The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1884-01-15
The Diyining Rod.

nav 10 the theory OF Uhe operation
of the diyining rod?''
well, in the first movement of the
rod there is evidently an attraction, and
in the second movement, giving the
depth, a repulsion. The attraction is
destroyed or suspended by covering the
end of the rod with a wet cloth, if it is
attracted by water, or, if by mineral,
by holding the same kind in the hand Oh
by binding it to the end of rod. II
can be analysed into an attractive and
repelling energy, and we must believe
that those who are in sympathy with
this energy possess a higher state of sus-
ceptibility and consciousness than i,
possessed by large majority of the
human family. What is discovered by
the diyining rod is one kind of energy,
the person possessing the conscious
power is the other form of energy, and
the rod is the medium between the two;
in other words, the sensitive person is
but in sympathy with the subjective
magnetism of the mineral through the
medium of the rod"
What is this sensitive organization OF
power VI CONSCIOUSNESS
An intensely acute and susceptible
development of the nervous system, and
of the more delicate mental faculties.
Very few persons have it naturally,
though some may acquire it BY means
of meditation. solitude, religious exer-
else of the mind, and determined will
to do right. The great point is to fully
harmonic the emotional faculties. This
consciousness may exist in the male sex
and also in the female Even children
have been known to have it. Religious
and pious persons are more likely to
have it and to acquire it by cultivation
than others. But, however, there are
very few persons who really are en-
dowed with this consciousness.
Does the devil have anything to do
with this unseen agency?"
No, indeed, not at all. There used
to to be an old superstition that the
evil one had the power of granting the
ability to use the rod. But that is all
all error. 1t probably arose from the
legends that he and his proselvtes had
all the mines and ore-beds, which were
alleged to be in his kingdom. If he had
anything to do with it, religious persons,
you may be sure would not be slscepti-
BILE.
How long. has this divining rod been
knowng'
Modern history locates the first
knowledge of it in the eleventh century,
but in reality it was known long before
that 1t was known of in the Kabbalah,
which, as is well known, is of very
ancient date. However, the divining
rod must not be COMPOUNDED with the
magic wand of the Kabbalah The two
are entirely different. The magic wand
is used for controlling intelligences as a
hand of authority. 1t controls this in
telligence, Thus, will intelligently a
desire. That desire never dies until it
is fulfilled, or until it meets a counter
desire. In willing this desire the wand
is used, and is of vast power. The dis
tinction between the diving rod and the
wand is that the former controls ener-
gies or physical substances, while the
latter rules over intelligence or spirits -
What makes the best kind of rod?"
The slender branches OF the hazel
tree, or, as it is sometimes called. the
witch hazelwood There is something
singular about the hazelweod in its
power of transmitting what we call sub
jectiVe energy. 1t has this power more
than any other wood. The oak is the
next best, though in other countries,
notably in Europe, the wood OF the
rowan tree is greatly used. The hazel
tree surpasses all, however, just as GER
tain metals are better than others as
conductors of electricity, copper, for
instance being one of the best So is
the wood of the hazel tree the best to
convey subjective energy. "
What notable instances are there in
history of the use of the rod9' ....
20, there are many WAYS One that
is often referred to is that of Jacques
Aymar- Vernay, a Frenchman, who
lived in the latter part of the seventeenth
century. He was widely known as a
divinar and as one using the divining
rod. He acquired great reputation,
but how far he was really able to use
the rod | can not say. There is a story
that he was mason. but left his trade
and became great diyiner. discover
ing MANY beds of ore and not few
streams of hidden water Somewhere
in his neighborhood there was a
mysterious murder The criminal
could not be found, though the most
diligent search was made in every
section. At last the aid OF this Aymar-
Vernay was called in, and he went to
work. and whether it is claimed that he
know. At any rate he found the murder
er, who finally confessed. This whole
affair provoked great deal of discus
sion, and great many short tracts or
pamphlets were written about it at the
time. Aymar-V ernay obtained great
deal Of notoriety, and the story of his
ability to use the diyining rod has been
recorded in French history as being I'M
questionably true.
Il know of instances myself of
the successful use of the divining rod
can give you one which occurred with
in the last two and a half years
Mr. Charles Latimer, who is a per-
sonal friend of mine, was in Philadel-
phia and CHANGED to be at my house.
HE is person who has remarkably
well developed the power of conscious
ness necessary to use the dfvining rod
So, without his knowledge, We concealed
beneath the carpet in this very room
$40 gold piece, and then. later on in
the evening, we met in this room and
asked him TO find for us the metal. He
took divining rod in his hands and be-
gan walking over the floor When about
half way across the room the rod moved
outward and downward He stopped
and said: Here is the metal, and
know it to be iron Wen, this was not
the place where we had hidden the
gold, and, more than this he had not
named the right metal. So that it was
not by any means the solution of the
experiment that we were looking for
But suddenly the idea flashed upon nv
mind that true enough there was metal
there and it was iron. He was right.
He was standing over the steam pipe
of the heating apparatus in the cellar.
so at once told him that he was cor
rect, but that there was more metal
somewhere in the room. He then be-