MY FIRST EXPERIENCES WITH A MEDIUM

On June 4, 1912, I was privileged to sit with a wonderful medium (Mrs. Wriedt of Detroit) at Cambridge House, Wimbledon. I must first say I have had no experiences of mediums, but have read a great deal for some years past on occult subjects. I went to “Julia’s Bureau” with an open mind, but fully prepared to test the medium. I had four sittings; June 4, at 4 p.m., being the first. I took a friend with me, and we sat alone with Mrs. Wriedt in the dark. After we had sat a few minutes, the medium saw a name apparently in the air, and she said: “I see the name ‘Morley’”; to which we both replied we knew nobody of that name. She then heard the name “Mary,” and said: I hear now it is ‘Mary,’ not ‘Morley.’” I then said I knew of no one who had passed over, and would be likely to speak to me, of that name, but that I had an Aunt who died many years ago whose name was Mary. I said then: “I wonder if it is my Aunt?” To which a reply came at once, most emphatically, through the trumpet: “No! no! no ! I am your grandmother.” This while I was being touched on my head and knees. I was most astonished, as I had quite forgotten all about my grandmother, and then remembered her name was Mary. “Yes,” came the voice, “I am your grandmother Mary. I am here dear granddaughter.” I at once thought I would test her, so said; “How many sons had you?” She replied: “Five.” I was not sure of this; but she stuck to it, and when I got home I found she was correct. They were a large family—nine daughters and five sons—but at the moment I could not count them up, and thought there were fewer daughters and more sons! She then told me two of her children died young, which was correct. I then asked: “Do you ever see my father?” She replied: “Yes; he is with me now, and P.” (P. was an uncle who died many years ago). My father then spoke, giving me his name, which at first I could not make out. He talked at great length over private family affairs, which to me were most convincing, and reminded me of events and conversations which had taken place years ago between

him and another member of our family in my presence. These events and conversations I had never, to my knowledge, had in my mind for years, and they then all came back to me. He told me to “Sit up.” I was leaning over, as I had some idea I could hear better so. The trumpet being on the floor. After a long conversation with him, which I am Sorry I cannot publish (being of a very private nature), my uncle came and talked also through the trumpet. I at once asked him as a test if he had any children on the other side; to which he replied, “Yes,” and named his son who had passed over. After this, John King, in a loud voice, gave us good advice, and said it had been a great comfort to my relatives to have been able to talk to me. This ended my first séance and it sent me back wondering how such things could be!

The second séance held the following day, again with only my friend and the medium present, was more or less a failure, as nothing happened except that we were touched, and the medium said she saw some spirits.

The next, and third, sitting for me was the following week, June 10. I sat this time alone with the medium. My father came immediately, which rather surprised me, and Mrs. Wriedt said: “He must have come in with you.” He began: “I want to tell you more, as I could not discuss our family affairs before company” (meaning my friend who before came with me). Then came more private conversation on family affairs which I cannot repeat, and I afterwards gave him some tests. I had specially put on a broach which was once studs of his, and he had them made up for me as a broach. I asked him if he saw anything on my person which he recognised. He replied at once: “Yes, on your chain—a pin.” I had it on over a chain. I said: “Yes we call them broaches.” He said: “I am glad you have something of mine.” I then said: “Can you see what else I have on my lap?” He again replied: “Yes, a picture.” (It was a photograph of himself, with a letter of his in a sealed envelope.) I said: “Whose picture is it?” He at once said: “It is me.” I then said “What else is in the envelope?” And he replied: “A letter of mine. Poor girl, poor girl! Keep it for old times’ sake.”

He then went on with private conversation, and, before leaving kissed me three times through the trumpet, saying: “Can you hear?” After this my uncle came again, and talked on family matters, naming aunts of mine (sisters of his) who have passed on, and whom I had not mentioned, and telling me which spheres they were all in. Soon after this John King came and said “God bless you. It has been the greatest comfort to your father to talk to you in this way,” and spoke of the subject my father had dwelt upon chiefly, after which he said, “Good-bye.”

I left much impressed with it all, and returned the following day at two o’clock; but, alas! The spirits came no more, and Mrs. Wriedt most patiently sat with me alone for over an hour. I think her power is most wonderful and marvellous, and hope very much that she may be spared for many years to use this extraordinary gift which has been bestowed upon her.

The next narrative is by a lady of my acquaintance who attended one of the last general circles at Cambridge House :—

My sitting was on July 1, 1912. There were ten people besides the psychic present, all of whom were women except one, a gentleman from the north of England, who sat next to me. Until half way through the séance I did not know his name, nor did I know the names of any other sitters, except the Harpers. No introduction took place in the drawing-room, and, as far as I know, Mrs. Wriedt was not aware of my name. The

séance was held in pitch darkness. I think everyone was visited by some spirit whom he or she appeared to identify satisfactorily. Voices spoke in German to two German ladies in the circle. Lights floated about the room. Julia spoke at great length to Miss Harper about the maintenance of the Bureau; she stated very emphatically that too much was expected from spirits, and more force was required from earth life. A voice asked for “Cecilia.” I said: “Do you mean me, Cecil?” Answer: “Yes: I am father.” I replied: “Oh how are you—are you well?” Answer: “Yes, and happy.” Question: “Yes; have you seen mother?” Answer “Yes.” Question: “What a long time it is since you died!” Answer; “Oh good lord, it seems shorter and shorter!” There were a few other words, and he said, “Good-bye.”

I had not expected to hear my father, as he passed out so many years ago, and was unprepared with anything to say. I was sixteen when he died. He very often called me “Cecilia.”

Later on came a voice: “Its teeny,” I said “Is that tiny?” (My sister, who died some six or seven years ago). Answer: “Yes it is; how are you?” I said: “Much better.” Answer: “I am so very glad to hear that.” Question: “Do you see me sometimes?” Answer “Yes, every day.” Question: “Have you seen mother?” (my mother died three months ago). Answer: “Oh, yes; she is very well and very happy.” Question: “Has she any message for me?” Answer: “Yes, her love.” Question: “Is she vexed with me still?” Answer: “Oh, no, not at all. She asked me to say so.” I then repeated my question two or three times: “Are you quite sure she is not still vexed with me or B——?” (my husband). Answer (the voice got quite impatient): “Oh, no, she thought you had done something she did not like; but she knows now she was wrong and very naughty, and says: ‘Will you forgive her?’” I answered: “Of course; how is Bertie?” (my brother, who died thirty years ago at the age of two). Answer: “Oh, he is splendid, and such a dear; you wouldn’t know him.” Then the spirit said something about being so happy she would not return “here” for anything. I asked if my mother minded my attending the séance, and was told “No”; she loved me to be there, adding: “Where God is there is good.”

