New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1851-01-23
The Spiritual RaPPings.'

up at our request by gentleman OF intel
ligence and truth who has been for more
than year a close and constant observer
Of the singular phenomena known as
Spiritual Manifestations, Rochester Rap
pings &c. &c. That the writer may be
deceived, is quite possible; that he is in
tentionally deceiving is not possible; and
we submit that the phenomena he has
witnessed are not explainable by the by
pothesis of mere vulgar jugglery, but (even
if deceptive) indicate the action Of some
power or faculty which has not hitherto
been supposed to reside in ordinary human
bodies. If Mr.. C. C. Burr can do such
things with his great toes, we advise
him to get them patented. Ed.
NEW okK, Jan %, 1851.
To the Editors Of the Tribune:
With your permission, propose to set forth
few well authenticated facts touching Spiritual
Communications and Manifestations, which de-
sire should meet the eye of the Rev. c. Chauncey
Burr, for his consideration and explanation AS
he is engaged in giving an exposition Of the Mys-
FERROUS Knockings, he will undoubtedly be pleased
to have an opportunity Of showing his sagacity
and superior powers in solving what to most
minds would prove difficult problem in the fol-
lowing cases:
In the first place, the writer will state his own
case A little more than year ago, called
upon the three sisters Mrs. Fish and the Misses
Fox at Rochester, whom found at the house of
Mr.. P. l was an entire stranger to them, and
had but few acquaintance in the city, where
| had spent but & few months. After an introduc-
tion took my seat with others at a comfortable.
Soon was privileged with putting questions to
the "rappers," be they whom or what they may.
l wrote some figures from one up to ten. then
asked the Spirits to designate the number of
Guardian Spirits attending me, by raPPing when
| should point to the proper figure. | struck my
pencil the first time upon figure >, the rap In
stanty came. | was sure no person could have
seen the figure. | said crap the number" and 1t
rapped five times | said +" Will the Spirits tell
me who they are p 1t spelled out the alphabet
being called over Children" Mrs. f. inter
ruptng at this time no more was spelled, and |
could not decide whether there would have been
more had she continued to repeat the alpha
bet. ! then said Are any of them mine y
1t answered in the affirmative. | asked How
names 2" Ans. ayes" l then wrote down
near a dozen names In the list l placed the
name of my two deceased children. They were
together,Inear the center of the column. l then
requested the spirits to rap when | should point
to the right names. Commencing at the top OF
the column, proceeded, The instant pointed
TO the first name there came rap, and 30 upop
the second continued to point until ~ as
the list but there Uume no more sound. tnen
retraced by commencing at the bottom, and the
sound came at the same two names, but at no
others | inquired How old was my eldest child
when he died p The spirit raped 4. The child
was very near 4. Unless months and days were
to be indicated, it was right. How old was the
youngest Zone year" Any months 5? yes"
How many7' 1.-TWO" This was correct. Said
/, What is my own ageP 1t raped IS. That
was correct 1t then told me my mother and two
infant brothers were my other Guardian Spirits.
1t told me the age of my mother, and how long
she had been dead. The only own brothers / ever
had were two, and both died in infancy. l re.
quested each to rap separately. Two raped on
the table as to me as possible, and gave light
raps varying little in degree Of loudness. Two
others were light raps little further from me up
on the table, and third was a stronger or louder
rap, and was upon the floor close by my side.
then requested all to rap at once, and there came
perfect jubilee OF sounds, upon the wall, upon
the table and the floor.
have ST ce, from time to time, put questions
what seems to me to be az invisible agency, and
unafoTnslg received correct answers. 1t would
take, however, too much space in your columns to
give this to the public. l will, however, give
few cases in as brief manner as possible.
On one occasion heard of the death of friend
by Railroad accident. / sought an interview
with his Spirit at the house of Mrs Fish. In
quired of the Spirits if l could have communi-
cation from the Spirit then thought OF. | soon
had a reply that l could. Said l.; Is that Spirit
present. ayes" will he rap to his namel
"Yes" / wrote down several as before, and
when pointed to the right one, the raPping came.
How did you come to your death Raps at
Accident" What kind Of accident Raps at
RAILROAD" How many days have you been
dead7' Answer "One." Correct How many
children have you left Answer: Five"
Have you any with you Answer One.
This on subsequent inquiry found correct, though
did then not know it. The Spirit then called
for the alphabet and spelled out: " l am happy,
and want you to acquoint my wife that | am So
This was T. j. of b.
On another occasion receive a letter from
friend stopping for short time at Detroit, wish
ing me to inquire OF the Spirits, among other
things if they would ever rap for him. l at this
time was in much trouble and perplexity in re.
gard to the matter, and l hastily replied, that 1t
was better for him to let the matter entirely
alone-that if the Spirits should tell HIM they
would rap for him, he would be placed IN very
awkward situation, inasmuch as at every little
sound that he might occasionally hear he would
feel disposed to attribute it to Spirit. After
had mailed this letter on the same day, several
friends from distance called upon me and desir-
ed my company to the RappiDgs.' went We
las is usual found several persons In waiting
upon the Spirits. All being seated in circle,
around large table, the Spirits were called for
and Immediately one commenced rapping very
loudly and very strongly upon my chair, so as to
cause me to feel the Jar quite sensby and attract
ed the attention of all present. Commencing at
NV right hand. each in the circle inquired if the
Spirits would communicate with him or her. and
al received negative until it came my turn. l
said l had no questions to ask, and desired the
Spirits to communicate with some other present:
but it insisted that | must ask questions, and
- .4wo,ol, ~, ,or, chair ~ fairly make