L" >

D E V O T E D T O T H E F A C T S , P H I L O S O P H Y , A N D P R A C T I C A L U S E SO F M O D E R N S P I R I T U A L I S M .

PUBLISHED ON THE FIRST AND FIFTEENTH OF EACH MONTH.

WE HOLD THAT GOD IS OUR FATHER, MAN OUR BROTHER, IMMORTALITY OUR DESTINY.

P rove all things, hold fast that which is good. | T he life that now is shapes the life that is to be.

E d it e d b y J. H . P o w e l l .

N o . 1 1 3 , Vol. I I I . J U L Y 1 5 , 1 8 6 6 . Pbice 2d.

Spiritualism unfolds to our internal senses substantial realities, presenting Hg not only with the semblances, but the positive evidences of eternal existence, causing us to feel that the passing shadows we speak of belong not to the spiritual, out the material world. It is easy to imagine that we are dealing with the ab­solute and euduriug, because we associate our thoughts with the external and apparentlylasting; but, on reflection, we discover that the only absolute anden- fliiring facts aro beyond the tom!».

O D E D U T Y T O C H I L D R E N .

A s c h i l d r e n w e e n t e r e x i s t e n c e h a v i n g n o v o i c e i n t h o a f f a i r s o f s o c i e t y . I f o u r s u r r o u n d i n g s h a p p e n t o b e f a v ­o u r a b l e , s o m u e l i t h e b e t t e r ; i f o n t h e c o n t r a r y , t h e y h a p p e n t o b e u n f a v o u r a b l e , s o m u c h t h e w o r s e . W e m a y b e b o r n t o a p a t r i m o n y o f r i c h e s a n d i g n o r a n c e , o r i g n o r ­a n c e a n d d i s e a s e . W e m a y b e b o r n t o a p a t r i m o n y o f t o i l , c a r e a n d m i s f o r t u n e , a n d l i v e t o c u r s e t h e d a y o n w b i c h w e w e r e b o r n . W h a t o v o r p o s s e s s i o n s f a l l t o u s b y v i r t u e o f b i r t h , a r e m a n i f e s t l y i n h e r i t e d , a n d o u r s b y n o f a u l t o r m e r i t o f o u r o w n . S e e i n g t h i s , w o a c k n o w l e d g e t h e c h a i n t h a t l i n k s t h e p a s t t o t h e p r e s e n t , a n d t h e p r e s e n t t o t h e f u t u r e ; a n d c a n n o t f a i l t o s e e h o w n e c e s s a r y i t i s f o r u s , a s .m e n a n d w o m e n , f a t h e r s a n d m o t h e r s , t o n e g l e c t n o d u t y t o w a r d s o u r c h i l d r e n , w h o a r e t o b e t h e m e n a n d w o m e n o f t h e f u t u r e . W o h a v e i t i n o u r p o w e r t o l e a v e t h e m e i t h e r l e g a c i e s o f g o o d o r e v i l . W e m a y c h o o s e t o f e e d t h e i r l i t t l e s o u l s w i t h t h e m a n n a o f h e a v e n l y t r u t h , o r t h e h u s k s o f d o c t r i n e . T o u s b e l o n g s t h e m i s s i o n o f s u r ­r o u n d i n g t h e y o u n g w i t h s u c h c o n d i t i o n s a s w i l l i n c l i n e t h e m to t h e p r a c t i c e o f v i r t u e o r v i c e . C h i l d r e n a r o r e a d i l y i m ­p r e s s e d ; t h e y h a v e n o w o r l d - c a r e s h a u n t i n g t h e i r y o u n g

l i v e s ( a t l e a s t n o t t h o s e w h o m a y b e s a i d t o e n j o y c h i l d ­h o o d ) . “ A s t h e t w i g i s b e n t , t h e t r e e ’ s i n c l i n e d . ” P a r ­e n t s , t e a c h e r s , p l a y m a t e s , a l l a n i m a t o a n d i n a n i m a t e o b j e c t s t h a t a r e s e e n b y t h e m , a f f e c t t h e m . H e n c e t h e n e ­c e s s i t y o f m a t e r n a l s o l i c i t u d e , g e n i a l i n f l u e n c e s a n d g e n t l e I n s t r u c t i o n , t o a n s w e r t h e d o i n a n d s o f t h e c h i l d ’ s n a t u r e . T h o s e o n l y d e s e r v e t h e n a m e o f p a r e n t i n i t s l o f t i e s t s e n s e , w h o f e e l t h e m s e l v e s r e s p o n s i b l e f o r m o r e t h a n t h e f o o d a n d c l o t h i n g o f t h e i r c h i l d r e n . N o t h i n g i s e a s i e r t h a n t o f e e d , d r e s s a n d s p o i l c h i l d r e n . E o o l i s h p a r e n t s i m a g i n e t h a t t h e i r l o v e f o r t h e i r c h i l d r e n i s m e a s u r e d b y t h e f i n e c l o t h e s , a n d q u a n t i t y a n d q u a l i t y o f t h e d i e t t h e y g i v e t h e m . T h i s i s a f a t a l m i s t a k e . G i v e a c h i l d a n e x a m p l e o f h o a o s t y a n d i u d u s t r y , a n d a l t h o u g h i t s h a l l b e v e r y c o a r s e l y f e d a n d c l o t h e d , i t s h a l l l e a r n t o r e s p e c t y o u w i t h a f e e l i n g t h a t t i m e w i l l d e e p e n ; b e c a u s e b y s o d o i n g , y o u g u m f o o d t o t h e s o u l w h i c h n e v e r p a l l s u p o n t h e s p i r i t u a l a p p e t i t e . P a r ­e n t s w h o r e c o g n i z e o n l y t h e a n i m a l i n t h e i r c k i l d r o n , a r o a n n u a l i z e d t h e m s e l v e s .

N o t h i n g i n c r e a t i o n i s m o r e b e a u t i f u l t h a n a g u i l e l e s s c h i l d . A s i t s l i f e u n f o l d s w e b e h o l d h e a v e n u p o n e a r t h , a n d i n s t i n c t i v e l y s h u d d e r a t t h e b r u t a l t h e o l o g y w h i c h c o n ­s i g n s w h a t i t r e c o g n i z e s a s unredeemed c h i l d r e n t o p e r d i t i o n . W h a t i n f a c t c a n b e m o r e h o r r i b l e t h a n t h e p i c t u r e s o f G o d ’ s v e n g e a n c e , t h e d e v i l ’ s t r i u m p h s a n d h e l l ’ s t o r t u r e s , w h i c h t h e o l o g y p a i n t s o n t h e m e m o r y o f c h i l d r o a ? a n d y e t t o t h i s e n d , m o r e t h a n h a l f o u r S u n d a y a n d D a y s c h o o l s a r e e s t a b l i s h e d ; a n d t h e f a t a l r e s u l t f o l l o w s , t h a t v e r y m a n y o f t h e c h i l d r e n t r a i n e d i n s u c h a d a r k e n e d c r e e d , g e t

d e e p e r i n t h e d a r k a s t h e y g r o p e a l o n g , a n d a l a s ! o f t e n c l o s e t h e i r e a r t h - c a r e e r a l l t h e w o r s e f o r t h e i r c r e e d .

T h e r e i s a n o t h e r s i d e t o t h o p i c t u r e o f c h i l d - t r a i n i n g , in S u n d a y a n d D a y s c h o o l s w h i c h a c t s b e n e f i c i a l l y , t h a t i s , w h e r e G o d ’ s l o v e i s m a d e t h e p r o m i n e n t f e a t u r e , a u d t h e t e r r i b l e i d e a s o f h e l l a n d t h o d e v i l a r e k e p t i n a b e y a n c o ; o r t h e c h i l d r e n a r e p a s t f e e l i n g t h e a w f u l i m p o r t a n c e o f s u c h t e a c h i n g s . T h e b e s t w a y t o w i n a c h i l d ’ s a f f e c t i o n s i s b y k i n d n e s s ; u s e h a r s h n e s s , a n d t h e c h i l d w i l l l o n g r e m e m b e r i t , a u d n e v e r . a p p r o a c h y o u w i t h o u t f e a r . O r t h o d o x y i s a t w a r w i t h n a t u r e a n d c h i l d h o o d . I t c a n n o t h o l d i t s o w n , a n d a l l o w e v e n a l i t t l e c h i l d t o g o t o h e a v e n , w i t h o u t t h e O l i u r c h f i r s t g i v e s i t t h e p a s s h e n c e . W e h a v e n o e n d o f a b s u r d i d e a s j i r o m u l g a t e d i n o r d e r t o s q u a r e c o m m o n s e n s e w i t h d o g m a . C o m m o n s e n s e s a y s , a c h i l d c a n b y n o m a n ­n e r o f m e a n s b e a c c o u n t a b l e f o r t h e t e a c h i n g s i t h a s r e c e i v e d , a n d c e r t a i n l y c a n n o t l i e s u p p o s e d w h o n i t d i e s , t o b e c a s t i n t o H e l l , w h o r e t h e r e i s p e r p e t u a l w a i l i n g a n d g n a s l i i i i ’ ’ o f t e e t h , a n d t h o t i r o i s n e v e r q u e n c h e d . O r t h o ­d o x y r e p l i e s w i t h a t e x t , a n d g o e s o n t e a c h i n g A . 1 !. 0 . , m i x o d w i t h t h e m o s t r e p u l s i v e i d e a s w h i c h a l m o s t a n n i h i l ­a t e c o m m o n s o u s e . W o h a v e s e e n s o m u c h o f t h e e f f e c t o f o r t h o d o x t e a c h i n g t o m a k e u s f e e l t h a t a l l h o p e o f a p u r o l y n a t i o n a l s y s t e m o f r e l i g i o u s i n s t r u c t i o n ( r o l i g i o u s i n c o n t r a ­d i s t i n c t i o n . t o d o g m a t i c ) , b e i n g b r o u g h t a b o u t , m u s t d e p e n d g r e a t l y o i l c o m m o n s e n s e — w h i c h i s o f t e n v e r y u n c o m m o n — b e c a u s e , w h i l s t t h o y o u n g a r e d r i l l e d i n t o d o c t i d n a r i a n s t h e y a r e l o s i n g t h e v i t a l b o t h i n r e l i g i o n a n d k n o w l e d g e . E v e r y p a r e n t i s e n t i t l e d t i s e n d h i s c h i l d r e n t o t h e s c h o o l h o s h a l l t h i n k b e s t , b u t t h e r e i s l i t t l e c h o i c e f o r t h e p a r o n t s w h o o b j o c t u p o n c o n s c i e n t i o u s p r i n c i p l e s , t o h a v o t h e i r c h i l d r e n s t u f f e d w i t h s o m e o n e o r o t h e r o f t h e d o x i e s . U n t i l t h e q u e s t i o n s o f d o c t r i n e a r e a l l o w e d t o r e m a i n vexed, a n d t h e f o u n d e r s a n d m a n a g e r s o f s c h o o l s a r e f r e e f r o m t h e t h r a l d o m o f s e c t , t h e r i s i n g g e n e r a t i o n must s t i l l f e e d a n d s t a r v e u p o n h u s k s .

O n e o f t h e m o s t p l e a s i n g s i g n s o f S p i r i t u a l i s m i n A m e r i c a , i s t h e d a w n i n g i n t o l i f e o f “ t h e C h i l d r e n ’ s P r o g r e s s i v e L y c e u m . ” C a n n o t s o m e t h i n g l i k e i t b o s t a r t e d i n E n g l a n d ? # W h o r e a r e t h e c h i l d r e n o f S p i r i t u a l i s t s t o r e c e i v e t h a t f u l l m e a s u r e o f r e a l k n o w l e d g e w h i c h t h e i r l i t t l e s o u l s r e q u i r e , i f t h e y a r o f o r e v e r t o b o f o r c e d i n t o t h e a r m s o f o r t h o d o x y ? W e m u s t f e e l t h a t S p i r i t u a l i s m i n E n g l a n d i s v e r y s l o w i n d e e d a t w o r k i n g n o o e s s a r y c h a n g e s . W e a r o n o t d e s i r o u s o f u n d e r r a t i n g p h i l a n t h r o p y a n d r e a l z e a l i n t h e e a u s o oJ t h o y o u n g w h i c h a r e c h a r a c t e r i s t i c o f m a n y o f t h e s u p p o r t ­e r s o f t h e o r t h o d o x s c h o o l s ; h u t s i m p l y t o s h o w t h a t h u s k s o f d o g m a w i l l n o t s a t i s f y , a n d t h a t t h e p r o g r e s s i v e l i f e o f t h e a g e d e m a n d s t h a t i t s t e a c h e r s s h a l l b e l i b e r a l i n s o u l a s w e l l a s i n p u r s e a n d z e a l .

