Chapter XVII: Banishment of Popular Superstitions

How shall it be effected?--The proper use of our _reasoning faculties_.--The exercise of our understandings.--Persevering self-discipline.--Conduct towards believers in ghosts, signs, &c.--Misconduct in families; trying tricks, &c.--How we should employ our time.--Belief in an all-wise Providence, as Governor and Controller of all events.--Importance of a correct education of youth.--Nursery tales and marvellous stories.--Their baneful influence.--Correct examples before children.--Superstitious tales to be avoided.--Attention to the means of education.-- Immense value and importance of knowledge.--No lack of means to educate the young.--Money foolishly wasted in various ways. --Perseverance in laudable exertions.--The blessing of Heaven to crown our labors. 185

PART SECOND.

MIRACLE IN SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS.

Miracle performed by spirits in Springfield, Massachusetts.--Case of biological deception.--Case of a "writing medium."--Effects produced by pathetism.--Incident related by Miss Martineau.-- Travelling to other countries, and to other spheres.--Singular feat by a boy of Dr. Phelps.--Wonderful case of a lady in New Jersey.--Advice of Hon. Horace Greely.--Testimony of Rev. Dr. Phelps. 191

PERSONS TRAINED BY A LECTURER ON MAGNETISM. 199

SCENE AT EAST BOSTON.

"Circle" at the house of Mr. Hoyt, at East Boston.--Effects of vital electricity.--Imitating handwritings, writing poetry, music, &c. 200

EXTRACT FROM THE PURITAN RECORDER.

Facts related by a gentleman of Maine.--Renunciation of a spirit rapper.--Murder committed at the instigation of "spirits."-- Conflicting testimony concerning John Thompson.--Experiments of Mr. Kellogg, the table lifter.--Discovery by Dr. Taylor, the writing medium.--Renunciation of Mr. Cooley, of Springfield, Massachusetts.--Attempt to murder a family in Barre, Massachusetts. --Sacrifice of the innocent in heathen countries.--Great danger in civilized communities.--Reports concerning the burning of the Lunatic Asylum in Maine.--Testimony of Professor Stowe.-- Reply of Bingham to Professor Pond.--Singular confessions of the reviewer.--Intelligence said to be communicated by "spirits."-- Vital electricity of embodied and disembodied spirits. 203

EXTRACT FROM THE HOME JOURNAL.

Star singers, concerts, parties, and lectures in the other spheres.--Studies of French, Italian, geology, chemistry, drawing, &c.--Semi-clergymen, outsiders, or come-outers. 215

FORETELLING FUTURE EVENTS.

Prediction concerning the ship Staffordshire.--General Pierce's election foretold by Professor Anderson's glass bell.--False predictions of the "spirits."--Error committed by Professor Lester.--Suggestion of a lady to a sick friend.--Sentiments of Alexander Pope. 218

VISIONS, MIRACLES, AND WONDERS.

Sights, sounds, signs, miracles, maps, drawings, hieroglyphics. --Talking cow in Maine.--Her prophecy.--Proposition for _another_ "NEW CHURCH."--Predictions concerning all other churches.-- Opinions three hundred years ago.--Fate of Galileo. 220

CLAIRVOYANT PHYSICIANS.

Prescriptions from the dead.--Power of the imagination.--Wonderful efficacy of brown bread pills.--Singular cure of palsy, by Sir Humphrey Davy. 221

STYLE OF "SUPERNAL" COMPOSITIONS.

Fishbough's new work.--Fancy-captivating publications.--Refined atheism.--Transcendental nonsense.--False communications relating to patriots, statesmen, orators, and divines.--Mountebank scenes of "psychology."--Testimony of A. J. Davis, upon the tricks of the spirit demonstrators.--Concealments, misstatements, and exaggerations. 223

MYSTERIOUS PHENOMENA, WITH THEIR AGENTS OR CAUSES.

