A new basis of belief in immortality / by John S. Farmer.

  • Farmer, John S.
Date:
1882
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Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A new basis of belief in immortality / by John S. Farmer. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    objections and popular errors of the day regarding Spiritualism, and the replies or explanations which have been made to theni by the best writers in the ranks of Spiritualism. The stock of objections is neces- sarily limited, and they have been so often preferred and so often answered, that nothing very new can really be urged in reply ; but it may be useful to give,_ as it were, a sort of precis of the best thought evolved thereby. Having thus briefly introduced my plan, I wiU at once proceed. I.—SpirituaHsm is utterly incredible and impossible, for it contravenes the laivs of nature. This objection is generally brought forward with a great show of learning by those who know nothing at all about the matter, and who, limiting the circle of truth by the horizon of their own incapacity and ignorance, would fain settle the whole question off-hand. It may be very unkind, but Spiritualists really must decline the proffered shelf. We have a certain class of facts to deal with which are as well attested as any other facts, and the nature of the facts themselves cannot be admitted as a valid reason for refusing to receive them as facts. Evi- dence, if it be otherwise trustworthy, cannot be invalidated by the unlikelihood of that which it attests. If the phenomena are incredible to those whose knowledge does not admit them within its precincts, so much the worse for the knowledge. It is simply imperfect, and the wisest thing would be for such persons just to—open their eyes. What reason has any one to assume what is or what is not credible or incredible, more especially when the matter under consideration is not a question of belief, but one of absolute fact? The Rev. Adin Rallou, who was one of the earliest of the investigators into Modern Spiritualism, very cogently remarks :— ‘ ‘ Let history teach us modesty and candour. When did an extra- ordinary genius ever arise amongst men, in any department of life, without encountering the unbelief, prejudice, contempt, and hostility of the world’s wise, influential, and honoured men ? When was any wonderful or very important truth discovered and proclaimed without meeting this same kind of opposition ? When was any great revela- tion made from heaven, or any reformation among men attempted without having to pass through this baptism of scepticism, scorn, and reproach? Never since the foundation of the world. Whoever arose or whatever was announced extraordinary to the times and to popular knowledge, has always been met by the brazen outcry or muttered denunciation—pretender! impostor! deceiver! blasphemer! dis- turber! visionary ! fqtl!—it is incredible, impossible, utterly false and foolish! It is an imposture, a trick, a delusion, a humbug! Away with it ! Read of Moses, Jesus, and all the great and good of sacred history. Read of Galileo, Columbus, Harvey, Fulton, and all the now-honoured discoverers on record. Mark how the great, the pious, and the reputed wise of the earth as well as the ignorant mul- titude, disbelieved, sneered, despised, and resisted. Yet real merit triumphed, and truth prevailed. Many of the learned made themselves supremely ridiculous, but they could not make what they opposed