The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1873-09-16
Tho Eddy Family.


Edao, Of the Globe The Rutland Her-
oM of the 18th inst, contained n commune
cation headed ''Thc Eddy Family EX-
posurc of tic lIumbugs by n Spiritualist,"
over the signature of Joseph Il. Hall of
Portland, Me-, which, in my opinion, docs
such cruel injustice to the Eddy Family" |
and the cause of truth. that beg to occupy |
sufficient space in your widely read journal |
to review the statements of Mr. Hall. to
state the facts within my own knowledge, |
and give you my deductions from those |
facts Fortunately. | am enabled to deal |
fairly with Mr. Hall, by having been pre-
sent NJ the two ''seances' of the I'd and Sd
insts., described by him. and, more for
tunately still for correct conclusions upon
the question of deception by the Eddy
Family. was also present at four other
/ 'seanccs" or '.circlcs' besides two days
spent in close observance of their character
and surroundings at their home Allow me
further to premise that if years as mature
rs those of Mr.. Hall, an extended inter
course with men Of various stations in life,
/ both in city and country, and life long
| habit of patiently and closely investigating
any question of Importance TO myself or
others presented to me before forming or
expressing Il decided opinion of its merits,
are facts that add any value to my state
ments | must claim the benefit of them in
this communication | wish further TO say,
that. in my opinion. no man. howcYcrkcen
his perception or great his power of analy-
sis, is competent to pronounce final judy
mcnt upon the character of the manifesto
ton, in question, from merely as stranger,
attending two "scanccs." There Is so much
that il new, so much that is startling, that
the minds filled with questionsupon which
the Judgment requires more light, that
satisfactory conclusions can only be reached
by an investigation sufficiently protracted
to overcome the novelty of the position
and allow the mind to act free from abnor-
NAL excitement. And herein think Mr..
Hall has done great injustice to him@lf as
well as to others, and my candid conviction
is that had he pursued his investi-
cations for week instead of the
brief period that he did, he never
could have brought himself to pen
these severe structures. Again 1 fear Mr..
Hall was laboring under feeling of dis
appointment that biased his judgment.
had the pleasure of conyersing with him on
the Sd instant, at the residence of the
Eddys. He seemed to he gentleman of
strong convictions with an emphatic
method of expressing them. and although
| did not hear him express any opinion as
to the genuiness of the Eddy manifesto
tons he M speak fully of the
satisfactory character Of the material
ization Of the spirit witnessed by
HIM elsewhere, and instanced the
case of young child of his own, giving a
most interesting account of the manner of
its clearly defined appearance to him, hold
ing the beautiful rose bud. with one little
petal bent down, the same as when placed
by the hand of affection at its burial. Not
happening to witness ANYTHING appealing so
directly to a fathers heart, and perhaps
comparing what he chopped to see with
what he actually saw, was he not uncon-
sciously biased by his personal disappoint-
ments ?
And now, rs to my own observations.
Although had heard much from my
friends those that were near and dear to
me-of what they had witnessed and the
communications they had received from
departed friends. and more recently had
conversed with a number of mos, intelli-
gent ladies and gentlemen, who had spent
some time ut the home of the Eddy's, |
had had no personal knowledge of spiritual
manifestations, until the evening of the
odd ult., when accepted the invitation of
friend (who, although residing in Rut-
land, had never visited the Eddy's) to ar
company him and attend their circles. Wit
Messing so much that was new, so many
queries arising in my mind demanding
more complete solution, lavailed myself of
of the opportunities that temporary So
journ in Rutland, gave me of visiting them
to the extent above mentioned, at intervals
during the past three weeks. found the
eddy family" to consist of William. aged
apparently about thirty IIoratio about
twcnty-eight Webster about twenty-five,
and their two sisters, Della and Alice,
young women, perhaps twenty and seven
teen, respectively. And right here let me
say that having noted the members OF
: this family most closely and converscd
with the brothers for hours, upon variety
Of subjects, am entirely satisfied of their
entire honesty OF purpose, genuine kindncs;
!, OF heart, patience under inconsidcrate criti
cism, and tender regard for the feelings
OF Others that excited my highest admira
ton. | will only briefly speak of the doyl
circles as Mr.. Hall has not-allhough they
are intensely interesting. In the dark cir
Gle lloratio submits to be bound with &
strong cord, his hands being tied together
behind him and to his chair. Immediately
upon the light being extinguishcd voices
are heard, the more familiar ones being
those of May Flower, purporting to be the
the spirit of young girl of twelve year,
I, who was captured by the Indians wher
quite small and who acquired their habits
and remained with them until she
,, passed to spirit land, and that of George
Dix, young sailor lost at sea. These arr
accompanied by quite band of othe
spirits who entertain those present with con
certs, some nine or ten musical instruments
being played upon, filling the room as com
!, pletely, and keeping as excellent time a
any band of performers in the flesh. Ma,
2 Flower and George Dix engaging freely II