The gentleman next to me had a long talk with his brother, chiefly about his business. The mother of one of the sitters came to her daughter, and, after talking to her for some time, addressed us all in a very sweet way, just as an old lady might do saying: “You must all know how happy it is where I am—no ailments, no worries, only hope.” She said she and her brothers were inseparable, and very happy.

Dr. Sharp was the first to speak. He addressed us collectively, and then turned to my neighbour in a jokey way, saying: “I am sorry for you Mr.——, being the only man in the party, but I will support you.”

At one time there was a spirit voice speaking in very low tones to two ladies on my right, and at the same moment an Indian spirit (whom the sitters addressed as “Blossom”) was talking in a baby voice to the circle. She was rather noisy, and Mrs. Wriedt tried to check her, saying: “Don’t talk so loudly; someone else is speaking as well as yourself; you are making too much noise.” I noticed that the three voices were heard simultaneously.

One of the things I remarked to myself was how impatient spirits appear to be when one does not catch what they say at once, or when one asks the same question two or three times, as I did to “Tiny”.”

To my surprise there was no feeling that there was anything uncanny about the proceedings; it was quite a serene atmosphere.

My husband says that, to him, the chief interest of this séance lay in the face that my sister announced herself as “Teeny” (needless to say, not her correct name). She was so called by the youngest members of the family, but I never think of her as anything but “Tiny.”

The following narrative is written by a Dutch lady, whose children have been educated to speak Dutch, English, and French with equal facility.

Referring to the communication in Light, on p. 398, by the Rev. C. B., it appears that the gentleman and the Dutch lady were members of the same circle on May 30; but the clergyman has mixed up the spirit visitors of three Dutch ladies who were present. On the other hand, I observe that, in the account below, Mrs. E. F, S. has omitted to mention the visit of Uncle Pat on this occasion :—

At the request of Admiral Usborne Moore, I have much pleasure in giving an account of my sittings with Mrs. Wriedt, the direct voice medium from Detroit. On May 11 I had a private sitting with my sister and my two sons, when my little daughter, who passed over four years ago, at the age of twelve, spoke to us in a very clear voice through the trumpet. She called her brothers by their names, and said how pleased she was to see them. She asked if we remembered the “bunnies” she had in the garden some years ago. “One of them is here with me,” She said. It was so nice to hear her talk in the same way as she used to do when she was on the physical plane. After a few moments of silence we heard somebody touch the flowers, which were near me in a vase. “I tried to give you a flower, mother, but I can’t,” she said. Before parting she gave me a kiss on my cheek. After a short while a loud voice said; “I am Pat.” “He must be father’s brother,” remarked my son; and he was right. Pat talked a good deal about family affairs, and gave some good advice to my sons. When I asked him if he knew my daughter, he answered: “Yes; I love her—she is so sweet.” None of us knew Pat in earth life; he died thirty-four years ago, at the age of thirty-two, when he was Herbert Spencer’s secretary.

Without knowing that it was my daughter’s birthday, Mrs. Wriedt invited us to a general meeting on May 14. As soon as the lights were out my daughters voice was heard: “Mother, I thank you for the flowers.” “They are for your birthday, darling.” I said “Yes, I know it,” was her reply. An old aunt of mine spoke to us in Dutch, expressing her delight in being able to see us, and to talk to us. Pat came and spoke about my husband, who was on his way home from China at the time.

On May 18 I sat in a general circle with a lady friend, when several etherealised heads were seen. One of them was recognised by my friend as Sir Henry Irving. My friend’s father came and spoke to her in a very distinct voice. Before leaving, he turned to me and thanked me for having brought his daughter. Pat said a few words, as also did his sister, who passed over several years after him. We also heard the voices of Mr. Stead, Cardinal Newman, Dr. Sharp, John King, and Julia.

An aunt and a friend of mine from Holland were with me at a general circle on May 39, when my daughter welcomed them in Dutch, talking with the same foreign accent as she did before she left us. The husbands of my aunt and friends came and spoke

Dutch to them, also a son of my aunt, who died thirty-three years ago, at the age of six weeks.

At our final séance, on June 6, conditions were bad; my daughter was the only one who spoke to us, besides two spirits who were not recognised by anyone.

Words fail to express our feelings of gratitude towards Mrs. Wriedt for affording us the opportunity of hearing the voices of our beloved ones, who gave us such convincing proofs of life after death.           E. F. S.

The writer of the account given below, Mr. H. Dennis Taylor, is a manufacturer and an inventor of scientific instruments, and author of A System of Applied Optics. He is now engaged in perfecting a new range-finder for the Navy. He is a member of the S. P. R. :—

My experience of Mrs. Wriedt’s mediumship strongly impressed me. Accompanied by Mrs. Taylor, I attended evening sittings at Cambridge House on June 15 and 17, about ten persons being present at each. Neither of us received any completely satisfactory proofs of identity or tests that are worth narrating in detail, but we were witnesses to far more remarkable tests than our own being received by other sitters. On June 15 we heard ten or twelve distinct, and in some cases highly characteristic, voices, ranging from the feeblest whisper up to the boisterous voice of John King (the same voice that I had previously heard at a séance with Husk) and the distinctly womanly contralto voice of Julia. While one entity was conversing with me through the trumpet just in front of me, Mrs. Wriedt kept interpolating remarks to encourage me, and her voice unmistakably came from my left front, ten feet away, near the door, where she had seated herself before switching the light out. This also occurred in the case of an, at first, feeble voice manifesting to Mrs. Taylor, whose identity we made out fairly well. In some cases we heard the medium’s voice and the voice of the communicating spirit within a fraction of a second of one another, and widely separated in locality, and also noticed how much more distinctly the voices emerged after some sort of recognition had been achieved. This would, of course, suggest fraud to a sceptic who has not studied the evidential experiences that have been forthcoming through Mrs. Wriedt’s mediumship. It may not be remiss to remind such a sceptic that, if he is accosted in the street by some former acquaintance whom he had almost entirely forgotten, he will feel more or less tongue-tied, or at any rate, his conversation will be halting, and, perhaps, incoherent, until recognition has taken place and established a rapport between them. Nor must we forget other instances in which the communicator announces and identifies himself with an unmistakably distinct voice and a clear pronunciation of the surname without the least sign of any fishing for a clue from the sitter. We were witnesses to at least three such cases in the sitting of June 17, a partial account of which was reported in Light for July 27. This was extracted from a stenographic report taken down for me, as the events occurred, by Mr. Harper, who sat at a table on my right, just outside the circle, so that whenever quietness prevailed I could hear his slight movements and his pencil writing, to say nothing of many remarks interjected by him.

