The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-05-11

THE VISION OF JUDGE EuaaoNDs
WONDERFUL STATEMENT.
Personal Experience.
BY THE HON. j. w. EDMOSDs.
RoKM.


Z IA ia now little over o year since | was afflicted
with the loss Of the most and dear 10 me on
earth. was in great distress, yet | never enter
tanned the idea of seeking consolation in spiritual
intercourse. Indeed l knew not even of its exist
ence. had been for yearsn mere man Of the world.
i knew nothing Of animal magnetism. had once,
and only once-and then a mere matter of euri-
osity-seen q clarvoyant. The Rochester knock
ings' / had heard of, but witnessed, and
looked upon the matter, when thought Of at all,
as one Of the fances Of characterization, which,
like many others, would have its day, and be for
gotten.
At length, through the solicitation Of a friend,
and more to crafty her, and to while away tedious
hour, than any thing else, induced to witness
an exhibition ofspiritual intercourse
j sow much to surprise and interest me, and gave
to the subject all the attention could spare, that
might thoroughly investigate it, and expose the de-
ception, if there was one. | have now continued
that investigation for more than year, and have
been careful to keep an accurate record Of all have
witnesse fM
AS have progressed, found that was myself
becoming, IN some measure, q medium aud when
alone by myself, without any medium near me,
was receiving Communications that were to me, in
an eminent degree, interesting These come to me
in different forms One u.s. by seeing pictures painted
to my minds eye, as bright, as vivid, and rs dis
tnct as any that my physical vision can convey to
the mind One of the earliest of these now give
you.
My dear 8. appeared to me clothed in shining and
affection and gladnoss. She approached, leaning
afectionately on the shoulder of female older than
herself, and somewhat shorter in stature.
i was impressed who that was. They were accom-
panied by other spirits, whose identity was made
known to me. Others wess there or came, among
whom recognized my father, my mother, my chill
dren and my brother and sister, some of whom had
been thirty years in the spirit world.
All were clad in the same shining garments, ex-
ecpt occasionally some one would appear in the dress
he wore when on earth, that might recognize him.
1t was thus that William Penn appeared, and said
that he had been one of my guardian spirits since
the incident Of the kitten 4 that he happened to
witness that, and struck with the effect it had
produced upon He had since been
me, trying to influence me, and had influenced,
though not enough to keep me always from going
astray. He had, however, helped much to produce
in me my repugnance to slavery, and to inaicting
suffering.
Sir Isaac Newton next appeared and told me he
was wrong in considering the attraction of gravita
ton as distinct and substantive principle, for it
was in fact, nothing but the effect Of combination
Of motion--metion being principle that prevailed
all created things, and one of its effects was grav-
tation.t
Swedenborg then appeared, and said to me that
in his revelations of what he had SEEM he was right
md truthful and to be relied upon, but not in the
theory which ne had built upon them and especially
he mentioned his doctrine of correspondence, and
his attempt to reconcile his revelations with the
popular religion of his day. And he said as the
Bible contained many important and valuable
age, it contained and imperfections; so his
theological writings contained many valuable truths
as well as some errors, produced by his desire to
reconcile the truths which We're unfolded to him
with the prevailing theology of his age. He babe
beware of his errors to receive as true his revea
TONS but discard his theories, and instead Of them
appeal to our understandings for the differences to
be drawn from the truths he had developed.
Dr. Franklin then came forward and said some-
thing about explaining to me the manner in which
the "Odic Force was used in making. spiritual
manifestations But some how or other his explain
zion was not made, and in the meantime great
crowd Of spirits appeared-all of them bright and
happy spnits-among whom / recognized many
acquaintances whom had known when on earth.
A sort Of semi-circle was formed fronting where |
stood, g. and her companion forming the centre
Of the areh and their left, Penn, Franklin New
ton, Swedenborg and many others. Behind the
front rank spirits in great numbers were there, and
the number increased every moment. was per-
mitted to see far beyond where we were-far indeed
into the regions of space-and l saw millions
upon millions of glad and happy spirits-and many
OF them from other planets-all crowded around that
semi-circle.
They had musical instruments in their hands, and
were rejoicing that communication had at length
been opened between the inhabitants of this earth
and the sprit-land. And their JOY was not merely
because they could again commune with those they
had left behind, and whom they loved so well. but
also because they would thus be able to reveal to
man his duty and his destiny, and roll away from
his mind the cloud which had SO long rested upon
it.
They set up one glad shout which rang through
all space, and pointed to DIR. Franklin as him to
whose practical and enlarged philosophy they were
indebted for perfectng the discovery.
The Doctor received their gratulationsin the most
meek and humble manner No gratihed vanity
appeared in him, but his face beamed with humble
and overlooking joy that so much had been added to
the happiness Of his fellow immortals both there
and here.
Very many Of those who stood at the right of my
dear s., and behind her. then pointed downwardto
the right and far in the distance. She clasped her
hands with gesture of great sorrow, and lifted up
her eyes with countenance full of hope.
Still could not see ut what the spirits pointed.
They looked at me, and then in the direction in
which their hands were out-stretched, as if they
were saying to me, eco and sec."
At length was permitted to look where they di-
rectcd me, and oh what sight / behold! Innu-
merable spirits there, engaged in perpetual pur-
suit of each other. They were dark and sombre in
appearance and the vlest passions were most appa-
rent.
There saw the murderer with his drawn dagger,
with fcndish hate pursuing his victim until he
struck him to the heart. When 10. his blow had
alghted upon impapable air, and he had missed the
darling object Of his pursuit Rage and despair de-
voured him at his failure, and he fled howng, MS
intended victim pursuing him in turn, with revenge
and hatred ranking in him.
the adulterer, pursuing the object OF his ra-
ging lust, with fury that was frightiul to behold
He caught the object of his pursuit, and in her
found willing participant in his unholy love.
But il was nought but empty AR That ne embraced,
and he threw her from him with loathing that WA
unutterabe, while she turned from him with scorn
at his impotence, and iendsh gadness at his suf-
ferings.
saw the mser, unheeding all that was around
him, sitting the ground, groyeling in the soil OF
that unholy placea gathering up sparkling atoms,
The incident alluded to occurred when was child,
and more than forty years ago. was evening play
Ing in the Of the village where my parents resided
and with my boyish companions rather noisy Ami
,fav 4 fteOp n
in The froc Of boy hood we gave 1t chase We pur-
sued it into a vacant 0t whsh was surrounded by hgh
fence. We chased II around the lot From one thg we
thoughtleFy proceeded 10 aaoher, until began to
throw srones at it, and finally, without having actually
intended &C. we killed il. IL seemed that my mother q
gentle Quaker lady passing ~ the lot while we We're
thus engaged and attracted BY my voice 70 observe
what were doing. On my return home, iound her
waiting for She drew up TO her. and IN heI gen
lie way said to j. what did that kitten do % thee,
that thou shouds take its life :" and then she read me
lesson on cruelty which has lasted my whole lifetime