SPIRITUALISM EXPOSED

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 231, 8 October 1901, Page 1

SPIRITUALISM EXPOSED

A LADY MEDIUM UNDER TEST. A TALE OF HUMBUG. )• “We are of opinion that the medium has completely failed to substantiate her claim to Y the power to produce supernormal phenomena, and that the few trivial occurrences recorded, which were represented by her as being of spirit origin, were deliberately prok duced by her, and by her only.—(Signed) E. Feilding, W. W. Baggally, Ernest Stolleby (chairman).” The above is part of a signed statement . which appeared the London Referee in an article by Mr Christie Murray, under the penname of “ Merlin,” on the result of the committee's investigation into certain socalled spiritualistic seances. The committee was appointed by the Referee at the latter end of July in answer to a gentleman styling himself “ A Searcher After Truth,” who offered to submit to a Eerious test a lady medium who had already produced manifestations which had perfectly satisfied Professor Rochet, oi Paris. After five sittings or test seances tho Referee has styled the whole thing as an impudent imposture. Mr J. N. Maskelyne and a well-known Church dignitary were also on the committee, but retired at the outset on account of certain conditions not being complied with. At the first sitting on August 1 the medium was carefully searched by a committee of ladies, and then secured within the cabinet. Members of the circle were searched, provided with special garments, firmly secured to their chairs, and fastened to each other by the wrists. All lights were put out except a small red dark-room lamp, and soft music was diffused by an invisible band. The medium at once became very busy trying to loosen the padlocks and fastenings with which she was secured, and her deep breathing showed that she was exerting considerable force. This was proved later when the fastenings were examined and found to be open by a third of an inch. Nothing was done on this occasion. The members of tho circle said that the rapport between themselves and the medium was not yet complete, and promised better results at the next sitting. NOTHING BUT NOISE. At the second sitting tuggings and rattlings were heard similar to the first seance, but at an instant noted by the members of the ■ committee there was an interval of complete silence, followed by a sound as of rubbing cloth on wood. The committee state that to their belief the sound was caused by the medium trying to get her arm free. A faint click like the snapping of a pair of scissors was then heard, followed by a cry of alarm from the medium—an ejaculated “Oh !” The sitter then declared that some person was in the cabinet with her, and that a heavy hand holding some hard substance was being pressed on her scalp. One of the committee then entered the cabinet, and reported that a padlock was moved from its original place near the right elbow of the medium, and had been found attached to her hair by a long tortoiseshell hairpin.

On examination it was seen that the padlock had been unlocked, but the spirit had not been able to look it again, and it was hanging loose from the pin. The medium could reach her hair easily, and it was proved that the padlock could be opened with a scarfpin. At the third seance, held on August 9, no manifestations of any kind were made. The only note taken that evening was “ N.P.— N.P,” which read “New Padlocks—No Phenomena.” Bicycle padlocks were used, which were carefully sealed at each end, and the medium’s hairpins removed. At the fourth sitting a metallic sound was heard, and the medium said a cold blast was blowing on her left hand. Her wedding ring and keeper were found on the floor at the close of the seance.

At'the fifth sitting nothing but a loud and vigorous knocking was heard, the arms of the medium were encased in kainptullcon, closed at one end with a drumhead of silk, making play with the fingers impossible. THE HUMBUG ENDS. After three-quarters of an hour the medium pleaded faintness, and the humbug was ended. The committee do not question the honesty of the promoter of the seance, but think he was deceived from the beginning. Professor Rochet, of Paris, had never heard of the manifestations which were said to have pleased him so. The lady medium was said to be a person of means, and one who had dabbled in spiritualism, because she believed in it. It was afterwards diseoved that she was a professional spiritualist, and had been one for many years.

Mr Maskelyne's statement that spiritualism is all fraud has clearly not been disproved by these experiments.