"The following remarkable facts have lately occurred in the experience, and through the agency, of Mrs. French, of Pittsburg, Pa., who personally related them at a recent conference at this office, and has since repeated them, with additional particulars, to the writer. Being recently in the city of Washington, she was led to the house of Mr. Darby, the geographer, an elderly gentleman nearly seventy-nine years of age. Mr. D. had for some time been suffering from a paralysis of the left arm, which he was unable to move without taking hold of it with the right hand and applying to it a mechanical force. His hearing, also, was very imperfect. By means of a medicinal preparation which Mrs. French had made under spiritual direction, together with passes which she was impressed to make over the head and arm of the sufferer, the latter was in a few minutes so far relieved, that he moved his arm freely in all positions, clapped his hands at the back of his head, etc., without any impediment or difficulty. At the same time the old gentleman's hearing was very greatly improved; and the relief of his difficulties continued permanent up to the last accounts that Mrs. F. heard from him, which was some two or three weeks after these occurrences took place.
"Mrs. French subsequently went to Baltimore, where she stopped at the house of Mr. Laning. While there, Mr. L. was impressed to send for two young girls, one of whom, about nine years old, was entirely deaf and dumb, and the other, about seventeen years of age, could only hear and speak very imperfectly. Mrs. F. manipulated the one who was entirely deaf and dumb for thirty-two minutes, at the same time bathing her about the head and ears with the spiritually prepared medicine, which she had in her possession. At the end of that time Mrs. F. was spiritually impressed that the girl could hear. Standing, therefore, behind her, so that the girl could not see the motion of her lips, she spoke a little above her ordinary tone of voice, when the girl winced, as though the sound was too loud for her. Moderating her tone of voice, Mrs. F. told her to say, 'Pa,' 'Ma,' 'Sister,' 'Josephine,' and several other words, all of which the girl distinctly repeated as by imitation as they were spoken by the medium.
"While there, a girl was also brought to Mrs. French affected with St. Vitus' dance, and so badly that it took two persons to steady her as she was brought into the room. Mrs. F., while under spiritual influence, made passes over her for about fifteen minutes, when the girl walked the length of two parlors without any observable defect in her motion; and afterward she walked home without any difficulty, arm in arm with the lady who had accompanied her to the place.
"A Mr. Cole, also of Baltimore, was confined and apparently far gone with Consumption and other ailments. He subjected himself to spirit treatment through Mrs. French, and was immediately relieved from cough and other symptoms which prevented rest; and the next night he took a long walk through a storm of snow and sleet to a spiritual circle, where he remained to a late hour in a damp room, and then walked home again; and so far from feeling any ill consequences of this exposure on the next day, his health was, if any thing, still further improved."
"SPIRITS AT THE CAPITOL.—It may be recollected by those who attended the Tuesday evening Conference at Dodworth's Hall, some two or three weeks ago, that a Spirit, speaking through the medium of a young lady, declared that his voice should be heard in the Capitol on the next day. We have since learned that on the day following that evening, a medium was actually entranced, and spoke in a committee room to some members of Congress who had assembled to deliberate on a question submitted to their consideration. We mention this fact as a coincidence, without attaching any undue weight to it."
"SPIRITUALISM.—We have watched the progress of the new developments in what is called Spiritualism, with interest. Advocates and believers of this new 'dispensation' are now to be found in every State, town, and village of importance of the United States; while in Great Britain, France and Germany, books are written, newspapers are printed, and sermons are preached devoted to this subject.
Across the water, the better classes, intelligent and scientific members of society, are principally interested. Unfortunately for the 'cause' in this country, the uneducated and simple-minded have generally been the first to announce a belief in the rappings, and attempt to enlighten the world! Such trash as we have had purporting to come from the abode of lovely and perfected Spirits! Such fantastic performances, said to be the work of souls of the great departed, such as Ben. Franklin, Sir Isaac Newton and Plato!
Justice to the Spiritualists, however, compels us to say that the 'rappings' and their advocates appear to be giving place to higher manifestations, to which philosophic minds give countenance and aid. A strong and well-organized work of reform is the result. In Boston a regular course of Sabbath evening lectures is being delivered at the Melodeon, by such men as Hon. Warren Chase, Mr. A. E. Newton, Judge Edmonds, Dr. J. H. Robinson, and Rev. T. L. Harris. This canker of heresy in the very heart of New England orthodoxy is exciting attention; but what will be the end of it all, it is impossible to say.—Boston True Flag."