or of Hell, depends upon the sphere which we now give to woman. For as the future is ever imbedded in the present, and angelic beings read in present facts all future facts, the future of humanity lies in the present generation, and more especially in woman, who is the connecting link of the past and the future.

If, then, the sphere of woman is a sphere of happiness, the same bright sky which overhangs her head, surrounds the future world of humanity. If her sphere is a sphere of knowledge and intellectual power, then science and wisdom are the future destiny of mankind. If her sphere is that of good and great deeds, then goodness and greatness are the future destiny of the world.

If women are trained like Spartan mothers, their offspring will be warriors-if degraded like the North American squaws, their offspring will be savages-if trained like the females of the present civilized races, in every conceivable variety of subordinate situation, their offspring will present every conceivable variety of deformity and beauty, of vice and virtue, of disease and health, of intelligence and ignorance; but we shall vainly look for great and enlightened men, with perfect bodies, powerful minds, and souls filled with justice, with love and with truth. Such men are now rare and astonishing phenomena, and they must continue to be strange and marvelous exceptions to the usual course of Nature, until woman is lifted up out of her petty sphere of brainless drudgery, of frivolous idleness, of luxurious indolence, of harrassing care, and of physical debility and disease.

We deprive the greater portion of woman-kind of the best influences of life. All women are more or less subjected to some of the following evils:

They are deprived of liberal education, and if, in a few rare instances, such an education is given, they are deprived of all the opportunities of enjoying its benefits by giving their acquired talents and knowledge a proper sphere of operation.

They are either deprived of healthy physical exercise and development to the destruction of their constitutions, or they are overpowered by domestic drudgery, of a fatiguing and harrassing character or, in many cases, they are subject to both of these misfortunes in succession.

They are deprived of all personal pecuniary independence-ENSLAVED by the inadequate wages of their toil-compelled to be dependent upon men, and deprived, by their restricted mode of life, even of the privilege of looking abroad sufficiently to make a judicious choice of the husband to whom they entrust their fate, and vow eternal submission in accordance with law and usage.

All heroic impulse, all large thought and great action are forbidden by tyrannical public opinion, while littleness, helplessness and dependence are honored as virtues.

Thus do we skilfully combine around woman all the influences which may be-little, crush and degrade her nature, and, through her,

the future billions of mankind. Is it then strange that civilized nations, although able to produce three times the wealth that is needed for the comfort of all, still wallow in a wide-spread pauperism? Is it strange that the millions of Europe allow themselves to be governed by hereditary robbers and pirates? Is it strange that a republic is still deemed almost every where impracticable? Is it strange that even in this republic, the principles of just legislation and social harmony are not yet understood? Is it strange that science crawls with tardy steps, and that thousands of gross delusions still pervade all countries? Is it strange that the very first principles of reason and justice, on this and many other subjects, are generally repudiated? In short, is it strange that our present comparatively ignorant, diseased, ugly, scrofulous and brutish race cannot see farther than an arm's length before them, and still flounder on in this great quagmire of despotism, pauperism, ignorance, crime, "war, pestilence and famine," without perceiving that on the right hand of their hopeless road lies the high table-land of universal justice, peace, liberty, knowledge and health?

Is it strange that such blind imbecility rules the councils of the world, when our whole aim is to place woman in the very focus of imbecility, and through her we thus cripple and crush effectually that God-like power of mind which would, in a single century, were it left free, lift man from his present social hell to social heaven.

It is obvious, then, that in doing justice or injustice to woman we are doing justice or injustice to all future generations-and as the proper development of woman should be the great question with far-sighted philanthropists, let us enquire whether her present limited and peculiar sphere is the best for her rightful develop

ment.

I can hardly conceive that any rational man, should regard wo man's present position as the best for her full development. Who will deny that a large portion of the female half of the race are miserably defective in strength, in muscular energy, and in general stamina and health? Who will deny that the majority of females are deplorably ignorant not only of the wide range science and literature, but of a large amount of knowledge which is necessary to fit them for the duties of life, and especially for the duties of mothers? Who will deny that women generally are deprived of that industrial education, and those opportunities for a fair reward of their labor, which are necessary to their living a life of comfort, or escaping from poverty, drudgery, and anxiety? Who will deny that thousands of females, with natural capacities to be leaders or teachers of mankind, are kept at present in a limited sphere of usefulness, unconscious of their own power? In short, who will deny that our present social institutions cramp and represss all female greatness? The advocate of the present order can only claim that it developes modesty and the affections at the expense of all the other excellencies of character.

But even this claim is fallacious, for the love and modesty of a half developed woman are far inferior to the same qualities in a great fully developed being, who would love nobly and wisely-not with sickly, sentimental, hysterical or jealous fondness, but with a strength, intelligence and joyousness, which would diffuse sunshine on all near her winning presence. The modesty of an ignorant childish or superstitious woman is as far inferior to the modesty of an intellectual and educated woman-accustomed to commune with nature in all her diversity-as the flowers of a milliner are to the flowers of Nature.

But it is contended that this high development of woman is impracticable-that when we give her any wider sphere than the present, we destroy all the peculiar charms of her present character, and substitute therefor the coarse masculine vices of the other

sex.

This is contrary to the indications of extensive experience. Men deprived of female society are inclined to adopt coarse and vicious habits, and women deprived of male society are not thereby improved. Bring the sexes together and mutual benefit results-man is refined-woman is stimulated and inspired with a higher, nobler ambition. Each sex contributes to elevate and develope the other. In accordance with the universal wisdom of creation, the sexes were ordained to react on each other, not for evil but for good. It is the misfortune of society at present that this influence is too much restrained. The separation of the sexes is unnatural and demoralizing in its tendency. Let the influence and the presence of woman be seen and felt everywhere, and that influence will be altogether benignant. It will improve the tone of our education, of our society, of our business, of our professional life-and even of our politics and government.

