Monongalia mirror. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1855, 1854-04-22
COMMUNICATED.
"sPIRITUALIsM."

ten on the subject OF "Splrituai ina1i.
festations" of late, in our own midst
and elsewhere, and even al the wise men
of the East" have been among the mum.
Der of tho converts to tho doctrine OF
Z" Spiritual intercourse" i. g. holding
converse with the spirits of the dead
Much excitement has been superin'
duced by the marvellous demonstrations
of those called "mediums" in the table
ruppings and ,ippings, aud in strange
writings; and some of the unfortunate
adherents to this new idea have pursued
it SO far that they have found an asylum
for their wrecked intelects in the Insane
Hospitals of our land. 1t is not my Oh,
ject to feed such an excitement-to add
converts 10 the doctrne-but to allay
that excitement by reason, and inter-
pose valid argument, 10 stay The belleV'
er in its delusiye tendencies from ven
turing too far in the dark, guided mere;
ly by an ignas ,tatuas, until the path OF
return may be enveloped in deeper
darkness, and the obstacles TO retreat
be more insurmountable than those he
has met in his progress after error in
the garb of truth. i might join the host
who cry "humbng" at these demonstra'
lions, and stigmatizo those engaged in
them as "impOstOrs," but this course
would not subserve the ends of truth,
nor satisfy the spirit of enquiry which
the very novelty Of the subject and its
exciting developments is sure TO beget
wherever it is introduced. A better
course can be fnllowed-more tenable
ground occnpied-in the examination
Of this subject. Tha, course l shall
pursue, aud that ground occupy, in my
reflections in this article. lhave inves.
tigated the subject, and my investiga-
tions have been patient aud perseTer-
ing, and am conscientious in the con.
illusions 10 which have arrived, and l
now give them for the benefit of those
who may not be fully satisfied of the
spirituality of 'spiritualism.'
l have seen all that has been said of
the table operations, and am prepared
to accede to them their due degree oEthe
marvellous-they are to me nnaccount-
able except by the agency shall as
cribe them to hereafter. tThe idea that
it is an electrical operation has not
survived experimcnt.) As to the writ
ings, | am prepared to say that ! have
written under my own hand, involunta.
riy and without my volition, matter that
has astonished me, in its novelty and
correctness, while my own mental in
terrogatories have been frequently an.
swered by writing medium who
did not know the subject of them until
the answers were written out. l have
seen good and wholesome advice writ.
ten 10 persons, for their observance, and
l have also seen the most obscene and
blasphemous sentiment written that
could be coined by the most dcpraved
mind on earth or in perdition!
Although always disbeliever in The
Divinity of this agency, and skeptical
in regard to the correctness of its pre-
tensions, have, nevertheless, been fire.
quently puzzled at its phenomenon
yet it has been always sufficient for me
to know that the "spirits y were not in
fallible, and that they too often failed in
the full measure Of knowledge which
they arrogated to themselves-or that
as ministeriug and councilling spirits,
appointed by God for mans guidance in
this world, they would possess, partak-
ing Of course of His nature, infinite,
omnipolent, omniprescnt, changeless,
eternal. lknew too, that there was no
necessity for such revelation-lhat it
was Inconsistent with the tenor and spir-
it of Divine revelation-and that il such
an agency were consistent, with the laws
of His government, that this sayored too
much of the finite and the devilish to
DO entitled 10 any countenance on
that ground. Should the great archi.
tect OF the Universe deign to hold such
communication with man as is compre-
hended in the catalogue of spiritual
manifestations" turning tables, rapping
upon them, writing light and trivial
sentences, and anon serious instructions,
or is it compatible with an enlightened
idea of His nature and perfeciions to
suppose that he would dispatch the
spirits of the redeemed from their glori-
Gus abode on such an errand-when the
tornado and the thunder echo his voice,
and while the revelation of His will con.
corning man is $50 plain that the way
fariug man, though a fool, shall not err
therein 7"
In answer to my question if this agen-
cy were of God, why was it that it has
not been so fully developed earlier in
the worlds history, ! received for reply
through medium, MAN was not pre-
pared TO receive it, and as tue Bible had
failed to accomplish its mission, God
had devised this plan to save sinners"
This, however, will not do for Divine
ly appointed agency, for God has said
"My word shall not return unto me
void, but SHALL accomplish that where
unto it is SENT The plan of salvation
which astonished angels, aud that was