Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1852-08-18
Knocking Spirits i'm Virginia.

Mr.. Clapp, an emineht Unitarian preacher,
Of New Orleans, to the N. o. Picayune.-
Dir. Clapp speaks fayorably of the intelli-
gence and character of the leading men OF
this strange community, but there must be
a screw loose somewhere in their mental
organization. We have met people ~
mad house who conversed very nationally
ssd handsomely on o variety of topics, but
who were nevertheless incurably mad upon
some particular subject, This, we have lit
tie doubt, is the case with the leading men,
bers Of the Spirit Rapping Colony in Vir-
ginia.
They seem not to have been so crazy,
however but what they knew good farm
WHEN they saw t.-R,ch. RIP.
R.vx SULPHUR SPRINGS, July 10, so.
To Editors of The ". o. Picayune:
1have just returned from visit to Noun
tain Cove, Fayette county, Va, where
company of believers in the new spiritual
philosophy, from the North, have recently
settled. Surprising some account of things
seen and heard there may be interesting to
a portion of your readers, | send YOU
hasty sketch thereof.
Mountain Cove is forty miles west of this
place, and about the same distance from the
salt works on the Kanawha river. The
company have purchased already about TO-
900 acres of land, which cost $40, 000.-
This tract is composed of hills exhibiting
the most interesting forms Of gracefulness
and sublimity, covered with good soil on
allther sides &summits, separated by smil-
ing, fertile and beautiful valleys. 1t is we'll
watered, Astounding with salubrious springs,
brooks and mill streams, which empty into
the New Rivera principal branch of the
Kanawha. The colony consists Of over one
hundred persons, from various places, such
as Northampton, Mass, Brooklyn, SYRIA
cuse, Auburn &C., n. Y. A part of the
land where they have pitched their tents
has been cultivated several years and found
well adapted TO all the purposes and wants
Of agricultural life. | observed fine fields
of wheat, pastures. meadows, orchards and
gardens, which under the skillful manage
ment of their new occupants, will soon be
clothed with all the rural charms that char
acterize the most cultivated districts IN New
England or Western New York. They
have a church, where is regular preaching,
and printing press, and have just issued
the first number of periodical called the
Mountain Cove Journal and Spiritual Har-
binger." They are making arrangements
TO secure the advantages of literature, ly-
ceums, schools of art and science of every
description; for they hold, contrary TO the
general impression, that all spiritual COM
munications whatever must be submitted
to the test of reason and scripture.
The following narrative of the circum-
stances which led to the selection of this
site for the establishment of "a society, whose
paramount object is a new and integral de-
yelopment of mans spiritual nature, receiv-
ing constant and wonderful Examinations
from the spirit world, may be relied upon
rs authentic. In October last, DR.. James
L. Scott, OF Auburn, formerly of Brooklyn,
N. Y, Baptist clergyman OF the highest
standing in his denomination for piety and
abilities, both native and acquired, receiv-
ed, as he believes, an order from the world
of spirits to repair Immediately to the town
of Columbus, Ohio, and there to wait for
additional directions. The spirit said to
him, as to Abram of old, sect thee out of
thy country, and from thy kindred, and
from thy fathers house, unto land that
will show thee; and will make of thee a
great nation, and will bless thee, and thou
shalt be blessing" Gen. II: l, &c.)-
In obedience to the heavenly mandate he
went forth with few friends and came to
Columbus. Thence he was ordered by the
same celestial agent to Cincinnati from
Cincinnati to Point Pleasant, and from Point
Pleasant to Sallna on the Kanawha. There
Il was enioined upon them to take carriages
and travel eastward on the State turnpike
road leading to Richmond, Va. When they
had proceeded on this route about forty
miles, the moment the carriage had attain
cd the summit of certain hill, the spirit
Knocked upon the window, informing them
that they were now upon the spot fore-or-
dained by Heaven for their final settlement.
Moreover, they were commanded by The
same invisible guide to purchase the beau
tiful plantation that lay before them, which
was owned and had been cultivated for
twenty years by gentleman whose name
is Vaughn. The proprietor was in easy,
independent circumstances, attached to a
place which he had made beautiful by cul-
ture, and intended as residence for lie.
Yet for some unaccountable reason Gas he
himself says) he consented at once to trans
fer his estate to these spiritual philosophers.
They have annexed to Mr.. Vaughn's many
adjacent farms, so that now they sway a
temporal sceptre over regions sufficient TO
furnish accommodations for large and
fiourishing settlement, enjoying in the high
est pefection the means of those moral and
social attainments for the acquisition OF
which they have immigrated to this neigh
borhood.
Such, in brief, is the history of the Cir
cumstances which gave origin to the Noun
tain Cove community. When l sat down
il was my intention to send you synopsis
Of the principles of this extraordinary soci-
e.y. But must reserve this topic for fu-
ture letter. However, my feelings will not
allow me to conclude without saying, that
among these spiritual knockers, as they
are sometimes called are men oflarge PHI
losophic minds, of great refinement, accom-
plished education, and ample wealth. They
are neither vulgar, nor unlettered, nor In
experienced, nor fanatical. Never have |
met with more simple, pure minded, wise
and charming spirits. No two days of my
life have been happier than those which |
passed in their instructive and delightful
society. The clergymen who preside over
their spiritual affairs are the Rev. James L..
Scott and Rev. Thomas L. Harris. These
men belong to the highest order of clerical
character and intellectual genius. You cam