The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1909-07-21
SPIRIT TELEGRAPH
How w. 7. Stead Expects to Send
Messages to Other World.
CHICAGO GHOST IN CHARGE.


Ames, Once Editor Of Union Signal,
A. w. G. T. v. orsan-consoIation
For Mourners and Joy to the Mourned.
william T. Stead, the noted English
editor, acting under the direction of
the spirit of a we'll known Chicago
woman who died seventeen years ago,
has established a spirit telegraph Office
in London where mOrtals can commu-
| nicate with the shades Of departed
loved ones.
Mr.. Stead has relinquished all bust
ness affairs to give himself entirely to
the work. He declares that he is
merely the servant, acting under the
complete direction Of the Chicago wo-
mans shade.
The spirit is that Of Miss Julia A.
Ames, formerly editor of the Union
Signal. the official organ Of the w. G..
T. U. in Chicago. According to MI.
Stead's statement, he has been discuss
ing means for the spirit telegraph bu-
eau with her ghost for fourteen years.
Mr.. Stead in explaining the whole
scheme declares that the bureau would
be at the disposal of any one who
| wanted to talk with dead friends or
| relatives in the other world.
1.-THE world into which we pass at
death is neither up o down, as the
ancient theory had it," declares MI.
Stead. 1T is very near to Is. In fact,
1t Is right here. We have a veil over
our eyes, so that we cannot see it now.
At death that veil is lifted, and we
come into the other world as a blind
man would come into the light were
the shadow lifted from his eyes.
"People who die go IN living with
the same personality that they had in
this world. We are merely unable to
perceive them, though they move in
our midst. The bureau will establish
communication between the two worlds.
II became well acquainted with Miss
Ames some time before her death.
Like many another pious soul, she had
made a pact with her dearest friend
that she would, if possible, return
from the other side and manifest her
self. She did so.
"Twice she came, and at the second
instance I happened to be staying at
the castle where her apparition had
been seen. AS my hand was beginning
to write automatically then, I placed
it at the disposal Of Miss Ames, and
she has used it as her own ever since"
Mr.. Stead quotes a letter from
Miss Ames in part as follows:
I wanted to ask you If you can help me
at all in a matter in which I am much in
terested. I a long wanted to establish
a place where those who have passed over
could communicate with the loved ones
behind. At present the world is full Of
spirits longing to speak to those from
whom they have been parted. It is a
strange spectacle-on your side souls full
Of anguish for bereavement, on his side
souls full of sadness because they cannot
communicate with those whom they love.
What can be done to bring these somber.
sorrow laden souls together?
What is wanted is a bureau of commu-
nication between the two sides. Could
you not establish some such sort of Office
with one or more trustworthy mediums?
If only it were to enable the s%orruwing On
earth to know, If only for once, that eheir
so called dead live nearer h ever be-
fore, 1t would help to dry many a tear
and soothe many a sorrow. I think o
could count upon the eager cooperation
Of all on this side.
II was too hampered by worldly af-
fairs to do anything for q long time"
says Mr.. Stead, 'but now l have given
myself to the work. The proposition
Of the bureau is a serious one. The
proposal to construct a bridge across
the abyss will stagger most people by
its audacity. I think with patience it
a be done.
"The spirit Of Julia has undertaken
to direct operations. When any one
who has lost a beloved one desires to
communicate with him or her the
sanction of the spirit director must
first be obtained. Then the applicant,
after complying with regulations, will
be turned over to experienced medi'
ums, who will transmit messages be-
tween the spirit and the mortal. If 10
per cent Of the cases prove successful
the bureau will be worth while"