New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1847-01-14
Professor Lewis ard Davis. Revelations.


For some weeks past the New.York Observer
has been waeinr war with the Swedeuborgianism
Of Prof Bush. as cals,1 I'll with the revelations
now in process Of delivery BY A. J. Davis. while
in an abnormal state We IN not question the right
Of the editors Of that print, or Of any OF their cores
pondenrs, to employ all inst means to put down
any doctrines or principles which they may sin.
cerely deem erroneous, after such have been fairly
brought before the public But their right to lug
in D7rate matters in their Efforts 10 this end and
10 ride rough shod over individuals who may stand
between them and their object Is not quite so clear
The winter OF this Is concerned mainly with the
communications that have lately appeared IN the
Observer bearing the signature 7 L. Taylor
Lewis and with these only In reference 20 the as
pensions which they cast upon the disclosures Of
Young Davis We intend no interfercssoe In the con
troversy with Prof Bush that learned and ruihoyng
gentleman IL abundsnily able TO defend himself
For the purpose Of weakening the combinations OF
swedenborg as derived By Prof Bush from the CORES
pOnding Developments OF Davis, q" T. l. has taken the
liberty to speak in no measured terms Of contempt Of
the sayings 81 the latter pronouncng them Sophomor
cal in their style beneath the dignity Of true science
being chnactzed by bombsstc imitation sfieets-
ton Of proluudify" nonsense, unmcsning plays on
synOnymsT not logical. not scientific. general
babbler &c. It l. considers himself authorised in
the Of these ephets from having tss he says pad
from having heard him for hours, and from having
read page after page Of his written lectures.
II these statements and allegations are ssN founded
the lectures 81 NJ Dsvs Sr certsniy not deserving OF
a moments cons.dcraucr but the dsagrecable task
now devolVes upou me q showing that plain dispas
sion.ie aud Impartial display Of ~ to the public
posed no part Of the object OF L. in the Representa-
lions he has given of the work in question
In the first place. az 10 the considerable attention
which he says he has paid this lecturer and his lee
lures - to bis hsarHs him for hours, and reading
page after page Of bis rtien lectures the ac in the
are simply thcse Some time in February last and
not long after Davis had commenced his lectures this
same + / came 20 our rooms when the writer Of
this pointed him two three passages forming in the
aggregate certainly not page OF Ms and left the
Ms. in his hands During the ia minus which he
poyed in examining its contents he may hfye read At
not than froe pdes more some time near the
first Of June last the Tag end OF lecture was delivered IN
his presence occupying after he came into the
more than AGlfGH hour and OF which be heard much
compatible with an almost constant whispering
which he kept up 20 companion By his side some two
or three months since the writer Of this read the great
er part of three lectures In the presence Of T L. aud
three other gentlemen who were present And It l."
ell DEM that these scraps and detached portions do
not vary essentially from III he has ever heard
read OF the Is lectures that have been delivered by Da
Wis up 10 the date Of this communication go much Tor
the alleged hOrOphHess OF his investgau Of the sub
jet on which he speaks so confidently
When these Mss. submitted 20 the inspection Of
T, L." and the lectures, above mentioned read
in his hearing T. Of c0mse took II for granted that he
would at least recognize much Of the cOmmonest
laws OF literary courtesy and gentlity as would forbid
him from dragging, in dsparagns manner before the
public, that which was exhibited In confidence and
which until publication, viii still remain As prirdie prop
evrH II was groNi in placing so high estimate on
his sense Of proprety and common justice my green.
must be set down TO the score OF charity and frank
ness.
Judge OF my surprise when some weeks ago was IN
formed privately OF a communication which 7 L. had
prepared for publication in the New York Observer de-
signing throw contempt and dicue upon Dsyss rev
Citations IN ddrdncf y Their publication prompted by
desire 10 secure Justice 70 well 10 the work
of Mr. Davis Immediately addressed him rsspectul
note saying among other things, that although con
seriousness OF the omnpOtence of Truth secured me
against any anxiety the final result Of any course
which be might see ~ 10 pursue yet 20 prevent misap-
pre- henson on bis part and to which he was certainly
liable from the imperectness OF his investigation ana
to secure just representations, sc would respectful
ly submit the following propositions TO be carried into
effect before the publication OF his article
Il That three men OF reputation. and well known to
the NewYork public and VINO are not committed either
favor of against Mr. Days work snail be selected
by yourself and Prof Bush.
