V '/''f •''. '''li'' ''■'5 •• '■) w'* . /%.•'■- ,'., ; v;!;', , ;■ •.,,,,,,i(i-fi',);;.'.'.5:;ii'!'.: . ■■,.'■■ ■ LIBRARY OF CONGRESS DDDD477ES4H ~ ^> ^ o - .- ^ o. --/ o- *>*. c^ AW ■ zngra-vEa iiy HW. Sraifh ^^^Y^/^^n, C/jay/c^-i<^ AN EXPOSITION OF yiEWS RESPECTING THE PRINCIPAL PACTS, CAUSES AND PECULIARITIES INTOLYED IN SPIRIT MANIFESTATIONS TOGETHER WITH INTERESTING PHENOMENAL STATEMENTS AND COMMUNICATIONS. ADIN BAIiliOU. —M " If a spirit or an angel hath spoken to him, let us not fight against God."— Acta 23: 9. ** Are they not all ministering spirits ?"— Heb. 1 : 14. ''Believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they be of God."— 1 John 4: I. SECOND EDITION BOSTON: BELA MAUSH, PUBLISHER, 25 CORNHILL. 1853. 3P 1^51 Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1852, E. D. DRAPER, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of Massachusetts . Wright & Hasty, Printers, 3 Water St., Boston. CONTENTS. CHAPTER I GENERAL STATEMENT OF PHENOMENAL FACTS, &c Theory of Matter, Spirit, Human Spirits, the Spirit World, Spiricity as a communicable and interchangeable Element between Spirits, Mediumship, &c.— The Cardinal Truths of New Testament Christianity not contradicted, but cor- roborated by modem Spirit Manifestations. . . pp. 1 — 11 CHAPTER II. CLASSIFICATION OF CASES. Class First taken up— Statement of A. H. Jarvis, and Re- marks ; of George Willets, and Remarks. ... pp. 12—25 IV CONTENTS. CHAPTER III. CASES UNDEE CLASS FIRST CONTINUED. Statement of E. W. Capron— Another Statement of A. H. Jarvis — Sundry cases presented in extracts from the New York Tribune — Two cases stated by C. Hammond of Rochester, N. Y.— Comments pp. 26- CHAPTER IV. CASES OF CLASS FIRST CONCLUDED. "What I myself have witnessed— Effect on my own feelings and state of mind— Doctrine declared by Spirits, stated tinder seven heads pp. 39 — 51 CHAPTER V. CASES UNDER CLASS SECOND. General Statement of Facts — Conclusions drawn — Indis- crimination and Extremes, whether of Credulity or Scep- ticism, deprecated pp. 52—58 C ONT EN TS CHAPTER VI. CASES UNDER CLASS THIRD. General Statement of Facts— Explanation— Partial and Im- perfect Media— Low Spirits— Summary of the Exposition thus far . . . PP- 59—65 CHAPTER VII. GENERAL OBJECTIONS. Obj. 1. It is incredible, ^er se, a humbug — Obj. 2. Against Mediumship— Obj. 3. Against such exceptionable Media —Obj. 4. The Manifestations are uncouth and vulgar— Obj. 5. They are the effects of Electricity, &c.— Obj. 6. They are the effects of Mesmerism, &c.— Obj. 7. The communications are lying and contradictory— Obj. 8. They are of no importance— Obj. 9. They cause disease, infatuation, and insanity — Obj. 10. They are anti-Bible, infidel, heretical, &c.— Obj. 11. It is all of the Devil. pp. 66- CHAPTER VIII. PARTICULAR OBJECTIONS AND DIFFICULTIES. 1. Common people cannot distinguish between reliable and unreliable Manifestations, hence more mischief than benefit will result— 2. Admitting all you assert, what good can VI CONTENTS. be expected from these Manifestations ?— 3. If yoti admit that some of the effects are Mesmeric, why may not all be ? — 4. If some of the communications are low, lying, and contradictory, how can we trust any of them ?— 5. If there are so many low spirits, why not a sovereign Devil at the bottom of it all ?— 6. How is it that so many get their own ideas reflected back ? — 7. Why are the com- munications purporting to come from distinguished men often inferior in style to their mortal productions ?— 8. How is it that the spirits of persons still in the flesh pre- tend to come from the regions of the departed ? — 9. How is it that unbelievers in the spiritual origin of these Mani- festations can make tables move, and get responses from dead animals and fictitious characters ? — 10. If from de- parted spirits, why have not these Manifestations hap- pened before ?— 11. If you go the length you do on this subject, will you not be obh'ged to believe also in the old exploded notions and stories about presentiments, appari- tions, haunted houses, ghosts, demoniacs, and even witches ?— 12. If you run into such vagaries, do you ex- pect to retain your reputation for common sense, or even for sanity. pp. 93—119 CHAPTER IX. SPECIMENS OF THE OPPOSITION. Extracts from the Puritan Eecorder, an Orthodox Congre- gationalist paper— Article from the Olive Branch, a Pro- testant Methodist paper, introducing and recommending an article from the Boston Pilot, a Eoman Catholic paper CONTENTS. Vll —Article from the Gospel Banner, a Universalist paper- Brief Comments pp. 120—151 CHAPTER X. ADVICE TO BELIEVEES AND FEIENDS.' 1. Against yielding up reason, &c.— 2. Against reaching after too much — 3. Against disorderly methods of treat- ing the Manifestations — 4. Against feeling more obliged to receive what comes from departed spirits, than what comes from undeparted ones — 5. Against disregarding the imperfections of Media pp. 152—164 CHAPTER XI. WONDERFUL PHENOMENA. Manifestations at Woonsocket, R. I. — Remarkable ones at East Blackstone, Mass. — Mr. Harvey Chase's statement respecting his former wife's spirit hand — Seeing Spirit hands pp. 165—191 CHAPTER XII. JOHN M. SPEAR'S MEDIUMS HIP. Remarkable cases of healing, or the relieving of pain through the touch of his hand — Drawing curious figures and sym- bolic representations — Receiving texts and skeletons of sermons to preach from at particular places, &c. . pp. 192—203 Vm CONTENTS. CHAPTER XIII. COMMUNICATIONS Purporting to come from the spirit of Adin Augustus Ballou, -who departed this life Feb. 8, 1852, through Elizabeth Alice Keed, of Hopedale, Writing Medium, &c. . pp. 204—227 CHAPTER XIV. EEMAEKABLE MANIFESTATIONS. In Boston — A strong case, in former times, among the Methodists in England — Visible Presences and Wonderful Writings in New York — Dr. Buchanan on the Extraor- dinary Demonstrations at Cleaveland, 0.— Oberlin on spiritual intercourse pp. 228—248 CHAPTER XV. APPENDIX, On the Practical influence of the Manifestations relative to Individual and Social Reform. .... pp. 249—258 PREFACE This book is an exposition of the author's views respecting Modern Spirit Manifestations, commonly- designated as " the knocking s^"*^ " the rappingSj'^ " the tippings^'' " the xoritings^^'' &c. It contains also a collection of authentic statements concerning phenomenal demonstrations, together with interest- ing communications purporting to have come |'rom departed spirits. The author publishes it for the following reasons : — 1. Because he deems the sub- ject worthy of serious consideration, and desires to aid in commending it to public attention. 2. Be- cause he sees the extremes mXo which over credulous believers on one side, and pertinacious sceptics on the other, are running, and desires to guard honest minds against all rash and wholesale conclusions. 3. Because he believes that a just and discriminat- ing faith in spirit manifestations, such as he sets forth, will promote the regeneration of mankind individually and socially. 4. Because he believes that only the dawn of these manifestations has yet appeared, and desires to assist in preparing all well- X- PREFACE. disposed minds for the brightness of the approach- ing day. And 5. Because his conscience requires him to bear an outspoken testimony for the truth, while it has few adherents and many opijosers^ and thus to make his position clearly understood by friend and foe. There are some minds who love the truth for truth's sake, and are resolutely determined to fol- low it whithersoever it may lead them, who at the same time, are no less resolutely determined not to be imposed on either by others or by themselves, and who also possess confidence enough in their own judgment to pursue an investigation manfully. Others are greatly deficient in this true mental nobility. They are narrow minded, superficial, prejjidiced, captious, cowardly, or fickle. Some of these seem to have the power of believing or disbe- lieving any thing, just as it may happen to strike their feelings, taste, fancy, wishes or predetermina- tion for the time being. Sound, far-reaching, com- prehensive reason has little to do with the facts and consideration of cases under their adjudication. The author cordially sympathizes with the first mentioned class of minds, and though he cannot with the latter^ he will bear with them, and try to make the best of them until they shall become enlightened, elevated, and ennobled, under the great process of discipline through which the uni- versal Father is conducting us all. Reader, dost thou believe implicitly and unquali- P E E F A C E . XI fiedly in whatever purports to be spirit manifesta- tions and communicationSj despite of the puerili- tieSj incongruities, contradictions and absurdities occasionally developed 7 If so, thou wilt find thy faith and ardor moderated by these pages ; but thou wilt not be injured by the enlightenment of thy judgment. Wisdom shall correct thy errors, and confirm thee in all the truth. Art thou one of those unreasonable beings, who, because of these incidental puerilities, incongruities, contradictions and absurdities, despise the lohole of this phenomena, and deny that departed spirits have any thing to do with it? If so, thou wilt find thyself rebuked; but thou shall not be harmed, unless thou harm thyself. Art thou one of the Sadducees^ whose habit it is to look wise, sneer at and denounce all pretended spiritual manifestations, as the product of jugglery, or of a diseased imagination 1 It were well for thee to be cured of thy scorn; but if nothing herein written shall have this good effect, remember that truth will vindicate itself, and that if thou scornest, thou alone must bear it. Or, worst of all, art thou a bigoted and persecuting Pharisee, who ascribes all these demonstrations to the Devil? If so, prob- ably thou wilt not read this book. Go, then, and read what the ancient generation of thy sect said of Christ and his works; how they accused Him of being a Samaritan and having a devil ; how He rebuked their pride, hypocrisy, and wickedness ; how He predicted their coming woes ; and how all XU PREFACE. His words were fulfilled. And be thou warned, lest thou fall into the same condemnation and calamity. But to all the humble, candid, noble- souled disciples of wisdom, however classed or designated, these pages are offered in full confi- dence, that their contents will be carefully read, justly appreciated, and profitably improved. A. B. Hopedahy Mass.j June 1, 1852. SECOND EDITON, A second edition of this work having been called for by the public, the author has made such emenda- tions as he thought necessary in the text. He has added a General Index, and an Appendix on the Practical Influence of the Manifestations, relative to Individual and Social Reform. This edition is also embellished with a finely engraved likeness of the author. A. B. Hopedale, Nov. 1, 1852. SPIRIT MAJ(IFESTATIO?fS CHAPTER I. GENERAL STATEMENT OF PHENOMENAL FACTS, &c Theory of Matter, Spirit, Human Spirits, the Spirit World, Spiricity • as a communicable and interchangeable Element between Spirits, Mediumship, &c. — The Cardinal Truths of New Testament Christ- ianity not contradicted, but corroborated by modern Spirit Manifest- ations. This subject opens with a host of phenomenal facts, which take place without diXij perceivable ox consclotis mortal agency, either physical or mental. These facts are the inductive rudiments of the subject. They are to be considered and accounted for. Among the more prominent of these are the following: — 1. Making peculiar noises, indicative of more or less intelligence; such as knockings, rappings, jarrings, creakings, tickings, imitation of many sounds known in the different vicissitudes of human life, musical intonations, and, in rare instances, articulate speech, ^ome of these various sounds are very loud, distinct and forcible ; others^ low, less distinct, and more gentle, but all audible realities. 2. The moving of material substances, 1 22 SPIRIT MANIFESTATIONS. with like indications of intelligence ; such as tables, sofas, light-stands, chairs, and various other articles ; shaking, tipping, sliding, raising them clear of the floor, placing them in new posi- tions, (sometimes in spite of athletic and heavy men doing their utmost to hold them down ;) taking up the passive body of a person, and carry- ing it from one position to another across the room, through mid-air; opening and shutting doors; thrumming musical instruments ; undoing well- clasped pocket-bookS; taking out their contents, and then, by request, replacing them as before; writing with pens, pencils, and other substances, both liquid and solid, sometimes on paper, some- times on common slates, and sometimes on the ceilings of a room, &c. 3. Causing catalepsy, trance, clairvoyance, and various involuntary muscular, nervous and mental activity in medi- ums, independent of any will or conscious psycho- logical influence by men in the flesh, and then through such mediums, speaking, writing, preach- ing, lecturing, philosophizing, prophesying, &c. 4. Presenting apparitions, in some instances, of a spirit hand and arm, in others, of the whole human form, and in others, of several deceased persons conversing together ; causing distinct touches to be felt by the mortal living, grasping and shaking their hands ; and giving many other sensible dem- onstrations of their existence. 5. Through these various manifestations communicating to men in SPIRIT MANIFESTATIONS. 3 the flesh numberless affectionate and intelligent assurances of an immortal existence, messages of consolation, and annunciations of distant events unknown at the time, but subsequently corrobo- rated ; predictions of forthcoming occurrences sub- sequently verified, forewarnings against impending danger, medicinal prescriptions of great efficacy, wholesome reproofs, admonitions and counsels, expositions of spiritual, theological, religious, moral and philosophical truths appertaining to the present and future states, and important to human welfare in every sphere of existence, sometimes comprised in a single sentence, and sometimes in an ample book. This is a general statement of the facts to be con- sidered and disposed of in a just discussion of this subject. Some of them are seemingly^ if not really^ miraculous^ and all of them are astonishing to the common mind. But they axe facts, provable by as conclusive testimony as is requisite to the deter- mination of cases in our highest judicatories of law, natural philosophy and religion. If any man pre- sume to deny that they are fads, he is either one who, having never -investigated the subject, is grossly ignorant q{ its merits; or who, pretending to have investigated it, is grossly dishonest. Such a man's negations are entitled, perhaps, to some indulgence and pity, but to no respect. If any honestly doubt, for want of adequate opportunity to observe the phenomena, or to examine testimony, 4 SPIRIT MANIFESTATIONS. they will of course suspend judgment till they can avail themselves of the necessary information. Light awaits all such, and they will not reject it. I have spoken very 'positively respecting these rudimental facts. I consider myself competent to speak thus, and am willing to take the responsibil- ity. I have said that they occur without any fer- ceivable or conscious mortal agency, either physical or mental. Let all this be remembered. But let it also be remembered that some things are 7iot asserted. It is not asserted that all these facts are equally common^ or equally j>rovahle. It is not as- serted that there are no counterfeits, or illusive resemblances of these facts. It is not asserted that no phenomena resembling any of them are ever produced by minds in the body, or by earthly causes. It is not asserted that the real manifesta- tions are always easily distinguishable from con- comitant ones produced by mundane influences. It is not asserted that there are no incongruities, con- tradictions, and absurdities incidentally developed in these phenomenal facts. It is not asserted that the real agency which causes these facts is as knoioable as the facts themselves. Finally, it is not asserted that the man who, admitting the facts, doubts whether departed spirits actually cause them, stands on the same level of ignorance or dishonesty with him who impudently denounces the whole thing as " hurnbiigJ^ I am for just discrimination in all things. Therefore, let me be held responsible for SPIRIT MANIFESTATIONS. D what I assert — neither less nor more. I believe that departed spirits cause many of these phenom- ena, but not all of them. I beheve that spirits in the fleshj i. e., the mind of the medium, or the minds of persons surrounding the medium some- times thwart, warp, peculiarize, or modify the manifestations and communications made. I also believe that loio and very imperfect departed spirits sometimes manifest themselves. This is the ground I take. It enables me to account for the multifari- ous reliable and ^mreliable developments of this mysterious agency more satisfactorily than any other. I shall do so in accordance with the fol- lowing T 11 E K y . 1. Matter and Spirit are both eternally co-exist ent substances in the universe, essentially different in their nature ; Matter iiiert and passive^ Spirit vivific and active. Each exists in various grada- tions of excellence, more gross or more refined ; the finer pervading the coarser through all degrees. The lowest grade of Spirit is always more subtle, elastic, and penetrative than the most ethereal Matter. Hence all force, motion, formation, organ- ization, sensation, and intelligence originate in and are sustained by Spirit. 2. Matter and Spirit exist both individuated and ?mindividuated throughout space, in their respective corresponding gradations. Individuated entities, 1* 6 SPIRIT MANIFESTATIONS. Material and Spiritual, continually impart and imbibe ?/?iindividnated substance by radiation and absorption, iitnce the countless influences of one being on another by communication. Hence among sensific, rational, and moral beings, the endless variety of what are called magnetic effects — attracting, repelling, inspiring, and controlling according to capability in one individual and sus- ceptibility in another. 3. All human spirits, departed and 2;;ideparted, are essentially of the same nature and constitution, differing chiefly in capability, susceptibility, and practicality. Each spirit is an individuation of Spirit-substance, combined with and interiorating a corresponding individuation of Matter. This Spirit is the soul of man — the man proper — which animates the fleshly body during mortal life, and departs from it at death. Hence there is a compli- cated connection between human spirits, whether in the fleshly body or out of it, giving rise to innu- merable reciprocal influences, which can be fully understood and comprehended only by the Supreme Paternal Spirit. 4. Human spirits in the flesh have two different spheres of consciousness — an external material sphere, and an internal spiritual sphere. The great majority of mankind are ordinarily in the material sphere, and consequently unconscious of their most interior relations and condition. Some are temporarily thrown into their internal spiritual SPIRIT MANIFESTATIONS. 7 sphere — when they are conscious only of their inte- rior relations and spiritual state, being quite insen- sible to material existences and events. A few pass and repass from one of these spheres to the other, so as partially to blend their two conscious- nesses into one. Dreamers, somnambulists, mes- meric subjects, clairvoyants, seers, and what are called spirit mediums, are of this general descrip- tion. These^ire more susceptible, receptive, and retentive of spiritual magnetism than the general- ity of people. Hence the manifold spiritual phe- nomena of all ages. When abstracted from their spiritual sphere of consciousness, human spirits come naturally into communication with departed spirits, and thus open an imperfect intercourse between the two states of existence. In such cases there is always a superabundance of spiritual mag- netism absorbed into and accumulated about the dreamer, somnambulist, clairvoyant, seer, or me- dium, by means of which more positive spirits can exert their peculiar powers, and maintain some sort of communication with the persons and things immediately circumjacent. For the sake of greater conciseness and significance, I will take the liberty to coin a word, and call this subtle ethereo-spirit- ual substance Spiricity. It is partly of the same substance with individual soul-spirits, constitutes their congenial atmosphere, and serves as their principal element of intercommunication. They can inhale and absorb it, exhale and radiate it, 8 SPIRIT MANIFESTATIONS. . impregnate it with their peculiarities of thought^ affection^ and will^ and thus transmit influences to inconceivable distances, nay, transport their per- ceptive consciousness so as to be virtually present any where within their permitted range of exist- ence. 5. Implicit reliance cannot be placed on the mere wwcorroborated pretensions or communica- tions of spirits, as absolutely veritable — for three important reasons, viz. : — 1. There are multitudes of imperfect and low spirits, most of whom are in nearer proximity to the material sphere of human consciousness than the purer departed spirits. 2. The transition of dreamers, somnambulists, clair- voyants, seers, &c., from the Material to the Spir- itual sphere of consciousness and back again, is liable to such a mixture and confusion of dissimilar ideas, that more or less of 'phantasy^ obscuration, and perversion must occasionally supervene. 3. The generality of mankind are so ignorant of spir- itual realities, lavt^s, and conditions, so wanting in discernment and candor, and so prone to errors of reason as well as imagination, that few are even tolerably qualified to understand and make a proper use of spiritual communications. Hence the strange mixtures of truth and error, reality and phantasy, consistency and contradiction, gravity and levity, sober probability and wild extrava- gance, rational thought and fallacious imagination, presented in dreams^ clairvoyant visions, spirit- SPIRIT MANIFESTATIONS. 9 trances, and the whole family of mental and spir- itual phenomena. Hence also the abuses and mischiefs often attendant on such marvelous de- velopments. Our all-wise and benignant Father in heaven has left no essential Truth or Righteousness de- pendent on the mere pretension, or ^^/zcorroborated testimony either of departed or ?mdeparted spirits. He has addressed his revealments oi essential truth and duty to the moral reason of mankind, and authenticated them by every necessary attestation. Any attempt, therefore, to build up a religion or moral philosophy, radically contradictory to that of the genuine Christian Testament, on what is being disclosed to the world through Dreamers, Somnambulists, Impressibles, Clairvoyants, Spirit Media, the Rappings, &c., is irrational, and must prove mischievous rather than beneficial to the human race. Nevertheless, fundamental truths and duties may be re-affirmed, clarified from error, demonstrated anew, philosophically elaborated and powerfully commended to the embrace of mankind, by fresh spiritual communications. I am of opinion that this is really the case; and the conversion of many long confirmed atheists and deistical rejectors of the Christian revelation confirms me in it. Men who long regarded as utterly incredible fictions all the accounts of supernatural demonstrations given by the Evangelists and Apostles, — such as angelic visitations and interpositions connected with the 10 SPIRIT MANIFESTATIONS. birth, ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus ; the appearance of Moses and Elias to him; his walking on the water, healing the sick, casting spirits out of demoniacs, and recalling the souls of deceased persons; the stone being rolled from his sepulchre by a celestial spirit ; many of the dead reappearing; his own repeated personal manifest- ation after death, and sudden vanishing; his ascension ; the wonders of the Pentacostal occa- sion ; Peter's being liberated from prison, &c., &c., now humbly confess their conviction, from what they have recently witnessed, that all these things may have taken place, and probably did. When I behold these conversions, and read such sound, discriminating, pungent, and practical expositions of religion and morals as are presented in the works recently communicated through the Medi- umship of Charles Hammond and others, I have no fears that the faith, piety, humanity, and moral- ity, which constitute the essential religion of Christ, will ever be undermined or superseded by New Spiritual Light. Its temporary externals, inci- dentals, misconstructions, adulterations, and tra- ditionary appendages, may be exposed and inval- idated. Secondary truths may be revealed and elaborated. The carnal expediency, worldly mind- edness, and anti-Christianity of the nominal church may be swept away. Be it even so. Is there a true Christian that fears such results, or will loeep SPIRIT MANIFESTATIONS. 11 at their consummation 1 Not one. It is only those whose merchandise is in false religion, slaves, and the souls of men, that will cry, ^^ Alas ! Alas!^^ Great is Tnith^ and mighty is Right. These shall prevail, and man be redeemed. 12 SPIRIT MANIFESTATIOInS. CHAPTER II. CLASSIFICATION OF CASES. Class First taken np— Statement of A. H. Jarvis, and Remarks ; of I George Willets, and Remarks. \ Having stated in the preceding chapter my general | Position and Theory , I proceed to the considera- i tion of particular cases. I shall arrange these cases into three principal classes, viz, : — 1. Those in which all the important demonstrations were 1 most evidently caused by departed spirits. H. Those in which some of the important demon- i, strations were probably caused, or greatly affected, i by ?mdeparted spirits. HI. Those in which the demonstrations were of a heterogeneous, incongru- ous, or derogatory character. Thus the whole ground will be covered, and an opportunity given for criticism on every considerable point. No | cases will be presented which I have not good rea- son to regard as reaZ and well authenticated. CLASS I . Those cases in which all the important demon- strations were most evidently caused by departed spirits. Statement of A. H. Jarvis, a Methodist clergy- SPIRIT MANIFESTATIONS. 13 rnaHj Rochester, New York, copied from Capron and Barron^s " History of the Mysterious Communion of Spirits/' second edition, pages 38, 39. '' There are many facts which have come under my observation equally convincing of the intelli- gence and utility of the communications from these unseen agents, who I now believe are continually about us, and more perfectly acquainted with all our ways, and even our thoughts, than we are with each other. But the fact in reference to my friend Pickard is what you desire. He was at my house on Friday afternoon, April 6, 1849. None of the Fox family were present. While at the tea table we had free communications on different subjects. Pickard was requested to ask questions. He desired to know who it was that would answer questions. The answer was — ' I am your mother Mary Pickard.' Her name or the fact of her death was not known to any of us. The next Monday evening he (Pickard) was at Mr. G 's, and tarried there over night. He there received a communication, purporting to be from his mother, saying, ' Your child is dead.' He came imme- diately to my place, and said he should take the stage for home, (Lockport, sixty miles distant). He left in the stage at 8 or 9, A. M. At 12, M., I returned to my house, my wife meeting me with a telegraph envelope. I broke the seal and read mentally first, — 14 SPIRIT MANIFESTATIONS. '' ' Rochester, April 10, 1849. " ' By telegraph from Lockport — to Rev. A. H. Jarvis, No. 4 West st. " ' Tell Mr. Pickard, if you can find him, his child died this morning. — Answer. '' ' R. Mallory.' " I then read it to my wife, and said, ' This is one of the best and most convincing evidence of the intelligence of those invisible agents ; ' and then I added, ' God's telegraph has outdone Morse's altogether.' Yours, truly, '' A. H. Jarvis. '' To E. W. Capron, Auburn." REMARKS. In this case, a man named Pickard hears sounds, or " knockings," in the houses of two different families in Rochester, N. Y. These sounds pur- port to be caused by departed spirits. He asks questions and receives answers, in the method now common on such occasions. To the question — who is it that will now answer me? — the response is — " I am your mother, Mary Pickard." Neither her name nor death was knov/n to any one present but himself On the morning of the 10th of April, 1849, while at G 's, he receives from what purports to be the spirit of his mother the communication, " Your child is dead^ He mentions this to Mr. .Tarvis, and immediately SPIRIT MANIFESTATIONS. 