SPIRITUALISM IN RUSSIA.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2521, 20 April 1881, Page 2

SPIRITUALISM IN RUSSIA.

A correspondent writing from St. Petersburg on Jan. 23, says; —The celebrated magnetizer, Mr Hansen, from Vienna is now making experiments in St. Petersburg in presence of a committee of doctors, who, it must be confessed, have done and are doing all in their power to undermine the reputation of Mr Hansen and represent him as a common quack. In spite of the opinion of these learned personages, the public besieges by thousands the Pedagogical Museum where these seances take place, and not a tenth part can get in. Almost all Mr Hansen’s

experiments have succeeded, and he is going to give a series of seances in a room where a larger audience can be accommodated. There is hardly a house in St Petersburg now where seances are not held, and a number of amateur magnetizers have sprung into existence. This has given an impulse to the spiritualists too. who had grown rather indifferent lately, and tables have begun to turn, houses to bo haunted afresh, and furniture to b® knocked about with more zeal than ever. Mr Hansen was invited to the palace of the Grand Duke Wladimir, where, in presence of the Emperor ana forty persons of the Court, he produced the most interesting experiences. The Emperor takes a great interest in the occult sciences, especially in spiritual* ism.

A religious persecution has commenced. Recently no less than 173 persons were accused of propagating false views, and of these 76 were condemned to exile in Siberia. One was a pretty childish-looking girl of eighteen accused of prophesying. A great many of them were accused of seeing and evoking the spirits of the dead, in short were what in a civilized country would be called spiritual mediums. A great many old women were condemned for witchcraft. A detailed and heartrending account of these events in one of the St. Petersburg papers has created a great sensation among the public. A few months ago these facts would never have reached the public.