The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-03-27
tcopyrish, 1895. All Rights Reserved

3lst OF March as the anniversary oi tho
origin of modern spiritualism, and 1t was
this pleasant little village-located in Ar
cadia township, Wayne county, n. u,
which gave 1t birth in 1S5s. Hydes-
Vile is a quaint old place
dull and sleepy. with an indescribable
finished appearance, conveying the idea
that It is absolutely completed and that
no more building or other changes can
sver take place here. Many of its pictur-
esque dwellings are overgrown with vines
ana their architecture includes just such
n porch as tired pedestrian
or traveller delights to rest in
on hot summer day. IL was
in one OF these old frame houses, still
pointed out to visitors here, that in 1S47
occurred the first manifestations OF
modern spiritualsm familiar TO the pres
ent believers in that faith. Though the
Fox sisters, Margaretta and Catherine,
through whom the first revelations
of supposed spirit power were
made, have recently denounced themselves
as charlatans who have been wilfully per-
petrating gross and premeditated fraud
for many years, and though they have
stated that the so-called "spirit rap
pings" which created such an immense
sensation AZ years,ago, were produced by
voluntary cracking of their toe
joints, the faith of believers In
spiritualism is in nowise shaken.
The latter say that though the Fox
sisters may be imposters, as they have de-
clared themselves, yet the great truths
and principles of modern spiritualism
stand as firmly and shine as brightly as
ever. They say that these date back
far beyond the time OF the Fox
girls. Even in that low, ram
bling, two story house, in which
those mendacious young women hrst
cracked their toe joints, it is claimed that
genuine spiritual phenomena were OBJ
served before the Fox girls ever inhabited
it. In 1S47 the house was occupied by
one Michael Weekman and his family, a
poor, ignorant Iaborer, with no thought
beyond his daily toll for his daily
bread. He and his family were
soon troubled by mysterious raps heard
in all parts of their dwelling, especially
at night, an annoyance that increased to
such an extent that sleep became impos-
sfble. During all this time the Fox
sisters, then mere children, aged ii and
years, lived with their parents several
miles away, so that they could not possibly
have had q hand or a toe joint In the mys-
terious rappings at Mr.. Weekman's house.
It was this constantly increasing annoy
snce of loud raps. which, though dill
gently Investigated, could not be traced
to any human agency and soon caused Mr..
Weekmsn to abandon his residence.
Then 1t was on March /, 1S4S, Mr.. John
ID. Fox aud his family became its occu-
pants. The mysterious raps still contin-
ued. The neighbors were called in on
several occasions and every possible effort
made to trace their origin, but in vain.
1t was on the night of March 81, OF that
same year of 184S, that the mysterious
raps first gave evidence of being directed
by some controlling intelligence. The
family had retired during brief lull in
the mysterious rappings when suddenly
1t began again. occurring this time near
the bed occupied by the two little daugh-
ters, Margaretta and Catherine. The latter
began TO snap her fingers in imitation of
the sounds, which Immediately responded.
snow do as do,' she cried, "count ], 2,
ga, 3, g." at the same time striking her
hands together. Mrs. tox, the girls
mother, then desired he unseen agency to
count ten. and that number of raps i'm
mediately followed. "Tell us the age of
Cathy"-the younger daug hter-"by rap
ping one for each year." said the mother,
and ten distinct raps were heard. Startled
by these manifestations, Mrs. Fox asked
IL it was human being who was rapping,
but no answering sound was heard. "If
you are spirit make two distinct
sounds" she said, and two loud raps re-
sponded.
Kate Fox, in her exposure OF spiritual
ism, has declared that she and her sister
were producing these mysterious raps
while lying i'm beJ and almost choking
with laughter at the clever imposition
they were practising on their mother.
The power OF cracking the toe joints,
by which they produced their mysterious
"spirit rappings," they had accidentally
discovered and had practiced until hey
had acquired great proficiency. BE that
as 1t may, these supposed manifes-
tations OF spirit power created an
intense excitement. The family arose
from their beds and searched every
portion OF the house without result. The
neighbors were called in and numerous
questions asked TO which answers were
recei we'd from the mysterious raps. BY
sunrise the whole village was on the spot
and the little house was crowded in every
part. Finally the spirit was asked
TO spell out his or her name by rapping at
the correct letters as the alphabet was re-
peated. AS result the name OF Charles
b. Rosma was obtained, and the spirit
said he was peddler who had been MUIR
dered in that house few years before.
Soon afterward the Fox family removed
TO Rochester, ". Y, and the same spirit
nal manifestations continued i'm their
new home, but only when Catherine or
Margaretts were present. BY using
the letters OF the alphabet in the
manner already indicated, the Fox
sisters said that they found a great num-
Der OF departed spirits who desired TO
converse with them and to use them as a
medium OF communication with their de-
parted friends.
At length the alleged spirits communi-
Gated to the Fox girls their desire that
there should be held public meeting, at
which committee OF investigation
chosen by the audience, should deter
mine whether they were genuine
spirits and produced their so-called mani
festations without human aid. Such n