g the revival of this great deception in the last days. The
apostle spoke of these days as a time when seducing spirits would lead
many away from the faith:

"Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall
depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of
devils." 1 Tim. 4:1.

This deceptive working is an indication of the nearness of Christ's
second coming:

"Whose coming is according to the working of Satan with all power and
signs and lying wonders." 2 Thess. 2:9, A.R.V.

True to the sure word, now that the last days have come, there has
arisen the movement of modern Spiritualism, with its signs and wonders,
purporting to be wrought by the spirits of the dead. Professor Wallace
says:

"Modern Spiritualism dates from March, 1848; it being then
that, for the first time, intelligent communications were held
with the unknown cause of the mysterious knockings and other
sounds similar to those which had disturbed the Mompesson and
Wesley families in the seventeenth and eighteenth
centuries."--_"On Miracles and Modern Spiritualism" (London,
1875), p. 146._

It was in Hydeville, N.Y., in the family of Mr. Fox, that the modern
cult originated, it being found that by mysterious but clear sounds of
knocking, unseen intelligences were able to communicate answers to
questions asked. The rapidity of the spread of the great deception was
remarkable. One of the Fox sisters, Mrs. A. Leah Underhill, wrote:

"Since that day, starting from a small country village of
western New York, Spiritualism has made its way--against
tremendous obstacles and resistance, but under an impulse and a
guidance from higher spheres--round the civilized globe.
Starting from three sisters, two of them children, and the
eldest a little beyond that age,... its ranks of believers,
privately or publicly avowed, have grown within thirty-six
years to millions."--_"The Missing Link in Modern
Spiritualism," Introduction._

Many at the time thought, as have many since, that the "rappings" with
which the manifestations began were caused by some trickery on the part
of the Fox sisters, but men of unimpeachable standing and intelligence
certified to the contrary. Horace Greeley, famous editor of the New York
_Tribune_, wrote in his paper that the sisters had visited him in his
home and courted the fullest investigation as to "the all