Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1851-05-03
Rochester KnCckiDgs.
Rocnrsrrn. Anril. Is. 1881.

for the satisfaction of numerous friends in Ohio,
to whom l cannot soon enough communicate
individually, to publish what shall write you
about the Rochester knockngs so far as l am
concerned! know the Bugle is not the prop
er medium for information upon this subject,
but feel that may take the liberty this once
to speak to those who are deeply interested in
it, and constant readers of the Buglc through
its columns.
In the first place want It distinc,iy under
stood, that the questions to which l received
answers by means of "raps" through the me-
dium, Mrs. Fish; that knolo she could not
have the slightest conception of what was in my
mind. 1t is unnecessary to say, she knew moth
ing of me- all who are particularly interested
will be aware Of that but to make assurance
doubly sure" l concealed from her, my name,
and scarcely spoke about any thing but the mat
ter in hand, and very little about that, nothing
that remember, only rcmarking that it was
new to me, and didn't know how to proceed
1t was announced that my guardian spirits were
| eight in number all present and willing to COM
municatc. All will know upon whom first
called, beginning " Is the spirit am thinking
of, presentr' But first let me say here, that the
sounds had all been mado under the table, pre-
vious to my question, and that first, before put
ting it, ieished (mcntally) but without think
! ing to produce any change in their locality,
that they might be made as far from any one
present as possible, and Immediately heard
strong distinct 'raps' on the ceiling over head
in answer to my question. Three emphotic,
deliberate "kaocls." l then asked mentally,
Z" Is it the spirit Of - The same 'raps' in
answer
Question. What did you wish to say, when
YOU were about to die" The response was
call for the alphabet, through which was inn
mediately spelled, al wanted to speak of the
future, and the gories opening to my view"
Question. "Were you with me in dream
when asked you to meet me in Rochester y
Another call for the alphabet and "Ycs' SPELL
cd out, to my disappointment, for though,
"Y" was beginning "you" the commence
mcnt of another sentence. l was confused, and
! asked at random, "what state are you now in
but thinking estate" was not the word, chang.
cd it to "sphere !" A call for the alphabet, ant
the following sentence most cmphatically rap
ped You do not understand, l am in thu
fourth degree of the f6h sphere"
After the answer was made out read it alouC
to the company, but without telling what m!
question had been. Mrs Fish remarked
There is sense in it, but don't know as it i
an answer to you or not, or whether you put
question. told her in the beginning l shoul
ask questions mentally, but as she was talkin
in the mean time, could not know whether
was silently waiting or cndeayoring to elici
communications. The idea of degrees wa
new to her as to me. Tho Posts, her intimate
friends most respectable and excellent people n:
a te,c happen to know, are well aware that she
has paid but little attention to the study of spir
itualism and has never read Davis Revela-
tions. would first say that in putting the
question about tho "spherc' did not expect to
receive an answer through the alphabet but had
made it thus, $50 that a negative or affirmative
only would be rcquircdD "Is it lst I'd 3rd 4th
sort of echo which made it uncertain whether it
was fifth or sixth. Then the call for the alpha
bet as have stated.
While some remarks about this last commu-
nication were being made, another call for the
alphabet so strong and marked, as to be start
ling and ~ watch over you," given.
asked a great number of so-cancd "test
questions" receiving invariably correct an
swors, but as these are to me the least impor-
tant shall defer them until personally intero-
gated, as they would occupy far too much space
here.
At the 2nd interview we were greeted upon
taking our seats with regular tumult of raps,
which it was vain TO think of interrupting for
some time l asked Mrs. Fish what it meant |:
She replied she did not profess to kaow, but it
had always seemed to be an expression of JOY,
and the presence of many spirits. During an
interval the alphabet was called for, and Dear
Friends it is rery pleasant to spend an hour in
holy conversational communicated This did
not seem to come from the one / had been con-
versing with, and 1 enquired "may 1 be in
formed ,chGt spirit &c." an affirmative. Then,
Question. "Will the name be given through
the alphObct| Negative, but nevertheless it
it was called for, and instead of name, "Writo
Names" wrote great number, and when
l came to " Susa,,," quick animated 'raps as.
sured me it was right. Then the following sen.
tence from the same one, professedly. "Yor
will soon have satisfaction my friends, this il
the beginning of glorious era,-the vail thai
separates us, is soon to be withdrawn, and We
will minglc in intercourse hitherto little known
to mankind" She had nothing MORE as the
'raps' indicated, to say, and asked "what spir-
it will now commune with me" was re-
questod by 'raps) to point to names, and in
stead of J. as l longed it should be, there
was no response at his name, but quick repeat
ed 'raps' when Ipointcd to the name of Mary