The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-02-05
Spirit ualism-The newest " Ism - and It's
Philosophy.

hbit some further Developments Of the new ''ism."
In stead Ct being exploded by the exposures in the
newspapers from time 10 time, il appears to have
rallied Of late, and bids fair TO become the estab-
lished theory Of sect 70 be added 70 the already
long list Of dcpsions tia. have keen embraced By
knayes and fanatics, deceiving and being deceived
till some other humbug has been started more
attractive, because moro ridiculous ana absurd
than the last. The latest OF these "isms" is
/" Sriritualism"-c spiritual manifestations
in the chief organ Of that sect, the Neto York
7riiAnc. These manifestations are known also as
Rochester KnockiDgs, because in that city the
rappiags frst attracted notice, and wherever she
impcsture afterwards appeared, the operations OF
the spirits we're called the Rochester Kno ckings.
The new " ism = s bit AZ other rhsse OF animal
magnetism md clsirvoyanco. which has been SO
long received BY ,hop aads upon thousands in this
country. and il Europe, as IN undoubted truth, a
f1ot, slity. Il hes been pretended tha. closed
books could be read through their covers chat
the cairToyans could SEQ what was going on in
the mind az any other person with whom . mutual
sympathy existed and could IN feet, describe most
accurately scores taking plSce thousands Of miles
away. l. has been also held that tao magnetism
had complete control over tie viii Of the ma gnetzed
siuence TO do what &c or she thought proper by 0
mere Voiition. This vas and is believed as Grmiy
as the gospel ~ vast numbers.
The spieitualism Of the rappirgs is bas tho same
idea philosophical. It is an explanation OF the
mystery, informing ne that spirits from the other
world convey TO al who question them, through
the pepper mediums the most wonderful intel.
ligence which vas hitherto regarded as inaccessible
IN the clairyoysnt state, whore spirit being, as IL
were, temporarily freed from the tranmels Of aesh
and blood, became omnirresent, or was ablo to
travel around the globe with the speed Of cloctgi-
city, and see whatever TO be seen in it's extra
ordinary fight The only difference appears to be,
that the csiryeyants confined their visions to EARTH
whereas "the mediums travel into eternity, and
visiting heaven and hell and "a third place, relate
10 the astouished listener all tha. is going on IN
thege Invisible regions. This, however, is not SO
much difference as a. extension OF the same idea,
the progress to greater Eght-the fuller deyelope-
ment Of the system What will be tho neg. step
IN advance. or where The system viii end at last,
are at loss to conceive, having never heard Of
any other undiscovered country than paradise,
randemonium, and Purga.ory, all Of which are now
trayersed by ''the Mediums With the help OF the
spirits.
These spirits 'p2lter in double SENSE like tho
witches with Macbeth, when they told him "noas
ofwonan born shall harm Macbeth or the oracle
CT Apollo with PyrrhUs, when it announced "Aio te
-EaciGG EomGa0S rlnccrs posse" which being do
sigredly ambiguous, is capable Of two inte;preta-
tions; either, 81 say tha. you, Pyrrhus, can con.
qner the Romans" or, 81 say .ha. the Romars
can conquer you, Pyrrhus." Both took the bright
side Of tie picture. ard were tempted to their de-
ftructien. This new "ism," after all, is no. new,
for il is In fact but the revival Of the ancient oraclas
ofGIeece. In the centre OF the temple OF Apollo, at
Delphi, there vas small opening in the ground,
from which, from time to time, an Intoxicating
smoke arose, which was believed to come from the
well Of Casotis, which vanished into the ground
close by TIE sanctuary. Over this chasm there
stood high tripod, On which Pythia, led ia.o the
temple by tae prophet, took her scat, Whenever
the oracle was to be consulted. The smoke arising
from under the tripod Affected her brain n such
manner, that sic fell into s,ate Of delirious il
toxica.ion, and tie sounds which sho altered in
this state we're believed to contain tie revelations
Of Apollo Taese sounds Te-e ce-esally written
down by The PROF bet, and after va ras auaiiaed
20 the persons who had come to consult tie oracle
what is this bu. the mesmeric sleep, cla.ryoyanco
ard the operation CT the FISH girls In early times
lythia, OF tie prophecies, wa always young girl,
and the most beautiful thu. could he found. and
Ebe took vow of celitacy. b. from some de-
velopcments that gave public sandal, it va, dc.
creed that IN future none shoQld be elected 20 tie
eflce who had not attained he age OF City Yeas:
bus in remembrance Of former days, the Old woman
va: always dzes;od &c maiden Ii is On rcco.dthat
these 7ho for information about future events
paid fee, end when in answer was wanted which
would have particular political tendency /. could
be obtained 81 bribery Of the ora:lo All gorts Of
questions we're solved By these oraoe3 ALI sorts Of
questions are now answered orac1iafly by th,
raTpipg girls" who charge an admission 20 Of one
dollar Suck Is he progress ne a-e making with
ths AID Of social reiorme-s ard nov 'isns," nov
naariy two thousand years since Tic establishment
q Christirity, which exploded al The jugslery Of
cracks, aai enumerated ''gtchcraft" among those
sIs which excluded from the kingdom q heaven!
Oze elect OF these doctrines and praoticas Is to
inc:eafo insanity II ono class, and lcensiousnoss
among many. Tae manip0la.ions Of the persons
Of tie susceptible as they are called, and TIE
operations in dcsh Iooms the pretence Of tie mag
uetiser to have the power TO control the VIII, and
tho c-edulity Of his female dupe, a:tu2iy yielding
4teia We lofce q imagination, prevailing over her
better Judgment, and inducing her 70 believe that
she could not resist have led to seiuctions on in
moIaii.ies q the mos. horrible description. Such
results, however much Of grief may 10 excited by
them fer tie weakness OF poor human nature, II
mol &c wondered at By those who are veTsed il tie
history Of fanatic!sm, and know anything Of Ito
philosophy Of the human mind. Thesa new ideas,
and zew "isne, are invariably started By charl..
tans, who calculate largely upon the grlbiity OF
mankind, and they sustained ior lie most part,
by great rogues or great fools-the former playing
upon tie simplicity Of tho lattor, somewha. after
tho fashion that the crafty politicians anl wire
pulless move he ignorant and crcdUlous NAB,
deyising one ingenious artifce after another for
deception, and fraud, and "bunkum.'' Yet it is a
curious fact that class q persons, pretending to
education, and intellect, and high intelligence haYo