The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1856-01-30
For the Journal.
Sniritualism.

the fact that the spirits OF the departed visit
their friends left on earth, but ike the coward
ly assassin or midnight robber, he hides himself
from view that he may, with the greater lmpu-
nifty, attempt to blacken the characters OF some
of our most exemplary christians and lie low
citizens.
His article is characterized with feeling Of
malice that is unchristian and ungentlemanly.
He misrepresents facts, and appeals to the pas
sions and prejudices of his readers. He as
sumes to know all that is worth knowing,
while those who do not think with him are
ignorant, uneducatel, lelstaea-tho' heretofore
regarded as sensible people, EH
He assumes much and proves nothing-is
bombastic and gassy, and evidently extremely
self-complacent, presuming he will at blow
annihilate spiritualists and spiritualism-
threatening to publish all their names ifthey
dare to reply to him. Brave fellow. He as
sumes to be the guardian spirit of Christiani-
ty, and also acts as agent for the internal re-
gions, and is going to see that the "devil is not
cheated of his just Dues 1t is evident the
latter little matter will be faithfully attended
to, as recently agents for that concern are I'M
usually active hereabouts, andappearances are
indicative of "full CROP
He seems to be fearful that spiritualists will
become tainted with Free Love: from the ex-
ample set them by DeFoe and Patten, both
lclassleaders and men of family, and by the
little experiments Of the Rev. Hamlin, made
in the way Of Free Love with one of the sis
tiers of the flock, while he passed himself off
successfully as a widower, until his wife, whom
he had deserted, scented the clerical gentleman
out; thus nipping in the bud his hopes of fu-
ture happiness. These are all detachable. i'm
maculate pinl1s Of purity, and members of the
household of faith, and of the elect, who can
not fall from grace, but may for time be suf
ferel to run the race that is set before them.
Iwish it, Mr.. Editor, to be understood, that
1 have nothing to do with any such dirty.
street BLACKBOARD as "Incog;;'' his bar-room
Iproclivities, are beneath my notice. IL the
! language of another can say, Il do not wish
to east reflections upon your correspondent"
for he is to he pitied. There are, however some
reptiles who, when thus permitted to use the
columns of a newspaper, leave their Shiny
tracks behind them. One would scarcely
deign to tread upon such reptile, least the
jointed monster fly in pieces, and scatter more
widely its loathsome pollution.
Having now disposed of your correspondent,
/ by your permission, Mr.. Editor, | will pro-
ceed to say that there are those who are
honest seekers for truth. Their ate ntion has
] been called to the subject of spiritualism, by
the abuse that has of late been poured out
upon those who are protested believers in
spiritual manifestations. They say if it is
truth, let US know it; and if false let it be ex-
posed. zee, 10
Ministers of The gospel, pretty generally
Iseem to fear it. 1t is with them sort of
bread and butter question. The more cautious
Eofthem pay but little attention to it, feeling
willing to trust to God and time to show what
it may be. The less prudent and more bonn
bastic, denounce it as humbug, or as the
munon of spirits with those of earth; but de-
my it is by the appreciation of God. Such, we
trefer to John 4:1--3 John here speaks
of the spirits (not Of men, Should a spirit
deny Christ he is then to be rejected, and his
teachings refused. So far as l have had op-
portunity to listen to spirits, have never yet
heard one deny Christ; but on the contrary,
they urge every one to follow Christ's exam
| pie. l have never heard in all my life. a spir-
! il advise to immortality. But they ON the
other hand, exhort to purity in all our acts,
that we may be a fit dwelling place for the
soul, which is oil, and must return to God.
1t is by no means strange, that educated as
most of us have been, we should be startled
with the spiritual phenomena now made mani
fest. Men have mistaken theology for scrip
ture, they have by their creed, been obliged to
warp the most sacred truth, to suit precen-
ceiyed and popular dogmas. The mind thus
biased is but i'll prepared to receive new truths,
especially, when those truths in great meas
ure conflict with popular notions.
Notwithstanding the Apostles were the
| daily companions of Christ, they often doubted
what he taught, and those doubts were only
hinderences to the dischage of their duty. see
/ Matt. IL: IA, 81. In this case the disciples
failed to cast out devil The child of whom
he had possession was brought TO Christ
"And Jesus rebuked the devil and he depart
ed out of him. The disciples Were therefore
amazed, and said unto Christ, 'why could we
/ not cast him OUT, Jesus answered because of
your unbelieG
There is l fear, notwithstanding all the wis