Jonnob/the-spiritualist-enriched huggingface dataset:
THE EDUCATION OF THE YOUNG. "Now, close your book, Bob,” said the mother soon after I was seated, “and Alice, give me yours. Put your hands down, turn from the fire, and look up at me, dears. What is the capital of Russia?" “The Birman Empire,” said Alice with unhesitating con fidence. "The Baltic Sea,” said Bob, emulous and ardent. “ Wait—not so fast; let me see, my dears, which of you is right." Mrs. Thompson appealed immediately to her book, after a long and private communication with which she emphatically pronounced both wrong. “ Give us a chance, mother,” said Bob in a wheedling tone (Bob knew his mother’s weaknesses); “Them’s such hard words. I don’t know how it is, but somehow I never can remember ’em. Just tell us the first syllable—oh, do now please." cried Alice, “ Its something with a “Oh! I know now! 'G' in it." “ Think of the apostles, dears. What are the names of the apostles?” “Why, there’s Moses.” began Bob, counting on his fingers ; “ and there’s Sammywell, and there’s Aaron, and Noah’s Ark - " “ Stop, my dear,” said Mrs. Thompson, who was very busy with her manual, and contriving a method of rendering a solution of her question easy ; “Just begin again. I said who was Peter ?—no, not that—who was an apostle ?” “Oh! I know now!” cried Alice again (Alice was the sharp boy of the family); “It’s Peter. Peter’s the capital of Russia." “ No, not quite, my dear. You are very warm—very warm indeed, but not quite hot. Try again." “Paul,” half murmured Robert, with a reckless hope of proving right. “No. Peter’s right, but there’s something else. What has your father been taking down the beds for?" There was a solemn silence, and the three industrious sisters blushed the faintest possible blush that could be raised upon a maiden’s cheek. “ To rub that stuff upon the walls,” said the ready Alice. “ Yes, but what was it to kill? ” continued the instructress. “ The fleas," said Bob. “Worse than that, my dear." “Oh, I know now!” shrieked Alice for the third time “ Petersbug’s the capital of Russia." Mrs. Thompson looked at me with pardonable vanity and triumph.— Blackwood'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-street, 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 extinguishiers 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 te 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 suecessful new circle thus started without a medium, there are six or seven failures, but no accurate statistics on this point have yet been colleeted. 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
ADVICE TO INQUIRERS. Those who know no intelligent Spiritualists, and nothing about Spiritualism, yet who want to investigate, are recommended to begin by reading the first two books mentioned in the preceding paragraph. Then they should call upon the chief publisher of Spiritual books in Londou, Mr. J. Burns, 15, Southampton-row, Holborn (where they are sure to be treated with attention and courtesy), and ask for the names and addresses of say four good professional or non-professional mediums, accessible to the public, and “ recognised by Spiri tualists as reliable for powerful physical manifes tations.” There are plenty of mediums or of people who fancy themselves mediums, who can rarely show anything satisfactory, and with whom an inquirer might waste much time. He should then get say two sittings by daylight in his own house with each of the four mediums, because the power varies in strength at times with every medium; at the end of the eight sittings he is sure to be thoroughly interested in Spiritualism, and to have thrown overboard the imposture theory, which is the clumsiest and most superficial one of all. Many of the publie have vague ideas that electri city can do all kinds of unaccountable things, but A GENUINE MEDIUM NEVER HAS ANY HESITATION IN SITTING WITH A CIRCLE IN A HOUSE AND AMONG FURNITURE WHICH HE OR SHE HAS NEVER SEEN IN HIS OR HER LIFE BEFORE. Even with a good medium it is best, if time be valuable, not to investigate at crowded public circles, because, assuming imposture to be at work, there is no telling who may not be aiding, among the numerous spectators. Besides, where so many people want to ask questions of the spirits, the investigator has not time to put many himself. Investigators are recommended to be thus careful in the selection of mediums, because as public attention is gradually more rivetted upon Spiri tualism, impostors are sure to spring up, and even to advertise in Spiritual periodicals, for the editors manifestly cannot investigate the claims of ever professing medium. At present (November, 1869) there is very little imposture mixed up with the Spiritual movement in Great Britain, and there are only four or five paid mediums in all London. Good paid mediums deserve high praise rather than that censure whieh is thrown upon them even by Spiritualists ; they find house-room; they are ready to receive straugers at stated times when private circles could not sit for the convenience of
