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

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CHAPTER XIV.
GENERAL TESTIMONY TO PSYCHOGRAPHY.
SHALL now concern myself for the most part in dealing with the evidence on
record for the reality of Psychography. This is abundant, both as regards
quantity and quality, and, taken en bloc, forms a difficult nut for the sceptic
to crack. I shall leave the reader to decide whether it is probable that
all my witnesses are deceived or deceivers, or whether it is more credible
that in these matters they have used the same common sense which
otherwise regulates their daily lives, and that they record the facts just as they occurred.
The first case I shall quote is narrated by Mr. A. H. Louis, barrister-at-law :— " A
blank card being placed between two slates was held by Mr. Eglinton and myself, a crumb of
lead pencil being placed with the card. After a lapse of, certainly not more than half a
minute, we found that the card was inscribed with matter of the utmost significance to me
relating to the most important part of what I must call the work of my life, as I shall
hereafter take an opportunity to show. On the top part of the card was a roughly drawn
map of the American and European continents, with a cross surmounting a small sphere. On
the lower part was figured two isosceles triangles ; these triangles were filled with minute
writing, too minute for deciphering ; a few words, however, could be read, from which the
purport of the whole could be gathered, that purport being, that a sign was there intended to
be given of mystical import, having reference to labour and motive of Masonic significance.
At the foot of the card was the signature of initials, and a date,
'
G. W., 1799.' All I can,
or may, or will say here is that these initials are those of the name of George Washington,
the first of American Masons, and the date was the year of his death."
Another experience of Mr. Louis' follows naturally on that just stated. Both took place
in the full light :
" Being alone with Mr. Eglinton, having come for an evening's conversation
without any idea of having any experiences, and after we had been more than an hour
together, he said that he felt impressed that we were to sit for written communications.
Placing a crumb of slate pencil between two slates and both of us holding these, writing
'
immediately began. Joey ' first gave his own name, and, in reply to my earnestly-expressed
wish that a dear young friend, ignorant of these experiences, should be brought within this
region, ' Joey ' wrote that it should be so soon if
'
they '
get within his influence.
Immediately afterwards he wrote that
'
Ernest ' wished to write.' A crumb of pencil was
again placed between the slates, and we immediately heard writing proceed with great vigour,