The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1883-02-01

el to cry ''bosh' and ''idiocy', when
Spiritualism is the theme in hand. and
with Il breath which is the very essence
of ignorance assume to sweep away
the absolute demonstrations Of the
years Of patient Investigations of scien-
titic and exact minds like those Of 4
Hare, Wallace, and Zellner.
Prof. Alfred II. Wallace. it is useless
to remind those who know the current
history Of their time, is in the first
rank Of modern scientists. TO him IS
due tie discovery Of the law of evolu-
tion, AS is gracefully acknowledged by
Darwin in The Origin Of Species. -
He had the moral courage to brave the
bigetry of modern ''sciencp,' spending
much time in the close Investigation Of
this subject, using the exact methods
and facilities afforded by his profes-
sion and following, as Il rational being
ought, wherever the truth led, became
HI ardent SpirituaIist, since which
time he has ridden the same hobby
ridden by tile editor of the ADVANCE,
and his ''idiOcy" is concentrated" ia
the two works entitled ''On Miracles, !"
etc, and "A Defense Of Modern Spir-
itualiSin.' -
The illustrious William Crookes, Of
I.Oudon, F. Il. s., editor Of the Scien-
tist, inventor Ut the ltadiOMeter aud
disc"verer Of the metal tllallium, he-
gan investigating the subject, expect
ing to expose its utter fallacy, contin-
ued his researches in his own labOr;.te-
ry, using all possible tests and means
ut eliminating error from the work,
and his experiments led from one won
der to another until he stood face to face
with T. being beyend all question from
the realm of souls, being that flashed
into view and out in the twinkling Of
All eye ut will, and walked and talked
with the astonisled scientist as palpa-
bly rs ever did i person in the flesh.
He was also favored with over forty
sittings by this obliging spirit, and
took as many photographs OF her form
and features.
Let the regular reader of the AD.
VANCE, who uses the terms 'bosh' and
concentrated idiecy' with 50 much IA
cility, read the work of Mr.. Croukes
entitled "Researches into the Phenon.
ena If Spiritualism,' an abridgement
Of his report to the toyal Society, and
learn II sson of humility.
The late Prof. k"bt. Hare, of the
University of Pennsylvania, pushed
his enquiries so far into the 'concen.
trated idincy' that he also beca ne an
earnest Spiritualist, writing deep
work in its support and elucication.
&. F. Varley, the great scientist in
the department of electricity, also in
vestigated the subject, and The usual
result followed; he became q Spiritual
lst.
Pot. w. Stanton Moses, Of London
University, did likewise, and with like
effect. Ills writings IL supp .rt of
Spiritualism are nun. 'rous ard weigh
ty. Let investigators read ''p>ycnog-
raphy" from his pea,.
Epes Sargent, the author of the we'll
known series of text books
which bears his name, the rip"
scholar las profound, to say the least,
as the correspondent of the ADVANCE
who sees nothing but 'bosh' il Spirit
ualistn) for many years prosecuted the
most careful and systematic enquiries
into the subject, aud with tile in~vita-
ble outcome. Among his VOL ks are
"Planchette, or the Despair of Sci
ence," and 1.-The Scientific Basis Of
Spilitualism.'
Within the past five years certain Of
the chief Professors of that profound
seat of learning and Intellect, the
University of leirsic. Germany.
intent upon the work ef in
vestigating modern Spiritualis1, cx-
pecting, as did their csnfrere. Creokes.
to expose its hollow ness, the leading
spirit being the immortal Johann Carl
Frederick Zcllner, renowned alike fer
his sound judgment and scholarly
Sttainu,eRts. Thsir lahors. whiol,
were Of the most exact aud exhaustive
character, and continued for several
months in his private r""uas and scien.
tilic laboratory. led tl'eas through =
very maze of mystery; discovery after
discovery burst upon their gaze, If
phenomena never dreaanpt III by the a.
chemists If old; human a-Sh WAS found
to be magnetic; electricity dwcit it,
the TISSUES of the human body: mat er
disappeared instantaneOusly from view
becoming invisible in space, flashing
out as it were. and flashing into view
again as suddenly; p"ndrrab'e sub
stances, rs table, passed through
solid matter, as the ceiling, leaving u,'
hole or oritice behind; heavy objects,
~ beulders. came through the walls,
leaving then--the walis-iatact; rain
fell inside the room where no water
was before, and with not Il cloud in
the skies; hands and aims formed
under the gaze, and an airy denizen Of
the mystic land of spirits presented
itself aud greeted the Investigators
with y hand shake. If the regular
reader of the ADVANCE will but pc
ru4e Prof. Zollnel s work, giving ~,
account Of these researches into Spir-
itualistic 'bosll, lie will 6nd it, to say
the least, \ rather interesting record Of
concentrated idiocy.' Other readers
may see in it something more.
'Transcendentaf Physics" published
by Colby and Rich, Boston.
The main reason why majority Of
civilized nankind are not already
Spirit ua1ists is brcause they decline to
become acquainted with the subject,
and accept for truth all that appears
in book which Genes confessedly
through the hands of many genera
tions Of disingenuous and finite
men. and whi:h is alleged to be the
word of God. Nay, they are not ev-
ultimatum Of religion what the priest
IAVOO "a IuCAA SNA AVSSuA0A NCuVS1AtSNVbVU
declare such beck to mean-a course
alike d,shenoring to the Supreme Pow
or aud degrading to man.
Too long have mon allowed their
fellows to do their thinking for them;
too long echoed the 6ctions and the
cant and platitudes Of priests and com.
mentators; toe long aided in the hue
aud cry raised by bigoted supernatur.
alism against 'heretical' freedom Of
thought aud scientific demonstration.
llenceforth let 10 act the part Of ~.
tional beings, using the faculties OF
the mind and maintaining its indspen-
dence the Same 10 We use the organs of
the body, while preserving its liberty.
Let u act concerning Spiritualism as
We act regarding other alleged truths,
neither accepting until We have iaves-
tigated and found the n true, NOR con-
demniDg until We have found them
false. IN the course taken by Crookes,
Hare, Wallace, Zollner and hundreds