The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-06-25

1As Roxysys, By a 6sarehsr otter 7rutA, - the
title Of pleasant but philosophical little volume In
tsadsd 10 expose the 1Allacies ana deuaoDs Of spk
ritualisn and to account fos tam On purely pAydo-
logical pf'nciples. The author commences his task
by giving an account Of his personal experience
amongst the hierophanta Of the new worship and,
aided by keen sense Of the ludicrous, he has pre-
sented to % an exceedingly amusing, and, we have
no Doubt faithful record Of the spiritual antics and
gyrations Of which he was witness. The chapter
entitled Oliver Blodge, the Murderer" il capital
piece of satire on tho respect and awe with which
weak minds accept - gospel truths the absurdites
uttered through the medium Of the spiritual alpha
bet. The second part Of the work Consists mainly Of
which have been propounded in explanation Of the
s0callea spiritual phenomena, together with the
authors own deductions On the subject. he inchnes
to Reichenbachs theory Of resitess current In
sS 1u ba ~s ns e n1
the character Of the latter than Of the former as
being the origin Of the involuntary and vital
forces to which these phenomena are to be attributed
tsed by Che new sect, as rank blasphemy and all it's
manifestations as decisions. Few, we think, will be
disposed to combat these conclusions. tnt1t
By curious coincidence, the next work that pre-
aents tsefto our hand is the spiritual philosophy
bodied in Cousins Lectures on the True, the Beaut
full, and the Good, Of which the Appletons have inst
published translation by Mr.. o. ". Wright. What
contrast between the dry, meagre, objectless and
unsatisfactory dogmas OF the new spiritual theo-
logy and the generous, ennobling, and soulinspir-
ing theories Of the French philosopher! In the
latter We have spiritualism which subordinates
the to the mind, which nculcates the liberty
and responsibility Of human actions and the prac-
tice of all the virtues and charities OF life. 1t
teaches us that anarchy Is not the parent OF true
liberty and that although there may be difficulties
in Christianity they do not afford rational ustiii-
cation for scepticsm and inhdelity. Here is reli.
gion to which reason can bow with respect, and
which does not present rs with false gods like the
idols of pagansin, whose banality and gr0tesque
hideousness but thiny yelled by the incense of
priestcIaft and its dupes. The minds of men like
which the divine light that ought to guide our &C
tons can be derived. When the spirtualsm of the
"rappers produces practical fruit, like those Of the
work before rs, we may then be induced to accord
to it it's fair share Of credit.
The Masters House-a tale published by Noel
rath Co.'s, as may be guessed from its in,p,ina-
fur, one Of those pseudo sentimental and philan-
thrOpical ctions by which all the evils and vices of
society to be cured and the world converted into
an Ethiopia. We fear, however, that the human
mind will require long course Of this weakening
system of treatment, before the hoped, for consum
nation will be arrived at.
The Iron Cousin, or Mutual Influence, is the title
of cleverly written domestic tale, by Mrs. Mary
Cowden Clarke, the wife of the well known English
lecturer, and herself an authoress Of no mean emf
nence. The principal fault that we have to find
with the book is that it occasionally affects mas
cune force Of expression, which does not belong to
Mrs. Clarke's natural style, and which somewhat
mars the grace and feminine dehcacy Of her de-
scriptions. NOTICE TO PUBLISHERS.
Publishers DESTROYS OF having their works prompt
ly noticed, must forward them early in the week,
when they send in their advertisements.