The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-03-06

So much for the Chevalier Forney, who has,
in attempting to get fling at the HERALD ex-
posed the secret of his opposition to Mr.. Bucha-
nan. Mr.. Chevalier Forney was shut out of the
kitchen, and abuses his old master because he
(Forney) did not have free scope among the
spoils. Poor Ferney!
REVELATIONS ABOUT SpIRTuAIIsM-DANGER
TO Our Social SYsTEM.--In another page we
publish letter from DR.. Hatch, making fearful
revelations about the secret immortality of spirit
ualism, and the dangerous tendency of the sys-
TEN as regards the domestic and social relations,
more particularly in reference to the institution
ofmarriage. According to the testimony Of this
gentleman-who is an expert, and ought to
know, having been behind the scenes and wit
messed what he describes -the ''free love" sys.
TEN, so long patronized and encouraged by the
New York Tribune has developed itself to full
maturity in the spiritualst circles, and is bring
ing forth its appropriate fruit. Ofall the delu-
sions of the past, that which most resembles
spiritualsm in its recent Developments is BAG
chanalianism, or the worship Of the god Bac-
chus which, with its rites, mysteries and orgies,
was at first secretly introduced and secretly car
ried on at Rome. During the latter part Of its
history it was practised at night, when the
worst excuses and the most unnatural vices
were INDUCED in by both sexes At first, only
women were initiated, and the orgies continued
for three days every year. and only in the day
| time. The women acted the part Of priestesses
in turn. But one of them, pretending to act
under the inspiration Of Bacchus, changed
| all this The day was turned into night
and men were introduced, and the celebration of
| the mysteries continued five nights in every
month, when RIGHTEOUSNESS and every crime
were carried Oh in the most shameful manner.
1T was a principle with them,' says the
Roman historian Livy, who gives a full
description of the Bacchanalia, ''to hold every
ordinance of God and nature in contempt"
which exactly corresponds with what DR.. Hatch
attributes to spiritualisn1. In both systems too,
the votaries profess to be moved by spiritual in
fuence to the indulgence of their passions. The
Bacchanalians, as if seized by madness, uttered
oracles, and women ran about with dishevelled
hair under the divine affatus. Those who re-
fused to join in the orgies were murdered and
secreted, when it was given out that the gods
had carried them away. In the last two years
none were admitted beyond the age of twenty,
being the age deemed most fit for seduction and
sensuality. 1t was calculated that in all 1000
persons had been admitted. The Senate was at
last aroused, and by q decree abolished the
Bacchanalia, having first, by sort of coup dfat,
seized simultaneously, at night the principal
leaders, both men and women, whom they brought
to trial, putting to death some, and imprisoning
Others. This was one hundred and eighty-six
years before the birth of Christ.
Now what says DR.. Hatch? "Sodem and
GOmorrah never presented q more diabolical
bedlam than the spiritual associations" They
claim the right of promiscuous love- as the
most sacred of all heavens rights" and the mar
rage relation is trampled under foot as ga mar
row conventionalism." And the maiden Sc
ducing the other sex, and after bringing forth the
fruit of sin, is taught to say" 1t is my God
given right to re-beget myself, when and by
whom, and under what circumstances to me
seem fit" Husbands invite men to occupy
the beds oftheir wives, and wives solicit of other
women indulgences for their husbands" The
following picture, in which the modus operandi of
seduction is painted, is truly horrible and there
is something worse than even this contained in
DR.. Hatch's extraordinary letter.
Profane and incorporate men, bertnes adulterers and
aduteresses, openly upheld and encouraged by the
spiritual societies all the country their public
teachers in their sacregious worship Women thirty
forty years Of age with children growing up around
them and who have abandoned their husbands of whom
they were not worthy, and living in adultery with
their paramours produce abortion and arise from their
guilty couch and stand bcforearge audiences the
diums for angels It is fully acknowledged in their public
journals that moral character is test Of qualification
public teacher Private circles form no small share of
this evil and dcusion. These formed by placing
man by the side Of each woman all joining hands The
anectona and emotional feelings are actively exercised
and TIE magnetic force Of the entire circle becomes
cntrated upon the most beautiful and susceptible female
MEMBERS and the result may be easily concctured The
are taken TO be the control and dation Of spirits and there
fore rendering submission becomes religious duh
Nov, what is the practical conclusion to which
we ought to come! We would not 20 the leiics.ss;
of the Senators of Rome, and put the spiritual.
lists to death. But considering the fearful evils
the system is inflicting on our social fabric-sap
ping the very foundations of religion. virtue and
morality-it becomes question whether the Lee
gislature ought not to interfere It has inter
posed in the case of masked balls, which are
mere bagatelles compared with the orgies of the
spiritual circles. Certainly committee ought
to pc appointed by the Senate or Assembly to
inquire into the truth Of the allegations of DIR.
Hatch. Some strong and decisive measure is
necessary to arrest the progress of these abomi-
nations
RuMoRs OF MORE BLOOD AND THUNDER There
is a rumor that the Sickles tragedy has created
such quarrel between the editors of the Post
and Times that it must lead to challenge duel,
and a settlement over at Hoboken, or at the |
other side Of Niagara river. This "affair of |
honor" is to come of between the responsible edi-
tors-Raymond for the Times, and Bryant for the |
Post. II such On alarming event should actually |