The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-04-03
ISIT ANANGEL OR A DEVIL?
POWERFUL PICTURES OF MODERN
SPIRITUALISM.
1t May Be Gods Reveletion-"Immor'
tality Not Only Realistically Brought
to Light, But Is Shaped Into
Noble Realism"

From the New York Herald.
have been asked for bird's-eye view
Of spiritualism from the position of an
unprecedented but unconverted observer;
photograph OF the temple from one who
has gone round about it counting It's
towers, marking well its bulwarks and
peeping under loose corners OF the hang
ings as he has wandered in the open Courts
j the Gentiles.
With the request to furnish "an outside
view OF Spiritualism," | can honestly
comply, since, while never having been It
seance, nor ever having had any per-
sonal experiences OF an occult character |
have been somewhat careful reader in
the voluminous literature OF Spiritualism;
being thus left in the attitude neither OF
the avowed believer in its mighty claims
nor yet of the scornful sceptic toward
those claims, but in that Of one who sees
in this battling "ism" very much that
seems most curiously TO substantiatc its
pretensions; while yet those pretensions,
so stupendous as to stagger the sober mind,
do not appear TO have been subjected TO
such prolonged and scientifically search
ing investigation as TO rule out all other
interpretations Of this movement than that
which gives to it It's name; being wilhal 80
smirched with fraud and charlataury in
the persons Of many OF their advocates
that the only conclusion to be reached
from the outside point OF view is that here
is mystery which may well "give us
pause" My aim here is TO present some
OF the considerations which call for that
"pause" OF prejudice in which alone can
there be d satisfactory study OF this sub
jcct The whole field OF evidences, ordi-
narily 10. caled, pass entirely by. having
nothing new to say, either pro or con,
concerning the wearsomey discussed
thaumaturgic phenomena OF the seance--
the materialistic marvcs which evoke a
too credulous belief in spiritual agencies
in some and too contemptuous belief In
oihers-in order TO group together certain
large aspects Of the moyoment,as reviewed
in lis historical lights, which, 10 my mind,
arc oven more impressive than the won
dcrs of which We hear nd nauseam.
Even with this Limitation OF my pen
tory illustration aud 30 much necessity for
condensation that, II the Boston Monday
Lecturcship will condcsccndingly wink at
such an infringement upon its patented
manner "majcs,ical," | will throw the
points TO be made into duly numbered
propositions, and thus clear the successive
steps in our survey Of the sdbJect
THE TOWER on srIuTuALIsM.
|. Spiritualism is here, whatever we
make OF il, in the broad daylight Of this
nineteenth century OF the Christian era,
and this hard fact, whom We ponder II
well. is certainly significant. In the year
1924 DIR. HILBERT, writing theory OF up.
partitions felt called upon in his opening
paragraph 10 apologize Tor seriously con.
sidering such q subject Writer'S like
Lecky have accustomed us 10 think Of
such notions IN the childish things which
the Western world has forever put away.
Has not the age OF reason once for all
turned the daylight In upon the ghost
world and shown it, fantastic forms 20 be
the chimeras OF tho night? so some have
hoped and others have feared, all agreeing
in the fact that science has made AN end
OF such suporsiitions. and that ghosts have
gone the way OF WITCHES, finding ou- at
mosphere one in which they could no
longer live.
Yet here today il spiritualism walking
unabashed into the light 81 the modern
world, reviying superstition In the very
face Of science, renewing the iollies OF the
age Of faith, displaying q vitality which Is
anything hut spectral, enrolling a vast
host Of protested followers, capturing a yet
larger force Who make no confession OF
faith. organizing a vast movement which
Is spreading through all lands, building
itself body after most approved modern
methods, forming societies, editing ncws
papers, creating a voluminous literature
challenging investigation, taking on scicn
tifc airs. seriously claiming for itself thai
IL is 10 be- the religion Of the iulurcl A
sufficiently astounding fact signrcan
surely Of somewhat OF whatG Thg
chou hast bid these thing. iroin the wis,
and prudent and revealed them unit,
babes or that "tho fools are not al
dead yci7' revival OF faith or ~
crudcsccnce Of superstition which hay,
We Ia this hard lacl2
IT'S uEEL TO STAY.
.. Spidtuaism Is here, not as havin,
como yesterday. and therefore bcin,
likely 30 70 away tomorrow. ID i n,
latest Boston craze. IL ~ already, In IN
modern form, nearly half century old
There has been ample time lof is noyuli,
10 wear oil, yet siill u holds on. In N
first decade Il had all the marks OF new
Yankee notion. Everybody talked OF Il
The newspapers were toll 81 It. Il was II
the air Then came a change. Popula
interest subsidized. Reporters ceased 4
make items about H. Society forgot II
"lt had had Us day." said iis foes. 1T
undergoing the inevitable reaction" sai'
its friends. Asa fact Il went below ia
surface Of society, not, however, 10 ru
out In the sands. but 10 gcthcr now vol
ume and move on with added impetu u.
II hae never returned 20 Complementary (
the suriucc OF society, bot anyone Wh
goes below the thin upper crust will lin
it today wherever bee pcncimics. like III
vast bed stream which beneath the uppo
stratum Of long Island tcn steadily Z,
ward the sen.
One cannot Inquire among his friend
and acquaintance without finding O
every hand those who have been not onl
looking into IL, but have become dlcr
converts 10 H. Whore Il u suil una,
ccptcd decided change Of tonr mas take
place concerning H. 10 n now trcatc
seriously whore u WIS a Willis since Joke
about. Such q Wow of Il as that given
tie "BWad Winners isat once rpcognizf
O. thoroughly superficial. ID j. actual
forcing itself upon the induc,yc invest
gallon Of this scientific age. Societies 4
o.