The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1857-05-07

Mas. Coma HATCH, the spiritualist lectu-
rer, has excited great interest in New York.
by the manifestation of most extraordinary
powers ~ public speaker. She has main
tanned several theological discussions with
somc Of the clergy who have been selected
70 debate selected topics with her. N. p.
Willis, who is no convert to spiritualism,
but who is q very competent and fastidious
critic in oratory and dialectics, witnessed one
of these polemical discussions at the Taber-
nscle, and gives the following account of the
lady and her performance:
"Mrs. Hatch was introduced to the audi
snee few minutes after We took our seats in
pew Of the Tabernaclc--a delicate-featur
blonde, Of seventeen or eighteen, with faxen
ringlets falling over her shoulder, move
ments deliberate and self-possessed, voice
calm and deep, and eyes and fingers no way
nervous. Tho subject being given to her by
y gentleman in the crowd, ('.whether man
- . part of God,") she commenced with
prayer-and very curious it was, to see a
long haired young woman standing alone in
the pulpit, her face turned upward. her deli
cate bare arms raised in n clergyman's atti-
tude Of devotion, and church iull of peo-
Upon the platform ina the rear of the pulpit
sat three reporters; and the daily papers have
given outlines OF the argument between the
lair ''medium" and an antagonistic clergy
men who was present. No report can give
any fair idea OF the spirit presence" how
cver-l mean, OF the self Possessed dignity
clearness, promptness and undcniable supe-
riority of the female reasoner. Believe what
you will of Mrs. Hatch's source of inspiration
whether she speaks her own thoughts or
those of other spirits-it is as nearly super
natual eloquence rs the most hesitating faith
could reasonably require. l am, perhaps,
from long study and practice, as good Judge
of fitness in the use OF language IA most men !;
and, in n full hour OF close attention, 1 could
detect no word that could be altered for the
better-nonc, indeed, (and this surprised me
still more), which was not used with strict
ridelity to its deriratire meaning. The prac-
riosd scholarship which this last point usual
ly requires, and the curiously unhesitating
snd confident huency with which the beauti-
ful language WAS delivered, was CRITICALLY }
wonderful. 1t would have astonished me. in
an extemPore speech by the most accomplish
ed orator in the world.
The argument was long, and, on the clergy
mans part, q warm and sarcastic one. The
reverend gentleman, what is commonly de-
scribed as q s.smart man." with high health,
n remarkably large and high forehead, and u
lawyers subtley oflogic }. alternated speeches
with the medium" for AN hour and half
leaving the audience, thought, unanimously
on the lady's side. But, what was very curl
ous and amusing was the difference of scope
and dignity in the operation of the two minds.
SAe looked at the subject through an open
window, and he through keyhole. She was
severe, by the courage, skill and calm good
temper with which she met his objections in
the full face Of their meaning only, disregard
ing their sneers; and he was severe, by twist
ing her words into constructions not intended
and by feathering the sarcasms thercupon
with religious commonplaces. Instead o:
the sonorous obscurity and rhapsody of which
the spiritualists commonly accused. her
argument was the directest aud coolest pos
-siblc specimen of fair and clear reasoning.
Ifyou recollect our conversations on this
subject, my experience in spiritualsm has
been always unsatisfactory. The ''Fox girls"
and others have tried their spells upon me in
vain. 1t has seemed to me that was one of
those to whom was not "given," as the BIZ
. ble says) 'the discerning of spirits" But il
would be very bigoted and blind not to see
and acknowledge the wonderful intellectual
demonstration made by Mrs. Hatch; and hot
to Explain it, with her age, habits and educa-
tion, is the true point at issue. 1 think We
should at least look at it seriously-if only
in obedience to the Scripture exhortator
which closes the chapter on this very subject
--"Covet earnestly the best gifts.n