The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1891-10-30
THE UNSEEN WORLD
d ths AaHyrsa PesideHt Believe In
SpiritasESui
The NOtea New York Aedium Makes
Some Startling Assertions In Regard
to Mr. LncOln's Belief In SuPernat-
ural Communications.

WHITE PLAINS, N. Y, Oct 3o.-in a
work entitled ~Was Abraham Lincoln
SpIritualIst2; Mrs. Nettie Colburn May
nard, of this city, makes some startling
declarations Ia regard to Mr.. Lincoln's
belief in supernatural communications.
She states that Ia the later part of 1862,
when she was young girl, and already
gaming a reputation as n medium, she
was In Washington and became aoquain-
ted with Mrs. Lincoln and a number of
other persons Of prominence, who were
attendants upon her seances. aud
through this means ste became In con-
tact with the president. Mrs Lincoln
induced her husband 10 attend one of
Miss Colburu's seauces and on that
occasion ne WAS warned through the
unconscious medium not TO postpone his
Issuance of the emancipation prociama-
ton. Those present were surprised, and
asked Mr.. Lincoln II any pressure had
been brought TO bear to secure the
deferment OF the proclamation, and he
replied that there had been pressure Of
the strongest kind. He was much i'm
pressed by the Incident and the proc
lamation was shortly issued.
Mrs. Lincoln obtained Miss Colburn q
clerkship and she remained in Washing
ton, frequently giving seances. The
February following Mr.. Lincoln was
again present on one of these occasions.
a spirit. through her, told the company
that a precariOus condition of things
prevailed in the army at the front and
threatened its usefulness. The president
said:
"You seem TO understand the situa-
ton; can you point out the remedy?"
The spirit advised him to go TO the
front personally with his family and go
among the soldiers without ceremony,
Inqulring into their grievances and show
lug them that he was the father of his
people. Dir. Lincoln said he would do
as advised. aud be afterward did so with
good results. At this seauce, MIR. Lin
coin. together with ID. f. Somes, con-
gresham from Maine, Colonel s. r.
Kase, OF Philadelphia and others set on 4
piano which was moved by the spirits,
Notwithstanding their weight. When
asked what be thought Of the affair Mr..
Lincoln was reticent, but stated freely
that he had not supposed that things
communicated through the medium
were known to anyone but himself.
The next time Mr.. Lincoln and Miss
Colburn met was on the day of the battle
OF Charlottesville. The president was
very Cnxious, and ut tile suggestion of
Mrs. Lincoln Miss Colburn INVITED
aud received word from the spirit land.
II was to the effect that the union forces
were holding their own. The next day
this WAS contirmed by the ordinary off,
,ial adviceS- In thu winter of lS63-64
Mr.. Lincoln was present at Il seance and
the terrible condition of the freedman
was made the subject of y spiritual COM
municatiun, the president being urged
TO appoint a committee to investigate
the question, which he soon did. Gen
eral Daniel f. Sickles was present at
this seance.
Mrs. Maynard states that during this
winter she held seances attended by Mr..
aud Mrs. Lincoln at the president S
appointment, but as they were private
and she was Unconscious when the spirit
communication came through she does
not know what was communicated,
neither Mr.. nor Mrs. Lincoln having told
her afterward what occurred. During
the winter of IS64-65 Charles Colchester
and Charles Foster, two we'll known
mediums, held seances for the president
and through them as we'll AS through
Miss Coiburn, the president was warned
of his approaching fate. He did not
admit, however, that he placed any
reliance upon these prophesles.
Besides the account given by the
writer of Mr.. LincOln's words and
actions at seaOces, she gives many
"reminiscences of Mr.. Lincoln's genera
life, which she had many opportunities oil
observing. The writer Is now the wife
of W. Porter Maynard and resides with
HIM Ia this place.