The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1869-06-24

Testing the Spirits.


When spiritualism first made its ap-
pearance in the village of N, old
Deacon Isaacs, q rich man who had
stood by the church for nearly three
score years, was exceedingly bitter
against all believers in the "devil's
work" as he called it, and depounced
spiritualists and spiritualism in no
very gentle language. Imagine the
deacon's anger, then, when six months
afterwards he found it had worked its
way into his family, and not only were
his wife and daughters believers, but
one of them was medium, and pos
sessed full power to converse with the
spirits of those who had departed to
that "bOurne from which no traveller
returns"
Deacon Isaacs was mad, dreadfully
mad; but he had wit enough not to
show it, and he bore the taunts of
the ungodly with a meek spirit. He
knew it would be useless to declare
open war; for Mrs. Isaacs alone had
proved more than a match for him,
and he was sure to be defeated. He
must "circumvent the critter," as he
expressed it, and to this end he set him
self to work.
He was a man of sound judgment
and his worldly experience of fifty
years was not thrown away. From
the day it first came to his knowledge
that his wife and daughters were spir-
itualists, he never spoke a word
against, nor did he ever allude to it,
except in general terms in his morn
ing prayers; but any one could see
that it troubled him; for he was alb
sent-minded, his eyes wandered rest
lessly, and he looked care-worn.
The deacon witnessed one or two
''sittings" at his own house, and was
satisfied that if he possessed a little
more knowledge be could get rid Of
them. So one morning he started for
the city, determined to thoroughly
investigate the subject before he re-
turned. After visiting two of the
most popular mediums, and paying
his money, he returned home, satisfied
that be could see through it.
There was a 'ssitting" at the dea-
cons house on the night he returned;
and his daughter Mary-the medium,
invited the deacon to take a seat at
the table, which, to her qualification,
was accepted. The spirits were in
good tune, and so exceedingly COM
municative that the deacon was in
duced to ask a few questions, that wore
readily answered, and the wife and
daughters were in ecstasies at the
thought that father would yet be a
believer, and urged the deacon on in
his inquiries.
"Has my wife always been true to
her marriage vows?" asked the dea-
con.
To this question there were no raps
in return, while Mrs. Isaacs sat trans
fixed with holy horror that such a
thought should enter her husbands
mind.
"HOw many years have passed
since she was untrue"
Answer by single raps. ThOn came
slowly and solemnly, one, two, three,
four, and so on until they reached
twenty.
"How many who claim to be are not
my chiIdren?"
Again the spirits rapped-one, two.
Mrs. Isaacs looked dumbfounded.
"Mercy!" said Mary.
(Which are they?" asked the dea-
con, who now seemed so intent on his
subject that he paid no attention to
his companions.
"Mary, Sarah," raped the spirits,
the names of the two daughters, the
older of.whOm was under twenty.
Mrs. Isaacs could stand it no lon
ger.
cts lie I didn't its liel" she
shrieked, rising from the table. "They
are your. children, Deacon Isaacs; and
God knows it."
"But the spirits affirm differently"
said the deacon, in solemn voice.
"Then they Iier said the wife.
"But if you believe them in every
thing else, why not in this?'
"But don't believe in them at all;
it is all fOOlery."
"Nor I !" shouted Mary.
"Nor l - added Sarah.
"Then," said the deacon, while a
smile Illuminated his countenance,
1--WE will bid them good by, and leave
those things which God has wisely
hid from US to be revealed in His good
time"
The deacon's evening devotions
were characterized with more earn
estness than usual, and the family re
tired fully satisfied that the spirits
and mediums did not always reveal
the truth.
Mrs. Isaacs was so glad that none
of the neighbors were present; but
somehow the story got wind, and so
fearful were the danes of N - that
they might be caught in the same
trap which the deacon had set, that
spiritualism was driven entirely from
the village.