15 Starts for Lockport, his home, sixty miles distant, by stage. At noon of the same day, and of course before Pickard reached home, Mr. Jarvis receives a telegraphic message from Lockport, requesting him to tell Pickard, if he can find him, that his child died that morning. So it appears that the child's death was reported to Pickard almost at the moment of the decease, through " the rappings," though he was then at a distance of sixty miles from the scene. What are we to do v/ilh these facts? Was it the departed spirit of Mary Pickard that caused these rappings, and through them intelligently and correctly spelled out to her son, " Your child is dead? " I must believe it was. I may doubt ; but why should I 7 Shall I do so because it seems to me impossible, or incredible? Why impossible? Why incredible ? Shall I, because it is so extra- ordinary 7 This will not answer. I am bound to be rational and candid. Can I otherwise stccount for the^facts, so as to get rid of the marvelous? There are minds who will bolt outright, and pro- nounce the whole statement a fiction^ rather than be decent enough to admit that they are ignorant of innumerable wonders in the unexplored regions of being. I cannot let myself down to that grade of mentality. I prefer being laughed at as a sim- pleton. A more elevated class of minds, however, will say — "It is very mysterious; but probably Mes- 16 SPIRIT MANIFESTATIONS. merism or Clairvoyance, acting upon and through the Medium, caused the phenomena." How is this probable? What is Mesmerism? What is Clairvoyance? Or what is that 5ome^Am^ which acts on and through a Mesmeric or Clairvoyant subject? No doubt it is a very fine, elastic, subtle element of the mental or spiritual nature. Some call it Spiritual Magnetism ; I call it Sjnricity. Well, this can be passed from a positive to a nega- tive person. But it has no consciousness ^ or will of its own — has it? Certainly not, while existing in an unorganized, impersonal state. It is a spiritual atmosphere, or element, serving as a m.edium of communication to conscious intelligences. By means of it, under favorable conditions, its subjects are brought to recognize persons, things, and events far from their bodily location. No doubt of this. Are departed spirits less able to make use of this same medium than w^zdeparted ones? Are they less likely to make use of it ? Probably not. Prob- ably they are more able and more likely to make use of it ; since it must be the "principal^ if not the only elementary medium through which they can communicate with spirits in the fiesh. It becomes therefore a simple question — Did a departed spirit really tell Pickard that his child was dead? Or did the Medium, or some positive mind through the Medium, communicate to him this fact? If the spirit purporting to be Mary Pickard really commu- nicated the fact as set forth, all is natural, simple. SPIRIT MANIFESTATIONS. 17 and consistent — however wonderful. But on the other supposition, the fact was found out and com- municated by the Medium, incited by some other mind or minds, magnetically. Was the Medium conscious of going mentally to Lockport and seeing what had taken place in Pickard's family 7 Was any person conscious of sending the mind of the Medium on such an errand? No such thing is stated or hinted. There is not the least reason to presume that any one was conscious of such a pro- cess. But might not the whole process have trans- pired unconsciously to the Medium? It is barely possible; since we know so little of the laws of mental and spiritual nature, that we can hardly say what is or is not possible. Yet there is little probability of any such unconscious process having taken place. We have no right to assume any such thing ? Yet if we should, we have not escaped the marvelous, nor lightened the exaction made on our faith"? Suppose it for a moment. It is now un- conscious Clairvoyance that works the wonder — or unconscious Spiricity. 'How can an unconscious, unorganized element understand specific questions ? How transmit itself to a particular place, ascertain important facts, return and express them by rap- pings ? Why pretend to be a particular person — a departed spirit — with a particular name ? Is this natural, rational, consistent, or at all probable? If the statement purporting to give the facts be incred- ible, how much more this beggarly supposition? 2* 18 SPIRIT MANIFESTATIONS. Reasonable minds will not attempt to relieve their scepticism by such doses. I conclude, therefore, that unless some of the parties to the statement of this Jarvis and Pickard case can be convicted of a fraud, it must be set down as one in which a departed spirit most evidently manifested itself and communicated through " The Rappings." Statement of George Willets, Rochester, N. Y. Condensed. Capron & Barron's History, &c., pp. 51 — 53. Took place in the summer of 1848. " All which I shall relate as obtained from those sounds was in the presence only of my friends, Mr. and Mrs. Post, [Isaac Post and wife,] myself, and the little girl spoken of. As what follows all pur- ported to be from my father, I will say that his name was William Willets, a member of the Society of Friends, widely known at Westbury, L, I., where he lived until *near sixty years of age, and subsequently at Skaneateles, Onondaga county, where he died in 1841. The communication by sounds then went on to say, that it was my father that was present and talking with me, and three hours were consumed at the first interview. In saying to me what his counsel was, it always assumed to counsel and advise, but never to dictate. He said that it was not best for us to go to Michigan, and gave various reasons. " I then asked what was best to do. The answer then was, ' Come to Rochester.' I replied that I knew of no business that I could do in Rochester. SPIRIT MANIFESTATIONS. 19 The sounds said, ' I will tell thee when thee comes.' I asked if T might know now. The answer was — ' No ! I did not need any business until I came, and then he would tell me.' The sounds then said, that after a time it would be best for me to buy some land. I asked where. The sounds then spelled out the name of a man whom no one present knew, and said that he owned fifty acres of land on such a street adjoining the city, and such a distance from the center of the city, that he would sell any part. I asked the price that would be asked. The sounds were heard and counted by three of us, — one hundred and fifty limes in succession — to tell us the number of dollars per acre that would be asked. The sounds said that we had better go the next day and see if this was so, and said that we should not see the man until ten o'clock, though we might look for him as early as we pleased. " In the morning I looked in the Directory and there found the name spelled out to us, and went to his residence at seven o'clock and was informed that he had gone to a distant part of the city, and would not be home until twelve o'clock. We then went to find him, and had some difficulty to do so, but after talking with him five or six minutes, looked at the time and it was seven minutes passed ten ! This person said that he owned fifty acres of land on the street told us by the sounds, and that he would sell any part. When I asked him the 20 SPIRIT MANIFESTATIONS. price, he showed me a map with the price of each lot marked, and taking the number of acres, said by the sounds to be best to buy, and averaging the price, it was the price told us within 6-100 of a dollar per acre. " The first of December, 1848, I moved from Waterloo to Rochester. A few days after getting here, the little girl spoken of came round to our house and said that the ' Spirits' had directed her to come, for what purpose she did not know ; we inquired what it was, and this was the communi- cation : ' I told thee if thee would come to Ro- chester, I VvTould tell thee where thee could find employment ; in four days from this time I will tell thee.' " The four days went by, and again, without solicitation, and without thinking the time was up, the little girl came. The communication was, ' Apply to William Wiley, Superintendent of the Auburn and Rochester Railroad, tomorrow at two o'clock, at his office, for a situation, and thee will have one before this week is out.' (This was Thursday). I was a stranger to Mr. Wiley, and I called on Mr. Post, and told him the direction, and asked him if the next day he would go with me. That evening, he happening to be at the depot, inquired if Mr. Wiley was at home, and was told that he was in Boston, and by a letter just received, would not be at home till Friday night. 1 was told by the sounds on Wednesday to apply on Thurs- SPIRIT MANIFESTATIOXS. 21 day, at two o'clock. Thursday, at half-past one, instead of going to the railroad office, I went round where these sounds were heard, and said, ' How is this ? I am told to apply to William Wiley, and he is in Boston.' The sounds said, ' Go to his office, now he is there.' I called for Mr. Post and walked immediately there and/ozmcZ Mr. Wiley in his office. He said that he had returned sooner than he expected to when he wrote the letter. Mr. Post said that I was a relative of his and wished employment, and Mr. Wiley replied that they were all full, with abundant applications, and could give no encouragement whatever. We walked back, thinking deeply, and I again went where the sounds were heard. I inquired, How is this ? Mr. Wiley has no place for me. The answer was, ' Thee will have a place on the cars, and will know it before the week is out.' " On Saturday night, at dark, I met Mr. Post, and he asked if I had heard any thing from Mr. Wiley. I replied, ' Not a word.' At eight o'clock on that same evening Mr. Post called at my house and said that Mr. Wiley had just been to his store and said that he had a place for me, and wished me to call at his offi.ce on Monday morning. As Mr. Wiley did not tell me what place I was to fill, I again asked the sounds what it was ; and they said it was to go as Baggage Master between this place and Auburn. On Sunday morning I wrote to my friend James Truman of Waterloo, stating that 22 SPIRIT MANIFESTATIONS. I should pass through that place on Monday follow- ing, in the capacity above' stated — before I knew from Mr. Wiley what place he wanted me to fill, and he can probably testify to that fact. One month after I had been running on the cars, I learned that the person whose place I took had done things worthy of a dismissal, previous to my being directed to make application, and which did not come to Mr. Wiley's notice till the day on ivhich I received the appoint7nent. These things have only been known to a few friends : you and the world now have them. I have many communications penned down at the time they were received, pur- porting to be from my father, all of the most ele- vating character, inciting me to goodness, purit}^, and honesty of heart, and ever pointing to the endless progression of man. In conclusion I may say that I have examined the matter attentively for one year and a half, and have had abundant opportunities to do so, and am prepared to say, although the sounds may cease to-day, and never be heard again : They have displayed a remarkable degree of intelligence, and ivere not made by any person visible to us. " George Willets." SPIRIT MANIFESTATIONS. 23 E E M A R K S . AVhat is to be done with such a case as this? Here is a succession of well-connected particulars respecting persons, places, transactions, predictions, and verifications, presented in a plain, honest, straight-forward statement, bearing prima facie evidence of the highest credibility. It is easy- enough for the sensual, superficial, and self-con- ceited to swagger, pronounce every thing of the kind " Awm^M^," and declare they " won't believe a word of it." But this will not satisfy conscien- tious and reasonable beings. It may be easy for others to presume that Mesmerism and Clairvoy- ance will account for it all. But can they give us any tolerable explanation hoio 7 If they can, are they not bound in candor to do it ? Let them try. Before they get half through, they will have trippled the difficulties and incredibilities of which they complain ! Others may say that they are neither bound to believe departed spirits manifest themselves in such cases, nor to account for the phenomena in any way. Perhaps they are not. But if not, I suggest that they are bound to be modest in their negations. If they are altogether doubtful and uncertain as to what is, they certainly ought to be cautious about asserting what is not. It is unnecessary for me to go into a minute criticism of case second. It speaks for itself in the 24 SPIRIT MANIFESTATIONS. plainest and most unequivocal manner. Unless the facts can be invalidated, or some deception be detected on the part of the persons concerned, there is no avoiding the conclusion, that the departed spirit of William Willets communicated with his son George Willets through " the rappi7igs.^^ And why may it not have been so ? Why should we indulge a stubborn incredulity 7 Above all, why should persons professing to reverence Christianity set themselves up as rank unbelievers ? Is Christ- ianity only another name for Sadduceeism^ which denies all conscious existence of souls, spirits, and angels out of the flesh? The very reverse. Then there must be thousands of milUons of departed spirits? Certainly. Where are they ? Does Christ- ianity teach us that they are so walled out from mortal existence that they cannot approach the living under any circumstances? Nothing of the kind, but the contrary. It is probable, then, that spirits in the flesh are often influenced by kindred spirits out of the flesh. Nothing is more natural or more probable. The wonder is, that we have so few distinct manifestations of spirits, rather than that we certainly have some occasionally. This is indeed the greater wonder, all things considered; and I can but hope it is one which will ere long cease. " But then these vidgar^ undignified^ awkward manifestations ! These ' knockings,' ' rappings,' ' movings,' &c. ! Such things are unworthy of SPIRIT MANIFESTATIONS. 25 departed spirits ! Why don't they appear in visible forms and speak in articulate language, like respect- able, intelligent beings?" I cannot tell why. I wish they might. Perhaps they ivill^ when we shall have proved ourselves fit for such manifesta- tions, by making the best use we can of these inferior ones. Perhaps we are not competent to sit as judges and dictators in these matters. Perhaps we have yet to learn the A B C of spirit knowl- edge. Would not a little humility, reverence and decency be very becoming in such creatures as we are? W^e only exhibit our folly by despising and quarreling with/ac/5, loays^ and means which are above our control. All nature is full of such. " Go wiser thou, and in thy scale of sense Weigh thine opinion against Providence." "God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise ; and weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty ; and base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, and things which are not, to bring to naught the things which are : that no flesh should glory in his presence." '' Wisdom is justified of all her children." I shall continue the presentation of cases of the First Class, with comments, in my next chapter. 3 26 SPIRIT MANIFESTATIONS. CHAPTER III. CASES UNDER CLASS FIRST CONTINUED. Statement of E. "W. Capron — Another Statement of A. H. Jarvis — Sun- dry cases presented in extracts from the New York Tribune — Two cases stated by C. Hammond of Rochester, N. Y. — Comments. I NOW give several additional cases, which, with the preceding, must suffice as samples of Class First. Statement from the private journal of E. W. Capron, copied from Capron & Barron's History, before cited : " On the 23d of November, 1848, I went to the city of Rochester on business. I had previously made up my mind to investigate the so-called mys- tery, if I should have an opportunity. In doing so, I had no doubt but what I possessed shrewdness enough to detect the trick, as I strongly suspected it to be, or discover the origin of the noise, if it should be unknown to the inmates of the house. " A friend of mine, John Kedzie, of Rochester, whom I had long known as a sceptic in regard to such wonders, invited me to go with him to hear it. I accepted the invitation with a feeling that was far from serious apprehension of communicating with any thing beyond my power to discover. " Before 1 heard the sound, we seated ourselves SPIRIT MANIFESTATIONS. * 27 around a table. As soon as we got quiet, I heard a slight but distinct rapping on the floor, apparently on the under side. Although I concluded that such a sound might be made by machinery, I could see no possible motive in the family taking so much pains to deceive people, as they received nothing but annoyance and trouble in return for their pains. I proceeded to ask some questions, and they were answered very freely and correctly. I asked if it would rap my age. It was done correctly. I then took my memorandum book from my pocket, and* wrote my questions, so that no person could know the nature of them. I would write : ' rap four times ; rap one ; rap seven ;' and to each and every question I got a correct answer. 1 then laid aside my book and proceeded to ask similar test questions mentally^ and, as before, received correct answers. " I could not believe that persons present had the power to discern my thoughts and make these sounds in answer, for the sounds have a peculiarity not easily imitated. To suppose this to be the case would make the matter a still greater mystery. 1 knew they could not give those answers, for there were questions answered which they could not know any thing about. " At another time, being present with Isaac Post, of Rochester, I tried the experiment of counting in the following manner : I took several shells from a card-basket on the table, (small lake shells,) closed my hand and placed them entirely out of sight, and 28 ■ SPIRIT MANIFESTATIONS. requested as many raps as there were shells. It was done correctly. As I knew how many shells there were m my hand, I resolved to test it another way, to see if there was a possibility of my mind having any influence in the matter. I took a hand- ful of shells without knowing how many I had myself. Still the answers were correct. I then requested Mr. Post, who sat by the table, to put his hand in the basket, take out some shells without knowing the number, and pass them into my hand, which I immediately closed and placed in a position where none could see it. The number was told as correctly as before. We continued this class of experiments for a long time, without the least fail- ure in getting correct answers." Statement of A. H. Jarvis, the same witness named in the preceding chapter : copied from the same work : "Atone time we were getting communications from what purported to be our son, who had been dead some ten years. He requested us to sing a hymn with the title, ' Advice to seek the Lord.' I took a hymn-book and was proceeding to look for the hymn, when the alphabet was called for, and he spelled, 'not that.' Another was taken. Slill he spelled, 'not that.' We had four hymn books in the room that we knew of, and we were told that it was in neither of them. I was about going up to' my library, when he spelled, ' It is in this room —get the little book with a red cover.' After much SPIRIT MANIFESTATIONS. 29 search the book was found behind some ornaments, on the mantel-piece, which was seldom used. A hymn was found with very near the title given, and we thought it must be the one, when we were again told, ^ not thaV On looking farther, we found a hymn with exactly the title named^ and sang it, while the sounds beat time." Extracts from a communication to the New York Tribune, dated January 20, 1851, written by a cor- respondent signed " H," whose moral integrity is vouched for in the strongest terms by the editor : " On one occasion I heard of the death of a friend, by railroad accident. I sought an interview with his spirit, at the house of Mrs. Fish. I inquired of the spirits if I could have a communication from the spirit I then thought of. I soon had a reply that I could. Said I, 'Is that spirit present?' 'Yes.' 'Will he rap to his name?' 'Yes.' I wrote down several, as before, and when I pointed to the right one, the rapping came. ' How did you come to your death?' Raps at 'Accident.' 'How many days have you been dead?' Ans. — 'One.' [Correct.] 'How many children have you left?' Ans. — ' Five.' ' Have you any with you?' Ans. — ' One.' This, on subsequent inquiry, I found to be correct, though I did not then know it. The spirit then called for the alphabet, and spelled out, 'I am happy, and want you to acquaint my wife that I am so.' This was Mr. T. J., of B." ^ T^ ^ T^ -Tv 30 SPIRIT MANIFESTATIONS. "I will now take a case that I have from the mouth of Mrs. B., an inteUigent and highly respect- able lady of the city of Rochester. The lady's mother, an elderly lady, but in full possession of a natural vigorous mind, had become very much inter- ested in the spiritual phenomena, and strongly im- pressed with its truthful reality. She had lost a most loved husband and son, and sought frequent opportunities of holding sweet communion with these departed ones. The daughter, wishing to convince the mother of the imposition that was being practiced upon her, accompanied her mother on one of her visits. The spirits of her dear father and brother made such communications and mani- festations as to perfectly astound her; and, instead of convincing her mother, she was nearly over- whelmed herself. Determined to satisfy herself beyond all doubt, she went home, and, going into a room by herself, wrote a nonsensical, disjointed sentence or more, commencing it with ' Dolly,' and folding it up, took it in her hand, and proceeded to make the spirits another cali. The spirit of her brother was ready to communicate. ' Now,' said Mrs. B., 'if you are really the spirit of my brother, and wish to convince me of the fact, you will please spell out to me what I have written upon the paper which I hold in my hand.' It commenced spelling the sentence, the alphabet being repeated by Mrs. Fish, but she stopped on the first few words being spelled, and said, ' This spirit is a fool,' and she SPIRIT MANIFESTATIONS. 31 would not repeat the alphabet for it. Mrs. 13. told her to proceed, and see what the spirit would spell out. She did so, and all that was written upon the paper was spelled out, verhatim et literatim! '' When talking with the spirit of her father, Mrs. B. said, ' Now, if you are the spirit of my father, take hold of my foot.' The spirit replied, ' When you sit down to supper I will' Supper being ready soon, she took her seat at the table, and a spirit called for the alphabet to be repeated. It was done. The spirit spelled out, 'My dear A., I gratified your every wish that I could while liv- ing ; I will do so now.' Upon that, she felt a hand grasp her foot. About this she said she could not be mistaken ; and it was not possible for any one present, as they were then seated, to have deceived her. '^On another occasion. I heard this same lady call upon a departed friend in the following man- ner : ' Is the spirit of the one I now think of pres ent?' As soon as she received a response in the affirmative, she proceeded thus : ' Will you rap to your name V ' Yes.' The correct name was responded to. 'How came you to your death?' Ans. — ' By drowning.' ' In a river V ' No.' ' In a pond? 'No.' 'In the ocean?' 'No.' 'In a lake V ' Yes.' ' What lake V ' Erie.' ' Were you on a boat?' 'Yes.' 'What boat?' 'The Griffith.' 'Were you pushed overboard?' ' No, I jumped with the expectation of getting to shore.' 32 SPIRIT MANIFESTATIONS. ' How soon was your body found? Ans. — 'Seven days.' 'Who found it7' 'My brother.' 'How far from shore'/ A?is. — ' Two miles.' ' What had you on V Ans. — ' A brown Unen and worsted dress, my stockmgs, and a shoe on one foot.' In addition, the spirits told how many children she had left, where they were, and who had charge of them. And I was assured by Mrs. B. that the spirits had answered correctly in every particular. '• On another occasion, a gentleman stranger entered the room, and announced 'to the company that he was directly from Detroit, on his way east, and circumstances required that he should take the next train of cars. He expressed a desire for an opportunity of testing the spirits. All readily and cheerfully conceded to him a preference. One gentleman inquired his name, but he very poliiely declined giving it, remarking he had reserved that as a test. He took his seat, and, with the air of one familiar in putting questions and making inves- tigations, proceeded to question the invisibles. The spirits told him his name — (in the manner hereto- fore suggested in other cases) ; told him how many names he had (three) ; the number of letters in each name ; that he was a lawyer by profession ; an Englishman by birth; that he was a widower; had had two wives (in answer to a mental ques- tion) ; that he had had fourteen children ; that eight were living ; and that he was fifty years old. One of his wives' name was Georgiana : that he had SPIRIT MANIFESTATIONS. 33 had five of that name in his family; that he had been fourteen and a half days from home; and that he lived in Montreal ; all of which the gentleman afterward assured us was correct. His name was Edward Adam Clark, an officer of the English gov- ernment." Statement of Charles Hammond, Rochester, N. Y. Copied from a pamphlet by D. M. Dewey : " I had prepared my mind with certain ques- tions, touching events unknown to the family, and of a remote date. The sounds told me my age precisely, though my appearance is such as to indi- cate a diff'erence of eight or ten years. The names of six of my nearest deceased relatives were given me. I then inquired, ' Will the spirit that makes these sounds give me its name?' Five sounds directed me to the alphabet, which I repeated until the name of ' Charles' appeared, which answered to an infant child whom we consigned to the grave in March, 1843. To my inquiries, it gave me a irue answer in regard to the time it had been in the Spirit-land, and also the period since my eldest sister's death, which was nearly eighteen years ; the latter fact, not being recollected then, I found true by dates on my return home. Many other test questions were correctly answered ; and yet, not- withstanding the origin of these sounds seemed inexplicable, I was inclined to impute them to mesmerism or clairvoyance. However, as the spirit promised to satisfy me by other demonstra- 34 SPIRIT MANIFESTATIONS. tions, when I came again, I patiently awaited- the opportunity. "On the third visit, I was selected from a half- dozen gentlemen, and directed by these sounds to retire to another room, in company with the ' three sisters' and their aged mother. It was about eight o'clock in the evening. A lighted candle was placed on a large table, and we seated ourselves around it. I occupied one side of the table, the mother and the youngest daughter the right, and two of the sisters the left, leaving the opposite side of the table vacant. On taking our positions the sounds were heard, and continued to multiply and become more violent until every part of the room trembled with their demonstrations. They were unlike any I had heard before. Suddenly, as we were all resting on the table, I felt the side next to me move upward. 1 pressed upon it heavily, but soon it passed out of the reach of us all, full six feet from me, and at least four from the nearest person to it. I saw distinctly its position ; not a thread could have connected it with any of the company without my notice, for I had come to detect impo- sition, if it could be found. In this position we were situated, when the question was asked, ' Will the spirit move the table back where it was before?' — and back it came, as though it were carried on the head of some one, who had not suited his posi- tion to a perfect equipoise, the balance being some- times in favor of one side and then the other. But SPIRIT MANIFESTATIONS. 