EVIDENCE FROM SCOTLAND

In answer to my request that he would give me his opinion as to the nature of the voices which spoke in the séances of Mrs. Wriedt when she was in Scotland, Mr. James Robertson wrote as follows on August 7, 1913 :—

One of the most striking things associated with the mediumship of Mrs. Wriedt is not only that the voices tell out their tale clearly, but in the dialect or language that the spirit used when and earth-dweller; particularly is this the case with the lowland Scotch with which I am so familiar. Again and again there were dropped words conveying so much—words of old Scotch which to-day are getting obsolete. Dr. Sharp, the wise manager or control of what is transmitted, is one who is undoubtedly familiar with the Scotch of Robert Burns; it is not a case of imitation, but the idioms of one who had been saturated with the Scotch language or dialect. He is a native, and to the manner born, and calls forth the words which, though strange and harsh to the English ear, speak so much of the Scottish heart. According to his story, he was removed from Glasgow at an early age; but the words he so often used would be those which were used in his homestead in America. Like all educated Scotch, he speaks good English; but in conversation with a Scot like myself he seemed to take delight in falling into the words of his childhood days. I was face to face with a countryman, and when he would say “Ye’d better bide a wee,” or “You would be better to wait for a little time.” I did not think it strange; I had lost sight of the fact that I was speaking to a spirit for the moment, and was face to face with an inhabitant of my own country. It was not a rôle which he assumed once; but at every sitting which I have attended in Glasgow and Rothesay there was given the revelation of Scotch character which could not be imitated so as to deceive an old Scotsman like myself. There was not the slightest trace of anything foreign in it all; he was as familiar with all the common words used in conversation as I was. “Thank you for spiering,” he would say; that is, for asking or inquiring. “Twa three were there”—that is, a few were present. The other visitors speaking to their friends lisped the old familiar words in their old tones: “Don’t greet”; that is “Don’t cry” would be heard; “dinna” do this or that, ”do not”; the “braes” or slope of a hill, in reminiscences of the old life were referred to; “braw chiel,” a handsome man, was spoken of. My mother, who came repeatedly to me, spoke just as she had done in the body. She was as familiar with my life now as she had ever been; and she addressed me in her broad Doric: “My laddie, we were baith together then.” She ca’d, that is “named” me as she did when I was a boy. My family were “weans”; each she spoke of, and their traits, in the vernacular; but why repeat a catalogue of Scotch words? She was present with me, giving forth her thoughts and feelings and expressing her delight that I had followed the spiritual revealment so faithfully. I cannot feel she is ever far away from me, and my joy is great that these voices have seemingly brought me closer to her than before. It is a great mystery how the vocal chords are formed which enable friends to come so near. Mrs. Wriedt is evidently a block of magnetism out of which the spirits hew some of the material they use. In most of the mediumistic controls some part of the instrument shows through; here there was not the slightest tone that brought Mrs. Wriedt into view; she was but an interested spectator. How this mediumship has unfolded year by year. Once identity was a somewhat rare occurrence; now troops of spiritual beings reveal themselves, and make their presence clear without a doubt. Wonderful and brilliant as is the light which has shone on us, will this light become brighter as the years roll on? I think so! What a march outwards since the “Raps” at Hydesville in 1848! With similar growth in the development of phenomena, the time must come when such a

thing as doubt regarding the future life will not be possible. The early pioneers caught hold of the truth that there was a door open between the two worlds, and they realised that the subject was capable of uplifting and ennobling; few of them could have foreseen the possibilities which this mediumship of Mrs. Wriedt has brought to view; but

This is true—that you can never Seek to know, and fail in finding; Seek to end, and it will ever

Grow more near and be less blinding

Oakley, Prestwick, Ayrshire.

The following narrative is written by Mr. John Duncan, T.C., Deacon Convenor of Trades, Edinburgh :—

A few notes of a séance held by Mrs. Etta Wriedt at the house of John Duncan, Dunearn, Granton Road, Edinburgh, on the evening of Sunday, July 27, 1913, at 7.30.

There were only five present, our object being to have it as private and select as possible.

