The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-04-11
IxsAxr SraruA1lsrs ANp FRoLrsom Fou-

INSANE SPnrruAIIsTs AND FRoLrcsokE FoU-
RIERrrEs.-The season Of conventions and re-
unions of societies, of all kinds, has been very
appropriately inaugurated last week by the
Simultaneous celebration, in this region, of two
fetes of singular but widely different charar-
ter. The one was the assemblage Of spirit
knockers, mediums, prophets and disciples, who
met in Springfield, on Wednesday and Thurs
day last to hold their annual convention. relate
experiences, compare notes. and chuckle over
successful imposture. and organize measures
for the propagation of the new faith throughout
the benighted regions Of Christianity. The
other was the celebration of Fourier's birth
day. by the thorough-going socialists and rosy
checked Hebes Of the Phalanx at Redbank.
New Jersey. One represented religious fanati-
cism gone mad-the other, the extreme Of ma
meeting at the same point-infdelity.
The quiet ancient little town Of Springfield.
in Massachusetts, was disturbed from its Ordi-
nary serenity by the spiritual visitation to
which it was subjected. II formed the subject
Of conversation at every corner, and was unani-
mously disapproved Of by the inhabitants, who
saw in it only new trick Of the arch enemy.
And no wonder that the descendants Of the Pu-
ritans should be alarmed at the influx Of three
or four hundred of these strange. awful, mystic
rious notwithstanding delusionists, fresh from
the converse with spirits Of the upper and
neither worlds. And when they assembled to-
gethcr in Hampden Hall, and chantcd that orac-
Mar verse
You will zee angels,
You will see angels,
You will see angels,
Coming from the spirit world
the large crowd, who had been attracted through
curiosity, had their imaginations wrought up so
highly, and became so impressed with the delu-
sion. that they expected hardly less than
condesccndng visit from Gabriel or the as
cent through the floor of Old Nick himself
with his tail under his arm, hurrying up to
attend the unnatural orgies. But neither
made his appearance and, Notwithstanding
the assurances conveyed in the verses, not an
angel or spirit honored the assemblage with its
presence. So. after two days, the convention
was closed. and the town was rid Of its unwel-
come visitants. who disappeared, not as the
witches of couple of centuries ago. flying
through the air on broomstcks, but by the
modern mede of travel used by ordinary per-
sons-the railroad
On one of the same days that these doings
were going on at Springfield. the stalwart men
and the pretty girls Of the New Jersey Phalanx
commemorated the virtues Of their great patron
and apostle, Mr.. Charles Fourier, by dedca-
ting the anniversary of his birthday to feasting
music, and dancing. The jovial Fourierites
had much the. advantage of the miserable spirit
ualsts. The only angels that they saw were
those ministering spirits floating around the
testiye board. with music on their lips, merri-
ment their eyes. and plates Of plum pudding
in their hands, the combined charms of which
were sufficient to
Disturb even saint from his dreams"
And we think that if the most confirmed medi-
UNI, knocker or rapper, of them ALL had been
transported from Hampden Hall into that circle
he would have been free from spirit vsitations
for the remainder Of his existence and cared for
no other angel than one of those light-heeled
bloomer maidens. who shed light, a joy and
blessing. over the otherwise lonely life of the
Fourierites of the Phalanx.
But, alas for the poor spiritualists they have
no such joys in their weary life Of mysticism,
delusion and insanity. While the wiser Fouri-
critics enjoy "the goods the gods provide them,"
the victims Of this latest superstition neglect
the things of the world and give themselves up
to vague theories about psychometry animal
magnetism. spiritual telegraEhing. the ojylic
force, and all sorts Of strange and unnteIigi-
BILE things What pity it was that trio of
the most beautiful nynphs of the Phalanx were
not selected and sent to Springfield. to dissipate
the delusion Of the crazy members OF the con-
vention by dancing before them. We have no
doubt that the execution of fandargo, in the
midst Of the charmed circle. would dc more to
restore the saints to reason than all the canons
of the church, the arguments Of logicians. and
the learned disquistions of natural and spiritual
philosophers.
In fact it would seem as If the latter mode of
attempting to convince the spirtualists Of the
nonsensical delusion to which they have given
themselves up is only calculated to confirm them
IN it. During the first day OF the Springfield Con-
vention an association ofCongregational clergy
IhcH uciu tueiT alHuui meetlnR IN TINS city.
and had read before them long report, made
by one Of their number. on the new dispensation
inaugurated at Rochester. This voluminous
document reviewed the whole history of mysta-
gogy, and gave extract. from the writings Of
Jamblicus. Plato Cicero, and the inspired
writers, to prove the existence Of demons, sor-
cerers, and evil spirits, in all ages From all
these its reverend author arrived at the safe
conclusion that the doings Of the spiritnalists
in the present era are not to be accounted for
on any principle Of natural philosophy, bat are
to be referred solely to the agency OF evil spirits
or demons. re thought however, as we think,
that dose Of Glauber salts would be found
most excellent remedy for casting out the de
vile. hnl lac hestnted n recnrnm,snd it, lest. as