The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-05-03
BEC0M L A SPIRITUALIST.
CONTERSTON or NEW YORK'S SUPERTN-
TENDENT or PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
Possible Action Of the Board OF Educntion-
ExtrRcts from supt. KiddIe's singular Book
"A Word from rrcsIdent MnshInKton.

"A word from Prestdent washington.
Henry Klddlc, Superintendent Of the pub
lie schools in this city since 1870. the first IL
ccnsed teacher under the present system. and
for SO years connected with the schools of New
YORK. has prepared a book on spirituasm. and
hns announced himself believer in the So
called spiritual manifestations. Mr.. Kiddo
says that like the English and American sa-
wants who have similarly braved popular ridi-
cule. he ia fully aware OF what ho has to on
counter While admitting that he expects to
be charged with folly in entering upon n path
MS yet generally Stunned by tho respectable
or fashionable. md thus mperillng his
earthly interests" he says that he is not
moved by such considerations He Ia familiar
with the story Of Prof A. r. Wallace. the Eng
lish naturalist and physicist. whose scientific
nttainments did not protect him against ioss
Of castc as an authority when he announced
himself believer in tho manifestations. DIR.
Crookee. the eminent English natural philos-
opher. also presented to him an illustration
of tho distrust with which the scientinc
world regards the alleged spiritual phenom-
cna. Tho obloquy heapcd upon the emf
nent English physiologist DR.. Carpenter.
| for similar reasons was likewise staring him
in tho face. Bcsidcs he had 10 deter him the
example OF Goldschmilt. the German nstron-
omer. whose alleged communications with the
| other world were treated with scientific scorn.
aud Of Prof Zoelncr whose ndisputably acru-
rate astronomical Investigations OF the sun did
not insure his spiritual belief ngainst being
! 'garded with contempt In this country, also.
! he had before him instances OF prominent mon
/ whose bolief in spirituasm was considered
| evidence Of declining mental power Notable
| among these nre Prot. Hare. Professor Of
| Chemistry in the University Of Pennsylvania:
| Prof, Mapcs. tho noted agricultural chemist, :,
Judge l. lmonds, Epos Sargent. and q host OF
| othcrs. whose previous record was no bar to
| accusations of insanity tho moment they AN
| Mr.klldle urof'4so- 10 huNe fuun lol his con-
virtiYu uu"n rr-onai inv .sti51t'n. hi- pro
| cg~- began in the accidental discovery mat ON
of his chilIrcu wus medium. and lc records
! ihe results OF invest iiEui"ns extending over "A
| year. comm irin- ih'"rN"w- wih WhHt Iur-
| ported To- h' ~. spirits oi many persons prom
Mr.. Kiudio has not connected himself with
nnY ~ tho ~piriiuuIi-t ~iriHirs. He hH- cuu-
| tiuucd to attend tho Epi-eonu church. although
| not "a member and bee confidently presents the
| rhri.f'ln faifh " H.. r,.--,. a. rr,..nt I'm his
| experience. Now PROOFS oI the imuu urtHuiy ot
| thr soul. oi tnrl-t'- existence and teach
iues, 40 fu'ure reward, ami uuniehm"nls.
euma snuse that those comprising tn" orEau-
H"l bodies 90 TINT nih qrr spiritual SIS. ne
merely ~ d truth. and hr is a spir.tuRi-t in
the sense thut h- believes that he aud others
The departed. lilf hr dist u'i ~ .is uunicunn~s
the u-e of spiritual communications fox n"
| purpose ol advancing mHi"rinl Interests II"
docs not intend that men SNAIL profit ny th" safe
| of his book. and he pledges himself in use th,
proceeds ot its sale to advance TN interests ui
spiritualism b, distributing cheap copies
OF The genuineness Of tho purnorted mes,
snges from the dead. he says he has satisfied
himself; bnt he could not describe the process
to any ono who had not Investigated the subject
stop by stop. any more than he could instruct In