Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1910-01-21
ANDREW JACKSON DAVIS.
An lllterate Youth Who Spoke and Read
Languages Of Which He Was Totally
Ignorant While in a Trance.

Andrew Jackson Davis, beginning his
life as an illiterate youth of 10 who dwelt
In frances. spoke and read languages of
which he was totally ignorant, and clair
voyanty visited regions on earth and in
other spheres, has closed 1t in Water
town. at his summer home, as a reput-
able, though peculiar practitioner of medi-
cine-which he did not study until he was
more than so years old, and then grad
uated from a full course Of study at the
New York medical college. He was a
farmers boy, but was a shoemakers APP
prentice when in 1S43 his extraordinary
clairvoyant powers were discovered, and
developed by William Livingston, a trav-
cling eXpositor Of mesmerism. His trance
ntterances were far beyond any ability
Of the mesmerist to inspire, and they COW
cred not only the strange gift of tongues
which he manifested; and he never be-
came commonplace. while he dealt with
the diagnosis of diseases and dictated
medical prescriptions in the magnetic
sleep which were apparently as effec-
tual as those Of educated practitioners.
[ But this sort Of work ceased to be his;
after in 1874 March - he fell into a
trance in which he met and conversed
with spirits and began his large dis
courses on all concerns OF human life,
present and future; and when his "Prin-
| cples Of Nature; Her Divine Revela-
! lions, appeared in 1915, he was recog-
]
| new Spiritualist movement, teaching from
! the interior state" as Swedenborg had
! done. He was never concerned in table
! tipping, raps, and the other phenomena
| OF mediumship. which he declared to
| belong to the infancy of spirit communi-
cation. He lived in an atmosphere of
| the further world He wrote a great
/ many books of things human, divine, and
| in the mid-region Of life in the borders of
/ the worlds; in fact, he was the first
| philosopher Of Spirtualism. His books
! are of mixed merit. but there is no deny
! ing that they abound in an interest more
/ than casual, though no doubt so largely
! forgotten that his name is strange to the
/ present and even the next preceding
| generation. Few can now remember to
| have read his big work. THE Great Har-
monia" in four volumes or even his most
/ entertaining and worthy book, THE Magic
| staff" 1t is not worth while to record the
! titles Of voluminous output; but what
! ever one may think Of his claims to
/ special spiritual experience and authority,
| these many writings abound in matter of
/ psychologist and sociologic interest.
Davis in his prime, 40 years ago. had
| q. personality Of remarkable effect He
was then slight Of figure. with dark hair
/ worn somewhat long. a brilliant and ques-
| toning eye: a magnetic impression ra-
dated from him. He was to be met at
| antislavery and woman suffrage meetings
where he espoused the advanced ideas
| And when he was at last ready, he OBJ
/ tanned medical education for the purpose
| OF practiCiug his unusual healing gifts
| with a basis of scientific knowledge which
would remove him from the mere
! "healers." How he was received by the
medical profession we do not remember,
but it appears that in Boston, where his
medical practice was. he had a certain
amount Of success. \ Boston paper says:
DIR. Davis's methods of diagnosis were
peculiar to himself He did not feel the
pulse, or look at the tongue, or take the
temperature, or use the stethoscope on his
patients. or ask them any questions. He
merely put the tips OF his fingers on the
palm of his patients hand and thus
"sensed" his physical condition Then he
prescribed such remedies as his knowledge
Of therapeutics directed. He was i'm
mensely popular with his patients. Every
one loved him. He was always ready
with wise counsel or pleas Jest He
had a keen sense of humor. with his
medical and hygienic advice he mingled
sound common sense and great deal OF
genial kindly philosophy, so that his pa
TENTS always went away In a hopeful
frame of mind. He was extremely be-
nevolent. and devoted much Of his time
to patients who could afford TO pay little
or nothing Thousands of men and wo-
men in and around Boston will feel that
the world is poorer now that DR.. Davis
has gone"