PRICE, FIFTEEN CENTS. THE WATSEKA WONDER; A Startling and Instructive Psychological Study, and well Authenticated Instance of Angelic Visitation. A NARRATIVE OK THE LEADING PHENOMENA OCCURRING IN THE CASE or MARY LURANCY VENNUM, BY E. W. STEVENS. WITH COMMENTS RY JOSEPH RODES BUCHANAN, M.D., PROFESSOR OF PHYSIOLOGY, ANTHROPOLOGY, AND PHYSIOLOGICAL INSTITUTES OF MEDICINES IN THE ECLECTIC MEDICAL COLLEGE, NEW YORK; D. P. KAYNER, M. S. B. TUTTLE. D. ; BRITTAN, M. D., AND HUDSON CHICAGO: REL1G10-PH1LOSOPHICAL PUBLISHING HOUSE. 1878. ZFTJIBULISIHIIEIR/S IsTOTE. ' 1 nor she asks a hearing. Truth wears no mask, bows at no human elirine, seeks neither place applause: only narrative. To members of the various learned professions we especially commend this be true. The account is We believe the history of the case as herein told to strictly with no to exaggerate or enlarge; it could given in a modest, unassuming way, attempt within the bounds of truth. have been made far more thrilling and yet have remained to been mistaken It will be observed there is no chance for the witnesses have honestly did not. Either the and to have thought they heard and saw that which in fact they and witnesses have willfully account is in exact accordance with the facts or the author herewith as to the credibility of the Eoff prevaricated. The evidence which we publish of E. W. Stevens is equally good; family, could not be stronger; and the reputation has confidence in his veracity. the publisher has known him for years and implicit and there are The case of Lurancy Vennum is not by any means an isolated one, account of its recent others which in some respects are even more remarkable. Yet on and de- occurrence and the facilities for investigation, we believe this case deserves of but of mands the careful, candid, unbiased consideration, not only professional men, or as disbelievers there- all who are interested, either as advocates of a future existence which may be in. The publisher will be glad to receive honest, intelligent criticisms, so blinded with utilized in a future edition. We are all in search of truth, let us not be and fail to find the fair treasure so prejudice as to be disgusted with its wrappings snugly ensconced within. CHICAGO, September, 1878. THE RELIGIO-PHILOSOPHICAL JOURNAL all sectarian bias. While is a fearless and independent newspaper, entirely free from the the JOURNAL is always ready to take the affirmative side on all questions involving most accuracy phenomena and philosophy of Spiritualism, yet it demands the stringent bear the ordeal of observation and unhesitatingly rejects all phenomena which cannot of careful scrutiny. of will find All Spiritualists, and those who are investigating the subject Spiritualism, this paper invaluable as an assistant in their researches. and devel- The opponents of Spiritualism, who desire to be familiar with its progress of information. opment, will find the JOURNAL a fair, candid and trustworthy channel see last page We respectfully commend the paper to all classes. For further particulars of cover. MARY LURANCY VENNUM. MARY LURANCY VENNUM. THE WATSEKA WONDER. ties named herein and observations made by the writer, will warrant. Thomas J. Vennum was born May 7th, A Startling and Instructive Chapter in the 1832, in Washington Co., Penn.; Lurinda J. History of Spiritualism. Smith (his wife), was born October 14th, 1837, in St. Joseph Co., Ind. They were mar- BY E. W. STEVENS. ried in Fayette Co., Iowa, Dec. 2d, 1855. MARY LTJRANCY VENNUM, of the above named Thomas J. It was long ago and wisely said, that "God daughter and Lurinda J. was born on had chosen the weak things of the world to Vennum, the " 16th of inMilford confound the wise," and that out of the day April, 1864, township, seven miles south of Watseka. mouths of babes and sucklings, He hath per- The family moved to Iowa, 12th, and return- fected praise." July, 1864, ed to the miles The innocence of childhood is often the vicinity eight from Watseka, in 1865. In sublimest argument in the establishment of Oct., August, 1866, they removed sim- to Milford, twelve miles south of Watseka, a great truth ; and the unpresuming and remained there till March then plicity of youth sometimes may become the 1st, 1870, channel of phenomena calculated to shake moved out two and one-half miles from Mil- ford until when the skepticism and prejudice of bigotry, April 1st, 1871, they moved and to humble the conceit of the pompously into Watseka, locating about forty rods wise. from the residence of A. B. Roff, the spirit of to Such has been a fact of the last year, at daughter whom, according all the facts and is the the city of Watseka, a town of humble