MISCELLANEOUS LETTERS CONNECTED WITH THE OHIO CAMPAIGN.
N. S. WHEELER--E. S. BROWNFIELD--CHILLICOTHE COMMITTEE--CHARLES F.
WHIPPO--M. L. WRIGHT--D. A. EDDY--EXTRACTS FROM THE PRESS--"A
FAIR CHALLENGE FROM MRS. FISH" AND SEQUEL--COLUMBUS COMMITTEE--D. A.
EDDY--M. L. WRIGHT--INTERESTING LETTER FROM DEAR AMY POST--ARTICLE
FROM THE CLEVELAND PLAINDEALER.
N. S. WHEELER.
"PAINESVILLE, O., May 7, 1851.
"MRS. FISH:
"DEAR MADAM--Great excitement prevails in our quiet little village at
this time. Miss May Cronk has become quite a satisfactory medium. Her
development is extraordinary. We think perhaps if you could spend about
two weeks or ten days with us, your presence would afford us a fair
opportunity to test the matter to our heart's content. I see by the
babble of the Cleveland papers that you are expected in that city soon;
some say that you are now there. Burr is drivelling out his dolorous
tale to large audiences in Cleveland; but whether his cracking joints
will endure the torture much longer, has not yet been revealed. I hope
for your own happiness, as well as for the successful triumph that
awaits you, you may preserve your equanimity and successfully resist all
distracting influences.
"We are all anxious to see you here. Come.
"Truly yours,
"N. S. WHEELER."
NEWARK, O., May 19, 1851.
"MRS. FISH:
"Although a stranger to you, I take the liberty of addressing you on the
subject of Spirit manifestations; also to give you a pressing invitation
to visit our town in behalf of a number of our citizens, as well as
myself, who are as firm as the rock of Gibraltar in the faith; although
a great many of us have not had the opportunity of witnessing the
phenomena; and the probability is that many of us will not have the
privilege of doing so unless some of our friends, who are more favored
than we are, will visit our town and tarry with us a while.
"You could not but be pleased, as Newark is one of the most beautiful
towns in the interior of the State; and you will find the people very
pleasant and intelligent, if you can visit us. Please answer as soon as
you receive this.
"Yours with respect,
"E. S. BROWNFIELD.
"P. S. I am here authorized to use the names of our friends, some of
whom you will doubtless recollect; also others, for whose character and
respectability I have but to refer you to Dr. Bigelow, of Cleveland,
who is well acquainted with all, viz., Mrs. Boss, Mrs. Baker, Wm. Boss,
Thos. Holmes, Dr. Blair, John J. Mooney, Wm. Lyon, Wm. Cunningham, and
Lewis Evans, _who all join in_ pressing the invitation.--_E. S. B._"
* * * * *
CHILLICOTHE COMMITTEE.
"CHILLICOTHE, O., May 23, 1851.
"DEAR MADAM:
"You will notice by the enclosed proceedings, that the duty has devolved
on us, in behalf of the citizens of this place and vicinity, friendly
to the investigation of the so-called "Spiritual rappings" and
"manifestations," to extend to you an invitation that we may be honored
with your company and have the benefit of your experience in the
investigation of that which is to us a subject of the highest interest,
and which we consider deserving the most patient and devoted attention.
"In addition to the performance of our official duty as a committee,
we request you to accept from us, individually, our warmest and most
heartfelt congratulations, for the dignity you have preserved, and
the Christian forbearance and charity you have manifested toward your
opponents, amid the many trying scenes you have encountered during the
last two years, while lending your aid to the investigation of truths of
a new and startling character.
"We are the more desirous that you should honor us with a visit, from
having instituted some experiments ourselves, with partial success, the
particulars of which have been published from time to time, to encourage
the friends of the science to pursue the investigation for themselves.