I had asked to meet Mrs. Wriedt, along with my wife, daughter, and self, Mrs. Sharpe, who had accompanied us to Rothesay, and was present at a few of Mrs. Wriedt’s séances held there, and Mr. Morrison, who was also at Rothesay, both of whom I knew to be sincere and zealous spiritualists. The séance was opened as usual by repeating the Lord’s Prayer, after which a verse of a hymn was sung. We had not long to wait before our daughter Lizzie came, who passed over a babe, thirteen months old, over thirty years ago. She is now well known, both here and in Rothesay, at the séances we have sat in; at times she has spoken to her mother and I for twenty and often thirty minutes at a time; this time she came in her usual mild and endearing manner, and said Bob, her brother, was with her, and a great many others. Next my grandfather Veitch came; he passed away at the age of ninety-five, about fifty-six years ago. This is but the second time he has come to me and made himself known. Although going back such a number of years, I well remember his tall, erect figure; he was a typical Scot of the old Calvinistic times, ultra orthodox, and belonged to a religious body in Scotland then known as “Cameronians,” who would not pray for or acknowledge any crowned heads. He asked for my son John, and how he was getting on (in business I suppose).

Then my son Bob came; he has been in spirit life thirty-three years, and passed away a boy of about six years of age. There are few of our relatives and friends now in spirit life but what Bob has been the means of bringing back to us; he is known on the other side as a great worker and missionary. On coming to us on this night he seemed overjoyed at meeting his sister Teenie (Christena), as she is called. She will not be styled a spiritualist. She left home a few years ago and learned the occupation of a nurse; he expressed pleasure at her now being at home helping her mother, told her nursing was too heavy work for her; how he would make things smooth, and do all he could to help her, and in parting said she was his favourite sister. Then my dear old grannie Veitch came; she has been in spirit life fifty years, and was nearly ninety years of age when she passed over. She was also a typical Scotswoman of her day, but quite a contrast to her husband (my grandfather). She had a winning character during

her earth life, loved by all for her kind, gentle manner; truly it could be said of her: "“he went about doing good."” In talking with us to-night, how she enjoyed herself, and laughed heartily about me falling off a gate when she lived six miles from Edinburgh. I was on a visit to her with my mother, and would not be more than four or five years of age at the time to which she referred.

An old friend came, who had been with us in spirit at Rothesay—Mr. Taylor, who was at one time stationmaster at Galashiels. I used to do part business there, and was intimate with Taylor. He was noted for being a great joker, and always carrying out his fun in a practical way. I asked him if anyone had brought him to-night; he said he was now able to come himself. (It is only about three weeks since he passed over.) My wife asked him if he remembered when he came last to us what he promised. (This had reference to a private sitting with Mrs. Wriedt at Rothesay.) Evidently at first he forgot; but immediately said: “Oh ! yes; my snuff-box,” and at once we heard the lid clink, which was to be the signal to us when he was present. He told me Robertson and he were not together in spirit life. Taylor and Robertson were well known to each other during their earth lives.

A nephew came next, Mackenzie by name; he was known to all of us during his earth life as “Mac”; he passed away fully a year ago, after a painful and lingering illness. His conversation was mainly directed to my daughter, and at first was rather indistinct. He was most persistent about his wife (Teenie he always called her); said she was thinking about making a change; how it would be better for her not to do so; but if she did, he would do all in his power to help her; told my daughter to give her this message, but only if she cared to do so. This he repeated more than once; his idea, no doubt, being that, as my daughter was not a spiritualist, he did not insist on her giving the message. I put in a word once or twice during the conversation; but he replied rather sharply; “It was Teenie (my daughter) he was speaking to. ”It was apparent he wished to talk with her. She was to give his love to his wife Teenie and his son. He then asked me how John was getting on, meaning my youngest son. I asked him if he remembered my other son’s name. He replied at once “Bill,” which was correct.

