The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-11-22
PATHOLOGICAL PHENOMENA.
An Eloquent Discourse by n LADY I'm a Trance
state-Anothcr Rochester Marvel.


From the Rochester Union.l
Many years have passed since public attention In
this country was called to striking and mystic
rious developments In psychology. More than half
century ago there appeared In Albany wonder
ful parsonage who in trance state dlscoursed with
admirable eloquence upon various topcs-some-
times relating to the condition OF the human soul
after leaving Its earthly tenement. These manifesto
lions strongly tended to the belief in the minds OF
such as had an opportunity to witness them that
spirits beyond the ordinary vision communicated
with and dictated lessons Of wisdom to beings In this
life. Learned men were confounded at what they
saw and heard. Orthodox piety was shocked at the
exhibitions Of what, In stubborn bigotry was denom-
mated device Of the evil one, and few would give
credence to the testimony Of their own senses when
they saw and heard Rachel Baker, night after night
In her ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS, apparently, Of the
presence OF those around her-breathe forth such
lessons Of simple piety and goodness as made her
hearers dumb with aslonisnment and admiration
did listeners to account for these strange dscOurses
Some supposed Ill health produced nervous excite
the mind was troubled with visions such as are con-
jured up only by diseased inteects. Others thought
intense reigous an1le.y IN ner waxing hours lnan-
uing alter she closed her eyes In slumber. And many
skeptical could not be convinced that she was
not an mpostor, notwithstanding all she said aud
did tending to an opposite belief. She mingled,
diffidenty and m0destly in society, and proved SO
far as negative evidence could reach, that she was
incapable Of practising such fraud. In want OF
any apparent motive OF pecunlary nature she re-
ceived no compensatory, exhibiting powers Of mind
In her waking hours Q deliberate consideration
OF the phenomenon and q moderate exercise OF
charity. uninfuenced by Supplying bigotry, led
some OF her hearers to conclude, however UMPIRE
pared for that result, that she might be q medium
through whom some departed spirit communicated
with beings Of earth by means OF sort OF prophetic
vision, rarely known to transpire in modern ages,
and perhaps never more plainly since the days OF
the prophets and apostles OF old.
The wonder Of that time passed away, and the
phenomenon made no lasting impression upon the
minds OF those who witnessed or heard Of it, except
countable somewhat similar to that left by the arts
OF necromancer or the feats Of some curious slight
Of-hand practitioner; though the remembrance OF 1t
was always serious and the mystery that shrOuded
the whole occurrence was the more striking, mas
much as at that period the public mind less pre-
pared for the advent Of such wonder and gene
rally well guarded against any Innovation upon doc
and orthodox.
What became OF the sleeping preacher, Rachel b.
ker, the writer OF this cannot state. Some, doubt
less yet live In Albany who knew her and listened to
her trance discOurses and she IL here mentioned,
with brief traditional account Of what she was and
did, for the purpose OF showing that something has
heretofore been known on this subject OF spiritual
ism, now commonly SO called and that this genera
ton Is not alone in producing evidences OF what
many now firmly believe to be an established doc
trine-direct communication with the spirit world
With me nothing is claimed or pretended or advo-
Gated on this subject but at the risk, perhaps Of
racter and performances OF lady highly and unver-
sally esteemed wherever she is known and now
about to be mentioned, cannot forbear giving .
faint sketch OF what lately transpired in midst
The citizens Of Rochester were notified In the
evening papers that Mrs. Jonathan Watson would
lecture by request at the Unitarian church on the
evening Of October 20, 1862 Many were personally
acquainted with Mrs. Watson and some had heard
her speak on several occasions. In trance state
nf mo h0h 1naF poln
her in that way but had never taken pains to attend
any Of her s0-caled lectures ALI admire her for her
manners her good sense In social conversation her
noted amability, her unassuming modest demeanor,
everywhere and on all occasions-havng at her COM
mand, as she has, to any extent the means and op-
portunity for rich display and luxurious comfort and
for widespread charity, which is constantly dis
pensed by her in Christian way.
On the evening appointed q large and intelligent
audience assembled at the Unitarian church to hear
and see Mrs. Watson. AT the appointed hour she
PLATFORM and amid the silence that pervaded the
house she arose and moved towards the desk, and
with low voice briefly addressed the audience,
apologizing for her infrm state Of health and ex.
pressing her regret that she might fail TO meet their
expectations, unable, as she always was to speak
In public, except as medium in q trance state.
She hoped however they might not be entirely dts
appointed Then with wave OF her hand TO the
organist she took her seat in = chair.
Sweetly from the instrument issued the notes
OF "Home, Sweet Home" and while the ducet
tones, with the lowest, softest touch. rolled
upon the speaker, who with uplIfted hands and
eyes showed many symptoms OF nervous agi-
interesting to those who came there to scrnrInize
every movement and watch every look OF her who
was to address them. Some painful contortions and
twitchngs were discernible for few minutes, with
hard and seemingly very labored breathing and
then the music ceased and she arose and moved
slowly and with closed eyes towards the desk.
Placing her arms upon the cushion she raised her
hands towards heaven and craved In few words
holy guidance to utter good only, and not word
OF evil and then stepping back again began her dis
Her physical appearance was that Of sleeping
person, though at the onset there seemed TO per-
wade her frame an unnatural strength and power
that continued during the whole lecture. Her head
was thrown well back and her fine symmetrical form
was never exhibited to better advantage. She was
tastefully dressed and looked queen or before she
spoke like some royal statue standing with closed
eyes in deep revery.
Her first utterance came with surprise, AZ the
tone and volume were changed from hesitation and
feebeness to energetic, loud articulation. No SUBJ
what might be expected; but every word spoken
being distinct and clear and every movement easy
and appropriate, all was readily heard and under
stood.
She began by speaking OF the wonderful works OF
nature In the universe OF creation, the mutifarious
forms given TO matter, the marvellous combination
OF spirit and material substance In the animal king
dom, and especially In the formation OF man, who
was Intended to be made In the image OF his Crea-
tor, with mind capable OF communicating with
Him and receiving revelations as he progressed In
the life and faculties with which he was provided.
1t Is not practicable TO give complete Analysis OF
what she sad but the general drift OF her discourse
was to set forth the revelations made by God to
in the thousand changes and movements constantly
going on in the lapse OF time In accordance with the
necessities OF the eternal laws OF nature in the mate
rial and immaterial worlds.
Everything that transpires, for good or evil, has
It's origin and cause In this universal law and moth
ing exalted vile In the actions or conceptions OF
human beings can be omitted. since the slightest In
terruption or impeachment thrown In the way OF a
perfect working OF this law would be fatal and even
suspension oil the force by which particle OF sand
Is held upon the sea shore would throw the whole
system into confusion and destroy ut the work
that was In the beginning pronounced "good, very
good.n
Revelation, she said, was not confined to the
small volume we have been taught to believe con-
tans all that God has ever revealed to man. When
this little world was In chaos-when darkness
covered the whole face OF it-when all the elements
that compose IL were commingled In one heterogene-
mass, and the Creator had not finished His work
pronounced his appreciation OF It, his revelations
were continually going on. The small volume called
His revelations that child bear In his tiny hand
Ia but an Insignificant part even OF what from time
to time Is revealed to US In everything we see and
hear and know and learn from the beginning OF life
to the end. both In this and the world where dwell