35 it regained its first position. In the meantime the 'demonstrations' grew louder and louder. The family commenced and sung the ' Spirit's song,' and several other pieces of sacred music, during which, accurate time was marked on the table, causing it to vibrate ; a transparent hand, resembhng a shadow, presented itself before my face ; I felt fingers taking hold of a lock of my hair on the left side of my head, causing an inclination of several inches; then a cold, death-like hand was drawn designedly over my face; three gentle raps on my left knee ; my right limb forcibly pulled up, against strong resistance, under the table; a violent shak- ing, as though two hands were applied to my shoulders ; myself and chair upUfted and moved back a few inches ; and several slaps, as with a hand, on the side of my head, which were repeated on each one of the company, more rapidly than I could count. During these manifestations, a piece of pasteboard, nearly a foot square, was swung with such velocity before us as to throw a strong current of air in our faces; a paper curtain attached to one of the windows was rolled up and unrolled twice ; a lounge, immediately behind me, was shaken violently ; two small drawers in a bureau played back and forth with inconceivable rapidity; a sound resembling a man sawing boards, and planing them, was heard under the table ; a com- mon spinning-wheel seemed to be in motion, mak- ing a very natural buzz of the spindle ; a reel 6b SPIRIT MANIFESTATIONS. articulated each knot wound upon it; while the sound of a rocking cradle indicated maternal care for the infant's slumbers. These were among many other demonstrations which I witnessed that eve- ning, amid which I felt a perfect self-possession, and in no instance the slightest embarrassment, except a momentary chill when the cold hand was applied to my face, similar to a sensation I have realized when touching a dead body. That any of the company could have performed these things, under the circumstances in which we were situ- ated, would require a greater stretch of credulity on my part than it would be to believe it was the work of spirits. It could not, by any possibility, have been done by them, nor even attempted, with- out detection. And I may add, that, near the close of the demonstrations at this visit, there was a vibration of the floor, as though several tons in weight had been uplifted, and suddenly fallen again upon it. This caused every thing in the room to shake most violently for several minutes, when the force was withdrawn. " I have also tested the intelligence of these spirits in every way my ingenuity could invent. On one occasion, 1 wrote a word on a slip of paper privately, placed it in my wallet, went there, and the sounds, through the alphabet, spelled that word correctly as I had written it. That word was 'Sybil' " On the 29th of February, inst., the two young- SPIRIT MANIFESTATIONS. 37 est sisters made my family a visit. Here the sounds were heard — questions involving subjects wholly unknown to them were answered — a large, heavy diiiing-table was moved several times — and, on expressing thanks at the table to the Giver of all Good, some six or eight sounds responded to every sentence I uttered, by making loud and distinct sounds in various parts of the room. "Yours, truly, "C. Hammond. ''Rochester, Feb, 22, 1850." COMMENTS. What is to be done with all these cases, and a thousand other similar ones ? Are they to be de- nounced as sheer fictions, fabricated to impose on the lovers of the marvelous ? No ; they are too well authenticated as reliable statements of what at least appeared to he fads. Are they to be scout- ed as the ingenious deceptions of jugglery, legerde- main, or some other arch operations of mortal cunning ? No ; there is not the slightest evidence of such agencies in their production. Are 'they only remarkable instances of intelligent happenings^ exaggerated by over-active imaginations, and em- bellished by romantic narrators? No; such is obviously not their character. Make as large a discount for accidental coincidences, excited imagi- nations, and descriptive coloring as candor will 4 38 SPIEIT MANIFESTATIONS. warrant, still the important facts and realities which remain have overwhelming weight. Unless these demonstrations can he rationally accounted for in some other way, which has not yet been done, I feel obliged to accept them for what they purport to be — the veritable manifestations of departed spirits. In the next chapter I shall present a few cases which have come within my own sphere of per- sonal knowledge and information ; and also make |J a statement of the principal points of doctrine set forth in the communications of spirits. SPIRIT MANIFESTATIONS. CHAPTER IV. CASES OF CLASS FIRST CONCLUDED. What I myself have witnessed— Effect on my own feelings and state of mind— Doctrine declared by Spirits, stated under seven heads. In this chapter I shall conchide what I have to say under my first general head, by referring to a few particulars connected with cases within my personal knowledge, and then stating the principal points of doctrine taught by the spirits. I will not go into minute narration and descrip- tion, but simply mention the more important phe- nomena I have witnessed. I have heard multiform sounds in the presence of spirit Media, purporting to be made by departed spirits ; some like the tick- ings of a small watch, others like the clicking of a common clock, others like the loud knocking of a laboring man on the door of his neighbor with his knuckles, others like the scratching of a hard finger nail on a board, others like the creaking of a door or window, &c., &c. I have heard the time and meter of tunes beaten out with the utmost accuracy, and by several rappers in unison — not only while the tune was being played or sung, but afterwards, without accompaniment. And I am as certain that 40 SPIRIT MANIFESTATIONS. these sounds were not made by any conscious mor- tal agency, as 1 am of the best authenticated facts in the common transactions of life. I have seen tables and light-stands of various size moved about in the most astonishing manner, by what purported to be the same invisible agency, with only the gentle and passive resting of the hands or finger-ends of the Medium on one of their edges. Also, many distinct movings of such objects, by request, without the touch of the Medium at all. I have sat and conversed by the hour together with the authors of these sounds and motions, by means of signals first agreed on ; asking questions and ob- taining answers — receiving communications spelled out by the alphabet — discussing propositions some- times made by them to me, and vice versa— ■q.W. by a slow process, indeed, but with every possible demonstration of intelligence, though not without incidental misapprehensions and mistakes. 1 have witnessed the asking of mental questions by inquir- ers, who received as prompt and correct answers as when the questions were asked audibly to the cog- nition of the Medium. I have known these invisibles, by request, to write their names v/ith a common plumbago pencil on a clean sheet of paper — half a dozen of them, each in a different hand. To make sure of this^ as an absolute fact, the Medium was required to lay her left hand, back downwards, in the hollow of a veracious person's hand, botli open ; when a piece SPIRIT MANIFESTATIONS. 41 of pasteboard paper Avas laid on her hand, a well- examined blank sheet of writing paper placed thereon, and a lead pencil on top oithat; in which position (the Medium's right hand being held up to view,) both the hands, with these fixtures resting on them, were placed under the leaf of the table, as insisted on by the invisible xoriters. After a minute or two, at a given signal by the spirits that they had done^ the paper was exhibited with various names written thereon, as above affirmed. This was repeatedly tested with the same results, under circumstances putting all suspicion of fraud and jugglery entirely at rest. I have requested what purported to be the spirit of a friend many years decea-sed, to go to a partic- ular place, several miles distant from that of the sittings and to bring me back intelligence respect- ing the then health and doings of a certain relative well known to the parties. \xi three minutes of time the inteUigence was obtained, numerous par- ticulars given, some of them rather improbable, but every one exactly confirmed the next day, by per- sonal inquiries made for that purpose. I have been requested by the invisibles to speak on a particular subject, at a given time and place, with the assurance that responses should be made on the occasion, by knockings, approving the truths uttered; all which was strikingly verified. Once, at a most unexpected interview, when nothing of the kind had been previously thought of by any 4* 42 SPIRIT MANIFESTATIONS. li person present, a spirit, so purporting, who had several times evinced much interest in my public labors, spelled out : — " Have you selected your sub- jects of discourse for the next Sunday 7" Only one of themj 1 answered. Would my spirit friend like to suggest a text for the other part of the day? "Yes." What is it? I inquired. He spelled out the word " The," and ceased. Wondering at his silence, the signal of another spirit was given. The new comer communicated by movings of the table, not by 7^aps^ like the other. He said that our friend, the rapper, had been suddenly summoned away for a few moments, but would certainly re- turn soon. He did return within fifteen minutes, resumed his communication just where he left it, and spelled out — " The second chapter of first Corinthians^ the twelfth and thirteenth verses.^'' No one in the room had the least recollection of the words referred to. So the Bible was called for, when the text proved to be the following :• — " Noiu we have received^ not the spirit of the loorld^ but the spirit which is of God; that ive might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which thi?igs we also speak, not in the words which 7nan''s v)isdoni teacheth^ hut which the Holy Ghost teach- eth ; comparing sjnritiial things with spiritualP Struck with the sublimity, purity, richness, and force of the passage, I answered that I accepted it thankfully, as a very appropriate text for the occa- sion referred to, and would endeavor to illustrate SPIRIT MANIFESTATIONS. 43 its great truths as well as I might be able. My spirit friend expressed great pleasure by sounds rapidly made on the table, and announced that he and several other sympathizing spirits would be present to hear the discourse, and if the Mediwn should also be there, would manifest their approba- tion of the good things uttered. All this was veri- fied in a remarkable manner. I have seen a Medium gently magnetized and thrown into a trance in one minute, by the imper- ceptible influence of the spirits, in accordance with their own original proposition, reluctantly acceded to by the Medium and her friends ; during which sometimes she had visions of the spirit world, and at others became entirely non-cognizant of every thing transpiring in either world. In the latter case the spirits, as previously promised, made use of her organs of speech, unconsciously to herself, and thus answered numerous questions, instead of respond- ing by the rappings. That these trances were not superinduced by mortal agency, and were not feigned but real, I am as certain as I can be of any thing not absolutely beyond the possibility of mis- take. I might proceed much further in the particular- ization of manifestations coming under my per- sonal observation, but will not make myself tedious. Sufiice it to say, that I have witnessed enough with my own eyes and ears to prepare me for the belief 44 SPIRIT MANIFESTATIONS. of the Still more incredible manifestations reported from a thousand places in our country and world. I will merely add, that I have received many excel- lent communications from these invisible friends, and scarcely a single one of a light, frivolous, or low character; though I know that in this respect my experience has been unlike that of some others. I can say in truth, speaking for myself alone, that my whole moral nature has been purified and elevated, by the influences which have flowed in upon me during the investigation of this subject. Others, I am sure, can say the same. There are those, no doubt, who have abused the whole thing — befooling themselves and others in a lamentable manner. What in the wide world is there that has wholly escaped abuse and perver- sion 1 Reason, inspired and crowned with the wisdom from above, is indispensable to the avoid- ance of these evils. Until a much larger portion of mankind, than at present, attain to the development of their higher faculties, we must expect the abuse and perversion, to a greater or less extent, of every thing in nature. " But wisdom is justified of all her children." DOCTEINE OF THE SPIRITS. The theology, piety, and morality inculcated by tne spirits will now be stated. There are discrep- ancies and contradictions on some points, if we SPIRIT MANIFESTATIONS. 45 take the whole range of communications, good, bad, and indillerent. But I shall confine myself to what may be considered, on all hands, the most reliable testimonies : i. e., to communications pur- porting to come from the worthiest spirits, and through the most independent Media. It is satis- factory to know that ninety-nine one hundredths of these testimonies harmonize in every essential particular; and that this is true of spirits who, in the life of the flesh, were connected with the most hostile sects, whose communications have been made through Media educated in these opposing sects. Sometimes it has been found, that if the Medium was strongly prejudiced, or was overawed by associates of that character, the teachings of the first few weeks were biased considerably by those influences ; whereas afterwards, when the commu- nications seemed to be made more freely and inde- pendently of the Medium's mind, these peculiarities ceased, and the doctrines attested became accordant with the general current. This current combines, in my opinion, all that is essential to Christianity, and all that is valuable in religious and moral phi- losophy, separated from popular assumptions, adul- terations, perversions, and groundless notions. 1. There is one and but one God, an infinite Spirit, and the Father of Spirits. He loves all, and eternally seeks their good by all wise and fitting means. The man Jesus of Nazareth was brought into the world with especial fitness to receive and 46 SPIRIT MANIFESTATIONS. communicate the Spirit of God in perfect purity and fullness, whereby the Father-Spirit dwelling in him constituted him the Christ, the Saviour of the world. The Holy Ghost, so called, is the God- Spirit, acting in or upon any finite being, or at any particular point, perceptibly to finite natures. So that there is but one infinite Divine, variously mani- fested, as the Father, in the Son, or by the Holy Ghost. 2. All human beings are spirits as to their abso- lute internal constitution, and soon after death emerge into distinct conscious spiritual identities, having forms and pecuUarities as obviously cogni- zable to each other, and as distinguishable from each other, as here in the flesh. 3. All human beings possess certain mental and moral qualities, partly constitutional, partly cir- cumstantial, and partly self-wrought, which deter- mine for the time being each individual's real spir- itual character, and relative nearness to or distance from the divine standard of perfection. So that each one is in a certain sphere, and in some circle or degree of that sphere, as to his spirit, always^ whether existing in the fleshly body, or after its dissolution. And if a person is spiritnally in a cer- tain sphere at death, in that sphere he finds himself, the moment he resumes his consciousness in the spirit world, associated with kindred spirits. 4. There is a series of grand spheres, commenc- ing with man's Rudimental sphere in the flesh, and SPIRIT MANIFESTATIONS. 47 ascending in just gradation to the highest heavens. Each grand sphere comprises several secondary- spheres or circles, and each secondary sphere or circle has several degrees. Man is a heing by- nature capable of progress, in subjective accordance with certain fundamental spiritual and moral laws. In conformity to these laws he may now progress from lower to higher circles ; i. e., he may draw nearer and nearer to God ; or what is the same thing, nearer as a spirit to the divine standard of perfection. Without conformity to these laws, he cannot progress, but obscures and debases himself. Death does not change man's real character, nor his proper spirit sphere, nor his capability to make progress, nor the laws of progress. No man is in a morally worse state, all things considered, by reason of passing into the spirit world. The ivorst even are, if any way affected, in a better state there than in ihe flesh. They whose spirit sphere was purer, find themselves proportionally blessed. Many remain very long in the lower spheres, where, though enabled to enjoy existence in the degree possible at such a distance from the divine focus of blessedness, they are " spirits in prison," and wretched in comparison with those in the paradisa- ical spheres. Their existence, however, is a bless- ing to them even while thus low, and there is no such place or state as a hell of unmitigated, hope- less misery. Meantime, God, angels, and all the higher spirits are forever seeking the elevation of 48 SPIRIT MANIFESTATIONS. ' the inferior spirits, by all just, wise, and appropri- ate means. And no one, however low and sluggish of progress, will finally fail to be attracted upward, obediently to the divine laws, from one degree to another, and from one sphere to another, till he reach the heavenly mansions — even though it take an age of eternities to complete his destiny. 5. Spirits considerably advanced are employed in three general exercises. 1. In religious aspira- tions, meditations, worship — in striving after a more perfect knowledge of and communication with God— whom they cannot recognize there any more than here, as a personal being, but only as a Divine Spirit. 2. In study, self-examination, con- templations of truth, and acquainting themselves with all useful knowledge attainable by them. 3. In ministering to struggling spirits on earth and in the lower spheres — endeavoring to elevate and bless them. Thus cultivating love to God, wisdom within themselves, and ever active benevolence to their inferiors in condition. Spirits in any circle can descend into all the circles below their own, but cannot, except by temporary permission, ascend into a higher sphere, until qualified by spiritual progress. 6. Mankind are by nature one family of broth- ers and sisters, the off'spring of a common Father in heaven, whom they ought to love with all their heart, and eacli other as themselves. The good of each is really the good of all, and that of all the SPIRIT MANIFESTATIONS. 49 good of each. Therefore, no one can injure another without injuring himself in the end. Slavery, and all kinds of tyranny and oppression are utterly sin- ful. So all war, violence, revenge, and vindictive punishment. So all intemperance, debauchery, and sexual pollution. So all falsehood, covetousness, fraud, extortion, "and pecuniary taking of advan- tage. So all pride and domineering of superiors over inferiors. So all religious bigotry, thrusting down, persecution, and sectarian bitterness. So every thing contrary to personal holiness, to the piety which loves God supremely, and man as a brother, whether friend or foe. These rehable spirits are everywhere Reformers, Regenerators of the world, individually and socially. They are for the reconciliation of all things — for universal har- mony—on the great principles of truth, purity, jus- tice, love, and wisdom. And they all predict a better future for the human race here on eartlj, as well as in the future state. 7. It is the imperative duty of every human being to exercise his own powers, faculties, reason, and judgment, with modesty, humiUty, and firm- ness, and not to be overawed, borne down, or led away captive by any assuming spirit in or out of the flesh. Every one is accountable for himself, and ought both to judge and act for himself, with supreme reverence for God and his moral perfec- tions, according to his own highest convictions of truth and duty. Thus he should examine the 5 ' 60 SPIRIT MANIFESTATION'S. Bible and all books. Thus all human govern- ments, authorities, powers, constitutions, laws, cus- toms, and usages, in Church and State. Thus try- all spirits, and their communications — all pretended prophets, philosophers, and teachers — all professions and assumptions whatsoever. No one should im- periously dictate, or cower down before another. But truth, rectitude, reason, and the suasion of wisdom should alone sway the minds of moral agents. Such is a fair digest and summary of the prin- cipal doctrines put forth in ninety-nine one hun- dredths of the communications of reliable spirits throughout the country. I have stated them in my own language, as I have understood them. It will be seen that they differ in some respects from every sectarian view of theology, religion, and morality now popular in the world. But they embody the essentials of Christianity, as understood by its best expositors, and of all spiritual and moral philoso- phies worthy of serious respect. For my own part, I confess that they commend themselves forcibly to my highest conceptions and profoundest convictions of whet is true and good. Perhaps I receive them with greater readiness and partiality, because they modify so slightly the general system of faith, views, and opinions, which, by long and thorough research, my own mind in its purest states had already elaborated. If so, other minds, established in contrary conclusions, will as readily revolt at SPIRIT MANIFESTATIONS. 61 and reject them. " Let every man be fully per- suaded in his own mind." In my next chapter I shall enter on an examina- tion of cases under Class Second: i. e., "those in which some of the important demonstrations were probably caused, or very much affected, by iinde- parted spirits." 62 SPIRIT MANIFESTATIONS. CHAPTER Y. CASES UNDER CLASS SECOND. General Statement of Facts— Conclusions drawn— Indiscrimination and Extremes, whether of Credulity or Scepticism, deprecated. I AM now to treat of cases under Class Second : i. e., " those in which some of the important de- monstrations were probably caused, | or greatly affected, by tindepRYted spirits." I mean, by un- departed spirits, persons in the flesh, who, by their will or pyschological power, control the agency which gives forth sounds, motions, &c. I refer not to impostors, playing off counter^feits. I am treating of phenomena caused by mental power alone, coacting with the mysterious agency under consideration. I have known cases such as the following : — 1. In which the bias, prejudice, predilection, or will of the Medium, evidently governed and char- acterized the demonstrations. In these cases, the answers given to questions, the doctrines taught, and the peculiar leanings of communications spelled out, were so obviously ^fashioned by the Medium's own mind, as to leave no doubt of the fact. In absolute confirmation of this, questions have been written out and presented to the Med SPIRIT MANIFESTATIONS. 53 um, with a request that the answers should, if pos- sible, be given thus and so. And they were given, by rajt?5, accordingly. I myself gave questions in this way to a certain Medium, and found that an- swers could be obtained in the affirmative or neg- ative, or in fiat contradiction to previous answers, if the Medium would but agree to will it. At the same time, I made myself certain that this Me- dium could not procure the rapjnng agency at will. It came, slaid, and went as it would; and in that respect was uncontrollable. But when it chanced to he present^ it could be overruled, biased, and perverted, more or less, by the Medium. 2. In other cases, there has been an overruling pyschological influence exerted by some powerful mind or minds present with the Medium. In such cases, this powerful influence, with or without the consciousness of the Medium, has elicited answers, just such as had been wished or willed by the managing mind. And these answers have alter- nately contradicted each other in the plainest manner, during the same half hour's demonstra- tions. In one instance, a strong-willed man resolved to reverse certain disagreeable predictions, frequently repeated through two tipping Media who often sat in conjunction. The result was, he could overrule one of them, sitting alonej and get a response to suit himself. But both of them together over-matched his pyschological powers. I might give names, places, dates, and details 6* 64 SPIRIT MANIFESTATIONS. in this connection; but it is unnecessary. There can be no reasonable doubt of the facts just stated. It may be set down as certain^ that there | are cases wherein some of the important demon- strations are caused, or greatly affected, by w/zde- parted spirits. How far influences of this sort extend and characterize spirit manifestations, remains to be ascertained. We can positively identify them in many cases. In some they are known to the parties concerned, and acknowledged to have been consciously and intentionally exerted. In others perhaps they may be justly suspected, where no distinct consciousness of them is felt by the Medium, or by any dominant mind. "What^ then, is to be concluded with reference to cases under Class Second ? 1. I conclude, for myself, that implicit confidence cannot be placed in so-called spirit responses and communications, as always certainly coming from departed spirits. The Medium, or some powerful mind or minds present, may overrule, ivarp, ticistj or colo?^ the answers and sentences spelled out. Nothing is to be taken for granted without examination, and reasonable corrobora- tion. To surrender one's self up credulously to the rappings, tippi?igs, or hand-movi?igs, as oracular and infallible, would be little better than stultification. • 2. I conclude, for myself, that there are limits to these influences of ?f?zdeparted spirits. I am SPIRIT MANIFESTATIONS. 66 certain that the cases treated of in the four pre- ceding chapters of this exposition are justly- distinguishable from the class now under con- sideration. I am confident, too, that in this Second Class there is in all cases, even the worst, a limit to the power exertable by spirits in the flesh ; and that there is a mysterious agency from the spirit world which cannot be completely overruled. Nevertheless, it is so often and so far controlled, as to be decidedly unreliable. There is obviously a great difference in Media. That element in or about them, which constitutes them Media, and which, for want of a better name, I have called ^^ Spiriciii/,^^ probably differs in qual- ity and degree of strength in various individuals. Hence, as well as from deeper causes, the great difference and variety of the phenomena. I have found that some Media were so imperfect, or had been so sophisticated by the management of overruling minds, that scarcely any reliance could be placed on what purported to come through their Mediumship. Others, especially tipping and hand-moved Media, are frequently so nervous, doubtfully balanced, and peculiarly affected, that one knows not what to depend on. Nevertheless, it remains true, that there are clear, passive, independent Media, worthy of all the reliance that ought ever to be placed in persons sustaining such a relation to the spirit world. It is a remarkable fact, that some Media, who, 36 SPIRIT MANIFESTATIONS. during the first few days or weeks of their Medi- L umship, 'knew themselves to have considerable power over the manifestations, have gradually become clear and passive; and found themselves, j at last, utterly unable to affect the responses and ij communications made through them. 1 have in my mind a worthy friend, of unquestionable vera- city, who stated to me that this was the case with him. For several weeks after he found himself a Medium, he could get very much such answers to questions as he pleased. During that stage of his Mediumship he felt quite confident the whole thing was but a new species of Mesmerism. But after a while he began to fail of controlling the agency, and at length found it operating entirely independ- ent of his most determined wi shines and loillings. In another case, a young Medium, of a certain religious sect, seemed at first to be attended by spirits altogether partial to the peculiarities of that sect, who taught doctrines plainly contradictory to what may be called Spirit orthodoxy, as given forth everywhere through the most reliable Media. \ This Medium received all due encouragement from her sectarian friends, during the infancy of her Mediumship. But when, after a few weeks, neither she nor they could any longer make the spirits utter their shibboleth through her, and found an independent testimony coming forth against \ their cherished dogmas, she was required to renounce her sittings, and abandon the whole SPIRIT ^MANIFESTATIONS. 