The Spiritualist newspaper > No.208, August 18th 1876

36
THE SPIRITUALIST.
Aug. 18, 1876.
illegible scrawl was found on the lower slate. On repeating this experi*
ment, the following message was found written on the upper side of the
lower slate:—
“Is this any better?”
Through an inadvertence this message was washed off—instead of the
illegible sentence. This led me to request that another message should
be written, which I might carry away with me. The pencil was again
inserted, and the slates, instead of being placed under were put upon
the table directly in front of me. Dr. Slade then placed his left hand
over my two hands on the table, and the tips of the fingers of his right
hand on the top of the slates immediately before me on the table. All
this was, of course, plainly visible in broad daylight. Under these con¬
ditions writing was soon heard, and on the lower side of the upper slate
was found plainly written
“ Let this be proof.”
W. W. Clark.
Dorking, August 15th, 1876.
EXPERIENCES OF AN INQUIRER.
Sir,—I read Mr. Blackburn’s letter containing the account of his
and Miss Blackburn’s seance at 61, Lamb’s Conduit-street, with much
pleasure, and I quite agree with his concluding remark, viz., that
Every right-minded man (may I be allowed to add “ woman ” also ?)
should investigate such strange and most wonderful phenomena as now
present themselves in all parts of the world.” Surely a movement that
is spreading and progressing so rapidly must be sent of God for some
wise purpose, which many of us are not yet able to understand.
“ Truth is stranger than fiction.” Some weeks ago a cousin of mine
from Dublin came on a visit here, and several of his private friends
who are not Spiritualists, along with himself, formed a circle, and ob¬
tained very good manifestations; he therefore felt anxious to investigate
during his visit. I accompanied him to three seances, and the last was
with Mr. Williams. On that evening John King floated about the room,
going twice near the ceiling. He asked the gentleman who was sitting
next to me if he observed his lamp, also if he would like to touch it;
this he then did. He next came opposite to me—when I thought I
would embrace the first opportunity I ever had of conversing with what
appeared to me to be a materialised spirit form, unless my eyes de¬
ceived me considerably, and I assure you I made good use of them on
that occasion, thinking I would endeavour to detect anything that
looked the least suspicious. I said, “ I have frequently heard, read,
and talked about you, John King.” He at once replied in a very loud,
deep voice, “You see me now.” And, truly, it was a beautiful sight.
Although the first two seances I attended were very good, I could not
help feeling a little sceptical, and thought that the materialised form
resembled the medium. My cousin thought differently, and on reflection
I felt convinced that it could not possibly have been the medium. I
attended another seance the previous evening, when Mr. Bullock was
securely tied in a bag, and his hands were tightly fastened behind him.
When in this position he asked for a ring, and one was produced by
Captain James, who was present. It was an ordinary curtain ring. On
the bag being removed the ring was found tightly encircled round the
wrist of the medium. This ring was examined by all present. On
the second evening it still remained, and was perfectly tight. Mr.
Bullock’s materialisations were in the light, which I consider a great
advantage.
In conclusion, I beg to say that I am an investigator, deeply interested,
at the same time I regret extremely the frivolity usually manifesting or
presenting itself at seances; but really people, as a rule, are drawn by
the ridiculous, and the greatest absurdities seem to “ take ” the most.
To my mind, what is called modern Spiritualism, is strictly in accord¬
ance with Scripture, as so very ably and plainly shewn by Mr.
Theobald. I strongly advise all who are able, to read The Spiritualist
of June the 14th. I believe that the physical manifestations are sent
to show the power of spirit over matter; in fact, to teach us that matter
is comparatively nothing and spirit everything, and to lead and prepare
us for far more profitable revelations which are ready to present them¬
selves to those who seek in an humble and inquiring spirit.
In the course of our seance with Mr. Williams, the spirit “ Peter ”
would persist in saying he wanted us to sing “Twinkle, twinkle little
star,” and he immediately filled the room with most beautiful luminous
stars.
I could say much more about my short experiences. People seem to
forget that we live in a world of progress, consequently they look with
great suspicion upon every thing new. Things that have eventually
turned out the greatest temporal blessings to mankind have been thus
received by them in the first instance. Certainly progression in a
spiritual direction must be the right one. We greatly need spiritualising
to counteract the evil influence of this materialistic age, and, as I have
before remarked, I believe the present to be simply a preparation for
other phases of spirit power, of a higher and far more elevating nature.
I have frequently read in the spiritualistic papers most gratifying
letters, written by working-men, explaining how they have been led by
Spiritualism to take a deep interest in religion, and thereby entered the
right path, when strict orthodoxy, as taught in many churches, failed
to influence them. “ A tree is known by its fruit.” Marianne.
Kensington, August 1st, 1876.
SPIRITUALISM AND INVESTIGATORS.
Sir,—The letter you publish in this week’s Spiritualist from Mr.
Massey suggests to me the propriety of writing a few interrogatory
remarks, with the request that you will kindly publish them. Mr.
