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NEW TESTAMENT “MIRACLES,”
AND
MODERN “MIRACLES.”
THE COMPARATIVE AMOUNT OF EVIDENCE FOR EACH.
THE NATURE OF BOTH.
TESTIMONY OF A HUNDRED WITNESSES.
AN ESSAY,
READ BEFORE THE MIDDLE AND SENIOR CLASSES IN CAMBRIDGE
DIVINITY SCHOOL,
BY
J.
“ Ye
H. FOWLER.
shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
BOSTON:
PUBLISHED BY BELA MARSH, 15 FRANKLIN STREET.
NEW YORK : PARTRIDGE & BRITTAN, 300 BROADWAY.
PHILADELPHIA : B. PEBCIVAL, 89 SOUTH SIXTH ST.
18 54.
�Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1854, by
J. n. FOWLER,
In the Clerk’s Office of the District Court for the District of Massachusetts.
STEREOTYPED BY
HOBART & ROBBINS,
NEW ENGLAND Ti'rE AND STEREOTYPE FOUNDERY,
BOSTON.
I
�■
�WITNESSES TO MODERN MIRACLES.
[See Testimony.]
CASE I.
No. 1.
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No. 2.
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No. 3.
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No. 4.
«.
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No. 5.
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Z. P. Kibbee, M. D.
Rufus Elmer.
Nelson Elmer.
Theodore M. Smith.
George E. Haskell.
Z. Rogers.
Moses Babcock.
W. S. Courtney.
Milo A. Townsend.
William McDonald.
Mrs. John Lord.
Mrs. R. Elmer.
Mrs. S. A. Richie.
Miss Mary M. Harris.
F. C. Andreu.
Marshall Elmer.
William Bryant.
B. K. Bliss.
William Edwards.
David A. Wells.
S. F. Cheney.
Rev. Herman Snow.
case n.
No. 1. B. S. Benson.
“ W. W. Laning.
No. 2. Joseph Brydle.
CASE III.
No. 2.
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Harvey Chase.
Marcus C. Wilcox.
Mrs. M. C. Wilcox.
Emery S. Scott.
Ellis Cook.
Benj. Ray.
Meltiah Knowlton
Daniel Knowlton.
CASE IV.
No. 1. J. F. Lanning.
No. 2. Goorge R. Raymond.
case v.
No. 1. Joseph R. Buchanan.
No. 2. J. B. Wolf.
CASE VI.
No. 1. Dr. Smith.
No. 2. Mr. Waters.
CASE VII.
No. 1.
No. 2.
No. 3.
No. 4.
No. 5.
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No. 6.
D. W. Scott.
H. H. Hunt.
Cyrus Tyrrell.
Sarah Herron.
S. C. Hewitt.
John M. Spear.
Philander Shaw.
Seth Hunt.
Benj. A. Rhodes.
No. 7.
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No. 8.
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Silas Mosman.
M. S. Pease.
George Staples.
Eliza C. Leeds.
Joseph Haight.
William Dibble.
Charles C. York.
Pamelia A. Nichols.
William Nichols.
Mrs. Harriet Nelson.
CASE VIII.
No. 1. William Lloyd Garrison.
No. 2. Adin Ballou.
No. 3. William Bugbee.
CASE IX.
No. 1. Mrs. D. C. Kendall.
“ Mary E. Kendall.
No. 2. B. McFarland.
No. 3. Rev. D. F. Goddard.
No. 4. D. Hasteller.
“ A. P. Pierce.
“ II. F. Partridge.
“ Lewis Dugdale.
“ Charles C. Stillman.
No. 5. Mary H. Ide.
“ Amos Cummings.
“ George Clapp.
“ Miss Susan Bagley.
No. 6. E. P. Fowler.
“ John Gray.
“ John F. Gray, M. D.
“ S. T. Fowler.
“ F. F. Cory.
“ Mrs. Charlotte F. Wells.
“ Robert T. Shannon.
“ Daniel Minthorn.
“ Charles Partridge.
“ William J. Baner.
“ Mrs. Almira L. Fowler.
“ Mrs. S. A. Partridge.
“ Almon Roff.
“ Ward Cheney.
“ R. T. Hallock, M. D.
“ Mrs. Martha H. F. Baner.
“ J. T. Warner, M. D.
« A. G. Hull, M. D.
“ Samuel T. Fowler.
“ Prof. Bush.
case x.
No. 1. George T. Dexter, M. D.
No. 2. Judge Edmonds.
No. 3. Governor Tallmadge.
CASE XI.
A. E. Newton.
S. J. Newton.
J. H. Fowler.
�WITNESSES FOR NEW TESTAMENT MIRACLES.
Saul of Tarsus (otherwise called Paul).
’ Peter, a fisherman of G alilee.
Luke, Paul’s secretary.
Supposed to be <{ Mark, Peter’s secretary.
Matthew, a tax-gatherer of Jerusalem.
John, a fisherman of Galilee.
1*
�____________________________________________________________________________________
�PREFACE.
It has been customary among all people to divide the facts of
history into two distinct classes; namely, Natural or Profane, and
Miraculous or Sacred. In the former class they have included all
those events which they are able to explain by known principles,
or which have become so common as to excite no surprise. In
the latter they have included all those facts which are remark
ably wonderful, from the fact of their unfrequent occurrence, or of
their not being accounted for by principles already known.
Now, to show that this distinction is purely subjective, and has
no ground in the facts themselves, it is only necessary to state
that no two persons draw the line through the same points ; and
each individual is constantly changing the line of division, as his
own experience and knowledge of the powers of nature increase.
The line has been drawn through every possible point, and is
found to apply nowhere. Hence, at the present day, many have
rejected it altogether.
Scientific men reject it, not because they are able to explain all
¿he facts of history on scientific principles which they already
know; but, because they have implicit confidence in what they call
the “ immutable laws of naturef they reject all the evidence
for that class of facts which seemingly contradict, or cannot be ex
plained by, laws already known; presuming that there are no
higher laws in God’s universe. And when they have rejected one
whole class of facts, they have no need of the line of distinction.
To show the stupidity of this course, we need only refer to their
means of judging the powers of nature. They judge these powers,
or laws, by the phenomena produced. They accept the phenomena
�4
on the direct evidence of their own senses, and on the testimony
of others as to the evidence of their senses. If sufficient evidence
to establish any class of phenomena is thus presented, they at once
conclude that there are powers in nature capable of producing
such phenomena; they then name those powers, and designate the
class of phenomena by appropriate terms.
Now, sjiould they pursue this course, of testing the powers of
nature by the facts produced, to a certain extent, and then ex
clude or reject, at once, all her facts, simply on the ground of
nature’s inability to produce them, would they not act foolishly,
and most unscientifically ?
How do they know that nature is able to produce any class of
facts ? By the facts themselves. Hence, should they reject the
facts beforehand, on the ground of nature’s inability to produce
them, they would certainly be stupid. But they do this very
thing. They reject a whole class of facts which appear in all
history as well substantiated — and often better — as many other
facts which they receive with implicit confidence; facts which are
testified to, not orfly by all history, but by the most reliable wit
nesses of our own time. They reject these facts, not for the want
of testimony in their favor, but because they presume, beforehand,
that nature has no power to produce them. Thus they reverse
the true order of scientific inquiry, which is, first to substantiate
the facts; which being done, it must be taken for granted that
there is somewhere in nature a power adequate to their pro
duction.
The course pursued by religionists is generally more inconsistent
than the above. They select, out of the “ miracles ” of a past age,
such as favor their own peculiar systems of religion, and reject
all others, though those rejected rest on testimony equally
reliable with that which substantiates those received. After they
have once accepted ‘ ‘ miracles ’ ’ enough to prove to their own
minds the divine origin of their peculiar system of religion, they
then take the course of the scientifics, and deny the possibility of
similar facts occurring in their own age, however much testimony
may be produced in their favor. With them,
“ ’T is distance lends enchantment to the view.”
�Another class, among whom are nearly all the “ spiritualists ”
of the present day, take what appears to me the only truly scien
tific and religious ground ; namely, we can judge of the powers of
nature — or, rather, of the ability of Deity to operate in nature —
only by what nature does, just as we judge the powers of man
by what man does ; hence, whenever any fact or phenomenon of
nature is clearly established by reliable testimony, we arg bound
to believe that nature has performed it, and therefore has the
ability to do it, and may do it, again, under similar circumstances.
This, we say, is more scientific than either to reject the fact, or
refer it to supernatural and miraculous agency.
Hence, while we receive all the well-attested facts of the
present age, and of all past ages, we do not accept the eccle
siastical theory of 11 miracles " to account for any of them.
We say, if spirits who have left the earthly body produce
sounds, or move physical objects, or manifest themselves in any
way, they do it just as much in harmony with the principles of
nature, as they did the ordinary acts while in the earthly body.
They are no more supernatural now than while living on earth ;
and their action is no more “miraculous.” They are the same
identical beings ; though some of them probably have arisen to
higher degrees of goodness and truth, many remain on nearly the
same plane, and some may, for a time, even sink to a lower plane.
Still, we believe all will progress to higher degrees of life. We
judge of their character as we judge of persons on earth, by the
things which they do. And we deny that any man, whether in the
church or out, can judge them by any other standard. We do not
admit the high or low character of the manifestations as evidence
either for or against the spiritual theory, because we say no man
can know thé character of spirits unless he admit the possibility of
*
theii communicating. If he deny that spirits communicate, he
has no right to object on the ground of the '■'•low character'"
of the communications ; for he has no possible means of judging
what the character of spirits is. It is all assumption with him, and
assumption is worth nothing against fact. If he admit that spirits
ever have communicated, and afforded us an opportunity of judg
ing their character, then we are perfectly agreed. For we do
not. more than he, presume that everything purporting to
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be done by spirits is really done by them. Nor do I know of any
“spiritualist” who takes it for granted that all the communica
tions signed by “ great names ” are given by the persons whose
names they bear. Though I believe very many are still disposed
to put too much confidence in these names, especially when they
are given through their own hand, I think they are as much influ
enced to do this by their own vanity, as the spirits are induced to
assume them by the same cause.
Some mediums seem to think it a greater honor to be the
amanuenses of Matthew, or Luther, or Baeon, oi’ Franklin, or
Webster, than of one of their own humble friends: and some per
sons who ask for communications seem to think they can derive
power by being noticed by these same persons, and call for them
in preference to their dearest friends. They seldom fail to get
what they most desire ; for it appears there are spirits as ready to
deceive and play the fool, as mortals are ready to be deceived and
befool themselves.
However, we do not expect all men to be entirely free from
folly in this world, nor immediately after going to the next. We
did not at first presume that spirits, or anything else, caused the
phenomena. We, at first, denied the facts themselves, and
demanded proof • this we have received, sufficient to compel our
assent to them. Next we sought, from the character of the facts
themselves, to ascertain their cause. The same cause that produced
them always affirmed itself to be spirits. But we did not believe
this; we proved them, and, by an overwhelming amount of evidence,
became convinced that they are what they have from the first pur
ported to be.
It is a principle of philosophy, which cannot be neglected in any
truly scientific inquiry, that the cause assigned to any class
of phenomena must be adequate to the production of every
individual phenomenon in that class.
Now, it is certain that every other theory which has been
manufactured to account for these modern “spirit manifestations ”
is insufficient to account for very many of the phenomena; and
the authors of those theories are obliged to deny many facts for
which the testimony is equally good with that for the facts they
receive. The Grimes school of Mesmerists, Biologists, Psychol
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ogists, Humbugs and Eclipse-makers, not only deny many of the
best-attested facts, but they declare, boldly, that thousands of un
suspected men, women, children, and even infants (for there are
many such mediums), are capable of practising deceptions which
they, after an experience of twenty years in the art, cannot accom
plish. The Rogers school of Od-forces also deny the fact of an
independent directing intelligence, and many other established
facts. But they do this in such an od way, that no one can tell
what they are driving at.
The Beecher school of Devilites arc also compelled to ignore
all the good connected with the phenomena.
Lastly, Dods — [I know not whether fe has yet made a single
disciple, though he has “ known all about this matter for twenty
years ” !] •— Dods, who, as we all know, is more thorough in his in
vestigations, knows more about the subject, and states himself
more candidly and modestly, than anybody else,—even Dods
denies all these well-known facts, which his Back-Brain-Instinct
theory cannot account for.
But the Spiritual theory, which can stand all tests, is not only
adequate to account for all the phenomena, but it gathers
strength from every principle assumed in all the other theories;
from Mesmerism, Od, Back-Brain, and the Devil.
��INTRODUCTION.
From the jeering manner in which every allusion to
the subject has been repulsed, even while we have been
gravely considering the time-honored records of similar
phenomena, I am induced to apologize for making it the
subject of my present essay, and inviting your serious
attention to it for the space of a whole hour.
I assure you I would not make this attempt, had I not,
after devoting to it a considerable portion of my time for
the last four years, and having personally witnessed many
of the phenomena, become fully satisfied as to their truth
and importance.
Even this conviction would not be sufficient induce
ment for me to bring the subject before you in this
manner, were I not fully persuaded that my sense of
duty to the cause were greater than your combined re
pulsion.
Whether it be, or be not, a fit subject for the serious
consideration of a “ divinity class,” it will soon make an
irresistible demand upon every theologian and religious
teacher.
It is already claiming the attention of all classes of
people, in every part of the civilized world, as no other
subject ever did. It is making the most alarming inroads
upon all the creeds and churches of Christendom. It is
commencing a revolution in the intellectual, moral, re2
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ligious and social world, to which history furnishes no
parallel.
It does not depend merely upon human agency for its
success; but, spite of all opposition, it goeth where it
listeth, and people of every class, and in every place, are
compelled to hear the sound thereof, though they may
not be able to tell whence it cometh or whither it goeth.
No family circle is too private for it. The sceptical
father and prudent mother may forbid their sons and
daughters witnessing the manifestations at their neighbors’
houses, but soon the most wonderful and convincing phe
nomena appear in their own, and both father and mother
arc eager to hear “what the spirits wish to communicate
to them.” No church is too sacred for their presence.
Ministers pronounce it “the work of the devil,” and,
from the pulpit, warn their congregation against it; but,
before the sermon is ended, the well-known but unsolic
ited sound is heard in various parts of the house ; the
most faithful church-members become mediums, the
deacons are entranced, and soon minister and all become
a congregation of “spiritualists.”
Though these modern “spirit-manifestations” com
menced but five years since, and, at first, only attracted
the attention of two little girls by some slight tappings
in their presence, there are now from twenty to thirty
modes of manifestation, some of them of the most astound
ing character.
It has been stated that there are a hundred thousand
mediums, and two and a half millions of believers, in this
country alone, to say nothing of the many thousands in
Europe.
The attention of the British Parliament has been called
to it; the French Academy of Science has long been
�considering it; and a memorial, signed by thirteen thou
sand persons, has been presented to the Congress of the
United States, asking for a special committee to consider
the subject.
There are in the United States some twenty newspa
pers and periodicals principally devoted to it, and upwards
of one hundred different publications on the subject.
“It numbers among its advocates many men of the
highest standing and talent, in every profession and sphere.
Doctors, lawyers, clergymen, a Protestant bishop, pro
fessors, and a reverend president of a college, foreign
ambassadors and ex-members of the national senate.”
The rapid progress of belief in the reality of the phe
nomena does not depend so much upon the testimony of
others, however reliable, as upon the personal observation
and experience which probably every believer has had.
Thousands of living witnesses testify, on the very day of
their occurrence, that they have seen, felt and heard the
phenomena, and are compelled to believe in their reality,
spite of their obstinate prejudices against them.
There is no question about the authenticity of the tes
timony, the character and competency of those who testify,
or the time and place. The names of all the parties, and
all the circumstances of the events, are given, and the
witnesses are now before you, ready to be questioned ;
none of which things can be said of the New Testament
“ miracles.”
Besides my own living testimony, being an eye-wit
ness, I hold in my hands the direct, unequivocal and
most reliable testimony of men in your very midst, to the
number of ten to one, that events precisely similar to
those recorded in the New Testament have, within the
last five years, occurred in their presence. And I am
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able now, in three days, not only to bring personally before
you this superior number of witnesses, but, with your
consent, to make every one of you a witness that such
facts do really occur.
THE COMPARATIVE AMOUNT OF EVIDENCE.
The testimony which I have collected, though not a
tithe of what has come under my observation, and, in
many respects, — owing principally to the necessity for
brevity, — not so complete and convincing as much which
I have rejected, is still sufficient to establish the facts, as
far as human testimony can do it. The facts must either
be admitted, or the testimony of the human senses, how
ever multiplied, pronounced unreliable. If the latter
alternative be accepted, then, of course, it applies as well
to past ages as to the present, and the New Testament
testimony is worth nothing. So all a priori objections
to the occurrence of any fact, or class of facts, at the
present day, would apply with equal force to those of
any past age. And all arguments from the wants of
mankind, previous prophecies, and arguments of what
ever kind which have been made to render the New
Testament accounts probable, will apply with equal force
to those of the present day; so that, aside from the
amount of testimony, the ancient “miracles” have no
advantage.
Let us, then, compare the testimony in favor of each.
To facilitate this, we will classify the so-called miracles
of the New Testament in the following manner :
1st. The counteraction of the law of gravitation in the
movement of physical objects ; the rolling away the stone
at the door of the sepulchre of Christ, the opening of
the prison-doors to Peter, Christ walking on the water, etc.
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2d. Luminous appearances accompanying the manifest
ations of physical power, and the seeing of spirits; as in
the case of Peter’s release from prison, the transfigura
tion of Christ on the mount, the conversion of Paul on
the day of Pentecost.
3d. Spirits are seen, recognized and conversed with ;
as, Moses and Elias, Christ after his death, and others.
4th. Voices are heard as at Paul’s conversion, at the
baptism of Christ, etc.
5th. Speaking in unknown tongues.
6th. Jesus is taught to read.
7th. A remarkable healing power is exhibited.
8th. Cursing the fig-tree.
9th. Turning water into wine.
10th. Feeding a multitude on less than nothing.
11th. Raising a person from the dead.
12th. Child born with no natural father.
These twelve classes, I believe, comprise all the pre
tended miracles of the New Testament.
We will first present our testimony to facts precisely
similar to, or involving the same principles as, those of
the first seven classes, and then consider the other five
particular ones. The reader should now turn to the testi
mony, and read the cases as they are referred to.
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2
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CLASS I.
We have produced, as will be seen by turning to the
testimony, in case I., twenty-three witnesses; in case II.,
two ; in case III., one ; case V., one ; case VIII., two ;
case X., eleven; making in all forty witnesses, who, in the
most unequivocal manner, testify to cases precisely simi
lar to those “miracles” of the New Testament comingunder the first class. These witnesses are many of them
well known as men of the first character and standing in
community; men who would be the least liable to be
deceived in matters of this kind. They state what they
have seen. They state the time, place and circumstances,
and then appeal to others ; and are now ready to be con
fronted upon the subject.
What, now, is the New Testament testimony ? The
writer of Matthew’s gospel says, “The angel of the Lord
(if he did not mean a spirit, what did he mean ?) descended
from heaven and rolled back the stone,” Matt. 18 : 2.
The writer of Mark (16 : 4) says, “And when they looked
they saw that the stone was rolled away.” The writer
of Luke (24: 2) says, “They found the stone rolled
away.” So, according to the two last, they did not see
the thing done. The first seems to have taken it for
granted, or, perchance, “ he got a communication,” that
a spirit did it. Now, we will suppose (even the doctors
admit its uncertainty) that Matthew — Matthew some
body— gave this testimony. Then, as the best critics
say, Paul told his secretary Luke the story, and he wrote
the second statement. And Peter (who, on one occasion,
certainly lied) told Mark somebody, and he gave the
third statement. So much for the New Testament testi
mony to this fact.
�15
The other instance, coming under class first, recorded
in the gospels, is Jesus walking on the sea, Matt. 14 :
25, 26 ; Mark 6 : 48—50 ; John 6 : 19—21. Accord
ing to the two, first, when the disciples saw Jesus walking
on the sea, they were troubled, saying, “It is a SPIRIT.”
How could they have said this, had they not believed
spirits could manifest themselves to mortals ? The next
case is recorded by the writer of Acts (supposed to be
that same Luke above referred to), though it is not likely
he saw it, Acts 5 : 19, 20. But the angel of the Lord
(another spirit,—who else could it be ?) by night opened
the prison doors and brought them forth, and said, “ Go,
stand up in the temple, and speak all the words of this life,”
—very like what the spirits of the present day often say.
Another case is recorded in chapter 12 : 1—11. I would
ask the hearer to turn to this and read it, and, if possible,
make anything out of it but a spirit-manifestation. Trans
late it into modern language, and see if it is not just
like some things which now take place, — the luminous
appearance, the keepers entranced and Peter likewise
(see 11th verse), the gates and doors opened, etc.
It could be none other than a spirit (here called angel
of the Lord}. And this fact will explain what is meant
by angel of the Lord in the other cases. The last case,
Acts 17 : 26, — “And suddenly there was a great earth
quake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken;
and immediately all the doors were opened, and every
one’s bands were loosed.” This “ manifestation ” should
be compared with case II., number one. I think these
comprise all the phenomena, related in the New Testa
ment, which come under the first class.
We have, then, for these, the testimony of only four
persons, — and who doubts them ? But we have given the
�16
testimony of ten times this number of personal witnesses,
— who can doubt them ? I insist upon this case, and chal
lenge any person to show wherein any one of our forty
witnesses’ testimony is not as good, to say the least, as
that of any one of the four New Testament witnesses.
Till this is done, and our witnesses are reduced to less
than four, let no man, who pretends to believe the New
Testament accounts, be so inconsistent as to deny that
similar facts now occur.
z
Having made so strong a case respecting this first class,
and, as we very justly conclude, convinced every believer
in the New Testament “miracles” that the modern
“miracles” are also true, we shall not be expected to
produce so much testimony in favor of the facts of the
following classes, neither shall we be so particular in re
gard to the New Testament statements.
CLASS II.
We have, in cases I., II. and X., the testimony of ten to
facts coming under this class. Suppose, then, we have in
the New Testament five witnesses equally good, who testify
to precisely similar luminous appearances in cases of
spirit-manifestation which then occurred, — and certainly
that was a spirit-manifestation when Moses and Elias,
who had been so long in the spirit-world, appeared and
talked with Christ, — we have then produced two wit
nesses for the modern, to one for the New Testament
manifestations of this class.
