Modern spiritism; its science and religion - SpiritArchive.org

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MODERN SPIRITISM
Modern Spiritism Begins in 1847
Professor Richet and J. Arthur Hill, in the
"Physical Phenomena of Spiritualism" (a wellknown
text-book), and many others actually date
Modern Spiritism from 1847. It was in December
of that year that mysterious rappings were first
heard in a Methodist's house in New York State, in
a quiet family of the name of Fox, which contained
two young girls just arrived at maidenhood.
The mysterious rappings all over the house, which
caused such crowds to assemble, lost much of their
supposed spiritist power when it was discovered that
these two girls could at will, without apparent
movement, loudly crack their knee and toe joints;
but it
was never finally settled that this was the sole
cause of the rappings. Recent researches by Sir Wm.
Crookes, Sir Oliver Lodge and others have shown
that certain individuals can produce distinct and
loud raps in their joints at will, but the power is rare.
Old Spiritism
This caused a revival of old Spiritist practices that
can be traced from ancient times. It was common
amongst the Essenes, and Delitsch shows tableturning
was practised in Jewish circles in the
seventh century. Spiritism was known in Egypt
in the fourth century. The successor to the Emperor
Theodosius was announced by table-rapping.
All over the Roman and Grecian Empires,
the sanction of His authority" (p. 183). "Spiritism is essentially
Christian"; though, on page 151, Andr6 teaches re-incarnation
!
I insert this note to show that Spiritism may be fairly described
as regards its doctrine as "Theosophy and water."