FREE CONFERENCE MEETING.

A few weeks since a number of persons, who had been in the habit of attending the meetings of the Spiritualists' Union, became dissatisfied with the Sunday afternoon meetings, which are devoted to seances under charge of Mrs. McKinley. They thought it more profitable, to themselves at least, to consider vital questions affecting the well-being of society, and they accordingly engaged Central Hall on Sixth street; but did not withdraw from the Union, whose meetings they generally attend in the evening. On account of gross misrepresentations, which were made in the Chronicle, the proprietors of Central Hall declined to rent it for their meeting; and they were compelled to seek quarters elsewhere. Last Sunday they met in a room in the rear of Charter Oak Hall. The editors of this paper were present, and can vouch that we never attended a more orderly, harmonious and interesting meeting. We were in error last week in speaking of the organization as a third Spiritual society. Although composed mainly of Spiritualists, it does not claim to be a Spiritual organization. The object is to present a free platform, on which people who have any worthy thought to express can give it in their own way, without limit as to time or subject, only endeavoring not to infringe upon the rights of others. They have no chairman, and are guided solely by their own ideas of propriety and courtesy. This is a mode of conducting a meeting which has never heretofore been tried excepting among personal friends or the members of a society, outsiders not being allowed a voice. Here there are no "outsiders." All present are members, and with such unlimited freedom it seems not likely that they will be long able to get along without a presiding officer. However, it has worked well so far, and if no unfriendly element comes in, it will probably continue to move along harmoniously.. Certain it is, that the atmosphere of the place appears to be conducive to good behavior. The discussions have been conducted in the kindest spirit, and with the most courteous recognition of each other's rights.

The meeting on Sunday was opened by Dr. Swain, who briefly stated the objects which they were endeavoring to realize. Remarks were made by Mr. Healey, Professor Chaney, Mrs. Hughes, Mr. Pierson, Mr. Spring, Mr. Wild, Mr. Stowe and others, and Mr. Morse read an interesting article from the Banner of Light. We regret that we have not space for a report of the addresses. The social question was not alluded to by any speaker. The meeting to-morrow cannot be held in the same place, as the proprietor of the hall has been compelled by other lessees to deny the society its use.

When man becomes as wise as Nature, he too will come to see all things to be good, because he will see everything in its time and place. We need to have a great patience with the slow evolution of things.-A. W. Stevens.

Jesse H. Butler wiil discourse on "C Beauty and Utility," at Charter Oak Hall, to-morrow (Sunday) evening.

MEDIUMS' SEANCES.

The two seances were held as usual on Sunday afternoon, one at Charter Oak Hall, the other at 911 Market street. Mrs. McKinley invited Deane Clark and Mrs. Kenny to the platform. The people were invited to send up questions to be answered. Mrs. Lena Clarke read the questions and Mrs. McK. replied to them. The following are specimens of the questions, with answers in brief: Will spirits materialize here in California? Yes. Does the materialization of spirits prove the miraculous conception? No. Are there bad spirits? No, not essentially bad, but undeveloped. We should endeavor to do right and to keep away from bad influences of spirits in and out of the "form." What is freedom? We cannot tell what it is so well as we can what it is not; but it is to do as we think right, so as not to interfere with the rights of others. Mrs. Clarke described various spirits, some of which were recognized. Mrs. McKinley said she saw the spirit of Mrs. Slade, deceased wife of Dr. Slade, of New York. She wants Dr. Slade to come to California, and give seances. She thinks his health would improve here. Deane Clark made a brief address, in which he said "Katie King" has promised to show herself in this city. At Charter Oak Hall Mrs. Dieterly joined the mediumistic force, and added to the interest by clear descriptions of spirits. The other mediums were Mrs. Cummings, Mrs. Staley, Mrs. Hendee and Mrs. Wiggins. The seance was of unusual interest. At its close Mrs. Foye gave the ballot test. Some one proposed H. H. Hunt as the committee, but Mrs. Foye said the gentleman had had sittings with her, and she preferred a stranger. Mr. Hunt declared himself a skeptic, and stated that he wished to make the test thorough. He proposed to take the ballots selected by Mrs. Foye, and write new ones with the same name, and see if the spirit could again select the name when the newly written pellet had been thoroughly mixed with the others. Mrs. Foye declined to sit with Mr. Hunt, at that time, but said she would give him that or any other test in private. The seance then proceeded with Mr. Hoge as committee, and every test given was pronounced correct. Mr. Hoge was unable to discover any appearance of trickery.

