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THE HERALD OF PROGRESS. V o l . 1 . ] (A . J. DA V IS & C O M P A N Y ,; I 274 Canal St. (Up Sturs.) S NEW YORK, SATURDAY, JUNE 30, 1860. ) T WO D O L L A R S PE R Y E AR,, Payable in Advance. [No. 19. C O N T E N T S O P T H I S N U M B E R . A n s w e r s to C orrespondents .......................... page 1 W h isper in g s to C orrespondents ................. 1 G e n e s is and E x o d u s o k a Human S p i r i t . . 2 T h e U n e q u a l D istr i b u t io n o f W e a l t h . . 2 M id n ig h t H i n t o f S p ir i t P r e s e n c e 2 P h y s ic a l M a nifestation of S p ir it s 3 V o ic e s from t h e P e o p l e ................................. 3 N. Y. S piritual C onference (103d Sess.) 3 P oetr y .......................... .....................• '} C hildren and th e ir T eachers (Editorial) 4 T he J a p a n e s e — A F u l f il l m e n t ................... 5 T iie A ngel M ovement ........................................ 5 P a r ag raph ical I ntelligence ........................ 6 P ersons and E v e n t s ............................................. o M edical W h isp e r s ............................................... 5 S ocial G ood a nd S ocial E v il ........................ 5 P harisreikm on T heodore P arker 0 A ttractive M isc e l l a n y .................................. 0 O f W r i t e r s a n d S p e a k e r s .............................. 7 O ur A g e n t s ................................................................ J N otices ok N ew B ooks ....................................... 8 N ew M u s ic .................................................................. 8 C h r ist ; th e S p i r i t ............................................. 8 Questions and Answers. formed, when the cooling-off process had reached tlie minimum degree of reduction, when the smallest deini-semi-quaver in the music of geologic progress was sounded, then, strictly speaking, the earth began to exist upon its own account, with enough m aterial centrifugated to form for itself one satellite, and, as wc are impressed, eventually still another ! Now let us inquire, and briefly: W h a t are N a ture's m ethods subsequent to the organization of her minimum points? After the elements from surrounding space are gathered together in the form of a germ, or globe, (which is an egg,) w h a t does she then proceed to accomplish ? We answer, that, a fter condensing a n d solid ifying her fluids a n d gases down into a germ- center, N a ture continues her work of pro gression through a series of growths, expan sions, rarifications, or until the maximum de gree of m a turity is reached ; then the process of disorganization commences, which is c h a racterized by a shriveling, a n d contraction, and reduction of the body ; and thus, when our p lanet shall have moved onward in its ex pansion a n d organic g row th, u n til the maximum point of m aturity is established, then will it, like a fully ripened hum an being, begin to dwindle, grow less year by year, contract and shrink, (as its vitality departs,) and thus will our yet youthful earth pass away. L a c k o f P r o f u n d i t y . A d d i s o n T a y l o r , A l b a n y —“ The opinion is prevailing that modern literature lacks the elements of strength and profundity. Professional men re gard this fact as significant, >pd charge the conse quences upon such as yourself1, who, some say, ad vocate education without schools—in oilier words, ignorance and faith ii Spiritualism. What is your explanation ? * * * por myself, I have no knowledge of your s j ein.” We utterly deny th a t we ignore schools and books. From the first we have advocated them as agents of individual progress in science and civilization. But we do not like the present tyrannies of schools, neither do ivc hold to the orthodox plan of prepossessing you ever do a day’s work for the hum an fam-1 tive influence, and so rapidly t h a t blood p u d - ! Y°.UI?