Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1850-08-31
1iliscrllancous.
/" The Mysterious RappinsS."

mysterious lnnucnco Dy WnlCn tbey Sethn W
be accompanied TO every reasonable test,
and to the keen and critical scrutiny of the
hundreds who have chosen TO visit them or
whom they have been invited TO visit. The |
rooms which they occupied ut the hotel
have been repeatedly searched aud scruti- !
nzed; they nave been taken without an
hours notice into houses they had never
before entered; they have been all uucon-
sciousy placed on glass surface concealed
under the carpet, in order 10 interrupt cleo
trio vibrations; they have been disrObed by
Committee of Ladies' appointed without
notice, and insisting. that neilhcr OF them
should leave the room until the investiga-
ton had been made, &c. &c. yet we be-
iieye no one to tlis moment pretends thai hc
has detected either of them in producing or
causing the 'Rappings,' nor do We think any
of their contemners has invented a plausible
theory to account Tor tle production oi these
sounds, nor the singular intelligence which
certainly at tines has seemed TO be mani
rested through them.
Some ten or twelve days since, they gave
up tlIcir rooms at the hotel, and devoted the
remainder of their sojourn here TO visiting
several .lamilies 10 which they had been In-
vited by persons interested in the subject,
aud subecting the singular influence TO
closer aud calIncr examination than could
be given to it at n hotel and before casual
companies of strangers, drawn together by
vague curiosity, more rational interest, or
Predetermined and invincible hostility. Our
own dwelling was among those they thus
visited, not merely submitting to hut court
ing the fullest mud keeuest hqu,fy with re-
gard to the alleged manifestations from
the spirt-world by which they were attend
cd. We devoted what time we could spare
from our duties out OF three days to this sub |
iect and it would be the basest cowurdlcc
hot TO say that we are convinced beyond
doubt OF their perfect integrity and good faith
IN the premises. Whatever may be tue |
origin or the cause Of the Rappings,' the
ladies' in whose presence they occur DO not
make them. We tested this thoroughly and
TO our entire satisfaction.
Their conduct and bearing is rs unlike
that OF decuivers a. possible and we think
no one acquainted with them could believe
them at all capable of engaging in so daring,
impious and shameful juggle as this would
be if they caused the sounds. And II is not
possible that such juggle should have been
so long perpetTntod in public yet escape de-
lection. n juggler performs one teat quick
ly and hurrles on To another; he does not
devote weeks after weeks TO doing the
same thing over aud over deliberately, in
fronting him in broad daylight, not 10 enjoy
but to detect his uick. A deceiyer naturul-
ly avoids conversation on the subject of his
knavery, but these ladies' converse freely and
fully with regard TO the origin OF these
'Rnppings in their dwelling years ago, the
various sensations they caused, the ncighbor-
hood excitement created the progress OF the
developments-what they hGd seen, heard
and experienced. from fist TO last. II all
were false, they could not fail 10 have in
volyed themselves ere this in labyrinth OF
blasting contradictions, MS each separately
gives accounts of the most astounding occur
rences at this or that time. Persons foolish
enough so TO commit themselves without
reserve or caution could not have deferred
thorough sclf-exposure for single week.
OF course, variety of opinions of so
strange matter would naturally be formed
by the various persons who have visited
them, aud VIC presume those who have
merely run in to their room for an hour OF
so and listened, among huddle of stran-
gers, TO n medley of questions-not all adj
mtiing of very profitable answeTs--put &c
invisible inteligences and answered by
'Rapping' or singular noises on the floor
table, &c. as the alphabet was called ovel
or otherwise, would naturally 90 away per
haps puzzled, probably disgusted, rarely con
vinced. 1t is hardly possible that matter
ostensibly SO grave could he presented under
circumstances less favorable TO conyction.-
But OF those who have enjoyed proper op
portunties for full investigation we believe
that fully ilreeiourths as we are, that thes'
singular sounds and seeming manifestation
are not produced by Mrs. Fox and he
daughters, nor by any human being connect
cd with them.
HoNv fhpv ,,ra cattsa1 and xvbop.e tho,
proceed, are question: which open muci
wider field of inquiry, with whose way
marks we do not profess TO be familiar. Ii,
must be well acquainted with the arcand o
the universe who shall presume dogmaical
Iy TO decide that these manifestations are
natural or supernatural. The ladies' say
that they are informed that this is but ia,
beginning of a new era or economy, in whicl
spirits clothed in flesh are to be more close
ly aud palpably connected with those whicl
have put on imnortnlity--th the maniies
tations have already appeared in many 9th
er inmilies and are destined 10 be ditluseI
and rendered clearer, until all who will ma,
communicate freely and beneficially will
their friends who have 'shuflled Off thi
mortal COLI OF all this we know nothing
aud shall guess nothing. But if we wer'
simply TO print (which we shall not) thI
questions we asked and the answers we re
ceived during two hours uninterrupte,
conference with the Rappers,' we should a
once be accused OF having done so express
ly 10 sustain the theory which regards thes,
manifestations as the utteraneos OF departed
spirits.
We believe il is the intention of the ladies
10 shun henceforth all publicity or noiorielJ
SO far as possible. They do not expect OF
wish TO make gain of the 'Rappings' they
have desired to yindicate their own charact-
ers from the gross iEputations so freely east
upon them; believing that effected, they
hope to be permitted hereafter 10 live in
that see'usion which hc6is their sex, their
station and their wishes We trust they