< Spiritualism in Foreign Countries (continued from page 7-09) >
physical phenomena. M. Godin, who was a member of the National Assembly from 1871 to 1875, gives an account of seven pages in length of his experiences with Dr. Slade in Brussels. Colonel Devoluet, of Paris, continues his monthly narratives, now amounting to nine in number, of manifestations occurring through the mediumship of a girl named Amelie. The seances have been always confined to the family circle of Colonel Devoluet, and a gradual development of the medium’s powers has taken place, from raps and the transport of objects, especially flowers, through closed doors, to a highly-developed clairvoyant vision, by means of which many tests of identity, considered perfectly satisfactory by the sitters, have been given. The most remarkable phenomenon of a physical nature is that related by M. Greslez, of Setif, Algiers. This gentleman, having felt for some time the disadvantage of pursuing Spiritualism solely by means of writing mediumship, suggested to his spirit-friends to attempt a musical manifestation. He was directed to find two physical mediums, and to place one before the keyboard of the organ and the other at the bellows. The medium’s hands were to be over the keys, although she did not know how to use them. There first came a rolling sound from within the organ, then notes were struck, often quite distant from the hands of the medium, who was so overcome at the event that she began weeping, believing herself bewitched, In course of time, it appeared as if various musical spirits were operating, and when these retired quite inferior compositions were sometimes played. The seances took place by daylight, and strangers were occasionally invited to attend, with various results. On one occasion the organ-blowing medium fell asleep; there was no movement of the bellows, and yet the music proceeded, although no sound could be produced when contact with the keys was tried by persons in the circle. The Revue Spirite also gives some space to the question with which we have been occupied in England, that of Theosophy. It apologises to Colonel Olcott for its former cavalier treatment of elementals and elementaries, and proceeds to give its best attention to these important beings. A paper by Mr. Christian Reimers, on his experiments with paraffin moulds, adds another chapter to the accounts of physical phenomena, which form a new and important feature in the French view of Spiritualism.
The Messager de Liege and the Moniteur de la Federation Beige continue to appear fortnightly. They contain principally news of Dr. Slade’s sojournings in the German capitals, and a due amount of communications d’outre tombe, with dissertations on God and Creation from the pen of M. Tournier.
An important announcement comes from Mr. Z. J. Pierart who edited the Revue Spiritualiste from the year 1858 to the year 1869, the work of which he virtually continued in the Concile de la Libre Pensee. Three years ago this was suppressed by the French Government; and the first proofs of another work by Pierart were seized while passing through the post. All attempts to gain an explanation or to obtain redress were useless. M. Pierart then sent an account of these arbitrary proceedings on the part of the Government to the principal Republican journals. Not one inserted it. He has now resolved to bring out his journal under a new name, not calculated to excite suspicion. It is to be called pe Benedictin de Saint-Maur, and will be in the same form as the Revue Spiritualiste.
Old Shep's Ghost
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Exit the Ghost
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Materialization of a Ghost
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Editor's notes
- ↑ image by unknown author
- ↑ The Evening Telegram by unknown author. Title of The Evening Telegram
- ↑ Old Shep's Ghost by unknown author, Telegram, The, Saturday, March 23, 1878
- ↑ Exit the Ghost by unknown author, Sun, The, Friday, March 22, 1878
- ↑ Materialization of a Ghost by unknown author, Daily Graphic, The, Saturday, March 23, 1878