PHOSPHORUS.
SPIRIT LIGHTS VISIBLE AT DARK SÉANCES--PRIVATE CIRCLE IN JERSEY
CITY IN 1857--SOLID GRANULES OF PHOSPHORUS APPEARING IN EARTH
WHICH I HAD TOUCHED--SURPRISING AND DISTRESSING LETTER--THE
GOOD SPIRITS AND DANIEL UNDERHILL TO THE RESCUE--BENJAMIN
FRANKLIN--MARRIAGE TO D. UNDERHILL, NOVEMBER 2, 1858, AND CLOSE
OF MY PUBLIC MEDIUMSHIP--ANALOGOUS PHENOMENA IN PRIVATE AT HOME.
I will here relate from my experiences a curious and, so far as I know,
novel chapter in the records of Modern Spiritualism, namely, _the
production of solid granulated phosphorus by Spirits_.
It will be seen that that phenomenon actually occurred through my
mediumship, though under circumstances and appearances highly suggestive
(to our enemies) of trickery on my part, and such as naturally to awaken
uneasiness in the minds of friends whom long experience with me should
have made, and had made, suspicion-proof in regard to me and my Spirit
guides; and that for nearly nine months I was made very unhappy for the
want of confirmatory evidence as to the real objective genuineness of
the phenomenon sufficient to silence cavil and compel conviction. My
unhappiness proceeded from the consciousness that _some_ friends had
doubted more or less (though never going the length of signifying doubt
to myself), while I could not know _who_, nor how far doubt had taken
distinct shape in their minds. To a person of my temperament and temper,
however sustained by pride and conscious innocence, I cannot easily
conceive a more painful situation. But thank God (and the good Spirits
who have never failed me in the long run), this invisible cloud which
for months chilled the atmosphere of my life, as a distressful something
keenly felt though not to be seen, cleared off like the evaporation of
dew from the surface of a mirror, as will be seen below.
We never gave _public_ séances in darkened rooms. I do not approve of
the practice. Many forms of manifestations thus obtained are calculated
to prejudice the investigator and excite suspicion of the medium. I love
to sit with a few friends, who are prepared to witness manifestations,
whether in light or dark, and who have had sufficient evidence to
understand the conditions necessary to enable Spirits to manifest
themselves in form. On such occasions there should not be more than six
or seven persons in the circle, and they should all be harmonious, and
sit together around a table; placing their hands in such a manner that
if any one shall stir, or change position, it must be at once
discovered.
When Spirits appear, they come surrounded with, or luminous by, their
own light. I seldom sat in a darkened room without seeing lights, which
were also visible to the company.
I never used anything to conceal, or afford the Spirits a hiding-place
for anything. I was never directed to do so. We (all persons present)
have been told to sit in the dark and rub the palms of our hands
together; when, immediately on that being done, sparks of light would
appear. (I can frequently produce such lights--or, rather, they come of
themselves--when entirely alone.) I suppose they are electrical or
phosphorescent; but there are different lights. At times they vary in
form, color, and intensity. Sometimes they will be of the size of a
spark; sometimes of that of a hand, or larger; sometimes flitting or
flickering about; sometimes--especially when a Spirit is communicating
with you by touches, or caresses, or otherwise--fixed in front of your
face, like a person looking into your eyes; sometimes a vague, luminous
cloudiness, suggestive of a form or not, as the case may be. Mr. Robert
Dale Owen took every precaution to lock and seal the doors; not that he
doubted us, but because he was writing a book for the sceptical world to
read, and in his honesty of purpose he determined to be "sure." He was
right. His two books, the "Footfalls" and the "Debatable Land," can
never lose their interest and value to the student of Spiritualism.
Frequently, while sitting with select friends in dark circles, lights
would appear in different parts of the room; sometimes quite numerous.
These sights were no new thing to us, but very astonishing to those who
had never before witnessed such manifestations. In order to convince
such, the Spirits would direct them to examine the room and everything
in it; lock the doors, join hands and quietly wait for manifestations.
We were sometimes directed to sing, but not to ask questions, nor to
make any exclamations of wonder, or expressions of opinion, until the
manifestations had ceased. Such directions must be complied with, if we
would win good success.[12]
[12] The frequency of the appearance of _lights_, or luminous
appearances, at séances, is suggestive of the idea that Spirits
often employ, in their manifestations, phosphorus in some form or
condition--phosphorus probably drawn from the atmosphere, or from
the brains of the medium or sitters, or both, through their higher
knowledge of the secrets and resources of the chemistry of nature.
