may, possibly, go so far as to protest that I would not believe them on the evidence of my own." How is he likely to gain proselytes?-J. R. P.

As long as spiritual manifestations are confined to mahogany movements, little faith can be placed in their reality; for though they can rap and make a noise forcibly enough, yet for the true test of their presence (and we ask it with all seriousness), have they ever performed a charitable action, or been the promulgators of a useful idea? It is no proof of their presence that we are unable to account for the phenomena which accompany their manifestations; for these may either be the result of some hidden law of nature, or perhaps some peculiar combination of electrical and magnetic influence. However, be this as it may, it does seem strange that these inhabitants of other worlds are such proficients in the art of music, and yet are unable to communicate any information, except through the medium of raps, that primitive and tedious system, which casts a doubt upon all their transactions, and leads us to suppose that all their phenomena are but magical tricks cleverly performed, or are the result of machinery artfully adapted for the purpose.-J. T. K.

All who have had the patience to read the article, "Stranger than Fiction," in the Cornhill Magazine, must have been compelled to hold, however much they may have been advocates of the theory of Spiritualism, that that article was a little too much overdrawn. When we hear of people floating in the air, without calling in the aid of a magic-lantern, and when musical instruments play of their own accord, without hidden springs, like a musical box, we must, were we to believe what we hear, have an idea that Dr. Cumming's "great tribulation" is already 66 coming on the earth." I will not enter into a long analysis of that article, nor am I prepared to do so. They who may wish, may find one in recent numbers of " Once a Week," in which Mr.

Home is discovered to be little more than a wizard of a higher scale, and whose tricks are found to be, if not spiritual, at least moonshine. I only wonder that the learned editor of the "Cornhill Magazine" did not put the MS. of the article in question into the waste-paper basket instead of his Mag.. azine. If our friends on the affirmative will answer these questions, I will believe their statements:-1. Did they' themselves ever see a ghost or spirit? or did they ever hear any sound that could not be accounted for naturally; and when? 2. Did they ever see a table move in such a manner, that looking under the table would not furnish the solution? 3. Did they ever hear any musical instrument play of itself, after it had been examined by them, and no machinery found?-F. S. MILLS.

Truth is the narrative of fact. And all that we know of the existence of spirits is from divine revelation. But that record of facts never, in one instance, represents those spirits and the denizens of this earth as holding communication through the medium of tables, nor at the bidding of professional media, nor yet for the gratification of the assembled curious. And whereas much of the phenomena can be accounted for by science, and nothing connected with table-turning clearly demonstrates the presence of spirits, it follows that, wanting a substratum of clearly defined fact, the superstructure, Spiritualism, is "baseless as the fabric of a dream."-LUTHER.

state, upon the authority of a lady of travel and experience, a fact which we have not seen elsewhere noticed. It is that, if the interrogators know the correct answer to the question, the table will rap out a correct answer. When, however, the interrogators are ignorant of the correct answer to their question, the table also evidences hesitation and uncertainty. As to the still more astonishing part of the narrative in the Cornhill Magazine, we feel a little doubt. Why should these strange manifestations take place in twilight dim, and under other circumstances likely to excite the imaginations of the beholders? We think, too, that "Spiritualism" is not a proper term to apply to these manifestations. We cannot think that spirits, if wishing to hold communication with mortals, would choose such clumsy media as hats and tables. Our own theory is, that the motion of the table is produced by the involuntary pressure of those whose hands are placed on it. This will also

account for the correct number of raps being given, only when the operators themselves know the answer they wish to elicit.-T. L. P.

I have seen little, and read nothing, concerning Spiritualism; but the little I have seen has induced me to think that the something, whatever it may be, which moves tables, proceeds from the bodies or from the minds of those who place their hands upon the tables. A number of persons sit round a table, and place their hands upon the top of it; some time passes, and a trembling is felt by one or more of the operators. The table, spirit, or whatever else it may be called, is asked to knock three times, and it knocks once, twice, or thrice, but very feebly, and some one observes that "it is not strong enough yet;" a little more time passes, the knocks become louder, and it is said that "it (the something) is stronger." The rest of the phenomena now follow. Now, it appears to me, and I think it must appear to every one who considers the matter attentively, that this some

thing, which manifests itself in so gradual a manner, must either be some physical property proceeding from the bodies of those whose hands are placed upon the table, or some portion of the mind of each of them, which, by the strong and long-continued willing, passes, or seems to pass, in some mysterious way, into the table, and there obeys, or seems to obey, the commands of any one of the operators who happens to be the spokesman. Therefore I think that Spiritualism, in the usual acceptation of the term, is not true.-T.

I cannot conceive how any man in his senses can believe in the so-called manifestations of Spiritualism. I do not doubt the veracity of those gentlemen who tell us that they have witnessed chairs and tables raised up from the ground, and men floating about in the air; I believe they have heard tunes played on accordions and guitars, and that they have seen and heard all the physical phenomena of Spiritualism, as described by them. All these ridiculous performances take place in almost total darkness, which fact alone is enough to raise suspicion, and incline us to believe that other than spiritual agencies are at work. It is simply absurd to fancy that the spirits of the dead can be influenced by the wishes of those on earth; and believers in this doctrine I look upon either as the dupes of some crafty medium, or their own disordered senses. Why not turn the spirits to some practical account in this matter-of-fact age? It would be interesting to know the ultimate fate of the Great Eastern or the Atlantic cable, and a great deal more sensible on the part of the spirits, than pulling young ladies' feet, or pinching old gentlemen's thighs. J. W.