Evidentially, Mr. South’s experiences were the best we heard as proofs of identity, especially as he has assured me since that nobody in the circle could have possibly known anything about his three relatives who manifested in such an unmistakable

manner. The voices, especially that of William South, were full of character and individuality.

I was much impressed by the apparent fall of one of the trumpets from the ceiling when Mrs. Wriedt turned on the electric switch by the door. It fell end on and perpendicularly, about nine or ten feet away from the medium; an electric pendant or chandelier intervened between the path of the trumpet and the nearest sitter in the circle. Anyone acquainted with the trajectories of falling bodies that have been thrown will know that if the trumpet had been thrown into the middle of the room by Mrs. Wriedt at the instant before switching on the light, then, even supposing the most favourable trajectory, it would have fallen obliquely, at an angle of forty-five degrees or more with the perpendicular. But it fell perpendicularly and telescoped itself (being made of three sections not soldered together) in doing so, and subsided just where it fell. My line of vision was at right angles to the line joining the medium and the trumpet, and therefore best for seeing how it fell. On this occasion we heard two voices talking at once close by us, and Mrs. Wriedt’s voice interjecting remarks perfectly naturally, and practically simultaneously, from her position near the door ten feet or more away. I also heard a voice (John King’s, I think it was), joining in singing the Doxology in the middle of the circle, suddenly transferred to a position near the wall behind me. We had several little incidents proving that the entities manifesting could see perfectly well what we were doing in pitch darkness. I have often heard it asserted that darkness favours fraud, but this can be true only of certain forms of fraud, and I, for one, can conceive of no form of ventriloquial fraud or personation by a confederate which would account for what we witnessed, or for the remarkable tests which have been received by so many sitters at Mrs. Wriedt’s séances. I regard as contemptible the attitude of so many sceptics who would judge mediums by their own limited experiences alone, without taking due account of those of other observers as level-headed as or more so than themselves. I noticed nothing to justify any suspicion of the integrity of this remarkable medium, whose whole mien and personality inspire confidence. As to the total darkness, I really fail to see how certain feebly self­luminous phenomena, such as lights and etherealisations, could be made perceptible to the sitters under any other condition. Nor do I see how certain of the voices, at first but feeble whisperings, could be made audible without the use of a trumpet to concentrate them towards the sitter for whom they are intended. And I know that certain reliable observers have heard and conversed with the voices in the trumpet in daylight, and although more feebly and slowly. It struck me that the louder and more practised voices did not use a trumpet at all. Finally, I would very much like to see the experiment tried of setting some conjurer and ventriloquist to carry out an analogous programme (excluding, of course, the internal evidence in the way of proofs of identity) in such a circle sitting in total darkness, and on hundreds of occasions, without ever stumbling over the furniture or the sitters, or otherwise betraying his presence by touch or sound, even supposing he could be smuggled into the room in the first place; still less is it believable that a woman in skirts could do it.

Note.—Ventriloquism is impossible in the dark, for reasons given in any good dictionary or text-book. It is true that one gentleman, who considers himself an acute observer, said that the trumpet could be thrown. He only had not noticed the disused electric globe and shade, which renders such a feat impossible without detection.

The accompanying narrative has been sent to me by a mining engineer who manages some large quarries in the North of England. On several occasions he travelled

between five and six hundred miles in twenty-four hours in order to be present at the séances. I have good reasons for saying that he is an acute observer. At his first séance he was an entire stranger to Mrs. Wriedt and the inmates of the house :—

For many years I have been interested in reading all the literature I have come across on psychic phenomena, and naturally I had a strong desire to witness some manifestation of spirit return, so that when Admiral Moore offered me the opportunity of attending Mrs. Wriedt’s séances at Julia’s Bureau, Cambridge House, I readily accepted. I had never been to a séance of any kind before, so entered upon my experiences with my wits about me as one entering an unexplored country.

As I am a mining engineer by profession, my hearing has been trained to locate sounds in perfect darkness, and I feel, perhaps, more at home in it than do those who are unacquainted with the absolute darkness of a coal mine.

All my notes of the sittings were made immediately after leaving, usually in the train riding home, a five hours’ journey by express. Some of the sittings are reported in detail by a stenographer whose services I was able to requisition, and who had a faculty of being able to write shorthand in the dark. The following may be taken as a correct record of what took place in my presence, but condensed and contracted, as there was much spoken of too private a nature to be made public, not only in my own case, but in the dace of other members of the circles.

May 25, 1912. After being received along with other visitors by Mrs. Wriedt, I was asked to ascend to a room on the first floor. Although it was only 7 p.m. and still daylight, this room was lighted by electric light, the windows being heavily curtained to exclude any ray of daylight. The room itself was rectangular and, I should judge, about twenty feet long by twelve feet wide. The walls, where not covered by bookcases, were hung with pictures, for the most part photographs or portraits of people, except at one end, at which stood a cabinet—i.e., a black piece of furniture about three feet square and six feet high, standing against the wall, with two curtains hung on the open front. I looked inside this but saw nothing. Next to it in the corner stood a mechanical musical instrument, which was playing rather sweetly at the time. In front of this musical instrument stood a small square table, on which were placed vases of flowers. Ranged in a semi-circle facing the cabinet were chairs for the sitters, and behind the chairs again was another large oval table carrying bowls of roses and other flowers. Mrs. Wriedt suggested where we should sit. There were eleven of us on this occasion, including Mrs. Wriedt, who placed in the centre of the circle on the floor an aluminium trumpet standing on its bigger end. I examined this and found it to be a simple tapered tube made in three pieces to telescope; it was damp inside, and Mrs. Wriedt explained that she had been drenching it with water. The lights were extinguished, so we found ourselves sitting in complete darkness, the scent of the roses being very noticeable. The séance was opened by all repeating the Lord’s Prayer and then singing a hymn, “Lead Kindly Light.” Now I copy from my notes. We sat still for probably five minutes, when a lady near the small flower-table said that she was being touched on the face. Immediately afterwards the gentleman sitting next her said something had dropped on his foot, and, feeling, said it was a flower; a moment after I myself felt something with a fragrant scent touching my forehead very delicately; it was cool, as though dew was on it; I put my hand up to feel, and found the stalk of a rose placed against my fingers, and naturally took hold. I noticed that it showed no disposition to fall down whilst I was taking hold, nor did I feel anything

