Jonnob/the-spiritualist-enriched huggingface dataset:
HOW TO FORM SPIRIT CIRCLES An experimental trial at home, among family friends and relatives, often gives the most satis factory evidence of the reality of spiritual pheno mena. At the same time, as no fully developed medium is present among those who have never obtained manifestations before, the probability is that there will be no results. Nevertheless, it is a very common thing for striking manifestations to be obtained in this way at the first sitting of a family circle; perhaps for every one successful new circle thus started without a medium, there are six or seven failures, but no accurate statistics on this point have yet been collected. When once manifestations have been obtained they will gradually increase in power and reliability at suc cessive sittings. The following is a good plan of action:  1. Let the room be of a comfortable temperature, but cool rather than warm—let arrangements be made that nobody shall enter it, and that there shall be no inter ruption for one hour during the sitting of the circle. Wet, damp, and foggy weather is bad for the production of physical phenomena. 2. Let the circle consist of four, five, or six individuals, about the same number of each sex. Sit round an un covered wooden table, with all the palms of the hands in contact with its top surface. Whether the hands touch each other or not is usually of no importance. Any table will do, just large enough to convenienty accommodate the sitters. The removal of a hand from the table for a few seconds does no harm, but when one of the sitters breaks the circle by leaving the table it sometimes, but not always, very considerably delays the manifestations. 3. Before the sitting begins, place some pointed lead pencils and some sheets of clean writing paper on the table, to write down any communications that may be obtained. 4. People who do not like each other should not sit in the same circle, for such a want of harmony tends to prevent manifestations, except with well-developed physical mediums; it is not yet known why. Belief or unbelief has no influence on the manifestations, but an acrid feeling against them is a weakening influence 5. Before the manifestations begin, it is well to engage in general conversation or in singing, and it is best that neither should be of a frivolous nature. A prayerful earnest feeling among the members of the circle is likely, to attract a higher and more pleasing class of spirits. 6. The first symptom of the invisible power at work is often a feeling like a cool wind sweeping over the hands The first manifestations will probably be table tiltings or raps. 7. When motions of the table or sounds are produced freely, to avoid confusion, let one person only speak and talk to the table as to an intelligent being. Let him tell the table that three tilts or raps mean “Yes," one means “No," and two mean “Doubtful and ask whether the arrangement is understood. I three signals be given in answer, then say, “If I speak the letters of the alphabet slowly, will you signal ever time I come to the letter you want, aud spell us out a message?" Should three signals be given, set to work
on the plan proposed, and from this time an intelligent system of communication is established 8. Afterwards the question should be put, “Are we sitting in the right order to get the best manifestations?" Probably some members of the eircle will then be tole to change seats with each other, and the signals will be afterwards strengthened. Next ask, “ Who is the When spirits come asserting themselves to medium?" be related or known to anybody present, well-chosen questions should be put to test the accuracy of the statements, as spirits out of the body have all the virtue and all the failings of spirits in the body. Possibly at the first sitting of a circle symptoms of other forms of mediumship than tilts or raps maymake their appearance. Information respect ing the many kinds of mediumship will be found in Mrs. Professor De Morgan’s book, From Matter to Spirit, published by Longmans; and this is a good book to read bcfore trying to start a new circle. There are in England several very interesting circles for physical manifestations, where the spirits speak with audible voices, but, unfortu nately, total darkness is a necessary condition Non-spiritualists who are inquiring into the sub ject should have nothing to do with dark séances, which should be held only by those who knov each other, since they offer so many facilities for fraud. When any circle regularly obtains power ful physical manifestations, they may desire to sit for the voices. The very slightest glimmer of light must be excluded from the room, while the members of the circle sit round the table in the ordinary way. One or two paper tubes, each twelve or eighteen inches long, with an orifice about an inch-and-a-half in diameter, should be placed on the table. They may be readily made by rolling up a piece of music and tying a fev pieces of cotton round the rough tube thus formed. In the early stages of a voice-circle these tubes are necessary for the use of the spirits, but after wards they may be dispensed with except when the weather and other conditions are unfavour able. When first trying to obtain the voices the spirits may not be able to lift the tubes from the table, afterwards they often get them up in the air a foot or two and let them drop again. When they get full control over them they can carry them about up to the ceiling and to all parts of the room, and they talk to the members of the circle often while floating about above their heads. Very beautiful luminous phenomena are some times shown by the spirits at dark circles. While sitting for the voices, the spirits will tell by the ordinary table signals how they are progressing in their work of getting control of the tubes.
