The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1874-12-10
Che 8utlaad 1ailu Globe.
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 10, 1874.
Letter From w. w. Foster ON Col.
OlCott,s Lecture.

Oicctps Lecture.
Editor Rutland Globe Having heard
through the press of Col. Oloott and the
work in which he is at present engaged
/ was anxious to hear his recital of the
Eddy manifestations last Saturday evening
but could not. The abstract Of his lecture
was eagerly sought this morning to ascer-
tain what light he could throw upon this
subject but was really disappointed, partly
ewing, perhaps. to the fact that had but
an abstract before me.
feel this matter needs the attention of
christian minds. The lecturer evidently
felt the incredibly Of the public bearing
against it, and endeavored to state his
points in manner which would demand |
attention. lie processes to merely gather |
the facts without explaining them and pro-
ceeding very cautiously he states the con-
dition of things, and attempts to show their
precedents in history. He refers to the
popular opinion in regard to the morality
of the Eddy family, and their general bear
ing toward society, affirming that mediums
differ from other people, hence their non
ability for morality. The question, why
do pure spirits choose such mediums of
communication 10 this world? he attempts
to meet, by declaring that the disciples of
our Lord were men of slow origin and
some of them of bad morality. This is an
unfair statement. They were chosen from
Q a people cultured by long discipline under
4 the immediate care Of Jehovah himself
The fisherman's craft was not low at that
day and the disciples were not low in NOR
= ais, the great distinguishing feature. If
c man is moral, his humble condition in
p society, shyness, or irriablity will not
cause him to be stigmatized as a society
pest The "perjurer' repented, and be-
came man of strong morals and mighty
:, virtue. His fall, and that of the one who
T. "turned out to be thief presents to us
examples of human weakness and the great
eagcrness of the Saviour to throw his love
about all classes of the human family.
Mediums present no counterpart; but if
they are true philanthropsts let them "pub-
licly" administer their blessings; Tut as
long as their operations are carried on SO
occultly they cannot blame the community
IN for unbelief nor for their earnest remon-
re STRANGE against such things. Every true
d d. man is as anxious as the lecturer that the
T. examination of these facts goes on, and
cd that science, formulating them, completes
" this department of psychology, even though
III the unlearned Eddy's all mediums, clair
tn voyants, Mrs. Daniels, alias Mrs. Cora
Hatch, and Katie King all fall in line of
re- honor.
M These strange phenomenas present men,
tai and physical conditions which are rare,
but examples of which have come under
the observation of psychologists and have
been divided into four classes, viz !: acct
" dental clairvoyance an instance of which
is given in the history Of Baron Sweden
- borgh While visiting in Germany in thu
midst of large company he passed into
clairvoyant state ard described fir,
then raging in his own house in Stock
holm, endangerng his library and mos
-, of the fire with minuieness announcing it
suppression, and the safety of his property
Dispatches subsequently, received con
frmed his vision in all respects.
Second. Animal magnetism, in whicl
the subject, having been put into state o
cataleptic sleep by the agency of anothe
person is enabled TO see and reveal thing
wholly unknown to him in his normal state
Third. Odism of Baron Reichenbach
which is substantially the same as the la
ter.
Fourth Modern Spirituasm whic
claims power to read the thoughts, historic
and characters of men, the secrets of ma
ture, and to reveal the mysteries of tn
spirit world. 1t claims, also the direct in
fuence and power of dsembodied huma
no spirits, superinducng both physical an
NO mental results, and conditions outside o
and superior to the ordinary powers Of ma
turc. (Munsills Psychology
This writer also says as science can nc
RS, dsproyc, it cannot reject its two fundamen
tai postulates. =,
LIST. That disembodied spirits do actual
exist. :,
ID That such spirits may conceivabl
manifest that existence to embodied spirits
christianity predicates the same postulate'
Though neither science nor christianity ca
reject the claims of modern spiritualisn
they can demand of it positive scienti6
verification.
All this we concede, but the scenes er
acted, and the sounds heard at the Eddy
which are related by the Colonel we fet
convinced are legerdemain and unexplaine
communications of spirits of living men
not frauds as he expected at first to FIN
them. They do not prove any religion
feature, only so far as they effect morals
Science, perse, and christianity are NJ
antagonists, but the war is between til
statement OF science by materialists, an
the statement by christian teachers. Th
question which is proposed for the churc
TO decide, viz whether it is possible II
spirits to clothe themselves with their ma
tural bodies-has long since been decide
in the negative as strongly as the doctrir
of the Immortality of the soul has been a
- firmed. This the church declares, an
here she rests If spirltualists declare
the contrary, it is for them TO prore the
- statement. | hope the Colonel may be abul
dainty successful in gathering useful fac
for scientists but christians cannot be pc
suadcd that those who throw away the II
BILE, which has been the consolation OF
NC" many weary hearts who reject the Savio'
iton. of the human soul, and dsmember socie
have all the truth on their side.