New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-09-27
SPIRITUALISM IN RUSSIA.
MAKING MORE SCIENTIFIC THAN POPULAR
PROGRESS.

1
| ST. PETERSBURG. Sci tembcr o.
The eccentric modern movement tcrmeu
Spirituasm so widely spread in Euro 10 ana America
has also visited Russia and penetrated into even 'ho
most remote Of her provinces The colossus mas PSs
through all the phases OF tai turning, raj pings spr
4 naturalization and similar margels and has had by
no means a scant harvest OF writing. rapping, cnring
4 and prophesying mediums" The Russian MEDIUMS
however. have attained the worldwide reputation
| of the Homes Dayenports Katie Kings ana fHa q"dn"'
They have heen generally of familiar domestic dcscrp
ton aud their dongs and sayings however reu arkabie
have been mosty confined 70 tue circle OF home
and friends But strange to say 1t is In this country
that Spirualism the development OF the science OF
psychology found Its most earnest Interpreters ana
IL is IN St Petersburg and MOSCOW that these curious
manifestations have attracted and interested snch men
| as Professor Bouteref OF European celebrity, ana
Professor Wagner, both attached TO the Petersburg
University; the Russian savant, Mr. Alexander Axakoh
Professor 1Durkeyitch Dr. Basil Mlaon ana any more
disng ushed of science and letters sueh as Das
toensky, S0ovief and Dinitr Tserteeh Having iouhu
hospitality such exalted circle Sprtnaiisp c'aseu
to be an for drawngr om oilers and became
problem with pretentons to scientific solution The
pu bic was lost In amazement at first 10 behold three
scientific OF capital magnitude pay the most con
centrated aud serious attention to this question Ill its
modern FORM to the moving rapping OF tables. the
frances Of somnanbusts and the pranks ara anucs Oh
so cailed "mediams." which the concave of expert
menters had over from England, Germany and even
America regardless OF expense. Both Mr. Boueren anu
Mr. Wagner had previously been declared enemies oil
this movement and the most nTeterate inalerlasts
wthal so that at first they were supposed by their
colleague at the University and by the students 10
have gone out Of their minds.
IL may tie said here that such collection OF cherahers
dindustre and bold adventuresses as those mediums
proved to rarely met with anywhere out Of fa
The scientific Investigators were at nrSt much dlscOn'
oerted at che evident deception played upon them but
u,I rriaH aaIln a nf a
most infinitely and carefully controlled observations
upon ard Into the genuine OF those
phenomenal organizations csllrd nodiuins and hnaly
came 10 the positive conclusion thai there something
in it after I'LL They tneu proceeded with marvellous
patenoe to ferret the small grains Of truth In the
midst deception had faith and greed foe money Tao
results of this must tedious task which lasted for years
were follows: Professor Bouteren came to the con
clnson that the manifestations called Spiritual are
fou uded upon n series OF curious facts HAVING their
source In some hitherto unknown but Dy no means
unkuowab.e lie adults. tOGetner with tho Lnslisn
speoiast in chemisry Mr.. Crookes. the existence Of
more subtle anu renncd state OF matter than those hith.
erto known which can become perceptiDIe only IN a
certain con ALTON the body. condition usually ro-
duoed by magnetism and more easily attained Dy 50
called MEDIUMS" G., ORGANIZATIONS more than ordi-
nary susceptible anu Professor Bontleren has
gwen great deal OF 10 the research Of this
mysterious agent, aud his experiments nave confirmed
tue discovery vi Mr.. CrOOkes.
