New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1853-10-18
NEW PUBLICATIONS
Judge Edmond. and sptrituaiism.

ira MD With ApTeudil by NATHANIEL ?. TALLN,DGs.
l. svo rp. SIS Partridge Brtaa.
The disclosures in this volume will be received with
interest by those with whom the sOcaled spiritual
manifestations are objects of study, account of the
character of its principal author. Occupying inn
portant official position with undisputed reputation
for probty and intelligence and heretofore a devoted
adherent to the prevailing religious ideas he is a wit
ness in the case, whose testimony cannot fail to cha
leDee degree of attention and respect which has not
always been won by the oudest advocate OF the spirit
ual theory.
The origin of tie work before may be stated in
few words The acquaintance OF Judge Edmonds
with Dr. Dexter commenced about year and half
ago. but it was not until last spring that they engaged
in series of Investigations together for the purpose
of gaining more light The subject, in which they
were both deeply interested. circle formed
consisting OF several experienced mediums, in which
remarkable communications began to be received
They purported to come principally from Lord Bacon
and SwedenbOrg In the first instance the teachings
were impaired either through Dr. Dexter a writing
medium OF a lady belonging TO the circle, who was
speaking medium. and atterward reduced to form AMI
written out in full by Judge Edmonds himself The
most interesting of these communications contained
in tie present volume.
1t preceded by an elaborate introduction by Judge
Edmonds giving full account of his connection with
the subject and the reasons which have convinced
him that the phenomena in question are communlcs-
ous from the spritworld This introduction is writ
ten calmly clearly and iorcibly showing that il the
Judge is laborng under halucnatiOn in regard to in
tercourse with spirits his intellect in other respects
has lost none Of its characteristic vgor and dscrin-
EATON.
His statement of the motives which first led him to
investigate the subject is highly pertinent and i'm
pressive Looking with concern at the facts, which
be substsntates by reference TO the figures of statistics
that vast majority OF the population of our country
were not professed believers in the religion OF the
day-consderiug that even the world OF processing
Christians was divided into numerous sects and most
of the sects again divided into factions among them
selvcs-and convinced that true Christian philosophy
would not prompt to shrink from the investigation
of Nature through fear OF finding contradiction be-
tween the works and the Word Of God-he entered
upon his investigations with the desire 10 satisfy his
mind in regard to three points first whether the effects
which he witnessed were a reality a delusion,
second whence came the directing intelligence and
will and third, what was the end they aimed at
For the first four or five months, his principal inqui
res were directed to the first point Here he was
struck by the fact that under the circumstances the
sounds were produced by the fundamentally of any
perton present Add to this his mental questions were
ansWered, when none Of the circle could know what
they were, and mstakes we're corrected in written
memorandum, when no one present was aware that
any mistake had been made At that time, the Judge
was adisbeleyer-he had all his wits about him-and
was On the lookout for deception.
In bis second interview, Of his questions were
asked orally written, and some merely franz
ed in his mind-yet all were answered correctly Once
he began by writing question OF which he had thought,
end il was answered when be had written only two
words oft Soon after be received personal manifes
tstons of character which in his opinion, bore the
strongest marks ola spiritual origin On occasion,
while on his way to meet certain medium, he deter
mined his own mind to ask particular question, bat
finding no chance to propose il, be still received
swer by direct communication made as distinctly as
if the question had been uttered aloud although no
human being knew bis purpose.
TLese and similar facts were nexplicable 10 the
Judge He endeavoredt 10 account for them by Mesmer
i'm. This did not satisfy him The manifestations
were repeated for over year. He was at length d-
rected through medium to publish statement of
What he had witnessed He declined to do this with
cut further evidence On being asked What evidence
could satisfy Linn lie replied, Such as would show
that the pheuomena we're not the result of mortal
sseucevdence Of the identity Of those who proessed
TO be dealing with hn-end evidence that they aimed
1t coed and not an evil purpose Such evidence
finally csHe and in such form as 10 leave no doubt on
bis riud az 10 two Of the points Of his inquiries II
consisted OF phy sicsl manifestations which demonsra-
ted to bin tey0Dd all doubt that they we're not pro
Gueed " mortal hands sni were governed BY an intel
hcerce Independent Of the persons present. /. il
vain .ays, the Judge. TO say we were deceived. /
knew that wss not and did every Of that large
party. so s il vain say the nelams did H. 70. they
were actually more frightened az what occurred than
w were who were spectators and essayed in vain TO
stop H. Then il that the chair run back and forth
on the foor the bell rung over our heads ami one
Of the party forcbly torn BY IN invisible power
ron ny srasp, ia spite alike Of bic strength anI mine
1hrough Of the MEDIUMS We we're told 10 70 the
front door and LEI them IN and when tie door va.
orered an unexpected addition to The parry not one Of
whom vas known 70 the Medium va. found ascending
the steps bit rad no; reached the bell AL .tood in
8 whore % one could reach my pocket fsl,
hard thrust no il, and found atergard that SIX knot.
had been tied ny handkerchief bassyiol gas put
info ny band and rered on ay foot. and then g4s
played lEol. 7.olh 80 rIseed 10 ny ether hand