Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1870-01-09

NAAAA 1@N ANAA1& ~ 49,
written by Lord D%unraVen. There is
nowhere any sign Of excitement, OF
enthusiasm, or any liability to enron.
eOus statement. 1t is impossible t.
read these records without being
deeply impressed with the clearness
accuracy and thoroughly SCENT iC
spirit in which they are written. lhol-
lowing the introduction are the names
and addresses of fifty ladies and gen
tlemen of the highest character and
position, all of whom were witnesses
of some of the facts described, and
who testify to the accuracy of the de-
scriptiOn. Here, then, is a body OF
evidence of a kind and a character be-
yOnd ali possibility of impeachment,
yet testifying TO facts of the most
astonishing character, and which seem
utterly irreGOncilable with every
theory of modern science.
1t is, l think, greatlyto be regretted
that the Earl of Dunraven and Lord
Adare, who have in SO many ways
shown a high moral courage and a sin
cere devotion to scientific truth, have
been withheld from motives of deli
cacy from allowing this remarkable
book to be published. There are no
doubt many things in it they may
wish to keep within a restricted and
sacred circle. They may have defer
red to the feelings, wishes or prejU-
dices Of those who are more sensitive
than themselves; but | am sure it
would crafty every S%piritualist in the
world, and every impartial lnVeStlgd-
tor, if they would permit the publica-
ton of the larger part Of this volume,
emitting those portions which they
may properly consider as of a sacred
and private character.
I ought, perhaps, to say that the
Earl of Dunraven may have been in
iuenced in this matter by Scrupies of
a religious character. He is a Roman
Catholic; and while the records of the
Church and the lives of the saints in
every g are filed with the mystical
and the supernatural, with thousands
of manifestations bearing a strange
likeness to many OF the facts recorded
in this volume, there many Catholics
who denOunce what are called spirit
ual manifestations as of diabOlic ori-
gin. OF course these are only ODin-
lOus, and bishops and clergy differ in
regard to them-sOme cOndemning
them as evil, some believing that they
are PrOVidential, and now sent eX-
pTessly to rescue the age from mate
? rialism. For obvious reasons, the
Church cannot'either approve or con-
demn a great mass of varying pine
nOmena. Each case of supposed spir-
ituai manifestation, ike each alleged
miracle, must be tested by itself, and
tried on its own merits. Every saint
and every miracle is tried before the
saint can be canOniZed or the miracle
[ admitted. Lord Dunraven attempts
| no solution Of the difficulty, but ne
! thinks it right to record, ifn0t to pub
lish the facts, whatever may be their
character; yet he says:
A difficulty not easy got over stands in
the way Of the adoption Of the evil-spirit
theOrv, namely, the fact that conversions
have been made by the agencies of Spirit
uaIism from Atheism, and from simple
Deism to Christianity. To al one in
stance: DR.. ElliotsOn was a strong mate
rialist and unheliever; he was converted,
through Mr.. Homes manifestations. to
Christianity. 50 . Again. others
among whom are four or five of my own
COMMUNICATING been led by the sauue
means from Unitarianism to a belief in
the Divinity Of Christ. Still more striking
are the cases where persons have been
brought into the Church of Rome. several
examples of which have occurred in
Z
America, and a few in England;
nor can the express testimony be over
looked of some p"ure-mlnded, earnest per
SOILS, as the eievating effect of the beliefin
Spiritualism upon their hearts and souls. 1
Take, for example, the interesting and
startling account Of the closing years and
death of q very beautiful character. the
late Mrs. Home, as described by Mrs.
Howett and Mrs. ;. G. Hall. To
ascribe such peace and Joy in believing,
- 81 49,
His will as led the Bishop of Perigeaux-
who administered the last sacrament to
Mrs. Home-to remark: Though he had
been present At many a death-bed for
Heaven, he had never seen IA to equal
hers and she a protested Spiritualist,
and the wife Of II Of the most noted me-
diums in the world! To ascribe, ! repeat,
such results to the agency of the Father of
Lies and arch-enemy OF mankind, must
appear as impossible to many, as IL must
be revolving to the two gifted writer's
whom / AVE quoted, and who bear such
strong testimony to the blessed influence
which Spir!tualism has exercised upon
their own lives and faith.
The brief preface of Lord Adare is
clear, manly, simple and most bust
ness-like. Every sentence he writes
gives one the impression of clear
minded honesty; and in this respect Z
AA & AtNNA 9ANh q AAAb4@ AAAAAAAAttAN Y
port. You are satisfied, not only that
he means to tell truth and nothing
but the truth, but that he is able TO do
it. You trust his GOODNESS, tact and
Judgment, as you do his integrity.
Here is a man, you say, who cannot
lie, and is not likely to be deceived.
l cannot see a sign of error Of eXag-
geratiOn. There seems to be rather a
5nvVrnVrlrVHu dnfnrnnTnaffnn fn tnnn
within the truth.
And now for the facts, such as / feel
myself permitted to give, recorded in
this extraordinary volume. The
moving of objects by themselves,
with no visible force, is recorded in no
less than thirty-three instances. The
chords of a piano are swept when no
one touched the keys. ,
1.-THE piano was lifted,' says Lord
Adare, about two inches off the ground.
I had my land underneath, and it was
again lifted two inches higher, and then,
without any effort, ( should say eight
inches higher" ,
Chairs, sofas, tables, books, move
about the room from place to place of t
their own accord, and are seen to rise
into the air. In fourteen instances
are brOughtuby invisible hands ]
and given to different persons. The :
fragrance is taken from flowers and
thrown about the room. Brandy T
rises from a glass into the air-that is, {
it disappears from the glass, which is {
quite empty; then it fails out of space /
into glass through Lord Adare's fin |
gers. Then the spirit was taken out
Of the brandy, the water remaining. !
In tWenty-three instances spirit forms
were visible; in thirteen spirit hauds i
seen, and cases Of spirit hands I
touching persons are recorded in 9
other places. Spirit voices I
are heard in nine instances. Many of =
things were very striking, ut /
terly impossible to be accounted for on I
any hypothesis of deception or hallu
cination. But l must leave them $
with only this reference to the table of J
contents, and come to some of those !
astounding facts which within the :
past year have carried a strange con- P
5ternation 10 the minds of numbers Of c
hard-headed scientific materialists- $
it is no longer possible to deny q
facts which no scientific theory can in |
the least account for. =
One of these is the elevation of Mr.. t
Homes body in. the air. At Ashley t
in the presence of Lord Adare B
md the Master of Lindsay, Home was .
49,, - -s-n ia. 4ha 81 g,vr- ,, Hrr. '