WHATEVER IS IS RIGHT.-I am an optimist. I believe and the same way as physical philosophers have long ago agreed am sure that there is no such thing as evil; that just in that cold and darkness have no existence, but are simply "less light" and "less heat;" so, too, moral philosophers have got to acknowledge that what we call evil, aye, the very worst forms of it, are only "less good." I believe that this world is governed by perfectly just laws, and by a perfectly good and all powerful God; I am sure if I had been God, I would have made things just as comfortable for every one of my creatures as possible, consistently with their own best good; and I am not going to believe that God has done otherways. We think things very bad down below here; but it is not so, it cannot be so; everything is going right. For either God couldn't arrange things better, or he wouldn't, or he didn't know how to; but as we presuppose his all powerfulness, and his perfect goodness, we must allow that it was because he wouldn't, and that for very good reasons of his own.-Don Fulano.

Book Notices.

THE NEW ERA.

Comforter. The author elaborates this beautiful idea: "God said, not to his son, as heretofore erroneously taught, but to his co-equal and beloved companion of eternity, the universal Mother, (or the Holy Ghost and Comforter,) Let us make man in our own image, after our likeness. And they were made male and female, after the image of the Divine Father and Mother God. Hence, we are the children of Deity, heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ." Making a practical application of this doctrine, the writer

The central proposition of the book is, that the second advent of the Messiah is now at hand, though whether he is to appear incarnate, as in the first era, or to come as an invisible glory and power to the hearts and souls of men, may be an open question; but the author claims that the ideas of the hour point unmistakably to the second coming. The age is active and expectant; some great event is about to burst upon the world. Among other proofs of this, the author claims as demonstration, the wide-spread spiritual manifestations of the day, these being the same, only with an accession of power and influence, as those that attended the first advent.

As there is to be a new dispensation, so there must be a new prophet to inaugurate it, and the writer assumes that this prophet has already appeared in the person of Emanuel Swedenborg, the "colossal John the Baptist of the new era, commissioned to bestow on the church the baptism of reason and of science, and to prepare the way for the second coming."

In this work, the organized church, in spite of its great sins of omission and of commission, is recognized as a necessity; as, in fact, the centripetal force of the moral world. Whether in the meridian age of glorified humanity we shall still need such organizations, the author does not clearly state; but it may be inferred that we shall not. To those who still hold with reverent faith to the Christian bible, because they have learned its lessons at a mother's knee, and it is associated with the holy memories of childhood and of home, it will be a satisfaction to know that this thoughtful and conscientious writer has not discarded it, but holds to it devoutly, while interpreting it philosophically, and believing it to be largely allegorical. In the Mosaic acoount of the creation, "days" and "weeks" are interpreted to mean days and weeks of the ages. Each day, therefore, is centuries of time, and thus the earth went through ages of preparation for the reception of man.

But that which to many will prove the most attractive idea in the book, is the doctrine of a dual god-head, or a Father and Mother God—an idea long entertained by the author, though other writers of late years have put it first in print. It is here avowed with an earnestness and cogency of reasoning which prove, at least, a perfect faith in it. What a comfort to feel that there is a Mother God, and that we weary, sorrowing children of earth can rest our bruised and bleeding hearts on the bosom of this Divine

enlightened christendom, has arisen from the inability of the world to recognize or comprehend the Divine Mother in the Godhead; "man, with his practical tendencies and absolute self-hood, seeing only a male Divinity, regardless of the Divine Mother, ever present in the subtle and elevating influences of the beautiful of earth and heaven." The writer looks forward, however, to the time-now, indeed, in a process of inauguration, when it shall be seen that woman, in her sacred office of maternity, represents the Divine, Universal Mother. But man's exceeding joy in discovering this, will be attended with humiliating and sorrowful reflections, and in his desire to redress her wrongs, he will render to woman more than justice. The following are brief extracts:

"Let Woman herself awaken then to the subject of her own freedom in right action, and equal responsibility with Man for the improvement of the gifts with which she is endowed by Heaven, and become obedient to the voice of the spirit, or the impelling force of her own soul; remembering that God marked out no particular sphere for either man, or woman, independently of the revelation of His Will impressed on their hearts and minds, when he created All-Parent said unto both alike: Be fruitful and multiply, and blessed them, and pronounced His work good. The and replenish the earth, and subdue it."

