New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-02-06
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.
SPIRITUAL MANIFESTATIONS.

| EPIRITUAL MANIFESTATIONS.
VIEWS OF g. b. BRITAIN WITH REFERENCE TO INF
REPORTED VISION On BROOKLYN HEIGHTS.
| To TIE Editor OF Tie Tribune.
| SIR: The account of the recent spiritual
experiences OF prominent merchant. given by re-
porter IN TIE TRIBUNE o. the 25th instant. adds the
testimony Of another honest witness TO the demOnstra
tive proofs only Of the Immortality OF inan but also
OF the intimate relations Of the Visible and inyis'oe
spheres OF human existence end the present intercourse
between the two states Of beng 1t will crafty rany
readers of The TRIBUNE t. know that the Integrity OF
the witness to this Important fact Is beyond dispute
Scarcely less important lie the evidence that the gentle
man who his departed son " N broad daylight, one
year after his funeral competent observer, being
shreWd. prac:lcal business man." net creduous,
but naturally inclined 10 sceptc!sm. Taus
admitted TO posses Oil the requisite 9ualihca'
tons Of close observer aid reliable witness,
Ia there any probability that he deceIvedi But you
pleased suggest thar the strength OF the evidence
"wll be impaired. In the minds OF many, by the fact
that the gentleman il earnest Spirualist IL his
observation shou be justified by the fact the fault VIII
be not In the witness, but IN the minds of such men,
well remember the time when It was boldly DaixtaDed
that atheist could be depended 20 speak tue
truth that while Christians might D. allowed TO swear
whenever they pleased inniels should not be peg
ntted take the Judicial oath and give testimony
the courts II those pious people not al dead yet
they have been greatly beraZed by the freedom o. the
press ana the tolerant and benign spirit or tho
present age. The fact that latest witness die
tnGuish his from any and every other person in
the world and thar he continues accept the evidence
OF his Senses by either invadate HE est
mony In any degree weaken the force OF the evil.
ence he has furnished On the contrary, 1t could be
made 10 appear that from whatever he either
lacked the capacity to recognize hts child, that
he vas so obstinate in his unbeef that he would not
credit the evidence Of his sense them indeed, his
testimony would be utterly worthless.
What evidence 10 there that the form recognized the
merchants a mere phantom, born OF . dsor.
dered brain Accepting your reporters account the
ground from which reason, there IS none whatever
All the forms Of the phantom creation spring pre-
existing arrangements Of the organs OF sensation and
the abnormalY exercised faculties OF the mind Sensa
tons ami thoughts what appear TO be Outstand
Ing forms But IN the under discussion 1t not
anecedent thought that made way for and produced
the visible image, for thought Of his cognlz
able BY the father IL will be observed that the image
presented 10 the vision takes precedence IN time
and determines tho fashion OF the thought It
nsprse Had the mind Of the witness been preoccupied
at the time by the memory OF his son. there might bave
been soIne possible ground for Inference that the image
was merely subjective; In other words Ideal
ternnturS force Of cerebral action. In derum emens
fevers aud other forms OF disease, accompanied by IN
tVns OF tho mind assume the s"m6ance Of reality IN
grotesqle and hideous shapes. which. by reflex
lures and are to all appearance objective as the images
formed N tut camera. Ia order to attribute the
chants vision TO anything peculiar Ia the momentary
Condition or hls mind, with any shaw or reason II must
be uddr TO that the psycbicd fact the visible
transcript or an antecedent mental impression
cepUn. on this point the gentleman himself IS the only
person c0Upeeut to testify, and 10 had no thought or
cOnscou-urss u any such prcoccupation of his mind.
Moreover, T. come imaginary laeut Impression In tue
mind viii enable us 10 acc0un, Tor the visible image,
why was it-wheu the mind OF the observer had been
Ell, further prepared by what he was OBLIGED to regard
as the visible presence ~ rs son--tha the appaOn s0
suddenly dI'a Jpearedl The facts show that when the
her had thought Of his suddenly appeared
and t.a when his thoughts were AL centred on him, and
the hteke Image was before his yisoI the apparitoD
suddenly vanished!
An honorable merchant distinguished for his n;elli-
geHce unGoubied sincerity disposition 70 try the
spirs" aid prove all things" and for Level head in
his business relations. becomes Spirituast from Wit
Messing phenomena which. IN hIs judgment, caunO be
I'd for by reference TO the laws Of physics at the
TINE They admit OF no exploitation on tur0ry
that reec Is spiritual agency Ia their production Evil
IDENTIFY there = nothing IN such couylcOn-ile na.ura
result OF sIcl evidence on an hOnsst mnd-whch can
either blunt MS powers OF perception or weaken his
abity exercise oelr discrimination. have been
injured 10y the occurrence o! phenomenon which calls
these faculties in,O nOriGa activity No one preends 10
think that human testimony is impaired because the
terrain, EpsCopatiin CathO" Nor ~ such evidence
OF dny greater value htCause 10 religious profess chs
AID associations ~ the Witnesses. As the world Eoes
fE.rr are many very piOu- p'Op.e who very poor
wilIesSns Would II not b. efr thing IN tH" part
Of tR- press admir- Spirtaists To equality with
otter pcupIef Now hat uany of the ee-Ht-fs IhbsO-
the farts OF Suir!tuJS1, !. Is iit:te late IL The
uIuctrAatb ceutu!y - discount the tc.tmts bot
fst Irr hSut, TLD IS also - Christian grEtleulAn and
CeGrEradc5 Curs- - the I;h 81 SIlita&l-n becsr
he VIII ueli,r re ct te evidence % seascs, nor La
aBcg hiS prs ndl popularity dgoi hsi the tn h.
y " } lk, Jan. 70. J. u. 3 h. BRITAIN.