Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1889-03-02
THE OTHER SIDE.
Shirt Scenes and SeanCeS--
The Hope Beyond.
4 "IOurnal" Reporter Visits a Salem
Medium and Hears Spirit
Rappings.

A CAPITAL JOURNAL man had
hoard it limited so often that there
were good many spiritualists in
Salem that he decided to follow
line of Investigations for himself.
Accordingly, herefected over all the
runors and paid visit a few even
inps ago to retired little cottage on
an off street, where the Salem spirit
ualists were said to make their head
ouarters and wnere meulum OF no
little force was thought to live.
Finding the cottage, his rap was
answered by an elderly gentleman
whose hair was silvered and whose
head was bowed with age. The re-
porter was welcomed in, and the
venerable spiritualist, after learning
the mission of the guest, proceeded
to enlighten him. The old gentle
man was the so-called medium.
He said the Bible assured US
there was future state and he was
sure our own selfish longings prompt
ed us to sincerely hope that such
might be the case. Whether there
are two pIaces-one for the reward
of virtue, the other for the punish
ment of crime-he could not say,
but leaves each one to settle those
questions according to the dictates
of his own reason. Continuing, he
said "Neither will 1 attempt to
locate thesite of our future home and
scene of our post earthly existence.
"The human mind is inquiring-
ever reaching out to gain additional
knowledge or fathOm deep myster-
les. 1t penetrates the earth's very
center and tells us of her age and
formation it rises above the clouds
and tells us Of the air and the ele-
ments; it studies the sun and moon
and stars and planets, and tells us
something of their sizes and dis
tances. But all attempts to peer
into the future, or to learn of this
lifebeyond, are met with such results
as give no direct satisfaction. How
ever it is that the direction from
which comes even the faintest ray of
light or hope is besieged by those |
who seek to be enlightened or to |
have their curiosity satisfied.
Spiritualism does this. 1t says to
the conscientious inquirer, seek and |
ye shall find, and legion is the name |
Of those who are honestly investiga-
ting"
Here the reporter ventured to in
qulre how the old gentlemen had
happened to become so firmly fixed
IN the belief. Begging pardon for
the length of his story, the hoary
headed medium narrated the fol-
owing:
Unwilling to accept the current
neOres, and believing it not impos-
lole for friends who have preceded
Us TO that bourne to communicate
with earthly beings, years and
years ago sought an unpretentious
medium of my acquaintance.
lnough not boasting of his strength
ae possessed considerable magnetic
power, and was controlled by sew
efai spirits who were to him near
'elauons or friends, ON earth.
Asa searcher after truth-a skeptic
IN company with a friend who was
''So an unbeliever, 1 called at the
aeulum's residence one evening.
'ue heavy walnut kitchen table was
leafed for our use, and placing it in
ae center Of the room, we drew our
ialIs near and placed our hands on
T. Ihe lamps meanwhile were
',ufhlng brightly. All was still as
'ealh for few minutes, when cold
.apOry air enveloped us as a veil.
Al unearthly shudder crept over us
'uu The table began to tip and sway.
'ne distinct tip was construed to
uean yes, while two was TO mean
No. BY this cipher we were able 4
receive intelligent answers to
uesuons asked either orally or
My friend requested the
p'l's to cause three loud and dis
'uV' raps upon the table. His re- J.