There is one view especially which assures us that woman should occupy the largest possible sphere in the affairs of this world. Of the immense reforms which are to be effected in almost all our relations, how small is the amount that can be accomplished by violence or by blood-shed? How little can be done even by indignant denunciation, and how often does simple argument totally fail to reach the convictions or to change the conduct. But on the other hand, how efficient, how irresistable is a kind and loving spirit. The tender hand of woman can parry the bayonet more effectually than the mailed arm of the soldier-the bosom of the mother will repel the sword more certainly than the shield or cuirass of the warrior. There is nothing like female ministration to reclaim the drunkard or the criminal. Woman is ever ready to interfere between angry combatants to prevent blood-shed, and if the influence of woman had heretofore been rightly recognized by governments, the savage butchery of war would long since have ended.

The world is still cursed with standing armies-with tyrannies of many forms-with social, ecclesiastic, pecuniary, political and

military despotism. Violence cannot relieve us. We may war against old abuses with all the power of the north wind, and we may cause them, like the traveller's cloak, to be held more firmly against us. But the mild influence of persuasion, kindness, love, or sympathy, as displayed by woman, operates like the warm sunshine in relaxing the stubborn attachment to every social incumbrance.

Man may denounce abuses, but the gentle ministry of reconciliation and reform is best in the hands of woman. Let us give her a just position in the world's government as in the government of the family, and we shall have no more war, no more sanguinary punishments, no more military rulers, no more standing armies of hireling soldiers, no more myriads of unwashed, uneducated, suffering, vagabond children, to swell the armies of thieves and felons, to fill our prisons and to pollute the moral atmosphere of the world. In the infancy of human beings the tender, forgiving love and watchfulness of woman are indispensable; without them there could be but a poor prospect for the morals, the health, or even the life of the little helpless beings who possess the rudiments of all goodness, but need the best influences to develope what is latent in them. In like manner, we may say, that in the infancy of the race, the harsh hand of military power is not the proper influence for its progress and health. In the present condition of the race, full of childish impulse and passion, waywardness and selfisnessbut full also of a glorious promise for its manhood, woman only can guide it happily through the struggles and sufferings of infancy to the splendid realities of its future maturity. Let us, then, introduce as much as possible of female influence into all the affairs of life-in education, industrial pursuits, in society and in government. Woman has never yet been injured by introducing her respectfully into the presence of man. Man has never failed to be benefitted by the association. As the presence of woman converts the vulgarity of a drunken frolic, into the refinement of the ball-room, so will her honorable introduction into the great world of science, literature, industry, education, and government, tend to refine the manners, purify the morals, increase the benevolence, diminish the violence and coarseness, elevate and enlarge the sphere of scientific thought, by directing it to humanitarian ends, and, in a thousand nameless ways, promote as no other influence can, the reign of universal harmony and the onward progress of mankind toward the kingdom of Heaven on Earth.

Such are a few of the more obvious considerations, which I had thought of illustrating by reference to the unquestionable physiological laws of the human constitution, but the length of this communication already forbids an elaborate scientific analysis of the laws of male and female development, which, at some future period, I shall take pleasure laying before the philanthropists of our country.

Indeed, I feel but little occasion for writing at present, since I have observed the large amount of clear, strong, benevolentlyinspired intellect already enlisted in the good cause, with which I claim the privilege of fraternally uniting, and to which I tender the homage of my profound respect and ardent admiration. Jos. R. BUCHANAN.

TO EMILY ROBINSON AND OTHERS, Com.

ART. III.-PROGRESS OF SPIRITUALISM.

The great and revolutionary wonders of spiritual science, which are ignored by most of our scientific men, and abused, misrepresented or ridiculed by a large portion of the press, cannot be overlooked by an independent and truthful JOURNAL OF MAN. My readers and hearers have never yet known me to deceive or mislead them in a matter of knowledge; and if there are any who think I have assumed a position too hastily, in reference to spiritual phenomena, or that it would be unsafe to rely upon my caution, impartiality and discrimination, in such a matter, I can only refer to the fact that I have long been accustomed to assume positions in advance of the public, in defiance of opposition or ridicule; and that my doctrines have never yet failed to be vindicated by additional evidences, which compelled the assent of slow moving skeptics. If, in this matter, I have been deceived, it is the first public scientific error into which I have fallen. If I am right, it is but a repetition of the old story: new phenomena are brought forward-cautious investigators believe, and are proved right-dogmatic skeptics deny, and are proved wrong.

The following narrative from Mr. W. T. Coggshall, who is preparing a full history of these matters, is worthy of attention.

The Rise and Progress of "Spirit Rappings," briefly sketched. By Wм. T. COGGSHALL.

The readers of the Journal of Man have been informed that what are now called "Spirit Rappings," first occurred at Hydesville, in the town of Arcadia, Wayne county, New York. These were not the first "manifestations" of this character of which the world has knowledge, for they can be traced through different periods, to a date as ancient as 1135; but the first sounds definitely ascertained to be for the purpose of communications from the spirit-world, and "called out" for the furtherance of knowledge, in reference to the spheres beyond the confines of earth, were witnessed at Hydesville, in the month of March, 1848. They occurred in the family of Mr. John D. Fox. They were next heard at