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

OF THE EXISTENCE OF SPIRITS. 289rccoiiiniciulatioii. The truth of this iidagc is conspicuously realized in theinstance of this sensible and agreeable spiritualist.There is an air of goodfeeling and sincerity in Mr. llchn's tones and expression, which wouldcause him to be viewed as a reliable witness beforeany honest and intelligentjury.1459. The fact of mechanical movements being induced luitlwiit muscularcontact, direct or indirect, is one of the phenomena which scarcelyany one will believe without intuitive proof. It will be seen that on thethird of February, 1854, after I had been engaged in the investigation ofspiritual manifestations for more than two months, I was still so incredulousas to employ this language to Mr. Holcomb : You believe fully ''thattables move without contact, because you have seen them thus moved ; Iam skeptical, because I have not seen them move without human contact,although I have been at several circles."14G0. But one of the forms of this phenomenon, which has excited themost wonder and incredulity, isthat of the carrying of Mr. Henry Gordon,a medium, through the air without the contact of any mundane body. Mr.Rehn having been among the witnesses of this fact, I requested him to giveme a statement of it, as well as of others of a similar kind. Subjoined isa letter, written in consequence of my requestProfessor Robert Hare :Philadelphia, August 1, 1855.1461. Dear Sir: In obedience to your invitation, I will proceed tomake a brief statement of the more prominent facts supporting the hypothesis,that the spirits of those who once dwelt with us do still hold intercoursewith mortals.1462. During the early part of the year 1850, some friends of mine, inwhom I had full confidence, stated to me the result of several intercommunionshad with these mysterious agents, by which I was led to a determinationto test the matter for myself; and, accordingly, on the fifth day of July,in company with a friend, I visited New York, that being the only accessiblepoint known to us at which to gain the object of our visit. The Foxfamily, consisting of Mrs. Fox, Mrs. Fish, (afterward Mrs. Brown,) Catharineand Margaret Fox were then at Barnum's Hotel, giving to the publicopportunities to test the reality or imposture of the so-called spiritualphenomena.We called at the rooms of the family, and obtained a sittingduring the afternoon of the same day. A dozen or more persons werepresent at the sitting, the result of which was the conviction that thesounds were not a deception on the part of the mediums, but the result ofsome occult force and intelligence, independent ofthe ladies themselves.1463. "Without entering into any detail of the incidents of the visitabove referred to, or speculations upon the general subject under consideration,I propose to cite incidents in my own experience, which go toestablish the truth of spiritual intercourse.19