The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-03-06
The Phenomenon Called "spiritusl-
ism"-A 'sCommunis alton" from Judge
Peckham.

AneAn
Judge Edmonds sends us correspondence,
with somewhat emphatic request that it shall
appear in the HxRAL.D. We are always glad
to oblige gentleman as earnest and sincere
as Judge Edmonds, even when he asks US to
enter upon subject as unusual as Spiritual
ism. This correspondence, as we understand
it, consists of communication made to Judge
Edmonds by the spirit Of the late much
lamented Judge Rufus w. Peckham, who was
among the unfortunate gentlemen who per-
ished on the Vile du Havre Judge Edmonds
assures us that the spirit of Judge Peckham
came to him, identified himself to his salts
faction and thereupon addressed him the
letter which we print
The letter purporting to come from the
spirit of Judge Peckham is an interesting lit
erary phenomenon, to say the least. It de-
scribes the last meeting with Judge Edmonds
at Albany, informing the Judge that he left
the court room in advance of him, and pro-
ceeds to say that death has severed no links
in their friendship, 'when we still sit in
council with those we knew and loved" Fur
thermore, the Judge does not think he would
have chosen death in the form that came to him.
All his life, its early memories and friendships,
came to his mind in the last sad moments.
As he sunk in the waves, ''with his wife folded
to his heart, his spirit was lifted out Of the
wave by his father and mother, and, with his
wife in his arms, he followed the spirit of his
mother. His generous heart felt solicitous for
his fellow sufferers, but he SAW them also
lifted out of the waves as though by strong
arms, "nerved by love" There was no agony,
no pain, mo sensation of fear, cold or suffo-
cation )" and the new life that came SO sud-
denly is, he assures us, so glorious that "the
shadow of death became an illumination"
The spirit of the Judge assures us that the
collision was inevitable" that no blame
can attach to the officer in charge, and that
''the survivors alone most need sympathy"
He mentions the happy friendships that have
come to him in the spirit world, among them
ex-senator Tallmadge, ex-President Van
Buren, and Nicholas Hill, and closes with an
expression of the happiness of being able
to ''rejoice in our great and All-wise Father
who doeth all things WELL
We give this contribution to the literature
Of Spiritualism for what it is worth. We have
had spirits since the Witch of Endor, and be-
lief in Spiritualism as an actual faith or sys-
tenn OF theology has become widespread
within the past few years. 1t would be great
faith laid down with so much poetry and ro-
nance by Judge Edmonds, and if we could
all believe as fully as Judge Edmonds
in the testimony of Judge Peckham as
here recorded We fear there would be ten
dency to sea travel as among the surest and
happiest means of escape from toll and effort,
from i'll health, disappointments, bankruptcy
and the other nisfortunes that tread upon our
footsteps as we journey to the end The sad
dest thought in leaving the world is of those we
leave behind; and if we could believe that
over the bed of death the spirits of those we
loved were lowering with strong arms,
'.nerved by love-" to lift us into new and
happy existence, death would become festi-
val of joy rather than sorrow, and our enemies
would show their hatred by praying that we
might live many years.
But we do not intend t. be drawn into the
enchanted realms of q discussion upon
Spiritualism. If we could venture upon q
criticism without appearing to express an
opinion on the subject it would be that we
really are told nothing new in communications
like those given US by Judge Edmonds. The
larger part ofthese communications" read like
the dreams and fancies of schoolgirl given to
writing poems What is this other world
What relation does it bear to the world we
live in? What life do we lead there? Do we
see each other with spiritual eyes? Isit world
of good or evil? Do we grow or re-
main stagnsnt? Do we marry, or rec
ognize the marriages of earth? Do we
carry with us our friendships hopes,
enmities or ambitions? Have we any COM
munion with the saints? Is there any law of
discipline or punishment for the sins of the
flesh? Does the malefactor who dies on the
gallows enter into the same life with the
prince who dies on the throne? Are we to
have communion with the great minds of the
world-to realize the dream Of Napoleon in his
dying hours that he would meet Caesar, Han.
nibal and Alexander in the Elysian Fields
Is it phenomenon, or a science, or faith
We are afraid the world is no nearer the So
luton than Hamlet, who only saw in the ap-
pearance of the ghost that there were more
things in heaven and earth than philosophy
could explain. The phenomenon is certainly
worthy of grave study and attention. We wish
we could be more satisfied with the evidence of
Judge Edmonds. At any rate, we give it as
the testimony Of an honest enthusiast, who
believes what he says and labors to induce the
world to accept his beautiful, gaudy and al
Turing religion