Circumstances, however, have not yet been sufficiently favorable to its
development to enable us to gratify the public interest which it has
naturally excited; and consequently a visit from yourself at this
particular juncture would be particularly gratifying. We should be
pleased also to learn what mode of compensation would be the most
agreeable to you as a remuneration for your services. Hoping to obtain
from you a favorable reply, and a visit at some early day most
convenient to yourself, accept, madam, our assurances of esteem and
friendship.
"JOHNSON LOFLAND,
JONATHAN MIESSE,
H. M. PINTO,
_Committee_."
"To MRS. FISH, of Rochester, Cleveland, Ohio.
"A meeting of the citizens of Chillicothe and vicinity, friendly to the
investigation of the phenomena known us 'Spirit rappings,' 'Spiritual
manifestations,' etc., which have claimed a considerable share of public
attention in the United States during the last two years, was held in
the city of Chillicothe on May 23, 1851, at which Clement Pine was
appointed chairman, and George Armstrong secretary.
"On motion it was resolved, That a committee of three be appointed to
forward an invitation to Mrs. Fish, of Rochester, who, it is understood,
is now in Cleveland, to visit our city, that the citizens may have the
benefit of her presence and experience in witnessing the so-called
'Spiritual manifestations.' Johnson Lofland, H. M. Pinto, and Jonathan
Miesse, M.D., were appointed by the chair said committee.
"Resolved, that it shall be the duty of said committee, on receiving
an answer from Mrs. Fish, to call another meeting, and make known her
intentions in regard to the acceptance or non-acceptance of such
invitation, and in case we should be favored with a visit from Mrs.
Fish, to propose such measures for her reception as may be deemed
necessary.
"Resolved, that a copy of the proceedings of this meeting be made by the
secretary, and transmitted immediately, together with a letter of
invitation, to Mrs. Fish, by said committee.
"CLEMENT PINE, _Chairman_,
GEORGE ARMSTRONG, _Secretary_."
* * * * *
The foregoing letter was sent to Massillon for other signatures of
parties there alike interested.
"MASSILLON, O., June 23, 1851.
"We earnestly hope that you will accept of this invitation, and thereby
give a few earnest inquirers after truth an opportunity to satisfy their
minds upon a very important subject.
"C. D. SMITH, J. W. UNDERHILL,
D. M. BRADSHAW, F. KEITH,
S. HUNT, J. R. CECIL,
R. PARTRIDGE, G. W. WILLIAMS,
C. H. RUSSELL, S. HAUND,
S. RAWSON."
* * * * *
CHARLES F. WHIPPO.
"NEW CASTLE, Lawrence Co., Pa., June 9, 1851.
"MRS. FISH: My object in writing this is to invite you, in behalf of
myself and many intelligent friends here, to stop, on your way to
Pittsburg, and spend a few days with us.
"I have heard of your trials and troubles at Buffalo and at Cleveland,
and you have had my sympathy through all. I hope and trust you will be
able to stand up under these persecutions, steadfastly and firmly.
"Remember that truth is mighty and will ultimately prevail. The Rev.
Rascal C. C. Burr is on the wane, and he will learn, before all is over,
that 'honesty is the best policy.'
"Very respectfully and truly yours,
"CHARLES F. WHIPPO."
* * * * *
M. L. WRIGHT.
"CLEVELAND, August 23, 1851.
"MRS. FISH: My dear friend, I promised to answer the article by Green,
through which you were called on to enter the arena with Mr. Clark, for
examination, etc. I did so; but the Clark family came out boldly, and
offered to make oath that they knew nothing of the source of the
'manifestations;' that the article by Green was without their knowledge
and very much against their wishes. We all thought best to suppress it
for the present. You can hardly imagine how much pleasure and happiness
_we_ have realized when in your presence. That scene in the cemetery
can never die out from my memory. How can we ever forget those sweet
messages from our dear ones, whose affection for us has outlived their
mortality?
