REMARKS BY COLONEL L.

Dear Admiral,—Mrs. R. has just read out her letter to Major R. and myself. We think it is a most accurate description, with the exception of Sister Amy’s manifestation. When asked by Mr J. about her favourite song, she said, “You sing it,” which he did, and then she sang it alone. The voice that joined in when we sang “Lead kindly light,” was very like the one we were accustomed to hear at Husk séances (Cardinal Newman’s acolyte). The Cardinal himself came and blessed us in Latin, as at Husk’s. We were all much pleased and impressed.—Yours Sincerely,              F. P. L.

A few days later the same party had another private sitting. This time Cheiro accompanied them, but neither Mrs. Wriedt nor the ladies of the house knew who the stranger was until after the sitting was over.

Colonel L. wrote to me the same evening :—

My Dear Admiral,—We had our last sitting with Mrs. Wriedt, this afternoon. Cheiro sat with us. We had very little, but what we had was very wonderful. First, some very bright lights and an indistinct figure; then a voice through the trumpet addressed R. and gave the name “F——.” R. said: “Oh R—— F——, who used to be in the regiment?” The voice answered: ”Yes.” I said: “F——, you must know me, too.” Answer “Of course I do.”

I said: “Tell me your nickname in the regiment.” Answer: “They called me D—— F——.” (This was perfectly correct; he passed over about two years ago, and was always called “D——.”)

He then said to Mrs. R. “How is your boy getting on?” (He F——, has a son in our old regiment, a great friend of R.’s boy, who is also in the regiment.) I said: “D——“ (calling him by his nickname), “I saw your boy at our regimental dinner.” Answer: “I know; you had a great spread.” He went on to say he was perfectly happy, and bade us “Good-bye.”

How could one have a better test than this? Cheiro had visits from two friends and his sister; the latter addressed him in very affectionate tones by his Christian name. After this the power seemed gone. Mrs. Wriedt is the most wonderful medium I have ever seen……—

Yours sincerely,                                                                                               F. P. L. Commenting on this sitting, Mrs. R. wrote :—

Major F.’s return was extraordinary, as he was able to give his nickname so readily. He also said to my husband: “It is strange to meet you here, and find you interested in this sort of thing.” He asked me how my boy was getting on, thus showing he was aware of his accident (this would be likely, as his son and mine are great friends). And he addressed Colonel L. by name when he (Colonel L.) asked him if he recognised him. [Colonel L.’s name is very uncommon, and foreign.] At one time there were two voices speaking simultaneously, as well as Mrs. Wriedt. Cheiro met some old friends, who gave their names; he says he had hardly thought of them for many years, but had once known them well. Someone tried to etherealise, but it was faint.

Last night we dined with Mrs. B., and on our sitting at a table after dinner a spirit gave the name of W. T. Stead. We asked why the manifestations had not been stronger, and the answer came at once: “Too little power.” Uncle was very strong, gave two messages (this was at dinner, with the lights on, a party of eight at the table), and showed great intelligence in rapping the alphabet in a new way which Colonel L. explained to him. He said he was with my husband when he was talking to you at the club yesterday.—Yours Sincerely,

S. R.

My friend Mr. W., a barrister and a member of the Civil Service, lives in Ireland; he is nearly sixty years of age, an Associate of the London S. P. R., and an active member of the S. P. R. of Dublin. He applied to me in June to be allowed to sit with Mrs. Wriedt. As all the sittings were filled up, the only thing to be done was to ask him to join me in one of my private Séances, which he did on the morning of June 22. Until the sitting was over neither the psychic nor the ladies residing in the house knew anything whatever about him. I, alone, was aware of his name, nationality, and

occupation: it was impossible that anyone in touch with Cambridge House could be aware that he was a “psychical researcher”—in the sense that the words were used by Dr. Sharp.

Mr. W. has kindly permitted me to make use of his notes. I can vouch for the accuracy of his narrative :—

Admiral Usborne Moore sat on a chair at arm’s length from my left. Immediately on my right was an oval table with vases of flowers, chiefly roses, with some white flowers brought by myself. In front of me, at arm’s length, Mrs. Wriedt sat on a chair at right angles to my own chair. On the left front of Admiral Moore was a small table about one foot four inches square, with a large vase of lilies on it, also a telescopic aluminium speaking trumpet. There was also on this small table in front of Admiral Moore a small vase with some roses brought by him on the day previous. At the end of the room, on my left, near the door, was a small cabinet about six foot six inches in height, perfectly open in front. Before the sitting commenced I examined this cabinet, and found that there were no exits at the back—curtains hung down at each side. This cabinet was about eight feet from the table at my right, and consequently was about six feet in front of Mrs. Wriedt, and probably three or four feet from the chair on which Admiral Moore was seated. There was also a large aluminium telescopic speaking trumpet standing upright on the floor about the centre of the circle.

