The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1891-10-19
DID HE BELIEVE IN SPIRITS?
Mrs. Nellie COlburn Maynard's Remi-
niscences of the Martyred Lincoln.
He Attended Her Seances and Received Mes
ssges from the Spirit Land Which, She
Says, the President 0beyed.

WHITE PLAINS, N. Y, Oct 1s.-In work
entitled WAS Abraham Lincoln q Spirit
ualistp Mrs Nettie Colburn Maynard, of
this city, makes some startling declara-
tions In regard to Mr.. Lincolns belief in
supernatural communications. She states
that in the latter part of 1862, when
she was a young girl and already gaining q
reputation as medium. she was in Wash
iDgton and became acquainted with Mrs.
Lincoln and O number of persons of prom
inence who were attendant upon her
sesnces, and through this means she
came in contact with the Presi-
dent. 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 issuance of the emancipation
proclamation. Those present were sur
prised snd asked Mr.. Lincoln if any pres
sure 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 proclama-
tion was shortly issued.
Mrs. Lincoln obtained Miss Colburn o
clerkship. and she remained IN Washington,
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 UNDER
stand the situation; can you point the rem
edyp The spirit advised him to 60 to the
front personally with his family and 60
among the soldiers without ceremony,
inQuiring into their grievances aud
showing them that he was the father
of his people. Mr.. Lincoln said he
would do as advised, and he afterward
did so with good results. At this seance
Mr.. Lincoln. together with d. E. Somers,
Congressman, of Maine. Col. S. p. Kase, of
philadelphia. and others. sat on 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 communicated through
the medium were known to any one but
himself.
The next time Mr.. Lincoln and Miss Col
burn met was on the day of the battle of
Charlottesville. The President was very
duAlOuS, auu aL tU0 suggestion OF MIS-. LIN.
coin Miss COlburn invited and received
word from the spirit land. 1t 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 1S63-G4
Mr.. Lincoln was present at seance. and
the terrible condition of the freedmen was
made the subject of spiritual cOmmunica-
tion, the President being urged to appoint
committee to investigate the question,
which he soon did. Gen. Daniel 4. Sickels
was present at this seancc.
Mrs. Maynard states that during this
and Mrs. Lincoln, at the Presidents ap-
pOintment, but as they were private and
she was unconscious when the spirit
communication came through her,
she does not know what was COM
municated, neither Mr.. nor Mrs. Lincoln
having told her etterward what had oc-
Cured During the winter of 1S6i-65
Charles Colchester and Charles Foster, two
well-knOwn mediums. held seances for the
President, and through them, well ms
through Miss Coiburn, the President was
warned of his approaching fate. He did not
admit, however. that he placed any reliance
upon these prophecies.
Beside the account given by the writer of
Mr.. Lincoln's words and actions at seances
she gives many interesting "reminiscences
of Mr.. LincolD's general life. which she had
many opportunities of observing. The
writer is now the wife of William Porter
Maynard and resides with him in this place.