AN UNDESIRABLE VISITOR.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 605, 7 September 1909, Page 6

AN UNDESIRABLE VISITOR.

Sir,—Although I have often listened 'to members of Parliament, I must allow 'I never before heard such a farrago of vulgar obsoTdities as that 'delivered by "Professor" Denton last evening in the New Century Hall. With all tho irrelevancy of a fractured tea-pot, this illustrious spirit drivelled about the platform, leaking misqudtatious from Tennyson and stock phrases from . any more or. less divorced in sense and,sequence from the other. He began as a spirit, and 1 ended as .one, but had frequent intermediate lapses into luero flesh—quite as, ill-natured and coarse-grained flesh 1 as maj* be. met, disguised.Jn French* on tho menu of any first-class hotel. Among other amiable, things to like effect, the spirit "Professor" told us the clergy gave, nothing but, "fag-ends and tag-ends from other men's discourses." Probably, the only pulpit in town to which this does not .apply is the Unitariau, but, while making, this admission, I must in justice add that I do- not believe even tho worst of .the others in his best form could out-twaddle the. tiresome stuff offered as a . prayer by Mr. Bailey's preternatural guest: Incidentally the spirit.referred to tho course of lectures projected by Dr. Tudor Jones. Well, I happened to have heard the doctor's reference to the spirit the previous Sabbafh, and it was with a glow.'of satisfaction in , what culture can achieve human character that I now contrasted the splenetic .sneer of ■ the spirit, with the firm,'- gentlo' reasoning of tho' man. And I thought also that, could a debate be arranged .between, the spirit and the',man, anyone who had heard both disputants could, without jolting himself, into a tranoe, predict a masterly triumph for the still incarnato intelligence. Taking Mr.- Bailey's control-' as ameasure, we ■ may safely assume the spirits have nothing to teaoh us in either science;or ethics, philosophy, or religion., Fiscal relations with the spirit world shoidd also be discouraged. , This purely on grounds of economy, sinco eighty-guineas. these hard-times .is a specially exorbitant tariff to impose on the apportation"' of one; small bird. Many other points bristlo up, but: I. daresay , you have thought over them, yourself. I need now only hope it will be noted that this letter does not impute evil to the . medium. Mr.- Bailey generously ■ gives .accommodation to . these unencagiug spirits, and, since ho has no knowledge ot what takes',! place While they are .in possession, I ■ deem it only a duty to notify, him how grossly his hospitality is 1 being abused.—l am, eto., LYME DROJ?. September G. -, \ ' '