Spirit Mediumship - Sprague PDF

SPIRIT MEDIUMSHIP.
ITS VARIOUS PHASES.
HOW DEVELOPED AND SAFELY
PRACTICED.
A COMPENDIUM OF PSYCHIC SCIENCE.

FOR SEANCES, CIRCLES AND INDIVIDUAL
USE.
THE MEDIUM'S COMPANION AND GUIDE.
By Rev. E. W. Sprague
EX-MISSIONARY OF THE NATIONAL ALIST

SPIRITU-
ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED
STATES OF AMERICA, AND FORTY-
N SIX YEARS A PUBLIC MEDIUM.
REVISED AND ENLARGED.* THIRD EDITION.
"How dear are the moments of spirit communion,

Wh^ love seeks its own from the realms of the blest,
Where souls may aspire in affectionate union,
And care fades away from minds sore oppressed.
Beautiful angels, Heaven's Evangels,
Commissioned to earth on your errands of love.
We pledge our endeavors and faithfulness, ever
To stand by the truth, and our loyalty prove."
Puhlfsbed by
Rbv. E. W. Sprague,
Detroit, Mich.
SI'
,S77
Copyright, 191 a*
Rev. E. W. Sprague,
Detroit, Mich.
PREFACE.
In publishingthis book the author hopes to be of

some assistance in eliminatingthe absurd and ridicu-
lous
vagaries that have become attached to Spiritual-

ism
and Mediumship, and to help counteract the
extravagant claims of some of its opponents regarding

"The Dangers of Psychism," or the practice of me-
diumship ; and most of all,to give encouragement and

assistance to mediums in their laudable efforts to fold
un-
the beautiful faculty and

God-given gift of me-
diumship. Every well-developed medium and every
well-informed spiritualistknows that the application
of the teachings of Modern Spiritualism is the tion
salva-
of mankind; and also that modem Spirit Med-
iumship is the rock upon which it rests.
Experience is the greatest teacher, and the author of

this book being a medium himself with many years of
active service, and having personally experienced

nearly every phase of mediumship mentioned in this
work, naturally feels that he is better qualifiedto

speak upon the subject than are many authors of note
who have developed no mediumship themselves, and
whose knowledge of the subjecthas come to them ond
sec-
hand, as all they know has been acquired by ob-

servatio
of the phenomena occurring through others.
The facts here recorded are based entirelyupon the
author's forty-sixyears and more of daily experience
through his own mediumship, and the teachings of his
spiritinspirers,as well as through the mediumship of

his wife and many others. His knowledge of the sub-
ject
being foimded on personal experience,may furnish
an excuse and partiallyjustify the frequent personal

reference made throughout the book.
DEDICATION.
First :
To the faithful and true mediums and their

many
noble guides and inspirers who have fought the good
fight against the mighty forces of ignorant prejudice,
religious bigotry, intolerance and persecution, that
the great and saving truths of Modern Spiritualism
might become the common knowledge of the people of
this world.
Second :
To those who honestly seek to unfold their itual

"spir-
gifts" or
faculties and develop their mediumship,
in order to become useful in the hands of the spirit
friends in voicing the truths of a

future life, bringing
health to the physical bodies of and edge

knowl-
men, peace
to their minds, with education regarding the laws
of life and how to live to their requirements, that

up
heaven be realized earth, this volume is

may upon
lovingly dedicated.
The Author.
TO INVESTIGATORS
Any intelligentperson who investigates Spiritualism

honestly, prayerfully, conscientiously and thoroughly,
will surely be convinced of its truth, and when so
proven, and the philosophy of the phenomena of Me-
diumship is learned, such an one can never return to
the ignorance of nonbelief.
We Mortals Are Spirits Now.
In the beginning of the study of Spirit Mediumship,

it is well to consider the fact that this world is one
section or sphere of the Spiritual World, and its in-

habitant
are spiritsnow, as much as they ever will be.
Also it is well, while stud)ring Spirit Mediumship,

to bear in mind the fact that every manifestation of
mortal man is a spirit manifestation, and just as hard
to explain as any manifestation produced in the seance
room by the spiritsof the so-called dead.
We see. Our eyes do not see. We see with our eyes.

We are spirits and seeing is a manifestation of our
spirits.
We mortals hear! How do we see and hear? We
do not know. Voices produce vibrations that strike
the timpanum of the ear, and pass on over the auditory

nerve to the sensoritmi and if the vibrations are in
words of the language our spirits have learned, we
comprehend the message ; but we cannot tell how we
receive the sound vibrations into our consciousness.
The production of the sound vibrations is a spirit mani-

festation,
and the reception of them is Spirit phe-

nomena,
and though we produce these phenomena, we
cannot explain the for do not know how it

process, we
is done. We produce mental and physical phenomena,
but we do not know how we do it. We think ! this is
mental phenomena. We do it, but no one

knows how it
is done. I move my foot, but cannot explain the

process
or how I do it. I do not know how I apply the force
to the muscles that cause them to act. I only know
I do it.
INDEX
Page
A SpiritualistCollege 22
Advice and Teachings of Spirits Beautiful 140
Automatic Writing 80
A Medium's Compensation 115
Absent Healing 108
Advice to Mediums 53
A Little Kindly Advice 143
All Need Friends 143
Auto-Suggestion i
49
A Great Revelation 18
Bad Habits Cured 120

Baths 61
Crystal Vision 34
Conditions Necessary for Good Results 29, 63
Clairaudience TJ
Communications not Infallible 30
Conclusion 146
Clairvoyance and Clairsentience 75
Conscious Trance 88
Crude Manifestations, etc 50
Cured of the Tobacco Habit 120
Conditions Required 29
Cuticle, the 20
Correspondence School 23
Dark Circles 122

Difference Between Telepathy and Mind Reading 96
Dark Circles not for Mental Phases 60
Diet 60
Diagnosing Disease Clairvoyantly 103

Different Phases of Mediumship 67
Dermo-Psychography 101
Danger of Misleading Mediums by Suggestion 47
Elijah a Fire Medium 85

Evil Spirits ." 48
PaRt
Elijah's Last Seance 86
Etherialization 74
Education of Mediums 21
Evidence of One's Mediumship 20
Fraudulent Investigators 113
Facts to be Considered in the Development of

Mediumship 29
Fraudulent Mediums 1 12
Fire Fails to Burn Bible Trio 86

Fortune Tellers 112
Fire Mediums 83
Foretelling Events 102
Great Value of Mediumship 14
How to Form a Circle 56

How Spirits Control Mediums 31
How to Concentrate 35
Impersonating Spirits 93
Impressional Mediumship 78
Inspiration^Conscious and Unconscious Trance 87
Impersonation 91
Is Mediumship Dangerous? 40
Independent Slate Writing 82
Inspirational Speaking, to Develop 80

Indian Spirits as Controls 125
Impressional Writing 80
InspirationalWriting 80
Intuition 102
Impersonation 91
Independent Hand Writing 80
Law Governs All 26
Mutual Confidence of Mediums and Spirits Essential.. 62

Mediumistic Development Explained 34
Magnetic Attractions 62
Mediumship Governed by Laws of Both Worlds. ..
.25, 38
Mediumship a Partnership 54
Mediumship Inherited 15
Mediumship and Insanity 44

Page
Materialization 74
Mission of Medlumship 141
Mind Reading 96
Magnetic Healing 104
Mediums Begin Work too Soon 128

Mediums Should Demand Their Own Conditions 135
Mediums Guides Assist Other Spirits 136
Mediums Should Cultivate Self-Control 132
Matter or Spirit 26
Mental Phases of Mediumship 67
Moses a Fire Medium 85
Mental Mediums Subjects of Suggestion 46
Mediumship and Good Health 31
Obsession 42
Personation .' 73
Psychometry 99
Physical Phases of Mediumship 68
Power of Mental Suggestion 45
Reading Pellets and Sealed Questions 109

Radio, The 39
Suggestion 45
Science and Mediumship 1 17
Spirit Rappings 68
Should Children Sit in Circles? .63
Sub-Conscious Mind 116
Somnambulism 94
Spirit Photography 40, 89
Spirit Writing on the Skin 101
*
Spiritual Healing 105

Sclf-Control 143
Spirits Find Lost Spectacles 110
Speaking in Tongues 70
Spirit Raps 68
Study of Mediumship 24
Strange Writings 81
Semi-Conscious Trance 88
Television 40
Transfiguration 73
Table Tipping 5g
Page
70
Trumpet Speaking
96
Telepathy
132
To our
Mediums
144
To the Reader
Time for Seances 59
7
To Investigators
Trance 88
Unconscious
Laws Govern Mediumship 33

Vibratory
39
Wireless Telegraphy
Mediums? 19
Who are Spirit
Work of Mediums Spirit Band 136
is Mediumship ? 13
What Spirit
Mechanical Clairvoyance 39
X-Ray
SPntlT MEDIUMSHIP " 13
CHAPTER I.
What Is SpiritMediumship?
Man is
spirit,
a whether clothed in the mortal body
or inhabitinga spiritualbody.
Mediumship is a natural faculty and belongs to the
spiritof man in every sphere of life,the same as all
of his other faculties.
Mentalmediumship illuminates to a great degree

every other facultyof its possessor. The extent of
this illumination depends upon the degree of medium-
istic development attained,as well as the degree of
unfoldment of the other faculties. Mediumship should
be highlyprizedby every one, as it is one of the most
beautiful, useful and soul-satisfying faculties sessed

pos-
by man in the mortal form. Mediumship may
be developed and its power increased justthe same as
the other faculties.
The wisest and best people of the spiritworld, and

all high-minded Spiritualistsdemand a mediumship
embodying the highestmorality and the greatest aspir-
ations
for the the
good, the beautiful, the intellectual,
true and the spiritual.While lookingfor these blessed
attributes we should not forgetthe truth of the words
attributed to Jesus of Nazareth: "None are perfect;
no, not one." Also: "Be ye perfect even as your
Father in heavenperfect." The last is a beautiful
is
ideal though it may be impossibleof attainment; and
yet, if we aspire for good we must improve; such is
the law. Then let us give to the spirit-friends the
very best we can in thought,in aspiration,and in deed.
Hope, prayerful aspiration,earnest effort and

cheerfulnessmust fillour thoughts and lives if we
would developrapidly.
14 HOW TO DEVELOP IT.
"As wave after wave chase each other in quick suc-

cession
over the great ocean's breast, so do our
thoughts follow each other over the mysterioussea of

consciousness."
In sending thoughts upon this mysterious
out our
sea we should know that they are caught by the angelic

beingsof the soul realm who are ever ready to respond
to them when they are prayerfulfor good, and condi-
tions
will permit. This fact should be sufficient to
cause us to think only beautiful thoughts,elevating
thoughts,harmonious thoughts,that we may call to us
those noble and exalted spiritswhose presence and
assistance we court and appreciate.
Great Value of Mediumship*
The questionof a future life for mankind is the all-

important question. Anyone standingat the grave of
his loved one needs to know if there is a life beyond,
where loved ones meet to part no more.
SpiritMediumship is the gateway to knowledge. It

is the foundation of all religions.Through it,all that
is known of a future life for mankind has come.
If it were true, as some believe,that no has

spirit ever
communicated with people of the earth, then every

church of every nation on earth is a monument of
folly,and every bible a record of falsehood, and ing

noth-
whatever is known of a future life for the human
race.
On the other hand, if the spiritof one singleman

who has died has ever, at any period in the historyof
the race, in ancient or modern times, communicated
with men in the mortal form, and that fact can be
positivelyestablished,then such statements recorded

in the so-called sacred writingsof the world may be
accepted as possibletruths^ and the churches of the

SPIRIT MEDIUMSHIP "
15
world may have been erected upon a substantial foun-

dation
; because if one such fact is fullyestablished it
proves conclusivelythat man survives death, and we
reason that if one man continues to live after death,

all men will do so.
Modern Spiritualismhas proved and is dailydemon-

strating
that man survives death; therefore, the sub-
ject
of is
spirit-mediumship of the greatest importance
to the human race, since we all must pass from this
plane of life,and naturallyare interested in knowing

if we are to continue to live.
Mediumship Inherited.
A medium, like a musician,inventor, artist,

or poet,
is one from birth. One may possess any of these fac-
ulties
in a large or small degree, and they may be de-
veloped
by proper training. This is certainlytrue of
mediumship.
Every child should be taught to appreciatehis five
beautiful senses. How lovelyit is to be able to see,
feel,hear, smell and taste! How wonderful to be
able to think, love, hope, aspireand reason! These
jewels of the soul are pricelesstreasures; but
MEDIUMSHIP AS EXPLAINED AND TICED
PRAC-
BY SPIRITS AND ENLIGHTENED
SPIRITUALISTS, ILLUMINATES THEM ALL.
To be able to discern the
presence of one's spirit
mother is a blessed and is highly appreciated
privilege
by those who faculty,as well as
are endowed with the
by others who understand Spiritualism.Furthermore,
the person endowed with this facultyis able to dis-
cern
innumerable other things,both of the spirit and
the material world, that otherwise remain unseen and
unknown. Mediumship makes it possibleto discern
temperaments, dispositions,capacities,motives, de-

sires,moral, mental and physical conditions of ple

peo-
in the mortal form; and a thousand other things
in the physical,mental and spiritualrealm that are
useful and helpfulin the development of one's self and

in helping others. For the above stated reasons and
many others that might be mentioned, every mentally

well balanced person should seek the best conditions
obtainable and take up the work of mediumistic un-
foldment.
People who are weak minded mentally unbal-

or anced
should not attempt the development of medium-
ship; they should first seek to attain proper control of
their own minds. Many who have been mentally un-
balanced
have become permanently cured by the aid of

mediums prepared for the unfoldment
and thus of
their mediumship. Every class of disease nearly has
been eradicated and the patientspermanently healed
by spiritpower exercised through mediumship. A

proper development of mediumship strengthens the
moral character, develops individuality,
and prepares
one to meet the trials and strugglesof life in a calm .
and confident manner. It unfolds the

spiritual
nature,
develops optimisticand trustful qualities,
and helps
the medium to realize more fullythe beautiful in life,
as well as to see that all things work togetherfor good,
and that in the ultimate every soul will find its spiritual
center when all will be well.
The development of the medial faculties is perma-
nent.
These powers we carry with
spirit us into
life. They are of much grea;ter value in that sphere of
existence because everything there is spiritually cerned.
dis-
Our spiritualfaculties take the placeof our so-called

five physicalsenses when we reach the spiritworld and
are spirituallyunfolded. The littlewe grasp through
SPIRIT MEDIUMSHIP " 17
our Spiritual faculties in this life,constitutes a safe
promise of the fact that we shall discern more when we

arrive in the great spiritual kingdom, and are freed
from the limitations of these physicalbodies. All this
being true, it becomes plain that the development of

one's spiritual giftsis no more nor less than layingup
treasures for use in Heaven. Whatever spiritual de-
velopmen
one acquiresin this life will constitute his
capitalwith which to enter the great field of spiritual
progressionin that better land; therefore,the invest-ment
in these powers is a safe one, inasmuch as it is
true that there can be no progressionthere without them.
O, that all men in the mortal could realize this fact
and the great value of the development of these powers
while in the earth form! It should be clear to us all
that we ought to make the greatest effort to unfold
these powers, so as to become well equipped for our
work in the land.

spirit
Another fact must be mentioned. The development
of the spiritualfaculties,while in this life qualifies
one to return and communicate through mediums after
one's transition. One
possessingclairvoyantpowers
here can, after his transition, look back through the
same faculties and see and discern what is transpiring
on this side of life. This truth will be realized only in
accordance with the degree of development acquired
here.
In
removing from the comparative denseness of the
Da-
lit physicalbody to the brightnessof the spiritualbody
clearer perceptions result, for the denseness of the
ol
physical form limits the
spiritual activities. Dwelling
s-
in the body disciplines,
and earthlyexperienceseducate
and develop the spirit,
preparingit for the higher life ;
i
but when the spiritual faculties receive little or no
development, one remains in ignorance of that life

and consequentlyin darkness.

is Every spirit'scondi*
tion depends absolutelyupon the state of unfoldment
faculties have received.
his spiritual
Here lies an important truth, one that should be
known and well understood, as it certainlyaffects us
all. It should inspireus to put forth earnest effort to

obtain the development of those spiritual faculties with
which we are endowed. Every lesson pertainingto
such development that we acquire,is treasure laid up
for use in the world to come, and is also a great help
and blessingto us in this life.
The unfoldment of the spiritual
powers consists,not
alone in development of the abilityto spirit
receive
messages, but in learning how they are produced, and

in acquiring a knowledge of the beautiful Spiritual
Philosophy that they teach and portray.
A Great Revelation.
There is no more importantfact in all of the wonder-

ful
discoveries and accomplishments of mankind than
the discoverythat mortals are endowed with a sixth
sense, now called SpiritMediumship, and the fact that

the spiritworld has revealed the scientificmethod of
its development,the same as our other faculties may be
improved and unfolded ^throughwhich the beautiful,

"
sublime and comforting truth of Spirit Communion

is scientifically
proven to mankind. It has also revealed
the fact that mortals are endowed with spiritualfacul-
ties,
heretofore unknown to this world as such, but
supposed to be
specialgiftfrom God, to His particu-
a lar
favorites,called prophets.
Not only has Spiritualismrevealed these facts, but
it has taught the Spiritualists of this world how to
develop and unfold these beautiful spiritualfaculties,

and how to use them.
The Cuticle.
The qualityof the cuticle with which the nervous
system is insulated has much to do with one's medium-

ship. Our spiritteachers tell us that persons having
naturallywarm viscous skins are idealists accordingto

the degree in which they possess such and
cuticle, are
subjectto influences of a mental character. That ple

peo-
of the class who possess a cold, clammy, or sticky
cuticle,are also subjectsof
hypnotic control and pos-
sess
the elements requisitefor the development of
physicalmediumship. A person may possess, in some
degree,both physicaland mental mediumship.
Persons having a warm, dry,silkycuticle,free from
viscous or stickyconditions are not easilyinfluenced
by mortals or spirits.
Evidence of Mediumship.
The medium's magnetic forces generated in his body
are warm. And forces are without warmth,
the spirit's
or cold. The spirit applieshis forces to the medium's
nervous system at the base of the brain, and spirit
forces being cold and the medium's warm, when they
come in contact produce a vibration and a chill which
passes down the spinalcolumn and sometimes reaches
throughout the entire body. It is thus that the medium,

who is a battery,is being charged and prepared for the
work. When sittingfor development and one- feels
these chills and if he is not sitting
thrills, in a draft,or
is not being threatened with illness,it is a pretty sure
indication of spiritpresence, and that the one receiving

these thrills,chills,etc., is a medium and may be de-
veloped
by making proper conditions.
spirit
If acan move a stand, produce a rap, cause a
person'shand to move about, or cause him to see a
spiritform, hear a voice, or

spirit in any way influence
him, then that person is a medium, and by using proper

methods, his powers may be developed just as any of
his other faculties may be unfolded by proper training.
Therefore, if one's mediumship seems small, it
should be highly prized and properly developed to a
greater degree of usefulness.
Education of Mediums.
Modern Spiritualismis a great school. The spirit

friends are its teachers. Mediums and
investigators
are its pupils. Circles,seances, psychicalresearch so-
cieties,
etc., constitute its classes. The better pared

pre-
physically, mentally,morally,educationally, and
spirituallythe medium may be, the wiser and more
spiritualthe teachers will be whom he will attract.
The better prepared the medium becomes, the better
the manifestations and communications he will be
capableof receiving.This being true, mediums should
use every possiblemeans, aided by the spiritfriends,
to develop a high appreciationand aspirationfor
truth, desiring to become useful instruments in the
hands of the spirit world in bringing blessingsto
mankind.
The proper development of mediumship is reached
through the unfoldment of the medium's mind, the
attuningof his brain and other nerves to the higher
spiritual vibrations,the development of the muscles to

great tension, the abilityto relax them, etc. The
nerves, brain, and muscles of a developed medium

have undergone a great change. They may be oper-
ated
by a much higher vibration than of one who is
not developed. The medium thinks more rapidly,
feels more intenselyand acts more quickly. He may
suffer more and enjoy more than one not so highly
developed. Proper education regarding the laws of
life and mediumship placesin the hands of the medium

the abilityto avoid sufferingand enjoy more fully
the pleasuresof life.
Mediums need the education of our schools, and
should inform themselves regardingtopicsof general
interest of the day.
There are many uneducated mediums who do excel-
lent
work, though they may be ignorant of the laws
governing mediumship. they were If

to become gent
dili-
students of the laws governing psychic phenom-ena,
and acquirea generalunderstandingof the truths
of Spiritual Science,they would become more tent
compe-
to co-operate with their spirit helpers and their
work would become still more satisfactory.Through
this education their powers would be increased.
Mediumship is a natural
facultyand is governed by
natural law. All mediums should thoroughlyacquaint
themselves with the operation of thesfe laws, thereby
learninghow to conserve their forces, how properlyto
exercise their powers and reap the great reward of
good health and a clear and happy mind, while their
work is being crowned with success.
A Spiritualistic
College.
All of the faculties and senses of mediums are able
cap-
ofbeing exercised, awakened and illuminated by
the spirits.God never endowed man with a faculty
not intended for use, and spirit mediumship is one of
those natural faculties by which man is universally
endowed, the same as he is with his other faculties.
The better one is educated in various lines,provid-
ing
such education does not bias the mind or pervert
the reasoning faculties,the better will be his diumship;
me-
therefore, every medium should obtain an
education if possible.The Morris Pratt Institute, of

SPIRIT MEDIUMSHIP "
23
"
Whitewater, Wisconsin, is an excellent Spiritualist
school, and is to students who are seeking a

open
liberal religiously unbiased education, and who wish
to prepare
themselves for public work in the ment
move-
of Modem Spiritualism.
Correspondence School of the National
Spiritualists* Association.
Located at the Morris Pratt Institute at Whitewater,
Wis., through which mediums, teachers and ministers
are prepared for the public work of Spiritualism. We
gladly recommend this correspondence course to all
who are seeking preparation for the work and are not
able to attend the Institute. Those who can do so,
should attend this college.