\ m ' nds \ 'U 1 r®l*gi°us absurdities ; and ily ? Do you worship the good you see in I dings became a rare b u t popular dish, in I think no education far better than a stupcn- others ? Do you experience the joys of har-1 southern and central Europe. j .u® mass °f lifeless knowledge w ithout m o n y ? If so, you know somewhat how they This was the origin of the fable of Vam- w „ om; , , . live in the higher spheres. ; pires. B u t it would be interesting to trace | , / ’’ knowledge we mean a recollection (liiV i n A n r r ’a i n i f r i n r t iiriit I the fancies o f m ankind upon the Vampirism I of faots' tilings, histories language, artistic . I n t . r i o r L i g h t . o f U ie m id d l e • * « . » a d e v e n n o t m o r e th a n V 1 nt* ’ “ \ 1.......... J 1\1 H ik k t B Cr— • I» H your opir-.on that | an hundred yea™ ago. Use the very extraor- *>“ T me;l' principles, subjective jj’o S r ' “re * “ » spiritual impres- ,|inary rCp0rt of a surgical nnd m ilitary com- logic, ideas, truths, unit whatever else may . . . , . ,. | mission, made about a c e n tury since, on the All hum an rnmds are, a t tim e s receptive subject • f v Irism in H u n g a ry or some ot the psychaural influence of higher spheres. . Jvince a dj„Ce n t - m a n y of the victims were W e say of the Bard of Avon th a t he was !. h ey.duke[ - The Vampires, it logically intuitive. His knowledge was in- woulJd were buried alive, in a state of structed by unfolded wisdom. He discerned iilelnit a , and their noighbore cora. I pLin°d “ by thei'' 4. Tliat the reason of the people can educe from the works of God a more reliable sys tem of religious truth. 5. That the people arc about to throw off the theory of original sin by applying com mon sense to the teaching of the Bible. 6. T h a t the leading theological teachers of the chief sects of America have virtually con fessed that evil is n o t a ttributable to “ Adam's fall when we sinned all,” &c. But we wonder why Miss Beecher did not go a little f u rther, and afiirm that, when the people acquire more common sense, the world will reject a ny parchm ent or book as an in fallible revelation of God's mind. The Beecher family have a magnificent ability to see, and do, and say m a n y — a lm o s t— magnificent things. We love the Beechers, and would like to admire them as well. W h a t is n V a m p i r e I G e o r g e T., N e w Y o r k . — “ Mr. D a v i s : I am unable to comprehend what it was in departed times that originated the belief in Vampires, a class of beings said to start from their graves, with re vengeful force, and to cause the death of men and brutes by sucking their blood. Can you give any “ JThe power to put a question presupposes and gua- j impressions on this curious matter?'' rantees the power to answer it.” i A n s w e r : There is a Spanish fable founded — | on a very a n cient fact, traditionally descended B R I E F A N S W E R S T O O U R C O R R E S - J from the earliest population of th a t c o u n try, to the effect th a t persons buried in a trance would, in a few weeks, revive and ask fo r ; food and fresh air. On one occasion the learned doctor ordered the arisen patient to drink a cup of blood taken from the arm of a AIWA x _______ ___________ healthy person. The result was astounding. visY i t ^secms a'lmust\ impossible for me to think I W h ile' the m an, from whose arm the blood what life is to those who dwell in heaven. Every- j was drawn, soon languished and died, (no thing is vague on that point. Can you say some- doubt from the o p eration of some o ther cause,) thing that will remove this mist? ’ | (jie patient, who so greedily imbibed thecrim - Did you ever commune with the beautiful I soned fluid, rapidly recovered a n d lived long works of Nature ? Did you ever look into a ' in the land. But he was feared by the super- flower so tranquilly and receptively th a t the ! s titious, and after his death the most alarm- life of i t became a part of your own ? Did | ing stories were told of his m idnight wander- you ever stand by the brooksidc and lose ! ings in quest of living blood, your life in the healing melody of its waters? In a few instances thereafter, where persons, Did you ever see a field of ripe grain, and 1 entom b ed in a trance state, experienced a th a n k the Great Spirit for i t? Did you ever ( bodily resurrection, the doctors fed them the love the influence of tru th among men ? Did 1 blood of bullocks. This also had the restora P O S D E - V T S . BY TH E EDITOR. T l i e H i g l i e r L i f e . M a r ia T ------ ., P h i l a d e l p h i a .