Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1876-01-12
sPIRIrUALIsM.

Has the 2Afraotine MrOtA and
Looks through - Glass DaTKly.
To the Editor Of tho Ledger:
Inasmuch as ell the other papers have
blocknded spirtuslism, except 80 far as
to admit small package Of sarcasm or
ridicule occasionally, those interested in
the spbject--and they comprise large
portion Of your reAders-are under great
obligations Tor the publication OF Judi
cious articles. They find quite as many
interested readers ss articles upon party
politics. frequently occupying a whole
column, which few read except those "in
the business
1t seems to be the fate Of mankind to
be deluded; our mental vision is con.
stanty leading US sstrsy. We seem to
be so completely surrounded BY rsfract.
ing media that good. honest, straight
look at anything is an ,apossiblity, and
experience would almost lead oae to re-
gard every human conclusion and obser-
vation as refrRcted divergence from
the truth. But even in attempting to
correct errors apd delusions we are Ggain
led sstray, A upbrsids B for going
astray to the right, and endeavors to cor.
rect him by going astray to the left
A portion of the world is deluded by
the tricks Of vendors in spiritualism; an
other Qortion, by the belief that spirit.
ushsu is ell delusion; another portion,
BY the beIiei that spiritushsm has under.
gone. Ia Memphis o searching investigs.
ton ana been proven q fraud; another
portion, by the belief that every one who
believes in the reality OF spir,tusl phe-
nomena has q crack in his cocoauut,
through which has eozed all the most
subtle portion of his brains, leaving the
balance wheel Of common sense aud
good judgment little riekety;" another
very large portion delude themselves
With the belief that they are fully com;
petent to investigate and eriticise, not
Ouly spirituAlism, bat every phenomenon
aHd subject that presents itself, making
summary disposition OF everything that
comes within the purWew Of their omnis.
cient fsoulties One religious sect de-
nounces another as deluded; one politi-
cal party charges the other With delu-
sion; oue class Of physicians proclsims
another deluded, Nov, who, out Of this
deIuded nnddle, shall assume to say that
be is right and that his neighbor is
wrougl The fool OF one generation is
the wise man OF the next.
The latest contribution 30 tkS expo,
sition is the letter of our friend, Mr.
Alf Barnett, wherein he denounces the
present spiritual manifestations, the me
dun and all her eoadjutOrs ss Arrsnt
impostoFs. He also states that alter
years spent in the investigation OF spir.
itusl phenomena. be is compelled to the
utterance that there is not shade o
phenomena which the pretenders aud
dupes present but is trRcesble to the
laws Of magnetism aud elRirvoyance,
where the signs of trickery are not IS
clear as daylight"
Thus to question observations and ex-
periences, confirmed by repeated recur-
rences under vsrious circumstances for
several years by men of acknowledged
sagReity, aud also TO Rsssil the motives
OF men Of integrity Of character, re-
quiresa degree OF moral courage, for the
profession OF which Mr.. Burnett should,
and doubtless does, plnms himself We
might criticize Mr. Burnett somewhat,
but are restrained BY the conviction that
he is. ike Rll the rest Of US, a poor de-
luded mortal, and that he knows not
what be says; that bis mental vision is
refracted; that, possibly, when he
thoughthe was in Assembly Hall, look
ing at Mrs. Miller and her spiritual mani.
! festations, he was scrutinIzing the ethe-
real csn-can figures Of Madame
Delaeour This Ia o mere conjecture,
bat it would 20 far to explain bis hostile
spirit and bloodthirsIy proposition to
shoot them.
After denoHncing everything and
every one connseted With spiritualism,
be says, THAT there are more things in
heaven aud earth than are dreamed Of
in our philosophy, ! am not 90 stiff
necked as to deny, and that have Wit
messed some OF those moro things 10
circles and seauces, do not deny.
There may be minister:2g spirits: the
evidences Of my own soul are many and
numerous enough to ground me in the
faith. F"
Mr.. Burnett proposes test, which, il
executed will bring down tho big z 10,
| jun, shd with him spjrhdallsni that 9
looded gun be discharged attbe head Of
the eieible spirit. 6piritualsn has al.
ready e6hnittad to that very test, Not
long sinse the Appeal published the case
whore 9 party, among whom we're seye-
ral ropoftera sfter dirtAtiug and exc
cutting Gil the arrangements themselves
shot gur, loaded With . hall. e. lhe
heEd u! the spirit; but no spirit came
down; not q feature Of tho spirit face
moved, Spt afterwArd gradually faded
away ,Tbs ball pasgsa directly Through
A the cabinet yindow o0eBpisd by the face
\ and wAe found ieapsded il, : plank 10
! bind tkSi eabinet This was 81 oSpsFi