The New York herald., 1869-12-18

Meeting Of tho statc spiritnalistic Society,"
Deplorabie Condition Of Anairy-No Pro-
gress, No Money and Paucity Of Mis-
[F'rom the PhiIadelphla Aee. Dec. 16.l

DCPAOH1usC OOuOAtIOu u AMhlHD-iNW EEOs
grcss, No Money and u Paucity Of Miss
sionarfcs.
[From the Philadelphia AGe Dec. 1871
Yesterday aternooa, at tnree O'Clock, tho spirit
uailsts OF Pennsyvanla held their annual meeting ut
Harmonial Halt At that hour twenty had
been gathered together In the flesh. but there
rounded this small oand and the building contain
Ing ing tnem count ess army OF the disemoodied. Tne
resonant and persuasive voice an address full OF
poetic images and soothing Influences. lie said that
tue phrase ut was more blessed To give than to re-
ceive' referred TO spiritual girts. and casting his
eyes upwards, he said ne saw angels bending over
ana beckonng us TO follow. Then he quoted re-
lDarxaDe passage from the utterances OF that most
ancient OF darkles, Sojourner Truth, at least the
most ancient since the death or the last or the noble
army OF General Washngton's nurses, that we
could no more live without spirit truth than could
hsn out OF wateRO
The secretary then rose to read her report for the
year and SHE told OF tile dongs OF The nissionar es
winch tile society had in the held; how that Hannah
r. stern, one OF them had lectured seventy times IN
tne year. TO audiences OF about ninety persons each
time anu had collected about 500. Hannah was
designated Ia the report as an .,earnest'' woman,
and inocking spirit from one OF tie lower spheres
whispered IN our ear that 1.-THE term was apt. for
there couldt be much fun In the thing.v Then
there were the records OF the doings OF an-
otner missionary lectures, TO about
seventy-hve persons each time yielding total OF
seventy nine dollars and Henry /. Child had lee
tured seven times for twenty-five dollars. fne
had been expended except sixteen dollars, winch is
the balance Ia the hands OF the treasurer In some
sections Of the State, the report went on 10 state
"there was feeling that no money should be paid
TO lecturers, but the society did not mpatnse with
any such view. The lapOrer was worthy o1 his hire,
and they should work the harder and the angel
world would lep them.n The report was accepted,
ana seven more persons came III, one OF them
model carpet bagger-a creature altogether OF the
eafth as the Swedenborgians say but they strangely
forget the Invaluable services he can render through
out the intermnable torment to winch the most
desperately wicked must be suojectedt.iey can tor
menJ each other in style unknown IN Dante's time.
Mr. FISH, OF New Jersey, now addressed tue meet
Ing. He said;-The state OF public mind IN Pennsyl-
vana was uasatsactory; there was no nope ior e
that was the only nope. People believe in Spiritual
ls, the whole world, every Church helieves In II;
no one doubts IT, Some do not need hell or devil;
others do. was not necessary 70 prove the exist
ence OF spirits; they proved their own existence.
The field seems to oe barren OF interest people are
tired TO death OF lectures. To work four weeks
without pay would be to starve to death. Stop the
pay aud you VIII pschy ychologlse lnto the beiie
Tne aSSa srose and sadne Dan
cial condition OF the country such that ectur-
ers could not be pad, and moreover. that spirit.
paid better. But there was better day coming,
aud we must not be discouraged. Tney mad made
some converts In Bradford county, and also some
IN the northern parts OF Chester county, the south
ern parts, however, we're backward.
Mr.. FOSTER then spoke and SAID that women were
better lecturers than men; they were more attrac-
tive. He had Deen nineteen years ut the work and
was not discouraged. DO not despair even OF
q me s psoe on ns
continent / went there IN lo6l
Then Mr. PAxsoN mounted on his feet and said he
was always gratned az opposltion-he telt all the
better ior IT, Throughout his life he knew what 1t
was for he had always been IN favor OF every Ism,
and was above the comprehension Of the masses. 4
jocose spirit here Te-echoed his words, or rather,
letters, tlem asses" the spirits appeared TO make
his voice confused and lndistnct out he said That
SIX years ago the era OF Mir. Lncolns cave,
their success Was much greater than now. "If
man." ne said, ls not INSPIRED like Beecher, he
would not give much for him." IL was 10 Mr..
Paxsons credit that he had not word 10 say In
favor Of Harriet.
Then q portly parsonage. with an income inde-
pendent OF the receipts from lectures, addressed
the meeting. and ''dd not wonder that what Is
called Christianity Is stencn III the nosfils orsthe
spiritual world Ii ~ iraut. But the spirits are
getting IN the puplts and there was a promise OF
better things There were some ministers whose
sermons were dictated by spirits AMI they didn't
know it.n lie himself had once preached Tor an
hour and did not know word he had said nor,'
whispered a familiar spirit ''dd his congregation
understand word OF IT," Another man got up and
said he thought 1.-The angel world would do ITS
share.n
resolution was then passed that any one might
Join the society by expressing desire 10 do SO and
on the payment Of one dollar. speaker now SAID
that the mental atmosphere WAS Impure, bad III
tellect submerged the Church ana people were
alralu OF Mrs. Gruudy.