Spiritualism.

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3159, 3 April 1879, Page 3

Spiritualism.

DE SLADE IN AUCKLAND.

.There was some excitement yesterday in spiritualistic circles in Auckland on its becoming known that Mr Slade, the famous: spiritualistic medium, who obtained so much notoriety by the Lancaster prosecution in London, was a passenger from Sydney by the Australia, en route for .San Francisco. Though there was little time for any formal reception, Messrs J. McLeod and J. C. Wilkes waited upon Mr Slade about noon, and learned that he had been prostrated by. fever in Sydney, and though he had . partly recovered on the passage, he was still in a weak condition. It was too late in the day to hold a public seance, but at about one o'clock Mr Slade met a few friendg^for the purpose of holding a private >|a^^,, which took place in an upstairs res§jQ&"■> the business premises or MrCoqmhp'^here a few investigators of the pheg|s^? >'of spiritualism are in the habit I^-^oiding weekly 'meetings. The gentlef|" present were Messrs J. 0. Wilkes, J.\t-,sLeod, Coombes, Mason, "Porter; arid l#'>d. The ; Eev. S. Edger arrived at a.tf. ;,ter stage.. One of the gentlemen pre&mt at the seance has been kind, enough to furnish us with particulars of,what; ltopk' place on the occasion, and some of tlie occurrences are certainly very "startling. ' In consequence of the feeble ifitebf Mr Slade's health the " writing test 1 "v Was not so good as usual, but it wrs sufficient to - astonish the gentlemen present, all of whom have, we bel:eve, had considerable experience of the phenomenon of spiritualism. The seance was opened with a 'conversation the substance of which will be. narrated further on. A large slate •was produced, and handed to the medium, but he .declined it, as it was too heavy for "hiprto'hold. with comfort. Two smaller 'Slates were then obtained, and the seance began in earnest. Mr Slade placed a 'small, crumb of slate pencil between the slates, and held them close together under Mr Oobmbes' arm. A grating noise was then heard between the slates, resembling the sound made by* a pencil in passing over a slate, and when the slates were 'opened and placed in view of the company <on the table' thie spirit communication which was short, but is described by our •informant as very eloquent, was shewn., ;The' message was a greeting to the; " circle," and expressed great pleasure at; meeting the gentlemen present. : Pour gentlemen then placed their hands oh "the tables, as directed by Mr Slade, jwb.en ah extraordinary result was produced. The table rose fairly upwards perpendicularly from the floor about two •'feet; and after remaining for a brief space in that position, gently subsided into its normal position. ■ This was repeated several times, and was accompanied by extraordinary noises. Numerous loud tappings were heard behind the chair in which Mr Slade was seated and on the table'l' The rappings are described as veTy loud and distinct, and our informant is confident from the position of the sitters .that the noises could not have been made by Mr Slade or any of those present in the flesh. Considerable surprise was expresed at these phenomena, which were tmainitriously ascribed to supernatural agencies. \ Jl TBASTCE.—A SPANISH SPIBIT. On the conclusion of the table manifestations Mi^ Slade fell into a trance, and becanie the, j^edium of communication of a depa.Ledf spirit, who gave his name as "Ossowar." The spirit spoke in a very deep,jjKh voice, and on being asked by Mr "VJHSes if he had been an Indian when on earth, replied that he was a Spaniard. The spirit then entered into an eloquent and impressive discourse, containing instructions to persons acting as-heads of circles. The address was listened to with great attention, and produced a great impression on the audience. BEY. 8. EDGES TEIES THE SPIRITS. The Eev. S. Edger, who had arrived late, was then permitted to witness the table movements. Again the piece of furniture rose up perpendicularly as before to the rev. gentleman's intense astonishment. Mr Edger then entered into a conversation with Mr Slade on the subject of the unreliability of the communications sometimes received from the spirits. Mr Slade explained that sitters too frequently interrupt the communications volunteered by the spirits, and thus confused the replies to questions. Ho also said that no spirits would hold communication with mortals from a "higher plane " than that of the persons composing the circle, and that however imperfect the revelations might be they afforded one convincing proof of the immortality of the soul, illustrating his statement by the simile that the finding of bread crumbs on a table would indicate that a loaf of bread had been present. In the course of conversation, Mr Slade promised to return to Auckland in about a year, when he will remain in the city for a few weeks, and will give a series of manifestations ; and he prophesied that on his arrival he would find that such^ rapid progress will have been made in the

interval that the believers in spiritualism will have increased Uiroc-foM. .1 To stater also that he would have given a pubiii seance had his friends mnrle preparation! early in the day.—Star.