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

CHAPTER VII.
SOUTH AFRICAN EXPERIENCES.
AVING decided to visit the Cape, Mr. Eglinton made the necessary arrangements,
and left London on July 5th, 1878, en route for Dartmouth. This
was thought to be a fitting occasion on which to present him with a
testimonial, in slight recognition of the esteem in which he was held by all
who had had relations with him, and of the value of his services for the
cause of Spiritualism. A meeting was therefore held at the Beethoven Rooms,
Harley Street, on July 2nd, and a large and fashionable audience assembled to do him
honour. A handsome testimonial, in the shape of a purse of money, was presented to him ;
and in the course of the evening, Miss Emily Kislingbury, secretary of the B.N.A.S.,
observed that she would be omitting a great duty if she allowed the opportunity to pass
without giving her testimony to the work Mr. Eglinton had achieved. Though not
speaking officially, she wished to give public testimony to Mr. Eglinton's integrity. Spiritual
phenomena had been observed through his mediumship under the most trying and unfavourable
circumstances ; she alluded to the many sconces which had been given at the rooms of the
National Association, when Mr. Eglinton had been put under the most severe tests, varying
every week, a certain proportion of the sitters being either strangers or inquirers into the subject.
In these respects Mr. Eglinton had given the most perfect satisfaction and had borne all
the very trying remarks and difficult tests with perfect good humour. From time to time
most striking proofs had been afforded of the agency of unseen powers, and a great number
of persons had been convinced through the opportunities thus afforded. In concluding her
remarks, Miss Kislingbury said :
" I have much pleasure in tendering my personal thanks
for the very kind manner in which Mr. Eglinton has acted on private and other occasions."
A large company of friends assembled at Paddington on the morning of the 5th July,
to bid him " God speed." He went to Torquay, en route, and was the guest of an old
friend, Mr. W. T. Rossiter, who reported a few seances in the Spiritualist of July 19th. On
the occasion in question, he was entertained by the Mayor of Dartmouth, who very kindly
accompanied him on board the Balmoral Castle.
Cheered by the presence of several West of England friends, he left England on the
morning of the 12th July. The voyage was a very eventful one for him, there being on board
a man who had had a sitting with him in London, and who prejudiced his fellow-passengers
against him by spreading rumours that were absolutely untrue. Madeira was reached on the