T H E

D M p l o

ZOISTIC SCIENCE, FREE THOUGHT, SPIRITUALISM, AND THE HARMONIAL PHILOSOPHY.

“ Dawn approaches, Error is passing away, Men arising shall hail the day."

No. 44. MELBOURNE, APRIL 1st, 1874. PRICE SIXPENCE.

CONTENTS.Mr. Crookes' Experiments.................................................................Communication .......................................................................................Impressional Writing...........................................................................Poetry—“ An antidote for superstition"...................................Physical Manifestations at Sandhurst ......................................A Sunday Picnic ...................................................................................

X 'rit H air ................................................ ................................essay on Ufo, its Origin and Objects...................................Working for the Truth..........................................................................Mr. Charles II. Foster ...................................................................... .A Natural Clairvoyant ......................................................................Incidents of Impression Mediumship...........................................Viscount Amber ley on Spiritualism ..............................................The " IHarbinger*'..................................................................................The spiritualistic and Freetliought Propagandist Society. True Marringo .......................................................................................

I t is now n e a r ly th r e e y e a rs sin ce M r. W . Crookes,

F .R .S ., s ta r tle d th e scien tific w orld by publishing in th e

“ Q u a rte rly J o u r n a l o f S cien ce ” th e re su lt o f som e e x ­

p erim en ts in sp ir itu a l p h en o m en a which a t th a t tim e he

was p leased to c a ll p sy c h ic force . T h e pu blication o f

th ese e x p e rim e n ts ev en u n d er th is quasi scientific cogn o­

m en, g a v e g r e a t u m b ra g e to h is fellow savans, and

esp ecially to th e R o y a l S o cie ty , who refu sed him p erm is­

sion to r e a d a p a p e r o n th e su b je ct b efore th em . M r.

C rookes en d eav o red to fo rtify h is position by publishing

som e fu r th e r e x p e rim e n ts th ro u g h th e m edium ship of

M r. H o m e a n d o th e rs , b y w h ich h e d em on strated th e e x ­

isten ce an d a c tio n o f a n in te llig e n t fo rce to ta lly inde­

p en d en t o f th e m ed iu m o r a n y p erso n p re se n t, b u t th e

scientific w o rld h ad m ad e u p th e ir m inds on th e sub ject

and w e re o b d u ra te . I t w as p resu m ed b y m any th a t M r.

C ro ok es h ad g iv en u p th e in v estig a tio n , th o u g h a few

who w e re c o g n isa n t th a t he h ad n o t done so, have been

an xio u sly w aitin g fo r him to co m e o u t o f h is shell and

m ak e k n o w n th e r e s u lts o f h is exp erim en ts. H e lias a t.

last d o n e so , a n d in th e “ Q u a rte rly J o u r n a l o f Scien ce

o f 1 s t J a n u a r y , 1 8 7 4 (o f w h ich h e is e d ito r ) , ap p ears a

len gth y a r t ic le f ro m h is p e n , in w h ich he d escribes no

le s s th a n th ir te e n cla sse s o f p h en o m en a, w hich he h as p u t

to th e se v e re s t te s ts , a n d satisfied h im self o f th e ir

rea lity . T h e v a rio u s p h en o m en a d escrib ed by him to ok

p lace in his ow n h o u se , an d w e re w itn essed by several

o th e r p erson s. I n fa c t , M r . C ro o k es re g a rd s th em as

well e stab lish ed scien tific fa c ts . H e w as fo rtu n ate

enough to s e cu re th e a ssista n ce o f K a tie F o x (M rs .

J e n c k e n ) , an d M r. H o m e , a n d th ro u g h th em m ediumship

m o st o f th e m an ifes ta tio n s o c c u rre d . Speaking o f th e

rap s, M r . C ro o k es s a y s “ W it h a fu ll know ledge o f th e

n u m ero u s th e o rie s w h ich h av e b e e n s ta r te d , chiefly in

A m e rica , to exp la in th e se sou n d s, I h av e te s te d th e m in

every way th a t I cou ld devise, u n til th e re h as been no es­

cape from th e co n v ictio n th a t th e y w ere tru e ob jectiv e o c ­cu rren ces , n o t produced b y tr ic k e r y o r m ech anical

m eans.” M r. C rook es fu r th e r testifies t o t h o m ovem ent

o f ponderable bodies w ith o u t c o n ta c t . T h e lev itation

o f th e hum an form . T he a lte ra tio n o f th e w eigh t o f

bodies, & c. T h e follow ing e x t r a c t b earin g upon

lum inous ap p earan ces, and w h at he calls “ phantom

form s,” is in terestin g :— “ A ph antom fo rm ca m e from a

co rn er o f th e room , to o k au acco rd io n in i ts han d, and

th en glided ab o u t th e room p lay in g th e in stru m en t.

T he form w as visible to a ll p re se n t for m an y m inu tes,

M r. H o m o also being seen a t th e sam e tim e. C om ing

ra th e r close to a lady who w as s ittin g a p a r t from th e r e s t

o f th e com pany, sh e g av e a slig h t c ry , up on w h ich it

vanished. . . . U n d e r th e s tr ic te s t te s t cond itions I

have seen a solid, self-lum inous body, th e size and n early

th e shape o f a tu rk e y ’s e g g , float n o iselessly a b o u t th e

room , a t one tim e h ig h er th a n an y o n e p re se n t could

reach stand in g on tip to e , an d th e n g e n tly descen d to th e

floor. I t w as visible for m o re th a n te n m in u tes, nnd be­

fore i t faded aw ay it s tru ck th e ta b le th re e tim es w ith a

soun d like th a t o f a h ard solid b o d y . D u rin g th is tim e

th e m edium w as ly in g b ack , a p p a re n tly insensible, in an

easy ch a ir . . . . A lu m in ou s h an d cam e dow n from

th e u p p er p a r t o f th e room , an d a f te r h o verin g n e a r m e

for a few second s, to o k th e p en cil from m y han d, rap id ly

w ro te on a sh e e t o f p ap er, th rew th e p en cil dow n, and

th e n rose u p ov er o u r heads, g rad u ally lad in g in to d ark ­

n ess.” T h e follow ing te s t o f th e “U n co n scio u s C e re b ra ­

tio n T h eo ry ” o f D r . C a rp e n te r, is o f consid erab le

in te re st, d estroy in g th e ten ab ility o f th a t r a th e r ab su rd

notion :— “ A la d y w as w ritin g a u to m a tica lly b y m ean s o f

tlie p la n ch e tte . I w as try in g to devise a m ean s o f p rov in g

th a t w h at she w ro te w as n o t du e to ‘ u n con sciou s c e re b ra ­

tio n .’ T h e p lan ch etto , as i t a lw ays does, in sisted th a t a l­

th ou g h it w as m oved b y th e h an d an d a rm o f th é lad y,

th e in tellig en ce w as th a t o f a n invisible b ein g w ho w as

p layin g on h e r brain as o n a m usical in s tru m e n t, a n d th u s

m oving h e r m u scles. I th e re fo re said to th is in tellig en ce ,

‘ C an y o u seo th e co n te n ts o f th is ro o m ? ’ 1 Y e s , ’ w ro te

th e p lan ch o tte . ‘ C an y o u se e to rend th is new sp ap er ? ’

said I , p u ttin g m y fin g er on a co p y o f th e T im es, w hich

w as on a ta b le b eh in d m o ; b u t w ith o u t lo o k in g .a t i t .

Page. 699-000 .... 600 .... 600 . 600-1

601-4 . G04-Ö . 605-8 . 606-9 . 608-6

609- 10 . . 610

610- 11 . . . 612 . . . 612 . . . 612 . . 612

600 THE HARBINGER OF LIGHT.

1 Y e s , ’ w as th e rep ly o f th e p lan ch etto . ‘ W e ll ,’ I said,

‘ i f y o u c a n se e th a t, w rite th e w ord w hich is now covered

b y m y fin g er, and I will believo y o u .’ T h e p lan ch ette

co m m en ced to m ove ! Slow ly and w ith g r e a t difficulty

th e w ord ‘ h o w e v e r ' w as w ritte n . I tu rn e d ro u n d , and

saw th a t th e w ord 1 how ever ’ w as co v ered by th e tip o f

m y fin g er.” T h e foreg o in g tes tim o n y o f a scien tific m an

o f M r . C ro o k es ’ standing: should a t le a s t in d u ce a few o f

his co lleag u es to jo in w ith him in th e ex p lo ra tio n o f tho

rich field o f sp iritu al scie n ce , w h ich o ilers to th e e x p a n d ­

in g m ind a n illim itable sco p e. U p to th e p re s e n t tim e

M r . C ro o k es a p p e a rs to h av e confined h im self t o th e ob­

je c tiv e ph ases o f tho phenom ena ; th eso a re n ecessary as

a b asis , b u t tho sub jective o r m en tal p h ases a r e decid edly

th e m o st im p o rta n t and e lev atin g . W e u n d erstan d th a t

he h as a m o re com p reh en siv e w ork in h an d , th e p u b lica­

tio n o f w hich will be looked forw ard to w ith con sid erab le

in te r e s t ; m ean tim e, he deserves m u ch c re d it for his

s te a d y p u rsu it o f th o in v estig atio n in th o face o f th e o p ­

p o sitio n o f his scientific b re th ren .

C O M M U N IC A T IO N .

C a n y o u say m y ch ild ren as P e t e r , J a m e s a n d J o h n said “ I t is good for us to be h e re ” n o t to build T a b e rn a cle s o f W o o d o r S to n e , b u t to feel th e divine in flu en ce in y o u r so u ls, w h ich tra n sfig u re s th e m o rta l u n to a lik en ess o f th o m o st h o ly . Y e s m y ch ild ren wo co m e w ith p o w er in to y o u r m id st w hen y o u r a sp ira tio n s rise to m e e t an d g r e e t us, i t is th e n th e c o rd o f sy m p ath y is tig h te n e d a n d w e d escen d on th e m ag n etic s tream o f lo ve to help y o u in y o u r d u tie s . A rd u o u s th e y becom e w h en y o u r vision is b e-clou d ed a n d y o u rem ain to o lo n g am on g th e th ick en in g c a re s w h ich sp rin g from u n du e a n x ie ty a b o u t th e p h y sical ta s te s and ap p e tite s o f th o body, b u t w h en y o u p erce iv e th e w isdom o f goodn ess th a t re s ts on an d r u le s in all life th o fitness o f th in g s te r r e s tr ia l to th o se w h ich a re sp iritu al, an d th a t b efore y o u c a n tr u ly a p p re c ia te th e h ig h e r en jo y m en ts o f life y o u m u st w ork fo r th em in th o school o f e a rth ly exp erien ces b y w h ich y o u learn th e p o w er th a t lies in li ttle th in g s, and th a t a life o f lo vin g actio n s c re a te s tr u e rich e s th a t c a n n o t b e tak en aw ay ( N o ! th e y g iv e s tre n g th to th o sou l w h en th e w av es o f trib u la tio n assa il y o u ) n o t in th e co n tem p la­tio n o f h av in g done a gen ero u s deed, b u t in th e th o u g h t th a t y o u h av e done w h at y o u fee l is in h a rm o n y w ith y o u r h ig h est asp ira tio n s , a n d th e re b y fulfilling th e law s w hich binds y o u to th o infinites, y o u can th e n exclaim , ‘ I t is good fo r u s to be h e r e .” P o n d e r w ell th e th o u g h ts w hich a rise from th e co n tem p latio n o f th e d u ties o f e a r th life , le t y o u r e m o tio n s o f sy m p ath y be g u id ed b y reaso n , a n d a c t w ell y o u r sev era l p a r ts — G o od n ig h t.

IM PRESSIONAL W RITING.

(R e ce iv e d 2 4 th P e b ru a ry , 1 8 7 4 .)T h e d ev elop m en t o f h u m an ity a n d th e g o o d o f th e

r a c e sh ou ld b e th e g r e a t th em e o f y o u r life.M a n ’s sy m p ath y fo r m an sh ou ld b e u n bound ed, a n d

u n til su ch be th e c a se a n y th in g lik e t r u e b ro th erh o o d c a n n o t e x is t. L e t e a ch o n e o f y o u le a rn to cu ltiv a te a t r u e fee lin g o f sy m p ath y an d lo ve fo r e v e ry o n e o f y o u r fe llo w cre a tu re s . N o th in g b u t su ch a fee lin g c a n ev er b en efit a n d b less th e ra ce — ev en to y o u r w o rs t en em ies ; b e n o t satisfied u n til y o u c a n fe e l m o re lo ve th an h ate . N o m an c a n possib ly lo ve G o d a n d h a te h is b ro th e r , the so n o f that F a t h e r w hom h e p rofesses to lo v e a n d obey. T h e t r u e lo v e o f G o d in m an ’s h e a r t e x te n d s h is sy m p a­th ie s o v er th e e n tir e b ro th erh o o d o f th e r a c e . I f G od is a n y th in g H e is L o v o -U n iv e rsa l L o v e . I f y o u a r e a so n o f t h a t G o d a n d t r u l y lo v e H i m y o u r F a t h e r , th e n y o u m u s t lo v e e v e ry m e m b e r o f his fam ily w ith o u t an y e x c e p tio n ; an d i f th e r e a r e a n y th a t y o u sh ou ld lo ve m o re th a n o th e rs , i t is j u s t th o s e w ho h a v e b e e n less

fo rtu n a te th a n y o u r s e lf in th e b irth sp h ere— it iB iU8t th o se w ho m ay h a v e b e e n n u rs e d in th o bosom o f crime U r th e lap o f ig n o ra n ce — a ll th e se e x te n u a tin g circum ­s ta n ce s should m ak e y e p m o re lo v in g an d kind to them th a n y o u o th e rw ise w ould b e ; th e v e ry in juries th ey m ay in flict up on y o u sh o u ld on ly p ro v o k e g re a te r acts of k ind ness in r e tu r n — th is ,, m y frie n d s , is n o new philo­soph y. C h ris t ta u g h t p re c ise ly th e sam e prin ciple 1800 y e a rs ag o ; b u t, a la s , w h ere c a n you lo ok fo r a practical exh ib itio n o f i t— n o t in th e m o d e rn c h u rc h , w e reg re t to say . N a y ! r a t h e r g o to th e so -ca lle d “ w o rld ,” th e much desp ised “ w o rld ,” a n d y o u a r e m o re lik ely to find b ro a d e r c h a r ity a n d C h ris tlik e lo v e th a n in th e church w h ich in th e p r e s e n t d ay h a s b e c o m e l i t t le else th an an in stitu tio n fo r f o s te rin g p a r ty s tr ife , an d selfish oxclu- siv en ess— b u ild in g a h eav en f o r a s e le c t few , w hile tho g r e a t bu lk o f th o fa m ily a r e w ith o u t a n y rem orse left o u t in th e cold to s ta r v e a n d d ie . N o tw ith stan d in g all th is , t r e a t th e m k in d ly a n d w ith g r e a t p a tie n ce , if you a r e m em b ers o f th e t r u e b ro th e rh o o d o f m an , you cannot d o o th e rw ise — e v e r re m e m b e r— t h a t no o n e ever could, o r e v e r did, in h e r it th e r ig h t o f d ic ta tio n to another, no m a tte r i f his su p e rio rity is a s c le a r a s th e n o on d ay sun.

I f y o u a r e a n x io u s to co n v in ce th o se aro u n d you of th e b e a u ty a n d p o w er o f S p iritu a lism , show them the e x am p le o f a g o o d a n d a c o n s is te n t life . T h is will do m o re g o o d th a n all th e a n ti-o r th o d o x le c tu re s you can d eliv er. T r u t h e x h ib ite d in a life o f p r a c tic e — and in m e re w o rd s— h o w e v e r t r u e is v a s tly differen t. The fo rm e r is te n fo ld m o re p o w e rfu l f o r g o od , and indeed can be su p ersed ed b y n o th in g in o r o u t o f h eav en where­by m e n c a n be m ad e w ise r a n d b e t te r .

W h ile w e re c o g n is e th e n e c e s s ity of s to rin g tho mind w ith k n o w led g e , w e m u s t n o t f o rg e t t h a t “ benevolent a c tio n ” is th o v e r y a c m e o f d ivin e w isdom . Ooii pos­sesses a l l kn ow ledge, a n d th e p e r fe c t io n o f wisdom consists in H i s o v erflo w in g love to ev ery liv in g th in g in the un i­v erse . O h th a t m e n w o u ld t r y t o th in k o f th is grand p rin cip le m o re . I t is r a r e l y in d eed th a t th e y render th e m se lv e s G o d -lik e in th is r e s p e c t , th e y a r e anxious e n o u g h a n d a m b itio u s e n o u g h t o a cq u ire knowledge an d m a te ria l w e a lth , b u t th e w isdom to p ro p erly dispose o f th e s e , t r o u b le th e m v e r y l i t t le . K n ow led ge and w e a lth a r e v a lu a b le , b u t th e y lo se a ll th e ir valu e when im p ro p e rly o r u n w isely u se d . W h o co u ld envy th o rich m an , o r th e le a rn e d m a n , w h o p e rh a p s n e v e r knew what a g e n e ro u s s e n tim e n t m e a n t.

M y frie n d s , liv e n o t f o r th e a cq u is itio n o f anything b u t t r u t h a n d p ro g re s s . I f y e a r e su ccessfu l you will be h ap p y in d eed , a n d w h a t is m o re , y o u r happiness will m ak e o th e rs h ap p y a lso , a n d m a n y w ill th a n k y o u in the sp h eres ab o v e fo r t h a t y o u did n o t k n ow y o u had con­fe rre d . T h e t ru ly g o o d m a n b le sse s m o re th a n he has a n y co n ce p tio n of.

A N A N I T D O T E F O R S U P E R S T I T I O N .

A p e r f e c t b la n k ’s th e in fa n t m ind N o t y e t to p re ju d ice s blind,B u t soon , a la s , p a r e n ta l k in d n ess I n f lic ts u s w ith th e i r m e n ta l b lin d n ess ;F o r w h a t o u r p a r e n ts h o ld a s t r u th ,T h e y on u s a ll im p re ss in y o u th ,A n d i f w e d a re th e ir fa ith to q u estio n T h e y q u ick ly flog u s t o su b je ctio n .N o p r o o f o r evid en ce th e y show ,T h e o n ly p r o o f th e y g iv e ’s a blow .T h u s w e a r e e a r ly ta u g h t y o u see, S u b m ission t o th e p o w e rs t h a t b e ;A n d y o u th fu l m in d s, th u s e a r ly b e n t.R e ta in th e ir b ias p e rm a n e n t. .I f s c ie n c e d a r e t o u se h is sen ses H e m u s t p u t u p w ith co n se q u e n ce s ;A n o v e l t r u t h i f h e sh o u ld te a c h ,T h e p r ie s ts d e n o u n ce h im w h en th e y p reac F o r a l l th e o r th o d o x a g re e ,T h a t m e n sh o u ld n e i th e r th in k o r see,B u t sim ply, w h a t th e y te a c h re ce iv e ,

THE HARBINGER OF LIGHT. 601A n d w ith o u t e v id e n ce believe.E a c li s e c t affirm s th e r e s t a re blind A n d tr u t h to i t a lo n e confined.

¿E ach te a c h th e i r ch ild ren th e y a re righ t,A ll o th e r fa ith s in d ark n ess quite.’Tis th u s w ith C h ris tia n , J e w , and heathen I n th is re s p e c t th e y a l l a re even ;A n d e a ch from som e s tr a n g e cau se o r o th er A voids d iscu ssio n w ith a n o th e r ;W h ile t r u t h in v ites in v estig a tio n ,W h ich e r r o r sh u n s in co n ste rn a tio n . D iscu ssion m ak es th e t r u t h shine bright,B u t e r ro r flies b efore th e light.W h o loves th e t r u t h sh ou ld th e re fo re try T h e ir p a re n ts fa ith im p artia lly ,A s i t is p la in m o st s e c ts a r e blind,T o ca se a n d b ig o try in clined D istin c tly a sk th e m w hen th e y te a ch T o give y o u p ro o f fo r w h at th e y p reach ,T o m ak e i t e v id e n t to youT h eir s c r ip tu r e , ch u rch , com m ission 's tru e ,A n d sh ou ld th e fa c ts p rod u ced rem ove A ll d o u b t, a n d s a tis fa c to ry prove,Y o u 'l l be a g e n u in e sou n d believer,A n d n o t a b ig o ted deceiver.

