Ghosts or gospels

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The Methods of Spiritualism in Healing

Contents

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Introduction 1

CHAPTER

Introduction

My efforts as Director of the Society of the Nazarene have been expended not only in restoring the ministry of healing, but endeavoring to preserve that ministry in its pure simplicity, that the character of the work, as outlined by the Master be not misrepresented.

We are in sympathy with the best things in modern medicine and surgery. None deplores the ignorance and mistakes in this field more than the enlightened physician and surgeon of today. We are likewise in sympathy with some of the forms of mental-therapy and psycho-analysis, a subject upon which few specialists agree, and of which new and contradictory schools are springing up steadily. Unfortunately, it is being exploited by some practitioners solely for money-making purposes, just as hypnotism was degraded a generation ago. We realize that Christian Science, in spite of its untenable philosophy, has been of great value in the lives of multitudes, seeking peace, and relief from evil habits and bodily disease. We know that other healing cults, included in the term "New Thought," have been of great help to many disordered minds and bodies in producing harmony of thought, release from disease and liberation from harmful tendencies.

Nevertheless, we feel confident that Jesus possessed the Master Method, calculated to reach man's inner spirit as no other system could reach it, and to produce within him those elements of renewed strength and power that would overcome his weaknesses, physical, mental and spiritual.

He was the one who knew all of God's law and will

for man and because of that knowledge was enabled to point the way by which man might place himself in harmony with those laws and that Divine Will, and thus find the secret of the Power.

We do not believe that anyone who has to do with Divine Healing should trifle with the Truth or make mockery of God's laws. When "Brother Isaiah," using the laws of suggestion and playing on the credulity of an expectant crowd, claims to change the color of the sun or make it whirl around, he casts great discredit on "Divine Healing" and lays the whole practice open to well merited rebuke and scoffing on the part of the unsympathetic. Such acts also harm the budding faith of those who may be seeking truth along these lines. (See "The Nazarene" for June 1920).

Likewise there are to be found some practitioners in all schools, even including the medical profession, who are little more than opportunists and from whose misguided efforts much harm has resulted to patients. Frequently we find they have been led far

INTRODUCTION 3

from the truth. It has been a case of blind leading the blind and both have fallen into the ditch.

For this reason we feel it very necessary to present this little book on Spiritualism, which in many quarters has invaded the field of Spiritual Healing. The reader is asked to bear in mind that what is written is not presented in a spirit of controversy or criticism of the methods of others, but solely with the view of keeping before our minds the methods of Jesus. I feel that His work among men reached the highest point ever known. No system of philosophy or mental therapy has approached it. It harmonizes with the best in modern science. It is not weakened but rather strengthened by all of the latest discoveries of the laboratory and by the truly miraculous manner by which man may utilize the ether waves and girdle the earth with voices otherwise unheard and pictures unseen. Jesus knew all these laws and operated through them. His work in the invisible realm through the power of faith and love, was not more marvelous than man's scientific work with radio now.

One of the obligations laid upon a disciple of the Master is to defend the Truth as well as to present

it. The presentation is by no means sufficient. It is the great tragedy of Christianity that men have taken the Truth and given it their own particular bias, so that in many instances it is hard to find the germ of Truth upon which some of the sects were founded. Likewise, fantastic theologies are creeping into the healing ministry. Cults founded on our Lord's healing works have added philosophies and invented interpretations which have led followers far afield. Some, in disobedience to His simple commands, have discarded the Sacraments, as of no value. In many quarters we now find this healing ministry is being involved in teachings and practices, and becoming confused with primitive spiritistic beliefs in Demonism.

Jesus encountered difficulties of this nature all through his ministry. The current beliefs of the people and traditional interpretation of the Old Testament Scriptures brought forth many a rebuke from Him, necessitated bitter controversies, from which He did not shrink, though they bid fair at times to wreck His Mission. He even was compelled to resort to "hard sayings," so unconventional that many of those whom He had attracted, left Him and "walked no more with Him." To many this would seem like loss. But it was loss only to those who left Him because He was defending as well as presenting the Truth.

We have chosen to follow His Method, and adhere to His plan. In doing so we cannot err as He said of Himself: "I am The Way, The Truth and The Life."