supporting it. Mrs. Wriedt was speaking to someone at the time some distance removed from me. After that flowers were scattered over the sitters. Presently I heard a voice uttering a sort of prayer which ended with “God bless you,” repeated two or three times. Mrs. Harper, who was present, said it was Cardinal Newman. Following that, several voices spoke through the trumpet to various sitters, but they were not recognised except in two cases, one being for a lady (the relationship was not disclosed, but terms of endearment passed between them, the voice being very clear), and in the other a voice spoke to a lady so distinctly that I heard every word, although the lady addressed did not hear so well. When this voice finished the trumpet fell to the floor, and some of us were about to feel for it put it up again, but Mrs. Wriedt told us to leave it alone; the spirits would find it. John King then spoke, greeting the company in a loud voice, and departed. I then heard a voice close to me, but, thinking it was meant for my neighbour, was surprised to hear her told that the voice was not speaking to her, but to Mr. M—— E—— (that is myself). My name was given clearly and distinctly, but I quite failed to identify the name given by the voice. He described himself as a friend of the family, and, seeming to be annoyed at my stupidity, ceased speaking. I now noticed ovals of light floating about above the cabinet, but could not see any detail; but those who had better psychic vision than myself described them as men’s faces. Suddenly there appeared a very bright oval light above the cabinet, and I distinctly saw the face of Mr. Stead, who seemed to bow to the company and then disappear. Almost immediately after a strong voice asked: “Did you see me?” One or two ladies immediately replied: “Yes, Mr. Stead.” The voice replied: “I am not speaking to the ladies, but to the gentlemen”; then, addressing me by name, he said: “How do you do? I am pleased to see you here.” (I knew Mr. Stead when he lived in the North.) Voices continued to speak afterwards, but with no great success; and Mrs. Wriedt decided to close the séance, which was done by singing a closing hymn. When the lights were turned up I saw that a bowl which had contained flowers on the small table was empty, and flowers were scattered on the floor. This was about 8.30 p.m. I have gone into detail and particulars of the séance room and procedure, as it was my first experience; but will simply give practical results of further sittings, as the methods of conducting them were much the same.

May 27. There were thirteen at this Séance, eight gentlemen and five ladies. 7 p.m. For ten or fifteen minutes there was no manifestation. Then something was heard to fall on the floor in the circle; shortly after I heard a swishing sort of sound, and felt something laid on my shoulder. I took hold of it, and found it to be a long-stalked rose. I laid it on my lap, but, as it began to move away, kept it in my hand. Nothing more happened, and Mrs. Wriedt closed the sitting, and expressed disappointment at the failure. When the lights were turned up, a book, a quarto volume on the British Army, was found on the floor, which Mrs. Harper returned to its place in a bookshelf at the back part of the room. A bowl of flowers was also found on the floor in the centre of the circle.

May 31. Sitting commenced about 7 p.m. with seven ladies and five gentleman. About 8 p.m. touched on left knee with trumpet. Voice: “E——“ (myself). “Yes, who are you?” Voice: “I am your uncle, your father’s brother.” “Yes?” Voice: “I was with your father this morning.” Question: “Is it Willie?” Voice: “I am known as William.” Question: “Were you with me today?” Voice “I am with you always.” Question: “Is my brother with you?” Voice: “Yes he is here now; he asked me to speak to you first, to see how the thing worked.” Question: “Ask him to speak.” (Interval; others speaking.) Voice: “E——.” Question: “Yes who is it?” Voice: “Brother.” Question:

“My brother J——?” Voice: “Yes are you deaf?” “No, I hear you, and am listening.” Voice: “I have been seeing mother today.” Question: “How did you find her?” Voice: “Better than she was; she has not been at all well this winter, but is better now that the weather is warmer.” (correct) Then followed a long conversation over the manner of his death, which occurred under tragic circumstances in a foreign country during a political upheaval; but, as the names of people still living were mentioned, I cannot, for obvious reasons, make public what was said, but I may say that what he told me threw a strong light on the mystery of his death, and made clear what had hitherto been a strange problem. At the close of the conversation I asked him: “Tell me, do you know what I am touching now?” Voice: “Yes, it is the ring I gave you. Keep it and wear it always.” (Correct; I made no sign of taking hold of the ring, as it had been between my finger and thumb of the other hand all the time.) I had sufficient proof at this sitting to convince me of the genuineness of the communications.

June 18, 2 p.m. Private sitting. Soon after the lights had been lowered I saw discs of red light about the size of a half-crown floating about quite near to me. Then my brother began to speak, and from him I learned the whole story of the treacherous circumstances surrounding his death; he gave names of people and places only known to myself. In describing one room in a certain house in this distant and turbulent country, he used a term which gave a clear reason, for me, of its peculiarities, which had puzzled me when I visited the place some short time after. Towards the close of the sitting he warned me to be particularly careful in the use of my motor car at a certain period, detailing the class of trouble which would arise. Curiously enough, I had the trouble at the time predicted, due to the illness of my regular man. However, I was alert owing to the warning, and discovered the fault before anything very serious happened. My uncle then spoke and said that he had been with me the previous day in my office, describing correctly the actual work I had been engaged in. When we were about to close I felt something touch me on the foot, and, on remarking it to the psychic, John King spoke, saying that it was a small dog I used to have, come to see me. He described it well, and gave a word sounding very like its name. I had a dog similar to the one described some years ago which was poisoned by some stranger and died in my hands.

June 22, 4 p.m. Private sitting. My brother came again and spoke with me on family matters which cannot be set down here; and two other close relatives, who had passed out of this life, held conversations with me, and thereby clearly demonstrated to me the truth of spirit return. John King came and spoke to me in his strong voice, encouraging me to go on with my investigations.

At a sitting the same night, 7 o’clock, when there were eleven present in all, including Mrs. Wriedt and the stenographer, no one spoke to me except one, Blossom (a child’s voice), who seemed to delight in discovering hidden trinkets or private mementoes worn by the sitters and describing them. In my case she correctly told me the number of gold coins in my pocket, the number being quite unknown to me at the time. She also told me how I proposed to spend it, and what I was going to do the next morning. (All correct.) A great deal of conversation took place between “voices” and the other sitters, but nothing which I can repeat.

