Morning journal and courier., 1880-02-23
Price Four Cents
The Rev. MT. We bster's Vision.
The Quebec Clergyman Describes His
 Angelic Visitor.


 QUEBEC, Feb. l7.-Ihe excitement of the hour is still the Rev. MT. Webster's vision. and local paper this morning has the follow lowing report of an interview with the reyer- end gentleman, who, 1t might be mentioned, is an Episcopalian. MT. Webster received the reporter courteousIy, and by no means object ed to the interviewing process, which, after few preliminary observations, was somewhat as follows
 o. Have you any objection to give more detailed account of the manifestation alluded to in your sermon last night A. There are some particulars which I cannot make pub- lie.
 o. Can you describe the time and manner of the apparition? A. The vision appeared to me while in bed about ? a. m. on Monday last, and opposite the foot of the bed, be- tween 1t and the door, which had locked be- fore retiring.
 Q. What was the form and appearance of the vision? A. I can best describe it by stating that the figure which appeared to me was quite plain and unmistakable It pre- sented most angelic appearance, and was surrounded by kind of halo or phosphoric light. It must have remained in the same po- sltion about half an hour, and it was evident 1t was attended in the room by others which were, however, more or less obscured by the prominence assumed by the central figure
 Q. Was the appearance that of an angel, or of a disembodied spirit resembling any one with whom you were familiar? A. cannot say
 Q. Then you cannot say whether you were visited by the spirit of good man formerly resident here, some of whose relatives have surmised that such might have been the case ? A. l am unable to answer this question Though have an idea as to the identity, I am by no means certain, however. Even from friends in Montreal, have received let ters surmising that the vision may have been spirit of some dead relative of theirs, known to me in life.
 O. Did the spparition alarm you? A. Not in the least during it's stay, which seemed to be at least half an hour.
 Q. Did you speak to the spirit? A. No.
 O. Did it speak to you A. No.
 Q. Did you not receive a message by the vision, and how2 A. The vision had a mes sage to me, but it was not spoken. We find in visions that one which is seen never makes itself heard.
 Q. How, then, was the message commu- nicated to you? A. In the usual manner by signs.
 Q. Do you now feel yourself at liberty to make public the purport of the message? A. No, not at present under any circum stances.
 O. May further information respecting it be expected later ? A. I shall await devel- opments, or further instructions from the spirit world.
 Q. Did you receive during the vision any revelation of faith doctrine? A. Not in par ticular, but cannot and dare not reveal what was shown me.
 In addition to the foregoing answers, the reporter elicited from the reverend gentleman that he had taken down in Greek the message communicated to him; also, that after the disappearance of the apparition he had be- come very much agitated, and had decided not to remain in the house at night alone. A young man has ever since occupied at night the adjoining room. Mir. Webster, likewise, claims that the vision has since it's first ap- pearance been seen by him twice, once on Tuesday night last, and again on the night of Friday. On each occasion he had anticipated its occurrence, having, as he says, been &C., corded sign on the previous day, which coinoided with remarkable sound heard by him some hours prior to it's first appearance. The reverend gentleman denies most emphat- ically holding any views tending toward spir- itualism, but is, of course,a a strong believer in the proximity to us mortals of the spirits of departed friends. He expresses the belief that further manifestations of a like nature will be made him, and that it is his appointed mission to proclaim to men their nearness to the spirit world, and the fact that communica- tions to some men are still occasionally made in our day through visions. He professes no dread from the further anticipations of ghost ly visitors, but only from messages and in structions which they may communicate to him, and holds that the Professionalism of the present day has erred nearly much on the side of infdelity as other systems of religion have on the score of over-credulity in the mat ter of visions. MT. Webster appears quite positive of the reality of the supernatural ap- pearances described above, and denies that he was either asleep Jr suffering from mental hal Inclination when they were shown to him.