Two volumes of special. merit dealing with this: subject have recently been published—two reliable works amongst a mass of ephemeral matter intended to catch the eye of a public eager for ''mysteries'? and not particularly scrupulous in Matters of "detail. Mr. Joeph Me-Cape has written a History of Spiritualism, from 1847, (published at 15/- by Messrs, Fisher Unwin), and Dr. Millais Culpin has a volume on "'Spiritualism and the New Psychology" (which Messrs. Arnold publish at 6/-). The two works are the subject of interesting comment by "The Times."
Fatra ano Fravp.
There is, says the reviewer, another point of view closely related' to the psychological, which is now open to the critic of spiritualism. It is not necessary to pierce the lion's hide. Take a general view of the creature, and the tell-tale ears will be plain enough. This is what Mr. McCabe does in his historical survey of the movement, which is in effect a most instructive chapter in anthropology. In the winter of 1847-48 men's minds were in a peculiarly yeasty state. That is a matter of history. America, though free from acute political disturbance, was not exempt from the prevailing unrest, which manifested itself in the form appropriate to a community that was widely scattered, doubtfully educated, and ill provided with traditions. Eccentric religious movements, developed. ''Univer'salist" and the Swedenborg cult flourished: Joseph Smith (though Mr. McCabe curiously omits to mention him) had had his revelations, and his disciples in 1848 made their memorable exodus to Utah. Is was an age of enthusiasts, and the pranks of two mischievous girls, the Fox sisters, were as a spark to tinder, movement spread amazingly. hin seven years most of the familiar phenomena—'"'rapports,"" "levitation," musical instruments played by ghostly hands—had been developed, and the believers numbered many thousands, Eminent lawyers were among the earliest converts. Horace Greeley lent his powerful support. Even Abraham Lincoln was said to be sympathetic, an his election to the Presidency was) acclaimed as a spiritualist triumph. After 1855, however, a reaction set in. Many prominent and prosperous mediums were detected in fraud: and presently the people of the United States, with the noise of war in their ears, became deaf to raps and accordion music.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.