The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-08-23
SPIR1TUAL1SNI.


the Convention-The skeptcal Young Man on
Hand-Early Appearance Of the Mournful Man
with Mouldy Hair-First Days Proceed
ings, Etc.
PROVIDENCE r. l., August 21.--''You see I'm
gon' to the convention at Providence. But
aint got money to pay my. board in providence
so I'm goin' out to Pawtucket, where I've got an
orthodox sister. | ken stop IN her house nights,
and go inter the convention day times" Such
was the Information communicated to me on
the Providence boat last evening by cadaye-
rous but Intellectual and voluble lady, who, in
common with most of the passengers, was on
her way hither to attend the third annual Con-
vention of Spiritualists from all parts of the
country.
SPIRITS ON THE Vastly DEEP.
The attendant spirits, as usual, represented
the grave. the gay, the lively and serene; but
in the inverse order OF nature. The young we're
philosophical and metaphysical, and affected
profundty: while the old were light and airy,
affecting hlarity. Their individual sovereipntv
was represented most emphatlcally in the matter
of dIess-the fashions ranging from the time of
Joseph's coats OF many colors down to the latest
edition OF last years fashion magazine. In the
matter OF hair, likewise, the order of nature was
reversed, as the hiTsute appendages of the men
were long, while some OF the ladies we're cropped
like hair-trunk.
SPIRIT wIRE-PULLING.
As is invariably the rule in all cases where
any quantity of flesh and blood is associated,
the spirits do not entirely accord with reference
to the convention. Some of the shining spirits
seem to look upon it as a weapon of the carnal-
minded, and savoring of the doings of the hesh.
like. They think that conventions may do very
well for politicians who mean only to do with
the common affairs OF life, but are not at all
calculated to advance the cause of splritualism.
Consequently there VIII be many spiritual
organizations unrepresented. The Convention,
however, will not be very strict upon the mat
ter OF credentials, and, in order to provide Tor
vacancies, there was no little wire-pulling and
arranging of representatives on the boat. Here
and there knots of the celestials were engaged
in discussine knotty points points Of 'atomc pro:
and sundry other interesting but unsettled
topics. AT length the CdcotheS tOquendi became
too painful for endurance, and by permission of
the captain OF the boat, meeting was duly
organized.
NO SUCH THING AS DEATH.
DR.. Child, of Philadelphia, was the first
speaker. He was well satisfied that there is no
such thing as death. ! merely mention this, in
order that you may abolish the Health Board
ana snap your fingers ut the cholera. DR.. Chids
declared that every individual present was a
spirit. Tangible forms are not real men. Any
body could be Convinced of spirtuaist pheno-
mena by simply observing what everybody could
see. The doctor did not give any raps, but
said that to produce the manifestations would
require favorable conditions" These were
interpreted by an unbeliever to be dark room,
and no chance to discover the cheat. The
doctor concluded with the assertion that of all
the men who had died during the past wal not a
single one was lost, not a single one was miss
ing. This will be a great consolation to those
who are of the impression that some of their
friends we're butchered at Fredericksburg or
buried at AndersonVille.
MATERIAL sPIRITUALIsM.
Mr.. Wadsworth, a short, spare, red-whiskered,
bright-eyed nervous, deep-yoiced gentleman,
took the floor, and commenced by saying he
would not atag onize his remarks to Brother
Child. Bat the doctor had not told the whole
truth. The fact was that spiritual communica-
tlon did not constitute all OF spirtuallsm.
Spiritualism is not merely fact, but move
mo no IN fhn ron n ttnO Of fhn Irit
while it is IN the body. 1t belongs to the BODY in
which the spirit Is, and TO the associations OF
the body IN which the spirit Is. Inc hrst pGacs; rae
tical important question is how, and where, and
why we are, while our feet stand upon the earth
and our heads and aspirations reach heaven
ward? His doctrine was ''relate yourself in
life" When a man is IN the relationship to
things and the soul of things, there is no power
in earth or heaven that can make him un
happy. This means, OF course, man must
marry only when he can avoid having mother
ln-law.
A TRANCE MEDIUM.
Miss Nettie Colburn was now called upon bu
the chairman announced that as she was {
trance medium, some me would be required tC
GET her under the influence" Nettle there
upon went OIL in paroXysms OF Jerks, twitches
and sundry other spasmodic operations involv
ing some muscular effort, and supposed to bC
superinduced by the influencing spirits. To the
unbelieyero present, the eXhlbiuon much resem
bled that OF a nervous female frightened bl
'spooks."
THE MARVELLOUS SPIRIT.
Mr. L. X. Coonley was the next spirit H
said he had been ten years travelling. He wa
as suddenly converted as st. Paul, and had neve
had doubt since, especially as he had made hi
living by it, and was on the point of buying
comfortable home. He had been the reCpen
of the most mysterious directions from the spirits
He had been told by them where to co. wha
conveyance to take, and when to stop.
THE TRANCE MEDIUM AGAIN.
Miss Colburn the trance medium, had by thi
time become sufficiently charged with the in
fuence, and was led out to face the audience
and a rather broad face, with retreating chin
She is OF slight figure She was dressed in
black dress, with blue trimmings, and had
blue stIeamer flying out of her head-gear. Sh
did rot announce the names of the spirits sh
represented; but IN an exceedingly arti6ca
manner commenced, with her eyes closed, tn
delivery of an address from Eve" the aforesal
spirits. The burden OF her talk was q common
place and somewhat ungrammatical eXhortatio
10 progress, GO On. continue, presevere ant
otherwise advance with the good work." A
the conclusion OF her talk che resumed her spas
modic exertions and subsided.
REVEREND sPlRITUALIsT.
Rev Mr., Fish was now called for, and cam
forward, complaining that, as he had relorme
from the ministry, it was not tatr to apply th
old nickname" to him. He considered tn
meeting providenhal in fact, they were ooun
to Providence. (JOke.l he thought the splrl
could just as well get into meeting on u
boat as into one on the Shore He proceeded !
relate an incident alleged to have happene
on one of the Sound boats
.