Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1853-08-04
Rupular 9elusions.


We commend the following from the
"Christian Advocate and Journal, - to the at
tentlon of those who are at all inclined to put
faith In Spirit Rappers. The editor says Of
h:-"We are, and have long been intimately
acquainted with the writer, and endorse him
as one on whose statements entire and implicit
reliance may be placed. The reader will see
how much the deceived contribute to their
own deception by their earnest desire to know
the secrets of the spirit-world, and especially
the state Of deceased relatives
''l went-no matter where-no matter
when-and nearly as little why Though
confess to some little curiosity, yet my object
was to rescue, if possible, pious and useful
member of my charge from delusion, which
feared would end in the subversion of her
faith, piety and usefulness, and most likely
the loss of her Church privileges, if not also
her domestic and eternal welfare l failed
and all these are gone, fear, but the last.
Whether that will be finally rescued from the
wreck, eternity alone will disclose
went to her own house, in accordance
with her own request, urged with all the earn
est confidence of devotee, to test for myself
experimentally the matter, before condemning
her course or her belief Though not pub
lie meeting, yet it was to be formal one
The initiated of 'the circle had weeks no.
tlce that her minister was to be there, to see
for himself, and of course to act in accordance
with his convictions.
Taking with me one of my stewards, an in
telllgent and piOus brother, whose age and ex-
perience would give weight to his opinions,
we found ourselves in advance of the company,
and had time to talk awhile about her inter-
view with her leader, who had reported her
case to me, and his unsuccessful labor to lead
her back from the estrangement from class,
which resulted from her new excitement and
associations. Labor, quotha Doctor if
you could only see that laborer at work =
Why he was a very Cyclops at it, His
hghtest blow was like tap with sledge
And If an erroneous opinion was not demol-
lshed before he had done, why the holder of it
was belo6ored most numerically, at anv rate.
had enjoyed some personal experience in
this department of his duty, and veriIy-ahem
but he had failed He!
She had thrown around herself or rather
been led into, series of experimental facts.-
The direct evidence Of her senses was not to
be rejected; she had heard, she had seen, re-
peatedly-she could not deny-she was forced
10 believe. Reason could not unooarinoe
her. Ridicule, exhortaton, warning, could
not present causes for fear, where nothing to
be feared was seen or certain The present
effects were all good, and the future promised
to be better. Was not her husband induced
10 admit the reality Of spiritual things! Were
not her two older children benefited-the son
reclaimed and the daughter deeply impressed!
Was not 'the circle all pious Had they not
formed plan and drawn up written rules far
more strict than the Discipline! Did they
not enjoy 'the literal communion of saints q
why, St. Paul himself had made out COM
munications to her, one of which, in bad Eng
lish, and worse taste, she kept about her per-
son, as devoutly, as ever Pharisee wore ply
VI Urn NOASOo VI thO IAOAau
But how do you know that the medium
has not imposed on youp % she could not.
Dear little Mary was in constant intercourse
with the whole family, and gave such unmis-
taxable evidence Of her identity, that it would
be as impossible to doubt, as wicked to deny.
Why, she acted over and over again all the
little peculiarities of her childish prattle and
words and incidents, known only to the fami-
iy, were recalled to their recollection, which
none but herself could know, or remind them
OfD' (She had died year before)
. dear she never reflected that 'the medi-
UNI had been living free in the house week
after week, cOnversing with herself and fami-
ly, and sleeping with her daughters, and pos
sessing herself Of all, and more than was nee.
essary to play her part!
Washington, too, Franklin, Jefferson, &c,
&c, were frequently present; and freely spoke
of past and future. A great day, of which
this was only the dawn, was coming, when
the spirits would not merely rap, but speak,
and be seem
Apropos-Does it never occur TO these de-
luded ones that these worthless Of the Church
and the world must be omnipresent to be thus
an -, New York, Boston, Philadelphia
and Baltimore, and also in each Of these cities
at many different Circles at the same mo-
ment
Well, the circle kept coming in, and we
adjourned to the Parlor, up stairs The store
was abandoned to the girl, as usual. and we
were carefully seated around large table
All was still. We were in the process Of
'harmonizing :! | cast glance around the
circle. Just in front of me sai-save the
mark Hicksiic Quaker His passionless.
smooth phiz was the very bcaM ideal of that
quieiism we were practising. A little fur
thcr 70 the left was my friend the steward
hiS baldish head dropping, chin on his breast,
and eyes on his boots Near to him sat the
husband b. lancing hack and forth on his chair,
his look rather quizzical, a little sinister, and
blaze manner, indicating an old hand, but
nothing Of the solemn eagerness of young
convert. Next was an empty chair, anon to
be filled by curiosity. The semi-circle on
my right was completed by several common-