The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1874-11-03

cally, Is logically untenA6le.
Mr.. Wallace dates the origin oi Moderr
Spiritualism in ls4s, when two girls o
the Fox family at Hydesville near Roch
ester, New York, began TO receive com
munications from that which purportet
10 be the spirit oi q peTipatetic vender o
tinware, who had been murdered FIVE
years previously, and whose remains had
been buried in the cellar OF the house il
which they were residing. Excavation
on the place indicated brought to ligh,
certain bones, which were supposed 10 be
those OF the murdered individual, and
from that date the spocslyptic mission oi
the Fox girls was established. The proX.
unity oil the bones TO the place where the
announcement was made would seem TO
indicate that they had some agency In
the occurrence; but this incident-whlch
would have attracted the attention Of q
strictly material philosopher-dOes not
seem to have given rise to any inquiry.
l am aware that, by those who are
accustomed to look in but one, or in
no direction for explanations Of
the phenomena called spiritual, the sug-
gesiion that the bones had something TO
do with the manifestation will not be re.
ceived with much indulgence. Never,
theless, In the history OF clairvoyance,
there have been so many similar occur.
reuces that the coincidence will not be
overlooked when the day Of genuine in.
vestigstiou shall come. The truth is,
probably, that in onstquence OF q large
contemporary decline OF belief In the cur.
rent theology, there had come to be q
large capacity for faith unapproptisted-
faith for which supernatural or seem.
ingly supernatural object is required
which stood ready 10 seiZa upon these
phenomena and apply them, as food 10
our appetites, tor It's satisfaction.
Laying aside all ideas Of the supernSt.
ursl, laying aside all those notions oI the
supernatural which purport to be derived
from q miraculous source, and il is just
as credible that the bones as thst the
spirit Of dead individual should become
endowed with dynamic energy, move
furniture, play on musical instruments,
smash croCkery, and deliver messages.
The phenomena called spiritual derive
their sole importance form the presump-
ton that they are genuine spiritual mani.
teststions; that, as such, they prove tho
existence Of the immsterisl and immortal
parts Of human beings in region appro.
priated 10 their post mortem inhsbitancy,
The testimony OF such state oi being,
which purports 10 come from the spirits,
is credited solely upon the ground Of its
claim TO q supernatural character. In
Consequence Of the admission Of this
claim, the results ot experience in mate.
risl things arc laid aside, and men t1nd no
difficulty in believing that spirit-the
ghost oi dead man, thing without sub.
stsnce-can perform feats Of dexrity and
strength which, TO the combined bones,
muscles, sinews, and nerves Of the living
individual would have been impossible.
Except for the eager propensity Of many
10 grope for evidence OF another world,
the phenomena Of spirituslsm, curious as
10 many respects they are, would excite
nothing more than transient curiosity.
It is strange thst mankind beCUmO go
studious o! the TACT Of another world that
they pay little attention 10 its qualities.
Now the spiFituslistic other world Is not,
according TO description, iu the least de.
gree desirable. With all our experiences
in this state Of existence, flesh and blood
are inseparably associated; and how we
are TO get along In another from tie ap.
prOaches 10 which they are ine1orably
barred is problem that needs solution
before Gny extreme desire 10 emigrate
thitherwaTd can nationally be entertained
Assuming the isct OF the spirit world, and
il might be SAID with literal truth that lie
Inhabitants exhibit sll the evidences oil
that moral deterioration which springs
from the want Of useful employment,
they are shallow, trhing, and wlnton' ,
mendacious, and their highest ambition
appears to be to initiate and exceed the
tricks and miracles Of living necromancers
and prestidigitateurs Their philosophy
is s circular jlrgoD; their msxins mani.
ties; the information they deliver benefits
nobody; in respect 10 their Own condition
and employnents they disagree and
equivocaIe, and when especially inquired
OF touching the affairs or interests ol liv'
ing persons, their replies are in tho style
and phraseology OF vulgar wizards and
fortune tellers. There is an abundance
Of set phrase about iotellectualeIpsnsior
to be realized, and vast Information 10 be
acquired; but, so far as appears, the oldes'
Inhabitants Of the spirit world are no lesl
silly than the newest, and the value c.
increased information to q creature with
nothing to do, and who neither produces
nor reproduces, is not very palpable:
There is nothing in the essay Of Mr
Wallace, which is evidently written ioi
the double purpose o! recommending the
spiritual theory 10 the secular scientisl:
and Of apologizng for his own conversion
to add any special strength to the clsims
Of spiriluslism TO acceptance. That phe
nomens, such as are called spiritual, dc
occur, and that the cause Of these occur
rences is involved in mystery, IS too vel
proved TO admit oi dispute; but this Ia g
long way from q demonstration that they
are the work of the spirits OF dead people
It would seem as II no sooner had Mr.
Wallace become satisfied OF the actuality
Of the phenomena than he accepted the
theory Of their spiritual origin, exhibiting
the extreme OF credulity, as other secular
scientists on their side exhibited the Ob-
stinscy Of predetermined unbelei. The
problem may not be the most important
but il is the most curious now before man
for his solution: what is that lOrce, energy
medium or influence which sometime.
with, and sometimes Independent Of, q
conscious will, performs so many sur
prlsing things, exhibits so many evidences
Of the activity OF low order Of intelli.
gepce, and displays faats Of strength
which do not seem 10 owe their origin tc
process Of transformation from ANY
other form Of force, or TO any OF those
expenditures Of material " hich, as science
teaches, are essential to the generation o
every mode Of physical and mental euer
gvp To tho elucidatinn of this prohlem