Thumping noises in New Jersey.--Door opened as if struck by a mallet.--Great excitement.--Glass broken, &c.--Knockings heard in New Hackensack.--Pile of lumber shaken; tables, chairs, stand, and candlestick thrown about.--Bags of salt, tin ware, and cooking utensils thrown in a heap.--An English officer haunted by noises in the night.--Heavy marble top tables poising themselves on two legs.--Brass door knockers bewitched.--Commotion among crockery, tin ware, &c.--Firing a gun at noises in the walls. --Tearing up floor to get at the noises.--Suit brought for damages.--Bed of a sick girl raised.--Trembling of the house walls.--Singular pranks in a factory.--Jerking of the frames, and cylinder thrown at a distance.--Alarm and flight of the operatives.--A chest with three men, and a man on a tub, taken up by an invisible power.--A chair broken between two men's hands.--An image seated on a stool, clad in white.--Visions of beings like spirits.--Knockings on the walls, and noises in the air.--A lady suspended by the tips of the fingers, as a magnet suspends a piece of iron.--Electrical flashes from a lady's body.--Knockings made to be heard at a distance.--Quotation from a work by Rev. T. Hill, of Waltham.--Singular developments in New York.--Freaks of a knob of a door bell.--Fiery flashes, and fiery smacks, on kissing.--Blows in the mouth from a speaking tube.-- Account of two girls that could move tables without touching them. --Effects of storms on raising tables.--Electrical circles in Cincinnati.--Case of a lady in Strasburg.--Power of giving electrical shocks to persons at a distance.--Singular effects of the northern lights on a lady. 224

EXPERIMENTS IN BIOLOGY.

Chairs, tables, and persons moved.--Biological table-liftings in East Boston.--"Mediums," as visible human operators.--Resolve of the "rappers" at Poughkeepsie.--The unseen agent that moves tables, beds, &c.--Dancing plates, knives and forks, &c. 264

FACULTY OF IMITATION.

Delivering speeches; imitating orators.--Case related by Walter Scott.--Case of a man haunted by the devil.--Effects of wine and heavy eating.--Voice heard by Judge Edmonds.--Lady in Providence who writes music by "spirits."--Diagram of the spheres, by a lady in a magnetic state. 268

UNSEEN LETTERS AND SIGNATURES.

Imitating unseen letters, signatures, and languages.--Suspicions concerning Professor Bush.--Singular feat attributed to spirits. --No difficulty in raising chairs or tables.--Spirits shown by Egyptian boys.--Unbelief of practising "mediums."--School children forbidden to move tables, &c. 273

A DANCING LIGHT.

Dancing light seen in Southboro', Massachusetts.--_Ignis fatuus_ seen by Dr. Derham.--Corpusants seen by mariners.-- Dampier's account of them. 274

SAILORS' OMENS.

Sailors' omens and superstitions.--Devil's power in stirring up winds.--Losing a cat overboard, a bucket, or a mop. 276

LOVE CHARMS.

Othello winning Desdemona by conjuration.--Execution of a young lady for giving a love powder.--Her dying confession.--A charm or an allay for love. 277

EFFECTS OF A BELIEF IN A GHOST.

Effects of a belief in the reality of ghosts.--Case at the University at Cambridge.--A student frightened to death. 279

THE INVISIBLE LADY.

The invisible lady in Boston.--The invisible girl in London.-- Joice Heth, the India rubber woman.--Professor Grimes's discovery among the "rappers."--Mrs. Culver respecting the Rochester rappers. 280

SORCERERS IN THE EAST.

Persons killed by the enemy's fires.--Singular custom in Java. 281

SINGULAR METAMORPHOSES.

Men turned into tigers by eating a certain root, and turned back again by eating another.--A tiger-man shot in the woods and recognized, after having devoured some of his neighbors.--Account of the wolf mania in Egypt and in Brittany.--A husband that lived and died a wolf. 282

PERNICIOUS ERRORS RELATING TO HEALTH.

Astrology.--Vegetable oil of swallows, &c.--Cleanliness, diet, &c.--Ablution.--Ventilation.--Food.--Quality of meats. 284

THE SPIRIT LAND.