Jonnob/the-spiritualist-enriched huggingface dataset:
Trustees Christopher Weguclin, Esq., Director of the Bank of England (Messrs. Thomson, Bonar, and Co.) Charles Oppenheim, Esq., Director of the Union Bank of London (Messrs. S. Oppenheim and Sons). William G. Goodliffe, Esq., Accountant-General, India Office, Westminster Augustus F. Bayford, Esq., LL.D., Senior Registrar Court of Probate, Doctor's-commons, Chancellor of the Diocese of Manchester Uderman Thomas Dilworth Crewdson, J.P., Greenheys Manchester Head Offices 81, KING-STREET, AND 60, SPRING-GARDENS. MANCHESTER. Chief Offices for London 20, COCKSPUR-STREET, PALL-MALL.
HUMAN NATURE, a Monthly Record of Zoistic Science, Intelligence, and Popular Anthropology. Recent numbers give full details of the extraordinary Manifestations through the celebrated Medium, D. D. Home, Esq., with philosophical reason ings as to the nature and cause of the phenomena: a new series of lessons on Phrenology and the Tempera ments is being given, containing some new instructions of great value to the student; first-class Portraits of eminent men and women, with Biographies and Phreno logical delineations are frequently introduced; a serial Tale of great power and beauty; articles on Physiology, Diet, Temperance, and Health; translations from Con tinental Works and Periodicals; treatises on Mesmerism, Clairvoyance, Spiritualism; reviews of Books; reports of Lectures, Mectings, and Soeieties, renders this the cheapest, most varied, and instructive Periodical of the kind in the world. The fact that this Periodical is en tirely unbiased and devoted to the truth respecting all the topics on whieh it treats, is a point not to bo over looked by all earnest investigators, whatever their opinions may be. Post free, 7s. per annum, or 6d. per month from the Booksellers. JAMES BURNS, Progres sive Library, 15, Southampton-row, Bloomsbury-square Holborn, London, W.C.
THE PROGRESSIVE LIBRARY and SPIRITUALIST DEPOSITORY has been re moved from Camberwell to No. 15, Southampton-row Bloomsbury-square, Holborn, W.C J. BURNS has much pleasure in announcing that he now occupies the above named commodious Premises, which he intends to de vote to the furtherance of the cause of Spiritualism aud Kindred Studies. There is a Publishing Once and Shop for the sale of Books: a Circulating Library of all Works on Spiritualism &c.; a Reading-Room supplied with the Spiritual and Progressive Publications of the World: a Drawing Room for the special use of Ladies and Subscribers; Private Rooms for Séances, Committees, Meetigs, &c. and where all information respecting the Cause and th Progress of events may be obtained. The Room will be furnished with interesting Speci mens of Spirit Drawings, Paintings, Photographs. Direct Writings, Portraits, Devices, and all that can interest and instruct those who inquire into the subject of Spiritualism. The Subscription, entitling to all the privileges of the Establishment, including the use of two Books at a time from the Library for home perusal, is 21s. per annum.
A well-assorted Stock of Stationery, Periodicals, cur rent Progressive Litcrature, Standard Works, Cheap Books and Tracts, Pianchettes, Materials for Writing and Drawing Mediums; also Works and Appliances on Phrenology, Physiology, Health, and Dietetic Reform, Temperance, Hydropathy, Gymnastics, Mesmerism Clairvoyance, Anthropology, &c., will be kept on sale. As the responsibilities incurred in establishing this "Home for Spiritualism" and the Science of Man are very heavy, the Proprietor earnestly solicits the kind co-operation and support of all who sympathise with the enterprise. Strangers in London should at once call at the Progressive Library, where they may hear of Lodgings and get other useful information J. BURNS Progressive Library, 15, Southampton-row, Bloomsbury-square, Holborn, London, W.C.
