SPIRITUALISM.

Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2213, 10 June 1870, Page 2

SPIRITUALISM.

To the Editor of the Evening Star. Sir, — A considerable amount of interest seems to be taken in Spiritualism, if wo may take the number who attended Tuesday night’s lecture as a criterion. But perhaps it was not so much interest in the matter as curiosity to hear what the lecturer (who was well-known not only to be a spiritualist, but also what is called a medium) had to say on the subject. It was the latter motive that induced me to be present, and I cannot say I was any more favourably disposed towards spiritualism when I came out then when I went in, but rather the reverse. The lecturer treated us to some samples to begin with, the most noticeable among them being, that while under the influence of the spirit-, he was enabled, or compelled (I am ftbt sure which is the proper word to use in the circumstances) to write as much in three minutes, as he could in half-au-hour, under ordinary circumstances, I take it for granted that it was in the ordinary longhand, for if in shorthand it would take away from the achievement very considerably. Now, Mr Editor, if you believe the foregoing, 1 think it would bo time well spent on your part to try and discover, whether or not it is possible you could be developed into a medium. You must see at a glance what an immense amount of labor it would save you. The very th’ught of it will make your 'mouth water. Only fancy! a long half-hours scribbling in your present style compressed into three minutes ! By all means, sir, try and be a medium. But that was not the only good turn the spirits had done to the lecturer. One of them actually gave him a prescription for a sore throat, which consisted of a mustard poultice and a decoction of man'old leaves, &c , and it cured the complaint on the second application. Now here is another very great advantage that spiritualists have over us less favored individuals when anything goes wrong with us we have to send for a doctor, and describe the matter to him, answer questions as to how we feel in this, and the other place, &c. ; and to crown the whole, the most disagreeable part of the matter is, that, cure or no cure, we have to pay him ; whereas the spirit doctor gives his services “gratis,” \ presume, What glorious tidings to the poor invalid ! No more half-guinea fees, foe the mere feeling of your pulse, and such-like trilling services. He has only to become a spiritualist, when be will have the benefit of the best advice it is possible to obtain, gratis; and for anything I know, there may be dispensing spirit-chemists, who give away their wares at the same reduced rate. I do not think I am far wrong in saying of the doctors. what Stephenson said when asked wlpf would happen jf a “ poo ” got in fro it of the train ; it will be a had job for the’doctor; in the flesh when their brethren in the spirit come into general practice. The lecturer also gave us some accounts of what ho had seen done by spirits in the way of table-turning, playing on pianos, moving furniture, &c , and read letters from several prominent men, stating what they had seen done in the same line. Now I am perfectly ready to admit that these phenomena do occur, although 1 do not admit they are caused by spirits. You have only to pay a visit any conjuror, of a#y standing.in his profession, to witness things as utterly incomprehensible to the uninitiated as any of the wonders which are said to be done by spirits. I have scon tricks performed in this city which, fur mysteriousness, will hear comparison with any of their spirit marvels; and the operator expressly repudiated any connection with spiritism. But granting that these phenomena are caused by th» agency of spirits, does it not sc-em rather a silly sort of pastime for spirits to indulge in ? What possible good con it do fo anyone to see bc-nyv pieces of furniture suddenly commence to take a walk through the ■ house, or to bear musical instruments played by invisible agents, and all the other stock amusements r.t their sc-auces ? By the way, how is it that we never hoar of a table or a chairtaking a little quiet exercise by i: self, and when no one is present? They always indulge in these eccentric habits when in company. There must he a reason for it, surely. I think, if the spirits are really’ anxious to make converts, they ought to do a little when alone, and give unbelievers a proof that they do pot require the presence of anyone before their powers can be set in motion. The lecturer also mentioned that spirits had a sort of antipathy to silk; they never felt tho.oughly at ease when a lady in a silk dress was present. Now, sir, is not that a somewhat petty objection on the part of the spirits ? One would have imagined they would have been above petty cavillings of that sort. Surely they could not be lady spirits who

thev wore, it shows that since they entered the'spirit land their ideas have progressed so far as to he at the very opposite of what they were when here in the flesh. But, sir, my letter is long enough, I' dare say, although I have only touched on one side of the subject, for it has a serious as well as a grotesque side; and I hope some one qualified to do the subject justice will take up the serious and more important one, as spiritualism in many instances teaches the exact contrary to the Bible. Yours, &c., S. D. Dunedin, June 8, 1870.