New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1851-10-03
"Spiri,ualism in New-Hampshire.

"Spiri,ualism" in New-Hampshire.
In giving place TO the following letter,
Withholding only the writer's name, we repeat
that we do not at all endorse the ready assump-
ton that the singular ntima,ions he describes
are the work of departed spirits. Our own OBJ
servatons of similar phenomena have not war
ranted that conclusion But neither can we re-
gard them as wholly the result OF Jugglery, fraud,
knee-knockmg. tOe-cracklng &c though some
Rappines have doubtless been produced IN
that way We need a wide and patient compar
lson OF facts before jumping to any conclusion on
the subject From what we hear from different
parts of the country, the number of Mediums,
so called, must now exceed One Thousand
some OF them young children, others elderly
persons of unquestionabke integrity, few OF
them utterly skeptrca and strongly sepugnant to
the whole Rapplng business, even after they
had become Mediums The whole matter is
one OF great Shgularl,y. and deserves a more
candid and searching investigation than has yet
been vouchsafed IT, Ed
SUTTON n H. Sept. -, 1851
To The Editor OF The ~ Y. Tribune:
| believe YOU continue to publish COM
muncations on the subject Of the Spiritual Rappings
and wish to give YOU the results of few of my
observations on the subject. called on protested
medium abou, two months ago. and for the first time
heard what | had before heard and read much OF,
the Spiritual Rappings. will acknowledge, that IN
this first interview, was disappointed, both IN the
character of the sounds and IN the message received
Since that time, have had opportunities of hearing
the raps almost daily, and though naturally very
skeptica have at last arrived at the CONCLUSION, at
which believe every uApreJ JUDGED person who has
had sufficient opportunities Of Judging must arrive,
VIZ that they produced by the spirits OF our de-
ceased friends. | have heard sounds for which
could in no other way account. have seen furniture
moved, when knew, as much as any one can know
who sees with his own eyes, that no one present
touched II. | have sat a, table with a circle Of
friends ali anxious ~ detect the trick II possible,
and putting my feet on those OF the medium and
holding her hands in my own, have seen the table
moved with violence which was not only startling,
but which compelled US TO move out of the way
nave heard various sounds initiated by request such
as saving wood, the discharge OF firearms, &C.
have heard the raps IN four el0erent places on the
table al the same time have had correct replies To
mental questions. / have heard the sounds and have
received replies TO questions, the sounds proceeding
from the head board of the bed IN which the medium
was lying asleep Laying lead pencil upon piece
OF blank paper IN an open book, the medium holding
all in her right hand, pressed up against the under
side Of the tabe-leaf on taking out the paper, We
have seen ~ covered with names whlch we hdd re-
quosted 10 be written. all of us watching the proceed
ing and unable 10 detect any deception on the part
OF the medium If there was any Asking the Spirits
what use they made of the pencil, this reply was
spelled out form the electricity into the form OF
the letters which We wish to impress upon the paper,
and then the lead as painters gild chairs Ask
ing, What l. the need of "A medium why can
not all hear the raps at any time ~ The reply was
this. "What j. the use OF the eye why not see
with the nose - To the question, Have you a
body in The answers always Yes What SIT
IKE Ans. Like the natural body IN It's prime.
tut much more refined
Shortly before the departure of the prOfessed
dunn deceased sister Of NINE came, and, by means
OF the Taps, slgnhod that she wished We would form
a circle, ito see If we could find medium among
our own KINDRED" Circles have been formed and
several mediums have been found, persons well
known 10 Us, and our near relatives We have by
this had opportunities OF conYeslng with the
spirits nearly every day since that time. and Of max
ing our own observations. We have seen the table
moved several inches with man upon lt-have seen
one end raised inches above the other, and the
lamps did not fall ! have observed that there Is
much difference the OudneSs OF the raps Al differ
ent umes think they are Affected very much bv
the atmosphere In a hot room, or IN one where the
has been rendered impure by many breaths, they
become very FAINT and mdlstlnct BY opening the
windows they become louder, and nave heard them
so loud that believe they might have been heard
across the street. They do not all rap alike some
spirits Zap much louder than others. and some more
rapidly than others. These circumstances often
occasion mistakes IN interpreting the answers.
No T. mistaken for Yes and Yes for No
have observed that spirit raps At FIRST very
low, but after several interviews much more
distinctly. They do not always come prepared
with any message, but appear 10 desire 10 con-
verse. Their OBJECT IN visiting a. seems 10 be
70 comfort and Soothe. and keep alive the bonds
Of afe ctiOn Either they do not know or are not IN
clIned 10 tell much about our future affairs IN this
hfe They all agree IA saying that all IN the Spirit
World happy, though there are different degrees
Happiness We nave frequently asked them u go
Tor different places. and bring US tldlngs OF our
friends. After few moments absence, they usually
return and often have told Us circumstances which
dfierw ards we're found 10 be correct. and of winch
We were ignorant Al the tune Often those OF whom /.
We have rot been thinking have come 10 us-sOme- /
times those nom We never knew except by report.
We have in this way had interviews With John Y.
Adams Often the replies are Of 30 unexpected
nature as 20 astonlsh greatly. TINS seems 10
prove that something greater than, or different
from, Mesmensm There Is often TO be observed In |
the responses peculiarly which Is suggestive
Of the person from whom II purpous 20 come-soIne
word which Vas Of frequent use-sone hesitation,
perhaps a sort Of nervous quckness In the making
Of the sound OF The peculiarly comforting nature
Of some OF the messages which they bring. Will not
say much they Just such the wing hear.
has long yesrned and PRAY ed for, such will mos.
Soothe and comfort IN anxiety anc gloom
Yours, All
CULTURE OF THE GRAPE IN THE VAST
Crane KstsfrO and Vino Naktng -