HPB-SB-8-22

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vol. 8, p. 22

H. P. Blavatsky Scrapbooks

from Adyar archives of the International Theosophical Society

vol. 8 (September 1878 - September 1879)

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Remarkable Form Manifestations in America

By E.G. Brown

I Left Boston in company with my wife on Tuesday, February 6th, at 12.30, arriving in Great Falls, N. H., about 3.30. There are direct routes to Rochester, but I desired to hear what the citizens of that city, six miles distant, might say of Mrs. Pickering. The testimony was universally in her favour, none alleging fraud, though many declared “it wasn’t spirits.” A pleasant sleigh ride brought us into Rochester. A developing circle was held on Tuesday evening, in which Mrs. Pickering and her husband wished that we might sit; as I observed one member to be adverse to the proposition, I declined. I was promised an interview the next morning, and the possibility of a private seance on that evening. I represented myself simply as a Spiritualist, not mentioning that I came in any other capacity. The welcome was cordial.

The next morning I had an interview with Mrs. Pickering, A member of the developing circle was also present. Mr. Pickering was away to his business as usual. From the questions asked by myself and wife, I learned that Mrs. Pickering is about thirty-two years of age. She was born in Laconia, N. H., and has resided in Rochester many years. She has been a medium twenty years, or since her memory can serve her accurately. She is a lady of prepossessing appearance. Any one who was a careful observer of mediumistic traits would select her as a medium. She is a little less than five feet in height, and of a slender physique.

The face, which is quite large, is exceedingly pale, and perhaps rendered more prominently so by reason of the hair, which is black and short.

A circle having been arranged for the evening we were present early, and had every facility for investigation. The house where the circle was held is on Charles-street, a short distance from the village centre. It is a two story and a half structure, built after a plan quite common in that section, and designed for two families. A gable-roof end faces the street. As it fronts, on the extreme left is one entrance, while the other is on the right, at the end of a piazza, thus giving an entrance to the rear of the house. It was erected five years ago, and is owned by Mrs. Pickering, who occupies the last-mentioned apartment. The circle room is on the lower floor, on a level with and bounded on one side by the wall of the piazza before mentioned, on the end, and on the second side by the partitions separating it from the other tenement. A pair of folding doors open in the second end to the reception room of the house, which is entered by a door from the piazza, at a height of seven feet from the floor in the corner of the room, made by three feet of the piazza side, and three feet of the first-mentioned; end, is fastened a slightly curved hoop, from this hangs curtains of black velvet, and the top is covered by a single thickness of the same material. Thus it will be seen that on two sides of the space enclosed are blank walls, on the third, the single velvet curtains; above the velvet covering, beneath a carpeted floor. The base board was six inches high, mortised with a clear sharp joint. It continued whole on either side from the corner to the casement of a door, where also it was joined flush. The walls were covered with clear light paper, having a small figure. It would show quickly any cut or fingering. There was not a trace of a concealed closet. To more effectually guard against the possibility of there being anything of this nature, an eight foot shawl was tacked to the top of the cabinet above and to the floor beneath, at either end and in the corner. This showed one foot of the shawl projecting beyond the point where the curtain of the cabinet joined the wall, and would have quickly indicated any movement of the wall or baseboard. The room was nine feet high. Therefore two feet of the walls showed between the top of the cabinet and ceiling of the room.

In the corner of the room opposite to the cabinet, in an alcove made by the projection of chimney, stood Mr. Pickering with a common oil lamp, ready to increase or diminish its rays, as might be dictated. The sitters were formed in two rows. The first line of chairs were distant seven feet from the curtains, eight feet from the medium. The sitters in the second row could by leaning forward bring their faces on a line with those in the first row. My face was distant from seven to seven and a half feet from the curtains during the evening.

There were fourteen persons in the circle. The developing circle were present, also several sceptics from the town, and two mediums. The latter, with three others, were visitors who had come from a distance. A young lady presided at the piano, occasionally singing, and assisted by another when a duet would be rendered. The circle did not sing once during the evening, nor were they requested to. The piano at times was silent, and seldom played much louder than a music box.

At 7.50 the light was lowered and the circle seated. The light was at all times bright enough for me to see the time by my watch, which I held in my hand. On my knee lay a note book, and with pencil in hand I recorded the time that each form appeared. Often the light would be sufficiently bright to enable me to distinguish the figure in the carpet, and the outlines of the subjects of the pictures that hung on the opposite wall, ten feet distant. The lamp, it will be remembered, was in the corner on the same end, and opposite the cabinet, so that the intervening space between myself and the cabinet was even lighter than where I sat.

7.55, the piano having ceased playing, there was a slight rustling in the cabinet, and the deep, heavy breathing of the medium could be plainly heard. Rappings came, and a duet was sung quietly. 8, a bright, phosphorescent mass appeared at the opening of the curtains, retiring immediately, and again presenting itself several times. The room was too warm, so the raps said, and a door was opened, giving ventilation, and lowering the temperature.

8.10, the first form appeared, parting the curtain and standing in full view. It was six feet in height, and raising its arm it touched the top of the cabinet easily and naturally. It retired, and as the light increased appeared again. The face was thin, cheeks sunken, moustache and chin whiskers black, pantaloons dark, shirt white. It took a chair in its hand, lifted it easily, and retired. 8.15, the chair with the medium in it moved slightly; the deep breathing still audible. 8.20, a form robed in white stepped forth strongly and pointed with the hand, retiring in 15 seconds. 8.21, another form advanced rapidly to the centre of the room. Its head was covered in white, and the flowing white dress had some lace covering upon it. Recognised as a daughter by a gentleman and lady of the developing circle. She had been before, they said. She remained 40 seconds.

8.30, a slight rustling in the cabinet and a tall, stout figure stepped out and pointed to a sitter. As it was not recognised, it asked for more light, and retiring again, appeared at 8.35. The face was round and full, wearing a light brown moustache. Features fixed. It was very perfect. One of the clairvoyants obtained the name, “George Henry,” to which it nodded assent, again raised its arm and pointed to a gentleman who said “George Henry Downs, it is you.” It makes one step forward and retires.

8.40, a bright light, a bluish white, shot out from the side of the curtain, apparently coming through it, describing a curve and falling to the ground, becoming invisible in the fall.

8.45, a little, old woman form, somewhat imperfect, but growing stronger, selected me as its object of interest; asking for more light it retired and again appeared, coming towards me. A dress of white, with a mantle on the shoulders, a cap of white on the head and face were seen. I could not trace any familiar features, however. A medium said it was my mother’s mother, to which the form nodded assent. As I had never seen that lad in the earth form I could not recognise it. My description is said to tally with her appearance.

Immediately another form motioned my attention. It was now 8.50. This was that of a young lady—long, black hair. It continued to ask for light, by a wave of the hand, until I protested that it might be dangerous. Its features were correct, and its actions and motions were unmistakably those of a relative closely studied in this life. As I remarked “your features are correct, but your hair is a little too dark,” it moved with a glad step to the cabinet, stooped deliberately and lifted the curtains, revealing the medium and itself at <... continues on page 8-17 >

* From the Spiritual Scientist (Boston, U.S.A.), March 1st.

Editor's notes

Sources

• 

  London Spiritualist, No. 291, March 22, 1878, pp. 134-5