The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1867-03-19
A Trance in CIien Time.

Thomas Say, who lived century ago,
vas member of the society of Qnakers.
Je was the author of several works; anG
llso wrote the history of his OWL life, bl
,graphy which has always been IN higi'
.steem among those of his faith. In thl>
IS narrative of certain psychological Phe
| lomena, which at the present time would
oe elassed under the general head of mes
nerism and selfinduced magnetism. The
fpllowing is an extract, In substance, from
the work in que ton
"Ou the ninth day, between the hour
Of four and five, fell into a trance, in which
[ remained till about three or four the ne
morning After my departure from the
oody-for | felt that had left the body
nv father and mother, together with 9th
9rS, among whom was Susannah Robinson,
who were watching with me, shook me ana
teIt my pulse, but found no evidence Of any
remaining life in me. DR.. Kearsley, wh'
had attended me, was sent for, and ID Tx
manner examined me and pronounced ms
lead but as he was about leaving Inc, h,
turned back, saying that something lm
Delled him TO try further. After applying
4 glass to my mouth and fnling lit,
moisture upon it, he said that If was no
lead was SO far gone as to be past recov-
.ry. Upon returning again to the body ]
spoke; and those who were sitting up will
ne were very much alarmed; the secon
ime | spoke they ali rose from their seats
the third time they all came to me. Ny
.ather and mother questioned me about M
.ondition, and told them that | though
hat | had died and as | left the body and
rose towards Heaven my ears were greeted
With voices, the music of which threw ms
into transports of JOY. The prospect around
ne, as tioated along, was arrayed in til
most beautiful green. | cast my ewes back
towards the earth and saw that three mel
Of my acquaintance had died. Two OF
these looked white and pure; be other wa
not so. The three rose from their bodies
Is | had done from mine. There appeared
before US transparent opening. L an"
one of these men came up TO 1t and he
passed in; but at the moment when | at
tempted 10 enter | came out of the trance.
"On my return to consciousness | said t,
nv mother, oh that had made one stel
further, and not returned to earth again
[ desired them to say nothing to me, for /
still heard the mnsic that had 50 ravisheo
me; and while heard 1t | felt no pain, bur
when it ceased the pain returned. | told
those who were with me of the death o.
the three men, and they sent to see if j
was so. The messenger returned, saying
that they were dead. One of these was :.
negro named Cutfee. belonging to the wild
wv Kearnev; saw him die in the brick
kitchen. When they were laying him on :,
board his head fell from their hands; thi>
| saw plairly, for the walls of the house
were no hindrance to my sight.
"After my recovery the widow Kearney
sent fr me. l told her that | had seen
her negro man die while 10 my trance
She questioned me as to where be died.
| told her it was in her brick kitchen, be
tween the jamb of the chimney and the
wall, and mentioned the circumstance o.
his head slipping from their hands. She
replied that / was right; and asked M
further If | could tell where they laid him.
| replied that they had laid the body be-
tween the back door and the street door
while place was being swept under sshe
window, where he was afterwards placed.
She said that was correct in these par
ticulars"