The Westerly echo, & Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1854-1858, 1855-04-26

fearing, the bible believing, of.the day J
Can you read the writings Of Prof.
Bush Of New York-his reply to Dr.
Woods Of Andover-his letters TO q
Trinitarisn, spd .ssy that be is half
mad lecturer /! Is DR.. Hare Of Philadel-
phia, half-nad lscturerl BY your
own rule Of investigation, viz, BY those
accustomed to rigid investigation, spirit
ualism, or the manifestation of |" depart
cd" spirits to or through those in the
flesh, there are multitudes of such who
have decided in it's favor. Il
You say, "The investigator, must be
at home, in.the difficult regions of men
tai philosophy.g 10 say that Emmanuel
Swedenborg was not at home in mental
philosophy, would be to set aside the
united testimony of all capable Of bear
ing testimony in his case. While I
am not prepared to defend the divine
illumination of that extraordinary man,
| speak understandingly when I, say
that great numbers of bis learned and
pious contemporaries did admit his divine
illumination, and some of the brightest
ornaments of modern Europe, and Of the
Clergy Of England at this day fully
admit it. l am learner. You admit
the :" soul Of the departed mag be about
US, that zoe may be visible to them" t"
admit the same, and also that they
may communicate to us, and influence
US, and | think that there exist more
evidence for, than against the idea that
some OF the modern phenomens may
be caused by spirits from the spirit
world. l have no more sympathy than
yourself with the " half-demented mys-
tlcs,and visionary philanthropists" of this
or any other age. But it seems to be
the fate Of pioneers in science and reli-
glon to be regarded as visionary. Even
Christ and Paul did not escape such q
charge. Calico and Columbus we're
treated as fanatics. Phrenology, mes
nerism, clarevoyance have all been put
under ban. Physiology is receiving the
'ame treatment. Theology itself has
lot escaped persecution. have no
heory to Establish, but desire to let
ruth develops itself, and while I wish
o pay all rightful difference to the
'oary past, yet mean to apply my
elf to find out knowledge and truth,
hough / suffer reproach as fanatic Or
enthusiast. l intend to prove all things,
md only hold fast the good. Soon l
expect to be among the dead, and little
then will it affect me whether I went with
the popular current, or not, if 80. I ap, !
but permitted to be some angel Of good
tidings, some ministering spirit 20 those
l leave behind me. Believe me, then
dear Echo, as not captious in writing,
but as desirous of eliminating truth for
my own and Others good, s.s.c
Remarks.
You deny writing that any spiritualis,
has power ovet what you call the demons
that possess them. We may be at faul,
IN this point so far as you are concern.
ed; but as it is, we believe, q generally
received point with spiritsalists, that
the spirits would make their appearance
at almost any time when a "circle"
should be formed, We suppose We must
have taken it for granted that that was
your opinion also. If it is not, we do
not see that you have improved your
position much for if the spirits, either
good or bad, can take possession of a
mortal and compel him to otey it, OF
course, that body, or the soul that pre-.
tends to claim it, cannot be held re.
sponsible for the acts which it may com
nit while under the control Of the |" de.
moh.." Rather an I" irresponsible" kline
of doctrine, it strikes US.
If you hold to the denial of any con
troll Of the spirits by the body of which
they take possession, our remark a
the end Of the second paragraph" doe
not apply to your case. 1t was made
supposipg that you held that visitor
from the spirit-world were subject t.
some rules of constraint.
You'deny having intimated that thi
body will inhabit eternity. Of course
that denial is sufficient to settle tha
Question; but we must confess, sue
being tho case, we misunderstood som
of your language.
You ask US where and in what man
ner Swedenborg conflicts with the Bible
Of course, we cannot answer that ques
ton satisfactorily to you for it involve
the main points at issue between us
We might tell you where zoe think b,
conflicts with the Bible as we under