CLASS ni.---- SPIRITS SEEN, ETC.
We have in cases II., III., IV. and X., the testimony
of five. I think the New Testament does not produce more
�17
than this number of witnesses to this class of facts. Truly,
it says the spirit of Christ (and if Christ was not then a
spirit, how could he get into the room when “the doors
were shut ” ?) appeared to twelve, and then to five thou
sand ; but who those were it does not say, nor does any
one of them give his testimony. Such witnesses we could
find in abundance; but we do not count any one who has
not given his own personal signature, or authorized us to
give it. This case, then, stands as good in favor of mod
ern, as New Testament “miracles.”
CLASS IV.---- VOICES HEARD.
In cases IV. and X., we have the testimony of three,
though we might have given many more; but the New
Testament testimony is so vague and equivocal upon this
point that we deem these cases sufficient to balance them.
Four cases occur in the New Testament records,—
Matt. 3:17; 17: 5; John 12: 28; Acts 9: 7. In regard
to the first, Mark (1: 10, 11) agrees with Matthew, and
says he (John or Jesus) saw the spirit descending, etc.
Luke does not contradict this. John says nothing about
the voice, but implies that only John saw the spirit
descend : “ and he (John) bare record that this is the Son
of God.” — See John 1 : 33—35. It would appear, by
comparing John 1: 34 with the others above referred to,
that, if anything of this kind did occur, — and we are not
disposed to doubt it, — when John saw the spirit descend
upon Christ, he said, “ This is the beloved Son of God”
or something like this. For he says (John 1: 34), “And
I saw (the spirit) and bore record that this is the Son of
God.” If the multitudes saw and heard all this, and the
voice from heaven, as is commonly supposed, what need
�18
would there be of John “ bearing record,” and why were
they not all at once converted to a belief in Christ ?
The second case of the voice from the cloud, on the
mount, is pretty well substantiated by the three first
gospels, and in 2 Peter 3 : 17 ; but, it appears by Luke
9 : 32, and Matt. 17 : 7, that the disciples were in a
trance, or what we should call 11 under spiritual influence.”
Now, to such cases we could bring the testimony of
hundreds.
The next case (John 12 : 28) seems to have been an
audible voice heard by the people who stood by. The
other case, in Acts 9 : 7, is contradicted in chapter 22,
verse 9.
CLASS V. — SPEAKING IN UNKNOWN TONGUES.
We have, in cases V., VIII. and X., the testimony of
nineteen, that persons under the modern spiritual influence
do speak in tongues wholly unknown to them. This tes
timony is as direct and explicit as testimony can be.
There is no statement, I think, in either of the four
gospels, that any one did speak with tongues, though
Christ is made to promise it to those who believe; hence
we may infer that some did so speak. In Acts 2, an
account is given, at considerable length, of speaking with
unknown tongues. I will translate this account into the
language of modern spiritualists, to show its close resem
blance to what now happens; and I would ask any person
to show wherein I change a single idea or fact. When
the day for the great festival of the Jews, called the
Pentecost, arrived, all disciples of Jesus (spiritualists)
met in one place, and, being in perfect harmony, or,
“forming an harmonious circle,” all at once they heard
a sound over their heads, apparently from the clouds, re-
�19
sembling a very violent blast of wind, which filled the
whole house in which they had their “ sitting.” And there
appeared to them a divided flame, resembling fire, resting
upon each one in the circle; and they were all under the
spiritual influence, and began to speak in other languages
as the “spirit” influenced them, or enabled them to
speak. At that time there were residing in Jerusalem
Jews and religious men from all nations, who had come
to this festival; so, when this manifestation was known
among them, a large number came in to witness it, and
were completely confounded, for every man heard these
ignorant spiritualists speak in his own language. And
they all were greatly astonished, for they (the learned
priests of all religions) could not account for it that these
Galileans should speak in so many foreign languages.
And they asked one another what it meant; and some
said, “ These men are drunk,”—a reply nearly as stupid
as some religious men now make, when asked what these
same manifestations mean. But one of the twelve (see
verse 14) who composed the circle replied to them very
eloquently (probably under the influence). He took them
on their own ground, quoted from their own scripture,
showing that the thing had been spoken of a long time
before, and that it should continue through all time (see
verses 16 to 18). “ Your sons and your daughters shall
prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and
your old men shall dream dreams. And I will show
wonders in the heavens above, and signs in the earth
beneath ; blood and fire and vapor of smoke.” (These
very things are now seen.) “Repent and receive the
gift of the Holy Spirit (the spiritual influence); for the
PROMISE IS UNTO YOU, AND TO YOUR CHILDREN, AND TO ALL
�20
THAT ARE AFAR OFF, EVEN AS MANY AS THE LORD YOUR GOD
SHALL CALL.”
The promise of Christ, in Mark 16 : 16,17, is so like
this, that we will here quote it. “ He that believeth and
is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not
shall be damned. And these signs shall follow them that
believe ; in my name shall they cast out devils (evil spirits);
they shall speak with new tongues ; they shall take up
serpents, and, if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not
hurt them ; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they
shall recover.”
So, then, all “ believers ” are spiritual
ists ; nay, more, they are mediums.
Speaking in unknown languages is several times referred
to in the writings of Paul. Hence we have the direct
testimony of two in the New Testament to this class of
phenomena, for which we have adduced the testimony of
nineteen.
CLASS VI.---- TEACHING TO READ.
For facts under this head, we furnish the testimony of
four witnesses,— cases V., VI. and X. John 7 : 15,1
believe, is the only statement in the New Testament of
any fact of this kind, — and yet who doubts that Jesus
was learned spiritually ?
CLASS VII.---- HEALING.
To facts of this kind we have given, in case VII., the
testimony of seventeen witnesses, who state all the par
ticulars, and give the names of the persons healed. We
have also selected some of the most malignant cases of
almost every kind of disease ; and now we challenge any
believer in the New Testament miracles of this and the
�21
six previous classes to show wherein we have not pro
duced a far superior amount of evidence that the same
“ miracles ” are wrought now.
Whereas, no one of the six New Testament witnesses
would be allowed in our courts, — for there is no certainty
about the authenticity of either of them, or the time of
their testifying, — at least thirty of our witnesses would
be allowed, and their testimony accepted, in any court in
the United States; for we not only know as to their per
sonal identity, the time, and all the circumstances of the
events to which they testify, but we could bring into
court the identical living witnesses, and with them a
thousand more from every large city in the United States.
And not only this, but we can produce witnesses on the
spot, and make the judges themselves testify to the facts,
which they shall be made to witness with their own eyes,
ears and hands.
3
V
�22
As to the five remaining cases, it no more follows that we should
believe them because we accept other accounts in the same book,
than that we should believe all the reports of modern spiritualists
because we know many of them to be true; or that we should
accept all which any historian may record, because we receive his
testimony as to some things. A narrator may be truthful and
wise in many things; and, in those, impartially relate the facts.
But his opinions, his zeal, or want of knowledge in respect to
other things, may wholly disqualify him to judge truly concern
ing them.
Many spiritualists, at the present day, being very zealous to
advance the cause, sometimes think they see what they do not;
nnd, from a small beginning, often get up a marvellous story, and
this, too, in perfect sincerity.
So the early Christians did; hence it is reasonable to suppose
the writers of the gospel histories, whoever they were, might be
influenced in the same manner. But it is said these writings are
an exception; their authors are inspired, and could not err. How
do we know this? The writers themselves nowhere claim it;
they do not even tell us who they are. Tradition is the only
authority we have for their inspiration; and that tradition came
through the Catholic church, else it originated since the Reforma
tion, and is worth nothing.
But the facts themselves contradict the idea of infallible inspir
ation ; for we find that in many places they make wrong assertions,
reason falsely, and positively contradict each other.
In giving the genealogies of Christ from Joseph to David,
Matthew gives twenty-eight, Luke forty-three generations. Mat
thew says the father of Jesus was the son of Jacob, Luke says he
was the son of Heli; —thus they differ, nor do they again agree
till they come to David.
The object in giving this genealogy evidently was to prove that
Jesus was the son of David. But what a foolish course, by trac
ing his descent through Joseph, who, according to both these
writers, was no more the father of Jesus than of John the Bap
tist ! It is said this discrepancy and blunder is of no consequence.
�23
This reply implies one of two things. These authors were in
spired to write on a subject 11 of no consequence,” and to make a
very stupid blunder, or they were not inspired at all. Accept
either alternative, and their writings are worth no more than those
of others. This one error is sufficient to overthrow every theory
of infallible inspiration.
But we will refer to a few of the many others. Matt. 1: 22,
23 is a very false application of Isaiah 17: 14, as will be readily
seen by reading the context. Such errors are very frequent with
these writers, as one cannot fail to see, by reading the chapters
of the Old Testament whence they are taken.
Again, Matt. 2 : 16, the story of Herod slaying all the male
children, through fear of an infant, is not only not mentioned in
any other history, and plainly contradicted by these writers them
selves, in the fact that John, then about six months old, was not
slain, but it is absurd in itself.
Now, pass to the death of Jesus. John says the trial and con
demnation took place before the Passover (17 : 28, 39: 19 : 14,
31). The other three make it come after the Passover (Matt.
26 : 17 ; Mark 14 : 12; Luke 22 : 7—15). Mark says he was
crucified at the third hour (15: 25) ; John, at the sixth hour (19:
14). They differ, too, in giving the superscription on the cross;
also, concerning the resurrection, who came to the sepulchre, the
time of their coming, whom they saw there, the number of an
gels (spirits), and the position in which they first saw them.
It is common among many to pass over these as trifling errors:
but, if these incidents are worth relating at all, they are worth
relating truly, and the errors should guard us against greater ones
contained in these writings.
But, suppose these five cases did occur as they are related,— so
far from disproving the modern “ spirit manifestations,” they cor
roborate them. They prove, at least, the possibility of spirit
intercourse.
In case XII. (the birth of Jesus) are given several accounts of
spirit manifestations,— spirits are seen, conversed with, and the
communications are reported (Matt. 1; 20, 21; 2 : 19, 20; Luke
1: 11—20, 26—32; 2: 9—14). The modern phenomena, being
�24
proved, prepare the way for belief in these eases; but they do
not furnish any evidence that either of these particular cases did
then occur. To prove this, would require testimony of the same
character and amount as to prove a similar fact at the present day.
CLASS VIII.—CURSING A FIG-TREE.
One can scarcely tell which is the more ridiculous, the act
itself, or the telling of the story as a fact in the history of that
meek and lowly person, Jesus. And yet it is reported, with all
the gravity of “ inspired penmen” in the two first gospels !! !
Matt. 21: 19,—££ And when he saw a fig-tree in the way, he
came to it, and, finding nothing thereon, but leaves only, he said
to it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforth forever. And pres
ently the fig-tree withered away ! ! And when the disciples saw
it they marvelled, saying, How soon is the fig-tree withered
away.’' Mark 11: 20, 21,— ££And the next morning, when
they passed by, they saw the fig-tree dried up from the roots !!
And Peter calling to remembrance, saith unto him, 11 Master,
behold, the fig-tree which thou cursedst is withered
away”! !! Jesus, who said, bless, and curse not, is here
made so foolish at to curse a poor fig-tree, because he was
disappointed in not finding figs thereon ! ! ! 0 shame ! ye who can
not better understand your Master than to think to do him service
by telling such foolish stories about him ! And ye who think it
wrong to doubt these stories, which would disgrace a loafer at the
present day ; think ye that one cannot truly appreciate the char
acter of Jesus unless he makes himself think he believes this
silly thing which somebody told about him ? It reminds us of
the ten thousand other stories which were told of him and im
plicitly believed by his early disciples. (See the £ 1 Apocryphal
New Testament.”) We will give a specimen of these. (First gos
pel of Thomas, concerning the infancy of Jesus * 19 : 16—21.)
££ Again, on another day, the Lord Jesus was with some boys
by a river, and they drew water out of the river by little chan
nels, and made little fish-pools. But the Lord Jesus made
* This Gospel of the Infancy of Jesus Christ was believed by the Gnostics, a
sect of Christians, in the second century ; and several of the fathers, Eusebius,
Athanasius, Epiplianius, Chrysostom, and others, quoted from it.
�25
twelve sparrows, and placed them about his pool, on each side
three. Now, it was the Sabbath-day ; and the son of Hanani, a
Jew, came by, and, seeing them making these things, said, Do
ye thus make figures of clay on the Sabbath ? And, running to
them, he broke down their fish-pools. But when the Lord Jesus
had clapped his hands over the sparrows which he had made, they
fled away chirping ! At length the son of Hanani coming to the
fish-pool of Jesus to destroy it, the water vanished away, and the
Lord Jesus said to him, In like manner as this water has
vanished, so shall thy life vanish; and presently the boy died.”
Second gospel according to Thomas, 2: 1, 3,—“ Moreover,
the son of Anna he scribe was standing there with Joseph, and,
taking a bough ol a willow, scattered the waters which Jesus had
gathered into lakes. But the boy Jesus, seeing what he had
done, became angry, and said unto him, Thou fool, what harm
x did the lakes unto thee, that thou shouldst scatter the water ?
Behold now, thou slialt wither as a tree, and shalt bring forth
neither leaves, nor branches, nor fruit. And immediately he
became withered all over ! ”
But some will say this miracle of cursing the fig-tree was per
formed that the disciples might believe ; that the following verses
prove this, Matthew 21: 21,—“Jesus answered and said unto
them, Verily, I say unto you, if ye have faith, and doubt not, ye
shall not only do what is done unto the fig-tree, but also, if ye shall
say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and cast into the sea ;
it shall be done.” —Wonder if any of the disciples ever believed
this ! How would one of the modern disciples, who has not faith
enough to move a table, and does not believe any one can. however
great his faith,— how would such a disciple make up liis mouth to
say to a mountain, “Be thou removed and cast into the sea."
It appears, then, that Jesus did not succeed in this effort to in
crease the disciples’ faith, if this were his object, by cursing the
fig-tree.
People can talk about faith; but, test their faith by requesting
them to put it in practice, or to believe what another has really
done in their own age, near home, and they are found as sceptical
as the boldest atheist,— frequently more so.
*
3
�26
CLASS IX. — TURNING WATER INTO WINE.
This is frequently done at the present day, though we believe
most men prefer taking the wine clear. We do not mean by this
remark any disrespect for Jesus; we say it for all wine-makers,
and for them in the true spirit of wine, which is anything but
stupid gravity. If any believe Jesus to belong to the class of
wine-makers which they would not be among, we may offend them •
but. foi ourselves, we do not believe it, and we will here give the
reasons.
1st. We think the people at the wedding had already drunk
wine enough, having drained all their bottles; and for Jesus to
make six water-pots full more (at least thirty gallons) would
border on extravagance, if not intemperance.
2d. The only account of this is given in John 2 : 1—10, which
account is rendered impossible by circumstances related in the other
three gospels. Compare Matt. 3: 16, 17; 4 : 1—13 ; Mark 1:
10—13; Luke 4 : 12. John 2 : 1, “And the third day there was
a marriage in Cana of Galilee.” By the previous chapter, verses
28, 29 and 43, it is evident that this was the third day after the
baptism of Jesus by John. By the above references to the other
three gospels, it will be seen that 11 immediately (after the bap
tism) the spirit driveth him into the wilderness, and he was there
in the wilderness forty days, tempted of Satan, and was with wild
beasts, and the angels (spirits) ministered unto him,” which clearly
proves an alibi by three witnesses; therefore, the testimony of
John is good for nothing.
It will be observed that I reject the miracle wholly on the
ground of evidence, there being a decided balance against it; one
witness testifying that, in a certain place, on a certain time, Jesus
performed a certain act, while three witnesses testify that Jesus
was not there within forty days of that time, — that he was off in
the wilderness with the devil.
As to the fact of water being changed into wine, or something
resembling it, I think it could be easily explained by spirit agency.
I will briefly state two facts involving the same principles.
1st. By request of spirits, distilled water was hermetically
�27
sealed in a glass bottle. In this condition it twice changed its
color; then, being analyzed, was found to contain several mineral
substances of medicinal qualities.
2d. A lady medium being sick, by the request of spirits, put
several empty bottles into a room, and, while no person could enter,
these were taken off the mantel, placed in the centre of the floor,
and filled with medicine, which she used according to the direc
tions of the spirits, and was restored to health.
I could produce several witnesses who would testify to the above
facts, though I am sure many who believe, on the testimony of one,
that Jcsus made thirty gallons of wine at a wedding feast, would
ridicule the fact of spirits making a few quarts of medicine for a
poor sick woman, though it were testified to by twenty witnesses.
But I would say to those who may think it “ a sign of mental
defect,” that, while we accept many of the facts of modern spiritu
alism, we reject some of the reports of similar facts ages since,—
and to those spiritualists who think it wisdom to swallow down
all reports of ancient and modern wonders, however great, simply
because they know some to be true, — the fact that a thing is proved
possible by our knowledge of things involving the same principles,
by no means proves that the same thing happened on any partic
ular occasion. We still require testimony, or evidence of some
kind, in proportion to the infrequency of the event, and equal to
all the probabilities against it occurring in the particular case
under consideration.
I would also reply to one class above named, if you consider me
ilin some way mentally defective” for rejecting a part of the
New Testament “miracles,” while I have subsequently believed
some of the modern “ miracles,” can I think your mind perfectly
sound, when you, having previously believed all the New Testa
ment “miracles,” reject all the modern “miracles,” notwithstand
ing the balance of testimony in favor of the latter is as ten to one.
CLASS X.
Feeding “ five thousand men, besides women and children,
On FIVE BARLEY LOAVES AND TWO SMALL FISHES,” and then
taking up “twelve baskets-full of the fragments that re
�28
mained after they did all eat and were filled” ! ! !! ten times
the amount they had before eating ! This is truly a miracle! I
confess it goes far beyond anything related by modern spiritualists.
Nothing like it has occurred in these times, nor can I believe
anything like it will occur. We have four accounts of it given
in the New Testament, as we suppose, by four different persons,
though we do not know that either of these persons were present
on the occasion, or how they got their information, oi’ when they
made the statement.
But, if ten most reliable men in any community, at the present
day, should state that they were present on such an occasion, and
give all the particular circumstances of the case, I could not
believe the fact occurred; and I think, if an hundred, nay, the
whole five thousand, should testify to it, very few Christians would
believe it. I should say they were deceived,— bread and fishes,
in abundance, might be brought into the midst of such a multi
tude, and they know nothing about the means of bringing. Hence,
the inference is plain that I do not believe the fact above related:
and may I not infer the same in the case of others, whatever their
professions ? I can conceive an explanation of the fact (if it be a
fact) which, to many spiritualists, will be perfectly rational.
It has been asserted by thousands that spirits have moved mate
rial substances, and conveyed them to a greater or less distance
through the air. I have presented testimony to this effect in this
essay. But the most remarkable facts of this kind I have not
mentioned, for I know they would be rejected, however much
testimony I might produce in their favor. I have been told, by
the parties themselves, that spirits have conveyed letters from them
to the distance of several hundred miles, and brought back answers,
of which they gave me, in all gravity, the fullest particulars. Re
liable persons have stated that when they have been in want of
certain articles (specifying the articles), those very things have
been placed before them by spirits. The last spiritualist paper I
read gave an account of a ribbon and a knife being conveyed by
spirits across the Atlantic ocean. The case of the knife being
taken from under the table and again replaced, as stated by Mr.
Garrison, involves the same principle.
�29
This fact — the ability of spirits to convey material objects
through the air — being established, as it is, in connection with the
fact that angels or spirits ministered unto Jesus, Mark 4:11,
and what he said on one occasion, “ Thinkest thou that I cannot
now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than
twelve legions of angels (spirits)?” [Matt. 26: 53], suggests a
plausible explanation of the above miracle. Spirits, perhaps,
“more than twelve legions ” of them, were employed in bringing
bread and fishes from the neighboring towns and villages. But
this explanation, plausible as it is, and no doubt acceptable to
many spiritualists, appears to me really ludicrous. Why ? Simply
because it would be more natural and easy for Jesus to dismiss the
multitude, in accordance with the suggestions of his disciples, and
permit them to go home and get their supper, than to employ so
many angels to take each a loaf of bread and a fish under his
wing, and bring them into the desert, and, after they had there
eaten, immediately dismiss them to their homes. The object
secured by all this angelic parade “would not pay.” But how
much more would it not pay for the Almighty Ruler of a million
worlds, the infinite and unchangeable God, to suspend or counter
act any of the “ immutable laws ” by which he governs all nature,
or create new laws, to accomplish this simple object! The idea
of spirits doing it is ludicrous, but the idea of the Deity doing it
is a solemn absurdity. And any person whose mind is so consti
tuted that he cannot accept the wonderful facts of modern spirit
ualism, which we have given on the testimony of forty witnesses,
cannot believe this far more wonderful fact on the testimony of
four witnesses.
CLASS II. — RAISING A PERSON FROM THE DEAD.
There is only one case of this kind in the New Testament,
that of Lazarus. — In the other cases there is no certainty that
the persons were really deaf as any one will readily see by
referring to the accounts themselves. Persons are very frequently
supposed to be dead, and sometimes buried, when they are only in
a swoon. But I think, in the case of Lazarus, this could not be.
It is not at all probable that he could lie in this state four days,
�30
and in the tomb. I am aware that this account is given more in
detail than that of any other miracle in the New Testament. But
I will ask any candid person, who professedly believes this narrative
given in the writings of only one man, and those of doubtful au
thorship, but who finds it too great a stretch of credulity to believe
“modern miracles” on the testimony of a thousand living wit
nesses, — I will ask such a person, Could you believe a fact similar
to that related in the gospel of John, if ten most reliable men
should declare they saw it performed 2 If not, then may I not
infer that you, with me, do not believe this account? I think
the other gospel writers did not believe it, or they would have re
corded it. For, if it took place, they must have known it, as Jesus
was a particular friend in this family of Lazarus. It is a greater
miracle than they have mentioned; and I can account for their
silence only on the ground that they never heard the story,
or did not believe it. I know not why a big story could not grow
up from a small matter in that age, as well as in the present age.