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HUMAN NATURE, a Monthly Record of Zoistic Science, Intelligence, and Popular Anthropology. Recent numbers give full details of the extraordinary Manifestations through the celebrated Medium, D. D. Home, Esq., with philosophical reason ings as to the nature and cause of the phenomena: a new series of lessons on Phrenology and the Tempera ments is being given, containing some new instruction of great value to the student; first-class Portraits of eminent men and women, with Biographies and Phreno logical delineations are frequently introduced; a serial Tale of great power and beauty; articles on Physiology Diet, Temperance, and Health; translations from Con tinental Works and Periodicals; treatises on Mesmerism, Clairvoyance, Spiritualism; reviews of Books; reports of Lectures, Mectings, and Societics, renders this the cheapest, most varied, and instructive Periodical of the kind in the world. The fact that this Periodical is en tirely unbiased and devoted to the truth respecting all the topics on which it treats, is a point not to be over looked by all earnest investigators, whatever their opinions may be. Post free, 7s. per annum, or 6d. per month from the Booksellers. JAMES BURNS, Progres sive Library, 15, Southampton-row, Bloomsbury-square Holborn, London, W.C.
THE PROGRESSIVE LIBRARY and SPIRITUALIST DEPOSITORY has been re moved from Camberwell to No. 15, Southampton-row, Bloomsbury-square, Holborn, W.C There is a Publishing Office and Shop for the sale of Books; a Circulating Library of all Works on Spiritualism &c.; a Reading-Room supplied with the Spiritual and Progressive Publications of the World; a Drawing Room for the special use of Ladies and Subscribers; Private Rooms for Séances, Committees, Meetings, &c. and whore all information respecting the Cause and the Progress of events may be obtained. The Subscription, entitling to all the privileges of the Establishment, including the use of two Books at a time from the Library for home perusal, is 21s.per annum A well-assorted Stock of Stationery, Periodicals, cur rent Progressive Literature, Standard Works, Cheap Books and Tracts, Planchettes, Materials for Writing and Drawing Mediums; also Works and Appliances on Phrenology, Physiology, Health, and Dietetic Reform Temperance, Hydropathy, Gymnastics, Mesmerism Clairvoyance, Anthropology, &c., will be kept on sale. As the responsibilities incurred in establishing this "Home for Spiritualism" and the Science of Man are very heavy, the Proprietor earnestly solicits the kind co-operation and support of all who sympathise with the enterprisc. Strangers in London should at once call at the Progressive Library, where they may hear of Lodgings and get other useful information. J. BURNS, Progressive Library, 15, Southampton-row, Bloomsbury-square, Holborn, London, W.C.
MR. J. L. OLIVE, Professor of Modern Spiritual Science, 1, Gibson-place, Warrington crescent, Maida Vale, W. Mr. Olive is prepared to afford information relative to Spiritualism, the Development of Mediumistic power, &c., with facilities for investigation of Phenomena. Reliable advice based on large medical experience, and aided by beneficent Spirit Intelligences may also be obtained for the relief of ailments of Bod, or Mind. Consultation Fee, One Shilling
"THE NEWSPAPER PRESS"—THE PRESS ORGAN HIS JOURNAL is the adopted and re cognised Representative of the Newspaper in terests, and the medium of intercommunication between Proprietors, Editors, Reporters, Correspondents, Pub lishers, Printers, and all parties associated with News papers. Subscriptions, 4s. per annum, post free, payable in ad vance. London: E. W. ALLEN, Publisher, 11, Ave Maria-lane.
