The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1885-06-12
A Lost Op,ort,lnity.

1nTOuSn inc plS-ncaucuncSSO OF iack
of public spirit on the part of firm Of
attorneys In St. Louis the world has
lost one of those opportunities which
came but once in q lifetime.
The occasion was a suit in the Crimi-
nal Court, the defendants being two
noted mediums who were on trial for
fraud in producing alleged spiritual
manifestations. To the reality and
good faith of the manifestations as
we'll as to their spiritual origin there
we're humorous witnesses. They were,
however, of the stercotyped sort.
There were the observers who go to a
''seance" to see aunts and other re-
latlves, and who are determined to bo
deceived. There was the crcdulous
professional man, who went merely
in the interest of SCIENCE" and was
startled to find himself conversine
with the spirit of his first love, who re.
peated whole passages from his last
letter to her, but could tell nothing
about his first letter to her successor.
There was the lifelong spiritualist
who could not have been persuaded by
any device known to intelligence that
there was any trickery or guile in peo-
pie who professed to bring up the spir-
it of his dead grandmother still bear
ing the mark of the cancer which ter
minated her career in the flesh. And
there were other witnesses of tho same
sort, the witnesses that We always
hear from when the doings of these
charlatans are called in question.
Recognizing the unsatisfactory na-
ture of this testimony, and desirous
of promoting the ends of justice, the
presiding Judge proposed, with re-
markable Iiberality. that the defen-
dants should call the spirits them
selves as witnesses. The spirits, he
urged, had been represented rs eager
to establish the truth of spiritualism;
why not call one or more of them to
the witness stand? "Why not show
me-" he said. .'that there mcdlumship
of actual communication with the dead
by practical illustration? If there is Il
friendly relationship existing between
the medium and the spirits of the de-
parted, rs insisted upon by the de-
fense in this case, why should not said
spirits be eager - display themselves
on this stage of action and vindicate
the defendants?"
Had this proposal been accepted the
world might to-day be in possession Of
conclusive proof in respect to SUBJ
ject concerning which there is the
very broadest diversity of opinion.
and at times the fiercest conflict. Had
the spirits appeared, had they testified
on oath, had they withstood the blan-
dishments of the attorneys on their
own side and tho withering cross-ex-
animation of the opposing counsel,
there would have been basis such as
there IS not now for belief in thci,
existence, and IN their generous ser.
vice of the mediums who subsist OH
their alleged bounty. The skeptic
would have been confounded and the
hearts of believers would have beer
correspondingly elated. On the Other
hand If the spirits had refused to ODE,
the subpoena or to testify when sum
moned, or had their testimony beer
adverse to the mediumistic theory, tn,
cause of truth would have been i'm
measurably advanced. and the ligh
of wisdom would have been turned OF
for the benefit OF future generation
with the power of forty statues (full.
pedestaled) of liberty enlightening th'
world. But it was not to be. Re
gardless of the enormous public inter
ests at stake. oblivious to the welfare
of future generations yet unborn. tn
callous counsel for the defense refused
to accept the proposition of the court
The golden opportunity was lost ant
may never occur again.-Detro1 Ere
Pres,