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very appropriate lecture, a t the conclusion of whioh the spirit* an nounced their presence by a tremendous blow on the bass drum. * sounded almost like the discharge of a canuon. Then commenced \ seemed to be the charging, by the spirits, of the electrical apparatus, which was described in the communication whieh yon copied from the Cleveland Universe. In this charging, the largo table, on which the apparatus stood, shook like a tree in a gale of wind. A reveille wi then beaten by the spirits on the tenor and bass drums. In this room, by direotioo of the spirits, Mr. Koons hndu vnriety of musical instru ments—some hanging up, and others lying on the tables. Upon the table a t whieh we were seated were tw o violins JiXt. K. took up of them and drew the bow 011 it Immediately the spirits accompanied him on the other violin nnd on other instruments, Mr. K. then asked the spirits for a vocal accompaniment, whipli they immediately gave and I think, if any thing can give an idea of heaven on earth, it mnsl be such music as was made by that angelic band. A t tho same time there was a most extraordinary exhibiliou'of spiritual pyrotechnics, seeming to eonsist o f fiying'tnseots made of fire, whioh, in their motions, kept time with the music The form of these was like human hands. The next exhibition was a spirit-hand, as perfect as any hand of flesh and bones, moving a bout among us, nnd dropping pieces o f snud-pnpor near us, which were covered with phosphorus. The objeot of this seemed to be for u s to pick them up, so that tiro hand might come to ub and take them from us. This was repeatedly done. 1 picked up one of those pieces, and the lmnd came and took it from doing so it seemed tojinger in contact with my hand, that I might leel and examine it. • Tho feeling of it differed iu nothing from a Uui hand, save its coldness. Alter some couvcmaubu w ith the spil which, was conducted on their part by speaking with the hutnnn voice, through a trumpet, they bade u s good-night, nnd thus ended the gen eral entertainment. Abont two hours after our dismissal, young Mr. Koons, tire medium, and myself went into the Spirit Room alone, to see if we could learn w h at the proceedings would be the n e x t evening. The medium put the trum p e t on the table, and immediately the spirits took it up, elevated it about the hoightof a man's head, and gave us \ good-evening\ through it, to which we responded. 1 then commenced a conversation with them, asking them if the spirits of my father, wife, a n d'othcr relatives were present. They said they were, and that it was my wife who put the tambourine into my lap two or three times d uring the p ting. I told them that we had come a long distance to meet them, and that we wanted a private interview with them. They replied that they knew how far we had come. I said, “ We aro desirous to witness those wonderful manifestations wiiioh wo have heard so innch of from other persons.” The leading spirit replied that, if all things were favorable, we should be gratified. I asked liim w hat lie meant by things being favorable, lie said be meant a harmonious circle, and not such an one as we had previously that evening. After some further conversation, he dismissed us with “ good-night.\ The next evening, a t the time appointed by the leading spirit, Mr. Koons, bis wife ajid sou, our company of four, nnd two other gentle men—nine in all—repaired to tho Spirit Room. Mr. Koons, Mr. Con klin, nnd myself were seated a t one side o f a square tabic, nnd tlie other members o f the circle were seated otherwise about the table and the room. All being seated and quiet, the singlo nnd startling concut . was sounded on tho bass drum, as a signal that .the spirits were ready to commence thc-pcrfonnance o f tho evening. Now again commenced the convulsive trembling and rattling of the large table and the appara tus on it, a s before described. The reveille was again beaten on the drums. Mr. Koons took np his violin and drew the bow, as before, when the spirits again joined him in concert. Mr. K. asked th*m if they would play on a large harmonica, which lay on another table. They immediately' took i t out o f it* case and played on it in a masterly manner. They were then asked for a vocal accompaniment, which they gave in such harmonious strains that I thought, if it was the devil, he was fit to lead a choir o f angels. . A t an interval iu tli* music I requested Mr. Koons to ask the spirits if they would n o t then commence w riting for us. W ithout hesitation or delay they a rpj bed • meelves with the paper and pencils which we had taken in and iaid on one of the tables. Here let me observei ~ r - ,•< : k with ns Vaa printing pa|>er, unsized and unruled, and unlike any other paper that was there, or in th a t part of the country. And i w ill also mention that I also put on the table one of Flershcim’s Buffalo pencils. They placed the paper on which they were about to w rite on the table in front o f