Sunday dispatch. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1845-1854, 1852-04-04
MODERN MYSTERIES.

edge permit, the various phenomena which
have, and are daily, occupying large space
of the public attention, under the various
designations of Electrical Effects, Biology,
Psychology, ClairvoyanCe, Superior Condition
and Spiritual Manifestations.
However much the unthinking or the mar
row minded may scout at the independent
productions of any of the above named phe-
nOmena-at attributing the astonishing effects
produced or observable to collusion, fraud,
humbug, or weakness of mind, they arc new
ertheless remarkable. We shall not at this
period of our Investigations necessarily cir
cumscribed as they are-attempt to prove,
nor yet condemn, the pretensiOns set up by
their advocates
Occupying middle ground, we shall dis
ouss impartially whatever may be presented
of sufficient worth or interest to the reader
These phenomena challenge attention and
inquiry. They are too violent as contrasted
with our preconceived ideas and operations of
present known laws, to be readily accredited
even by the most impressible mind In an
| age Ike ourp,- -it-ie-.-v4-t t'vV51pte TO suPPese,
that improper or exaggerated manifesto
tiOns will be favorably received, unless the
most irrefragable proofs are brought to bear
in favor of these extraordinary psycical ex-
periments. Thousands have witnessed in
this city, and elsewhere, under the titles of
Psychology, Mental Alchemy, or Biology, psy-
cic manifestations which, if they had been
related by traveller as having occurred in
a far distant and not frequently visited
country, they would be set down as off
springs of lively OF fertile Imagination.
But having observed effects produced from
the action of certain known causes, in our
midst, we are prepared to believe that which
our eyes really and truthfully have seen.
Knowing that certain laws if properly en-
ployed will produce positive effects, we shall
endeavor to explain their naOdus operandi,
sufficiently for any individual to, equally
with the most experienced teachers, induce
the end aimed at.
Fifty years ago, man who would dare,
in public assemblage to exhibit before
thousands, as did Professor Williams at Ne
tropolitan Hall-would have been set down
as necromancer, or one in league with Sa-
Jan. Probably the majority of those who
were present, when they first noticed the
vz.t,v~A A.-4S--s- SAr~--a .,a--'
| by this Williams, were incredulous, and i'm
mediately assigned as the cause, collusion.
But gradually as they saw friend after
friend brought under the control of the opcr-
ator, their incredibility gave way to astonish-
ment, and establishment to the certainty,
that as there could possibly be no collusion
between the manipulation and the patient, the
effect must necessarily be assigned to some
unknown, positive, but not recognized law
So with reference TO clairvoyance, and the
still higher development of the same law
which governs the mind in its terrestrial in
ouiries, and the soul in its celestial commu-
nings.
Let us then examine the various phenom-
ena which have thus far been developed,
throwing al mysticism or deception aside
we shall find they are referable to posi-
tive law, which, although to us but partially
developed, has existed since creation came
perfect from the hands Of the Divine Arch
tect. Let us attempt an explanation, Let
us follow briefly, step by step, the various
manifestations exhibited to our sensuous ma
lures, not only on this glorious orb which we
.-ts1s;t, k,ss through the heavens, where are
set The Btar6 OF uIs fHv5 PvvPHOU U1uH no Bull
sient and immortal souls as those who live,
and move and have their being here. Let us
take Retrospective glance, and endeavor
to solve the enigma presented for solu-
ton. Let us rend the garments Of prejudice
and scholastic bigOtry to the end that free
and unbiased, we may boldly enter the por-
tails of Nature to her very arcana. Let us
divest ourselves Of the depressing theological
dogmas which vain speculators have reared
into a tower more cumbrous and terrible in
its moral aspects than even that juggernau-
tic car which but bodily crushes it's thou
sands of infatuated victims as a religious
observance. Let us commence then with the
beginning. Let us suppose that ere earth
rose out of chaos; before the fat of the Al
mighty went forth, ordaining creation-that
space, in sll it's infnitude, had not solitary
globe in it's depths on which the form of man
stood erect--let us presume that subtle
imponderable element pervaded the immess-
urable-that this element ever waved and
rolled bright and beautiful, and that as it
was moved upon by the Divine will it grad
ually became more perfect and condensed,
until, in the cycle of rolling ages, it assumed
spherical form, and that as it cooled, the
surrounding atmosphere became purer and
better adapted to vegetable and other organ
izations, which the earth was destined in
| due season to conceive and bring forth
! Finally, where waved lines of lurid electri
city, rolled a ponderable, consistent globe
composed of the bright particles which ers
, scintillated and glowed in the realms Of eter
nity-and this orb prepared, gave forth af
ter the contamination of years unnumbered
from the vitalizing law implanted into it
very and primary organization, we shall thel
4 conclude that from it's rocky beds sprung thu
4 rudimental elements of those herbaceou
, Kingdoms which now give beauty to the land
! scape, lucidity 10 the atmosphere, perfection
r TO organization, and a soul to God By th
9 same electrical and potent law, out of tn
t vegetable kingdom arose the animal, and ou
Of the animal, the coronal and microcosm 0
all creation-the rudimental candidate 70
eternity-the end of the cause.-The fulfil
e ment of the law-the use of the purpose
9 the developed man-the Son of God, the hei
to eternity.
. Electricity was, under the Divine will, tn
q parent and aotuating cause of the manifol
. and beautiful effects which we all see in an
: around u.s. It is, therefore, fair to suppos
!. that if, previous to creation, the void wa
q filed with gross elecsrical elements, an
;, that from these rolled out the earth, wit
G all of its perfect creations, exhibiting
It man the glories of 1t and has nature-th
. parent and vitalizing forces being galvanisl
n that mans soul is then of the same elemer
g but far more subtilized, to that which er
|, ters largely into and composes his materi'
~ organization.
= We have presented the above but impel
10 fectly. Our leading object is to enquire MOI
l, particularly into the causes which produC
, PSYCHE and mediatorial conditions. We wi
- therefore assume that man is physically an
Ie psycically an electrical organization, highll
ir perfectly and purely developed. The craniu
e being filled with an aggregation Of the cn'
n or roots of the nervous system; these nerv
- NAV be divided into classes, voluntary az
v involuntary, or the nerves of sensation al
is force. The brain is battery in which
3 generated chat vitalizing and highly rsrih
Is and imponderable fluid known, for want of
= better name, as the electrical or odic el
,e ment. This odic force, under the control
Of the soul, enters into and performs the nc
Is, secret offices Of the body, and, although it
"a not life, it is atill an Indispensable accesao
~ ~ to and servant of that higher organization
n tho body, known as the soul. Wbet
I'D the highest expression of a positive sou
nd WILL, divine, determined, all powerful VII
ne and this WILL acting upon soul of negeti
~, power, by ethereal and highly rarif
ds electricity passing directly from the eye
to the operator, produces upon his patient j
Ter pressions which are sllied to, il they are
Oh i, and oF the nsvcic nower The eloqu,