The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1853-05-19
Spiritual Manifestations.

ing in the aid of legal authority to sup
press spiritual rappings, as they are call
ed, and similar absurdities. The Intella
ge1aoer of last week contains letter from
the Hon. n p. Tallmadge, formerly U.
S. Senator from New York, Governor of
Iowa, etc., demonstrating against the ar
ticle referred to. This letter is accompa-
MED by another, dated January 10th ad-
dressed to the Hon. James +. Simmons,
late u. s. Senator from Rhode Island,
referring to the fact that Mr.. Simmons
believed in those manifestations as he had
stated in conversation with Mr.. T., and
in an article in Putnam's Magazine, Civ
ing his experience on the subject This
experience confirmed Mr. I. in his own
impressions received from researches he
had made. He says that his attention
was first seriously called to the subject
last spring by newspaper attack on Judge
Edmonds for his belief in it, and as he
had known the Judge for thirty years as
a man of acute mind, talent for investiga-
ton, and unimpeachable integrity, he was
induced to scrutinise the Spiritual mani
festatons." He AYERS that the result, ofhis
experiments were of the most astounding
character, satisfying him that the medium
did not know whence either the raps or
the communications proceeded. All the
questions Mr.. I. put were propounded
mentally, and the medium could not know
what they were nor how to answer them.
He declares he has frequently received
communications far above the capacity of
the medium, and perfectly characteristic
of the persons from whom they purported
to come, as for instance, John G. Calhoun,
Henry Clay, and Daniel Webster. He
has received communications through wri-
ting, speaking and rapping mediums.
Mr.. Talmadge undoubtedly believes all
this, and has no doubt of holding converse
with the spirits of Calhoun, Clay and
| Webster but will find it hard to inspire
others with that belief-or with faith to
believe in any such absurdities.
General Tallmadge endeavors to ex-
plain the spiritual rappings in tho follow
ing manner, to Senator Simmons:
!" The next question is, from whence dc
these manifestations, whether physical OF
moral, proceed? Judge Edmonds was
told that they we're all according to nat
ural laws, which would in due time be
fully developed; and he was directed tc
read Won Reichenbach's Dynamics ot
Magnetism and Electricity-a book he
had never heard of before-as a means
of enabling him to understand these laws
| have read the book myself. The wri-
ter proves conclusively the discovery of a
new element, which be calls od or the
0dic t0rce. He proves that this element
prevades not only the human system, but
material world. and the whole universe
He finds it in the rays of the sun, moon
and stars.
Late English writer's of high reputation
consider the existence of the odis force as
well established as that of the magnetism
and electricity. 1t combines many of the
qualities of the two latter, and is antago-
nistic to some of them. 1t may be pre-
sumed, therefore, that this newly discoy-
cred element enters, in some sort, into
these manifestations. 1t is said that this
accounts for the physical manifestations,
But no one can show how this force pro-
duces them. And even if this were proved
it still remains TO account for the lntelA-
gence in the communications which are
received. That intelligence does notcome
from tables, or chairs, or other material
objects. 1t must come from mind, or
from spiritual source. This new ele-
ment may be the medium of conveying it
to US. To illustrate, let me suppose that
friend in New York wishes to commu-
nicate with me in Washington. He sends
his communication to me through the e.
lectric telegraph.
The communication is received and
written down here the same as a commu-
nication is received and written down
through the rapping medium. 1 ask how
is that communication from my friend
conveyed to me? The answer is, by the
electric fluid. But does the electric fluid
make the communication The answer
is no, the mind of my friend does that
So In the case of the rapping medium,
the communication comes from some
source of intelligence. This Intelligence,
as every one knows, who has investigated
these matters, does not come from the ta-
bic that is moved by some invisible pow
er, nor from the medium, nor from any
one present, tits therefore to be inferred
that it comes from a spiritual source; and
more ESPECIALLY when communications are
received on subjects exclusively known to
those communicating"
UP The Lancaster Examiner states
that there is German family residing in
that city who the past winter were in the
habit OF killing and eating such dogs as
they could get possession of. They were
too lazy to work, and resorted to this
method of obtaining livelihood.
B0- The large Stock of blood horses,
belonging to the estate of the late VIM.
Gibbons, were sold at auction on Tues
day, at Madison, N. j. Among the num-
Der sold, was the celebrated racer "Fash-
ion," now II years old, bought by Mr..
r