—“ B r o t h e r D a - appearances. A num b er of them were ex- everything.” W ith w h a t touching pathos, j a f t e r a 'b m i al V m ^ iy we'eks!) !“ ? p ? 5j 1 ° I . n,’ i -*•. ?• ' ' and exhibited signs o f life, in fresh blood a t tiie “ all haggled 0 er, breathe pure Spiritualism i „ * - - ° _ ’ . ., • , . into the dying Suffolk's car a n d soul, t h u s - Ilips’ “ \ d m c n e s a n d groans, when their heads “ Tarry, dear cousin'Suffolk ! My soul shall thine Keep company to heaven ; Tarry, sweet soul, for mine, then fly a-breast; As in this glorious and well-foughten field, We kept together in our chivalry ! So did he turn, and over Suffolk's neck He threw his wounded arm, and kiss’d his lips ; And so, espous'd to death, with blood he seal'd A testament of noble-ending love.” were cut off, or when a stake was driven j through them , as they revived. N a turalists, rejecting the demoniac signifi- j cance of tho term , apply the word to various | k inds of bats a n d vulturous birds ; m any of which, even by the best writers, are supposed to destroy hum an beings by sucking their blood. But this is no more true of certain bats than it is of spiders a n d other crawling creatures o f the tropics. There is a moral, however, to a ll this : th a t hum an beings should never be entom b ed alive, nor while in a death-like trance, how ever profound, but only when real disorganiza tion shall have commenced. S e a r c h i n g f o r G l o r y . U . S. A r m y , N e w Y o r k .— “ D e a r S ir : A ll in te l li g e n t O llicers in N a v a l and M ilitary d e p a r t m e n ts en c o u r a g e tlie t h e o r y of personal am b ition, in th e a r t an d p r a c ti c e o f w a r , as th e only c e r ta i n im p u lse to valorous co n d u c t a n d consequent glo ry . I . . . W rite m e .” j E x p l a n a t i o n o f G e o l o g i c C o n t r a d i c t i o n s H o w e v e r m a g n i f i c e n t t h e w r i t t e n h i s t o r y o f j „ 8 . M ., C o n n b a u t v i l l k . P a . —“ M r . A. J . D a v i s , t h e w o r l d 's c o n q u e r o r s , o r h o w e v e r e l o q u e n t th e speeches of formidable officers in defense of the a r t and utility of W ar, we admonish I you to believe th a t “ G1 >ry is like a circle in the water, Which never cease ill to enlarge itself, Till by broad spreading it disperse to naught.\ W a r is the system atic expression of pride and passion. Its glory is black with discord. The disciplined sentinels of an arm y resemble black postsand stiff-lingers pointing “ fools the way to dusty death.” Better suffer a wrong than do an evil deed. Rhetorical de lineations o f the glory o f the b a ttle field can excite tlie imagination of th a t m ind which is I fed by the oozy fires of an over-large cere- helium . “ Learn war no m o re.” Reject all tem p tations of place, degree, and form of * ‘creati ng awe a nd fear in o ther men. ” Th row up your Commission a t whatever sacrifice. Stand for sad-eyed justice and universal peace. C a t h e r i n e B e e c h e r ’s B o o k . J . H iR iusoN , P lea s a n t V a l l e y .—“ M r . D a v i s : Having just read a severe criticism on the late work oi Miss Beecher, but not getting any clear und jrstamling from the criticisms what are her main principles. 1 write to ask if you can state them iu few words ? ’’ A nswer : Miss Beecher’s book is an “ Appeal to the people in behalf of their rights as au thorized interpreters of the Bible.” She a t tem p ts to answer the question, “ W h a t shall we do to be saved?” In arguing the posi-! tions, she takea g round substantially as fol lows : 1. The Agustinian theory of the origin of evil—namely, tlie originality of the first man in the m a tter of sin —is a theory at variance w ith the common moral sense of hum anity. 2. T h a t clergymen and intelligent students of theology have failed to render the doctrine of total depravity satisfactory to themselves. 3. T h a t while the Augustinian theory of evil remains as a part of theology, it will be impossible to establish the Bible as a revela tion from God. D e a r b in : In your reply to William H. M., Ohio, in your issue of the 9lli inst., you say : ‘The earth is slowly enlarging and increasing in rarity. All solar and cosmic.il bodies follow the law of growth, perfection, and decay.’ “ In ’Nature’s Divine Revelations,’ page 219, sec. 33, you say : ‘ The primitive diameter of this great agglomeration of particles, (the earth) could not be well determined, for it subsequently and continually decreased in magnitude according to the condensation and consolidation of the particles of the whole mass.’ “ This last quotation, which is in harmony with geology, as 1 understand it, seems to be contra dicted in the reply referred to. Will you please explain for the satisfaction of an inquirer?” A n s w e r : Nature, interpreted by logical Reason, will explain. She teaches us to be hold consistency in opposites. In obvious contradictions, confounding the senses and judgm e n ts of her children, (men and women,) she pronounces tho choicest benedictions. Her antipodes arc left-and-right handed piv ots. She converges and diverges, a nd returns from the largo to the small, whence she s tart ed, with the precision of musical vibrations. “ All discord, harmony not understood.” A planet is one of N a ture’s significant bcodB on the endless rosary, which consists of count less decades of orbs. Our earth rolled out of the Sun s constitution—a vast body of firc- m ist, a comet at first, with a great nucleus, and with a tail of m o st respectable length | and dimensions. How the principles of pro gressive solidification straightway proceeded to accomplish their-appointed ends, and how the vastly-expanded primordial fire—fogs and chaotic nebula, were cooled down and stratified into existing spheriodal proportions, you will find fully set forth in the aforemen tioned Revelations. And such descriptive process is, we believe, sustained by th e i n v o s ^ ................. tigations nnd deductions o f the most lcurnctfl now f T h a t popular literature is superficial, we confess a n d sometimes regret, but not a par ticle of this superficialness is a ttributable to Spiritualism . We have an e x p lanation, which is also a hopeful justification, but we decline giving it a t present. In the Spirit Land, so blossomed o’er w ith fadeless truths, there livetli a line-tempered intellect, from whose ante-m o rtem writings we take a few severe, but ju s t sentences: “ We have lost the art of reading, or the privilege of w riting, voluminously, since the days of Addison. Learning no longer weaves the interm inable page with patient drudgery, nor ignorance pores over it with implicit faith. As authors m u ltiply in number, books diminish in size ; we c a n n o t now, as formerly, swallow libraries whole in a single folio ; solid quarto has given place to slender d u o decimo, a n d the dingy letter-prcss contracts its dimensions, and retreats before the white, unsullied, faultless margin. “ Modern a u thorship is become a species of stenography ; we contrive even to read by proxy. Wc skim the cream of prose without any trouble ; we get a t the quintessence of poetry w ithout loss of time. The staple com modity, the coarse, heavy, dirty, unwieldy bullion of books, is driven o u t o f the m a rket of learning, a n d the intercourse of the literary world is carried on, and the c redit o f the g reat capitalists sustained by the flimsy circulating medium of magazines a n d reviews. Those who a rc chiefly concerned in cater- for the taste of others, and serving up critical opinions in a compendious, elegant, and portable form, are not forgetful of them selves—they are not scrupulously solicitous, idly inquisitive, about the real merits, the bona fide contents of the works they are de puted to aprraisc and value, any more than the reading public who employ them. They look no farther for tho contents o f the work than the title-page, and pronounce a per emptory decision on its m erits or defects by a glance at the name and party of the writer. “ This state of polite letters seems to admit of improvement in only one respect, which is to go a step farther, and write, for the amuse m e n t a n d edification of the world, accounts of works th a t were never cither written or read at all, and to cry up or abuse the authors by name, though they have 110 existence but in the critic’s invention. This would save - great deal of labor in vain ; anonymous critics m ight pounce upon the defenceless heads of fictitious candidates for fame and bread ; reviews, from being novels founded upon facts, would aspire to be pure romances; and we should arrive a t the beau ideal of a commonwealth of letters, a t the e u thanasia of thought, and millennium of criticism !” A C h i l d ’s Q u e s t i o n o n M a r r i a g e . L . 