The Watseka Wonder

IN APPRECIATION

After a life devoted wholly to the service of his fello wki of nd , Winchester Stevens , the narrator these phenomena , passed to the Summerland Decem 9 1 885 - ber , , at the age of sixty three years .

Honest and candid , kindly of heart and pure in thought , of great beneﬁcence, and of rare skill in his profession , enriched by years of experience , the good deeds and the influence of Dr . Stevens are still sens in ed the common heart of the world , in lives made better . “ The good that men do lives after them .

INTRODUCTION

D . By J . M . Peebles, M . . , M A .

Not onl y is this an age of investigation, research i and original discoveries , but it is an age of skept cism and persistent doubt touching all such realities as relate to the invisible . The sense perceptions are far more to the front than the aspirational , up e looking , spiritual faculties . Sad to say , the mass s live more in the back and selﬁsh side brains than in the coronal soul - parlors Open to spiritual visitants and angelic impressions .

Had not the inspirational and erudite B . F . Austin , Y e i A . M D D c . . , . . , of Ro hester, N . , be n psych cally directed to the preservation of these remarkable phenomena occurring in the ROH family , Watseka , l ll . , they would , no doubt , have been relegated to

- the hazy dream land of myth , companion of the martyred Man of Nazareth , the Swiss William Tell , n o the Indian P ocahontas, Joan of Arc and others t ed for strange , astounding phenomena . There are those in our midst who will not onl y question the knowledge of their peers but they will actually in , — vent miracles to get rid of the plain truth a truth testiﬁed to by the wisdom of the ages ! that the spirits of our dead are alive , and that under given conditions the y can not only bring us living mes of f sages , but as in the case Mary Ro f , they can temporarily inhabit another bod y , and dwell for a time for a sp ecial purpose in the earth ly home of

d s to their almost unbo unded joy . R h the medical treatment of M r. oﬁ , it l ll was my privilege to not only visit Watseka , . , but to bec—ome personally acquainted with the Roff family a family not only highly respected , but “ ” moving in what was denominated the ﬁrst society .

And further, I was honored by knowing personally 8 THE WATSEKA WONDER

s ed Dr. E . W . Stevens , a mo t excellent and cultur gentleman , gifted with strong magnetic power ; which power was intensiﬁed by a smyp athi z ing circle of influencing spirits . As is well known , this

Dr . Stevens was a Spiritualist and a conscientious and deeply religious man , honored by all who per sonally knew him . “ The remarkable facts related in this book , The ” Watseka Wonder, embodying the psychic relations between Lurancy and Mary , were so new that many Spiritualists held it was imp ossoble for one spiri t to enter into the vacated body of a living mortal and manifest through it . And there are certain Spirit i “i u alist c laggards to this day , who talk of the m ” possible upon this and kindred matters .

But can a spirit in the spiritual spheres , under any conditions , enter into the vacated body of a liv ing mortal and manifest through the forty - two phrenological brain organs , the sin ews , muscles and nerves—was this ever done ?

What Is The Spirit ?

Poets and prophets are ever in advance of the priests . This was true in Hebraic times , and it is true today . That old prophet who compiled the B ook of Proverbs exclaimed in an inspirational “ moment ! The spirit of man is the candle of the ” - Lord . And it is the office work of the candle , or lamp , to light the room and its furniture . So the

- conscious spirit , symbolized by the candle lights ,

- manifests through the forty two brain organs , through fleshly body of muscles , sinews , nerves . Remember that the body is a bit of transitory ma chinery , conceived and built up by the conscious intelligent spirit ; but this spirit - builder in the proc ess o f construction did not so build and ﬁxedly mortise it self into the body that it could escape i i . s c d only through death Th is would be a living , u THE WATSEKA WONDER 9

al burial . No ; this conscious spirit is not necessari ly wedged and ﬁxed in a few feet of mortality . It can in dreams and visions temporarily leave the body , visiting different parts of this planet , Mars and the stars that glitter and shimmer above us . V nn And so , Lurancy e um having through wise guides left her body , Mary , of the Roff family , actu ally left the spiritual world and , descending , dwelt for a time in the body of Lurancy , taking it to her former home and enjoying the sweets of love , and friendship , and family relations . She virtually lived several months in two worlds , in the earth and in the spirit land ; vibrating between , en joying both , and receiving lessons in the meantime ’ from the angels that delight to do the Father s will . “ There was no double consciousness in this case .

There is in no case . The consciousness is a unit . “ ” “ Such phrases as duplex consciousness , seven

“ ‘ - fold personal ities , and the super conscious sub ” liminal , while explaining nothing , confuse and darken speech . Once I asked a very exalted spirit intelligence these questions !

s Can you , while entrancing thi medium , see the real spirit ?

N o . i , I can not I only sense and see the spir tual body .

When entrancing a mortal in the body, do you cause the owner of the body to vacate it ? N o t necessarily ; entrancement is little more than mesmeric infl uence . — wan Can you really see you describe the unfleshed , unclothed spirit of this body ?

I cannot. The most that I can say through thi s instrument , is that it seems to be a distinct entity, looking like a ﬁery diamond —a brilliant point of dazzling brightness shining through a very ethereal white fluid , connected in some way , sympathetically and ! vibratoriall y , with the body that it owns .

“ ! See this matter more fully explained on page 5 of The ! th Hu an ! m Pathway of e/ g Spirit ! Peebles “g i g l 0 THE WATSEKA WONDER

H ow little the wi sest of us know of the mi ghty

power of the spirit ! In fact , all power is sp irit power, invisible and ever—- persisting ; and the witnessing of this unsee n power these mighty phenomenal forces as were manifest for mo nths in the Roff family

demonstrates the certainty of a future life , carrying

with it the memories and the purer, unselﬁsh loves

of this life . These remarkable and unquestionably authen ticated phenomena transpiring in the families of the ’ V Roﬂ s ennum s and , were not supernatural . but to that higher plane of spiritual conscious i ness . Blessed be Spir tualism ! Its star of progress i is n the ascendant . Its sun will never set . And

as relating to the great hereafter, it will be said , “ — sooner or later, by all sane persons ! Gone gone in appearance only to join The choir invisible Of those immortal dead who live agai n

In minds made bett er by their presence .

- in Spiritualism , with its living ! ather Mother H eaven ; its beautiful brotherh ood of man ; its present and perpetual ministry of spirits ; its pater nal chastisements for wrong - doing ; its open heart towards all reforms ; its sweet charity for human misfortunes ; its encouraging , inspiring words to the sick ; its comforting voice to the sad - hearted mourn r e , and its musical whisperings of love and precious messages from those who have crossed the crystal — river, putting on immortality summering in the eternal verdure and bloom of the elysian fields of the blest , where souls never lapse nor suns ever set is of God . I repeat , this Spiritualism is of God . It o has c me to stay , and it will stay and stand forever. C Battle reek , M ich . E DITORIAL NOTE In no one line of human activity today is the prog ress of humanity more marked than in the increas ed interest of the people in matters pertaining to our mental and spiritual powers , and their unfold ment . This is a most hopeful sign of the times , and betokens the fact that , while outwardly we are much given over to materialism , that in our newer and real life we are mounting upward towards “ ” nobler things . A thousand signs of the times indicate the sig nificant fact that , despite the mad rush for money and power of our commercial and political life, a great spiritual hunger has come upon the soul of humanity , and one that no amount of materi al food can ever satiate . We have the authority of the great Nazarene teacher for saying that spiritual fin hunger is a blessing , and that it must and will d ample satisfaction . No better indicator of public opinion and of the trend of thought and desire of the people can be found , than the public press ; and this indicates a rapidly increasing interest in all matters of psychic ’ research and questions regarding man s present and future unfoldment . The leading dailies of th e great cities are now vying with one another in at tempts to supply the ever- increasing demand for authentic facts and incidents bearing on the inter communion of the two worlds . The great mass of attested incidents collected by the Society for Psychical Research has—as all must see—a direct relation to the Problem of Immortality . The great magaz ines—a few years since rigidly closed to all occult matters—are now finding it to their interest to supply their readers with the latest and best in psychic research . And the end is not yet . THE WATSEKA WONDER

No more ﬁitting time could have been chosen , therefore, for bringing out a new and enlarged edi “ ” tion of the Watseka Wonder, a story of actual , yet most wonderful happenings in Watseka , Illinois , d U. S . A . over ﬁfty years ago which is atteste , , — by such a multiude of credible witnesses some of them living today—that to doubt the story is to im peach all human testimony . The facts have been inquired into by many lead ing psychologists and psychic researchers , includ ing the late D r. Richard Hodgson , with but one re sult ! a ready acknowledgment of the authentic a character of the story . If the story be true , e rth and heaven are not far separated ; mortals and o spirits d o communicate , and the principal c nten tions of the Spiritual Philosophy are indisputably established . We send forth the new edition with an Introduc tion by the venerable Dr . James M . Peebles of e Battle Cre k , Mich . , who knew the chief characters ’ of the story , and Reminiscences of the three months of f visit Mary Ro f, in spirit , to the home of her peo n ple in the borrowed body of Lu rancy Ven um , by

. . . o Mrs H H Alter, f Watseka , l ll . , her sister, with the hope that it may interest and instruct humanity “ and help to solve the problem ! If a man die shall he live again ? ”

The Publishers . TH E WATSE KA W ON DE R

! acts are th e ba sis of phi losophy ; P hi losophy th e ha rmony of f—act s i s t i la s. T L . H a . Seen in he r right re tion . rr

T h e sprin ging up of Spi ri tu alism and T heo sophy on fi grou nds bu rned over by the res of th e orthodox hell . and right in the teeth of th e ea s t winds th a t blow from the chee rles s se as of n f o ss doubt , tes tify t o the hu ger of men r s ome a urance that the are s s ev M er loved and departed not al o lo t. R . . ! . Savage, in a s “ ” m on on I mmo r ta lity and M odern T hought , delivered at the Sara U r ns t oga Convention of nita ia , September, 1 886. t a i s T here may be in wha i s called Spiri tu l m , and the s mi n d cure, and many other n ew development , the germ s of a somethi ng hi gher ; and we should be wil l in g f o r t h e n ew theory h k s t o tak e i t s place , and under t e great laws of li fe, to wor out i t ” - “ I t des t i ny ; and not , P haraoh lik e, s eek t o k ill the young child . may be that i n t h e fi rs t appea rance s of many of thes e n ew idea s, ca tha t t hey are cr ude, and t hat t hose wh o r ec eive t hem and advo te t he m do not themselves u nde rs ta nd all their real L et u s rej oice that the cont inui ty of li f e seem s t o some t o be a demonst r ated fact ; and t hat to others t here seems to be pos s ibl e a higher l aw of mental heali ng ! and that b o ne way and another, u r w and by all ways the truth i s comi ng to our wor ld , and o orld - “ i s . D D n! R c oming to t h e t r uth . H . W T homa s , . i eligio ” P hi lo sophi cal ! ournal , ! f or D ecember 25 , i x i s s na ti onal l y s tu di ed and i nterp re ted , unm ed w th delu ion s - r s u s th e sa elf gene ated or i mpo ed by others , Spi ri t ali m is one fe s uns w r g uard agains t all supers ti tions . I t show that the een o ld i s as much withi n t h e sphere of uni ve rsal na tur e as o ur o wn ; i t s i s the solvent of all mys teries that have perplexed phil os opher . ” E “ i s pes Sa rgent , i n S c ientifi c B as is of Spir tuali m .

