'Twixt two worlds : a narrative of the life and work of William Eglinton

Suddenly
'
Twixt Two Worlds.
consisting of those usually witnessed at Mr. Eglinton's seances, including materialisations.
Among various things the following is narrated :— " Mr. Eglinton suddenly called for a card.
While Professor Rice still held the card in his hand, the medium told him to tear off a corner
for identification, which he did. Then he seized the torn card, and opened a book, placing the
card so that we saw both sides were unwritten on, closed the book, and asked Professor
Rice to place his ear on it and listen. 'Do you hear the pencil writing' 'Yes,' said Rice.
On opening the book there was the card written full, signed by a dead friend of Mr. Rice.
This all took place under absolutely test conditions."
On another occasion, writing to the Banner of Light, Mr. Lakey gives the subjoined
account: "This is Sunday night; Mr. Eglinton has been to church, and his invisible attendants
rapped assent occasionally to the utterances of the preacher—sometimes dissent. An hour
ago we sat in the parlour talking over these wonderful manifestations of the immortal life.
The white cambric curtains were drawn, but the blinds were not all closed. From without the
gaslight drifted into the room. There were myself, wife, daughter, and this wonderful medium.
He sat about eight feet from us, just across a passage of light which came in from the street.
We had been talking of our dead ' '
we heard the quick breathing that indicates trance.
In just a moment there was a white cloud around the medium, whose hands and face we could
see, as he had no cabinet or curtain of any kind. Then advanced a female form, clad in white
robes. She came forward to where the passage of light was ; she seemed self-illuminated.
Then she vanished. We sat in silence at the very gateway of the eternal city. In a few
moments there came another form, not so tall, marvellously beautiful, for we could see her
face in the light. She came close to us, and then vanished. Then ' Daisy,' one of the
medium's guides, gave us a beautiful address, and said her good-bye. I should have stated
that the second form was draped in glorious white. Here was materialisation truly, beyond
any possibility of doubt. I cannot write more. I can say, however, that believers must stand
by this medium. He has wonderful powers; he is real, he is true."
Mr. Stephen Massett, the celebrated newspaper correspondent " Jeems Pipes, of Pipesville,"
gave a long account of some remarkable seances in the Daily Evening Post of New York ; and
the same gentleman also introduced him to Madame Anna Bishop, the once celebrated singer,
who had long been a Spiritualist. New York friends vied with each other in making his stay
a happy one. Amongst these may be specially mentioned Mrs. Upham, the Hon. J. L.
O'Sullivan, Miss FitzMaurice, Prof. Kiddle, Judge Cross, and Mrs. Billing, to which charming
lady and wonderful medium he owes much. Perhaps what was the most descriptive account
of his American seances appeared in the New York Tribune, written by the editor, a critical and
persistent investigator. For a daily paper of so much power as the one just mentioned to
devote a column and a half to a narration of Spiritualistic phenomena is surely a sign of the
times, even for America.
Calls from home on urgent business, however, once again compelled him to say " goodbye
" to the many warm friends he had here, as in every quarter of the globe, gathered around
him, and he sailed for the Mother Country on May 14th. Many came to the steamer to see
him off, and the saloon was one vast flower garden, filled with the choicest offerings of friends
known and unknown.