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this
" book of the same class and interest with Darwin's late
work> being a study into the obscure parts of nature, conducted in the only true method." Mrs, C. B. Stoiue in
the Christian Union,
'*
Mr. Owen's logic is of a kind to command the respect of
Bishop Butler or Archbishop Whately.".^zf^T^ Saturday.
G.
W.
CARLETON
& CO.,
NEW YORK.
PUBLISHERS,
in
SPIEITUALISM.
BY
D. D.
HOME,
more
Light
light !
"
Goethe.
^
NEW YORK:
G,
W. Carleton
cS"
Co., Publishers.
MDCCCLXXVII.
H7/o
COPVKIGHT BY
'
HOME /
D. D.
1877-
John F. Trow
&
Son,
NEW
YORK.
TO MY WIFE,
WHOSE LOVING SYMPATHY AND CONSTANT CARE HAVE SOOTHED ME IN MANT
HOURS OP TRIAL AND PAIN
WHERE
WHAT SHE
IST
I,
IS
A CHRISTIAN,
IN AEFECTION
Wttiiuh
tjiia
%ut
TABLE OF CONTENTS,
|]art
Ju'st.
ANCIENT SPIRITUALISM.
CHAPTER
I.
of
Pagan times
13
CHAPTER
II.
AND
PERSIA.
" Chaldea's
in
CHAPTER
19
III.
Chinese
34
Vm
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER
IV.
The famous
Spiritualists of Hellas.
Communion
between
house at Athens.
Valens and
Caesars
Seconir.
|]art
CHAPTER
I.
phenomena.
cient
siege
Unseen
armies
who
aided in
CHAPTER
II.
Signs and wonders in the days of the Fathers. Martyrdom of Poly carp. The return of Evagrius after
death.
Augustine's
andria
faith.
The philosophy of
,
Alex-
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER
IX
III.
CHAPTER
110
IV.
The
record of the
Dark Ages.
The career
Death of
Urban Grandier
CHAPTER
135
V.
The
Amaud's march.
lier.
fire.
CHAPTER
158
VI.
PROTESTANT SPIRITUALISM.
Precursors of the Reformation.
Wishart's
vin.
martyrdom.
accounts of apparitions.
Bunyan,
CHAPTER
VII.
and teachings.
gifts.
Jung-Stilling.
the providences
his spiritual
faith,
200
CONTENTS.
MOJDJEBN SFIMITUALI8M.
CHAPTER
I.
INTKODUCTOKY
217
CHAPTER
II.
DELUSIONS.
American,
false prophets.
Two
ex-reverends claim to be
salem."
society
CHAPTER
for
'
231
III.
DELUSIONS {continued).
The
a sleeper.
Theosophical Society.
gnomes.
spirits.
Chemical
Its
for
magician wanted
CHAPTER
268
IV.
MANIA.
Mental disease
little
understood
298
CONTENTS.
XI
CHAPTER
V.
Strange
dark.
The
spirit
and stranger
logic
301
theories
CHAPTER
SCEPTICS'
Mistaken
Spiritualists.
AND
VI.
TESTS.
Libels on the
spirit-world.
The
329
whitewashing of Ethiopians
CHAPTER
VII.
ABSUEDITIES.
The
Distinguished
Cromwell.
spirit-costume of Oli-
to
visitors
Italian
ghost's
spirits.
tea-party.
his
Stuart.
^The
gifted
literature.
gel. A
spirit
The
most
CHAPTER
TRICKERY AND
Dark stances.
ment of "
letter
VIII.
EXPOSURE.
spirit-drapery."
Narratives of exposed
of fraud
ITS
347
The conceal-
imposture.^Various modes
384
"
CONTENTS.
Xll
CHAPTER
IX.
CHAPTER
X.
The
theological
Heaven.
An
A story regarding a
A
coffin.
CHAPTER
XI.
466
CHAPTER
XII.
Stella."
(continued).
476
SPIRIT UAL^ISM
|)art Jtrst.
&.NGIENT SPIRITUALISM.
CHAPTER
THE FAITHS
Thbeb descend
to ns
01'
I.
AITCIENT PEOPLES.
among
cities,
form
the only remaining proofs that such nations as the Assyrian and the Egyptian were once great
many
npon the
earth,
man
On
the
common
spirit-visits
ANCIENT SPIRITUALISM.
14
man
eternally,
anted the
flesh,
evil creatures of
from beyond.
human
sacrifice
men
spirits,
also,
seeking to ap-
had
birth.
It was natural that when, at the touch of
the departed, the clouds which veil our Hereafter shrank
spirits
influence.
example
The same
Greeks solemnly hewing in pieces or burying alive unhappy captives whose torments would, they supposed, win
them favor in the sight of evil beings erringly exalted
into deities, may stand as an instance of the worst.
But
the dark and the bright phases alike witness to the intensity of faith which primaeval man had in the invisible.
little else
of a nation
we know
o-ener-
15
From among
the invisibles
ANCIENT SPIRITUALISM.
16
pleasant
slightest wish,
and real tools, the priests, nation after nation was led
away from faith in the one God to worship His creatures.
What these deities were the records that have descended
Resembling men, they are deto us irrefragably prove.
picted as possessing the passions and attributes of fiends.
In every mythology it was a cardinal point that to avert
their wrath blood was necessary.
Fearful penalties were
denounced against such as offended these pseudo-gods.
Among the light, lively peoples of the south of Europe
the idea of punishment after death took the shape of confinement in silence and eternal night with sterner nations
it was a vision of unhappj^ faces looking up from a burn;
ing tomb.
The infamous
our
own
age, doct]-ines
The
ples of all
had become
offences
17
All tem-
to the
eye of
deities offered to
the good.
The
intelligent
whom
that, liv-
themselves moved.
it
stretching
from earth
to heaven,
by which multitudes of
ANCIENT SPIRITUALISM.
18
all
descended.
I have said that since the founding of our world comexisted, and that in every frag-
through.
down
floated
is
by means
spirits,
and in
rites.
their
Other
devote
my
I bring
own
age.
named
that
best-attested
relation to the
I confess that
it
is
impossible to con-
this introduction to
my
task.
AND
PERSIA.
19
stubborn incredulity in the nineteenth century were familiar to the first, and perhaps equally familiar to centuries
1 shall point to the
belief in the
CHAPTER
II.
The uncountable
AND
PERSIA.
first
sage
all
From
we
chiefly glean
remarkable people
unless
what
we
is
known
more
Hebrew
to us of
ANCIENT SPIRITUALISM.
20
historian
who
knowledge of this antique race. From disinterred Nineveh come to us the pictures, the picture-writings, and the
sculptures of the mighty Assyrian warriors, the scourges
We have by their own hands
of all neighboring nations.
portraits of the men who devastated Egypt, and carried
the Ten Tribes of the Hebrews into captivity. And, formidable as was the Assyrian soldiery, the priests wielded
a yet more terrible power over their fellow-men. Of the
most ancient among them we know little, save that they
were devoted soothsayers, and respected by all men for
their gift of looking into the future.
With
the period of
Pre-eminent
power recorded
rently confirmed by late
spiritual
Assyrian
camp
in the
is
that
Hebrew
awful instance
be-
of
of an angel
They held
Babylonian commonwealth a
with that held in a neighboring
in the
prodi-
AND
PERSIA.
21
The astronomers
of the
seventee)ith
recognize
heavens.
moved by
encamped at a distance
from the walls. But the Grecian philosophers who accompanied him, the doubting
disciples of Anaxagoras, and others, went into the king's
presence and, by their lively ridicule, temporarily effaced
from his mind all respect for the wisdom of the Chaldeans.
Alexander entered Babylon, and in a few months
was with his fathers. Various other omens had foreboded
the disappearance of this royal meteor from the earth
which he astonished.
friends into Babylon, he himself
Hephsestion, a Babylonian
placed in con-
ANOIENT SPIRITUALISM.
22
of the
advised
him
to this act.
The
intruder
his death-bed.
Two
phil-
latter
must prepare
to
to speedily follow
we
moderns
izations, that
the
AND
PERSIA.
earth.
23
In
What
their temples
now
witness.
for miles
whose massiveness no
In these stupendous recesses was
other nation can equal.
once hived that wisdom a few fragments of which, despite
the sleepless jealousy of its guardians, Greek sages bore
back to their own land, and embodied in Greece's subthe desert
is
limest philosophy.
causes us the
more
The splendor of
to regret that
the
is
irrecover-
lost.
ANCIENT SPIRITUALISM.
24
music of
Its influence
was
by the
assisted
lyres.
its
soft
material prison,
the sonl for a space held free communion with the spiritKing Ehampsiuitiis, the Magi of Egypt
ual world.
asserted to Herodotus, descended
by such means
to the
acquired in Greece.
all
learning to their
But
own
caste
that
disci-
plinary initiations more and more severe, was the philosopher, after twenty-two years of patience, admitted to the
cast
him
Everywhere derided
out.
as
madman
he
colony of
Magna
Gra3cia, teaching
and working
the
his
school,
At
The
Crotona
Hunted by enemies
thirsty for
his life,
But
'
Ti'ismcgistus.
At
man
The nature
of
Some^
ASamiA,
GI-IALDEA,
25
A modification of
Pythagoras
ples,
and
this
nearer.
absurdities.
Our own
own
still
work
I shall take
to treat of the
remaining
relics of the
historians.
icies
Among
deserve notice.
2
fulfilled
prophe-
ANCIENT 8PIBITVALISM.
26
whom he had
stood before the image a vision came upon
As he
served.
whom
of
courage,
followed
;
On
of victory.
at
siglit
certain
strife
defenceless.
The
tells
complete.
Herodotus
An
announced that he who, in the temple of Vulfrom a brazen vessel should expel
his fellows and reign as sole monarch.
On the occasion
of a certain sacrifice, Psammeticus, one of the twelve,
having found himself without the accustomed golden cup,
filled a brazen helmet with wine and made his libation.
oracle
On
of the coast.
brazen
men
mockery.
natu-
Shortly afterwards,
ASSYRIA, OHALDEA,
EG TPT, AND
PEBSIA.
27
Egypt from Ionia and Caria. These strangers Psammeticus took into his pay, and having, by their aid, become
sole ruler of the Egyptians, the oracle's prediction was
most curiously accomplished.
From
the
Pyramids we pass
country bears interesting traces of intercourse with anCyrus, the subduer of Asia, was heralded
and attended by prophecy both in Persia and among the
Jews. Astyages, his grandfather, saw in vision a vine
proceed from his daughter Mandane, by which the whole
of Asia was overshadowed.
The soothsayers explained
other sphere.
He again dreamed of
and again received the
explanation of its pointing to the coming of a conqueror
who should tread all nations under foot. On this the
of the subject
kingdom of
Persia.
instant that
Astyages
ANCIENT SPIRITUALISM.
28
"
name,
am
And
and hidden
the
I,
riclies
the Lord,
Grod of Israel.
sake, and Israel Mine elect, I have even called thee by thy
name, though thou hast not known Me."
Cyrus, continues Josephus, on being shown this prediction, and the equally remarkable one contained in the
twenty -eighth verse of the preceding chapter, acknowledged that the Jeliovah of the Hebrews was indeed the
God of Nations, and that from Him he received the
sceptre of the world.
Nor was the close of the mighty conqueror's career imInvading Soythia, he dreamed
accompanied by prodigy.
that Darius, tiie son of Hystaspes, stood before him with
wings springing from his shoulders, of which the one
overshadowed Europe, the other Asia. Believing that
the gods had thus warned him of a plot against his throne,
he sent Hystaspes back to Persia, to watch over Darius
until he should himself return.
But, althouo-h the son of
Hystaspes was in reality destined as his successor, no conspiracy had been implied.
The vision given to Cyrus was
an admonition of his own approaching death. He was
vanquished and slain in a battle with Tomyris queen of
the Massageta3 ; and the sceptre of Persia descended to
AND
29
PEUSIA.
On
Overpowering his rival, Smerdis, he assumed that impepurple to which he had not been born, and began a
rial
country's
anuals.
dawned upon
is
His name,
the world.
familiar to us
as
soft-
of the
that
father, Poroschasp,
I3y both
through his mother, Dogdo, as his
the Djins or
Devs
the Persian
evil spirits
with a sacred
which they fled in terror. The interpretation of the Magian to whom she applied was that she
should be favoj-ed among women by bearing a son, to
whom Ormuzd would make known his laws, and who
should spread them through all the East. Against this
son every power of evil would be in arms.
Tried by
afflictions and perils innumerable, the prophet would nltimately drive his foes before him like chaff, and receive,
even in his own country, the ntmost honor.
king should
be raised up who would accept his sacred writings as the
word of truth, and make them the law of Persia everywhere the new religion would prevail Zoroaster vs'ould
writing, before
ANOTENT SPIRITUALISM.
30
Onnuzd in the
Ahriman and hell.
Alarmed
lest
arm
the
Magi
speedily
On
took
hew
in pieces
lieart
fled,
convulsed
their opening
a second
time
to
were themselves
the agents of their evil wishes.
A fire having been kindled, the embryo reformer was stolen from his .mother's
dwelling, and cast into the flames. Dogdo, seeking on
all sides for her son, found him at length lying peacefully
on his fiery couch, as if in a cradle, and carried him home
uninjured.
As he grew to manhood numerous other
efforts were made to compass his death.
He was placed
in the way of savage bulls, was cast to wolves, and fed
with victuals in wliich poison had been mingled. Through
all this the spirits to whose service Zoroaster had been
attempt murder.
was given
to
his glory,
Food sweet
as honey
and the
made
to
worlds
God
him
31
earth.
The
as day.
He
the revolutions of
He
be spread.
convert to the
of his
court.
Many
ANCIENT SPIBITUALISM.
32
became
His law,
Hebrew
to us of the
divisions,
These
mentioned.
laws
are
among
the
matters
included.
are
On
cut-
makhig pastry;
after sneezing;
tJie
of
Prayers
city,
at a
by
tlie
devout.
The theology
of Zoroaster
is
far
more
The
eternal
Armageddon,
in
AND
PERSIA.
The
overthrown.
Evil
33-
One
annihilated.
all
may mention
Hell itself
condemns all
but none
beyond
their deserts,
vilest eternally.
Zoroaster's place is
The
disciples of
the
newer creed
of the Zend-Avesta, but the event was no
When
to a
hundred years. As shaped by the foundmoral teachings wei-e pure and beautiful, and its
idea of the Divine One high and just.
But with the pass-
its
As with
all
other systems
unseen beings
having undermined with malignant patience,
aroand
at
us,
length succeeded
in
good.
before
all altars,
made
fire.
Sensual
had launched
his
Unseen Creator
2*
ANCIENT SPIRITUALISM.
34
last,
and
The
Mahomet's intolerant enthusiasm had inflamed.
choice was the Koran or the sword. Sapped already at all
points by internal corruption, the edifice Zoroaster had
reared basted to its fall. The few who refused to abjure
their religion fied from Persia forever, or, remaining,
were relentlessly put to death. At the present day the
numerous Parsees scattered through Hindostan and other
countries of the far East are the dispersed relics which
CHAPTER
III.
HAVE
earth
possessing nothing,
and yet everything." The " dwelling on the earth and not
on the earth " alludes to their being frequently levitated.
Apollonius had journeyed into Hindostan to seek admittance to the treasury of Indian wisdom. The supermundane!
attainments of the Brahmins were displayed to him immediately that the object of his mission became known.
He
was brought
caste,
who
addressed
him
in the following
words
" It
is
AND
INDIA
us the
who
visit
evidence of wisdom
first
35
OSINA.
is
that
we
them
but with
Thereupon this clairvoyant recounted to Apollonius the most notable events of his life
named the families both of his father and of his mother, related what the philosopher had done at Mgsd, described
by what means Damis had become the companion of his
journey and repeated all that they had heard and talked
of by the way.
Awed and humbled by knowledge so unearthly, the astonished Greek earnestly besought to be ad-
of those
who come
to us."
mitted to
its
secrets.
tyrant!"
"
continued
of
its
Domitian
bitterest
is
oppressor!"
despot assassinated at
Rome.
from a
sojoiirn
Brahmins themselves
was to
and place
of their religion
lift
The aim
of the senses,
Platonists they
finer
body.
plex, us,
rean manner.
spirit ap-
ANCIENT SPIRITUALISM.
36
pears before Tamas, the Minos of the Brahmiiiical theology. As its actions have been righteous or unjust, so is it
translated to the
to
consists
with God.
By Europeans
this
creed
is
commonly regarded
as be-
from these Eastern "just spirits made perfect," the individuality of each is unchangeably preserved. To the
heavenly felicity of "Nirvana" but one path conducts
unceasing mortification of the spirit and the body. The
laws of
Menu
To. scorch in
naked
to shiver
inflictions
summer
which
the
before the
at
Thus an
irreconcilable enmity
INDIA
exists
AND
37
CHINA.
their fruits
is
vastly
more
The wasting of
spilt.
forbidden, and
may
not,
on any pretext, be
sin.
altogether rejects,
and
its
new
so stern a de-
doctrines the
By
sacrifices.
among
to fury.
more
They
who dared
to re-
Japan,
the
it
number of
earth.
That
devotees,
among
But a
had so
ANCIENT SPIBITUALISN.
38
is
among
writings
is
to our world.
spiritual beings
Unseen, both
sleep."
Countless numbers are continually ascending and descending on the missions of tlie gods. Some are the
guardians of
cities
others of individuals
others again
The
all
and radiant than their eyes, and the white garments in which they are robed emit the most delicious
less clear
perfumes.
Some
are kindly,
all
wield
As was
Pantheon.
and
By the
adored.
kindred sect of
INDIA
We
find in Thibet,
AND
where Buddhism
39
CHINA.
flourishes in the
Roman
faithful
Howitt, in his History of the Supernatural, " families unaccountably spring up, and are styled nephews and nieces."
Indeed, so parallel are the customs, social and ecclesiastical, to
emissaries
obtained entrance
to
Tiiibet,
when
first
her
two of their
Grradually
falling
from
this
Spirits
which the progenitors of the reignmonarch received the homage of that mighty empire
festivals instituted, at
ing
ANCIENT BPIBITUALISM.
40
which in former
the
their aid
cuted vehemently, as
to
bosoms of
all
who
still
remained,
awaken a longing
his countrj'^men.
prophets of
all eras
after
Perse-
and kingdoms
stirred to
the great
its
inmost depths.
had been
of
its
He
metaphysics.
ing parents
of actively fulfilling
all social
life;
of keep-
the
fall of
INDIA
AND
41
ORINA.
man by
are the
Invisible to the
dim eyes
flesh,
Do we
give
way
from
attend
us,
us,
by reason of
If,
their affinity to
despising temptation,
we
in their mission as to
world of
spirits is daily
spiritual health
may have
In China
itself
opportunities
known
to
Pacific seaboard of
and the
be extreme,
cities
of the
late years
by
ANCIENT SPIRITUALISM.
42
may be
observed.
The most
rapidly-
among even
by
and
There
vfhich
virtues equally
unknown.
The
filth
of the dwellings
is
this the
The
California and
wretches
Utah by the
among
the white
is
concealed.
to
men
depths of iniquity to which their yellow rivals can, without compunction, descend.
CHAPTEE
IV.
'
and more
43
The
West enthroned by
Mahomet
temples of Rome.
so
Greeks of almost three thousand years ago, are as unThese great writers were, with few
dyingly preserved.
amongst them
race for
whom
they wrote.
which belief
in the
by side with
this
temporal and
I shall
'
44
"
ANCIENT SPIBITUALISM.
all
faith.
'
Odyssey
who
xvii. 475.
Says Hesiod
" Invisible the gods are ever nigh,
Pass through the mist, and bend the all-seeing eye.
The men who grind the poor, who wrest the right
It
whilst
there
who
Sophocles
is
beautiful
it
passage
supplies
" I fondly
me
ai-e
no
thought of happier
my
death.
toils.
p. 32.
To
days,
the dead
Can we term
this
aught but
tlie
spiritual teaching of
century anticipated
the nineteenth
And
hearken
to
Pindar
" But the good, enjoying eternal sunshine night and day, pass a life
from labor never stirring the earth by strength of hand, nor yet
the crystal waters of the sea in that blessed abode, but with the honored
of the gods all such as lived true lives, and took pleasure in keeping their
faith, spend in the heavens a tearless existence."
"Spirits," said Pythagoras, "announce to man secret things, and
free
'
is
give warnings to
men of everything."
Memorab.
i.
1.
that
45
remain to ns of ^schylns
ai'e
mundane
darkness
itself,
is
it
Furies
ITe loves
the super-
a land of darkness, as
as darkness."
is
From
Prometheus it
is pleasant to turn to the more truly Greek beliefs preserved in the plays and poetry of Sophocles, Euripides,
and Homer, and in the philosophy of Plato. Homer and
the grim sublimity of such tragedies as the
intensity
spiritual things,
Egean
owed by
Marathon
plane-ti-ees
each
and
A thousand
the fragrant
deities received
sand temples.
"
To
the
Unknown God
"
people,
it
is
true,
ANOTENT SPIRITUALiaM.
46
miglity
Spi]-it
controlling
tlie
disgast.
man
who
hui'ling
down thunderbolts
men
to
this
battle an
up
commonwealth
that
47
We
learn
battle,
through such
men
life,
as Pythagwere revered
But
phenomena were
rain, it fell
everywhere.
consciously or unconsciously
spirits,
hastened to publish to
all
men
ANCIENT SPIRITUALISM.
48
Are not
and indeed
in-
from another world ? To what but the promptings of numerous spirits influencing a single mighty imagination can be ascribed the marvellous creations which
glow in the dramas of Shakespeare? From whence but
spiration
the sphere of
all
Attica was
in
And
the citizen of
peculiarly fortunate.
inspirations of a hun-
paintings of Zeuxis
yEsehylus
street reciting
the
shield of
Achilles,
or the death of
men
the affairs of
nation of Spiritualists
,
Had
it
nature
fitted to be the instrument of the spirits was secluded with jealous care from influences prejudicial to
such a mission, and consecrated as the life- long servant
The majority
of such
;
:
And
now
for
49
for individuals.
immortal gods."
tle-cry
"
On
of Marathon
sons of the Greeks," was the bat" above you the spirits of your
"
by
J
j.
amongst other proofs of his assertions, that she preeruption of lava and ashes with which Ve-
dieted the
"
ANCIENT SPIBITaALISM.
50
neum.
To Delphi
when uneasy
at tl
the age
as follows
Now perceive
As
boiling
Brass
The
is
it
I an odor,
seetheth
an odor
it
seemeth of lamb's
divination was in
all
is it
flesh
flesh of a tortoise
covered over.
respects complete.
At
th
Awed by
numerous gold an
hundred and seventy ingo'
golden
lion, a
demanded whether
it
were well
that
li
great empire."
was
his
51
The
liiin
demand whe-
oracle replied,
"When
then,
the
Hermos, make no
halt,
to
cowardice."
success
life.
At
army
annihilated,
and
his
made
captive,
kingdom reduced
to
the
In despair,
through his
the
utterly false.
own
name
of
was he
its
humble condition,
whom
the
combined
fleets
of
Dismayed by
the
the'
myriads
the orders
beg counsel
from the chief oracle of Hellas. The Delphic god replied
" Unfortunates, wherefore seat yourselves ?
Fly to the
verge of the earth: forsake your houses and the lofty
For neither does the
crags of your wheel-shaped city.
of the Persian king, the Athenians sent to
head abide firm, nor does the body, nor the lowest feet,
nor therefore the hands, nor aught of the middle remain
all is
ruined.
For
fire
ANCIENT SPIRITUALISM.
52
ing
it,
No
city, ancieni
inspired to add
"
When
all is
hill
collected."
53
of distant towns
the sacking
fire.
encountered them
and
finally
the Asiatics
and the
of BcEotia had,
clear terms
I
we
main body of
his armj'.
and bring
Amongst
men marched
to
spot,
his property,
consecrated to
ANCIENT SPIRITUALISM.
54
When, however,
Delphians gathered
fled.
On
this the
scended from their hiding-places and pursued the fugiSuch was the slaugliter occasioned in the
tives for miles.
Persian ranks by lightnings, falling crags, and the spears
of the Greeks, that of the whole four thousand scarcely a
man
I
escaped.
Herodotus.
in the case
Delphian Oracle other historians confirm) at no great distance from his own time, the Father of History was well
qualified to judge of the truth or falsehood of these portions of his work.
evidence
It
rigidly
pains to ascertain
the truth would be equally scrupulous in offering nothing but the truth
55
aud a somewhat
Pausanias, Plutarch,
less trustworthy-
Diodorus Siculus, are equally full of the supermundane, and equally emphatic in asserting the veracity
In the Laconics of Pausanias
of the narratives they give.
writer,
is
to
who commanded
Plataea,
tale.
In modern times
it
''
Manfred."
The prediction
to
and
fled to a
the
ghastly
manner of her
was detected
mahy eminent
in a conspiracy against
In Lacedsemon the
more
ANCIENT SPIRITUALISM.
56
Thus entombed
closed.
unhappy Pausanias
alive, the
perished of want.
by
tlie
former writer.
"
Pan
is
Dead."
to bid
liim
tliat,
as the ship
tlie
bat
that,
if
charmed
spot, the
The
great
Pan
is
dead."
Uav jiOxrtjKe"
many
voices, uttering
it
seemed,
.currence
'
is
to
narrative, and,
57
of Crete,
the prophecy,
his son
his exile.
to
^gea, Pausanias, an
esquire of
him
to the heart.
mind of
all
Pagan
antiquity.
Socrates, as
himself terms
to restrain
it),
from
3*
attended him
evil.
It
he
in the
most
ANCIENT BPIBITVALISM.
68
relates that
in
company with
after
his last
59
the Qum'terly
impossi-
it is
being struck by the extreme similarity between certain points of the careers of Socrates and Joan
The Greek sage and the French heroine were
of Arc.
ble to avoid
their
In
obedience.
plicit
either
case
the
voices
of such
subject
beings by
strated
approved
The
whom
of those beings,
would
martyrdom.
their teachings.
Both
that
crown of
the execrations of the mob,
ti"avel from a world that was
Both, amid
Here
How
im-
hundred years ago was the Europe of the fifteenth century after Christ
Socrates, though
execrated as the
away
in the gentlest
Indeed,
tlie
manner
consistent with
it,
departed
for
was
ANCIENT SPIRITUALISM.
60
liglit
when
it
In
lent
Eomo we
among
made more
and severer natures of
The
Virgil
is
are described
sions of
as displaying
man.
But
love,
visits
passions
which was
in
brethren described
that they
them
their favor; to
battle-field
these
among
pleasure
is
The
lust of
It is such a
Roman
people.
61
in Italy,
silent
As Horace
us:
tells
"Capta ferum
victorem cepit."
by supremacy of mind.
Nor should we forget the peculiar connection between
the civilization of Italy and that far more ancient one
Nile.
all
Roman
cure by the
paralytic,
witnesses, and
named
after
number
mark him
man
of
fluxion
mean
condition,
He
on his eye.
During his
resi-
by a de-
fall-
god
whom
ration.
He came, he
said,
would con-
descend to moisten the poor man's face and the balls of his eyes.
Another, who had lost the use of his hand, inspired "by the same god,
begged that he would tread on the part affected. Vespasian smiled at
a request so absurd and wild.
implore
Ms
aid.
He
The wretched
objects persisted to
but the
ANCIENT SPIRITUALISM.
62
importunity of the men, and the crowd of flatterers, prevailed upon the
prince not entirely to disregard their petition.
" He ordered the physicians to consider whether the blindness of the
one, and the paralytic affection of the other, were within the reach of
human
assistance.
The result of the consultation was that the organs
of sight were not so injured but that, by removing the film or cataract
As to the disabled limb, by proper applicaand invigorating medicines, it was not impossible to restore it to its
former tone. The gods perhaps intended a special remedy, and chose
the patient might recover.
tions
If a cure took
it
Vespasian, in the tide of his affairs, began to think that there was
nothing so great and wonderful nothing so improbable or even incredi-
which
his
when
deceit
and
flattery can
nothing could make those witnesses with whom the historian conferred fear to speak the truth or hope to profit by
a lie. It deserves to be mentioned that Strabo and Suetonius, as well as Pliny, confirm this narrative of the greatest of the
A
made
Homan
annalists.
species of apparition, of
in a temple at
living,
from
the place.
Here
is
it
man
ing behind
that
many
him.
miles.
in favor of his
future reign."
among which
Athenodorus
numerous
ac-
is
The lowness of the terms demanded being out of all proand beauty of the mansion he perceived that there was some mystery in the case.
He
inquired, and received the history of the events which had
driven all former tenants from the house.
At midnight
a noise was heard, and the ghastly figure of a skeleton
dragging with it
Athenodorus, undaunted by the story,
philosophically bought the mansion, and installed himself
a rusty chain.
therein.
As, at midnight, he
its irons,
sat writing,
the spectre
there vanished.
ing
Athenodorus
mark the
spot,
and returned
laid
to his studies.
ANCIENT SPIRITUALISM.
64
instituted,
discov-
ered beneath the place marked. This having been interred in a proper place, the philosopher placidly pursued
his labors in the house he had purchased, unvisited for
the future by such grisly guests.
where the method of inquiry was by sealed packets.Incredulous as to the power of the deity he forwarded
a packet, and desired a sealed reply. This arriving, and
being opened, a blank paper only was found. The courtiers expressed amazement, but the emperor confessed
that, being sceptical as to the wisdom of the oracle, he
had placed nothing in his own packet but a blank sheet.
The response was therefore apt, and Trajan now confessed
his curiosity and mystification by sending ambassadors to
demand whetlierfrom his war in Parthia he should return
safely to Rome.
A vhie cut in pieces and wrapped in a
linen cloth was sent him, as symbolizing the manner of
his return.
He died in the East, and even so were his
reiTiains brought back to Italy.
I shall cite now some instances of phenomena, strikingly similar to the phen(jraeiia occurring in our own day.
The handling
to myself,
was witnessed
in
temple at the foot of Mount Soracte dedicated to the goddess Fcronia had been known to walk bare-footed over
great quantities of glowing embers.
The same
ordeal,
ing with
used in
spirits
historian
Ammianus Marcellinus
"
65
" In the days of the Emperor Valens, A.D. 371, some Greek oaltivators
who in those days usurped the name of philosophers, were
brought to trial for having attempted to ascertain the successor to the
of theurgy,
"
We
'
which you behold, after the likeness of the Delphian tripod, with
Having duly consecrated
of laurel, and with solemn- auspices.
wood
it by
and by many and protracted manipulamaking it move. Now, whenever we consulted it about secrets, the process for making it move was as follows
It was placed in the centre of a house which had been purified by
Arabian incense on every side; a round dish, composed of various
metallic substances, being, with the needful purifications, set upon it.
On the circular rim of this dish the four and twenty characters of the
alphabet were cut with much art, and placed at equal intervals, which
muttering over
tions,
it
secret spells,
we succeeded
at last in
made
about his head, and carrying branches of the sacred laurel in his hand,
who
sets this
dish
upon the
suspended ring
which
also
had pre-
it,
makes out heroic verses, in accordance with the questions put, as complete in mode and measure as those uttered by the Pythoness, or the
oracles of the Brauchids.
" As we were, then and there, inquiring who should succeed the
'
it
for.'
cations throua-h
ANCIENT SPIRITUALISM.
66
Of
them,
It is quite
communion with
tliej
seem
to
have been
blissfully ignorant.
present day.
The
and remarkable
sequel.
The
Theodosius, whose
Sozomen,
etc.
found in Tertullian
is
is
very striking.
given, a passage to be
The
Christian father
:
"
Do
not your
call ghosts
67
OBEECB ANDBOME.
represent these things as the
work of
"Whether
fiends.
evil spirits
Space
fails
me
to describe the
omens
that attended
was
CiBsar's death, and how the apparition of that Caesar
Caracalla
was
forehow
Philippi
;
at
Brutus
beheld by
shown his assassination in a dream; and Sylla, the night
before he died,
saw
in a vision the
been described.
Nor can
I find
manner of
his end.
room
to
tell
of the
During the
vices
and
Christian era
the most
Nothing in
neither the
the Italians
unapproachable.
the highest of
As
all gospels,
so
ANCIENT SPIRITUALISM.
68
low
An
And why
tlie
darkest
Judean priesthood of
might be applied
and more or
and do
"
Tlie
same reproac
Eom|
less, as I
have endeavored
Only
to
show, to ever
cori-upted
as these
BLis day.
consecrated
mediums gradually
&
bt
beings merely
in full flow
it
of hypocrisy
and
vice, interrupted
only
when he
wai
vances for
lous public
tences to
whom
who
What were
these priests
made
dis-
they to think of
human
sacrifices
who
69
own foul
own day have
They
cried, as so
many
in our
done, that religion was from first to last a lie ; that there
was no God, neither any immortality for man. Suddenly
from out this chaos rose the foundations of the first
It was founded, as in the succeeding
work I shall seek to show, by men to wliom
spiritual signs and wonders were as their daily bread, and
whose pure minds held communion only with the benefi-
Christian Church.
part of this
To
the
my
next chapters be
devoted.
It suffices to say, iu concluding this description
of communion with another sphere as pi'actised in Pagan
times, that the
ANCIENT. SPIRITUALISM.
70
livelihood
spiritual
phenomena
Is Mode'
elevatij
to falseliood
How are we
and
years been produced
trut|
have of late
in such plenty throuj
these and their kindred harpies
Above all, in wli
manner may we regard the weak-minded enthusiasts
whom these evils are encouraged and perpetuated, w
accept the most absurd and vicious doctrines with a kii
'i
which,
if
who, as regards
spir
whether that
would exalt him to the rank of a prophet, and revere hi
It is these who will accept " exp
as a spiritual guide ?
nations " of whose supreme ridiculousness an Australi;
savage might be ashamed, rather than admit that
medium can deceive. It is these who reject the admoi
tion to " try the spirits " as a needless insult, and th
requires to be
it
tb
c
IP art
0onit.
THE JEWISH
SPIRITUALISM
CHRISTIAN ERAS.
CHAPTER
AFD
I.
appeared
to
me
it
has
The
signs
of Israel,
mightiest
of every
quainted with the histories of the signs accorded to x\braham, and the miracles wrought through Moses, as with
any of the chief events of their own earthly lives. The
Daniel,
number.
recorded
collected
the Alexandrian.
