Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-03-29
spirIIaaII.m Tn Tenne.see.

Nashville Cor. Chicago Tribune.l
Outside Of the fact that the great army
OF scOaers ut so-cAlled Spiritualism may
believe that s man who gives credence to
its peculiar doctrines was q lunstic ere
be became q convert, | don't remember
ever bearing OF any Spiritsalist in Ten.
uessee going stark mad upon the subject
and the State holds probably come $500
believers, who belong to all classes aud
degrees, and includes both educated and
u~ne3ucsted disciples. Before the war,
a Christian minister went over to
Spiritualism. and a large nambe. Of
people we're sind enough 10 remark
that he be had bsea laboring under
temporary alteration OF mind, or
be never could have taken so round.
about q shute toward heaven. he still
maintained an equilibrium of mind. and
was as eloquent and as powerful upon
bis new subjsct as when he spoke from
velvst-trimned pulpits, in true orthodox
style, to cultivated aud highly refined
audiences. While the s~piritualists Of
Tennessee may, as in other phases. have
fallen IN the estimation Of their more
orthodox brethren. it is but %jnstice to
ssy ihst the believers represent a class
q respectable and thrifty citizens.
ihouEh this sort OF religion, or fsnati.
cisZ Is many would term il, has a,
divers tires Afforded diversion. aud even
ossn 5 sourcs Of revenue, to persons
i1i-stiag the sssncss of the trus be-
asFsrA AID imposing upon the credulity
CT tbsIr fsl.oF-men.
Is Is icli that there is a colony OF
~FrualiEts who have settled dows
s7onE tas mountain Businesses Of Ten.
nssses, and Who claim to have been
directed thiiher BY the spirit Of a dead
ouatsr. Who was won't to thread his way
throUZh tie uszes and labyrinths Of the
sssp gulcbes that lipe the mountain
aides Here, while on bis hunt after
5esrs aud other Wild sBimals, he-so be
communicated through the medium
bad discovered 10 q certain spot, and at
he bottom o. q gulcb, an inezhaustible
god mine. Il was stated to the credu.
.oss believers that IL they dug down to
he depth o. two hundred feet they would
strike the rich vein, and the fortune of
every individual engaged 10 the search
would be assured. This little colony
Lived ~frugaily, dwelling in comfortless
.og bus, and when they could a the
lme IRON delyisg after the precious
metal, they raised small patches
Of potatoes and corn, which. With
the sild meat brosght down with the
rife, furnished them with a livelihood
Here, isolated from all the rest OF the
51sy world, struggling for a mythical
siore Of gold, the deludsd beings have
fer years lsbored, and grown old and
gray IN the service. and many have sunk
down to the grave without even getting a
sight Of the goal Of their hopes. The
hsrd tlnt aud tough marble that dulled
ire edges Of their instruments seemed
elmo5, beds Of iron, yet they never
yielded only making more strenuous ef.
and the delYing down into the
promising bowels Of TIE earth was carried
on IN the face Of almost insurmountable
.diGlcpldss The faith still fingers. and.
were any one TO inform the workers that
trey were lsooriDg under a Aelusion, bel
~ouid doubtless De laughed At for his OK
ceecing stupidity in discreditiug the
statements OF the dead Indian hunter.