MATERIALIZATION AND DEMATERIALIZATION UNDER TEST CONDITIONS.
At Mrs. Fay's, on Thursday, Oct. 6, 1885, previous to the seance, Mrs.
Fay came into the room under the control of "Auntie," and requested that
four ladies should be selected by the audience to go with the medium to
her dressing-room. The request was complied with, and the ladies
returned with Mrs. Fay, still under control, and stated that they had
dressed her entirely in dark clothes; that there was not one particle of
white fabric about her, except the little collar around her neck. The
control then asked me to take a light into the cabinet, and all were
requested to examine it and see that there was no possible chance for a
confederate, or the concealment of drapery. This was done to the entire
satisfaction of all present.
Mrs. Fay was not allowed to leave the room, but, as soon as the audience
was seated, went directly into the cabinet. She had not time to take her
seat before a form, dressed in white, came out into the room. This was
followed by several others similarly dressed.
Then the light was lowered, and a tall female form came out, dressed in
brilliantly illuminated garments. A white handkerchief held against this
drapery had the appearance of a dark object. This figure walked about
the room for a few minutes, and vanished within three feet from where I
sat, and at least eight feet from the cabinet.
Then, in the middle of the room, on the carpet, appeared a small light,
not larger than the palm of my hand. It gradually grew larger, until it
assumed the tall, angular form of "Auntie," the control, who, in her
hoarse voice, greeted us with, "Good afternoon, all: I thought I would
see what I could do." She then addressed the audience in one of the most
forcible speeches I ever listened to, stating her reasons for putting
her medium under test conditions, ending by saying that she respected an
honest skeptic, but had no patience with those who accept anything
without good, substantial evidence.
She returned to the cabinet, and many forms came out and were
recognized. Bertha came, and, stretching out her arms at full length,
that all could see there was no chance for deception, she materialized
between her hands a piece of cambric, about three yards long and one
wide, brilliantly illuminated. After all who desired to do so had
examined it, she gathered it up, and, passing over to where the light
was the strongest, held it up, laughingly remarking that there was
enough to make a dress, proceeded to make it up, materializing sleeves,
and then put it on and walked round the room. Taking it off, she
dematerialized it in the presence of all.
Returning for a moment to the cabinet, she came back, and, kneeling on
the floor, with the fingers of the right hand made circular movements on
the carpet, with each of which it was plain to be seen that the light
was increasing. She continued this until she had materialized another
large piece of fabric. This gave great satisfaction to all, except
one visitor, who, from some cause, was a little disturbed, and had
the kindness to ask me if I had been in the habit of practising
sleight-of-hand. His intimate friend, who came with him, had the good
fortune to be close to Bertha, and had witnessed all that had occurred.
He rose, of his own free will, and stated to the audience that he had
been investigating the subject for thirty years, and that this was the
most wonderful and convincing thing he had ever seen.
On Thursday, Oct. 13, Mrs. Fay was again put under test conditions. The
audience was large, crowding the room and making it so warm as to
materially interfere with the manifestations, especially with those
spirits who had not been accustomed to materialize. The illuminated
forms and drapery were well shown. In the light seance, Bertha came and
pulled me up from my chair. She complained of the closeness of the room,
saying that she could not do much. She materialized a carnation in my
hand, and I called Mr. Whitlock to witness it, whereupon she took both
of his hands and made a flower in each.
Emma, one of the controls, soon came out, dressed in a rich white
figured satin dress, which all in the front row were allowed to inspect.
Mr. Whitlock obtained a pair of scissors, and, with Emma's consent, cut
quite a piece out of her dress. The damage seemed to be soon repaired.
Mr. Whitlock, in searching for the place where he had cut the piece out,
lifted the skirt, which gave Emma a chance to play the coquette, and
this created considerable amusement. Mr. Whitlock persevered, and I
think is able to state whether he succeeded in spoiling the dress.
A fine-looking form, claiming to be a German chemist, and the control of
Dr. Thomas, came out, and magnetized or medicated a tumbler of water,
sparks of light flashing freely from his fingers into the water, which
was then given to a lady from New Haven, Conn.,--with what effect I
cannot say, except that she complained that it tasted bitter. I saw
this manifestation for the first time several weeks before, and, I
confess, was rather amused with it. While speaking somewhat skeptically
of it to a friend who sat beside me, I was surprised when the form came
across the room and asked me to take the magnetized water. I had been
suffering for some weeks, and, to do the Doctor justice, I must say I
was almost entirely relieved.
Mr. Whitlock's father came to him,--a fine, robust form, with a strong
individuality that could not well be mistaken. Mr. Whitlock and his wife
testified to the likeness. This was followed by the appearance of Dr. J.
R. Newton, the widely-known healer, some time deceased. Mr. Whitlock and
I went up and greeted him. I shook hands with him, and had time to study
his face well: there could be no mistake; it was a wonderful likeness of
the Doctor.
The seance, although held under unfavorable circumstances, was full of
strong, convincing points. To the above statement, Mr. L. L. Whitlock,
Editor of _Facts_, appends the following:--
"At the above-named seance, held on Nov. 13th, the
following-named ladies were asked by Mrs. Fay to examine her
clothing before she entered the cabinet, viz.:--Mrs. Joseph
Harris, of Dorchester, Mass.; Mrs. A. Smith, of Lynn, Mass.;
Mrs. J. D. Lillie, Boston; Mrs. M. A. Estee, East Boston; and
Mrs. L. L. Whitlock, Providence, R. I.
"They stated that she had nothing white about her person, except
a piece of ruche around her neck, worn as a collar. The cabinet
was also thoroughly examined by all who desired.
"My father, Rev. Geo. C. Whitlock, LL.D., who passed to the
spirit-life about twenty years ago, was very perfectly
materialized, so much so that Mrs. Whitlock, who often sees him
clairvoyantly, but never saw him in earth-life, recognized him
before I saw him, my attention at the moment being attracted by
conversation in another direction.
"We will not attempt a description of this seance, as Mr.
Brackett's report is substantially what we would have written.
Our experience with the dress above mentioned was wonderful, and
to us as incomprehensible as was our lace experience at Mrs.
Fay's seance at Onset Bay last summer, a description of which we
published in the September number of _Facts_.
"One thing is certain: I had in my hand a piece of brocaded
white satin, which I know I had cut from the dress of which Mr.
Brackett speaks, and that, while I was kneeling before the form,
the hole which I had made in the dress did disappear, and that I
used my senses, of both sight and feeling, to convince myself of
the facts.
"Over sixty forms appeared, most of whom were recognized by
friends."