WALKER, THE MEDIUM.

Inangahua Times, Volume IV, Issue 23, 1 June 1877, Page 3

WALKER, THE MEDIUM.

The lecture* of Mr Walker, the profeised spirit medium, caused a good deal of sensation in Auckland. He is only 19 yeaTspld, bnt he had the wit to seoure a clergyman for bis chairman, and that, too, a clergyman somewhat under the influence of spiritism. The medium professed to bo under the influence of the Roy. John Stewart, and after delivering a grandiloquent and highly unintelligible lecture, had to submit to tbe following ordeal of questions which we find in the local papers. It will be seen that they do not^ believe in the theories of spiiitualists:—The Chairman— Who speaks through you? Is ifc tho Eov. John Stewart? " medium (in a deep solemn tone) : Whdst on earth I was known by that name. The Chairman said it appeared that all that was necessary to obtain spiritual communication waa to place oneself in harmbny with the spirits. He bad prayed and striven for years to set into harmony with them. He had loved one in the otber world, and would do anything to get a single utterance from tlicm lhat be could distinctly recognise,, but id vain. Themedium said that if a man d r cd of thirst in a desert, it was no proof that there was no water. Tlie.o were certain inexorable laws which must be nndcistfiod and complied with. «■ Me T. L. White asked wbelher the spirit of the Rev. Stewart was fami'iar with the works of Andrew Jackson Davis. Ho complimented the medium on his pplondid memory of Andrew Jackson Davis' works. The Medium— Tbe man (lint insinuates j tbat tbe medium has spoken in the sitae j form as Andrew Jackson Duis wrote, only insinuates au unlr-yntb. (Sensation, and erie« of '• White, wJiy don't you knock him doTrn ? ") Mr. White said he would be able to show by putting the sen'ences in parallel columus that there was a remarkable resemblance. (Laughter.) A gentleman— Are you iv a trance state now? The Medium saul some oi the senses were at rest, but others were active. Rev. Mr Pee asked wliy the spirit of Rer. Stewart (lid not use the Medium's eyes, as well as his ears and hands. The Medium said it was to giro the Medium slrep. Mr. John M'Leod denied tint there was any resem Wat.cc between tbe lcctwe and the writing of Andrew Jaek«on Davis. In reply toother questions, tiic Medium said :— " We" havesomcth'll3 belter (bait Cristianity, if by that was meant its creeds and tormalaries. They oould only, supplement the New 'i l estamont. The Chairman asked how he was to get into a proper state for spiritual communi* cation. The Medium said Mr li'd^ar should £0 lo the Palestine of Spiritualist's. tTiio -Chairman snid tliat lie had beeu under the impre-aiou tbat spirits wove not confined to any particular splici'e. In reply to a (est question ns lo Mr Peebles's a.^e, &c, tbe medium replied that as he was not acquainted with Ilia individual named, lie could not tel!. . (Great laughter.) Mr Colemftu sii I thn t lie had been :. ; desired to ask w r ial we;-e 1110 it-cesspry , k conditions for spiritual conrnu'iieaifou? \ The Medium— Tlio devclojiemeut of : peculiar facul: ies, wliic'i would l>c better . In some than other-, a pi < ive tempeiM nee. Mr Montrose asked wliei.iier the fcjvrits in their alleged comiiiujrealion with uioi*tals, were subject to nny uysLem of gover/i* ment ? The Medium snid lint if.l'io invc'ili.rca- ► tions wore orderly, tbo com munication s would be sOi Mr Montrose desired fo know if spiri.'s were allowed to come at « ill. The Medium— Ye*, Mr Montrose asked if the snirils crcr deceifedmenin tbfiv com tnonica liens. The Mediam said that bad men would attract similar spirits, nnd tlms falso communi cations would be the resultMr Montrose— Tlren am I to understand that the Almighty allows men io be deliberately deceived on Ibis all-imporbnl; question, by Spiritual influences which men cannot control, and by communications, the truth. or falsehood of which be may often be without metfnsof delecting. How did the Medium account for all the nonsense and lies which emanated from alleged spirit communications P Mr Walker said that liars who went to the other world did the mischief. Rev. Fee said presuming tint the Rev. Stewart was an educated man, how, did the Medium account for all the bad English and faulty pronouncation he had uttered. The Medium said the spirits merely used the Medium's tongue, tbey operated upon bim from wi bout, but the words were the Medium's own. Mr Justice Gillies— Have the answer? been thoso of Mr Walker or those of the spirit ? I ask thia, for I observed tbat the action of none of the senses, not even \ those of the eyes, havo been suspended. ■ In the one case, I should have to think Mr Walker for his admirable lecture, but 1 wish for a plain answer to this question, ns it may havo to be answered in another place. , A Mr Walker— We assure you that in % the state of -tbef medium, we impressed upon him our thoughts. If you give the credit to the medium, you are at liberty to do so. Mr Luckio — Is it to bo understood wben you use tbe plural number, that it is the spirit of John Stewart, who died seventy-two years ago ? The Medium said — Assuredly. It is painful to us to repeat ourselves so ofleu. Mr Luckio— The medium, or person Mf who professes to be a medium, said a P short timo o«o, in reply to a question put by a gentleman in the audience, that the querist had no warrant for assuming that the Key. John Stewart, whoso spirit hud been deolared-to be speaking io us through tbe lecturer, was an educated man. The conclusion that as a minister he w.-is well educated, was every wny warranted. Wits there a shadow of projf or warrant to convince any sensible mm of th : s socalled spiritual possesion ? a^! there a title ol evidence .offered that would et cuse the abomirnblo imposture wluch they had suffered to-night ? (Cheers.) Captain Casey angeled tbat tbey should at onco send tor a policomm nnd give Mr Walker in charge as an importer. (Cheers and laughter.) Rev. Fcr offered to test tlie spirit by \ writing something on a piece of paper.

The Medium said lhe spirit did not use the Medium's eyes. lie had controlled the Medium long enongh. Tlie Medium then stretched out his hands, and pronounced a benediction, amidst eric* of •Shut up!" "Belay that!" arid 'Rank blasphemy J" The Medium then pretended to wake up, and the audience dispersed. The affair was a good specimen of flowery nonsense, rank twaddle, and im* posture, but the Medium displayed a good memory and practised skill in fenc« ing questions. ,