The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1855-08-17
!DR. BELL ON sPIRITUALIsM.

prevail.
!DR. BELL ON SpIRITUALIsM.
We extract from the July number Of 7HslAmu.
iean Journal Of InIanity brief abstract Of DR..
Bells paper read at the meeting Of Insane Hos.
pital Suprentendents In this city, for which much
inquiry, public and private, has been made. 1t
will be recolleoted that DR.. Bell read paper on
what are called the "Spiritual Phenomena"
supplementary to one which he presented at the
last meeting Of the Associai ion at Washington
Of which no report has ever been made, by re.
quest OF several members. They considered that
the whole subject was then to immature, and so
much connected in the public mind with the rid.
icuous, as to make II inexpedient that il should
be more than announced generally Us among the
topics discussed by the Association. As II is un.
ders,ood that these papers will not be published
their basis being much in certain domestic ex.
periences-it is thought best to present briefsum.
mary ofthc leading facts and conclusions.-Bo'.
ton Courier.
DR.. Bell commenced by expressing his
surprise in finding last year that a, so large
a meeting OF persons whose lives were
spent in investigating The reciprocal influen' :
ces OF mind and body, scarcely single
member had given a moments attention
to topic directly in his path which, wheth-
er regarded as merely an epidemic mental
delusion, or as Psychological SCIENCE,
was producing such momenious effects up
on the world. II was now said 10 number
over two Millions Of believers, had an OK.
tended literature, talented periodical press
many forms, and had certainly taken
fast hold on many minds Of soberness and
power. He was well aware how easily
il was turned to ridicule, and that there
were many who would be ready 10 ask,
when they saw hospital directors seriously
discussing the spiritual phenomena, Qui'
eustodiet ipso, eustodes?
But if,here was any class Of men who
had duties in this direction, ], was those Of
our speciality. Our reports contain the
record Of many cases OF insanity said to
have been produced by il. !, was impor.
taut, whether true or false or mixed that its
precise depth, length and nature should be
studied out. AS. is well known, mystery
always loses loses its terrific character
when boldly met and opened 10 the Night
Of MONDAY.
DR.. Bell remarked that OH his return
home from our meeting at Washington he
he had peculiar wish 10 verify his previ.
Gus observations on what ore technically
known as the physical manifestations Of
this new science. He could not pretend
10 doubt his personal observations, address
ed to his sight, hearing and touch, and sep
ara,ed, as he believed, from any possibility
Of error or collusive fraud. Ye, the offer,
BY Professor Henery, ofa large sum TO any
person who would make one Of his tables
move in the Smithsonian Institution, and
the obvious incredulily OF many OF tho
" brelhren," had induced the desire again
to see some full aud unequivocal expert.
menis in tabls-mouing;
An opportunity was not long wanting
On the occasion Of the visit OF a well-known
gentleman long connected with the insane,
and who never had seen any Of these phe-
nomena a, the Asylum, Dr.. Bell invited
him 10 60 10 family where medium Of
considerable power was wishing. The fam
lily was one Of the mos, respectable ol
the vicinity, the head Of il being a gentle.
man inirusted with millions OF dollars OF
other peoples money as The financial man.
aser Of a large banking institution. He
and his wife had for some years been per.
iectly convinced Of the spiritual character Of
these manifestations. The medium was
young lady Of eighteen or twcniy, of. very
slight figure, weighing eighty or ninety
pounds, and had discovered herselfto be a
medium while on vis, to these distant
relatives. A family, from character and
position more entirely beyond the suspicion
Of even winkins a, anything like fraud or
does not exist in the world.
They were so fortunate as 10 find the me-
dium at home, and the circle was made Of
the FIVE persons mentioned. The ordinary
manifes,ations..of raps, beating Of musical
tunes and responses to mental and spoken
questions, were very completely presented,
as well as The movements Of the table under
the mere contact Of fingers ends.
Finding tha, things appeared very favorable
o full exhibition Of what he wished to
see, as evinced by the very facile move
ments Of the table under contact, DR.. Bell
proposed trying the grand sIpeimentunl
erusis Of the physical manifesia,ions-lhe
movomen, Of the table without any human
contact, direct or indirect. He was per-
mit,ed 10 arrange things 10 suit himself,
and began by opening the table more wide
ly and inserting two movable table leaves.
which increased the length from abou, fix
TO perhaps nine or Ten feet. This hc felt
also gave him an opportunity 10 see and
upset all wires and mechanism concealed,
OF at least TO answer positively as 10 their
non.eIis,ance. The table was solid siruc.
ture oi black.walnut, with six carved legs
The whole Of such weigh, that when