Mr. Koons, Mr. Conklin, and myself. I being between the other two, it lay immediately before me. Now w h at appeared to be a -human band, holding a pencil, was plainly visible over the paper, and immediately commenced writing with a rapidity th a t no mortal hand can equal or come near to. The paper, the hand, and pencil were much of tho tirne so n e ar us that we could all three have placed our lmndB upon them a t the same time. Mr. Conklin was so intent upon close inspection that lie got his head immediately over tlic hand aud the pencil. Thereupon the hand made a sudden move upward, nnd h it his nose with the pencil, which gave him such a start tluit bis head flew up os if .the pencil had been sharp ened a t the npper end. When any one exprcs-ed a wish to Bee tho baud more plainly, ns some did, i t would cease w riting nnd open its fingers, showing its perfect construction and the flexibility of its joints. One of the ladies, who was not as near ns wc were, expressed a wish th a t she bad been more eligibly seated. Immediately tho hand paper moved to tlic corner of the table nearest to her, wrote there n few lines, and then returned to its former position W hen it had written both sides o f the sheet full, it handed the pencil to me, which pri to be the same Buffalo pencil which I had placed on the table spirit-hand then folded the paper and placed it in my hand. I took it, and w as subsequently instructed wliat to do with it. On receiving the. paper I observed that it was the same printing'papcr which is described I mentioned that I had beard of spirits slinking hands wiih visitors. As soon as I had lliua spoken, tlic hand was presented to cacl the room, all of whom received it and shook it, save one, who tim id to suffer his band to be clasped by the cold hand of A fter a few words of oral conversation, they dismissed ns with their usual “ good-night.” In the course of the day, the spirit o f my wife, who has been spirit-world about one year, rcqncsted jne to incct her in the Spirit Room in the evening, after tlic close of the eircle, with no one present but the medium,\that sbe might converse w ith'm e through the trutn pet. I w ent wiih.thc medium, according to the appointment, nnd w were saluted by the presiding spirit with a hearty “ good-evening. The spirit of ray wife tried to converse through the trumpet, b u t di not succeed. Thereupon the presiding spirit apologized for h e r tailur and proffered to speak for her, which lie did, giving her language, and , we conversed for some ten or fifteen minutes. I can not express thq gratification which this interview gave rnc, nor is it necessary that should attem p t i t A t this interview 1 received instructions from tho presiding spirit 1 bring the communication which the spirit-hand had committed to my keeping, to Buffalo, and have it published in The Age of P obedience to this instruction, the communication follows : world, the ioy chains of cruel slavery will at onco he broken, never ■again to usurp the individual rights and privileges of the general 1 Yes, friends, wns i t not for the debt o f love wo owo our friends of earth, wc would not labor in this great cause of reform nnd redemption ol man ; and liow much longer we may be enabled to conduct our mani festations to this purpose and end, in this place, is a matter unsettled with us, as i t depends upon the patience and perseverance of b u r mediums this circle, whioh depends much upon the cncourngemcut offered them by those who participate in the avails o f tho light and knowledge whioh is shedding forth through their instrumentality. Wo wish to congratn- laie o u r servant Conklin for his fervent zeal, for yielding his personal interest to the cause of our mission ; nnd as long ns the oppressions not too rigid and hostile, we dosiro to say to him, and to our servant Koons add son, be of good cheer, and persevere in the ontisc, nn< pearly rewards of y our labor and forbearance will be augmented in tho courts o f your destined a b o d es; nnd so with all who cast their mi into the treasury of light- nnd knowledge \ Dictated by the presiding band of this room.'’ In addition to the above communication, the presiding spirit gave an oral message to the editor of The Age o f Progress, informing that lie was well Acquainted with him. I11 conclusion, I will stale that any one who is anxious to see I original manuscript which wns written by the spirit-hand, can bo grati fied by calling on me. Stephen D u u lr l -A F & J E S T P R A C T I C A L S U G G E S T I O N S . T h e subjoined l e tte r is from a d e v o ted frien d , w h o evidently believes th a t “ faith w ithou t w o rks” is a s d e a d now a s it w a s in th e tim e o f S t . J a m e s . W e su s p e c t th a t “ M . A, T . ” w rites m o re tru th th a n p o e tr y . H i s d i s i n terested te s tim o n y re s p e c t in g th e value o f th e T e l e g r a p h P a p e r s acco rd s w ith view s, and w e a re sorry' to sa y , in rep ly to h is interro g a to r y , th a t th e w o rk in question ha s not m e t w ith th e enco u r a g e m e n t w h ich w e had a rig h t to e x p e c t.