Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
—I John 4:1
3993 Witch-Hunting To Telephone Directories
In the 14th century, persecution of witches was common. In the 200 years between 1450 and 1650, thousands of witches were put to death.
Salem, Mass., was the center of a famous witch hunt in 1692. The last execution for witchcraft was in Scotland in 1772. Because of this, up to 20 years ago and for centuries before, no one would admit that he was a witch.
In 1962, witches began to pop up everywhere, and now covens are being formed all over the country. Their names are even listed in many city telephone directories.
3994 Witches Are “In”
As a nation, we have now about 10,000 practicing witches. Over 2 million Ouija boards are now sold annually. It is the most popular parlor game today. In Cleveland, Ohio, you can rent a witch from an agency for parties, who will do anything from fortune- telling to conducting seances.
Witchcraft is the “IN” thing in our schools. Thousands of public schools—not allowed to have prayer or the Bible—are teaching courses in witchcraft.
A major television station had a potpourri of news and showed the great interest high school students have in witches. The commentator said, “Nearly every respectable high school these days has its own witch.” The program pictured a pretty 16-year-old, eyes staring and voice chanting incantations, conjuring up all sorts of spells. A psychiatrist intoned that he thought the trend toward witchcraft was “healthy” for some because it helps relieve aggressive feelings.
3995 New Look For Witches
The course in anthropology at Temple University is studying witchcraft. The teacher, Dr. Lucy Gatrretson, said that “the image of the witch in America has changed drastically.” She pointed out, “in a way, witchcraft has become respectable. The witch is no longer the ugly old hag of yore. Instead, she frequently looks and acts like a business woman and as often as not, she has a college degree.” The professor added that in many instances witches are beneficial. Among them are competent herb-healers, functionaries who work like psychiatrists and faith healers.
—Pastor’s Manual
3996 The “Bible” Of Witchcraft
Many witches use the so-called 6th and 7th Books of Moses, which elevated Moses as their patron saint because of his victory over Pharaoh’s magicians.
In the 6th Book of Moses, the devil makes the following promise: “To whatever person possesses this book at any given time, Lucifer makes promise to help and to carry out his commands but only as long as he possesses the book.”
It might be noted that in homes where these and other occult books are kept, psychic disorders of many kinds appear.
3997 First World Congress Of Sorcery
Bogota, Columbia (AP)—A sort of free-for-all happening, with voodoo dances, firecrackers, palm-readers, quiromatists, self-styled psychologists, astrologists, and mental healers, was offered to 30,000 persons attending the First World Congress of Sorcery at Bogota, Columbia, in 1975.
Sophisticated women, high-level politicians, hippies of every kind, credulous and skeptic, everybody, it seems, was there. The occult had its most massive test in history.
“This is totally crazy,” said a girl as she was squeezing to get in. “It’s got to be crazy,” replied a middle-aged hippy wearing shorts and carrying a briefcase.
3998 Evangelicals At Their Front Gates
The first World Congress of Witchcraft held in Bogota, Columbia, August 24–28, 1975, started off with a bang but ended quietly. The press coverage suddenly stopped after the second day. The Congress ended up with a loss financially and none of their fantastic claims amounted to anything. The earthquake they predicted for the last day did not happen.
They complained in a radio interview that they could not do as much as they wanted because there were too many evangelicals at the front gate praying.
3999 Strange Antics Of Ho-Tei
Mr. and Mrs. Lambert took a round-the-world trip from England. At Japan’s Kobe, they saw a Buddha statue in the window of a shop. It was of white ivory, about 1½-in. tall, with a happy round face and stomach, sitting on a pillow of embroidered Japanese flowers. The Lamberts liked it and the price was a giveaway. The seller told them that Ho-Tei would bring good luck.
The statue was placed in Mrs. Lambert’s case on their trip to Manila. That night, she had terrible toothache. The doctor had medicine, but it was no help. At Manila, a dentist drilled one tooth to the nerve and the pain was almost unbearable.
Then to Sydney, Australia. While on board the ship, they had changed stuffs and the Buddha was somehow changed to Mr. Lambert’s baggage. That night, he had awful toothache. No doctor was on board and he took one aspirin after another. Nearly mad with pain, he got off at Sydney and was aching as before. Two days later at another port, Mr. Lambert saw another doctor but told him nothing was wrong. When he returned to the ship, his teeth were aching. At another port, he told the dentist to start pulling all teeth until he said to stop. The doctor pulled one. There was no more aching, and so he concluded that was it.
At Chile, South America, they visited his Mother. When shown Ho-Tei, she loved it and they gave it to her. She had good teeth, but within a few hours, all her teeth were aching. Few days later, Mother returned Ho-Tei, saying it did not suit her.
The ship went to England. The Lamberts had no toothaches because Ho-Tei was in the storage room with other baggages, they having bought other stuffs. The next morning in England, friends visited them. They gave Ho-Tei to a woman to show her husband. All that day, they did not see the woman, which was thought to be strange. But the next morning, she came with pale face and swollen mouth.
Then came the realization! They recalled dates, diaries and their hair rose in horror. They finally decided to give the statue to a Japanese curio shop in London.