The Bozeman weekly chronicle. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1883-1889, 1884-09-24
Royal Family and Spirltualisn

Royal Family and spirltualism,
RepO rtS liza ling bee II current for many
years respecting the interest taken by
the Queen Of England in Spiritualism
but nothing very definite in detail has
been given. Therefore the following
that appeared under the above title in
the London publication, Society, on the
23d of last month"; will be read with no
ordinary degree of attention, and prove
a surprise to many skeptics:
"SpirituaIism has for many years been
cOnfied to very small section ofenth,is-
iastic believers in its mystical and extra
ordinary tenets. Of late, however. it
has derived new vi gor and large body
Of recruits from the support accorded it
by Royalty.
Society has taken it up, and the most
select portions Of the ola podrida, usu-
ally distinguished as the very best peo-
ple,' are numbered amongst its most ar
dent supporters.
! In becoming fashionable, SpirituaIism
has, of course, become popular, and next
season it will probably take its place as
the thing
Thought reading which has succeeded
in creating such sensation during the
past six months is but forerunner and
exponent Of wider revelations of the
occult and mysterious magnetism that
exists in the human race Such, at
least, is the declaration of the leading
'spiritualistic mediums
Those who have assisted at any of the
drawing room seances that have taken
place during the past season in the
houses of leaders of fashion, where there
was no possibility Of collision or fraud,
must have had forced upon them the fact
that their is some hidden power in ma
ture, either electric, magnetic, or both
combined, that the scientific world has
as yet failed to discover The question
naturally presents itself, how long is this
wonderful force, if it exists, to remain
uncontrolled, and what steps can be ia
ken to bring it under direct observation
of those best able to make the discovery?
What wide possibilities are opened to
the mind of the thoughtful observer by
the mere probability of the extraordin-
airy phenomena that are now SO frequent
ly exhibited being traced to natural and
governable causes? If, indeed, it be pos
sible to reduce to q code the strange
forces apparently set in motion by the
Spiritullist, then new era will COM
mence. The telegraph and telephone
will at once become antiquated and use
less, for where will. be their need, when
properly instructed mortals eau con-
verse soul to soul with those on the
same sympathetic basis Railroads will
disappear, for who will trust themselves
to the tardy and dangerous train when
the secret of 'treadiHg air at lightning
speed has beed wrested from the de4i-
gems of the spirit world. The doctors
occupation will also be gone, and the
medical cliavoyant,' able to diagnose with
uherring accuracy the Ills that flesh ia
heir to- however intricate, will quite
supersede the present slow, and some
times faulty judgments of the faculty.
1t is, in short, subject of boundless
possibilities. but putting aside all posi-
bi'ities for the moment, let us return to
the region of facts
Some of the phenomena produced by
physical mediums are inexplicable by
all known and ordinary laws of nature,
and the tremendous power thus exer-
cised, if controlled and directed, would
be capable Of producing the most mar
velOus results. When one has seen
piano bodily lifted from the ground and
transferred to another part of the room,
or mahogany table dance up and down
with the agility Of a memberof the corps
de ballet, returning to the floor after each
fresh flight without the slightest appar-
ent jar or noise, it shakes the obstinate
of the most unbeliev-
ing. There is no science, no art, no ac-
G Dmplishment, says the Spiritualist, but
with the assistance of the spirit-world
can be attained in its very highest per.
lection by the true believer in the mys-
tic doctrines,
The prote elton and favor accorded to
spiritualism by Royalty has. of course,
much to do with its present popularity:
and it is an open secret that for years
past the Queen has held very decided
opinions on the subject-especiallv on
me power Of certain mediums to hold
intercourse with the shades of the de-
parted. It is fact, also, that very illus
;rious personages frequently seek advice
lpon future events, and one lady (well
Known in court circles,) enjoying the
Of Royalty, arranges with the
eading mediums of the day for seances
o be held when required, at a charming
title pied-a-terre out of Park Lane. All
he members Of the Royal family are
aid to be strongly mediumistic, and the
infatuated are we'll aware what is going
n when an unostentatious private
rolls up to the door of the lit
lie domicile mentioned above, and some
figure sweeps swiftly across
he pavement and disappears through
he already opened door.
The late Duke Of Albany held very
trong opinions on this subject, and it is ,
ertain that there was some curious bond ,
f sympathy between him and the la ,
tented Princess Alicia sympathy that
ome. at all events, were convinced con-
nued to exist after her demise.
Whatever may be the arguments for or
sainst Spiritualism, 1t Is now on trial,
nd when the subject receives the atten- =
on it demands from the scientific world.
erhaps both the Spiritualist and the
nbeliever will have to own themselves
l the wrong, and fifth element be adj r
ed to the universe"