Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1853-01-03

I SPIRITUAL CoMMUNIc ATIoNs-ExPERI-
ENcE OF Hon. j. SIMMoNs.-The N. Y Tri-
bune publishes letter from Mrs. Sarah Helen
| Whitman, the poet, Of Providence r. L., which
gives an account of the singular experience of
Hon. James F. Simmons, formerly U. ,. Sen
| ator, in the matter Of spiritual communications
We copy from it the following singular state
menl:
In the fall of 1850 several messages were tel
egraphed to Mrs. Simmons, through the electric
sounds, puTportIng TO come from her step-son,
James ID. Summons, who died some weeks be-
fore in California. The messages were cacula-
ted 10 stimulate curiosity, and lead 10 an atten-
tive observation Of the phenomena. Mrs S. ,hay
ing heard thai messages in the handwriting OF
the deceased person, were sometimes written
through the same medium, asked II her son would
give her this evidence of his identity. She was
informed, through the sounds, that the attempt
should be made, aud was directed 10 place a slip
of paper in certain drawer at the house of the
medium, and 10 lay beside it her own pencil,
which had been given her by the deceased
Weeks passed, and although frequent inquiries
were made, no writing found on the paper.
Mrs. Simmons happening to call at the house one
day, accompanied by her husband made the
usual inquiry and received the usual answer
The drawer had been opened not two hours be-
fore, and nothing seen in 1t but the pencil ly
mg on the blank paper. AT the suggestion of
Mrs. s., however, another investigation was made
and on the paper was now found few pencilled
lines resembling the hand writing Ofthe deceased,
but not so closely to satisfy the mothers
doubts. Mrs. Simmons handed the paper TO her
husband. He thought there was slight resem-
blance bnt should probably not have remarked it
had the writing been casually presented to him
Had the signature been given, he could at once
have decided on the resemblance. He proposed
II the spirit of his son were indeed present, as
alphabetical communications received through
the sounds affirmed hun to be, that he should then
and there aflix his signature to the suspicious doc
unient.
In order to facilitate the operation Mr.. s. pac-
edthe closed points Of pair of scissors in the
hand of the medium, and dropped his pencil
through one of the rings or bows, the paper being
placed beneath, Her hand presently began to
renble, and it was with difficulty that she could
retain her hold OF the scissors. MIR. Simmons
then took them into his own hand, and again
dropped his pencil through the ring. 1t could not
readily be sustained in this position. Alter few
moments, il stood as if firmly poised and perfect
lyslill. 1t then began slowly to move Mr. S.
saw the letters traced beneath his eyes The
words JAMES d. SIMMONS were distinctly and
deliberately written, and The band writing was a
facsimile of his sons signature But what Mr.
5. regards as the most astonishing pant of this
miracle is yet to be told.
Bending down to scrutnze the writing more
closely, he observed Just as the last word Was fin
ished that the top Of the pencil leaned to the
right. lie thought it was about to slip through
the ring, but, to his infinite astonishment. he saw
the point slide slowly back along the word Sim
mons till it rested over the ettet i where If de-
n 0Of NC
utterly nnthought of by him; he had not noticed
the ommlsslon, and therefore was entirely unpre-
pared for the amendment. He suggested the exper-
ment,and hitherto it had kept pace only with his
will or desire; but how will those who DENY the
agency OF disembodied spirits in these maryels.
ascribing all to the unassisted powers of the hu
man will, or to the blind action of electricity
how will they dispose of this last insignificant
and curious fact? The only popularity observa-
BILE in the writing was, that the lines seemed some
times slightly broken as if the pencil had been
lifted and then set down again.
Another crcumstanceI am permitted to relate
which Is not readily to be accounted for on any
other theory than that of spiritual agency Mr.
S. who had received no particulars Of his sons
deathuntl several months after his decease pur-
posing to send for his remains, questioned the
spirit as to the manner in which the body had been
disposed OF, and received very minute and cir
cumstantial account OF the means which had hoa,,
improbable as some of these statements seem
ed, they were, after an interval of four months,
confirmed, as literally true, by gentleman, then
recently returned from California, who was with
young Simmons at the period of his death. In
tending soon to return TO San Francisco, he call
ed on Mr. Simmons to learn his wishes relative to
the final disposition of his sons remains.
| took down these particulars in writing, by
permission of Mr. S. during his relation of the
facts. | have many other narratives of a like
character, from persons of intelligence and verac-
fy mi hove adj IN tha a;rrb+ ,c
that which have just reported to YOU.