Evening star., 1897-04-09
MODERN SPIRITUALISM.
Celebration of the 49th Anniversary
I'm This City.

The celebration of the forty-ninth ami
versary of modern spirtualism, which was
held under the auspices of the National
Spiritualists' Association of the United
States and Canada, took place Wednesday
afternoon and last evening at Masonic Tenn
pie, corner of 9th and + streets northwest,
in the presence of a large audience.
President Harrison ID. Barrett of the Ma
tional Spiritualsts Association presided
and introduced the speakers. Others on the
platform were Rev. Cora l.. V. Richmond,
vice president National Spiritualists' Asso-
citation, pastor of the Church of the Soul,
Chicago, ILL.,: DR.. George A. Fuller. Mr.. q.
a. Bacon, Washington Mr.. L. V. Moulton,
president Michigan State Association. prcsi-
dent Massachusetts State Spiritualists AS
Sociation; Rev. F. A. Wiggin, acting pastor
First Association Spir;tualists, Washington;
Rev. Rachel Walcott, pastor Spiritualist
Church. Baltimore: DIR. W. A. Croffut.
Washington Secular League, and Prof.
Markham of New York.
The exercises were opened with the sing
ing by the audience. Prof Markham leading,
of a hymn, Sowing in the morning, SOW
ing seeds of Kindness" at the conclusion Of
which Mr.. Bacon made short address.
DIR. Fuller's Address.
The principal speech of the evening was
by DR.. George A. Fuller, who in part said:
The times were ominous for change when
SpiIikudiiSu SdLlc iAlO SAiStciiSS lh ASfS.
DR.. Fuller then gave long but interesting
account of the origin OF the belief and.
continuing. said: I'm those days revolution
was in the air. Many a battle had been
fought, and now old religions were dying
and new ones coming into existence. Yet
1t was an era of great beginnings.
THE beliefs that obtained general credence
fifty years ego might do for those days.
but not for the present, and religion cannot
be kept in the minds of the public except
by following the lead Of those who are in
vestigating.
'Spiritualism at its birth shone with a
light all its own, and science was quick to
recognize it. They were brave men and
brave women who founded modern spiritual
ism, and the difficulties they encountered
We're enough to appall the stoutest heart.
They were heaped with abuse. and where
this failed to accomplish the purpose OF
their prosecutors, those who disagreed with
the latter were socially ostracised
The predecessor of spiritualism, mes
.netism, has been accepted by churches
generally, but mesmerism has been rechris
tened hypnotism. AS science spritualism
denotes facts which really exist. We are
not SO egotistical as to think that of all the
PEOPLE of the earth We alone have the
truth. GraVer problems confront at this
time than ever before and must not lose
sight of the fact that our religion must
keep pace with the growing intelligence of
the public"
Other Exercises.
After patriotic song by Prof. Markham
DIR. w. A. Croffut made some remarks, in
the course of which he attacked the gen.
orally accepted divine authenticity of the
Bible and expressed the hope that the time
is near at hand when Christian churches
will refuse to accept exemption from taxa
ton, and that no law would exist that
would prevent newSboys from crying their
wares in this city on Sunday.
Mr.. ]. w. McCreery read long poem,
which told the story of a visit by a newspa-
FER man during dream to heaven. and the
difficulties he experienced in getting St.
Peter to admit him through the gate-the
objection to the new arrival being that he
was in the habit of writing poetry while on
earth.
Mrs. NJ. Wheeler Brown rendered a piano
solo, following which Capt. E. w. Gould
made a speech advocating the more liberal
use of music in spiritualist meetings. He
argued that music had been used in re-
ligious gatherings since the creation of the
world or rather from the period OF Adams
grandson, but that the art was more ne
elected by the spiritualists than any other
society.
Prof. Markham led America" which was
sung by the audience with great enthusi-
asm.
Short speeches were also made by Rev.
f. A. Wiggin and Mr.. L. V. Moulton, and
Miss Richmond gave a recitation.
At the afternoon meeting those who
officiated were Messrs. H. D. Barrett, Rev.
c. L. V. Richmond. DIR. George A. Fuller.
Rev F. A. Wiggin, Rev. Rachel Walcott
and Rev. Alex. Kent of Washington.