— E d . A dd .-19, 1854. B rother B rittan : I wish to relieve my mind o f a few thoughts that have been struggling for utterance for some time. They relate to the professions and prac tices of Spiritualists as a body; or, perhaps, I o u ght to say, their pro fessions and practices, so far ns my own observation extends. And though I say i t with regret, I must, nevertheless, that so far ns I know, with a few exceptions, Spiritualists are the same men now they wore before becoming suoli. If they were sordid, selfish, nnd avaricious be fore, they a re so still. ' I f they were vain, supercilious, and egotistical before, so a re they still. They don’t seem in the least to have relaxed their grasp on Mammon: and however abundant their Money nnd they a re n o t directed to the dissemination of truth nnd tho spread of the spiritual “ glad tidings.” No. Much as they love Spiritualism, they love “ the dollar ” more. Much as they profess p h ilanthropy, nnd desire for the promulgation of Truth, yet their actions show their hearts a re not engaged in the great cause they profess to hold so dear. Where the treasure is, there will the heart be also,\ and works and deeds follow correspondingly. But I suppose we ought not to expect “ the leopard to chauge bis spots,” nor the man who has spent his best d ays in the accumulation of money, to become suddenly a reformer and philanthropist. His thoughts, energies, nnd desires having been so long bent in the service of the demon A varice , th a t it has well-nigh enten ouj his soul, so that the transition from darkness to light, from tho bondage of selfishness to the glorious liberty of the Gospel,” must necessarily he slow. The practice o f the Spiritualist is watched, and I frequently hear the rem ark from the on-looker, “ Why, I don't see that y o ur spiritual the ory makes men any better.'’ There is too much room for such remarks. Words a re one thing^-practices are another. For one, I am weary of so much talk and speculation, with so little doing. an say, in the last T elegraph , that “ Reformers and advocates of truths do not work for fame.\ If they aro truly Reformers, they certainly do not. B u t spurious Reformers do, aiul for little else, and there are such among Spiritualists. They w rite for a name. They are like the Pharisees of old, who “ prayed, to be seen o f men.” They have little reverence for truth, a s such, and as little respect for man, as man, as any other fame-sceker. Their writings and their lives aro wo- fully contradictory, and consequently the former have no a u thority or influence over those who know their authors. Words, without corre sponding deeds, a re a s “ a sounding brass and a tinkling cymbal.” The world is perishing for w ant of knowledge.” This is true in a broad sense. There are great truths now revealed which the world ought to know. Many of these truths a re embodied in spiritual news papers, pamphlets, a nd books, most o f which have b u t a meager c ircu lation. A book, or oven one newspaper, may servo as a missionary to dering soul—may be the means of arresting the attention nnd di recting the thoughts and aspirations into a pathway leading to a high and blessed destiny. Shall the light that migTit thus he imparted to a perishing soul be withheld, when it is in the power of Spiritualists to extend i t ? My own means ore limited, but I am ready to do my proportion in the way of fam ishing funds for the distribution of papers nnd books nil the land. I propose that e very Reformer nnd Spiritualist give a certain per cent, annually on bis income or possessions. It is now often the case that those who a rc the least able to contribute to the aid of Reform, give far more in proportion than thoso who are able nnd wen'thy. To obviate this, and to graduate the contributions according ty, let each one give—say one half per cent, on the amount of his possessions. Thus a person possessing one thousand dollars would give five dollars, and the one possessing fifty thousand would (pntributc andred and fifty dollars per nnnum. Who, that loves tho T ruvii than gold will hesitate to give th a t small fraction out “ of the abundance of the means which lie possessetli,\ to promote a cause of deeper moment than any that agitates the world. I know one Spirit ualist, whose resources a re comparatively limited, who has given this year over fifty dollars to tho purchoso o f books, which he has distributed among his friends and ncquaintance. I will be one o f n hundred, or ten thousand, to conform to tho above proposition, or to a more liberal per ccntagc. Fifty to a hundred tliou- dollars might thus be raised annually, to bo expended in tbo dis tribution of such books, newspnpers, nnd tracts ns donors might dcsig- othcrwiso, to be devoted to paying the expenses of public lecturers who might be sent forth ; or to any instrumentality by which the truth could be subserved, man emancipated, and \ God glorified” s sense. Who will stand in the relation of Jesus to ' poor and the needy”—to the famishing and thirsty soul ! Lot him that ill, “ show his faith by his works,” nnd ho shall have won the blessing. Have you met with a large sale of tho T k lku iiap h P a p e r s ! It one of tlie invaluable books which no Spiritualist should fall to possess, nnd which might bo most profitably distributed. Yours, fraternally, M. A. T. “ To the Friends from Buffalo and Net. “ W o are glad to rncct yoi induced by a dcs case with many t York: gratify a , and wc hope y o ur visit has not been idle curiosity in yourselves, as is tl 10(11 we have be-to wed our visit* and presence i .