INTRODUCTION

"There is a temper in the passion for truth which will not tolerate the slightest suspicion of error, which only exposes anything untrue in order immediately to make war upon it," writes Dr. Orchard. "The determination not to admit anything that might falsify is responsible for the great advance of science, and it has given a new passion of truth to all the world. We have all learned to set ourselves down humbly and submissively before fact; truth has to be loved first of all, and anything like fancy or following what we would like things to be has to be ruthlessly put aside by the scientific or philosophical thinker. It would be well if in the realm of ordinary human fact there was the same desire to keep to truth." Dr. W. E. Orchard in "The Safest Mind Cure."

Chapter I Healing And Spirit "control"

The unusual increase in the interest in spiritualism and the endeavor to secure communication with the departed during the past few years, have resulted in the intrusion of this subject into the field of healing. I believe in "spiritual healing," and by that I mean healing coming from the spirit of God and operating on the body through the spirit of man. I make no claim for anything supernatural about the act, nor do I consider that natural laws are broken, suspended or superceded. By the power of the spirit of man, working in harmony with the spirit of God, we infuse into the body, a higher natural strength than could be obtained by the mind alone. We set in operation certain natural laws, about which we are learning something new all the time.

There are some healers, however, who perform their work, claiming to be under the "control" of some powerful spirit; others claim a special power, through a higher re-incarnation of which they are quite assured ; not a few are deeply interested in the possession of their patients by the souls of departed persons, who passed out in an unhappy state of mind, seeking a resting place and meanwhile tormenting a human being. This belief is far more prevalent than is good for healthy minded people.

HEALING AND SPIRIT CONTROL ,j 7

Still other healers treat almost every case of insanity, epilepsy or melancholia as that of a demon possession, and sometimes with very disastrous results. One young man, having gone West for his health, was exorcised in this fashion by a healer to whom he went for help. It had never occurred to him that he was "possessed of a devil" and the treatment, instead of being a help, became a horrible suggestion, which fastened itself upon his mind. He came back home obsessed with the new idea, and bordering upon insanity. When reassured he began to recover and is perfectly well today.

While there are a few healers of the clairvoyant order, working under what they term "spirit control," and by that we mean the spirit of some departed human being, there is one rather remarkable case of this character, which has been published in book form, entitled "The Unseen Doctor." A short review of it will be found in a later chapter. It is representative of many cases.

Automatic Writing

Automatic writing has come into great vogue during the past few years, because it seems to be one of the easiest and quickest methods of communication. It requires no instrument, no companions, no darkened room and apparently may be resorted to at will. People who have never used any other form of attempted communication have found themselves more or less successful with pencil and pad.

Those who possess strong psychic natures produce remarkably beautiful messages at times ; those without this gift reflect the normal results of the subconscious, and even their conscious minds.

The Psychic Gift

What constitutes this so called ' 'psychic" nature or gift is still much of a mystery to psychologists and scientists. That its existence is genuine and that it is a unique power is unquestioned. It undoubtedly partakes of the nature of an electric force, is vibratory in character and is definitely linked with the sub-conscious or subjective mind of the person. Some consider it an invisible force, the character of which is still unknown. The average person possessing it does not understand it himself, and when trickery is resorted to in connection with it, the operator is often unconscious of it. Table-tipping, and the ability to exercise unusual muscular power at will, constitute phenomena now accepted by science, but still unexplained.

The unfortunate aspect is that many of those who possess this psychic gift utilize it in connection wltn spirit communication, or act as if "spirit control" were the source of the power.

This is the commonly accepted use of the psychic gift. Such use I regard as a prostitution of an

HEALING AND SPIRIT CONTROL 9

unusual talent, which should be utilized for very different purposes.

During the past year rather remarkable statements have been made by investigators of scientific repute that certain mediums possess an invisible force which they have designated "ectoplasm," by means of which tables are lifted and upon which "spirit" faces are produced. This of course changes the spiritistic theory entirely. An extended note on this discovery will be given later.

I believe also in clairvoyance and clairaudience. They are undoubtedly special talents, which are in no way connected with spirit control of a departed person, yet many ignorant men and women commercialize these gifts and operate with them as if they were the work of other souls. In doing so they have simply fallen into the popular thought of the majority of those around them and those who have preceded them, who were brought up to believe their unique gift depended upon some discarnate spirit. Naturally they would reach out to locate a "guide" or "control," and their subconscious nature would gratify the longing by selecting some famous personage of by-gone days or an Indian princess or even a little colored girl. I visited a famous clairvoyant who, in her trance always talked and acted like a fifteen year old darkey girl, whose spirit she believed guided her. Sometimes mediums claim to have a choice of several spirits, whose widely differing personalities they assume according to their mood.