The Female Medical Society is established for the following objects:  1.—To promote the employment of properly educated women in the practice of Midwifery, and the treatment of the Diseases of Women and Children 2.—To provide educated women with proper facilities for learning the theory and practice of Midwifery, and the accessory branches of Medical Science. Midwifery and the aceessory branehes of medicine offer a wide fleld of honourable and lucrative employ ment for educated women; also a means of intellectual culture and social usefulness to ladies who may not be dependent upon their own exertions. For want of properly qualified ladies the best portion of the practice of midwifery has drifted into the hands of gentlemen though female practitioners still attend tho bulk of the population. But any person may undertake the duties of a midwife. Proper means of study have never been provided for women, and there has never been an public examination, by which women when well qualifled might be distinguished from those who are illiterate and unqualifled The Society has carried on for five years the Ladies Medical College, which has taught the theory and prac tico of Midwifery and the accessory branches of medi cine. Eighty-two ladies have alreadyavailed themselves of its advantages, and many of these ladies are settled in practice, and succeeding admirably. A life subscription of ten guineas, or an annual sub scription of one guinea, constitutes a member of the Society, but stamps or other small contributions will be gladly received Lady subscribers of not less than one guinea are invited to visit any Lectures in which they are likely to be interested. The addresses of skilled Lady Midwives, Prospectures of the College, and all particulars as to the operations of the Society, may be obtained of the Lady Secretary Temporary Offices—4 Fitzroy-square, W Cheques to be crossed London and County Bank
NO. 1 of THE SPIRITUALIST is from be ginning to end a compact mass of good evidence that the facts of Spiritualism are true. It contains a summary of the evidence given before the Dialectical Society by twenty witnesses of eminenco and ability; it also gives the testimony of respectable non-Spiritualists: therefore it is a valuable publication to place in the hands of non-Spiritualists, and should be selected for that purposo rather than later numbers of the same journal, as the later numbers will run out of print first and should be ordered while they are still obtainable by those who wish to preserve them for binding. A fev copies of No. 1 should be kept on hand for the benefit of non-Spiritualists, but later numbers should be retained in the possession of the early friends of the movement before they become scarce and unobtainable. Covers with stringed backs, to keep copies clean till required for binding, 2s. 6d. each. London: E. W. ALLEN, Ave Maria-lane, E.C.; or J. BURNS, 15, Southampton-row, Holborn, W.C.
The only Cheap Weekly Horticultural Journal 2d. Weekly; and in Monthly Parts, 10d THE GARDENER'S MAGAZINE for Amateur Cultivators, Collectors, and Exhibitors of Plants, Flowers and Fruits, for Gentlemen's Gar deners, Florists, Nurscrymen, and Seedsmen; for Na turalists, Botanists, Bee-keepers, and Lovers of the Country. Conducted by SHIRLEY HIBBERD, Esq., F.R.H.S. London: E. W. ALLEN, 11, Ave Maria-lane, E.C. And by Order of all Booksellers and Newsageuts in Townand Country
Contents. Haudling of Red-hot Coals under Spirit Influence 43 REPORTS OF MEETINGS—The Royal Institution.—Max Muller on the Science of Religion ....... 50 The Services at the Cavendish Rooms.—Speculations about the Deity—The Doctrine of Eternal Pro gression — Spiritualism among the American Indians - The Results of a Dream—Spiritualism as defined by Mr. Peebles .. 51 Private Séances.—Mediumship in the Days of Moscs —Curious Physical Manifestations—Voice Mani festations and their Production—Thought-Read ing—Manifestations at the Cavendish Rooms—A “Dialectical” Medium ... 51 Spirit-seeing in Crystals ... 52 LEADER:—The Phenomenal Phase of Spiritualism 53 Spiritualism and Politics at Naples ... 53 Sir David Brewster and Spiritualism ... 55 POETRY:—Ours ... 54 CORRESPONDENCE:—The Bible-Spiritualism Contro versy ... 54 BOOKNOTICES:—The Glowworm—The Food Journal 54 ... 54 Mrs. Everitt's Mediumship  PARAGRAPHS:—Sunday Services for Spiritualists, 52 A Musical Medium, 52; Spiritualism at the Anti podes, 55; Spiritualism at Halifax, 55 ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS ... 55 Printed for the Proprietor by JAMES BEVERIDGE, at the Holborn Printing Works, Fullwood's Rents, High Holborn, in the Parish of St. Andrew-above-Bar and St. George the Martyr, London, and published by E W. ALLEN, Ave Maria-lane, London, E.C.