"And let it be remembered that neither the Childhood nor Youth of the World, nor of the individual man, are ages of philosophy; and that Man, as a sex, has been thus far unable to rise superior to the influences of education, and of traditional prejudice, and to view truth broadly from the comprehensive plane of cause which overlooks the wide realm of effects. And, for this reason, he has failed to award equal justice to Woman, either as a sex, or as a rational and intelligent individual, companion and friend, And, the mind of the present Era is so thoroughly imbued with the material and masculine tendencies of past ages, that it can only see in the direction of the old masculine channels and act through them. Even the professed Christian Philosopher still looks at Woman through spectacles borrowed of Pagan Sages. It is true that the Pagan was unable to penetrate as far into a future state of existence as the Christian is, who admits Woman to Paradise by the narrow views of the former, that, while he generin her own proper person; but, the latter is still so biased ously accords to her equal rights in the higher life of Heaven, he obstinately refuses to recognize her claim to equal justice, while she remains a resident of the planet

Earth.

In consequence of this partial and unphilosophical view of the Human Family, partial and unhealthy social conditions everywhere obtain in the world. We have Institutions of Learning, founded for the benefit of Man onlywhich are very liberally endowed by the wealth of both

WOMAN SUFFRAGE.

ANNUAL MEETING OF THE INCORPORATED SOCIETY AND CELEBRATION.

One of the best, most harmonious, and in every way most satisfactory, Woman Suffrage meetings ever held on this Coast, took place in Dashaway Hall on Monday, the 27th inst., under the auspices of the California Woman Suffrage Society Incorporated. The morning session was devoted to the reading of reports and the election of officers for the ensuing year. The Treasurer's report showed the society to be out of debt and with a balance on hand of $850. The election for officers resulted in the choice of the following excellent ticket: President, Mrs. Sarah Wallis, of Mayfield; Vice Presidents, Mrs. P. Benedict, of Contra Costa county; Col. A. Heath, of Santa Cruz county; Mrs. Laura De Force Gordon, of San Joaquin county; Mrs. Watkins, of Santa Clara county; Mrs. Waterhouse, of Sacramento county; Mrs. R. G. Steele, of Merced county; Mrs. C. P. Sprague, of Yolo county; Mrs. Kellogg, of San Francisco county; Mrs. Boyer, of Oakland; Miss Sallie Hart, of Alameda county; Mrs. Latimer, of Sonoma county; Mrs. Hanly, of Sierra county; Mrs. Irwin, of Marin county; Mrs. John Llewellyn, of Napa county; Mrs. Davis, of Solano county; Mrs, Clara Gayne, of Mendocino county; Miss Eliza Taylor, of San Francisco; Mrs. E. Lloyd, of Nevada county; Mrs. Johnson, of San Joaquin county. Secretary, Mrs. Matthews, of San Francisco. Corresponding Secretary, Mrs. Wilson, of San Francisco. Board of Managers, Mrs. E. Pitts Stevens, M. Louise Wilson, Mrs. Dr. White and A. McKeon, of San Francisco; Mrs Phebe Benedict, of Contra Costa county; Mrs. Isabella Irwin, of Marin county; Miss Sallie Hart, of Alameda county; Mrs. Watkins, of Santa Clara county, and Mrs. Dr. Waterhouse, of Sacramento county.

AFTERNOON SESSION.

EVENING SESSION.

Mrs.

Mrs. Boyer read an original poem entitled "Recompense." Addresses were made by Mrs. Hughes, Judge A. M. Crane, Rev. Otis Gibson and others, the speeches being interspersed with songs by Mr. Davis, and music on the piano by Mr. Kirwan. Captain Kimball gave his promised poem, on Adam and Eve, which elicited roars of laughter. The evening's entertainment closed with an address by Laura De Force Gordon, in which the circumstances leading to the celebration were reviewed. She referred to the fact, that she gave the first Woman Suffrage address in Platts Hall, in February, 1869, before an audience of about three hundred persons.

Mrs. Wallis was the only woman who went on the platform with her. Now, continued the speaker, there is a deep seated conviction in the public mind in favor of woman suffrage, while ridicule of it is confined to the ignorant and vile of society. She maintained that without the right to vote, woman can never obtain equal wages for equal work, nor can they ever obtain justice in the courts. She particularly condemned the probate court system, which, ostensibly for the protection of women and children, is really a means of robbery.

