Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-05-29
PRETENDED SPIRITUAL MANIFESTATIONS.
FROM THE COURIER AND ENQUIRER.

PRETENDED SPIRITUAL MANIFESTATIONS.
FROM THE COURIER ENQUIRER.
In looking over our exchanges from different
parts OF the country, we are struck with the fire.
quency of reported cases of unacy arising from the
spiritual delusions of the day; and
there is no reason to doubt that very many occur
which are prevented by friendly decacy from being
made public. 1t will do to laugh at Authorizations
when they are simply ridiculous; but these, absurd
as they in essence, too serious in their effects
for derision. Addison has finely remarked that
Babylon in ruins is not SO affecting or SO solemn
spectacle as intellect overthrown." Who will
say that the mposure which destroys mind is
truly and sadly public calamity than the conAa
grafton the whirlwind which destroys matter? This
spiritual rapping" humbug is longer confined to
little knot Of tnerant charlatans. 1t has yotaries scat
tered all the country and has beguied por
ton Of the press into countenancing the fantastic tricks
plays before high heaven has not only deceived the
ignorant and the but has imposed upon men of high
capacities and large requirements. 1t is, in fact, fast
gaining foohold among the best accredited and most
deplorabe follies of the time.
1t is useless to argue against decisions like this Of
all things those which the most irrational best defy
the weapons of reason Phantasms of this description
may perhaps be conured down in Latin but be
debated down in plain English Each must have its brief
day. and vanshes at last only be succeeded by another
in different shape In the very nature of there is an
appetite for the wonderful which, under favorable cir
cumsances is capable Of swallowing the greatest absur
dies. Machiavel but stated the naked truth when he
declared that mankind simple that the decever
win dupe to let himself be gulled" 1t holds
good in every age and among every nation and tribe
der heaven Ignorance may be peculiarly exposed to de-
lusion but education is safeguard against it. In the
u Natl, Hal
and Cotton Mathers profoundly deluded your
Gee Duncans, Agnes Simpsons, and barbara Napiers;
and the ranks learning have contributed their full
quota the carroyan neophytes of the present
day. To be sure it does not often happen nowadays
that much learning makes people mad but by means
is it true that wel-sored intellect implies also we'll
regulated imagination Philosophers have their full
share of visions and spectes and is your literary ny
pechondracs particularly that fancy their legs glass
their heads teapots The truth is that since has
left Eden folly has been indigenous this world Of ours
carried about like thistle down on every breeze that
blows and easily takes all soils and in high as
well as low places
We Of this nineteenth century accustomed to boast
of prodgious advance in a that great and wise
but is it one whit civilized or respectable to hold
with spirits by mystic raps the table wain-
SCOT han in olden time, chatting dishes Of
after all is particle rational to say that is an
0dic force that permits this than Of yore attribute
it to the Evil One In fact ancestors on
the whole the philosophical in imputing it to
power which they knew did exist and had existed from
time immemoria rather than to agency Of which the
world heard and which, when separated from its
and resolved into definition is found be nothing
less than just such stuff dreams are made
Of" In what respect modem " MEDIUMS who
utter prophecies, tell fortunes prescribe remedies and
stolen goods credtable this generation
than the magcians Of the fifteenth century, who did pre-
cisey the thing with the aid Of only little more
barbarous jargon and fantastic gescuationf Where in
Edmond Dickensons Qantessenees Of the Philosophers, or
Jacob Bohmen's Temporal Mirror Of Eternity or in the
Nep Method Of Rouerueian Payac By John Heyden, The
Servant Of God and Secretary Of Natv in any standard
work Of the Middle Ages you find any thing beat
the following from the New York Spiritual Telegraph Of
May 18th, 1885,
For three weeks past she has been thrown into
perior magnetic, condition. in which she has remained
from three four hours day. when messages have been
delivered by the following distinguished spirits Franklin
physical and moral laws; Washington government
O Adams on the rights of slavery e. Taylor and A.
Jackson war Noah Webster Bonaparte, w. e. Chan
ming, Judson, Byron, Milton Penn, and others, all
breathing forth moral purity and harmony ofphosophy
worthy of those from whom they purport to emanate
These have oil been taken down by three different
scrbes, and when finished will be published that the
world may judge Of their merit. " The Har6inye Of |
Peace is the title which has already been given this
work. and thus far tits highly characteristic of the name
IL is TO bear" a.l. lENt nt.fMa sH
Or the following from the personal observations Of
learned Judge, Edmonds detailed by his own pen in
No. III Of the New York Saetinahs
IL thus that William Penn appeared and said that
he had been one Of my guardian spirits since the Incl
dent of the ten that he happened TO witness that and
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