Research source

The sounds were made by the finger joints, it was supposed; and perhaps the jaw bone may have contributed its…

Date of account: Published 1857
Source: The Spirit Land
Reference: The Spirit Land · selected passage 102
Rights: public_domain
Language: English
Record updated: 2026-08-24

Record summary

The sounds were made by the finger joints, it was supposed; and perhaps the jaw bone may have contributed its share in the performance

Published source text

Read the available text below. Archive transcriptions may contain OCR errors; later context is labelled separately. A recorded claim is not a finding that it happened.

Source passage

Source text · mention only

The sounds were made by the finger joints, it was supposed; and perhaps the jaw bone may have contributed its share in the performance. The sounds given by the "rapping spirits" are by no means so remarkable as many suppose. They are often quite indistinct, and nearly inaudible. Unless a person was possessed of a large share of credulity, he would never consider them as the responses of an intelligent spirit. This is the decided conviction of hundreds who have witnessed their performances in various parts of the country. Yet many have been, and others will be, deceived. And, doubtless, many tender and sensitive minds may be made insane by the wicked trifling of these unprincipled impostors. Certainly we have not the least desire to set at nought any thing of a _truly serious_ character. Yet we are constrained to believe that the things of which we have spoken are too ridiculous and nonsensical, if not actually _sinful_, to be entitled to the least favor from the public.

Historical context

Contextual commentary · mention only

This is a historical account assembled under the reporting and publishing conventions of its period. It may preserve testimony, hearsay, retelling and editorial interpretation together.

Modern context

Contextual commentary · mention only

A modern comparison can identify recurring descriptions and possible explanations, but the account is not treated as independently verified evidence merely because it appeared in print.

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