Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-09-12
sPiRITuALIsM UNmAsKED.
Tine Tricks of the DasenpOrts, Foster
and other Mediumistfc WORTHLESS
Shown mn as Frauds

and other Mediumistfc WORTHLESS
Shown mp as frauds
From the Memphis Register, Sept. 5.
Prof. Baldwin, the alleged spiritualist
| seer, medium, etc, has been giving seances
at the Grand Opera house during the week,
| performing the wonderful and mysterious
tricks or manifestations so astonishing and
| inc lmprehensihle to the average man and
woman. Those of our citizens who have
seen Foster, the Davenports and other gen.
tlemen who claim to be on the most famil-
lar terms with the denizens of both the up
per and lower worlds that they can call up
spirits from the vastly deep, have either
been in doubt as to the Spiritual
cause of the manifestations or
have become convinced that the develop
ments are made by those airy creatures who
are supposed to prowl around. playing on
banjos, tin-horns, etc. Prof. Baldwin is of
the Davenport school. He has a cabinet
and gives the dark seances to perfection.
During the week he gave two performan-
ces, consisting of rope-tying, sealed letter
test, horn-blowiDg, and other things SO
familiar but so mysterious. Last night, by
special request, several members of the
press and number of other invited guests
appeared at the Greenlaw Opera Honse, In
order to witness an expose of the mysteries
so incomprehensible; the professor, insist
ing that all the manifestations given by
mediums were tricks of t'ade performed
by mechanical means instead of by angelic
power. Several Spiritualists were among
the invited guests, and they, above all 9TH
eIs, seemed anxious to witness the destruc-
ton of their household gods that raped
on the headboarJs of bedsteads, and turned
tables upside down. Professor Bald
win and brother were tied in the cabi-
net by a committee, and the doors were
closed by Mr.. Douglas Irwin, of the Regis
ter, the improvlsed stage manager, and in
this arduous duty he was assisted by Mr..
Fred Brennan, of the Ledger. On the doors
being closed, the bell-ringing, banjo playing
and horn blowing commenced. The doors
were opened in few minutes, and the bro
theirs were found tied SIS before. The ex-
pose came: With the doors of the cabinet
open, the professor and brother slipped the
ropes, rang the bells, ETC., and showed spirit
hands at the orifices in the doors, just as did
the Davenports and others. The next test
was to invite some one to take seat be-
tween the brothers and place board on the
knee of each. Mai. Minor Merriweather
was selected, and the doors were closed.
On being opened, Maj. Merriweather in
formed the audience that, although he felt
hands Oh his head, and the musical instru-
ments we're played, yet the brothers had
not moved. The same wonderful mystery
was performed with the doors open,
and the audience was convulsed
with laughter when the brothers
were seen to slip their hands from the ropes
and manipulate the head of the major, and
play upon the instruments. In few Sec
onds they thrust their hands into the ropes,
and to all intents and purposes were secure
" tied. The letter test was explained by
the exhibition of duplicate envelopes, few
matches and spirit lamp, by the aid Of
which the brothers read and answered all
communications. Fosters arm test, where
in he makes the name of some person sp.
pear in red letters on bis arm, was perform
ed by the professor by means of a match
snd repeated rubbing, when the letters ap-
pesred.
The manifestations of mediums, such as
taking off their coats when the hands were
apparently tied securely, etc, were also ex-
posed, to the great delight of the au fence.
Take it altogether, the professors expose
was amusing, refreshing and complete. 1t
was well calculated to destroy the faith OF
any Spiritualist who had before given Gre
dence to spiritual manifestations.