Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1853-08-25
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Table Bappings.
AEGUs4 I

Mr. EDIToR: ] notice an article in
the last issue of your paper, on spir-
it Rappings, in the sequel Of which,
the writer seems to beIyery sanguine
IN the belief, that it is actually spir-
it that causes the table to move, and
answer questions. Now I am just
as strong a believer in tablc-rappings
as Mr.. Astynax, or any one else.
But that the rappings "a nd movings
of the table are produ ced by the
agency or power of departed spirits,
there is nothing in my opinion, more
ludierous and absurd | admire the
voluble MANNER, in which the writer
speaks Of the progress OF the arts
and sciences; and of the onward
m4rch aud expansion of the human
mind; and more than all. do ! adj
niire the concise, but pointed reproofy
he deals out to those, who come to
rash conclusions with regard TO any
matter before they investigate it.
But I am sorry to be pr him finally
coming to the conclus ion, that this,
viz: spirit-rdppiA,gs, as it is denoni-
mated, is neither prod uced by cleo
tricity, magnetism, no any other i'm
/ pondelstbIe agent. And more than
F.. this, l confess, that ] am astonished
to hear him coming TO such 4 conflu-
Sion, after lis preceding remarks =
1t seems to me, that his inlere nee
would have been FAR nj ore reasonable
and logical, had he concluded, that
this isa new discovery in science, {as
| believe it Isl the real cause Of
which. has not as yet been discover
ed, and satisfactorily explained, but
which, in all probabiliH y, will, by and
by. q
But believe that t be writer spike
his sentiments, and applaud lim
for freely divulgihg his conscientious
opinions, in despite Of opposition =
AMI believe moreove r, that sud Il
liauk and Independent spirit Nill
readilyand freely yield the point, il
he finds himself cow need, flat he
IS ii erlor. Hence, The designE of
my subsequent remar Ks shall BEL il
possible, to convince him, and all
others, that entertain 4 miiar not pns
with reg'lrI 10 this ma tier, that t! !ere
are no. spirits concerto in it, Oily
those Of the individuals surrounding
the table, or IN the 70 pm, where the
table is performing its bats Now, dhat
this is Il true stateme bit ~of-the nl at-
ter, am prepared ID shy, without
fear Of successful cont tadiction, ftom
my own observation a nd experie4ce-
And farther, ! will ' ent uro TO Say,
that there is not Il nj edIum, or any
set Of MEDIUMS III Llncoln County,
or the United States, tha t can cause
Il table to give a CORRECT answer TO
Il Question, any more TIA | can by
que ss;ng; unless sol pc indiyidual
present knows ,l6iini iely what it is
Neither is this all; lbr if the one
present, who thinks be knows, has
been misinfolmel, the response viii
invariably be, according TO the WHY,
2 which he is Informed. And again,
where the individuals present have
been diiltrep lily informed about Il
matter, the a tlswer viii always be ir
favor Of the will of I'll majority, or
lhe strongest medium. The same
holds good with regalEl % any con
trary wishes AND desires, that may
be entertained by THOSE present.
For instance, let part Of til Csc around
the table, toll it to m Ike five rlps,
and let the other part tell it TO rap
ten; it viii invariably obey the will
Of the stronger party. Now | trust
from these simple statEmen:s, every
one eau see that it is he will of the
individuals present; tn ht moves the
table, and that it ans,F ers questions
according to their know ledge,and not
according to the will a hd knowledge
of either angels, devils, or disem-