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

or THE EXISTENCE OF SPIRITS. 066liish tlic rcailers of this volume a reasonably, comprehensive view of Spiritualism,without the necessity of their referring to works which may notbe easily accessible.1G04. To the cool Yankee sagacity of Mrs. Fox and her (laughters, theworld is indebted for the happy result that these manifestations did not,like those which preceded them in other parts of the world, end in a mereinexplicable mystery, and erroneous inferences as to their origin.I alludehere to the well-known fact, that similar manifestations were made in theearly part of the last century, in Epworth, England, at the mansion of thecelebrated clergyman, AYcslcy, and that one of his daughters was endowedwith the attributes of a medium for many years, without the art of alphabeticcommunication having been suggested.1665. I might here republish the history of the famous ^^ rapping s andhnocMngs'^ at Hydesville and Eochestcr, in the State of New York; butas regards evidence, they amount to about the same thing, only not so concentrated,as thosedemonstrations which occurred at the residence of theRev. Dr. Phelps, in Stratford, Connecticut.The doctor, who is a Congregationalist,and one of the most worthy men in the world, became a convertto Spiritualism in consequence of thesemanifestations, an account ofwhich is subjoined. I quote it from the excellent work of E. AY. Capron,Esq., entitled, "Modern Spiritualism, its Facts and Fanaticisms."1666. I omit quoting the history of the abortive effort made by thespirits to communicate with the "VYesleys, but refer the reader to the accountpublished in a work entitled, '^ Memoirs of the Wesley Family,"by Adam Clark, LL.D., second edition, 1846; or to the work of Mr.Capron, already specified.Manifestations at Stratford, Conn., in the House of Rev. Ellahiin Plielps,D.D.— Remarhahle ExJiihitions of Power.— Singular Occurrences. —Image-mahing.— Destruction of Furniture.— Incendiary Spirits. —Tlie Spirits identified.— TJnliappy Spirits, from tlie remembrance oficrong done in thisWorld.— Wrong -doing revealed.— Directions givenfor restoring ill-gotten Gains.— Discontinuance of the Manifestations.1667. "While these strange occurrences were taking place at Rochesterand Auburn, and the press and people were busy in trying to account forthem on strictly mundane principles, making all manner of insinuationsagainst the character and motives of those who even dared to investigatefor themselves, some manifestationstook place at Stratford, Conn., whichattracted attention to that quarter, as well on account of the character andstanding of the gentleman at whose house they occurred, as the very strange,boisterous, and violent character of the manifestations.I have been allowedto examine all the records kept of the occurrences by Dr. Phelps, and shallbe able, therefore, to present the history with more minuteness and accuracythan has ever before appeared.