- labored, now, somo considerable lime in tb place, to produce something more tangible and philosophical than tl manifestations o f tiic M D.’s* and D.D.’s o f the world, for the elevath of mankind. Our labor in this plnco is to show the infidel nnd skeptic that there is a brighter state of existence beyond the slindow nnd valley of the grave than w h at is realized here upon this e arth’s circumscribe, sphere. Mortals of this earth have for many age* been groping their way tb rough doubts, fears, and despondencies, will, regard to the fu ture ; yet iu all tlieir researches and earnest desires to know the truth of their future states of existence, together with the varied manifesta tions made by departed spirits to e arth, they ore still short coming appreciating tlie truth nmj philosophy o f this m atter ; and our labor this place is designed to u r in g about and establish that scientific knoi ledge which is most and best calculated to elevate man’s condition For when the proper knowledge Of Man's own constitutional nature once established, so as to enable him to know himself, the tyranny superstitious fears cm, uo longer ensluve the mind. Yes, friends, just »a soon «s the interior perceptions of man become excited to action the impressive reflections of higher objects than those pertaining to this cal S pirits and D ivinities ok the H indoos . —In some p a rts of ilindoostan the belief is c u rrent that each tract of land, together with whnt it henrs upon its surface, continues under the special charge of the Spirit of its former e arthly possessor, who must bo propitiated in mi table manner beforo the land can bo occupied in safety. Whetln this belief has any foundation in reality or not, there a rc mnny curious eg tending to give i t countenance, told by English writers who have long resided among tlie Hindoos and observed their customs and super- ms. Among tlic rest is one concerning a particular district of land in the valley of the Norbudda, which, after the death of its prictor, bad been mysteriously Infested (it is said) in such a manner ns to render i t comparatively valueless to any e arthly tenant One Mi Lindsay, of the East India Company, while in charge of tho same dii trict, made an attempt to. reclaim tho land from its comparative desola tion, and as u p reparatory step took measures to survey it and fix boundaries. To avoid any obstructions to this work, which lie knew would be a triumph to the superstitions of tho natives, he oauscd 1 measuring rod to be made. Equipped with this and other necessary utensils, he entered the field, his assistants following him with alarm and expectation. The rope was applied, and if tho roports of tho tives who were present are to bo relied upon, it immediately flew into a thousand pieces. It was a t all events certain that it immediately broke, and that Mr. Lindsny-was token ill about the samo time, nnd somo days afterward d ied., I f we admit, what now seems updeuiablo, tlmt houses arc sometimes haunted by the Spirits of thoir former occupants, a such a way as to render them untenantable, it will not bo difficult to conceive that those fields might liave been haunted in a sim ilar way. cDriginnl Cnrainunitntinns. M O U N T A I N S . The goutlo shepherd leads h is sheep To mountain summits lifted high, Where nearer bend# the cternnt s k y ,’ And loftier souls tho silence keep. For Spirit* walk amid the hills O f brighter form and purer mold, The-influence of the ijg* of gold Tlie atmosphere with music thrills. Go up, 0 Man, if thou wouldst find Interior truth, where, grand nnd large, The mountains rise beside tlic marge Of sens that roll from spheres of mind. Hear the eternal billows roll, llark to tho music, uf the sen, And thou henceforth shall wiser bo, Aud stronger nerve I ift h eart nnd soul. E vening {Aug. 2). C O N S E C R A ’ O D E . Sang al thn Consecration of Evegiv«.