Sunday morning globe., 1901-10-27


good friends Of the many different sects
may take issue with me and declare they
have comparatively few numbers in this
city, beg to remind them that | am not
discussing numbers, but the facility with
which the isms do flourish in this city, with
but little encouragement, perhaps.
But TO return to my "narrow-tale' as
some wit has said In company with some
friends I went to the meetings Of the con-
venton Of Spirtualists, which were being
held at Masonic hall, on and 9th streets,
northwest, during the past week L freely
confess 70 much interest IN all they say and
do, and am inclined to accord to every free
born American citizen the right TO free
thinking and free believing, certainly when
this freedom of thought and belief cannot
and does not possibly interfere with or in
any way iniure another in the exercise of
the same privileges Have you ever
thought how selfish, to say the least we
often are in our judgments Of the wisdom
and efficacy of the personal views of our
fellowmen? I heard a discussion at this
very convention which seemed to empha.
size this fact Two persons apparently in
terested in all that took place, met in the
corridor after the lecture and seance was
over and exchanged views about the things
heard, seen and done during the evening
One said: "Well, l suppose they believe all
they say they do and know that some Of
them are very sincere people, but how on
earth anybody can hold such views and
pretend to govern their lives by them is
beyond me. / think it is the silliest thing
in the world and I am almost tempted to
think there must be some powerful tenn
poral motive for people to espouse such
beliefs"
To this outburst of confidence the other
replied in somewhat the Same strain.
"Have you ever studied anything about
spiritualism2 Do you know what it is
the people believe and why2 Have you
ever asked anyone to give you good rea-
son for believing in spiritualism? Well, /
have; and to say the least the reasons they
give are about as silly as their beliefs.
Where they can get support from the Bible
or any other recognized record for their
tenets is more than / can understand. Still
always enjoy coming to their meetings
and wish they would call out my name
sometime when they are giving messages
60 the people In the audience which they
say are entrusted to them by the spirits"
By this time had grown tired listening to
this conversation. The two were standing
quite close to me and 1 was compelled to
remain where I was for an usher had taken
my card TO Miss Margaret Gaule with the
information.tha l was waiting to speak to
her at a given spot, that being where was
now standing,
Pretty soon heard a swish OF silk skirts
and knew that / was about TO renew my
former and most pleasant acquaintance with
one of the most noted spiritual seance
mediums in America.
Miss Margaret Gaule-or as she is better
known to her friends, and believe to the
public generally in Washington Maggie
Gaule-came forward with face wreathed
in smiles, hands extended in warmest well
come was about to say in royal" well
come, but being a thorough going Ameri-
can, cannot believe in royal welcomes
in our country.
Miss Gaule had at one time given me some
remarkable tests Of her very marvellous
powers / am not believer in the tenets
of spiritualism, mainly because I don't
know what those teuets are, and also be-
cause I am not a believer in any dogma
or set creed reserving the right to weight
and think on these momeutous questions
FOR myself simply basing my personal views
on the general truths of Christianity
Nevertheless I have great respect for Miss
Gaule aud others who, while holding diff
ferent views, accord me the privilege / so
value in any line Of thought that ofpeIfect
freedom both Of belief and expression of
the same.
At the time mentioned, my sister
Carie-now grand opera soloist-and
for whom believe Miss Gaule
holds the warmest friendship asked me
10 go with her to a test seance TO be held by
this lady We went, and IL all spiritualism
is as beautiful and as sincere as the ex-
preston Of il is in the utterances of
Margaret Gaule, / am almost tempted to
study It's gospel closer and say to others "go
and do likewise"
/ make this explanation TO show why she
should have given me such a warm wei
come. We chatted about things in general,
and nothing in particular, and expressing a
desire to have a faithful account of the
present meetings written up in the GLOBE,
Miss Gaule returned to the hall and l re-
tired II was not convenient for me to
attend another meeting, so 1 did not have
the pleasure of hearing her speak In Wash
ington. Aud thereby hangs a tale.
A friend from Chicago who was a dele
gate to this convention, was stopping at
one of the uptown hotels and 80 advised me
by letter, asking me to call. did so. It
appeared that she had some bran new bust
ness venture to propose to me- If there Is
anything dote on It Is bran new business
ventures. There are stacks and stacks Of
letters, documents, and whatnot stored in
my Office which attest this fact But this is
digression. ] listened TO the account of
this latest business scheme with much in
terest and had forgotten all about the fact
that my friend was a real, sure enough
spiritualist, high up in the order and sin
cere in her belief In the creeds thereof A
chance mention of Miss Gaule brought out
this fact In speaking about my meeting
Of the night before, mention was made of
the invitation to return and report the