The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1869-06-23
Testing the Spirits.

Testing the Spirits.
When spiritualism first made
it's appearance in the village OF
-. old Deacon Issacs, a rich
man who had stood by the Church
/ for nearly threescore years, was
exceedingly bitter against oil be-
!lievers in the "devil's work." as
he called it, and denounced spirit
ual!sts and spiritualism in no very
gentle language. Imagiue the
deacon's anger. then, when six
months afterward he found it had
worked it's way into his family,
and not only. were his wife and
daughters believers, but one of
them was medium, and possessed
full power to converse with the
spirits Of those who had departed
to that "bourne from which no
traveller returns"
Deacon 1asacs was mad, dread
fully mad, but he had wit enough
not to show it, and he bore the
taunts of the ungodly with Il meek
spirit. He knew it would he use
less 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 himself to work. He was a
man Of sound judgment, and his
worldly experience for fifty years
was not thrown away. From the
day it first came to his knowledge
that his wife and daughters were
spirituallsts he neverspoke word
against nor did be ever allude to
it, except in general terms in his
morning prayers; but any one
could see that it troubled him
for he was absent-minded, his eyes
wandered restlessiy, and be looked
carc-worn.
The deacon witnessed one or
two "sittings" at his own house,
and was satisfied that if he pos
'sessed little more knowledge he
could get rid of them. So one
morning he started for the city,
determined to thoroughly investi-
gate the subject before be return
ed. After visiting two of the most
popular mediums, and paying his
money, he returned home, salts
fed that he could see through it..
There was q "sitting" at the
deacon's house on the night he
returned; and his daughter Mary
the medium-invited the dea-
con to take a seat at the table,
which, to her qualification, was
accepted. The spirits were in
good tune, and so exceedingly
Communicative that the deacon
was induced to ask a few ques-
tions, which were readily answer
ed, and the wife and. daughters
were in ecstacies at the thought
that father would yet be a believ-
er, and urged the deacon on in mis-
inquiries.
"Has my wife always been true
to her marriage vows ?" asked the
deacon.
To this question there were no
raps in return, while Mrs. 1saacs
sat transfxed with holy horror
that such thought should enter
her husbands mind.
"How many years have passed
since she was untrue ?"
Answer by single raps. Then
came slowly and solemnly, one.
two, three four, and so on, until
they reached twenty.
"How many who claim to be
arc not my children ?"
Again the spirits rapped-one,
two.
Mrs. Isaacs looked dumfounded.
"Mercy" said Mary.
(which are they p asked the
deacon, who now seemed so in
tent on his subject that he paid no
attantion TO his comDanionS.
Mary, Sarah" raped the spi-
rits, the names of the daughters,
the elder of which was under
twenty.
Mrs. Isaacs could stand it no
longer.
Its lie! I didn't! it's a lie!
she shrieked, rising from the ta-
BILE. "They are your children,
Deacon 1saacs; and God knows
it,"
"But the spirits affirm different
ly," said the deacon in o solemn
voice.
"Then they lie" said the wife.
"But, if you believe them in
every thing else why not in this?"
But I don't believe in them at
all it is all foolery."
Nor i" shouted Mary.
"Nor r' added Sarah.
"Then," said the deacon, while a
smile illuminated his countenance,
1--WE will bid them good-by, and