"Oh, come with us again and permit us to listen to those good old raps
that first shook our scepticism and brought us to a realization of the
truth. That message in the grave-yard, saying, 'My dear son, weep no
more, the fault was mine. No longer bow your head in vain regret and
grief. I _bless_ you, be happy.' Then the messages from our dear
children, bidding us to rejoice and weep no more, 'We are all happy in
heaven;' and then, in answer to my mental questions they spelled, 'We
accompanied you here--this is not our abiding place--we will return with
you and watch over you through the night, and communicate with you at
home.' The promises have all been fulfilled. We have the manifestations
at our own house, and the Spirit of our father is our guardian-angel
now. My wife holds daily converse with him, and he tells us he 'is
happy. All is well.' This is not belief, it is knowledge. Your friends
in Cleveland are all armed and equipped, ready to defend you now and
forever. It is midnight; my dear wife and children are sleeping quietly,
and those of the higher spheres are watching over them. The midnight
winds whistle fearfully around our dwelling, and as I write old Lake
Erie lashes her shores with a fury perfectly terrific. May the good
Spirits of the wave watch over the mariner to-night and pilot him safely
into harbor. Our friend Gray has returned and wishes me to remember him
to you. Mr. Tiffany has also returned. You must excuse him for not
calling on you, as his child was very ill, and passed away to its Spirit
home last Wednesday. He feels deeply interested in your welfare, and has
attended to all the preliminaries in the slander case, so that you need
give yourself no uneasiness in the matter. Judge Bissell complains of
your not writing. Be sure and write to him immediately. He is your _true
friend_ and will see that _justice_ is done in your case. Judge Paine
also, do not forget to write to him.
"Now, Leah, _your true friends_ (I need not name them) are expecting you
will locate here some day, not far distant. We expect to see you in
Rochester soon. My love to your mother, sisters, and Calvin, with a
great share for yourself, and believe me
"_Truly yours ever_,
"M. L. WRIGHT."
* * * * *
D. A. EDDY.
"CLEVELAND, O., October 28, 1851.
"MRS. FISH:
"MY DEAR FRIEND--Your letter dated at Rochester, after you had partially
recovered from your severe illness, was duly received, and I answered at
length; but while waiting to get hold of the precious bluff missive that
appeared in _The True Democrat_, to enclose to you, some time elapsed,
and when I finally got it, I found you were sojourning in Troy, N. Y.
So the letter was old, and I did not send it. I cannot find words to
express how glad I am to hear that you have recovered and are able to
visit a place where I know you will have so many true friends; but we
will not own to any city that can produce more sincere friends than
Cleveland.
"I suppose that Mrs. Eddy has informed you of Mr. Crittenden's intention
of making you a visit soon. Is it not possible for you to come here
again before close of navigation? If not, you may look for me there the
first of January, or about that time. We want you to come to Cleveland.
We will select a house here where you will be happy and comfortable. We
pity those poor wretches who are ready to persecute those who are too
good to breathe the air of the same neighborhood where they reside.
But never mind, you know and we know there is truth in these new
revelations, and the good work is destined to lead men from darkness and
doubt, into the blessed light of truth and a hope which I despaired of
ever obtaining.
"Your correspondence must necessarily be very large and quite a task.
The cause is gaining here daily, but we want you here again. Adieu for
the present.
"Sincerely yours,
"D. A. EDDY.
"P. S. We have all signed the bail bonds for costs in your suit with C.
Chauncy Burr. I presume Dr. Wright has advised you ere this. Burr is
much troubled, but do not let anyone influence you to settle, on any
conditions.
"D. A. E."
* * * * *
EXTRACTS FROM THE PRESS.
"We learn by a telegraphic despatch from Cleveland, that Mrs. Fish, the
celebrated 'medium,' will be here in a few days, when she will give
our citizens an opportunity to hear the 'rappings' to their entire
satisfaction. It is a singular fact, that notwithstanding the slanders
heaped upon this lady by those accomplished mountebanks, the Burrs, she
follows them up with a sharp stick, and meets them face to face. It is
not very manly or very dignified to slander a lady when she is not
present.
"The Burrs are still giving their exhibitions of toe-ology to very
small audiences in this city. Those who have heretofore believed that
the rappings were all humbug, are now entirely convinced that they
are not half so great a humbug as these itinerant, catch-penny
lecturers."--_Pittsburg Post_.
