New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1853-12-13

SPIRIT RAppISG CASE IN CLEvELAsD.-The case o
DR. Undorh versus Dwight Jarvis. for libel which ha'
been on trial before the Court Of Common Peas az CleVe
land Ohio for several days past has awakened general
interest in that city among all classes and among spirit
ussts and the regular Orthodox churches Ia particular
The defendant charged plaintiff with being dstlrDer
"of religious worship, and oonamnaor Ut public NOR
ais because in company amedum. the plaintiff vis
tied St Tmohys Church. Massion, aud during tho ser
mon the well known spirit rnppngs were heard which
oecasioned disturbance IL not claimed that painh
made Lstgated the rap nor that tn medium had any
voluntary agency in their production but that the presence
of the medium with her spiritual friends the plaintiff
among the number, the Of the sounds being
heard that particular time and place II In TACT became
question for the and jury 10 determine whether
"medums through whom these sounds purPorted to be
made by departed spirits are to be allowed In orthodox As
sembes and incidental TO this the question arises, what
are "orthodox assemblies :" IL was not proved that
Dr. Underhill designedy went TO st. Tmothys Church
10 make a disturbance but il was proved that 10
cidontaly while there in company with medium
Young lady under his charge, disturbance did take
place in consequence Of "kBockngs attendant on said
medium II admitted the medium did not make,
nor could she prevent the "knockings and the question
seemed 10 turn upon a matter OF duty as to whether
said medium aud her friends under such crcum-
stances ought or ought not to have left the church
Mr. ID X Tden, Of the plaintiff counsel, took the
ground that the phenomena witnessed there was spirit
ual and that the plaintiff not TO be held responsible
for what the spirits did that the "dsurbers aud con
"tamnatora Cd public morals were beings Of another
world and the defendant must change the veHIe aud
bring his action there il he wanted TO reach the cuprts la
the He said there were many things new and mar
yeOus in H. things he could NOT comprehend but that Wa-
no reason for him why il should be discarded lie said
the orthodox faith contained historical incidents ten times
more marvellous incOmprehensbe and impossible Of be
lief than anything yet found in the spiritual theory. He
usfanced the dialogue between Baaam and his Ass, the
physical imposibty Of the liberal llfment Of Joshuas
command upon the sun and moon to stand STILL Jonah
swallowing the whale, &c sc, items In the orthodox
faith wonderful If true.
lie claimed that this theory had got TO combat the
pudces Of the age and particularly the prosecutions Of
The Church Every newly discovered truth has had 20 do
this CODerncus down the present time but ne
warned "fogydom 10 learn wisdom from the pat, and
not carry their opposition too far he thought he saw
necessity for the spiritual theOrythe old orthodox creeds
what there left OF them, had failed 70 convert but
small part Of the world and Of that part ninetenths
doubt the existence Of hereafter at all Religion too
had become expensive that poor people could not afford
TO be saved by the ordinary means OF grace e going TO
church. lie would think OF breaking into Wind
Castle getting into the Episcopal aud Presbyterian
churches Of that City.
The Hon. r. p spalding followed on the same side
He said Aristotle the Grscan philosopher some two hun
bred before Christ born promulgated the doc
trine that there only living and true God For
this heresy he tried and condemned 10 death Christ
afterwards for preaching the same Doctrine was cruched
was no evidence Of it, Of truth Take the Bible
count Of the hood-Noah coniended against the whole
antedeuvian world that The deuge was at hand aad he
alone had faith To prepare for IT, Iis true that sprussm
l. ye; largely the minority but it, adherens multi
plying with The most astonishing rapidly not only in this
but IN the old country II is the only theory that gives
any tangible evidence Of future state indicates the
condition q departed spirits in another world. The be
levers are, many Of them, among the best minds in the
country distinguished alike fortheir learning and integrity
They believe because they cannot help believing when
the facts and phenomena placed before them They
have night to believe. and to enjoy the full privileges Of
their belief the adhereIts any other faith
Mr. ID. X. Cartier closed the part OF the defense,
ridcung all claims Of Spiritualsm. He defended me
and claimed they should be unmolesed By spirits IN or ot
Of the fesh He did deny the right Of spirits to rap
but they must do at the proper time ana pace.
The Jury discharged not beng aOs 70 sgse Oh
verdict.