National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1875-03-05
TIE EXPOSURE OF sPIRITUALIsM.
Pr .nywinkle Rushes Frantically to the De-
fence Of the Dissemination.


To the Editor of the National Republican:
SIR: Last week the people OF this city were no.
tilted, through the columns Of the press, that a
Professor Starr would expose to the vulgar gaze
Of the world the mysteries Of that somewhat fan
tastic dispensatiop, called spiritualism. Not
only was this promised, but the same world to
whose vulgar gaze these mysteries were to be ex-
posed was to be taught en- maSse how to perform
the tricks Of mediums for its own qualification
and amusement.
Now, It cannot be said that there was anything
remarkable about all this, in ITSELF Many such
promises have been made in times past since the
days Of the contest between Aaron and the pro-
fessors Of Egyptian magic. There was, however,
In this case feature Just little unusual-one
which muddles the common intellect. The man
was specially introduced to our notice by an array
Of clerical names that was positively astounding
and overwhelming. Two puZzling questions pre-
sent themselves: What strange coincidence
brought these leading cIergymen together at the
publishing that comprehensive certificate, with
their respective names and pastorates In full at
tached, why was It necessary to give an exhibl,
In other words, why, in the name of common
sense, cannot the people take the word Of their
ministers that such and such thing is false from
foundation to tenet stone, unless Il be supple
mented by the averment of a man that has not
been ordained? By dispensing with the exhibit
ton could not the money have been available for
the conversion OF the heather of foreign landsP
Gould not the traps of the professor have been
sold and the money given to the por?
And still another question bothers the common
intellect. How were these clergymen able TO de-
clare that Professor Starr had successfully ex-
cannot for one moment be supposed that they
have so far forgotten the duties of their holy
calling as to consult our modern women Of Endor.
repel with indignation the base insinuation that
they could, would, or should set such pernIcious
example to entrap the unsteady limbs Of the lay
man, and also repel, &C., the base, &C., thatthey
hensive certificate unless they knew, of their
personal knowledge, each and every one Of them,
that the expose of Professor Starr was In fact,
what it purpOrted to be, complete and thorough
in each and every respect, and that their laymen
who should, by reason of such certificate, expend
the nominal sum Of from one quarter to one dol
lar-no reserved sests-which quarter or dollar,
If the said lsymen would only take the word OF
their minister as conclusive, might, could, would
or should go, under proper auspices, for the con-
version Of the benighted heather Of foreign lands,
could never thereafter have It to Say that their
money had been fllched from them under false pre-
fences. But-but-the common intellect refuses
further to discuss this branch of the case.
However, the exhibition did take place, and in
IN upgOdly house, to wit, the National theatre.
People who were present, and who had never at
tended seGnce in their lives, declare Il to have
been successful expose, and therefore are the
ministers justified in giving that comprehensive
certificate. The dOings OF mediums whom they
had never seen were thoroughly explained, aud
the Wild-eyed fraternity were held up to the pity
Of the audience for their unreasonable, senseless
creduliIy.
But, as was to be expected. there are others
upgOdly felloTs-WhO deny all this. They affirm
that Professor Starr only performed number Of
silly tricks that never were the means of conVnc-
ing any one that spirituallsm was true issue,
and hence their exposure weakened the convic-
tiOns of no one; that he did not complete his pro-
grnmme or fulfill his promises, pleading want
of time, and covering his retreat by the announce
ment that he would in hand pay any one and
every the sum Of IS 900 If he could not do any
and everything that any and every prolessed spirit
ual N edium can do, provided he is allowed TO see
it done the sacred number of times-three. They
want to know why Saturday night, of all others,
was chosen to fill such an immense bill, or why
Professor Starr was not ordained reverend, SO
that his expose might have been announced as q
sermon, and as such extended all through Sun
day and Sunday night, If need be, at the same
liberal rate OF admission; or why he did not take
hold OF the important part of his subject, first
ing that he had not long to stay" or why he did
not seek out the deluded-the we'll need not q
physieiAn-Hho have seen Charley Foster, or
Slade, or the Eddys, and by demonstrations de-
liver them from their delusions, to the edhcstion
of the immense audience All these and thou
sand other aggraVating queries are propounded.
Professor Starr, this thing won't do. You know
you took in out of the art those innocent, un-
Sophisticated clergymen. You know that your
pretended exposure was In fact exposure at all,
but q series Of silly, mechanical tricks and that
the mediums you put up and knocked down were
straw mediums of your own creation. You know
you did not ll your bill and that therefore plous
young Christian though you be, you are con-
questionable, to say the least and that some repa-
ton-say q donation for the conversion of heather
Of foreign ldnOs-S demanded Dy the clrcum-
stances OF the case.
Ar d TO the innocent, unsophisticated clergymen,
who signed the comprehensive certificate, your
unworthy correspondent would say: Don't be
taken in again. Visit Foster, SlRde, the Eddys,
and other spirituRlistic celebrities. Investigate
for yourselves the mysteries that are so rapidly
shaking hell out Of the creeds Of Christendom;
and then, II pious young man comes into the
city, pretending to expose q medium, you can de.
eide which Of the two Is the humbug. When you
again sign comprehensive certificate see to 1t
that the party in whose favor 1t is drawn up fills
the bill or refunds the money, or makes q dona-
tion for the conversion Of the heather or sells his
traps and gives the money to the poor.
But If the blessed Lord opens your eyes to the
truth Of the new dispensation called modern
Epiritualism, pray you proclaim 1t boldly from
your pulpits, though they should crumble be-
meath your feet, and drop you upon the plane Of
ordinary humanity. The Christ whom you new
SO blindly preach will rise TRANSPORTED in the
new light that shall dawn upon your souls. In
the grand, upward march Of all life you will see
the gospel Of an eternal infallibe law out OF the
embrace Of which you cannot fall, and from the
demands Of which you cannot escape until you
have paid the uttermost farthing.
PnIIYwTNEIF