Were
72
Hebrew
own
noble version of
with
Were
trite.
tion of
bow
these occnrrences,
but
tlie tritest
of the
my own
I to attempt in
I shall confine
phenomena of
We
to
to-day.
be everywhere miracle.
since
fables
and
ai-e
scientific
men, that
Hebrew
the
admit-
Scriptures to a collection of
The
example of
into
In
its effects.
disposition to set
up the
" laws of
dis-
and from a disbelief in the Bible appear rapidly pi'OgreusIn 1874 we had Professor
few years
this
It
in a very
as
73
The
to
deities to
whom
this scientist
the
temple to be unveiled
however, are the penetralia of the
of pearls unto swine
casting
Such
a
world.
outer
to the
would utterly misbecome a
man
their gaze
It
would
progress, the
those
sciences
respecting
The
.Deity
That
this is so quotations
I shall content
" These are strong facts, and it is allowing a great deal to say that
we think Mr. Rymer to be in earnest in stating his belief in them. For
ourselves we entirely disbelieve them, and shall gladly give any one the
opportunity of convincing us.
we
venture to recom-
SPIBITUALI8M JEWISH AND CHRISTIAN ERAS.
74
mend
to Mr. Rymer's attentive study an old-fashioned college textbook which we suspect he has never opened PratVs Mechanical
Philosophy.
He will there learn of those immutable laws which the
unchanging God has impressed once and forever on creation and, reading of the wondrous harmony and order which reign by their operation
throughout the wide bounds of creation, he may perhaps come to share
our doubt and disbelief of those imaginings which teU us of their violation in moving tables and shaking lamps and dancing chairs, and he
;
may
perchance, should his study prosper, catch also a sense of the pitying scorn with which those nurtured on the strong meat of the inductive
philosophy, within the very courts and halls that a
Newton
and
Such
credulity.
is
trod, view
new wine
of
''
mode
in
which
these Sir
own
gods.
It is tolerably certain
to Des-
As
regards any
to be
water
dial of
Was
the
Hezekiah
Was
it
75
" the
down, changed into a serpent? The worshippers of
did
besotted
themselves
laws of nature" would consider
They
they credit
They
fesses
He
first
century
foolishness.
God in
now
known
to
which
He
has
made
are
to the contrary.
Word
whatever
may
what extent
deavor
to
of
this
show.
now
God
To
en-
but what
may be explained by the known laws of creation, and exposed in such a condition
to
the
assaults of
We
is
sceptics,
denuded
appearing visibly to
How
to be reconciled
Master of
spirits.
may
T6
of Elisha's servant
the life of
man
of
liis
master.
God was
risen earlj',
encompassed the
city
unto him,
we do ?
'
And
and gone
Alas
my
master
how
tliey
may
And
see.'
'
sha
that
An
I;
Au
tl
aiid
th
full of horses
be made
to perceive spirits.
I see no
around.
own
is
to
is
from writings
be sacred. It requires to be
But
all
th
Eurc
acceptei
77
entirety.
or rejected in its
man
lie.
rator of a circumstantial
That
spirits can, in
npon matter
by human
beings
possessed
with powers similar to those
derisive
with
received
flesh is an assertion
still in the
iiicreduhty
belief that
The
and social,
Yet one of the most picturesque chap-
how
the
Old Testament
is
78
made
As
to the
human body
of
fire,
beii
have we u
who walk
unhurt in the midst of the flaming furnace? If suj
mighty works were done two tliousand five linndred yea
ago why should not lesser wonders be witnessed in ol
own time? Is the arm of God grown less mighty ? Tl
Daniel's history of the three Jewish youths
How
religion
phenomena
t]
in general,!
October, 1871.
The
article
argument
it
was written
on Spiritualism
logical and able.
to enforce
is
simply
contaiiK
Tet
this:
tl
]
of
worthless.
And
to be advanced by a man c
science on the opposite side, would not his hostile brethri
this?
79
arrive at
more
'i
I return to the
the Bible.
xxviii.
19)
is
remarliable
illustration of
the inspira-
David
writing and drawing of the present day.
had given to Solomon, his son, the patterns of the temple
" These
and all with which it was to be fm-nished.
tional
Lord made mo understand in writby His hand upon me, even all the works of this pat-
tern."
It
Hebrews.
How are we
to
understand Genesis
xliv. 5
taining of visions
with wine or
Had
Joseph ?
and the
to the
lesser seers.
the Scriptures
His advent.
tions given
may excuse my lingering over them for a moThe most awful is that description given by Moses
calamities which should befall the Hebrews, when
invested,
ment.
of the
God
80
space for repentance was no longer allowed. _ This denunciation, the bitterest ever spoken by a prophet, occui's in
the twenty-eighth chapter of the book of Deuteronomy.
had come
And
to pass.
Titiis,
every item of
its
hor-
be endured by the doomed race, are solemnly sig" When ye shall see the
wrath to come
abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel, stand in
eries to
nificant of the
And woe
this
be.''
Again " And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed by armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh.
For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fullilled.
And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and
shall be led away captive into all nations
and Jerusalem
shall be trodden down by the Gentiles, until the times of
(Mattliew xxiv.)
(Luke xxi.)
Seventy years after the Crucifixion came this great woe.
The
legions of Titus
marched
into Palestine.
yet in the
womb
its
Kome
still
zenith.
of the future,
'
Their city was the strongand false prophets were not wanting to
delude them. Thus encouraged, they fiercely defied the
power of the Empire, and vowed to recover that independence which the Maccabees had died tp preserve, or,
est of all cities,
Did
not the
81
BIBLE.
In no other siege
these, in
nearly
the
all cases,
holy city to a
life of
last.
And what
they so stoically
Such of their
endured they were no less ready to inflict.
enemies as they captured they remorselessly put to death.
and the determined resistance of the
to display, in its most
refined form, the cruelty seldom absent from their wars.
All Jews who came into their hands alive, were crucified
Enraged by
besieged, the
this,
Romans proceeded
home and
Even
friends.
it
Wall
after wall
children in
frantically
and,
had been
Even mothers,
as their
human
Roman
lines,
Roman
from every
numbers that
could be made.
As
if
off.
inspired
Titus,
who desired
fiesli.
The
ordered
fabric consecrated to
4*
82
had been its eastern gate did the Eoman legionaries set
up their standards, and, offering sacrifices to them, hail
Titns as luiperator with " acclamations of the greatest
joy."
I think
TIIE SPIBITUALI8M
OF TEE BIBLE.
83
of spiritual
Levitical
spirits
The reason
of the departed.
is
Nor were
sions
do
restrictions unnecessary.
we hear
of the
is
most
sanctions,
terrible
some
de ire of having
satisfy the
cravings for
among
visible
civilized
danger out of
which
idolatry springs
still
exists.
spirits,
all
"Ye
It
was against
With
Yet
it
with the
behooves
all
who wish
By minds
in
which that
84
The
reli-
sceptical type
The mass
described.
distant
of
life,
is
may
be accepted
all
as a
mankind hold a
course equally
gation.
investi-
the whole
world seems to be infected with one or other of these disJust at present the second is rampant, and is the
eases.
deadliest foe by which Christianity can be menaced. For
the essence of the religion of Jesus is miracles, and signs
and wonders accompanied Him throughout His career.
Tlie account of tlis birth is the chief marvel in all history;
yet it is almost matched \)j what occun-ed at and after
His death. From the commencement of His mission,
imtil the final agony of the cross, He continued to enforce
the tidings
He
to proclaim,
And
by the
the power
was His
apostles
vellous
twelve
ness,
and
I'aise
all
all
freely give."
hated of
whom
men
were
And to Him-
They saw
Him
raise
lame to walk
85
Him
teachings such as
his darkness,
priest Caiaphas,
it.
mocked the victim stretched upon the cross, saying " Lie
Himself He cannot save " had this man
been told that there should come a day when his victim
would be worshipped as the Son of God in almost every
country over which the Roman sceptre extended, and in
yet vaster regions of whose existence those Romans had
never dreamed that in the very city from whence then
went forth the fiats of Csesar would be set up the authority of pontiffs who deemed it their all on earth to be
:
saved others
revered
realms possessed by the triumphant Christians, ever expecting to behold the Messiah
who should
deli^er
them
86
among
place, with
its
what a display
down such
And
Was
beyond Judea ?
God by
adored as
comes
it
name
countable millions
The
bow
How
the Gentiles ?
which
their
been
it
fathers have,
cepted.
it.
Then
ac-
days of
Cliristianity
was
many an abomination
noble as at present.
or a foolishness.
But with
were
Its ethics
as
whom Greek
and
of Christ as God.
human
such as
to inflictions
Tlie
renunciation of the
then no vain
was
also accepted,
and the
To encounter
dared.
and
suffering
peril of a death of
agony
to
authorities
to
in
deserts and
87
BIBLE.
these
endured.
common
massacre
if
an assem-
rites
of some
away
to
How many
set
up
compute.
However
great the
as torclies in
Christians perished
number
it is
by
in the three
impossible to
of martyrs their
new
adherents of the
new
faitli.
On
this the
Koman deputy
And
;:
88
am now
departure
is
finished
my
there
laid
up
is
the Lord,
tlie
to
me
Christians of the
first
century so
?
How came it that, in spite of the most bloody
and unsparing persecutions men had ever groaned under,
the new creed spread with rapidity over the whole of the
then civilized world ? What was it hy which zealot and
teenth
men
prejudices of
atheist, the
fail
The
internal evidences,
Founder of their belief accomplish by the frequent descent upon them of the Spirit of God
by the gift of
;
miraculously healing;
many and
alone
tliat
divei'se
tongues.
spiritual things
tine,
Martyr as Tertullian, Cyprian, Ambrose, Augusand a hundred others, was strengthened by signs
Justin'
THE SPIRITUALISM OF -THE
BIBLE.
89
by ministering
knew
spirits.
faith
of
I pui-pose in
class.
my
how a
down
to the present
of Christian.
ISTot
now
lions,
quench
tlie
By
violence of
these things
Romans, went
Spirits
It mattered not
what men might do against the body for the sonl an
incorruptible crown was laid up in Heaven.
Such Christians would have heard with mute amazement the assertion
that death is a " bourne from whence no traveller returns."
By a thousand incidents of their lives were such teachings
disproved.
Signs that a Thomas could not have doubted
were continually afforded them of the watch which those
;
90 8PIBITUALI8M-JEWI8H
them
to
facts, as
to
be Christians,
denying that such things have happened, yf\\\ stigmatize these great truths as dreams of the most baseless kind.
For Christ is now, even more than of old, uncomprehended by many who call themselves His disciples. They
" understand not the sayings which He speaks unto them."
It was thus, as every Evangelist proves to us, in Judeea.
Upon the earth, to which He came to bear tidings of peace
and good-will, the Son of Man walked alone.
Mary
understood Him not, nor Joseph, nor they who, according
to the belief of the Jews, were the sisters and brothers of
lie began His mission, and the nation to
this Jesus.
wlio,
understood
Him
not.
91
miracles,
"What manner
name
by
failing to
in
disci-
ples or absent
of
He
withdrew to endure that mighty agony alone. The afflictions that tormented Him were not trials into which the
twelve could enter.
So was
slept.
it
Whilst
He
before Pilate.
cried
veil of
And
equally
Master
is still
alone.
"The
Had
it
not."
92
Henry YIII.
of
ing
Christendom.
all
that
see.
we might
be
name
Controversy would be a
and the pens and works of polemical
moulder in oblivion and dust. But these specula-
forgotten,
divijies
me from
Want
justice.
93
bible.
13ut
make
plain to
him that
the
was the tendency which, even more than Assyrians, Egyptians, or Persians, the race chosen of Grod had to listen to
the whispers of evil
deities
spii-its,
spirits into
me
He
will
were the
with
me
that,
security have
mitted injui'cs
It is
we
Holy Writ
is
true?
what then of
this
mass of error?
94 SPIRITUALISM-JEWISU
CHAPTER
THE
SFIEITtJAL IN
A FAVOEITE
II.
many
dictum with
divines
is
that miracle
We
have no certain evidence, say they, that signs and wonders occurred after the
last of the twelve had departed from earth.
Learned
bishops have not been ashamed to employ the whole force
of their ecclesiastical eloquence in endeavoring to prove
ceased with the apostolic age.
this hypothesis a
tliat,
as
certainty.
regards external
Yet the
evidence,
fact undeniably
certain
is
miraculous
occurrences recorded by Athanasitis, Augustine, and others are better supported than anything the New Testa-
ment
contains.
The
Fathers.
internal evidence,
is,
which
in the Bible
men
it
Locke and
Grotius to admit the authenticity of these narratives. The
first tells US that we must allow the miracles, or, by denying
as
95
are
of opinion that
the Church.
How
" Let
some one be brought forward here at the foot of your j udgment-seat, who, it is
When comn)anded by
agreed, is possessed of a demon.
ment, worthy of death.
itself
ner, let
confess themselves to be
Christian, then shed
to lie
unto a
Spirit
to another, the
prophecy
working of miracles
to another, discerning of
As
spirits
to another,
to another,
Anima "
gifts,
96
some
it
and,
per-
when
We
discourse
spirit.
and most of the people gone, she acquainted us with what she had seen in her
for these things are heedf uUy
ecstasy, as the custom was
Among other
digested, that they may he duly proved.
things, she told us that she had seen a soul in a bodily
shape, and that the spirit had appeared unto her, not
empty or formless, and wanting a living constitution, but
rather such as might be handled delicate, and of the
color of light and air in everything resembling the
over,
human
form."
we have an
exact
calls
It is also
modern
seers.
Pythagoras and Plato sj)eak of it as a
" luciform ethereal vehicle " St. Paul calls it the " spiritual body " Swedenborg, the " spiritual man ; " the seer;
ess
of
" inner
Prevorst, the
being."
All
genuine
and
"
Davis, the
clairvoyants,
in
short,
At
Polycarp.
A few nights
omen
This he
of approaching martyrdom.
On
knew
in
to be an
number of
97
thyself like a
man."
When
d^^lgs,
sword.
whom
the
liiin
Church of Smyrna
"
under torments, the Lord Jesus Christ stood by, and, con-
by man."
saints.
Sozomen and
Soci-ates, the
Church
two
from the de-
historians, relate
owner
came to Spiridion
knowing noth-
Spiridion,
On
this the
man
There
SPIRITUALISMJEWISH
08
it
to
is
Eva-
manner.
large
sum
He
in gold,
another world.
among
memorandum
of
In vain
proving that the gift was for the poor, relate the expecta-
world.
bishop of
claims.
theii'
At dead
go
debt in
and
full.
him
told
as follows in the
"I, Evagrius
the
THE SPIRITUAL
IiV
this
paper
is
09
am
satisfied
grius admitted, in
request.
much
have only space to name. Pi'e-emiiient are those of Anthony, Martin, and Ambrose, the
second of whom is reported to have raised the dead. The
cross seen in the heavens by Constantine and his array is
a spiritual sign with whose history the reader is probably
the
familiar.
So with regard
to the discovery,
by the Empress
lain.
Mar-
through
bius,
the,
pages of
Atlianasius,
Ireiiffius,
Amongst
incidents which
Vandal, and
who
.former fluency.
is as
Regarding
testimony
modern
history.
"wonder,
to reconcile it
100 SPIRITUALISMJEWISH
God was
The
fitting
pendant
to the
We
"
might easily prove by citations from the Fathers,"
says a writer in the EnoyolojKBdla MetropoUtana, " that
one object of the experiences to which the Christian neophyte was subjected, was liis introduction to a lawful com-
munion with
the spirits of
tlie
departed."
In this
asser-
men
to
seek
communion with
the
mediums
by means of
the spirits
''
whom
amongst those
the orthodox
deemed
101
heretical
it
secuted them.
who
their leader
per-
were to
put down the follies and vices of the period and to reform
Wherever
church of
we now
saj-, mediums.
In the midst of the congrewould pass into an ecstatic state, and deliver
addresses whilst entranced.
Such a speaker was the sister
alluded to by the most eminent disciple of Montanus, the
or, as
gation these
great Tertullian.
early Christians
all
places and at
all
hours, assisting,
how we
ing
and awe we serve Thee- They assist us in our labors they proour rest
they encourage us in battle they crown us in
victories they rejoice in us when we rejoice in Thee
and they comfear
tect us in
passionately attend us
is
love
when we
and great
is
lovest
suffer or
aire afflicted
for Thee.
whom Thou
Great
They
beholdost
102^
with tenderness
they forsake those from whom Thou withdrawest
Thyself
and they hate them that work iniquity, because they are
hatefiil to Thee."
;
faith of Christiana
might
distract the
from fourteen
to"
Church
Homoou-
equally
the possibility of
side
called
death.
Origen might
differ
from Cyril
as
to
presence,
the consciousness of
from the
were connuon
the
to every
whether their condition in this world were one of happiIn the first century or the fourth, as well
ness or pain.
in the reign of Nero as in that of Constantine, the same
angelic whispers upheld the believer in life, and strengthened him in the hour of death ; the same Christ stood
ready to bid the faithful servant welcome to the glory of
Such men could say with Paul that neither
his Lord.
principalities nor powers might wrest from them the great
joy of their faith.
To live was Christ, and to die gain.
The pleasures and pains of earth they equally despised.
All their hopes were concentred ou the glorious mansions
103
wherein was prepared for them a place ; all their ambition was devoted to the brightness of an eternal crown.
mark
Whether surrounded by the
not at
that
weak
the spirits
tinual
When
" afflicted,
destitute,
in
all
judges,
iii
fast to
the end.
Before the
God
all tears,
enemies of
how
little avail
against those to
whom
the Spiritual
of light could
altogetiier
unconeeived.
to
come.
future
home.
its
peace.
tilled
with
its
music.
crown
'
104 SPIBITUALISMJEWISH
am
scliool of
my
devoting to Plotinus,
and
it
is
passed unnoticed.
Of
all
Pagan systems
men must
of
still
Buddha and
Christ.
theirs
more intimately
Bralima, and
its
tlie
re-
was
of
The
sublimest form.
it
much
cessors in
most
Docti-ines,
full
not be
1)y
To
\'iolent diseases,
He
Meeting a funeral
105
i-)roces-
foi'ined the
greatly attached to a
Apollonius was
young Greek named Menippus, who
woman
of the city.
When
fortli.
After a
fruitless struggle, it is
said,
the spirit
was
to
sleep.
By temperance and
people.
My
remedy, maintains
my
senses fresh
and unimpaired,
as
it
is
greatest
senses, or
clairvoyance.
5*
106 8PIBITUAL1SMJEWISH
in the
very hour
to bring nearer to
man*
was
which he
felt
He
lived revered
by
all
Long
Ammonius
His
of
tlian
Ammonius
By
these
highest development.
rapidly carried to
said, this
school
its
pro-
higli,
perhaps higher,
10 1
Church
It
was
chiefly
Even
in those early
it is
weed
gourd.
Church of
Christ.
now
libelled as
They claimed
spirits,
perform miracles.
The
among
spirits
were
and faiths.
evil,
sorcerers.
his followers
"
Te cast
Christian, a bisliop of
aright)
Alexandria (Cyril,
if
remember
their
hewed her almost in pieces, and dragged the mangled remains in triumph through the streets. No worse
crime was ever perpetrated by Calvin. Yet there can be
victim,
little
satellites
were rare in the early ages of the Church. Not unChurch had ceased to struggle for existence, and
was become in her turn dominant, did murder assume
a clearly-defined position amongst the duties of her serthis
that
til
vants.
Ammonius
Sacchas in the
He lived
any
Christian
hermit of ancient
ages.
men
flee
from Him.
us.
He
is
Spirits released
present to
from
all,
the hody
immediately near
to each other.
the revelations of
all
Modern
which
Spiritualism go to confirm.
God
communion
'I
is
obtained in ecstasy
ecstasy
being almost
'
109
Like
and healing the most hoi^eless diseases.
he knew himself to be constantly attended by a
guardian spirit, who warned him from evil and inspired
events,
Soi'.rates,
him
to
good.
tliis
of so enlightened a master.
He
life of
it
indus-
Plotinus
with the
greatest care.
Albeit
still
to
'
ance.
He
of
spii'its.
He
ears.
His
life
was passed
He
in a total abstraction
from
and
charity,
between the
priests
of heavenly things.
and God.
It conducts us to a perfect
and
How effectual
often.
it is
How
prayer and
sacrifiije
mutually
make
it
It
CHAPTEE
III.
HAVE now
it.
No
record
is
of the
written in
Charlemagne.
for a space
The demon
to
HI
of St. Peter
tiffseach
selves
the
the nether
He had
Because
made
mock
just able
Nor was
no
to
speak and
men
by bestowing
make a
on children
For dogmas
in
it
And
to inflict death in
blackest hypocrisy.
was not of this world, they handed over to secular executioners the victim
whom
'
it
might be shown.
already determined.
The
Since the
112 SPIBITUALIBMJEWISH
To such men
AND
OSEISTIAJf ERAS.
Few
sures
whom
thi
the Hoods of
mation.
Grace
intc
and
derision of
of monasteries and
ruthlessness,
and
extremel}' mild
that
And
men.
foul.
Thomas Cromwell
oi
The magnificent
pile lies
To
hill
behind,
of an Eve.
to disestablish
in England.
during
his
first
iconoclasts discover
came
Adam
as
off
They learned
Tired of the
literal
wealthiest
interpretation put by
SPIRITUALISM
IHr
CATHOLIC AGES.
113
ibbots
;h()se
ivith
their solitude
the abbey.
iox into
;liat,
forbidden noose of
matrimony.
iltliongh
sin.
had encnmof no
the sixteenth century, were some
than
of the
days
when
gust at this
ers
Such, in
Catholic
power was
at
its
mock
miracle in the
height.
It
was
dis-
whole spiritual
Yet reason might have discovered
much imposture there was assuredly
harvest as worthless.
to
number
In nations
desti-
also in circulation.
Were
possible the
Had
false.
its
limits, the
Romish
114 SPIRITUALISMJEWISH
a
Avitli
work
really
wrought by
spiritual hands,
and (he
that their
It
Such
was one of tlie
Were
counterfeiters
known
desti'action.
among
its
how great would be the amazement of all civilmen when the deed was brought to light
The idea
genuine,
ized
their worst.
was sought
fiction.
to
Kome were
tocjls
From
The
destroyed.
And,
as in the
vehemence of
to
its
reaction against
injured subjects
condign punishment
'
the
nine
The
its
illegal, so
gen- 5
Protestantism has
Those whose
cease. *
faith de-
115
know
that
Rome
is still
made.
to that hierai'chy
which claims
world
phenomena
fail,
new
which,
when
better-attested
whom
not a
consummation devoutly
to
St. Paul's."
be wished, but
This
it
is
;jturn
reformed, Protestantism
/not long
make
|,present day,
uof
liead against
which,
iland a
when
doomed.
Clinrch can-
We
Christianity
from
its
dogmas.
to-
,,ijlay is
Such a foundation
iges of the
iBorgia
\\
is
doctrines,
its
/themselves.
;j)f
Roman
Church.
;"
pilloried
;ions
,yorkers of iniquity
whose
evil
these
"Wherever he went
he approved the
that helieveth in
literal
me
He
At
veterate, but
he
is
He
is
bound
to record.
country was glorified by a constant exhibition of miracuIn one day at Constance his prayers, and
lous powers.
the imposition of his hands, restored sight to eleven
per-
the
enter.
It
Herman, Bishop
they saw.
to what]
others,!
have been drawn up with the express purpose of avoiding cavil, whilst attracting attention. The names and tliei
to
soleniiil#
make oath
ej'es
miracles recorded.
the deaf,
tliej'
blinc^,
117
When
by Bernard.
tonclied
he simplj' jirayed,
liim
the patient
made
was presented
the sign of
tlie
and the cure was perfect. The followwonders wrought in a single day
dumb from
to
cross updii
John
of St.
(at
his mother's
and having been presented to Bernard, in the self -same hour he both
The
lame old
mim was
which, beyond
all
joyful excitement
raised
up and walked.
others, filled
his birth,
from
tlie
We
numerous proofs
by
In the same place a woman who had a withhand was healed. In the town of Rosnay they brought to him in
a wagon a man ill and feeble, for whom nothing seemed to remain but
the grave. Before a number of the citizens and soldiery, Bernard placed
his hands upon him, and immediately he walked without difficulty, and,
any sight could reside.
ered
astonishment of
to the
just before
Next
all,
been carried."
these miracles
" At Toulouse, in the Church of St. Saturninus, was a certain regular
ianon named John. John had kept Ms bed for seven months, and was
BO reduced that his death was expected daily.
His legs were so
iishrunken that
him out
At
He was
When
118 SFIRITUALI8MJEWISH
to
God
'
Behold,
He
man
we
all.
In that
who
did not see it. One of the canons, meeting him, nearly fai
with fright, thinking he had seen a spectre. John and his bret'
then retired to the church, and in a Te Deum gave praise to God.'i
is a.
The
Pen
marvellous and in
miracles
also,
wrough
The
first
and
still
more
Mj
years old.
marvelli
ele
left
nose,
palate.
So
offensive
was the
diss:
institiit
hope
As
stri(
a fori
it
purpose the
To
the
all present,
humor
ceased,
and
all
the decaj
the effusion
in
119
instant.
it
was
young
be celebrated forever
girl, to
Clermont, on
March
their daughter's
24:th of
in the
Cathedral of
instantaneous recovery.
picture of the
Racine
The Arclibishop of
Paris,
and tho
Omnipotence of Grod."
many
it
in his
had
which
healed, the
,
las,
work
,
them.
in
iineans, in others
AND CHRISTIAN
120 SPIRITUALISM-JEWISH
mis-stating the remainder, to
a Christian divine
particular
may
be.
miracles
churchman
ERAS.
" 1.
to use.
all
David
mii-acle
The two
chief
as
occur-
2.
ation."
Were
own
The
least
candid of Protestant
it.
It is sufficient,
j
in the
judgment of
all
who know
XIV.
daughter
121
Wealthy and
geroii
all
idle,
M. de Mont-
court.
deist.
the
succumbed
new
It does
foe.
not
He
'infidelity until
he ridiculed them
^n favor of
him with
a fear
were
lest,
true.
'He determined to visit the scene of these alleged wonjdei-s, and, by calling to his aid the chief medical men of
|Paris,
if
an imposture
He
l|iary
,
first
went to the churchyard alone. The extraordiwhich greeted him, the multitude of afllicted,
scenes
and the fervor of their prayers, touched his heart for the
6
122 SP1BITUALI8MJEWIBE
first
time in
many
Perplexed^ he
fell
him
He
before.
rose a
changed man.
remained kneeling beside the tomb, heedless of the pressure of the crowds around. Day after day he now returned
to the churchyard, and investigated the miracles there
wrought. By this time all Paris was stirred with these
events.
The Jesuits, maddened that such works should
be wrought at the tomb of a Jansenist, had recourse to
the civil power.
All avenues of access to the tomb were
ordered to be closed. It was then, says Voltaire, that
some wit inscribed on the churchyard wall
" De par
De
The remark of
defense a Dieu
en ee
lieu."
by the fact
tradicted
le Roi,
faire miracles
that miracles
at least
God obeyed
still
is con-j
continued to be
Mean-
twenty years.
cians
the
miraculously-healed sufferers
friends
surgeons
of their enemies
;
all
the
attestatiousi
themselves';
of tliein
priests,
123
now attempt
I shall
to give in a brief
Don
of Spain, son of
His
first
The
left
made
its
state
apparently hopeless.
wither also.
famous
with
The nerve of
it,
began to
The
At
intolerable pain.
in
He
to sit
For
tery of Saint
At length his
agony and unceasing prayers wrung forth a consent. He
was carried to the abba's tomb. The journey was not
made
in vain.
On
away
On
fiat
and in ft
two days after
his bandage,
He went
to a life
The story wi
to know what had happened.
and the surgeon declared that no man on earth coui
have restored Senor Palacios to sight, and that a startlir
miracle had been accomplished. A full statement of tl
facts was drawn up, and deposited with the notary publi
At once the clergy began to persecute all coneernei
Senor Palacios returned to Spain, and the terrors of tl
Inquisition were let loose on him. It was at one tin
asserted by the Archbishop of Paris that he had signed
statement denying the miracle. Inquiry being made, tl
highest church dignitary in France appeared to liav
To the last, in spite of menace
deliberately lied.
imprisonment, and the ruin of his worldly prospects, tb
grateful young nobleman continued to avow that he ha
been cured by the hand of God, and that his recovery
sight was in no way owing to the skill of man. Numeroi
amazement
told,
(j
Gendron the
oculist,
Eollii
guet, a physician
ments, and
made
case before
and
Don
Alfonso's
stat(
as a ree
The
sixth of
blindness.
M. de Montgeron's
cases
is
also one o
a village of Languedoc.
left scars
its
power
i
o:
ness, it 3'ielded
and
left
him with no
By
to Paris,
It pierced
125
noth-
and
visited the
restored.
He
famous tomb.
returned with
left
eye
still
remained.
At once
the priesthood
were consulted,
was in arms.
Famous
oculists
by any mortal skill. Again the confessor adgo to Paris, and again he followed the
This second journey to the tomb resulted in per-
obliterated
vised Gaultier to
advice.
fect restoration.
sight of
The
scars
disappeared.
totally
The
Jesuits.
bishop had
perfectly
letter to
proached
accused,
i-e-
126 8PIBITUALI8MJEWISH
He
in Italy.
his sight
was demon-
strated to be perfect.
The Order
The
arrest of Gaultier
was procured
The
statetnent
still
was published.
rela-
to the iutondaut
that they
had
lent themselves to
He
returned amidst
Jesuits
from
the
exultations of
their
effectively.
floclis.
The
Gaultier, freed
been obtained.
In the fifth of these cases the Jesuits once more demonstrated the truth of the assertion contained in M. de
Montgeron's dedicatory preface, that they had used the
most unscrupulous means to suppress the proofs of the
miracles.
The case was tliat of a wool-carder named
.
Vil
abba's grave.
and a persecution
at
He
once commenced.
Still
was driven from Paris, and settled at Eheims.
After fleeing successively
enemies were on his track.
to Dinant,
he boldly
proceeded to
in de-
spair to Paris.
make
who
attended him
is
given by
Montgeron.
I have
that I
gone
can do
miracles.
at
little
Two
to the
remaining
paralysis
sicians
pronounced incurable. Not only, however, was the diswhich consumed her face eradicated, but one-half of
ease
w;ith a
tainted
The
destroyed,
in a
mass
was
When
horrible.
The
est scar.
sion, inquired
the
into
miracle.
They admitted
decisive.
that they
nipple
absolutely
breast," said
destroyed,
M. Goulard,
"
The
restoration
of a
the
is
of a distinct
may here
take
my
an end of
all
Abbe
leave of the
tomb are
we have
If the
Paris.
to be rejected, there is
No
such
In favor of
wrung
from some doctors and frankly granted by others; the
sufferers themselves
Jesuit malice
Against
last that
the dishonest
Cr^at JudcBus !
Tire Lives
of
Protestant minds.
The Pharisee
of
who
believes
that St.
life,
129
and that
not
my
Church
up
business to take
so well able to
shall content
St.
It
defend
Rome. I
work of Mr.
itself as that of
tlie
her saints.
St.
lously protected
from the
falling of a tree.
described in the
tion, as
first
volume of
was
fired at whilst
struck
upon
St.
Such protec-
my
Incidents,
Charles Borromeo
his rochet,
it
could only be by
spirits
equally dark.
when because
St.
Hya-
of a flood no boat
wounds of Christ.
phenomenon has occurred
Church, and never more strikingly than
the five
The
last
Emmerich, Maria von Mori, and Dominica Lazari. Catherine bore the mark of the crown of thorns and was be6*
Her
Dominica
Her marks,
nently.
tlie
also
year 1815.
of Gvevj week.
is
ticular
It
saints.
spirit-power,
Yet such
violations of physical
As
years before.
those on
whom
ferred.
St.
Theresa was
many
Rome
were con-
She relates that frequently during her devoan unseen power raised her, and held her suspended
above the ground. A bishop, a Dominican, and the sisterhood of her convent attest as witnesses her rising in the
In the year 1036, Eichard, Abbot of St. Vanne de
air.
Yerduu, " appeared elevated from the ground as he was
saying mass in presence of Duke Galizon and his sons, and
a great number of his lords and soldiers." Savonarola,
of whom 1 shall have occasion to speak in the following
experiences.
tions
was
slowly from
at a considerable
131
martyrdom, to
"remain suspended
sorbed in devotion."
will be well
it
known
that similar
is
peculiarly
authentic.
very
to
the flames.
Was
Calmet
us that he "
tells
lie,
it
to
knew
a good
it,
Deo.
'
"
'
Gloria in
whom
it
the earth
it
mon
manifestation of
Modern
lamblichus rose
his
gold.
St.
Dnnstan, a
little
ERAS
ecclesiastical
at
it,
his
approaching end.
St. Albert of Sicily, during prayer,
Avas elevated to a height of three cubits.
St. Cajetanus,
St. Bernard Ptolomei, and St. Philip Benitas, were also
To end with
and somewhat nearer to our own
time, the celebrated Anna Maria Fleischer was beheld,
during the period of the Thirty Years' War in Germany,
to be frequently lifted by invisible means " to the height
of nine ells and a half, so that it appeared as if she would
ha^'e flown through the windows."
In days still more
modern similar phenomena were reported of the Seeress
seen frequently thus to rise from the earth.
clerical,
of Prevorst.
It
lie
man who
own
our
is
who
puts credence in
all
mediums in
But he who disbe-
gifts.
any " signs and wonders " can ever have come
is the very one who will denounce the Spiritualism of the present day as nothing more than a gigantic
imposture, and will, sometimes openly, but more often in
secret, hold all miracle impossible, and look upon every
record of spiritual phenomena, whether contained in Scriplieves that
out of
Pome
evidence
is
To such
natures historical
Sceptics so
133
gospel according to Joe Smith, those wretched " explanations " of the simulation of spiritual phenomena which
just
now
it
is
make
sought to
But for the discussion of such matters the concluding portion of this work will be more in place.
faith?
I shall pass
now
dark
to
in
the sense of
Roman
its
Church.
itt,
predicted with
Holiness caused
prison.
its
utterer to be arrested^
and
cast into
the
me
Bernardine
" and the
13'4
prophetess.
still
worthier of
when
pontiff,
the con-
was found
his
owing the
a village
girl,
He
men
on
whom
he thought he
The
Bernardine triumphed. So manifest had been the fulfilment of her prediction regarding
Ganganelli that even partisanship could do nothing. The
girl
any
still
SHADOW OF CATHOLTO
135
SPIRITUALISM.
CHAPTER
rV.
To
that convenient
accusation of
we owe
working miracles
weapon misused
alike
man on whom
Was
it
desired to ruin a
made subservient
mediums as saints.
could be
the
mediums
as wizards.
