not much consolation in that. Some of you will remember that a few years ago America waited for days for the overdue steamer LaBourgogne. A woman whose husband was on board went to a medium and was told that the steamer had gone down, with all on board. The wife that night became a raving maniac, and in an unguarded moment cut her throat. Finally the news flashed the arrival of the steamer. For several day she had floated with disabled engines, but at last reached shore with all on board. That husband came to the grave of his wife and charged spiritualism with her murder. There was not much consolation in that. These necromancers have separated husbands and wives and have sent scores of people to the insane asylum.

Now, if I have said some hard things, remember they have not been directed against the people who have been deluded, some of whom are good, honest people, but against the ism itself, which the Bible condemns in the severest terms. If time permitted, I would like to show that spiritualism is anti-God, anti-Christ, anti-Bible, antiChristian and anti-common sense. Absurdity is written on its very face. Worse than this, it dethrones God, it denies the divinity of Christ, the fall, the atonement, the necessity for salvation; it sweeps away the whole revealed plan of salvation. Here is a quotation from one of their magazines: "Human history furnishes no other example of

failure so gigantic as that which has formed the record of the orthodox church. The church today stands self-convicted of stupendous failure to convert the world, to renovate society or to comfort humanity." Lock the doors of all the churches in Fort Wayne, Catholic and Protestant, and keep them locked for six years, and imagine what the result would be. Here is another quotation: "Spiritualism has done more for humanity than all the other religions put together. The Old Testament writers mostly inclined to the belief that the grave was the end of man, and the New Testament gives no definite idea on the most important of all subjects. It remained for spiritualism to settle this much-discussed question and to place it forever beyond doubt and controversy." That is rather a broad statement. You can take it for what it is worth.

God's Word is Sufficient.-In closing this discussion, let us hear the words of our Lord: "If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rose from the dead." Here are the words of God to direct us. To the heart that believes, the Book is full of the divinest, holiest teaching. It abounds with promises that will clear life's gloom and chase away the darkness even from the grave. It opens to us the door into eternity. It assures our hearts that death does not end all. "As I live, ye also shall live," said the Master, who has the key to im

mortality; "I go to prepare a place for you." We are not treading uncertainly. We walk not at random. We are not helplessly drifting down a current. Heavenward and homeward is the trend of the children of God. There is light on our path from Him who is the light of the world. Can we not wait awhile and let Him who is redeeming us reveal to us the mysteries of the spirit world in His own time and way? Mother, it is enough for me to know thou art in glory with Him whom thou didst love so much and serve so well. I would not call thee back, even if I could. Loved one, thou art gone from earth, but I know thou art happy and holy. You can not come back to me, but I can go to thee, and, God helping me, I will. "Lead, kindly light, one step enough for me." This is the Christian's hope. Hush those longings to know beforehand. Let us keep to the written Word. Be it ours to study the Book of God; to take it not only as a guide, but as the only and all-sufficient guide, "Until the day break and the shadows flee away."

DOWIEISM,

OR, THE MODERN ELIJAH; the Man and His MESSAGE.

For there shall arise false Christs and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders, insomuch that if it were possible they shall deceive the very elect. Matthew 24:24.

Ye

Beware of false prophets which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. shall know them by their fruits. Matthew 7:15-16.

This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, truce-breakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God; having a form of Godliness, but denying the power thereof; from such turn away. Timothy 3:15.

D

OCTOR John Alexander Dowie is one of

the strangest characters in history. That he is a man of unusual, even marvelous, power, no matter whence received nor how applied, there can be no doubt. His creed is not so difficult to understand as the man himself. He is a phenomenon in current religious life that can not be ridiculed or laughed out of court by the pulpit or

press. Some there are who think him crazy. But not so. He is one of the shrewdest men in all the land. He is no fool, though he has made fools of others. He is a man of some intellectual attainments. While not a scientist of the first order, he knows something about science. He has some knowledge of the Bible, theology, medicine and law. He finds pleasure in argument. His ability to get into difficulty and his apparent enjoyment of it reminds one of the Irishman who, "when coming up the Mississippi river on a steamboat, seeing a free fight occurring on the banks, asked the captain to put out the gang-plank and let him take a hand. When he returned, somewhat battered and bruised, he said that he had not had such a good time since he left old Ireland." Doctor Dowie does not seem to have spent much time poring over Romans 12:18. "If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men." He used to get himself arrested about twice a week on an average. Of his personal appearance, which wears the aspect of benevolence and looks the patriarch, he is extremely vain. He keeps the photographers of Zion City busy by his constant posing before the camera. He is anxious that we shall not forget how he looks. But that is business.

The Mysterious Dowie.-This strangely endowed personality, somewhat mysterious in his origin, though not so mysterious as that of Elijah