most exact and open experiment? and if these so called occult manifestations are not utterly worthles they must and will pass through a like ordeal. As I do not want to debate this matter with those who have already made up their minds in a direction contrary to my own, but (if I see sufficient reason) only to work it out with such a desire to find incontrovertible proof independent of opinion or assertion, so I wish you would show this letter to Mr. Home, and those who want me to meet him and them on his ground; after which you will know whether you should persevere in asking me. You will understand that I decline to meet any whose minds are not at liberty to investigate accord ing to the general principles I have here expressed Further, I claim the right of publishing the whole or any part of this letter, or any further written com munication that may arise out of it, in any manner that I may think fit.—Ever, my dear Sir Emerson, M. FARADAY your very faithful servant, You will see that I consent to all this with much reserve, and only for your sake.—M. F.
SPIRIT-RAPPING IN JOHN WESLEY'S FAMILY IN TEN PARTS.—PART TWO THE first document which we reprint about the physical manifestations which took place in John Wesley’s family, is the diary written by his eldest brother, Mr. Samuel Wesley. The disturbances took place in his parsonage house at Epworth, Lincolnshire in December and January, 1716. The following are his words : “ From the first of December, my children and ser vants heard many strange noises, groans, knockings &c., in every story, and most of the rooms of my house But I hearing nothing of it myself, they would not tell me for some time, because, according to the vulgar opinion, if it boded any ill to me, I could not hear it. When it increased, and the family could not easily con ceal it, they told me of it. "My daughters, Susannah and Ann, were belov stairs in the dining-room; and, heard, first at the doors, then over their heads, and the night after, a knocking under their feet, though nobody was in the chambers or below them. The like they and my ser vants heard in both the kitchens, at the door against the partition, and over them. The maid-servant heard groans as of a dying man. My daughter Emilia, com ing downstairs to draw up the clock and lock-the door at ten at night as usual, heard under the staircase a sound among some bottles there, as if they had been all dashed to pieces ; but when she looked, all was safe. “Something like the steps of a man was heard going up and downstairs, at all hours of the night, and vast rumblings below stairs, and in the garrets. My man, who lay in the garret, heard some one come slaring through the garret to his chamber, rattling by his side, as if against his shoes, though he had none there ; at other times walking up and downstairs, when all the house were in bed, and gobbling like a turkey-cock. Noises were heard in the nursery, and all the other chambers; knocking first at the feet of the bed and behind it; and a sound like that of dancing in a matted chamber, next the nursery, when the door was locked, and nobody in it. “ My wife would have persuaded them it was rats within doors, and some unlucky people knocking with out ; till at last we heard several loud knocks in our own chamber, on my side of the bed; but till, I think, the 21st at night, I heard nothing of it. That night I was waked a little before one by nine distinct very loud knocks, which seemed to be in the next room to ours, with a sort of a pause at every third stroke. thought it might be somebody without the house; and hav ing got a stout mastiff, hoped he would soon rid me of it “ The next night I heard six knocks, but not so loud as the former. I know not whether it was in the morning after Sunday the 23rd, when about seven my daughter Emily called her mother into the nursery, and told her she might now hear the noises there. She went in, and heard it at the bedstead, then under the bed, then at the head of it. She knocked, and it answered her. She looked under the bed, and thought something ran from thence, but could not well tell of what shape but thought it most like a badger. “ The next night but one we were awaked about one
