The Missing Link In Modern Spiritualism Part 13

"_To the Editor of the Evening Mirror_: Now that a considerable number of 'the wise men of the East,' even of Gotham, have been permitted to hear the veritable 'rappings' which so confounded the 'foolish' and 'credulous' people of the 'West,' I do not see that they are any more successful in discovering the machinery, wire-work, or other means of collusion to which these phenomena have been attributed (by those who have never witnessed them), than were their western neighbors. All, or nearly all those who have investigated this matter with any honesty of purpose, have found it far exceeding their conceptions. There is often a truthfulness and exactness in these communications which are perfectly astounding, and when failures do occur they can readily be accounted for if it is admitted that they are addressed to an intelligence which reads the most secret thoughts. What is the nature of this intelligence which tells us our thoughts when sincere, and regards them not when called for with a trifling or dishonest purpose? Can it be the keen-sighted perception of the parties interested? Can it be explained by the principles of mesmerism, or is it supernatural? These are the questions to be answered. Those who cannot control their thoughts from the observations of others, may be satisfied with the first; those who do not take into consideration the physical demonstrations, may consider the second an explanation; but to explain all, it may be doubted, as some do, that the power exists in the supernatural world. This is anything but an age of reason. 'Opinion' has gained the ascendancy and sits upon 'reason's throne,' and with an a.s.surance incompatible with everything but ignorance, despises 'facts' and evidence. Strange and mysterious as this matter is, many of the phenomena are settled 'facts'

which plainly contradict the vague 'opinions' set afloat by those who know little of what they talk or write about. Take, for instance, a note--published in _The Evening Post_--by a person who was present at the interview for the investigation of the subject, at the rooms of Dr. Griswold, in which he says that 'all the persons present on that occasion (whom he has since seen) are of the opinion that the phenomena, or knockings, were electrical, and the answers accidental.' These may not be his precise words, yet they embody correctly his expression; but they are incorrect in fact, and in their implication; as all of the persons then present have not been consulted, far less have they given an unanimous opinion as above expressed.

"Before any one adopts the 'opinion' that these sounds are electrical, would it not be well to show how they can be produced while the three persons on whom they are attendant are insulated several feet apart; how electricity can be so harnessed to tables, chairs, and other things, as to move them about, or hold them in their places so that no human arm can stir them, or produce a concussion equal to what would require the force of a strong arm to accomplish and with the aid of a heavy instrument; without saying anything of the still more wonderful manifestations indicating intellectual direction. Any one who can give the rationale of all this, upon electrical principles, will undo some of the established and known laws, and discover to the world not only the means for converting this subtle agent into _an intelligent_ motive power, but also to give it the skill of a masterly engineer.

"The a.s.sumption that the correct answers given to questions that evening--though not remarkable, comparatively--were 'accidental,' bears absurdity upon the face of it. Such 'opinions' throw no light upon the mystery, but leave it still more inexplicable to the general intelligent mind.

"Of thousands who have now witnessed these phenomena, almost every one at first regarded the idea that these parties were not directly the operators, as most preposterous. But since what is called a 'public opinion' has become pretty well established, the rest of the world fall in, and see nothing very strange in them--after all. And thus it would be with the next point, or the claim of Spirituality, were it only understood that the immaculate judge, 'public opinion,' had decided in its favor. Such is the value of _opinion_ in a large sense. If the truth is told of other days, mankind valued their opinions, and kept them to themselves. But not so now. The article is known to be valueless; and each one seems desirous of getting rid of his stock. At no age of the world did _charlatanism_ make more rapid strides than it does at present; so that, it seems, the same traits of character which render us the subjects of deception, make us slow to embrace truth; and for the reason, as I conceive, that 'facts' and 'evidence' are less an element in the 'foundation' of opinions than are prejudices, preconceived notions, personal interest, and the fear of being laughed at.

