In spirit-rappilg, a "medium" puts, somehow, the questioner into communication with any departed Tirit he may wish to consult, and the answer is given by raps, sup posed to be made bf the spirit. The questioner runs a pencil over the letters of the alphabet, and the mia are given as the pencil comes to the successive letters forming the words of the answer. litany of the "media" in this species of "spiritual" manifestation have been proved to be' mpostors, though it is not necessary to suppose that they are so in all cases; they may b imposing on themselves, as witches did of old. There is no doubt, however, that the wonderful revelations they sometimes made of things known only to the questioner, a se from involuntary indications made by the latter—by his pausing, without knowingit, at the letters of the expected answer. A variation on the mode of communicating with the world of spirits, consists in putting the questions to a table, which is manipulated, as in table-turning, and gives its answers by rapping with one of its feet, or by rocking, as may be agreed upon. The agency of the expectant ideas of the performers in thek cases is apparent in their own narratives. Would it not
otherwise be strange that spirits should reveal heaven to Robert Owen as organized on his own social theory, while a Protestant clergyman finds the world of spirits pervaded by a horror of the pope (Rev. E. Gillson, 7'able-talking), and to pious Scotch Presby terians every revelation regarding it is completely in accordance with Calvinistic theology.
Such are the views of those who, in regard to this matter, may be denominated the " rationalist" party. But there is a large class of intelligent persons who hold the expla nations above given to be insufficient. After making every allowance for deception, whether intentional or unintentional, they find many undoubted facts remaining which are quite beyond the scope of suggestion, dominant ideas, or any other of the usually received theories, physical or psychological. Phenomena of the character in question are, therefore, still the subject of earnest investigation on the part of many, both in Great Britain and America. See Sruttit.aux.