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vol. title: vol. period: 1879-1880 pages in vol.: 577 |
< Psychonomy in its Relation to Religion and Ethics (continued from page 10-407) >
tage of our own century, where dabblings in “science” have resulted in the collapse of all light and peace, but the spirit still cries out for its Father, she may do nearly everything.
15. In concluding, let me not leave you under the mistaken impression that I do not value the proofs furnished by Psychonomy of the possibility of communication with those who have gone before, that I am not grateful for the revelation to my own mind of an order of things infinitely marvellous and beautiful.
It is because I value them so deeply, because I owe more than my feeble effort can ever pay, that I desire to plead with you, members of what will, I hope, long continue a national association, for the enlargement of her borders, and the removal of hindrances to her usefulness.
Only this I know, that if at length a Jacob’s ladder is to be fastened by her hands between heaven and earth, adown which pure angels may come and walk beside us, and speak with us, and smile; its grounding must be also in the house of God, where His name is held in honour and His laws are obeyed.
If by her hands signs and wonders are to be again wrought that shall approve themselves to men’s consciences as the fruit of divine inspiration, they will be distinguishable from the signs and wonders wrought at the instance of opposing and self-exalting adversaries, by their ministry to wholeness and following upon faith.
Ladies and gentlemen, I thank you for so kindly listening to opinions from which many of you must have dissented. Believe me, no word has been spoken in bitterness, and no thought uttered save with the earnest conviction of its truth. And so I leave you, desiring for you as for myself, first the “Kingdom of God and his rightness;” then peace—and progress in all the sciences.
Before the reading of this Essay it was sent in MS. to some friends in whose judgment I had confidence, together with a request that they would alter at their will any expression it might contain, calculated to give needless offence, and accordingly several (as it seemed to them) “unnecessarily strong statements” were modified or cut out.
I felt this to be a perfectly just and allowable concession to the feelings of a limited audience holding certain specialist convictions, so long as no sacrifice of principle was involved; but having now consented to the printing of my words, and by so doing made an appeal to a far wider circle, I re-insert them precisely in their original form, without heed to such courtesy.
Moreover, I am determined to show that these same statements are the outcome neither of haste, of passion nor of prejudice. I was never more quiet, more calm or less “theological” in my life.
What I have asserted with regard to average “physical” sciences those for whose opinion I care one straw will be ready to corroborate, and I am content that others should howl at me for so long as it pleases them to do it.
Argyllshire, June, 1880.
Spirit Influence Upon Normal Individuals
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Editor's notes
- ↑ Spirit Influence Upon Normal Individuals by Penny, A.J., London Spiritualist, No. 408, June 18, 1880, pp. 292-93
Sources
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London Spiritualist, No. 408, June 18, 1880, pp. 292-93
Editor's notes