Experimental Investigation of the Spirit Manifestations: Demonstrating the existence of spirits and their communion with mortals. Doctrine of the spirit world respecting heaven, hell, morality, and God. Also, the influence of Scripture on the morals of Christians.Hare, Robert
Religion
Experimental Investigation of the Spirit Manifestations: Demonstrating the existence of spirits and their communion with mortals. Doctrine of the spirit world respecting heaven, hell, morality, and God. Also, the influence of Scripture on the morals of Christians.
Hare, Robert
Bible and spiritualism; Spiritualism
174. I next resorted to an apparatus like the plaything called a
see-saw, excepting that the fulcrum, instead of being under the middle
of the board, was situated at one-fourth of the whole length from one
end. There was one foot on one side of the fulcrum, and three feet on
the other. The disk and its axle was transferred from the table, Plate
I, near to the longer end of this seesaw-like apparatus. The cord
attached to two weights was employed as above described, so that as
the disk was made to rise or fall with the vibration of the board by
the action of the cord, a revolution took place, bringing the letters
successively under the index, as already explained to have resulted
from the movements of the table.
175. The disk being situated edgewise to the medium, the letters could
not be seen. Under these circumstances, the hands of the medium were
placed upon the surface of the smaller portion of the board outside of
the fulcrum. The disk revolved to and fro, so as to bring the letters
under the index in due alphabetic order. Moreover, while this process
was under way, to render the result more unquestionable, I interposed
a screen between the disk, and the eyes of the medium, without causing
any arrestation of the process.[8]
176. Afterward upon the table supported on wheels or castors, and
moving the disk by a band, I used a tray on castors to support the hand
of the medium.
177. When the hands of the medium, or those of any other operator, were
placed upon this tray, it was impossible to move the table by means
of it, because much less force would make it move on its castors than
would move the table. Sometimes the tray would be moved backward and
forward with rapidity, the table remaining quite still. Yet, on urging
that the table should be moved, this desideratum would be conceded,
and the tray would become stationary, relatively, to the table. On one
occasion, when an intelligent spirit was manifesting, I interposed a
brass ball (Plate I.) and plate between the tray and the hands of the
medium, and then requested that the tray might be moved. My request was
obeyed; the tray moved repeatedly about a foot to and fro, accompanied
by the hand of the medium, the ball remaining at rest, relatively, to
the tray.
178. Having my apparatus at the residence of the lady by whom it had
been actuated in the third trial above mentioned, (172) this lady
sitting at the table as a medium, my sister reported herself. As a test
question, I inquired “What was the name of a partner in business, of
my father, who, when he had left the city with the Americans during
the Revolutionary war, came out with the British, and took care of the
joint property?” The disk revolved successively to letters correctly
indicating the name to be Warren. I then inquired the name of the
partner of my English grandfather, who died in London more than seventy
years ago. The true name was given by the same process.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account