St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-10-19
This the Claim Made as to
Lincoln by Nettie Col
burn Maynard.
Her Story Of Advice to Him
to Go Personally to. the
Front.
Sir Robert Porter Issues An
other Whine Anent His
Colossal Failure.
An Indirect Shot at the
Cities Of New York and
st. Paul.

WHITE PLAINS, n. Y. Oct. 1S.-In a
work entitled WAS Abraham Lincoln
Spiritualist?" Miss Nettie Colburn May
nard, of this city. makes some startling
declarations in regard to Mr.. LincOln's
belief in supernatural communications.
She states that in the latter part of
1862, When she was young girl, and
already gaining reputation as medi
um, she was in Washington and be-
came acquainted with Mrs. Lincoln and
number of other persons Of promi
nence, who were attendants upon her
Seances, and through this means she
came in contact with the president.
Mrs. Lincoln induced her husband to
and on that occasion he was warned
through the unconscious medium not
TO postpone his issuance of the eman-
cipation proclamation. Those present
were surprised, and asked Mr.. Lincoln
if any pressure had been brought to
bear to secure the deferment of the
proclamation, and he replied that there
had been pressure brought of the
strongest kind. He was much impressed
by the incident. and the proclamation
was shortly issued. Mrs. Lincoln Oh
tanned Miss Colburn clerkship, and
she remained in Washington, frequent
ly giving seanceS. The February fol-
lowing Mr.. Lincoln was again present
OH one Of these occasions. A spirit
through her, told the company that
4 PrecarioIgs Condition
of things prevailed in the army at the
front. and threatened its usefulness.
Thespresident said: "You seem to I'M
derssand the situation. Can you point
out e remedy?" The spirit advised
him % go to the front personally with
his lilly, and go among the soldiers
witt 1T ceremony, inquiring into their
GRID ances. and showing them that he
was % father of his people. Mr. Lin
coll id he would do as he was adj
wise and he did SO with good results.
At ltis seance Mr.. Lincoln, together
with ID. E. Somes, congressman from
Maine; Col. S. p. KaZe, OF Philadelphia,
and others sat upon a piano, which was
moved by the spirits, notwith-
standing their weight. When asked
what he thought of the affair,
Mr.. Lincoln was reticent. but stated
freely that he had not supposed the
things communication through the me-
dunn were known to any one but him
self. The next time Mr.. Lincoln and
Miss COlburn met was on the day of the
battle Of Charlottesville. The presi-
dent was very anxious, aud. at the sug-
geStion of Mrs. Lincoln, Miss Colburn
invited and received word from the
spirit land. 1t was to the effect that
the Union forces were
EEoIdEuor rE'Fso;r. 0yy.,
The next day this was confirmed by
the ordinary official advices. In the
winter of 1864 Mr.. Lincoln was pres
ent at seance. and the condition of the
freedmen was made the subject of a
spiritual communication, the president
being urged to appoint a committee to
investigate the question, which he soon
did. Gen. Daniel +. SickleS was pres
ent at this seance. Mrs. Maynard states
that during this winter she held seances
attended by Mr.. and Mrs. Lincoln, at
the presidents appointment, but as
they were private, and she was uncon-
scious the spirit was communicating
through her, she does not know what
was communicated, neither Mr.. nor
Mrs. Lincoln having told her afterward
what had occurred During the winter
of 1865, Charles Colchester and Charles
IOSteI, Two Wtll huOWi lHSuluHlS, liCll
seanceS for the president. and through
them, as well as through Miss Colburn,
the president was warned of his APP
preaching fate. He did not admit, how
ever. that be placed any reliance upon
these prophecies. Besides the account
given by. the writer of Mr.. Lincoln's
words and actions at seances, she gives
many interesting "reminiscences of MIR.
Lincoln in general, whom she had many
opportunities of observing. The writer
is now the wife of William Porte May
nard, land resides with him in this place.