The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1857-09-24

THE SPIRITUAL FIzzLE--It is known to our read
ers, that in answer to a challenge and an offer OF
$500 reward for the production of any single one OF
the alleged spiritualistic phenomena before competent
and disiHnterested witnesses, DIR. III. F.. Gardner col
lected together the best spiritual mediums OF the
country, inclu ling the original Fox family, and has
been holding sittings at Boston, in the presence OF
several of the Cambridge professors. The arrange
ments were made satisfactory to all parties, and it
was confidently expected that the Cambridge Saddu-
Gees would at least he astounded, If not convinced
But the whole thing has proved a miserable failure,
from beginning to end The spirits did nothing, ana
the professors have only been 50 rooted and grounded
in their unbelief Professors Pierce, Agassiz, Gould
and Horsford attach their names to the following
statement, the intrinsic truth and honesty of which,
we presume, viii not be doubted
sThe committee awarded that DR.. Gardner, having
failed to produce before them an agent or medium
who Z" communicated a word impaired to the spirits
in an adjoining room, = who read "A word IN Engiish
written inside a book, or folded sheet OF paper,
who answered any question which the superior
intelligences must be able to answer" who tilted a
piano without touching il, or caused a chair to move
a foot;' and having failed 10 exhibit to the committee
any phenomenon which under the widest latitude OF
Interpretation could be recorded as equivalent to
either of those proposed tests, or any phenomenon
which required for its production, or IN any manner
indicated a force which could technically be denom-
mated spiritual, or which was hitherto unknown 10
science or n phenomenon of which the cause was not
palpable to the committee, is, therefore, not entitled
TO claim from the Boston Courier the proposed pre-
MUM of five bundled dollars
So 1t is the opinion of the committee, derived from
observation, that any connection with spiritualistic
circles, so called, corrupts the morals and degrsides
the intellect. They, therefore, deem it their solemn
duty to warn the community against this contamina-
ting influence, which surely tends to lessen the truth
of man and the purity of woman
1t is not a little singular that the spirits always
turn up missing when they are most wanted, and the
result in this case IS especially Notifying and annoy
ing to the believers in spiritualism. The poor get-on
that the spirits cannot exhibit in the presence of
unbelievers. is urged in this, as IN other cases, but 1t
is felt to be an unworthy subterfuge. How are
rational men ever to be convinced, if faith IS necessary
to obtain of sufficient evidence upon which to erect n
reasonable faithl To require a man TO believe a fact
in order that ne may be convinced in its truth, is to
ask him to become an idiot that he may be wise. 1t
is the emptiest nonsense
We dot deny that certain things happen in the
presence of spiritual mediums, that are as yet unex-
planned. Bat we protest that if the spirits are upon
a mission in this world, they must in some way
demonstrate their presence to rational men, with their
eyes open and their intellects awake. Christ and his
apostles did their miracles in open day, in the public
ways, in the presence of all tt people-nct in dark
rooms, at night, under tables, and on the absurd
condition that all must believe before they could see
or hear. If spiritualism would challenge respectful
attention and command the faith Of reasoning men,
its demonstrations must be equally open and above
suspicion--Springieid Republican.