Watseka , Illinois , has been swept by a tidal wave of excitement , on account of the presumed insanity of one Lurancy Vennum , a young girl belonging to an unpretentious family in the suburbs of the city . Her insanity , as it was thought to be , dates 1 1 1 from July , A . D . 877 ; and the remarkable phenomena continued until her perfect restoration ? through the aid of friendly Spiritualists and sp irits! on May 21 , 1 878 .

Thus , for ten months and ten days , did these phenomena continue to excite and agitate the peo p e .

The following is a true narrative , and as full as the facts collected from the parents and relatives of the parties named herein and observations made wi by the writer, ll warr ant . I 4 THE WATSEKA WONDER

Vennum 7 1 832 in Thomas J . was born May , ,

Washin gton Co . , Penn . ; Lurin d a J . Smith ! his

1 4 1 837 . wife ! , was born October , , in St Joseph

Co . Co. , Ind . They were married in Fayette , Iowa , 55 1 8 . December 2, V n M ary Lurancy e num, daughter of the above urin Vennum named Thomas and L da J . , was born 1 6 1 4 e April , 86 , in M idford township seven mil s south of Watseka . 1 64 The family moved to Iowa , July 1 2, 8 , and returned to the vicinity eight miles from Watseka , 1 65 1 866 in October, 8 . In August , , they removed re to Milford , twelve miles south of Watseka , and 1 manied there till March 1 , 870 ; then moved out two and one half miles from Milford until April 1 , 1 “ 871 , when they moved into Watseka , locating about forty rods from the residence of A . B . Roff , the spirit daughter of whom , according to all the fact s and representations every way tested , is the principal character in this remarkable narrative . The family remained at this place during the sum mer . The only acquaintance ever had been be tween the two families during the season , was lf simply one brief call of Mrs . Ro , for a few minutes , Venn on Mrs . um , which call was never returned ; and a formal speaking acquaintance between the two gentlemen . Since 1 8 7 1 the Vennum family had lived entirely away from the vicinity of M r. ’ t o Roff s , and never nearer than now , on ex reme p osite o p limits f the city . “ ” l Rancy, as she was familiarly ca led , had never e 1 b en sick , save a light run of measles in 873 . A few days before the following incidents t ook place , “ she said to her family ! There were persons in my ‘ R ’ room last night , and they called Rancy ! ancy l l and I felt their breath on my face . The very next night she arose from her bed , saying that she could not sl eep , that every time she tried to sleep persons THE WATSEKA WONDER I 5

“ R ” came and called Rancy ! ancy l l to her. Her mother went to bed with her, after which she rest ed and slept the rest of the night .

Luranc On the eleventh day of July , 1 877 , y had been sewing carpet a part of the afternoon , when ’ at about six o clock she laid by her work , as her “ r n mother said ! Lu a cy, you had better commence ” “ getting supper . The girl replied ! Ma , I feel bad ;

I feel so queer, and placing her hand on her left breast , she immediately went into what seemed like a ﬁt , falling heavily on the floor, lying ap parently dead , every muscle becoming suddenly rigid . Thus she lay ﬁve hours . On return ing to con “ sciousness she had said she felt very strange and ” queer . The remainder of the night she rested i well . The next day the r gid state returned , and co ni passing beyond the rigidity, her mind took g z anc L e of two states of being at the same time . y ing as if dead , she spoke freely, telling the family what persons and spirits she could see , describing them and calling some of them by name . A mong or those mentioned were her sister and brother, f x ’ she e claii n ed , Oh , mother l can t you see little ” Laura and Bertie ? They are so beautiful ! etc . , etc . Bertie died when Lurancy was but three years old . heav She had many of these trances , describing en and the spirits , or the angels as she called them . Sometime in September she became free from them and seemed to the family to be quite well again .

- 1 7 On the twenty seventh day of November, 8 7 , she was attacked with a most violent pain in her stomach , some ﬁve or six times a day ; for two weeks she had the most excruciating pains . In these pain ful paroxysms , she would double herself back until her head and feet actually touched . At the end of two weeks , or about the eleventh of December, in e thes distressed attacks , she became unconscious l 6 THE WATSEKA WONDER

and passed into a queer trance , and , as at fo rm er i t mes , would desc ribe h eaven and spirits , often call ing them angels . o From this time n until the ﬁrst of February , 1 8 8 7 , she would have these trances and sometimes a seemingly real obsession , from three to eight and a sometimes as many s twelve times a day , lasting from one to eight hours , occasionally p assin g into f r i that state o ecstasy when as Lu ancy , she cla m ed to be in heaven .

Durin g the time recorded , up to about the middle of January , 1 878 , she had been under the care of D r . . L N . Pitwoo d in the summer and Dr . Jewett ’ D s during the winter . Th ese M . . are both eminent allopathic practitioners , and residents of Watseka .

Mrs . Allison , M rs . Jolly and other relatives and friends believed her insane . The Rev . B . M . Baker, the Methodist minister in charge at Watseka wrote to the insane asylum to ascertain if the girl could r be received there . It seemed to be the gene al feeling among all the friends save the p arents and a few who were only sympathetic observers and thinkers , that the girl should go to the asylum .

There were in the City of Watseka at this time , persons who had more humanity than bigotry ; per wh sons o believe , in the lan guage of a Sp iritualist “ i t lectu rer, that disease has a dynamic or spir ual ” ori gin ; perso ns claiming to understand something of the occult forces and phenomena of mind , and the diseases incident to a false conception of , and o wh opp sition to , its potencies ; persons o believe “ ” “ ! o d being no respecter of persons and with out ” variablen ess or shadow of turning , that power o exists today , as in the days f the Nazarene ,

o . to cast ut devils . Among this class were Asa B e Roff and his wife , who , with others , b came thoroughly aroused to the importance of arresting the movement , to take a lovely child from the THE WATSEKA WONDER I 7

bosom Of an affectionate family , to imprison her i n r among maniacs , to be ruled and cared for by g o ant and bigoted strangers , who know less Of cata lepsy than a blind materialist does of immortal ity . These goo d people ventured in the most gentle and Christian spirit , to counsel wi th the parents and advise other treatment , different from any that i had been admin stered .

- ci These earnest , self sacriﬁ ng souls , imbued with the conviction that uncultivated spiri ts had some thing to do with the case , plead with the many friends Of the child to withold her from the asylum until it could be better shown whether the girl was really insane or her unfortunate condition might be attributable to foreign minds . ROE ion Mr. after much p ersuat , obtained the ’ of consent the girl s father, to visit her and bring

E . with him Dr . . W . Stevens , of Janesville , Wis , to investigate the case . Dr . Stevens , who , for several th months , at frequent intervals , had been in ecity and a silent listener to the scoffs and scandals thrown out towards the Spiritualists On account Of i a their Opin ons regarding the case , and the univers l i in foment Of m nd in the city over it , was formally vited Ve O by Mr . nnum , through Mr. R E to visit the family .

On the afternoo n Of January 31 1 878 , the two ’ Venn m gentlemen repaired to Mr . u s residence , a out little Of the city . Dr . Stevens , an entire strang R E er to the family , was introduced by Mr . O at ’ four O clock p . m . ; no other persons present but the family . The girl sat near the stove , in a common

‘ chair, her elbows On her knees, her hands under her o chin , feet curled up on the chair, eyes staring , lo k “ l ” f ing every way like an o d hag . She sat or a time in silence , until Dr . Stevens moved his chair, when she savagely warned him not to come nearer. a r She appe red sullen and c abb ed , calling her fath I 8 THE WATSEKA WONDER

“ “ er Old Black Dick , and her mother Old Granny .

She refused to be touched , even to shake hands , and was reticent and sullen with all save the doc e e tor, with whom she entered fre ly into conv rsa tion , giving her reasons for doing so ; she said he was a Spiritu al doctor and would understand her. When he asked her name she quickly replied “ Katrina Hogan . ” How Old ?

- Sixty three years . “Where from ? ” “ ” Germany . “ ? ” How long ago ” Three days . ” How did you come ? “ ” Through the air . “ ” How long will you stay ? “ Three weeks . After this system of conversation had proceeded for some time , she modified her manner very much , appearing to be a little penitent and confidential , and said she would be honest and tell the doctor her real name . She was not a woman ; and her a re l name was Willie . On being asked what was ’ “ ” r he father s name , she replied , Peter Canning , and her own name was Willie Canning , a young n man ; ran away from home , got i to difficulty , changed his name several times and finally lost his “ ” life and was now here because he wanted to be , etc . She wearied with answering questions and o giving details . Then she turned upon the d ctor “ with a perfect shower of questions , such as , What is your name ? Where d o y ou live ? Are you married ? H ow many children ? How many boys ? H ow many girls ? What is your occupation ? What kind of a doctor ? What did y ou come to Watseka for ? Have y ou ever b een at the South Pole ? North Pole ? Europe ? Australia ? E gypt ? THE WATSEKA WONDER I 9

Ceylon ? Benares ? Sandwich Islands ? ” and by a long series O f questions evinced a knowledge of ’ geography . She next inquired after the doctor s habits and morals by questions like the following “ Do you lie ? get drunk ? steal ? siwear ? use tobacco ? ” tea f D ? co fee ? O you go to church ? pray ? etc . ,

etc . She then asked to have the same questions put R E to Mr. O . She declined to ask them direct , her

self , but through the doctor. They must also be nn m repeated through him to Mr. Ve u ; making the

while , some very unpleasant retorts . ’ - When at about half past ﬁve O clock , p . m . , the

visitors arose to depart , she also arose , flung up tiE her hands and fell upon the floor, straight , s and “ ” rigid , as sensitives fall with the power in Meth odist revival meetings ; and believing it to be Of a the s me nature , the doctor took occasion to prove “ ” it , as he has done on those smitten with the power, by controlling body and mind and restoring them “ ” to a normal and rational state, despite the power .

The visitors being again seated , he took her hands as they were held straight upward , like iron n bars , and by magnetic action soon had the body u der perfect control and through the laws Of Spiri t ual science was soon in full and free communication with the sane and happy mind of Lu rancy Vennum herself , who conversed with the grace and sweet ness of an angel , declaring herself to be in heaven . ’ In this condition she answered the doctor s ques n in tio s with reference to herself , her seemingly sane condition and the influences that controlled her, with great rationality and understanding . She regretted to have such evil controls around her. She said she k new the evil spirit calling itself K atrina and Willie and others . The doctor con n tin ed to suggest to her mind , things to prepare the way for a change O f influences , by enlighten ing and instructing her now while her mind was 20 THE WATSEKA WONDER

clear and in this superior condition , and then asked her, if she must be controlled , if it would not be better, if - it were p ossible , to have a higher, purer , happier, and more intelligent or rational control .

