Rensselaer Gazette, Volume 3, Number 49, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 March 1860 — Late Spiritual Demonstrations. [ARTICLE]

Late Spiritual Demonstrations.

[Kroni the Cincinnati Gazette.

The Hartford (Ct.) Times says that a ■white woman, whose husband died some three years since, leaving her three children -and some thousands in money, has lately shown decided “affinity” for a coal black ■negro of Bridgeport. The darkey got possession of the woman’s money, went to New York, and opened a restaurant. The widow assayed to but her friends prevented. She'then informed her friends that she was tlie wife of the negro, the ceremony being performed last full and that the union •was in obedience to a spiritual communication from her deceased husband. The woman was then placed at the Insane Retreat at Hartford, as being a lunatic, three physicians having thus certified, but the negro'appeared at the Retreat and ’claimed bis wife. The Superintendent phyj sician decided that she could not legally be detained, and the negro carried her oIF in •'triumph. The woman is beautiful, and the man is so black that charcoal would make a white markon his skin. The Utica (N. Y.) Ilerahl says Mr. F. Skinner, a spiritualist and married man in that city, was seized by an attraction for a giyl named Kate Beardsley; and on brinrrjnir her home Mrs. Skinner was seized with an “affinity” for a Dr. Bentley, a clairvoyant doctor, and the doctor reciprocated, although “he a wife and three children. At a meeting of spiritualists, a Mr. Wheeler, whose '‘affinity” is a married woman from Syracuse, defended these doings, and Dr. Bentley and bis Skinner affinity, were present. A Mr. JRalph, a highly, respected citizen, however, demurred, denounced the proceedings as injurious to spiritualism, and declared the parties ought to be rode on a rail. The Herald says Mrs. Bentley has left her husband, and the double mated pair are now living in the same house by mutual eonsent. A great majority of the spiritualists of Utica share the sentiments of Mr- Ralph, «od are loud in their denunciation of the “free iove" proclivities of Skinner and BcuV ley. Among the spiritualists are several families of the highest respectability, who feel greatly scandalized at the conduct of' those who have brought a reproach upon the faith. • To wind up with, wc give a picture of 'mother shade;

A few evenings ago a party of spiritualists were Assembled at Taunton, Mass., for the purpose of witnessing the usual-phenomena. Directly opposite lived a lady who had re~ cently lost her husband, and in the course •of the evening the spirit of the deceased made himself known through the medium. Thinking the widow would like to hold intercourse with her late companion, a deputation was sent to her residence to inform her of the fact, and request her attendance. It was rather late and she had retired for the night. On hearing the knocking at the door she arose and put her head out at a window, and inquired what was wanting. On being informed that the spirit of her late husband was nwaiting her across the way, she replied that while living he had never been known to visit there, and that as he had got so near she thought he might as well come to his own home and visit her; but as he did not desire to do so, she would leave them to entertain him as they best could. With that she shut the window and left her visitors to return without her.