Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1877-03-30
Spirltualism.

Mr.. EDIToR.-Justice and fairness would
seem to require that you should allow a
brief reply to your structures upon spiritual'
ism, in recent issue Of the FARMER. The
truth or falsity Of this much despised "ism"
will remain unaffected by the belief or un-
belief which you or 1, or others-few or
manY-may entertain regarding it. l would
only ask that its claims be treated fairly.
The occasion Of your remarks was the pre-
sentation ola specimen Of poetry" The
waste basket Of most editors, methlnks, con-
tains amounted MSS. Of rejected poems re-
jected because deemed faulty. This only
shows that this world is blessed with many
who deem themselves poets. The ruling pas
sion is said to be strong in death, and if one
Of the fundamental teachings of spiritualism
is true, it is equally strong beyond death.
This being the case, we fail to see that any
evidence can be deduced from the imperfec-
ton of the poetry in question bearing against
belief in the truth of spiritualism.
You express an uuwilingness to say augbt
to wound the religious feelings of those who
cherish the matter as sacred thing, while
you declare your conviction that it Is "de-
lusiou." It was viewed by the writer pre-
cisely in that light for years after the Roch-
ester rappings had aroused public attention
to the natter and until the proof in its ia
vor became so clear and conclusive as to
force conviction that it embodied truth
worthy of consideration. Further investiga.
ton has strengthened belief; aud the writer
will here repeat what he has many times be-.
fore asserted, viz that careful, thorough
and unprejudiced investigation Of the claims
and the evidence will bring-because it must
REPRESENTATION to all intelligent, fair
minded persons, that spiritalism is not de.
fusion, but an important and glorious truth.
Spirtualism, pure and simple, Invested Of
"side issues" which, in many cases, have
brought such an odium on the subject, claims
to demonstrate to mortals the continued ex.
istence Of the human soul beyond the grave.
1t robs death of its sting aud the grave Of
its deepest shade Of gloom. 1t teaches that
when the forms OF loved ones are laid away
beneath the green sods Of summer or the
chill SHOWS of winter, the spirit does not go
upon long journey, to some far-of bourne
from which there is, and can be, no return.
On the contrary, it teaches that our dear de-
parted, whose loved forms we can see no
more, are still with us, more or less-hid
from our view by the veil of mortality-and
are, to a certain extent, cognlzant OF our
actions, of our joys and our sorrows, aye,
many times, of our very thoughts.
1t teaches, further, that men shall reap as
they sow; that we are, day by day, weav-
ing the garments we must wear in the great
hereafter that life of wrong doing on
earth cannot he succeeded at once by bliss
ful state in the spirit realms, but that our
salvation must be worked out ; the wrong
doing must be atoned for before peace and
joy unalloyed can be possessed. What can
there be Objectionable in such teachings2
But am saying more than l intended
and will close by adding that spi;itualism is
surely attaining steady, healthy growth
is liberalizing old-time doctrines; and that
the odium, not to say iufamy, of being classed
among its advocates will gradually disap-
pear Truth is mighty aud must prevail.
TOWNSEND.