The Forrest City times., 1891-10-23
LINCOLN AND SPIRITS.
STARTLING DE EcLARLTIONs OF A ONCE FAMOUS MEDIUM.
nIrs. Ncttie CoIburn Maynard says Che Gave MT Htncoin Many
 Valuable Pointers

WHITE PLAINS, x. J., Oct 2o.-1n a work entitled '.Was Lincoln a Spirit ualist?r Mrs. Nettie Colburn Maynard. of this city, makes some startling declarations in regard to Mir. Lincolns belief in supernatural communications She says that in the latter part of 1862. when she was a Pirl and already gaining a reputation as medium, she was in Washington and became ac- quainted with Mrs. Lincoln and a number of other persons of promi- hence, who were attendants upon her seances, and through this means she came in contact with the President.
 Mrs Lincoln induced her husband to attend Miss Co., burns seances 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 Mir Lincoln if any pressure hand 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 impressed by the incident, ana the proclamation was shortly issued.
 Mrs. Lincoln obtained Miss Colburn a clerlkship and she remained in Wash ington, frequently giving seances. The February following Mir. Lincoln was again present on all these occasions. A spirit, through her, told the com pany that a precarious condition of things prevailed in the army at the front and threatened its usefulness The President saio: You seem to understand the situation; can you point out the remedy?"
 ha at.t,-tt oAvicnI him tC rvn tn tha front personally with his family and go among the soldiers without cere- mony, inquiring into their grievances and showing them that he was the father of hls people. Mir. Lincoln said he would do as advised and he after ward did so with good results.
 At this seance Mir. Lincoln, together with D. w. Sons, congressman from Maine, Col. $. F. East of Philadelphia and others, sat upon a piano, which was moved by the spirits snotwithstand- ing their weight. When asked what he thought of the affair Mir. Lincoln was reticent but said freely that he had not supposed the things communi- cated through the medium were known to any one but himself
 The next time Mir Lincoln and Miss Colburn met was on the day ot the battle of Charlottesville The Presi- dent was very anxious. and at the sug cestion of Mrs. Lincoln. Miss Colburn invited and received word from the spirit land It was to the effect that the Union forces were holding their own. The next day this was confirmed by the ordinary official advices
 In the winter of ls63 MT. Lincoln was present at seanee and the terri ble condition of the freedman was made the subject of spiritual com munication, tho President being urged to appoint committee to investigate the question, which he soon did. Gen. Daniel E. Sickles was present at this seanee Mrs. Maynard states that dur ing this winter she held seaDces attend cd by Mir. and Mrs. Lincoln. at the Presidents appointment, but as they were private and she was unconscious when the spirit was communicating through her, she does not know what was communicated, neither Mir. nor Mrs. Lincoln having told her afterward what had occurred.
 During the winters of 1s64-65 Charles Colchester and Charles Foster, two well-known mediums, held seances for the President and through them as we'll as through Miss Colburn, the President was warned of his approach ing fate. He did not admit, however, that he placed any reliance upon these prophecies.