A Biography of the Brothers Davenport; With Some Account of the Physical and Psychical Phenomena Which Have Occurred in Their Presence, in America a (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1864 edition. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER XXIV. WHO, AND WHY ? By whom are the Manifestations Produced, and for What Purpose ? Examination of Evidence--Conclusion. When any person has become convinced by testimony which he cannot doubt, or, if that be not sufficient, by the evidence of his own senses, that the phenomena described in these pages are real, actual, unquestionable facts, the next thing in order is to ask how, or rather by whom, are they produced? If the Brothers Davenport, as they solemnly aver, have no direct and voluntary agency in producing the manifestations, and there is no collusion, no deception, no jugglery or fraud about them, by what or by whom are they accomplished ? Are they the result of some subtle element, like magnetism and electricity ? Most certainly not. These natural forces act according to certain laws, and do not possess intelligence. Electricity may rend trees and rocks, produce light and heat, propel machinery or convey messages, but for these last operations it requires to be guided by some intelligence out of itself. Electricity or galvanism will not tie or untie ropes, nor play on musical instruments, nor take off or put on the coats of persons whose hands are securely tied together, much less hold conversations and communicate information. What we see exhibited at every stage of this history, and in all the phenomena, is force, governed by intelligence. We cannot conceive of an active intelligence, or an intelligent force or power, except as an individualised being, in some respects like ourselves. In all these manifestations there are evidences of the actions, and consequently of the existence, of intelligent beings, having some faculties similar to our own, usually invisible, but with the power of taking on, under certain...