Spirit of the times. [volume] (Ironton, Ohio) 1853-1858, 1854-05-02
COMMUMlCArED.
-tt For the Spirit OF the Tunes.
SPIRIT UALI NJ No. 4.

Messrs. Editors--Allow me once more
to occupy little space in your paper
upon this important subject. ana for the
present shall have done, unless some
new arguments are elected by the op.
position. think enough has been said
10 prove to the satisfaction Of every i'm
partial observer, that my first proposi.
ton has been more than sustained; that
the opposition to spiritunlism in the
main is .''prrmptel by contracted views
Of Deity, as manifest in his creation,
and by narrow conceptions Of His re.
quiremen,s as revealed in His written
word" | thus conclule because of the
varied means resor,ed to for its over.
throw; among which equivocation, eva.
sion, rilicule, Misrepresentation, and
want of harmony stand out as the
most prominent.
lst. Then, refer to Reuchlin's reply
10 "No L." and mark The evident in.
tention TO ridicule in comparing spiritn'
al manifestations to the effects Of in
toxication. not only, bu, in the whole
tenor Of the article. Then, in his reply
10" "No g." read his disavowal Of the
intention to ridicule; and then read his
last, especially the authors he rec.
commends for your perusal, and judge
il such is the course Of an enquirer after
truth.
End. Rccapitulate the many passa-
ges Of scripture quoted, (seme of them
repeatedly,) that Reuchlin has been re.
quested to explain, or at least, to say
what they do relet 10, If no, TO spiritual.
ism; and you must have been more sue.
cessful in the perusal Of his articles than
/ have. or you will be forced to the con.
,clusion :hat their answer has been pur.
posely cvadel. For our third propo.
sition it is not nee osssry TO cite par.
,icuar instance, but simply to refer TO
the whole.
4ih. 1t is not claimed that the demon
,stfation Of the spirit depends upon any
form, size or condition of the external
man, but upon the state Of the mind, the
affections Of the soul, and the faith Of
the recipient. But, that an extraordi
nary manifestation Of the divine spirit is
best secured by combined effort ofthe
church membership; in other words, '.he
fervent prayers Of the righteous availeth
much" That unity Of thought and
exercise Of faith toward single object,
at particular time can be best secured
by assembling together, as the influence
of mind over mind tends to harmonize
ahe aggregate intellectual power Of the
.assemblage.
81 Ii this is not true in theory, then a
large portion of practice is founded ir
error. Yet at the same time he pcrvert'
our arguments, and then denies tb'
theory he attempts TO substantiate 70
ours, he admits in practice all that WI
claimed. Acknowledging the effect, bu
denying the cause. Again, notice hi
repeated assumptions that spiritualisn
produces such hosts ofmaniacs, and hi
defiant challenge to show any such re
suits from religious excitements. Ane
his remark, show unblushingly two sui
cides Of ministers are quoted," &c, as
the ministerial garb should be shele
from the reproach Of crime. But wha
are the facts! The report Of tho trustee
ofthe Lunatic Asylum ofOhio, in givin
the causes Of insanity for the year 1855
has-Spi,it Rappings, 5 males, 6 female
Religious Excitement, Is males. !
females-almost three to one in diret
opposition to his repeated assertion
.Who ought to blush in view Of such state
msnt.9 Ii il not claimed that spiritua
ian is new any more than any oths
cfthe elements Of our nature, but th'
the theory Of its operation is somewb'
stb. While ons opponent ofspiritua
M, acknowledges that disembodied sPi
;tssnpsared o7those ye: in the body
",den time, but tho lack Of a necessi
tndol so Sill, involves an impossbilit
another recognizing the instability /
S,SN position, denies that they ev
hsve been seen by persons in the bod
sr,a calls The resurrection Of Samuel
.Incsllofthe witch ofEndora deluslo
ssd ,inyckss spe;ial resurrec,ion &
~ ~ Of Moses. before his trsns6S
,.t;on 81, the Mount, to sustain the P
si;xias shss they cannot thus prsss
II ~ hs1I ~ 5AsEit 49,