It becomes those who aim to escape these errors of dogmatism and credulity to cultivate impartial and liberal, but scrutinizing habits. If they neglect this precaution, they will have the mortification of knowing that they have not only rejected true science, but have allowed themselves to be imposed on by counterfeits. The very same individuals who had rejected contemptuously all the phenomena of mesmerism and the solid truths of phrenology, were quite captivated and convinced by the celebrated moon hoax, and were not unwilling to believe in the Vespertilio-homo or man-bat in the moon. The same who at first considered mesmerism an imposture, were compelled by witnessing its experiments to admit the facts, and then were not unwilling to believe the celebrated story of mesmeric exploits, written by the late Edgar A. Poe, in which he brought a highly intellectual gentleman under the mesmeric influence and kept him during the progress of his disease under this influence until he actually died in the mesmeric state, and yet his spirit continued under the operator's control, and continued for six months to speak through the body and preserve it from putrefaction, until, when the spell was dissolved and the spirit released, the body dissolved at once in a state of corruption. This was truly a Munchausen story, but it was believed by some who could not distinguish between its wild absurdity and the true wonders of science.

A story has recently been published in a Memphis paper, somewhat similar to Poe's mesmeric hoax. To a very superficial observer, entirely unacquainted with these phenomena, the Memphis story would appear as plausible as any of our recent spiritual manifestations, yet to any accurately acquainted with the facts of such experiments, the story is destitute even of plausibility, and proves its writer to have been too little acquainted with such experiments to produce even a plausible imitation. There are not thirty consecutive lines in any portion of the story which do not betray the imposition. The style of conversation and thought, and the description of the experiments are quite unlike anything that ever really occurs. The whole struck me, at the first glance, as a very transparent hoax, yet I found it quite as acceptable and credible to persons skepti cal and unacquainted with such subjects, as if it had been genuine, and I now offer it to the readers of the Journal with the view of making them familiar with the contrast between truth and fiction.

The recent alarm in reference to the Atlantic steamship, before she arrived at New York, has furnished a good opportunity for discriminating between truth and error. A clairvoyant in Cleveland, announced that the ship was wrecked, and told a most improbable story about its destruction by ice, and the escape of two of the crew, who had arrived at some place on the

coast northward of her port of departure, inhabited by Spaniards. This ridiculous story was published as a test of the truth of clairvoyance, by persons who should have known better. But to cap the climax, even the spiritual talkers have displayed their fallibility on that subject. At a private sitting at the house of Mr. L., in Milwaukie (Wisconsin), the following demonstration is said to have occurred, by a Milwaukie newspaper (the Anthropologist):

Q. Are there any spirits here that will give us any information relative to the fate of the steamer At que? 4. Yes.

Are there any here that perished on board? Yes.

Is the captain here? Yes.

Will the captain now answer all questions put t, him, by giving three raps for "yes," ," and two raps for "no?" Answer, three raps.

Were all on board lost? Yes.

Did the Atlantic leave Liverpool on the 28th of December? Yes.

How many days from the time she left Liverpool until she was wrecked? Rapped 8.

Was she lost on the 5th of January? Yes.

Was it in the night? No.

Was it between sun-rise and sun-set? Yes,

Did she come in collision with an iceberg? Yes.

Will you rap out the number of days the storm lasted? Rapped out 4.

Was she wrecked on the fourth day of the storm? No.

On the third? No.

On the second? Yes.

I had in my possession a list of the names of persons to have been on board, published a few days since in one of the city papers, and in calling them off, I requested the captain to rap yes, to all that were on board, and no, to those that were not.