CHAPTER II:
The Study of Mediumship.

The home circle is one of the best places to investi-
gate,
study philosophy of Spiritualism

and learn the
and the laws governing mediumship.
Suspicionof each other is not so prevalentas in the

publiccircle where a fee is paid for a medium's ices.
serv-
Suspicion and mistrust is poison to sensitive

mediums and is not only painfulto them, but destroys
conditions and retards the good results that might
occur without them.
The seance room is not the
study Spi-
ritualis
only place to
and develop mediumship. The investigator,

as well as the would-be medium, should study its liter-
ature,
attend lectures upon the subject,learn from
teachers who have had wide experience in the work,
and become familiar with the workings of its organiza-
tion.
fullyequipped with the teachingsof its
When
philosophy,the phenomena of the seance, etc., he will

be much better prepared to respond to the inspiration
of the wise and good spiritswho may wish to use his
organism as a medium.
No one should ever give up his individuality
to other,
an-
be that one in the mortal form, or a spiritdis-

embodied.
Wise and good spiritsdo not require it;
they act only as advisers and teachers, and instruct
the medium to use his own judgment in every instance
after receivingtheir advice.
In sittingfor spirit manifestations, the medium
must comply with the laws governing mediumship
and yield to the spiritguides for the time being, but
when the seance is over he should control himself until
he is ready to communicate with the spirit-friends
again. He should not keep the door open or even un-
SPIRIT MEDIUMSHIP "
25
locked at all times, but should have a time and place

for the seances and confine himself to them. In this
way he will develop a healthy mediumship and a
stronger individuality.
If the spiritshould have something of great impor-
tance
to communicate between the hours set apart for
the he would
circles, soon learn to knock at the closed
door and it would be optionalwith the medium whether
he let him in or not.
In reading and studyingModern Spiritualism,Psy-
chic
Science and Mediumship, the latent powers of
mediumistic persons are stimulated and often brought
into activity.This constitutes an important part of
one's mediumistic development which is as essential
and as valuable as the assistance received from sitting
in circles.
The good people of all the world believe in, look
forward to, and prayerfullyhope for a higfier
tion
civiliza-
of mankind ; when the human race will have come
be-
so perfectlydeveloped that wisdom, harmony
and truth shall abidingwith all men.
reign supreme,
In. an enlightenedmediumship rests this hope of the
world.
Mediumship Governed by Laws of Both Worlds.

The thorough knowledge one
more has of spirit
mediumship and the laws governing it,the better derstanding
un-
one will have of Modern Spiritualism.

The facts revealedthrough mediumship explain and
make clear the truths of Spiritualism.Modem ualism
Spirit-
is the philosophyof life in this sphere ând in "
the spirit realms.

Mediumship is the key that unlocks the mysteries of
life. It reveals the truths of Modem Spiritualismand
makes them clear to the understanding. Modern ritualis
Spi-
embraces all in life and proves that life itself
continues after the change called death. This being

true, it may be clearlyseen that it is the most pendous
stu-
and important fact that has ever reached the

consciousness of man upon this earthlyplane of life,
and naturallycauses him to be filled with reverence,
wonder and thankfulness. As he learns of it,he be-
comes
inspiredwith the spiritof reverence for the

Great First Cause that produced it all.
Matter or Spirit.
''We cannot affirm that the primordial,substantial
entity of being is matter or spirit,or both. We can
follow neither of them to their ultimate or primary

conditions." (Loveland. )
Matter, force and spirit
form a great and wonderful
trinitywhich control all phenomena that our senses
are capable of grasping. Matter is visible,force and

spiritare invisible. This trinityof substances in a
unity of manifestation are all mysteries to us, and the

more study them, the more
we we become imbued with
the spiritof reverence for the Great Cause of it all.
Man in the physicalbody is a threefold being. He is a
combination of matter or substance, force or energy,
mind
intelligent or spirit.
Law Governs All.
Everything in nature, whether visible or invisible,is

at all times governed by law ; and the results of the tion
ac-
of these laws reveal method and purpose in their

manifestation. The mode of action of all law is the
same at all times, when the same conditions prevail.
Chemistry proves this true.
In the of
investigation the phenomena of ualism
Spirit-
we should keep in mind the fact that
there is no other way in this life to learn of the spirit
The
only place to study the phenomena of Modem
Spiritualismis the place where it occurs ; and the only
proper way to investigate the subjectis to witness the

phenomena, study the laws governing them, weigh and
measure every manifestation in the balance scales of
reason controlled by an unbiased mind. Thorough-
ness
of purpose, well timed carefulness tempered with
sincerity,
energy, and perseverance, are essentials to
success in this vast field of research ; and he who enters
it with less than these is not assured of great success.
People even of this

day have inherited,or have had
instilled into them, the superstitious ideas of super-
naturalism. This in a great measure disqualifies them
to enter the. field of the scientific investigation of the
phenomena of Spiritualism. Preconceived opinions

should never bar one from accepting a truth when
proven, even if it does conflict with his earlier accepted
opinions.
It is said that no good thing is secured without
effort;this appliesin the investigation of spiritphe-
nomena.
One's mind must be prepared and earnest
effort put forth if one would receive the best results.
The development of a clean pure mind, liberal
and
ideas, moral culture and intellectual ability,

as well as
high and holy aspirationsare essential to the tion

acquisi-
of the best in Spiritualism.None have yet ceived
re-
the best in mediumship; no one has yet made

the best conditions to receive it. We have onlyplucked
here and there a blossom from its sacred flower gar-
den,
and the aroma of those few blossoms has intoxi-
cated
us with its beautiful fragrance. We must know

the laws governing mediumship and make the sary
neces-
conditions if we would enjoy these heavenly

blessings.
Facts to be Considered in the Development of

Mediumship.
Indeveloping one's mediumship, it is essential that
something of the necessary conditions for its unfold-

ment be understood by the medium, or by some one of
the members of the circle.
No fixed or infallible rule can be given for the de-
velopment
of all mediums, as their individualities dif-
fer.
The medium, the sitters,and the spirits
in charge,
must take into consideration the state of physical
health, temperament, disposition,tastes, aspirations,
etc., as well as the earthlyenvironments of each dium
me-
and govern themselves accordingly.

Conditions Required.
The best conditions to bring to a seance for spirit
manifestations is a happy frame of mind and a monious
har-
body. All thoughts of business and strife

should be left behind. The members should enter the
seance room with prayerfulhearts, aspirationsfor the
good, the beautiful and the true ; and with the under-
standing
that it is the entrance to the most sacred
place, where perchance the angels of heaven may be
present and communicate with them. Such may be

the truth, yet how few realize it.
To be a good spirit-mediumone should live a good
life. The better one lives the more spiritualone comes,
be-
and the more will be the manifestations
spiritual
received.
How much we owe to the spiritfriends who have
always been so faithful to their mediums, even though

mediums have at times neglectedto fulfill the wishes
of their faithful spiritteachers.
Spiritphenomena of whatever phase or class, are
natural phenomena. There are no miracles. All mani-
testations our senses are capable of grasping are pro-

duced
through the laws of nature and are consequently
natural phenomena. Law, no doubt, rules in every
sphere of conscious life.
May it always be remembered spiritfriends are that
people who once

"
lived in this world and have passed
to the higher life; that they are not gods, knowing
everything,but that they sometimes make mistakes,
though their knowledge far transcends ours. Let us
treat them as one justman should treat another, trust-
ing
them always unless they should prove untrust- worthy,
being very careful not to condemn or misjudge
without ample and unquestionableproof againstthem.
Communications Not Infallible.
Mediums are liable to err in judgment. When we
consider the fact that they are dealing with forces

with which the world is unfamiliar, and that these
forces operatingupon a different plane of life,we
are
could not reasonablyexpect infallibility

on the part of
the medium or the spiritoperator. Therefore we
should receive each message or manifestation and
judge it on its merits alone, condemning neither the

medium nor the communicating spiritfor any errors
that may occur, yet always seekingto learn the reasons
for any discrepancy or mistake. Great mistakes are
made in this life,and we are much better acquainted

with needed conditions here than we are with those of
the spirit-world.Miathematics is a science, but man in
the mortal with this infallible guide to direct him,
makes grievousmistakes.
One of the first thingsneedful for mediums and vestigator
in-
to learn is that spirits

out of the body, like
those in the flesh,are not infallible;and mediums
SPIRIT MEDIUMSHIP "
31
should not be blamed for that over which they have

no jurisdiction
or control.
Mediumship and Good Health.
Mediumship begets good health,and good health is

quiteessential to good mediumship.
Spiritsheal their mediums, and keep them in good
health when conditions permit. Hopefulness, cheer-
fulness,
and optimism increase the functional powers
of the organs of the body, and generates good health,
which is a very desirable condition in the development
of one's spiritual faculties.
People who lose hope of regaining their health,
naturallybecome despondent,and will, yea, must, remain
ill; while those who greatlydesire to recover their

health, livingconstantlyin the expectationof it,and
being determined to regain it, stand a much better
chance of recovery than those who are fearful or
pessimisticregardingthe matter. Indeed belief in one's

own ability to recover, or confidence in the physician's
or healer's ability to cure, is a most potent factor in the
recovery of one's health.
One author says : "When desire and
expectationare
hitched in one harness, they make a splendidteam, and
"
in common parlance,TuU the patientthrough.'
Right thinkingleads to the acquisition of true knowl-

edge.
It builds a perfectbody, generates good health,
developsa strong mind, unfolds the spiritual nature, and
creates harmonious conditions, all of which constitute
the best of for the development of medium-
preparations
ship. Always think good thoughts and enjoy good
health and happiness.
How Spirits Control Mediums.
Mental mediums are influenced and controlled by

their spirithelpersand guides through the same law
that hypnotic subjectis influenced or controlled by

a
a hypnotistin the mortal form, though as a nile the

spiritknows a great deal more about the law than the
mortal hypnotistever dreamed of knowing.
Aspirit'sexperience in passing into the spiritworld

is valuable ; his spiritualperceptionsbecome awakened,
he has facilities for learningcertain laws and condi-
tions
pertainingto the subject,which we mortals
have not the faculties to comprehend. Therefore, it
is follyto attempt to measure a spirit's
psychic power
by the littlethat is known by mortals regarding psy-
chology,
hypnotism, mesmerism and kindred subjects,
or to condemn their practiceas dangerous. The evi-dence
is everywhere to be seen that such practiceby
spirits is wholesome and helpfulin every way.
Every mental medium is

psychic,and every psy-
a chic
is a medium. Every hypnoticsubjectis a mental
medium, and every mental medium is a hypnotic sub-
ject.
Every person is a battery or dynamo, generat-

ing
out of nature's vast reservoir a portion of the
magnetic forces or electric powers which is converted
into psychic force and animal magnetism. This mag-
netism
being permeated with the vital forces of the
medium is used through the will power of its generator
in the movement of his body, in thinking, speaking,etc.
It is acted upon also by the will of the spirit operator
who uses it to produce the phenomena of the seance
room, the spiritacting through the mind, nerves and

muscles of the medium who generates it. The spirit
acts upon every faculty. Every emotion is trained to
respond to the will of the spirit operator with his well
developed medium. Emma Rood Tuttle, the Spirit-
ualist
poet of Ohio, beautifullyillustrates the vastness
of this force in the following lines :

"An atmosphere more sublimate than air

Penetrates all matter, be it here or there ;
No finite power its wrappings can disperse.
For its thin billows lave the universe;
Each portionlinkingto all other parts.
99
Whether stars, blossoms, or respondinghearts.
VibraftoryLaws Governing Mediumship.

The
phenomena of light,heat, and electricity
are
produced through the different rates of etheric vibra-

tion
and may be discerned by the physical senses.
There is a much more refined ether" or perhaps it is
a portion of the one great ether which "
responds to
thought; and over this great ocean of vibrant ether,
thought travels at a rapidityoutdistancingthe mighty

speed of the light from the sun; and wherever a
thought wave comes in touch with a brain that is tuned

at-
to its rate or velocityof vibration,there and

then it MUST record itself. This is done through the
same law that the sound from the piano key vibrates
the stringof the violin when it is attuned to the same
rate of sound vibration.
through this law of vibration,carried into the

It is
mental and spiritual realm of life,that telepathyand
spirit communion are accomplished. Mediumistic

phenomena are not of the realm of miracle,but are
natural phenomena, and this is one of the great truths
that spiritsthrough modem mediumship have revealed
to the world.
Personally,the author has been hypnotizedby both
mortal and hjrpnotists^by the
spirit " latter thousands
of times, and to his
detriment,but always to his
never
betterment in physicalhealth,mental growth, and spi-

ritual
development. After forty-six
years of almost daily
experiencein the matter, he feels sufficiently
qualified
and should be entitled to testifyto its blessingsand

helpfulnessagainst those who condemn its practice
and seek to destroy Spiritualismby their worthless
testimonyin the matter.

Some of these pride themselves upon the fact,and
openly boast that they were never mesmerized, hypno-
tized,
or controlled by man or spirit. Whose mony
testi-
is the more valuable? That of one who has had
experience or of one who has not? It is left to the
reader to judge.
Mediumistic Development Explained.
The forces of the mediiun are subjectiveand may
be, through practice,
directed to a greater or less de-
gree,
by his own will.

As the medium learns how passiveto the to become
will of his spiritassistants,his development, to the

degree that he is able to be directed by them, is
reached. Such development consists,therefore, in
part, in knowledgea of the laws governing and forces
employed, as well as how to apply them. Education
of the medium along this and other lines constitutes
the true mediumistic development. The spiritguides
may also need to develop their psychicpowers and
learn their lessons, so as to become versed in the proc-
esses
of spiritmanifestation and communication. It
is as necessary for them as for the mediums. Often
the development and education is at the same time
being acquired by those in spiritlife as by those on
the mortal plane.
Crystal Vision
Crystal Vision, or Crystal Gazing, is occasionally
used to concentrate the mind, that it may
so be trolled
con-
or directed by spiritinfluence to see clairvoy-

to come to your assistance. Picture in your mind some
spiritwhom you feel may be able to help you, holding

him in your mind, note his personal appearance, his
features, height,complexion,color of eyes, hair, dress,

etc., holding your thoughts upon him and aspiring for
help in your development Ask mental questions,
whether you get answers or not Keep on, and do
not let your mind revert to any other thought. Keep
it on him or any other object you may select. The
purpose is to develop your mind to hold to one line

of thought. It does not matter whether you take this
spiritas subject of your thought center or some-

the thing
else of the spiritworld. If your concentration

holds steadilyupon thingsof the spiritworld, it places
you in a condition for the
spiritsto get near to you,
and may be a great help in your development.

Leave behind you all your troubles of life,business
cares, etc., when you enter the seance room, and do not
allow your mind to wander away from the thingsof the
spiritwhile sittingfor development of the power of
concentration,or for spiritmanifestations of any kind.

Practicingconcentration develops it,and concentra-
tion
is a great help in development of mediumship, as

it is in the business world and elsewhere. It is well
for all to concentrate their minds on spiritual
things,
at the beginningof any seance.
When a medium is going under control, for the first

few times at least,there is a twitchingof muscles, his
heart beats rapidly,his chest heaves, while his breath
becomes more rapid and more labored. While this is
going on the blood gathers to the brain and the dium

me-
becomes more sensitive

surroundings. to his
Sounds are greatlymultiplied;ever3rthingis intensi-
fied;
his imaginativequalitiesincrease; in short the
SPIRIT MEDIUMSHIP "
" 37
rate of the medium's

physical,mental and spiritual
vibrations are increased to a great degree. This great
school of the SpiritualPhilosophy teaches: that beginning
with the vibration of the physical, then enter-
ing
the mental, then the spiritual realms, the vibrations

increase very rapidlyevery step of the way; that out
spiritfriends live in apparently an infinitely higher

vibration of substance, mind and spiritthan we do.
Hence, in order to communicate with them we must
function on a higher plane, and they must come down

from their more rapid plane of vibration to the highest
plane the medium is able to reach. When the medium
and the spiritare able to function on the same plane
of vibration they can communicate much more easily
than we can communicate with one another, because
one feels what the other feels,and each is impressed
with the other's thoughts.
This may illustrated upon
be the physical side of
life as follows: Take a number of violins,attune
them to the same rate of vibration,and they will all
respond when one is played upon. If they are not tuned
at-
alike,when one is played upon there is no sponse

re-
from the others ; so it is with mediumship ; no
two mortals are functioningupon the same plane of

vibration at all times, which is true of the spirits. In
fact,one in the mortal is not at all times functioning
upon the same plane of vibration,but when two minds,
both in the mortal, or both in the spirit
world, or one in
the mortal and one in the spirit
world, occupy the same
sphere of mental vibration, they may know each

other's thoughts; they must know them ; and they may
communicate with each other, mind responding to
mind, spiritto spirit,

as the vibration of sound duced
pro-
upon the piano responds to the violin,and the
violin responds to the piano, when both are attuned

alike.
Thus it is that
spirits communicate with us through
the mental phases of mediumship. It is thus that the
phenomena of telepathyoccurring between two ple

peo-
in the mortal form is accomplished.
Heat, light, electricity,different colors, etc., are but
the results of different rates of vibratoryaction, and
everythingour consciousness is able to grasp is pro-

duced
by its own necessary rate of vibration.
Independent spiritvoices, music, etc., must be pro-

duced
by sound vibration, else they could not occur.
The vibration of atoms

produce men and spirits. Vi- bration
of ether produces spirit-lights. The sweet
odors sometimes brought to our seances are produced

through the laws of vibration.
Our mental mediums, trance, inspirational, impres-
sional,etc., are, through sittingfor the purpose, developed
to ascend into the higher vibrations; and the
spiritoperator, by repeated effort,learns to lower his

vibrations until both are in the same sphere or condi-
tions
of vibratoryaction; when this is accomplished,
the phneomena occur. It is only necessary to duce
pro-
these several conditions of vibration, to produce
the different phases of spiritmanifestations. Thus,
spiritphenomena are shown to be natural phenomena
produced through natural law.
Mediumship Governed by Natural Law.
Spiritualismis naturalism. It teaches natural law,

it is subjectto nature's laws in all of its manifestations.
Spiritmediiunship is the natural gateway through

which all the phenomena of Spiritualism is brought to
us, and it is accomplished only through the action of

natural law.
SPIRIT MEDIUMSHIP "
39
The X-ray is Mechanical Clairvoyance.
The scientific discoveries of

late years are giving
thinkingpeople a better understanding of the action
of natural law, in the productionof spiritphenomena.
For instance : The X-ray, or Roentgen ray, by which
we can look through a piece of steel and see things
placed behind it,and through a human body and plainly
see its skeleton, which is as mysterious, as wonderftd
and as miraculous, as mental or spiritualclairvoyance
;
both are produced through the action of natural law.
Wireless Telegraphy.
Wireless telegraphy carries our messages across
oceans without wires, as spirit messages are sent from

heaven and received by mortals in the same manner.
The same law is operativein each case, but the forces

are as much finer in the spiritthan in the mortal, as
mind is more subtle than matter.
The Radio.
Theradio proves the possibility

of spirit
broadcasted
messages being received from the spiritworld as the

science of radio communication may explainin a great
measure, the law of vibration actingin each case. The
medium's brain being the receivinginstrument of the
spiritradio message.
The spirits operate through the laws of vibration the
same as our radio requires,though their's is much more
rapid and subtle, they tell us. They broadcast their
messages and the vibrant psychic ethers carry them in
every direction,and wherever there is a brain within

their radius, that is attuned to the rate of its vibration
it must, and does record it.
Some day we shall have mechanical instruments

fine enough to record
spiritmessages the
as we now
receive them from foreignlands by radio,then everyone
may know the truth of Spiritudism.

