The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1908-06-22
SP|R|TUAL|SM
IS DYING OUT
sFCOkY CREED HAS BEEN PUT IN
OiSREpUTE BY FAKE
MEDIUMS.


acrship and influence as it was two
decades ago is generally admitted. The
national organza ton, while still in eS
istence lacks the militant spirit that
characterized its earlier propaganda
Fake mediums have done much to bring
spiritualism into disrepute Twenty or
twenty-five years ago the cult
reached high tile in this country. Many
colonies were established in various
parts OF the country, including the ia
NOUS spirituaiist town of Liberal NO.
founded by Colonel G. III. Waiser a
prominent Missouri lawyer, as a Mecca
for true believers in the cult.
In its character and essence, too.
Atititualism has changed greatly since
the days Of the Fox sisters. Tie orig
inal spiritualists were rec ruitcd main
u, from the ranks OF the freet thinkers,
,ntn and women who were "at outs"
with the church and held the Bible in
adherence. Latter day spirituaiism
founGs churches. OIdains preachers,
quotes Scripture and seeks to cover it
self with the mantle of orthodoxy.
The spiritualists of today claim to
be religious. They worship God in their
meetings, preach faith from their ros-
trums and those who are true to the
0eiicf attempt to live moral and help
lui lives. But the great interest at this
particular time ceaters about that SIM
rie family in New York state that is
given credit for having borne this new
message" to the world.
HyLeSvilie was hamlet, and even at
town" On q farm two miles out stood
Uae Of those story and half houses.
Nth windows made up of many ..Ilall
!anes Of glass, having a lean-to kitch-
en- and Il latchstring that always hung
out
1t was quite 4 family that lived I'M
Ger that roof, but it remained for three
s;rs, the eldest not yet 16 and the
youngest still mere child. to commu-
nicate with the spirits. one of them,
leah, the eldest of the trio. has written
:. book of her experiences, ana in this
volume is told the whole story of how
TIE three began taeir communications
with the other world.
DefOre beginning the story OF their
adventures it may be well to say that
persons living in that part of New ,yorl,
John ID. Fox, the levcred father of the
girls. He was known as a deyout
methodist and never thought of giving
good night" to the members of the
household without having prayers.
Those who remember him, or who
know him by reputation, are willing
to stake their own reputation on his
Veracity and none doubt that what he
has told of the manifestations under
nus roof are true. Tie same faith ex-
tends to the members OF his family be-
cause ito have been reared bv tina,
good man was t nave truth instille(
into cne's soul"
Shortly after the family moved int;
tae farmhouse near Hydesviiie, accord
ing to the story given to the public
frequent rappings resounded in al
parts OF the house. Principally. thes,
were heard at night. but wen no heet
Was paid to them they became NOR,
bold and came in the daytime It wa,
a faVorite trick of the spirits. reads tn,
narrative, to rap on the char at which
Mr. Fox kneit in prayer, and later t,
rock it violently only to cease whel
he had finished his prayer.
But modern American spir;tualisn
dates it's existence from the NIGHT ~
March 81, 1s4S, when. according to tn,
recital of Mrs. Fox. the mother he
youngest child. Katie, said:
MFR. Spitfoot, do as / do" clappin,
aeT hands. The sound instantly fol.
lowed Then Marguerite the next old
est. said:
Nov do as 1 do; count one. two
three. four" striking one hant
against the other at the same time, and
C'f raps came as before
This aroused Leah. the eldest an,
she then conversed with the spirit. TIL,
net result of that talk was to learn tba
at was the spirit OF a man who had re.
sided there. had been slain, and hat
been buried in the cellar. To make surs
excavations were made in the cellar am
few human bones We're found viii
evidences that limestone had hee,
about them. Then there was unfoldef
the tale Of the murder. the man hay
ing lnysteriousiy disappeared. None OF
these facts the Fox family declared