New and Astounding Facts.
By J. Everett
I take the liberty of addressing you, for the purpose of making more fully known to the world, through the medium of your valuable paper, the history of some facts which have transpired during the last eight months in Dover, Athens Co., Ohio. The facts which I have to relate are not merely the ordinary Spiritual Manifestations, but the exhibitions of spirits without the visible agency of mediums.—The commencement of the spiritual phenomena in that place was through the agency of rapping and writing mediums. These modes of communication were continued for a considerable length of time, and the phenomena were considered to be of an extraordinary character, and many became convinced of the presence and existence of Spirits. But there was one individual who was also a medium, whose skepticism was proportioned to the almost numberless demonstrations which he had witnessed, in consequence of his not being able to know positively whether the things he had witnessed were in reality performed by Spirits or some other agency, to him unknown. In compliance, however, with a request made to him by the Spirits through a medium in his own family, he erected a building, containing a room denominated the Spirit's room, to be devoted exclusively to their use, at which time he was also informed that the Spirits would be able to give such physical demonstrations as would be sufficient to remove all doubts from his mind. The result proved the truth of the prediction uttered; for he very soon became most thoroughly convinced of the existence and presence of spirits, in consequence of writing being executed by them without any visible medium or agency. Mr. Koons, the individual referred to, has expended a large sum in furnishing the Spirit's room with the apparatus designated by the Spirits, such as the telegraph table, which is accompanied with a variety of articles of curiously wrought workmanship—also a multiplicity of musical instruments, and a variety of paints and pencils, all of which were purchased and kept for the exclusive use of the Spirits. For many months past, they have given regular exhibitions of music, performed by themselves in their own persons—also the articulating of language through a trumpet, by which means they sing, and pray and deliver discourses, answer questions when proposed, examine the sick, give a description of each individual case, and also prescriptions for the same. They have also written long communications of a highly instructive and interesting character, devoted exclusively to Spiritual and theological subjects, most of which were given in the total absence of any visible earthly being, and the room under lock and key; and some have been written in the presence of hundreds of individuals that at different times composed the audience. These invisible beings create for themselves physical hands, they say, from the elements of the surrounding atmosphere, and which may be rendered visible to the physical vision, or natural sight, so that any person present is capable of testifying to the fact—himself being witness. With this self-created hand, they write their communications, either with pen or pencil, draw landscapes, flowers, representations of celestial orbs and sceneries, with ornamental paintings—also the outlines of the celestial spheres, with extended explanations of the same. The exhibitions which I have been permitted to witness in that place, I consider to be of a most astounding character. The specimens of instrumental music which I have heard performed at different times by the Spirits, give evidence to our senses of the reality of their Spiritual origin; for the music is of such a style, character and excellence as not to be imitated by earthly music; for before any of earth's inhabitants can give equal or similar demonstrations, they must experience a similar development in their destined transition from this earth's sphere. I have conversed with them in audible language, precisely as I would converse with any inhabitant of earth, and witnessed similar conversation of the Spirits with others, and have also repeatedly shaken hands with the Spirits, and have witnessed the same performance by each individual of the company. In conversation with the Spirits upon the subject of theology, they instruct us that the first and the last, the fundamental doctrine, is the belief in the existence, the worship and love of God; and of love to one another, and to all mankind; and that salvation is the total renunciation of error and wrong, and the reception of truth, love, justice and wisdom; that to be righteous, we must think and do righteously; that the Bible is not precisely the book that many have supposed it to be, but that from the beginning to the end it is mostly a compendium or history of the ministrations of angels, or those who were once inhabitants of this earth. They also say, that a great work yet remains to be accomplished on earth by the Spirits or angels of God, who are commissioned with authority from the heavenly world to demonstrate to man that he is a spirit, and also his own immortality, and to assist us to do away the wrongs, the creeds, and errors that exist throughout the professed Christian and Pagan world. During my visit to the Spirits in Athens Co., I received a manuscript volume, written and spoken by the Spirits, with authority to publish the same in a book, accompanied with numerous certificates. This book is now being published, and will soon be presented to the public in this place. I remain yours, truly, J. EVERETT.