_Description of the instrument by which spirits were enabled to move
a table under the influence of mediumship, yet in no wise under the
control of the medium employed, even clairvoyance being nullified._
(_i_) The table is about six feet in length, and sixteen inches in
width, so contrived as to separate into three parts for conveniency of
carriage.
(_j_) The pair of legs under the right side are upon castors. Those
on the left side upon an axle, passing through perforations suitably
made for its reception. The axle consists of a rod of about ½ of
an inch in thickness. The axle serves for two wheels of about six
inches diameter, of which one is grooved. A disk, already described as
appertaining to apparatus in a preceding page, is secured upon a pivot
affixed to a strip of wood, which is made to slide between two other
strips attached to the frame of the table just under the top board. By
these means, the band embraces both the hub of the disk and the wheel;
when this turns in consequence of the shoving of the table horizontally
along the floor, the disk turns with the wheel, and as much faster as
the circumference of the groove in the hub, is less than that of the
groove in the wheel.
(_k_) The index is in this apparatus situated precisely as in that
described in Plate I.; and any mortal having due hold of the table,
may, by shoving it one way or the other, bring any letter under the
index, so as to spell out any desired word. But no person, sitting
as the medium is in the engraving represented to sit, with the plate
on two balls, can actuate the disk so as to spell out words as above
mentioned. Utterly incapacitated from moving the table, it were
manifestly impossible to actuate the disk, or to interfere with the
movements otherwise imparted.
(_l_) In the employment of the apparatus (Plate I.) it has been
suggested that through clairvoyance the medium might see the letters,
despite of the screen, or might learn them from the mind of the
observer; but in this case the medium sees the letters without the aid
of clairvoyancy; but this power does not account for the regulation of
the manifestations; since, even seeing the letters, they cannot control
the movements so as to give to the intuitive power thus exercised any
efficacy.
(_m_) On the surface of the table, on the right, may be seen a board
upon castors. This was contrived as a substitute for the plate on
balls. The castors, of course, perform the same office as the balls
in allowing a solid material communication between the hands of the
medium and the table, without giving the power to induce or control
the movement. Evidently, though by any horizontal impulse the medium
might cause the castors to turn and the board to move in consequence,
the force necessary to effect this must fall short of that requisite to
move the table.
(_n_) In point of fact, the board, when under the plate, balls, and
hands of the medium, was often moved rapidly to and fro, without moving
the table. To move this under such conditions without moving the
board or tray, required a distinct spiritual process, of much greater
difficulty, and which some spirits were either _unwilling_ or _unable_
to employ successfully.
See “Mediumship” in this work. See also 164, 166.
[Illustration: PLATE III.]