But redolent of joy and consolation as is the intercourse with beloved
friends, at this time when orderly communion has succeeded doubtful
experiment, it must not be supposed that any such harmonious results
characterised the initiatory proceedings of the spiritual movement which
now made its advent in Rochester.
Within and without the dwellings of the medium, all was fear,
consternation, doubt, and anxiety. Fanatical religionists of different
sects had forced themselves into the family gatherings, and the wildest
scenes of rant, cant, and absurdity often ensued. Opinions of the most
astounding nature were hazarded concerning the object of this movement;
some determining that it was a "millennium" and looking for the speedy
reign of a personal Messiah and the equally speedy destruction of the
wicked.
It must not be supposed that the clergy were idle spectators of the
tumultuous wave that was sweeping over the city. On the contrary,
several of them called on Mrs. Fox with offers to "exorcise the
spirits," and when they found their attempts futile, and that though the
spirits would rap in chorus to the "amens" with which they concluded
their incantations, they were otherwise unmoved by these reverend
performances, they generally ended by proclaiming abroad that the family
were "in league with the evil one," or the "authors of a vile
imposture."
Honourable exceptions, however, were found to this cowardly and
unchristian course, and amongst these was the Rev. A. H. Jervis, a
Methodist minister of Rochester, in whose family remarkable
manifestations occurred of the same character as in that of the Foxes,
and whose appreciation of the beauty and worth of the communications he
received, several of his published letters bear witness of. Mr. Lyman
Granger, Rev. Charles Hammond, Deacon Hale, and several other families
of wealth and influence, both in Rochester and the surrounding towns,
also began to experience similar phenomena in their own households,
while the news came from all quarters, extending as far as Cincinnati
and St. Louis, West, and Maine, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and New
York, East, that the mysterious rappings and other phases of what is now
called "medium power" were rapidly spreading from town to town and State
to State, in fulfilment of an assurance made in the very first of the
communications to the Fox family, namely, "that these manifestations
were not to be confined to them, BUT WOULD GO ALL OVER THE WORLD."
The remarkable manner in which this prophecy has been fulfilled the most
casual observer will readily admit; for Spiritualism--even as a
religious power--has far outstripped any other form of religion in the
world in the rapidity of its growth, having reached every civilized
nation and permeated every other form of belief in less than half a
century.
The Fox Sisters were still called the "Rochester Knockers," the "Fox
Girls," the "Rappers," and other epithets, equally foolish and obnoxious
to their interests and feelings. Catherine Fox, the youngest girl, had
been removed to the house of Mr. W. E. Capron, of Auburn. Mrs. Fish,
though generally present when phenomena were transpiring, was not in its
earliest phases conscious of being a medium. Margaretta, the other
sister, was then in reality the only one through whom the manifestations
appeared to proceed, when in November, 1848, the spirits, who had long
been urging them to permit public investigations to be made through her
mediumship, informed them by raps that "they could not always strive
with them," and since they were constantly disobedient to the spirits'
requests, and obviously opposed to their presence, they should leave
them, and in all probability withdraw for another generation, or seek
through other sources for the fulfilment of the high and holy purposes
for which this spiritual outpouring had been designed. To these appeals
the family were inflexible. They constantly prayed that the cup of this
great bitterness "might pass from them." They did not wish to be
"mediums," and abhorred the notoriety, scandal, and persecution which
their fatal gift had brought them, and when warned that the spirits
would leave them, they protested their delight at the announcement, and
expressed their earnest desire that it might be fulfilled.
There were present at a circle, when communications of this character
were made, several influential persons of the city, who had become
greatly interested in the manifestations and were warm friends of the
family. They could not, however, realise that the threat here implied
would actually be fulfilled until the spirits, by rappings, spelled out
several messages of a particularly affectionate and valedictory
character. The scene became, says an eye-witness, solemn and impressive.
The spirits announced that in twenty minutes they would depart, and
exactly as that time expired they spelled out, "We will now bid you all
farewell;" when the raps entirely ceased.
The family expressed themselves "glad to get rid of them;" the friends
present vainly tried to obtain, by solicitations, made, as it would
seem, to empty air, some demonstration that this beneficent and
wonderful visitation had not indeed wholly ceased. All was useless. A
mournful silence filled the apartment which had but a few minutes before
been tenanted with angels, sounding out their messages of undying
affection, tender counsel, wise instruction, and prescient warning. The
spirits indeed were gone; and as one by one the depressed party
separated and passed out into the silent moonlit streets of Rochester,
all and each of them felt as if some great light had suddenly gone out,
and life was changed to them. There was a mighty blank in space and a
shadow everywhere, but spirit light came no more to illuminate the thick
darkness.
