Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1872-12-06
How They Boz ArOund-An Account of
Two Spiritual Seances.
Interview with Dr- watson In Reference
TO sPirituasism-He Says He is
MisFepEesented.
His Account of IA Proceedings 1t sOEn-
erVIIle-NO Trial and no Recanta-
t8On-A General SisapPreEen-
sion all Round.


We were told only two would be &C
mitted-We found fourteen, all wei
known, respectable and solid citizens
Memphis, except two. One Of the tw
was the medium herself, and the Othe
a gentleman of GAINESVILLE, TENNESSEE
a member of the Legislature. The foul
teen ranged themselves in a circle, til
medium taking a seat just as the other
did. She placed a tin trumpet in til
center of the Tablet was two feet Ions
| The medium explained that spirit
could make themselves more audibl
through a trumpet. Rev. Sam Watson
B. B. WaddeL, Nh. and Mrs. MinC
| Meriwether, Mr.. Butts, Mr.. and Mr.:
| Jones and others we knew were present
After the circle was formed the gas wa
turned off and dense darkness prevailed
Nj. Jones played the violin, and
dozen voices were raised in song. w
were told music greatly aided the spirit
in Undertaking. themselves. The mu
sic went on about twenty minutes
when a distinct rap on the floor wa
heard. The music stopped, and Nj
Butts called out, "What spirit is that?.
A cheerful, manly voice, seemingly il
the center of the circle, answered, "HOy
do you do, Mr.. Butts? Pm glad to Sc
you" "Why, Jimmy, Pm glad to NEE
you" said Mr.. Butts. Jimmy, let N
Introduce you to Mrs. Meriwether.
How do you do, Mrs. Meriwether
Pm happy to see you" said the spiri
Jimmy. "I'm sure, Jimmy, Pm yer!
glad to meet you,p answered the lady
In this of-hand, earthly way the spir
it was introduced to all around the cir
Gle, to each member separately.
Various questions and answers weTI
made by different persons, until rathe
a metaphysical sort Of conversation wa
begun and carried on by Colonel Meri
wether and the spirit, to which the res
listened in silence. 1t began thus:
Colonel M.-Jimmy, are any of my
spirit friends here tonight?
Spirit-They don't tell me, Mr.. Meri
Wether.
Here the medium from her seat acros
the room spoke up in her gentle feminin0
voice, and told Colonel NJ. the con
trolling spirit would let him know a
soon as any of his spirit friends shOul'
desire to communicate.
Colonel M.-YOu say, Jimmy, 10.
soul is to live forever
Spirit-Most assuredly; Mr.. MeTi
wether, you cannot believe this poe
earth life you have to be all?
Colonel .-WeIl, Jimmy, if my sou
is immortal, and is to go On living 70
all future time, now about the past? ha
it always lived? If it has always lived
how was it? and what did it do before i
became lodged in this mortal body
which men call Minor Meriwether?
Spirit capt tell you; Pm not for
hidden; Pm I'D slave, but there are some
things we tbihk it better not to tell.
Colonel M.-Can you tell if there
ever was such a man as Jesus Christ?
Spirit-Certainly, Mr.. Meriwether
Jesus Christ once lived on earth.
Colonel M.-Was he the son of God;
Spirit-Yes; as you are, as / am, as
all life is a part Of God.
Colonel M.-Had he a human father.
Spirit-Why, surely, Mr.. Meriweth-
er, as every man has a human father.
Jesus Christ was a great and good re-
former.
Mr.. Watson was heard to remark that
in the course of his twenty years Of spir-
itual investigation, this was the first
time be had come square up to anything
opposed to the teachings of his church.
Colonel M.-Jimmy, can you tell me
about God? Has he a personality?
Spirit-NO, sir. All life is a part OF
God. The creative principle is God-it
is diffused through the universe-it is in
all things. God has no individuality.
This was a matter square up against
Mr.. Watson's church..
ToIona1 -Tioonu wbat Uora Won
on earth, and where did you die?
Spirit belonged to the Federal ar
my, and died in the Maxwell House.
Nashville, Tennessee.
Mrs. M.-DO you aO0 think it was
for you Yankees to come down
here and kill our people?
Spirit, with the evasion natural to the
true Yankee-Oh! 1 never killed many;
| was only a drummer.
The spirit then went on to relate the
manner Of his death, and how be felt
on first entering the spirit-wOrld. He
said he had been a materialist-did not
believe in a life after death. -Four hours
his death, he followed his
own body to the grave, not at all
realizing bis position until a conrad he
had known on earth, and who had been
killed in battle, said to him, as be stood
with folded arms looking on his own
grave being filed up:
"Why, hello Jimmy! have yOu come
He then, for the first time, realized
his position; he exclaimed, My God!
am l dead?n Then and there he re-
to devote his whole spirit ener-
gies to the task Of convincing people OF
the truth of spirit life.
Imay say there was no hell of fire
and torment, but there We're many very
unhappy spirits.
The question was asked what made
them unhappy?
If a man dies devoted to drink or to-
bacco, he carries those bare cravings in
to the spirit land. Not being able to
such appetites, he suffers; in all
the spirit land, is not a pint of whisky,
or a plug of tobacco, SO with the baser
animal desires. But even the spirits in
this somewhat mitigated sort Of hell,
are not hopeless, they are encouraged to
improve Progress in purity is the law Of
the Universe, the lower spirits are in
and led on by the higher.
Jimmy informed Us the moon was in
LeADALNAh ny d RODA 81 ugDg HCNg VI a B4IC-
color. In some of the planets, how
ever, are beings far superior to earth's.
The spirit land, is a real place, about one
hundred and " miles above the
earth. 1t circles the earth like a zone.
Each planet has its spirit land, like a
zone betting it about. This zone is COM
Of seven spheres. The seventh
IS the abode of the highest and purest
Jimmy, himself, lived in the
was happy and %contented, but
expected to grow up to the seventh some
In the spirit land is an instru-
ment by which thought can be instan-
-aneously photographed on paper. 1t is
be introduced on earth before very
.Ong. In the spirit land every one is
perfectly transparent, no u attempts
deception and lies would be utterly use-
ess. All this and much more was re-
ated by the spirit Jimmy in the most
natural and mortal sort Of way. Mean
While the medium ever and anon would
make comments and remarks. If it
vas v~entriloquism it was a most mas
erly performance.
At this stage Of the seanee Jimmy
aid be would retire ard give place TO
spirits who We're anxious to speak
their friends. He asked if any one
present knew-Q. l. Atkinson?
Several had known him in life.
Jimmy said Mr.. Atkinson was pres
mt and anxious to communicate with
ais wife. Test messages We're sent her.
Then Jimmy c~ourteously babe the circle
Goodnight, and for a moment silence
md darkness reigned. The medium
aid Jimmy had not left the room; he
-emained standing, with bis arms fold
ID. by her side. She described him rs a
young man, dressed in the Union sol
iier's uniform, his blue blouse jacket
iestOoned with one brass button, always
button. Jimmy had been silent, but
! few minutes before a voice, that seemed
be about a foot in front Of Mr.. Wat
son, called, "Father."
HWho is it?u asked Mr. Watson.
fI am your son Allen. Father, l am
,av,xv 70 have tbfQ oppQFtIinitV of pak