Wisconsin tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1847-1854, 1851-06-12

/ ana one OF these countries the boys assemble
and bnld large FIRE, and, after a round Of
ceremonies, east lots. and he W hem tie
| lot fails is understood TO be the one destined
/ for sacrifice In the fire, that the season may
be favorable to the rest. And this was prob
ably done in former times. but since they have
become chri'fionized. they only make him
leap over. the fire and our term bonfire or
boonfre is taken from the custom of reaues-
ting boon from Baal, and building snch fres.
/ never see any one manifcsting a spirit Of
Difference towards any of the before mention
ed absurdities, without feeling disposed to
enquire after the name of the particular dirin-
ity to whom they are doing homage.
! But am aware that am not free from the
danger of crossing the path OF some. by bare
4 Iy limiting my disbelief in all effect which
has not natural cause. There was time,
when it seemed reasonable to hope that these
surerstiticns on the wane; hui when in add
ton TO ali these, we have forced upon US the
astounding fact of federation BY purt al
least of the public mind, Of the nockings,
and rapPings. of the past year, with all the
4
/ hoods connected with them, the heart grows
faint, ard we begin 10 think that the terms
hrstendo!n. and Heaihfndom. might be
used Interchangeable. But when we glance
at their pretended revelations from spirits in
a world of perfect holmes, and look al the
/ fact that when their guesses failed. and soire
apology was nece sary, they resoRed TO the
miserable subterfuge that dsrmhodied spirits
as we'll as those in the flesh would lie some
times, and still did not withdraw the claim of
their being in Heaven; and when We reflect
that there were still many to tolerate them,
whose friends never claim for them right 10
\ residence in the Insane Asylum, we feel
that the number and capacities of such Asy-
lums. should be augmented indefinitely 10
meet the wants Of the age. We recoil with
horror, or smile with contempt. al the credui-
ty of our Puritan ancestors who could hang
for witchcraft, but what will be thought Of
US by generations to come In respect to that
class Of abSurdities mentioned in the former
part Of this article. which have reference to
natural causes, it is probable that they can on
ly he done away by more general diffusion
Of knowledge relating to the laws Of nature,
particularly those explained by the science
Of Natural Philosophy, and Chemistry. for
when the mind becomes Infatuated to search
ing for. and finding. natural cause for every
effect, it will not readily adm; an effect with
out cause. IA 10 those things which must
be referred to a supernatural agency account
f. h I hali 81 l -,
difficult Of eradicaling; and upon examina-
ton we shall fad that majority Of hem be-
long to their class. Even the Growing of the
cock upon the door step. 10 apprize you of
company who may not vet have left their
homes, must be referred to ONE cause beyond
what we term nature, but enough of these pu-
criities. They would not be worth the notice
of any one. were they not believed in by
many sensible people " no probably we're given
'heln IT time when the reason and iudE re-
ment have not much 70 do with mental opera
ton and who have never given them mo-
ments candid ate.tion. since they come iuto
the possession Of reason. but who only aeed
to do this, to reject them now and forever
But the reason ihar think those of the last
class will not he so easily cured, in that it
seems to be unprecedented by belivers il reve-
lation, that to deny all supernatural ageny in
things OF this sort. particularly those which
relate 10 warnings of death, endancers the
theory of the Divine agency in any form. and
thus threatens the de tsuction Of one of the
most precious truths which the mind is capa-
bic Of experimenting; viz: the communion Of
the Divine Spirit with the mind Of man
But so far f ON this being the case, consider
that this ruth would be greatly benefited by
di-connecling it from every thing puerilc, and
absurd. y hat candid mind that loves the
truth in question does not feel. that it would
be more in keeping with the character of the
Infinite God when he wished 10 warn any Of
his creatures of death. to use means which
can be clearly understood, rather than to as
sumo the character of witch. and frightcn
people BY sounds ard sights which can have
no natural cause! 1t would seem 10 me de-
sirsble, that Ministers Of the Gospel should
instruct their people on these points, in some
communities, unless they believe 10 them
themselves in which case they had better be
silent. In conclusion | would remark that as
- the old woman" has always taken the lead
in these mysteries il is but proper that the
same sex should assist in clearing the world of
them. l.. B.
Sles OF lands are ordered, by proclamation
of the President at the following places in
this srntr Mt the ,imrs specified to witt