The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1877-08-02
spIrituaIIsm---An Explanation.

In an article some time ago / alluded
10 the exposure of Mrs. Hull, the cele
brated "materializing medium" Of
Portland, Maine. Since then my at
tention has been called to the follow
ing explanation: Experienced spir-
itualists acquainted with psychological
laws. will not need look TO the laws of
the spiritual phenomena to account for
Mrs. Hull being beguiled and made
victim Of the hypocrisy and psycholog-
ical powers OF wicked men. Bereft,
as Mrs. Hull must have been under the
malign influence she was subjected to,
of the presence and protection OF her
spirit-guardians, and closely surround
ed by no less than SIX strong men
whose mental strength was combined
and brought to bear on her weak and
negative organism, each one of them
willing with all his might that the VIC
tim should do exactly what they all
bad predetermined she would and
should dot must have been by a mir
acle alone that she could escape I'm
harmed out of their deceitful, unhal-
lowed clutches. Well indeed may it
be that the medical bands @ dark in
fuences were symbolized by a horrid,
fendish face, that Mrs. Hull subse-
quently saw peeriDg at her from a dark
cloud hooking and laughing at the
distress Of body and mind that had
been brought upon her and her family
through these interloping PiotteTs
against their reputation and peace OF
mind"
such is the explanation OF the ex.
posure OF Mrs. Hull, and no doubt an
innocent public will see at once that
she is Il much abused woman. Perhaps
this explanation will apply to the ex.
posure of William Matthews, a cele-
brated "spirit medium" who is or
trial in San Francisco, on a charge oil
swindling. The immaculate William
would enter a cabinet, close the doors,
and in few minutes expose himself
firmly tied TO chair. Spirits had done
it, he said. Then the doors were
closed again, and a variety Of faces
were shown at On aperture. Many be-
levers saw faces of their departed
kindred and friends, and were exceed
ingly happy. Suddenly a spectator,
''aoilling with all his might, ,
wrenched the cabinet open, an
other turned on the gas, anG
Matthews was seen with mask ovel
his face. False whiskers and othel
things to disguise with were on thu
floor. In this case no "horrid, fiend
ish face" appeared, but instead swee
William saw the smiling countenanct
OF policeman who conducted him Il
prison, and ere this he has been laiC
IN the cemetery of medium regulations
Not long since famous writing me
dium held seance, and just as he wa
about to Jay the wiped and pTesum
ably clean slate on the table, there t.
be written on it by his wife's ghost
lol at that solemn moment, wicked
''interloping plotter" snatched the
slate from the medium, and, holding
it up, there appeared the messag,
which ought not to have been writ
ten until after the slate haC
been deposited for some min
utes aud the mysterious pencil
scratching had been heard. Now
these terrible revelations are awfully
disheartening to the spiritualists, anC
there Is great CONSERVATION in theil
ranks at the inglorious downfall of SC
many promising saints OF course
the usual fulsome sopaistry Is being
brought into requisitioa - cover VI
and apologize for these ( Ids. Per-
sons with too much psychological
power" have no business visltir spirit
mediums, for if they do the spirits ar
lncontineatly noored and go off into ,
DOH -i---A, --------sL:-,,ef that ,or+
and, peering out, mock and laugh a
the disturbed medium. It's too bad
They have the coincidence of
HARD BRICK.