The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-09-29

salo:--Frends. the theme announced for this eve
nings discourse is constituted in these words:-
Whdt are the practical reasons iCiy an tpteiijqent
N'UestigdtOr should bec0ne a sOjrtttdtiSt2 We
are eNhOrted by the Apostle Paul, in his First
Epistle 10 the Thessalonians, to prove all things
aud holu fast that which Is good" In addressing
you on this subject shall do best, probably, to
SPEAK from my own standpoint, and somewhat
in accordance with my own. experience and
observations in relation to the general subject.
What Is a splTituallst-a spirtuahst of our day?
He is enc who is convinced, aud firmly believes,
that departed human spirits frequently com mu.
nicate with and manlICst themselves IN this
state of flesh and blood. Whoever is convinced
OF this-whOever is satisfied IN his own mind
that this is true in our own time, is a epirltualst
in the sense of this theme. He may believe
more or less in regard to the phiosophies aud to
the various specdlations in which sJirtuaiists
indulge; may stand in different positions with
regard TO the claims of every other sub
iect and question, but If he is firmly
convinced that departed spirits do some
times and frequently in our day com
municate with and manifest themselves to
mankind in the flesh, he is entitled 10 be called
a spirltualist. What do ! mean by an int ligent
investigator? An investigator is one who eX-
amines into and searches out the evidences and
reasons for any proposition which is submitted
TO him. An intelligent investigator is Of course
one who is competent to enter upon this search
ing examination understandngly.
Some ale liked religionists, who wish to know
nothing more concerning this subject than they
suppose they have had revealed to them in the
Bible and other sacred books. They look upon
spiritual manifestations, If they are really to be
regarded as such as special interposltions of
Providence, and have made up their minds that
no such interpostlons take place in our day.
They look upon it as a kind Of sacrilege TO in
quire whether IL is true that departed spirits
manifest themselves to men in the flesh now.
We have thoroughly learned men who are Saddu-
Gees, Wellinstructed and educated men and
women, who seem to scorn and condemn it.
Some sneer a. ghosts. Some sneer at the sub
ippt $ if it, hpOpoth their only
serving of their contempt. All such persons as
these are unfit to be investigators, because they
set out despising the whole thing, and what is
worse they have desp sed it on the very ground
that they are educated and we'll in tructed peo-
pie, and that it is only for fools aud crazy men
to look into this matter. Then you have great
multitude of downright skeptics who are ust as
certain that there is nothing out of flesh and
blood that has any intelligence, as they are that
they take drink.
Then we have large multitudes of people that
have followed to the grave the hearse that bore
away these friends, and IN many instances they
spurn the idea that they exist hereafter. They
throw it aside as a matter Of no Importance.
Some of them distinctly say that they do not
wish any further acquaintance with their de-
parted friends. They hope it is well with them,
but they don't care to have any further know
ledge OF them and they look upon us who are
interested in such things as crazy-headed men
and women.
Then there are those who have parted with
very near and dear friends, who would give the
solid globe If they had an assurance of their
future existence There are those who ask
themselves, whence came | and whittier do
go? What will be my state when the coffin
encloses my remains and the grave receives
my body? They grasp at everything that
promises them this assurance. Now belong
to that class of persons. Do you belong to the
same class
/ do not call a man or woman an intelligent
investigator who is prejudiCed, hard-headed,
and disposed to battle with evidence at every
step. 1t may be asked what the speaker wishes
TO set forth as proper evidence in this cause. |
should say that there ought to be evidence in
believing Dy the senses. | would take the test-
mony or a sufficient number Of credible wit
nesses; that is, men or women who have seen,
or heard, or felt, or known, and whose testl-
mOLy agrees in facts.
Then would say there is that which may be
called circumstantial evidence; that applies to
my own case. You will observe am speaking
from my own standpoint, just as If had gone
through this investigation. | felt bound to make
myself assured that a spirit manifestation, of
whatever kind purported to be such, was not a
thick OF legerdemain nor slightfo-hand; but that
it was a reality. For instance If heard rap
pings, had to satisfy myself that those rapplngs
were not made by machinery contrivance of any
kind. If / saw stand move in that manner
(tbe speaker here pushed the stand backwards
and forwards), as | have seen them, would
inqulre whether it was moved by wires, whether
it was under the control Of some ingenious in
dlyidual who was undertaking to play trick
upon me, and assure myself that there was nc
flesh or muscular power applied to 1t
/ have five general reasons why an mtelll-
gent investigator should become a spritualist
believe that departed spirits frequently in our
day, as well as in the past, manifest them
selves and communicate with living beings
There are a number OF well.authenticated cases
OF manifestation of spirits in our day.
When began to investigate this question, |
had the good fortune to have residing in my
immediate neighborhood Young lady who was
developed as medium" | knew the family
and the young lady. | had known her from {
mere child. She assured me there was NJ
trickery about it, that it was substantially wha
it purported to be, so far as she was concerned
On a certain occasion l was at nelghDofS O
mine, ard close by him there was circle
society, and this young lady was the medium.
| went in on an erand, and was about t
leave the room when they called on the tabl
for the alphabet, and it was spelled fieht out.
waited little while to propose something II
him (the spirit), This purported to come iron
a man whose name was Ellis Howard, MAJ
whom | had known, and who had been TO
several years in the spirit land. They asked i
the spirit should select CeXt for me for the mex
Sabbath. ! said yes
Then there came loud knocking and tn
word The was spelled. Then there was a dea
stop. The table was moved around III tina
manner. pushing the table around violently
This indicated another spirit, whose name wa
IDweney, with whom | had had intercourse
He SAID it was impossible for him TO max
those raps, he could move The tables, but coul
not make the raps. Then said l, "Since yo
are here-wheTe is my friend, who makes th
alphabet?" "Oh !" he replied, she will be bac
in a few moments"
went into conversation5with him then. In
little while came the strange signals which in
mcdiately began with the alphabet, and spele
out the 18th and 18th verses Of the I'd cha
ter of the First Corinthians. | asked the spI
If he would be IN the church, and he replied thi
he would. The time for the sermon came. "
began singing the hymn, when the rapper a
peaIed at the table near me- keeping tlme
NlNRE oNfTNFf