Nay, so entirely was her recognition of the spiritual governed by worldly policy, that the same man might be at
one time extolled as inspired by the angels of God, and a
powers of
have shown, had recognized
that miracle is a mighty weapon for the advancement of
a faith. When she found a servant of the spirits who was
also content to be her slave, she, to borrow a metaphor
little
later
darkness.
denounced
The Papacy,
as I
136 SPIRITUALIBM-JEWlBn
be.
An
nature gentle as
St.
Bernard's
St.
between
this
Nothing else can explain the frantic outbreaks which so often dismayed Europe during the MidOur fathers, having greater faith than ourdle Ages.
of evil spirits.
quali-
137
fied to
reality.
their
to perceive
faintest
its
They
gleams.
often, however,
in
out
The
and intolerance.
future
As
chapter,
Protestant
Churches
also
with the
themselves
crime of
misplaced zeal
is
Rome.
men
power.
Her two
and "
second was unsparingly used.
138 SPIBITUALIBMJEWISH
of Huss, Oldcastle,
ing
in describ-
subordinate
fiend commissioned
man
cruelty.
human
be too vehement
That
treatment was, over and over again, such as Nero would
It is scarcely too
were
much
to
to the per-
cords.
various
responsible for
139
to infinity, and,
years for
credence.
It is
worthy of remark that the years in which persecuraged most wildly were years in which
spells.
It is not
Jews suffered
tians,
less
The
this
and brought
bound
to the horrors
14:0
"I
command
name of Cliristian
Some may object that
the
defilini
and
;'
that
tli!
wa,s forced to
bj
it.
commanded
Moses.
my
of
Rome.
all
who owned
decrei
as requir
her supremacy,
an(
The
printing,
cloister.
Thi
world of
evil.
Her
pontiffi
unnnmbered
instances,
141
the most
every possible
on the
Purgatory were to them the various parts of a cunninglydevised fable, invented for the pui-pose of bringing
money
Church.
They
knew
that Christ
a dream.
Yet for this impossible
crime they consigned millions to the executioner. Did
my
A genius
surpassing that of
142 8PIBITUALI8M-JEWISB
i|
state for
spiij
world.
and
property or his
life
perhaps
of both.
What
A priest
easier
had
in vai
to the waste
and
more ungovernable
ren
who
pitch.
They encouraged
had
from Lisbon
to
to
their bretl
zeal if they
ligh
in this
simila
not.
143
work with
sa+isfied
was
to be
Outside the
among
Eomau
pale
the
all
classed as of the
Satan over
mundane
affairs
became
by a supposititious
Bacon discovered
a method of butter-making superior to that practised by
her neighbors if a Gutenberg invented the printingmachine, or a cow produced a five-legged calf, Bacon
and the old dame, Gutenberg and the cow were equally
deuouueed as emissaries of Hell.
I^ay, the faith in
144 SPIRITUALISMJEWISH
The
day.
first
into Scot-
Hell."
all
Home
to inspire
and
it
by
The reproach
policy.
of England, she
country sat
among
the judges
who
is
Churchmen
latter
at once the
of her
own
Talbot, Bed-
girl.
that she
145
They had
brilliant
when,
after
advancing almost
to the
Mediterranean, the
and her
false friends
appeared
Neither party
hand of God.
The doubtful
sort of
halo which
hung
the
It was
Church could recognize
to
its
traditions.
At
first
And
it
de-
the perjuries
14:6
when so much of the infamy of persecuwas to be obtained, if the priesthood had not contrived
to come in for the largest share.
Joan belonged to the village of Domremj', in what is
now the department of the Vosges. In early childhood
unearthly voices sounded in her ears whilst she tended
sheep in the fields. Soon majestic forms, which she believed to be those of St. Margaret and St. Catherine,
appeared to her in all the glory of another world. They
were sent to prepare the little peasant maiden for her
appointed task. During the next few years Joan lived
the happiest and most spiritual of lives a life that could
She drank in the lessoua
scarcely be considered of earth.
of her guides, and gazed with reverent delight on their
glorious forms.
She was clasped in their arms, and felt
the loving kisses and embraces of these sistere gone before.
Were they absent from her she passed the hours in an
expectant longing for their presence, and kissed frequently
the turf whereon they had appeared to stand. Her every
thought was of her guides, her single prayer to be forever
witii them in the land where there are no more tears.
" When I saw my saints," said she to the tribunal which
murdered her, " I wished to follow them to Paradise."
At length this happy existence ceased. Henceforth her
life was to be one of action and endurance, of glorj',
agony, despair. A voice like a trumpet announced to lier
one day that the work was ready and the hour for attempting it at hand. By her means the banner of St. Denis
was to advance to victory, and that of St. George to fall
from its high estate. She was appointed by Heaven the
deliverer of France.
Great renown would be hers, but
strange indeed,
tion
still
greater pain.
would be by her
side,
And
brightest
and
voices
the example
SHADOW OF CATHOLIC
SPIItlTUALISM.
147
of the
Christ
Man
of Sorrows
had expired
crown.
in agony,
slie
The
the world.
to over-estimate.
it is difficult
In the conquest
been mined.
would have
on the conqueror.
The
aggrandizement would have occupied the sovereigns of the unwieldy empire which, at first
that of Great Britain and France, must speedily have
become that of France and Great Britain. Constantly
conquered, would have fallen
desire of a yet further
forced to
The
tached to France.
exalted at
its
at-
larger country
neighbor's expense.
have arisen.
their country,
and
injuries of
fathers
148 SPlEITUALISM-JEWiaU
ended, as such conflicts must of necessity end, in the sepaEngland would have been
ration of the two realms.
again
tlie
as consolation for a
union would
averted.
For
have
familiar.
by
threats,
it
hidderi himself.
BEABOW OP OATEOLIO
149
SPIRITUALISM.
Domremy was
and to
This
city,
was at iis
announced
that
confidently
had
The besiegers
last gasp.
It was the crisis
they would capture it by a certain day.
She
suc-
At
garrison.
the head of
She purified
tlie
inoi-als,
By
the
vowed
The
relief of
Orleans dissolved
to take
with sudden
disdainfully
and striking
disaster.
They had
suffered
defeat at the
Among
fear.
150 SPIBITUALISM-JEWISH
At
back
his
side.
Joan threw herself at the feet of the new-made soveand earnestly implored that she might be allowed
reign,
to retire.
Her
in token of
this,
become silent.
She could no longer be of use, and awful misfortunes
threatened her. In violation of the duties of gratitude,
in
Tlie
fate.
all
still
in France.
It
concerned in
it
as blots
on the human
now
species.
forced
Now
to assume
that the
At
sport.
SHADOW OF CATHOLIC
151
8PIB1TUALI8M.
up
was fixed in
Weeping bitterly, and claspthe market-place of Kouen.
ing a crucifix to her breast, the unhappy maiden of nineShe was chained to
teen passed to the scene of death.
The captains
the post, and brushwood heaped around her.
of England and Burgundy, and certain churchmen of
France, looked on with the implacability of a cold and
unmanly hate. The pile was kindled, and the flames rose.
Speedily the dense smoke hid forever from sight the form
Inferno of Dante, and in that deed to hold themselves
to the detestation
of
all
posterity.
stake
Dark Ages,
tlie
most un-
the
or compassion.
name
In a
lesser degree
of Shakespeare.
The
it
soils
piincipal
indifferent
was a likeness or
instauce, the
.a
caricature.
whether
tlie
In the present
of a strumpet
and a witch.
lie.
She was pure in
and the purest of spirits ministered to her.
'The misdirected genius of even the prince of dramatists
her.
evei-y respect,
152 SPIRITUALISMJBWISE
cannot sully her fame
Voltaire.
Heaven.
to
be
Whilst
death came.
spirits
insurmountable.
attempted a
When
human
calculation were
and perished.
lier
truly was.
tlie
An
Historians
to account
entlmsiast
siie
in the highest
tainty
of inspiration
It
plished.
simple country
girl,
armies of France.
|when most
girls are
affairs of love,
ust
At
of
an age
when he
Not
153
less
than
Enoch did she walk with God. Like Moses she led a
nation out from the house of bondage and the translation
of Elijah pales before the tragic grandeur of that flaming
chariot in which she was whirled away to hear the words,
"Well done, thou good and faithful servant," and to
receive the diadem of unspeakable brightness promised to
all who in the cause of truth endure steadfastly unto the
;
end.
He
became
his crimes.
his eyes
which he saw."
He
He
had
mad
in great
Spiritual counsel
measure the
gifts of
was
medi-
The most
spacious
buildings were too small for the crowds that listened with
He
be sustained.
therefore to
its
'
155
raculoas
In his
deumed
as a sorcerer,
and
in
company with
two adhe-
his
is
designs
monk, learned,
pious, accepting
is
is
work of
that manifestations
Reduced
which in
in the other,
to its simplest
form the
that
when
accepted as such.
accept
Church was
and
must be
Europe did so
infallible,
And
it
it
when
156 SPIBITUALI8MJEWISH
His success in the pulpit induced the jealousy of other priests, and a conspiracy was
formed to ruin him. In Loudun was a convent of Ursuline muis.
These women were instructed to feign themselves possessed by devils, and to charge Grandier with
having brought about the possession. The Archbishop of
Bordeaux investigated the case, and acquitted the accused
He
i-esign
and remove from the neighboi-hood of his implacable enemies. Grandier obstinately rfused. Another
plot was formed.
Some unknown wit had produced a
satire on Richelieu, then the real ruicr of France.
It
was declared that the priest of Loudun was the author.
his benefice,
The
tried
repeatedly,
the boot which the last alid worst of the evil Stuart
inflicted
on the Scottish
"When bones and flesh had been crushed
into a mangled mass, Grandier was carried to the place
At the instant the pile was
of execution, and burnt alive.
lighted ho summoned Father Lactance, a chief amongst
his murderers, to meet him in a month before the judgment-seat of the Eternal God. Lactance, perfectly well
when the summons was delivered, died at the prescribed
The nuns who had been tutored to act the possesstime.
ed continued to behave as though inspired by Beelzebub
himself.
Of
appear
to
157
known
The
cardi-
nal's
piinish\nent
face to face.
charge of sorcery.
The blood
of
agonies
we know
little.
There
are, indeed,
hideous records
Europe
into
opportunity to penetrate.
158 BPIBITUALISM-JEWISS
rights.
and nobler
CHAPTER
THK
SPIEITtJALISM OF
and at
ami has for
truly Christian,
policy.
V.
saints,
whose bones
"
!
the Alps."
by
weakest of
whom had
all sides
a hundred
They were
neither to be
and
As
in Pales-
were frequently
so
The
truth
The
tic
of
valleys of the
nature's strongholds.
Hemans
last.
We
Where the
For above ten centuries the attack and defence continued. Rome gave no quarter.
Her desire was to extirpate these heretics
With
all
the
160 SPIRITUALISMJEWISH
AND CHRISTIAN
ERAS.
Home when
his bones
were
torn
the
Baltic.
devilish
in
In those Eden-
Italy.
women
defence of
their
the
the
down
rocks
of
men
slain
their last
soldier of
Cromwell
The
stood
voice of the
persecution
ruler of
Tlie
Eome
hastened to give
of Savoy.
An army
tlie
was
more marched
into the
Northern Piedmont. The last and most merof the Waldensian persecutions commenced.
fastnesses of
ciless
Of
accounts.
longer
little
itself
and can no
Piedmontese community
so long and so well.
Of
some are given by the Yaudois themsome by their persecutors, some by their friends.
these narratives
selves,
We
how
the
little
AND CHRISTIAN
JSBAS.
tenable,
tlie
It
told
is
when
retreat.
had
brushwood the mouths of the caverns
Yaudois had taken refuge, and had
us that
wherein
certain
times their
number
powers of Hell.
tf)
were joined
made
to hers.
The
allies,
doomed
race.
down
their arms.
Among
Henri Arnaud.
Three
Piedmont
band
valleys.
killed
It
amounted
to seventy.
At
"
"Who
is
so dull," cries
Arnaud,
''
God
men, without
whom
all
Northern Italy
nition,
No
tlie
thein.
It
164 SPiniTUALISM-JEWISH
little
discomfiture of Lewis.
Three
The Duke
of Savoy might
still
occasionally venture on
an end.
It
was
not,
to
Tlie
SPIRITUALISM WALDEN8ES
AND
villages
CAMISABDS.
Sometimes,
in
165
the
The
in
a solitai'y
pastoi'
traveller.
The
to
little flock
shadow
gathered I'ound
psalmody of the district. Ministers and hearers belong to some village nigh at hand that
is destitute of a church.
It was destroyed probably during the war of the Cevennes.
Nothing in the annals of France can interest a Spiritualist more than the events of that wonderful strug'S'le.
The evidences of spiritual intervention are still more
simple aiid monotonous
the words
calmer hours.
prime of
life.
The Samson
men
in the
166 SPIBITUALiaM-JEWIBE
AND CBBIBTIAN
BBA8.
directed
At
tli
who
filled these
gaps exhibited
all
commencement of the
Thus the motley appearance of the little army was
war.
never wholly effaced. Beside men splendid with uniforms torn from the dead captains of Loiiis the Great,
fought hungry peasants clad in little more than a tattered
blouse,
who mowed
fields.
And
weaponless men.
The power
whom
and almost
of undisciplined
company
a single
of dragoons
The
priesthood
owed
to the influence of
owed
we
Catiiulic
Madame Maintenou
lion of citizens,
of soldiers
and the
on a peaceful and
its
inoffensive
race.
The
to
them missionaries
in
have desired.
They quartered themselves perforce on the objects of
their solicitude.
They commenced
industriously to fur-
Some of
their
shot.
Maidens
168 SPIBITUALISMJMWISH
The
AND
0HBI8TIAN' ERAS.
Although
th<
malaria, insufficient
many were
teeth.
light,
unrecognizable.
Others liad
It
The
their efforts.
had
It
was owing
to
be confessed.
to
no lack
Yet, although so
many
heretics
had
of
They had
the
perished,
It
was necessary
for .a Catholic
The
tJiat
true course
subjects as Israel
and Ai.
Marshal Montrevel
tribute to
each
doomed
its
and child
who
and
and
who should
troop of soldiers,
slay every
to dis-
raze every
man, woman,
The
trained in the
Europe.
to
to astonish
spiritual manifestation
world.
They
2)atois of
the
Camisards
who would
in triumph to their
fall.
They warned
named
They
their
those of the
of those
stroying angel.
fatigue.
The veteran
but bis
beneath the heat and burden of the conflict
peasant adversary fought on steadily to the end. Spirits
;
were
at
hand
to
strengthen the
arm of every
patriot.
The
patriots, as I have
thousand men.
They slew
tlaeir
was orderly
in
Through
man had
troops of
whom
He
He
he was commander-in-chief.
and prophesied in
his exer-
their midst.
He
prayed
caused magazines
to
precaution
lasted long
Save
for
Laporte,
surrendered
or
BPISITUALISM WALDENSE8
starved.
Nor was
it
onlj' in
AND
0AMI8ABDS. 171
through the spiritually-directed genius of this extraordinary man, the persecutors were, against their will, compelled to be of service to the persecuted.
like the Christ
whom
The
patriots,
Laporte gave them for abodes the casand chateaux of their enemies. Retreats had been
constructed for the wounded, but beds, surgical appli-
ances and
medicines
were wanting.
At
He
forced
the
sought to entrap,
whom
first
all.
Cavallier had a
In battle his
of the Camisards.
clustered thickest
Where
enemy
itself
At
a terrible path.
the
almost every
seems
to
have excelled
As
botli
a cav-
Rupert
172
efforts of the
whole
chiv-
It
whom,
if
Was
which he fought
The only
is
when
in
in-
him.
in
skill in arms
his
to
career of glory
peasant,
He knew
re-
nothing of
his
deserves to
that,
battle
of
be termed
striking.
whilst uneducated,
with
all
Murat ?
and
still
I answer, as
it
then
God.
While he listened
was invincible.
When
by
and chosen of
guides he
rely on his own
spirits
he came to
strength he fell.
In
was
Once,
at a place
He
and the
could
now
them
fire.
I select a
at Serignan
by a me
named Clary, in the presence of Colonel Cavallie
and many spectators, some time in August, 1703. "Whils
entranced, he was commanded by his guides to place him
diura
Around
was selected
low hills, wher(
spot
The flames
died.
ing
satisfied
speedily shot
Psalm
" Beuis le Seigneur,
mon dme
Villars,
imperatively
arts of
He induced Cavallier to
gave hostages for tlie
and
appoint a meeting at Nismes,
duly came off.
conference
The
hero.
young
of
the
safety
The marshal exerted his utmost subtlety. In presence of
the dangers menacing France, it was time that this fratriThe king had empowered him
cidal war should cease.
His
to offer liberty of conscience to the brave Oevennois.
majesty desired, moreover, to form of them a regiment
the
new
royalist
commander.
Besides, his
majesty's
He
Marlborough and Eugene, he would accord them whatsoever privileges they desired
absent.
tract
to
yielded.
He
summon
to other fields of
He announced
to
be granted.
liberty
"
At once Laporte
own
was henceforth
started forward.
God
"
the treaty.
No
"What
unless the
churches, with
all
the rights
!!
176 SPIRITUALISMJEWISH
and guarantees of
arms in their hands
citizens,
"
him
He
drowned
strove to explain.
his voice.
who
hs
cheerfully to apparent
Tlien
Fresh clamors
himself heard.
Silently,
chief.
The
last time,
of the days
victory
its
seized the
own
sight.
He
styled himself
Duke
of the Cevennei
and boasted that the country was his, won by his swore
His guardian angels left him, and with them went victorj
Lured into an ambush by a traitor, the unfortunate her
died, fighting to the last.
Two
177
PB0TE8TANT SPIRITUALISM.
nel
and Catenat, were burnt alive at Nismes, almost withwhere, two years before, the
to
Holland.
It is scarcely necessary
to the
Cevennes.
of the Cevennois.
petty bands,
and the
and Diderot
efforts of their
cessation of the
arose.
followers, was
To
their efforts,
owing the
final
Men who
CHAPTER
VI.
PROTESTANT SPIEITTJALISM.
If there were heroes before
also
reformers
before Luther.
Agamemnon,
I
there were
have instanced the
8*
178 8>ntITUALlSMJEWISH
The
Manicliseans, Pelagians,
To uncon"Whilst the
could induce
Him
to arrest the
wire.
At
to the waist.
all its
powers against
the
PROTESTANT SPIRITUALISM.
179
new mania.
Scourg-
ing themselves until the blood streamed down, and chanting wildly the " Dies Irse," they created everywhere an
extraordinary excitement.
were
to
It
mania ended.
It
They outdid
in wild-
Half-naked and
Germany and
them
as
the Netherlands.
by
angels.
from
their
own
Although
orgies, the
for a
new
Chui'ch.
They
Exorcism having been tried in vain, the aid of the secular power was
invoked. With much slaughter the heretical mania was,
abgut the year 1418, finally put down.
Among the noblest precursors of the Reformation were
the Lollards.
Their leader, Wickliffe, was assuredly infinitely superior to Calvin and Knox, and will scarcely
suffer even by comparison with Luther or Zwinglius.
The imperfect accounts of his career remaining to us do
not permit of any very confident statements regarding his
That he deemed himself
possession of spiritual gifts.
a prophet sent of God to rebuke the corruptions of the
Church is certain. That he raised against himself a
storm yet more terrible than that which sent Savonarola
Whether he was throughout life
to the stake is also clear.
plundered monasteries, and slew
priests.
known.
The
central
Luther.
Solitary, but
to
dimmed
Prejudices
Passions caused
it.
The lamp
at
it
to flicker
as
and
useful.
The same
like
is
an
light-house
of cloud.
that glory
The
is
yet there.
PROTESTANT SPIRITUALISM.
crudity of those parts on
to
which the
We
chisel
181
seems scarcely
and de-
see magniiicence
Inquisition.
It is
as
tain
others
hacked marble.
clared
it
who
to the
eternity,
all
He
When-
James in such rejection there was nothing blamaThe gentle teachings of James accorded ill with
the austerity of the Lutheran scheme of salvation, and the
" I hold," said he, " that
great Reformer rejected them.
tle
of
ble.
is of none authority."
As he dealt with
he dealt with other Scriptural writers. He admitted that it is absurd to regard the Bible as altogether
" These good and true teachers and searchers,"
infallible.
says he, in speaking of the prophets, " fell sometimes upon
hay and straw, sometimes on pure gold and precious
stones."
He took, therefore, from the Scriptures what-
this
Epistle
James
so
or
own
belief,
hastily slurred
it
over.
182 SPlBrriTALISMJUWISS
who do
not
receive the bread as His body, and the wine as His blood,
deny Him, and bring upon themselves the doom, " Depart,
Church of Rome
He
judgment.
raged
predominated.
What was
it
to
spirits
I think
His
were those
of a
to content themselves
PROTESTANT SPIRITUALiaM.
183
;h.
They
kin-
sent
his side.
When he fainted they inspired
he was surrounded by dangers they raised
Q up friends. No wonder that his deeds were great.
wonder that his words were, as Longfellow has dely
were at
Q.
When
Ee
im God.
a fiend.
raghts.
however, a
spirit
directly manifest,
it
conti-ived to
was
at
its
es of
make
once objurgated
istant
;
If,
more
jsence
rid
The
raghts
He had
sham mir-
ioncile this
Luther's
.pegoat of Satan.
Tally
On
a certain
od Friday, whilst he was in fervent prayer, there aphim, in his chamber, a bright vision of Christ,
was at the very moment of the apparition ecstati-
ired to
ther
184
on the inestimable
the spectacl
from it. " A
Presently 1 reflected
vision.
benefits c
Far
?
had been some celestia
that it must needs be ai
it
t-
'
'
He
tells ui
He
would make
visitec
noises as of
witnessed in our
own
spirits
ai
con-
Who
"
He
is
not,
it
is
true,
exactly a doctor
who
baa
He relates
PB0TE8TANT SPIRITUALISM.
how Satan
him
vanqiiislied
practice of celebrating
mass
in an
185
privately.
in the habit
night a spirit
came
hailed
it
to him.
The
An argument commenced
a strange
One
The
spirit
maintained that the wafer and wine were not really converted into the
Christ.
It
rebuked
Luther for his foolish belief that such a change could take
place.
private, a rite
From
masses.
to private
God
such a
It is strange that
so
Luther's
He
saw
work of
"Every tree is
phenomena he
He
Sod.
known by
For
all
said,
spiritual
Ye
ievil."
It
is,
"
and reels
to
History,
light.
placing in the one scale his vices and mistakes, and in the
other his virtues and mighty deeds, sees the former balance fly rapidly upward, and cries, " This was a man
!
however
horrible, to
He
His single
shrank from no consequence,
which
his
evil.
He
does.
sin occurs
of
by the
a loving Father.
tions hated
by
their Creator.
excep-
before
Human
less.
righteousness
is
a filthy rag.
is
use-
The most
God
of
of the world.
"
There
is
finds nothing in
men which
equally to
He
all."
lay like
who pretend
that grace
is offered
de-
PROTESTANT SPIRITUALISM.
187
It
was made
illegal to
course of
dinner,
tart.
The fashion
scribed.
which hair was to be cut was prewas made of all the romances and
Sunday became the only holithe city.
in
bonfire
playing-cards in
day.
" he
hind.
who
be-
diso-
death.
And
this
infernal
They
earnestness with
Not
so
memory.
No
No
when
the news
Restitutio
that little
came
mount with
it
were
whom
memory
of a
Had
how
my
since.
infinitely happier
at the present
in-
man who
day
The
patriot
and
iconoclast,
who knew
meek Hamilton,
the
1 pause a
189
PB0TE8TANT SPIRITUALISM.
was far freer from error. There are few more beautiful
aspirations than that Confession of Faith, in which he anticipates
all
the saintly,
the
of Israel shall
upright and holy of all creeds and every era dwell forever
in the presence of their
tian of the sixteenth
pel died a
man
Honor
God.
century
On
who believes that the love of God is over all His children.
The name of Ulrich Zwinglius may well serve for a foil
As in battle his place was before the
to tliat of Calvin.
ranks of Zurich, so in liberality he was before all the
There are few divines, even in
theologians of his time.
martyr's
Perceiving him to be
drew
near,
still alive,
my
shall within
as
he
is
a few days
now
lie in
A week or
two
190 8P1BITUAL1SMJEWISH
Numerous
On
were reared.
The
Protestant
various
Church, found
it
Churches, like
to
whom
the
nation.
Catholic
much
A
an
folly
trials
and were
PB0TE8TANT SPIRITUALISM.
191
phenomena described at these trials a striking simiphenomena of the present day. There
clairvoyance, trance-speaking, the moving of heavy
ihe
larity to spiritual
ire
articles
ipparitions of spirit-hands
roices,
wildest
jf
the age
the
day
is
to carefully
of
attested,
and
tiorrible
or absurd.
The
ful.
to bring
Of
senility of
is
is
plenti-
mob, the
for witchcraft,
ders enacted
ridicule
As was
The divines
of Scotland,
Whether
death of a witch
To bind
to
the
192 SPIBITUALISMJEWISE
wretched
sufferer
hand and
up
to the
head
and
in
this
condi-
in her flesh
cart's tail
to
these
tc
whip her
were the
amusements of
foot,
their lives.
supposed sorcerers had almost ceased by the commencement of William the Third's reign in Scotland it was
scarcely yet at
its
height.
Nor
One
JSTumbers of supposed
A wretched patriarch
He
And
hand
chi'oni-
room
i:)resent,
would
name
I.,
How
how
I afford to
fill
of
cases,
193
PROTESTANT SPIRITUALISM.
Few
Buckingham's
elated to the
Buckingham
family.
He
way
The
spirit
The
to
and
aade a communication.
The medium went next morning
Villiers House.
He obtained an audience, and related
he whole facts of the case to the duke. Buckingham was
stounded, and confessed the secret which forined the
redentials of the messenger to be one he had thought
:nown only to God and himself. He exacted a promise
spirit consented,
f silence.
194 SPIRITUALISMJEWISH
Lis child
over, the
to
and not his spouse was dead. There is, morefamous liistory of Lord Tyrone's visit after death
Lady Beresford,
the
dame who
" wore for evermore,
A covering on
her wrist,"
tlie
spirit.
ton
seized on the
time he died.
of
and passed away shortly afterwards. At Waltham, in Essex, a spirit announced to Sir Charles Lee's
daughter her approaching death, which took place with
the utmost suddenness at the hour indicated.
In the
i-eign of William III., a Catholic gentleman named
Prendergast gave information to the king which led to
the discovery of the Assassination Plot, and the execution
of many of the conspirators, among them Sir John
Friend.
Years later, when Pj'endergast was fighting;
under Marlborough, Friend appeared to him, and predicirj
ed his death on a certain day. The doomed man made
J
known what had occurred to him. The appointed dayj
came and a battle was fought. At its close Prenderga^}
herself,
still
lived.
officer.
order to
Even
brother!
replieil
as he spoke ai
195
PBOTESTANT 8P1S1TUALISM.
;a8t
dead.
fell
|uoted.
One
lis
'estations.
He
lerved.
:hat
life
heard voices.
he became as
;hen that
it
were one of
its
inhabitants.
It
was
A captive in
countenance makes
were continually at his side. In few
rf his subsequent writings do we trace any resemblance
bo the wonderful story of the pilgrimage of Christian.
The Holy War, perhaps, affords some traces of the genius
which beams so resplendently from every page of Bun-
region
3ternal day.
Spirits
But how
yan's masterpiece.
which
marvellous
tells
how
com-
of that
from
to taste
of
its
glories
how
Death how to the sound of celestial music, and canopied by the wings of the Shining
Ones, he passed with Hopeful through the heavenly gate,
depths of the River of
whom
Maker
work had been produced which can be forwhen all memory of the English language
shall have perished from among men.
A lesser light was George Fox. " This man, the first
of the Quakers, and by trade a shoemaker, was one of
his
gotten only
prophets, God-possessed."
light
cave."
his
over-
madman.
solely to his
may be advanced
him
as
dii'ected
for revering
him
he persisted
in,
foremost of
justly
warmth of
Iiis
nature, pronounce
it
strengtli
one in which
certain qualities
rendei'S
|'
and'j
|''
197
PROTESTANT SPIRITUALISM.
life is
when it had long been impotent. At Ulverwas himself instantly made whole by his spirit'uardians, after having been beaten almost to death by a
'erocions mob.
He frequently proved himself possessed
his
)f
arms,
tone he
the
)f
power of prophecy.
)y
a circle of
the
The rappings
in the
The
first
to
be
an Magazine.
Had
tance
V"esley, senior's.
198 BPIBITUALISMJEWISH
words
"
observed that
for the king.
She
The knocking
at once ceased.
AVhen,
foot the
gentle tappiiig
number of noises was repeated.
bed -head of the children began at the same honr
every night. At length the spirit grew weary of its fruitTowards the end of its endeavors to communiless efforts.
exact
at the
He
therefore retired in
disgust.
Spiritual gifts
the
last
To
sermon was a
defence
|R;
^j^j'.i'w -
199
PBOTMSTAWT SPIRITUALISM.
our
in
own
day,
cried
men
whole
with spirits be admitted their (the unbelievers')
reason,
no
know
I
ground.
the
falls
to
air
the
in
castle
therefore,
why we should
suffer this
weapon
to be wrested
Here
this
England
Wishart.
so
common
in
spiritual
the one
When
demon
The simple
time
way
for the
triumph of
infidelity.
The
disbeUef in a hereafter,
testifies, is
fruit
mind
a widespread
200
CHAPTER
VII.
There
is
Upper
Lusatia
year 1575
tliey
had a son
whom
In the
This
was the divinely-illnminated Jacob Behmen the Teutonic philosopher whom God raised up to show the ground
of the mystery of nature and grace, and open the wonders
of His wisdom."
Such is the enthusiastic language which the biographer
of
Behmen
If
Isaac Newton.
Serious
Gall,
his
Few
day.
201
are to be
experiences
of Jacob's spiritual
teachings,
his
signs,
his
truer
which
is still
home
modern
He
man
of
was, per-
times.
that world as
Its inhabitants
Than
loafing
upward
in their footsteps.
Where
and
yes-
Galileo,
of his ancient
9*
persecutors painfully
commencing the
No
of the
fittest."
Man
was to ascend, and that eternity was given him for the
accomplishment of that destiny. Sin was recognized as a
disease, and suffering as the remedy of that disease.
Every
Progress was light. Stagnation was darkness.
good deed accomplished, every bad passion trampled
under foot brought the soul a degree nearer to its God.
Those children alone knew true happiness who did con-
The
mind
of
man
is
The
It is
Had
a creature of this
and cities. Statues rose in his honor. The pens of eminent writers were employed to canonize or defame him.
Could any name be more secure of immortality ? Could
203
And Swedenborg!poor
and dreamed dreams.
Tot the prophet is likely to be mentioned with reverbe more enviable?
any
lot
fool
who saw
ence
one
when
the conqueror
is
does earth
owe
to Frederic
teach us
That great
the
that a
series of desolat-
What
qualities
it.
The work of
forgotten.
is
What
visions
that
it is
possible for a
efforts
making
it
long spent
arisen
itself.
has lost
its interest,
the
War
of the Prag-
War
of the
events.
The thrones
But
that
We
is
extinguished.
its
rage.
No
grief.
host
levying contributions.
is
Ko
Austrian
and Swedenborg
The warrior
The one
is
the seer
to fight her
God
man
own way,
are hers."
Those, then,
where tokens of
tincture
their
a different fashion.
" moved the minds
Swedenborg
is it
in
He
SPIRITUALISM OF
natural
205
at the pres-
is
always of more
I select,
certain Frauleiu
von Knobloch.
all
issue of doubt.
"In
month
Gottenburg from England, Mr. WUliam Castel invited him to his house
with fifteen other persons. About six o'clock in the evening Swedenborg went out, and returned shortly to the company, pale and disturbed.
He said that at that moment there was a terrible conflagration raging ia
Stockholm, on the Siidermalm, and that the fire was increasing. Gottenburg lies three hundred miles from Stockholm. He was uneasy, and
frequently went out. He said that the house of one of his friends,
was already laid in ashes, and that his own house was in
At eight o'clock, after he had again gone out, he said joyfully
the fire is extinguished the third door from my very
God be praised
whom he named,
danger.
'
house.'
same evening. Next morning he sent for Swedenand asked him about the matter. Swedenborg described exactly
the conflagration how it had begun and the time of its continuance.
As the governor had given attention to the story, it occasioned a still
greater commotion throughout the city, where many were iu great
On Monday
conce:^ji on account of their friends and their property.
evening arrived in Gottenburg a courier who had been despatched by
the merchants of Stockholm during the fire. In the letters brought by
him the conflagration was described exactly as Swedenborg had stated
On the Tuesday morning a royal courier came to the governor with
it.
the account of the fire, of the loss it had occasioned, and of the houses
which it had attacked hot in the least differing from the statement
made by Swedenborg at the moment of its occuiTence, for the fire had
been extinguished at eight o'clock.
Now what can anyone oppose to the credibility of these occurrences ? The friend who writes these things to me has not only examined
into them in Stockholm, but about two months ago in Gottenburg,
where he was weU known to the most distinguished families, and where
he could completely inform himself from a whole city, in which the
short interval from 1756 left the greater part of the eye-witnesses still
He has at the same time given me an account of the mode in
living.
which, according to the assertion of Baron Swedenborg, his ordinary
to the governor the
borg,
'
'
as
weE
With
feelings of admiration
and
affection I take
my
Swedish
seer.
207
make no attempt
to
life
them
Thomas
with
prehend
to
how
com-
among mankind."
fathers
their
were
all
command
He
lived
university,
itself
genuine.
At times marvellous
He commenced
occurrences sustained
his studies, as I
208 SPIRITUALISMJEWISH
mented him did not for an instant cause his trust in God
to waver.
He met an acquaintance, whom he terms Leibmann. " Where," said this last. " do you get money for
your studies ? " " From God," was Stilling's reply. " I,"
said Leibmann, " am one of God's stewards," and handed
the penniless youth thirty-three dollars.
sent
He
afterwards
three hundred.
By these
and similar acts of kindness Stilling was enabled to struggle on until he had obtained his diploma. He then married, and commenced practice as a physician.
His capital
was five rix-dollars.
The fight was sharp. In the midst of his difficulties he
contracted an intimate acquaintance with Goethe, Herder,
and otliers of the leaders of German thought. The first
and greatest of these became warmly attached to him. He
urged him to write memoirs of his life. Stilling consented,
and, in a period of great adversity, accomplished the
task.
He
was appointed Professor of Agriculture at EittersIn Eiberfeld, where he had settled to practice as a
physician, he owed eight hundred dollars, and knew not
berg.
sand
six
hundred and
fifty
to him,
exactly the
that he owed.