"_A Literary Man in 'Trouble.'_--The Rev. C. Chauncy Burr, the man who
makes 'literature his profession,' has been prosecuted in Cleveland, O.,
for slander, by Mrs. Fish (of the Fox family), who has laid her damages
at $10,000. He will now have the opportunity to prove his charge, which
he always contended could be easily proved. It will be an exciting
suit."--_Providence Mirror._
"_The Burr Burst._--The Burrs have lowered their colors, taken down all
sail, and left Pittsburg, under a good, stiff, spanking breeze. Mr.
Courtney, O. S. Fowler (the phrenologist), Miss Sarah W. Taylor, S.
Parker, J. P. Glass, Milo A. Townsend, Rev. Mr. Williams, Dr. Ewing, and
several of the most respectable citizens of Pittsburg (so says _The
Post_) are after them with three columns of cards and sharp sticks,
published in the Pittsburg papers. 'What a terrible thing it is to be a
terrible critter,' as Mrs. Partington would say."--_Cincinnati
Nonpareil._
"Mrs. Fish and her sister have returned from a short excursion into the
country, and will be found at 'The Dunham,' for a few days more. They
have invitations from almost every city in the Union to visit them, but
they are very contented in the Forest City."--_Cleveland Herald._
"_The Spirits._--Miss Catharine Fox, the spirit medium, accompanied by
a married sister and a female friend, will remain a few days at the
Walnut Street House, where they will be pleased to meet those who feel
interested in these manifestations, and who desire to investigate
the subject with candor. We were present last night, with a number
of friends, at an interview with the ladies, when some of the
manifestations were produced by the customary rappings, which, to say
the least, did not appear to be produced by any physical effort of the
medium. Miss Catharine is a very interesting girl, and looks very far
from being capable of carrying out any humbug whatever. We can do no
less than request our readers to examine for themselves."--_Cincinnati
Nonpareil._
"_Personal._--Miss Catharine Fox, one of the original mediums of the
Rochester rappings, has arrived in Cincinnati, and is stopping at the
Walnut Street House. The public will have an opportunity for a few days
to judge for themselves in regard to things which have 'turned the world
upside down.' As she professes to 'call Spirits from the vasty deep,'
and Mr. Burr is here to knock them in the head as fast as they come,
exciting times may be expected."--_Cincinnati Nonpareil._
"EDITOR OF THE PLAINDEALER:
"SIR--Cannot Mrs. Fish and the Misses Fox be prevailed on to make us a
visit? The fact is, Gray, we Michiganders are wofully benighted upon
Spiritual subjects. Everything pertaining to 'the world, the flesh,
and the devil' we understand perfectly; but when it comes to getting
communications from the other world direct, and seeing with our eyes, we
'knock under.' Our press, too, is anything but free upon these subjects,
giving only one side, and concluding with the small bill of _The
Herald_, that there are _no more_ things in Heaven and earth than are
dreamed of in their philosophy."--_Detroit Correspondent._
FROM THE CINCINNATI NONPAREIL.
"_A Fair Challenge by Mrs. Fish._--It appears that the most sceptical in
Cincinnati, even the editor of _The Daily Times_, have to concede that
toe and knee joints have nothing to do with Spirit rappings. It has
become a settled fact that Burr's and the Buffalo doctors' theories are
the silliest humbug theories of the day. But the editor of _The Times_,
in a spirit of malicious infidelity, accuses Mrs. Fish and her young
sisters, Margaretta and Cathy, with having concealed about their persons
some sort of intelligent machinery, which makes the raps and answers
questions, whether mentally or orally put. The editor deserves a leather
medal for so sage a conclusion, and should have one, had not the great
demand for them among Burr's followers and the Buffalo boobies exhausted
the stock of those ornaments and cleaned the market of supply.
"To silence this pretension, Mrs. Fish published the following challenge
in the Cincinnati papers:
"'A CARD TO THE PUBLIC.
