The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-12-09

nary consumption | would sooner expert
ment with my digestive organs or my blood
vessels, than with my nervous principle Tor
the bodys arrangement is less fearful than
that Of the mind ! beg of you, Charles think
Of this if you have yielded to craving curiosity
in following up these experiments. Be Wise
before 1t is too late
But what is far moro important, as much
10 as society is more important than an indi-
yidual, remember, Charles, that all these ex-
elements are epidemieS. widespread excite
ments of nervous nature 90 and como IN
waves ebbing and flowing like the tide, swell
ing with every breeze and rolling on till they
dash and break in terrific RUIN. Using the
fearful figure of the postilcnce, such men ~
Virgil and Tertulian describe the sweep Of de-
ranging excitcmcnts in their day. Mental
disease, like any contagious disease prevails
when the whole atmosphere and the general
condition of the individual system if prepared
fer it. A whole community like that Of Paris
in the days of RObespierre may be infected
with over mental excitement bordering on
mental arrangement Especially is this true
of that species of nervous excitement which
leads to an oversight of the link uniting mat
ter and spirit, and to a conviction that the
natural is supernatural. AS in the case of the
Salem witchcraft and IA thousand similar
scenes in other lands and ages, there is a redti-
Ia in some Of these manifestations which star
ties observing and intelligent men, and awes
the less experienced. Though thinking and
learned men may themselves rest clam in the
assurance that the mystery is the working of
the God of nature, yet the difficulty they have
in explaining their own impressions only ex-
cites the more those never accustomed to trace
cficcts in their causes. Go read, Charles Brat
ties letter in the very midst of the rising tide
of the Salem witchcraft excitement and see
how a strong, clear mind may itself rise above
and personally breast the rLSL-rs careering
sweep Of popular excitement while, nevertho-
loss, tho blood is chilled with trembling ankle
ty for those tossed at its mercy; with whom
reason and persuasion have utterly lost their
influence. Read again that letter Charles
for we may see its re enactment. Every breath
may add to the tempest brewing every drop
will add to the dashing bilow. As noble Brat |
tie, with burning pen quoted, Behold how
great n matter a little fire kindeth - Ii is a
fearful responsibility to crafty ones own cur- |
osity in following up these manifestations, at
the hazard Of awakening a general tendency |
of the popular mind which soon cannot be rea-
soned with or persuaded.
Glance again then, Charles over the his |
toric glcanings we have gathered Ever the
same in their mysterious character have the |
manifestations Of the spiritual medium been
tables moving metals attracted, animals Gas
cinated nervous power controlling nervous
power, secret thoughts wondrously photographed,
sublime eloquence pouring from the lip and
pen; all these mysteries are ever the same
BE sure there is a idW where there il unilormi-
ty; there is Il Scio1ce where facts may be clas-
slted, though not explained, Mark, then the
danger Observe tho exciting causes and
avoid them, Beware Of the advice of those
absorbed in these manifestations, that you sit
in mental abstraction reading books on these |
themes to arouse the excitement. Take the |
exhOrtation rather of good Mr. Turrel in the |
witchcraft times: Young people now would |
do wisely to lay aside all their foolish books |
their trifling ballads, and all romantic accounts |
Of dreams and frances senseloss palmi5try and |
groundess astrology Mass Hist Collections
vol xA, p. 49, If affected Charles, by these
influences keep away from the circles, from
the books, from everything that will excite it,
This little book is written by clergyman
of Washington and is most seasonable book.
IL will repay the reading Of the learned and
the unIearned-thosc Interested in Rdpping
DIei'a, and those who deem them as miserable
humbugs. All will see there is profound phi
losophy underlying these manifestations which
wise and sagacous scientific men should alone
investigate with all requisite care and caution,
and which we deom it first duty for such to
Nor are we alone in this for the
French Academy have made their first prize
for the year 1923, the best paper on the
subject of this nervous media.
See Akhlak- JalalyN transl. from the Persian
of the Fakir Jany Muhammad Asaad, by W. 4.
Thompson. London.