The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1869-08-06
TESTING THE SPIRITS.

When Spfritualism first made its a. :.
pearaRce In the village of E., old
Deacon Isaacs. q rich man who has stood
by the church for nearly three-score
years, was exceedingly bitter against all
believers in the devils work." as he
called ii, and denounced spiritnaIists
aha spiTitualism in no very easy terms.
Imagine the deacon's anger, when six
months afterward he found it had work
ed its way into his family, and not only
Were his wife and daughters believers.
but one of them was q medium. and
possessed full power 10 converse with
the spirit of those who had departed to
| that bourne from which no traveller re-
turns
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 'tcircumvent
the critter," as he expressed it, and to
this end he set himself 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 Spiritualists he new
er spoke word against, nor did he al
lude to it, except in general terms i'll his
morning prayers; but any one could
see that it troubled him; for he was alb
sent-minded, his eyes would wander
restlessiy, aud lac looked care worn.
The deacon witnessed one or two
"sittings," iii his own house, and was
satisfied that if he possessed little
more knowledge he could get rid of
them. So one morning he started for
the city, determined to thoroughly in
vestigate the subject before he returned.
After visiting two of the most popular
mediums, and paying his money, he re-
turned home satisfied that he could see
through it.
There was a "sitting" in the deacon's
house on the night he returned and
his daughter Mary-the medium-in-
vifed the deacon to take a seat at the
table, which, to her qualification, was
accepted. The spirits were in good
tune, and so communicative that the
deacon was induced to ask few ques
tons, which were readily answered, and
the wife and daughters were in ecstacies
at the thought that father would be a
believer ana urged the deacon on i'll his
inquiries.
''Iias my wife been always true to her
marriage vows?" was the deacOn's first
question.
TO which there were no raps in re-
turn, while Mrs. 1saacs sat transfiXed
with holy horror that such a thought
should enter her husbands mind.
"How many years have passed since
she was untrue IN
Answer by single raps. Then came
slowly and solemnly, one, two, three,
and SO OH until they reached twenty.
GLOW many who claim to be, are not
my children"
AgaiR tho spirits rapped-Onc, two.
Mrs. Isaacs looked dumbfOunded.
Mercy" said Mary.
(which are they 2" inquired the dea-
con, who now seemed intent on the sub
iect that he paid no attention to his
companions.
"NIary, Sarah" raped the spirits, the
names of two daughters, the older of
whicv was under twenty.
Mrs. Isaacs could stand this sort of
thing no longer.
ats lie! didn't! It's liel she
shrieked, rising from the table. ''They
are your children, Deacon Isaacs; and
God knows it'll"
but the spirits affirm differently"
said the deacon, solemnly.
''Then they lie y said the wife.
t'But you believe i'll them as to eY-
erything else, why not this y
But don't believe III them; it's all
foolery."
Nor / :" shouted Mary.
"Nor l !" added Sarah.
''Then," said the deacon, while smile
illuminated his countenance, 1--WE will
bid them goodbye, and leave these
things which God has wisely hid from
us to be revealed in his time"
The deacon's evenings devotions were
characterized with more earnestness
than usual, and the family retired, fully
satisfied that spirits and mediums did
not always tell the truth.
Mrs. Isaacs was so glad that none of
the neighbors were present; but some
| how the story got wind and SO fearful
were the spirit danes of l., that
they might be caught i'll the same trap
which the deacon had set, that Spirit
ualism was driven entirely from the viii
lage.