The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1874-12-14

gard, not on account OF the moral Cnarac-
ter, the social standing or the surrounding
of these so.called mediums, these men and
women having, what the sacred writers
call, familiar spirits" We care not
whether they groyel in penury and filth or
roll in wealth, luxury and ease. If we
we're disposed to believe In these things we
should seek them in the abodes of the for
mer- saving the filth, for cleanliness is
next to gndliness. II tho Almighty, in His
infinite wisdom, power and goodness,
should permit the spirits Of the departed to
again visit the earth, being called thence
by mediums" witches, men or women
with "familiar spirits" or whatever they
may be called, we should naturally seek
these mediums among the weak, ignorant
and poor, because, we are taught, God
chooses the foolish things of the earth to
confound the wise, and the weak things to
bring to naught the plans of the mighty.
We are skeptical, not on this account, but
because their alleged manifestations seem
to us puerilc, useless to mankind aud I'M
worthy Of those whose dweling-p place is
claimed to be with God. 1t seems to us
absurd that the dead should be summoned
hence to tip table,, lift cart wheels oil
heavy stones, rob graTcs of personal deco
rations, play musical instruments
tempt the appetite with fruit or vegc.
tables, sing dance, perform antics, etc,
etc. This is all that these so called spirits
accomplish, and that these things occur wC
are ready to believe. because we are moi
prepared to call liars the many respectable
men and women who assert that they have
seen these things We are the more will
ing to ascrbe 1t to fraud on the ono par,
and self.ieception on the other, although
we must confess that this docs not afford 8
very satisfactory solution We know that
it Is forctold that in the last DAYS there
shall be signs and wonders, as well as false
prophets, but if we class these with cithcl
we should be compelled to admit that thos,
| days were even now at hand. No maj
| knows when those days will come, but i
signs and wonders and false prophets fore
bode the day, then would the world hav,
| finished its course centuries ago. But /
| these communications are real, and wha
| they claim to be, why are we not told o
the future state, of the past which Is hiddel
from us, the reason why they alone ar
| permitted 10 wander to and fro upon tn
earth ? 1t may be that the object now /
to prove the reality Of their existence, an
that these communications may com
| afterwards. 1t may he that VIC arc of thos
who would not ''be persuaded, though on
rose from the deal, as they claim to hay
done. Ii so, so be it, we only Judge ther
by their fruits. While entirely rejectin
the whole idea of spirits or sprltualism q
connected with these so called manifesto
tions, il is not SO easy TO reject the allege
facts without making liars of many me
whose reputation for truth is unchallenget
That all these facts are explanablc b
natural causes, if not on the ground G
/ Aihbti Va oSii-NSNNlltlOii W. DtlltNt. w
further believe that the time has com
when these alleged facts cannot be sneeret
laughed, talked, or written down. Th
only way. this ghost, so portentious t
some, can be laid 10 by patient, careful
scientific investigation. If it is fraud, |,
us know it. If they are produced BY SON
hitherto unknown law of nature, il is wort
a life time of investigation to become Il
discoverer thereof, and the world wan
the knowledge If it is really spirit innl
ence, which now seems absurd and ridict
lous, what then The Bible ana the r.
| ligion of hrist,remain, and the very gat,
| of hell cannot prevail against them Tit
is enough for us to know. While scient
investigates in the interest of truth ar
knowledge, we can still hold fast to Il
faith once delivered to the saints, and TIL
| is all sufficient no matter what may be Il
deductions of scientists or the sneers