The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-04-28
A MEDIUM.
The Personality of Mrs. Piper, Of the
Psychical Research Society.
EVprNhodv'G Mapazfne
Everybody's Magazine.

Mrs. Piper was "A slender, fair-haired
young woman OF about twenty-five years of
age, refined I'm appearance and bearing. On
the 10Th Of June. 1884. she was the mother OF
"a child six weeks old. her husband being
employed In a large store in Boston. There
had been no acquaintance with ~spiritualism
In her own family, but at this date her hus-
bands father and mother persuaded her
to visit a healing medium 10 ascertain
the, cause OF some ailment. which proved
10 be a tumor, afterward removed. In the
presence Of this medium, on a second visit,
Mrs, Piper became entranced and passed
under control"
This was naturally very startling 20
Mrs. Pipers family, as on neither side had
anything OF the sort occurred before. She
comes OF healthy English stock, her grand
parents on both sides having had twelve
children and died OF old age, and. though
the younger generation had been less ro-
lust. they had shown no history OF insanity
or nervous disease.
Outside the trance state Mrs. Piper Is
known TO be a kindly young matron Of very
simple tastes. She is concerned with few
matters OF public interest: says that she
should be glad IL her trance state should be
explained. She is considerab bly, interested IN
matters OF dress. and an English acquaint-
ance describes her thus: In London she
expressed no interest I'm public buildings or
the park. but preferred a little shopping
and the attractions of Bono street"
After DIR. Hodgson became interested IN
took complete charge of Mrs. Piper. caused
herself and her family 10 be carefully
watched, and determined that IL was inn
possible that any charge of fraud could be
maintained against her. She has now been
under the most rigid surveillance and COM
plete investigation for q period of over M
teen years. and IL has been proved beyond
a doubt that whatever explanation shall be
given of her powers that OF willful decep-
ton il not possible.
Various explanations are given OF the eA-
traordinary manifestations OF Mrs. Piper.
The accepted theory Of DR.. Hodgson and
other members OF the Society for Psychicil
Research is that she is a sort of telephone or
transmitter. and IL Is said that as inyestiga-
ton proceeds the difficulties In the way. of
clear communicated are gradually discov-
cred and explained, and viii probably be
greatly diminished in years TO come. The
statements of communicates" as to what
occurs on the physical side may be briefly
mentioned: We all have bodies composed
of ''luminiferous ether inclosed In our
~fIesh-and-blood bodies. The relation OF Mrs
riper's ethereal body 20 the ethereal world
In which the communications claim 10
dwell II such that a special store of pecu-
liar energy is accumulated In connection
with her organism, and this appears 10
them "a "a light" Mrs. Piper's ethereal
body Is removed by them and her ordinary
body appears as a shell filled with this
Tight" Several communications" may be
In contact with this light at the same time.
Upon the amount and brightness of this
light the communications depend. When
Mrs. Piper Is I'm I'll health the light" Is
feebler and the communications tend 10 be
less coherent. &c. p says: You to us are
r.ore like az we understand sleep: you look
shut up as one in prison. and I'm order for
AVE 10 enter into your sphere, as one like
yourself, asleep. This is just why we make
mistakes. as YOU call them. or get con-
fvsel and muddled, so TO put It."