What is needed more than anything in this aspect of research work today, is the re-education of all "psychic" persons to the point where they will recognize the fact that this gift or peculiarity is not the result of departed spirit control, and that it should not be so exercised. Some who are psychic border on the abnormal and need guidance and restraint as well as education. Their thoughts then would be lifted to a higher plane and they would operate with much more power and much more usefulness, as being more in harmony with the will of God. The gift should be looked upon as coming directly from Him and they should consecrate themselves as special instruments for His work and His Glory.

The Character of Psychic Power

In not a few instances the psychic gift seems to possess elements of a curative nature. This may be attributed to (1) a soothing touch and deep sympathy; (2) electric or fluidic power transmitted by imposition of hands ; (3) strong belief in the mind of the psychic that he possesses this power; and of course (4) faith in the power of the psychic medium on the part of the patient. Behind all this the underlying secret may be found in the fact that the psychic has exceptional access to his subjective or sub-conscious mind, and is able to put that in opera-

HEALING AND SPIRIT CONTROL 11

tion at will and to draw upon its powers. The ordinary person, unable to do this and with little or no knowledge of the subjective mind, is astounded by what to him is "the mysterious," and is ready to believe anything. This alone of course is a tremendous stimulation to faith. Many phychic persons themselves do not understand the character of their ability and fall into the popular tradition that it is a "spirit" which enables them to perform the unusual.

It is through the subjective mind that we come most closely in touch with the Divine Life within us. As that relationship is utilized we are drawing directly from the power of God. There is a wonderful field therefore, for those who will exercise the gift with consecration and apart from any "spiritualistic" aspect.

I know some who have always kept this gift untainted, and who consequently exercise it with great power, and I know others who, after having fallen into the popular use, have seen their mistake and have chosen the path of the Master.

Naturally I have had much correspondence with those who are involved in the questions, both directly as mediums and indirectly as patients, and I have tried to make the way plain and show where the dividing line lay. Among these there were two most interesting correspondents. Each lady was a highly developed psychic, but each escaped the lower levels, although close to them, and rose to the higher paths and achieved the vision of a wonderful co-operation with God.

I feel that it will be of greater interest if this development is presented in letter form; and parts of the correspondence are here presented for that purpose. It certainly will be more enlightening to the truth-seeker, for the reason that the personal element must play an important part in any consideration of the subject. Generalities or dogmatic statements have little effect in convincing students.

CHAPTER H

The following correspondence was with a lady whom we will designate as "Harriet." I had never heard of her prior to the receipt of her first letter, which follows :

Two weeks ago I sent for, and obtained "The Power To Heal." I am deeply interested in its contents and the possibilities to heal — which, it implies, may be possessed by all who earnestly seek the same.

After having had tuberculosis for many years, I was healed on the 1st of October, last year, in a way entirely unpremeditated by me, and I am sure you will be interested in hearing about it.

I had never known anything at all about spirit communication, or psychic phenomena, except the little I had gleaned from an occasional article on the subject. One day in September I read an article referring to automatic writing, and kindred subjects, and I wondered if I could write automatically. I took pad and pencil and sat at the desk. I asked : "Is there any way in which I can help my lung trouble?" After seventeen minutes by the little clock on the desk, my arm felt a current, and my pencil began to write, "Yes, by believing you are better every day." Other sentences followed, such as: "Trust in God." "Have faith in God." "God is love."

The next day, October first, I again took the pencil, and asked: "Have you anything else to tell me?" At once the message came: — "Yes, place your hand on your lung and wait until you feel a strong current pass through your body, and then thank God for healing you." I asked, "Shall I do it now?"

"Yes, and have faith; keep your thought on your lung all the time."

I placed my hand over the lower lobe of my left lung where the trouble was, and almost immediately my arm began to shake; then my whole body trembled violently. Twice my lung inflated very noticeably. Then the shock gradually subsided.

Taking the pencil in hand, I asked: "Is my lung healed?" "Yes." "And my heart?" "Yes, now have faith!"

It then wrote in reply to my question, "Who is it writing?" "Mother." My mother had a wonderful transition just seven years ago.

