Demon possession and allied themes being an inductive study of phenomena of our own time

Chicago: Fleming H Revell Company, 1894. FIRST EDITION. Black cloth boards with red lettering and borders, rebacked; a fine copy with the ownership stamp of Charles E. Wilson on the fly-leaf. First edition of the author’s account of demon possession and spirit practices in rural China, where he lived and worked for over 40 years. Nevius records stories of spirits, demonic encounters, haunted houses, exorcisms, and traditional Chinese spirit practices and mediumship. For example, he tells of a demonic-possessed woman stating (in Chinese) “God and Christ will not interfere; I have been here seven or eight years and I claim this as my resting place. You cannot get rid of me.” Nevius sent out a circular letter to other missionaries asking for similar reports and insights which is reprinted in the book along with the many responses he received. Like other clergy, Nevius offers various explanations for these events which range from evolutionary, pathological, psychological, and of course scriptural theories. He proceeds to provide a short history of demonism, spiritualism and a discussion of the facts and literature of the occult. Of particular interest are the appendix of various case reports as well as an extensive bibliography of sources.

The Reverend Nevius (1829-1893) was an American Protestant missionary who lived and travelled throughout China with his wife, Helen, setting up missions and schools. They dispensed medicine during the cholera epidemic and apparently walked a 600-mile missionary tour on foot.