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LETTER FROM THE CHAPLAIN 1944

By Chaplain Willard S. Smith

Those who contend that Magicians should let the religion of Spiritualism alone are right. Freedom of religion is one of the foundation stones of our nation. But many people make the mistake of classing all so-called spiritualistic manifestations as religious services. To permit so-called "mediums" to ply their trade unmolested is as obnoxious as to permit the "con-man" to sell worthless stock to a gullible public.

Many states recognize this and have laws which protect the public, though most of these laws are loose enough so that "mediums" can slip through the meshes. A favorite way is to affiliate with a Spiritualist church, or start one if necessary in a hired room above the fruit-store. Then, though messages are received from Uncle Joe and Aunt Alice as per directions sent with the latest billet switching effect, nothing can be done since the law protects "religious" gatherings.

We have studied psychic phenomena with a genuine interest for many years. We have written and lectured on the subject. It was the topic of our thesis for our B.D. degree. We keep an open mind in regard to it and do not believe that everything can be dismissed as fraud. But 99 per cent of the ordinary run is fake, certainly large enough percentage so that we who know and can see the trickery being used to prey on the grief of a bereaved parent, or to influence a decision that may change a life, have a right and a duty to denounce it.

A word of caution: Just because you know a few billet switches and own a flap-slate, don't think yourself competent to crusade against this nefarious parasite. Plenty of study and a thorough background are necessary for this. But there is no reason why you can't - and every reason why you should - take a stand against falsehood when put across as truth in this field as in any other.