"The philosophy of the Sunday Press upon this subject has sustained the well-known character of those journals; to say the least, they have been very spirited. Religion which has been arrayed against G.o.d, is the devil's weapon, and _The Herald_ borrowed it for the first onset; 'seriously' fearing that this subject would be made to overthrow the good results which sound education and true Christian piety might accomplish. Pray, what would _The Herald_ have to fear from such a result? Its premises would be exempt from any change by such a revolution, and it would, no doubt, add to its subscription lists.

"There is one cheerful inference to be drawn from _The Herald's_ position with regard to this subject; that is, that the devil has no meddling with the matter. By the way, this calls to mind another distinguished individual--Dr. David Meredith Reese--who has the advantage of a longer name, if not quite so notorious, the great expounder of humbugs.

"He has promised to show up the deception upon the first opportunity, and people would have great confidence in his experience. Come forward, doctor, and redeem your pledge; or take back your unmanly imputations; but, for the credit of the thing, do not say that you believe in its verity.

"C. D. GRISWOLD, M.D."

LETTER FROM JACOB C. CUYLER.

The following is from the editor of _The Albany Express_, before mentioned in connection with the visit of the judges and lawyers at Albany.

"ALBANY MORNING EXPRESS OFFICE, "June 9, 1850.

"MRS. FISH:

"After reading an account of your meeting at the house of the Rev. Dr.

Griswold, in Broadway, New York, accompanied as it was by many very satisfactory, and I trust convincing, manifestations, I have experienced a species of gratification which I can call nothing more nor less than revengeful. Those who have scoffed and scouted the idea of 'Spiritual communications' were modest enough in their prejudiced opinions to style me fanatic and chimerical; and some, more unscrupulous than their brethren, even hinted that no respectable paper would devote its columns to the dissemination of such doctrines throughout the world. But 'Truth is mighty, and will prevail.' Choosing rather that time should vindicate the 'Spirits,' than that our own feeble efforts should act as their defender, we have waited with some anxiety the result in New York City.

When, therefore, we learned that such men as Mr. Cooper, Mr. Tuckerman, Dr. Frances, and others of like stamp, had received such demonstrations as are recorded in the public journals of that city, I took the liberty of adding some considerable to my diminutive stature. I walked about with all the a.s.surance of a millionaire, and just at the nick of time, whom should I come in contact with but the unbeliever Hastings, of _The Knickerbocker_. Triumphantly I held up before his astonished gaze the record, and exultingly asked him whether those men were fools, lunatics, or fanatics? I had him there, and all he could say in reply was--_Humbug_.

"Well, that was as much as I expected, and laughing at his stubborn ignorance I left him.

"I see that even Bennett, of _The Herald_, has somewhat changed his tone, and that he speaks quite favorably of the affair. He will be compelled to do more than all this, I hope, before long, or many weeks roll over his head. The press generally in New York, I am happy to see, are acting very kindly toward you, and I only wish that all may receive entire satisfaction in their investigations. With us, all remains as usual. Many who seemed to manifest but little interest in the affair while you were here have, since your departure, evinced a desire to see and investigate. So will it be everywhere, and among all cla.s.ses. The Switch still speaks of 'Yaupy'[9] and the Spirits with contempt; but I believe 'Yaupy' suffers nothing from his efforts. He still seems to be in the enjoyment of health, and although _seldom known to smile_, he can laugh with more freedom than is his usual custom.

"Do you think of stopping in our city before you return to Rochester? I hope so.

"I have heard that Margaretta has been unwell since your arrival in New York, but presume her recovery is complete. Present my kind regards to your mother and Maggy and Catty.

"Hoping to see you in New York before you leave, I remain

Yours respectfully, "JACOB C. CUYLER."

[9] Yaupy is Low Dutch for Jacob; the writer of the letter originally employed it as a _nom de plume_.

ARTICLE BY HORACE GREELEY, PUBLISHED IN THE TRIBUNE.

"Mrs. Fox and her three daughters left our city yesterday on their return to Rochester, after a stay here of some weeks, during which they have freely subjected the mysterious influence by which they seem to be accompanied, to every reasonable test, and to the keen and critical scrutiny of the hundreds who have chosen to visit them, or whom they have been invited to visit.

