Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-04-21
SpIRITUALISAI.
REMARKS OF MIR. SHIELDS.
on THE
MEMORIAL OF THE SPIRIT-RAPPERs,


Ia the United States Senate, April IL, 1854.
Mr.. SHIELDS said beg leave to present
TO the Senate petition, with some fifteen thou
sand names appended to it, upon very singu-
lar and novel subject The petitioners repre-
sent that certain physical and mental phenom-
ena, OF mysterious import, have become so
prevalent In this country and Europe as to en-
gross large share OF public attention. A
partial analysis of these phenomena attest the
existence
|. Of an occult force which is exhibited in
sliding, raising, arressing, holding, suspending,
and otherwise disturbing ponderable bodies,
apparently in direct opposition to the acknow-
lodged laws of matter, and transcending the ac-
credited power of the human mind. 4 Laughter.)
2. Lights of different degrees of intensity APP
pear in dark rooms where chemical action
or phosphoric illumination cannot be deyel-
oped, and where there are no means of gen.
Grating electricity or of producing combustion.
daughter.
3. A variety of sounds, frequent in occur.
renee and diversified in character, and of sim
gular significance and import, consisting of
mysterious rappings, indicating the presence of
invisible intelligence. Sounds are often heard
like those produced by the prosecution of me-
chanical operations, like the hoarse murmur of
the winds and waves, mingled with the harsh
creaking noise of the masts and rigging of
ship laboring in sea. Conclusions also occur
resembling distant thunder.producing oscilla-
tory movements of surrounding objects, and
tremulous motion of the premises upon which
these phenomena occur. Harmonious sounds,
as that of human voices, and other sounds, re-
sembling those of fife, drum, trumpet, &C., have
been produced without any visible agency.
4. All the functions of the human body and
mind are influenced in what appears to be GER
tain abnormal states of the system by causes
not yet adequately understood or accounted for.
The occult force or invisible power frequently
interrupts the normal operation of the faculties,
suspending sensation and voluntary motion of
the body to deathlike GOODNESS and rigidity,
and diseases hitherto considered incurable have
been entirely eradicated by this mysterious
agency.
The petitioners proceed TO state that two
opinions prevail with respect to the origin of
these phenomena one describes them to the
power and intelligence of departed spirits ope
rating upon the elements which pervade all
material forms; the other rejects this conclu-
sion and contends that all these results may be
accounted for in rational and satisfactory
manner. The memorialists, while thus disa-
greeting as to the cause, concur in opinion as
to the occurrence of the alleged phenomena,
and in view of their origin, nature, and bearing
upon the interests of mankind, demand for
them patient, rigid, scientific investigation,
and request the appointment of q scientific
commission for that purpose.
have given faithful synopsis of this petit
ton, which, however unprecedented in itself,
has been prepared with singular ability, pre-
senting the subject with great delicacy and
moderation. ! make it rule to present any
petition to the Senate which is respectful in its
terms but, having discharged this duty, may
be permitted to say that the prevalence OF this
deluson at this age Of the world amongst any
considerable portion of our citizens. must origi-
nate, in my opinion, in defective system of
education, or in partial arrangement of the
mental faculties, produced by deceased con.
dition OF the physical organization. ! cannot,
therefore, believe that it prevails to the extent
indicated in this petition. Different ages Of
the world have had their peculiar decisions.
Alchemy occupied the attention Of eminent
men for several centuries; but there was some
thing sublime in alchemy. The philosophers
stone, or the transmutation of base metal into
gold-the ELIXIR rite, or "water Of life," which
would preserve youth and beauty, and prevent
old age, decay, and death-were blessings which
poor humanity arden,ly desired, and which al
chemy sought to discover by perseverance and
piety. Roger Bacon, one of the greatest alche-
mists, and greatest men of the thirteenth CEN
tury, while searching for the philosophers
stone, discovered the telescope, burning-glasses.
and gunpowder. The prosecution of that de-
luoion, therefore, led to number of useful dis.
coveries.
In the sixteenth century flourished Corne-
Illus Agrippa, alchemist astrologer and magi-
cian-one Of the greatest professors and her
metic philosophers that ever lived. He had
all the spirits of the air and demons, of the
earth under his command. Paulus Jovius
says thatsth devil, in the shape of large
black dog, attended Agrippa wherever he went.
Thomas Nash says, that, at the request of Lord
Surrey, Erasmus, and other learned men,
Agrppa called up from the grave several Of
the great philosophers Of antiquity-among
others, Tully, whom he caused to re-deliver his
celebrated Grafton for Roscius, to please the
Emperor Charles the Fifth. He summoned
King David and King Solomon from the tomb,
and the Emperor conversed with them long
upon the science Of government. This was
glorious exhibition of spiritual power com
pared with the Insignificant manifestations of
the present day.
will pass over the celebrated Paracelsus,
for the purpose of making allusion to an Eng
ishman with whose veracious history every
one ought to make himself acquainted In
The sixteenth century, DR.. Dee made such pro-
gress in the talismanic mysteries, that he ac-
luired ample power to hold familiar converse
lion with spirits AID angels, and to learn from
them all the secrets Of the universe. On one
occasion the angel Ure gave him black
crystal of a convex form, which he had only
o gaze upon intently, and by strong effort Of
he will he could summon any spirit he wished,
% reveal to him the secrets Of futurity. Dee,
n his veracious diary, says: That one day,
While he was sitting with Albertus Laski,
Polish nobleman, there seemed to come out of
he oratory spiritual creature, like a. pretty
,irl of seven or nine years of age, with her
lair rolled up before and hanging down behind,
With gown of silk Of changeable red and
,reen, and with a train; she seemed to play
lp and down, and to go in and out behind the
looks, and as she seemed to go between, the
,ooLc d,cplaood thamealvao o,,d y,o ,,o, e.