,libraries47 ,materialized ,apparitions ,if ,not ,beings from ,another ,life ,what ,are ,they ,,by ,,edward ,a4 ,,brackett ,,author ,,of ,,the ,,world ,,we ,,live ,,in1 ,,my ,,house1 ,,etc4 ,illustration3 ,,arti et ,,veritati ,,boston ,,richard ,g4 ,,badger ,the ,gorham ,press #aijh ,copyright #ahhe1 by ,e4 ,a4 ,brackett ,all ,rights ,reserved ,the ,gorham ,press1 ,boston1 ,u4 ,s4 ,a4 ,to abandon these spiritual phenomena to credulity1 is to commit a treason against human reason4 ,nevertheless1 we see them always rejected and always reappearing4 ,they date not their advent from yesterday4 ,,victor ,,hugo4 ,,preface4 ,written at intervals from the pressure of business1 and at times that should have been devoted to recreation1 these pages make no claim to artistic arrangement or literary merit4 ,if they enable any one to arrive at a clearer and better appreciation of the wonderful phenomena of which they treat1 they will have accomplished all that was intended4 ,,winchester1 ,,mass4 ,,contents ,,introduction1 ,,page #i ,part ,i4 ,,materialization ,,and ,,dematerialization ,,of ,,forms ,,and ,,objects4 ,,chapter4 ,,page4 ,i4 ,,my ,,first ,,seance1 ,,and ,,what ,,came ,,of ,,it #ag ,,ii4 ,,personification ,,by ,,the ,,medium1 ,,or ,,materialized ,,forms #cj ,,iii4 ,,materialization ,,and ,,dematerialization ,,of ,,objects #cf ,,iv4 ,,materialization ,,and ,,dematerialization ,,under ,,test ,,conditions #ea ,v4 ,,an ,,unexpected ,,seance #fj ,,vi4 ,,seance ,,with ,,mrs4 ,,carrie ,m4 ,,sawyer #fh ,,vii4 ,,seances ,,with ,,mrs4 ,,fairchild #gi ,,viii4 ,,seance ,,with ,,miss ,,helen ,,berry ,,at ,,onset #hh ,,ix4 ,,seance ,,at ,,the ,,berry ,,sisters' ,,in ,,boston #ii ,x4 ,,materialized ,,forms--,,how ,,shall ,,we ,,meet ,,them8 #aji ,part ,,ii4 ,,opinions ,,and ,,theories4 ,i4 ,a ,,glance ,,behind ,,the ,,curtain #abc ,,ii4 ,,exposures ,,of ,,mediums #aca ,,iii4 ,,public ,,seances #adj ,,iv4 ,,the ,,attitude ,,of ,,scientists #adf ,v4 ,,public ,,opinion #aec ,,vi4 ,,conclusion #afd ,,illustrations4 ,,diagram ,,of ,,mrs4 ,,fay',s ,,seance-,,room #bi ,,diagram ,,of ,,the ,,misses ,,berry',s ,,seance-,,room #ajj ,,introduction4 ,in #ahdj ,i became acquainted with ,dr4 ,colyer1 then lecturing on ,mesmerism1 at ,peel's ,museum1 ,new ,york1 and fully believed1 at that time1 that he was a humbug1 and ,mesmerism a fraud4 ,soon after this1 while visiting some friends1 with ,mr4 ,pendleton1 formerly from ,boston1 this subject was pretty thoroughly discussed1--,mr4 ,pendleton insisting that there was truth in it1 and that ,i was not treating it fairly2 and he proposed1 as a matter of amusement1 that ,i should try the experiment on some one of the party present4 ,willing to turn the discussion into a less serious form1 ,i consented to take the part assigned me2 and soon found1 to my astonishment1 that ,i had before me a most excellent clairvoyant subject4 ,what had been started as amusement became a very interesting entertainment1 resulting in the meeting of the parties once a week for the purpose of studying ,mesmerism4 ,in the following spring ,i removed to ,boston1 where in my leisure hours ,i continued my investigations1 part of the time with ,dr4 ,william ,f4 ,channing1 the inventor of the ,fire ,alarm1 and at the time a student with ,dr4 ,jackson4 ,i was indebted to him for many interesting suggestions1 and especially for the use of a very delicate galvanometer1 for the purpose of detecting1 if possible1 any magnetic or electric currents passing between the magnetizer and his subject4 ,no such currents were discovered1 and when we found that our subject could be controlled and thrown into a trance when more than a mile away1 by the action of the will alone1 the idea of testing currents was abandoned4 ,all that has since been made public under the names of ,mind-,reading and ,telepathy1 and much more1 was familiar to us4 ,when trance-mediumship became known1 believing that it was only a form of ,mesmerism1 ,i gave considerable attention to it4 ,there were few mediums of note that ,i did not have more or less sittings with1 but the most satisfactory communications ,i received came through a member of my own family4 ,while the evidence was such as would have convinced most persons that these messages came from the other side of life1 ,i was by no means sure of it4 ,in this state of mind1 in consequence of some statements made to me by ,mr4 ,thomas ,appleton1 of what he had seen in ,europe1 ,i decided to investigate what is known as ,materialization1 that is1 the alleged production of visible and tangible apparitions out of seeming nothingness4 ,i felt1 whether right or wrong1 that my experience in ,mesmerism1 and the long training of my perceptive faculties as a sculptor1 which enabled me to detect the slightest differences between objects1 was as good a preparation as one could have for studying this class of phenomena4 ,i had no sectarian prejudices to overcome1 and no lack of courage in stating my convictions1 no matter which way the evidence might lead4 ,that ,i prejudged the case in the beginning1 ,i freely admit1 and1 like thousands of others1 formed an opinion without giving to it that attention which is necessary in dealing fairly with any subject4 ,i have a thorough abhorrence of fraud1 whether in the seance-room or in the pulpit1 regarding any one who would trifle with the most sacred feelings of our nature as deserving the severest punishment4 ,in briefly detailing some of the facts that have come under my own observation1 it is a matter of no consequence to me what may be said about them1 since it is impossible for any one to give the subject the same careful study without arriving at similar results4 ,,part ,i4 ,,materialization ,,and ,,dematerialization ,,of ,,forms ,,and ,,objects4 ,man is what he feels4 ,he may dazzle the world for a while with the splendor of his acquirements1 but1 like an iceberg that glistens in the frosty air and disappears in a more genial clime1 the pride of his intellect is lost in the warmth of his affections4 ,what ,swedenborg aptly terms his loves1 alone indicate man's true character4 ,they determine his relation to superior as well as to inferior beings4 ,there is no other way through which he can advance to a higher life1 or commune with those exalted spirits who are ever ready to welcome him1 than by the elevation of his affections4 ,through every phase of his spiritual progress1 whether in this or the other life1 forever arches over him in letters of gold the divine commandment1 ,that ye love one another4 ,,materialized ,,apparitions4 ,,chapter ,i4 ,,my ,,first ,,seance1 ,,and ,,what ,,came ,,of ,,it4 ,not being acquainted with any materializing medium1 so termed1 ,i obtained from ,mr4 ,luther ,colby1 of ,boston1 a letter of introduction to ,mrs4 ,h4 ,b4 ,fay1 of that city1 stating that ,i was desirous of visiting her seances4 ,i called upon the lady and presented the letter1 but found that she was out of health1 and1 for the present1 had discontinued her sittings4 ,i1 however1 left my address1 with the request that she would inform me when she resumed her seances4 ,more than a year passed without hearing from her1 and1 finding that she was giving sittings1 ,i made free to call at the house and ask admittance1 which was granted4 ,as she did not recognize me1 ,i felt confident that she had forgotten the circumstance of the letter1 and1 as ,i preferred to remain as far as possible incog41 ,i made no allusion to it4 ,curiosity led me to scan the audience4 ,there were about thirty persons present1 and1 as far as ,i could judge1 they were of more than ordinary intelligence4 ,at the beginning of the seance1 the light was lowered1 but not so low that we could not discern clearly the features of those around us4 ,i do not propose now to deal with the experience of others1 although ,i have from the beginning made that a part of my study1 but shall confine myself to what came to me4 ,near the close of the seance1 the lady who sat next the cabinet said there was a form present who gave the name of ,maggie ,brackett4 ,she would not be certain about the first name1 as the form was very weak and spoke in a whisper4 ,here was a chance to come in contact with one of these beings1 supposed to belong to another life4 ,although ,i knew of no one1 in or out of my family1 by that name1 ,i assumed that it was for me1 and stepped up to the cabinet4 ,as ,i did so1 the curtain parted1 and a very beautiful female1 apparently about sixteen years old1 stood before me4 ,i looked at her very closely1 but could trace no resemblance to the medium1 nor to any one ,i had known4 ,i said1 ,i do not remember you2 did ,i ever see you before8 ,she shook her head1 and tried to speak1 but ,i could not make out what she intended to say4 ,finding that ,i did not understand1 she held out her hand1 about three feet from the floor2 but ,i did not know what that meant1 and1 seeing that she was greatly disappointed1 shook hands with her1 saying1 ,never mind2 we will find out about this some other time2 then bade her ,good-bye1 and she stepped behind the curtain4 ,as ,i turned to my seat1 a hoarse voice inside the cabinet somewhat startled me by saying1 ,your wife is here6 ,i answered1 ,very well1 ,i shall be glad to see her4 ,if ,i was disappointed in the first form1 ,i was doubly so in this4 ,it was a much smaller person than my deceased wife1 and had a tired1 careworn expression1 while the features strongly resembled the medium4 ,she greeted me warmly4 ,holding her at arms' length1 in order to better study her form1 ,i said1 ,you are not tall or stout enough for my wife4 ,wait1 she said2 and1 stepping behind the curtain1 returned in a few moments1 fuller1 and near a head taller4 ,the height and general build of the form were now very good1 but the face was a medley4 ,i saw1 or fancied1 some resemblance to my wife1 but still more to the medium4 ,she appeared overjoyed at meeting me2 so much so that ,i felt it would be heartless on my part to repel it4 ,laying her head upon my shoulder1 she talked freely with me1 saying things that it seemed impossible that any one but my wife could know4 ,i knew what ,mesmerism and clairvoyance meant4 ,was this another phase of them8 ,was it mind-reading8 ,if so1 it was a very clever performance4 ,i could not realize that ,i had my wife before me1 and yet here was a being who had penetrated the inmost secrets of my domestic life2 had dragged from the past the well-worn pages of memory and read them anew4 ,she remained out much longer than most of the forms had done1 when ,i noticed that she appeared to be growing weaker1 and1 in spite of her efforts to sustain herself1 was sinking downward4 ,bidding her ,good-night1 ,i let go her hand4 ,as ,i did so1 she went down directly in front of me1 within a foot of where ,i stood1 her head and shoulders being the last part visible4 ,on the carpet1 where she disappeared1 there was a glow of phosphorescent light1 which gradually faded away4 ,for the first and only time during my investigations1 ,i was unduly excited4 ,it came so suddenly and unexpectedly upon me that ,i was confused4 ,i brushed my hand across my forehead and eyes to make sure of my bearings1 and slowly returned to my seat1 fully conscious of the importance of what had passed before me4 ,if real1--if the form had thus dematerialized1--then the reality of materialization followed as a matter of course4 ,while turning these thoughts over in my mind1 the seance closed2 and as ,i stepped out into the full light of the autumnal moon1 everything seemed changed4 ,the sound of feet on the brick pavement grated harshly on my ears2 before me rose the tall spire of the stone church1 throwing its ghostly shadow across the way2 behind me was the seance-room1 and a dreamy consciousness of the strange phenomena ,i had witnessed surged through my brain4 ,was it possible that ,i had stood face to face and been in communication with one from another life8 ,as ,i pondered over this1 a reaction came1 and before ,i reached my home the probability1 or the possibility even1 that ,i had been deceived1 vexed and annoyed me1 and aroused a determination to know whether or not there was truth in materialization4 ,i was not over-pleased with what ,i had seen1 and1 but for this last incident1 my investigations might have ended here4 ,materialization was either a great truth or a stupendous humbug4 ,thousands of intelligent persons believed in it1 on what appeared to me uncertain evidence4 ,was it not a disgrace to science that this had been allowed to go on so long without any honest attempt to investigate it8 ,if ,i could only get the inside track1 how easy it would be to expose it6 ,the whole thing lay in a nutshell3 either the forms appearing were confederates1 or personations by the medium2 perhaps both4 ,i would if possible adopt a system of investigation so thorough that nothing should escape me4 ,to go to seances as an ordinary visitor was1 to me1 to throw time away4 ,if the manifestations were genuine1 and my personal relations with the medium not objectionable1 ,i saw no reason why ,i should not obtain privileges without which1 to my skeptical mind1 it would be useless to pursue the subject4 ,i therefore continued my visits1 having this object constantly in view4 ,otherwise ,i remained perfectly passive1 neither demanding nor asking anything4 ,several times ,i was surprised by finding thoughts to which ,i had given no outward expression anticipated by what claimed to be the control1 that is1 the spirit alleged to hold possession of the entranced medium4 ,i had not asked1 although greatly desirous1 to be taken into the cabinet during the seance4 ,while thinking this1 ,auntie1 ,mrs4 ,fay's control1 said1 ,you shall come in4 ,the forms were coming quite freely to me1 and one said1 ,you may go in with me4 ,as ,i entered1 the control greeted me in a friendly way1 saying that she liked me2 that ,i was a skeptic1 but an honest one4 ,while talking with her1 ,i had my left arm around the waist of the form that took me into the cabinet4 ,with my right hand ,i reached out and satisfied myself that the medium was sitting in her chair1 entranced4 ,there could be no mistake2 there were four of us in the cabinet1--the two forms that appeared to be materialized1 the medium1 and myself6 ,i know how two got in1 but where did the other two come from8 ,taking advantage of the expressions of kindness on the part of the control1 ,i sought an early opportunity to express to the medium what ,i desired4 ,to my surprise1 she made no objections1 saying that she was entranced1 and did not know what the forms were1 nor was she conscious of taking any part in what came before the audience2 that she was simply the instrument1 not the operator4 ,i thanked her1 saying ,i trusted that ,i should do nothing which would be distasteful to her or the control2 that the first step would be a thorough investigation of the cabinet4 ,on my first visit to ,mrs4 ,fay's1 the cabinet consisted simply of a curtain drawn across the corner of the room4 ,it was soon after changed to a light1 portable structure1 which could be easily moved to any part of the room4 ,i had this cabinet moved out1 the floor1 wall1 and everything connected with it thoroughly examined4 ,there was no chance for confederates to be used here4 ,i have since assisted in moving it out for the satisfaction of others1 and have seen it placed in the opposite corner of the room1 where it remained for weeks without in the least affecting the manifestations4 ,whatever may be the cause of these phenomena1 they are certainly not due to confederates4 ,i herewith submit a carefully drawn plan of the cabinet and its surroundings1 made by a competent architect1 who has never seen any of the manifestations1 and consequently is not a believer in them4 ,there could be no doubt2 it was impossible for any one to enter the cabinet except through the door of the seance-room1 in the presence of the whole audience4 ,to be perfectly sure on this point1 ,i sought and obtained permission to sit next the cabinet1 which place ,i occupied for more than forty sittings4 ,i know that it is impossible to use a confederate in this cabinet without its being instantly detected4 ,having settled this so thoroughly that it could not come up as an element of doubt in any future investigations ,i might make1 the next step seemed to be a plain one4 ,illustration3 ,diagram of ,mrs4 ,fay's ,seance-,room4 ,,chapter ,,ii4 ,,personification ,,by ,,the ,,medium1 ,,or ,,materialized ,,forms8 ,the forms that came from the cabinet were either personations by the medium1 or they were what they purported to be--materializations4 ,i had1 during this time1 allowed nothing to pass unnoticed4 ,from forty to sixty forms would often manifest at a seance1 apparently of both sexes1 and of all ages and sizes1 from a little child to extreme old age1 each form individualized and complete in itself4 ,what claimed to be my wife came to me quite often1 and so many