Preliminary Report of the Commission Appointed by the University of Pennsylvania to Investigate Modern Spiritualism eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 225 pages of information about Preliminary Report of the Commission Appointed by the University of Pennsylvania to Investigate Modern Spiritualism.

Preliminary Report of the Commission Appointed by the University of Pennsylvania to Investigate Modern Spiritualism eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 225 pages of information about Preliminary Report of the Commission Appointed by the University of Pennsylvania to Investigate Modern Spiritualism.

A member of the Committee, commenting upon a defect in the spelling of the first of the Latin words in the Spirit communication, suggested that the error might be accounted for on the hypothesis that Mr. Seybert, in life, was accustomed to the use of poor Latin.

The Medium farther explained that her understanding of the second communication was that it was a translation of the Latin contained in the first.

The glass tumblers are here again produced and the Medium takes her position upon them, with Mr. Fullerton standing next to her upon the right and Mr. Furness to the left.  Mr. Sellers remains for some moments kneeling on the floor to enable himself better to hear any sounds that may be but faintly audible.  The Spirits are repeatedly importuned by the Medium to produce the rappings, but no response is heard until the company is about to abandon the experiment.  Three raps are then audible.  The raps are very light but very distinct.

Mr. Fullerton states that he heard the raps.

Mr. Sellers:  I heard a sound then, but it seemed as if it was around there. (Indicating along the wall immediately in the rear of the Medium.)

The tumblers are here moved further away from the wall and the Medium resumes her position upon them.

Mr. Sellers:  Will the Spirit rap again? (No response.)

The Medium:  Were any of you gentlemen acquainted with Mr. Seybert in his lifetime?

Mr. Fullerton:  I saw him several times before his death.  If he can give an intimation now of anything he said at that time, it will indicate that he remembers it.

A very faint rap is heard.

The Medium:  There is a rap.  It seems to be there again. (Indicating the spot to which attention was previously called by Mr. Sellers.)

The Medium again importunes, first, ‘Mr. Seybert’ and next ‘the Spirits’ ‘to rap;’ and the importunities are repeated.  Three raps are distinctly but faintly heard.

Mr. Sellers:  I heard them.  They sounded somewhat like the others, not exactly.

The Medium:  I heard one rap, but it is nothing for me to hear them; I want you gentlemen to hear them.

Mr. Sellers:  Probably we will hear them again.

While Mr. Sellers and Mr. Furness are conversing, several raps are heard, though less distinct than the preceding ones.

The Medium:  There they are as though right under the glass. (After a silence of forty seconds):  Now I hear them again very light—­oh, very light.

Mr. Furness, with the permission of the Medium, places his hand upon one of her feet.

The Medium:  There are raps now, strong—­yes, I hear them.

Mr. Furness (to the Medium):  This is the most wonderful thing of all, Mrs. Kane, I distinctly feel them in your foot.  There is not a particle of motion in your foot, but there is an unusual pulsation.

Mr. Sellers here made some inquiries of the Medium, concerning the shoes now worn by her.  The replies, which were not direct, are here given.

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Preliminary Report of the Commission Appointed by the University of Pennsylvania to Investigate Modern Spiritualism from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.