The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1881-02-09
SpiritualiSm.

Not few were amazed when Joseph
Cook gave quasi endorsement to Spirit
ualism. Some felt that he had been led
astray; but others had their unbelief in
the delusion shaken The general good
sense and ability of the lecturer induced
credence without thorough investigation.
His lectures have called out an impor-
tant witness against Spiritualism, who
has already confounded leading me-
dunn. The following account. from the
N. Y. Independent, by the Rev. George
Washburn, d. d., will be read with
great interest:
The following notice appeared yester-
day In the Boston papers, and not less
than 5000 persons met last night in Ire
mont Temple, to witness this test perform
ance. The results ought to be known
everywhere.
The Rev. Arthur A. Waite has as
serted in his recent lectures in Music
Hall that Honest SpirituaGsts are mis-
taken, and that all mediums are most
certainly frauds which challenge Col.
Francis King publicly accepted, and
will produce one of the best mediums in
the world, to give tests so convincing that
no one can deny the truth of Spiritualism.
Rev Mr.. Waite will meet the unknown
medium next Monday night, Nov. s, at
fremont Temple, and then and there
prove his assertion by reproducing at the
same instant the same results, under the
same conditions, or publicly acknowledge
his failure.
The Rev A. A. Waite is Methodist
minister in Boston, who was formerly a
medium, and was also for time with the
Davenport Brothers. Some years ago he
was converted and became a preacher.
He went where he was not known, and
his best friends had no suspicion of his
former experience. But when the Rev.
Joseph Cook was entrapped into quasi
recognition OF the genuineness of spirit
ualistic miracles, Mr.. Waite privately
performed all these marvels for the bene-
fit of his clerical associates, to satisfy
them that Mr. Cook had been deceived
and that every so called medium was
fraud. They very wisely urged him to
give public demonstrations of this impor-
tant fact, and do what he could to save
the souls of deluded Spiritualists and put
an end to the spread of this fatal error,
which had, for moment, at least, dis
turbed the good sense of so clear headed
a man as Mr.. Cook. He reluctantly con-
sented, and has been lecturing on Spirit
ualism in Boston. AT his last lecture he
was challenged, as appears in the adver-
tlsement, by well known Spiritualist
He had the confidence to accept without
any knowledge of what the tests were to
be until he appeared on the platform.
had the pleasure of meeting him during
the day, and suggested to him that, al
lowing that the spirits had nothing to do
with these manifestations, he might still
meet some trick which was new to him.
But he seemed to have the fullest faith
that God would not suffer him to fail.
must confess that / went in the evening
with some misgivings on this point. The
res ult fully justified his faith The "me-
dunn" claimed to be acted upon by "Sam-
oset. and performed his tricks with
marvellous success; but the spirit of the
old Indian was no match for the live
Yankee. Whatever the medium did in
his cabinet, Mr.. Waite did on the open
stage, before the audience, with still
greater skill and success. The medium
finally disappeared suddenly from the
stage, and the mixed committee, as well
as Col. King himself, acknowledged that
Mr.. Waite had done everything that the
medium had done. Col King said that
he could only explain it on the ground
that Mr.. Waite was himself medium
rather fimsy pretence, considering the
fact that Mr.. Waite had not only per-
formed these tricks on the open stage,
but had explained how they were done.
All the most surprising spiritual mani
festations" were exhibited, besides some
very rare ones. Two illustrations will
suffice. The medium was in his cabinet,
with lady and gentleman from the au-
dience, the two being needed to develop
magnetic power. These two had their
hands on the head and shoulders of the
medium, whose hands were on the should
ers of the gentleman. They testified that
he did not move, but spirit hands stroked
their faces, voices were heard, instru-
ments played, the gentleman received
severe blows over the head, and distinct
ly saw spirit face looking down on him
Mr.. Waite then performed exactly the
same trick in his cabinet, with the same
gentleman and lady, and Just the same
results. He afterwards showed on the
open stage that all was done with one OF
his hands, and proved by experiment
/ with a blindfolded oent1eman q Shirt