His whole
209
abounds
life
spiritual
Of
the latter
we
state of
took
quite
why
the whole
work
composition quite
the
it
were,
heayenlyimagery presented
itself to his
inward
He
attempted to delineate it, but found this impossible ; with the imagery there was always a feeling connected, compared with which all the joys of sense are as
sense.
nothing.
This
author of
Stilling utterly
"
"'
"
How,
Mount
Sinai, in the
Monas-
the matter
On
is in truth and
such a thing cannot
retired, dissatisfied.
of Lavater.
In a
letter,
Zurich, he informed
him
he had felt
suddenly a deep impression that a violent and bloody end
awaited the great Switzer. He desired that this might
be communicated to him. Exactly three months later the
that, whilst writing,
so,
citing that
In/oisible
so forcible
the
an apology
oned
fools
'
shame."
Zschokke was by birth a German, by adoption a Swiss.
He combined the almost irreconcilable attributes of a
profound thinker and an energetic man of action. Devoted, during the greater part of his life, to the public
yet allowed
him
to
211
"
has happened to
It
me
my first meeting
particular scene in that Ufe, has passed quite involunwere dream-like before me. During this time I usually
feel so absorbed in contemplation of the stranger-Uf e that I no longer
see clearly the face of the unknown, wherein I undesignedly look, nor
distinctly hear the voices of the speakers, which before served in
some measure as a commentary to the text of their features. For a
long time I held such visions as delusions of the fancy; the more so
that they showed me even the dress and motions of the actors, the
By way of test I once, in a,
rooms, furniture and other accessories.
and as
tarily,
it
who had
'
'
first
life
to him.
We
speculated long on the enigma, but even his penetration could not
solve
it.
less confidence
I revealed
my
not
or
new
person, I regularly
I felt
so.'
when
will
a secret shudder
their astonishment
One fair-day in the city of Waldshut I entered the Vine Inn in company with two young student-foresters.
We supped with a numerous company at the table d'hote,
where the guests were making very merry with the peculiarities and
which pre-eminently astounded me.
ognomy,
etc.
One
of
my
On
Justiiiins
Kerner.
published
in
Pseudo-scientists, as
easy derision.
it
with much
all that
last
frailest of threads.
the doctor
213
visions
utmost harslmess.
As
"
it
is
from
patient.
to a
"
world of
spirits
spirit,
and belonged
and was more than half dead. In her sleep only was she
Way, so loose was the connection between
soul and body that, like Swedenborg, she often went out
of the body and could contemplate it separately
truly awake.
He
was
what he regarded as a pernicious and degrading superHe denounced their faith from the pulpit. He
stition.
it
He
in private.
set
himself to reason
215
down
the chimera.
him regarding
world, counselled
Occasionally she
These
visits
was
good
pastor,
Then
a spirit-mes-
communion
so suddenly brought to
might extend
the introduction,
Ennemoser, the brilliant Kant, the great SchilGoethe to all these the next world was
brought close, and their faith in its realities made more
vivid by the veil which drapes that world being at mothe diligent
ler,
the greater
In
our
own
country,
in
I turn, therefore,
great-
whom
I have
of the
mind rest on
Compared
!
How many
of us,
if
womanhood, the
In that mind
it is
In composing the
of the Suvernatural.
first
me by Mr. Wm.
my work,
great
MODERN SPIRITUALISM.
CHAPTER
I.
INTEODUOTOET.
The chapters now opening are
will
my
prove to
tant of the
to myself,
and I
trust
readers, the
volume.
which
my
life
seem
at present
my
almost hidden.
And
I cannot
by which
it
is
common as between a
mud which may happen to cling to
and the
this, and guided by promptings altogether
apart from my own mind, I determined to write a work
in which, whilst the beauty and radiance of the truth were
precious stone
it.
Perceiving
sufficiently
it,
were
MODEBN
218
me
gives
to
my own
SPIRITUALISM.
me
to the
minds
title to
be
ingly to fulfil
and unshrink-
it.
facts,
That
upon
all
my
side,
am
certain.
That
tliat
all
the
truth.
truth will be
made
my
moment.
intentions, have
The
few, but
of
over
INTBODUCTOBT.
To
with contempt.
my
of
friends,
am
has been to
me
my life
Of
I need say
who have
in
many
instances
known me from my
childhood.
no more.
All tlirough
little.
me by outsiders
difference.
almost equally
219
Had
it
accomplices
is
is
me
dealt
impossi-
contrive to forget.
stab
The
my
in the
dark I bear
it
when
quietly,
a cowardly
having con-
good sense of my friends, and caring nothenemies may think, or profess to think.
simply with reference to my moral character.
fidence in the
my
and, conscious of their basecan look with forgiving contempt on " the small
;
medium
is
It is far otherwise
impugned.
its
when my
In this I
am
the
adherents by millions in
of,
MODERN
220
SPIBITUALISM.
called
my
lias arisen,
trickery.
to
"
The
spirits desire no
and easily-duped ii\mi our seances," proSuch ai'e the insane utterances which at
poses a third.
who have
its
present aspect.
Men
of
would desire to investigate the subject, are repelled by the attitude which certain
ones calling themselves Spiritualists assume and by the
seething mass of folly and imposture which every attempt
science
investigated, or
at examination discloses.
has
221
INTRODUCTORY.
ong been to me a wonder and a grief. After much conI determined on the present work. Before
joimnenoing it 1 apprised various friends of my intention,
sideration,
Those opinions
and opinions.
1 was
were, in the majority of instances, favorable.
existed,
both
conviction
wide-spread
that
a
find
pleased to
the necessity of such a protest as this
jf
my
and of
tutes,
volume
consti-
To
it.
o-ive
prominent
are certain
friends of mine,
Let
permission to quote.
me submit first
sentiments of
my
friends Mr.
former writes
me
and Mrs.
The
S. C. Hall.
:
do
it,
is
know
an inspired
call,
upon to do
this
work
who
could
will
and angels sent direct by God. I shall pray fervently for help to
you in your holy work.
" Spiritualism now is in a sad state of disorder, and is producing
spirits
frightfully evil
work.
may I
It
You
will
pray
life
trust
filth
and believe
"
am
will
be
released
it
You
will
have
all
very sure.
and I had much talk over this matter last night, when your
me say, with her affectionate regards, that
she takes exactly the same view as I do, and with me prays that God
letter
will be
your guide.
"The
spirits
We
'come
in,'
and do the
now
tricks
He will.
for
or deceptive
is really
"
MODERN
222
'
8P1BITUAL18M.
'
'
"
" It
" that
is
clear to us,
God
my
S. C.
Hall."
" This,
the Spiritualists.
The petty
tions of Spiritualists
is
what
I said so
low aims, the spites and facthe lying mediums and lying spirits who speak
cliques, the
themselves."
" I have been informed by two or three people," Dr. Sexton tells me
" that you have given up the idea of publishing your
6, 1876),
new book. Is that so? I hope not. The need for such a work
increases day by day in fact, if something be not done and speedily
to put an end to the outrageous trickery that passes current under
the guise of Spiritualism, the whole thing will be rniaed. The worst
part of it is that mediums who have been caught cheating are stiU
tolerated in the movement, and defended by men whose sole business
ought to be to drive them out of our ranks. I have to suffer terribly
What with my denunciation of the tricksters, and
for the course I take.
(June
my advocacy
of Christianity, I
bers,
and denounced as a
what
I believe to be right,
In a previous
"
am
letter
issue to God.
he says
in the
mud.
If
be thus dragged
223
INTBODUGTORT.
good, pious Christian men,
you would
grieve
and
It
me submit
"I was very happy to hear from you, and to leam that you were writI am truly glad, and I think it will be
ing such an important book.
to aid
you in bringing
it forth,
to do
it.
" Yours,
"K.
"I
F.
Jbncken
doing a
truihful
do.
"
England.
I was then a
mere
Child.
My father
New
Spiritual paper ever published in the world Dr. Laroy Sunyoa have no doubt heard of him. But the pioneers of SpirituaUsm are pushed on one side, and Indian gibberish and dark seanceism (' Punch and Judy shows,' as yon call them), are all the rage now.
And the mediums who have these dark circles, no matter how many
times they are exposed by investigators for the truth, are allowed to go
on, and upheld by some of the Spiritual papers of the day."
the
first
derland,
may
There are
mediums, whose approhave for any work of
rest content.
mony
to its value.
testi-
MODERN
224
To
SPIRITUALISM.
My kkspbcted Friend
1st, 1876.
Your most imexpeoted, but I must assure you most welcome letter,
came two weeks ago but found me suffering: from fever, from which I
'
'
have only so far recovered as to-day for the first time to be able to sit
Had it been otherwise I should have written by return
at my desk.
mail a God-speod to the great and needed enterprise in which you are
engaged. A book like that you propose is needed, and no one can prebetter than you.
We here are in a strange state of transition
seems to me the larger the camel offered by the mediums, the
The demand for marvels
better for the credulous mass of swallowers.
pare
it
and
it
is insatiate
eyes to
is
It is a great science.
It rests
on
misconception of
lft\
William
'
'
am
do any
res^l
good.
will
may
may
or
is
when
one
done, very
225
INTROBUCTOBT.
few thorough-going Spiritualists will believe them, but will rather call
in the agency of bad spirits, trance, etc.
"Another thing you must bear in mind: you, or I, or any other
tolerably clear-headed observer may be perfectly sure that cheating is
being perpetrated by some professed medium we may even have had
yet it
a full confession by the medium that the whole thing is a fraud
may be so difSoult as to amount practically to an impossibility to bring
;
this
fraud
home
I have no intention of
lar persons.
particu-
it
From
facts.
is
the unrea-
it
the
title
of " a leading
is
Be
American
Spiritualist."
AsTomsHMENT
'
'
'
'
may
be, vrill
Tour
sustained
it
social position in
10*
'
I will repay,'
Him? Every
'
and
and
well-
cruel thorn in
Tou
your high
MODERN
226
8PIBITUALI8M.
LtrciFBB, and if not with a bullet through your head,* I believe it will
be with shame and sorrow in your heart. You will go down to your
grave mourned by few, but despised by many ; whereas you have it in
your power no, you had it to make the world rejoice that you had
lived.
'
'
You wiU
A man
all
times
What
is
Is the
truth.
truth to-day
may
not he
woman may
to-morrow.
or a
'
'
'
'
verted ones,
'
You
you were
'),
'
'
withheld a stinging shaft that will return to you, a bitter draught you
wUl sooner or later be obliged (or your memory wUl) to accept.
" Now, Mr. Home, ... I cannot but ask God to forgive you, for you
know not what you do.' The interior Kght' of which Christ spoke, I
am morally certain you do not possess and I beg of you, with all the
earnestness I can command, with much admiration of the good you
.
'
'
Jesus, ApoUonius,
Such
is,
& facsimile pi
this
incomparable production.
fall
him
Since the
so benevolently to pray
If so,
who
we
need
fall like
227
INTRODUCTOBT.
for me, I
am benevolent enough
I
ahnost impossible.
lingering a
in i-eturn to abstain
To comment on
moment
cannot
his letter
refrain,
is,
from
of course,
however, from
list
of " posses-
ancient
nezzar in
times,
Plis
prophets now."
is
of two closely-written
script
extracts
me
which excellently
pages.
author
" You say you are
a
man still
paralyzed,
'
a great invalid.
who came by
'
A person told me
that he
knew
One
Whom the gods wish to destroy,' etc. Qod will not, our
Ood wiU not help you to publish your book.
" Now Mr. Home, as a brother Spiritualist, as one who wishes yon
his chair.
'
good lomng
one
who
will
diabolical spirits, as
'
one
it,
it.
the prayer of
" Yours,
"G.
Is
it
."
as
this?
MODERN
228
more
for
human
the effusion
is
SPIRITUALISM.
impossible, for
it
To be angry with
seems to
me sunk
even
but, after
I content
correspondents appears to be of
is
not
extensive.
The moral
is
as little satisfactory
If no falsehoods are
to
in an American
newspaper, the Ginoinnati Commercial, the following
pretty item of news, furnished by its London correspon-
dent,
Moncure D. Conway
Trollope
tlie
is also said to
have
Anthony
and confessed his imposture.
some ugly reminiscences of Home in
is
229
INTRODUCTORY.
He
that the
One person
writes
I.
to
me
having
up a pen
He
adds
connections
into
communication
towards
to gratify
me by
telling a falsehood, I
My
disbelieve.
manifestation
writes
me
a threatening letter
piling slander
me
trouble ?
Lyon
case."
Does he wish
to spare
My
Life.,
and I intend
MODBBN
230
SPIRITUALISM.
hig to say
And now
I proceed to
my task.
If I
am
wrong, I err
My whole
an exponent of which I
being
is
bound up
was early
in the cause as
set apart,
and
to
truths
An
injury
done
my
I utter
which
wrong
at present disgrace it
and I
be compared
fore us.
to a
and
may
rouse
all
true
unity.
noble corn-field.
As we sow
on myself.
and knaveries
inflicted
thereon, so shall
the one
Enemy
We,
tares of falsehood.
to flourish
delicate
us,
corn.
it is
as the
" 111
however, not
;
but a thou-
husbandmen, have a
weeds grow apace,"
They come
to a
those credulous
and enthusiastic
from
or
life
per-
and,
Children
Spiritualists whose.
231
DELUSIONS.
one desire
last,
is
and who
When
the last
extirpated,
which we
Note.
Among
tlie
at various periods of
my career,
memory.
me
many
Wm.
the care of
addressed to
CHAPTER
II.
DELUSIONS.
One of
work
is
chapter.
that with
It is
which I deal
hard to know
momentous portions of my
in this and the following
how
best to
In
ti^eat
Such
of those who,
culprits against
many instances
a latent
But
MODEBN
232
SPIRITUALISM.
Thej
are the
itualism.
Let
in curiosity, not in
it
The weaker
portion of
can take
that
to demonstrate the
is
Had
a metliod of
whom
of those-
many movements
than
it
and
women
at
been dominant, conjoined, usually, with a certain enthuwhich aids in attracting minds weaker, though per-
siasPT
submitted to an ordeal sufiicient to have utterly overwhelmed any ordinary organization. He emerged from
233
DELUSIONS.
it
injury
lie
among
the pseudo-
my
pur-
phetic character
ents.
We are
of the loved
may most
and
lost
through
upon
whom
and
it
such proof
as gifted with
endowments of
ones
is
is
released
from
some quality of
their fellow-men.
This
is
a terrible and
MODERN
234
most
We
fatal eiTor.
SPIRITUALISM.
who
are
mediums have
way
in no
It
on the
is,
medium
rejected or accepted as
mon
Socrates.
and
com-
fires of
that he
tests,
may
assure
me
Mary Smith,
his mother,
overwhelming proofs of
iden-
tity.
interference.
claims.
is
inter-
mediums who
teach
is
undergo transformations
as
that man
numerous
is
destined
as those of the
is
either world
who appear by
God
or that beings in
their actions
and
doctrines
to
life,
solely
sliall
those
is evil to
be
than
235
DELUSIONS.
anything which has disgraced Spiritualism are to be
met
to
mediums
What
a life to come.
pastora, rabbis
or
choose to be termed
fatal teachings a
^liave
priests,
inculcated in
mass of
depths of infamy in
To
the
that
communion with
spirits,
it.
its
It
is,
many
cases
origin so beautiful
thousand yeare,
alas
nic
tire
part Catholic,
The task of selecting from the Albigenses the sheep of the Koman fold
might have pei-plexed Solomon. With a blasphemy unmatched in history Arnold cut the Gordian knot. " Kill
them," said the holy man, " kill
choose His own."
MODERN
236
times the
SPIBITUALISM.
Did not
a pontiff
o:
solemn thankse-ivinj
because some sixty thousand heretics had been massa
cred in France? Did not Cranrner burn Joan Bou
chier? Did not Calvin burn Servetus ? Did not Eliza
beth hang, draw, and quarter every Catholic priest wlic
Have not Catholics persecuted
fell into her hands ?
Calvinists persecnted Lutherans
Protestants
Puritans
persecuted Papists, with a fury utterly antagonistic to the
the
Catholic
Church
decree
teachings of Christ
And,
finally, is
it
the greater
enlightenment of
their
not altogether
Church who,
brethren
did
permit,
many
Have
into once
it
not
often
237
BELirsiom.
and
ill
slaughter.
known clergymen
purposes of comparison.
Both are
classes.
liable to seek to
in fitness,
crowd
to hear
organization
is
the things to
come are
through
whom
close to those
who have
my
''In
Christ
"I
to
Father's
house
are
many
mansions," said
Christians of
reconciliation of the
teachings
words.
MODERN
238
who deny
class of fanatics
believe.
Hecall
spolvcn.
The
SPIRITUALISM.
tlie
darliest
hour
in the life of
Him
its
"
who lu
The gre
consummatior
Yet,
when
cros
"
If all
" mansions,"
Were
the
and why
dogma
see
correct thi
God
"
;
there, arrayed in th
conditioiii
Wisdom and
th(
the
God,
the triumphal one, "Nearer,
Thus, in eternity as on earth, the watchword
majority of spirits
is
Thee "
of humanity continues to be Excelsior.
For the love of the Father is, like Himself, omnipresent.
"All discord," as a great poet wisely tells us, "is
to
239
DELUSIONS.
enlightenment hereafter.
Him
He
in humility to be in-
command
their fellows.
they so
for
Spiritualists
brethren.
aspired to lead.
of their career.
the
all
sincere Spiritualists,
Two prominent
1850.
to
be known by
MODBBN
240
8PIBITUAL1SM.
shining light
among
the
New York
Ba})tists,
and Mr.
now
narrate
most
select class.
spirits
belonged
first
era.
desiderated appeared
St.
John and
the
Prophet Daniel became the directors of th4(fc|avored cirCommunications, whose utter lack of meaning was
cle.
set off by bad grammar and worse orthography, speedily
showered down on happy Auburn. Nevertheless, matters
prospered not. A heartless world refused to waste attention on the Apostolic Circle, behaved it never so strangely.
In this emergency a fresh chainpioiL was sought, and
found. By advice of " John " and " Daniel" the Auburn
Spiritualists
hand
He
summoned
his
to the plough.
to
the
" St.
241
DELUSIONS.
On
''
their return to
as the
experi-
under the
The two
themselves at
first
editors,
title
of Dis-
Harris and
with being
known
as
Lord Himself."
The outcry grew strong in Auburn. Sensible Spiritwere disgusted, and withdrew from all communion
The extravawith the two ex-reverends and their flock.
gances of Scott and Harris, however, only waxed the
wilder.
Threats of mobbing were made by the rouglier
among the unbelievers. The position of the " chosen
vessels " became unsafe.
Under these circumstances an
ualists
The
spirits
entered warmly
them.
blasphemy
MODERN
242
SP1BITUALI8M.
such as few
Prophets
credulous awe.
now
Scott
appointed
medium
"
himself
absolute.'
Whoever dared
must be
cast forth as
to express a
doubt of that
trutl
an unworthy heretic.
Notwithstanding these
lie investigated
it
Money ran
short.
Still
The
declining work.
Several
families
de-
the unpleasantness
faithfnl,
whatever
were unanimous
left
in
the place.
its
It
Arrived in
with Harris.
New York
he resumed
in
bringing
Mountain Cove
The
In May, 1852,
the Rev. T. L. Harris proceeded there, accompanied by
estate
was repurchased.
"
243
DELUSIONS.
A fresh gleam of worldlyHoly Mountain the New Jerusalem," as the partakers of its joys entlmsiastically termed
The aiTOgance of the re-united prophets, and the
it.
his
It
into spiritual
their lips
Lord."
And
lie.
besides
among
from the
mediums
and ranked
devil,
his servants.
specimen of
which the faithful were " instructed
and comforted." They are from an address spoken in the
" interior condition " by Scott
I find the following sentences given as a
Not an
fire,
angel, for
he
is
led
That I
Am
of your
members.'
now
'
mountain?
inspired.
Who
but
is
Who
inspireth?
controlled
not
God
inspireth?
...
Am
Even
inquireth of thee ;
Harris declared
MODERN
244
8PIBITVAL18M.
The house v^herein the two prophets dwelt, Harris pronounced " the veritable house of God." It was necessary
Accordingly the
that an estate should be added to it.
The Lord desired a
seers indulged in yet another vision.
certain piece of land to be leased to Him as His heritage.
meeting of the faithful was called. Harris and Scott
pointed out that as they, and they alone, were the " chosen
vessels of God," the lease must be drawn in their names.
The request was too reasonable for refusal, and the
worthy stewards commenced forthwith to administer the
estate they had acquii-ed in so spiritual a manner.
The crowning stroke of impiety was at hand. Persecution had been directed against all rebels from the
domination of the " perfect mediums." Endless discord
convulsed the little community. As the "New Jerusalem " seemed ready to fall to pieces, an assumption was
They claimed
chapter of Revelation.
super-mundane
John.
Power
consume
and
to
send
their enemies
rained not
to smite
power
from
power
iire
;
their mouths,
to
by
St.
and with
shut Heaven
so that
it
it
men with
plagues,
all
at
the
245
DELUSIONS.
prayerful rebukes to the chosen hundred, "
his
Mowest we do not
our mouths !
man
loish to destroy
with fire
Thou
from
"
Several listeners
accorded
however,
majority,
of
is
credence
full
The
to
state of
The
the
mind
tender points.
test of faith
not support.
on the pockets of
demandeth external
therefore, to yield
sion
benefit."
up
to
it
pecuniary or otherwise.
thy substancegive
He
to the
"
Come
Lord."
The
gift,
was
to
Mr.
Scott.
of course,
its
servant
How many
of
They
follies
of
Modern
Spiritualism.
MODERN
246
Had
SPiniTUALISM.
against this
Even
the
more
sensible
much.
But such
witli
The attempts
ill-sustained,
at
mutiny
spirits or Spii-itualists
blush.
no concern.
The name
A Lyrio of the
Age,
etc.
Golden
power.
But
so
sisted in
commendable a course could not long be perby the restless " prophet." He cast away the
which he was
so ill-qualified,
commenced a
career of the
On
his return to
New York
In
this capacity
he poured forth
floods of viru-
247
DELUSIONS.
None
lent
who
listened to those
vehemence.
Ready
tempted.
to find a
tain
to
From
this .quarter,
the
Moun-
coarse assailant of
From an
as
sufficient.
Disappointed in
tactics.
master in him.
Cove was
its
his
Christianity he
devoted champion.
denouncer of Spiritualism.
He
first
preached to a small
New
He
of Satan.
It
new production
J'he
Song
devil-theory regarding
Byron, Coleridge,
etc.,
Spiritual
by
whom
manifestations.
tlie
The
From
free.
the bottomless
pit.
his
New York
flock.
MODERN
248
He
determined to
country to
Family "
'be
SPIRITUALISM.
travel,
now
illuminated.
together, he informed
as the
them
that he
had become
Were
to
Spiritualists
series of ranco-
succeeded in creating
much
ill-feeling
which
Having
through these
libels,
gurated, and in
sick enthusiast.
its,
No
nesses in
DELUSIONS.
venerated
249
still
who
As regards Spiritualism
in
its
was
am
ject.
ticular instances of
sons concerned
was
were innocent of
all
wish or
effort to
deceive.
of the
hallucinations failed.
knew once an
it.
The
table
was supposed
to
When
band.
tories
"
began.
fish to-day
"
The
table
Thank
At times the
my chills coming
have mv cliills."
I felt one of
when
II*'
on,
and
fish is
Then came
so,
Charles
MODERN
250
I never
knew an
full nnison
8PIMITUALI8M.
instance
with her
own
when
wishes.
with Lord
Spiritualism
Sir
II
then
I replied
dred.
writing medium.
my own
career I was a
began to reason
respecting the messages given through me. I found them
Little
by
little,
DELUSIONS.
strongly tinged with
my own
251
bias of thouglit
and
I at
Since
my
attention
was so
monstrous delusion
in
St.
bet.
There
is
ieen levitated, or
contact with
it.
beyond
St.
Paul
Their
claimed that
set a chair
it
The}"-
filled
this.
On
MODERN
252
SPIRITUALISM.
One bears
the following
title-
page:
LUX
POST TENEBEAS
KOMB, GENEVE
VEGLISE BE
DlCiTt
AU MOTBN
D'TINB
OHRIST.
DIEIT,
LB SAUVETJR DU MONDE,
Seul Mediateur entre Dieu et les hommes.
1856.
positions of comfort,
5,
to a condition
To-day, Octo-
of them
all.
At
As
she narrated to
is still
me
her
young
losses
and trials, the peaceful smile that lit her face was the very
gleam one might suppose to irradiate the countenance of
some martyr,
From
almost
my
1,
informant's
own
words.
253
DELUBIONS.
"
It is
but, as
a sad story,
you truly
Perhaps
sir.
say, it
may
it
serve to
should.
"I am unable
strange piece of
,
'
'
name
"the
is
so repalsive that
table ")
" that we
'
'
'
'
'
MODERN
254
SPIRITUALISM.
and beautiful our furniture might be, the table made us replace it
with newer and still more costly articles. (All this, sir, was to be done
that our mansion might be worthy to receive the One whom we foolishly
believed came to it. ) We were told too by the table that it was necessary everythiag should be made as ostentatious as possible to attract
the notice of the outside world. We did as we were ordered. We kept
open house. The results were what might have been expected. People
came and made a pretence of being convinced. Young men and women
'
'
'
visited us,
and
'
the table
'
'
When
they
Not
sir,
gone.
'
until,
The
we
one day,
We
'
He would
'
provide
my
went, and
You
we were
see, sir,
trials in Paris,
had sent us
My husband
'
the table
'
'
there,
'
'
'
DELUSIONS.
265
A professional painter
(the
unfortunate
am perfectly
affair
man is
insane)
convinced,
sir,
that
Still I
him.
" It
is
wish I
so.
It is very,
very
is,
at times,
dictates of
'
'
'
'
'
'
convictions.
We
MODERN
256
may have
we
left
that little
SPIBITUALISM.
Lord
erred, the
Him."
room with
an incomprehensible thing
is
a heavy heart.
human
nature
What
A man
bet.
and
is
high social position and large fortune, into a delirious ecstasy of credulity, from which
intelligent, honest, of
Nay
even then
We see them, in the above narrative,
still hoping against hope that their faith may have had
some foundation tending to warrant it ; still blind to the
from
it
character of the
spoiled of their
man
all.
through
whom
to
me one of the
who abound in
all
those
who
originally
was nothing
Certainly there
much
intelligence, or any
His
give
but I have little to tell. I took the matter up, because the messages
given were in perfect accord with Scripture and I at last dropped it,
;
257
DELUSIONS.
the Bible
table nature."
"
same.
stincts,
but self-deluded.
He
in-
mocks
"
Look
at
is
it
my
cross
We
but
let
him who
MODERN
258
SPIRITUALISM.
make
he will
the
Sinner
angels.'
He
consume
I did not
Wonderful phenomenon,
eyes."
is
flames which
everlasting
truly
A man, seated at
it,
mon-
tips it
might
who wishes
You want to
est sceptic
formed, "
to
investigate
is
see miracles, do
deridingly in-
you
Miracles
Had
such
" Mr.
," he informed me, " was a musician, and very enthusido not term that excitable. I think we were all calm when
we sat around the table. As I have said, the messages were, at first,
holy, heavenly, and perfectly in accordance with my views of the BiWhat caused me to retire was that I found the table afterwards
ble.
become rather uncertain on various points. To this day, however, I
am convinced that those beautiful communications could not have
proceeded from the mind of Mr. 2
The affair remains a, deep
mystery to me."
astic.
The
chief mystery
it
presents
is
"
259
DELUSIONS.
Besides
running
fire
this,
he generally kept up a
X
had
them through the
~So wonder that those mes-
down
table.
The
And
yet the
the Son of
God should
speaJi
lowing title-page
MODERN
260
8PIEITUALISM.
ET MYSTERIEXJSE
EfiV^LATIOlTS DIVINE
1855.
to
As
humble
reflection that
classes.
position
thej"^
powerful potentates, or
men
of
mark
in the realms of
and thought.
Perhaps the strangest shadow which ever darkened
Spiritualism was that cast upon it by the utterly absurd
action
incident
known
as " the
extraordinary display of
chiefly concerned.
medium and
Universalist minister
his friend,
Mr. Hewitt,
261
DELUSIONS.
editor of the
Mw Era; Mrs. A. E.
If
we
of Boston, and
IST
MODEBN
262
SP1BITVALI8M.
went down
At length the hour drew nigh. Mrs. E"
High Rock. John M. Spear, the machine, and various
to
In presence of
there.
livery of the
'
'
We
'
That
First.
spirits
friends.
"
We
'
career.
of spirits over mortals, and the instruction and discipline they have
given us, have only paved the way, as it were, for the advent of a great
practical movement, such as the world little dreams of though it has
long deeply yearned for it, and agonized and groaned away its life because it did not come sooner. And this new motive-power is to lead the
way
and
its
The
its
be the physical
It is to
completion, will
history of
Hence we most
science of all sciences, the philosophy of all philosophies, and the art of
has now fairly commenced. The child is bom not long hence
go alone. Then he will dispute with the doctors ia the temples
"
of science, and then
all arts,
he
will
editor,
"'
263
'delusions.
moment
and Mrs.
JS"
its
money and
faith they
had
so uselessly
thrown away
The main mechanism of " The Tluug
remained as it had ever been, iiiert. The motion perceived
!
at the
moment
few
balls sus-
pended by wires.
Spiritualist
Com-
Several prominent
drew Jackson Davis,
machine.
visited
They agreed
as
Spiritualists,
been directed by
spirits,
now
liberally
affair
and can indorse the following exHardinge: "That Mr. Spear honestly
pressions of Mrs.
'
missions
The unwavering
question.
to his purposes,
MODERN
264
High Rook
SPIRITUALISM.
as a lasting evidence of
human
priately,
"
left
credulity."
How
appro-
might
tlie
same place. But it was not to be. The worshippers of the " holy infant " trusted that a change of scene
at the
"
it.
Kandolph,
The machine,"
New York,
long enjoy.
still
supposed to
lie latent
moved
to
it
woman
The
comments of the journals stimulated the public to fury. A
large and disorderly crowd entered at night the structure
which had been raised as a temporary cradle for Mi.
Spear's "physical Saviour."
They tore the machine in
furnished space for endless invective and
pieces,
to the winds.
similar fate
From
foot,
satire.
it
seems that a
mob have
of the
Such
was the ignominious end of the metal Frankenstein destined
The frame lay in
to revolutionize the American world.
atoms.
The mysterious " motive power " was relegated to
an obscurity more perplexing than ever. No new paeans
gladdened the subscribers to the Era, and John M. Spear
turned sadly to less glowing schemes. A fond hope, however, remained to him that time would yet behold the
seized them.
265
DELUSIONS.
of the pulpit or the misrepresentations of the press."
And,
Age."
So rose, progressed, and fell three oE the wildest follies
which have disgraced Modern Spiritualism. Other insanities of the kind have since occurred.
There were in
America the Kiantone Movement, the " Sacred Order of
of the
the
"Harmonial
Society."
all,
human
folly, credulity,
show."
The
itualism.
On
the contrary,
it
sons.
As
in the case of
was an ex-reverend.
pastor of a Methodist
parasitical
interested per-
spirit
iiock,
"Harmony
was simply a
movement by
infamous
Springs,"
was
affair.
A settlement
formed in Benton
County, Arkansas. All applications for membership Mr.
Spencer submitted to his " controlling angels."
These
displayed a worldliness of mind hardly to be expected from
such elevated beings. Eich dupes were eagerly welcomed
into the Harmonial paradise
but its gates remained inexorably closed on the poor. Once admitted, the neophyte found his wealth melt with wonderful rapidity.
The Spencers, like Dives, clothed themselves in fine linen,
and fared sumptuously every dav. Their followers were
12
styled
MODERN
266
'
BPIBITJJALI8M.
;
for the doctrines of the " Harmonial Society " were extremely curious. Many spirits,
Mr. Spencer taught, perished with the body. Others languished for a short time after the separation, and then
of earthly immortality
expired.
Only human
being.s
who
should be earthly.
its
which immortality
And
grow worse.
On learning this
and
fled.
They
tenced to imprisonment.
been embarked
dollar remained.
In
this, as
spoil,
in the
"Harmonial Society,"
scarcely a
'
DELUSIONS.
267
'
No
credence.
The extraordinary
self-constituted prophets
claim
They
highly.
common
sense,
and
to
ap-
be
vp^as
who domineered
That two
John
life
that earthly
religiously believed.
human
Two
credulity,
their bias,
mankind
are liable to
who
fall.
On
one side we
The
tric
telegraph
his grandfather
hour
As
greve mortar."
mon de Caus
of Columbus.
formity,
first
off
from a Con-
As
we have
madhouse, and
all
who
and
accepts the
feels insulted
as a prophetess,
MODERN
268
SPIRITUALISM.
Papal
At present one
class of such
Infallibility,
and another,
CHAPTER III.
DELUSIONS {continued).
knew
phase of paganism.
not for a
His
doubt.
He was perfectly convinced
dug from the grave of Pythagoras a light
moment
that he had
this
His
magnetic subjects
whom
he termed
his
mediums.
The
thoughts thus forced into their brains, their hands committed to paper, and Kardec received his
own
doctrines
269
DELUSIONS.
And
of
title-page
every volume?
Are they
truths
two forms of clairvoyance exist ; the one entitled " natural," the other induced by magnetism.
I have never yet
met with a case of magnetic clairvoyance where the subject did not reflect directly or indirectly the ideas of the
magnetizer.
This
is
most strikingly
Under
illustrated
in the
the influence of
his
will
Kardec."
spirite.
his
("t/e
clairvoyants
regret
d''
Allan JTardec")
avoir enseigne
By comparison
la
doctrine
of the minute
so short as utterly
As,
that decease
MODERN
270
present to
my
"
SPIBITUALiaM.
mind.
It
was
not, I
it,
may
at first
remark,
impress of truth
"All. Kakdec.
"M.
"du6, Novemb.
"
1869.
All.
soin,
a eloigner toutes
hommes
moi
eux,
d'entre
seul.
places
trSs
haut dans
lee
"Oui,
je I'avoue, o'est
ma faute,
si le
ses rangs
consequences actuelles.
" De mon vivant, le Spiritisme,
ce que
s'egarait.
materielle, je regarde
dans
manitS.
Je vois le Spiritisme,
eloign^, dans ses parties
'
'
tel
que
meme
si
perfections
DELUSIONS.
271
spirite,
d'inflmes personalites
'
que
j'ai
le
dii ridicule,
repr&enfce par
moi-meme.
motivfi beauooup d'aberration, qui
trop ^lev^es
Men,
j'ai
enfaute le tnal.
