Spiritualism
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HISTORY, PHENOMENA, PHILOSOPHY, AND TEACHINGS OP SPIRITUALISM. [ b EGISTEEED AS A NEW8PAPEB FOB TBANSMXSSION IN THB UNITED KINGDOM AND ABBOAD.] N o. 268.— 'Vol. V I.] LONDON, MAY 21, 1875. [D o u b l e S h e e t —P s ic e l| d . MALCOLM TAYLOR (Vignette). 'j HABBY BASTIAN (Vignette). 322 THJ5 MEDIUM AND DAYBREAK. M ay 21, 1»75. who departed this life at Paris shat very morning at one THE CONCLUDING SEANCES OP MESSRS. BASTIAN o’clock. Be lad been described by Mr. .Taylor in the dark AND TAYLOR. seance, but was the first to manifest at the aperture in material We give this weak a form of pictorial illustration which will form, and was promptly recognised by his brother, the origi be new to Qttr readers, . Jt ttjpresents occurrences connected nator of the “ Ronalds’s circle.” Thus, in less than twenty-four with the closing Messrs. Bastian and Taylor. hours this spirit appeared again in palpable form, after having On Tuesday evening, May 4th, Mr. P. Wilson was present, on thrown off the physical body. Other phenomena took place of our behalf, to make a sketoh for the Medium. On that occa an equally interesting nature; but respecting these, and the sion “ Mrs. Potts,” wife of a gentleman whose name has appeared manifestations of Mr. Ronaldos brother, Mrs. Woodforde has ■ as a member of Mr. Ronalds’s cirole, manifested as Bhe had promised us a more detailed account, whioh We hope to place done on previous occasions. The white figure in the drawing is before our readers next week. intended to represent the spirit-form “ Mrs. Potts ” in the act of handing flowers to Mrs. Woodforde. A dimly-lighted room with figures is a very difficult subject for MATERIALISATIONS AT MR. HERNE'S CIRCLE. dark, shadowy slate of the scene On Tuesday evening there were , witnessed at Mr. Herne’s either falsify private seance at the Spiritual Institution the most interesting or a similar sombre and indistinct cha- and successful materialisations which have yet been reported in sacrificed all attempts at pictorial sen- London. This opinion, wc think, ia justified by the great dis sati0a^fi® fOTl^hShJeS3, and the dim and indefinite appear similarity which was apparent between the various spirit-forms ance wfcjeKthe walls snd shaded portions of tho picture assume and the medium, and the perfect manner in which the spirits are in strict keeping with the facts. The spirit-form stands deported themselves. out ligi&3iii JqjMiggl m the shaded surronndings, but that Before the preliminary dark sitting, Mr. Herne demanded lightnesses observable hi a white object that he should be searched, as he had heard o f slanderous re s e e n jp a . $a6<y%hfc fherft ia a mesa of whiteness, but without ports to the effect that be had njeanp for simulating gpirit- recognisable lineament; and should the sitter be n few feet forms secreted about Ms person, fie throw off his coat and off, the features are quite indistinct. In the drawing, however, waistcoat, and was thoroughly searched over the whole surface it is difficult to give the features as they appear to a person of his body, more indeed to please him than to detect means of who gets a near view with the light falling upon the spirit’s face fraud, yet the operation was so effective as to give satisfaction The drawing will be readily understood in reference to the that Mr. Horne was attired in light summer clothing, and had plan of the rooms and arrangement of the sitters given by us upon him no means for producing the garments which appeared three weeks ago. There was not space to introduce all the on the spirit-forms afterwards. sitters in the front row. Mr. Taylor is seen sitting to the left. During the dark seance “ Peter’’ was extremely vivacious, Mr. Bastian, outlined in a standing posture near to the cur and as there was great harmony, his conversation was very tain^ represents an incident which occurred on the following much enjoyed. After a few minutes spent in darkness to allow Tuesday evening, May 11th. The first spirit which manifested, the forces to be collected, the company retired to the front room “ May,” who has been described on former occasions, led out and left Mr. Herne in the back room, the folding doors being Mr. Bastian into the circle, and having given him a turn round thrown back and the curtains drawn. in front of the sitters, left him standing in the position which A very low light was at first used, but after some singing the he presents in oar drawing, while the spirit