The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1889-10-18
MODERN SPlRlTUALiSM,
It Originated In the United States Forty
one Years Ago--Its Progress.

~ Al Tic 0nlIGu cCAI3H Forty.
one Years Ago-Its Progress.
Especial Correspondence.l
New YORK. Il. l2. 2.--Spiritualism, as
it is commonly called, which has found
ouch hosts of believers throughout civil
ization, is generally supposed to have
originated in the United States about
forty one years ago. 1t is rare that any
doctrine or philosophy has gained SO
many and SO devoted adhcrcnts in SO
short Il time, Sprtualism has male
converts in all conditions of society
and iii every part of the world But,
strictly speaking, The philosophy is.
as it's advocates claim, very old,
older than history. What is recent
about it is the spirit rapping phe-
nomena, which began in 1s4s in the fam
lily of John D. Fox, at the little village
of Hydesvillc, Wayne county, N. Y.
Fox and his wife and their daughters
Kate and Margaret, Q and 10 years of
age, were startled by strange rappings
in different parts Of their house, partic-
ularly at night. In a short time these
rappings, though still unaccountable,
were made ineligible. They assumed
to come from spirits; they told the age
of the Fox children; they answered
questions negatively by one rap, atirma-
lively by two. They disclosed, it is said,
that the remains of murdered man
were buried in the cellar of the Fox res
idence, and, search being made a skel-
eton vas found in tho identical spot
indicated. The name Of the victim was
raped out, and inquiry revealed that,
five years before, such a person had Wis.,
tied the house, and never been seen or
heard of aftcrward
The Fox family went to Rochester,
where the raps occurred Mt the command
Of Kate and Margaret only, and clair
vorance, the moving Of chairs, tables
and other heavy pieces Of furniture, with
other phenomena, were manifested with
out visible agency. These drew atten-
ton, and forty years ago in the autumn
of 1910 the Fox sisters appeared in pub
lie hall the phenomena We're submitted
to many tests but could be traced to no
human source Public curiosity and in
terest were gradually aroused. and when
the girls gave an exhibition of their
peculiar powers the year following, in
New York, the newspapers discussed the
subject, and it soon became of nation
al significance. Endless controversies
were started; mediums, through whom
the phenomena were presented, sprang
up all over the land, and Spiritualism
grew to be the burning question OF the
hour. Since then the new philosophy has
been debated by the ablest minds in every
quarter Of civilization, and it has un-
settled to ian extraordinary degree the old
beliefs, rationalistic as we'll as orthodox,
of the whole world
Even before the spirit rappings in the
Fox family the societies of Shakers at
New Lebanon. Watervliet, N. x, and
elsewhere had at the same time startling
psrchical experiences, wherein certain
members Of tho fraternity would lose
their proper consciousness, and the de-
parted spirits, as was maintained, of per-
sons Of various nationalities would occu-
py their bodies and speak through them.
Almost simultaneously Andrew Jackson
Davis. q shoenakcr's apprentice at
Poughkcepsie, developed through mes
merism wonderful clairvoyant abilities.
Albeit uneducated, he was qualified, BY
report, to speak freely and eloquently
OF, medical, spiritual and scientific top
les. "
While in the mcsmeric state he de-
clarcd he had intercourse with invisible
beings, and was instructed as to his
place and duties as Il teacher of the new
tencts. He likewise dictated, under the
same conditions, hundreds and hundreds
Of pages on Il diversity of supramundane
themes, an odd compound of cloquence,
fustian and ab:urdity. These We're af-
terwarels published with tire title, "The
Principles of Nature; Her Divine Revc-
lations and Voice to Mankind" The
work had an immense sale and met with
the most contradictory criticism Davis
thereafter wrote, in his normal mind,
many volumes Of q similar character
t,hcy al! denied the supernatural author
ity OF the Scripturesl, the "Grcat Har-
moui;l" and his autobiography attracting
the most rGtlcc.
Of the innumel-lblc mediums that have
appeared here and abroad within the last
forty wears, none has won such repu-
tation KS Home Daniel Douglass. Il ma
tive Of Scotland, WHO came to America
wien onl,. 0witll an adopted aunt. Spir-
llS ARE it'l1lllt' ~ llitA Illl from
lis ~ariea, consciousness, and he relncln-
brrrd srein2 ut 10 4 companion of his
bovhunl some years dead. At II he be-
came Il regular medium, and continued
to be such until lis DEATH which oc.
Cured recently. lie lived in New York
stale aud in New England up to Sol
he WAS then aU-,loing, beside the things
that general mediums do. many novel;
ties.
During the last thirty years of his life
hs made Europe his home. lii Paris,
Rome, Berlin Vienna and ST. Peters
burg he created a great stir. He was
presented to the emperor Of the French
the czar and the pope, and received
many superb gifts from crowned heads
and the nobility. Having Joined the
Roman Catholic church, he was after
ward expelled from Rome when it was
the City Of the Soul under the papal
dominion, for practicing spiritualism.
He was big lion in London, where he
was secretary of the Spiritual Atheneum,
an association formed for the propaga-
ton of Spiritualism. There he figured
as defendant in noted law suit, wo-
man of wealth having given him a large
amount of property and then sought 70
recover it, which she finally did. Two
Russian women of rank We're successivcly
his wives, one of them, who died in
southern France, leaving him son. now
near 80 The most remarkable expert
ences and adventures were his in the Old
World capitals, reminding one of the
strange events of Cagliostro, st. Germain
and Eon lie Beaumont in the last century.
Mediums generally have enjoyed u local
reputation, ilourished for u while, and
then disappeared from the public view.
Home, however, made a noise in twn
hen,isphcres, and drew the worlds eyes
to the last. JUNIus HENRI BROWNE.
Agricultural Notes.
or the newer roses, Mrs. John Laing,
il pale, pink colorcd rose, is reported as
of fine form, delightful fragrance and
splendid autumn bloomcr, but not rs
hardy us could be desired
Apple trees may be transpanted, either
in the fall or spring; but in sections sub
ject to severe freezing and thawing