The practice of materialization mediumship is an unusual advancement which because of its difficulty and rarity invites fraud by those without the skill to do this work authentically. As an investigative reporter for the New York Sun the author is a man of great diligence and skill who found a legitimate family plying such skills in a remote part of Vermont. His careful and thorough observations leave little doubt of what went on during these séance sessions.
A glance at the table of contents gives a sense of the wide-ranging complexity that developed during his investigation. Initially he found that because of the low-lighting needed it was difficult for a first time observer to make accurate observations and conclusions. He spent a long time doing a first rate job both at the site and in follow-up research.
As early as 1857, the Faculty of Harvard University pronounced the opinion that “any connection with spiritualistic circles, so called, corrupts the morals, and degrades the intellect;” and they even had the effrontery to say that they deemed it “their solemn duty to warn the community against this contaminating influence, which surely tends to lessen the truth of man, and the purity of woman.” So clearly most scientists were not about to do their job by doing the necessary field work. If the Eddy family ventured into the community they would run into crowd mobbings, beatings, bullets and all manner of hostilities from disbelievers.
“I breathed not a word of my purpose to write for the newspaper, and left the place without having had a single opportunity to draw out their side of the story from the Eddys, the public has reason to admit that in saying what I did in their favor I was at least actuated by no feelings of partiality.”
This work was not written from the spiritualistic standpoint. It is intended to show the progressive reflections of a mind (unbiased, of ordinary intelligence, anxious for the truth at any cost of preconceptions or prejudices), which is brought into relations with a series of unfamiliar and striking phenomena. It aims neither to display the trained shrewdness of the juggler, the profundity of the scientific investigator, nor the acuteness of the police detective; but to reflect the careful and patient method of the average layman, whose sole object is to get at the facts, that he may have the means of forming an opinion for himself upon matters for which he finds no explanation at the usual sources of knowledge.
Since the spiritualistic movement had acquired such force and breadth that it could not be stayed, the author asks “how long must we wait for the wise men to tell us how we can enjoy the communion of the saints, and escape the assaults of the powers of darkness?” We cannot remain ignorant, for we must forge onward. What is at stake clarity of the immortality of the soul of man,
Author(s): Henry Steel Olcott
Year: 1875
Language: English
Pages: 450
Tags: Religion;Philosophy;Metaphysics;Spiritualism;Mediums;Seances;Spirit communication;Materialization Mediumship Esoteric wisdom;Mystical teachings;New Age;Spirituality
CONTENTS
Preface
1. THE EDDY FAMILY.
Chittenden.—Its people.—First impressions.—Self-expose of the Eddys.—The Author’s reception.—History of the family.—The mother.—Hereditary witchcraft.—Children hired out as mediums.—Cruelties practised upon them.—The Homestead.
2. THE EDDYS AS PUBLIC MEDIUMS.
Cruelty of tests applied.—Horatio’s diary.—Rope-tying.—Representation of every phase of mediumship.—Wonderful stories of the Eddy family.—Their present condition.—Indoor view.
3. PERSONAL MATTERS.
The Author’s position.—Impertinent people.—Letters received.—Evidence of wide-spread interest in Spiritualism.
4. A MOONLIGHT SEANCE.
Surroundings of the Eddy Homestead.—Its visitors.—Honto’s cave.—An out-door seance.—Indian ghosts.—San turn’s grave.—An Editor’s ghost.—No footprints left.
5. PORTENTS AND MARVELS.
Trials of mediums.—Magnetism and mesmerism.—Universal belief in spirits.—Ancient mediums.—Animals as mediums.—Three wise men at sea.—Hostility of the church.—The Phantom Carriage.—Death portents.—Other marvels.
6. WONDERS IN THE EDDY FAMILY.
Living three lives.—Shadow of the father.—The lady on the white horse.—Story of Miranda Eddy.—Francis Lightfoot Eddy.—A child’s death averted.—Records of warnings and portents.—The Spinning Ghost.
7. A CHAPTER OF FEET AND INCHES.
The Author takes an observation.—Infallible investigators.—Scientific skepticism.—Character of the Eddy phenomena.—Spirit-forms.—The Circle-Room.—Its inside and surroundings.—Thorough examinations.
8. MATERIALIZATION.
Its history.—Salem witchcraft.—Immediate cause of the Eddy materializations.