addressed herself light was increased. Por a considerable time the voices of to-various persons—in the circle, more particulariy ,to„Mrs.. “ Peter ” and “ Katie” fthe wife of “ John King”) were heard Woodforde. So that our picture, as it appears, is an accurate in the cabinet, and it was evident that great-p'eparatione were representation of the test given on that occasion, viz., the spirit in hand for gratifying the circle. In due course the curtains and tile medium appearing In full view of the sitters at the opened, and a figure appeared, at first indistinctly and hesitat same lime. ingly, but being warmly saluted by the sitters, it ventured about . On the none evening “ Thomas Ronalds ” appeared, and six feet from the curtains, close to the upper part ofthe circle, communicated with his brother and with the circle, as he has when it was seen to be an old man, apparently an Arab oi; Hindoo, dOne on many previous occasions. A bottle of water and a with long grey beard, and white drapery around the head, over glass stood upon the table to the right. A portion of the water which was worn a large shawl or loose flowing cloak, extend was poured into tho glass. T h e spirit took this up, and asked ing down to the ground. This outer garment parted wholly Mr. Lowther to place his finger into the glass that he might in front, and the naked limbs could be seen from the toes to be sore it contained a certain quantity of water. Mr. Lowther above the kftee. The spirit again retired, but when he came did so, and by sight as well as touch assured himself of the back he threw his cloak open with both hands, when he was glass being about one-third fn]l. The spirit then raised it to seen to be clothed in white trousers and an upper garment, all his lips, anddrank the whole of the water, which was heard in one piece, tightly fitting the body. When the material of gttofgfeng down his throat as in the case of ordinary drinking. which these were composed was felt, it was close in texture, Having emptied the glass, ihe spirit returned it, inverted, to smooth in surface, having apparently considerable substance, Mr. Lowther, to show that it contained no water. He then similar to that known as “ duck.” “ M. A." (Ckxon), who was took farewell of the circle, and retired. present, received the greater portion of the attention^ of this A form appeared which approached Mrs. Lowther, and was figure. It sat down on the floor in the Oriental fashion, and partially recognised by her as a relative. It then passed on to turned up the face yight under the gaslight, so that those near Mr. Lowther, who recognised her quite distinctly. could see the features quite distinctly. Baring one of its Miss Loder, who, with her mother and aunt, has been a' various appearances it stood up, and allowed “ M. A.” (Oxon) to meifaber of the circle from the beginning, was peculiarly stand up beside it, when it appeared that it was about three favoured with manifestations. The following is her personal inches taller than that gentleman, or about five feet ten inches. testimony:— The spirit-form was seen'inhis movements occasionally to stand upon tip-toe. This being remarked upon by one of the sitters, ffo the Editor.—Dear Sir,—1 have been asked to write a few lines the form immediately advanced and struck the floor Vith its SEjyfog what I eaperieoced last Tuesday evening at the seance held at Mtssrfl. Bastian and Tajlor’», 2, Yemon Place, Bloomsbury Square. I naked foot until the boards vibrated. In turning round on one am a member of Mr. Bonalds’s oircle, and have at each seance seen my occasion he moved so actively as to swing his cloak over dear grandmother most olearly. It was not until last Tuesday that I the. knees of the sitters. This outer garment was covered heard her apeak to me, and call me by the name sbe used to when on with the usual oval figures with turned points, as seen on earth. When dear grandmamma appeared at tbe cabinet, she advanced shawls. The pattern was small, and in close rows. The td my mother, placed a chair in front of ber, and sat down for a second texture felt like that of a fine Cashmere shawl. This cloak was ort«». She then rose and made signs for me to lit in the chair. I did so ample as to excite wonder at the great quantity of cloth so, sod spots to her, when she answered me by a very toft “ Yes.” I used in its construction. It was impossible that Mr. Herne thtattked her to call me by the name she used to when alive, and, to could have secreted so much fabric about his person.