times disappeared in the way heretofore described1 that ,i was no longer startled by the occurrence1 for ,i had become so familiar with it that ,i had come to regard it as a natural consequence of her appearance4 ,she not only grew stronger1 but the likeness was much improved1 and the resemblance to the medium1 at times1 entirely disappeared4 ,in my first visits to these seances1 ,i was led1 like many others1 to attach great importance to the resemblance which these forms might bear to what they claimed to have been when in earth-life4 ,i was constantly looking for it1 and have seen many instances where the likeness was so marked that it would have been impossible to mistake it2 yet ,i have learned not to regard it as positive evidence of identity4 ,whatever they may be1 whether from this or the other side of life1 there can be no question that they possess the wonderful power of changing their forms at pleasure1 as any one at all familiar with them can testify4 ,i have seen a tall young man1 wearing a full beard1 claiming to be a brother of the lady with me1 while standing before her1 one hand on her waist1 the other in mine--upon her saying1 ,i have not seen you since you were a lad2 how do you suppose ,i should know you now8--stoop1 kiss her on the cheek1 and raise his roguish face without the beard2 at the same time diminishing in size until he was more nearly like the boy she knew4 ,i have witnessed similar changes outside of the cabinet1 in the presence of the audience1 quite often4 ,the mental and moral tone of the audience has more to do with the character of the seance than the medium has4 ,i have1 several times1 by the action of a strong will1 caused the forms to recede from the position which they at first assumed4 ,persons1 without being fully aware of it1 find themselves more or less reflected in these seances4 ,they reap what they sow4 ,their condition of mind prevents the forms from approaching them4 ,i have known persons to visit seances many times without receiving any attention2 and1 on the other hand1 ,i have seen entire strangers1 coming from distant parts of the country1 who had never before been in a seance-room1 receive the most tender demonstrations of affection and recognition4 ,sometimes these forms have treated me to little jokes1 that illustrated better than words the information ,i was seeking2 enjoying heartily anything that for a moment seemed to disconcert me4 ,what claimed to be my niece came to me in a very beautiful illuminated dress4 ,i asked her to appear to me at the next seance dressed in the same way4 ,i took a friend with me to that seance1 expecting to astonish him with the wonderful illumination4 ,but1 instead of keeping her promise1 she came out in a dark dress1 such as ,i had never seen her wear4 ,as my friend had gone up to the cabinet with me1 ,i was greatly disappointed in the way she came1 and said1 ,bertha1 why do you come in this dress8 ,placing her right elbow in the palm of her left hand and her index finger on her lip1 in a bashful1 coquettish way1 she said1 ,i'm in mourning4 ,i said1 ,for what8 ,she replied1 ,i expect ,i have lost my friend4 ,i said to my companion1 ,this is something new2 ,i don't understand it4 ,while we were both looking at her1 instantly the dark dress disappeared1 and she stood before us radiant in her beautiful garments4 ,with a girlish laugh she threw her arms around my neck1 kissed me and said1 ,it is all right now1 uncle4 ,the disappearance of the dark dress was quite as marvellous to my friend as the illumination4 ,i have never been able to detect any fraud1 or any indication of it1 on the part of ,mrs4 ,fay at these seances2 and in the absence of any information which would lead to any other conclusion1 ,i shall hereafter call these forms spirits4 ,that they are not beings belonging to this side of life1 ,i feel certain4 ,what they are1 each one must determine for himself4 ,,chapter ,,iii4 ,,materialization ,,and ,,dematerialization ,,of ,,objects4 ,the severest tests which ,i could apply to these manifestations convinced me that not only the forms which surrounded these spirits1 but the garments which they wore were materialized 7that is1 made visible and tangible out of previously invisible substances7 inside of the cabinet4 ,how this is done we may not comprehend4 ,emerson says1 ,the whole world is the flux of matter over the wires of thought to the points or poles where it would build4 ,we only know that here1 as in ,nature1 there must be a germ or starting-point around which the particles aggregate4 ,this is seen in the materialization of objects1 which is important as being the only materializations outside the cabinet1 and the only ones that we can study4 ,i have spoken of a beautiful spirit claiming to be my niece1 ,bertha1 that came to me at ,mrs4 ,fay's4 ,in all my attendance there she has never failed to meet me4 ,this did not arise from any understanding or agreement1 but seemed to grow up as a natural consequence of the magnetic relations between us4 ,simple and childlike in her bearing1 ,i have found her remarkably conscientious1 intelligent1 and affectionate4 ,she comes freely1 and in all my intercourse with her ,i have never found her judgment at fault4 ,i do not care to discuss the question as to who or what ,bertha is2 ,i know she is not the medium1 nor a confederate1 and that her materialization of objects is genuine4 ,in my long and delightful association with her1 extending over more than two years1 ,i have never been able to detect the slightest thing that would lead me to doubt that she is what she claims to be4 ,no parent ever watched the unfolding of a young life with more interest than ,i have studied the apparent growth or development of this delightful spirit4 ,it may be that what ,i have considered her progress arises from the increasing strength gained through her long association with me1 enabling her to more freely express herself2 for during my acquaintance with her she has seemingly passed from a commonplace person into a remarkable embodiment of intelligence and affection4 ,if ,i have refrained from expressing the many inspired thoughts and feelings which in her exalted moments she has freely given forth1 it is because they are sacred to my own domestic circle4 ,they belong to that centralization of the affections without which life loses its force1 and all investigations or attempts to reach these beings are only time thrown away4 ,as ,i never saw her before she passed to the other life1 ,i have no means of proving her identity except by what she has told me4 ,owing to the fact that her family live many hundred miles away1 and that ,i am very forgetful of names1 ,i did not recall1 until reminded by others1 the existence of any one of that name4 ,she came1 at first1 very weak1 not being able to come out from the cabinet1 and spoke in a whisper4 ,she either gave a wrong name1 or1 what is quite as likely from the difficulty she then had in expressing herself1 was misunderstood4 ,this1 with my limited experience1 led me to regard her appearance1 so far as it related to me1 a mistake1 and ,i am quite conscious that ,i treated her coldly4 ,that she felt this indifference on my part was evinced more than once by the expression of her face4 ,she1 however1 continued to come whenever ,i was present1 growing stronger each time1 apparently demanding recognition1 and showing plainly that she did not mean to be put aside for any one4 ,at length ,i said1 ,will you tell me who you are8 ,she replied1 ,i am ,bertha2 you are my uncle2 ,i am your niece2 at the same time holding out her hand about three feet from the floor4 ,as ,i did not understand this1 she subsequently explained it by coming out as a child about four years old1 that being the age1 as ,i afterward learned1 when she passed to the other life4 ,as ,i was a stranger to the medium and all present 7except one1 and that one knew nothing of my relatives71 it does not seem probable that the medium could have known anything about her4 ,the individuality of ,bertha is very striking1 bearing little or no resemblance to any other materialized form which ,i have seen4 ,she never comes shrouded in a profusion of drapery2 on the contrary1 she appears scantily but richly dressed1 wearing a short skirt and close-fitting waist1 with short sleeves1 leaving her finely-rounded arms bare4 ,she never wears a head-dress2 her long silken hair floats freely round her shoulders4 ,in form and feature she is the embodiment of girlhood1 with a playful disposition which leads her to make amusing remarks1 at times1 about those who come within her mental atmosphere4 ,her figure is compactly built1 and well proportioned1 with a remarkably fine face1 the expression of which1 at times1 surpasses anything ,i have ever seen4 ,she is much shorter than the medium1 as the following measurements will show3-- ,mrs4 ,h4 ,b4 ,fay1 medium1 height1 #e ft4 #d in4 ,bertha1 materialized form1 height1 #d ft4 #i-a_/d in4 ,male form 7to ,mr4 ,tallman71 height1 #e ft4 #i-a_/d in4 ,difference between ,mrs4 ,fay and ,bertha1 #f-c_/d in4 ,difference between ,mrs4 ,fay and male form1 #e-a_/d in4 ,difference between ,bertha and male form1 #ab in4 ,these measurements were taken by means of an upright staff with a cross piece at right angles1 and ,i was assisted by a gentleman who is a thorough skeptic4 ,care was taken to have the forms stand perfectly upright1 so that there could be no mistake as to accuracy4 ,i have given this brief sketch of ,bertha as ,i shall have occasion to allude to her hereafter1 for ,i am greatly indebted to her for much that ,i have learned about materialization4 ,she has taught me that the ability to communicate intelligently depends upon the use these beings can make of our aromal emanations1 or magnetism2 that frequent association with us is necessary to enable them to gain control of material elements1 and that where the relations are harmonious they gather strength every time they come in contact with us4 ,from a feeble and almost unintelligible whisper1 ,bertha now speaks in clear tones1 with little or none of the ,german accent of the medium1 and very often1 no matter where ,i am placed1 comes across the room1 and pulls me up with both hands2 or1 if there is a vacant chair beside me1 sits down and begins to talk1 apparently not noticing those around her4 ,at a ,thursday afternoon seance1 held last spring1 she came out very lively2 and after a cordial greeting ,i said1 ,you are feeling strong to-day2 can you not do something to interest us8 ,she hesitated a moment2 then leading me into the middle of the room1 looked up laughingly into my face and said1 ,i will show you how we dress the forms in the cabinet4,a ,stretching out her bare arms1 turning them that every one could see that there was nothing in them1 she brought the palms of her hands together1 rubbing them as if rolling something between them4 ,very soon there descended from her hands a substance which looked like very white lace4 ,a ,the control had stated to me1 only a few minutes before1 that the forms were first materialized and then draped4 ,she continued this until several yards of it lay upon the carpet1 and then asked me to kneel down1 saying ,i was too tall for her to work easily4 ,she then took the fabric and made a robe around me1 which appeared seamless4 ,on being reminded that there were no sleeves1 she took each arm in turn and materialized sleeves4 ,putting her hand on my head she said1 ,you have not hair enough1 and1 rubbing her hand over my head1 materialized a wig4 ,this ,i could not see1 but put my hand up and felt of it1 and those who were near me said it was in keeping with my own hair and quite an improvement4 ,removing the garment1 she rolled it into a compact mass1 manipulated it a few moments1 and it was gone6 ,in materializing and dematerializing this fabric1 her arms1 which were bare to the shoulders1 were stretched out at full length1 precluding the possibility of any deception4 ,thursday afternoon1 ,oct4 #b1 ,i visited ,mrs4 ,fay's seance with some friends from ,new ,bedford and ,cincinnati4 ,when ,bertha came out ,i introduced her to my friends1 and asked if she would be kind enough to show them how to make lace4 ,she stepped forward and asked for my handkerchief1 which she placed between her hands1 manipulating it much after the manner of starching fine fabrics4 ,it was easy to see that the material in her hands was rapidly increasing in volume1 and soon the lace began to descend2 but instead of being only one piece1 there were two1 one dark red1 and one white1 both falling at the same time1 each piece about three quarters of a yard wide4 ,when she had completed it1 she held one end1 while ,i took the other and walked across the room1 stretching it out to its full length1 between three and four yards1 so that all could see it2 and while it was so held1 the controlling spirit shut off the light1 showing that the lace was brilliantly illuminated4 ,bertha then gathered it in1 rolled it up and dematerialized it on my shoulder1 the light remaining on my coat for nearly a minute after the lace had entirely disappeared4 ,these things are not new2 they are as old as the history of man1 and are of common occurrence in ,india at the present time4 ,they have no possible connection with what is known as sleight-of-hand1 or legerdemain4 ,louis ,jacolliot1 ,chief ,justice of ,chandenagur1 ,french ,east ,indies1 in his able work on ,occult ,science in ,india1 thus points out the difference3-- ,every ,european has heard of the extraordinary skill of the ,hindoo ,fakirs1 who are popularly designated under the name of ,charmers or ,jugglers4 ,they claim to be invested with supernatural powers4 ,such is the belief of all ,asiatic people4 ,when our countrymen are told of their performances1 they usually answer1 ',go to the regular magicians2 they will show you the same things4' ,to enable the reader to appreciate the grounds of this opinion1 it seems necessary to show how the ,fakirs operate4 ,the following are facts which no traveller has ventured to contradict3-- ,first4--,they never give public representations in places where the presence of several hundred persons makes it impossible to exercise the proper scrutiny4 ,second4--,they are accompanied by no assistant1 or confederate1 as they are usually termed4 ,third4--,they present themselves in the interior of the house1 completely naked1 except that they wear1 for modesty's sake1 a small piece of linen about as large as the hand4 ,fourth4--,they are not acquainted with goblets1 or magic bags1 or double-bottomed boxes1 or prepared tables1 or any of the thousand and one things which our ,european conjurers find necessary4 ,fifth4--,they have absolutely nothing in their possession save a small wand of seven knots of bamboo1 as big as the handle of a pen-holder1 which they hold in their right hand1 and a small whistle1 about three inches long1 which they fasten to one of the locks of their long1 straight hair2 for1 having no clothes1 and consequently no pockets1 they would otherwise be obliged to hold it constantly in the hand4 ,sixth4--,they operate1 as desired by the person whom they are visiting1 either in a sitting or standing posture1 or1 as the case may require1 upon the marble1 granite1 or stucco pavement of the veranda1 or upon the bare ground in the garden4 ,seventh4--,when they need a subject for the exhibition of magnetic or somnambulistic phenomena1 they take any of your servants whom you may designate1 no matter whom1 and they act with the same facility upon a ,european in case he is willing to serve4 ,eighth4--,if they need any article1 such as a musical instrument1 a cane1 a piece of paper1 a pencil1 etc41 they ask you to furnish it4 ,ninth4--,they will repeat any experiments in your presence as many times as you require1 and will submit to any test you may apply4 ,tenth4--,they never ask any pay1 merely accepting1 as alms for the temple to which they are attached1 whatever you choose to offer them4 ,i have travelled through ,india in every direction for many years1 and ,i can truthfully state that ,i have never seen a single ,fakir who was not willing to comply with any of these conditions4 ,it only remains for us to ask whether our more popular magicians would ever consent to dispense with any of their numerous accompaniments1 and perform under the same conditions4 ,there is no doubt what the answer would be4 ,whether the forms or articles exhibited are considered as objects invisibly brought into the room1 or created from the atmosphere1 they are alike astonishing manifestations of an occult power4 ,it does not simplify or explain these singular phenomena to deny their relation to beings of another life1 and refer them to a supposed power in man1 the laws of which are unknown to us4 ,we have to deal with them as we would with any of the natural manifestations of life4 ,to assume that these things are not honest1--that these beings1 who come to