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

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Twixt Two Worlds.
The communication itself is neither good, bad, nor indifferent, but simply an experimental
message from a spirit, who, at our special request, succeeded in communicating in such a
way that no savant, conjurer, or other person, could, by trying from now till doomsday,
account for the phenomenon on any other than the spiritual hypothesis. Where there was no
confederate, scientific mechanism, or a properly arranged platform or apparatus with secret
machinery, nothing would make the simple apparatus act as I have stated, except guided by
supernatural means. To make the proof even more positive, I subsequently had another seance,
when I asked " Joe}'," the spirit (who I have often seen materialised and speaking to us, with
his medium in view of all at the same time), if he did it. He told me point blank, with a
clear and distinct voice, "Why, certainly I did; who else do yon think it was I did it to
convince yon that spirits can and do communicate with mortals, but there are other ways of doing so
that do not tax the energies of the medium so much "
After the experiment with the dial, we had a short sitting for materialisation, during which
the spirits materialised as far as the waist, floating all over the room, and coming within a few
inches of our faces. The beautiful cross was shown to us all. On several occasions it has been
brought and held for some time against the foreheads of different sitters, who have seen spirit
forms holding it, one on each side. One lady, who had never before witnessed the .spirit forms,
became rather alarmed ; and " Ernest " remarked, quite audibly, that if she were afraid, they
would refrain from manifesting, but parenthetically added that she need not have the slightest
fear, for the cross (alluding to the luminous one we had seen) we had just before been shown
was a sufficient passport ; where that was borne by spirits no harm would befall any of
us. After this the seance went on, and the medium on recovering from his trance, remarked
that he would rest for a short period and then try the dial again, by placing his hand
on it in his normal state, as there were some strange spirits wishing to communicate. This
he did, and becoming partially entranced, he directed the arrow to the following letters,
which being properly grouped made, "/ am Rosina Anna Philippa Henrietta. I died 16 years
ago to-night. Your sister Louisa (I leave out surnames, as I have no permission from
the person who read the message to make it public), afterwards Mrs. , is with me.
Do yon want tests She laid me in my silver and bine coffin ; she is with me, and though two
years have elapsed since she died, I have come back to cheer your lonely hours. I join with her in
sending dear love, and also to E and C-
. Cancer cannot kill her now, and her left breast
is now healed. God is with you." Here ended a most useful test message to a lady present,
who became greatly agitated, and acknowledged everything said to be literally correct.
At one improvised sitting, we received several messages by the aid of the dial, the hand
of the medium directing it. To get messages by direct agency is too trying for the sensitive
;
hence, when his hand is used, it greatly economises power. One message ran, "Yes, I will do as
I am requested. When you write say that there is a probability of his request being carried out.
Your state of mind is our first consideration. We intend giving spirits opportunity to speak in
this simple way." This was understood by one present, who said the message was relevant
to certain questions which had been previously put to the controls. Two or three other spirits
gave full details of their names, ages, and cause of death.
At another seance, also an improvised one, Mr. Eglinton, two ladies (one a medium), and
myself were engaged in a rubber at whist at my house, when, as usual, " Joey " made himself