A fortnight passed away, during which the former investigators called
constantly on the Fox family to enquire if their spirit friends had
returned. For the first few days a stoical negative was their only
reply; after this, they began more and more fully to recognise the loss
they had sustained. The wise counsellors were gone; the sources of
strange strength and superhuman consolation were cut off. The tender,
loving, wonderful presence no more flitted around their steps, cheered
their meals, encouraged them in their human weakness, or guided them in
their blindness. And these most wonderful and providential beings their
own waywardness had driven from them. At last, then, they met their
enquiring friends with showers of tears, choking sobs, and expressions
of the bitterest self-reproach and regret.
On the twelfth day of this great heart-dearth, Mr. W. E. Capron, being
in Rochester on business, called at the house of Mrs. Fish, with Mr.
George Willets, a member of the Society of Friends, and one of their
earliest spiritual investigators. On receiving the usual sorrowful reply
that "the spirits had left them," Mr. Capron said: "Perhaps they will
rap for us if not for you." They then entered the hall and put the usual
question if the spirits would rap for them, in answer to which, and to
the unspeakable delight of all present, they were greeted with a perfect
shower of the much-lamented sounds.
Once more the spirits urged them to make the manifestations public.
Again they reiterated the charge with solemn earnestness, and despite of
the mediums' continued aversion to the task imposed upon them, the fear
of a fresh and final bereavement of the inestimable boon of spirit
communion prevented their continued resistance to the course proposed.
When the persons who were called upon to aid the mediums and take
somewhat prominent parts in the work urged the awkwardness of the
positions assigned them, the spirits only replied, "Your triumph will be
so much the greater." There is no doubt that the severe warning they had
just received, and the fear of its repetition, acted upon the whole
party with more force than any argument that could have been used to
induce their submission.
At the injunctions of the spirits a public investigation into the
possibility of communion between the world of spirits and the earth they
once inhabited was carried out. Magistrates, editors, and professional
men were the judges, and enlightened American citizens the jury. The aim
of wide-spread publicity was attained. Thousands heard and wondered at,
and finally believed in spiritual communion who would never have dreamed
of the subject but for the persecution and slander that was publicly
directed against the "Rochester Knockers."
The records of these persecutions and slanders abound with disgraceful
and painful incidents which, whilst being discreditable to the persons
responsible for their propagation redound with full credit to the honour
and integrity of the mediums selected by the Spirit world to be the
forerunners of a new dispensation.
And thus the fiery cross, carried by the hands of unseen messengers,
sped from point to point; the beacon fires lighted by invisible hands
gleamed on every mountain top, and the low muffled sound of the
spirit-raps that first broke the slumbers of the peaceful inhabitants of
the humble tenement at Hydesville, became the clarion peal that sounded
out to the millions of the Western Hemisphere, the anthem of the soul's
immortality, chorused by hosts of God's bright ministering angels.
THE MAIDENS OF THE DAWNING LIGHT.
(Leah, Kate, Margaret.)
* * * * *
Oh, rustic little martyrs for the truth!
Whose earthly eyes so oft were dimmed with tears,
While on your cheeks the blush and bloom of youth
Was yet unsoiled by unborn struggling years.
Long years of suffering, years of holy joys,
Years of defeats and years of victories;
Years of sweet singing and of brawling noise,
Despair--but ever angel messages.
The memory of your mortal lives comes back;
Poor little girls! Why was the world so rough?
Of balm you brought there ever was a lack--
Of heavenly tidings never half enough!
Yet when to you the gentle "rappings" came,
Telling the story of immortal life,
The hungry world went crazy-mad to blame,
Accuse, defile, hunt, mob, make venomed strife.
Humble and poor as Christ was--kindly, too,
It seems so strange the thistle, hatred, grew
To whip your tender backs, with great ado,
Because you builded better than you knew.
But that is over. You have disappeared
From conflicts and from suffering, and to-day
From God's high country, we, your friends, endeared
By common aims, feel that you look this way.
