Mtanj of ®ovi§n$$. L UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. THE SPIRITUAL REASOIER. • * — By Ef¥. LEWIS, M. D. I* + ^ " Cease to do evil : learn to do well ; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow. Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord." Isaiah. WATKINS, N. Y. PUBLISHED FOR THE AUTHOR. 1855. t> $<** v^ Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year one thousand eight hun- dred and fifty-five, BY E. W. LEWIS, M. D. In the Clerk's Oflice of the District Court for the Northern District of New- York. auburn: MILLER, ORTON & MULLIGAN, 8TEEEOTYPEBS AND PEINTEES. INTRODUCTION. Spiritual manifestations, the greatest marvel, and no doubt the greatest phenomenon, of the nineteenth century, are the subject of these pages. Numerous books in re- lation to it have been published, and scarcely a person in this country who has arrived to the years of under- standing, but has heard of it, and great numbers have investigated it personally. People of all grades and conditions have given it their attention, and various and conflicting have been the opinions expressed in regard to it, all varying according to the light, experience, and op- portunity they have had in the investigation. There is also a very large class who have never given it a hearing or investigation for themselves, and have condemned it, either from their own convictions, unaided by personal experience, from hearsay evidence, or the denunciations of its enemies. A correct judgment or opinion can scarcely ever be formed by hearing one side of a question only, and many have misjudged and de- nounced it from this cause. When the facts of the case 4 INTRODUCTION, are patiently elicited from evidence on both sides, and sufficiently and carefully weighed, a person may come to a just conclusion with much more certainty. Such evi dence we propose to offer, and, in doing so, we respect- fully solicit your careful attention, and ask an impartial decision. Let all prejudice be thrown aside, and let facts speak for themselves. Our opportunities for a calm, deliberate, and close investigation of Spiritualism, for a term of years, have been as good, perhaps, as could fall to the lot of any individual, and the medium was one of the best we have heard o£ We conducted it, from first to last, with can- dor, earnestness, and scrutiny. Early imbued with a deep regard and veneration for religion, and believing it the most conducive to the wel- fare and happiness of mankind, both here and hereafter, we have ever most earnestly desired to see the princi- ples and precepts of the Redeemer, received, adopted, and practiced by mankind, in that united and fraternal spirit which that great teacher so urgently and elo- quently portrayed by his example and instruction. Sectarianism, and creeds, and traditions of men, the fruit- ful sources of division, discord, prejudice and bigotry, we never could harmonize with the true principles of charity, love 'and truth, which emanate from God, and always attend the true follower of Christ, It cannot be done, INTRODUCTION. % 5 With this in view, we have endeavored to take our stand upon the broad platform of charity and love, and cast aside all action and feeling as wrong, in the professed christian or the church, which come in conflict with these glorious principles ; and on entering the church at the age of mature manhood, we were pained to discover the pride, the fashionable corruption, if not the open vice of which it had become the too common receptacle ; but, most of all, the sectarian divisions of it. Each branch of it seemed a party warring against all others of its household, and claimed for itself the greatest amount of truth and piety. If they attempted to cover each other with the mantle of charity, thrown over all exter- nally, to endeavor to hide this deformity from the eye of the world, beneath its ample folds might still be seen jealousy, self-love, and cold prejudice. We do not say that in the church we did not find noble exceptions to this. There are such exceptions, we believe, in all its branches. In a general sense, however, the facts are lamentably prominent. Long, and in sorrow, have we pondered over these things in relation to the church, after seeking in its bosom an asylum for strength and protection against our own weakness, temptations, and infirmities, but found at last it was powerless in itself, and dead, without the spirit of God to give it life ; and this spirit seems to be depart 6 , INTRODUCTION. ing from it, and materialism to be fast taking its place. We thus stood, in this attitude, when, in ] 850, we first heard of spirit manifestations, (or spirit rappings it was then called,) at Rochester, N. Y., and shortly afterward at many other places in different parts of the country, and formed a determination to investigate the matter as soon as- a favorable opportunity should occur. During the summer of that year, a friend visited Rochester, in whose integrity and judgment we had the most unwa- vering confidence, and while there he went to hear the rappings through the mediumship of the Fox girls. On his return home, he expressed the most firm conviction that it was not an imposition, but a mysterious and startling phenomenon, and was inclined to believe it was produced by spirits who once dwelt in human form upon the earth, as 'was claimed for it by many who had at that period investigated it to some extent. The intelli- gence it possessed in answering questions, &c, &c., he could account for satisfactorily in no other way. The resolution formed previously, to investigate the subject, was now strengthened by his report, and a determination to know the truth concerning it, as far as our ability would allow, persevered in, without any chance to do so, however, till near the close of the year. In December, 1850, Mrs. B., a good medium, then residing at Auburn, chanced to visit the place, and through her mediumship INTRODUCTION. 7 we first heard the sounds called the rappings, and found that intelligence was clearly, and beyond all doubt, plainly manifested in answering questions, whether men- tally or audibly, and also in spelling sentences, and this intelligence seemed, by the most scrutinizing tests we were capable of employing, to be beyond, and entirely independent of, the control or influence of the medium. Mrs. B. remained with us but a few days, and in conse- quence of the numbers who assembled to see and hear, the chance for investigating or fully satisfying the mind concerning it, was too limited to form a just conclusion in regard to it. A few days afterwards, however, an event took place which gave a new and favorable turn in the matter, and proved the commencement of the in- vestigation of spirit manifestations, instructions, and con- versations with spirits, winch serves to form the basis and body of this work. On the first day of January, 1851, at evening, while seated in a room in my own house in company with two friends, the Messrs. N., our conversation turned upon the subject of spirit manifestations, and we proposed to seat ourselves by the table, and see if we could hear any sounds similar to those we had heard in the presence of Mrs. B., the medium above spoken of. While thus seated