Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1852-08-26
nltsfflIoneolls.
For the freeman.
Familiar Spirits" &C.

the FREEMAN any very satisfactory expose, H. G. to
my mind) of these latter day "wonders;" and
although have not personally witnessed any of
these professed spiritual manifestations, have
from reliable authority, come to different con
clusion, differing rather widely from cores
pondent-" A. 0. c." of Milford, Mass. in the
paper for July 22d, 1852, Now, it might bs
permitted, would say with Elihu, +" Hearken
unto me; also will shew my opinion" And
in SO doing, will first give brief history Of its
rise and progress in Western New York, taken
from paper published in Rochester, N. Y, for
January 9Th, 1849 in an editorial headed as
follows: Familiar Spirits--.li!ySteriOus Knock
ings-.4 Strong Delusion"
A mysterious knocking is attracting the at
tention of many of the respectable people of
this city, and other places. 1t processes to be
made by the spirits Of the dead, 1t answers va
rious questions by a gentle rapping In the
same manner it warns of danger those whom it
attends Its verecity and ability have been tested
by committees, and individuals of science and
skill and no deception has been detected, to
our knowledge, as yet by them. 1t is said TO
perform wonders, such as moving chairs, tables,
and other furniture about the room; taking
crockery off the table, and various other unac-
counabe acts, by its Invisible power.
1t commenced somewhere in Wayne County,
protesting to be the spirit of a murdered pedar.
1t was conducted to this city by one who became
Z" familiar" and has since multiplied into many
Spuits, or in other words, by its agency very
many who have consulted it have had the spirits,
as they have been told, of their departed friends,
called up, and which now daily and hourly ac-
company and by their rappings, hold frequent
converse with them.
ain this city, we are told, that frequent, if not
stated, meetings are held, to hold conUerse lC'h,
and witness the wonderful acts of these invisible
agents. Ministers, deacons, church-membeIs,
and persons of wealth, and high responsibility,
attend; and are converts to this mysterious
knocking.
&c 1t processes 10 be a warm friend to religion,
and 10 have come to counteract inidelity, and
confirm the truths of the Bible, and is very fond
of devotion, &c. 1t has raped its appreciation
of all the fundamental doctrines eff the Protest
ent Church, especially those opposed to the NOR
tnlitu of The soul, the destruction of the wicked,
and the personal and near coming of Christ, Ito
set up his everlasting kingdon.) 1t promises to
unite Christians undera new dispensation, which
will bring in the mennal glory, for which the
Church has long prayed.
"1his imperfect sketch, is all we can now
give of this mysterious affair. The natural in
quiry is, or will be, What is it? The question
we will endeavor to answer; and
"lst. We think it is not the deceptive work
of human agency. We thus Judge, not so much
from the fact, that the most critical examination
has faed in detecting any deception, but from
the character of its work, viz: 1t goes with, and
performs its roOrk tor simple, and honest hearted
persons, ,cho know nothing about practiclng any
such deception on themselves or others
ID. 1t cannot be the work of the spirits of the
dead, because the Bible says, The dead know
not any thing. And there is no device, nor
knowledge nor wisdom in the grave.--Eccl. 81:
5-10.*
"3d. 1t cannot be the spirit of the Lord, or
good angels, ministering unto certain ones, from
the fact that it processes to be something else ::
and the Spirit of God and good angels will not
lie. This spirit or these spirits have lied. For
in an examination which we made recently of its
ability to knotO, we detected several palpable
falsehoods. 1t did not tell according to agree
ment, the correct number of my brothers, which
are dead, neither my own age; aud failed
in performing according to promise, its extra
wonders, to convince me of its truth, if would
come and test it, therefore it cannot be good
spirit, for good spirit will moi lie.
"What is it, then? We unhesitatingy an =
swer, " Familiar Spirit" or spirit of Devils,
,OOrking miracles" We thus Judge from the fact,
lst. That it contradlcts the Bible, in regard TO
the fundamental doctrines thereof, as to the ma
ture of the soul, and the state of the dead, as
has already been shown.
"2d. Because it does not always tell the truth
in common things this is Characteristic Of the
father of lies Its always best to give the devil
his due
"3d. 1t sustains the very character of familiar
spirits named in the Bible, as the following texts
will show: Isa. 90 A. And thou shalt be
brought down, and shalt speak out of the du st,
and thy voice shall be as one having familiar
spirit, out of the ground; and thy speech shall
whisper out of the DUST Tor peep, Or chirp, as
the margin reads) or gently rap, as the familiar
Spirits Of which we are speaking do No one
can fail of seeing tho identity of these low rap
ping spirits and the low, whispering spirits ma
med in this text. The one in the text was ia
mitiar spirit so is the other, as every one ac-
quanted with its operations will testify i. e. it
is very familiar or free, to converse in its low
rapping manner. with oil who consult it.
"That such familiar spirits are recognized and
condemned by the Bible, the following texts
show" please turn to them and read them in
connection with the remarks thereon.) See Le-
vticus 20: 81; lst Samuel 2S: 6-8. Poor
fallen man when forslken of God, he fills up
the cup of his iniquity by consulting familiar
spirits, For it is said, SO died Saul for his trans.
gression, which he committed against the Lord
whose word he kept not and for asking counsel