New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-08-04
BOSTON SPIRITUALISM.

From Or Own Correspondent.
BosroN, Thursday, July 80, 1857.
Your correspondent o. p. G., who dates from Bos-
ton-but as is evident from his persistence in calling
Hancock street Hancock drenae should have gwen
his location at least ten miles out in tho cOuntryis
for an eminent Mathematician singulary loose in the
important matter of bis premises. l don't mean
merely the premises of Mr.. + but the premises on
which o. p Q. bases bis explanation of Mr.. Squrss
spiritual or gymnastic performances. He says, FIRST
of the feat of opening watch under the table, with
the band bound up in bandkerchiefs: "Oliver does
net tell u.s. what have doubt is true, that the
handkerchefs were rolled up cravatashion, and
Z" that neither of them was put over the hand bag
fashion. know that Squire has failed to do the
trick when the handkerchief put on bagashi0n,
"and know that have performed 1t successfully
with my hand very securely fastened with handker-
chiefs, cravat-fashion.
Oliver did not tell us that the handerchiefs were
rolled up cravatfashOn simply because they were not
20 rolled up 1t is very possible that Squire may have
failed to DO the trick when the handkerchief was put
on hagashion-or as he alleges, the spirits are some
times capcious and will not, or, may be- cannot de
what is required Of them. have nothing to do with
his failures He did not fail when visited bin. lie
succeeded, and what want is satisfactory expana-
ton Of his success The bag aud cravat theory is not
satisfactory. will give 0. p. Q. my watch If he will
open it in my presence with his hand bandased by me
as Squire was bsn0aged.
''he second trick, Of writing says o. p. O., "cau
"be initiated by any one who has any manual dex,
"terity." Why them if it be easy, did Squire fail
in its perform ahce We waited much longer for the
performances of this easy trick than for any Of the
Others until, said in my letter, our patience was
"e1hausted-the experiment was failure. pre-
sume that o. p @. win not confess himsefto be with
out any manual dexterty; and il he will write on
paper placed and held Squire places and holds his
paper under the table, solemn recanation OF all be-
lief in Spiritualsm will agree to sign it and to relln
auisb Squire and all other mediums to the tender
me,cies Of the Cambridge Committee.
OF the table which thrown over Squires head
o. p. O. says that "a physician OF our CITY wnose
" Boston Post that the muscles OF the medium do
"swell when the table moves precisely as though he
"were doing it by muscular strength; that another
gentleman Of equal character connected With one OF
"our life insurance offices felt this mediums hands
erasued round the table.leg while George the spirit
was causing 1t to dance that other testimony OF the
"same kind can easily be procured from lawyers,
"cergymen and physicians, from whose lips have
"heafd it."
O.P. Q. will permit me to observe that oil this
10 very vague. The witnesses are anonymous, and
the testimony what there is OF it, lacks that detail Of
circumstances which is essential to just appreciation
of it, In its present form, cannot accept 1t In refu
tAtion Of my own observstio noticed the swelling
of the mediums muscles, not when the table moved
but some time before; but i VS. very different
exertion of muscular strength. Squire himself called
my attention to it, curious phenomenon OF which
be could give explanation, but which always pre-
coded exercise OF power on the part OF the oPlIs
While the table was moving, his muscles, at least
those of his right arm, Of which had hold were
quiet enough.
1.-The fourth performance" says o. p. O., is
"nothiDg at all astonishing, and can very readily
"be inflated TIE performances which is thus cooly
disposed OF this: The medium stood close beside
me- and with bis thumbs and foredngers took hold OF
the edge of table weighing 80 pounds, the side OF
over and with its legs uppermost rested on my head
and that Of the medium-~e being al the tune the
only persons in the II Q: z. G. will undertake
to repeat the performance, will undertake TO procure
him the use OF the came table and the r00m and
If he succeeds will most cheerfully publish an
acknowledgment Of the fact
or " the fifth operation" which consisted in throw
ing the table with great force distance OF nine iee
while the medium was seated in chair, to which ne
was tied by handkerchiefs around his thighs and
ankles, o. z. q. says:
"The difficulty Of cOnceiving how the thighs can be
tied down so to prevent the person in the dark from
slipping the band below the knee, and then replacing
it-and the we'll known fact, which Oliver forgets to
give u.s. lat this medium wears soft slippers-would
make guessing easy, were it not that Ohver THINK
he dimy saw the medium sitting quietly Butcertalnly
of spiritual intercourse on the accuracy OF his vision
a dark ROOM"
IfO.P Q. means to insnuste that possibly Squire
slipped of the ligstures, lose to his feet, and thee
threw the table to the bed, he Is altogether mus
taken. am positive that Squire remained seated
IN his chair dung the whole performance. On that
point cannot be deceived. The only question in my
mind H. whether or not thus seated be could throw
the table with such force am sure that he could not
unless be possesses enormous strength strength
immensely beyond that Of ordinsry human arms 1t
il possible that he does possess such strength, for
there are instances on record of men who have pos
sessed it, But what perplexcs IT, that he gives no
evidence Of in the ordinary Intercourse Of fo Hit
really existed, his intimate associates could hardly
fail 10 be aware Of 1t.
T5O. P. G. q remark that certainly Oliver would
not have me admit the stupendous fact Of spiritual
intercourse on the accuracy OF his vision in dark
"room,' l reply-certainy not. would not have
him admit the fsct except upon hls own experience
nnon the mott ample and unquestionabe testimony
None but creduous and weak.minded persons would
admit it upon the weight of single fact stated by
penon of whose capacity for observation, OF whose
yerscitv even. they know nothing. With regard
10 Solire's performances, l fully assent to the
iustice Of the remark made by tho dstnguisnoo
politician from Ohio who said, Nothing sausiec
tory proof Of the presence OF dsemDodied :PIi.s
which can easily be explained on the supposiuou "
"musculsr strength and adroitness 10 the medium.
The remark is truism. The difficulty In apply
inc il TO the case Of Squire is that the
perfo,msnces Of which he is a medium cannot Do
casly explained in that way. do not say that tney
cannot be explained at all in that way bat Say that
they cannot be easily explained. To attentive ana
impartial observers, they present difficulties on DON
sides which are not easily overcome l have con
tented mysef with simply relating my experience WIN
Squire, without expressing or forming any positive
opinion of his case feel sure Of bnt one thing IN re-
lson to IT, which Is that It is problem which Profs
Eusts and Felsop have not yet solved, and are not
likely to in their hssty and imPetuoas mode Oh IN,
vestigstion The denuncistion Of squire, " W. sna
other mediums as cheats and impostors, without clear
"a ,,o,...;n. .t,a ,,roof NJ the charge. has only