"The rooms which they occupied at the hotel have been repeatedly searched and scrutinized; they have been taken without an hour's notice, into houses they had never before entered; they have been, all unconsciously, placed on a gla.s.s surface concealed under the carpet, in order to interrupt electric vibrations; they have been disrobed by a committee of ladies, appointed without notice, and insisting that neither of them should leave the room until the investigation had been made, etc., etc., yet we believe that no one to this moment pretends that he has detected either of them in producing or causing the 'rappings;' nor do we think any of their contemners has invented a plausible theory to account for the production of these sounds, nor the singular intelligence which (certainly at times) has seemed to be manifested through them.

"Some ten or twelve days since, they gave up their rooms at the hotel, and devoted the remainder of their sojourn here to visiting several families, to which they had been invited by persons interested in the subject, and subjecting the singular influence to a closer and calmer examination than could be given to it at a hotel and before casual companies of strangers, drawn together by a vague curiosity, mere rational interest, or predetermined and invincible hostility. Our own dwelling was among those thus visited, not merely submitting to but courting the fullest and keenest inquiry with regard to the alleged 'manifestations' from the Spirit world by which they were attended. We devoted what time we could spare from our duties, out of three days, to this subject, and it would be the basest cowardice not to say that we are convinced beyond a doubt of _their perfect integrity and good faith_ in the premises. Whatever may be the origin or the cause of the 'rappings,' the ladies in whose presence they occur do not make them.

We tested this thoroughly and to our entire satisfaction.

"Their conduct and bearing is as unlike that of deceivers as possible, and we think no one acquainted with them could believe them at all capable of engaging in so daring, impious, and shameful a juggle as this would be if they caused the sounds. And it is not possible that such a juggle should have been so long perpetrated in public, yet escape detection. A juggler performs one feat quickly and hurries on to another; he does not devote weeks after weeks to doing the same thing over and over deliberately, in full view of hundreds who sit beside or confronting him in broad daylight, not to enjoy but to detect his trick.

A deceiver naturally avoids conversation on the subject of his knavery, but these ladies converse freely and fully with regard to the origin of these 'rappings' in their dwelling years ago, the various sensations they caused, the neighborhood excitement created, the progress of the developments--what they have seen, heard, and experienced from first to last. If all were false they could not fail to have involved themselves ere this in a labyrinth of blasting contradictions, as each separately gives accounts of the most astounding occurrences at this or that time.

Persons foolish enough so to commit themselves without reserve or caution could not have deferred a thorough self-exposure for a single week.

"Of course a variety of opinions of so strange a matter would naturally be formed by the various persons who have visited them, and we presume those who have merely run into their room for an hour or so and listened, among a huddle of strangers, to a medley of questions--not all admitting of very profitable answers--put to certain invisible intelligencies and answered by rappings or singular noises on the floor, table, etc., as the alphabet was called over or otherwise, would naturally go away perhaps puzzled, probably disgusted, rarely convinced. It is hardly possible that a matter ostensibly so grave could be presented under circ.u.mstances less favorable to conviction. But of those who have enjoyed proper opportunities for a full investigation we believe that fully three-fourths are convinced, as we are, that these singular sounds and seeming manifestations are not produced by Mrs. Fox and her daughters, nor by any human being connected with them.

"How they _are_ caused, and whence they proceed, are questions which open a much wider field of inquiry, with whose way-marks we do not profess to be familiar. He must be well acquainted with the arcana of the universe who shall presume dogmatically to decide that these manifestations are natural or supernatural. The ladies say that they are informed that this is but the beginning of a new era or economy, in which Spirits clothed in flesh are to be more closely and palpably connected with those which have put on immortality; that the manifestations have already appeared in many other families and are destined to be diffused and rendered clearer, until all who will may communicate freely and beneficially with their friends who have 'shuffled off this mortal coil.' Of all this we know nothing and shall guess nothing. But if we were simply to print (which we shall not) the questions we asked and the answers we received during a two hours'

uninterrupted conference with the 'rappers,' we should at once be accused of having done so expressly to sustain the theory which regards these manifestations as the utterances of departed spirits.