All, who have read any considerable portion of the church fathers
know that the greater story they could tell, the better ; and who
can say how early they began to fabricate them, or when the
gospel of John was written?
The silence of the other three histories, as to this greatest of all
the miracles, looks rather suspicious. It can be accounted for
only in one of three ways : either the writers did not hear of the
miracle, or they did not believe it, or they did not think it of
sufficient importance to be recorded.
The last supposition cannot be accepted; for they all three, with
John, record several miracles, which we all know, and which they
must have known, were far less important than this.
Either of the others amounts to the same thing. For, had such
a miracle as this occurred in the presence of so “many Jews”
(John 11: 45 and 46), it would have been not only extensively
known, but well attested. This, and the fact that Lazarus, with his
family, were particular friends of Jesus and his disciples (John
11: 11), makes it certain that they all would have known the fact,
had it really occurred as related in the fourth gospel. So, if they
heard but did not believe the story, having the same means of
�91
Ol
knowing the facts, we must conclude that it was false. The
Jews, who did not believe in Jesus, might hear of this or any
other work of Jesus, and not believe it; or they might witness
facts, and think it a deception or an imposture, as many at the
present day, who disbelieve “spirit manifestations,” reject any
particular fact, though they may have been eye-witnesses to it.
But this could not be the case with the disciples of Jesus. They
would both have known and believed the fact, had Jesus raised
Lazarus to life, after he had been dead (11 : 13, 14) four days in
the tomb. Since, then, we are compelled to accept one of those
alternatives, — namely, that they did not know, or did not believe,
— we must conclude that the fact did not occur as related.
This reasoning proceeds on the supposition that the three first
gospels were written by the immediate disciples of Jesus; but, if
they were written by those of a later period, the reasoning, with
a slight alteration, will apply with equal force.
CLASS XII. — CHILD BORN WITH NO NATURAL FATHER.
How do we know ? Somebody said so. Who said so ? Sup
posed to be Matthew and Luke ! Who told them ? Suppose
Paul told Luke, and somebody told Matthew and Paul; for
neither of these persons knew anything about the child or its
mother till thirty years after he was born. Suppose, then,
the mother of the child told this story, for it must come to this at
last. Joseph’s dream cannot be credited among a people who do
not believe in dreams and visions; nor can any of the spiritual
communications to Mary, or any of the parties, be relied upon by
those who do not believe it possible for spirits to communicate to
mortals. We then have the story reported to us at second-hand,
at least.
Now, where is the court, in any country, which could accept
such second-handed testimony as this, for the most natural event ?
And could the most credulous Christian judge, upon any bench,
but smile with pity upon the unfortunate female who should per
sonally give oath before him that her child had no natural father,
or that an angel, or a spirit, had begotten him; and would he not
�32
be the more surprised, should she solemnly declare that no less a
spirit than God himself had done this ? Why, this goes beyond all
the spirit intercourse of modern times ; though there were many
similar stories told, and believed, in those ancient times. The
people then did not think it at all strange for the gods to have
intercourse with women; and it appears, by the Old Testament,
that Jews could credit such stories, as well as the heathens,—
Gen. 4 : 2 and 4.
I am fully aware that those who professedly believe these stories
do not receive them on the flimsy testimony which is given in
their support, but through their theories of ££ the fallf and ££ the
plan of redemption ; ” else they accept them from tradition and
habit, as they do many others, without the disposition or courage
to question them. But, should we not be cautious how we build
theories upon facts so poorly substantiated ? Theories to support
the facts — then make the facts support the theories ! and this
when both the theories and the facts are, in themselves, so mon
strous and absurd, if not blasphemous, that human nature revolts
at them 1
�TESTIMONY.
Case I.
No. 1. Testimony of seven to class 1., taken from a statement published
in “ The Spirit World," Feb. 1, 1851.
>
We, the undersigned, having witnessed this day, at the house of
La Roy Sunderland (No. 28 Elliot-st., Boston), the following phenom
ena, deem it proper, in this way, to make mention of them.
We asked the spirits if they would give us some physical manifesta
tions, and we were promptly answered by raps in the affirmative.
The table was then immediately moved in various directions, from
one to two feet, - and, at our request, was quite a number of times
turned over into the laps of those surrounding it. In two instances
it was raised entirely from the floor, and we are positive that no human
instrumentality was employed in producing these results.
Upon the evening of the same day we met again, with the addition
of two to our circle. The circle was formed in Mr. Sunderland’s back
parlor, as before, when the following, among other phenomena, were
produced.
On holding each other’s hands, so that no one was at liberty in the
room, a centre-table around which we were sitting was raised up from
the floor five times, and let down with considerable force, so as to shake
the floor. Once or twice the raps were made, not on the table, but *
with it, the table being used by the spirit, as we were assured, to rap
on the floor.
Five times the table was upset and turned over, so that it fell sidewise upon the floor, with violence. A small bell, which stood upon the
table, was moved without human hands from the table, four times. It
*
was thrown upon the floor, thrown into the lap of Dr. Kibbee,. and
4
�finally it was removed by the spirit, and they spelled out, “ Find the
bell, which was the first we knew of its absence. Search was made
by one of the company, while the others remained in the circle, holding
each other s hands. After the search had been continued for some
minutes, the bell was accidentally discovered in Mrs. Cooper’s lap, as it
fell out from the folds of her apron ! During the whole of this tinw,
Mrs. Cooper’s hands had been held in the hands of two of the company,
standing or sitting, by her side. We can only say, that we have been
profoundly impressed with the conviction that no human agency what
ever was used in the production of the phenomena we have described.
Signed,
7i. P. Kibbee, M. D., Springfield, Mass.
Rufus Elmer,
«
«
Nelson L. Elmer,
“
«
Theodore M. Smith, Boston,
«
George E. Haskell,
“
“
Z. Rogers, Charlestown,
“
Moses Babcock, “
«
Boston, Jan. 22d, 1851.
No. 2. Testimony of three to class I., taken from a statement which
appeared in “ The Pittsburg Despatch:'
On the evening of Friday, March 21st (1851), our circle met at
the house of Mr. Courtney. After mentioning some conversation with
what they supposed an ignorant spirit, and some very violent physical
phenomena, to remove the ground for suspicion, we then formed a com
plete circle of all in the room, around the table, joining hands; Mary
and Mrs. Bushnell (mediums) included. A case-knife was then thrown
from the mantel into the middle of the floor, a distance of several
yards. Another book was thrown from the stand against the opposite
wall; and various other articles were tossed about in a strange mann®r
all the while a loud and muffled knocking being kept up,' caus
ing the house to shake, and the table to jar and tremble. There is not
in this case the slightest ground for suspicion of fraud and collusion, as
our two media were in the circle during the last scene, with their hands
tightly held. We will not, for a moment, suppose that the charge of
imposition will be alleged against any- of the others present, as they are
all well known in this community, with the exception of Mr. Joseph
Ketler, of New Castle, Pa., whose character can be sworn to be unex• ceptionable.
The following persons were present: W. S. Courtney, William II.
�35
Williams (broker), Milo A. Townsend, William McDonald, Joseph
Ketler, Mrs. Courtney, Mrs. Bushnell and Mary and Caroline Cronk,
all of whom are willing to testify to the facts above related.
Signed,
W. S. Courtney.
Milo A. Townsend.
William McDonald.
No. 3. Testimony of eight to class I.
To the Editors of the Republican : As many of our citizens
are of opinion that the wonders of Spiritualism, so called, have been
explained away by Prof. Grimes, as being a manifestation of the mes
meric power, and as the professor asserted that the manifestations
would cease from that time forth in this community, I am induced to
offer you the following facts, which I, in company with several other
persons, witnessed at the house of Rufus Elmer, in this city, on the
evening of the 28th of February, 1854. The circle, consisting of nine
persons besides the medium, were seated around a common cherry
table, when the following phenomena occurred. The table commenced
a trembling, vibratory motion ; sounds were heard on the floor and table,
some of which were very loud. Then the table was rocked with great
force; then raised nearly, if not quite, two feet from the floor, and was
held supported in mid air with a waving motion, as if floating on the
agitated waters of the sea, for considerable time. This operation was
repeated a number of times. Then, by the tipping, we were directed
to place the dinner-bell (weighing one pound one ounce) under the
table, on the floor, where it was rung with great violence many times;
questions answered by the raps upon it, and with it each individual in
the circle was touched in such a manner that there could be no mistake
about it. We then requested the spirits to pass the bell from the floor,
and place it into our hands, which was done to each individual sepa
rately ; and again, at our request, it was taken from our hands, and
carefully deposited upon the floor. Again, while we sung the hymn,
“ While shepherds watched,” the bell was raised from the floor and rung
in perfect time with the measure of the tune sung (Old Coronation),
after which another tune was drummed out with the bell against the
under side of the table, the sound resembling the roll of drumsticks in
the hands of a skilful performer upon a tenor drum. This was con
tinued for several minutes.
•
All the above I know was performed without human agency; the
�36
hands of each person present, during the whole performance above
described, being on the top of the table, with the room well lighted,
and in the full view of every person present; and this was also the
case during the whole sitting. During the whole time of the various
performances with the bell, as well as before and after it, our garments
were pulled almost constantly; two handkerchiefs were firmly knotted
together, while laying in the laps of the owners; our persons were
many times touched more or less forcibly, producing a peculiar and
indescribable sensation; some of us had our limbs grasped with con
siderable force, and distinctly felt the form of the spirit hand — a soft,
delicate, elastic yet powerful touch, which cannot be described, but
must be felt to be appreciated. The reader will bear in mind that the
hands of every person present were in plain view on the top of the
table.
“ The name of the medium is withheld, he being, like many others in
our city, unwilling to face the bitter contempt, scorn and sneers, which
must be borne by all who have the moral courage to honestly and fear
lessly advocate and defend the claims of the modern manifestations to
a spiritual origin.
Yours, in the cause of truth,
H. F. Gardner.
Springfield, March 1, 1854.
We, the other members of the circle above referred to, most sol
emnly and emphatically declare the foregoing statement, subscribed by
Dr. Gardner, to be strictly and literally true; and that we were sever
ally in our normal condition, both of mind and body, were fully con
scious of all that transpired, and know, as well as we are capable of
knowing any fact, that the manifestations above related were produced
by some invisible intelligence entirely independent of ourselves or of
the medium.
Mrs. John Lord,
F. C. Andreu,
Mrs. R. Elmer,
Rufus Elmer,
Mrs. S. A. Richie,
Marshall Elmer,
Miss Mary M. Harris.
Springfield, March 1, 1854.
[Springfield Republican.
No. 4. Testimony of four to class I. Extract from a statement pub
lished in “ The Springfield Republican ” of 1853.
“ The undersigned, from a sense of justice to the parties referred to,
very cordially bear testimony to the occurrence of the following facts,
�37
which we severally witnessed at the house of Rufus Elmer, in Spring
field, on the evening of the 5th inst.
The table was moved in every possible direction, and with great
force, when we could not perceive any cause of motion.
Mr. Wells seated himself on the table, which was rocked for some time
with great violence; and at length it poised itself upon two legs, and
remained in this position for some thirty seconds, when no other person
was in contact with the table.
Three persons, Messrs. Wells, Bliss and Edwards, assumed positions
on the table at the same time, and while thus seated the table was
moved in various directions.
Occasionally we were made conscious of a powerful shock, which
produced a vibratory motion on the floor of the apartment in which
we were seated. It seemed like the motion occasioned by distant
thunder, or the firing of ordnance far away; causing the tables, chairs
and other inanimate objects, and all of us, to tremble in such a manner
that the effects were both seen and felt. In the whole exhibition we were
constrained to admit that there was almost constant manifestation of
intelligence, which seemed at least independent of the circle. During
these occurrences the room was well lighted, and every possible oppor
tunity was afforded us for the closest inspection; and we submit this,
our emphatic declaration.
We know we were not imposed upon nor deceived.
Wm. Bryant,
Wm. Edwards,
B. K. Bliss,
David A. Wells.
Note.— These four witnesses are, as I have been informed, well
known in this community, and are of undoubted veracity. Mr. Wells
is Professor of Chemistry in this University.
No. 5. Testimony of 1 to class I. Case of lifting a person into the
air, taken from Rev. Herman Snow's book on “ Spirit Intercourse,”
p. 64.
In the month of March, 1852, being at the house of Rev. J. J.
Locke, in the town of Barre, Mass., one evening, as we were seated in
a circle around a table, — I should say about a dozen persons present,
several of whom were strangers to us, — all listening to some messages
that were being spelled out by raps on the table (which stood inde
pendent from the touch of any), by the use of the alphabet; all was
*
4
�38
still and peaceful, the room well lighted, and no one expecting any
thing unusual, that I was aware of, when Mrs. Cheney’s right hand began
to rise very gradually and steadily — up, up — higher and higher —
till it seemed to raise her from the chaii’; still upward she was raised,
until she swung in the open atmosphere between the floor and ceiling,
and positively not coming in contact with any visible thing whatever.
Such are the facts in relation to the case, as near as I can state them.
If any should doubt the above statement, I am happy to say that I am
able to substantiate any part of it by reliable evidence.
'
Yours, in the faith,
Athol Depot, April 26, 1853.
S. F. Cheney.
Note.— Mr. Snow states that Mr. and Mrs. Cheney are personal
acquaintances of his; that they are of excellent moral character, and
members of Rev. Mr. Clark’s church, in Athol; and may be referred
to for the fact, should any one question it.
Case II.
No. 1. Testimony of 2 to classes I and II.
Messrs. Partridge and Brittan.
Dear Sirs : We have some very strong spiritual manifestations here
in Baltimore. Our citizens are waking up to investigate the beautiful
phenomena, and we have a large number of mediums being developed.
We have also an association for investigating the subject, and over two
hundred private circles. The following is a brief description of the
phenomena which occurred at one of our private circles:
The circle met at 8 o’clock in the evening, at B. S. Benson’s house
— five ladies and four gentlemen being present. The circle was formed,
the lights were removed, and, after singing, Miss L., Miss H., Mrs. A.
P. P., mediums present, were perceived to be in the interior state, by
their description of things then transpiring in the room. It was said,
“ There is Franklin; there are three others with him; they have boxes
under their arms; they place them under the table ; they are going to
make raps ; they say something is wrong; they have gone over in the
corner of the room, and are talking together and pointing to the table;
they now bring two more boxes ; they say they are going to break the
table.” The raps, or rather pounding, commenced, and were as if made
by a muffled mall, of many pounds’ weight, suspended under the table,
at first striking so lightly as not to raise the table, but increasing by
�39
degrees, until the table was raised from the floor some ten or twelve
inches, all four legs of the table being off the floor at once. The table
was heard to drop, as if it had fallen some distance, with a tremendous
crash. There were no material means used to produce the raps, nor did
there exist a possibility of deception, there being no one in the room
but those joined in the circle, hand in hand, around the table, not one
of whom touched the table at the time. The table was at one time
thrown on the lap of a lady present, and thrown off by the same
unseen power. All present, at times, saw lights in different directions
around the room, as well as over the table. After some tremendous
poundings, which made some of those present fear they would be struck
with pieces of the table, it was then spoken by one of the mediums,
“ Nothing more to-night.”
Yours, truly,
B. S. Benson,
W. W. Laning.
No. 2. Testimony of 1 to classes II. and III. Experience of a Clergy
man. From “ Spiritual Telegraph," April 15, 1854.
Having been a Methodist local preacher, in England and America,
for about twenty years, I had many difficulties to contend with ; yet I
considered that if Spiritualism was what it purported to be, it would
be worth everything to me.
I have twelve children, and a number of them are writing, speaking
and seeing mediums; therefore I have had a good opportunity to inves
tigate. I did that which many professors do not do. I did not try to
prove the spirits good or bad spirits by my old opinions, but permitted
them to write whatever they thought proper. My wife has given me
all the evidence I could wish for. * * * *
From the time of her death up to the present time, I have received
evidence enough to satisfy any reasonable man. * * * * I have
also constantly received communications from relations and friends.
They told me I was to be a seeing medium, and so it proved.
The first I saw was (as they call it) the spirits in open daylight
(not in the body). They are always with me. * * * *
They light me to bed with a bright cloud, and I can see them by
candle-light moving around the room in colors of crimson and blue;
and now of late I am enabled to see my father, mother, sister and
brother-in-law; but none as plainly, or so long at a time, as my wife.
�40
I have been able to examine her features and dress. She looks
about thirty years of age. * * * *
Joseph Brydle.
Kellogsville, Ashtabula Co., Ohio.
Case III.
No. 1. Testimony ofl to class III.
While at High Rock, Katy professed to see the spirit of the wife
of J esse Hutchinson, who left the form before she came to this country.
On being shown a number of daguerreotype likenesses, one of which
was that of Mrs. H., without any intimation as to the object, she imme
diately exclaimed, “ 0, there’s Mrs. Hutchinson ; ” and, the company
refusing to acknowledge the fact, and apparently denying it, only made
her the more earnestly declare that it was the countenance she had
seen in the spirit world! She never had seen the likeness of Mrs. H.
before.
Rufus Elmer.
Nov. 6, 1852.
No. 2. Testimony of (1) Mr. Chase and seven others, to classes 1 and
III. Taken from Adin Ballou's “ Spirit Manifestations."
About the last of October, 1851, I was at the house of Marcus C.
Wilcox, of Blackstone. What purported to be his wife, Sybil Chase
spelled out through the raps, in answer to the question if it would ever
be possible for her to take his hand; “ I cannot shake hands with you
here, but, if you will go to the house of Meltiah Knowlton, in Green
ville, R. I., and sit with Daniel Knowlton, I will take hold of your
hand.” At the same time my father and George Knowlton, who pur
ported to be present, said they would take hold of my hand, if I
would go to Greenville and sit with Daniel.
Soon after this, in company with Mr. C. Wilcox he went to the
house of Mr. Knowlton, in Greenville. He says, I then held out
my hand in open space, where it was not possible to be reached
by any one present without altering their position, — which they did
not, as I must have seen them, — I felt a hand as perfect as that
of a living person; the touch and separation of th.e fingers were
plainly perceptible. It purported to be the hand of my former
wife. One of her hands was deformed by being badly burnt when a
child. Two of her fingers were bent inwards toward the palm, and
the nail on one of the fingers was very short and thick. I then asked
�41
her to put her deformed hand into mine, which she immediately did ;
and then passed her fingers with the thick nail, over the palm of my
hand, as if to convince me of her identity. Afterward, my father and
George Knowlton (or what purported to be them) put their hands into
mine.
Much more was done at the time; one particular of which I will
relate. I held in my hand two pieces of money, which were taken out
and passed into the hand of Mrs. Knowlton at a distance of about six
feet, by an invisible hand.
Blackstone, June 30, 1852.
(The above is given in the words of Mr. Chase.)
If the believers in the New Testament accounts object to the reality
of the above phenomena, on account that the physical deformity of a
hand could not be continued in the spirit world, or represented by a
spirit, we would refer them to the case mentioned in the twentieth chap
ter of John, where a spirit (“the doors being shut”) appeared in the
midst of a company, and exhibited to the touch of one present, the
wounds inflicted upon his physical body but few days before. It seems
the two cases are very similar; and certainly the testimony in favor of
the case we present is as reliable as that in favor of the case here
referred to; for we have in the one case the words of the very person
who witnessed the fact, while in the other we do not; nor does the
writer say he was present on the occasion, or tell us how he obtained
his information. If it be asserted that, in the case of Thomas, an
object was accomplished, we will give the very words of Mr. Chase, to
show that precisely the same object was accomplished in his case.
“ For more than twenty years,” says he, “ I was a confirmed sceptic, or
infidel, as the people called me. I did not believe man had an immor
tal soul, or any existence after the death of the body; but, in witness
ing the incident related hereafter, relative to the defective hand of
Sybil Chase, my former wife, feeling the bent and stiffened fingers, the
short and thick nails, my scepticism departed, and I believed that man
possessed an immortal part.” I will further quote from Mr. Ballou in
reference to Mr. Scott and Mr. Wilcox, both being present with Mr.
Chase on the occasion above named. Mr. Wilcox affirms that this
(feeling the pressure of spirit hands) has taken place, to his knowl
edge, more than one hundred times. The grasp is generally sensible,
firm and cordial. Mr. Wilcox says he has frequently been permitted
to feel of the hand, wrist, and part of the arm, as deliberately as he
�42
ever did one of flesh and blood. The spirits represent that they have
power, under certain circumstances, to assume forms proper to manifest
themselves to the senses of mortals, either to touch or sight. Mr.
Ballou states that Emery Scott, Ellis Cook, Marcus Wilcox and his
wife Eliza, distinctly saw a spirit hand and arm, on several occasions,
both separately and together; and states the particulars which render
it impossible that they should be deceived. At the close of the chap
ter, he says, “ The persons referred to in the foregoing narrative
(Harvey Chase, Mr. and Mrs. Marcus C. Wilcox, Mr. Emery Scott,
Elis Cook, Benj. Ray, of Blackstone, Meltiah Knowlton and Daniel
Knowlton, of Greenville, R. I.) have authorized me to refer any
doubter or inquirer to them, as witnesses of the facts set forth, and of
numerous similar facts. Messrs. Emery Scott, Marcus C. Wilcox
and Harvey Chase, are not only willing, but desirous, that I should
state to the public their conversion to a firm and happy belief in the
immortality of all human souls. Scott was for many years an intelli
gent but inveterate materialist. He says he desired to believe in
man’s future existence, but could find no proof of it adequate to a
rational conviction. He ridiculed the very idea of spirits communicat
ing with mortals, and for some time stubbornly refused to witness what
was going on at the house of Mr. Wilcox. Mr. Wilcox was brought
up an Atheist, and says he ‘ hated the very sight of the Bible from
childhood.’ ”
Here we have an equivalent to the testimony of eight persons, vouched
for by Adin Ballou (of Hopedale, Mass.), whose veracity and whose
candor are above suspicion. Besides, the persons are ready to be
referred so by those who doubt, — their names and residences being
given ; the parties, some of them at least, more sceptical and not at
all inclined to favor the spiritual side of nature. They had no preju
dices in favor, but all against, the idea of communications from spirits
out of the body. To reject such testimony, without a thorough
inquiry, by referring to the witnesses themselves, and making personal
experiments with the same, or other mediums, in whose presence such
facts are said to occur, is not only unscientific- and irrational, but the
most stupid bigotry, which none save those whose whole minds are made
up of traditions taken in with their mother’s milk, and with as little
thought, will be guilty of.