and partition ; and at length the usual signal, though somewhat after the time. I had never heard it before but knew it by the description my daughter had given me. It was much like the turning about of a windmill when When the servants returned, I went the wind changes. up to the company, who had heard the other noises below, but not the signal. We heard all the knocking as usual, from one chamber to another, but at its going off, like the rubbing of a beast against the wall. From that time till January the 24th we were quiet. “ Having received a letter from Samuel the day be fore relating to it, I read what I had written of it to me family ; and this day at morning prayer the family heard the usual knocks at the prayer for the king. At night they were more distinct, both in the prayer for the king, and that for the prince ; and one very loud knock at the amen was heard by my wife, and most of my children, at the inside of my bed. I heard nothing myself. After nine, Robert Brown sitting alone by the fire in the back kitchen, something came out of the copper-hole like a rabbit, but less, and turned round five times very swiftly. Its ears lay flat upon its neck, and its little scut stood straight up. He ran after it with the tongs in his hands; but when he could find nothing, he was frighted, and went to the maid in the parlour. “ On Friday, the 25th, having prayers at church, I shortened, as usual, those in the family at morning, omitting the confession, absolution, and prayers for the I observed, when this is done, there king and prince. is no knocking. I therefore used them one morning for a trial ; at the name of king George it began to knock, and did the same when I prayed for the prince. Two knocks I heard, but took no notice after prayers till after all who were in the room, ten persons besides me, spoke of it, and said they heard it. No noise at all the rest of the prayers Sunday, January 27. Two soft strokes at the morn ing prayers for king George, above stairs. Addenda. “Friday, December 21. Knocking I heard first, I think, this night; to which disturbances, I hope, God will in His good time put an end. “Sunday, December 23. Not much disturbed with the noises, that are now grown customary to me. “ Wednesday, Dccember 26. Sat up to hear noises. Strange ! spoke to it, knocked off. “ Friday 28. The noises very boisterous and dis turbing this night “Saturday 29. Not frighted with the continued disturbance of my family. "Tuesday, Jauuary 1, 1717. My family have had no disturbance since I went."
REICHENBACH AT A SPIRIT CIRCLE. In the now work on Spiritualism, The Planchette, by Epes Sargent, are the following statements about Baron Reichenbach : -  “ At first distrustful of the spiritual significance of certain phenomena, Reichenbach, if we may believe Mr. D. Hornung, of Berlin, now entertains views not opposed to Spiritualism. While in London in 1861, at the residence of Mr. Cowper, son-in-law of Lord Palmerston, he attended a spiritual circle. “'On that occasion, says Mr. Hornung, 'two media, Mrs. Marshall and her niece, were present, who did not understand a word of German. Reichenbach therefore, after the rapping had commenced, put his questions intentionally in German ; and they were answered correctly by raps on the table, and he had the names of several members of his family correctly given. In regard to one name, however, he began to doubt the capacity of the table to give it ; the name to be spelled being “ Fredericke, while it spelled the letters 'R. I.' But when the name 'RICKE' was completed, the baron was much surprised, as his sister had been wont to be called 'Ricke.'” “ Now comes the most remarkable part of the per formance, and I give it in the Baron’s own words. He says, 'The answers were rapped by the foot of the table in a brightly lighted room. I wished to ascertain whether the rapping could not be prevented, and for this purpose I leaned with my breast against one of the feet of the table, taking hold of two others with both hands, and pressing them down. The rapping of the feet ceased ; but the rapping continued above me, on the top of the table. All at once, by a sudden jerk the table dragged me forward, with the carpet on which it stood; and I lay prostrate in the middle of the room. “ This experiment convinced the baron that, besides the emanation of the odie element, higher spiritual powers can manifest themselves; and these he now no longer ignores, but recognizes them as facts of experience, for which, however, be as yet knows no explanation. He regards the great influences of od upon the human spirit’ as the mere “physical side of the matter,'— 'the roots by which it adheres firmly to the ground;’ and he is thankful to see the day when all his former discoveries show themselves as the portal through which it is possible for him “to go forward into the spiritual department.””