1 \ W e s t o n , M a s s .—“ M il A. J . D a v is , D ear S ir : Will it please you to tell inc if you think the time will ever come, ivlicn it will no longer be con sidered improper or immodest for woman to ask the man whom she loves to marry he geologists and astronomers. Strictly speaking, however, there was no earth until the condensation had reduced the elemental chaos to the smallest dimensions. When, iu other words, the globe-germ was y more than isk the woman he loves to marry him? “ Thoughts upon this subject forcibly presented themselves to my mind, when, a lew days ago, (after having read a book) my bule daughter ■nine to me with the inquiry: ' What does a woman do when she wishes to marry any one , O f course I could n o t tell th e inn o c e n t child t h a t w o m a n m u s t n o t b r e a th e a w o rd on th e subject, but th a t m a n y w o m e n s e t all so r ts of trap s to catch m e n , and inv e n t all sorts o f artifices to induce m en to ‘ p o p th e q u e s t i o n ! ’ “ A ll th e a n s w e r w h ich I could con s isten tly give h e r w a s, th a t she m u s t d iligently cultiv a te such tues as should m a k e h e r beloved by all who com e to be acq u a in ted w ith h e r , and especially try to im p rove her h e a r t an d in te l l e c t in those qualities w h ich she perceived in t h a t m a n whom she loved, r e s p e c ted, a n d adm ired th e m o st. “ B u t society has no r i g h t to co n d e m n in wom an w h a t she app ro v e s and san c tio n s in m a n , and I shall be v e r y glad to peruse a few su g g e s tiv e th o u g h ts from y o u r pen upon th is im p o r t a n t su b je c t . ” A n s w e r : The above s ta rtling question was propounded by a d arling little innocent daugh ter, only nine years of age, to her faithful and conscientious m o ther, whose answer is given in the above paragraph. Be very candid, honored reader, a nd inform us whether the popular and intelligent re- sponse of the regardful m o ther is final and satisfactory. Does it m eet the child’s deep- flowing interrogatory, which tends like the tide of eternal justice toward the ocean of equality, fraternity, a n d unity ? We are free to confess, before the full-spread prejudices of superstitious millions, th a t the sweet- minded m o ther’s reply does not fill our soul w ith perfect satisfaction. And yet, when morally interpreted, her m aternal counsel is tenderly prudential and tremulously appli-1 cable to tlie c h ild's future welfare, as society is now constituted. But the m o ther herself is dissatisfied. She writes, therefore, and petitions for “ more light.” W h a t ! Did you n o t give your d augh ter to understand t h a t your answer was final? Does she not this very moment believe that her “ ma ” has im p a rted a ll the possible intel ligence upon such a question ? W hen the weeks, and m o n ths, and years shall have planted the seeds of experience w ithin her constitution, will there not grow up in their m idst this deep-rooted weed of superstition ? j Will she not retain the memory of very early 1 years th a t her affectionate and wise m o ther j gave her ‘ * th e whole tru th ’ ’ upon the rela-! five position of the sexes? And will she n ot, in consequence thereof, become a bigot or a slave in tlie m a tter of public Opinion ? In short, have you not perjured your noble soul ju s t as m illions o f blessed parents have done, and are doing? We urge you to review tlie whole g round on which, s p iritually speaking, you stood before tlie questioning m ind of your honest-hearted daughter. You realized the hollow-heartedness of Custom with regard to the wife-hunting rights of men. You involuntarily crimsoned a t the thought that your d a rling daughter, ju s t like the millions of daughters in hum an homes everywhere, is destined to fix herself artificially and superficially, in order to attract the hand somest and best y oung man