Questioning the Spirits

I had not realised how early on we started to experience the problem of inadequate testing in communicating with the Spirits. The following appeasr to have been written by the third of the producers of this early periodical, obviously the first name is that of Judge Edmonds

"1855 The Sacred Circle Edmonds, Dexter and Warren
.
P54/55/56 QUESTIONING SPIRITS.
WE hare noticed among the believers in spiritual manifestations a certain want of progress, which is to be regretted. They do not, in a majority of inatances, gather any new ideas. It seems not to occur to them that there is any thing to learn. They ask very few questions, and these generally limited to names of relatives and friends, etc. Some ask a few questions in theology, as for instance, "Is there a hell ?" "Was Christ the same as God ?" "Is there eternal punishment for sin ?" etc., etc., and as each question of this kind will be answered much according to the faith in which the spirit lived on earth, if he be recently deceased, no important result is obtained, but on the other hand great contradictions are made.
It is true, the spirits of whom questions can be asked are in many instances quite incapable of giving information of a high order, being very often uneducated, and not progressed in any knowledge, especially appertaining to the spiritual spheres, for near relatives are apt to claim exclusive right to influence and control a medium, however unfit to con­vey instruction. Still, if questions of the right sort were put, and a willingness felt to hear the truth, answers would be obtained giving the information required.
Many spiritualists manifest a lofty disdain of every thing appertaining to the common sense of the matter. It is enough for them to know that their friends and relatives live and are near them; that they still love them and come to see them, if not constantly watch over them. Of the minuter matters of spirit-life they ask nothing, and are content with high-­sounding generalities. This feeling arises from a mistaken idea of the importance really attached to the knowledge in question. The spiritual­ist who is in the habit of thinking the friend he converses with is a bodiless spirit, dwelling in space, coming at call, knowing no obstacles unnoting time, and having nothing to do but be happy, cares not, perhaps, to ask if that spirit wears a suit of clothes, or ever eats his dinner, or requires shelter or sleep. But there are important matters underlying this very information. The only way the world can be made to under­stand and believe in the doctrines and phenomena of Spiritualism is by explaining in a common-sense way the every-day life of spirits. This their spirit-friends would be glad to do, and could easily do, if minute questions were asked them, on occasions when it was possible to convey their answers. Whenever raps can be obtained, a table moved, or the dial alphabet used, all questions, however minute, could be answered, and thus would be obtained a clear idea of a future life.
There are cases in which information would not be obtained, however good the means used. For instance, there are mediums who in their intercourse with spirits have prescribed to them what kind of doctrines they shall rap out, and who say they will have nothing to do with any who deny this or that dogma of their faith. They are sure they are right in their religious belief, and they will not suffer a word contradict­ing what they have been taught in the Bible or from the pulpit. These people can not progress while on earth. They are filled to the brim with knowledge, and can receive no more. Spirits, however sincere, can not tell them a simple truth without incurring the risk of being called demons. They therefore waive the question, or give a doubtful answer, or give one in accordance with the belief of the questioner.
We counsel our friends to make inquiries of well-identified spirits as to the nature of life in the spiritual spheres, the occupations, the condi­tions of art, science, and literature, the government, density of population, geography, etc., etc., and get the truth, so far as it can be told by the intelligence which responds. It is also desirable to have established in the minds of all the location of the spheres, whetber in or out of the solar system. If the abodes of departed spirits be in this system, and consist of globes of sublimated matter that revolve round the sun in obe­dience to natural laws, then it becomes a legitimate inquiry as to their number, size, time of rotation-indicating the length of their day-and time of revolution round the sun-marking their year.
Let questions of this kind be asked through all mediums, and the an­swers, if brief and common-sense like, sent to us, and we will give the result in our next number. Each one will probably at first put faith in his own spirit-friend, or in his own preconceived notions, and distrust all others; but ultimately the truth must prevail. A large majority of the answers will agree in all the important points, or ought to..
Our friends will oblige us by giving this matter some attention, and forwarding to us the results as soon as possible, so that we may give the results in the next number of the SACRED CIRCLE. W.

To CORRESPONDENTS.-It will be obvious to all, that the narrow limits of our space will render it difficult to insert long articles. We shall en­deavor to give the greatest variety possible, preferring short pieces, from many different minds, to longer and more elaborate ones from a few.
Persons who differ in opinion from us will be quite a8 likely to obtain a hearing as those who accord with us, provided always they express their views with the required brevity.
Communications purporting to be from departed spirits will, of course, receive their share of attention; but no article will be published from such a source merely because it is spiritual, its merits will be as closely scrutinized as though it were by a mortal.
Our thanks are tendered to those who have aided or promised to aid us with their contributions. Their articles, if now omitted, will appear as space shall permit. "

Nothing has changed then. The same applies today as it ever did.

Over 150 years and we're still discussing much the same thing.

Can't decide if that should be a reassurance we're still doing the right things or whether we should be in despair at the failure of our movement to make any significant, further impact on the world.... I suspect that neither reaction is appropriate.

It's not we who are failing to 'test the spirits' - with all that implies - but they, they who are the current, public face of spiritual (psychic?) issues.

We are as divorced from contemporary, high-profile, paranormal practitioners as it's possible to be. We say 'they' don't understand or care about truly spiritual values. They say we are negative and seeking to undermine their achievements. We don't stand a chance of coming together to improve the overall situation.

The age-old failure of communication....

mac wrote:Over 150 years and we're still discussing much the same thing.

Can't decide if that should be a reassurance we're still doing the right things or whether we should be in despair at the failure of our movement to make any significant, further impact on the world.... I suspect that neither reaction is appropriate.

It's not we who are failing to 'test the spirits' - with all that implies - but they, they who are the current, public face of spiritual (psychic?) issues.

We are as divorced from contemporary, high-profile, paranormal practitioners as it's possible to be. We say 'they' don't understand or care about truly spiritual values. They say we are negative and seeking to undermine their achievements. We don't stand a chance of coming together to improve the overall situation.

The age-old failure of communication....

....not only on earth but also with the Spirit World as demonstrated by the current physical mediums!

zerdini wrote:

mac wrote:Over 150 years and we're still discussing much the same thing.

Can't decide if that should be a reassurance we're still doing the right things or whether we should be in despair at the failure of our movement to make any significant, further impact on the world.... I suspect that neither reaction is appropriate.

It's not we who are failing to 'test the spirits' - with all that implies - but they, they who are the current, public face of spiritual (psychic?) issues.

We are as divorced from contemporary, high-profile, paranormal practitioners as it's possible to be. We say 'they' don't understand or care about truly spiritual values. They say we are negative and seeking to undermine their achievements. We don't stand a chance of coming together to improve the overall situation.

The age-old failure of communication....

....not only on earth but also with the Spirit World as demonstrated by the current physical mediums!

too right!