W h i l s t w o a r e f i r m l y c o n v i n c e d t h a t D o c t r i n a l i s m i s in t h e w a y o f E d u c a t i o n , w e n e v e r t h e l e s s c a n n o t s e e t h a t p u r e l y s e c u l a r e d u c a t i o n w o u l d s a t i s f y t h e d e m a n d s o f t h e c h i l d . W e m u s t n e v e r f o r g e t t h a t t h e inner a s w e l l a s t h e o u t e r n a t u r e n e e d s c u l t u r e ; a n d r e l i g i o n “ p u r e a n d u n d e - f i l e d , ” c a n o n l y s a t i s f y i t . R e l i g i o n i s n o t a c l o a k t o b e p u t o n o n c e a w e e k a n d t h e n t h r o w n o f f a g a i n . I t i s a t h i n g o f e v e r y d a y u s e , a n d c a n n o t h e s e p a r a t e d f r o m e d u c a t i o n

170 T H E S P I R I T U A L T I M E S . [July 15, 1SGG-

w i t h o u t e n d a n g e r i n g t h e s p i r i t u a l h e a l t h . L e t o u r c h i l d r e n 1)0 t a u g h t , a n d l o t t h e t e a c h i n g h o s a n c t i i i e d b y r e l i g i o n , a n d w e m a y f e e l s u r e t h a t i n t h e d e g r e e i n w h i c h w e a r e t r u e t o t h e H i g h e r L a w , w h i c h i s l o v e , t h e s o u l o f R e l i g i o n , Yire s h a l l b e n e f i t t h e r i s i n g g e n e r a t i o n .

S i n c o w r i t i n g t h i s a r t i c l e w e a r e p l e a s e d t o l e a r n t h a t s o m e o f t h e w o r k i n g S p i r i t u a l i s t s o f N o t t i n g h a m , h a v o s t a r t e d a C h i l d r e n ’ s P r o g r e s s i v e L y c e u m . W o h e a r t i l y w i s h s u c c e s s t o t h e u n d e r t a k i n g .

A L A D Y O P P O N E N T .

W e h a v e h e a r d M r s . L a w , b u t t h e w o r l d h a s n o t s t o o d s t i l l , a n d w e a r e l i t t l e t h e w i s e r . S h e d e l i v e r e d a l e e t u r o a t C l e v e l a n d H a l l , o n S u n d a y E v e n i n g , t o p r o v e t h a t S p i r i t ­u a l i s m i s n o n o v e l t y , b u t 'a n c i e n t s u p e r s t i t i o n r e v i v e d . B u t w h e r e w a s h e r p r o o f ? E c h o a n s w e r ! T h o l a d y c o m m e n c e d b y r o a d i n g f r o m t h e S piritual Times t h o n o t i c e c a l l i n g u p o n o u r r e a d e r s t o s e n d a c c o u n t s o f a p p a r i t i o n s , h a u n t i n g s , & c . , a n d e x p r e s s e d h e r s e l f h i g h l y i n d i g n a n t , t h a t a r e s p e c t a b l e J o u r n a l p u t t i n g f o r t h ‘ s u c h r u b b i s h , ’ c o u l d b e t o l e r a t e d i n t h i s N i n e t e e n t h C e n t u r y . T h o S piritual M agazine , M r . H o m e ’ s Incidents, a n d R o b e r t D a l e O w e n ’ s F ootfa lls , w e r e t h e s o u r c e s f r o m w h i c h M r s . L a w d r e w w h a t l i t t l e i n s p i r - a t i o n t h e r e w a s i n h e r l o c t u r e . S h e d o a l t f r e e l y i n w o r d s ‘ • f u l l o f s o u n d , b u t s i g n i f i y i n g n o t h i n g , ” c a l l e d n a m e s , a n d a d d e d a s s e r t i o n o n a s s e r t i o n . B u t w h a t e l s e c o u l d b e e x p e c t e d f r o m h e r ? H e r a c q u a i n t a n c e w i t h t h e s u b ­j e c t w a s l i m i t e d , h e r l e c t u r e b e i n g g o t u p f o r t h e o c c a s i o n b e c a u s e M i s s H a r d i n g e h a d b e e n ‘ s p e a k i n g S p i r i t u a l i s m ’ f r o m t h a t p l a t f o r m . A t t h e c o n c l u s i o n o f t h o l e c t u r e , w h i c h c o n t a i n e d a g o o d d e a l about S c i e n c e a n d the laws o f N ature , a n d p l e n t y o f w h a t o n e s p e a k e r c a l l e d “ a b u s e , ” b u t w h i c h w e s h o u l d c a l l a u d a c i t y , a d i s c u s s i o n e n s u e d , i n w h i c h D r . D o n o v a n , t h e P h r e n o l o g i s t , a n d t h e E d i t o r o f t h i s J o u r n a l t o o k p a r t . A f t e r t h o d e b a t e , a v o t e o f t h a n k s w a s m o v o d t o M r s . J j a w , f o r “ h e r a b l e l o c t u r o i n o p p o s i n g s u c h h u m ­b u g . ” M r s . L a w r e p l i e d , b y s a y i n g , t h a t s h e s h o u l d f o l l o w u p t h e l o c t u r e w i t h o t h e r s . W e h a v e o n l y s p a c e t o s a y t h a t w e p r a y w e m a y n o v e r l o s e f a i t h i n t h e H igher L aw b y f o l l o w i n g i n t h o f o o t s t e p s o f M r s . L a w .

M e . C ooper h a s r e t u r n e d , h a v i n g c o m p l e t e d h i s e n g a g e ­m e n t w i t h t h e D a v e n p o r t B r o t h o r s .

M O B B I N G O F S P I R I T U A L I S T S .

S ince o u r l a t e v i s i t t o C i r e n c e s t e r , a l i t t l e m o r e e x c i t e ­m e n t t h a n w o a n t i c i p a t e d , h a s p o s s e s s e d t h e p e o p l e o f t h a t q u i e t , a n t i q u e t o w n . S p i r i t u a l i s m , l i k e a r e g u l a r o l d w o m ­a n ’ s “ b o g e y , ” h a s t e r r i f i e d o n e o f t h e c l e r g y m a n i n t o t h e m a i l a t t e m p t o f p r e a c h i n g i t d o w n . S i n c o t h e n t h o l e t t e r o f M r s . G r i b b l e , w h i c h w o g a v e i n o u r l a s t , h a s c a u s e d a c o m m o t i o n m o r e r o u g h t h a n p l e a s a n t . T h e m e n a n d w o m e n o f C i r e n c e s t e r , m u s t b e a n o b l e r a c e , i f n o t o f b r a v e o n e s — o f b r a v o s — t o i n s t i g a t e t h e i r c h i l d r e n t o m o b q u i e t a n d i n o f f e n s i v e p e o p l e f o r t h e i r o p i n i o n s . T h o f o l l o w i n g l e t t e r t o t h e “ N o r t h W i l t s H e r a l d , ” o f S a t u r d a y , J u n e 3 0 t h , f r o m a n i n t e l l i g e n t c o r r e s p o n d e n t , w h o s i g n s h i m s e l f , “ A S p e c t a t o r , ” w i l l p r e s e n t o u r r e a d e r s w i t h a t o l e r a b l y c l e a r i d e a o f h o w t h e “ y o u n g i d e a ” i n C i r e n c e s t e r , “ i s t a u g h t t o ( s ) h o o t . ”

To the Editor of the “ North Wilts Herald.”Dear Sir,—Whether disembodied spirits have manifested

themselves at Stratton, as asserted in the letter published by you last week, I don’t pretend to say, but I can vouch for a series of exceedingly low manifestations by spirits in the flesh, who seem bent upon exhibiting to the passers by their degraded c mditiou.

Your article of quotations on Spiritualism seems to have excited a good deal of attention, especially at Stratton, where copies of the paper were eagerly bought up; and the poor villagers, as the result of their reading, were quite bewildered. I don’t blame them for being incredulous on the subject—for in this respect, ignorance and scientific enlightenment, in a large majority of cases, go hand in hand ; but they are certainly to blame fur their intolerance, which is a disgrace to any English village. There is a youthful mobocracy in the place, the mem­bers of which, through sheer love of mischief, make a practice of annoying quiet families ; and this mobocracy, since the issue of your last paper, has been let loose upon the unoffending subjects

of the spirit article. Passing through Stratton the other evening I witnessed the scene I am about to describe. Near the houses adjoining the Salutation Inn were congregated a number of youths, some tall and lanky, and others of the liliputiau breed, with a few girls—apparently forming one division of the mob- oeracy of the place. The party whose names have recently been associated with Spiritualism in this neighbourhood happened to pass at the time on their way home, and they were no sooner descried than they were set upon by the whole band, who set up a cliorous of groans and hisses. On walked the party, and on came the youthful mob, yelling and vociferating. One fellow called out what 1 understood to be—“ There’s a spirit,”—another —“The spirit moves,”—one said—“ Do you want a diamond ring ?” and another said something about a brooch ; but clamour chiefly prevailed. In this manner the party were followed up through Stratton to their residence, the mob halting outside the garden gate, their numbers having dwindled to little more than half a dozen, headed by one or two lanky leaders, who seemed to be well up in the onerous duties of the post. Two little girls also came up, as far as the gate, screeching and screaming, and immediately ran off in the same manner, reminding one of two firebrands. The party went indoors; but one gentleman, who was with them, stood inside the garden gate, and taking out a note-hook asked the mob to say something good, so that he might take it down. The benighted youths however, did not appear to be quite so clever as they evidently thought themselves and I don’t think he got much. I heard one fellow say;—“ It will take a[d—d sight cleverer fellow than you to come over we.”

This was deemed a witty saying, and the we who had uttered it was greeted with applause. So 1 left tho rabble, woudering that such scenes could co-exist with our expensive police mach­inery, for which the people have to pay so sweetly. I am told that similar annoyances existed long before Spiritualism was heard of in Stratton ; but things have now become worse; and I fully expect that the tall, lanky, ringleaders will be pounced upon some fine day when they least expect it, and made to pay the piper, as they so richly deserve.

The moral atmosphere of the place must be exceedingly low, else such a state of things in the face of police domiciliary visits, which have taken place could not exist; and theparentsof those youths ought to blush wheu they reflect that they have not yet taught their children the first elements of civilization. I sin­cerely hope that all concerned will take the hint, which is well meant, and bo wise in time.

E L I Z A B E T H S Q U I R R E L L .

