Before we touch upon the psychic phenomena of the
Christian Bible, let us see how far back the records of Spirit
Communion can be traced.
According to Fabre d' Olivet (who wrote the book
"Hermaneutic Interpretations of the Origin of the Social
State of Man"), the first medium of whom we have any
record was a woman of the Borean race. Her name was
Voluspa. d' Olivet bases his story upon the evidence found
in ancient records of which he has made an intensive study.
You will find the story of Voluspa in my book—Ancient
Prophets and Seers. She lived in 6750 B. C. Before the
first psychic manifestation was received by Voluspa, the
women of the Herman race were looked upon as slaves, belonging to the men, and they were shown very little consideration.
Because of her development of mediumship, Voluspa became
divine and assumed complete authority over the people. This
power went to her head and caused her to do many foolish things.
Later, in her reign of power, she originated a cult called
Druidism and under her supervision an intricate system of
human sacrifices was instituted. This was carried to such
extremes that it became a reign of terror and this resulted in
the downfall of Voluspa. In spite of her errors d' Olivet
says that she brought much enlightenment to the human race.
And so the story of Spirit Communion goes on down
through the ages with Rama, Krishna, Moses, Pythagoras,
Socrates, Plato and then Jesus, the Man of Galilee. In the
three brief years of his ministry he manifested nearly all of
the phases of psychic phenomena known today. He proved
the continuity of life and the return of spirit by manifesting
in an ectoplasmic body eleven times after his crucifixion.
We are all familiar with the story of the Mount of
Transfiguration and the materialization of Moses and Elias.
This manifestation was witnessed by Peter, James and John
and the story is found in the ninth chapter of St. Mark.
If you care to look them up you will find references for
the eleven appearances of Jesus after his crucifixion. His
eleventh appearance was his final ascension forty days after
Easter.
Those who do not accept the psychic phenomena of
Spiritualism are apt to tell you that Jesus was the only Son
of God—a God himself, with super-human power.—naturally He would be able to perform miracles.
What is a miracle? The dictionary tells us that a
miracle is something that happens through a super-natural
agency. Literally speaking, nothing can occur that is above or beyond nature's law. It is God's Law and all phenomena
visible or invisible are governed by this same law. When
the church came into power all of these psychic revelations
became a part of the church ritual and man's individual
right to Spirit Communion ceased.
However, mediumship did not cease with the crucifixion
of Jesus for even after his ascension he spoke to Saul on
the Road to Damascus and converted him into an ardent
advocate instead of an intolerant enemy.
There are many seers mentioned in the Christian Bible
whom we cannot possibly call "Gods". Moses, who heard
the Spirit Voice many times and who received the Ten
Commandments on tablets of stone (independent writing)
and also through trumpet communication; the Woman of
Endor, who materialized the Spirit Samuel for King Saul
and many others. Practically all of the prophets of the Old
Testament saw visions and heard Spirit Voices, according
to the bible; Peter, the disciple of Jesus, who conducted a
seance after the crucifixion of Jesus that the Spirit might decide
who was to take the place of Judas, who had betrayed
Jesus (1st chapter of Acts); John and Peter, who were
spiritual healers—in the 3rd chapter of Acts we read of
their healing the man, lame from birth—and brave Stephan
who gave his life for that which he knew to be true.
Let us also remember that Jesus said—
"Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth
on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and
greater works than these shall he do; because I go
unto my Father." St. John 14:12.
All down through the ages, even unto this present day,
God has always found a human instrument through whom
He could give His Message to the world. This communion
always has been and always be. This story would not
be complete without the beautiful words of Jesus—"And, Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end
of the world." St. Matthew 28:20.
LECTURE II
Ectoplasm
Ectoplasm is the basis of all phases of physical mediumship.
Psychic Science tells us that it is an outer layer of protoplasm.
Material science states that protoplasm is the physical basis
of all life and defines it as a viscid, usually colored substance
which will not mix with water. Its chief chemical components
are carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, sulphur and oxygen.
In order to change protoplasm to ectoplasm, the spirit
chemists add other chemicals and a form of spiritual energy
of which we know but little. Thus it is etherealized and
made sensitive to thought. The Spirit Operators are able
through the power of thought, to mould it into any desired
form that they wish to use in a manifestation. In Sir Oliver
Lodge's book - "Raymond", so named after his son, Raymond,
is quoted as saying that they make bricks for their
homes. He goes on to say that they are not bricks as we
know them but they are made of an etherealized material
and moulded through the power of thought.
Ectoplasm emanates from all mucous membranes of the
medium and pictures have been taken which show a stream
of ectoplasm coming from the vicinity of the spleen and the
solar plexus.
The word ectoplasm was coined by Prof. Chas. Richet
of Paris.
To this scientist we owe many of the words used in the
terminology of Spiritualism. The word ectoplasm is derived
from the Greek words ektos and plasma. The words psychoplasm, ideoplasm and teleplasm have a similar meaning. The
term teleplasm is used when the substance is utilized to
accomplish feats of telekinesis.
Ectoplasm is matter, intangible and invisible, which
can, through the assistance 0f the Spirit Operators, become
tangible and visible. It is seen in many states and forms
and in many colors and degrees of density. It appears in
liquid, vaporous and in solid states; as a thin ethereal gauze
like substance or solid to the extent that it is as tangible as
a human body. Even in its most tangible form it can disappear
from our sight instantaneously—the simple explanation of
this is that the vibration of the ectoplasm is changed to one
that does not register upon the physical vision.
Ectoplasm is used even in the tiny raps and snaps heard
in the home. The Spirit People tell us that they are able to
penetrate solid matter with this substance and produce a
sound similar to the snaps of an elastic band. They also
form the ectoplasm into small sacks and through concussion
they are able to produce an audible sound resembling a rap.
Every human body contains chemicals enough to produce
some ectoplasm but Prof. Crawford, in his book—"The
Psychic Structures in the Goligher Circle" makes the statement that on the average only one in one hundred thousand
human bodies contains the chemicals necessary for a full
form materialization.
