BF 1272 ______________ . T8 Copy 1 ^ PEEP INTO PSYCHOMANCY, —OR THE— PRO AND CON OF- MODERN^WRITISM By D. B.Turney. MAI^FIELl), OHIO. HERALD STEAM PRINTING ESTABLISHMENT. 1878. A PEEP INTO PSYCHOMAWCY, —OR THE— PRO AND CON -OF— MODERN SPIRITISM. By D. B. Turney. MANSFIELD, OHIO. HERALD STEAM PRINTING ESTABLISHMENT. 1878. . or- MODERN SPIRITISM. Modern Spiritism has been brought into public notice* so often, that the present attempt to deal logically with the principles and assumptions of this form of necromancy, may scarcely cause a ripple in the great sea of opin- ion ; yet I shall endeavor to make my observations useful to those who are in quest of truth. * * * * If there be one unanswerable argu- ment in favor of the system which I am to investigate, the thousands of difficulties and objections which may be urged against the system, ought not to be deemed sufficiently strong to set it aside. Modern psychomancy if sup- ported by but one conclusive argu- ment, will survive all possible objec- tions which may be brought against it. Permit me to remark that THE ORIGIN OF SPIRITISM In this country, does not date very many years back. According to the account which is generally accepted and circulated by the friends of this method of divination, the new philos- ophy (for so they style it) was born in the year 1848, at Hydesville, near Ro- chester, New York. Two young ladies who resided with their parents in that village, were the first to exhibit any marks of medium- ship. These two young ladies, Mar- garetta and Kate Fox — the former then fifteen and the latter twelve years of age— were frequently disturbed by knockings from various parts of the house, by something like a dog lying at the foot of the bed, by a cold hand felt on Kate's face, and by other unac- countable events. The statement is made in the papers and books published on behalf of psy- chomancy, that the various strange transactions which took place aston- ished and alarmed the whole Fox fam- ily. The manifestations were some- times of a violent character. Differ- ent articles of the household furniture were thrown with frequency and roughness from their places, as if by the power of invisible hands. Glass- ware was unceremoniously smashed, and the attention of the neighbors was attracted by the untoward circumstan- ces. On March 21st, 1848, the unseen vis- itant manifested understanding. * * Kate stepped oat on the floor, and coal ; and finally, human hair, and snapping her finger from her thumb, boues which anatomists—what ones- exclaimed, " Old Splitfoot, do as I do!" we know not and are not told— said be- The invisible intruder instantly mim- longed to a human skeleton. It is icked the noise. Kate, astonished be- singular that the spiritists do not pro- yond measure, cried out, "If you un- duce the bones and the affidavits of derstaud what I say, will you tbump some persons who were present at and shake the table?" Instantly there the disinterment I And it is equally were three loud thumps, and the table singular that this account of the Hydes- shook as if it had an attack of the ague, viile origin was allowed to drop until This led the girls to desist for awhile some years after those great events from experimenting. They were too had transpired I Soon reports were much afraid ; but their mother was po- circulating as mysteriously as spurious sessed of more boldness. According to money, about messages coming from account, she continued to investigate, the unseen state to the Fox girls. The but could get no additional light until sisters began to make a stir in the she had persuaded her daughters to world, and the newspapers opened overcome their timidity and join with their columns to articles pro and con. her in probing the mystery. Finally, In almost every community into which they were favored with the informa- the news was heralded, some persons tion, rapped out by the spirit as the ai- on the qui vive for a new philosophy, phabet was called over again and immediately avowed faith in spirit rap- again, that the manifestations were by ping. The wish is father to the a departed human spirit, who announ- thought with some people. It was so ced that he had been the father of five then. It is so now. Some silly fish children ; that his name was C. B. will bite at almost any kind of bait. Rosma ; that while engaged in his oc- Many people will go miles to attend a cupatioh as a pedlar, he had been circus, who would not go two hundred murdered in that house by a black- steps to hear a sermon. And after a smith named J. C. Bell ; that his re- time, people began to visit Rochester mains were buried ten feet deep in the to learn for themselves. The cravings cellar, etc. * * * Of course, of morbid curiosity demanded satisfac- these statements rest upon the testi- tion, as the injured party does in a mony of publications made in behalf law-suit. Kate and Margaretta