in a listening attitude, N. S. Gardner, Esq., (a brother-in-law,) stepped into the room, and to our aston- 8 INTKODUCTIOX. ishment, as he approached the table, a succession of sounds was heard upon it, representing the signal as we had heard it through Mrs. B., desiring the alphabet to be called, which was done, and the following sentence rapped out, letter by letter, till the whole was spelled : " God is rejoicing over the world ; " and by answering ques- tions propounded by us, we were informed that the re joicing he referred to in the sentence, was in consequence of the attention people were now beginning to give the the subject of Spiritualism, and it was the commence- ment of a great work to be accomplished in the wx>rld. It purported to be the spirit of my grandfather, who died many years before I was born, and who was, while in the body, a Presbyterian minister. As soon as our astonishment had in some measure subsided, we began to inquire of each other, and endeav ored to ascertain which one of us was the medium through whom these sounds were made, but could not find out, or come to any certain conclusion ; and the two friends, first above named, left for home, and G. and my self retired to another part of the house, where Gard ner's wife and some other ladies were assembled. Gard ner remarked to his wife that he had just received a let ter from Cayuga county, stating that his father had been seized with a paralytic shock, and, when the letter war written, lay at the point of death. He expressed an INTRODUCTION. 9 anxious desire to go and see him, but said that his busi- ness was such, that it rendered it nearly or quite impos sible for him to do so. We had informed the ladies of what we had heard, and had spelled out, in another room, and as soon as G. had finished telling about the sickness of his father, sounds upon the table were again heard, though differing from the first described. The signal for the alphabet was again given, and the following sen- tence spelled : " Give yourself no uneasiness ; it ivill not be necessary for you to go — father is better. Lydia ;*' 5 and in answer to questions, told us she was a sister of Gardner, who left the body about eighteen years ago. Gardner said that a sister of that name had truly died, corresponding to this time specified. We were still more astonished at this, than we were at the first we had spelled in the other room, as here was still the intelligence manifested, and in such a direct manner, that we should have an opportunity to test its correctness. Who the me- dium was, we had not yet ascertained. G. was, if not an unbeliever in Spiritualism, almost entirely at this time indifferent to the subject, having given but little attention to it, and we did not think of him as being the medium; neither did he mistrust such a thing himself; but he, as well as most of us, now concluded it was his w r ife through whom the sounds were made, and she was inclined to believe, herself, that she was the medium. We found 10 INTRODUCTION. that none of us could hear the sounds, however, except when Gardner was present, and after frequent trials to ascertain, we were at length convinced that he was the medium ; which proved to be the case beyond all doubt, and an excellent good one for the sounds or rappings as they were called. A few days after the above occurrence, a Mr. H., from the neighborhood of Gardner's father, called to make him a visit, by whom he learned that all was true in regard to his father, as the spirit of his sister had spelled out to him. His father was better on the day the communicEU tion was given, and finally recovered his health. This test proving true, and the manner in which the rappings were first heard, (G. himself not knowing that he was the medium through whom it was given, till some days afterward,). entirely precluded the idea of collusion or deception of any kind ; neither w r ere we looking for or expecting such a thing, until we heard it. It was, with us, entirely unexpected. We could therefore come to no other conclusion, from the evidence of our own sen- ses so pointedly brought to bear upon us, than that it was truly and verily what it purported to be — a direct and unmistakable communication with spirits of our friends and relatives, who had once lived in the body; and in this belief we calmly settled down, and all subsequent INTRODUCTION. 11 investigation has only served to confirm us stronger and firmer in that faith. For several days succeeding the above, when we had leisure from our daily business avocations, (and at no other time, except when we had leisure, would they ever communicate freely,) short sentences were continued to be spelled by the same mysterious agency ; such as, " all is well ; *' Ci we are commanded and sent ; w M the cross is reappearing," &c., &c. ; all of which we carefully watched and recorded, which we have continued up to the present time, except at intervals when the medium was absent on business, which called him from home mostly during the summer months. Extracts from this journal, thus kept, will form the subject of the following pages, copied verbatim, as they were spelled out to us ; a plain and unvarnished narra- tion of facts as they occurred and were recorded at the time ; nothing from memory alone ; no coloring ; no claim on our part to learning or qualified authorship ; a history of truth, a marvel — the most of it purporting to come from the spirit of that great and good man, John Locke, the noted English writer and philosopher, who left the body about one hundred and forty-six years pre- vious to the commencement of his first communicating with us. Among his works written while in the body, is that well known ' ; Essay on the Human Understand- 12 INTRODUCTION. ing," so preeminent for depth of thought and purity of language, the reputation of which has spread far and wide, a monument to his memory as lasting as time. Communications from other spirits, however, will also be given as they took place, and stand in the record, as they claim interest for the public in such a work. We are well aware of the opposition, the ridicule, the reproach and criticism that such a work will have to uri dergo in the hands of its enemies — those who are deaf and blind to the progression of the age. ' The fallacies of eighteen centuries are so clustered and interwoven about them, that the encrustation can scarcely be broken for any other light to enter their minds. Bound in the iron chains of the traditions and creeds of men, they cannot go beyond the limits those bonds pre- scribe for them ; all light beyond, to them, is darkness, all progress innovation, and all wisdom but their own consummate folly. But we rejoice to know there is an- other class, great and powerful, gathering impulse as the morning light dawns upon their understanding, free and joyous as the bounding wave, rolling onward, onward, ever. Their minds mount up as on eagles : wings, and soar aloft, rejoicing in the new born day, meeting stead- ily, with eye undimmed, the sun's bright ray, as higher and still higher they take their upward flight. On the vast plains of earth these hosts are marshaling for the INTRODUCTION. 