Year: 1859

SPIR,TuALism.-Ab beliefs increas-
ing and Strengthening, not only in our
own country beneath the shade of
free institutions. but IN monarchical
Europe under the inexorable eye of
the immaculate Church, and even in
China and the isles Of the ocean, of
spirit existences surrounding. impell-
ing and controlling us. We, all of us,
have seen individuals of accepted
character for truthfulness who declare
the wonderful things they have seen;
articles of furniture moved by unseen
agencies-writing of mysterious SEN
tences in still more mysterious man.
ner--and even some who are ready
10 and do affirm they have seen, and
not with the eye of faith alone, the
etherialized forms of spirits them
selves and held communion with
them.


Are we returning to the mysticism
and superstitions OF ages agone, or in
the progression of mind are we APP
proximating to the beatified intelli-
gencies illumined with the rays of
central Light Is man losing judg-



ment and surrendering the citadel of
reason to wander in the wild realms
of Imagination, or be is sweeping on
ward to a high and holy destiny,
clearing at bound the dark valley
of dread, and scaling those ramparts
from whose tops the sainted, unap-
proachable. are supposed 20 look
down on unsanctifed spirits in the
flesh below +?


Whether the age when voices whis-
pered to the Maid of Orleans and bel
ted knights vent forth to battle
impressed with the divinity of her
mission, is to come again with its
poetry, its chivalry and the wild fam
tastes of the medieval centuries, or
whether the fetters of ignorance, and
the misery of fear with which the hu-
man mind has contemplated hereto
fore the dark future in which was hid.
den his immortal destiny, are to be
dissolved and man to bask in the rays
of more genial revelation, to move
in the atmosphere of religious frees
dom, to see more clearly his great end
and more intelligently prepare for it
these are questions in view of the
march of a new belief which we see
around us, it would be we'll to settle
upon arational or philosophical basis.
The conservative religionist can but
view the trenching upon his creed
which is going on, and that too with
silent but rapid strides, with alarm.
Thousands have announced them,
selves already the professors of.a new
and sublime faith. Teachers exhibit
their wonderful powers, in professed
inspiration speaking in weird manner
of the progressive destiny of the i'm
mortal mind. Books are written
strange in doctrine. strange in reve-
lation and newspapers under the
editorial guidance of spiritualists re-
late to us astonishing events inexpli.
cableto human philosophy, and which
ought to consign the relators to the
infamy of proven impostors, or raise
them and their faith to the highest
niche in our respect and esteem.


And what is there repulslve in the
belief that instead of vast distances
and insurmountable obstacles be-
tween us and the spirit land, departed
friends, still true to their affections,
hover about,guarding, counscling and
protecting us in lif e, and revealing
themselves to us in death, lifting with
glorifed presence the doubling, trem-
bling spirit across the food which
rolls between life and eternity To



him who lives in the unwavering fai Ii
that the spirits of the good surround
and minister unto him, this may be a
charmed life The new faith does
not admit of the damnation of doubts
when ouce the mind has accepted its
truth. Whether the damnation of
false belief will follow as the old-fogy
christians say, is yet to be deter
mined.


GAME The season for game hav-
ing arrived Archie McAllister is pre-.