were of Spiritism, and there cannot be a safe in great demand. Presently, with a superstructure on an unsound and hoi- strict eye to business, they began to low foundation ! We are gravely told charge a small admission-fee, to remu- by prominent necromancers, that the nerate themselves for the trouble of news produced wonderful excitement so many consultations. " The love of among the people, so that multitudes money is a root of all evil." A con- flocked to see and hear; that such ex- tagious disease spreads rapidly. Raps cavations were made, from time to were soon heard in other places, and time, as the water in the cellar would as converts to the new philosophy admit of. After digging down five increased, pecuniary success began to feet, plank was found ; deeper still, crown the claimants of mediumship. quicklime, crockery pieces and char- The result has been that mediums have multiplied rapidly, uot only here some examples of men entrapped wit!) but in other lands. that sort of unsubstantial thing. Pre- Dr. Hare, who has written a book tenders to science are quite ready to entitled " Spiritualism [he means Spir- embrace anything which makes a itism!] Scientifically Demonstrated," show of being founded on a scientific assures his readers that his "spirit fa- basis, and such characters are very ther" tells him that Hydesville was anxious to see a thorough change in chosen because of the ignorance there a H things. Any Utopian project en- prevalent-^a left-handed compliment lists their support, to the inhabitants,-and that a mur We are illformed of mauy and _ dered man's spirit was selected to pro- in duce a more intense interest. I may ' ,, , , , , . ■, ... "DEMONSTRATIONS," add that a murdered man generally figures in modern works of fiction for Produced by intelligent invisibles. the same purpose. * * * * An d these manifestations are said to be "so well attested that few persons risk an unqualified denial of their production." What can be more nat- ural than for a false religion to invest itself in a plausible garb ? In short, psychomancy is claimed as a better cur, why have the friends ot psycho- .. . ., .. , 94 . ™ ' L,^ i ,,„_ .^ v*l ^ religion than any other, and its advo- The soap bubble will be sure to break at some time. A house must meet the fate of its foundation. False colors are doomed to fade. A lie cannot long survive. If these things did oc- mancy failed to produce the bones and the anatomists who are said to have examined them ? And what has been the occasion for keeping from general cates say it comes nearer proving it- self. "If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true." These spiritists assert that the many and varied phases notice the reported origin of their sys- „ ... ... , ,. , , . , , & • m „ , . of spirit manifestations demonstrate tern for a number of years? There is , ., .. . , , . , ... ■ „ .. ,,.,,,, , , • , ,- both the existence and identity of th e something behind the bush, and that . ., ,. mu . T , , , „ . . Lt . . ' c ~ _, spirit operating. This I deny and de- somethmg is not the spirit of C. B. : ,t_ , m , , .. » • .-. & r mand the proof. Table tipping, furni- osm ' ture flinging, music making in mid air, spiritistic claims noises of various kinds, speaking and Are very enticing and attractive. We writing unknown tongues, improvi- are told that the new philosophy is a sing, inspirational speaking and writ- true religious system — precisely what ing, furnishing spirit visions, prophetsy- a Latter Day Saint would say to you, ing, revealing facts, exposing frauds in behalf of his base Mormon creed; and errors, explaining mysteries, heal- that all its theories and doctrines are ing the sick, opening blind eyes, un- founded upon scientific principles ; and stopping deaf ears, materializing, pre- that it is to introduce a new condition senting apparitions, handling and of society upon earth, to be marked kissing persons in the earth-life a la by a radical and visible change in all mode " Katie King," carrying infor- things. Whatever may be said of birds mation, embracing and orally speak- young and old, it is not safe to assume ing to different persons, and produc- that human beings cannot be caught ing phenomena even more startling with chaff; for every age furnishes than all the wonders yet alleged, would not, so far as I can see, establish the identity of a single spirit. Sup- pose these claims are attractive ! Does not every delusion present itself with as many allurements as possible? When, in all the range of history, did ever a delusive creed show its face un- veiled with large pretensions? The pettifogger is more pretentious than the lawyer. The quack is more boast- ful of his skill in medicine than the re- liable physician. The pretender to science is more anxious to acquire public applause than the genuine phil- osopher. The plausibility of any error is the only thing