"An point
" Si
je n'avais
pas ecarte
les
tisme ne serait pas exclusivement represente, dans la majority des adherens, par des adeptes, pris
chezlesquelles
mon
eloquence et
mon
savoir ont
pu avoir
les seules
accfes ?
"Allan Kakdec.
"
"All. Kardec.
'
'
6th, 1869.
During the last years of my life I sought with care to keep in the
background aU men of intelligence who merited public esteem, who
were investigators of the science of Spiritimie, and might have taken
for themselves a share of the benefit which I wished for myself alone.
" Nevertheless, many of these, occupying high positions in literature
and science, would have been perfectly satisfied, in devoting themselves
but, in my fear of
to Spiritisme, to have shone in the second rank
being eclipsed, I preferred to remain alone at the head of the move'
'
"Whilst
that
bewildered.
MODERN
272
"Now
that, free
SPIBITUALiaM.
look, on the
immen-
of evU.
"So far as the philosophy is concerned, how small the results For the
it has reached, how many are unaware of its exist!
few intelligences
ence.
" From a
religious point of
view
we
Consequences of my egotism.
I not kept in the shade all superior intelligences, Spiritisme
would not be represented, as it is to the majority of its adherents, by
adepts taken from amongst the working classes, the only ones where
'
'
"Had
my
eloquence and
my
"ALLAIf KARDEC."
Such
is
mentality of
hierophaut.
phy,
if
Q.
I pass
philosophy
Le Luire
"
now
it
to aii
to be
from
his former
des Esprits.
What foundation
is
Without
this
key-notes of that
273
BELUBIONS.
may become.
which
and
may have
so be sent
also
back to
perfectly.
The incarnations, it seems,
undergo, " are always very numerous." Tet
them more
spirits
the soul
the Kardecian
12*
It
is,
according to -Kar-
MODBRN
274
SPIRITUALISM.
who
a spirit
On
amendment."
new
and
existence,
propositions
these
as
among
"Can
that of a woman in a
reply was " Zes."
From such
is
an almost
may be
infinite
Some
deduced.
We
incarnated.
The
man
this
how
are
we
the man.
their children?
tionship.
It takes
The
when
all
that
we
all rela-
society together.
What
has
Should
is
identity?
its
else,
and the
voice,
forgotten us forever.
We
too
though
may
it
The same
not be
fate awaits
forget.
still,
has
ourselves.
We too must
spend
"
275
DELUSIONa.
next be our
band,
We
lot.
rriother,
father,
are
brother, son, or
sister,
lost their
own
meaning.
souls.
Indeed,
The world
daughter.
we
are not
of the Re-
on and
ofE as
the
showman
kaleidoscope.
Yet Kardec
doctrine
is
It is evident,
Human
cian entirety.
For the
logical
more
painful.
In a few
of confusion.
indistinguishable
maining in life
some tangible idea.
"
MODBBN
276
from
this.
its full
BPIBITUALISM.
truly plastic
minor eddies.
born
the
to her.
first.
still
The second
Another is
same name as
quite a child.
such a re-naming.
She explains
that there
may
is
exist for
nothing of
"
Mamma,
by such an occurrence
my
child."
" I
am
your
little
Mimi," was
and I have come back to you.
Look at me, dear mamma, and you will see that I am
really your Mimi." And the mother looked, and saw that
the features of the child were assuredly those of her lost
daughter. Such are the fond dreams for which, even in
Re-incarnation, the heart of a mother will find scope.
There is a touching something in the above incident.
What, however, save bewilderment, can be extracted
from the narrative I now give ? It appears here, as it
appeared in the Sj>iritualist of Sept. 18, 1874.
"As
5,
No.
8,
page
85, contains
Miss
Kisling-
'
'
'
DELUsiona.
277
from the
ceiling,
now
alive ?
Soon
was
writing under spiritual control, a small oval bronze medal, quite tarnished, with
it
the likeness of Christ, on the other one that of the Virgin Mary,
and
were then
told that this medal had been buried a long time ago, with a person
who had constantly worn it, and who had died a violent death that
this person was now re-incarnated in Germany
that an object which
had belonged to her formerly was necessary to establish between her
and us a flnidical connection, which might enable her to come and
appeal to us for assistance against a sort of painful obsession under
which she was laboring that her name began with an A, and that we
were to call her In memory of the town of Dreux.'
"Accordingly, on the following and some other evenings, we set to
work, Madame C
(whom I had mesmerized to sleep for better conseeming, by
its style, to
We
'
And
trol)
hasty writing-' I
am
here.'
'
'
'
pommel
"
'
"
How
By
did he
manage
he then struck
'
bribing the
"
"
'
'
Was
Yes.
Paris.'
the
'
MODERN
278
"
'
"
'
SPIBTTUALIBM.
Who was
the
A novice
of a noble family.
nun he
'
'
carried
'
ofiE ?
He had
'
'
'
stiU.
was dead when those who were burying me said a prayer before covering my body with earth. A great trouble overcame me then, and I
felt it a hard task to pardon them.
I have great difBculty in obeying
I
my progress
stant hinderance to
good
as
it
paralyzes
all
my efforts to come
spirits
'
!
help her,
'
"
'
" Of
'
'
'
"
"
'
'
St.
Bruno
'"A
wall.'
this,
whom we
'
'
that
it is
nastic gowns,
I also
dream
of
;
phantoms
in
mo-
also of a spectre
in
'
'
'
279
DELUSIONS.
'
'
charge.
five
who
my
lives in
shook
about
medium such a
'
'
'
"
spirit, mocking us ?
" When you meet me, before long, ask whether I have any dreams, in
which it seems to me as if I were killed ? I shaU say, No, and add, that
I dream sometimes of a priest murdered by ruffians.
You may also
show me the medal I shall then feel as if I had known it before.'
"With this communication we closed our evocations of Amelie, which
had taken us several evenings. ^
" A few months later, I met my cousin at my sister's country-seat.
Amelie, as was her wont, began joking with me about my faith in Spiritualism, declaring that it was aU delusion and deception.
I bore her
merry attacks merrily, defending, however, my theories about dreams,
reminiscences, spirit-messages, and so on, tiU I came to ask, as in a
joke, whether she, for example, never dreamt that she were being murdered ? She answered
adding, after a slight pause, that, in
No
fact, she had sometimes a disagreeable dream, always the same
a sort
of nightmare ^which made her nervous and uncomfortable for the
whole day after. On my insisting upon receiving the particulars, she
said at last, that she dreamt of a Catholic priest in sacerdotal dress, flying from a burning church,, with armed men at his heels, who wanted
not a frivolous
'
'
'
'
MODERN
2S0
SPIRITUALISM.
Mm.
my pocket
'
'
'
seen
it
formerly, although she could not, for the world, recollect under
what circumstances.'
"I now
much
shown the medial writing.
This writing, I had thought, was not like her own. I had known hers
only by her letters, in German, written with pen and iak, whUe the
former, traced by a French medium, was written in French. When
she saw it she exclaimed that it was positively her writing, when she
used a pencil instead of a pen and forthwith she wrote some words
which I dictated, and which proved to be exactly like the original.
struck by
told her all about our evocations; and she, being very
my
narrative, requested to be
"She
got into a great fright at the thought of her soul haunting an old
'
this, I
go
was informed by
I will not
my
leading
spirits that
'
There
is
as a proof of Re-incarnation.
by the theory
that, the
Countess of
spirit
explained
and Madame
had contrived to
I do not advance
I advance
it,
however,
migration of souls.
The hypothesis
281
DELUSIONS.
the facts of the case
fetched.
speak of such
is
as well.
It
less
far-
To
at least
It accords better
is
it
incapable of proof.
how
betrays
votaries.
its
particular qualities of
it logi-
which
it
centuries ago,
may be
perplexing
'
'
'
latter curiosity.
of progress as a spirit^
Csesars with
whom we
MODERN
282
Why, then, in
SPIBITUALI8M.
they accomplish so
the
little
as her savior
virtue, or greatness of
rities
which
spirits
mind has
must
strip
place
is
a Kardeeian
among
themselves of."
if,
stantino,
spirit
its
conceive
as Nero, Con-
etc.,
may
find
insufficient to
283
DELUSIom.
in the .spirit- world
Imagine two
collections of existences
Perhaps,
And
In
this
'tis
very dilemma
lies
But the
spirits
may
con-
are re-incarnated.
to
How lamentable
it is
But no doubt it
assume
that he was at a far-back day Conde or Moliere, and that,
as " spirits cannot degenerate," he must now, although ho
appear a dunce, be raised above the mental platform on
worthless in comparison with their
first
What becomes
of ordinary souls
Shakespeare and
Has Dame
MODERN
284
BPIBITUALISM.
Or can
the mass of
them" according
to
correct one.
it
be,
we unfortunates whom
their
is
the
the Ke-incar-
we
are
not as
touch of longing
ness,
We
Cicero-Napoleon-Jones
thrill
us
when contemplating
or,
if
his great-
our identity
plexed.
We
visions as that
are
to describe to the
two complicated
of
the
hymeneal knot.
child
is
born.
The
discarded lover,
is
Through
killed whilst
the
on
careless-
still
young.
285
DELUSIONS.
His mother-wife
recsBtly,
and
to
of doubt as to
grandmother.
made
up,
we
learn, of
numerous
souls, fitting'
China.
Then
hand
How
must
Spiritualists
who
puz-
xa.
itself
a transporta-
MOBEBN
286
Q.
some
is
the Mul
is it, aa
Thought
that thinks.
"Is the
spirit,
SPIRITUALISM.
is,
is,
since it
an attribute.
is
declare, surrounded
A.
The spirit is
you as mere vapor, but which, neverLhelesa, appears very gross to
though it is sufficiently vaporous to allow the spirit to float in
atmosphere, and transport himself through space at pleasure.''
'
'
to
us,
the
If " wherever the thought is, there the soul is," how can
these spirits inform us that " spirits travel."
Travel itU'
plies time,
and thought
is
instautaueous.
Perhaps, indeed,
thought regarding
that journey.
in
is
the formation of a
spirit
wishes to
traverse a distance of
it is
accomplished.
But,
if so,
why
spirits
is as
is
inappreciable.
occupied whether a
of Queensland.
man
He
To
select
an earthly and
there-
it is tlie
in
away
just
as
fif-
287
VELTIBI0N8.
to be traversed.
still
rapidity of thought.
false.
why
to decide
Kardec's
mesmerized
clairvoyants
and
writers have
The
incarnation
is
a state
In proportion as
spirits
first
spirit
may remain
stationary,
but he never
dete-
riorates."
the Greece of
Is
Greece of
to-day
Homer and
more
Socrates
than the
France of our
intellligent
Is the
back
not,
He
will be a bold
of spirits
may
it
as such.
deteriorate
in
Why
The mistake
arises evidently
And if
its
yes.
Even a Kardecist
we
MODERN
288
SPIRITUALISM.
state
Reasonable
men will
we
inherit
mankind
The
ly a convenient one
when taken
is certain-
Holner,
Socrates,
had reached
of
to
tlie
The
is
Hindoos or South-Sea
The
missionarj''
who
preaches
in the
passed through.
And
here be
it
effect
assert
on
the
child.
lions of instances in
that fear
timidity
"
289
DELUSIONS.
and nervousness on the mind of her infant; that particuthat particular talents may descend from father to son
;
forms of insanity can be inherited these, and countless other evidences of moral resemblance are calmly set
lar
Of
the
many
for
have space
to notice
example, in the
Spirits^
presents, I
the
lose
spirits
but few.
It is
admitted,
Yet in
remembrance of the past."
same volume we find the following
dogma.
Q. "Is the
an adult ?
A.
Bpirit of
"He
longer,
has already
made
considerable progress."
stated.
been.
How
in infancy
lie
may
absurd then to
tell
who
experience
nature.
Put
succinctly,
it is
as follows
is
:
dies
adult, because
more
of the plainest
knows something
that he has
13
290
MODBIBN SPIRITUALISM.
"No;
A.
they are
spirits
who have
all
im
perfection, have reached the highest degree of the scale of progress, an(
united in themselves
"What
all
left to
is
species of perfection."
children "reach
thf
us also that
machine
the macihine
And
is
of this doctrine
God,
just as
the
is
when has
not the
it is
it
man.''
the
God
many that Re-incarnation
be
new
rection of the
to
of.
is
the
I'esnr-
" English
"
which God in His mercy has pro"The words of Jesus himself are
explicit as to the truth of this last assertion
for we read
in the 3d chapter of the Gospel according to St. John,
that Jesus, replying to Nicodemus, thus expressed himself r
Verily, verily I &&y unto thee, Except a man be born
vided for mankind."
'
'
"
201
DELUSIONS.
"
Truly, that
We
the
that
be decisive
and well-attested
facts."
saw Katie, a very extraordinary and spontaneous sym1 asked my leading, spirits
at once to each other.
about its cause, and they told me that, some hundred years ago, we
had intimately met in Turkey, where she was a slave named Sulme,
who died young, of a violent death. ... In the letter mentioned just
now, I tried, without stating anything more positive, to rouse her re'
'
When
first
pathy drew us
all
My
to
me ?
I cannot
have met.
I
I have
me why cannot
;
that, at
some
"...
Prom
he had slept in
Sulphur.
To
-the
this
as the
mineral
temperament he possessed.
And
I have
known
MODERN
292
SPIRITUALISM.
steel.
lection she
Does
in support of
trifles
its
?
Absolutely nothing. The
whole system is, indeed, but a vision, and like all visions
the fabrics which constitute it are of the most baseless
sort.
may
easily
ex-
on
it.
The
decay.
may, by
its
teachings captivated
goras
but brought
men
in the far-back
it
ably wanting.
dogmas which,
in the- very
require
why
life
men
weak
or
spii-it
of mediaeval theology,
faitli
Ke-incarnation intrudes
of some schoolman
itself, as
disputed
My
busilj'
mission
is
twofold.
of
293
DELTJ8I0NS.
or
not
brance
tlie
of
WJiy does the incarnated spirit lose the rememhis past? " the spectre turns over the leaves of
Spirits^
to the
page where
is
stereo-
typed the old, old formula, old as the dogma it was first
" Man
invented to support, old as Superstition herself
dom
God
His wis-
in
has so ordained."
It is the
who have not completed their appointed number of ' expiations " wander hither and thither during the years or ages
which intervene between each incarnation, wondering,
with a sort of vacuous perplexity, what will happen next.
inquirers
many
poor M. Kardec's
puzzling to imagine
Had
consist of.
the species
more of
we
Are
Are they
too
the atoms of
which they consist too refined and too loosely hung together
for the grasp of mortal eye or hand 1
Are these weird
creatures illustrations of Tyndall's molecular theory, or
MODERN
294
SPIRITUALISM.
know
not;
but this I know, that, like the genie of the Arabian Wights,
whom a fisherman outwitted, their beginning and end is
smoke.
" They second every crazy scheme propounded to them.''
This I consider a libel on the species. They have not yet
given any sign of seconding the crazy scheme of a society
as a phe-
nothing-
Spiritualist,
to
our eyes, people the elements. Think for a moment of this astounding
claim
Fancy the consequences of the practical demonstration of its
truth for which Mr. Felt is now preparing the requisite apparatus!
What wUl the Church say of a whole world of beings within her territory, but without her jurisdiction ?
What will the Academy say of this
crushing proof of an unseen uniTerse given by the most unimaginative
!
of
its
sciences
What wUl
What
saturated vapor
when through
whom,
the column
of
in their blind-
"
'
295
BBLUSIONa.
and the name of the Theosophioal Society
will, if
ments result favorably, hold its place in history as that of the body
which first exhibited the Elementary Spirits in this nineteenth century of conceit and infidelity, even if it be never mentioned for any
'
other reason
'
Never mentioned for any other reason! The Theono dread of oblivion. It
is destined to occupy a niche in history between the
Laputan College of Swift and the philosopher who
sophical Society need entertain
"
Think of our
The world has
still
they are
claims.
as yet
They have called on the Elemenfrom morning even unto noon, saying, Hear us
But there was no voice, neither any that answered." The
'
Spiritualists
into
so
whom
many
Elijahs,
your servants
on a journey
saying.
Cry
must be awaked."
MODKRN
296
BPIBITUALISM.
tlie
exhibitiou
of a stoppered phial, neatly labelled " Spirits," and tenanted by that " shadow of a shade," an Elementary.
of
"
ns, as
to exhibit
And when
them
to
over "
them
through
funnels,
it is
visit.
In
not to be wondered at if the " columns of
heaven
smoke of
and
that,
sophical Society.
And
this, and,
way
of
of magicians which
297
DELUSIONS.
shapes"
the "dreadful
is
The
ignored.
Pligh-Priest's
rest
'
the conjurors
.
'
Western scientists, under the patronage, restricand guarantees of a scientific (?) society, those proofs of occult
powers^ for lack of which they have been drifting into materialism and
tunity to introduce to
tions
infidelity."
"The
itself to
neW
the heavens, a
shall flop
new
faith,
selfishly secret.
It will
the square thing to let the fiend float in sight of the whole people,
his
be
and
come
to us."
And when
No doubt the
?
been squared, and the philoso-
circle has
faith
nothing
is
of the world.^
therefore,
that promises
unlikely to have
We may
much
frantically inviting us to
13*
4, 1876.
MODERN
298
BPIBITUALI8M.
CHAPTER
IV.
MANIA.
I
careful
responsibility for
We reason,
induction
certain of
But
in the
increased.
as a
we
possess of
whole may
be.
of necessary data
may
No
human mind we
subject of inquiry
so valueless.
It
is,
in
The outcome
of
unsupported by revelations from another world, has in all ages been endless
The inquiries conducted into
bewilderment and strife.
inquiries purely metaphysical,
if
equally profound.
made for the dissection of even its morbid peculiarby merely human hands. If a case be strongly
marked, indeed, doctoi-s seldom disagree. It is easy to
decide that a man who requires to be restrained by force
from doing meaningless injury to his fellow-creatures or
himself is irresponsible for what he does. The indicafully
ities
299
MANIA.
tions here are too decisive for
a doubt.
and symptoms
facts
titude of
jostle
It is
as
clearly
throw
inability to decide
mind
when
a mul-
retains
her over-
demonstrating
diseased.
exist,
other
iirst,
some
of
taint
every action of
It
life.
is
an
advisei",
is
By
is
speak
would
;
to carry
testimony of those
reject the
every-day
life
of
philosophy
His or her
humanity.
on business
human
sane.
and permeates
life
to inherit estates
world.
the
Even
is,
No magisof whom I
their nearest
the
and
MODERN
300
SPIRITUALISM.
Even
able to Spiritualism.
inoi'e
and unreflecting.
By
that world
is
great.
In every
beset our
trials
earthly life they fly for refuge to the thought of the hap-
Thus
the longing
by
growth,
irresistible.
to
may happen
It
gloom of some
that, in process of
some
trial
long-
time, the
hard
a soiTOwhas befallen.
sary.
Of
No
spiritual interference
is
neces-
a disgust of
ranks
life
may have
suffered
victims to
in the Spiritualist
themselves,
knowingly,
or
''
bear
probable
out.
it
thinii
is,
I have
it,
in gen-
hj'potliesis
But I do not
The
be guided.
Tinknowiiigly, to
aui
expense of
all
other attributes
balance of the
were
and
That bringing near of another world,
untimely graves.
which
to so
many
more
tei'rible
their minds.
abandoned
liously
this
sistingly
abandons
itself
to
idea.
CHAPTEK
" PEOPLE
Theeb
erature of Spiritualism
writers
V.
which
out in view
is
effect.
reflect
much
lit-
discredit on the
Critically
examined, they
MODERN
302
prove worthless.
SPIRITUALISM.
The impression
left
of a careless reader,
as facts.
by a book of
is
this
usually attained
off
Wliere suppression
The
him
is
resorted
by
means or
to.
or herself engaged in
effect
be obtained. If the mateproper for the task seem opposed to the desired rethey are at once rejected, however sound. In their
fair
foul, to
but showy,
is
it
be
Legends
and
unsubstantiality,
iill
facts.
"When completed, the work exactly resembles the makeon the stage. Viewed at a little disand in a proper light, the thing is charming. But
approach it mure closely, aiid examine it by the clearness
of noon.
We are disenchanted at once, and forever.
"What was at first sight a fairy palace, is now a miseraljle
composition of daubed canvas and pasteboard. A single
blow would suffice to lay the whole structure in ruins.
So with the flimsy productions I treat of. They are, in
general, exceedingly taking, when beheld by the false
glare of credulity.
But expose them to the sober daylight
shift buildings seen
tance,
of reason
the
become
at
once apparent.
Before the
to
first assault
titter is
my
present
303
'"PEOPLE
rank as one of the worst compobad class. Let me, before entering on -its
examination, guard myself against a supposition some
may
chapter
fairly take
sitions of this
may
readers
entertain, that I
ings as peculiar to
am
They
Spiritualism.
met
are to be
departments of literature.
all
in
others,
No
is in
comparatively harmless.,
At
times, indeed,
novelist or a poet.
in a
meet with
But
papers.
in
surely entitled to
demand
strictness in
we
examining
are
evi-
from the
false,
and the
coming
to decisions
in short,
common
Not one
sense, candor,
of these attributes, I
before me.
Had
work
if
the writer
men.
have
The
set it
title-page
down
to the bottom,
as a
Bacon " We
examine things
law
to ourselves to
credit, or reject
upon
due examination."
MODERN 8PmiTUALISM.
304
This, liowever,
is
desiderated, nor
investigation.
On
the
absolutely fathomless.
is
it,
For the
rest,
scientiiio
on the title-page of such a book is one of the most laughable displays of folly with which I am acquainted. " 1
have set it down as a law to myself to examine things to
the bottom." How modest this assumption on the part of
man who
tells
us
(p.
342,
festations, as a record of
child's play."
last, is
vestigation, or pseudo-investigation
work he
in-
On
his
page 414 of
kind enough to answer the question. The narrahe gives are sufficient " to arouse the greatest won-
Could
less
not too
is
tives that
der."
comparison to which
What, in
in
much
that a
man
Isit
as
a devotee of Science who, in reality, and by his own confession, is merely seeking to act as showman to a couple
of persons whose claims to mediumship he does nothing
either to prove or to negative ?
upon
must
as
one suited to
He reiterates that
assertion with
even greater
We
should take
taking
a the motto of
distinctness in the
Bacon
is
the assertion
"
We should
does.
" There
made in
his own cir-
Such
cumstances.
305
demand from
judgment who
I want none
We
faith.
of.
who assumes
Spiritualist
mediums
or fears of
on
The
individual preferences
we
are in quest
The
during
doctrines
my
whole
career, I
find
from theory
ments to his
to
pitiful practice?
Joseph Surface's
senti-
life
and
which
worthless as evidence.
In-
MODMBN
306
The
BPIB1TUALI8M.
wo owe
from
whose
would appear to
have a great deal of the G-amp about him. All through
his book he continues to direct rapturous apostrophes to
a certain " Science," conspicuous by her absence from his
Peojjle
writings.
Had
about her.
all
may
probably the
in a
newspaper."
dailies for
first
first
whom
instance
The excuse
offered
is
it is
it
"
is
am
New York
however,
that
Certainly,
philosophical investigation.
be found what
is
'
''PEOPLE
"
I have no
307
"
confidence in this picUtre," he continues, or,
it
to be engraved,
and engraved
in a
volame which
to anticipate that
such a question
seeks, therefore, to
guard against
by a maudlin
it
disser-
tation
the floor
sent
man
It
is diffi-
to extract the
"I,
It is
cei'tain size.
various people.
if
up
at
address
worth the
offer-
my volume
enough
who now
is
to
number of
am weak
The reader may do so,
faith in
man who takes mottoes from Bacon, and dediworthless speculations to Mr. Crookes!
The
dullest school-boy would blush to contradict
himself thus.
The most abject dunce that Satire ever pilloried would
be
This
is
the
cates his
stich
a philosopher.
That any
such a
folly to construct
is strange enough.
That, after having constructed
he should consider it a work of
philosopiiical research,
and under that designation send it
forth into the world, is
It,
MODERN
310
of
fifty,
line
who was
nom
de plume.
tensely gushing,
SPIRITUALISM.
still
Yery foolish she-seemed to rae, inmore credulous, and totally unfit for
author in question
the
title
is
I have
into.
since,
Besides
How
phil-
production
the deepest
of mysteries.
Yet he has
ont
qualities.
pleasure
,
is
be derived from
self-conceit
is
ineffable.
its
ridiculous
His
dearest
attitude.
Now he
he
is
Now
is the adorer and l)enefactor of meditnns.
the lofty denouncer of " calumnious behavior reserved
for blackguards
and mediums."
At one time he
is
pen
do
in hand, to
(The
Eddys
taking
we find him, according to liis own confeswaiting patiently for a grand exposure " of the
little later
sion, "
same Eddys. Now he is the humble admirer of Spiritualism and Science, and, clinging to the coat-tails of distinguished Spiritualists and Scientists, pathetically implores these people to lift him into notice. Now he starts
forth before the public as a sort of pagan wet-nurse, ready
to suckle grown- up infants in "heathen fantasies outworn." Again, he is the smart investigator whom " the
conductors of two of the great New York dailies would
not have engaged to investigate and describe the phenomena at the Eddy homestead, had they supposed him either
petent."
''PEOPLE
Spiritualist.
In
FROM THE
short, his
311
OTHEB. WOIiLJI."
Through
he
is
taking appears to
horse.
It
is
my
at all,
That career
is
which People
complish
my
from
may
be proud
of.
the Other
World was
written, to ac-
in question was,
he
tells us,
it.
Both Mrs.
and I," writes
an American friend of mine who was present at Chittenden daring
this
"are convinced
"
pseudo-investigator's
now
that there
"investigations,"
in his
He
and
brilliant
powers
of invention.
magic was
only,
its
under
as nothing in comparison.
influence,
do
Kot
MODBRN
312
SPIRITUALISM.
And
which, above
assurance of
all,
those
how unblushing
demonstrate
is
the
author.
its
" The light has been very dim," says he, on page 163,
" and I have not been able to recognize the features of a
On
single face."
and mouth,
nose,
number
" What
go to
as thin as a knife-blade's
edge
the ex-
Tliese,
The
para-
may
is still
stronger.
The
libel
such a
fact,
light at Chittenden
visible."
What,
was a
in view of
artist.
that
It is thus
men
romances are
illustrated.
It is
was
not thus
But, put-
ting this
aside, lohat
the
Even had
scribed, they
to
up departed
relatives in
313
But the
now about
descriptions, as I
am
On page 271 we
learn
He was
by a sash,
and the skirt ornamented with three equi-distant bands
of red, of the same width.
On his head was the national
fez, and in his sash was thrust a weapon of some kind
tions
of the whites.
His name
Yusef.
is
is
peculiar
Why
taciturn Eastern
when returning to this. But now for a " plain, unvarnished " account of what really occurred.
It is furnished
by the very " Aunt Sue " to whom the visit and salaams
of this obsequious spirit
lady writes
Here
were directed.
is
what
this
me
"MaylStli, 1876.
" Mt
dear Dak
" You
my experience
have
with pleasure.
14
'
;
'
MODBBN SPmiTUALiaM.
314
You
menage
there.
don't
Suffice it to say,
'
'
'
'
'
'
'
'
'
'
'
'
'
'
'
'
'
'
'
'
'
n,
'
'
'
'
'
'
'
'
'
'
'
'
so
it
was
'
Graphic
'-ally
Yusef
if
dim there as
announced that
And
that
is
as well as another;
'
shore,
if
'
Ruloffe
'
or
''PEOPLE
315
Peoplefrom
World kindly supplies a no-doubt correct por" Tusef " in his work
which portrait may serve
the Other
trait
of
my
guide to
as a
friend "
ers
whom
of that philosopher
partial."
me
nished
lady, Mrs.
friend of that
-.
'C
"
a.
fur-
We could
detect
no fraud, as
Mrs.
herself.
all real
notwithstanding the
clumsy expedients
but that we
were in the presence of real spirits we never for once believed. The
only persons allowed to take a seat upon the platform were a Mr.
Pritohaxd and a Mrs. Cleveland dear old gullible souls who could be
readily psychologized into believing that they were eating a piece of the
These both touched and conversed
moon in shape of green cheese.
with the substantial shadows which stepped cautiously from the door of
the cabinet, as if making sure that some investigator were not ready to
spring upon them
and occasionally went through the shuffling manoeuvres chaiacterized (by our author) as dancing/ while no one of the
audience circle was permitted to advance near enough to distinguish
their features in the distressingly- subdued light of the solitary lamp,
off
from
the 0.
TF".
as
'
tests
; '
'
'
a robe de nuit
she,
husky whisper,
added,
'
am
'
he.
attired
in
Every even-
mother
'
'
'
my
son
!
'
'
Why didn't
"
MODBBN
316
SPIRITUALISM.
?
Every evening she was blandly assured that Mary wi
not in health, and could not be there but still the question was t
newed, and then the aged spirit shuffled back, and disappeared throng
the door of the cabinet. I asked this gentleman if he recognized h
mother beyond all peradventure iu this spirit. He admitted that 1
Mary come
'
much
likeness as
her for the two or three years before her death, and
'
had altered.'
(our author) would brook no antagonism in conversation
"Mr.
the methods of the media, nor even lend an ear to the suggestion of ai
(this
that " dear old soul " Mr. Pritchard called off the weight
f or
all
317
WORLD.'''
upon
his story of
is
built
confi-
tion."
its
publication.
Such
were
by a mono-
conflicting sophisms
maniac or a Theosophist.
"Nor
will
it
to
to
it
may
in
materialization can
many, and hence the suppo'
'
and repellent
so positive
to the spirits as to
prevent their
whereas the fact appears to
be that they can allow him to handle them, to gaze into
their faces from a distance of six inches, and otherwise to
bearing his near approach
come
est
inconvenience."
mean
this
Eddys might
"
If these
them the
slight-
certain tests.
The
allowed those
and ought
have
ha\'e
tests,
to
MODERN
318
SPIBITUALISM.
allowed them.
the
from
possible for
him
to
make
it
was im
under
p.
test conditions,
213,
Eddy
"
"
And
scientific
or
self.
When
ward
is
brought
for-
"No
from
on faith."
Page
170,
Pft??!*
''PEOPLB
its
from
his
letter of
still
own
more
WORLD."
'
319
absence
He
point-blank.
he
argument
asks, "
On
p.
tell
him
that,
"
MODERN
320
human
beings.
SPIBITUALISM.
by masquerading
tei-s, etc.,
I'elatives
World,
Other
the
is
classed
the
are
other spiritual
as "physical."
phenomena
besides those
to
that nine-tenths of all genuirie spirit-manifestations whatever, owe their origin to beings which " are not spirits of
men
women from the earth, but something quite difand sometliing that does not inhabit our future
world."
Surely then, that poor tithe of phenomena
remaining to us, must be produced by human spirits of a
high order
Surely if so few of her children return to
By
earth, those few must be earth's dearest and best
" The wise, the pure, the just, the heroic souls,
no means
who have passed on before \is into the Silent Laud," continues the author of People from the Other World in his
letter to the Trlhime, " cannot, and do not, come back
Let me, in the name of the Spiritualists of all times and
countries, thank this calumuiatoi-.
What the beloved
ones who have given us such glorious tokens of their
presence were none of them "wise, pure, just, or heroic
The few spirits really human which attend at
souls 1 "
or
ferent,
vile,
1875.
species?
321
convincing
am
dealing
with cannot claim this particular spirit as an " Elementary,"
And
way
stained
me
in print with
what I
what I intended to
him, "
is
say.
To turn
deceitful
or
his
own words
against
all
honest
brethren I
am
presence of
mediums whicli are not the effects of legerdeand to admit that they rooted fast and
faith in God, and my souVs immortality,
my
caustic criticism
of the Tribune
show
their
Spiritualist explains
manifestations at Chittenden.
He
"
MODERN
822
SPIBITUALISM.
mncli for a cause that had been dear to hiin for more than
twenty years. Moreover, " every cent paid him as copyright for his book has been donated by him to help that
Surely
cause, in such ways as seemed most judicious."
we believers in the return of the departed have here
a brother
he
is
The value
undoubtedly a
of that brother
may be
So thought the
accordingly.
it
be believed
small, but
Spiritualist.
that, in
classed
arms.
him
Will
Tribune
Can
it
letter,
What are we
" It
is
am
Spirit-
ualist," and a little further on, " I beg pardon, I am undoubtedly one ?
1 have in my possession a letter from him, dated
March 1, 1876. Enraged by certain utterances of mine
(which, I may remark, pa,renthetically, in no way concerned him), he casts about in this communication for a
crushing reproach and finds it. " Such behavior," ho
and mediums.
tells me, " is reserved for blackguards
Yet we find him, March 8th (only a week later), writing
to the Banner of Light, " I am the friend of mediums"
{and blackguards of course). " No man will go farther,
or sacrifice more of time, of labor, or of money, to proAll this for a class of people
tect them from iconoclasts."
whom he esteems disgraces to humanity
In fact, on his own showing, it is impossible that he can
consider mediums as otherwise than utterly and irredeemably bad. Here is the definition he gives of such persons
''PEOPLE
"They
are slaves.
and their
set aside,
are
we
delight
is
to
'
spirits," says
human
is
And
to
evil.
will
their very
deceive mankind
and
by that of another."
"To
slaves?
own
their
whom
whom
323
WORLD.''
Good does
mediums "
confesses as
not serve
much.
" It
is,"
There
certainly
is
Mediums
all this.
as,
are
first
defined
what use do the "Elementaries" make of their victims ? Our philosopher informs us. They teach mediums,
it seems, " to lie, cheat, and indnlge in immoral practices."
Such conduct is, of course, quite natural in such beings.
And, if nine-tenths of the spirits act thus, we may be sure
that the other tenth, having no " wise, pure, just, or heroic
souls " among them, will not be behind-hand in wickedness.
Tet, of people who " lie, cheat, and indulge in iminquiry,
moral practices,"
Were
it
of
mediums
who
is
just as false
control them, a
homely
of
it,
Wycher-
ley's heroes.
friend
is
this part of
my
subject.
whom
If our Pagan
he loves " are
MOBBBN
324
graces to humanity.
of
whom, in
his
own
BPIBITUALISM.
If he
is
to
language, he
is
warm
me
much
likely to put
Our author
body known
Society." *
As such he has
as
more proof
The
society has
member
to
tist
,"
is
she
who seems
to
control
secret
them
by which
to
this
do her bidding.
too
many
pi-oofs to
permit
me
to
it
doubt the
I have had
fact."
He
'
''PEOPLE
325
His third
afterwards found this assertion too sweeping.
"
certainly
following
words
1
letter to me contains the
:
controls them.
This I
now
find to
whom
have control.
