Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-08-14
A CONVENTION OF "spIRITuALrsrs .
FROM THE BOSTON COURIER.


lection Of dupes and fanatics, resembling congre
gaten of unatcs than company Of rational creatures
In faet We have the like outside the walls of
mad-house. That the "spirituasts' moved by
someuang no one can doubt who has them in
council Their beared and sunken eyes, their idioc
starngs, their sprawlng and paving acts of familiarity
with each other their mumbng and incoherent speeches
all would seem to favor the vulgar notion that these
lures are possessed"
The Convention held three sessions during the day
Among the leading spirits Andrew jackson Davis
John NJ Spear, Rev. Charles Spear Rev. Adm Balleu
VIM Porter, lie Roy Sunderland, Eliza j. Kinney and
Eunoe Cobb. The Rev. Mr.. Ballou appointed tenn
porary chairman. committee was appointed to retire
ana report plan OF organization, under which the in
spred body may meet for weekly consultation During
the morning session the male mediums" as they are
called IN the argon Of the craft having been arranged on
the right OF the platform and the medium sisterhood
on the left the spirit suddenly took of an
unwashed strappng fellow whose is unknown The
action Of this worthy resembed for all the world that ~
fuddled somnambulist After saving the air. for some
time he approached Mr. John NJ Spear and taking that
gentleman by the hand conducted him to Mr. A. j. Davis
Alter some more mummery he placed Spears hand on
the top of Davss head Presently Spear became nos
sessed and, with his hand still upon Davis's head pro-
ceeded to "consecrate that individual to the harmon
cal work., &c. This ceremony over Messrs. Spear and
Davis took their seats but the leading spirit ickered
little longer, made speech announcing that the spirit
ual and the natural worlds about be brought to-
gether that every thing harmony in the first world
this world.
The next performer was woman. She read from n
large volume series of letters purporng have been
dictated by the inhabitants Of the spiritual region Her
correspondents quite numerous embrace
OF the g first responsibility in the other world The
substance OF the letters was that judgment had been
recorded by which the spirits who were in the lower
spheresfor 1T will be remembered that spirits in the
other world according to the mediums classified in
sphereshad been raised and that these lower or
as they termed undeveoped spirits will no more mo-
lest the believers One letter went on to state that the
had fhad ptar
cesson OF the spirits of the third, fourth and fifth
spheres Another letter gave of sinner that
had been promoted through prayers Of this woman and
another announced that the world coming an end
and that nothing shall be hurt destroyed in all the
Lords holy mountain" At the close of this profane
trumpery the spirituahsts adjourned to dinner.
In the afternoon there another session. Mr. Balou
still in the chair The committee appointed in the morn
ing submitted the following report
The undersigned, being DESTROYS of promoting
ledge of spiritual and the laws Of the spirit world
of ourselves and the world around u.s. seeking every avail
able and confirmation Of that central prnc
pie OF Christianity embraced in the Faherhood Of God
the Brotherhood of Man. hereby organize ourselves for
these purposes into two distinct bodies
First. State Association.
Second City Conference for the City of Boston The
name of this body to be the Massachusetts Association
sprtualists The officers of the Society be President
Vice President Recording and Corresponding Secretaries
and three directors all Of whom be elected by ballot
ally and their duties to be such Offices
The Association to meet quarterly and the Conference
once week Any person may join the Association" by
signing the constitution and contributing four dollars year,
and the Conference" by paying dollar and quarter.
The report excited debate, but it finally ac-
cepted after striking out the proposition for State
Association" The meeting then adjourned
After adjournment about twenty Of the Spiruasts''
proceeded to rehearsal. They arranged themselves
settees and presently young fellow commenced slappng
his head in the widest The initiated smiled
with delight BY and by the possessed" individual
rose from his seat and proceeded march up and down
beside the company the seee, occasionally embracing
tba aud ;o
and incoherent language about religion. His conduct
was uncouh and indecent beyond description. He con-
tnued in this pretended trance for half an hour. All
this time the other mummers remained silent: some
watching his maniac notions while others dropped their
heads as if in mystical contemplation Presently the
whole crowd startled by the outpourng of extrava
gance from another Of the possessed" This was wo-
man. Her conduct was if possible more grotesque and
disgusting than that of the actor who preceded her Like
one in the nightmare, she screamed out OH" "oh,"
dear, dear, and now and then uttered some broken
camp-meetng language such as" glory glory ~ 81
Jesus &c.
In the evening there another meeting of the con-
vention Mr. Baou before, in the chair Several per-
stated that they had known instances where the sick
had been restored TO health through the agency Of the
spirits to the language Of Of sinpletons
cures had been done by the spiritual manifestations"
The names OF the persons healed well the of
mediums who healed them, given, and all the cir
cumstances necessary to establish faith in the monstrous
humbug were recounted. An individual told of a man
in Springfield who had been admonished by the spirits to
give up rumseLlng anu send MS children to Sunday
School, and stated that the obeyed, &C.
After some time spent in "telng experiences"
young man from among the auditors and with his
eyes closed walked to the platform. He possess-
ed lie proceeded to pray, pretending TO the lam
guage OF the spirit who had possessed him. The spirits
name was afterwards ascertaned to be "Dea. Gray"
The prayer was an incoherent composition, and the
deacon, of course to blame for that but he should
not be held accountable for the awkward gestcunon Of
the medium" AT the close, the preacher announced
that the spirits desired that all mediums in the hall should
group together in the vicinity Of the rosrum for the
purpose Of communication"
Instend Of obeying the request Of the "sprts" how
ever, the mediums renewed recital of their expe-
rences Of the wonderful developments of the msnies
tations." This somewhat provoking portion of
the audience who had to the meeting for the pur-
pose of hearing spiritual conversation there was
quite g manifestation" Of indignation. Finally the
President stated that II too late parey
with the inhabitants Of the other world and that the
meeting had better adjourn. Mr. Henry Kemp the we'll
known poemist thought the suggestion Of the President
Ill timed "The spirits" said he desire conference
with the mediums 1t not right in the chair TO in
tepose any objection to the interview The spirits were
according to the believers in this new theory the supe
riors and ought to be obeyedn Mr. Kemp said that no
came to the meeting in search Of light and IL those pre-
sent could give him any he would be thankful He was
an - outside barbarian" ready to be convinced His
faith he was TO say had not been affected by any
thing that he hid heard during the evening He
was very anxious that interview might be had with
the spiritsn especially since they had asked for it He
hoped the chair would not stand in the way Mr. Remps
speech was applnuded by the " dspossessed."
The President replied that it was late that IL would
take considerable time to harmonic the mediums:"
that IL the gentleman desired knowledge upon the vast
subject Of spirtualism, favorable opportunity
would be afforded him. SC.