that renders it dan- gerous. And indeed, this structure of psychomancy is built upon a GROUNDWORK OF SOPHISTRY, As I shall be at the pains to evince. This is not quite as good a foundation as the sands of Palestine would afford. After perusiDg many tedious volumes of spiritistic literature, I have failed to find any clear and conclusive reason- ing, any well-defined and elevating growth in intellectual conception. When I read the Bible, I do find some benefit to result from the perusal, al- though it refuses to flatter and cajole the pride and the laziness of human nature, and requires me to toil long and patiently to master its unfold- ments. At the same time, it expands, illuminates and elevates my mind, giv- ing me a grasp on the subtleties of na- ture and the peculiarities of spiritual existence both in and out of the body. The very reverse is the general effect of spiritistic literature on my mental powers. I find therein that there is an evident attempt to naturalize spirit by wearying speculations, which if once admitted would merely serve to contract and reduce all the subtleties of nature and peculiarities of spiritual existence to the narrow limits of the senses, thereby forcing a greater degree of similarity between this world and the next than does or can exist, and having a tendency to culminate in Atheism. The Bible is clearly supe- rior to all the works that I have seen, bearing on the question of the future life. Yet a large proportion of avow- ed believers in Spiritism, will not hes- itate to reject and denounce this won- derful volume. * * * * I will now take up the first plank in the NECROMANCER'S LOGIC, And examine the soundness of the timber composing it, ere I permit my- self to be spiritized into a follower of psychomancy. It is this : "Departed human spirits return and produce these wonders ; and if you doubt or disbelieve it, you may tell us by what these wonders are produced." 1. This is like saying to a man born blind, water is the color of ink ; and if you think it is not, you may tell what it is like. Surely there is not much wisdom in those Spiritistic lecturers who travel about the country, saying, "If you do not admit that spirits pro- duce these marvels, you may tell us what it is that produces them." 2. I once heard Benjamin Todd, in a lecture at Salem, Oregon, describe some unlikely occurrences, which he claimed to have witnessed with his own eyes (as if he could witness them with anybody else's!); and he added, "These works were done by re- quest of Mrs Floy, the medium, who did not touch any article herself. If then, the spirits did not produce these phenomena, tell us how they were per- formed." It would completely disgrace a lawyer to employ such a plea to a jury. It would be a lasting reproach to the bar and to the eourt. Mr. A. has been found dead. This fact is known. If the prisoner at the bar did not murder him, you may tell who did! Yes, gentlemen of the jury, the mur- der was committed ; that is certain, and I demand, therefore, a verdict of guilty against the prisoner. If B. G. did not kill Mr. A., tell us who did! Such an attorney would never have another such case to prosecute. Yet his sophistry would be of the same kind an'l quality as that which An- drew Jackson Davis, Benjamin Todd and "Prof." Wm. Denton, see proper to employ in their defences of spiritism. If such assertions as they make are in- spired by any spirits, who shall say that they do not make these random hits under the influence of alcoholic spirits? 3. A person's inability to explain the marvels of psychomancy, no more proves the new philosophy than the circumstance of the appearing in the east and disappearing in the west proves that the sun runs around our globe. It is very wrong for a hu- man being to refer an effect to a false cause, to avoid an admission of inabil- ity on his part to discern the true and real cause. Want of knowledge as to the genuine and actual reason for any occurrence, will not justify any one to assign a false cause of his own fabrica- tion. 4. We are not justified, because a tree grows, in judging that it has bones and blood ; yet bones and blood are al- ways necessary to animal growth. Neither are we justified in assuming, even if raps and all the other pheno- mena occur, that departed spirits have anything to do with their production. And we might as well try to settle a question of history by mathematical tests, such as infidels use in their ef- forts to mythify our Saviour, as to un- dertake to demonstrate spiritism with Dr. Hare's awkward contrivances. To show the ineonclusiveness of such reas- oning, I will agree to prove that Ab- raham Lincoln and Hannibal Hamlin were the very same personage, by ap- plying to this historical question the rule of mathematics and of logic, "that things equal to the same thing are equal to each other." "A" is merely the idiomatic adjective of "one," in our English and American mode of expression, as, I didn't say two men, but I said a man. He re- ceives a dollar a day, or six dollars a week. Admission to this lecture is twenty-five cents a person, or fifty cents for two. "Abraham Lincoln" has five syllables and fourteen letters, which is to a T the number also in "Hannibal Hamlin." Count and see. "A" occurs three times in each name, and "B" once. The mythical key, (C, O, R,) is found but once, of course, and only in the leading name; but there are seven distinctive letters — A. B, H, I, L, K, and N— found in both names. On account of the three let- ters, C, O, R, in "AbRaham LinCOln" which are omitted in "Hannibal Ham- lin," as "O" is a triple time-mark, (see Webster 1 s Dictionary,) we have the seven distinctive letters of the two names to multiply by three— the myth- ical key-number— which shows (21) twenty-one, as the number which is to be added to the numerical value of "N," to find the numerical value of "O" in "LincOln," Webster says "N," as a numeral, denotes 900. As twenty- one added to numerical worth of "N," gives that of "O," we find "O" to equal 921. But, to cut the matter short, 8 let us go to Webster's Dictionary for the numerical force of B, 0, H, I, L, M, N and R Then we have : A=l, B=2, C=100, H=200, 1=1, L=50, M=1,000, N=900, 0=921, and R=80. * * * • B o A 1 R 80 N 900 A 1 N 900 H 200 I 1 A 1 B 2 M 1000 A 1 L 50 L 50 I 1 H 200 N 900 A 1 C 100 M iooe o 921 L 50 L..... 50 I -.. 1 N 900 N 900 4207 4207 Abraham Lincoln is 4,207, and Hanni- bal Hamlin is also 4,207. Thus I have proved, that Abraham Lincoln and Hannibal Hamlin were one and the same, since •' tilings equal to the same thing are equal to each other." 5. Let us not act on the principle of the little boy who lost a ball of twine, and not knowing what had gone with it, went to his mother with the complaint that his sister had taken it. Investigation on the heels of such report developed that a pet kitten was the aggressor, and the sister was cleared of the unfounded charge. The boy received the rod of correction, and richly deserved it, too. A man may be aware that the spirits of the departed have nothing to do with any of so-call- ed "demonstrations," and yet be un- prepared to show or explain what causes them. A shrewd pretender could go among the savages of the west, where the true character of thun- der is unknown, proclaiming to his ig- norant auditors that the thunder is the rumbling of the chariots of the celes- tial hostsoverthe pavements of heav- en, and that the lightning is produced by the flashing sparks that fly from the iron hoofs and flinty pavements, as the swift chargers of the sky go rushing and plunging into battle. Yet the cred- it given to his lies would not make them true in any relation or particu- lar. 6. If I were to approach some poor blind man and assure him that the sun was a creamy substance and ?uita- ble for food, he would not be qualified to judge the truth or falsehood of the statement. And it would be a very unfair advantage for me to take over the poor man's ignorance to say to him that he must either agree that I am right in the matter, or else tell me what the sun is like and what it is good for. Yet along comes " Profes- sor " William Denton, or some other Boston Spiritist, and undertakes to ar- gue his creed in similar style : "The wonderful phenomena are produced by disembodied human spirits to "benefit mankind, and now you must either admit that this is the case, or else tell how and why all these things are pro- duced." I have too much confidence in the intelligence of my hearers to be- lieve, even for a moment, that such other-world sophistry can ever spiritize one of them into a follower of psycho- mancy. The publications in behalf of modern spiritism claim that certain individu- als commune with departed human spirits, who reveal through these me- diums the duty and destiny of the hu- man family, and show themselves the identical spirits they profess to be, by feats which prove their identity. Now, is this true ? The fact that these wonderful claims with my departed friend; but they are urged upon us by every spiritist in afford me ground for concluding that the land, is no evidence to me of the my deceased friend has been misrepre- truth of modern necromancy. A claim sented. is more easily made than sustained I ^ Wel ]et [ t be su d that the might claim to be president of the Uni- commuDications come to me through ted States, but the claim would be mi- & writingmedium who appears to have founded. A beautiful snake maybe no agency in the contents of the same, poisonous. with the chirography exactly like that Now, then, for an examination of of my friend. To make the case as strong as possible, let these communi- spirit identity. cations he carefully compared with the 1. Let it be supposed that I hear letters which were written by my raps, which