- These men shall examine the MSS already writ
ten of Mr. Davis work note their most prominent d.
yeopments investigate the facts 10 the manner and
has been got up the facts in reference nav.s past
history, education opportunities general character ha
bits, SC. sc.
81 pledge myself to any pertinent inquiries
to the best OF my abilities and to furnish the committee
with facilities 10 expose any plagiarism dishonesty as
connected with this affair II any should be, either by
them OF yourself, supposed to exist
IL was next proposed that the Investigation should be
a. thorough could consistently be made. that
aton should without reference TO party views be made
OF the general JdGs uniOlded, copy OF which should
be placed n the hands of each OF after which h.
should be at liberty 10 publish what he pleased respect
ing Dayiss lectures
ject OF T H. here was certainly Just such oppor
funity as be could have desired And il he hsd really
belcrd that there was 90 much nonsense and humbug-
gerry connected with Mr. Daviss lectures as his sube-
ouent communications represent here was ootaiEly
opportunity of opposing and pu,fiHg crgGsfiHg qis
fEs upon e rtOle afaroi nippng in the bud aud thst
too with little trouble 10 himself and certainly
without imposing dsagrccsbe tack upon others. But
an ga0nsn unfolding Of the real u7ih Of the
not promise 20 subserye ~ purp0se and
hence instead of accepting the above peri city lair pro-
position he returned note stating In substance that
Davis had denied the verify OF OF the most
marksbe facts mentioned In the Bible that he treated
as nVt what the Son OF God appealed 20 actual
ntimaied that that was enough tor
him 20 know. This actual occurrence, by the way,
means the food which DAVIS says actually did take place.
explaining H. with lie causes and effects circumstsna
w. though showing that the account OF II IN the Bible y
clothed with sleg0rcs Embellishments an idea which
NAV be admitted without any dspsragement 10 the book
of Genesis when il Ia considered that many passages
therein contained such as The Lord walked out In the
garden in the cool Of the day" the colloquy between
the serpent and the woman and numerous other passa
res in that portion of the history could not have been
iafend,d 10 be Understood literally.
should any one feel surprised that T l. should thus
disregard the facilities offered 10 brig out the PLAIN hon
er fruh concerning the grave matters on which he
wrote and that he should thus heedlessy rush forward
with an anarabir df1miHafi0n hH or miss 10 iorestsh
unfavorably the minds OF the public Ia reference TO Mr.
Daviss work-ihey may ind An explanation OF hrs con
duct In the following expressions contained In his com
nuuic alton In the Observer of Dec. 70.
Path says he is closely allied 10 hrnness apd
surely man must stand somewhere. We do confess
10 an exceeding reluctance 10 have belief disturbed
Again be says the evidence Of the truth Of Davss pre-
tensions must exceed al that great accumulation OF
evidence of various kinds which rests our settled
conviction Of the truth of Christianity OR IN oiher
words those doctrines which in al ages of the Church
have borne the name. Shoud u l,n'
evidence be- supplied however We are not prepared "
say We would yield Il cfedcuce even Then Tor X - most
likely that In the oss 81 our old faith our believing
faculty would BE- utterly exhausted Again be says
- 4 serious believer In Chris;isnity we suppose he
moan. in those doctrines which In All ages Of the Church
have borne the namel should have some things settled
.ore fixed conclusions which should not be reup.ned
tho demand Of every who cries on, 10 here or 10
there AZ some new marvel Tie talks also o tho cant
of hi, cantinr sgc about befa,y. and keeping the
mind omen and Tho love OF truth and says, There u
- ...., ....- I,fi,x than much that hear about