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

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THE EXISTENCE OP SPIRITS. 37times move without any person near <strong>the</strong>m, as that tlicy sometimes move"with hands on <strong>the</strong>m. I cannot in this case doubt <strong>the</strong> evidence <strong>of</strong> n)ysenses. I have seen tables move, and heard tunes beat on <strong>the</strong>m, when noperson was within several feet <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>m. This fact is pro<strong>of</strong> positive that<strong>the</strong> force or power is not muscular.1'29. ''If any fur<strong>the</strong>r evidence was necessary to set aside Pr<strong>of</strong>essorFaraday's explanation, it is found in abundance in <strong>the</strong> great variety <strong>of</strong>o<strong>the</strong>r facts taking place through <strong>the</strong> country, such as musical instrumentsbeing played upon without any hands touching <strong>the</strong>m, and a great variety<strong>of</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r heavy articles being moved without any visible cause. If tablesnever moved except when hands were on <strong>the</strong>m, <strong>the</strong> case would be different; but as <strong>the</strong>y do move, both with and without hands, it is plain that<strong>the</strong> true cause remains yet to be discovered.130. "I wish, sir, that you had leisure and opportunity to witness someo<strong>the</strong>r phases <strong>of</strong> this matter, which seem not yet to have fallen under yournotice, and I think you would be satisfied that <strong>the</strong>re is less ' hallucination'and self-deception' about ' it, than you have imagined. The intelligenceconnected with <strong>the</strong>se movements has not been accounted for.131. '"'If <strong>the</strong>se things can be accounted for on scientific principles,would itnot be a great acquisition to science, to discover what those prinplesare ? If, however, science cannot discover <strong>the</strong>m, <strong>the</strong> public aredeeply interested in knowing <strong>the</strong> fact. It is certainly <strong>of</strong> great importancethat <strong>the</strong>se strange things that are taking place everywhere shouldbe explained. It is affecting <strong>the</strong> churches seriously ; whe<strong>the</strong>r forgood or for evil is uncertain until <strong>the</strong> trath is known. No causehas yet been assigned that does not imply a greater absurdity thaneven to believe, as many do, that it is caused by <strong>spirit</strong>s ei<strong>the</strong>r good orbad, or both,132. ''I have examined this matter for <strong>the</strong> last three years with asmuch carefulness as possible, and am not satisfied. If <strong>the</strong> force is notmuscular, as it is certain that it is not, I wish science to try again." Yours, respectfully, Amasa Holcombe."133. It will be perceived that <strong>the</strong> letter alluded to by Mr. Holcombe,written in reply to some inquiries respecting my opinion <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> cause <strong>of</strong>table turning, was published in <strong>the</strong> Philadelphia Inquirer, in July, 1853.This letter will show that I was at that time utterly incredulous <strong>of</strong> anycause <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> phenomena excepting unconscious muscular action on <strong>the</strong>part <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> persons with whom <strong>the</strong> phenomena were associated. Theinferences <strong>of</strong> Faraday, tending to <strong>the</strong> same conclusion, I thoroughly sanctioned.134. As no allusion to <strong>spirit</strong>s as <strong>the</strong> cause had been made by this Herculeaninvestigator in <strong>the</strong> letter which drew forth mine, <strong>the</strong>y were not

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