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document which has lost all validity and which should no longer be
allowed to influence human conduct； save by way of pointing out much
which we may avoid。 So also with the teaching of Christ； the mystical
portions may fade gently away； as the grosser views of eternal punishment
have faded within our own lifetime； so that while mankind is hardly aware
of the change the heresy of today will become the commonplace of
tomorrow。 These things will adjust themselves in God's own time。 What is；
however； both new and vital are those fresh developments which will now
be discussed。 In them may be found the signs of how the dry bones may be
stirred； and how the mummy may be quickened with the breath of life。
With the actual certainty of a definite life after death； and a sure sense of
responsibility for our own spiritual development； a responsibility which
cannot be put upon any other shoulders； however exalted； but must be
borne by each individual for himself； there will come the greatest
reinforcement of morality which the human race has ever known。 We are
on the verge of it now； but our descendants will look upon the past century
as the culmination of the dark ages when man lost his trust in God； and
was so engrossed in his temporary earth life that he lost all sense of
spiritual reality。
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THE VITAL MESSAGE
CHAPTER II
THE DAWNING OF THE LIGHTTHE DAWNING OF THE LIGHT
THE DAWNING OF THE LIGHTTHE DAWNING OF THE LIGHT
Some sixty years ago that acute thinker Lord Brougham remarked
that in the clear sky of scepticism he saw only one small cloud drifting up
and that was Modern Spiritualism。 It was a curiously inverted simile； for
one would surely have expected him to say that in the drifting clouds of
scepticism he saw one patch of clear sky； but at least it showed how
conscious he was of the coming importance of the movement。 Ruskin； too；
an equally agile mind； said that his assurance of immortality depended
upon the observed facts of Spiritualism。 Scores； and indeed hundreds； of
famous names could be quoted who have subscribed the same statement；
and whose support would dignify any cause upon earth。 They are the
higher peaks who have been the first to catch the light； but the dawn will
spread until none are too lowly to share it。 Let us turn； therefore； and
inspect this movement which is most certainly destined to revolutionise
human thought and action as none other has done within the Christian era。
We shall look at it both in its strength and in its weakness； for where one is
dealing with what one knows to be true one can fearlessly insist upon the
whole of the truth。 The movement which is destined to bring vitality to the
dead and cold religions has been called 〃Modern Spiritualism。〃 The
〃modern〃 is good； since the thing itself； in one form or another； is as old as
history； and has always； however obscured by forms； been the red central
glow in the depths of all religious ideas； permeating the Bible from end to
end。 But the word 〃Spiritualism〃 has been so befouled by wicked
charlatans； and so cheapened by many a sad incident； that one could
almost wish that some such term as 〃psychic religion〃 would clear the
subject of old prejudices； just as mesmerism； after many years of obloquy；
was rapidly accepted when its name was changed to hypnotism。 On the
other hand； one remembers the sturdy pioneers who have fought under this
banner； and who were prepared to risk their careers； their professional
success； and even their reputation for sanity； by publicly asserting what
they knew to be the truth。
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THE VITAL MESSAGE
Their brave； unselfish devotion must do something to cleanse the name
for which they fought and suffered。 It was they who nursed the system
which promises to be； not a new religionit is far too big for thatbut part
of the common heritage of knowledge shared by the whole human race。
Perfected Spiritualism； however； will probably bear about the same
relation to the Spiritualism of 1850 as a modern locomotive to the
bubbling little kettle which heralded the era of steam。 It will end by being
rather the proof and basis of all religions than a religion in itself。 We have
already too many religionsbut too few proofs。 Those first manifestations
at Hydesville varied in no way from many of which we have record in the
past； but the result arising from them differed very much； because； for the
first time； it occurred to a human being not merely to listen to inexplicable
sounds； and to fear them or marvel at them； but to establish
communication with them。 John Wesley's father might have done the same
more than a century before had the thought occurred to him when he was a
witness of the manifestations at Epworth in 1726。 It was only when the
young Fox girl struck her hands together and cried 〃Do as I do〃 that there
was instant compliance； and consequent proof of the presence of an
INTELLIGENT invisible force； thus differing from all other forces of
which we know。 The circumstances were humble； and even rather sordid；
upon both sides of the veil； human and spirit； yet it was； as time will more
and more clearly show； one of the turning points of the world's history；
greater far than the fall of thrones or the rout of armies。 Some artist of the
future will draw the scenethe sitting…room of the wooden； shack…like
house； the circle of half…awed and half… critical neighbours； the child
clapping her hands with upturned laughing face； the dark corner shadows
where these strange new forces seem to lurkforces often apparent； and
now come to stay and to effect the complete revolution of human thought。
We may well ask why should such great results arise from such petty
sources？ So argued the highbrowed philosophers of Greece and Rome
when the outspoken Paul； with the fisherman Peter and his half…educated
disciples； traversed all their learned theories； and with the help of women；
slaves； and schismatic Jews； subverted their ancient creeds。 One can but
answer that Providence has its own way of attaining its； results； and that it
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THE VITAL MESSAGE
seldom conforms to our opinion of what is most appropriate。 We have a
larger experience of such phenomena now； and we can define with some
accuracy what it was that happened at Hydesville in the year 1848。 We
know that these matters are governed by law and by conditions as much as
any other phenomena of the universe； though at the moment it seemed to
the public to be an isolated and irregular outburst。 On the one hand； you
had a material； earth…bound spirit of a low order of development which
needed a physical medium in order to be able to indicate its presence。 On
th