HPB-SB-10-211: Difference between revisions
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| title =Cabinet Seances | | title =Cabinet Seances | ||
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| source title =Spiritualist | | source title = London Spiritualist | ||
| source details = | | source details = No. 386, January 16, 1880, pp. 25-7 | ||
| publication date =1880-01-16 | | publication date = 1880-01-16 | ||
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... | {{Style S-Small capitals| The}} following letter appeared in last Monday’s ''Times'':— | ||
<center>''To the Editor of ''“''The Times.’”''</center> | |||
{{Style S-Small capitals| Sir}},—We think the following facts will be interesting to the readers of the ''Times. ''Some time ago, being desirous of investigating the truths of so-called Spiritualism, we were advised by an eminent Spiritualist to attend the ''seances ''held at 38, Great Russell-street (British National Association of Spiritualists). We were assured that the ''seances ''conducted at that association were the most genuine in England, and under strict test conditions. On our first visit, the medium being tied by one of us with great care, no manifestations followed. At the second visit (January 2nd) one of us again tied the medium, but under the directions of the chairman, who is officially connected with the institution. A “spirit” soon appeared, which we were told was “Marie,” and was represented to be that of a dead child twelve years of age. She was dressed in white, her face covered with a veil, and her arms and feet bare. We were surprised to distinguish the appearance of a corset under the white robes, and her voice and general appearance gave us the idea that it was the medium herself, Mrs. Corner (''nee ''Florrie Cook). On the third visit, January 9th, we were accompanied by a friend, Mr. John C. Fell, engineer, and editor of a scientific journal, of 23, Hood-lane, E.C., with his wife. The “spirit Marie” again appeared, and rendered our former suspicions almost certain by the audible sound of undressing within the curtain, and by the “unspiritual” levity of her behaviour and conversation. One of us by a sudden rush intercepted and gently held “the spirit,” while another dashed into the curtains, and, drawing them aside, displayed the medium’s empty chair with the knot slipped, her dress, stockings, and boots, and other discarded garments. There was sufficient light from a half-obscured candle for the captured “spirit” and all the above objects to be plainly seen, which latter were handed round for inspection and examined by those present. After a few minutes—to cover the confusion, we presume—the candle was extinguished by the official present, and we adjourned to the lower room. All present, except the officials, one of whom took refuge in abuse, entirely agreed with us and thanked us for exposing the deception. | |||
Now, sir, we leave general conclusions on Spiritualism to others, but what we do claim to have proved is that in the first society of Spiritualists in England, one of its best mediums has I! been detected in personating the spirit herself. Not wishing to further occupy your valuable space, we shall be happy to give fuller information to any one interested in the cause of truth. | |||
{{Style P-Signature in capitals| George R. Sitwell.}} | |||
{{Style P-Signature in capitals| Carl Von Buch.}} | |||
Witness to the signatures of Sir George B. Sitwell and Carl von Buch, F.C.S.:—John C. Fell, M.I.M.E., Professor of Mechanics. | |||
23, Rood-lane, E.C., Jan. 10. | |||
That an incident like the above should take place was a matter of certainty, and merely a question of time. ''Stances ''of the kind have long been thoroughly condemned by the more experienced Spiritualists, and results like the above foretold, as in the following leading article published by us rather more than two months ago (November 28th, 1879):— | |||
A year or more ago, when it was discovered by experience that neatly all the public scandals brought down upon the movement in England and America were due to cabinet manifestations those manifestations fell into disrepute, and were wisely almost abandoned by our best mediums. Mr. Williams and Mr. Eglinton then discontinued cabinet ''seances ''to a large extent, and {{Style S-HPB SB. Continues on|10-212}} | |||
{{HPB-SB-footer-footnotes}} | {{HPB-SB-footer-footnotes}} | ||
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<gallery widths=300px heights=300px> | |||
london_spiritualist_n.386_1880-01-16.pdf|page=3|London Spiritualist, No. 386, January 16, 1880, pp. 25-7 | |||
</gallery> | |||
Latest revision as of 15:09, 18 September 2024
< Historical Controls (continued from page 10-210) >
...
Cabinet Seances
The following letter appeared in last Monday’s Times:—
Sir,—We think the following facts will be interesting to the readers of the Times. Some time ago, being desirous of investigating the truths of so-called Spiritualism, we were advised by an eminent Spiritualist to attend the seances held at 38, Great Russell-street (British National Association of Spiritualists). We were assured that the seances conducted at that association were the most genuine in England, and under strict test conditions. On our first visit, the medium being tied by one of us with great care, no manifestations followed. At the second visit (January 2nd) one of us again tied the medium, but under the directions of the chairman, who is officially connected with the institution. A “spirit” soon appeared, which we were told was “Marie,” and was represented to be that of a dead child twelve years of age. She was dressed in white, her face covered with a veil, and her arms and feet bare. We were surprised to distinguish the appearance of a corset under the white robes, and her voice and general appearance gave us the idea that it was the medium herself, Mrs. Corner (nee Florrie Cook). On the third visit, January 9th, we were accompanied by a friend, Mr. John C. Fell, engineer, and editor of a scientific journal, of 23, Hood-lane, E.C., with his wife. The “spirit Marie” again appeared, and rendered our former suspicions almost certain by the audible sound of undressing within the curtain, and by the “unspiritual” levity of her behaviour and conversation. One of us by a sudden rush intercepted and gently held “the spirit,” while another dashed into the curtains, and, drawing them aside, displayed the medium’s empty chair with the knot slipped, her dress, stockings, and boots, and other discarded garments. There was sufficient light from a half-obscured candle for the captured “spirit” and all the above objects to be plainly seen, which latter were handed round for inspection and examined by those present. After a few minutes—to cover the confusion, we presume—the candle was extinguished by the official present, and we adjourned to the lower room. All present, except the officials, one of whom took refuge in abuse, entirely agreed with us and thanked us for exposing the deception.
Now, sir, we leave general conclusions on Spiritualism to others, but what we do claim to have proved is that in the first society of Spiritualists in England, one of its best mediums has I! been detected in personating the spirit herself. Not wishing to further occupy your valuable space, we shall be happy to give fuller information to any one interested in the cause of truth.
Witness to the signatures of Sir George B. Sitwell and Carl von Buch, F.C.S.:—John C. Fell, M.I.M.E., Professor of Mechanics.
23, Rood-lane, E.C., Jan. 10.
That an incident like the above should take place was a matter of certainty, and merely a question of time. Stances of the kind have long been thoroughly condemned by the more experienced Spiritualists, and results like the above foretold, as in the following leading article published by us rather more than two months ago (November 28th, 1879):—
A year or more ago, when it was discovered by experience that neatly all the public scandals brought down upon the movement in England and America were due to cabinet manifestations those manifestations fell into disrepute, and were wisely almost abandoned by our best mediums. Mr. Williams and Mr. Eglinton then discontinued cabinet seances to a large extent, and <... continues on page 10-212 >
Editor's notes
Sources
-
London Spiritualist, No. 386, January 16, 1880, pp. 25-7