The Missing Link in Modern SpiritualismUnderhill, A. Leah (Ann Leah)
Religion
The Missing Link in Modern Spiritualism
Underhill, A. Leah (Ann Leah)
Fox family; Spiritualism
"Up to this time the appearance, gradually becoming more luminous, had
been in sight, moving about the room fully five minutes. There was not
the slightest footfall when it moved. My hearing is very acute; I
listened for every sound; and as, in the intervals of conversation, the
silence was unbroken, I could have detected the fall of the lightest
footstep.
"From this time the light which illuminated the figure gradually faded,
and soon I could no longer distinguish any form. The slight rustling
sound, unaccompanied by footsteps, still, however, continued.
"Suddenly we heard a noise as of the door opposite to me being unlocked;
then of its being hastily opened and shut; then the rustling sound
approached me on the left, and a key was laid on my left hand. Then
a second door was heard to be unlocked in the same way, and I heard
another key laid on the table just before me. Then a third door (that of
the cup-board, by the sound) was heard to be unlocked and opened, and a
key, as if pitched over our heads, was heard to drop with a clatter on
the table.
"While this was going on I commented, from time to time, on each
occurrence, and received answers from Mr. Underhill, from his place at
the table opposite to me.
"While we were conversing, there was a rattling of the crockery in the
cup-board. Mrs. Underhill expressed her apprehensions as to some
favorite china, but Mr. Underhill replied, 'I will trust the Spirits;'
and then added, 'Cannot the Spirit bring something to Mr. Owen?' Almost
immediately there was set down on the table, close to my left hand, some
object which I touched, and it proved to be a cut-glass goblet. In
setting it down, what seemed a human hand touched mine, and immediately
afterward was laid several times on my shoulder. I expressed a desire
that it would distinctly grasp my hand, to which Mr. Underhill
responded. Instantly a small hand, or what in touch resembled one, took
hold of my hand and grasped it. Then it clasped my bare wrist, gently
but with a firm grasp; then my lower arm, then my upper arm; each time
with a distinct grasp. I could not have distinguished the touch from
that of a human hand. It was a little cooler than mine, but not
disagreeably so. There was nothing chilly or clammy or otherwise
unpleasant about it. There was after this, throughout the sitting,
no sound whatever of opening or closing doors.
"While it was touching me thus, Mr. Underhill said, 'Can you fill the
goblet you brought to Mr. Owen with water?' There was a rustling but no
footstep, a slight noise in the pantry, and then the sound of something
dropped into the goblet; but, putting my hand in, I felt no water. In
doing so I broke the circle only for a moment. Then, just behind me, I
heard a sound as if the glass of the clock on the mantel-piece were
touched and shaken.
"All this time there was no word spoken except by those at the table;
but, once or twice, there was a whistling sound in the air.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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