American Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1855-1860, 1858-05-20

CArF. CLARKK:-It u true as DR.. Scott
inSinuates. never was 10 . spirit room,
but should I ever 90 10 New York. ! would
not mind being iheecsd out OF ten or twelve
dollars, to receive communication from
grand Aunt Of mine who died several
years ago; the old lady had money hid
somewhere, yet "died and made no sign:"
as was always favoriis of hers, who
knows what she might rap out. 4
! Although ] have not seen or heard spif.
its, have seen anl heard great deal a.
bout them. and will with your permission.
give my views and opinions on the rise
and progress Of Modern Spiri 'lism.
Since the explosion Of witehc'aft Icy the
science and knowledge Of the II b centu
ry. a class, unfortunately a pretty large
class OF mankind have felt the want Of
something supeTn, tural. to satisfy their
appetite for the marvellous. nd as in trade.
where there is demand there will be a
supply: several attempts were made TO
open communication with the invisible
world, or 10 exhibit wonders beyond hu.
man comprehension; Mesmerism arose IN
Paris, but few scientfia men with Frank
lin at their head touched it with the spear
OF Ithureal, aud It vanished like tina base
less fabric Of dresm." About the same
time an old gentleman dined at London
tavern, and while enjoying himself over
his wine. an angel appeared unto him: Tow
we outsiders, would suppose that il the
laws Of nature were suspended, or mira
Gle permitted. il would be for some very
important purpose.
| Yet the angels message was. "Mr,
Sweedenburg You eat too much:" bide
his life; } afterwards, S4ints Peter, Paul
&C., were his frequent visitors. and hlt
friends from love Of the marvellous. instead
Of putting the Amiable old man under med
ical treatment, elevated him 10 the dignity
Of an Apostle: and thus we have the ori
gin of one great sect Of modern Spiritual
ism. y4,-
Joe Smith, the founder Of another sect
evoked spirits without number-the vice
and progress Of those fsnatical spiritual
lists are matters for history. The Union
/ mot dissolved ! may yet have some trouble
in rapping down Joe Smiths dupes.
The Foxite table rappers originated some
few years since at Rochester, in the STATE
Of New York, the spirits from some unex
planned cause having taken dislike to th'
viva voce communication. yet being de
sirous Of keeping up their intercourse will
the living. visi ted the Fox Family at Ii,
above named locality, and by some means
or another, whether by magnetism, ordeli'
force, or joint>cracking raps were invent
ed. Mediums and many Of them are al
olever guessers as Gipsy fortune tellers
were inspired to interpret the Rap Alpha
bet exhibitions were commenced and sue
cesded to limited extent. Whether thi
improved modern Spi,itualism will satisf!
the craving Of that class before alluded to
time willtell: its progress is slow, com
pared with Mormonism. and its utility ex
oeptas a money making concern to medi
ums, and clarivoyant physicians is beyon'
my comprehension. a3 t 20
) NV honest view Of the matter is, that
, is revival or second edition oftSe defGnc
, delusion Of Witchcraft, and certainly n
improvement. There was something sui
lime in the iIea Of an old lady riding tbrt
? the air on broomstick. and nothing yer
/ interesting in grave gentleman. s,ttin
A at a black walnut table waiting for raps.-
The strOn. minded man Barking up n
wrong hss) has different view Of til
Q subject, and when he asserts that he sa
L what is beyond my reason TO analyze.
, honestly give him credit for telling no;hin
1 but wba, he thought he saw: im,ginatio
is great ageni in miracle. x.