are professedly made by a friend during my intimacy with him. dear departed friend.. How am I to The letters are alike in shape, stroke, know that these raps are not made by formation, — the lines are in perfect some arch-deceiver, who pretends to agreement,— his orthography is the be my dead friend to gain, my confl- same in every particular, and the very dence and the more surely effect my shading of his letters has undergone no ruin ? The necessary limitations of change whatever. Am I convinced of the human mind ought to be kept in the fact that the communications are memory. Besides, there is sufficiently really from the spirit that purports to manifest a cogent reason to distrust be communicating with me? By no whatever appears under suspicious cir- means. I do not know that spirits cumstances. I neither see the spirit would write the same as they did whi^e nor hear his voice, and these raps and in the flesh, or that spirits cannot imi- thuds are slow methods of communi- tate any and every hand, or even that cation. And although the raps give spirits write at all. And when I med- true answers to the questions I ask, itateon the remarkable successes of and various articles of furniture at my forgery the world over, I cannot deem request tumble about and return to any or all of such writings any suffic- their respective places, I must necess- ient proof of identity. Let it first be arily remain unconvinced. Shall I evinced that spirits can write at all* judge the character of the spirit from let it next be evinced that spirits do the outward manifestations? He be- not imitate any and every handwriting haves like some clownish maniac. And at pleasure; and finally, let it be evin- this affords me ground to infer that ced that spirits would write the same the operating agent is not the spirit of they did during their sojourn in the my departed friend ; for, during, his flesh. Then let it be actually ^stab- stay in the earthlife, he never was lished that the communication is gen- known to act in so unbecoming a way. uine — id est, in the sense of not being It can not be claimed that the raps, a forgery. When all this has been ac- knockings and feats of disturbing fur- complished, there will still be suffic- niture, are any sufficient proofs of the ient room to doubt the identity of the identity in question. Such feats by no spirit said to be communicating— ai- means prove the identity of the spirit though, it is hardly necessary to add, 10 all this has never yet been done. Are uesses to the most secret transactions these writings a sufficient evidence of between my friend and me. And if identity ? Surely no discriminating spiritism be without foundation, yet and logical person will answer in the there is Bible authority for admitting affirmative. the existence of angels that never have been in the flesh. May not 3. Let it be supposed that an appari- thousands of these have seen the most tion presents itself to me in the form Wdden things that could occur between of my deceased friend-a materialized my friendg and me? And . f anaffirm . spirit, if you choose. I would still be ative aD9Wer mU8t be given, a revela- in doubt ; for it is a legitimate eonclu- tion of a of thege private matterg? sion that spirits who can assume visi- bowever , icit in d ^ taiIj canuot ble forms, clothing and all, can appear amount to a proof of identity on the in any form whatever. The itevil pRrt Qf tfae spirit communicating . The comes as a serpent-angel of light- fect tf thftt tfae suspicious circum . Samuel, &c. But if such were not the stances connected wjth alIeffed spirit case, it is well known to us all, that communications, the nature^of the or- physicians report many cases in which dinary phenomenai the unbe coming disordered minds labor under various character of the maDy feats that are hallucinations. It is a mark of wis- generally performed, the liability of dom for a man to hesitate to assume maD tob e imposed upon, and oumon- upon the soundness of his own mtel- acquailltance with the fundamental lect. A personal apparition, therefore, laws of any spirit existing apart from under any circumstances of which I the body) ren(jer |t utter]y impossible know, never could establish the ident- |fa my judgmeDt to satisfy a reasonable ity of a spirit. On seeing such an ap- mind of the identity of a spirit And parition, I would be likely to suspect yet)Unless the champioDS of psycho- my own sanity of mind ; but when re- mancy (who hftve discarded the Bible assured that my intellect nad not fal- idea of „ faith „ } do prove the identity len into decay, I would not see any- of gome spiri t engaged in the wonder- thing in the apparition that I could re- M sceneg of psychomancial actioil , the gard as proving the identity of the whole system of modern 8piritism spirit of my departed friend. Indeed, mugt be abandoned as UDtena ble. For, I am not so