Mrs. Sharpe, who was present with us, got very striking tests. The first to come to her was her daughter Anne, who passed over nearly three years ago. We could all hear her saying “I am Annie.” She then asked how her mother was keeping; then something was said that Mrs. Sharpe did not quite catch, at which Annie said to her mother: “You are not deaf.” She then asked for her sister Jenny, who is called by Mrs. Sharpe and the other members of her family “Jessie,” but always called in earth life by Annie “Jennie,” and that is the name by which she still remembers her—a very striking proof to Mrs. Sharpe and her family as to Annie’s identity. I may here state that Mrs. Sharpe got the same test at Rothesay. Annie then told her mother that Jennie’s health was a little run down, and she was needing a change very much. Then Mrs. Sharpe asked if she knew where they were going next day for their holiday. Annie replied: “A lonely place, and they were going by sea.” Sure enough a lonely place, their holiday being on the island of Iona, three hours sail from Oban! Mrs. Sharpe then spoke a few words in German to Annie, in which language she was an adept during her earth life. No better proof could we have wished for than to listen to mother and daughter talking in German, and which was also known to Mr. Morrison. Then a Mr. Scott came to Mrs. Sharpe; He had been a schoolmaster at Granton, three miles from Edinburgh. He thanked Mrs. Sharpe for delivering the message he gave her at

Rothesay to his wife, and said he was far happier where he was than on the earth plane. Mrs. Sharpe asked him how he knew she was here. He replied: Annie sent me.” Mrs. Sharpe’s mother-in-law next came, and gave unmistakable proof of her identity. She was so pleased at being able to come back; said grandfather was with her and Mrs. Sharpe’s husband. She asked for Mrs. Sharpe’s son David, giving his name, and, on leaving, promised to come back before long.

Mr. Morrison I had known now for some time as a genuine spiritualist; he makes a sympathetic and harmonious sitter. The proofs he got this night I consider really wonderful and convincing. The first to come to him was an uncle, who had been killed in a coal mine, and he spoke to his brother, who had passed over in the same way. The uncle spoke so kindly and made special reference to Mr. Morrison’s daughter Kitty who has been seriously ill for nine months; how he knew all about her, and said she was making a favourable recovery. (None of us that knew her thought at one time she would pull through; but, thanks to those on the other side, who have been tending and watching over her, she is now making what her doctor calls “a miraculous recovery.” Mr. Morrison asked his uncle if he had seen his father; he replied: “He is here and will speak to you.” After many kind inquiries as to friends on the earth plane, he left, wishing us “Good-bye.”

Mr. Morrison’s father came next; we all heard him crying, “My dear son,” twice, “How glad I am to be able to come and speak to you again.” As a test, Mr. Morrison at once asked him where he had last spoken to him, and without the least hesitation he answered: “Rothesay.” This was so, he having spoken to Mr. Morrison at one of Mrs. Wriedt’s séances there.

Mr. Morrison had some hesitation in introducing his brother Willie’s name, as he and his father had been somewhat estranged in earth life, and could not get on together. Mr. Morrison’s father at once seemed to realise the position, and said: “That’s all right now, my son; there is no bitterness here. Where you are there are bitters and sweets; but in spirit life we entertain no bitterness, and have only the sweets.” Speaking of his son Willie, he said he was now in Canada; to let him remain there, as he was doing far better there than he could ever do at home. Morrison then spoke to his father about his sister Mary; to which he only replied: “Poor Mary! Poor Mary! She has been in a poor state of health for some time.” (Truly there is little passing here but what our spirit friends know about and feel interested in!) Mr. Morrison next spoke to his father about his mother; she is seventy years of age, and hale and hearty. The spirit told him to give her his love and his blessing. Mr. Morrison then asked about his children in spirit life. He said his little girl “Sang like a nightingale”; this he was most emphatic about. He next asked his father if he knew where his brother Jim was at present, and, with a laugh he answered: “He is here in Edinburgh with you.” (His brother Jim was through from Glasgow to Edinburgh, spending the week-end with his brother and family.) Then there was a conversation between father and son of a somewhat private nature about one of the family named “Gilbert.” Mr. Morrison assured me after the séance that his father, in speaking of his brother Gilbert, had told of past events in his life that no other one could have done. Mr. Morrison'’ father, in parting spoke with some emotion, and again referred to his children, specially naming Kitty, whose life so recently had been despaired of. In concluding, I must say I have sat at many séances, but never at one where such convincing proofs were given to everyone present.