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

CHAPTER
IV.
WORK IN LONDON, THE PROVINCES, AND ABROAD.
T intervals, during the progress of these sittings for experimental research,
Mr. Eglinton visited various provincial towns, giving seances with more or
less success. In May, 1876, he went to Manchester, causing a good deal of
controversy and promoting inquiry. The following month Southsea was
visited, remarkable phenomena occurring in his presence whilst there. The
results were recorded in the spiritual and local press at the time by the
Rev. T. Colley (now Archdeacon Colley). On one occasion {Spiritualist, June 2nd, 1S76),
he says of the levitation of solid objects in the light :— " We have just had a remarkable
sitting with Mr. Eglinton, round a very small table, in light sufficient to see one another, our
hands in view. Our circle was composed of three ladies, a clergyman, and a medical gentleman.
The direct voice of ' Joey,' the spirit, spoke to us, and a spectral hand was seen to take up
a roll of paper and float it about, touching one and another, and afterwards to take it out of
the circle, and let it fall on the dining-table. Then it was suddenly snatched up, and lightly
'
chastised ' us, startling us not a little, for it was a strange sight to see an inanimate object
behaving in such a way ; the medium's hands were in full view on the table. The musical
box was levitated a little. The medium was next entranced, and carried by invisible power
over the table several times, the heels of his boots being made to touch the head of our
medical friend. Then he was taken to the further end of the dining-room, and finally, after
being tilted about as a thing of no weight whatever, was deposited quietly in his chair. It
was a strange matter to witness, and made us fearful lest the power should fail, and the
medium fall."
The medical gentleman referred to is Dr. Malcolm, and at one of the recent Conversaziones
of the London Spiritualist Alliance, after an interval of nine years, Mr. Eglinton was much
gratified to learn from Mrs. Malcolm that their experience at this time had been the means
of converting them to a belief which had been tenaciously held ever since. " Cast thy bread
upon the waters, and it shall return to you after many days," has been the experience of
the subject of my narrative as regards hundreds with whom he has, at various times, come in
contact.
After a heavy season of hard work he took a well-earned rest in the West of England.
Going on to Plymouth in a professional capacity, he gave seances for upwards of three