The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-08-16
SHIRT WORLD In 1896.
Visions Claimed to BE Seen by Re-
sponsiblc Persons.
Harner's

Harper's Weekly.
We have heard comparatively little lately
from the various societies for pSychical re-
search. and there seems TO be a temporary
lull III the activity of the hypnotists; but
the Theosophists. who are far superior in
knowledge OF the unknown to these peo-
pie. whose mahatmas know all that Is in
creation, all that has been and pretty much
all that viii be. have had some interesting
proceedings. and the year 1896 has. thus
far. had its full complement of ghost sto-
ries. The unseen but noisy spooks in Sill
verton Abbey have received many columns
OF careful attention in the English news
papers, and are still unlaid. In Seabrooke,'
N. H., the face of the first wife of a re-
Gently deceased farmer appeared suddenly
upon the tombstone erected TO his mem
Dry, much to the annoyance of his second
wife, who was doubtless looking forward
TO n peaceful w~idowhood In one of the
many Italian settlements in the heart of
New York city the face of the Virgin Mary.
crowned with a halo. appears at an upper
window OF a partly deserted house, and the
omen thrills even the policemen on the
beat.
These visions and visitations are all au-
thenticated by responsible persons as
ghost stories always are. But they are still
less worthy of credence than the long and
informing letter dictated to a medium by
the spirit OF a physician who was killed
IN q street accident. His widow firmly be-
lieveS in the authenticity of this document,
and she ought 10 know. The letter is as
verbose and platitudinous as such COM
munications generally are, but IL Is impor-
tant because of it's direct contradiction of
the most CnCrlSled Delef or the 1heOSO-
phists and their mahatmas. They cling TO
the Brahma-Buddhist doctrine of reincar-
nation. The souls of men are used over
and over again in the processes of creation,
and are housed according TO their value.
When two members OF the society were
recently married by a yelled mahatma, il
was expressly stated that they had known
and loved each other five thousand years
before: and a little girl. who delivered an
address to the embassy starting upon an
around-the-world mission OF enlightenment,
remarked that while her body was young.
her soul was very old. indeed.
Now this physicians soul, the moment 1t
realized that il had been separated from
the body. found itself in company with the
souls of the physicians deceased children.
his parents. his wife's parents. their grand
parents and ancestors for many genera
TONS Here were these spirits. evidently
with no work on hand. unattached. loiter-
ing about on earth for no other purpose.
as we can see. except 10 disprove the doc
trine OF reincarnation.
The most curious fact about the real
certain number of ~sentient human beings
are known 10 believe-is that they are in
variabiy much less thrilling and interest
ing than the purely imaginary tales of
writer's or fiction. just rs the doings OF the
trance mediums and the occasional per-
formances OF the mahatmas are not nearly
SO clever and mystifying as the neat tricks
or the professional 'magicians' OF the
stage. who bewiider you for your entertain
ment.