Glimpses Of The Next State.Pdf - Spiritualists' National Union

Chapter IV44MENTAL PHENOMENA IN ENGLANDFurther manifestations – Table – tilting – Disadvantages of using material objects –Automatic writing ,ouija board, planchette and table-tilting only the physical means of expressing one spiritisticphenomenon – Admiral T. gives information in Southsea of an unexpected disaster in China –Hisforecast the same as that of Director of the Observatory at Hong Kong – Table –tilting with theEndicott’s - Theory of mind-reading considered - The Photograph test – Mrs. Endicott very successful– the astral form of Mr. Henry Crookes – the Photograph test again successful – Captain Alleyne inspirit life picks out a photo of Iola – Mr. Peters’ tests – Mrs. Arnold – Miss MacCreadie – Generalsuccess with the photograph test – Premonition of a relative’s death through Mrs. Davies – ‘Clairibelle– carte-de-visite of spirit present falls on the floor – Planchette writing of Mrs. Arnold – Fallacy of thetheory of mind-reading – Miss. Earle predicts the death of my mother, which occurred a few hourslater – Mr. Von Bourg – My relative controlled by Iola to take papers from a bureau – My ownattempts at spirit photography – Mr. Richard Boursell – Committed fraud occasionally, but hadgenuine power – Photograph of a gentleman in his library while his funeral was going on –Precipitation’s upon old photographs – I again visit America.When we seek to establish communication with the unseen without going to professionalmediums, it is usual to adopt an intermediary such as a small three-legged table, an ouija board, orplanchette. These are clumsy methods and slow, especially the first, and they are all subject to thesame disadvantage. The true psychic is aware that the letters or words are in his head before thetable or other object moves; consequently, he does not quite know, when the word is spelt out, howmuch is due to his own automatism. I have sat many times at a table in my library with myrelative A., and I understand from him that he is conscious of two letters ahead, of what, at themoment is being manifested by the leg of the table. He is not conscious of moving the table, butbelieves that the tilts are performed in some way through his organism. This does not invalidatethe message. Indeed, the answers to the questions I have often put through the table have beensuch as he would be unable to give from his personal knowledge.If I may risk a prophesy as to how messages from the unseen will be received in years tocome, I should say that what is now known as ‘inspirational writing’ will be found to be the mosteffective means of communication between the discarnate and the incarnate spirit. As far as I canjudge, automatic writing, table-tilting, ouija board, and planchette are only the physical means ofexpression of one phenomena, the message from the discarnate spirit impressed upon the brain ofthe psychic, probably through the spirit brain. The brain commands the nerves and muscles todeliver the message by means of pencil, table, or whatever the inorganic object may be in the room.I do not wish to dogmatise on this or any other subject, but I think this will be found to be so: if Iam right in my conjecture, it is futile to use the intermediary. Why not in the first instance sitdown and write what comes into your head?I have gradually come to the conclusion that the best plan is for the psychic and the positiveto sit opposite to one another at a small, unvarnished, deal, three-legged table, with their hands onit, but not touching. After a few words have come through by ordinary tilting, the psychic will befound to be receiving impressions. These should be recorded in the notes in brackets. The table isrequired as a connecting-link between psychic and the sitter. It will be found after a few minutes,that the impressions will come with fair rapidity, and the tilting, which causes great waste ofenergy, can be almost dispensed with.Through the clumsy process of table-tilting I have receive many messages from relatives andfriends. After a short time I got to know which of my relatives was present by the nature of the tilt.The gentle movement of the table was Iola, and the decisive, dignified taps of my father, were mostcharacteristic. A., the psychic could get very little alone. I got nothing whatever out of the tablemyself; but when we sat together, and conditions were favourable, we were able to receivetrustworthy messages. I will give an example:-