New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-04-02
NINE. DISS DEBAR DRAMATIC.
SHE DENOUNCES THE PRESS VIOLENTLY
IN CHICKERING HALL.
A REPORTER RETORTs THAT SIZE SPEAKS FALSELY
Mr.. MARsR's REMARKABLE LECTURE ON
HIS Spirit PIcTuREs"-rHE MEETING

A REPORTER RETORTs THAT SIZE SPEAKS FALSELY
Mr. MARsRs REMARKABLE LECTURE ON
HIS spirit PIcTuREs"-THE MEETING
ENDS SOMEWHAT ABRUPTLY.
There was no lack of fun for the sceptics at
Luther r. Marsh's lecture on spirit Painting
In Chickering Hall last night, and good deal
OF satisfaction to Madame Diss Qebar and the
Lawrences in the fact that there was sufficient
money in the house to cover expenses and more,
too. To the lecturer himself, there was no cause
for dissatisfaction because he received on the
whole a patient and attentive hearing.
The front seats on the floor were filed by
well-dressed people long before o'clock. There
was then lots of room in the rear of the hall,
as well as in the gallery; but rather than have
patches Of emptiness the doors were thrown open
to all comers and crowd of people who Lad
been waiting in expectation Of that swarmed
into the vacant seats.
| There was large spiritualistic element in the
audience. 1t numbered such men as Mr. Kiddle,
formerly superintendent of schools, and Mr..
OSullivan, once Minister to Portugal 1t also
contained such cear-brained and practical men
as Sheriff Grant, and not a few club-men, who
came to verify what the newspapers had said
about Mr. Marshs peculiar ideas
THE END NOT LIKE THE BEGINNING.
The proceedings began othly, and ended
turbidly. Mr.. Marsh, dressed faultlessy, and
smiling genialy, walked to the platform at
S:14 o'clock. white screen, six feet by ten
in size, stood behind him. The stereopticon
was at the back Of the stage. At Mr.. M,lsh's
right hand and at his left were. several of
the most presentable pictures in his collection
those Of Shakespeare, Lola Montez, Adelaide
Nelson and Rembrandt. lie gazed admiringly
at these took survey of the many curious
faces gazing steadfastly at him from the
front, grasped his manuscript in his
left hand and introduced himself by sayn. that
he supposed he did not need any introduction.
The descriptions, photographs, burlesques and
pen pictures in the newspapers were probably
80 truthful that he thought everybody would
recognize him.
This was the first shot Mr.. Marsh fired at the
| press. During the evening he gave it' hot and
heavy to his friends the reporters, who sat with
meelneSs and mirth at his feet Many of his
| hearers were undoubtedly true believers. pale
faced woman was pointed out as distinguished
medium. She listened earnestly. There were
| other notable figures. A big man, with face
suggestive of T. T. Barnum's lbut il wasn't
Phneas T., sat leaning on his elboW in con t,
left of the stage. lie didn't miss word, and his
countenance was absolutely immOvable; Not far
from him sat woman dressed in black she
was very dcvOut, and kindly helped out Mr.
| Marsh all she could Whenever he made an as
sertion trying to the good manners of doubterS,
| she vigorously said:
True! Downright fact!7
or course. that settled it. Directly under the
gallery. the same side was red faced young
| man who was in a continual state of exclamation.
| He was horrible example to the other unbe-
| levers present. lie laughed as much as il he
had taken gas and was going to have tooth
| pulled.
of them stood in the gallery and picked his teeth
conspicuously. Sometimes he scratched his head
obviously. Other policemen were posted around
| a.. cid Cf fla sfa fn p6
Madame and her dear friends and fellowwo. kers,
| who kept well out OF sight.
HE CALLS 1T A DOUBLE FESTIVAL
The lecturer referred to the fact that it was q
double festival being Easter-day and the fortieth
anniversary of modern spritualism. Some folks
remembered that it was really triple festival and
Uttered The address was carefully prepared
| one Mr. Marsh clearly laid down his position,
| He said that he knew there were many dangers
| ahead for the man who aNowed SplrltuaIlsulc
| beliefs. In his own case, he devoted most time
and attention TO the possibility to charge oil
lunacv and he asked his hearers TO be willing to
| certify to his sanity in the strength ana the
| order and sequence Of his address, if any con-
| tingcncy should arse -,
lie enumerated many distinguished men, from
Swedcnborg to Kidde. IN whom the imputailon
| of unsound mind had been cast because OF their
| beliefs. and to show that new faith or new
| invention always is ridculcd he referred TO the
| invention of the telegraph and to other similar
| instances He searched the Scriptures OF the
| Old and New Tcstaments for Instances OF
spiritist" manifestations, made some eloquent re,
marks ON the insignificance OF man. and concluded
this part of MS speech with the following perora-
| tion "If We tonight here are men and women IN
thls world in this house. if this ~ world II this
| 10 n house if we are not all myths lmpalpabe. IN
| tangible If / am not shadow addressing
shadows merely. if ANYTHING IS awning anu Any
! real genuine. bona fde, true ana proved Dy the
| same evidence.
| IMPENDING HIS FRIEND, THE MEDIUM.
| Mr. Marsh next devoted himself to defence OF
| Madame Diss Debar He jokiugy rehearsed the
different blrthpaces assigned TO her in the news
| papers. and called her the daughter OF twelve
different mothers!' But he Unlimited that after
all h, didn't care what her career had been. for
I" out of the blackest mud often bloom the 1airost
lilies and who can comprehend the chemistry OF
| God 7"
The method of procedure in obtaining communi-
| oot;ono and nictures was then described by Mr..
Marab. and he corroborated his general statements
| as TO the results obtained by many examples. ne
told of the recent unexpected appearance. t Va ,no
| picture OF his own father-in-law, Avian oie":s.'
Who took a prominent part IN antslavery agitation.
The naive description of this picture given Dv WI;
Marsh, rs here reproduced, IS a Ro3u eAanp ntad
| the general ngenuousness with whlch ne pot'1a pt I
out the features of all the works y OF art lna' ho
exhibited QUoth he: o, -, ,b.
Beside my father there appearssat on NM
canvas two colorod men, s1meTha' 6dnT. q. if
clad holding aloft their Iiio,ta handS sbostipa on
the battle cry Of freedom Here an lrreprsssce
"tAtfter the appearance of that picture" poor MI
Marsh went on, not needing the laugntes;
needed no further encouragement Inc eApos'sHa soas
| lions of nv friends and the menaces ot my iEo'
carried no more power than feather fr0ni iin-
nets wingP n hlack
"Iee-heeH uttered the rcd-facsd man, anu many
other people kept him company this time: MN.
"Hnmphp resumed tho lecturer waxing Poe'-
| ical:
rapvh when you must be candid when you can'
But vindica.e tho ways Of God TO man.
So far all had been comparatively, plain saliing.
ont,non renrodnctions of the spirit pictures
were cast slowly, one after the other on the screen
to the accompaniment OF Mr. harsns sr ~
ths r,dcnIna hegau TO be overcome by the humor
Of ,he sitnarioo' Here was a grave, elderly gen,