Was W. H. Wheelock and lady on board? Yes. Was W. E. Case and lady? Yes. Was J. H. Easten? Yes. Was R. H. Harris? No. Was L. Pottinger? Yes. Was C. C. Hatch and lady? Yes. Was H. P. Walker? No. Was Mr. Butterfield? Yes. Was Mr. Sutton? No. Was E. H. Griffin? Yes. Was D. Ranker? Yes. Was G. B. Reese? Yes. Was A. Lawrence, Jr.? Yes. Was Charles Chroder? Yes. Was Mr. Chlieman? Yes. Was Mr. Kleamer? Yes. Was W. Benjamin, Jr.? Yes. Was G. McKenzie? Yes. Was J. L. Lawrie? Yes. Was Mr. Alexander and suite? Yes. Was Mr. Wadsworth and servant? No. Was N. Goldrten? Yes. Was G. A. Curtis? Yes. Was J. G. Loring? Yes. Were there any other passengers on board besides what I have called off? Yes. Will you give us the number? No. Was the steamer disabled before she came in contact with the iceberg? Yes. Was it from the effects of the storm? Yes. Have you' ever been in any worse storm? Yes. Was there any accident happened to the steamer besides what was caused by the storm? No. Was the steamer as well managed as she could have been? Here was a rap which indicated "doubtful." Were you personally to blame? No.

Will the Captain now answer me some questions in relation to Sir John Franklin? No.

Are you not sufficiently aquainted with his circumstances to do so correctly? No.

Is there any one present that is? Yes.

Will that spirit now rap? In answer to which, there was a quick succession of raps, and different from any others before made.

Is Sir John Franklin yet alive? Yes.

Are all the vessels that started out with him in running condition? No.

Will you rap out the number that first started with him? Four.

Will you rap the number that are yet existing? Three.

Have any of the vessels that have started out in search of him found him? No. Will he ever return home? Yes.

Will they find him before he returns? No.

Has he been discovered by any other vessel accidentally? No.

Has he been assisted through any other source? No.

Will a north-west passage ever be discovered and made practicable? Yes. Will he return in one year? Here the alphabet was cailed for, and speles out "done," after which we could receive no more answers.

There is nothing new in this, as it merely shows what was already well known, that spiritual communications are as liable to be delusive as any other mode of obtaining knowledge, and that those who do not preserve a philosophic caution will be most egregiously deceived. Nor should I have introduced these things into the Journal, but for the sake of urging its readers to persevere in the study of this subject, in that philosophical spirit which is the only safeguard against the equally pernicious delusions of the dupe and the skeptical dogmatist.

SPIRITUAL REVELATIONS.— -Messrs Editors:-While the scientific world in the North and East have been astonished by invisible "knockers," a few of our town, have, with a commendable design, entered into a full investigation of the matter. A friend, well known to the literary and scientific world, while testing the powers and influence of mesmerism and prevoyance, the other evening, before some of our townsmen, bethought him of a new experiment upon which he immediately acted. He inquired of his spiritual seer, "whether there is any reality in the communications said to exist between spirits and human beings, as, for instance, the Rochester Knockings?'"

After a few minutes apparent deep abstraction, he replied: "There is."
Do such spirits as the knockers truly exist? They do.

Can you see them? I can.

Can you bring them here? I do not know, but I will try, if you wish.

Do, if you please. [After about ten minutes, during which time he appeared to be in much mental and physical labor and suffering, as he said: "They are here."]

How many are there? Two.

Request them to make their presence known. In a few minutes, to our mutual surprise and alarm, we heard loud and distinct knockings in several parts of the room, accompanied at times with a rattling of the chairs. As soon as we had recovered our equanimity, the question was asked: Will they converse with us? They will, but only through me, as I am now in a state more nearly approx.mating their own than you are.

Is there an Eternal, Self-Existing, Immutable Being, the Creator of all things else? [In reply, we heard the knockings, but they were performed with snet rapidity that it was even impossible for us to count them. Yet our catalepte patient readily comprehended them]-the answer was: There is.

Is He visible to any of His creation? No; His glory alone is all that is ever

seen.

Do all spirits see His glory? They do not, those only see it who have reached either of the two most exalted degrees.

Have you ever seen it? I have.