"'With my sisters, Margaretta and Cathy Fox, I will remain at the Walnut
Street House a few days, where we shall be happy to wait upon all those
who wish to satisfy themselves as to the truth or falsity of Spirit
rappings. The editor of _The Times_ generously acquits us of all joint
snapping, and I think we can very easily dispose of his explanation. If
there be even a shadow of suspicion still lurking in any mind that the
sounds are made by mechanical contrivances of any character, we are
willing at any moment to meet a committee of ladies, to whom we will
give all fair opportunity of satisfaction. We only ask that the
committee shall consist of ladies whose testimony will have weight with
the public.
"'ANN L. FISH.'
"This same question was raised in New York when the mediums were there,
and by a coterie of ladies and gentlemen of the very first families. One
of the wealthiest merchants went so far as to pledge a large sum of
money, that 'take the mediums unawares' (_i.e._, not dressed for the
occasion), 'and they could not induce the raps.' Others, equally
uncharitable and unbelieving, coincided with him, and they demanded a
committee of investigation forthwith. They took the mediums into a room,
bolted the door, and erected a platform of tables, on which they were
compelled to stand. Here, piece by piece, they were disrobed by the
committee, and every article of wearing apparel examined and laid aside.
Not a rap had been heard during the whole time, and the girls, to use
their own language, 'feared the Spirits, as well as their friends on
earth, had deserted them.' After everything was completed and order
restored in the room, Mrs. Fish, in a trembling but determined voice
said, 'Spirits, if ever you manifest yourselves to us again, do it now!'
"The raps came, instanter, like hail-stones, on every part of the stage.
The mediums were overcome with joy, and every eye in the room glistened
with tears of sympathy for the sisters. There was, without, a large
number of gentlemen and others waiting to hear the report of the
committee; and when these facts were made known to them by their wives
and others on the committee, and in tears, too, they with one accord
repented of their unbelief and cruelty. These facts were published by
the said committee in the New York papers, and created a profound
sensation. But it seems the Cincinnati editor has forgotten this and a
thousand other degrading tests, instituted by a wilful ignorance, which
these ladies have since submitted to rather than lose what is of
infinite value to them, their own good name.
"Will this valiant man dare accept this challenge from a woman, and his
wife be one of the committee to report to him that 'he is a fool'? We
shall see."
Committees of citizens, from various places in Ohio, were constantly
coming to us; and every day brought requests to visit them. But we could
only attend to a few of the larger places.
To show how widely Spiritualism has spread, and how anxious people were
to have the proof of it, I give a few of the many letters of this kind
we have preserved.
COLUMBUS COMMITTEE.
"COLUMBUS, O., May 22, 1851.
"MRS. ANN L. FISH:
"MADAM--The undersigned, residents of this city, in common with many
others of their fellow-citizens, feeling a deep and abiding interest in
the great subject of Spiritual and immortal existence, anxiously desire
to witness, and investigate for themselves, the Spiritual manifestations
said to have been recently made in various parts of the country, and
especially the phenomena connected with yourself and your two sisters,
respectfully and cordially invite you, if consistent with your other
duties and engagements, to visit our city at your earliest convenience.
"LEONARD HUMPHREY, F. GALE,
WILLIAM BURDELL, PHILIP REED,
J. H. WADE, JOHN FOWLER,
N. UPTON, JOHN J. JANNEY,
J. H. COULTER, JESSE MORRIS,
T. S. BUTTOLPH."
"CLEVELAND, O., August 27, 1851.
"DEAR MRS. FISH:
"I snatch a moment in the hurry to say we are all well, including the
baby. She has got over her cough entirely, and is more interesting, if
possible, than ever.
"Spiritual manifestations are gaining rapidly.