Massey speaks somewhat slightingly of the “fourth estate,” and sug¬
gests that newspaper editors are scarcely worth convincing. I think
the contrary. Has Mr. Massey not frequently come across puffing
paragraphs about conjurors and illusionists 1 Does he think that such
| “ items of news ” would be deliberately passed for publication if the
( editors of the papers in which they appear knew the paragraphs were
> entirely misleading ? Do not ridicule and satire do more harm and
( more retard the progress of anything than honest discussion ? Have
I not newspaper editors in the provinces always deemed Spiritualism
| fair game for their feeble jokes ? Does one journalist in five hundred
( know anything of Spiritualism 1 I think if these questions are fairly
I answered, one duty will be pretty clear as the duty of the leaders of
| Spiritualism—to give the editors of our local press the opportunity of
( learning something of the “ facts,” leaving them to form their own
i theories. Some few have been attracted by the novelty of the so-
) called “ phenomena ” to investigate, among them the writer. But it is
( very expensive ; and I will honestly say that my pocket will not allow
II me to engage professional mediums, nor to seek for those facts which
} i Spiritualists declare are the convining proofs which shall change public
(I opinion from “against ” to “ with 1 them. If the National Association
11 of Spiritualists, or some kindred society, were to organise special
|! circles for investigators, and supply test mediums in our large pro-
(| vincial towns, inviting the editors of the provincial newspapers to see
11 for themselves, they might depend upon honest reports of what might
) I be seen or noted, which would perhaps make people think differently
(] of the new faith. To a certain extent I have inquired, and am puzzled ;
ji but prudential reasons (trade is bad) prevent me going further. Yet,
(| I may suggest, without claiming for the honourable class to which I
(! belong more power and influence than it possesses—that the conversion
>| to Spiritualism of one newspaper editor is not to be made light of.
(] Scientists would not hold aloof if once, through the press, Spiritualism
(| became fashionable. I enclose my card, and am truly yours,
| A Newspaper Editor.
I Mrs. Cora L. V. Tappan has been delivering lectures in New York
| during the past three weeks, and is engaged there until the end of
I this month.
| At the meeting of the Newcastle Society of Spiritualists last
| Sunday evening, Mr. J. T. Rhodes read Mr. G. T. Green’s Essay on
“ The Probable Effect of Spiritualism upon Society,” Mr. Hare pre-
] . sided. On the same occasion Mr. H. A. Kersey read Mr. Serjeant
j Cox’s account of his seance with Dr. Slade.
j Novel Inventions.—The Times correspondent, reviewing the Phila-
| delphia Exhibition, speaking of the Patent Office, says—“ One genius
| is said to have wanted a patent for a machine to bore through the
| earth ; another for an apparatus to make spirits of the rapping kind
visible to mortal eyes.” Should this patent be a success, we may not
| want a Fakir after all to illustrate the marvels of occultism.
Mr. Blake, of Grainger-street, Newcastle, has on hand two spe¬
cimens of the photographs taken at the recent picnic near that town.
One which may be termed tj^e “ committee group ” is excellent, and
contains the portraits of Miss Fairlamb, Mrs. Fairlamb, Mrs. Petty,
| Mr. J. J. Morse, Mr. Armstrong, sen., the Misses Nicholls, Mr. D.
Richmond, of Darlington, and most of the active workers in Spiritual-
i ism at the present time in Newcastle and district, so it may be inter¬
esting to Spiritualists at a distance. The other one contains a general
group ; the faces are smaller and in many instances are not so good,
but this picture is more interesting to local workers in the movement.
Chinese Ghost Stories.—Animals, also, have their ghosts. A
resident at Canton, named Ling, had a very intelligent monkey, which,
(I having been severely whipped for some mischief, became sulky, refused
> I food, and died. Shortly after, the monkey’s ghost began to haunt the
\ | house. Food placed on the table mysteriously disappeared, and strange
| annoyances took place. At length a fire broke out in the house unac-
I countably, and Mr. Ling shifted his residence. But the monkey’s ghost
f 1 still followed and persecuted him, until, as a last resource, he took a
(| room in the Temple of the Five Hundred Worthies. The monkey ghost
I did not dare to face the gods, and left him in peace. Mr. Ling was still
(| residing in the temple last year.—JReligio-Philosophical Journal.
)j To Heaven and Back.—One of the most unusual circumstances
C; was witnessed in this town one day during the week, and has caused
v! no little amount of conversation and surprise. A lady who had been
) | suffering for some days in bed, and was expected to breathe her last
j I every moment, was being watched by a number of kind friends and
)j some members of her family. On Tuesday morning she seemed to
|| grow very feeble, and between 7 and 8 o’clock stretched her limbs
([ out to their full extent, and gave a sigh. It was generally thought
> j that she was dead, and the woman who was to lay her out was sent
11 for. In the meantime an attempt was made to take the rings off her
\ ] fingers, which was done at a request made by herself on a previous
) | occasion. Some trouble was experienced in removing one of the rings,
(j and the second one could not be got over the knuckle joint. During
V i all this time there was not the slightest sign of breathing nor pulsa-
j tion—in fact one of the nurses present, who had many years’ex-
!j perience, had no doubt about her being dead. After a further lapse of
| time the poor woman opened her eyes—her limbs still remaining motion¬
less. She gave a heavy sigh, and exclaimed, “ What, on earth again ? ’’
Some of them said, “ Yes, we are all here.” She then told them of a
I number 'of things she had seen, in a strong distinct tone of voice.
She said that she had been to heaven, and had seen some magnificent
i things. Had spoken to some of the angels, who had told her that
j earth was ordained for people to remain on for a short time only,
j She had seen the Lord, who was arrayed in great splendour, and had
also seen a number of persons whom she-had met on earth. The
description given by her was certainly a most extraordinary one, and
! she seemed to wish her time would come, so that she might return to
I the place where she thought she had been to. She was for a con-
i j siderable time in this state, and when she awoke all those who were in
j j the room were completely surprised.—Burragong Chronicle (Aus-
W tralia).