Delaware State journal and statesman., 1866-01-16
THE ORIGINAL "LORD DUNDREARYD
ON sPIWITUALIsm.
CURIOUS LETTER FROM Mr.. sorHERv.

l
ds|"t IN which am referred to. The main
count in the indictment against me is thus
stated
a lew years ago party of spiritualists
IN New York, composed chiefly of actors
and actresses held regular sittings for the
production OF spiritual phenomena. One of
the members of this circle was an actor
named stuart, who was recognized by all as
a most powerful medium. The manifesto
mons witnessed at these sedRcss were so won
derful as to give to the meetings the dis
iudnguishing title Of "The Miracle Circle. y
lhey created so much interest that il was
considered special privilege to be admitted
% luis magic chamber Mr.. Stuart at that
period was better known as Stuart the mar
nellseIi or magicworker, than Stuart the
The actor named Stuart is now better
known as the actor named Sothern.' Fol.
lowing sufficiently illustrious precedents, 1
used an assumed name when entered on
my profession, and only resumed my own
by the advice of my friend Mr.. James Wal.
lack. The party of spiritualists' was not
composed chiefly of actors and actresses ,
1t would have been none the worse if it had
been; but in reality it was composed of
twelve gentlemen of high position in their
respective professions, who, actuated by a
common curiosity and interest, Joined in n
thorough practical and exhaustive inyestiga.
tlon OF the phenomena of 'spiritualism. We
were quite ready for either result-to believe
II II il were true; to reject it if found false;
and in the latter case at least resolved in
due time to expose it. For more than two
years we had weekly meetings. At these,
by practice, we had succeeded in producing
noi only all the wonderful manifestations
ot the professional media, but other effects
still more startling. We simply tried to re-
produce the appearances and the results
Which we had heard of, and seen-and we
succeeded. Pushing our practice and ex-
peiimenis further, we attained the capacity
to execute feals much more remarkable than
tAose presented at any of the spiritual
'eaHess' An American gentleman and my.
self took the part of the 'media;' the rest of
ho company assisted; and do not hesitate
% say that we outdid everything attempted
OF accomplished by Home, or the Daven-
ports, or any of the other moro notorious
spiritual exhibitors.
Not the least OF our discoveries was that
the whole thing was myth We did all
!ha; the spiritualists did, and more; but we
were our own agents, and had no need Of
recourse to supernatural influences, had we
the power to command them. We COM
menced our sednces in a spirit of legitimate
investigation; we continued them for the
sake of the amusement they gave ourselves
and our friends. We became famous in
small way. We had to start an engagement
book, and to make appointments. People
came from all parts Of America, and waited
Tor their turn. We got into larger line of
business than any of the professional ex-
hibitorsi and we were extensively patron
lied. The only difference was we didn't
charge anything We took no money di-
roctly or indirectly. Our entertainment be.
ing free, was literally supported; and when
add that the evenings invariably wound up
with Jolly little supper, given solely at our
own expense, it may be understood that
The Miracle Circle was much favored and
warmly encouraged. The indulgence of our
love Of fun cost us some money, but yielded
us an immensity Of pleasure To speak
colloquially, it was an extensive sell We
did put pens under the table, and get sigma
lures of Shakespeare and Garrick, and other
valuable autographs; we did produce spirit
hands and spirit-forms; people did float in
the air-at least we made our audience really
believe they did, which was quite sufficient
Tor our purpose and theirs. We exhibited
phenomena which were startling enough in
all conscience, and we made our visitors be.
lieye in their reality. How we succeeded in
doing this-how we made some Of the most
intelligent mon in America believe that they
really saw and felt what they only fancied
/ they saw and felt-how we produced results
the causes of which were not apparent to the
| physical senses of the spectators-how, in
fine, we did things which must have seemed
10 be, and whatmany of our visitors believed
TO be, supernatural and miraculous-I do not
intend to explain. We did them; how we
4 did them do not feel any motive to declare;
1 but | have not the slightest hesitation in
'aying that we did not do them by spiritual
agencies. Yet professional and paid media
came and saw, and themselves avowed our
superior power over the spirits
THE object of this writer in the
! Spiritual Magazine has been to represent me
as having exhibited spiritual manifestations
in America, and having exposed them here.
have stated, hope clearly, that did pro.
4 duco all the manifestations and did exhibit
them, but they were not spiritual, and did
lot exhibit them in public, nor for money.
l therefore consider myself free from the i'm
putations of having obtained money under
false pretenses. encouraged idle supersti-
lions, or perpelraied blasphemous burlesques
/ OF sacred things.