Under test conditions finger prints have been made by
an ectoplasmic hand in clay or plaster of paris and these
prints have proven identical with the prints made by the
human hand of the entity during earth life. We have received
much evidence of this nature through the mediumship of the
late Marjory Crandon.
Light rays are very destructive to formations of ectoplasm
and that is why all manifestations of physical mediumship
must be held in the darkness or in a subdued light. The
detrimental effect of light is not unnatural for it is in accordance
with nature's law. The first stages of embryonic life always take
place in partial or complete darkness. The body of the child
requires nine months in which to be built in the womb before
it sees the light of day; the grain must be planted in the darkness
of the earth in order to germinate; the photographer must develop
his pictures in the subdued ruby light or total darkness as bright
light rays destroy the chemicals on the film or plate—all of
these are manifestations of natural law and we do not
question them so let us not be inconsistent enough to deny
the truth of psychic phenomena because it must obey the
same natural law.
One of the most interesting formations of ectoplasm that I have seen in my years
of experience occurred in a materialization. One of the group asked Silver Belle
to tell her how she was able to build up the Spirit People. Silver Belle
replied—
"You would not understand if I told you." A few minutes
later she said—"Mi'lena. I want to do something."
She then proceeded to call a lady from the group and
asked her to hold back the cabinet curtain on one side and
instructed me to hold back the other side. Silver Belle must
have sensed that I was worried because she said
"Don't worry, Mi'lena. I have already protected my
medium from the light."
When we parted the curtains we could plainly see Ethel
Post-Parrish sitting in her chair apparently entranced. Silver
Belle stood beside her fully materialized and in front of
Silver Belle there was a mound of white about two and one-half feet high—it looked like a snow bank but she told us
that it was ectoplasm. She then proceeded to dip her hands
into the mass and showed us how she was able to manipulate
it in order to form the body and clothing of the manifesting
Spirit. It was a most interesting demonstration and gave us
some idea of what was going on in the cabinet during
a materialization.
Some people claim that ectoplasm has a distinct chemical
odor and that it is noticeable in the seance room during
a demonstration of physical mediumship. A laughable incident
occurred in our seance room last year. One evening
one of those little animals that throw out such a terrible
odor when disturbed had gotten under our seance room. We
had radiators in the floor to help ventilate the room and the
odor came up through them. Silver Belle is very sensitive to
odors and she spoke from the cabinet and said, "Phew, Mi'lena",
and then she laughed her tinkling little laugh. Most everyone
in the room laughed with her because they knew what she meant.
However, one lady came to me at the close of the seance and said—-
"It was a lovely seance, Mrs. Jefts, but at one time
the odor of the ectoplasm was so strong that I
thought I must ask to leave the room."
She was so sure that it was the ectoplasm that I did not
try to change her mind. But we had a lot of fun later joking
Mrs. Parrish about the "odor of her ectoplasm".
Last August I asked Ethel Post-Parrish if she thought
it would harm her if I asked Silver Belle to cut a bit of ectoplasm
from the robe of a spirit so that I might have a picture taken for
my book. She said that she did not know but if Silver Belle said it
was all right she was sure that it would not harm her. The next
evening I went into the seance room prepared for the experiment
if it was permitted. I took a little pair of scissors and a small wide-mouthed bottle wrapped in a black handkerchief to protect
the ectoplasm from the light should I be fortunate enough
to get it. After the seance had started I told Silver Belle
what I wanted to do and she said, rather doubtfully, that
she would see. Later in the seance, "Marge", a beautiful
Spirit sister to Tal and Isabel Waters came out upon the floor. After she had talked to her loved ones she turned to me and said—
"Silver Belle said that I might do something for you. "
Of course I understood what she meant and I held out the
scissors at once—she took them and proceeded to cut a small piece of ectoplasm
from her robe. She then dropped it into the little bottle which I held out and I
put the top on and wrapped the bottle in the handkerchief. Silver Belle spoke
from the cabinet and said.—
"Keep it covered up tightly, Mi`lena, or it will disappear."
It was a couple of days before Jack Edwards had time to take the picture and the
following is his story—
"I unwrapped the bottle which was still folded in
the black handkerchief and shook the little piece
of ectoplasm out into my hand. It was almost in
pieces but I managed to pin it to my black curtain
in order to take the picture. All of this was done
in the ruby light. After I had taken the picture, I
turned on a brighter light that I might see better
there was nothing left on the curtain but the pin.
The ectoplasm had entirely disintegrated."
In order that we might be able to draw a comparison
Mr. Edwards has taken pictures of two materials with which
we are more familiar, organdie and cheesecloth. The two
pictures are shown on this page.
LECTURE III
Telekinesis and Spirit Writing
Telekinesis, properly defined means—"Movement at a
distance from the motive, cause or agency, without material
connection."
This is another word that is familiar only to those who are
interested in psychic phenomena and refers to the levitation
of persons or objects by means of psychic power. In
the history of Spiritualism we find many cases of bodily
levitation through mediumship. Daniel D. Home, a noted
psychic who held many test séances for Sir William
Crookes, was famed for this particular phenomena. He was
levitated bodily many times and once he was passed through
an open window into a building across the street.
This phase of mediumship has caused heavy articles of
furniture to be hurled through the air and musical instruments
to be played while floating above the heads of the assembled people.
In Ethel Post-Parrish's séances there are many manifestations
of telekinesis, especially in class work where there is
usually perfect harmony of thought. Many times I have
heard a Spirit Orchestra in the seance room—a toy piano
that had been given to Silver Belle was levitated and floated
about the room, we could hear the music at different points
in the room as Silver Belle played upon it most skillfully.
The piano was accompanied by a mouth organ, played vigorously
by an Indian who called himself White Cloud and a small
drum was beaten in perfect time by the spirit son of one of
the students in the class. This was a regular and most enjoyable
feature of our Harmony Class for many weeks.
One evening several baskets of flowers, four slates and
all the musical instruments were found outside of the closed
circle with the table cover spread neatly over them. The
chairs of the students were very close together and no human
hand could possibly have placed them there without the
knowledge of those sitting in the chairs.