13 conflict with evil. Truth leads the van, with banner un- furled, while Charity and Love hover around their glit- tering ranks. No earthly power can stay their progress, or check their onward march to victory. Despots trem- ble, thrones will crumble, tyranny, rebuked, will soon call for the rocks and mountains to Ml upon its hideous head, and hide it from the piercing eye of Liberty, Equality and Reform. From the masses constituting this army of Reform, we expect a welcome. Recruits by thousands are now joining its standard. They seek for truth; they desire to learn; their hands are out- stretched toward the light, which beams from truth's pe- destal, ready to receive and enjoy its life-giving rays. Each and all that tends to this end they seek, and if they cannot grasp at once the glittering gold, the humble ore that contains it will not be repulsed. With a knowl- edge of these facts, these humble pages are submitted. The gold in the ore is presented for you to separate ; the former you will wisely retain, and the latter cast away. Numerous works, as we before observed, pertaining to this great subject, are now before the public. The one we present, may contain some new and interesting fea- tures not found in them; some new truths, or some old truths, may perhaps be presented in a different garb. A three years almost daily intercourse with spirits, calmly and rationally enjoyed, convinces and admonishes 14: INTRODUCTION. us of its great importance to the world. Thousands have not yet enjoyed that privilege. Spiritualism is yet in its infancy. As far as it has advanced, it is not properly understood or appreciated. Its undeveloped germ and its chaotic excrescences have been gathered and held up to view by its enemies only. Its truths have been suppressed. Ha- tred and malice have endeavored, by misrepresentation, to keep back and conceal or crush the opening flower. Ignorance and prejudice are on the alert everywhere. But still onward gleams the light ; their opposition, like clouds of vapor before the rising sun, only serves dimly to obscure the light, for a temporary period of time ; they cannot blot it out, or prevent it from rising towards its meridian splendor, when all vapor and obscurity will be destroyed from before it. Its course is onward for- ever ; as- observed by the spirit of John Locke, in a communication given by him on the 6th of June, 1852, which we here quote entire, while dwelling upon this part of our subject : " These manifestations are yet in their dawn, and all the evil loves of men, and all the powers of hell, are ar- rayed against the truth. Yet the omnipotent Lord Je- sus Christ is in them, and their progress, however slow, is sure. Bigotry may cavil; skepticism may sneer; prejudice may turn away her face in scorn ; the serpent may be permitted to rear aloft its hideous crest, and INTRODUCTION. 15 bruise the spirits of men for a time, and times, and a half time ; but the seed of the woman shall bruise the serpent's head. As sure as the Lord God liveth and reigneth, so sure will these manifestations go on forever. " The sun could as soon be stayed by the puny hand of man, as could these manifestations, by any mortal power. They may be opposed, and ridiculed, for so it has ever been with truth, but they cannot be crushed. Their march is onward, forever, conquering and to con- quer, until the kingdoms of this world become the king- dom of God and his Christ, and He reign forever and ever. John Locke." From what we have seen and heard, and uniformly been taught, by spirits of a high order, we believe it will thus continue as Locke describes it in the foregoing com- munication, and thus result. The lectures of C. C. Burr, the labored report of the famous Buffalo doctors, the scientific researches of Prof. Farraday, the ridiculous book of Rev. Mr. Mattison, the united efforts of almost the whole press and clergy, the cry of devil by the Rev. Charles Beecher, have all had their day, and spent their puny efforts against it, in vain ; it still continues, and the truth goes on and gathers strength daily. The stone cut out of the mountain without hands, rolls on, and will continue to roll, till it fills the whole eartlu We war with no man against his opinions ; no 16 INTRODUCTION. person can charge us with ever trying to proselyte or per suade them of the truth of Spiritualism, simply because we believed it ; we always ask them to investigate for themselves. We respect every man for proclaiming his honest opinion and belief, and only condemn him for not seeking to obtain evidence for himself, or when he wil- fully persists in an untruth, after such evidence has been afforded him. Our mission in this work is only to give to the world what we have seen and heard, and leave it for them to judge of its truth or falsity. We give it as we received it. Previous to the commencement of the journal we are about to offer, we will explain the manner in which we conducted our circle, and how we received it. On the 14th of January, 1851, about twenty individ- uals met at a private house in the neighborhood, and, by direction of the spirits, organized a circle, to meet regu- larly once or twice a week. These meetings w T ere pub- lic, and no person w r as to be prohibited from attending who chose. Besides this, we were to meet in private circles, as often as convenient, whether few or many at- tended, for the further investigation of the matter. This circle was composed of members of various churches — Methodists, Baptists, Presbyterians, Quakers, and others who made no open profession of religion — all agreeing, and bound together in the bonds of chris- INTRODUCTION. 17 tian union and friendship — and thus worshiping God in true harmony. The principal mediums were Mr. Gard- ner, before named, a rapping medium, and a Mrs. H., an excellent clairvoyant medium, a lady of irreproachable character, and in all respects a christian, Mr. G. made no open profession of religion ; through him, most of the communications recorded were obtained. At the organization, the spirits recommended a form of exercises to be observed at each meeting, to promote order and regularity. This was given through the clairvoyant medium. She saw and conversed freely with spirits, while in the clairvoyant or spiritual state, into which she was always thrown by invisible agency. This form of exercises was as follows : The meetings were to be opened by reading a chapter in the bible ; then singing, and audible or mental prayer, then attend to the instructions given by spirits from the bible, or otherwise, communications spelled, ask questions, &c, &c, &c, and close by prayer. This form we uniformly observed, and found it a great help to promote order, quiet, and harmony, for the reception and enjoyment of spiritual communion. A charge was given to Gardner, from a spirit, through Mrs. H., while in a spiritual state, at the commencement of his mediumship for the circle, as follows : " To Mr. Gardner — You must pray in your family; attend 18 INTRODUCTION. promptly to all the duties pertaining to your business in life. Keep your mind as calm and composed as possi- ble, under all circumstances. Be careful about casting your pearls before swine ; in other words, be careful in selecting company for conversation on spiritual matters. For you, it will be well to let the scoffer and unbeliever pass, without saying but little to him at present, and read the bible." To Gardner, who, as we before observed, made no profession of religion, this seemed quite a requirement. How far he observed it none but Him, who knoweth the secrets of all hearts, ever knew. At all events, he was now found frequently engaged in reading the bible, to which before, from his own acknowledgment, he had been quite a stranger. The next communications received from spirits, which we think of noticing here, were spelled out, by rapping, " Love your enemies ; keep yourselves unspotted from the world ; love God, and serve him in spirit and truth, and the redemption shall be your reward." On the 22d of January, following, Mr. H., from Ca- yuga county, was again here. He was Gardner's school- teacher formerly, and lived in the neighborhood of G.'s father and mother. This spirit (of Lydia G.) came while Mr. H. was present, and spelled the following: " We have met again ; tell father and mother." A few INTRODUCTION. 