Contents. Spirit-rapping in Jolin Wesley's Family 1 Philosophy of Death 1 Number of Spiritualists in America... 1 Testimony of Non-Spiritualists... Why Galileo was Perseeuted REPORTS OF MEETINGS:—St. John's Association of 2 Spiritualists. 2—Summary of Evidence Given be fore the Dialectical Society—The Anthropological ...2 Society Spirit Greetings ... GENERAL NEWS:—The Spiritualist—The Dialectical Society—The Gower-street Conference—Spiritual ism in New Zealand—Spiritualism in East London -Spiritualism in Clerkenwell — Spiritualism in Bloomsbury Mesmerism and Clairvoyance Charge of Imposture—Where the Liars go to... LEADERS:—Opening Address—The Scientiflc Inves 5 tigation of Spiritual Phenomena 5 Which is the Best Evidence POETRY 6 CORRESPONDENCE—The Separation between Spirit Societies—Thought-reading and Physical Manifes ... 6 tations—Trance Mediumship... Dr. Thomas Young on Spirits ... 6 ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS ... ... 6 PARAGRAPHS:—A Spirit on Ghosts, 3—Friends of Spiritualism, 6—Solomon, King of Israel, 6—The Spiritual Library, 6 —Apparitious, 6.
to distinguish themselves from the drunken old women into whose hands the female practice has drifted, and who are of course quite unable to compete with the well-educated “gentlemanly” person whom recent collegiate medical teaching and certificating has intro troduced in displacement. With singular acumen the new order of men-midwives still hold that women are the proper persons to attend—paupers—but that it is highly improper and even dangerous for women to attend patients of that class who are accustomed to remunerate their attendants handsomely. It is very noteworthy, however, that even illiterate old women have fewer casualties and fewer deaths among their lying-in patients than occur with educated medical gentlemen, and Dr. Edmunds and other authorities have proved that this fact is due to the circumstance that medical men engaged in general practice, and having to pass from cases of fever to those under notice, convey upon their hands an animal virus which produces by direct infection those febrile diseases which in the deli cate condition of the recipient are so fatal and unman ageable. Some additional facts about the Female Medical Society are set out in our advertisement pages, and the addresses of lady midwives, prospectuses of the college, and all particulars as to the operations of the society, may be obtained by writing to the lady secretary. We may add that the society is much in need of additional subscriptions in order to carry out its objects more effectively, and that there are few directions in which money could be better utilised in helping women to help themselves, and at the same time to render valuable service to the public.
SPIRIT-RAPPING IN JOHN WESLEY’S FAMILY. IN TEN PARTS.—PART THREE THE following is the account written and published by John Wesley himself, about the spirit-rapping dis turbances in the house of his brother: "When I was very young, I heard several letters read, wrote to my elder brother by my father, giving an account of strange disturbances, which were in his house at Epworth, in Lincolnshire. “ When I went down thither, in the year 1720, I carefully inquired into the particulars. I spoke to each of the persons who were then in the house, and took down what each could testify of his or her own know ledge. The sum of which was this:— "On Dec. 2, 1716, while Robert Brown, my father's servant, was sitting with one of the maids a little before ten at night, in the dining-room which opened into the garden, they both heard one knocking at the door. Robert rose and opened it, but could see nobody. Quickly it knocked again, and groaned. “It is Mr. Turpine, said Robert, he has the stone, and uses to groan so.’ He opened the door again twice or thrice, the knocking being twice or thrice repeated; but still seeing nothing, and being a little startled, they rose and went up to bed. When Robert came to the top of the garret stairs, he saw a handmill, which was at a little distance, whirled about very swiftly. When he related this, he said, 'Nought vexed me, but that it was empty. I thought, if it had but been full of malt, he When he might have ground his heart out for me.' was in bed, he heard as it were the gobbling of a turkey-cock close to the bed-side; and soon after, the sound of one stumbling over his shoes and boots; but there were none there, he had left them below. The next day he and the maid related these things to the other maid, who laughed heartily, and said, What a couple of fools are you ! I defy anything to fright me.' After churning in the evening, she put the butter in the tray, and had no sooner carried it into the dairy, than she heard a knocking on the shelf where several puncheons of milk stood, first above the shelf, then below. She took the candle, and searched both above and below; but being able to find nothing, threw down butter, tray, and all, and ran away for life. The next evening, between five and six o’clock, my sister Molly, then about twenty years of age, sitting in the dining room reading, heard as if it were the door that led into the hall open, and a person walking in, that seemed to have on a silk night-gown, rustling and trailing along. It seemed to walk round her, then to the door, then round again; but she could see nothing. She thought,
the other, several times, he turned, and went up to bed. But the noises were so violent all over the house, that he could not sleep till four in the morning. “ Several gentlemen and clergymen now earnestly advised my father to quit the house. But he constantly answered, “No ; let the devil flee from me; I will never flee from the devil.' But he wrote to my eldest brother at London to come down. He was preparing so to do, when another letter came, informing him the disturbances were over; after they had continued (the latter part of the time day and night) from the second of December to the end of January."
