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

THE EXISTENCE OF SPIRITS. 55249. As soon as this was cliantod, the following reply was given throughthe spiritoscope, at which I was sitting with Mrs. Gourlay as medium :250. " Dear I^rotiier :—I answer your prayer by saying I do watchover you, and pray for your welfare.and shall strive to deserve it. O !T am ujrateful for your remembrance,brother, our cause is a common one,and we feel the same interest in its promulgation. I am daily striving todisseminate its truths, but can make little progress, having so much ignoranceto contend against.I know that the truths of progression, with thehelp of a good and wise God, will ultimately prevail over all the land ; butwhen that happy time comes to earth, your freed spirit will rove the endlessfields of immortality with those loved friends who have gone a littlewhile before. Then will we revel in delights which, in comparison withearth's joys, are far more beautiful and sublime. I wish you could lookwith the eye of prescience, and see that glorious time, when all nationsshall become as a band of brothers."CORROBORATIVE EVIDENCE OF THE EXISTENCE OF SPIRITS.251. The evidence of the manifestations adduced in the foregoing narrativedoes not rest upon myself only, since there have been persons presentwhen they were observed, and they have in my presence been repeatedessentially under various modifications, in many instances, not speciallyalluded to.252. The evidence may be contemplated under various phases : First,those in which rappings or other noises have been made, which couldnot be traced to any mortal agency; secondly, those in which sounds wereso made as to indicate letters forming grammatical, well-spelt sentences,afi"ording proof that they were under the guidance of some rational being;thirdly, those in which the nature of the communication bas been such as toprove that the being causing them must, agreeably to accompanying allegations,be some known acquaintance, friend, or relative of the inquirer.253. Again, cases in which movements have been made of ponderablebodies, either without any human contact, or with such contact as couldnot be productive of the resulting motion.254. Cases in which such movements of bodies have been of a natureto produce intellectual communications, resembling those obtained as abovementioned by sounds.255. Although the apparatus by which these various proofs wereattained, with the greatest 2>ossihle precaution and precision, modified themas to the manner; essentially allthe evidence which I have obtained, tendingto the conclusions above mentioned, has likewise been substantially