SOUTHWICK, Mass., Feb. 3d, 1854.
693. _Dear Sir_: I wish, however, to say something in regard to the
subject-matter of your letter. You say you are not surprised at the
belief of many in Spiritualism, as there are phenomena which you cannot
explain. You also say that you think I must be mistaken “_as respects
a table moving when left to itself entirely_.” I do not think a table
would move if left to itself entirely, since matter cannot put itself
into motion. The great question is, What is the power that makes the
table move? You think it is muscular, and I am certain that it is
something else. When I am looking at the sun in a clear sky, I know
that it shines. No argument would have any influence to make me doubt
the evidence of my senses. There has, no doubt, been a great deal of
jugglery in the world, but shall I doubt the evidence of my senses
on that account? How shall we prove any thing in a court of justice,
if the evidence of our senses is not to be relied upon? While I am
looking at a table, it moves, and I have the same evidence that no
body touches it, that I have that it moves. I see the table tilt up,
and poise itself on two of its four legs, and then on the other two,
and finally it wholly rises from the floor, and seems to float in the
air without any visible support whatever; all this time there are no
persons within six feet of it. In a letter of N. P. Talmadge, published
in the Tribune of May 27th last, he gives an account of his seeing
tables move when nothing visible touched them. I mention _him_, because
I suppose his character and standing would be likely to have weight
with you. It would, however, be very easy to mention a very great many
cases, proved by testimony that would be conclusive in any court of
justice. I supposed that it was too late in the day to doubt facts of
this character, as they are taking place in numerous places in this
country and also in Europe. I suppose this is the reason why Faraday’s
explanation has availed so little to check Spiritualism in England or
France.
694. I believe Henry Gordon resides now in Philadelphia. I have no
doubt you can see such things for yourself in his presence by attending
a few times. Our judge of probate, who lives a few miles from me, told
me a few days ago that a young lady of his acquaintance put her hands
upon a table and it moved. He then took hold of the table to prevent
the motion, but he had not strength to do it. The table would slide on
the floor, notwithstanding his utmost efforts to prevent it. Now it is
perfectly idle to say that the young lady _unconsciously_ exerted such
a power. The judge ridicules the idea of its being caused by spirits.
He says that it is electricity. You are too well acquainted with the
laws of electricity to believe that under such circumstances it can
produce any such feats. I know of a case, in Springfield City, in which
four respectable merchants, with whom I am acquainted, testify that a
large table, with two of them on it, moved around the room. In that
instance the medium’s hands were on the table. But who can believe that
such a force could be exerted without the movers being conscious of it.
There are cases enough of the same description to fill a volume.
695. There is another phase of this matter that is worthy of attention,
and that is the intelligence connected with it. You mention cases
where the answers were not correct. Thousands of such cases might be
furnished. In the presence of some of the mediums, almost all the
answers will be false; while in the presence of others, it will be very
rare that a wrong answer is given. Some of the answers being wrong
does not prove that there is no intelligence connected with it. In
the presence of a good medium, a question asked mentally is answered
as readily and as correctly as when asked vocally. I do not depend on
the testimony of others for this. I have found it to be true in my own
experience. In the presence of some mediums, mental questions are not
answered. The foregoing are facts that are well settled if evidence can
settle any thing. To say that we are dupes and fools, decides nothing.
I suppose that I can examine a matter as carefully and intricately as
most men, and I know I am not deceived about the facts. But the cause
is quite another matter.
696. I suppose you are acquainted with the various and conflicting
explanations that have been given. They all appear to my mind perfectly
absurd and incredible, and no two of them agree. Rev. Dr. Beecher was
appointed by his association to examine and report. He did so, and
decides that the communications are from the spirits of the dead, but
from the evil or unblest portion of them. If it is from spirits, there
is as much evidence that some of them are good, as that others are evil.
697. I must close. I did not expect an answer, but was glad to hear
from you, and if you make any important discovery, I should be glad
to hear from you again; I am not settled in my mind respecting the
cause of these strange phenomena. I agree with you heartily in your
last remark in your letter, that “it would indeed be a glorious mercy
if God would give us some evidence which should settle the religious
opinions of mankind.”
Yours, very respectfully,
AMASA HOLCOMB.
_In reply to the preceding, so much of a letter from the Author as
relates to Spiritualism._
PHILADELPHIA, February 8, 1854.
698. You believe fully that tables move without contact, because you
have _seen them move_; I am skeptical, because I have never seen them
move without human contact, although I have been at several circles.
699. You have been much more lucky than I have been as to the
manifestations, whether mechanical or mental.
700. I shall lose no opportunity of making further observations. I
have no clue to find Gordon. You ought to give me his address, and
communicate all you know respecting him.