Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1853-05-27

and had published q letter in The National lhteihgen1@,
ling forth his experience aud arguing tor The 'e"5
affair. hi, letter excited, naturally enough mus" 49,,
and the matter csllcd iurlI another letter from .h''"' "I"
published ~ ;he New Y"lk Tribune. As " j."
pens tina, We have mol a great press upon U '' ).
,.,,hrs,, 49,. ,s,,sr !, shaw what an ex-senator Oh NC ~
-, ,,,u ! !, . q the spiritual business. h'e "
bs l-,,r ,.J one Of the rar,st Kettle OF hh II u 10 o'''
served M rrr The public this many d Jay: :, ).
B.IT,MoaE,T TUESDAY, APRIL X, 1898;
.,,.I seize a lew leisure moments, "hie ue'
,oiu,d here a short lime on business, TO give y "m. I" ~ nbicn
,anssd account Of The Physical Manlics'auohs ~ W
: aIi't,t in a former letter. In this account, l shah M"
myseit TO hose which purpoEt ~ cohe "o" ''p"'
John &. Calhoun. hn, e,o,
/ have received numerous communications rom il.' no"
the commencement Of my Investigations Oh lhis suolest ~"
IN The u,eseut Time. These communications nave eecn ie
,c.iv.t ,b,,uyb rauping mediums, writing mediums, ana
Speaking mediums. They ue OF the most eA.auu,nay
character Ia style and sentiment, Mcy "ou'u w "o"0'N
him in his best days On earth.
' Alter III. arrival Of the Misses Fox in Washington city in
February last, called on them by appointment, ana al ohce'
received a communication from Calhoun.
then wrote down and propounded mentally ihe lo''o"lhs
question: Ia .. ;,s,. i,
10 confirm me in the truth OF these revelations, anu &c
move from my mind The least shadow Of unoehelf
TO which | received the following answer:
II will give you q communication on Monday, 81 =
o'clock. Do not iull 10 be here. will then give You an eA'
PLANTATION. JOHN -. oannHoU.,io,
referred to in this letter, were made by Calhouh aver " ca
for the alphabet, and were raped out, letter by ieoef, ano
taken down by me in the usual way. They were naae III
the presence Of the Misses Fox, and their mother, :
called on Monday al The hour appolhleu' u CIV
the following communication:
INV friend, the question is often put 10 you, What good
can result from these manifestationsF Will answer II:
1T is TO draw mankind together in harmony uho CON
JOHN c. CALHoUS"
This reminds me that in 1850, al Bridgeport, IN the pre-,
sence of other mediums, among many queslions put anu
answers received. were The foliowing-the answer purpoit
ing 10 come from W.. E. Charming.
Q-What do Spirits propose 10 accomplish by 'hese 9
manifestations r
A-To unite mankind, aud 10 convince skep'icul minds OF
the immortality of 1.-The soul"
The coincidence in sentiment Of the answer OF }. I. Cal
bouH and Of W. E. Charming in regard 10 the ooJect Q, 'nese
manifestations is remarkable, and worthy OF particular No.
dee. The concurrence of TWO such great minds, whelnet III
or out OF the body, on a subject SO engrosSng, cannon iaii ~
command The attention OF every sdnirer oil exalted intellect
and moral purity.
During thr above communication of Calhoun, the table
moved occasionally, perhaps a foot, hrst one way ana then
the other. After The communication closed. we all moved
back from the table, from two 10 four feet SO mat no -
touched the table Suddenly the table moved VIZ pos'-
ton il occupied, some three or four ieet-restea d lew ~
menrs-and then moved back 10 It's original position. linen
il again moved as far the other way, anu teI"fhtu ~ Wv
place it started from. One side OF the laole W. ~" ni,,ni Gve
and stood for a lew moments al an angie vi ,"'''
degrees, and then ngain rested on the moor u
The table was a large, heavy, round ao'e' a "n.n III 81 49,.
a dozen persons might be seated at dinner. D"r'"s -. ~"
movements no person touched the table nor uaS any ono near
il. After seeing 1t raised in the manner above meh''Uhe',
had the curiosity TO Test its weight BY ralsine !, hlyss,' :
dCCUlulHRf " my Z U -PiuSS - r -: u,
leaf, and c1erted as much force us ! was cupaoie U III 'n"'
sitting posture and could not raise II a particle rom u.
floor, then stood up. in the best possible pos III on ~ uat
raise it with all The strength ! could apply. L men ttqueseu
the three ladies' 10 take hold around Inc iaoie, anu w. "no
getner to lit il. We lifted upon II until Tue ieal anu 'oP "e
Gan 10 crack, and did no, raise it a particle. We then oeSiSt.
ed, fearing We should break The table. then a'htu' .n.n
the spirits permit me To raise the table & ! 'ooN w "'o"
and raised ii without difficulty.
After this The following conversation ensued
Q.-Can you raise the table entirely from Inc iloor' a
O-WJl Won mise me with in A. Yes: Get me The
square table.
