THE SEANCE.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 606, 8 September 1909, Page 8

THE SEANCE.

' 1( ,' 'NO; VI AND LABT. 1 ',- . ' WRITING " list of the present series of demon, 1 strataonß'by Sir. 'Bailey, medium, of Me] Bourne, was giVon lasl 'evening. The prin j oipal feature of tho evening's programme wa= i materialisations and .spirit writing. It could not bo called a satisfying demonstration The searching of,tho medium was not considored necessary. Mr. Ba'iloy entered tho gauze cage,, w how a small table had been placed, and "Dr. AVhitcombo" quicUy assumed charge A pencil and some Jooso sheets of paper were placed on tho tablo, and the lights turned off Tho room was ip complete darkness The "control" stated that thp medium was not in the best condition for materialising" purposes, and besought those present to obsorvo the strictest silence, and '"asked that everyono should join 'hands After the singing of a hymn or two the pencil was heard rattling on the tablo, and presently a dim light about as large as a man's hand was seen moving about in the cage where the medium sat It moved with rapidity from one part of tho cage to nnothor. and the movo- { mont reminded one rather of tho flight of a Tofleption cast from a piece of mirror in the hands of a voungster on a sunnyday It was'supposed to be tho materialised hand of c an inhabitant of tho spirit vyorld It's shape was not distinct to tho writer—it was simply la.dab of dull light When it hovered over the tdblo tho pencil rattled, and on several occasions the scratching of a pencil on paper \ could be heard ,- This lasted for about ton minutes At a Jater stage the messages written wore inspected There woro two of them written to two gentlemen present They woro scratchy and badly written, as thqugh the writer had gripped tho end of the 'penou TWtcxt of 1 tho messages' was not startling' One read "We are with you," and "was not signed Tho other contained 'only, the name of the person to whom it was t addressed, and what at a hurrcd glance looked like "father and mothor " That was all r Later on "Professor Denton" delivered an address, and "Dr. Whitcombv" also, spoke The latter wa,s a little disappointed with the "conditions" which had provaded at some of the seances hero Had they been better, ho said, there would have'been better, results On ono Or two occasions during tho evening there waa some deputation v between qiiostioners and tho "controls " Ono quos'tioner said ho had waited five'nights to put a question to "Dr Whitcombe" to test his medical knowledge and see whether the "con- , trol" really was a doctor, but ho was refused permission' ,"Dr Whitcombe" informed him that order was tho first law of Heaven, and ho (tho doctor) was 'not answering questions, , just tfhen { and it was out of order In moving a hearty vote of thanks to Mr Bailey and confidence in tho'geritiinenoSs of tho demonstrations given during tho series of ' seances, Mr. W M'Lean made a spirited reference to unfair attacks made on tho medium, declared his resentment of these and announced his determination to fight t and expose the calumniators of this man » Ho did not object to criticism, or investigation »—ho welcomed it—but he did-protest with ( his utmost power,against cowardly and unreasoning attacks If, afttr tests," a man was snown to be a fraud, 'he' would be amongst the furst to expdso hinl, but 'to accuse a man fraud before e/cn giving him a chance to' show his genuineness—to condemn him in advance and unheard—was unfair and 1 unjust \ Bailey Was no conjurer They had seen for themselves what he could <do j > ' I ,Mr Hermann Lewis expressed tho opinion that it Was the lectures' tjiat had probably aroused > doubts in the minds of the pioss They, were not of that high 'mental order that would have been expected from gentlemen of the standing of tho late Professor Denton and Dr Whitcombe. If the meetings ha,d been, confined to phenomena,* they would have