Not long ago James A. Pike, resigned Episcopal bishop, now deceased, visited spirit mediums for the purpose of getting in touch with his son who had recently died. In Look magazine of November 12, 1968, Pike himself reports on the results. Included among those present at one visit by Pike to a spirit medium in England was Vice Provost of Southwark Cathedral Canon John D. Pearce-Higgins. The following is part of the conversation that Pike reports having had with his son Jim on this occasion:

“‘Thanks, Jim,’ I replied. ‘. . . I’ll be calling your mother to tell her about what’s going on here now.’

“‘Good,’ was the response. ‘I want her to know​—to know I really love her—​that I’m alive.’

“‘She believes that, Jim,’ I responded reassuringly. ‘She did all along. By the way, about things in your new situation: are you . . . alone, or—’

“‘I have masses of people around me, and hands lifting me up, as it were,’ came through​—and, after a pause, ‘I was so unhappy until I could make you know.’”

Pike was deeply impressed by such communications produced as a result of his visits to spiritists. “Taking everything together,” he said, “I feel the whole thing is sufficient for an affirmation that there is continuity with people who have passed on.”

It is wise also to be alert to objects in the home that are definitely associated with spiritism and to get rid of them. Recently a young couple who had been subject to harassment by demons began studying the Bible with Jehovah’s witnesses. The lady of the home was accustomed to hearing noises and seeing figures in the house. When the Bible study would begin, a small bell would be heard ringing. Then the sound would grow louder and louder until it was impossible to study. Since the family had a history of association with spiritism, it was suggested that a search be made for objects through which the demons might gain entrance to the home. Even though this was done, the harassment continued.

Then one day the husband noticed that his wife had a chain around her neck to which was attached a wedding ring that had belonged to her grandmother, who had been a spiritist. So they got into their car and drove down to the water’s edge, and soon out over the water sailed the ring. What a surprise they both had at that moment! For as the ring left the thrower’s hand a voice was heard crying, “Ah . . . aah . . . a-a-a-h” until finally the ring hit the water and there was silence.

Now there is peace in the home of this couple. They can study the Bible and attend Christian meetings, and all is tranquil. This illustrates that when such difficulties are being experienced, it is important to get rid of everything that has anything to do with spiritism.

Take as a warning example the case of a family in a small town in Puerto Rico. They had for some time been bothered with demon attacks, which caused them much distress. Windows would open and shut by themselves, noises could be heard all around the house and the small child would wake up with teeth marks on her arms as if some animal had held her arms in its mouth. But then a Bible study was started with this family by Jehovah’s witnesses. As the family began to put on the “complete suit of armor from God,” the influence of the demons diminished.

About a year passed and all was at peace in the home. Then one evening when the family returned home from a group Bible study, the father put his Bible and books on a table and said: “We now have the truth and are free, so just let us see if the demons can do anything to us now.”

Almost at once books started to fly in all directions. They were put back on the table and a Bible was placed near the door. But once again the books began to fly from the table. Since the Bible was not found in the room, the door was opened to see if it was outside. Sure enough, there it was on the steps! Then screams were heard from the daughter’s bedroom. She was found almost choking, with her nightdress wound around her neck! The whole family had to take refuge for a while in the home of a minister of Jehovah’s witnesses.

What a mistake this father made! He did not oppose the demons, but taunted them, and they accepted the challenge. Do not become overly confident. Continue to pray for Jehovah to ‘deliver you from the wicked one.’ Look to Jehovah as your refuge.​—Prov. 18:10.

Another person who had broken free from spiritistic practices was overcome by a sickness that caused partial paralysis. No doctor could find the cure. However, it was noticed that during Bible sermons he gave he used certain appendages of demon worship to illustrate his points. Could these items be responsible for his sickness? Yes, for as soon as these articles were destroyed the Christian minister began to recover from his sickness.