Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1870-09-15

The manifestations of modern spir-
itualism have been such as TO attract
much attention, and TO call forth much
controversy. Any thing tina. is new
and strange is wont to excite much
curiosity in the community. All in.
qulring minds are at once reused TO
enon. 1f It can be accounted Y5r. On
known principles and established
laws. the question is considered as
solved. and thus science is advanced
another step. If the phenomenon
does not admit of being explained in
this way, men are wont to refer it to
mysterious or supernatural powers
Thus it has been in regard to spiritn-
allsm. Its manifestations having been
considered AS incapable of receiving a
scientific explanation, have been at
tributest 10 the action Of supernatural
powers. Its devotees believing that
these supernatural powers are the
spirits of the dead, while others con-
slider these manifestations 10 be the
work of the Devil or his messengers.
IL may be asserted that neither the
ory is correct, neither good or bad
spirits have aught to do in the produc-
tion ofthese manifestations. We shall
endeavor TO show that there arc we'll
known principles Of science which are
sufficient to explain their method of
production.
Spiritualism is strangely mingled
with much that is false, which is the
work Of unprincipled mediums and
clairvoyants who seek to delude the
pubic. in order to accomplish their
own mercenary schemes. There are
always deceivers, and humbugs in all
popular agitations and movements, and
it would be expected that in such q
fruitful field as spiritualism offers, their
manifestations would be legion.
Hence, in addition to whatever there
may be that is real and true in spirit
ualism, there must Of necessity be much
Of the impositi0ns and delusions in
troduced by these artfal pretenders,
who, by mysterious trickeries and con-
temptible knavery seek to delude the
people and lay them under tribute.
Although there is much in spiritualism
that is false, yet there are some phe-
nomena connected with it that are
really OF an important nature, and
such as demand respectful considers
tlon and should be treated with the
candor dino IN facts Of n scientific char.
acter.
One class OF phenomena is called
physical manifestations. These con.
s'st of raps, ringing Of bells, noises OF
various KINDS, moving of articles oI
furniture and similar demonstrations
which are produced without any yisi.
ble agency. That these occurrences
do actually take place, and that too
apart from any trickery VI deception
can not be denied. The evidence ID
incontestibie, and it becomes ~ not t.
scod 1t nor ignore the fact, but delib.
erseeIy and truthfdlly 10 trace out the
cause thereof. No doubt that in man.
instances, perhaps, by far the greater
part, thcse manifestations are prCduc.
ed by the trickery Of the SO called
medium. Yet there are some wlsu
have the power 70 cause articles ol
fnrnit1re to move 1t their bidding
without the use Of physical force, and
also are able TO produce raps, and VI.
riOus sounds At . distance Cor then
without the use q deception. Some
of the most noted instances Of the ex.
hibition Of this power have occurred
outside Of the sect known Is spiritual
lists. Two Of these instances I will
cite. The first Of these occurred in 9
province of France in 1885, Angel.
ique Coffin, . peasant girl IA years Of
age, who lived nth her aunt in cot.
taee whisA nd m oarthMn 1ooe, while
engaged fk viewing lsdies sllk net
| gloves, ~ 31rpf fd W the repeated
'1pses&ing Of the ffaine, which was