Those who take the affirmative side in this question have the whole onus probandi. They have to prove that the miracles of Spiritualism are genuine, real occurrences, not gross impositions, or, at least, mere delusions. They tell us that tables and chairs walk about

the room, and rise to the ceiling; that men are lifted up into the air, and carried about by some unseen agency; that a number of raps are heard at a table in a dark room. But what then? Do these wonderful occurrences take place publicly and openly? Do these spiritual communications appear to any who disbelieve in them? or are they confined to a few who are initiated in the mysteries, and are called media? Has anything ever been discovered by means of the spirits? Has any information ever been communicated on any subject by the rappers? A proposal was recently made in the papers that the spirits should be asked to discover the author of the Road murder. Has any medium accepted the challenge? There could not be a fairer test of the truth, or otherwise, of the pretensions of Spiritualism than the foregoing; yet none of those, who are most learned in ghostly science, will accept it. Is it possible that, in these days of enlighteninent and civilization, any one can be found who will believe, on the bare unsupported ipse dixit of one or two interested individuals, the improbable, childish, and utterly incredible stories related in the recent article in the Cornhill Magazine ?—J. G. J.

The

The hypothesis of spiritual manifestation is so flagrantly at variance with the present order of things, that it must necessarily be false in principle, therefore deceptive in result. assumption, that man has power over departed spirits, cannot be true, for the following reasons:-1st. If there be two separate spheres of existence hereafter, heaven and hell,-to the one or the other of which the spirits of all men go, there to remain everlastingly, without one moment's intermission of bliss or misery from that fixed and eternal state, it is impossible for a soul to be absent for however short a period; for then the everlasting character of the whole would be violated, and hereafter would not be eternity; for if it were possible spirits could be summoned, for a moment of time, they might be

for an age, and even throughout the world's duration, since they would be at the bidding of whoever liked to summon them. 2nd. The Almighty is said to have the keys of death and hell, or hades; therefore man has no authority in respect to the unseen world, and could not summon one soul to quit its precincts, without the delegation of God. 3rd. If departed spirits did appear upon the old stage of their existence, they would manifest themselves in a manner and a mode, the reality of which should be demonstrable to the senses of mankind at large, and fully attested by creditable evidence, such as the Mosaic miracles, the appearance of the angels at the tomb of Christ, and the miracles which Christ wrought. All preternatural effects absolutely appeal to the senses. If the senses are not satisfied, the mind cannot be convinced, and the agency has failed to effect what it endeavoured to perform. 4th. The Almighty never wastes materials nor exhibits His power, either in the operations of nature or grace, unless there is a necessity for it; therefore we say, that preternatural agency being unneeded in the present day, we are not justified in expecting it. economy under which we live does not require it. 5th. The object of preternatural interference has ever been to attest the truth of some assumption of power or declaration of doctrine foreign to the existing and conceived notions of mankind; e. g., Christ established His dispensation by the aid of those adjuncts. Spiritualism neither claims to establish or attest anything; it must necessarily be useless and futile, and cannot be, what it is asserted to be,

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The

from above." 6th. We content ourselves on this head with one reference to Holy Writ-to the parable of Lazarus and Dives. A spirit in hell once craved permission to revisit the earth and his father's house, to tell of his torments and agonies. In the throes of his pain, he craved to testify to his brethren, lest they should endure like torments; but, alas! the prayer came

from the doomed, and it asked the impossible; there was a great gulf, an impassable barrier, over which it were impossible the one or the other could pass. But could that tortured spirit have left for one short hour the prison of his perpetual doom, he would have gone and told his brethren of his

quenchless thirst, and of the gnawing agony of his unmitigable suffering. But he could not, for they (his brethren) had Moses and the prophets; and if they would not hear them, neither would they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead."

WORCESTERSHIRE EDUCA-
TIONAL INSTITUTES.

THE Worcestershire Union of Institutes met at Stourbridge on Tuesday, the 13th of November. A considerable number of visitors from the various literary and educational institutes in the county attended. In the morning the Council of the Union met for the transaction of business; while a dinner at the Talbot Hotel, and a conversazione, occupied the rest of the day.

The meeting of the Council of the Union was held in the Lecture-room of the Stourbridge Institute, J. S. Pakington, Esq., the President of the Union, in the chair. Lord Lyttelton, J. H. H. Foley, Esq., M.P., J. S. Isaacs, Esq., Rev. D. Melville, Rev. Dr. Williamson, W. Ackroyd, Esq., and other gentlemen, were present, as also were delegates from institutions in the following places:-Bromsgrove, Droitwich, Dudley, Evesham, Lye, Malvern, Nailsworth, Pershore, Redditch, Stourbridge, Stourport, and Worcester.