You may imagine my joy at my healing, also my consternation at the manner by which it was accomplished, since I had never made a study of psychic things, and it came as such an unexpected blessing. Since this time I have had many beautiful messages from my mother and a few others — all urging faith in God's great love for me, and telling me that I can exercise great influence upon others, if I have faith in God. Sometimes I am certain that my sub-conscious mind directs my pencil, for I find it very difficult to keep thoughts from running riot. At other times I am equally sure that the messages are directed by other intelligences.

Dr. Wilson, what is your thought on this subject? And after the wonderful manner of my healing, how can I ever doubt that spirit communication exists? I asked, "Mother, if it really is you, will you write in your own handwriting?" Instantly came this answer, the writing- changing at once from a large free, flowing script, to a very fine old-fashioned type, my mother's writing exactly: — "Rather difficult to do."

But after that, when mother purported to be writing, she always announced herself by writing:

"This is mother," in her own hand. Then it would frequently lapse back into the large, coarse writing.

Once I said: "Mother if it is you, can you not do something to convince me?" And in her very own hand she replied, "You must believe for isn't mother writing in her own hand?"

Dr. Miller, the great specialist on tuberculosis, to whom I had been going, had given me no encouragement, except that of just holding my own, by exercising great care. I had been afflicted so many years that it had become chronic. He was non-plussed at my healing and said I was "a wonder."

I certainly have praised God every day since for the great blessing. Now, I have been for a long time seeking healing through prayer, for two very painful bunions, and I know I can get the healing, but have not yet been able to accomplish it. If I can succeed in this, I believe it will be the only uplift necessary in order for me to heal others through Christ. You see the other came without any effort on my part; a gift pure and simple from the hand of God. Now I am working and praying for the conscious power of healing through the working of faith on my part. Can you give me any help ?

Kindly send me the leaflets and any information which will be helpful.

Harriet .

In reply to the above the Director sent the following :

I am very much impressed by your beautiful letter in which you set forth your healing through what you believe was the guidance of your departed mother.

The fact that you had never had any previous experience in psychic matters, makes this all the more interesting. It is the first case of the kind I have heard of and since you have asked my opinion of the matter, I shall be very glad to write you as it has presented itself to me.

In the first place, I would state that I believe that your healing was accomplished by the spirit of God and His power. Everything that I can get from your letter points to this, and there does not seem to be any exception in the record of Divine guidance which you were seeking with a view toward strengthening your faith in God. You were reaching out for that power, so that you might appropriate God's full healing blessings. It is but natural that the beautiful results followed.

That this came to you through automatic writing is only a coincidence, as also is the impression on your part that the author of this automatic writing was your mother. There is nothing unusual in either of these incidents. In the first place, the atmosphere is pregnant to-day with thoughts relating to psychic force, and almost every other person is talking about communication with the departed through the

Ouija Board, mediums, or automatic writing. The latter is undoubtedly the most refined and delicate form that these manifestations are taking, and would naturally appeal to you ; whereas, other forms would be repugnant to you. Your mother was undoubtedly a woman of great faith, and in the seven years since her passing, her memory has been very precious to you ; and you have felt in some way, from time to time, that her spiritual power had not diminished. You, yourself are undoubtedly capable of exercising great faith and have been impressed by the great wave of faith healing now spreading all over the United States, and indeed the world.

It is very natural therefore, that in your longing for restoration to health, you should think of your mother in connection with God ; of her definite interest in you, and the possibility of her desire to communicate some help to you because of her presumably closer relationship with the Divine Father. All these thoughts became fused in your mind with the result you have presented.

You are a very sensible woman from the fact that you state so plainly : "Sometimes I am certain that my sub-conscious mind directs my pencil, for I find it very difficult to keep thoughts from running riot. At other times, I am equally sure that the messages are directed by other intelligences."

God's Method of Communication

The answer to this in my mind is, that the whole matter lies within our sub-conscious realm. I tried to show in my last little book "The Power To Heal," that the sub-conscious mind of man is the channel of communication between our soul and our conscious mind. God communicates directly with the soul and frequently there is much in our sub-conscious mind of which we are not conscious. Consequently people who feel the urge of new and beautiful thoughts coming to them are apt to attribute them to other intelligences, whereas, it is the reflection of God's great love and light pouring itself upon the soul of man, and the soul of man, in turn, endeavoring to communicate itself to the conscious mind of the man through the medium of the sub-conscious mind.

