Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-05-27

! Correspondence OF tue LeugerI lnta1
had never before visited seance;
had never seen table-tipping, nor heard
spirit rapping; in fact, had never be-
lieyed that anything superhnman could
be done. A number Of seances were to
be given by Mrs. Jennie Farris tsaid to
be one of the best physical mediums IN
the world), to which | was kindly in
vited by my friend DIR. Y. A. Carr. So
soon as the lights were blown out, music
commenced in the air; and although a
skeptic, / had queer ideas, queer notions
and queer feelings. Two guitars were
played upon while rapidly fitting through
the air; tamborine was being wrapped
on our knees and heads; six or eight bells
we're ringing at one time; my legs were
tied with a ladys handkerchief; spirit
hands touched ours gently and softly;
cooling breeze was created in the close
room; spirit lights appeared before our
eyes; guitar besmeared with phospo-
rous could be seen floating through the
air over our heads; the violin was
snatched from its owner and hurled back
and forth through the room; the medium
was tied and united with a strong cord
in a moments time; solid iron rings and
a tamborine ring were thrown upon my
arm, as well as others, while we firmly
held the medium by her hands; dancing
was heard upon the floor; spirit-whisper-
ing was heard in various directions;
spirit-talking through the medium by
Indian. Italian, French and Irish spirits.
The above, and more, saw, heard and
felt. My hands grew cold my heart
fluttered, and ! felt my hair standing
straight out. thought of grayeyards,
ghosts. hobgoblins, raw-head-and-bloody-
bones. and / stretched my eyes terribly
trying to see in the dark. Investigation
was my honest intention, and l pro-
pounded the following questions, and
received the answers as given, one of
the spirits answering distinctly through
the medium:
Question by L. Slow many spheres
are there in the spirit land?
Answer by the spirit-Seven, sir.
Q. What sphere do you hail from?
A. The fourth, sir.
Q. How long since you passed into
the spirit landY
A. About nine years, sir.
Q. What sphere did you enter at first?
A. The FIRST sphere,
Q. Why did you leave the first sphere?
A. Because It was dark and possessed
no enjoyments, and ! progressed and
rapidly gained higher spheres
Q. What about purgatory in the spirit
land?
A. A residence in the first sphere is
all the purgatory | have been able to
find, sir, and that is bad enough | can
assure you. 1t is eternal darkness, with
no spiritual pleasures whatever.
Q. In q previous answer you stated
that you pgogyessed VIII you please
state what yon mean By the term?
A. / mean, sir, that in proportion to
our moral life on earth, so are we located
in spirit land; the FIRST sphere being the !
worst, and by onr own behavior in spirit |
life we can advance higher or remain |
stationary. Other spirits come and as
sist us all they can we are thus enabled |
to gain higher spheres. Do you under
sand, sir? r
O. DO the honest and good people on
earth enter the first or dark sphereY
A. No, sir The better yoi are on this |
earth the higher and more gloFions the
sphere You enter OF first, Your reward !
and yonr enjoyment in spirit land are in
proportion 10 your behavior on earth.
These and various other questions
we're prppounded by myself and other
members of ihe circle during the differ |
ent evenings.
One evening DR.. Mastn, Of Mobile, !
came 10 the seance With DR.. Ben D. Lay,
saying that il was impossible to place 2 !
ring on his arm,
During the evening the spirit Rosa In |
yited Dr. Mastin to take seat in front
of the medium, and hold her firmly by
both hands. He did so His hands were
placed on the mediums arms, showing
that no ring was on them. He was then
made 10 feel the iFaP ring and the tam
BORNE ring lying on tbs table at his SIDE.
The iron ring was then attempted to be
moved, but the Doctor pressed it firmly
upon the table; and while thus closely
watching this ring, the tamborine ring
was placed upon his arm, which he in
stantly threw off by Listing go the medi-
INNS hand. The spirit Rosa reppoyed
Dr.. Aastin severely, telling him he acted
unfairly, and charging him with having
thrown il from bis arm after being placed
around il. ~ which the Doctor made but
little reply.
The spirit Richard then presented him
self, and stated that if the iron ring had
been half an inch larger it would have
been placed around his neck, so that he
could have shows il to the people on the
streets. Some contend that the spirits
are not done with Dr.. Aasiip yst
Mr.. Editor. some may conclude thai !
exaggerate, but, sir. | do not; neither
have / checked upon my imagination.
These seances have been attended by
the elite of Mobile, who can testify TO
the facts which have written. | am
not a spiritnalist. bat cannot account for
these things They are not performed
By the medium, neither has she any con-
idantes. One thing certain, there's a
bug in nay ear, ~ well as flea
IN other peoples.
TRISTAN SHAyDr.