Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1873-04-09

BosroN, April |, 1873.
Aquarter ola century ago was away back
in my teens, but remember with what inter
est read the long newspaper accounts Of the
new phenomena, then only known and herald
ed abroad as the Rochester knockngs," and
judge that the interest manifested therein
was then quite universal. Whether it arosc
from anything more than mere curiosity, !
know not but am sure that nobody dreamed
at that time, that the strange manifestations
in question were sufficient 10 found new re.
ligion upon But religion has been founded
thereon, and is now known the world over az
modern Spirtualism, and in spite Of the Wig
orous war which has been waged against it by
pulpit and pres, public sentiment and society
nay more, in spite Of the consummale nonsense
which chracterizes the greater part Of its mani
festations, 1t has come to be fact which can.
not well be altogether ignored or sneercd out
Of existence
On the 3ist Of March, 1913, the doll and cab
house amusements Of little Kate Fox, IN
the neighborhood Of Rochester, New York
began to be disturbed by the tiny, mysterious
rappings upon tie furniture about her, which
have since developed into this gigantic, unwel.
come ism, which il endeavoring, with more or
less success, TO turn the religious world upside
down. And tho 3lst of March, lsis, being
regarded IA the advent Of the new filth, is
Music Tall in tbs city, and suppose 10 other
places wherever they are sufficiently numerous
to render such celebration practicable. A.
tracted by the announcement in their adyer
tisement, that two Of their great apostles
Hon. Robert Dale Owen and Mrs Brtten--
formerly Emma lIardinge- would appear upor
the platform, wendcd my way to Music Hall
which was densely packed before O'Clock, n
which time Mr. Owen was introduced to th,
audience, which he addressed for half an hou
Or more, concerning the history Of spiritual
ism, which he said was " older than eiyilza
ton" and which he prophesed would b,
: and by become universal. lie isu Guo lookinl
old man, and subtle reasOner, but his voic
was not strong enough to he heard half owe
the large hall, and 50 that part of the au
dience which could not hear, grew little tire,
! Of waiting for him to have finished.
I After Mr.. Owen came Emma Harding
p Brtten, who may be regarded as the reignin
= queen Of the feminine rostrum the world over
She is tall powerfully built woman and sh
d came upon the platform standing erect. and
4 little more, and with voice which. with It'll
t effort, filed the great hall full, but with neve
moments hesitation, she made speec
c which was fluent and sometimes elegant, an
n which was received by the audience with
o good deal of enthusiasm, though il containe
h less lopic and vastly less learning than III
t speech of Mr.. Owen. suppose that yor
k lady readers would hardly excuse me if
should fail to say something concerning b,
d dress. though 1t did not occur to me at II
= time she was speaking that that was matt,
:. Of such importance that it should mover
;, omitted She was richly, though should $
not G,sbiopably dressed. in green silk. viii,
), contained few Aounees and trimming, viii,
j. make IN the stylish dress of to day. She wo
e no hustle, or if she did it was an unpretentio
b affair, and her standing up 80 straight made
is appear to very little advantage: ard =, su
h nose she could not be admitted 10 aN
Is society. Seriously, think the snirituv
is ISIS are setting people an example in Ii
re matter of dress. which the world would
to well to follow. While their audiences arc w
at dressed, they seem to generally resist the I,