The New York herald., 1871-09-18
THE SPlR.TUAL!sTS.
The Story Of Naaman and Elisha-Lecture
by Mr.. Forster.

The Story Of Naamnn and Elisha-Lecture
by Mr.. Forster.
The Society of Progressive Spritualists held their
usual Sabbath services yesterday at Apollo Hall.
There was an attendance OF over couple of hundred
persons, and as the "worshippers" spread them
selves judiciously over the vast Of the hall.
there seemed to be quite respectfully numerous
audience. It was noticeable that scarcely any
people were present; SpirtualIsts seem all to be.
long to the RANKS OF the middle aged or the distinctly
senile classes and the mean age OF the assemblage
must have been at least forty-dve. Scarcely half
dozen children were visible; but, perhaps Spiritual
lists are not as a body prolific. The audience
were all well dressed and some OF them indeed,
seemed quite devotees Of fashion.
At halfpast ten the services began with iiy mn
by quartet OF two ladies and two gentlemen. The
gentlemen had that peculiarly sepulchral quality OF
voice that's so effective atlivey camp meetings. while
the ladies poured forth shril metallic tones that
threatened to fairly pierce the of the unfortu-
nate listeners. After the hymn MIR. Forster. the
lecturer OF the day, delivered his address, He took
for his subject the story Of the healing by Elisha Of
the noble Syrian Naaman. After going over the
main facts and stating that Elisha was evidently a
very powerful healing medium, he came to the In
dignant election by Naaman OF the means of cure
suggested "Are not ALBANIA and Pnarpar" &c.
Then came the incident OF the sin OF Gehazi aud his
punishment. Elisha Was more fortunate. said the
lecturer, than the mediums OF the present day. He
stood In no need OF pecuniary assistance and there
But Gehazi ran alter him and begged, in The name
OF the prophet. for the money offered. Luckily,
Elisha was clairvOyant as well as u healing me-
dium. and therefore knew of the offence OF his
servant, and awarded II Just though severe pen
OF actual fact or fable, contained a lesson singu-
larry appropriate to the present day. 1t was aston
lshng tnat men and women who were eager and
anxious to know ana embrace the truth should pre-
fer the muddy waters OF the ALBANIA and Pharpar Of
superstition and fanaticism TO the healing river of
nj 1aV hat
the cause Of this sad blindness9 Splrtualism had
done more Cor rouslng men to an adequate concep-
lon oil what human life really Was and what 1t ought
to be than any other system or doctrines that had
ever been propounded during the entire flight OF past
ages. All over this country especially Il had done
wondrous benefit 20 thousands-yes hundreds of
thousands and millions OF noble, truh-seeking fear
had dethronod the reign OF dogmatism that ap-
pealed only TO the intellect ana mad set up In It's
pace re reglon & OF the heart-a religion tina. APP
and highest needs OF the individual soul. In how
many homes had II repeoopled the empty chamber
with the presence OF the loved and lost In how
many hearts had 1t taken away vain ana bitter
sorrow and bereavement and substituted Tor 1t
consciousness OF the happiness of the beloved dead
Ana yet, he was sorry TO say, many even among
those who had thus received sure conviction Of
the truths OF Spiituasm and who had been thus
Infinitely benefited by them, were strangers to the
Spi,ltualist lyceum ana hall. They stu held
sent their children to Sunday schools where false
conceptions OF life and false facts were the main
real views lie was very sorry to nave TO talk such
plain trutl bnt he could not nclp itsThere were at
least twenty-five thousand Spiritualiss IN the city
! OF New York and yet brother Farnsworth had DIM
Guilty In filling even tnat hall. The reason OF this
weakness was doubtless mainly because Spiritual
| ism had been denounced by the press ana the
pulpit so unius ly ana persevcringly. But Spirit
uasts themselves also greatly blame. They In
dulged in discussions which were unseemly ami I'm.
judlcious Many men had many minds, and one
man favored this medium and another thar, and
envy and jealousy sprang uD, ana there were dis.
ruteS and scandals when should never he per-
Inltted 10 appear. Good SUii1tuasts should rejoice
raj her Than De weakened IN their faith by the fact
that there were so many varieties OF spiritual
manifestations and that mediums differed so
greatly In their powers That proved the truth
coavincngly than anything else. and showed tnat
Splritualism was adapted TO every need and want
OF this many sided human lfe. And If any brother
or sister had reason TO believe that he or she had
been deceived by a medium he should not hastily
proclaim to the world, IL have been cheated" He
should rather quietly go TO the offending medium
and say. "BrOther" or sister, as the might be-
81 am sure that you are under a haucInation as to
your power" The speaker concluded by enforcing
upon the audience their great responsibility rs a
Spitualist society OF this great city, where streams
OF men and women anxious and willing 10 know
the truth were constantly passing anu repasslng.
Another discOrd from the quarlette closed the
proceedings.