The Fox family moved to a homestead in Hydesville New York State and in 1848 they were disturbed by noises, knockings, movements of objects and other apparently supernatural phenomena. Two of the children Catherine and Margaretta discovered that if they spoke out then the mysterious noises seemed to respond. It became clear that these phenomena were not just random manifestations of energy but were under the control of some unknown invisible intelligence. In a world where such happenings were feared and labelled by many as of satanic origin, in a world where religion regulated many aspects of life and forbad spirit communication these fantastic happenings soon gained the attention of neighbours and family acquaintances. The news of these happenings spread far and wide, at times scores of bystanders came to marvel at the unexplained knockings and noises.
The Fox family suffered scorn, ridicule, and persecution but because of them the truth of spirit communication and advice from spirit people as to how to organise communication circles came and has been followed ever since. A committee of investigation was formed and communicated with the unseen intelligence harassing the Fox family. The committee listened out for the response signal knocks and they established that the communicator was Charles B Rosna, who had been murdered and buried beneath the cellar of the homestead. An excavation of the cellar later proved that there was indeed the remains of a body buried there.
The Hydesville occurrences showed that a system of communication was possible and that spirits could direct and give guidance helping the process. They explained, and it was shown to be correct, that certain people were naturally mediumistic and that communication using a code enabled strikingly accurate and detailed information to be communicated. The printing press, cheaper newspapers and books, the greater literacy amongst the people meant that many learned about this new spirit phenomena and how it could be replicated by forming circles in homes and with the guidance of the spirits themselves. So from this first modern example sprung up development groups and spiritual phenomena flowed from many quarters providing innumerable people with personal joyful corroborative evidence of the existence of a spirit world that could communicate with those still on earth. And these people in turn became advocates to the Spiritualist cause.
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