in her neighbor hood. She may conceive an a ttachm e n t for some worthy gentleman, himself companion- less a n d honorably in quest of a true mate, b u t society imperatively denies the right of your d a u g h te r to signify her sacred interest. She m u st blush and pretend to cherish differ ent feelings : or, in silence a n d society, she is constrained to conceal every honest emotion. Should she take an hundredth part of the liberties with the chosen one th a t society ac cords to him , the chances arc th a t both men and women, young and old, pious and im pious, editors and readers, would howl and in sinuate and heartlessly misrepresent , until af frighted, or entrenched in her pride, she would e ither precipitously retreat, or advance still f u rther in the forbidden way. Then, 0, then, “ think of her tenderly.” We ask you, intelligent mother, why you did not inform your daughter that, for the present, society is bound by customs which cannot be overpassed without incurring this, that, and the other m isfortune—especially so, with respect to the rights of courtship aiul liberties in the marriage relation—but it was your sincere conviction, that, when mankind were more civilized and refined, more noble and pure, and less given to misconstrue the best impulses of tlie soul, then—but not a day before—\ it will no longer be considered improper or immodest for a woman to ask the man whom she loves to m arry her. J b at this era will dawn wc ardently believe, and we shall labor to hasten it. O R I G I N O F T I I E B I B L E B O O K S . G. A. B., B oston .— “ D ear S i r : R e a lizing, to some ex te n t, th e po w e r ami influence w h ich the Bible has had, is having, a m i w ill continue to have, upon m a n k in d , and d e s ir o u s of k n o w ing more about th e origin o f th is Book o f B o o k s, c a n you in form me if th e r e is e x ta n t a thorough, com p lete, and r e liable history o f t h e B ible, and it so, w h e re it m ay b e found?” The most reliable information to be obtained by the English reader as to the origin of the Bible, m u st be sought in m u ltitudes of scat tered volumes of criticism upon the separate books of tho Old a n d New Testaments. There are histories of the Bible written in English, but they are pervaded with the idea o f a su pernatural guardianship extended to the book, and give 110 authentic details of the origin of its several parts. In studying the history of the Bible, the inquirer should, however, investigate each book on its own merits. The best sources to which a merely English reader can resort for the Old Testam ent, is Parker’s translation of De Welte, read in connection with Newman’s “ History of tho Hebrew M onarchy.” These arc not orthodox writers; but they are honest and thorough. There is also a translation of Dr. Michacli's “ Introduc tion to the Old Testam e n t,” which is very 1 liberal in its tone. For the New Testament* we have nothing thorough in English, except the scattered notices to be gleaned from Strauss’ “ Life o f Jesus.” Taylor’s “ Dicge- sis” is altogether too superficial and one sided. In German, however, there is a very good popular history of the Old and New Testa m e n t by Heribert Rau, in which, a ll the essen tial knoivn facts in regard to each* book are concisely stated, and clearly arranged. On the Gospel of John, the Germans have two 1 v ery thorough inquiries into its origin and genuineness—one in L a tin b y Dr. Bretschnei- der, a n d a n o ther in German by Dr. F . C. Baur. A g iticism on the first three Gospels, by Bruno Bauer, shows very clearly th a t these books proceeded from no companion o f Jesus. How and when these books first appeared in the Church, is n o t yet a m a tter o f history. The Church traditions upon these points are un reliable. A criticism upon the Acts of the Apostles, by Dr. Edward Zellar, gives some glimpses into the probable origin of th a t book, while damaging its credibility beyond redemp tion. But we will return to this subject again ere long. D. L. M jjisjjtrinijs to C oraspontm tts. “ TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN.” S. S ., E l g in , T l l — Y o u r success in the p a r a phrase w a s adm irable, show ing th a t you appreci ated in sp i r it and tru t h th a t passage in th e “ Re fo r m e r .” “ J e s s ie ,” L o g a n s y il l e .W is .