The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-08-06

vet, venture 70 say, religious creed promulgated
among men which 80 entirely eschewed blind faith
and so fully and always demanded the exercise Of the
Judgment and the supremacy Of the reason.
Hence Il V that We are taught that none 81 these
extraordinary things which are witnessed byso many
are miraculous, or flow from any suspension OF ma
lures laws, but are, the other hand in conformity
with and N execution Of ncse laws; that, IKE the
steam engine and the magnetic telegraph, they are
marvellous only 70 those who do not understand
them are not familiar with them; that those laws,
and the means by which they produce such results,
are as capable Of being found sut BY human research
that the knowledge is not confined to few, but Is
open to ALL rich poor, high or low wise or igno
rant who win wisely and patiently search for It, and
that when it il attained, 1t cannot but work in the
heart 20 closer walk with God" and an intercourse
with our fellow men Of more elevated character,
void Of seshpess and devoted to their absolute ad
vancenent in oil knowledge and goodness. both IN
this world and In the world to come.
This is o part Of the something which have found
in my researches. But there is more yet. There IS
broken hearted; that which smooths the passage TO
the grave and robs death Of its teroFs; that which
enightens the atheist, and cannot but reform the
vicious; that which cheers and encourages the vrtl-
GUS amid all the trials and voissitudes Of life; and
that which demonstrates to man his duty and his
destiny, leaving it no longer vague and uncertain.
What that is cannot in the limits OF this letter ex-
plain but in due time twill be forthcoming and each
one can judge for himself
But now may not ask il l overrate the impor-
lance Of the subject Of my inquiries! Scarcely more
than four years have elapsed since the Rochester
Knockings" were first known among us. Then me
diums could be counted by units, but now BY thou
sands--then believers could be numbered BY hum
dreds now BY tens of thousands. It is believed by
the best informed that the whole number In the
United States must be several hundred thousands,
and that in this city and its vicinity there must be
from twenty five to thirty thousand There are ten
or twelve newspapers and periodicals devoted to the
cause, and the Spiritual Library embraces more than
one hundred different publications, some of which
have already attained circulation Of more than ten
Thousand copies Besides the undhstinguished null.
titude there are many men OF nigh standing and
talent ranked among them-doctors, lawyers, and
clergynen in great numbers, Protestant bishop,
the learned and reverend president Of college,
judges OF our higher courts, members OF Congress,
foreign ambassadors, and ex-nembers Of the United
States Senate.
That which has thus spread with such marvellous
celebrity, in spite Of the 6icue which has deferred
SO many from an open avOwal-that which has at
tracted the attention of many Of the best minds
among us-cannot be unworthy of Ely investigation,
or that Of persons far wiser and reliable than
am.
it is now more than a year that my peculiar faith
has been the subject of public comment. During it
all have been silent as to those attacks content
steadily to pursue my investigations until could
arrive at satisfactory results. Perhaps have been
silent too long, for, in the meantime, very erroneous
notions as to that faith have been allowed to spring
up. Butt was unwilling to speak until was as sure
as / could be that was right, lest might utter
some crudity which, by and by, | might regret, or
commit some error which might find it difficult to
correct or, in fine, unhappily mslead in my igno-
rance, rather than wisely guide by my knowledge.
] went into the investigation, originally thinking
it deception and intending to make public my eX-
posure OF it. Having from my researches, come to
different conclusion feel that the obligation to make
known the result is just strong. Therefore it is,
mainly, that | give the result to the world. say
mainly because there is another consideration which
influences me- and that is, the desire to extend 10
others knowledge which am conscious cannot but
make them happier and better
If those who doubt this could but spend few days
with me in my library, and witness the calls have
from strangers from all parts Of the country if they
could but look my portfolio and read the letters
which pour in upon me from all sections, and from
persons whom have never seen and never may see,
they would be able from the evidence thus furnished
Of the good that has been DONE to form idea Of
what may yet be accomplished, and they would not
wonder that find compensation for the 0bloquy
that is freely heaped upon me by the ignorant, in
the grateful outpourngs Of hearts which have by my
means been relieved. One of them says (and it is
q fair specimen Of the whole), "You have acted the
wound of one like to die, and you will have rendered
deathbed, sooner or later, calm and hopeful which
might have been disturbed byodoubts.n
This then, is the offence for which have been ar
raigned at the bar of the public with so unsparing
declared unworthy Of my high Office
falsely accused Of consulting aught else than the law
OF the land, and my own reason, In the judgments
which | officially pronounce, and have had invoked
ainst "the fires of Smithfeld and the hangings
of Salem" From such condemnation it is that
appeal to the calm, unbiased judgment of my coun-
trymen, with firm reliance upon it's Justice.
j. w. EDM0NDs.
New York, August l, 1853.