Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-11-08
Claimed to Have Been
Viewed by Physician.
Amazing Story Told at Session
Of Presbyterian Ministers,
In New York, y Rev. }. K Funk During
Lecture on Psychic Phenomena"

New York. Nov. before u large
Gathering Of members of the Presby-
terrain Ministers Association at No. 1856
Fifth avenue, Sunday, the Rev. Isaac
X Funk read a paper OH Psychic
Phenomena" giving many interesting
experiences and opinions.
one If the most astonishing of the
stories told was that regard a prOmi-
rcnt physician of this city, whose
varacity is beyond question. DR.. Funk
said: This physician was alone in
Florida and was attacked with paral-
ysis. from which he expected to die.
He finally became unconscious, but felt
himself wholly free from pain. He
wandered if that was death. and
thought Of friend 1899 miles distant.
Al cnce he seemed to be in The home
Of that friend and heard the converSa-
ton of members of the family He
tried to srcak to them. but could not
attract their attention. Suddenly his
friends eyes were rivctcd upon him
and the two conversed. the friend being
much SURPRISED at his presence there.
Then the physician heard ~ voice say
inc if his work was not done he could
return to earth.
He reasoned over the question, was
the story DIR. Funk told, and concluded
that his work was not done. At once
he found himself in his bcdchamber.
looking AT his own dead body. By a
supreme effort of will he re-entcrcd his
body and found that the whole night
had passed since he became uncon-
stious. DR.. Funk continued:
That same morning that friend
wrote that physician a letter telling
him he had strange experience the
night before; that he had seen the
physician in his room as clearly as he
had ever seen him before and that in
establishment he had said to the physi-
elan: Why, doctor. are you here? 1
thought you were in Florida. But as
I approached to grasp your hand you
disappeared. ! greatly fear some mis-
fortune has happened you"
This letter. continued DR.. Funk.
and one written by the physician the
same day passed each other on the
way, but by subsequent correspondence
the physician learned that what he had
seen in the condition stated was fact
The speaker told the assembled cler-
symcn that there are many psychic
phenomena which deserve scientific in
vestigatiOn, and added:
The Bible certainly teaches us that
spirits do communicate with men.
After much careful invcstiga ton. COW
eripg Il number of years, l think ] am
within bounds in saying that lime
tenths of what passes as psychic phe-
Fraudulent Of n n
ing one-tenth coincidence would cx-
plain some and telepathy and clairvoy
auce would explain some. IT is the re-
mainder of this one-tenth that deserves
the deepest thought. Again and again.
i'll my Investigations. in the scm-dark
! have seen a strong man greet u wo-
manly, Chostlike form. and. arm in
arm. lead her around the circle, intro
duclnC her as his departed wife. After
ward. in Ut least one instance, | have
had the confederate confess to me that
she had perSOnated the ghost, but no
manner Of proof on my part was sntti-
Cient to diSiiluSlonze that husband.
An otherwise lcvcl-hcaded business
man. friend of mine in Chicago. +
have seen greet a form as that Of his
dead mother. ! have seen him embrace
and kiss hur-ths when I knew that
the woman was common. vulgar con-
federate Of The medium. had hnr con-
fessiou. written out and signed by her.
with many incidental but inclusive
proofs. AMI this | gave to the man. but
the only result was Il threat to prose-
cute this confederate if she did not de-
sist from lihclrS the dead