- 42 - it could not understand the words that were spoken, nor would the medium’s hearers profit, as the foreign speech would be equally unintelligible to them. They should rather pray to be visited by spirits that would impart teachings to them in their mother tongue. If a spirit did speak to them in a foreign tongue, they should pray that its speech might be translated into their mother tongue, which could be done either by that spirit or by another. It may seem extraordinary that spirits should speak at all in a language unknown to their hearers, but there was a good reason for this also, since it served to prove the reality of spirit communication, or, as Paul aptly says, as evidence for those who did not believe. Here I must pause to explain that your translations of the Bible refer to speaking in foreign languages as ‘speaking in tongues’, and to communications imparted in the mother tongue of the hearers as ‘prophesying’. That Paul heartily approved of the Corinthians’ eager efforts to communicate with the spirit world is shown by his words: I Corinthians 14: 12: ‘So, since you are enthusiastic about spirits, seek that you may have many spirits come, for the enlightenment of the congregation.’ Your translators have also rendered this sentence unintelligible by substituting the term ‘spiritual gifts’ for the word ‘spirits’, in spite of the fact that the original text expressly states ‘spirits’ and not ‘spiritual gifts’. At the conclusion of his teaching, Paul exhorts the Corinthians to see to it that in their spirit communication all things be done in an orderly fashion, for God is not a God of confusion, but of order and peace. The mediums, too, are directed to abide by this order. Not more than two or three of them should put themselves at the disposal of spirits speaking in a foreign tongue, and then only if there are spirits present who are able to translate the foreign language into the mother tongue of the participants. If there is no interpreter present, speech in a foreign language should not be permitted. As for the revelations made in the mother tongue of the participants, these also are to be restricted to two or three, so that the hearers may have time to discuss what they have heard and to express their views as to its meaning. Paul says as much when he writes: ‘Let the others express their judgment on what has been said.’ The admonition Paul gives to the Corinthians in this passage is the same as that which I, as you know, have uttered so often at your gatherings. • I, as well as the other spirits that have spoken with you, have urged you, at the conclusion of our visits, to discuss among yourselves what you had just heard, and to express your opinions about it, or, as Paul says, to “judge” what has been said, for it is not how much you may hear at any single meeting, but how well you understand what you have heard. When you talk over among yourselves the things that we spirits have told you, we can see who has understood us correctly, and who has not, for we remain present during your discussion and listen to what you are saying. If we gather from your remarks that your interpretation is incorrect or that there are differences of opinion among you, we again enter into the mediums and clear up any points that remain doubtful. Anyone not familiar through personal experience with the interrelated factors in spirit communication and with the relation in which the spirits stand to the mediums will be unable to understand the rules of procedure laid down by Paul.
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