pre- representations every way tested, character in this tensions, on the Eastern Illinois, and Toledo, principal remarkable nar- Peoria and Warsaw Railroads, eighty-six rative. The family remained at this place miles South of Chicago.on the Iroquois river. during the summer. The only acquaintance ever had between the Watseka is noted for its orthodox senti- two families during the was one call ments and bitter animosity against all in- season, simply brief of Mrs. Roff, for a few minutes, on Mrs. gress of Spiritual 'ideas. Its ruling classes Vennum, which call was never returned and a form- are aristocratic and respectable, noted for ; al between the two their intelligence and literary attainments. speaking acquaintance Since the Its society organizations are earnest in re- gentlemen. 1871, Vennum family formatory measures, but the masses, like have lived entirely away from the vicinity of Mr. and never nearer than the population in all low and malarial dis- Roff's, now, on extreme limits of the tricts, are inert in the investigation of ideas opposite city. as she is had and principles, and slow in the discovery "Rancy," familiarly called, never been save a run of measles and application of truths hitherto unknown sick, light to them. in 1873. A few days before the following took she said This town has been swept by a tidal wave incidents place, to her family : "There ia last of excitement, on account of the presumed were persons my room night, ' and called I I and I felt insanity of one Lurancy Vennum, a young they 'Rancy Rancy their breath on face." The next girl belonging to an unpretentious family in my very she arose from her the suburbs of the city. Her insanity, as night bed, saying that she could not that time she tried it was thought to be, dates from July llth, sleep, every to came and called I A. 1877, and the remarkable phenome- sleep, persons "Rancy D., " I to her. non continued until her perfect restoration Rancy Her mother went to bed with after which she rested and through the aid of friendly Spiritualists and her, slept the rest of the spirits, on the 21st of May, 1878. night. Thus, for ten months and ten days, did On the llth day of July, 1877, Lurancy had these phenomena continue to excite and ag- been sewing carpet a part of the afternoon, itate the people. The following is a true when, at about six o'clock she laid by her narrative, and as full as the facts collected work, as her mother said : "Lurancy, you from the parents and relatives of the par- had better commence getting supper." The THE RELIGIO-PHILOSOPHICAL JOURNAL TRACTS. I 1 girl replied : "Ma, I feel bad; feel so queer,' and friends believed her insane. The Eev. and placirg her hand to her left breast, she B. M. Baker, the Methodist minister in immediately went into what seemed like a charge at Watseka, wrote to the insane fit, falling heavily on the floor, lying appar- asylum to ascertain if the girl could be re- ently dead, every muscle becoming sudden- ceived there. It seemed to be the general lv rigid. Thus she lay five hours. On return- feeling among all the friends, save the par- ing to consciousness she said she felt "very ents and a few who were only sympathetic strange and queer." The remainder of the observers and thinkers, that the girl should night she rested well. The next day the fro to the asvlum. rigid state returned, and passing beyond the There were in the city of Watseka at this rigidity, her mind took cognizance of two time, persons who had more humanity than states of being at the same time. Lying as bigotry; persons who believe, in the lan- " if dead, she spoke freely, telling the family guage of Bishop A. Beals, that disease has what persons and spirits she could see, de- a dynamic or spiritual origin;" persons scribing them and calling some of them by claiming to understand something of the oc- name. Among those mentioned were her cult forces and phenomena of mind, and the sister and for she of brother, exclaimed, "Oh, diseases incident to a false conception , and mother! can't you see little Laura and Ber- opposition to, its potencies; persons who be- " " tie? They are so beautiful!" etc., etc. Ber- lieve, God being no respecter of persons tie died when Lurancy was but three years and "without variableness or shadow of old. turning," that power exists to-day, as in the She had many of these trances, describing days of the Nazarene, to cast out devils. Heaven and the spirits, or the angels as she Among this class were Asa B. Roff and his called them. Sometime in September she wife, who, with others, became thoroughly became free from them and seemed to the aroused to the importance of arresting the family to be quite well again.