nd 2224 in 1889. The total is much larger
than that of any of the eleven preceding years."

The _Christian Reformer_ gives the following figures of murders, suicides,
and embezzlements from 1891-1893:--

"Murders in 1893, 6615; increase over 1891 of 709.

"Suicides in 1893, 4436; increase over 1892, 576; 1891, 1105.

"Funds embezzled in 1893, $19,929,692; increase of 100 per cent.
over 1892."

It may be asked, What has this to do with Spiritualism?--It is a test of
the value of its promises. Spiritualism has been posing for fifty years as
the "world's reformer," the great energizing, uplifting force to elevate
mankind, the mighty power which has come to empty our workhouses and
prisons, abolish suicides and all crime, the "electric light" compared
with the "tallow dip" of the gospel. And yet with all these claims, with
its millions of adherents, and the funds and influence at its command, it
is allowing, year by year, crime to increase much faster than the
population. Now if Spiritualism was the purifying, renovating power which
it claims to be, such results could not have been seen. It is very
evident, that, as a power in the world in behalf of righteousness and
humanity, it has been of no account; and as between the forces of good and
evil, its weight has been on the side of evil instead of good. It is thus
that the author of Spiritualism, the father of deception, fulfils the
promises made through that channel to deceive mankind. What organized,
aggressive efforts against evil has Spiritualism ever shown? Where are its
schools and colleges? Where are its hospitals and benevolent institutions?
Where are its organized charities? and what are its millions of members
doing to relieve suffering and distress, and turn men to better ways of
living? The very aspect it presents to the world to-day, stamps the brand
of Cain upon its brow. The Boston _Herald_ of Dec. 17, 1874, said:--

"Let Spiritualism produce some idea, utter some word, or perform
some deed, which will have novelty, and yet be of manifest value
to the human race, and it will make good its claims to our serious
consideration. But it has not done this. For nearly thirty years
it has been before the world in its present shape, and in all that
time, with all its asserted command of earthly and
superterrestrial knowledge, it has never done an act, or breathed
a syllable, or supplied an idea which