The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-06-03
MODERN MIRACLES.
From the N. Y. Times,

In the present stage of the development of
psychological scence-or perhaps we should
rather say its presnt stage of non-develop-
ment-only the very rash or the very igno-
rant will presume to set definite limits to the
power of mind over matter. The force of
will acting on imagination has been illustrated
by well-attested cases in a manner so startling
that the prudent may well withhold their
Judgment respecting the extent of future
possibilities. In the meanwhile, it is not
surprising that shrewd adventurers should
take advantage of the prevalent haziuess of
opinion on such subjects, and make their
market by appealing to that love of the mar
vellous which, always lurking in the human
breast, is just now stimulated to an almost
universal activity by the phenomena of spirit
ualism, and the probably cognate mysteries
of psychology. The Zouave Jacob, Mr..
Home, the medium, the Davenport Brothers,
and other famous operators, may or may not
belong to the class of adveuturers we speak
of they may or may not be more or less self
deceived but 1t is certain that their success
is due in q great measure to an appetite for
thaumaturgy, such as was familiar enough in
earlier ages, but which, accompanying the
present material and scientific progress of our
race, is truly remarkable.
Just now one DR.. Newton, who recently
left the United States to travel in Europe. is
half a century ago would have been quite
out of the question. DIR. Newton's profess
sion is to heal the sick and comfort the
afflicted through spiritual aid" He lately
began his operations in Liverpool by calling
together public meeting. large audience
having assembled, the doctor opened the
ball by informing his hearers that he 'Ioved
them as he would a brother. He then won't
on to say that, like ''Othello," he had had
Al,
deadly breach, among which he might casually
mention ''strangulation, shipwreok, and
serious fall" Having thus established a hold
on general sympathy by the narration of his
misfortunes, DIR. Newton proceeded with
characteristic boldness TO describe his pow
ers 81 can heal a multitude he declared,
''as easily as a few ! can do Just as we'll on
five thousand as on a smaller number Aud
for that matter we see no reason why the
Doctor should be over-modest in his claims.
Why should he not restore to a healthful
condition the ailing population of an entire
city? Nay, why not Danish disease with one
supreme effort from the whole globe This
would bring about a millennium that Mr. Mil
Ter never thought Of, a Utopia that would cut
| down to bagatelle disease and the business
of the doctors at a single stroke. However,
to do him justice, DR.. Newton is nothing
| 10th to try his skill on a congregation or so,
| mere anu luCIGs AFTER MS lAoL 0LtlLlH otdt6-
ment, indeed, he went on to illustrate it. 81
will cause he affirmed, ga shock to
pass from me which will be felt
more or less by all present, and if any
one is in pain after it, let him come to
me and will cure him On this he ''stood
up, extended his arms, threw back his head,
closed his eyes, made a sudden start as if he
were about to cast himself ad-foremost into
a river. raised his head again, and shook it
he had really taken the plunge, had risen TO
the surface, and shaken his dripping hair off
his face; and then, opening his eyes, took a
general survey of the persons before him.
! This was the ''shock" which, according to an
English paper from which We take the de-
scription, would have been q great success
only that nobody seems to have been shocked
at all DIR, Newton consequently proceeded
to cure people in detail He experimental
first on a cripple, to whom he put the ques-
tion: ''Do you love me Do you love me as
! brother !? The cripple said he did,