10-Lectures on Spiritualism; being a series of Lectures on the Phenomena and Philosophy of Development, Individualism, Spirit, Immortality, Mesmerism, Clairvoyance, Spiritual Manifestations, Christianity, and Progress. By J. Tiffany. Cleveland, Ohio. 1852.

11.-Philosophy of Modern Miracles, or the Relations of Spiritual Causes to Physical Effects; with especial reference to the Developments at Bridgeport, Conn., and elsewhere. By a "Dweller in the Temple." New-York. 1850.

12-An Exposition and Explanation of the Modern Manifestations; comprising the Rappings, Movements, Writing Mediums, and various other Phenomena connected therewith; with extracts from different writers, of remarkable Instances of Presentiment, Prophesying, Visions, Clairvoyance, &c. &c. By Benjamin Franklin Cooley, the great Psychologist, and Independent Clairvoyant. Springfield, Mass. 1852.

13.-Spiritual Philosopher (subsequently The Spirit World), devoted to the Exposiposition of Nature, Physical, Spiritual, and Divine, and to communications from the Spirit World. A weekly paper, edited by La Roy Sunderland. Boston. 1850-1. (Discontinued.)

14-The Shekinah; a Quarterly Review, devoted to the Emancipation of Mind; the Elucidation of Vital, Mental, and Spiritual Phenomena, and the Progress of Man. Conducted by S. B. Brittan. Nos. 1, 2, 3. Bridgeport, Conn. 1852. 15.-The Spirit Messenger; a Semi-monthly Magazine, devoted to Spiritual Science, the Elucidation of Truth, and the Progress of Mind. Edited by the Spirits of the Sixth Circle; R. P. Ambler, Medium. Springfield, Mass., and New-York. 1851-2.

16-Spiritual Telegraph; devoted to the Illustration of Spiritual Intercourse. Published weekly by Charles Partridge. New-York. 1852.

17.-The Crisis; devoted to building up the Lord's Church in true Life, Doctrine, and Order. A Semi-monthly paper, edited by Rev. Henry Weller. Laporte, Ind.

1852.

18.--Disclosures from the Interior, and Superior Care for Mortals. A Semi-monthly paper, dictated by Apostles, Prophets, and other Spirits. Auburn, N. Y. 1851. 19.-Spiritual and Moral Instructor. Semi-Monthly. Auburn, N. Y. 1851. (Discontinued.)

20.--History of the Origin of All Things; including the History of Man, from his Creation to his Finality, but not to his End. Written by God's holy Spirits, through an earthly Medium, L. M. Arnold, of Poughkeepsie, N. Y. Printed at his expense, published by direction of the Spirits, and, in God's will, submitted to a holy and searching Criticism from every earnest Seeker after Truth. by all Booksellers who desire to forward the Work of God's Redemption of Man from Ignorance, Fear, and torturing Doubt. Amen. In the year of God's grace,

1852.

For sale

21.-Observations on the Theological Mystery; the Harmonial Philosophy, and Spirit Rappings; with an Appendix concerning Freemasonry. By the Author of "Millennial Institutions and the Seventh Seal." Hartford, Conn. 1851.

22.--Open Intercourse with the Spiritual World; its Dangers and the Cautions which they naturally suggest. By B. F. Barrett. Boston. 1845.

It will surprise us if a large portion of our readers is not surprised at the above array of works recently accumulated in the department.

of Spiritualism so-called. They cannot well but wonder that a new literature, if not a new science, has sprung into being with those singular psychical developments that, within a few years, have so startled the repose of a sensuous skepticism, by bringing the world of spirits into close proximity with the world of matter. It is mainly with the view of making our readers acquainted with the fact of these numerous issues of the press, bearing upon the so-termed spiritual manifestations, that we have cited the above long roll of titles. We have no design of a formal review, or a specific account of the contents of any of them. They are of various value, from zero upwards and downwards. Admitting the authenticity of the narra tives, it would be difficult to conceive any thing more intrinsically trifling and insipid than the communications professedly derived from many of these tenants of the higher spheres. If such a thing as "spiritual twaddle" could be predicated or imagined of the spiritual world, we should have no farther to seek for the appropriate term by which to characterize a large portion of these ghostly utterances. Of others of them we should be bound in justice to give a somewhat more favorable character. But of none of them can we say that they are of any special importance to any, while to the man of the New Church they are, the very best of them, mere lisping, babbling, and badinage. That oracles of more moment are sometimes uttered in private circles we are inclined to believe, but taking the published documents as a specimen, we can say of them little else than that it needed no ghost to tell us that."

