New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-12-27
The Trance L.ecture.

Last night at Minerva Hall Miss Susie M
johnson delivered, before select audience
which consisted for the most part of the
spiritual church in this city, an entertaining
lecture. The lecturer is a lady of intel
leetual appearance, reserved in habit and
retiring in manner. The proceedings were
conducted like a church service
A series OF complimentary resolutions
were adopted before the appearance of the
lecturer, expressive of esteem for the lady,
| who was about to depart.
At first hymn from the regulation book
was sung by the choir, to the aocompani-
ment of a small organ.
The invocation was pronounced By the
lecturer in deep and reverent style.
1t was announced that "a spirit has sug
gested to me that the lecture Be delivered
from subject selected by the audience"
Accordingly the subjects: Heaven as it
Is" 'The Future Life" "Re incarnation, >,
and ''What Good will Spirtualism Dog
were all proposed
The lecturer defined the propositions that
Heaven as it Is" and "The Future Lite"
might properly be called but one subject,
aud accordingly commenced her lecture
upon them both.
Her eyes were closed. Tho believers
present, constituting the body of the hear
ers, held to the theory that the words of the
lecturer were furnished by the attendant
spirits, and that the speaker, whose physi-
ca! eyes wero closed, acted solely under
their inspiration.
8ef lecture was a course of reasoning
whose stream Ban smoothly from its be-
ginning in the subject to the end, divided
naturally into tributary outlets, and as far
as the oloCution was concerned, was very
pleasant to heap by all those present, the
believers regarding the lecturer in strong
devotional light as being one inspired. The
first part analysed the feeling of happiness,
it being admitted that the whole human
family were searching after it, and that
man, from the cradle to the grave, is in
spired to undertake, invent and circumvent,
scc and cOunteract, in the search after hap
piness. This fact and all the incidents |
flowing out of it, were worked up in |
style, like one of the |
regulars in the drill upon the intellect
naL field AnalOgies came up in thick
ba5talions, and, through e path thickly |
3trewn with an underground of crude theo-
les, the lecturer led the hearcr to the up
shot of this principle, to search for happi-
lees, and that was that it was planted in
nan TO prepare him for the future life. For
IS he was always looking for and never
hiding it. as it lays still further and further
head, always beyond, yet always close to
lie reach, 50 very far, and yet at his very
oor, it followed that happiness was in the
lte beyond-in the spirit world-and that
cath was but gateway through which all
f us entered.
Che lecturer referred 70 the views ex-
Tessed as ''my views" aud to- the other
remises and planks laid down in the first
ers0n singular. Strong and most decided
round was taken against the usual idea of
Leaven, and of singing perpetual hymns
praise, and such an image was ian incon-
2iVable Sbsurdity." G0mpanionship and
'ci@biiity were the basis upon whish the =
SheS world Was organized. There was no
reater punishment than the "desoIati0n of c
soul away from all companionship, alone;
nd this the speaker enlarged upon and y
Ose6 heE lecture with the statement that
0mortaIity had been demonstrated.
During the delivery the lecturer stood ! !
9fore the audience with oges closed; tho
9stures we're subdued. she VOICE loud and '
ear. the head erect. !
a hymn closed. as it had begun. the pro
5edings. |