June 24, 7 p.m. This was an excellent séance, lasting two hours, Admiral Moore being present. Dr. Sharp immediately spoke, greeting the company, and indeed took charge of the sitting, seeming to be always at hand to assist in identifying spirits and making

explanations. He gave a lady present a minute description of the ailment of her son, and suggested a course of cure. Lights were seen in the cabinet, and there was plainly seen going round the circle the form of a child who turned out to be a little grandchild of the Admiral. Grayfeather spoke with a gentleman regarding a message of warning he had transmitted. My brother came and spoke to me about family matters. Boursnell manifested and held a short conversation with Admiral Moore respecting the taking of spirit photographs. But perhaps the most convincing part of the sitting was the display of lights. “Two brilliant crosses of light were seen in the middle of the room and a light like a full moon. All the sitters agreed that they had never seen such a wonderful phenomena of lights.” (Quoted from stenographers notes.) Julia concluded the sitting by a little address in her usual sweetness of language.

June 27, 7 p.m. Failure.

July 1, 7 p.m. Dr. Sharp spoke to me, saying he was sorry that attending the séances interfered with my work, but that I should be rewarded for my labours. My brother also spoke to me and told me much about certain business which I have since found to be perfectly correct. During this sitting I saw much bright light, and once, when the trumpet fell near my feet and I stooped to pick it up, a light seemed to exist on the floor so that I saw the trumpet and picked it up. Julia spoke at great length with Miss Harper with regard to the future carrying on of the bureau, and to me this conversation was the most natural and impressive that it had been my pleasure and privilege to listen to during the whole number of sittings I had attended.

July 4, 7 p.m. A very large circle, about twenty in all. Some little time elapsed before there was any manifestation, when John King spoke his greeting. Almost immediately one of the sitters (a gentleman with a foreign name) asked John King something which he resented, and no further phenomena too place.

I should have liked to describe the impression these experiences have made on the mind of one who had seen manifestations of the above kind for the first time (and up to the present has not discovered any sign of internal Psychic powers), but space forbids.

(Signed)                       M. E.

The attached narrative is furnished to me by a gentleman of independent means residing in the South of England. He had a scientific business training, but has occupied himself for some years with honorary work connected with county affairs and charitable organisations :—

The first séance I had with Mrs. Wriedt was in July, 1911, at Cambridge House, Wimbledon. It was a private sitting early in the afternoon. I was accompanied by my wife and my two eldest daughters, both of whom were over twenty-one years of age. The room was completely darkened; the medium sat near the cabinet and retained throughout her normal consciousness, talking frequently to us, sometimes describing spirits and visions which were unseen by ourselves. Immediately the lights were extinguished we were flicked with water, and soon afterwards luminosities appeared floating in the air, visible to all the party. I can but describe their shape and size as like luminous night-gowns in movement, with a head shaped top, the forms being about the size of average thin people; no features were distinguishable; they developed near the cabinet, approached to within a couple of feet of the sitters, and

the faded gradually away, sometimes as if through the floor. No sounds emanated from these forms, which came from time to time during the eighty minutes séance; and they were intangible.

After two or three had appeared, voices came from the trumpet; these varied in tone and quality, but none were recognised as resembling those of the alleged speakers when they were in earth-life. Once we heard two different voices speaking simultaneously, whilst at the same time the medium was talking to us.

The first voice that came said she was “Mary”. One of us asked, “Mary Ann?” answer: “No; Mary Adams.” “Mary Adams?” I repeated. Answer “Yes, yes, your guide.” She gave us a welcome and greetings in a fairly distinct voice. (Mary Adams is one of my spirit guides to whom I am much indebted.)

Then a voice announced itself as “John.” After some difficulty we got, “Begins end of alphabet—no, not ‘Z’”; and after some guessing we obtained the name of “W——y”; the voice proceeded: “John W——y the older one. You remember Lizzie? Yes; you must. I was connected with your business.” (I noticed that Christian names were given readily and clearly, but surnames nearly always seemed to present great difficulties to the speaker. We had two W——y’s, father and son, connected with our business. Both passed over some time ago, but their Christian names were both James—not John; and we do not remember any Lizzie connected with them.)

Another voice announced itself as “William.” One of my daughters asked,” “Is it grandpa or uncle?” Answer: “Yes; grandpa.” I was gently stroked on the cheek by a hand, and my wife was stroked on the knees. He said: “I am pleased to see you here. This is delightful. God bless you!” And he left with the sound of a kiss. Then a voice called clearly several times most eagerly, “Maude, Maude!” The name given by the spirit was indistinct but it sounded like Carrie. “Are you Aunt Carrie?” my wife (whose name is Maude) asked. Answer: “Yes.” A long conversation ensued between them (just as if her aunt were in the flesh), during which the spirit referred to two prints she gad given us, now hanging in one of the bedrooms (correct), and to a necklace given to my eldest girl (who was present), now worn as a chain; the spirit said it was a weak chain (correct). She inquired, “Who had her brooch with the red stone in it?” (not understood); reminded us how she used to dance the children, when very young, on her foot, singing “Diddledy, diddledy” (correct); said how she always loved us (Aunt Carrie had a hard life, and we endeavoured to be kind to her); requested us to send her love to my wife’s twin sister, and said I was to teach her about spiritualism (my wife is a spiritualist, but her sister knows but little about the subject); and when I mentioned how I used to chaff her sometimes, she laughed pleasantly and said “Good-bye.” We all considered this conversation as a most satisfactory test and evidence of identity.

Mrs. Wriedt described several people near us whom we were unable to identify; then a voice sang “Loch Lomond,” and said he often used to visit my wife when a girl and sing Scotch songs; that he was Mrs. Somebody’s husband (we could not catch the name), and insisted that my wife knew him (this spirit was not recognised at all). Finally, Dr. Sharp came, and in a good clear voice talked for some time on ordinary topics of conversation. He said we ought to have ten children like those two present. “We should then be in paradise”—with which little piece if flattery the séance closed.

It will be noted that in this séance we obtained only one good test of identity, but that was so convincing and evidential that I think we are justified in looking for another explanation for the failures than that of “Humbug,” or unsuccessful “helping out” by the medium. We were all perfect strangers to the medium and to everyone connected with “Julia’s Bureau”; there was no “Fishing” on the part of Mrs Wriedt during the “Carrie” conversation, and not one of us gave ourselves away in any particular.

