The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1873-10-15
Che Rutlana Daily Glohe.
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER is, 1879.
rhc Eddys and spiri,ualism.

visited the Eddy family" residing some
few miles east of Rutland. never had
any belief in spiritualism yet it must be
conceded that the believers are quite mum.
erous in this and other countries, and en-
brace some learned and able men. Absurd,
as believe modern spiritualism to be, |
have no disposition TO abuse or ridcule any
one who accepts its doctrines as true and
genuine, acknowledging their right of
opinion or belief as good as my own. But
inasmuch as the Eddy family are 50 largely
visited, and drawing SO much attention,
and believing as do that many are being
led into error and dclusion by their de-
monstrations, ask little space to give
my own views on the subject of spiritualism,
hoping may be followed by Others more
capable than myself.
| have never visited the Eddy family.
have no acquaintance with them, or any
one of them, to my knowledge. That their
manifestations are wonderful" Is very
likely and that they cannot be explained or
accounted for by those who have witnessed
them is quite probable; but it does not fol-
low from this that they are spirit manifcs-
tations. What is known as spiritualism
seems to be understood as of recent origin,
and to have had its beginning with the
Fox family" about 1S49. The history of
the Fox family and the mysterious crap
pings in that connection fully appeared
in the newspapers at the time and need not
be repeated here. Spiritualists do not, as
| understand, concede that from thence
| spirltualsm took it, rise, but claim that
discmbodied spirits have for all time held
communication with the living. But |
understand that the 'rappings" COM
mcnced with the Foxes, and | understand,
too, that the organization of spiritualists,
! if organization there is, was had after the
time of the Fox demonstrations at least
shall be sustained when | say that before
the day of the Foxes there were no persons
known as spiritualists in this country,
though shall not deny that there were
those before that time who believed that
the spirits Of the departed held commune
cation with the living. Swedenbourg lived
before that time, and if | mistake not
Andrew Jackson Davis wrote before then,
but of this am not positive. But believe
! there were manifestations two hundred
years ago and more, and believe. TOO. that
they were produced by the same causes
that the so-called spirit manifestations are
now Produced purely from natural causes.
Any one who has read the history of what
was called "the Salem Witchcraft well
knows that the manifestations were no less
strange or wonderful than the manifesto
tons of modern spiritualism. Some hun
dred years or more after the day of hanging
witches, mesmerism, as it was called, had
lis rise, and for many years astonished the
world with its wonders. After mesmerism
subsidized then came spiritualism.
Spirtualsts deny that there is any SINH
larity in spiritualism to mesmerism and the
witchcraft Of olden time. True, there have
been different phases in manifestations, bat
the wonderful phenomena has been pro-
NNNcNt ~ thN Nduscot " iOiSCo CHiot-
ing in nature, and not by the spirits or ST.
pernatura agencies. Without intending
any offence to the large number OF adhereAts
of spiritualism in this country, many of
whom hold positions in society as good as
the best, must express ii as my opinion
that spiritualsm is but refinement of
those other errors named.
Sufficient space for full and thorough
discussion of this subject in newspaper
can hardly be allowed. | must then con-
dence rs much as possible, aud will pro-
coed to inquire:
|. Are the "w wonder ful manifestations -
reported, reality
2. If so, can they be accounted for from
natural causes
0. If they cannot be accounted for or ex-
planned, does it follow that these mani. es-
tations come from spirit agencyf
That there has been more or lees decep-
ton practiced by mediums, psychologists,
clarvoyants and witches, do not doubt,
but am disposed to admit the facts with
| tiie NiT'b7 Nhp navy ~
tended such exhibitions are often so wrought
upon that their imaginations produce the
facts they see and hear what one present
in his right mind would not see and hear
But manifestations too well authenticated
to admit of doubt have been witnessed
which to one incapable Of understanding
the cause would indeed appear to him won
derful and mysterious, and ineXplicable
perhaps on any other than the spirit theory.
| know well that large majority of dis
believers in spirituaism deny the facts ;
that is, they deny that nappings, moving
of tables, chairs and other objects, the
ringing of bells, playing upon musical in
struments, and the thousand and one sights,
sounds and antics without visible cause,
are not in fact produced. But believe
they are, though not always to the extent
reported. Sometimes deception is used,
and at other times imagination creates the
facts. | have myself, within the last
fifteen years been present at several circles
and have no occasion to doubt the fact of
manifestations, yet believe am as far
removed from belief that they were pro-
duccd by spirits out Of the body az any one
can be so far removed that believe there
is not shadow of evidence to support the
spirit theory, and that the whole thing is
senseess and absurd
Substantially admitting the facts, then,
as do, can they he accounted for 7 be-
lieve they can be, yet II may be difficult for
one not versed in certain sciences TO give
such explanations as would he satisfactory
TO others was once present when man
In fit of delrium saw snakes and other