"I was in Buffalo last week: saw Messrs. C. C. Bristol, Dudley, Albro,
and Hayes. They are all writing mediums, and the things they write are
truly astonishing. Their hands are moved without any effort, and the
evidence of its being the work of Spirits is beyond the least flickering
of doubt. They all inquired (very interestedly) after you, regretting
they could not have seen you on your return. Will you be likely to come
this way again this fall? We sincerely hope you will find it possible to
do so. Do drop us a line. How have you found things on arrival at home?
Mrs. E. joins me in love to you. We remain truly your friends.
"D. A. EDDY."
M. L. WRIGHT.
"CLEVELAND, September 8, 1851.
"MY DEAR FRIEND:
"We received yours of the 11th, and were thankful for it. You doubtless
know what is going on here, as Mr. Gray tells me he sends you the
_Plaindealer_. Spirits told us the truth about the Clark family, etc.
You will see my article signed 'A Friend of Truth,' which heads him off
entirely and puts a stop to any further designs against Spiritual
matters. I have another article ready; if necessary, I shall publish it.
Burr is in hot water; one of his attorneys called on me a few days
since, and tried to settle the matter and get it out of court, but your
friends here turn a deaf ear to all his propositions. He called on me
again yesterday, and asked me on what conditions I thought you would
settle with him. (He not knowing that you had nothing to do with the
prosecution.) I told him it could not be accomplished short of his
acknowledging in every paper of the Union that he was a liar, a
blackguard and a villain, paying the costs of the court, and giving you
money enough to purchase a place in this city; and I did not know as
_that_ would do it. He is badly frightened. Everything has been properly
attended to, and we have no fears of the result. Bail has been given for
costs and everything is right.
"Now, my dear friend, do not allow anyone to influence you to
discontinue this suit. Burr deserves to be punished to the fullest
extent of the law, and for your own sake, for the sake of your friends,
and for the sake of the cause in which we are engaged, permit it to go
through.
"Your visit here, though not a golden one, will, I doubt not, be the
most important event in your whole life. The trial will not come off in
the October term, but will quite likely the next. We must all 'keep
cool.' Now, Leah, make up your mind to settle in Cleveland, where you
have so many good friends, whom you know you can trust. We intend to
visit you before navigation closes, if possible.
"Remember me to Calvin, Mr. and Mrs. Smith, your mother, Maggie and
Katie, dear little Charlie, and may _good_ Spirits aid you in every
emergency, direct you aright in all things, so that when called to
exchange worlds, your earth life shall close like flowers at setting
sun. So may we all live and die. My wife unites in love to you.
"Ever yours truly,
"M. L. WRIGHT."
INTERESTING LETTER FROM MRS. AMY POST.
The letter written by a venerable Quaker lady, who has for years been a
neighbor and intimate friend of Mrs. Fish and the Fox family, speaks a
language so plain that we have requested the privilege of publishing it,
though not so intended by the author.--_Cleveland Plaindealer._
"ROCHESTER, June, 1851.
"MY DEAR FRIEND, A. LEAH FISH:
"I have often thought of thee and thy company since you left your
beautiful home for an Ohio city, and have been much delighted to hear
you have found friends who can appreciate the value and importance of
this wonderful development to mankind. When I think of the very happy
change it has made in my views and feelings, regarding the present as
well as the future life, I feel anxious that all the world should become
acquainted with it. It is a wealth I had despaired of ever obtaining--to
be convinced that we have commenced to live a life which will never
end--a life whose joys, too, are enhanced by our practices of goodness.
I have always admired the doctrine and wished to believe it, viz.,
'Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren,
ye have,' etc.; and also, 'In my father's house there are many
mansions;' but the belief I had on this point was always accompanied
with a desire for more _positive proof_ of immortality. For some time
before your family made me acquainted with this blessed Spirit-rapping
dispensation, I had become more settled in the belief, and unreasonable
but popular doctrine of there being no half-way house; but we must
either go to Heaven or to Hell. But what am I writing this to thee for?
