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

OF THE EXISTENCE OF 8P1RITS. 317(lurinnr (heir cartli lifo ; referred to incidents and events of wliich the mcdiumscould liavc known nothing; described, accurately, occurrences takingplace at a distance of hundreds of miles; answered (juestions that hadbeen written in my private records for future investigation, months afterthey had passed from my active memory; stated the state of my investigationsof various subjects, with the folly or wisdom, as they regarded it,of my ditlicultics ; leaving me, on the whole, no choice as to whether Iwould regard them as what they claimed to be, save that of honest convictionor the most shameless hypocrisy. Allow mc to say, therefore, thatthere is no event of history, no fact in mental philosophy, no conclusionsin logical dialectics, more fully and forcibly established, in my convictions,than the following1591. '^I BELIEVE, I KNOW, THAT I HAVE HELD, AND NOW FRE-QUENTLY HOLD, COMMUNION, INTELLIGIBLE AND IMPROVING, WITHKINDRED AND ELEVATED SPIRITS, WHO HAVE PASSED FROM FLESHLYSIGHT.1592. '' You will not be surprised, therefore, at my willingness to riskreputation, the dearest ties of friendship, and prospects of earthly gainand honour, if need be, in the avowal and propagation of this faith, andthe results to which it must inevitably lead. God knows, and every intimatefriend on earth knows, that I would hesitate, long and seriously, toavow a faith that was doubtful in my own mind, or of doubtful influencefor good in my dim foresight, where so much is apparently at stake. Ithink I may safely appeal to my past life as proof that the dearest personaland earthly considerations have often been sacrificed, where it wasthought my action would affect the interests or happiness of others.Know, then, that it is from the maturest consideration of duty, and theobligation that every man owes to truth and right, and especially whentruth and right are ridiculed and denounced, that' I detail to you theseresults of a long experience and the most serious and solemn investigationsof my life.Willingly, I cannot find it in my heart to disappoint a friendor injure an enemy. And with such friends as in the providence of Godhave surrounded me, who have proved themselves true and enduringwhen every form of bigotry and animosity were aroused against my position,reputation, and influence,—with all this pressure of enmity andfriendship upon me, you must know, and all will hereafter know, thatnothing but loyalty to conviction and a desire to preserve privileges I havelearned to esteem above what men call life or death, could induce me tolay these facts beforethe world.1593. "If it be asked what good we expect to effect by the statementof these facts, we answer, the spread of truth upon the dearest, purest,and holiest relations of man, and the breaking away of the clouds thatgather around the mind of man in view of death and futurity, the darknessof which can nowhere be more distinctly felt than in the asking of such