E .

¡®o d&onujapondenfs.Com m unications f o r in sertio n in this J o u r n a l should bo

p la in ly w ritten , a n d as concise as possible.

P H Y S I C A L M A N I F E S T A T I O N S A T S A N D H U R S T .

D e a b H a r b i n g e b —

T he E n e r g e t ic C irc le (n o w ov er tw o y e a rs o f age) held its firs t s e a n ce a f te r th e C h ristm as holidays, on th e evening o f S u n d a y , th e 4 th J a n u a r y la s t. T h ere w as a fair a tte n d a n c e o f m em b ers , an d a ch eerfu l, hopeful feel­ing p ervad ed a ll . T h e lad y m edium , early in D ecem ber, had been u n ab le to a tte n d th ro u g h severe illness— an attack o f b ra in fe v e r, a n d tw ice given u p by h e r m edical a tten d an ts— b u t now ra p id ly re co v erin g w ith th e pow er­ful a id o f h e r sp irit-g u id es ; and th e c ircle , i t w as only reasonable to su p p ose , w ould be as su ccessfu l iu the fu tu re as i t h ad been iu th e p ast. T h e re w as, th erefore, am ple reaso n w h y th e m em b ers should a ll feel happy and hopeful. A f te r th e u su al p relim in ary exercises nad been g o n e th ro u g h , th e ch airm an co n g ra tu la te d th e m em bers on th e ir p a tie n c e and p ersev eran ce , and tru sted th a t th e sam e s p ir it o f lo ve a n d h arm on y w ould prevail am ong th e m d u rin g th e c u r re n t y e a r as had prevailed in th e previou s o n e . T h e y w e re g ra d u a lly , s ta g e by stag e , having u n fo ld ed to th e m th e w onderful ph enom ena which had ap p eared a t so m a n y o f th e circles in E n g lan d and A m erica , a n d w h ich th e y h ad a ll re a d so m u ch ab o u t in th e sp iritu al jo u r n a ls ; an d , if th e y co n tin u ed on as th ey had h ith e rto d o n e, th e r e was no reaso n for supposing th a t th e y w ould n o t be as su ccessfu l in tim e w ith th e ir c ircle as th e m o st su ccessfu l o n e in a n y o th e r p a r t of th e w orld . T h e y w e re n o w o n th e h igh road to su ccess, and w h at h ad b een d o n e by o th e rs in th is extrao rd in ary m ovem ent co u ld , th e y a ll knew , w ith tim e and patien ce, be done b y th em selv es. A n d th a t m u ch , G o d helping th em , h e f e lt a s su re d th e y w ere a ll fu lly determ in ed to achieve. D u rin g p ra y e r , a t th is sean ce , a co ld a ir was felt b y a ll , a n d th e ch airm an re p o rte d th a t w hile all hands w e re jo in e d h is h an d w as p laced on a face , th e ch in o f w h ich w as co v ered w ith h a ir , w hile th a t o f th e m edium w as th e n c le a n sh aved . A lad y c la irv o y an t saw several sp irit-fo rm s, a n d w hile th e m ediu m w as held by th e v ice -ch a irm a n , a c lo th e d figu re cam e o u t an d s a t for n early a m in u te o n th e ch airm an ’s k n ee . This w as said to be th e m a te ria lise d form o f J o h n R ob in son . Jo h n K in g n o w c o n tro lle d th e m edium an d said— “ I am com e to co n v in ce a ll , a n d w h a t I sa y I m ean . T h e w eath er is a g a in st u s t o n ig h t (e x tre m e ly w a rm ), h u t y o u w ill soon have a ll I h av e p rom ised y o u . U n til th e h arm o n y is com p lete w e c a n n o t do w h a t w e w ould like to do. Y o u shall fee l m y e n tire fo rm in m y ow n w ay .” N e a r th e close o f th is s e a n ce a ll h e a rd a p ecu liar m eta llic tap p in g

on th e lo ck o f th e room door. O n o n e o f th e m em bers opening i t ho h eard th e sam e sounds con tin u ed on the passage door ab o u t nine o r te n y ard s d i s t a n t ; and on th e circle again jo in in g hands and w hile sin g in g “ O n e is kind above all o th ers,” several m em b ers, in clu d in g th e m edium , w ere p a rtly co n tro lled . T w o o f th e m em b ers w ere tou ch ed by spirit-ban ds, th ese han ds p ressin g th e ir heads back and fro n t, and th re e o f th em saw a fem ale form in w hite, th ou g h b u t in d istin ctly on th e ta b le . The chairm an said he d istin ctly h eard like fo o tstep s rushin g tow ards him, and a ru stlin g soun d as th ou g h m ad e by a lad y's dress. A t th e sam e m om en t, w hile th o se n e x t him held each o f his han ds, he felt th e p ressu re o f tw o hands on his r ig h t a rm q u ite plainly, a n d a figu re ap p ar­en tly stan d in g b y him , he h earin g a soun d as o f b re a th ­ing and having th a t p ecu liar sen satio n w hich one exp eri­en ces when a p resen ce is n e a r , J u s t b efo re lig h tin g up , th e tab le w as raised u p to w ard s a lad y, and m od erately loud rap s w ere g iven on i t by o u r invisible friends. On 9 th Ja n u a ry , th e m usical p o rtion o f th e serv ices w ere rendered doubly in te re stin g b y th e p resen ce , fo r th e first tim e, o f a lady who could acco m p an y h e rse lf on the cab in et organ in th e room . T h e sin g in g h as, in con se­qu ence, very m uch im proved and th e h arm o n j’ in creased . A t th is seauce th e co n tro llin g s p ir it said i t w as th e sp irit o f th e lady m edium which h ad been p re s e n t o n th e p re ­vious night, and w hich had been p erm itted to leav e th e body to v isit us. O n th e 1 1 th J a n u a r y , several w ere tou ch ed by spirit-h an d s w hile all han ds w ero jo in ed , and a spirit-form w as seen stan d in g n e a r a la d y m em b er all th rou gh th e seance. T h e ch airm an fe lt a h an d w ith a diam ond rin g on th e fo u rth finger. K in g show ed his lig h t to -n ig h t, w hich w as w aved a b o u t in tim e to th e m usic, and was, fo r th e firs t tim e, acco m p an ied w ith th e m ost delicious perfum e sm elt b y all th e c ircle . T h is p e r­fum e had been felt e a rlie r w hen J o h n R ob inson co n ­tro lled . K in g said— “ Y o u sh ou ld lo ok m o re in ten sely a t th e lig h ts, and y o u w ould see m o re in th e m .” T he lig h t as u su al w as covered w ith gau se. O n th e 1 6 th J a n u a r y th e m edium w as co n tro lled by J o h n K in g , who spoke, p er th e m edium , as fo llo w s:— “ L o n g s ittin g s in th is w arm w eather a r e n o t good. T h e y w eak en th e pow er. Sinco m y d a u g h te r has n o t m anifested , I am n o t so pow erful to do w h at I w ish. T h ere a r e m an y th in g s y e t to be done b efo re I d a re to show m yeelf. B efo re

ou can all see m y e n tire form , y o u m u st be in com plete an n on y. M u ch o f th e pow er w e u se com es from th e

circle m ore th an from th e m edium , th is c irclo b ein g dif­fe re n t from oth ers. Y o u r m edium is m o re a tra n ce th an a physical m edium , an d co n seq u en tly , b efore w e can m aterialise to be seen , y o u m u st b e o f o n e m ind, th in k ­ing kindly o f all au d a c tin g kin d ly to each o th e r. Y o u m u st also keep y o u rselv es by y o u rselv es , and on no a c ­co u n t allow y o u r m edium to a tte n d o th e r c ircles o r bo controlled by o th e r sp irits. Y o u w ill h av e on e com e b a c k ih o r t ly .” K in g th e n ad d ed — “ R e m e m b e r m y in­s tru ctio n s. I m u st be goin g . I shall be in L o u d o n in five m in u tes. G ood n ig h t ." D o th e foreg o in g te a c h ­in gs and coun sels look as if th e y cam e from a low , bad

?> irit? I f so, w h ere a r e we to look fo r th e g o o d 'o n e s?he referen ce to K in g 's d a u g h te r n o t m an ifestin g , w as

m ade in conseq uence o f th e con tin u ed a b sen ce o f th e lad y m edium whom sh e co n tro ls , who w as n o t y e t well en o u gh to a tte n d . A t th is sean ce all sm elt th e usual deliciou s perfum e. A t th e n e x t one, held on th e 1 8 th , spirit-h an d s to u ch ed sev eral o f -th e m em b ers w hile th e m edium s han ds w ere held by th e tw o ch airm en . T h e sp irit J o h n R ob inson said th a t G e o rg e A b ell w as stand- in g in f ro n t o f th e ch airm an nud w as w ritin g som ething for him . H o w as th e n m a d e to s tan d u p an d hold u p his h an d as high in th e a ir as h e could re a ch , w h en a n eatly folded p ap er w as p u t in to i t , w h ich , on opening, h e found co n tain ed e ig h t linos o f v e ry sm all w ritin g , and o f a p riv a te n a tu re , fo r his ow n g u id a n ce in th e circlo . I n o rd e r to g ra tify sev eral new m em b ers, o u r old friend A lfre d L o n g m o re tie d th e m edium in th e m o st e x t r a ­o rd in ary m an n er, a n d so ra p id ly as to aston ish all. T h e re w e re tw e n ty m em b ers p re se n t. A sp ir it form w as seen to -n ig lit clo se t o th e lad y o rg an ist, and i t p a r tly co n tro lled R e r . R . th e lad y an d h e r b ro th e r w ere each to u ch ed b y a cold h an d w hich fe lt like a “lum p o f flesh.” O n th e 2 3 r d w hile a ll hands, in clu d in g th o se o f th e

602 THE HARBINGER OF LIGHT.

m ed iu m , w ere jo in ed , th e ch airm an ’s hand w as tak en by th e e n tra n ce d m ed iu m 's and p la ce d on a face covered w ith gau ze , a n d th e v ice -ch airm an w as to u ch ed by a sp irit-h an d . T h e m ed iu m now p laced h im self on th e ch airm an 's knee, and his c h a ir w as lev ita ted on th e tab le a n d th e n th ro w n on th e floor w ith o u t hu m an c o n ta c t . A n d w hile th e m edium w as th u s held th e can d lestick w as th ro w n on th e floor, th e can d le ta k e n b y a sp irit- h an d n e a r to th e ceiling, and th e n drop ped on M r. P . ’s head. K in g now co n tro lled , and M r. M . h ad his hand p la ce d up on a face covered w ith g au ze , an d a sm all n eatly -fo rm ed hand w ith a r in g on o n e o f th e fingers w as p assed th ro u g h his. T h e ch airm an also fe lt th e sam e, F r ie n d R ., who is slig h tly cla irv o y a n t, re p o rte d being n early co n tro lle d , a n d seein g a sp irit-fo rm in fro n t o f him w ith its heaid bandaged. A s tra n g e voice ad d ressin g th e ch airm an sa d — “ H o w do y o u d o ?" a n d shook hands w ith him . T h e ch airm an rem in ded th e c ircle th a t K in g had to ld th em one w ould co m e back sh o rtly . T h is evi­d e n tly re fe rre d to a n e a r re la tiv e o f a la d y p resen t. K in g said th e y w ould te ll th e lady m edium th em selv es w hen she w as to a tte n d th e c ircle ag a in . O n th e 2 5 th th e ch airm an re a d in te re stin g e x tr a c ts from “ th e (L o n ­d o n ) S p iritu a lis t,” an d th e c ircle san g “ Shall wo g a th e r a t th e r iv e r .” A c u r r e n t o f cold a ir w as felt b y a ll, and a ll sm elt th e m o st deliciou s p erfu m e, K in g rem ark in g th a t ho h ad “ scen ted th e m ed iu m ," a n d th e re w as no d o u b t a b o u t it, as his ev ery m ovem en t testified , th e atm o sp h ere in th e vicin ity o f him b ein g 'fu ll o f it . T he ch airm an 's hand w as p laced on a face co v ered w ith gau se , a n d a sm all h an d like a la d y ’s, w ith a r in g on th e sm all lin ger, w as placed in his. F o o ts te p s w ere h eard w alking alo n g th e ro o m w hile th e m edium w as sea ted in his ch a ir , a n d sev eral o f th e m em b ers w e re to u ch e d by spirit-han ds. K in g ask ed th e c ircle to s in g “ G u id e m e, oil T h o u G r e a t J e h o v a h !” an d th e n show ed h is light, an d w hile i t lasted th e a ir seem ed full o f th e m o st beau­tifu l perfu m e. F r ie n d H . h ad h is han d p laced on a face w ith a th in - beard , th e v ice -ch airm an feelin g th e sam e. F r ie n d S.| saw th e form o f a m a n n e a r to th e o rg an ist, th e fe a tu re s being plain ly seen. T h e figu re w as n o t v e ry ta l l , w ith w h iskers an d a b u sh y b eard . O n th e ch airm an show ing him a p h oto afterw ard s h e said i t w as, he th o u g h t, th e sam e, b u t h e co u ld n o t be c e rta in . F o u r o f th e m em b ers w ore now to u ch ed b y sp irit-h an d s, on e o f th e m b ein g th e lad y o rg an ist, and a voice, p e r th e m ediu m , said— “ I have co m e ; s in g ." F r ie n d D . h e re rep o rted th a t a figu re cam e a n d s a t on his k n ee, while th e ch airm an re p o rte d th a t th e m ed iu m cam e p ast him t o liis s e a t w ith g r e a t rap id ity an d slig h tly convulsed . T h e figu re on D . ’s k n ee, a n d w hose h an d h e held, seem ed to his su rp rise to have evap orated . T h e re w as a s tro n g im p ression in th e c ircle th a t th e r e h ad b een a m a te ria l­ised sp irit-fo rm in th e room all th e s ittin g . K in g th en , su d d en ly ad d ressin g th e ch airm an , said—-“ N e v e r m ind th e p erso n s who m e e t in a n o th e r p lace .

I h a v e o n e o r tw o o f th e m I am g o in g to con v in ce in m y ow n w ay .” A t th e se a n ce on th e 3 0 th th e ro o m becam e “ P 'tc h d ark ,” an d a c u r re n t o f co ld a ir w as fe lt by all. F r ie n d M . saw a ta ll sp irit-fo rm on th e ta b le , a n d th e can d lestick w as th ro w n violen tly on th e floor. W h ils t th e m edium w as h eld b y frien d M . and h is w ife a c lo th ed fo rm cam e a n d s a t on th e ch a irm a n ’s k n ee, he feelin g i ts h an d an d c lo th es . F r ie n d H . a n d th e v ice-ch airm an also fe lt i t . K in g ca lled o u t— “ I t w as m o w hom you fe lt. Y o u f e lt h an d , a rm , and form , b u t y o u w on’t y e t

. b eliev e .” T h e c ircle a g a in n o ticed th e e x tre m e d ark n ess ^>f th e room . K in g lau gh ed , and ra ise d a c o m e r o f th e w indow blind, w h ich show ed u s th e m oon shining b rig h tly o u ts id e . T h e c irc le th e n sa n g “ H o m e o f th e A n °e ls ,” an d d u rin g th e s in g in g o f it , th o m edium b ein g n e a r th e m u sic-sto o l a t th e tim e, a figu re p assed M r. i f , and was p u sh ed on th e ch airm an ’s k n ee w ith su ch f o rc e ns to n e n rly k n o ck him a n d h is c h a ir a g a in s t th e p artitio n A t t l u r t a m e m o m en t a n o th e r figu re fell dow n b etw een th e tw o ch a irm e n , w h ilst th e p e rso n who h ad p u sh ed o r c a rr ie d him th e r e ru sh e d b ack , frien d H . d eclared , to n e a r th e m u sic-sto o l. T h e ch airm an th e n re p o rte d th a t th e m ed iu m w as ly in g o n th e floor b esid e him , b u t to his u t t e r a s to n ish m e n t f rie n d S . an n ou n ced th a t i t w as him — K in g — la u g h in g , p e r th e m ed iu m , a t th e o th e r end o f

th o c ircle . S . re p o rte d th a t h e w as raised from his seat a t th e f a r e n d o f th e ro o m a n d sh ot a cro ss th e tabl w ith g r e a t fo rce a n d ra p id ity . T h is s tra n g e manifests6 tio n u n d o u b ted ly p ro v e d th e p re se n ce o f a th ird person co n n e cte d w ith i t , a n d one to o h av in g m uch power to' a c t . K in g said — “ T h e h arm o n y is good to -n ig h t: sine som e o f y o u r h y m n s.” W h i ls t th e c ircle w ere singing frien d H . w as to u ch ed o n th e b ack o f th e head and neck by a la rg e s p ir it -h a n d ; an d w h ils t S. held th e medium’s han ds five o f th e m em b ers f e lt sp irit-h an d s. F rien d M also fe lt J o h n K in g , w h o said t o him — “ feel Jo h n King a s h e is .” T h e c ircle a g a in san g , a n d th e chairm an re-

