The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1855-07-12
TFsTS OF SPIRITUALISM..

There eems to be no abatement in this ex-
srsordinary mania, which, however, is chief
II confined to the Plymouth Rock section,
wherein eli sorts Of isms seem to find more
conseniai soil than in any other portion OF
the country. Conventions of spirituaiists
ere still held, books Published, and reveia-
tions viven from the other world. It Is as.
founding that men of sense and information
should be duped by such bald ana pa'PA-
bile .humbue; bat the love Of the marvellous
Il ssrsug even in cultivated minds, ana VAN
maaxind In general, "the pleasure Is - great
In being cheated as to cheat"
II Il difficult to explain the manner IN
which this deception is practiced' but y 10
equally difficult to show how professional
iueelers perform their tricks. In neitner
case ia the difficulty any evidence OF super
natural agency If the pretensions OF 'opi
r;tu.lism" are true, nothing can be easier
than to demonstrate the fact beyond the
reach of all cavil Why should spirits from
the other world be permitted to manifest
themselves to the iivipg7 What valuable
purpose can be gained by it9 II to snlign'
ten men in truth, or TO supply them Win
fresh motives to virtuous courses, what va
liable truth have they disclosed, wnicn !"
new; and what new one which is vaiuabie!-'
What motive to virtue have they offered
which was not long ago presented by the
lips of One, to whom all the spirits are SUP.
ject, and who established his supernatural
character blythe most incontestable miracles
There is, therefore, no reason why spiri's
should be sent to hold communion with men,
while we can see very good reason in the de-
sire for gain, why Fishes and Foxes should
endeavor to dupe the multitude. The fact
that In all the revelations Of the ghosts, not
one addition has been made to our knoWi-
edge of human or divine things, is OF itself
enough to throw suspicion on this gross I'M
posture.
Moreover. if Spiritualism be true, what can
be easier than to prove it to the satisfaction
of the most sceptical, by another test! It's
ghosts claim to know everything that Is 60
ing on in heaven and earth, and they are
communicative enough, in all conscience
upon points in which it is impossible to con.
tradict them. Now, let them be Intercepted
as to matters in which human agency can
not be suspected, and in which their vera
city can be ascertained. For example: Let
Judge Edmonds or Hon. Mr.. Talmadge exa.
mine daily one of their familiar spirits as to
the progress of the siege of Sebastopol.-
Their ghosts know everything; let them re-
port daily the progress of that exciting fight
The American people would then get the
news at least three weeks in advance of the
steamer; and if the daily bulletins of the
spirits were confirmed by the regular arri
VAL who could any longer doubt their su-
pernatural character Here is fair test
Will they accept lit No one believes for an
instant that they would consent to such an
ordeal. They never have made revelations
of affairs in other parts of this world, until
the rest of the public had obtained the facts
from other sources; such, for example, as
the particulars of the Arctic's loss, publish
ed by Judge Edmonds some time after it had
appeared in all the newspapers. Strange,
that men of intelligence and education should
be deluded by such an audacious humbug,