his future life. The first part of it had since proved true, and he hoped that it would be the same with the rest. Then seeing-mediumship came on at intervals. The spirits had made him lead a better life than he ever did before. The had made him break off several bad habits by gently reason ing with him, and pointing out what the consequences would be if he persisted. His guardian spirit had, by advice, in duced him to leave off smoking tobacco and drinking intoxi cating liquors. He thought that the true saviour of mankind was knowledge. He could feel the spirit influence beginning to act upon him as he stood upon that platform. Mr. STEELE said that he was present when Mr. Morse first attended Mr. Cogman’s circle, and he could bear witness to the fact that Mr. Morse made the disturbance stated, and alto gether cut a most ridiculous figure. He was sorry to see the young man in that state, especially as it was his first expe rience of the subject, so he walked part of the way home with him to see that he was all right. Mr. Morse remarked to him on the road, “I know I have been doing something wrong What is the matter with me ?" The CHAIRMAN asked Mr. Landore to say a few words to the meeting. Mr. LANDORE replicd that he had nothing to say, but that Mr. Morse sitting by his side was evidently “going off,” so that probably the spirits wanted to say a few words on their own account. Mr. MORSE then mounted the platform again, passed into the trance state, and in an impressive manner delivered the short address, which is printed on another page. Mr. CROCKETT then stated that he had seen a young man lifted chair and all, three times off the floor, without visible agency, in the presence of some dozens of persons, at the Star Inn, Golden-lane. Mr. YOUNG narrated evidence in favour of Spiritualism, and said that he would leave it to his wife to say whether their home had been made more like hell or more like heaven since he became a Spiritualist. Mr. R. PEARCE proposed a vote of thanks to the chairman and speakers, and Mr. DAVIS seconded the motion, which was carried by acclamation. The CHAIRMAN said that sometimes it was grievous to see how Spiritualism interferes with the preconceived notions of people, who have grown aged in old ideas ; it is also trying to be constantly told by them that research into the facts of Spiritualism is a wrong step, but people must look at these things in a rational way, and think for themselves. He was sorry that a Christian minister could so thoroughly condemn Spiritualists as the Rev. Mr. Brock had done recently in Mr Spurgeon’s Chapel, but words such as those uttered by Mr. Brock gave him (Mr. Cresswell) greater energy to go on in the work. The proceedings then closed.
CHARGES FOR ADVERTISEMENTS. 1. Advertisements of Public Companies, Half-a-guinea per sixth of a column, or every portion of sixth of a column. 2. General Advertisements, Five Shillings per twelfth of a column, or portion of twelfth of a column. Note.—Advertisements at the foregoing rates will be “displayed” so as to occupy the full space paid for, but advertisements at the following rates will be in closely set type. 3. General Advertisements, Half-a-crown per first five lines or portion of five lines, and Fourpence for every line in addition. 4. Situations Wanted, or Apartments to Let, One Shilling per first four lines, or portion of four lines; Threepence for every line in addition. Ten words are allowed to the line, and six figures or initial letters count as one word. When five or more insertions of the same advertisement are paid for, twenty per cent. reduction will be made in the above rates. The power is reserved of refusing to insert any advertise ment. Advertisements and remittances should be sent to the Publisher, Mr. E. W. ALLEN, Ave Maria-lane, St. Paul's Church-yard, London, E.C., or to Mr. J. BURNS, 15 Southampton-row, High Holborn, London, W. C.