inquirers; the sittings exhaust their vitality like a hard days’ work, and they have to put up with much abuse when uneducated roughs unaccus tomed to investigation persecute them by attend ing. The inquirer should mention to the medium, civilly and kindly, his doubts respecting the phenomena he may witness; the invisible beings around will at once, ou the spot, do their best to remove those donbts, or an explanation will be obtained from the medium. When there is real foundation for suspicion, the best plan is to go often to the medium, accompanied by witnesses, detect the imposture, and prosecute the medium for obtaining money under false pretences. Genuine manifestations are not under the control of the medium, so that a paid medium who does not get manifestations, is under a great temptation to try to make them. T’his fact makes it difficult for Spiritualists to speak absolutely as to the relia bility of any paid mediuns, however genuine the majority of the manifestations may be which occur in their presence. After getting thoroughly inte rested in Spiritual phenomena, the inquirer should take his friends to see them, and afterwards get my a private circle in his own house. Manifestations will most likely not be obtained at the first sitting but after very few or very many sittings they will come; gradually the great barrier of the grave which now separates friends will be broken down. and after the experience of a year or two the dread of the beautiful natural process, called “death,” will be destroyed, as it is destroyed in the minds of all experienced Spiritualists, except those who during life have done harm to their fellow creatures. Very high spirits and their homes are perfectly invisible to very low spirits ; this, coupled with the fact that there is no more uniformity in the next world than there is here accounts for the endless contradietions about spirit life given in Spiritual communications. An investigator of a logical aud scientific turn of mind may possibly have to closely follow up the subject for some weeks before gaining the absolute knowledge that the manifestations come from spirits. Unlike Mr. Home and a few other excep tional individuals, most mediums are developed for one or two special purposes only. Thus, vio lent physical manifestations, inexplicable by an of the recoguised laws of matter, may be seen in the presence of one medium, but mental tests and questions may bring forth a majority of inaccurate and unreliable answers. Where good mental tests are obtainable through a medium, the physical manifestations may be altogether absent. There are so few public or semi-publie spirit circles at work in London, aud the pressure for admission is so great where the manifestations are good, that the best plan for noviees is usually to try to get mauifestations at home among their own friends.
HUMAN NATURE, a Monthly Record of Zoistic Seience, Intelligence, and Popular Authropology. 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; report of Lectures, Meetings, and Societies, renders this the cheapest, most varied, aud 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 topies on which it treats, is a point not to be over looked by all earnest investigators, whatever their opinions may be. Post free, 7s. per annum, or Gd. 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. There is a Publishing Office 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, Meetings, &c. and where all information respecting the Cause and the Progress of events may be obtained. The Subscription, entitling to all the privileges of the Establishment, includiug 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 Literature, Standard Works, Cheap Books and Tracts, Planchettes, 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.
R. J. L. OLIVE, Professor of Modern Spiritual Science, 1, Gibson-place, Warrington crescent, Maida Vale, W. Mr. Olive is prepared to afforc information relative to Spiritualism, the Development o Mediumistic power, &c., with facilities for investigation of Phenomena. Reliable advice based on large medical xperience, and aided by beneficent Spirit Intelligences, may also be obtained for the relief of ailments of Body or Mind. Consultation Fee, One Shilling.
"THE NEWSPAPER PRESS"—THE PRESS ORGAN THIS JOURNAL is the adopted and re cognised Representative of the Newspaper in terests, and the medium of interecommunication between Proprietors, Editors, Reporters, Correspondents, Pub lishers, Printers, and all parties associated with News papers. “We hail with satisfaction the addition of the News paper Press to the journalism of the United Kingdom.' Saunders' News Letter. “Information of a kind peeuliarly valuable to cver one connected with newspapers.—Dublin Freeman's Journal. “We feel it our duty especially to commend it to all newspaper men."—Brighton Gazette. Subscriptions, 4s. per annum, post free, payable in ad vance. Loudon: E. W. ALLEN, Publisher, 11, Ave Maria-lane
The only Cheap Weekly Horticultural Journal. 2d. Weekly; and in Monthly Parts, 10d. THE GARDENER'S MAGAZINE for Amateur Cultivators, Collectors, and Exhibitors of Plants, Flowers and Fruits, for Gentlemen's Gar deners, Florists, Nurserymen, and Seedsmen; for Na turalists, Botanists, Bee-keepers, and Lovers of the Country. Conducted by SHIRLEY HIBBERD, Esq. F.R.H.S. London: E. W. ALLEN, 11, Ave Maria-lane, E.C. And by Order of all Booksellers and Newsagents in Town and Country.