The development of mediumship is learninghow to
**tune in" and receive the psycho aerial,spiritradio
message.
Television.
Today we may listen at a telephone and hear our

friend speaking in a distant city,and see him at the
same time, just as a medium sees and hears a spirit
who is communicating.
Television is mechanical clairvoyance and clair-
audience combined.
SpiritPhotography.
Spirit photography is a phase of modern medium-
ship. The same law seems to be in operation,in this
phase of mediumship, as that which produces the photo-
graphs
of the presidentof the United States with mem-
bers
of his cabinet in America, by the operator with his
outfit in England, with three thousand miles lying

between them, which may be a greater distance than
from earth to heaven. Wonders are being discovered
constantly these days, but no more wonderful thing
has been discovered than the fact of spiritcommunion.
Dear mediums : Your mission is the greatest of them
all. Real science, true religion,and the angels of
heaven are with you in your work of broadcasting
Spiritualism,which is Gk)d's message to the world.
Heaven is blessing you above all others.
Is Mediumship Dangerous?
The proper development and practiceof medium-
ship is the greatest renovator of the human system
SPIRIT MEDIUMSHIP "
41
and health-givingpower known to the human race;

it has often saved people from the grave when every
other known remedy had failed.
There has been a great cry and much ado over the
subjectof "The Dangers of Mediumship," "The Dan- gers
of Psychism," "Obsession," etc., coming mostly
from the opponents of Spiritualism.The dangers
have been enlarged and multiplied until many partially
developed mediums have become frightenedand ceased
to continue their sittings for development.
It is true that nearly everythingof great value becomes
dangerous when improperly used. This is true

of water, fire,electricity, gas yet no one thinks of
"
discarding them because they are dangerous. The

mental faculties, when improperly used, or used to ex-
cess,
arenas dangerous as d3mamite,causingall sorts of

disease,both physicaland mental ; yet no one advocates
the cessation of their use.
Through mediumship we are taught the Spiritual

Philosophy which includes Psychic Science, or the
science of the soul. By understandingit we learn how
to avoid any dangers that might otherwise overtake us.
After many years of experienceas a medium, ing
hav-
seen nearly every phase of mediumship and perienced

ex-
most of them, the author feels qualifiedto

express an opinion,and gladly states that the proper
development of mediumship is exactlywhat removes

the dangers. The only danger lies in not understand-
ing
the laws governing these powers. In the proper
development of mediumship, the laws are made dear,

the dangers pointed out, intelligent
bands of spirits
organized who take charge of the mediums and thus
they are placed upon the rock of safety; whereas,

without the development of these powers, one who is
mediumistic is always in a state of jeopardyeven though

he may not know that he is a medium.
One who is a medium to any considerable degree,
whether acquaintedwith the fact or not, is subjectto
influences from the mundane side of life,and quently
conse-
is not safe until he learns the laws governing

this faculty,develop it and cultivates the will power
to resist anything objectionable.Sensitive and mediumistic
people do strange things at times and they

themselves are sometimes puzzled to understand why
they do them. The true SpiritualPhilosophy solves
this problem.
In developing mediumship properly one will learn
where any danger lies. He may develop a strong in-
dividuali
and learn how to overcome or avoid such
danger; whereas, without such development, though

unaware of the fact that he possesses mediumship, he
is left to the mercy of circumstances. The world is
full of human wrecks who might have been saved
from their sad condition had they known of the itual
spir-
faculties which they possessed, and had they
developed them under the proper teachingsof Modem
Spiritualism. Every person may be to some degree

mediumistic, and the greater the degree the more need
of its development. It is
dangerous to possess medi-
umship
in any considerable degree and remain in
ignorance of the fact. The only safety lies in its

development.
Obsession.
During the many fruitful years of our labors as
spirit-mediums, we have visited many of the states of

the Union, meeting many public mediums and mak-
ing
the acquaintanceof hundreds of privatemediums,
and thousands of Spiritualists;among them all,very
Mediumship and Insanity.

Much has been said by the opponents of Spiritualism
regarding the "Dangers of Mediumship/' their claims
being that its practiceleads to insanityand other ills.
In reply to such claims I Instead of the tice
will say : prac-
of mediumship's causing insanity,the proper use
of it is a preventative.It has cured many who were
insane, and saved many becoming so. We

more from
have good reasons for believing that mental rangement
de-
is invariablycaused by some physicaldefect,
which may have been induced by extreme mental
action,and that mediumship is the greatest reorganizer
and regenerator of the physicalforces known today.
It was through its regenerativepowers that Jesus,
Peter, and the other apostlescured their patients,and
this great truth is being demonstrated today through
Modem Mediumship. The mind may build up or tear
down the body. Right thinkinggenerates health brations;

vi-
wrong thinking creates inharmonious tions

vibra-
resultingin sickness, etc., and when the body is

in perfectequipoisethe mind is right and the mani-
festation
of the spiritwithin the body is a sane one.
But when the body becomes diseased or out of equi-

poise
the spiritis not able to manifest itself properly
and the results are what is denominated insanity.
The mind may be called deranged because one has a
belief in some ridiculous or impossiblething,when the
truth is the mind is acting under the influence of its
environment.
Lack development may retard the reason-
of mental ing
powers, but erroneous reasoning may usually be

traced to either the derangement of the physicalbrain,
or the lack of capacityof that organ which one's spirit
is tryingto use. No one can be insane when the brain
is in perfectorder.
SPIRIT MEDIUMSHIP "
45
Since mediumship is a naturalfaculty,and the
proper use of it places the physicalorganism in a mal

nor-
condition,good health is the natural result.

The development of mediumship
proper should be
prayerfullysought and sacredly cherished when tained.
at-
The Power of Mental Suggestion.

To show the power and influence of a subtle sugges-
tion,
we will relate speaks for itself.
an incident that
Some years ago, while we were working as mis-
sionaries
of the National SpiritualistAssociation of
the United States,and stopping with a gentleman of
Convoy, Ohio, he related the followingincident,stating
that the persons mentioned in the narrative were all
well known to him. We will not give the names of
these persons, but will use the initial C. to designate
the lady. The story runs as follows: Mrs. C, the
widow of one of the
leadingbusiness men of a nearby
town, on awakening from sleep one morning missed
her false teeth ; and after careful search could not find
them, so concluded she had swallowed them in her
sleep. She began to suffer pain in her stomach. The
pain continued to increase until it became so ting

excrucia-
that she felt she could stand it no longer. She
decided she would go to a Columbus hospital,
have an
operation,and get the teeth out of her stomach. A

horse and buggy was brought out and she was taken
to the depot of a neighboringvillage.
After she was gone the teeth were found and a ant
serv-
procured a neighbor'shorse and buggy and started

after them in the hope of overtakingthem. On his
arrival at the villagedepot, the train had gone and she
was on her way to Columbus. The servant gave up
the chase and went up town. He told a friend of the
circumstance and was advised to telegraphthem that

the teeth were found. This was done, and the gram
tele-
reached the lady at the hospitaljust as the doc-
tors
were about to perform the operation. The lady's

pain ceased and she returned home without submitting
to the operation,feelingmuch better,though she was
greatlyhumiliated.
The foregoing is not an isolated case of the power
of suggestion. The world is full of similar ones,
though they are seldom recorded.

We have related these facts to show what influence
a suggestionmay have on one in his or her normal
state, and would say: It is a well known fact that

mediums when under influence are far more ble
suscepti-
suggestionthan when
to in the normal state, and
it is importantthat mediums and every one else,should
understand these facts.
Mental Mediun:i8 Subjects of Suggestion.

Every mental placing himself in a
medium when
condition to be hypnotized by his spirithelpers,be-comes
subject to suggestion;therefore, it is detri-

mental
to the medium's development and to the results
of the seances to suggest that there are, or may be,
"evil spirits" present; such suggestionoften results in
the medium's gettingthe idea that he is obsessed, and
when this idea becomes a conviction his mediumship is
ruined.
When a medium gets his mind full of Hudson's
theory of the "Subconscious Mind," and is filled with

fear of "Evil Spirits,"he had better cease trying to
develop his mediumship. A belief in either of these
theories is almost sure destruction to his development.
A person seeking development of mediumistic
powers, should have perfect faith and place implicit
SPIRIT MEDIUMSHIP "
47
trust in his spirithelpers; he should become optimistic,

looking upon the bright side of life;he should vate
culti-
cheerfulness and contentment. He should also
cultivate perseverance, precision, punctuality, and

other characteristics necessary to success, as explained
in another chapter.
Danger. of Misleading Mediums by Suggestion.

It is always detrimental to the results to urge a
spiritto give his name, or to insist upon his giving

some personal test. It is much better to give ance
assur-
that one is desirous of

proving the truth of spirit
communion, or of hearing from the loved ones in
spiritlife ; or a suggestionthat sometime when tions

condi-
will permit,it would be a great satisfaction to receive
such proof,or such a message, and then bide the

time. If this is fullycarried out the members of the
circle will receive more proof,and more accurate sages
mes-
than if its members make positivedemands

upon the spirit. In contiually asking for names and
tests, one disturbs the passivity of the medium's mind
and to a greater or less extent causes it to act, and
through this activity
of the medium's mind, the spirit
is sometimes especiallywith an
"
undeveloped medium
"
^hampered in his effort to give the test demanded.
It is therefore only proper to ask that tests " ^not a
certain one " be given whenever the spiritthinks best

or conditions will permit. The sitters should do every-
thing
in their power to make the medium feel that
they have every confidence in him, and the medium
should do everythingin his power to retain that confi-
dence
by trying to make his tests satisfactory

to the
sitter.
*
Members of the circle should be very careful not to
mislead the medium by suggestion. He being a hyp-

notic subjectmay be misled as every student of psy-

chology
ought to know. Some people who hold high
positionsin the educational world seem when dealing
with mediums to be entirelyignorant of the fact that
every h)rpnoticsubject when in the superior state is
influenced by suggestions, mental impressions,

thoughts expressed or unexpressed. The suggestions
of the sitters when stronglywilled may sometimes take
precedence over the suggestionsof the spirit,

especially
when the medium is not well developed and, though
he be entirelyhonest, he may unconsciouslygive the
thought of the positivesitter,thinkinghe is giving the

mental impressions received from the spirit.
Evil Spirits.
The thought of the possiblepresence of evil spirits
in the seance room is bad. The suggestionthat there
may be an evil spiritmanifestingor tryingto manifest

is very injurious to good results ; and the suggestion "
whether self imposed or from another " ^that the dium

me-
has an spiritobsessinghim,
evil means absolute
ruin to his mediumship, providing he believes in the
horrible doctrine of obsession and has not learned the
beautiful and true lesson of Modem Spiritualism.So-
called "evil spirits" are only undeveloped spirits,
and may through the medium's own influence and forts,
ef-
and with the assistance of wise and noble spirits,
become useful, loyal,faithful,and loving ministering
angels,bringingmany blessingsto the mediums, bers
mem-
of the seances, and others.
Good and wholesome thoughts should dominate the

minds of all who come into the presence of a medium.
\
SPIRIT MEDIUMSHIP "

49
Auto-Suggestion, or Self-Suggestion.
One may, or may not receive a suggestion while
awake; it lies with himself to do as he pleases about
it ; but when in the hypnotic state he is free to receive
it andhardly in a condition rejectit,tmless it is a
to
suggestion to do something against his principles, or
something that would involve his character, or thing

some-
againsthis wishes when in the normal state.

A well grounded suggestion made by one's self,to-
gether
with an earnest prayer for spiritassistance,has

healed many a suggestion by another
sick person. A
may be as great in its power if received by the patient.

"
No suggestion is successful without the co-operation
of the subjector his spirithelpers. Many diseases are
overcome by the power of suggestionand auto sugges-

tion.
Bad habits such as the use of morphine, tobacco,
liquor,etc., are cured by its power.

Auto suggestion will place one in a happy frame of
mind, or in a state of fear, sadness, hatred, etc. If one
finds himself in any undesired state of mind, he may

use his will power, determining in his own mind to
change his thought vibration to one of pleasure and
happiness. He can do it by
of his will power, use
gesting
sug-
to himself, I will be happy. I will not be foolish
and remain sad and discouraged. I will not allow fear

to darken my vision, nor anything else to interfere
with my happiness. Hold happy thoughts continually;
apply them determinedly. By practiceit will become
easy and one can rule his moods and make good condi"
tions for the development of his mediumship and his
own happiness,as well as of his friends and associates.

CHAPTER III.
Crude Manifestations " ^Their Significance

and Value.
"Some secret truths from learned pride concealed,

To maids and children are revealed.
What, though, no credit doubting wits may give,
The fair and innocent shall stillreceive."
"Pope.
One of the necessary requisitesfor good medium-
ship is good health, and this is often almost miracu-
lously
given to the medium during the process of de-

velopment
the medium being strangely manipulated.
Every spiritmanifestation occurring in a properly
organized developing circle has a purpose, a cance,
signifi-
and a value. The seeming crude manifesta-
tions,
such as muscular and nervous movements, modic
spas-
breathing, self-manipulation,extreme exercise,
imitatingthe death scene experienced by some one
who has passed to spirit life,speaking in tongues, pro-

ducing
sounds that appear to be only giberishor jar-
gon,
and many more strange actions of the medium are
all for a good purpose. It is

partlythrough these
peculiarmethods that the spiritgains control of the
medium's nerves, muscles, mind, and spirit, ing
magnetiz-
the body and equalizingthe forces, causing the
organs to perform their several functions properly.

By continuingsuch seances the poisons are eliminated
from the medium's system and the spiritimproves in
his ability to control him. I have never known of a
medium's receivingthe slightest injuryor evil effects
from these manifestations.
Mrs. Sprague and the author both passed through
many such experiences and through them she was
methods of communication, and errors may occur
when no one is to blame.

If mediums are stronglyexercised, become rigid,
go
into contortions or enact the death scene by ating
imperson-
some one who has died, let no one become
alarmed, for these manifestations are great helps in

one's mediumistic development ; in fact, in some cases
they are necessary to such development. The spirits

operate upon the muscles, the nerves, and the heart
action is lowered and raised at the will of the spirit
Mediums are made to dance and otherwise exercise
while their bodies being magnetized, and through
are
this peculiarprocess the poisons are eliminated from

their systems through perspiration and emanations of
the body; in short, every manifestation through a
medium has an object and an important significance.
The more become
Spiritualists acquainted with the
purpose of each manifestation " crude or otherwise "
the better and more rapid will be the medium's
development and the more perfect and satisfactory

will be the results.
Crude manifestations will prove blessingsin dis-
guise
to all who fear them if they will learn to submit
to them freely and in the
right spirit ^the spiritof "
kindness, truthfulness, prayerfulness,and love of the

good.
The suggestionof danger to the medium uttered or
unexpressed is detrimental to results in the seance. In

fact the only danger lies in the suggestionof trouble
and the fear that something may happen to injurethe
medium.
The sitters as well as the medium should have abso-
lute
confidence in the medium's guardian spirits.
When something occurs that has a tendency to cause a
suggestion of danger,the manager of the circle should

give assurance that there is no danger. All should
continue the singingto harmonize the conditions.
Advice to Mediums.
Mediums should
always remember that in dealing
with they are dealingwith people,men
spirits and
women who have lived the life of this world as we are
now livingit. These peoplelike ourselves,are not fallible

in-
judgment,thoughthey have the oppor-
in their tunity
of knowing many thingsthat we have not.
One should not trust a spiritin anythingthat is con-
trary
to his own good judgment,at least not where

there is much depending; but one should trust a spirit
who has proved himself good and true, as well as com-
petent
to advise,justthe same as he would trust such

a man in the mortal form.
Wise do
spirits not dictate to their mediums or seek
to rule them in their own affairs. They simplyadvise
and leave it to the medium to decide whether to cept
ac-
or rejecttheir advice. In the author's experience

he was advised by the spirits themselves to adopt this
plan,which he did, but whenever he rejected their ad-
vice,
he was the loser ; and whenever he acceptedit he
succeeded in his
undertakings.
We were requestedby them never to ask for advice
upon any subjector questionthat we were perfectly
competent to decide ourselves;but when we were in
doubt what to do, or how to proceed in any matter, we
were told to call upon them. This we have practiced

all the years of our mediumistic work and in every in-
stance
it has worked well.
One should never ask a spirit
to do for him that
which he can do for himself. He should let reason
and good common sense rale in spirit-communionas in
i
f
"
everything else, and always retain his own uality

individ-
when not desiringspiritcontrol.
No medium has the power to control causing
spirits
them to do his bidding. S|Hritsare not subject to
the will of mediums. Mediums should not become
slaves to spiritsby submittingto their every whim or
notion. Spiritsand those dwellingin the mortal form
should each retain his individuality,
being considerate
of each other's wishes, and working together for each
other's good and the good of all.
Mediums who desire the noblest, the truest, the
most guides and
spiritual controls, should live noble,
true and spirituallives themselves. Like attracts like.
The better lives we live,and the more we know of the
truths of Spiritualism,
the better conditions we make,
and the wiser spirits
we attract.
Mediumship a Partnership.
During the forty-sixyears of our development and
work as mediums, we have never been used by the
spiritfriends contrary to our wishes. We have always
been consulted by them in regard to the work and its
management and our wishes have been

respected. We
have never been led to do thingsagainstour will,or
without our full and free consent.
In thebeginning of our development we formed a
partnershipwith the spiritfriends with whom we ranged
ar-
our plans of work, certain parts of which were

assigned to different members of our spiritband, and
other duties fell to us. We then proceeded through
co-operationto the task of our development and aration

prep-
for the work, and have ever continued to
co-operate harmoniously and successfully in dispensing

the gospel of Modem Spiritualismand demonstrating
its truths to a starving world.
spiritually
In subjectingourselves to the control of the spirit

friends, we did so with the full understanding that
they would care for and protect us against anything
that might prove derogatoryto our welfare; that our
individuality should not become impaired,but that it
should become strengthenedand more fullydeveloped.
Sometimes when wishing to experiment with our
mediumship, to ascertain what they could do through
us, they would first ask our permission,and when it
was granted they would give detailed instructions re-
garding
the conditions to be made in the circle and

forewarn of
an3rthingthat might occur
us that would
have a tendency to startle or frightenus.
We were never misled, deceived, or injured, and
never received a false communication or a word of
tmwholesome advice from our spirit friends. We
were greatlybenefited by the development and tice
prac-
of our mediumship.
At times we overworked just as people in other
fields of labor do, though we were advised and warned
againstdoing so. The dear spiritfriends exercised

what to us seemed super-human powers on many casions
oc-
to keep us from breaking down under the

strain of the great amount of work we were doing,
and through our co-operativemethods, we were able
to accomplish much that could not have* been accom-
plished
without their assistance.
Night after night they worked over us while we

were sleeping,bringingus vital forces and healingin- fluences,
and when morning came our forces were
recuperatedand we were ready for our work again.*
("For further particulars of the great amount of work

we accomplished, and to learn how to do it, get the
pamphlet, "The Spiritualists at Work," by The Spragues,
price 30 cents.)
The spiritfriends have always been honest, loving

and kind in their dealingswith us" never ing
misrepresent-
anything, never deceivingus in any way ever.
what-
They have fulfilled every promise and blessed

us beyond the power of wqrds to tell. We are indeed
gratefulto the faithful,loyal,loving members of our
spiritband; we are truly thankful to them for their

blessed guidance and great assistance in our labors for
humanity.
How to Form a Circle for Spirit Communion.

A circle or for spirit
sitting manifestations may con-
tain
two or more persons; some people say an odd

number " ^three,five,seven, nine, or eleven îsprefer-
able. "
However, we do not think the necessary

number authoritatively
can be
given. It made no
difference with us in our development how many or
how few participated. If we had a harmonious circle,

largeor small, we received good results.
In the formation of a circle someone should be des-
ignated
as chairman and be given charge of the ings,
meet-
and he should carry out the wishes of the spirits,

the medium, and the members of the circle. He should
be the one to whom the sitters should address their
make
questions, suggestions, etc., that everythingmay
be carried 6n in an orderly manner. A secretary
should also be appointed, who should keep a record of
each seance, recordingthe names of the members ent,
pres-
hours of opening and closing,the occurrences
and manifestations,if any, at each sitting, any turbance,
dis-
good or poor conditions, etc. These records

may be used as references, and will help make a his-
tory
of the medium's development.
Every seance should be opened with prayer, or with
music, vocal or instrumental^ as the tendency of these
SPIRIT MEDIUMSHIP "
57
aire to concentrate the minds of the sitters,

and monize
har-
the circle. Concentration ofthought upon the
purpose of the circle, mental prayers, and spiritual
aspirationsare always helpful.
Spirit-controlis a,t first imperfect; but throt^h
practicethe spiritdevelops the medium's organism to
greater receptivity and the control becomes more fect.
per-
This is a part of the development. If one of the
sitters is stronglyimpressed to write, speak, sing,or
dance, while in the circle, he should follow the impres-
sion,
and do as he is impressed to do ; though not to go
beyond reason. Through such manifestations he may

be led into a fuller unfoldment.
followingcode of signalshas been adopted by

The
Spiritualistsin receiving communications through raps

or table tippings: Three raps or three tips of the
table signifies"yes" ; one rap or tip of the table,"no" ;
and two raps or table tips, "doubtful" or "don't know."
In communicating through raps or table tippings, only
questionsthat can be answered by yes or no should
be asked.
If an invisible force moves the
table,or raps, it may
be well to ask if the spirit
controllingwill respond to
the callingof the alphabet. If three tipsof the table
or three raps occur, which would be an affirmative
answer, let the chairman slowly call the alphabet,giv-

ing
spirittime to
the rap or tip the table when each
letter is spoken; and when the letter has thus been
designated,let the chairman repeat the name of the
letter and ask if it If the response
is correct. is "yes,"
then let the secretary of the circle write down the let-
ter
and the chairman proceed in the same manner
until the whole name or sentence is spelled.

We know a case where a book of beautiful poems
purportingto come from different well known poets.
now in spiritlife,was all given by this slow process.

