Article #16 - Spiritual Manifestation

  For the Journal

 The subject of spiritual manifestation being one, which I felt somewhat interested in I concluded to note down a fiew [sic] ideas, as well as relate some of my experience. The mystries [sic] which are continuly [sic] presented to our minds, concerning this strange circumstance, appear to exite [sic] every latent spark in the inquisitive mind to action. They first apply their reasoning powers, then by the aid of experiment, endevor [sic] to asertain [sic] the facts that produce such wonderful consequences, but they are mystries which yet remain to be unravled [sic], they seem to be entirley [sic] beond [sic] the comprehension of the human mind. Notwithstanding I think it our duty to investigate all things which would contribute so much to the happiness of mankind (as this) providing it proves to be what it is represented. Untill [sic] latley [sic] I have made but few inquiries upon the subject. I regarded it as one which would be of but little intrest [sic] to me, and did not retain the remotest idea, of it being the departed spirits that thus conversed with the living medium (as they are termed) though I belive [sic] all that constutes [sic] a medium, is one who believes that they are silently conversing with the spirit of departed friends. Can it not be that the spirit of the departed are allways [sic] around us? And can we not bring our minds within that same sphere? and thus hold a partial comunication with them. The first event that

I witnessed connected with these performances was that of turning the table, this was contri-

buted entirley to the effects of electricity, but when the table was requested to move to the

contrary direction from that which it was moving and to see it comply with this request, astonished us all. They then asked some questions. It spelled out the mediums name, as well as that of the spirits, which it declared to be then present. They then had a short, and interesting communication from the soposed [sic] spirit. Now what property of electricity can produce such mystrious [sic] results. I have been ingaged [sic] in the circle myself, and find that it requires a greate [sic] preasure [sic] in order to prevent the stand from rapping when the medium comes to such letters in the alphabet, as it required to spell the proposed word. We have had different mediums in each circle and nether [sic] of them every had any experience previous to those communications to which I now allude, nor were there any others in the room attall [sic] acquainted with the matter. May I now ask you to what power I shall refer those strange

results, if that infinate [sic] hand that rules all other laws is entirley unconcerned [sic] in these mysterious facts. That intelligent response can be received through any other agency than human intelligence is what our experience totally denies. Yet such responses have been given, time after time, and as far as we can discover, without any agency with which we are acquainted, capable of producing them, being concerned. I then ask again whence come they. How are these mysteries to be explained.

            Please excuse all mistakes and bad penmanship.