The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1876-01-07
sSleeping Preacher.
[Chicago Tribune.l

In these days of Spiritualistic in
vestigation, anything that bears up
on the subject is looked upon with
interest. North Alabama has devel-
oped a phenomenon in the person
of sleeping preacher, as he is call
ed, who is creating no little stir in
that portion of the country and in
Tennessee. He is a plain, simple
minister of the gospel, attached to
the G. P. Church, and nothing an
nOys him so much as his own pecul-
lar powers, which he cannot explain.
But his wonderful performances
while in a elairvoyant state are her
aided everywhere. He has gained
such a notoriety that he is the daily
recipient of scores of letters from
the host of believers in second sight,
who would, if possible, have certain
hidden mysteries declared unto
them, if valuable jewel is lost, or
if there is a lingering idea in the
mind of some one that his great
grandfather or some other near and
dear relative had deposited a mint
of gold coin in some certain spot,
and had died without revealing the
whereabouts of the precious ore; If
valuble papers or deeds to immense
tracts of valuable lands are lost; ifI
the little mischievous god Cupid is
in the matter, and some dread
fully smitten swain would fain read
the innermost thoughts of the below
ed one-upon any and all Of these
occasions the persons interested
consult the sleeping preacher"
But it is not the habit of the preach
er to bend himself to any such ends.
He receives packages of letters, and,
instead of plodding through each
and every epistle, Immediately di
vines their contents. Those that re
late to business, or that contain
matter which he desires to attend to,
he separates from the bulk, while
the others he makes into a bonfire,
thus disposing of vast amount of
trash. While in his clairvoyant sleep,
he suffers intense pain, and, while
suffering, will talk, laugh, sing, pray,
preach, and even weep. His spells
have sometimes confined him to his
bed for months at a time.
About two years ago a Method
ist minister named Harrison, from
Atlanta, Georgia, held a debate at
Nashville with Moses Hull, the well
known Spiritualist, concerning.
sPIRITUALIsM AND ITS CAUSES.
Harrison claimed that Spiritual
ism was nothing more THAI animal
magnetism, or odic force. Harrison
gave himself as an illustration of
the point in view, and elaimed-and
his testimony was supported by
witnesses that, after a prolonged
illness, this odic force took posses
sion of him and continued so long
as his nervous system was deranged.
The touch of his hand upon a glass
would have the effect to shiver it to
atoms. He possessed some very
valuable glass attachments to instru
ments, which he lost by this means.
Indeed, his peculiar affection be-
came a source of great annoyance
ia its destructive effects. The odic
force was strongest after severe Ia
Dor in his study. Had he been
believer in Spiritualism, that belief
must have been strongly confirmed.
But. as he entertained no such be-
llefs, he looked elsewhere for an ex-
PLANTATION of the phenomenon. By
following the advice of physicians
he recovered.
But the Rev. Mr.. Saunders-'-the
sleeping preacher whose powers
were also developed by long i'll
ness-epileptic disease, as some
physicians call it-has not recover
ed. His case only awaits an inves-
t;o,,f;~.,, H.. .eoisnfiefp r., liraovar