The Russian splfitaaiists, who have few aiherents
among their and have had ~ put up with
great annoy the part OF the PGolc we'd
as OF government dO not seek 10 popudrHo
their ideas as yet bat rather cOnsOndAto Lhen and
gather them into scientific formula ibey con"e-
eutly seek TO attract into their circle science,
doctors. materiai5s; la SNORT. persons deprived OF
romantic soulenialIy aud religious husilsln 90 a.
fairiy place the question upon "A new GROUND, not
lctng ,gcnerae Into secLirianisn. giving no food
Whatever Imagination. and 30 rendering IL Inter
est1ug ~ positive anu serious minds
Had tIis prOgramiao been perseveringy adhered to.
the question i&ht made prOsre7si Dut Oosh fro-
fcssurs and Wagner HiOrted aitnoush most
unwun1y nrs the hypothesis taat tcsc nihniiost'-
Tons mast 10 lTOLuCeI " tie Spifis OF IOr"e
IuudDiIaILs his planet ana tns poht OF Vie" n''ns
Deeu prcnaturoi, 10 word Al aseries 81 artcies
pr1Dc TO tno ion OF f'ol ssor nasner and Pdo
nsned Ia one VI e Dcot efi'u1ais cure" ~ at u9oot
ou tue very OdlscL and u'to People oroh
their eyes ia HstUnsdnont aG tao orcdiitJ Oi 10
professors. PcrceivnS tAer nprIdence and INC Do"o
llIs ny pOthcsis wa5 gong 10 Strike al Cue whoio
struetlrc .aessrs. BoaIoref anu Wagner turned
IUrdpuJ auOCner uaCK aud ia subsequent ai1ci's
eiideayOrod to Keep oil sttIct'y objective geo M
Russia now Possesses consiiera,io h,ers
ture tao supJect which to'a'y hIrrs from
pcuductiOn5 OF kind uOfOad. In bmdcn
10 articles are sanpcd with spirit OF genuine
Tue Government docs ali in ils power discourage
tile mo veiiun 1t supOOse 10 DC closet 10
socialism. Any nayIus read tIo DDOAs Of Anrew |
Jackson DAVIS VIII easily ndeisand tIt suon rca'ias
SUuld never no Tor Tao us Pe"Pie az iio9o ahl "a
cuurse ali strclJ OrDiddoh AMI QUIZ
read by few I0isOns. spiritual manifestations drc
Regarded only ny cioray rat even ny tno HOJ
synod Itself hayug tuoir origin IA tho source OF ala
evil Newspapers most uDwinBy puDnsn dTticos Ia |
VI question, though eagerly accept
ainst IT, N ext eeiy severe, and II
is IA mat MT. AXaKOI, WAC 10 a man % ample |
ready any sum, has oudcIYOroi 60
through wnicn To .cqht.nt psrsOns |
therein wtn the resats vi the experiments
.lde Ihus L Will tnat alcssrs. ijOdtcrsH,
wagner AXakon and teir frlcnds nave to strusgo
ordinary dilDcnltie5. iut tLey
cOLInOn energy aud citraUter aud, moreover, docpy
CONVINCED truth vi greater part OF tue dOCLne5
taught Dy SputuaIisLs. aud though they move but |
blOwy they bten To ufdH mo their clfo.o |
persons OF talent and distinction WAC. II not All sc. iuly
convinced greatly Interested la tne experiments
Among tho cultivated members OF the Russian |
sometimes win pcIoOns Interested la
They taik OF IL tImliy and NlsIDy |
of compromising themselves but IL Is evident tulL
subject great attraction Ur tnen ttcy
very Respectable and erudIto OrthO iOA |
priest and ASKED him give me Ills opinion cOncernlny
the lie tod Inc tnas ho fdy believed
could perceive nothing III THESE Licts contrary
to the teachings OF the Church. Among the common |
people the belief In ghUstsspri and all
beings Is almost uuyeloA Lucro not being
perhaps the world more suersli, IS people But
attempts to communicate with The 0f the dead
inspire with terror and they consider persons no
do nagciau5 AID sOrcerers. AS u the middio |
classes among thon good many belieN ers In
Slrtualism who sometimes inLe circles but
this USUALLY done In Oaani-On amateur sort OF
way, showing little genuine Interest Ia the subject