T i i e r b i s a c u r i o u s , b u t a m o s t i n t e r e s t i n g a c c o u n t p r e s ­e r v e d o f t h e “ b l i n d n e s s , d e a f n e s s , a n d e n t i r o a b s t i n e n c e f r o m f o o d a n d d r i n k d u r i n g t w e n t y - f i v e w e e k s , o f E l i z a b e t h i S q u i r r e l l o f S h o t t i s h a m . D u r i n g s e v e r a l p r o t r a c t e d w a t c h e s , ( a l w a y s e n c o u r a g e d b y E l i z a b e t h , ) t h e r o w a s n o t h i n g b u t m y s t e r y a s a s o l u t i o n f o r t h e w a t c h e r s . H o w s h e w a s p r e s ­e r v e d — h o w a n y o n e could l i v e w i t h o u t f o o d a n d d r i n k — n o n e c o u l d u n d e r s t a n d ; s t i l l t h e r e c o r d s o f h e r w o n d e r f u l e x p e r i e n c e s f a v o u r t h o i d e a t h a t s h e did l i v e w i t h o u t f o o d a n d d r i n k f o r t w e n t y - l i v e w e e k s . T h e d o c t o r s , t h e p r e s s a n d t h e c l e r g y , a l l v e r y w i s e , d e c l a r e d t h o t h i n g i m p o s s i b l e , a n d E l i z a b e t h S q u i r r e l l a n d h e r p a r e n t s i m p o s t o r s . B u t l i k e t h e g e n e r a l s o - t e r m e d e x p o s e s o f t h e s i n g u l a r a n d m y s t e r i o u s ( m y s t e r i o u s b e c a u s e u n f r e q u e n t ) , a l l t h e a t ­t e m p t s t o c o n v i c t t h e p a r t i e s c o n c e r n e d o f i m p o s t u r e , w e r e o f t h e m o s t b u n g l i n g k i n d . E l i z a b e t h S q u i r r e l l ’ s c a s e s t a n d s p r e e m i n e n t l y o u t i n i t s s i m p l i c i t y a n d f o r m s a l i n k i n t h e c h a i n o f s p i r i t u a l e v i d e n c e s . H o r o w n d e s c r i p t i o n o f t h o G l a s s R i n g i n g p h e n o m e n o n i s g r a p h i c a n d i n t e r ­e s t i n g : —

“ Among many tilings tho subject of the glass-ringing has excited a large amount of interest, inquiry, and suspicion; and as it seems to demand a detailed account, I will narrate how it first rang, and the circumstances connected with it throughout.

“ First then it is no musical glass (a3 has been asserted), but an ordinary and half-sized tumbler; not adapted, whatever might be applied, to become tho least musical. The fact of its ringing is so intimately connected with a supernatural agency, and with my intercourse witli spirits, that whoever believes the one, cannot reject the other. But to proceed. The ringing of the above named glass commenced in the beginning of May, 1852, and has continued to be heard till within these last few weeks. M y requesting to havo the glass brought to me was purely accidental, nor had I the slightest intimation from the spirit-world to mako mo anxious for it. I had had in the morn­ing of the day on which it was first heard, a very beautiful and choice rose brought to me from the garden ; and being anxious to preserve it as long as possible from decay, I requested a young friend, who assisted in nursing me, to fetch me a tumbler of water, that 1 might place it in; and, accordingly she brought

July IS, 18GC.] T H E S P I R I T U A L TI MES . 171

me the little glass which has had such notoriety. After a few hours had elapsed the rose faded, and I wanted more. The glass was emptied, and left standing by my aide till I should receive more flowers; but it seemed not to be destined fora flower vase. Towards evening, as my mother was leaving the room, she heard a sound as if [ was touching the glass with something soft; producing a clear, soft tone. She came to my side, aud inquired if I had touched the glass; I replied in the negative, upon which she listened with breathless attention, aud in less than two minutes she distinctly heard it again twice or thrice, Convinced now that no earthly hand or agent was in communication with the glass, she was at liberty to attribute it to other,aud supernatural causes. Certain it is, that I knew that it was rung by au invisible agency ; and I conveyed to my mother my impressions concerning it. She did not reject what I said, as she had in so many instances witnessed the truth and fulfilment of my statements ; still there was a dash of mystery about it that she could not unravel. It was again heard once or twice, as my mother aud the young friend aforenamed were seated at tea by my side, aud just as I was engaged in giving an animated description of the enjoyments and spiritual vie"s I had been favored with during the day.

“ The young person was very much impressed, indeed almost awe-stricken ; as site was certain it was touched by nothing vis­ible, and that there had been no sinister design in placing the glass where it stood. Moreover, she was impressed by the fact of its ringing just at the moment when we were employed on topics relating to the immaterial. They looked at, and moved the glass, but, of couise, gained nothing satislactoiy, or what would naturally explain it, in so doing.

“ On the evening of the second day of its ringing, my father came home off a long journey, ami consequently coveted a nar­rative of all that had taken place during Ids absence. As usual, I was the narrator, and, among other things, I gave him a full account of the glass phenomenon. He was greatly surprised, and was busily engaged in inquiries, w hen the glass gave three distinct peals, not loud, but musical. He was thoroughly aston­ished, but perfectly convinced that it was not, in any way, occas­ioned by me; he was close by it, and saw that it did not move. He relieved my other friends that night, by remaining by my side, and «’as several times favoured to hear the ringing, and always when we were conversing on spiritual and elevating sub­jects. It rang as if in continuation of certain sentences, or as if to remove difficulties.

“ It continued to ring in the same manner; and the third person who heard it, has heard it upwards of fifty times ; aud is one whose veracity would not be impeached. He has mostly heard it when in prayer, close by it, and has expressed to me that his emotions and feelings, when hearing it, were indescrib­able. It has been heard to ring sufficiently loud to arrest the attention of any one who might have been standing outside the door ; while, at other times, it has appeared perfectly ethereal, or more like an asolian murmur.

“ One of its most remarkable features, is the fact of its having been more than once a warning, and a call, for assistance to the helpless. I will relate a circumstance which seemed most oppor­tune and providential in its results.

“ At the period when it first rang, I was subject to faintness of a peculiar kind ; I would sink right off, aud fall, without being able to thwart the attack in the least. I frequently lost my breath, and, but for timely assistance, should on many occasions have been in a most perilous condition. I was alone one day, a few weeks after the commencement of the glass phenomonen, when I was suddenly seized with a fit of the kind, and sank quite over the side of the bed, so that I was suspended from it. For some moments I retained consciousness, and felt my breath rapidly receding, without the slightest capability to arouse those in the adjoining apartment. I now lost consciousness, but when I sufficiently recovered to listen, my mother communicated to me the following very surprising fact relative to the glass.

“ She had not the slightest intimation of my dangerous pos­ition! and was busily engaged with her domestic duties, when she thought she heard a distinct pealing ring; she stopped only for a moment, as she concluded it was the glass, and, having heard it so frequently, she had ceased to feel astonished or alarmed. Again she was arousqd. and this time by five or six sharp clear-toned peals, like a very fine-toned bell. She now felt a presentiment of something alarming, and, on entering the room, found me in the painful position before described ; aud, on raising me, had the utmost difficulty to restore my almost extin­guished life. Here is au indisputable evidence of a preserving ageucy, and is sufficient to convince me that a guardian spirit was hovering over me, aud was capable of acting, and did act, upon that material object, in order to make us aware of its pres­ence, and to rescue me from what must, without doubt, have soon occasioned my death.

“ There could be no design here, as there was no one to wit­ness or cause this circumstance. It speaks for itself. Here was an object for its ringiug, and in the result, a proof ot its being the ageucy of a superior and invisible being. _

“ From this circumstance have arisen various misrepresent­

ations, such as I have said it was by the flitting pastmf-an angel, the brush of his wing and the like. I have said that I believed it Ufbo the work or effect of a spirit, and that that spirit I believed to be my guardian angel. But what is there so im­pious in that assertion '? why may I not assert what I believe to bo correct (even if self-deluded), without incurring reproach, suspicion, slander, misrepresentation, and the like ?

“ If I am self-deceived, it does not follow that I am guilty of imposition. If I am diseased in mind, am I not an object for pity, rather than scoff 1 But if it cannot be believed that the glass is a medium, or is acted upon by a superior intelligence, then it cannot bo accounted for, but must remain an inexpli­cable mystery.

“ That a circumstance of the kind rarely happens to any one, it does not follow that such events do not occur at all. Its rarity does not impeach its veracity.

“ The fact of its ringing is established beyond all doubt. It cannot be the work of imagination, or a deceptive sound, to upwards of forty persons; to /one of whom it has occured a-i many as fifty times.

“ It is a fact which cannot be cast overboard, nor must wo throw away as useless what we cannot understand. Some as­sertions have been made to the effect, that having a small har­mónica upon the bed, I was in the habit of concealing it beneath the clotlies, and striking or touching it when I wanted to make dupes to the glass: This reasoning I think displays a credulityfar more absurd than that of those who do not reject the real fact. Tne feud about the little instrument is soon settled, when it is known that the glass had rung several weeks before the harmonica ever rested on the bed, so that we cannot trace its origin to that. But suppose it to be so, how can it be accounted lor, when I had both my hands in those of another person repeatedly, when the sound was heard? was it not very strange that I should bo able to use it for such a purp >se 1 Common sense says that none but a most practised and experienced con­juror could have availed himself of it. I ask common sense whether I can possibly have attained to that perfection withouc any previous tuition? Again, suppose it were au invention of my own, what could be the motive Í Nothing like that would have been carried into practice without a powerful motive: what could that motive have been í I must have been sore that, instead of its meeting «itli reception, it would, on the con­trary, by the greater number be laughed at. It could not th- i. be for notoriety, as no one is so fond of notoriety as to wish for the appellation of a notorious deceiver, or a deluded fanatic.

“ If notoriety was not the motive, then there was no motive at all; and, as we cannot conceive such notoriety as it would gain to be eulogising or pleasing to anybody, we ought to bo content to allow it to remain a fact; and, if possible, to derive inform­ation, aud discover points for pleasurable investigations in tho phenomenon it presents. I am not attempting to throw a re­ligious mysteriousness over it when I assert, that it has respond­ed to many a petition from the recesses of many a sincere heart; it has decided many an uncertain surmise ; dispelled many a fear, aud unmistakeably announced the presence of some spiritual envoy. And what in all this is so barbarously obscure aud impious? Is it not written in the Old Testament, “ The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him ” ? and is it not written again in the New Testament, “ Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister’’ ? etc.

“ It has been remarked as an instanco of duplicity', that 1 would not have the glass romoved to the opposite side of tho room. I did not see the necessity of such a proceeding. Any one was at liberty to handle the glass, place it upon books, or hold my hands when there was any likelihood of hearing it. All this I submitted to ; and was I to be blamed because l would not sacrifice every feeling for tho conviction of those who were inveterate 1

“ I saw no proof of its necessity, nor could I see how it would sustain the fact. The glass stands still near my bed, and shall never know another place. I have no more to say, except that it was heard about six weeks ago, aud has not sounded 'since ; audit’ it never does again, that it has done so, is not the less an incontrovertible fact.

“ In addition to this manifestation, I have hail others of a. sensible kind, which could not be mistaken ; of which those about me were witnesses, aud whioli they were forced though reluctantly, to attribute to their true cause. I am not super­stitious, nor do I like superstitious people. 1 do not wish any one to believe without evidence ; but there is abundance of evidence in my case—not our own simply, but that of others. The romarkable phenomena alluded to I will not now detail, knowin" that they would not bo believed, but would bo treated with contempt aud ridicule by the public ; aud perhaps expose me to the sufferings of another martyrdom, which 1 have in» desire to pass through. A time, however, may come when more light will be thrown on such subjects, and I may be permitted a "hearing. I repeat, I am neither self-deluded nor phrensied, aud so far from these things having been caused, or attended by u. diseased imagination or overheated brain, they produce in »no calmness aud self-possession. When my first vision took place,my

I

172 T H E S P I R I T U A L TI MES . J,.iy is, inoß.

brother bad just come to see me, and was sitting by my side. I was delighted to have him come j was perfectly calm throughout the day, and, during the vision, was quite conscious ; there was no aberration of reason; no more delusion than at this moment.

There may be those who, solicitous for my eternal welfare, may entertain fears as to my acceptation of divine and gospel truths, on oecount of my mind being so much engaged on the subject of angels and spiritual manifestations ; thinking I have attended to the one, to the exclusion of the other, and that as regards her salvation, my soul may be in a state of “ winter,” as a certain writer on my case has described it.

