Legend
< The Spiritualism in America (continued from page 4-105) >
theories concerning Spiritualistic phenomena of the deepest interest, and which I hope will ere long be studied and discussed by the members of this Association; such, for instance, as the powers of the embodied human spirit, a field almost unexplored by us as yet, and offering abundant material for research; the fallacy of ascribing certain presentations to the action of our departed friends; the part played by elemental and elementary spirits, terms at present confounded and totally misunderstood by those who have given public utterance to their opinions on the subject; the relation of mediumship to adept hood, and the comparative merits of each; the desirability of propaganda under the present conditions of Spiritualism, the necessity for more esoteric and recondite research, and many other points equally important. So that, though America has failed to take the lead in building up the Spiritualist movement as an organic whole, it has at any rate contributed, and will doubtless continue to contribute, valuable materials towards the structure, which the more critical and scientific English mind must hew and fashion, and fit into their exact and proper places.
I will now recount a few of the facts which came under my personal observation, and speak to you of some of the friends whose acquaintance I had the pleasure of making.
In New York, or rather Brooklyn, I will mention first andforemost our well-known friend and favourite author, Dr. Eugene Crowell. I stayed some days at his house, and found him a thoroughly earnest and sincere Christian gentleman, in the highest and best sense of both words. He admitted me to a short sitting with the medium Kelley, of whom he speaks in the first volume of his work, Christianity and Modern Spiritualism, and with whom he has held for six years a series of interesting investigations, some account of which, he intends to publish in due time, Mrs. Crowell, who is in extremely delicate health, owes the extension of her life, Dr. Crowell considers, to the healing and mesmeric power conveyed through this medium. All the members of the family are strong Spiritualists, but their inquiries are conducted in the privacy of their own home, I was allowed the great privilege of visiting, in company with Dr. Crowell, a most interesting psychological a subject,” known as the u Sleeping Girl of Brooklyn.” This young lady was thrown about twelve years ago from a car, and dragged for some distance along the street. The resuits were an injury to the spine, which has kept her bed- ridden ever since, paralysis in the lower half of the body, and total blindness. The right arm remained bent, with the hand fixed to the back of the neck for many years. The left hand was also firmly closed. In process of time sight became developed in the forehead and other parts of the head, and it was found that the girl (Miss Fancher) could read letters, though her eyes were closed. She next learned to write with a pencil fixed in the tightly closed left hand, One day she asked for some leaves, and for some materials to make wax flowers, and by degrees she arrived at making the most beautiful specimens of this art that I think I have ever seen, colouring the flowers and leaves with the most delicate and finely-shaded tints. About seven years ago she was entranced for a whole fortnight, during which time she received no food. After this her eyes were opened, and she is now unable to shut them, but they are still sightless. Her right hand was also loosened from its position at the back of her neck, and she is able to use it now in her work of flower-making. Dr. Crowell hopes some day to be allowed to conduct a series of psychological experiments with Miss Fancher, but at present the doctor who has charge of her is averse to working professionally with a Spiritualist.
My slate-writing experiences with Mr. C. E. Watkins I have detailed elsewhere; I will only say here that I consider his mediumship of the most interesting kind, and especially adapted for scientific investigators, as all the phenomena take place in the light.
One experiment of a peculiar kind which I made with Mr. Watkins has not been published; I will therefore introduce it here:—
The subject of will-power, and of its probable influence on some spiritual manifestations, having been much discussed between Mme. Blavatsky and myself, I determined to try an experiment in that direction. I went alone to Mr. Watkins, and I asked him to write some single word on a slate, and to turn the side of the slate so written on against the surface of the table, in order that it should not be seen by me. I, in my turn, did likewise. I then requested Mr. Watkins to hold with me my own double slate, between the folds of which I had placed a crumb of slate-pencil, and to will that his word should be written on it. I also willed that my word should be written. Mr. Watkins seemed rather incredulous over the business, and was genuinely surprised, on opening the slate, to find that the word I had willed should be written, was upon the slate. “Let us try again,” he said. “Very well,” I replied; “but suppose we write something more this time, a sentence of three words.” Mr. Watkins wrote, as appeared later on, the words God is love; I wrote Love is eternal. Mr. Watkins took the folding-slate, with which we had before operated, into both hands, saying “I am impressed to hold the slate alone.” Suddenly it struck me that he was stealing a march upon me, and I insisted upon taking hold of the other end, first satisfying myself that nothing had yet been written. We heard the pencil at work, and on opening the slate found two sentences written; one was, Mr. Watkins’s, God is love; the other was not my sentence, but a third, Truth is mighty. I was immensely puzzled. “This is the effect neither of my will nor yours, Mr. Watkins; whose is the third will that has been at work?” “I think I can tell you,” he said; u while you were writing your sentence on the slate, I, having finished mine, began guessing what yours might be, and I thought to myself ‘truth is mighty;’ that is how I account for it.” y I did not ask you to think, Mr. Watkins, but to will; however, this is an interesting experiment, and goes to prove still further the theory I have in my mind. Now, let us try another” but a sitter was announced, and I had no further opportunity of testing the strength of my own will-power against that of Mr. Watkins.
I had also the pleasure of meeting, in New York, with Dr. Bloede, a frequent contributor to the Banner of Light; with Mr. Partridge, the publisher of the first Spiritual periodical in America, the Spiritual Telegraph; with Dr. Hallock, whom we all know so well and esteem so highly; Mrs. Slocum, Mr. Farnesworth, and others. The three last-named are, with Mr. and Mrs. Newton, faithful supporters of the Sunday afternoon conferences, which have been kept up regularly for twenty years, and of the morning and evening Sunday services in New York, at one of which I had the pleasure of hearing a very good inspirational speaker, Mrs. Nellie Brigham. In this connection I will also place Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Jackson Davis, who are now living in retirement in Orange, New Jersey, and who came to see me in New York. I found them both as bright, cheerful, and excellent as they are always represented to be by those who know them; full of good sense, and overflowing with the milk of human kindness. Like many others, Mr. A. J. Davis now takes no public part in the spiritual movement in America. Some other Spiritualists I had the pleasure of meeting, who, though unknown to fame as Spiritualists (for the reasons I have before mentioned), yet hold honoured places among the world’s best spiritual workers, and whose acquaintance is among my happiest recollections of America.
In Boston I found our good friend and valued writer, Mr. Epes Sargent, full of interest and activity in the cause, but, I regret to say, in a very indifferent state of health. He inquired with great eagerness after the friends and workers on this side of the Atlantic, saying that he looked to them to lead and shape the movement, and to put it on a proper scientific footing. Mr. Sargent was giving much attention to Mr. Watkins’s mediumship, of which he has published several circumstantial accounts, and to that of Mrs. Boothby, a materialising medium, whom I was unable to visit. He is, I find, well known in America, as the author of several school manuals on scientific subjects, which are much esteemed.
At the Banner of Light office I met and conversed with Mr. Colby, whom I found very genial and enthusiastic; ready to make any exertion for the spread of Spiritualism, and to assist deserving mediums. I also met Miss Lizzie Doten, a most charming and sensible person, and our old <... continues on page 4-107 >