Lights and shadows of spiritualism

DELUSIONS. 21C,woultl develop the power they still supposed to ho latent within it." The machine," says Mr. Spear, " was moved to Randolph, N(iwYork, that it might have the advantage of that lofty electrical position."Such advantage it did not long enjoy. Ribald paragraphsrespecting the transaction had gone the round of the press. Themystifying and revolting story of a perpetual motive power bornof a woman furnished space for endless invective and satire. Thecomments of the journals stimulated the public to fury. A largeand disorderly crowd entered at night the structure which had beenraised as a temporary cradle for Mr. Spear's " physical saviour."They tore the machine in pieces, trampled the shreds under foot,and scattered them to the winds. From the threats uttered, itseems that a similar fate was reserved for the constructors of the" Thing," could the furious mob have seized them. Such was theignominious end of the metal Frankenstein destined to revolutionizethe American world. The frame lay in atoms. Themysterious " motive power " was relegated to an obscurity moreperplexing than ever.No new pagans gladdened the subscribers tothe Era, and John M. Spear turned sadly to less glowing schemes.A fond hope, however, remained to him that time would yet beholdthe realisation of his cherished idea. "Thank God," he wrote,"the principles which have been presented, and the philosophyAvhich has been communicated, are beyond the reach of the mob,and cannot be harmed by the slanders of the pulpit or themisrepresentations of the press."And, consoling himself with theline :" Trutli crushed to earth shall rise again,"the servant of the " Associated Electrizers " departed from thespot where was extinguished the " Greatest Revelation of theAge."So rose, progressed, and fell, three of the wildest follies whichhave disgraced modern spiritualism. Other insanities of the kindhave since occurred. There were in America the Kiantoue movement,the " Sacred Order of Unionists," the Cincinnati " Patriarchs,"and, worst of all, the " Harmonial Society." Mrs. E.Hardinge describes this last as '* one of the most extraordinary