The Clements Library website includes events, exhibits, subject guides, newsletter issues, library staff, and more.

Home » Adopt a Piece of History » Otto Wettstein ALS to [Joseph Burrell] Treat, March 19, 1865; Rochelle, [Illinois]. 4 pages.

Otto Wettstein ALS to [Joseph Burrell] Treat, March 19, 1865; Rochelle, [Illinois]. 4 pages.

Famed freethinker and materialist, the “atheist watchmaker” Otto Wettstein (1838-1928) sent this energetic letter to Dr. Joseph Burrell Treat, requesting his input on religious matters and reporting on recent news of spiritualists. He condemned the sophistry of Asaph Bemis Child, author of Whatever Is, Is Right (1860) and cynically related an anecdote about spiritual medium Emma Bullene.

“What are these ‘Spiritual’ Professors coming to? A ‘Medium’ Mrs Bullene lectured here three nights ago for an apriciating [sic.] audience; her ‘spirit influence’ stated among other ‘facts’ (?) that she had met in the spirit world the inhabitants of . . . other planets besides those from the ‘Earth sphere’; The first were ‘a robust giant like race’ & from saturn & the others were from – (stuck! it took nearly 5 minutes of thinking before she proceeded in her Answers) – Venus! & were a beautiful feminie intelectual [sic.] race!!! What do you think of this Friend Treat? There’s hope for old Bachelors yet!”

Manuscripts

$250