Will you describe it? A description would be incomprehensible to you, could it be given, but it is impossible, as it differs from, and surpasses all that has ever been seen throughout the whole created universe.

How does the Deity make his will known if he is not visible? By the influence of His will, which extends throughout eternity, and is more or less felt and appreciated by all intelligence according to its relations with Him.

In what does future happiness cousist? In an eternal and onward progress of knowledge of the goodness and holiness of the Creator.

What constitutes future punishment? An ignorance of this glory.

Is the holding of slaves in conformity with the eternal laws of Deity? In time it is, but not in eternity.

What is the difference between time and eternity? There is none, it exists only in the contemplation of man-hence, I use terms and language suitable to your comprehension.

Will England ever become a republic? Yes. The time is rapidly approaching. What form or denomination of religious worship is the correct one? That

which not only teaches, but strictly enjoins and performs the doing unto others as you would have them do to you, under like circumstances.

Did Deity make this world in six days? In six creative days.

What do you mean by creative days? In time, a creative day is nearly three millions of years.

How old is the earth from its foundation? Over fifty millions of years.

Then in relation to this our Bible is incorrect? The Bible has no chronology except that given to it by men; as far as it states, it is correct but there are periods of time omitted in it which will confound those whose curiosity leads them into a useless speculation, instead of attending their own immediate welfare and happiness.

Is the planet Saturn inhabited? Saturn is an aqueous planet, and its inhabitants are of the water.

Will Saturn ever be peopled? Yes, when its density becomes increased.

Of what is the ring around Saturn composed? It is a dense rainbow of much intensity, which will remain there more or less perfect for centuries, until a greater degree of density in that planet destroys its present predominance of water and vapory atmosphere.

Do all planets have such rings around them at any period of their history? Only in your solar system, and it happens whenever their density is similar with that of Saturn's at this time,

How long has this earth been inhabited by man? Over eight millions of years.

Why have we not some record or remains of this fact? The many changes that take place in the geological and astronomical conditions of your earth, during that period, would necessarily destroy every kind of evidence.

Will this earth always be peopled by the present race of beings? No. Planets are constantly being formed and progressing with all the rest of creation-the density of a planet improves it, and its reunion with its centre or sun terminates its career as an inorganized non-intelligence. When the density of your earth is such that the present races eannot exist upon it, they will pass away, and be succeeded by one superior in every mental relation.

How long before this will happen? In about three and a half millions of years.

Are any of the planets revolving in orbits between the sun and earth, inhabited? Yes, even the sun is inhabited, and the nearer intelligence approaches the centre of a system, the more powerful and perfect does it become.

Is the solar system a stationary one? No, it revolves as a small portion of another superior system around its centre-this, in its turn revolves around another still superior centre, and so continues through innumerable systems.

When we gaze at the sun, do we see its body? The brilliancy which you observe is its almosphere-a galvanic flame-at its central or equatorial regions, these flames are not so intense as at other parts, hence there are occasionally openings at these portions, through which the body of the sun is seen, a dark or black spot.

Can this atmosphere of flame be inhaled? By the inhabitants of the sun, it can. Yet the atmosphere of your earth is also one of galvanic action, but of less quantity, intensity and influence, yet still you breathe it and live, but when it acts upon you suddenly in the form of lightning, it decomposes your physical organization, and separates it from your mental.

What becomes of man's spirit after his body is dead? It is transferred to its proper sphere, to that sphere capacitated for its progress.

Then there is not a heaven for departed souls? There is but one heaven, and that is directly in presence of the Glory of the Deity. But millions of years must depart before the most advanced can gain this blest abode.

Will you explain more clearly what you mean? To give you a proper idea of the system of progress as developed to us in our present state, would require much of your time, but if you desire it, I will briefly state it.