Srted th a t a fo rm h ad a g a in co m e and s a t on his knee.r . S ., w ho had p reviou s to th is re tu rn e d to his owii

s e a t, said th a t th e m ed iu m h ad been s ittin g all tho time on h is kn ee w ith b o th h is h an d s in his. K in g then came ro u n d to th e ch a irm a n an d said— •“ B e n o t astonished.” T h o c irc le w ere h ig h ly p leased w ith th e m anifestations a t th is sean ce , th e y b ein g ch an g ed fo r th e b etter, as K in g h ad fo rm e rly p rom ised , an d o f a m u ch m ore con­vin cin g c h a r a c te r , fo r th e re w as now a ce rta in ty o f tho p re se n ce o f m ateria lised sp irit-fo rm s am o n g th em , though n o t y e t visible. O n S u n d ay ev en in g , th e 1 s t F e b ., tho c irc le w ere ch eered b y th e p re se n ce o f th e lad y medium, fo r th e firs t tim e sin ce h e r la te illness, and she received th e h e a r ty co n g ra tu la tio n s o f all th o m em b ers w ith whom sh e is a g r e a t f a v o r ite ; also h e r sp irit-g u id e , K a tie King. T h o ch airm an re p o rte d se e in g a figu re in w h ite n ear to th e e n tra n ce d m ale m ed iu m , w ho said — “ W o u ld you like t o feel i t ? ” A n d h is hand’ w as p u lled u p above tho h ead o f th e m ed iu m as f a r a s h e co u ld re a ch , and placed up on a face co v ered w ith gau ze . A h an d h ad also played w ith h is h air an d to u ch e d him on th o le f t shouldor, tho lad y m edium (n o t y e t c o n tro lle d ) re p o rtin g th ese things to a frien d s ittin g n e x t h e r b efo re th e ch airm an informed th e c ir c le o f th e m , th u s u n k n o w n to him corroborating h is w ord . T h e ch a irm a n th e n said h e w as conscious of seein g a figu re m ovin g a b o u t n e a r his desk , th e lady m edium h av in g b efo re h e sp ok e re p o rte d seeing this to frien d IT ., a n d s ta tin g th a t i t w as a fem ale form floating a b o u t th ro u g h th e roo m . S h e h ad lo n g fair h air. Sho cou ld also se e a figu re follow in g th e m ale m edium about, a n d a b o u t h a lf a y a rd b eh in d him . F r ie n d B . h ad a form s ittin g o n h is k n e e w hile b o th m ediu m s w ere vouched fo r as b ein g in o th e r p a r ts o f th e c irc le . K a tie King co n tro lled th e la d y m ed iu m v e ry g e n tly , and th o circle sa n g h e r h y m n — “ T h o L o r d o f H e a v e n C on fess.” SisterR . fe lt K a ti e ’s h an d w ith a r in g o n th e fin g er, and sho sa id th e fin g ers w e re lo n g an d ta p e re d . K a ti e said th at a tte n d in g th e c irc le w ould do h e r m ed iu m n o harm what­ev er. M a n y o f th o m em b ers f e lt sp irit-h an d s a t this sean ce . O n th e 6 t h F e b r u a r y frien d K . p layed several beau tiful s e cu la r a irs on th e o rg a n . T h o chairm an rc-

o rte d th a t d u rin g p r a y e r a h a n d k e p t playin g w ith Ins a ir a ll th e tim e , a ll h an d s b ein g s til l jo in e d , a n d neither

o f th e m ed iu m s y e t co n tro lle d . T h e la d y m edium had p rev io u sly r e p o r te d th is in a w h isp er to frien d H . The ch a irm a n also s ta te d t h a t h is h a n d w as placed on the m ed iu m ’s fa ce an d th e n o n a n o th e r on e , an d h e felt two lo n g h a re firm s, a n d a r in g o n o n e o f th e fingers oi the r ig h t han d. F r ie n d A . R . w as m ad e to feel a face cov­e re d w ith g a u z e th e sam e as th e ch airm an . T he vice- ch a irm a n s ta te d t h a t h e h e a rd a v o ice m o st distinctly n e a r th e ceilin g , a n d , a t th e sam e m om en t, th e male m ed iu m ca m e dow n u p o n th e sh o u ld ers o f frien d H . with con sid erab le f o rc e as th o u g h h e h ad fa llen f r o m a hoighg th e ro o m b ein g a t th o tim e in te n se ly d ark . K a tie K in g said — “ M y f a th e r to o k him u p , a n d i f y o u w a it ho will y e t m ak e h im w rite h is n a m e o n th e ceilin g .”S ., w h ile se a te d in th e m ed iu m ’s c h a ir w h ere ho had b een b ro u g h t a c ro ss th e ta b le to , w as to u ch ed by a num ­b e r o f h an d s, and a w h ite fo rm w h ich K a ti e said was an o ld frien d o f his sh oo k h an d s w ith him , th e cold a i r near to h e r b ein g v e r y s tr o n g . F r ie n d K . said th a t K a n allow ed h im to fee l h e r h an d , 'an d g a v e him h e r ring: o h o ld , w h ich w as so sm all t h a t i t w ould n o t g o on he fin g er. A t th e c lo se o f th is se a n ce sev eral ° P era p ieces w e re p la y e d o n th e o rg a n . O n th e 8 th , on a886® ' bling , th e la d y o rg a n is t w ith frie n d K . an d oth ers sang an d p lay ed “I w ill a r ise ,” a n d P o p e ’s o d e — “ V ita l S p a r ’’ , th e c irc le jo in in g in : -T he ch a irm a n , a f te r th e mrem s u n g “ S h a ll w e g a th o r a t th e r iv e r ,” re p o rte d th a

THE HARBINGER OF LIGHT. 603

felt like a figu re cra w lin g a t h is feo t,” all hands being still joined. T hen th e ch ain o f h an d s w as broken, and ! is hand w as ta k e n and p la ce d up on a n u p tu rn ed face near to th e floor, th e fa ce b ein g d eath ly cold to the touch, th e fe a tu re s all w ell form ed , th e nose prom in ent ; then led up to th e m ed iu m 's ow n face , which w as bu rn­ing hot. This e x tra o rd in a ry m an ifestatio n was repeated twice. H e w as, h e said , im pressed th a t i t w as th e face of John K in g , as h e h ad se e n i t in “ T h e (L o n d o n ) M e­dium.” L a t e r on he fe lt h an d s, a n d a figu re cam e and sat on his knee. A C h u rc h o f E n g lan d hym n-book was taken o u t o f th e lap o f M rs . M . and th ro w n on th e floor, a hand having p rev io u sly to u ch ed h e r on th e face. The ladT organ ist w as m ad e co n sciou s of a dark form being near to h er, and w as f re q u e n tly to u ch ed by hands. The lady m edium had p rev io u sly re p o rte d seeing th is form also. T he lad y o rg a n is t w as th e n tak en from her usual seat by K a tie K in g , p e r h e r m edium , an d placed beside sister M . H e r h an d w as th e n ta k e n and th e hand o f a corpse placed in it , w h ich , fro m ce rta in p ecu liarities be­longing to it , she a t o n ce reco gn ised as belonging to h er late n e a r re la tiv e . S h e a lso f e lt th e low er portion o f a face w ith a b u sh y b eard , w h ich sh e also recogn ised in conseauence o f a lo ck h av in g b een c u t oif i t a f te r death, and which she n o w fe lt m inu s th e lock. T h is fa c t was entirely un kn ow n to e ith e r th e m edium s o r th e circle. And a f te r th is w o n d erfu l m an ifestatio n had been rep o r­ted by th e la d y to th e c ircle , th e chairm an in tim ated th a t he had been m ad e aw are by K a tio K in g th a t i t w as to happen. K a ti e said in a low voice to th e chairm an th at “ it w as difficult to e ffect h is re tu r n in th a t way sooner, but as th ey know it w ould co m fo rt and g ra tify h er m uch, they had done i t .” O n th e n e x t m orn in g, th e lady's brother, who is a lso a m em b er o f th e c ircle , exp ressed a wish to h er p riv a te ly th a t h e w ould like so m uch to g e t Buch a te s t , n o th in g m o re b ein g said on th e su b ject to any one. O n th e follow in g S u n d ay n ig h t, a t th e circle , K atie K in g cam e u p to him an d said— “ Y o u expressed a wish to y o u r s is te r la s t M on d ay m orn in g to have a sim ilar te s t to h e r . I w as p re se n t and h eard y o u ; com e with m e,” w h ich h e did, anil w hile seated beside M rs. M . had p recisely th e sam e h an d and low er p o rtion o f a face with a b eard p la ce d in h is h an d w hich his s ister had, and which he a t o n ce reco g n ised by th e sam e to k en s, as she had done. Y o u c a n ju d g e o f o u r frien d ’s aston ish m en t a t all th is. I m ay a d d th a t I have r a th e r u n d erstated the fa cts th a n oth erw ise . L ik e a ch ain o f delicious p er­fume now p assed ro u n d th e c irc le , all feelin g i t and being very m uch su rp rised a t it . I t ap p eared as th ough our invisible frien d s h ad form ed a c irc le w ithin o u r ow n for a few m in u tes, l ’r ien d I X w as to ld by K a tie K in g th a t her m edium w ould soon bo co n tro lled b y his sp irit-sister, and a sm all h an d p layfu lly p in ch ed his cheek a n d stroked th e b ack o f h is hands. K in g , p e r his m edium , sh ortly afterw ard s ca m e dow n from a n e ig h t on his head, the w eight b ein g as D . sup posed a b o u t 1 0 sto n e, b u t K in g at once re p lie d — “ I w as 1 3 s to n e , a n d I shinl com e down again on y o u r h ead if y o u wish it .” I t is need less to add th e h o n o r w as declined . K in g th e n cam e rou n d to th e ch airm an an d said th a t ‘‘ a ll th a t h ad been prom ised would be fulfilled.” T h e c ircle th e n san g “ I W ill A rise ,” and K a ti e ’s hy m n , a n d th u s end ed one o f th e m ost h ar­m onious a n d su ccessfu l sean ces ev er h eld by th e E n e r ­g e tic C ircle , a w a n t o f sp a ce p rev en tin g m e from giving m any in te re s tin g d etails .

O n th e 1 3 th , w hile a l l han ds w ere joined, th e ch air­m an’s h an d w as p la ce d u p o n a n u p tu rn ed face n e a r th e floor, th e skin b ein g sm o oth to th e to u ch , and th e featu res w ell fo rm ed . T h e fa ce f e lt v e ry cold . T h e lady m edium r e p o r te d seein g th is fa ce and form b efore th e chairm an sp ok e. S is te r P . re p o rte d seeing several lorm s n e a r frien d D ., o n e o f th e m b ein g a fem ale. T h e vice- chairm an fe lt a face an d a f te r th e m ed iu m ’s. Jo h n K in g th en m ad e h is m ed iu m give frien d H . a n d th e chairm an each one o f h is h an d s t o hold, an d d u rin g th e w hole tim e (th e lad y m edium b ein g besid e th e v ice-ch airm an and w ith h e r tw o h an d s re s tin g o n h is sh o u ld ers), one of th ese frien d s h eld o n e o f his h an d s o v er th e m edium s legs, a h an d a s p alp ab le to th e to u ch as an y hu m an hand in th e room , ca m e f irs t t o th e o n e a n d th e n th è o th e r, and pu lled each o f th e ir c a rs a n d b eard s, and loudly slapped th e m p n th e to p o f th e ir h ead s; th e slap s b ein g

heard b y all th e circle . T h is ex tra o rd in a ry m an ifestatio n w as tw ice re p e a te d and u n d er th e sam e te s t conditions. L a te r on, as if to rem ove all d o u b t from th e m inds o f th e circle as to its genuineness, th e sam e m an ifestatio n w as repeated to friends K . and M . and u n d er th e sam e co n ­ditions. N ow as n o one p re se n t was e x p e c tin g su ch a m anifestation, and as ou r m edium s a r e p e rfe ctly u n con ­scious when in th e abn orm al s ta te , from w h en ce cam e th e hands and th e in telligen ce guiding th em ? I t m u st have been from an en tity possessing con sciou sn ess and a will. W h o and w h at was he ; and w h ere did he com e fro m ? a rc questions th a t will inevitably su g g e st th e m ­selves to all honest, inquiring m inds. A s fo r th e opinion o f th e m ere anim al m ind— if i t has an y — it is o f no im portan ce w hatever. S iste r W . felt a spirit- hand, w hich K a tie told h er she would in tim e reco gn ise as th a t o f a dear friend. F rie n d S . w as b o rn e r ig h t a cro ss th e tab le by a larg e arm . K a tie said a f te r h e r fa th e r had lev ita ted his medium in th e m an n er th e y h eard , h e had lifted S . in th e way described. F rie n d H . had his hand placed on tw o faces n e a r th e firo-plnce, and h an d s w ere p laced on his head and beard. K in g to ld him and th e ch airm an th a t he would e re long tie his m edium in a cabin et, and th en com e and s it on th e m edium 's ch a ir him self, w h ere fh ey w ould all see him. H o also to ld th e ch airm an th e re would bo a ch an ge o f m an ifestation s in tw o o r th re e m onths from th a t date . K a tie K in g — p e r H er m edium — added th a t th e y w ere all d eterm in ed th e re should be no m ore s a y in g ; “ O h, I. th o u g h t I fo lt hands and faces, b u t th ey w ould tak e c a re now th a t th e y all should feel th em w ith ou t a d o u b t." Oil exam ining th e n u m b ered pap ers a t th e close , th e re w as th e following w ritin g in fou r d istin ct hands .— “ G ood n ig h t, J o h n Eobin B on.” “ W e a re doing m uch, G eo rge A b ell.” “ J o h n K in g .” “ W e a re all w ith yo u . A lfred L o u g m o re .”

N ow , as th e m edium s w ere duly search ed and th e pap ers on which th e foreg oin g w ritin g w as found, w ere all num bered and exam ined previous to th e lig h t being p u t ou t, and as every m em ber is on his o a th n o t to de­ceive, by whom was th e w riting done ? T h is w ritin g , in fou r different hands, w as seen by all th e c ircle , co n se­q u ently i t could be no delusion on m y p a r t . I f on ly one

Eerson sees a th in g , i t m ay be ju s tly affirm ed th a t he m ay eve been deceived, b u t if i t is seen b y a n u m b er o f p e r­

sons a t th e sam e tim e , th e n i t is un d ou b ted p ro o f th a t i t w as seen. A re w e ju stified , th e n , in con clu d in g th a t th is w riting m u st have been done by an in te llig en t e n tity ? A nd if so, as th e sig n atu res an d w ritin g a re all in th e En glish lan guage, is i t to o m u ch to suppose th a t th e y w ere done by p erson s who on ce w ere in h ab itan ts o f this low er sphero, and resid en ts a t on e tim e o r o th e r o f o u r ow n d ear n ative lan d s ? I n su ch a ca se as th is i t w ould be nonsense to a s se r t th a t o u r sen se o f sig h t had deceived us, for w e possess th e p ap ers w ith th e w ritin g on th em and have all seen i t . O n th e 1 5 th F o h ru a ry , while tb e chairm an was ad d ressin g th e c ircle on th e im ­p o rta n t d u ty th e y had u n d ertak en , loud a n d repented rap s w ere m ade on th e f lo o rn e a rth e m edium ’s ch a ir , he n o t being y e t co n tro lled , and w ith th e lig h t on th e tab le , T he medium being now con tro lled uud th e lig h t ou t, som ething like a box w as held to th e ch airm an 's n o se from which ho sm elt th e m o st d elica te o f perfum es. F rie n d W . fo lt a face , an d w hile holding th e m edium ’s tw o hands, o th e r tw o han ds v e ry cold w ere placed a g a in st his. S iste r I’ , w as tak en from h er s e a t by K a tie and w h at p u rp o rted to be h e r d eceased b ro th e r’s h an d w as passed ov er h e r face . J o h n K in g , ad d ressin g th e ch airm an , said : “ In fo rm th e c ircle th e y m u st n ev er a t­te m p t to h o ld th e figu res and g rip th em by th e w aist,” th e ch airm an adding, “ o r p re ss th e hands o r a rm s .” K a tio m ade an sw er to th is , “ e x ce p t w hen p laced u n d er th e fingers th u s.” S h e now m ad e h e r m edium p lace both h e r han ds in h is, an d a th ird han d, sm all, and beau tifully form ed passed u n d er his. K in g th e n show ed his ligh t, w hich w as very vivid, and accom p anied w ith th e u su al v e ry n ice perfu m e. K a tie to ld th o c ircle th a t “ i t , w as b v m eans o f th a t lig h t th e y w ould a ll see th e sp irits w h e n ’ m ateria lised .” F r ie n d 3 . saw a y o u n g fem ale form o f ab o u t e ig h teen o r tw e n ty y e a rs o t a g e , s tan d in g n e a r to frien d K . a l l th e even in g . H e r fe a tu re s , w hich h e saw qu ite p lain ly , resem bled h is clo sely . O n th e 2 0 th a figu re clo th ed as a m an , ca m e an d s a t on the

604 THE HARBINGER OF LIGHT.

ch a irm a n ’s k n e e w h ich h e v e ry g e n tly fe lt rou n d th e w a ist, w hen o n e o f its h an d s to o k one o l his and placed i t u p o n its face , w h ich w as la rg e w ith a b eard . T h ree o f th e piem b ers vo u ch ed th a t th e m ale m edium h ad n o t le f t his s e a t b esid e th em d u rin g th e o ccu rre n ce o f th is e x tra o rd in a ry m an ifestatio n , o n e o f th e th re e adding th a t h is h an d h ad been in th e m ediu m 's all th e tim e. T h e lad y m ediu m w as s e a te d beside s is te r M . and sp eak ­in g to h e r all th ro u g h th e m an ifestatio n . A v e ry cold h an d to u ch ed e v e ry m em b er p re se n t w hen both m edium s w e re held b y th e s it te rs . F r ie n d S . w as lifted from his se a t by a la rg e arm a n d sw ep t a c ro ss th e to p o f th e tab le , w hich he slig h tly fe lt w ith his to es in passin g, and placed on th e ch airm an 's k n ees. W h e n th e c irc le w ere singing “ Y e B a n k s an d B ra e s ,” h e h eard n e a r th e ceilin g a b eau tifu l co n tra lto voice sin g in g w ith th em . K in g a d ­d ressin g frien d K . said : “ Y o u shall see m y lig h t on S u n d ay . I t has g ro w n from a v e ry sm all size to th e size y o u saw i t ; i t will in crease till y o u shall se e th e face, a n d th e n th e w hole form . O b serve th e lig h t in ten tly w hen i t a p p e a rs .” W h ile th e m edium w as hold by M e ssrs . K . an d D . a clo th ed figu re ca m e ag ain an d s a t on th e ch airm an 's knee. F rie n d H . w as cu red by Jo h n K in g d ire c t, o f a deafness in bis e ar . T h e cu re h as been p erm an en t. O n th e 2 2 n d th e tw o ch airm en rep o rted th a t w hile holding th e m edium b y th e han ds as high as th e y could re a ch stan d in g , th e y felt som e one pull him to w ard s th e ceilin g , he a m o m en t a f te r a lig h tin g upon frien d B 's kn ee and K in g lau gh in g loudly. T h e lady o rg a n is t fe lt tw o s p ir it hands and th e lo w er p o rtio n o f a face , h e r han ds being kissed by th e lips o f th a t face. This e x tra o rd in a ry m an ifestatio n was acco m p an ied by slig h tly con vu lsive m o v em en ts on th e p a r t o f th e lad y m edium , th e sam e as w hen sh e g a v e flic m em b ers lock s o f K a ti e ’s h a ir. K in g shew ed h is ligh t, and said to th e ch a irm a n : “ Y o u w ould like to .k n o w how th a t lig h t is p rod u ced . I t is tak en from ev ery o n e in th e c irc le , and will in cre a se in size as w e gain p o w er.” O n th e 2 7 th F e b r u a r y , friend K . p lay ed sev eral b eau tifu l o p e ra tic airs on th e o rg a n , he and frien d L . jo in in g in vo cally . T h e vice -ch airm an h ad tw o b a re a rm s passed th ro u g h his han ds and he a lso felt a face . K a tie K in g to ld th e ch airm an th a t h e r m edium w ould be ab sen t from th e tw o n e x t s ittin g s from illness. Sh e also to ld s is te r AY. she w ould bo e n tra n ce d u n til th e n e x t W ed n e sd a y for c u ra tiv e o b jects . T h a t n ig h t a cco rd in g ly , a t 12 o 'c lo ck , sh e b ecam e u n con sciou s, a n d rem ain ed so un til W e d n e s ­day, th e 1 th o f M a rch , an d e n tire ly w ith o u t food. Sh e has since been b e t te r an d s tro n g e r in h e a lth th a n s lio h a s been sin ce sh e had brain fever, a n d will be w ith us ag ain on E a s te r S u n d ay . A clo th ed figu re ca m e a n d s a t on th e ch airm an 's k n ee w hile th e m edium w as held by frien d D . A n in te re s tin g m an ifestatio n h e re to ok p lace W h ile M iss E . w as holding th e m edium by o n e h an d and frien d D . h is o th e r on e , a sp irit-h an d ca m e u p , to h e r, un tied th e s tr in g o f h e r b o n n et, a n d tu g g in g u n til i t g o t i t o ff h e r head, th re w it to th e fa r c o rn e r o f th e c ircle . T h e la d y m ed iu m w as s ittin g ta lk in g to s is te r AV. all th e tim e th is w as g o in g on . A t th is se a n ce n early a ll th e m em ­b e rs w ere p riv ileged to feel sp irit-lian d s u n d er te s t co n ­d ition s. F o r w an t o f sp ace I m u st p ass by m au y in te r ­e s tin g item s ; b u t o n e w h ich to ok p lace a t o u r sea n ce on th e 6 th M a rch , I will g iv e y o u . F r ie n d A . I t . w as tak en b y th e m ed iu m , h olding him b y b o th h an d s, from his s e a t an d led o u t in to th e o u te r a p a rtm e n t. W h e n passin g o u t, frien d I I . th o u g h se a te d on th e op p osite sid e o f th e c irc le , re p o rte d feeling a c lo th ed figu re stan d in g in fro n t o f him , a n d th e ch airm an w as to u ch ed b y it . F r o m th e o th e r -a p a r tm e n t, th e co n tro llin g s p ir it— J o h n K in g —

jv h o , p e r h is m ediu m , still h eld E . b y b o th han ds, called o u t to th e c irc le to jo in h an d s, w hich w as d o n e, E . ca llin g o u t th a t h an d s w ere p layin g w ith his h ead and face , and th a t tw o han ds w hile th u s held, ca m e and seized him "by th e le g s an d n u lled -th em fro m u n d er him , he fa llin g on th e floor. T h is con v in cin g m an ifestatio n w as re p e a te d tw ic e . ^ T h o m o st deliciou s perfu m e porvad ed th e atm o s­p h e re o f th e ro o m n e a rly a ll th e even ing . F r ie n d s W . an d M . f e lt n ak ed arm s, a n d w hile th e y f e lt th em , th e c la irv o y a n ts co u ld see th e form in f ro n t o f th e m . T h e ch a irm a n h ad his h an d p laced o n a cold , c lam m y f a c e w ith sm all fe a tu re s , a n d w h ich im p ressed him w ith .th e id ea th a t i t w as t h a t o f th e la te s is te r E ich a rd s .th e m ed iu m rap p in g

on h is a r m th r e e tim e s in a p p ro v al. T h e chairm an said ho w ever, th a t th e to k e n a g re e d up on b etw een them and’ w hich h e h ad n o t to ld to a n y o n e , h ad n o t been given w hen a h an d h a rd to th e to u ch ca m e u p from the m ed iu m ’s c h a ir w hile h is h an d s w e re held by one of the c h a irm a n ’s , a n d p assed th ro u g h h is o th e r one. On the fo u rth fin g er w as a rin g , th e to k e n a g re e d upon, though n o t e x a c tly in th e w ay i t c a m e . T h e h an d to his seif8e o f to u ch w as th a t o f th e d eceased lad y . T h e members o f th e E n e r g e tic C irc le h a v e h ad evid en ce o f sp irit pro- se n ce a n d p o w er b ro u g h t h o m o to fo u r o u t o f the live sen ses possessed b y th e h u m a n r a c e , nam ely, seeing, h e a rin g , to u c h , an d sm ell, an d it w ill n o t be very long now b efore th e y sh all a ll be a b le to s a y th a t th ey have seen th e sp irits in m ateria lised form .

