The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-06-22

The Isms OF the Disqualification and In
fidelity.
The number of the spiritualists is gradually
increasing in this country, if we may Judge
from the number of the journals which are de-
voted to it's interests. There are nine weekly
newspapers and six monthly magazines engaged
in defending its principles and maintaining its
cause. They are neatly printed and abound in
confident zeal and overwhelming hopes. They
predict the coming overturn of all present opin-
ions which are based upon the Scriptures, and
scepticism and criticism, to have the tables turn
ed completely in thek favor As spiritualism has
advanced, it has, as the biologists would say, be-
come more conformable. The varieties of the
upturned media are assuming parallel FORMS
These spiritual newspapers keep believers well ad
vised as to the course of spiritual events and the
direction of the Investigations, SO that something
ike harmony begins to prevail in the develope-
ments. The media also begin to turn their talents
10 good account seventeen Of the principal these
advertise their business in the Spiritual Telegraph,
published in this city. Seven practise the heal
ing art, their pharmacopia being collection of
recipes from the spirit land. Some merely
describe the character of diseases, leaving
to unconverted druggists the task Of pre-
pairing the remedies. Some Of them make
use of the electro-medcated baths, which
are made ready by females. We find too, that
the psychometrists do not disdain the use of the
enema in their spiritual arrangements, and that
new elastic instruments, with manuals of instruc-
tions, are advertised in their leading journals.
Other media remain at the threshold of the
science content with the first steps of induction
These tip tables, write the letters from the other
world, describe persons out of the FORM" and
set chairs and bells in motion, and phosphorus on
fire. They are the advance guard Of the army,
skirmshing with the skeptics and taking prisoners
in pairs and singly Others test the truth of their
claims by communicating with the dead, whose
awful and mysterious fate is developed to anxious
friends, not often in the language they were
wont to use when living, or with much regard to
photography, etymology syntax or prosody, but
who, in dim illusions to ETHEREAL vastness,
seem still to retain individuality Of condition and
calculation, with prospects Of beautiful plains
and cottages, aromatic glory, and whose diet is
kept in phials full of odors sweet"
In the back ground are the Lord Ba-
cons of the philosophy, with each No
yum Organum in hand, arranging, directing,
asserting and concluding. From these emanate
the standard works of the spiritualists, and the
catalogue is increasing. A society exists for the
diffusion of spiritual knowledge which is in full
activity and there are eighteen lecturers Of
both sexes, who are recognized as authorities in
their peculiar vocation. There are initiatory
circles for the conversion of unbelievers, and
others where things unutterable are witnessed by
the spirit communists. We do not know what is
the number of the faithful in the United States.
We presume it will not be long before we shall
have census.
The final object at which it aims is not yet
clearly revealed. 1t is Swallowed forth in gene
ralisms- as goodness is the end Of all
thngs-God is goodness and goodness is God.
The internal life is the boon, not exterior life,
with it, eating and drinking, wearing clothes and
getting married. When our souls are Free"
avs writer in the Spiritualst, our reception of
influx will be sensible and sweet"
With regard to the respect paid to what is called
the Christian religion, we are unable as yet to
ascertain what is its reality or its sincerity. In
some of the journals and newspapers the Bible
is quoted whenever it serves good turn. The
Saviour has some eulogsts left, but not very
warm ones if we may judge from the following ex-
tract in leading article in spiritual journal =
Jesus appears to be a Straightforward, common sense
sort Of man, not disposed TO mysticism or over ere
dence who thought works good faith any day
and imagine therefore, that he not etheraized
enough to originate spiritual intercourse.
We presume this is the average opinion enter
tanned Of that parsonage who, as God manifest in
the flesh, claimed the love and the worship Of
men.
Spiritualism has not, as yet done much for
literature. The departed who have communica-
ted their ideas to their anxious friends have evil
IDENTIFY fallen off in their style of composition and
deteriorated in the use of language
The effect of spiritualism on individual charac-
ter has thus far not been happy. In most of the
cases those persons who have given themselves
up to it appear to be completely dsorganized.
They leave their former pursuits in ife they sink
from their professional and business standing, a
strange and wild expression fastens upon their
COuulcHaHCts- Iucy ccciu W WaAn IL " Voin
shew disquieting themselves in vain" Suicide
has attended in the train, and every few days we
hear of departures for the spirit land Of the most
singular and melancholy character.
In philosophical view of the subject it may
be seen that spirtuaism is ofal the theories pre-
valent in the world most adapted to the American
people, and most likely to succeed with them.
In the first place we are religious people-the
general introduction of the Bible has led to gene
raj comment-and the " mystery of mysteries"
which g within the sacred volume lies" has at
tracted universal attention. In the next place,
with our extensive systems Of education, we ma
turally pass from under the bondage Of supersti-
ton. In old countries, where religion and educa-
ton have been used to keep down the people.