The Worthington advance., 1878-11-07
WHAT. IS IT.

WHAT ~ 1T
The Buffalo IN. " Index republisll-
es from the New York Tribune, an ac-
count of some of the phenamena occur
ring in the presence Of Mrs. Ottley, at
All aristocratic house in London. and
makes the following editorial remarks.
We have seen more marvellous doings
than the above, by what are called me-
diums, in Buffalo. Hundreds are daily
privately holding circles, and seeking
communion with the departed. 1t is
time that the phenomena OF what is
called spiritual manifestations was SUBJ
jected to extensive and critical investi-
cation by non-believers, whose decision
on matters of fact woud not he ques-
toned.
If Spiritualism is 4 great truth it
should have better following. and 4
more discreet and sensible leading. If
it is a gross humbug: it is time it was
shown up. If it is Il development of
new powers in man, it should be better
understood. that it may be made of
more use to mankind.
The time is past for the question to
be dismissed with sneer and slur.
We know that many Of the so-called
manifestations cannot be attributed to
fraud, although fraud is a large e!e-
| ment in their public shows for money.
Either we are on the threshold of a
| new and wonderful dispensation, or
tens of thousands of our people are Ia
boring under the greatest delusion the
world has ever known. What is it?
We are pleased to add another paper
to the list of those which are manly
and independent enough to speak out
on this subject. If. these wonderful
phenomena occurring all around us are
due to spirit agency let us know it and
re]oice exceedingly that future life is
demonstrated; if they are the result of
fraud, let us know that also, and let us,
like Christ in the Temple, kick over
the tables on Which they operate and
lash the counterfeit spirit-money chang
ers out of the house.
| But there must be no more gagging,
and no more interference with full in
vestigation. The clergy and the bigots
must stop that or they will themselves
be kicked out OF the temple.
| TEMPERANCE
The prompt indictment and punish
ment Of those WHO sell liquor without
license in MOBILES county, which have
attended the several terms of court
held here, is an assurance both to our
own people and to people abroad that
liquor laws can be enforced in this
community, and that the temperance
feature Of the National Colony, to es-
tablish which Prof. Humiston and a
few staunch friends of temperance EN-
dured so much Of persecution and OBJ
loquy, is a reality and not mere ad-
vertising card.
We wish once more to declare the
ADVANCE in favor Of temperance,
first, last and all the time. II we have
liquor laws, let them be executed.
"Let no guilty man escape, }" should be
the motto here.
But just here is where the trouble
lies. At the spring term of Court sew
eral parties were promptly informed
against and fined $25, while old Offend
ers who had sold barrels where the
punished parties had sold pints, escap-
ed without indictment and continued
selling.
Judge Dickinson decided that a
druggist had no right to sell liquors on
a physicians prescription. One drug.
gist declared that if that were the law,
he would not sell at all, and he has not
since sold liquors.
Another druggist, who has sold liqu.
ors in Worthington for six or seven
years, took an active part in temper.
ance meeting held here y few evenings
since and WIS, we are Informed, put on
\ committee to report upon the liquo,
. question and to devise ways to main.
tain the temperance feature of thf
community. No danger Of that com.
. mittee reporting on the matter of 4
druggist selling barrels of liquor.
On behalf Of the people we deman;
: fair play. There must he no political
and church rings working together te
shield one man and punish another.
l. The Worthnngton Journal palms of