Sometimes only one stanza would be given in a whole
evening. It was real poetry, and was remarkably
characteristic of the authors communicating.
Writing paper, slate and pencilsshould be placed
upon the table or kept near at hand; then if some
member's hand is moved about or made to pound the

table,let a pencilbe placed in the hand, and if it does
not write at first,be not discouraged. Some of our
best mediums have pounded tables, broken pencils,

smashed slates and scribbled over paper and slates at
many circles before the spiritswere able to control

the hand enough to write; but by perseveringin
well
their sittings,
they became successful in that phase.
Occasionallya niedium is controlled to write in a very

few sittings.
Every medium possesses his or her own peculiar

characteristics,temperament, etc., which must be sidered
con-
in forming and carrying on a circle. The

medium and the spiritguides can decide as to the
length of time necessary sittings, how to seat the for

circle, and give advice needed in carrying on the
seances. An undeveloped medium may receive help
and profitby the instructions,advice and magnetic
treatments of well developed mediums and their spirit
bands.
Let the circle be composed of a convenient number
of persons who are interested and harmonious with
one another, and who will take the trouble to be ent

pres-
at the meetings. It would be well for the sitters at
first to meet as often as twice each week. The quency
fre-
of the meeting should depend upon the ability
of the sitters to be present at each gathering,and
upon the manner in which the medium is aflFected by
the sittings.The good judgment of the medium and

Where the circle is not too large it is well to sit

around a table,each sitter's hands restingupon it and
touching the hands of those sittingeach side, thus
forming a complete circle of hands upon the table.
No person's hands should touch together. If the cir-
cle
is too large, dispense with the table and form
around the room, the members joininghands at first,
until the batteryis well formed and the medium under
control. It is always well to ask permission of the
spiritmanifesting,before breaking the circle.
Dark Circles Not for Mental Phases.
No one should sit in the darkness while developing

clairvoyance if he wishes to use this facultyin the
light. We have met mediums who were developed to
see clairvoyantlyin a dark room, but could see nothing
in the light. Darkness is not necessary for the devel-
opment
of mental mediumship. It is just as easy to
develop clairvoyance and all other phases in

mental
the lightas in the darkness, and mediumship that is
developed in the light,may be practicedin the light.
A soft lightshaded with a blue paper makes a good
condition. No medium should sit in darkness to velop
de-
mental phases.
Diet.
The members of the circle should partake of only

lightsuppers, and the medium should if
eat sparingly,
at all,before entering the seance room. It is better

for all, and the medium to abstain
especially, from
meat, though it may not mal

Ani-
be absolutely
necessary.
food developsthe animal nature in man. rian
Vegeta-
fighting,
animals are docile,not given to fierceness,
etc. Carnivorous or meat-eating animals are savage,
warlike, and vicious. This shows the influence of
foods upon the brute creation. It is far better for
mediums " ât least while undergoing development to "
abstain from meat eating. Overeatingand over gence

indul-
in any direction is a hindrance to mediumistic
unfoldment.
Baths.
The medium as well as the sitters should take a
bath and dress in dean clothes before entering the

seance room. body should
The be clean, the mind
pure, the and
thoughts spiritual, the time and place
should be considered sacred. No evil thought should
be present with anyone on such an occasion. The
more perfect confidence and sympathy existing be-
tween
members and medium, also between members of
the circle and spiritfriends, the better will be the
results.
After having held circles for some time, if no festations
mani-
it may be well to change the sitters'
occur,
places around the table ; and after many sittings with
no results the circle should be reorganized,some bers
mem-
being left out or others added, thus changing the

conditions. No one should become discouraged if
months pass by without their receivingsome tations.
manifes-
We know of one case where a medium sat in
a circle twice a week for more than a year without
even feelingthe magnetic currents, and then one ning
eve-
became thoroughly entranced, after which he
developed rapidly. Others have been entranced in

their first circle.
Every member, and the mediums especially, should
obey the laws of health to the best of his or her ability.

A healthybody and a healthy mind are prime requi-
sites
in developing the best mediumship.
Where a circle is being held and a spiritis manifest-
ing,
the circle should never be broken without the con-
sent of the spiritamtrolling; and if the spiritseems

to have in manifesting, the members
difficulty should
sing,or something soft and low should be played upon

the piano or other instrument. This helps to create a
harmonious condition and contributes to the success of

the seance. Above all,the members should not expect
too much at first,but should enter into the work with
the expectation and the determination of spending
months and years if necessary in the seddng for and
investigationof these great truths, being contented

with little,
and willing to bide the time when more
shall be given.
Mutual Confidence of Medium and Spirits

Essential.
On" of the necessary requirements for good results

in the development of mediumship is confidence on the
part of both medium and spiritteacher. The medium
should be honest, good and true in all his dealingswith
his spiritguides; and the spiritshould be the same
with the medium, that mutual confidence may prevail.
Magnetic Attraction.
As there are magnetic attractions between certain
people in the mortal form, so there are magnetic, elec-

tric,
and attractions existingbetween
spiritual spirits
and mortals. "Like attracts like." This law becomes
operative in the seance room. Harmonious magnetic

conditions among the members of the circle,and tween
be-
them and the medium, attract harmonious and
spiritually and
developed spirits, form conditions for
the best results. Each member should strive to come
be-
harmonious and happy within himself and thus
become harmonious with all his associates. Harmony
is the keynoteto good results in the seance room.
Mediums should not allow evil thoughts to abide

with them. They should use their will power and
reject anythought that may
evil come to them.
Anger, jealousy,hatred, malice, avarice, envy, etc.,
breed discord in the mind, tear down tissue,poison the
blood and destroy the harmony that should reign su-
preme
in the mind and body of every one, and espe-

cially
with the one who is seeking the development oi
mediumship.
Gentle, harmonious, kindly and loving thoughts
produce harmony, health and happiness,and also place
one in a proper condition to receive- spiritinfluence
and mediumistic development.
Should Children Sit in Circles?
Children should not sit in circles too often, nor too
long at one time. Parents and

guardians should never
compel children to sit in circles againsttheir will ; nor
should they refuse them the privilegewhen they
desire to do so, unless that desire should become normal
ab-
and injury to the child physically,or
work
interfere with his capacityto acquirelessons in school.
This sometimes happens with a child who is over-worked
in school. It is usuallybetter for the child to

wait until his school days are over before attempting
to develop mediumship.
Conditions Necessary for Good Results.
A possessinga strong positivewill and seek-

person ing
to "expose" the medium, or being antagonisticto
the medium, may sometimes temporarily subvert the
desire and purpose of the controlling
spirit.This is
liable to occur with a medium who is not well developed.
Seekers for truth should avoid being positive,
ing,
exact-
arbitrary,
or contentious when attendingseances.
or when receivingprivate readings,if they wish to
receive good results.

When seekingcommunication with the spiritfriends
one should be in a harmonious frame of mind, ing
enter-
the seance room with the feelingthat he may be
about angel mother
to meet his or other departed loved
ones; that he is approaching the gateway, of heaven.

He should put away all craftiness and deception, never
disguisinghimself or going in the night for fear of

being seen, as did Saul on his visit to the woman of
Endor. Sincerityof purpose, aspirations for the good
and true, should be the motive inspiringevery movement.
Everyone should give our mediums the glad
hand, the hand of lovingkindness and protection.The

forgoing conditions when fulfilled will insure good
results.
Would-be "exposers" and other opponents of Spir-
itualism
should not be encouraged to attend seances.
It is better to let them wait until they reallydesire to
know the truth.
Admitting an uncongenial person to a seance has

sometimes changed the entire conditions,necessitating
the readjustment of all previous arrangements of the
circle and deferring the manifestations.
A spiritmanifestingshould never be urged to give
his name, or to answer at once any positivequestion.
It is better to let the spirit take his time to do it,then
the answer will, probably be more fullyand satisfac-
torily
given.
A pleasantsuggestionthat it would be gratifyingto
receive the name manifesting,or the an-
of the spirit swer
to a certain question,sometime when conditions
are favorable,is much better than to demand or urge

it. The reason is plain:the former method leaves
the meditun in a passive condition,while the latter
has a tendency to arouse his own mind to action which

may become a barrier to the will of the spiritand
prove detrimental, if not wholly disastrous to the
manifestations.
The conditions necessary for good results in a
seance are so subtle that if one of the members is very
tired,or sufferingphysicalpain, or is mentally dis-
tressed,
angry, jealous,or harbors ill feelingstoward

any member present, it is detrimental to the success
of the seance.
It usuallyrequiresconsiderable perseverance on the

part of the members of the circle to develop a medium,
and sometimes many sittings
are necessary before any
manifestations occur. Occasionallya medium is de-
veloped
suddenly. In the latter case it will be learned
that the spiritsmay have spent years in preparinghim
for the productioinof the phenomena, and sometimes
this is done without the knowledge of the medium.
No one on this side of life can realize the great
amount of labor, the persistenteffort,and the many
years sometimes required on the part of the spirit-

friends in removing the obstacles and overcoming
adverse conditions in
preparingthe medium and bring-
ing
him into the work. Everyone should do his best
to assist the spirit-friends in making good conditions.
What a joy it is to know that we see and converse
with our dear ones, who some people think are dead.
Mediums are blessed above all others of this world.
All mediums appreciatetheir sacred mis-
may well sion.
May the investigators and Spiritualists learn

more about making good conditions for the mediums
to accomplish their good work. It is a pity that they
should be obliged to work under suspicionof fraud
and be looked upon by some, who err in judgment,as
deceivers, and to be accused of all kinds of evil doings
by the ignorant and conscienceless pretenders to the
exposure of Spiritualism.
None but the sensitive mediums themselves know
what unhappiness, suspicion, discord, etc, brought

into the seances causes the medium, who is trying to
get into condition to function on the higher spiritual

plane so as to bring to the members of the seance their
spirit loved ones to make them h^py.

When conditicMis are good, the results are fine and
the medium and the members of the seance are happy.

Mediums are very sensitive. They quickly discern
the pleasant and harmonious conditions or the pleasant

un-
and inharmonious conditions of a seance ; they
may, or may not be able to discern the exact cause
of inharmony and adverse conditions, even when they

suffer frcMn it. Mediums suffer more and enjoy more
than those who are less sensitive. Heaven is blessing

the mediums and the !mediums bless their clients,
and the Spiritualists and their mediums are all happy
in the good work.
There's no spot in this wide world to me that's so
sweet
As the place where the angels with earth's dren

chil-
meet;
Where men talk with angels through powers they

unfold
And hearts beat with gladness while love fills the
soul.
Physical Phases.
SpiritRappings. SpiritEtherialization.
Writing by Planchette Production of Flowers.
other Devices.
and of "Apports."
Producing
Independent Slate Writ-
ing.
Passing of Matter
Through Matter.
Drawing Pictures in the
Automatic Writing.
Dark or When fold.
Blind-
Independent Spirit-Pic-
ture
strumental.
In-
Making.
Independent Music "
Magnetic and Spiritual

Trumpet Speaking.
Healing,by Contact.
Independent Typewriting. Transfiguration.
Independent Telegraphy. Independent Voices in
Levitation. the Dark.
Dermo Psychography or Independent Voices in the
Writing in Blood Let-
ters Light.
on the skin. Changing the Weight of
SpiritPhotography. Material Bodies.
Moving Articles of niture
Fur- Luminous Appearances of
Without Contact. Crosses, Crescents, etc.
SpiritMaterialization. Table Tippings.
There are other subdivisions of the two phases of
mediumship, but most of them have been mentioned.
Mental and Physicalmediumship are usuallymani-
fested
in the same medium, though one phase may
appear in only a small degree while the other may be
well developed. Strong physicalmediumship is more
rarelydeveloped in mediums of this country than are
the mental phases.
Many of these phases may manifest themselves in

one medium at times, and are so closelyrelated that
they often blend one into the other.
SpiritRaps and Table Tipping.

Many people have mediumistic qualification
for
spirit-rappings
or table-tippings,
or both. More per-
SPIRIT MEDIUMSHIP "
69
sons are developed for the latter than the former
phase.
In the hope that it may do good, we wish to size
empha-
this particularfact; namely, he or she in whose
presence the stand is moved, or

raps are produced by
an invisible force or power, without the volition of the
medium or other person in the mortal form, is a dium;
me-
and by proper and persistentsittingsmay come

be-
developed for other and more desirable phases of

mediumship. This is as certain as the truths of the
multiplication table. Many of our greatest mediums,

both of the early days of Spiritualism and of the pres-
ent
time, began their development with this simple,
though beautiful phase of mediumship. Slow as is the
process of communication, many upliftingmessages
are received through this method. Many persons, too
"
through ignorance of the subject ^have either lost "
their giftor ruined it by asking foolish,frivolous, and

ridiculous questions. They thus turn the sacredness
of the seance into a Punch and Judy show or thing
some-
more disgusting.
Raps may be produced by the spiritwith great precision,
and through them reliable and beautiful mes-sages
given; but at times the messages are imperfect

and unreliable,for the simple reason that the spirit
communicating cannot control the occult forces to
regulatethe raps properly. The result is the communi-
cations
become imperfect. We misunderstand and
misinterprettheir true meaning and sometimes think

the spirits
are deceivingus, when they are not. This
is another source from which is drawn the erroneous
belief in "evil spirits"

and "obsession." We know but
little regarding the subtle laws and forces governing
spiritphenomena and spiritmanifestations,and our
ignorance of them may prove to be the only "evil

spirit"to cause the erroneous communication. By severance
per-
and aspirationfor good we may greatly aid
the spiritand he may learn to control the raps to municate
com-
his messages correctly;and better still,in

time he may learn to control the medium to give his
messages more perfectly,

and more rapidly.
Trumpet Speaking.
The question is often asked: ''Why is a trumpet
used in the seance for spiritsto talk through?" The
answer is simple and plain. If spiritscan produce a
voice or a sound " ând we know they can and do "
that voice or sound may be increased in volume by

the use of a trumpet exactly as a man's voice is in-
creased
in volume by the use of a megaphone, as is
shown by men's announcing the departure of trains in
our railway depots, by their announcing the time of
airshipflights
to crowds of people,etc.
The Christian
people seem to be the greatest doubt-
ers
of this phase of spiritual
phenomena, and it seems
to me they should be the last to ask the above tioned
men-
question. Any Christian who may be in doubt

about spiritsspeaking or producing other audible
sounds should read his bible. It contains many ords
rec-
of independent spiritvoices and trumpet ing.

speak-
They should also read the writingsof Rev. John
Wesley, the founder of Methodism, regarding the
strange sounds and other spiritphenomena produced
many years ago in the Epworth home, John Wesley's
father's house.
Speaking in Tongues.
The "gift"or facultyof speaking in different lan-
guages
is an important phase of mediumship when
rightlyunderstood. The Christian bible records many

instances of its practiceshowing that it has been one
of the many phases of spiritmanifestation for ages.
A large number of modem mediums possess this
phase of mediumship and practiceit more or less at
times. They are principally led to practiceit while in
the early stages of their development; though some
mediums continue it at times throughout their lives.
THE MOST IMPORTANT THING FOR WHICH
THIS PHASE IS USED BY THE SPIRIT IS IN
GAINING CONTROL OF THE VOCAL GANS
OR-
AND USING THEM INDEPENDENTLY
OF THE MEDIUM'S MIND. This
greatlyto adds
the power of the controllingspiritin giving tests and
public discourses. Its practice also develops lung
power in the medium.

This phase proof of the fact of
is also used as a
spiritcontrol, spiritindividuality,and spiritidentity.

The medium who speaks in "unknown tongues''or
foreignlanguages,or is led to use even jargon or gib-
berish
may feel certain that he is on his way to a
higher development. Through its use he may develop

into speaking in "tmknown tongues," and from "un-known
tongues" into speaking in foreign languages,

and through the use of foreign languages he may be
developed to that extent that he may be used by the
spiritfriends to deliver fine discourses, improvise

poetry, etc., in his own language. Mediums speaking
in unknown tongues do not tmconsciouslyor otherwise
influence the thought being expressed through
their lips,and in the practice of this phase of medium-
ship,the spiritdevelops the power of giving his own

thought unbiased by the medium's ideas and percep-
tions.
Through its practicehe becomes better developed,
and spirits of his own language become able to
express their thought independentlyof the medium's

ideas.
Some mediums have been controlled give lec-
tures
to
upon the philosophy of first in a

Spiritualism,
language with which they were not acquainted,and
then were led to reproduce them in their own guage.
lan-
Speaking
foreign tongue seems
in to have
a
prepared the way for speaking in their native

language. Mediums should not resist this phase of
mediumship, but should welcome it, for through it is
often found the way to the public rostrum and the
demonstrations of the seance room.
For records of thephase of medium-

practiceof this
ship in ancient times, see Mark XVI- 17, Jesus says:

it
They shall speak with new tongues." Acts XIX-6,
it
And when Paul had laid his hands upon them the
Holy Ghost came upon them and they spake with

tongues and prophesied." Acts II-4, "And they
were all filled with the Holy Ghost and began to speak
with other tongues as the spiritgave them utterance."
Take notice please: The spiritgave them utterance.
This is justwhat Spiritualismteaches. The last quo-

tation
was from the account of the Pentacostal feast.
Read it all,please.
have
Spiritualists many such Pentacostal feasts at
their seances. Many such passages might be given,

but these are sufficient. Modem Spiritualismdemon-
strates
the probable truth of these passages of ture
scrip-
and practice this phase of medium-
Spiritualists
ship to the great benefit and blessingof the world.
It is well for mediums and Spiritualists to know that
nearly every phase of mediumship practicedamong us
today is recorded in the scriptures, and that Jesus,

Paul and others urged the "seekingafter these gifts."
Personation^ Transfiguration^ Etherialization, and

Materialization.
Our spiritfriends possess bodies in spiritlife which

they describe being composed of etherialized,sub-
as limated,
spiritualized
matter or substance. This body
is very appropriatelycalled by St. Paul, as it is by
Spiritualists,
the "SpiritualBody."
Some Mrriters have denominated it the "fluidic
body," and Theosophistsand others call it the "Astral
Body." It matters littleby what name it is called,though
the "SpiritualBody" is preferable, as that is exactly
what it is, and is more comprehensive. This "Spir- itual
Body" we shall inhabit when we leave our physical
forms, and live in the spirit world.
There are four degrees or phases of this class of
spiritphenomena, and they blend one into the other.

They are denominated: personation,transfiguration,
etherialization and materialization.
Personation.
When a medium is led to personate, the spirit

makes
himself known by certain actions, manner of speech,
words spoken, such as deathbed utterances, or repre-
senting
the physicalcondition that caused his death,
and other manifestations peculiarto him when living
on earth.
Transfiguration.
A littlemore control of the medium and tion

transfigura-
sometimes occurs, in which case the medium's
features are transformed to represent those of the
spirit;his countenance is changed, and he looks and
appears as the did

spirit when livingin earth-life.
Etherialization.
When etherialization occurs, the elements of the
spiritbody suffitiendycondensed
do not become
to
produce full materialization,though they enter the

realm or sphere of the physicalvision sufficiently
to be
discerned as a vapory substance. The vibration has

not become slow enough in rate, and consequentlynot
sufficiently
dense, to become fully materialized. It is
sometimes the case that one can see through an ether-
ialized form, and discern a lightor other object be-
yond
it ; and one may draw his hand through it as he
would through mist or smoke.
Materialization.
A slower vibration
spiritual
atoms of the
composing
the etherialized body, produces what is called ma-
terialization.
This is done by the spiritwho must
know how to raise and lower the rate of vibration of

his spiritual
body. He must lower it imtil it becomes
dense
sufficiently or solidified to appear as real cal
physi-
matter, else we could not see or feel it.
It has been thought necessary for spirits
to clothe
themselves in the coarser elements of matter in order
to materialize their bodies, but our spiritteachers tell
us they only need to lower the rate of vibration

that
of the spirit-body to conform to the rate of vibration
of our physicalbodies to be with us for the moment

on this mortal plane. It is very difficult for most
spirits to control the vibratoryconditions necessary to
appear to us, as a knowledge of chemical affinities,

self control by the spirit, development of will power,
etc., are necessary to the accomplishment of this beau-
tiful
manifestation of spirits.The elements of vitality
and magnetic auras drawn from the medium and the
sitters are necessary in the chemical processes to the
ent with the medium, diseased physicalconditions of a
patient,etc.
SubjectiveQairvoyance is produced by the mental
impressions of the spirit-operator acting upon the
mind of the medium. It is closelyrelated to telepathy
or thought-transferencebetween spiritsof the so-
called "dead" and those in the mortal form.
Qairsentience is the sensingthe presence of bodied
disem-
spirits;the physical,mental, moral, or other
condition of persons in this life. It is the same as scious
con-
personation. The meditun feels the physical

condition of a sick person or the mental condition of
one in trouble,etc.
While sittingfor development one should tell what
he sees or feels,be it ever so for in doing
little, so it
often opens the way for more.
The medium's mind at times may be so active as to
interfere with a mental impressionor subjectivevision

and cause the manifestation to become defective and
lose its value. This may occur without the medium's
knowledge. He may not be able to tell when the spirit

impression ceases and his own mind begins to act.
This is a common occurrence with an undeveloped me-
dium,
and no one is to blame for it. The better de-

velopment
a medium has, the less likelythis is to
occur. A well developed medium knows absolutely
that his vision is correct when it is stronglyimpressed
upon him.
The failure to distinguishbetween the mental pression
im-
of the spiritand the action of the medium's
own mind has been a fruitful source of erroneous
messages and leading to the belief in "evil spirits,"

