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

APOLOGY FOR MY CONVERSION. 181facts or inferences are more correct; yet it appears that so late as the 8thof February I was still a tloubtor. The tenor of the correspondence willshow that if I was conquered, I did not yield the ground undisputed, andwas vanquished only by facts and reasons which, when understood or admitted,must produce in others the conviction wdiich they created in me.If I was the victim of an intellectual epidemic, my mental constitutiondid not yield at once to the miasma. It took some three months to includeme among itsvictims.*Philadelphia, January 14, 1854.690. Dear Sir :—Your letter of the 17th of November met my eye asI was this morning looking over a file of letters. I am led to write, therefore,that in consequence of your suggestion, and those of others, I havebeen giving my q/ttcntion to the 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 the spiritual manifestations. Yet I am not surprised that thelatter should be believed in by those who have that belief, as there 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 them of 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 the mediums in my presence, but exceptingin one instance, when it was within reach of the feet, no motion ensued.692. It would, indeed, be a glorious mercy if God would give us someevidence, which should settle the religious opinions of mankind.Robert Hare.SouTHWiCK, Mass., Feb. 3d, 1854.693. Dear Sir : I wish, however, to say something in regard to thesubject-matter of your letter.You say you are not surprised at the beliefof many in Spiritualism, as there 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 the power that makes the table move ? Youthink it is muscular, and I am certain that it is something else. WhenI am looking at the sun in a clear sky, I know that it shines. No argumentwould have any influence to make me doubt the evidence of mysenses. There has, no doubt, been a great deal of jugglery in the world,but shall I doubt the evidence of my senses on that account? How shallwe prove any thing in a court of justice, if the evidence of our senses isnot to be relied upon 'i While I am looking at a table, it moveS; and I