HPB-SB-1-165: Difference between revisions

{{Style P-Signature in capitals| November 1, 1859}}

{{Style P-Signature in capitals| Emma Byrnes.}}

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  | title = The Latest Humbug

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Under the auspices of several prominent clergymen and laymen in this city, a young man named Mr. Irving Bishop, of New York, has given two “entertainments,” advertised as “the exposure of the characteristic phenomena of Spiritualism.” We who believe that there are phenomena, are, of course, undisturbed by the ultimate result of any ‘'exposure,” but, doubtless, others besides myself, who have with some warmth commented upon Mr. Bishop’s performance, have been met with some such general remark as this: “Many of you Spiritualists profess to be glad to have trickery exposed, and yet I notice a disposition to condemn a man who seeks to expose the doings of mediums, as if you were afraid of the consequences. " For myself, I have replied that my objections to this man were in his cunning pretenses. Upon his assumptions certain clergymen have eagerly grasped him by the hand, hoping for a powerful auxiliary in destroying that which has been a bugbear and embarrassment to many of them for a quarter of a century. Some of them with inborn hostility and prejudice against Spiritualism profess satisfaction with Mr. Bishop, while others maintain the same reticence as before. The published reports have been very unsatisfactory to a really inquiring reader. A friend of mine who is very fair-minded, but an unbeliever in Spiritualism, after visiting one of Mr. Bishop's exhibitions said to me, “As an exposer he is a humbug. After imitating, behind a screen, several of the tricks of the mediums, he only did one of them before the audience, remarking that the others were done in a precisely similar manner; viz., by a dexterous and very clever twisting and turning of his hands and wrists while they were tightly tied. This was not at all satisfactory. I think it was all trickery, but why did he not tell us how it was done?” From what my friend says, Mr. Bishop, while he omits any attempt to do what many mediums in public and private have done, really does some remarkable things. If it is done by legerdemain, as he alleges it is, why does he not at once accept the honors the clergy are ready to heap upon him, by doing them all in view of the audience? And it he is not a liar as to “the exposure of the characteristic phenomena of Spiritualism,” why does he not exhibit five or six hands, large and small, as the Davenports do; or even produce the simple raps with accompanying intelligence, as hundreds of mediums do? Mr. Bishop’s claims may be honest as td his methods of doing what he does, but he makes false pretenses, at least; not only as to “exposing” even his own tricks, but in advertising that they are “the characteristic phenomena.” The proceeds sf his exhibitions are said to be given to deserving charities, he being represented as an amateur, and not at all ambitious to appear in public as an Anderson or Heller. I suppose I may be excused, being a Spiritualist, for the credulity of suggesting that, like the Fays, he may have mediumistic power supplemented with elasticity of limbs and conscience. It may please hit fancy to begin gradually with the orthodox world, exciting alike their wonder and approbation, and finally taking liberal percentages or presents for his valuable services. There is precedent to excite a well-founded hope of success in his general idea (if he has it) in the career'' ''of Moody and Sankey. I find a latter in the ''Eagle ''of this city which presents so many sensible points upon the matter, that I beg leave to enclose it to you.

Brooklyn, N. Y., July 2, 1876

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  | title = Spectres of Animals

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