“ I am thankful to be able to tell those who are thus interested about me—and that gentleman in particular—that it was not winter with me when he saw me, neither is it now. To all such 1 would say, your fears are groundless ; converse with good spirits can never injure or mislead the soul, or tempt it to seek refuse in any other than Him who has ransomed and saved it. And if I am in the truth of Jehovah, ;dark spirits can do no more than tempt me ; and He is able to deliver me from all such designs to withdraw my spirit from goodness and holiness. As soon as I trust in angels or spirits for salvation, or even for deliverance from temptation, then will every good and heavenly influence leave me, and I shall be lost.

“ My only rock of defence is the Redeemer, and my only justifier, llis Spirit. Angels, according to His wise arrangement, are envoys of a spirit-state, aud preachers of an after and never-ending existence.

“ May God add a blessing, and may the end answer the

'" 0UVe- M .E .S .A detailed account o f her visions and other spiritual

experiences, which it is unfortunato that she has kept back, would we feel sure, be most acceptable to Spiritualists.

in g th e n igh t. O n Su nd ay a servan t ca rry in g som e lin en w as p e lted b y atones, and an oth er d a y tw o w orkm en w ere th row n o ff a ladder.

(T o b e con tin u ed .)

A S P I R I T A P P E A R I N G A S A D O G .

S P I R I T U A L F A C T S .

Towards the end of the year 1746, sighs were heard issuing from the corner of M. Letart’s printing office, a counsellor of the town of Constance. At first the workmen only laughed, but the following year, in the beginning of January, they beard the noises louder thau ever. Loud knocks were heard on the wall, in the same corner where they had first heard sighs, the printers even received blows, and their hats were thrown on the ground. They had recourse to the Capuchins to exorcise the spirit, and the noises ceased for three days, at the end of that time they recommenced louder than ever, and the types were thrown against the window. They sent for a celebrated exor­cist, who endeavoured to exorcise the spirit for a week. But again the spirit boxed the ears of a young workman, and the charmer having completely failed in hjs endeavours^returned home. The spirit then continued his manœuvres, lotting some, pelting others, so that the compositors abandoned that corner of the printing office, aud placed themselves in the centre of the room, but without any effect. They therefore sent for other exorcists, one of whom possessed a piece of the real cross, which he placed on the table. The spirit however, did not ceaso to torment the workmen, and beat tiie Capuchin hrother who ac­companied the exorcist, so that they were both obliged to retiro to their convent. Others came, and mixed sand and cinders with holy water, and sprinkled the floor, and having armed themselves with swords, they struck right and left in the air, to see it they could not wound the spirit, and tried to detect traces of foot­prints. A t last they perceived that he was hemmed in on tho top uf the stove, and they remarked on the angles the prints of his bands and feet, and also on tho cinders and sand. They sue

The following narrative, given by a gentleman of veracity, was published at Edinburgh, early during the past century.

O n e W . S u t o r , a fa rm e r in M id d le m a u se , in th e m o n th o f D e c e m b e r , 1 7 2 8 , b e in g in th e fie ld s w ith h is s e rv a n ts , o v e r h e a r d a t so m e d is ta n ce as i t w e r e , a n u n c o m m o n n o is e , a n d fo l lo w in g th e v o i c e , fa n c ie d t h e y sa w a d a r k , g r e y , c o lo u r e d d o g , b u t i t w a s a d a r k n ig h t , t h e y c o n c lu d e d it w as a fo x , a n d a c c o r d in g ly w e re fo r s e t t in g o n th e ir d o g s , b u t n o t o n e w o u ld p o in t h is b e a d th a t w a y .

About a month afterwards, the said Sutor being in the same spot, aud at about the same time of night it appeared again, and on passing it, touched him so smartly on the leg, that ho felt a pain all that night. In December 1729, it passed him again at some distance. In June 1730, as he come from Dumlo city, this visitor passed him again, and it spake the words,—“ within eight or ten days, do or die,’’ and disappeared.

Ho gave an account of it to his brother, and about ten that night, one brother saw it and pointed it out to the other, ami to a servant who could not see it.

Next Saturday, it appeared to William, and said “ eome to the spot of ground, within an hour,'’ which he did. It came up and said “ I am David Sutor, I killed a man more than thirty-five years ago, at a bush by East, the road as you go into tho isle.” lie said to it, “ David Sutor was a man, and you appear as a dog." “ I killed him with a dog, and am made to speak out of the mouth of a dog, and T tell you to go, bury the bones.’ ’ Search was made, but no bones found. On the second of December, it came to William and said, “ come away, you will find the bones to the side of the withered bush, and there are only eight left, and told him at the samo time for a sign, that he would find the print of a cross, impressed on the ground.

Next day, William, his brother, and others, camo to the place where they discovered the bush and tho cross by it, and about a foot down, they found the eight bones, which that evening were buried in the churchyard of Blair. Several persons remembered the said David'Sutor, and that he had enlisted fora soldier tliirty-lbur years ago.

C iiiustoi' iieii C o o k e .

S E C O N D S I G H T I N T H E H I G H L A N D S .

Alexander Smith, in his “ Summer in Skye,’ ’ seems to be a convert to the reality of second sight, as John Foster was years ago, and tells the following story, from a Catholic priest:

I know there is such a tiling as the second sight, because 1 have had cognizance of it myself. Six or seven years ago I was staying with my friend Mr. Mulan, as I am staying now, and just as we were supping a tumbler of punch alter dinner, we heard a great uproar outside. We went out and found all tile farm servants standing oil tho grass aud gazing seawards. On inquiry, wo learned that two brothers. McMillan by name, who lived at Stonefield, beyond the point yonder, fishermen by trade, aud well versed iu the management of a boat, bad come up to tbe islands here to gather razor fish for bait. When they had secured plenty of bait, they steered forborne, although a stiff* breeze was blowing. They kept a full sail on, and went straight on the wind. A small boy, Hector, who was employed

chasin'* him from there, aud then perceived he must in herding cows, was watching the boat trying to double theneeded iu .... .. „ be under tbe table, having left on the floor marks ot Ins hands a u d feet. The dust that all this disturbance caused in the room m ide them desist from their pursuit, hut the chief exor­cist having pulled a board from the corner where the noise wan Ar t heard, found some feathers, three bones wrapped in a dirty cloth, some bits of glass, and a bodkin in a bole in the wall, lie blessed a lire now lighted, and threw all these relies in, but hardly had he returned to his conveut when one o f the work­men came to tell him that the bodkin had jumped out ot the flames three times, and that the workman who was putting it back with the tongs was violently struck upon tho cheek. The remains were then moved to the convent, where they were burnt without any resistance, but tbe workman who carried them there, saw a naked woman on the market place, and for some days deep groans were heard tliere. Soon after the dis­turbances recommenced in the printer's house, the spirit admin­istering blows, throwing stones, ami molesting the servants in many ways, M. Letart, tbe master of the house, received u severe blow on bis head, two workmen were flung out of one bed on the floor, so that the house was completely deserted dur-

point. A ll at once ho came running into the kitchen where tbe farm servants were at dinner. “ Men, men,’’ he cried,” Come out fast, McMillan’s boat is sinking,—Isaw her keel over.’’ Of course the hands came running out bareheaded, and it was the noise they made that disturbed my friend and myself at our punch.

All this wo gathered in less time than I have taken to telL you. We looked narrowly seaward, but there was no boat to be seen. Mr. Melaii brought out his telescope, and still the sea remained perfectly blue and bare. Neither Mclan nor bis servants could be brought to believe Hector’s story,—they thought it extremely unlikely that on a comparatively calm day any harm could bel'ai such experienced sailors. It was uni­versally believed that the boat had rounded the point, and Mr. Mclan rated the herd boy for raising a false alarm. Hector still persisting that he had seon the boat capsize and go down, got his ears soundly boxed for his obstinacy, and was sent whim­pering away to his cows, and enjoined in future to mind his own bus ness.

But although Hector got his ears boxed, it turned out that he

July 15, I860.] T H E S P I R I T U A L T I ME S . 173

h a d , in a ll p r o b a b i l i t y sp o k e n th e t ru th . T o w a r d s th e e v e n in g o f th e n e x t d a y th e M c M il la n s is te r s ca m e u p t o th e h o u s e t o e n q u ir e a fte r th e b o a t , w h ic h h a d n e v e r re a ch e d h o m e . T h e p o o r g ir ls w e re in a d re a d fu l s ta te w h e n to ld th a t th e ir b r o t h e r s ’ b o a t h a d le f t th e is la n d s th e p r e v io u s a fte r n o o n , ar.d w h a t H e c t o r th e c o w h e r d , a v o w e d h e h a d seen . S t il l th e re w a s r o o m fo r h o p e ; i t w a s p o s s ib le th a t I le c t o r h a d b e e n m ista k e n ; i t w a s p o s s ib le th a t th e M c M illa n s m ig h t h a v e g o n e s o m e w h e re , o r b e e n fo r c e d t o ta k e s h e lte r s o m e w h e r e ; a n d so th e t w o s is te r s , m u s te r in g u p th e b e s t h e a r t t h e y c o u ld , w e n t a cro ss th e h i l l t o S to n e fie ld w h e n th e su n w a s s e t t in g , a n d th e sea a sh e e t o f g o ld le a f , a n d lo o k in g as i f i t w o u ld n e v e r b e a n g r y t o h a v e th e h e a rt t o d r o w n a n y b o d y .

D a y s p a ssed , a n d th e b o a t n e v e r ca m e h o m o n o r d id th e b r o th e r s . It w as on F r id a y th a t th e M c M illa n s sa ile d a w a y on th e fre sh b r e e z e , a n d o n th e W e d n e s d a y fo l lo w in g th e b a y d o w n th e re w a s a s o r r y s ig h t . T h e m is s in g s a ilo r s w e re b r a v e , g o o d - lo o k in g , m e r r y -h e a r te d , a n d w j r e l ik e d a lo n g th e w h o le c o a s t ; a n d o n W e d n e s d a y I sp e a k o f n o fe w e r th a n t w o h u n d r e d a n d fifty b o a ts w e re s a i l in g s lo w ly u p a n d d o w n , c r o s s in g a n d r e ­c ro s s in g , a n d t r a w lin g fo r th e b o d ie s .

I d o n t k n o w h o w it w as, w e n t o n th e F a th e r , h o ld in g h is n e w ly filled p ip e b e tw e e n h is fo r e f in g e r a n d th u m b ; b u t lo o k in g o n th e b la ck d o ts o f b oa ts , a n d h e a r in g th e s o u n d o f th e ir o a rs , l r e m e m b e r e d th a t o ld M ir r e n , w h o l iv e d in o n e o f th e t u r f h u ts y o n d e r , h a d th e s e co n d s ig h t , a n d so I t h o u g h t I w o u ld g o d o w n a n d see h e r . W h e n I g o t - t o th e h u t, I m e t M ir r e n c o m in g u p fro m th e s h o re w ith a b a s k e t fu l l o f w h e lk s , w h ic h sh e had b e e n g a t h e r in g fo r d in n e r . I w e n t in to th e h u t a lo u g w ith h e r a n d sa t d o w n .