To Correspondents. All letters should be brief and to the point, as the amount of space available for correspondence is at present small. Communications intended for the Editor should be by letter only, addressed to the care of the Publisher, Mr. E. W. ALLEN, Ave Maria-lane, St. Pauls Church-yard, London E.C. Until the Spiritual movement in England, together with this journal, have both grown considerably, time cannot be spared for personal interviews on subjects connected with the literary worh of THE SPIRITUALIST, but all letters will meet with careful consideration. THE SPIRITUALIST is a periodical intended to give great freedom of expression to all the different shades of opinion to be found among Spiritualists. There will therefore be very little uniformity in the ideas promulgated in this journal more especially in the correspondence columns. Under these circumstances every reader will find occasionally something in THE SPIRITUALIST which he or she does not like, but the right of reply remains. This freedom of thought given to others, the Editor claims for himself, and those who do not like the contents of leading articles, can write against them in the correspondence columns. This plan is thought better than that of reducing the contents of the journal to a pale weak mediocrity, by inserting only those contributions which please everybody. The preceding remarks are not intended to imply that those who have crotchets which the cannot get printed anywhere else, can find an outlet for them here, for none but those letters which are considered worth publication will be inserted. Notices of Public Meetings in connection with Spiritualism should be sent to the office several days in advance.
The Spiritualist. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 17, 1869. ECONOMY OF TIME IN SPIRITUAL RESEARCH. THOSE who are in the habit of attending miscel laneous spirit circles, for the purpose of collecting in formation about spirit life, and the methods employed to produce the manifestations, soon discover that a very large amonnt of time must be consumed to gain a very small quantity of thoroughly reliable knowledge. This is caused, partly by the uncertainty of the com munications, partly because half-an-hour or so some times passes away before the manifestations begin, partly because some of the statements made are unre liable, and partly because everybody present at a circle wants to put questions, and one person cannot arrogate the whole of the conversation with the spirits to him self. A great deal of time may be saved when receiving communications by the ordinary tilts or raps, if the alphabet be appealed to in a different way to that noy in vogue. By the present plan a member of the circle points to all the letters of the alphabet slowly and deliberately, and a rap or tilt is given by the spirit when the right letter is reached. Allowing an interval
WANTED A GHOST (From last week's PUNCH) “ To Proprietors of Haunted Houses.—A few gentlemen wish to have the opportunity of visiting a house said to be haunted, situate in or near London, for the purpose of scientific obser (See Advertisement.) vation." WANTED a Ghost, of whatever variety, Fitted to mingle in learned society: Able to work on the feelings electric Of savans devoted to themes dialectic! Wanted—a house full of murderous hoards, Bells autophonic and creakiest boards! Regions by restless departed ones haunted, That’s what, to keep up the spirits, is wanted. Wanted to sit up the whole of the night Waiting the advent of goblin or sprite! Wanted from t’other side Jordan to roam, Vampires inclined for a go-in "at Home !" Wanted some damon to give us a note What it is keeps airy DANIEL afloat! Wanted at least elementary traces What is the power that elongates his braces. Wanted to know what on earth are the merits That make Mrs. MARSHALL affected by “sperrits.” Wanted to know why respectable dead Come back to life at five shillings a-head. Wanted old ladies and children to fright, Waked up by cats in the dead of the night! Wanted this age of inquiry to daunt That’s what these pseudo-philosophers want. Wanted to galvanise once and again All the exploded old tricks of Cock Lane! Wanted to make a white sheet and a post Go down once more as a genuine ghost! Wanted—how idle such needs ’tis to flaunt ! Blessed if I think they know what ’tis they want. Wanted—it seems to me : don’t it to you?— Dialecticians want something to do!
Poetry. "QUID VERUM?" Are there spirits floating round us, Sinking from the Tranquil Land Breaking through the chains that bound us To this melancholy strand: Where the surge of being’s ocean Ever roars in tempest strife, And its flerce continual motion Wearies out the heart of life? Faintly dawns the longed-for morning, Dim and vaguo the mountains show; Will the sun arise, adorning Earth and heaven with gorgeous glow? Is it but a faithless glimmer Born of some electric blast, Like those northern lights that shimmer Through the sky, and then are past? May the gloom be really over And its grief and sadness gone! May the earth, an ardent lover, Rise to heaven, its glorious throne While the choirs of morn awaking Pass to us in bright array, And the night's dominion breaking, Open out the awful day! H. C. London, December, 1869.
