The herald., 1895-08-09
Through Whom Came lndepend'
ent Voices, Etc.
PROFESSOR A. j. M'CLATCHIE
Has an Experience With the Favored
Mortal
The narie Circle Is Formed. Lights Are Ex-
tinguished and the Ball 10 Started
with Spirit Hello


receives valuable contribution to ITS
| literature. The following is clearly
written, and coming as it does from a
| trained observer and scientist, cannot
but prove interesting to a very great
| number of readers. Here is his experi-
ence with an alleged medium:
recently attended seance conducted
by II. b. Allen. a medium, at the Santa
Monica spir;tualist camp meeting. The
published programme makes the follow
ing announcement concerning the medi-
ums to he in attendance: 1.-The manage
ment takes pleasure in announcing, as
possessed of rare gifts honesty and integ
rity, the following, who will be present
and take part in our camp meeting"
Then follows list of twenty-seven di-
vided into four classes, one OF which is
"phenomenal.m mediums" In this class
Mr.. Aliens name is found, and his spe-
cialties are given as ''independent voices,
spirit light, touches, music and physical
manifestations.
When Mr.. Allen arrived he placed a
large either upon a chair behind himself,
a guitar upon the table before him, ar.
ranged writing material before him, re.
one 10 sit at his right, and so on. When
all were seated the circle nun bered nine,
four of whom were women. Wo were i'm
structed 10 join hands with him and with
one another, the light was extinguished
and in total darkness We began waiting
for the spirits to indicate their presence.
The manifestations soon began with great
eclat. The either played softly then
loudly, voice greeted us in shrill tone
with "Helloo," the guitar began to sound
and to seem to float within radius of
few feet OF the medium, and the whole
effect was one likely to inspire with awe
each member of the circle. The guitar
was thrust against my breast and fell
across my knees and the lap OF tho lady
sitting at my ileft, whnce we removed it
to the bed behind us, after which no more
music came from 1t. While the succeed
ing manifestations were going on IN rapid
succession we were repeatedly warned to
be careful not to break the circle, and
Mr.. Allen would say to the lady on one
side then on the other: "Do hold your
nand too tightly? Please excuse me if l
do" Now the bells would ring, now they
would rattle musicaliy over the either be-
hind the medium, now there would be
words spoken in Mr.. Aliens vicinity In
various tones of voice.
After about thirty minutes of this pro-
cedure. l said: "Mr. Allen, would you be
so kind as to permit me to exchange
places with the lady at your rightP"
| "Yes. you may change" was the reply.
In the meantime a pencil writing upon
the tablet was heard. "Shall we exchange
now" l continued. "No, wait few
minutes" he replied. The lady at his
right then explained that during the
Writing the circle must not be broken, else
there would be no manifestations. In a
few minutes | again asked il | should
change. Mr.. Allen replied: "Ies. but
change with the lady at my left" did
30, but failed to JOIN hands with the per-
son at my left. permitting my hand to fall
at my side. Mr.. Allen grasped my right
hand firmly with his strong, fieshy hand,
and soon the usual manifestations were
renewed. Suddenly, forcing tugged
at my necktie, and, as | remarked: BE
| careful there, spirit, that is securely
fastened behind" / instinctively raised
| to my neck my left nand. and it fell upon
! a chubby hand like the one grasping m y
right. Immediately Mr.. Allen said: The
circle must be broken somewhere. the
spirits have stopped working; you must
be careful to keep the circle unbroken, or
the spirits will do nothing Several de-
| MED having broken the circle and | said ::
why, it was | who broke the circle; +;
when l sat down | did not grasp the
! hand of the person at my left, but will
| now do so.'' The medium repeated the
former warning with emphasis, and the
manifestations soon resumed. During
| A. nf n yir rhar md ri r.
| ing on the tablet the mediums body very
| distinctly moved. Directly there was a
| gentle toying with my hair. l addressed
some remark to the purported spirit
seeming to be dong it, and Mr.. Allen
| skeu if a spirit was near. l replied that
! one seemed to be after my pompadour. l
| was requested to find out its name, being
gwen Instructions how to do soto call
the names of dead persons. l was stopped
at the name of John and informed that
that was the name. that it was the spirit
OF my dead brother l never had broth
er by that name. A voice said he wanted
to deliver me a message, the pencil began
| scratching the tablet and sheet was torn
off and thrust into my bosom. The writ
Ing proved to be a scrawi such as per-
son would be expected to make in the
dark with the left hand restrained. The
only leeible words were the prononus
"I' and the signature 'John."
After this the either sounded again,
then fell to the floor and sounded no
more. Finally the table ratified, tottered
ana fell upon my feet, and voice SAID
Good right" The seance was declared
at an end.
MIR. Allen announced that the dollar
would be refunded to any who were dis
satisfied, and as | took my nat to leave
without expressing dissatisfaction he
quietly remarked that he would like tC
see me after | got out. l took no notice
of him and walked promptly away.
The next morning l sought a sitting
| with DR.. Scblesinger, but found him
away. Mrs. Elliott, a medium who had
seen me at the seance the day before
| kindly tried to find another among the
! large number advertised as on the
grounds, but returned announcing her
self as unsuccessful. | requested sitting
| with her and she finally consented, re-
marking that she was i'll and might fail.
| After some anxious waiting she an
| nounced her inability to obtain any dis
| tnct messages for me and dismissed me.
| In an interview with Professor Loveland.
| | asked him if he had ever had sittings
with Mr.. Allen. "Oh. yes, several oi
| them" he replied. You consider him
| a reliable medium, 90 you?' l con-
tinued. Certainly" he said, 81 never
| heard a hint OF any lrregularlty upon ms
| part. A. ). M CLAlOH
The land at the southeast corner o.
| First and Hill streets viii! soo.i be cleared
| preparatory TO the erection OF the new
| city jail.