�43
Case IV.
JVo. 1. Testimony oflto class IV.
Mr. J. F. Lanning, says: “ In the month of August, 1851, I first
became sensibly influenced by some invisible power moving my hand to
write without the aid of my will, and in a short time very rapidly.
* * * * I have also often heard whisperings^ as distinctly as if
some one was at my side in conversation with me."
No. 2. Testimony of 1 to classes III. and TV. Taken from a state
ment published in the first “ Spiritual Telegraph."
* * * * That same day I received another word or words
sealed up as the first, from the hands of a gentleman, who is now, and
has been for several years, the proprietor of a city paper, with a
request similar to the first. I was sitting alone in my chamber at my
residence, a short distance from the city, at about eleven o’clock on the
night of the 8th of April, when * * * * I saw the form of my
wife standing within arm’s-length of my chair, and near the table. It
is utterly impossible for me to describe her appearance, further than
that she was, so far as features were concerned, just as she appeared in
life; but there was a bright, almost dazzling radiance about her, which
defies description.
After standing for, perhaps, ten seconds, with her eyes all the time
fixed on me, she took up from the table the sealed envelope, held it in
her fingers, and smiled as I had seen her a thousand times when living.
I am as well satisfied that I saw the words in the envelope quite as
plainly as I do these which I am now writing, as I am of my own
existence. I took up my pen, and wrote two names; whereupon the
“ presence,” or whatever it was, laid down the envelope with the most
meaning smile of satisfaction I ever beheld, and almost immediately
took up a pencil, and — I did not see her write, or lay down the pencil;
but I did see the pencil laying on the paper, and there, too, I saw the
following sentence, written in Spanish, and the exact chirography of
my wife when alive : “ God has called a mighty army for my hus
band.” Thirty seconds might have passed, during which time I sat
and gazed at the “ form,” as free from agitation as I ever was in my
life; when she spoke, —and I should have recognized that voice in an
instant among ten thousand, even had I not seen her. “ I must go
now, but I will come again, some time; ” and the next moment I was
�44
conscious of being alone, although I have no knowledge how the pres
ence disappeared. On the succeeding night I saw her in my room
three several times after I was in bed; and, if ever I heard words audi
bly spoken in my life, it was that “ form,” saying, “ Husband, I have
been to bless our little Inez.” (Our child, now nearly three years old,
at Grenada, in Spain.) On the following Monday, I gave the words
which I had written, together with the sealed envelope, to the gentle
man from whom I had received it, and who, after satisfying himself
that no efforts had been made to get at its contents, declared the names
to be correct; then, opening the envelope, in presence of witnesses who
had seen it sealed, proved, by comparing them, that they were correct
in every particular. * * * *
George R. Raymond.
Case V.
No. 1. Testimony of 1 to class V. Taken from a statement of Dr.
Joseph R. Buchanan, of Cincinnati, Ohio ; published in the
“ Journal of Man,” for May, 1852.
Spirits not only rap out the messages in languages foreign to the
medium, but, by impressing the mind of a suitable medium, enable him
to speak in a language to him entirely unknown.
Dr. Buchanan goes on to relate the particulars of a female speaking
French. She stated in that language, wholly unknown to her, that a
bloody war would soon break out, and overwhelm the continent of
Europe.
He also says of Mr. F.: “ This young gentleman, a school-teacher
by profession, having no knowledge of any foreign language, except a
slight smattering of Latin, has fallen under the influence of spirits
belonging to other nations, and speaks their language familiarly, with
out knowing the meaning of what he is uttering. * * * * Under
the influence of the Indian chief, Red Jacket, he delivers Indian
speeches, sings Indian songs, and performs the Indian dances. * * * *
Two of the company present, who were acquainted with the Indian
languages, spoke of his speech with approbation, as a genuine Indian
harangue, and a fine specimen of oratory. Mr. F. also declaims in a
language supposed to be Chinese, as he writes, under the control of the
same spirit, characters which resemble Chinese writing. I have sev
eral specimens of his writing in the character of a medium, some of
which resemble the Chinese, others the Arabic, and others the Hebrew.
�45
No. 2. Testimony of one to classes I., V. and VI. From a private
letter to the Ed. “ Spiritual Telegraphy
Wheeling, Va., July 1, 1852.
In the same vicinity [Lloydsville, Bel. Co., Ohio] is a child who is
made to speak Dutch, though she is of Irish descent. Another, who
never wrote a word, never tried to learn, and yet she has written a
legible hand while under spirit influence.
In Harrison Co., Ohio, at the house of Mr. Steel, almost every
article of furniture is moved. A stand placed in the centre of the
room moves about when no person is in the house !
J. B. Wolf.
Case VI.
No. 1. Testimony of one to class VI.
N. Y. Conference,— Weekly Report, — Friday, Aug. 6th, 1854.—
Meeting large. Dr. Smith mentioned the case of a child, some seven
or eight years of age, — the family of an acquaintance of his.
She appears to be a medium of considerable powers ; but, what is
more singular, the child, without having been taught, as far as is known
to any of the family, has recently and most unexpectedly been able to
read ! The child’s Own simple statement of the matter is, that her
mother in heaven has come to her, and taught her to read.
R. T. Hallock, Seely.
No. 2. Testimony of one to class VI.
New York Conference, Friday Evening, March Ath, 1853.—Mr.
Waters, among many other interesting facts, stated that, in West Troy,
a child four years old had been developed as a medium. The child
cannot write, yet communications are made through her in writing, and
with fac-similes of the hand-writing of deceased persons.
R. T. Hallock, SeCy.
Note. — This case, though not precisely the same as being taught
to read, involves the same principles, and is equally remarkable.
Case VII.
No. 1. Testimony of one to class VII.
The following interesting letter we take from the Practical Christian,
5
�46
of which Adin Ballou is the principal editor. A. A. Ballou, the
communicating spirit, is the son of Adin, and departed from the earth
life some two years ago.
Cuba, N. Y.
Dear Adin: On the 21st of Jan. last, 1854, Augustus took
control of Cora, and commenced influencing a sick lady who was very
low with the asthma. After operating upon the patient a few moments,
Cora was caused to lay her hands upon Miss Lucina Folsom, another
medium. Miss F. was immediately entranced, and resumed the busi
ness of operating upon the sick lady.
[The spirit here gives to the medium a description of the disease.]
About one-third of one lobe of the lungs was consumed, and the
surrounding parts appeared in a decaying condition. The bronchial
tubes on that side were obstructed by a thick glutinous substance,
which prevented the natural circulation.
lie raid the disease could be arrested where it was, and the lungs
healed over; but the organs could not be created anew where they
were gone. Cora was. again entranced, and wrote : “ If Lucina will
come here, we will operate on the sick lady, and she will receive great
benefit. Come about once a week.” This was a desperate case, of
many years’ standing. The patient was reduced to a mere skeleton,
and had not lain down in bed for some six months, on account of suf
focation. I have lately received a letter from her father, stating that
she now does her housework, shows no signs of her disease, is gaining
flesh fast, and has laid in bed without difficulty from the time above
mentioned. This was the first case, and unexpected to us all; the sub
ject not having been introduced or anticipated.
Another circumstance. One evening, Augustus delivered a lecture
through Cora, in our circle at Lake Mills, concerning heaven and hell
as being a state or condition of the mind, the spirit-land a place, &c.
&c. After closing the discourse, he said he must leave immediately,
and go to Waterloo, — that there was a gathering there, and a medium
from Sun Prairie, through whom he could speak. This was about
forty-five minutes past 7. We ascertained, the next day, that at about
that moment Mr. Budlong, of Sun Prairie, was entranced, and the
spirit announced his name to be A. A. Ballou, who spoke a communi
cation concerning heaven and hell as being a state or condition of the
mind, the spirit-land a place, &c. &c.; the identical subject, word for
word, that was delivered to us a few minutes before. The distance
between the two places is eight miles, and we had no knowledge of
their meeting, nor they of ours.
�47
I will not attempt to relate any more circumstances relative to this
subject. Were I present with you, I could tell you similar and more
“ astounding facts,” till my speech had become mute with hoarseness.
I am here with Cora, making an “ uproar among the people.” Through
Cora, a lecture has been delivered and questions answered before an
assembly of some five hundred people. The spirit-doctor has taken all
the cases of the worst character, — such as total blindness, consump
tion in the last stages, hereditary infirmities, &c., where all earthly
hopes are gone, — if the patients are willing and desirous of submitting
themselves to spirit influence. In such cases, the disease is arrested,
and the patient begins to recover from “ that very hour.” The Lord
knows what will become of us, or where we shall end — I don’t. This,
however, I do know, “ we enter into rest,” and are at peace with all
men — desiring the truth.
D. W. Scott.
No. 2. Testimony of one to class VII. Three cases of healing. H. H.
Hunt, Clergyman, Medium, from “ Spiritual Telegraph," Jan. 8,
1853.
Addison, Sept. 13, 1852.
In September, 1851, while in Indiana, I went to hear the rappings,
when I became convinced that there must be a spiritual agency in
volved in the matter. But by my position as a preacher of the Gospel
x being restrained from giving my sentiments to the public, I remained
silent, until January of 1852, when two of my daughters became
media for the sounds. After investigating the matter, and still finding
no other solution than the spiritual theory, I imputed it to the devil,
who, appearing as an angel of light, stood ready to deceive the very
elect. Indeed, I was angry at the sounds; but, as they would not
stop, I made this request, — that the unseen powers would not make my
children victims of hell, but spare them and try me.
After retiring the same night, the spirits paralyzed both my arms,
keeping them in continual motion until six o’clock in the morning, when
the circular alphabet was handed me ; and then I learned my duty
from good authority. As soon as this was made clear, I commenced
holding meetings in public, and up to this date my time has been spent
lecturing on the subject. * * * Ata circle held at Adrian, the first
Sunday in July, the spirits wrote, “ Seek the lame, the halt and the
infirm, and they shall be healed.” I then remarked to Mr. J. Rey
nolds, “ It cannot be done; if that is read, away go the spirits, and
converse to others, for some one will be presented and not cured.”
�48
Nevertheless the call was read by my colleague, when Mr. Lyons
presented himself, stating that his leg had been drawn up by rhenmatism four years, and was under acute pain at the time.’ Without
exercise of my own volition, I was thrown into the spiritual state, and
placed before him. I was also made to speak by the power of the
spirit. Like doubting Thomas of old, I put my hand on him, and he
was made whole. He dropped his cane, and went away rejoicing, fleet
as a boy of sixteen.
Cure of Fits.
2. After this, a child, son of D. C. Smith, was very sick. The
physician having given the most powerful medicine for stopping the
fits without effect, the father called me in. I seated myself by the boy,
and was put in communication with him by an unseen agency. Soon
the patient showed too clearly that another fit was coming on; but,
instead of his suffering from the attack, the whole power of the malady
fell on me. The agonizing distress, the clenched fist and contracted
muscle, gave me alarm for my own safety; but the second thought,
that I was in the hand of spirits, quieted me, and I threw off the attack.
The boy had no more fits, but got well.
3. Last July, I was called to visit Mrs. Brownell, near Adrian. She
had been sick with a weak back and continual pain in the side. Her
doctor said her liver was decayed, and she could never regain her
health.
I was moved by the power of spirits to lay my hand on her back
and head, when she said, “ I feel strange and dizzy.” I told her to
trust in God, for he was able to restore her to health. She now is well,
doing the work of her family, which she had not done before for two
years.
There are other cases which I might give, if time would permit.
Yours, in spiritual affinity,
H. H. Hunt.
No. 3. Testimony of one to class VII. “ Spirit Telegraph,” Sept. 1853.
Bridgeport, Jan. 13, 1853.
Six weeks ago last Thursday evening, Mrs. Phebe Jane Wooster, of
this place, was developed as a spiritual medium. The spirits say that
her mission, at present, is to heal the sick and wounded, the lame, the
halt and the blind. Previous to her development as a medium, she
was rather opposed to Spiritualism, but was willing to investigate the
subject. She was never an enthusiast, but submitted all subjects to the
�49
test of reason, and would never assent to anything until sufficient evi
dence was given to convince her of its truth. She was always modest
and unassuming in her deportment, and hence is compelled to do and
say many things, when acted on by spirits, in opposition to her own
views and feelings, even in the normal state. When this part of her
mission was first announced by the spirits, I must confess I was some
what sceptical about it. But my scepticism was soon removed, for, the
third day after she was developed, her predicted powers were put to
the test, and found competent to remove even a putrid disease.
The case to which I allude is as follows: Mrs. Julia Dunn, a near
neighbor, had a putrid sore throat. Large lumps or kernels had gath
ered in it, to such a size that she said she could neither swallow, speak
nor breathe, without suffering the severest pain. She told Mrs. W.
that she wished her to cure her, if possible; to which Mrs. W. replied,
that she knew nothing about it herself, but that the spirits said she could
be cured in less than twenty-four hours.
The spirits immediately took possession of the medium, and caused
her to make passes over the head, throat and stomach, of Mrs. Dunn,
for the space of thirty minutes, after which she turned to the patient
and said, “ To-morrow morning you will be well! ”
The next morning Mrs. Dunn’s complaint had entirely disappeared,
and she was as well as usual.
On the evening of the 24th of December, as we were all engaged in
conversation, my little daughter was taken with a fit, caused, the spirits
said, by sleeping with a cat; and I have every reason to believe that,
if Mrs. W. had not been there at the time, she would not have lived
fifteen minutes. What was most remarkable about it was, that none of
us knew anything was the matter with the child, until the medium was
acted on, got up out of her chair, and went to the child, who was sit
ting directly behind her, and exclaimed, “What is the matter with
Lydia Ann ? ”
I immediately went to the child, and found she was quite cold, and
had stopped breathing; but the medium took her in hand, and, after
making a few passes over her, she revived. . The child said she knew
when Mrs. W. first took hold of her, but that she could neither speak,
breathe, nor stir; that a sort of numbness came over her, and she
experienced no pain.
Case of Asthma cured.
The next day or two after, Mrs. W. was called on to go and see
*
5
�50
one of our neighbors, who had an attack of the asthma. I went in
company with her.
She had not been in the house long before she was acted on, and
spoke as follows:
“You think you are better than you were yesterday, because you
can breathe easier; but the fact is, you are not as well. True, your
asthma is not as bad, but a more deadly disease is eating at your vitals,
which, if not arrested, will terminate in physical death. But fear not;
have confidence in God, and you shall shortly be healed.”
She then commenced operations by placing one hand in his bosom,
and making passes over his system with the other. In about five
minutes’ time, the hand she placed in his bosom was as red as a piece
of scarlet, from the tip of her fingers to the elbow. She changed hands
alternately, and continued to work over him about an hour; after which
she declared he would be well on the morrow, with the exception of a
weakness, from which it would take him two or three days to recover.
Now, it is well to remark that no one suspected the person of having
any fever, more than generally results from a cold; but the medium
had not worked over him longer than ten minutes, before the room was
so filled with fever, it became sickening, and they were obliged to
throw open the door, and let in fresh air, notwithstanding it was a very
cold day, and there was but very little fire in the room at the time.
The spirits said the disease was typhus fever, and those present at the
time believed it.
Cyrus Tyrrell.
No. 4. Testimony oflto class VII.
Morris, Ostego Co., N. Y., Oct. 1852.
I know that I have conversed with the spirits of my departed friends,
as well as I know that I exist, and by the same kind of evidence. I
know by the aid of my natural senses and reason that I exist, and by
the same evidence I know that I communicate with departed spirits.
* * * * For the last six years of my life, my health has been
extremely poor, until I became a medium for spirit communications;
and, by the direction of the spirits, I am now restored to comfortable
health, and, what is better still, I am confirmed in the faith that man is
immortal.
Sarah Herron.
G. T., Dec. 11, 1852.
�No. 5. Testimony of 2 to class VII. S. C. Hewitt and John M. Spear,
“ The Prisoner's Friend."
I select the three following from the many remarkable cures which
have been performed through Mr. Spear, as specimens of the others. I
have heard the first from 'Mr. Spear himself (as I have heard him
relate many more). There can be no doubt as to Mr. Spear’s perfect
sincerity in this whole matter, and the circumstances are such as to
preclude the possibility of his being the dupe of any hallucination.
On the 21st of March, 1852, Mr. Spear’s hand, moving with no con
scious volition, took the pen and wrote, “ You must go to Abington (a
town twenty miles distant), to-morrow night — you will be wanted
there — call on David Vining.” * * * *
Never having had any experience in cases of this kind, and not
knowing anything about Mr. Vining, or what was wanted, Mr. Spear
was very sceptical, and hesitated to obey this request, till it was
urgently pressed several times, and many promises of good results had
been made.
He finally consented to go, as the unseen power directed. He re
ceived several special and encouraging communications in the course of
his journey. Among others was a perfectly satisfactory explanation of
why he was directed to go to Abington, instead of the adjoining town
of Weymouth, where Mr. Vining lived, it being important that he
should go to Abington. From Abington he took with him Mr. Phi
lander Shaw, by spirit direction, and went to Mr. Vining’s house in
W eymouth.
Mr. Spear had never heard of Mr. Vining before, and knew nothing
of the purpose of his being sent to him, till he arrived and found Mr.
Vining very sick with neuralgia.
He had been in the most extreme pain for ten days, and during all
this time had not slept. Mr. Spear immediately felt moved to sit by
his side; which being done, Mr. Spear’s hand began involuntarily to
move, and rested itself on the head of Mr. Vining, near the ear. The
latter in a moment caught up his foot, saying, “ What are you doing
to my leg ? ”
“ I am not doing anything to your leg,” was the reply.
“Well,” said Mr. Vining, “the pain is all gone.”
*
Mr. Vining being then requested to take his bed, replied that he
was afraid to do so while Mr. Spear was present; but, being reassured,
he consented, and, after a refreshing sleep, which had continued for
�52
some time, he remarked an angel had visited him in his sleep, and done
him good.
Mr. Vining soon went about his business, as usual. This he contin
ued till, in consequence of great exposure, he took a severe cold, which
was followed by neuralgia, of which, in about fifty days from the first
cure, he died; Mr. Spear being prevented, by his doubting friends,
again visiting him.
If, from the fact of his subsequent death, it be considered that his
•first cure was not real, we might urge the same objections to every
case of Christ; — for I presume none will doubt that all he cured have
since died,— how soon after the cure by him is not known.
That the cure of Mr. Vining was real and complete, has been fully
confirmed by many witnesses. Should any one doubt, I would refer
him to Mr. Philander Shaw, of Abington, Mass., and Mr. Seth Hunt,
of Weymouth, both of whom testify to the facts.
Again, Mr. Spear was directed, by what purported to be Swedenborg,
to go to Georgetown. He went, not knowing for what purpose. Then
Benjamin Franklin told him he must go and see a woman who had
been struck by lightning. He found the person, by the superior direc
tion. * * * * His hand was placed upon hers by the same
power. She then remarked to her husband, “ I can breathe easier.”
and she was very soon relieved from all pain.
But in this case, as not unfrequently occurs with others, Mr. Spear
took the pain himself, which continued about two hours. As further
testimony to the above case, Mrs. Tenny, of Georgetown, Mass., may
be referred to.
On another occasion, Mr. S. C. Hewitt, as he writes and has person
ally confirmed, called, with Rev. Mr. W., to see some remarkable dia
grams, which Mr. Spear’s hand, by the same involuntary power,
executed.
They were then introduced to each other, and seated near together.
While they were in conversation, Mr. Spear’s hand rose, as he sup
posed, to take that of Mr. W.; but his forefinger was placed on Mr.
W.’s head, where it remained several minutes. During the time, the
question was asked, “ What name do phrenologists give that part of the
brain ?”
Answer. “ Ideality.”
To which Mr. W. replied, “ That is the leading element of my mind.
The love of the ideal and the beautiful.”
This remark led the company to suppose the movement was meant
�53
simply to signify that fact; but, when the finger was removed, Mr. W.
remarked that when he came in he had a severe pain in both sides of
the head, in precisely the region where the finger rested. Mr. Spear
then asked,
“How does your head feel now?”
“ The pain is all gone," was the reply.”
In this instance, Mr. Spear’s hand had taken the pain, which, how
ever, passed away in a few minutes.
[For the full detail of these and other cases, see Murray’s “Mes
sages. By S. C. Hewitt.”]
Now, the fact of relieving the pain might be accounted for on what
are called mesmeric principles; but that will not account for the intel
ligent directing power, which, in these, as in all other cases, is entirely
foreign to Mr. Spear.
No. 6.
Testimony oflto class VII. x Cure of Mrs. Rhodes, of Lynn,
Mass. The following was given to me personally:
My wife had been confined to her bed nine months — had been
under the care of two physicians, Dr. J. U. Nye four months, and Dr.
Eastman two months, but continued to grow worse. She had lost the
use of her limbs, the muscles of her arms being so contracted as to draw
her hands up nearly to her face. Her legs were drawn up in a similar
manner, and her hips drawn out of their socket-joints. The lower ver
tebra had been split and displaced in child-birth. She had the spine
complaint, was dropsical, and greatly afflicted with darting neuralgic
pains in all parts of her system. She only prayed for death to relieve
her sufferings. The neighbors all thought she could live but a short
time.
This was her situation when Mr. John M. Spear was called to see
her by me (she having no faith in him, or in spiritualism). Mr. Spear
described her disease, and told her what to do. She obeyed him, and,
though she has taken no medicine, she is better now than she has
before been for ten years, being able to do all her work, and walk two
miles without difficulty. A few days after Mr. Spear came to see her,
on Sunday night, her arms were drawn down; she was taken from the
bed to a chair with her bed-clothes about her; she used her arms very
freely, dressed herself, and walked about the room — the family all
being present, and called in the neighbors (Mr. George Summers,
Mr. E. A. Summers and wife, and ten others). The vertebra above
referred to was replaced by the unseen agency, and likewise her hip
�54
joints by the same. During these three surgical operations (each of
which was performed at different times) she distinctly felt the impres.
sion of unseen hands about the parts operated upon.
Boston, April 25th, 1854.
Benjamin A. Rhodes.
No. 7. Testimony of 6 to class VII. Mrs. Semantha Mettler, of Hart
ford, Conn.