The Female Medical Society is established for the following objects: 1.—To promote the employment of properly educated women in the practice of Midwifery, and the treatment of the Diseases of Women and Children. 2.—To provide educated women with proper facilities for learning the theory and praetice of Midwifery, and the accessory brauches of Medical Science. Midwifery and the accessory branches of medicine offer a wide field of honourable and lucrative employ ment for educated women; also a meaus of intellectual culture and social usefulness to ladies who may not be dependent upon their own exertions. For want of properly qualified ladies the best portion of the practice of midwifery has drifted into the hands of gentlemen though female practitioners still attend the bulk of the population. But any person may undertake the duties of a midwife. Proper means of study have never been provided for women, and there has never been an public examination, by which women when well qualified might be distinguished from those who are illiterate and unqualifled. The Society has carried on for five years the Ladies' Medical College, whieh has taught the theory and prac tice of Midwifery and the accessory branches of medi cine. Eighty-two ladies have already availed themselves of its advantages, and many of these ladies are settled in practice, and suceceding admirably. A life subscription of ten guineas, or an annual sub scription of one guinea, constitutes a member of the Society, but stamps or other small contributions will be gladly received Lady subseribers of not less than one guinca are invited to visit any Lectures in which they are likely to be interested. The addresses of skilled Lady Midwives, Prospectuses of the College, and all particulars as to the operations of the Society, may be obtained of the Lady Secretary. Temporary Offices—4 Fitzroy-square, W Cheques to be crossed London and County Bank.
NO. 1 of THE SPIRITUALIST is from be ginning to end a compact mass of good evidence that the facts of Spiritualism are true. It contains a summary of the evidence given before the Dialectical Society by twenty wituesses of eminence and ability; in also gives the testimony of respectable non-Spiritualists: therefore it is a valuable publication to place in the hands of non-Spiritualists, and should be seleeted for that purpose rather than later numbers of the same journal, as the later numbers will run out of print first and should be ordered while they are still obtainable by those who wish to preserve them for binding. A few copies of No. 1 should be kept on hand for the benefit of non-Spiritualists, but later numbers should be retained in the possession of the early friends of the movement before they become scarce and unobtainable. Cover with stringed backs, to keep copies clean till required for binding, 3s. each. London: E. W. ALLEN, Ave Maria-lane, E.C.; or J. BURNS, 15, Southampton-row, Holborn, W.C.
Contents. 33 The Human “ Double Spirit-rapping in John Wesley's Family. Part IV. 33 Lecture by Mrs. Hardinge ... 34 REPORTS OF MEETINGS:—Séances at the Spiritual Library. - Crushed to Death—The consequences o Crime—Remorse in the Spirit World—Restitution and Repentance—The Equilibrium of the Mental Faculties—Proper Names in Trance-Mediuship. 3 Bible Spiritualism ... 35 GENERAL NEWS:—Speaking in Unknown Tongues Table Signals and the Alphabet—Proper Names and Trance-Mediumship—The Spiritual Magazie “The Reality of a Spirit World Demonstrated" —Spiritualism in the Isle of Wight—The Spirit ... 36 World LEADER:—The Action of Light upon Spiritual Mani ... 37 festations.. A Feature of Tranee-Mediumship 37 ... " “John King" .. 37 POETRY:—The last Scene of Life ... 38 CORRESPONDENCE:—Was Sarah Jacobs Starved to ... 38 Death The “ Banner of Light" Circle... ... 38 The Education of the Young ... 38 PARAGRAPHS:—Atmospherical Influences on Mani festations, 36; The Anthropological Society, 36 The Cure of M. Leon Favre, 38.
LORD BROUCHAN ON SPRTUALISM. A WORK entitled The Book of Nature,* by Mr. Charles O. Groom Napier, F.C.S., was published last month, and has a preface by the late Henry Lord Brougham and Vaux, which preface closes with the following sentence: “There is but one question I would ask the author, is the Spiritualism of this work foreign to our material  istic, manufacturing age?—No; for amidst the varieties of mind which divers circumstances produce, are found those who cultivate man’s highest faculties ;—to these the author addresses himself. But even in the most cloudless skies of scepticism I see a rain-cloud,—if it be no bigger than a man’s hand; it is Modern Spiritualism." Many were the noble acts and deeds of Lord Brougham, but the foregoing outspoken statement, shows, how even in his later days, he was in advance of many of our younger and more energetic philosophers and statesmen, both in knowledge of facts, and in fear lessly and honestly publishing that knowledge.
Reports of Meetings. [When reports of the speeches of spirits are printed in this Journal, non Spiritualists should understand that spirits out of the body are wise or foolish, truthful or untruthful, just the same as spirits in the body. More over, they are but individuals, so do not know everything. The statements of a spirit are but the assertions of an individual; but by comparing the state ments of many spirits, it may in time be possible to discover in what point they agree, and to sift out the unreliable communications. Many spirits cannot see each other, any more than we can see them, and as some of them are thus in different states of life, it does not follow that contradictory messages are therefore untruthful. Spirits are of different religions, conse sequently their teachings do not altogether agree; there is no more uniformity in the next world than in this one. It is the business of this journal to report facts, so we are in no way responsible for the religious, scientific, or any other teachings given by individual spirits.]