19 minutes afterward a succession of loud raps were heard, and John Locke — the author Locke, before spoken of — was announced by spelling his name. He said he wished to correct some things in Ins former writings, and would like to make Gardner the medium through whom he could do it. We had none of his writings, except his dialogue with Bayle. in the old English Reader. Asked him if there was anything in that dia- logue which he wished to correct. He answered, yes. "We read it aloud, and when we came to the sentence — u Like theories to explain the phenomena of nature" — he stopped us, and spelled, "Like theories endeavoring to explain the phenomena of nature*' — one word added. Said that was all he wished corrected in that dialogue. "We were afterward conversing about clairvoyants, and asked Locke, c: Do clairvoyants, when they think they see things, while in that state, actually see them cor- rectly ! *' He answered by spelling, " It is owing to the state of the mind of the clairvoyants, and their advance- ment in correct moral culture and attainment." The experience of those who have closely investigated the subject of clairvoyant sight, we think will readily testify to the correctness of this answer. On the 24th of January, at evening, Locke camo again, and spelled, u Do you remember the instruction I ^ave you ? " We asked if he had reference to his de- 20 INTRODUCTION. sire to correct his writings through us. He answered, "Yes." We were talking about procuring them for that purpose, when he again called for the alphabet, and spelled, " You will get them in due time." We ascer- tained it was on the subject of his theological views, as expressed in his works, which he wished to correct, and we then supposed we must have his writings before us for him to do it. We then asked him if he would come and converse with us often. He spelled in reply, "Alone." Asked, " When Gardner and myself are alone % " A. Yes. Q. Do you request, then, that we shall not call for you, or seek to communicate with you, when others are present 1 A. Yes. Q. Do spirits always hear and know when we call them? A. No. Q. Do other spirits being present immediately inform the one asked for ? A. Yes ; and the interview ended. We design in the following work to show what spirits have taught us in regard to God, the bible, and our duty to our fellow-men, and also such other instruction as they were permitted to give, as we progressed. We LNTEODrCTION. 21 also design to speak of communications of deceptive spirits, and those who seem to be evil, as well as the good, thereby holding up to view both sides, with ex- planations and instruction concerning them, as given us, which has not been clearly explained in any previous work on Spiritualism we have had the pleasure of reading. In giving the introduction of Locke to us, as before mentioned, with his object expressed, (that is, to correct the theological ideas advanced in his writings while in the body, whenever they were wroug.) we mentioned that we supposed we were to have his works before us. But it will be observed that he proceeded to do it in his bible lessons and explanations to us, and had accom- plished it in this way before we were aware of it; thereby expressing his present views and belief in the- ology, and at the same time instructed those who list- ened. If any views or instructions are advanced in these lessons by him, winch are different from what he advanced in those writings, it constitutes the correction he desired to make. This he informed us afterward. The reader may observe, by a perusal of this work, that the idea frequently advanced by some of the oppo- sers of Spiritualism, that communications are always in accordance and proceed from the mind of the medium, or from some mind of those present, and nothing can 22 INTRODUCTION. go beyond, or is independent of their minds, is false and futile. Communications were frequently given us which none present ever knew or thought of before, some of them in regard to things to occur in the future, and conse- quently could not be known ; all of which, when given by a truthful spirit, proved true to the letter. We have seen ponderous bodies moved without physical aid or contact ; we have heard audible voices of spirits, and music the most heavenly ; have felt the touch of spirits, and have seen things, while in a spiritual state, which would, if not unlawful, be improper and imprudent for us to utter, at least before the scoffer and unbeliever. We have read everything published, which we could get hold of, whether in opposition or in favor of it, carefully and impartially. We have communicated with the powers of darkness, and had evidence of their signs and lying wonders, and with the blest spirits of love and light, whose instructions and advice breathed an emana- tion from God alone. We have viewed it upon its dark and upon its light side. We have been taught the causes of its deceptions, and the result of its truth, and we shall endeavor to lay all before the reader in the following pages, impartially, as we received them. An objection is raised by its opponents, that it should be crushed ; for they say it makes people insane. We INTRODUCTION. 