That they should know also how to make it inodorous is easily
conceivable. I have never perceived (though in this the author of
"The Missing Link" thinks she has sometimes done so) any of the
phosphoric odor as accompanying those exhibitions of Spirit
lights, though sometimes the entire forms of Spirits appear as
what I may call phosphorically luminous. That human brains are, to
some extent at least, natural reservoirs, from which they draw or
elaborate some basis of phosphorus, seems probable enough--or at
least should be so to those philosophers who strive to approximate
phosphorus to thought, and bid us eat phosphoric food to stimulate
our wits, and fancy they catch a gleam of it in the brightening of
the eye. It is reliably recorded that at the famous séances of
Count de Bullet, at which the controlling Spirit is known by the
conventional name of "John King," he constantly appeared holding
what seemed a round, white, luminous stone, whose light would
gradually fade out after a while, till almost invisible, when he
would either withdraw for a moment or two into the cabinet,
where the medium was asleep in trance, and return with his lamp
re-illumined, or else apply the _stone_, called his 'lamp,' to the
forehead of the Count de Bullet, when the light would be seen to
rapidly resume its full brightness. The first effect of such
application to the forehead, was that _dark clouds of wreathing
smoke_ would seem to enter into the stone from the forehead, soon
to pass into pervading light; strong in close proximity, but, like
phosphoric light, not radiating to much distance. That the Spirits
should be able to elaborate the cerebral, or atmospheric, or
terrestrial phosphorus into the condition of solid particles of
granulated phosphorus, is not difficult to conceive, but I do not
know of any other instance of their having actually done it, under
human observation, than that now related by Mrs. Underhill.--ED.
I met a large private circle in Jersey City, for a long time, once a
week. Many of the members of this party had met at my séances for years;
but, as they could not all come to New York, I went to their different
houses across the river to accommodate them. This party insisted on
sitting in darkened rooms. Some of them had witnessed remarkable
manifestations in our most private séances. George Willets and wife were
members of this circle, and they desired to have others see a little of
the wonderful manifestations which they had so often witnessed.
I consented to do so, but the Spirits expressly directed them not to
attempt such an undertaking in a party so little calculated to follow
implicitly the directions requisite to accomplish the results sought.
We had learned, by repeated observations, that Spirits could, under
certain conditions, when we were all in bed and no person stirring in
the room to disturb the forces through which they operate, disclose
mysteries which hitherto were unknown in this age of the world. After
much persuasion, I decided to sit for such manifestations.
The directions were given by the Spirits, and all were anxious to see
and know these facts through their own perceptions; as it is difficult
to "realize" some things on the representations of others, however
worthy of our confidence and however possessing it.
Our first sitting proved satisfactory, so far as it went; but the party
were directed to be more quiet and not have more persons present than
could be accommodated conveniently.
The second attempt was at the house of Mr. Simeon S. Post, and was
successful until they became greatly excited, and the directions were
not followed; inasmuch as there were too many persons present who were
entirely ignorant of the rules by which we were controlled; and although
they were permitted to make the closest scrutiny of the whole previous
arrangements, in order to keep the forces undisturbed during their (the
Spirits') operations, they (the investigators) could not or would not,
for want of common sense, perhaps, follow all the directions.
This being the case, in order to gratify those who were prepared and
blest with good sense, a part of the company were directed to go with me
into the adjoining room (a bath-room). While there the lights appeared,
very bright--almost blazing at times. I was faint and _my hands seemed
burning_. I naturally ran to the faucet to let the cold water run on
them, which greatly relieved the burning sensation. But the floating,
moving lights continued, and being near the door, the lady of the house
went out into the yard with me, where I instinctively plunged my hands
into the damp earth (it had been raining).
The next evening Mrs. Post _saw lights where my hands had been_, and
found in the ground several particles of solid phosphorus, being guided
to the spot by seeing the phosphoric smoke rising through the ground,
as well as by the luminosity of the spot. They (my friends) could not
comprehend this mystery. They talked over the matter between themselves,
and my friend Mr. Willets wrote me a letter, which I will here give.
"NO. 6, PAVONIA PLACE, }
JERSEY CITY, November 24, 1857.}
"DEAR MRS. BROWN:
"The members of the circle are expecting me to see you and have a talk
with you respecting the manifestations of lights at Mr. Simeon Post's
house last week. I argued that the Spirits could produce phosphorus (in
my opinion, accumulated from the atmosphere and medium forces of the
circle combined). Mr. Post had not the least suspicion of anything
wrong, but could not account for the lights appearing where your hands
had been. I have stood by you always, and in this case have done so,
saying that I know that you would not deceive any one. _Can you_ explain
this matter so that it will be satisfactory to the circle? You will not
think hard of me for bringing this to your notice, and believe me to be
your sincere friend,
"GEORGE WILLETS."
