Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1856-09-16
EVENING STAR.
sprltualsin at Saratoga-Gen. Webb and
Professor Hare
From the New York Courier and Eno,,,s,,

Professor Hare DN
tFrom the New York Courier and Enouirer1
SARATOGA, Sept. 5, 1855.
We had a strange scene here Yesterday in
the ladies parlor. Professor Hare is here
and mad as March Hare on the sub; sct of
SptrttmattSm. He Iectured at ketronoltan
Hall on Wednesday evening cpon what be
! calls 81 the evidences Of Immortality ;" and I
saw among the audience Mr. Joseph Grinpell
| and Gen; webb evidently listening attentIvcly
and yet laughing at the exhibition.
Yesterday afternoon the Professor, who il
seventy i've years Of age, and has, all his life,
been an epen and avowed skeptic, ridiculing
I and bathing against all religion and reyela-
ton, proposed to give lecture on spiritual
, isn IN the ladies parlor. Nobody objected :;
ana old and young-christian and atheist
at down to listen. The age and high stand
ing OF the Professor, and respect for his past
character, commanded the respect of all pres.
ent; and when he sOlemnly assured the au-
dleDce that he embarked in the investigation
OF the subject simply to expose and DESTROY
what he considered an absurdity, but that the
spirits ct his father, brother, sister and friends
begged and entreated him to listen to them
whi,e they gave him evidence Of its truth, he
evtuently made deep impression upon all
present, especially the youthful and those whs
dld not know that he is, and ever has been,
the open scoffer at all revealed religion
AT TINS stage OF the proceeding, Gen. Webb
arose ard inquired Of the Professor whether
In his lecture the evening previous, in bis
published book, and his conversations ON the
piazza of the hotel, he had not proclaimed.
that spiritualism as understood by him, neces
sarlly involved u remuneration Of all Bektef
tH tie BtGte and IN revealed RiLtpiOnl At
this the Professor few into a passion, declared
the interruption impairment, and said nc
would not be catechized Gen. Webb said
that In his own lecture room on tho preceding
evening, he had not presumed to intcrrupt
him; but that here, in the parior Of aoteI
common to all, it was his right so to do, and
to put the unsuspccting and the young per.
sons present upon their guard. The Professor
was very angry, but finally promised that
when through with his lecture he would an
swer questions Gen. Webb replied, that as
the Professor had proclaimed it to be the duty
Of every honest man, to inquire after and
elicit truth, so in his Judgment, was it the
duty of every Christian man, to expose and
correct error; and that having given the caU-
ton, he was content to wait until the Profes.
sOr had finished.
Upon the Professors closing, Gen. Webb
rose, when Immediately the Professor insisted
that he should not be heard because he had
interrupted him, but finally was compelled to
be quiet. Gen. Webb then said do not
intend to ask any questions of Professor Hare,
whose age and position entitle him TO our pro-
found respect; but desire to mako a state
ment to you l heard the Professor lecture
last night. On that occasion, on the piazz.
Of this Hotel, and in his book now lying on
that table, he has proclaimed on the author
ity of the spirits Of Washington, Franklin,
Adams, Chalmers, Clay, jackson, his own
father and host Of others, that there is not
enc particle of truth liz the Bible or revealed
Religion; but that the whole fabric of Chris
uanlty is An imposition upon the credulity Of
mankind. Ii misrepresent the Professor 1
hope he will correct me-" The Professor aia.
Early in life was in the same law cfhce
with Judge Edmonds, who is the head and
front Of this offending
Professor Hare-I deny that
den Webb yield the point My brother
married Judge Edmonds sister, and have
known and respected him from boyhood [
mention these facts to show that I speak att
Utsedly when say that Judge Edmonds, who
Is at least an older convert to Spiritualism
than Professor Hare, and who is considered by
the public as the chief Of the sect, has always
assured his friends and relations that be, too,
has consulted the spirits Of Washington,
franklin, Clay, Kent, and, IL short, ali the
worthless named by Professor Hare, and that
they, one and all, assure him that there is
nothing IN Spiritualism which conflicts, di-
rectly or indirectly, with tic religion of tke
Btblc. Now, I have the greatest possible
respect for the veracity of both Judge Ed.
monds and Professor Hare, but, when find
them differing so widely in regard to what the
Spirits declare, have no alternative but to
believe them acting under some strange delu-
sion, or to suppose them guilty of falsehood |
and deception, or to assume that the spirits
with whom they commune are lying spirits, /
whose testimony is not to be relied on, and,
more particularly, when all their teachinys
arc at war with the teachings of the Saviour |
of the world. 1 have nothing more to saw.
and leave the Professor to make any explana-
tiOn he pleases
Professor Hare then proceeded to explain,
that the spirits with which Eimonds converses,
are lying spirits; and that they had tried to
deceive him also, but that he was too much
for them lie had told Edmonds so, and tried
to convince him that Spiritualism proved the
falsehoOd of what we call revelation