Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1850-02-20

time. without the least failure in getting
correct answers"
There could be no mistaking these
tests.-Thev could not be influenced bv
our minds. for we did not ourselves know
what the answers should be. This places
quietus on its being anything governed
by the minds of those asking questions or
those who hear it most freely The proofs
of getting answers and correct ones to /
mental questions. and to thoughts where +
questions are not asked, is as plain as
even the rapping itself.
/. "We have known several persons to be
sitting around table in conversation. and
when they ceased. the signal for the
alphabet would be called for. and SEN
ience would be spelled like this. -,
(naming one OF the company.) thinks SO
and So mentioning exactly what their
thoughts were. At one time several per-
sons were present; one wrote on piece Of
paper to another. something about two
other members Of the company, which.
although n unimportant, they did not wish
the others to know; but, as if to convince
US all of their power to tell our thoughts.
the signal was given for the alphabet, and
the same spelled cut that they had written |
/ This has often been the case Of similar
occurrences. that it is placed beyond dis
! pute by those who have tried the expert
ment of getting answers to mental ques-
tions.'
/ The next chapter discusses the ques-
,ion, Are they Good or Evil Spritsv
who make these demonstrations-a ques.
ton hardly in order as yet with those who
have not decided that they are dsembo-
died spirits at all. The writer contends
that they are good, because they always
do good-that is their interposition in hu-
ance of evil or the securing of good
This is an excellent touchstone, and we
have no disposition to cavil at the conclu-
sions thence attained. The following is
one Of the cases cited in evidence, (p. 64;)
"On one occasion, a gentleman Of
Rochester was indebted to a woman who
was in great need Of the money The
spirits directed her little sister to 90 to
such place in the street at a certain hour
in the day and she would meet the man
who would pay her three dollars for her
sister. The little girl did not know the
man who owed the money but went as di-
man who said to her. Are you the girl that
lives with Mrs. She replied in the
affirmative. 'Here are three dollars wish
you would take to her, said the man
handing her bill. and passed on
The pamphlet admits, what the reports
of investigating committees given in our
columns have already set forth, that the
directions given by these 'knockings' are
not reliable but often erroneous As this
is rather important, let US hear what the
writer has to offer upon it:
1--WE see no reason for supposing that,
because man has passed from this stage
Of existence, he has become at once the
most perfect Of prophets without regard to
his condition here.
There are undoubtly, spirits who desire to
be noticed and to answer qustions. who
are too ignorant to give any instruction.
and who would be as likely to tell right as
wrong. We do not believe these to be
wilfully vicious; these errors arise from
their ignorance, and we are answered that
they will be SO, til they ultima,iy progress
to state of intelligence, purity and hap
piness equal to those who pass from favor
able circumstances. Swedenborg says
there are some spirits SO ignorant that they
do not know but they are the ones called
for, when another is meant. This may
be so. We are inclined to think it is. we
have known attempts to be made TO initiate
the signal which we always get when we
call for a friend. Nearly everv person
who has called frequently for some part-
; cular spirit gets 81 gnal whereby that par
ticuar spirit is known. This signal is
different for different spirits. and although
it is frequently attempted we have never
r known these signals initiated. We do
5 not .lIink there is danger of being deceiv-
l ed by ignorant spirits when a person be-
comes acquainted with these communica-
< tons. The sound made by an ignorant
1 spirit is quite different from the other.
: While the sound made by intelligent
= spirits is clear and lively. the sound made
J: by the ignorant ones is low and mulfied
n like the striking of the hand on a carpet
J. We are confident that, with due caution
y and care. intelligent and upright individ.
l. uals will get correct answers. Much
: depends upon the mind and disposition o
persons at the time of asking the questions
= for, as all the Universe goes by affinities. j
S needs pure mind, calm thinker and deli
e berate questioner TO get communication;
l. from spirits of high order.'
{ These spirits, or whatever they ma,
70 be. il seems have theology, if such j
r may be called. i, is manifestly Prope
g that spirits should. If it should seen
rather a scant pattern. the reader vii
81 please lay the fault at their door or thei
N expositors,' at all events not at ours. Whe
" fher the sounds whereby the following an
|y swers were communicated were clear an.
% lively or low and muffied, this deponen
saith not. We only quote from the book