THE FASCINATION OF THE SERPENT
By S. E.
Visiting the local library one bright morning in the
month of July, one might have observed a young man searching very diligently
for a book, which obviously he was having some difficulty in finding. If asked what he was looking for, he
would have replied, “Oh, just a good book. I am
in search of Truth.”
After much walking round, and in and out the high vestibules crammed
with literature, he came to a halt.
Facing him were books on Theology, Ethics, Philosophy, Christian
Mysticism, Occultism, Spiritualism etc., etc.
He moved on, ever searching in and out the high row of books for that which would
satisfy his thirsty soul.
Ultimately he found himself back again facing a book on Spiritualism, which he disliked. He was about to pass on, but something
held him. A voice inside him seemed
to be speaking to him: “Take up that book; why
do you hesitate? It won’t
bite you take it and read it.” “It is
all rubbish and fraud.” He soliloquized, “I don't like the subject.” But the voice said: “Having read much, you pride yourself on being a broad-minded
young man; you have often pooh-poohed Spiritualism; now read this book and
learn the truth. Investigate for
yourself. ‘Prove all things, hold fast
that which is good.’ ”
Again he said to himself: “It's all rubbish, I have read too much like it already and
wasted much valuable time. I want a
good book, I want Truth, I have had enough of lies, deceit and vanity. I am in search of something good,
something that will satisfy this craving of my soul.” Again the voice said, “Don't be such a coward! Take the book home and read for
yourself; why listen to others'.” Half-heartedly, and with a
feeling of disappointment because he could find nothing better that morning to
suit him, he slung it under his arm and went home.
At this stage it is fitting to mention that this young
man is myself. I read the
book, and was interested in the experiences of the Fox Sisters, but it was not
what I wanted or appreciated. I
returned it for another book on Christian Mysticism, The Higher Education of the Soul, by Prof. Rudolf Steiner. This book I did, indeed, more
appreciate. I exchanged it for
another by the same author, The Way of
Initiation. Now I found something to grip me, a strange
fascination. I read and studied
book after book by all the best authors: Lodge,
Doyle, Blavatsky, Steiner,
I went to the Spiritualist Churches, attended Circles,
all with the purpose of finding the Truth.
I started “developing”, and did so very quickly. I developed clairvoyance; saw what they
call Spirit Lights, and the Astral Plane; had wonderful visions; saw what appeared to be a spirit at the door of
my room; strange lights flooded my room
at night; and last, but not least I
experienced physical phenomena.
Raps, and taps, which at times were heavy blows, were heard on the
walls, ceiling, and windows; and objects would move or fall over without any
apparent reason.
My alarum clock became a favourite target, and would stop mysteriously. The
mechanism of the alarum would be definitely interfered with, stopping it from
going off in the morning and making me late for work. I began to get annoyed, which only
inspired them to greater effort. Strange rumblings could be heard in the
nights, like furniture being removed or roughly handled. Sleep became impossible; I felt as if
there were an electric battery inside me, and my jaws would work as if a spirit
were trying to control my organs of speech. I resisted with all the will
power at my command.
When that failed, I
would be mentally tortured with the most evil, horrid and filthy pictures
imaginable. They would appear
clairvoyantly, or with the eyes of the soul. Many hours I would lie with my eyes open
in my effort to avoid them. A sensation of being covered with cobwebs
would often come over me, accompanied by a sense of blackness or stupor. At last I began to “sit up” and ask myself, “Is this of God? Would God do such things?” I was told that I had a very powerful and
determined “guide” who was doing
his utmost to “control” me. I asked, “Why
should he worry and torment me like this?” They said, “You must do exactly as he tells you, and everything will be all right, and you will be a
public Clairvoyant and Healer.” The more I developed, the more I
realized I was the “instrument” of another, unseen, yet very
powerful: some dreadful spirit of evil.
I tried to discourage him, to shake him off, but he became all the
stronger; his attitude was determined and relentless. Desperate
methods entered my mind, such as Electrification, Special Circles, etc. But the harder I fought the weaker I
became, until I was daunted. Then fear took possession of me: I dreaded going to bed at might: I shrank
from company of any sort, and yet I dreaded being alone. I felt in the pit of despair. What
would I not give to be free from the
clutches of this spirit! I was now
conscious that I was in the snare of
the fowler (Psalm 91: 3), the prince of the
power of the air, the spirit that now
worketh in the children of disobedience (Eph.
2: 2). I was like a rat in a
trap, I felt hopelessly lost, and a victim of the Devil. It was a terrible dawning of the truth.
I fought, I prayed, but God heard me not; I knew not His dear Son, Who is the
One Mediator between God and man (1 Tim. 2: 5).
I appealed to various mediums to help me, but they could only say, “Shake him off!” He would not be shaken off. I had to confess he was stronger than I,
and had the advantage over me in all ways.
How could I bind this “strong man”?
Something seemed to say to me, “Break away! Break away!” After a hard struggle I did so. I appealed to God to have mercy upon my
soul. An able and willing minister
received me and pointed me the way, the only way – the Cross of
And finally, take warning. Beware of fascination; it, is one
of his most powerful methods to ensnare the unwary, After reading the first few
books I became powerfully fascinated, wonder followed wonder, mystery followed
mystery, phenomena were heaped upon me, until I was swept off my feet,
completely mastered. I have found
and testify that Jesus Christ is the only Saviour, “Neither is there salvation in any other; for there is none
other Name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”
‑ Living Links.
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