As an illustration of the difficulties that are thrown in the way of women who enter vocations usually followed by men, Mrs. Gordon referred to the printing business, and to her own experiences and annoyances. She then spoke of the trifling way in which many women spend their time, crocheting, netting, embroidering, etc., even making worsted kittens with glass eyes, instead of spending their leisure in the improvement of their minds by reading or acquiring some useful art. She said if we are becoming a nation of pigmies, it is mainly owing to the inanity of the women, who have no noble aim in life, no high aspirations, no worthy thought. The address was full of good, sensible ideas, well expressed, and the meeting adjourned, all feeling they had had a good time.

IRREPARABLE.

BY MARY E. BRADLEY.

My heart was happy yesterday,
For on the hills the sunshine lay
In golden mist; and common things,
In the sweet bloom that autumn brings,
Grew beautiful, till every sense
Responded to its influence,
And not a leaf upon a tree.
But in its stirring gladdened me.
To-day the mellow sunshine lies
As tenderly along the skies,
And with as rare a splendor fills
The purple hollows of the hills;
But all the joy of yesterday,
And sweet content, have passed away,
Since in my hearing it was said
That little Muriel was dead.

I never loved the child too well-
That little pale-faced Muriel;
There was not in her looks or ways
The charm, indeed, to win one's praise;
And save the natural regret

For youth and death untimely met,
And pity for the mortal strain
Upon a childish heart and brain.

The news, for me, had never made
The glory of the hills to fade;
Had never caused the rustling sheaves,
And all the wind-tossed scarlet leaves,
To sigh with such an undertone
Of sorrow for my heart alone,
If I could answer, verily,

That she had borne no wrong from me.

But once, for something lightly heard,
I spoke a harsh and hasty word,
And blamed the child with bitter blame,
And covered her with sudden shame,
Until, dismayed, she crept away,
To sob and grieve the livelong day-
And yet, for any evil meant,
She was entirely innocent.

I knew it afterward, in vain,
And suffered such remorseful pain
As one must, in remembering
Wrong wrought upon a helpless thing.
But still, I set my heart at rest
With promises of wrong redressed:
"Some time," I said, "I will repay
All that she bore from me that day.

I will make glad with some surprise
Of sweets or toys, her childish eyes;
And my caresses, free and kind,
Shall blot the trouble from her mind.”
I soothed my heart with plans like these,
With petty plans and promises,
Wherewith-since Muriel is dead—

I can no more be comforted.
Somewhere in heaven to-day she stands,
And, haply, lifts accusing hands
To God, who sees me here dismayed,
By reason of that debt unpaid;
And knows (as I know, too, alas!)
The opportunities let pass
So carelessly, wherein I could
Have turned my evil into good.

Now, though I sought them tearfully,
They never can return to me;
And neither penitence nor prayer

That one injustice can repair.

Its shadow will surround me yet,

And many a pang of vain regret

And haunting memory will belong To this irreparable wrong.

PROCLAMATION.

Know all men by these presents, that we, Norton I, by the Grace of God, Emperor have read the records of the Beecher Tilton scandal, and are led to regard the same as one of those Providences of God that are so frequently found to pave the way to larger views, and more brotherly feeling among mankind, and to that unity of sentiment on the great subject of religious liberty that is so essential to our peace and, safety as a nation. If we cannot all be of one mind, we must all remember that our neighbors have the same right to differ from us that we have to differ from them. We have observed of late that some of our people were altogether too good to be happy themselves, or to permit others to be so. Among these may be counted the members of Plymouth Church, whose purity was altogether too sweet to be wholesome. An All-wise Providence has seen proper to humble their pride and scatter their councils, till no such babbling has been heard in the land since the confusion of tongues.

Now, therefore, we, as aforesaid, Norton I, Emperor, by the Grace of God, do proclaim and ordain, that all our good and loyal subjects, each one seeking for himself the kingdom of heaven in humility and simplicity of heart, do leave all others to do the same for themselves also; and that they do forever eschew and throw off all that pharisaical puritanism that is so irksome to themselves and so disagreeable to their neighbors, and become simply good men and women, judging not others, lest they be judged themselves.