Lights were extinguished. Almost immediately Dr. Sharp, (Mrs. Wriedt’s control) spoke in a strong, clear voice (a masculine voice) through the trumpet—presumably through that on the floor in the centre of the circle. The voice seemed to be about the level or a little above my head. Dr. Sharp saluted Admiral Moore and welcomed him. He said he was also glad to welcome “the psychical researcher”—my name, nationality, and connection with the Society for Psychical Research were then known only to Admiral Moore. I said that great caution was required on the part of the members of the Society of Psychical Research in dealing with these phenomena. Dr. Sharp agreed, but deprecated the exhibition of unreasoning belief on the part of many of the members and their efforts to explain away the incontrovertible evidence which was often presented to their senses.

Iola (Admiral Moore’s guide) then spoke in a soft, but perfectly audible, voice, through the trumpet to Admiral Moore, the matter communicated being of a private nature. Admiral Moore said to Iola: “let me introduce my friend to you.” Iola replied; “I will try and help this gentleman’s wife to manifest to him.” Dr. Sharp said that the conditions of the circle were very good; he also said that “this gentleman’s wife, a very sweet spirit, will manifest.” After a short interval some very bright spirit lights appeared—about the size of a sixpence, and some of them red in colour; they approached Admiral Moore, and then appeared near the centre of the circle. Presently a beautiful, angelic, bright spirit form was gradually built up in the cabinet, clearly visible to each of the three sitters. The figure was draped, and the graceful contour was very clear, though the features were indistinct. At the time the figure appeared all three sitters exclaimed. “What a beautiful figure!” Mrs. Wriedt’s voice was distinguished by me as proceeding from the chair immediately in front of me—the cabinet where the figure appeared was at least six feet distant from Mrs. Wriedt’s chair. Admiral Moore, who was the sitter nearest the cabinet, thought it was the figure of a tall woman about five feet six inches to five feet eight inches in height (the latter was about the height of my wife); he said that it was not the figure of Iola, who was of

slight build and about five feet one inch in height. The apparition disappeared completely in about five to ten seconds. After a short interval the same spirit figure was etherealised for several seconds, somewhat more distinctly than before; the features were still not distinguishable, but the dark hair and the general contour of the figure were very clear. Both Mrs. Wriedt and Admiral Moore declared they had never before seen a more beautiful angelic figure etherialised. Admiral Moore was quite certain that the apparition was not the figure of Iola (his guide), and Dr. Sharp said very clearly through the trumpet: “That beautiful form you saw was this gentleman’s wife.”

My wife did not hold any conversation with me through the trumpet, so that I have received no evidence of her identity except as to the height and contour of the figure and the assertion of Dr. Sharp that the apparition was that of my wife.

Dr. Sharp then asked me through the trumpet; “Did you know a man called Johnson or Thompson?” I said that I did not remember, except a doctor in Dublin of that name who was dead some years. Dr. Sharp said; “He is here, and wishes to speak with you.” Presently a low voice addressed me through the trumpet. I asked, “What is your name?” I heard some reply, but was unable to catch the name. The voice then said, “I am the wife of a member of your society who recently passed over.” I asked whether he was a member of the Modern Languages Society or of the Society for Psychical Research. The voice replied, “The Psychical Society.” I requested that the name should be pronounced more clearly, but was still unable to catch it. The voice thereupon became distressed and said, “Well, well, well, well—oh dear!” I asked the spirit to make another effort. The voice then became stronger, and I recognised the name “P——.” I asked, “is the name P——.” Answer, “Yes! Yes!” The spirit seamed quite pleased, and the voice became much stronger. [The name is unusual and foreign.]

Mrs. P—— was a very charming young woman in Dublin, at whose house I had been in the habit of visiting on the first Sunday evening of each month through the previous two winter seasons. The meetings at her house were generally frequented by those of advanced thought in psychical, religious, or social matters. I talked to the spirit for some minutes; she remembered sitting with me at a séance of “seven.” I asked, “Was it with Mrs. Mitchell?” She said, “Yes, with Mrs. Mitchell; Mrs. Mitchell was a grand woman.” She said she remembered the rather disagreeable contretemps I had with “Cissie,” a Negro girl guide of Mrs. Mitchell. The spirit then said through the trumpet: “I shall never hand round cups of tea again.” Mrs. P—— was a delightful hostess, and always dispensed hospitality at our Sunday evening meetings. I said “As a very strong test of your identity, I want you to tell me if you can remember my calling to see you on one particular occasion when you were convalescent.” She said at once, “Yes, yes here in London.” I said “Where?” The reply being somewhat indistinct, I asked, Was it in the neighbourhood of Warwick Avenue?” I thought she said something about Torrington Place, and I asked, “Was it Torrington Place?” At once the reply came, emphatically and strongly, “No, not Torrington Place; it was Warrington Crescent.” This was quite correct. I once called to see her, and had dinner with her, at a house in Warrington Crescent when she was convalescent. This was very evidential, as I had completely forgotten the address of the house at which I had called to see her, it having passed out of my memory until the voice recalled it so emphatically: “No, not Torrington place, but Warrington Crescent.” I next asked Mrs.

