The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-08-24
spiritualism Pronounced Jugglery by
an INTELLIGENT Jury.


spiritualism Pronounced Jugglery by
an Intelligent Jury.
The worst fears of the disciples of the new
religion have been realized. The Colchester
case at Buffalo has been decided against the
defendant This decision, upon the defence
set up by Colchester's counsel, carries with it
all the questions involved in the case. The
jury decide that spiritualism is jugglery; that
raps and table-tippings, and the blood red writ
ing on the arm, and floating guitars, and all the
other phenomena produced by the so-called
mediums, are neither manifestations of a super
natural power nor communications from de-
parted persons but merely the result of sleight-
ofhand. Colchester is thus obliged to take out
a license as juggler or prestidigitateur, and
we suppose that all the other mediums will be
compelled, sooner or later, to follow bis
example. The license fee does not amount to
seance-but the principle of the case amounts to
great deal. At single stroke spiritualism
has been cut off from the list of religions, 80
far as Buffalo jury can accomplish this.
The counsel for Colchester asked leave, at
the conclusion Of the trial, to submit to the
Court several questions of law, and this per-
mission was, of course, granted. The counsel
desired to inquire as TO the constitutionalty Of
the Internal Revenue law; as to the sul1lciency
of the Indictment against Colchester, and as
to the publicity of the performances of the ex-
medium. The first and second questions are
merely technical, and the counsel must expect
to have them decided against him. 1t is too
as unconstitutional, and if the indictment were
sufficient for the trial it is certainly strong
enough to sustain the verdict. The third ques-
ton is one of fact, which is really involved in
the verdict of the jury. But the learned cOun-
sci raises fourth question of q different sort
1t is in regard to the constitutional guarantees
to freedom Of religious belief Upon that point
it may be said that, although the constitution
does not forbid anybody to believe that Her
mann is a prophet and Heller dealer in spir-
its from the other world, yet the mere fact that
some people do SO believe will not protect
Hermann and Heller if they refuse TO take out
the proper licenses as public performers. Since
spiritualism is legal jugglery it cannot be legal
religion. We are strongly of the opinion that,
after mature consideration, Colchester's coun-
sci will let the verdict stand in its present
form.
We do not believe, and we presume that no
other sensible person believes, that the deci-
sion of the Buffalo jurywil make any differ
ence to spiritualists generally. They will look
upon the trial as sort of persecution, and will
glory in their faith accordingly. The more
skeptics laugh at it, and intelligent juries pro-
nounce against it, tho more spiritualists will
believe in 1t, and the more ardently they will
insist upon the supernatural character Of its
manifestations They will remind us and each
other that no religion was ever established
without its trials and prosecutions. They will
point to the Jews, who were carried into
slavery y tbs ghgistlals, who were torn to
pieces 81 Wild Ss:.sts; 70 tas fgstsstsn:sl who
were racked; to the Roman Catholics, whose
property was confscated; to the Mormons, who
were tared and feathered, and to a hundred
other sects, each one of which had its period of
suffering, and found the road to Jordan exceed
ingly hard TO travel. It is true that spiritual
lists, as such, have been subjected to few, If
any, Of these outrages; but this is because the
nineteenth century is too civilized and enlight-
ened for such proceedings. The modern form
of persecution, 1t seems, is requiring the pro-
fessor Of q new religion to take out license
as juggler, and hauling him before an intelli-
gent jury when he presumes to refuse. The
form, they will argue, may be milder, but the
principle is the same. So, as religion always
thrives upon persecution, whether the perse-
cutors shed the blood or the money Of the
saints, they will expect to see an immense re-
vival Of spiritualism forthwith.
But, while all that may be said on this side
Of the matter may be quite true, and while, TO
some minds, it may appear sufficient to over
come the stubborn fact of the Buffalo jurys
verdict, still we cannot but protest that the
spirits have acted very stability in this affair,
and that the onus rests heavily upon their i'm.
material shoulders. That professors of ell
religions have been prosecuted is fact; but II
is equally fact that when a religion was
worth anything its professors were not deserted
in the dark hour Of their tribulations. The Jews
were carried into slavery; but Daniel was safer
in the lions den than Colchester In court The
Christians were forced to fight with wild beasts;
but often the Christians won the battle, which
is more than Ssa b ssja Of Colchester; The
Protestants were racked; but instances ore re-
corded In which the victims felt no pain,
stretched as easily as India rubber and sang
songs Of triumph, which Colchester has no right
to do. The Roman Catholics were hunted and
burnt; But they were never without miracles
when miracles would save them, whereas
the spirits left Colchester in the lurch, when
the upsetting Of a table would have
brought him Off with flying colors. The Nor
mons endured tar and fssthers and rides upon
rai which ,uarc alnnoat IA uncomfOrtahle aa