Y o u r s tru ly ,

S an d h u rst, 1 3 th M a rch , 1 8 7 4 . T H E C H A IR M A N .

A S U N D A Y P I C N I C .

TO T H E E D I T O B O P T H E l l A R n T N O E I t OP EIGHT.D e a r S ir ,— M y s e lf a n d th re e frien d s, whom 1

w ill n am e S m ith , J o n e s a n d B ro w n , have been talking for tw o y e a rs p a s t a b o u t c o n c e n tra t in g o u r forces, and g o in g fo r a d a y u p o n a p icn ic w ith o u r families. And still th a t d ay n o t p re se n tin g i ts e lf w hen wo could all h arm o n ise on th o su b je c t, w e con clu d ed to disregard co n v e n tio n a litie s , and m ak e S u n d a y th e honored day. O f c o u r s e w e did n o t a r r iv e a t th is con clu sion without fre q u e n t d iscu ssio n s o f th e p r o s a n d cons.

S m ith said he had o fte n tak en his fam ily for a walk on S u n d ay , o r even a r id e by tr a in to Sandriclge, St. Kilda, o r B rig h to n ; b u t th is th in g o f a consid erab le party g o in g to th e S u rv e y P a d d o ck — fo r th a t w as th e place p rop osed , a s o u r lim ited m ean s w ould n o t perm it us to g o fa r— an d ta k in g w ith u s a co u p le o f Ita lia n artists, w ith th e ir in stru m e n ts o f m u sic ( a h arp and a fiddle), scetnod to him r a th e r a s e rio u s m a tte r . l i e feared it m ig h t b e lo ok ed up on by o th e rs a lm o st as a desecration o f th e day.

J o n e s co u ld n o t s e e t h e d ifferen ce in th a t resp ect be­tw een o n e fam ily a n d five g o in g on su ch an excursion ; n o r co u ld he, for th e life o f him , te l l why it desecrated th o d ay m o re to tu m b le up on th e g ra s s , and listen to a h arp and fiddle, th a n to s i t stiffly in a ch u rch pew , and g ro w d ro w sy o v er a le n g th y a n d r a th e r d ry serm on, and th e m u sic o f an o rg a n o r a h arm on iu m .

H a v in g b een b ro u g h t u p in th e ch u rch , I confess I felt a li ttle sh o ck ed a t th e fam iliar a n d flip p an t w ay in which J o n e s p u t i t . and y e t h is lo g ic w as so forcib le th a t I did n o t a tte m p t t o re fu te it .

J u s t th e n B ro w n — alw ay s held to b e r a th e r s tric t in his fo rm alism — chim ed in, th a t i f th e th in g in itself was “ good an d w h olesom e ” (th o so w e re his w o rd s) th e day w ould in h is opinion be h o n o red , r a th e r th a n dishonored ; fo r, said h e , th e M a s te r on m o re th a n o n e occasion in­tim a te d th a t i t w as law ful a n d r ig h t to do good on the S ab b ath d ay . T h is h ap p y th o u g h t o f B ro w n 's did much to sa tisfy th e scru p le s w h ich hail b een raised .

M r s . J o n e s , ho w ever, v e ry u n e x p e c te d ly suggested that h e r m in d h ad b een a g o o d d e a l e x e rc ise d upon th e sub­j e c t s in ce i t w as p rop osed . S h e co u ld n o t say th a t there w as a n y th in g w ro n g in h a v in g a p le a sa n t and healthful o u tin g on S u n d ay , b u t sh e w as fearfu l i t m ig h t be setting a b ad o xam p lc to th e ch ild ren . S h e w ish ed hers to bo b ro u g h t u p to re s p e c t th e S ab b ath a n d religion , and she en d eav o red a lw a y s to avo id a n y th in g th a t m igh t be con­s tru e d in to evil— “ e v e ry a p p e a ra n ce o f evil,” in fact.

“ A?e r y w ell,” said B ro w n , “ le t us g o , b u t avoid, as you sa y , M r s . J o n e s , e v e ry a p p e a ra n ce o f evil. L e t us no ta k e a n y th in g in to x ica tin g w ith u s— n o t even sour colon ial w i n e ; a n d th e n w e sh all n o t be in db,ng<;r ” b eco m in g n o isy o r q u arre lso m e. L e t u s be ott brig i a n d e a r ly , an d h o m e ag ain in tim e fo r te a by ou r on firesid e, w h ere w e c a n ta lk o v e r th e e v en ts o f th e day ) q u iet. I n sh o r t, l e t u s be te m p e ra te an d m oderate i o u r p le a su re , a n d b elieve m e , M rs . J o n e s , w e shall s e ttin g a n e x am p le to o u r ch ild ren , a n d to th e w orld, 111 i t w ill b e w e ll fo r th e m t o fo llo w .” . .

T h is h e a lth y an d ro b u st se n tim e n t w as well recel,v, ’ a n d s e ttle d in to o u r m in d s eq u al to a serm o n — a goi sp eech , w ith i ts w o rd s fitly ch osen .

THE HARBINGER OF LIGHT. 605

W ell, a f te r su n d ry sim ilar discu ssions, it w as decided at last, as 1 havo said , th a t w e should honor Sunday by selecting i t fo r o u r p icn ic. T h e m orn in g looked threatening, and th e ch ild ren w ere in a g re a t tw itte r lest it should rain , a n d ca u se th e p a rty to bo postponed. B ut the sky g rad u ally b rig h ten ed , and so did th e little- faces ab o u t u s , b eam in g w ith th e p leasan t anticipations, such, if I m u st con fess it , as I have seldom witnessed in anticipation o f sch ool, ev en S u nd ay sch o o l! Prom ptly we joined o u r frien ds a t th e p la ce o f rendezvous, where we found as hap py a g a th e rin g a s cou ld well be imagined. Away we sped to o u r d estin atio n , and while th e sun's rays w ere still te m p e re d by th e cool sea breeze, we were rambling am on g tre e s and sh ru b b ery n ative to th e soil, and th e ch ild ren — a sco re o r m o re— w ere last finding out the delightful n o o k s, and e a ch o th e r 's com panionable qualities, w hile s in g in g a n d d an cin g to th e m usic o f the foreign a r tis ts w as th e ru lin g occu p ation o f th e hours, till luncheon on a g rassy knoll cam e as a w elcom e break into their ro m p in g glee . T h e ap p etites o f yo u n g and old w ere sh arp s e t , y o u m ay d ep en d , b u t th e yo u n g sters didn't allow th e g ra ss to g ro w m uch before th ey w ere at play again. A n d , as th e su n w as slow ly sloping tow ards the w est, w e g a th e re d o u r tire d lam bs to g eth er, and wended ou r w ay to w h ere a cou p le o f 'buses w ere to m eet us, and co n v ey us to w ithin a sh o rt d istan ce .of ou r several hom es, w h ich w e all reach ed before nightfall.

N ow , M r . E d ito r , b efo re closin g th is b rie f sketch of our Sunday p icn ic , a th o u g h t o ccu rs to me, which will, t trust, be con sid ered p e rtin e n t. Som e m ay think th a t our Sunday w ould have been m o re ap p ro p riately snout in attending pu blic w orship. B u t th is, i t ap p ears to me, arises from a m istak en id ea o f w h at w orship is. I am not disposed to rid e ro u g h shod o v er th e prejudices o f

Eeople, re su ltin g fro m e rro rs in th e ir early ed u cation , for do n o t find m y s e l f e n tire ly free from th em . B u t to

such p ersons I w ould say , com e, and le t us reason togeth er. A n d i t seem s to m e th a t w orship does n o t co n ­sist solely o r chiefly o f lip p raises o f o u r divine ideal, nor o f verbal a sp ira tio n s fo r divine help. T h a t th ese a r c

ood and helpful, I a m w illing to ad m it, and do firmly elievo ; an d I believe a lso th a t th e y who ig n o re ' them

are living below th e ir p riv ileges— a r e feeding upon husks in a foreign land,- fa r aw ay from th e ir F a th e r ’s house. B u t th e re is w orsh ip o f a n o th e r kind, which is qu ite as ap t to be overlook ed . T h e scrib es and ph arisees o f old w ere ca re fu l to p ay ti th e o f m in t, and anise, and cum ­min, b u t o m itted th e w eigh tier m a tte rs , ju d gm en t, m ercy and fa ith . “ T h e se ,” said J e s u s , “ o u g h t y e to have done, and n o t to leave th e o th e r u n d o n e.” ( t is th a t work o f sy m p ath y w ith o u r fellow m en , which, while it includes a ll w ith o u t re se rv e o r s tin t, begins w ith th at circle w hich to u ch e s u s , o r is m o st easily reach ed from our stan d p o in t, and th e n ce ra d ia te s a n d e x te u d s on every side, u n til i t w idens to th e em b race o f all G od's univorso. T h is is th e tr u e c h a r ity , o r life o f love ; and its rew ard is in itself. I t is t r i te to speajj o f lab or as worship ; y e t w ork— th e fulfilm ent o f d u ty— is o f m ore im portan ce th a n sacrifice , an d m o re g ra te fu l to the C re a to r th a n th e f a t o f ram s.

A n d is i t n o t ce rta in th a t, as p aren ts, w e w ere p er­form ing a n a c t o f d u ty t o o u r ch ild ren , in g iv in g them healthful r e c re a tio n am o n g ch eerfu l asso ciatio n s ? If, then, th is is a r ig h t th in g to do, how can th e d ay upon which i t is p erfo rm ed ch a n g e i ts c h a r a c te r ? T h e public life o f th e C h ris tia n ’s g r e a t exem p lar w as devoted to a c ­tiv e ch arities, lo v in g d eed s, and kindly in stru ction . T he im p ression I g e t fro m a stu d y o f th a t sublim ely beau tifu l c h a r a c te r is , th a t h e w e n t a b o u t doing good, reg ard less o f d ay s a n d seaso n s, a n d th a t his life work w as a co n tin u o u sa n d h arm onious worship o f th e Godlike in tu itio n s o f h is n a tu re .' W h e th e r h e s a t dow n and reaso n ed w ith th e m u ltitu d e up on th e m ou n tain side, or in stru cte d fish erm en ns th e y m en d ed th e ir n e ts by the sea sh o re , o r g a th e re d y o u n g ch ild ren aro u n d him , and blessed th e m w ith a sw eet b en ed iction , h is w as a loving h e a rt th a t em b raced a ll , a n d sym p ath ised w ith th e o c­cu p atio n s an d en jo y m en ts o f th o se a ro u n d him , an d th e re ­fo re o u r h e a r ts w arm to w ard s him a s one w ho p ractised w h at he ta u g h t— p o in ted th e h eavenly ro ad , a n a led th e w ay. W e r e th a t divine te a c h e r n o w am o n g u s , w ho « in d o u b t th a t h e w ould m ak e one w ith us in o u r ch eerfu l

gatherings, w ithout reg ard to th e day o r the' o ccasio n ? Je su s was n o t one to stan d alo o f from m en. H e w en t where th ey co n g reg ated , n o t to receiv e hom age, b u t to bless. W ith th e Ph arisees i t w as n o t so. F o r his disregard of ordinances, th e y condem ned him ; and he would m eet w ith as little co n sid eratio n from th e self- righteous Pharisees o f ou r d ay . I f th e y cou ld n o t p re ­vail upon him to observe th e ordinances, th e y w ould ex- com m unicate him ; and if th e y cou ld g e t th e p olice w ith them , th ey would b rin g scan dalous ch a rg e s a g a in s t him, and hu nt him down to d eath as o f y o re .

P A T E R F A M I L I A S .-----------o ------------S P I R I T H A I R .

TO T U E E D IT O » O F T I I E H A B IU S G E R O F L IG H T .D e a » S in —

T he subjoined e x tr a c t from th e (L o n d o n ) M ed iu m o f 2 1th O cto b er last, au eu t sp ir it-h a ir being- b ro u g h t by spirits to circles, m ay be o f som e in te re st to y o u r re a d ­ers, the m ore especially as i t co rro b o ra tes s ta tem en ts of sim ilar phenom ena w hich have o ccu rre d a t th e E n e rg e tic C ircle , San dh urst, and which havo b een published in r e ­cen t issues o f yo u r jo u rn a l, and , th erefo re , th e m ore in terestin g to S p iritu alists in th is p a r t o f th e w orld. T he spirits say, a t one o f th e circles I a tte n d , th a t th ey can preserve th e h air so b ro u g h t by m agn etizin g it ; and th is is qu ite likely to be th e ch em ical p ro cess o f p re se r­vation, for if th e y can eu ro diseases by m agn etism , m ay th ey n o t be able to p reserv e h air by i t ?

Y o u rs fratern ally ,2 0 th F e b ., 1 8 7 1 . A C L O S E O B S E R V E R .

T he following is th e e x tr a c t re ferred to b y o u r c o rre s ­pond ent :—

A t th e d o sò o f th is scan co th e co n tro llin g sp ir it in for­m ed us th at th e m edium ’s sistor, who h as been in sp irit- land fo r a good m any y e a rs , w as v e ry an xiou s to havo a lock o f h air belonging to h e r ( th e m ed iu m 's) y o u n g est child, and th a t if we would p lace such o n ,th e tab le it would a t o u r n e x t seance be tak en aw ay , and in its place would bo left a lock o f h e r (th o sp ir it-s is te r ’s ) h a ir ! O f cou rse w c prom ised th a t, so far as wo w ere co n cern ed , th e wish w ould bo ca rrie d o u t, an d acco rd in g ly on tho 14th in st. th e hail w as duly laid on th e ta b le , to g e th e r w ith som e p ap er a n d a pen cil. W c op ened th e sean co in tho Usual m anner, by p ray er, & c., and th o m edium be­cam e en tran ced , a n d while in th a t s ta te spoke to u s for about an h o u r. Suddenly, how ever, th e co n tro llin g sp irit announced th a t th e m edium 's s is te r h ad now com e, and wo w ere enjoined to keep th e c ircle u n b rok en and rem ain qu iet for a few m inu tes. D u rin g th o pau so th e m edium b reath ed heavily, seem ed to bo in a deep sleep, and silence was only brok en by h e r ask in g , “ H a v e you g o t pow er enough ? all r ig h t, th an k y o u ,” and in an in­s ta n t afterw ard s wo w ere to ld th e w ork w as com p leted — wo m igh t lig h t a little gas. W e did so, and a t on ce perceived th a t tho child 's h a ir had g o n e, n o th in g rem ain ­in '' but th e p ap er upon w hich i t w as laid, and on th e tab le lay a sm all, neatly-folded p ap er p arcel, w hich wo guessed m u st contain th e h air fro m sp irit-lau d ! . Seeing th a t th e m edium had been e n tra n ce d d u rin g th o whole o f tho evening, and o f co u rse had n e ith e r soon n o r hoard anything— a t which sh e is o ften v e ry m u ch an n oyed — w e resolved th a t sho should op en th e p arce l h e rse lf as soon as she aw oke. O n re tu rn in g to h e r n o rm al s ta te , th e p arce l w as opened, and inside w as a sm all lo ck o f v e ry ligh t h a ir n eatly tw in ed rou n d a g o ld 'rin g , ab o u t which la t te r I m u st m ake a few rem ark s to m ak e m a tte rs iu tclligib le. A t o u r s ittin g o f th e 7 th in st., th e In d ian sp irit while co n tro llin g th e m edium asked to see m y ring . S h e looked a t it , to ok i t off my finger, a n d said sho°w ould like to keep i t fo r a sh o rt tim e. I said i t w as all r ig h t, e x p e ctin g , ho w ever, to find th o r in g on th e tab le a t th e term in ation o f th e sean ce . I n th is I w as disappointed, as i t w as now here tò b e foun d, and on in­form in g th e m edium w hen sh e cam e o u t o f th e t r a n c e w h at h ad ta k e n p lace , sh e b ecam e v e ry alarm ed and com m en ced to search h e r p o ck ets and h e r p e rso n g en er­ally , and finally th e room w as search ed , b u t to n o avail. Som e days passed, a n d a ti l i n o w ord o f th e r in g ; th e m edium becam e a lm o st d is tra c te d , a n d said i f th e rin g w ere n o t foun d sh e co u ld n ev er s it ag ain . W h ile s ittin g

606 THE HARBINGER OF LIGHT.

in th e k i tc h e n o n e ev en in g ta lk in g , n o t th in k in g o f a se a n ce , th e rap p in g s cam e lo u d an d furiou s, and on b e ­in g ask ed i f “ t h e y ” h ad so m eth in g to co m m u n icate , “ Y e s ” w as.k n o ck ed o u t, and th e follow ing m essage r e ­ceiv ed :<— “ T h e r in g is a ll r ig h t ; i t w ill be re tu rn e dw ith th e lo ck o f hair. I t is in th e keeping o f J -------R,--------” (m y w ife’s b ro th er, who has been in spirit-lan dfo r y e a r s ) .

F r o m th e ab o ve i t will be seen th a t o u r sp irit-frien d s h av e k e p t th e ir p rom ise , a n d w ith re g a rd to th e lo ck o f h a ir from th e m ed iu m 's s is te r , I c a n on ly re m a rk th a t it looks p e rfe c tly n a tu ra l. I t is o f a beau tiful lig h t colo u r, w h ich e x a c tly resem b les th a t b elon g in g to th e la te s is te r in q u estio n . Sh ou ld y o u d esire i t , I shall be v e ry glad to l e t y o u have th e h a ir fo r in sp ectio n , a s also th e bul­ru sh .

“ Sm ashod -u p th o so-called scien ce !” H a ! h a ! M ig h t as w ell t r y to e x t r a c t silver from pebble ston es.

A p o lo g isin g fo r en cro ach in g so m u ch on y o u r sp ace , I re m a in y o u rs fra te rn a lly , J o h n I r v in e .

