The times., 1898-10-22
SPIRITUALISfS ADJOURN
Convention Closes With Tests
by Mr.. Wiggin.
NEW OFFICERS ELECTED
Organization Of the National Lyce-
pfete Consolidation in One Gem
erai Hody-Mrs. Richmond Speaks
While "Under Control.

The closing session of the visiting and
local Spiritualists was held last night at
Masonic Han. under the auspices of the
National Lyceum Association. Addresses
were made, music rendered and alleged
tests" of a very crude and bungling
character Were executed
The meeting was called to order by
chairman Hatch, who introduced as the
first speaker Harrison d. Barrett, presi-
dent of the National Spiritualists' Asso-
citation. Mr. Barrett is apparently sin
cere man and without question a fervid
one. He is enthusiastic on the subject of
spiritualism. The subject of his address
last night was the importance of instruct
ing children in spiritualism. IF Spirit
ualists,' he said. are ashamed of their
belief it should be taken from them. but
If they are proud of it, as they should be,
they should teach it to their children"
Mrs. L. V. Richmond was the next
speaker This lady. il is claimed by Spir-
itualists, speaks under control" that is.
her mind and lips are for the time being
dominated by the spirit of some departed
being. Mrs. Richmond is seemingly gift
ed with a flow of rosy and poetic Ian
guaee. She recited last night what was
alleged to be an inspired poem.
Mr.. William Hughes, accompanied by
his wife, Nina Vera Hughes. rendered a
vocal solo. which was applauded.
F. A. Wiggin, of Brooklyn, n. Y, un-
dertook to perform tests which We're war
ranted to force belief into the minds of
unbelievers. He failed His movements
last night may have been inspired by
spirits. but if nlat be true, they were
Very peculiar spirits. Mr. Wiggin's
movements may have probably been
prompted by desire to deceive.
Persons in the audience were asked 10
write on slip of paper the name of some
loved one who had passed into the spirit
world. They were also asked to fold the
paper. Directly there was a rustling of
programs and other paper and display
OF pencils. Probably two hundred bits of
paper were placed before the medium -
Those in the audience who were careless
or credulous. folded their slip of paper
but once. with the writing on the inside
of the fold. The skeptics folded their
slips carefully, and tucked in the ends.
The only communications delivered last
night were TO persons who had folded
their slips but once Skeptics saw the
alleged medium open and inspect the
folded bits of paper.
When the medium prepared 10 begin,
he was blindfolded with a black handker-
chief. This, he said, was the same 10
him as cabinet was TO many other me-
diums. Although blindfolded, Mr.. Wig
gin left the stage and walked, unaided,
down the narrow steps which led from
the stage to the floor of the hall. On
getting back TO the stage, he evidently
recovered himself, and asked to be led
up the stairs. Again. when a lady eX-
tended her hand to him, he stretched
lEg D.. q ~
right place His messages were of the
vague and general kind which fortune
tellers often deliver TO their patrons. He
would say here is the spirit of an old
lady and she points 10 you, ma'am, and
she bids me tell you that she is happy
and hopes you are the same
While rendering this message. he would
be fumbling with one Of the loosely
folded slips of paper. The matter Of un-
executed with one hand. He would read
the writing on the slip while talking OF
something else Then he would suddenly
return to the slip which he had covertly
unfoIded. as though he only that moment
recalled that he had ii. He would call
the name written on it, and while dis
cussing the appearance of the spirit
which then hovered near him, he would
pick up another loosely folded slip, alb
stract its contents and proceed as before
The trickery was rather awkwardly exc
cuted.
While putting himself under control OF
the spirits Mr.. Wiggin called upon the
audience to sing Nearer, My God. tc
Thee" Now and then he would bt
seized with spasm and wave and wiring
his hands ecstatically as though he hat
stepped on a live wire.
The Spiritualists National Lyceum As
eociation was organized yesterday al
Masonic Temple. The object of this as
Xociation is to organize and charter
spiritual lyceums. and 10 consolidate
them into a national organization. on
GERS were elected as 4 0ws: ]. B
Hatch. jr, Boston. natio Al conductor
c. W. Stanglen. Baitimorr. national as
sistant conductor: NJ. J. stephens. Wash
ington. national guardian; Tillie W. Rey-
nolds Troy, n. Y, national assistant
guardian; Mrs. Matte E. Hull. Buffalo
n. Y, national secretary; w. H. Bach
Lille Dale, New York, national treas
urer; trustees, Capt. E. W. Gould. Wash
fngton, c. w Hates. New York, and A.
A. Kimball. Massachusetts.
After the election the convention ad-
journed to meet next year in Phila-
delDhia