The Greenbrier era. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1853-1854, 1854-06-24

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cannot be deuied that we are surround.
ed with .il"id which peculiarly be-
longs to US: Is it too much to say that
this possesses an agency not common to
other atmospheres!
But you remark, difficulties arise
very natural 10 matter dealing SO much
in the unknown-passing away beyond
the reach Of tho rays Of the beacon
lights Of science. Yet, my dear sir,
would you reject everything, iu the ill.,
vestlgation Of which difficulties occur,
Difficulties! l thank you for that
word! Can difficulties cxtinguish high
ana lofty asPlrations-can they quench
the evcr.burning desire Of the soul =
Then explain to Inc the nature Of cleo.
trIclty--answcr every cavil to the doc.
trlncS Of chrlstianity-tcll nc how the
deep prayer Of a sigh is beard by a
Savior Of love and tho soft blissful ill.,
iiucnce, Of Peace and Love, like a
gcntlc 1"T0, is shed over the spirit
ho" spirit bearcth witness with spirit.
No, you could not require Of mo to Law
open the rc-housc Of nature and cx-
h1blt all her occult and Invisible work
ings.
The same oil battling question: O my friend,
can not answer them. In vain send
My soul int" tho dark, where never burn
The lamp Of science, nor the natural light
oE reasons sun nnl stars, l can not learn
Their great and solemn meanings, nor discern
The awful secrets Of the eyes that turn
E'ermorc on us through the day nnd night
! With a silent challenge and n dumb demand
rEo'frIins the riddles Of the dread unknown"
Account, If you can, for the fact Of
Senator Simmons holding a pair of
scissors over sheet ofpaper with pen
ell standing pcrpcndicularly in the fin
ger holo which wrote tho name Of his
spirit-son, and, contrary to Ill cxpccta-
ton or fho"ght Of tho parties present,
returned aud dotted the /. or tho
opening Of tho compound FORMULATION
lock capable Of being opened with only
one Of $50 combinations, at 8 success
sivc trials without single failure, by in.
dications given by tablc-tippings-ot
tho hundreds Of millions Of chances
against this being done without q single
failure by guessing-of spirits being
described in tho very act Of tho mar
tcstatlons. Account for thcsc-(my
space 1orbidS the mention Of hundreds
of ochievoments) in any other way than
by the superstition Of spiritual agency
Explain these things to us, my witty
Philemon.
Again / say millions attest such facts
viz: that craps" arc hcard-tablcs
moved, &c. &c. Many persons were pres.
ent when the above was pcrformcd-thoy
saw tho pencil writc--tl,ey saw tho loo k
open. That tho phenomena do cxiet,
let them BIO accounted for as they may,
is proven. Hero you misconstrucd my
meaning. The question Of "r'gh< or
wrong WAS not mootcd, and so your allu.
sion to the heather, stocks and stones,
ETC., was entirely misplaced.
"It contradicts revelation" "Thc
soul, after leaving tho body, either goes
to Heaven or Hell there 10 remain. -
~ great gulph fixed between the two"
Happy spirits would not come to earth
unhappy spirits could not I be-
licvo in rcvelation--I would to God it
| were more the man Of my counscl-thc
lamp to my fcet--in the language Of
the motto inscribed upon Wctzcl's ban .
ner: Gods word standcth forever
Where is Heaven? Whcro is He'll ?
What is the nature Of the gulph Of sep.
aration? Is the Specification Of place
simply intended? Why did you not
notice tho fact that the spirit Of the beg.
gar Lazarus was borne upon the pinions
ofongels Into Abraham's bosom, (Lukc,
CHI. lG: v. 22.) Where was tho spirit
received And yet good spirits would
not como TO earth. But this is not all
Turn over the leaves Of the Bible and
explain to us tho temperance Of Moses
| and Elias on tho mount Of transfiyura.
tion--tho resurrection Of Lazarus-
ElUahs magnificent entry into the spir.
it lan1-thc raising Of Samuel by the
witch Of Endor-thc angels in tho way
Of Balaam-tho burial Of Jonah. Tell us
whence came the legion Of devils that
were permitted to enter into tho swine.
hopo you will be so kind as to On.
Tighten us on some Of these points and
remember my positions arc-that spir.
itual communications arc founded upon
law Of our nature, treason, expert.
once, revelation" 10 tho question OF
right or wrong:
"I have no answer for myself or thee,
Save that learned beside my mothers knee: