Bold efforts have lately been made to bring the teaching of Modern Spiritualism to the front. Things happen to-day, which would have been impossible a quarter of a century ago.
In that recently published and remarkable book, The Number of Man, by Philip Mauro, an American counsellorat-law, we read the following highly significant incident: "A meeting was lately held in London to celebrate the 'union' of several Methodist societies, which previously had maintained a separate existence. At this meeting the Rev. W. B. Lark asked permission to read one of a number of extraordinary communications which he had received. The letter, as read and reported in the public press, was as follows:-
'Mansion No. 4, New Jerusalem, 1709 to 1907.
Congratulations on the union of free and progressive Methodism. We are in hearty sympathy with your best aspirations. Be sure to be true to the inner light, the larger hope, the higher criticism, and universal redemption-and victory is assured.
John And Charles Wesley.
P.S.-
Oh! that the world might taste and see
The riches of His grace!
The arms of love that bind them
Would all mankind embrace.
Further, the conference may be glad to know we have learned a great deal since our translation to a higher life.'
"It is not to be supposed that this communication was received by the assemblage to whom it was read with any degree of favor or credulity. But the astonishing thing is that it should have been received and read at all. Such an occurrence would not have been possible a few years ago."
The honored names of John and Charles Wesley are here invoked to give weight to the "inner light," that is, the doctrine of the immanence of God; " the larger hope," " universal redemption," and " the higher criticism," which reduces the Bible below the level of an ordinary book; for the higher criticism tears the Bible to pieces, as being full of mistakes, and treats the chief doctrines as being untrue. That such a letter could be read under such circumstances shows to what lengths things have gone, and at what a terrific pace things are traveling.
A few years ago this country was startled by a leading London Daily printing a letter, which purported to come from the late Mr. W. E. Gladstone, giving his judgment on a political measure engaging just then the attention of the House of Commons. That Mr. W. T. Stead should have dared to put Mr. Gladstone's name to such a purpose, and that a leading London Daily should allow him the use of its columns in this connection, caused general astonishment.
The Daily Mirror, in closing a correspondence on "Is there a Spirit World?" recently said:- "There can be no doubt in the minds of those who have followed our correspondence, that a vast number of people believe they have found this rock [solid rock of certainty as to a future life] in Spiritualism-A MUCH VASTER NUMBER THAN IS GENERALLY SUPPOSED." This is terribly significant.