The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-09-30
Faith and Credulity.

The exposure and conviction Of the D1ss
DEBAR woman as an impudent charlatan
and adventures have not shattered the
belief OF Mr.. LUTHER r. MARSH in spirit
ualsm. He Is as strong In the faith as
ever. Last Monday he was one OF the
speakers at the Spiritualistic camp meeting
at Onset Bay In Massachusetts. and In the
course OF his remarks he exhibited flash
light photographs Of spirits as he described
them. or course. II the spirits can be photo
graphcd. they must appear in material
form: but Mr.. MARSH has no doubt as to
the genuineness OF tho pictures. which were
taken by medium In New York lately.
At this very Onset camp meeting a pre-
tended woman medium was exposed as q
trickster during the last summer and driven
from the grounds in consequence. One OF
the Fox sisters. the earliest OF the mediums,
l'as confessed publicly that they were mere
juggl"rs and that the spirits had nothing to
do with their performances. DIss DE-
BAR has been shown up as a hum.
bug, and mediums have been caught
In palpabs and bungling trickery In
all parts of tho Union. From the first days
OF spirituaism. In 1s47. the exposures have
been continuous. Yet Mr.. MARSH Is un-
shaken In his faith. Even DIss DEBARs
plundering of him did not weaken his con-
vlction. He believes in the spirit photo
graphs az firmly as he believed in the daubs
which she palmed or on him US the works
OF RAPHAEL and REMBRANDT In the dlsem-
bodied state.
Mr. MARSH Is not lunatlc. He Is not n
man OF an cnfeeblcd mind. When ho was
brought under the influence OF the DIss De
EAR woman he was u lawyer in active prac-
tice. of high standing at tho bar. and re-
spectcd for the acuteness OF his intellect
and the sagacity OF his judgment. Lawyers
who came In contact with him at that
very time were impressed by his legal
ability. his grasp Of legal principles.
and his clear and keen discernment. NJ
sign OF intellectual weakness appeared in
him. In mind he seemed as sound as ever;
but when 1t came to splritualsIn he accept
ed rs indlsputabe evidence OF truth what
seemed to most men OF ordinary intcli-
gence the baldest and cheapest fral:I and
the most obvious delIsion.
Mr.. HENRY RIDDLE died recently In tho
full faith of Spiritualist. He had sacri-
feed his place as Superintendent OF Schools
because Of 1t. and had fallen In tho esteem
OF men as tho victim OF a dcluson which
destroyed his judgment. Yet no never
fiinchcd. He remained a stout believer
In splrtuaism to the very last. always
ready to proclaim and defend his opinions
and convictions. 1t was the same with the
late Judge EDMoNDs. The conspicuous part
hctook as preacher OF spiritualism threat
ened to ruin his practice rs q LAWYER,
and only his extraordinary legal ability
enabled him to overcome the prejudice
against him and continue his successful ca
reer In his profession. He never gave up
his communing with the spirits. as he be-
lieved them to be. Mr.. MARSH is not afraid
to make himself conspicuous at q Splritu-
alistc camp meeting, which Is regarded
generally as tho resort OF humbugs and
humhugged, The trick by which the so-called
spirit photographs can be produced has been
explained often. and often exposed in a way
which would convince any court and almost