well posted as to be able to Jn tfae eyent thftt tQe actual agency tell how many spirits are present all could be shown to be spirits, what good the time with any of us. Suppose that man of prQper prudence would dare to I am addressed by the apparition that foUow gpirit teachingS) when there are comes in the similitude of my dead go maQy wicked ghostSj and D0 possi . friend, I have nothing to satisfy me We tQ satisfy a reaS0Dable mind of that the communication is from his the j dentity of a spiri t. * • * departed spirit, even when the tone of voice is precisely his own, to all intents ghostology against spiritism. and purposes. And as for being in- formed of things and matters known Be not startled at the language. I only to my friend and me, if spiritism use the phrase advisedly. I now ad- has any foundation whatever, thou- vance the proposition that old- sands of spirits may have been wit- fashioned and departed ghostology 11 possessed a superiority to new- fashioned and modern psychomancy ; not that lam any apologist for those who believe in ghosts and goblins. I merely wish people to understand why I consider past exploded ghostology to be less absurd than the present sheer psychomancial materialism; and this J may do without believing in either ghostoiogy or psychomancy. I do not wish my hearers to infer that there is any disposition on my part to believe the superstitions of the old ghostology; for I am not so prone to credulity. But I may be permitted to show that the old system was superior in many re- spects to the new. 1. The ghostly visionism of ages gone, did partly spiritualize nature ; but modern psychomancy commits the awful blasphemy of naturalizing spirit. 2. Old-fashioned ghostly visitants divulged crime, and preached retribu- tion and judgment to come, while modern spirit communicants babble about electro-spiricity, progress, phys- ical laws, spirit affinity, and a new light. 3. In the old ghostly legend w^s an element of religious accountability, and amidst all the thick darkness of its gross superstitions, the moral predom- inated over the physical. The old ghost stories did cultivate and enhance the religious awe of the imagination ; but the new psychomancy, which ex- ists under the name of spiritism, does not ever do this. Taking all the facts, then, just as we find them, for we may not hew and shape facts to suit our- selves, and we are obliged to admit the inferiority of psychomancy to ghost- ology, and the believer in ghosts and goblins is found to have a more ra- tional and intelligent belief than the believer in Modern Spiritism has. * * 4. In former times pork -eaters could see and dream about ghosts. While in these days those who would be favorite spirit-mediums must abstain from flesh in general, and particularly from pork and bacon. I have never met an accepted champion of modern spiritism who was in favor of eating flesh as food ; but I do find that many well-regarded expounders of this new necromancy are warmly opposed to flesh as food, and are unswerving friends of vegetable diet. For the ben- efit of those who have wondered why so many modern spiritists are around telling the evil effects of flesh as food, I unriddle an important item in the arcana of the new philosophy. Ad- vanced spiritists are very generally agreed that all animals are immortal which is reason enough why they should abstain from flesh ; for who would willingly cause the hurrying of spirits into eternity? It is a fact well known that the spirits of birds and an- imals have been iuvoked at rapping circles ; and not only so, butcommuni- tions have been received with as much promptness as when the spirits of dead people have been called upon. How ever, if these creatures possess the power to communicate intelligently after they leave the body, how strange they are so backward in inventive faculty while in the rudimental state ! And if the communication comes in the name of and purporting to be from these animals, when some other spirit is communicating, the possibility of reaching proof of the identity of a spirit is still farther removed than we have been supposing it to be. This is a conclusion that forces itself upon my attention, and just as far as I entertain this conclusion, I find myself logically compelled to reject the teaching and practice of modern spiritism. 12 5. If even the most superstitious votaries of old-fashioned ghostology believed in the ghosts of birds and an- imals, the world is not aware of it. What must bethought then, of modern psyehomancy? Can any body deny that it is more debasing in its tenden- cies than any other known creed ? I remember that after I had, on one « occasion, enumerated a long train of ^ the evils' caused by the spead of psych- omancy, a celebrated necromancer stated that he could retort that Chris- tianity frequently produces like results. If that were true, it would not be a :