Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1871-02-02

IHE SPIRITUAL CONVENTION AND
CANDoR. = Editor Rutland Herald:-I
can hardly feel that it is just to keep 81
lence while our enemies are 80 wickedly
misrepresenting us.
Our usual course under similar circum-
stances has been to let them pass unno-
ticed.
In the case of your correspondent "Can-
DOR" however, 1t is no more than right we
should have hearing.
I have carefully perused his report, and
I fail to recognize a single sentiment, of
the only speaker tout of five or six, whom
he saw fit to notice. A few Of his words
are repeated, with coloring which makes
him seem to say nearly the opposite of
what he really said. For instance, "Oan-
dor" says: "He boldly proclaimed him.
self in favor of Free Love,-ss one Of the
cardinal features of the spiritual philo.
sophy." Now let us compare. The speaker
said, in substance, upon that point some.
thing like this: 'Inasmuch as God IL the
the essence of love. and that love Is as free
as the air we breathe to all his creatures,
in that sense are we indeed free lovers;
but that Free Looeisan, which our malign-
ers ascribe to us. and which properly
should bear harsher name,-that does
not belong to us, and IS cont of the full
ness of the heart the mouth spesketh," 30
they who call us hard names must be Civ
ing but reflection of themselves"
Your correspondent, doubtless, will re-
call the circumstances which called ont
these remarks, which were the coarse and
vicious epithets applied to rs by certain
clergymen of Middlebury, few days be-
fore the convention.
This unjust and unchristian course on
the part of the minister aroused the just
indignation of many, both friends and
foes of the cause.
Candor's representation of the speech
before alluded to is alike unfair in nearly
every part. No impartial listener could
have thus interpreted it.
Your correspondent says "he is aware
our malice and rage know ne bounds" q
declaration in which he shows his entire
ignorance of the class of whom he speaks,
or else a willful Misrepresentation of
them.
he also speaks of the hooting and
screeching during the seance on Satur-
day evening. These terrific noises, I am
happy to state, failed to reach the ears of
any other than himself, as far as I can
learn.
In fact very little indecoreus or obtrus-
i've conduct was observed at any of our
gatherings, and what little there was,
originated with certain lads, not reared
under the teachings of the spiritual phil
osophy.
As you will doubtless get report of
the convention, more nearly the truth
than the one written by Candor, I viii
say no more about it.
will add in conclusion that, having
for twenty years been fully convinced
that our kind and All-wise Heavenly
Father, in love to us permits the dear
ones who pass from our earthly vision to
linger near US, to aid in bearing patient
ly the burthens and sufferings which
often fall SO heavily upon US; to guide us
away from the paths of wickedness, and
to lead us gently, lovingly in the ways Of
purity aud wisdom, and knowing as / do,
many, very many who have been lifted
from the sloughs of drunkenness and
vice.o every name, by its means, know
ing the consolation it so often brings in
the dark hour of mortal dissolution, and
the strength, the resignation with which
it enables us to part with the fair forms
of those we love most. say knowing as
do these things, he who so uniustly por-
trays us, is not only raising his hand
against those ministering spirits who
would SO tenderly guard us, but he is alo
substituting his own
blind ignorsue ,..for the infinite wisdom
of Almighty God who has vouchsafed to
us this inestimable blessing.
.... MRS II. NJ. SLocUN
Rutland, Jan. 81, 1871.