"obsession,"etc.
One should never look for infallibility
in any phas^
of mediumship, but should receive all messages and
phenomena with an open mind and a full realization

that they should be proven correct before being ac-
cepted
as infalliblytrue, just as the testimonyand

manifestations of men in the flesh is received. If mis-
takes
occur in spiritmanifestations,blame not the dium,

me-
the spirits,
nor the sitters. The blame usually
lies in the misunderstanding of the laws governing
these forces.
subtle, psychic,and spiritual
Clairaudience.
Qairaudience is another of the spiritualsenses. A

medium possessing this beautiful spiritual faculty
hears sounds not audible
through the physicalear.
There are vibrations of lightthat are too rapid to be
seen through the physicaleye ; and there are vibrations
of sound too rapid to be caught by the physicalear
through the medium of the tympanum. These latter
vibrations may be conveyed to the consciousness of
the medium in two or more different ways; one is
called ObjectiveClairaudience,the other Subjective
Qairaudience, and both are very closelyrelated to
Telepathy. A medium may receive the first few words
of a message through Objective Qairaudience and the
communication may continue to be received through
Subjective Qairaudience, and end in Telepathy or
Mental Impressions.
Objective Clairaudience hearing of spirit is the
voices without the t3rmpanum of the physicalear being
vibrated, though the auditorynerve seems to respond
to the spiritvoice as the sound is conveyed to the con-

sciousness
of the medium. The great nerve tension

under which the medium isplaced enables his auditory
nerve to receive, from within, the rapid vibrations of
the spiritvoices, and the message is conveyed to his
consciousness. Nothing more is known of the process
by which the message is received,than is known of the
process of receivingsounds of human voices in the

material world.
Subjective Clairaudience is the process used in
reaching the medium's consciousness by the spirit

operator'ssubjectingthe mind to the impression of
sound. Real sound vibrations may not occur, but that
which seems like it is impressed upon the medium's
consciousness, in a similar way to that in which words
and sentences are impressed upon the consciousness
of one when reading to himself, without giving,
utter-
ance
to the words he is reading. ObjectiveGairaudi-
ence, Subjective Qairaudience, and mental impres-

sions
are so closelyrelated to each other that a dium
me-
may at times be unable to distinguishbetween

them, or to understand where one leaves off and the
other begins. This is true of several other phases of
mediumship, as may be seen by reading carefuDy the
articles on various phases of mediumship, and notably
the subjectson Materialization,Etherialization,Trans-
figuration,
and Personation ; also those on Inspiration,
Conscious Trance, Semi-Conscious Trance and conscious
Un-
Trance.
In the manifestation of Qairaudience, the auditory
nerve is vibrated and responds to the thought and will
of the the
spirit, same as other nerves are made to
vibrate in response to a thought, inward emotion, or
action of the mind or will of one's own spirit.
Impressional Mediumship.
This mediumship is probably the most com-
kind of mon
of any of the phases. It is more easilydeveloped

in many persons than are the other phases. In fact,
most people develop it in some degree, without realiz-
ing
it. It is a fine phase of Mediumship, and the more
SPIRIT KEDIUMSHIP " 79
we know of it,and the more we learn to practiceit,

and relyon it,the more
to beautiful and better it will
become developed.
Many of our publicmediums possess this power and
use it in connection with other phases in the practice
of their mediumship. Impressionalmediumship and
SubjectiveQairvoyance are so nearly alike that it is
doubtful if a line can be logically drawn between them.
A medium sees a house and describes it ; then he sees
it on fire;then he says it is burned down and there

is nothing left but the walls of the cellar. The dium
me-
says to the "This

sitters, was your childhood
home, and it burned years ago."
thirty The test is ognized
rec-
and verified.
Now analyze this test. The medium
let us saw the
house, describingit,and yet this house had not been in

existence for thirtyyears. How did he see it? The
controlling evidentlyremembered
spirit how the house
looked, and impressed upon the medium's mind the
mental picture of the house as he remembered its
looks. He caused the medium to see the house, first,
as it was before the fire; second, when it was all
ablaze; third,the ruins, when nothing but the base-
ment
walls remained. This experience may be called
Impressionalmediumship, or it may be called Sub-

jective
Clairvoyance.
One may develop Impressionalmediumship by pre- paring
himself the same as for the development of
other phases,sitting by himself at regular stated times
and by taking notice of his first impressions regarding
persons and thingsthat he comes in contact with. As
soon as one seeks to develop this,or any other phase

of mediumship, and makes the
necessary conditions
therefor, he will attract who
spirits will gladly help
him. With perseverance, aspirationfor the good and
true, there are but few persons who cannot develop it

in some degree.
To Develop InspirationalSpeaking.
There is no better way to develop inspirational
speaking than by speaking from questionswritten by
members of the seance, and read one by one to the
medium when under influence or control of the spirit.
At first these questions should not be personal
ones, asking for tests, etc., but should be questions
regardingSpiritualism, its philosophy,science,religious
teachings,death, and the future life. They should
not be questionshard to answer until the medium has
become accustomed to the work.
The medium should be
privilegedto lay aside tem-
porarily,
or to rejectany questionhe may not choose

to discuss. This practicewill improve the medium
and add to the power of the spiritrapidly. It greatly
aided the writer in his development, and he used it
at times from the public rostrum.
Automatic, Inspirational,Independent and
Impressional Writing.
Automatic Writing may be classed with the physical
phenomena of Spiritualism. The medium's hand is
moved automatically,
or independent of his will. The
spiritcontrols the medium's hand and writes gent

intelli-
messages, while the medium is not conscious of

what is being written. He is able to converse on gen-
eral
topics,or on questions entirelyforeign to the
writing,while the hand holds closesubject to the

under consideration
by the spiritcontrolling.
InspirationalWriting is different from Automatic
Writing in the fact that the medium is conscious of
what is being written. Every thought written passes
SPIRIT MEDIUMSHIP "
81
through the medium's brain before it is jotteddown.

The conscious inspirationextends from the brain to
the fingertips.The Inspirationoften flows faster

than the hand can be made to write the thoughts given,
and thus the work is retarded, and the effort to get
the intelligent communication sometimes proves less.
fruit-
However, if the sittings are continued at proper
intervals,and good conditions are made, the rate of
speed will soon become regulatedto a normal, though
perhaps quite rapid rate, and fine results will be
obtained.
ImpressionalWriting Inspirationalis like

Writing
in the fact that the thought to be written is impressed
upon the medium's mind, though it differs from it in

this feature the medium
" is not inspiredor impelled
to write his impressions.But he may do so by his own
volition,or he may not. He is left to do as he pleases
about it.
Strange Writings.
We have known several mediums who have written
strange lookingwriting,such as symbols,hieroglyph-

ics,
or what lady called
one "hooks and eyes." This
strange writing usually purports to be of ancient

originand produced by ancient spirits.The mediimi
is seldom able to interpretthis writing,though occasionally
one is developed for the phase of interpreta-

tion
of tongues and of ancient writing.
Mediums for the phase of symbol or ancient writ-
ing
often complain because they do not develop some-thing
better or more comprehensive; but those that we

have met have devoted very littletime to their devel-
opment,
and systematicmethods in
have employed no
but have held them

their sittings, haphazard. The
development of good mediumship requires time,
devotion to the work, and systematicmethods.
By the use of proper methods this phase of medium-

ship may be developed into other and more desirable
manifestations. The ancient spirithaving gained con-
trol
may through his power, practice, with

prepare the
meditmi for some English speaking spiritwho may
write in our language,and other phases such as trance
speaking,etc., may follow.
Independent Slate Writing, or Writing Between

Closed Slates.
This is one of the

convincingphases. It be-
most longs
to the physicalphases of mediumship, though it
may be classed as of both the mental and physical, as
the movement of the pencilwithin the slates is purely

a physicalmanifestation, and the intelligent cation
communi-
is certainly the product of mind.
In the production of these phenomena ordinary
school slates are usually used. Sometimes they are
hinged together and sometimes not. A piece of slate
pencilsmall enough to roll around freelyis placed be-

tween
the closed slates,and the spirits use it to write
messages on the inside of them.

We have received many beautiful and convincing
messages through this phase of spiritmanifestation.
With Charles E. Watkins, Pere Keeler, and others of
their class, the writing is usually done between the
slates while the medium, the investigator,and some-
times
the members of the circle are holding the slates

closed together in plain sight.
Spiritsare often identified by the handwritingthat

appears upon the slates. This, togetherwith the fact
that under the circumstances no human hand could
have written the messages, and the further proof that
often lies in the facts stated in the messages selves
them-
makes the test complete.
84 HOW TO DEVELOP IT. /
of them, but he fell back out of reach, evidentlyhav-

ing
received all he cared for of that sort of experience.
Mrs. Ka3mer then took a celluloid collar and a pair of
celluloid cuffs and drew them backward and forward

through the full blaze of one of those lamps and
though they were very inflammable,they did not burn.
She did the same thing with a twenty-dollarbill,and
also with the lace on her sleeves. She placedher own
hand in the blaze, drawing it back and forth through
the fire. She took the author's hand, made a few
passes over it, strdcingit and talkingto it in some
kind of
language,tongue, or jargon, as she had
been
doing to the lamp globes,the celluloid collars,etc.
(This strange talk was supposed to come from the
spiritof some ancient fire worshipper). After a little
she drew his hand slowly back and forth through the
blaze of the lamp, perhaps a dozen or more times,
and it did not even feel warm, nor did it bum or singe
a singlehair on his hand. He did not feel the effect
of the blaze in the least.
To close this seance after about forty-five
minutes
of playing with fire,Mrs. Ka)mer took one of those
large lamps with the blaze turned up in full,placed
the chimney against her face and with a scientist walk-
ing
backward in front of her, and an M. D. walking
beside her, where they both could watch the lamp
and Mrs. Kayner's face, they marched down the aisle
to the farther end of the hall. There they turned and
passed across it,then turned back on the other side,
turningagain,passed in front of the rostrum, and came
upon the platform to the starting point. There she re-
moved
the lamp from her cheek. The scientist,the

doctor, and others* of the committee examined Mrs
Kayner*s face, and reported that there was no dence

evi-
that heat had been in connection with it. One

SPIRIT MEDIUMSHIP "
85
of the committee held a watch and declared that the
lamp chimney was pressed to the medium's face just

two minutes and five seconds.
Among the mediums for this phase of modern me-
diumship may be mentioned Daniel D. Home, who was
the means of converting many scientists and other
leading men of the world, includingmembers of the
Royal families of different countries,whose recorded
testimony of the manifestations occurring at his fire
seances, are an astonishingrevelation to novices in
Spiritualism.
Our Christian friends may smile on reading the
foregoing accotmt, and term our belief "childish
they may recall the fact
credulity"but, on reflection,
that they believe, or have promised to believe, and
now profess to believe, in the infallibility
of the
Christian bible, and that all who do not believe it,
will be lost forever. The bible tells of the great
exploits of its fire mediums, such as bringing fire
down from heaven to etc. Modern
destroylives,cities,
phenomena do not compare with these phenomena of
the "infallible records.'*
Moses a Fire Medium.
See Numbers XVI, Chap. 15-17-21-25 verses. The
35th verse says : "And there came out a fire from the
Lord and consumed the two hundred and fiftymen
that offered incense." 48th verse says: "And he
(Moses) stood between the dead and the living;and

the plague was stayed." (Read whole chapter.)
The Prophet Elijah a Fire Medium.
1st Kings XVIII Chap., 30th to 40th verse. In the
37th verse he prays and in 38th verse God answers his
prayer as follows : "Then the fire of the Lord fell and

consumed the burnt sacrifice,and the wood, and the
stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was
in the trench."
Elijahwas also a water medium for he made it rain

soon after this,even after years of drouth. (See ist
Kings, XVIII Chap.,41st to 46th verses.) This whole

chapteris laden with stories of the wonders, the mar-
vels,
etc., produced by this supposedly greatest fire

medium that ever lived.
He finallyclosed his very remarkable career upon
earth with a fine fire seance, in which his God sent a
chariot of fire and horses of fire and carried him in this

warm weather turnout to Heaven, which is a flat con-
tradiction
to scriptureuttered by Paul and other ture

scrip-
writers, Paul says: "Flesh and blood cannot
inherit the Kingdom of God." (Cor. XV-50.)
Elijah's Last Seance.
2nd Kings, 2nd Chapter, nth verse, says: "And it
came to pass, as they stillwent on and talked^that hold,

be-
there appeared a chariot of fire,and horses of
fire and parted them asunder, and Elijahwent by a up
whirlwind into Heaven." Does a belief in this scrip-
ture
record constitute "Childish credulity"?
This whole chapter is full of the marvels of this
medium's powers and acts.
Fire Fails to Bum This Bible Trio.
In the book of Daniel, Chap. Ill, we read that King

Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold, and ordered
the rulers under him to be present at its dedication,
and to fall down and worship it. They were to be
burned for failure
comply with this command.
to
Three Jews, Shadrach, Meshack, and Abed-Nego, re-fused
and were cast in the fieryfurnace, which was

SPIRIT MEDIUMSHIP "
87
greatlyheated for the occasion. An angel or spirit

appeared in the fire with them, and they came out of
the fire unharmed.
The 27th verse says : "And the
princes,governors
and captains,and the king'scounsellors, being gath-
ered
together,saw these men, upon whose bodies the
fire had no power; nor was an hair of their head
singed,neither were their coats changed nor the smell

of fire passed on them/'
There are many scriptureregard-
other ing passages of
its spiritphenomena, that, to be believed,requires
much greater credulitythan anything believed by
Spiritualists.
Inspiration,Conscious Trance, Semi-Conscious

Trance, and Unconscious Trance.
There is no more danger in enteringthe unconscious

trance state than
enteringan unconscious sleep as
in
we all do on retiringat night. It is a state of deep

sleep and is closelyrelated to Somnambulism. The
medium's reasoning faculties are apparentlydormant.
(See article on Somnambulism, page 94.)
Inspiration.^When a medium" is speaking under in-
spiration
the spiritimpresses him with the general
facts in relation to the subject in consideration, and
the words are sometimes given him to use. At times
several words having the same meaning are suggested
from which the medium may select the one he chooses
to use. In each case the medium sees, feels,and derstands
un-
much more than mere words can be made to
express. O, the beauty of inspiration!To be once

trulyinspiredby a spiritto see, hear, feel and under-
stand
fullyand feeblythat which one

to express even
influence of a spirit,
realizes while under the inspiring
is a joy beyond expression.
Conscious Trance. " With this phase of mediumship

the medium is conscious of all that transpiresaround
him, though his will is inactive. His words, voice,and
physicalmovements are controlled by the spirit-hypno-
tist,
and the medium obeys his will in everything so
long as nothingshocks him. But if the control should
attempt to lead the medium wrong "

somethingwe have
never experienced " he would fail. The very thought
of it would bring the medium to himself at once, and
the control would be thrown off. Our experience
teaches us that the desire of the spiritsis not to do
wrong, or to cause the medium to do wrong, but ways

al-
to do rightand to help and bless the world by
their heavenly ministrations.
Semi-Conscious Trance. " This is a condition in
which the medium is under a littledeeper control and
occupies a sort of dreamy consciousness of what is

transpiring,and after regaining consciousness bers
remem-
but little of what has transpired. It all seems
like a dream to him.

Unconscious Trance. " ^This is a still deeper trance
condition, the spiritholding control over the entire
physicalas well as the mental faculties of the medium,

and directingtheir action. When the medium returns
to his normal consciousness,he remembers nothing of

what has transpired while he was in the magnetic
sleep. He is not fatiguedbut usuallyfeels rested as
from a restful night'ssleep.

Conscious Trance, Inspiration,or Impressional me-
diimiship,are preferableto Unconscious Trance cause

be-
with these phases the medium is in a condition
to receive the benefit of the lectures or phenomenal currences,

oc-
and thus becomes educated in the facts,

philosophyand other great truths of Spiritualism
and
SPIRIT MEDIUMSHIP "
89
mediumship whereas, if unconscious, the medium is

not benefited in this way, though he
greatly may be
benefited physically, the same as with other phases.
Mediums should let the spiritsdecide what phases they
can best develop,though the medium's wishes should
be considered.
The spiritsgenerate, and enveloped in spiritual
are
auras, which, togetherwith the magnetic and electric

forces of the medium and sitters constitute the battery
used to produce all spirit manifestations.
In the early stages of development mediums are
often placed in an unconscious trance. This is prob-

ably
because the spirit can more successfully carry on
the development of the medium and get better results
in the phenomena with the medium's consciousness
placed at one side. The medium's understanding of

spiritual thingsis at first necessarily limited,and con-
sequently
his erroneous ideas regarding such matters
may unintentionally influence the communications and
cause misrepresentation to occur; but as the medium
gradually becomes acquainted with the laws and

methods of control and gains an understandingof the
teachingsof the spirits, his enlightenmentobviates the
necessityof his continuingto be unconsciouslyen- tranced,
and graduallyhis condition is changed to that

of the conscious trance. Most mediums outgrow the
unconscious trance state in time and become fullycon-
scious
of what occurs through their mediumship,

though occasionally a medium continues to do his
work in an unconscious state.
Spirit Photography.
SpiritPhotography may be explainedby the facts
recorded in our article on Materialization,coupled
with the fact that the photographiclens is capable of
catchingthe reflection of things that are invisible to

the physicaleye. Dr. W. M. Lockwood, a practical
photographer,scientist and able writer on the subject
of Scientific Spiritualism, says that spirit
photography
is a scientifically
demonstrated truth.
It is claimed that the lens of the camera is six
times stronger than the human eye, and it is a fact that
the sensitized plate will record that which the eye
cannot discern. The author once photographed a
house when
evening shades were
the falling.It was
so dark that he could not distinguish the outline of
the shingleson the roof. It was impossibleto tell
whether the roof was shingledor not. He gave the
plate a long exposure and when the negative was
developed it was a fine one. The print showed every

shingleas clearlyas though it had been taken in the
best light.
Since the
telescopeand microscope enable us to see
things which the physicaleye cannot discern, may
it not be reasonable to suppose that it is possible for
the lens of a camera to reflect,
and the sensitized plate
to record, the forms of ourspiritfriends,providing
they are about us, and have, as Spiritualismteaches,
"SpiritualBodies'* composed of refined, sublimated
matter, or substance?
The truth of spiritphotography has been strated
demon-
to the satisfaction of many people including

some of our great scientists. It is as easilyexplained
as many of the more common phenomena of every
day occurrence.
When we have discovered the source of the laws

and forces governing photography, we will be able to
trace spirit-photography
to the causes producing it.
By the same methods we shall be able to discover the

called Clairvoyance. Through this phase of medium-

ship disease is diagnosed, the cause located,and reme-
dies
are prescribed.
Under influence
spirit the medium may be controlled
to take upon himself the physical and mental dition
con-
of persons in the mortal form, thus diagnosing

disease etc., correctly. SpiritualSciences teaches that
the invisible aura, or magnetism of the patient,enters
the pores of the skin and is transmitted to the
medium's brain, and thence is diffused throughout
the nervous system, causing him experience in great
to
or small degree the condition of the patient. The

medium being highly sensitized by the spiritcontrol-
ling,
easilycomprehends the conditions produced upon
his nervous system by the influence of the magnetic
aura, thus absorbed in the action of these marvelous
mediumistic processes, and he unhesitatingly
describes
the physical ailments, mental derangements, desires,
hopes, purposes and tendencies of the patient. A
medium may be placed in an unconscious trance state
while the spiritdescribes these conditions;or he may

retain his consciousness and describe them himself.
That is merely a questionof his mediumistic ment.
develop-
Some mediums, while entranced, take upon selves

them-
the condition of the patient,whether he is
present in the room or a thousand miles away. In such
cases the spiritplaces upon the medium the physical

condition and prescribesthe remedies for the cure
of the patient.
This method of diagnosisis very accurate. The
medium in taking upon himself the condition of the
patient,feels as the patientfeels,and the clear seeing

of the spiritmakes the diagnosisdoubly strong. In
coming in contact with the patient his physicalcon-

dition
is impressed upon the medium, in the ess

and proc-
it cannot impress something different; it must
impress the condition just as it is. The medium like
the mirror must reflect the image of placed before
that
it. The meditun rarelymakes a mistake in a diagnosis
of this character, though he may unconsciouslycome
in contact with some other person than the one tended
in-
and make a diagnosisof their case^ instead.
Great care should be taken not ô make this mistake.
By developingthe use of will power, a medium may
avoid taking on the condition of his patientwhen not
wishing to diagnose his disease. And by the same
power he may throw it off when he does take on
such condition. Pure air in the ro("n is essential to
good results.
Impersonating Spirits.
Impersonation is also a very useful phase of me-
diumship in identifyingspiritswhen manifesting.
The medium for this phase is controlled by the spirit.
For the time being he is thoroughly under the hyp-
notic
control of the spirit.He feels what the spirit
feels,thinks what he thinks,and acts as he acts, often
passing through the experience which caused the
spirit's transition, imitatinghis breathing,repeating

his last words, in short, reenactingthe death scene.
Though the medium himself may know nothing of

the case, he may reproducethe scene of death and per-
sonate
one dying of fever, cancer, drowning, burning,
or any other condition that may |iavecaused the ition
trans-
of the returningspirit.
In our own experiencewe have been controlled to
personate the transition of many spiritstaking upon

us the conditions, and reenacting the death scene
caused by many different diseases, accidents, etc

These impersonationslike all other phases of medium-
ship are not in the least harmful unless practiced

excessively;but they are very helpfulin the unfolding
of one's mediumistic powers.
Impersonatingspiritsserves two purposes: it iden-
tifies
the spiritand helps to develop the medium so he
will be able to understand what caused the transition
of the manifesting.Some
spirit mediums requiremore
of this development than others before they are able
to understand what caused the spirit'stransition,
without first takingupon themselves the full condition,
or impersonatingto the full extent the spirit's dition
con-
when passing over. Impersonating a spirit's

passing through the death scene is usually a certain
test of his personal presence and identity.
Somnambulism, " Its Relatioii to Mediumship.

Somnambulism borders closely upon ance,
clairvoy-
and sleep-walkers are sometimes controlled
by spiritswhile in this strange condition. Persons

while in the unconscious somnambulistic state have
written wonderful essays and sermons, composed
music, solved intricate problems in mathematics, posed
com-
and written poetry and other things that were
beyond their abilitywhen in the normal state. This
may be mental mediumship. Somnambulism is also
closelyrelated to the trance condition. The medium

acts and does things which exceed his powers when
awake and while in a deep sleep acts with caution
and precision,often avoiding danger, sometimes forming

per-
feats of climbing, etc., that he could not
accomplish in his waking state. He is in such cases
physicallycontrolled and his movements directed by

some be it his
intelligence, own or another's. In many
SPIRIT MEDIUMSHIP "
95
cases it is proven that it is an beyond

intelligence his
own in waking state,
its normal for he finds lost
articles,missingthingsof which he did not know their
whereabouts.
It is true that we have various and
faculties, that
some of them may be
thoroughly awake while others
lie dormant. We do thingsunconsciouslyand appar-
ently
without willingto do them. We may raise our
spectaclesto our forehead, and in a moment we are
hunting the room over to find them. They are in
plainsightof others where placed them a moment

we
before, but we have no recollection of placing them

there and are unconscious of the positionthey occupy.
We scratch our head because it itches; if our tion
atten-
is called to the fact that just did

we so, we have
no recollection of it. We lay thingsdown and when
wanted do not know where we laid them, or perhaps
do not having had them in our possession.
remember
We do many thingsin our waking moments and do
them unconsciously. May it not be as reasonable to
suppose that the same faculties may sometimes tinue
con-
to operate while we sleep? Everything we do is

not impressed upon our consciousness. As there is
an outer and inner side to life,so there must be an
outer and inner side to our consciousness.