Occult-
one can
human spirits,
If this fellow-Theosophist
America by
this
time a convert
I subjoin a
few
ed
"
to.
diums
a
This lady
is
in the world."
medium
until
one of the
''
She
is
her mediumship."
"
an adept in Occultism."
Occult powers."
this
must
"
remark that on
"
to possess
to think of all
his
head
They
alone
are
am
responsible."
By
his
own
confession he knew,
when he published
able
mediums
Occultism.
"
my
book,
is
One
"
I.
he says of
At
this eister in
'
the,
knew
better, I
assumed to
doubt he
No
MODERN
326
BPIRITUALISM.
me
first letter to
'
"
by him)
lined
" It
Will the president enter the plea here, " Another blunder
of mine ? "
It is, to say the least, curious that he should
talk of the spirit-controls of a person who, he tells us, controls the spirits.
On
page 355 of
his
if
any
circle ever
Much
grave.
occurrence.
The matter
is
this
still
possibility of
The
said
" Tliis,"
crosses,
as
is
the
Not feeling very strong on this poiut, our author summoned to his aid another Theosophist, the Baron De
Palm, whom the Society a few months later were called
on to gratify with Pagan funeral rites. This person
wrote a letter which the president caused to be published.
Baron De Palm confesses that on the demise of the
wearer of any Order the insignia are returned to the
sovereign by whom they were conferred. " But," he continues,
'4
triplicate sets of
his decorations.
The
triplicate set
is
is
unknown
327
me.
has
it)
It
whom we
No-
call snobs."
This
set.
common
wear,
select occasions,
whom
vants by
On
may be kept
from the Other
their decorations
M. Aksakow,
in order.
World, the
publisher,
is not,
the Czarowitch.
a brief summing-up.
on our
It will
at
Let us see
how
In
this writer's
we have
far
own
gotten
truth."
most
He
carried
them
even two
five
On
there.
sophical
He saw
these two " dear old gullible souls " our philo-
little
himself.
He
verified
nothing what-
he did see. With the aid of hearsay and exaggeration he has succeeded in producing a
romance, not very clever, indeed, but which reflects more
ever of the
credit
little
that
To
style it
an
MODEBW
328
account of
observations,
scientific
SPIRITUALISM.
acme
conditions as at Chittenden,
lous could produce a
still
made
of absurdity.
in the interests
more
startling narrative
from
Cooke, or from the feats of any other chiefs oj the jugIt is not in darkness like the darkness
gling fraternity.
of the
Eddy homestead
stays of
Spiritualism
require to be groped
for.
true
Nor,
though the author of People from the Other World becomes owlish enough when exposed to the clear light of
truth, does he seem to have that bird's capacity for seeing
when
all light is
wanting.
On
more ludicrous
of his mind.
is
the confusion
poor philosopher.
I offer no theory as to the origin of the manifestations
which he has recorded. In spite of jealously-preserved
darkness and utter want of tests, the Eddys may be
mediums. The conditions are suspicious, but no reasonable man will base a Verdict on suspicion alone. The
work before me counts as simply nothing. It presents
not a single proved fact either for or against the " materializations " of the
Yermont homestead.
How
book
to
that, not
be,
worthless
knew
that
fact
long after
York Sun
Eddy
of the.
its
spiritual manifestations
Note. There is to be found in People from the Other WorW a misstatement regarding myself which, as being a personal matter, may, I
consider, be
of Ineidents in
My
Life.
AND
SOEPTIGS
CHAPTER
AND
SCEPTICS
Ceetain
it
that
the best
debar
facts of Spiritualism is to
tests
allowed.
VI.
TESTS.
by informing
No
329
TE8T3.
all
possibility of proof.
Admittance
world
No
light
is
to
be
to
whose credulity is
has been put past all doubt.
It is from this happy class
that the champions of suspicious phenomena, and more
than suspected media
come
forth.
"I
was pleased
to
is
now
tive
control, if they
their peace
ble imposture.
" It
MODERN
330
SPIRITUALISM.
Ban-
and
ner the two communications from Professor
Mrs.
With the aid of such able defenders, I hope
.
mediums
will
more
cavilling,
Let
friends.
all
scientific
and would-be
scientific
many popular ideas, that a hundred various schools of belief which agree in nothing
Its
else, agree in directing their antagonism against it.
utterly at variance with
The New
mediums and
to
be
ship
entrance of doubt;
by the
strictest tests
away by enthusiasm or swayed by partisanwhose search is for the truth and nothing but
carried,
the truth
world
all spirits
is
these are
proud.
the Spiritualists of
The Spiritualism
is,
whom
the
spirit-
whose advancement
indeed, a " house built upon a
to
rock."
There
exist,
SCMPTIOa
"
AND
331
TESTS.
would seem
to
us that
it
is
tell
Truth
advance
their design to
tlie
They
cause of
No
that truth.
material
too flimsily
is
unreliable for
So
whole
glaring,
is
parts
may be
it
matters
there
is
from the
persons turn
strive to
sight with
shame and
Sensible
disgust,
that sight
is
Such
owing.
More
efforts,
little
enough
and
whom
however well-intended,
whom
when
above process.
mankind
expressions
enthusiast
Their house
is
mean
that,
when
is
still
Jiy these
there.
it
occupied
of
to
Pack
prove
sons
enemies,
That
is
and
still
more
round the
to put a girdle
And
stances with
cavilling
medium,
scientific
scientific
"
friends
if at
MODERN
332
all,
SPIRITUALISM.
door for
its
would
fling
wide every
admission.
The most cowardly thing in the system of such phiis the method by which they " explain " impos-
losophers
ture.
women were
concerned in
the criminals
it
The
against them.
is
advanced
its
wickedness.
"
the
Bad
spirits
Does the
'
materialized
'
passive
'
Spiritualism.
form bear
Bad
'
too
spirits
medium
bonds
Bad
the
edly
'
spii-its
starry hosts
So
'
it is all
and endeavoring
!
to escape
from
his
drunkard ?
Bad
Blind faith
through.
spirits,
is
undoubt-
refuse to accept
''
royal road."
is
SCEPTICS
AND
333
TESTS.
which
is
been repeated that spiritual phenomena were for the express purpose of
To convince, they must be given under test
convincing the sceptic.
conditions, such as do not violate the laws of their manifestations
yet, in the face of all science
"
Mr.
says
is
to
ever.'
" This is the first intimation we have had that mediums had special
Dimne power too holy and sacred to be gainsaid. Wlat does this lead
us to ? To medium -worship ? Is there to be a class set apart like the
Levites of old time, who are to set themselves above the rules govem-
we
greatest strength
short,
and
it
"We venture
Prof. Crookes,
and
his accuracy of
imposed by
more
to
impress the learned world with the claims of Spiritualism, than the
mon
Every
observers.
Spiritualist in the
'
me
my
life,
why
would
which I have
itualism, is
'
'
MODERN
334
SPIRITUALISM.
"Prof. Crookes placed a wire cage over the musical instruments, and
tunes were played upon them, by which it is proved that the spirit-force
cam act through such wire cages. Why not place a wire cage over the
instruments, in all oases sealed to the table, and then there could be no
dispute
if
ing, place
they were played upon? Or, in case of the medium disappearsuch a cage over her, or over the paraffine in the niould
experiment.
'
Why must
honest investigator
hailed as a Judas
"
who
whom
desirable to convince
Why is
Why the
"
honest
my
detri-
medium should
them
the
own
to
it is
weak
'
test conditions,'
tested once does not prove the genuineness of any other manifestation
" Science
is
ism claims to rank as a department of science, and the task of SpiritThis can
ualists for the present and future is to make goodiits claims'.
be accomplished only by making the conditions of every manifestation
After those have been established, of course
as strictly test as possible.
others not under test conditions have a significance and value, depend-
'
'
'
'
'
'
SCEPTICS
science
will
If
He
we
accept that,
be swift in receiving
335
TESTS.
mediums to deny altoand how can any one investiwe merio the scorn of aU thinking men, and
of refusing to investigate.
'
AND
power
advises
'
tested,'
it."
placed
"How
Questionable Mediumship
is
Suppoetbd.
T
H -, a
none of our readers can doubt, embraces the
opportunity to continue his practice of manufacturing sentiment in
favor of conditions that wiU admit of trickery on the part of the medium, either in a normal state, or as the unconscious instrument of
spirit-power.
He says that the conductor of the circle on the spirit"In a recent
'
veteran
'
to 'Materialization,'
article relating
Spiritualist, as
'
'
'
side' (?)
"
'
the sur-
all
them
at the
time
they would occupy positions outfrom the wire, and permit themselves, after
being searched, to be securely tied, hands and feet, and placed in a,
strong wire cage, with a rope or small chain put tightly about their
necks and fastened to an iron ring in the wall.'
"Mr. H
may have written the above in an attempt to be funny
if so, the old saying that
many a true word is spoken in jest is quite
applicable, for it certainly expresses the attitude of
questionable mediums and their veteran supporters towards a class of Spiritualists
who, standing between the public and those who would be representative
mediums, labor to separate the true from the false, and endeavor to
discover what portion of the manifestations can be accepted as having
a spiritual origin. They would also experimeM to know more of the
laws governing the phenomena of Spiritualism.
These are intelligent
investigators
but Mr. H
and other veteran supporters of questionable mediumship are pleased to term them 'professional sceptics.'
"The individuals who possess this questionable mediumship' are
usually wanting in the merital development that would enable them to
to be present at the seances, if
'
'
'
'
'
'
'
'
'
phy.
'
'
'
MODERN
336
SPIBITUALISM.
secure the attendance of a few
First, it is necessary to
direction.
wko
can write
a.
what they think they see. The more credalous these veterans are, the more they are in demand, and the more
wonderful are the manifestations that they witness. They are given
front s,eats in all circles, free, and from this time forth are the particuspirits
who greet them with fond
lar favorites of the materialized
caresses, permit them to cut lockjs of hair from their heads, examine
drapery, and do other things to the end of the catalogue of wonders
fair descriptive article of
'
'
'
'
that have been chronicled in the columns of papers ever open to such
trash.
'
to test their
'
divine powers.
'
'
'
would win popularity they must be in advance when the public feeling
is to be moulded in any particular case.
The cheapest stock for an
investment of ideas in case of an extempore speech
weak sentiment
media,'
etc.,
'
is
to give out a
persecuted
'
ad nauseam.
'
'
veterans
'
'
represen-
find their
interests of
'
life,
to teach
the truth of truths, to preach, that all may hear, the joyful tidings of
a future existence and communion between the two states proven but
;
their
Spiritualism for
tliur expressed
'
sceptic.'" *
* I
of
all
am
mediums."
The
me
"jealous
whenever
SCEPTICS
Surely the nadir of folly
AND
is
337
TESTS.
reached at
last
seems
It
be
to
commented upon in the above article. So proHuxley is to be searched by some " truthful Spiritualist," should he attend a seance, and Dr. Carpenter
sceptics "
fessor
and
foot,
A somewhat
is
for
June
23,
1876.
The soundest
portions of the
whenever
it is
The
condemned them
as
impostors."
me
a "rival" of
May, 1865.
15
MODERN
338
SPIRITUALISM.
much importance
to rest
upon
doubl-
hence experienced
Spiritualists in this country will never commit themselves to publicly
recognizing as genuine any f uU-f orm. manifestations which may be witnessed on the premises of the medium, in which an ordinary room ia
ful evidence so far as publication is concerned
used as a cabinet.'"
So
far,
good
as chiefly leading
my
who produce
materi-
tricky.
opinion,
alization
unsound
"
The
spirits
Unprogressed
spirits will
time the
is
medium may be
who
Is
medium
in a
it
to be,
dead trance
and
all the
at the other
resolve to play
triclis,
there are
if
spirits
a fact?
The "Jedbro'
It
may
be, but
proofs?
such as
such influence
And
movement
can we believe
to
SCEPTICS
AND
339
TESTS.
lent
mediums of
of innocence,
reputations of
the
absurd.
The simple
own
reputations to shield
guardians'?
their
Either theory
is
Spiritualists foolish
enough
to accept
such
on the spirit-world.
libels
We
hear
much
be genuine I must needs be the grandfor they are, almost without exception, my con-
If the paternity
father,
verts
and thus, in a symbolical sense, my children. I
must confess that I stand in the position of many parents
;
my
offspring.
With
if
unable to injure
inventing and
me
damage
an unfortunate father.
by
which
my
moral character.
Truly, I
am
my
ive brethren,
their
Others
change which has freed them from
MODERN 8PI&ITUALI8M.
340
Amongst
these
my
remembrance
affectionate
last, let
me name wii
At
Brewster falsehood he
first
defence.
took
We owe a grateful
up
men
The
first
made
the cudgels in
tribute to
of hisstainj
Biit I
must
in the interests of
tiir
medium
tli
to
as impostors.
At
length som(
It
was the
in
firsi
There
arose
to
th(
must needs be
innocent, and,
autumn
sample of the
class,
"explanations "
as-
fall upon
Here
is a
the
leaves in Vallombrosa."
(SCEPTICS
AND
341
TESTS.
title
given in jest to
?)
'
is
let
all
sane
utter or their
it logically.
as being
whatever their tongues
and
so active
its
'
limbs of one
who
be used by a
spirit,
is,
the
same would be if he performed it withand the medium's denial of any participation in or knowledge of what his limbs have been seen performing, may
be made in all sincerity, honesty, and truthfulness, because the fact
that the body was subject to the will of an outside intelligence involves
a presumption that the owner of the body was not in condition to operate through it, nor to know what was done through it."
that of a controlling spirit as the
There
logic.
is
just
this superstructure of
ground.
it
342
MODERN
SPIRITUALISM.
" The
That proposition is contained in the sentence
The arguei
use of a medium's physical organs," etc.
knows the weakness of his position, and attempts to mask
" Whether a medinin's
it in
the following manner
hands are used in distributing flowers about a room, iu
procuring rag-babies, in obtaining paraffine moulds
has
:
really but
little,
if
any, pertinency."
Indeed! Suppose
even
dence remains
flne
to convict the
Whence come
ture.
mediumsof
conscious impos-
etc.,
which
constitute
the
tlie
Was
before a sitting,
intended dupes
when
man
carries
some
impostor
is
not in a trance.
He
work of
spirits
The
to
be in a trance.
again.
have occurred.
What,
They
in face of such
will,
I suppose, occur
damning
testimony,
Its
place
is
be-
with
"
343
And
suow.
last year's
yet,
ment,
spirits,
some
commence-
to be held responsible
and
wonderfully made.
Since the charges against the other world break
down
so utterly,
seek
to
imaginary
sins.
in the
Banner of
" Friends, in the lesaona of to-day may you learn many of the laws
While you are lookiug with distrust on those
who are giving physical manifestations, and are endeavoring to pick
everything to pieces lest you should not get the truth, the whole
truth, and nothing but the truth, we bid you, as we have oace before bidden you, be careful of what you do.
We wam those who,
with the hammer calling itself truth, are pounding to pieces the
very souls of our mediums in different parts of the country.
We
say to them, Step lightly, walk carefuDy
I know this, that many
times mediums are moved like automatons in their circle.
Even those
who may be used for bringing flowers, or for other manifestations,
often move their arms or muscles in obedience to our world.
Hence there has been the cry of humbug.' Mediums have been called
humbugs when they were really truthful to themselves, and could not
of spirit-control.
'
it was so.
We have once before called your attention to this
and we would again impress it upon your minds to be cautious, to look well before you wound by the deadly shaft of slander
the good name of those who are trying to do all they can for the spirit-
teU
why
subject,
world."
One
is
proceeded from a
spirit,
that spirit
if
what
is
Terewth ? "
My
friends,
The
MODERN
344
SPIRIT XIAL18M.
whole communication
speech.
remark,
''
them.
The
Bad
Spirits
make
fest.
But
Not only do
dence
is
tliey
Nay
condemn
whom
am
dealing totally
whom
no
it.
evi-
guilt
medium
as
Specimens of that
chapters on " Trickery and
Yet these enthusiasts coolly put all such
Exposure."
testimony aside.
dwellers in the
less
my
They would
who
ever
SCEPTICS
AND
345
TESTS.
the hypocrite,
combine to
make
it
when
a hnndred
circumstances
and
And
cheat.
and lost " only come down fj-om the Beautiful City, and through the Golden Gates, to " speak lies
It is diffiin hypocrisy," and revel in the meanest sin
cult to think calmly of such a doctrine, or to speak with
patience of its professors.
If, as David said, all men be
liars, let us at least have the consolation that those are
less prone to the vice in question who have passed from
the temptations of earth.
My own very varied and
extended experience has always gone to prove such the
so onr " loved
case.
mediums
cuted
stances
all
A seance
is
instantly convened.
Some mild
test is
im-
The evening
imaginable."
are magnificent.
forms
*'
appear
passes merrily.
The results
Pei'haps a half-dozen of " materialized
is
The persecuted
and interesting medium is uplifted to the seventh heaven,
and receives the adoratory congratulations of all present.
fine
moulds.
The
15*
sitters
ai"e
jubilant.
MODERN
34:6
SPIRITUALISM.
The
editor of
his office,
common
sense
Even
if,
that fraud
Yet such
is
precisely the
manner
in
vindica-
"We
see, then,
two
classes of Spiritualists.
On one
side
The
if the evidence be sufficient, believe."
second says, " Believe, and when you have given sufficiently enthusiastic proofs of your credulity you may be
and then,
The
little, though never to test."
These phenomena should be observed under
The second tells us, " I hope the
scientific conditions."
day is not far distant when mediums will deny having
their divine powers tested in any way whatever." With
which class is the victory to remain ? In which host are
permitted to examine a
The
first
says
" I know that humanity ia liable to err. Irrefutable evidence comme to admit both that there are pretenders to mediumship who
possess no medial gifts whatever, and that men and women exist who,
being truly mediums, will yet stoop, when manifestations are not forthcoming, to lie and to defraud. I believe, too, that in another world
we grow better and not worse. Therefore it seems to me improbable
pels
sole intent is to
evidence
that spirits
stances
but
I see
347
ABSURDITIES.
The second
tells
who
us
and
imposture
discovered at
is
inflict
is
to deceive
injury on
Spiritualists,
him with
false
Imposture spirit-manifestations.
the foundations of SpirituaUsm
As oue
Unless you do
wUl be
so,
much weakening
of
effected."
If
we wish
the
name
to
quer,
ation,
off all
we wish that our belief should conbe made manifest, let us court examin-
If
light.
Whei-e there
is
To have no concealments
CHAPTEE
VII.
ABSUKDITIES.
it is the custom of a cerminds to break loose from all restraint.
"Eeason being weak," and enthusiasm strong, the very
tain class of
MODERN
348
SPIMITUALISM.
tliought of
The
vival meetings.
of ways.
Some
of the
attacked by
it
pin
te-
Others ilit
re-
tirelessly
from
light
this
off.
When
the
first indistinct
it.
If
we
are to believe
Cooke, such
"
The
'
know him
visitors are
materialized spirit
'
John
often
is
faithful
speak to your
'
It is
folly
of sceptics, and
of every sensible
Spiritualist.
directed at them.
" Shakespeare's
How he
tlie
shame
us that
349
ABSURDITIES.
simply sublime.
tyj)e.
eartiily or
And how
same
wofully these
little circle
spirits
How
reason,
home
to
of Spiritual-
have deteriorated
Plis
shoemakers, however,
Sennacherib,
Daniel,
John."
to stoop
awkward
Joachim, Judith,
Elisha,
Mary Magdalene,
Even
this
we
St.
Paul,
St.
Jael,
Peter,
suflice.
Samuel,
and
St.
"
The
St.
came
Biblical spirits,"
"
MODERN
350
SPIRITUALISM.
Comment
is
as unnecessary as im-
possible.
one.
whom
he had gathered, he
let loose
Many
man
I was at
the time very young, not being above eighteen, and was
staying with friends in Hartford, Conn.
the younger
members of
One
day, whilst
word
to-
man had
I sent back a
called, asking to see Mr. Home."
message to the effect that I was unable to come, and that
one of my friends would see him, and learn his business
with me. Presently I changed my mind and went myIn the drawing-room I found a visitor whose singuself.
He was standing
lar appearance somewhat sui-prised me.
with his eyes tightly closed, and a generally -cataleptic air
pervading him. However, I had not much time to study
At the sound of ray footsteps he moved slighthis looks.
ly, and, without opening his eyes, ejaculated, "I don't
I have come for Daniel Home " and
want you
motioned me away with his hand. I regarded him quietly
for a moment, and then asked, " What is your business
with Daniel Home ?
" I can't tell you. Let him come himself."
!
351
ABSURDITIES.
me
Let
I am
"
it.
medium.
I have come
and
dium
my
of
and
The
disgust
concerned.
Hearing, whilst iu
I determined
to return his
Hartford
tip,
I found
call.
much above
and
him
a foot across
in this
I withheld
my
He
of his visitor.
received
me
and inquired
meThe farce commenced.
graciously,
tipped once.
if
I were a
ping medium."
tips.
nify,
'
Doubtful.'
writing
medium."
know,
The
is
table gave
two
considered to sig-
you
will be a
"
MODERN
352
"But," said
I,
SPIRITUALISM.
tip as desired.
He
looked towards
rae.
" If you will put your foot against the leg of the table
nearest you " (and, of course, farthest from the " me-
dium
my
wish."
The
sired.
My
amused me.
I did as de-
Such were
servant of
God
"
my
who addressed
who was
self
how
relate, with
353
ABSURDITimS.
as to "
mix
Nor
to the sitters."
sufBciently
The
liabits
it
the
did they,
themselves of
Cham-
This
we
feat,
are
In fact,
darkness.
all
for
which the
could
sitters
vouch was that dinner, dessert, and wine had been duly
honored. Spirits, they were assured, had borne their
part in
the
consumption
they
believed
it,
and were
happy.
K"ot always,
however,
entirely to faith.
is
Materialization has
process to be affected
become
too solid a
Tlius
frantic terms as
"A Most
AsTOtJNDiNa
The
Materialization
He (The
Names
Good Things to
Spirit)
with His
Number) Whose
Solemn Attestation of the Truth of
offer
no excuse or apology
to
Mr.
Editor for writing and forwarding the report which fol*Medium, Aug.
18, 1876.
MODERN
354:
This, of course,
lows."
SPIBITUALISM.
is
in consideration of
its
value.
It
with table-cloth,
celestial
on
warm and
teapot,
to sweeten the
Strange beverage which required to be sweetened with spoons in place of the sugar humanity ordinarily
same?''
uses.
Singing,
of
its
by
it
appears followed.
silent
if
The
spirit
bowed
Instantly
all
was
silence.
The spirit
lip.
down, and soon began
to be talkative as well as the company at table, and invited
greeting burst forth from every heart and
them
to begin, not
course,
we were
sat
all guilty
it,
to see
(more or
how
lie
less)
Of
of bad manners, in
'
355
ABSUSDITIES.
seemed to eagerly accept of, he did not forand then he extended the cake and the tea to
Whilst engaged with onr
all in the room, by special notice.
queried, and
second cnp, my right-hand friend, Mr. P
John, do you de-materialize your tea and cake as
said
you take it, or are you completely and fully materialized ?
we
course,
all
get himself
'
To which he answered, I
'
am
fully materialized.'
Then
it
the
while.
said
about in
it,
spirit
When
still
the
remaining materialized
table
wide open.
had been
On
taken
inquiry,
the
he
and
said,
'
Give us more
light.
Men
say they
was that
it
Exhausted
by
this
iu\isible
and the
visible
MODERN
356
SP1BITUALI8M.
Now
church pew.
due solemnity
by polite
find myself,
we await
in the old
invitation,
Here, in
this
No
we
bell,
by twos, like unsurpliced choristers, to the diningThat is to be our church for the evening. Our
only visible altar the table, around which we sit, not
kneel. ... A pause. Our host and hostess rise, withdraw
to the side, and return with flowers of chastest white.
repair
room.
With
these they
Mrs.
make
Our
little
lips
They came.
.
.'Be patient.
We
sang.
The lights are
Medium, go into that corner
(O shades of Punch and Judy!)
.
We
aglow with
life
A face appeare.
and beauty.
An
upon the lip the eye is alight with sweettenderness, the whole expression is one of universal
angelic smile
est
with
directions.
lowered.
as priestess of the
love.
Upon
is
the forehead
is
a star of glistening
chrysolite,
jewels.
and oriental
pearl
harmony."
Truly it was an unkind cut on the part of the
" de materialize "
that
star.
The "glistening
spirit to
jewels"
'.
"
'
ABSURDITIES.
above quoted,
who
of the interest
name are we
siast
357
But by
to hail the
Our
wlaat
enthu-
in a
less
exalted condition of
life,
retained
a distinct
in
tiers
when
Bothwell.
all
ages and appearances, and the only thing difficult to discern amongst
queenly.
are
slightest trace of
Mary
anything
Stuarts, there
Darnley.
a
The
we have
at last hit
circletik
whole vocabulary of
beauty led
Bothwell could
form.
inti-igue
No wonder
to possess
himself of
No wonder
such a
own way
No wonder
to
that an ugly
sister.
drama
in
the person of
not, but
some
"
MODERN
358
SPIRITUALISM.
back again
From
more audibly
come words few,
Na^',
those lips
am
it is
true,
to us.
but sounding
She speaks
so.
upon the
block,
be a real spirit-form ?
Strange doubt to intrude on such a mind
that aperture in the curtain
authoritatively.
"
a visible form
growth
watch
The
"
Watch
yet longer
"
We
trace
its
A sec-
Do I sleep ? do I dream ?
Do I wonder and doubt ?
Are things what they seem
Or are visions ahout ? "
Such
by
Spiritualists
their folly.
human
There
are,
spirits,
chiefly
which appear
to every sensible
so disgusting.
They
Of
late
35 y
ABSURDITIES.
name of the
Edmonds
spirit-world.
The
"
:
'
I
,
At a signal
between them.
him
He complained
his situation.
I spoke to him encouragingly, and the influence
which he derived from our sphere somewhat subdued his despair, and
of
reconciled
him
to existence.
He
"The
that he
had none
place, I
MODERN
360
am
think I
SPIRITUALISM.
justified in calling
it
revolt-
drop
fell,
rise
before.
" 1 would
my
fellow-
countrymen," says he, " to make known my mature couclusions and convictions as to the murder, and my own
execution for it."
The
first
conclusion he arrives at
that he committed
is
extreme of
tunities of the
confess
and
it
diificulty
I confess
by the impor-
This I
confess
it."
this,
before
sweeping.
Repent, indeed
pate
it,
if
it
am
inevitable events,
of such a
'
am
too
trifle as
The
"My
sorrow
dissi-
in
is,
that,
/ could not
of
that
though I
him
to
a fellow-creatnre.
be already formed.
appears
it
relieved
by
this
philoso[
so far
strong assurance of
which
the
wild,
361
ABSURDITIES.
tators of
my
trial,
last con-
wrung from me by
bitter
the
my
confessing
my
friends
while, on
complete guilt
the
(as
though I
feel
and do
all this
keenly and
men
will
(as
me to experience the
most heartfelt sorrow for my sad offence, while, at the
same time, possessing the pure calm of an absolute cer-
and
that
of things,
hnt an
I was
What
hard thinkers
the tangled
There
"
web
is little
ment
in the iron
hands of undeviating
fate."
He
tells
an instru-
Then he
What
not ashamed."
am
relieved
by
this strong
from the tumult of wild, reasonremorse which assails the vulgar." It seems strange
MODERN
362
aPIBITUALlSM.
Are we
forting explanations."
lieve
that,
at
man
could have a
This strange being read the various London newspapers containing accounts of his execution
it
was stated
scaffold
my
in one
"
By
the bye,
the
This
is true."
And, further on, he remarks concerning "the
two swift glances which the reporters told you I took towards the spectators."
It is not surprising that he should be thoroughly dissat" Capital punishment was in my
isfied with his fate.
case, and is in nearly all modern cases, a profoundly barbarous and pernicious blunder. ... I rejoice to think
tliat my case will be looked back upon in history as one
of the crucial cases which helped materially to disclose to
the nation the utter folly of the whole thing, aud so for
end
to
as this
The above
and teachings.
is
reported to have
The remome
him can be sufficiently judged of from his
communication. "I and Lincoln," he remarked, "often
have a cosy chat up here. We agree that it was just as
well I shot him.
You see, it was set down in the order
manifested to a certain American
that besets
circle.
"
363
AJB8UBDITIES.
of things for
me
to do
it,
The world
as
tions
is
Spiritualists,
much the
Were they
not
these.
communica-
generally accepted
Spiritualism would
among
enthusiasts
all
its
stupidity.
all
crime
The
fanatics I
who maintains
Indeed,
am
is
dismissed with
that
that " once in Christ
Maniacal
goes further.
Picture a
crime
is
impossi-
alto-
'
'
The
be true, indeed,
will
ever,
with
It is one, at least,
earthly
A
that
^
if it
my
MODERN
364
saviours to
whom
find relief.
One
SPIBITITALISM.
heavily-laden spirits
may
come, and
June
Spiritualist,
"
'
5,
slie
Ms
and
'
pity.
I spoke to
my feelings
were
him
No doubt
upon the different arguinduce him to change his man-
inspired.
first
me
had been
filled
'
with an
earnest,
if carried
beyond
to love
my guide."
(Italics as
good.
But I want ym
per original.)
'
'
am
see that I
rise
state,
so."
glad, Thoth.
am most
You
give
me
great happiness.
am
sure you
of a
365
ABSURDITIES.
dark nature by choice.
bom
grown wrong."
Yet the
in
'
1 loved
It is not easy to
one.
dear, dear
woman "
me
You
are ThotKs
but
who cannot
saviour /"
who
accept
all this,
It does not,
that a
The cheering
and
centuries,
an hour's talk
to
inmates
sit
fast
And
this
those
Tet thirty
made no immedium subdued him with
all
pression on Thoth.
tress
given above
thousand years
of light
spirits
as is
visi-
pickpockets
of
ten years'
experience or burglars of
twenty.
perceive,
sometimes revolting.
tain
teachings
this class
whose
Is the J^^ssay
few
" messages,"
soundness
is
however, con-
past question.
on Wisdom which
tells
Of
us that,
"
MODERN
366
"Wisdom
is
what
is
8PIRITUALI8M.
"Wisdom
wise.
is
folly
is
not wisdom.
medium
His chosen
On
value.
Jupiter,
it
seems, glass
is
The dead
a comfortable existence.
living.
glass (stones
"
us, is
name by which
the
We
The
Leme-
these rows
The
is
rolled
dwellers in these
cities,
and
cities
on a
glass oar.
As
honse-
sitting
where the elevated portion of the inhabitants feast monotonously on pork and beans. What the " vulgar herd
are enforced to content themselves with our informant
saith not.
life
me
Another
spirit
in a certain planet
rightly.
Mercury,
The production
if
my memory serves
soil and
367
ABSUSDirms.
climate of that world
is, it
It is
it,
Words-
like
It grows,
He
selects a
particular individual
among
and
his
till
food
is
exhausted,
His
last
publication in
The
lisping
We
assured that, at various periods, they dictated this incomparable production to the person who has caused a few
copies to be published.
The subject
is
is
almost
MODEBW
368
One
incredible.
regarding
tlie
SPIBITUALISM.
We
always took a small boy with ns, to clean our shoes. Xhe
Master liked us all to look well, and he was very particular that
nary
our
slioes
The
an impostor.
can you call
round.
'
me
On
one occasion
incident
my
Would
He
was
thus described
is
an impostor ?
ordi-
'
reviled as
"
:
'
How
my
An
The
attire
"
'
and announce
it."
Lest
my
them
is
an exact
transla-
The eleven
even worse.
"The
of character."
sort
The
apostles,
we
'
'
369
ABSURDITIES.
continued, turning
to Christ,
'
none of your
miraoles
here!'''
And
this
of Ee-incarnation
appearance.
its
stuff.
them
attention to a pleasanter
me
Let
here.
theme
"A radiant
his face
him
it,
all
and the
flesh
almost
me
spirit delicacy
transparently luminous.
with a
earth, because I
16*
MODERN
370
SPIRITUALISM.
my work for its good and use, and upon tlie cross's arms I lightly rest
my upraised hands to indicate that love. It is no burthen upon my
me, becomes the insignia or badge of my
is my support, consolation, joy, and upHf tei: for by it my soul makes its progress into higher states of purity
through the love of that humanity for which I work, to aid in uplifting
mortal man to a knowledge of spirit life.' "
shoulders, but, borne before
office in
Sublime
"
How pure in
humble
and famous.
alias of "
Now,
Jolm King."
it is
at
known to man by
On
sinful,
And
lips of air."
head of a
sceptic.
on,
present in the circle, and beats people about the head with
371
ABSURDITIES.
women,
*'
seizing
tlie
Such
glory."
some
is
jolly
to
" f ace-
one gen-
I'll
composition
'
I wish I
I
And
mark
remarked
enough.
my own
"you ought
tleman,
of
enlivens
Spiritualists consider
tiousness."
I'm
the
He
'
so on,
"Have you
would
'
had a bird
on a
stick it
"
spit.'
ad nauseam.
not," he asked, on another occasion,
"have
tide,
mind
tone of
fit
here,
,"
and
uplifter."
''
"Look
I've
been
number of
as I
have to do
over
it."
"
He
years, to
it,
work out
I think
it's
in a devil-may-care
my own
as well to
kind of way."
jolly
Such
salvation, and,
make myself
to
is
the fashion in
higher states of
purity."
MODERN
372
'
BPIBITUALISM.
Our
planet
is
no
lon-
as follows
just
swiadling.
'
officer in
Valente,
when
medium
coma, was favored by visits from no less a person than the Archangel
Gabriel, a dignitary whose celestial functions do not, it seems, affosd
him the means of making both ends meet, for the burden of bis song
was still that he wanted money, and the money was always forthcoming,
it
may
appear,
its richest,
world should appear on a certain night in the lady's chamber, borrowing, for the nonce, the terrestrial semblance of Valente himself.
Enthralled Valente, in this thou reckonedst without thy host
The widow
!
'
AB8UBDITIES.
373
in a purely ghostly
'
six
almost equal
in
it
England.
If
importance of the
Italian Spiritnalists
" Where were
fact.
yon," an enthusiast dating from the very city where " Gabriel " dwelt, asks his opponent, " when, in the twenty-
Modern
seventh year of
"
memorable seances
The only memorable
As
many hundred
There
and enthusiasm.
Numerous appearances of the supposed spirit had previously occurred.
This, however, was to be his final visit.
About a fortnight before he had announced himself as
were no
te'sts,
and
infinite credulity
night previous
we had had
higher
sphere.