57 thing, as of the Devil. These cases show that there is a Hmit to the influence of ^mdeparted spirits, even where for a time they possess control. It also shows that Media, who in their crude, incipient state give forth communications in ac- cordance with their own ])rejudices^ wishes, or loills^ and very contrary ones to those generally received, may outgrow their defects, and them- selves become reliable. 3. Finally, 1 conclude, for myself, that consid- erable information, discrimination, and judgment should be brought into requisition on this subject, in order to do it justice. Some examine a single case or two, and jump at an opinion. One believes every thing, nfkking almost a fool of himself at that extreme. Another will believe nothings and so makes a still greater fool of himself than the man whose credulity he sneers at. Some take for granted that if any thing about it is real or reliable, the whole must be. Others, that if ariy thing is 2^7ireal, false^ or ^^/zreliable, nothing about it can be otherwise. An obstinate, self-conceited sceptic goes against his will to witness manifestations^ perhaps of the lowest and most awkward kind. He is forced to admit, in spite of himself, that there is something unaccountable ; but as he finds several uncouth or extraordinary demonstrations, he goes off satisfied that it is only a freak of Mes- merism, or nervous eccentricity. Some can make capital enough out of one poor case to set up 68 SPIRIT MANIFESTATIONS. philosophizing in the public prints for the settle- ment of the whole question. On the other hand, there are those whose faith is extravagant. They regard the thing as an entire new revelation from heaven, which renders the Bible, and even New Testament Christianity, as obsolete as a superan- nuated almanac. Some are ready to be directed by the rappingSj tippijigs^ or hand-movings in all the affairs of life, consulting their oracles, or guardian spirits, several times a day, as to what they must do next. I can give no countenance or assent to such extremes, one way or the other. I must believe what is believable, and set down the rest at its worth. T cannot be the slave of scepticism, nor of credulity. I must still follow the apostolic axiom, " Prove all things, and hold fast that which is good." In my next chapter I shall take up cases imder Class Third. SPIRIT MANIFESTATIONS. 59 CHAPTER VI. CASES UNDER CLASS THIRD. General Statement of Facts — Explanation — Partial and Imperfect Media — Low Spirits— Summary of the Exposition thus far. Cases under Class Third are now to be consid- ered : i. e.j those in which the demonstrations were of a heterogeneous, incongruous, and derog- atory character. Many cases of this class have taken place in various parts of the country, some of which have been published to the world. I might cite the more striking ones on record, and go into a minute examination of their details. But this is hardly necessary to my present purpose. I shall content myself, therefore, with making a general statement of the principal facts, and offer- ing my views thereon. Responses have been made, purporting to come from the spirits of persons deceased,— giving their names, relationship to the living, and various com- munications, — but afterwards it turned out that the persons represented as dead were alive in the flesh ! In other cases, responses have pur- ported to come from the spirits of individuals known to be deceased, giving contradictory, false, and absurd statements respecting persons, transaq- 60 SPIRIT MANIFESTATIONS. tions, and events. In others, representing the respondent to be the spirit of some particular indi- vidual, perhaps of some distinguished character, but making statements and communications so obviously false and incongruous as to destroy all credibility, and finally confessing ignorance, decep- tion, or waggishness. In others, the spirit pre- tended to have been in communication with some friend or friends holding sittings in a distant place, and to have been charged with certain messages from those friends ; when, as it afterwards turned out on inquiry, no such sittings were held, and no such messages sent. In others, low, uncouth, pro- fane, obscene, and vulgar sentences or words were spelled out. In others, where the spirit of some very low character, notorious criminal, or brute animal had been called for, there would be a response personating the characters evoked — whether man or beast. In fine, specimens of almost every thing incoherent, contradictory, de- ceitful and absurd have come from what purported to be spirits, in this class of manifestations. I have personally witnessed very few such, but there is no doubt whatever of the facts. How then are they to be accounted for 7 It is extremely difiicult to answer this inquiry satisfactorily, even to the most intelligent and candid— saying nothing of the prejudiced and captious. The following explanation, better than any other, satisfies my own mind : — 1. Many SPIRIT MANIFESTATIONS. 61 Media are partial and imperfect. The grade of their Spiricity is comparatively low, or it is small ill quantity, and feeble in strength. In some, the intellect and moral stamina are inferior. It is (lirough Media of this general description that most of heterogeneous, false, and contradictory manifestations come. What passes through such Media must be greatly liable to the influences of w/^deparied spirits. Their own prejudices, will, imagination, low ideas, perverse sentiments, and peculiar absurdities of interior conception, must bias and characterize the communications, which any spirit should attempt to make through them. Mesmeric and psychological influences, from con- trolling minds near them, would be likely to have the same effect. Hence the communications, even of a decent and well-meaning departed spirit, might come out in a very awkward translation — som.ething quite unlike what was intended. It would be like the message of a Frenchman to an Englishman, rendered through an ignorant Dutch- man, who had only a smattering of French and English. The Englishman might be puzzled to make any thing decent of it. In such cases we can never be sure that the communication received is precisely the one intended. This may explain some apparent absurdities and contradictions, oth- erwise unaccountable. 2. It seems reasonable to believe that the lower secondary spheres or circles of the spirit-world are 6 62 SPIRIT MANIFESTATIONS. filled with gross and crudely developed human spirits — with almost countless multitudes of souls, whose ignorance, or moral deficiency, or positive perverseness, still remain such, in spite of the general tendencies favorable to progress, as pre- dispose them to sympathize with congenial spirits in the flesh, and to repeat, when opportunity will allow, their old follies, deceits, and mischievous exploits. The ruling love and distinguishing pecu- liarities, rooted in the very elements of their spirit- ual constitution, have not yet undergone a sufiicient moral change to render them new creatures. They are still much nearer like what they were in the flesh, than like what they must be- to enjoy heaven. Their delights are not yet those of the pure and good. How can it be otherwise — even though it be true that God, Christ, angels, and all heavenly minded spirits constantly seek their ele- vation to higher spheres by every wise means? Is it morally possible that those who leave this state of existence, indisposed to almost every thing dictated by divine love and wisdom, should at death become suddenly devoted to that very love and wisdom ? I have never seen the semblance of a sound reason for believing in any such leaps of the human soul from very low to very high spheres, whether moral or intellectual. Yet many people seem to imagine that if departed spirits know ajiy thing, they must be omniscient; and if it is the will of the universal Father to have all SPIRIT MANIFESTATIONS. 68 men saved and come to the knowledge of the truth, that all must certainly reach their destmy at the moment their future existence commences. All such notions are contrary to the laws and processes of the divine order. Therefore they are unreason- able, and ought to give place to juster views. Look at the intellectual, and, above all, the moral condition, in which multitudes, even in the most favored parts of Christendom, pass out of this life. If such spirits should manifest themselves at all through mortal Media, especially through partial and very imperfect ones, which of all these hetero- geneous, uncouth, deceitful, and absurd demon- strations would be beneath them? "But," say objectors, " such manifestations cannot come from departed spirits." Why not? " Because they are so low, false, and contradictory." This is only begging the question. It is assuming either that there are no departed spirits low enough to make such exhibitions; or else, if there are, God would certainly not allow them to manifest themselves to men in the flesh. But who has a right to assume that there are no such spirits ? Let that man give us his reasons. And as to God's permitting low departed spirits to make these manifestations, if He cannot do it, how happens He to permit ?mde- parted spirits to make them ? They are actually made. They are made by human spirits, either departed or w/zdeparted. If by zmdeparted ones, He certainly permits them. Why should he not 64 SPIRIT MANIFESTATIONS. permit departed ones to make them 7 I repeat, all such assumptions beg the question. For aught that appears to the contrary, imperfect, low, and gross departed spirits are quite as likely, in the nature of things,, to make these bad demonstra- tions, as similar low spirits in the Jlesh are to make just as bad and even worse ones. It seems to me I have good ground for believing that many of these derogatory manifestations have proceeded from departed spirits belonging to the lower spheres or circles of the spirit world. Here, then, are two adequate causes for all hete- rogeneous, contradictory, deceptive, vulgar, and derogatory demonstrations, viz : 1. Imperfect and partial Media, often influenced by their own wills, prejudices, imaginations, (fee, or by controlling minds around them ; and 2. The direct agency of low departed spirits. One or the other, or both of these causes together, will account for every case included in my third class. And in view of all the facts, phenomena, and difficulties of the subject, I confess I see no other explanation half so warrantable. Whoever can find a more satisfactory one, let him present it. Or if any deem it still wiser not to attempt accounting for these manifestations at all, let them accompany their caution with an equal amount of candor^ and refrain from caviling till they are prepared to reason on the subject. I close this chapter with a summary of my SPIRIT MANIFESTATIONS. 65 exposition thus far. I have presented my theory, examined the different classes of cases, and de- duced my conclusions under each head. I have demonstrated, at least to my own satisfaction, that in the first class of cases the manifestations v/ere made by reliable departed spirits: that in the second class they were partly made, or greatly modified by 2mdeparted spirits; and that in the third clasSj all which is derogatory^ was caused partly by w?zdeparted spirits, i. e., the partial Media and their psychologizers, and partly by loio departed spirits consociated with kindred spirits in the flesh. I have given a statement of the essen- tial doctrines affirmed by reliable spirits. 1 have testified against receiving as oracular per se. the questionable and zmcorroborated communications purporting to come from departed spirits ; and also against rejecting the amply corroborated ones, merely because there are others unworthy of our confidence. I have given due warning against all extravagant credulity, scepticism, and unreasona- bleness on the subject. I have contended that the essential Christianity of the New Testament is confirmed, not invalidated nor superseded, by these spirit manifestations. And I have insisted, concurrently with all the reliable spirits, that every one should examine, consider, reason, and judge for him or herself, on this and all other themes, making a faithful use of the highest light possessed. Next I shall take up and answer objections. 6* 66 SPIRIT MANIFESTATIONS. CHAPTER YII. GENERAL OBJECTIONS. Obj. 3. It is incredible, per se, a hximbug— Obj. 2. Against Medium- ship— Obj. 3. Against such exceptionable Media— Obj. 4. The Manifestations are uncouth and vulgar— Obj. 5. They are the effects of Electricity, &c. — Obj. 6. They aye the effects of Mesmerism, &c. — Obj. 7. The communications are lying and contradictory— Obj. 8. They are of no importance— Obj. 9. They cause disease, infatuation, and insanity— Obj. 10. They are anti-Bible, infidel, heretical, &c. — Obj. 11. It is all of the Devil. There are numerous popular objections to the belief , or idea^ that any of these mysterious mani- festations are made by departed spirits. These I call general objections, to distinguish them from those which may be urged against w.y particular Position, Theory, and Yiews of the subject. I propose first to state and answer the more promi- nent of these general objections. Ohj. 1. — The whole thing is incredible per se. It is utterly improbable in the nature of things. It is an imposition on human credulity — a trick of jugglery or legerdemain, got up to befool the lovers of the marvelous — a despicable humbug, totally unworthy the serious attention of intelli- gent minds. Let it run its course and die out. People who have sense enough to respect them- SPIEIT MANIFESTATIONS. 67 selves will never dabble in it. They will treat it with dignified contempt. A?is. — Thousands of highly respectable men and women, including probably a large majority of the educated, professional, and influential in society, will accept this objection as truly their own. Knowing all that I do of men and things, I wonder not at their conduct. It is just what should have been expected. Scepticism, scorn, and contempt are the spontaneous vegetation of mi?id in its immature stages of development. In this respect, the educated and influential classes exhibit little superiority to the illiterate and lower classes. They make up in self-conceit, pride, prejudice, and subserviency to artificial prescrip- tion, for all the real knowledge, intelligence, and refinement they have acquired. Most of them will bear the same comparison with the ordinarily ignorant, that a smart youth of sixteen does with a green boy of seven, eight, or ten. They know a great deal more, but are less teachable, by rea- son of their increased self -sufficiency. What passes for learning, intelligence, and refinement in the world, however excellent in comparison with lower developments, is extremely superficial and chaffy, when viewed in the light of heavenly wisdom. I say this, not to disparage learning, nor to encourage ignorance, but to admonish the bet- ter cultivated against despising new and higher knowledges. Let history teach us modesty and 68 SPIRIT MANIFESTATIONS. candor. When did an extraordinary genius ever arise among men, in any department of life, with- out encountering the unbelief, prejudice, contempt and hostility of the world's wise, influential, and honored men 7 When was any wonderful or very important truth discovered and proclaimed, without meeting this same kind of opposition? When was any great revelation made from heaven, or any reformation among men attempted, without having to pass through this baptism of scepticism, scorn, and reproach ? Never, since the foundation of the world. Whoever arose, or whatever was announced extraordinary to the times and to pop- ular knowledge, has always been met by the bra- zen outcry, or muttered denunciation, t^ pretender! impostor ! deceiver ! blasphemer ! disturber ! vis- ionary ! fool ! — it is incredible, impossible, utterly false, and foolish ! it is an imposture, a trick, a delusion, a humbug ! away with it ! Read of Moses, Jesus, and all the great and good of sacred history. Read of Galileo, Columbus, Harvey, Fulton, and all the now honored discov- eries on record. Mark how the great, the pious, and the reputed wise of the earth, as well as the ignorant multitude, disbelieved, sneered, despised, and resisted. Yet real merit triumphed, and truth prevailed. Many of the learned made them- selves supremely ridiculous, but they could not make what they opposed really contemptible. Who will profit by the beacon light of their pride, scorn, SPIRIT MANIFESTATIONS. 60 and folly ? Not they who persist in ignoring, or sneering at these Spirit Manifestations, as incred- ible jper se^ as a despicable humbugs unworthy of even a decent investigation. There is a reality in them — a reality too wonderful and important to pass unheeded or to be thrust aside. I knoio what I say and whereof I affirm in this matter. Thou- sands of intelligent and honest minds, as incapable oi deceiving or being deceived as any that walk the earth, knoio the same. And the testimony of all these witnesses will stand. Coming developments in a thousand new locations will establish the facts attested beyond dispute. Therefore, if any one will be wise, let him investigate. " But if any man will be ignorant, let him be ignorant." The Negro Chieftain of Central Africa, when told by the Traveler, that in the North water sometimes became hard like stone, knew the tale to be a lie — a humbug ; because Ae, most omniscient soul, had never seen ice ! Nevertheless, ice was a reality. And so are these Manifestations. Obj. 2. — If departed spirits actually attempt to communicate with mortals, why not do so directly and unequivocally, without this display'of Medium- ship? We dislike the intervention of Media. We suspect collusion and deception. A71S. — Dislike what you must, and suspect what you please; but the whole universe is one vast complication of mediumship. Spirit works within and upon matter. Interior substances demonstrate 70 SPIRIT MANIFESTATIONS. themselves through exterior and grosser ones. The higher and lower throughout nature are linked together by intervening grades. Why does not God appear personally^ to speak and act ? Why does He make use of all sorts of Media to manifest himself — to reveal his perfections — to communicate a knowledge of truth and duty to mankind? W^hy must there be patriarchs, proph- ets, saviours, and apostles? Why must man be born of woman, children be subsisted and trained by parents, pupils have a teacher and books, or electricity a conductor ? Why is not each individ- ual creature endowed with all the susceptibilities and powers necessary to Deific independence? These things are as they are. Shall we wrangle with facts, with nature, with God? " Heaven, forming each on other to depend, A master, or a servant, or a friend. Bids each on other for assistance call, Till one man's weakness grows the strength of all." Spirit Media do not create themselves. They do not constitute themselves Media. They only discover themselves to be such, and act according to their grade of mental and moral development. The mystery of their mediumship is as great to them as to others. Gladly would I see and con- verse with spirits personally face to face, if such were the order of nature, or the Divine Will. But as it is, and until more direct communication SPIRIT MANIFESTATIONS. 71 be granted, I deem it my privilege, no less than my duty, to make the best of opportunities as they are. I advise the objector to do the same. Obj. 3. — If there must be Spirit Media at all, why not have perfect ones — respectable, intelli- gent, highly refined, pious, and unexceptionable Media ? There are so many low, uneducated, and irreligious ones, that the whole thing is rendered distasteful and odious to the learned and the re- hgious. Ans. — Whose prerogative is it to regulate this matter of Mediumship 1 It is not mine. Nor can believers in Spirit Manifestations together govern the thing. The Media themselves ate not such by their own constituting. Their being susceptible of sufficient spiricity in or about their systems, to facilitate the manifestation of spirits, is primarily a physical peculiarity — not an intellectual, a moral, or a religious qualification. Their degree of intelligence and spiritual purity may attract congenial spirits, and repel uncongenial ones ; but that essential something which constitutes them Spirit Media is probably a mere physical cause, or a concurrence of such causes. What, then 7 Shall we blame the spirits for not always choosing the best Media, through whom to make their Man- ifestations 1 Where are they to find your unexcep- tionable Media, ready formed and disciplined ? Can they have their choice 7 If they could, would they choose the objector's favorites 7 And if they 72 SPIRIT MANIFESTATIONS. should^ would the objector be satisfied? We have some very excellent Media already. We shall have still better in process of time and discipline. Why not make the best of those we have, in pa- tient hope of the better ones expected 7 Or will the objector arraign God, and demand why He makes use of weak^ foolish^ and base things, to confound the mighty^ the loise^ and exalted of this world ? Why he took a slave child from the bull- rushes of the Nile, and made a Moses of him ? Why he made David, the shepherd-boy, King of Israel? Why he made Jesus, the despised Nazarine^ born in a manger and bred a carpenter, to be the Mes- siah — the Chrfst of mankind 7 Why He often hides the most glorious things from the ivise and prudent^ and reveals them unto mere babes in knowledge ? There is no end to such questions. The answer to them all is, — " Even so. Father, for so seemed it good in thy sight." Ohj. 4. — These so-called Spirit Manifestations are all, or nearly all, characteristically uncouth and vulgar. Rappings, tippings, table-movings, &c., &C.5 &c., are absolutely too low and undig- nified to be ascribed to departed spirits. We can- not endure the thought that our deceased friends should resort to such ridiculous means of manifest- ing themselves to mortals. Ans. — Paul has truly said, " There is nothing unclean of itself; but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean." Again : SPIRIT MANIFESTATIONS. 73 " Unto tlie pure all things are pure; bat unto them that are defiled and unbeheving, nothing is pure." vVlion Peter in his vision saw the sheet let down from heaven full of all kinds of beasts and creep- ing things, he protested against the command to eat of such " common and unclean things." But the reply was, " What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common or unclean." Will the objector try to profit by these suggestions'? Why all this disgust at the lowness, uncouthness, and vulgarity of the Manifestations'? Is not all nature full of such undignified demonstrations'? Look at man's generation^ birth ^ nutrition^ excrementation^ medi- cation^ and dissolution. Will the objector call these low, uncouth, or vulgar? If so, let him begin his quarrels farther back. If he calls all these high, refined, and dignified demonstrations, let him not sicken at the idea of such undigni- fied Spirit Manifestations. Besides, let him be reminded that few mortals are yet free enough from low and undignified conduct themselves, to justify this spiritual fastidiousness. I have been present at many sittings for the Manifestations, and seen some rather low and queer proceedings on the part of the spectators, especially of sceptics ; but never have I seen any thing purporting to come from the spirit-world, quite so uncouth, as the grins, quirks, and gibes of their mortal inquis- itors. Does the objector assume that men in the flesh, take them as they are, in public and private, 7 74 SPIRIT MANIFESTATIONS. have a right to exact manifestations from spirits more refined and dignified than the ones in ques- tion 7 If sOj he and I differ radically respecting the merits of mortals. I assert that they have no right whatever to complain on that score. Does he assume that all departed spirits must, of necessity, be too pure, elevated, and glorious, ever to mani- fest themselves by the methods to which he takes exceptions? Why does he assume any such thing? Does he imagine that merely passing through death elevates the human spirit to deification ! Some seem to cherish these extravagant notions, not only without proof, but contrary to all reason. Such need the very demonstrations complained of to disabuse them of their groundless imaginations. Let us learn all wc can from the Manifestations now given us. In due time we shall witness higher ones. All great results must have their preparations^ however seemingly crude and undig- nified. Why find fault with nature? Obj. 5. — The Manifestations are caused by Elec- tricity, Magnetism, or something of the kind — never by departed spirits. A71S. — Does the objector mean that electricity, magnetism^ or something of the kind originates these Manifestatibns, with all their indicated intel- ligence? Or, only that some imponderable element is used in elaborating them? If the latter, his objection amounts to nothing. If the former, does he know it to be a fact? Does he seriously SPIRIT MANIFESTATIONS. 75 believe it to be a fact? Has he one particle of proof that it is a fact? Has he a single analogy in universal nature that favors such an assump- tion ? Can Electricity, Magnetism, or any thing of the kind, personate a thinking being, generate rationality, and play the part of a sentimental moral agent? The idea is utterly preposterous. When Morse's or Bain's Electric Telegraph shall be seen spinning off communications without an originating intelligence higher than their own, it will be time to credit our objector's assumption. Till then, he might as well assert that the steam engine on a railroad was its own engineer and conductor. And when all this shall have been demonstrated, it will be time for those who believe in legal prosecutions to get Electricity, Magnet- ism, or whoever this new moral agent shall turn out to be, indicted as a common liar and impostor; since it is notorious that he never takes his own real name, nor avov/s his actuality, but is always pretending to be some one that he is not. For my part, I fully exonerate before hand all impon- derable matter in the universe from such implica- tions of total depravity. Obj. 6. — These so-called Spirit Manifestations, when real^ are nothing but the effects of Mesmer- ism, Clairvoyance, or some kind of Pyschological influence. They all originate either in the minds of the Media, or in those of other mortal persons in some kind of rapport with the Media. 76. SPIRIT MANIFESTATIONS. Ans. — This is rather a learned objection, and harder to answer than its immediate predecessor. If it were more understandable and unequivocal to common apprehension, it might be more easily silenced. But, now, what does it mean ? Does the objector understand his own terms? Mesmer- ism! what is thai? Clairvoyance! \vhd.t \s i hat ? Psychological influence ! what is that ? Mesmer- ism is a certain something, so called from Mesmer, its discoverer; as Galvanism was from Galvani. But what is this certain something? It is called Animal Magnetism, Mental Magnetism, Spiritual Magnetism. But what is it? It is a certain invisible, imponderable, ethereal fluid, which a strong-willed operator can throw ofl" from the ends of his fingers, or otherwise radiate from himself, upon some susceptible subject chosen for that pur- pose. This is called magnetizing. It puts the subject asleep, or in a sort of trance partially or completely, brings all his powers more or less under the control of the magnetizer, and some- times gives rise to very wonderful demonstrations. Strange tricks are played with the imagination; all kinds of phantasy are superinduced ; and in the higher grade of cases Clairvoyance is devel- oped in its most astonishing phases. And what is Clavrvoyajice? Literally, clear-sightedness; the power of discerning objects not present to the senses; that condition of the mind, soul, or spirit, in which it is able to look through material sub- SPIRIT MANIFESTATIONS. 