Year: 1868

A Terpsichorean Festival.


BOSTON, April I, 1868


The twentieth anniversary of the discovery Of
modern spiritualism, or what was at the time more
popularity known as the Rochester knOckings," was
celebrated here on liberal scale yesterday and last
evening by the spirituasts Of New England and
vicinity The festivities took place in the Music
Hall and were Of a varied and somewhat jovial char
acter. Probably not less than two thousand par
ticipated and besides the usual number Of speeches.
nspirational and otherwise there was a children's
celebration and after the intellectual efrusions Of
the evening the adults united in tripping the light
fantastic toe until an early hodr in the morning.


At the evening meeting DR.. II. F. Gardiner one well
known to spritualists, was chosen to preside. In
calling the meeting to order he said he had under
stood that there was one man present who had made
his boasts during the day that he should occupy
good portion Of the evening In presenting his own
peculiar views on spirituaism and that all other
speakers would be obliged to yield him the floor. Dr.
Gardiner added that the attempted to carry out
his threat and violate the rules OF decency he would
instantly be elected by police force who were on
duty in the hall for that special purpose. These
words evidently had the effect to intimdate the evil
disposed member, for the proceedings began and
went on to the end without interruption.


The President commenced by extending cordial
greeting to those who had come together for the pur
pose of uniting in celebration in honor Of the twen-



ern spiritualsm. He thought such army Us had
sembled the occasion was sufficient to show to the
world that spritualism Is immortal in principle,
and that in spite Of all obstacles and superstitons
it will continue to live and thrive He then stated
that the first discovery OF this modern spiritualism
was made by Miss Fox, in small village known
as Hydeville near the city OF Rochester in the State
OF New York. who was the first to COM
SI world. he him Himself believed ed t that i before re
the present century communication was had In some
form with the spirits, but in consequence of public



made practical until about twenty years ago, and
since that time no less than eleven millions of the
most intelligent people In the world have had CON-
muncation with their friends In the golden world.
The glad sound, he continued, seems to echo over
the whole world that man Is immortal and his soul
secure and when he saw many people coming to
appreciate this he felt that 1t Joy enough for
day, and he would like to have OF the learned
professors of fair Harvard come forward now, If
they had the courage to dispute the actual pracca-
bIty of sprituasn and repeat their assertion that
IL was detrimental to the morals OF the human race.


Mrs. Emma Frances Jay Bulene the first trance
speaker who ever appeared in Boston, then spoke in
the trance state for about half an hour. She said
that thirteen years had passed since She tmid and
shrinking maiden, had come to the city glimmer-
ing star, and that since that time spirituaism had
shown out IN glorious midday efulgence, shedding
shadow Of that world Of fadeess beauty where the
wicked not troublesome and the good at rest
II was q glorious truth, which had given birth to
new truths and happier conditions OF mind, and for
all the world these truths have been spoken that the
people may be glorified by the grand announcement
that all are immortal, that there is dark shadow
Of DEATH but that all Is hope. wisdom, knowledge and
truth, and that all darkness and shadows are
dispelled. Manifestations innumerable stand out
in bold relief against all denials, and
they burn with steady and brilliant
WIN 40 nos thai e ca 10 Ise M
power Some years ago, she continued, a rosebud
daughter was born her, whose physical powers were
mediumistc that hundreds OF angels from the
spirit were daily transcribed TO her sphere, and for
five hours at time that star would burn, glow and
scintate Gnaengng al mSrials mort to gansay Its pow
death, but she always claimed, and rightly too, that
however young the infant 1t possessed all the mag
netism Of those more mature, and could speak with
power equal to that star that hailed the coming
miracle, and she hoped that all her spiritual friends
would see to II and treasure up every little waf of
pure thought for 1t Is them to whom they to look
FOR pers0ntcation OF the pure faith Of a coming
Immortality through the glowing stars Of eternal
truth


After Mrs. Bullene's trance remarks the President
read dispatches from the officers Of spirta meetings
assembled during the day IN Cleveland and Chicago
greeting-one IN action to-day and one in purpose
and one in destiny always" The Chicago dispatches
announced that the spiritualists In tnat city were
having glorious time.


Seldom ]. Finney, OF Troy, n Y, was then intro
duced. He claimed that the table upon which the
raps made is the only door which stands between
materialism and the spirit world, and those who
come from that golden land make Snown their
presence by their raps. The advance in spirituasm
he added, Is rapid and progressive, and none
could dispute but this was actually an era
when the interiors i, ,,r OF men are beng opened
OF their hearts. All literature bearing the mark OF
genius Is inibued with modern spritua3m, and even
Henry Ward Beecher who sometimes breaches ser.
mon In the personality OF the devil, Is sure the
next sabbath TO preach IN The personality OF God, all
Of which indicates that we are rising nearer and
nearer to the spirit world, and that the veil between
Is rapidly becoming thinner and more transparent
II indicates that men have other ambitions tnan for
wealth and political fame, and that the truly spiritual
are too exalted to descend TO treasure hunting. The
silent magnetism OF angel relatives In death IL ire
sstibe, and In spite OF opposition 1t mvigorates the
human heart with fresh faith In the divine and the
summer land. In concluding he said that spiritual
ism IL destined to become the great religion OF the
land a. surely as the American empire s destined To
become the great nation Of the world.


There then followed an inspirational poem by Miss
Lizzie Doen, and, after brief address by Professor
william Denton the exercises were brought to a
close by the singing Of an original hymn to the air Of
"Auld Lang Syne," composed In spirit life by Miss
A. w. Sprague, deceased some five years since, and
given inspirationay by Miss Doten. One " the
stanzas was as follows:-


The world hath felt quckening breath


From Heavens eternal shore,