Thee knows how happy I have been made, and how thankful I have been
that you all have been willing to bear persecutions and revilings,
self-denial and provocations, for the sake of the _Truth_, and clearing
yourselves from the imputations of deception. Oh! could strangers only
know as I have known the trials you have endured and the sacrifices
you made the first two years, they could not be made to believe it an
invention of your own, nor pursued for mercenary purposes. Thy mother
has been so troubled and unhappy away from you all that I could not feel
surprised at her accepting thy very kind invitation to come to you.
The feelings of a mother are tenderly alive to the interests of her
children. I know truly, therefore, I was very glad, for your as well as
her sake, to have your own mother with you, as you have never before
been without her guardian protection.
"Please give my loving regards to Margaretta and Calvin, and do all the
good you can. Believe me to be thy sincere and affectionate friend,
"AMY POST."
DOINGS AT THE DUNHAM--THE PHILOSOPHY OF SPIRITUALISM AS RAPPED OUT BY
DR. BENJAMIN FRANKLIN.
(_From the Cleveland Plaindealer._)
"So engrossed are we in worldly affairs, that we have but little time to
investigate Spiritual matters, although opportunities present themselves
twice a day at the Dunham House. There are, however, a few gentlemen of
leisure who are taking up this subject systematically, and looking into
its mysteries earnestly. Some dozen of the most intellectual minds
in the city have formed a league to jointly, candidly, and honestly
investigate this phenomenon, have already had two sittings, and report
'progress.' We have been kindly invited by this circle to attend
whenever our convenience would admit, knowing that we had the moral
courage to publish what we saw and heard, without stopping to inquire
whether anything similar had been published fifty years before, or
without consulting the masculine grannies of the day, whether it met
their approval or not. By such invitation we attended a little while
last evening, and found the company had progressed so far as to
discard all tests of the _medium_, of the _Spirituality_ of the
_communications_, and were actually (as they believed) taking lessons in
philosophy from the ancient masters. After sitting a while, and hearing
a great variety of rapping sounds, there was a loud knocker appeared
which was simultaneously recognized, by several who had heard it before,
as the signal of Benjamin Franklin. He was a long time questioned
concerning Spiritual matters, sometimes answering by raps, and sometimes
using the alphabet. It was in substance as follows:
"Spirit is the great positive of all existence, and matter the great
negative. There is an elemental difference between Matter and Spirit.
Electricity and magnetism are always connected with matter, and belong
to it. The dividing link between matter and mind is between magnetism
and vitality.
"There are different degrees of refinement in the electrical and
magnetic media. Chemical affinities are electrical and magnetic.
Cohesion and gravitation also depend on similar principles.
"The time has not yet come when the true philosophy may be explained,
but will soon. Investigation and experience will hasten it on.
"Repulsion in nature is caused by stronger attraction. The ascension of
a balloon from the earth is a fair illustration of the principle of
repulsion. Everything in the universe takes its appropriate place by
virtue of its elemental affinities, and can occupy no other place,
without changing the relations of itself and every other body in
existence. The earth, as also every other heavenly body, is caused to
move in its appropriate orbit by the united action of every other body
in existence, and cannot be made to come in contact with other bodies;
for the combining influences of all the separate bodies mark out
separate paths for each. Thought is mental motion, and is conveyed from
one mind to another through an intermediate medium, which is put in
motion by this mental action. This medium, in its refinement lies
between the nervous medium and Spirit, and exists in every degree of
refinement from the nervous fluid to Spirit.
"Clairvoyance consists in insulating the mind of the subject, and in
proportion as the mind is brought into clear contact with higher
refinements of this medium, will the subject become clear-sighted.
Biology, as used by Burr and others, is an improper term. Psychology
would be a better word. The word Biology was used to make the subject a
humbug. The phenomena attending Psychological (Biological) experiments,
belong to the lower class of mesmeric influences--and pass from them
through every degree, to perfect clear-sightedness.
"Much further information was given which we failed to note. As the
doctor promised to meet the circle again, we hope to report a more
complete theory. After which the circle drew up close to the table, and
various rapping sounds were heard upon the chairs, the table, the floor,
etc. The sound of sawing boards, driving nails into a box or something
hollow, was repeated several times."