matters of commonplace here, while any man who opposes the semi-clerical tyranny of Spain is apt to be dubbed a Socialist. Socialism in Europe may sometimes have a definitely constructive meaning with the educated, but with the great masses of the people it means no more than an effort toward Democratic expression. None the less it ig significant that widespread discontent should thus be forced under a leadership that may become one of a mischievous intelligence.”* BRITISH INTERESTS IN INDIA The world’s discontent has long been felt in India, where a rebellion against British rule has recently been nipped in the bud by prompt measures on the part of the Government. Now the Hindoos have adopted another method of procedure. They propose to boycott all British goods and thus to damage British interests heavily. Anyone patronizing British goods is to be treated as an outcast by his fellow-countrymen. Unrest prevails the world over. How we long to give the poor, groaning creation a proper view of that blessed hope which so inspires our hearts—the second presence of our Lord and the establishment of the Millennial kingdom—his rule of righteousness for the blessing of all the families of the earth. “Be patient, brethren,” while diligent and fervent in spirit. WELCOMING THE SCALPEL “When a man is attacked for his loyalty to the Bible and Bible truth, he has a right to feel encouraged. The Bible begins to mean something to him then; and he begins to mean something to the kingdom. Such an attack is evidence that he is really alive. For, as a well-known defender and expounder of the Bible as God’s Word has keenly said: ‘The Bible is a living (355-356)
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