Testimony of Deacon Silas Mosman, of Cabotville. — Be it
known that my daughter Mary, now twenty-two years old, has, for
about three years past, been mostly confined to her bed, and unable to
walk alone. About the middle of July last, she lost all power of the
organs of speech, and a few days after was deprived of her eye-sight,
becoming entirely blind, with no power even to raise her eyelids. All
possible means have been used for her relief; she has been attended by
twelve or thirteen physicians, some of them being of the highest order
and skill. She continued in about the same condition, changing only
for the worse; and was finally told that she could never be any better.
By this time we had almost despaired of any relief; but, through a
kind providence, we noticed a letter in one of the Springfield papers
respecting the claims and powers of Mrs. Mettler, the clairvoyant, in
healing and restoring the sick. We immediately applied to her, and,
after several attempts, we were fortunate in getting her to make us a
visit. On the evening of the above date she called, made a clairvoyant
examination of Marv’s case, and prescribed for her. The next day,
Mrs. M. called again, and by manipulations quieted her a good deal.
On the next Wednesdav she called a third time to see her, and in
about half an hour, with nothing but her own hands, she succeeded, to
the joy of all, in opening her eyes, and restoring her sight and
SPEECH! The next day Mrs. Mettler called again, and, to our
astonishment, she triumphantly put the case beyond all question, by
making my daughter walk entirely alone, which she had not done for
three years. Such are the facts in this most remarkable case. Mary
continues to see, talk and walk; and, for all we know, she must be
restored to her former good health.
Silas Mosman.
Cabotville, Jan. 9, 1850.
Testimony of Mr. S. Pease.
This is to certify that I have been suffering from an extreme weak
ness of the lungs and chest; a great shortness of breath, produced
�55
from what one physician termed adhesion of the lungs, though others
were not able to determine what the real difficulty was. Although
under medical skill and treatment, my difficulties seemed to increase;
my case continued to grow alarming, as I had already been suffering
for over two years, and unable to do scarcely anything, or get any re
lief. At this stage of my difficulties, I made up my mind that there
was no help for me; this was also the opinion of the physician. [Here
he mentions the circumstances of calling on Mrs. Mettler, and says:]
Without the least faith, I ventured to have her, in her clairvoyant
state, explore my then hopeless condition, which she did with the most
perfect accuracy, pointing out facts almost impossible to believe without
a previous knowledge of them. *
*
* She then succeeded in
affecting me psychologically, and in a few moments caused me to
breathe as free as any one. My lungs felt strong and easy; hope
revived. I then commenced taking her prescriptions, and following her
directions. Soon after I commenced her treatment, I took the worst
and most prostrating cold that man could ever be afflicted with; yet,
under her treatment, with the cold upon my lungs, I felt better and
stronger than before, though all the neighbors thought it impossible for
me to live.
But here I am, in less than four months, under her treatment,
restored. I am now able to do any kind of work, and can walk as far
in a day as any other person.
I know a great many, in this and other neighborhoods, that have
been under her treatment. Cases that seemed to baffle all ordinary skill
by the regular physicians have been restored by this lady’s wonderful
and mysterious power.
N. B. This testimony is given of my own free will, unsolicited on
her part. I give it as a duty I owe Mrs. Mettler, as well as to the
public.
M. S. Pease.
Granby, Mass., October, 1850.
Taken from a Statement published in the “Hartford Times."
My daughter, some three years since, became afflicted with inflamma
tion in her eyes, produced at first, as we suppose, by getting a piece of
time in one of them. This inflammation continued to increase until both
eyes became greatly inflamed, depriving her almost entirely of her sight.
She then took cold, and this increased the inflammation, with renewed
distress and sufferings. [Here follows a statement of the case under
�56
the hands of three successive physicians, one for three months, the
others for “ some time,” the case growing worse all the while. He says:]
During the attendance of these physicians, there was a spot or felon
upon the eye, which was continually increasing; and the inflammation
became so extreme that it was with great difficulty that she could
distinguish one person from another. She could scarcely open her
eyelids, and that only in the dark. Of course, now, all hope for her
restoration was at an end, and thus she remained suffering intensely.
Finally, through the persuasion of a kind friend, as a last resort, we
took her to Mrs. Mettler, on the 21st of May last. Mrs. Mettler, while
in the clairvoyant state, gave a perfect and minute detail of the causes
of her complaint, and then prescribed for her; and, to our utter
astonishment, after the application of her prescription, in less than two
weeks she could see quite well, improving almost as if by miracle; and
in less than four weeks she could see to read, and has continued so
ever since.
The cry of humbug is a miserable substitute for facts, especially
when facts are daily multiplying in our own city, to say nothing of
what is occurring all over the wide world.
Almost daily I hear of some poor sufferer relieved or restored by
this lady’s powers. She seems to have all the worst cases to attend,
after they have passed through the physicians’ hands.
Hartford, Dec. 13, 1852.
George Staples.
Bridgeport, April, 1852.
I hereby certify that I had been troubled for several years with
ulcerations in my throat, caused at first by slight colds, inducing a
disease which is generally called quinsy. * * At length it became
a seated bronchial affection, and continued in a constant state of ulcer
ation for several months, baffling all the skill of the physicians, and
almost the last power of endurance in the sufferer. * * Finally, as
a last resort, by the desire of my friends I was persuaded to consult
Mrs. Mettler. I soon obtained relief from her prescription, and my
throat has never ulcerated once since the first application of the
remedies proposed by her. I am now happy in declaring myself in the
full enjoyment of physical health and mental harmony, with the fullest
assurance that the weak things of the earth do sometimes confound
the wise. May the life of this good woman long be preserved, as her
work is an exemplification of the angels’ mission to suffering humanity.
Eliza C. Leeds.
�57
Cure of Joseph Haight.
It is well known to my friends that I am subject to a disease which
may properly be termed an inflammatory action of the heart. Those
attacks have been so severe that many times I have longed for that
release of soul, which is commonly termed death. All applications of
medical skill have only seemed to aggravate the difficulty; and, for sev
eral years past, my disease has bid defiance to all strictly professional
means of relief. After having sunk so low as to be almost beyond the
reach of hope, I applied to Mrs. Mettler, whose powers and sympathies
are so widely known, and obtained from her the relief I had long
despaired of. * * * * A more wonderful event than this, per
haps, is not recorded in the annals of medicine. * * * * The
relief from my intense suffering appeared truly miraculous.
Bridgeport, April 2, 1853.
Joseph Haight.
The following is a very severe case of a child being burned.
writer says:
The
We had two physicians in attendance, but without much effect. The
case had become one of long standing; and his sufferings were
approaching a fearful crisis. * * * * We are grateful to Mrs,
Mettler for her kindness in restoring our little boy; for we know that
she has been the instrument of saving his life.
William Dibble.
Darien, Ct., May, 1852.
These cases are taken from the “ Biograghy of Mrs. Semantha Met
tler,” by Frances H. Green. They are by no means the most remark
able, but we selected them on account of the directness of the testimony,
and the brevity with which they could be stated. In all these cases,
Mrs. Mettler has given prescriptions; but there are many cases of
her direct and immediate cure of very malignant diseases, simply by
“ laying on the hands.”
It may be asked What has all this to do with spirits ? Truly, I have
not related that part of these or other experiences which put it beyond
a doubt that she, as she firmly believes, is assisted by spirits. But, if
any one will take the trouble to make himself acquainted with the
facts, he will have no doubt upon the subject. I cannot forbear to
quote the following words, spoken by Mr. Spear under the spirit influ
ence :
6
�58
On the 29th of January, 1853, Mr. Spear was requested by a spirit
communication to go to Hartford. He set off immediately ; arrived in
Hartford at half-past eight, when he was distinctly impressed to go to
the house of Mrs. Mettler. There he, in the superior condition, gave a
very beautiful and impressive address to Mrs. Mettler, relative to her
mission, &c. This address closed by saying :
“ This medium has been commissioned to wisely instruct this woman
for a high purpose. There is to open before this woman a new and
beautiful labor. At ten o’clock, to-morrow, the purpose of his mission
to this place will be unfolded. Let this woman be in the region of the
Tranquillities at that hour.”
At the appointed time, Mr. Spear made the following address :
“ Father of fathers, and Deity of deities, thy wills be done on the
earths as they are done in the Heaven of heavens.
“ This fondly loved one shall be consecrated to the Charities. Thou,
Lcuceforth, shalt be called Charity. That shall be thy denomination.
“ Thou shalt say to the sufferer on his couch, Arise, and it shall be
so; thou shalt say to the maimed, Be thou whole, and it shall be so;
thou shalt say to the blind, Open thou thy closed eyes, and this also
shall be; thou shalt say to the dead, Arise, and it shall come to pass.
Thou shalt pass through the humble vale, over the lofty^nountains, over
rivers and seas, and the elements shall be at thy command. Naught
shall disturb thy sweet placidity. No want shalt thou know.
“ This open hand shall bless others; and thou shalt thyself be blest.
This foot shall go and come. Thou shalt mount up like a bird of the lofti
est flight, and thou shalt never be wearied. Thou shalt ‘ go and come,
nor ever fear to die, till thou art called home.’ Happy shall they be
who behold thy sweet countenance. Blessed are they on whom thy
hand rests. Receive now this blessed power.
“ This hand shall be unfolded to dispense blessings far and wide.
Blessings shall descend upon thee. In blessing others, thou thyself
shalt be blest. Thou shalt go on in a mysterious way, dispensing
blessings. It is done.”
No. 8. Testimony oflto class VII.
From the “New Era”
Rutland, Vt., April 18, 1853.
Last summer a lady in New Hampshire was severely afflicted with
a cancer on the face. She had been in the habit of applying a great
variety of things with a view to its cure, but she grew worse continu
ally. [Here follows the direction of the spirits, and the manner of
�59
getting it, which was entirely unsolicited:] Soon after this, says the
writer, I visited the lady, and gave her the above information. She
very readily consented to a trial, and in less than three months, to the
surprise of all, she was thoroughly cured.
Charles C. York.
I hereby certify that I have been afflicted with poor health for three
years. The last year, I have been confined for weeks, in such a con
dition that I could not be turned in my bed for two weeks at a time.
My doctor said I had a tumor in my side. It appeared to grow daily,
causing great pain, — so much so, that, for the last year, I could not
walk or ride a mile without making myself sick. My doctor would do
something to relieve me' for a few days, but said I was liable to die
any day. Last February, C. C. York, a healing or clairvoyant medium,
of Claremont, N. H., came to this place, by spirit direction. I called
on him, at the suggestion of my husband, but without faith. The
said medium was immediately put into the unconscious state without
any visible agency, and described the feelings I had experienced for
many years, and told the cause of the difficulty, and said that I could
be cured. He then prescribed for me, and I made a trial. The tumor
disappeared in less than two weeks. In one week I walked five miles
in a day without pain. In ten days I rode in a carriage fifteen miles
and back in one day without inconvenience or distress, and am now in
good health.
There are others also who are receiving the same blessings here,
through this medium. I most cheerfully recommend him to the
afflicted.
Pamelia A. Nichols.
Reading, Mass., March 30, 1854.
I hereby certify that the within statement of my wife, Pamelia A.
Nichols, is true.
William Nichols.
Reading, Mass., March 30, 1854.
Another Cure. — I hereby certify, that my health has been very poor
for some years, with a general weakness, nervousness, neuralgia and
weak stomach; and all the remedies I tried only made me worse.
Since last December, I have been unable to sit up all day. The first
of this month, seeing Mrs. P. A. Nichols restored to health, I sent for
Doctor York. He called, and soon went into the clairvoyant state.
He described my feelings, told the cause of my difficulty, and said I
could be cured. I followed his directions, and I now can Sleep as
�60
usual. My food does not distress rue. I ean sit up and labor all day
without being nervous or in pain. I cheerfully recommend Doctor
York to the afflicted.
Mbs. Harriet Nelson.
Reading, Mass., March 30, 1854.
Case VIII.
No. 1. Testimony of Mr. Garrison.
However much any one may differ in opinion from Mr. Garrison,
all must admit his candor and unimpeachable veracity.
[From the Liberator of March 3, 1854.]
We are often privately asked, what we think of the “Spiritual
Manifestations,” so called, and whether we have had any opportunities
to investigate them.
When we first heard of the “Rochester knockings,” we supposed
(not personally knowing the persons implicated) that there might be
some collusion in that particular case, or, if not, that the phenomena
would ere long elicit a satisfactory solution, independent of all spiritual
agency. As the manifestations have spread from house to house, from
city to city, from one part of the country to the other, across the
Atlantic into Europe, till now the civilized world is compelled to
acknowledge their reality, however diverse in accounting for them, —
as these manifestations continue to increase in variety and power, so
that all suspicion of trick or imposture becomes simply absurd and
preposterous, — and as every attempt to find a solution for them in
some physical theory relating to electricity, the odic force, clairvoyance,
and the like, has thus far proved abortive, — it becomes. every intelli
gent mind to enter into an investigation of them with candor and fair
ness, as opportunity may offer, and to bear such testimony in regard to
them as the facts may warrant, no matter what ridicule it may excite
on the part of the uninformed or sceptical.
As for ourselves, most assuredly we have been in no haste to jump
to a conclusion in regard to phenomena so universally diffused, and of
so extraordinary a character. For the last three years, we have kept
pace with nearly all that has been published on the subject; and we
have witnessed, at various times, many surprising “ manifestations; ”
and our conviction is, that they cannot be accounted for on any other
theory than that of spiritual agency. This theory, however, is not
unattended with discrepancies, difficulties and trials. It is certain
that, if it be true, there are many deceptive spirits, and that the apos-
�61
tolic injunction to “believe not every spirit,” but to try them in every
possible way, is specially to be regarded, or the consequences may prove
very disastrous.
We might write a pretty long essay on what we have seen and heard,
touching this matter; but this we reserve for some other occasion.
We shall now merely describe some of the phenomena which we wit
nessed in New York, during our recent visit to that city.
The medium, in this instance, was Mrs. Brown, formerly Miss Fish,
of Rochester. The circle was composed of six gentlemen and four
ladies. The table was of ample dimensions, so as to accommodate the
party without inconvenience. We sat around it in the usual manner
(the hands of each individual resting upon the table), and engaged in
social chit-chat. While waiting for some demonstrations from the
invisible world, we had our right foot patted as by a human hand, and
the right leg of our pantaloons strongly pulled, by some unseen agency.
This was done repeatedly, though we said nothing at the time ; but,
thinking it might be possible that the foot of some one of the company
might undesignedly be in contact with our own, we cautiously felt
around to ascertain if this were the case, but there was nothing tangi
ble ; and the moment we put our foot down, the same familiar tappings
and jerks followed. Still, we made no disclosure. Raps were then
distinctly heard, and the alphabet was called for. Letter by letter, it
was rapped out that the medium must put her feet in the custody of
one of the party, and then we were told to wait for demonstrations.
This was evidently done to convince every one present that the medium
had nothing to do with the phenomena, by way of fraud or collusion;
and, during the entire sitting (a protracted one), before any remarka
ble feat was performed, the medium was invariably ordered to take
such a position as to render it clearly impossible for her to be privy to
it. The presence of several spirits was indicated during the evening,
and satisfactory tests were made; but the most communicative and
efficient one purported to be that of “ Jesse Hutchinson.” It was he
who had been playing bo-peep with us under the table ; and, now that
the medium was secured, to the satisfaction of all present, he renewed
his salutations, not only to us personally, but to nearly every one of
the circle. The ladies had their dresses, and the gentlemen their panta
loons, pulled, and their feet patted, in the most emphatic manner.
Heavy raps were now made on the floor; and, on being requested to
that effect, “Jesse” beat a march, — it seemed to us Washington’s
march, — in admirable time, and in the most spirited manner; no
*
6
�62
drummer could have done it more skilfully. He was then asked to
beat time, while the company joined in singing several tunes, — “The
Old Granite State,” among others, — which he did to perfection. He
then spelt out the following communications by the alphabet: “ I am
most happy, dear friends, to be able to give you such tangible evidence
of my presence. The good time has truly come. The gates of the
New Jerusalem are open, and the good spirits, made more pure by the
change of spheres, are knocking at the door of your souls.”
Isaac T. Hopper now indicated his presence to his daughter, who
was at the table, and made some physical demonstrations. His message,
as rapped out, was as follows : “ I am truly happy to echo back joy
and gladness from my happy home. Truth is bearing its way on glori
ously, and the subject of spiritualism will work miracles in the cause
of reform. My friends, the rock of prejudice begins to yield to the
hammer of truth; and, now, with the aid of good spirits, you can blast
it without the use of powder.” And he subsequently added, “I want
you to see that spirits have power to move matter.”
It was next rapped out, “ Put the bell under the table.” We, accord
ingly, took the bell (an ordinary table-bell), and put it down at our
feet. In a few moments, it was smartly rung by an unseen power, and
then fell to the floor. This was done again and again,— the bell mak
ing the circuit of the table, and ringing so loudly that the servant-girl,
in an adjacent room, supposing she was needed, came in to inquire what
was wanted.
Next, a cane with a hooked handle was laid on the carpet, under the
table. Immediately, it struck the table violently, and rubbed along
the under surface its entire length. It then fell to the floor, and
traversed over and under the feet of several of the party, like a living
;Snake, — in one or two instances, the foot being involuntarily lifted to
enable it to pass under. Its movements were exceedingly curious. At
one -time, we caught hold of the handle as it protruded itself by our
side, and .endeavored to pull it from under the table ; but the resist
ance was as strong as though another hand was grasping it at the
opposite end.
We were now directed to put several things under the table, observe
how they were placed, and wait for results. When told to look, we
found that a penknife was missing, nor could it be discovered by the
most careful search. On again resuming our seats, we were told to
take another look; and, behold! there was the penknife, precisely
where it had been originally placed !
�63
Next, we were directed to lay some writing-paper, with, a pencil upon
it, under the table. This was done ; and, in a few moments, on being
told to look, we found the word “Jesse” written upon it in a scrawling
hand, as though made with great difficulty. The same experiment was
again made, and “ Isaac T. H.” (Hopper), was written very legibly, and
in a different hand. A third time this was done, and “ Mary Jane ”
was recorded, — the name of a young lady who had been communi
cating with a gentleman present. The first two autographs we have
in our possession.
We now made two requests of “ Jesse,” to convince us yet more
strongly of his presence. The first was, to press our right foot firmly
to the floor, and to make loud raps directly under it. This was quickly
done, the foot being grasped as by a mortal hand, and vibrating to the
raps thus strangely made. The second was, if possible, to take us by
the right hand with his own, so as to make the touch palpable beyond
a doubt. Keeping the hand carefully in custody between our knees as
we sat, — the hands of all the company, including those of the medium,
being on the table, — we, in a few moments, had it patted, first on one
side, then on the other, briskly, and repeatedly, as if by another hand,
having a negative feeling, as though there was no warmth in it, but
natural in every other respect. For the general gratification, the same
thing was done to others of the party.
How shall demonstrations like these be accounted for, except on the
hypothesis of spirit-agency ? If we cannot positively affirm that Isaac
T. Hopper and Jesse Hutchinson were present on that occasion, we are,
at least, prepared to declare, as our own conviction, as well as that of
the entire company, we believe, that invisible spirits, not of this mun
dane sphere, performed the phenomena we have thus briefly narrated to
our readers.
Note. — I, with a sceptical friend, took particular pains to call on
Mr. Garrison, in reference to his experience, when he stated so many
particulars, and other important facts, as to dispel every possible
doubt.
No. 2. Testimony oflto classes I and V. Statement of Adin Ballou.
Extracted from his “ Spirit Manifestations.'"
“ I have heard the time and metre 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
�64
am as certain that these sounds were not made by any conscious mortal
agency as I am of the best authenticated facts in the common transac
tions of life.
“ I have seen tables and light-stands move about in the most astonish
ing manner, by what purported to be the same invisible agency, with
only the gentle and passive resting of the hands or fingers of the
medium upon the table. Also, many distinct movings of such objects
by request, without the touch of the medium at all.
“ I have known these invisibles, by request, to write their names with
a common plumbago-pencil on a clean sheet of paper, half a dozen of
them, each in a different hand. [He states the circumstances of 'their
writing, holding the pen themselves, and concludes it with] This (writing
without hands) was repeatedly tested with the same results, under cir
cumstances putting all suspicion of fraud and jugglery entirely at rest.”
■ [There are several other more convincing things which he states he
has seen, but they are of such a nature as to require too much room
for a place here.]
No. 3. Testimony of 1 to class I. Statement of Mr. William
1
Bugbee.
[I give the following statement as a specimen of many which I could
present from the most reliable persons. Mr. Bugbee lives in Roxbury,
and, so far as I can learn, is a man of irreproachable reputation. I
give his statement as I took it down at the time, and to which he
authorized me to attach his name.]
I have seen tables move, beat time to tunes, move contrary to my
request, when I know no person was touching them.
Mrs. Newton [whose testimony I have given] described my son, who
had been long at sea ; told every particular about him, all which were
true. She said, among other things, “he is cross-eyed;” which is true.
She said, “ he has a sore on his leg,” which she also described. This
we knew nothing of till a long time after, when he came home ; then
he confirmed the whole by showing the scar. He was greatly aston
ished that we could know anything about it. Mrs. Newton could have
no means of knowing that we had a son.
My daughter, who became a medium, said in the spiritual state, on the
19th of March, “ I see the ship in which is my brother crossing the
line.” This also proved true.
William Bugbee.
Harmony Hall, Boston, May 11, 1854.
�65
Case IX.
No. 1.
A Test.
About the first of January, 1854, the spirit of Laura F. Stevens
spelled out by raps, “ Your friend, Ellen Cronan, is dead.” When
did she die? “Jan. 1st, 1854.” What was her disease and age?
“ Her disease was lung fever; her age, fifteen years the 17th of March.”
Where did she reside at the time of her death ? “ In Lawrence, Mass.,
at No. 53 Linwell-st.” Do you know her father’s name ? “ It is Sam,
uel W. Cronan. His business is brick-making.”
Mary E. Kendall (the medium) had for a few weeks attended school
with Ellen Cronan in South Boston, six years since. Mary was then
eight years of age. This was all we ever knew of Ellen Cronan, or
any of her folks, and did not know where they lived.