been s more 1 satisfactory The motion was carried without dissent. . It may interest those of our readers who "nave followta the proceedings at these 1 'seances, as reported in The Dominion, <tc learni that ''Professor Denton" and "Dr. 1 Whitcombe" 'both oxpressed satisfaction with l the reports of, the Post" and Tjib Dominion, as being fair and accurate. THAT £100 .CHALLENGE. _; ] PARTIES DISAGREE ' STAKEHOLDER TAKES THE CONJURER'S PLACE It was a heated meeting—very beated'at row stage—yesterday afternoon, when tho parties met to finally consider the conditions of the challenge issued to tho medium, Mr Bailey, of Mefbqurno, by Mr T W Driver, (S vr conjuror, and taken up by Mr W. M Lean, president of the local Association of Spu-itualists- It will bo remembered that Mr Driver's original challenge was abandoned, owing to the"challenger insisting that by the word "witness" ho meant "see It was contended by tho other sido that tho M £™™ fouia not produce tho "apports" TOtn the hghts on, and.so it was not possible for Mr. Driver to "witness" tho demonstration in the manner stipulatod.by him Ibis challenge was therefore abandoned, and'a new pne substituted, providing for stripping, , searching, etc. Tho test conditions for this second challenge were to have been *oitsjdered at yesterday's mooting, the suggested testa as,drawn up M'Lcan's solicitor Ming' published in that day's Dominion .The meeting was attended by Messrs WLean dnd 'Driver, representatives of tho threeidiily paper's, Mr Beero (Mr M'Lean's eoitttor), and a shorthand writer ' Tbere wis'trouble from the outset, Mr M Leah wanted* three seances, at any one of which the stipulated "apports'" 1 could be prodTioW, Mr Driver'held out for only ono , Mr M'Lean claimed that at $6 previous meeting three seances wero agreed on and the dates fixed, and was supported by tho members of tho press in this contention but Mr. Dnvqr would have ono seance orilv or none , ''Then Mr M'Lean's 'anger, burst forth There, he'said, they hdd had. .these people coming forward with their challenges, land attacking this man, and then when faced wrtjutho chance of exposure they backed down and'showed the white feather , ' Mr Driver indignantly denied this Ho .stood, he said, by his cr;gipal challenge Mr M'Eoan You simply challenged rte to'allow you to -witness the demonstration three times Then you would do it Yon are simply backing down and showing tho white' feather It is simply a quibble + , Mr Driver It-is not''a'quibble, sir Mr iMLean I accept yqui original challenge ' ' ' t , Mr Driver. I challenge yqu on that My monoy is up ' , »r Af^r furthcr jP as Wges of a like naturo Mr M'Lean said that if Mr Driver would apologise to tho medium and say that ho Mr Driver (rising heatedly)' Hqw dare you say that sir I I will not be insulted by you— t, Mr M'Lean 1 Then I say you have maligned this man and called *him a trickster, and refuse him the 'chanco to prove you wrong. Subsequently Mr M'Lean spoko with sqme> Warmth of tho treatmoht accorded tho medium Hp had been attacked* and challenged, and when the challengo was takon up the other side backed down faero was the spectacle of three leading daily rows, papers, together with £wo medical gontlemcn? and a professional conjurer combined agiinst the medium, and the ohallenger was ■ afraid to nsk the money Ho said to them ncv as men oithor go on, or apologiso to this man. and say he is no trickster After further disputation, during which Mr Driver insisted on tho "apports" being produced at one scanco only, vvhilo Mr M'Lean persisted in 'his contention that throo seances were agreed on, Mr Driver, at Mr M'Lcan's request, withdrew, and the matter, so far as Mr Driver waft concerned, ended, Mr however, boforahis with--drarial, hinted that ho intended to lot tho pjib'ic know "how it was done lf Mr/ M'Lean then asked if tho papers would p oocel with tie chillengc, and referred SiMialh to our morning contenlporary, t i (If, ''o said, had called tho imcdium a t I I . Vcr ilii,"iniion, Mr M'Lean said ho i iiill ohf thfr lmount at stiko if desiral t i. tv'.lli tit'cditei of oui morning ion-