The first business was the election of officers for the ensuing year. J. S. Pakington, Esq., was again elected President; as also were the vice-presidents, Lord Lyttelton, the Hon. and Rev. W.H. Lyttelton, E. Holland, Esq., M.P., and Sir Edward Lechmere. J. S. Isaacs, Esq., was re-elected treasurer, J. Tree, Esq., was again elected honorary secretary, and the Rev. W. Walters joined with him in the office. The election of committee took place by ballot. From the delegates the five

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following gentlemen were elected: Messrs. Dark, Marcus, Elliott, Lowe, and New; and from the subscribers, the Revs. David Melville and W. Lee. The place fixed upon for the annual meeting next year was Malvern. The following institutions were duly admitted to the Union:-The Dudley Mechanics' Institution, the Kidderminster Mutual Improvement Society, the Worcester Early Closing Association, and the Nailsworth Literary and Mechanics' Institution. The annual report was then adopted. Examinations were conducted by the Rev. G. D. Boyle, of Hagley, and Mr. F. Marcus, of Bromsgrove. Four essays had been sent in for the gold medal offered by J. L. Marsden, Esq., M.D., of Malvern, “ On the use and opportunity of recreation and amusement in connection with mechanics' institutions," but the award had not yet been made. For the elementary examinations there were eight candidates at Dudley, six at Kidderminster, and four at Stourport. Mr. Marcus had placed his services at the disposal of the Union as organizing master. After speaking of lectures, diagrams, and libraries, the question of placing the Union in connection with the Society of Arts was brought on; the Council decided on joining it. The treasurer's account showed an expenditure for the year, of £69 4s. 9d., and there was a balance due to the bank of £14 15s. 6d. Various votes of thanks were then passed, and after the Chairman had acknowledged the com

The dinner at the Talbot Hotel was attended by about 100 gentlemen. The President of the Union, J. S. Pakington, Esq., occupied the chair. The party soon separated, but again met a little later, in the Corn Exchange, where the conversazione was held.

At this about 400 ladies and gentlemen, with the members of the Stourbridge Association, and delegates from others in the Union, were present. Tea was provided on the occasion. J. H. H. Foley, Esq., M.P, occupied the chair; and there were also present Lord Lyttelton, Sir John Pakington, Bart., M.P., Sir James Kay Shuttleworth, W. O. Foster, Esq., M.P., Sir Henry Lambert, the Hon. C. B. Adderley, M.P., Hon. F. H. W. G. Calthorpe, M.P., G. Holland, Esq., M.P., J. S. Pakington, Esq., the Revs. J. W. Grier, Hugh Sherrard, R. P. Turner, J. Whiteley, Mr. Barnet Blake, secretary to the Yorkshire Union of Institutes; Mr. A. Talbot, secretary to the South Staffordshire Union; and Mr. Free, secretary to the Worcestershire Union of Institutions, &c.

In introducing the business of the evening, the chairman went through the history of the Stourbridge Institute. As regards the Union of Institutes, he thought it calculated to do much good. The examinations tended to this end, and had a stimulating effect, even on the members who did not at present take part in them. They were indebted to Mr. Pakington for introducing this Union.

The chairman afterwards distributed some prizes gained by the members of the Stourbridge Institute.

Lord Lyttelton then rose to move the first resolution-one referring to the advantages of the Union of Institutes. He said the general principles of the union of such institutes was the principle of the institutes themselvesunion is strength. It was very encouraging to point in that neighbourhood to the fact that these institutions

were increasing in numbers and usefulness year by year. His lordship, after further remarks on the subject of the union of institutes, concluded by moving, "That the union of mechanics' institutions tends to increase their individual efficiency."

Sir J.K. Shuttleworth next addressed the meeting. He said that Lord Lyttelton had alluded to the degree of despondency with which the want of pre-eminently successful results from the operations of mechanics' institutes had too often been regarded, not only by the public, but by the earnest friends of education, who had almost despaired of seeing any great beneficial results from the deep interest they took in the social amelioration of the working classes. He (Sir J. Shuttleworth) had always been accustomed to attribute that despondency to early misconcep❤ tions as to the objects sought by those institutions. In the first instance it was put forth by Mr. Birkbeck-supported as he was by the genius and patriotism of Lord Brougham - that there were needed institutions to deve lop those latent powers of cultivation to be found amongst the working classes. Mr. Birkbeck said that a period would arrive when we should have to bring to bear the cultivation of high scientific knowledge. Scientific lectures were found to be beyond the few intellectual means of the working classes, who had neither leisure, nor time, nor education to follow them; consequently, they dwindled in extent, and from scientific they became popular, and from that they became simply amusing. Thence they came down, as was the case especially in Yorkshire, to a course of three or four lectures, or a single lecture, many of them being given gratuitously. The institutions the Worcestershire Union intended to group, however, were of a totally different order. For thirty years past they had been attempting to raise, upon the basis of the old Sunday school, the elementary school, but they had had to struggle with a great number of surrounding difficulties, and no an