Many years ago a most remarkable feat of telekinesis
was accomplished in the White House during the Presidency
of Abraham Lincoln. Many séances were held there
by a non-professional medium—Nettie Coburn, later known
as Nettie Coburn Maynard. At one of her séances held at
a friend's house in Georgetown and attended by President
and Mrs. Lincoln, the concert grand piano, weighing nearly
a ton, started to levitate. The President and three other
men seated themselves upon it in an effort t0 hold it down.
In another minute there in the full light the piano with the
four men was levitated some six inches from the floor, a
most remarkable feat of telekinetic phenomena.
A most interesting book along these lines was written
by Dr. W. J. Crawford and is entitled "The Psychic Structures
in the Goligher Circle". It shows pictures of the medium with
ectoplasm flowing from her body and the manner in which it
is used to produce levitation. Dr. Crawford's investigations
are very valuable and most interesting to the student of
psychic phenomena.
As before said, in the preceding chapter on ectoplasm,
the substance is formed into masses and rods and placed
beneath the object that the Spirit Operator wishes to levitate.
It seems almost impossible for a material object as heavy
as a piano to be lifted by these frail rods of ectoplasm although
they are solid to the touch. However, we have ample evidence
that such has occurred. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle gave us a
valuable thought along this line—he suggested that perhaps
the rod of ectoplasm was used as a conductor for a force or
energy that would be capable of moving heavy objects and he
likened the ectoplastic rod to the copper wire that is used as
the conductor for an electrical current. I asked Sir Joseph Banks,
Ethel Post-Parrish's splendid Spirit Teacher, what he thought of this
theory and he said that Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was absolutely
correct. This makes telekinetic phenomena much more understandable.
Spirit Writing
Much evidence regarding personal survival after the
change called death has been received through the different
phases of Spirit Writing.
There are three phases of writing, inspirational, automatic and independent.
Inspirational writing is a mental phase of mediumship and we will not go into
that at this time as we are devoting these pages to an explanation of the
different phases of physical mediumship. Automatic and independent writing are
phases of physical mediumship and produced through the use of ectoplasm and
Spiritual Energy. In automatic writing the message comes from the mind of the
spirit entity and does not enter the consciousness of the medium—the medium's hand is controlled or used by psychic force. The medium may be
reading a book or carrying on a conversation with another
person while the message is being written. Many valuable
books have been received through automatic writing.
Independent writing is also a physical phase and a
materialized hand 0r rod is used to produce the writing.
Pierre Keeler and Laura Pruden were outstanding mediums
for this phase of mediumship. Keeler received most of his
writings on cards and Laura Pruden on slates. While the
"ever doubtful" Herward Carrington states that he has
never seen a genuine spirit writing, and he had the privilege
of sitting with both of these mediums, ample evidence
has been received from many sources as to the authenticity
of both of these psychics. Evidence is found not only in
the contents of the message but in the hand writing itself.
Many years ago I had the pleasure of being present
at a seance given for Horace Leaf by Laura Pruden. The
medium used two large slates—she permitted Mr. Leaf
to take the slates and thoroughly examine them, then gave
him a tiny bit of slate pencil to place between the slates
and also a black cloth in which to wrap them explaining
that this was necessary in order to form a cabinet for the
manifestation. She then instructed Mr. Leaf to place the
wrapped slates upon the floor and she placed her foot
upon them. The slates had not left Mr. Leaf's hands after
he had examined them until he had placed them upon
the floor. There was no possible way that the slates could
have been changed and the only way that writing could
appear upon them would he through a legitimate psychic
power.
After repeating the Lord's Prayer, Mrs. Pruden carried
on an animated conversation with Mr. Leaf regarding
friends that they both knew. After a few moments we
heard a scratching sound coming from the vicinity of the
slates. Mrs. Pruden smiled and said, "They are here." After another ten minutes,
Mr. Leaf timing it with his watch, we heard three distinct raps that came from
the vicinity of the slates and the medium interrupted her conversation with Mr. Leaf to say— "That means that they
are finished." She permitted him to pick up the slates
and unwrap them. When they were opened all four sides
of the slates were covered with writing. It was an intimate
message to Horace Leaf from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
regarding a subject that they had discussed in England a
short time before Sir Arthur passed on. When he saw
the signature he became very excited and asked us to remain
where we were until he returned. In a few minutes he
came back carrying an autographed book that Sir Arthur
had given to him several years before—the signature
in the book and that on the slates was almost identical.
This experiment was conducted in the full light and there
was no possible way for us to doubt the authenticity of
the message nor the genuineness of the medium through
whom it came.
LECTURE IV
Vibration and Direct Voice
All phases of mediumship are governed by the Law
of Vibration. Each medium has a certain vibratory wavelength and unless the spirit entities come within that wave
length they are not able to manifest in a manner that is
discernible to the physical eye or audible to the physical
ear. All demonstrations of physical mediumship must occur
through the use of matter—the matter used in these
manifestations is an etherealized protoplasm called ectoplasm.
The thought vibrations of those sitting in the seance
effect the manifestations. Each sitter helps to build the
channel of communication between himself and the spirit
entity through the power of his own thoughts. If the
thoughts of the sitter are negative the phenomena cannot
be at its best. The statement "Thoughts are things" is
absolutely a proven fact and nowhere can one realize it
more fully than in the seance room. Doubt vibrations are
most destructive and they form a solid wall that the Spirit
Forces must puncture before they are able to manifest.
Doubt is a negative force and is destructive to all psychic
manifestations. It is a good idea never to ask for tests in
a demonstration of physical mediumship. Seek for your
tests in clairvoyant readings and in all the mental phases
of mediumship and even then you will find that he who
accepts gratefully the message that comes through to him
and does not demand will get more evidence than the person who is always seeking tests. I would not ask you to
be gullible and accept all that comes to you but be fair-minded and allow the Spirit Loved Ones to manifest
through a clear channel. Later you can analyze your
message and accept that which is true and cast aside the
error if there be any.
Many times we are able to see lights in the seance
room and these are called "Luminous Phenomena". The
little lights on the forehead of the manifesting entity are
called "lights of progression" and they denote spiritual
progress. Tiny lights like a firefly and large lights that
seem to brighten the whole room for an instant have been
produced in Ethel Post-Parrish's séances. One of our
Spirit Teachers always shows a light in the form of a cross
before she speaks.
