The Portland daily press., 1876-08-22

deford the night following.
SPIRIT MATERIALIzATIoN.-A writer in the
Boston Sunday Courier, who has been in Port
land gives the following account of spirit ma
terialzation in this city:
Having heard, not only in Boston but else
where. of the existence of astounding phenom-
ena in family of Portland, sought admission
las reporter) into the family circle, in the be-
lief that faithful report of such proceedings
as might take place before my eyes would be
acceptable. This method of entrance was abso-
lutely necessary, as only intimate friends OF the
family, or those who are invited by intimate
friends, can ever gain admission. At o'clock
we were seated-twelve of us--in one of the
large parlOrs of the house. Across the corner
of the room a black gingham curtain, in two
parts was drawn. 1t enclosed only the two
walls of the room making the corner-a COM
mon black walnut stand with ooks upon 1t
aud low STOOL The gas was turned of so
that we could just disting uish each others
faces and the pictures upon the walls. After
sitting in pleasant conversation for perhaps
ten minutes some one suggested that song be
sung. Nearer, my God, to Thee" was there
upon begun, and the first verse sung. As the
second was started the figure of a woman, with
outstretched hands and in long white raiment,
hoated stationary over the curtain above our
heads, and then vanished Immediately fol-
lowing this the figure of a young girl of 20 years
las we know ages here) stepped from behind
the curtain, through the opening, aud stood in
front of it not six feet from us-the medium, a
lady Of 45, being seated upon The low stool in the
enclosure. desire to say here that we could
see the dress of the medium through the
whole time of the sitting-an hour and half
the curtain not coming down to the floor
Neither tongue nor pen can describe the utter
radiance of the figure we all saw The whole
OF its garments were white aud shining, giving
out sort of phosphoric light such as is seen
upon the water on certain brilliant nights
this being as she stood, a crown of flowers
upon her head, her arms bare to the shoulders,
her feet firmly set upon the floor. We saw her
lift the crown from her head-we saw her
place her hands under her long black curls,
that came down to the shoulders-we saw her
lift the veil from her face, and drape herself
often in her snowy garments. Suddenly she
Deckoned for young man and a young lady in
the party to come TO her. Timidly they did SO
and Immediately were envelOped in the folds
OF fabric finer than gossamer. This presently
was withdrawn and they were motoned back
to their seats. All again seated, the veil was
lifted clear from the face, and the face was
recognized by several of those present as that
of the departed sister of the young man who
was called up from the circle. We next saw
that the figure was becoming thoroughly de
fined, and then that it was slowly evaporating,
or father dematerializlng, away. In few mo-
mentS nothing was visible to us but white
mist in the place where it stood, and that
shortly vanished. The figure of iuIl-grown
man, of woman clothed in Turkirh robes, and
of little child, also appeared to US, but no
person present recognized either. l make no
offer it to you and to those that are inyestigat-
ing things"