— Yon r k ind r e c o g nition of g r e a t tru lh s and th e i r a d v o c a tes is beauti ful, w e lc o m e , and encouraging. O u r c o lum n s are too m u c h crow d e d , h o w e v e r , to allow a n insertion o f y o u r l e tt e r “ en tire .” W il l ia m A ., S t e u b e n v il l e , 0 Y o u r req u e s t w a s a tte n d e d to. I f you do n o t g e t satisfactory inform a tion from th e parties, w r ite us again ; for we a r e ever w illing to befriend a com p a n ion in progress. J o un F in n , A t c h is o n , K a nsas — T h e p a p e r w a s pro m p tly m ailed to your address. Y o u r e x pressions of in te r e s t a r e m o s t g r a t e f u l. This jo u r n a l is a progressive in s titu tio n , b u t it is fixed so f a r a s its publicutiou is concerned. M iss L y d ia H. B., P l e a s a n t R u n , T ex a s . — Y o u r com m u n ications, w h ile i n te r e s tin g to us, a n d profitable to yourself, do n o t im p ress us as useful to th e public. Y e t w e hope they m a y som e day h e a r from you. S. R. F ., S t . L o u is .— T h rough all th e m a n y w e e k s and m o n ths, a n d in s p ite o f all th e m o u n tains betw e e n us, th e life of faithful friendship floweth steadily onw a rd. T h e tokens of yrour in terest arc su b s tan tial, and ours will be a H er a l d once a w e e k . E. D. V., N a t ic k , M ass — Y o u r kind and earn e s t sp i r it m e e ts a response in o u r d e e p e - t n a tu r e . The .sentim e n ts of y o u r poem are a feast to o u r priv a te h e a r t and reason, b u t a feeling th a t th e public m ig h t deem th e article too favorably p e r s o n a l de ters us from its publication. J . C. K ., S o u t h B e n d , I n d .— T h e F r e n c h w o r k of C h a g n c t has n o t been tra n s la t e d into G e rm a n . T h e Secrcss of Pr<>vorst is a G e rm a n w o rk, and th e re are a few volum es on m e sm e ric phenom e n a , b u t w e know of 110 A m e rican w o rk on th e N e w Philosophy t h a t has been fully published in G e r m any. B. F . N e w k ir k , L a P o r t e , I nd — Y o u r efforts in behalf of this jo u r n a l are ap p reciated . I t is our intention to deal ju s tly and fully w ith th e facts on subjects t h a t m a y conic up, for no question can b e ' settled to th e satisfactio n of reasonable beings w ithout due investigation. G. M. II.. R ip o n , W is .—Y o n r com m u n ication, resp e c tin g th e unafflnitizing blood is w e lcom e . It is perfectly co n s is tent w ith w h a t we have beeu p r e p a r in g for th e pages of th is jo u r n a l on tho sp ir itu a l causes of in s a n ity and idiocy. P e rhaps we m a y ex t r a c t so m e th in g from y o u r vision. “ E a r l y .” —W e have m a n y tim e s proolaim c d tho gospel of c o n jugal love and w isdom as fa r as wo com p rehend it. T h e m a n w h o resolves to live a bachelor an d th e w o m a n w h o r e solves t o die a spin ster, a r c unfaithful to th e h ig h e r law s of th e Infi nite ; nnd yet, a s society is a t p r e s e n t constituted, we w o u ld r e c o m m e n d an y one to c h o s e a com- panionless jo u r n e y to t h e S p i r it L a n d in preference to a m n rringo of m e re flesh and convenience. C. F . D .—The s p h e r e of y o u r le t t e r is m ixed, as if it had passed through th e hands of several magnetic, persons, and docs n o t, t h e r e f o re, .yield any definite im p ression. T h e only d raw ing m e d ium of whom we have recently heard, is W. P. A n d e r son, M a rseilles, 111. T h e p r o p e r m e thod is to m e n tally p r a y (req u e s t) an y loved dep a r ted sp ir it to sit f o r a p o r t r a it in th e presence o f M r. A n d erson. B u t it is well to ap p r is e the m edium of y o u r will mill wiubee by lelter. Tbo result m a y bo sobs- factory. W i l l i s K . . J o l . l t , I l l . - T I o s c o r r e .p o n d o n t w rites to c onvey the kindliest sym p athies. ^ te s t by p r o .r lotcd rem .n-hcs »n,l J “ \ .. it o„r p ^ r ^ y ' b It.b i ” i- co rrect ami ™ p enl” d«rita t e T l 'o 'l n B v o , m i n » t o - - e r Just in proper- E s s miiKm-Ustn to bo .verm , or positive. W b e t ray t t o electricians?
