Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1849-1856, 1854-01-19
Ma. EDlroR:-


tanons. The News Of Monday has hlso
an editorial, n which those ol our CON.
u unity, who take nn interest in said
phenomenal. nre charged with partial or
iull deranlement, with impious blaspiIa-
NY, eic. At the conclusion, the writer
expresses, however, with Draiscwortly
charity, the earnest wish that these poor
victims OF morbid Imagination might
toon be led back upon lhs rath OF the
righteous, and thus escape the danger Of
being inmates Of n Lunatc Asylum.
Having myself convened, last week u
meeting, ior the purpose oi discussing
the subject oil Spirltualism, ii seems to
he my pace 10 make some remarks in
answer 10 these articles.
And lot me s,ats here that consider
an answer necessary only, because the
subject in question 10 SO very little known
IN this community. Oth.rwise | should
let them pass by snnnticed the reason
why being obvious.
Allow me then, in the first place, te
express TO you from The holton oi ny
own and as l suppose OF all the hearts Of
my fellow sinners, our whrmest gratitude
for your kind wishes as TO our spiritual
welfare, expressed la the last sentence
of your article. We most hurnbly trust
that such wishes, coming from IL soul a.
large and charitable as yours, may DO
realized and shield w from a terri bio
fate.
In regard TO cases ol insanity, caused
by Spiritualism, reported by the press.
il does not seem 10 me that this Tor
moment could be argued agains, the III.
vestigau n OF the subject Even suppc.
siDg all these cases, as they are report
ed. 10 be true, which, however, | have
reasons 10 doubt strong y, still, it proves
nothing against. 1t only proves TO me
that there are persons SO weak minded.
either from disease, or from being con.
fined so long TO the gloomy ani narrow
li.nits OF Seciarinnism, that the least oc-
currence, which is different from "what
It used TO be-" unsettles the balance oi
their int, llect. The strong light winch
seems TO be breasing upon The world,
through SpirtuaIlsm, must oi course
blind such sick brothers. The subject
in question ought to be kept from such
persons II possible, As they are sick and
ns it can do them no good. A calm IN
vestigation OF a person with IA well bal
anced mind, can never lead TO any inju-
rio s consequences.
On the other hand, who ever thinks
Of demo ,ncing The Christian principles,
and yet every one 10 fully aware that
millions and millions Of human beings
have been khled, poisoned, aye, siaugh.
tered for the glory oi the Christian relig.
ion.
A vuin a Ituays han ha.n u,A !, al
ways will be the case, when an impor-
tunt revolution, either ~ science, or in
art, or in politics, or in any hing else
takes place, that II few have TO suffer.
The majority are gamers, some ndIvid-
walls are losers.
But SIR, allow ME turn your attention
TO another eide oi the question. THIS is
10 preeminentiy an age OF scientific
achievements, OF fac:s, Ii is EroveI by
the testimony oil thousands and thous-
ands OF persons u :he highest standard
in regard TO morality, knowledge and
experience, that these phenomena, called
Spiritual Manifestations, have occurred
repeatedly. 1t is "a fact, that no theory,
with the exception OF tho sprtuaD can
explain the least one, by any scientific
ih"I w "" a PiO'N"' AN'Np GU
why don you come forward und explain
the mystery why don't you advance
theory, by which we can redue. hese
phenomena, TO a scientific basis or wny
don't you show us po,r deludrd NOR
tails, how We could have been deluJsd
in such IN awful manner. There, cir
there is a chance TO Try your wits, to
show the sharpness OF your intellect
there is also a chance TO make your
sell a beneisctor Of the whole human
race, by ,oIvlng Il mystery which 50 Tar
has been insolu)lt 10 the most learned
| and educated and more 40 by saving
many POOR dcluded brother from de.
| struclion.
We don't want 10 know whether you
or anybody else believes that the dead
are dead, or that they are only half dea',
/ or perhaps that the dead are fully alive.
Your individual belief based either on
religious convictions, sectarian creeds,
or philosophical theories, Is notnin. TO
U.S. We want PLAIN facts a plain dem-
| Onstration, plain scientific analysis, no
moon-shlne hypothesis. Facts will re-
main facts, whether you denounce them
as the greatest evil, or praise them as
the highest good.
But above. all, allow me, sir, TO ad
Wis, you most humbly, first to invesli-
ga;s the subject for yourseli frsn
learn something about It from yoar own
experience before you dare TO publicly
acuse OF insanity persons whose con-
elusion, that there 10 something in this
phenomena, which deserves careful i'll
vesligation, dates Eot from yesterday
has been arrived at alter All experience
OF from one TO two and more years. II
after an investigation you still think
| as you do now. and can show us why,
then We shall most hunbly bow TO your
| superior wisdoa and knowledge. At
present, as ths cry Of humbug is once
| raised, your course reminds u' very
strongly, Of the story, lately published
in your raper,-"Sheep in Crockery
store.n
Lastly, let me state, no, from fear Of
tho opinion Of the public, Tor ! never
knew such feeling, but merely TO de-
hne my own present position in regard
10 Spiritualism, that do not yet believe
10 the spiritual agency OF these phenom.
ena. cons der them az highly import
ant, and If not spiritual, they certainly
are Psychological and the dawning Of
new science | think, which will devel-
ope the elements and properties OF the
human mind. In giving publicity 10
the above, you will greatly obigs me.
With no personal i'll feelings, | remain,
in the search alter truth, cordially