PLATE IV. (x) The apparatus of which the opposite cuts afford a representation are spiritoscopes, under modifications to which I resorted subsequently to the contrivance in which Pease's dial is employed. For Pease's "dial," disks are substituted, resembling those originally employed by me, as represented in Plates I. and II. These last mentioned, however, were made to revolve under the index; while in Pease's apparatus the index revolves, the disk remaining at rest. The advantage of having the disk to revolve is, that the letter is always to be looked for, within the same space; whereas in operating with the other the eye has to follow the index through all its rapid movements. (3) The convenience and economy of casting the disks of iron was deemed a sufficient motive for resorting to the rotation of the index; as when made of that metal the disk becomes too heavy to be rotated with ease, first one way and then another. (z) In FIG. 1 the vibrating lever is resorted to, and the process is precisely the same as that already described, in which Pease's dial is associated with the same mechanism. (aa) The words on the dial faces in Figures 1 and 2 are somewhat abbreviated.* (bb) The rod R slides in staples, so as to be made to extend farther or nearer from the fulcrum. The legs on which the disk is supported, which are a part of the casing, terminate below in a socket which fits upon a plug screwed into the base-board; upon this plug it may be fastened by the set screw (s). By sliding the rod (r) inward, the disk may be turned half round upon the plug, so as to place the lettered surface out of the sight of the medium, whose power to influence the communications is thus nullified. This is one mode of attaining test conditions; in other words, those conditions which make it impossible that the communications received should be due to any mortal, (151 to 166,) unless, as gratuitously and erroneously, as I believe, alleged, the medium by clairvoyancy sees the letters. (cc) By another method test conditions are obtained which are not exposed to this evil. (dd) The method to which I allude has been explained in the description of Plate I. in reference to the spiritoscope formed with the aid of a Pease's disk, paragraph (e). The process is the same in the employment of Fig. 1 Plate IV. under consideration. It may be better understood in this case, as the illustration of the lever board L is more conspicuous. In the ordinary mode of operating without test conditions, the hand of the medium is so situated as to have nearly half of it beyond the fulcrum, marked by the line FL. When test conditions are imposed, the tips of the fingers only reach to that line, without going beyond it. Situated as last mentioned, the medium to whom they appertain cannot move the rod R, because it is already against the lower edge of the disk, which prevents it from moving upwards. In the opposite direction the medium can create no pressure, since her efforts could only tend to lift her hand, per se, from the disk. It is important that the reader should pay attention to this exposition, as the conditions thus made evident are often appealed to as one proof, among others, that my information and credentials are from the immortal worthies of the spirit world. (ee) FIG. 2 is analogous in its mode of operating, to the apparatus represented in Plate II. It is in the substitution of a small board for a table that the principal difference consists. The board requires only to be large enough to allow the hands to rest upon it in front of the disk. The index is actuated by a horizontal motion to and fro, which, as in the apparatus, Plate II., causes the rotation of a supporting wheel, which by means of a band communicates rotation to a pulley supported behind the disk on the pivot to which the index is secured in front. The sliding pulley P being fastened at a due distance from the disk (0), is used to keep the band tight. (ff) This instrument is preferred by the spirits, and is easier for a feeble medium to employ effectually. I cannot as yet avail myself of Fig. 1; through Fig. 2 I have had some interesting tests. (gg) This form, then, is best for incipient mediumship. (hh) FIG. 2 may be employed under test conditions, by so situating it as that the dial shall be on the side opposite to that where the medium sits; under these circumstances she cannot see the index or the letters, and consequently cannot control the spelling of spirits, so as to give results from her own mind instead of theirs. This mode of testing does not preclude the subterfuge, so often resorted to, of clairvoyant power, enabling the medium to see through the cast-iron, or read the letters in the minds of the bystanders. This power I have never witnessed; yet it is absurdly attributed to media who, as well as all their friends, are ignorant of the existence of any such power. (ii) Another mode of testing is that illustrated in Plate II., where a plate upon two balls supports the hands of the medium, and forms the only means of conducting communication between the medium and apparatus. It may be easily conceived that instead of the hands being placed upon the board, the plate and balls being interposed, the hands of the medium may be supported over the board of Fig. 2. as they are represented to be supported over the table in Fig. 1, Plate II. See 167, 169, 172, 177, 196. (kk) FIG. 3, Plate IV., is a representation of an association of serrated strips of iron in a wooden frame. which sliding on the lever board of Fig. 1, so as to have the saws just above the back of the hand of the medium, is found to increase the efficacy of the mediumship. It is only of importance to use it when test conditions are requisite, as explained already, Fig. 1, (h). The rationale, so far as it can be suggested, will be stated under the head of mediumship. It will be perceived that the size of the frame is not in due proportion to the lever board, being upon a larger scale. But this renders it more conspicuous, and the reader can easily conceive its size to be such as to allow the grooves in the wooden sides of the frame to receive the edges of the lever board L, and thus to be secured firmly thereupon. * These disks cost at the foundry about 374 cents a piece. One may be used as a pattern by which to cast others. †There is also this difference, that in Fig. 2 the board is supported by only three wheels, so as to have one in front under the hands of the medium, by which sufficient pressure is secured to make its rotation certain. But as the position thus given does not fall into the plane of the pulley at the back of the disk, the wheel in question is supported upon an axle which is secured in staples or holes, and carries a pulley just at the position where it is coincident with the plane aforesaid. The wheel is visible in front. CONTENTS. PREFACE.