77 Stances, entirely opaque and impenetrable to the external eye; to extend its cope of vision lo far distant places, so as to have a distinct cognition of persons and things there ; to see spirits and converse with them; to trace otherwise unaccount- able results back to their remote causes ; to foresee and predict many coming events; to discourse profoundly on topics respecting Avhich the subject in his normal state has little or no knowledge, &c., 6cc., &c. Does the objector believe in all this? He does, if he believes in Mesmerism and Clair- voyance. He believes also in the marvels of psy- chology. What is psychology? Soul-knoioledge ; the doctrine of man's spiritual nature ; from the Greek psyche, soiil^ and logos, reason^ wider stand- ings discourse. What are psychological influences? All influences of soul upon soul throughout the universe are psychological influences. Whenever the human spirit exerts an influence on a fellow- being, that is a psychological influence. Now, we understand the terms of the objection before us. So there is an exquisitely subtle element per- taining to the soul or spirit of man, which the objector calls magnetism^ but which I call spiricity. This is communicable from one soul to another, under appropriate conditions, and thereby the two souls come into rapport as the French call it, or soul-communication. The process whereby this is efl!ected is called mesmerizing, magnetiz- ing, or psychologizing. Its results are mesmeric 7* f8 SPIRIT MANIFESTATIONS. and psychological phenomena of every grade and variety, from the lowest somnambiilibm to the highest clairvoyance. Again 1 ask, does the ob- jector believe in all this, as demonstrable between human spirits in the flesh? Yes. Yery well; so do I. Thus far, then, we are agreed. 1 have laid down, as a part of my doctrine, that these mesmeric, clairvoyant, and psychological pheno- mena sometimes proceed from spirits in the flesh, and sometimes from departed spirits; always, however, in accordance with spiritual laws, com- mon more or less to the whole universe of souls. I have also taken the position that phenomena caused by souls m the body sometmies intermix with those caused by departed soids, and that thus the lower are liable to be mistaken for the higher. Here I am but one step ahead of the objector in my credulity. He believes in marvels, utterly incredible to himself a few years ago, caused by Mesmerism, Clairvoyance, and psychological influ- ence, exerted by soul on soul in the flesh. Having been strained up by irresistible evidence to this height of faith, he now obstinately denies that departed spirits ever mesmerize, magnetize, or spiritize susceptible persons in the body; that ihey ever exert psychological influences over them to render them Media; that they ever cause aity of the phenomena purporting to be spirit manifesta- tions ! Why? Because Mesmerism, Clairvoyance, and Psychological influences take place between SPIRIT MANIFESTATIONS. 79 soul and soul in the body, and these may possibly account for all higher phenomena of the same nature. Must lame and impotent conclusions ! Some of the phenomena in question may be thus accounted for, but not the more important and peculiarly distinctive manifestations. Make the trial. Convene all the Mesmerizers, Palhetizers, Biologi^ers and Thusologizers on the continent, with all their subjects^ and let them produce these higher phenomena. If they ct//z, 1 will stand back confounded. But they cannot. They will come out of the ordeal like Pharaoh's magicians. Some things that are done by departed spirits they might do. Other things not. Departed spirits have a higher mesmeric, magnetic, or psycholo- gical power, than have mortals of a corresponding grade. Facts have proved this in many remark- able cases. It will yet be dem.onstrated to the conviction of all candid investigators. " But do the spirits themselves assert that they magnetize and psychologize living persons?" Certainly they do; and they give ample evidence of it. To what, then, does this sixth objection amount? To nothing for its authors, but to considerable against them. It shows that they believe a great deal too much, or quite too little. Obj. 7. — There is so much lying, contradiction, incongruity, and puerility in the communications of these pretended spirits, that we have no faith at all in their spiritual origin. 80 SPIRIT MANIFESTATIONS. Ans.— And so you feel justified in throwing the tv/iole away ! Do you act as wisely in all other cases'? The Bible has its discrepancies and con- tradictions; do you entirely discard it on that account? Religion is professed by thousands of irreconcilable sects; do you therefore reject all religion ? Politics and government are full of deception, contradiction, and confusion; do you therefore repudiate all social organization, law, and order? Almost every case tried in our courts has false or contradictory witnesses, sophistical counter pleadings, and more or less nonsense; do you therefore come to the conclusion that there is no truth or right in their controversies — that no witnesses and no lawyers are there — that the whole demonstration is a phantasm? Trading, throughout the world, involves an immense amount of deceit and incongruity; do you therefore eschew all trade, and doubt the existence of such beings as traders ? There are liars, hypocrites, knaves, and fools in all human societies; do you therefore believe in the non-existence of truth, honesty, and wisdom — in the non-existence of human society — in the non-existence of mankind? In your circle of friends, however loving and beloved, there is more or less of falsehood, discord, contradiction, and puerility, to disappoint, disgust, and shake your confidence; do you therefore throw away all friends and friendship, and disbelieve in their actual existence? There are few human beings SPIRIT MANIFESTATIONS. 81 decently conversant with themselves, who do not find that they are streaked with self-contradiction — that they are sometimes what they despise at others — that they are bundles of incongruity, weakness and folly; would you therefore throw away, and resolve yourself into a nonentity? Why not? "Consistency is a jewel." You have no faith in the reality of these spirit manifestations, because there is so much lying, contradiction, &c., about them. How much is there of all this about them, after all? Any more than you find else- where, in men and things throughout nature? N.o. Just tell me who or lohat in the universe, except God and his choicest elect, you can im- plicitly accept and confide in, without question, without discrimination, and without making some allowance for tare? Let the objector think a few second sober thoughts on this part of the subject, and he will cast his objection to the winds. Then he will take his winnowing-sieve into this investi- gation, resolved to ''prove all things, and hold fast that which is good." And then he will see that these same lies, contradictions, incongruities, and puerilities, by which he has been so repelled, are precisely the incidentals to have been expected, in the crude stage of spirit manifestations, made, as they necessarily are, through imperfect 3IecUa, and sometimes by spirits of the loicer circles. Who had a right to look only for perfect and unques- tionable demonstrations, in such a stage of the 82 SPIRIT MANIFESTATIONS. thing, and under such circumstances? Pray let us use a little reason and consideration in this, as well as other subjects. Obj. 8. — The communications, purporting to come from the world of departed spirits in con- nection with these manifestations, are common- place, unimportant, and useless. They give us no valuable information, nothing new — nothing but sentimentalisms, or what we all knew before. Ans. — No intelligent and truly candid man, who has taken care to inform himself on the subject, can endorse this objection without great quali- fication. The interest taken in these communi- cations, by thousands of upright and sensible people, testifies to the contrary. Specifications might be made in great abundance to the contrary. But granting that the objection were much better founded than it is, would it not bear with equal force against nine-tenths of the sermons, speeches, books, and formal proceedings of mankind ? Great principles of truth and duty are all old^ and in some sort common-place. Is it therefore of no importance to reiterate and apply them? There is a God, and a future state of existence. Man ought to love God with all his heart, and his neighbor as himself. These are very old princi- ples, and generally undisputed, though poorly heeded. Still, they need to be preached, illus- trated, and urged. Every generation needs fresh inculcations and demonstrations of them. This SPIRIT MANIFESTATIONS. 83 seems to be thought quite proper, as respects the usual routine of human means. Hence we have thirty or forty thousand clergymen in this country, and institutional appliances without number. Their communications, stale, common-place and lifeless as they may be deemed by some, are nevertheless sought after, venerated, and sustained at much expense by multitudes. It is probable that the objector is one among these multitudes. Why, then, does he complain that spirit communications present nothing new, important, or useful? His objection is exploded by facts, and by its incon- sistency with approved usages, even in the most sacred matters. Obj. 9. — These manifestations cause nervous disease, infatuation, and insanity. Ans. — They do^ when grossly abused; not otherwise. So does love between the sexes. So does gold-seeking and property-getting. So does intellectual study. So does religion. So does every human interest aud pursuit. Shall we therefore oppose all connubial loves, all acquisition of property, all intellectual improvement, all relig- ious instruction, and all the engrossing interests of life ? Look into the catalogues of your Insane Hospitals, and see the classifications of the inmates, with reference to the causes of their insanity. Shall every thing be condemned, the abuse of which results in disease, infatuation, and insanity? No. It must be shown that a thing 84 SPIRIT MANIFESTATIONS. has a strong, natural and common tendency to produce miscliief, or to draw its votaries into gross abuses, like intoxicating beverages, and other per- nicious gratifications of passional appetite. Then thai thing stands justly condemned. It is not enough, that here and there an individual, or a small knot of persons, become over-zealous, run into extravagance, abuse their health, get infatu- ated, and fall into insanity. All this may some- times happen in a good cause, and in spite of wise counsels from solid and judicious friends. In the early stages of these spiritual develop- ments, its subjects and willing receivers very imperfectly understand its laws, and are inexpe- rienced iri orderly methods of proceeding. Mean- time, it is choked on all sides by gross scepticism, boorish tests, Sadducean sneers, superstitious panic, sanctimonious anathemas, and all kinds of unrea- sonable opposition. If between the abuses of its ignorant and inexperienced friends, and the asinine kickings of its opposers, nobody were made craz}^, sick, or silly, it would be strange indeed. But if the accounts were fairly footed up, it would be found that ninety-nine of its respectful adherents had been rationalized, tranquihzed, moralized, and improved, to one that had been injured. It would also be found, on taking equal numbers and comparing results, that the popular rehgionism of the age, through all the great sects, had produced disease, infatuation, and insanity in its subjects, SPIRIT MANIFESTATIONS. 85 ten times where this Spirit Manifestationism had once. The same would be found true of intellec- tuaUsts, moneyiteSj politicians, amusementarians, and sexual lovers. Let those who worry them- selves about the dreadful eifect of this dangerous spiritualism, first count up the poor, broken down victims of these popular devoteeisms within the sphere of their knowledge. Then, having cast the beam out of their own eyes, they will more clearly see how to pull the mote out of their neighbor's eye. Obj. 10. — These new-fangled miracles and reve- lations will draw people away from the Bible. Tliey tend to heresy, infidelity, irreligion, and im- morality. Ans. — So said the old Jews of Jesus, his mira- cles and revealments. He was charged with de- signing to destroy the law and the prophets; with being a Samaritan and having a devil : with work- ing his miracles by the power of Beelzebub ; with being a sinner, a friend of publicans and sinners, a deceiver, a seditionist, a sabbath-breaker, and a blasphemer. What truth or justice was there in all these charges ? A great deal, in the judgment of the Scribes and Pharisees, chief priests and rulers of those days. A great deal, in the opinion of thousands who honestly took their cue from those blind guides. But none at all, in the enlight- ened judgment of those who regard divine funda- mental principles, absolute truth, and essential 8 86 SPIRIT MANIFESTATIONS. righteousness as eternal realities^ and mere words, names, forms, and institutions as changeable con- veniences. Just so it iSj and will prove in the pres- ent case. Whatever of divine fundamental prin- ciple, absolute truth, and essential righteousness there is in the Bible, in the popular religion, and in the established churches, will stand. It cannot be done away. On the contrary, it will be corrobo- rated and fulfilled by Spirit Manifestations. I have yet to hear of the first behever in these Manifesta- tions whose faith has been diminished in what is called the supernatural of the Bible, or in its funda- mental principles, or in its essential righteousness as consisting in love to God and fellow-man. But v/e knoio that many who had no faith at all in the so-called supernatural of the Bible, and very little in a future existence, before witnessing the Mani- festations, have thereby been brought to believe in the reality of both, with a strength of conviction greater than that evinced by the generality of re- puted orthodox Christians. Why should it be otherwise 1 Is it likely that one who is sure he has seen doors open and shut, heavy substances moved about, and a human body upborne, without mortal contrivance or effort, will believe less that Jesus walked on the water, that an angel rolled av/ay a great stone from the sepulchre, or that Peter was released from prison by a spirit ? Be- cause one has seen brilliant lights and appearances of flame, caused, as he verily believes, by spirits, SPIRIT MANIFESTATIONS. 87 will he have less faith that the angel of God mani- fested himself to Moses in a burning bush 7 Or that tongues of cloven flame sat on the apostles, at the great spiritual manifestation of Pentecost? Shall one hear all manner of sounds, caused by- spiritual agency, even to a thundering roar whicli shakes the whole house, and therefore grow more sceptical about the thunders of Sinai? Or the '^ great noise as of a mighty rushing wind," and shaking oi the place where the apostles prayed? Shall one be convinced that spirits can actually v/rite on paper, wood, and stone, with pens, pencils, &c., and therefore have less faith that a mighty Angelic Spirit inscribed the Decalogue on two tables of stone, and reached them forth out of a thick cloud to Moses? Will men who are sure that they have conversed with the spirits of their de- parted friends for hours, therefore doubt whether Moses and Elias conversed with Jesus, at his trans- figuration on the Mount? Anti-Bible scepticism does not thrive on such nourishment. Neither does irreligion and immorality gain strength by the almost uniform rehgious, moral, and reformatory communications made in connection with these Manifestations. When the popular pulpit shall preach and insist upon as high a piety, as pure a morality, as devoted a philanthropy, and as prac- tical a Christianity, as are set forth in these spirit m.essages, it will have undergone a great change for the better. 55 SPIRIT MANIFESTATIONS. As to the heresy of the spirits, it seems to consist chiefly in discarding the heathenish notions of a partial and vindictive God ; the endless, useless torments of sinners in hell ; the existence of a Deific Devil, always opposed to the Universal Father; and the unalterable moral condition of spirits in the next world. On these articles the spirits are very heterodox. In practicals, they teach us to adhere to the divine fundamentals of the Bible, and to reverence the spirit of those fun- damentals, regardless of mere verbalism, phrase- ology, figures of speech, and external peculiarities. They condemn the world as it is, the church as it is, society as it is, and proclaim the indispensable necessity of individual and social regeneration. They are against ivar^ slavery^ debauchery^ intem- perance^ ignorance^ selfishness^ vindictive punish- ments^ persecution^ bigotry^ and whatever alienates man from God, from good spirits, and from his fellow human beings. Thus far, the objector may make all he can of their infidelity, heresy, and immorality. I am not going to argue the case with him. I only beg him to remember what I now tell him, viz., that such infidelity, heresy, and immorality as this will one day prevail throughout the earth, in spite of pre- judice, selfishness, violence, and folly. Then will there be universal wisdom, righteousness, peace, harmony, and bliss. SPIRIT MANIFESTATIONS. 89 Obj. 11. — It is all of the Devil ; have nothing to do with it. Ans. — The Alpha of these objections was, ^^ it is all a huinhiig. The Omega is, ^i3= it is all of the Devil. When the Pharisees were driven from all their other objections to the excellent works and miracles of Jesus, they blasphemed, saying, he cast- eth out devils by Beelzebub^ the prince of the devils ; it is all of the Devil — have nothing to do with it. Had they any proof that it was of the Devil 7 Not one particle. Had they any decent reasons to sus- pect any such thing? Not one. Did they really believe it was of the Devil. Not at all. Were they not under strong conviction that Jesus and his works were of God ! Yes. Why, then, did they blaspheme 1 Because their hearts and their heads were perverse. They were driven to the wall for a pretext. They were filled with vexation and madness. Therefore, they willfully and presump- tuously ascribed the manifestations of his divine and spiritual power to the Devil. Thus they sinned against the Holy Ghost, bound themselves over in bonds of judicial blindness to ages of unescapable darkness and condemnation. The Pharisees of our day are imitating those of old. It is all of the Devil J say they. But they say not this till after they have said every thing else, and been forced to confess the reality of super-mortal agency. If they could have made it appear that these spirit mani- festations were caused by any agency in this world 90 SPIRIT MANIFESTATIONS. of flesh and blood, they Avould never have ascribed them to the Devil. Nor do they now believe that they really are of the Devil. If they sincerely believed this, they would hail them as God-sent, or at least God-permitted demonstrations to a sceptical generation, that there is, beyond denial, such a Dei fie Devil as their theology assumes to teach. And if, withal, the revelations, miracles, and gen- eral influence of this demonstration had been obvi- ously devilish, they would have been quite satisfied. Alas ! for them, there is too much of inilh and s^ood in it, to give it an infernal aspect. Bold as their tone is, they are by no means sure that it is the work of the Devil. An irresistible conviction plagues them that it is what it purports to be. It is ominous to ihem of an approaching religious, moral, and social revolution, to which they are utterly opposed. This is what troubles them. This is what provokes them to say, for sheer effect, ^l3= *' It is all of the Devil ; have nothing to do with it." They have no honest assurance that it is of the Devil. But they hate and dread its testimony. So, being in too perverse a state of head and heart to give it a respectful examination, they shut their eyes, stop their ears, trample on the light proflered them, and cry out, " Devil ! Devil ! it is all the work of the Devil ; have nothing to do with it!" With thousands of superstitious, narrow-minded sectarians, this is enough. They will reecho the SPIRIT MANIFESTATIONS. 91 sanctified blasphemy, and hide their heads in the sand, with all the prudence of the frightened ostrich. When I shall be convinced that such people are humble, honest lovers of truth on its own merits, I shall believe those old Pharisees were who raised the same cry against Jesus. Let it be remembered that'the objection before us is not made against here and there a mischievous manifestation of some loio spirit^ but against this whole spiritual development, including the highest wonders and excellence. It is this that brands these objectors as willfully blind, dishonest, and presumptuous. Justice proclaims them such, and charity can do no more than pity them, pray, hope, and labor for their conversion. Their policy and warning to others is, have nothing to do with it. They can try this ; and so far as their v/ill and wisdom go, perhaps they may succeed. But will the Manifestations, therefore, cease? Will the spirits have nothing to do with these self-blinded adversaries? Or will they meet them in a thousand places, where least expected? Will they pass through their barred gates and triple bolted doors, into their most retired cham- bers ? Will they make their demonstrations effect- ual in spite of all hatred and cunning? Will they vindicate themselves and prevail? I believe they will. Let the future determine. The humble, truthful, and upright have nothing to fear. Bigotry, hypocrisy, and iniquity were born to perish ; and 92 SPIRIT MANIFESTATIONS. no matter how soon they are precipitated into the bottomless pit. Thus will even the minds that have cherished them be saved, " yet so as by fireP In my next chapter I shall consider several yar- ticular objections. SPIRIT MANIFESTATIONS. 93 CHAPTER VIII. PARTICULAE OBJECTIONS AND DIFFICULTIES. J. Common people cannot distinguish between reliable and unreliable Manifestations, hence more mischief than benefit will result— 2. Ad- mitting all you assert, what good can be expected from these Mani- festations ? — 3. If you admit that some of the effects are Mesmeric, why may not all be ? — 4. If some of the communications are low, lying, and contradictory, how can we trust any of them ?— 5. If there are so many low spirits, why not a sovereign Devil at the bot- tom of it all ?— 6. How is it that so many get their own ideas reflected back ? — 7. "Why are the communications purporting to come from distinguished men often inferior in style to their mortal productions ? — 8. How is it that the spirits of persons still in the flesh pretend to come from the regions of the departed ? — 9. How is it ihat unbe- lievers in the spiritual origin of these Manifestations can make tables move, and get responses from dead animals and fictitious charac- ters ? — 10. If from departed spirits, why have not these Manifesta- tions happened before ? — 11. If you go the length you do on this subject, will you not be obliged to believe also in the old exploded notions and stories about presentiments, apparitions, haunted houses, ghosts, demoniacs, and even witches ? — 12. If you run into such vagaries, do you expect to retain your reputation for common sense, or even for sanity. I NOW take up certaia particular objections and difRcalties, likely to be alleged against my Position, Theory, and Views relative to these Spirit Mani- festations. Obj. 1 — Taking you on your own ground, and admitting all you contend for, it must require great 94 SPIRIT MANIFESTATIONS. ability and judgment to distinguish between reliable and 2/^zreliable spirit communications; and therefore common people will find this whole development a fruitful source of error and delusion. It cannot be of general benefit, but must be equivocal and mischievous to the many. Ans. — Solid honesty, common sense, and a decent judgment, are indispensable requisites to the inves- tigation of all subjects of considerable importance, even in the ordinary aff'airs of life. This demands no higher qualifications. Common people are pre- sumed to possess these. It is only z^?zcommon people that are greatly deficient in them, — those who are so loio as to remind one of the monkey and the «55, or so high in the sophistications of artificial culture, as to despise the virgin ore of Truth. To these, nothing is valuable but what has gone through the crucible, the retort and the entire laboratory, and come out in a state of polished manufacture. The former cannot treat this subject worthily; the latter ?i?z7^ not. Such are not to be ranked among common people. They are either below or above that honorable grade. Men and women who are relied on for sterling honesty and good sense, in the graver matters of ordinary life, are the people to investigate this matter. Let them look into it and report the facts, as they do in other matters referred to their consideration by their neighbors. And then, let their report have the weight commonly given to their testimony and SPIRIT MANIFESTATIONS. 95 judgment by those who know them. This is all I ask. This all the Spirit Manifestations demand, to insure a fair understanding of their merits. This is all that common people need in order to eschew delusion and derive substantial moral profit from them. And of all this common people are capable. Perceiving no weight in the objection, I dismiss it. But before proceeding to another, I respectfully suggest to investigators the following advisory DIRECTIONS: 1. Be not ashamed, nor afraid, nor unwilling to embrace truth, come whence or how it may. 2. Respect your own senses and judgment enough to trust them decently, 3. Procuie all the credible testimony you can, in print and otherwise, concerning spirit manifesta- tions ancient and modern, weigh it deliberately at home, and be in no haste to examine cases until you can have good opportunities; then improve them. 4. Hold sittings with no Medium whom you be- lieve morally capable of deception or trick. Con- fide or refrain. 5. Have few persons present, and none but can- did, sensible, and well behaved ones. 6. Be serious, deliberate, frank, and unaffected; propose what tests you please, but abstain from all pettifogging lavvyerism, pertinacity, and over 96 SPIRIT MANIFESTATIONS. urgency ; be content with such developments as come freely, and set every thing down for what it is worth. You may desire much, and get little. Remember that you are not required to give credit for more than you receive, nor to take chaff for wheat. 7. Take care not to overtax the nervous energy of the Medium by long sittings, nor undue excite- ment. 8. Take notes of all important phenomena and incidents. 9. Accept, or reject, or hold in doubt, what pur- ports to come from departed spirits, for what would be sufficient reasons, if it came from spirits in the flesh. This must be the standing rule. 10. Treat all persons concerned, whether de- parted or undeparted spirits, as enjoined in the golden rule ; and if there be evil, overcome it with good. Be uniformly just, considerate, and kind. These are directions for honest, sensible, common people. By such they can be understood and fol- lowed. And no one who decently observes them will fail of success and moral profit, in the investi- gation of these phenomena. As to those imcommon people, who cannot or loill not conform to such directions, they must stand or fall to their own master. The truth will never bend to their crook- edness, whether it be natural or artificial. Ohj. 2 — Your Position, Theory, and Views may possibly be correct; but if they are, what good will SPIRIT MANIFESTATIONS. . 