3 7 3 , W estgate R oad , JVew castle-on-Tyne, O cto b e r, 1 8 7 3 .[ W a s th is h a ir tak en from th o g rav e , o r w as i t m a te r ­

ialised Bpirit ? A t M r. A k o p 's som e tim e , ago h airs w e re b ro u g h t to th e c ircle th a t w e re said to be plu ck ed fro m th e body in th e g ra v e . T h e bulbous ro o ts o f th e h airs a d h e re d . This c a se w as re p o rte d by us a t tho t im e .— E d. M .]

C A S T L E M A 1 N E .

TO THE EDITOU OF THE HARBINGER OF LIGHT.

S i r ,— A t r e a t w as given to th o ch ild ren a tte n d in g th e L y ce u m S u n d ay S ch o o l on S u n d ay th e Gth M a r c h , a t M o u n t A le x a n d e r, th e w h ole o f th e e x p e n se b ein g d efray ed by th e lib e ra lity o f M r . J a m e s Sh aw , o n e o f o u r m o s t p ro m in en t S p iritu alists . T h o w e a th e r being b e au tifu lly fine an d th e s p o t so w ell ad ap ted fo r tho p u rp ose , th e y o u n g ste rs had a m o s t en jo y ab le d ay . I t w as th o in ten tio n o f th e ad u lts a tte n d in g o u r Su nd ay serv ices to hold a serv ice in th o a fte rn o o n on th o M o u n t, G . C . L e e c h E s q ., prom isin g to g ive a n ad d ress , b u t u n fo rtu n a te ly he (M r . L . ) being to o un w ell to do ,so on th a t d ay , w e w ere d isap pointed o f th e p leasu re . H o w ­ev er, we h ad a la rg e g a th e rin g o f frien d s an d a ll, y o u n g a n d old, sp e n t a m ost p leasan t day a m id st th e b eau tifu l sce n e ry su rro u n d in g th e m , re tu rn in g a t d u sk , n o d o u b t a ll th e h ap p ier an d b e t te r fo r th e o u t.

B .

A N E S S A Y O N L I F E , I T S O R I G I N A N D

O B J E C T S .

BY HENRY T. CHILD, M.D.

CHAPTER IV.

V E G E T A B L E L I F E .

(CONTINUED.)

O n the uses o f F lo w erless p l a n t s to M a n , a n d in the > E co n o m y o f N a tu re .

E a c h on w ard s te p in th e a cq u is itio n o f k n o w led g e has a tw o -fo ld effect, first, in p re s e n tin g n ew tr u th s t o th o e x p lo re r , a n d seco n d , t h a t w hich is n o less im p o rta n t, in shed din g a b r ig h te r lig h t o v e r th a t w h ich h as a lre a d y b e e n in v e stig a te d , g iv in g a c le a r e r a n d m o re co m p re ­h en sive v iew o f f o rm e r tr u th s . 1

I n a n e w c o u n tr y th e o u t-p o s ts o f civ iliza tio n can n e v e r b e su rv e y e d a n d m ap p ed o u t a c c u ra te ly , u n til th e h a r d y p io n e e r h as p u sh ed his e x p lo ra tio n s in to th e fin- k n o w n la n d beyond.* So w ith o u r su b je c t. H a d th e re n e v e r b e e n d isco v ered a n y flow erin g p la n ts , w e should ce rta in ly n o t h a v e k n ow n th a t th e r e w as a n y a tte m p t in N a tu r e , f o r d isp lay in g a ll th o se g ra n d and go rg eo u s b e a u tie s w h ich a r e p re se n te d in th is f ie ld ; b u t h av in g step p ed o u t a m o n g th e b e a u tifu l flow ers a n d fe a ste d ou r v isio n th e re o n , w h en w e r e tu r n to e x am in e th e C ry p to - g am ia , w e se e t h a t n a tu r e h as h e re p re se n te d a n ea rn e st, a p ro p h e sy , ru d im e n ta l th o u g h i t m a y be, o f th a t w hich sh e d esig n ed t o in tr o d u c e a s soon as co n d itio n s w e re p re -

p ared fo r it . T h e h ig h e r fern s h av e th e ir little seed ves sols, a n d seed s m o d e stly a r ra n g e d on th o uuder surface o f th e ir b eau tifu l leav es ; a n d th e r e a r e o th e r rudimen” ta l foresh ad ow in g s o f flow ers a n d fru its which are the u ltim a te s o f a ll flow ers.

I n th e fa r off p o la r re g io n s w h ere w in te r holds per- p etu al a n d u n d isp u ted sw ay , an d th e e a r th is robed for­e v er iu th e g a r m e n ts o f sn o w a n d ice , a phenomenon o ccu rs , w h ich , to th e ig n o r a n t in h a b ita n t o f th is dreary clim e, a n d to th e h a rd y m a rin e r who visits it , is often f ra u g h t w ith t e r r o r , and aw ak en s foelin gs o f superstition a n d d read , b u t w h ich t o th e e y e o f scien ce , affords a beau tifu l d isp lay o f th e w o n d er-w o rk in g pow er o f the In fin ite . W e a llu d e to th e p h en o m en on Known as red snow . U n d e r c e rta in co n d itio n s , w ith in a few hours, tho su rfa ce o f th e sn ow fo r m iles iu e x te n t becom es changed fro m a p u re w h ite to a p in k c o lo r , a n ap p earan ce which w ith th e aid o f th e im a g in a tio n , easily su g g ested thé th e idea o f a sh o w er o f b lood , b u t w h ich , w hen viewed from a scien tific s ta n d -p o in t, b y th e aid o f a m icroscope, is fou n d to be th e r e s u l t o f a c ry p to g a m o u s p lan t (the P ro to co ccu s n iv a lis ) , a sm all an d sim p le ce ll p lant, which h as th e p o w er o f m u ltip ly in g ra p id ly in un told millions o f ce lls w h ich s p re a d o u t u p o n th e su rfa c e o f th e snow, ab so rb n o u rish m e n t from i t a n d th o a ir , live a b rief period an d th e n p erish . O th e r c ry p to g a m ia , o f th o lichen tribe, fu rn ish food in th e sam e re g io n s to th e rein d eer, and thus en ab le , n o t on ly th is a n im al, b u t m an to live th ere.

I n o u r c lim e th e v a r ie ty o f th e se c ry p to g a m ia is much g r e a te r . T h e b e a u tifu l fe rn s th a t ad o rn ou r fields and fo re s ts b elo n g to th is c la ss , an d th e re a r e few scenes of w ild b e a u ty th a t a r e m o re g ran d th a n th e se . I n passing o v e r th e m o u n ta in s o f w e s te rn V irg in ia , in th e autum n a few y e a r s s in ce , w e w e re s tr u c k w ith th e go rg eo u s beauty o f th e c a r p e t w h ich N a t u r e h ad sp re a d o u t in th e forest shad es up on th e se m o u n ta in sides. F e r n s from a few in ch es to tw o o r th r e e f e e t in h e ig h t, v ary in g in color— p re se n tin g r e d , o ra n g e , y ello w an d g re e n w ith inter­m ed ia te sh ad es a n d tin ts — w e re s p re a d o u t w ith a rich­n e ss th a t f a r su rp assed th e b e a u ty o f th e finest carpet th a t wo h av e e v e r seen in th e d raw in g ro o m s o r parlors o f w ealth a n d lu x u r y .

B u t i t is in th e tro p ics th a t w e find th e m o st gran d dis­p lay o f th e b e a u tie s o f th is p o rtio n o f th e vegetable w o rld . H e r o h u g e tr e e -f e rn s th ir ty o r forty feet in h eig h t, se n d up th e ir e n o rm o u s s u ccu le n t trun ks, and from to p s sp re a d o u t in b e a u ty a n d sy m m e try th e ir broad leav es, w hile fro m th e ir c e n tr e sh o o ts o u t a m agnificent b o u q u et o f fron d s.

T h e o ld e r n a tu ra lis ts co m m e n ce d th e stu d y o f the an im al k in g d o m , w ith th e h ig h e r o rd e rs an d m an, and p u rsu e d i t to w a rd s th e m o re sim p le a n d less developed form s. T h e b o ta n ists tooK a s im ilar co u rse going from th e m o re co m p lex to th e sim p le— a p la n a g a in st which b o th N a tu r e a n d R e a s o n p ro te s t . M o d e rn naturalists w ith a p e r tin a c ity eq u alled o n ly in th e th eo lo g ica l world, h av e fo llo w ed in “ th e fo o ts te p s o f th e ir illustrious p re d e ce sso rs .” T h e r e s u lt o f th is c o u rs e o f go in g lack- w ard, is m an ifested in th e g e n e ra l op p osition to w h at ¡b ca lled th o “ D e v e lo p m e n t T h e o r y .” M e n w ho have been p u rsu in g a r e tro g a d o c o u rs e a ll th e ir lives, stem m ing a c u r r e n t t h a t h a s re q u ire d a ll th e i r en erg ies to overcom e, c a n n o t co n ce iv e t h a t a n y th in g in N a tu r e ca n m ove in any o th e r d ire c tio n . A n d P ro fe s so r A g assiz , o n e o f th e most le a rn e d m en o f th is o r a n y a g e , finds tim e now to lecture a g a in s t “ th e D e v e lo p m e n t T h e o r y .” B u t w e shall pur­su e a d ifferen t c o u rs e . B e g in n in g w ith th e m o s t-simple w e sh all p ro ce e d s to p b y s te p , as N a tu r e b erself unfolds, an d a r r iv e a t th e m o s t co m p lex fo r m s . Sh e has dissected in th e m o s t b e a u tifu l m a n n e r th e h ig h e r a n d m ore com­p le x o rg a n iz a tio n s o f p la n ts a n d an im als, and has pre­s e n te d th e ir v a rio u s p a r ts in th e sim p le form s aroun d Us, th u s in v itin g u s to s tu d y th e s e p a r a te fu n ctio n s in her g ra n d liv in g la b o ra to ry , w h ere a lo n e th e y can be ap­p r e c ia te d a n d u n d ersto o d .

T h e lo w e st p la n ts b e lo n g to th e o rd e r Alga), o r sea­w eed s. T h e s e a w as th e m o th e r o f th e first-b orn plant- ch ild ren o f e a r th ; a n d a lth o u g h th e y w ere a t first very low an d im p e rfe c t, y e t sh e h as n o u rish ed a n d fed them a n d r e a r e d g e n e ra tio n a f te r g e n e ra tio n , u n til h e r plants in clu d e d in th e g r e a t fa m ily o f A lg æ , p resen t, many ty p e s h ig h e r a n d m o re p e r f e c t th a n th o se th a t have been

THE HARBINGER OF LIGHT. 6 0 7

brought fo rth a n d n o u rish ed up on th e land, and the ! naturalists have p la ce d tw o o f th e m ore re ce n t orders, the L ich ens and F u n g i , in th e sca le below these.

The first a n d lo w e st p lan ts a r e on ly known to have ex- | isted bv an alo g y . T h e y w e re en tire ly to o frail and perishable to leave a n y reco rd ; and th e y a re , th erefore, found to -d ay in co n d itio n s ap p ro xim atin g to th e prim i­tive. T hese p lan ts w ere developed in w aters Btrongly im­pregnated w ith salts, and i t has been ascertain ed th a t the solvent pow ers, fo r a ir an d gases, is g re a tly diminished in such w ater.

The te m p e ra tu re o f th e se w aters caused them to hold su b sta n ce s in solu tio n which a re n o t a t present found in th e seas. A n d i t is a cu riou s and in­teresting fa ct , ev id en tly th e re su lt o f th e law o f affinity, th at th e a m o u n t o f sa lin e m a tte rs in th e different oceans and seas, b e a r a v e ry uniform prop ortion to th e w ater— a fact o f th e u tm o st im p o rtan ce to th e plants and anim als th at live in th e se w aters .

T he sea-w eeds o f th e p re s e n t tim e v a ry in size and form, from a sim p le m icro sco p ic cell, which som etim es combine and form la rg o m asses o f gelatin ous m a tte r— and from th e m o s t d e lic a te filam ents fine as h air— to the enormous fucoid s w h ich a r e found floating on th e ocean, a single s te m o f w h ich m easu res from one thousand to

fifteen h u n d red f e e t in len gth ; and th e tan gled m asses o f which cover th e su rfa c e o f th e ocean for m iles in e x te n t, ob stru cting th e n av ig atio n , an d furn ish in g hom es, and food also, fo r v ast n u m b ers o f sm all shell fish, aq u aticin - sects, and in fu so ria . T h ese enorm ou s m asses a r e made to float b y m eans o f n u m ero u s sm all a ir vessels. So ex ­tensive a re th o se tan g led beds o f p lan ts th a t th e y have arrested th e m otio n of ia rg e ships, even when driven furiously by sto rm s, a n d have th u s m any tim es saved them from im pen din g d e stru ctio n .

M o st o f th e se p la n ts a r e a ttach ed by ro o ts to rooks, to shells, and to th e soil in th e shallow p a rts o f th e seas ; others float w ith o u t a n y a t ta c h m e n t; and all derive th eir nourishm ent fro m th e w a te r and th e sub stances held in solution b y it . T h e m in u te s tr u c tu r e and colo rs o f m any o f th e sm a lle r v arie ties a re very beau tifu l ; and it affords in te re s tin g an d in stru ctiv e em p lo ym en t to those who visit th e se a -sh o re to co llo c t a n d d ry specim ens o f them . T h e y h a v e sufficient g lu tin ou s m a tte r to cause them to ad h e re to p a p e r, on w h ich th e y m ay be dried, after haying been w ashed an d p ro p erly a rran g ed . T he larger kinds a r e o f a le a th e ry con sisten ce , a u d o f a dark olive brow n o r g re e n co lo r. F ro m th e ash es o f several varieties o f th e s e , a n a r tic le called “ kelp ” is obtained— a su b stan ce com p osed ch iefly o f im pu ro carb on ate of soda— from w h ich m u ch o f th e soda u sed in th e a r ts is m anufactured .

C erta in sea-w eed s a r e valu ab le fertilizers, and a re used in en rich in g .th e soil. S ev eral sp ecies have been dried and used as w in te r food fo r c a ttle . Som e o f th ose sea- plants w ere fo rm e rly used as m edicin es. A few a ro still retain ed f o r th is p u rp o se , as th e chrondu s orisons— com ­m only k n ow n a s ca rg e e n , o r I r is h m oss— which has been highly rocom m en d ed in diseases o f th e lu n gs. I t m akes a very p le a sa n t a n d n u tritio u s kind o f blane mange. T h e i 'u c u s v esiccu lo u s w as used fo rm erly in scrofulous affections. B u t s in ce th e d isco v ery o f Io d in e , i t has been ascertined th a t m o s t o f th e m edicin al p ro p erties o f th e sea-w eeds w e re ow in g to th e p re se n ce o f th is su b stan ce ; and as i t (I o d in e ) , is exten siv ely p rep ared from sea w ater, th e p lan ts h av e fa llen in to d isu se , th o u g h if th e law o f iso m erism w e re p ro p erly u n d erstood , w e should probably find m an y in sta n ce s w h ere th e iodine from th e p lan t w ould be m u ch b e t te r ad ap ted to th e h u m an system th an th a t o b ta in ed from o th e r sou rces.

M an y o f th e sea-w eed s a r e u sed by m an as food. T h ere is a n A s ia tic sw allow th a t c o n s tru c ts its n e s t o f sea w eeds. T h e se n e s ts a r e con sid ered a v e ry g re a t d elicacy , a n d a r e s o u g h t a f te r a n d e a te n b y th e inhabi­ta n ts o f t h a t c o u n try . T h e du lse o f th e S cotch , and dillesk o f th e I r is h , a r e p re p a re d from algro. Y a s tu u m - b ers o f an im als find th e ir feed in th ese w ide spread fam ilies o f s a lt an d fre sh w a te r algio— th e vegetab le feed ers o f th e w a te r— b ein g th e m o st n u m ero u s class th a t e x is t th e re in , a n d to th e se (a n im als) th is class o f p lan ts a r ® ° f th e f irs t im p o rta n ce .

Few and unimportant are the uses which man has

made directly o f th e alga;. Y e t in th e -econ om y o f N atu re , th ey have perform ed a noble p a rt. And althou gh we now ran k th em as th e low est in th e scale o f v ita lity , th e tim e was w hen th ey stood alone— th e h igh est and th e only kingdom o f l i fe ! T h ro u g h th e ir in flu en ce th e face o f n ature on th is globe w as ch an ged , pcrhapB, m o re th a n through th at o f an y o th e r grou p o r fam ily. I n th o se days when th ey w ere

“ Monarchs of nil they surveyed," they perform ed a g re a t w ork in rem ovin g from th e w aters , th e air, and th e e a rth , e lem en ts and com pou nd s which stood as im passable b arriers to th e in tro d u ctio n o f th e higher form s. F i r s t , to th em w as g iven th e k ey s th a t could unlock th e g a te s th a t had sealed up th e g erm s of higher life, and p erm it th em to w alk fo rth in to th e heaven o f existen ce. H ow b eau tifu lly and g ran d ly have they walked over th e globe and laid b road and deep th e foundations on which th o tem p le o f l i f e has been reared . A n d to -d ay th e flow erless p lan ts o f th e sea and land lie a t tho basis o f all L ife , an d a r e u n iversally working in th e g r e a t la b o ra to ry o f N a tu re — p rep arin g th e “ d esert to blossom as th e r o s e ," a n d th e w aste p laces ' o f th e e a rth to becom e as fru itfu l fields aud garden s.

T o th e e y e o fth e ph ilosoph er th e a p p a re n tly in sign ifican t phenom ena o f th e “ re d snow ” seem s to be th e o u ts tre tc h ­ing o f a n arm o f th e In fin ite to ch a n g e th e a tm o sp h eric conditions, and p erhap s, to s tay th o p e stile n ce th a t m ight otherw ise walk ab road on th e e a r th . * E v e ry w h e re th ese silen t w orkers a re in ce ssa n tly lab o rin g ; an d , th o u g h m an m ay n o t com prehend th e ir o p era tio n s, th e y a re doubtless essen tial in th o g r e a t plan o f crea tio n .

T h ere a r e n in e ord ers o f th e se flow eriess p lan ts. N e x t w e m ay co n sid er th o F u n g i. T h is o rd e r, like th e form er, con tain s a g r e a t n u m b er and v a r ie ty o f p lan ts which live in m oist p laces , m o stly in th o d ark , a n a upon decaying v eg etab les an d an im al m a tte r , T h ey ran g e from a sim ple cell, m icro sco p ic in size, th ro u g h variou s form s, to th e im m onse B o v ista g ig a n tea , w hich m easu res n early 2 fee t in d iam eter. T h e cells o f a ll th e se p lan ts have th e pow er o f p ro p ag atin g th e sp eeies-to w h ich th e y belong, and aro so sm all th a t th e y float in th e atm osp h ere , and so nu m erou s a re th e y th a t a lm o st e v e ry p o rtio n , n e a r th e earth 's su rface , co n ta in s m o re o r less o f th e m , on ly w aitin g fo r p ro p er con d ition s to be developed.

W o have a lread y alluded to th e com m on m old, a n d to tho Y e a s t p lan t. T h e M u sh roo m fam ily is p erh ap s th e m ost fam iliar and b est know n o i th o fungi. T h e sm aller form s a re m any o f th em in jurious— living, as th e y do, on vegetables aud anim als. T h e m ild ow -b light, and -th e ru s t on grain , also , a r e cau sed by th o g ro w th o f th ese parasites. B y “ P a r a s ite s ," we m enu th o se w h ich live upon and d raw n o u rish m en t from liv in g p lan ts an d ani­m als ; w hile E p ip h y tes a r e th o se w hich liv e u p o n th ese w ith ou t ab stra c tin g a n y th in g d irec tly fro m th em .

T he disease called “ M u sca rd in e ," w hich is v e ry fa ta l to silk .w orm s— som etim es d estro y in g v a s t n u m b ers o f th ese valuable lab o rers— is cau sed by th e g ro w th o f a p arasitic p lan t. I n w arm dam p seaso n s i t is a lm o st im possib le to a r re s t th e disease, w hich sp read s rap id ly am o n g th ese w orm s. . .

