Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1854-12-21
EVENING STAR.
BALTIMORE CoRREsPoupRscr

Sp.rat~a1,sm -Anti.Spir - Kno.k
WondsnSpt}p snnSSpt}p'TTgsSEEsstraordinary TgS Scene
strated, DC ''"' Ds"i'"
| BALTIMORE, Dec 20-p.
Spiritual rapping and some of ;ts con,
comltant humbugs are being partiall1
galvanized into life here. Last Snnd.y =
a gentleman named Cunningham from
washington city, held forth to a conore.
gatlon OF persons upon the subject O
spirltualism. He had quite respectable
audience-some of whom (Dr. Snodgras.
especially were among the faithful, Hf
undertook to explain the subtle mystery
and got up to the doubly-refned. Seventh
degree of invisible existence, beyond tbe
confines of mortality. This is called the
seventh heaven, and superlative of exoui.
site JOY. The lecturer produced variety
OF exquisite drawings, representing va.
rlous fruits, flowers and plants, known
and unknown, which he asserted had
been executed by himself, whilst me.
dunn, and under supernatural influence.
These drawings, too, were accomplished
at night, period which professed artists
say they could not possibly have been
done, independent of the aid of an inyisi
BILE power. Mr.. G. asserts that, natural
~, he does not possess the slightest fac.
ulty for drawing, and before being a
splritualist, never did and never could
portray the likeness of anything in the
earth, under it, or in the blue heavens
These pictures, some fifty in number
were executed by him with spiritual aid;
some with a few rapid strokes of the pen
Gil, and all without the slightest effort.
tie must, certainly, have fallen in with
the spirits of some of the old masters.
The drawings were unusually fine and
admirably executed. l will not stop to
discuss the merits of this singular hallu
cination, but must require more substan-
tial evidence than the speaker presented
to believe his pretended gallery of spirit
paintings had not the touch of physical
brush and genius in them.
Whilst spiritual rappers pursue their
Investigations, we have at present among
us an antidote to them-Mr. Burley, an
itinerant lecturer, who processes to ex-
plain the whole delusion upon natural
principles. He says he can satisfactorily
account for all, philosophically. Being
liberal, however he invites opponents to
hear, see. and produce their mystic re.
suits. attended one of his levees last
night, at the Maryland Institute. Un-
fortunately his lecture was over when I
arrived. The pith of it was, however, q
proposition to show that rappings, table.
tippings, &C., were the simple effect of
animal electricity or magnetism, affecting
the imagination and not matter. When
[ entered the hall [ found some hal
dozen circles, composed of real believers
in spiritualism, surrounding as many
tables. There were ladies and gentle
men, about equally divided-some doc
tors, other preachers, and the residue
persons of various professions and occu.
pations. All was silent as midnight
not word spoken. Here sat an elderly
lady with spectacles on nose, looking
serious and knowing. A gentleman by
her side was equally intent. A circle
was formed, and the inanimate pine table
absorbed all attention. This Was the
case with each little group. It was the
first thing of the kind 1 had seen, and, l
must say, the most silly in appearance.
| stood an astonished spectator, and phi
losophised upon the credulity of nv
fellowman. What! can it be possible
that these persons are sane and sincere I!
Do they believe that disembodied spirit
will condescend to manifest itself to a
gazing, idle crowd Of tangible substances
through an old dirty table or tripod {!
Will IT make that unconscious board play
fantastic tricks to please mountebanks,
hallucinate simple old women or turn
the brain of an unlettered multitude :?
Gan 1t be true that tables arc the con-
Meeting link between mortality and lm-
mortality? Oh credulity, thou subju-
gator of weak humanity! My philosc-
ply, or stoicism, if you chose to call it
such, is derived from observation-that
of being mere
LOCKER on in Vienna,
| approached circle which appeared to
be most in earnest. Here sat an anxious
old lady, who formed a connection in
the chain with her believing companions.
She was intent upon the spirits, and ever
and anon she would question:" Will
the spirits rap! Will the spirit tip the
table! Does the spirit hear my voice !?
Has the spirit any objection to appear
ing! Is there any one near by who is
Objectionable to the spirit !! Here slight
rap was heard, signifying, in the spirit
language, Yes"
"Who is the person 2"
Il don't like to tell" was the reply.
why not?
Well, because don't"
"Will the spirit please inform US who
the Objectionable person is 2"
1" can't answer until spectators re.
tire some distance from the circle"
Here all who had no immediate con-
nection with the operators withdrew q
few PAGES, and the question was again
put, Will the spirit please tell who the
person is that interferes with it's action
on the table ?''