9. THE FIRST SEANCE.
Opening of the circle-room.—The first seance.—The Author’s visit—Music at seances.—First ghost, an Indian squaw.—The beating heart.—Indians and whites.—Children and grown persons.
10. MANY PHANTOM VISITORS.
Bright Star, Daybreak, Santum and other Indian ghosts.—Spirit of Col. Reynolds, of Utica. N. Y., brother and nephew.—Wm. Brown, over 6 feet high.—A Hartford family reunited.—Baby ghosts.—Spirit dissolves.—Imperfect materialization.
11. ARE THEY PERSONATIONS?
12. IS IT AN OCCULT FORCE?
Closest investigation demanded.—Spontaneous generation.—Psychology and Mind-reading.—Many questions. -—A light-circle.—The baby-hand.—Mystery of mysteries.—Whence comes the power?
13. FULL OF STRANGE THINGS.
Responsibility of Scientists.—A social dance.—Little Charlie.—A German spirit.—Ten spirits measuring heights—Table of time.—The malicious barber.—The smoking squaw.—Two voices at once.—Disappointed visitors.—Independence of the Eddys.
14. THE DARK-CIRCLE.
Mayflower’s story.—The Sailorghost.—A Hurly-burly.—A strong test.—Wonderful result.—A musical performance.—A Clairvoyant’s view.—A multitude of spirits.
15. PHILOSOPHICAL TESTS.
Ringing a table gong.—Ten spirits at a seance.—A light-circle.—Card writing.—Picture drawing.—Heights of the spirits.—The scale test.—Weighing Honto.—A spirit’s explanation.—Discoverers ridiculed.
16.STARTLING PHENOMENA.
A good test.—A spirit orator.—Strength of spirits tested.—The ring test.—Spirits welding copper.—Eccentric habits as tests.
17. A CHAPTER OF MARVELS.
Responsibility of the Author.—Spirit of an Arab.—Five Indian spirits.—Weighing spirits.—Diagram of platform.—Seance in another room.—Ground-plan of this room.—Thorough examination.—Shawl manufacturing by Honto.—Spirits of woman and child.—Various spirits.—Mysteries
18. MORE WONDERS.
The Witch of the Mountain.—What a lawyer saw.—A new arrival.—A Russian Lady.—Russian ghosts.—Georgian and Canadian spirits.—Georgian music.—Madame Blavatsky—A merchant’s letters.—Mr. Peebles’ certificate.—Spirits dissolve.—More Arabs.
19. GERMANS, KHOURDS, AND HUNGARIANS.
A dark-circle.—Letters from spirit-children.—A wounded hand.—A Khourdish “Nouker.”—Spear and plumes.—Nine talking spirits.—More shawl making.—Old Mr. Brown.
20. THE DEAD ALIVE.
Spirits.—A relative shocked.—A bogus Lord Byron.—An African juggler.—Wonderful feats.—Tape-climbing.—The horned jugglers of Egypt.—The maiden and lover.—Story of a bull.
21. SPIRITUALISM VS. RATIONALISM.
Forming opinions. —Popular anxiety. —Charmed circles. —Black magic and white. —Cowardly Editors. —Spirit animals 339
22. SPIRITS AS CARRIERS.
Fruits furnished by spirits. —Floral displays. —Stones carried. — Buckle from a Russian grave. —Various spirits 350
23. TESTS CONTINUED.
Honto’s hair examined.—Bell and glass.—No favors shown the Author.—What a Hartford man saw.—Honto plays the organ.
24. PSEUDO-INVESTIGATORS.
Mayflower.—How are these things done?—Spirit-wreaths.—A Dark-circle explained.—Wiseacres.—Ignorance and prejudice of writers.—Effects of investigations.—The Holmes phenomena.—John Brougham’s views—The returned darling.—Value of tests.—The Eddys’ standpoint......: ............ 374
25.THE SHAKERS AS SPIRITUALISTS.
What Mr. Evans says.—Manifestations among the Shakers and Mormons.—Degrees of Spiritualism.—Oneida Community’s report.—Mediums everywhere.
26. SUMMING UP.
The great conflict.—Science and Religion.—Narrative of facts.—Results.—Uses of Spiritualism.—“Murder will out.”—Farewell to Chittenden.
PART II.
THE KATIE KING AFFAIR.
THE COMPTON TRANSFIGURATION.