M o st anim als a r e liable to .a t ta c k s o f p a ra s itic p .a n ts — esp ecially w hen in a low con d ition o f v ita lity , and su r­rou n d ed by im p u re and u n h e a lth y in fluence.

M ank in d a re n o t exo m p t from th o se lo a th so m e and disgustin g p a ra s ite s . S ev era l cu ta n e o u s d iseases— es-

Ceeially am on g ch ild ren livin g in filthy an d ba.dly v en ti- ited and dim ly ligh ted hou ses, an d fed up on p o o r d i e t -

re su lt from th e se ca u se s . T h e lesso n to be d erived from th is is g r e a te r c a r e in r e g a rd to clean lin ess, and th e oh- Bcrvnnce o f th o law s o f p h y sical h ealth . I t is a w ell estab lish ed f a c t , th a t n e ith e r p la n ts n o r anim als a r e liable to a tta ck s o f th is c h a r a c te r w hen in a goo d condition o f health.

O u r frien d and p re c e p to r, th e la te D o c to r J o h n K . M itch ell, o f P h ilad elp h ia, p resen ted a th e o ry t h a t m ala-

* During the prevalence of plague, in several instances, red fu n gi have been observed. When tho cholera prevailed in this country in 1832, many persons noticed a peculiar red mold, which attacked paste and other articles. W e would here remark (parenthetically) th at by adding a small quantity of powdeied alum to paste, when it is first made, it may be kept for a long tim e without molding,and that in making scrap books this pnste is much less liable toattacks of fungi.

608 THE HARBINGER OF LIGHT.

r io u s diseases, a n d esp ecially yellow fe v e r, w ere cau sed b y th e in h alatio n o f c e rta in cry p to g a m o u s p lan ts belonging to th is o rd e r. T h e atm o sp h eric cond itions, in w hich this d isease o ccu rs , a r e su ch as favor th e develop m en t o f th e se fu n gi— i. e ., m o is tu re , a n d a c e rta in d eg ree o f h eat. B e lo w a c e rta in te m p e ra tu re th ese p lan ts p erish , an d in su ch con d ition s th is disease is n e v e r know n. B u t we c a n n o t follow th is a rg u m e n t f u r th e r ; th e cu rio u s read er is re fe rre d to his w ork *

to w a rd it . B u t th e in d o le n t a n d in d ifferen t roam about w ith o u t th e m ean s o f g e t tin g th e re .

“ r . e t 1 1 3 t h e n l i e up a n d doing,W i t h a h e a r t f o r a n y f a t e ,

S t i l l achiev in g, s t i l l pursuing,L e a r n t o la b o r a n d t o w ait.

W O R K I N G F O R T H E T R U T H .

A L y c e u m A d d r e s s .

F e w o f th e sm aller p lan ts o f th is O rd er a r e used by m an . T h e m old which is so g e n e ra lly d istrib u ted , even if h arm less, is by no m eans desirable. F o r m an y y e a rs one o f th e se p lan ts has been in com m on and v e ry g en era l use. L o n g b efo re th e m icro sco p e h ad rev ealed to us th a t y e a s t w as a cryptogam ous p la n t o f th is o rd e r, a lm o st e v e ry good house-w ife in th e land had been in th e hab it o n ce o r tw ice in th e week ( a t all seasons o f th e y e a r ) o f p la n tin g th o u san d s, and cau sin g m illions o f th ese little ce ll-p lan ts to gro w . E v e ry “ b atch o f d ough " th a t w as “ s e t ” to m ak e th a t w holesom e and universal a r tic le o f food , B re a d , w as *• a g a rd e n en clo sed and as th e se little p lan ts grew in th e dough, th e y absorb ed o xy g en and gave off carb o n ic a c id ; and th is g a s , being u n iform ly diffused th ro u g h th e d o u gh , cau sed it to b ecom e “ light " A fte r a few h o u rs g ro w th , u n less it be a rre s te d , a n a c id -fe r ­m en tatio n ensu es and th e bread is “ s o u r ." H av in g th e re fo re been k ep t a t a p ro p er te m p e ra tu re , to facilita te th e g ro w th o f th e se p lan ts , it is th e n placed in a heated oven, and by th e p ro cess o f “ b a k in g ” th e p lan ts a re all k illed , th e g as driven oil, an d “ th e stall' o f life ” is th u s p rep ared .

A con sid erab le nu m b er o f th e m u sh room tr ib e a re edible ; an d , by m any persons, a r e con sid ered a s very de­sirab le a r tic le s o f food. T h e A g a ric u s cam p cstris is th e m ost com m on . I t g row s in fields a n d w aste g rou n d s, and is also cu ltiv a ted . 13)’ providing a vo ry rich soil, th eso p lan ts will g ro w sp o n tan eo u sly from seed s th a t a re floating in th e a tm o sp h e re . M a n y o th ers a r e ea te n . B u t as th e d istin ctio n betw een th e edib le and poisonous v a rie tie s is n o t alw ays v e ry m ark ed , w e w ould advise p e r­sons who g a th e r th e se , a lw ay s to seek in stru ctio n from th o se who have had exp erien ce .

T h e A torchella esculen ta , o r M o rel, is n o t on ly used for food, b u ta lso lo r sau ces , and is q u ite in d e m a u d in G erm an y , an d in o th e r E u ro p e a n co u n trie s . B u t p erhap s th e m ost p o p u lar o f all th e se is th e ce leb ra ted Tru ffle o f th e F re n c h , T u b e r c ib a riu m . T h ose a re found u n d er th e su rfa ce o f th e g ro u n d in variou s p a r ts o f E u ro p e . D o g s a ro train ed to find i t by th e sm ell, an d to s c r a tc h i t o u t o f th e e a r th . M r . L o u d e n re la te s a n in stan ce of a m a n h av in g p o s­sessed th is p o w er. I t is used e ith e r s im p ly boiled o r stew ed in a g r e a t v a rie ty o f form s ; b u t, like’ m an y o th e r th in g s, i t ow es m uch o f its p o p u la rity to its re p u ta tio n . T h o A m a n itu s m u scaria , a fu n g u s w hich grow s in m ost E u ro p e a n co u n trie s , is used in n o rth e rn R u ss ia for m ak in g an in to x ica tin g b ev erag e, w hile in th e so u th o f E u ro p e i t is poisonous.

T h e ig n o ra n t m an is selfish and alo n e. H e w rap s him ­se lf in h is m an tle a n d sees no b e a u ty e ith e r w ithin o r xoith- o u t ; an d to o o ften be yield s to

“ P a s s i o n s h o s t s t h a t n e v e r b r o o k c o n t r o l . "

T h e tr u e ph ilosoph er, on th e o th e r h an d , op ens his h e a r t a n d sees b eau ty ev ery w h ere ! T h e w inds a n d s ta rs a re h is com panions. H o sees bro th ers in ro ck s a n d m ou n ­ta in s , in riv e rs a n d o ce a n s ; sisters in flow ers a n d b ird s ; k in d a n d lo v in g /W en d s in th e b ro ad w aving fo re s t tr e e s ’ a n d in th e anim als t h a t ro a m ab ro a d o v er th e e a r th . E v e ry w h e re h e finds a ho m e and frien d s, an d b efo re him th e r e is sp read o u t fo re v e r a b a n q u e t th a t k in gs an d

r in ce s m ay en v y , b u t nono ca n ta k e aw ay . . W id e op en e fo re all s ta n d s th e g a te o f K n o w led g e ! I n th e dis­

ta n c e , on th e su m m it o f a m o u n ta in , is th e b eau tifu l te m p le o f W isd o m , w ith its m ag n ificen t p illars o f s tr e n g th , a n d i t s g ra n d do m e o f b e a u ty and love. E v e ry w h e re aro u n d u s , in a ll th e o b je cts o f N a tu r e , a r e p o in te rs a n d sig n -b o ard s d ire c tin g to th is tem p le , a n d he w h o s to p s t o re a d th e se is ca rr ie d as b y a m a g ic pow er

* 0 n tho Cryptogamous Origin o f Malarious and Epidemic Fevers, by J . K . M itchell, M. D., Professor o f Practical Medicine in thé Tefferson M edical College o f Philadelphia. Philadelphia : Lea “ Blanchard,' 1849.

BY A LADY.I t h as been ask ed m o ro th a n o n ce am on g us here

“ W h a t is th e o b ject o f th e L y ce u m ? ” A n d though thè q u estio n h as been w ell an sw ered a lre a d y , i t w ill, I think, b e a r m u ch a n d fre q u e n t reflectio n . M y ow n opinion is t h a t th e L y c e u m sy ste m is ch iefly u seful in training its m em b ers to love and to w ork fo r th o tru th .

I do n o t say th a t th e L y ce u m is in tend ed to teach you th o t r u t h ; I d o n o t th in k th a t i t i s ; b u t i t certainly aim s a t te a ch in g yon to se e k th e tr u th , and to seek i’t e a rn e s tly by y o u r ow n efforts , to te s t fearlessly all that is offered as t r u t h by a n y o n e , a n d to rece iv o it heartily w h erev er i t m ay co m e from , an d in w h a te v e r form it may a p p ear.

I do n o t know th a t a n y tr a in in g can do m ore for you. I t is a g r e a t th in g to be ta u g h t , in e a rly y o u th , to love tr u th for its ow n sa k e alo n e, fo r its ow n beauty, and go od n ess. I t is a g r e a t th in g to le a rn to have a fearless t r u s t in t r u th , to know t h a t t r u th , an d tru th alone, is u n co n q u erab ly s tro n g . I t is a g r e a t th in g to bo prac­tised in u sin g y o u r ow n fa cu ltie s to d isco v er tru th , aud t o b rin g i t to all possib le te s ts ,— for tr u th will stand all te s ts . Y e s , in d eed , it is a v e ry g r e a t th in g never to h av e b een cra m p e d an d frig h ten ed in u sin g and deve­lo p in g y o u r p o w ers o f th o u g h t. M a n y o f th e older m em b ers o f th e L y c e u m en v y y o u y o u n g e r ones this g r e a t p riv ilege, I a ssu re y o u . “ W ith a g ro at sum b o u g h t I th is freed om , b u t y o u a re fre e b o rn .” But th is is n o t a ll, th e re is m o re to be done, ou tside o f tho L y ce u m , b ey on d i t , a f te r it. N o tra in in g , how ever ex­ce lle n t, c a n do m o re th a n to p la ce w ith in y o u r grasp th e p o w er a n d th e h a b it o f s e a rch in g fo r tru th . And y o u h av e m u ch m o re to d o fo r yo u rselves. I f you w ould e v e r bo w o rth a n y th in g , if y o u w ould over be of a n y a c c o u n t in th e w o rld , y o u m u st love tru th , and w o rk fo r it . A n d th is is n o t easy . I t needs courage, m o ral co u ra g e , t o b e a r th e ta u n ts , th e m isrep resenta­tio n s , an d th e m isu n d erstan d in g s, o f th o se aroun d you, ev en o f thoSe y o u love. I t n eed s (h e vigorous hope w h ich sp rin g s from th a t fe a rle ss t r u s t in tru th to bear u p a g a in s t th e m any' d isco u ra g e m e n ts w hich m eet your w o rk . T h e faith less co ld n ess o f so m e , th e tim id selfish­n e ss o f o th e rs , an d , w o rs t o f a ll, th e tre a ch e ry o f your ow n lo w er n a tu re , a r e co n s ta n tly u rg in g y o u to “ E at, drin k , a n d be m e rry , w h ilst y o u m a y !” I f you listen t o th e se co u n cillo rs , n o m a tte r how y o u a re train ed , you w ill n e v e r b e a w o rk e r fo r t r u t h . T h e y who work for t r u t h h av e, n e a r ly a lw ay s, h ad to su ffer, as nearly all g o ld h as to b e se p a ra te d fro m ro c k an d sand by toilsome la b o u r ; fo r t r u t h C h r is t w as cru cified ; f o r tru th John H u b s w as b u rn t a live ; G alileo w as im prisoned for i t ; a u d th o u g h to -d a y th e so h a r s h e r su fferin gs aro n o t very lik e ly to co m e u p o n th e se rv a n ts o f tr u th , y e t you will 8till o ften h av e t o e n d u re b ein g co n te m n e d and despised, a n d y o u w ill h av e to m ak e w o rld ly su cce ss secondary to m e n ta l a n d sp iritu a l p ro g re ss .

Y e t fo r a ll th is ,— w ith a ll th e se draw b ack s, I do assure y o u th a t to w o rk f o r t r u t h is th e b e s t p aid service upon e a r th , an d th e s u re s t o f rew ard . W o r k fo r th a t ; iaith- fu lly a n d w ith sin g len ess o f p u rp o se , a n d y o u shall grow t o b e g ia n ts in p o w er a n d a n g els in y o u r p eace o f min . W h a t h ig h e r w o rk c a n y o u im ag in e t o en g a g e th e ener­g ies o f th e h ig h e s t a n g els in th e h ig h e s t heavens ?

W h a t c a n y o u lo o k fo rw ard to , in y o u r ow n brig i , g ro w in g fu tu re , a s , m o r e w o rth y o f th e to il you may e x p e n d u p o n i t th a n w o rk in g f o r t r u th . T h e gij®“ a s tro n o m e r , C o p e rn icu s , th re w aw ay th e estabus , fa ith t h a t th e e a r th w as th e c e n tr a l p o in t o f th e heavenly b o d ies, a n d w o rk ed f o r th ir ty -s ix y e a r s to discover p ro v e th a t th e su n w as th e c e n tr e o f o u r system , sm all t r u t h th a t , p e rh a p s y o u m a y th in k , to w or m a n y y e a r s fo r. N a y , Dut y o u a r e m ista k e n then.

THE HARBINGER OF LIGHT. 609

crowned his head with wisdom, it filled his heart with satisfaction, and it has led us on from one new truth in astronomy to another ever since his time.

But we" are not all Copernicuses. Truly no. To every one his own gift. This one has the power of song,_a voice so sweet and strong that all will listen, nomatter what it says. See to it, then, that it utters nothing to deceive, to falsify. Another has a calm, strong judgment, to test and weigh all things well. Let it not bo used only to judge of the probable price of stocks, or of the chances of this or that speculation suc­ceeding. Let it, also, bo used habitually to separate the gold from the dross among the new things that are always coming into the world, true and false together. Others have the gift of eloquent words to touch and to convince the heart. May such lips be ever busy, on the side of truth, teaching, and being taught. Another has high courage and dauntless spirit. Shall they bo used alone to gain him honor and renown ! Rather let them "be used to assail evil and to uphold truth, then, too, honor and renown will eventually come to him, but only- in the train of many a higher blessing. Around others is thrown the gift of modiumship. Shall they turn from it because it does not find favor with the world ? Shall they not rather—must they not—use it for truth's sake, that light may abound more and more upon the earth till the fear of death, and of the grave, and of the here­after—not a whit more terrible than is to-day with its stern duties,—shall all bo swept away from men’s minds. Shall we not, must we not,—wo too who are not mediums, —bear our witness to the truth that we have seen, or else be recreant, be cowards ?

And what shall be our reward for working for truth, —for all the sacrifices wo may bo called upon to make, and all the contumely it may bring upon us ? Fear not! It shall bo an exceeding great reward. I t is this. “ The truth shall make you free.” Little by little it shall make you free from all foolish fears, from darkness, from stumblings, from mistakes.

He who walks an unknown path amid the mists of the early morning, starts and trembles ab terrible looking things, which are but wreaths of vapour, he fears to put his foot out boldly lest ho tread upon the crumbling edge of some precipico ; ho is chilled and discouraged by the damp and heavy atmosphere. But when the morning sun breaks through the pall of mist, at first slowly and imperfectly, then clear, resplendent, strong, that same traveller steps forth boldly, lifts up his head cheerily, and sees his path clear before him. To-day we journey still among the mists of error, but the sun of truth is breaking through our clouds. Truth, more truth, is daily coming on the earth. Soon we may stand, in its triumphant light, free, happy, fearless, strong. But there will ever Be low valleys, narrow ravines, dark caverns, which will admit the light of truth but feebly. Some men there will ever be iu|io, like the moles and bats, persist in living in such regions of mental darkness. Let us not be among them, and let not our cowardice, our silence, or our inertness, leave any to linger there who, if they heard a clear aud fearless voice calling them onward and upward, would gladly follow, though they cannot load, to those higher grounds which the sunlight always reaches first. Let us work, then, work and strive to meet the sun of truth that is rising to meet »8; let us speak out fearlessly of that which we do know.

H o! there, you dwellers in the valley, tread on the thorny path of life without fear. Wo are in darluioss still about many things, but wo see the light coming, brighter, brighter every day. Already we see that the grave is not a horrible pit, the end of all to man ; but a bridge to carry you from the dark side of the valloy to the sunny side. Already we see the radiant oyes aud glittering robes of those who have reached that sunny side before us. Already we see the beneficent laco of God smiling on us in the sweet face of Nature, teaching us in her perfect laws, drawing us to Him, as the needle ■s drawn to the magnet, by the likeness of our hearts to His. Already we cry to Him, Abba, Father! Oh Thou &r_ distant, ineffable, beloved Father, Friend and Guide, even as I deal with thy younger and weaker children, so do thou deal with me. With the same mea-

1i sure that I mete to others, do Thou mete out Thy good

things to me. It to my brother I stint the truth Thou givi st me.—if I see one thing and tell him I see another,

j it lor the sake of my own ease, or my success in life, I call the light Thou givest me darkness, aud my brother’s darkness light, then may I.—then must I —suffer from the canker of falsehood eating into my eyes, blinding

I nie t" the growing life that is coming upon the earth.Oh, may this never be! More light. Father, more

i Truth ! And may 1, and all these here, be workers for Thy truth !

MR. CHARLES II. FOSTER.

In Spiritualistic matters, the event of the past month lias been the arrival here of the world-renowned mediupi Mr. Charles II. Foster. The public have already been

! made aware through the daily press of some of the | doings of Mr. Foster since his arrival here, but the

meagre accounts there given, though wonderful iy them­selves, are utterly inadequate to convey an idea of the wonderful powers exhibited through this uniquo medium who seems to have the peculiar power of placing him­self en rapport with almost any spirit who is asked for. The following account of a s/uincc with Mr. Foster at which the writer was present will give some idea of his mediumistic powers.

