Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-04-21
The Tax on Spirits.

~ iNDiUSAiION VI OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES.
FCL MEANS DETERMINED UPoN-AR. woLFF's PRO-
TEST AND MARTYR-LIKE DETERNINATION-A con-
AITrEE APPOINTED TO WAIT UPON THE CoMA1s-
sIONERs.
The recent decision of the District Commissioners
that spiritual seances to which an admission fee Is
charged shall be taxed, as other entertainments or
exhibitions are under the license law, has caused
considerable Indignation among spiritualsts. The
meeting or conference" of spiritualists held yes
terday at the Masonic Temple devoted to a dis
cusson Of this matter. About forty persons incud-
Ing a number OF ladies, we're present. None OF the
d,embOdied friends Of the spirtualists made their
presence manifest Or took any active part In the
proceeding. The wall on one side OF the room was
taken up with gun rack. in which stood the mus
kets OF the Union Veteran Corps. II any Indignant
splr1tuallst had any notion OF indicating at the
point OF The hayonet his right to commune with
ghosts, whenAnd where he pleased, he was proba-
biy deferred from carrying his purpose into effect
Dx piacard hanging on the WALL which read,
sided A tasted skull cap and pair Of spectacies
resting on the end OF his nose gave Mr.. Wolff pa
triarcLal appearance, and he assumed the patr1-
archal right OF doing most of the talking.
CHEERING MESSAGE FROM DANIEL WEBSTER
He opened the meeting by reading what purport-
ed To be a communication from the late Daniel
Webster. in which Daniel described his present
state as exceeding anything he ever dared to
cream When Mr.. Wolf had finished some remarks
cles, took Il paper froW his pocket, and addressed
h1'tself 10 The PARTICULAR theme OF the hour "The
question Is" he observed. whether spritualism
las any rights which the Commissioners OF the
District are bound TO respect The i've dollars
charged for license, he said, was more than the
letter 10 the bss
IL, said MI Nol1 rubbing his Spectacles again, ~
VIII read IL" \ young man In the front row pound
ed III, cane on the nOor. and Mr.. Wolff encouraged
10y this enthusiastic applause, proceeded to read
The letter. pauSng TO observe. much 10 the relief Of
thuse who feared that MIR. Wolff contemplated an
appeal To arms: Il am peace man; want peace
anyway"
Mr. VOLTS LETTER
argued that the Seances classed by the Comnis-
siOners with dog shows and theatricals were not
exhibitions, there is nothing to exhibit until the
company is assembled, and places itself in the
attitude OF becoming part of the causes OF the
phenomena The letter also referred to the at
tempt o the Commissioners to transcend their tur1S
diction by imposing, as II were. restrictive tartn
on the commerce between the other world and this;
TO tax the spirits for wanting TO appear TO their
friends here.
PROPOSITION NOT ACCEPTED.
When Mr.. Wolf ceased reading his letter, agentle-
man who thought he saw the way out Of the diff
Guilty rose. and offered long series Of preambles
spiritualStS should unite religious society with
tae name OF 1.-The Holy Circle having the Bible
text book, and erect temple devoted to the use
OF mediums, and that committee OF twelve be a)-
pointed 10 raise funds for this purpose The mover
OF the resolution handed In dollar as his cOntrtbu
ton 10 the building fund. The resolution and the
dollar We're laid on the table.
Mr.. Violin said he thought the matter ought to be
tested 1T Is Cranes and my purpose he said,
Wolff added, Tor the Information Of any one who
might think the experience was not new to him 81
have never been in JAIL but will Try 1t"
'.They won't arrest you but the medium" said
gentleman In the audience.
NO." said Mr.. Wolff, with the determined air OF
a martyr, "they will arrest the man who takes the
money"
MATERIALIZrNG EXHIBITIONS.
Mr. Barber inquired If this was not intended as
blow at exhibitions where 1t is pretended to give
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. that were wrongs
against spiritualism and an imposition upon the
people.
Holy Circle" wanted TO know II Mr.. Barber believed
the resurrection OF the Saviour was an imposition
upon the people.
MI. Wolf said the blow was aimed at the whole
OF spirit ualism and that the Undertaking. exhi-
btlons merely furnished possible legal excuse for
striking at the whole thing
Mr.. Wood, OF Kansas, thought q genuine exit
bition, when II Was advertised and an admission
fee was charged, came within the law.
Mr. CRANE THINKS THERE IS SOMETHING BEHIND IT.
Mr.. John H. Crane thought the fact that the
Commissioners had waited SO long before deciding
that these ladies should take out license indicated
that there was something behind 1t all. which did
lot dare sh0w itself publicly: people who have said
To the Commissioners, ''YOu must S1uelch this
thing by requiring them to take cut licenses" The
ruling did not surprise him when the tyrannical
Character OF this fOrln OF government was con-
sidered. resolution should be passed by the
citizens OF Washington generally, and not by the
spirit ualistS alone, denoGnc!ng this thing as an
outrage.
Mr. Sailer announced his determination to spend
what little money he had In defending the rights OF
the SpirtualistS.
After further discussion a committee, composed
OF HeSSTs- Wolff, Crane and Sailer, was appointed
TO wait upon the Commissioners, and IL they pro-
dCced no effect in that quarter, TO take steps TO
have the present law changed collection was
taken and the meeting adjourned.
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