The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1859-04-21
SpirisuaIIss Views - Doath ana
Heaven.

sPirissalist Views - DsatA and
Aeaven.
In the last number Of ~ Kmicksrbocker
10 observe an article upon No subject Of
spirisualism, BY Mr. Oonedon, Of the N. Y.
Tri1~aS, In whieh ths s1bjsct i discussed
from IN sntagoniatie point Of view. The
following thonghtful and eloquent para
graph will afford taste Of its quality
And does ii not justly delinsate tho scope
and character Of the so-oallsd spiritual
views Of Death and Heaven?
The wisdon Of that Providence which or
dams separation from tho well-bsloved for
q time, TO bs followed by . union for eterni-
~, grisvous - il may be 30 the heart,
smiling % II does, though oil vainly, 81 the
foundation OF faith, and making 40, ia the
paroxysm Of new grief, defiant Of the Om-
nipotant Hand, y very clear TO the reason
and worry beautiful in the light Of Revelation.
Modern spiritualism utterly vulgarisss the
tear away the curtain drawn BY tho Creator.
Il creates for itself I heaven coerser than
the paradise Of Mohammed, more Terrestrial
savage . heaven Of earthly tastss, passions,
avocstions and snjoyments; heaven 20 be
continually abandoned, st tho call OF any
nsoromancsr, for new participation is tie
low pursuits and half blind glimpsss and un-
satisfactory pleasures OF this lower life
Who that has read what Il called spiritual
book, has not closed il with hurrying disgust,
at its tawdry attempts 70 depict tho scenes
which no eye has witnessed, TO rehearse the
sounds which no ear has heard, and to re-
veal the joys which the heart cannot con-
ceive. The heaven OF the spiritualist 10 like
the flashing foil-scene OF minor theatre
an cnchantment Of paint, glory Of gliding,
IN utter and repulsive materially Of splen-
dor. The inhabitants Of Spirit land dance
in short tunics, play upon wind instruments,
are let down from the flies, or come mp
through trap doors. The quintessence Of
spiritualism 10 spectacular. Mr.. jackson
Davis manages his heaven ~ Mr.. Burton
would manage his theatre. His book IL like
the programme" OF ssBlue Beard'' or the
1Invisible Prince.'' These revelations, YER
bally imposing ~ they may DO, never trans-
cend the low resource Of adjectives. You
will search through them in vain for one
strong metaphor, for one beautiful COMPARE
| son, for trace Of even the minor idcalism
of Behmen or OF Fox. The immortals eat
and drink, dance and chat, sail in boats, live
in houses, ride in coaches, attend lectures,
write discourses like mortais, and like very
ordinary mortals, into the bargain. To the
man Of the commonsst taste, and Of tho leas,
passible culture worthy Of the name, tn,
heaven Of MIR. Davis would not be worth
asking for, would be something to b.
Stunned, - with prayers and with tears til,
pure and aspiring of earth have summed an
other and lower region . heaven like thu
Of the Harz Mountains on Walpurgis Night
with Old Baubo riding upon farrow SOW
and Sir Urian presiding over all; hssve
: full Of "Children Of this World" Of dancer
and dancing masters, Of dogmatists On
idealists and reAlists and supernaturalists
"clever ones" and "bunglers" and tsskep
tics," of ssjsok-o'- lantern" and sssbootin
stars" with Puck for prime minister, and d
, orchestra playing dolce pianissimo. Fror
, such scenes of wild folly or frantic revel, "
! might we'll desire to recall our lost ones.