New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-12-06
SD1rituallem.

| II is significant incident, a. denotin
| the growth in popularity and respectable,
! of what until recently has been regarded q
among the grossest humbugs or imposture
Of the age, that two of the leading American
magazines have surrendered their pages 70
the month OF December to q discussion O
! the reality. or rather an attempt TO prov
! the truth, of what is known as moder1
| spiritualism. The time has evidently passe,
! when this subject can be ignored by intel
! ligent people, or pooh pOohed out Of exist
! ence, or consigned to the category Of fraud
or tricks Of iugglery.
Whether it be mental hallucination, a
! the doctors think, or a species of diabolism
as the parsons believe or the fOreshadOw
ing OF a new and higher religion. as the
more advanced Spiritualists assert, it is .,
all events an existing thing-a fact, q fancy
or manifestation-that il attracting the
attention OF thousands Of intelligent people
in all civilized countries. In Great Britain
IL Is attracting even more attention than in
this country. especially among the higher
and more intellectual classes. II is said
that there is scarcely family among the
nobility and gentry Of England that does
not contain one or more believers in spirit.
ualism.
1t has gained many converts among the
scientific men OF that country, and there
are few, even among those who dispute the
spiritual origin Of the manifestations, that
pretend to attribute them 20 trick or impos.
ture. In this country believers in spiritual
ism may be found in every block OF every
street Of our cities, and in every village and
hamlet OF the rural districts. No religious
sect is gaining converts with half the rapid.
ity OF spiritualism, and we doubt whether
al! of them together have drawn to the fold
80 many believers as have embraced this
new religion. OK substitute for religion.
since it took its rise in the tomfoolery lao
called) OF Rochester rappings." twenty i've
years ago.
And it is noteworthy fact that the mar.
velous manifestations of the new religion
have more than kept pace with the increase
in the number Of its adherents. Every day
adds 70 the novelty and startling character
OF its miracles. First 10 gave us mysterious
raps on che headbOards OF our beds and on
the walls and ceilings Of our rooms. Then
it began to tip our tables and chairs, and a
little later unseen hands wrote on: halt
legible communications from departed spir-
its upon states and bits of paper. Next came
the trance mediums who discoursed elo.
Iuently. but not very coherently, or all
sorts of subjects. as they were inspired by
the talkative denizens Of the other world
After them came the marvellous perform.
ances OF Home, who astonishel the crowned
heads OF Europe, and the MISCELLANEOUS
wonders Of the SHADES. tho Eddys, the
Davenports, and hundred others. And
now, as the latest and most wonderous
miracle of all, we have the ''mater;aliza.
ton" OF the spirits Of the departed, who
come to us clothed in flesh and blood, walk
about our rooms, shake US by the hand,
partake OF our refreshments, laugh and
chat q, with US as Of old, aud suddenly van.
ish into thin air.
We know not which Is the greater tax
upon our credulity. 10 believe the fhinvs
related by Robert Dale Owen in tho a..
!""t'c Ncnthly and by General Francis j
Lippltt IN the Galory, or to suppose that
,nese gentlemen. and others of equal intel.
.,is and eandor. were laboring under
mental ha1!ucination, or were deceived and
possor.-Ne,e YorI ReOuLlic. - 90 ''A