'
'
MODERN
374
SPIRITUALISM.
hear that
we were never
... To
and fell upon our hearts desoan ice-cold freezing rain, killing the tender
buds of our newly-awakened hopes."
special stance was arranged, in order that this very
material form " might bid a final adieu to his brother."
The meeting came off. " The spirit," we are told,* " materialized with unusual power and strength.
He brought
with him his lamp, and remained with us in eontitined
conversation for the space of an hour, if not more. His voice
was stronger than ever before, and he spoke in the most
solemn and impressive manner regarding certain things he
wished his brother to do for him. Kneeling before us
upon one knee, with one hand held by each of us, as we
leaned over to draw as near to his face as possible, after
earnestly enjoining upon his brother the accomplishment
of a certain dutj' which he wished him to undertake, he
made a most startling disclosure to us.
was
lately, like
"
'
'
re-incarnation.
upon this
was possessed of a quantity of beautiful and valuable jewels. Strange to
say, I have become aware of the existence of some of those jewels in this
very city of London. They are diamonds of the purest water and brilliancy, and, moreover, they are charmed stones, and would,, therefore,
be of inestimable value to their possessor. I wish you, my dear brother,
They are for sale in a shop
to become the purchaser of those stones.
in this city.
I know exactly where they are, and the price a, price
much beneath their value. They are five diamonds, set in a hoop-ring.
name
price.
lose
'
name
Medium, Aug.
13, 1875.
ABSURDITIES.
the ling in the
375
tell
me what
omnibus
was to take to bring me to the spot, that his brothel might have my
spirit ')
'Be sure,' he
(Well-informed
finding the ring.
aid
continued, that you say nothing to the man as to the value of those
stones a value beyond all earthly price, indeed, for they have been endowed with rare virtues of a spiritual kind. This ring, my dear brother,
I
'
'
I wish
to
him
me
my
gratitude
It
has
me
enough for giving so unselfishly his life and strength to our service.
Therefore I wish him to have the ring. It will be a talisman to protect
him it will increase his power as a medium, and with that ring he can
;
wish you,
him.'
we were
to one
charmed
life.
that ring to
to
affecting, as
and again and again were his solemn injunctions repeated. We were
only permitted to kiss his hands, his head he would not allow us to
touch and our dear brother, rising to a standing position, slowly retired
"
from us, repeating in solenm tones, Farewell
Farewell
;
'
'
there
of
the jeweller
tain, as
I have
from whom,
all
the ring
viz.
the address
was bought.
I main-
appeared in the
Medium
of
following
letter.
It
111
as I
MODBBN
376
SPIRITUALISM.
way
'
'
'
"
heard.
its
'
Spiritualism ha
its
abuse
and
it
" D. D. Home."
" that
Mr.
Home
'
Friends
form which
ABSURDITIES.
.
One
377
of
who has
(sic)
my friends,
that
I,
the
was a
that life to a state of great happiness in the spirit-world, the desire for
re-incarnation
me
my soul
length
of higher civilization.
I required
new
had advanced
man's
life ?
upon
Who
this evening.
to a state
experiences of mortal
At
the planet
This also
is
new
life,
too vast
This revelation
is
whom
I have spoken.
" And now, friends, I can never more materialize.
higher spirits of
mitted to those
who have
left
It is not per-
it is
quently done.
And now
My blessings upon
you
aU!"
Was
As
more painfully
ridi-
culous
MODEBN
378
SPIRITUALISM.
to
bliss
to
make
"
new
con-
we
What
ness.
is
We are going
To a
The
which
souls
is,
come back
on a journey
we
find,
to civilize themselves
England
"
much
as
an
progress of eternities."
and sublime.
The
Certainly this
spirit
is at
once
may
be) for a
man
lucid
it takes
to find
ABSUBDITISa.
out
how many
379
As
I entertain
him
agree with
gress " of
that, in the
no more.
us,
and
way
of
its
from whom
the ring
antics.
it
as a
and
with which
infinitely
maddening.
and
women
absurdity,
it is
How
painful then
communion
is it
for reasoning
vices
men
The
MODERN
380
SPIRITUALISM.
week
by
set off
its
natural
is
next
anti-climax of wickedness.
The damaging
to the still
of in the next.
ins:
the result
battle are
hard.
What, for
as a
instance, can be
Frenchman
Spiritualists
whom
regarding my jealousy that I determined to obtain convincing proof of the true nature of the mediumship in
question.
Meeting Count
Z.'s "
medium "
in the south of
literal translation
''
ABSVBDITmS.
pointed out that, as I
me to
am
381
it is
impossible for
" Frbdeeic S
."
itualism," in
at present
^^nlikely to
own account of
"I told Count
nessed in
my presence
His
ran as follows
it
resulted
from trickery
he wit-
medium,
am sure you
'
'Dear, dear
Often, too,
'
spirits,'
Always,
'
when this
The dear
spirits are
imitating thunder.
" Not Only have I told him that these things were done by ourselves
'
flowers,' I
'
'
Tet Count
Z.
and such
as
of our cause
Let
me
remain to be noticed under the present headThere are " spirits " who, after having been " re-
actions that
ing.
duced
to the necessity
MOBEBN
382
SPIBITUALISM.
alizing
me
keep
there to
to
silence, while
the
belittled
and
belittling
and
all for
action,
quite above
is
scopic eyes.
Do
boast
of,
micro-
whom
I believe not.
all the
They
may
own
carrion
it
and they
After
taint
thia
foi'e,
must blush
England, and
still
such advertisements
"
Madame
may be
Madame
oger,
"
dollar."
These
consulted
,
"
of
Clairvoyant on
" Professor
Astrol-
one
The only
Spiritualists
383
ABSUBDITIE8.
be touched upon.
and explains itself
to
The following
"
extract introduces
strict impartiality is
is
James
Fisk, Jr. ,
The
Hornpipe,"
We
"
whose
working a sewing-machine,
and playing upon a mouth-organ."
Another celestial
visitor " wrote a letter, directed the envelope, put a stamp
on it, and mailed it in the iron box at the street corner."
But such stories are numberless.
They have as little of the spiritual in them as have the
wild dances in which " mediums " (generally females)
indulge under the influence of imaginary Indian controls.
Like these, they are the products of overheated and morbid minds.
I believe that of the many and glaring
absurdities upon which I have commented in this chapter,
Devil's
Dream."
MODERN
384
SPIRITUALISM.
spirits.
It is not to
great
Their mission
What
is
time have
would
feel
sources
"The
all
which savors of
folly or of
the truth.
It is full
among
CHAPTER
TEIOKEET AND
ITS
their worshippers."
VIII.
EXPOSUEE.
385
may
may be divided
The
first is
made up
all
destitute of
profitable to
varies the
monotony of
his fraxids
as an exponent of truth,
MODERN
386
SPIRITUALISM.
who
receive
The
him
as
an exposer
villainy.
first class
reformation.
own
led by temptation
amendment.
It
is
well
who
is
habitually
For the
evil
honesty, and
natural ally,
It is
darkness, are
Dis-
arrayed
see
a very
their
who
To
affect carefully
all
is
exclud-
work of putting down imposture and destroying abuses my present volume is written.
The battle in which I and other honest men are engaged
ed.
will
no doubt be hard.
trick-
Let lovers
is
cursed.
I have
to detail the
modus operaTidi
of such
manifestations.
fraudulent
cheats, investigators
387
to these
may with
at present
most
being practised.
a spirit-form or forms.
in
be lighted at
vogue
To be
all,
is
the simu-
successful, such
room
so ill-lighted
medium
is
medium.
Some-
But, should
all
go
well, the
Cox
"DeabHome:
" I am satisfied
Serjeant
tised.
Some
of
that a large
it is
amount
still is
prac-
But
somnambulism are aware, the patient acts to perfection any part suggested to his mind, but wholly without self-perception at the time, or
memory
medium
afterwards.
of deliberate imposture
apparent manifestation
is
it
not genuine.
MODERN
388
" The great
SPIBITUALISM.
The
veil
A considerable
Bpeotiou.
the preparation
The
it
it
letter
descrip-
style of it showed
to be genuine.
She informs her friend that she comes to the s6ance prepared with
a dress that is easily taken off with a little practice. She says it may
be done in two or three minutes. She wears two shifts (probably for
warmth). She brings a muslin veil of thin material (she gives its
name, which I forget). It is carried in her drawers ! It can be compressed into a small space, although when spread it covers the whole
person. A pocket-handkerchief pinned round the head keeps back the
hair. She states that she takes off all her clothes except the two shifts,
'
'
* Since this
increased.
who have
doubt
is
eoyered by the
veil.
The gown
is
389
the drawers.
" But it will be asked how we can explain the fact that some persons
have been permitted to go behind the curtain when the form was before
it,
felt
the medium.
am
sorry to
say the confession to which I have referred states without reserve that
trick and lent themselves to it.
I am
such a formidable conclusion although
the so-called confession was a confidential communication from one
medium to another medium who had asked to be instructed how the
trick was done.
I prefer to adopt the more charitable conclusion that
they were imposed upon, and it is easy to find how this was likely to be.
The same suspicious precautions against detection were always adopted.
The favored visitor was an assured friend one who, if detecting trickery, would shrink from proclaiming the cheat.
Bat one was permitted
to enter. A light was not allowed.
There was nothing but the darkness visible of the lowered gas rays struggling through the curtain. I
have noted that no one of them ever was permitted to see the face of
the medium.
It was always wrapped in a shawl.'
The hands felt a
dress, and imagination did the rest.
The revealer of the secret above
referred to says that, when she took ofE her gown to put on the white
veil, she spread it upon the sofa or chair with pillows or something
under it, and this is what they felt, and took for her body
" The lesson to be learned from all this is that no phenomena should
be accepted as genuine that are not produced under strict test conditions.
Investigators should be satisfied with no evidence short of the
very best that the circumstances will permit. Why accept the doubtful
testimony of one person groping in the dark when the question can be
decided beyond dispute once and for ever by the simple process of
drawing back the curtain while the alleged spirit is outside, and show-
these persons
knew
that
it
was a
'
'
'
'
ing the
medium
are refused
that
is
we
if
trickery
designed,
are
unsatisfactory experiment.
MODBSN
390
aPIRITUALISM.
'
but always, with one memorable exception, in full light. You objected
to no tests on the contrary you invited them.
I was permitted the
full use of all my senses.
The experiments were made in every form
ingenuity could devise, and you were as desirous to learn the truth and
;
the meaning of
it
You
as I was.
human hand
come
to,
On
the
more I am satisfied
The solution that most presses upon my mind
that they are not such.
is that this earth is inhabited by another race of beings, imperceptible
to us in normal conditions probably our inferiors in intelhgence, by
contrary, the
more
whom what we
witness
is
medium more
done.
is
the
from the body. But, whosoever th^t agent may be, the medium through which it is enabled to
manifest its presence and to operate upon molecular matter, is the
spirit of
the
or less separated
psychic (that
is
now
phenomena themselves,
that the
or
some
it
But
may
Then we
tests.
be in a position to inquire what they are, whence they come, and
to what they point.
" It is a great misfortune to the cause of truth that your state of
nature and extent, as produced under absolute
cise
shall
human mind.
" Yours most
truly,
Edw'd Wm.
Cox."
391
from
which
tions
libel
trickery.
"
The only
medium guilty of
medium has
own
will
medium
and purposes
is
acted in
at the
time
when
But there are numerous other methods by which impostors of this class
may
To expose
promptly copied.
entist
article
The
Journal some
by the
least creditable of
American
spiritual publi-
cations
spirit manifestations
most
rigid search
may
your
sister,
A common
wUl conceal a
etc., sufficient to
may be.
The
produce
expert, too,
can conceal them in the lining of his pants, vest, and coat, with
threads so arranged as to deceive the eye, and in a moment's time they
can be taken out and replaced. Those who have never investigated
this
articles
who
circles.
MODMBN
392
SPIRIT CrALlSM.
pleasure in
it,
as those
did
Such
are the
iiaeaiis
are accomplished.
it
will be per-
This, however,
is
A notorious trick-
On
or a couch.
The medium,
first
"-
request would be
to
as,
Was
appeared.
it
plished by imposture?
had taken
exhibitions
significance
than
trappings."
little par-
This accom-
The most
Shawl,
rigid
investigation
of his
dress was
vain
fabric,
393
'
homo who informs the humble applicant that his petition will be referred to John King.
(John King is the familiar name for the manager
- on the spiritual (?) side of the show. )
The answer of John King wJU be
given to the applicant if he will call at some future day and it may be
said the success or failure of his attempt to enter the charmed circle
will depend greatly on his personal appearance and the number of
ladies that are to be present on any evening he may wish to gain
admittance. These shrewd managers have found that the beet conditions are obtained when the ladies are in a large majority, and the number of men present does not exceed one to every two friends of the operator or medium.
If an applicant should gain admittance, he is
assigned a seat in the back part of the room the front seats are re;
tlie spirits.
The
sitters in
hold in their hands, and are held by a stout wire bent in the form of a
horseshoe; at either end
enters
she
fat, fair,
may be a
and
forty.
sits
a friend of the
medium.
The medium
behind a pair of folding-doors in a dark ante-room, or in an alcove furnished with doors opening into closets.
ditions,
Any
'
material-
izing
'
materialization,'
the circle
whose
In addition each
oifice
17*
medium has an
attendant
"
MODEBN
394
" The above
SPIRITUALISM.
no exaggeration
is
it is
man
woman who
Woe
to the
prise.
There are enough patrons from among the weak and credulous
phenomenalists people who wiU recognize in the materialized old lady
the shade of their grandmother. Better make a few dollars and be
safe,
who
than endeavor to
" It
is
always able to give some message, token of love or valuable information from the dwellers in the spirit, should be neglected for a darkened
room where forms that may be inflated masks, or something else, flit in
an uncertain light at intervals for about an hour and then vanish, leaving the minds of the audience in a state of unpleasant uncertainty. It
is no wonder that Spiritualism languishes, and that its adherents are
unable to support a single course of lectures in Boston. The causes
are apparent."
An
which other
times
is
at
once honorable
all lovers
to the
of the truth.
It contrasts well
in
above
writer,
attempted
explain
to
called)
have some-
glaring
fraud.*
" Light
"
should be the
demand
be given.
vinced.
By no
Where
of every Spiritualist.
and
it
is
" Light
It
is
the
there
is
darkness there
is
the possibility
May
his
395
In the
light
est tests
the responsibility
Sexton
" I implore you to advocate the suppression of dark seances. Every
form of phenomena ever occarring through me at the few dark seances
has been repeated over and over again in the light, and I now deeply
regret ever having had other than light seances.
What we used to term
darkness consisted in extinguishing the lights in the room ; and then
we used to open the curtains, or, in very many instances, have the fire
lit (which, if
burning, was never extinguished), when we could
with perfect ease distinguish the outline form of every one in the
room."
by supposed
Nothing
spirit-hands.
be considered
approaching a
test ; the imposture is often of the boldand grossest character ; yet the " medium " is congratulated on the success of the seance, and credulous
fools are happy.
Perhaps the sitting is for "materialized " forms or faces.
In such case the proceedings are
as
est
regulated
according
to
the
persons
Should these be unknown, or regarded as possessing a fair share of common sense, nothing goes well.
The circle is described as " inharmonious." The cabhiet
present.
jealously guarded.
distressingly tiny ray of light
having been introduced, " materialization " takes place.
is
is
something
MODMBN
396
SPIRITUALISM.
white.
Such
is
" spirit-forms."
If,
however, the audience consist Of known and enthudupes, conditions are at once pronounced favorable.
siastic
A larger
loveliness" presented.
visitors is
charming.
themselves at
stiff
them.
In such
little
or mentioned.
of
room.
The
said form.
may walk
spirit is in
The darkness
sense of the
of the stance
sitters.
Where
is
lists.
thus proportioned
scepticism
is
to the
tests
unmask
tended to
are
tliey
other hand,
whom
397
may be
If,
common method
means;
is to
painful,
often
fasten the
and
The
medium by some
imperfect.
by
eluded
most
in-
on the
binding submitted to by
There is no
which professional
useless.
to
plished by Maskelyne
forth jubilant
pet
vphich
spirits"
mediums of
from
with
theirs
their bonds.
In spite of
all
of
living
mediums
physical manifestations."
fallen very low,
hailed
by
rejoice over
for the
them
as " the
production of strong
when a couple
which at present
Almost every sensible person 'knows how
easy it is for hands of a particular shape to release themselves from even the most complicated fastenings.
The
occupies me.
trick
wrist,
MODERN
398
8PIBITUALI8M.
form of
Other aids are also forthcoming. At times
the tying may be done by a confederate. In this case the
fastenings are so arranged that, whilst apparently tight,
they become at once relaxed on a particular drawingtogether of the body, and may be slipped off with the
utmost celerity. Uneasy workings of the hands and
arms are often employed to derange the operation of fastening, and may succeed to a greater or less extent. In
fact the tier and the person whom he binds are placed
jugglery.
in
pierce
to
it.
However cunning
the knots
mode
employed,
of overcoming
them.
They are as
Keys may be carried
opened. When, however, the
I take
it
'
door.
granted.
was made
inside
each cufE (entirely unknown to the medium), and they were carefully
replaced on her wrists, so that the paint was not seen by her then the
door was closed, and she proceeded to put the ring on again. When
;
the door was opened all were able to see paint on the medium's hand
from the wrist to the ends of her fingers. This closed our inTestigation and the performance.
All were well taien aback by the disooTeries made."
6y\)
One
Daily
was reported in the L
the
describing
After
Christmas
Day,
1875.
of
Courier
of
"manifestations" witnessed
how
at
seances
previous
the
of the catastrophe
" Several gentlemen had formed a very strong opinion as to the utter
There was hut one chance remaining,
and that not availiag, the Spiritualists would have achieved a great
result.
However, the fates were in other directions, and the spirits
The eager
themselves must have played against the spirit-conjurers.
circle
The stock-broker
was there, hoping probably to get some augury that would help in hia
speculations
in the
gentleman
in his
gymnasium
dress, laboring, it is
was that of a
named King, with whom he was eager to have a
noted ex-pugDist
'set-to.'"
by the
sceptical to be nothing
more
came again."
"A tube of paper was handed out, presvraiably by a spirit, and then
came the form of John King ; first as if tentatively selecting his
position, and eventually appearing full at the aperture in the cur'
'
tains.
'
Gracious heavens
could
it
be a
spirit after
400
MODER]<r SPrBlTJJALISM.
A howl of terror escaped his lips and, as the gas was being
a vice.
turned on, another conspirator against the spirits made a dash at the
The medium
cabinet, and brought the whole arrangement to the floor.
was handed out, and disclosed a most ludicrous make-up. About two
yards of tarlatan was arranged round his head turban-wise, and covered
him in front down to the thighs. On each leg was tied loose a newspaperboth copies of the Daily Courier and these served as the
in the full blaze of the gaslight they reminded one
spirit's pantaloons
of the top boots of a brigand in a melodrama. When dragged into the
light the terrified medium was still clutching one end of the atrip of
to
him
would appear
It
protection
sonal
was
some
Such punishment
object.
concerned was
a great cause.
In
all
asm of
and
it
immensely strengthened. Meanwhile the enthusimore rabid among Spiritualists becomes roused,
is ten to one that some such rush into print witli
the
gust
all
lent
medium may
The
to
dis-
frauduhis own
401
behalf,
thousand.
I have
movement
fabric of Spiritualism,
It
the
enough
to
Perhaps
it
is
spirit-
been sent me, with the names of seven witnesses appended, which was refused publication by one
narrative has
Yet the
trickery
it
refers to
We
their
hands and
'
'
My friend
faces.
Miss
too near,
and
(?)
to be allowed to
lifted
the curtain
spirit
The request was granted but she was told not to come
or she would melt him. She grasped the offered hand tightly,
shake hands.
bum
all
the materialization
Mr.
stood discovered
'
'
MODERN
4:02
SPIRITUALISM.
days after
box,"
darkened room,
Strange
defect.
He
must
abundance of
his spiritual
gifts,
cam create a
be
super"fully-
VJS
proprietor,
It is
he
avowed the " phenomena " witnessed through him to have
been the results of trickery, and it is certain, too, that he
gave mock seances with the object of injuring one w^ho
had been most kind to him, and who is well known as an
honest man, biit whose mediumship this impostor wished
certain that in the presence of various Spiritualists
to
as his
own.
according to his
own
confession, a pro-
and quite willing to make a living by receiving money under false pretences."
What is the value
of "mediumship" developed at a source so foul?
The
fessional cheat,
who
takes as hierophant a
need hardly be surprised if Spiritualists acquainted with the character of the master look
suspiciously on the disciple.
That master has assuredly
done his
name
is
the constant
journals reach
me
with tidings of three additional " mateone in England, the others in the
All are connected with " cabinet manifes-
United States.
MODERN
404:
SPIRITUALISM.
tations,"
the
New York
Times opines
876)
Mrs.
medium
of extraor
by Mr.
assisted
who
Mrs.
first-cIaBi
wa<
intrO'
's
request
tc
permanently return to a world where people who can't sing are always
ready to try to sing. After the spirit of Daniel Webster had thrust hif
head out of the window of the cabinet, and made the astonishing revO'
lation that there was a Mr. Smith in the audience, and that he rathei
thought he had met a, Mr. Smith whUe in the body, the ghost ol
Sarah walked out upon the platform, clad in white, materialized to
the apparent extent of a hundred and fifty pounds. This was the moment
for which Mr. C- - had waited. He leaped on the platform and seized
Sarah in his arms. The ghost, regarding this as a liberty, shrieked
caught up u. chair and knocked the investigatoi
loudly; Mr.
down, and Sarah, escaping into the cabinet, was seen no more.
loudly proThere was, of course, a tremendous uproar. Mr.
on the spot, as a villain who had laid his
posed to destroy Mr. C
hand on a female ghost in other than a spirit of kindness. Mr. C
argued that his destruction was unnecessary and undesirable, and the
or the medium's
audience was divided in opinion as to whether C
husband was the person who stood in need of immediate destruction.
The presence of mind of Daniel Webster happily restored order. That
eminent ghost yelled out of the cabinet window that the medium would
'
'
'
'
'
'
'
sympathetic Spiritualist suddenly striking up that pathetic hymn beginning Tramp, tramp, tramp,' the audience joined in, and Mr. M
'
of Sarah's hasty
'
explained,
de-materialization
'
was
witi
of herself.
"
405
could be found
erality, offered
The
final
investigators,
length,
read
clear to
points of the
document
whoever cared
to
it
" The
in question
seance I held after it became known to the Rochester peowas a medium," our penitent illusionist writes, " a gentleman
from Chicago recognized his daughter Lizzie in me after I had covered
my small moustache with a piece of flesh-colored cloth, and reduced the
size of my face with a shawl I had purposely hung up in the back of the
first
ple that I
cabinet.
He
From
this sitting
procured
my fame commenced
confederate.
to spread.
closet
secret
was
occasions,
any
spirit
"medium"
sTibmitted
to
the
severest
tests,
and
as
every
\ise
his
own
MODERN
406
SPIRITUALISM.
and medium rehearsed
spirit
"My
accomplice used
foi
false
a ghostly appearance.
me
way
himself.
a couple of faces
a woman.
tiny
of
On
sing-
poked
it
it,
rolled the
mask
it
by
up,
turn-
"
,"
Rochester
his
deceptions
of
says the
medium
evidently
I had intended
to describe at least
one
additional
in-
position
ciently long.
however,
chapter
tliis
is
4:07
already
suffi-
some
new
exposure.
notice of a point
on which
much misconception
however honest,
made
prevails.
the often-repeated
are,
hush
on
it
public, inflict
on the cause.
many
dis-
up
when
It is an indubitable
izing
Henry Gordon.
resemblance to that of
To my knowledge
;Gordon,
The same
came round
class
this
of enthusiasts
medium
also,
who
encircled
to ruin.
MODERN
408
SPIRITUALISM.
Nothing
is
more astonishing
to reasoning Spiritualists
medium
"
still
in the trance,
spirit
of
Thus we may
read of
exhibit-
by the
causing
it
and wreathing
it
participles), wav-
as if in sport, and
finally
And an American
spirit
to be
seen."
Surprising, indeed
But to relate the
means by which these wonderful results
possibly be found more surprising still.
!
is
simplicity of the
are attained
The
will
disappear-
usually accomplished
as
follows
40:)
leception will
With
amaze him.
down, the
lights
sitters
jlosest
human
resemblance to a
prised if
insist
the
world in
form.
enthusiastic Spiritualists
be offered them.
"
Can
us
'i
"
The dim
it
is
The
figure
And
ground.
its,
or
commences
to
to dissipate into
it
women
rests
tell
upon the
us of " spir-
who, losing power, sank into the floor u.p to the waist,"
remark that " tlie head remained some time after the
rest of
such de-materialization
When the
is
Let us see
how
accomplished.
may fade away in sight of the comcommences cautiously to draw towards him the
lower extremity of the " spirit-robe," and at the same time
lowers the upper part of the form towards the floor.
His
own person, it must be remembered, is whi)lly concealed.
The figure dwindles and dwindles, and the awed company
see it by degrees growing " beautifully less."
At length
to the request that it
pany, he
18
MODERN
410
is
SPIRITUALISM.
within the cabinet.
The mask,
um
form"
of
consist
some
to
it
towards him.
will
it
Can
these occurrences be
"
?
may even
thrust
formance be clumsy,
Spiritualist
or
the watchers.
it
it
matters
little,
unless
some
sensible
among
is offered
apertiu'e.
411
beside
reply
still
at least
arm by which
figures
its
the impostor
is
izing stage.
And
Truly fraudulent mediums must be astonished by the simplicity of the preventatives stimetimes applied.
Thus, in
the case of a female, we are often informed that her dress
was nailed
to the floor.
When
The
announced
enter the cabinet. Its occupant
be at an end
found calmly
The dress is fastened as it was fastseated in her chair.
Everybody
ened at the commencement of the stance.
Should a report be issued, it concludes by
feels secure.
stating that " whatever may be thought of the forms seen,
they were not personations by the medium." Yet it is
The occupant of the
next to certain that they were.
cabinet has simply unfastened her dress at the waist, and
stepped out from it. Then the curtain rises on the usual
appear.
the sitters
the seance
is
to
is
Of
my
opin-
MODERN
412
To
ion.
8PIBITUALT8M.
release himself
part of the
is
Noise, however,
if
present, the
we
Whilst
is
a dressing-room.
Possibly the
may
head.
woman.
face,
is
The
but the
ears,
tiring her
alters it
is
on her
A pocket-handkerchief or
lin,
medium
strike
so
dim
as
to
light
render
which
is
of course,
desirable;
to a strong light
to expose themselves
without detection.*
'
"
females
may
413
it is
it
what I speak.
in this
necessary that
Like
all duties,
however,
it is
me.
common
astonished horror.
consciousness of right
an honest
man
I insist
is
itself.
The
medium and
on being heard.
whom
removed
MODERN
414
SPIBITUALISM.
from helpless
is
of
upon the
The
scullery-maid
that "
Home
is
as spirit-materialization impossible.
others,
own.
seated
among
can be construed as
occurred.
The
figure
first
involving the
was
At
the house of
materialization which
use of
a curtain
copy / the
fifst, that it
was held in a
well-lighted
room y
in full sight
the curtain,
all present.
of
materializing
I shall cease
and
how
nities of
415
When
the
Concerning
remind
my
hardly
carefully-conducted expe-
riences of
Other mediums might be named through whom wellkind have occurred. Why,
against light
as the showmen?
Why should Spiritualism be made
more and more a mockery and a by-word, whose reproach
is
such that
selves, to
its
Why
by
set
up
as a third-rate conjurer,
alias cabinet,
is
and the
last
puppet-box,
among
may estimate
when this
their fathers
triumph
may
be accounted at hand.
MODERN
416
BPIBITUALIBM.
CPIAPTER
TEIOKEBY AND
ITS
IX.
EXPOSUBE {contiuued).
to accept the
'impossible
'
bold man."
outside the
be
left
imbedded
in the
Then
for the
Or, perhaps,
inanimate.
"
weeping
how
it
A
itself
may
is
And
417
? "
burst of indignation ensued when
the two other persons present " could find notlaing astonishing in it." " What," said the wonder, " you think I had
fectly astonishing
the berries in
my
pocket, do you
honesty of
all
inside out.
this
The
"
"
medium
At
had
name
least
mother, whilst on
eartli,
If a
manner
that, to
Bedlamite
some gifted
this.
Let
etc.,
me
give an idea of
into a
darkened room
expectant circle,
table.
we
will
how
is
suppose,
is
seated
fish,
The
round the
often accomplished.
such
facilities for
18*
She commences
to specu-
"
MODEBN
418
SPIBITnALlSM.
what they
will bring.
else.
spirits
of you like
"
?
/ would
like to
have
lilies
circle,
of the valley.''
The "medium"
energetically repudiates the sugges" Perhaps the dear spirits could not bring them.
tion.
Why
me
lilies
a test."
a scattering sound is heard. A
probably announces, " We have brought
since you wish for them so much."
And, sure
The next
instant
the
lilies,
Mrs.
's
seance, a
theirs.
A gentleman
of course.
known
to
me
4:iy
walls or
'
terms.
An
little
exam-
Just at that
ine.
speak to
He
caught at
it,
tlie
all
dium
It
chilly,
rattling of tambourines;
left
hand of C.
known
of cases
as accomplices.
medium.
These end
in all
of
four
MODERN
420
8PIBITUALI8M.
close.
Presently
that, as it is
it
Should
ger.
little fin-
speedily declare
their places
suggests
will be as
may be taken by
"
medium
When
careful watch-
such seances
and
in
may be
bitten
seen.
been devised.
The
their darkness affront the light "-= a tiny ray of light, that
is.
As an example
me
make
in the
The
mediums
first
the
"A green baize curtain was drawn across that corner of the room
which formed the cabinet. Mr.
stood in front of the curtain, and
opened it after each manifestation. The younger boy was considered
the most mediumistic and the greater part of the phenomena took
;
"
him
alone.
off
hie
421
behind his hack, and his shirt-sleeves sewn together about two inches
filled.
slate
The
sound of writing was heard, and on the slate being examined, writing
was found.
" These things were repeated at each seance, and up to the
ing
we
delighted.
all felt
five or six
Towards the
(placed on his
spirits
last even-
move
several
moved from the wall. This wasbut they were totally different from
those heard a few moments before, and sounded exactly as though the
boy knocked hia hat against that of the brother sitting by his side. I
need hardly tell you that we were not satisfied, and after the boy's denial that he did or could move his head were compelled to feel susspoke, and wished both boys to be
picious,
One
of the said
little
manual
no long
the aid of
this.
mak-
"March
'
'
Mr.
Dbab Sir
of your desire to
requested by
him
27, 1876.
I informed
hia trieka,
and was
He was
se-
'
MODERN
422
SPIBITUALISM.
cured in the same way as the boys (see above). He is then put into a
bag, the strings drawn round his neck, and the ends fastened to the
chair-back against which he reclines. You can also tie cords round his
legs below the knees.
" Whilst being put into the cabinet, or behind a curtain, he unbuttons
one of his sleeves with the fingers of the other hand. He then lowers
the arm as much as possible, and gets the sleeve and sewings abme the
elbow.
you wiU
then, as
easily see,
be brought
to the front, and, through the bag, take a bell or any such article from
his lap, and ring it. If a tray be put in his lap, with a jug of water and
he can easily pour the liquor from the jug into the glasses.
may be worked by the hand up the bag
He then lets it slide down into
as far as the mouth, and he may drink.
Rings laid in his lap are also worked up the bag by means of
his lap.
the fingers, until his mouth is reached. He then grasps the article between his teeth passes his finger through the neck of the bag and,
taking the ring from his mouth, puts it on his finger, or in his pocket.
glasses,
With a
Mr.
you
will perceive
from
'
come
to
from nine
many
I think
Aad
'
Simple, indeed
to tioehe seconds.
done.''
dark seance.
circle.
The persons
to be
sits
the
"
in a
to clap his or
Guitar-
investigator
lit
as the clapping
hand free
other
to
423
the digits
of the
manifest! "
'
mediums
oh dear no
To show the impossibility of such a
one gentleman shall now be allowed to hold the
!
wave
it
in the face of
her hands.
" Before I quit
" I must
offer to
me by
that for a
letters
sum
of
our conjurer,
's
business agent
money
my
medium should
the
made an
possession,
expose the
affair,
as she
'
'
'
mediums
in London,
is
in the
and gets
Ring of
letters
all
the
The managerial
offer
was not
accepted by me."
I desire, apropos of these
glers, to call attention to
my
friend
MODERN SPmiTUALI8M.
424
his-
exposures of the
audiences as
reproductions of
spiritual
off
on
caretheii
manifestations
showman
the
pocket.
Since
To me
it
seems
deall
Spiritualist.
operated upon.
his seat
species of
etc.,
inside the
arm when
recess contained.
to be
The
I asked to be allowed to
sit
next
tlie
As
arm
will be observed,
at liberty, to carry
dotectiou.
were given,
a series of twitclaings,
to prevent the
lie grasped
425
my
light
arm
began
accompanied with pinchings and
it
After about
minutes
His own
right hand continually shifted with great rapidity from
my wrist to my elbow, and viae versa. His left hand
grasped my wrist, and, with the elbow of the same arm
he would again and again press mine, until, at length, I
could hardly distinguish whether both hands were on my
arm, or whether I was not simply touched hy the elbow
and one hand. Suddenly the bell in the cabinet was heard
to ring.
I distinctly felt the movement of the boy's body
as he rang it.
Then, with great rapidity, the right hand
of the "medium " was substituted for that left elbow
which had been made to jpress m/y arm during the performance. The audience asked me where the boy's hands
were ? I replied, as was the truth, that they grasped my
arm; and a common "Oh! how wonderful," was heard.
My poor arm endured another series of twitchings and
squeezings, and then I again felt the boy's left elbow
of such treatment
pressing
wrist.
it,
Had
my arm
five
my arm.
this
Then the
"
MODERN
426
doing duty for
it.
"
SPIRITUALISM.
At
this
my
moment
I have," said
in
Buspieion.
the tone of
I.
Something
I was voted
development.
exists,
demands
for
showered of
late years
their
on the
spirit-foi-ms
spiritual public.
many
its
light.
The
ex-
of these pecu-
3,1876:
sham photo. There were four
scamps who forged them. They produced spirit-figures in
numbers. I believe all four to have been cheats, and I am certain that
two were. It is my opinion that they used double glass negatives.
"
Moreover, I have found out who posed for the spirits.
