The Salem Witchcraft, the Planchette Mystery, and Modern Spiritualism: With Dr. Doddridge's DreamStowe, Harriet Beecher
History
The Salem Witchcraft, the Planchette Mystery, and Modern Spiritualism: With Dr. Doddridge's Dream
Stowe, Harriet Beecher
Spiritualism; Upham, Charles Wentworth, 1802-1875. Salem witchcraft; Witchcraft -- Massachusetts -- Salem
'You do not think that I am a spirit. I tell you that I am. If I am
not an intelligence, in the name of common sense what am I? If you
fancy I am white rabbits, then all I have to say is, that white
rabbits are a deal cleverer than they have the credit of being among
natural historians.'
Later, doubt was thrown upon the possibility of getting mental
questions answered, and Planchette retorted:
'Do you fancy for one moment that I don't know the workings of your
brain? That is not the difficulty. It is the
impossibility--almost--of making two diametrically opposed
magnetisms unite.'
After this rebuke, Mr. B. asked a mental question, and received the
following answer:
'I am impelled to say that if you will persevere in these
investigations, you may be placed _en rapport_ with your wife, who
would undoubtedly communicate with you. If you have any faith in the
immortality of the soul, you can have no doubt of the possibility of
spiritual influences being brought to bear upon mortals. It is no
new thing. Ever since the world began, this power has been exerted
in one way or another; and if you pretend to put any faith in the
Bible, you surely must credit the possibility of establishing this
subtile connection between man and so-called angels.'
This communication was glibly written until within eleven words of
the conclusion, when Planchette stopped, and I asked if she had
finished.
'No,' she replied.
'Then why don't you go on?' I continued. '_I_ can write faster than
this.'
Planchette grew exceeding wroth at this, and dashed off an answer:
'Because, my good gracious! you are not obliged to express yourself
through another's brain.'
I took it for granted that Planchette had shot very wide of the mark
in the supposed response to Mr. B.'s mental query, and hence was not
prepared to be told that it was satisfactory, in proof of which Mr.
B. wrote beneath it:
'Appropriate answer to my mental question, _Will my deceased wife
communicate with me?_--I. A. B.'"
"May 28th. At the breakfast-table Mr. G. expressed a great desire to
see Planchette perform, and she was brought from her box. Miss W.
was also present. After several communications, Miss W. asked a
mental question, and Planchette immediately wrote:
'Miss W., that is hardly possible in the present state of the money
market; but later, I dare say you will accomplish what you desire to
undertake.'
_Miss W._ 'Planchette is entirely off the track. My question was,
_Can you tell me anything about my nephew?_'
_Mr. G._ 'Well, it is certainly very queer. _I_ asked a mental
question to which this is to a certain extent an answer.'
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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