Legend
< "Spirits Before Our Eyes.” (continued from page 10-27) >
“Commines” we are not sure, for there are two towns so called, one of which has one name, and one the other.
Experiences in Spiritualism*
It is solely in the cause of truth that I venture to lay before the public my experiences whilst investigating “Spiritualism” in London. A desire to condense into the smallest possible space an account of some of the phenomena witnessed during six months, must excuse any brusqueness in the style; And first, let me say, that no reader of this paper can be more sceptical than I was. I shared to the full the popular opinion on this matter, and had in fact ceased to believe in, what is called, the supernatural of the past. I must also admit I was as ignorant as the public generally of the amount of evidence accumulated and accumulating on this subject, having merely read an article by Mr. A. R. Wallace, published some years ago in the Fortnightly. I had never known a Spiritualist, for which I now congratulate rayself, lest I should have talked as I hear many talk. My attention was one day last spring attracted to a placard, announcing “Religious Services in connection with Spiritualism,” which stood outside a hall at Notting Hill. I went to one of these services; but of the religious side I do not now purpose to write, though it is the most interesting to earnest minds. My introduction, eventually, to a number of Spiritualists arose through attending this service; but to save space I must omit particulars. My curiosity being aroused, I obtained the entre to some bi-weekly seances (at these as at others the sitters form a circle and hold hands'), held in the rooms of a public medium; and I own my astonishment knew no bounds when I saw a number of apparently sane and intelligent people believing that, what seemed to me a Maskelyne and Cooke entertainment, was the work of departed spirits. I heard musical instruments flying about whilst playing; I saw white-robed forms appearing and disappearing, and heard voices conversing with the sitters as with well-known friends. All present were old Spiritualists, and I, as a stranger, held my tongue as to what I thought; but I was fully resolved to investigate, and, if I could, expose such folly, or worse. I went to several of these seances, and becoming acquainted with Spiritualists, attended many more at private houses, and at length my senses and reason convinced me of the truth of the astounding phenomena. In all the houses musical instruments floated about, bells were rung, lights were seen carried by hands, and forms, more or less shadowy, moved about and spoke. I know how impossible such wonders seem, and had I not other evidence to give, I should say nothing; but feeling that I could only speak with effect of manifestations under my own roof, and Colonel Gordon having also become convinced, we arranged for seances at home. The furniture was removed from the back drawing-room, and it was effectually darkened, as I wished to have the seance in the daytime. A card-table and six light chairs were put for use. I made notes, immediately after, of the chief occurrences at each sitting, which I propose giving in their crude state. The medium who came to some of the stances was one whom I had often met, and I therefore knew his “familiars” well.
July 6th, 1878, 3 o’clock p.m.—Sitters: General A., Colonel L., Lieutenant-Colonel and Mrs. Gordon, and medium. Medium entered room with us; was never in it before. He sat between General A. and Colonel L.; we formed a circle round the table, and joined hands, and then blew out the candle. A small hand-bell and small musical box had been placed on the table, and a few small ornaments on the mantelshelf which was about eight feet from medium. After sitting a few minutes talking, I mentioned that I had put something on the mantelshelf, hoping they would be brought to the table, and immediately with a clatter a Japanese box, containing two other small ones, fell on the table. Then raps were heard, and the table moved. Next the only piece of furniture in the room, a small chair, which was at the point furthest from the medium, was put quietly on the table. Then the (to us) well-known voice of a spirit, who gives the name of Peter Barry, spoke, and said the “power” was not strong. General A., wishing to get at the musical box, moved the chair, and he put his arm through the opening at the back, and then again took medium’s hand; they having with joined hands lifted the chair off the table, and placed it on the floor between them. The chair was now held on General A.’s arm, and in this position was pulled vigorously from the opposite side to that where the medium sat. After this had continued a few moments I asked the gentlemen to let the chair go, as I wanted something else done. The chair was then dragged along the floor. The bell was taken up from the table and rung several times. I asked for the bell to be taken up to the ceiling, but it was not done; and in answer to a rather reproachful remark of mine, Peter said: “We’ve done our best,” and the usual farewell, “Good-bye, God bless you,” was given. After that we were told by raps, “we cannot do more,” and a promise to try and do better next time was obtained, and I can here also say fulfilled.
11th July, 1878, 3 o’clock afternoon.—miters: General A., Miss D., Lieutenant-Colonel and Mrs. Gordon. The same medium. Colonel G. and Miss D. sat next medium, and we formed circle and joined hands. In a few minutes a cool air was felt passing over our hands, and we heard something moved on the table. Peter spoke, and said the room was nice and dark. A small light, like a large fire-fly, now floated about the room and then came to the table, and the bell then floated about with the light attached, and rung loudly. We had since the former seance bought a large musical box, which was playing, and one of us remarked with regret that it played <... continues on page 10-29 >
* This article has just been published in the Pioneer (Allahabad), about the best newspaper in India. Its editor says:—“The paper requires but little introduction. Its value for many Indian readers will turn upon the fact that the authoress and her husband, Lieutenant-Colonel W. Gordon, of the Bengal Police, consent to the publication of their names in connection with the events described; where anonymous records of seances would fail to influence public opinion, authenticated statements may command more attention. The persons referred to by initials are many of them well known to Anglo-Indian society, and though in the absence of their specific permission Mrs. Gordon docs not feel free to give their names in full for publication, these have been communicated in confidence to ourselves.
Editor's notes
- ↑ Experiences in Spiritualism* by Gordon Alice, London Spiritualist, No. 367, September 5, 1879, pp. 116-17
Sources
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London Spiritualist, No. 367, September 5, 1879, pp. 116-17