The error that people make, unfortunately, is to reach out and personify this intelligence, and specify some dear one as the author, who is contributing these thoughts, and who is the source of this guidance. When such a tendency is followed, how natural it is for the mind of man to visualize the mother or the father, who has gone before, whom they feel must always be wishing them well, with greatest love and tenderness.

The explanation of the re-production of facsimile handwriting of the dear one is very simple. We remember everything very vividly about those whom we love and have loved us so well, and it is not at all a difficult matter for one in a spirit of ecstacy and love, to simulate the handwriting of one whom he believes is communicating with him. Remember, I do not declare that this is done intentionally. It is done by the sub-conscious, in order to satisfy the inner yearning, or grief complex, and is a part of the innocent self-deception. I have known several other cases where men and women were receiving messages from mothers and fathers through automatic writing, and where after a while, they soon began to write in a manner resembling the handwriting of the dear one.

I believe your guidance came directly from God and not directly or indirectly from your mother, excepting as her spirit may be a part of the Divine Power of God.

Reasons for Avoidance

I think it would be a very dangerous thing for us to believe or teach otherwise, and it certainly would be contrary to the teachings of Jesus, who did all of His healing through the Power of God, for the glory of His Father. In no instance, do we find that He admitted the possibility of communication between departed spirits and members of His Kingdom in the flesh. On the contrary, in one parable, He plainly indicated that it was impossible for a person to send back a message to anyone on earth, even for the purpose of helping loved ones. (See St. Luke 16:27.)

Therefore, I think in placing too great emphasis upon individual communication, even from such sacred relatives as mothers, we would be departing from our Lord's teachings.

Furthermore, I think it would be fraught with the greatest harm if too much credence were placed on communications of this kind, for the reason that many men and women might endeavor to secure help from their mothers and fathers, and failing to have this experience, either by their lack of faith or inability to visualize a spiritual power, would despair of the continued life of their dear one, and lose even faith in God, because that dear one was not permitted to help them in their distress.

I do believe in psychic gifts, and it is likely that you are so blessed. Such gifts are still a great mystery. They seem to be bestowed upon those who are capable of great faith. I should therefore suggest that if you use automatic writing at all in the future, you limit it entirely to messages as coming directly from God. In my own prayers and meditations, I have this experience frequently, when words and thoughts are given me that I could not possibly get in any other way.

I have written you very frankly, since you have requested it. I hope since you have asked for guidance, that you will feel 1 have guided you aright. I prayed very earnestly that I might be guided to help you.

Faithfully yours in Christ,

Henry B. Wilson, Director.

Within a few days the lady responded as follows : I thank you for the interest you have shown in my experience, and the time and thought you have given to your answer.

I have never doubted for an instant that my healing was accomplished by Divine power. I have never ceased to praise God for it. The influence pointing the way, has been the only element of uncertainty in my mind. Whether it is another spirit or my own, which directed me in the healing, is of minor importance. I am healed, and God has healed me and this I know. However, my mind is of an investigating turn, and I always desire to know the why of things. This I can say with assurance: Whatever the intelligence which guides these psychic phenomena, a wonderful blessing has come into my life and into the lives of my family, through its manifestations. We have a consciousness of new power. If it is, as you believe, the operation of my soul upon my conscious mind, through the medium of my sub-conscious mind, it is still a wonderful, beautiful thing — a power which is God-given and which every human being might have as a free gift of God, were he to seek it — not manif ested perhaps through visible writing, but written upon the mind and heart. As you say: "words and thoughts are given me." How much more beautiful would be the lives of men and women, were they to grasp this wonderful thought, and allow God, through the medium of the soul, to direct their every thought and action.

When I first began to write I asked :

"What is the power employed to move my pencil ?"

"Electricity, the power used by God to hold the universe from falling into chaos" was the answer.

My elder daughter and myself have had other interesting manifestations than writing. At her request we took a heavy craftsman table one evening, and sitting on opposite sides of it, placed our hands upon the edge. Very soon our hands shot together at the centre, fingers interlocking, and then the table began to move back and forth, drawing us, chairs also, right along. It moved with great speed and power. After a little, the index finger of her left hand began to write rapidly on the surface of the table this warning:

"You and your mother must not work together too long; you both possess great power of a different kind, and you might receive a shock. Miller."

One calling himself "Wm. Miller" had been writing through my hand from the beginning. I asked:

"What has the moving of tables to do with spirit communication?" and it wrote, "Just to show that I am here and to manifest my power."