But we directed the following letter in accordance with the directions
above given:
“ Sir : I have learned that your daughter Ellen is dead. Will you
please give me the particulars concerning her death, and direct to D.
C. Kendall, No. 1 India Wharf. I am very anxious to know all about
it.
“ Boston.”
A few weeks after, a reply was received, as follows :
“ Lawrence, Mass., Jan. 25, 1854.
“ Miss Kendall : You will excuse me for not answering your letter
before. We are preparing to remove from this place, and are very
busy at present. Your very singular request, for me to give you the
whole particulars of my daughter’s death, immediately led me to sup
pose that you were what is termed a ‘ spirit rapper.’ But I will give
them to you, as you wish it. She died New-Year’s night, aged fifteen
years. Her birthday would have been on March 17; disease, lung
fever. My business is brick-making; but, as it has not been very
pressing lately, and was not, especially when your letter arrived, I
began searching for a medium. I found one, and the following words
were spelled out: ‘ Dear Father, I requested a spirit to send to you
for the particulars of my death, through the mediumship of Mary E.
Kendall, in South Boston, to convince you, and to give her a test.
Direct your letter to her, and this wiH be a test for you.’ I shall
have to become a believer in this, which I have so unmercifully con
�G6
demned and ridiculed the idea of, if this test be true ; for this reason,
I have not directed as you desired me to. Most respectfully,
“ 53 Linwell-st.
Samuel AV. Cronan.”
Note. — Mrs. Kendall and her daughter both testify to the above,
and have the letter received from Mr. Cronan, which I have seen.
J. H. Fowler.
Last Tuesday afternoon, immediately after I had taken my seat in
the school-room, my hand was moved, and wrote, “ You have lost your
bracelet; you will find it in the lower hall, broken in pieces.” This
was the first I knew of its being gone. I immediately went below, and
found it as was stated.
Mary E. Kendall.
South Boston, May 18th, 1854.
Note. — I received the above statement from Miss Kendall, and
saw the pieces of the bracelet referred to.
J. H. Fowler.
No. 2. Spirit delivers a Message. From “ Spiritual Telegraph,” March
12, 1853.
S. B. Brittan.—Dear Sir: On the evening of Feb. 2d, 1852,
while a circle was convened at our residence in Lowell, my wife
inquired if Louisa (our deceased daughter) was with us, and was
answered in the affirmative. In reply to the question, “Are you often
with Susan ” (our only surviving daughter, who was then travelling
with her friends in Georgia), the spirit answered that she was. My
wife then requested the spirit to “ go and stay with Susan, and keep
her from all harm while she was away.” To which Louisa replied by
rapping that she would. This, it should be remembered, was on the
evening of Feb. 2d. In about one week from that time, we received
a letter from Susan, dated Atlanta, Ga., Feb. 3d, 1852, in which the
following fact was stated. “ Last night we had a sitting, and Louisa
came and rapped for the alphabet, and spelled out to me this sentence,
namely, ‘ Mother wants me to come and stay with you, and keep you
from all harm while away from home.'
Louisa.”
Thus you see that some invisible agent, claiming to be my daughter,
received the communication in Lowell, Mass., and delivered it, word
for word, in the town of Atlanta, Georgia, and all within the space of
an hour.
B. McFarland.
�67
jVo. 3. Testimony of Rev. D. F. Goddard, Boston.
This is to certify that, during a long investigation of the modern
phenomena which are now attracting attention in our own country and
in the old, I have repeatedly seen my own table, in my own room, to
which I know there is no nice machinery affixed for purposes of decep
tion, without any contact whatever of earthly kind, raised, tipped,
moved about the room, as if a strong man was there at work. Also,
a pianoforte played upon in the same way, without mortal, contact, pro
ducing most beautiful music, — an ocean piece, in which a storm was
represented succeeded by a calm. These phenomena occurred in the
presence of several other individuals of both sexes, all of whom saw,
and all of whom are ready to testify. I have also received from a
medium, who never saw me before, and knew nothing of my family,
the fact of my father’s death, his name, and a perfect fac-simile of his
hand-writing; and this when I was not expecting such hand-writing,
and could not have possibly imitated it, without a copy, in the labor
of a three months.
D. F. Goddard.
Boston, May 21, 1854.
No. 4. From the “New Era."
New Orleans, March 31, 1854.
Brother Hewitt. — Dear Sir : It is with much pleasure that I
take this opportunity to give you a description of the manifestations as
witnessed by myself and twenty-four others, at Jonathan Koon’s spirit
room, in Athens County, Ohio, on the evenings of the 17th, 18th and
19th of February last, in order that you may publish the statement
in your paper, if you wish, with the use of some of our names, as you
may think proper.
On the following evening, we had another sitting, when they beat a
march on the drum, and then carried the tambourine all around over
our heads, playing on it the while. They then dropped it on the table.
Then they took the triangle from the wall, and carried it all around, as
they did the other instruments, for some time. We could only hear
the dull sound of the steel; then would peal forth the full ring of the
instrument. They let this fall on the table also. After this, they
spoke through the trumpet to all, stating that they were glad to see
them. Then they went to a gentleman who was playing on the violin,
and took it out of his hand up into the air, all around, thrumming the
�68
strings, and playing as well as mortals can do, sounding very sweetly.
They soon returned it to its owner again, and then they brought the
accordeon out, and put it on the other table, and played on it; but, one
key being out of order, they took up the trumpet, and said they did
not like bad instruments to play upon. They now played most sweetly
on the trumpet; then took the harp, and brought both into tune, and
played on both instruments, and at the same time sung with some four
voices, sounding like female voices, and which, indeed, made the room
swell with melody.
After this, they made their hands visible again, and took paper, and
brought it out on the other table, and commenced writing slowly, when
one of the visitors asked them if they could not write faster; the hand
then moved so fast we could hardly see it go, but all could hear the
pencil move over the paper for some five minutes or so. When it was
done, the spirit took up the trumpet and spoke, saying the communica
tion was for friend Pierce; and at the same time the hand came up to
him, and gave the paper into his hand. Now the spirit said, if friend
Pierce would put his hand on the table, they would shake hands with
him for a testimony to the world, as he could do much good with such
a fact while on his spiritual mission. He then put his hand on the
table by their request, and the hand came up to him, and took hold of
his fingers, and shook them. Then it went away, but soon came back
again, and patted his hand some minutes, then left again. Now it
came back the third time, and, taking his whole hand for some five
minutes, he examined it all over, and found it as natural as a human
hand, even to the nails on the fingers. He traced the hand up as far
as the wrist, and found nothing any further than that point. The hand
did not feel as warm as a human hand, but it did not feel of a chilly
coldness. It remained with him until he was satisfied. Then it shook
him heartily by the full hand, and disappeared some ten minutes.
After the hand had gone, he felt a very queer sensation on the back
of his hand, where the thumb of the spirit-hand had been.
On the same evening, two spirits spoke through Mr. Pierce — one
on the first of the evening, and another the last part — to some fifty
persons.
You are at liberty to make such use of our names, private or public,
as you may think proper. Yours, truly,
D. Hasteller, Pittsburg.
Lewis Dugdale, Farmer, Ohio.
A. P. Pierce, Philadelphia. Chas. C. Stillman, Marion, Ohio.
H. F. Partridge, Wheeling, Va.
�69
No. 5. Testimony of 1 to class I.
I hereby certify that, in the month of January last, while in the
office of Mr. Cummings (No. 40 State-st., Boston), I was lifted, by
what I believe spirit agency, from the floor, and placed on a table.
Amos Cummings and wife, George Clapp, and Miss Susan Bayly, all
of Boston, each of whom were present on the occasion, are ready to
certify to the above fact.
I further certify, that, soon after this, while in the house of Mr.
Andrew J. Page, in Danvers, I was again lifted from the floor to the
table, by the same power. On this occasion were present Mr. Cum
mings and wife, and Mr. Clapp and William D. Emerson, Mr. Page
and wife, James Page, of Lowell, and many others.
Boston, May 2, 1854.
Mary H. Ide, East Boston.
Edward P. Fowler, N. Y.
No. 6. Testimony of 1 to classes III. and, IV; of 10 to class V; of
8 to classes I. and II.
The experience of Mr. Fowler is given at length in the Telegraph,
and in Judge Edmonds’ “ Spiritualism,” from which we take the follow
ing testimony:
The phenomena are so remarkable that it requires much direct testi
mony to substantiate them. This we shall present. Mr. Fowler says:
“ On this night (Nov. 21, 1851), after extinguishing my light, and
before getting in bed, I noticed a bright light over my bed, which I
should judge was a foot in diameter. At this I was not surprised,
because I had been accustomed to see such lights, with the exception
that this was brighter than usual. I proceeded to bed, where I had
lain, probably, five minutes, when I heard footsteps in the room.
“ My face was, at that time, turned towards the wall. I looked
around toward the window, and beheld a form, apparently that of a
man forty years old, and a little more than six feet high, walking
from the centre of the room toward window No. 1 ” [as given in the
diagram], “ where he met another man, not so tall, who seemed to have
come through that window. I did not see him come through, but first
saw him when one or two feet from the window, on the inside. They
stopped near the window, and spoke with each other for a few minutes,
and then came to my bed-side, and the taller one said to me, ‘ Arise and.
take thy pen, for I will dictate.’ ”
7
�70
Mr. Fowler did not arise, but states that these two spirits went to
the table, where they were joined by a third and a fourth, coming in at
the window, as the others. The fourth he believes to be Franklin.
He continues : “ After the four had consulted together for the space
of half an hour, the first and second one came to my bed-side, and
talked with me twenty-five or thirty minutes. I, at the time, fully un
derstood what was said. The two again went to the table, and con
versed with the other two. I could hear them talk, but could not
understand their language.
o
O
“ After staying three hours, from twelve till three, they left, appar
ently going out of the same window at which they came in. They
seemed to disappear from my sight when about a foot from the window,
inside.
“ That I really had possession of my natural senses, I infer from the
following circumstances:
First, I had not been asleep when the scene commenced.
“ Second, The Brooklyn fire-bells, which were tolling for fire when I
went to bed, I could still hear; and, in the course of half an hour, the
City Hall bell, of New York, gave the alarm of fire, which the church
bells repeated. I heard the ‘ Rutgers Hose ’ go by the house, and the
adjacent church-bell toll the four hours, as I lay awake, namely, 12, 1,
2, 3 and 4 o’clock.”
At other interviews of this kind, Mr. Fowler states that the spirits
have written with apparatus of their own ; he has seen them writing,
and produced the manuscripts.
The most remarkable of these is copied into Vol. i. No. 9, of the
Spiritual Telegraph.
It was this motto, Peace, but not without Freedom, signed by
upwards of fifty distinguished names, in fac-similes of their writing
while on the earth.
*
* In the Telegraph, with the copy of this autographical manuscript, is the follow
ing statement, with the signatures, as here given.
We, the undersigned, believing that these are the signatures of the spirits them
selves, and fully concurring in the sentiment expressed, hereunto affix our names,
this twenty-fifth day of December, one thousand eight hundred and fifty-one.
John Gray,
Edward P. Fowler,
John F. Gray, M. D.,
William J. Baneb,
S. T. Fowler,
Mrs. Almira L. Fowler,
F. F. Cary,
Mrs. S. A. Partridge,
Mrs. Charlotte F. Wells,
Almon Roff,
Rorert T. Shannon,
Ward Cheney,
Daniel Minthorn,
Dr. R. T. Hallock,
Charles Partridge,
Mrs. Martha H. F. Baneb.
*
�71
In reference to this, Mr. Fowler says : « The original paper, contain
ing the autographs, I found upon my table, about three o’clock one
afternoon, on my return from business; the paper used being a sheet
of drawing-paper, which was incidentally left on my table, and which
I am sure was blank when I left my room in the forenoon. The suc
ceeding autographical manuscript, a representation of which was pub
lished, was executed in my room, on a piece of parchment, left on my
table, by direction of spirits, for that purpose. This was written on
during the night, while I was in my room asleep. I would add, that
many of the signatures on the parchment were entirely strange, having
never seen them before. I have also had several specimens of various
oriental languages, written in my room, on paper which I could identify
as my own, though the languages were unknown to me. These have
been written on, both when I have been in my room and when I have
been absent. Several of the languages referred to I had never seen,
prior to my acquaintance with them through these mystical manu
scripts ; and, of course, did not know what they were, until I had sub
mitted them to a linguist, who read them with facility.
“ The first one which I received was, as I am informed through the
kindness of Prof. Bush, a quotation from the Old Testament, written
in Hebrew. The execution of this occurred about three o’clock in the
afternoon, soon after I had returned from business. I was alone in my
room, when, through the sounds which then occurred in my presence,
I was requested to leave the room for the space of five minutes, during
which interval they (the spirits) promised an attempt to write.
“ I obeyed their request, and went into a room below, where sat my
sister. I told her what had transpired, and, at the expiration of five
minutes, we both ascended to my room. Instead of finding, as we con
jectured we should, some directions written in English, we discovered
this Hebrew quotation, the ink on the paper being still unabsorbed,
although after experiments proved that the ink of a hand heavier than
that in which the Hebrew was written would, on the same kind o?
paper, invariably dry in from two to three minutes.
“ That these writings have not been imposed upon me, I know, because
I had seen some of them written. I have seen them written in day
time, as well as in the night; and that I was in no ‘ abnormal mag
netic state’ I infer from the fact that my consciousness of the circum
stances of outward life remained unimpaired. The ringing of fire-bells,
moving of engines, the tolling of the bells at the ferry, the paddling
�72
of the boat, wheels, and various other noises, common to the city,
were no less distinctly heard than at other times.
That these writings were not perpetrated by myself, I have the
strongest proofs. First, I had never seen any specimens of the lan
guages in which most of the manuscripts were written, and, even to^he
present date, I have seen no other specimens of one or two of the lan
guages used. Second, that power which has communicated to us in our
circle, through the rappings and lifting of tables, professes to have per
formed this writing also.
E. P. Fowler.
New York, August, 1852.
As collateral testimonies to the above facts, and to the veracity of
E. P. Fowler, we submit the following extracts, omitting many par
ticular statements which tend to confirm the whole. First, statement
of facts by Mrs. Charles Partridge, taken from the minutes of the New
York circle.
Persons at the circle have been unexpectedly turned round in the
chairs in which they were sitting, and moved to and from the table.
Chairs and sofas have suddenly started from their positions against the
wall, and moved forward to the centre of the room, when they were
required in the formation of the circle. The persons in the circle have
each successively lifted his own side of the table, and the invisible
power has raised the opposite side correspondingly. Occasionally the
spirits have raised the table entirely, and sustained it in air, at a
distance of from one to three feet from the floor, so that all could
satisfy themselves that no person in the flesh was touching it. Lights
of various colors have been produced in dark rooms. A man has been
suspended in, and conveyed through, the air, a distance of fifty feet, or
more. The communications have been given in various ways, but
chiefly in writing, and by the rappings through the ordinary alphabet
ical mode.
At the close of the session held on the 17th of Nov., 1851, the
spirits, through the alphabet, and in their usual manner, said, “ We
wish to give you a sentence for you to find out and rememberwhen
the following was communicated: “ Debemos amar a todo el mundo aun
a nuestros enemigos." No person present on that occasion understood
a word of this language, but we were subsequently informed that it
was Spanish.
During the session on the 19th of January, 1852, the spirits signi
fied their desire to make a communication in Hebrew. Mr. Partridge
�73
asked who should call the alphabet, and received for answer, “ The
only person present who understands it, — George Bush.” Professor
Bush thereupon proceeded to repeat the Hebrew alphabet, and a com
munication in that language was received.
Many additional facts might be given to show that spirits communi
cate in various languages through E. P. Fowler, but the above will
suffice for the purposes of this statement.
We cannot allow the present occasion to pass without an expression
of the entire confidence and unqualified esteem with which Mr. Fowler
is regarded by the members of the New York circle, and by those who
know him generally. We have had an intimate personal acquaintance
with him for two years past, — some of us for a much longer period, —
and we have only known him as a high-minded and honorable young
man. From the beginning, he has steadily refused to accept the
slightest compensation for his time and services while employed in the
capacity of a medium; and we deem it but an act of simple justice
to Mr. F. to record the fact that, on all occasions, we have found him
entirely unassuming in his deportment, and eminently truthful in his
life. Signed,
K. T. Hallock, M. D.,
W. J. Baner,
J. T. Warner, M. D.,
John F. Gray, M. D.,
Almira L. Fowler,
Samuel T. Fowler.,
A. G. Hull, M. D.,
Mr. & Mrs. Charles Partridge.
Prof. Bush's Testimony. Extract from a letter to Mr. Brittan, dated,
New York, March 27, 1852.
Mr. Brittan : In compliance with your request, I.willingly make
a statement respecting the several communications in Hebrew, Arabic,
Bengalee, &c., which have been submitted to my inspection. Altogether,
the specimens are of an extraordinary character, such as I cannot well
convey by any verbal description.
Mr. E. P. Fowler, since I have become acquainted with him, does
not at all impress me as one who would knowingly practise deception
upon others, however he might possibly be imposed upon himself. He
certainly has no knowledge of the above languages, nor do I think it
likely that he is leagued in collusion with any one who has. A man who
is versed in these ancient and Oriental tongues would be, I think, but
little prone to lend himself as a party to a pitiful scheme of imposture.
It must, indeed, be admitted to be possible that Mr. Fowler may him
self have copied the extracts from printed books; but I can only say
*
7
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for myself taat, from the internal evidence, and from a multitude of
collateral circumstances, I am perfectly satisfied that he never did it.
In like manner I am equally confident that he, though the medium on
the occasion, had, consciously, nothing to do with a Hebrew communi
cation which was spelled out to me, in presence of a circle of very
respectable gentlemen, not one of whom, beside myself, had any knowl
edge of that language.
Signed,
Gr. Bush.
[In regard to these writings by E. P. Fowler, Prof. Bush says, in
another letter, published in Spiritual Telegraph, No. 45 :]
Your readers, Mr. Editor, will have seen that I assume no special
patronage of the present or any similar assorted phenomena. It is of
no consequence to me what verdict, in the end, may be pronounced
upon them. * * I accept, on the whole, what is termed the spiritual
theory of these phenomena. But I stop short with this concession.
When we come to the details, — to the identification of persons, to
the subject-matter of what is communicated from this source, — I
acknowledge, with all frankness, that I make precious little of it. For
the most part, it directly contradicts,what I believe to be true, on
evidence to which my calmest and clearest reason assigns a vastly
higher authority ; and therefore, while others will have every confidence
in making these responses oracular, with me they are “ mere leather and
prunella.”
[In this letter he reaffirms his former testimony, using this lan
guage :]
I only know that here are remarkable specimens of writing in dif
ferent tongues, of which young Fowler is ignorant in his ordinary
state, and in the penning of which I, for one, am satisfied that he had no
conscious agency.
QEOt Bush.
Note. — The languages in which the spirits have communicated,
through the mediumship of E. P. Fowler, are Sanscrit, Arabic, Hebrew.
Bengalee, Persian, French, Spanish, Malay and Chinese. I have given
this testimony to a very great length, because the phenomena are of
such a remarkable nature as to seem to justify it. If any one still
doubts the spiritual cause, they have only to examine the whole amount
of testimony given in the Spiritual Telegraph, in the Shekinah, in
Judge Edmonds’ work on Spiritualism, and in various other works on
the subject, in which an overwhelming amount of testimony in regard
to this case may be found, — testimony to which nothing in the New
Testament can compare.
�75
Statement of Martha H. Baner.
Mr. Brittan. — Dear Sir : In relation to the writing in various
languages, made in E. P. Fowler’s room, and said to have been pro
duced by spirits, I am free to say that I have been cognizant of the
execution of some of said manuscripts under circumstances physically
precluding the possibility of their having been done by any human
agency. * *
For the last three years, he has lived in the same house with my
self, and spent much time in the same room; thus giving me an almost
unlimited opportunity to discover any deception, had he been disposed
to attempt anything of the kind, or to detect any hallucination, had any
existed. His moral character I consider to be in every respect unim
peachable.
Signed,
Martha H. Baner.
Statement of Almira L. Fowler.
* * He (Mr. E. P. Fowler) has hitherto sustained an unblemished
reputation for honesty and veracity, and enjoyed the confidence of all
acquainted with him. * * I have evidence sufficient to my own mind
that he had no agency in the writing of the different languages executed
in his room, and purporting to be the products of spirits.
Philadelphia, Sept. 24, 1852.
Signed,
Almira L. Fowler.
�76
Case X.
No. 1. Testimony of 1 to classes I. and V. Testimony of Dr. G. T.
Dexter, New York, taken from his Introduction to “ Spiritualism^
It is now nearly two years since “ spirit rappings ” first attracted
my notice. My unbelief was so great, that I was ready to denounce
the whole subject as one of the greatest humbugs of the day. * * *
I made arrangements with a friend to invite to my house a medium of
considerable powers, and thus to have an opportunity of careful inves
tigation, where I knew there could be no collusion, and the chances for
deception were very few. Previous to this time, about the 10th of
Sept., 1851,1 had never witnessed any spiritual manifestations, neither
had any member of my family been present at a circle; both they and
myself were entirely ignorant of the whole subject.
[He then states that a circle, composed of the persons above referred
to, was formed at his house, with the results of which he was not satis
fied, and invited the medium to stop another day. While at breakfast,
the next morning, they heard raps about the table, &c.]
Immediately after breakfast, we formed a circle, at which were pres
ent myself and all the members of my family, the friend I have before
mentioned, and another friend, who could not be present on the eve
ning previous. The two gentlemen friends and myself were positive
unbelievers, and the others — Mrs. D. and my two daughters — were
in the same catalogue. One of my daughters was about fourteen years
of age, and the other was not yet nine years old. They had no idea
of the modus operandi of spirit on the medium, either by hearing or
by sight.
*
*
*
After we had remained sitting, with the raps heard in every direc
tion, * * * it was written out by the medium, “ Let Mr. G. go into
the other room.” Mr. Gr. went as directed. Now, my youngest
daughter (not being interested) appeared somewhat tired of the affair
before this direction was given ; but, as soon as he left the room, she
became visibly agitated all over, — her countenance changed, and she
was evidently resisting, with considerable effort, what I supposed a
slight attack of illness from being so long shut up in one room. I
asked her if she was sick. She replied, “No, but I cannot keep either
my body or my hands still. I am trembling all over.” As soon as she
�77
uttered these words, her hands and arms were violently shaken.
