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

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APOLOGY FOR MY CONVERSION. 181facts or inferences are more correct; yet it appears that so late as <strong>the</strong> 8th<strong>of</strong> February I was still a tloubtor. The tenor <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> correspondence willshow that if I was conquered, I did not yield <strong>the</strong> ground undisputed, andwas vanquished only by facts and reasons which, when understood or admitted,must produce in o<strong>the</strong>rs <strong>the</strong> conviction wdiich <strong>the</strong>y created in me.If I was <strong>the</strong> victim <strong>of</strong> an intellectual epidemic, my mental constitutiondid not yield at once to <strong>the</strong> miasma. It took some three months to includeme among itsvictims.*Philadelphia, January 14, 1854.690. Dear Sir :—Your letter <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> 17th <strong>of</strong> November met my eye asI was this morning looking over a file <strong>of</strong> letters. I am led to write, <strong>the</strong>refore,that in consequence <strong>of</strong> your suggestion, and those <strong>of</strong> o<strong>the</strong>rs, I havebeen giving my q/ttcntion to <strong>the</strong> phenomena to w^hich you alluded.I come to any conclusion, I will write again.When691. I still concur with Faraday, and have seen nothing to make mebelieve in <strong>the</strong> <strong>spirit</strong>ual <strong>manifestations</strong>. Yet I am not surprised that <strong>the</strong>latter should be believed in by those who have that belief, as <strong>the</strong>re are phenomenawhich I cannot explain yet, any more than many which I haveseen resulting from jugglery. The converts are, however, such worthypersons, that I cannot bring myself to suspect <strong>the</strong>m <strong>of</strong> deception. Ithink 3'ou must be mistaken as respects a table moving when left to itselfentirely. The circumstances for producing this phenomena have beenrepeatedly made favourable by <strong>the</strong> mediums in my presence, but exceptingin one instance, when it was within reach <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> feet, no motion ensued.692. It would, indeed, be a glorious mercy if God would give us someevidence, which should settle <strong>the</strong> religious opinions <strong>of</strong> mankind.Robert Hare.SouTHWiCK, Mass., Feb. 3d, 1854.693. Dear Sir : I wish, however, to say something in regard to <strong>the</strong>subject-matter <strong>of</strong> your letter.You say you are not surprised at <strong>the</strong> belief<strong>of</strong> many in Spiritualism, as <strong>the</strong>re are phenomena which you cannot explain.You also say that you think I must be mistaken "as respects atable moving when left to itself entirely.'^ I do not think a table wouldmove if left to itself entirely, since matter cannot put itself into motion.The great question is. What is <strong>the</strong> power that makes <strong>the</strong> table move ? Youthink it is muscular, and I am certain that it is something else. WhenI am looking at <strong>the</strong> sun in a clear sky, I know that it shines. No argumentwould have any influence to make me doubt <strong>the</strong> evidence <strong>of</strong> mysenses. There has, no doubt, been a great deal <strong>of</strong> jugglery in <strong>the</strong> world,but shall I doubt <strong>the</strong> evidence <strong>of</strong> my senses on that account? How shallwe prove any thing in a court <strong>of</strong> justice, if <strong>the</strong> evidence <strong>of</strong> our senses isnot to be relied upon 'i While I am looking at a table, it moveS; and I

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