Psychomancy : spirit-rappings and table-tippings exposed / by Charles G. Page.

  • Page, Charles Grafton, 1812-1868.
Date:
1853
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Psychomancy : spirit-rappings and table-tippings exposed / by Charles G. Page. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

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    native, that they must find the devil's equivalent in the human heart, which though a less palatable doctrine, will answer the design of this argument, which is to show that these pretended wonders of knocks and table movements are illusory, nefari- ous and mischievous, originating chiefly from evil- minded persons, and perpetuated by the indiffer- ence of careless observers, the connivance of others, and mainly by the fanaticism, ignorance, and credu- lousness of a large class of persons found in every community. These have been recognized in all ages as the principal ingredients in sorcery, but there is yet another element which is doing much to foster this crime, and although not a new fea- ture, yet is quite prevalent at this time, and less excusable than it was in the days of Bacon and Napier. Sir Walter Scott, in one of his letters, has this point in our discussion so strongly por- trayed, that we take the liberty of quoting him at some length, rejoicing in the opportunity of adding his great wisdom and authority in these matters, to our own efforts. Speaking of the causes which re- tarded the subversion of witchcraft in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, among learned men, he