, 1874-02-07

STARTLING FACTS IN MODERN gPInITUAI1sM.
ny NJ. D. WOLFE, n. D.. Cincinnati.
Tho title Of this volume is repellant. There is
an offensive odor OF sensationalism about 1t. 30
much arrant imposture has euc,lmberod and de-
graded tho phenomena Of modorn SpiritualiBm
that tue sober mind instinctively fortitlos itself
for ali oucoupter with humbug whonover tho
subject is presented. Tho flashy binding, too,
with Its troop Of aymbolical hguros reaplentlont
in gilt, increases tho feeling Of distaste. But,
passing these mnttors By ~ Of no appreciablo
weight, wo open tho book with tho ainglo desire
Of discovering what 1t actually has to say that is
worth my one's whilo to hear.
It is written In a FREQ, blun, otf-hand way, by
ono who is evidently no bigot, nofool, no knayo,
and, ifa dupe, sincerelY-honoat ono. Be is
not IN export at book-n,aking, nor q man Of
nice refinement, and oftou violates good tasto
aild proprioty by his blunt manners and familiar
ioquacity. And yet we rather fiko him the
better for 1t. There Is no disguise Of tho roal
nun, and we fool tho moro confident that wo
can trust him, while his lively colloquial CON-
munications maintain tho interest whore groatcr
dignity and polish would worry likely full. Tho
narration is exclusively OF tho authors personal
experience IN the Investigation Of tho phenomena
Of 6pirtualiBm, It Is abundansly supported by
undoniable authority, aud ia certainly ortraor-
diunry and impressive.
So early as 184i, while student Of medicine
at Ebenshurg, Pa, Dr.. Wolfe's attention fwas
called to the sudden occurrence Of strange
manifestations in tho house Of poor and Hitter
ate farmer. They consieted in tho antio and
riotou8 movements Of indfscrmiuate articles OF
furniture, and wore produced by tho uuaocoune-
ab1o influence Of timid, frightened child OF IL.
A:good deal Of excitement was created, and tho
disturbance WAS popularity ascribed to witch
craft. Time passed and the matter WAS for
cotton, until In 1850 an account of the "1soc1,es-
tor rappings" recalled It to the Doctors memory,
and the similarity of this to the earlier
was rousca,. and he began experiments at table
tipping, with very successful rosults. As the
so.cniled Spiritual manifestations multiplied
about him, be gavo time and careful thought to
ti TIER Investigation IE1 Finally, to settle the ques,
for , several months with slle celebrated M Writing
medium, A1r. J. V. Mansfield, Of Chelsea, Mass,
Here follows cursoua aud apparently nuthontic
account Of . series Of wonderful manifestations
which he there witnessed. They wero 80 con-
vincing in their nature na to restore to DR..
Wolfe a faith in tho Spiritual world which had
long been lost to him. This end renohed, he
gave up all further interest," In the phenomonA
Of Spiritualism, and went about Lis business.
But, in 1860, ho chanced to witness an exhibi-
tion OF tho remarkable mcdiumistic endowment
Of Mrs. Mary J. Hollis. OF Kentucky, And tho
old interest wns 1evivea., During tho ensuing
means to tost tho roality Of tho communications
made through her powers; and, to afford tho
public the Bamo opportunity, history OF this
experience fills tho major portion OF his book.
As no before hintea. Il is dinuse. Many OF tho
profcssed communications provoke ridicule; aud
yot, throwing out all that Ia ruerilo. enough re-
mains to elicit wonder and respect. Not belief.
Like doubtiug Thomas, this ago has no faith ax-
cept in its BcnBeH, anu we must each. see,
and hear, and handle for ourselves. in order to