" Tour sincere friend,
'
'
'
different
'
'
Amongst
my
possession
the
It
tlie father) of
different countries
men who never saw or
heard of each other. How many enthusiasts besides may
have recognized a relation in the same dummy, Heaven
two natives of
only knows
427
snis
born6 a
flatter la
manie des
Une fois
ci'oyants.
say
Je
me
surplus
il
Je
dire
Au
done qu'a
have never
I have rather
n'avais
" Sir, I
anything.
madness of the
believers.
it
The evident
"A number of
ited to
sitter's
face
came out
black,
[white,
MODERN
428
SPIBITUALISM.
'
"We
uniformity about the whole collection of spirit-pictures, which indubitably attested that their production was governed by chemical laws of
some kind. A careful examination of the ghostly stock revealed the
fact that the spirit-figure, in nine cases out of ten, appeared before the
The Embracing
G-liost
was invariably
bodiless.
to rules of perspective, should have been at least twenty feet to the rear
of the sitter, actually overlapped the figure of the latter.
large
number
Indeed, in a
all
probably ex-
We
of,
the
'
spirits
'
spirit-photograpli
street.
" Secondly. That the figures of the ghosts and those of the living
sitters, although visible in the same picture, are the result of separate
'impressions.'
429
him but
embracing him,
spirit
appears to be in the
etc., it
'
'
'
'
'
MODERN
430
SPIRITUALISM.
who have had
a picture
taken.
" After returning to the dark room, the operator takes the plate from
slide, and pours over the surfacestill covered with the white sen-
the
sitive film
developer.
white of the film fades away, black shadows come forth, and the
picture grows out from the pallid surface, first in pale shadows, which
ultimately develop to strong reliefs of white and black, like the shadows
moment
ment
liable
we
it is
of
But even
is
made
is
The sunlight acting through the glass negative on the sensipaper makes the positive picture for the card-photograph. There
considerable opportunity for humbug during the operati'on of "re-
solution.
tive
is
color, etc.
consequently a
come out
common
old
faint
one.
'
It
Wash
Well, some
Ms dark room an
old
snowy bridal
dress,
The
431
ashy
molecules the bridal dress had passed in fragments into the grimy
bags of some great rag-merchant, and the very memory of the wearer
had passed away like the fragrance of her bridal flowers, from the
its
stranger.
ness,
'
spirit-manufacturing business.'
" By imperfect cleansing of the plates the most eerie effects can be
About a year and a half ago a poor Indiana photographer
created a tremendous sensation by the production of spirit photographs
in this manner, his success being in great part owing to the skill of a
shrewd retoucher in his employ, who utilized the shadows of dead
This fellow might have made
negatives in a truly admirable manner.
a fortune had not the trickery been exposed a little too soon.
The best
of
's spirit-photographs seem to have been made by various modifications of this process, portions of the old negatives being thoroughly
washed out, so as to admit of proper adjustment. The knave's dupe
is deceived by beiog allowed to handle and examine the apparently
produced.
'
'
peregrinations.
spirit-figure will
may
is
it
through
In brief we
before
photographed.
As the
all
speotres at
seem to stand
's lair
in the
subse-
432
MODEUN
we must conclude
SPIRITUALISM:.
that the ghost impression
is
"
By
make good
ghost-pictures.
it is far
ghost figure, and the fresh impression are negative impressions, and
produce good positives in printing. But the figure of a ghost impressed
upon the
lies in
judgment
in the
new
picture
and
in focusing.
'
letters
'
P.
pictuie.
It
was
finally dis-
covered that a ray of light passing through a tiny crevice in the wall
of
the dark room struck the side of the glass bath on which the name
of
and the
letters
is
to hold
up the
it.
or
to
or gaslight
Two
transparency.
it
433
positive,
and the looker-on would probably never dream of deception, supposing that the operator was simply examining the plate,
to
According to the distance between the two
see if it was all right.
impressions
'
'
known
'
'
own
produced by
'
describe here.
ure which
ties of
may
There
is
own
it
doppelganger,
may
be
humbug
like
an account of the
many
artifices practised
by spirit-photographers."
"
MODERN
i34
SPIRITUALISM.
forms " while outside the ctirtaiii, and the suddenness and
totality of their disappearance when once more safely ensconced within the depths of their " cabinet," have tempted
admirers to seek for some solid memorial of these solid
One of the geniuses in question, we
absence of
tests,
and
it
during
the medium's.
Other
in
have presented
distinguished
medium
for parafEne
mould
effects
Two
433
" About thirty people were present. * A smiiiJl pine table was previwith an opening across the centre into
by Mr. A
which a board or leaf was so closely fitted that, though it could be
The paU
reraoved with one hand, it would require both to replace it.
containing the paraffine and water was suspended by one arm of a scalebeam, which was suspended from the frame of the table in such a way
that, while the paU was under the table, the other arm, supporting the
nicely-balanced weights, was outside, and in fuU view of the audience,
passing through a slot in the black-glazed muslin bag which enclosed
ously prepared
'
'
to pass
was withdrawn, and the blanket, prewas now carelessly smoothed out, and it was soon
indicated that the work was finished.
Upon removing the blanket, Mr.
A
found the rauslin pinned difEerently upon the top of the table
from the way he had pinned it, and having, in the spot where the left
hand had been hidden, a strained appearance and tJte middle board was
found displaced. A paraffine mould was lying upon the bottom of the
bag, a little under the edge of the bowl."
The
pet.
left
hand
of Mrs.
However
prized
little
by the
From a statement subscribed by seven leading New York Spiritualand published in the Spiritual Scientist of March 30, 1876.
MODERN
i36
'
'
On Wednesday
SPIRITUALISM.
evening, as Mrs.
the husband
who was
last,
saw, in crossing the street, a paraffine mould lying in the gutter, where
the medium had just passed.
She exclaimed, Why, there's a paraffine
'
hand
'
'
'
's
'
medium
professed that
Present thirty
On
saw
that he assuredly
medium
"
saw the
some
ladies
who wore
"
She
of what
One
mould protruding
the
lingers of a paraffine
when
peo])le.
the Thursday
and Mrs.
spijits
tlie
a third
Saturday,
March
series of seances,
final
and
conclu-
"
A packet
received by Mr.
Taking
it
to
437
to be of
the
avail in the
medium
which Mr.
first,
in his possession.
'Thirty -five
The
the package,
and had
exactly at 11
lbs,
it
oz.
was carefully
collected.
"Mr.
when
took
balanced
avoirdupois, the same as before the seance.
scales,
it
He -also
Mrs. S
below the toe the// were cut across tlie sole, and left open.
" Each can draw his inferences from the facts we state.
scribe our
is
We
sub-
it
"
matter involved, and the desperate attempts of " veteran Spiritualists " to whitewash the reputation of the inthis
One
, I think it unnecessary to enter.
demand, however, of the believers who clung to her
" through glory and shame," deserves notice.
" If not
the work of spirits, how were the moulds produced ? "
culpated Mrs.
'
may
be
This mould
9, 1876,
favors
Briefly
"
MODERN
438
SPIRITUALISM.
dress.
Aided by time and darkness, the medium may break
the thread at the seam of the sack, and through an aperture thus
formed let the mould slide to the floor, after which she may sew up the
broken seam. Taking a small quantity of water from the bucket with
medium's
The
which
pseudo-manifestations
all
the
Spiritualist
spiracy.
"My
agency of
spirits
much from my
prove
me
msane.
my
saw so much
of the frauds of
my
daughter and her Italian friends that she is not a Spiritualist at aU.
She has explained many things to me which I thought it impossible
could be trickery
the chief
of
Italians.
My English
'
like
my-
self."
439
and I began to feel my situation getting danI had no resource but to accept a compromise.
gerous.
My daughter and her husband have now agreed to
sell me ray liberty for a ransom, like the brigands of Calthe lawsuits,
abria,
the rest.
or seen
no more of
spirits."
not
the whole
is
yet a Spiritualist.
phenomena
He
of Spiritualism
repu-
but
believing genuine.
"
Some
of
Being an illiterate man, and perhaps not imagithough benevolent, he kept a phrase-book, or complete celestial letter-writer, full of nice things to put into
despatch.
native,
MODERN
440
SPIRITUALISM.
gether
be),
my (" brother,"
'We
Or
and mine.'
this
'
have walked with you upon the western side of life, and
Some hundreds of these
will soon meet you upon this.'
he had carefully written out, ready for reference
and use.
What ought to be done to him ? It is too
hard a question for us ? We should rather like to leave
it to his clients.
As we have said, there are thousands
of letters.
We can't print all of them, but surely in what
we have given is matter for much and not wholly pleasing
meditation on the world we live in."
The taste displayed in pnnting the names and often the
addresses of those whose letters to the impostor had fallen
into journalistic hands is certainly more than qnestionable.
It must be confessed though that the letters themselves
ar'e curious.
One smart Yankee addresses a deceased
tidbits
Brotheb William We
:
are engaged in
storer.
do to make
my wife
make
it
pay a
profit
Inform
very soon.
me what is
What
shall I
"
companies.
A third writes
to his
hi-s
if
patent
" the
'
he
may
medium
"
rails.
'
sell his
To
all
'No.'"
Here
this portion of
this chapter to a
much
my
greater length
I might stretch
by a few
additional
selections
but I
am
iil
me
Enough
as incubi to Spiritualism.
brous or diffuse.
impostors ever on
the
watch
Far from
as
it
in
pleases Fate
it.
abandoning
cheer a
mixed
short,
to
this
little
its
silver lining.
GHAPTEE
X.
As
giving
chapter.
There
are,
incidents about to
partial obscurity.
instances,
being
names
opposed more or
made
publication
public.
are, in
It does not
most
names
I shall,
>
MODERN
4A2
SPIBITUALISM.
my
are in
dictate.
The
incident I
in Hartford,
"Why,"
it is said,
Is
it
not excessively
Undignified indeed,
myth
if
we
"
?
never taught
oM
disregarded dream.
The Future
What
a lulling symphony of
A peaceful slumber in
and the
eternal
afflictions of
we have
443
endless light.
And shall we
assurances of brighter
we
ourselves
whatever else
Such
is
it is
convenient to forget.
The good
it
rains) seated
in,
many thousand
present Mrs.
MODERN
444
modern
SPIRITUALISM.
times, I
doubtless erring
that the steep
set apart
A more
have centered.
possible to find.
Her
estimable
creed
woman
it
would be im-
is
demand. Her practice is equally exemplary with her precepts. She renounces the pomps
and vanities of the world in a dress from Worth. Her
prayer to be delivered from all uncharitableness is offered
up by the same tongue which a few hours before talked
scandal of some dear friend. Her favorite pastor tells
homo
meek
are blessed
all
these
and many more, she feels herself perfectly respectable and pious; and she sits, as I have said, in her pew
on Sundays, goi-geous with false hair, a Parisian bonnet,
and just a touh of rouge and, in the nicest of falsetto
voices, informs all whom it may concern that she
things,
Eather would
445
may
brance green
spealiable joy.
enough
to
it
Heaven a
which
to
all
of the
woman
is
gone.
stances of the
hearts to
would
MODERN
446
identity than
life
to
come.
8PIBITUAZISM.
is
in
these apparent
dences which
it is
impossible to doubt
that the
trifles
They
are evi-
which accomplishes
so
much
facts.
I select, therefore,
M7
moment
but I
The
think
."
ignorant."
quest of you."
field in
known and
influential
He
then explained
how
a well-
investigating
the
much mystery
however, in as
as before.
came
by chance
at the
welcome
morrow
in view.
whom
to a guest
at the soonest.
heavy
silk dress
The master of
into
the hall
making any
first
He
naturally glanced
look
What has
ill,
startled
his nervous
once reposed
feel
more
remarked, "
you ? "
at ease.
"
MODERN
448
SPIRITUALISM.
member
rustled.
medium and
to his host.
The
latter in-
quired what such a rustling might mean. " Oh," said his
visitor, " it's caused by the dress of that elderly lady in
the gray silk
whom
distinctness
little
the
am
iid
The perplexed
That speech
answer
nothing.
medinm
on quitting the dining-room had been his first intimation
as to the old lady of the gray silk having passed from
on hers
at
is
could, of course,
earth
My
brother
did cut
down
is
a tree
;_
is
all
sheer nonsense."
an untrue
had
thing or everything
of the occurrence
The morning
arrived,
how deeply
the affair
MODERN
450
SP1B1TUALI8M.
together to the family vault, and you shall see that, even
way, Mr.
's
there.
coffin,
as there
first
Never did
jiist
little
"By
room above
the
Mrs.
L
's baby
but perhaps I should have
I only did it yesterday."
I suppose
asked you
was
it's all
about
right,
it.
medium
My
that:
"the actions
of the just
Spiritualism was to
tested
it,
and knew
it
With
the
451
he winnow the
away whatsoever was
good and ti-ue. Now he
intellect did
the
message communicated by
whom
family
so characteristic that I
is
from
to print extracts
relate to
him
have determined
here.
it
of
affairs,
actly
more
or
it's
miae
but will
it
home
it
am
it is
evea
now
further
benefit you,
still
on earth
Is it
not rather a natural or spiritual influx, adapted only to the actual condition of the identical spirit,
am
for the
moment
but to
for another
make
it
From my
'
am no
point of view
longer
it is
per-
/ am,
of the great,
unexplored f nture.
It
is,
may be
not as yet
made
must
clear to me.
also ascertain
exist,
I wait to be
why undevelopment
"stands side
'
MODERN SPIRITUALISM.
452
The following
narrative
was written
me
for
my
by
to a
my work
many
with
jest,
as a
'
it,
and soul
doubted
it
we,
!
better
known
as
'
L. M.,'
we
at
'
'
'
'
met
I see
no reason why I
453
esteemed.
value
U.
and was for some time consnl both at Antwerp and Boston,
A.
S.
my migTwnne
friend,
'
'
his seat
and repeated
'
Emma C
She continued
Emma C
say on.'
He stood
'
from the step of your hall-door out of the rain one stormy night into
house when she became insensible, and Mrs. Grattan folded her
arms on her bosom, and you mulled the vrine she poured into her
lips ?
do you remember how you challenged him for his brutal cowardice?' When 'L. M.' had said this, Mr. Grattan exclaimed: 'There,
there I cannot bear it
I must go
I must go poor Emma C
,
poor sufferer
that man, though a member of Parliament, was the
greatest brute unhung
but I can bear no more now. Miss A
I will
your
in her
the corridor,
ing.
'"I
daresay she
may
it
that dear
but that fact
which occurred soon after midnight outside our hall door was .known
only to my wife and myself.'
creature
"
my wife's
was
When
she feels
I returned to the
it
know
drawing-room
'
'
Emma
died of
inflicted
by her hus-
band.'
||
'
" Two or three days after, Mr. Grattan's visit was repeated, but then
M. had gone home.
Ij.
'
MODERN
454
SPIRirUALISM.
" He questioned me very closely to leam what she had said after hi
the room, and was greatly struck whsn I told him that her deatl
was caused by a blow inflicted by her husband.'
We knew,' h(
sa,id,
she died of cancer, but she never told us it was so produced.'
" Oblige me,' he added, when you next see Miss A
by telling
her she will never again hear me scoff at Spiritualism.' "
left
'
'
'
'
'
may be
assured that
it
was
medium
who,
the evening
when
it
romance of
at least a
matters not
^had found
reality,
London,
himself, on
modern Babylon.
premonition, a
sptirit-voice
l(>ave,
Piccadilly,
to
belong to earth.
Indeed, the
of whom I speak
whom he saw were
medium
made
again
itself
At
heard.
Speak
to the stranger
it
don
"
The other
made a motion
replied that
it
was indeed
sad, and
" let us
455
walk on
together."
evidently wished to
evade complianoe
message.
companion
to his
"
You
" said
lie.
The young
started,
and
invite
me ? "
can
he questioned.
"
No
"
But why
more
at
reflected,
with
to supper.
and
Once within
him
Come
you afterwards.
me we
the invitation
asked
in."
"
Come
medium
at last
accepted
why
he had
He was
so,
the other at
first
from his
perplexity, however.
The spirit-voice once more spoke,
aud made a sufficiently strange communication.
The medium addressed his companion
" Tou will go back to the City in the morning," he said.
The other started from his seat.
" In Heaven's name," said he, " who are you ?
Tell me
that
who are you ? "
" Never mind who I am.
Go back to the City in the
evaded answering.
speedily relieved
morning."
" But, if
impossible for
it
is
MODERN
456
"
at
JSTot
Go
all.
BPIB1TUALI8M.
usual,
just as
and
all will
be
ar-
ranged."
man made
from
What
for
first to last
The
some time.
a sad
j'ouiig
naiTative
He
told.
agreed that
inlie
other accepted.
to
He
morning, promising
his
new
ac-
quaintance.
Hardly was he gone when the voice said, " He has not
you all." What the youth had kept back was then
explained, and, armed with this new knowledge, the medium awaited the other's return. His guest was punctual,
and the two sat down at table together. After tea the
conversation ran on the subject of the other's aifairs, and
the host suddenly remarked " But you have not told me
told
all."
"No,"
"
said the
I spoke to
mit suicide."
For a
" Gi-eat
moment the
Heaven "
speech, "
it is
true.
he,
when he had
discovered
recovered
it
I cannot
2'hames."
As
me much
it
has given
to
phenomena
in the light.
457
and other
warm
men, a whole
dark seances.
In Blackwood's Magazine for March, 1876, appeared a
my
and
this I
now
decidedly incomplete, I
whom
an account, in her
tion alludes
witnessed
is
own words,
of what she
interspersing
It is
little
lution
One
human
how
been able to make towards the soof some questions among the most important that can occupy it.
progress the
intellect has
universe,
days of the apostles, has been disputed ever since, and in these latter
days has separated disputants
was young.
had been reached by the Sadducees, who denied the resurrecand acknowledged the being of neither angel nor spirit,
it ia certain that until the last century do philosopher went so far in the
opposite direction as to deny altogether the existence of matter, and to
terialism
affirm of spirit
what the
20
it is
MODERN
458
SPIRITUALISM.
because
men
;;
Idealism, or the
had very
little
success
senses.
spirit,
it difficult
to maJ^e converts
words.
is
Spiritualism.
We hear
is easily
be found closely
same
to
it will
in the
field.
'
'
'
'
At
was
quite an excitement
the
the
and so on.
distance,
this there
459
have become angiy, had not an elderly lady interposed by asking the
complainant it he did not inhabit a certain number on a certain flat ?
When he
quietly,
'
'Oh,
house.
said
if it's that,'
they, 'of
course
another thing;
it's
to be menhow the great medium had really desired perfect quiet during
but the spirits would not let him rest, and were always callhis stay
ing his attention night and day * there used to be such curious
I ventured to observe that as the mesounds about those rooms
dium was now in another and distant place that was a reason why the
spirits who were so fond of his company should not make noises in
Yes, you would
the hotel. But all the answer I got to this was,
by
Little
little,
then
it
came
tioned
'
thint so
to
it.'
but they are not quick to leave a place once they get used
It certainly seemed to me that the conduct of the spirits
if
parted.
And
ation at
"
these vulgar
little more on the subject
recommending Spiritualism to my consider-
thought but
make
all.
Some days
later I
* This is
a slight exaggeration.
D. D. H.
MODERN spiritualism:
460
me
Let
things.
to spend an evening with him, and to whom he would say that, although
he could do nothing calculated to bring spirits to meet them, yet they
must not be surprised at anything they might see, as spirits would present themselves unbidden sometimes, and be very demonstrative. The
strange things which occurred at these reunions were a good deal talked
about in whispers, and led the excluded portion of the guests to make
strong efforts to obtaia the entree to the medium's rooms. Very few,
however, succeeded in this. The lady who narrated these things made
no endeavor to be admitted, but rather shrank from that which so
many desired, being inclined to look on Spiritualism as imposture, and
having a great dislike to tricks and surprises. But a friend of hers,
who had been greatly impressed by what she had seen on her visits
(being one of the elite), induced the medium to invite her, and then
importuned her until she accepted the invitation."
cnnistances
the
is sliglitly
incorrect.
introduction,
and
The
the
real cir-
phenomena
by the lady
as follows,
whom
to
the
Blackwood
me
article
alludes
'
'
My first
I had arrived
an entire stranger.
found the absorbing topic of the drawing-room, the strange phenomena witnessed at a recent private seance given by Mr. Home. lexpressed a desire to converse with the great medium, which favor was
accorded me, and eventuated in an invitation to be present at a seauoe
I
We
were
a,
party of seven,
all
all
having
;'
Home
upon
We
461
and chatted on indifferent subAt the end of perhaps a quarter of an hour a sensible vibration
jects.
of the table was apparent, and, shortly after, several of the circle were
startled by the sensation of being repeatedly touched where no hands
supposed
were visible. Then came five distinct raps upon the table
whereupon Mr. Home repeated the letters
to be a call for the alphabet
the rappings being transferred to my knee, and in such rapid succession
There being
as to render it impossible to mark the letters indicated.
with the hands lying carelessly
it,
apparently
two
influences, each
Mr.
Home
ed apparently of itself
to radicate assent.
supposed
remainder of
The
warm
as
my own was
fingers
it.
"
He
Home should
it
intervention of
" When the
P'ompUy and
rela-
MODERN
462
SPIRITUALISM.
Uvea deceased, and circumstances which could not have been known to any
of tlwse present ; aU, as I have stated, having been, previous to the past
twenty-fotir Jiours, strangers to me.
" Finally, Mr. Home, passing into a trance, described the personal
Home
at
different in character.
new
set of strangers.
table.
Mr.
happen
'
Home
said calmly,
'
Do not be alarmed
no accident
will
the table came down with a bang, but not one of the numer-
ous articles upon it was disturbed. Again it rose within a foot of the
A third time it
ceiling, descending this time as lightly as a feather.
mounted with no visible hand upon it, making its way back so gently
that one might have heard a pin drop as
" Shortly
I confess I could
it
touched the
floor.
the
"In
floor be-
its
it
quiet, sooth-
ing melody was resumed, growing gradually more and more faintyet
a
TEE EIGSER ASPECTS OF SPIRITUALISM.
frvery
it
463
like the
Home was seated was by an invisimoved slowly back, a distance of perhaps two feet, placing
him quite out of the circle. A moment after a hand appeared on the
knee of one of the party, distant about four feet from the medium
ble force
hand
like that of
tall,
powerful
manthe
and
how it went it did not fade out gradually, nor did it gUde away
we knew only that it was no longer there.
" Only a few of the prominent incidents of these two seances atg here
given much that was interesting and striking was of too personal a
;
me
turned to
'
'
'
'
'
Had Mr. Home made use of the word picture instead of portrait in the
instance the fact might have been at once recalled
but I was
classing portrait
more as an oil painting. The picture in question
had never been in my possession, and I had not seen it for many years.
first
'
'
"
It is
may
in question.
its exist-
from memory.
it,
however,
it
much
to
cations received
MODERN
464
BPIBITUALISM.
all
possible proofs to
its
the outside
mind
to
recoil.
many communications, and the repugnance with which various whom tliose communications
have convinced shrink from identifj'ing themselves publicly with a cause so unpopular as Spiritualism, and defaced by so many abuses, should be held prominently in
view by every critic who would deal impartially with the
subject.
They are points which the Blaolcwood writer
seems somewhat to lose sight of in the following remarks
The
secret nature of
" I think
beings.
Once
This
ia
For the
much.
latter
'
'
spiritual mani-
many
earth.
of
them being the souls of human beings who once lived on the
But I have not let slip the recollection of their testimony lam
it
The fondness
me
my
all
405
rooms "
(let
'
'
many
of their
most
which many
would be glad to prove, namely, that those who have preceded
us on the earth certainly had souls that there are spirits who influence
and control matter that matter is the creation of spirit."
confidence.
believers
If the
Maga
matter,
am
glad to
notice, however,
is,
that
the author of
minds
as,
conmiend themselves to
on the whole, just
all
The
and
follow-
unprejudiced
would appear to have tested the media, not the spirits. The trials were
as to whether the media were or were not impostors and mere prao-
tisers
they
not
testimony.
'
20*
MODERN
466
SPIBlTUALiaM.
may have
to be mistaken."
That evidence could hardly be considered " unimpeachable," which " still stronger testimony should show to be
mistaken." I dare assert, however, that unimpeachable is
by no means too strong a word to be applied to many of
the facts which Modern Spiritualism has placed on record.
They have been tried by the most searching scrutiny, and
with the severest tests, and like gold fi-om the furnace
they have come forth from the ordeal in all the brightIt is to these glorious
we may
at
gleams of
cause.
CHAPTER
'
FATHER.
publication,
to
OTJK
XI.
spirit of Chatterton.
him.
my
but I felt an
I reasoned thus
friendly counsels
If
may be
he be in reality a medium
of use to
him
at least, in
;:
"
teaching
him
OUR fatmeb:'
to avoid
467
1 also thought
he w^ere not a medium, and himself possessed the
of writing such a production as the one alluded to,
liopes have,
that, if
talent
it
ing to develop so
I am well
is
medium.
The poem from which I
of the
extracts
is
only
I.
MODERN
468
SPIRITUALISM.
But TuUy's
And
A pauper's bones
And branded
The
all I,
so,
worms
receive
ni.
" The deadliest stab
As
is
Had
And
shell.
sing,
IV.
"
To
"
general,
progress in the
;;
OUB FATEEE."
poem
and sketches,
469
passes
Past
In
all
yet they
still
And
human
blood,
When
^if
'
who
see
"
;
MODERN
470
;: ;;
;;
SPIRITUALISM.
They
A balsam
is
to error given
am
are
spirit-life,
from
this
that opens on
is 't
man
at his passing
thus described
is
A judge relentless,
or a father kind ?
with every action wrought below
Is linked some fragment of man's bliss or woe
That perfect in a raoment none can be.
Nor hopeless any for eternity
They learn that of the thousand creeds of earth
They
find
Was none
that
all
in error
had
its birth.
The
And
ethics fair
may through
undying
foul
light,
dogmas show
all
fraught,
And
When
"
OUR FATHER"
471
And
There follows
whole poem.
the
est
and criticized.
bishop of the
strongly
Church
read
my
and
these stanzas
acquaintance
even those
to
various
including
who
dissent most
but
tlie
clude
to the tragic
description,
it
poem than
part of the
my
is
past question.
The
quoting
by extracts.
it
here
and
it
seems a pity
to mutilate
few
lines
omitted.
They
Palestine.
'
The
cities
From Dan
And Israel
to Gibeah the
won
: ;
MODERN SPIMITUALISM.
472
The
The
first
part of "
Our Father
in heaven."
" ends
by describhig how
'
'
He
finds,
In
spirit turns
And
basks
in.
No more
show,
all
may
Godhead flow;
of the
Thou
poem wants
art
Love
'
"
but this
is
"
'
The
"
;;
;
OUR fatheb:'
473
is
made
to define it as follows
'
And
my own be
pass'd
And
'
my parting breath,
my spirit stuns,
Thy
sons
"
!
'
MODERN
474
: ;:
;:
BPIBITUAL18M.
Next we have a review of the corruptions which gradually crept into the Church.
To match
In
blissful idlesse
Were such
it set
met
sire
fire
"OVS, FATHEM."
The
flame
air is
475
'
May
lift
'
poet
truly art
nor ever gave
As limit of that boundless love, the Grave
I bow, and thank Thee, Father, that no sea
Of flame and darkness shuts my soul from Thee
Wide are the heavens that of Thy glory tell,
Yet all too narrow for the bigot's hell
And still the chastisements Thou shapest prove
Thy justice tempered with exceeding love
A love that shaU at length be understood
When all of HI hath blossomed into good."
!
means whereby
so beautiful a composi-
cause,
may be given
to the
world in
its
entirety.
The
what
MODEBW
476
the
poem
is
as a whole,
BPIBITUALISM.
and I
enough
poem being
that
lost.
CHAPTER
XII.
vs^hich furnishes
cluding chapter of
my
vfork I
am
They
will find no
upon
common
it.
She
Madame La Comtesse
477
Florence.
no more.
who now
speaks
at
a stance given
ent
Chevalier Soffietti,
self.
we grouped
Mr.
so,
tinct
my
hands.
Mr.
Home
me
to be present at the
MOBEBN
478
gSEince.
precious to
me that
SPIBITUALIBM.
name most
and ten months, had been torn from me after a few days of
Time had elapsed since her passing from earth, and in
my dress there was nothing to indicate the mourning of my bereaved
heart.
I spoke, asking whether it could be that God in His mercy
allowed the angel once so entirely and fondly mine, but now forever
freed from earth and its sorrows, to be near me. A perfect shower
of gladsome little raps was the instant response. I then begged that,
if it were indeed my child, her age at death might be given. It was at
five years
cruel suffering.
awaken, and the celestial vision vanish, leaving only an aching void.
" The rappings continued, and the alphabet was again made use
of.
The message this time was, You must not weep, dear mamma.' At
the same time the handkerchief that I had taken forth to dry my tears,
and which now lay before me on the table, moved slowly to the tableedge, and was then drawn underneath. Whilst this was passing, the
form of my darling seemed to stand beside ine. I could distinctly feel
'
as
it
all
present.
" But a few seconds had elapsed from the disappearance of the
handkerchief when I felt what seemed the touch of a baby hand, on m.y
right knee.
Almost instinctively I placed my own hand there. To my
surprise, the handkerchief was at once laid in it
and a Httle hand
;
experience
it
and, therefore,
it
of an overwrought imagination.
" Mr. Home's name was, of course, one that I had heard before. I
had heard of him but had never read any details of his seances. On
coming, therefore, to the one in question, my supposition was that we
would be enshrouded in that utter darkness which I knew to be frequently demanded by those terming themselves mediums. Had I sat
under such conditions the most palpable touch would have left no
;
479
my mind
other impression
on
table that
may
state that
when
the table's
floor,
mystery.
my
wrist
all
present, rested
looked,
on th table
although
felt the
my
All present
'
saw
as the hands of
touch of tiny
fingers.
One
On my left
darling's presence.
this
For the
minutes manifestations ceased, and aU was as void of
a spiritual presence as our ordinary every-day prosaic Ufe.
We were
roused by sounds proceeding from the smaller table which 1 have menspace of several
tioned as standing in
from
All present
saw
it
move
slowly
its place,
MODERN
480
" Just after
moment on
this
BPIBITUALISM.
my eyes rested
Madame
Passeriui.
for
I saio
mentally, If you are in reality the spirit you claim to be, I ask you tc
take that rose from Henrietta, and bring it to me.' The thought had
hardly taken shape in my mind, when a hand, visible to every one present, the large, nervous hand of a man, grasped the rose, and disenga'
ging
'
'
'
'
made happy by
If,
indeed,
all
ble by some hidden force or forces of nature, then God have pity on the
shipwreck of our hopes of immortality. If they be dreams, then must
our present also be a dream, and our future but that dream's continuation.
Am I to believe that they were so many ignes fatui, leading only
to destruction ? Prove to me, or to any other present at that most
memorable seance, that we were deluded, and I will prove to you that 1
have not written these words, and that you are not reading them,
Chevaher
Home passed
into a trance.
481
Soffietti
'
'
'
My darling
And I know, mamma, that yon
and hid them away with my little white
pair of boots
to say
I wore,
'
a box that you 7iad ordered for the purpose. You locked them in
that box, and when you are quite alone you take them out, and shed such
sad, sad tears over them.
This must not be, fm' Stella is not dead. lam
Iming, and I lone you.
I am to tell you that you will have a very distinct
proof of my presence, and that it mil be given you to-moiTow.
Tou must
not again open the d/rawer wherre the box is placed, which contains what you
call your treasures, until you hear distinct raps on the bureau.'
" Not even my family knew anything of this box.
I had kept the
contents as to me most sacred relics; showing them to no one, and
never by any chance alluding to their existence.
Mothers who have
been afflicted hke me will alone be able to appreciate the sentiment by
which I was guided.
"The seance ended. I naturally wished to thank Mr. Home for having been the means of giving me so great a joy.
He refused to accept
my thanks, and said that he was simply an investigator like others, and
just as deeply interested in the thorough examination of
the subject as
I or my friends could be.
The phenomena we had witnessed purported
dress
to
in
ply a passive
agent
but he was, as we could all well testify, simdeep interest, or a. strong desire for phenomena on
;
Ins part,
'
dictatorial
21
MODBBN
4:82
SPIBITUALIBM.
show the world how the wonderful things occurring in Mr. Home's presence are accomplished. Mr. Home could not have moved a down pillow with his feet, and the large table at which we sat and which, I
may add, rose entirely from the ground more than once in the course of
the eveniug was an exceedingly heavy one. We aU looked under the
table when it became suspended in the air, and nothing whatever
earthly was in contact with it.
As to the hand all present saw being a
stufEed glove, I shaU believe that when I have become conviuoed that
the hand I now write with is a stufEed glove also.
I went home a happy woman. My prayers that night were th e over-
'
'
filled
my soul was satisfied beyond the possiand rejoiced to feel, that some fresh token
would be granted me ; and so I tried to conquer my impatience, and to
await the revelation with the calmness of assured hope.
" In the early morning I wrote a few words to a dearly -valued friend,
asking her to come to me at once.
She arrived, and as soon as we were
together I began a recital of the marvels I had seen and heard. The half
was not told when my friend pointed to the bureau, and said, Did you
not hear rappings on that piece of furniture ?
Instantly they were
It is the signal
I exclaimed, and it is there the box is
repeated.
hidden.' The key of that drawer of the bureau which contained my
treasures was in my dressing-room. I ran to get it, and, unlocking the
drawer, took out the box, which also was locked. With trembling fingers I turned the second key, and lifted the lid. The little boots they
asked nothing more, for already
bility of
doubt
but I
felt,
'
'
'
are light
'
'
On tlie elastic of one boot was imprinted a perfect star, and in the centre
of the star an eye. The substance with which it is drawn is black. It
has since faded slightly, but remains still thoroughly distinct. So mathematicaDy perfect is the drawing, that great skill and precision are
necessary for an accurate copy to be taken.
I have had an engraving
made of it, which Mr. Home will give. (See at end.) It is an exact
facsimile of that cherished token. At each of the six points there is,
United, they form the name of my darling.
as will be S';en, a letter.
"I ordered my carriage at once, and drove to the hotel where Mr.
.
"
483
staying.
my honse,
made use
of the
physically benefited.
" I have decided to give these facts to the world from a deep sense of
from that alone. They will answer, I hope, the Cui Bono ? '
I have heard of. My darUng's visit has come to me as a ray of the glory
of that kingdom where there is neither parting nor sorrow; where
I have not
all tears are wiped away, and God alone gives light.
The shadows of earth may gather darkly, but
beUef, but certitude.
through them all pierces the clear splendor of that star which gleams
and,
where He who doeth all things well has in His love placed it
lifting my eyes to the bright messenger, I can say with a rejoicing heart
duty, and
'
"I
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BF1241 .H76
Lights and
3
olin
shadows
of spiritualism. B'