Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1845-06-19

All dttoWPtS az ioStCal iH4uHy AeSuhSe,
indeed, 10 leaving me more sceptical
than before. l had been advised to
study Cousin. studied him IN his own
works as we'll as in those Of his Euro
pean and American echoes. The
Charles Elwood' of Mr.. Brownson, for
example, was placed in my hands. |
read 1T with profound attention.
Throughout | found it logical but the
portions which were not merely logical
were unhapPily the initial arguments ol
the disbelieying hero Of the book. In
his summing up it seemed evident to me
that the reasoner had not even succeed
ed IN convincing himself His end had
plainly forgotten his beginning, like the
government of Trinculo. In short, |
was not long in perceiving that if man IS
Ito be intellectually Convinced OF his own
Immortality, he will never be SO con>
vinced by the mere distractions which
have been so long the fashion of the
moralis:s of England. Of France and of
Germany. Abstractions may amuse
and exercise. bur take no hold upon the
mind. Hero upon earth, at least philos>
ophy, am persuaded, will always in
warn call upon us to look upon qualities
as things. The will may assent-the
soul-the intellect, never.
repeat, then, that I only half felt.
and never intellectually believeds But
latterly there has hecn certain deep
ening of the feeling, until it has como
so nearly to resemble the acquiescence
of reason, that | find it difficult to dis
tinguish between the two. ] am enabled,
too, plainly to trace this effect to the
mesmeric influence. cannot better
explain my meaning then by the n.y.
pothesls that the mesmeric exaltatlon en>
ables me to perceive train Of con-
vincing ratIocnation-a train which, IN
my abnormal existence. convinces, but
which, in full accordance with the mes
merc phenomena, does not extend, eX>
cept through its effect. into my normal
condition. In sleep-waking, the reason,
ing and its concusion--the cause and
its efect-are present together. In my
natural state, the cause vanishing, the
effect only, and perhaps only partially,
remains.
These considerations have led me to
think that some good results nights en-
sue from a series of well directed cues,
tons propounded to me while mesmer-
lied. You have often observed the pro
found self-cognizance evinced by the
sleep>waker, the extensive knowledge he
displays upon all points relating to the
mesmeric condition itself; and from this
self-cognizance may be deduced hint
for the proper conduct of a caiecism.
| consented of course to make this ex>
pertinent. A few passes threw MIR Vans
kirk into the mesmeric sheep, His
breathing became Immediately more
easy, and he seemed to suffer no physi-
cal uneasiness. The following conver-
sation then ensued. V. in the dialogue
representing Mr.. Vankirk, and P. my
self.
P. Are you asleep?
V. Yes-no; l would rather sleep
more soundly.
P. (After te,o more passes') Doyo
sleep now? .s
V. Yes.
P. Do you still feel the pain in your
heart.
V. No.
P. How do you think your present
illness will result? ,
V. (.aher long hesitation and speak,
ing as If with effort must die.
P. Does the idea of death affiict you?
V. (Very qu;ckly.) Mono!
P. Are you pleased with the pros
pect?
V. If were awake I should like to
die, but now it is no matter. The mes
meric condition is so near death as to
content me -..
P. wish you would explain yourself,
Mr.. Vankirk.
V. am willing to do so, but il re-
quires more effort than | feel able to
make. You do not question me prop.
erly. ~
P What then shall ask?
V. You must begin at the beginning.
P. The beginning! but where is the
beginning.
V. You know that the beginning is
COP. This was said in low. huctua-
ting tone, and with every sign of the most
profound veneration ., ....,
P. What then is God?
V. (Hesitating. for many minutes. J |
cannot tell.
P, Is not God spirit9
V. While was awake | knew what
you meant by ''spirit," but now it seems
only word-such for instance as truth,
beauty--a quality, ! mean.
P. Is not God immaterial2
V. There is no immateriaity--it is a
mere word. That which is not matter is
not at all, unless qualities are things.
P. Is God, then, Material?
V. No. This reply startled me uery
much. ~.
P. What then is he?
v. (Afer long pause, and muttsr>
ingy) | see-but it is thing difficult
to tell. Another long pause. He IS