The Ohio star. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1830-1854, 1853-11-09

rid of it, and not until thoroughly felt how pow
eriess was, did it leave me-"
Sti he struggled against conviction. He
omitted nothing which his ingenuity could devise
to detect deception, whether in himself or others.
There was eavil to captious for him to resort
to-no scrutiny too rigid or impertnent to insti-
tute-no inquiry too intrusive to make. Under
these circumstances, be could no longer doubt the
testimony of his senses. Watching the exhibitions
OF intelligence thus displayed, for months and
years. he could fnd no solution fot it than that it
was OF super terrestrial origin -----
In regard to the practical effect of a belief ia
Sprituasm, Judge Edmonds. From his re-
marks on this poiot, take the following pas
sage:
| We are taught the grand doctrine of Progress
sion, whereby we learn that as the soul of man is
emanatiopI from the germ of the First Cause, so
its destiny is to return toward the source whence
it sprang. That man, neither here nor in any fu-
ture existence; is governed by miracle, but only
by universal laws which were from the beginning
and have no end, and in which there is no turning
nor shadow of change; that in obedience to those
laws man does not, on dying, become instantly
changed into state of perfection on the hand on
of depreciation on the other, nor is he condemned
to long and dreamlsss sleep for ages, but passes
into state of existence where the evils of his ma
terial life being thrown aside, he is Capable
of entering upon and advancing in the great object
Of his creation; and that that object is progression
onward, upward toward perfection forever.
And lastly, we are taught what is the state of
existense into which man is ushered after the life
on earth. As under the Mosaic dispensaiion
mankind were taught the existence of one God,
rather than the thousand gods with mortal attrib-
utes then worshipped, and under the Christian
dspensation they were taught the Immortality of
the soul and its existence forever, so now, under
this dspensation, it is being revealed them,
for the first time what that state of existence is,
and how in this life they may well and wisely
prepare to enter upon that and make it either un-
descrbaby sorrowfnl or inexpressiby happy.
Such are the great truths which have cleaned
from my investigation ofthis most momentous sub
ject, and l confess that l enter upon the task of
laying them before my fellow men with no ordi-
nary fear and trembling, lest l may be unequal to
theigreat task on which have ventured, and may
in my weakness mislead rather than wisely guide.
I have, however, this abiding consolation, that
pm not speaking of matters which revealed to
me alone. am not dwelling on things which come
through channels which accessible to me only,
but in matter which is open to all alike, which all
may investigate and learn as have, and where
the means of correcting any error into which I
may have fallen within the reach of any one
who will choose to examine for himself, with the
same earnest and fearless desire for the truth which
| has actuated me. Nay, m0re! true nature be-
comes more developed, increased facilities for in
vestigaton will be afforded and such examna-
tiops will be made as will test the truth false
hood of what l teach. In these thoughts have
indeed solace, as they assure me that I cannot
permanently injure where my only desire has been
to do good.
But for my own part will freely confess that
there has been wrought in my mind the thorough
conviction that these revelations so important to
man, are indeed of God and that they spring only
from an earnest desire in unseen intelligence
.to open the world the truths of another life; to
aid in removing from the eyes of the wifuly blind
the scales of error, prejudice and superstition to
! give hope, which is not dependent the
denunciations ofthe priest, that there is better
life beyond the grave-a life in which the spirit
unfolds its wings, aud scars to the regions where
the Spirit of God is indeed manfestj to remove
that fear which bows the stoutest heart, and rem
ders the frmest mind ready believer in the falla-
| cies which taught Gods revelation, and to
bring all religion to one simple point, that God is
Indeed sufficient in himself the perfection of Shat
which is of himseN''
We have thus given what we deem fair and
impartial account of the contents of this volume,
regarded from the point of view maintained by its
! Or he hola II
plausible defense of the theory Of spiritual COM
muncatiOns, than any which has bean previously
laid before the public. Many of bis statements
in the highest degree marvellous, but with the tes-
timony udduced in their support can hardly be re-
jected by the intelligent reader. SiiI this work.
we must confess, like every on the subject
which we have examined, fails to convince Of
the validity of its pretensions Admitting the abil
| ty and good faith of the suthors-whieh we do
not for moment question-admtting that the ex-
ternal facts ocsarred in the manner here descrb-
ed-there is yet much waiting to the argument
that they are to be referred to the agency of su-
pra mundane spirits. So long as the mysteries of
! animal magnetism remain undefned-so long as
the occult powers of the human organisation, on
which the experience of every day throws new
light, are not reduced within scientific lmts--bow
can we know that the facts in question may not be
accounted for by the innate, though as yet uude
veioped forces of the human soul!
The character of the communications, moreover.
here ascrbed to Bacon and Swedenborg.in oar opin
ion forbids thesuppeson of the origin that's claim
ed for them Consisting, for the most part, of a
collection of ethical precepts and theological prinoi
pes that have been familiar for years to the "ceme
outers'' of every description, they exhibit nothing
to remind us of the wisdom and profoundness of
those mighty minds. On the contrary, they bear
the same stamp of mysticism, vagueness, dream
like tremulosity, which Distinguish most Of the ef-
fusons ofthe pretended spiritual mediums. 1--we
could suppose for moment that Bacon and Swe-
| dcnhnrr had any ananez in indlting these Produc-