Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1870-06-30
SPIRITUAlISM.
Synopsis of the Affirmative Argument
I'm the Discussion between Messrs.
Haddock and Jameson, mt Prescott
Wis.,, beginning May go, 1870.

in the late discussion. My objection, that
mere reorganization would not truly repre-
sent the debate. is sustained by Mr.. Had
docks confession that his synopsis. as pub
lished, is the same as delivered, with the adj
dition of some few points. and-he might have
added-the- omission of some matter that he
has shown good judgment in not publishing
/ gave Mr.. Haddock cordial invitation to
place his arguments side by side with my
own in the Present Age; but he, without a
shadow of proof, imputes to me sinister mo-
tiyes, | receive no fee for either contribu.
tions or subscriptions. On my part it is a
free-will offering, although the editor of the
Ace rendered me compensation; but | have
felt that by aiding his paper / am advancing
the cause which love, and am ever ready to
defend. / have no doubt that my friend
Haddock had lurking suspicion. at the close
of our debate, that the publication of full
synvIsis of his speeches would be render
ing aid and comfort to the enemy" that he was
trying to demoli sh-a more striking instance
of human sagacity l have never witnessed.
SYNOPSIS OF THE AFFIRMATIVE ARGUMENT BY
MR.. JAMESON.
Mr. Chairman. Gentlemen Koderators, La
dies and Gentlemen, and my respected oppo-
nent:
In my opening speech submitted sixteen
distinct propositions embodying the funda
mental principles of Splritualism as endorsed
by the Spiritualists as a body; and showed
by quotations from nearly one hundred diff
ferent writers upon Spiritualism; from the
resolutions and proceedings of Spiritualistic
Conventions, including the National, that
Spiritualism is natural. philosophical, scien-
tific system of religion, accepting nature as
Gods only true Bible, and every man his
own Interpreter. l showed that Spiritualisn
teaches that Deity is incomprehensiblc, unde-
Unable; but is dpprehended TO be omn;potent,
omnipresent, omniscient; that it teaches the
Immortality of the Soul; that progress for all
nature is a universal law; that this life is a
pre- paration for the next; that there are de-
grees of development, here and hereafter:
that self-salvation from sin and its consequent
ces is secured by obedience to natural law:
that spiIit-commrnication is positively
demonstrated fact to hundreds of thousands:
that each individual must be his or her own
Judge of what is. true or false; that there is
no new truth. per sc; that the almost univer-
sal craving for knowledge of immortal life is
met by spiritualism.
/ showed that Spiritualsm teaches, mega
lively. that there is no personal God; no end
less hell, or place of torment: no total de-
pravity no vicariOus atOnement: no future
life or destiny dependent upon the frame of
mind in which an individual dies; no phys
ical resurrection of the dead; no miracles. i'm
the sense of violation of natural law: no
special revelation from God to man; no spe.
cial providence.
Brother Haddock made no attempt to deny
but one or two of the affirmative propositions.
He denied the doctrine of {" Individualism''-
the core idea of the Protestant reformation
and denounced it as pernicious, tending to
-. 4
der. He said that the church is held respon
s:ble for the conduct of its members, and
then compared Spiritualism with the Church.
(Which afforded me a fine opportunity to do
the SINE thing). he calling the former some
pretty hard names, and the Church a heav-
en-born child" ! showed that the same obiec
ton against private Judgment, and The disor-
der it would lead TO, had been made, with
telling effect, by the Catholics against the
Prutestants; and then proceeded to prove
that John Wesley taught the same "perni-
cioue doctrine of individualisrn, and that
all sects ne ded the principle to give them
birth, but they ungraciously Condemned il
afterwards. showed that Spiritualsm is in
harmony with The genius of our Americas
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS that the right
Of private judgment is the same infidel prin-
cirle announced by Thomas Jefferson, 10
wit: Error of opinion May be safely tolera-
ted where truth is left free to combat it,
Mr.. Haddock admitted that to a certain ex-
tent, Jefferson's maxim is true, but showed
that the proposition would admit of no com
promise. for the moment the principle is pres
cribed, that moment there is an end to IL.
gave MANY quotations from the New 1esta-
ment to show that its writers aud Jesus
Christ. himself. believed in Indvidualsm:-
" Prove all things; hold fast that which ;s
good" " Let every man be fully persuaded
in his own mind; " Why even of Yourselves
Judge We not what is rights"
Mr.. Haddock represented that Spiritualism
is one extreme, license; Catholicism the
other extreme, authority; and Protestant
ism the golden mean, liberty. l showed that
a compromise system, like Professionalism is
necessarily transitory; and, as opiritualisnl
and Catholicism are the upper and neither
mill-stones of Gods mills, Professionalism is
being ground tc powder. My opponent quo
ted extracts from the writings of Spirituaiists
which were nearly as vulgar as the book
Ezekiel, Oh the best portions of the Song OF
Solomon, unfit TO be read before a promiscu-
Gus audience of ladies and gentlemen. He
then referred to the mill again; said that Pro-
testantism is the nice white wheat and with
out 1t 10 grind. our mill would be consumed
But showed that what he called Protestant
wheat was exceedingly foul; and, as he had
come all the way from Appleton. / was will
ling to grind grist to supply the Methodist
boarding house i'm Prescott. The Methodist
boarders. tuning and milling, disguised
at the bad fare set before them, called out to
their landlord, Brother Searles, 1.-THE Metho-
dist minister Why, what is the matter
with this bread? 1t Is soggy, heavy as lead
sour, musty, and"-(elevating their noses y
" smells bddp
"Well, really, says Brother Searles,"I don't
know-oh yes, it is that grist that have
been getting ground at Jamieson's mill: that
spiritual mill is the cause of it."
AT this, the boarders burst into loud laugh
ter.
"Ah. now, Brother Searles, you can't fool
ms, we know better than that, for Mr.. Pryse.
T Rev. j. M. Pryse, who debated with MIR.
Jameson the week before. / took a grist 10
the same mill. and everybody was delighted
with the flour, made nice, white bread, and
perfectly suect Let US examine into this
matter. Ali yes,"-thrusting their bands
into bags standing in row, labeled "Spir-
itual wheat" they pulled out-nct wheat at
all, but lot of screenings which had been
rejected from the Spiritual field-in a word
the stuff was Orthodoxy in its pure stated
"There there." exclaimed the boarders,
"did'nt we tell you there was cheat i'm th;s?'
"Well, well, do declared said Brother
Searles. sadly, q" who would have thought il
but, then, it is just as might expect, Just
my luck; that is scidt I get 6Y scniinq a bon
to mall all the usy from appleton to Prescott T.
/ was not to blame for the uprorious laugh
ter that followed, and which seemed to nettlc
my friend. He introduced himself TO Pres