The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1875-11-19

way, and received for answer that said |
statesman was "Deistical," thereby
leading US to infer that seetarian big.
otry exists in heaven, although we had
always hoped the contrary.
This gave rise to an animated contro-
versy with spirits in the body, in which
your correspondent said some things
not exactly complimentary to the
straight-laced Phariseeism that we see
so much of in persons mundane, where
the fat of priestly power says to those
who have the honesty to proclaim that
they are not of their faith, "Stand thou
there I am hoLier than thou" AS
the disembodied spirits couldn't talk
back readily, we had better show than
when Brother IZer tried to protect his
idea Of God from the common sense of
the women by using Papal "bull;"
and we had lots of fun. But our argu-
ment disturbed the conditions" and
sent John Milton of on a tangent of
dignity, for, like any masculine spirit
in the body that cannot hold an argu-
ment with woman, he evidently
plumed himself upon his superiority of
sex, and departed in high dudgeon to the
Land of the Leal.
The next evening was very stormy,
but nothing daunted, we all collected in
the front sitting-room to join in circle
for ''fower manifestations" The fam
lily had told US of wonders in this line,
and we said we should like to behold
them, for, like Thomas of old, we were
something of doubter. They said that
the rain would spoil the conditions"
but they would try. So the doors and
windows were fastened, the lamp turned
down to dim fiamelet that only made
the darkness visible, though we could
plainly see the hands and faces of all
present. After long time spent in
singing, the hymns selected being
mostly of the Brother Hammond order,
little girl of Mrs. Ewing's, five years
old, who does not know the alphabet,
became entranced, and wrote many
words and some sentences quite plainly.
Some of the words were written in an
tordinary running hand, some upside
down and some wrong side to, o..you
could only read them (that is, the1iast)
by reflection in a loOking-glass. And
while we confess that "John Milton"
didu't excite our curiosity much, we
freely admit that this child's perform
ance did. Whence came this power ?
and whittier goeth it? Verify, we are
led to exclaim with Job, 'Man giveth
up the ghost, and where is he ?"
George Vinson, although strong op-
ponent of Spiritual belief, went into a
eonatose, or unconscious trance con-
dition, and spoke, sung, and wrote,
while apparently under mesmeric in
fluence.
After several hours thus spent in the
circle, the light was turned fully on
ane we all drew back from the table
when under it we found, neatly tied
with a beautiful silver cord, an i'm
mense boquet of hollyhocks and princes
feathers, fully seven inches across, and
weighing half pound. The same was
said to be intended "for the editor" and
the laugh we enjoyed over the exquisite
taste displayed in its selection was as
contagious as enjoyable. The medium
said that the flowers were brought from
the garden adjacent; that on cIeal
night they could bring them from lonG
T distances, but the rain interfered with
the electric currents and limited theiI
power.
! Mr.. Ewing's and Mr.. Wilson'S folk
} are all very earnest Bible Christians
r and whatever belief the world may
, have concerning them, it is certain tina
their faith in the manifestations and il
, each other is unbounded. Like Bosco
. in his magic, we "make no explana
tions." Indeed, we couldn't if W,
would. To narrate facts, as we behold
them, is our mission. To draw you
, own conclusions, reader dear, is yours
On Monday, "Uncle Jimmy" as VIZ
used to call him in "Hardscrabble," bu
who now rejoices in the euphonious ap
/ pellation of daddy" accompanied by
his dear old wife, kindly returned with
, US to Umatilla, where, on Tuesday
evening, in the public room of the we'll
kept Wilson Hotel, we met good audi
/ enGe, to whom we spoke for nearly two
: hours upon the new gospel of human
freedom.
Umatilla used to be town Of mucI
} commercial Importance; but the failure
of the Salmon River mines diverted
much of the trade in new directions
| and now the only inhabitants are thos,
who are engaged in such business a
travel and supplies for the inhabitant
) of the interior render necessary.
Mr.. ]. II. Koontz is the principa
merchant; Mr.. Leezer keeps flourish
f ing tin store; Colonel Stone does gooC
business in the express and Forwarding
: line; there are two prospecting hotels
: and more saloons than we counted.
! Our old friend, Mr.. Pennington, for
= merly of Linn, lives in this county, ant
! is prospecting, as usual.
t The people gladly received the gospe
Of freedom, and many subscribed for tn
D Journal of Peace.
3 Wednesday, at dark, we took stag