Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1870-03-29
A Chapter on Spiritualistic Tests.


Accordingly, about four months ago,
being invited by my brother to take a
trip with him to South America, his
vessel being in New York, | called
upon the celebrated medium, J. Y.
Mansfield. l was a perfect stranger
to him, as he had never seen me be-
fore. He requested me to sit by his
desk, and write at the head of a slip
of paper, a question addressed to the
spirit friend with whom | desired TO
communicate. | did so, addressing
my mother who had been dead some
years. After writing the question, /
folded the paper and sealed it, in such
a manner that the medium could not
possibly see what | had written; and
even if he had, he could not have an
Swered the question which | had ask.
ed. After having sealed the paper
Mr. Mansfield came to the desk. and
placing his left hand upon the paper
wrote out with his right hand an an
swer which contained unmistakable
evidence Of my mothers presence
ln like manner, | received six conmu.
nication5 FROM my deceased friends
containing statements relating to their
earthly lives Of which they alone could
/ possibly have had any knowledge.
/ Having been two voyages with my
/ brother to South America. which took
about four months, and having conclu
ded to stay in New York FOR a few
] weeks, | resolved to give the different
/ phases Of this wonderful phenomena
a thorough examination.
Accordingly, | again called upon
Mr.. NJ, and upon going into his pres
ence, told him that | had been there
/ some months before, and asked him
| if he recognized me, to which he re
/ sponded that he did not as he was IN.
able to remember one in twenty of
his numerous visitors who called upon
/ him from all parts of the United
States. Accordingly, without telling
him who | was, | sat down at the desk
and addressed as before nay deceased
mother, who responded in lengthy
communication: telling me where
had been; how I had suffered on shir
board; and many other incident,
which to me were unmistakable evi
I dences of her identity and presence
| received also two communications
from a sister who died more thar
twenty years ago; and also others
about dozen in all, from other
friends and relatives who had passed
to the spirit world, all of which com
munications were to me unquestiona
BILE evidence of the reality of spiri
communication.
A few days after seeing Mr.. Mans
field, | attended public circle at tht
Universe Rooms, corner Broadway
and 32d St, to witness the manifesto
tions through the physical medium
Mr.. Charles Read. As you were
present at this seance and have prom
ised your readers a description Of The
wonderful manifestations that occur
red, | will not occupy your space witt
any account of my own. will, how
ever, say that it is my firm conviction
that the phenomena produced through
Mr.. Read, cannot be explained upol
any other theory than that which ad
mits the agency Of departed spirits.
The following Sunday evening l at
tended public circle at the SAM
rooms, in which Margaret Fox Kan,
was medium; but as YOU were pres
ent at that circle also, l will pass Of
to a description Of the phenoment
which occurred the next day. at a pri
vate seance III the house of this lady
Sitting at round table with tn
medium, the first thing | heard wa
the raps, and by means of these AM
the alphabet, she told me mother
name, place and date of her brit
her age, the place and year of he
death, and also the disease of whic
she died. In like manner she CAV
me the birth place, year Of birth, &c
Of several other of my deceased rels
tives and friends. She also gave m
communications from them, only on
, of which | will here notice.
| asked the question mentaily if m
nephew -- was present. Instant
three loud raps were given; meauin
eyes" Immediately after, the med
um's hand was influenced to write, an
| received the following commune;
tion from my mother: Yes, my sol
? he is present; but he is unable to con
, municate with you, for he is the san
? in this world that he was with you
|, but after many, very many years G
: spirit life and progression, he will b
a come a bright and happy spirit
e Your mother, Mary Howell" Th
was a most convincing test, as the bo
: when living, was an idiot! All u
v bigotS in Christendom could not co
: vince me that that communication di
/. not come from my mother!
s A few evenings afterwards, | a
= tended another private seance at Il
: house of -. | am not permittt
i to give the name, as the circle was NJ
|. public one. About eight o'cloC
r the manifestations began bv raps
= different parts of the room. The ligI
e being turned down, spirit lights we
It visible, shadowy hands made their a
}. pearance, and apparitionS of dee
v persons, unknown to me, were di
It tinctly visible in the room. The ligh
5. being turned on, the table and fur
t, ture began to move undisturbed |
Y any one present; a piano untouchC
e by visible hands, commenced to pl;
e the most melodious music; and a q
4. tar fOated in the room above o.
n heads, played by invisible hands. A
n this was to me very interesting; b
r | had read so much concerning the
O things, that their manifestation did n
0 excite me in the least; and | was ab
to witness them with the same Sc
possession, with which | am able
d write this account OF them.
r The next and last medium | yisitt