23 only reply, we have carefully examined this, and know that if Spiritualism has wrought upon the weak and un- balanced mind, so as to produce insanity in hundreds, property, the doctrine of endless punishment in a lake of fire and brimstone, uncurbed passions, and numerous other causes, have made their tens of hundreds so. In the annals of time and history, who ever read or heard of so great a work being accomplished in so short a time, with so little undue excitement. Spiritualism, from a small beginning, to be recognized by the world, only five cr six years ago. h -ed beyond all pre- v now number in the United States alone over one and a half if not two millions ! embracing within its fold those of all ranks, condition and sex, from the most giant and brilliant mind of education and intellect, down to the simple and unlearned cottager ; among the ra all sects, and denominations of christians. The infidel and unbelieving, by thou- . are also made happy and caused to rejoice in the truth. Sometimes it 1 by the opposer, what good has it done ? We answer, it has already brought more un- the soul after ice in a kn< iao the a efforts of the whole clergy, with all their powers .quenee. and persuasion, and argument have been 24 INTRODUCTION. able to accomplish in the last quarter of a century. Sta- tistics will prove this. The blind have been made to see, the deaf to hear, and the lame to walk, the sick re- stored to health, &c», &c. And these things are not done in a corner, but in our very midst, as thousands of rejoicing witnesses can testify ; but yet, the blind oppo- ser continues to ask, what good has it done ? Like the Jews in our Savior's time, they have eyes but they see not, and ears but they cannot hear, lest they should know and be converted. The inconsistencies and deceptions of Spiritualism, produced by the vicious and evil disposed, whether pro- ceeding from those in or out of the body, we hold up to reprobation and scorn as freely as our most formidable opponents. But we claim for its heavenly truths a fair and impartial hearing and examination. Let this be given it, and we fear not the result. Our enemies are prone to preserve the chaff, and throw away the wheat of Spiritualism, and this chaff is dispensed and fed to the people from both pulpit and press, the truths of it con- cealed, and only its fallacies exhibited. Is this fair ? Is it honest? Is it Christ-like, or even honorable ? All we ask is fairness and honesty ; with this we are content. Search carefully the glorious instruction and precepts advanced and inculcated by the spirits of truth and light, whose mission it is to harmonize this wicked and incon- introduction. 25 gruous world,, and practice those precepts from the heart- felt principle ; then, still raise the cry of devil, if you can. Can the fountain send forth sweet and bitter waters at one and the same time 1 Can grapes be gath- ered from thorns, or figs from thistles ? If these truths of God, these precepts of wisdom and love, proceed from the devil, at least give him his due, and acknowledge him a different being from what you have heretofore rep- resented him. We say truth cometh from heaven alone ; from hell it cannot proceed. For our belief and fearless advocacy of the truth we have suffered contumely, reproach, and persecutions, vi- olent and bitter, our business in life injured, and nearly . crushed, for a time, our society hated and shunned, our reason questioned, and our family slandered and villified ; but in all this we glory, knowing that the truth has al- ways been thus assailed, and that we shall come out conquerors and more than conquerors, through our Lord Jesus Christ. These light afflictions, which are but for a moment when compared with eternity, shall work out for all who are exercised thereby a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. We believe a glorious era is dawning upon the world ; and if we frequently repeat it, it is because we love to dwell upon it. Mankind are to be fraternized and re- deemed. The great crisis of wrath and discord will B 2G INTRODUCTION. soon be passed. The seeds of peace are sown, and in due time the germ will spring forth to gladden and cheer the earth. The time will come, and is not far distant, when man shall no more lift his hand in bloody warfare against his fellow-man. Their swords shall be beaten into plow-shares, and their spears into pruning-hooks. The stains of the blood of the martyrs for Christ will be wiped out of the earth forever. Before this is accom- plished there may be a last, a great and fearful struggle, cruel and sanguinary. But the glorious proclamation, " Peace on earth, and good will to men," has been pro- claimed by angelic voices, and will be consummated. Evil must first be destroyed. Who would not engage in the warfare for such a result % This is our cause, and this our aim in presenting these humble pages before the world. We expect no pecuniary reward or worldly ad- vantage; we are content to continue our earthly pil- grimage amongst the obscure and lowly, in the humbler walks of life. Truth is our aim, and if we shall present it in our plain and simple manner, so as to add to the happiness of any, then is our object obtained, and our labor blest. As to any doctrine advanced (coming as it does from spirits) in the journal before you, they alone are accountable. We are only the scribe, to record it, as it came from them. If you war against these doc- trines, your conflict must be with a powerful and invisi- INTRODUCTION. 27 ble agency, not with us. Where we have expressed our own views and belief, we are ready to hear argument, and answer according to our honest belief and con- victions. In judging of spirit communications, it has ever been our rule, and such we advise in others, to receive and cherish all that agrees and harmonizes with the charac- ter, precepts, and teachings of Christ ; and if anything is advanced or contained in this work not in accordance with this, and not entirely independent, and free from all earthly sectarianism, discard it at once and forever. SPIRITUAL REASONEB. JOTTKNAL OF SPIRIT TEACHINGS, COMMUNICATIONS AND CONVER- SATIONS, IN THE YEARS 1851, 1852, AND 1853. N. S. GARDNER, MEDIUM. 1851. January 30. — The medium, Mr. N". S. Gard- ner, and the writer being seated in a room by themselves, a spirit, purporting to be John Locke, announced his presence, and spelled, " Be firm, and great instruction shall be given you both, in due time." We enquired if these spirit manifestations were now going on in Europe, or if in any other country besides this. Ans. Yes ; and, by rap- ping, referred particularly to Sweden. He then spelled, "Bead Matthew, xxiv. 34 : 'Yerily I say unto you, this generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled ;' " meaning the things concerning which he had now com- menced, and was about to instruct us. We asked what constituted the generation re- 30 THE SPIRITUAL HEASONER. ferred to. He answered by spelling, "All liv- ing previous to the 10th day of October, 1844, and their children ; " and this was the genera- tion referred to in this verse in Matthew just quoted. We were then instructed with regard to the 24th chapter of Matthew, as follows : All of that chapter, from the 1st to the 29th verse, has reference to time that has passed ; all from the 29th verse to the end of the chapter, to present and future time. Verses 30 and 31 he informed us were now taking place ; also taught us that verses 27 and 28 of the 16th chapter of Matthew have particular reference to this pres- ent generation. At evening, same day, some friends were pres- ent from a distance, and as we were conversing, the medium being present, the rappings, loud and distinct, were heard upon the floor, and a lady of our family, without thinking of our cau- tion to secrecy, exclaimed, " there is Locke ! " or, " Locke is here ! " The rapping, notwith- standing this remark, still continued, and a ques- tion was asked Locke, before all present, which he answered. The signal for the alphabet was then given, which was called ; and he spelled, '' Read Mark, 8th chapter, 21st and 30th verses, viz : ' 21. And he said unto them, How is it that you do not understand ? 