[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

psychography under lock and key: "Two slates were fastened together by a lock and key, and
then placed in a case which was locked by myself and the key put in my pocket. The box lay on
the table in full view, the hands of Messrs. Eglinton and Hockley and in), own resting on the top
of the box. While in this position writing was distinctly heard, and upon opening the box and
taking out the slates the words 'Will this do, Mr. Tommy?' were discovered on the inside of one
of the slates."
I should state that Mr. G. Tommy, a well-known Spiritualist in Bristol, had sent the locked
box for this experiment, under the care of Major Irwin, who concludes his testimony as
follows: "I went to London strongly inclined to think that Spiritualists were made up of fools,
knaves, and those having an ill-balanced mind leaving out a few that I knew could not possibly
be included in any of the three classes. I left London fully convinced that all that is claimed for
Spiritualism is supported by facts, which, as Mr. Stainton Moses once wrote to me, could 'be
proved beyond a doubt.'"
Another careful record is that of Mr. H. A. Kersey, of 4, Eslington Terrace, Newcastle-on-
Tyne: "On Friday, September 26th, 1884, three lady friends and I attended a seance at 2.30
p.m. with Mr. Eglinton, at his residence. We all seated ourselves round it table (technically
known as a 'Pembroke') in the centre of the room, Mr. Eglinton sitting with his back to the
window. He asked for the greatest sceptic to sit near him on his right hand, and Mrs. X. was
placed there; opposite to her and on Mr. Eglinton's left hand, sat Mrs. Z., while I and my sister
occupied the remaining side of the table, and consequently sat opposite the medium. There was
full daylight, the window not being darkened, but simply draped with a pair of thin muslin
curtains. I produced a slate which I had purchased about half an hour previously at a shop in the
Strand. Mr. Eglinton with a wet sponge proceeded to clean the slates belonging to him on both
sides, whilst I took a dry sponge and rubbed the slates, taking special care to press heavily so
that if any marks had been previously made upon the slates they should no longer remain there.
These slates were left on the table before us and never passed out of our sight previous to the
experiments taking place. Mr. Eglinton next produced some small pieces of slate pencil and
various coloured French chalks, and taking the slate which I had brought with me asked us to
select a piece of pencil or chalk and put it on the slate. We selected slate pencil; it is an advantage
to hear the writing, that not being possible with the softer chalk, We then joined hands all
General Testimony to Psychography. 123
round the table, the psychic's left hand being held by one of us. He then placed the slate close
under the top of the table near to the corner on his right, the slate being kept in position by
grasping it and the top of the table firmly together with his right hand; thus the thumb of that
hand was always visible, and I, who sat farthest from him, could always see not only the thumb
but also part of his wrist. Very shortly, in not more than half a minute, we heard a sound as of
writing on the slate, the dotting of 'i's' and crossing of 't's', 's' being very marked; on the cessation
of the writing three little raps were heard on the slate, and the psychic then drew it from the table
and handed it to me. On the upper surface and at the farthest end of it from Mr. Eglinton's hand,
I found written as follows: 'Truth is indestructible as is our power; we are glad to meet you all.'
I will call this Experiment A, and can only add that under the conditions described, it was, in my
judgment, simply impossible for Mr. Eglinton to do it. The writing was upside down in relation
to Mr. Eglinton's hand; there was no other person present, and four pairs of eyes watched him
closely. For the sake of brevity it must be distinctly understood that the same conditions as the
foregoing existed in all the following experiments, variations or special features being alone
noticed. Experiment B. Mr. Eglinton took the same slate, and reversing it held it as before under
the table. We again heard the sound of writing, and on examination we found written in a different
handwriting the following: 'Dear Sir, We are glad to meet you all; being the champion of a
great cause, JOEY.' Experiment C. Mr. Eglinton remarked that portions of the surface of the
slate on two sides were left blank, and asked for them to be filled up. When the slate was again
held under the table we once more heard writing, and afterwards found the following: 'We shall
hope to bring our to Newcastle some day.' Mr. Eglinton suggested that some word or words had
been omitted, and requested the omission to be supplied; also that in one word of which we were
uncertain, if there was a 't' in it to cross the 't.' The word 'medium' was then inserted after the
word 'our' and the 't' properly crossed. Experiment D. The Bramah-locked slate was then
produced, and having been cleaned, the medium asked Mrs. X. to write a question to some friend
of hers, in such a position that he could not see it; she did so, and then closed the slate and locked
it, withdrawing the key and retaining possession of it. Mrs. X. and Mr. Eglinton then placed
their hands on the top of the slate as it lay on the table before us all, and shortly we distinctly
heard writing being produced inside the locked slate. When Mrs. X. unlocked the slate she found
the following reply to her request: 'Your Auld Emma will communicate later on.' Experiment
E. Mr. Eglinton asked Mrs. Z. to write a question on a slate and not let him see it. She wrote,
'Is Alfred, my son, here, and will he please write me a message to take home with me?' The slate
was turned over so as to keep the message from Mr. Eglinton's sight. He took the slate in his left
hand, and held it under the corner of the table on his left, Mrs. Z. also grasping the slate all the
time and helping him to hold it, Mrs. X. at the same time holding his right hand; we all heard the
writing, and Mrs. Z. solemnly declares that she also felt the vibrations in the slate produced by
the writing; the reply was found to be: 'My dear Mother, Thank God I am able to come to
you. Give my love to all at home, and with plenty for yourself, I am your loving son, ALFRED.'
Experiment F. Mr. Eglinton took two slates, and placed one on the top of the other after
putting a piece of pencil between, and keeping them on the table in
124 'Twixt Two Worlds.
full view of us all he placed his hands on them, Mrs. X. doing the same; presently we heard much
writing going on between the slates, and on removing the top one the following message was
found: 'Dear Niece, I rejoice so much in being able to manifest myself to you in this decisive
manner. It must comfort you to know that I am ever near you, and that I endeavour to convey the
sense of my presence to you. How truly comforted and grateful Should those be who have a
knowledge of this great truth, and of the happiness this communion brings its and them. There is
much I would like to say had I the power, but I must content myself with having been allowed to
come. Keep on in the good cause, and you will be rewarded. Good-bye. God bless you. Love to
John, Your loving aunt, EMMA.' Experiment G. Mr. Eglinton expressed a wish to obtain a
message for my sister, and placed two slates together on the table, as In the previous experiment,
but all that could be got was a brief statement that the power was exhausted and they must bid [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]