She said she would rather, if it could be so . Then on being advised , she looked about and inquired

Of those she saw , and described , and named , to ﬁnd some one who would prevent the cruel and insane ones from returning to annoy her and the family . “ She soon said ! There are a great many spirits ” here who would be glad to come , and she again proceeded to give names and descriptions of per sons long since deceased ; some that she had never known , but were known by Older persons present . On But , she said , there is e the angels desire should come , and she wants to come . On being asked if “ she knew who it was , she said ! Her name is Mary ” “ R ? OE . ROE Mr . being present , said That is my R daughter ; Mary OE is my girl . Why , she has been in heaven twelve years . Yes , let her came , ’ ” RO we ll be glad to have her come . Mr . E assured Lurancy that Mary was good and intelligent and would help her all she could ; stating further that

Mary used to be subject to conditions like herself . L r u ancy , after due deliberation and counsel with spirits , said that Mary would take the place of the r ROE fo mer wild and unreasonable influence . Mr . “ said to her ! H ave your mother bring you to my house and Mary will be likely to come along , and a mutual beneﬁt may be derived from our former ” experience with Mary . Thus reaching the sane Of mind the girl and through her, the sane minds of a better class Of spirits , a contract or agreement was made , to be kept sacred by the angels in heav ’ en and heaven s agents in the fl esh , by which a mortal body was to be restored to health ; a spirit , ’ - unfortunate in earth life , with twelve years ex

erience - p in spirit life, to have an amended earthly

22 THE WATSEKA WONDER

’ Venn s ROE and wanted to go home . To use Mr. um “ wards ! She seems like a child real homesick , ” wanting to see her pa and ma and her brothers . It now became necessary in the relation O f this narrative to give a brief sketch O f the life Of Mary ROE .

ROE Mary ROE , daughter of Asa D . and Ann , was born on the eighth day of October, 1 84 6, in Warren Of Co . , Ind . The family moved in November the c same year to Williamsport , Ind . , then e in Septem l l d ber, 1 84 7 , to Middleport , l . , where they reside V till June , 1 857 , when they removed to ictoria ,

Texas , in search Of relief for a sick child . In March , 1 85 8 , they returned to Gilman and remained there l l of d and at Onarga , l . , till the building the Tole o , P o ri n e a and Warsaw Railroad , when they retur ed to Middleport , November 8 , 1 859, and built the first house in the new town of South Middleport which now is part Of the City of Watseka , where they still reside . i 1 4 Old In the spr ng of 8 7 , when about six months , re Mary was taken sick and had a fit , in which she mained several hours . After the fit , she became conscious and lay several days without the family having much hope of her recovery . In two or three weeks she seemed to have entirely recovered . A o few weeks later she acted , on ne occasion , like a l t child going into a fit . The pupils Of her eyes di a ed , the muscles slightly twitched ; but it only lasted a few moments . From the age of about six months , h she had t ese spells as described , once in from three to five weeks , all the time increasing in force and violence , until her tenth year, when they proved to be real fits , having from one to three and some times four or five Of them within a peri od Of three or four days , when they would cease , and she would enjoy good health until the next period ap roached p . At these times , she for a few days would THE WATSEKA WONDER 23

seem sad and despondent , in which mood she would sing and play the most solemn music ! for with all the rest Of her studies , in which she was consider ed well advanced , she had learned music ! , and “ almost always would sing that beautiful song , We ” Are Coming , Sister Mary , which was a favorite with her.

When she was fifteen years Old , and the violence of the fits had increased , the parents said they could see her mind was aE ected during the melan chol y periods prior to the fits . Dr. Jesse Bennett , i now residing at Sparta , Wis . , and Dr . Frankl n

Blades , now Judge Of the E leventh Judicial Circuit

' of Illinois , and resident of Watseka , were employ O ed to attend her . Dr . N . S . Davis , f Chicago , and several other prominent physicians , had examined i her . They kept her in the water cure at Peor a , l ll . i ht e Of . e e , under the car Dr Nevins , for g n months , but all to no purpose . In the summer Of 1 864 she seemed to have almost a mania for bleeding herself for the relief , as she “ ” said , of the lump of pain in the head . Drs .

Fowler, Secrets and Pitwood were called and ap plied leeches . She would apply them herself to her temples , and liked them treating them like little pets , until she seemed sound and well .

Of On Satu rday morning , July 1 6, 1 864 , in one her despondent moods , she secretly took a knife t rrib with her to the back yard , and cut her arm e l i Oc y , until bleeding excessively , she fainted . Th s ’ un cured about nine o clock a . m . She remained ’ a conscious till two O clock p . m . , when she bec me i a rav ng maniac Of the most violent kind , in which ir condition she remained ﬁve days and nights , requ ing almost constantly the services Of ﬁve of the most able bodied men to hold her On the bed , although her weight was only about one hundred pounds , and she had lost nearly all her blood . 24 THE WATSEKA WONDER

When she ceased raving , she looked and acted quite natural and well , and could do everything she desired as readily and properly as at any th e in her life . Yet she seemed to know no one , and could not recognize the presence of persons at all , although the house was nearly ﬁlled with people night and day . She had no sense whatever or of sight , feeling hearing in a natural way , as was proved by every test that could be applied .

She could read blindfolded , and do everything as readily as when in health by her natural sight . She would dress , stand before the glass , Open and search drawers , pick up loose pins , do any and all things readily and without annoyance , under heavy l b indfolding s. 1 864 Near the time , in , when she cut her arm , ’ r ll while blindfold ed she took Dr. T a s encyclopedia , turned to the index , traced the column till she came “ ” to the word bl ood , then turned to the page indi cated and read the subject through . On another occasion she took a b ox of her letters received from sa her friends , and t d own , heavily blindfolded by critical , intelligent , investigating gentlemen , ex amined and read them without error or hesitancy . E ROE . . . e . When Rev J H Rh a , ditor A . J . Smith , Mr and others misplaced and promiscuously arranged ’ some Of their own letters with Mary s she at once proceeded to correctly draw out the intruded let ters and examine them . If wrong side up she would quickly turn them , and read the address there on , and throw violently away every letter n ot her own ; and re- arrange twenty or thirty letters in the o order she desired t have them . Rev . J . H . Rhea was s the Methodist mini ter in charge at the time ; A . G . “ Smith was editor Of the Iroquois County Republi ” “ ” can, now editor Of the Danville ! Ill . ! Times . She was also investigated by all the prominent Of citiz ens Watseka at that time . THE WATSEKA WONDER

With the physicians her peculiar state or con dition was called catalepsy . With the clergy it was ’ one Of the mysteries of God s providence , with which we should have little to do . With editors , who are obliged to be wise or silent , it was ﬁts or untir some unaccountable phenomenon . All , with ing eE ort , tried to solve the mystery and learn what it was that produced such strange and wonderful “ ” manifestations . The editor of the Danville Times , in a recent issue wr ites !

ROE N ow as to Mary , it was o ur fortune t o know the sweet s a o girl , who was her elf a cataleptic , and who di ed twelve years g . Disease dethroned her rea son and maddened her brain until she ’ s sought her own and others live , and the modest young lady was transformed into a screaming maniac . She had periods Of ex empti on from raving , and thus her aberrant mi nd conceived fan s cies Of the queerest hue , creating the most impossible being for ow as sociates, and conversing with them , she maintained her n side of the conversation in a usual tone O f voice , while imagination supplied her created a ssociates with language and intelligence . s di s When in thi s condition , her father and mother as erted the c o r s ve y that Mary could read a b O O k with its lids clo ed , and they s f desired u to test the correctness o what they claimed . We there fore took from o u r side pocket a letter inclo sed in an envelope , ‘ s to and holding it before her bandaged eyes , aid her , Mary , read ’ s the ignature to that letter . Immediately the proper name was pronounced. After remaining in the clairvoyant state above r to related fo three or four days , she came again her normal condition and in good health as she usually was , except the ﬁts . From this time she continued as she had been prior to cutting her arm . s Her ﬁts increased , and her parents were advi ed e to place her in the insane asyl m . 4 i On July 5 1 8 5 , while her parents were at Peor a , l l ’ l . on , a three days vi sit , she ate a heart y break fast , and soon thereafter lay down on her bed , and s in her usual health went to sleep . In a few minute she was heard to scream , as was usual on taking a

. c ﬁt On approa hing her bedside , they found her m a ﬁt , and m a few moments she expired . 26 TH E WATSEKA WONDER

We now return and take up the o riginal narra 1 1 878 tive where we left it , dating Feb ruary , , when it was ﬁr st seen that Mary ROE had control of ’ Lurancy s body , and teasing to go home . Could it be possible the gulf Of death had been bridged ! the gates Of heaven left open ? Had Mary , like Moses transﬁ uration ? and E lias , returned to a g Or, like “ ” the spirit Of one of the prophets , had she come with revelation to the grotto Of darkness in this benighted Patmos ? Were the unnumbered facts Of scriptural ages repeating themselves now ? Can “ ” we say with ! ob , A spirit passed before my face ?

E zekiel and Isaiah talked with the departed , Saul conversed with Samuel , Paul and the shepherds with spirits in the air, and can we talk with Mary ?

e e And the friends Of the family went up to s e, and “ ” answered , Yes ! t From the wild , angry, ungovernable girl , o be kept only by lock and key , or the most distressing

- watch care Of almost frantic parents ; or the rigid ,

- now corp se like cataleptic , as believed , the girl has b ecome mild , docile , polite and timid , knowing Of none the family , but constantly pleading to g o home . The best wisdom of the family was used to re convince her that she was at home , and must main . Weeping , she would not be paciﬁed , and only found contentment in going back to heaven , f as she said , or short visits .

o About a week after she took control f the body, R . E . . O r Mrs A B and her daughter, M s. M inerva ’ Alter, M ary s sister, hearing Of the remarkable e chang , went to see the girl . As they came in sight , far down the street , Mary , looking out of the win “ dow , exclaimed exultingly , There comes my ma ” and sister Nervie ! the name by which Mary used to call Mrs . Alter in girlhood . As they came into the house , she caught them around the necks , wept and cried for joy, and seemed so happy to meet THE WATSEKA WONDER 27

o them . From this time n she seemed more home sick than before . At times she seemed almost fran tic to go home . Finally some friends Of the family ’ o RoE s insisted n their sending her to Mr . , which they reluctantly consented to d o ; reluctantly be cause the girl was so much trouble and care , as she ennum had been all winter ; so much so that Mrs . V surviv was nearly prostrated , and could not have ed the care and anxiety many months longer, under ir the same state Of aE a s. They felt that it would be an imposition to send the girl to be cared for by ROE strangers , and especially so by Mrs . , as she was not able to take charge Of and care for a girl that made so much trouble as this one had for Mrs . V n e num .

