New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-01-16
The WondrOus Power of Mind over Mind.


Within the last century, observation and
experiment have demonstrated the existence OF
mental capacities and apttudes, probably ex-
listing, TO greater or less extent, in all human
beings, though developed as yet only in a
minority, Of which former generations had little
OF no conception. That the wisest OF the an
cient PriesthOods, especially those Of Egypt and
Greece, possessed some knowledge OF these
powers, Is highly probable for 10 otherwise can
we account for what Is told US in the Bible and
in Proiane History of their entertainments, OF
their oracles and other forms of divnatlon and
magic. The relentless Materlalism of the last
century attributed all these manifestations of APP
paTently sWperhuman power 10 jugglery OH the
pant of the operator or 10 falsehood conscious
or unconscious) on that Of the historian but
later investigations strongly tend to explode this
hypothesis That the Priests Of ancient Egypt
were familiar with what (until we better under
stand ~ we may as well continue TO term AMI
nal Magnetism, Is shown, If we mistake not, by
recent discoveries in the catacombs but the fact
would be morally certain from what we are told
OF their achievements II no other evidence ex.
lsted. So the Greek Oracles which ultimately
degenefated INTO mere lmpos,ure, had doubtless
an origin very different from this Grea, super.
structures OF delusion are often built Oh narrow
foundations Of Truth, but rarely or never on the
absence Of all truth. 1t is the task OF the asute
chronlcler and the natural philosopher to sep
arate, so far as may De, the accretlon from the
nucleus, and, dlsslpatlng the latter, exhibit the
former IN It's true colors for the instruction of
mankind.
Within the last age, Phrendogy, Animal Mag.
netlsm, Clalrvoyance. and what are termed
Spiritual Manifestations have CHALLENGED the
attention Of the civilized world, and each has
been received at the outset with a veil of de-
nsion and hostility by great majority Of man.
kind. Zach has been most unfairly tested. first
by the preconceptions OF the Judges as to what
the powers OF Mind and is relations TO Matter
are, and next, by the claims set up, the differences
deducec from the phenomena, bv the ALLEGED dis.
coVerers and their adherents But The essential
allegation beng the existence OF hitherto unrs.
cognlzed facts, which necessarily modify onr
previously accepted theory OF Mind. the mono,
question to be first decided is-Wha: are the
facts Ourpreconceiyed theories have no bust.
Tess IN the foreground, and the deductions of
the apostles OF the new illumination are en,allv
Immaterlal. They may be utterly wran, IN
Their deductions, owing 10 imperfect observa.
ten or inadequate powers OF analysis and ratio.
clnailon, and yet the facts which they have dis.
covered or accepted may be Of vital Importance
and fraushi with inestimable blessings to human
kind.
We do not propose TO speak at this time Of
The spiritual Manifestations, 50 called. bat we
may as well state in passing that those Maniles.
tations'' whatever their origin still continue i,
spite OF the thousand and one exposures which