This letter of course implied that I might have had--what had of course
no foundation in fact--phosphorus on my fingers. Nor could I have much
blamed any in whose mind such a thought might have arisen, however
painful to me, or however unjust the suspicion.
Mr. Underhill had accompanied me to Jersey City. He was a friend of Mr.
Post's, who had invited him to join the circle. It was convenient for
him to call for me, as it was on his way. I did not know that any one
doubted the genuineness of the manifestations at Mr. Post's, and judge
of my painful astonishment when I read Mr. Willet's letter. I knew I was
innocent, but did not know that I could so prove myself. I prayed to the
Most High to relieve me from this terrible imputation. Mr. Underhill
felt sure of my innocence. In his own purity of heart he could not doubt
me. His sister had become a medium, and spoke in unknown tongues. And
his mother could move tables by placing her hands upon them. She is
still with us, in full possession of her faculties.
"None know her, but to love her,
None name her, but to praise."
Mr. Underhill came to my rescue in that dark hour of my life, when old
and trusted friends wavered in opinion.
If this volume were to be limited in its circulation to New York City,
where Mr. Underhill is conspicuously, while modestly, known in the
business world through a long series of years, as President of one of
its oldest and most solid Fire Insurance companies, it would not be
necessary to say a word about his character for honor and veracity. It
best becomes me to abstain from doing so, leaving to strangers to him to
satisfy themselves by easy inquiries.
He accompanied me to Jersey City, and how many others (if any) shared
his generous confidence I could not know, as none had the rudeness or
unkindness to manifest their doubts to me. His faith in my integrity
strengthened and enabled me to stand the ordeal. I leave it to him to
relate the rest of the story.
STATEMENT OF DANIEL UNDERHILL.
"On Sunday evening, at Mrs. Brown's, soon after the receipt of Mr.
George Willets' letter, there were present Dr. Wilson, Mr. and Mrs.
Oliver Johnson, Mr. and Mrs. Cleveland, Mrs. Brown, and myself. Some of
her most intimate friends frequently dropped in on Sunday evenings to
enjoy a social cup of tea, and an hour or so in pleasant conversation.
"On this occasion it was announced by the 'invisibles' that on Tuesday
evening next an investigating séance, for phosphorescent phenomena,
should be held; and the following persons were chosen by the Spirits to
attend, namely, Dr. A. D. Wilson, Henry Sheldon, Oliver Johnson, Mrs.
Johnson, J. F. Cleveland, Mrs. Cleveland, Julian G. Davies, Mr. Downer,
Mr. Beadle, Leah (Mrs.) Brown, Katie Fox, Daniel Underhill, Dr. Kirby,
'if he wishes.'
"The parties not present at the time were notified and invited to
attend.
"Mr. Sheldon was requested to procure some earth, which he did from
under Brooklyn Heights, and brought it with him in a cigar-box wrapped
in paper.
"When the parties were seated at the table, in general conversation,
directions were given by the Spirits.
"Mr. Sheldon was requested to unwrap the box of fresh Brooklyn earth and
place it on the centre of the table, and darken the room. The box was
placed as directed.
"After the room was darkened, the box was moved by the 'Spirits' nearer
to Mrs. B., who then placed her fingers in the earth. Her fingers soon
became luminous, so that her hands were visible to the whole circle.
When she removed her hands the light was turned on. Dr. Wilson took the
box, and with his knife dug out a quantity of granulated phosphorus. In
doing so, some of the granules had not sufficiently hardened, and
separated on the table. The doctor, in endeavoring to pick them up,
burnt his fingers quite badly."
And again, July 31, 1858:
"On this evening I called on Mrs. Brown (at No. 1 Ludlow Place), who
stated to me that she had all day been impressed that if she should have
a sitting with a few friends that evening, she would have manifestations
of a character to explain the mystery of the occurrence at Mr. S. S.
Post's, Jersey City (where I had attended a private séance with her
between seven and eight months previously).
