New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-05-22
SPIRITS IN CHINA.

To the Editor Of The ". T. Tribune
SIR: In March, lS5i-the particular day do not
know The North China Herald, published in Shang
hae, contained long article fromDr. d. j. Mcgowan
an English physician of responsibility and reputation
long resident in China the subject of tabe-tpping
and spirit manifestations in that country. The main
points of his communication were that table-moving
and spirit-manifestations were common in aud about
the City of Nngpo, to his own knowledge, as early as
the year 1914. The proceedings and opinions of the
Chinese sprtsts were very similar to those of their
later American BRETHREN 20 far as DIR. Nj. was ac-
quainted with the latter from newspaper reports. The
communication very interesting one, filling sew
era columns, but remember nothing of its details.
An abstract of it publishedin The AHa California
some time in the month Of July of the same year. aud
notice of the communication also taken in Cham
6ers's Edinburgh Journal.
Having given attention to spiritism, and hay-
ing satisfied myself thoroughly that it does not deserve
to be classed among impostures, was DESTROYS OF OBJ
tanning all the information possible in regard to 1t, and
addressed letter TO DR.. Mcgowan requesting him to
write full statement of his knowledge in regard to
the Chinese manifestations have received the sub
Joined reply from him:
"NIYGPo, China, Feb q, 1857.
DEAR SIR: My notes on table-m0ving and spirltH-
al manifestations III Chlna an abstract OF which was
published in The alta California from Chinese peri
odcals contain nearly all that have to communicate
on those subjects. Much interesting matter, as you
suggest, might be obtained II ms country on ques.
tols Of thet scrr+,o,. e., oonoyi:-, .Lv uvfycr-
.aIs 81 ie ffhfabitans and OF many foreigners
also demons and the souls of departed men exercise
ceaseless influence on human affairs, and that they
respond t. nvOcations duly addressed to them; but
other engagements preclude me from pursuing these
and kindred psychological inquiries, and remarked
to Il learned German who lately addressed Inc pre-
escly you have it Is desirable that some believer
in these supernatural should undertake TO
write their history. All the Roman Catholic, ana not
ii few Protestant missionaries ascrbe TO demomacal
agency many of the sO-called supernatural or spr-
iual manifestations that observed in China.
The scientific inquirer might then follow, and
elucdate the subject. Additional interest would be
given to such inquiries by treating on the supersut!ons
OF the Mau-tse, Hill aboriginal tribes, and also on
the official aspect of geomancy and supernatural ques.
tons. On this last subject the history OF the Heav-
enly Teacher -Tsang Tiense-hereditary high priest
Of the Tanss aChemiss sect Of Reason Is rich in
material That singular pOtenate has been recognized
by many successive dynas.es as ENOclsei- General OF
the Empire His palace is in the adjoining Province
of Kiang-Si in the prefecture Of Nankang When per-
SONS places possessed of maleicent spirits he Is
appealed TO, and if suitably remunerated he writes
amulets which afford immediate relief; or sometimes
he dispatches ghosty bais for the apprehension OF
the offending Demon who s at once bottled up as all
hurtiu spirits should be- i briefly alude to these
TORS of the Chinese TO show that though am unable
10 prosecute the inquiries you propose, is not from
paUcy of material. should add that table-noving,
as have described it, is ancient practice not,
You suppose, modern. Most truly yours,
% J. MACGOwAN.r
VIII not some intelligent and enterprisng individual
see that the civilized world and particularly the
ghost. worshipers, may have full and fair account
of the Chinese spirit-ihtercourse, with tho when,
where, how and why clearly set forth ?
Your obedient servant j. = H.