As before stated somnambulists may be subjectsof
spiritcontrol. Somnambulism at least indicates me-
diumship and until the subject has been more, oughly

thor-
investigated
by competent Spiritualists,
we may
not be able to answer definitely "Is
the question, nambulism
Som-
one of the many phases of mediumship?"

We believe the
Spiritualist
National
Association
should institute a commission and appoint a commit-
tee
of Scientific Spiritualists
to investigatethis meta-
physicalphenomenon and all other peculiar mental

phenomena that may relate to the different phases of
mediumship.
Why leave these investigations to the material
scientist who knows little or nothing about medium-
ship and the spiritualfaculties, when we have many

who are scientists and as Spiritual
Spiritualists tists
Scien-
are thoroughlyqualified to filla place on such a
commission? The National
Spiritualist Association
would do a great thing for the cause of Spiritualism
and make for itself a still greater place in the hearts
and minds of men if it would appoint such a sion,
commis-
and give to the world the results of their
researches.
Difference Between Telepathy and Mind Reading.

When two people are communi-.
holding telepathic
cation with each other both are supposed to be con-
scious
of the fact. But one person may read the mind

of another without his being conscious of it. The
former Telepathy,the latter is Mind Reading. If
is
one sends you a thought and you catch its vibration
and it is impressed upon your mind, you have not read
his mind, you have simply caught the thought he sent
out. If you mentally come into his sphere of aura
and there take cognizance of what he is thinking,if
his thought is transferred to your mind without his
intention or volition, then you have read his mind
and that is mind-reading.
Telepathy and Mind Reading Explained.

In the investigationof this subjectwe have proven
to our satisfaction that the possessor of this power
is nothing more nor less than a spiritmedium, and
assistance
that spirit is given the mind reader.
The human brain may be likened receiving

unto a
and sending instrument for wireless telegraphyor the

radio. It is an instrument used in sending forth
thoughts and in receivingthem. It is like a musical
instrument, as different tunes may be played upon it,
or different rates of vibration may act upon it. As the
musical note produced upon the piano is caught and
reproduced upon the stringof a violin keyed to the
same rate of vibration, so one human brain may ceive
re-
the thought produced by another brain of the

same rate of vibration. In neither case can the ceiving
re-
instruments avoid recordingthe manifestation
produced by the other, if within its radius. Such is

the law, and it must record itself upon the instrument
that isproperly attuned to it.
Although telepathybetween men in the mortal may
possibly be acccnnplishedwithout the assistance of

spiritswhen conditions are right,yet we feel satisfied
that mind-reading so-called is more often produced
through spiritassistance. Wise spiritsmay read the

mind of a person and then transmit the thought to
another mind whose vibration is not attuned to the
same rate as the one producing the thought. This

may be done by the changing his own
spirit's mental
vibration to accord with the different rate of the one
who produces the thought,and then to that of the one
receivingit. Impressionalmediums receive messages

and communications from spiritsthrough this same
law. When the brain of both subjectsof an ment

experi-
in mind-reading are attuned to the same length
wave-
and rate vibration, each one must respond to
the other. They cannot help it.

A human brain responds to any thought from its
possessor, and every emotion of the soul or desire of

the spiritmay find expression through this wonderful

organ. It may also respond thoughts and
to other's
emotions that are vibratingin the same key to which
it is attuned. The emotions may be expressed through
the medium of a musical instrument. A pen and
paper may be used for the purpose; they may be or
expressed through the instrumentalityof the vocal

organs, but they must first find their way through the
brain.
No instrument of the mind or body, or anything
produced by them, is able to express perfectlya single
emotion. All manifestations of mind are imperfect
because of the imperfect instruments it uses; fore,
there-
in the
infallibility manifestations of mental me-
diumship cannot, must not be expected.

In making experiments in telepathythe mediums
should be harmonious and of one mind. A perfect
blending of thought for the time being is essential.
If good results are not attained without, it would be
well to court the assistance of the spiritfriends.
These same laws govern the transmission of the
spirit's
message to the medium. The laws governing
the phenomena of telepathy and mind-reading to "
some extent "
govern the phenomena of wireless
telegraphy. The forces controllingthe former are
seemingly almost infinitely

more subtle and refined
than those governing the latter.
have taught and

Spiritualists demonstrated the truth
of mind-reading and telepathiccommunication for
more eighty years, while, with a comparatively

than
few exceptions,the scientists of the world have scoffed
at or ignored their claims of the discovery of this

truth.
settled the question with us. We have been very cessful

suc-
in
giving readings from articles,photographs,
handwriting,sD3p of the finger,a whistle, sound of
the voice, etc Mrs. Sprague has given some ful
wonder-
tests from a piece of rock, precious stones and
metals, but we always have spiritassistance in doing
this work. Whenever we have attempted it the spirit
helperscame to assist us. We do not say that a son
per-
may not do it without assistance.
spirit In fact,we
think it possiblethat he may develop the power self
him-
to psychometrize,inasmuch as we believe he is a
spirithere and now, and that he is endowed with finite

in-
possibilities.However, we think that spiritsare

active with the medium whenever success is attained
in the practiceof this splendid"spiritualgift."
Mr. Hudson Tuttle in his book, "Mediumship and
Its Laws," well says: "It is true that no one can
be sensitive to give psychometric readings

sufficiently
and not be subject to spiritcontrol."
Phrenology may tell what should be the results com-

ing
from a certain combination of the organs of the

mind, but Psychometry tells what the results are, what
the individual really is, and without consultingthe
organs at all. The spiritual forces which are always
governed by law, penetrate the mind, search out the
feelings,emotions, hopes, fears, joys and sorrows,
revealing the physical,mental, moral and spiritual

condition of the subject.
This penetrating power may become of great ance
assist-
in the selection of an occupationor in overcoming

undesirable inherited or acquired tendencies. It is of
great assistance in the development of grander apd

more noble of
qualities mind and strength of charac-
ter.
We are certain that the people of the world would
grow rapidly better and wiser if psychometry were
freelypracticedand the teachingsof Modem ualism

Spirit-
were applied in the lives of men.
In the development of mediumship it may be helpful
to experiment in this phase of the work by reading the
character of individuals from their photographs,hand-
writing,
and articles carried upon their persons.
Dermo Psychography, or Spirit Writing Upon the

Skin, Sometimes Called Stigma.
Definitions by Webster: "Stigma " Marks believed
to have been supematurally impressed upon the bodies
of certain persons in imitation of the wounds on the
crucified body of Christ." "Dermo" skin. Psychog-
raphy spiritwriting."
"
This phase of mediumship is very rare ; it furnishes
proof of spiritpresence and power. Names and spirit

messages have been written upon the skin of modern
mediums in blood colored letters. The phenomena curred
oc-
in broad daylight,in the presence of witnesses,

and gradually disappeared before their eyes. The
writer has witnessed this phase of spiritwritingwhen
the letters appearing were nearlyone inch in length.
This Phase Rare in Bible Times.
While there are many scripturethat

passages of
record the other phases of mediumship, includingclair-
voyance,
materialization, prophecy and healingby lay-

ing
on of hands, we find but a singlepassage that could
be construed to mean spiritwriting on the skin, ist
Chronicles,XXVIII Chap., 19th Verse, says : "All this

said David, the Lord made me understand in writing
by his hand upon me, even all the works of this pat-
tern."
Thus David says the Lord gave him the pat-
tern
for "All the Courts of the House of the Lord/'
all "treasuries,""dedicated things,"and "all the sels,"

ves-
by writingupon him. (nth to 20th verses.)
ForetellingEvents.
The spiritfriends are often in possession of facts
unknown to men in this mortal sphere. They are ble
capa-
of obtainingknowledge of future events by soning
rea-
from cause to effect,thus what

foretelling to
us may seem miraculous, because their conclusions are
based upon facts not known to us, but well known to
them. They have clearer perceptionsthan men on
earth. There is also a higher law that belongs to the

realm,
spiritual and spiritualfaculties are operative
under the law.
Intuition.
Intuition is one of the spiritualfaculties. It causes
one to know without reasoning. It manifests at times
through persons ilesh,and occasionally

in the in a markable
re-
degree. This faculty is greatly increased in
power in some disembodied and through it they

spirits,
know certain events that are to occur in the future.
Furthermore, spirit
tells us thatthey have other fac-
ulties
of which we have no possibleconception. In
some spiritsthey are scarcely developed at all; in
others but ; while
slightly fully in others they are more
unfolded, and by such highly developed spiritsthe

future is accurately and wonderfully foretold.
It is utterlyimpossiblefor one whose fac-
ulties
spiritual
are not developed in some degree to understand
this. To illustrate: He who is bom without the fac-
ulty
of hearing has not the idea of the
slightest ing
mean-
of music. He knows nothing of sound. He who
is bom without eyes knows absolutelynothing of the
beauties this sense reveals; therefore it is plainto be

seen that if of
spirits the higher life have organs, ulties,
fac-
and powers of which we know nothing, that
there may be given them means of foreseeing,fore-
knowing,
and the future.
foretelling All spiritshave
not yet developed these powers. Many are densely
ignorantof them, but the of
possibility their unfold-
ment is an inheritance of every soul.
Wise tell us that they bring us all we
spirits are able
to comprehend through the faculties that we now sess
pos-
in our present state of development.
Man with his so-called five
physicalsenses, in their
present limitations, gives promise of greater thingsin
future, and his spiritual powers are constantlyimprov-
ing
in this life. They are more largelydeveloped in
the race of today than they were in primitiveman, and
with these new and added faculties in spirit life,how
he must advance in knowledge, wisdom, and power.
The thought is beautiful to contemplate and glorious
in its promise.
Wise spiritsdo truthfullyforetell
accuratelyand
the future; this we know to be true, and in knowing
this it becomes easy to believe that highly developed
spiritspossess faculties through which they are enabled
to foresee facts and events, and map out the future
as accuratelyas an astronomer may calculate and know
fore-
the appearance of a comet or the occurrence of
an eclipse.
Diagnosing Disease Clairvoyantly.

clairvoyancehas this advantage over
Medical other
methods of diagnosing disease. The clairvoyantat
times can look through a human body, as though it
were composed of glass. This is a beautiful yet nat-
ural
truth, and no more miraculous than the fact that
we can look through a brick,a piece of steel,or other

solid substance by the aid of the X-ray. The ant

clairvoy-
often sees and discerns the cause of the disease,
as well as its action upon the human system. It also
makes clear the effect of medicine upon the system
while other doctors
depend upon the must outward
symptoms for this knowledge.
Healing mediumship usually accompanies medical

clairvoyance,though not always. Mediums who do
not possess the "Gift of Healing" sometimes are led
to prescribeherbal remedies.
Without clairvoyancethe mental healer the netic

or
mag-
healer is as much in the dark regardingthe cause
or kind of disease, or of the action of his remedies,
as is the of
practitioner the older schools of medicine.
Magnetic and SpiritualHealing.

Probably no one lives entirelyindependent of the
influence of disembodied spirits,though a compara-
tively
few may realize their presence and power.
Telepathy,to a greater or less extent, is carried on
between man in the mortal and man in the spirit.

All men, either in the physicalor in the spirit
world,
control their bodies by the power of the spiritsinhab-
iting
them. The spiritbuilds the body, heals its
wounds, eliminates its diseases and impresses its
thoughts upon it. Thoughts are emanations of mind,
mind is a possessionof the spirit.If our spiritsends
forth good thoughts, good is accomplished. If our
spiritsends forth evil thoughts,evil is the result. Evil

thoughts generate ill health, good thoughts generate
good health.
The spirit possesses what is called will. The proper
use of the will is a potent power in generating a
healthy vibration. The spiritbuilds organs as they

are needed, and when no longer used, the gradual
shrinking away of the

protoplasmic deposit causes
them to become atrophied. A singlethought may stop
the heart from beating or paralyze a nerve. A differ-
ent
thought may quicken the heart beats,bring a flush
to the cheek, or vitalize the nerves. Illness is often
produced by fright. Health is sometimes restored by
joyfulnews. Healthful magnetism is generated in the
physical organism by thinking good and happy
thoughts.
Individual magnetism is the base of operationsin
Magnetic and SpiritualHealing, as it is in all other
spiritmanifestations. There is healthful magnetism
and diseased magnetism. The former produces a harmonious
vibration, the latter produces a discordant
vibration; or a harmonious vibration produces health-
ful
magnetism, and a discordant vibration produces

diseased magnetism. The healing is accomplished
through the vitalizing of the magnetic currents, equal-
izing
the circulation and creatinga harmonious ing
blend-
of the mental
physicalforces.
and
Diseased magnetism is often generated by thinking
evil or unhappy thoughts. The condition of one's
magnetism determines the state of one's health. We
should always strive to think cheerful, kindly,good
and lovingthoughts,if we would be healthyand happy.
SpiritualHealing.
Our friends generate

spirit a magnetism
spiritual all
their own. Mediums feel and understand its power.
It is more potent than the magnetism of men in the
mortal, because it is more refined and pure.

The magnetic forces generated by spiritand mortal
constitute the intermediarybetween spiritand matter.
It is used to convey the message of men and spirits

between the visiUe and the invisiUe realms, as tricity

elec-
is used in wireless telegraphyto send man's
message across the mighty ocean. It is used to nect

con-
the spiritof man in this life with his own body,

as it is in every other instance when matter is ani-
mated
with life.
Spirit chemists through certain mediums may cern
dis-
the condition of
patient,note a superfluity
a or
a lack of certain elements in his body, and through the

medium's forces may eliminate
supply such them or
elements as are needed, and instantaneous healing is

accomplished. Everything depends upon conditions.
There should be a harmonious blending of the forces
of the the medium
spirit, and the patient. The recep-
tivity
of the patientalso has much to do with its suc-
cess.
The harmonious mental condition of the spirit,

the medium and the patientare also necessary to the
successful healingof the patient.
Where conditions are not perfect the process of
healingis retarded, and in such cases it often takes

time to patient. Conditions permitting,
heal a the pa-
tient
may be healed instantly. "Magnetic and Spiritual
Healing" embodies what good there is in "Faith Cure,"
"Prayer Cure," Healing," "Divine Healing,"
"Mental
and every other legitimate method of mental and spir-
itual
healingknown, including"Emmanuelism," gestive
"Sug-
Therapeutics,"etc. In fact SpiritualHealing
was made clear by Modern Spiritualismand it is the
mother of all the New Thought Methods. It teaches
the laws governing these forces and instructs us in
their application.Not a single new thought along
these lines of healing,so far know, has yet been
as we
presented that is of the least value whatever, that
was not previouslypven to the world by Modern

Spiritualismin ks philosophy and facts of Spiritual
on the
bright' side of life,being always hopeful and
optimistic, seeing good in everyone and everything.

Pleasant conversation, a littlelevity,
vocal, and instru-
mental
music are helpfulwhere the patientis not too
low.
Magnetic and SpiritualHealing combined constitute
the most powerful curative known. The magnetic
healer may impart his own vital forces to the patient
or the spiritmay do the same independendy ; or he

may apply his spiritualforces through the medium and
thus heal the patient. Where the patientis sufficiently
mediumistic and furnishes the proper conditions "
as explainedin another chapter " ^the spiritmay apply

these forces direct to the mediumistic patientand he
is healed. There are many records of such cases
among church people,as well as

among Spiritualists,
but the church calls them miracles, while Spiritualism
demonstrates that
they are accomplished through
natural laws by spirits
acting through mediums.
Absent Healing, or Healing at a Distance.
People are often healed by spiritpower exercised
through mediums when the healer is not present with

the patient. This "Gift of Healing" is not given by
"SpecialProvidence," but is developed through spirit
power and is accomplishedby its direction of the
forces.
The suggestion of given by letter or
the healer
otherwise, helps the patient to place himself in a con-

dition
to receive the forces of the spirit healers.
The patientis instructed to become passive in the

quietof his room, and as distance is nothing to spirits,
they may use the magnetic forces of the medium, gether
to-
with the patient's

own forces to heal
spiritual
him, in the same manner as when they are together.
This is
explainedin the foregoingarticle on Magnetic
and Spiritual Healing. In rare cases the patientmay
be healed, though not conscious of the fact that the
healer and his spiritfriends are exercisingtheir powers
for his recovery ; but the forces are greatlymultiplied
when the patientis conscious of the healingpower and
enters into it with confidence and determination to ceive
re-
help. Auto-suggestionplays a good part in plac-

ing
the patientin a receptivecondition and is of great
assistance in the process of healing.
Reading Pellets, or Folded and Sealed Questions.

This phase of mediumship is easilydevelopea by
one who is clairvoyantand clairaudient, and often
proves a very satisfactorymethod of testingthe truth
of spiritcommunion.
Some mediums have the power developed so well
that they are able to read word for word what is writ-
ten
on a pieceof paper and rolled up into a pellet, and

after reading it, receivingthe spirit's answer to the
questionwritten. Other mediums may not be developed

to read what is written in the pelletor sealed ques-
tion,
but may get the answer through their clairaudi-
ence or clairvoyantpowers.
The author's
mediumship was developed for this
phase. In his earlydevelopment he did much in the
way of answering questions,folded, sealed, or rolled
though he was
into pellets, never able to read wliat
was written upon them. In his book, "A Future Life

Demonstrated," the author records several of his periences
ex-
phase of mediumship, one of which

in this
he will reproduce here, as it will help to make clear
just how this phase of mediumship occurs, and how

the work is accomplished by the spirit helpersof the
medium. The article mentioned follows:
SpiritsFound Lost Spectacles.

"At another one of these meetings,I was led to swer
an-
written questions. I think more than thirtyques-

tions
were placed upon my forehead, and all were
answered satisfactorily
to those who placed them there,
though I had not seen them.
"Among the
questionsanswered that day was one
written by Mr. Henry Brown of Evans, N. Y. When

it was placed on my forehead I became clairvoyant.
I saw and described a book case, and heard these
words, 'Behind that book case.' This was repeated.
I then said, 'Mr. Brown, that is all I get. Is that the
answer to your question?' He said he did not know,
but would tell me later. '
"One month later we attended the meeting which
was held at Mr. Brown's home, when he came to me
and handed spectacles,

me saying,'Here are
a pair of
the spectacles you found for me.' 'The spectacles I
found for you,' said I. 'Yes,' said he, laughing;
'last month at the meeting held at Levi Brown's, I
placeda questionupon your head in which I asked the
spiritfriends what became of my spectacles, they hav-
ing
disappearedat a circle held in my house several

weeks before. You saw and described our book case
and said, "Behind that bookcase." When I reached
home pulled out the book case, and there behind it

I
were the spectacles. The nightthey were lost we were
holdinga circle at our house ; the lightwas turned low.

I took off my glassesand laid them on the table,and
they were when the circle was over. I searched
gone
the house, but could not find them. It was a pleasant
surpriseas well as an excellent test to find them hind
be-
that book case, where the had

spirit-friends said
f tt
they were.'
SPIRIT MEDIUMSHIP "
111
To test one's in this phase of mediumship it

power
is a good plan to let the medium get well under the fluence
in-
and then tell him what wish to do; then

you
putting the question his forehead, hold it there,

upon
and tell the medium to remain passive, and take his
time ; to give out any impression he gets, describe

any
vision he
may have, or repeat the words he
may
chance
to hear; and if what he gets has nothing to do with
the matter at all, do not be discouraged, but bear in
mind the fact that all mediums for mental phenomena
must learn to distinguish between the action of their
own minds, and the spirit impressions. The ing

acquir-
of this plays an important part one's

power in
development.
The author has made no practice of this phase of
mediumship in with the exception that he

many years,
uses it occasionally in acquiring advice and tion

informa-
for members of his immediate family, upon tions

ques-
of importance, that are not easily obtained in

any
other manner.
Neither does he now give private ings
read-
to His work consists in speaking, and

anyone.
in writing books.
CHAPTER V.
Fraudulent Mediums and Fortune Tellers.
Nearly everyone will admit that fraud has attached

itself everything excepting ( ?) politics.But no one
to
is willingto give up his good greenback dollars, silver

or gold coin, because some rascals have circulated
counterfeits of them.
It is not the purpose of this work to expose lent
fraudu-
or simulated mediumship, though the author

would like to clear the country of all such villainous
pretenders. The officers of the National Spiritualist

Association, through its twenty-four state auxiliaries,
their officers and members and those of their local
societies,as well as every true independent Spiritualist
in the land, are all uncompromisingly opposed to the
untrue and dishonest work of persons who have tried

to attach themselves to Spiritualism. They are doing
all in their power to bring them to justiceand free
our cause from the accursed blight their nefarious
acts have brought upon it in certain localities.
production of fraud in
The the seance room is not
mediumship. There are many vile impostors, "Profs."

and "Madams" who infest the cities,advertisingthem-
selves
as "the seventh daughters of the seventh sons,"

"the great Mahatmas of India" (the latter class are
imitators of Theosophy, not of Spiritualism),"great*

est mediums and clairvoyantson earth," etc., promis-
ing
to do anything and everything desired, including
"reuniting lost lovers," "selling charms," "bringing
good luck," "finding oil wells" and "gold mines," "for
fiftycents and up," sometimes borrowing diamonds to
"magnetize,"and then leaving town between two days

to enter other fields of plunder, where they continue
the same old tricks under some different name.

