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

OP THE EXISTENCE OP SPIRITS. 821tations reported from a thousand places in our country and the world. Iwill merely add, that I have received many excellent communications fromthese invisible friends, and scarcely a single one of a light, frivolous, orlow character; though I know that in this respect my experience has beenunlike that of some others.I can say in truth, speaking for myself alone,that my whole moral nature has been purified and elevated by the influenceswhich have flowed in upon me during the investigation of this subject.Others, I am sure, can say the same. There are those, no doubt,w^ho have abused the whole thing—befooling themselves and others in alamentable manner. What is there in the wide world that has whollyescaped abuse and perversion ? Reason, inspired and crowned with thewisdom from above, is indispensable to the avoidance of these evils. Untila much larger portion of mankind than at present attain to the developmentof their higher faculties, we must expect the abuse and perversion,to a greater or less extent, of every thing in nature. *But wisdomisjustified of all her children.' ''1605. The following statement of A. H. Jarvis, a Methodist clergyman,of Rochester, New York, is copied from Mr. Ballou's work. It is one ofthose manifestations in which the information conveyed cannot be conceivedto have pre-existed in the mind of the person by whom it wasreceived1G06. ^^ There are many facts which have come under my observation,equally convincing of the intelligence and utility of the communicationsfrom these unseen agents, who, I now believe, are continually about us,and more perfectly acquainted with all our ways, and even our thoughts,than we are with each other. But the fact in reference to my friendPickard is what you desire. He was at my house on Friday afternoon,April 6, 1849. None of the Fox family were present. While at the teatable,we had free communications on difi'erent subjects. Pickard was requestedto ask questions. He desired to know who it was that would answerquestions. The answer was— 'I am your mother, Mary Pickard.'Her name, or the fact of her death, was not known to any of us. Thenext Monday evening he (Pickard) was at Mr. G——'s, and tarried thereover night. He there received a communication, purporting to be fromhis mother, saying, ^ Your child is dead.' He came immediately to myplace, and saidhe should take the stage for home, (Lockport, sixty milesdistant.) He left in the stage at 8 or 9, A. M. At 12, m., I returnedto my house, my wife meeting me with a telegraph envelope.seal and read mentally, firstI broke the" 'Rochester, April 10, 1849.1607. " ' By telegraph from Lockport—the Rev. A. H. Jarvis, No. 4West St.1608. ^''Tell Mr. Pickard, if you can find him, his child died thisfliorning.—Answer.21R. Mallory.'^