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{{Style P-HPB SB. Title continued|The Scientific Relations of the Shotgun}}

{{Style P-HPB SB. Title continued|The Scientific Relations of the Shotgun}}

lights have been turned on the supposed spirit performing tomfooleries, and it was instantly manifest whether they were genuine or not. In all these cases it was a touch and a go, and the truth declared itself beyond any man's cavil. Devices which were so simple, and yet "so sufficient, were surely scientific, and they indicate, and perhaps sufficiently describe, our notion of scientific investigation of one class of spiritual manifestations. But we add a few hints especially touching ihe investigation of materializations. Let the tests be applied directly, if possible, to the materialized spirit, with the intent to determine who or what it is. A dark lantern, or some other appliance for turning on light, is likely to be useful. A lasso would be very serviceable in the hands of cne skilled in its use; it is said the Mexicans can lasso anything that runs or stands. A little squirt-gun loaded with a few ounces of ink, or even the boy’s blow-gun charged with Scotch snuff, might be available in eliciting truth where more pretentious instruments would fail. If the investigator, from doubts of his skill or other reasons, prefers to discard all the apparatus and appliances of art, let him in the non-resisting spirit of a Quaker and in the name of Science, suddenly lay a strong and firm hand on the dress of the body of the spirit, and hang on like a Tarter, till the whole truth comes to relieve him.

{{Style P-No indent|lights have been turned on the supposed spirit performing tomfooleries, and it was instantly manifest whether they were genuine or not. In all these cases it was a touch and a go, and the truth declared itself beyond any man's cavil. Devices which were so simple, and yet "so sufficient, were surely scientific, and they indicate, and perhaps sufficiently describe, our notion of scientific investigation of one class of spiritual manifestations. But we add a few hints especially touching ihe investigation of materializations. Let the tests be applied directly, if possible, to the materialized spirit, with the intent to determine who or what it is. A dark lantern, or some other appliance for turning on light, is likely to be useful. A lasso would be very serviceable in the hands of cne skilled in its use; it is said the Mexicans can lasso anything that runs or stands. A little squirt-gun loaded with a few ounces of ink, or even the boy’s blow-gun charged with Scotch snuff, might be available in eliciting truth where more pretentious instruments would fail. If the investigator, from doubts of his skill or other reasons, prefers to discard all the apparatus and appliances of art, let him in the non-resisting spirit of a Quaker and in the name of Science, suddenly lay a strong and firm hand on the dress of the body of the spirit, and hang on like a Tarter, till the whole truth comes to relieve him.}}

We repeat: Our scientific plan is simple, direct, conclusive. We commend it to Mr. Crookes and Col. Olcott, and especially to all those who are in the road which leads to a faith which has lost its senses and is idiotic.

We repeat: Our scientific plan is simple, direct, conclusive. We commend it to Mr. Crookes and Col. Olcott, and especially to all those who are in the road which leads to a faith which has lost its senses and is idiotic.

But, in the light of the facts, The World’s summing up is peculiarly unfortunate. The day of sarcasm in regard to spiritual matters is past—the era of analysis has come, and those editors who in default of knowledge still prefer to use the hilt-worn weapon of ridicule, will not only be. easily overturned by the champions of the new dispensation, but even the friends of said journals will convict them of arrant ignorance by the prosecution of such line of operations, and will remand them to less important stations in the popular estimation. The leading minds of the churches—men like Dr. Bushnell—are insisting that all theology must be reconstructed, that a fresh inspiration is needed by man, that the heavens are very near to us, and that spiritual life must be re-awakened. Now it is Spiritualism that will most effectually break up the crust and let in the light of heaven again.

But, in the light of the facts, The World’s summing up is peculiarly unfortunate. The day of sarcasm in regard to spiritual matters is past—the era of analysis has come, and those editors who in default of knowledge still prefer to use the hilt-worn weapon of ridicule, will not only be. easily overturned by the champions of the new dispensation, but even the friends of said journals will convict them of arrant ignorance by the prosecution of such line of operations, and will remand them to less important stations in the popular estimation. The leading minds of the churches—men like Dr. Bushnell—are insisting that all theology must be reconstructed, that a fresh inspiration is needed by man, that the heavens are very near to us, and that spiritual life must be re-awakened. Now it is Spiritualism that will most effectually break up the crust and let in the light of heaven again.