D. D. Home and Stainton Moses were able to produce
excellent luminous phenomena. Under the strictest of test conditions luminous hands and even whole forms
were produced. Sometimes the entire room is lighted so
that even the chairs and table are visible.
The Spirit Operators tell us that this type of phenomena
are produced by the use of phosphorus drawn from
the body of the medium and those of the sitters.
In a trumpet manifestation the trumpet, which is
usually of aluminum and very light, is levitated and floats
about the room through the power of telekinesis. This
power we have discussed in a previous chapter. The
trumpet is used to magnify the voice and also as a cabinet
in which the ectoplasmic vocal organs are materialized.
Some of the Spirit Teachers call this a sound box and
whether it is materialized in the trumpet or outside of it,
they all agree that it resembles the physical vocal organs
in formation.
The Loved Ones, with the aid of the Spirit Operators,
are able to pick up the sound vibrations in the room and
by using the materialized vocal organs they can articulate
and produce an audible voice.
Some years ago a picture of Margery Crandon of
Boston was taken showing the ectoplasmic sound box on
her shoulder. It seemed to be connected to her throat and
a tube of ectoplasm also ran from the sound box to the
trumpet. Whether the sound box is materialized in the
trumpet or outside of it, it is quite evident that in all cases
they draw from the vocal organs of the medium—however,
the actual voice of the medium is never used in any
manifestation of physical mediumship.
It is quite natural that the Spirit voices should sound
like those of the medium and the sitters for they are drawing
from their vocal organs and picking up the vibrations
that they send out. However, as the spirit entity converses
with his or her loved one in the group the spirit voice
gradually changes and sounds like the person from whom
they are drawing. This is especially noticeable in cases
where the sitter speaks with a foreign accent or in broken
English—you can tell the exact moment when the spirit
starts to pick up the voice vibrations of the sitter.
The Spirit chemists also claim that they are able to
convert some of the sound vibrations into other forms of
energy that can be used in the manifestation.
In a trumpet seance some mediums are able to talk
while the spirit is talking and you can hear two distinct
voices.— other psychics do not talk at all during a voice
manifestation". The Spirit Operators claim that this depends
upon the method of communication used by the
guides. J. Arthur Findlay, in his book, "On the Edge of the Etheric", makes the statement that a communicating
spirit claimed that a tube of ectoplasm ran from the mouth
of the medium to the sound box in the trumpet. This
would explain why some mediums do not talk during a
trumpet manifestation and also why there is a certain
amount of moisture found in the trumpet after a seance.
We must always remember in investigating psychic
phenomena that time and space mean nothing to the Spirit
People. Time is eternal and space can be covered as
quickly as thought. Knowing this, we must make allowances
for any little discrepancies that occur in prophecies giving
a stated time that an event may happen.
The investigator sometimes becomes confused in a
direct-voice seance because a spirit will vibrate through to
them and fail to notice a friend or relative sitting near
them. This is quite easily understood if you have studied
psychic law—the spirit is attuned to your vibration and
until the other person speaks and sends out a vibration to
attract them they do not notice them. A medium is much
like a radio and must tune in on one station at a time in
order to get a clear reception. If the vibrations are mixed
then we get a confused message just as we get an indistinct
reception when we are not properly attuned to a
radio station.
Some psychics possess the phase of mediumship known
as "trumpet in the light". In order to produce this phenomenon
the medium must hold the trumpet in her hand.
Ectoplasm is sensitive to light and the rods and masses of
this substance that are used to levitate the trumpet in the
dark cannot be produced in the light. However, the ectoplasmic
sound box that the Spirit people use for articulation can be
materialized as the trumpet is used for a cabinet to protect it from
the light rays. The voices are not as distinct as they are in a dark
seance but they can be heard plainly in a large room. This is a most
beautiful and convincing type of phenomena and Bertha Eckroad,
one of our Silver Belle mediums, is able to demonstrate this phase
most convincingly.
The majority of Spirit Operators do not differentiate
between the terms "trumpet manifestations" and "direct-
voice", but Sir Joseph Banks, Ethel Post-Parrish's Spirit
Teacher uses the term "direct-voice" when the sound box
is materialized on the outside and "trumpet manifestation"
when it is materialized in the trumpet. The voices in the
direct-voice manifestation seem clearer and more natural
than those in the trumpet as the audible voice is naturally
effected by the metallic vibrations of the trumpet.
The history of Spiritualism tells us that the Davenport Brothers
and a man named Jonathan Koons, were the first to develop
trumpet mediumship. The famous Spirit Control, John King,
was the first to manifest in this manner. John King was the
control of the Davenport Brothers but he also assisted many
other psychics. He claimed to be Henry Morgan, the pirate.
It is said that John King also told the Davenports how to make
the first trumpet.
Thomas Edison worked for many years on an electrical machine
that he believed would pick up the audible voices of the Spirit People.
It was something like a radio and people would be able to converse
with their Spirit People without a medium. Mr. Edison passed on before
the machine was perfected.
Dennis Bradley of England was greatly enthused after his first voice
manifestation and I quote from his splendid book, "Wisdom of the Gods"—
"Communication with the spirits in their actual
voices may, within this century, become as simple
as the telephone or wireless. In fact it seems to me that
it is a new and phenomenal wireless communication."
LECTURE V
The Laying on of Hands (Spiritual Healing)
There are two phases of Spiritual Healing, mental
and physical. One does not need to be a medium in order
to demonstrate the mental phase of healing as it is manifested
through the power of thought. We know that marvelous
cures have been accomplished through mental healing.
Dr. Alexis Carrell makes the statement in his wonderful
book, "Man the Unknown", that he has seen even
malignant diseases cured through the power of prayer.
If mental healing is accomplished through the power of
thought what thoughts could be higher than those ad-
dressed to Deity through Prayer. We recognize the fact
that the marvelous healings that have occurred at the many
Shrines throughout the world have been accomplished
through the power of prayer and the faith of the one who
desired to be healed.
In our church at St. Petersburg and at Camp Silver Belle, we use the term
"Laying on of Hands" in referring to the physical phase of Spiritual Healing.