‘ ■ T h e re ’s a sa d h iis iu es? in th e b a y t o - d a y , ’ ’ sa id I.‘ ‘ A sa d b u s in e s s ," sa id M ir r e n , as sh e la id d o w n h e r b a sk e t .“ W il l th e y g e t th e b o d ie s 1”M ir r e n s h o o k h e r h e a d .“■ T h e b o d ie s ’ a re n o t th e re to g e t ; th e y h a v e flo a te d o u t p a s t

l tu m to th e m a in o c e a n . ’ ’•’ H o w d o y o u k n o w ?”“ (d o in g o u t t o th e s h o re a b o u t a m o n th a g o I h e a rd a screa m

a n d lo o k in g u p s a w a b o a t o f f t lie p o in t , w ith t w o m e n in i t c a u g h t in a s q u a ll a n d g o in g d o w n . W h e n th e b o a t san k th e m en s t il l r e m a in e d in i t ,— th e o n e e n ta n g le d in th e f ish in g n e t , th e o th e r in th e r o p e s o f th e sa ils . I sa w th e m flo a t o u t t o th e m a in sea b e tw e e n th e tw o w in e s ,” ‘ T h a t 's a tru e t r a n s la t io n , ’ sa id th e F a th e r , p a r e n th e t ica lly . ‘ Y o u h a v e seen t w o l iq u o r s in a g la ss , th e o n e flo a t in g on th e t o p o f th e o t h e r 1 V ery w e l l ; th e re a re tw o c u r r e n ts in th e sea , a n d w h e n m y p e o p le w is h t o d e s c r ib e a n y th in g s in k in g o r f lo a t in g b e tw e e n th e s e tw o cu r r e n ts , t h e y use th e im a g e o f t w o l iq u o r s in a w in e g la s s . O , its fine la n g u a g e , tlxe G a e lic , a n d a d m ir a b ly a d a p te d fo r p o e t ic a l p u r p o s e s ,— b u t t o r e t u r n . ’ ‘ 'M i r r e n t o ld m e th a t sh e s a w th e t w o b o d ie s flo a t o u t to sea b e tw e e n th e t w o w in e s , a n d t h a t th e

‘ t r a w lin g b o a ts m ig h t t r a w l fo r e v e r in th e b a y b e fo r e t h e y w o u ld g e t w h a t t h e y w a n te d . W h e n e v e n in g ca m e , th e b o a ts r e tu rn e d h o m e w it h o u t h a v in g fo u n d th e d r o w n e d M e M illa n s .

“ W e ll , ’ ’ a n d h e re th e F a t h e r l ig h te d Ills p ip e , “ s ix w e e k s a f te r a c a p s iz e d b o a t w as th r o w n o n th e s h o re o f th e U is t , w ith t w o c o rp s e s in s id e ,— o n e e n ta n g le d in th e f ish in g n e t , th e o t h e r in th e r o p e s o f th e sa ils . I t w as M c M i l la n ’ s b o a t , a n d it w a s th e tw o b r o t h e is w h o w e re in s id e . T h e ir fa ce s w e r e a ll e a te n a w a y b y th e d o g fish es ; b u t th e p e o p le w h o h a d d o n e b u s in e s s w ith th e m a t U is t id e n t ifie d th e m b y th e ir c lo th e s . T h is I k n o w to b e t r u e .” sa id th e F a t h e r s h u t t in g h is d o o r o n a ll a r ­g u m e n t o r h in t o f se e n tic ism .

SINGULAR CASES OF SECOND SIGHT.T h e r e is a w a y o f fo r t e l l in g d e a th b y a c r y th a t t h e y ca ll

T a is k , w h ic h s o m e c a ll a W r a it h in th e l o w la u d . T h e y h e a r a lo u d c r y w it h o u t d o o r s a n d e x a c t ly r e s e m b lin g th e v o ic e o f s o m e p a r t ic u la r p e rs o n , w iie re d e a th is fo r e to ld b y it.

F iv o w o m e n w e re s it t in g in th e sa m e r o o m a n d a ll h e rd a l o u d c r y p a s s in g b y the w in d o w , a p p a r e n t ly th e v o ic e o f o n e o f th e n u m b e r ; sh e c o n t r a c t e d a ¡e v e r n e x t d a y a n d d ie d th a t w e e k . '

T h in g s a ls o a r e fo r e t o ld b y sm e llin g , v iz : fish , o r fle sh , is fr e ­q u e n t ly s m e lle d in a fire , w h e n n e ith e r o t th e t w o a re in th e h o u s e , n o r l ik e ly to b e . T h is sm e ll s e v e r a l p e rs o n s h a v e w h o a re n o t e n d u e d w it h s e c o n d s ig h t .

C h ild r e n , h o rs e s , a n d c o w s se e w it h th e s e c o n d s ig h t a lso .A w o m a n in S k y e sa w a v is io n , w h ic h r e p r e s e n te d a w o m a n

w ith a s h ro u d a b o u t h e r , w it h h e r b a c k tu r n e d t o w a r d s h e r , a n d th e h a b it in w h ic h it s e e m e d t o b e d re s se d r e s e m b le d h e r o w n . T o s a t is fy h e r c u r io s i ty sh e d re s se d h e r s e l f c o n t r a r y to th e u s u a l w a y , p u t t in g h e r c lo th e s b e h in d w h ic h w e r e a lw a y s b e fo re , a n d t h e v is io n a p p e a r e d a c c o r d in g ly . I t s fa ce a n d d re s s lo o k e d t o w a r d s th e w o m a n , a n d p r o v e d t o r e se m b le h e rse lf . S h e d ie d s h o r t ly a fte r w a r d s .

s e c o n d s ig h t w as k n o w n in th e I s le o f M a n a n d in H o l la n d .

O n e seeress o f t lio la t te r p la ce , sa w a sm o k e a b o u t th e fa ce , 'w h ic h a lw a y s fo r e t o ld d e a th so o n a fte rw a rd s .

A w o m a n o f S to r n b a y in L e w is , h a d a m a id w h o sa w v is io n s a n d s w o o n e d . H e r m is tr e s s p o u r e d u p o n h e r fa ce so m e w a te r , a n d in b a p tism t o p r e v e n t th e v is io n s , w h ic h a c c o r d in g t o t ile e v id e n c e o f th e m in is t e r o f th e p la ce w a s the fa c t — th a t is , it

p re v e n te d th e v is io n s .A g ir l tw e lv e y e a rs o ld , f r e q u e n t ly sa w h e r o w n d o a b le , w h e n

th e sa id m in is te r jo in e d w it h th e g i r l in p ra y e r , a n d sh e a f t e r ­w a r d s sa w n o t th e v is io n .

S o m e o f th e in h a b ita n ts o f H a r r is , s a w o n th e C o a s t o f S k y e an a p p a r it io n o f t w o m e n h a n g in g d o w n b y th e r o p e s th a t s e ­c u r e d th e m a s ts , b u t c o u ld n o t c o n je c t u r e w h a t it m e a n t. T h e y w e re fo r c e d in to B r o a d fo r d in S k y e , w h e r e t h e y fo u n d t w o c r im in a ls r e c e iv in g s e n ’ e n ce o f d e a th , a n d th e m a st a n d ro p e s o f th e v e r y b o a t w e r e u se d t o h a n g th e c r im in a ls

A m an w h o l iv e d in I la n is , w o r e th e p la n t ca lle d T u g a n D o e m o m im , s e w e d in th e h a ck o f h is co a t , t o p r e v e n t th e se e in g o f v is io n s , w h ic h p r e v e n te d th e m as h e s u p p o se d .

S o m e t im e s v o ic e s a t n ig h t w e r e h e a rd s in g in g I r is h so n g s , an d on o v o ic e r e s e m b le d th a t o t a w o m a n , w h o h a d d ie d so m e y e a rs b e fo re .

T h e s e a c c o u n ts , a n d s im ila r a c c o u n ts , w e r e r e la te d t o M a r t e r b y p e rs o n s o f as g r e a t in te g r ity as a n y a re in th e w o r ld . C . C.

"WESLEY ON APPARITIONS.

W e d n e s d a y , M a y £5 , 17G8, a n d th e t w o fo l lo w in g d a y s , b e in g a t S u n d e r la n d , 1 t o o k d o w n , fr o m o n e w h o h a d fe a re d G o d fr o m h e r in fa n c y , o n e o f th e s t ra n g e s t a c c o u n ts I e v e r r e a d ; a n d y e t I can fin d iio p r e t e n c e t o d is b e lie v e it . T h e w e ll -k n o w n c h a r a c ­te r o f th e p e r s o n e x c lu d e s a l l su s p ic io n o f fra u d ; th e n a tu re o f th e c ir c u m s ta n c e s th e m s e lv e s e x c lu d e s th o p o s s ib i l i t y o f a d e lu s io n .

I t is t r u e th a t th e E n g lis h in g e n e ra l, a n d in d e e d m o s t o f th o m e n o f le a r n in g in E u r o p e , h a v e g iv e n u p a ll a c c o u n ts o f w itch e s a n d a p p a r it io n s , as m e re o ld w iv e s ’ fa b le s . I am s o r r y fo r i t ; a n d 1 w i l l in g ly ta k e th is o p p o r t u n it y o f e n t e r in g m y s o le m n p r o t e s t a g a in s t th is v io le n t c o m p lim e n t w h ic h so m a n y ¡h a t b e l ie v e th e B ib le p a y t o th o s e w h o d o n o t b e l ie v e it. T h e y w e ll k n o w (w h e th e r "C h r is t ia n s k n o w it o r n o t ) th a t th o g iv in g u p o f ,w i t c h c r a f t is, in e ffect, g iv in g u p th o B ib le ; an d t h e y k n o w / o n th e o t h e r h a n d , th a t i f h u t o n e a c c o u n t o f th e in te r ­c o u r s e o f m e n w ith s e p a ra te sp ir it s b e a d m it te d , th e ir w h o le c a s t le in th e a ir , D e is m , A t h e is m , M a te r ia lis m , fa lls t o tho g r o u n d . I k n o w n o r e a so n , t h e r e fo r e , w h y w e s h o u ld su ffe r e v e n th is w e a p o n t o b e w r e s te d o u t o f o u r h a n d s .

O n e o f th e ca p ita l o b je c t io n s t o th e se a c c o u n ts , w h ic h I h a v e k n o w n u r g e d o v e r a n d o v e r , is th is : “ D id y o n e v e r see au a p ­p a r it io n y o u r s e l f ! ” N o . n o r d id l e v e r see a m u r d e r , y e t I b e l ie v e th e re is s u ch a t h in g ; y e a , a n d th a t in o n e p la ce o r a n ­o t h e r m u r d e r is c o m m itt e d e v e r y d a y . T h e r e fo r e I c a n n o t , as a r e a s o n a b le m a n , d e n y th o fa ct , a lth o u g h I n e v e r sa w it , a n d p e r h a p s n e v e r m a y . T h e t e s t im o n y o f u n e x c e p t io n a b le w itn e sse s fu lly c o n v in c e s m e b o t h o f th e o n o a n d th e o th e r .

T h is p r e m is e d , I p r o c e e d t o as r e m a r k a b le a n a rr a t iv e as a n y t h a t h a s fa l le n u n d e r m y n o t ic e , 't h e r e a d e r m a y b e l ie v e it , i f h e p le a se s , o r m a y d is le l i e v e it , w it h o u t a n y o ffe n ce t o m e. M e a n t im e , le t h im n o t b e o f fe n d e d i f I b e l ie v e it , t i l l I s e e b e t te r r e a s o n t o th e c o n t ra ry .

E l iz a b e t h H o b s o n w a s b o r n in S u n d e r la n d , in th e y e a r 17 44 , H e r fa th e r d y in g w h en sh e w as th r e e o r ¡o u r y e a r s o ld , h e r u n c le , T h o m a s B e a , a p io u s m a n . b r o u g h t h e r u p as h is o w n d a u g h te r , h e w a s s e r io u s fro m a c h i ld , a n d g r e w u p in th e ¡e a r o t G o d . Y e t sh e h a d d e e p a n d sh a rp c o n v ic t io n s o f s in , t i ll sh e w a s a b o u t s ix t e e n y e a r s o f a g e , w h e n sh e fo u n d Bex p e a c e w ith G o d a n d fr o m th a t t im e th e w h o le t e n o r o f h e r b e h a v io u r w a s su ita b le to b e r p ro fe s s io n .

