The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1864-01-13

spirit at death, ana ioIms lts tSsteSnSe eAi'.iA
the resurrection, ssesssmay admit that such
supposition affords very plausible solution,
of iuafiy undeniable physiological facts, Of
which at least no better explanation can be
offered. Thas electricity is the means by
which the spirit pervades and operates on the
material frame, is nov almost beyond question /
No one has more satisfactorily proven its pres
ence and power, in the human body, than Rut-
ter who has, rented an instrument for ind
ing its comparative forcedn different indixid4
uals, ana ia fhss same sindividnaf under differ;
ent conditions, 1t appears that the human
body is a source Of electricity, in the same
sense as glass, wax OF hair; SO that it can be
ELECTED, even.if the body is insulated on a
glass stool, whereas machine requires to
stand on the ground. Thesbest informed do
not pretend to cay whether human electricity
is the same as chemical electricity, for no one
nretends to tofunderstand the essential nature of
either; but the laws which govern them, and
the modes of opera ion are ascertained in each
to be similar. In some persons electricity is
much more freely ELECTED than in Others
During the winter of 1853 the wife of an ac-
quaintance had but to shake her apparel in
the evening when the sparks few out with a
cracking noise, like leaves in the fire. Some
ladies during cold and frosty weather, can see
sparks, if they shake their. woolen garments
while undressing in the dark, or the same
phenomena may be witnessed, if silk skirt is
rapidly slipped down over woolcn one which
has been worn all day. This demonstrates the
effect of human electricity, evolving from the
body Takesan open mouth specie jar, and to
silk thread attach a silver coin. Let d
number of persons join hands, the gents fa-
cling one way and the ladies an other. One
person takes tho silk thread between his
thumb and forefnger and holds the piece
within the jar. After being steadied, and af-
ter a lapse of few moments the coin wi.l be-
gin to revolve and will furn slowly or rapidly
according to the temperament of the operator.
If the string be taken by lady, the same
movement will occur but 10 different direc-
ton or reverse motion. Other experiments
there are that would elucidate the theory Of
human elecfricity. but We will not enumerate
them here But now we expect you will ask
what has this to do with spirit rapping or ia
be spinoing2 Werepiy emphaticaIiy much,
much indeed - J. i 81.
Having proven the electric current within
us we apply. il not to suspended coip, but to
three legged table, on which we place the
tips Of our fingers, forming human battery.
around H.; and after patient. waiting, we will
see it begin to. spin, snd obtain from ityresults
far surprising anything dreamed of before
We maysdeplore the trickery. the decisions,
the impiety and the immortality. which have
5esaf ftiH Ann ron tod. M fbA
ment of thisiphepomenon but we can not re-
gard it all as trickery, still less reckon it in
separable from impiety There have been
cheatsiand jugglers enough in table rapping
and II may be admitted that all professed me-
diuns plying their calling for money. are to
be suspected and avoided But tleart has been
practiced by hundreds Of guileless young
people at their own homes, and the pity is
that the results of the mere scientific ex4
pertinent are not sought in sober, inteili-
gent and Christiau-like manner
The attempt to prove tha. table rapping
or table moving, is the result of involuntary
and unconscious muscular force, is now cener-
ally acknowiedsed to have been unsuccessful, !
aud the fact can no longe be challenged, that
a table which requires the united strength Of
two persons to move it only Few inches, can
fseveral persons touch il gently with the tips
of their fingers, be moved several feet at a !
time, without the visible or conscious applies
ton. of any force whatever s,;,g e 1ss.fs
Now sleptics proceed to further tests, and
finding sympfo 8, however rude, of that intel
ligenee and yolition, which have always been
The pecuiar attributes of an imma-
teral principle, they forthwith conclude that
the table is now possessed, by some spirit from
the unseen world,s with whom they may cor
verse, and from whom learn lessons of wisdom
and knowledge. 70 us it seems strange.Efhat |
sober minded and even scientific persons we'd |
ded to the doctrine of invariable sequences, |
should believe thing so inconsequent; that |
having by purely nechanical means charged [
the timber from their own bodies with that I
which IS the Immediate agent of their muscu- |
lar action, they should believe its actions to be |
my other than their ownsa Does it not remind |
one of the ancient folly OF making Cod uut /
'f tree and falling down to worshipit The I
act tEat thousands upon thousands, aye even I
Millions, in Europe and America have en-
,raced this delusion within the last few years. I
s startling proof of the indnmitable disposi
ion of man to believe in the supernatural |
nd to desire intercourse with the world of /
pirits. The frequent de e,cction and convi
ION of mediums, who have practiced mere de- T
eption and lmposture. has rotled to any gen.
raj discoufaeement of the profession and
light after nj bt the young and unsuseecting
lttend the rerfirnfanees and decisions, until /
he fatal son has entered their veins. Here
hey listen to what they believe to be the
oiees from Hides, teaehingall 'nianuer of i
domination in morris as well as gross errors
. religion, and drawing the heart away from.
p worship Of the pure and holy. Those who T,
ave been nursed in piety learn 10 trile With /,
oily things; The svirtuous are led to the very Is
erge Of i1,pnrity, and often fall and the fall Il
N reyel in lust and wiek kedness. This won h
erful tabie-fapping, however, may be tested Fl
y soberrmspdsd dspeople, without a Thought of "A
Dlthing mundane conDected with their soper- Ia
tionssv Il may be- remarked that tabic=rap-t '
ing bears close analogy TO the phenomena Q
house haunting SO called. Those v ho have &
lrefully winnowed among the stories Of this It