-a Cemetery Kingston, M H&e, when tho dark pines solemnly A’lieir sacred branches wave, And breathe through all thoir tuneful strings A requiem o’er the grave ; Father o f souls of every sphere, On e arth or in the skies, That joined in mystic brotliorhood In progress to^hce rise— W e liithor come, in tender awe, And thoughtful solemn tread, W ith holy rites to consecrate A c ity of the dead. W here high and low — all lowly now, And rich and poor shall meet, The child, his journey scarce bogun, And age with tottering f e e t: A c ity of the dead, within Whose mansions, dark and deep, Full soon ourselves nnd children all I n death’s cold arms shall sleep. Shall sleep ? Tho spirit never sloops O r knows death’s mortal gloom ; ’Tig b u t the worn-out robe o f flesh— It drops into the tomb : While high above Earth's brightest scenes, On joyful wing we rise, To mansions in our Father’s house— A city in the skies. At heaven’s bright threshold kindred souls In fond expectance wait, To guide our weary spirits home Through “ tho celestial gate.” There fairer groves than earth can boost Shall cliarm our longing eyes, W hile, led by angel-bands, wc rest In bowers of Paradise. Then wave your joyful he*' ■ e* ' W hile men exulting sing— “ Oh, grave, where is thy victory ! Oh, death, where is thy sting \ ’ T H E L A T E E S T H E R M O O R E . Piiii.adelpuia, 11 Mo. 80, 1864. B e loved B r o t h e r B r i t t a n : I send thee for p u l s a t i o n a communication from my venerable friend Rebecca Thomas, giving nn account of an interview she had with Estlior Moore, whose domiso is noticed in tho Anti-Slavery Standard of tho 25th instan t; also a communication purporting to conic from the Spirit of the same individual, since she left the form, through H enry Gordon, medium. Tho transferring to thy columns from the Standard the nolicc of tho death of one of the best of women,and also the communications inclosed, would be truly gratifying to the numerous readers of the T e legraph in Philadelphia, for she is truly deserving of all that has been said of her. much more may be said of her goodness; she was a friend of the down-trodden and oppressed, w ithout regard to color, clime, or scot, the From thy brother who wishes thee God speed in every reform that goes to olevato our brothcr-raan, hauuel da rry . When rending the notice in the Anti-Slavery Standard of the 25th of November, o f the death of our dear friend, Esther Moore, I was forcibly reminded of my last interview with her. She had for some time post been n constant attendant a t the meetings of the Spiritualists of this ity. One morning, after a lecture b y S. B. Brittan, 1 m et her in the hall, nnd a fter the usunl greetings I said : “ Friend Moore, I feci anxious wlint induced thee to examine this subject!” Pressing my hand uffectiona&ly, she replied : \ My dear friend, I will tell thee. The injustice done to a portion o f the human family ha* long weighed heavy my heart. We,as a Society, have always borne our testimony against oppression ; but I felt we were not fulfilling our duty. Wc were too contracted. I felt that wc ought (o come o u t and join iu the reforms tlmt are going on iu tlie w o rld; that we ought to bo up aud doing. I stated my concern a t our meeting of business, but wns repulsed. I rged it a t different times, b u t always met with the same treatment. I became disheartened nnd sad, nnd ceased to attend those meetings 1 bad always loved so much. I remained a t home, and communed with Heavenly Father in my own chamber. Aftor a time, I wont t< ing of a few Millcrites, but 1 did not receive tbo comfort there I wns seeking. A t length a friend called to sec me, nnd gave me a littla book called “ S piritual Instructions,” I read it with great satisfaction, and I must say it corresponded witli my ideas of truth more than any work 1 had over mot with. My friond called again, and wished mo to attend thoir meetings. I did so ; and (laying her hand upon her brcnsl), my dear friend, I feel I am going home ; nnd I must say I feel more true hnppincss in these meetings than any I lmvc attended for a long I remarked to bor, that this doctrine is vory cheering to us who arc advanced in years, who have already lived out o u r three-soore' years mid teu, nnd who, in accordance with Naturo's laws, can n o t long rcmnin in the form. W hen parting, she urged mo to call and sec her, tlmt slio might lmvc more conversation with me upon this subject, which she felt to lie o f so much importance. R erkcca T iiomas . Tlie following communication wns received through Henry C. Gordon from the Spirit of Esther Moore : I felt tho appropriateness o f tlic lines spoken by T. L. Harris to a friend in this city, aud can a dopt that language now : shadow of death\ as I passed from the outer form to the inner life. After^a short refreshing senson I awoke, not to suffer pain in nn earthly frame, worn and weary with years, but to rise beyond the rugged cliffs of earth, to mount upward where the chain of mortal bondage and ligiona oppression never reaches When this ch me I did not realize tliat it I beheld tlie opening o f tho golden portals, and I looked nr the earth. I did not ascend, as many suppose,‘‘with the swi.u,™, o arrow, through tlie circles and spheres up to the throne of God. found much to a ttract me, and my soul was filled with joy on entering t l . . M . of SpirtU .round |„ ,h i. nirclc w rr, ‘ who hovered close to my spirit, and expressed in their beaming e tcnanccs the joy they felt in meeting one whom they dearly 