New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1853-04-07

lris1men IN America now lOng are you lo DC
trotted out for sale in this fashion
" Rev. CHARLES BEEcHER Of Newark
was some time since designated by the Brook
lyn Association Of Congregational Ministers to
investigate and report upon the phenomena Of
our day, currently characterized as Spiritual
ISM" and sometimes as spirit Rappings."
Mr. B. accordingly devoted many weeks to the
requisite investigation, and has summed up his
observations and reasonings thereon in Re-
port, which (by reason Of the authors recent
departure for Europe) was read in his behalf
by his brother, Rev. Thomas K. Beecher of
WILLIAMSBURG, at a meeting Of the Association
yesterday in Rev. J. B. Grinnells Church,
Fourth-st. The report is too long even for
columns so ample as ours; but its reasoning is
compact and forcble, and its conclusions so
striking that we are glad TO hear the Report
will very soon be issued in neat pamphlet by
Putnam. Its main conclusions, so far as a
basty perusd has enabled US TO apprehend
them, are as follows:
l. The idea that these Rappings," or what
ever they may be called, are the product of
mere jugge or intentional impOsture, is not
to be entertained by any one even imperfectly
familiar with facts abundantly verified.
3 The hypothesis that these phenomena
have their origin in some hitherto latent action
of Electricity, Magnetism, or any other natu-
raj and physical force, creates many more diff
culties than it oyercOmes, and is also incon-
sistent with some of the best attested facts.
3. In like manner the idea that these phe-
nomena are caused BY some unconscious, invOl-
untary mental action of some person or persons
still in the body, is equally unphosOphical,
equally at odds with the attested facts, and
equally open to the objection that it magnities
the marvel it processes to explain. To say
that table which sustains itself on two legs,
or one, or none, at the request Of some person
near it, and responds intelligently to dozen
various questions as they are asked is impelled
so to act by Electricity, or Magnetism, or some
mental impulse of an individual wholly Imcon-
scous of such influence, is to assume as true
what is incredible, because contrary to the
worlds uniform experience and to all the
known laws of causatiOn.
4. The assumption that disembodied spirits
cannot communicate with persons still in the
flesh, is opposed to the whole tenor, not mere
" of Hebrew and Christian but also of Pagan
History The possibility of such intercourse
nay, the fact that it has occurred, has always
been believed by the great mass Of mankind
The assumption of the moral impOssibility Of
communication between those We call the dead
and individuals still in the body, is fatal to the
existence of Christianity as a divinely Org-
mated faith and cannot be entertained by any
believers, however lax, in the Justification of
the Scriptures.
5. The phenomena known as Spiritual are
really caused by the spirits of the departed,
but not by the spirits of the blest. 1t is es-
sentially one with the demonie possession
whereOfthe Gospels often speak-that is, by the
control and use Of the bodily organs Of living
human beings by disembodied human spirits,
incorrectly termed devils" in our English YER
sion of the scriptures.
6. The fact of the evil character of these
modern spirits is demonstrated by their gen.
eral denial of the Inspiration of the Bible, of
the great fundamentals of Evangelical Chris
tianity, their disincliDation toward vital piety,
&c. &c. We have in the Bible an infallible
test of spiritual pretensions, and whatever
contradicts any portion Of that Book, or de-
MES it the authority and obedience due TO the
revealed Word of God, is thereby proved
false and diabolc.
- Such are the leading ideas of Mr.. Beech
er's Report, which is replete with curious and
interesting Illustrations of ancient and more
recent phenomena akin TO the modern Spir-
itualism. and supposed to cast light upon it,
with glances at the lives and writings Of necro-
mancers and mystagogues through all ages.
We cannot guess how many will acquiesce in
Mr.. Beecher's conclusions, but we think very
many will be anxious to obtain and read bis
Report.
RHODE IsLASp.-The election was held yes
L. c..