The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1855-07-25

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THE DEVIL AND THE SPIRIT RAP
PERS.
4 late article in an able Northern maya
cine. contends that the spiritual manifesto
lions are the works Of the Devil. The writer
admits that the marvels testified to by Judge
Edmouds, ex- Senator Tallmadge. and others
are facts, and that consequently they DIS
close . supernatural agency. but argues thar
they are all the achievements of his Satanic
Majesty.
We confess our surprise that any intelli'
rent writer should take such q view OF the
subject. Greater men than either Edmonds
or Tallmadge, were believers in witchcrai''
and the proofs on which their faith was
founded, we're quite as strong as any arrayed
ON behalf of the supernatural character OF
spiritual manifestations. To assume thar
there is any demoniac agency in this ousi'
ness, Is to invest it with new attraction 10
many, who would have nothing to do with
such common place personages as Fish, FOX
& Co. In fact, prove that the Devil is acees'
sible in this way to anybody who will call
upon him, and many enterprising Fishes and
Foxes would at once endeavor to sell him
their souls. The stories of people selling
their souls to the old boy for large fortunes,
is not true, simply because they have not an
opportunity to make contract which would
be often 30 agreeable to both parties.
On the whole, the writer above referred
to, has done the Devil great injustice. In all
the denunciatioDs which have been lavished
upon that parsonage, we have never before
known bis sense and sagacity called in ques
ton. But if he has anything to do with spi
ritrapping, he must be as much fool as
knavs. Thus, for example, such cases oc
cur as the following, which is related by
correspondent of Northern paper: "A me-
deal friend of mine attended a Circle He
called for the spirit of murdered person
The spirit at once responded, and acknow-
lodged that he who was commonly charged
with bis DEATH was in truth the murderer;
that ali the facts of his funeral were as mar
rated. The questioner expressed himself
parfsctly satisfied, folded up his paper, and
departed, leaving the Circle uniformed as
to whose spirit he had summoned. l asked
him, Whom did you call for7 He answered,
for Cock Robin
We are clearly for giving the old gentle
man in black his due; but if he has anything
to do with spirit rapping, he can never have
much to do with any other kind of wicked
ness. 1t is impossible to suppose that such
Cock Robin" of a Devil could ever have
deceived old Mother Eve, or have done much
mischief in the world.
The correspondent referred to mentions
another case, which occurs in the book of
Judge Edmonds "a Bishop, it appears, ask
cd the spirit of Lord Bacon to write the
Apostles Greed in Latina very fair request
of one 30 famed for his latinity and learning,
But the spirit of Lord Bacon could not do
what was desired, and the Devil Gf he was
at hand could not help him in so simple a
matter. Now, see Lord Bacon's satisfactory
and grammatical excuse: 4 was somewhat
inclined to answer the Bishop cavalierly
when he asked me to write the Apostles
Creed. have forgot both the Apostles and
the Creed, and hope shall not again be sub.
jsct to the indignity of learning it,! How
plainly is this the fimsy excuse of an half
educated man, who could not write Latin or
Tn elijah oithor sttamnf;po RI oouo, 49,. L.:
ignorance, after humiliating exposure"
We are inclined to think that if any Devil
1t all was employed in this business, it must
have been one of the subordinate devils-a
inexperienced and silly imp
who, being unit to be trusted in matters of
importance, had been appointed by his supe.
rior to deal with the spirit-rappers, on the
ground shat folly is the best bait whereyitb
to catch fools"
The great and pious Luther, who some
times imagined that the Devil was after him.
and whose Devil was one who could argue a
point almost as we'll as Luther himself, ad
vises his disciples that there are two excel.
lent methods of getting rid of the Devil
One is music, and the other is ridicule. The
Devil, Gays Luther, cannot bear Joke If
this be true, the only good which can arise
from identifying him with spirit rappipg. ia
The general mirth which it will create at his
expense. From being the terror, he will be.
come the laughing stock of Christendom.
and we shall thus be rid of great nuisance
RUSSIAN ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
A German journal, mentioning the fact
hat $4,000 Russian veterans hitherto station.
I'd in Poland, have already passed to the
south of Perekop, says that these are the
irst elite troops that Russia has sent to the
;rimea, and that in spite of the most ardu
Jus marches, they have lost nothing of their
martial bearing and spirit. Should reinforce
nents reach Gortchakoff before the next
rand assault. the allies may experiences ano
her terrible reverse. \