The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1920-05-28
A SpiritualiSt's
Gift to His City
1t Was Accepted With Dire
Misgivings by Some
BY LEON ABRAMS

ence Hall (Philadelphial tower for
the last forty-four years are the gifts
of Philadelphia spiritualist to his
native city.
The clock is in importance second
only to the City Hail. The bell oc
cupies the honored place. in the towe,
where originally hung the Liberty
Bell.
Both the clock and the bell were
presented to PhiladelphiA in 1876 BY
Henry Seybert, fervid believer in
modern spiritualism. When Mr.. Sey
bert offered to present the city q
clock and bell his announcement
caused a protest. 1t was not Mr.
Seybert's belief in spiritualism thai
disconnected the members of estab
lished churches. 1t was MIR. Seybert's
explanation that the spirit of his
mother had requested him to present
the city with a clock and bell.
When Mr.. Seybert's offer came be
fore City Councils it caused contro
versy. The church faction had lined
up it's supporters and a heated de
bate resulted. But a clock and bel
were needed for the State House
tower, and it was decided to accept
the gift on behalf of the city.
Tho 010nix nd hn1 =
in independence Hall tower in 1876
The clock cost $4,000 and the bel
$4,000. The metal in the bell is com
posed of iron and steel of American
cannons used during the revolutionary
War, the War of 1872, the Mexican
War and the Civil War 1t weighs
$4,000 pounds, each of the Is colonies
being represented by 1000 pounds. II
was first rung on July 4, 1876.
The clock is the largest Setf
Thomas timepiece in the United
States. 1t has a gravity escapemenl
and is similar to the famous clock
in Westminster Abbey. A clockkeepel
is employed to keep it regulated.
For some time after the Seyber,
gift was installed many persons
| looked up at the tall tower with e
feeling of dire misgiving. The cir
cumstances under which the clock and
bell had heen acquired caused then
to shake their heads wisely.
The clock has proved an excellent
time keeper. Several months ago the
hell struck shortly before the hour
and then again after the hour This
was due to erosion, inevitable. not
withstanding regular fabrication.
| Henry Seybert died in 1883, at the
age of 81 years. Shortly before hi!
death he bequeathed to the Univer
sity. of Pennsylvania 100000 for the
endowment of chair of intellectual
and moral philosophy with the condi
ton that the University should ap
point q commission to investigate thu
subjec of modern spiritualism.
The commission appointed by the
board of trustees of the University
consisted of the provost, the Rev. G
S. Fullerton, the incumbent of the
chair, DR.. Joseph Leidy; Prof. R. E
Thompson and Prof. George A. Koe
mig, to whom were later added DR.
Horace Howard Furness, DR.. S. Wen
Mitchell, DR.. ]. W. White, DR.. Calvin
B. Knerr and Mr.. Coleman Sellers.
This body of men held an extensive
series of seances with various medi
ums, and in 1887 published a prelim
mary report of their investigation
| The report contained nothing favor
able to modern spiritualism, nor any
thing enlightning on the subject. In
fact, the greater part of the report was
given to the exposure of cheap trick
cry perpetrated by charlatans and de
signing mediums.
The report of the Seybert com
mission attracted considerable atten
ton and was summarized in newspa
pers throughout this country, Great
Britain and Europe. According to
nearly all of the press notices, the
investigation repudiated the claims OF
modern spiritualism, the report of the
commission being construed as de-
nouncing alleged communication with
the dead as mere legerdemain.
Shortly after the preliminary re-
port of the Seybert commission had
been made, review of the report was
issued by the American Spiritualists'
Alliance. The review, published in
the Banner of Light, was scathing
criticism of the members of the Sey-
bert commission, and the manner in
which they had conducted the investi
CATION The review stated that the
members of the commission were i'll
competent to investigate psychic re-
search or pass judgment on modern
spiritualism. 1t condemned the report
as misleading, accused the commission
as having violated the condition OF
Mr.. Seybert's bequest and charged the
commission with delusive representa-
ton.
So much for the Seybert commits
sion and the review
The controversy eventually dropped.
Gdt with the passing of years an
.,;,,o. ,rou,+b in tho naliaf of mod