Modern Messiahs and Wonder-Workers. By William Oxley - . (Trubner and Co.)—"
It pertains," writes Mr. Oxley, "to tho scientific and philosophic historian to record the fact that in this- nineteenth century, A.D. [rather a strange phrase], indubitable and self-evident proofs have been given of the conscious con- tinuity of life beyond the grave." This marks the writer's
position as a Spiritualist. We will only remark that some
of the so-called proofs make one think that this "conscious continuity" is a most dismal failure, so to speak. The living may be " mostly fools," but a still greater proportion of the dead seem to be the same. But Mr. Oxley's opinions on
this subject do not hinder him from passing a shrewd judg- ment on the various personages of whom he writes. First we have Swedenborg, of whom the author has a high opinion,
though not blind to his faults ; and then a suCceSsiOn of persons,
beginning with Ann Lee, the foundress of Shakerism, and ending with Keshub Chunder Sen. Among them are Joseph Smith and Thomas Luke Harris, whom Laurence Oliphant, at one time at least, so greatly revered. From one point of view this is not to be wondered at. According to Mr. Oxley, Harris is " immeasurably superior to the rest of the Messianic pretenders in intellectual and literary ability and oratory." On the other hand, there are things that make one wonder that any rational, not to say decent, man could allow himself to be the disciple of such a prophet. Not the least curious of the sketches—and the whole makes a strange history of folly and credulity—is that of Mary Ann Girling. It is instructive to note, here as elsewhere, the gradual exaggera- tion of the claims of the pretenders. It is with them as with a drug, the dose must be increased. Otherwise, both their own faith, if they have any, and that of their disciples seems to fail.
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