us claiming to be our friends and relatives1 are deceiving us1 playing on our credulity1--is to decide the question without evidence4 ,,chapter ,,iv4 ,,materialization ,,and ,,dematerialization ,,under ,,test ,,conditions4 ,at ,mrs4 ,fay's1 on ,thursday1 ,oct4 #f1 #ahhe1 previous to the seance1 ,mrs4 ,fay came into the room under the control of ,auntie1 and requested that four ladies should be selected by the audience to go with the medium to her dressing-room4 ,the request was complied with1 and the ladies returned with ,mrs4 ,fay1 still under control1 and stated that they had dressed her entirely in dark clothes2 that there was not one particle of white fabric about her1 except the little collar around her neck4 ,the control then asked me to take a light into the cabinet1 and all were requested to examine it and see that there was no possible chance for a confederate1 or the concealment of drapery4 ,this was done to the entire satisfaction of all present4 ,mrs4 ,fay was not allowed to leave the room1 but1 as soon as the audience was seated1 went directly into the cabinet4 ,she had not time to take her seat before a form1 dressed in white1 came out into the room4 ,this was followed by several others similarly dressed4 ,then the light was lowered1 and a tall female form came out1 dressed in brilliantly illuminated garments4 ,a white handkerchief held against this drapery had the appearance of a dark object4 ,this figure walked about the room for a few minutes1 and vanished within three feet from where ,i sat1 and at least eight feet from the cabinet4 ,then1 in the middle of the room1 on the carpet1 appeared a small light1 not larger than the palm of my hand4 ,it gradually grew larger1 until it assumed the tall1 angular form of ,auntie1 the control1 who1 in her hoarse voice1 greeted us with1 ,good afternoon1 all3 ,i thought ,i would see what ,i could do4 ,she then addressed the audience in one of the most forcible speeches ,i ever listened to1 stating her reasons for putting her medium under test conditions1 ending by saying that she respected an honest skeptic1 but had no patience with those who accept anything without good1 substantial evidence4 ,she returned to the cabinet1 and many forms came out and were recognized4 ,bertha came1 and1 stretching out her arms at full length1 that all could see there was no chance for deception1 she materialized between her hands a piece of cambric1 about three yards long and one wide1 brilliantly illuminated4 ,after all who desired to do so had examined it1 she gathered it up1 and1 passing over to where the light was the strongest1 held it up1 laughingly remarking that there was enough to make a dress1 proceeded to make it up1 materializing sleeves1 and then put it on and walked round the room4 ,taking it off1 she dematerialized it in the presence of all4 ,returning for a moment to the cabinet1 she came back1 and1 kneeling on the floor1 with the fingers of the right hand made circular movements on the carpet1 with each of which it was plain to be seen that the light was increasing4 ,she continued this until she had materialized another large piece of fabric4 ,this gave great satisfaction to all1 except one visitor1 who1 from some cause1 was a little disturbed1 and had the kindness to ask me if ,i had been in the habit of practising sleight-of-hand4 ,his intimate friend1 who came with him1 had the good fortune to be close to ,bertha1 and had witnessed all that had occurred4 ,he rose1 of his own free will1 and stated to the audience that he had been investigating the subject for thirty years1 and that this was the most wonderful and convincing thing he had ever seen4 ,on ,thursday1 ,oct4 #ac1 ,mrs4 ,fay was again put under test conditions4 ,the audience was large1 crowding the room and making it so warm as to materially interfere with the manifestations1 especially with those spirits who had not been accustomed to materialize4 ,the illuminated forms and drapery were well shown4 ,in the light seance1 ,bertha came and pulled me up from my chair4 ,she complained of the closeness of the room1 saying that she could not do much4 ,she materialized a carnation in my hand1 and ,i called ,mr4 ,whitlock to witness it1 whereupon she took both of his hands and made a flower in each4 ,emma1 one of the controls1 soon came out1 dressed in a rich white figured satin dress1 which all in the front row were allowed to inspect4 ,mr4 ,whitlock obtained a pair of scissors1 and1 with ,emma's consent1 cut quite a piece out of her dress4 ,the damage seemed to be soon repaired4 ,mr4 ,whitlock1 in searching for the place where he had cut the piece out1 lifted the skirt1 which gave ,emma a chance to play the coquette1 and this created considerable amusement4 ,mr4 ,whitlock persevered1 and ,i think is able to state whether he succeeded in spoiling the dress4 ,a fine-looking form1 claiming to be a ,german chemist1 and the control of ,dr4 ,thomas1 came out1 and magnetized or medicated a tumbler of water1 sparks of light flashing freely from his fingers into the water1 which was then given to a lady from ,new ,haven1 ,conn41--with what effect ,i cannot say1 except that she complained that it tasted bitter4 ,i saw this manifestation for the first time several weeks before1 and1 ,i confess1 was rather amused with it4 ,while speaking somewhat skeptically of it to a friend who sat beside me1 ,i was surprised when the form came across the room and asked me to take the magnetized water4 ,i had been suffering for some weeks1 and1 to do the ,doctor justice1 ,i must say ,i was almost entirely relieved4 ,mr4 ,whitlock's father came to him1--a fine1 robust form1 with a strong individuality that could not well be mistaken4 ,mr4 ,whitlock and his wife testified to the likeness4 ,this was followed by the appearance of ,dr4 ,j4 ,r4 ,newton1 the widely-known healer1 some time deceased4 ,mr4 ,whitlock and ,i went up and greeted him4 ,i shook hands with him1 and had time to study his face well3 there could be no mistake2 it was a wonderful likeness of the ,doctor4 ,the seance1 although held under unfavorable circumstances1 was full of strong1 convincing points4 ,to the above statement1 ,mr4 ,l4 ,l4 ,whitlock1 ,editor of ,facts1 appends the following3-- ,at the above-named seance1 held on ,nov4 #acth1 the following-named ladies were asked by ,mrs4 ,fay to examine her clothing before she entered the cabinet1 viz43--,mrs4 ,joseph ,harris1 of ,dorchester1 ,mass42 ,mrs4 ,a4 ,smith1 of ,lynn1 ,mass42 ,mrs4 ,j4 ,d4 ,lillie1 ,boston2 ,mrs4 ,m4 ,a4 ,estee1 ,east ,boston2 and ,mrs4 ,l4 ,l4 ,whitlock1 ,providence1 ,r4 ,i4 ,they stated that she had nothing white about her person1 except a piece of ruche around her neck1 worn as a collar4 ,the cabinet was also thoroughly examined by all who desired4 ,my father1 ,rev4 ,geo4 ,c4 ,whitlock1 ,,ll4,d41 who passed to the spirit-life about twenty years ago1 was very perfectly materialized1 so much so that ,mrs4 ,whitlock1 who often sees him clairvoyantly1 but never saw him in earth-life1 recognized him before ,i saw him1 my attention at the moment being attracted by conversation in another direction4 ,we will not attempt a description of this seance1 as ,mr4 ,brackett's report is substantially what we would have written4 ,our experience with the dress above mentioned was wonderful1 and to us as incomprehensible as was our lace experience at ,mrs4 ,fay's seance at ,onset ,bay last summer1 a description of which we published in the ,september number of ,facts4 ,one thing is certain3 ,i had in my hand a piece of brocaded white satin1 which ,i know ,i had cut from the dress of which ,mr4 ,brackett speaks1 and that1 while ,i was kneeling before the form1 the hole which ,i had made in the dress did disappear1 and that ,i used my senses1 of both sight and feeling1 to convince myself of the facts4 ,over sixty forms appeared1 most of whom were recognized by friends4 ,,chapter ,v4 ,,an ,,unexpected ,,seance4 ,at an interview with ,mr4 ,w4 ,c4 ,tallman1 ,mr4 ,w4 ,a4 ,hovey1 and ,rev4 ,m4 ,j4 ,savage1 the question of obtaining private seances1 in the interest of the ,committee on ,psychical ,research1 was discussed1 and it was considered desirable to make arrangements with ,mrs4 ,h4 ,b4 ,fay for that purpose4 ,i was selected to consult with her1 and1 if possible1 obtain her consent4 ,as several gentlemen who intended to join us were not present1 ,mr4 ,savage was requested to see and inform them of the conditions agreed upon2 the result of his interview to be forwarded to me by letter at ,mrs4 ,fay's1 on ,thursday1 before the seance held on that day4 ,these conditions were very simple1 and ought to have been satisfactory to any reasonable person4 ,they were the result of the long experience of ,mr4 ,tallman1 ,mr4 ,hovey1 and myself1 made heartily in the interest of the ,committee4 ,there was no difference of opinion1 ,mr4 ,savage fully endorsing them4 ,the letter was duly received1 and1 without stopping to read it1 ,i informed ,mrs4 ,fay that ,i was ready to talk with her4 ,she replied that she should leave the matter entirely with her control1 and if ,i would lay the letter on the mantel1 near the cabinet1 ,auntie1 the control1 would probably speak about it4 ,this letter was a long one1--some four pages1 written by a member of the ,psychological ,society1 in reply to ,mr4 ,savage4 ,i placed it under a heavy music-box1 within a few inches of my head1 where ,i am certain it remained undisturbed until ,i took it away4 ,its contents1 which reversed the arrangements agreed upon1 were not made known to ,mrs4 ,fay until after the decision of her control4 ,as ,i did not then know what it contained1 and in my subsequent interview with ,mrs4 ,f4 made no allusion to it1 ,auntie's knowledge of it seemed very remarkable4 ,as the seance drew near the end1 a spirit to whom ,i am greatly attached called me up to the cabinet2 and while ,i was conversing with her1 ,auntie's voice broke in1 saying1 ,mr4 ,brackett8 ,i said1 ,what is it1 ,auntie8 ,she replied1 ,i will see you to-morrow4 ,i called on ,mrs4 ,fay the next day1 and1 after talking with her on other matters1 and finding that she did not seem disposed to allude to the appointment1 ,i reminded her that ,i came on business4 ,she asked1 ,what is it8 ,i replied that ,auntie had requested me to meet her4 ,she rose without a moment's hesitation1 saying1 ,we will go to the cabinet4 ,this was a surprise to me1 for ,i fully expected that ,auntie would take control of her medium1 and talk to me through her1 as she had often done before4 ,as ,mrs4 ,fay stepped behind the curtain1 ,auntie came out1 fully materialized1 greeting me cordially1 shaking hands with me1 and expressing pleasure at meeting me2 then1 in a clear and forcible manner1 discussed the question of the proposed seance1 going freely into detail1 showing conclusively that she understood both sides1 and closed by saying that she did not propose to submit her medium to such conditions as were required by the letter1 at the same time expressing a willingness to do all she could for ,mr4 ,savage personally4 ,bidding me ,good-bye1 she dematerialized directly in front of me1 so near that ,i could have laid my hand upon her as she went down4 ,the curtains were apart1 and ,i could see ,mrs4 ,fay standing just beside the cabinet2 but1 in order to make me more certain1 if possible1 of that fact1 she reached out her right hand1 which ,i took in my left1 preventing the curtains from closing2 and while thus standing1 no less than six fully materialized forms came out and greeted me4 ,during all this time ,mrs4 ,fay may have been under partial control1 but was not entranced1 and talked freely with me about the forms1 often describing them before they were visible to me4 ,these forms were substantial1 varying in height and shape1 and distinct from each other4 ,most of them conversed freely1 showing quite as much individuality and intelligence as some of my acquaintances to whom forms sometimes appear1--persons who think they are wise in treating these forms with coldness and distrust1 all of which is reflected back to them4 ,it is easy to understand why such persons are disappointed in what comes to them2 but it is not easy to understand how any intelligent investigator1 who has given the subject any considerable attention1 should come to the conclusion that the forms are automatons1 and that our friends from the other side never take possession1 or control them1 as they would a trance-medium2 that they are merely effigies1,b or lay figures1 built up to mock us1 and play with the most sacred feelings of our natures2 and1 what is more diabolical1 that our spirit-friends are near by1 enjoying the base deception6 ,if this view is correct1 what a fearful amount of lying there must be in every seance6 ,such a conclusion would be impossible from what passed before me at this sitting4 ,b ,in an essay written by ,shadows1 intended to enlighten the public on this subject1 he puts forth the theory of effigies4 ,in the same article he relates a seance with the ,berry ,sisters1 in which he says that a young female spirit came to him4 ,the word spirit must have been a slip of the pen2 he should have said1 a young female effigy4 ,it was possibly in anticipation of his theory that the young effigy called him father6 ,as ,i gazed with delight upon this sudden and unexpected manifestation1 bathed in a mellow light which made all the surroundings perfectly visible1 ,i could not help feeling a regret that my ,psychical friends had shut themselves out from such evidence by requiring arrangements to which no intelligent control would submit4 ,here1 under strictly test conditions1 which precluded any possible doubt1 was crowded into a small space just the information which ,i am sure that some of them are honestly endeavoring to obtain4 ,these things may be nothing but a mere phantasy of the mind2 what is claimed as exact science1 a humbug2 and life itself only a delusion2 but those whose lives are rounded into a full consciousness of an individual existence may prefer to consider them in a different light4 ,the same perception which enables us to recognize one must be conceded to the other4 ,if1 in the search after facts relating to the more subtle forms of life1 the testimonies of thousands of honest and intelligent persons are to be disregarded1 we might as well abolish our courts4 ,judge1 jury1 and witness become nothing but ridiculous actors in a farce played in the name of ,justice4 ,,chapter ,,vi4 ,,seance ,,with ,,mrs4 ,,carrie ,m4 ,,sawyer4 ,among the strong points in evidence of the genuineness of these manifestations are the marked individuality and constant variations that appear4 ,the seances with the same medium will be found to differ widely2 no two of them are exactly alike4 ,sometimes they will be exceedingly good1 and at other times almost an entire failure4 ,if they were in any way due to confederates1 or to personation by the medium1 such variations would not be likely to occur4 ,again1 the seances with one medium differ essentially from those with another2 so much so that each medium may be said to have a phase of mediumship distinct in itself4 ,the forms may appear quite different in outward shape1 when coming through one medium from what they do in coming through another4 ,the mental characteristics will1 however1 as ,i have found1 be retained in both instances4 ,this has often led to confusion and distrust with those who visit different seances4 ,the tendency is very strong to give precedence to mere outward appearance1 without reference to character4 ,in no case is the old adage1 ,a little learning is a dangerous thing1 more applicable than to the study of this subject4 ,the shallow investigators1 the touch-and-go people1 will1 in most cases1 find themselves left in bewilderment and doubt4 ,these things are not to be settled by witnessing one or two seances4 ,nor is the character of the manifestations1 as expressed through any medium1 to be determined without considerable experience4 ,from statements1 and especially from the impression ,i received on my first interview with ,mrs4 ,sawyer1 ,i was led to expect much from her seance4 ,my first seance with her was a disappointment1 there being nothing except the delightful interview with little ,maud1 one of the cabinet spirits1,c to attract the attention of any one familiar with these things4 ,it is due her to say1 in explanation1 that it was her first seance in ,boston1 and held under unfavorable conditions4 ,c ,this term is applied to spirits who appear to be constant attendants or assistants in the cabinets of mediums for materialization4 ,on the #aath of ,august1 ,i again visited her seance1 in company with ,mrs4 ,fay4 ,the day was very hot1 with a close1 moist atmosphere1 rendering the seance-room very uncomfortable4 ,the only wonder was that1 under such conditions1 there could have been any manifestations whatever4 ,i was seated on one side of ,mrs4 ,fay1 and a friend of hers on the other4 ,this trio1 so to speak1 drew the fire of the whole seance2 the only strong and decided manifestations appearing on that side of the circle4 ,auntie1 ,mrs4 ,fay's control1 stood behind us1 invisible to all except her medium1 occasionally making remarks in her hoarse1 unmistakable voice4 ,coming1 as the voice did1 out of space1 with no organized being in sight to produce it1 the effect was at times startling4 ,a very sprightly spirit came briskly up to ,mrs4 ,fay1 extending her hands1 and leading her up to the cabinet1 where they conversed for some time4 ,this was followed by what claimed to be ,bertha4 ,she came very lively1 greeting me cordially4 ,the form was very like1 and the expression of character assuring1 but1 owing to the unusually poor light and hasty interview1 ,i prefer to withhold conclusions for the present4 ,more decided in its character was another spirit that followed soon after4 ,there was a centre-table between me and the cabinet4 ,this spirit1 instead of coming into the middle of the room1 passed to the left1 moving the table out1 and coming directly to me4 ,this brought her more in the light1 where ,i had a better opportunity of seeing her4 ,both of these spirits appeared to be the exact counterparts of those who had come to me so often at ,mrs4 ,fay's1 but who at other places exhibited a great deal of variation4 ,was the close resemblance due to the fact that ,mrs4 ,fay was sitting by my side8 ,the question is an interesting one1 suggesting further experience4 ,it may be well to state here that every opportunity was granted for examining the cabinet1 which ,i did to my entire satisfaction4 ,i also obtained from the builder a certified statement that it was constructed of kiln-dried lumber1 tongued and grooved1 nailed1 screwed1 and glued together in such a way as to render it impossible to remove the boards1 or for a confederate to enter it except through the door in the audience-room1 in the presence of the visitors4 ,all were permitted to inspect it before the medium took her seat4 ,there could be no question but that the cabinet and its surroundings were above suspicion4 ,this left me free to study the manifestations purely as materializations1 or personations by the medium4 ,i know that the forms that came to me were distinct individual beings1 and in no instance was ,i able to discover any indications that would lead me to suppose that the medium personated any of the forms4 ,at the next seance which ,i visited1 on ,sept4 #ae1 the weather was again oppressive1 so much so that the seance would have been abandoned had it not been that some of the visitors1 who had come from another ,state1 were unwilling to give it up4 ,notwithstanding the excessive heat1 the seance proved a very interesting one4 ,while little ,maud was standing at the curtain talking1 there was a remarkable show of hands and arms above her head4 ,sometimes six of them would be moving back and forth outside the curtain at once4 ,about eight feet from the cabinet1 and directly in front of me1 so near that ,i could have touched it without moving from my seat1 appeared a very delicate little hand and arm4 ,like a bird that hovers around some object that it dare not approach too closely1 this hand and arm dallied and played before me for several minutes1 visible to all present4 ,on the left side of the room1 more than six feet from the cabinet door1 a form materialized in full view1 and came forward and shook hands with a lady on my right4 ,while engrossed in these things1 ,i had almost forgotten that my principal object in being there was to study the form of ,bertha as compared with her appearance at other places4 ,i was aroused from my meditations by an involuntary shock that almost always warns me of what is coming4 ,turning quickly around1 ,i saw what appeared to be ,bertha1 gliding from the cabinet4 ,she passed rapidly to the left side of the room1 moving the centre-table and coming directly to me4 ,throwing her arms around my neck1 she greeted me with1 ,i love you1 and then1 with a frightened expression and half hysterical laugh1 she retreated to the cabinet4 ,this was totally unlike ,bertha1 who1 in her perfectly confiding and childlike bearing toward me1 never felt it necessary to express her feelings in any such bold declaration4 ,knowing that there are phantoms that can take on almost any form they choose1 the outward resemblance of these beings has no weight with me1 in the absence of mental characteristics4 ,at a seance held by ,mrs4 ,sawyer1 ,sept4 #bi1 there were present twenty-five persons1 most of whom received more or less attention from the spirits4 ,little ,maud was very lively and full of witty1 playful remarks4 ,near the close of the seance1 she asked me to come into the cabinet and try to quiet the medium1 who was exhausted in consequence of having watched with a sick friend the previous night4 ,on entering the cabinet1 ,i found that ,mrs4 ,sawyer was not entranced1 and took hold of both her hands1 endeavoring to give her all the mesmeric strength ,i could4 ,while thus situated1 conversing freely with the medium and little ,maud 7who was evidently pleased to have me there71 a spirit materialized and went out among the audience4 ,after it returned1 another materialized1 and taking my left hand while ,mrs4 ,sawyer held my right1 we all three walked out into the room1 some distance from the cabinet1 in full view of all present4 ,this was a new experience for me4 ,to suppose that the twenty-five honest1 intelligent persons who witnessed this were deceived1 or that the appearance of the form was due to a confederate1 is simply absurd4 ,i know it materialized in the cabinet1 within reach of where ,i sat4 ,what was claimed by the manager to be ,bertha came out1 and ,i gave her a test to be used by her at another seance4 ,in following the role of strict investigation1 and in honestly relating what has come to me at these seances1 ,i am forced to state that the form that appeared on this occasion was not ,bertha1 and that there was1 as subsequent events proved1 an attempt to deceive me4 ,mrs4 ,sawyer is a gentlewoman and a strong medium1 but she is surrounded by a coarse magnetism1 the baleful influence of which she seems powerless to resist4 ,,chapter ,,vii4 ,,seances ,,with ,,mrs4 ,,fairchild4 ,the mediumship of ,mrs4 ,fairchild differs from that of others inasmuch as she stands outside of the cabinet1 under the influence of one of her controls1 managing the seance with great skill and judgment1 thus eliminating from her seances all chance of transfiguration or personation by the medium1 forcing the skeptic or investigator to the conclusion that the forms are either genuine materializations or confederates4 ,the position of her cabinet1 placed as it is between two rooms1 is certainly open to criticism4 ,a thorough examination of it1 however1 revealed no possible chance for the concealment of draperies or the entrance of a confederate4 ,in order to meet the objections which have been made to this arrangement1 she has drawn a light curtain across the corner of the room4 ,backed as it is by solid walls1 the forms that come from this temporary cabinet cannot be confederates1 and the skeptic may answer as best he can the question1 ,what are they8 ,this cabinet1 however1 is only used occasionally1 and the average visitor sees only what comes from the main cabinet4 ,if this temporary arrangement is so successful1 and ,i know it is1 there is some force in the objection made against using the other4 ,every medium is in justice bound to give to visitors the best conditions possible4 ,mr4 ,whitlock thus describes seances held with ,mrs4 ,fairchild1 ,sept4 #ab and #ai3-- ,the medium was controlled in a few moments by ',cadaleene1' a very interesting spirit1 who managed the seance with perfect nonchalance1 selecting with ease and correctness the persons whom the spirits desired to come to the cabinet1 thereby fulfilling the double office1 with ,mrs4 ,fairchild1 of medium and manager4 ,during this seance the medium was outside1 and in view of the audience1 except on one or two occasions1 when she went into the cabinet for a moment2 and at the last1 when her control1 ,cadaleene1 who had promised to materialize1 came out so perfect in action and voice that ,i shall never forget her grateful attentions as she knelt at my side4 ,time after time more than one form was out of the cabinet at the same moment1 and in one case five persons1 including a child4 ,one of the most convincing proofs of materialization was the following3 ,a lady1 whom we understood to be a relative of ,col4 ,bailey1 called him up to the cabinet and kissed him2 and while he was standing with both arms around her1 talking1 she dematerialized4 ,this occurred fully three feet from the cabinet1 in sight of the audience1 a dozen of whom must have been within six feet of the form1 and some of them as near the cabinet4 ,the following ,saturday1 ,sept4 #ai1 we again attended her afternoon seance4 ,at this seance we found ,mrs4 ,isabella ,beecher ,hooker1 of ,hartford1 ,conn42 ,mr4 ,thomas ,hazard1 of ,providence1 ,r4 ,i42 ,mr4 ,john ,wetherbee1 of ,boston1 and many other well known persons1 were present4 ,what we have already written in reference to ,cadaleene and her control of the medium1 is equally applicable to this seance2 also the expressions of confidence in reference to the cabinet4 ,i had expressed to a friend1 whom ,i met in the office of the ,banner of ,light1 that while1 to the best of my knowledge1 after an examination1 ,i believed ,mrs4 ,fairchild's cabinet to be all right1 still ,i would like to see the same results in a cabinet made by hanging a curtain across the corner of the room4 ,judge of my surprise when1 after the seance had commenced1 ,cadaleene said1 ',mr4 ,facts-man1 ,i heard what you told the brave1 and you see we have the curtain across the corner1 to show you what we can do4' ,the seance continued in the regular cabinet1 as usual1 for about an hour and a half4 ,the light was good1 and many spirits manifested their presence1 among which the following interesting experience occurred3 ,a gentleman1 who does not choose to have his name mentioned1 had a communication the day before from a spirit-friend1 in writing1 through his own hand1 promising to materialize at this seance4 ,he told me that this spirit had not only fulfilled this promise1 but had told him things that no other person knew but himself1 and that he recognized her fully4 ,then came the crowning glory of the seance4 ,the control1 ,cadaleene1 still holding the medium1 directed that the gas be lit and the hall door opened4 ,she then closed the sliding door in front of the cabinet1 and fastened back the curtains which hung over it to form the front of the regular cabinet when in use1 so that all might know if it was opened4 ,the audience was then seated facing the corner where the curtains had been hung for a temporary cabinet1 some near and in front of the door just mentioned1 which could be seen by all present4 ,the medium1 still under control1 passed behind the curtain1 but came out in a moment1 followed almost immediately by a form dressed entirely in white4 ,after this form returned to the cabinet1 two others came out1--one a lady1 the other a gentleman1--and it was said a third was seen in the cabinet4 ,all this time the medium was controlled by ,cadaleene1 who was finding the friends of the spirits with remarkable dexterity4 ,several others followed1 and we might give names and personal experiences1 but feel that our readers will appreciate most these special points of interest4 ,mrs4 ,isabella ,beecher ,hooker1 ,mr4 ,thomas ,hazard1 and ,mr4 ,john ,wetherbee have given graphic descriptions of these seances4 ,on ,tuesday1 ,oct4 #ac1 in company with ,william ,d4 ,brewer1 ,i attended a private seance with ,mrs4 ,fairchild4 ,i examined the cabinet without being able to discover anything that would lead me to suppose that there was any chance for a confederate to be used4 ,the seance lasted about two hours1 during which time scarcely a minute passed that there were not forms out in the room1 either to ,mr4 ,brewer or myself2 sometimes three or four at once4 ,more than half the time the extemporized cabinet in the corner of the room was used4 ,there appeared to be no difference between the workings of the two2 the manifestations came as freely from one as from the other4 ,as ,i examined the walls and everything connected with the temporary cabinet1 ,i have no hesitation in saying that the forms that came from or appeared in it were materialized beings4 ,i was in this cabinet several times during the seance1 often with two forms at the same time4 ,once ,i sat between them1 an arm around each1 satisfying myself of their objective reality as well as if ,i had been walking with them outside in the room4 ,while thus holding them1 the one encircled by my left arm1 and whose right arm was around my neck1 instantly disappeared1 without the slightest indication of any movement2--she was there1 and she was not there4 ,still holding the one encircled by my right arm1 ,i rose and with my left hand drew the curtain aside1 so that ,i could see everything behind it4 ,there was not the faintest trace of the beautiful being that1 a moment before1 ,i had so firmly held1 and with whom ,i had been talking4 ,similar things have occurred to me in various ways1 so often that they produce no surprise1 only an earnest desire to discover how or where the forms go1 or possibly gain some knowledge of the laws governing these strange phenomena4 ,the force at ,mrs4 ,fairchild's seances is mainly expended in materialization1 and for that reason they are valuable to skeptics2 but to the experienced investigator they offer nothing new4 ,many of the forms come heavily veiled1 and there is an absence of that social and mental character which is ever the surest evidence of recognition4 ,,chapter ,,viii4 ,,seance ,,with ,,miss ,,helen ,,beery ,,at ,,onset4 ,spirits are never finely touched ,but to fine issues2 nor ,nature never lends ,the smallest scruple of her excellence1 ,but1 like a thrifty goddess1 she determines ,herself the glory of the creditor1 ,both thanks and use4 ,at one of ,miss ,helen ,berry's seances at ,onset in the summer of #ahhe1 there came a young female spirit1 apparently about sixteen years old4 ,she took me by both hands and led me up to the cabinet1 where she greeted me very warmly4 ,as she could bear more light than most of the forms1 ,i had no difficulty in studying her face and figure4 ,she was a little below the average height1 lithe and graceful in all her movements4 ,a cloud of dark golden hair drifted around her neck and shoulders1 falling far below her waist4 ,her dress was pure white1 of a rich fabric1 so thin that it revealed a form beautiful as the finest ,greek statue4 ,she appeared more like a dream of ideal life1 than a creature who had ever walked the earth4 ,there are moments of exultation in the life of every artist1 when his soul reaches out to visions of great beauty4 ,no canvas or marble can record these visions4 ,in his associations with the world1 he may1 at times1 catch glimpses that remind him of what he has seen1 but nowhere does he realize1 as a whole1 the perfection of those forms that have allured him from his ordinary surroundings4 ,was this charming creature one of those beings who had haunted my dreams8--who1 in the still hours of the night1 had sometimes dispelled the darkness by the glow of her presence8 ,if ,i hesitated a moment in recognizing her1 it was because she had never before appeared clothed in so beautiful a form1 or if so ,i had failed to appreciate it4 ,perhaps it was due1 in part1 to the negative condition ,i was in1 which allowed a freer and more perfect development1 undisturbed by any mental action on my part2 and this idea is strengthened by the fact that1 in all my connection with these seances1 what ,i most desired to obtain seldom came until after ,i had become more or less indifferent about it4 ,as ,i stood beside this form1 ,i passed my fingers through her long silken tresses1 and put my hand upon her finely formed head4 ,as she laid her face to mine1 she said in the most earnest yet tender tones1 ,you did not think ,i would come4 ,this was true2 tired with my journey and the sultry heat1 ,i was indifferent to taking an active part in the seance4 ,i was1 however1 in a listless way1 interested in what came to others1 and had given up expecting that anything would come to me2 and yet1 had ,i reflected for a moment1 ,i should have known that at any true seance1 where ,i was present and the conditions favorable1 it would have been hardly possible for her to keep away4 ,the consciousness of her presence at other times than in the seance-room is no uncommon occurrence with me4 ,in the seance-room1 where she comes so strong and substantial1 ,i have often put forth little playful1 but somewhat provocative remarks1 in order to draw out1 as far as possible1 