Healing was the outstanding phase of the Nazarene's mediumship and we find many
references for healing through the laying on of hands in the New Testament. In
St. Matthew 8: 14-15 we read—
And when Jesus was come into Peter's home he
saw his wife's mother laid and sick of fever
And he touched her hand and the fever left her
and she arose and ministered unto them.
The day after Jesus had healed the servant of the centurian,
he and his disciples went into the city called Nain.
When Jesus came near the city he saw a dead man being
carried out. The man was the only son of a widow and
many of the people were following after sorrowing with
her for her loss. When Jesus saw her he had compassion
for her and he said—"Weep not."
He went over to the bier and touched the young man saying:
Young man, I say unto thee Arise
And he that was dead sat up and began to speak.
And he delivered him to his mother.
The Spirit Teachers tell us of the cord connecting the
astral or Spiritual body to the physical (probably the "silver
cord" spoken of in Ecclesiastes) and they explain that
death does not occur until this cord is severed, once it is broken the Spirit cannot manifest again in that particular
body. Jesus was a wonderful clairvoyant and undoubtedly
he saw that the cord connecting the material to the spiritual
had not been severed and knew that he could heal the
young man.
We know that the Indians have always refused to
bury their loved ones for at least ten days after they have
been pronounced dead—they fear that they may be in a
coma and come back to consciousness after they are buried.
Healing was carried on for nearly four hundred years
after the crucifixion of the Nazarene and then it seems to
have died out and we hear no more of organized Spiritual
Healing until Phineas Quimby started a healing center
in Portland, Maine. Phineas Quimby was a watch maker.
In 1843 he became interested in mesmerism and drugless
healing. Through experiments in healing, he realized the
power of mind over matter. He discovered that in many
cases the symptoms of the patient's illness existed in the
mind only and he at once started to cure people by treating
their minds instead of their bodies. He had great
success and while his cures were definitely connected with
a religious faith they were also considered to be scientific.
From Quimby's manuscripts we quote the following :
"In proportion as we understand science we understand God."
Mary Baker Eddy, then Mrs. Glover, went to Phineas
Quimby for a healing and under his treatments she
experienced a complete and instantaneous healing.
It is a debatable subject as to whether the Christian
Science of Mary Baker Eddy and the manuscripts of Phineas
Quimby have any direct connection. The Christian
Scientists say "No" and the Quimbyites say "Yes". After
all, the truth that has been brought to humanity through
these channels is the only thing that really matters. It
is a significant fact, however, that Quimby called his
method of healing—"The Science of Health".
The majority of people have failed to recognize the
fact that it is much easier to learn how to keep the body
well than it is to cure it once it has become diseased. When
we recognize the fact that the mind controls the body, we
realize the importance of our own thoughts in regard to
bodily health. Fear and hatred, whether they be conscious
or unconscious, create poison in the blood stream and impede
the action of the digestive organs. Most of our reputable
healers will not take a patient for healing until they have
had a personal consultation with them. If they discover
that the mind of the patient is filled with the destructive thoughts of hatred, jealousy, etc., they usually
tell the patient to cleanse his mind first and then to come
back for treatment. A diseased mind creates a diseased
body and the body cannot be healed until the mind of the
patient is cleansed of destructive thoughts.
If you think of illness constantly and make it the
general topic of your conversation you cannot hope to
become well. Think health—and think that health so strongly
that you will force your body to comply with your thought.
We hear people speak of magnetic healing—the healing
of the human body through the animal magnetism of the
healer. It is my personal opinion, based upon experience,
that all healing, regardless of the method, is brought about
through the manifestation of Spiritual Power.
In all physical healing the medium becomes a battery
for the transmission of Spiritual Energy into the body of the
patient, the Spirit Operators sending this revivifying current
to the diseased organ. The healer does not have to touch
the body of the patient with his hands unless he desires.
Pictures have been taken of the current of electrical energy
slowed down to visibility by a coating of ectoplasm flowing
into the body of the patient when the hands of the
healer were six or eight inches away from the patient.
There is no special mystery or miracle about Spiritual
Healing when one learns to understand nature's processes.
When the recuperative forces are aroused and
negative thinking has been overcome, nature proceeds to
send an increased nerve current to the affected parts. This
work is done along subconscious lines over the great nerve
centers and sympathetic nervous system. This current is
like a current of electricity being sent to the parts from
that great dynamo, the brain. This electricity or vital
force vitalizes the diseased organ and also sends an increased
circulation of blood to it. Nature builds up bodies
by means of the blood which, flowing through the arteries,
carries liquid nourishment to every part of the body,
building, nourishing and restoring. The blood on its return
journey to the heart, through the veins, carries with
it the poison and waste produce and it is burned up and
destroyed by the oxygen in the lungs to which the blood is
exposed. No part of the body can be properly nourished
and stimulated unless it has a normal nerve current and
a proper supply of blood. When we cease to break nature's
laws by overworking and abusing our bodies, when
we learn to control our minds and to think constructively,
then normal conditions of the body will result and we shall
be well and strong.
Faith is an outstanding asset in the healing of the human body. Jesus said—
"If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye
shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to
yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing
shall be impossible unto you." (Matthew 17:20)
Auto-suggestion and affirmations are also helpful but,
as before said, the mere repeating of an affirmation will
not make us well—we must put some action behind that
affirmation both mentally and physically before it has the
proper results.
Your body is the temple of the Living God, evolved
to its present perfection through thousands of years—the
Perfect Plan of the Master Mind. It is your duty to make
that temple a perfect abode for the Spirit, the I Am that
I Am, while you are manifesting on this physical plane.
You are a part of that Living God whose every thought
is perfect, therefore you must learn to manifest that God
(Spirit) within yourself in order to attain perfection in
mind, body and soul. The Masters of the Spirit World
will gladly show you a Light along the Path, You may, if
you so desire, come into the full radiance of that Light
the Christ Light that is burning eternally for you and for me.
"And good may ever conquer ill
Health walk where pain has trod
As a man thinketh so he is
Rise then and walk with God."
