The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1891-10-19
A MEDIUMS STORY.
Startling Declarations in Regard
to Abraham Lincoln.
WAS HE A sPIR1TUAL1sT9

Mrs. Nettie Coiburn Maynard Tells
How She Became Acquainted With
the Family and Held Seances in
Which the Martyred President
Was Deeply Interested.
WHITE PLAINS, N. Y, Oct. 19.-In q
work, entitled "Was Abraham Lincoln
a Spiritualist," Mrs Nettie Colburn
Maynard, of this city, makes some start
ling declarations in regard to Mr.. Lin
coins belief in supernatural COM
munications. She states that in the
latter part of 1869, when she was young
girl and already gaining reputation as
q medium, she was in Washington and
became acquainted with Mrs. Lincoln
and a number of other persons of prom
insnce, who were attendants upon her
seances, and through this means she
came in contact wish the president.
Warned at a Seance.
Mrs. Lincoln induced her husband to
attend one of Miss Colburn's seances.
and on that occasion he was warned,
through the unconscious medium, not to
postpone his issuances of the emancipa-
fion proclamation. Those present were
surprised and asked Mr.. Lincoln if any
pressure had been brought to bear to
secure the deformant of the proclama-
tion and he replied that there had been
pressure of the strongest kind. He was
much impressed by the incident and the
proclamation was shortly issued. RS.
Lincoln obtained Miss Colburn a Sierk-
ship and she remained in Washington,
frequently giving seances.
The February following Mr.. Lincoln
was again present on one OF these occa-
Bions. A spirit, through her, told the
company that precarious condition of
things existed in the army at the front
and threatened its usefulness. The
president said, lyon seem to understand
the situation; can you point out the
remedy" The spirit advised him to go
to the front personally, with his family,
and 40 among tine soldiers without cere-
mony, inquiring into their grievances
and showing them that he was the
father of his people. Mr.. Lincoln said
he would do as advised, and he after
ward did SO, with good results. AT this
Eesnce Mr.. Lincoln, together with ID. Il.
Somes, congressman from Maine, Col.
s. P. Kase, Of Philadelphia, and others,
eat upon piano, which was moved by
bined weight.
The Battle of ChancelIorsville.
The next time Mr.. Lincoln and Miss
Colburn met was on the day of the Bat
tie of Charlottesville. The president
was very anxious and the suggestion OF
Mrs. Lincoln, Miss Colburn invited and
received word from the spirit land. II
was to the affect that the Union forces
were holding their own. The next day
this was confirmed BY the ordinary Off
cial advices.
During the winter of 1S64-5 Charles
Colchester and Charles Foster, two well
known mediums, held seances for the
president, and through them, as well ~
through Miss Colburn, the president wai
warned of his approaching fate. He die
not admit that he placed any relianc'
upon these prophecies.
Besides the account given by tn,
writer of Mr.. Lincoln's words and nc
tions at seances, she gives many inter
esting "reminiscences of Mr.. Lincoln'
general life, which she had many oppor
tunities of observing The writer il
now the wife of William Porter May
nard and resides with him in this place