temporary j'-'sajd-'ho'-'.wdui.d: tak.e;;upf[ttie\cKullengo,'b'n...;behalf.of his;paper;for■ -on'e-tliird of;.Uie.;SUm ,j\li*;i"Driver's:, dtialto' l iis■ 'ajroady 'drawn-..up! by Mr. 1 :, Bcbr'o -:(as published .in;. The 'Dominion of 'yestor'da'y).- Ho any of tlio:condi- ■ tiona;'in:/tHp';;sliglitost.';;;: ■-, "■".-. ! '-!;V;i»f'•;";.'.•', /.:!.'.' ; ditio'ns ... :Thby' .wbrp'riibt; llio .-cbiijlK tions..; stipiulated; by", bun .v.'■'•'; He; .v particularly, objected.^o''the.condition which'•ipsistetl:on' .TOeJpfodiictiqni';»f;anVapimate/.WsViv^ll\iis. : -an' inariimatbi;.,; : ' 'apport. "■ i. -^Eventually).'; -h o.w-■'Mhbugli-Vhfr'admitted, taking :rißks;in;thbp,matter-'<)iving. •tb'.hot i boing:'giyen.'a ; medirim!s; !, 'cbntf<)lsU'' He: their v thb-'iriattei;.'\ ; 'v f ';. :'.' '-_' ;;i : _Thoi..exDlanatibV?'bf' the r.-Indian'^jugglers' .trick's;;Which''has;loiig .;baffled '-.the vk'eenest :bbserveri>recently" attracted -xonsiderablo at-' ten , tioricinVthb>'."lllustr'ated, LbhabiriNews.". 0r..., Andrew, -'Wilson ;has ; igiv.en;'a : ..yvy.'reaaoii-', -ablo;'splutipp' ; He:saySi,';'-'h;lßM.':a';friendVf,riiine was:on -the .point ~bf;»"leavirig' Calcutta, ..when.:some iiitive jugglers'jcairie I bii'■ board the -steamer \ ; to: give' an:. exhibitibri' of '. their • powers. : The .surri^dirigs"'. ; for;..the: ; perfp'rmance. ; ;bf' 'anything' -Vut.- B^.very ■dexterpusJtrickjS.'aridi-tbe;; mtirigo'' exhibitfq'n was'; ; -giv,en •^n^he'-birbjdeck. 1 ;;';.- :';'•' ;';-;,''. Me'ri9;i.t?asTiio",^ .'mehtj[of ~'a.': under Ja'.jrbbe'jrv. : -\ '' :.' /'; He7plac'ed;;befbr'b;him; '■'■ first 'of :ll,at;;.^^tive.fl'.wibker-^br.ti'basketi.Vsuch;' as' ■snakesKa'reiical'ried'; in. "v::TKis- 'was .filled: With -earth:-:.; Aymiingo^seed.:was then : produced. 'K :^asVa''.v^ry.UargeVbne^a fpbirii;: this, oi follbks—and '.was;, duly vplaced ;in" ; thfl;'earihV'aiid Ibbvefed ;PP;;:' "the 'basket small .cottoK'bloth.' :lhen': thai. Usual'; ihutterings: : .'and' i 'in-' f.antatibns;'V'^^.^ile;:,"the.' k Mba'r'£h' v .'. was,'.;, again sprinkled {with-swaterjaridr'stirred .with .the fingers:bfjthe,.flperatbr: r r-After-b'few minutes interval i 'Sth;o i ;;juggler,i r .lifted:,,'the;.clb 'showed'r J wr;.th'e';!spectators;'twb: small'mango ■ le ,K? :»Pp.aring':iabbyb>? thb',;Surface J 'bf:i.hb: ?fethV.;' -Tfe,^i(skefr ( ;iWas:;t'ncevtobre-'cbyerey : fiPyiwe) watetihgV'bf.'ithei v earth':and;jihb>'in- ; . .caritMbnsiprbceededpM ; W i? e RJ fMvR.W'' 1 a mango pldht.,7!n.;.vor:°Bim*,^ leayes,: wa's .disclp'Sed^talTie*'..: :Af ter. '. anotjieir' ;sMaiing'm J3™-. '••"ghi ltin&'tez.ring' seyen'or/eight leaves.-: ■■ biid^d;';?..'.'.,.' ' ■■.... < ! :^Wioßity:-iTOs.f:Tife,.- : of,'' : course, i regarding' f h ;ahd• Ymy ■ •^>?M;;i:arixibus;.to;.ldibw"how!tie;-tribl?-. Was pbrf > the': juggldr■ a good round • Bum'^of,xmpri6y.;;for-;the';disclqsure'. of'Jhis : sen^^toireyealVhis'-art,,.stipulating ithat'his : reyelatioh'; should b'b'b'onducted' : in'a;'sebluded'-. PE9*-Vs^^i4H a hin'-bri;:the^ship.was'/off'ered'.arid : acceptbrt.'asVa'.suitable';place/: arid ."the .juggler . a . n # m y.;.f™ftH; rehired, thereto'-'.' The .basket' was-'pr.epared as b'efore; ! 'arid'<the'mango 'seed waj; handed ground-. •■;' ■It'-;^as ) '-"as';befbre,.-.'a s On r :its>:beihg the' - : iuggler.vhe'pressedi'brio ."end of "the .'seed 'with' '. to , seed opened.' l rwpv ; '.s.'nVall r :leaves,:;thosev'fir'stt seen'- m ;,thb; ': defckytrick, flWere Uhenli.withdrawn'.Jfi'om-the '• se_ed ( ,-ahd ;next:in; : brder;came' : fbfth-the -stem; jnm«fonr 5 ?S3?f^t.h6iSMd>beforeitheV eyes 'of, !the:' sped;' tawrs-;..' .Xhs.;se'ed "was,'-in.,fact;ca'hollbWioheV JM,*heKyourig.; ; plan't:;had i beeni : dexterously;/ : folding^thevjplaritfiriside.":the■ *see'd ; ;which::cbii" '■ bf: ; theSirick:'■': ■'■W i 's:»<*, '