SPIRITUALISM.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume I, Issue 88, 22 May 1877, Page 2

SPIRITUALISM.

The folio wing verses, written some years ago at a time when Mr. Peebles was lecturing on spiritualism in these Colonies, may not be deemed out of place, now that that gentleman is again visiting us, and the faith which he is tbe apostle of, has been brought before the public by the prosecution of some of the spiritualits at Home:— This is the age of progress ; in it science Is still sent voyaging like Noah's pigeon; At length we set all old opinions at defiance, And go in for novelties even in religion; We think the latest still must be the truest, If for no reason but because it's newest. Though when one wanders from his old persuasion It sometimes happens that among the many He gets bewildered ; or to suit occasion He does, indifferent, take up with any; Or relishes awhile fresh faith quotidian, And then disgusted grown turns nullifidian.

One dogma favoured by most later sects Some share of notice to attract contrives, They would our stricter principles relax ; And advocate plurality of wives, (II a wife of wisdom be a priceless treasure, Surely to treble it were a worthy measure).

'Tis a doctrine mooted in no end of ways, Some seem as if they were ashamed to show it, And hint it darkly in ambiguous phrase, While some, more bold, do openly avOw

it. Some say 'tis given with the inclination, While others gather it from revelation.

Since men were privileged in this at first These say we still should be allowed to do so ; Since Jacob's sons were each in honour , nursed, ' (His morals now would be thought very so so), But their chief confidence is built upon The lives of David and his amorous son. A knotty question too they say 'twould settle— The distribution of the rich man's wealthVr >? Which soon may put the nations to their mettle, Though now but hinted at, as 'twere by stealth, * For to the rich the Jion's share would fall, The hapless poor man get no wife at all. If then must follow as a law of nature, Born to. the rich the children all would be; ' And if an act were passed the Legislature Giving each his portion of the property, 'Twould nought but time require, and some patience, To overcome this bug-bear of the nations. Tbe latest thing in doctrine's a Yankee notion, (A people famous still for new inventions), Which has of late given .rise to some commotion, And threatened us at times with wide dimensions, Called spiritism, a kind of revelation With table-rapping for its first foundationDeparted spirits, it is stoutly said, Are now commissioned o'er the earth to travel. ,y And, if solicited', to*give their aid . To all who would the Gordian knot unravel Of any matter where we feel perplexed, Past, present, future, in this world, or the next. We form a "circle," as I think they call it, Each one impressionable as any wax is, We must keep serious whate'er befall it— A darkened room is better, and mixed sexes, (Indeed 'tis commonly allowed that such is t The best condition for electric touches). At length when we're .in solemn circle seated, And expectation does begin to rise, The imagination in the meantime heated By calor- mystical, or mutual sympathies, In hollow whisper 'tis announced to all, "The world of spirits is at beck and call." We are not hmited to any age In this connection with the land of spirits, The world's earliest, or its latest sage, Can be produced and heard upon his merits, Ancient or modern we can traffic with, From Aristotle down to Joseph Smith. We may call Milton to the table-foot, And, at our pleasure there condemned , to rock' it,

He'll answer any question, we think fit to put— How many crowns are in one's breeches' pocket, Upon the ' card' the winning horse to show, And if next week's weather will be fine or no. : .

All this the spiritists can do, and more, Put life and motion into easy chairs, Bring legs of mutton through a double door ; Make concertinas play unearthly airs j Perform with cleverness the trick ropetying, And some other feats alike edifying.

In short, some learned professors of the art, In emulation of the juggler-player, Can so successfully perform their part, They well-nigh rival even Haselmayer ; Though he to aid him has but sleight-of-hand, While they have got all Hades at command.

Conjectures various in explanation Of these phenomenon at times are given, Electric.force, unconscious, cerebration ; Though most at length are ultimately driven To think the truth is there's a coalition, One part mysterious, three parts imposition. Some others view it in a different light, (The " cloth" is generally of this opinion) And say the spiritists have entered quite Within the precincts of old Nick's dominion ; Call it necromancy, an old trick and evil, Whose greatest effort can but raise the devil. J. B.