Spiritualism v Steam

Feilding Star, Volume VI, Issue 68, 18 November 1884, Page 3

Spiritualism v Steam

+. Steam, in its infancy, was looked upon with as much doubt and contempt, not unmingled with fear, as is now looked upon that equally caarvellous and unknown quality of so cailed spiritualism. It is therefore possible that the latter may become developed in a few years of progress into a.'power equal if not superior to steam. This reasons for this beleif ■are not far to seek. The attention of scientific mea has been _or many years directed to the t"6o obvious truth that in a few thousand years the coal beds of the World will be wrought out, and that a substitute must be found with as little delay as is consistent witb prudence. As -science and religion must sooner or later become fused into one mass of Knowledge and Faith. Spiritualism which is yet *' but as a little cloud, no bigger than a man's hand," may derelop into a canopy of power-bearing clouds that will revolu - tionage the machinery of the world. Our "reasons for holding these opinions are based on weli-known and admitted fiicts. If the power of individual spirits can be compelled to lift the animate bodies of persons and the inanimate bodies of tables and chairs. It stands to reason that collectively the power of thousands of them could be et.mpe-.rd. in order to supply power enough to force the world out of its circuit. In our minds eye we see some noted spiritualists taking contracts for work of all kinds and descrip tions. "Here for grain elevating, there for digging a canal, there to supply the motive power to a sewing machine. The spirits of dead surgeons could be called up to perform all sorts of operations with still and dispatch. In fact all labor which is now represented by hand or horse power may under the circumstances mentioned be entirely done aWay with. No special education would be required. All one would have to do would be to ring up the Centre Office and direct the kind of skilled labor to be laid on which was wanted for the time being How tbe spirits employed would like it is another matter, bnt their feelings are not likely'to be considered. At least such has been the case in the past when the most secondrate spiritualist has seldom hesitated to send for Sir Isaac Newton to move a chair for him, a duty proper enough for a menial, but undignified for a philosopher. As the science or power developed, it is natural to expect that with increasing popularity a number of respectable and well informed persons will be attracted into the business by the enormous profits which are so obviously to be gained, and the feelings of respect and reverence many of us hold for the great names of the past, may not be offended by this sort of thing. At least, if the spirit, of Sir Isaac Newton and other great men, are put on during a press of work it is to be hoped that they will only be asked to perform such offices as their past ex periences best fit them for. But these are mere details hardly worthy of serious consideration. The main point established is this. A power capable of lifting or moving certain articles of a given weight avoirpudois has been discovered. How it is to be applied is not yet ever cleatfegpd there it is ! But as the great tree"*fcr_w_ from a seed not larger than a grain of mustared, so will this grain of fact grow into a power the extent and ramifications of which not even De Quincy in his clearest moments could imagine or conceive.