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

86was a woman as tall as Jonson, wearing a white robe, a bright silver or steel band on herforehead, and what appeared to be bracelets and jewels on her arms. After a few words ofconversation she let me understand that she was Cleopatra, once Queen of Egypt. Standing a littlebehind her was a smaller form who gave the name of Josephine. In appearance neither of thesewas human in complexion or lines, but swarthy and dimpling, Josephine’s face rather red ; thegeneral effect was not unpleasing, though it never occurred to me that either face was mortal. Iasked Josephine who was the spirit that first appeared, and she corroborated my first impression.It was Iola.Grayfeather suddenly exclaimed : “I like that squaw.” I said : “How flattered Cleopatrawould have been, in earth life, to hear that !£The Indian took this innocent remark in bad part, and called out angrily : “I say she nicesquaw, I say it to her face, Grayfeather not got four tongues. No ! no !” Cleopatra then wentup to Jonson and waved her arms over him, when peace was restored.Once Grayfeather caused Jonson to stand up close alongside of two big spirits. The threeforms all close together, and in full sight of us all, were impressive. On another occasionGrayfeather (controlling Jonson) walked over to my chair, a distance of eight feet, and, put hismedium’s left hand into my two hands. He then proceeded to give me a little advice in a loudvoice, being apparently under the impression that I had never attended a séance before. “Whenspirit squaw come you no say, ‘Who are you ?’ ‘What your name ?’ You say, ‘How are you ?Very glad to see you.’ Next time squaw come p’haps she give you her name.” While he was thustalking the cabinet curtain opened, and a man went straight across to Mr. Z., who recognised himas his deceased brother and returned to the cabinet with him.Including some repetitions, fifteen or sixteen materialised forms emerged from the cabinetand conversed with their friends while Jonson was out of it ; six or eight came after Grayfeatherhad taken him inside—all these in addition to the familiar spirits, the habitués of the cabinet. Oneof the visitors was a nun, who had a very spirituelle countenance and wore a bright silver crossabout four inches long. She came specially for Mr. Z.: But, at the request of the latter lady, shewalked well out into the light in order that I should be able to see her plainly. The effort was toomuch for her, and she doubled up, instead of gradually descending into the floor, which is the usualmethod of disappearance. Each member of the circle was visited by at least two friends who wererecognised. Two or three men came to me whom I was not able to identify properly, one makingsemaphore signs with his arms.One curious incident occurred while Jonson was still in view. Grayfeather shouted out,“Go away, go back in box” (cabinet).Q.: “What is the matter Grayfeather ?”Grayfeather : “ me tell him, No ! Go back to box and come out there. He want to comeinto medium and turn me out.”Q.: “Who is it ?”Grayfeather : “He come for Mr. Moore. He say his name John Nic-hol-son.”I know one John Nicholson living and one who passed over some years ago. The former isa busy professional man who, I am sure, was not asleep in England at 9 p.m.; the latter was agentle, courteous, old canon of a cathedral in the West of England, and the last person in this worldor the next to try and dispossess the Indian of the organism of Jonson. The only surmise I couldmake was that this was the intrepid leader of the attack on Delhi, whose memory I, in common withthousands of Englishmen, have held in veneration since the days of the Mutiny. Our knowledge ofhis character does not exclude the idea that, if he wanted to communicate with one of hiscountrymen, he would not hesitate to turn anyone out of a body that appeared to him to suit hispurpose. He had very often, though not recently, been in my thoughts.After Jonson had been in the cabinet half-an-hour Grayfeather brought him out, andsquatted him on the carpet tailor-fashion. While he was sitting thus a phantom slowly arosebehind him, but soon faded away before it could be recognised.