James M. Parrish is at the head of the splendid group
who demonstrate "The Laying on of Hands" at Camp Silver
Belle. Mr. Parrish and his Spirit Teachers have been able to
accomplish wonders through this phase of mediumship —
many times curing diseases that have been pronounced
incurable by doctors.
The Black Eagle Healing Center at The Church of
Two Worlds, Washington, D. C., has received a wide
recognition because of the marvelous healings accomplished
by Black Eagle through the mediumship of H. Gordon Burroughs.
Each and every one of the mediums who demonstrate this phase of mediumship at
Camp Silver Belle have accomplished wonders in the healing of the human body —
C. Harrison Engel, Ernest R. Holden, Kate Whitmoyer,
Laura Harbach, Michael and Marion Nicoletti, Albert
Scheffler, Elizabeth Fabian, Clara Senior, John Guy, Leona
Olin, Edna Gleaves, John Giberson, Anna Bither, and
David Brackman.
LECTURE VI
The Production of Apports
The production of apports is the most
incomprehensible phenomenon of Spiritualism. The Oxford English Dictionary gives
the following definition—
Apport—material thing produced by occult means
at Spiritualist séances.
The objects may differ in size and they may be of
animate or inanimate matter. Instances have been cited
where living birds and small animals have been produced
in a seance room with all doors closed and locked.
Emma Hardinge, in her book "Modern American
Spiritualism", gives an account of the apport of a white
dove. This happened in a circle called "The Olive Branch
of Peace" in Boston, Mass. She states that the incident
was printed in the New Era and eleven reputable men of
Boston attested to the fact that the room was sealed and
examined before the phenomenon occurred.
Yolande, the beautiful control of Mme. de Esperance,
was able to apport flowers and even fully grown plants
into the seance room under the strictest of test conditions.
There are many instances where apports, both large
and small, have been projected into the seance room and
most of them have been attested to by reputable people.
In Ethel Post-Parrish's seances we have received many
apports both large and small. Many articles have disappeared
from the locked seance room and have been found
elsewhere intact. The word asport is used by some writers
when the object is taken out of the room.
At the close of our class one Tuesday evening Silver Belle said—
"I did something for you and I worked hard too."
Of course the students wanted to know what she had
done but she would not tell them. "Wait until Mi'lena puts the light on"
was her only response. When the lights came on we discovered that a large vase
filled with gladiolus which had sat on the table in the middle of the room, had
entirely disappeared. It was later found in the lobby of the Lodge. We asked
Silver Belle about it on the following class night. The vase was of heavy
pottery and to remove that and the gladiolus seemed almost miraculous. This is
Silver Belle's explanation—
"I told you that it was hard work and it was. You see
the vase and the flowers were of different vibrations. I had
to dematerialize the flowers first and then when I got them
out in the lobby I materialized them again. I then came
back and on a different rate of vibration did the same with
the vase—then I put them together and set them on the
table."
This seemed quite simple to her but to us it was still
incomprehensible—we knew that this wonderful phenomenon had happened but we still could not under-
stand how it was possible.
Silver Belle has a small mouth organ. It was given
to her by George Lippincott of Philadelphia. He gave
it to her in a materialization and she was so delighted
with it that she played it at least five minutes and finally
Dr. Banks spoke and told her to give it to me because she
was not attending to her work. Very reluctantly she parted
the cabinet curtains and dropped it into my hand. To this
day she accuses me of taking it away from her. Frequently
I bring it into the seance room for her and she loves to
mystify us by causing it to disappear. In our class
in St. Petersburg, I laid it upon the table, and she played
several tunes upon it and then gave it to one of the students
to hold saying, "You keep it for awhile, I want to do
something with it." Later she asked the student to hold
out his hand with the mouth organ in it that she might
take it. At the close of the class she said-
"Uncle Jim, I put my mouth organ in your overcoat
pocket over at the house. You go over and get it
and be sure and give it back to Mi'lena because it
is mine."
The class was held in the church and after the lights
were on Jim went over to the house to look for the mouth
organ—- we remained in the class room awaiting his return.
When he came back he had the tiny mouth organ
in his hand and he said.-
"I found it just where she said it was. How she
did it I don't know."
Another time in our class at Camp Silver Belle, she
played a tune for us and then told Mary Stuart that she
was going to put it in the church, at least one hundred feet
away, and on the bible which would be opened at the
Twenty-third Psalm. Sure enough, Mary found the little
mouth organ laying on the bible and on the Twenty-third
Psalm. Michael Nicoletti. who was giving some healings
in the church that evening, said that he heard a noise
on the platform but when he looked there was no one there.
Articles of jewelry and uncut stones have been received
through the mediumship of William Donnelly. Earl Williams,
Roy Burkholder. and Virginia L. Folk. H. Gordon
Burroughs, Bertha Eckroad, Elizabeth Fabian—and others
of our Camp Silver Belle psychics.
How is it done? There are several theories advanced
by the Spirit Operators who produce the phenomena. The
most popular theory seems to he that of changing the vibration
of the article to be apported. We know that the status
of matter is controlled by its rate of vibration—science
gives us three different states of matter, gaseous, liquid
and solid—the dense matter is slower in vibration than
the lighter matter. We know that water may be frozen
and become solid matter; it may be heated until it boils
and becomes steam, but it is still matter, only its rate of
vibration has been changed.
The Spirit Operators know how to change the vibration
of matter so that it may be passed through other matter.
In other words they dematerialize the article they wish to
apport and in its new state they are able to pass it through
solid matter—they then materialize it again after they
have accomplished their purpose. They say that sometimes it is necessary to dematerialize a part of the wall or
door so that the apport can pass through it in its original
state. This method is used in the apporting of animate
matter. Jesus understood this law and used it in many
of his so-called miracles.
We have an example of this law in materialization.
Ectoplasm is matter, an etherialized protoplasm—the
Spirit People are able to change its vibration and make it
solid or light and ethereal, as it is in the flowing robes
worn by the manifesting entity in materialization; another
rate of vibration is used in materializing the hair of the spirit.
Some of this we understand but with all our knowledge the
production of an apport is still an intriguing mystery. The
Law of Cause and Effect governs all things.
