The Death-Blow to Spiritualism Part 12

"MR. SELLERS. Are there seven members of the Committee present?

"Three raps.

"MR. SELLERS. Are they all seated around one table?

"No response. About forty seconds elapse.

"MR. SELLERS. Are they seated at two tables?

"Three raps--quite feeble.

"MR. SELLERS (to his a.s.sociates). We still must go back to the one thing.

The information we receive through these responses is of little importance to us compared with the information which we must obtain as to whether these sounds are produced by a disembodied Spirit or by some living person; that is, in deference to the 'Medium.' (To Mr. Furness.) Do you not think so?

"Mr. Furness is understood to a.s.sent.

"MR. SELLERS. We have tried the gla.s.s tumblers. We have the sounds here. I would ask Mrs. Kane if it is proper for us to look below the top of the table at the time the sounds are being produced, and in such a way as to see her feet.

"The 'MEDIUM.' Yes, of course, you could do that, but it is not well to break, when you are standing, suddenly. As you know, you have to conform to the rules, else you will get no rappings.

"MR. SELLERS. What are the rules?

"The 'MEDIUM' (disconnectedly.) The rules are--every test condition, that I am perfectly willing to go through, and have gone through a thousand times--at the same time, there are times when you can break the rules. So slight a thing as the disjoining of hands may break the rules. I do not think the standing on the gla.s.s has been fully tried.

"MR. SELLERS. We will try that later.

"MR. FURNESS (to the 'medium,' informally). This investigation is one of great importance to us. There is no question about it--we have heard these curious sounds. Now as to whether they come from 'spirits' or not--that would seem to be the very next logical step in our inquiry. I think you are entirely at one with us in every possible desire to have this phenomenon investigated.

"The 'MEDIUM.' Oh, certainly. But I pledge myself to conform to nothing, for--as I said in Europe--_I do not even say the sounds are from 'spirits_;' and, what is more, it is utterly beyond human power to detect them. _I do not say they are the spirits of our departed friends, but I leave others to judge for themselves._

"MR. FURNESS. Then you have come to the conclusion that they are entirely independent of yourself.

"The 'MEDIUM.' No, _I do not know that they are entirely independent of myself_.

"MR. FURNESS. Under what conditions can you influence them?

"The response, which was partly inaudible at the reporter's seat, was understood to be: 'I cannot tell.'

"MR. FURNESS. You say that in the generality of cases they are beyond your control?

"The 'MEDIUM.' Yes.

"MR. FURNESS. How in the world shall we test that?

"The 'MEDIUM.' Well, by--

"MR. FURNESS. By--what? Isolating you from the table?

"The 'MEDIUM.' Yes.

"MR. FURNESS (applying his right hand, by her permission, to the 'Medium's' head). Are you ever conscious of any vibration in your bones?

"The 'MEDIUM.' No; but sometimes it causes an exhaustion, that is, under circ.u.mstances when the raps do not come freely.

"MR. FURNESS. The freer the raps come, the better for you?

"The 'MEDIUM.' Yes, the freer the better--the less exhaustion.

"MR. SELLERS. But do you feel now, to-night, any untoward influence operating against you?

"The 'MEDIUM.' No, not to-night, for it takes quite a little while before we feel these things.

"MR. FURNESS. Do these raps always have that vibratory sound--tr-rut--tr-rut--tr-rut?

"The 'MEDIUM.' Sometimes they vary.

"MR. FURNESS. As a general rule I have heard them sound so.

"The 'MEDIUM.' Every rap has a different sound. For instance, when the 'spirit' of Mr. Seybert rapped, if the sound was a good one, you would have noticed that his rap was different from that of another. Every one is entirely different from another.

"MR. FURNESS. Do you suppose that the present conditions are such that you can throw the raps to a part of the room other than that in which you are?

"The 'MEDIUM.' I do not pretend to do that, but I will try to do it.

"Mr. Furness and Dr. Leidy station themselves in the corner of the room, diagonally, and most remote from the pine table, at which their a.s.sociates remain seated, with their hands upon the table, and 'their minds intent on having the raps produced at the corner indicated,' as requested by the 'medium,' who also remains at the table. The 'medium'

asks, '_Will the "Spirit" rap at the other side of the room?_' and, after twelve seconds, and again after forty-three seconds, repeats the inquiry.

_No response is received._ The experiment is repeated with Mr. Furness and Dr. Koenig at the corner, but with a like negative result."

Let us now turn to the experiments made while the "medium" was not in a position in which her feet could touch the floor. The report says:

"Mr. Sellers made this inquiry:

"'It is proposed that the "medium" shall stand upon tumblers. Are we likely to have any demonstration?'

"Three raps--promptly given, though feeble in delivery and but faintly audible.

"The 'MEDIUM.' There were three--a kind of tardy a.s.sent.

"MR. SELLERS (to the 'Medium'). As if the 'Spirits' might or might not communicate?

"The 'MEDIUM.' Well, that a trial might be made.

"Three raps are here again distinctly heard--the characteristics of the sounds in this instance being rapidity and energy, or positiveness.

"The 'MEDIUM.' That is a quick answer.

"At this point, attention is directed to the first of a series of experiments with four gla.s.s tumblers, which are placed together, with the bottoms upward, on the carpeted floor, in the center of a vacant s.p.a.ce.

The 'medium' stands directly upon these, the heels of her shoes resting upon the rear tumblers and the soles upon the front tumblers. The Committee co-operate with the 'medium,' and, in conformity with her suggestions, all the men clasp hands and form a semi-circle in front of the 'medium,' the hands of the latter being grasped by the gentlemen nearest to her on either side.