30. And he charged them, that they should tell no man of him.' " We understood at once, that he intended it as a reprimand, for not following his request, made once or twice previous, that we should not call THE SPIRITUAL REASONEK. 31 for him, or mention his name, when others were present.* Feb. 1. — Locke spelled, " Read John, 11th chapter and 26th verse : 'And whosoever liveth, and believeth in me, shall never die. Believeth thou this ? ' " Ques. Is it the body only that dies ? Arts. Yet ; and spelled, "And this will have its exceptions. Read Matthew, 16th chapter, 27th and 28th verses ;" and continued, " there are some of this generation, who will never die, even their bodies ; and there are those who are called dead in trespasses and sins, who cannot be made alive, or, in other words, are not re- deemed on the earth." Q. Can man arrive to the seventh sphere on the earth ? Spelled the answer, "'Not and live." Con- tinued : " The sixth sphere is as high as man can attain on the earth ; at the death of his body he may enter the seventh sphere. Children who have never sinned enter the seventh sphere at death." * We have since learned that we lost a great deal by not adhering to this request We did not, at the time, know that and mixed assemblies generally possess too little har- mony and quiet for spirits to communicate freely. After this," too, we found the curiosity of the community was so much excited upon this subject, that for a long time the me- urroundedj in all his leisure time, by a multitude, and Locke continued to communicate by permission, in our ga and elsewhere as it happened, 32 THE SPIRITUAL REAS0NER. Q. What constitutes a true believer ? A. Spelled, " Those who believe with all the heart." Q. Is it all that is necessary, for man to be- lieve that Christ is the Son of God ? A. No ; and spelled, " You must] also love Him with all the heart." The spirit was then gone some five or ten min- utes, and we could get no response from him. When he returned, we asked, " Have you been communicating elsewhere, in your absence ? " A. Yes; and immediately spelled, " In Prov- idence." Q. Can spirits travel with the rapidity of lightning ? A. Yes. Q. Can people converse with each other at points however distant, by this means or agency? A. Yes ; but spelled, " Not at present." Q. Will the time very soon arrive when peo- ple can thus converse ? A. Don't know; and spelled, "Time is no- thing with us, comparatively." Q. Can we progress in this life as fast as in the spirit world ? A. No ; and then the word " done " was spelled, as it always was at the close of each in- terview. Feb. 2.— Spelled, " Eead Matthew, 13th chap- ter, 9th, 16th, and 17th verses. Doctor S., a gentleman from a distance, being present, was THE SPIRITUAL REAS0NER. 33 asked to read, which he did ; but, by mistake, read the 9th, 16th and 17th verses of the 23d chapter, and none present discovered the error until Locke spelled, "wrong chapter," when the correct one specified was read as follows : " 9. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear. 16. But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear. 17. For verily I say unto you, that many prophets, and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them, and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them." Q. Do those verses refer to the present time, particularly ? A. Yes. Q. Did the prophets and righteous men of old expect it ? A. Spelled, " They prayed for such manifes- tations." Q. By Dr. S. Does the 9th verse refer to those who wish to hear for the sake of the truth, and not from curiosity ? A. Yes. Q. Does seeing, mean the understanding of these manifestations ? A. Yes. Q. Shall not our eyes also see spirit manifes- tations literally ? A. Yes. Q. Will they continue to increase in interest, as we progress ? B* 3 34 THE SPIRITUAL REASONER. A. Yes ; and spelled further, " To all whc seek goodness." A lady being in another room, very sick, the words, " go with the sick," were spelled, and the interview closed. Feb. 3. — This day we were somewhat cast down in our minds, in conseqeunce of some slander- ous and persecuting persons going about the streets and circulating falsehoods, in regard to the mediums and manifestations. While we were talking with the medium about it, the words, " God will forgive them," were spelled ; and afterwards, " Read John, 15th chapter, 9th, 10th and 11th verses : c 9. As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you ; continue ye in my love. 10. If ye keep my commandments ye shall abide in my love, even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love. 11. These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.'" At the close of reading these verses, he spelled, "You seemed down- hearted ; you will receive strength and assist- ance when you least expect it. Done." Feb. 4. — To-day a gentleman and lady from Steuben county, were present. They had been believers in Spiritualism, but had become some- what wavering. They asked Locke if he would give them a communication. He answered, yes ; and directed them to read the 31st verse THE SPIRITUAL EEASOXER. 35 of the 34th chapter of Matthew: "And im- mediately Jesus stretched forth his hand and caught him and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt ? " Feb. 5. — Locke came at evening, and in- formed us, by rapping, that he was especially commissioned and sent of God to instruct us in the manner here recorded, for the time being. He answered many questions, but gaye no bible lesson. Feb. 6. — There had been some little misun- derstanding between the medium and a mem- ber of the circle, and something was being said about it, when a signal for the alphabet was given, and Locke spelled, " Get your family circle together as soon as convenient.'' As soon as we were all seated he spelled, "Bead Mark, 11th chapter, 21th and 25th verses : ' 21. Therefore I say unto you, what things soever ye desire, when ye pray believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. 25. And when ye stand praying, forgive if ye have aught against any, that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.' " It will be perceived that, although this was a lesson to be observed and practiced by all, yet at this time it had a special application to the medium, on account of his feelings toward a member of the circle above spoken of. The 36 THE SPIRITUAL KEAS0NEK. following instruction was also given in regard to the verses above quoted. Q. Does it make any difference what attitude is assumed in prayer, as standing is spoken of in verse 25th ? A. Spelled, "If the heart is with God it makes no difference. Every pure desire of the heart amounts to a prayer in the sight of God, whether silent or audibly expressed. Verse 24th should read, Believe that ye will re- ceive them, and means all things that are proper to ask of God in prayer, grounded upon the full faith of the petitioner." A question was then asked, "Is there any person now living upon the earth who is re- deemed, or who will never taste death ? " A. Spelled, " I am not permitted to know." Feb. 7: — "No communication this day. Feb. 8. — A new medium of doubtful charac- ter has just been developed in the place, and hundreds of people are flocking to see and hear the singular and astonishing manifestations given by spirits through her. Doctor EL, of our circle, and the medium were talking about it, and spoke in condemnation of the medium and the manifestations as evil, in their opinion. In the midst of this conversation Locke called for the alphabet, and spelled, "Read James, 1st chapter, 16th, 17th, and 19th verses, as fol- lows : ' 16, Do not err, my beloved brethren. THE SPIEITrAL EEASONER. 