1« There were the Spirit* of many who had endured the galling ehai bondage while on e arth, b u t who had now passed awV f„rever from the iron grasp of the cruel task-master. These saw that my mission had ended below, nnd, rejoicing in the goodness nhd glory o f our Father, they hovered around me nnd embraced me in that love and affection which angels o nly know. Mnny b right ones from other spheres , circles cnmo to greet me with a soul-stirring welcome to the homi the blessed above, nnd with thcso toy spirit glided gently away. And now, when I return nnd look over this highly-favored city, I ..... tlwu il •» deplorable. I t is pitiful that in this great city full of Friends, nnd of men nnd women who ought to be more liberal and poeod to advance—it is sad tlm t there should be so mach indifference and strife. , . — • Now sbe shows me two beautiful trees tliat appear to be growing a forest side by sido; their tops are waving by tho strong wind, which seems to bend tlieir bows u ntil tbeycomo in contact; the limbs are rub bing together; both seem to bo struggling to claim the same ground and tho same position before tlic sun. Now I see that the limbs which linvc been thus rubbing together seem to have taken fire, and they cpnsuming each other. There is a g reat amofch and a dark cloud n ing over the whole forest. This she says is the present condition of the Society of Friends. Those Who are not in the blaze are in smoke some begin to feel the heat nnd are trying to move off; others rush.in to the midst o f the consuming pile ; their self-will impels them to consume themselves rather than to yield a p o in t I was not one of those self- willed ; for I withdrew my presence from their midst, and I gave God the glory, not man, that I found the right pathway to peace nnd hap- piness. The medium said : I see still a blackcued mass of burned trunks limbs of trees where this fire hns'been raging, nnd from their ashes sprnng a nother growth, which seems to be enriched by the experience of tlic past, for there appears to be a regularity, nnd freshness, and har mony manifested in the form of this new forest. I see birds flying among the young trees, and they are singing so sweetly and melodiously be a hallowed grove. In the foregoing is conveyed the progress nnd development o f Spiritualism. hllli; •• I rose like- a mUl from tbo moun When day wal k» abroail on lb J row like a apray from tho fouu From llfo and Its wearying ills. \ I have bathed in the heavenly river, I have chanted the seraphim long; And I walk In my brlghineaa forever, Amid the celestial throng.\ My departure was u bright one ; there was no darkness or gloom be fore me. I felt that I knew the rond well, for I had hoard the angel- voices as they spoke of tho bright onward path of progression. My journoy from outward life was short and pleasant. Bright Spirits were around me, oheering mo with thoir living presence, and holy words of love fell upon my spirit in tones o f svrsetness, and I did not realize that I wns going to the Spirit-ahoro. A short season of unconsciousness passed over me ; no long and dreary night enveloped the \ valley of the C O U R T N E Y ’S L E C T U R E . essrh . E ditors : In your paper of the 4 th November, I find aJecture by W. S. Court ney, whioh, I confess, I read with somo degree of astonishment, that who possessscs the talont, erudition, and reflection which are dii playod in tho lecture itself, should have imbibed such a palpably c m ncous idea ns to coll any thing that “ is merely hypothetical nnd coi joctural,” by the nnmo of knowledge. It appears to me perfectly clear, that wlintcvor rests upftn conjecture is not knowledge, ter of faith, and tho strength of our faith is measured by the a mount of cvidenee which has been furnished to our minds. W h at is knowledge to ono man or body o f men, in one age o f the world, m ust of necessity be mere m atter of faith to their posterity. Mr. Courtney tho fact “ that Christ lived and was a very upright and self-sacrificing man, is positive knowledge.”’ To his cotemporarics, who witnessed his existence and doings wRile on earth, if I10 ever did exist, i t was positive knowledge ; b u t tlic existence nnd character of Christ is a matter of faith with all who have lived since that period. I have no d oubt of have I any doubt tliot there is such a m*rn as W. 3. Courtney; but n not say that I positively know that Christ ever lived on earth, nor do I know that W. 8 . Courtney exists. T h a t Christ “ wns God himself,” is within the knowledge of any man. I t is a mere matter of opinion, supported by n thousandth p a rt of as much evidence as is the fact that he lived on earth. There aro also many men who scientifically know certain things, and they may bo ablo to furnish such evidence of that knowledge to others os to gain their credence ; but the man who knows nothing of the sciences can not with propriety assert that he has any knowledge of any kind concerning those sciences, but a mare belief or faith that certain things may be known and proved by certain sciences. A* a considerable portion of Mr. Courtney’s lecture is founded on nn roneous position, nnd may mislead some young minds, I deemed it not improper to notice i t ; nnd if you think proper to publish my views, 0 a t liberty Jo do so. And if Mr. Courtney can show me that •onjccture is properly called knowledge of any kind, I slinll bo happy to have him do it, nnd I will then admit that there is more real lowlcdgc in the world than I had supposed. Yours truly, P a in k sville, Ohio, N ov . 