The Death-Blow to Spiritualism: Being the True Story of the Fox SistersDavenport, Reuben Briggs
History
The Death-Blow to Spiritualism: Being the True Story of the Fox Sisters
Davenport, Reuben Briggs
Fox, Margaret, 1833-1893; Jencken, Catherine Fox, 1836-1892; Mediums -- New York (State) -- Rochester; Spiritualism
"It's a great pity, though, that she should say such things about
Spiritualism, because of the odium which will result from it. But it
isn't the first time she has said that she would declare against
Spiritualism. She has had such spells before. It is astonishing to me
that people have stuck to her and Katie as they have. It is all bosh
about revealing the manner of producing the raps. I don't believe she
can do it. I don't believe she knows how they are produced, except
that it is done by an occult agency. Of course, there are frauds in
Spiritualism. Mme. Diss De Barr was one of them. I don't believe much
in materialization, but I've seen some real manifestations. They were
in my own house. Nearly all my spiritualistic experience has been in
my own house, and these sisters were the mediums.
"Of course Maggie's statement will be something of a shock to
spiritualists the world over, because they regard her and her sisters
as the founders of their belief. In my opinion she is not accountable
for what she says."
Mrs. Underhill remained quietly in the country many weeks after the
exposé, safe from the keen inquisition of reporters.
The notorious "mediums" in New York who were approached on the subject,
were all excessively guarded in their comments upon the step taken by
Mrs. Kane, yet they admitted her personal importance as an originator of
Spiritualism. Mrs. E. A. Wells, whose fraudulent exhibitions have had a
certain success, expressed herself as much shocked at the determination of
Mrs. Kane; "'but,' she added to the reporter, with seeming naîveté, 'you
don't believe she will do it, do you?'"
The account from which I am quoting, continues as follows:
"I sought the presence of Mrs. E. A. Wells, a medium of great
celebrity, whose abode is not far from Adelphi Hall, where
spiritualists congregate on Sunday." Mrs. Wells expressed herself as
shocked at the determination of Mrs. Margaret Fox Kane, "but," she
added, with seeming naîveté, "you don't believe she will do it, do
you?"
"How have you regarded Mrs. Kane heretofore, Mrs. Wells?"
"Why, with a good deal of respect as one of the first to get messages
from the unseen world. The Fox sisters have a great name. I have no
idea, though, if she really intends to do what she says she will,
that she's in her right senses."
Another "medium," who has a wealthy clientèle, and who gives only private
séances, whence all unfriendly influences are rigorously excluded, did not
desire to appear in print, as she told her visitor, since it would look
like "bad form" to those who came to her for supernatural enlightenment.
She was asked, however, if she held the Fox sisters in much esteem as
the pioneers of Spiritualism. She said she did, but personally knew
nothing of them.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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