While in conversation with a friend one afternoon, recently, he mentioned his intention to visit Mr. Foster shortly. Wo informed him that we were then bound for Mr. Foster’s rooms, and suggested the propriety of his accompanying us forthwith. He ac­quiesced, and we made our way to room No. ta t the Old White Hart, opposite the Parliament Houses. Mr. Foster was absent, but returned in a few minutes and re­ceived us in his usual bland and easy manner. After a little chat on ordinary topics Mr. Foster requested us to take a seat at the table, he seating himself at the oppo­site side. The table was a substantial loo one, forming part of the ordinary furniture of the room, its only en­cumbrances being an inkstand, pencils and paper. iMr. Foster took a piece of the latter, and tearing it into slips about three inches by two, handed them to our friend, whom we will call's.L., telling him to write upon them the names of any deceased friends with whom ho wished to communicate, fold them up carefully, and mix them to­gether, so that he would not himself know cue from the other. S.L. wrote on three of the papers, and after fold- ding them as directed, passed them over the table to the medium, who asked if any of the spirits written for were present, this was answered immediately by tlirco distinct raps on the table. Mr. F then said, now spirits, if you are present, I want you to rap out your names and answer questions for your friend. This was responded to by raps in two or three places at once. We were requested to run a pencil over a printed alphabet which laid on the tablo ; at “ W ” came three sharp raps ; then “ 1 ” ; at “ L," six raps. “ William ?” said Mr. F. and the spirit rapped assent. The first letter of the siruame wasgiven, when Mr. F. said, “ William S—1----- is the name ”to which S.L. assented. William S. then correctly in­dicated by raps which paper his name was written on. Mr. Foster, addressing fi.L., said: “ There is a female spirit standing just by me, who has a communication for you which she says siio will write to you through me, and taking s piece of paper and pencil the following was written, with fluency, “ Words cannot express how glad I am to make myself known to you, I am near you much of the time in spirit, and watch over you always. I am ■making much progress iu the spirit life, aud feel happyto De able to communicate with you. L ------J ----- C.”The name was given in full, aud was from a relative of SL.’s who had left the body only a few months since. Ah ! said Mr. Foster, here is ono of your l’riouds who has a strong inlluence, and he will print his name on the back of my hand. Stretching out his hand towards us, Mr. F. requested us to watch i t ; in about one minute a slight discoloration appeared, and presently the letters G.S. each about 1} inch long and red in color came out clearly in relief on the back of the hand. Ho says his name is George S---------, said the medium; this was cor­rect. While S.L. was thinking over some questions, we

610 T H E H A R B I N G E R O F L I G H T .

wrote two names on two slips, and folding thorn passed them over to Mr. F. The spirits immediately an­nounced their presence, and one of them informed Mr. Foster that he would write his own name direct. Mr. ' F . tore oil' a slip of blank paper shewed us both sides of | it and made marks on it that it might be identified Placing his left hand on the table, he took the marked paper and a pencil in his right and held it under the table. In a few seconds three raps came on the table, Mr. F. withdrew his hand from under, and handed us the piece of paper with our spirit friend’s name in full written upon it from right to left. We wrote a question to the spirit, folded it, and handed it to Mr. F. He im­mediately answered it fully and satisfactorily. Mr. F. then said, “ There is a spirit standing beside you, I.C T. or T.C.T. It is your brother.” Three loud raps on the table. In answer to a question an interesting and satis­factory reply was given through Mr. Foster. Mr. S.L. then wrote a question on a piece of paper uud the medium without seeing it, answered, “ It is ns real as' your world nnd much more beautiful.” The question was found to be, “ What is the nature of the spirit world.” Several other questions, principally of personal or private interest, were asked ana responded to satis­factorily. Duringthe whole of the seunce the raps were loud and frequent in all parts of the room, nnd some of them on the feet of Mr. S.L. At the conclusion, Mr. Foster asked the spirits all to rap together ; the shower of raps which followed this fairly shook the table. After a little pleasant conversation with Mr Foster, we left, with a feeling that his powers as a medium cannot be fully described, but must be seen to be appreciated at their true worth. At subsequent sittings with Mr. Foster, similar phenomena were repeated, and in addition he described to the sitters, friends whom they had long forgotten, and gave correctly the diseases or other causes of death of the spirits professing to com­municate.

A NATURAL CLAIRVOYANT.

The following letters appeared in the bydney M orning H e r a ld ; the second of them was reprinted in the A rgus of March 4th. Mr. Bone appeals to the medical fraternity forenlightenment as to thecauseof tbeinterest- ing phenomena exhibited in the person of his son. They and most of the so-called scientific men, are totally in the dark on this and all kindred subjects, for the simple reason that they are wilfully blind to the numer­ous facts, in mesmerism and clairvoyance, which have been demonstrated by those who have given time and at­tention to the investigation of the subject. Natural clairvoyance as possessed by Mr. Bone’s son, is rare, but a similar condition may be induced by mesmerism in many persons who in their normal condition show no evi­dences of clear vision. ‘ Tis the brain sees.’ The eye is but a lens, by which external objects are reflected, the impression being conveyed by the optic nerves to the. brain.

TO T H E E D IT O R O F T H E H E R A L D .S ir ,— I have a little boy, 12 years of age, whose sin­

gular gifts of touch have lately filled our family and a few of our friends with tho utmost astonishment. Some short time ago we gave a juvenile party at home, and and with a view to the general amusement this little fel­low allowed himself to be blindfolded, and taking a pack of cards with which they bad been playing “ beat my neighbor,” he told them the color of each, with the ex­act number of spots upon it, and accurately describing the Court cards of every suit, so literally as to fill every one of us who witnessed it with perfect amazement. More than that, Sir —Of course these little people de­manded to bo shown all that ho could do, and, taking some marbles out of the “ pool ” ho fold us with won­derful certainty the color of each one as it was placed between bis fingers, andjvhen challenged with playing a trick upon us, he confessed that such was the case, becau se h e cou ld f e e l th e co lor o f each one.

Well, Sir, some of the young folks relating to their parents all that they had seen my boy do was naturally the cause of his being invited to their homes that their parents might be satisfied thet such a performance could

tnko place without coll usion, the result of it bein» thatnof onlv was all that he had previously shown them repeated with the same undeviating accuracy, my friends as thev report to me (for I was not present myself) taking aI-

| vantage of every means that they could think of to trick him,but also eliciting the fact that it is in his power to tell the portrait of any person with whose features he may have any tolerable acquaintance merely touching the carte-de-v¡8ite almost as certainly as if he had an eve at each of his fingers' ends. ■'

Should you deem this worthy of a space in your columns I trust that some of your scientific or medical correspondents may bo able to ascribe some cause for this apparently extraordinary phenomenon.

. I am, Sir, yours obediently,ROBERT BONE.

140, Pitt-street, 22tid December.S ib ,—On the 20th December last you courteously

favored me by publishing a letter which I hurriedly in­dited to you, headed “ Delicate Touch,” but which I have since had reason to believe I then misnamed, as I find that my little son, tho subject of that letter, is capable of describing with tho utmost accuracy such things as portraits (even under glass) colored pictures, woollens, figured cotton or silk fabrics, and other articles, as glasses of all shades of color, and the petals of flowers; pointing out even the minutest spots of different hues, and of reading letters from friends to friends'that none but their owners have ever seen, no matter the quality of tho penmanship, or the minutest print in any English reading book, with the most complete and certain accuracy. He will also tell the time indicated upon the dials of a dozen different watches that may all be pointed to different times of tho day by simply showing such ob­jects to his fingers while he is securely blindfolded, and the objects themselves are placed beyond any possible range of vision. In my former letter, Mr. Editor, I ex­pressed a hope that •' some of your medical or scientific correspondents might he able to ascribe some cause for this apparently extraordinary phenomenon.” But pos­sibly the large number of children in this colony and in other parts of the world similarly gifted may by this time have rendered further investigation entirely unnecessary on tho part of tho scientific. Still, sir, as I am of opinion that there may yet remain Borne few of my fel­low-citizens quite as ignorant as I formerly was myself, I trust you will enable me to enlighten such of them in regard to this strange freak of nature by inserting this in some corner of your valuable paper. I may add, sir, in conclusion, that very many friends and acquaintances of my own have frequently witnessed, and will fully cor­roborate all, and even more, than I here moat solemnly and truthfully avow.

ROBERT BONE.140, Pitt-street, Sydney, 27th February.

INCIDENTS O F IM PRESSIO N MEDIUMSH IP

One of the forms of mediumship the least understood and the laws of which are most difficult to investigate, is that of impression mediumship. Yet we unhesita­tingly believe that there is none more fraught with usefulness to mankind, none more calculated to connect the medium with the higher grades of departed spirits. I t is, we think, not at all improbable that when we moro fully understand tho different varieties of mediumship, wo shall find that which we all habitually call genius to, be more closely allied to impression mediumship than wo can at present prove, however much we may suspect the relationship. I t is quite certain, that the history o most men of transcendent genius bear traces of many peculiarities that are hardly to be accounted for witbou some reference to an inspiration apart from an independent of themselves. - Setting aside, liowevc for the time, the sons of genius, it may not be unin er- esting to our readers to give them the following incidents of impression mediumship the acauI? cí- .i , which we can personally vouch for and both of w 1 answer for themselves the cu i bono question so o thrown at Spiritualists. . ¡t0

There lived some years ago, in a city which it is q ^ unnecessary to name, a gentleman possesse

THE HARBINGER OF LIGHT. 611

most rare mediumistic powers ; not, however, a professional medium, but a clergyman. He had all his life been conscious of a slrangu internal power that impelled, but mark vou never compelled him,—to do thing/ that his natural m auvais honte made him shrink from. And by the time he had reached middle age, experience had taught him—however unusual the course of action to which he was prompted might be,— that he generally found himself well satisfied with the result when he yielded to the impulse, and very much the reverse when he resisted it.

At the time of our opening narrative, circumstances had but recently led him to investigate the phenomena of Spiritualism. But being quite unaware of possessing any mediumistic powers himself, ho usually sought the aid of some well reputed medium. He had called on such a one for the purpose ot requesting a seance, and was waiting the return homo of the medium, when a lady, past her first youth, but handsome and dignified even to stateliness, was shown into the waiting room, and expressed great disappointment at finding that she would have to wait some time before she could have an interview with the medium from whom she hoped to obtain some important information.

“Madam,” said our timid clergyman, feeling utterly astonished at himself with every word that came out of his mouth ; if you will take that seat opposito mo, I think I can give you the information you seek.”

The lady turned and stared at him in a very lady-likc and overwhelming way, but seeing a gentleman though a bashful one. and withal a quiet and reverend man she softened, took the seat he_ pointed to and answered:

“ I f you can, sir, I shall be indeed grateful to you. I am obliged to leave the city with my husband by a train which starts at such an hour that I cannot possiblyawait the return of Mr F------whom I came to sec. Butare you a medium ?

" Not that I know of, madam. But I have a message to give you which I dare not withhold.

“ From whom may I ask ?" said the lady stiffening again.

“ I do not know replied the now desperate clergy­man, “ but if there is any mistake, as to the message being intended for you, the statements with which I have to accompany it will show that at once, and you can stop mo. You are about to embark on a new mode of life, and you seek beforehand some assurance, outside of your own judgment and reason that your undertaking will result according to your wishes. Madam, listen to your head, rather than to your heart, it is much the best of the two. I will have no conceal­ment with you,” he exclaimed, habitual reserve now thoroughly overcome by earnestness. “ The truth, as itis given to me, is this. You live at S------in wealth andgood position, you have a good husband and a largo family of children around you, yet you are actually contemplating, soon after your return home, leaving husband, children and position with a man whose sole recommendation is a graceful exterior and polished manners. Do it at your peril, and you will live to drag yourself through the streets of this very town in rags and shame, and to end your days in crime. Go home, madam, go home, and give it all up at once and forever. Your secret is safe with me, and with those who have just imparted it to me. Never let any one know, not even the scoundrel who has so nearly seduced you, how close to ruin you have been. I f your husband has become distasteful to you, turn your affe'etions upon your children, and upon the work that lies so abundantly around you. I f you do not follow this advice there is nothing but ruin and a horrible death before you.”

Thé gentleman paused dismayed at what he had done. The message was given.; the inspiration was over ; and he returned into himself again, wondering how ho had dared deliver it, The lady rose from her seat pale, but very quiet and very humble.

^ lan'£ you 8'r. I will obey you,” and with that she left him ; but not long after Bhe obtained his name and address, how, he never knew ; he was quite ignorant of hers till she sent it to him telling him that he had saved her, and asking for advice on some less momentous questiou. But he had no more messages to give her, and as a matter of personal taste, avoided her as he would have done a serpent, though she sought his acquaintance more than once.

Some years afterwards, when he had learned to under­stand and trust more fully the nature of his own inter­course with spirits, he met ouce in casual intercourse at a mutual acquaintance, the lady from whom wo have the following narrative. The acquaintance did not continue beyond the first evening, and the lady had almost for­gotten even his name, when some weeks afterwards she was told by her servant on returning homo that the Bev.M r.---------was waiting in the drawing room to see .her. She recalled the occasion of their previous meet­ing ; but instead of availing himself of that as an ex­cuse for his visit, he broke entirely away from it, simply reminding her of what she had heard in regard to his impression mediumship, and then stating that not long after first meeting her, he had been impelled to visit her, and deliver a message from some of her guardians, who had given him exactly and correctly her address. He had

Essed her door several times, so strong was the impel- g force, but fear of seeming to intrudo upon her had

always restrained him. At last he had overcome per­sonal feeling, in the desire to be of use to others.

The lady was an experienced Spiritualist, and there­fore, though surprised, she begged him to give the mes­sage, whatever it might be, promising to exercise her own judgment in receiving it. It was in brief this; he stated very fully and particularly certain difficulties in her posi­tion, which at the time were troubling her very. much. She was, ho said, beset with the manceuvrings of two sets of acquaintances, one party friendly in intention, seeking to engage her in marriage with a rich elderly man, not very likely to prove her affinity; the other party decidedly inimical to her, were seeking to attach unpleasant and injurious gossip to her namo. In seek­ing to avoid Scylla, sho had very nearly made up her mind to run upon Charybdis, and to seek refuge from gossip and misconstruction in a marriage of mere worldly prudence. The message came to warn her of the utter futility of any such course. Sooner, it was said, than any such marriage should take place, that gentlemen would be removed by death. The annoyance caused by her enemies, ueed not disturb her ; with their worst will they were powerless to hurt her, and would soon disappear from her life altogether, like a bad dream Both predictions proved true. A sudden and not to bo foreseen death did removo the gentleman chosen for her husband, within six weeks after her inter­view with the impression medium, and her enemies who had^chiefly sought this rich man’s wealth for themselves ceased from troubling her. As she received the clergy­man’s, or rather the spirit’s message calmly, reasonably, and quietly, the interview was somewhat prolonged and they parted with a mutual sense of gratification, he evi-' dently, witiibhe sense of duty fulfilled, sho with the re­newed assurance of spirit guardianship over all the haps and mishaps of life. Many other messages were given besides the one he had been expressly sent to deliver ; some referring to her own past and future lifo, much of which has since been verified, others referring to tho state of spirits after death so far as known to the com­municators. She always spoke of it as an ever memor­able interview from which she had derived great com­fort and strength, but neither ho nor she ever sought to extend tho acquaintance. We know that these were not tho only instances in which this remarkably endowed man used his singular gifts for good, to warn, to com­fort, or to sustain, and we know of no single case in which his mission seemed to fail. Let all go and do like him, with his singleness of purpose and simplicity of soul, and the highest forms of mediumship wiH be far more common among us than they are now, and spiritual communication will be fully recognised as a boon and a

- blessing to mankind.

612 T H E H A R B I N G E R O F L I G H T .

VISCOUNT AM BERLEY ON SPIRITUALISM.

I n the January number of the Fortn ightly R eview ap­pears a smartly-written paper fiom the pen of Viscount Amberley antagonistic to Spiritualism. We have little fault to find with this lucubration. I t betrays no stronger evidences of overweoning self-conceit than are custom­arily exhibited in magazine and newspaper articles on this difficult subject, and at the stage of investigation the writer had reached he could hardly have penned a different style of composition. He had attended a few seances and visited a few mediums—among the rest the celebrated one who is now in Melbourne—and having obtained only negative results, naturally jumped to the conclusion that nothing else is to bo discovered. Like thousands of others have done before him he regards his line of march as the ultim a thule of possible explora­tion. Further experience will bring increased know­ledge, and, as a consequence, increased diffidence. With all his rashness, however, Lord Amberley, unlike some Melbourne wiseacres, is not so inconceivably foolish as to announce that there is a mystery, but that it would be unwise to attempt to unravel it. Moreover he is, at least, logical in his unbelief. T h e A rgus has quoted one paragraph from his article. For the benefit of our orthodox opponents we will quote another, from which, doubtless, they will derive much comfort.

“ I t i s h a r d t o u n d e r s t a n d — o r w o u l d b e h a r d w e r e n o t f l a g r a n t i n c o n g r u i t i e s s o c o m m o n — h o w t h e s a m e i n d i v i d u a l s c a n r e j e c t w i t h s c o r n t h e s t a t e m e n t s o f S p i r i t u a l i s t s , y e t r e c e i v e w i t h f a i t h

t h e e q u a l l y i n c r e d i b l e s t a t e m e n t s w h i c h f o r m p a r t o f t h e i r r e ­l i g i o u s c r e e d . E v i d e n c e o f f e r e d b y m a n y w i t n e s s e s , w h o s e n a m e s a r e k n o w n , w h o h a v e p o s i t i v e l y s e e n w h a t t h e y d e s c r i b e , w h o m a y b o p e r s o n a l l y q u e s t i o n e d , w h o s e u n t r u t h s , i f a n y , m a y b e d e t e c t e d , t h e y d o n o t e v e n d e e m w o r t h y o f e x a m i n a t i o n . E v i d e n c e o f f e r e d b y s i n g l e w i t n e s s e s , w h o s e n a m e s a r e u n k n o w n , o r d o u b t f u l , w h o

a r e b e y o n d t h e r e a c h o f a l l e n q u i r y , w h o s e u n t r u t h s , i f a n y , t h e r e a r e n o m e a n s o f d e t e c t i n g , t h e y b e l i e v e e v e n w i t h o u t e x a m i n a ­t i o n . T o a s s e r t t h a t a l a d y f l o a t s i n t h e a i r i s r i d i c u l o u s ; t o a s ­s e r t t h a t a m a n w a l k e d o n t h e w a t e r i s q u i t e c r e d i b l e . T o b e ­

l i e v e t h a t s p i r i t s r e t u r n t o u s i s a s i g n o f f o l l y : t o b e l i e v e t h a t a f t e r a c t u a l d e a t h h u m a n b e i n g s w e r e r e s t o r e d t o l i f e i s r a t i o n a l r e l i g i o n . A n g e l s ' m i g h t d e s c e n d t o c o n v e r s e w i t h p r o p h o t s ; s p i r i t s c a n n o t d e s c e n d t o c o n v e r s e w i t h t h e i r d e a r e s t f r i e n d s . T h a t a t a b l e s h o u l d b e m o v e d i n s o m e i n e x p l i c a b l e w a y i s n o t t o b e l i e v e d ; t h a t a s e a o r a r i v e r s h o u l d b e c l e f t i n t w a i n i s n o t t o b o

d o u b t e d . I t m i g h t a l m o s t b e m a i n t a i n e d t h a t t h e r e a d i n e s s w i t h w h i c h t h e p u b l i c a c c e p t s t h e m a r v e l l o u s a n d t h e i n e x p l i c a b l e , v a r i e s d i r e c t l y a s i t i s i l l - a t t e s t e d . F o r n o t o n l y i s t h e t e s t i m o n y o f f e r e d b y S p i r i t u a l i s t s i m m e a s u r a b l y s t r o n g e r b o t h i n k i n d a n d i n a m o u n t , t h a n t h a t o n w h i c h t h e o r t h o d o x m i r a c l e s r e p o s e , b u t i t

c o n f o r m s f a r m o r e c l o s e l y t o s c i e n t i f i c c o n d i t i o n s , b e i n g o f f e r e d i n o r d e r t o p r o v e , n o t e x c e p t i o n a l p r o d i g i e s , w r o u g h t b y e x c e p t i o n a l m e n , i n o p p o s i t i o n t o t h e l a w s o f n a t u r e , b u t p h e n o m e n a o f e v e r y d a y o c c u r r e n c e , s u b j e c t t o t h e i r o w n l a w s , w h i c h , i f n o t f u l l y a s ­c e r t a i n e d a r e n o l e s s c o n s t a n t t h a n t h o s e o f t h e m a t e r i a l w o r l d

T h e c h u r c h m a n s a y s , ' e x t r a o r d i n a r y e v e n t s h a p p e n e d o n c e , u n d e r c o n d i t i o n s t h a t w i l l n e v e r r e c u r . ’ T h e S p i r i t u a l i s t s a y s , ‘ e x t r a ­o r d i n a r y e v e n t s h a p p e n d a i l y , u n d e r c e r t a i n c o n d i t i o n s , a n d w i l l a l w a y s h a p p e n w h e n t h e s e c o n d i t i o n s a r c f u l f i l l e d . ’ A n y a r g u ­m e n t , t h e n , t h a t i s u s e d a g a i n s t t h e l a t t e r , t e l l s w i t h h u n d r e d f o l d f o r c e a g a i n s t t h e f o r m e r . "

The man who can write thus is too sagacious to rest satisfied, for long, with negative results.

THE HARBINGER.