When we experiment with material science we first investigate
the cause and then the effect— but in psychic science
we reverse the law—we see the effect first (the phenomena
that is so evidential that we must accept it) and then we
must search for the cause and we do not always find it to
our satisfaction. There are many manifestations of spirit
that we cannot reconcile to our material conditions and
perhaps we shall never he able to do so until we too manifest
in a spiritual body.
LECTURE VII
Psychic Photography
This phase of mediumship, like the production of apports,
is almost incomprehensible to the layman.
The first spirit pictures, of which we have any record,
were produced in 1861 by William Mumler of Boston,
Mass. Mr. Mumler took a picture of a friend and when
the plate was developed another form beside that of his
friend was found on the plate. Mumler could not under-
stand this and he took several other pictures with the same
result. Some of these extras were recognized as friends
and relatives who had passed on. When this was noised
about Mr. Mumler was besieged with requests for sittings.
These requests became so numerous that he gave up his
position as an engraver and devoted all of his time to
psychic photography. Among the first of his sitters was
Andrew Jackson Davis, the pioneer of Spiritualism.
After a time Mumler, like the majority of psychic photographers,
was accused of fraud and when he got an extra of a man in
the living that finished him, even with the Spiritualists. The projection
of the etheric double was unheard of at that time and to get a picture
of someone that was living was considered to be fraud.
It is a peculiar thing but the majority of investigators
will work very hard to prove that the phenomena can be
produced fraudulently but will make no effort to understand
the natural law that produces the legitimate manifestation.
William Hope of England came into popularity as
a psychic photographer in 1908. He was, without doubt,
the outstanding medium for this phase of phenomena that
was known at that time. His pictures were endorsed by
Sir Oliver Lodge, Sir William Crookes and other great
men of England.
John Myers of England has also given valuable evidence
of survival through his well developed phase of psychic photography.
Our own Jack Edwards. although young in the field,
has already received some phenomenal results. Many
articles regarding his work have appeared in the Psychic
Observer. He has submitted to many tests here at Silver Belle
and has always come through successfully.
There are several theories regarding the production
of psychic photographs. The first investigators thought
that the spirit extra was impressed through the lens of the
camera and when the picture was taken they were impressed
upon the plate. The photographer knows that this
theory is impossible. Finally they decided that the likeness
of the spirit was impressed upon the plate itself. This seems
to be the most logical conclusion.
Psychic Photography is a physical phase of mediumship and the medium must have
sufficient chemicals within his body to produce the ectoplasm necessary for the
manifestation. In practically all spirit pictures you will notice that ectoplasm
surrounds the spirit face or perhaps there will be a cloud of ectoplasm with two
or three faces upon it. The following explanation was given by a boy in spirit
when his mother asked him to explain just how he was able to appear on her
picture—
"Well, mother, when I heard you make the appointment
with the man that takes the pictures I knew that you
would want me on your picture. I asked one of the Spirit
Teachers how to do this and he said that the process was
similar to that of materialization but usually the picture
showed just the face and not the entire form as it appears
in materialization. Of course I had materialized many
times so this did not sound too difficult. I went home
and looked at all of my pictures, especially the one in the
living room as I like that best of all. I tried to fix the
image of that picture in my mind so that I might be able
to impress it upon the ectoplasm. When the time came
I followed you into the room. While the man was fixing
the camera I practiced a hit. Of course I could not see
myself but I felt sure that I was pretty good. I was all
ready but when the camera man flashed a light bulb I
did not expect it and I guess my face slipped a little. Any-
way I did the best I could, mother dear.
Most photographers agree that in developing spirit
pictures the spirit entity seems to appear first and the
sitters and the background afterward. In most cases the
spirit faces are much clearer than the faces of the sitters.
I have rarely seen a really good picture of the sitter— sometimes you would not recognize them. The fact that the
spirit faces appear first when the plate is developed proves
that the spirit faces are impressed upon the plate more
deeply than those of the sitter—probably because of the
chemicals in the ectoplasm. The plate holder makes a
good cabinet for the production of the ectoplasm.
Jack Edwards gives what is called a Skowtograph
Seance. Several sitters are invited to the platform and
each one is given a piece of printing paper to hold. They
hold it in their hands for at least five minutes and this is
done in the ruby light. The developing fluid is on the
platform and the pictures are developed right there in the
presence of the sitters. Not all of the prints show spirit
extras but a large majority of them do. Sometimes a
plate is placed in the plate holder and that is handed
about in the audience. In this instance there are usually
two or three definite spirit faces upon the skowtograph.
One of the most valuable psychic photographs taken in
years was procured by Jack Edwards at the opening of our
1952 season at Camp Silver Belle.
Mrs. Parrish was in the cabinet on the platform in the
Chapel—Mr. Edwards told us that he was going to try to
get a picture of Ethel Post-Parrish's etheric body—but he
could not promise anything as he was not sure what the results
would be. There were nearly two hundred people
present in the auditorium and Mr. Ralph Pressing picked a
committee to go with him to Mrs. Parrish's seance room in
another building while the picture was taken.
Mr. Melvin Sutley sat on one side of the cabinet and I
on the other to protect the entranced medium.
After a period of about ten minutes Silver Belle spoke
from the cabinet and said
"We did it! We did it!"
Sure enough, when the committee went with Mr. Edwards
to develop the picture the etheric form or astral body
of Ethel Post-Parrish was plainly visible. This picture is
not only valuable to Spiritualism but to all religions that
teach the projection of the Etheric Double.
Inspirational painting is another form of mediumship.
The medium sees the face of the spirit clairvoyantly and
guided by the Spirit Control paints it upon the canvas.
Trudie Lamb has produced many inspired paintings.
In 1894, Lizzie and May Bangs of Chicago produced
what was called direct spirit portraits. The pictures were
produced in colors right before the eyes of the sitters. The
paint was precipitated upon the canvas and the features
appeared gradually as though painted with an invisible
brush. We are very fortunate in possessing several of
the Bangs Sisters pictures—they were given to Camp Silver
Belle as a gift. No medium has ever been able to duplicate
the direct spirit portraits of the Bangs Sisters.