You will much oblige me with it? You are aware that the Universe has its divisions, termed by your astronomers, Galaxies or Nebula. These Galaxies consist of millions of suns, each of which has its systems of planets revolving around it. The inhabitants of these planets are advanced in intelligence in accordance with the location of their sun and its satellites in its galaxy. The sun of which your earth is a satellite, is placed in one of the most barren spots in this galaxy, and consequently its inhabitants are sterile in intellect when compared

with others in more favorable spheres. The spirit of man is constantly progressive-progressing by successive impulses from one p anci to another, and from one sun to another, and thence from one galaxy to another. Couser 12J millions of years, even millions of centuries must clapse, ere the pin cop through its cycle of purification, and emerge into heaven, the almue ut ta of God, so refined and so purified as to approach His holy presence. W " passed through all the cycles, and have now reached heaven. Many of t have gone through several of the planets, before reaching it, but you h for your thirst for knowledge has elevated you so high in the sesle ež „att as to have passed by several planeis to reach this. You in ast Pre knowledge is but a thing of your earth. It is the iception of that will insure your progress onward many years, probably centuries.

A truth is indestructable and lives forever. Whatever the mind,ens i world, is carried out of it, as so much knowledge which will insure ..8 95% progress more rapidly. Your mind is highly stored with truths wilch you i gained by study, you have already accumultead sufficient to insure your pra directly to the sun. After living there in an organized condition for a cerca time, you will be transferred to another series of planets belonging to a sun f higher order to a sun which is located in a more favorable spot in this galaxy. And thus does the immortal spirit progress onward, from planet to planet, sun to sun, galaxy to galaxy, till finally it earns its bright reward in heaven.

Are there many spirits that have reached heaven? Myriads of centuries ago, greater than your mind can comprehend, spirits occupied the same station you are now in, but not on the same planet, as that was not then formed. Some of these have gone onward, and the brightest of them are now in eternal bliss; but some others are still on their progress, and although when in this situation, they were much more ignorant than you are, still, at the same time, they are transcendanty your superior, and are located in cycles far above you.

The system is a beautiful one, and connects the myriads of globes of insentient matter, by a link of intelligence of which it is charming to think, But do the members of the family know each other, and remain in each other's company during their progress? As they advance in this progression, they know each other, but do not remain together. Those, however, who have gone forward, have conscious, intuitive conception or knowledge that the others are following them. The link which binds relatives to us is a curious one, and not easily explained so as to be understood by you. Rest assured that Deity has made every thing in harmony with his illimitable perfection and knowledge.

What becomes of those who die dissolute, sinful and vile? They necessary have to be born again on this earth, and pass through another state of probation, and they continue so to do, until their course of life renders them capable of being transferred. There are many now living among you, who are undergoing their second or third state of probation, and who have, at times, a dreamy concep tion of their former existence, some of these are now highly educated and virtuous, and prepared for progress; others have not as yet improved sufficiently to justify their removal from earth, and they will continue to be thus purified, until they become prepared for this change.

Does this new terrestial birth take place immediately after the person's decease? No. It sometimes requires many centuries, and there are innumerable spirits now hovering around the earth, awaiting their hour to put on organizati and hasten onward.

This is not the general belief of the world, nor does it appear to harmonize in the least with our revelations from Deity-our Holy Bible. [Here the spirits informed the clairvoyant that they could hold no longer converse at that time, but that they would be present at a specified time, a few days hence, and manifest to us the harmony of all their statements with Divine revelation. The clairvoyant, with a deep drawn sigh, then exclaimed: "They are gone."]

After a short time he was awakened, and had not the slightest recollection or perception of what had happened.

We intend to pursue this matter, if the spirits will allow, and make their as tounding revelations known to the world as fast as they are received. We are truly living in a wonderful age-of progress, improvement, discoveries and revelations, and when we reflect upon our own nothingness, as it were, we fear aud tremble lest we may unconsciously err in the presence of Him who knoweth our most secret thoughts and actions.-Memphis Daily Express.

Memphis, Jan. 20, 1851