Welcome, oh, heavenly sisters! See the light
Your youthful fingers kindled! How it spreads,
Lighting up places where were sin and night,
Whitening souls and shaping princely heads.
Lo! far it spreads! Beyond the rolling seas
Vast congregations celebrate the day
Your questionings unlocked death's mysteries,
And hailed the angels, who had come your way.
--Emma Rood Tuttle.
APPENDIX
A SEQUEL to the "ROCHESTER KNOCKINGS," after 56 years.
* * * * *
Copied from the "Banner of Light," (Boston, U.S.A.)
December 3rd, 1904.
* * * * *
"TRUTH CRUSHED TO EARTH WILL RISE AGAIN."
* * * * *
Regardless of what the "Banner" knows of this matter, we prefer to
present the following statement as given in the Boston Journal of Nov.
23. To opponents of the claims made by Spiritualists, the account may
bear greater weight than if made by a Spiritualist paper. Take note that
the Journal says, "an almost entire human skeleton," and not the bones
of a large dog or of any four-footed animal.
Rochester, N. Y., Nov. 22, 1904.--The skeleton of the man supposed to
have caused the rappings first heard by the Fox sisters in 1848 has been
found in the walls of the house occupied by the sisters, and clears
them from the only shadow of doubt held concerning their sincerity in
the discovery of spirit communication.
The Fox sisters declared they learned to communicate with the spirit of
a man, and that he told them he had been murdered and buried in the
cellar. Repeated excavations failed to locate the body and thus give
proof positive of their story.
The discovery was made by school children playing in the cellar of the
building in Hydesville known as the "Spook house," where the Fox sisters
heard the wonderful rappings. William H. Hyde, a reputable citizen of
Clyde, who owns the house, made an investigation and found an almost
entire human skeleton between the earth and crumbling cellar walls,
undoubtedly that of the wandering pedlar whom it was claimed was
murdered in the east room of the house, and whose body was hidden in the
cellar.
Mr. Hyde has notified relatives of the Fox sisters and the notice of the
discovery will be sent to the National Order of Spiritualists, many of
whom remember having made pilgrimages to the "Spook house," as it is
commonly called. The finding of the bones practically corroborates the
sworn statement made by Margaret Fox, April 11, 1848. The Fox sisters
claimed to have been disturbed by rappings and finally by a system of
signals got into communication with the spirit.
According to Margaret Fox's statement the spirit was that of a pedlar,
who described how he had been murdered in the house, his body being
buried in the cellar. There were numerous witnesses to the rappings, but
although the cellar had been dug up many times no traces of the body was
found until the crumbling cellar walls revealed the skeleton.
The name of the murdered man, according to his revelation to the Fox
sisters, was Charles Rosna, and the murderer a man named Beck. In 1847
the house was occupied by Michael Weekman, a poor laborer. He and his
family became troubled by these mysterious rappings, which followed in
succession at different intervals, especially during the night. The
family became so broken by fear and loss of sleep that they vacated the
house. On Dec. 11, the Fox family moved in and two months later the
rappings were resumed and the family became frightened. Finally Margaret
and Cathie grew bold and asked questions which were answered, revealing
the murder.
FROM HYDESVILLE.
* * * * *
The "Sunflower," December, 1904, says: "The following bit of information
was transmitted hitherward, which, if confirmed, will create additional
interest in Spiritualism, although, by no means confirming the latter,
as that does not rest exclusively on the phenomena at Hydesville; for
since then we have had many additional phenomena, as the varied physical
phases, materialisation, slate-writing and drawing, painting,
levitation, passing of matter through matter, trance-speaking,
clairvoyance, psychometric reading, and numerous other modes of
communicating with the spirit world. The correspondent says: William H.
Hyde, who recently found the arm and leg bones of a human being at the
old Fox homestead, made another search in the cellar where the bones
were first exposed by the caving in of the inside cellar wall. Mr. Hyde
discovered all the other important bones except the skull. The latter
corroborates the statement as made in the history of the first rappings,
a work entitled, 'The Missing Link in Spiritualism.'"
* * * * *
Note by Editor.--Attention is drawn to the fact that a portion of the
skull (which the foregoing report declares to be missing) was discovered
during the digging operations at the time of the "Knockings"--1848.
* * * * *
Transcriber's note:
Obvious punctuation errors were corrected.
Page 30, "harrased" changed to "harassed" (that harassed them)
Page 59, word "Appendix" taken from page header and added to text.