12, 1864. H. S t e e le. C A N C E R S C U R E D B Y S P I R I T S . E ditor T elegrph : Some threq months since I roported some fa c ts under the caption. Modern Miracles,” etc., ns wrought by Spirit-powcr through Mrs. S. B. Johnson, o f Bnngor, Mo., promising more of the same sort in due With your liberty—as Mrs. Johnson lias been sent to Phila delphia (o lical the sick, nnd lias given me access to her numerous testimonials of cures—I wi\l p resent the three following cases of cancers treated and cured by her under Spirit influence nnd direction, follows : This is to certify, that I, tho undersigned df Musquodobit, Nova Scotia, aged 76 y e ars, have been nflliotcd for eleven years with a cancer the lip nnd check, which set a t defiance all medical treatment by the regular faculty, and had become so offensive that but fow could endure the stench long enough 10 dress it, and pay necessary attention wants. In six weeks' time Mrs. S. B. Johnson, of Bangor, Me., made perfect cure of my “ incurable\ case. (Ono year has elapsed since tho dnto of this cortificnto, nnd n letter from the old gontlcmnn gives assurances of continued health nnd soundness.) Dated, H alifax , N. S., Oct., 1868. \ 2d Case : to w h om i t m a y conci This is to oerlify that my wifo, Hannah Shepherd, has been afflicted some two and a half years, with a cancer in the breast and shoulder, inonpneitnting her for labor ; nnd for more than a year coqipelling her to wear h er arm in a sling. Having had rccourso to our best regular physicians without hope, she wns on tho point of submitting to the surgi cal knife—not with’ the.promiso of oure, but prolongation of life—whon Mrs. 8. B. Johnson, of Bnngor, Me., a “ Healing Spirit Medium’ to town. 1 applied 10 h e r, and in six weeks my wifo perfectly ourod! david she , H alifax . N. S., Feb., 1864. han nah shepherd . 3d Caso : “ This is to certify that I have been sorely afflicted with a cancer in my nose for fo u r years, suffering intensely, nnd gcttiug no relief from numerous physicians, 1 became despairing of aid. One eye had lost its muscular contraction, and thosight nearly obliterated, whon Mrs. S. B. Johnson, of Bangor, Mo., came f- | ' m and in the shorttqiaco. wondorful to relate! F rzoirictown , N B Reader, the day of booling the sick lias returned to bless our world The power Of God ns manifested in apostolic days, accompanied } tke gejf.j 1864! More anoi ., Pa., Dec., 1868. 139 Ith ttin n g from $tnntnirif IBorks PUBLISHED BV PARTRIDGE AND BRITTAN. T H E P O E T ’S S O N G O F D E S I R E . W o e x tr a c t the follow ing passag e from the “ L y r ic o f the M o rning L a n d ,” w h ich is filled w ith beautiful thoughts 3 nd d e l icate im a g e s , e x p ressed in flow jng and m e lodious verse. Then sung the Poet, tuneful sweet: “ 0 Fairy Isle 0 Islo o f Love! My thoughts, like golden eagles fleet. Toward thy beanty move. “ O fair Calypso of tho skies ! Home thou must lie o f Beauty’s Queen ; For, lo ! her palace walls nriso, Her Maiden Loves aro seen. “ Change, Heart, to bird of sweetest n o te! W ith plumage of ten tliouaapd dyes, » Fly to her feet, and, warblitfg, float In sunshine from her eyes.” As this he sang, I saw a lovely maid, Whoso locks were golden with an hazel 'shade, W hisper into a littlo infant's ear, A fairy child, and through the atmosphere He flew toward us, and in music said : “ Blessed a rt thou to heavenly nnptials led ; Blessed arc they whose lips, on Earth unfed, Have drank the wine o f immortality, Thirsting for which on Earth they fade and die ; Blessed are they who goldenly repose In Heaven’s embrace, like fairies in a rose ; And while to outer sense in time they dwell, In Heaven rejoice, and find in trance the spell ■ Whose mystic power doth guide them, os a kiss Is wafted by sweet lips, to Jsles like this. Blessed ’are ye, O lovely Spirit-pair! Like a twin-star your coming tinged the air With purple radiance ; welcome to our strand, Welcome to airs by fragrant odors fanned. The island of the Lily Queen invites With its nnvailing fullness of delights, And ye are welcome, as sweet joy that flies To fairy Lovers in their Paradise.\ There is an art whereby tho loveliest flowers, Full-bloomed, are changed to jewels, and the bowers To fairy grottoes, sparkling in the sun, Brighter than earthly lamps ere shone upon ; And fresh unfolding blossoms with the gems Are twined, os flowers with queenly diadems. 