SPIRIT MEDIUMSHU?- " 113
These vile impostors are not Spiritualists,

and much
less mediums. Their days are numbered. The ualists
Spirit-
with the help of the police force of the cities
are driving them from their vile haunts while the
world is graduallylearning to distinguishthe true from
the false,and through this knowledge our cause is ad-
vancing
and taking its place among the great and
newly developed truths of this wonderful age.
Fraudulent Investigators.
It is clear thinkingSpiritualists
to all and other well
informed persons that gêat injustice is often done to
honest and worthy mediums. When would-be ex-
posers, or ignorantinvestigators visit mediums, giving

fictitious names, falsifying and misrepresentingfacts,
and by their cunning trying to deceive and mislead the
medium, they usually succeed in exposing their own

gross ignorance of the subjectthey seek to destroy.
They ruin the conditions which might otherwise have
been good. Under the influence of honesty of purpose,
confidence in the good, a desire for the truth,on
the part of the sitter, the results might have been beau-tiful
and satisfying.The sitter is more often the
cause of imperfectmanifestations than is the medium.
Oh, how dense the ignorance of some ing
peopleregard-
this all important subject! and what a great barrier
to the advancement of truth,justice and happiness
is this human arrogance, bigotry,injusticeand ignorance
as manifested by the learned and the unlearned
alike I
Thankful appreciationand decent treatment should
be accorded the medium who submits the use of his
brain, his nervous system, and his physical organ-
ism
entire, if need be, putting aside self-control,
closingthe door for the time being to his own desires
"
^yes, and sometimes

surrenderinghis own ness
conscious-
and placinghimself physically and mentallyin the
hands of invisible intelligences. Such sitters may not
know that the medium's giftshave a higher purpose
than to pleasethe fancy,or satisfy the curiosity of one
who is probably a total stranger to him. He may have
no particular interest in the sitter other than that inter-
est
in a common humanity which every person should
have for the welfare of his kind.
At the beginningof the seance the medium does not
know who will control him. If it should be one who

had committed some great crime "
b. suicide, for in-
stance
" ^the medium may be controlled to personate,
takingon the condition of the spirit,
feelingall the morse
re-
of conscience, shedding bitter tears of regret,

begging for forgivenessfor the wrongs he had done
while in earth life,and otherwise htuniliating
the dium.
me-
This is sometimes the case and

very un- is
pleasanta
part of a medium's experience; but it is made

doubly so by the egotistwho publishesto the world "
ignorantlyor otherwise ^statements that reflect upon

"
the mental ability or moral character of the medium.
They are as unscientific as they are unjustand untruth-

ful.
We make no reference here to that class of frauds
who simulatemediumship.
Investigators may accuse the medium of fraud,as is
often the case, or they may attempt an explanationof
the phenomena by attributing them to "hypnotism,"
"unconscious cerebration,""odic force," "mental epathy,"

tel-
"subconscious mind," or some other tific
"scien-
( ?) explanation" that explains nothing only that

each one's theory contradicts nearly every other one's
explanationof the facts. They may mislead those who
are ignorantof the real occurrences in these seances,
as many persons are quite likely to accept the theories

they render is considered. Some mediums are tunate

for-
in receivinga fair compensation for their ices,
serv-
while others
poorly paid indeed. This is true
are
of other professions.Ministers of the gospel of Chris-

tianity
sometimes receive as high as fiftydollars or
more for a sermon, and they spend no more time in
preparationfor the ministrythan mediums have spent

in theirs.
Every one should be compensated according to the

services rendered. The value of the service rendered
by a medium in placingone in communication with his

spiritfriends is a service for which money cannot pensate.
com-
Material wealth is no equivalent for these

heavenly blessings.The real compensation the dium
me-
receives for his very valuable services is never
paid in cash. It consists in knowing that he is serving
a good cause and dispensing heavenlyblessings.He is
happy in the knowledge that he is doing right and

doing good. This, together with the words of sincere
thankfulness and appreciationthe medium receives
from those who appreciatethe privilê of holding
communion with their loved ones, constitutes the real
compensation the medium receives for his services.
The Subconscious Mind.
J. S. Loveland says: "A dual body implies dual

consciousness." We preferto believe that there is but
one consciousness belonging to each of us, and that

when it enters the vibration of the spiritual,
or etheric
body, which enveloped within the physicalbody, it

is
things. It is then that mediumship
discerns spiritual
becomes operative.
development of mediumship consists in the un-
The
foldment of the spiritual
senses. Every muscle of the
body and every facultyof the mind is strengthenedby
the proper use of mediumship. As the muscles of the

arm of the blacksmith are developed by proper use, so
may spiritual
the senses receive their unfoldment by
legitimateuse. The improper use of either is danger-
ous,
while their legitimate use is greatlybeneficial.
When the consciousness is confined to the physical
organism it discerns from the standpointof material

things; but when it enters the higher vibration of the
spiritualorganism it functions upon the spiritual plane
where it discerns spiritualthings. It is the same sciousness
con-
whether functioningupon the physical or

the spiritualplane. This is a great proven fact of
Modem Spiritualism.The so-called dead retain their
consciousness, the only consciousness they ever sessed,
pos-
and are functioningupon the spiritualplane of
life after the death of the physicalbody.
Therefore the theory of the "Subconscious Mind"
of Thomson J. Hudson, and other theoretical dream-
ers,
is not an independent entityendowed with all
knowledge not possessed by the conscious mind, nor

with so-called occult powers not possessedby the normal
man. This discovery (?) of a scientist,like many

others coming from similar sources, passes away under
the lightof true science, as the dews and fogs af the
morning disappear before the penetratinglightof the

rising sun.
Science and Mediumship.
Modern Spiritualismaccepts truth rather than an-cient
revelation for its authority. It follows wherever

truth leads; consequentlyit is in perfectaccord with
true science. It has solved many hitherto unsolved
problems. It has opened a new field of investigation

and research for the scientists. With its wonderful
revelation of the future life,its important facts cerning

con-
things,and
spiritual its development of man's
spiritualfaculties,it becomes of great assistance to
true science. It also originated the first and only

rational and systematicmethod of communication with
spirits,
and many scientists are now using this method.
Neither Spiritualismnor science has thus far explained
all of the mysteriesand wonders of the human mind,
though enough has been discovered to indicate that
there is probably no limit to its possibilities.
Though material science ignores Spiritualism, yet

and their mediums, with their discoveries,
Spiritualists
are drivingthem to consider its claims. The discovery
of the X-rays, wireless telegraphy,
etc., is leadingthem
up to it. Qairvoyance, Telepathy,and the other phases
of mediumship are certainlydemonstrating its truth
in every country. Through the great work plished
accom-
by our mediums many material scientists have

been convinced and converted to its truth. Psychical
Research societies have been organized by scientists,
and through mediums its members have been verted.
con-
The reports of these societies have set the

world to investigating.
Mediums are seldom given credit for the facts ob-
tained
in this scientific research; but many scientists
and others seem inclined to claim for themselves the
honor and glory of these discoveries,ignoringthe me-
dium's
explanationof the facts,and sometimes ignor-

ing
the medium entirely,when the fact is that without
the medium, neither scientists,
nor any one else,would
know anything about the subject.
Mediums as a class have been mistrusted, maligned,
misrepresentedand condemned as deceivers, frauds,
etc. Malicious falsehoods have been issued against
their characters by unscrupulous opposers; mediums
SPIRIT MEDIUMSHIP "
119
have experienced all the suffering. They have ceived,

re-
at the hands of many great men whom they

have blessed,little or no publicrecognition,
and very
little encouragement or appreciation.
UNDER ALL CIRCUMSTANCES AND AT
ALL TIMES, LET IT BE REMEMBERED THAT
IN THE CONSIDERATION OF THE SUBJECT
OF SPIRITUALISM, MEDIUMS ARE FIRST.
They are first in the knowledge of its truth ; first to

receive the spiritmessage; closest to the spiritworld
and to the loved arisen friends ; first to understand the
methods of communication and the necessary tions
condi-
for their transmission.
It is the medium who sees the spirit-friends,
hears
their voices,feelstheir presence, knows their thoughts,
desires and feelings.All the rest of the world must
take the spiritmessage received by the medium, ondhand,

sec-
or not at all. THE MEDIUM IS THE

ONE WHO KNOWS.
All this being true, should they stillbe ignored and
given second place or none at all,as has been the tom
cus-
in many cases? Or should there be accorded

them the righthand of and
fellowship, their beautiful
giftsrecognized and appreciated?

Mediums are advocates
self-sacrificing of an popular
un-
cause. However, it is becoming popular now.
Like Paul and Jesus, many mediums of today leave

home and friends, going out into the world among
the comforts
strangers, sacrificing of home life and
the associations of friends to become wanderers on
the face of the earth. Some of them could at times
truly say, they have not where to lay their heads.
May justicebe done to mediums and their lives be
made brighter.
Bad Habits Cured by SpiritPower.

In our travels we have met many people who have
been cured of bad habits by the aid of spirits.We
know people who have been cured of the drink habit,
becoming sober men and good citizens after having
gone to the lowest depths of a drunkard. We are
personallyacquainted with those who have become

slaves to the morphine habit and have lost everything
"
^property,business, friends and health " ând have come
be-
human
pitiable wrecks, who were taken by Spir-
itualists
to their seances, where the spiritsremoved
their appetitesfor the drug and thepatientswere manently
per-
cured of the terrible habit, regainingtheir
manhood, self-control,and proper place in life.
We have several friends who have been freed from
the slavery of the tobacco habit by spiritpower, and
we have met many who have become clean, whole-
some,
and healthy men, having removed
by spirits their
appetitesfor the filthyweed. Personally,the author

was freed from the habit of using tobacco, for which
he is thankfid to the spiritfriends every day of his
life. The following is a brief statement of the facts in
the case:
Cured of the Tobacco Habit.
The author of this book was thirty-fouryears old

when the spiritfriends first placed him in the trance
state. He had used tobacco twenty years and had

tried many times to free himself from the habit, but
his efforts always resulted in failure.
One evening soon after E. V. Wilson had become
one of his spiritteachers and helpers,while ling

control-
him, Mrs. Sprague asked him if he could not cure
the medium of the tobacco habit. His reply was as lows

fol-
: "Yes, lady, we can cure him and we will do so

when the right time comes. The development of me-
diumship is at first somewhat exhausting to the vous

ner-
system. Tobacco is a stimulant and it would

somewhat weaken the forces to withhold its use ; con-
sequently
it would in some degree retard the develop-

ment
of his
mediumship. After he has reached a cer-
tain
stage of development it will do no harm, and we

will then remove the appetiteand he will be free from
the pernicioushabit."
It was expected he would be cured in a few months,
but this did not prove to be the case. More than six
years passed by, and the development con-

tinued. author's
The spiritfriends
said no more about curing
him until on the morning of June 6, 1887,as he awoke
from sleep, he heard the voice of the spiritE. V. Wil-
son
saying,"You will use no tobacco today,my lad."

The author took his tobacco from his pocket and put
it away. Later, as he arose from the breakfast table,
instinctively
his hand moved towards his pocket "
where it was his custom to carry his tobacco " ^when
instantlyE. V. Wilson controlled him with wonderful
power. Every nerve and muscle seemed drawn to the

tension, the jaws
tightest were set, his hands clenched,
and the well-known voice of his spirit helper spoke to
him in a strong and emphatic manner, saying,"No,
sir !" Immediately the medium's muscles relaxed and
he was free from the influence. This condition lasted
probably not more than thirtyseconds. During the

day this experiencewas repeatedperhaps a half dozen
times.
On followingmorning, June 7th,the
the author was
awakened by the kindly voice of this same spirit

friend, saying to him in the same decided tone as fore,
be-
"You will never use any more tobacco, my lad."
During this day the desire for tobacco came to him but
two or three times, and each time the experience of

the day before came and
it away. The took
desire
for tobacco disappearedthere and then, and has never
returned him, though fortyyears have passed since
to
this modern miracle (?) was performed.

He had tried many times to free himself of the
habit, and had prayed to have it removed. He had
even declared that he would never use it again. All
this he had done to rid himself of this filthy,
relentless
and ever-present demon that haunted his but
dailylife,
all his efforts were as naught until the spiritfriends
interceded and he was made free.
Today his thankfulness goes out to those dear ones
under guidingcare he has walked in the lightof

whose
spiritual truth receivingits blessingsfor forty years

and more. Forty of these fruitful years his body
and soul have been unpollutedby the use of tobacco.
This is another proof that mediumship is a powerful
factor for good when properlyused.
If one who is mediumistic desires to get rid of any
bad habit,and earnestlyprays to his spiritfriends for
help to do so, and concentrates his mind upon it,de-
termining
to succeed, he will certainlyreceive spirit

assistance. U he holds thought, continues
the to
aspirefor it,and wills he is almost

it continually, sure
to be relieved of the desire for it. When the desire is
gone he is cured.
Sometimes appetiteor desire is taken away at
the
once, and sometimes it requirestime. Perseverance
on the part of the patientwill certainlybring success.
Dark Circles.
The following question is often asked, "Why do
hold
Spiritualists dark circles?" and we may ask.
Why do opposers of Spiritualismmake a great han-
seance disprove the fact that such phenomena do cur.

oc-
All are subjectto law and must submit to its

rulings.
As a destroy the happinessof a large
vile word may
gathering of harmonious people; as a magnet placed
near the mariner's compass may influence the needle,
change the course of the ship,and cause its wreck upon

the rocks, so a ray of light admitted into the dark
seance room may ruin the conditions necessary for the
production of spirit
phenomena. But very few phases
of mediumship requireabsolute darkness. More nomena
phe-
are produced in lightthan in darkness.
Many mediums are sittingin dark seances to develop
mental phases of mediumship. This is a great mistake.

All mental phases of mediumship may be developed
more rapidly and better in light than in darkness.
Many mediums are in dark circles for develop-
sitting ment
of physical mediumship who will never develop
those phases, but who could, by making proper condi-tions
and sitting in the light, developthe mental phases.
Mediums seeking development should ascertain
through personal experiences,by sittingin both lighl

and dark circles,which condition is best for them and
for their development. A soft,mellow lightis better
for the eyes and much better than darkness for the de-
velopment
of all mental phases of mediumship.
The phenomena recorded in scripture and called
miracles by Christians were principallyproduced in
darkness. The dark seances of the Christian Bible far

outnumber the light seances recorded there. In this
matter the world has greatlyprogressed since those

ancient days. More ninety per cent of the spir-
than itual
phenomena of today are given in the light.Prog-
ress
is shown in this. The law of evolution prevails
throughout the earth and the heavens.
CHAPTER VI.
Indian Spirits as Controls.
The Indian Hunter.
BY ELIZA COOK.
Oh! Why does the white man follow my path,

Like a hound on the tiger'strack?
Does the flush on my dark cheek waken his wrath "
Does he covet the bow at my back?
He has rivers and seas, where the billows and breeze
Bear riches for him alone;

And the sons of the wood never plunge in the flood
Which the white man calls his own.
Why, then, should he come to the streams where none
But the red man dares to swim?
Why, why should he wrong the hunter " one
Who never did harm to him?
The father above thought fit to give

The white man corn and wine;
There are golden fields where he may live.
But the forest shades are mine.
The eagle hath its place of rest;
The wild horse where to dwell ;
And the spiritthat gave the bird its nest.
Made me a home as well.
Then back! back from the red man's track,

go
For the hunter's grow dim ;
eyes
To find that the white man wrongs the one
Who never did harm to him.

spiritsof the North American

The Indians fill a
very important place in mediumship and Spiritualism

in America. They are faithful,honest, loving,and
kind. They bring a healing power unequaled by the
spiritsof any other people. Nearly all Indian spirit
guides are those who lived here before the Indians
were contaminated by the influence of the civilized ( ?)
white man.
These undeiiled and noble red men lived nearer to
nature and obeyed her laws better than we do now.
They lived a free and natural life in the open air.

They did not ruin their physicalbodies by overwork,
over-indulgence, etc. They knew not the use of whis-key,
morphine, and other poisonousdrugs that are so

ruinous to the health. Their food was plainand simple.
They ate when hungry, not at intervals marked by the
clock nor at midnight as is our custom at social and
other gatherings. Their food consisted of but one or
two kinds at each meal. Twelve-course dinners were
unknown to them. As a result of the natural lives

these aborigineslived, they developed the finest phy-
siques.
They were tall,straight,agile and athletic.
They were free-bom American citizens. They were
; they worshiped the "Great

naturallyreligious Spirit,"
and believed in a natural called
spirit-world the "Happy
Hunting Grounds." They saw and communicated with
spirits;received spiritmanifestations of a physical

nature, and were, in their crude and undeveloped way,
Spiritualists.
They were not mentally shrouded in the
gloom of the doctrines of "eternal punishment," "total

depravity,""a physicalresurrection,"etc., nor were
they hampered by a belief in "three gods in one,"

"atonement by blood," "salvation through faith," and
the other inconsistencies of the creeds of the religions
SPIRIT MEDIUMSHIP "
127
of our boasted civilization that drive white men sane,

in-
weaken their intellects,
and drown their reason.
The North American Indians when first discovered

by the white they were
men, and before
pollutedby
the civilizing( ?) influences of whiskey, gunpowder,
and vile diseases, were "pure in heart and sound in
head."
Their religionwas
simple and natural, as were their
modes of life. Their livingso near to nature, and be-
lieving
in spiritreturn as they did before entering
spiritlife,becomes a great help to them in using nature's
laws to return to us from the "happy hunting
grounds," which they now inhabit. They gladlyteach
us the great truths their experiencein that realm has
taught them, and they possess the wonderful abilityof

preparingthe way for our less fortunate white people
to return and communicate through mediums.
These noble spirits of the red men always bring a
strong and helpfulmagnetic influence to the mediimi,
permeating his system with the life forces that build
up the physicalbody and lend vigor to the mentality.
Whoever heard of an Indian spirit's bringingupon
a medium the physicalconditions caused by the illness
with which he passed away?

In the forty-sixyears of experienceas a medium and
constant worker in the movement of Modem ualism,

Spirit-
we have never known of such a case. more,
Further-
we have never known of an Spirit's

Indianing
giv-
a false communication or misrepresentinga single
fact. Indian spirits
are among the most truthful,loyal
and helpful healers, teachers,and guides of mediums
that come to bless the world. They are almost indis-
pensable
in the work of the development of medium-

ship.
We have never known a medium who was too proud

or aristocratic to allow Indian Spiritsto control him,
who made a success in the
development of medium-
ship. We are personallyacquainted with many who
have derived the greatest benefit in health of body and
mind, and in mediumistic development through the aid
of the of these much
spirits abused, greatlydespised,
and shamefully wronged people. Though the white
man has robbed them of their homes, cheated them out
of their hunting grounds, and driven them back ther

far-
and farther as civilization progressed,nearly nihilating
an-
them from the face of the earth, as they

have annihilated their mighty herds of buffalo that
once roamed the western plains,yet those dear Indian

spiritsreturn to our seances bringing innumerable
blessingsto our mediums and to those to whom they
minister. May heaven bless our dear Indian spirits,
as well as all other noble and true spirithelpers,who
are doing so much to enlightenthe children of earth
and make the world better.
Many Mediums Begin Public Work Too Soon.
There are many cases in which mediums have tered

en-
the field of publicwork before they were well
equipped for it. They should have continued their
development until they were more fullyprepared for

the work.
We recall a case in which one of Mrs. Sprague's
converts, who, after her conversion to de-
veloped
Spiritualism,
mediumship very rapidly, became a healer,
gave private readings and circles,and after a brief

time she was posing as a platform test medium, coming
into prominence at once. Later, we were formed,

in-
she proved a failure as a platform test medium,
disappointingthose who employed her. She then

SPIRIT liEDIUMSHIP " 129
ceased to receive engagements, and finally

deserted the
Spiritualist
ranks entirely,
giving up the practice of
her mediumship and dropping out of sight. Subse-
quently
we were informed that she had rejoinedthe
Christian church and came out as a Divine Healer,
thus unitingwith those of her own class of half de-
veloped
apostates.
The foregoing brief story of one medium who en-
tered
puUic work before being sufficiently developed

is similar to that of many more of the same class.
We are always sorry for mediums who undertake
to do more than they are qualified
to do. Here are two
extremes: Some mediums lackingin confidence

are
and retard their own development through fear of

making a mistake. Others have too much dence,
self-confi-
acceptingtheir own imaginary ideas as spirit
impressionswhich, of course, must lead to disaster.
The former bars the medium's development by with-
holding
the spirit message for fear it may not be rec-
ognized
; while the latter,using littleor no discretion,

innocentlyacceptinghis own thoughtsas spirit impres-
sions,
soon finds himself in trouble.
Every medium while

developing,and every ualist
Spirit-
and should
investigator, learn that mediums
make these mistakes innocently,and that they should

not be censured therefor. Mediums should learn to
giveout whatever seems to them to come from spirits,

and impressions
these should be accepted, not as infal-
lible
truth,but as possiblyerroneous, thoughthey usually

prove to be absolutely true.
A medium may overestimate the powers of the spirit
operatingthrough his organism,because of the derful

won-
revelations he has received through his own
mediumship ; yet it is not possiblefor anyone to draw

the line as to the possibilities

of the communicating
spirits.
The medium learns
through the practiceof his me-
diumship to distinguish between the action of his own
mind and spiritimpressions,and this constitutes a
part of his mediumistic development. The best devel-r
oped medituns are at times bothered to distinguish be-
tween
their own minds and the impressions of the
spirit,especiallywhen conditions are unfavorable.
They are very much better qualified to do so than one
who has had but littleexperience.