"We believe it is the intention of the ladies to shun henceforth all publicity or notoriety as far as possible. They do not expect or wish to make gain of the 'Rappings;' they have desired to vindicate their own characters from the gross imputations so freely cast upon them; believing that, that effected, they hope to be permitted hereafter to live in that seclusion which befits their s.e.x, their station, and their wishes. We trust they may be permitted to do so.

"H. G."

A POEM.

The following clever verses (published in _The New York Sunday Dispatch_) were from the pen of a gentleman who had been a vehement opponent, but who, being an honest and good man, had not been able to resist the evidences of the truth of "the Communion of Spirits." In inserting them, the Editor exercises his prerogative in disregard of the objections and vain veto of the author who was the subject of them.

When first Leah Brown Became talked of through town, And compared to the famed witch of Endor, I thought 'twould be best To apply the old test, And to f.a.got and fire to send her.

In my zeal orthodox To trap this sly Fox, A terrible pit-fall I planned, But she every one foils, I was caught in her toils, And, I own it, completely trepanned.

'Tis no wonder her spell Should on every one tell, And worm out our secrets by scores, Her eye's such a piercer, I never saw fiercer.

It made me leak out through my pores.

'Twas plain she saw through me, Though Heaven beshrew me, If I even myself could divine.

In my visage dyspeptic She saw but a sceptic, Her own was the reflex of mine.

For my doubts it was clear I was soon to pay dear, To this point all her efforts were pitched, And I own it with shame, She has managed that same, For now I am fairly--_bewitched_.

CHAPTER XII.

BUFFALO. 1850-51.

URGED TO RETURN TO NEW YORK--VISIT TO BUFFALO--ATTEMPT BY A PRETENDED FRIEND TO FRIGHTEN US AWAY--THUNDERBOLT FROM THE BUFFALO COMMERCIAL ADVERTISER--THE "FEMALES"--KNEE-JOINT THEORY--OUR REPLY CHALLENGING INVESTIGATION OF IT--THE DOCTORS'

DAY--MRS. PATCHEN'S PECULIARITY.

We all returned to our home in Rochester, but immediately started for the old homestead (Arcadia, Wayne County), where for about a month we enjoyed the society of our dear friends to our hearts' content. After this it became necessary to go back to Rochester, where we received urgent letters from New York, insisting on our return to that city, now that we had had what our friends there thought a sufficient period of repose and holiday. These invitations we refused, whatever might be the conditions offered; but this soon brought upon us a visit of Judge Edmonds and others, _in person_, who insisted, in the name of all our friends, as well as in that of our "duty," that some of the family at least should return with him to New York. This finally led, after much persuasion and deliberation, to our consent that Katie, accompanied of course by mother, should do so, and Maggie remained with me at my house in Troup Street, Rochester. At New York mother and Katie were to reside successively with our princ.i.p.al friends in the great city.

We left Rochester for Buffalo the 16th of December, 1850, at the earnest solicitation of many friends there. It was our intention on leaving home to be absent about two weeks, but, like the Spirits, we could not calculate our time. When we had been there about two weeks, we began to think of turning our steps homeward; but our friends would not consent to our leaving them so soon, as the crowded seances and the continued increasing interest seemed to demand our presence still longer. We remained, and soon found why we were detained. About this time two of the Buffalo doctors called on us, viz., Dr. C. B. Coventry and Dr. Charles A. Lee. To my certain knowledge, Dr. Austin Flint never appeared in our presence until after he had made the wonderful discovery of "knee-ology," which is fully explained hereafter. Dr. Coventry appeared gentlemanly at all times and places; but Dr. Lee proved himself to be a wily, deceitful man. He certainly professed, to us, to be greatly surprised at what he witnessed in our presence; and I was myself afterward surprised at the manner and tone of the subsequent attacks upon us in which he united.