P—— if she was happy in spirit life, and she replied that she was very happy. I told her I had recently seen her husband in Dublin, and she said “Give my love to him.”

After the P—— incident, Dr. Sharp said to me: “Now sir, take Mrs. Wriedt’s hands in yours, and your wife will try and give you a rose.” I took both of Mrs. Wriedt’s hands firmly in my right hand. After about two minutes a rose was put into my disengaged hand, and shortly afterwards another. Dr. Sharp then said: “You were talking just now about the physical phenomena that occurred the other morning.” (Mrs. Wriedt had been telling me of the lifting of the vase full of lilies from the smaller table on to the floor, also of the movement of this table at a recent séance.) “Now, sir” (to me), “take Mrs. Wriedt’s hands again in yours.” Presently I was struck on the right side of the head by a bunch of roses (my face being previously stroked by flowers). The bunch fell on to my knees, and then on to the floor. These roses were afterwards found to have been taken out of a vase close to my right elbow on the table. After a few minutes of silence Dr. Sharp said: “Mrs. Wriedt, turn on the light.” On the electric light being switched on, the big vase of lilies from the table near Admiral Moore’s chair was found on the floor in front of me, and the bunch of roses previously mentioned was lying on the floor close to me. When we had satisfied ourselves of the altered position of the roses and of the lilies from the smaller table, the lights were again extinguished, and I put the trumpet to my right ear with my right hand pointing over the table at an angle of about sixty degrees from the direct line between the psychic and myself, at the same time holding Mrs. Wriedt’s two hands firmly with my left hand. Minute taps came through the trumpet, audible to both Admiral Moore and myself, but no distinct message, though I heard a whisper once or twice, without recognising any definite words. My left hand was repeatedly touched while grasping Mrs. Wriedt’s two hands. Mrs. Wriedt announced twice that her hands had been touched. Admiral Moore said he was not touched throughout the séance, and received no manifestations other than one or two sentences from Iola audible to all. Iola did not, as usual, speak to him without the trumpet. During the incidents with the flowers, which I have described, Admiral Moore was sitting in his chair to my left, and could not possibly have moved without my knowledge, my hearing being very acute.

GENERAL REMARKS

During the whole of the séances just described I was particularly careful to notice the attitude of the psychic during the phenomena. On one or two occasions I observed that Mrs. Wriedt appeared to be speaking at the same time as Dr. Sharp, and while I was holding both of the hands of the psychic in my hand. From the almost involuntary exclamations of admiration by Mrs. Wriedt while the spirit form was building up in the cabinet, and from the fact that the sound of Mrs. Wriedt’s voice proceeded from a position in close proximity to my chair at this time, I can entertain no doubt that during the occurrence of these phenomena Mrs. Wriedt was sitting fully six feet from the cabinet. In my opinion there could have been no collusive action on the part of the other two sitters, as I should have been instantly aware of any movements on the part of Mrs. Wriedt and Admiral Moore while the manifestations were taking place. Several times during the séance my face and hands were stroked as if by flowers while I had a firm hold of the two hands of the psychic.

My name was not on the books of the Syndicate of the Guarantors. I accompanied Admiral Moore on one of his private sittings. He assures me that it was impossible

that my name, occupation, nationality, or my connection with the Society for Psychical Research could have been known until after the séance.

It was my first experience of phenomena so remarkable , and I have no explanation of them to offer, except the extraordinary psychic power possessed by Mrs Wriedt.

C. J. W.

The following account is by a lady who only attended one private séance with Mrs. Wriedt. She was a perfect stranger to the psychic, to me, and to the inmates of the house. On this one occasion only did she enter Cambridge House. The “conditions” could scarcely have been worse, for the psychic was suffering at the time from a great feeling of annoyance; consequently I felt quite sure that the lady had drawn a blank, but I did not like to write and ask. To my great surprise and relief I received a spontaneous letter from her on August 16 telling me that she had been most successful. I can only conclude that she must herself possess some psychic power which nullified Mrs. Wriedt’s mental state. Here is her epistle :——

Dear Admiral Moore—I am reading your account of Mrs. Wriedt’s séances every week in Light, and think it may interest you to know that the one I had with her on the day I met you was most convincing. When in the train on the way home from Wimbledon, remembering what you say in your book, I took full notes of what had occurred, and wrote the account out in full as soon as I reached the house.

