Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1858-05-19
From the Spiritual Age
News from the Spirit World.
COMMUNICATIONS FROM CHINESE SPIRIT

One of the most interesting tests OF
splrlt-lntercourse that have come to our
knowledge, has recently been given
through Mr.. Mansfield, the well-known
writing medium, of this city; and its
character is such as may afford skeptics
a new and difficult problem for solution.
The case has been partially stated in
some Of the secular as well as spiritual
papers; but we have deferred any &C
count until we could see the expert
naent fairly concluded, and be able to
present the unmistakable facts in the
case. The circumstances are these:
4 gentleman of this city has been
for some time investigating the truth of
INSTRUMENTATION through the medi-
umship of Mr.. Mansfield. He had
written several letters to his spirit
friends, sealed them in the manner Gus
tomary in these cases, and had receiv-
ed rcplies-generaIly, however, when
he was present with Mr.. NJ This fact,
With the character Of the answers re-
ccived, led him to suppose that it was
mlnd-reading on the part of the medi
uni. lie determined to satisfy himself
on tlfis point, With such intent he en-
gagged friend to procure q letter from
a third party unknown to him, and he
would see if satisfactory answer could
be obtained when he himself was ignor-
ant Of the contents. Accordingly, in
due tt?e letter was put into our in
vestigator's hands, and he proceeded
with it to Mr.. Mansfeld's room. Here
was no chance for mental telegraphin9
between investigator and medium, for
both minds were rs blank in reference
to the letter As was the envelope which
enclosed it. Immediately, and in pres
ence Of q distinguished medical gentle
man Of this city, rs well as Of the in
curing person, Mr.. Mansfeld's hand
was controlled to give the answer
But, the response completed, neither
party was wiser than before, for it was
given III strange and to themselves
meaningless characters. 1t was looked
upon by all as 4 probable failure
However, orr pCrscvering searcher af-
ter truth took the scnseless hieroolvph
and returned with The letter to his CO.
operator IL the experiment. The let
ter, to make double sure against the
working OF the mental telegraph, had
acted through still another person in
obtaining the required letter. The
fourth and last party in the arrange
ment is Mr.. Ar Shove, Il very worthy
Chinaln9n resident in this city. The
document received from Mr. Mansfield
was shown him, when he at once pro
nounced 1T q cO1rect u1S1Ccr IN Chinesl
characters to his letter addressed to his
spirit-tather
Mr.. Ar Shove was greatly interested
rs we'll rs astOnished 1T the success OF
tie eEp2riment-so much 50 that he re-
solved to try again at first hand. He
wrote a second letter, pasted it tightly
IN two envelopes, and took it in person
t. Mr. Mansiicld's room, where it did
not for an instant pass from his sight
but within ten minutes Mr.. Ms hand
Was influenced and he wrote response
as before, III Chinese characters, while
The Chinanan, sitting some eight feet
distant, held his letter tightly il his
own hand. This occurred in the pres
ence of several responsible Witnesses
The answer contained The name of Mr..
Ar Showc's mother and brother, and
was correctly signed by his spirit-tath-
CT. 1t also contained the statement
that his mother was dead, Of which he
had not heard. Among other things,
his father found fault with him for not
writing Chinese us we'll as formerly, a
residence Of several years in this coun-
try having impaired his style. The re-
spouse was completed in about u min
ute and u half, though it would have
required several minutes for an. expert
to write it III the ordinary way. The
letterwas not answered in full, for which
Mr.. Ar Shove asked in his native Ian
guage the reason. Areply was prompt
ly written IN character, which the in
Qulrer interpreted to mean, II have not
strength to do So" Probably his con
troll Of the medium was not sufficiently
complete. This seems the more likely
tron9 the fact that the second letter was
much more full than the first, showing
more perfect influence.
The important statements in this mat
ter are confirmed by Mr.. AZ Shove
hlnsself, with whom We have had q per
Son1i nFteFvicW. He is man of intel
hgence and undoubted integrity, and
conlesscs HIMSELF much puzzled by these
singular facts. When he wrote his
first letter he was entirely skeptical, but
after the tests he has received he is dis
posed TO believe he has had commune
e&tlon with his spirit father. Another
statement which he made occurs to our
mlnd-thc characters III the answer
were formed as perfectly as a China
man could have executed them.