The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-07-05
Ths Religion Of Revelation Every Man HE
own EyanRelixV.


CHURCH ORG NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. GROWTH or
THE EPlLEPric FRACTIONS OF AKDlUMsHIP, ETC.
The anniversary proceedings which have monopo-
hzed our space Of late, presented the condition of
religious and charitable organizations, affording
such evidence of their prosperity as they saw fit to
report of themselves. There were several impor-
tant sections of the religious community, however,
not represented in our bulletins. or these none
could well have afforded more curious interest than
the new movement of the spiritualsts, had they
fit to put themselves upon the stand and render
their accounts current There is ample evidence on
every hand that this movement II exercising most
subtle and widespread influence. Without some no
lice OF its progress gazette would be materially
deficient as an index to the prevailing religious in
terest and its developments. 1t msy I've expedient
for the churches to ignee the parcenue creed
Of the spirit rappers, but the vocation
of journalism does not dictate such policy
We present accordingly such facts and statements as
could be gathered the subjec. from the journals
and tracts, as well from the lecturers and disc
piles of the new revelation"
free convention of spiritushsts in the manner OF
mass meeting, called by circular, has taken plac
at Rutland, W., and we understand that matters e,
unusual and permanent importance to their interest
as body were brought up on that occasion. The
principle or phenomenon, in which the movement
originated has had its due share of ne.oriety But
it was no new thing and is affinity with popular de-
monology, witchc-aft and the apocvyphal miracles
of antquityapsrt from the question Of their truth
Is frankly acknowledged The spiritualists are, it
seems, now endcavoring 10 move towards a position
where they can stand above this phenomenon, and
present themselves more in the vestnents of rho-
sophical religion than in the garb OF frantic super:
stition. They feel keenly the unsparing onslaught
which has been made upon them, bat with the con-
fdenee of thar increased numbers, ana the pro-
gress they have achieved, they now manifest
spirit OF assault and retaliation. The for
mula Of this proposed attack upon the church or
CARNATIONS has more novelty than the basis OF their
creed. They lay il down as cardinal euty TO
oppose and destroy all authoritariansm' in
religion. They have meetings for lecture and
worship, hut no appointed or recognized minis
try; they hold conventions for discussion, but
make election of delegates; the expenses of their
places of worship they are anxious to have paid
upon the straightforward cash plan of small fec at
the door and settle all round when the service is
closed. They have no ordinations or covenant of
creed; they have funded property real estate or
leases of church buildings they have no chartered
institutions, or any written or implied compact of
association; they will recognise no organization, and
assert the absolute uncomfortable sovereignty ofeach
individual, as only answerable in the sight of God.
They do not ask their disciples even to come out Of
existing organizations, but if possible remain in
them and leaven them with new doctrines. Notwith-
standing these apparent hndrances, they claim to
be already religion, and aharmonious church-a
power of the first rank among Christian scots.
In the progress they have made since the whole
thing was but mysterious noise in an old house at
Rochester fifteen years since, they assume in the
most confident maDDer TO see the doom and over
throw of the entire ecclesiastical system which pre-
walls ia this country. AS theory of religion, the
deVeopement Of these ideas would prove, without
question, the most revolutionary movement which
ecclesiaicsm has confronted since the Reformation
nucleus of more than million of proiessed and
attached believers Is already claimed for such re-
volution. Its barrcaGes, they say, are not, indeed,
drawn up on Broadway or Pennsylvania avenue, but in
the tar vital precincts of the jury box and the
ballot box in the Senate and the halls Of legislation
on the bench, the press, and even In the pulpit
itself. The movement Is essentially indigenous aud
American, bearing the most absolute marks OF its
democratic and popular origin.
To back mp this curious and radical basis OF
a religion, they assert not only the Protestant
and cha to have ACCESS to s' hs eTan
gelical writinCs-but they assume, also the duty
and the ability Of every individual 20 be
come an evangelist for himself, TO find access TO
the spiritual world, and draw thence a spiritual
inspiration for hs moral sustenance, as the trees alb
sorb their own light and air. The means proposed in
this method for "eyangelHing' the world rendered
the matter apparently parallel With the prletca-
bility of the submarine telegraph difficult, but il
must be done. The two methods in practice are
those Of the cairvoyants, whose faculties, by spe
cies Of dervsh like trance are supposed 70 be ele
the various mediums who assume to have the gift
of calling about them the spirits OF the departed
At Dodworth academy, the chief exponent, prophet,
and medicine man Of this American deryish delusion
has Just commenced fresh course OF lectures which
attract no little attention. What he has 20 say is
chiefly in explanation Of his personal experience
practical evangelist its processes and its results,
in his own life. He stands up TO this task before his
audience with the GOODNESS and confidence Of an
Elijah, who indeed had gone up in the old fashioned
fiery chariot, but was now returned by the more
commonplace but much more convenient method or
a railroad train He has no creed, no evangelical
code. church organization 10 preach; he does not
even present the nfallihe accuracy OF his own state
ments do any Of those engaged in this movement
He simply attests the discovery Of an occult and
fascinating Of religious ecstacy, sort Of theo
logical Northwest passage 70 the spiritual world. by
which the Bible is superseded practically. and where
any one may go and explore for himself.
II would be useless 70 deny the extent to which
this new superstition prevails. The more noisy and
preposterOus manifestations Of IL have subsidized as
matters Of public excitement; bat the private prac
tice ofts maHpulations and ecstaces are well known
30 have taken a deep hold Of our community. Spirit
manifestations make chief and most exciting sub
ject Of attention in numberess households especially
in the stagnant social life OF our country towns.
Clergymen, travelling lecturers and colpOrteurs bear
witness unanimously 20 its equally alarming and
Astonishing growth. IL has established new means
OF mental dissipation and debauchery among us the
more deploable as its victims are mainly among
women and children. Its mystical fascination. aud
the religious garb with which IL Is shielded ensure
its encouragement where II should be depressed. The
sickly, exhausting and epileptc practices Of medium
ship have accordingly gained hold here. S1ch can
only be paralleled elsewhere by the vice Of opium
eating in China. the worship OF manIacs in India,
ard the like. IL real extent would be impossible 60
determine or those Christians who accord IL a
tacit assent and accept is distinctive doctrine
substantial and material being of the human soul and
of God-the number is quite beyond computation.
II Is in this poin, Of view that the sprtuas,s have
made, yet, their only alb ding impression. The
is
mediums were given in the Spiritual Register with
their names and addresses a. actively urging the
movement: whilst the names Of thousand Others
withheld. because il was not known how far they
willing to become subject 10 calls on sido Of their
immediate circles" The same source affords an est-
mate Of The actual number Of professed spritualsts
compiled from extensive correspondence undertaken