Through every avenue of communication the Spirit
People strive to produce evidence of survival after the
change called death. In a seance I once heard a spirit say—
"I want you to know that I am not dead. I do
not want you to fear death as I did—tonight I
am even more alive than you are."
The following pictures are a splendid demonstration
of Psychic Photography and were taken at our opening on
June 22, 1957 by our Psychic Photographer, Jack Edwards.
LECTURE VIII
Materialization
Ancient records show that materialized spirit forms
were seen as early as 6700 B. C. All down through the
ages we find that these spirit forms have been seen and
vouched for by reputable people. The fact that a spirit
can return from the Higher Side of Life and manifest in
an ectoplasmic body has been proven to the satisfaction of
thousands of people all over the world.
Prof. Charles Richet in his book.—"Thirty Years of
Psychical Research", describes materialization as the production
of a "being formed of living matter". He claims that these materialized
forms have a circulation of blood and also respiration. He goes on to
say that in his experiments he has found that the spirit form has a will and
a personality entirely separate from that of the medium.
I have every reason to believe that this statement regarding
the circulation and respiration of the spirit form is true for I sat
in a test seance that convinced me of that fact.
I had the privilege of being present at a test seance
given by Ethel Post-Parrish in 1928. Two doctors—one
from Birmingham, Ala., and the other from New York
City, had asked Mrs. Parrish to sit for them that they
might try an experiment. As they do not wish their names
used, I will call them Doctor X and Doctor Z. Before
the seance two weighing machines had been placed in
the seance room. A large scale was placed in the cabinet
and the medium's chair was placed upon it—the
second was a small bath-room scale and it was placed
about ten feet from the cabinet. After the seance had started Doctor X said—
"Silver Belle, do you think that you could materialize a heart
and lungs in one of the spirit-forms?" Silver Belle laughed and
said that she was not sure but she would try.
After several of the Spirit Teachers had manifested
a beautiful spirit came from the cabinet and identified herself as the sister of Doctor X—as she walked from the
cabinet she showed the cord of ectoplasm connecting her
body to that of the medium — the cord looked like a
fleecy rope and seemed to be connected at the back of the ectoplasmic body between the shoulders and ran along the
floor through the curtains of the cabinet, presumably to
the body of the medium.
After exchanging greetings with his sister the Doctor
asked her if she would assist him in an experiment. She
replied that she would be glad to do so if he was sure that
it would not harm the medium. Silver Belle spoke from
the cabinet and assured her that the medium was protected
and then she said to the Doctor.
"I tried to do what you asked me to but I am not sure
that your sister can hold the body together for very long
so you had better hurry up."
The doctor then asked his sister to come down the
room and step upon the scale that he might see how much
she weighed. She complied with his request and with the
aid of a little phospherous light he was able to see the scale
"My goodness", he exclaimed, "You weigh thirty-five
pounds. I did not expect that."
He then proceeded to take the pulse of the spirit and
the respiration. He remarked that the pulse was very strong.
While this was going on Doctor Z had been permitted to enter the cabinet with
the entranced medium and we heard him say—
"Silver Belle, where are you? I can hear you but
I cannot see you."
Silver Belle assured him that she was there but had
dematerialized as all the psychic force was needed for the
experiment. Directed by Silver Belle, Doctor Z proceeded
to take the weight of the medium and found that it had
decreased nearly thirty-seven pounds from her original
weight taken before the seance. He then took her pulse
and respiration and with the aid of a tiny flash light wrote
them down upon a slip of paper. After this was over and
the spirit-form back in the cabinet, Silver Belle said in a
tone of authority—"That's all now. My medium cannot stand any more."
After the seance was over the doctors compared notes
and found that the pulse and respiration of the spirit were
entirely different from those of the medium.
When the medium came from the cabinet she was
quite pale and complained of being weak and tired. The
Spirit Controls tell us that the use of psychic force or
energy is a drain upon the vitality of the medium. This
is especially true when there are negative vibrations in
the room.
Later I asked Dr. Banks why the medium had lost
thirty-seven pounds when the spirit only weighed thirty-five and he said that the other two pounds were in the cord
of ectoplasm connecting the spirit-Form to that of the medium.
This was a marvelous experiment and it proved the
statement made by Prof. Richet regarding the circulation
of the blood and the respiration.
Sir William Crookes was the first of our modern scientists to
investigate materialization. His investigations, through the mediumship
of Florence Cook, were most evidential and the spirit, Katie King, who
claimed to be the daughter of the famous John King, became a very real
personality to Sir Wm. Crookes.
The word "materialization" was not used until 1873—before that the term "spirit-forms" was used when referring to this
type of psychic phenomena.
The term "odic force" was used by one of our earlier
scientists in referring to the power that enabled the medium
to produce these spirit-forms. Later scientists used the terms
"psychic force" and "psychic energy". All of our scientists
agree that the manifestation is apparently connected with
the nerve organization of the medium.
I absolutely agree with this statement. In my thirty
years of experience with one of America's outstanding
physical mediums I can state with authority that manifestations
of physical mediumship draw heavily upon the nervous energy
of the medium—in fact I have never met a materialization
medium who was not "a bundle of nerves" and as temperamental
as a prima donna.
Since 1926 I have acted as secretary and cabinet attendant for
Ethel Post-Parrish. During that time I have acquired a wealth of
knowledge that is based upon actual experience.
I have sat in dozens of test séances given by Mrs.
Parrish. I have seen two, three and five spirit-forms out
upon the floor at the same time—all of the doors being
locked and the sitters' chairs placed in front of them; I
have seen a fully materialized spirit hold back the cabinet
curtain to show the medium sitting entranced in her
chair and then proceed to call three or four sitters into
the cabinet to see her and to touch her; I have seen spirit-
forms materialize in the center of the room, greet their
loved ones in the group and then dematerialize without
going into the cabinet; I have seen the wonderful Eastern
Teachers materialize in flowing robes and turbans. The
colors of their robes and turbans were plainly visible to
all in the room—rose, purple and gold seemed to predominate; I have seen tiny children less than two feet in height and men so tall that they had to bend their heads
to emerge between the cabinet curtains; and I can truly
say as did Prof. Charles Richet—