Mr . and Mrs . ROE , with their hearts ever full of Of the milk human kindness , more ready to forgive than to censure , and braving the sneers and taunt ing innuendoes of an uneducated bigotry , with no other motive but one Of mercy and kindness , Opened their doors and hearts to receive the unfortunate e girl with her new control , having no hope or desir for reward but in the sense of a just sympathy for ri ght and truth . They remembered the precept , “ Forget not to entertain strangers , for thereby ” some have entertained angels . e On the eleventh day Of February , 1 878 , they s nt ’ “ the girl to Mr . RoE s, where she met her pa and ” Of ma , and each member the family , with the most gratifying expressions of love and aE ection , by words and embraces . On being asked how long “ she would stay , she said , The angels will let me ” stay till sometime in May ; and she made it her home there till May twenty - ﬁrst three months and ten days , a happy contented daughter and sister in r a bor owed body . ’ R . After the girl was at Mr. oE s, the Rev . Mr “ Vennum Baker said to Mr. , I think you will see 28 THE WATSEKA WONDER the time when you will wish you had sent her to ” the asylum . Mrs . Jolly said if she ever came home o l she would be more th ub e than ever. Another “ relative , more religious th an humane , said , I would sooner follow a girl Of mine to the grave than have ’ ” her go to RoE s and be made a Spiritualist . Dr .

Jewett called it catalepsy number two , which is as definite and convenient in explanation Of this case as is “humbug” in explanation Of any newly dis

‘ covered scientiﬁc truth unacceptable to popular “ ignorance . He said ! Humor her whims and she ” will get well . Some pru dent , two faced p eople “ non- would say , with a committal air, What strange ” freaks ! Others , with an exalted Opinion of their “ wonderful perceptions , would say , It is all put

” ‘ on , etc . , etc . Yet none of the persons expressing such opinions had ever called to see the girl , or derived any information from those in charge of her . w The girl no in her new home , seemed perfect ly happy and content , knowing every person and everything that Mary knew when in her original

- body, twelve years to twenty ﬁve years ago , recog n iz ing and calling by name those who were friends and neighbors of the fam ily from 1 852 to 1 865 , when Mary died , calling attention to scores , yes , hundreds Of incidents that transpired during her natural life . During all the period o f her sojourn ’ RoE at Mr. s she had no knowledge O f , and did not ’ recognize any of Mr. Vennum s family or neigh n bors , yet Mr . and Mrs . Ve num and their children ’ R e visited her and Mr. oE s p ople , she be ing intro c to to du ed them as any strangers . After frequent visits , and hearing them Often and favorably spoken of to , she learned love them as acquaint ances , and R visited them with Mrs . OE three times . From day l i to day she appeared natural , easy , aE ab e and n du stri o u s, attending diligently and faithfully to her

30 THE WATSEKA WONDER

M rs . Parker says that it was the ﬁrst allusion made to that matter, nothing having been said by any one on that subject , and says that Mary and M inerva “ used to come to their house and sit and sing , Mary ” r v had a little lamb , etc . Mrs . Dr . Alter ! Mine a ! says she remembers it well . This was when Mr .

ROE kept the postoffice , and could not have been Luranc later than 1 852, and twelve years before y was born . h ROE One evening in the latter part of Marc , Mr . was sitting in the room waiting for tea , and read ing the paper, Mary being out in the yard . He ask ed Mrs . ROE if she could find a certain velvet head dress that Mary used to wear the last year before she died . If so , to lay it on the stand and say noth ing about it , to see if Mary would recognize it . R Mrs . OE readily found and laid it on the stand . The girl soon came in and immediately exclaimed “ as she approached the stand ! Oh , there is my ” head - dress I wore when my hair was short ! She then asked “Ma where is my box of letters ? Have ” “ RO you got them yet ? Mrs E replied , Yes , Mary , ” o t I have some f them . She at once got the box wi h many letters in it . As Mary began to examine them “ she said , Oh , Ma , here is a collar I tatted ! Ma , why did you not show to me my letters and things ” before ? The collar had been preserved among the relics o f the lamented child as one of the beau tiful things her fingers had wrought before Lurancy was born ; and so Mary continually recogniz ed every little incident of her gir lhood . It will be remembered that the family moved to 1 re 85 . Texas in 7 Mr . ROE asked Mary if she membered moving to Texas or anything about it . “ Yes , pa , and I remember crossing Red River and Of seeing a great many Indians , and I remember ’ ’ ” Mrs . Reeder s girls , who were in our company . And thus she from time to time made first mention THE WATSEKA WONDER 3I

Of things that transpired thirteen to twenty - ﬁve RO years ago . On the nineteenth of February Mr. E addressed the writer as follows

ran You know how we took the poor, dear girl Lu cy ! Mary ! . s Some appreciate our motives , but the many , without inve tigation O f s and without knowledge the fact , cry out against us and against s the angel girl . Some say she pretend ; others that she is crazy and we hear that some say it is the devil . Mary i s perfectly happy ; she recognizes everybody and everything that she knew when in her body! twelve or more years ago . She knows nobody nor anything whatever that is known by Lurancy . Mr. V nu m has en been to see her , and al so her brother Henry , at dif ’ V n f n s . . e ere t time , but she don t know anything about them Mrs has num i s still unable to come and see her daughter . She been nothing but Mary since she has been here , and knows nothing but what Mary knew. She has entered the trance once every other ’ day for some days . She is perfectly happy . You don t l know how much comfort we take with the dear angel . to The child has Often said she likes Dr. Stevens next her father, because he opened the gate for her to come and in, and because he has done so much for her father ’ ' mother, and her brothers, and for Lurancy s body, and r feeling that gratitud e, she wrote him a letter by pe mis r sion of her pa ents, on the twentieth of February, in which she said !

I am yet here . Frank is better . N ervi e is here for i s rs s was dinner ; Alice Alter going to stay all night ; M . Mar h here s today and read a beautiful letter to us . I wi sh you could pend the evening with u s. I would like to have your picture to

. all look at Please write to pa when you get ti me . We send our love to you . I like it here very much , and am going to stay all the time . I went to heaven and staid about an

. s hour It eem s a long time since I saw you . Forget

. ! . me not ood night . MARY ROFF

- She wrote the doctor again on February twenty ﬁrst, of which the following is an extract !

I have just ﬁnished a letter to brother Frank . He went back to his store feeling quite well . The boys have gone out to play

. I n for a dance the evening I went to heaven , and I saw some s b of the beautiful thing , and talked with the angel s, and e ’ sure I don t forget when I go to heaven and come back . ‘ ’ — Fear the Lord depart from evil . Proverb

MARY ROFF. 32 TH E WATSEKA WONDER

It may have been said it was frequently the case that when Mary went to heaven, as she called it, other Spirits sometimes, by permission, would come and present them r selves, and speak f eely their own language and senti r ments . Mr. RoE w ites under date Of March, as follows, of a communication through another young lady at his house !

A lady came through at our house , who claimed to ﬂ have have lived and died in Tennessee , and says she was af icted s - ﬁv from eight year Of age till twenty e, when she died with a simi s e lar di sease , and in a imilar way that Mary di d . She says that f Lu ran c V nnum Mary has control o y e , and wi ll retain control until

~ sh h a . e i s restored t o her normal condition , w en M ry will leave ” ‘ Mary is happy as a lark , a nd gives daily , almost hourly, proofs ’ ’ ’ i ran c of being Mary s intelligence . She don t recogn ze Lu y s fami s i s h ly o r friends at all . She know and recogn ze everything t at Vennu our Mary u sed to know , and nothing whatever Of what the m s i i o f girl knows . She now enter the trance without any rig d ty the s s mu cle whatever , very gently, and at her own will , describes “

s s . w w Lu ranc heavenly cene , etc etc . We think 511 ill be ell , and y s re tored to her orthodox friends yet. Some o f the relatives ’ are yielding by Mary s calling their attention t o things o f thirteen

s . year ag o , that transpired between her and them It wakes them to up . It i s wonderful . It would take a volume give the important items that have occurred .

Mrs n f 1 1 878 . Dr. Alter, u der date o April 6, , writes Of Mary as follows !

s s s My angel i ter ays that she is going away fr om us again soon , she s s she h s Lu ranc but ay will e often with us . She say y is a s she o beautiful girl ; say sees her nearly every day , and we d know sh i s s e getting better every day . Oh , the les on s that are being taught us are worth trea sures o f rare diamonds ; they are stamped upon the mind so ﬁrmly that heaven and earth shall pass away be fore o ne jo t o r o ne title shall be forgotten . I have learned so i s much that grand and beautiful , I cannot express it ; I am dumb . A few days ago Mary was caressing her father and mother , and they became a little tired of it , and asked why she ss hugged and ki ed them . She sorrowfully looked at them , and “ s said , Oh , pa and ma ! I want to kiss you while I have lip to kiss b bu ou you with , and u g you while I have arms to g y with , for I am going back to heaven before lo ng , and then I can only be l with you in spirit , and you will not a ways know when I come , and I cannot love you as I can now . Oh , how much I love ” you all ! THE WATSEKA WONDER

r r . Ma y w ote to Dr Stevens, in an envelope with Mr. ROE under date of May seventh as follows ! , — , D o ctor z I Dear thought I would write you . I am at Aunt ’ Carrie s ; am going to take dinner with her . Yesterday I Venn went and spent the day with Mrs . um . She had a dreadful headache and I rubbed it away . Pa i s quite busy in his Ofﬁce today . Ma is feeling a good deal better . I am feeling quite s well , except my brea t hurts me some today . It commenced hurt i ing me la st night . I treat ma in the morning and Nerv e s at night for hard cold and cold feet . We all went to the Reform ’ Club last Saturday . Aunt Carrie s e ssay was splendid , and very “ - Philo so affecting . We all read that letter in the Religio hic al ! . p ournal from your daughter , and liked it very much

MARY ROFF .

In the same letter Mr. ROE writes

I want to give you a little scene ; ti me Monday morning , May ’ o s R E sixth ; place , A . B . R E s Ofﬁce , Watseka ; pre ent , A . B . O at

R R . table writing ; Frank O E at table at the right Of A . B . ; door B o f behind A . . , and a little to the left ; enters unheard the person RO E Luran cy Vennum ; places her arm around the neck o f A . B . , “ s Vennu m kissing him and aying , Pa , I am going with Mrs . to ” s R s vi it today ; A . B . O E looks around and discover standing in ’ Mr Ve m Lu ranc o n . the door s. nnu , y s mother , looking the scene

- The girl then bade an affectionate good by to Frank ; A . B . R . ” “ s ? s wo o r a ks ! H ow long will you stay She replie , Till t three ’ “

O . RO E ! s clock Mrs . Vennu m then said to Mr . If she doe not ’ ” get back at that time , don t get alarmed , we will take care of her . E ’ xit Mrs . V. and the girl . You don t know how my heart aches she was s for that poor mother , yet she is much happier than la t winter with Lu rancy as she was .

f r s r On May seventh , the day o w iting the la t lette , r r Mary called Mrs. ROE to a private oom, and the e in tears told her that Lurancy Vennum was coming not back . She seemed very sad , and said she could tell whether she was coming to stay or not ; that if she thought she was Coming to stay , she would want to see Nervi e and Dr. Alter and Allie and bid them - b good y . She sat down , closed her eyes and in a few L ranc moments the change took place , and u y had

‘ control of her own body . Looking wildly around the room she anxiously asked ! “ Where am I ? I was never here before .