The second séance with Mrs. Wriedt took place in June this year at Cambridge House. The sitters were my mother, my wife, a married sister, my eldest daughter, and myself. As soon as the lights were switched off sundry luminosities appeared similar to those described above; then a voice claiming to be that of Julia welcomed us to the “Temple of Truth, the source of light and Wisdom,” and spoke well in a serious strain for many minutes (this was my first introduction to Julia). After this a voice purporting to be that of my father spoke (I may repeat that the voices were not, in any case, like those of the persons when in earth life); my sister’s knees were touched, and also my moustache, by an intangible hand. The voice inquired after my mother’s health, and before she had time to reply said, “You are better” (which was the fact). Mrs. Wriedt then said she got the name of “Cross”—“a lady who died after an operation”; at the same time my sister’s knees were touched. The spirit could not be identified at first. A Christian name sounding like Nellie was given through the trumpet. She said she belonged to my sister’s husband’s side of the family. My sister suddenly asked: “Are you Louisa L——?” (This lady died within a week of an operation.) Without replying definitely, the spirit said: “I am often with you; your boy is doing well, do not worry about him” (my sister had been anxious about her son’s health and his theological views.) After some conversation I asked: “How does the name of ‘Cross’ come in here?” My sister suggested that it might be symbolic of the High Church views held by Louisa L—— when in the flesh, as a means of recognition. One of her sons had made Louisa L—— a cross when she was alive; the husband of the latter lady, when a churchwarden, used to carry a large cross in procession. After this spirit left John King interposed and said emphatically that “it was Louisa L——. What did it matter if she had one or a hundred and one crosses? It was the cross she carried to church that mattered.” Shortly after this the medium said, suddenly, without any circumlocution. “I get the name of Josephine”; and at the same time my mother was touched on the shoulder and a voice through the trumpet said: “I am your sister. It is all happy and bright here. I will welcome you to heaven some day; jealousy and selfishness do not exist in heaven; those come from differences in position on earth. I thank your son for bringing my treasure here.” She then went to my wife, calling her by name. My wife said “I never knew you on earth.” The reply came, “I am glad to welcome you in the family; you have been a good wife, a good mother, and a good daughter.” (I consider this visit of “Josephine” quite good evidence of identity. The somewhat uncommon name coming so pat, followed immediately by the statement of relationship and the touching of my mother’s shoulder, was almost startling. The spirit had passed over a good many years; the family had never been in close touch with this relative, and she was far from all our minds. I doubt whether my children had ever heard us speak of this aunt of mine. The references to jealousy and differences of social position were peculiarly apposite to the circumstances of her life. Evidences of this character are usually more convincing than any other kind; there is something so artless and genuine about them. Thought­reading as an explanation is out of the question, because she was not in the mind of

any person present who had known her in life, and the sentence she made use of came rather as a piece of self-confession.)

After some other incidents a voice greeted us as “William, I am brother and son” (correct name of my brother). He laughed several times whilst speaking (a characteristic habit of his when in the flesh). He sent his love to my daughter G—— (his godchild), and said to my daughter W——, “I will walk with you down the Dyke road” (my daughter had been staying recently in Brighton with his widow). The voice then approached my sister and said, “How is Billy?” She asked,” “Do you mean the dog?” and the reply was a bark. She said, “How do you know I have a dog called Billy?” He replied, “Do you think I don’t keep my eyes open when I come to see you?” My daughter asked if he had a message for anyone else (expecting he would wish to send one to his widow). After several attempts, we heard something like “Sherry.” My sister asked, Do you mean ‘Cherie’?” Answer: “Yes; love to ‘Cherie.’ Maude (my wife) ought to know” (my sister alone knew and remembered that he used to call his wife “Cherie” sometimes). My wife was asked to shake hands, which she tried to do; but, although her hand was touched, she could not grasp anything. My spectacles were touched, and the trumpet struck my head gently several times. He stayed some time talking—mostly to my wife, of whom he was very fond.

Mrs. Wriedt now said she saw a white violin coming over the table and a person dressed in violet stopping behind me. Then came a voice “Grace.” My daughter inquired if her sister was meant (there is also an aunt Grace). Answer “Yes, yes.” Then the voice sang two little bits of songs; one was “The harp that once through Tara’s hall the sound of music shed.” The spirit went on to say that Grace would play one day at the Albert hall. We replied that she was too nervous, and intended to teach music. Answer: “You cannot teach without first learning to play; no, no, she must fight against it. Encourage her, the fear will go, I will help her.

My general opinion of Mrs. Wriedt’s mediumship, based upon the above experiment, may be gathered from my observations in parentheses. There are the usual failures of identification, the occasional inaccuracies mixed with truth, and sometimes that which has the appearance of guessing; but I am convinced that this woman is a powerful medium. I credit her with honesty, and assert that she has provided us with positive evidence of the survival of human personality after death and the possibility of communication with the deceased.

A lady who was born in Sydney, N.S.W., and spent all her girlhood there, and who now resides in Devonshire, sends me the following :—

I sat many times with Mrs. Wriedt both in private and in general circles, and I will tell you of one or two interesting episodes. One day in 1911, my sister and I had a private sitting at Cambridge house, and an entity announced himself through the trumpet as “George.” We know several Georges who have passed over. My sister said; “Are you George Lloyd?” Answer “No.” Question : “What is your other name?” The spirit seemed to find great difficulty in replying to this positive question, so I said: “Where did you know us?” Answer “At Rose Bay. My name is George Smith. Your father brought me here.” I was much puzzled as the name given conveyed nothing to me; but my sister said “Did you live at Rose Bay?” Answer; “Yes, near your old home.” (Our old home was at Rose Bay, one of the numerous little bays in Port Jackson; it is three miles from the city of Sydney, New South Wales.) Then the voice addressed me;

“Where is your sling stone? You were a small little girl. You used to have a sling stone.” Question “Do you mean a catapult?” Answer; “Yes, you were a little mischief.” (I used to have a catapult when I was a small child; it is possible that I was a great nuisance to the neighbourhood.) Then turning to my sister, he said: “I should not have known you; what have you done to yourself? You were always the sedate one.” (This allusion is quite correct.) When the voice no longer spoke, my sister said: “Well, I am the only one who would remember him; you were too young. George Smith did live near us at Rose Bay. He was a contractor.” (This was forty-six years ago.)

The incident I am now about to describe occurred this year (1912). I went with my sister and had a private sitting with Mrs. Wriedt again in the dark. One of my objects was to obtain a test from an ancestor of ours who had manifested on previous occasions, calling himself by his abbreviated Christian name.

