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

70 rOREION CORROBORATIVE EVIDENCE OFdo, and have no doubt done for a long time—received this account with themost determined incredulity, and, I confess, witli ridicule.I considered itsadepts as charlatans or as simpletons, and refused for a long time to bestowon it the least attention. I became tired of the war, however, andafter hearing many affirm, to whom I could not apply these epithets, thereality of these facts, I determined to try for myself.320. ^' My son and a friend were my two companions : we had the patiencefor forty-five minutes, seated at the table, to form what is calledthe chain, and were not a little surprised, I assure you, to see at the endof that time the table on which we were operating, and which was merelythe parlour dinner-table, beginto move, and after some hesitation to contracta rotary movement, which, accelerating, soon became very rapid.endeavoured by pressing to make it strike against the bar and arrest itsmotion, but could not succeed.321. "After repeating the experiment two or three times, I sought tofind some cause in physics for the movement, and battled the whole theoryof Electro-Dynamics with the aid of an electroscope, compass, iron-filings,iron, &c. As I could not detect the least trace of electricity, I thoughtthen of impulses due to the volition of the operators,"Weand of which a sortof integration might cause the motion of the table. On that I stopped,and for several weeks did not give the smallest attention to a phenomenonwhich did not seem to merit any further notice.322. " Finally was commenced the faculty of talA-inr/, and I assure youmy incredulity was considerably greater than when its moving power wasannounced. I was sparing, however, in my epithets, for I soon foundmyself an investigator. I watched the rogues, as I suspected, for twohours, but left the room a full believer of its rcalit}^, without any furtherexamination, confirmed too by all subsequent experiments. (1.)323. " What could be said indeed of the fact witnessed together, thata crayon, which was fastened to the leg of a table, wrote legible words,while we were pressing it down with our hands ?324. " It was then, sir, that your book fell into ray hands. I haveread it with the most lively interest; have admired your erudition, andthe courage necessary at our epoch to treat such a subject.325. "I believe in the existence of facts which often volition is unableto produce, and over which I declare that volition sometimes appears tohave a manifest influence. I believe in the intervention of intelligenceDIFFERENT FROM OUR OWN, and whicli puts in action means almostridiculous.326. " I believe that the Christian religion should not encourage thepractice of these experiments. I believe there is danger in allowing themto become a habit, and at least we may lose the little reason which hasbeen granted man by the Giver of all things. I believe, finally, that it isthe duty of an honest man to dissuade others from occupying themselves