an expression of her character4 ,sometimes these things excited her1 but never1 except for the moment1 disturbed the harmony between us4 ,at this interview ,i was not in a condition of mind likely to attract spirits1 whether in or out of the flesh4 ,in the course of conversation1 ,i dropped a remark that disturbed her4 ,she grasped my hand nervously1 her chest rose and fell with increased respiration1 and without making any reply she retreated to the cabinet4 ,thinking it possible that ,i might have displeased her1 and that she would not return1 ,i went to my seat4 ,a moment afterward1 ,i was surprised by her rushing out and kneeling down in front of me4 ,throwing her bare arms around my neck and pulling my head down to her1 that others might not listen to what was said1 she poured forth1 in the most earnest and impassioned strain1 her thoughts2 talking as only a woman can talk under the highest inspiration4 ,i had long since abandoned all doubts of the existence of these beings1 and had been1 in a quiet and affectionate way1 studying the different phases of character manifested by them4 ,like many others who have investigated this subject1 ,i had met with things which ,i could not understand or harmonize with my experience4 ,this was leading me to conclusions that ,i intuitively felt were not true1 and yet ,i could not extricate myself from the network of apparent evidence that surrounded me4 ,that she understood my mental condition1 was evinced by the fact that her whole force and energy were directed to this one subject4 ,her form trembled and vibrated with emotion as she uttered sentence after sentence in clear explanation of what had perplexed me4 ,raising her head1 and tossing back her long hair1 she grasped both my hands1 and1 with a face beaming with light1 said3 ,it seems strange to you1 but what can ,i do8 ,we are subject to conditions2 and if ,i come at all1 it must be in harmony with them4 ,there are spheres and circles we cannot penetrate1 if the controlling influence is against us4 ,we are still human1 still yearning for affection1--that love which is the silken cord that binds us all4 ,what would you not do to reach those dear to your heart8 ,you understand me now4 ,there was a remarkably childlike simplicity in the way she unburdened her mind1 giving free expression to her feelings1 bearing me mentally along with her1 until ,i was lost to everything else4 ,that is all4 ,there are thoughts and feelings which no language can express4 ,like the silvery notes of a sweet song that echo in the distance1 they revel in their freedom from restraint1 and forever elude our grasp4 ,i know the breath that fans my cheek1 ,the thoughts1 the words ,i cannot speak1 ,the arms that round me twine4 ,what need of words when thoughts are told ,in light that gleams like burnished gold1 ,with pulse that throbs to mine8 ,never before had ,i listened to such eloquence4 ,every word1 with its rich intonation1 is indelibly stamped upon my memory1 and ,i regret that1 for personal reasons1 it cannot be recorded here4 ,exhausted by her long effort1 as she rose and led me to the cabinet1 ,i noticed that her form was rapidly changing4 ,suddenly1 like the extinguishing of a light1 she passed into that invisible space whence she came4 ,there were no test conditions here2 and there might have been a dozen confederates1 for aught ,i can prove4 ,it is barely possible that this delightful being belonged on this side of life2 but whether on this side or the other1 in the fulness of my artistic nature1 ,i thanked ,god that such beauty could exist anywhere4 ,the evidence of truthfulness in what came to me at this seance rests on something stronger than barred windows and locked doors2--it was in the complete embodiment of the character1 both mentally and physically4 ,the seance closed1 and ,i returned to ,glen ,cove by the road that skirts the shore4 ,the south wind played with the blue waters of the bay1 throwing up myriads of little waves that danced in the moonlight4 ,as ,i stood gazing upon the sea1 baring my feverish brow to the cooling breeze1 ,i felt that my whole nature was flowing out into a vast circle of being4 ,thoughts1 words1 feelings1 all blended with the mellow light which flooded the scene4 ,if ,i was not supremely happy1 it was not from lack of harmony with everything around me4 ,there is ever a tinge of sadness in the background of life4 ,with the beauty of the waves comes the low moan as they break upon the shore4 ,with the warmth of friendship1 comes the pain of parting1 and1 sadder still1 that relentless fate that hurries us from those we love into the dim1 uncertain future4 ,the sands of life are golden only where thought diffuses itself without shadows1 and the light that charms us flows from the object of our affections4 ,it was late1 and ,i retired for the night--closed my eyes1 but not to sleep4 ,the walls of my room disappeared1 and my vision swept over an undefined and illimitable space4 ,before me like a mist1 but perfectly outlined1 glided the beautiful being who only a few minutes before had come so close to me4 ,soon she was joined by others1 lightly drifting1 floating through the air4 ,as round the mountain's craggy steep ,the trailing vapors curve and sweep1 ,so1 hand in hand and side by side1 ,through space unmeasured1 soft they glide4 ,now there1 now here--so far1 so near-- ,with outstretched arms they beckoned me1 ,and1 like the murmur of the sea1 ,their voices broke upon my ear4 ,as they passed near me1 a hand was laid upon my face2 ,i started1 sprang up1 looked around2 there was no one in the room4 ,all was still save the low surging of the tide that swept the beach below4 ,,chapter ,,ix4 ,,seance ,,at ,,the ,,berry ,,sisters' ,,in ,,boston4 ,in looking over my notes1 my attention is strongly drawn to the many remarkable things ,i have witnessed at the ,berry ,sisters'4 ,as ,i have given a drawing of ,mrs4 ,fay's cabinet1 and its surroundings1 which ,i know to be honest1 ,i give a carefully drawn plan of the seance-room here 7see next page74 ,it will be seen that this is one of the most simple and truthful arrangements possible1 and the thanks of every investigator are due to the able manager and controls for placing the cabinet in a way that every one can see at a glance that a confederate is out of the question4 ,i have attended several seances at this place since this arrangement has been adopted2 and1 so far from injuring the manifestations1 they are1 if anything1 improved4 ,illustration3 ,diagram of the ,misses ,berry's ,seance-,room4 ,at these seances1 when ,i have been present1 ,bertha has materialized outside of the cabinet1 more than three feet from it1 and at least six feet from the entrance1 and on one occasion so close to me that she brushed me with her garments as she rose4 ,on ,saturday1 ,nov4 #g1 #ahhe1 ,i attended in company with my wife and little daughter--,mrs4 ,a4 ,e4 ,newton1 of ,arlington1 also making one of the party4 ,although the atmosphere was unfavorable1 the manifestations were good1 there often being two forms out at once1 talking with their friends4 ,my seat was on the right1 facing the cabinet1 and very near to it4 ,before the seance commenced1 by the request of ,mr4 ,albro1 the manager1 ,i locked the door at the farther end of the room2 and when this was done1 he offered me the privilege of sitting beside it4 ,i declined1 preferring to take part in the seance4 ,i will state1 however1 for the benefit of those who have any doubt about this arrangement1 that the seat ,i occupied commanded a full view of this door1 and that ,i unlocked it after the seance1 and can state positively that it was impossible for the door to have been opened without my knowing it4 ,again1 the cabinet is so constructed that if a confederate had entered1 he would have been obliged to go around to the front1 in full view of the audience1 before he could have passed into the cabinet4 ,those persons whose fertile brains are always leading them into absurd conclusions1 will have to seek for some other explanation than that of a confederate here4 ,in the course of the seance1 ,i had warning of ,bertha's presence1 and requested ,mrs4 ,newton1 who sat beside me1 to watch the left-hand corner1 near the cabinet4 ,in a few minutes there appeared a soft light on the carpet1 near the wall1 and almost instantly ,bertha came up in full view of all4 ,springing forward and taking my little daughter by both hands1 she came briskly across the room to where ,i sat4 ,after our usual greeting1 ,i introduced her to ,mrs4 ,newton1 who detained her for some time1 my wife coming forward and joining in the conversation4 ,i have described this beautiful spirit so fully in the preceding chapter that it is unnecessary to repeat it here4 ,many persons will find it desirable to make themselves familiar with the different phases of materialization as expressed through different mediums2 but nowhere else will they find more strength combined with delicacy and refinement1 as shown both in the beauty of the forms and their affectionate bearing4 ,neither in the controls1 the forms1 nor the surroundings1 is there anything here to offend the most fastidious taste4 ,these seances appear to have advanced beyond the mere fact of materialization1 offering to those whose magnetic relations are in accord with conditions1 a more attractive expression of social and mental character than is frequently met with4 ,as ,mrs4 ,newton seemed quite interested in ,bertha1 ,i felt desirous to know what impression was made upon one so well prepared to form a just opinion on such matters4 ,to my expressed wish she kindly responded with the following statement3-- ,,arlington1 ,,mass41 ,,nov4 #aa1 #ahhe4 ,,my ,,dear ,,mr4 ,,brackett1-- ,in accordance with your request that ,i would give you my observations and impressions in regard to the materialized apparition claiming to be your spirit-niece1 ,bertha1 ,i will state that ,i think her the most intelligent and sprightly re-embodiment of a spirit that ,i ever saw1--and ,i have seen a great many within the last ten years4 ,at all events1 ,i am confident no one who sees her can imagine her to be either a made-up figure1 a lifeless effigy1 or the medium in disguise4 ,at ,mrs4 ,fay's seance1 where ,i first saw her1 she showed1 on meeting you1 that spiritual illumination in the face which joy and gladness give to us when we meet those we love1 after an absence4 ,she had also those fine intonations of the voice that can spring only from the affections4 ,can it be1 said ,i to myself1 that this beautiful girl1 so charming and graceful1 so full of life and intelligence1 is truly a spirit8 ,just as the thought had formed itself in my mind1 she had turned toward the cabinet and vanished before the curtain4 ,but hardly a minute had elapsed before she sprang out again from the cabinet1 like a new-born seraph1 and1 opening her hands before all the company present1 her arms being entirely bare to the shoulder1 she extended them above her head1 began to manipulate something apparently in the air1 and soon handed me a most exquisite rose1 with the moisture oozing from the stem where it had apparently been twisted off from the stock4 ,when at ,miss ,helen ,berry's seance1 a few days later1 ,i had the assurance made doubly sure that she was not a being of earth1 by seeing1 about three feet from the cabinet1 a small1 white1 cloud-like substance expand until it was four or five feet high1 when suddenly from it the full1 round1 sylph-like form of ,bertha stepped forward4 ,seeing her little cousin and namesake 7,bertha ,brackett1 nine years old71 she took both the child's hands in hers1 drew her from her chair1 and1 after greeting her affectionately1 led her playfully across the room to where we were sitting4 ,there ,i studied every lineament of her face4 ,her hair had all the warmth and glossiness of that of a healthy girl of eighteen4 ,she said to me1 ',don't you think ,i am very strong to-day8' and1 putting both hands in mine1 allowed me to caress and converse with her freely4 ',do you remember you materialized a rose for me last week8' ,i asked4 ',yes1' she replied1 'and you have it now at home4' ,this was true4 ,mrs4 ,brackett called my attention to the length and beauty of ,bertha's hair1 and asked her if she could not make it longer if she wished to4 ',yes1' she laughingly replied2 'but it will grow shorter if ,i don't get to the cabinet soon6' and1 with a graceful adieu1 she tripped across the room1 leading her little cousin into the cabinet with her1 where she dematerialized in the child's presence4 ,since witnessing the foregoing1 ,i have re-read your account of the seance with ,miss ,berry at ,onset1 and ,i feel quite safe in saying your description of ,bertha is not overdrawn4 ,she certainly exhibits an individuality intensely human1 and yet not of ordinary flesh-and-blood1 as shown by her sudden appearance and disappearance4 ,she proves beyond a doubt that1 given the same conditions and opportunities to other spirits that you have afforded her1 they may come with the same fulness of life and strength4 ,i cannot refrain from expressing the hope that some of the members of the ,seybert ,commission will come to ,boston and study ,bertha--see her materialize three feet from the cabinet1 as we did--hear her converse intelligently--see the divinely moulded form--and then witness1 as we did1 her sudden change to another sphere of being1 doubtless to engage in pleasant duties among that deathless throng who are ever learning1 and who will unfold to us1 if we will become receptive1 the laws of entrancement and of materialization4 ,it seems scarcely possible that these gentlemen would fail to be convinced that 'there are more things in heaven and earth than are dreamed of' in materialistic 'philosophy4' ,very truly yours1 ,s4 ,j4 ,,newton4 ,,chapter ,x4 ,,materialized ,,forms--,,how ,,shall ,,we ,,meet ,,them8 ,years ago ,i had a friend who was generous to a fault4 ,he freely gave wherever he thought there was need4 ,with all his liberality1 he was singularly successful in business1 and when he passed to the other life left a large fortune1 which was mainly distributed to charitable institutions4 ,walking with him one day1 we passed some beggars sitting on the sidewalk1--pitiful specimens of humanity1 with large placards in front of them1 detailing the misfortunes that had befallen them4 ,one1 not over thirty years old1 had lost a leg in the battle of ,waterloo2 another had lost his eyes by an eruption of ,vesuvius which must have occurred twenty years before he was born4 ,the cards must have been heirlooms1 handed down at least one generation4 ,these little discrepancies apparently made no impression on my friend1 who emptied his pockets of his spare change1 giving something to each of them4 ,as we passed on1 ,i said to him1 ,do you know that these poor fellows were up before the police court a few days ago for being engaged in a drunken brawl8 ,i shall never forget the expression of his face as he turned to me and said1 ,it is my duty as well as my pleasure to give2 the responsibility of using it is theirs1 not mine4 ,many years had come and gone1 and the memory of my friend had almost faded from my mind4 ,i was engaged in studying materialization4 ,as my custom is to take one thing at a time1 ,i did not trouble myself about the quality4 ,i did not even propose to myself what ,i might do afterward2 but did propose1 if there was any truth in it1 to so clearly demonstrate it that no doubts should come up as a disturbing element in any subsequent investigations ,i might make4 ,when ,i had finished my investigations on this point1 ,i found that ,i stood on the shore of a boundless sea of speculation and uncertainty4 ,i could not help asking myself the question1 ,what are these forms that1 for a few minutes only1 clothe themselves in objective reality1 bearing the semblance of my friends1 blended with the likeness of the medium8 ,are these my father1 my mother1 my wife1 my brother8 ,is this the rollicking boy who made the hills echo with his laughter1 now whispering in my ear so low that ,i can scarcely hear him8 ,in the midst of this perplexity1 this whirl of unanswered questions1 the voice of my old friend came to me3 ,don't stare these sensitive beings out of countenance1 but give to them all that you can of your better nature1 and you shall have your reward4 ,if there is a possibility of mistake as to identity1 if you are in any way deceived1 the responsibility is theirs1 not yours4 ,in all true seances1 if the forms are not what they are supposed to be1 they are1 at least1 beings from another life1 seeking strength and comfort from association with you1 else they would not come4 ,let not a shadow of doubt or distrust bar their approach4 ,have no awe1 no reserve1 no fear as to what they are1 and they will blend into your soul1 become a part of your life4 ,in the true relations which you hold to them will be the fulness of what they