One who stands upon the public rostrum as a test
medium, or holds public seances, must through prac-

tice
learn how to become passive to the influence of
spirit-friends, and positiveto his audience. ble
Impossi-
as this may seem to one who is inexperienced, it is
nevertheless sometimes the case, and it shows how fectly
per-
at sea an undeveloped medium becomes who tempts
at-
such work. It is suicidal to one's mediumistic
development to enter the publicwork too soon. Every

medium should make haste slowly in this matter.
Mediums are usuallynot so much to blame for this
indiscretion as are their friends and admirers, who
often unwittingly urge them to take up the public
work. remedy for all
The the trouble caused by this
inadvertency is simple and sure. Give the dear me-
diums time for better development before inviting

them to assume the great task and of
responsibility tempting
at-
public demonstrations.
In his own case, the author gave privatereadings
and public seances for about eight years before tempting
at-
to give public platform tests and messages,

and then it was not he who did it. He was speaking
for the Jamestown, N. Society,which
Y., Spiritual we
than she was, when, after nearly ten of service

years
as a medium for private readingsand seances, she ceived
re-
a program of the Maple Dell Spiritualist

Camp
meeting to be held at Mantua, Ohio, and found in it
her own portraitby the side of the author's, and the
announcement that she would give two lectures and
follow them with clairvoyantdescriptions,
spiritmes-
sages
and tests. She responded to this call,was cessful,

suc-
and has continued ever since to fill the

important place of speaker and platform test medium
in addition to her privatework as a medium.
To Our Mediums.
You are selected by the angels of heaven to fulfil

the most important mission allotted to mankind. Be
not in hurry; take everything calmly; keep serene

a
and push ahead in your^ development. When you are

thoroughlyand well duly and trulyprepared,
qualified,
the way will be opened for you, and your work will
be such as shall cause your old friends to be proud of

you. The multitudes of your new-found friends will
bless your very name, while angels will rejoicewith us
all because of your success.
Mediums Should Cultivate Self Control and Self
Reliance.
They should not submit to the control of spirits

at
all times and in all places. They should cultivate self-

control and learn to keep an even mind at all times,
and under all circumstances. They should learn at
the outset of their development that the spiritsare

only people who physicalbodies in this
once inhabited
life,the same as we are now doing; that they have

learned more than we have learned, because they have
experienced the change from the visible to the spiritual
SPIRIT MEDIUMSHIP "
133
world. They are not infallible, nor should they become
anything more than teachers,advisers,
ions,
compan-
helpers and friends to mediums.
Wise spiritsnever become arbitrary, dictatory,

domineering controls. They always seek to develop a
strong individuality in their mediums, and open ave- nues
of knowledge to the students of Spiritual Philoso-

phy
and point the way to its great truths. They give
advice, and in various ways lend assistance to the
medium in his efforts to learn and instruct others,
always allowing and insisting
upon the medium's and
the student's placingtheir own interpretation on every
lesson,theory, or fact of spiritual science taught.
Like attracts like,and a medium when developed
may be controlled by a certain spirit, or he may not be,
just as he wills it to be. No spirit can control a me-dium
without his consent, or against his will.

If the medium has sufficient will to refuse,the spirit
is helpless to control. The medium should decide who
shall be allowed to control him and who shall not.
The medium may choose his spiritcontrols from
among those who may come to he may

him, refuse
or
to be controlled by any of them, just as the hypnotic

subject may give himself over to the control of any
hypnotist, or refuse to become subjectto any of them.

This being true, the medium may become a student of
his choice of spiritteachers, the same as he may select
his school teachers in this life.
The proper use of mediumship strengthensthe will-
power
and develops the individuality
of its possessor.
I The character of the medium will determine the class

of that he will attract to himself.
spiritintelligence If
his desires,aspirations,and practices in life are of an
exalted nature ; if he seeks to be noble, true and gressive,
pro-
he will attract those who will assist him in
his desires. "Like attracts like" in the sphere of roe-
diunaship. A medium may easilylearn the character

of his controls ("by their works ye shall know them").
He may rejectone and accept another, as he pleases.
The belief that the medium is
helplessnonentity a
in the hands of a spirith3rpnotist,

or a hypnotistin
the mortal form, is a very tmfortunate error. It is
dangerous to teach it to mediums as it produces a bad
suggestion,which is often fatal to the development of
good and valuable mediumship.
It is a settled fact with us that no operator can trol
con-
an intelligent
subject against his will. The ject
sub-
must allow himself to be controlled or the oper-
ator
fails.
The following statements of Dr. La Motte Sage
embody a number of valuable facts which every dium
me-
and Spiritualist,
as well as every honest opponent
of spiritmediumship may study with profit. He is
quoted as follows:
1. "No one can be hypnotized againsthis will."

2. "No one can be hypnotized unless he complies
with certain conditions,and does his part to bring about
that state."
3. "Anyone who is hypnotized may have done
more himself to induce the state than the operator has

done."
4. "The hypnotistpossesses no specialpower, nor
can he gain permanent control over anyone or absolute

control even temporarily, consent."
without the subject's
5. "To be hypnotizedin no respect shows a ness,

weak-
nor is the condition in any sense a pathological

one."
6. "Hypnotism of itself is absolutelyfree from
harm."
This expresses our views on the subject. We

thoroughly believe these statements are true; and
if they are true, the
developed medium is safe, the
dangers of mediumship, the teachingsof the doctrines
of *ôbsession,"
with all of their supposed horrors dis-
appear
and fade into oblivion. Believers in such dog-
mas
and errors should awaken to the beauty, safety
and great value of well developed mediumship.
Mediums Should Demand Their Own Conditions.
Mediums should develop sufficient independence to

assert their and compel investigators
rights, to comply
with the rules of the seance room and all conditions
necessary for good results. should

Investigators not
attempt to dictate as to the conditions for the seances,

and one persistingin so doing should be invited to
retire from the circle at once.
Mediums should be
provided for so they would not
need to worry about, or strugglefor a living. They
should not be obligedto give readings for any person
who is repulsiveto them. No one but a medium for
public Work knows the humiliation these sensitives

endure in consequence of the ignorance and lack of
of
spirituality some of their patrons.
Mediums should not be obliged to give readings
when they are not well, or when not in the
proper
mood. When the rent is due, or the children need
clothes,or the grocer'sbill must be paid, the poor

soul, through actual need, is goaded on to misuse her
sacred giftsin the endeavor to satisfythe sitter and
earn the dollar necessary to keep her little family
together.
May God, angels and men, pity the poor medium
who must give readingswhen her soul revolts at the

condition her sitter brings,or when the laws of health

demand rest for her tired nerves.
Mediums' Guides Assist Other Spirits.

In many instances mediums' guides act spirit
as
messengers, givingthe messages for other spirits

who
wish to communicate.
All spirits
are not able to communicate through one
particularmedium. Many spiritsknow littleor ing

noth-
about the laws of spiritcontrol,and could not
communicate without assistance. In such cases takes

mis-
are sometimes made in the transmission of the
message, the same as occurs in this life when a graph

tele-
operator errs in the transmission of a telegram.

Allowances should always be made for possibleer-
rors
in spiritmessages.
Work of a Medium's SpiritBand.

In the development of a medium, the wisest of
spiritattendants are often obliged to experiment in

order to learn what mediumistic qualitiestheir sub-
ject
possesses, and to know the best way to unfold

those latent powers. After this has been determined,
different spiritswho possess particularphases of me-
diumship are each placed in charge of that particular
phase to be developed in the medium.
A spiritwho has good clairvoyant power may be
assigned to the work of the development of the me-

dium's
clairvoyance. A spiritwho possesses great

healingpower is assignedto the care of the medium's
health, and to the development of his powers of heal-

ing.
spiritwho has poeticalgenius may

A become
the medium's poeticalinspirer, helpinghim in the de-

velopment
of that mediumistic faculty,as well as in

clothing the messages of other communicating spirits
in poeticallanguage. A
spiritwho possesses the me-
diumistic qualitiesand development for the physical
phase of mediumship may be assigned to the unfold-
ment of these particularpowers of the medium, and
this may continue until competent spirit-guides
are in
charge of all the mediumistic qualitiesto be developed
in the medium.
The spiritband becomes organized with a leader,

all of them working together in harmony and to the
best advantage for the preparation of the medium for
his work. When he is
sufficientlydeveloped, they
work with him and through him in proving a future
life and teaching the science, philosophy,and religion
of Spiritualism.
There are many things to be learned in studying
this department of Modern Spiritualism. A spiritmay
possess great clairvoyantpowers, and the medium
may have developed that giftalso, but if the spiritual

forces of the spiritand the magnetic forces of the
medium do not harmonize and blend freely,the best

results are not obtained. The same law governs every
other phase of mediumship. Therefore, it is plain to
be seen that the spiritguardians need to learn by perience
ex-
what spiritis best adapted to co-operate with

the medium in the practice of each phase of his
mediumship.
The development of any one of these fac-
ulties
spiritual
requiresstudy, experiment and practice,
as well
as patienceand perseverance on the part of the spirit

teachers. When the medium in
heartilyparticipates
the work, placing confidence and trust in the spirit
teachers, the development is more rapid, the mani-
festations
more perfect,and the results better.

Each one of the spirithelpers

may possess other
phases of mediumship besides the one assigned to
him in any particularcase. One who has healing
power may also be clairvoyant
in a greater or less de-
gree,
he may
or possess physicalmediumship to some
extent, and he may use these powers at times m junction
con-
with the practice of the phase
assigned to
him.
In the author's case "Old Doctor," Indian
an spirit,
uses him to diagnose disease more successfullythan
any other member of his band. While other members
cause him to clairvoyantly
see at times.
Lotunda Modjeska, a French-Italian artist,controls
him to read character as do some other spiritguides.
AndrewPayn, an Episcopalminister when in earth
life, improvises and sometimes writes verse through
his hand. It is seldom that any other spiritattempts
this intricate task, and probably because of the me-
dium's
poeticalfaculties being so poorly developed,and

the little prospect for their improvement in this life.
This spiritalso inspiresor controls the medium to
lecture at times.
E. V. Wilson, who was selected as leader of the
author's spiritband, uses his powers in various ways
to assist in the work, but principally
in inspiring
or
controlling
the medium in publicspeaking and in ing
giv-
spiritmessages and tests to publicaudiences and
elsewhere. Thus the workers are organized, and the
work properlysystematizedand successfully
carried on.
Experience is the best of teachers, and the author's

oft repeated reference to his own mediumistic riences
expe-
pardoned by the reader as he uses these
may be
substantial facts and personalproofs instead of hear-
say
evidence, or vague theories in substantiating his

CHAPTER VII.
Advice and Teachings of Spirits Beautiful.
In the forty-sixyears of our almost

daily intercourse
with the spiritsof the departed, through our own
mediumship as well as that of many others, we have
never received a message or heard one given that vised

ad-
anyone to do wrong. They always teach that
if we would be happy we must be good and do good ;
that true happiness lies in making others happy. Their
teachings are elevating,consoling,and helpful. Their

words of comfort to the dying are: "Fear not, death
is not a calamity,but is the greatest of blessings. It
reunites you with the darlings gone before." The
spirit comforts the living mourners with the ance

assur-
that their darlings are not dead, nor sleeping;

that they have not gone far away, but are often near
them.
Certainly such teachings, do not emanate from
"evil spirits,"
as some Christian Churches, Theosophic
societies, and other grossly unjust and unreasonable
opponents of Modern Spiritualism would have the
world believe.
The simple though elevatingfact that spiritsalways
teach us to be good, and do good, never advising us
to do evil, or commit a wrong, proof positivethat
is
they are not "evil spirits"or "fallen angels." If it
were "the devil," who is teaching the people of this
world to be good and do good, he would be tearing

down his own kingdom.
Fear dear mediums, there is little danger of
not,
causing jury.
in-
"evil spirits"from beyond the grave you
There is infinitely
more danger of evil spirits
in the flesh making trouble. Some of them may
you
be found among those who are seeking to get laws

passed in the legislaturesprohibitingyou from prac-
ticing
your divine gifts. Others may be found among
those who seek to destroy your religionby having you
arrested, fined and imprisoned; others still,
by circu-
lating
false and slanderous reports about you, etc.
Knowing that these evil disposed or ignorant spirits

exist on this plane of life,we can meet and educate
them to a higher sphere ofunderstanding,converting
them into good spirits,as Spiritualists
have done and
are still doing to thousands.
Dear mediums, continue faithful in the good work.
Court beautiful spiritualmediumship. Trust your
spirithelpers. Seek to bless the world with your
powers, and fear Stand
by one another and the
not.
cause of Modem Spiritualism.A just reward will

come to the truly good, and you will be greatlyblessed
in the work of the angels.
Mission of Mediumship.
There are many honorable callingsin which men
labor, and each one who labors to improve the condi-

tion
of himself and others is entitled to a goodly share
of honor appreciation.Whoever
and seeks to be of
benefit to mankind is filling
a useful place in society
and in some measure blessinghis kind.
There are different kinds of labor and various ways
of working for the upliftmentof humanity. Great
men in many walks of life have filled their niche in
assistingthe progress of the world. There are men

noble-
in all professions,as well as among the unpro-

fessional.
One may filla very important positionand
hardly become recognized by the world. The man
who fires the boilers that generate the steam that runs
the engine that pumps the water to the many homes

of this city,is filling

just as important a positionas is
the prcsfdent
of the Water Commission. The most
obscure one of our workers may be doing as much
or even more than some other one whose name and
fame may have encompassed the earth. It is true that
the janitorof a building,though he may not be me-
diumistic even, is a medium or an instrument necessary

to the success of the
meetings held therein.
We are often told by good and earnest people that
they would happy if they could only speak in pub-
be lic,
give tests, improvise poetry, or anything else to
helpalong the cause of Spiritualism.To such we will
say: You can do something to help the cause even
if you cannot preach or give a test. You can tain

enter-
a medium, cook his meals, make his bed, arrange

for meetings,etc., and thus you become a medium sisting
as-
the spiritworld to carry on the great work of

Modern Spiritualism.
It is different,however, with one who is called to
expound pulpitor public rostrum

from the its truth,
or to demonstrate it through mediumship. Great
responsibilitiesrest upon such mediums. Some people

look upon them as veritable saints and expect them
to live up to their idea of ; while

saintship others who
are ignorant or undevelopiedlook upon them as the
vilest imposters. So it is that mediums and other
advocates of the truths of Modem like

Spiritualism,
the teachers of all religions,
must meet the imjust
criticisms and other malignant attacks of the ignorant

and uninformed opposers. This fact necessitates their
walking in the straightand narrow path. The ful

beauti-
mission of mediumship is the greatest of all mis-

sions,
arid the labors of all true devoted mediums should
be most sacredlyprized and carefullyutilized.

SPIRIT MEDIUMSHIP "
143
It is a callingthat permits one to assuage

sacred
another's grief and sorrow. It is douMy so when one
can become an instrument to be used by an angel to

communicate with his loved ones of earth. To become
a medium through whom a so-called "dead" friend
may return and speak to his loved ones in distress of

soul, awaking them to the consciousness of their tinued
con-
existence,and tellingof their undying love, is

the sweetest giftof God to man.
A Little Kindly Advice.

Fellow mediums, be true and loyal to your heaven
born gifts; walk uprightly; think only good thoughts;
aspire to receive the good, pray for it, strive for it,
trustingalways in those who guide you, and you will
receive blessingsin great abundance.
Spiritualists
and investigators,when you enter the
seance room, be cheerful,be honest, never
trying to
deceive the medium by using intrigue,but always
aspiringfor the good, the true, the spiritual.Let the
heartfelt aspiration to communicate with your beloved
spirit-friendsdominate your thoughts. Let no doubts,

or thoughts of evil enter your minds, but trustingly
crave a crumb of comfort, a word of wisdom, a little
kindly advice and sweet communion with your spirit

friends. It is with these conditions that success is
attained.
All Need Friends.
X
To have friends, one must make them by being

friendly.If we would be loved, we must become lovely
ourselves.
Self Control.
The development of mediumship increases

proper
the power of all the other faculties. A person who is
144 HOW TO DEVBXOP IT.
mediumistic is sensitive,and subjectto extreme fering

suf-
and great enjoyment. If he is not self poised,
his enjoyment may lead to excesses, and his suffering
may be increased and intensified almost beyond en-
durance.
To learn to control one's self is a great

accomplishment,and yet it becomes an easy task when
we resolve to do it. If we will it, and constantly
strive for it,we make the needed conditions for the
assistance of our spiritfriends,and the more istic
medium-
we are the more assistance we will receive.
In developing mediumship one should learn to trol
con-
himself at all times excepting when desiringspirit

control. At such times he should freelyreceive the
spiritinfluence without fear or doubting.
Dear mediums, you have been selected to fill the
grandest mission vouchsafed to the people of this life.
Prize your powers highly,and love one another as
your spiritteachers love you. In doing so you will

make your own pathways bright and beautiful, and
you will bless those with whom you associate. Heaven
is indeed blessingyou.
To the Reader.
Now that we have recorded these facts, and made
plain the conditions necessary for the production of
Spiritphenomena, the author would explain his posi-

tion
regardingthem. The phenomena of Spiritualism
of ancient and modern times are natural phenomena.
They were, and are now, governed by natural law.

Therefore they should not be classed as miracles, as
the Christian Church has denominated those of the
Bible.
Spiritphenomena of the physical and mental phases

constitute the only absolute proof of a life after death
that mortal man has ever received. They constitute
the fundamental principles

upon which every religion
is founded, and in this fact every religionhas a sub-
stantial
basis of truth. Men after witnessing these
phenomena, at different times, in different ages, have
interpretedthem in different ways, according to their

ability,or lack of ability,
both of which are clearlyto
be seen in the creeds of the many different religions
of the world.
Spiritphenomena are as beautiful and sacred, as

they are necessary for the enlightenmentof mankind,
although they are but the stepping stones to higher
conditions. They constitute the base of a great ture,
struc-
" ^the foundation upon which is built the most
beautiful, upliftingand inspiringSpiritualPhilosophy

" the only trulyscientificand natural religion.
As much as we love the phenomena of Spiritualism,
in its many wonderful and beautiful phases,we could
not be content with it alone and seek no farther. In
short, we have traced the phenomena to the cause ducing

pro-
them, and they have brought us in touch with
spiritualbeings who possess the knowledge that all
people of this world sorelyneed. These beloved spirits

have taught us many truths, which are embodied in
SpiritualScience. This SpiritualScience constitutes
our religion. What we have learned of it appeals to
our soul's highest and holiest aspirations. The more
we learn of it the happier we become. The more we
receive of it, the more of heaven we enjoy. The

author being a medium himself it becomes his daily
blessing. O the sacredness of daily communion with
the angels!
The glory of Modem Spiritualismis great. The
of
beauty and reality the science,
truths of this religious
this scientific religion,words are too weak to tell.

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What is the author's purpose for writing the book?

What is the author's purpose for writing the book?

What are some of the challenges mediums face according to the author?

What are some of the challenges mediums face according to the author?

SPIRIT MEDIUMSHIP.

ITS VARIOUS PHASES.

HOW DEVELOPED AND SAFELY

A COMPENDIUM OF PSYCHIC SCIENCE.

THE MEDIUM'S COMPANION AND GUIDE.

EX-MISSIONARY OF THE NATIONAL ALIST

ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED

STATES OF AMERICA, AND FORTY-

N SIX YEARS A PUBLIC MEDIUM.

REVISED AND ENLARGED.* THIRD EDITION.

"How dear are the moments of spirit communion,

To stand by the truth, and our loyalty prove."

In publishingthis book the author hopes to be of

vagaries that have become attached to Spiritual-

extravagant claims of some of its opponents regarding

diumship ; and most of all,to give encouragement and

the beautiful faculty and

Experience is the greatest teacher, and the author of

active service, and having personally experienced

work, naturally feels that he is better qualifiedto

hand, as all they know has been acquired by ob-

spiritinspirers,as well as through the mediumship of

being foimded on personal experience,may furnish

an excuse and partiallyjustify the frequent personal

To the faithful and true mediums and their

noble guides and inspirers who have fought the good

fight against the mighty forces of ignorant prejudice,

religious bigotry, intolerance and persecution, that

the great and saving truths of Modern Spiritualism

might become the common knowledge of the people of

To those who honestly seek to unfold their itual

in order to become useful in the hands of the spirit

friends in voicing the truths of a

health to the physical bodies of and edge

to their minds, with education regarding the laws

of life and how to live to their requirements, that

heaven be realized earth, this volume is

Any intelligentperson who investigates Spiritualism

proven, and the philosophy of the phenomena of Me-

diumship is learned, such an one can never return to

the ignorance of nonbelief.

We Mortals Are Spirits Now.

In the beginning of the study of Spirit Mediumship,

section or sphere of the Spiritual World, and its in-

are spiritsnow, as much as they ever will be.

Also it is well, while stud)ring Spirit Mediumship,

mortal man is a spirit manifestation, and just as hard

to explain as any manifestation produced in the seance

room by the spiritsof the so-called dead.

We see. Our eyes do not see. We see with our eyes.

do not know. Voices produce vibrations that strike

the timpanum of the ear, and pass on over the auditory

words of the language our spirits have learned, we

comprehend the message ; but we cannot tell how we

receive the sound vibrations into our consciousness.