Before we left my sister’s house for Wimbledon, and unknown to her, I had written on a piece of paper the name of the ship in which our relative was lost, and the question: “What does this convey to you?” I put the piece of paper in my handbag and did not mention it to either my sister or to Mrs. Wriedt. When the lights were switched off, and the room in total darkness, I opened my bag softly, took the paper out noiselessly, and held it in my hand. A friend of ours came and talked to my sister; he suddenly said to me: “Put that on the table.” (I was sitting near the large oval table where the flowers were.) I answered: “No, it is not for you.” He repeated: “Put it on the table,” which I did. When the spirit finished speaking, my ancestor made himself known in his usual way by giving his abbreviated first name. Then he said: “I am going to answer this question in a peculiar way. It is the name of a ship: she was destroyed, and I went to the bottom.” We heard the crumpling of paper and the flowers being touched. At the end of the séance, when the lights were switched on, we found on the floor the paper my question was written upon wrapped round the stalk of a spray of rosebuds from which a bud had been broken off.

My ancestor passed over one hundred and twenty-six years ago, at the early age of twenty-two. He was a naval officer; his ship was wrecked on the English coast. So I think we may say his life was nipped in the bud, as he tried to convey by showing us the mutilated roses.

One afternoon, on my way to a séance at Cambridge House, I was walking alone up Bond Street rather in a hurry. To my annoyance a man kept walking alongside of me, trying to attract my attention. After a time he left my side, and I was able to walk on without molestation. I had no time, before I went into the séance room, to speak of it, even if I had thought of it or wished to do so. During the sitting my mother came to my sister and myself and said: “My dear, what a horrid thing for that man to do this afternoon, to try and speak to you!” I said: “Why mother were you there?” She answered: “Yes, dear.”

At every séance which my sister and I attended together different spirits talked to us simultaneously, one generally with the trumpet and one without.

(Signed)           E. R. Richards.

Mrs. Jacob, Mrs. Richard’s sister Writes : I beg to corroborate my sister’s account. I am six years older than my sister, and can

certify to the fact that a contractor called George Smith did live a short distance from my fathers house at Rose Bay, Sydney. He must have known us by sight when we played about as children, and probably spoke to us now and then. My sister had a small catapult.

I agree with my sister that we cannot give details of the various conversations that we enjoyed with our deceased relatives and friends through the mediumship of Mrs. Wriedt; but I have pleasure in sending you what I consider a rather good proof of the nature of her extraordinary gift. One day in August last (1912) I called upon her at her hotel in London, and was shown up into her bedroom. She had just returned from shopping, and was packing, as she was leaving for Norway the next day. It was broad daylight, and there was considerable noise, not only from the traffic in the street outside, but from the opening of parcels and cutting up and folding of paper. I asked Mrs. Wriedt if I might hold the trumpet to my ear and try if I could get a message. She replied; “Do, but I am sorry I must finish packing, and cannot help being noisy.” She then continued what she was doing, and constantly walked about the room bringing things to her trunks. I sat down on one chair, resting the big end of the trumpet on the back of another, and put the small end to my ear. Only Mrs. Wriedt and I were in the room. Very soon I heard a voice greet me. It was my father. He spoke well and strong, and I had a conversation of several minutes with him. Presently I heard another voice as if speaking to him; two voices in the trumpet simultaneously, the second very low. I asked: “Who is speaking to you?” Answer: “your sister.” Question: “Is she talking to you?” Answer: “Yes.” Question: “What is she saying?” My father then spoke for my sister, and gave me her message. We three then talked about old days in Australia in quite a natural way.

When my father left another relative came, and had a long talk with me.

I should tell you that my father died in Sydney in 1891, and my sister in 1909. At Cambridge House I have had a voice speaking to me without the trumpet, the latter only being used towards the end of the sitting.

When I held the trumpet to my own ear, as I did in Mrs. Wriedt’s bedroom, I found it difficult to keep steady, and tiring to maintain it in place. It made me wonder at the ease with which the spirit people use it in the dark séances, and at the great patience they exercise.

I noticed that when Mrs. Wriedt was near me the spirit voice was stronger than when she was at the end of the room; so I tried to guide the trumpet towards her as she walked about. At one time John King interposed, and gave me a message for her. I said to her: “You had better hold it yourself; he wants you.” She stopped packing and took the trumpet. I could hear her questions and answers to him, but not what he said to her. She told me that she could not make out what the voices were saying to me, only what I said to them.

On September 6, the night before Mrs. Wriedt left for America, I stayed with her at the Grosvenor Hotel, as she was leaving very early the next morning for Southampton by train. She had been ill and run down with a severe cold; and I was so sorry that she was going away alone, and in bad health, that I decided to see her away. She had been

very busy packing and arranging all that day for her early departure next morning by the boat train, and went to bed tired, and fell asleep quickly. We shared the same bed (a large double bed). I could not sleep for hours, it seemed to me; and, after laying quietly for some time, I suddenly felt impressed to raise my head and look to where she was sleeping, still and quiet. What I saw made me sit right up. Over her sleeping form, her head being on the pillow partly turned away from me, was another Mrs. Wriedt, just her head and shoulders, looking full face at me over her own sleeping body—over her chest. A white, soft, gauzy scarf was loosely over the head, showing the hair, which seemed much brighter and lighter in colour, the eyes intensely blue and bright, complexion clear. The eyes met mine; the face had such a sweet smile, and the expression seemed wistful. As I looked, wondering at her, the thought came into my mind: You do look quite beautiful; you are not as beautiful as this in life. It was some moments before the vision faded. She was sleeping in the body peacefully through this phenomenon.

(Signed) M. Jacob.

By Vice-Admiral W. Usborne Moore

The best general circle séance I attended at Cambridge House, apart from the “Julia” evenings (Wednesdays), was on Monday June 24. One of the sitters had come from Poole at my invitation. It was the only time he had seen Mrs. Wriedt, and the evidence he obtained of the presence of his wife and children who had passed over was, he assures me, wholly satisfactory. The stenographer’s report, which is before me, is about as good as such records can be. Dr. Sharp, after greeting me and other friends, said :—

“How do you do, Mr. Osman?” [the sitter from Poole]. “I am very glad to see you.” Mrs. Wriedt: “How do you know him?”

Dr. Sharp: “His dear wife and children told me he was here.”

I was sitting next but one to Miss M., a well known member of the S. P. R. and a psychic. The lady on my right was also a psychic. After I had introduced Miss M. to Dr. Sharp, he spoke to Mrs. Harper about one of her sons who was in hospital, giving a diagnosis of his disease and advising certain treatment. Whether his advice was good or bad I have no means of telling, but the address was delivered in a clear, firm voice without any hesitation.

