Part 3 (1/2)

Savage. I placed it under a heavy music-box, within a few inches of my head, where I am certain it remained undisturbed until I took it away.

Its contents, which reversed the arrangements agreed upon, were not made known to Mrs. Fay until after the decision of her control. As I did not then know what it contained, and in my subsequent interview with Mrs. F.

made no allusion to it, Auntie's knowledge of it seemed very remarkable.

As the seance drew near the end, a spirit to whom I am greatly attached called me up to the cabinet; and while I was conversing with her, Auntie's voice broke in, saying, ”Mr. Brackett?” I said, ”What is it, Auntie?” She replied, ”I will see you to-morrow.”

I called on Mrs. Fay the next day, and, after talking with her on other matters, and finding that she did not seem disposed to allude to the appointment, I reminded her that I came on business. She asked, ”What is it?” I replied that Auntie had requested me to meet her. She rose without a moment's hesitation, saying, ”We will go to the cabinet.” This was a surprise to me, for I fully expected that Auntie would take control of her medium, and talk to me through her, as she had often done before.

As Mrs. Fay stepped behind the curtain, Auntie came out, fully materialized, greeting me cordially, shaking hands with me, and expressing pleasure at meeting me; then, in a clear and forcible manner, discussed the question of the proposed seance, going freely into detail, showing conclusively that she understood both sides, and closed by saying that she did not propose to submit her medium to such conditions as were required by the letter, at the same time expressing a willingness to do all she could for Mr. Savage personally. Bidding me Good-bye, she dematerialized directly in front of me, so near that I could have laid my hand upon her as she went down. The curtains were apart, and I could see Mrs. Fay standing just beside the cabinet; but, in order to make me more certain, if possible, of that fact, she reached out her right hand, which I took in my left, preventing the curtains from closing; and while thus standing, no less than six fully materialized forms came out and greeted me.

During all this time Mrs. Fay may have been under partial control, but was not entranced, and talked freely with me about the forms, often describing them before they were visible to me.

These forms were substantial, varying in height and shape, and distinct from each other. Most of them conversed freely, showing quite as much individuality and intelligence as some of my acquaintances to whom forms sometimes appear,--persons who think they are wise in treating these forms with coldness and distrust, all of which is reflected back to them.

It is easy to understand why such persons are disappointed in what comes to them; but it is not easy to understand how any intelligent investigator, who has given the subject any considerable attention, should come to the conclusion that the forms are automatons, and that our friends from the other side never take possession, or control them, as they would a trance-medium; that they are merely effigies,[B] or lay figures, built up to mock us, and play with the most sacred feelings of our natures; and, what is more diabolical, that our spirit-friends are near by, enjoying the base deception! If this view is correct, what a fearful amount of lying there must be in every seance! Such a conclusion would be impossible from what pa.s.sed before me at this sitting.

[B] In an essay written by ”Shadows,” intended to enlighten the public on this subject, he puts forth the theory of effigies.

In the same article he relates a seance with the Berry Sisters, in which he says that ”a young female spirit came to him.” The word spirit must have been a slip of the pen; he should have said, a young female effigy. It was possibly in antic.i.p.ation of his theory that the young effigy called him ”father!”

As I gazed with delight upon this sudden and unexpected manifestation, bathed in a mellow light which made all the surroundings perfectly visible, I could not help feeling a regret that my Psychical friends had shut themselves out from such evidence by requiring arrangements to which no intelligent control would submit. Here, under strictly test conditions, which precluded any possible doubt, was crowded into a small s.p.a.ce just the information which I am sure that some of them are honestly endeavoring to obtain.

These things may be nothing but a mere phantasy of the mind; what is claimed as exact science, a humbug; and life itself only a delusion; but those whose lives are rounded into a full consciousness of an individual existence may prefer to consider them in a different light. The same perception which enables us to recognize one must be conceded to the other.

If, in the search after facts relating to the more subtle forms of life, the testimonies of thousands of honest and intelligent persons are to be disregarded, we might as well abolish our courts. Judge, jury, and witness become nothing but ridiculous actors in a farce played in the name of Justice.

CHAPTER VI.

SeANCE WITH MRS. CARRIE M. SAWYER.

Among the strong points in evidence of the genuineness of these manifestations are the marked individuality and constant variations that appear. The seances with the same medium will be found to differ widely; no two of them are exactly alike. Sometimes they will be exceedingly good, and at other times almost an entire failure. If they were in any way due to confederates, or to personation by the medium, such variations would not be likely to occur.

Again, the seances with one medium differ essentially from those with another; so much so that each medium may be said to have a phase of mediums.h.i.+p distinct in itself. The forms may appear quite different in outward shape, when coming through one medium from what they do in coming through another. The mental characteristics will, however, as I have found, be retained in both instances. This has often led to confusion and distrust with those who visit different seances. The tendency is very strong to give precedence to mere outward appearance, without reference to character.

In no case is the old adage, ”A little learning is a dangerous thing,”

more applicable than to the study of this subject. The shallow investigators, the touch-and-go people, will, in most cases, find themselves left in bewilderment and doubt. These things are not to be settled by witnessing one or two seances. Nor is the character of the manifestations, as expressed through any medium, to be determined without considerable experience.

From statements, and especially from the impression I received on my first interview with Mrs. Sawyer, I was led to expect much from her seance. My first seance with her was a disappointment, there being nothing except the delightful interview with little Maud, one of the ”cabinet spirits,”[C] to attract the attention of any one familiar with these things. It is due her to say, in explanation, that it was her first seance in Boston, and held under unfavorable conditions.

[C] This term is applied to spirits who appear to be constant attendants or a.s.sistants in the cabinets of mediums for materialization.

On the 11th of August, I again visited her seance, in company with Mrs.

Fay. The day was very hot, with a close, moist atmosphere, rendering the seance-room very uncomfortable. The only wonder was that, under such conditions, there could have been any manifestations whatever. I was seated on one side of Mrs. Fay, and a friend of hers on the other. This trio, so to speak, drew the fire of the whole seance; the only strong and decided manifestations appearing on that side of the circle.

Auntie, Mrs. Fay's control, stood behind us, invisible to all except her medium, occasionally making remarks in her hoa.r.s.e, unmistakable voice.

Coming, as the voice did, out of s.p.a.ce, with no organized being in sight to produce it, the effect was at times startling.