Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1883-08-31
OH Stree Nress.
THE sPIRITUALIsTs,
What IL Said and Done by the Dis
ciples of spiritua1isn,.

ciples OF Spiritua1ism.
Queen City Park Is now peoped by a Sc,
or class of devotces which is rapidly ncrea
ing in numbers throughout Vermont and, ii
deed, the whole country. They may b
readily recognized anywhere-these Spirit
ualists-by themild, half 'ecstatic, hslf-staltle
look which always rests upon their faces
They seem to acquire this expression fror
each other as much as from the supernatura
doctrine which they profess; for even thos
OF them who have not the failh-or skill
requisite to discern those millions OF spirit
uaI beings" who walk the earth both wlcl
we sleep and when we wake" even thes
wear the same uncanny look as the rapt tine
dunn though, of course, in less degree
And the men, 1t will be observed, have
"widci" look than the women. 1t seems I,
BE- part of the profession they make to appea
as though always waiting to feel the skirt oil
some heavenly visitant brush their morta
raiment. Such are the kind of people that
one may daily sec, now, at the Spiritualis
camp meeting on their beautiful Queen City
Park. The park itself, so beautiful for situa-
ton, has been greatly improved by our Spirit
ualisllc friends. However daft" they may be
on the subject of spiritual communication, etc,
they certainly have excellent practical taste
as to the way II camp ground should be ar.
ranged and II canpmeciiGg conducted. Their
rustic cottages, pavilion tents, lodges, plat
forms, etc., are models of beauty and con-
veniencc. Some of the cottages are fairly
artistic, and even the booths with plain board
noots ami sid, and canvas roof are SO neat
and c,cln and attractive looking as almost to
make Que wish to join the Spiritualists for
the sake OF camping out rs they do. At
prcsen! the lois are not yet all occupied,
though large numbers of Spirtualists are on
the grounds. Tents are constantly going
up, and the sound of hammer and saw fire.
quently breaks in upon the ethereal whisper
OF the timl aud elusive spirit, or the impas-
Stoned tlOquencc of the more substantial
speaker.
Ii may he of interest TO know how the
Spirilualists spend day in camp-what
they do ami say, and how they amusc them.
selves between times. Every day, of course,
there is II set programme of exercises, under
the chatge OF Il Committee of arrangements
This programme generally includes either a
pubic contcr,nc or speaSing in the latter
part Of the mDruIug-10:3J or IL o'clock
addresses aud publc exhibitions of test
mediums IN tie afternoon, from two o'clock
until four and then more speaking, or else
social amusement, in the evening. The
speaking IN the morning is not apt to be SO
interesting as IN the afternoon when larger
audience of visitors is present. The speak
ers, male and female. are often interesting,
witty aud earnest in their remarks, but the
smile that occasionally steals across the faces
oil The long rows uf ''gcIiilgs' on the benches
shows That thr peculiar trnets of the sect are
not likely TO convert those who are not
Spiriluallss by nature. Such statements as
I'VE want To he free. We don't want to
be governed by king, priest or president :"
Let he spritualists, the free thinkers aud
lberali'ls unite against this common danger
from unjust legislation which threatens
them "lt Jesus-Christ should come into a
certain State to-day he would have to pay
his $500 license before he could work mira
Giles or heal the sick"-such statements us
these, we say, are not calculated 10 impress
the average sleady-going American citizen in
favor OF the advantages or the morals of
spiiitualism. But, on the other hand there
is much sensible, sound and really helpful |
advice concerning the social relations, the |
charities and Christian fellowship of the |
disciples, their purity OF thought aud up |
rightness of life. "lf we believe |
that every thought, good or bad, is |
known 10 those We love who have gone |
before US, how careful We should be of what |
we think and do" This is one of the good |
doctrines of spiritualsm MS also the care of |
the sick, and the universal kindness and |
charity of the sect toward all.
After the speaking usually comes tho exhi-
bition of a test medium. The latter is seated
before The audience at II small table. For
few moments he sits with head bowed in |
hands, then suddenly looks up, and begins
his rapid mOnoogue-somewha as follows: |
Many spirits are crowding around me to- |
day. One old man stands iicht here in front |
OF me. lie gives the name Of, and de- |
sires me to say Burlington A voice from |
the seats, Recognized. 'lie bids me
tell you that he is happy on the other shore,
but he had Il very small soul here and has |
had to grow considerable over there The |
next spirit gives the name Of -, and de-
sires me to say Montpelier And so on the |
names of the departed being clearly given,
their peculialities defined, and suitable mes
sage conveyed, all in Il very brief space of |
time, and without break or hesitation. Some |
eight or ten spirits were introduced by the |
medium we had the opportunity of listening |
to, and III all but two or three cases the |
names and communications were ''recogniz- |
ed" by one or two in the audience. How |
far the matter was arranged before hand-if |
at all, which we do not claim-it would be |
Impossible Tor us 10 say. In addition to Tn G |
public tests of mediums private tests are con-
stantly being made at their several cottages |
or tents, and the doubters have a fair chance |
to become conYiuced,b by personal experience,
If they choose.
The amusements of the campers are plen-
ty, considering the small time they have to |
devote to them. There is nice bowling |
alley on the grounds, plenty of swings and |
croquct sets, IL bathing house on the beach |
and few boats, though the Spirituaists, |
as q general thing, do not seem to be over
partial to the wafer. The dancing assem- |
bles in the evening are the principal feature |
OF attraction to outsiders. The fine large |
dancing floor, with adjacent stand for the |
orchestra, affords every facility for enjoying
this most popular of American "amuse- |
ments," and dancing is often kept up until |
late hour at night. We understand, how
ever that these assemblies are far more Sc
lect than they were last Summer, and that |
much better order is preserved throughout |
the grounds. An invited party from this |
city enjoyed a dance at the park last even
ing.
On the whole, the Spiritualists, we think,
are very interesting and well meaning Sum-
mer neighbors Of our Queen City people
who are thoroughly in earnest about their
own business, perfectly courteous and kind
to visitors, and possessing attractions which
draw many strangers to our city during the