* * * * She became very much alarmed, and, running to her
mother, who was also deeply moved at this unlooked-for manifestation,
she said, while her voice trembled with fear, “ 0, mother, take me
away ! — take me away ! ” But her arms were forcibly wrested, as it
were, from her mother’s neck, and thrown violently up and down.
* * * * When, having soothed the frightened child, we in
duced her to remain in the circle some twenty minutes longer, her hand
was made to write legibly, and in bold, large letters,— not in the least
resembling her ordinary hand-writing,— answers to all our questions,
both mental and oral; and, what was yet more remarkable, she wrote
rapidly and easily; and the style of composition and the spelling far
excelled what we knew was the character of her original attempts at
composition, and her spelling previous to this time. Being fatigued,
about one o’clock, she was ordered, by the spirits, to leave the circle ;
and, not immediately complying with this direction, her chair was drawn
from under her by some invisible agency, and she fell to the floor. She
arose to go into the next room, and, as she was passing a sofa, she was
taken up bodily by some unseen force, and deposited upon it as gently
as if lain there by her parents.
At this sitting there were many correct answers given to questions,
and of such a character as to satisfy some individuals that the spirits
of their friends were really there. I could not bring myself to believe
that spirits had anything to do with the matter. * . * * *
I did not doubt that everything I witnessed took place without the
intervention of any individual present, and I knew that those present
could not have tricked me. In my own child I had that confidence which
a life of truthfulness has inspired. Yet the idea that the spirits of
our deceased friends could hold communication with ourselves on
earth, &c., was so strange, wonderful, and so incompatible with my edu
cation, and so opposed to my preconceived opinions and religious belief,
that what I had seen at this circle completely bewildered me. I could
not understand — I did not believe. * * * *
About this time (Oct. 1851) I was engaged in business which re
quired my absence for the day from home. The spirit of a friend had
intimated to my wife that he would apprise her of the time when I
would conclude this affair; and, on the day mentioned, just at the hour
when I had consummated the matter, he wrote out, through my daugh
ter’s hand, “ The doctor has settled his business.” She asked him how
�78
he knew; and he replied, “ I have just left him — it was six o’clock
when he finished.”
As soon as I returned home Mrs. D. immediately accosted me and
said, “ So you have arranged your affair.”
I was surprised, and asked her how she knew. She mentioned her
authority, and I then recalled to mind that just as the final arrange
ments were made the clock in the room struck six. I did not attempt
to explain this circumstance even to myself, and was yet an unbeliever.
* * * * There was no kind of evidence but what was pre
sented. The secret thoughts of my heart were read as if they had
been written on my face. Secrets, known only to the dead and my
self, were revealed to me, when there were none present but the
medium. Events, occurring even at the distance of a thousand miles,
were told to me while they were taking place, and afterwards were cor
roborated, to the letter, by the individuals who were active agents in
the transactions.
Facts relating to my own actions were predicted months before they
took place. I have listened to the most elevated thoughts, couched in
language far beyond her comprehension, describing facts in science, and
circumstances in the daily life of the spirits after death, which were
corroborated, fact by fact, idea by idea, by other mediums, with whom
she was entirely unacquainted, uttered by a little girl scarce nine years
*
old!
I have heard an illiterate mechanic repeat Greek, Latin, Hebrew and
Chaldaic. I have been present when a medium answered my ques
tions in the Italian language, of which she was ignorant, aod also
uttered several sentences in the same language, and gave the name of
the Italian gentleman, of whom she had never heard, but who was,
when living, the friend of one of the party at the circle. * * * *
It was not till after I had become a writing medium, against my will
and determined efforts to the contrary, that I yielded an implicit faith
in the truth of spiritual intercourse with men. After the concerted and
continued attempt to impress me had passed over, I refrained from
visiting circles, and thought, by staying away, I might be free from
any impression. On the contrary, my own arm would be moved while
I was asleep, and awake me by its motion.
During the time I abstained from sitting in any circle, I was twice
lifted bodily from my bed, mooed off its edge, and thus suspended in the
* It will be remembered Jesus “ was about twelve years old. ”
�79
air / # * * # Heretofore my arm had been the organ to which
their efforts had been chiefly directed; now, my whole body was sub
jected to their influence, against my will and desire, and all my strug
gles and efforts to resist them. * * * *
Often when I am alone in my office, my hand will be moved, and I
am obliged to abandon every other purpose till the spirits have con
cluded their communication. An incident of this kind happened some
months since. After I had retired to bed, I was awakened from sleep
by the rapid and violent motion of my hand. It was midnight. I
could assign no cause for this manifestation, and essayed to throw off
the influence, by all possible means, but in vain.
I was compelled to rise, procure pencil and paper, and a long com
munication was written before they would again permit me to sleep.
Another instance of their presence, when I was alone in my office,
took place a few weeks since. * * * * I was scarcely seated,
when my right hand began to move, In this hand was a small gold
pencil, which I had just been using. I was somewhat impatient at
this display of their presence, for I did not know how long I might be
detained, and I could spare them but very little time. I therefore
exclaimed, pettishly, “ Don’t detain me to write now, but show me
something new.” As if to gratify my request, the fingers and thumb
were brought together at the ends, leaving the pencil resting on the
ball of the thumb, and the fingers closed, forming a roof over it. In
this shape the arm was placed firmly on the arm of the chair, so I could
not move it. The pencil was then turned round several times, drawn
out from the hand, and lifted up toward the palm, without even a
movement of the fingers or hand during the whole operation. At this
moment a lady, resident in my house, who was an unbeliever, happened
to come into the office. I asked her to watch the pencil in my hand,
and see if it stirred. I also charged her to watch my hand, and see if
it moved in the least. I then asked the spirits to move the pencil as
before. The same process again took place, in every particular corre
sponding with the first. Whether this satisfied her or not of the pres
ence of the action of spirits, I am unable to say.
I have her corroboration of the fact as it occurred; that it was
impossible for the pencil to become so agitated by any effort of my
own.
It should be noticed, in this connection, that when I am alone, as
also when in a circle, the manifestation, whether by writing or any
�80
physical display, is entirely free from any participation with my own
mind, either in the subject taught or in the effect produced on my body.
I reiterate this statement, that it may be understood that the teach
ings revealed by my instrumentality, in this book, contain thoughts,
sentiments and statements, differing in toto from what were my own
views when they were communicated.
I have now given a brief history of some of the causes which have
induced in me the belief of Spirit-intercourse, and it is not a tithe, not
a hundredth part, of what I have witnessed.
George T. Dexter.
No. 2. Testimony of 1 to classes I, V. and VI. Judge Edmonds'
Statement, New York, Aug. 1 and Sept. 1, 1853. See Introduc
tion to “ Spiritualism."
It was in January, 1851, that my attention was first called to the
subject of “ spiritual intercourse.” I had, in the course of my life,
read and heard from the pulpit so many contradictory and conflicting
doctrines on the subject (of man’s future existence) that I hardly knew
what to believe.
For about four months I devoted at least two evenings in a week,
and sometimes more, to witnessing the phenomena in all its phases. I
kept careful records of all I witnessed, and, from time to time, com
pared them with each other, to detect inconsistencies and contradic
tions. I read all I could lay my hands upon, on the subject, and
especially all the professed “ exposures of the humbug.” In fine, I
availed myself of every opportunity that was afforded, thoroughly to
sift the matter to the bottom. I was all this time an unbeliever. At
length the evidence came, and in such a force that no sane man could
withhold his faith.
To detail what I witnessed, for those four months, and recorded,
would fill, at least, one hundred and thirty closely-written pages. I
will, however, mention a few things, which will give a general idea of
that which characterized interviews now numbering several hundred.
Most of them have occurred in the presence of others. I have pre
served their names in my records. * * * * These considera
tions grow out of this fact:
First, That I have thus very many witnesses whom I can invoke to
establish the truth of my statements.
Second, That if I have been deluded, and have not seen and heard
what I think I have, my delusion has been shared by many as shrewd, as
�81
intelligent, as honest and as enlightened people, as are to be found any
where among us.
My attention was first drawn to the intercourse by the rappings, then
the most common, but now the most inconsiderable mode of communing.
Of course, I was on the look out for deception, and at first relied upon
my senses, and the conclusions which my reason might draw from their
evidence. * * *
.
After depending upon my senses as to these various phases of the
phenomenon, I invoked the aid of science, and, with the assistance of an
accomplished electrician and his machinery, and of eight or ten intelli
gent, educated, and shrewd persons, examined the matter. We pursued
our inquiries many days, and established, to our satisfaction, two
things: first, that the sounds were not produced by the agency of any
person present or near us; and, secondly, that they were not forth
coming at our will and pleasure. In the mean time, another feature
attracted my attention, and that was “ physical manifestations,” as they
are termed. Thus, I have known a pine table, with four legs, lifted
up bodily from the floor, in the centre of a circle of six or eight per
sons, turned upside down, and laid upon its top at our feet, then lifted
up over our heads, and put leaning against the back of the sofa on
which we sat. * * * * I have seen a mahogany centre-table,
having only a centre leg, and with a lamp burning upon it, lifted from
the floor, at least a foot, in spite of the efforts of those present, and
shaken backward and forward, as one would shake a goblet in his
band. * * * *
I have known a dinner-bell, taken from a shelf in a closet, rung over
the heads of four or five persons in that closet, then rung around the
room over the heads of twelve or fifteen persons in the back parlor,
and then borne through the folding-doors to the further end of the
front parlor, and then dropped on the floor.
I have known persons pulled about, with a force which it was impos
sible for them to resist; and once, when all my strength was added, in
vain, to that of one thus affected.
I have known a mahogany chair thrown on its side, and moved
swiftly back and forth on the floor, no one touching it, through a room
where there were, at least, a dozen people sitting. Yet no one was
touched, and it was repeatedly stopped within a few inches of me, when
it was coming with a violence which, if not arrested, must have broken
my legs.
This is not a tithe, nay, not an hundredth part, of what I have seen,
8
�82
of the same character. At the same time, I have heard from others,
whose testimony would be credited in any human transaction, and
which I could not permit myself to disregard, accounts of still more
extraordinary transactions; for I have been, by no means, so much
favored in this respect as some.
Intelligence was a remarkable feature of the phenomenon. Thus, I
have frequently known mental questions answered, — that is, questions
merely framed in the mind of the interrogator, and not revealed by him
or known to others. Preparatory to meeting a circle, I have sat down
alone in my room, and carefully prepared a series of questions to be
propounded ; and I have been surprised to find my questions answered,
and in the precise order in which I wrote them, without my even tak
ing my memorandum out of my pocket, and when I knew that no per
son present knew that I had prepared questions, much less what they
were.
2Iy most secret thoughts — those which I never uttered to mortal
man or woman — have been freely spoken, as if I had uttered them.
I have known Latin, French, and Spanish words spelled out through
the rappings; and I have heard mediums, who knew no language but
their own, speak in those languages, and in Italian, German and Greek,
and in other languages unknown to me, but which were represented to
be Arabic, Chinese and Indian, and all done with the ease and rapid
ity of a native.
I have seen a person who knew nothing of music, except a little that
he had learned at a country singing-school, go to the piano and play in
perfect keeping, as to time and concord, the several parts of an over
ture to an opera.
When I was absent, last winter, in Central America, my friends, in
town, heard of my whereabouts, and of the state of my health, seven
times; and, on my return, by comparing their information with the
entries in my journal, it was found to be invariably correct.
I went into the investigation originally thinking it a deception, and
intending to make public my exposure of it. Having, from my
researches, come to a different conclusion, I feel that the obligation to
make known the result is just as strong. Therefore it is, mainly, that
I give the result to the world.
J. W. Edmonds.
The following statement of Governor Tallmadge, relative to the char
acter of Judge Edmonds, may be interesting to those who do not
already know his character. The statement is extracted from a letter
�83
to Hon. James F. Simmons, of Rhode Island, who had formerly been
in the United States Senate with Governor Tallmadge; Mr. Simmons
also being a firm believer in the spiritual manifestations.
“I had known Judge Edmonds for thirty years; had practised law in
the same courts, had served in the Senate of New York, with him, had
been associated with him also as a member of the Court for the Correc
tion of Errors, — the highest court in the state ; had known him, since
that time, as a justice of the Supreme Court, and, more recently, a
judge of the Court of Appeals, where he holds a deservedly high rank
among his brethren, the able judges of that court of last resort in the
State of New York.
“ I also knew him as a gentleman of finished classical education, and
as a lawyer of an acute mind, and a decided talent for investigation.
And, above all, I knew him to be a man of unimpeachable integrity.”
No. 3. Testimony of 1 to classes I. and VI.
Tallmadge.
Statement of Governor
During the above communication of Calhoun, the table moved occa
sionally, perhaps a foot, first one way and then the other. After the
communication closed, we all moved back from the table from two to
four feet, so that no one touched it. Suddenly it moved from the posi
tion it occupied some three or four feet, — rested a few moments, and
then moved back again to its original position. Then it again moved
as far the other way, and returned to the place it started from.
One side of it was then raised, and stood for a few moments at an
angle of about thirty-five degrees, and then again rested on the floor as
usual. The table was a large, heavy, round one, at which ten or a
dozen persons might be seated at dinner. During all these movements
no person touched it, nor was any one near it. After this the follow
ing conversation ensued: Q. Can you raise the table entirely from
the floor? A. Yes. Q. Will you raise me with it ? A. Yes; get
me the square table.
The square table was of cherry, with four legs, — a large-sized tea
table. It was brought out, and substituted for the round one. The
leaves being raised, I took my seat on the centre; the three ladies sat
at the sides and end, their hands and arms resting upon it. Two legs
of it were then raised about six inches from the floor, and then the
other two legs were raised to a level with the first, so that the whole
�84
table was suspended in the air about six inches from the floor. While
thus seated on it, I could feel a gentle vibratory motion, as if floating
in the atmosphere. After being thus suspended in the air for a few
moments, the table was gently let down again to the floor.
At a subsequent meeting, Calhoun directed me to bring three bells
and a guitar; I brought them accordingly. The bells were of different
sizes — the largest like a small-sized dinner-bell. He directed a drawer
to be put under the square table. I put under a bureau-drawer, bottom
side up. He directed the bells to be placed on the drawer. The three
ladies and myself were seated at the table, with our hands and arms
resting on it. The bells commenced ringing in a sort of chime. Nu
merous raps were made, as if beating time to a march. The bells con
tinued to ring, and to chime in with the beating of time. The time of
the march was slow and solemn. It was beautiful and perfect. The
most fastidious ear could not detect any discrepancy in it.
The raps then ceased, and the bells rang violently for several
minutes. A bell was then pressed on my foot, my ankle, and knee.
This was at different times; repeated knocks were made most vehe
mently against the underside of the table, so that a large tin candle
stick was, by every blow, raised completely from ,the table by the con
cussion. I afterward examined the underside of the table (which, it
will be recollected, was of cherry), and found indentations in the wood,
made by the end of the handle of the bell, which was tipped with
brass. Here the ringing of the bells ceased, and then I felt sensibly
and distinctly the impression of a hand on my foot, ankle, and knee.
These manifestations were several times repeated.
I was then requested to put the guitar on the drawer. We were all
seated as before, our hands and arms resting on the table. The guitar
was touched softly and gently, and gave forth sweet and delicious sounds,
like the accompaniment to a beautiful and exquisite piece of music.
It then played a sort of symphony, in much louder and bolder tones.
* * * I am utterly incapable of giving any adequate idea of the
beauty and harmony of this music. I have heard the guitar touched
by the most delicate and scientific hands, and heard from it, under such
guidance, the most splendid performances. But never did I hear any
thing that fastened upon the very soul like these prophetic strains,
drawn out by an invisible hand from the spirit world. After the
music had ceased, the following communication was received. “ This
is my hand that touches you and the guitar.
John C. Calhoun.”
I was present, by Calhoun’s appointment, with the Misses Fox and
�85
their mother. We were seated at the table as heretofore, our hands
and arms resting upon it. I was directed to put paper and pencil on
the drawer. I placed several sheets of unruled paper, together with a
wood pencil, on it. I soon heard the sound of the pencil on the paper.
It was then rapped out — Get the pencil and sharpen it. I looked
under the table, but did not see the pencil. At length, I found it
lying diagonally from me, three or four feet from the table; the lead
was broken off within the wood; I sharpened it, and again put it on the
drawer. Again, I heard the sound of the pencil on the paper. On
being directed to look at the paper, I discovered pencil-marks on each
side of the outer sheet, but no writing. Then was received the fol
lowing communication : “The power is not enough to write a sentence.
This will show you that I can write. If you meet on Friday, precisely
at seven, I will write a short sentence.
John C. Calhoun.”
We met pursuant to appointment; took our seats at the table, our hands
and arms resting on it as usual. I placed the paper, with my silvercased pencil, on the drawer, and said : “My friend, I wish the sentence to
be in your hand-writing, so that your friends will recognize it.” He
replied : “Yau will know the writing. Have your minds on the spirit
of John C. Calhoun.” I soon heard a rapid movement of the pencil on
the paper, and a rustling of the paper, together with a movement of
the drawer. I was then directed to look under the drawer. I found the
pencil outside of the drawer near my feet, but found no paper on the
drawer where I had placed it. On raising up the drawer, I discovered
the paper under it. The sheets were a little deranged, and, on examin
ing, I found on the outside sheet these words : “ Ifci with you still.”
I afterwards showed the “sentence” to Gen. James Hamilton, former
Governor of South Carolina; Gen. Waddy Thompson, former minister
to Mexico ; Gen. Robert B. Campbell, late consul at Havana ; together
with other intimate friends of Calhoun, and also to one of his sons, all
of whom are as well acquainted with his hand-writing as with their
own, and they all pronounced it to be a perfect fac-simile of the hand
writing of John C. Calhoun. Gen. Hamiltop says that Calhoun was
in the habit of writing “I’m” for “I am.” Mrs. Gen. Macomb has
stated the same fact to me.
How significant, then, does this fact become! We have not only the
most unequivocal testimony to the hand-writing itself, but, lest any
sceptic should suggest the possibility of an imitation, or a counterfeit,
this abbreviation, peculiar to himself, and known only to his most inti-
*
8
�86
mate friend?, and which no imitator or counterfeiter could know, is
introduced by way of putting such a suggestion to flight forever.
[This statement is extracted from a letter to Mrs. Sarah H. Whit
*
man, Providence, R. I., dated Washington, Jan. 10, 1853.] Signed,
N. P. Tallmadge.
The following is taken from a letter of Gov. Tallmadge to Judge
Edmonds. See “Spiritualism,” page 38:
“ My youngest daughter, aged thirteen, plays the piano by the in
struction of spirits, like an experienced performer. She knows nothing
of notes or music, and never played the piano before in her life.” *
Case XI. — Candor.
Mr. and Mrs. Newton's Testimony.
[Extracted from “ The Ministry of Angels Realized. A Letter to the
Edwards Congregational Church, Boston,” of which they were mem
bers.]
The results, however, of this first investigation, at the time, were
(for reasons not then apparent, but which have since been made plain
to us) far from satisfactory. Though we witnessed some striking
evidences of invisible intelligent agency, there was nothing by which
this agency could be positively identified; and the conclusion seemed
most in accordance with our previous opinions, that, if any agency
beyond that of human beings was concerned, it was that of evil and
seducing spirits. Some months subsequently to this, we were led to
attempt- the investigation under circumstances more favorable to
arriving at a satisfactory conclusion. * * * The results of this
interview were of the most surprising, yea, astounding character. An
intelligence, claiming to be that of a venerated parent, who had long
since passed within the vail, manifested its presence, and addressed to
one of us a communication glowing with parental affection, and
breathing the very spirit of the upper realm. This was accompanied
by the statement of a number of facts, pertaining to his earthly life,
none of which, we were fully satisfied, could have been known to any
person, bodily present, except the inquirer, and some of them unknown
even to him. Although the investigation had been approached with
* This case of playing the piano involves the same principles as being taught to
read. It is not more remarkable than the playing without human hands, which is
frequently done.
�87
minds on the alert and perceptions sharpened to detect collusion, im
posture, deception, or diabolism, in any of its forms, no trace of them
could be perceived; all was conducted with evident frankness and
candor, on the part of those concerned; and no solution of the
mystery was then arrived at, and no adequate one has since been
offered, which does not recognize the agency of intelligent beings. A
trumpet-blast from the clouds could scarcely have been more startling
to our prejudices and unbelief than was that message from the hidden
world. * * * As may be well supposed, the interest awakened
by this occurrence was sufficient to lead to a further investigation.
But a truth so novel and startling could not at once be received,
however demonstrative and convincing the evidence on which it rested.
Nor was it until evidence had accumulated upon evidence, and proof
become piled upon proof,— not until manifestations of the most mar
vellous character had been repeatedly witnessed, under a great variety
of circumstances, and notwithstanding the application of every con
ceivable test, — that we could consent to acknowledge, even to ourselves,
a belief in the agency of spiritual beings. That belief, however, in
spite of prejudice and scepticism, in spite of the general cry of “ hum
bug ” and “ imposture,” in spite of all attempts of scientific men to
explain the marvels on the basis of materialism (which explanations we
found in every case to be wholly inadequate to account for what we wit
nessed), that belief became at length forced upon our minds by irre
sistible evidence.
But the question still pressed upon us, who were these invisible
beings ? and what their character and designs ? They claimed to be
the spirits of departed human beings. Some of them insisted that they
were our relatives and friends, and they furnished most startling and
inexplicable proofs of their identity. They professed to be thus mani
festing themselves to our outward senses, for the purest and holiest of
purposes. * * *
The most favorable of opportunities were offered us for making this
investigation ; and they were carefully and prayerfully improved.
For several successive months did we continue to apply to what was
transpiring under our notice, through the mediumship of others, the
keenest powers of observation, and the highest exercise of moral per
ception, which have been granted us; ever seeking light and aid from
Him who has said, “ Ask, and ye shall receive.”
