Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1917-09-26
SPlRlTUALlSTS IN
 ANNUAL CONVENTION
Hundreds Assemble in New York tt
 Attend Silver Jubilee Meeting.


 guests and employees of the Waldorf Astoria are hoping that all the spirits to be found under the roof of the big hostelry this week may be confined in the bottles behind the hotel bar. It is not the spirits of this sort, how eve1. that they have in mind. What is feared is 8 visit from spirits of another kind, the sort who make the tables rock in darkened rooms, who rap on the bed when ones half asleep, and who perform slaAe-writ- ing and sundry other stunts to the mystification of the initiated.
 Among the guests registered at the and experts in spiritualism who have come from all sections of the United States and Canada to attend the silver jubilee convention of the National Spiritualists' association, the sessions of which will continue through the remainder of the week. The associa- tion embraces more than 1000 local societies in the United States and Canada, having an aggregate member ship of upwards of 100000 avowed Spiritualists.
 One of the important items of bus;- ness at the convention will be the consideration of plans for a big cele- bration' to be held next year in honor of the seventieth anniversary of the event which is considered the foun- dation of modern American Spiritual ism. The celebration probably will take the form of pilgrimage of the leaders and their followers to the vil- lage of Hydesville, N. Y, which is regarded as the cradle of the cult.
 On farm near Hydesville there liv- ed seventy years ago family by the name of Fox, of which the head, John D. Fox, was known as a devout Methodist. Besides the father and mother the family included three daughters, the eldest not yet 16 and the youngest still mere child.
 Shortly after the Fox family moved into the farmhouse, according to the story given to the public, frequent rappings resounded in all parts of the house Principally, these were heard at night, but. when no heed was paid to them they became more bold and came in the daytime.
 But modern. American spiritualism dates it's existence from the night of March 31, 1848, when, according to the recital of MrsA Fox, the mother. her youngest child began to converse with the spirit. The result of the conversation was to learn that it was the spirit of man who had resided there. had been slain, and had been buried in the cellar. To make sure excavations were made in the cellar and human bones were found, with evidence that limestone had been about them. None of these facts. the Fox family declared, were known to them.
 But this seems to have been but an introduction, if the tales told by the girls are to be believed. More and noisier spirits came, and, al- though efforts were made to discour- age the yisitations, they would not ,desist. With each effort to stop the Intrusion they became stronger. ap- parently, for they actually began per secutions. Beds were tossed about the rooms, heavy pieces of furniture were moved about, the family was not permitted to eat in peace.
 Finally the, eldest daughter was prompted to get large alphabet, and by pointing ito letters and having them identified my raps on the table. had spelled out to her message di- recttng her to proclaim the truths of Spiritualism to the world.
 During the remainder of their lives the Fox sisters toured the country. giving lectures and demon strations. In New York city many noted men. among them William Cul- len Bryant and other. literary cele- brities. attended seances and confess ed themselves mystified by what they had seen and heard. Similar results Followed the public appearance of the Fox sisters in other large cities throughout the country. Scientists at Harvard and other universities are declared to have tried in vain to solve the mystery"