Seven of my people—my father, mother, son, daughter, cousin, a nephew, and a very old friend—came to me, one after the other, without a break, all giving their names. My mother said: “I quite thought ——(mentioning my husband by his abbreviated Christian name, by which all the family knew him) was coming over to us last week. I hope he won’t get knocked about like that again.” (He had a very bad fall from his horse the week before.) My daughter said she was looking after her brother (a son I have in Canada), and gave a pet name by which she always called him. My nephew gave his Christian and surname. At first I could not quite catch it; then he said “Oh auntie, auntie, you remember me; I was on the Worcester [training ship], and was drowned afterwards.” Then he gave his name again quite clearly, and what he said was quite true.

My husband’s cousin gave both his names. I said: “I know who you are quite well; but you did not know me in life, so how do you know who I am?” He replied: “I was at my sister’s yesterday when you called, so knew then who you were.” I said: “That is true; but I did not tell her I was coming here.” He returned: “I followed you to the next house you called at, and there heard you were coming here today, so thought I would let you know I was alive.” I considered this showed most convincingly how our friends on the other side of life are able to be in touch with us if they wish, as all he said was perfectly true.

I forgot to mention that, after my nephew had been, John King (who is an old friend of mine) said: “Oh I am glad you knew that boy; he was just crazy to come and speak to you.” My old friend who came at last, said: “I see you sometimes.” I replied: “I have been able to convince two of your old schoolfellows of the future life lately.” He rejoined: “Yes you had —— with you yesterday” (this was correct; the gentleman named, one of the two, came to supper with us the previous evening). Then John King said: “This is all we can do; now I am coming home with you.”

I hope I have not bored you with this long account, but, knowing of the interest you take in Mrs. Wriedt’s work, I venture to send it…….

My correspondent has excellent reasons for concealing her identity. So far from her letter boring me, I am sure that your readers will consider this narrative as one of the most interesting and valuable testimonies ever yet given to the world in support of the belief in the next state.

A neighbour of mine writes the following :—

I had two private sittings with Mrs. Wriedt this year, both in the afternoon. I had sat with her once last year in a large general circle of eighteen people, when Admiral Usborne Moore was one of the sitters. On that occasion I brought with me three friends, two men and one woman. One of the men was a barrister, a member of Parliament, and an officer of the Territorial force; the other was an Admiral in the Navy. These men did not wish to be known, and I foolishly introduced them to the psychic under false names. As far as I was concerned this séance was a failure, as I became ill and had to leave the room in the middle of it. I was told later that two books were taken from the bookcase by some unknown power, and flung on to the knees of the member of Parliament. One was The History of Her Majesty’s Army; the other, I think, was some legal book. This much is necessary to explain what follows.

My first séance this year did not impress me. I was over-anxious and nervous, and feel I may have suggested names instead of waiting for my spirit friends to give them. However, there could be no mistake about my brother, who came singing; he was very fond of singing in life, and would warble all day long. My guide almost made himself known unmistakably.

On my second visit my mind was more prepared for the phenomena, and I was strictly cautious in my talk to the spirits who came. The following manifested: My guide, my father, mother, brother, a cousin, and a friend; also (much to my surprise) my father­in-law, canon Hamilton. All gave their names without any suggestion from me. It is not worth while relating all that passed, but there is one evidential fact which should be specially mentioned, as it relates to the séance last year. Canon Hamilton visited me for the first time on this occasion. When in life he was vicar of a parish in county Galway; he was an ultra-strict evangelical parson of the old fashioned school. The slightest departure from truth, even in joke, was hateful to him. When the voice first came I said: “Who are you?” Answer: “I am Charley’s father” (Charley is the name of my husband).”What, Canon Hamilton?” Answer: “I am.” He then scolded me for what happened at the séance of last year, and spoke of his strong objection to my introducing the two gentlemen under assumed names. He went on to say that he assisted in putting the books on the knees of the M. P., and that he, on that occasion, had influenced me so unpleasantly that I had to leave the room. His tone, in speaking, was that of severe reproof, precisely as it would have been in similar circumstances when he was alive.

I must add one incident in my conversation with my mother. She asked me: “What have you got of my Jewellery? I hope you took some.” I told her what articles I had appropriated, when she appeared satisfied. During the last year or two of her life it was my mother’s hobby to dwell upon the division of her trinkets among my sisters and me.