O n W e d n e s d a y , M a y 25 , 1 7 0 8 , a n d th e th r e e fo l lo w in g d a y s ,I ta lk e d w ith h e r a t la rg e ; b u t i t w a s w ith g r e a t d i f f ic u lty I p r e v a ile d on h e r t o sp e a k . T h e s u b s ta n c e o f w h a t sh e sa id w a s as f o l l o w s :—

“ F r o m m y c h ild h o o d , w h e n a n y o f o u r n e ig h b o r s d ie d , w h e t h ­e r m en w o m e n o r c h ild re n , I u s e d to see th e m , e ith e r ju s t w h e a t l ie y d ie d , o r a l it t le b e fo r e ; a n d I w a s n o t fr ig h t e n e d a t a ll it w a s so c o m m o n . In d e e d , m a n y t im e s ( I d id n o t th e n k n o w t h e y w e r e d e a d . I saw m a n y o f th e m b o th b y d a y a n d b y n ig h t . T h o s e th a t ca m e w h e n i t w as d a r k b r o u g h t l ig h t w it h th e m . I o b s e r v e d a ll l i t t le ch ild re n , a n d m a n y g r o w n p e rs o n s h a d a bright; g l o i i o u s l ig h t r o u n d th em . B u t m a n y h a d a g lo o m y , d is m a l l i g h t , a n d a m usky c lo u d o v e r th e m .

“ I w a s b e tw e e n fo u r te e n a n d fifte e n , w h e n I w e n t v e r y e a r ly o n e m o r n in g t o fe t c h u p th e k in o . 1 h a d t w o fie ld s to c ro ss , in t o a l o w g r o u n d w h ich w a s sa id to he h a u n te d . M a n y p e rs o n s h a d b e e u l i g h t e n e d th e r e , a n d I h a d m y s e l f o fte n se e n m e n a n d w o m e n (s o m a n y , a t t im e s , th a t t h e y are o u t o f c o u n t ) g o ju s t b y m e , a n d v a n is h a w a y . T h is m o r n iu g as I ca m e t o w a r d s it .I heard a contused noise as of many people quarrelling. But.I

174[ J u l i 15,1 S U O .T H E S P I R I T U A L T I M E S .

d id n o t m in d it , a n d w e n t o n t i l l I ca m e n e a r th e g a te . I th e n s a w , o n th e o th e r s id e , a y o u n g m a n d re s s e d in p u r p le w h o s a id , ‘ I t is t o o e a r ly ; g o b a ck fr o m w h e n ce y o u ca m e . I h e L o r d b e w ith y o u a n d b le ss y o u ; ’ a n d p re s e n t ly h e w a s g o n e .

<• W h e n I w a s a b o u t s ix te e n , m y u n c le fe l l i l l , a n d g r e w w o r s e a n d w o r s e fo r th r e e m o n th s . O n e d a y , h a v in g b e e n se n t o u t on a n e r ra n d , I w a s c o m in g h o m e th r o u g h a la n e , w h e n I s a w h im in t h e f ie ld , c o m in g s w i f t ly t o w a r d s m e . I r a n t o m e e t h im ; b u t h e w a s g o n e . W h e n I ca m e h o m e , I fo u n d h im c a l l in g fo r m e . A s s o o n as I ca m e t o h is b e d s id e , h e c la s p e d h is a rm s r o u n d m y n e ck a n d b u r s t in g in t o te a rs , e a r n e s t ly e x h o r t e d m e to c o n t in u e ' in th e w a y s o f G o d . H e k e p t h is h o ld u n t i l h e s u n k d o w n a n d d ie d ; a n d e v e n th e n t h e y c o u ld h a r d ly u n c la s p h is fin d e rs . I w o u ld fa in h a v e d ie d w it h h im , a n d w is h e d t o b e b u r ie d w it h h im d e a d o r a l iv e .

“ F r o m t h a t t im e I w a s c r y in g fr o m m o r n in g t i l l n ig h t a n d p r a y in g th a t I m ig h t see h im . I g r e w w e a k e r a n d w e a k e r , t i l l o n e m o r n in g , a b o u t o n e o ’c lo ck , as I w a s ly in g c r y in g , as u s u a l I h e a r d so m e n o is e , a n d r is in g u p sa w h im c o m e t o th e b e d s id e . H e lo o k e d m u ch d is p le a s e d , s h o o k h is h e a d a t m e , a n d in a m in ­u te o r t w o w e n t a w a y .

“ A b o u t a w e e k a fte r , I t o o k t o m y b e d a n d g r e w w o r s e a n d w o r s e ; t i l l , in s ix o r s e v e n d a y s , m y li fe w as d e s p a ir e d o f . T h e n a b o u t e le v e n a t n ig h t m y u n c le ca m e in , lo o k e d w e ll p le a s e d , a n d sa t d o w n o n th e b e d s id e . H e ca m e e v e r y n ig h t a fte r , a t th e sa m e t im e ,a n d s ta y e d t i l l c o c k - c r o w in g . I w a s e x c e e d in g ly g la d , a n d k e p t m y e y e s " fix e d u p o n h im a ll t h e t im e h e s ta y e d . I f I w a n te d a d r in k o r a n y th in g , th o u g h I d id n o t s p e a k o r s t ir , h e fe t c h e d it , a n d sa t o n th e c h a ir b y th e b e d s id e . I n d e e d I c o u ld n o t s p e a k ; m a n y t im e s I s t r o v e , b u t c o u ld n o t m o v e m y to n g u e . E v e r y m o r n in g , w h e n h o w e n t a w a y , h e w a v e d h is h a n d t o m e , a n d I h e a rd d e l ig h t fu l m u s ic , as i f m a n y p e rs o n s w e r e s in g in g t o g e t h e r .

“ I n a b o u t s ix w e e k s I g r e w b e t te r . I w a s th e n m u s in g , o n e n ig h t , w h e th e r I d id w e l l in d e s ir in g th a t he m ig h t c o m e ; a n d I w a s p r a y in g th a t G o d w o u ld d o H is o w n w ill, w h e n h e ca m e in a n d s t o o d b y th e b e d s id e . B u t h e w a s n o t in h is u s u a l d re s s ; h e h a d o n a w h ite r o b e , w h ic h r e a c h e d d o w n t o h is fe e t . _ H e lo o k e d q u ite p le a se d . A b o u t o n e o ’ c lo c k , th e re s t o o d b y h im a p e r s o n in w h it e , ta l le r th a n h im , a n d e x c e e d in g ly b e a u t ifu l . H e ca m e w ith th e s in g in g o f m a n y v o ic e s , a n d c o n t in u e d t i l l n e a r c o c k - c r o w in g . T h e n m y u n c le s m ile d , a n d w a v e d h is h a n d s t o w a r d m e t w ic e o r th r ice . T h e y w e n t a w a y w ith in e x p r e s s ib le s w e e t m u s ic , a n d I s a w h im n o m o re .

<■ I n a y e a r a fte r th is , a y o u n g m a n c o u r te d m e , a n d in so m o m o n th s w e a g r e e d t o b e m a r r ie d . B u t h e p r o p o s e d t o ta k e a n ­o t h e r v o y a g e fir s t , a n d o n e e v e n in g w e n t a b o a r d h is s h ip . A b o u t e le v e n o ’ c lo c k g o in g o u t t o lo o k fo r m y m o th e r , I s a w h im s t a n d in g a t h is m o t h e r ’s d o o r w it h h is h a n d s in h is p o c k e t s , a n d h is h a t p u lle d o v e r h is e y e s . I w e n t t o h im a n d r e a c h e d m y h a n d t o p u t u p h is h a t ; b u t h e w e n t s w i f t ly b y m e a n d 1 sa w th e w a il , o n th e o t h e r s id e o f th e la n e , p a r t a s h e w e n t t h r o u g h , a n d im m e d ia te ly c lo s e a f t e r h im . A t te n th e n e x t m o r n in g h e d ie d .” — Rev. John Wesley’s Journal, Vol. III.

D ll. FERGUSON ON TH E STATE OF AM ERICA.

D r . J . B . F e r g u s o n , is e v id e n t ly t a k in g a n a c t iv e p a r t in th e g r e a t q u e s t io n o f A m e r ic a n fr e e d o m . S in c e h is fa m o u s a d d re s s t o th e P re s id e n t , h e h a s se n t th e fo l lo w in g le t te r t o A l e x . W 1 B a n d a ll , P r e s id e n t o f th e N a t io n a l U n io n C lu b .

S ir ,— P e r m it m e to ca ll y o u r a t te n t io n t o a fe w t ru is m s th a t a ll r e f le c t in g m e n o f e v e r y c re e d a n d p a r ty w o u ld d o w e l l to c o n s id e r in th e p re s e u t s t a le o f o u r n a t io u a l a ffa irs .

T h e r e is n o d is g u is in g th e fa c t th a t o u r p o l i t ic a l h o r iz o n lo o k s d a r k . I t w ill b e w e ll f o r th e A m e r ic a n p e o p le , in w h o m a re u n ­d e n ia b ly th e e le m e n ts o f s e l f -g o v e r n m e n t , t o b e s a t is fie d w ith th e p o r t e n t s th a t n o w d a r k e n t h e ir s k y .

T h e y , w ith v e r y c o m m e n d a b le z e a l, h a v e e x p e n d e d a v a s t a m o u n t o f b lo o d a n d t re a s u r e f o r th e p u r p o s e o l a n n ih ila t in g t re a s o n in th e S o u t h . T h e fatality p r o m is e d w a s th e r e s to r a t io n o f th e U n io n in its in t e g r i t y . I t s h o u ld n o w b e r e m e m b e r e d n a y , n e v e r fo r g o t t e n — th a t la w s , th a t w h e th e r h u m a n o r d iv in e , a re e v o lv e d from e le m e n ts o f p o w e r th a t c a n n o t b e in fr in g e d u p o u w it h Im p u n ity . T h e ir m o s t a p p r e c ia b le m e r it is in .th e h a p p y a d a p ta b il i t y o f th e ir m o u ld in g to th e s ta tu s a m i c o n - d itm u o f m a n , s o c ia lly , m o ra lly a tn l p o l i t ic a l ly considered.

F r o m t h is h ig h c o n s id e r a t io n th e g e n iu s a n d in s p ir a t io n ot m e n — o r ca ll th em i f y o u w ill, th e p a t r ia r c h s o f a n A m e r ic a n . fa m ily — w r o te o u t a s ta n d a r d t e x t c o n t a in in g th e m o s t im p o r ­ta n t ju d g m e n t o f th e b e s t b a la n ced m in d s f o r fu tu r e g u id a n c e in e m e rg e n c ie s . H e n c e w e c a n n o t c o n c e iv e o f a g r e a te r h a llu c in a ­t io n on th e p a r t o f a n y o n e th a n t o lo s e s ig h t id' th e r e g u la r , d is t in c t , a n d n a tu ra l c la s s if ica t io n s o f r ig h ts , p o w e rs , a n d b e u e fit s c o m p r e h e n d e d in th e C o n s t itu t io n a s th e su p r e m e la w o f th e la u d .

F a r th e r , i t s h o u ld n o t b e fo r g o t t e n th a t c u s to m s , u s a g e s ,_ th e s e n s e o f o b l ig a t io n a n d m e n ta l s ta m in a c a n n o t b e th r u s t h o rn t h e a r e n a o f n a tio n a l a r g u m e n ta t io n w ith o u t d e tr iin .m t t o a n y

cau se h a v in g th e -in te re s t o f a g r e a t p e o p le a t s tak e.T h e fo r m e r r e la t io n s h ip e x is t in g b e tw e e n m a ste r an il s la v e

h a s b e c o m e d is s o lv e d . I t h a s n o ju s t c la im s t o p e r m a n e n c y to e x is t lo n g e r . I t h a d b e e n su sta in e d fo r a lo n g t im e u p o n a t id e o f s lu g g is h s o c ia lt y . T h e e y e o f th e n a t io n a t o n e o f th o se p e cu lia r in te r im s w h o s e p e r io d s h a v e e v e r g iv e n b ir t h t o r e v o l ­u t io n , d is co v e r e d it as a m o n s t ro s ity . T h u s w e re fr e e m e n m a d e a t o n e fe ll s w o o p .

S u p p o se vve le t th is su ffice in th e w a y o f s u d d e n tra u s fo rm a -: t io u s . T o th e s in ce r e p h ila n th ro p is t as w e ll as th e h o n e s t p a t r io t th e re is c e r ta in ly e n o u g h in th e c o n d it io n s r e s u lta n t to c la im th e fu ll e x e r c is e o f a ll th e w isd o m a n d p r u d e n c e w e as a p e o p le can co m m a n d .