-Letter from J. F. Lanning, Esq.-Spiritual communication, through the mediumship of Mr. Lanning, to the author-Author's Reply-Communication from an assembly of eminent spirits, sanctioning, under test conditions, the cre- dentials transmitted through Mr. Lanning-Postscript by the author-Supple- INTRODUCTION.-The evidence of the existence of a Deity, by the author-Theolo- gical Axioms..................................................... INTUITIVE EVIDENCE OF THE EXISTENCE OF SPIRITS.-Narrative of the author's experimental investigation of Spiritualism-Letter in reply to an inquiry respect- ing the Influence of Electricity in Table-Turning-Of Manifestations founded on Movements without contact, or such contact as cannot be sufficient to cause the PACK CORROBORATIVE EVIDENCE OF THE EXISTENCE OF SPIRITS.-Evidence afforded by FOREIGN CORROBORATIVE EVIDENCE OF THE EXISTENCE OF SPIRITS.--Manifesta- tions which occurred in France in 1851-Letter from T. R. P. Ventura-Letter of Dr. Coze-Letter of M. F. De Sauley-Spiritualism in Paris-Spiritual Manifesta- tions in France and Germany-Spiritualism in Great Britain-Letter of Robert COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE SPIRIT WORLD.-Remarks introductory to my spirit father's communication-My father's communication-Communication from a spi- rit son of the author-Additional communications from spirits who died while in- fants-Communication from a very young spirit child to its parents.................... OF SPIRITUAL BIRTH.-Narratives given by spirits of their translation to the spirit world-Narrative of his spiritual birth, by W. W., a most benevolent spirit-The spirit Maria's narrative-My sister's account of her translation to the spirit world -My brother's account of his spiritual birth, &c............... CONVOCATION OF SPIRITS.-Sixty-four queries addressed to a convocation of worthies from the spirit world; also their replies to the same, (through the mediumship of Mrs. Gourlay,) confirmed under conditions which no mortal could pervert............ 113 EXPOSITION OF THE INFORMATION RECEIVED FROM THE SPIRIT WORLD.................. 119 APOLOGY FOR MY CONVERSION.-Reasons for my change of opinion, and belief in the existence and agency of spirits-On the whereabout of heaven-Correspond- ence with Mr. Holcomb, of Southwick, Massachusetts.......... OF COUNTER-MEDIUMSHIP.-On the influence of the ill-treatment of media on spi- ritual manifestations-The author's discovery of his powers as a medium............. 166 ON PSYCHOLOGICAL EXPLANATIONS OF SPIRITUAL MANIFESTATIONS.... ............... 168 ALPHABETIC CONVERSE WITH SPIRITS.-Modern process for alphabetic converse with spirits as new as that of electric telegraph........... INFLUENCE OF MUNDANE WEALTH IN THE WORLD TO COME.-According to the spi- ritual code, riches elevate or degrade according to the morality displayed in their MRS. GOURLAY'S NARRATIVE OF HER CONVERSION TO SPIRITUALISM.................... 179 PRACTICAL BENEFIT OF SPIRITUALISM.-Illustration of the practical benefit of Spi- ritualism, in the happiness imparted by the conversion of an unbeliever to a belief in immortality-Letter from a spirit daughter-Correspondence with a spirit brother. 192 MARRIAGE ON EARTH AND IN HEAVEN.-The hymeneal tie in the spirit world grows out of the necessity of the connubial union in the mundane sphere-" Free Love" INFLUENCE OF SCRIPTURE ON THE MORALS OF CHRISTIANS.-The morality of Chris- tendom being irreconcilable with the New Testament, cannot be its legitimate off- spring-Inspiration can have no higher authority than the human testimony on which its existence is arrogated-Injurious influence of unreasonable restriction- No one would believe that a capable farmer would make such a mistake as to sow garlic instead of wheat; yet God, while represented as having intended to sow Protestantism, is considered as having caused throughout Christendom a crop of Catholicism, in the Roman or Grecian form, for more than a thousand years: those weeds still occupying more than half of the whole soil-Letter of William Pitt, af- terward Earl of Chatham-Offer of guidance by a mundane spirit-Improper use of the epithet Infidel-On Atonement-On the massacre at Sinope-Opinions of God held by Sir Isaac Newton-On God and his attributes, by Seneca-On the better employment of the first day of the week-Additional remarks respecting the ob- servance of the Sabbath, so called-If creatures be not so created as to love their neighbours as themselves, precepts can no more alter them in this respect than change the colour of their hair or the number of cubits in their stature-Attacks upon the authenticity of Scripture cannot endanger the prevalent morality, which, while superior to that of the Old Testament, indicates a recklessness of the pre- cepts of Christ, excepting so far as faith is upheld as a counterpoise for sin-The doctrine of a peculiar belief being necessary to salvation, and a counterpoise for sin, a source of discord originally confined to Judea, expanded with Christianity and Islamism: verifying Christ's allegation, that he came "as a sword, not as a messenger of peace"-Superior morality and far less questionable certainty of the communications from the spirit world-Quotation from Mosheim-Quotation from Gibbon-For more than a thousand years, the Grecian or Roman Catholic clergy were the sole depositaries of the word of God, so called, and regulators of religious morals; yet, according to Bishop Hopkins, during that time, the clergy were for the most part pre-eminent in vice, as compared with the rest of the community; whence it is inferred that, like Pope Boniface, the wicked clergy in general were unbelievers in the truth of the gospel-If the morals of the modern clergy are better, it is neither from the barbarous example furnished them in the Old Testa- ment, nor the ultra precepts of the gospel; being too much enlightened to be go- verned by either-Summary made by Bishop Hopkins-Any religion, like that of Moses, which does not make immortality a primary consideration, must be chiefly confined to worldly objects, and, of course, unworthy of consideration. People profess Christianity more from a desire to do right, than they do right in conse- quence of their professions-A calumny against human nature to represent men as wilfully ignorant of the true religion-To appreciate the Jewish representation of the Deity, a reader should first form an idea of this planet and its inhabitants, |