Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1873-01-17
mr.. watson-spirituaIism-Correc-
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nv Al. nl.to- - .ka odoar.
Publisher and Proprietor.

Mr. Watson-spiritual
zion.
To the Editor of the Ledger:
All honor to Rev. Mr.. Watson, say we,
and all honorable men, for his magnani-
nous immolation, his sublime self
sacrifice in Withdrawing from one Of the
most popular and powerful denomina-
tions Of the country, in which he had
been an honored official for more than a
quarter of century, and for severing
the sacred ties OF cherished friendship
hallowed with thirty years. And all for
what? For the simple and single eonvic-
ton of truth He is worthy to be canon
lied with Servetus and all those illus
trious martyrs of truth whose spirits
shine around us like lights from eternity.
In the medieval ages martyrdom was
physical; now, the heroes of truth can
only suffer moral martyrdom, thanks to
modern progress and civilization. 1t
makes no difference whether his theory,
or faith, or philosophy, be true or false
he believes it, and freely offers himself
a victim, a sacri6cial victim, in vindica-
ton of his convictions of truth. He has
proven himself moral hero, and his old
church, his alma mater, should feel
proud of having reared such spirit.
But the writer of this brief and feeble
tribute believes the spiritual philosophy
to be true, and the grandest truth ever
vouchsafed to the human family in all
historic record or prehistoric times. Not
the isms of free love, infdelity atheism,
etc, by seme ycleped spiritualism,"
but the spiritual philosophy that de-
nonstrates through natural laws our
Immortality, and that our loved and lost
linger around aud near TO us, and fire.
auently when conditions admit, through
the same laws Of nature, not and never,
and nothing, otherwise, communicate with
and influence us. In other words, that
the excarnated can through natural laws
hold intercourse with the incarnated.
As for mental alteration or insanity,
Socrates, Pythagoras, Swedenborg, and
all the illustrious lights of the past who
lived ahead of their generation, were
called insane. And at this day his
demented (7) company consists Of Arch
bishop Whately, Professor De Morgan,
Thackeray, Gerald Massey, Leo Miller,
Hiram Powers, Lord Lytton, Lord Lind
saw, Lord Dunraven, Garibaldi, Maazini,
Victor Hugo, Jules Favre, Leon FavFe,
Guizot, Kossuth, Judge Chase, Judge
Lawrence, Judge Ludd, Hon. B. f.
Wade, W. P. Banks. VIM. Lloyd Garri-
son, Senators Harris, Fitch, Stewart,
and names without number eminent for
intellectually on both sides Of all the
seas. Jew, Gentle, Christian, Skepticl
Pagan, Moslem and Giaour, and all
creeds alike, and all earth's children
may come and lay their offerings on this
universal altar Of natural philosophy.
1t is indeed, and verify, glorious evan
gel that weaves woof of hope around
the heart of despair and winds its warp
within the storied temple of Immortality !
The big caption of Recantation in
the Appeal over his late letter, is mis-
nomer. Mr.. Watson has not recanted,
for he has nothing to Teoant. But when
convinced of au error, he has the nerve
and fortitude to recant and lay down his
life at the shrine of truth and behests of
duty. o. o. H.
January 7, 1873.