•‘ A g r e e d ,” sa y s a C o n s e r v a t iv e o f p r in c ip le .“ N o t y e t , ” » a y s p a s s io n ’s R a d ic a l . W e c a n in s ta n t ly le g is ­

la te an in te l le c t fo r th e f r e e d m a n ; e n d o w h im w ith a l l th e p r iv ile g e s o f a fr e e w h ite A m e r ic a n c i t i z e n ! ” y e g o d s ! A l l n a tu re ’s d iv e r s i t y h a r m o n iz e d b y s t a t u t o r y la w ! I t b y n o m e a n s r e q u ir e s a n y la r g e d e g r e e o t d is ce r n m e n t o r s u p e r io r m e n ta l a cu m e n to c o n c lu d e th a t w e w o u ld s ta n d in n o sm a ll d a u g e r w h e n e x p o s e d to th e re ck le s s in d is c r e t io n s o f s u ch r a p id la w m a n ip u la to r s .

G o v e r n m e n ts , a t t im e s , h a v e b e e n k n o w n t o ch a n g e th e ir c o m p le x io n , a n il c e n t r a l iz a t io n is n o t u n lr e q u e n t ly th e r e s u lt o b ta in e d fr o m su ch e n e r g e t ic “ t in k e r s !”

T h e p e o p le h a v e v in d ic a te d th e r ig h t to s u s ta in th e p r e s e n t R e p u b lic a n fo r m o f g o v e r n m e n t intact, a n d in ta c t it m u st r e m a in o r it is w o rse th a n a fa ilu re . W h y 1 B e c a u s e it has t h e p o w e r t o c ru s h th o s e it w a s o r g a n iz e d to p r o t e c t ; th o s e it sh o u ld p r o te c t , o r i t c e a se s to b e a c o n s t itu t io n a l G o v e r n m e n t . S p e c ia l la w -m a k in g fo r th e s o le b e n e fit o f a n y o n e c la ss o f p e o p le m ilita te s m o s t d is a s tr o u s ly a g a in s t th e r ig h ts o t th o s e w h o a re n o t in c lu d e d . A n d , a g a in th e d o c t r in e on w h ic h th e e n t ir e fa b r ic o f th is g r e a t C o m m o n w e a lth is fo u n d e d is a lik e in d e s t r u c ­t ib le in U s s p ir it a n il u n m is ta k e a b le in its la n g u a g e . It carries with it the doctrine o f a non-departure of any sinyle interest from a bonded whole. I t d e u ie s ¡State a lie n a t io n fr o m th e p a r e n t s te m , a n d in th is d e n ia l i t has s o m e th in g t o o ife r in r e tu rn . W e r e th is n o t th e case , it w o u ld be n o con tra ct , w h a t e v e r R ig h t s a n d p r iv i le g e s t o b e su ch m u s t b o b o th g iv e n a n d re q u ir e d . T h e p a r ty m a k in g th e c o n d it io n s a n d th e o n e a s s e n t in g t h e r e t o m u s t e n jo y re s p e c t iv e b e n e fit s a c c r u in g .from su ch a ss e n t , o r th e re

i w o u ld be n o c o m p a c t m a d e . T e r r i t o r ia l c o n d it io n s a re r e s ig n e d a n d S ta te g o v e rn m e n ts fo r m e d on n o o t h e r p r in c ip le than th is

l o n e . T h u s d o \vy e x p a n d in th e E x e c u t iv e a n d .1 u d ic ia r y D e ­p a r tm e n ts o f o u r s y s te m . T h e s e s o v e r e ig n r o b e s o f n a t io n a lity m u s t n o t , cannot will not b e t o rn in sh re d s a t w ill. A m ilita r y m a u tie m a y b e t h r o w n o v e r th e m in w a r . B u t in p e a c e th e r e m u st b e u o a t te m p te d m o n o p o ly o f in te r e s t w h ile th e C o n s t i t u ­t io n is o u r es ta te , S u c li id e a s a re m u ch b e t te r s u ite d lo r k in g s a n d sa tra p s th a n fo r S e n a to r s e x p r e s s in g R o m a n g r e a tn e s s a n d A m e r ic a n l ib e r ty .

T h e r e is n o h o p e fo r th e r e c o n c il ia t io n o f th e fie rce a n ta g o n is m s th a t fa c t io n n o w fe e d s a n il te s te rs b u t in th e p e o p le . O u r le g is ­la to r s a re in fa tu a te d b y th e i l lu s io n s o f p o w e r a n d th e g lo r y _ ot v ic t o r io u s le g io n s . T h e p e o p le , th e r e fo r e , t o sa v e jt lie ir l ib e r t ie s , m u st s t r e n g th e n th e E x e c u t iv e a r m o l S ta te w ith su ch u i ita lt e im g s u p p o r t , Buoli u n s w e r v in g f id e l ity , as sh a ll d e fe a t a ll m e re e x ­p e r im e n ta l anil d a n g e r o u s m e a s u r e s . T h e p e o p le are the s p ir it o f th e G o v e r n m e n t . W h e n e v e r t h e y s le e p th e r e is d a n g e r ot in ­c e n d ia r is m a t th e v e r y p o r ta ls ot th e ir te m p le .

P ea ce h a s r e tu rn e d a g a in to th e c o u n tr y ; b u t sh e m u st be o ttered h e r o ld p e d e s ta l b a ck a g a in u p o n w h ich t o s it e n th r o n e d as so m e g u a rd ia n a n g e l o f p o w e r p r o te c t in g th e d e s t in ie s o t an e m p ir e w h o se u lt im a te e t e r n ity a lo n e ca n s h a d o w fo r t h m its t ru e g r e a tn e s s .

I t is b e t te r in m o s t in s ta n ce s t o b e n d r a th e r th a n b r e a k . I t is a x io m a t ic in th is : r e n d e r u n to C a e sa r h is r ig h ts a n d y o u r o w u b e c o m e m o r e p e rm a n e n t . O u r c o n d it io n im p e r a t iv e ly d e m a n d s :

F ir s t . R e c o n c i l ia t io n .S e c o n d ly . S u it a b le r ig h ts to c a p a c ity .Thirdly. R e s p e c t am i e d u c a t io n to in c a p a c ity .T h e s e a re th e su re m a in te n a n ce o f o u r fo r m e r G o v e r n m e n t

an d a sa fe g u a r r a n te e o f its uncompleted p e rp e tu a t io n in th e fu tu re , O u r present d ile m m a is u n so u m lu e s s to w e ll c o n c e iv e d p r in c ip le s o f e q u ita b le le g is la t io n . D a re w e a c t i r r e s p e c t iv e ot th e se a n d fu r t h e r d e sp is e th o c o m m e n d a t io n o r c e n s u re ot th o se fo r w h o m w e a re so p r o d ig a l in le g is la t io n !

A l l o f w h ic h is r e s p e c t fu lly su b m itte d .I a m , s ir , v e r y r e s p e c t fu lly , y o u r o b e d ie n t s e r v a n t , b . J;.

True religion, aavs li.iyavU fay lor, 1* never spasmodic. _ It is as calm as the existence of "Go l. 1 know of nothing urna; shocking than sudi attorn jus to substitute racket, am! nine light« for Heavens eie.m l oki- siiine.

July 15, i860.] T H E S P I R I T U A L T I M E S . 175

THE TRANSLATION OF ELIJAH.

Ethereal yet visible ; for bright Unto intensity through purest light Indwelling, was that chariot o f the skies.The horses, too, were creatures not of earth ;Their necks were clothed with thunder; and their eyes Starry with beauty, told of heavenly birth.No harness fettered them; no curb no girth Restrained the freedom of those glorious ones,Nor traces yoked the chariot at their heels ;It followed them, as planets follow suns Through trackless space, in their empyreal courses ;For lo! the Hery spirit of the horses Was as a mightv presence in the wheels,And in the dazzling whirlwind which behind them flew And caught Elijah up, as sunlight drinks the dew.Awav, away to heav’n those steeds upbore him ;Leaving the clouds as dust beneath their feet.Wide open flashed the golden gates before him j And angel forms of splendour rose to greet The favoured prophet. Oh, the rapture sweet!The ecstacy most thrilling which came o ’er him !But thoughts are voiceless when we soar thus high ;And, like the lark that vainly strives to beat With little wings the air nud pierce the sky,W e fall again to earth. Elisha there Wept o'er his loss, but wept not in despair,No ; though a few regretlul tear-drops fell,He knew that with Elijah all was well;For through the open gates of heaven there rang Strains of the song of welcome the angels sang.Oh, who can picture that transcendent sight!Who fitly can relate the wondrous story !Who paint the aerial beauty of that night Or sing the fieetness of those steeds of glory And God's triumphant chariot o f light Entering heaven ! Never in depth or height Had mortal gazed on such a scene before ;Never shall years, how long soe’er their flight,The solemn grandeur of that hour restore.Till the last thunder echoes “ It is done ! ’’And the archangel, dazzling, as the sun,Descends to earth ; and, standing on the shore Of ages, swears with upraised hand by One Who lived ere time its circles had begun,That time shall be no more.

G. W ashington M oon.

MESSAGE DEPARTMENT.

Under this head we shall print all spirit messages that we may consider worthy. Correspondents will please write legibly on one side only o f the paper and abbreviate as much as possible. The Editor does not hold himself responsible fo r the opinions of spirits either embodied or dis-embodied.

TH E T R IN IT Y .

“ Search the Scriptures, for in them ye have life. The hidden word must he prayerfully sought for. For, to road, without entering into the spirit, would he like receiving food into the bodily system when there is no power of digestion. Line by line must be taken to the heart. Thus mv child will fresh beauties untold themselves from the hidden treasures of the word, hidden only to those who read it carlessly.’ ’

Can you clearly explain through me the doctrine of the Trinity ?“ Impossible indeed is it my precious child, for the body imprisoned

in its earth-shell, to let free the spirit to the wonders and mysteries of inner life.”

Spirit, by being so long beneath the paralyzing influence of the earth surroundings, can only after many hard struggles, gain the mastery over the |body. Such must ever be the case, more or less. It is the penalty mankind pay for yielding to evil. I hey have as it were, become slaves,

Rut the truth of God s love, revealed in the scriptures, and again figured forth iu His son Christ Jesus, and now so to speak, revealed by the gradual opening of the spirit-life to spirit perceptions, and senses will all help to set him free from the thraldom of satan, so long striving for the mastery, and so olten appearing victorious. Rut never can evil in the end prove conqueror, l.od or good is overall, and in all, and in the end will come forth joyous and triumphant. Yes my child difficult as it is for your earth-language to find expression in words for explanation to your mortal senses of the mystery ot the doctrine or the Triune One, even so, may I give through your mediumship, such as is possible. Oh ! my child seek it prayerfully.

One God pervades the world and the universe. By Him we live, move and have our being. For could it be at all possible for Hisall- pervadiog presence to be withdrawn, instant annihilation would be the result.

This pervading influence breathing the breath or spirit of life into all and through all, (for life is even in and through all nature and the uni­verse)—this ever presence, is the Holy Spirit of God, the Holy Ghost.

In the highest and holiest o f the heavens, the centre nil, like to the sun, but infinitely beyond expression greater, resides the essence, the Father the Lord of all, from whom the Holy Ghost, spreads, ns it were, His universal pervading presence.

God, in His Infinite loving kindness and mercy, in order that frail weak humanity might grasp the wonderful idea. Or rather to put in the human heart the residue of His personality, ordained that the son, that is Himself, should take upon Himself the form of man, and mingle on your earth for a short season—“ A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.” How else, could humanity feel the persuasion of the personality of God, now cannot the Christian even know that Christ is one who clingeth closer than a brother. One who by taking upon Himself our suffering frame—yet without sin, can be an ever present Help in time of need. Man in his humanity, ns 1 have taught you, represents the image of God, in his body, soul and spirit, in like manner do all things figure forth the Infinite Creator. Leave off now my child.”

St. Leonards-on-sea. F.J.T.

