ierli/ Journal nf Science, Jan. 1874, some of the phenom- ena exhibited in repeated exjieriments with the medi- ums I). D. Home and Kate Fox are thus classified: 1. The movement of heavy bodies with contact, but with- out mechanical exertion; 2. 'I'he phenomena of percus- sive and other allied sounds; 3. The alteration of weight of bodies ; 4. Movements of heavy bodies w hen at a dis- tance from the medium; 5. The rising of chairs and ta- bles off the ground without contact with any jierson ; C. The levitation ofhimian beings; 7. Movement of various small articles without contact with any person; 8. Lu- minous appearances; 9. The appearance of hands, either self-luminous or visible by ordinary light; 10. Direct writing; 11. Phantom forms and faces; 12. Special in- stances which seem to point to the agency of an exte- rior intelligence; 13. JMiscellaneous occurrences of a com- plex character. Later phenomena are those of the cab- inet, in which the medium is, ostensibly, tied and un- tied by spirit-hands: and other forms of materializa- tion. One of the most recent of these last is "s])irit- photographs." It is asserted that on clean and previ- ously unused plates, marked by the sitter, and even when the sitter has used his owii plates and camera, there has appeared with ihe sitter a second figure, which in many instances has been recognised as the portrait of a deceased relative or friend.
While many )iersons distinguished in the walks of science, philosopliy. literature, and statesmanship have become avowed converts to Spiritualism, or have ad- mitted the phenomena so far as to believe in a new force not recognised by science, or, at least, have witnessed that its phenomena are not explainable on the ground of imposture or coincidence, others boldly assert that they are all attributable to physical agencies (see Gas- parin, Science vs. Spiritualism, transl. by Robert, N. Y. 1857, 2 vols.). Spiritual photographs, it is alleged, are secure<l by first tampering with the negative; and all the eiFects shown by Spiritualists are claimed for the simfile processes of photography. The cabinet- trick has frequently been reproduced by ordinan*- performers, and professional prestigiators have publicly offered to imitate all the so-called marvels of Spiritualism with- out the slightest pretence of spiritual intervention. We have before us a letter from one who has made the whole subject a careful study, and he declares his ability to re- produce by sleight of hand any phenomenon of Spiritu- alism after seeing it once or twice.
It is impossible to make an approximate estimate of the number of Spiritualists, owing to the fact that their organized bodies contain but a small proportion of those who wholly or partially accept these phenomena. A verj' large proportion of the converts are from the ranks of those who previously doubted or disbelieved the im- mortality of the .soul, and who affirm that they carry their sceptical tendencies into the investigation of this subject.
The Spiritual Magazine (the oldest journal of Spir- itualism in England, and one that contains a record of the movement from its establishment, in 18(10) has the following as its motto: "Spiritualism is based on the cardinal fact of spirit communion and influx; it is the effort to discover all truth relating to man's spiritual nature, capacities, relations, duties, welfare, and destiny, and its application to a regenerate life. It recognises a continuous divine inspiration in man. It aims, through a careful, reverent study of facts, at a knowledge of the laws and principles which govern the occult forces of the universe; of the relations of spirit to matter, and of man to God and the spiritual world. It is thus catholic and progressive, leading to true religion as at one with the highest philosophy." The " ISritish National Associa- tion of Spiritualists" wascirganized in Liverpool. Novem- ber, 1873, and has for its object the union of " Spiritual- ists of every variety of opinion, the aiding of students in their researches, and the making knriwn of the positive results arrived at by carefid research." ( )f periodicals, the number in Europe, America, and Australia is at least one
SPIRITUALISTS
95S
SPITTA
hunilrcd. The Ixxiks rclatiiii,' to Spiritualism may be rcckxiiftl liy the luiiulred, of which the following' are some of the more im|«ortaiit: IJallou, Sjiiritinil Afaiii- f'r.*tuliims : Crookes, lirgearchis in the I'/iciwmeiKi of 'Sl>iriliiiili.ini (bniii. 1X74^ : Crowe. S/iirituiilLim and the A)je ire Lire in (ihiil. lt*j'.»); Oe Moriraii. From Mutter to Spirit (ihid. 1H(;3): Kihnonils and Dexter. Spiritu- iilifni (X. Y. 18.J4-0, 2 vols.~); Ilardiiij,^', Modern Amer- icun SpirltiHilisin (^iliid. ISTiV); Home, Incidents in my Life (lA)iid.. Paris, and N. Y. 1W!2, Wli, 1875); Hewitt, liiMonj of the Supeiiuitnral in All A)/es and Nations (lytnd. IKG3)^ Oleott, People from the Other World (Hartford, 1><7J) ; Owen, Fnntfdls on the /ianndun/ of Aw'ltur ll'./;7./ I IMiila. l.S(;()),"and The ])eb(itid>le Laud l„l,r,in ThU World and the Xext (X. Y. lH7-.>) ; .Sar,i,'eiU, P/nnrhette, or the Despair of Science (Boston, 1«(>'.I) ; Wallai-e, On Miracles and Moikni Spiritualism, three essays i i.nnd. 1x7.') K
Spiritualists. ]. = Libertines (q.v.). 2. The name assumed by persons who profess to hold communica- tion with the spirits of the departed. See Spiritual- ism.
Spiritualities, (Jiaupian of the. The arch- bishiip is the i^uardian of the spiritualities during the vacancy of a bishopric; and when the archbishopric is vacant, the dean and cliapier of the diocese are guardi- ans of the spiritiialiiies. who exercise all ecclesiastical jurisiliciion during the vacancy. — Lee, (Jluss. of Liturr;. ■;•,//«..•. s.v.