New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1851-11-28
Spiritual m..if....tsoms. NO. ".


ward Fowler, DIR. and Mrs. Gray, Mr. VIM. Fish
bough, Almond Rolf, DR.. Brisbee, s. X Lathrop,
OF n. O., and Mr. Barrett, OF Vermont.
We were sitting around a large extension
dining-table estimated 70 weigh three hundred
pounds, and questions were being answered and
communications given to us by the raising of
one side OF the table three times instead of the
raps, when letter in the alphabet was spoken
which they wished to sc an forming words and
sentences in answer to our questions and in COM
munications they wished 10 make. The table
being so heavy, and being moved so readily and
with such apparent ease, Mr. Barrett, who had
not before witnessed the phenomena, expressed
doubt that the cause was of spiritual origin.
said 10 him, in substance, that the apparent ease
with which heavy things are moved, of ITSELF is
no evidence that the cause is not spiritual, unless
we first have evidence that the spirit, after eav.
ing the body, has less power to move material
things than it had while in the body-which is
the reverse in all my observation; and, to be
convinced that the table was not moved by any
person present in the body, he and others looked
under the table, and examined it, and tried to
produce the like movement by their feet, which
could not be done and then with their hands,
which also failed, excepting by placing their
hands upon their knees and then exerting the
power in their legs in the manner OF pry, they
were enabled to move the table IN manner
somewhat resembling that we were witnessing,
but not without efforts which would readily be
discovered by all present.
Our examinations, experiments and discus
sions continued until proposed that Mr. Barrett
should sit on the table and see If the spirits
could raise it then. He accordingly got on it,
and an unseen power Jounced 1t and him up and
down rapidly several times DIR. Gray and Mr..
Rolf then got on, and they were lOunced in the
same manner, with ease and apparent 10Y, quite
a number oftimes, probably from ten TO twenty
times, and until they got off During this mani
festatlon, looked under the table TO see that no
one touched it, and know, as well as can know
anything Of the kind, that no person in the body
produced those movements.
Many questions were answered, and commu-
nicatlons made, and other physical demonstra-
tions given, at this sitting, which would require
too much room and time to relate
On the 18th of August last, the following gen.
tlemen met at my house, on business relative to
Spiritual Manifestations: John H. Hunt, WIN.
r. Baner, Dr. Orion, Edward Fowler. myself
and Others We sat around common 3-feet
card table, and during the sitting the spirits took
part with us by confirming sentiments uttered
and giving US their ewn through the alphabet,
as famihary as If they were with us nthe body
Toward the latter part of our sitting, each of
US in succession raised the side of the table by
which we were sitting some six twelve, or
eighteen inches, and asked the spirits to raise
the opposite side to correspond, which was done
to each of us and, afterward, we asked them to
raise the table entirely up without any OF us
touching it, and they did so to the hight of foot
or more from the floor, and so high that all could
and probably did look under and see that no one
touched it. | looked, and am entirely satisfied
that no visible person touched it-besldes, the
characters of those present preclude a contrary
suppposltion.
In the evening of the Goth of August last, an
other meeting for business was convened at
my house, consisting oithe following gentlemen
Dr. Orcott, Stephen Pearl Andrews, Robert t.
Shannon, VIM Baner, X. w. Hartley, London,
II NJ Banks, and myself.
The spirits took part In the business oil the
meeting by signals Of appreciation gwen to prop
ositions made, and by suggesting others, and adj
yisinp with us as if present IN the form. Once,
during this sitting, our conversation turned upon
a subject foreign to the purposes OF the meeting,
and one, also, IN which we did not agree, or at
least in regard to which there might be danger
of disturbing the harmony of the circle and we
were checked by the signal for the alphabet
being called for by which means the following
was spelled out
"Friends, you had better moi talk on that sub
lect'
During the evening, as the table was moving
with gleat force and energy MI. Hartley who,
understood had not before witnessed anything
of the kind, asked If he might Try to hold the
table so that they could not move 1t, to which
they replied IN the affirmative and he took
hold of II aud held 1t with all his might; but II
was moved with the same apparent ease ana
energy as before. He tried to lift 1t up, anu 1t
was held down and he tried 10 hold II down
and it was lifted up, as If he was nought IN the
presence of and opposition to the lnViSio!e
power
i will here give few extracts from commu-
nications made to a circle which met regularly
10 receive and record the communications with
which they were favored through the phenome-
ma Of Spiritual Manifestations;
The circle was composed of the following
.Iudge Edmonds, Dr. and Mrs Gray, Edward
Fowler, Mrs. Partridge and myself.
In the evening of September LIST, last, the fol-
lowing dialogue, with few omissions, took
place
Jgdst EdiaoRdS--" You were asked, the o!her even
np Why YOU could not as well touch persons Is 'he
ans,r,r-l Spelled ont by use of the alphabet)-" II
IS because we generally nave TO use the magnetic
forces of several persons 20 make sensioie ihali
festa,lon and the forces viii often harmoniZe on IN
animate objects when they will not on human, ioI
me reason that the peculiar state OF one mag
Will not allow the approach OF another
Jpdre r." Do YOU mean that YOU nave 70 use 'he
magnetism OF persons N the form .
Sastrtr-lBy three raps)-"Aes. Whcn the pre-
ponderance OF the magnetic forces Is either post"e
~ eqstiye IN a great desIee, We cannot make any
manifestations When you are erher positive OF
ms ra,,ve III TIC extreme, We cannot toucA YOU Ou'
when occupying medium position We can.
also +" --..... - $3.50,
Answer--" We can make them positive OF negative
II our Measure, and that We cannot do Win !oa
jidrs 4 = Can we 90 anything 20 assist you %
touch Us ?" .,,
Ins,rer-" No, with your present degree of kno"i-
edge respecting Magnetism" -,