66

The subject, however, with all its abatements, is one of curious interest, and worthy the reflections and remarks which we purpose to bestow upon it. It is one which is pressing itself upon the attention of the public with great urgency at the present time, and from its bordering so closely upon the domain of the New Church, comes very legitimately within its survey. We are aware that there is in many quarters a strong impression that the man of the New Church is to keep himself entirely aloof from all contact with these phenomena; that he cannot approach them even for the purpose of investigation without contracting a soil upon the purity of his spirit, or giving countenance to magical and diabolical proceedings, and that, there fore, our true motto is, "Touch not, taste not, handle not." "O, my soul, come not thou into their secret; unto their assembly, mine honor, be not thou united." For ourselves, however, we are but little troubled with scruples on this head. We recognize an astound ing marvel in these spiritual manifestations, amply deserving the study of every enlightened mind. Nor do we know any thing in the drift of New Church teachings which would forbid the examination of natural or supernatural phenomena, because we might thereby stumble a weak brother or sister. It is only by becoming thoroughly acquainted with the manifestations in all their phases that we shall be best enabled to detect and expose their falsities and evils. To one who has paid much attention to the subject, nothing is more ob vious than that Swedenborg figures largely in the alleged communi cations from the world of spirits. He is often referred to as a highly

advanced spirit, sojourning in some of the supernal spheres, and a great master in all the mysteries of spirit-lore, but still so presented to view as greatly to mislead those who have been hitherto strangers to his true character and his real mission. The mirror by which he is reflected in these revelations is one of such a waving and rugged surface that the image is awfully distorted. So far then as it is proper to correct erroneous impressions on this score in behalf of the interests of the New Church, so far we think it incumbent on the advocate of our truths to acquaint himself with the phases of this singular demonstration. In like manner, if any thing of a confirmatory nature is to be drawn from this source, we know of nothing to prevent our drawing it. It is from motives of this nature that we have given considerable attention to the subject, not as a pupil sitting at the feet of rapping Gamaliels, but as a judge deciding upon the evidence and bearing of a peculiar order of psychical facts. Our present object is to state in brief some of the results of our inquisition; and,

1. We have become satisfied of the reality of the phenomena, that is to say, that they are not the product of fraud, collusion, legerdemain, or human contrivance of any kind. We are convinced that they are of a veritably preternatural origin. No theory of slight-ofhand or slight-of-foot will account for all the facts which are daily and hourly occurring in nearly every part of the country. To say nothing of the rigid scrutiny to which the whole matter has been subjected in the presence of the most intelligent and competent committees; nothing of the vast multiplication of mediums over the land, of many of whom the suspicion of trickery could not for a moment be entertained; what more incredible than that little children, in some cases, of not more than two or three years of age, should become parties to a stupendous scheme of deception, extended and ramified in a thousand directions from one end of the Union to the other. What, again, shall be thought of the fact of which we are personally cognizant, that communications have been made in the Hebrew, Arabic, Sanscrit, and other languages, and that too, under circumstances which absolutely forbid the supposition of any other than supernatural agency? We regard it in fact as entirely impossible to evade the proof that there are certain organizations or temperaments which enable those that possess them to become mediums of intelligent intercourse between the natural and spiritual planes of existence, and that such intercourse is daily being had in hundreds of circles formed for the purpose among all classes of the community.

2. The fact of these manifestations is in itself a very wonderful fact. We speak more especially of the table-knocking or tabletipping phenomena. Those attending the writing mediums are less impressive, as it is easier to refer them, in part at least, to a merely natural origin. One cannot be quite sure that the mind of the medium does not govern the responses. But to sit with a company around a table, and to have an undoubting assurance that there is an invisible power producing the mysterious sounds or motions, and to have the