97 these Manifestations do 7 Will they be of any substantial benefit to mankind? Are they worth the pains of investigation? Ans. — Such objections suggest a ready reply in all true minds. Where is there another theme more intensely interesting to universal man, than this of spirit existence and manifestation 7 To insinuate the contrary, is to mock the deepest yearnings of human nature in its best moments, and to ignore its entire religious history. Men instinctively grasp at whatever reveals an existence beyond the dissolution of the body or re-affirms it, or affords the least indication that the departed can possibly find means of communicating with their earthly friends. It is presumable, then, that the astonishing phenomena before us will not remuner- ate the pains of a decent examination? And shall it be asked, IC^ what good is to be expected even if demonstrated to be what it purports? It will convert thousands from gross infidelity. It will cure millions of involuntary, semi-scepticism. It will render a future existence real to the whole human race. It will re-invigorate every great religious and moral truth, heretofore revealed to mankind. It will intensify all the sublime motives that urge human nature on to a heavenly destiny. It will advance from step to step of demonstration, till death shall be disarmed of its terrors. It will usher in a new era of faith, hope, and charity. It will peaceably revolutionize the religious, moral, and 9 98 ' SPIRIT MANIFESTATIONS. social state of the world. Yes, if it prove to be a reality^ it will do all this. If it be not a reality, the sooner its pretensions are effectually exploded the better. In either case, its candid and thorough investigation is all important and unavoidable. It must and ivill be investigated. Obj. 3, — If, as you admit, some of these phenom- ena are caused by mesmeric influences in the flesh, why may not all be ? Ans. — Because facts and analogies warrant no such conclusion. Causes must be equal to effects. We can see that some of the effects under consider- ation require no higher causes than those psycho- logical ones known to exist in 2/^^departed spirits. We know that these and similar effects have actu- ally resulted from mesmeric influences in many cases. As they are effects produced by the action of inind, they naturally belong to one great spirit- ual department of nature, whose gradations extend through the whole range of soul-existence. There- fore, if departed spirits act at all in these Manifes- tations, it is perfectly natural that ^mdeparted ones should also act, and thus incidentally mix up lower effects with higher ones, though utterly incapable of causing the higher. But why am I so confident that spirits in the flesh are incapable of producing those highest effects 7 Because they never have produced them, and there is no good presumptive proof that they are able to do so ; and because the agency which does produce them universally de- SPIRIT MANIFESTATlOlsS. 99 clares itself to be from the world of departed spirits. When spirits in the flesh come forward and say that they produce those effects, and demonstrate their words by their deeds, then I will believe their testimony, as I now do that of spirits. Has any such thing ever been done? Who are the mortals that pretend to produce these highest effects mes- merically? Or are they produced unconsciously? If so, why does not the causative agency, some- times at least, honestly avow itself? Why ahvays deceive ? Will a man of sense, in the face of these reasons, persist in ascribing all these effects, higher and lower, to some undetectable, fantastic, chance- working, unconsciously exercised mundane influ- ence ? This is taking too much pains to m^ake one's self ridiculous. Obj, 4. — If some of these communications, as you' admit, are low, lying, contradictory, &c., why should any of them be trusted ? Ans. — Because many of them are intrinsically truthful and good. Because such commend them- selves to men's highest conviction and best judg- ment. Because there is no just ground for dis- trusting them. Because they agree with known truth and goodness. Because they are sometimes corroborated beyond a reasonable doubt. Is Truth to be turned out of doors, because Falsehood stole and ran away with her clothing? Is righteousness to be spurned, because iniquity has cheated us ? Is an intelligent spirit to be despised, because an 100 SPIRIT MANIFESTATIONS. ignorant one has imposed on us ! Is a true witness to be discredited, because a false one has been de- tected ? Is nothing to be beUeved, because every thing cannot? Is no body to be trusted, because every one cannot ? If so, it is useless for man to think of being or doing any thing. Everywhere and in all things he is obhged to choose between good and evil, truth and error, right and wrong, the reliable and the unreliable. Why object to doing the same thing in this matter of Spirit Mani- festations? Low, lying, and contradictory devel- opments are not the rule, but the exception. Let us govern ourselves accordingly. Let us exercise common sense on this and all other subjects. Obj. 5. — If there are so many loio spirits, as you seem to represent, in the inferior circles of the spirit world, ready to manifest their ignorance and per- verseness wherever they can find opportunity, may there not be a sovereign Devil, after all, and he be at the bottom of this whole mysterious matter? A71S. — The existence of loio spirits in the other world no more presupposes the existence of a sov- ereign Devil, than does the existence of such spirits in this world. There are no more, in proportion to the aggregate of spirits, there than here. We have no evidence that any are loiver there than here, Avhilst the majority are reported higher. But whether here or there low spirits exist, there is no need of imagining an infernal Deity as the cause or concomitant of it. All ignorant and perverse souls SPIRIT MANIFESTATIONS. 101 may be considered devils of some grade. In a greater or less degree, they are adversaries of truth, righteousness, moral order, their own good, and the good of their fellow creatures. Jesus called Judas a devil, and said to Peter, "Get thee behind me, Satan." This world has many giant devils in it, compared with Judas. The other world may have, for aught I know. But all of them were created by one God, and are under his government. They are devils only through lowness of their spiritual constitution, or perversion of what, rightly used, would have been good ; not by the causations of an infernal Deity. All error and sin have their primeval origin in lack of Love and Wisdom, not in the machinations of a diabolical being. They spring from a Nega- tive tendency, not a Positive cause. The self-hood of all finite natures has a natural tendency to reveal its inherent imperfection — its lack of the infinite and perfect. Thus the absence of light reveals darkness, the absence of heat reveals cold, the absence of strength reveals weakness, the absence of order reveals disorder, the absence of force reveals inertia, and the absence of life reveals death. So the absence of love reveals selfishness, the absence of wisdom reveals folly, the absence of truth reveals error, and the absence of good reveals evil. Light and heat are positive substances; strength is a pos- itive energy; order is a positive work; force is a positive motific power; and life is a vivifying prin- 0* 102 SPIRIT MANIFESTATIONS. ciple. But what is darkness? what is cold 7 what is weakness? what is disorder? what is inertia? what is death? They are all mere negative con- ditions, or states. They are neither beings nor things. Just so Love and Wisdom, truth and good, are positive divine principles, or absolute entities. But selfishness, folly, error, evil, are neg- ative states and conditions, universally revealed in the self-hood of finite natures by the absence of those positives. Just in the degree that beings lack Love and Wisdom, truth and good, they are naturally selfish, foolish, false and evil. And being thus, iheir low degree of the divine good gives rise to all the abuses and perversions of nature which we call sins. This is why we have low spirits in the flesh, and why, leaving this world low, millions depart and continue such, perhaps for long ages, in the next. God and countless holy angels are pro- moting the elevation of all inferior spirits, by all the means established in the eternal moral order of Spiritual Nature. And there is no other Devil to resist them than negative lowness^ or their thence- arising positive perversions of powers, faculties and things in themselves good. Negatively they are low, and positively they may be perverse in many of their activities. Thus far they may be regarded as devils in their several degrees, whether residing in the flesh or out of it. But I do not admit for one moment, that they are given over to the power of a Deific Devil, or that any such Devil SPIRIT MANIFESTATIONS. 103 can be at the bottom of these Spirit Maiiit'estationy. There is but one God. He divides empire with no rival. He is Love and Wisdom. "Of Him, and through Him, and to Him are all things," to whom be glory throughout Infinity and Eternity. Ohj. 6. — How is it that people can so often get their own favorite ideas and wishes retiected back, in so-called spirit responses? Ans. — This does not happen half so often as many assert. They overstate and exaggerate facts. They make too much of a few raw cases. Yet it happens often enough to demand explanation. In such cases the Media are of recent development and very imperfect, or else, for the time being, are in an impassive, feverish state, and greatly influenced by positive minds near them. These exercise a strong physical influence, and either suspend, or warp and deflect the action of the spirit attempting to respond. I have always found this to be the true explanation of such difficulties, in cases within the reach of my scrutiny. And yet some people, accustomed to treat other subjects in a very difl'er- ent manner, turn away in disgust, giving no just consideration to the facts and circumstances. of the case, with the sweeping remark, " O, you can get any thing you hke ; spirits have nothing to do with it." I protest against all such headlong, wholesale and unjust conclusions. Obj. 7, — How is it that many of the communica- tions, purporting to come from distinguished men, 104 SPIRIT MANIFESTATIONS. are obviously inferior in force and dignity of style to their known earthly productions? Ans. — All are not so. There are unexception- able ones. But of the many against which the objection is plausible, I have somewhat to say in explanation. Some of them, in all probability, are apocryphal. Either the Medium was in a dreamy, imaginative, semi-mesmeric state, and wrote from uppermost suggestion what seemed to come from an eminent spirit ; or else phantasy of the mental powers had been superinduced, by psychical influ- ences not readily traceable to their origin, and the writing followed ; or else some spirit from the lower circles, ambitious to personate a highly distinguish- ed one, actually played the part of a pretender. Writing Mediumship is liable to very consider- able anomalies. I read communications purporting to come from these illustrious sources wilh a good deal of distrust. Yet I cannot doubt that some of them are substantially authentic and reliable. These, however, are not all invulnerable to the objection. A part of them exhibit the defects complained of. How is this to be accounted for? By making due allowance for the imperfection of the Media. Perhaps not one in fifty of those yet developed is susceptible of sufficient spiricity to be a clear intellectual Medium, and at the same time passive enough not to perplex the impressions and expressions of a communicating spirit. Yet, without this strength, clearness and complete pas- SPIRIT MANIFESTATIONS. 105 sivity of the Medium, no spirit can be expected to give his own peculiar language. The Medium is a sort of amanuensis, translator or interpreter of tlie spirit's leading ideas. In this character Media will exhibit, in various degrees, the defects of their own respective rhetoric. Unless their perspicuity, force and command of language be equal to that of the mind communicating through them, the same results must follow, as when an accom- plished mind in the flesh is obliged to write or speak through a clumsy amanuensis, translator or interpreter. He would have to be content with appearing to critics who did not understand the imperfection of the Medium, a rhetorician far below his rank. This is always considered a mis- fortune in our world. It may be so deemed in the otJter, But it is reasonable to presume, that the greater and better minds become, the more they care for fundamental principles and ideas, and the less for mere verbiage. Hence some great spirits may now be willing to communicate through Media, whose rhetorical defects they would hardly have tolerated in an amanuensis or translator, when on earth. Why should it not be so? And why should we not make allowance accordingly 'I If the principles, sentiments, leading ideas, and general design of the communication are unex- ceptionable, why should incidental defects of diction be thought of sufficient importance to invalidate them?- 106 SPIRIT MANIFESTATIONS. It is amazing to see the unreasonableness and pertinacity of our opponents. They have taken the ground that none of these Manifestations, 7ione of these communications, are from departed spirits. We have taken the position that some of them are from departed spirits, and others not. What then? These unreasonable apponents doggedly insist that we shall defend every one of the manifestations, purporting to come from departed spirits, as genu- ine^ and that we shall be answerable for every communication, not only as genuine in substance^ but in rhetoric, orthography and punctuation. No allowance is to be made for the unavoidable imper- fection of B'lediumship, nor for deflecting causes, nor for unfavorable circumstances. Some even go so far as to insist that, if we publish what we believe to be reliable and edifying communica- tions at all, we are bound to publish all that we deem ^//ireliable, or ?/7zedifying, without discrim- ination, and without the least editorial correction. And if we make selections, discriminations, or the merest verbal corrections, they pronounce us dis- honest I Suppose we were placed in possession of a deceased friend's manuscripts, diary, correspond- ence, and miscellaneous papers ; should we be dishonesty if we published select portions, and cor- rected their incidental errors? Must we publish every written thing precisely as the author hap- i pened to leave it? Would these captious persons insist on having their writings dealt with in the SPIKIT MANIFESTATIONS. 107 same way? Do compilers and biographers ever act in this manner? Would a man who should pursue such a coarse be fit for a compiler, biog- raplier or editor? Every mind of intelligence and candor, will answer, no. Yet if I will not treat spirit writings confided to my disposal in this wicked and absurd manner, forsooth, I am a dis- honesty or at least a very uncandid man, endeavor- ing to make out a bad case, in a one-sided, underhand way ! In vain I plead my reiterated position, viz : some of these manifestations and communications are really from departed spirits, and others are wholly or partly caused by the influence of spirits in the flesh. In vain I plead, that on my own ground, I have a right and am in duty bound to discriminate, select, correct, and make allowances. No, say these indomitable op- ponents, you shall not stand on any such ground. You shall take the ichole or none. You shall inih- lish the whole, or none. You shall defend the ivliole, precisely as you get them from the Media, or none. You shall not alter a word, nor put in a comma, nor cross a t, nor dot an i. You shall consider it all as coming from departed spirits, from just such departed spirits as purport to be its authors, and with just such defects as may chance to mark it. Then ive will demonstrate, by profound criticisms and magnanimous comments, that it is nothing but a hodge-podge of intolerable gibberish ! O, most generous and candid souls, how shall the 108 SPIRIT MANIFESTATIONS. believers in spirit manifestations contrive to win your good opinion ! You have indeed piped unto ns, but we have not danced ; you have wailed, but we have not lamented ; you have multiplied objec- tions, but v/o have not been confounded ! It is a hard case, perhaps, and to soften it, 1 respectfully suggest to the contending parties that now some- what popular axiom, "Live, and let live." There is a day coming when we shall all be of one mind and of one heart — a mind full of divine Wisdom, a heart full of divine Love. Let us not postpone that day to the far-oif Future, by aggravating aud intensifying our present differences. Obj. 8. — How is it that spirits sometimes purport to come from the world of spirits, and yet, after all their great pretensions and demonstrations, the real persons themselves are found to be still alive in the flesh? Ans. — Cases of this kind have occasionally occurred. I have known one such, and heard of several others. I account for them, as I account for similar impositions among men in the flesh. Jn all ages there have been impostors who took false names, and personated the character of others. Sometimes the personation and deception have been completely successful for months, and even yearc, before detection took place. The mo- tives of impostors are sometimes mischievously selfish, and sometimes seemingly but the love of mere sport or amusement. If all this is true of SPIRIT MANIFESTATIONS. 109 some spirits in the flesh, why may it not be equally true of some departed spirits ? And if true of both, does it not sufficiently account for the anomalous cases under consideration ? But, says the objector, " Departed spirits never enact such impositions." Do you A^?zo?^ this ? Do you know that they never enact even the most harmless of these impositions? If they never do, it must be because they ^vill not, or cannot. Are all departed spirits so pure and elevated that none of them can possibly loill even to amuse them- selves, by taking the name, and trying to person- ate the peculiarities of another spirit? Such an idea is absurd. Perhaps, however, the objector prefers to assert a ca7??2o^, rather than a will not. Why cannot some of the lower spirits do this? Is it because God absolutely prevents it? Why may not God permit departed spirits sometimes to practice impositions, as well as to permit w?zde- parted ones to do it? Why does he permit this very imposition at all, whatever its origin? All such assumptions are mere presumptions. " What can we reason bat from what we know?" We know that God does permit a great deal of imposi- tion by spirits in the flesh. We know that an imposition or deception of some sort actually takes place in the cases we are trying to account for. God permits all this, whatever the immediate cause ? If electricity, magnetism, or any other unconscious agent be the cause of it, still it is a 10 110 SPIRIT MANIFESTATIONS. deception^ and God permits it. Is it more unreas- onable to conclude that he permits departed spirits to cause it, than wwdeparted ones, or senseless, imponderable matter? Certainly not. Here the debate ends. The naked question alone remains, is it more probable that the imposition proceeds from a departed spirit, as is asserted by reliable spirits ; or that it happens by mere chance^ as the old atheists used to say the world was created ; or that it is unconsciously caused by minds in the flesh; or that it is produced in an unaccountable way by that masterly magician, Electricity I My opinion is, that such impositions are enacted by departed spirits not yet pure and high enough to eschew all untruthfulness. When I can account for them more rationally, I shall do so with pleasure. In dismissing this objection, I am reminded of an incident which I wish to relate. Some weeks since a very intelligent gentleman, who has exper- imented on these mysteries a little, but who is sure that departed spirits have nothing to do with the phenomena, remarked rather positively that what came through the Media all originated in the minds of mortals. Presently, however, he went on to relate one of these cases of imposition, which took place at one of his sittings with a medium of undoubted truthfulness. A spirit came and communicated, purporting to be a well-known friend, who was presumed to be alive, residing at • SPIRIT MANIFESTATIONS. Ill some distance in the country. The gentleman wrote immediately a letter of inquiry, and ascer- tained that the spirit of his friend was indeed still in the flesh. This was conclusive with him, that departed spirits had nothing to do with the matter. But a believer, who sat by, asked the gentleman, if either he or the medium had beforehand the idea in their minds that came out to them in the shape of this imposition? "Not at all," was the honest reply. " How, then, do you defend the position you took a few minutes ago with so much confidence, that all the ideas originate in the minds of the media, or persons present]" The answer was silence. I allude to this incident as an illustration of the fact, that nearly every objec- tion raised in this controversy by sceptics, either flatly contradicts preceding objections, or is con- tradicted by succeeding ones. We can scarcely put two of them side by side without seeing that they mutually explode each other. But the ground on which I stand is defended by reasons and argu- ments that perfectly agree with each other, and with all the essential facts. Truth has many links in her chain, and they are mutually con- sistent with each other. Error also has many links in hers, but they are utterly discordant. "It is fated to error to run crooked." Obj. 9. — How is it that some, who do not believe departed spirits have any thing to do with these Manifestations, can make tables move by the 112 SPIRIT MANIFESTATIONS. power of their will, and get responses from dead animals and fictitious characters? Ans. — Such phenomena are so extremely rare and equivocal, that no sufficient opportunity has been offered for investigating either the facts or their causes. How far the mesmeric, psycholo- gical, or spiritic power of minds in the flesh may be exerted in moving material substances^ remains to be seen. That such a power exists is probable, if not certain. Under what conditions^ or to what extent it can be exerted, I should be glad to learn. It might throw light on the exercise of such power by departed spirits. But of one thing I feel confi- dent; if this ^z7/-power can be exerted by spirits in the flesh, it is not likely to be exerted without their having some consciousness of it. One or two cases of the kind have been reported to me, but I have seen no demonstraiion. Nor is it at all certain, in the cases reported, but the movings which actually occurred v/ere caused by departed spirits, suiting themselves to the call of the person that supposed his own ^^?7Z-power produced the effect. When the experiment shall have succeeded on several repeated trials, all parties will have better data from which to deduce conclusions.^ As a believer in the exertion of the will-power by * Since the first publication of this work, the author has met with two or three cases of Media, who obviously possessed sufficient will- 2wwer over the spiricify connected with them, to move tables, &c., at their own option without the presence of a departed spirit. SPIRIT MANIFESTATIONS. 113 departed spirits, there is no necessity for my utterly denying the existence of such power in w?2departed ones. But when it shall have been demonstrated, the question will come up in each actual case, was the power exerted consciously 7 If ?mconsciously, what do our opponents in this controvery gain by it? If consciously^ I am perfectly willing the real operator, visible or invisible, should have the credit of it. As to responses from animals and fictitious characters, alleged to have been made through the Rappings, in one or two cases, the probability is that they were made by departed spirits from a circle loio enough not to feel degraded by carrying on such a colloquy, under such circumstances. This is the explanation given by truthful spirits. I find no other so rational. If there be a better one, I shall cheerfully accept it when it comes. There may have been something in the imperfec- tion of the medium, or in the psychologial influ- ence of the experimenter, whereby the phenomena were produced, or strangely peculiarized, without the intervention of any departed spirit. If so, new cases will bring out the fact. As at present enlightened, I must stand by the conclusion already stated. Meantime, what does the objector make out of the phenomena in question? Does he believe that the spirit of a dead horse or dog really responded and made communications'? Of course not. Does he believe that it all came out of the minds of the Medium and experimenter? If 10* 114: SPIRIT MANIFESTATIONS. SO, where is his proof? If not, how does he account for it? No how. He says he feels under no obhgation to account for it. He only brings it up to show that the whole aggregate of so-called Spirit Manifestations is incongruous, [absurd, inex- plicable, and unworthy of respectful consideration. Let him enjoy his opinion till obliged to change it by the force of demonstration. If I am correct in my judgment and impressions of the matter, he will not have to wait many years. If I have mis- taken the truth, let me be convinced of it, and bear patiently the burden of my reproach. Ohj. 10.— If these Manifestations are really from departed spirits, why have they never occur- red before? Ans. — They have occurred before to some ex- tent, at different periods, and in various locations; though not in precisely the same forms, nor so gen- erally, publicly, and intelligibly. Until I investi- gated the subject, I was not aware that the one-hundredth part of such manifestations had ever taken place among mankind, which I am now convinced have. Whoever will read the works that treat on phenomena of this nature, or converse in sober confidence with' the class of persons in any region of country who have had experience in super-mortal demonstrations, will find to his astonishment, that there is a world of well attested facts, of which he had before no just conception. Indeed, there are few neighborhoods, SPIRIT MANIFESTATIONS. 115 from some of whose worthy and truthful inhabit- ants remarkable facts of this kind may not be obtained. The generality of persons, by whom the most important and reliable information might be given, have been educated into the habit of concealing it entirely, or communicating it with great caution_, lest it should subject them to the odious suspicion of being weak, visionary, cred- ulous, superstitious, or partially insane. Mate- rialistic philosophy and religious Sadduceeism, combining with gross popular sensualism, have superinduced these habits of concealment and caution. Nevertheless, what is known and felt can be reached, by penetrating its inner spiritual sanctuary. This I have sometimes done, and gained a rich remuneration for my pains. I shall not now go into a citation of the evidence by which the foregoing assertions are warranted ; because I cannot do so without swelling this vol- ume altogether beyond its proper dimensions. I hold myself responsible, however, to furnish ample proofs of these assertions, whenever their truth shall be denied by equally responsible objectors. Obj. 11. — In going the length you do on this general subject, must you not feel obliged to believe also in presentiments, forewarnings, appa- ritions, ghosts, demoniacs, haunted houses, and witchcraft 7 Ans, — I have no hesitation in avowing just what and how much I feel obliged to believe in presen- 116 SPIRIT MANIFESTATIONS. timents, fore warnings, apparitions, ghosts, demo- niacs, haunted houses, and witchcraft. I beUeve there have been real presentiments, and also many 2mreal ones; that there have been real forewarn- ings, and also many unxeal ones ; that there have been real apparitions of deceased persons — real ghosts, and also many unreal ones — counterfeit ones, mere imaginary ones. I believe that there have been real demoniacs, i. e., persons possessed, obsessed, or in some way infested by low departed spirits, and I also believe that many have been supposed such, whose unfortunate nervous condi- tion was superinduced chiefly by physical causes of disease. I believe that there have been real haunted houses, i. e., houses in which super-mortal sights, movements, and sounds have been wit- nessed ; and also that there have been many unreal ones — houses infested only by the pranks of cunning mortals, or of animals, or of the serial elements. I believe that there have been witches and wizards, i. e., persons of mysterious psycho- logical susceptibilities, powers, and peculiarities, some of whom have used those powers malig- nantly, others chiefly for a livelihood, and others for mere fame or distinction ; and I also beUeve that myriads have been reputed witches and wiz- ards, who were not only innocent of crime and evil intention, but destitute of any remarkable psychological power. All this I believe, on what is as good evidence to my mind as a truly rational SPIRIT MANIFESTATIONS. 