The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1867-07-31
sPIRITUALIsM.
Lecture ON the Lights and shades of
SpIEIIualIsm," by Andrew Jackson
DAVIS. Marriage AmnItIes. -f|

From 1te Net0 York RsTdld.
Andrew jackson Davis delivered s
lecture last evening, at the Masonic
Hall, East Thirteenth street, on the
Lights and Shades of Spiritualism.'
Owing TO the unfavorable character oi
the weather, there was a rather slim
audience, bnt It's smallness was proba
bly, more than compensated for, in the
opinion of the lecturer by its enlighten'
ed and progressive" character. In
place OF the curious crowd which usual
iy makes up the, majority OF spirit
ualist congregation, the gathering was
composed almost exclusively OF earnest
and enthusiastic "seekers of the truth
AT any rate the proportion of short
haired, strangely dressed women, and
flong haired, specialized, somnoleni
men, was larger than usual; and most
of those present had a wild, scared ex-
preston about the eyes which cdn only
be seen in progressive spiritualisi
lyceum or an insane asylum.
The proceedings were opened by slow
music of an impressive character, q
young lady of melancholy appearance
presiding at the piano. MIR. Davis
then plunged at once into his subject,
He said that in the past few years spir.
itualism had made great strides, and
had now established its claims as d
truthful system. Five years ago the
number of splritualists was not large
ten years ago everybody disbelieved
the truths taught by the new Ieligioni
fifteen years ago, everybody disbelteved
in them, all persons included. Now, as
Judge Edmonds stated on that very
plA torn only few weeks ago, there
were eleven millions OF spiritualists in
the United States. 1t was one of the
lights OF spiritualism TO know that this
was so; but this lightiWaS accompanied
by a great shadow. Many of those In
ciuded in this calculation, though they
had received private evidence of the
truth, and believed in it, still remained
mem bers of the popular churches, and
supported pulpits in which principles,
which they themselves had secretly ac'
cepted, were constantly ana severely
denounced. Only last week he had
spoken TO gentleman who belonged to
this large class upon this subject, and
had asked him how much he thought
spiritualists gave away every year 10
support orthodox theology5 "Was il
as much as $40, 600 ?' he asked, and had
been told in reply that 1t certainly
reached S200, 900 per annum. This had
grown out of the tendency there had
existed hitherto in spiritualist lyceums
to bring in the central idea of a future
life to the exclusion OF all other truths.
Marvels had been sought for, mol
wisdom; abnormal mediums had been
awarded the place of honor, and had
monOpolized the pecuniary profits o.
spiritnalist churches, instead of real
sound, meritorious men, who we're un'
der the more valuable and important in
spiration of truth. Mr.. Davis then al
luded to the great work which spiritual
lists were doing for women, and urged
upon the female section Of the congre'
cation that II was not only their duty
but their interest to support the new
movement. In the lyceum women
were more influential and got larger
salaries than men. This was because
spiritualism came to women naturally
Just as the sunlight dropped upon the
flowers. Spiritualism was eminently
and pre-eminently the religion OF wo'
man; 1t was a religion of the affections
Then there was another plank in the
spiritualist platform in which women
were greatly Interested, the rectitication
of the marriage relation. This was
subject which was never allowed to be
mentioned in all other churches, and ii
was only spiritualism which dared 10
proclaim openly the eternal glory oi
an eternal marriage and the everlasting
miserable wickedness of a badly made
and ill assorted marrige. Lycurgus in
the olden time by laws regulated mar:
riage, and succeeded in getting good
soldiers and healthy men and womeni
and acquainting them with the laws ol
nature. Mr.. Davis referred to the
abuse which had been cast upon spirit
ualism because it had advocated the
doctrine of natural affinities; and con.
cluded by urging upon the congregation
the necessity of educating young men
and women in spirilualist truth in or
der to regeneIaLe the coming genera
tion. L