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

180 MRS. gourlay's narrative.923. I\Iy attentiou was attracted to the phenomena in question, aboutfive years since, by reading sundry reports in the New York Tribune, ofcertain mysterious sounds which had occurred in the city of llochester,and purported to have been made by the spirits of the departed.924. I regarded the subject at first with great distrust, supposing it amere imposition on the credulity of the public, and considered it entirelyunworthy of serious thought.925. Finding, however, that it was eliciting considerable notice, andknowing that facts are sometimes stranger than fiction, I deemed it consonantwith reason to suspend my judgment till more conversant with thefacts.926. Having been admonished by a much-loved, intelligent, and, Iwould add, practical Christian mother to worship at the altar of truth,while exercising my reason on allsubjects presented to my mind, I was, asmight be presumed, nearly, if not entirely, free from the shackles of bigotry,superstition, and dogmatism, and was thus prepared, so far at least as thesebarriers to mental and moral progression are concerned, toinvestigate anysubject within the range of my capacity.927. Hearing of the spread of the manifestations, and their actualoccurrence in the city of Bangor, Maine, where I then resided, I resolved,with the first favourable opportunity, to investigate the matter formyself.928. Not many da3^s had elapsed after forming this resolution, before Imet an intimate friend, an exemplary and respected member of the 3IethodistEpiscopal denomination, who informed me that she was interestedin spiritual manifestations, and desired to investigate them. But alasshe was bound by the galling fetters of sectarian and priestly bondage, anddared not move in such an investigation. Her pastor had said thatthe ^'arcJi deceiver/' the veritable Satan, was the prime instigator inthis schejne, and, moreover, that to participate in a movement so diabolicalin its character wouldrender her liable not only to loss of membership inthe church, but expose her to divine wrath in this world, as well as endlesstorment in the world to come.929. I believed such an intolerant and persecuting spirit, to be diametricallyopposed to every principle of true Christianity, and repugnant tothe claims of reason ; and deprecating any doctrine, orthodox thoughcalled, that would thus stiflefree thought and inquiry, and consign to eternalmisery the children of our heavenly Father, even however depraved, Iadvised my friend to exercise her reason, with which she was by natureendowed, and regardless of the sneers of a time-serving multitude, orthe anathemas of the church, to obey the injunction of the apostle''Prove all things hold fast that ichich is good.''930. She consented ; and a few days subsequent to this interview, sheextended to me an invitation to attend a spiritual circle to be convened