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{{Style S-Small capitals|The}} aged Banner of Light is occasionally afflicted with that most distressing, of all occult maladies, the nightmare, and to this misfortune is added the mental infirmity, that leads it to suppose that its meaningless fabrics of fancies are of any consequence to the public at large. Some of its wanderings, when suffering from an over excited imagination, are mere abstractions, bearing no relation to the subject it is considering, even if it happens to have one. The latest effusion is a double-leaded, half-column, leading editorial, headed “To whom it may concern.” It commences with a few observations on vanity. “Vanity of vanities saith the Preacher," in the scriptures, “all is vanity,” but the wise man in the Banner says: —

{{Style S-Small capitals|The}} aged Banner of Light is occasionally afflicted with that most distressing, of all occult maladies, the nightmare, and to this misfortune is added the mental infirmity, that leads it to suppose that its meaningless fabrics of fancies are of any consequence to the public at large. Some of its wanderings, when suffering from an over excited imagination, are mere abstractions, bearing no relation to the subject it is considering, even if it happens to have one. The latest effusion is a double-leaded, half-column, leading editorial, headed “To whom it may concern.” It commences with a few observations on vanity. “Vanity of vanities saith the Preacher," in the scriptures, “all is vanity,” but the wise man in the Banner says: —

There is one vanity in human nature at a certain stage of its maturity that only time can cure; and that is the conceit that change, especially if effected by itself, is of course progress.

{{Style P-Quote|There is one vanity in human nature at a certain stage of its maturity that only time can cure; and that is the conceit that change, especially if effected by itself, is of course progress.}}

An assertion based on experience we presume, and intended. by the Banner as an acknowledgment that in its younger days it led the people away from exact methods of investigation to the Hazard onian paths of discountenancing the “testing of the divine powers of the mediums in any tray whatever.” We are confirmed in the belief that this interpretation is the only one that can be placed on the above quotation, for in the next sentence it says: —

An assertion based on experience we presume, and intended. by the Banner as an acknowledgment that in its younger days it led the people away from exact methods of investigation to the Hazard onian paths of discountenancing the “testing of the divine powers of the mediums in any tray whatever.” We are confirmed in the belief that this interpretation is the only one that can be placed on the above quotation, for in the next sentence it says: —

A very few years put the effectual quietus on such vain dreams, and affairs move on just the same as if they had never been thrust into people’s faces with such a flourish of wisdom.

{{Style P-Quote|A very few years put the effectual quietus on such vain dreams, and affairs move on just the same as if they had never been thrust into people’s faces with such a flourish of wisdom.}}

True enough. Time works strange revolutions. The Hazard's, Putnam's, Robert’s, seconded by the Hardy's, Seaver's, Boothby's, Bennett's, Hull’s, and a host of others, and the combination supported by the Banner of Light, demanded that the medium should dictate the conditions. The Spiritual Scientist urged the application of simple but decisive teats, and took the ground that no genuine medium would refuse to comply with reasonable requests. Who would suppose that any shiner would dare to interfere with a materialization seance, after the solemn declarations and asservations of the Banner and its coterie of advisers, that any such attempt would be followed by the serious illness, if not the death of the medium! Well, a few of them are dead in one sense of the term; after the recent complete exposures no “vindication.’’ can galvanize enough life into their materialization side show, to make them pay.

True enough. Time works strange revolutions. The Hazard's, Putnam's, Robert’s, seconded by the Hardy's, Seaver's, Boothby's, Bennett's, Hull’s, and a host of others, and the combination supported by the Banner of Light, demanded that the medium should dictate the conditions. The Spiritual Scientist urged the application of simple but decisive teats, and took the ground that no genuine medium would refuse to comply with reasonable requests. Who would suppose that any shiner would dare to interfere with a materialization seance, after the solemn declarations and asservations of the Banner and its coterie of advisers, that any such attempt would be followed by the serious illness, if not the death of the medium! Well, a few of them are dead in one sense of the term; after the recent complete exposures no “vindication.’’ can galvanize enough life into their materialization side show, to make them pay.