July 1892 - The Emma Hardinge Britten Archive

Transition of E. W. Capron. I97
public investigation of the claims of Spiritualism was held in Corinthian
Hall, Rochester, N.Y., on the evening of November 14th, 1849. Mr.
Capron was selected to deliver the opening address, which be did in a
manner, says Mrs. Britten in her' History of Modern Spiritualism,' so
truthful and interesting that it commanded the respectful attention of a
numerous audience. 'The profound silence maintained during its
delivery was broken only by the clear tones of the speaker, and the
distinctly audible, though muffled sounds of the raps, which constantly
emphasized the striking passages of the address.' The result of the
investigation ""as such that in the office of a Rochester daily an article
that had been put in type announcing • the entire explosion of the
rapping humbug' was cancelled, and one of a diametrically opposite
character published in its place.
"In I 8so Mr. Capron formed at his home in Auburn what was known
as 'The Auburn Circle,' of which the youngest of the Fox children
(Kate) was the medium. A large number of the best known people
attended. Says Mrs. Britten :-
" 'Spirit music was produced, hands were seen, felt, and even examined,
forming and melting in the clasp that held them; messages of affection,
timely warning, and prescient intelligence were constantly spelled out
through the raps; the furniture moved, and almost every conceivable
phase of intelligent spiritual phenomena exhibited to all who chose to
come and witness it.'"
It is undoubtedly true that Mr. Capron was one of the
most active supporters of the Fox children at the most
critical and eventful periods in the history of Modern
Spiritualism. Because of this fact Spiritualists throughout
the world should "keep his memory green" in pure
gratitude, realizing that it is largely through his unintermittent
efforts that they are given: palpable proof that their
"dead" live; and because of that, they are in possession
of a knowledge of inestimable value through life, consolation
as they stand at the graves of their friends, and a
wealth of content that no one can deprive them of . . .
When it is remembered that the famous Rochester ·
knockings occurred in the year 1848, and Mr. Capron's
excellent and fearless work mentioned above came out in
I 854, the courage and consistency, no less than the devotion,
of this noble Quaker (for such he was) to the cause
of his adopted faith, can never be too gratefully estimated
or too highly lauded. On page 376 of his excellent his-