'Twos in a grotto formed like this, whoso floor With pansied bloom was newly mantled o’er, The Lily Queen lay sleeping, and lier head Was tinned b y swaying tnrquoisc flowers, that fed The a ir with incense. O’er h er form was spread A mantle sparkling liko the ocean foam. ' Her parted lips like dewy sun-stara shone. W ith gold %nd crimson richly blent. Alone, Eclipsed in thought b y loveliness unknown. I gazed in awe on her transcendent face. H er beanty radiated golden light, , And as I looked, sho woTce. Intense delight Suffused her face, a virgin lily bloom She blossomed, and her heart's divine perfume Wafted toward me. “ Beautiful!” I said. (My h eart spake full.) She bowed her queenly head In courteous greeting. \ How shall I make known My name and place 1” \ Thy coming n o t unknown, In sleep I saw thee.” From rose-golden lips Her gentle speech distilled. My heart's eclipse Was onded. Like tho moon beside tho snn. Shining in new-found radiance, I began To glow in her sweet presence. I hod found A Spirit like myself, though she was crowned Regnant, and I an homeless, wandering form. “ When thou on Earth, I in my Heaven was born.” She paused, and gazed upon me, and my head On her translucent breast was pillowed. A thousand sparkling glories seomcd to play Within lier shining e y e s; immortal day Shone lustrous o’er inc. W ith divinest a rt She touched tho inmost lyre-strings o f my h e a r t; 1 trembled a* a dew-drop, when it blend* W ith tho pure lily's fragrance, while sho bends Her silvery leaves Jo drink it* fragranco in ; I felt a new-born life in me begin. \ hcaled\- 1 weeks, my’cnnoer fKl'HEN GLAZIER.” manifested in with” the miraculous gifts dovoloped by Christ. 1 power and goodness vouchsafed to nr~ N O T E F R O M D R . C R A G I N . O ioioeto w n , D. C„ Dec. 20/A, 1864. D ear B rittan : I really owe you nnd the readers of the T r lko rap h an apology for a stupidity in my reply to Bro. Gibson. 1 wrote hurriedly and said what I did not menu. I said that the Intellect demanded a Cause for Uod’s Existence as well as for any thing else. This is not true. We demand a Cause for every thing that begins to appear, nnd not for what is self- existent and eternal. The faulty senteuoe iu my artiolo of September Oth should be thus oorrootod : “ by tbo iutuitive perception that nothing ean without a Cause for it, we know that a Great First c auso n—that God is.\ You 1 truly, CHARLKS H. CRAOIN. N E W S P I R I T U A L G I F T - B O O K . T h e follow ing a re selections from “ T h e L il y W r e a t h ,” a collection of “ S p iritu a l Com m u n ications receiv e d chiefly through tlie M e d ium ship o f M rs. J . S . A d a m s ; by A . B. C h ild , M .D .” May 8, 1864. My guardian again spoko through Mrs Adams, in a trance, and said : My thoughts to-night lie deep. 1^ must be silent eloquence ; I can utter but few words. My own heart swells with joy ns 1 think that from the steps of error I brought one up, and that beside my own bower another is reared like my own ; and that while blessing others iu the effort of goodness, I have found for mo a sonl-companion ; one whose linrp can be tuned to tho melody of my own. No joy or sorrow of life is com piste iu solitude. 1 had a heavenly bower ; I lmd a garden of beauty , I bad flowers, fresh, budding, of sweet frngranoo ; but as on these I gazed, no kindred eye drank iu the samo beanty. I watolied, I looked through the spheres beneath and above, and I found my affinity drawn earthward. I t is not tho spot that makes the union. I found that flower planted in uncongenial soil, surrounded by a hedge of an unpleasant growth ; but I poured on it- igol-dews ; I nourished i t ; it grew and budded. Tlmt bud, O, how sacred! How I watched the unfoldings! Soon cninc bright expansion ; the beauteous leaves gradually unfold. How J nurtured it! 1 feared that some rude blast would sweep it from my gaze ; I 1st none ither than nngel-trulh sweep over it, lest those delicate leaves should be blbwn ‘mid tho rude thorn* that surround it. Some, gazing, wondered why 'mid such unsightly leaves so delicate a flower was blooming! They dreamed not an niigcl-hatid was pruning it for a heavenly garden. That flower is blooming now ; soon I sliall pluck it to deck my own bower. IU frugrknee slioll fill my soul. It shall waft it* sweetness to the altar of pure uffcetion, never, never, never to fad*. May 28, 1854. My guardian addressed me through Mrs. Adams, as follows: Harp that echoes to my own melody, how I joy to meet thee in the pure affection of angel breath ' Raise thy soul to purity. I am wait- a garden of lilies ; my first appcarauoe to your vision will be in th s t flower. While on earth: I left many deeds of kiqdneas undone. I now give to you my work ; fill for me the void in humanity. For me know you will labor. 1 tee some bright start shlulug, Shining for thee; 1 tee s wreath now Iwlnlng, Twining for Ihee. While floating la a cloud of light, A holy band of angcle bright, , Come chanting, with aertphlo lays, A melody of heavenly pralso. I tec s bright throng gathered, Oalhared for Ihco; I see pure Joys measured, Measured for thee.