117 being can demand. And I do not feel driven to believe more. I do not believe in effects without causes. I do not believe in any thing which is not natural in its kind and place. Nor in any depart- ment of nature without laws^ according to which causes and effects operate. Nor in any super- mortal or super-mundane realities, whose natural causes, if we were high enough to understand them, would be less explainable than the ordinary phe- nomena of our sensuous existence. Ohj. 12. — If you run into such exploded delu- sions and wild vagaries, do you flatter yourself you can retain your reputation for common sense, or even sanity. Ans. — My reputation for good sense and a sound mind I have jeopardized again and again during the last thirty- years. I never had a great deal to take care of The little that I have has been lost and found again several times. I am per- suaded that it is best cared for, when I forget it in the pursuit of truth and duty. I do not pretend to despise, or to be wholly indifferent to my repu- tation. But after the wholesome experience and discipline I have undergone, I am disposed to follow and avow my highest convictions on all subjects of serious importance to human welfare, and to risk the consequences. I have not habitu- ated myself to ask leave of men to investigate any subject, nor to form my own opinions, nor to express my convictions on proper occasions. It is 118 SPIRIT MANIFESTATIONS. not for me to exact any man's concurrence, favor, or respect. Each has his own rights, duties, respon- sibiUties. Each must reap as he sows. If I can so act my part in Hfe as not to despise myself when I stand before God's Looking-Glass, I shall en- deavor to be satisfied, however weak, credulous, or insane I may be reputed to be by the " wise and prudent " of this world. At any rate, I have respect enough for the immortal part of my nature, not to be a slave even to reputation. My mental freedom has cost me so much, besides its own intrinsic worth, that I am determined, with divine help, not to be flattered, sneered, nor frightened " out of it. Ignorance mistakes, distorts, perverts, and abuses all things. Hence the dark history of human super- stition; the general dread of evil spirits, ghosts, goblins, and witches ; the barbarous punishments inflicted on persons presumed to be in compactN with infernal beings ; and all the abominable per- secutions carried on in the name of religion. But I trust an era is dawning, whose noon-day glory will emancipate the children of men from this dark and cruel thraldom, — an era in which " the truth, the ^vhole truth, and nothing but the truth" shall be established, — an era in which Charity, sur- mounting the temple of Justice, shall radiate her beams over the whole earth, till the highest good of every human being shall be seen in its true connection with the highest good of all other SPIEIT MANIFESTATIONS. 119 human beings, and never more be sacrificed or disregarded. For a considerable time to come, doubtless the grievous effects of ignorance, error, folly, superstition, scepticism, sensuality, and vin- dictiveness will continue to embitter the experiences of mankind. We must endure these evils with hopeful patience. They will gradually be over- come with good. Truth will finally triumph over falsehood, wisdom over folly, righteousness over iniquity, mercy over cruelty, charity over selfish- ness, spiritualism over carnalism, and happiness over misery. For this glorious consummation, all who have drank at the fount of divine Love and Wisdom will work earnestly, heroically, and with indomitable perseverance. With these^ though it be as one of the least among them all, may my Heavenly Father grant me a place; and help me never to shrink from my just responsibihty, whether I receive from mortals smiles or frowns, applause or sneers, honor or contempt, benefaction or perse- cution. And if, by such fidelity to my highest hght, on this or any other subject, I lose the little reputation hitherto accorded to me for common sense and sanity, may I never doubt that God and the Future will take proper care of it. My next chapter will consist chiefly of extracts from the writings of opposers. It will be an illus- tration, in their own chosen language, of the spirit and character of their opposition. 120 SPIRIT manifestatio::ts. CHAPTER IX. SPECIMENS OF THE OPPOSITION. Extracts from the Puritan Recorder, an Orthodox Congregationalist paper — Article from tbe Olive Branch, a Protestant Methodist paper, introducing and recomraeuding an article from the Boston PiLjt, a Roman Catholic paper — Article from the Gospel Banner, a Univer- salist paper— Brief Comments. The design of this chapter is to furnish the reader, and to place on permanent record, an ilhistration of the nature, spirit, and character of the opposition which has arrayed itself against Spirit Manifest- ations. Naturalists take great pains to preserve specimens of rare vegetables, insects, and animals. Even venomous reptiles and uncouth monsters are thought worthy of such preservation. With some- what of the same motives, 1 embalm the following viperous productions. I commence with extracts from certain articles, understood to have been written by Professor Pond, of the Bangor Theological Seminary, and pub- hshed originally on the 1st, 8th, and 15th of April, 1852, in THE PURITAN RECORDER. " The spiritual manifestations of our times com- SPIRIT MANIFESTATIONS. 121 menced, I think, in Western New York ; and Doctors Lee and Flint, of Buffalo, assisted by two gentlemen by the name of Burr, have very thor- oughly investigated the matter, and explained the manner in which the mysterious noises are pro- duced. Mr. Burr has himself made the rappings, and made them so loud as to be heard by a congre- gation of fifteen hundred people. " These instances are sufficient to prove, that the spiritual manifestations of our times, like those of ancient times, are, in many instances, a sheer imposition. They are a vile trick, palmed off upon a wondering and credulous community, for the sake of money, or for other sinister and selfish ends. "If there is any thing more than trick in these spiritual manifestations, — and I am inclined to think that in some instances there may be, — I should refer it, as in the case of the ancient wizards, to the infiaence of occult natural causes^ — per- haps electricity, or animal magnetism, or something else, operating upon a nervous system of peculiar sensibility. I incline to this opinion for several reasons. " In the first place, if the noises and other mani- festations were really the work of spirits, why should they not be made through one person as well as another ? Why should not all be mediums alike ? Whereas, it is confessed that only persons of pecu- 11 122 SPIRIT MANIFESTATIONS. liar nervous temperament are capable of becoming mediums. " Again : if the disclosures which are made are really from the spirit world, it might be expected that they would, at least, be consistent with them- selves. Whereas, it is well known that they vary endlessly. In numerous instances they are directly self-contradictory. ' Some of the communications,' says one who had been a medium, were orthodox ; others were infidel. Some would acknowledge the truth of the Bible ; others would encourage the grossest crimes.' " " I have now shown that a portion of the spirit- ual manifestations of our own times, like those of ancient times, is a mere deception ; and that an- other portion may be the result of hitherto unob- served natural causes^ such as magnetism, electricity, or something else ; placing the phenomena on the same footing with those of Pathetism, Biology, Mormonism, &c. Indeed, I know nothing per- taining to these manifestations more mysterious than some of the alleged facts of Mormonism, and both, it is probable, are to be explained in much the same way. " And now if any are not satisfied with this explanation, and still insist that the agency of spirits is concerned here, I reply, as in my first number, that if any spirits are concerned, they are, undoubtedly, infernal spirits. It is not at all likely that the good spirits have any thing to do with it. SPIRIT MANIFESTATIONS. 123 H0I7 angels have nobler, better employment. And the spirits of just men made perfect, who have gone to their eternal rest, and are represented as dwelling in the New Jerusalem above, would never descend to be engaged in such paltry trifling here below. Besides, the degraded character of many, who act as mediums, and the childish, silly, self- contradictory answers which are often given; — the fact, too, that many of these answers are of an immoral tendency, in palpable contradiction to both conscience and the Bible; — also the mischief which the alleged spirits often perpetrate, tearing clothes and destroying furniture; — all these things show clearly enough what kind of spirits are concerned, if indeed any are. They must be wicked spirits. They are undoubtedly infernal spirits, who, for the trial of our race, are abroad in the earth, ' going about, like roaring lions, seeking whom they may devour.' And if it be objected to this, that some of the answers are pious and good, — good in themselves and their influence, — I have only to reply, that Satan can be very pious when it will best subserve his diabolical purposes. He not unfrequently transforms himself into an angel of light— 2 Cor. 11 : 14. " The Bible represents the familiar spirits of ancient times as infernal spirits, liars, deceivers, devils, against whose influence the people of God were warned. And the spirits who have inter- course with certain persons now, — if spirits they 121 SPIRIT MANIFESTATIONS. be, — are undoubtedly of the same class. And I would not be understood to say that there can be no demoniacal agency here. If persons will seek after unlawful intercourse with the Evil One, and give themselves up to it, as I said before, God may give them up. He may permit the devils to com- municate with them, and through them to others, and so lead them captive at his will. The devils are always at hand where there is mischief to be done, and they have knowledge enough to give all the answers, and make all the disclosures, which ever have been made or will be. There is no occasion for calling in the agency of departed relatives and friends. There are other spirits who know more than they, and are more able and ready for every evil work ; and if any spirits are con- cerned in these transactions, it is undoubtedly the spirits of darkness. " Having shown, as well as I am able, the nature of the communications purporting to come from the other world, and how they are to be accounted for, I shall next speak of the evil of them ; the evil of making them, consulting them, or having aught to do with them. " That they are evil and sinful, the Bible most unequivocally teaches. They are sternly forbidden in different parts of the Old Testament; and the same character is given of them in the New. The Apostle Paul warns us against ' giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils:' and SPIRIT MANIFESTATIONS. 125 places witchcraft in the same category with idol- atry, murders, drunkenness, and other works of the flesh. 1 Tim. 4:1; Gal. 5 : 20. The writer of the Apocalypse does the same. ' The fearful, the unbelieving, the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.' Rev. 21 : 8. " But it may be asked, What is the harm of the things which have been described? Wherein does the evil of them consist? " The answer to these questions is suggested, in part, by what has been already said, — a part of Avhat is done by the workers with familiar spirits, we have seen, is an imposture. It is a work of deception; and deception is always evil. What right have I to deceive my fellow men with regard to the important concerns of the other world ? AVhat right have I to pretend to make disclosures to them from that world, which I know are ficti- tious and deceptive? What right have I to take their time, and harrow up their feelings, and filch from them their money, in this way ? For any one to do this is a gross sin. It is a shameful sin. I do not say that, under our government, it is worthy of death, but in a state of society like that in Israel, where it was necessary that the penal code should be stringent and severe, I wonder not at all 11* 126 SPIRIT MANIFESTATIONS. that it was punished with the utmost rigors of the law." " I need say but few words to show, that on the third mode of accounting for the strange appear- ances in question, viz. : that they are produced by demoniacal agency, they must be sinful. For who are those familiar spirits to whom, on supposition, persons give themselves up, and to whom they are given up of God 7 They are the spirits of darkness; liars from the beginning; the first and greatest enemies of the human race; who go about as roar- ing lions, seeking whom they may devour. Can it be otherwise than evil, to have commerce with such beings, — to receive and follow their sugges- tions, — pleasing ourselves, meanwhile, with the idea that we are conversing with departed friends, or receiving, it may be, revelations from heaven] I can conceive of nothing more terrible than this ; more perilous in all its influences, both upon the individual and society, upon the body and the soul. '' If any of us are capable of becoming what are called mediums^ we had better not know it; or if we know it, we had better refrain from all experi- ments. To tamper with such a power, is to tamper with an already shattered nervous system, the only effect of which will be to shatter it the more. Or it is to tamper with infernal spirits. It is to hold com- merce with the Evil One. " Or if any will consent so to abuse and degrade SPIRIT MANIFESTATIONS. 127 themselves as to act as mediums, let no one follow them. Let them have their marvels and revela- tions all to themselves. They can tell us nothing which will be of the least importance to us. They never have told any thing which was of any importance. I challenge all the workers with famil- iar spirits to show that a single disclosure has ever been made which was of the least importance to the world. These creatures can tell us nothing which we have any right to believe a moment, at least on their testimony. And if any do believe them, and feel confidence in them, they will surely be led astray. The Bible has warned us faithfully on this subject, as on almost every other where there is danger. ' Regard not them which have familiar spirits, neither seek after them to be de- filed by them.' Giving no ' heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils, speaking lies in hypoc- risy." ANOTHER SPECIMEN. This is from the Olive Branch, a Protestant Methodist paper, pubUshed in Boston. It is copied from a number dated June 19, 1852. It intro- duces and recommends an article from the Boston Pilot, a Roman Catholic paper, which, however, the Methodist editor abridged by leaving out a few unpalatable things said against Protestantism. Hav- ing obtained the Papist article entire, I preferred giving it; for when Herod and Pilate are made 128 SPIRIT MANIFESTATIONS. friends, it is interesting to sec the whole extent of their respective amiabilities. *' The Spirit Rapping^ and Shnilar Matters.'''' "We append to this editorial a long extract from the Boston Pilot on this subject, omitting such parts principally, as contain efforts to fix on Protest- ants and Protestantism the evils exposed, in which the Pilot editor evidently does wanton injustice, in endeavoring to fix the fault of these delusions and their concomitant enormities on Protestants or their religion. " The editor of that paper is too well informed in all history, not to know that from the days of Moses and his Egyptian contemporaries such devil- try was common, and we do not know how much farther back, as history, either sacred or profane, doth not tell ; but kindred wickedness and fooleries were then common, and we cannot say they were not a part of their Pagan religion. The editor acknowledges that severe laws were passed against them by God's warrant, by Moses. "The editor knows that similar abominations have often disturbed and cursed the Catholic Church, during various periods the last 1800 years. But of the rappings, etc., we would say a few words, and then ask the reader to peruse the Pilot's long essay. ^' We have been disposed to hold all these matters SPIRIT MANIFESTATIONS. 129 ill contempt — mesmerism, clairvoyance, pathetism, biology, spirit rappings, writing, etc.; but the evils growing out of them have long since satisfied us that it is a scheme multiform in its exhibitions, at the head of which stands that leading angel and his compeers, who were expelled from heaven for their rebellion and wickedness, and afterwards seduced, the ancestors of our race. The great points in all these exhibitions are wickedness, folly, and false- hood, — showing the parties to be servants of the devil, the father of lies. ''Mesmeric clairvoyants never disclose any im- portant secret, and they and their agents have often fallen into the hands of the agents of the law for lying and malicious slander. Farther, good mediums are always diseased in body, and labor under greater or lesser mental aberrations. Pathe- tists and biologists rank in precisely the same category as the mesmeric professors. As to spirit- rappers, writers, etc., they are even more devilish. They excell in degrees of wickedness. They are marked with ignorance, blasphemy, and lying. Few of them can give a sentence of good king's English. Miss Fox, at Cincinnati, when called to account for the murdered English the spirit used, pettishly remarked, 'You know I don't under- stand English grammar.' They put Thomas Paine, the atheistical blasphemer, into heaven ; and other men, who in their life time were distinguished for irreligion or infideUty, as well as heathen philoso- phers. 130 SPIRIT MANIFESTATIONS. " The influence of the rappings is painfully destructive of health and reason. Scarcely a day passes, in which some one of its deluded devotees is not committed to hospitals for the insane, or die by their own suicidal hands. We could fill a column in our paper weekly, with accounts of such fearful fruits of the rapping imposture. " With these brief remarks we close for this week. This, with the Pilot's editorial, will be as much as the general reader will care for at once. Don't omit the article from the Pilot because from the pen of a Catholic. It has some mistakes, and is not sufficiently definite, but is eminently sug- gestive to the mind who wishes to investigate an evil so blighting to body and soul, which brings misery here, and entails it in the world of the futurcj beyond the grave." " Spiritual Rappings.''^ '' We have for some time intended to speak about this new delusion, and we avail ourselves of this opportunity. " As we understand the matter, the pretensions of the rappomaniacs are these : The soul, after its departure from the body, lives and progresses through a series of spheres, or worlds, each of which is more perfect than the last, so that the soul knows and enjoys more and more, as it pro- gresses from sphere to sphere. These souls have SPIRIT MANIFESTATIONS. 131 been, for some ages, trying to communicate with people in this world, to tell them how happy they are, how watchful they are over us, and to give us, generally, the news from the other world, to in- struct and enlighten us, and to make us better and happier. But mortals, for the past ages, with a few exceptions, have not been good and wise enough to deserve these communications. Among these exceptions, they place many of the saints, miracle workers, and the blasphemers even enu- merate our Lord among them, who, they say, was an extraordinary mesmerist, and of a wonderfully susceptible organization. His body was so finely made, so spiritualized, that he could habitually converse with spirits, and learn from them many secrets. Some men have since been noted in this way, but no one in so great a degree. In these times, however, the barriers between the two worlds are being removed. Men are growing wiser and better, — more spiritualized, and the spirits, who have been for ages watching for this to come about, have begun to communicate freely with mortals. The time will come when conver- sation between spirits and mortals will be as com- mon as conversation is among living men. Rappings have been resorted to as a medium for exchanging ideas, but even already spirits are beginning to communicate in writing their ideas. All that need be done is, to provide paper, pen and ink ; to hold your pen in the proper position, and wait 132 SPIRIT MANIFESTATIONS. until some spirit guides your hand in tracing the characters. Whole books have been wriiten in this v/ay ; recently one was written by the now happy ghost of Tom Paine, who is at present traveling in the sixth heaven, and expects soon to reach the seventh. Sometime hence, even simpler and more direct means of communication will be established. Ghosts are permitted to give signs of their presence already, — to move tables, make crockery jump from the shelves, and cause chairs, sofas, and other articles of furniture to hop about the room. Before many years, these things will be so common as to excite no wonder or remark. " Our readers, at least most of them, will hardly believe that this delusion has so spread over New England, and towns in other States of New England origin, that scarcely a village can be found which is not infected with it. In most small towns several families are possessed, the medium between the erratic ghosts and the crazy fools being, in some cases, a weak and half-witted woman, but in most instances a little girl, whom her parents and friends have prostituted to this wicked trade. Most of the mediums, who are v sometimes, but not always, put into a mesmeric sleep before starting in search of the ghosts, become stark, staring mad, and so do many of the believers. Not a Vv^eek passes that does not see some one of them commit suicide or go to the mad-house. AH of the mediums give unequivocal SPIRIT MANIFESTATIONS. 133 signs of some abnormal, unnatural disturbance of their bodily and mental ftuictions. Some of them discover indications of what looks like genuine possession by a devil. The evil is unquestionably spreading, and it will, in a few years, exhibit shocking results. "It gains ground only among Protestants, of course. Catholics, even the most ignorant, are in the habit of referring such things to the principles of the Catechism, and of trying them by these principles. So they do not, anywhere, counte- nance the delusion. They laugh it to scorn. The Catholics who are the most exposed, are persons who work in Protestant families, in which the disorder is daily growing worse. The silly women and asses of men who believe in it have left off tormenting their Irish servants about the Church, confession, the Bible, and the priests, and they have begun to solicit them to confer with these ghosts, devils, or whatever they may be. As a general thing, the Irish girls behave nobly ; they laugh at the ignorance and superstition of their silly employers. Very few have been persuaded even to enter the room where the mummery is practiced, or to exchange compliments with the ghosts, much less to become mediums. Scarce any have fallen into this unfortunate mistake ; and those who have, led either through excessive com- plaisance or curiosity, soon pitched the whole affair to the black spirit that started it. Protest- 12 134 SPIRIT MANIFESTATIONS. antism, however, is essentially nnintellectualj — superstitious. It has no principles of its own whereby to judge things correctly. Some of them, reasoning from Catholic principles, reject the de- lusion. A few congregations, mainly Calvinistic, have set their faces against it, partly because the ghosts say that there is no hell, principally because church members leave the regular congregations to go a ghost hunting. Instances have come to our knowledge where the minister tried to preach it down, but his congregation, composed mainly of rappomaniacs, told him that, as a Protestant minister, he had no business to preach against any theory or practice which they approved, and they warned him to seek his bread and butter (he didn't get much bread, and the butter wasn't very good) elsewhere. " It must not be supposed that this delusion is a new thing. Mesmerism and communication with spirits were things well known to the Indians, Chinese, Egyptians, and Chaldeans. Among the many evidences of the relapse of Protestantism into gross Paganism, this, afforded by rappomania, is significant, inasmuch as it shows that Protest- ants are content to point, as a proof of their enlighiened progress, to their growing belief in one of the worst among the old, worn out, cast off, detected superstitions of ancient Paganism. The fact that mesmerizers, biologists, rappomaniacs, ghost hunters, and such characters, were common SPIRIT MANIFESTATIONS. 135 in early times, is sufficiently plain from Scripture. God, in several places, commands them to be put to death. Saul was one of the most energetic and summary interpreters of this law, so that, towards the close of his reign, there was but one woman who had a divining spirit, {women are generally used by the devil and his agents for this purpose), there was but one medium^ as we would now say, and this was the Witch of Endor, who raised up for Saul what was either the spirit of Samuel, or an evil spirit in the shape of the prophet. In the apostolic times, these mediums were common, as appears from the account given by St. Luke of Simon Magus and of Elymas, who were evidently mesmerizers and biologists, as well as slaves of Satan. Sunderland, Fiske, and other biologists repeat some of the practices of those ancient repro- bates, all of whom were visibly punished by God. One account is curious. It is found in Acts, ch. 16. A certain girl, a medium,^ who had a 'pyth- onical spirit^ met the Apostle Paul and his com- panion, Silas. The girl brought to her masters much gain by divining, precisely as happens in our age of the revival of many such exploded hum- bugs. It seems that the girl, as often as she saw the holy men, not only was unable to tell any fortunes, but she was forced by an invisible power to confess God and His Christ. Something similar has happened in circles where the mediu7n was busily at work talking with the real or supposed 136 SPIRIT MANIFESTATIONS. ghosts, the accidental entrance of a baptized person, — a Catholic, — made the spirit dumb. This has occurred several times within our knowledge. It furthermore appears that the spirit which pos- sessed this girl was a real devil, for Paul cast it out, whereupon her masters, finding that she could tell no more fortunes, and that their business was ruined, caused the apostles to be whipped and imprisoned. " Some traces of these infernal doings are found in later times. It would be a long story, and we have no inclination here to tell it. Some of the persons, Rosicrucians and others, who were sup- posed, not only popularly, but by grave men, to be magicians, were unquestionably masters in biology, mesmerism, and rappomania. Scotland, Germany, and Scandinavia had some skillful professors. It is not surprising, for these unholy arts have prob- ably never been lost in the East. It is quite possi- ble that some of the wonderful juggleries of the Indian tricksters, accounts of which reach us from time to time, and which look like impossibilities, notwithstanding the respectable authorities which sometimes vouch for them, are mere appearances, foisted upon a whole company of spectators, by the Indian biologists, very much as a Boston biologist will apparently bejuggle the senses of persons who submit themselves to his influence. The Germans have long been familiar with a mischievous devil called the Polter giest, whose delight it appears to SPIRIT MANIFESTATIONS. 