The herald., 1896-04-05
ALLEGED SEANCE AGAIN
HUTCHINSON ANSWERS THE OPEN LETTER
WRITTEN BY ELLA L. MERRIAM
Sad to Think That the Spirits Of the De-
parted Have No Higher Duties Than to
Dabbls In the SilIiest Of Earthly Con.
cerns-In the Depth Of Jeanie's Eyes

| I see that my very brief and desultory
remarks concerning a late alleged spiritual
seance are not encountered with the weight
of everybody's approval For this keen
qualification am deeply grateful to the
gratifisr.
In this wobbling, fioundering world 1
hold it to be delightful to be able to dis
agree with most people on most topics,
and am always ready TO look askance at
any one who processes to agree with my
self or anybody else on many topics in
general, or on the details of any topic.
We who have travelled entirely different
mental routes have no right to agree with
each other on most subjects of speculation.
At present do not know that there are
any subjects that are not subjects of spec
ulation.
Ella Lucy Merriam, who asks me to
"judge not" asks that which no mortal
who knows anything. or who thinks he
knows anything, or who has the advantage
of a stock of "sense'' and sense impress
sions, can by any possibility grant.
The human mind is 80 constituted that
the judgment is absolutely independent of
the will. and is governed entirely by the
weight of evidence at the moment of de-
cision and estimation. 1t is also perfectly
variable and changes and vacillates with
all new evidence and with each new view
of old evidence.
In the matter of decision the will has no
influence over the judgment, but it may aid
it or injure it by educational methods only
In immediate action the will cannot affect
the judgment, but the judgment may direct
the will.
This will explain why it is that all men
know the folly of their own vices and
crimes, yet have not sufficient will power
Al L. IA H.. IL.
how it is that all men neglect their educa-
tion-the education of the judgment-so
that they are compelled to founder in
falsehood and mystery when they might
judge in the clear light of truth. So much
by way of preface.
Sorrow and Sadness and Pity are my
fellow travellers when l approach the re-
gions l now speak of. Flippancy would be
barred by the presence of hosts of good
rcople who are "believers," but | have
even stronger and more selfish reasons for
speaking seriously on this subject.
must die.
sisters, and "another, not a sister," all of
whom are dearer TO me-a thousand times
dearer-than my own life, all must die.
All the brave men and women that l
love for their bravery must die.
All that are and are to be must die. All
that were have died already. / do not
know where any that we're now are; do
not know where those that are will be;
do not know where those that will be are;
do not even know that they now are.
Therefore, am sad. lam sad when /
see things that are pitful; when l see
people playing with the hereafter;
when l see people who know almost
nothing. pretending that bleared physical
eyes can see invisible spirits. and that
physical hands can grasp Intangible hands;
when see the pretended spirits ''dshon-
oring'' those who loved them and consort-
ing with doubtful characters and strangers
who bring them ''from the hereafter" to
exhibit them like specimens in sdeshow
at % cents head; when see them scorn
the light of day, or a two-penny cam
die, and skulk in darkness and
seek refuge in cabinets, where mediums
| congregate; when | see much-loved and
erstwhile dutful son come back from
"spirtland,' scorn his loving old father
and mother, who are sitting in the audi
once, and go into the dark and greasy cabl-
net to ho.d converse with some "medium"
who has been convicted of half the crimes
in the catalogue.