The sitting may, if desired, take place at high noontide and in the very fullest daylight; though, for reasons already stated, it is better to sit in the evening and in semi-obscurity. The singing of hymns, praying and other “religious” features are to be deprecated. They do not affect the actual phenomena; but their tendency is to produce a morbid and emotional frame of mind which in its turn facilitates self-deception and the imaginary perception of happenings that do not really occur. Conversation also should not be indulged in to any extent that engrosses the attention of the sitters. By far the best plan is for the Circle to sit silently, each individual being on the alert to perceive and announce the slightest indication of anything external. At the expiration of a few minutes--assuming no manifestation to have happened--some sitter should ask aloud the question, “Is any spirit present?” and if no answer be received the question should be repeated, turn by turn, by all the other sitters. In this way it is often possible to discover those of the Circle who are natural mediums; a fact that is also made evident by the ability to write automatically or by the susceptibility to “impressions,” such as touches, whispers, the sensation of a cool breeze, tremblings, twitches and, in rare cases, various forms of clairvoyance, trance and insensibility. If the first round of questioning produce no result, the silent sitting should be resumed for another period of a few minutes and then the question should again be asked. These alternate silences and questionings should be continued for as long as may be convenient; and then the Circle may adjourn to some future date. It is not, however, very usual for a complete blank to be drawn, where several--say half a dozen or so--persons sit together. Some “sign” or another is pretty sure to be perceived. When once a manifestation of any kind takes place it should be confirmed by asking for it to be repeated; and then a code of communication can be agreed upon and conversation can proceed. It will facilitate matters and prevent confusion if each communicating spirit be requested to declare its identity, and then for the particular sitter who may recognise the name and personality to conduct the interview.