Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1882-03-02
How to Form Spirit Circles at Home.
The Progressive Age.

Inquirers into the phenomena of
Spiritualism should begin by forms
ing circles in their own homes, with
no Spiritualist or stranger to the
family present.
The assertions of few newspapers,
coniurers, and men Of science that
the alleged phenomena are jugglery
are proved to be untrue by the fact
that manifestations are readily OBJ
tanned by private families, with no
stranger present, and without decep
ton by any member of the family.
At the present time there are com
paratively few professional mediums
for the physical phenomena; conse-
quently, if these were all tricksters
(Which they are noD, they are 80 few
in number as to be unable to bear
out the imposture theory as the foun-
dalton of the great movement of
modern Spiritualism. Readers
should protect themselves against
any impostors who may tell them
that the phenomena are not real,
by trying simple home experiments
which cost nothing, thus showing
how egregiously those are duped
who trust in worthless authorities.
One or more persons possessing
medal powers, without knowing it,
are to be found in nearly every house
hold, and about one new circle in
three, formed according to the fol-
lowing instructions, obtains the phe-
nomena:
/. Let arrangements be made that
there shall be no interruption for one
hour during the sitting Of the circle.
2. Let the circle consist of four,
five, or six individuals, about the
same number of each sex. Sit in
subdued light, but sufficient to allow
everything to be seen clearly, round
and uncovered wooden table, with all
the palms of the hands in contact
with it's top surface. Whether the
hands touch or not is of little i'm
portance; any table will do.
3. Belief or unbelief has no infus
ence on the manifestations, but an
acrid feeling against them is weak
ening.
4. Before the manifestations be-
gin, it is well to engage in general
conversation or in singing, and it Is
best that neither should be OF a
frivolous nature.
5. The first symptom of the in
visible power at work is often a
feeling like a cool wind sweeping
over the hands The first indica-
tons will probably be table fittings
or raps.
6. When motions of the table or
sounds are produced freely, to avoid
confusion, let one person only speak;
he should talk to the table as to an
intelligent being. Let him tell the
table that three tits or raps mean
Eyes" one means ''No," and two
mean Doubtful and ask whether
the arrangement is understood. If
three raps be given in answer, then
say, off [ speak the letters of the
alphabet slowly, will you signal every
time come to the letter you want,
and spell us out message?" Should
three signals be given, set to work
on the plan proposed, and from this
time an intelligent system of COM
munication is established.
7. Possibly symptoms of other
forms of mediumship, such as trance
or clairvoyance, may develop; the
better class of messages, as judged
by their religious and philosophical
merits, usually accompany such
manifestations rather than the more
objective phenomena. After the
manifestations are obtained, the
observers should not go to the other
! extreme and give way to an excess
of credulity, but should believe nc
n more about them or the contents Of
l messages than they are forced to dc
by undeniable proof.
s. Should no results be obtained
at the first two seances, because ne
medium chances to be present, try
again with other sitters. A medium
v Is usually an impulslve individual.