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

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60 CORROBORATIVE EVIDENCE OF276. My conversion was effected before 1 attended any public medium.To <strong>the</strong> ladies by whom it was eifeeted my requisitions could only havebeen onerous, had not <strong>the</strong> desire for truth to oblige me been a strongmotive for <strong>the</strong> pains which <strong>the</strong>y were made to take,277. It does not seem sufficiently understood by those who object toSpiritualism, upon <strong>the</strong> ground <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> inconsistency <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> opinions givenby <strong>spirit</strong>s, that our next state <strong>of</strong> existence is one <strong>of</strong> progression, and thatwe go <strong>the</strong>re with all our imperfections, which are removed more or lessslowly.278. " Many men, many minds,'' is an old adage : it is equally true asrespects <strong>the</strong> inhabitants <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>spirit</strong> world, excepting that as <strong>the</strong>ir elevationin that world is higher, accordance in opinion is more prevalent. In<strong>the</strong> <strong>spirit</strong>s <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> fifth sphere, and those above that sphere, I find littlediversity in important facts or doctrines.279. Allusion is made to this diversity in some communications fromFranklin, to Mr. Putnam, which are as follows280. ''The mortals <strong>of</strong> earth expect truth from <strong>the</strong> <strong>spirit</strong> land; <strong>the</strong>ythink that it is perfect, and that <strong>the</strong> angels are omnipotent. Oh, howfar do <strong>the</strong>y wander in <strong>the</strong> darkness <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir own minds ! The <strong>spirit</strong> homeIS progressive, like unto this :<strong>the</strong> canting hypocrite passes into <strong>the</strong> heavenswith <strong>the</strong> same thoughts ; <strong>the</strong> simple babe too passes into this new-bornlife with all its childlike innocence. Each one has to mount <strong>the</strong> ladder<strong>of</strong> progression."281. " There are millions in <strong>the</strong> <strong>spirit</strong> world that know not <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> existence<strong>of</strong> this planet, even as <strong>the</strong> children <strong>of</strong> this earth know not <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>starry world above. But on beholding angels descend to this hidden planet,<strong>the</strong>y follow, and in wonderment behold a new world, and that worldinhabited. Then do <strong>the</strong>y find whence <strong>the</strong>y originated.282. ''Allusion has been made to <strong>the</strong> one-sided support given to Spiritualismon <strong>the</strong> part <strong>of</strong> those who admit many <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> most important facts,yet do not ascribe <strong>the</strong>m to <strong>the</strong> <strong>spirit</strong>s <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> departed. These opponentsw^ere alleged to be <strong>of</strong> different features; one ascribing <strong>the</strong>m to Satan, <strong>the</strong>o<strong>the</strong>r disputing <strong>the</strong>ir <strong>spirit</strong>ual origination, because agreeably to <strong>the</strong>ir imperfectinformation, certain traits were found to be deficient which shouldexist, were <strong>the</strong> intellectual communications due to <strong>the</strong> <strong>spirit</strong>s <strong>of</strong> our departedfellow-creatures. The idea <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>se <strong>spirit</strong>ual <strong>manifestations</strong> owing<strong>the</strong>ir existence to Satan has already been noticed, (88,) but from <strong>the</strong> communicationswhich will be given in this work must appear still more untenablethan <strong>the</strong>y have, as I trust, been proved to be. As one <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> mostrespectable <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>se, who deny <strong>the</strong> existence <strong>of</strong> <strong>spirit</strong>s, <strong>the</strong> distinguishedDr. Bell, <strong>of</strong> Somerville, Massachusetts, has been noticed. (110.)283. "It is conceived that Dr. Bell's positive evidence in favour <strong>of</strong>phenomena which he has seen, gives so much more weight in favour <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>existence <strong>of</strong> <strong>spirit</strong>s than his arguments on negative grounds, as to what he

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