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

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Private Stances and Spiritualism at Home.
drawing aside the curtain at the end of the cabinet nearest to her. A hand was held out, and
beckoned with the forefinger in that direction. Some of the sitters said, The lady at the end
'
is beckoned.' Mrs. L had by that time recognised the face as her brother-in-law, and the
motion of the finger as his habitual mode of calling any member of his family. She went up
close to the face, and exclaimed, ' You are Hammond.' The head bowed, and the face smiled.
The likeness was complete ; and when the smile was expressed by the tension of skin over hollow
and bony cheeks, the recognition appeared almost absolute. In life Mr. Hammond had lost his
left eye; in this image of the living man the right eye was wanting. It has been said that I did
not recognise a likeness until the profile was presented. I was not then aware that in his last
illness Mr. Hammond had his moustache and beard cut very short. That, with the wasted
features, prevented an earlier recognition. In profile the features were more pronounced, and
were accordingly at once recognised by me. This appearance was the fulfilment of a promise
given to Mrs. L during Mr. Hammond's last illness, to 'come if it were possible.'"
On the 19th April, Mr. Eglinton started on his second visit to the Hague. The seances,
reported at the time by Mr. A. J. Riko, were eminently successful, and were attended by
persons of the highest social rank. There, as almost everywhere, he gave the fullest
satisfaction.
As an instance of the estimate in which his mediumship was held at that time, I may here
quote an extract from the Fourth Annual Report of the B.N.A.S., issued in May, 1878:
" Turning now to the work of the Seance Committee, we find that the inquirers' circles have been
continued throughout the year with the desired results ; that is to say, under strict test
conditions, subject to the scrutiny and expressed approval of the strangers present, and held in a
moderate degree of light, certain simple physical manifestations have been produced, generally of the
most satisfactory and convincing nature. The medium has been Mr. W. Eglinton, who has always
shown the utmost willingness to submit to any test which has been proposed, and has, we believe,
in all cases left the impression of his perfect good faith, and of the genuineness of the manifestations
produced in his presence, on the mind of all witnesses. These seances have been attended by
one hundred and thirty-five strangers, besides about the same number of members."
In May, 1878, he received a cordial invitation from Dr. B. T. Hutchinson, of Cape Town, South
Africa, to pay him a visit. He had already decided to make a tour of the world, and as this
seemed a fitting opportunity to carry out the plan, he accepted Dr. Hutchinson's invitation. Prior
to leaving England, he went to Malvern for a short rest, and while there marvellous phenomena
occurred, amongst which was the materialisation of spirits in the open air.
The recorder is Mr. A. Hildreth, LL.B., son of the American historian, and some time
American Consul at Trieste. I quote his narratives in extenso.
I.
On June 10th, 1878, at about ten o'clock, p.m., I was sitting with a friend of mine (Mr. Eglinton)
and another gentleman, in the drawing-room of Aldwyn Tower, Malvern, the then residence of
Dr. and Mrs. Nichols. Raps came in different parts of the room, and the message was spelled
out " Watch and wait." The medium became entranced and walked the room with energy.