The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-04-01
SPIRlTUALISM.
Twentieth Anniversary-CeIeha
SOirec Last Evening.


Its Twentieth NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
SOirec Last Evening.
The age of hulnbug has not eliminated in theburn-
ing of Barnum's Museum. There are Joyce Heths Of
the brain and metaphysical woody horses still exist
ing and gaoping through the dazed senses Of phi
losophers of certain school with fury that leaves
them in the eyes Of ordinary people but one stage
removed from madness. The spirtualistic theory,
probably incepted In the brain of sotheaded meta
physician, or born of the "baseless fabric Of
visionn--some dream OF the sick couch-is undoubt-
eddy the grandest Of these humbugs with all its great
plausibty, its pretended precedence, its mysticsms
and the broadly displayed erudition Of its professors
and adherents.
Twenty years ago the "spirits" manifested them.
selves for the first time to three young ladies' the
by means of knockngs and table tipping and created
great sensation, especially among that class OF an
asts tena ~ sch chambers and
ghostly subjects generally. All who believed IN
spooks" and intangible ghosts were converted Inn
OF the young ladies who had led Off in the dlscove-
res OF the spirit land were well attended and they
continued their explorations OF te esa mcog nan
sibe deduction Of effects from known causes which
seemed to have all the smoothness of truth
logically evolved. In those early days of
spritualism the excitement spread even
among the first circles of society throughout
our country the ton took 1t up, the Fox girls were
the rage Of the hour, table-tpping was the latest
STYLE and Spirtuasm was the fashion of the season.
Its novelty soon wore away. however, and the ar-
res OF the leaders OF the circles faded most sadly
From gilded saloons and the drawing rooms OF the
first society the new metaphysical phantasm was re-
mountebank Attraction being found absolutely
necessary in this new condition OF things, speaking
mediums a hands were ne
knotted cords showed the utility OF the spirits OF
dead and gone relatives.
With the change in the fortunes Of the great hum
bug there was corresponding change In Its patrons
and advocates. Long haired philosophers OF the
transcendental school took it under their protecting
wing; Atheists, for lack Of other religion, adopted
1t: materiasts and adv Gates OF wild theories OF
transmutaton OF souls, or the utter beastiness OF
sprituastic faith, or, receiving rebu's, in
corporated it as part Of their own beneL
fainr who still chung it with the desperation OF
drowning men, Spritualism speedily sank INTO
position bordering on the dark sea OF oblivion IT'S
good pretences ceased TO predominant, and the eX-
tremely bad began To crop out extensively. Atheism
and the beastly dogmas Of the middle ages became
predominant IN It's tenets-its eXpouders were IN
most part OF the Bohemian Glass; and their evil doc
triIes impregnated the originally pure theory as to
become It's leading caiaeerStc sc me Tempe Oh
ret in this city, whence the philosophers
boosted were to spread out on al Sides like the rays
OF the sun. the wild theories OF their peculiar la,
reforming the entire world ana casting down all the
old barriers of sense or respectab!lity wch might
bar the way of the contamination OF their Ctoplan
designs. Police interference squelched the budding
hopes OF the new philosophy, and the more decent
but scarcely less insane teueNerS Ill SIltltudllsHi
nave again taken the lead. 1t was their celebration
ol the twentieth anniversary that occurred last night
al the Everett Rooms corner OF Broadway ana
Thirty fourth street.
The audience assembled was remarkable for i.s
respeciaDty, It's manners, good looks ana tasteIli
dress. II was mainly composed of devout believers
in the genuineness Of spirits manifest themselves IN
whatever form they might ana, as BODY, the
assefnblagc did credit u the seer, wncn Is oy no
means avoraby represented at It's weekly meet
mgs, where inferior classes rather preiominate.
The entertainment consisted OF music, vocal and IN
srumental, Rotations, addresses spirit mani
fcstations and dancing by the entire party assembled.
Warren Chase, DIR. +. l.. H. Harris and several other
lights OF the Dodworth Hall sunday meetings did
the speaking The burden OF their arguments was
thai Sprituasm was q great and glorious iact;
that vi! ultimately rcyolutionze the world; that
II is no longer uncertainty, but Is an established
fact that the hearts Of sceptics were growing weak
within Liiem at tlHs anniversary evidence OF the
youthful lire remaining Ia tue ghostly lrame that the
societies throughout tue Union were in most
nourishng condition, and, to the number of one hun
dred, were assembled at te same time ut their re-
bratng, az they were doing, the great and
the glorious anniversary OF the new reve-
lation. All the speakers harped on the same
string, played the Old tune without variation rung
the Olden changes on their iavorite threadbare
ideas and perforated in the orthodox condition or
splritualistc, mental fog.
There were several young ladies who sang very
sweetly and performed skillully on the piano, and
one individual who thought he could play on the
violin. After an exceently selected and varied
programme 0f vocal and Instrumental pieces and
comic rccjtattons had been about half gone through,
the master OF ceremonies announced that
he would have the supreme pleasure OF
Introducing 10 the audience the celebrated
Fox sisters m Rochester knockings fame. The Ia
dies. only two of the three sisters being present,
stepped rtbe platform, creating an intense sensa-
ZION as they dial NO. ana seated themselves ON settee
facing the audience and submitted themselves
calmly TO the stare OF the fiuttering assemblage.
Both ladies' were In full evening dress. with white
opera clOaks, and presented fresh, cheerful and
booming Appearance quite In contrast to The pre-
conceived notions ei spirralksc mediums
A fat fussy Old chap awaited himself OF the oppor
= A. had On
placing himself in tue foreground. HIS "chin
music" was effective as far as sound goes ,lihough
it evidently did not mean much II was = sort Of
staininering, bungling solo, alternating rom a
scmping Stnccdto 10 ragged pizztcdto mo, ernent,
a. II MS voice were cracked violin or rusty from
bone played by some broken winded spirits. After
he had spoken his piece over the young lad rs he
was succeeded by two other gents with VIII eezy
VOICES aud ahad snufile piece whe sorey tried the
patience Of the sensible audience
Finally their rnodomonade came to an end, nd
the master OF the ceremonies announced that nc
SISTERS had agreed to give evidence then and the &c
Of their ability as mediums by causing the spirits .
manifest themselves through the usual means o. !!
rappng. The hap was hushed into deep silence and
the ladies' placed The tips OF their fingers on the
piano. After waiting several minutes faint raps were
heard about the stage. Then, the mediums seeming
to gain confidence announced that they would cause
the faps TO be sounded IN any part OF the hall that
might be desired by the audience The raps then
along the door between the feet OF the audience
approaching even the skeptical writer and family
rapping ont twenty when so commanded by the
This manifestation was regarded as great success
by the faithful part OF the audience who raptnrously
applauded the ladies on their retirement at this
climax Of their triumph. The old fogies OF the plat
form fairly wild with delight. They grinned,
chuckled, rubbed their paunches comfortably and
would probably have danced for Joy had not the
ponderosy OF adpose tissue rendered the graces Of
the light fantastic as sealed book TO them.
This was the Su,nnum OF spiritualistic lows All
that came after II on the programme was either
drowned In the hum of admiration unheard In the
preoccupation OF minds with the astounding won
ders lately manifested. SO the young man who
thought he could play on the violin, Thought and
scfaped and mentally battered himself by bowling
away unhissed and several crack. Drained philoso-
piers dOled out their miserable charity contribution
OF stale, crusty IDEAS and subsidized unnotced.
The announcement OF supper stirred the gossipping
knots to attention and bound the audience together
I'm one homogeneous m held az by one common
,vna Of ms La ~ q Go rnnl.