New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-11-15

inform Us, O certain Franoois DaIhs oanu'"ovo ava
membership In 1872, sought to ccncihate the favor
of that learned body by selecting az his theme the
impossibility of the circulation OF the plooq
e. Sansxias motss ciroutaris tmpossibtsI Fortyiour
wears eufced not TO procure for the theory the
sanction of medical science the French metropo-
lis If there had been Patent Offices in those days,
and If Harvey, while scientific men in large num-
bers still rejected his theory, had sought to patent
any ingenious device for its illustration, some Ex
amnor Smith of the seventeenth century, in reject
ing his application. might have told him that his
phenomena were uncertain, variable, and incon-
stant." and that such tremendous pretensions'
could not receive official aid or sanction.
But even if preponderance of authority In favor OF
one set of opinions could abrogae the civic rights OF
those who believe differently there are some items
here to be taken into account which have probably
escaped this superserviceabe Patent officer.
Mr. Alfred Wallace, an eminent English scientist,
well known on both sides of the Atlantic. published
last year. under his own name, IN The Londo" guar
tery Science kepec edited by Fellow OF the hoy'n
Society ten-page review Of an American work Oh
Spiritual Phenomena, entitled the Depa.aoo
Land" In that review he says that sucn suIo
is not out of place scientific Journal Ior ~
ever light we view it, it is really scien.iiio ~
tjonn And his conclusion is tins: Inc '"e' -
given force upon us the spiritual theory, JUST as w
facts Of geology force upon us the Deiiei III ions
series of ancient living forms, diherene iion 'N''
now existing on the earth"
Again: Mrs Stowe, in The Chrtsnan O".o"' sys Va
the same book: at ought TO be reckoned as Oh tno
same class with Darwins late Work; peing STUDY
into the obscure parts of nature, conducted in the
oIy tne method. by the exhibition of wellselected
facss The editor Of Every Saturday declares "its
LOGIC TO be of kind to command the respect of
Bishop Butler or Archbishop Whately.' And, not
IN multiply examples that most critical OF journals.
The Nation at the close of a candid two-cOlumn re-
view TINS expresses itself: what is spiriti What
Ia pnatterY Science TO all appearance, draws nearer
and nearer to answering these qucstions and books
which, like the Debatable Land, contribute their
quota of carefully observed and recorded facts to
the discussion are to be welcomed" How does all
this-certainly from reputable sources-tally with
our over-7eal0us Examiners assertion that these
alleged facts have almost entirely Stunned the cool
scrutiny of intellect I"
have no idea what such an invention may be
worth in the market nor need We ask Such mat
ters are to be treated not with reference to the
amount of money but TO the Importance of principle
which they involve. The tax on tea coming from
England to her American Colonies in l773 was two
pence only and religious rights are at least az sa-
cred as political single additional aspect OF this
particular case may suffice to indicate what vital
interests are involved in the question whether the
(alleged) spiritual phenomena of the day are YER
liable or spurious
An old belief seems about to disappear; the belief
In the exceptional and miraculous. The civilized
world is gradually settling down TO the assurance
that natural law is universal invariabe persistent
Now if natural law be invariable, then either the
nj ar of audi rio pln
were not performed, or else they were not miracles
Ii they were not performed then Christ assuming
to perform them, lent himself, Renan and others
have alleged, to deception; a theory which dispar-
ages His person and discredits His teachings. But
if they were performed under natural law. and if
natural laws endure from generation to generation,
then inasmuch as the laws must exist still, we
may expect somewhat similar phenomena at any
time Add to this that Jesus himself, exercising
spiritual powers and gifts promised John XIV, ~
to His followers after His death similar faculties.
The question: then, touching the existence or non
existence at the present tIme of phenomenal proofs
of life TO come may if decided affirmatvely, fur
nish to men of science and to other skeptcs who re-
ject the Gospel narratives the very species OF evil
dence that is demanded at this modern day, 10
change their discOuragng creed. To act upon the
ignorance of the first century it needed works which
that ignorance looked upon miracles; but to act
upon the apathy of the present age 1t needs phe-
nomena acknowledged to be natural yet of an inter
mundane character. If such can be placed before
Materialists, then they will have the evidence of
their senses in proof that the marvellous powers
ascrbed TO Jesus aud the spiritual gifts enjoyed by
his disciples were natural and are credible; that, in
fact, we have no more reason for rejecting them
than for denying the wars of Cesar the conquests
of Alexander And thus the alleged spiritual mani
fesations Of our day, if they prove genuine, become
the strongest euidces 10 sustain the authenticity Of the
Gospels.
Looking to the interests of Christianity itself,
one over-estmate the momentous results which may
follow an inquiry, reverently conducted, into the
genuine character of these manifestatOnsi And
when an inventor has thought out mode by which,
in the prosecution of researches thus UNNECESSARILY
important, mposture may be effectually barred, is
il not menstrous that he should be told by Govern
ment official that his invention only be deemed
worthy of protection condition that he assents to
have il regarded and recorded improvement on
Game Tables' What would be said of a magistrate
who, fearing for the delicate or young the excite
ment naturally pertaining" to protracted camp
meetings, should deny request made by the offc-
ating preachers for the aid of the police in keeping
order, unless these reverend gentlemen would first
agree to have their religious EXERCISES regarded as
species of public amusement!
Ny conclusion, as touching the whols matter. is
that Mr. Examiner Smith got quite beyond his
depth and outside of his official duty, of which it
behooves the Commissioner of Patents 10 apprise
him. II we could imagine similar usurpations suf-
fered TO creep into the various Departments of
Government the clause in the Constitution which
forbids Congress to pass any law respecting an es-
Enlistment of religion. prohibiting the free
else thereof, would nor be worth the paper it was
written on. ROBERT DALE OWEN.
HoleI Branting Ne,c- York, Nov. Z, 1873,
PS-Since writing the above. | have read q