137 be to enter houses, and turn every thing upside down, doing more mischief in an hour than a thousand monkeys would do in a day. It is not well to Hsten to these things, but really, some respectable witnesses have testified that this same monkey ghost has troubled several families in Eng- land and America within the few last years. " Now, there is no doubt whatever, but that rap- pomania is, to a certain extent, a humbug, like phrenology, mesmerism, biology, etherology, elec- trical psychology, and other kindred ologies. Cer- tainly, all of them afford facts which are worth the serious notice of metaphysicians. They may occasion the revival of a dispute, which raged four hundred years ago, as to whether the old distinc- tion o( spirlius, anima et corpus^ — spirit, soul and body, a trinity which is unity in man, be not better than the dualism which, since Descartes, has been received in the schools. But these ologies afford the means of getting bread and butter, and so, lazy charlatans profess to be phrenologists, biologists, and so on. Ghosts are raised for the moderate charge of twenty-five cents, and, after hearing what Ghost No. 1 has to say, rap, or write, for another twenty-five cents one can get another, or, perhaps, the same ghost to contradict all that was said, rapped, or written by ghost No. 1. Yankees who are capable of making wooden seeds, vegeta- bles, hams, and dollar clocks, could not fail to per- ceive the peculiar money-coining facilities afforded 12* 138 SPIRIT MANIFESTATIONS, by the ologies, ghostology, or rappomania included. Accordinglyj the country swarms with mediums. Tiiere are so many of them that the trade has become common, and therefore less lucrative. Some persons tried, a few months since, to get up an excitement, and to realize a little money by exposing the humbug, but they were unsuccessful, as lecturers in Protestant communities, on purely Protestant humbugs must be. Meanwhile it is certain that, in some cases, the raps, or noises, supposed to have been made by uneasy ghosts, were made by machinery, or by the toes, knee- joints, or hands of the mediums. You see the fools who sit round a table, with their hands spread upon it, are easily duped, — will believe any thing but the truth, and are particularly indisposed to detect imposture. A writing medium will produce a copy of verses, say that Byron's ghost made her write it, and every Protestant of them will protest that it is the very work of his Byronical ghostship. '' Yet, making due allowances, it is a question whether something more serious than mere jugglery be not at the bottom of this rappomania. We have thought, read, seen, and heard somewhat about it, and our opinion is, that the affair is not pure, undi- luted imposture. Amidst the mass of trash, certain traces of an Intelligence that is not human are tolerably clear. We have not space to repeat the facts which have forced upon us this conclusion, SPlfllT MANIFESTATIONS. 139 and it would be scarcely worth while to refer to them, at any rate. " That a con:imunication can be established be- tween spirits and mortals is certain, of course. The holy scriptures testify that such communica- tions were common, and, at the latest period men- tioned in the sacred writings, they were as common as they ever were. Ecclesiastical history, to say nothing of what are sometimes called legends, show that such communications have been made in every century. And it appears that the communications recorded in the aforesaid writings were similar to those which are troubling modern Gentilism, — Protestantism now. Profane history occasionally notices them. Possession by devils, too, is a fact proved from Scripture, from ecclesiastical history, and from the circumstance that exorcists are or- dained in the church. The possibility, therefore, that these manifestations are, to a certain extent, real, and made by invisible beings, is scarcely questionable. What are those invisible beings ? " If any thing, they are devils, or damned spirits. Several considerations favor this conclusion; we will briefly refer to them. I. The ghosts take es- pecial delight in lying. They are so notorious for this, that even Protestant investigators testify strong- ly to the fact that the ghosts habitually lie. II. As we have already remarked, the presence of a bap- tized person, in good faith, has proved sufficient to strike the ghosts dumb. III. When the rappoma- 140 SPIRIT MANIFESTATIONS. niacs who happen to be ' pions church members,' ask to communicate with such persons as the patriarchs, prophets, apostles, or saints who assur- edly died in Christ, the invariable answer is, that those persons belong to a different world, and can- not, for the present, be reached, or communicated with. IV. The proceedings of the rappomaniacs and of the ghosts are very like what is recorded in Scripture and in history of magicians, wizards, and devils or damned spirits. V. The effects of rappomania on the spirit are, atheism, negation of revealed religion. VI. Its effects on the soul are, fanaticism, madness, idiocy. VII. The effects on the body are, an abnormal, unnatural state of the organs, bodily functions, and what looks very like possession by devils. VI II. Some of the pranks enacted, and communications made, are such as could proceed from no human source. IX. Rappo- mania is the latest development of Protestantism, — an ism wonderfully pregnant with negatives, by the way. No wonder; like begets like, asses do not horses, — negation begets negation. But return- ons to our muttons, — our ghosts. " Some people think that hell is in the centre of the earth, — that it is a hot place, undoubtedly a place^ prison, or pit where the damned spirits are confined. Space is a predicate with which spirits have no concern. But aside from all this, it is certain that spirits, good and bad, are effectually PRESENT to the human soul. Good spirits, — angels, SPIRIT MANIFESTATIONS. 141 are present to help, guide, and comfort us. Evil spirits are present to hinder, mislead, and torment us. Thus much we know from the catechism, Scripture, and experience. We are surrounded, as Paul says, by a cloud of witnesses. The angels who guard us, although they are present to us, enjoy the beatific vision, — repose in the bosom of God. The devils who tempt us, although really, and sometimes very disagreeably, present to us, are deprived of the beatific vision, — are in torment, — are in hell, wherever or whatever that may be. Their object is to make us like to themselves, it is iheir revenge against Him of Whom they are eter- nally deprived. Who made us like Him, and gave us the means for loving Him, serving Him, and being happy with Him forever. " It is quite possible, then, that these pretended communications between spirits and men are the work of devils. It is a work which suits them, and which they have a positive interest in doing. Their labor is directed to the destruction of the bodies and of the souls of men, and of all the devel- opments of Protestantism, none is so fatal to soul and body as this rappomania. "It is quite easy to see that Catholics cannot countenance it all. As might be expected, they do not. Grant that it is wholly a humbug, they are not accustomed to tolerate humbugs, — they leave that to ignorant and superstitious Protestantism. But there is a possibility that, with all the humbug, 142 SPIRIT MANIFESTATIONS. there maybe a devilish agency at work in the mat- ter; and, in this view of the case, no Catholic can have in it, part or lot. Hence we counsel our readers to avoid it, to spurn it, without forgetting to laugh at it. As far as possible, shun the houses and the company of the humbugged unfortunates, the knaves, or the demoniacs who practice it. If circumstances compel you to live with them, a hearty prayer and a plentiful supply of holy water will meet the necessities of the case. •' What the devil means by this new develop- ment of his wickedness is not for us to say, — per- haps the rappomaniacs can tell. A few years will solve the problem, and Catholics can afford to wait any number of years. Perhaps the great day of days is not many centuries distant, — certainly the last article of the creed, Everlasting Life, is denied by the current heresy of the age, — perhaps true miracles are again to be common, and the Enemy is pre-occupying the ground, as he has done often. Assuredly, the civilized world is becoming unbap- tized, and cases of possession may easily become once more frequent. However this may be, we can all rest securely in the Promise that no arti- fice of the devil can deceive them who hear the Church." ANOTHER SPECIMEN. This is from the Gospel Banner, a Universalist paper, published in Augusta, Me. It is the com- SPIRIT MANIFESTATIONS. 148 miinicatioii of a correspondent whose signature is "K," copied from a number of the Banner bearing date May 22, 1852. I have no knowledge who " K" is, nor how far the editor is implicated as an endorser of his lucubrations. The article speaks for itself. " Intercourse loith the departed. " While visiting a bookstore the other day, we noticed that the counter was handsomely sprinkled with publications illustrating, defining, and reveal- ing the wonders of Mesmerism, Biology, Psychol- ogy, Spirituality, Electriology, &c., from the ' Great Harmonia,' down to the most gawky pamphlet in a yellow jacket; some written by inspiration, some by second sight, some by spirits wriggling a sub- missive man's hand, and some by grave, almost majestic historians. We hear also, that, in many parts of the country, ' wonderful works ' are per- formed, entirely eclipsing the old Judean miracles, both in number and strangeness. The dead, by a super-Endoric power, are hourly summoned back to earth, by men, women and children, and com- pelled to open the arcana of the seventh heaven, to reveal the past and the future, to imitate all kinds of earthly noises, move tables, tip over chairs, and beat a tattoo on the chimney-piece ; all for twenty- five cents, paid to the pious medium. The nervous are frightened, the credulous are convinced, and the shallow philosopher is driven to his wits' end 144 SPIRIT MANIFESTATIONS. for explanations. Love-lorn damsels have their dresses stripped to tatters on their very persons, by- wicked spirit-clawsj and nice young men, by bio- logical enchantment, are caused, in public, to crow like a rooster and gobble like a turkey. " What is the meaning of all these things 7 Has the grave really given up its awful mystery, or is the Old Serpent loosed for a little season? Has electricity been fairly bitted and brought into com- mon pack-horse drudgery, or does the love of money lie at the root of this evil? Have multitudes con- spired to deceive us by trickery, or are the mediums deceived ? Has Salem witchcraft come again, or the credulity of ignorance settled down upon us? Shall we be silent, or speak our condemnation ? " Whatever this spiritual clatter may be, or whatever we may think of it, one fact is very prominently obvious, viz., it is producing evil and misery, and these only. Anxiety, nervous fear, insanity, neglect of religious duties, contempt of the Bible, and loss of reverence for the high and holy, are the natural and usual results. We think, therefore, that it is time to speak, and necessary to speak strongly ; and we are glad to see in the May number of Harper's popular Magazine a withering rebuke of the impious farce, and we hope, Br. Drew, if you can find room, that you will republish that article, entire, in the Banner. " We feel absolutely wolfish about it. It is an insult to us who have taken the Bible for our rule SPIRIT MANIFESTATIONS. 145 of faith and conduct, to ask us to throw aside tlie good Book and be instructed by rappings. Just as if the word of God by Jesus Christ was not enough ; or rather, just as if it were false, and the departed had not entered into rest ! Should all the mediums in the world kneel in a circle around us, lay all their books at our feet, set the whole battery of spiritual manifestation in play, and amid its wired rattle, solemnly declare under oath that spirits made the noises, we could no more believe it than if they swore that the moon was a great green cheese, mottled with tanzy juice. How could we? A][ their pretended revelations which we can test are contradictory or false ; and what we cannot test, such as the number of Heavens, and the char- acter of the inhabitants of the stellar and spirit worlds, needs other proof than the ill-heard snap- ping of ghosts' fingers. " Neither should we believe, if the same potent circle of magic told us that the manifestations were produced by electricity, in any form; first, because the mo8t of them know as little about electricity as Harold Skimpole about business ; secondly, we know as little as they ; and thirdly, all the phe- nomena may be produced by legerdemain and col- lusion, in fifty different ways. We have tried our hand at the rappings, and can, without help, by a variety of little means, astonish and deceive a room full. "If asked how we account for the noises, our 13 146 SPIRIT MANIFESTATIONS. answer is, we don't try to account for them. We would as soon task ourselves to explain the tricks of the 'Grand Fakir,' or unravel the mysteries of eastern jugglery. The how is unworthy our notice ; the why is plain enough, viz., ' the love of money is the root of all evil;' and a love of notoriety makes the root and stalk grow prodigiously. A pretty large vocation, indeed, for a sensible person who has any thing else to do, or even a shingle to whittle, to be dodging ' round the house and round the house, and in my lady's chamber,' to find out what made a little snapping noise, or rumbled like a fairy's coffee mill ? *' 'Respectable and candid persons tell us that it is not trickery.'' Well, they will have to continue to tell us so some time before we believe them. Possibly the mediums are not all rogues. Some may be deceived by the trembling of their own nerves or the tricks of others, and yet be honest. It is not our business to try to prove that Mr. Ham- mond did not will to write a book. He may prove, if he can, that his hand was guided by invisible beings; but to convince us, something more than his assertion is necessary, though he should furnish us with a certificate of his good, moral character, signed by the whole western editorial corps. " The truth is, most people love the marvelous, and would rather help than hinder a mysterious humbug. We recollect seeing, several years ago, a whole village converted to believers in Mesmer- SPIRIT MANIFESTATIONS. 147 ism by the exhibition of a boy, who, it was after- wards found out, was not mesmerized, but was skilled in deception. So people are willing to be converted to believe in intercourse with the de- parted. " Our advice to Christians is, to study the Bible, and strive to hold communion with God, if they wish for any further information about the spirit world. You will not be satisfied if you hear the rapping, or read the marvelous books written by the new process. Let the atrocious foolery alone, or if you consult the rappers at all, ask for the spirit of God to rap, and you shall find the blas- phemous request will be answered. K." BRIEF COMMENTS. The intelligent and candid reader will perceive in the foregoing specimens, that although the au- thors quoted happen to belong to four diflferent sects bitterly hostile to each other, yet they are all animated by the same spirit. As sectarian relig- ionists, the Calvinist, the Methodist, the Papist, and the Universalist are at war with each other; but as individuals, they feel and speak alike, in their common haired of these Spirit Manifestations. It is evident that all four of them belong to one sphere of minds, — that the same controlling spirit inspires them. What are the prominent character- istics of this spirit ? 148 SPIRIT MANIFESTATIONS. 1. Ignorance. Neither of these men even pre- tend to have given the phenomena against which they rail a thorough personal investigation. Not they. It is beneath their dignity to do any such thing. They have heard, or read, or surmised enough about the matter, to judge of its demQxiXs ; merits it has none. Hence the utter incoherence of their statements and reasonings. It is a humbug; it is the artificial cracking of knee and toe-joints ; it has been detected, exposed, and imitated ; it is a mere money-making contrivance ; it is partly a humbug and partly a strange reality ; it is of a Mesmeric nature, a psychological performance ; it is a silly piece of nonsense, fit only to be laughed at and despised ; it is a dreadful thing ; many devils have undoubtedly broken loose, and the great Devil himself must be in it. It is nothing ; it is something; it is any thing; it is a little of every thing human and infernal ; but it is not what it purports to be — that is certain ! It is ridiculous ; it is horrible ; shut your eyes, stop your ears, and run, or the Devil will catch you ! Such is the wisdom of ignorance. 2. Self-conceit, pride, arrogance, and insolence. Mark the air, the tone, the expression, the entire import and bearing of these productions. Do they indicate the humility of a child, the meekness of a self-subdued heart, the candor of an honest seeker after truth, the modesty of a mind that knows its own lack of knowledge, the generous consideration SPIRIT MANIFESTATIONS. 149 and magnanimity of a true Christian philosopher 7 Nothing of the kind. They are saturated with a mingled compound of bigotry, scorn, and contempt. Some portions are unmitigated religious black- guardism, which is the ivorst kind of that ism. The authors will one day see and deplore their errors. 3. Falsehood and misrepresentation. Every one who has kept himself decently informed on the subject, knows that these specimens contain most reckless falsehood and misrepresentation. The Olive Branch is shameless enough to make the fol- lowing assertion : — " Scarcely a day passes, in which some one of its deluded devotees is not com- mitted to hospitals for the insane, or die by their own suicidal hands. We could fill a column in our paper weekly^ with accounts of such fearful fruits of the rapping imposture." What was Fal- stafF's story about the " fifty men in buckram," compared with such a monstrosity as this 7 The follies and abuses, here and there incidental to a belief in Spirit Manifestations, are deplorable enough, undoubtedly. But are they any more so than those of religionism^ love attachments, and money speculations? This horrible " Rappoma- nia" has been extending itself these four or five years. It is possible that all these denunciators, by scouring the continent, might find half a dozen well authenticated cases of insanity, and perhaps three or four of suicide, traceable to the abuses IS* 150 SPIRIT MANIFESTATIONS. admitted. I doubt their being able to find, through the whole period, so many as even this small num- ber. I mean of fairly authenticated cases — not mere hearsay ones. Yet they would have the world believe, that cases of the kind are happening daily, marked by the most tragical concomitants ! And this is only a single sample of the many false- hoods, misrepresentations, and exaggerations with which their articles abound. 4. Cruelty and persecution. Mark the cold- blooded intimations of what these opposers would do with the wicked " rappomaniacs," if they had the power of their ancestors. Hanging and burn- ing would presently come into fashion again, and it woald only be doing God service to kill us off by the score. One of them expressively says: — "We feel absolutely tooljish about it." This wolfishness appears prominent in them all. Oh, murderous and execrable spirit ! And yet, such men presume to call themselves disciples of Jesus Christ ! They boast of their extraordinary veneration for that Bible, whose holy Prophets, Messiah, and Apostles were slandered, falsely accused, and persecuted to death by minds of the same general character with their own. Well may the rebuke of Jesus be ap- plied to them : — " Woe unto you, Scribes and Phar- isees, hypocrites ! because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous ; and say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers SPIRIT MANIFESTATIONS. 151 with them in the blood of the prophets. Where- fore, ye be witnesses nnto yourselves, that ye are the children of them which killed the prophets. Fill ye up the measure of your fathers." Matt. 23: 29—32. 152 SPIRIT MANIFESTATIONS. CHAPTER X. ADVICE TO BELIEVERS AND FRIENDS. 1. Against yielding up reason, &c. — 2. Against reaching after too much — 3. Against disorderly methods of treating the Manifesta- tions— 4. Against feeling more obliged to receive what comes from departed spirits, than what comes from undeparted ones — 5. Against disregarding the imperfections of Media. I CANNOT conclude this part of my work without a chapter of advice to beUevcrs and friends. If the Position. Theory, and Views herein before ex- pounded are sound, it is plain that conversing with spirits, and dealing with these Manifestations, is a serious business, never to be trifled with. To opposers, enough has been said. I would now guard friends against abuses and dangers. 1. You are in danger of yielding up the exer- cise of your own reason, judgment, and conscience implicitly to another. You must do no such thing. It would be a folly and a sin. No truly good and wise mind will exact it. The Infinite Paternal Mind does not. He ever respects the constituted moral nature of his creatures. He says, "Come, let us reason together," and addresses Himself to the understanding, the conscience, and the aff'ec- tional sentiment of each soul. If any spirit in the SPIRIT MANIFESTATIONS. 153 fleshj or any one purporting to come from the world of departed spirits, demand that you surren- der your powers and faculties to his control, stand upon your own proper responsibility, insist that he prove himself worthy of your confidence, and that he give you good reasons for what he teaches, or requires. If he ask you to stultify your under- standing, or to violate the great moral law, or to surrender your judgment to his without a reason, you may know that he is too low a spirit to elevate and guide you. The moment you surrender up these fundamentals of your rational and moral nature to the mere assumption and dictation of another mind, you are befooled and enslaved. Be sure, then, that you maintain the integrity of your own reason, conscience, and spirit-hood. I do not mean that you should be proud, and refuse to leajn ; nor that you should be willful, and rebel against the laws of your being ; nor that you should be distrustful, and withhold deserved confi- dence. Neither reason, nor conscience, nor self- respect will sanction such perverseness. All the spirits, who have given good evidence of their reliability in these latter-day Manifestations, have reiterated substantially this very advice. Let all Media heed it. Let all believers and inquirers respect it. 2. You are in danger of desiring, reaching after, and expecting too much in these Manifestations. You would be a Medium; you would see and 154 SPIRIT MANIFESTATIONS. converse with spirits; you would have extraor- dinary revelations; yon would behold miracles. Are you sure all this would be best for you 1 Are you in a fit state of body, mind, or morals to receive all this, and to make a wise use of it ? Not one of you in a hundred. You ask for more respon- sibility than you can bear. Be humble; be rev- erent; be contented with what may be dispensed to you; be patient and hopeful; but be not pre- sumptuous. Consider your physical weakness, and how little you can endure of nervous excite- ment. Consider your mental infirmity, and how ill prepared you are to converse discreetly with such subtle spirits as might approach you. Con- sider your moral and spiritual lowness, and whether you will not be likely to draw around you impure, unwise and unwelcome spirits. Consider how liable you are to be misled by your own imagina- tion ; to mistake influences from spirits in the flesh for those out of it; and to be imposed on by loiv spirits. Consider whether you are any where near what you ought to be, in yourself, toward God, and with respect to your fellow men. All these things are to be considered. " Fools rush in where angels dare not tread." Before we impatiently desire, reach after, and expect familiar intercourse with a world for which most of us are yet so unripe, we ought to count SPIRIT MANIFESTATIONS. 155 the cost. We ought to consider what we are aspir- ing after, and whether if we should be indulged, we could endure it. Friends, do not disregard this counsel. Do not run too fast. Do not make haste in a matter where moderation, calmness, and patience are indispensable virtues. Great bless- ings will come from these Manifestations, if follj^^ rashness, and presumption be not encouraged to abuse them. There is no need of one getting sick, or infatuated, or insane; if we will but try- to do all things in the Love and Wisdom of God. Why should we act otherwise, to our own injury, to the reproach of a great cause, and to the gratifi- cation of scornful enemies 7 I call on all who appreciate the value of this advice, to cooperate with me in commending it to universal observance. In doing so, let no one fear that genuine and benefi- cent Spirit Manifestations will be retarded. Noth- ing will be lost to the sincere seeker; but much will be gained. 3. You are in danger from disorderly^ iri-egular, and frivolous methods of treating the Manifesta- tions. There must be more seriousness, deliber- ateness, serenity, order, and harmony. There must be more true religiousness of heart and deportment; not cant religiousness, not artificial solemnity, not austere formalism ; but true prayer- fulness of spirit, unaflected piety to God, sincere love of truth, and cheerful good will to man. These should characterize all your spirit meetings, 156 SPIRIT MANIFESTATIONS. or sittings. Those meetings should be held at regular intervals. They should consist of harmo- nious believers, with such candid inquirers as may- desire to attend. The company should not be too numerous; not more than ten or twelve persons, unless very favorably situated and associated. They should not be held too frequently ; never oftener than once or twice a week. They should not be continued too long; not over an hour and a half, or two hours. They should be opened with serene silence, meditation, interior prayer, and the singing of appropriate hymns. Nothing disorderly, indecorous, or disputatious should be allowed in the circle. They should be closed in quietude, with grateful veneration to the Father of spirits. If all this regularity and desirable order cannot be immediately observed, let it be approximated as nearly as circumstances will permit. If respectful sceptics wish to test and criticise the phenomena, let them be accommodated, to any reasonable extent, by special sittings. With unQ,\Y\\^ ill-man- nered ones, have nothing to do. If you get caught with such, dismiss them at once. Do this civilly^ but promptly and decidedly. If the blackguards will not consider themselves dismissed, retire quietly, and leave them to glory in their own shame. Bandy no unfriendly words with them. Debate is of no use with such characters. Let them go to their own company. When we reflect for a moment on the manner SPIRIT MANIFESTATIONS. 167 in which these Manifestations have been too gen- erally treated, we can only wonder that the conse- quences have been endurable. Some one was discovered to be a Medium. Ignorant, inexperi- enced, half-credulous, half-sceptical, fearful and yet presumptuous, partial, impassive, and altogether imperfect as the Medium might be, the sittings commenced, and were repeated, day and night, without regard to health, reason, or propriety. The neighbors rushed in, and all sorts of people, far and near, demanded audience at their conve- nience. Faith and scepticism, refinement and boorishness, respect and contempt, good sense and nonsense, Phariseeism and Sadduceeism, were all represented in the medley of critics and specta- tors. One believed, another sneered, a third wept, a fourth quizzed, a fifth hunted for the machinery, a sixth knew the Medium made it all, and the seventh ran out of the room, muttering, '' It is the Devil, it is the Devil ! '' Meantime reports flew abroad among the outsiders, and set in motion the whole chaos of ignorance, credulity, super- stition, prejudice, scepticism, religionism, and sen- sualistic opinionism, till " confusion worse con- founded" seemed to ensue. Hence the Babylonish clamor which is ringing from the press, and even from the pulpit. That so few have been crazed, by all this disorder and jargon, is indeed a wonder among wonders. But it is time that believers should ''come to order," and leave their opposers to act 14 158 SPIRIT MANIFESTATIONS. and answer for themselves. If they will be ignor- ant, let them be ignorant. If ihey choose to act the fool or the knave, let them play their part by themselves, on their own stage, without your help. Abstain from every thing which can cause mischief or just reproach. 4. You are in danger of feeling obliged to receive every thing which comes from departed spirits as true, right and proper, and treating it accord- ingly. You must not feel thus. You are no more obliged to receive a tenet, or an opinion, or a statement, or a prediction, or a promise, or a pre- scription of duty, or a direction how to act in a given case, from a departed spirit, than from an 2/^zdeparted one. Are we not all spirits? Have we not all a common nature? Do not all spirits differ in degrees of wisdom and goodness? Are we not all subjects of the same fundamental spiritual and moral laws? Must not each answer for him- self? Is it nof probable that millions of departed spirits are lower than the wisest ?(\Va' Deacidified using the Bookkeeper process ^^i^J^"-'"9 agent: Magnesium'oxSe ^ Treatment Date: Nov. 2004 ':;P. .x'-NV o ^'^ -f ^O * *°'"-° "-EA^ER ,N PAPER PRPSPP.?;. «„ o 0^ PAPER PRESERVATION 1 1 1 Thomson Park Drive Cranberry Township. PA 16066 (724)779-2111 *. *• ^«#^~ Oj/^^ ^-N' ." %.^'o.\-^^ ^ ■ ^ v^" %\ '^^^ V^ ^.Sf^: •^00^ :^^ <;^. 4- ?_.ir-^t-7 ■:, S ^ ^'^^' % %'- "-'-:.<^ ^V .r^^> "■'M