The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-06-19

Tne ceremonials conducted on Friday last in
she now haunted neiehborhood of Fort Lee, by
company of venerable adherents to the doc
trine OF earthly and spiritual communion, were
OF character so astounding to the average
Dellet OF the human mass, that the hesitation OF
thCse who were present to reveal them TO the
world can scarcely be wondered at. We under
take the task with misgivings that are only
checked by supreme sense of duty. The pre-
JUDGES OF the multitude, il they are not at once
overcome by this remarkable recital, may fail
in the process of solemn reflection which it is
certain to engender.
The OCCASION was picnic-a term, it is
scarcely necessary to state, adopted only t
screen the intent of those who we're called t
participate in the mystic drama of the day. A
steamboat transferred the feshly tenements OF
these elect from the uncongenial turmoil OF the
metropolis to the quiet OF the bluffs below the
Fort. Thence, in procession formedgof seers
and sybils hand-in-hand, of youthful eLeUeS at
gambols, unreproved by skyward-gazing elder
eyes, the tateiul throng advanced, heralded by
the dolor OF drums and Gym 0als to the heights.
AS 1t reached them, the shaking of its faded gar
ments and the stroklng backward of its patri-
archal lengths OF hair, betokened a cdsting-Of
of the dust and travail OF this sublunary sphere,
and an awful preparation for communion with
realms beyond.
As the matrons and dlgnitaries bestowed
themselves upon the grass, and listened to catch
the sibyllne whispers of the breezes in the
branches overhead, their vsages assumed a
corpse-like rigidity, which gradually commune
Gated itself to their bodies and limbs. The occa-
sional movements of the latter at last so re-
semDled those of a skeleton deprived of its usual
mechanism as to indicate that vitality had in
deed departed from them 10 become acquainted
with its unimprisoned kin. Soon afterwards, the
involuntary descent of hats from the upllfted
broWs OF the elders, and the swapping OF ribbons,
used to conhne ther ample bonnets by the aged
female devotees, disclosed the medium, and per-
mltted even material eyes to view the process
through which the soul OF the spirtualist quits
its unworthy mould!
Barred to the inyisib!y populous skies, the
ut no No fad
thrilling aspect. Their myriad hairs, dstended
and pointing upward, quivered like harpstrings
played upon by impercephble fingers. The
boards of the elders lifted TO aid the undistiu.
gushable harmony, veiled their countenances
with a cloud. The tresses of time-worn
virgins robbed their temples OF the sacred masks
that hide decay; and from the brows Of men and
matrons were elevated and given to the breeze
these pitying devices shaped by art from the
relics of the departed, to conceal the stinted
growth thus displayed by the power of an uncal-
The physical contortions which presently ac.
companied this extraordinary manifestation
might have excited apprehens Oh in the minds
OF those who could not fully appreciate their
import. The remarks ventured in whispers
from the youth of both sexes IN congregation
upon the fences and among tn tree-tops in the
vicinity, were painful memorials of an occasion
so rife with impressive but unaccepted lessons
in transcendental lore.
To the elect, however, this interesting exhibit
ton was the prelude of joyful and promising
v
riety of intricate postures-thclr eyes still up
turned in the perpendicular direction of their
shuddering looks-the devotees mechanically
ranged themselves in line along the sward. A
chief stalked slowly forward and faced the sol
emn battalion. Lifting his voice amid the still
ness OF the place, he then gave out after the
manner of the antique chorists, the following
hymn, verse by verse, which the company sang
in the intervals, with the several accompani-
ments OF rising and falling of hands, standing
upon one loot alternately, beating their breasts
and loins, kneeling, pluCking grass and casting
it to the winds, and finally the removal and
destruction of most OF their attire by their
teeth and fingers, the males and females being
left in a few scant undergarments apiece
HYMN OF THE DEvoTEE
For US no lowly ties fit;
All worldly hopes are trail
In otter tabernacles SIT
The saints for whom we wall. ..
... ChOrUs. r| ..I.
Sweet saints for whom we wall
Dear saints Tor whom we wall;
Descend and burst these earthly bonds
o SAINTS for whom we waIiI
Her graces, for q sacrifc,
Unto spectre male,
/ ach ViJgn duly keeps, with 81 CHS
That sound without avail. ....
LR1rH
That sound without avail
That yeaIn without avail;
Zach virgin rends, with Mistiul signs,
Her breast without avail.
III.
We wait-Our garments loosed for fight
From out this gloomy vale
With straining eyes to see the light
Beyond this misty pale.
Chorus.
Beyond this misty pale,
beyond this murky pale;
we strain our eyes to see the light
Beyond this misty pale.
Any attempt to describe the effect which the
chanting of this hymn, and the anatomical eX
hibition attending 1t, produced upon the sur
rounding group of spectators, is happily rem
dered needless by the interest of the astonishing
event which succeeded. The outcres of vulgai
materallsts, the levity OF thoughtless youth
were rebuked, in the sight of those permitted u
behold, as by thunderoolt. - - 81
To the vision of the latter, darkening of thu
heavens, and a dim something in the atmo
sphere had given presage of the advent of tina
unearthly company which suddenly populatet
the space between the leader and his chorlsters
And by this VISION alone were beheld the fold
OF an ethereal Taiment that descended upon IN
forms of the earthly vo.ares, who now bent toi
ward in reverent welcome towards the phantom
that had responded to their call.
These, clad in the spectrums OF all garbs Wor
upOn the earth in tnclent and modern times
presented a motley AMI somewhat theatrlca
Diicty of their movements. They paused q
number, who seemed, from his reach of bear
and the strange glitter of his eye, to embod
within himself the remoteness OF mystery OF q
ace yonDger than the earliest earthly chronicl
records, stepped forward and pronOunoed'-
n. .kara ID aNa a.