St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-11-04
Plays a Conspicuous Part In
a Spiritualistie Bap-
ia tiSm.
Little Sunshine" Gets Her
Name Under Impressive
I Auspices.
Bishop Beals Warns Against
/ ,esScoffers' Presence at
, Services.
"A Lady Who Talks Repeatedly
! With Her Departed Rel
> IS atives.

There was large attendance last
evening at the WacOuta street chapel,
the occasion being spiritual baptismal
service of the st. Paul Spiritual alliance,
presided over by Bishop Beals, of Oak
land, Cal. Several prominent local spir-
itualists occupied positions on the plat
form, and among the audience, which
was chiefly composed of people curious
to witness the performance of unique
ceremony, were discernible many of
ayOwed spiritualistic belief. The
church was ornamented with flowers
and evergreens, and upon the plat
form repOsed banks of roses, pyramids
of cut flowers placed there by the true
believers OF the congregation. Bishop
Beals impresSeS one as being man OF
extremely nervous temperament. His
eyes are deep-Set and shifting, his face.
giving evidence of the high tension
under which he exists, Is lined and fur
rowed. His hair and muStache are iron
gray: the former. worn rather long, is
brushed back careessly, adding some
what perhaps t. the impression pro-
duced that his face is not one indicative
of strength of character-rather sug-
gestive of morbidness. In explanation
of the
SPIRITUALIsTIC CEREMONY
of baptism. the bishop reminded his
hearers that among the aneientS it was
the custom to take the child to temple
and there cOnSecrate 1t to the Lord. 1t
was a ceremony incident to the time at
which the belief existed that every child
born was attended from its birth by an
invisible agency and guardian spirit. In
Spiritualism, therefore, every child was
guarded bv an attendant spirit. In fut-
ure years that spirit would give to the
child character aDdpOsitiOn. The mother
represented the ideal Madonna, and
there could be no, more lofty, no
more uplifting symbol of the affection
of the mother, the purity and holiness of
the Office of maternity. The actual
ceremony OF baptism Is brief one, and
the Service-there is none prescribed-is
whatever the inspiration of the official
dictates. The lady called upon last
evening to personate for the nonce the
Madonna and infant son was Mrs. j. L.
Me BAN, who resides on Forest street.
The. infant was arrayed in robes of the
orthodox white, and cried feebly-as
though in protest at being conSecrated
I'd any particular cause willy nilly-
as the mother stood up before the
bishop, and announced that the child
was to be called Sunshine" The
picturesque feature of the ceremony is
tlie'encircling of mother and child with
a wreath of smilax and roses as symbol
ieaE of
MSEPARABLE SPIRITUAL UNION.
The ceremony was concluded with an
earnest prayer by the bishop for the
future welfare of the infant, now con-
seerated to the cause of spiritualiSm, in
tile name Of the father, mother, God
and truth. ~-.,
The, address by the bishop was ]
most eloquent one. and Of deep interest
even to those who repudiate the idea of
a spiritualistic inclination. In it he
spoke of the one time mysterious be-
yond, now rendered as clear as day to
the true believer; of the heaven which
had seemed so far away, separated from
earth by the dark chaSm, death. Spfr-
itualism had narrowed that chasm to
the dimensions of a ripping broOklet,
had reduced the step to heaven
to one short step out of the dark into
sunshine. Bishop BealS- spoke, as he
afterwards stated, through an influence.
He stood last night as the earthly rep
resentative of Selden j. PhineaS, late Of
California, but now an inhabitant of the
spirit land. from whence he directed the
utterances of the speaker. Mr.. Phfneas |
was a California senator while on EARTH
and his effort of last evening, through
tile bishop. was infinitely ahead OF the
usual style of OratOrical effort
by Californian senators, or be
it said. those of other states
Bishop BealS then proceeded to answer
written interrogationsfrom members of
the congregation, which occupied three
quarters of an hour. In conclusion, he
warmed scofTers atSpiritualism that, al
though they might scott with impunity
for a time. the time would come when
their. wickedness would recOil upon
themselves. He. cautioned believers
against asSOciating with people who rid
iculed the belief. "Never enter seanee
with a %th
SCOOTER OR sKEPTIC PRESENT
among YOU Select for your company
people who are sincere in their desire
to investigate, and be assured there will
be some sign to tell you am here;
that the spirit with which you would
commune is present."
The speaker also descended from the
platform and wandered among the au-
dienee reading by contact, character
and the drift of thought.
An ardent believer in the spiritual
istic doctrine, Is Mrs. 6. III. Helm, a
lady Of great conversational talent. and
who describes her interviews with the
inhabitants of the spirit world in a
graphic manner. Describing a CONVEX
sation she had held recently with her
deceased sister. Mrs. Helm said: II
was standing with my mother
in the cemetery, near my sis
ter's grave. Suddenly l heard a
yoice-a voice / well knew to be hers.
1t said, why are you weeping there? l
am not there, but above Nothing
more came of it at that time, but my
mother has since died. and | now con-
verse often with both mother and sister.
There are many people present here to-
night who are in regular communication
with the spirits of departed relatives"
A meeting of the executive committee
of the alliance will be held tomorrow
evening at 233 East Eighth.street. and
on Wednesday evening social will he
given at the residence Of Amos Hall,
24O Arundel street. A public inquiry
meeting will be held at 223 East Eighth
street on Friday evening at s O'Clock.
Bishop Beals speaks tor Thomas
Paine, deceased. at South st. Paul on
Tuesday and Wednesday evenings OF
this week.
| eHE yy.c cUnETTs aCEEn