D eae Sie —W ith your permission I wish to bring be­fore the Spiritualists o f Victoria a matter which I am sure the knowledge of, will quickly stimulate to practical sympathy in the form of that aid and interest which this communication is intended to solicit.

I t was with much regret that I was a few days ago informed, that your paper was published monthly at a considerable personal loss to yourself.

Turning this over in my mind I began to wonder if such a fact could be anything like generally known to the friends of truth and progress throughout the colony Thinking on the side of charity, viz:, that they only wanted to know in order to afford the aid required, and knowing your own modesty in such matters, I resolved to make' the fact known in this way, and call upon all who take an interest in our cause to lend a helping hand and relieve you of a pecuniary loss which has been borne in silence ever since the little advocate of our philosophy was inaugurated.

I have no wish to blame any one for allowing this to

go on without endeavoring tojgivo their aid, because tlm presumption is, most people are ignorant that such i state of things exists, and my object in asking the inser tion of this lotter is to afford the light, that no doubt will promptly excite the sympathy required.

It is every one’s own business to decide in which wav the aid will be given, but I would suggest that all who are able .will in future increase their subscription and go in for two or more copies as the case may be; were only fifty or sixty to respond it would go a long way to effect the object in view, and really the effort is so small that no one would feel it.

My circumstances are comparatively humble, and I cannot at present afford a further call upon my means My subscription, as you know, is for five copies, and wore only a few more to subscribe for the same number the difficulty would soon be removed. I have no hesita­tion in saying that the manifestation of a little individual interest in the subject would, before many months elapse, place your paper in an independent position.

Now, Sir, I have said enough—more, I fear, than you care to insert; but I have faith enough in the good judgment and glorious sentiments of the friends of the cause to believe that this short appeal will receive at their hands no lardy response. Considering your many gratuitous labors in connection with this publication it is surely a small matter that we should relievo you of any anxiety in the direction named.

Yours, &c.,22nd March, 1874. II. A.

[After serious consideration we have decided to insert the above letter. We are adverse to asking pecuniary aid, and intend to keep up the issue of the Harbinger while we have the means to do so until it becomes self- supporting. Wo believe, however, that many friends might add to our subscription list by bringing the H ar­binger under the notice of their acquaintances, and there­by relieve us from the incubus of a deficit which presses rather heavily upon us just now.—E d. H. o p L.]

TH E SPIRITUA LISTIC AND FREETHOUGHT PROPAGANDIST SOCIETY SOIREE.

The Spiritualistic and Freethought Propagandist So­ciety held their first anniversary soiree at the Turn Verein Hall on Thursday evening last. Upwards of

'150 sat down to tea, the tables for which were most tastefully arranged, supplied with a great variety of good things and adorned with an abundance of flowers. After tea, the numbers were largely increased, and it was calculated that at 10 o’clock between 300 and 400 were present. Tea was followed by a concert of a varied nature, and the whole concluded with a ball, the dancing being kept up with spirit until 2 a.m., when the company dispersed.

------------ o------------ -TRU E MARRIAGE.

“ Whenever man pays a reverenceto woman, whenever man finds a woman purifying, chastening, abashing, strengthening him against temptation, shielding him from evil, ministering to his self-respect, medicining his weari­ness, peopling his solitude, winning him from sordid prizes, enlivening his monotonous days with mirth, or fancy, or wit, flashing heaven upon his earth and hal­lowing it for a spiritual fertility, th er e is the element ol true marriage. Whenever woman pays reverence to a man, rejoicing in his strength, and feeling it to bo God s agent, confirming her purpose and crowning her power; whenever he reveals himself to her, just, inflexible, yet tolerant, merciful, tender and true, his feet on the earth, his head among the stars, helping her to hold her soul steadfast to the right, this is the essence of marriage- There is neither dependence or independence, but inter­dependence. Years cannot weftkeri its bonds, distance can not sunder them, it is a love which vanquishes the grave and transfigures death itself into life. H am ilton .

THE HARBINGER OF LIGHT. 613

A d v o r t i a e m e n t a .

B I B T H .At Hargreaves Street, Sandhurst, on the night of the

22nd March, the wife of James S. Miller, of a daughter. The parents being members of the Energetic Circle, the child is to be called Katie King.

VICTORIAN ASSOCIATION OF PROGRESSIVE SPIRITUALISTS.

A S O I R E E DANS ANTE ,Under the auspices of the above Association, « ill be held at the Masonic Hall, Lonsdale Street, on Tuesday evening, April 21st, 1874.

PR O G R A M M E O F E N T E R T A IN M E N T :

Overture ... Semiramide ... Miss Rosenwax Song... .. ••• ... Miss PowellAria ... Ingomar ... Miss Evans Song, ... “ The old arm-chair” ... Mr. ClayBallad, “I dreamt that I dwelt in marble halls”

Miss BlackhamSolo Pianoforte ... Marche Slavonic ... Miss Mundy Irish melody “0 steer my bark to Erin’s isle” Miss Hood Spirit Song ... “ From the other side” ... Mrs. Syme Scotch Song ..." Come under my plaiddie”... Mrs. Allen Duet ...“ Elfin Echoes” ... Miss Powell and Mr. Clay Romance ... “ The Gay 'Cavalier” ... Miss Hay ward Song ... ... ... Mr. W . PowellScotch Ballad...“ Last May a braw wo'er”... Mrs. Allen Song ...“ Come in and shut the door” ...Miss Hayward

Tea on tables at 6 o'clock, Concert to commence at half-past 7. Dancing to commence at !) and terminate at 12 o'clock. Tickets, 2/6, for Lady or Gentleman.

Profits, if any, to he placed to the credit of the Association’s Building Fund.

G. A. STOW, Secretary. \

W: IBI. T E RRYHas on SALE

ALL THE BEST W ORKS ON SPIRITUALISM AND THE HARMONIAL PHILOSOPHY;

Also, the following MAGAZINES and NEWS­PAPERS :—

“ Banner of Light,” (weekly). 6d., 25s. per annum.Ship copies, 4d., 15s. per annum.

“ Medium and Daybreak,” (weekly). 3d., 10s. per an­num. Ship copies, half-price.

“Spiritual Magazine,” (monthly). 10d., 9s. per annum. “ Human Nature,” (monthly). 10d., 9s. A“London Spiritualist” (Weekly). 6d., 21s. „“ Religio-Philosophical Journal,” (weekly). Gd., 25s.

per annum.Country P ostage E x tra .

W. H. TERRY, Spiritual and Reform Book Depot 96 Russell Street, Melbourne.

C a t a l o g u e s F r e e o n A p p l i c a t i o n .

The H arbin ger o f L ig h t, volumes 1, 2, and 3, in cloth covers, 5/- per vol.; or the 3 volumes in one, 12/6. W. H. T e r r y , 96 Russell-street, Melbourne.

BRITTAN’S JOURNAL,Of Spiritual Science, Literature, Art and Inspiration.

The Dynamics of Subtile Agents; the Relations, Facul­ties and Functions of the Mind; Philosophy of the Spiritual Life and World ; and the principles of Univer­sal Progress.

Published Quarterly, S. B. Brittan, M.D., Editor. Each part contains 142 pages, large 8vo., of high class matter and a steel plate illustration. Melbourne Sub­scription, 18/. per annum. Country, 20/. Vol I, for 1873, can be supplied. No. 5, due by next mail.

IV. H. TERRY, Agent, 96 Russell St., Melbourne.

U N D E R R O Y A L P A T R O N A G E .

MAYALL & SONS’NEW PHOTOGRAPHIC PORTRAIT STUDIO,

E A S T E R N i B C I P B .

M e s s r s . M A Y A L L l i e g l e a v e t o a n n o u n c e t h e O p e n i n g o f t h e i r N e w B r a n c h E s t a b l i s h m e n t a t t h e E A S T E R N A R C A D E , b u i l t e x p r e s s l y , f r o m t h e i r d e s i g n s , b y M e s s r s . C r a w f o r d a n d P a c k h a m , a n d , b e y o n d d o u b t , t h e f i n e s t i n t h e S o u t h e r n H e m i s p h e r e . T h e m a g n i f i c e n t b t u d i o i s u n u s u a l l y l o f t y a n d s p a c i o u s , b e i n g 4 4 f e e t i n l e n g t h ; f a c i n g n e a r l y s o u t h , t h e s u n ’ s r a y s a r e e x c l u d e d , w h i c h k e e p s t h e p l a c e c o o l , a g r e a t d e s i d e r a t u m i n t h e s e w a r m l a t i t u d e s , a n d o n e t h a t l i a s b e e n t o a g r e a t e x t e n t l o s t s i g h t o f . T h e R e c e p ­t i o n R o o m , o r P i c t u r e G a l l e r y , i s l i g h t e d e x c l u s i v e l y f r o m a s k y ­l i g h t , a d m i t t e d t o b e l i e s t f o r s h o w i n g p i c t u r e s . M e s s r s . C r a w ­f o r d a m i P a c k b a m , w i t h g r e a t l i b e r a l i t y , h a v i n g a d o p t e d M e s s r s . M a y a i l ’s p l a n s i n t h e i r c u i i r c t y , t h e r e s u l t i s o n e o f t h e f i n e s t a n d m o s t e f f i c i e n t S t u d i o s e v e r b u i l t . T h e P u b l i c a r e m o s t r e s p e c t ­f u l l y i n v i t e d t o i n s p e c t t h e i r l a r g e c o l l e c t i o n o f S p e c i m e n s a t e i t h e r e s t a b l i s h m e n t .

MAYALL & SONS, Photographers,224 & 226 Regent Street, London; 90 & 91 King’s

Road, Brighton;a n d E A S T E R N A R C A D E ,

MELBOURNE.

J U S T R E C E I V E D .

Report of the London Dialectical Society on Spiritual­ism, cheap edition, upwards of 400 largo 8vo. pages, cloth, gilt letters. Price, 5s.; Five copies for 20s.

Seers of the Ages, by J. M. Peebles—English edition complete—5/6.

Sexual Physiology, by Dr. Trail, 6/6.D. D. Home’s Incidents in my Life, second series, 6/6.The career of the Religious Idea, through successive

ages, by Hudson Tuttle -English edition, 3/6.The Man of the Future, 7/6.The Duties of Parents, 3/6.Esoteric Anthropology, T. L. Nicholls, M.D., 5/6.Human Physiology, by T. L. Nicholls, M.D.—with

numerous illustrations, 6/6.Spirit Mediums and Conjurors: an Oration delivered in

the Cavendish Rooms, London, June 15th, 1873; by Geo. Sexton, M.A., L.L.D.,F.A.8.,F.Z.S., &c. Price 3d.

The Phenomena of Death—a Trance Lecture, through Mr. J . J . Morse, 2d.

A Scientific view of Modern Spiritualism, by T. Grant, 8dThe Debatable Land, by R. D. Owen— English edition,

10/-; American do., 9/.On the connexion of Christianity with Solar Wor­

ship, 1/3.God and Immortality, viewed in relation to Modem

Spiritualism, by Geo. Sexton, M.A., L.L.D., &c., 8d.Concerning Miracles, by Thomas Brevior, 4d.The Philosophy of Death, A. J . Davis, 4d.Human Immortality proved by Facts, 6d.Progressional Economy—a system of Natural Law—by

Wm. Volckman, being the July No. of “ Human Nature.” Price, 9d.

Religion and Democracy, bv S. B . Brittan, 1/-Illustrated numbers of the Medium, Gerald Massey, and

John King, 2d. each.Thomas Scott’s cheap issues of Free Thought Litera­ture, from 4d. upwards.

• W. H. TERRY,Spiritual and Reform Book Depot, 96 Russell Street,

Melbourne.

MELBOURNE PROGRESSIVE LYCEUM.

ANNUAL PICNIC, at the Survey Paddock, on Friday next, (Good Friday). Groups and Leaders assemble at Flinders Street Station, Hawthorn platform at 9.45 a.m. In the event of wet weather, an indoor festi­val will be held at the Tum Verein Hall, Latrobe Street east.

614 T H E H A R B I N G E R O F L I G H T .

JOHNSTONE O’SHANNESSY & CO.,B Y A P P O IN TM E N T TO H .R .H . TH E DU KE OF EDIN BUR GH,

N E X T P O S T OFFICE,

A E T I S T PHOTOGRAPHERS A N D TO H IS EXCELLENCY TH E GOVERNOR,

U E I B O V B I I E . ’

Country Agents:—C astlem aine— H. Bamford, Bull Street.S andhu rst—Mr. J . Williams, 228 High Street, Stam eli—Mr. M. Thomfeldt, Main Street.T arad a le—Mr. C. Warren.Sydney—Mr. J . Ferguson, Bookseller, &c.,426 George

Street.Agents wanted f o r a l l p a r ts o f the Colony.

S B W I K T G M A O H I i v j , Q

REDUCED PRICES.

S I N G E R ’ sNEW NOISELESS

LOCK-STITCH SEWIN'G MACHINET he B e s t in the W orld,

MISS ARM STR O N G, Clairvoyant for Diagnosing Disease

F e e 10 s .

T H E C O T T A G E ,8 8 R v i a a e 1 1 S t r e e t :

AtG R E A T L Y R E D U C E D PRI CES.

S T A N F O R D & CO.,CORNER OF BO U RK E & RUSSELL STREETS

ME LB OUR NE .

3? H .O T O - A R , T .

B A T C H E L D E R A IN D CO.,P H O T O G R A P H E R S A N D A R T I S T S ,

( E s t a b l is h e d 1 8 5 4 ),E xecu te commissions in all styles of Portraiture—Plain, coloured, or Mezzotint—on Moderate Terms. Specimens a t address,

4 1 C O L L I N S S T R E E T E A S T

FlizeMedal.

m

Sydney Exhibition-

1873.

SUCCESS THE IN D EX OF MERIT.P A L M A M Q U I M E R U I T F E E A T .

GOHinsr ROSIER.P M 1 M ÏM BO O T

S j J p ec ia lappo in tm en t to H is E xcellen cy S ir G . F . B o w e n , g . c . m .O

40 SWANSTON ST R E E T , M ELBOURNE.! s i d e i 1 s h o r t d i s t a n c e f r o m t h e T o w n H a l l .

B Y E L E C T R I C T E L E G R A P H ,T H E

West End of London in Melbourne.IT K L E G R A M j

S y d n e y , 2 n d M a y , 1 8 7 3 . T o M r . J O H N R O S I E R , B o o t M a k e r ,

4 6 S w a n s to n S t r e e t , M e lb o u rn e .J u d g e s a w a rd M e d a l t o y o u , s a y in g “ H ig h ly

A r t i s t i c a n d B e a u t i f u l ly M a d e . B q u a l t o A n y ­t h in g o f t h e k in d fro m th e W e s t E n d o f L o n d o n .”

B x h ib itlo n B u ild in g s . J . G . K N I G H T .

S o lo P r o p r ie to r o f the “ C a n te rb u ry B u ck le B o o t ,” t h e In s ta n te r F asten in g - B o o t” a n d th o B le v a te u r B o o t .” (R e g is te r e d a c c o r d in g

o A c t o r P a r l ia m e n t ) . °

T h e “ I n s t a n t e r ” i s p u t o n m o r e i n s t a n t a n e o u s l y t h a n t h e o r d i n a r y e l a s t i c - s i d e b o o t s , b e s i d e s w h i c h a sustained ventilation i s p r o v i d e d f o r , s o m d i s p e n s i b l e f o r h e a l t h i n w a r m c l i m a t e s .

T h e “ E l e v a t e u k " i s s c i e n t i f i c a l l y c o n s t r u c t e d t o a u g m e n t t h e h e i g h t o f t h e w e a r e r , a n d i m p a r t a g r a c e f u l a p p e a r a n c e t o t h e f o o t , a n d s y m m e t r i c a l a r c h t o t h e i n s t e p .

T h e I N S T A N T E R a n d E L E V A T E U U a r e e q u a l l y s u i t a b l e f o r L a d i e s o r G e n t l e m e n ’ s w e a r .

R O S I E R ’ S M A N U F A C T U R E S a r e n o w s o p e r m a n e n t l y a p p r e c i a t e d f o r t h e i r c o m b i n a t i o n o f - ' l l

E L E G A N C E , E X C E L L E N C E , A N D E C O N O M Y

t h r o u g h o u t A U S T R A L A S I A a n d t h e I N D I E S , a s t o r e q u ’i r c n o d e t a i l e d e n u m e r a t i o n o f t h e i r r e s p e c t i v e m e r i t s

A s p e c i a l t y : R O S I E R ’ S P R I Z E S H O O T I N G ' B O O T S h a v i n g b e e n t h o r o u g h l y t e s t e d d u r i n g t h e p a s t S h o o t i n g s e a s o n

G l o b e ° W p r o n o u n c e “ t o b e » “ s u r p a s s e d i n a n y q u a r t e r o f t h e

P a r i s i a n , L o n d o n , a n d N e w Y o r k , F a s h i o n s b y A r r i v a l o f E v e r y M a i l .

L a s t s M o d e l l e d t o s u i t t h e A n a t o m i c a l r e q u i r e m e n t s o f e a c h f o o t u n d e r t h e i m m e d i a t e s u p e r v i s i o n o f t h e P r o n r i e t o r

O B S E R V E : 4 6 S W A N S T O N S T R E E T , b e t w e e S G a r t e n ’s a n d R a i n b o w Hotels.

NEAR TOWN HALL, SAM E SID E

P B O r & S S U B H t f é i S B S iAcadem y o f M usic,

1 5 5 C O L L I N S S T R E E T E A S TN e a r t h e M e l b o u r n e C l u b .

LADIES COMPLAIN—“ My hair is falling off getting thin !” Then why not, as in England, get

■t cut every month ?T E E C ’S . EZIETC3-,

O F

2 2 and 2 4 R^) Y A L ARCADE.Having studied for years the nature and growth of the hair, both in London and Paris, can assure ladies the cause is “NEGLECT." Having added separate rooms for ladies’ HAIR CUTTING and DRESSING, he is deter­mined to assist in carrying out the object by charging moderately. N.B.—Every device in ladies’ and gentle­men’s hair manufactured on the Premises.

SPIRIT PHOTOGRAPHS.

COPIES of Mumler's Spirit Photographs on Sale, Is. 6d. each.; 10s. the set of nine. W. II. Terry

90 Russell Street.

YI0T0RI& .N ASSOCIATION OF PROGRESSIVE SPIRITU A LISTS.

SUNDAY EVEN ING SERVICES at the Masonic Hall, Lonsdale Street, (opposite the Hospital.)

7 p.m. Sunday, April 5th, Musical Service.P r o g r a m m e :

I n t r o d u c t o r y V o l u n t a i y . H y m n , “ M i n i s t e r i n g S p i r i t s . " R e a d i n g .D u e t t , ( S o p r a n o a n d T e n o r ) “ T h e G r e a t C r e a t o r ’s p r a i s e . "

A n t h e m , “ I n J e w r y i s G o d k n o w n . ”R e n d i n g .

C o n t r a l t o S o l o , “ G o l d e n G l o r y . "T e n o r S o l o , “ A w a k e L u t e a n d H a r p . ”

S o p r a n o S o l o , “ C o n s i d e r t h e L i l l i e s o f t h e f i e l d . "A n t h e m , “ B e f o r e J e h o v a h ’s a w f u l t h r o n e . ”

The Progressive Lyceum meets as above at 11 a.m., enquirers and friends of the movement are invited to attend.

SIE-A-TS FREE. “THE HARBINGER OF LIGHT”

T H E V I C T O R I A N E X P O N E N T O F S P I R I T U A L I S M A N D

. F R E E T H O U G H T

Subscription, Town, 5/- per annum; Country, 5/6 Neighbouring Colonies and Great Britain, 6/-

Subscriptions date from September to August.

P r i n t e d b y B . P u r t o n Si C o . , a t t h e ir O ffice, 10« f o r th o P r o p r ie t o r , W . H . T e r r y , a n d p u b lish e d b v 8 o u t b . M e lb o u rn e .

_ Mdboartoat 86 1