ADDRESS OF THE SOCIETY FOR THE DIFFUSION OF SPIRITUAL KNOWLEDGE.
To the Citizens of the United States:—But a few short years ago, in an obscure locality, and under circumstances which seemed to warrant the belief in an early termination of the so-called dream, Spiritualism, in its present form was born. Its few advocates, in the early days of its life, were looked upon as lunatic—were despised for their faith; and men of respectability and standing in society could hardly be found who were willing to examine into the facts connected with the alleged phenomena, for fear of the reproach of the entire unbelieving community. Since that period, Spiritualism has extended with a rapidity unprecedented in the annals of the world—until, to-day, it has become a respectable power in society. Men whose education and whose genius have fitted them for occupying the highest stations, either in politics or in the church, have sacrificed all positions of earthly aggrandizement for the sake of what they believe to be the enjoyment of high and holy truth. Connected with that movement to-day are many hundreds and thousands of men who are respected by their neighbors for their integrity and worth—esteemed and loved by their friends for their many amiable qualities. The subject has arrested the attention of the learned all over this land, and in many other lands, it has produced books, for and against. Many of the publications on both sides of the question are marked by ability and strength.
Within the last two years, Spiritualism has increased in strength and stature with a growth unprecedented in the history of mental giants. If it be a lie, there is every prospect of its enveloping this world, and, by its weight, sinking this world one degree lower in the depth of degradation. If it be a lie, it has come in so lovely a garb that men will seek it unless they be warned by a strong voice; men will flee to it as though it were an angel sent from Heaven—will become enveloped in its false light, and will be borne down to death by the weight of its false glory. If it be a lie, ye men of America, who have one thought towards the good of your fellows, it is your duty to come forward as one man, to tear the vail from the face of the lie, and expose it in all its hideousness. We challenge you as men—as earnest men, as men desiring the good of your fellows—to come forth and meet us in the fight, expose our errors, draw the shroud away, and enable the world to see us as we are. We challenge you to come and do that thing.
Citizens of the United States! we feel authority for saying that the day for raising the cry of humbug, chicanery, delusion, has passed away forever. You know—all of you who have reflective minds—that the application of these terms to this subject can no longer produce results; but that rather these invectives, launched at your supposed enemies, will rebound upon yourselves, and cover you with weakness. Your professed teachers, your men in high places, the learned of your universities, the eloquent of your pulpits have dealt in them long enough. And what results have they achieved? The theories which the universities sent forth to account for the alleged phenomena, as they were pleased to term them, have not only rendered their authors, but the universities, ridiculous in the minds of intelligent men. All the theories which they reared have crumbled to the dust, and their authors can not shake that dust from off their clothing.