SPIRITUAL EXISTENCE.

Delivered by Miss Cogman in the trance state, at Mrs. Marshall’s on the evening o f June 22, I860.

(An Indian spirit) " I am a departed spirit, and I shnll speak to you of spiritual existence. This is not a new class of phenomena come upon you—one that is originating just now and will soon be gone, but it has been established from the creation of the world. There is nothing new, nothing. I will just turn your attention to what you call the history of the bible. Read it through carefully, and at the same time ask that your thoughts may he directed, and that you may think rightly on the grand subjects which will there meet your eye. Yes, and see whether spiritual knowledge did not exist in the early days, whether the departed ones ne’ er came back, whether men were always guided by their own power, or whether the hund of God was not with them always and in every place, and think it not a dry history from which you can gather milk and honey.

Man is born a little babe, but he emerges from that state, his body grows and his limbs expand, he progresses from childhood to youth, and from youth to manhood. His mind also grows, if you train it aright it is gradually raised from the toys which pleased it in childhood to the in­struments of its education, to books, and as it leaves the rudiments of education for more advanced studies in science and art, it expands and progression goes on. What has this to do with spiritual existence, you will say ? 1 will tell you, that just as the material world progresses, sodoes the spiritual world. There is more power in the spiritual world now than there was a thousand years back. W hy should there not be spiritual as well as material progression ? Spiritual existence you will see to be true if you look into it. Trust not to man, although you should love him as a brother, yet trust him not, for you see that he is deceiving you day after day in trifling affairs, in little matters which are not of much consequence, and if he can deceive you in small things, his mind will progress in that way and he will deceive you in greater. But spiritual existence is true. You must pass through this world and be trained for another, but where is that other ? not far oil', and it is not built upon vapour that vanishes like a thunderstorm, nor upon anything that will melt away. The truth of spiritual existence you will find for yourselves. You need for that purpose no hooks, no forms and cere- moles, no formal prayers ; let nil your prayers ascend from vour spirits, and not from those iips of yours, for then they mean nothing, no, for prayer from the lips vanisheth, and does not ascend, but if you utter prayer from the inner life, it can ascend, because it is powerful. Why, men know nothing ! They know not themselves!

Mrs. Marshall here exclaimed—“ There isa beginning with them.”A short pause followed, and the medium went on :—Though they learn and study much, they know but little. I will

give you my history of this life. This skin is discoloured by the sun, but not the inward life. I was brought into the fields and I gazed around me with amazement. Was this, I said, all the work of man? did it proceed from his mind, his thoughts, his will ? Surely I thought, I must go a little further, and find a power outside myself. I wanted to study, although I had never rend a book, but the charming fields were my book, and the flowers the first syllables o f my lesson. I gazed upon the flowers and the trees, and put syllables together until I could spell words. I looked upon the flowers that were smaller than the trees, and upon their lovelv colours, and asked, could I think that I had done it ? I knew that the land in which I lived was inhabited by men like myself, and I asked, could I think that they had done it? Yet Isaw something greater. A greater mystery still prevailed over my mind. I thought there was another lesson for me to learn, and I did try to learn it. As I gazed up to the stars at night I heard a voice whisper in my ear, and 1 knew that to be the voice of my teacher, and so I was taught, and so I learned my little lesson, till at last, you see I have fairly entered my college, where I now learn every science and art. I love my school, and love and adore my teachers, who teach me things that are pure.

Rut to return to my subject. If there are any here who are not ac­quainted with spiritual existence, I would ask them only to study their own lives—to look back to the day when they were placed on this earth and see how, even until now, some unseenjrower has interfered with and governed them. Every day you hear a small voice kindly whispering to you, it may be that of some gentle sister warning you from the path inwhich you are running, or that of some loving brother, showing you thelamp to illumine your dark way, or that of a loving and affectionate mother, pouring down upou you tears of joy, and gently guiding you from darkness to light, and from mysterious ways into those that are plain.”

176 THE S P I R I T U A L T I ME S . [July IS, 1866.

A l l C o m m u n i c a t i o n s f o r t h e E d i t o r t ° b e a d d r e s s e d t o h i m a t h is n e w r e s i d e n c e ,

C , S i d n e y t e r r a c e , G r o v e - r o a d ,V i c t o r i a - P a r k , E .

TO CO HUES PON DENTS.M rs. D ickson.—T he Poem was sent us by

a Correspondent. W e have never seen t e originial, but believe it to be a spiritual pro­duction

O ur readers will favour us by sending accounts o f Apparitions, Hauntings, &c. We wish to give as many facts as our space will admit. Co-respondents should allow their names and addresses to appear; accounts of a super­natural character should be given to the public free from all suspicion.

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ium'LSir ASSOCIATION-OF

Progressive Spiritualists.TH E

jiccmtir Cmifrcirfion:;JULY 25th, & 26th, 1866.

This Convention will meet for the transaction o f the hum! Iuitine.it o f the above Association, on the days of Wednesday and Thursday, July 25th, & 26th, To commence at ten of the fore­noon, in the ¡urge assembly room of Mr. Hall’s Crown Temperance Hotel, Clayton Street, close to the Central Station of the N. E. Railway, Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland.

Spiritual friends intending to be present—to- take part (or otiierwise) in the proceedings, nre respectfully requested to intimate the same, with ns little deisy as passible, to the Secretary,

Dr. Hugh McLeod,Newcastle upon Tyne,I Newcastle upon Tyne.

June 15th, 1866. /N. H A circular, with particulars, will ha for­

warded to nil persons intending to he present.

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Glimpses of the Supernatural,OR THE

Modern Spirit Manifestations, BY ADIN BALLOU.

P r i c e I s . P o s t f r e e I s . 2 d .This is the most condensed and useful work

we have yet seen on the subject of Spiritualism.May be had direct from the oflico of the

“ Spiritual Times.”

W O R K S B Y J . H . B O W E L L .

Now Ready,In one Vol., well bound. Post free, price, 5s,

Triibner & Co., 60, Patornoster-row.

L ife incidents and poeticPIC TU R E S.

This work contains an account of the Author’s remarkable Experiences in Mesmerism and Spiritualism, together with a judicious selection from his Poems.

May bo obtained of the Author, “ Spiiutuai. Touts ” O n ice.

IN THE PRESS.H O M E L Y H O M I L I E S

BY. J. II. POWELL,A u t h o r o f “ L i f e I n c i d o n t s a n d P o e t i c

P i c t u r e s . ”

N o . 1 , L o v e , t o b e f o l l o w e d b y2 , C h a r i t y .3 , P o v e r t y .4 , R i c h e s .5 , C h a r a c t e r .6 , D e a t h .7 , I m m o r t a l i t y .8 , A n g e l s a n d D e m o n s .9 , I n n a t e I d e a s .

| 1 0 , S p i r i t u a l N e e d s , a n d o t h e r s .I E a c h t r a c t w i l l b e c o m p l e t e i n i t s e l f .1 P r i c e o n e P e n n y , o r s e v e n - s h i l l i n g s

p e r . 1 0 0 . T o b e h a d o f t h e A u t h o r , ‘ S p i r i t u a l T i m e s ’ O f f i c e , 6 , S i d n e y - T e r r a c e , G r o v o R o a d , V i c t o r i a P a r k E .

i £ 3 * N o . 1 , ‘ L o v e , ’ w i l l h e r e a d y i n a f e w d a y s .

From the Examiner.There are some curious details in his account

of his life—good, because genuine transcripts of experience.

From the Observer, Oct, 22nd 1865.Replete with interest . . . Will be found

botbinstructiveandamusing . . . The 'Poetic Pictures ” contain many passag sterling merit.

From the Caledonian Mercury.From the itinerant career which Mr. Poivcll

j lias pursued, ills hook necessarily contains.the record of some strange scenes, and the descrip­tions of some singular characters, and “ the story of his lifo,” as told by himself, is not without its lesson and warning. His poems indicate feeling, truth, and earnestness.

OMAN, AT HOME ANDA B RO AD : A Glance at lier Domestic

ami Social Condition. Price 3d.

SPIRITUALISM; ITS FACTS ANDI J PH ASES, Illustrated with Personal Ex-

! peiiences, and Fac-Similes of Spirit-Writing.Price 2s., post free.

As an individual contribution to the general mass of testimony on this great topic o f the age, it is verv valuable.— William ffowilt.

Mr. Powell’ s statements o f the answers lie received to queries are remarkable, and as he is evidently a truthful writer, we cannot do otherwise than advise the public to consult the work. * * * Many parsons will read MrPowell’s narrative with interest, for it lots no lack of the marvellous set forth in vigorous language.— Public Opinion, March 12th, 186-1.

The sum of the matter is, that if one 1ms a a curiosity to know what Spiritualism is, and what it actually aims at, he will gain a better and clearerviow o( it from Mr. Powell’s volume than from any other that has yet been published, not even excepting that of the great apostle medium, Mr. Home himself.— Caledonian Met­eor y, March 12, 1861.

This is the fourth hook that has recently come to our hands on the same subject, ami, whilst it is the smallest, it is yet. the most strik ing of all the former, perhaps, from the brevity with which the subject is presented, and the nature ofthefucts or assumptions with which it is crammed from iirst to last. * * * 'J’ heie is much, very much to excite thought, whether to compel conviction, or not. The enqiiirv is l.v no means the contemptible thing that rnanv people wLh to consider it. It deals with al­leged facts, which,if true, are astounding’; and, if false, still they are objects of interest, ami they ought to be disposed a l— Hritish Standard. March 18th, 1861.

To be bad of the Author, at the “ Spiritunl Times ’ Office.

P ARCELS OF TLIE SPIRITUALLYCEU M TR A C TS can now be had

at the Spiritual Times Office, containing an assortment, one shilling.

n. POWELL, Editor of the« Spiritual Times, will be happy to arrrnnge

with Secretaries or Agents, to deliverthe follow, ing Lecture, or others Subject, “ The Fact* and Philosophy of Modern Spiritualism.

SYLLABU S.Origin of Modern Spiritualism— Phenomenal Facts— Tokens— Hauntings — Apparitions — Varieties of Modiumship— Professional Adult Modimns—child Mediums. &c.,—extraordinary Persomi Experiences-—Tables Wafted— Music Played — Ilappings on Furniture, Ceilings, Floors— Drawings — Direct Sc Automatic Writ­ing— Beautiful Spirit-Messages — Cui Bono, the question answered — Instructions for forming circles and developing Mediums.

R. MoLEOD is prepared toreceive calls to lecture, and make such

engagements as will not necessitate his stay from home more than two days. Address, Dr. McLeod, Newcastle-on-Tyne.

Sixteen Pages, Weekly : New Series of ther n r i E E n g l i s h l e a d e r , a

JL Journal for the Discussion of Stationary Questions.

“ Coiuluciveness to Progress includes the whole excelleneo of a government.” —J. S. ' Mir,i., NI.I*.

Price Twopence. Publishing Office, 282, Strand, London, W.C.

Price Twopence, Post-free Threepence.HAT SPIRITUALISM HAST A U G H T .” Reprinted from the

Spiritual Mag asine. may bo lmd at the Spiritila Times Office’

’i bis pamphlet is one of the most vigorous of Mr. Hewitt's numerous writings on Spiritual, ism. It is in every way suitable for circulation.

N O T I C E T O T H E T R A D E .

m i l E “ S P I R I T U A L T I M E S ” i s JL now Published by ilr . F, Fanali, *282, Strinici, R.C.

Just rendv. Price p'tl, Post free, Id.A WORKING- MA.N’8 VIEW OF

T E N N Y SO N ’S “ ENOCH A R D E N ."A spirited and closely analytical essay. The

readers who were delighted with his former hook (and they were many), will find in this new effort, fresh grace and strength, Mr. Powell’s criticism may advantageously compart* with mur.v more pretentious utterances o f opinion.—TAoyds News^ January 27.

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Printed and Published hv the Proprietor James H enry Powku , G, Sidney-termue G rove-road, Victoria-park, in the County of Middlesex, July 15, 1866.