Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1853-04-28
Spirit Rappings.

the influence upon her mind of the spiritual
manifestations. She was conveyed to the
Brattleboro' Insane Hospital on Wednesday, In
such state of excitement that it took two at
tendants to hold her. THESE instances, the
first of which now appeals directly to the feel
ings of this community, are multiplying with
| fearful rapidity in every quarter of the coun-
| try Springfield (Mass.) Republican.
Mr.. EDITOR 1t would seem that we might
rest in the confident conclusion that every So
Der and conscientious mind would need only TO
become acquainted with few cases like the
one given above to induce prudent caution II
not a horror of these mysterious phenomena
so often the procuring cause of similar calaml-
ties. But though our own community has
hitherto been in good degree preserved from
the infection, it has become rife in every d.
rection around US, producing, not only many
such extreme cases, but other effects, which,
although they may not seem so shocking, are,
nevertheless. of the same tendency and lead di-
rectly to insanity, which, if not SO deep, is no
less real, and exposes the subject of il to the
most m;schievous consequences. We allude
to that idle, if we may not say, insane curiosity
and their time to and become absorbed in the
worse than idle investigations of what they
fancy to be spiritual communications through
1.-The rappings."
We are not disposed to deny to this subject
a certain degree of Importance, or that the phe-
nomenon in question has degree Of relation
to the world of spirits, though we deprecate
some of their consequences, and, doubling
whether good spirits have much to do with
them, would caution the unwary against their
fascinating influence, unless they can, with
confidence and in the fear of God, propose to
themselves some useful result from doing SO,
While VIC are very deficient in rational un-
Outstanding of the relation subsisting between
the two worlds of spirit and matter, the real
character and condition Of those who inhabit
the former, and the nature of the relation sub
sisting between the two and Of their reciprocal
influence, it is a notorious fact that most if not
all of us, are subject TO degree of respect and
awe for whatever we suppose to be snpernatu-
raj or from the spiritual world, which is ex-
tremely liable to disqualify us for Justly es-
teeminS and giving to it the degree Of consid
Grafton it may deserve. d
But let US not conclude that all the mystcri-
Gus phenomena which surround US are neces-
sarily spiritual-the penetrations of science and
philosophy into the secrets Of nature may get
be but comparatively shallow . .4
Most of US profess 10 believe in the existence
Of ife IF hot If flo 1atfo
we have no doubt, and are much better pre-
pared to protect ourselves against their evil
Vaccinations and delusive persuasions, than
the former il may also be that we believe in
world of spirits in close proximity 10 our own,
that we are not entirely free from the influence
of its inhabitants; and very little sober con-
siieration will bring US to see that the awe of
spirits which we have alluded to as prevailing
more or less with most of US, is calculated to
lead to an over estimate Of whatever we NAV
attribute to q supernatural source.
Although this subject might introduce US
into wide field of discussion on matters both
spiritual and natural, our present purpose is
merely to suggest caution against being
dangerously carried away by the curiosity
SO liable to be awakened by the circum-
stances to which we have alluded, and be thus
betrayed into their evil consequences, but not
to discuss the nsodus operandi, the philo-
sophie basis on which the relations of the two
Worlds rest; and we will conclude by suggest
ing for the consideration of your readers, the
fact that every passing hour transfers many
thousands of the inhabitants of this world into
the regions of immortality, and the query,
whether it is reasonable to conclude that the
most heavenly minded amongst them will be
those most likely to cling so to material and
sensuous things as to be inclined to devote
themselves to keeping up their connection with
this world through such means as moving ia
bles, breaking windows, the rappings, sc but
if these things are to be attributed to departed
spirits, is it not most likely that they arc those
OF the lowest and most sensual character, and
least to be trusted for the truthfulness Of their
communications, while the truly good and
wise would be likely to exert their influence
upon the minds of survivors by more interior
process, and as ''ministering spirits sent forth
to minister to such as shall be heirs of saliva
ton = r..t H.