The square table wa, of cherry, with Tour legs "a la,gs
size tea table. IL was brought out and substituted VI ~
round ono, tic leaves being raised. took my seat on the
centre; the three ladies sal at the sides ana cho' ,nIh n'" Ts
and arms resting upon il. This OF course aaueu o , ~ Nv,
weight to be raised, namely, my own weight ana inc "e'ght
of the table. Two legs Of the table were inca raised aoou.
elk inches from the floor, and then the other Two legs were
raised 10 a level of the first, go that The uhole ldote irds Sus-
pended in me air, about sir inches from the floor. Mhlr
thus seated IA il, | could feel q gentle, 'lorat0ry h,o'ion' ~
if floating in the atmosphere. After being thus SUSPENDED
in the air fol "A few moments, The laole was gen''y : u"""
again to the floor.
Some pretend 10 say, thai these physical manifestation
are made by electricity. | should like to know by what laws
Of eIee!rei!y h!n,a%%n 10 upsss n N hfe i force FIAT ttt91Gfid rs ssHatthts'
ed 10 raise l.; and al another time, raised entirely from the
foor win more than two hundred of pounds weight upon
IT,
AT a subsequent meeting, Calhoun directed me 10 bring
three bells anr n suilari brought them accordingly. The
bells were Of different sizes-the largest like d small sized
dinner bell. lie directed q drawer To be put under The square
table. put under a bureau drawer. bottom side up. He
directed the tells TO be placed on the drawer. The three Ia.
dies and myself were seated at the table, with our hands and
arms resting On il. The bells commenced ringing q sort Of
chime. Numerous raps were made, as II beating lime 10 q
march. The bells continued 10 ring and 10 chime in with
the brating Of time. The time Of the march was slow and
solemn. II was beautiful and perfect. The most fastidlous
ear could not detect any discrepancy in II.
The raps then ceased and the bells rang violently Tor seve.
raj minutes. A bell was then pressed on my foot, my ankle,
and my knee. This was at different times repeated. Knocks
were made most rehementy against the undcrside of the Ia
ole-so That a large tin candlestick was, by every blow, raised
completely from the table by the conclusion.
| afterwatd examined the underside OF The table, (Which j
will be recollecled, was of cherry and found tndentdtionS 10
the wood, made by the end OF The bell, which was tipped
with brass. Could electricity cause those violent knocks
win the handle of the bell, causing indentatlons aud raising
the candlestlck from the table al every blnwl Or wasi IL done
by the same invisible power that riveted The table TO the
hoor, and again raised 1t, with all the weight upon II, entire
ly above the dbor2
Here the ringing of the bells ceased, and then felt sensi.
bly, and distinctly the impression OF Il hand on my loot, ankle
and knee. These manifestations were several times repeat
| was then directed 10 put the guitar on the drawer. We
were all seated as before, with our hands and arms resting
on the table.
The guitar was touched softly and gently, and gave forth
swee, and delicious sounds like The accompaniment 10 q
beautiful and exquisite piece of music. 1t then played ii
sort Of symphony, in much louder and holder tones. And,
as il played these harmonious sounds, becoming colt. aud
sweet, and low, began 10 recede, and grew fainter and fainter
ill they died away on the ear in The distance. Then ihcy
returned and grew louder and nearer, till they were heard
again in full and gushing volume as when they commenced
| am utterly incapable of giving any adequate idea Of the
beauty ind harmony Of this music. l have heard The guitar
touched by lie most delicate and scientific hands, and heard
from il, under such guidance, the most splendid perform.
ances. But never did hear any that fastened upon The very
soul like these prophetic strains drawn out BY an Invisible
hand from The Spirit World. While listening TO i'll was
ready to excllim, in The language Of The Bard OF Avon!
"Thut strain again-it had a dying fall:
o, it came DER my my ear like The sweet south,
That brealhes upon n bank of siolets,
Stealing and giving odor."
After the music had ceased, the following communication
was received
This i, my hand that touches you and the guitar.
"JoHN G.. CALHouH."
At another time, The following physical manifestation was
made in the presence Of Gen. Hamilton, Gen. Waddy
Thompson of South Carolina, and myself:
We were directed TO place The Bible on a drawer under the
table. placed ii there. completely closed. II was a small
pocket Bible, with very fine print. Numerous raps were
then heard, beating time 10 Hail Columbia which had
been called for Soon the sounds began TO recede, and grew
fainter aud fainter. ill, like the music of the guitar, they died
away in the distance. The alphabet was then called for,
and il was spelled out Look" looked on The drawer; and
found the Bible open. | took it up. and carefully kepti il open
Al, the place az found ii. On bringing it to the Iigh,, |
found it open at ST. Johns eospel-chapser II. being on the
left side. aud chapter Ill. being on the right side. | said,
"Do you wish US to look a, chapter IT. Ans.-"No."-
DO you wish rs 10 look al chapter Ill7' Ans.-"Ycs."-
And il was then said Read" | commenced reading The
chupter, and significant and emphatic raps were given al
many verses; and NJ verses 8, Ii, l9, "a, most rehem ent raps