The evening world., 1892-06-01
REV. DR.. COLLYER At A SEANCE.
Went There Open to Conviction,
Game Away Disgusted
Medium Sawycr's Ghosts Made the
Aged Divine Very Tired.

Rev. DR.. Robert Collyer, the aged pastor OF
the Messiah Unitarian Church In East
Thirty-fOurth street, attendeda Undertaking.
seance given by the well-known Spritualist,
Mrs Carrie NJ Sawyer, at 232 West twenty
first street, last night, and to-day he knows
more about Spirltualiom than he did ycster-
day.
Dr. Coliycr is one OF the most eloquent and
best-known ministers In New York. 1t was
reported that he went to the seanCe
to hold converse with the spirits OF his
deceased wife and daughter lie was accom-
panied by another daughter and j. L. Free,
broker, who recently came from chicago to
New YorE.
The seance was given in small
parlOr on the second floor OF Mrs
Sawyers house. The cabinet was one OF
the regulation affairs In which ghosts
ami apparitionS always hold their
receptions, ami 1t was placed in one corner OF
thr room. AT so OCl IcE about twentI-lVe
people mad assembled TO take part III the
seancc. Dr. COIIyer and his daughter were
seated IN The corner OF the room opposite the
cabinet.
While the musical overture was being per-
formed the DOC or party moved close up to
the cauinct. When Mrs Sawyer was being
bound and blindtOldcd, Prof. .iObeLts sat ut
Nearer, Ny God, u Thee
linen Mrs sawyer was placed In the cabi-
net. After Urlet interval white-rODed ng-
ure appeared ana was introduced by an
assistant OF Mrs. sawyer as Annie
a man who wore long whiskcrs rushed for
ward and claimed the spirit as his daughter
whispered conversation was held, tn n the
white-rub d form disappeared and the pro-
lessor at the piano Played some mournlul
music.
/ "a m
MIS-. nor Nils, Collyer were Counterlelted
Dr. COllyer is SAID To havo been
disappointed at being left like {. wallfUwer
while his IcllOw-unemuers In ,he circle were
DuttOn-holing ghosts, and when the seance
came to an END he went away disguised.
/ lie was seen by an EVENING WORLD reporter
at his Office in the Holland Building, Broad
way and FOrtieth street, this morning and
| characterized the performance or the night
before as an imposition.
! 4" went tU The seanCe," he said, at the So
| licilatlun or Mir. Free. IL was the first one
( had attended in twenty years.
| 1t Is thought by some that am a be.
lever Ia splrituallsm oecaus ] preached
ltor the SplritualiSts last Summer. Uut
IS a matter OF TACT, | delivered one OF my
usual sermons, IN which tharc was no ref
erence 10 That latin.
and II the spirit OF my daughter
or vile were To be produced aid
could see and talk TO 1t without believing
myself TO be hypnotized, l would lie con.
yiuCed.
But the performance last night was a
fraud. The loom MaS darkened, ana the pre-.
caution va aiken Ia cover mirror above my
head eviLcnlIy Tor fear II might catch some
rejection that would expose the trick no
different spirits were lmpcrsouatcd, think,
by he same person In Inherent DISCUSSES.
Que OF the so-Ca!ed spirits was represented
TO ue that OF an Indian"
WAS any money collected from the specta.
UorS?"
~ did not see any one give money. did
not do 50 myself"
~ wish to add" continued DR.. Collyer
"that 1t Is not probable will ever again at.
tenu a seance."
Mrs. sawyer was surprised this morning tC
learn Or. Collyer opinion or her medlumistic
powers.
"Ee seemed convinced last night" she said
"anI heard him remarklng o his daughter
that It was truly wonderful. Neither
his daughter nor wife appeared, but he should
not be- disappointed on that account. He was
admitted to the circle ut the solicitation Of
Mr.. Free, who comes here frequently.
DR.. COllyer seemed TO take great
deal OF interest In the seance
and at his suggestion 1t WaE
stopped early on account OF the excessive
heat that mad almost exhausted me-"