At the time when Anthony, Cady, and other like-minded individuals were fighting for women's equality, Spiritualism was also gaining momentum as a religion. This controversial belief system is usually thought to have started with the Fox sisters in 1848. At this time, the young sisters were living in a cottage in Hydesville, New York.
One evening, the girls began hearing a series of knocks and raps whose source could not be determined. After some time, they realized that the sounds were really attempts at communication, and the girls soon devised a code so they could understand. Using a predetermined number of knocks to indicate "yes" or "no," the sisters were able to ask questions and receive answers. What they learned was startling. The knocks, it seemed, were coming from the spirit of a peddler that had been murdered and buried in the cottage's cellar. Once word about the spiritual communication got out, the Fox sisters became quite famous. They traveled to New York City and other parts of the country serving as mediums who could talk to the dead.
During this time, Spiritualism as a religion began to take form, and there were soon several followers. Many of the people who associated themselves with Spiritualism were political reformers, abolitionists, non-Christians, and other who bucked the conventions of 19th century society. As such, they were often criticized and unfairly judged by mainstream America, who deemed them immoral atheists who were poisonous to the God-fearing public.
As Spiritualism attracted more followers
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