Mrs . ROE replied 34 TH E WATSEKA WONDER

“ ’ Ro You are at Mr E s, brought here by Mary to cure your body . She cried and said “ I want to g o home . R Mrs . OE asked her if she could stay till her folks were sent for. She said ” No . She was then asked if she felt any pain in her breast . ! This was during the period that Mery was suE ering pain in the left breast ; continually hold ing her hand , pressing it . ! She replied “ No , but M ary did .

In about five minutes the change was again made , r ov r o erm itt and Ma y came . e j yed to find herself p to ed return , and called , as she Often had , for the ’ singing of her previous girlhood s favorite song , “ ” We are Coming , Sister Mary . The child seemed possessed Of all the natural aE ect ion for the family that a daughter and sister Of fine fee lings and cultured tastes might be sup posed to possess after an absence Of twelve years and she Often took occasion to demonstrate that aE ec tion by endearing names and kindly words . When t N walking wi h Mrs . Alder her sister ervi e as she “ called her, she would say , Nervie, my Only sister “ Nervie put your arm around me . Or, Come, , put your arm around me and we will take a little

walk in the garden or the grove , for I cannot be wi th y ou much longer and I want to be with y ou ” every minute I can . When Mrs . Alter would ask w or her hen where she was going , she would say , “ I The angels tell me I am going t o heaven , but ’ how don t know just when . Oh , I wish y ou could live here at home with us as y ou used to when I ” was here before . She thought a great deal of Dr.

Alter , the husband of her sister, but could hardly seem to realize that Nervie was marri ed and had THE WATSEKA WONDER 35

had a family for eleven years . She said when she g ot into this body she felt much as she did when a here twelve years go . This body seemed as nat ural to her as though she had been born with it , yet she could not d o with it as she would like to .

She did not seem to realize at ﬁrst , but that this was her own original , physical body , until the angels infor explained it to her, and she had received mation and instructions from her parents , sister, o brother and friends about it . S natural did it seem to her, after knowing all the facts , that she could hardly feel it was not her original body born nearly thirty years ago . In conversation with the writer about her for i mer life , she spoke Of cutting her arm as here nbe fore stated , and asked if he ever saw where she did it . On receiving a negative answer, she proceed ed to slip up her sleeve as if to exhibit the scar, but suddenly arrested the movement , as if by a sudden “ i no thought , and qu ckly said , Oh , this is t the arm ; ” that one is in the ground , and proceeded to tell where it was buried , and how she saw it done and who stood around , how they felt , etc . , but she did

not e . RO fe l bad I heard her tell Mr . E and the i fr ends present , how she wrote to him a message some years ago through the hand Of a medium ,

giving name , time and place . Also of rapping and ou spelling t a message by another medium , giving ad time , name , place etc . , etc . , which the parents mitted to o be true . I heard her relate a story Of her g

ing into the country with the men , some twenty Odd a o o years g , after a load f hay , naming incidents

that occurred on the road , which two of the gentle

men distinctly remembered . In one Of those beautiful trances which rendered en her t1 rely oblivious to all physical surr oundings ,

appearing in a state Of happy ecstasy, and , so far

as manners and movements are concerned , perfect 36 TH E WATSEKA WONDER

ly normal and graceful , with visions and senses fully Open , she went to heaven as she called it , in company with another young lady in like condition , whose name must be reserved until the wonderful history she is making , shall be made public by the consent of all . They saw and conversed about the o beautiful scenes before them , pointing ut individ nal s, giving names , relationship , histories , facts , i etc . , describing places and things . M ary po nted out and described so me with titles Of royalty , such

IV. as Mary , ! ueen Of Scots , Henry , King Of France , and others Of equal note , showing a rich biograph ical and historical reading or experience and ao

t i - l ow quain ance in sp rit life . Then bowing , and kneeling with hands folded , and heads together , as if in the most devout and solemn devotion r e f mained in listening silence or some time , then ris ing , the unnamed girl said ! “ ’ to He came bless , didn t he , Mary ? a bright b eautiful angel . After talking Of the diE erent classes they were “ ” Observing , and the lovely children attracting so much Of their attention , M ary seemed to take in her “ r a ms a very little , tender infant and said ! This ’ is sister Nervie s baby ; how sweet and beautiful it ’ ” is . Don t y ou think it is a sweet little angel ? “ The other, in softest accent said , Yes , but it seems to me they are all too pure to be touched by such ” as we , and after some time the babe was carefully handed back to the care of the angels . Mrs . Alter, who a was present , had recently lost by death , a be u iful babe and had scarcely recovered from her con ﬁne n me t . The whole scene was one Of uncommon interest , very aE ecting and impressive beyond de scription .

For the discovery Of facts unknown to others , M ary seemed remarkably developed . One after noon , she , with much concern and great anxiety ,

38 THE WATSEKA WONDER

relatives was not intended for the public , yet was a beautiful evidence of angel guardianship . She stat ed the story minutely , saying that was where and ’ fo s when she got Mrs . Wood s name , r she was pre ent with others she named . ’ The doctor s daughter Emma Angelia , who had

- 1 0 1 84 9 been in spirit life since March , , sought through Mary to take the body she was controlling and go home with her father to Wisconsin , to visit the family for a week , and Mary was disposed to let RO her do it ; she asked Mr . and Mrs E if she should let E mma Stevens have the body for a week to go se with her father to e and be with her mother, sisters and brother, so they could realize it was

Emma ? But no one thought it advisable . o TO sh w the ease with which Mary controls , or goes in and ou t , as it is said , and the perfect me r nc dium the body Of Lu a y is , a single instance will

- ﬁr suE ice. On the twenty st day of April , in the par

ROE . of . lors Of Mrs . , in the presence Mr and Mrs

RO E , their hired woman Charlotte , Dr. Steel and Twin wife , Mrs . g Of Oregon , Mrs . Alter, Mr . and

Mrs . M and the writer, manifestations of a very peculiar and happy character occurred . Mary be ing the last one to join the company in the parlor, took the only vacant seat , next to a gentleman friend . Dr . Steel became influenced by a brother

Of one Of the persons present , and made a very strik o ing address , with a good deal f energy and pathos . On his becoming disentranced and entering into the general conversation , Mary voluntarily disembodied ’ her controlling power, and leaving the girl s form like a corpse , with the head resting against the o shoulder Of her friend , immediately took control f

Dr . Steel , and in every possible way required prov ed it to be herself ; she then through that manly form , turned in a jovial way and laughed at the position O f the seemingly untenanted body and its TH E WATSEKA WONDER 39

limp condition , with a pleasant jest at the friend

who supported it . She soon , however, returned to her own proper control and seemed to enjoy the trick

she had played , in the control Of the gentleman . a In a few moments she appeared peculiar, and c ll

ing the hired woman to follow her, they left the

- room . Soon she returned clad in an Old fashioned

way , with gown , cap , cape and spectacles , etc . , lean ing on the arm Of Charlott e as if bowed down with

many years . Not one trace Of the girl could be seen s ave in the youthful skin of the face . Taking a seat O ld in the arm chair, she began to talk as an Old

lady Of Olden times might be supposed to d o, rep

- resenting herself as the grand mother of Charlotte ,

giving her name , inquiring after all the relatives , Old

and young , asking by name for tho se belonging to

families the girl could have known nothing about . Said she died of cancer near the right eye and tem ple ; called for tepid water and soft cloth , which being furnished , proceeded in the most natural man to ner bathe and dress the cancer . She called for food and ate it , apparently without teeth , smoked after it , as she used to do , because her foo d always hurt her if she did not . She asked for knitting work . It being furnished , she found fault because n ou t the knitter did ot know how to knit . Raveling and taking up again she knit , at the same time telling Charlotte how to knit without looking at it .

She next asked for mending and other things to do , ’ looked at the fabric of the ladies dresses , asking the prices , etc . , etc . She looked out at the window , s con remarked how pleasant a place it was, and o tinued f r o o a full hour, never f r a moment showing f any sign O deception , but a veritable , honest , ex erienced O p domestic ld lady . Numerous other per sonali i i i n t es i s E c e . m ght be related , but this is u t When inquired of as to form materialization she

said it was a truth , though she had never tried it 4 0 TH E WATSEKA WONDER

because she did not know how , but should learn how when she found an opportunity . ’ o con During her stay at Mr. R E s her physical dition continually improved , being under the care and treatment of her supposed parents and the ad vice and help of her physician . She was ever Obe dient to the government and rules Of the family , like a careful and wise child , always keeping in the com f t pany o f some o the family , unless to g O in o the w nearest neighbors across the street . She as often t f m invited and wen with Mrs . ROE to visit the ﬁrst a i lies of the city , who soon became satisﬁed that the

n o - girl was t crazy , but a ﬁne , well mannered child . The manner in which she acted for a considerable R ’ time after coming into Mr . oE s family was very

- o strange to many . Sitting down to the tea table n o n ROE e occasion , Mrs . said ! “ ? ” Now , Mary , what shall I help you to She answered “ ’ u Oh , nothing , I thank y o , ma . I ll g o to heaven f or my tea . Suiting the action to the word O E she went into a quiet trance or to heaven as she termed it and so remained till the family had eaten when she return i ed to her normal state . Be ng again asked she said she had been to tea and the question was put “ ” d o Mary , what d o you eat , and how o y u eat it ? Her answer was ” 0 ma , if I could tell , y ou could n ot understand it . for And thus some time she only ate in that way , except a very little occasionally , to pacify the anx ious family . As h er system became in better con dition , she ate more freely , and for many weeks to wards the last she ate , drank and slept as a healthy person should . As the time drew near for the restoration Of Lu o rancy to her parents and home , Mary would s me times seem to recede into the memory and manner O f TH E WATSEKA WONDER 4 l

Lurancy for a little time , yet not enough to lose her ’ identity or permit the manifestation o f Lurancy s mind , but enough to show she was impressing her ow presence upon her n body . “ ” nc On being asked , Where is Lura y ? she would “ ” “ o o say, Gone ut some where , r, She is in heaven ” o taking lessons , and I am here taking lessons to .

