Kenosha tribune & telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1856-1859, 1857-07-16

the country, that the late test which has been
applied to it in Boston is worthy of more than the
passing notice which we have given to it.
The trial of the "spirits arose from an offer
made in the Boston Courier OF $500, to be paid
to any one VINO would establish, to the satistac-
ton of disinterested committee, the reality
the genuiness-the supernatural character Of
the various phenomena which are relied upon
by the advocates of so-called spiritualism
DR.. GARDNER, acknowledged to be the ablest
fthese advocates, accepted the challenge. The
following committee was appointed; Professor
BENJAMIN PIERCE, Louis AGASSIZ, b. A.
GOULD, Jr. and 4. N HoRsFoRD.
The following agreement was drawn up by
the parties,
Meeting to be held in a suitable room in the
city of Boston, to continue six days, or q longer
period If desirable, and two hours each day 10 be
devoted to the investigation commencing at A
aud closing at o'clock P NJ.
GAN the arrangements and details for the form
inc, the circles to be entirely under the control
of DR. Gardner, except the committee may re-
main out of the circle so formed if they choose
to do so. 1T the phenomena are produced under
the ARRANGEMENTS as ordered by DR.. Gardner,
and they are not satisfactory to the Committee,
thew shall have the right TO have them produced
under such conditions as in their judgment will
be satisfactory to them.
Gas harmony is an essential condition for the
production OF tliG MANIFESTATIONS, ~ - d85IetN
that no loud talking, or exciting debates, or 9TH
or unnecessary noise shall be allowed III the
rooms during the sessions, and that each person
present shall be treated with that respect and
courtesy which is due from each person to every
other in the society of gentlemen.
There may be present at each session the
writer in the Boston Courier, and friend, and
the four gentlemen composing the Committee
of Investigation, DIR. Gardner, and any number
Of persons not exceeding six at any one time, at
his option, such cling selected and invited by
Dir. Gardner.
"TLe writer Of the Courier and the Commit
tee agree that while they are at liberty to exer-
cise-all shTewdness and powers OF observation
which they are capable of during the investga-
ton, they Will not exercise their will and power
to endeayor to prevent the manifestations, but
allow them to be produced under the most favor.
able conditions which thorough scientific inve5
tigation will permit"
The investigation held under the above
conditions, with ample time and opportunity al
lowed. The strongest test.mediums, to the
number OF eight, were collected from all parts Of
the country. The apartments employed were
selected by the Spiritualists themselves. At
their request, the meetings were deferred from
time to time, in order TO allow them to make
every preparation and enable the medium TO diff
fuse favorable spiritual atmosphere through
ont the rooms"
I; should be observed that the Courier had re-
jectod the only two theories to be held on the
subject OF the so-called Spiritual phenomena
the hypothesis which indicated a new physical
power which, if physical, must be subject to the
investigation and the laws ofscience, but which,
i real, had been discovered, developed and made
manageable by persons extremely ignorant OF
science and III all other respects, and which only
eladed the researches of the truly scientifc-the
other the theory OF the Spirituasts themselves,
which boldly imputed the ma nifestations to SUI
perhuman agency.
These things understood. VIC invite particular
attention to the award Of the Committee, as fol-
lows
The Committee award that DIR. Gardner, hay-
ing failed to produce before them an agent or
medium who communicated word impaired
to the spirits in an adjoining ROOM "who read
a word in English written inside book, or fold
ed sheet OF paper who answered any question
(which the superior inteliigences must DO able
to answer, who ''tited piano without touch
ing il, or caused a chair tomove foot; and hav-
ing failed to exhibit to the Committee any phe-
nomenon which under the widest latituGs Of in
depreciation could be regarded as equivalent 20
either Of these proposed tests, or any pnenomo-
non which required for its production, or III any
manner indicated force, which could technical
iy be denominated Spiritual, or which was hlth-
erto unknown to scicace, or a phenomenon ct
which the cause was not palpable to the Com
nlltjecr 49, tHcFeiotc MOI eht4t4c4 10 CiaAu IloH
the Boston Courier the proposed premium ofhve
hundred dollars
1t is the opinion of the Committee, derived
from observation, that any connection with spir-
itualistic Circles, so called, corrupts the morals
and degTades the intellect. They, therefore,
deem il their solemn duty to warn the communi-
ty against this con Eliminating influence, Which
surely tends 10 lessen the truth Of man and the
purity Of woman.
The Committee will publish report Of their
proceedings, together with the results Of addi-
tionai Investigations and other evidence indie
pendent Of the special case submitted to them.
but bearing upon the subject Of this stupendous
deIusion.
BENZ PIERCE Chm