Spiritualism Exposed.

Cromwell Argus, Volume 2, Issue 84, 20 June 1871, Page 7

Spiritualism Exposed.

“ Spiritualism,” as it is popularly called, has of late occupied the attention of a number of people in Cromwell, and we have heard of nightly seances , and of the mysterious messages of table-rapping “ mediums,” In fact, we are told that two or three gentlemen in the town have displayed considerable aptitude in the “ medium” line of business. Under these circumstances, our readers may like to hear how this “spiritualism” jugglery was recently exposed in Russia : “ Home, the spiritualist, who for some weeks past has been the talk of the fashionable world, has suffered a complete fiasco. Tiie success he met with in the talons of St. Petersburg appears to have turned his head. Judging the Russians by those of them who believed in him, he expected to find them all equally credulous, and in an evil hour he offered to exhibit his manifestations before a committee of scientific men. The challenge was accepted, the committee stipulating that the locality should be chosen by them ; that instead of an ordinary table one of glass should be substituted ; and that Home should not enter the room before the time fixed for the experiment. Six gentlemen, principally professors, met in a room prepared for the purpose in the University of St. Pf.tersbm-g. Home came at the appointed y v, expressed himself satisfied with the •angcraents, and the party formed the (main round the table, waiting patiently for the usual rap pings. A lamp with a powerful reflector prevented the possibility of any trickery under the table passing unnoticed, and for some time there was no indication of the appearance of the spirits. At length Home pretended to be aware of their presence by the wavering light of a candle on the table ; but this was explained as being caused by the ventilator, which was immediately closed, and the candle burned steadily. Then ho declared that the arrival of the spirits was announced by a peculiar rushing noise, which was heard

by all present; bub, on searching for the cause, it was found that a hot-air pipe had been left open, and on its being shut, the noise ceased. Rather out of countenance by the failure of.>the experiment thus far, Home next drew attention to the rapidity of his pulse ; but this was shown to bo the effect of the heat of the room, and the excitement of straining the attention for such a length of time ; moreover, one of the gentlemen present had exactly the same number of pulsations. Though confused and baffled, Home did not to give in, and offered to change the weight of any object in the room. For this the committee were prepared. A pail was placed in a pair of scales, and there it x-e----mained without moving the balance in the slightest degree. These experiments took up a great deal of time ; everybody was tired ; the trial was at end ; but, not wishing to acknowledge himself beaten, Home offered to meet the committee again on a future day. But the next morning he sent word that he was indisposed, and two days after he left St. Petersburg.”