- On Sunday , May nineteenth , about half past four ’ R E O clock p . m . , Mr . O and Mary were sitting in the ’ Vennum Lur nc parlor, Henry , a y s brother, being in the sitting room , another room and hall between . r c Mary left control , and Lu an y took full possession

Of her own b ody . Henry was called in and she caught him around his neck , kissed and wept over him , o causing all present t weep . At this juncture Mr . ROE was called and asked Lurancy if she could stay till Henry could go and bring her mother ! she had expressed a desire to g o and see her father and “ ” NO mother . ! She said , , but if Henry would go and bring her, she would come again and talk with her. She immediately left and Mary came again . re When Mary was asked where she had been , she “ plied , I have seen Dr . Stevens and he looks as good ” as ever again . Vennu Mrs . m was brought within an hour, and Luranc on her arrival , y came into full control , when one of the most aE ecting scenes ever witnessed took place . Mother and daughter embraced and kissed each other, and wept until all present shed tears of sympathy ; it seemed the very gate Of heaven .

o - ﬁr RO On the morning f May twenty st , Mr. E writes as follows ’ t o Mary is leave the body of Rancy today , about eleven O clock ,

- so she says. She is bidding neighbors and friends good by . Ran

cy to return home all right today . Mary came from her room i i ’ upsta rs where she was sleeping with Lott e , at ten o clock last s s s night, lay down by u , hugged and kis ed u , and cried because

- she mu st bid us good by , telling us to give all her pictures , mar

- s s ﬁ s. Vennum ble and card , and twenty ve cents Mr had given her ,

o . to Rancy, and had us promise t visit Rancy Often She tells me 42 THE WATSEKA WONDER

s l to write to Dr . Steven as fol ows . Tell him I am going to heaven , and Rancy is coming home well . She says she will i 1 n - s she see your dear ch ldren spirit life ; say saw you Sunday last. “ She said last night , weeping , Oh , pa , I am going to ’ heaven tomorrow at eleven O clock , and Rancy is coming back ” cured , and going home all right . She talked most lovingly about the separati on to take place , and most beautiful was her tal k about heaven and home .

Mrs . Alter writes

When the day came , and the angels told Mary that Lu rancy was coming to take full possession of her body , it seemed to make her feel very sad. She went to the residences of Mr . L . C . Marsh H o ober - b and Mr . M . , to say good y, telling them the angels had said the body was cured , and Lurancy was coming to go home “ and live with her parents again , all well ; yet she says , I feel sad l at parting with you all , for you have treated me so kind y ; you have helped me by your sympathy to cure this body, and Rancy ” can come and inhabit it . This shows that the angels can help the c hildren Of H oob r i earth . Mr . M . e being a pious Christ an gentleman , and loving Mary for her sweet influence in his family, came into the room and asked if she would like to sing with him and his good wife . She said “ O Yes , I am so sad , but when I g to heaven all ” tears shall be wiped away , and I will be happy .

After singing they all knelt down , and Mr . “ oo r c H be made a very aE e ting prayer, saying , If it o r o can be that an angel is in u midst , and about t

- leave us and go and join her own in spirit life , will ! od in his goodness allow her to bear a message of love to my angel father and loved ones who may , fo r all we can see , be hovering around ou r household ” at this moment . He hoped we would all be better and wiser, and when Lurancy should come back to r her normal condition , would be better fo the strange and new lessons she has learned . M ary has sent word to her sister Nervie to come ’ to her father s to stay an hour with her, to say good by , and when Rancy should come back at eleven ’ ’ to O clock , take her to Mr. Roff s office , and he would THE WATSEKA WONDER 4 3

’ “

Vennu . ! gO to Mr . m s with her Mary said I will come in spirit as clo se to you as I can, and comfort ou in sorrow and ou will feel me near y ou some 7, t1m es. When eleven O ’ clock came she seemed loth to go

. r o or let Rancy go back Mrs . Altar sta ted to g he home and Mary started with her . When in t yard , “ o ou Mrs . A . said ! Mary , y u have always done as y ’ said y ou would , but as I don t understand these things , will y ou please let Lurancy co me back just ” now, and then you can come again if y ou want to ? “ ” M ary said ! Yes , I will , and she kissed mother and

- sister good by . “ o A voice said , Why , Mrs . Alter, where are we g ” “ i n ? g Then in a breath , Oh , yes , I know , Mary told me ! ”

H oob r On the way they met Mrs . Marsh and Mrs . e , who were the nearest neighbors and Mary ’ s favorite Lu ranc no o’ re friends ; y did t seem to kn ,w them , but “ ” marked , Mary thinks so much Of these neighbors . n r n Then turni g to Mrs . Alter, with whom Lu a cy had been but slightly acquainted two years ago , she said ,

Mrs Alter, Mary can come and talk to y ou nearly all the way home , if you want her to , and then I will ” . one come back She spoke , and appeared like “ slightly acquainted . Mrs . Alter said ! I have trusted you in the past , and of course I would love to talk W ” ith my sister . “ The change was again made , and Mary said , I ” d o to love be with y ou so much .

She talked lovingly , and gave good advice about many things and family matters . The ﬁnal change now o t ok place at the time predicted , and Lu rancy stated she felt something as though she had been e asle p , yet she knew she had not . On reaching Mr . ’ RoE s oE ice ROE , she addressed him as Mr . , and asked if he would take her home , which he did . tw - c May enty se ond , Mr. ROE writes me as follows 44 THE WATSEKA WONDER

! od Thank and the good angels , the dead is alive and the lost ’ e ou - is found . I mail d y a letter yesterday at half past ten O clock

M . A . , stating that Mery told us she would go away , and Rancy ’ - ﬁrst f o return at eleven O clock the twenty o May . N w I write ’ o - y u that at half past eleven O clock A . M . , Minerva called at my Vennum ofﬁce with Rancy , and wanted me to take her home,

di d . Mr R which I She called me . O E , and tal ked with me as a n ot young girl would , being acquainted . I asked her ho w things to —if appeared her they seemed natural . She said it seemed li ke a dream to her . She met her parents and brother in a very af f c i nat s e t o e manner , hugging and ki sing each o ne in tears o f glad ’ ss s ne . She clasped her arm around her father s neck a long time , s fairly smothering him with ki ses . I saw her father just now ’

. s she has ! eleven O clock! He ays been perfectly natural , and Yo seem s entirely well . u see my faith in writing you yesterday morning in stead Of waiting till she came . The Watseka “ Republican” says aE ect n The meeting with her parents at the home was very i g, h s s t o l and n o w s e eem be a hea thy , happy little girl , going about s sh saw wa noting thing e before she s stricken , and recognizes

s s . s s change that have ince taken place Thi is a remarkable ca e, s s and the fact that we cannot understand such thing , doe not do away with the exi stence of these unaccountable manifestations. “ ” The Danville ! Ill . ! Times, in speaking of this case, says R O E Mr . and Mrs . are Spiritualists , and stoutl y maintain that ’ their daughter s ability to penetrate closed books and letters in f u n the manner indicated, was imparted by the inhabitants O the seen world . We have no ﬁxed Opinion as to whether Spiritualism

s . is fal e or true Certain it is , that occurrences are upon record s at which are hard to explain upon any natural hypothesi , but ’ s s n o t. tributable to pirit aid . Let those say who know, for we do s al s s In pite Of all Opposition , Spiritu ist have increa ed in numbers , ss s nor are they conﬁned to the illiterate cla e , but embrace poets , scholars and statesmen . Let u s hope the unharmful truth will s early a sert a gloriou s reign , and illuminate the darkened under standing O f men . “ The I riquois County ! I ll . ! Times , under the head “ o Of Mesmeric Mysteri es , and in reference t Luran cy Vennum says !

re a Mr . and Mrs . Roff kindl y O E e d to t ke charge of her until her mind would change , and she would become well again . She

. went there in February , and remained till about three weeks ago m Since then she has been Lu rancy Vennu , and is healthy and full s O f intelligence . It was hard for even the most keptical not to believe there was something supernatural about her . If she

4 6 TH E WATSEKA WONDER

so well . Let them twine around your neck their arms and press upon your brow their kiss . Well , Doctor, you have many

1 n s w . dear friends thi city who love you much . I sa Mrs . M

She said she would have died if it had not been for you , and you

l . know about Mrs . We know you saved her life K iss your loving wife for me , and tell her we shall all m eet in

n . r Ro . heaven if not o earth I shall vi sit M s. E tomorrow I shall have my picture taken and send it t o you in my next letter . I get up early and take the morning air . I should like to have you write a line to me .

Your friend ,

LURAN CY VE NNUM .

r t iEerent in This letter, w i ten in pencil, is very d its make- up and penmanship form those written by the r f same hand , signed by Ma y Ro f, and gives evidence of another mind .

Since penning the foregoing, the writer has received the following letter from the mother of Lurancy, through the politeness of Mr. Roff !

l ll . ! 9 1 8 7 8 . — Watseka , , uly , ! riend z Vennu Dear Mary L . m is perfectly and entirely well , and perfectly natural . ! o r two o r three weeks after her return sh home , e seemed a little strange to what she had been before was l she taken sick last summer , but on y , perhaps , the natural s change that had taken place within the girl , and except it eemed '

as h in . to her though s e had been dreaming o r sl eep g , etc Luran c s y has been smarter, more intelligent, more indu trious , more i o f womanly and more polite than before . We give the cred t her

s i t E . . complete cure and re torat on o her family, to Dr . W Stevens to and Mr . and Mr s. Roff , by their obtaining her removal Mr ’ f s Ro f where her cure was perfected . We ﬁrmly believe that had sh o r she remained at home , e would have died , we would have so she been obliged t o send her t o the in sane a sylum , and if , that i f n o t would have d ed there and urther , that I could have lived but a short time with the care and trouble devolving on me . o f s ran c s s n o w Several the relative o f Mary Lu y , including our elve , sh con believe e was cured by spirit power , and that Mary Roff

I A VE NNUM . MRS. LUR ND trolled the girl .

of Mr f On the tenth— July . Ro f writes a D o cto r z Mr V m i s o u t o f De r . en nu town , but I have often s talked with him , and I know hi s opinion , often expre sed , that Lu ran cy and her mother would both have died if we had not

taken the girl ; he gives all credit to yourself and us for it. He Lu ranc i s believe s it was spirit agency that did the work . y in “ ” l so perfect health , and much more woman y than before ! her THE WATSEKA WONDER 4 7

s mother says ! . She ays she used to romp and play with her brothers , and with the horses , etc . Now she is steady ; you can hardly imagine how the dear girl loves tho se who saved her . She sends you a letter today, but think s it a little strange you have not answered her last letter . Yours , etc . , A . B . Roff . r In the foregoing letter refe red to, the child writes

I am quite well , and much obliged that you showed my letter s to your dear wife . I am sure there i s nothing for me to be a ham ’

o f. s ed l was down to Mr . M s tore , and he told me you ’ s saved his wife life, and they appreciate it . Will you want me to give you my description of heaven ? I will sometime , when ’ there are but few present . I can t write it , for I make so many ’ . cal . mistakes I made a short l at Mrs . Alter s Please ask i ’ your daughter to wr te to me . Can t y ou bring your wife when ? you come Poor Mr . Wicker sham still lives . We should pity such mortals . My aunt says I know all that has transpired , but none know but the angels and you . Your friend ,

VENNUM. MARY L . CORROBORATION OF TH E NARRATIVE BY LEADING WITNESSES 1 878 in On the evening of the sirdteenth of July , , un the parlors of Asa B . Roff and his wife , we , the d r i e s gned , met and listened to the careful reading and consideration of the foregoing narrative , and declare it to be entirely true and correct in every n ow i respect ; and further, that after e ght weeks of home life , Lurancy Vennum remains well and sound in body and mind .