bring to you4 ,with a nature naturally skeptical1 and a mind long trained to a close comparison of objects1 it was not easy to accept this advice4 ,what1 then1 was to be done8 ,it was plain that ,i must move on1 or abandon all that ,i had so successfully demonstrated4 ,i could not launch out into the endless speculation of psychical research2 ,i had not time for that2 so ,i decided to follow the course which had been suggested to me4 ,i would lay aside all reserve1 and greet these forms as dear departed friends1 who had come from afar1 and had struggled hard to reach me4 ,from that moment the forms1 which had seemed to lack vitality1 became animated with marvellous strength4 ,they sprang forward to greet me2 tender arms were clasped around me2 forms that had been almost dumb during my investigations now talked freely2 faces that had worn more the character of a mask than of real life now glowed with beauty4 ,what claimed to be my niece1 ever pleasant and earnest in aiding me to obtain the knowledge ,i was seeking1 overwhelmed me with demonstrations of regard4 ,throwing her arms around me1 and laying her head upon my shoulder1 she looked up and said1 ,now we can all come so near you6 ,her wonderful spontaneity of character at once asserted itself1 and has ever since been the delight of all who have come in contact with her4 ,my association with these forms is of the most simple character2 it is that of children with each other3 we realize the full force of the ,master's words1 ,except ye become as little children1 ye shall not enter the kingdom of heaven4 ,science may wrangle over the supposed movements of molecules and atoms1 and the correlation of forces2 may dissect the bird to find its song2 but love alone shall set the boundaries of knowledge4 ,the key that unlocks the glories of another life is pure affection1 simple and confiding as that which prompts the child to throw its arms around its mother's neck4 ,to those who pride themselves upon their intellectual attainments1 this may seem to be a surrender of the exercise of what they call the higher faculties4 ,so far from this being the case1 ,i can truly say that until ,i adopted this course1 sincerely and without reservation1 ,i learned nothing about these things4 ,instead of clouding my reason and judgment1 it opened my mind to a clearer and more intelligent perception of what was passing before me4 ,that spirit of gentleness1 of loving kindness1 which1 more than anything else1 crowns with eternal beauty the teachings of the ,christ1 should find its full expression in our association with these beings4 ,,part ,,ii4 ,,opinions ,,and ,,theories4 ,the credulous have their weak points1 but the belief of unbelievers surpasses all credulity4 ,there is no position a man can assume so weak as that of extreme skepticism in the face of fair evidence4 99 99 99 99 99 ,heat1 light1 electricity1 and force are common things4 ,we accept them as matters of everyday life2 our familiarity with them prevents surprise4 ,in our attempts to discover or learn what they are we have utterly failed4 ,all that we have found is how they act under certain conditions4 ,they are the elements necessary to the existence of physical life1 and by cultivating their acquaintance we have made friends with them4 ,they walk beside us1 lending a helping hand in everything2 still they are our masters--we know them not4 ,for the moment we comprehend a thing we are greater than the thing we comprehend3 it is behind us1 not in front4 ,those who are seeking to know how these spirit-forms are created will seek in vain1 for there is no language by which the process can be conveyed to our understanding4 ,when it is said that they come out of invisible space1 and depart in the same way1 all is said that can be in explanation of their advent among us4 ,,opinions ,,and ,,theories4 ,,chapter ,i4 ,a ,,glance ,,behind ,,the ,,curtain4 ,the nature of man is1 to a certain extent1 dual4 ,the brain is divided into two parts2 there are two sets of nerves crossing each other1 so that an injury received on the left side of the brain affects the right side of the body1 and vice versa4 ,while the duplicated organs are capable of separate action1 anatomically suggesting two distinct beings1 they are united so as to form a complete union of both4 ,there is1 however1 a preponderance of brain or will-force in the left side of the head1 giving a more complete control over the right side of the body1 and1 in some instances1 a manifestation of character1 which would indicate that each side of the brain might act in alternation1 and somewhat independently of the other4 ,the force which the brain exerts over its own organism and that of others is not understood4 ,could it be explained1 all the phenomena of the material and spiritual would1 probably1 lie within reach4 ,a person with a strong will may possess a magnetic power enabling him to throw another1 of a peculiar temperament1 into a trance1 in which that person is physically insensible to everything except what comes through the sensibility of the magnetizer4 ,the material bodies are brought en rapport with each other1 or under the law of individual control1 and the magnetizer can direct the physical movements of the other very much as he would his own1 leaving the spirit of the entranced person free to act1 for the time being1 independently of its own body4 ,if it has the strength or power to control other sensitives1 it may manifest itself in remote places1 either clairvoyantly or by materialization more or less tangible4 ,it can1 however1 do this much more perfectly in close proximity to its own body4 ,such a materialization is a counterpart of the entranced person2 is1 in fact1 the spirit of that person clothed in a body not strictly its own1 but composed of material largely drawn from it4 ,the existence of this phenomenon has been more or less known through all ages1 and is probably the origin of that mythical story of the creation of woman1 where the ,lord is said to have caused a deep sleep to fall upon ,adam4 ,among all nations1 traditions of what is known as the double exist4 ,though often classed as a vulgar superstition1 it nevertheless finds expression in the works of some of the best intellects4 ,it plays an important part in the progress and development of all physical seances1 since it is the first indication of true materialization4 ,furthermore1 the substance composing this counterpart is1 to a certain extent1 the nucleus around which all spirits materializing are developed or clothed4 ,the form appears to issue from the left side1 but in reality it comes from the whole circumference of the body1 in a rapidly-moving luminous vapor1 which quickly consolidates into a separate individualized form1 complete in its organization1 and capable1 for the time1 of physical and mental action4 ,such manifestations are what is understood to be the production of living forms by means of living matter given off from the body of the medium4 ,the process is more or less affected by the surroundings1 and is ever the result of more intelligent beings cooperating with the spirit of the entranced person4 ,the spirit occupying this temporary body can1 when proper relations have been established with it1 surrender it into the control of other spirits1 the same as it surrendered its other body into the control of the magnetizer1 and from its peculiar structure they can contract1 expand1 or change it to suit his or her requirements4 ,so long as it remains in the possession of the spirit of the entranced person1 the likeness to it is maintained2 but the moment it passes into the possession of another1 the resemblance will depend entirely upon the strength of the control1 and the knowledge the spirit has in shaping the form like to that borne in earth-life4 ,from these conditions materialization may broaden into more complex forms1 always depending upon the currents of magnetic thought1 and that central will-force that sweeps into its vortex all atoms necessary to its use4 ,until the spirits acquire more than ordinary strength by frequent manifestations1 or by favorable surroundings1 this will probably be found to be the usual way in which they make themselves visible to us4 ,these conditions necessitate more or less resemblance to the medium1 both in form and intonations of voice4 ,i have seen hundreds and thousands of materialized forms2 have seen1 in a few instances1 personation1 where the medium was taken possession of1 brought out1 and controlled as in trance-mediumship2 ,i have seen what appeared to be the double of the medium1 so thoroughly like1 that ,i should have testified that it was the medium had ,i not seen it dematerialize1 or been taken into the cabinet by the form and found the entranced medium there2 but ,i have never seen a single instance of transfiguration1 unless the double of the medium be considered as such4 ,the fact that ,mrs4 ,fairchild stands outside1 by the cabinet1 during the seance1 in full view of the audience2 that at the ,berry ,sisters'1 and at ,mrs4 ,sawyer's1 the spirits lead the medium out of the cabinet2 that at ,mrs4 ,fay's the forms often take the visitors into the cabinet and show them not only the medium but the materialized control1--are things which the skeptic will find very hard to explain4 ,if they are not evidence of the existence of these phenomena1 it is difficult to understand what evidence is4 ,to a sensitive person1 with even a limited experience1 the character of a seance is easily determined4 ,there is always in the true materialized forms a decided lack of some of the elements that make up the magnetism of what we call real life2 something not easily described1 but readily perceived by a person thus constituted4 ,to such a one1 neither a confederate nor a personation by the medium can pass undetected4 ,,chapter ,,ii4 ,,exposures ,,of ,,mediums4 ,there have often been sensational reports circulated claiming to be exposures of materialization1 but when traced to their origin they have generally been found to be unreliable1 and never the result of careful study or scientific investigation4 ,the ungentlemanly and in some instances brutal conduct of the parties engaged in the exposures has been such as to discredit their statements1 and in no case have they produced evidence that would be considered valid in any court4 ,if it be true that the garments used to clothe the forms are materialized and dematerialized in the cabinet1 any sudden disturbance of the magnetic conditions of the circle might arrest the process of dematerialization1 leaving the draperies intact4 ,persons not understanding this would naturally charge fraud upon the medium1 on rushing into the cabinet and finding them there4 ,this has led some mediums to submit to a thorough examination of their clothes before entering the cabinet1 going so far1 at times1 as to allow themselves to be dressed entirely in dark clothing1 without a particle of white upon them1 and giving every opportunity to prove that there were no concealed draperies in the room4 ,these arrangements1 while taking up valuable time that otherwise would have been devoted to the seance1 have never interfered with the manifestations4 ,the most serious and perhaps the most generally believed charges made against these seances is that confederates are used to personate the forms4 ,passing by the many knotty questions which cannot possibly be explained on the theory of confederates1 and considering it in a business point of view1 there are difficulties connected with such an arrangement that might in the end prove disastrous4 ,a employs ,b to personate1 at one dollar a seance4 ,b finds that ,a is making money1 and1 being rascally enough to engage in such work1 would have no scruples in demanding1 under threats of exposure1 the lion's share of the proceeds4 ,a is completely in his power1 and has no alternative but to submit4 ,this1 and the outside pressure which would be likely to be brought to bear upon ,b to make public the fraud1 would render it almost impossible to carry on the deception for any great length of time4 ,again1 there are often from fifty to sixty distinct individual forms appearing at each seance1 requiring as many confederates to represent them4 ,as the circle is rarely composed of more than twenty-five persons1 would it pay to keep so many actors for so small an audience8 ,if people who listen to these accusations would reflect for a moment1 they would see that the theory of confederates is not a very plausible one1 and it might do much toward relieving mediums from the unjust suspicions to which1 through lack of understanding on the part of the public1 they are more or less obliged to submit4 ,all honest mediums will cheerfully do all they can to satisfy the public that there is no deception1 and that the cabinet and its surroundings are such as to preclude the possibility of confederates4 ,any other arrangements are unnecessary1 and1 to say the least1 suspicious4 ,these things are new and strange to most people1 and they very naturally expect strong evidence2 and they are right1 provided their desire is expressed in a kindly and gentlemanly manner4 ,any one at all familiar with these seances cannot help seeing that there are some mediums and their controls who are largely responsible for the feeling of distrust more or less manifested toward the subject4 ,when the question of a confederate is fairly settled 7and no one can be certain of his position until it is done71 and two forms appear at the same time2 or when you can be taken into the cabinet by a form1 and shown the entranced medium1 it is self-evident that one of them is a materialized form1 and not a personation by the medium4 ,it needs no argument to settle this1 no matter how much it may conflict with pre-conceived notions4 ,i have quoted from ,chief ,justice ,jacolliot's work on ,occult ,science in ,india1 to prove that there is no connection between these manifestations and what is called sleight-of-hand4 ,there is1 however1 a more important fact conveyed in his statements1 corroborated by other writers upon this subject1 showing the perfect fairness with which these mediums1 or ,fakirs1 submit to tests1 courting the most thorough and exhaustive investigation1 even trusting themselves1 while in a trance1 without any protection1 to the honor and good faith of those around them1 repeating at request the experiments1 again and again1 to satisfy that there is no deception about them4 ,this is strangely in contrast with our mediums1 who as a rule shrink from anything of the kind1 and are disposed to regard any request of that nature as a direct imputation upon their honesty4 ,if materialization means anything besides dollars and cents--if it has a mission to perform--it is to enlighten and educate the people upon one of the most important subjects that has ever engrossed the mind4 ,the lack of openness and confidence on the part of many of the mediums1 or their managers1 creates a feeling of distrust which sometimes finds an expression in rudeness on the part of skeptics1 and leads those who are confident of the genuineness of a part of the seance to be impressed with the idea that there are things connected with it that are dishonest4 ,there is no difficulty in tracing the source of this feeling4 ,everywhere like begets like1 and as long as this state of feeling exists there will be a lack of harmony in the circle1 with more or less disturbance4 ,it may be that these things are inseparable from the newness of the manifestations among us1 and will disappear when mediums are more freely developed in our homes1 and the seances assume less of a commercial character4 ,while no apology should be made for fraud in these seances1 we have no right to make charges that cannot be sustained4 ,every medium is bound1 in justice to the audience1 to see that the cabinet and its surroundings are so arranged that the appearance of fraud is1 as far as possible1 avoided4 ,lack of experience1 want of perception1 or ignorance of a subject1 gives no authority to assume that it is a fraud4 ,the eagerness with which the press circulates reports of imposture finds its excuse1 not in a manly defence of the truth1 but in a morbid disposition to cater to the whims and caprices of the public4 ,those who accept such statements without investigation may possibly become victims of a worse delusion than that which they fancy they are condemning in others--a delusion born of ignorance and self-conceit4 ,,chapter ,,iii4 ,,public ,,seances4 ,no comparison can justly be made between different mediums4 ,all are excellent in their way4 ,the preference that is given to one over others is mainly due to personal feeling1 to likes and dislikes1 which must always find an expression among individuals of different tastes4 ,in some seances the strength of the manifestations is largely exhausted in the production of forms4 ,in others1 the social and affectionate element predominates4 ,where there are from fifty to sixty materialized forms appearing at a sitting1 it is hardly to be expected that much time can be given to the interchange of thought or the expression of feeling4 ,such seances are1 as a rule1 mere touch-and-go occasions4 ,the strength of the circle is often exhausted in combating the ignorance and prejudice of the audience1 and the higher and more delicate phase of materialization is lost sight of4 ,many condemn public seances on account of the mixed audience and the conflicting elements that surround the medium4 ,these things are1 at present1 a necessity1 being the only means of educating the masses4 ,the time has not yet come when1 through a more general acceptance of the truth of materialization1 it can be transferred to the domestic circle1 where it properly belongs1 and where its best results will be obtained4 ,not until the flush of excitement necessarily arising from the strangeness of the phenomena has subsided1 and the investigator has settled in his mind the facts of materialization1 is he capable of forming an intelligent opinion on the subject4 ,thousands of persons1 through their experience1 have reached that point4 ,whether they advance beyond this will depend upon the character of the seance1 the strength of the manifestations1 and the purely affectional bearing toward these beings4 ,seances should be classified3 the first1 for primary education1 for facts and evidence to convince skeptics2 the second1 for the more advanced investigator4 ,into this latter class no skeptic should be admitted4 ,such an arrangement could not interfere with the patronage of mediums1 but on the contrary would enhance it1 for there comes a period in the progress of the investigator when1 finding that he cannot advance1 he will retreat or seek some other field for investigation4 ,the public seance1 as now constituted1 must1 from the nature of its surroundings1 remain more or less stationary4 ,there are seances that are pitched on so low a key that when the investigator passes from a state of doubt into a full knowledge of the truth of materialization1 he will instinctively leave them for a more genial atmosphere2 for it is in vain to expect that coarse1 mercenary1 untruthful mediums can avoid impressing more or less of their natures upon the spirits who come through their organisms1 or that mainly spirits like themselves will be attracted to them4 ,the more intelligent investigators are beginning to realize this1 and those mediums who have lost the sense of their high calling1 and degraded the seance to a mere show1 will1 under the inevitable law of progress1 find themselves supplanted by a better element4 ,mediums are being developed everywhere1 and in the near future there will be no lack of noble men and women who will gladly come to the front with their divine gifts4 ,if we accept the idea that passing to the other life does not essentially change the character of the man1 that his peculiarities remain the same1 we can account for many things in the seance-room that appear to be simply acting1--performances which have no other object than to attract the audience1 to show what power the spirits can acquire under conditions which seem impossible to us4 ,considering the state of feeling with which many persons enter the seance-room1 it is not singular that they are sometimes treated to what seems to be deception4 ,the spirits1 perceiving the condition of the minds around them1 act very much as they would if they were still on this side of life4 ,thoughts are things1 which appear to them very much as solid substances do to us4 ,if1 instead of attempting to remove them1 they can accomplish their object by going round them1 they feel themselves justified in doing so4 ,they act very much1 at times1 as children would under similar circumstances2 and1 until they obtain complete control over the form that encases them1 they cannot express themselves with much force4 ,they are as children learning to walk1 to think1 and talk through a medium that is new to them4 ,a simple1 childlike bearing1 blended with the warmest affection1 is the only element that enables them to progress and meet us upon the highest plane of thought4 ,,chapter ,,iv4 ,,the ,,attitude ,,of ,,scientists4 ,the world is indebted to scientists for their clear arrangement of and deductions from what others have discovered2 for1 as a rule1 they are not inventive4 ,hasty in condemning everything new1 their timidity and lack of generous bearing toward what seems to conflict with their materialistic theories are conspicuous4 ,nothing can be more unscientific than the attitude of most of them toward this subject4 ,obliged in the past to antagonize the despotism of the old ,theology1 they have themselves become despotic4 ,condemning dogmatism1 they assume a dogmatic bearing toward everything that does not square with their pre-conceived notions4 ,walking with faces toward the ground1 they refuse to look up1 or admit the existence of anything beyond matter2 denying the possibility of spirit1 and claiming that the earth contains within itself the promise and potency of everything that is or has been4 ,against this sweeping claim may be opposed the fact that1 in the light of a purely scientific analysis1 the earth gives no promise of the living beings that cover its surface2 that it creates nothing1 furnishes nothing except the environments or clothing of the beings that for the time find their abiding-place here4 ,when scientists are confronted with materialization1 they deny it without investigation1 or refuse to examine it unless they can dictate their own conditions1 and yet no class of men understand better than they do the necessity of adhering closely to the laws governing any operation in nature1 if it is to be fairly studied4 ,the course that has been and is now being pursued by the two scientific bodies supposed to be investigating this subject must necessarily lead to failure4 ,individual members may be more or less impressed with the reality of the phenomena1 but no report worthy of the subject will ever be made by either society4 ,the ridiculous farce enacted by the ,french ,academy of ,science in their report on ,mesmerism1 will probably be repeated here4 ,it has been charged upon me that ,i am not a scientist1 and that my methods are not scientific1--all of which1 if their implied definition of science is correct1 ,i admit4 ,i have had the fairness1 notwithstanding my skepticism1 to lay aside my prejudices and study this subject purely in relation to itself1 and not in connection with pre-conceived ideas4 ,the facts which ,i have presented have been attested by competent witnesses2 and until scientists have made themselves familiar with them1 their allegations amount to nothing4 ,the course which ,i have pursued in studying this subject is far more sensible and scientific than a denial without investigation4 ,the editor of one of the ablest scientific journals has well said1 ,science having no methods by which it can experimentally determine that man has a spiritual nature distinct from the material1 it follows that it must be incompetent to throw light upon the nature of that which is unrecognized or unknown4 ,the testimony of scientists in such matters cannot be considered of any more value than that of any other careful investigator2 and if we take into consideration their materialistic views1 it is dealing liberally with them to concede that much4 ,science accepts the theory of molecules and atoms1 and declares matter to be indestructible4 ,these little molecules set in motion produce the phenomena of life4 ,when they get tired and refuse to climb one above another1 like acrobats in a circus1 then there is death4 ,it is all very simple1 and any one can understand it1--a little alkali thrown into some acid1--a rapid effervescence1--the atoms are disturbed and seek to hurriedly arrange themselves into a different position1--they have performed the fantastical dance of life1 and all is over6 ,upon this theory scientists have endeavored to account for the creation of everything4 ,if they have found anything else they have not declared it4 ,the trinity of ,molecules1 ,atoms1 and ,motion is the keystone of the whole structure which for centuries they have been trying to build up4 ,as science takes nothing for granted1 it would be interesting to learn when and where they found these little atoms1 which no microscope1 however powerful1 has ever revealed4 ,before scientists insist upon the denial of the existence of that spiritual force which organizes and individualizes all forms of life1 it might be as well for them to settle the question1 ,what is matter8 ,i do not assert positively that these beings are spirits2 for it may be said1 in a scientific point of view1 ,i have no right to do so2 but ,i do assert that the facts warrant beyond a question the conclusion that they do not belong to what we call the earth-side of life1--that they are not automatons1 lay figures1 or effigies1 but are living1 breathing1 intelligent beings1 with thoughts1 feelings1 and passions strictly human2 that they come out of invisible space1 and depart in the same way4 ,in the language of ,professor ,crookes1 ,nothing is more certain than the reality of these facts4 ,i do not say that they are possible1 but ,i say that they are4 ,,chapter ,v4 ,,public ,,opinion4 ,when ,mesmer appeared in ,paris1 exhibiting his claims to ,magnetism1 he was ridiculed1 and treated as a humbug4 ,the ,french ,academy of ,science1 after due consideration1 pronounced ,mesmerism a fraud4 ,this was the more remarkable from the fact that many of the experiments in ,mesmerism are so simple that a child can demonstrate them to the entire satisfaction of an unprejudiced person4 ,many years afterward1 in #ahca1 the ,french ,academy of ,medicine1 through a report of its ,committee1 reversed this decision4 ,so far as we know1 these are the only efforts that have been made1 until within a few years1 by any scientific association1 to investigate this class of phenomena4 ,both in ,europe and this country it has been treated with contempt1 and for more than a hundred years condemned by pseudo-,science as nothing more than a hallucination produced by a diseased condition of body or mind4 ,i was present at the ,massachusetts ,hospital1 many years ago1 when the elder ,warren1 knife in hand1 made mock passes over his patient1 ridiculing to his students the idea that any one could be entranced or rendered insensible to pain by what was called ,mesmerism2 and yet the existence of the ,mesmeric force or fluid is one of the most remarkable discoveries ever made4 ,it has been known for thousands of years1 by the ,hindoo philosophers1 as the pure ,agassa ,fluid that penetrates and permeates all objects1 whether animate or inanimate4 ,it controls the social relations2 is the secret of that influence which one person exerts over another2 and is the connecting link between the seen and the unseen worlds1 enabling spirits1 whether in or out of the flesh1 to produce all the phenomena known as spirit-manifestations4 ,if we except the writings of ,deleuze1 ,townshend1 ,gregory1 ,dr4 ,elliotson1 and a few lesser lights1 ,mesmerism has been kept before the public mainly by a class of itinerant lecturers who1 despairing of a more considerate hearing1 have1 in order to retain their hold on their audience1 degraded it to a mere burlesque4 ,the history of ,mesmerism forms no exception to all discoveries that have marked the progress of man from a state of barbarism to the present time4 ,the old stubble chokes and prevents the new crop of grain1 unless it has been turned under4 ,the acceptance of anything with which we are not familiar depends more upon the mental condition produced by pre-conceived ideas than upon any evidence necessary to sustain it4 ,the progress of public opinion is like the march of a great army2 it camps at night upon ground occupied by its videttes in the morning4 ,when ,spiritualism began to attract attention1 the opponents of ,mesmerism1 not understanding its true character1 abandoned their hostility to it1 and accepted it as an explanation of the new phenomena4 ,mind-reading1 ,telepathy1 everything possible1 was brought forward to explain away this supposed evidence of another life4 ,and1 in a somewhat different form1 the same thing is taking place in regard to ,materialization4 ,if we eliminate from it the idea of spirits1 and attribute to man alone this wonderful power1 we disarm scientific as well as sectarian opposition1 and the possibilities of man1 the influence of mind over matter1 become a legitimate subject for study4 ,but no matter how exhaustive your investigations of ,materialization may have been1 the moment you suggest that spirits may have something to do with it1 it becomes unscientific1 and1 in the judgment of certain persons who have assumed the right to control public opinion1 you are instantly transformed from an honest student into a crank6 ,in view of the obstacles that ,conservatism is always throwing in the way of ,progress1 one may be pardoned for a certain kind of admiration for cranks4 ,they have1 at least1 the courage of their convictions1 and in this respect1 if for nothing more1 may become popular1 for the crowd always throw up their hats1 whether right or wrong1 to the plucky man4 ,is courage1 then1 so rare a thing that we are forced to applaud it even in the bulldog8 ,public opinion is the despotism of a republic4 ,it is astonishing what cowards it makes of decent men2 the fear of being laughed at is the terror of society2 the assertion of manhood1 the expression of an honest opinion1 the love of truth1--everything goes down before it4 ,my ministerial neighbor throws theological brickbats at me because ,i choose to study a subject which he has not the courage to face1 and which1 if not a reality1 he lied about in his last funeral sermon1 when he told the mourners that their dear friend is not dead1 but still living and hovering around them4 ,shall we allow these attacks1 and not remind him that1 if he knows anything1 he must know that the ,christian religion is an outgrowth of paganism2 that there is not a cardinal point in his theology that is not as old as the ,hindoo ,pagodas2 that the idea of another life1 imperfectly outlined in the ,bible1 was taken from a religion founded upon occult manifestations2 that ,he whom he calls ,lord and ,master not only taught healing by laying on of hands1 but exemplified ,materialization in the transfiguration on the ,mount1 and in his bodily appearance to his disciples1 after his death1 in a room with closed doors8 ,at every seance there are more or less clandestine visitors1 who shrink from letting their best friends know anything about it4 ,at one1 ,i met an old acquaintance1 who was surprised to find me there1 and begged me not to give him away4 ,he had obtained a seat under an assumed name1 partially as a test1 he said1 but mainly on account of his position in society2 he did not care to be known to visit such places4 ,in the course of the seance1 a beautiful female form came briskly out into the middle of the room1 and1 stretching her arms toward him1 said1 ,father6 ,as he did not respond1 the controlling spirit1 calling him by name1 said1 that lady is for you6 ,he stepped forward1 and1 to his astonishment1 found that it was his daughter4 ,he said afterward that the recognition was perfect4 ,this was his first seance1 and1 unless ,materialization becomes popular1 it may be his last4 ,that he told his wife about it there seems to be no doubt1 as she has been a frequent visitor ever since4 ,i fancy him in his dressing-gown and slippers1 reclining in his armchair1 smoking his cigarette1 anxiously awaiting her return1 that she may relate to him the touching manifestations of affection she has received4 ,traces of these phenomena have always1 in one form or another1 been present in the world4 ,in ,india1 for thousands of years1 they have furnished the foundation of a religious belief1 which1 like all other religions1 has been perverted and used as a means to blind and control the common people4 ,the danger of its being accepted as authority through a blind reverence for what is supposed to be supernatural1 instead of affectionate and intelligent companionship1 is sufficient reason why its true import should be thoroughly understood4 ,whether it be a power in man1 the laws of which are unknown1 or a direct emanation from another life1 it requires the most serious consideration4 ,shall it receive the attention it deserves1 or shall we turn our backs on it1 till1 like a rising tide1 it overwhelms us with a flood of ignorance and superstition8 ,it will not do to ignore it2 already its influence is sweeping far and wide4 ,scientists may sit supinely on the summit of their intellectual conceit1 insisting that it will not be much of a shower2 still it swells and rolls on1 sapping and undermining the whole system of social and religious