Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-11-17
SLEEP WALKING, THOUGHT
READING, ETC.


DIR. HarrisOn's Second Lecture.
4 full house greeted DR.. w. P. Harrison
last plight in his second lecture on Spiritu-
alism.
He began by saying that it was impossi-
BILE, in lecture of an hours length, to clear
I'D the thousand and one mysteries con-
nected with his theme. Where strong in
cination, full prepossession are arrayed
against him, he felt that he would not be
able to convince those who are already con-
firmed; he would endeavor simply TO call
attention to great natural laws, to awaken
inquiry and prompt investigation, that
thereby we might arrive at the truth.
Speaking of how far the mind can travel
in a brief space Of time, 1.-The lecturer related
the following:
A gentleman had watched at the bedside
of q sick friend until he was worn out.
Going to the fire place, he sat down,
knos ing the fire shovel against the and
iron as be did 50, causing a ringing noise
as the shovel and andiroD came into con-
tact. Dropping into the chair, he was
asleep instantly, and began to dream. He
thought he was at home, and having some
slight disagreement with his father, deter
mined to leave home. Carrying this reso-
luton into effect, he went to Wilmington,
where he made earnest effort to get en-
ployment, but falling, hired cut as sailor
on board a vessel bound for Liverpool.
The vessel was wrecked, and after being
dashed about on the waves, lashed to a
plank, for several days, be was picked
up by a passing vessel and carried to
Liverpool, where he landed and secured
employment, number Of years past, and
he again shipped aboard an ocean steamer
and visited the various countries Of the
globe. In the meantime he had grown to
manhood and had amassed Considerable
fortune. After fifteen years time had
ELAPSED, he resolved to return to the old
homestead, TO find the house torn down, his
father dead, his mother dead, his sisters
married and his brothers emigrated to dis
tant lands. He went to see the tomb Of
his dead parents, and sitting down By an
old familiar spring, he thought over the
many years that had passed sincs he had
left his home, and as bis mind required to
the DAYS of his boyhood, be began
to weep, shedding bitter tears
oye- the error of his youth in leaving home
as he did: and as he wept, he awoke, and
the rinoinq noise caused By the ShoUel fall
in0 1oGinst the dndirOn had not ceased,
proving conclusively that he had slept but
an instant.
Referring to the matter of sleep walking,
the sneaker said that an aunt OF his had
risen in toe night, took down an elaborate
quilt which was being made and which was
at the time swung up to the ceiling, ana
worked upon it for three hours, with her
eyes closed. The work was well done,
and yet she was entirely unconscious all
the time.
The same lady frequently got up in her
sleep and visited the grave OF her mother,a
distance of three or four hundred yards
from the house, where she would be over
heard talking-asking and answering ques-
tions as though she were conVerslng VIII
some one. Locking her up in room and
hiding the key failed to break her OF this
habit, as she would always find the hidden
key without difficulty.
These incidents proved to the lecturers
mind that the human mind has powers
which can only be fully developed in fur
ture state of existence, and which are sur
passed by those of God alone.
A friend of the lecturerd had visited the
celebrated New York medium, Foster. He
gave Mr.. Foster folded papers on which
were written questions, requesting the
medium to read and answer them, winch ne
readily complied with. Finally he was hand
ed folded paper on which was written
question whose answer the inquirer did not
know himself, and he was then told that he
bsd asked q question that could not be
answered, as the spirits knew nothing
about it. This, DIR. Harrison accounted
for by saving that when the written ques
tions were handed the medium, the one
msking the inquiries had both question and
answer in bis mind, and MIR. Foster was
enabled to read them; but when question
was asked, the answer to-which was not in
he ouestioner's mind, the medium'1 power
failed.
DR.. Harrison gave some very interesting
accidents of this character, which had fall
an under his own observation, which want
of space prevents our noticing.