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{{Style P-HPB SB. Title continued |The Spirits Among the Shakers| 3-274}}

{{Style P-HPB SB. Title continued |The Spirits Among the Shakers|3-274}}

came and confessed their sins to us and said they would join our order. Then we would appoint them elders and elderesses, and then they would go off to their tribe and preach to them, and the spirits of the tribe would confess to them and they would become Shakers. When they had done this they would come again to us, just the same as if they were in the body. For instance, one or two elders might be in the room below, and there would be a knock at the door, and the Indian would ask whether they might come in. Permission being given, a whole tribe of Indian spirits would troop into the house, and in a few minutes you would hear 'whoop' here and ‘whoop’ there all over the house.”

{{Style P-No indent|came and confessed their sins to us and said they would join our order. Then we would appoint them elders and elderesses, and then they would go off to their tribe and preach to them, and the spirits of the tribe would confess to them and they would become Shakers. When they had done this they would come again to us, just the same as if they were in the body. For instance, one or two elders might be in the room below, and there would be a knock at the door, and the Indian would ask whether they might come in. Permission being given, a whole tribe of Indian spirits would troop into the house, and in a few minutes you would hear 'whoop' here and ‘whoop’ there all over the house.”}}

“But nobody In the rooms above had known that the elders had admitted the Indian spirits ?’’

“But nobody In the rooms above had known that the elders had admitted the Indian spirits ?’’

“You never let the outside world know what was going on.”

“You never let the outside world know what was going on.”

“Nay indeed. What took place among as was so wondertul that it seemed incredible. And if we had published it to the world we should all have been sent to Bedlam<ref>{{Style S-HPB SB. Editors note|Bethlem Royal Hospital, London hospital first to specialise in the mentally ill and origin of the word "bedlam" describing chaos or madness.}}</ref>.”

“Nay indeed. What took place among as was so wondertul that it seemed incredible. And if we had published it to the world we should all have been sent to Bedlam<ref>Bethlem Royal Hospital, London hospital first to specialise in the mentally ill and origin of the word "bedlam" describing chaos or madness.</ref>.”

“Don’t you think that modern Spiritualism is much the same thing as the visions of monks and nuns in the middle ages ?”

“Don’t you think that modern Spiritualism is much the same thing as the visions of monks and nuns in the middle ages ?”

“Mormonism is much better than your New York Christianity.”

“Mormonism is much better than your New York Christianity.”

We now together descended to the parlor of fine hotel, and were soon engaged in a discussion with the versatile and irrepressible George Francis Train. He took the ground that Spiritualism is all a delusion. “Look here.” said he. “Look at that hand; that is firm, solid flesh. Look at those legs, those, arms, this body. This is all firm. I am a man—a solid, substantial fact. But don’t talk to me about any ghosts. Pshaw; there’s no such thins. Don’t go bringing a lot of musty old skeletons and rattling their bones about my ears. I’ll have none of it.”

We now together descended to the parlor of the hotel, and were soon engaged in a discussion with the versatile and irrepressible George Francis Train. He took the ground that Spiritualism is all a delusion. “Look here,” said he. “Look at that hand; that is firm, solid flesh. Look at those legs, those, arms, this body. This is all firm. I am a man — a solid, substantial fact. But don’t talk to me about any ghosts. Pshaw; there’s no such thing. Don’t go bringing a lot of musty old skeletons and rattling their bones about my ears. I’ll have none of it.”

“But, Mr. Train, what are we to say about those Eddy manifestations ? Here is Elder Evans, who says that be hasn’t the slightest doubt of their genuineness. Colonel Olcott, Mme. Blavatsky, and a host of other intelligent witnesses all say the same thing. Why don’t you go up and see them ?”  

“But, Mr. Train, what are we to say about those Eddy manifestations ? Here is Elder Evans, who says that be hasn’t the slightest doubt of their genuineness. Colonel Olcott, Mme. Blavatsky, and a host of other intelligent witnesses all say the same thing. Why don’t you go up and see them ?”  

“There is nothing to do but for the world to return to true principles of religion, and Spiritualism is preparing the way for that,” remarked Elder Evans.

“There is nothing to do but for the world to return to true principles of religion, and Spiritualism is preparing the way for that,” remarked Elder Evans.