clearest evidence also of intelligence as well as power-to put interrogations, and have them distinctly and pertinently answered by a presence veiled from mortal view-to have the signal call for alphabet given, and sentence after sentence slowly spelt out, indicat ing a perfect knowledge of the conversation going on in the circle, and interposing pertinent remarks, counsels, cautions, denials, qualifi cations, confirmations, informations, as the case may require, and yet the senses taking no cognizance of any persons speaking besides those who you are sure do not speak-all this, it must be confessed, is marvellous exceedingly when compared with the hitherto established course of human experience. We know, indeed, that this mode of manifestation by the rapping, or rocking, or removal of tables, not only stumbles faith, but provokes ridicule, with the mass of worldly men, as something utterly beneath the dignity of the dwellers of the spiritual spheres. Even those who ordinarily evince but precious little solicitude as to the estimate which may be formed of spirits, of their occupation, enjoyments, or ruling springs of action, become exceedingly jealous of their good repute and worthy proceedings when such a mode of physical agency is attributed to them. They seem to think it as much beneath their dignity to move tables, as it was deemed unbecoming to the chosen twelve in the primitive Christian Church to "serve tables." But it is certainly a very appropriate inquiry whether, supposing that a physical demonstration of any kind were to be made, what more convenient or satisfactory method could be adopted for the purpose. If such demonstrations be made in a house, and not out of doors, it would seem that some articles of furniture would be brought into requisition, and we think it would be difficult to suggest any thing more suitable for the nonce than tables. The great fact to be established in the matter is the fact that spirits do really communicate with men on earth. The intrinsic nature of the oracles uttered is something of less moment. They may be true or false, but the great point is whether they are at all. There is no species of information to be derived from the supernal abodes of so much importance to the world as the bare fact that spirits do and can communicate; and this fact could not well be established by any other than evidence addressed to the outward senses, especially with a world immersed in sensuous thought. The chosen mode, therefore, is probably as appropriate as any that could be adopted, considering the prevalent states of those for whom they are providentially designed.

G. B.

(To be continued.)

EXTRACT.

The wholefface, where the sensories of the sight, the smell, the hearing, and the taste are siturated, corresponds to the affections and thoughts thence derived in general; the eyes cor respond to the understanding; the nostrils, to perception; the ears, to hearing, and obedi ence; and the taste, to the desire of knowing and becoming wise."-A. E. 427.

EDITORIAL ITEMS.

We made a brief visit to Philadelphia during the recent session of the General Convention, mainly for the purpose of reporting for our pages the principal proceedings. The press of matter this month allows us, however, little more than barely the space to say that besides the ordinary business of receiving Reports from Societies, Associations and Committees, little of moment was transacted. A good deal of discussion arose upon the new

Book of Worship, a specimen of which was submitted to the consideration of the meeting. It was finally re-committed with instructions, to the same committee enlarged, to be reported upon at the next convention, which it was voted unanimously to hold at Chicago, Illinois. One or two of the Western men seemed to think that there had been some degree of favoritism shown in the selection of the original Committee, on which the names of Rev. Messrs. Hibbard and Field did not appear, though they, particularly Mr. H., had been long known to evince a deep interest in this subject. The delegates from Boston, however, made it manifest that there was no sinister design in the circumstance of the omission, and the names of those two gentlemen were added by unanimous consent to the committee. Another topic of considerable interest was the adoption of a new basis of representation in forming the body of the General Convention. This has been hitherto from Societies; henceforth it is to be from Associations, making provision at the same time for isolated receivers. This measure, proposed by Mr. Seammon of Chicago, met with little opposition, and was accordingly adopted. The details will appear in the Journal. The action of the Michigan and Northern Indiana Association in appointing the Rev. A. Silver as ordaining minister, came under the notice of the Convention, but no material exceptions were taken to it. So also of the communication from the New-York Society announcing their withdrawal with the general body. Our next No. will contain copious extracts from the Journal, together with a series of remarks on the general subject of a New Church Convention, which we had intended for the present number. The attendance was respectably large, there being however no delegation from any of the Western States except Illinois.

Ar a General Meeting of New Church receivers called by the 1st Society of Cincinnati, Ohio, a body was formed called "The Ohio Conference of the New Church." During the session, Messrs. John H. Williams of St. Clairsville, Chauncey Giles of Pomeroy, and J. H. Miller of Salina, were ordained into the ministry by Rev. David Powell. Many other particulars of the meeting will be given in the minutes, which will soon be published.

Ar a late meeting of the Illinois Association, Rev. S. Storry was ordained into the New Church ministry by Rev. J. H. Hibbard; and at a similar meeting of the Massachusetts Association, a request was preferred by the East Bridgewater Society for the ordination as a missionary of Mr. J. H. Perry, who has been for some time employed as a preacher among them. It was resolved that this ordination be authorized whenever it should be recommended by the Committee on Missions. It has since taken place.

THE zeal of our orthodox friends in several of the churches in the West has recently been asserting itself rather vigorously in weeding out such New Church exotics as have inade their appearance among the more appropriate plants of their gardens. Two members of the Congregational church at Olivet, Mich., two at Eckford, a Methodist member at Marshall, and a Presbyterian member at Battle Creek, have been excommunicated within a few months, for the grave offence of adopting views of truth and life which were forced upon them by the clearest convictions of their reason, illustrated by the superadded light of reve