Preliminary Report of the Commission Appointed by the University of Pennsylvania to Investigate Modern Spiritualism: In Accordance with the Request of the Late Henry SeybertUniversity of Pennsylvania. Seybert Commission for Investigating Modern Spiritualism
Religion
Preliminary Report of the Commission Appointed by the University of Pennsylvania to Investigate Modern Spiritualism: In Accordance with the Request of the Late Henry Seybert
University of Pennsylvania. Seybert Commission for Investigating Modern Spiritualism
Parapsychology -- Investigation; Spiritualism
The Medium insisted that there should be total darkness, and a shawl was
hung over the window to exclude all light.
At first hands were joined around the table. Then the Medium suggested
breaking the circle. His hands were then quite free. Draughts of air
were felt (possibly the fan); the Medium kept making noises, blowing and
breathing hard, talking, etc.; the slates on the table were moved, the
guitar was twanged, the music-box played. During all this the Medium
asked that the hands of all present be kept on the table.
The Medium stated that Mr. Seybert was present. He declared that Mr.
Seybert expressed himself as satisfied with the efforts of the
Commission to make a fair investigation.
When the Medium stated that some message had been written on one of the
slates by Mr. Seybert, the gas was lit, and we found on one slate "I am
here." No one present was able to declare it Mr. Seybert's handwriting,
as none were familiar with his writing.
The light was then turned low. Mr. Smith was asked to sit in the place
of Dr. Mitchell. He held, as directed, one slate up under the table,
and the Medium held the other under the table over his own knee. After
some conversation the Medium drew out his slate, and the light being
turned up we found on it:
"I am with you.
John Pepper."
It was too dark to watch the Medium during this last occurrence. The
conversation, which was general, would have prevented writing from being
heard.
Light turned up--both slates held by the Medium under the table--no
result.
The light was then turned low. Dr. Leidy was asked to sit next the
Medium. Some noise and confusion resulted from making the change. Then
the Medium asked Dr. Leidy to put his hand also upon a slate which the
Medium was holding up under the table. Attention was then called to a
scratching sound, which might have been writing. The slate was taken out
by Dr. Leidy, and the light turned up. The following was written on it:
"John Smith is with you like a young son.
John Lydy."
It was, of course, possible that the writing was done before Dr. Leidy
put his hand on it, as the slate was not then examined.
The Medium suggested that we ask mental questions; several did so,
without result.
The light was then turned up. Hands were joined. Some feeble raps were
heard; they apparently issued from under the table.
Slates were held under the table, but without result.
The light was then turned low. A slate was held under the table by the
Medium. He breathed hard, and made no little noise for some time. Then
Dr. Koenig was asked to put his hand on the slate. A scratching was
heard. When the light was turned up the slate contained the message:
"I will help you all.
Dr. Benj. Rush."
With this the séance ended.
(Copied from notes taken during the séance. Written out the day after.)
GEO. S. FULLERTON,
_Secretary_.
* * * * *
April 11th, 1886.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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