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

318 ADDITIONAL CORROBORATIVE EVIDENCEa question. The purity, fingclic lovelineps, and divine holiness that sucha fuitli, if firmly based, must secure, inspires the loyal soul as with heavenlybeatitudes in the contemplation. Its power to restrain and reform;to soften the hard heart of evil indulgence; to expose the still harderheart of bigotry and religious denunciation ;to moisten the eye of criminaleffrontery, which the hypocrisies of the world have made stern and fixedto bring the strong man of selfish apathy, as a child once more in companywith his brother-children, at the feet of maternal or sisterly tenderness,whose earthly bodies have long since been entombed; to keep down theunnatural separations of families beneath the manly wisdom and fatherlyaffection of one who claims all as his, and still needing his care ; to turnthe scoff of godless ribaldry into loving faith, and the shame of pulpitcurses pronounced upon human brethren and by human beings, of eternaldoom, into blessings of eternal help; to make all, yes all, realize an innerreligion, which worships at the altar of eternal truth and unchangeablelove. With such aims and prospects before us, to ask what is the good ofgeneral, tangible spirit intercourse, is to ask the good of immortality, ofheaven, and of God.''An Exposition of vieivs rcsj)ecting the principal facts, causes, and peculiaritiesinvolved in Spiritual Manifestations ; together tvith interestingphenomenal statements and communications.By Adin Ballou.1594. The preceding is the title of a work by the Rev. Adin Ballou, ofHopedale, Massachusetts. It is among those which give what appears tome available, well-considered f\icts and opinions respecting Spiritualism.Mr. Ballou judiciously, as I think, disposes the spirit manifestations underthe following heads :1595. " I. Those in which all the important demonstrations were mostevidently caused by departed spirits. II. Those in which some of the importantdemonstrations were probably caused or greatly affected by undepartedspirits. III. Those in which the demonstrations were of a heterogeneous,incongruous, or derogatory character.1596. "The following is a statement of Mr. Ballou's experience takenfrom the work in Cjuestion :1597. "In this chapter I shall conclude what I have to say under myfirst general head, by referring to a few particulars connected with caseswithin my personal knowledge, and then stating the principal points ofdoctrine taught by the spirits.1598. "I will not go into minute narration or description, but simplymention the more important phenomena I have witnessed. I have heardmultiform sounds in the presence of spirit media, purporting to be madeby departed spirits; some like the tickings of a small watch, others like theclicking of a common clock, others like the loud knocking of a labouringman on the door of his neighbour with his knuckles, others like the