The Gonzales inquirer. [volume] (Gonzales, Tex.) 1853-current, 1853-07-30
Spiritual 1appinn

~ e"S rkn IAYIlI1Kb tIL8l
excite % much wonder 1t tho present time.
II viii be roSasmbcrcd that wo did, . week or
tSo since, revert TO the fantastic dcmonstra.
tons OF spirits in Gonzales; viewing tho sub
jsct ~ no very serious light, VIC only glanced.
In a cursory inanrsr. Mt the various feats that
had been performed by this singular agency.
II seems that cases have occurred in our midst,
which many persons regard as of sufficient
importance TO be read with much interest by
all. We do not doubt il, for the taste for the
marvellous is almost universal, and ANYTHING
supernatural possesses a thrilling and horrible
interest peculiarly its own. This thing of
!" spirit rappings" is to ms all a mystcry-we
do not, for one moment, pretend to account
for 1t. No one as yet has asccrtained the
cause Of the mysterious raps, or explained,
satisfactorily, the truly surprising raising of
tables, dancing OF chairs, &c. Many coniec.
lures have been formed, and many attempts
made to investigate the matter thoroughly, in
tho older States. II is, by many intelligent
persons, considered the effect of electricity /:
by others the agency Of the " Father of Lies"
is suspected; while a great many assemble
round tables in solemn c%onclayc and firmly
believe they are c%ommuning with spirits, fresh
from the presence Of the Omnipotcnt Creator,
OF the loved and lost ones of other and better
days and experience q deep but terrible plea
sure In their infhtuation. We call It infHatua-
ton, for we cannot believe that the al. wise
and glorious God sanctions the ~blasphemous
productions and revelations of tho "spiritual
conventions" Of which we hear so much. lie
has given MS tho beautiful, wise and simple
prcccpts of The Bible rs guides for our feet,
and n light to shine along our h~eavcnward
path. The example of the meek and lowiy
Jesus was placed before us for imitation, and
the Immortality Of the soul IN clear to the hu.
man mind, without the aid Of spirits to con.
vince Nh of 1t. With the Bible before us, we
do not need their assurances to confirm us in
the belief, that, when our duties arc all faith
fully performed here and our spirits, refined
and purified by the trials and sorrows of
earth, we shall join our friends in heaven and
bask to NIL eternity in the light of Jchovah's
smile.
Many good and holy mon havc' becnrcon-
tented with this and so WI arc willing to be.
Nor do VIC believe that God is more willing
now TO send a1incssenger from the spirit world
to crring rnorta's' than he was when implorcd
by Dives, from the uttcrmost depths of tor.
mcnt, to send an angel to warn his five broth
rem, that they might not share his terrible
doom.
We regard the publication of long accounts
of these mattcrs-thc wonderful revelations
OF departed statesmen and warriors and their
various accounts of their present places of
abodc.-as having n tendency to lower the tone
Of moral and religious feeling among us; to
lessen the sacred respect, which, in all we'll
regulated minds, il associated with every
thought of God and Heaven and the future
condition of our souls, the most vcncratcd and
highly rcycrcd subjects 90 thought, are at
these assemblies frequently treated in a spirit
of levity truly shocking.
Many u weak mind has given way beneath
the excitement of n conversation with dcpart.
cd friends, and our lunatic asylums every
where tell sad tales of the dcplorablc results
OF such attempts to explore the mysteries,
hidden from mortal comprehension by the
mcrciiul hand of an all-wisc Creator.
cts- Friend Harmon, of the New Orleans
Southern Organ, nm ably conducted temper
ance paper, in his notice of the Inquirer, af.
ter wishing us all success, says" Don't for.
get To talk temperance occasionally" That
We certainly will do. But we nrc most happy