! Signed ! ASA . B . ROF F ,

ANN ROF F , V M THOMAS J . ENNU , RINDA VENNUM LU . l ll Watseka , Iroquois Co . , . , 1 8 1 8 8 July , 7 .

To the Reader ! The writer has collected the fore going facts from a mass of interesting incidents , which might be much enlarged upon , but he is satis ed with the few incidents that involve principles hitherto discussed by the philosophic world , and sends them out to make a chapter in the literature 4 8 THE WATSEKA WONDER

th of Spiritualism . H e has this day seen e family , of Venn including the subject the narrative . Mrs . um ’ has gone to Indiana for a week s rest and visit , and left Lurancy in charge of the family and house , a healthy , happy , noble girl . E . W I NCH ESTER STEVENS .

July 1 9, 1 878 .

SUPPLE M ENTARY E E ! STAT M NT BY ASA B . ROF “ To the Editor of the Religio - Philosophical J ourn al Being almost dail y in receipt of letters from read “ ” ers of the Journal , inquiring as to the trut hfulness “ ” of the narrative entitled , The Watseka Wonder, and not having time to fully answer all their ques o tions , I am impelled to collect from them the pr mi t f re nen points o inquiry and objection , and briefly “ ” ply through the Journal . Persons hereafter writ w ing me , ho d o n ot receive an answer to their letters , will seek for the inform ati oon desired in this article . “ One writer inquires ! Is it a fact , or is it a story ” made up to see how cunning a tale one can tell ? “ Another asks ! Can the truthfulness of the narrative be substantiated outside of yourself and tho se im mediately interested ? Can it be shown that there no n was collusion between the parties , and o former ” “ ” acquaintance A reader of the Journ al suggests “ It is a pretty big yarn , and there might be some ar rangement between the parties , or they themselves ” e d ceived . Another after saying he has read the r “ nar ative , remarks ! I confess that I am n ot of your faith , and I am very doubtful whether newspapers are always embodiments of sacred truths , and I wish o that under your hand , as a gentleman , y u might r to conﬁ m me and other doubting friends , the strange , mysterious , and to me , fanciful , statements ln those two papers . I write wholly to overcome a doubting feeling that exists within myself and TH E WATSEKA WONDER 49

friends in regard to that remarkable and wonderfu l i “ personation . A lady wr tes ! Is the acco unt true in every p articular ? I hope there i s a life beyond ” this , but I have never had any proof .

I furnished Dr . Stevens with all the material facts in the case , except such as were within his own knowledge . The history of the Vennum family ! and ’ Lurancy s condition up to the time he and I went to see her January 3 1 st ! , I obtained from the members thereo f , and the neighbors intimately acquainted

wi . th them . The narrative , as written by Dr Stevens , is substantially true in every point and part icular, yet the half has not been told , and never can be ; it is impossible for pen to describe or language portray the wonderful events that transpired during the memorable fourteen weeks that the girl was at our house . The material facts of the case can be sub st i w ant ated by disinterested itnesses , whose veracity cannot be questioned , and whose evidence would set tle in a court of law . I refer y ou to Robert Doyle ,

Charles Sherman , S . R . Hawks , Lile Marsh , J . M . H oo r be , and their wives , and to Mrs . Mary Wagoner, formerly Mary Lord , all residents of Watseka . As “ ” “ ” “ to collusion , arrangement , or ourselves being ” o see deceived , that is simply impossible , as y u will if y ou carefully read the whole narrative over again . “ t oo I , , doubt whether newspapers are always em ” bodi s m ents of sacred truths , but i n this case I as ure “ ” the writer, the Journal does embody a very sacred ’ truth , that of man s immortality .

Talking with Mary , we sometimes Spoke of her “ ” death . She would quickly reply ! I never died , or “ ” I did not die . She never tired of talking of the

life beyond this . She would at any time leave her o play , her reading r her jovial companions , to talk ‘ ‘ ” ” a “ with her p or ma about heaven and the angels , 50 TH E WATSEKA WONDER

i - as she termed spir t life , and spirits that have left the body .

I have questioned Lurancy Vennum on diE erent occasions , as to whether she remembered anything that occurred during the time that Mary had control of her organism , and she stat ed that a very few things occurring the last month that she was con infor trolled , she recollects , but that in all cases the r mation was imparted by Ma y .

In conclusion , let me say to those who doubt or “ disbelieve the strange , mysterious and wonderful ” ’ story ! Call to mind Lurancy s condition at her home a last January , surrounded with all the kind c re of parents , friends and physicians , every thing done to alleviate her suffering and perform a cure that hu

d rowin man minds and hands could possibly d o , y et g g continually worse ! if that were possible ! , given up by her physicians , her friends without a ray of hope , the insane asylum ready to receive her, a condition terrible to behold ! Then view her condition from - ﬁr M ay twenty st until today , over three months , a a bright , be utiful , happy , healthy girl , and then tell n fum me what produced the cha ge . The narrative ishes the facts; account for them if you can on any other hypothesis , than power exercised through or by the sp irit of Mary Roff having control of Luran ’ cy s body .

I am n ow sixty years old ; have resided in Iroquois n o county thirty years , and would not w sacriﬁce what reputation I may have by being a party to the l of n o pub ication such a narrative , if it was t per fectl y true . If any should desire testimonials of my standing , Colonel Bundy has some to u se as he deems be st . ASA B . RO FF . l Watseka , l l . , 23 1 August , 878 . THE WATSEKA WONDER 5 l

“ - s l ! ! Religio Philo ophica ournal , Au gust 3 1 , E N HONORABL ME TION OF ASA B . ROFF

The name of this gentleman has lately become of much interest to our readers in connection with the case of Ln r ancy Vennum. From a somewhat lengthy biographical “ O sketch of Mr. R E , published last January in the Iro ” uois i q County T mes, a paper printed at Watseka, we make the following extracts

h s A gentleman now in i s ixti eth year , though with a heart as young and happy as that o f a child ; agr eeable , generous full s and of ympathy, he i s respected by all who know him , while his more intimate friends love and honor him for his personal worth . His present enviable standi ng among his fellow men is entirely owing to his indomitable energy and integrity of i purpose . H s family is a most exemplary one ; all who know them love them ; no family in our community are more happy in their

domestic relations . May it ever be so with them .

The above extracts in connection with the following ’ t r l R E s r i le te s, wou d seem to establish Mr. o eputat on for truth and veracity beyond all question

1 7 22 8 8 . Watseka , Ill . Aug . , Editor Rel—igio- Philosophical Journal Dear Sir Many inquiries are made of me as to the

standing of Mr. Asa B . ROE . These questions are elicited

through the publication in your Journal of Dr. E . W. ’ Stevens s account of Mary RoE and Lurancy Vennum

phenomena. I wish to say to you that no man in this community stands higher in the estimation of the people a - r th n Mr. ROE . He is a high minded , hono able gentle man who would spurn to give currency to any thing not e ’ R v riﬁed by facts . I don t believe Mr. OE capable of e 'e V a m an act. It is not in his natm . ery truly yours,

MATT HEW H . PETERS . “ ” f o Mayor o Watseka, and Edit r Iroquois Times. 1 Chicago, lll . , Aug . 22, 878. 52 THE WATSEKA WONDER

I have been personally acquainted with Asa B . ROE n t since the year 1 858 , and take pleasure in stati g hat his charact er and reputation for truth and veracity is good .

CHARLE S H . WOOD .

- s ! Ex Judge ! Twentieth Circuit of Illinoi . 1 2 2 La Salle Street.

We have also received letters speaking in the highest i e terms of Mr. ROE and family, from the follow ng g ntle

- f Ex n 0 . . men O Watseka ! O . F. McN eil], Cou ty Judge ; C t hall rn - at , Postmaster ; Robert Doyle, Atto ey Law ; n o Joh W . Riggs, Circuit Clerk ; Henry Butzow, C unty r r a Cle k , Thomas Vennum, former Circuit Clerk , F an

Blad es, Judge of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit , M . B . i Wr ght, County Judge. “ Editor Religio - Philosophical Journal — E ditorial Note l Believing that tho se w ho read ’ the account of Luran cy Venn um s ca se as published o n i n ow eight years ag , as well as thousa ds who w ll for read it the first time, woul d be interested in tra cing the subject of such unusual experi ences through succeeding years , the publisher addressed a letter n R of i quiry to Mr . A . B . OE . That gentleman hav in g sec ured such information as he could from her a hi o p rents and others , adds it to s wn and brings the history of Lurancy Vennum down to date . His statement as given belowcan be fully substantiated i and is ent tled t o conﬁdence . lll Watseka, . , Dec. 4 , 1 886 .

I n t t o N i your let er me of ovember n nth , you sa id “ ! l 1 6 1 8 8 t s ﬁ Lu ran c Ven On u y , 7 , you and o her certi ed to y ’ i nu m s good health and sound mind. W ll you give me a brief ? statement of her hi story from then unti l now H as she had any ? t s s si re urn of ym ptom I s she a medi um now , or has she been nce ? 1 8 8 s l 7 , at any time What is the tate of her hea th , and what ? has it been since 1 8 7 8 Has she any rememb rance of her old ? ” ex perience whil e controlled by the spirits l For convenience I will not answer queries categori ca ly, but L r Vennu m s in narrative form . u an cy continued to—re ide with her 1 8 8 re parents in Watseka and vicinity , from May, 7 when she

54 TH E WATSEKA WONDER

said to Dr . Stevens in our pre sence “ You are going to get a letter from heaven . “ ? ” He asked , When “ ’ I don t know ; but you will get one, she replied. n Two or three weeks later Dr . Steve s again came to our house and then related to Lu ran cy ! Mary! and us that he had received s s the letter at ome place where he tayed over night . He saw in the morning while making hi s toilet a lett er , seemingly hanging in the air, yet in plain writing , and signed by a noted French s s phy ician ! who e name we have forgotten! , who died many years t ago . The let er contai ned directions for treating a physical ail Luranc s w S. as ment of y , which Dr . , had lost ight of . It with difficulty that the family and the Doctor g o t the con sent o f the o controlling spirit t have the body magnetized ; however , the treat o ment was given , Dr. S. , being under control o f P eo n o m , his a o om i Indian he ler , and while he treated , Pe n o talked in his nat ve lang uage , and Mary interpreted for her parents . The conver sation was about the diseased organs of which Lu rancy was wholly s ignorant . The letter referred to ordered five treatment , but three proved sufficient to rein state natural action , and to make u better conditions for the controlling spirit to finish the cure . L rancy has had the strongest regard and affection for the famil y ’ oE s s of Dr . Stevens and ou r family , and all o f Mary R friend ever Lu ranc since Mary relinquished her control , and y became herself again . The father and mother o f Lu rancy remain firm in the belief that it was spirit power that saved and cured their daughter .