BELSHAZZAR Belshazzar is King! Belshazzar is Lord! And a thousand dark nobles all bend at his board; Fruits glisten, flowers blossom, meats steam, and a flood Of wine that man loveth runs redder than blood: Wild dancers are there, and a riot of mirth, And the beauty that maddens the passions of earth; And the crowds all shout, Till the vast roofs ring, “ All praise to Belshazzar—Belshazzar the King!" “Bring forth," cries the monarch, “the vessels of gold Which my father tore down from the temples of old: Bring forth—and we’ll drink, while the trumpets are blown, To the gods of bright silver, of gold, and of stone. Bring forth!"—and before him the vessels all shine, And he bows unto Baal, and he drinks the dark wine; Whilst the trumpets bray, And the cymbals ring, “Praise, praise to Belshazzar—Belshazzar the King!" Now what cometh?—Look! Look! Without menace or call Who writes with the lightning's bright hand on the wall? What pierceth the King like the point of a dart? What drives the bold blood from his cheek to his heart? “Chaldeans! Magicians! The letters expound!" They are read—and Belshazzar is dead on the ground! Hark! The Persian has come On a conqueror's wing, And a Mede’s on the throne of Belshazzar the King! Barry Cornwall.
THE CHILD'S QUESTIONS Where will his house be now, mother? Beyond the bright blue sky? Will he gather roses there, mother? Or chase the butterfly? And will he play with the stars there, those shining twinkling things? Will he ride through the air there, with angels on golden wings? Will he be near the sun, mother? Close to the Lady Moon? Will there never be night, mother? All light as day at noon? Will he see the lightning made, mother? And climb on the hills of snow, Go where the thunder’s kept, and where sleep the rough winds that blow? Will he never be sad, mother? And never wish in vain? But live for years and years, mother, without a single pain? That must be very beautiful,—a land all joy and flowers: I would we went there too, mother, and his bright home were ours. Tait's Magazine.
“Awaiting a reply to this letter, and to the challenge with which it concludes, I am, gentlemen; your obedient servant. G. DAMIANI “Clifton, Oct. 1, 1868 “P.S.—Letters addressed “Sigr. Damiani, care of Manager of West of England and South Wales District Bank, Corn-strect, Bristol,' will always reach the writer." In addition to the above evidence, there is the testimony of numbers that the modern spiritual manifestations are realities. Mr. Hepworth Dixon in his New America estimates the number of Spiri tualists in the United States at rather less than three millions, and this is about the lowest estimate that anybody has made. There are no accurate sta tistics, and different authorities vary in their esti mates from three to eleven millions. All these facts, together with those which follow, prove that Spiritualism deserves serious investigation. Not a few learned men have pri vately been examining the phenomena in order to “explode the imposture,” but these extinguishers soon catch fire themselves. In short, in the minds of most of the English public, Spiritualism has to pass through the following five stages : 1. The manifestations do not take place. 2. Spiritualism is a gross imposture 3. It is a delusion. 4. It is the work of the Devil. 5. It is a great blessing, and we always said so. Experience shows that the feebler the intellect and the lower the standard of energy and educa tion, the sooner does the investigator break down at one of the first four out of the above five steps in the ladder of progress.
"FREDERICK ROWLAND YOUNG, “Minister of the Free Christian Church, Swindon. There are very many healing mediums in the United States, who can do good only in certain diseases, or whose powers are so feeble that suc cessful results may with more probability of accu racy be put down to the imagination of the patient. A great use of Spiritualism is that it demon strates the immortality of the soul. But why ask, “ Of what use is Spiritualism ?” for here the thing is in our midst as much a part of nature as the trees, the clouds, and the flowers, and as it cannot be abolished there is no alternative but to subject it to investigation, or to look on in igno rance.
HOW TO FORM SPIRIT CIRCLES. An experimental trial at home, among family friends and relatives, often gives the most satis factory evidence of the reality of spiritual pheno mena. At the same time, as no fully developed medium is present among those who have never obtained manifestations before, the probability is that there will be no results. Nevertheless, it is a very common thing for striking manifestations to be obtained in this way at the first sitting of a family circle; perhaps for every one successful new circle thus started without a medium, there are six or seven failures, but no accurate statistics on this point have yet been collected. When once manifestations have been obtained they will gradually increase in power and reliability at suc cessive sittings. The following is a good plan of action: 1. Let the room be of a comfortable temperature, but cool rather than warm let arrangements be made that