The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-03-31
JONES, THE MURDERED SPIRIT
UALIST.

From the Boston Banner of Light, March 31.1
Stevens s. Jones, tho editor and proprietor OF the
Regio. Philosophical Journal, weekly newspaper de-
voted to the PRONUNCIATION Of Liberalism and modern
Spritualism, and the Little bouquet q monthly
magazine adapted 10 the minds Of children YOUTH
promulgating tho Same doctrine was born In Barre,
VT, on July 70, 1873 HIS parents wore intelligent,
liberal minded people. HIS father was farmer in
moderate circumstances His mother a woman Of
very grcat executive ability, many Of whose traits OF
character her son inherited, He her only son.
During childhood and youth his health very dell.
cate yet he was 4rainod- habits Of industry from
which he has never departed.
Al the age OF nineteen Dir. Jones entered upon the
study oil law. and admitted to practice at the No.
vember term OF court--tho first term hold by Judge
Isaac +. Kedlcd al Montpelier, W. He entered upon
a successful practice OF his profession in Hyde Park
soon after he admitted and remained there until
his removal to ST. Charles ~, IN the spring OF 1888
He married to Lavina NJ. Camp the daughter of
Phlo G. Camp, the LIST day OF May, 1888, and on
the 10th day OF May they started for their new home
In Illinois. For many years Mr. Jones confined him.
sell to his profession. and ranked high as lawyer.
He twice elected Judge OF the Kane County Court
nd discharged the duties of the office to the general
satisfaction OF the public At early day In the his
tory vi railroads in the Northwest MT. Jones was
actively engaged as a railroad man.
At the age OF thirtyeight he was delegated by the
Iowa Central Air Line Railroad Company as their solo
representative nj Washington to obtain land grant
from Congress TO AID the State OF Iowa in building four
parallel roads, these projected roads west from
tho Mssis sipp River the State OF Iowa. For
four years he attended upon Congress urging the pro-
prety OF making the grant OF land to aid IN developing
tho OF that now great and prosperous State
Even the Senators and Representatives, IRON that state
opposed to the 10 the great Central route
the forty parallel, which finally through his
incorporated into tho grant which passed
Congress 10 1851 Mr. Jones belonged TO the liberal
school IN religion HIS parents were Universasls,
and he for many years after arriving ut manhood,
active member OF that sect He was generally tho
presiding ocer at the state conventions associations
representative gatherings OF the Order during tho
first fifteen years OF their history In the State OF ILL.,
Sntr
mainly to tho perusa OF that remarkable work given
through the early mediumship of Andrew Jackson
Davis called "Naturcs Divine Revelations and dice
to Mankind"
Mr.. jones' publishing house was entirely consumed
In the great Chicago ire OF October g. 1871 His loss
very heavy and he received nothing IRON insur-
companies. Some small sums were loaned him,
hut all was refunded within six months sttcrward
Most vigorously did he 80 to work to restore
his publishing business His paper for the week
OF the fire, fortunately was mailed and on its way to
It's subscribers when the Sire nend" did It's work.
While the are was yet raging he wrote the
new issue-smaller in size-and had II printed and
mailed in advance OF time, assuring ms subscribers
that. although burned out clean, the Regio ihosopi
cal journal would be continued without unnecessary
delay. He then went directly to New York and pur-
chased an entire ount, and IA five weeks had The
Iecgio Philosophical Journal full size in the United
States mails on Its way TO Its subscribers. In Inc
meantime, between the IRE and the printing oil the
paper In dress. full size, he every week greeted
his subscribers with the Philosophical Journal
small size, that they might not be IN the dark as to
the progress being made By him to relnstate his pub
fishing house. None of the publishers Ia Chicago on
that memorable occasion cxcclled him IN enterprise
Mr. Jones, although his locks whitencd with age,
was IN full vigor OF manhood, and devoted his whole
time conducting his business financially and edito-
rally AS appeared from leading editorial articles IN
his paper, Mr. Jones looked upon Spirituasm as
IA means of cvolvinga rational system OF philosophy
which no called "lhe Philosophy OF Lite"
He opposed IN very pcsilivc manner the organ cation
OF the believers OF tho truth OF spirit com unica,on
into "a religious body with crceds or confessions OF
faith lie held that all phases OF religion are but step
ping stoues TO system OF philosophy when shan
with science aud sound reason. Indeed no
claimed that religion bears tho same relation TO tho
philosophy OF lie mat alchemy bore To chemistry ana
astrology TO astronomy. He denied special creations,
and held that all beings, human and brute, are un-
ioldcd IRON spiritual germs, which have ever existed,
and IN winch sex and germs cternally and I'M
changeaby liked IL IS but Just mat duc credit should
be gwen Mr.. Jones Tor the bodGcss lie has cvinced
IN the radical outspokcn articles in opposition To the
spcrstitions OF what are claimed as supernatural re
lig,ons which, from time 10 time, have appeared IN
his columns. No radical paper IN the country mas
been radical than his, and some Of the sturdes
blows that have been gwen the myths and absurdtcs
OF the past have come from the organ he conducted.