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

68 FOREIGN CORROBORATIVE EVIDENCE OFand pit}', as if tlie phenomenon exhibited was of a low character andbeneath their notice. When they liave descended to the foundation, theytreat it with contempt.310. ^'Thcn, finally, and very differently indeed, I feel myself frozenwith terror by certain dispensers of truth, who, in their blindness, triflewithout scruple with their most relentless enemies ; so far have they forgottentheir most serious teachings.311. ^^I do not profess to be a prophet, sir, and do not know what themercy or justice of God is preparing for us; but, like you, I tremble forthe present, and hope for the future ; for marvellous lessons are alreadypresented to us in these passing phenomena.312. ''In fact, the justification of the church and of the faith areemanating from them: the definite condemnation of a fallen rationalism;and consequently, the approaching glorification of all the past in the truechurch, and even of that Middle Age, so calumniated, so ridiculed, andgratuitously endowed with so much darkness. The political events ofthese latter times have to justify that Middle Age, as respects good sensein the affairs of government ; and behold these facts of a nature entirelyforeign, coming to avenge its accusation of superstitious credulit}'. Thisreparation was necessary, and after all our own age has nothing to fearfrom it, for certainly it will not render injustice of any kind to the objectiveand useful progress of modern civilization.313. " As for yourself, sir, you will enjoy the honour of having brought,by your luminous discussions, a large stone for the construction of thismajestic edifice, and I rejoice in the encouragement I have given you. Ineed not enlarge on this subject, for success has spoken, and think Iam sufficiently acquainted with you to know that you did not anticipateone so brilliant. You have known how to engage the attention of thelearned, and people generally, by making your work attractive while it isinstructive—a quality sufficiently rare to claim my congratulations. Iwill only add another word : had this work been confined to the notice ofthose phenomena whose advent we deplore, it would probably share theirfate; but what will secure its perpetuity is your discussion of medicalscience which you put in apposition with your subject, and which will notlong be able to resist the severe stricture of your logic. Therefore, beassured, it will bo the learned, and especially physicians, that you will firstconvert to your doctrine. Philosophers will only surrender after them;but so far there is no doubt that you will have given rise to most seriousreflections in all of them.314. ''I will not speak to you at present of two or three observationswhich I have made in reading your book, which we will discuss in private,and which only relate to some inaccuracy of doctrine, foreign, besides, tothe principal subject of your work.315. ** Finally, my dear sir, I do not doubt that the God of truth will^