New-York tribune., 1899-07-31
FAILED TO GET INGERSOLL.
HOWEVER, THE MEDIUM CALLED UP A
FRIEND TO TALK FOR HIM.
SARCASTIC MAN SUGGESTED THAT THE LINE
WAS BUsY-PLENTY OF FUN AT
sEANCE IN LYRIC HALL

The announcement that the late Colonel Rob
ert G. Ingersoll would speak last night and give
his views Of the world he now nhabits
sunicient 10 draw an audience of two hundred
or more persons to Lyric Hall Forty second
st. and Sixth-ave. The prospect Of an evenings
entertainment was so auring that each readily
contributed the - cents demanded The man
ager. c. B. Mcdonald. announced that there
would be discussion on rs There a Hello"
Before the evenings work concluded half Of the
audience believed there is such place. and one
man said a branch institution thereof appeared
to have been established in Lyric Hal.
A man who styles himself the Rev. Father
Bruins OF the Bruins School. in Seventh-ave."
and who SAYS he was Roman Catholic priest.
and was later denounced an impostor and
second rate book agent. began the speaking.
He said he did not "as a Catholic" condemn
Colonel 1ngersoll unreservediy. The agnostic
had given money to the poor. etc, and God re-
wards good acts, no matter in whom they be.
The star Of the evening. William Frank, a
medium who came highly recommended from
Boston. then took the platform
He started in by declaring that there Is no
hell. and proved 1t with the declaration, Be
cause know It," He told about two letters
which he alleged to have occult evidence OF tha-
Colonel Ingersoll wrote just before his death.
contains queries relative TO confession. Having
thus introduced himself. the medium said he
would try and call up Colonel Ingersoll" as II
it were a mere matter Of getting connection
through telephone central
THE TRANCE THAT FAILED
After the usual exhibition Of calisthenics stiff
eming OF his arms. screwing up of his face. etc.
the medium Strengthened up and declared he
was unable 10 get the colonel"
rs the line busy" asked a man in the rear
in an obviously sarcastic tone.
Not noticing the interruption. the medium
went TO say that there some strong an
tagonistic influence in the hall and he would
have TO bid his audience good night. Many
turned and glared iercely at the sarcastic nd-
vidual and he soon left the hall.
Mr. Mcdonald then said ne was very sorry
but he would have to bid the ladies and gentle
men pleasant good night" and that the Rev.
Dr. Harris. also on the programme for a dis
sertation on hell. had been unable to appear.
Just then large, gray haired man with
beard OF the patrarchal type. slowly arose
and said
Il don't know what the rest of the folks mere
think about this. but my opinion is that It's
a fraud OF the worst sort"
Then ne sat down while the bolder ones ap-
he forthwith arose and demanded to know what
he was going to get for his - cents.
In these days one can't give such large sums
for nothing ne declared, and the audience
echoed That's so"'
Mr. Mcdonald replied asking the cid man u
he wanted a hell here on this stage Tor 20
cents?" The old man replied that he would give
Mr Mcdonald q hell for less than that II you
come down here on this floor.
ANOTHER INTERRUPTION
obta vi a
Mr. Mccarthy. announcing himself as the for
mer pastor Of the Church Of the Redeemer VINO
had forsaken Church and people to follow the
creed of the Spritualists" took the stage He
caused q renewal Ct the disorder by tellinG the
alleged Father Bruins" that he was not Cath
olic priest had never been one, and. what was
more. was only book agent
And one that don't sell many books ne
added with great emphasis.
Nr Mccarthy was as venerable in appearance
as the other old man who asked embarrassing
questions but much more aggressive. he salG
he would see IF honest folks must be sWlhdIeG
openly" and bounding up on the stage ana
into the wings with agility creditabie TO
man Of half mis- years. he soon emerged WIN
Flank He said he had convinced the medium
that there was only way 10 preserve orueI
and prevent the destruction Of at least -
cents worth Of property for each person IN me
hall and that was TO hold communication WIN
Colonel Ingerso Immediately.
Frank then said he would try once more and
get the Colonel" The lights were lowered and
after repetition of the epheptc performance
the medium suddenly went into a trance anu
in deep unnatural tones that savored OF tomb
stones graveyards and things. he began:
Il am the spirit Of the late George NJ. Chap-
man | bring Colonel Ingersoll with me there
al elderly woman in the audience jumped up
/ and exclaimed rapturously: I knew theE d
fetch him. Just give EN- time and have faith' j.
Il passed out OF this life eleven years ago:
| the medium continued. Il have a son living. he
was an actor Now he's in an insane asylum. !
bring the Colonel with me. but he's very weak
He cannot talk 70 you as he would ike TO- his
| voice is weak and you may not recognize MN
! at first To prove that ! am the spirit OF MT
! Chapman let me say that l knew MT hesey
living in this city and in the insurance business
| knew Colonel Ingersoll well In life. He settled
! a will case for me. The Colonel has not changed
his ideas at all He knows now that there is no
! hell But he has found out that there Is su-
preme Spirit controlling the universe. In the
main he finds he taught the truth.
WORDS FROM A FRIEND.
| Here the medium hesitated for a moment had
! q few more contortions. and said:
The Colonel won't be able TO talk 70 you to-
| night He has not been long enough in the spirit
! world 70 comply with the spirit laws Frank
! then said he had message from spirit 10
woman in the front row. and when he asked her
! il she was not expecting it and received her en-
| thusiastc reply that she was, ne came Out Vi
J his trance" in a jiny and bounded from the
| stage into the wings.
| The manager then announced that the enc
| was at hand. The meeting broke up into excited
| erouDs some denouncing the medium as fraud
| and az many taking his part and declaring ne
| could do nothing against the hidden antas
| onistic influence" Of which he had hrst COM
! planned. - ,ht NTH
The lights began TO go down, and TINS win
| the announcement from somebody that all the
| dissatisfied ones might get their money at the
box office. caused practically unanimous STAN
| node for the hallway When the Dox once was
| reached II was found TO be closed but the doors
! above were heard to slam shut, ana the audiehce
! IIre,v II was out in the cold. cold world
| The old man with the gray beard hrst spoken
| n, and his friend fingered after the others IN