"On this occasion there were present Mr. and Mrs. Oliver Johnson, Miss
Knight, Mr. Kedzie (of Rochester), Mrs. Brown, and myself. We retired to
the back parlor, closing the doors and windows in order to make the room
quite dark. Mr. Kedzie procured a bowl of earth and water, as directed
(by the Spirits), and placed it on the table around which we were
seated. While we were engaged in general conversation and singing,
lights were seen floating about the room, at times immediately over the
centre of the circle. Mrs. Brown placed her fingers in the bowl, from
which arose a light, or vapor, which so illuminated the room as to make
her hands visible to all around the table.
"Bright phosphoric lights were also seen in the earth. On examination,
we found deposited several granules of pure phosphorus, which we
collected and preserved.
"On the following evening Mrs. B. informed me that she wanted to go to
Jersey City, to the house of Mr. Post; that if she did so, the same
manifestations would occur in the presence of his family; and she
desired me, if I saw Mr. Post, to inform him of her wish to do so, in
order to satisfy them that what had occurred there, in the commencement
of the dark sittings, nearly eight months previously, was entirely
beyond any control or agency of hers; but she desired that no one should
be present except Mr. Post's immediate family.
"On Wednesday morning following (August 4th) Mr. Post called at my
office. When I informed him of Mrs. Brown's wishes, he expressed much
pleasure, and a strong desire that it should be so tested. He wished
that it might be during the current week, if possible, as he expected to
leave home the first of the week following, to be absent for several
months. I informed Mrs. B. that evening of my interview with Mr. Post,
when she appointed Saturday evening, and desired me to inform Mr. Post
of the fact, as he would call on me the following day.
"Mrs. Brown called at my office about 11.30 A.M., and informed me that
she had been directed by the Spirits to have Mr. John Hilton present.
"I accompanied Mrs. B. to the home of Mr. Post, at 245 South Sixth
Street, Jersey City, on the evening appointed. We arrived there about
eight o'clock P.M. They were requested to make a thorough examination,
in order to satisfy themselves that neither Mrs. B. nor myself had any
phosphorus about us. Mrs. B. retired to a private room with the ladies,
who disrobed her of every article of clothing, and furnished her with an
entire outfit from their own wardrobe. After this they dressed and
reconducted her to the room in which the séance was held.
"In the mean time the gentlemen satisfied themselves that there was no
phosphorus about my person. We assembled in the front room up-stairs.
There were present Mr. Post, Mrs. Post, a daughter and two sons, Mr.
Post's sister, Mr. Hilton, Mrs. Brown, and myself.
"After taking seats at the table, they were directed to close and lock
all the doors and windows. They were also directed to get a bowl of
water and bring in the box of earth, which had been procured by Messrs.
Post and Hilton during the day and sealed up by them.
"After sitting a few moments they were directed to 'break the seal'
(which was done by Mr. Simeon Post). The box was placed in front of the
medium. He was then directed by the Spirits to 'put out the light,'
which was done. In a few moments they discovered a phosphorescent light,
emanating from the ends of Mrs. Brown's fingers. Indeed, there seemed to
be a vaporous exhalation from her entire person; and after her fingers
had rested on the earth a short time, a visible fluid gradually
concentrated around Mrs. Brown's hands, and deposited itself from the
extremities of her fingers into the earth.
"This performance lasted about fifteen minutes. The box was examined,
and Mr. Post procured from the earth it contained several quite large
granules of phosphorus, the purity of which was beyond question, and
which he preserved, and caused to be chemically examined and tested.
"Mrs. B. was then taken in charge by the ladies, and reconducted to
the dressing-room, clothed in her own attire, and returned to the
sitting-room. There was a wish expressed, on the part of all present,
to get communications from their 'Spirit friends;' and, although there
seemed to be a perfect willingness on the part of the medium, the
controlling Spirits deemed it advisable that there should be no further
manifestations on that night, and said, through raps, 'It would be wrong
to permit different classes of Spirits to manifest under existing
circumstances. I will bring about another meeting soon.
'BENJAMIN FRANKLIN.'"
Mr. Underhill and I were married on the second day of November, 1858, at
No. 35 Nineteenth Street, New York City. My father had taken the house
of Mr. Horace Greeley, who made it his home with my parents when he
was in the city. We were married by the Rev. John Pierpont. Mr. U.
purchased the house we now live in, and we moved into it immediately on
our return from a western excursion. It was agreed upon that his friends
should be mine, and my friends should be his, but that I should never
again sit in public circles.
