Experimental investigation of the spirit manifestations, [electronic ...

COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE SPIRIT AVORLT). 85spint-chiKl iniiz;ht be exhibited to her; and, behold! a child's hand waspresented, ^hile no child in the body was in the room. One of tlio companywas a coloured domestic in the family of Mr. E ,and she mentallyrequested that her mother, who had before purported to coinmnnicateto her, if present, would show her hand ; when, lo ! a black handappeared ! These are but specimens of what occurred during the evening."COINIMUNICATIONS FROM THE SPIRIT WORLD.Hemai-Ics Introductory to my Spirit Fatlicr^sCommunication.398. Agreeably to my spirit father's communication, the manifestationswhich of late have given birth to Spiritualism, have been the result of adeliberate effort, on the part of the inhabitants of the higher spheres, tobreak through the partition which has interfered with the attainment, bymortals, of a correct idea of their destiny after death. To carry out thisintention, a delegation of advanced spirits has been appointed. Referringto this statement, I inquired how it happened that low spirits were allowedto interfere in the undertaking? The answer was, that the spirits ofthe lower spheres being more competent to make mechanical movementsand loud rappings, their assistance was requisite.899. Likewise, I inquired why it was deemed expedient to make thesemanifestations, in the first instance, at Hydesville, near Rochester, throughthe spirit of a murdered man ? The answer to this was, that the spiritof a murdered man would excite more interest, and that a neighbourhoodwas chosen where spiritual agency would be more readily credited thanin more learned or fashionable and conspicuous circles, where the prejudiceagainst supernatural agencies is extremely strong ; but that the manifestationshad likewise been made at Stratford, in Connecticut, under othercircumstances. Nor were these the only places. They had been madeelsewhere, without much success in awakening public attention.400. Thus, it appears that at the outset, the object was to draw attention,and in the next place to induce communications. It will appear fromthe account of the manifestations at Hydesville and Stratford, that as soonas through an ingenious agreement upon signals rational intercommunicationwas established, the manifestations became changed in character.The mischievousness displayed, in the primitive derangement of furniture,ceased. This was attributed to the replacement of spirits of inferior grade,by their superiors.401. Thus this new and glorious light has come up amid dark clouds,as we often see the thunder-gust the harbinger of a bright sky.402. But still there has been another source of temporary degradation,