The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1874-10-29
THE SPIRITUAL LCOMBAT DEEP.
EMS.

Investigator Challenged to Produce Salts
factory Proofs Of His Assertions.
Editors IntellIReneer.
II Is not my intention or desire to en-.
gage in public discussion oil the subject
OF spiritualism, but as il appears that my
recent communication 10 your paper, de.
scribing the tests 10 which lately sub.
jected prolessed medium" in this city,
and the unsatisfactory results OF my ex :
perience with her, has provoked a reply
from one who seems inclined 10 believe
in the possibility Of impsrting the power
OF motion 10 inert matter by other than
purely physical lnstrumentalities, l feel
that proper regard for the intelligence
OF all whO entertain views opposed 10
such theory demands that no opportun.
ity shall be lost to demonstrate its truth
or falSity. For many reasons 1t is i'm
possible to accomplish this object by pub.
lie discussion Ot the question, particularly
a controversy confined 10 the limits Of o
newspaper article.
In the first place the advocates Of this
doctrine assail one OF the primary truths
Of the physical world upon which all sub.
sequent reasoning must depend. They
deny the force and operation Of laws that
have commanded the assent OF all minds
since the dawn OF creation. We are IA
miliar with certain geometrical maxims
which no sane man has ever yet attempt.
ed TO controvert, IS they contain internal
evidence which antecedent to all reflection
or combination carry conviction 10 the
mind. For example, it is indisputabc
that the whole is greater than the part,
that things equal 10 the same thing are
equal TO one another, that two straight
lines cannot enclose q space, and that
all right angles are equal 10 each other.
The mind that attempts to conceive
any possible exception TO these aphor-
isms must inevitably be dersDged or de-
tcient in the organs OF perception, or in
tuenced by some strong interest or un-
controllable passion,
In precisely this ligh! DO the mass Of
mankind regard those who profess 10 be-
lieve that the fundamental laws Of nature
can be ignored, or set 81 defiance, and the
phenomena Of action impaired to inert
and motionless matter. q
But all reasonable men are willing to
accept proofs that such things are rem
dered possible by direct spiritual inter
ference, and every searcher after truth,
remembering the fate Of Calico, and
knowing that every great scientific dis
coVery, even in modern times, has been
received with caution and incredulity. in |
proportion 10 its usefulness and adaptation
TO the wants Of man, cheerfully gives |
every possible latitude TO those disposed |
to investigate subject go grave and i'm.
portant as the one under consideration is |
acknowledged 10 be.
am among those who believe that if |
the tenets OF spiritualism were indispu-
tably established, the benefits TO be derived
from it would be OF iucalculable service
to the entire human race, BY the effect
such discovery would have in Conduc.
ing to the regeneration o! religion. What
more powerful agency could there be in
arrestiDg the tendency to scepticism
which characterizes the age in which we
live. There does not breathe human
being who would not instantly and hum.
oly thank the Almighty for such an
evidence OF the immortality OF the soul.
once establish the truth OF sprituslism
and the work ofthe ministers OF religion
IS ended. There remains no longer
room TO doubt, and the conversion OF all /
the world is fastened by thousands of
years. But it is not the design OF the
Almighty that our salvation shall be &C.
SO easily. We are required
10 have faith in His word, and to derive
our strength in that faith by the contem-
plation OF His mighty works, the con.
and arrangement OF the Uni.
verse, and the immutsble and harmonious
avs which govern it. II is useless how.
ever to attempt any argument on this
question in the space ordinarily allotted
% newspaper contribution, and even if
his were extended for tie occasion, l
doubt II any good purpose could be eI-
Iected by such means. l therefore pro.
pose 10 Investigator" of whose personal.
lty am entirely ignorant, 10 meet him
al any time, and we will gotogether-the
believer and the disbeliever-And consult
any genuine medium with whom he may
be acquainted; that we shsll, with due care
and deliberation, test his or her powers
to produce the unexplsinsble manifesto
ton to which he refers, and il such me-
dunn can force conviction upon my mind,
hereby agree that everything l have
ever uttered in opposition 10 spirituslism
shall be retracted and my altered views
given as much publicity as have given
to those now entertained by me. i'm.
pose, however, the single condition that
Investigator" il he accepts this proposi.
ton, shall appear in the character OF
representative OF the spiritual community,
and shall publicly acknowledge the fal.
lacy OF the doctrine, in case our combined
investigations warrant such conclusion.
AIATRRIALIsT.