thought4 ,sects and creeds crumble in its pathway4 ,all hopes of a scientific evidence of a life after death are centred in these manifestations4 ,the issue is a plain one2 there can be no middle ground4 ,either ,spiritualism or ,materialism triumphs4 ,deal with it as you may2 if it is from the other side of life1 it cannot be overthrown4 ,in some form or other it must be met4 ,shall we not1 in the interest of humanity and of what purports to be an important truth1 lay aside our pre-conceived notions and prejudices1 and treat this subject as we would any of the common things of life1 earnestly endeavoring to get at its true meaning8 ,millions of honest people have witnessed these things in their own homes1 by their own firesides4 ,against what they have seen and know there is no argument4 ,time will show whether the public have sufficiently advanced to grapple healthily with ,materialization and its spiritual surroundings4 ,,chapter ,,vi4 ,,conclusion4 ,it has been heretofore stated that everything known as ,spiritualism is due to pure ,magnetism4 ,magnetism may be classed under three heads3 ,terrestrial1 ,aerial1 and ,ethereal or ,spiritual ,magnetism4 ,these are only different modes or grades of expression of the same thing2 and may be compared1 in their order1 to earth1 air and ether2--heat1 force1 and light2--or root1 stock1 and flower in plants4 ,ethereal ,magnetism is the medium of thought1 as is clearly proved by what is sometimes called telepathy1 or mind-reading1 and by well attested facts of communication between persons widely separated4 ,it is also known to ,mesmerizers that1 when they have established magnetic relations between themselves and their subjects1 they can often control them without reference to distance4 ,outside of the domain of this subtle fluid1 there can be no connection between the seen and the unseen worlds1 or between any of the individual forms of life4 ,more attenuated than ,electricity1 it holds the same relation to life that ,terrestrial ,magnetism holds to the grosser particles of matter4 ,it enables what we call intellectual force to command and control all forms4 ,through it1 ,thought1 which is the ,principle of everything1 builds and unbuilds2 clothing itself in material garments1 and filling the earth with countless millions of individual beings1 made visible to our outward senses4 ,the process by which this is accomplished is the same1 whether done instantaneously or extending through a series of years4 ,materialization1 then1 is only the manifestation of a law everywhere acknowledged1 with this difference3 the external forms1 under a superior force and intelligence1 are more quickly wrought4 ,it is the question of time1 more than anything else1 that challenges our skepticism4 ,that which we call progress1 or evolution1 is only so many steps by which mind exerts itself1 with increasing force1 over matter4 ,we are in the habit of regarding matter as a solid substance2 whereas1 in its primitive state1 it is invisible4 ,it is only by different combinations1 in its aerial form1 that it becomes solid4 ,in a fluidic state1 it probably pervades all space4 ,in this condition1 spirits1 it would seem1 have power to condense it and shape it at pleasure4 ,existing as individual beings1 complete in their organization1 many of them are able1 under certain conditions1 to draw from their surroundings sufficient matter to clothe themselves in garments1 for the time being1 as substantial as any forms in life4 ,i have witnessed the processes of materialization and of dematerialization in the middle of the room1 several feet from the cabinet1--have taken hold of the hands of these beings1 and gone down with them to the floor1 until the last things that disappeared were the hands that were in mine4 ,i have been taken into the cabinet by one of these forms1 and1 with my left arm around the form 7to all appearance as solid as my own71 have put my right hand on the entranced medium1 and while in this position have seen a white1 luminous cloud rise slowly from the side of the medium until it reached the height of nearly six feet4 ,i could have passed my hand through it without resistance4 ,in a few seconds it condensed into a human form that cordially greeted and shook hands with me1 having a hand as substantial as my own4 ,it was the form of ,auntie1 the control1 who greeted me with ,how do you do8 ,what do you think of this8 ,at the same time1 there were many hands patting me on the head and shoulders4 ,all this occurred in a cabinet where a confederate was impossible4 ,was ,i deceived1--laboring under a state of hallucination8 ,not if ,i now have or ever had any knowledge of myself4 ,i have studied these things as quietly as ,i would have studied a statue or a picture2 have not been satisfied with witnessing them once1 but have had them repeated many times1 that ,i might feel certain that ,i had given them a thorough investigation4 ,if ,i have been mistaken1 those who come after me will have small chance of better success4 ,i have stated some things positively1 because ,i know that they are true1 and can be scientifically demonstrated4 ,we may discover and accept the conditions that best enable these beings to reach and communicate with us1 thereby extending our knowledge and our association with them1 but neither our observation nor what they may tell us will enable us to comprehend what our experience has not fitted us to understand4 ,at best we have only established our pickets on the other side of the river4 ,the problem of life still remains unsolved4 ,the erroneous ideas so generally entertained regarding beings of another life render it important that we should fully understand that no one1 whether on this or the other side of life1 can set aside the laws necessary to our individual growth4 ,the assimilation of thought2 the gestation of ideas1 the mental digestion which is analogous to the process of physical growth1 must ever remain the source of a healthy development4 ,to abandon this to the dictation of authority1 whether real or supposed1 or to accept anything in violation of these laws1 only leads to disorder and mental dyspepsia4 ,what we most desire does not always come2 but in its place1 often1 something unexpected and surprising4 ,the power which operates suffers no dictation or control2 and1 like the reflection of an object in water1 the phenomena become distorted the moment the magnetic currents are disturbed4 ,forced1 by the accumulation of facts that cannot be set aside1 to acknowledge the existence of these beings1 they are1 nevertheless1 shrouded in mystery4 ,that they are from the other life is more than probable2 no other theory will1 in the long run1 be found tenable4 ,whether they are our departed friends and relatives must be determined by the exercise of those faculties which enable us to settle the relations of objects in this life4 ,while they exhibit no feelings of selfishness or jealousy in their associations with us1 the same cannot always be said of the control4 ,for some reason which we do not understand1 but which may be a necessity1 the controlling spirit of the seance exercises a more or less despotic power over the manifestations2 sometimes denying the privilege of manifestation1 and forcing back spirits who have been accustomed to appear at other seances4 ,in other words1 there seems to be a good deal of human nature in their make-up1 and the likes and dislikes of the medium or manager1 are often shared by the control4 ,while the theory is correct that the medium is nothing but the instrument through which the spirits are evoked1 there can be no question that his or her mental and moral atmosphere affects the quality of the manifestations4 ,your personal relations with the medium are known to the controlling spirit1 and if the medium is prejudiced against you1 you are1 in most cases1 debarred from any satisfactory results4 ,on the other hand1 your relations to these beings are known to the control1 but not necessarily to the medium1--never unless the controlling spirit thinks best to communicate them4 ,what you learn of the character of these beings depends upon your personality1--the magnetic atmosphere that surrounds you4 ,many of them1 if they are able to penetrate your atmosphere1 are so exhausted by the effort that they cannot talk much with you2 while others1 overcoming all obstacles1 are able to throw themselves around you with all the abandon of childhood1 talking freely1 and often so fast that it requires the closest attention to follow them4 ,in such cases1 however strong the resemblance may be to the medium in the outward form1 the mental characteristics are as different as it is possible to be between any two individuals4 ,i have refrained from saying much about the quality of these manifestations4 ,it is a matter upon which there must always be a wide difference of opinion4 ,every one will find himself more or less reflected in them4 ,it is the inevitable law of association4 ,you are a cheat and a scoundrel6 said an enraged man to my friend4 ,i know it1 was the prompt reply2 it is the rascality and cussedness in you that have called it out4 ,i never was conscious of it until ,i met you4 ,no selfishness1 deceit1 or diplomacy avails with these beings2 what you truly think and feel1 your moral atmosphere1 makes or mars your relations with them4 ,until you can learn to meet them in perfect confidence1 you can know nothing of the beauty which emanates from them4 ,materialization is denounced by the learned and the ignorant1 and in both cases the denial springs from the same cause4 ,it is a fair illustration of high life with the bottom turned up2 both classes meet on the same plane4 ,it is also bitterly condemned by a class of ,spiritualists whose brains are saturated with trance and inspirational communications4 ,in their conceit1 the little they know is the whole world to them4 ,as a rule1 all nations and tribes hold in some form or another to a belief in the continued existence of man after death4 ,however desirable such a belief may be1 it is generally admitted that it rests entirely on faith1 there being no substantial evidence by which it can be scientifically demonstrated4 ,in both the ,old and ,new ,testaments are records of occult manifestations similar to what has been related here1 but the materialistic tendency of science has long since caused them to be regarded as ,oriental fictions4 ,in the materializing seance come1 for the time being1 living1 breathing1 intelligent1 human forms1 that are not confederates or personations by the medium4 ,if not beings from another life1 what are they8 ,the probability1 or even possibility1 they offer of scientific evidence of the existence of man after death1 commends them to the serious consideration of every intelligent person4 ,it is not a difficult task1 nor one requiring a great amount of labor1 to determine that these forms are distinct embodiments4 ,to settle this is1 however1 only the ,a ,b ,c of the matter4 ,to learn what these beings are1 and their relations to us1 requires the most patient investigation and the most delicate and far-reaching exercise of the mind4 ,facts1 in themselves1 unless they suggest something higher1 are of little consequence4 ,they derive their importance solely from their connection with some general law around which they are grouped4 ,while ,i have stated positively that at ,mrs4 ,fay's no confederates are used1 and that the forms that have come to me are not personations by the medium1 yet1 in the legal definition of the word1 ,i do not know who or what they are4 ,i have my convictions1 based upon what is satisfactory evidence to me4 ,i do not ask any one to accept my theories1 but upon what have been stated as facts there need be no controversy1 since any one who will give the matter the same attention can verify all that has been said4 ,to deny the facts without an investigation1 on the ground that they are impossible1 can have no weight1 for it has been truly said by ,arago that outside the domain of pure mathematics1 the word impossible has no meaning4 ,i have imperfectly related only a few of the many hundred strange things that have come under my observation1 selecting them at random without any special regard to order4 ,the same may be said of the thoughts expressed2 their value1 if they have any1 will be found in the closeness with which ,i have pursued the investigation4 ,my experience has extended over more than a hundred seances1 and to have given them in detail would have exceeded my time4 ,these things are open to any who will approach them honestly4 ,let us hope that some fair-minded specialist1 whose brain is not lumbered with the debris of old ideas1 will yet be able to lift the veil that surrounds them4 ,i feel confident that ,i have exhausted almost every conceivable test necessary to establish the reality of these wonderful apparitions4 ,some of these tests1 in the light of a more extended experience1 now seem very absurd4 ,ridiculous as they must have appeared to these beings1 they were never vexed1 nor showed any impatience with my ignorant and unreasonable demands1 but either met them squarely or playfully turned them aside4 ,my investigations have been confined mostly to ,mrs4 ,fay's seances1 for the simple reason that here the cabinet and surroundings were known to me to be above suspicion1 and from the beginning greater facilities for study were granted me than elsewhere4 ,such is the skeptical nature of my mind that if ,i had been obliged to conform to the role of an ordinary visitor1 ,i should1 in all probability1 have never been fully convinced of the truth of materialization4 ,in dealing with a subject so new to the mass of people1 it is hardly to be expected that it will be accepted on the testimony of any one4 ,facts1 however clearly stated1 will have but little weight with those who have had no practical experience4 ,fortunately1 the rapid increase in the number of mediums1 both public and private1 is bringing these things within the reach of every one4 ,if what ,i have stated be true1--if the experience of others shall prove that ,i have not been deceived1--then the whole system of ethics must undergo a complete revolution4 ,man will no longer be regarded as an animal1 confined to earth1 but a direct emanation from a superior intelligence1 holding in his nature a dual existence1 connecting him at one and the same time with both the seen and unseen worlds4 ,there is no estimating the influence which a realization of these things1 rightly understood1 would have upon the moral and social condition of society4 ,what has been held in the past as a vague and uncertain belief1 would be supplanted by knowledge2 and the skeptical tendency of modern thought would be checked by a fuller sense of the inspirational and spiritual nature of man4 ,the dread of death1 throwing a gloom over the domestic circle1 would glide away as the darkness of night disappears before the coming morn4 ,the parting of friends and relatives would find its compensation in renewed companionship and the perfect consciousness that there is no real separation4 ,for the fullness and tenderness with which these beings have overwhelmed me with demonstrations of regard1 promptly responding to every reasonable request1 ,i am under the deepest obligations4 ,as ,i go back in my mind over the various seances which it has been my privilege to enjoy1 ,i linger fondly over the stately form and affectionate bearing of what claimed to be my wife2 the rich girlish nature of ,bertha1 with her marvellous beauty of expression2 and the tender pleadings of one who must be nameless here1 begging that ,i would bring those she loved nearer to her4 ,all along the pathway of my investigations glow a thousand things never to be forgotten4 ,who shall say the gates are not ajar1 and that our loved but not lost ones are not passing to and fro8 ,poor in spirit and weak in affection must they be who can meet these beings as ,i have met them1 and not feel that there comes1 from the association with them1 a richer and fuller life4 ,transcriber's ,note3 ,punctuation has been standardised4 ,changes to the original have been made as follows3 ,contents ,,personification ,,by ,,the ,,medium ,,of ,,materialized ,,forms changed to ,,personification ,,by ,,the ,,medium1 ,,or ,,materialized ,f,o,r,ms ,,seance ,,at ,,the ,,berry ,,sisters ,,in ,,boston changed to ,,seance ,,at ,,the ,,berry ,,sisters' ,,in ,,boston ,page #ih ,with outstreched arms they beckoned me changed to ,with outstretched arms they beckoned me ,page #acf may conflict with preconceived changed to may conflict with pre-conceived ,page #agj ever remain the source of a a healthy development changed to ever remain the source of a healthy development ,page #aga exercises a more or less depotic power changed to exercises a more or less despotic power ,page #aga the magnetic atmostphere that surrounds changed to the magnetic atmosphere that surrounds