230. The following remarks on this subject were made to us by a spirit whose communications we have already quoted several times in the present work:

"As we have told you, mediums, as such, play but a secondary part in the work of spirit-communication; their action is that of the electric machine which transmits telegraphic despatches from one point of the earth's surface to another point. Thus, when we wish to dictate a communication, we act on the medium, as the telegraph-clerk acts on his machinery; that is to say, just as the action of the telegraphic needle impresses on a band of paper, thousands of leagues away, the signs which reproduce the despatch, so, by means of the medianimic apparatus, we transmit, athwart the immeasurable distances which separate the visible material world from the invisible immaterial world, the communications we are permitted to make to you. And just as atmospheric influences act upon, and sometimes disturb, the transmission of a telegraphic despatch, so the moral influence of the medium acts upon, and sometimes disturbs, the transmission of our despatches from the world beyond the grave, when we are obliged to transmit those despatches through a medium who is sympathetically or intellectually opposed to their tenor. This opposing influence is, however, often annulled by the energy of our will; so that messages of high philosophic import and elevated morality are sometimes conveyed through mediums but little fitted for their transmission; while, on the other hand, very unedifying communications are occasionally intruded through mediums who are grieved and ashamed to have been used for their transmission. But, notwithstanding these occasional exceptions, it may be affirmed, as a general proposition, that incarnate spirits attract disincarnate spirits of similar nature and advancement, and that spirits of high degree rarely communicate through mediums who are bad conductors, when they have at hand good medianimic machinery, that is to say, good mediums.

"Mediums who do not understand the responsibility of their mission attract frivolous spirits, whose communications are commonplace, shallow, incoherent, and heterodox from the spiritist point of view. Mediums who are used as penholders or mouth-pieces by pretentious, presumptuous, or deceptive spirits, sometimes say very good things but, for this very reason, spirit-messages must always be subjected to severe and scrupulous examination; for, in the midst of these good things, hypocritical and perfidious spirits often artfully introduce false statements, calculated to mislead their auditors. Every doubtful word and sentence must therefore be stricken out, and only what is in accordance with reason, or with the principles of spiritist doctrine already laid down and accepted, should be preserved. Communications of the nature we are considering are only dangerous for isolated spiritists, or for groups of spiritists who have but recently taken up the subject and are but little enlightened; for, in societies whose members are more experienced, the jay gains nothing by putting on peacock-feathers, and is sure to find his borrowed plumage speedily stripped away.

"I do not speak of mediums who take pleasure in evil communications; let us leave them to the congenial society of cynical spirits. Fortunately, communications of this order are rarely made in serious circles, and, at all events, can excite only contempt and disgust among the members of serious and philosophic groups. But, where the influence of the medium is really of great importance, is in the involuntary substitution of his own ideas for those which the communicating spirits endeavour to suggest; and, still more so, in the building up of baseless and fantastic theories, in accordance with his own opinions or prejudices, whether as a product of his own mind, or derived from the suggestions of ignorant or mocking spirits.

"When in doubt, abstain", says one of your oldest and wisest proverbs; admit only what is supported by evidence. When any new idea is brought forward, however specious it may appear, subject it to the test of reason and common sense, and reject, unhesitatingly, whatever is in opposition with them. Remember that it is better to repudiate a dozen truths than to admit a single error; for, upon that one error, you might build up a whole false theory, only to see it crumble away like a pillar of sand, at the first breath of truth; whereas, though you should reject a true idea when first presented, and because it does not seem to you to be sufficiently proved, some indisputable fact, or some irrefutable argument, will ere long afford you the necessary proof of its correctness.

"Meantime, Oh spiritists! Remember that nothing is impossible with God and with good spirits, excepting the triumph of error and iniquity.

"Spiritism and its admirable doctrine are now so widely diffused that spirits of high degree are no longer compelled to employ mediums of defective moral quality; and therefore, if any medium gives just ground for suspicion, by unseemly conduct or manners, by pride or uncharitableness, repudiate alike both him and his medianimity, however powerful the latter may be, for, in all such cases, there is a snake beneath the flowers. And with this piece of advice, I conclude my dissertation on the moral influence of mediums.