The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1878-11-01
spirl,ualism over at Martins Ferry.


News Oiyssistday. 9d ~ s3f \
Twill give you an account OF avery lew
Of the many manifestations Of spirit power
now being witnessed in our town at dit-
ierent places, for understand there are va.
rious places where seances are held; and
to allay some persons fears that there are
some dlabolical proceedings entered into
at these seances, I will state that this Is
our religion, entered into in q suppllcating
mood by asking Gods BLESSING to rest up
on us, and grant us the greatest boon
youchsaied to mortals-ac communion with
angels and spirits OF our dear departed
loved ones. And aS the mode OF forming
our circles has from time to time been
given Twill only say that generally as soon
as tho circle is formed and music, vocal or
instrumental, or both, Is given the mani
fes,ations begin, either by raps or the tip
pingup OF the table, or moving OF the same
Violently or otherwise. This Is signal
for some one to ask, Is such or
such spirit present, and II so
there will be three raps, or three
tippings or three movements OF the table;
but II the spirit Is not present there will
be one OF the above, which is understood
to signify no. These questions arc as often
asked mentally as otherwise: It Is not
necessary for more than one ip the circle
10 know what is asked. Now to give you
an idea OF the raps We get Is impossible, as
they are unlike any thing we can produce
with our fingers or knuckles. They are
from very faint little tap TO as loud as q
man can make with the ends Of his fingers
without pain by striking on the table.
These raps vary in number from one little
rap to innumerable rappings all oyer the To-
BILE ut the same time, and at other times
the rapping on the table ceases and begins
on floor, on our chairs, or on the walls
OF the room, or on tho furniture. and
sometimes the floor Of our room will be
in q culver as well as the furniture.
Another peculiarly Of these sounds Is
as II q strong man was to span the leg
OF table with his hand tightly, and
then twist, which would produce about the
same sound that Is produced frequently
BY this unseen power before the table be.
gins To move with great force. We have
another mode OF manifestations which
never fills to please, and that Is the beat
Ing OF tunes called for by this unseen pow
er. This sounds like person beating q
tune on q small drum, or as you have
heard people do with the tips Of their tin.
gers on a table. This power, be 1t spirits
or otherwise, is SO great that being request
ed to hold the table down will exert such
an infupnse that q strong man can not
raise one side OF It from the floor with one
hand, and with difficulty with both hands,
the writer having tried It frequently. It
will also when requested raise a table
with person sitting on it and throw them
of and move in any direction asked for,
and very frequently move in an opposite
direction from the'one wished for. Tho
manifestations take place In well lighted
room. .s,J is u9j lIi ta,t mas
l beg your pardon for occupying 50
much Of your space, but when-I begin
writing about the things spiritual now
transpiring in our midst, / scarcely know
when to stop. Very truly yours,
A TRurIIsREHER.