At length, these intelligences from another sphere began to manifest
themselves to us in a manner most unlooked-for and diverse from
�88
anything we had elsewhere witnessed, in the quietness and seclusion of
our own home, and without the intervention of any other person. From
small and gentle beginnings, they have gone forward as we were able to
bear the increasing light, to give greater, and higher, and clearer proofs
of the reality of their presence, their identity, and their heavenly mis
sion; until, through a period of six or seven months, we have been
permitted, as we believe, the almost daily enjoyment of the sweetest
and most intimate communion with the spirits of “just ones made per
fect above.”
Signed,
A. E. Newton,
S. J. Newton.
Such is a very brief statement of the experience of two persons in
this community, whose reputation is above suspicion, and whose candor
is made sufficiently evident by the character of the statement. Several
things should be noticed in this testimony.
First, They have been personal witnesses to the facts.
Second, These facts have been such as to convince them that they are
of a certain origin, and tend to produce certain results.
Third, They were prejudiced against these facts by previous experi
ence and religious belief.
Fourth, They took every possible precaution not to be deceived;
were not convinced till after a long and thorough investigation; finally,
the facts occurring in an unexpected manner in their own house, af
forded them the most ample opportunities for investigation, at the same
time precluding all possibility of imposition, unless they imposed upon
themselves, which, in consideration of their known integrity, their prej
udices and many other circumstances, it is absurd to suppose.
Fifth, As to their conclusion concerning the origin or cause, the
nature or character, the tendency or object, of these facts, they have
arrived at it by no preconceived notions. It is altogether contrary to
all their prejudices. They were compelled to relinquish every position
they had assumed, and this by no subtlety of logic, but by what they
saw and heard of the facts themselves; — and in this same manner, by
the facts, not by a process of reasoning, they were driven to their
conclusion.
Now, this experience, and these conclusions forced upon the mind
by it, do not belong alone to two persons, nor to a hundred, but thou
sands have had the same experience, and come to the same conclu
sions, concerning the origin, nature and tendency, of the phenomena. In
�89
view of these facts, I ask if it can be possible that all these people are
deceived ?
The idea of “ deception,” “ collusion,” “ humbug,” is absurd; a fool’s
reply, who judges a matter before he knows anything about it.
The assertion of “ physical impossibility ” is the bigot’s reply, who
judges all creation, and all powers of creation, by what he has seen in
his father’s door-yard, though he cannot even tell how the grass grows
thereon. The cry of “ diabolism,” raised by many divines, is a pla
giarism. Their brethren raised it eighteen hundred years ago, for the
same cause. They were obliged to admit the facts to save their own
reputation and influence ; they raised this foolish cry to bring the whole
thing into disrepute. But these are a thousand times more stupid; for
the facts which they thus admit will not only doom them to the fate of
their ancient brethren, but completely blast and totally annihilate the
chief corner-stone on which their order rests, their very shield and
defence against this as well as all other truths of nature which are not
first discovered and proclaimed within their own dismal edifice. Yes,
they are pitifully stupid to raise this cry of “ diabolism ” against that
which has not only laid a giant hand upon, but has already began to
strangle Diabolos himself; — that which has the power and the will
to completely finish the old fellow.
Can they not see the force of the reply to them, “ If Satan be
divided against Satan, how shall his kingdom stand ” ?
Again, the assertion of “physical cause" raised by some men of
science, is most unscientific of all that calls itself science. They are
not only obliged to exclude a whole class of important facts, which
rest upon just as good evidence as those which they accept, but they
are obliged to exclude from the majority of the facts they do admit
one important element, namely, a directing personal intelligence; they
are not only compelled to admit the physico-spiritual existence of a
new physical agent, or rather physical spiritual agent, which they
have never before known to exist, and the powers and properties
of which they theoretically and most dogmatically frame for every
occasion; but they are also compelled to renounce all their old the
ories of Psychology (the science of mind), and to attribute to the human
mind, in the body, more wonderful power than is claimed for it out
of the body.
If any one doubt this assertion, we refer him to “ The Philosophy
of Mysterious Rappings,” by Dr. Rogers, of Boston.
In this book he will find all we have stated fully illustrated. The
�90
work reminds us of a certain brilliant attempt once made, in the pres
ence of two honest country farmers, as they were hastily preparing
their dry hay for an approaching shower. A shaft of lightning, accom
panied by a sharp thunder-clap, descended upon a majestic pine, which
had for a century proudly defied all blasts of this kind. The fierce
bolt, no doubt, intended to demolish the noble tree at once; but, being
obliged to take a scientific course and follow the grain, it began to
wind itself around the trunk, more and more directly as it descended,
apparently becoming more angry, but making less headway, till finally
it spread itself over the whole surface of the tree, and fell harmless at
its roots; whereupon one of the farmers very coolly said, “ I swear !
that is the first time I ever saw lightning get its match.”
So we think science, if it attempt to explain this spirit manifestation
on “ material ” principles, will, for the first time, find its match.
The following, which we have taken from a daily paper, expresses
the conclusion to which every honest scientific inquirer must soon
come:
“ Prof. Hare, formerly Professor of Chemistry in the University of
Pennsylvania, avows that, after having tested the spiritual rappings by
electrical apparatus, and every other mode capable of detecting the
presence and influence of electricity as to their cause, he has come to
the conclusion that there is an intelligent independent invisible agency,
entirely aside from the medium, concerned in producing the various
phenomena, and further affirms that the theory of the spiritualists is
the only intelligible solution yet presented.”
It is well known among spiritualists and their opponents that this
aged professor had formerly endorsed the theory of Faraday, and that
he wrote several lengthy articles in favor of that theory.
�THE NATURE OF THE PHENOMENA.
We now take it for granted, that he who still adheres
to the “ miracles” of the New Testament, will accept, on
the far greater evidence, the modern “miracles.” We
think the superiority of the evidence will more than bal
ance the enchantment of distance. We have presupposed
that the resemblance between each of the first seven
classes in the New Testament, and those we have pre
sented under the same heads, would be sufficiently obvious
to justify this connection. They resemble each other as
much as any two cases at the present day. It would be
wholly gratuitous to point out the close resemblance be
tween the laying on of the dpostles’ hands and the con
sequent recovery of the sick, and the laying on of the
“mediums’” hands, followed by the same results. So
with speaking in tongues, the luminous appearances
attending spirit manifestations, and with all the other
classes ; the only difference seems to consist in some in
cidental circumstances attending the modern phenomena,
which have not been related as connected with those
of the New Testament. If they had some kinds of man
ifestations which we have not, we also have some of which
they give us no account, — such as spelling sentences by
raps or tips, or pointing to the letters ; writing by spirits
alone, and singing and playing music. But these kinds
of manifestations are produced by the same causes as
other kinds which we now have; they are all of the same
nature; and, should the development of new kinds
of manifestation continue to any extent, no one would
�92
think of assigning any new cause from that fact. Hence
we conclude that these different kinds of manifestation,
which are peculiar to each, will lead no one to suppose
that the modern phenomena are of a different nature from
the ancient, or that they can be assignable to a wholly
different cause. It is not philosophical to assign different
causes to phenomena so closely resembling each other,
simply because they occur in different ages of the world,
any more than it would be to say that those which now
occur in America are of a different nature, and are pro
duced by a different cause, from those in Europe. No
one would be in danger of this last mistake, though the
phenomena in the two countries differ as widely as those
in the two ages.
This principle, essential to science, has been insisted
upon by all who have attempted to account for these
phenomena; but they have made an exception in the
case of the Christian miracles, — an exception which, if
insisted upon, destroys the principle, and renders science
impossible.
So, when it is once decided that a number of phenomena
belong to the same class, according to a principle already
asserted, it is unphilosophical to assign a cause to the
whole from the consideration of a part only, whether
the part considered be the highest or lowest. The cause
must be adequate to the production of both the high and
the low. Hence we conclude that, whatever may have
been the moving cause in the early Christian manifesta
tions, the same cause is now operating to produce similar
phenomena.
Mr. Rogers, in his “ Philosophy of Mysterious Rap
pings,” judges the cause by physical manifestations of
the lowest character, in which no distinct marks of an
�93
independent directing intelligence are apparent; and
then, adhering to the principle above laid down, assigns
the same cause to the similar phenomena in which such
an intelligence is too apparent to be denied, without
denying many of the facts themselves. The cause he
assigns cannot produce the higher manifestations ; but
the cause assigned by spiritualists can produce both the
lower and the higher.
Mr. Dods, in his “ Spirit Manifestations Examined and
Explained” by the “Back-Brain,” says, “ On these in
voluntary powers (in the back-brain) presentiments are
often impressed ; and through these the Creator has held,
in the early ages of the world, mysterious converse with
holy men, and through these He has poured the streams
of prophetic truth and divine inspiration from the fountain
of His being, and through these He has reached the
reason, thought, understanding and will of His creatures ”
(p. 104). “It (the back-brain instinct, or involuntary
power) is the living oracle through which God has spoken
to His servants in dreams, in visions, in silent and passive
meditation. It is the living oracle, through which Isaiah,
Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Daniel, consulted the Eternal;
and through which, as His inspired servants, they heard
His voice speaking, in the cool stillness of the day, in
silent and passive meditation” (p. 69). But Mr. Dods
pretends that it is almost blasphemy to suppose ‘‘ impres
sions” are now made upon these same involuntary powers
of the will by spirits, or that God now “speaks in dreams
and visions ” through this “ living oracle.” This is the
way he expresses it, in his own peculiar style : “Ladies
and gentlemen, I will only say that electro-psychology and
mesmerism, as matters of science, should be kept in their own appropriate domain, to detect and describe disease,
9
�94
and apply the healing remedy; but let them not pre
sume through these agents, by supposed spirit mani
festations, clairvoyance, or any other mode, to make a
revelation superior to the prophets, and Jesus Christ and
the apostles. And deeply do I regret that Mr. Davis has
attempted this!! ” (page 108). On the same page he says,
“ I say all somnambulists write, and, if I may so speak,
reason and move by the involuntary power of mind and
nerves. And so do all mesmeric clairvoyants, and those
in a state of catalepsy.” Now, he has just said, as we
have quoted, “ Through this involuntary power the Cre
ator has held, in the early ages of the world, mysterious
converse with holy men. It is the living oracle through
which Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and David, consulted the
Eternal, and through which, as His inspired servants, they
heard His voice.” Why, then, Mr. Dods, may not these
men, who you say possess the same “living oracle” as
“the prophets, and Jesus Christ and the apostles,” also
“ consult the Eternal ” through it, and, “ as His inspired
servants, hear His voice ” ? The prophets came before
Jesus Christ and his apostles; but Mr. Dods himself thinks
that the latter, “ through these agents,” did “ presume
to make a revelation superior to the prophets,” and that
' they succeeded.
Now, if Mr. Davis and others at the present day, who
have, according to Mr. Dods, presumed “ through these
agents to work a revelation superior to the prophets, and
Jesus Christ and the apostles,” should really succeed,
though Mr. Dods may “marvel and wonder,” “I hope
he will not wonder and perish” ! I have no fears that
he will; for, in the same chapter (p. 103), to save himself,
he has built a bridge in large capitals, on which he may
walk right over the invisible chasm from his theory into
�95
Spiritualism.
This is it: “Now,
convince me that the
SPIRIT MANIFESTATIONS ARE TRUE, AND MY PHILOSOPHY IS
STILL CORRECT.
In
SUCH A CASE IT WOULD BE NECESSARY
FOR ME TO MOVE MY POSITION ONE STEP FURTHER BACK, AND
SAY THAT DEPARTED SPIRITS INFLUENCED THE INVOLUNTARY
POWERS OF THE MIND IN THE BACK-BRAIN, AND MOVED INTO
ACTION THE INSTINCTIVE ENERGIES OF OUR.BEING.”*
If the New Testament records were accepted on the
same ground that we accept other records, and the accounts
of similar phenomena at the present day, it would be
readily seen that to reject the fact of spirit communica
tion would reject a large portion of the New Testament
itself, and make much of the remainder sheer nonsense ;
for that book begins and ends with, and all the way through
contains, reports of these communications, or allusions to
them. In the first and second chapters of Matthew sev
eral verbatim reports of these are professedly given, and
the whole book of Revelations is made up of what “ the
spirit,” who was John’s “fellow-servant, and of the
prophets,”’communicated to him while “ in the spirit,”
or, what we should say, “under the spiritual influence.”
The modern manifestations resemble those of the New
Testament, not only in their nature and quality, but in
the effect they produce on those who believe them.
“While reading Mr. Dods’ lectures, one feels that he already knows that he
cannot much longer maintain his present position, — that the facts will drive him
back, upon his own theory, into Spiritualism. He says, on the ninety-third page,
“ Let the mediums step into a room, not touch the table at all, and then cause it to
be tipped, raised or moved, and their work is done. For one, I am a convert,
and will unflinchinglyface a sneering and scoffing world.” Now, if Mr. Dods
is the candid man he professes to be, he will take the true method to satisfy him
self of this fact,— for it frequently occurs, — then he will “ unflinchingly come out,
and face a sneering and scoffing world.’’ We expect soon to see this additional
title attached to the second edition of his book : “ With my position moved one.
STEP FURTHER BACK.”
�96
Christ and his disciples, according to the accounts, be
came the most zealous philanthropists. So enthusiastic
were they, that they believed the kingdom of heaven
was really coming on the earth, and they in good earnest
set about to bring it. They met together and formed
communities (Acts 2 : 44, 45; 4 : 32, 37); and de
sired to live in harmony.
Now, the modern manifestations have precisely this
tendency; and in this consists their chief value.
The two following communications — the first purport
ing to come from John C. Calhoun, the second from W. E.
Channing — express the object the spirits professedly have
in view in these communications. They are given in
answer to this question: “ It is to draio mankind together
into harmony, and convince sceptics of the immortality of
the soul.”
“ To unite mankind and convince sceptical minds of
the immortality of the soul.”
And such every spiritualist knows to be their teach
ings generally, and the actual results of them. I could
name hundreds of sceptics, honest sceptics, whom the
New Testament, and the Christian ministry, and all other
means, could not convince, and yet who have become
firm believers in this joyous truth, through these mani
festations.
But its tendency “ to unite mankind in harmony” is
its most interesting feature to me. If it is all imagina
tion, I know it produces this result. I have for the last
six years been deeply interested in the social condition
of mankind ; and, were it not for this present influx of
spirit life, I should almost despair of its change for the
better.
But now I see the eyes of nearly all spiritualists
�97
opening to the fearful social discords which are baffling all
individual efforts for goodness and harmony.
With
but few exceptions, every spiritualist with whom I have
met has somehow become possessed of an intense desire
for harmony. “ Harmony” “Harmony,” I hear ut
tered, and repeated, many times, in every circle of spir
itualists. I know it has awakened the desire in the
hearts of thousands, and it has become intense.
Such a
desire I know will be answered by- some mighty practical
results. From the first creation of the world, there have
been periods of the influx of new and higher life into
this earth. It is distinctly traceable through all the geo
logical ages, and in the traditions and monumental his
tories of mankind. And now we see the most unmistaka
ble indications of a new and higher influx of life, of di
vine life, into this world, which is already opening upon
mankind the dawn of a new era, as much more glorious
than the “Christian” era as that is more glorious than
the Mosaic. The friends of the cause have everything
to hope. Let them work on ; the full light of the day
of harmony, which is now dawning, will soon appear,
when the reward of all their labors will be realized in
the practical brotherhood of the race ; what all those
ancient spiritualists so earnestly desired and labored for,
---- THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN ON EARTH.
I have, throughout, implied a belief in the spiritual
cause of these phenomena. This belief is founded on
facts and reason ; and, though firmly established in it, I
have not come to it by the observation of a few facts of
a particular kind, but by a careful observation of many
facts of various kinds, and under every variety of circum
stances. I have become so acquainted with this mode
of communication with spirits, that I can sit at the table,
*
9
�98
and, through its movements, converse almost as intelli
gently and rapidly as with a personal friend. I cannot
always tell who the spirit is with whom I am conversing.
But I have frequently become so acquainted with the
peculiar movements of a certain spirit, that I can iden
tify him the moment he begins to move the table. I can
readily detect the feelings of the spirit, whether he is
angry or pleased, by the movements. I have conversed
with spirits, when, by a single word, I seemed to throw
them into a violent fit of passion, which they would
manifest so forcibly as to greatly disturb the medium and
myself; then, by a few words, I have quieted them. I
have been sitting at the table with my sister, conversing,
when the table, of its own accord, would start off and
open the door, and come back to its former position;
when it, in the same manner, would go to the pianoforte,
and, by intelligible signs, ask for a tune ; and other
things of a similar nature. I have seen it perform, as in
telligently as a human being, and with an intelligence
wholly independent of the conscious thought of any person
in the room.
I have listened to and read communications enough to
fill a volume larger than the Bible ; and, with but very
few exceptions, the communications have been of a high
moral character ; frequently very applicable to the oc
casion, and gratifying to the feelings of the persons to
whom they were addressed ; also instructive to others
present. I haye seen frivolous communications, but
these have always been given in reply to questions equally
frivolous. Never have I witnessed anything lower, or
more vulgar, in the utterances of spirits, than in those
of the persons conversing with them at the time.
Truly, the communications are not generally so great
�99
and wise, according to the standard of this world ; but,
according to the New Testament standard, they often
contain “ the wisdom and the power of God unto sal
vation.” Generally they breathe the very spirit of love,
which, according to Jesus, is the germ of all wisdom.
They frequently manifest a deep interest in the welfare
of their personal friends, and in the general welfare of
humanity.
Do you ask again, “ What is the good of all this” ?
I would say, first, my dear friend, it will give you that
very light of which, your question implies, you are now
wholly destitute ; so destitute and dark is your mind,
that you cannot comprehend the light, and when it
shines upon you, you cry out, “ what is that ? ” “ away
with the shadow.”
Yes, it will enlighten you, wise as you now are, and
reveal to you things, both in heaven and earth, which,
hitherto, you have not dreamt of. Allow me to speak
further of my own experience.
I had “ lost ” a dear sister, whom I loved as myself,
and a father, more precious than life. I often thought
of delightful and instructive intercourse I had with them
while on earth ; my soul at times would seem to feel
their presence ; and, for the moment, I would seem to
realize a joyous communion with their spirits; but
the next moment I would be aroused from “ the pleasant
delusion,” to feel all the more lonely from the contrast.
Then would I offer the whole world for one audible word
from them, that I might know they still lived and knew
my thoughts; for I had even then begun to feel the
foreshadowing of that awful state of positive unbelief into
which many minds have fallen. I did not then see it;
but I now see that the course of study and investigation
�100
which I had marked out for myself would have carried
me to the pit of atheism, had I not been saved by means
which I did not then believe to exist.
In the winter of 1849-50, I took up a paper in which
an account of audible communication with the spirit
world was given. I read that account with a thrill of
interest seldom experienced ; though I could not believe
the reality of those dear friends speaking to me again,
while I lived on this earth, I hoped it would prove true.
I resolved to investigate for myself, for I had often
wondered why there could not be some means of com
munication between those who so dearly love. I did in
vestigate ; and, after a long trial, have become fully
convinced of the fact. I feel sure that my father and
sister have spoken that precious word for which I would
have travelled to the farthest verge of earth. And now,
when I think of that gloomy gulf of doubt into which all
the active tendencies of my nature and pursuits would
have inevitably plunged me, my heart swells with grati
tude, and yearns with a desire to use every means to
save the many thousand others who, in spite of all the
evidences in the Bible, have no belief in their immortal
existence.
I have seen many persons, in this land of Christian
churches, who, from honest doubt and sincere atheism,
have been brought to a firm and cheering faith in the
immortality of the soul, through the “ raps ” and the
“ table tippings.” Ask them, if you would know “ what
sense there is in a table jumping up and down.” They
will tell you it has done more for their souls than all your
pulpit “jumping up and down.” These physical move
ments, as they are called, though the lowest manifesta
tions, are still the most useful ; they are what most
�101
spiritual persons demand before they will accept the
higher as genuine spirit communications.
Thus it often
happens that those “ foolish things ” at which the wise
scoff are able to save them from the folly of their own
wisdom. “ The last shall be first, and the first shall be
last.”
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Description
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A collection of digitised nineteenth-century pamphlets from Conway Hall Library & Archives. This includes the Conway Tracts, Moncure Conway's personal pamphlet library; the Morris Tracts, donated to the library by Miss Morris in 1904; the National Secular Society's pamphlet library and others. The Conway Tracts were bound with additional ephemera, such as lecture programmes and handwritten notes.<br /><br />Please note that these digitised pamphlets have been edited to maximise the accuracy of the OCR, ensuring they are text searchable. If you would like to view un-edited, full-colour versions of any of our pamphlets, please email librarian@conwayhall.org.uk.<br /><br /><span><img src="http://www.heritagefund.org.uk/sites/default/files/media/attachments/TNLHLF_Colour_Logo_English_RGB_0_0.jpg" width="238" height="91" alt="TNLHLF_Colour_Logo_English_RGB_0_0.jpg" /></span>
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Conway Hall Library & Archives
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2018
Publisher
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Conway Hall Ethical Society
Text
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text.
Original Format
The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data
Pamphlet
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
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New Testament "miracles" and modern "miracles"; the comparative amount of evidence for each; the nature of both; testimony of a hundred witnesses: an essay read before the middle and senior classes in Cambridge Divinity School
Creator
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Fowler, J. H.
Description
An account of the resource
Place of publication: Boston, Mass.; New York, N.Y.; Philadephia
Collation: 101 p. ; 22 cm.
Notes: From the library of Dr Moncure Conway. Printed by Hobart & Robbins, Boston.
Publisher
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Bela Marsh
Partridge & Brittan
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1854
Identifier
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G5260
Subject
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Bible
Spiritualism
Rights
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<a href="http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/"><img src="http://i.creativecommons.org/p/mark/1.0/88x31.png" alt="Public Domain Mark" /></a><span> </span><br /><span>This work (New Testament "miracles" and modern "miracles"; the comparative amount of evidence for each; the nature of both; testimony of a hundred witnesses: an essay read before the middle and senior classes in Cambridge Divinity School), identified by </span><a href="https://conwayhallcollections.omeka.net/items/show/www.conwayhall.org.uk"><span>Humanist Library and Archives</span></a><span>, is free of known copyright restrictions.</span>
Format
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application/pdf
Type
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Text
Language
A language of the resource
English
Bible-N.T.
Conway Tracts
Miracles
Spiritualism