Your s truly,

ASA B . ROFF . RE M INISCENCES O F MY SISTER MARY RO FF ! ER . By MRS. H . H . ALT It has often occurred to me that a recital of some of the incidents attending the home - coming of my RO to who sister, Mary E , might be of interest others o have sisters inhabiting the Borderland . The j y that o is ours when , after years f separation , we again meet the loved ones of this life , was intensiﬁed when from out of the misty depths come unannounced my own spirit sister Mary . U to to p that time , I had been led believe that an insurmountable barrier shut out for ever the return

- of an inhabitant of that far away home . What this “ ée M r O N ine va R E . THE WATSEKA WONDER 55

revelation meant to me , I can not express . With it came a new incentive , and a glorious sunshine that has ever lingered to brighten and harmonize all that in is dear t o me . This visitation was as real as if some foreign land I had come face to face with the of e— living , breathing sister my earlier lif the kiss , the embrace , and the girlish laugh as palpable as when in the physical form .

- I am now sixty four years of age . I could have

t . no purpose to deceive myself , or o mislead others one My life , while uneventful , has been a happy . My conﬁdence in the fulﬁllment of all hopes as to the future life , has grown year by year , wit h my age .

And as the sunset approaches , I harbor no fear of the coming night ! its shadows contain within their folds no demand to torment with horror the cl osing of hour. I have come to know something tangible the land to which we are all traveling ; and I look for the sunrise in the morning of my other home o with the same j y that gladdens my soul in this . The mystery of the out - going is not to me as per

l xi - e n . p g as is the secret of the in coming , into life no Whether we confess it or t , the knowledge most sought is that of another life ; the interest in the part s we are now playing is submerged in the parts we are destined to play in the next stage of ev olu E tion . very player in the great drama of existence o has a particular rolé . The character f Katrina

Hogan , as depicted by Dr . Stevens in the preced ing pages , was clearly visible . When Katrina had p os of of ranc V n session the body Lu y en um , previous to R the occupancy of Mary OE , my mother and I entreated her to desist from her course and vulgar ’ . to to control We appealed Katrina s better self , withdraw her influence ; pointing out the injury she was inflicting upon the divine girl - nature entrusted our to care . This appeal was not in vain . Katrina confessed her selﬁsh purpose ; she not only prom 56 TH E WATSEKA WONDER

i sed to abandon , but she did abandon , in a great i o measure , her pern cious interference . On this c “ ROE casion she said , as I remember, Mrs . , I am not as bad as you think me to be On earth I was pos sessed of a strong magnetic body . I loved to employ it to my purp ose . I had a hand that could crush y ou with its strength ; and it is through the exercise of this magnetic power that life has b een sustained ” in the weakened body of Lurancy Vennum .

o o - o Such a part f the drama f every day life y u, no Y o my reader, might t care to take . u would pre fer that your lines be woven into the fabric o f ﬁner character . Yet we each play a part commensurate o to our development , and in touch with ur sympa “ ’ thies . When the great p oet wrote , The world s ” a r a st ge, and all the people playe s, he might well l have added that when in this ife the play ! is ended

- and the curtain lights are extinguished , the perfor ‘ mance is still cont inued ! the invi sibi e; character coming and going , each repeating their lines , and the music of the orchestra , unheard by mortal ears , still floating in the vast Am p itheatre of Nature ; o and that yet fur ther n , under the blows of a

noiseless hammer, there are growing into life the s tage - settings for another act ; amid the rehearsals and repetitions each actor working out a rol é that

is his alone .

It was at the ﬁnal solicitation of the parents of V nn in Lurancy e um , that she became a temporary ’ mate O f my mother s home ; it was so desired by V nn Mr . and Mrs . e um with the hope that they might avoid comm itting Lu rancy to an in sane asylum Lu rancy was received with a far greater joy than would have characterized the homecoming of a

daughter in this life . We realized that we were welcoming in the physical form a daughter and e sister who had b en dead twelve long years . I remember that after the warm greeting was THE WATSEKA WONDER 5 7

“ over Luranc approached the piano and said ! Oh , , y — , Ma ! The same old piano and the same old ” o n cover ! Then opening the case f the i strument , o she attempted to play and sing as f yore . The songs were the ones of her youth ; as we stood listening , the familiar notes were hers , although ’ eE ect how emanating from another s lips . The , ever, was only partially successful . Turning with a “ n o smile to the family present , she remarked , I can t ” make my ﬁngers work just right . Frequently my sister Mary would give us instru o tions as to what we should d o to insure the return of health to the body of Lurancy Vennum in which she was then living . When these instructions were carried out , the results were always beneﬁcial . At o times she was permitted to visit other homes , and t associate with other girls . It was then that the conditions seemed to open the way for the intrusion K of atrina Hogan , and others ; and after such o absences , n ot until the harmonious influences f her old home were reached , would she emerge the same sweet sister Mary—clearly demonstrating that favorable conditions were necessary to‘ her undis ’ - turbed tenancy of Lurancy s body . Here auto sug gestion may have been concerned ; for if we retain d memory in the life beyond , which we must o to o again recognize anything on this plane , is it n t reasonable to suppose that the same law governs there as here ? But could auto - suggestion pre arrange in all its detail the drama as it was being enacted ? Impossible ! in As before intimated , there was at times an complete hypnosis which might b e likened to the lingering rays of the setting sun blending with the

night . Neither personality at ﬁrst stood out pos

itivel clear and complete in itself . y , — It must be u ndersoo d that the ego the conscious “ ” spirit—is an entity—an individualized entity that THE WATSEKA WONDER no flesh - and - blood walls can conﬁne when higher heavenly intelligence have some great purp ose to accomplish . During the three months that my sister Mary r n to e lived in the body of Lu a cy , I was brought fe l that whatever solution we might choose to adopt , the unknown laws utilized were in accord with re those governing my own existence . No strained — lations existed between the unseen spiritually sister and myself . It did not seem strange to me that the cro ssing and re- crossing of the innumerable wires that kept us in touch with the other life , and which enable those of that other life , to sense this i o life , should transm t some things peculiar t their s ource . I can not but believe that my loved ones belong to me always , whether they are living in a physical plane or a spiritual b ody . ’ During Mary s visit , she and I spent many happy of hours in going over the events our girlhood days , many scenes of which I had forgotten until th ey were recalled by M ary . I remember that during one of these long talks , we were seated by the kitch en window overlooking a stretch of the garden in which my sister had played years before , and which surrounded the house in which she died . Suddenly “ M ary exclaimed ! Oh , Nervie ! D o y ou remember the time when Cousin Allie Roff and I found an Old hen with sore eyes under that currant bush—how we bathed her eyes in ointment , and did all we ” to could cure her ? I had forgotten this prank , and many others that Mary likewise called to mind f or me . Upon a cert ain occasion when Mary was being t interviewed by Mrs . Sherman , o whom reference has been made by Dr. Stevens , she was questioned as one would question a traveler from a strange country , and requested to give an account of the personages she had met in the Summerland . Mary THE WATSEKA WONDER 59

gave to Mrs . Sherman the exact names of those who had composed her family , then long since dead , ’ and also the names of many of Mrs . Sherman s neighbors and acquaintances who had passed ou t ; mentioning in . particular the family of Rev . Mr

Rhea , and stating the name of a child in Spirit form to unknown Mrs . Sherman . From her intimate in knowledge of the Rhea family , Mrs Sherman sisted that Mary was mistaken in this instance ; but Mary stoutly maintained that the child named was resident in the life beyond , and later investigation w proved this to be correct . The name given as one being considered when the babe at childbirt h , or shortly afterwards , passed out . If such occurrences as the foregoing do not p ossess p ositively the value of clear and direct communi cation with the spirit world , some other solution

- not involving auto suggestion must be evolved . If o the hypothesis f a subc onscious , subliminal self be adopted , how much of a distinct personality may we claim to represent ? And how d o those who object to the spiritual hypothesis kno’ w to what extent their objections are due to this same auto suggestion ? Is the brain the plaything of external forces that make or dismantle that which we each so proudly — claim as especially our own distinct personality ? If auto - suggestion accounts for the phenomena f for in the case o my sister, then must it account much or all the phenomena we daily experience . Is the scientist less under the influence of this subtle agent , than the brain untutored ? Are we depen dent upon the character of our own mentality , or r are our brains , as it were , but sensitized plates e ceiving and rec ording fleeting thought - pictures as they pass unbidden before us ? These explanations are to me cumbersome and strained when compar ed with the distinct reality of spirit return , which 60 TH E WATSEKA WONDER

is simple and natural , and in accordance with the Principles of Nature as we are beginning to under stand them . As the time appointed grew nearer and nearer for the departure of my sister Mary , I was ﬁlled with anxiety as to when and how the conscious spirit of Lu ran cy Vennum would return and claim her own body . Unusual indeed in this life is the spectacle of two personalities alternately inhabit n ing and dominating o e tenancy . My doubts and fears as to the outcome were intensiﬁed by the public critici sm , naturally enough engendered ; and this kept me in close scrutiny of all that was about to take place .

On a certain morning , my M o ther and I were ’ - Lu ran seated in M o ther s bed room , with cy between

“ of us . We determ ined to test the possibility the

‘ contemplated change ; and we asked Mary if she could comprehend the purpose of her control of ’ h Lu ran cy s body , and when and ow the personal “ ” f . o ities could be ef ected Mary , I said , y u tell us ‘ ’ that Lu rancy is just on the outside ; can y ou dem ” “ on strate the change of characters ? I understand ” “ why I am here , of course , she replied ; I will ask ” and see if Lu rancy can come back . And in an L ran — instant , u cy timid and shrinking , again in the

- physical , and in a strange home was before us . The change in personality was complete in every way , and the situation was painfully embarrassing . Lu ranc — Luranc — y the real y again in her own b ody , t o o demanded kn w where she was . She recognized me , however ; I had trained her with other girls in various church and social functions . But I had to in trodu ce to Lu ranc t her my mother . y asked o be tak en home , and inquired most eagerl—y after her mother and the immediate family . W e Mother and I explained that she had been ill and that she was for with us the purpose of being cured . Then in a

62 THE WATSEKA WONDER

o as instantaneously as before , there was yet an ther c alteration ! Luran y was gone , and Mary was back at my side .

Together we entered my own home , which we ’ o i passed to reach my Father s E ce, for the last time ; and after we had rested for a few moments , and crowded into that brief space all the love and en d earm ents we had so sorely missed from each other in a separation of years the ﬁnal kiss was given and — , returned and in a moment Mary had left us for the l ast time .

Lurancy Vennum has grown to be a healthy , mid l d eaged woman . She is the mother of eleven chil dren , and is respected as a neighbor and honored as a friend . Of the part she played in a great drama x eri staged by heaven and earth , and of what she e p

! at enced , she has but dim remembrance ; but her tachm ent to her former friends has not lessened with the passing years .

Watseka , Illinois , 7 1 90 8 September , .