The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1876-02-16
TERRE HAUTE HIGH JINKS.
MRS. STEWARDS SINUOUs SPIR-
ITS.
The True Inwardness Of "Pence's
Pandemonium" in the
Prairie City.
A MATERIAL MEDIUM.

STEWARDS SEANCES AT TERRE
THE RESULT OF AN INVESTIGATION.
Terre Haute has long been noted as a sort
of Mecca for modern spiritualistic pilgrims.
OF late years, however, there has been
trouble In the happy family that has had
headquarters at Pence's Hall. A Mrs.
Stewart suddenly rose up and said that she
was a superior medium, and she succeeded
in satisfying some OF the faithful few
that she was all she claimed to be in that
respect, but others of the family would not
be convinced. The brethren abroad be-
gan to take an interest in the trouble, and
some prominent followers in the faith con-
stituted themselves a committee on investi-
CATION. They went to Terre Haute, and one
of the members sends the result of their in
vestigation to a friend in the city, who
furnishes the same to the Sentinel for pub
LEGATION.
1T Is A SAD STORY OF SPIRIT SINUosITY.
At your request send you brief descrip-
tion and result of my investigations of the
spiritual phenomena, as manifested by
Mrs. Annie Stewart, the celebrated medium,
in Terre Haute, Ind, and might rs well
begin at the first and tell plain, straight
story. As you know have tor years been
investigating Spiritualism, and hearing that
Mrs. Stewart could materialiZs the full
| form of departed friends, bringing them
out of the cabinet to shake hands with and
csress you; that she was highly recon-
mended as being the best materializing and
slate writing medium in the world, re-
solved to go and see her, stalking
my future faith in the subject upon her
truthfulness; II true, to go completely
over to the new "harmonial philosophy" If
false, to utterly repudiate the matter both
root and branch, as my previous investiga-
tons had proven nothing satisfactory. In
/ this state of mind 1 went to Terre Haute,
presented my credentials to Messrs. DIR. AL
len Pence, Hook and Connor, who form the
committee of arrangements, and who, by the
way, found to be very genial gentlemen,
investigate, as they will not permit extra
conditions aside from those they themselves
impose. which are very few. They are tear
fully duped or - you may draw your
own conclusions from the,denouement.
was told il required several sittiugs to
obtain good manifestations, but If
would remain five or six days
/ would certainly be converted. Having come
so far for the purpose thought would
stay and see the matter through. On Thurs
day night we had our first "seance," which
was conducted in darkened room, and by
means of a cabinet, which is no more than q
large wardrobe, being three feet deep, seven
feet wide, and seven and half feet in
height, placed upon platform one and q
half feet high, and extending in front six
found it honest. We were placed in seats
in front OF the platform. 1, being a new
conner, had to take back seat. DR.. Pence
being mausger-in-chief, placed himself al
one side to regulate the lights and music
which is produced by a large musical box
which, as he facetiously remarked,
"MADE DUTCH MUSIC"
Mrs. Stewart now made her appearance and
went into the cabinet, closing the doors
after her. will not attempt to describe hei
but merely say she has rather asprepossess
! ing couptenance. The lights were turned
J down and the music began. Any one VIII.
! has sat in dark circle knows what it is-to
} me il was a novel sensation, waiting the ap
} pesrance OF the dear ones who have gon,
before, expecting to feel the familiar clasl
and hear their dear voices, and when-th,
cabinet doors slowly opened and there ap
peared the dim outlines OF figure tina
moved and came forward-the medium be
ing in view reclining upon a cbair-my
} blood began to creep, my nerves to Jingle
/ and / thought truly there are more thing,
our philosophy, and when the spirit, com
ing forward, was recognized by a gentle
, man from Iowa as his daughter, csrressiDl
and kissing him, my establishment was
complete, but having from early youth beer
taught TO accept nothing as truth until after
'sJrict trial" resolved to go slow. Severa
spirits made their appearance, and were
more or less recognized by persons present
, The conditions not being good and the me
) dunn fatigued, the seance was not prolonged
L engaged sitting for slate writing mex
morning, and retired to dream of the won
|, ders had seen. The next morning az II
O'Clock was promptly on hand and the sit
ting began. wrote message to father, ask
ing him to come, and, as test, give me hi
name. After sitting about fifteen minutes
and getting nothing, addressed frienC
who passed away three years since, Charles
, Hall. In few minutes reply came, say
ing 'father was there" and they woul,
D both write as soon as they obtained periec
control. Now, the manner of communica
{ ting is this: You write the message upon slip
of paper and fold them, and place them upol
a slate which the medium puts beneath thu
table, and the spirits are supposed to writ
the answer on the slate. noticed that M
J slips had been opened, but said nothing.
] now addressed cousin in spirit land, an,
while waiting the reply the medium KEEP
! writing with her left hand the name How
a She asked me II ever knew person O
that name, saying there was a spirit of tina
o name claiming to know me. / replied il
the affirmative, and asked the given name
{ asked II 1t was not Hall she meant, but, afte
listening awhile, said no, 1t was How;
SHE NEvER MADE MISTAKES IN NAMES.
|, looked at my fotmer message an
found the address indistinctly write
and would easily be mistaken for How
: Thinks I. my lady, you have put your foo
in 1t this time, and Immediately indited
a message to my wife, who, you know, is still
ia the flesh, and was as follows, well cslcu
lated to deceive: "My Dear Wife, Eva
D ask for you last, not but what know yol
: are ever near me, but wanted to hear fron
? the others, knowing you would keep tn
control when once you got it; but com
!, now" The reply soon came: ''Dear Illus
: bandit will write now. We are happy
: Will manifest for you" This was cousoiine
to know she was happy and should see heI
said nothing in regard to the fraud, bein
DESTROYS to see how far they would go, an
took In everything for gospel truth. Thi
{ closed the sitting. After engaging an
& other for the next morning I retired
That NIGHT tho rnadiupo naipo axhauatad ;