New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-04-17
Brief Reply 70 DR.. Richmond on Spiritual
Manifestations

Brief Reply 70 DR.. B1chu1Ona ON SpHsAoaA
Manifestations
To the Editor Of The N. Y Tribune:
From what had previously understood
in regard to DR.. Riclmonds article, had waited
for it with no little anxiety, supposing that az
,east we might have some new light, or new sug-
eersion. IN regard to the alleged Spiritual Mani
festat;ons ian allegation by the way, that seems
to he more and more universal, as opponents IN
crease or attempt TO explain y but, after wading
through the long article, in which much time and
labor had evidently been expended, am unable to
discover single additionalra of Light to what had
already been twinkling from several different
smrces. But, although the article is long, there
are important suggestions in nearly every para
yynph. and especially for that class who, believing
that the communications twhen not tricky are
spiritual assume their mfallibility, and al once
throw away their reason for something which can
not, from the very imperfection OF the mooe' DC
implicitly relied on as guide, and should never
take the place Of mans reason and common
sense. But to Dr. Rchmond's article, which
cannot. even 1of.hand," decide to be more rea-
sonable or plausible than many on both sides, thas
have GENE before it.
His first article Of faitl'' is this "The rnps !
believe TO be produced by currents OF electricity,
passipe from the human brain through the arms
to tables, chairs, &c, producing a concusslon.
His second is like unto it" and part of the same
thing. I believe the machinery which writes IN
the telegraph Office to be moved by the unseen cur
rent that passes over the wires; but do nat be-
licve that the machine would be moved and 'me"'-
gence conreyed from one place to another, unless
L. ,<n af
an operator independent Of the machine, STOOD al
the other end to set the current IN motion aho di
rect the intelligence to be sent. Neither do be-
leye the electricity Of the human BRAN, or BODY
will convey the intelligence which fkn0U has been
conveyed by these communications, unless an OPP
orator. entirely out of and independent OF the
| generator of that electricity, possessing high
degree of intelligence, put the machine in motion
and directed the intelligence to be conveyed II the
mower sending the intelligence Is ignorant, 1t Will send
| ignorant communications; if the machinery OF the
transmitting wires are out Of order, they may be con-
fused and contradictory if the one into whose hands
the intelligence is inrusted for transmission is tricky
and unaih or sends dispatches where none have been
given they may be entirely false, and even vicious
Again If friends call for dispatches from their distant
friends they will, most likely have such communica-
tons az congenidl friends (or spirits would send
| Hence the likeness of many communications to the
company they in. ! need not make an application
of this fgure-it will be seen at glance SO much ior
| belief Now for the foundation of it The Dr. says;
| avery medium that have questioned and they
have been numerous say they feel in tire wrists and arms
during rappng and writing eectnc currents or numoness
| and slight shocks resembling eectrc shocks"
We'll, Sir as you aware have seen several mo
aiums and have thought that have observed pretty
closely the phenomena connected with these manifesto
| tons The best mediums whom have known have
never felt any kind of shock sensation al all when
the sounds were made, when any manifestations were
made Again he says:
aBy doubling the hands Of the mediums On the table
you may render the raps louder the OF
being thrown together have noticed that the raps
were udest when the mediums faced the table and had
their Hands on It, and alo that they readily
when the air was dry cold and the mediums willing
to have them. Tying the wrss Of the mediums stops
the rsps and also the sensation OF currents Ia degree
With all my experience have found that by far the
loudes, rape ever heard were when the medium wss
Standing far away from the table. and the sounds were
on the wall, on a door, or the ceiling overhead
have heard them freely and loud at any Other
time when the medium about the ordinary dusAes
Of household sfairs The laying Of hands the labls
get the sounds thing unknown TO me for long
tnse and manifestations have surpassed those
hat made during the At Two years Auburn and
| Rochester, H. Y. There particular form Oh.
served to get them Il Wa necessary 10 have order,
and for couveuiepce sake the table hrss used for
slstng around have heard the sounds loud and die
| unct on the 6oor, when the medium a feather
bed. 1t has been assumed by many. well putting
hands upon b, that was essential form This BE-
keve be entire mistake, the person Il really
good medium The bcst medium have met In this city
pehher pu her hands upon the table feels any kind
of sensation when the demonstrations are made The
ssseron that tying the wrsU viii stop hc raps" IL not
uSs . rule although il may have bod that effect In
tAs esscs the Doctor has examined have tried Ne
experiment. with entirely different results.
One class Of fscts 10 entirely omitted In the Drs ard
cc which makes Il look much Hike the play OF Hamlet
With the character Of Hamlet left II very o.
seul that they sAosd be omitted for the successof biz
theory, for 10 that they entirely overthrow
the main point Of hs argument He docs attempt 70
explain. slude TO thai class Of faet which o.
tabiah beyond doubt, the exhibition OF intclla cnss
concerning things entirely unknown either the med
| um OF any Of the company present. quite well
aware Of the hct that this resemblance between the
communications and the general views of the cornany
or the qucstoner, true to gres, eXcnt-nuch grcas
er - far - my experience ro than between the com
munistons and the mediums views But stubborn
fscss In hundreds Of Instance show that this no< an
ostabh~hed Law OF these phenomena II but one ainrIe
fact could be stated which the Docsnr theory dccs noe
scccunt TOR, tails law. You have than two
yeass since, published the remarkable case Of George
Wnh!fs, Of Rochester, n. y case, which, had tn
sosnds all ceased frym that day, would have been
posaise and 80 convincing that always have 70
manned TACT thai there intelligence u
and superior 20 the mind oi the medium the qucs
oner. Thst hoo, has stood the OF time and no
oppouens has found da~ In a. I viii quote a part Of
r. although gives only half the force and beauty Of the
whole. Ii bad gwen him long and minute directions
ssszsry As shas Paaa. ssa 0pAn.ese-saa The ana,s
~s In regard ~ gssiing essisesa We give Mr. We
| own language; -
own language;
sTho Communication Wa. Apply 20 William Wiley. |
Sussrin of the Auburn and Rochester Rarosd To-
morrow celock At bis Office for SITUATION, and thee
all Ia before this week OUT This Thursday
Strar on R.rsf