SYLLOGISTIC ARGUMENTS. PROPOSITION. Resolved, That the religion of modern Spiritualism is better calculated to morally, mentally, and spiritually elevate humanity, than that of the Bible. SYLLOGISM NO. 1. 1. That which places good works second to anything else can not, in the first sense of the word, be morally elevating. 2. But the Bible gives moral obligations, or good works, only a secondary position. 3. Therefore the Bible is not, in the first sense of the word, calculated to morally elevate mankind. Proof-Eph. ii. 8, 9; Rom, iii. 20–28. SYLLOGISM NO. 2. 1. That which loves sin can not be morally elevating. 2. But the gospel does love sin. 3. Therefore the gospel is not morally elevating. Proof-Rom. vi. 17. SYLLOGISM NO. 3. 1. That which can not teach a person how to do right, can not morally elevate him. 2. But the Bible can not teach a person how to perform that which is right. . 3. Therefore the Bible can not morally elevate its adherents. Proof-Rom. vii. 14-25. SYLLOGISM NO. 4. 1. That which teaches that persons may escape the consequences of their own acts will teach them to act without reference to consequences. 2. But the Bible does teach that persons may escape the consequences of their acts. 3. Therefore the Bible teaches its adherents to act without reference to consequences. Proof-1 John i. 7; ii. 1, 2. SYLLOGISM NO. 5. 1. That which leads to war, rapine, and the shedding of blood, is immoral in its tendency. 2. But the Bible has ever led its followers to war and bloodshed. 3. Therefore the Bible is immoral in its tendency. Proof-The whole history of the church. Numb. xxxi. 1, 7–17; Jer. xlviii. 10; Joel iii. 10-14; Luke xxii. 36. SYLLOGISM NO. 6. 1. That which warns against education and philosophy is mentally depressing. 2. But the Bible does warn against education and philosophy. 3. Therefore the Bible is calculated to mentally depress its adherents. Proof-1 Cor. xi. 1-4; Col. ii. 8; 1 Cor. xiv. 38. SYLLOGISM NO. 7. 1. That which urges an individual to hate and forsake his own family is immoral. 2. But the Bible urges men to forsake and hate their families. 3. Therefore the Bible is immoral. Proof -- Matt x. 34-38; Luke xiv. 26. SYLLOGISM NO. 8. 1. That which leads to intemperance is immoral. 2. The Bible leads to intemperance. 3. Therefore the Bible is immoral. Proof-Deut. xiv. 26; Prov. xxxi. 6; 1 Tim. v. 23. SYLLOGISM NO. 9. 1. That which teaches that our most secret actions and thoughts are liable at any time to be read to the multitude, will teach its adherents to so act and think that they may be willing that their thoughts and acts may be thus read. 2. But Spiritualism teaches that media can and often do read our acts and thoughts. 3. Therefore it teaches its adherents to see that even its secret acts and thoughts are pure. ProofThe whole spiritual phenomena. SYLLOGISM NO. 10. 1. That which teaches that each individual must abide the consequences of his or her own acts, will teach its adherents to act with reference to consequences. 2. But Spiritualism does teach that each individual must abide the consequences of his or her own acts. 3. Therefore Spiritualism teaches its adherents to so act that they may be willing to take, persons, the consequences of every act. in their own Proof - All the spiritual literature of the nineteenth century. In conclusion of this chapter permit me to say, that if Spiritualism boasts of one thing more than another, it is its eclecticism, its optimism. It takes 66 truth wherever found, Whether on Christian or on heathen ground." The Quaker poet, in his contrast of the Old and New, thus apostrophizes the New: "For still the new transcends the old, In signs and tokens many fold: "Through the harsh noises of the day "Henceforth my heart shall sigh no more God's love and blessing, then and there, That writer and readers may be enabled to bring into every-day practice the best good of all religions, is my most sincere desire. CHAPTER XIII. THE MISSION OF SPIRITUALISM. Spiritualism necessarily iconoclastic. A superior Light.-Jesus vs. Moses. -The world's Light and Saviours. Relation of Spiritualism to Christianity. -The decay of Institutions. - Babylon, Greece, Rome. -- Republicanism as it was and is. All stationary Institutions doomed.-The Good of all preserved. A moving World. A glance at the Christian World. "What went ye out for to see."-A lethargic State. -The Infidel World. — A Feast of Negatives. -Dominion of Orthodoxy.-Programme changed.Ministers on their good Behavior. — A Thought awakener.-The Hydesville Manifestations.-The Vox Populi. — Table Tippings. New Theories of explanation.-Writing Mediumship. -A new set of Thoughts awakened. Entrancement.- Sublimity of the Subject.-Efforts to confound the Media. Opposers confounded. - A change of Base. A new element of success.-A Hearing obtained. - Number of its Adherents. Elements of Success. Not a Matter of Faith. - Quality of Spiritualists. - Their Happiness. - Questions for Skeptics. - Death and the Grave destroyed. An outside Work. A few Words with Spiritualists. -A Bid for your Spiritualism.Our Duty. ALTHOUGH there never was, nor ever can be, a word written in defence of Spiritualism, but that must to some extent point out its mission, a chapter devoted especially to an elucidation of that subject may not be amiss. Though Spiritualism may have hitherto appeared almost exclusively iconoclastic, it is not so; its chief object is not to tear down, but to build. In clearing the foundations of a new superstructure it is sometimes necessary to remove the ruins and rubbish of old dilapidated ones. The sun does not shine on purpose to put the moon and stars to shame; yet the more effulgent light of the sun has always so dimmed |