Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-03-06
"PRoGREssa OF IMposTURE.
FROM THE NEW YORK coaMEnorAL ADVERTISE

A4AA NSA
FROM THE NEW YORK coMMERcIAL ADVERTISER
We have before us the Cleveland Herald of the
evening Of the 18th instant, giving report Of the
first days proceedings of the "Spritualists Con-
vention" in Cleveland The Convention is gather
ing of persons protesting to believe in the super
naturaness of the notorious Fox familys "spiritua
knocking" folly, and of those who claim to be
mediums" of the spirits alphabetical communica-
TONS We have read the report with mingled won
der, disgust, and amusement, and should scarcely
have referred to it in columns only that as the
browning act of imposition lunacy, it may serve
as an illustration of the excuses to which weak
minds may be carried, when once they abandon the
path of common sense and the guidance Of sound
philosophy and revealed truth. 1t may also serve
as warning against certain class of designing
men, who, under the plea of being advocates Of
"progress,o disseminate and advocate the most
garing fallacies and infdel principles destructive Of
good morals and tending debase the intellectual
than the religious element of manhood Often this
spiritual knocking mposture has been exposed garing
and repeated have been its failures destructive
many well authenticated instances it has proved to the
of its victims and disreputabe as have been the
tricks to which it has resorted there still those who
led captive by the deuson and by the guile of its abe
tors and it perhaps the duty of the press to give
such line upon line and precep upon precept Surely the
following narrative will rescue these from the
Slough Of Despond into which they have intellectually
morally, and relgiousy fallen.
This notable convention then, met the 18th of Feb
ruary. Mr.. Datus Kelley appointed president He
must have been OF mature age he made ausion
whom he had personally known for fifty years
His opening address showed that age had not brought wis
dom and sound discretion did also the fact Of his
ing to preside such assembage Weakness almost
imbecy of mind, apparent in all he said. To any
thing resembling logic he appears to have been utter
stranger Such installing Of for effect and rce
such begging of the question and setting up of weak
arguments against the knockngs that he might easily
knock them down again, it is long since read. Of
course he assumed that the "rappings " made by
spirits in other words, that the toeonts of the Fox
family and their successors spiritual media and he
nnocently ( asked his feow-citizens what benefit
to be derived from these manifestations" and why the
spirits do not forward and give ocular demon
STATIONS answered the latter question first and the
answer was worthy of spiritual rapper Fellow citi-
zens they cannot do as they wish. They, too inn
perfect Without mediums they cannot communicate
audibly.'
Now, if these rappng spirits cannot do as they WISH
how does il happen that many of them have accompa
MED the mediums to Cleveland? Were they taken
there against their will Are they subject to the will Of
the mediums? The of this has always been in
sisted upon. We suppose however that the rappng sp
rts whatever may be said of Others go whtherso
he mediums turn their feet without mediums they
cannot communicate audibly" No doubt of it. 1t is
their misfortune. They too are imperfect" Decid-
edly so, they would not take such a childish rounda
bout way Of communicating" II has been admitted in
all enlightened countries and ages that spirit does with
spirit bendv and the spirituaists theory is that mind
can impress mindthat minds hold intercourse If
there any consistency in this imposure surely it
would be deemed waste Of time and reputation for the
spirits when it would be easy make direct impress
sion the mind Of the person nterested insist upon
first nesting under the sole Of mediums foot; then
formally that they have arrived; then wait to
be catechsed and to be asked ten twenty questions
only Of which requires to be answered, exposing
themselves to the risk Of having their misfortune Of
perfection discovered by giving wrong and often rdcu
lous then going through the alphabet for every
letter in every word, venurng far ab
eb &C. Why the dullest infant in the primary depart
Of a common school is not so Imperfect as this
Think Of Washington, Franklin Adams, and Others
from whom IL has been alleged that communications have
been received, going back progress is the synonyme
in spirituastic language-to monotonous and mper
feet repetition Of the G, and TO dancing attendance
upon Miss Fox in exhibition ROOM while she counts
how many knocks they give and stops them peremptory
when they reach the letter that is wanted Why,
Swedenborg would think, with all his admitted be-
nevoence Of disposition would scarcely be perfect enough
in good nature to become pupil Of such exactng cate
chumens The Presidents answer TO his own first ques
ton that the Of this mode Of communicating
this making hundred and twenty or hundred and
thirty knocks to spell the commonest word Of six letters
to let people know that their friends live in future
state" As though the Bible had not taught that in
less imperfect fashion, centuries ago And this, too
while admitting that some Of the communications
contradictory But we pass by Mr. Kellys Introductory
for the meeting became wearicd and the speaker
"gave way for other proceedings.
Whereupon Dr. A. Underhill read address which he
"was certain dictated by the spirits, for he himself
oiciated amanuensis" which, Of course, conclu
sive At the close Of this document which, IL dictated
on the plan, must from its length have been rcry
tedious business to both spirit and medium, IL
nounced that all the addresses which might be delivered
woud be printed in pamphlet FORM the request Of
the spirits" Strange, that they who have done with this
world should still desire 10 themselves in print"
Now these spirits lift chairs and tables they
might surely finger types and set up their essays
which would be great saving Of expense, and would
have saved much time and trouble in the first instance
Franklin, should have thought would insist upon
handling the composing stick" MORE and prevent
ing typographical errors by himself setting up his dis
course. II was not said where or to whom the proof
sheets would be sent for correction.
Mr.. Tiffany announced that the object of the
ton TO bring the two spheres together
possible" and further
The direction given by the nysbes Is this that the
duns shall together this afternoon, and ascertain IL
there any by which those communications could
be explained and reconced None viii be admitted but sp-
rtuasts and mediums and II any the hcaen should come
the spirits promised them and the spirits have
promised 10 the spirituass they win this afternoon
they win give them demonstrations which win oreves put
end any doubts that may exist in their minds We want
IL understood that but the members Of the church viii be
present and any that not MEMBERS they
be offended IL they are knocked out"
Oconrsc the henhcn might have understood this hint
had they chosen But they did not and large audience