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Experimental investigation of the spirit manifestations, [electronic ...

Experimental investigation of the spirit manifestations, [electronic ...

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THE EXISTENCE OF SPIRITS. 47It was uiulor <strong>the</strong>se conditions, that <strong>the</strong> table, in three successive trials, cameover toward mo and went back to its normal position.191. It did not slam down quickly, when on arriving at such a position,as to make it impossible for <strong>the</strong> ladies to resist its far<strong>the</strong>r descent; butdescended gently, rising slowly in recovering its usual upright position.102. I called one morning at <strong>the</strong> dwelling <strong>of</strong> a medium to whom ullusionhas been made more than once in my narrative. I sat down at a tablewith <strong>the</strong> medium, her fa<strong>the</strong>r, and a gentleman who accompanied me. Iinquired if any <strong>of</strong> my <strong>spirit</strong> friends were present: <strong>the</strong> table tilted negatively.Will <strong>the</strong> <strong>spirit</strong> give its initials through <strong>the</strong> alphabetic card V''In reply <strong>the</strong> letters M C were indicated. My companion, whose attentionhad been withdrawn, on hearing <strong>the</strong> result, said: ^' They are <strong>the</strong> initials <strong>of</strong>my daughter's name ;" exclaiming, ^'llari'a, are you here ? "193. The table tilted in <strong>the</strong> affirmative, vivaciously, as if <strong>the</strong> daughter'sheart were in <strong>the</strong> movement.194. Maria proving to be a sprightly <strong>spirit</strong>, a lively conversation ensued.I inquired if she could not work my apparatus;she answered through <strong>the</strong>card, "//! is impossible for a <strong>spirit</strong> to work your apparatus ; I ain verysorry." I replied that evidently it was not impossible, since it had beenactuated by <strong>spirit</strong>s successfully several times.^'You mean to say,^' Iadded, '' that it is difficult.^' To this she replied affirmatively by threetilts <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> table.195. As through <strong>the</strong> influence <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> medium, who sat at <strong>the</strong> table withus, communications had been received through my apparatus several times,<strong>the</strong> alphabet arranged from a state <strong>of</strong> disarrangement, and names speltout by <strong>the</strong> revolution <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> disk, it cannot be imagined that <strong>the</strong> mediumcould have influenced <strong>the</strong> alphabetical communications in this instance, since<strong>the</strong> medium, even if prone to deception, would have perceived it ridiculousto allege it impossible to work an apparatus which had on severaloccasions under her influence, proved <strong>the</strong> opposite to be true, in <strong>the</strong> presence<strong>of</strong> her fa<strong>the</strong>r as well as myself196. It has been already mentioned in <strong>the</strong> narrative (164.) that my<strong>spirit</strong> fa<strong>the</strong>r, and <strong>spirit</strong> friend W. W., had alleged that <strong>the</strong>y worked myapparatus with great difficulty when under test conditions, from <strong>the</strong>ir greatdesire to make me a convert to Spiritualism. It was, <strong>the</strong>refore, quiteconsistent that a <strong>spirit</strong>, who had no such powerful motive, should havepreferred to find an apology for not actuating my apparatus, ra<strong>the</strong>r than tohave studied, or sought for <strong>the</strong> means <strong>of</strong> surmounting <strong>the</strong> obstacles.197. As all <strong>the</strong> <strong>manifestations</strong>, observed on this occasion, were by <strong>the</strong>tilting or partial lifting <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> table, I urged <strong>the</strong> <strong>spirit</strong> to aid me in obtaininga test that <strong>the</strong>se <strong>manifestations</strong> came not from <strong>the</strong> medium, but fromherself, a <strong>spirit</strong>. I immediately procured from a basket which I had previouslybrought to <strong>the</strong> premises, a brass ball, turned truly spherical, like abilliard ball, and a plate <strong>of</strong> zinc which had been ground quite true. I

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