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

for nearly threoscore years, was
exceedingly bitter against oil be.
levers in the "devii's work." as
he called it, and denounced spirit
ualists and spiritualism in no very
gentle language. Imagiue the
dcacon's anger, then, when six
months afterward ho 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 possessed
full power to converse with the
spirits OF those who had departed
to that "bourno from which no
traveller returns"
Deacon lasacs was mad, dread.
fully mad, but he had wit enough
not to show it, and ho bore the
taunts Of tho unyodIy with meek
spirit. He knew it would bo use.
less to declare open war; for Mrs.
lsaacs alone had proved more
than match for him, and ho was
sure to be defeated. He must
"circnmvcnt tho crittor," as he
expressed it, and to this end he
set himself TO work. Io was u
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
! splrltuallsts he neverspoke a word
against nor did he ever aIlude to
it, except in general terms in his
morning prayers; but any one
could sec that it troubled him ;
for he was absent-minded, his eyes
wandered restlessIy, and ho looked
care-wurn.
Tho deacon Witnessed one or
two "sittinSs" ut his own house.
and was satisfied that il he pos.
sesscd little more knowlcdyo he
could get rid Of them. So one
morning ho started for tho city,
determined to thoroughly invcsti.
gate the subject before llo return.
| ed. Alter visiting two of the most
popular mediums, and paying his
money, he returned home, salts
;icd that he could SEQ through it,.
There was "siIliny" 1T the
lcacon's house on the night he
returned and his daughter Mary
the northumberland tho dcu-
con to take II seat ut tho table,
which, 10 her qualification, was
accepted. The spirits were in
good -unc, and so exceedingly
con. n.."unicative that the deacon
was induced TO ask a few ques.
tions, which were readily answer
Ell, and tho wifo and daughters
were in ccstacics at the thought
that father would yet be Il bcliev-
er, and urged the deacon on in his
inquiries.
elias my wife always been true
to her marriage VOWS ?" asked the
| deacon.
10 this question there wero no
raps IN return, while Mrs. Isaacs
sat transfxcd with holy horror
that such thought should enter
her husbands mind.
GLOW many years havo passed
since sho was untrue p
Answer by single raps. Then
camc slowly and solcmnly, one.
two, three four, and SO on, until
they reached twenty.
"How many who claim to be
arc not my children p
Again the spirits rappcd-onc,
two.
Mrs. Isoacs looked dumfoundcd.
"MercyF' said Mary.
| (which arc they 2'' asked the
deacon, who now seemed so in.
tent on his subject that no paid no
attention to his companions.
"Mary, Sarah" raped the spi.
rits, the names Of the daughters
the older Of which was undel
twenty.
Mrs. Isaacs could stand it no
longer.
Its a lie! ! didn't! it's ~ lio p
sho shriehcd, rising from the ia,
BILE. "Thcy are your childrcn
Deacon Isaacs; and God knows
it,"
"Bnt tho spirits affirm different
~" said the deacon in solemn
vOico.
"Thcn they lie !' said the wife
"But, if you believe them in
everything else why not in this?'
"But I don't believe in thom at
all it is all toolcry."
"Nor ! - shouted Mary.
"Nor ! !" added Sarah.
"Then," said tho deacon, while a
smilo illuminated his countcnance
two vii bid thom good-by, and
leave those things which God has
wisely hid from us to BIO revealed
in his timo."
Tho dcacon's evening devotions
wero characterized with more
carnestnoss than usual, and the
family retired fully satisfied that
tho spirits and mediums did not
| alwnvs reve0l tho truth