Changes

  | pages        = 36-44

  | pages        = 36-44

  | publications = The Daily Graphic, New York, Vol. VI, November 13, 1874, pp. 90-91

  | publications = The Daily Graphic, New York, Vol. VI, November 13, 1874, pp. 90-91

  | scrapbook    = 1:5

  | scrapbook    = 1:6

  | previous    = Zirkoff B. - H.P.B’s Scrapbooks

  | previous    = Blavatsky H.P. - Marvellous Spirit Manifestations

  | next        = Blavatsky H.P. - From Scrapbook Vol. I pp. 7-8

  | next        = Zirkoff B. - Elbridge Gerry Brown

  | alternatives = [http://www.katinkahesselink.net/blavatsky/articles/v1/y1874_003.htm KHL]

  | alternatives = [http://www.katinkahesselink.net/blavatsky/articles/v1/y1874_003.htm KH]; [https://universaltheosophy.com/hpb/about-spiritualism/ UT]

  | translations = [https://ru.teopedia.org/lib/Блаватская_Е.П._-_О_спиритуализме Russian]

  | translations = [https://ru.teopedia.org/lib/Блаватская_Е.П._-_О_спиритуализме Russian]

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{{Page aside|36}}

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{{Style P-Title|ABOUT SPIRITUALISM <ref>In her Scrapbook, Vol. I, p. 6, where this article is pasted in, H.P.B. wrote across the top of the page:

{{Style P-Title|ABOUT SPIRITUALISM <ref>{{HPB-CW-comment|[In her {{SB-page|v=1|p=6|text=Scrapbook, Vol. I, p. 6}}, where this article is pasted in, H.P.B. wrote across the top of the page:

My 2nd letter to N. Y. Graphic, November 14, 1874. —Compiler.</ref>}}

My 2nd letter to N. Y. Graphic, November 14, 1874. —Compiler.]}}</ref>}}

 

{{Style P-No indent|To the Editor of The Daily Graphic:}}

As Dr. Beard has scorned (in his scientific grandeur) to answer the challenge sent to him by your humble {{Page aside|37}} servant in the number of The Daily Graphic for the 30th of October last, and preferred instructing the public in general rather than one “credulous fool” in particular, let her come from Circassia or Africa, I fully trust you will permit me to use your paper once more, in order that by pointing out some very spicy peculiarities of this amazingly scientific exposure, the public might better judge to whose door the aforesaid elegant epithet could be more appropriately laid.

As Dr. Beard has scorned (in his scientific grandeur) to answer the challenge sent to him by your humble {{Page aside|37}} servant in the number of The Daily Graphic for the 30th of October last, and preferred instructing the public in general rather than one “credulous fool” in particular, let her come from Circassia or Africa, I fully trust you will permit me to use your paper once more, in order that by pointing out some very spicy peculiarities of this amazingly scientific exposure, the public might better judge to whose door the aforesaid elegant epithet could be more appropriately laid.

Here I will briefly state what I reluctantly withheld up to the present moment from the knowledge of all such as Dr. Beard. The fact was too sacred in my eyes to allow it to be trifled with in newspaper gossiping. But now, in order to settle the question at once, I deem it my duty as a Spiritualist to surrender it to the opinion of the public.

Here I will briefly state what I reluctantly withheld up to the present moment from the knowledge of all such as Dr. Beard. The fact was too sacred in my eyes to allow it to be trifled with in newspaper gossiping. But now, in order to settle the question at once, I deem it my duty as a Spiritualist to surrender it to the opinion of the public.

On the last night that I spent with the Eddys, I was presented by George Dix and Mayflower with a silver decoration, the upper part of a medal with which I was but too familiar. I quote the precise words of the spirit: “We bring you this decoration, for we think you will value it more highly than anything else. You shall recognize it, for it is the badge of honour that was presented to your father by his Government for the campaign of 1828, between Russia and Turkey. We got it through the influence of your uncle, who appeared to you here this evening. We brought it from your father’s grave at Stavropol. You shall identify it by a certain sign known to yourself.” These words were spoken in the presence of forty witnesses. Colonel Olcott will describe the fact and give the design of the decoration. <ref>See H.P.B.’s explanation on pp. 203-04 of the present Volume. On page 357 of Col. Olcott’s work People from the Other World may be found the drawing of both the buckle and the decoration itself. —Compiler.</ref>

On the last night that I spent with the Eddys, I was presented by George Dix and Mayflower with a silver decoration, the upper part of a medal with which I was but too familiar. I quote the precise words of the spirit: “We bring you this decoration, for we think you will value it more highly than anything else. You shall recognize it, for it is the badge of honour that was presented to your father by his Government for the campaign of 1828, between Russia and Turkey. We got it through the influence of your uncle, who appeared to you here this evening. We brought it from your father’s grave at Stavropol. You shall identify it by a certain sign known to yourself.” These words were spoken in the presence of forty witnesses. Colonel Olcott will describe the fact and give the design of the decoration. <ref>{{HPB-CW-comment|[See H.P.B.’s explanation on pp. 203-04 of the present Volume. On page 357 of Col. Olcott’s work People from the Other World may be found the drawing of both the buckle and the decoration itself. —Compiler.]}}</ref>

I have the said decoration in my possession. I know it as having belonged to my father. More, I have identified it by a portion that, through carelessness, I broke myself {{Page aside|44}} many years ago, and, to settle all doubt in relation to it, I possess the photograph of my father (a picture that has never been at the Eddys’, and could never possibly have been seen by any of them) on which this medal is plainly visible.

I have the said decoration in my possession. I know it as having belonged to my father. More, I have identified it by a portion that, through carelessness, I broke myself {{Page aside|44}} many years ago, and, to settle all doubt in relation to it, I possess the photograph of my father (a picture that has never been at the Eddys’, and could never possibly have been seen by any of them) on which this medal is plainly visible.

23 Irving Place.}}

23 Irving Place.}}

{{HPB-CW-comment|[In H.P.B.’s Scrapbook, Vol. I, pp. 6-7, where the above article is pasted, H.P.B. added in pen and ink under her signature:]}}

{{HPB-CW-comment|[In H.P.B.’s {{SB-page|v=1|p=6|text=Scrapbook, Vol. I, pp. 6-7}}, where the above article is pasted, H.P.B. added in pen and ink under her signature:]}}

So much in defence of phenomena, as to whether these Spirits are ghosts is another question.

So much in defence of phenomena, as to whether these Spirits are ghosts is another question.

{{Style P-Signature|H.P.B.}}

{{HPB-CW-separator}}

 

 

{{Page aside|45}}{{HPB-CW-comment|[In {{SB-page|v=1|p=8|text=Scrapbook, Vol. I, p. 8}}, the account of Mr. Brown is followed immediately by an article entitled “Unpractical Spirits,” presumably also from The Daily Graphic. It is signed with the initials “I.F.F.” which obviously stand for Irvin Francis Fern. H.P.B. added the following remarks in pen and ink:]}}

 

{{Footnotes}}

{{Footnotes}}