THE Evening Star. THURSDAY, AUGUST 26, 1869.

Evening Star, Volume VII, Issue 1968, 26 August 1869, Page 2

THE Evening Star. THURSDAY, AUGUST 26, 1869.

Although the press may be fairly looked upon as the chief means of spreading sound knowledge on the current topics of the day, editorial articles are usually confined to political and social subjects, and those which are speculative and theoretic are dealt with by correspondents. Occasional departures from the recognised rule may

sometimes advantageously be made with a view to giving a sound direction to thought and investigation, and the interest manifested in what is termed spiritualism seems to demand a word or two of comment. The President of the Otago Institute identifies the phenomena classed under that head with the oracles of the ancients, and seems to consider spiritualism as a revival of those mysterious manifestations which in past ages excited the wonder and awe of the uninitiated. We cannot compliment the present generation on much advance in that respect. Whatever progress may have been made in other directions, all past experience seems lost upon the mass of mankind when anything strange occurs. Now, as in old time, as soon as a fact is observed that is not referrible to known causes, imagination peoples the earth with demons, and ascribes to them the strange and fitful pranks that after-generations will no doubt demonstrate, are explicable on natural principles. Luckily, there is no fear of persecution now-a-days on the score of heresy. The mission of Hopkins, the witch-finder, would meet no sympathy with the present generation, and the investigation oi the mysterious phenomena connected with table turning has become a drawing room room amusement, instead of being practiced only by old crones, reputed to be fortune-tellers and conjurors. The caution that seems necessary in the matter is, that investigation should be divested of all superstition ; that observed facts should be carefully noted, and that hasty generalisations should be as carefully avoided. Now that all classes have their attention turned towards unravelling the mystery, these simple rules should be borne in mind. Let it be remembered that the term spiritualism has been conferredupon these newlyobserved phenomena, by those who have jumped at a conclusion as to an ultimate cause. With just as much reason some have hastily concluded that the action of the human will, in causing some eccentric movements in household furniture, is referable to galvanic or electric forces. It should not be forgotten that gravitation, galvanism, electricity, and other cognate words, are only names of forces, the laws of action of which have been ascertained ; but that they give not the remotest clue to the causes of their operation. There is a limit beyond which human knowledge cannot pass. “ Science, ” says Devey, “ knows “ neither force nor substance bearing “ any semblance of an ultimate cha- “ racter ; and to assume their existence “ in a certain manner, in any account “ of its methods, is a case of unwar- “ rantable hypothesis, which may be “ said to be fairly disposed of if found “ to clash with legitimate generalisa- “ tions in any other department “of science.” To assume, therefore, from the desultory observations of a few years that a clue has been found to the final cause of what we suppose we must continue to term <e Spiritualistic phenomena ” is a hasty conclusion, condemned by the experience of the past, and detrimental to the progress of investigation in the future. Whatever doubt may have existed as to facts in the infancy of Spiritualism, the mass of evidence accumulated and accumulating cannot now be pooh-poohed. Whether or not Mr Home sailed about a darkened room, without any wings, or whether he could have done the same in the sunlight without agency being discovered, need not be seriously discussed, as it has been proved that, through some unknown force, three or four ladies, or even children, can, by placing their fingers upon a light table, cause it to move in a clumsy manner, that respectable spirits would be ashamed of. We are not about to give a reason for this; but as it has been asked why spirits prefer to tumble a table about in preference to other articles of furniture, enquirers may possibly be led to consider whether there may not be something in the extended plane surface, to render the operations of the force employed effective ; while on a less area it would be too weak to produce any manifest effect. As a further suggestion it may be inquired, whether the same force that moves the muscles of the human body at will, may not be transmissible beyond it, and, acting within certain narrow limits, find in a wooden plane conductors giving human beings the power of causing it to move, when not too solidly placed. It seems to us that enthusiastic spiritualists refer, in one unintelligible muddle, all the phenomena on which they discourse to one common cause. Our object in alluding to the subject at all is, to point out the possibility of different causes producing the different effects observed. We do not wish to encourage a controversy, in which superstition bears so prominent a part. Our desire is that such sound systems of investigation should be adopted, as to divest the inquiry altogether of its superstitious aspect, being well assured that by that means alone will true science be advanced and religious error avoided.

Supreme Court.— Mr Justice Ward held a sitting in banco this morning. The Court was occupied during the whole of the day in hearing the argument upon demurrer in the case of Regina v. Macandrew. Concert. —We have been informed that a concert in aid of the funds for en larging St. John’s Parsonage, Waikouaiti, took place at Hawkesbury last evening. The principal performers were several wellknown amateurs from Dunedin. Political. —In consequence of the strong opposition to the Loan Bill, Mr Macau drew will remain iu Wellington (o see it through. Parliament will be prorogued on Monday next, when all the Otago members are expected to return by the Alhambra. Electoral. —There is every likelihood of there being a keen contest for the representation of the Wallace district in the Assembly, rendered vacant by the resignation of Mr Guthbert Cowan. In addition to Mr J. C. Brown, the names of Captain Mackenzie, of Pomahawka, and Mr Webster, of Benmore Station, Southland, have been mentioned as candidates. Suspended Tramways,—The following letter has been addressed by Mr Alex. Cairns to the Timaru Board of works. Dunedin, August, 1809. Sir, —I take leave to inform you that I have been partially aided in having my “suspended wire rope track and tramway ” brought into shape by the Government of this province, and that the same can be seen on the reclamation of this city. The model itself—on very slight rope —can carry a weight of 5 cwt. on a span of 300 feet. The Executive have had an inspection of the same and were satisfied as to its usefulness, and they intend having its merits inquired into and tested by their engineering staff during the ensuing week, with the view of ascertaining whether or not the principles upon which it is constructed can be applicable to bridging of rivers width up to 3000 feet. lam prepared to undertake to construct spans of 300 feet to carry 20 cwt, or any continuous length of bridge in spans of 100 feet, carrying an American waggon with eight horses up to ten tons at one time at one-fifth of the cost of a pile and platform bridge. I shall let you have the result of the examination referred to as soon as tt is made.