The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-03-07

into the churches other arguments had to be used.
Learned dsquistions have been written to account
Tor Its phenomena upon basis OF natural phlloso-
ply, and its antC Christian character has been estab-
Judge Edmonds is on the qui pips to clip the wings
OF any OF the great birds who have the temerty
to pounce upon spirtualism. When Bishop Hop
kins made an onsl ught upon the new philosophy
compelled 10 lay up for repairs. Indeed, the be-
levers in spirtualism exist everywhere, and proba
bly abound in every city, village and town In the
Northern States.
should witness its spread among the slaves. In all
the Southern States it is going from plantation to
plantation, like the periodical vistatons of the
measles. Southern lady the daughter-in law Of
an ex-Presdent of the United States, was absent IN
Europe educating her daughters, when, receiv-
ing intelligence that the deuce was to pay
on her plantation, she fastened her return.
Arrived home, she found that spirituaiism had bro
ken out in its most malignant form There it was.
The ringers were evolving rough Gospel by the
wholesale, amid the convulsive jerks, spasmodc
twitchngs, muscular contortons. and facial gym
mast ,s SO e sp!se media; and It Is said
them more docile in service. One of its results Is
an annoying interference with the missionary bust
ness among the West India nggers. In San Do
mingo, Hayt and Jamaica, the missionaries have
found their efforts paralyzed by the darkes prefer
ring to become themselves the channel of inspira
ton rather than accept the exposition OF prophecy
and wisdom by divines who claim not and possess
not the power Of dvination. In b0ef, the claim OF
modern spirtualism in nut shell is this Every
man his own prophet.
But the versatility of spiritualistc philanthropy
challenges greatest admiration. Those OF a
similar train Of thought and sympathy naturally
proceed TO work in behalf Of their peculiar hobby.
modern writer gives to every movement q centre
and two wings, the right wing being re-
ligious in its tendencies, the left philosophical
In too
emplified The two wings exist in New York. The
right meets, or did meet, at Academy Hall, where
plenary inspiration and the Aran doctrine OF the
divinity OF Christ are held to render the preaching
Of Rev. Thomas l.. Harris as sanctied medium of
communicating intelligence from above. The left
wing meets at Dodworths Hall, where spiritual phi
losophy is the burden Of DISCOURSE and the pretty
women for the most part speak from this rostrum on
abstract philosophy, to the establishment OF meta
physical thinkers it may he well supposed that the
rush Of attendance is at Dodworths Hail. But the CEN
tire practical part Of the movement has been pract
cay ignored in New York since the night when that
queer condemnation of spiritualstsA socialists aud
lunatics-the Free Love Club-suspended, under the
pressure of excessive patronage and the Eighth ward
police, who locked up Albert Brisbane for the night
because he had nothing to do with the movement,
but was present, and allowed Stephen Pearl An
drews to escape martyrdom, because he had all to do
with it, but was sick at home. There is no telling
what might not come of these humanitarian efforts
of the spirituasts were it not for the fatality that
seems to attend their leaders. Dr. Tom Nichols and
his wife, Mrs. Cove Nichols early elected themselves
the apostles Of free love, sprituasm and socialism
and went in for the campaign with Stephen Pearl
Andrews in the reformation of the world but An
drews, with singular inconsistency, got married
and the Nichols are calmly reposing upon the
bosom of st. lgnatius Loyoa, having forsaken
spritualsm and free love to experience the full fru
tion of the Immaculate Conception. But here, in
Boston, IL the centre of the movement. Here they
fraterDse with Pearl Andrews, and are evolving all
sorts OF schemes for social regeneration while their
brethren in New York are devotng their valuable
talents Ia piety and philosophy. But il is not alone
among the Pedestrians that the manifestations
showing themselves Media, who hold to their Ca
tholicsm with all the tenacity Of fanatics, are
sprnging up all around, and particularly in Europe.
Hume, who created such sensation in the court OF
Louis Napoleon, and among the cardinals at Rome,
by the exhibitions of ground and lofty tumblng Of
the furniture, having been taken into the bosom of
the Catholic church, his powers are now regarded az
among the miracles OF the church. while the same
peculiarities in the presence OF media outside
accounted for a. the influence of vagabond
spirits dwelling upon the neither side OF purgatory
And while upon this subject Of evil spirits, it
may be stated that the sprituasts are often an
noyed by the impertinent presence Of the spirits
from below. They drive of the humane and gody
ghosts, who are endeavoring TO guide Us rightly;
they intercept the celestial mails and surreptiousy
put false intelligence into the mail bags TO lead
asray. Remarkable are the antics that these invsi
bic rapscallions execute. One fellow, who irreve-
rently assumed to be Henry Clay, compelled the
meulurn HluCU dRtiust MS VIII, W nihh' - i'iie
harangue in favor OF free trade. Another, bent on
scandal, personifed Dr. Claiming, and when the
medium was asked TO prescribe for case of tooth
ache, the evil spirit would insist that brandy cock
tails were the only remedy, and the patient having
an uud due confidence in the identity OF the spirit,
followed the prescription with an apparent relish.
These things reflected dscredit upon spirituallsm,
and I understand that coteTie Of philanthrOpc he
levers in New York, two or three years since began
the work of bringing those profane spirits 81 a
realizing sense of their lost condition. with the view
% ultimately eevating them To millenal joys. Their
success exceeded their expectations, for they
found that, by united effort, they could
inca single evening, boost low lived
spirit from a point of earthly degradation
10 among the well behaved ghosts OF the seventh
sphere; and had il not been that the heresy OF free
love nsiousy crept into their circle and that they
got creating spirits instead Of saving them the
usefulness Of thls pre-eminently sefsacriicng circle
might have been living reality to-day.
To entmeraie all the vagaries of spiritnalism
would make this communication tedious. But "
there be absrdtb which make men smile in con-
templatiDg It's Phenomena there are yet many. very
many, who believe in them, and whose integrity and
intelligence are beyond question. They estinnte
the number Of believers in America at three mil.
lions IL the number was but million IL would
show example Of rapid growth unknown in his
tory in 80 brief time. What its fate will be IA I'M
certain. II may he the foundation of a numerous
religious sect, or il may die out because n the deve
lopement Of an explanation OF Its phenomena IN &C
cordance with known natural laws; but whatever be
it, intrinsic merit philosophy, IL Ia now power
in the land that Is rapidly increasing.
n AanRS - M 10