It is the first desire of our heart to see our subjects thoroughly united in our church, and this can only be done on the broad basis of leaving every man to think for himself, and letting his life adorn his principles. God cannot be deceived. He will know His own, in whatever disguise they may be found. No subterfuge, no pretense, no outward forms, no certificate can seal His eyes. Many will say Lord! Lord! But to those only who have done right and showed mercy, and in His name fed the hungry and clothed the naked, and been especially mindful of the little children, will he answer, "here am I!"

God willeth not the death of a sinner, and the Emperor willeth not that any of his people should live except to repent of any evil they have done in the past, and to walk in the paths of righteousness and peace.

Given under our hand, this 30th day of July, A. D., 1874.

NORTON I.

OPINIONS OF THE PRESS.

From "Our Age."

We read with interest the articles of J. W. Mackie, published in the "COMMON SENSE." There is something in them unlike much we find in public journals. Truly, this paper speaks for itself, as its editor assured us it would. [From "The Word" Princetown Mass.]

COMMON SENSE has at last got into journalism. Weekly, Edited by W. N. Slocum 236 Montgomery street, San Francisco, Cal. Well-printed, ably-edited, full of interesting matter; it is, what it claims to be, "A Journal of Live Ideas." Send for it. From the "New Age," San Francisco, Cal.

"Common Sense-A Journal of live Ideas." This is a new enterprise started in in this city by Mr. and Mrs. Slocum. The paper is devoted to the dissemination of free thought on religious and philosophical subjects, and however diverse may be one's opinions on such subjects, there can be but one opinion as to the excellent paper presented. It is creditable editorially and typographically to all concerned, and we wish it a hearty God-speed.

[From S. F. Chroniclǝ.]

COMMON SENSE, the new paper devoted to free thought, Spiritualism, etc., of which W. N. Slocum is editor, has made a second appearance. It is a capital num. ber, and its "make up" is a triumph of journalistic art. Typographically, COMMON SENSE is one of the prettiest papers in this city.

[From the San Jose Mercury.]

COMMON SENSE.-The second number of this new weekly is at hand. It is free fron the imperfections of the first hurried issue, and is truly a superior number. We learn that some sixty subscribers have been obtained for the paper in San Jose, a number that will doubtless be increased to a hundred or more.

[From the Russian River Flag. }

COMMON SENSE.-A weekly journal with this title was started in San Francisco last week, with W. N. Slocum as Manager. The first number indicates that it will be an exponent of the doctrines of Spiritualism, but it proposes to open its columns for the presentation of all ideas entitled to a respectful hearing. Its platform says the paper" is intended to serve as a means of communication between rational thinkers and intelligent, truth-seeking readers-en advocate of morality, education, equal rights, labor reform, and all that elevates and enobles the human race; an opponent of class legislation, church creeds, bigotry, intolerance, and whatever tends to degrade mankind and retard human progress. It will not be the organ of any party or sect, nor the exclusive mouthpiece of any man or woman, but will furnish a fair field for all opinions worthy of consideration, however much they may differ from those entertained by the editor." The friends of free thought will give COMMON SENSE a cordial greeting. Its subscription price is $3 a year.

[From the New Northwest]

COMMON SENSE.-We are in receipt of a Spiritual paper bearing this title, issued by the "Common Sense Publishing Company" of San Francisco. As a sectarian Spiritual publication, it is as prosy and orthodox as the "Watchman and Evangelist" and "Christian Reflector" are for the sects which they represent.

[From the Truth Seeker.]

COMMON SENSE. No. I., Vol. I., of a neat sixteen page Weekly by this title, published in San Francisco, is upon our table. It is devoted to morality, education, equal rights, labor-reform and whatever elevates and ennobles our race. It has a decided bearing towards the Spiritual Philosophy. We hail this young champion of of mental freedom and the rights of man. We can hardly have too many advocates of the Truth before the public. It appears to be ably conducted, and we hope the Liberals and Spiritualists of the Pacific coast will accord it a generous support, and may it prove a success.

pecial Notices.

For the very best Photographs go to Bradley & Rulofson's Gallery, with an elevator, 429 Montgomery Street, San Francisco.

For a stylish and well finished Photograph go to Kluit's New Photographic Establishment, No. 28 Third street. All work warranted superior to any in the city. Those suffering from that most annoying of the minor miseries of human life-a cold in the head-or from catarrh in any form, should try Dr. Evory's Diamond Catarrh Remedy. Just try it-that's all. Sold at this office, and by all druggists.