37 17. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of light, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. 19. Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath.' " That is, all mediums, whether for good or for evil spirits, receive the gift of mediumship from God, and will end in showing his wisdom and goodness, although much evil should seem to result from it at the time. Men should there- fore be slow to judge and condemn. He then gave Romans, 12th chapter, 6th verse : " Hav- ing these gifts differing, according to grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us proph- esy according to the proportion of faith." If then the gifts are according to the grace and faith possessed by each medium, should we not look for a great diversity of manifestations ? And where neither grace nor faith exists, what but evil can be expected ? And through such mediums God reveals the man of sin, the sou of perdition, and He who now letteth will let un- til he be taken out of the way. See 2 Thessa- lonians, 2d chapter, from 3d to 8th verses. Locke, then, as a further illustration of the diversity of gifts in mediums, told us to read 1st Corinthians, 7th chapter and 7th verse : " For I would that all men were even as I myself ; but every man hath his proper gift of God, one after this manner, and another after that." He would wish them all good, but every medium 38 THE SPIRITUAL REASONED. must have his proper gift, or the gift peculiar to his truthful and moral condition, and this takes place as a natural result, by general laws of God. Feb. 9. — This evening Locke gave us the 15th chapter of 1st Corinthians, 51st, 52d, 53d, and 54th verses : "51. Behold I shew you a mys- tery ; we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed. 52. In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump ; for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incor- ruptible, and we shall be changed. 53. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54. So when this corruptible shall have put on incor- ruption, and this mortal shall have put on im- mortality, then shall be brought to pass the say- ing that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory." Q. Will there be a literal sounding of a trumpet ? A. No. These manifestations being spiritual, are the spiritual sounding of the trumpet, and are what the scriptures have reference to, when- ever the sounding of the trumpet is spoken of. Q. Will this sounding of the trumpet con- tinue till the second coming of Christ? A. Don't know. Feb. 11. — Locke gave as a lesson this day, 2d Corinthians, 7th chapter, 13th, 14th, 15th, SPIRITUAL REASONER. 39 and 16th verses : " 13. Therefore we were com- forted in your comfort ; yea, and exceedingly the more joyed we, for the joy of Titus, because his spirit was refreshed by you all. li. For if I have boasted anything to him of yon, I am not ashamed, but as we spake all things to you in truth, even so our boasting which I made be- fore Titus, is found a truth. 15. And his in- ward affection is more abundant toward you, whilst he remembereth the obedience of you all, how with fear and trembling ye received him. 16. I rejoice, therefore that I have con- fidence in you in all things." By this lesson Locke said he wished to convey to us that the faith and harmony of our circle up to this time, was a source of comfort and joy to him. He also informed us that he had invited another spirit of a high order to visit us, unknown to us at the time, and represented by Titus in the verses given, and said he wished us to continue harmonious, obedient to God, and punctual in our duties upon all occasions. We inquired of him again about the medium and manifestations mentioned on the 8th. All seems discordance and confusion, yet mingled with some astonishing tests of spirit knowledge and power. Locke spelled in answer, " God will appoint it all for the best in the end ; " and again, " Be not discouraged ; " then left for the evening. Ffb. 12. — We were directed to read the 8th 40 THE SPIRITUAL KEASONER. chapter of John, 26th verse : " I have many things to say and judge of you, but he that sent me is true ; and I speak to the world those things which I have heard of him." Told us he wished to convey to us by this a sense of his watchful care and guardianship over our conduct and actions, both at present and in the future. Spelled out, "God judges of good deeds as well as bad." Also he wished to show to us, that his mission to us and the world was from God, and to instruct us as he had heard or been instructed. He then gave us the 2d chapter of Romans, 2d verse : " But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things ; V and closed by giving the 2d chapter of Hebrew to read, desiring us to notice particularly the 13th to 18th verses. After reading it, we asked what was meant by the word devil therein spoken of. He spelled out, "A term used to represent sin." Feb. 13. — This being an evening for the reg- ular meeting of the circle, when all were as- sembled, Locke gave the 4th chapter of 1st Tim- othy, 14th, 15th, and 16th verses, and spelled, "This is for Mr. M. to meditate upon. '14, Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery. 15. Meditate upon these things ; give thyself wholly to them ; that thy profiting may appear to all. 16. Take heed THE SKIRITUAL REASONER. 41 to thyself, and unto the doctrine ; continue in them, for in doing this, thou shalt both save thy- self, and them that hear thee.'" The Mr. M. to whom this was given, was a member of the circle, and was also a member and class-leader in the Methodist church. Locke then told us to read the 12th verse of the 6th chapter of 1st Timothy, and spelled " This is for all : ' Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.' " Feb. 14. — Mr. G., the medium, had the two last verses of the 1st chapter of John given him by Locke : " Jesus answered and said unto him, Because I said unto thee, I saw thee under the fig tree, believest thou ? Thou shalt see greater things than these. And he saith unto him, verily, verily I say unto you, hereafter ye shall see heaven open and the angels of God as- cending and descending upon the son of man." The tests which G. had already received in the short period of time he had been a medium, astonished him often, and confirmed him strong in the faith, and here was conveyed a promise of still greater things than any he had yet re- ceived. After Locke had left, a spirit came, purporting to be Gardner's sister, Lydia, men- tioned in the introduction, and spelled to him the following : " Be not discouraged ; you are right, and God will reward you accordingly." 42 THE SPIRITUAL REASONER. The sounds made by this spirit are always uni- form, and resemble the sound made by striking gently with the end of a pen-holder upon a glass tumbler. Another spirit also spelled, " God's teachings are spreading light to the world." Feb. 15. — Locke gave this evening the 3d chapter of John, 6th and 7th verses : "6. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the spirit is spirit. 7. Marvel not that I said unto thee, ye must be born again." Explanation. Being born of the flesh means being born of sin. Spelled, " It is natural for man to sin." Being born of the spirit, he spelled, "AH your minds and affections are changed when spiritually born." Q. Can the new birth take place before we leave the body. A. Yes. Q. Will it take place with all after they leave the body ? A. Yes. Q. Does the death of the body constitute a new birth with all? A. Yes. And spelled, "But some fall into lower spheres than others." Q. Does man always know when he experi- ences the new birth ? A. No. Feb. 16. — Forenoon. Read 1 Thessalonians, 3d chapter, 12th and 13th verses : " 12. And THE SPIRITUAL REASOXER. 43 the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one towards another, and towards all men, even as we do towards you. 13. To the end he may establish your hearts unblamable in holi- ness before God, even our Father, at the com- ing of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints." At evening circle meeting, we were directed to read John, 16th chapter, 13th, 20th, 21st, 22d, 25th, 27th, 28th, and 33d verses : " 13. Howbeit, when he the spirit of truth is come, he will guide you into all truth : for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak ; and he w T ill shew you things to come." Q. On the last verse above written — does the spirit of truth mean Christ at his second coming ? A. Yes: and he will receive his instruction from the Father. u 20. Verily, verily I say unto you, that ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall re- joice : and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sor- row shall be turned to joy." Ex. Means that you shall be persecuted for the truth's sake, and the world will rejoice over your persecutions, but your sorrows shall be turned to joy in the end, by the triumph of the truth, and your persecutors will then be sorry and ashamed. Yerses 21 and 22 not explained. " 25. These things have I spoken unto you in proverbs : but the time cometh when I shall no 44 THE SPIRITUAL REASONER. more speak unto you in proverbs, but I shall shew you plainly of the Father." Ex. Refers to the second coming of Christ, in the consummation, when he will teach you face to face. "27.. For the Father himself loveth you, be- cause ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God." Ex. This ought to rejoice, and encourage those who are faithful. " 28. I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world ; again I leave the world and go to the Father." Ex. Has reference to the Savior's first advent. " 33. These things have I spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation ; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." Ex. Refers to his spiritual coming in the heart. Locke was then asked if these manifestations represented the second coming of Christ, or if by these he had come. He spelled in answer, "The spirit of Christ is in every good heart. Christ has come spiritually by the spirits in- structing you, but has not yet come literally." The question was then asked, if they were sent of God. He spelled, " Sent by the Father and the Son." This sentence led Mr. M. to ask, "Are God and Christ, or the Father and the Son, two distinct persons?" A. Yes. Q. Are they one or the same in spirit ? THE SPIRITUAL REASONEK. 45 A. Yes. Q. Did God dwell in the body of Christ lit- erally. A. No ; and spelled, " God dwelt in the body of Christ spiritually." Q. Do good spirits dislike sectarianism. A. Yes ; and continued, " It has been the cause of much disunion and bloodshed upon the earth." Q. Does it make any difference, if the heart is right, how we believe in regard to the unity or trinity of God ? He spelled in answer, " It makes no difference." There were so many different opinions in re- gard to this, held by the members of the circle present, we were fearful it would lead to con- tention and discord, and we asked if we had not better drop the subject for the present. A. Yes ; and spelled, u Brother M. will close by prayer." After the meeting was closed, the spirit of our sister came and spelled, " Teach the love of God to all your friends." Feb. 17. — Locke came, and gave Galatians, 5th chapter, 10th verse, and left immediately. " 10. I have confidence in you through the Lord, that ye will be none otherwise minded, but he that troubleth you shall bear his judgment who- soever he be." At evening, while we were at a neighbors house, co visit another medium lately developed, Gardner being there also, a spirit spelled, "Sing," 46 THE SPIRITUAL REASONER. and then, "Read Romans, 1st chapter, 11th, 12th, and 13th verses : ' 11. For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift to the end ye may be established. 12. That is, that I may be comforted together with you, by the mutual faith of both you and me. 13. Now I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that oftentimes I purposed to come unto you (but was let hitherto) that I might have some fruit among you also, even as among other Gentiles. 5 " As soon as the above was read, he spelled, " For Gardner," and it seemed to be a special greeting from the spirit to him. At evening we asked more particularly about it, and he spelled in reply, " Had reference to Gardner and myself; " and after a pause again spelled, " Great things shall be revealed to Gardner ; fear not." Feb. 18. — Several of us being together, the conversation again fell upon the manifestations through the medium before spoken of, as doubtful and evil. They still continued unabated. Two of our members had just returned from witnessing them, and were laughing and condemning it. In the midst of this, loud rappings were heard upon the floor, and this sentence spelled, " Why are you so quick to judge ? " The spirit left as soon as the sentence was spelled. Gardner's sister, however, came, and spelled, " My dear friends, I am often with you all. Do not look for per- THE SPIRITUAL REASONER. 47 feet happiness in the body ; it dwells with spirits." Feb. 19. — This day Doctor H., from Dundee, called to investigate and witness spirit mani- festations. Locke came and spelled a message to his friend Doctor S., who was noticed as be- ing here on the 1st and 2d instant : " Say to Doctor S., be firm." As none of ns were think- ing of him, it pleased us much. Doctor H. re- marked, he would be quite happy if he could be a medium to communicate with spirits. Locke spelled in reply, " Love God with all your heart, and you will." We asked Locke if he would inform us where he was principally communicating at present. He spelled in an- swer, the names of the following places^: " Leeds, Milan, Geneva, Vienna, Paris, Warsaw, Salem, Bath, and Dover," besides, with us ; and he said he frequently communicated in all these places the same day. He then desired us to read 1 Thessalonians, 3d chapter, 12th and 14th verses : "And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love, one toward another, and toward all men, as we do towards you,"