The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1859-01-27
minneapolis letter.

niinns pssit. Letter
Correspondence the Pioneer and pemocra
MINNEAPOLIS. Jan. IS, 1859.
Learning that the SpirItuaIists OF Mime
apolis and vicinity have been holding regn'
lar MEETINGS in BAsssr's Hail. every Sab
bath afternoon, ! have made some enquiries
concerning the believers ia tbs science. r.
ligion. philosophy or whatever it -, and
End that they are more numerous here, than
most people have any idea Of Az Botti'
neau Prairie, few miles northwest of this
place, Amos, the entire neighbour God are be-
levers, having among them the usual num-
Der Of speaking, writing aud healing me-
dums. They have their private circles, and
hold frequent public meetings. One OF their
prominent healing mediums rejoices in the
name of SMITH another, an old man, who
also enjoys the gift Of tongues, is named
AxpRhws another, 1'nAYER. In Minnca-
polls, the principal mediums are young
lady, and lad. brother and sister, named
GErcnELL The exercises ut the public
exhibitions Of these people, consist usually
Of speaking and singing through trance ne
diums. and occasional addresses by the very
few who arc capable of uttering a halfdozen
consecutive sentences OF good English.
On last Sunday, the speaking wsa through
the medium, AsDRKws 1t reminded one
Of the old fashioned Methodist exhortations,
and w@ weak enough effort. After
the spirit had retired from his. her
or its possession Of the old mans heshly u.
bernaclc, seedy looking individual in ano-
ther part Of the room, arose and commenced
speaking. His speech was tresoms and in
spid to the last degree. /. was nptiy
characterized by a servant girl who sat next
me, whom | overheard whispering to her
companion, that il was fiat as dishwater."
lie was DESTROYS to inform the audience in
what manner he came to believe in spirit
oosm," which remarkable event transpircd
well nigh on to eight year ago Said
that he was aran ger here, and that he
"sposed thai not nobody 10 the room kBowed
nothin' abou, him His twaddle was cut
short by question which seemed TO en-
barrass rim somewhat, propounded by a
skepticsl gentleman ia the audience. The
spirits, however, would not stand by and
ere their friends thc mediums discounted in
this manner by single shot from the bat
terry Of an uabel yer, 30 they rushed TO the
rescue, and eu, ring into the body Of old
/ Mr.. AsDRxws. they with true Yankee cnte
ues,. wished to anawcr tac question by asking
another. They wanted IN know il the gen
( ,lensn was familiar with the Old Book.
meaning tho Bible Thu. vas rather q
/ pointed question for NJ. Cook, the skepticsl
gentleman a'ort,siI. who actaafy blusbed
/ a. b. hc.ita,ipg'y confess d 10 a very slight
acquaintaune WITH II. pages a profaue
babbIer al my show suggested tina, he knew
more abog. County Records than IL the
Bible Ral,ins. howevef, Sir. Cook urged
the old man. or rather the "spirits." with s
series Of knoty qnestioos 'bat bo'b,rsi them
TO snsUer. causing great excitement among
the scofFers and antsiieyers Of the sudenc~
who gave vent 10 their emotions 10 anything
bu, q devotional uaannsr
During the discussi0n bstseen the spirits
10 ard GU, Of tue fissh. round faced, good
looking giri WHO sat Oh front bench, Ssern
ed tn be taken with q violent III o. The
, d. j.rk." With br bead tossing wildly
sbtut bo,ifei fyiug IN Tho ar hair dsbev
eiied. ,es,h gri,ilbg sHd .yts ~ hpe ffsn-
" rolling .be b0bbed around and RICO
cLei,s-i alloy thc So. 'sr al he world Ike
OLE pu.sezsed +" a. sbe mot truly VA,
TIE climax a. iad .rrogsrs~ vas attaIued
vhsn abe jampd 20 Ter 'oci snl marrL'd
% the door e.ooa = the crpsd right I'D
EFF making her Ny i't, The stars - ''.'
s'te, and ,h'r D1u. 80 drutt qack
inc shaking =. - va~'
Tts We ia M q ',- b" Sui-s - r.
s1dsno' AMI w. ~ n-e'ing broke up .
kir1o' p'01s row
tb,'l 'hi. thing csl'd .p'ri,sa'..n .l..s'
'or,h soto' better hu,'. ,'an !, IA. yf 81
Aib,'-d oTr'sin'y ean1n riain ti,e tig.
-,gard - aay sci bal.lcst mind I
prom 90 'Oo nsrt and perform. 100 lt'b