The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1853-01-03
From the Boston Transcript, December 80.
Suirftualists, Convention

Spirftualtsts' Convention.
A convention of persons disposed to believe in
the spiritual origin OF certain phenomena, known
the "rappings." and smovings,'' commenced
their sittings at the Masonic Temple in this city,
yesterday, and continue them to day. 1t is
now some three years since the public began to
have reports of certain inexplicable sounds and
motions, produced under certain conditions, and
exhibiting intelligence, in Rochester and other
towns in central and western New York. The
cry of "humbug,' and "delusion," was at
once raised, and has been repeated, growing
fainter and fainter, however, up to the pres.
ent time. All sorts of explanations of the
mysteries were written Some learned physicians
OF Bnfalo published pamphlet to prove that the
traps" were produced by certain knack of snap.
ping the toe joint. Other scientific gentlemen
thought there was come electrical apparatus con-
esaieo IN the room' to which the phenomena might
be traced. Every solution, however that has been
offered up to the present time, has been proved un
tenable and unsatisfactory. The most earnest and
plausible OF the Investigators thus far who oppose
tne spiritual theory, Is DR.. Rogers. who is now
lecturlng IN this city, and who, while he admits
the phenomena claimed by the theory, undertakes
70 CLASSIFY the phenomena among others developed
IN somnan,bulism, epilepsy, sc and which are
assignable to causes not preternatural.
As soon as We heard of the .srappings,' and
"movlngso In Boston, some two years and a half
since We availed ourselves of our prerogative as
public Journalist to investigate them whenever the
opportunity was offered. We have frequently wit
messed them during the intervalup to the present
time; and, although imposture and collision NAV
be sometimes practised, it has been our for-
tune to detect them. We have occasionally been
aided in our Investigations by eminent physicians
mocha meal men, and fellow editors; but uD 10
this time, while we have witnessed the most mex.
plicabfe phenomena. such movements Of fur nj
ture, &c without the application Of visible force
we have been unable to account for them under
any admitted scientific law theory. Our atten.
ton has been directed to the phenomena them
selves and not to the intelligence they exhibit.
We have set down their own report of themselves
inadmissible evidence, at the same time that
We have been fully persuaded that the So called
media were, IN most Instances, ignorant as we
were ourselves as to the modus operandi. But
there was nothing IN the Intelligence superior to
what we had been familiar with repeatedly in cases
OF aomnambuIism. The so-calied sscommunca-
tons have always seemed to tresome, frivol-
Gus, or delusiye; and would no more pin our
faith to them, were it no bigger than grain OF
mustard seed, than we would respect the rawlings
Of lunatic
Spite of ridicule, contempt, and opposition the
"rappers" have increased until they have become
very formidable body and their raps are shaking
church doors and calling forth beseeching cry
to 'sstop that knocking The belief in the relia-
bility of the communications attending the phe-.
nomena has sent many to the mad house, and
produced all sorts of mischief. Distinguished con-
verts to the spiritual belief have appeared in all
parts of the country from Maine to California
Judges of high courts in Massachusetts, and New
ork-distinguished physicians and cergymen-
an Ex-senator of the United States-merchants of
great wealth and Observation-Disclosures and
editors-have all frankly ayowed belief in the
spiritual origin OF the phenomena. An eminent
English traveller, who visited our country last
summer, procured from US our newspaper cut
ting" on the subject, and has put forth book in
London (no doubt very able one) entitled
f'Sights and Sounds, the Mystery of the Day"
Sir Edward Bulwer Lytton has become much in
terested in the subject and promises book. We
saw few weeks since in New York physician,
In most lucrative practice in that CITY, who gravey
assured US that he, with two other witnesses had
seen "medium" lifted bodily into the air by in
visible forces and carried through suite Of rooms
q distance of seventy feet and back
1t cannot be matter of surprise that people
seeing, or believing that they see, such very queer
proceedings, should come to the conclusion that
the devil, or scme more respectable spirit, Ia in
them. And yet, although cannot certainly
dogmaticay say, that there is no preternaturai
agency at work in them, it is very unsatisfactory
mode of proceeding to base inquiries and ex-
anlnations upon the assumption that the mystic
rles must be produced by departed spirits. No
thing could be vapid, InconsequentiaI and
absurd than the 'sspirituai communications $50
called) produced the s'Spiritualist Convention
in this city If we hope to get any nearer to
luton OF the mystery, the subject must be taken
up in very different manner, and by very diff
ferent class of men. We do not doubt that the
gentlemen who think that John Murray, or some
other worthy is speaking through their lips, are
thoroughly sincere; but they must back their
claims by some Irresistible evidence, internal or
external, before they expect to be regarded by
the world at large as in their senses One man
named Scott, at Mount Cove, Virginia. processes
to be the channel of communication from the AL
mighty. The insanties and evils which have
been produced among the unwary by belief in
the COMMUNICATIONS are not to be reckoned
How, then, are we to deal with the subject?
Plainly not by ignoring I, pronouncing the phe-
nomena huInbug, and psha!-ing at those who con-
descend TO look into matter which is rnischiev
ously affecting m. ny among their fellow
citizens. Neither can sssalow those who receive
the communications assssuthentic and spir-
itual," to impose their rash and pernieious as
sumption upon US. The true course is, to investi-
gate the phenomena without regard to the spiritual
or anti-spiriual theory; and, if we choose to listen
to the Communications to accept such only as
fully satisfy our reason and accord with it's sacred
teachings. Letit be either "a spirit of health or
goblin damned" which speaks; we are bound to
believe only what reason commends to faith; al
though reason, on her part, may sometimes COM
mend that which transcends her power of vision,
looking to the future to explain what now may
seem inexplicabIe.