A white form moved towards me, but there was no voice. Mrs. W. and Miss M. both saw forms. Then we sang, and the form of a little child was seen by psychics going round the circle. Mrs. Wriedt: “Admiral, it is your little grandchild, your Aunt E. brought her.” I could hear the word “Grandpapa.” (This infant would now be two years old had it lived. The relative named is the one who has always been said to be in charge of it.) A sitter entered into a conversation of some minutes with his sister, who during the talk gave the name of a living sister. Then a spirit sang a verse of “Lead Kindly Light.” Cardinal Newman spoke, and bestowed upon the circle a Latin benediction. A brother came to Mr. M. E. (see Light of October 12), and talked for many minutes; among other things, he mentioned the name of a sister, also in spirit life.

Grayfeather renewed a warning he had previously given about an accident he saw as likely to happen to one of the sitters. He was introduced to the lady on my right, who had not met him before. The Indian spirit-girl called Blossom manifested to the sitters who knew her best. The room appeared to be filled with white clouds, and Miss M. was addressed by a voice which gave her a test satisfactory to herself. Several spirits manifested to sitters, and were recognised. One purporting to be Robert Boursnell, came to me and we had a brief talk. In one case Dr. Sharp intervened to assist a spirit who was apparently quite strange to this method of communication. One spirit, who gave his name as Charlie, attempted to prove his identity by whistling a tune. Asked by a sitter if he was Charlie Grimaldi, he replied: “Yes, why sure”; and added: “Do you remember who played the mocking-bird with variations of ‘Home, Sweet Home’?” (Whistling again.)

Mrs. Wriedt: “There is a thin little man—smooth-faced—standing in the centre of the room.” Voice: “Lincoln Cox.” Mr. C.: “I know who that is.” Voice: “This is a treat; what in the world are you doing here?”

Mr. C., “Because I had a great wish to come, and I thought I might meet someone who would tell me something.” (Mr. C. explained to the other sitters that Mr. Cox had a place in New Burlington Street.)

Voice to Mr. Osman: “Marie. How are you, dear?” Mr. Osman: “I am very pleased to hear you; I have come a long way to meet you.”

Voice: “Mother is coming to talk to you, and Reggie. Father dear, it is very lonely for you, but we are with you every day in the home. Mother is here. Leonard is not here, but mother is. Father dear, give auntie my love. Good-bye father.” Mr. Osman: “Good-bye, dear.”

Mrs. Wriedt announced that she saw the name of “Bee.” This was recognised by the inmates of the house, who explained that she was a lady teacher many years ago. Miss Bee: “We have a lot of little evening parties in Heaven with the children. They dance, and are happy; it is fine. I still keep on teaching.”

Here two sisters, Mrs. Jacob and Mrs. Richards, were visited by the spirit of an ancestor, a naval officer who was drowned in the eighteenth century (see Light of October 26, p. 507). These ladies sat on my right, between me and the psychic. I was introduced. The voice said: “I want to tell you I am J. They called me——“ (using an abbreviation). Question: “What sphere are you in?” Answer: “The celestial sphere, but I have been over a long time.” Question: “I heard that you were in the sixth sphere and seventh realm.” Answer: “I a,, but I am also in the celestial sphere.” Question: “I suppose there is no difficulty in coming here from the higher spheres?” Answer: “No, my pleasure is here till my friends come.” Question: “What is the colour of the seventh realm?” Answer: “Lavender. There are thirty different colours in each sphere, but the principle ones are red, purple, blue, lavender, scarlet, white, and green.” Question: “You were a sailor man: how did you come by your end?” Answer: “By a sudden dip; the ship was wrecked.”

Mrs. Wriedt: “Does anyone recognise the name of Temple?” A Voice; “Chester.” Admiral Moore: “Who are you for?” Answer: “Pardon me; I am not for you.” (Spirit left, apparently annoyed.) A Voice: “Mrs. Osman.” Mr. Osman: “Are you my wife?” Answer: “Yes I am glad to welcome you. All the children are here.” Mr. Osman: “I

am so glad to hear it.” Answer: “I am so glad to be with you here. It is so good of you to have come. I have been looking forward to this for a long time.” Mr. Osman: “It is a long time since I spoke to you.” Answer: “The children and I are with you every day. I do not miss you as much as you do me, because I am there every day, and the children as well. How is auntie?” Mr. Osman: “Auntie is very well, thank you.” Answer: “Give her my love. “Oh, dear, it is such a comfort to have a chat with you! God bless you for your long wait. Good-night.” (The voice turned in my direction.) “Thank you, Admiral, for your trouble.” Much surprised that the spirit should be aware of the small share I had in bringing her husband there on that evening, I could only say: “It is very kind of you to speak to me. Good-night.”)

A French artist came, who was recognised immediately by the ladies on my right. He gave an explanation about a fault in the eyes of a certain picture he had painted, which they appeared to understand.

A voice to Miss M. (on my left). Miss M.: “Please cam you tell me your name? Who are you? Are you a relative?” Dr. Sharp: “My dear lady, this spirit is for a certain individual that you know very well.” (The control went on and talked for a few minutes. Miss M. stated that she quite understood what was meant.) A Voice: “Reggie. Dear father, how are you?” Mr. Osman: “Are you better than you were?” Answer: “All right now — never any trouble.” Mr. Osman: “I have been so anxious.” Answer: “You have come a long way to see us and talk to us. We are in the house just the same.” The trumpet then dropped and he was gone.

A Voice to me: “Aunt E. Did you hear the little child? She attempted to say ‘grandpapa.’ I am very glad, W.. to see you tonight. I was afraid I might not have another opportunity. All is well at home.”

Now occurred a rare phenomenon—flashes of light. I had never seen it before. Some of the sitters saw, or thought they saw, crosses of light, and the stenographer says he saw a light like a full moon; but I only made out two or three flashes. (This phenomenon is occasionally seen when sitting with Miss Ada Besinnet.)

Julia now gave an address, consisting of one hundred and sixty words, in her usual style and refined English voice. While she was speaking, Iola called me by name, very clearly, five or six times, and gave a brief message. The voice came from a position between my neighbour on my right and myself, and about level with the top of my head. During this séance all the sitters except one were visited by more than one spirit friend. Mr. Osman has kindly sent me the following particulars :—

My daughter Marie was our only girl out of a family of eight; she passed over in January, 1896, aged thirteen years. Leonard passed over when a baby. My wife passed away three years ago without being able even to say “good-bye” to me. My son Reginald passed over in November, 1910, aged thirty-one years, after suffering for four years from consumption; he was very reluctant to go, except the last day or so; and, after passing over, he was very unhappy indeed for a time. I was so glad to hear him say, in his characteristic way: “I am all right now—never any trouble.”

“Auntie is my wife’s favourite sister, who lives at a farm a few miles from here. She and my children thought a great deal of one another, and it was the custom of the family to speak of her in this manner.