[Illustration: Daniel Underhill]
He thought I had done my duty faithfully, and that it was time for me to
retire from public séances. The announcement fell like a thunderbolt
upon nearly all of my investigators. Many argued that it was a duty I
owed to the public, and to my God, to continue to labor in the cause of
Spiritualism; that I had been chosen, by higher authorities, to do
a work that rested on me and my family. Some of my friends thought
differently, and as they knew the man who had so generously acquitted me
of all blame or suspicion, and who so nobly sustained me through the
difficulties with which I was destined to contend, my true friends
congratulated me and rejoiced at my good fortune.
ANOTHER STATEMENT FROM D. UNDERHILL.
"SUNDAY NIGHT, August 1, 1859.
"We retired about eleven o'clock. I had locked the door opening from the
hall into the front room, also the door leading from the same hall into
the bath-room. The door leading from the hall to the bed-room was locked
on the inside by Leah; but after retiring she was in doubt as to whether
she had locked it; whereupon I arose and went to the door, tried the
lock, and found it fast. I then returned to bed. In a few moments we
were startled by the springing of the bolt of the lock of that door.
Leah exclaimed, 'What's that?' I replied, 'It's nothing but the
springing of the bolt of the lock;' supposing that when I turned the
knob the bolt had failed to spring into its proper place. 'No,' she
said, 'it is something more than that.' Very soon we heard sounds, as if
Spirits were on their knees on the floor patting the carpet with their
hands. I commenced asking questions, and received responses by the same
sounds.
"It was soon evident that one or more Spirits were around our bed. My
questions were answered by a hand patting me on the head. Soon something
was passed over our faces, just touching us, after which lights appeared
over us. They passed to my side of the bed, and a cloth was placed upon
my right shoulder and pressed heavily--at times as with two hands; also
on the arm. When the pressure left my arm the light again appeared on or
over us, waving about us, as if to gather force from the atmosphere.
During all this time hands were distinctly visible holding the cloth
with a bright phosphorescent light upon it. Then the sheet with which I
was covered was drawn down and the cloth was placed upon my stomach and
chest. On feeling it with my hands, I found it was a coarse towel.
Repeated pressures were made in this way for some time, after which
there was an alarm of fire in the neighborhood. I dressed myself, and
went out, returning in about half an hour. On my return I again locked
the door and extinguished the light, and went to bed.
"My attention was attracted to a bright light on the floor, when, at
the same time, Leah noticed a bright, flashing light, rising from the
mantel, and showing the picture over it distinctly. She called my
attention to it. The foot-board of the bedstead obstructed my view, but
on rising I noticed several lights, also one which appeared above the
mantel. I arose and went to satisfy myself that there were no matches
lying around, when, reaching the spot, I found the light was very
brilliant, and emitted a strong phosphorescent vapor. Placing my hand
upon one of the lights, I found it to be a small granule of phosphorus,
comparing exactly with those which we had before found deposited in the
earth. Several of these granules were lying near by, and also in the
candelabrum on the end of the mantel-piece.
"As I was about to resume my place in bed, the alphabet was called for,
and the Spirit spelled out, 'Look in the fire-place.' On looking I
discovered a number of pieces or granules of phosphorus on the bricks
inside of the fire-place, which was closed tightly with a screen or
summer-piece. The Spirits said they had placed them there to avoid
damage or danger, as my getting up and going out had disturbed the
forces too suddenly.
"A few evenings afterward, there were again manifestations of
phosphorus, which were so strong that I was fearful they might set fire
to the bed, and as a matter of precaution, I procured a pail of water
and placed it beside the bed. It was then spelled, 'Keep passive, and
there will be no danger.' I was then directed to place paper and pencil
under the bed, which I did, and very soon we heard the scratching of the
pencil on the paper, which was badly scorched, and a third part of it
burned; but the writing was plainly visible. The paper was lost, and I
do not now remember the communication written upon it. The Spirits said,
however, that the scorching of the paper was caused by the forces being
too strong."
"SATURDAY NIGHT, July 31, 1859.
"About ten o'clock P.M. Leah and myself were in the second story. I was
sitting by the front window, leaning my hand against the casement,
dozing. Leah had passed into the back room, and was returning to the
front room, when she was startled by heavy tramping, apparently close
behind her. The sound was similar to that of a person walking in wooden
shoes. She called to me. I started, and met her in the middle room. When
Leah stopped walking the footsteps ceased, but as soon as she commenced
again the same heavy steps kept pace with her. We passed into the front
room, where she called me to try a test. She sat down in a high chair,
and I seated myself on the floor, in front of her, taking her feet on my
knees. Very soon the same sounds were produced on the floor beside her
chair; showing very clearly that the sounds were produced independently
of her, not even causing any nervous start or electric motion on her
part.
"D. UNDERHILL."