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BtngnUr lUctJjelatxona. 
 
 EXPLANATION 
 
 HISTORY 
 
 OF THE 
 
 imRious eefflDNM m spirits, 
 
 COUrREHEBDINa 
 
 THE RISE AND PROGRESS 
 
 m WESTEElSr ITEW-YORK, 
 
 GENERALLY EEOEIVED AS SPIKITUAL COMnfflCATIONS. 
 SECOND EDITION, 
 
 EEVISED AND ESTLAEGED, WITH ADDITIONAL PROOF. 
 
 BY ELIAB W. OAPHON AND HBNRT D, BAEEOIT. 
 
 AUBURN, N. y , 
 
 CAPRON AND BARRON: 
 
 NEW YORK : FOW;,ERS & WELLS, AGEN.TSj 
 
 X31 HASSAn STBisET. 
 
 1850. 
 
Kntered according to act of Congress^ in the year one thousand eight hundi'ed 
 
 and fiifty, by 
 
 ELIAB W. CAPKON & HENET D. BAEEON, 
 
 In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States for the Tforthern 
 District of New York. 
 
PRE'FACE. 
 
 Once again, reader, we appear before you, having passed through the 
 opposition of Priestcraft and Ignorance unawed and unharmed, with 
 friends aroand us, whose influence and sympathy have seemed doubly 
 dear to ns, while such epithets as Infidels, Impostors and Money-grasp- 
 ers have been hurled at us by those who will listen to nothing that their 
 fathers did not listen to, and whose zeal for their own peculiar creeds 
 and the multiplying of their own numbers, often overleap their profes- 
 sions of goodness and forgiveness- 
 
 When, three months ago we entered upon the discharge of what we 
 knew to be our duty, we were not ignorant of the result. Our duty iti 
 the matter was plain. From the time we had decided upon publishing 
 what we knew to be facts, to the time our last page of manuscript was 
 finished, the authors had received stronger and stronger evidence that 
 they were but discharging their duty in publishing to the world, not what 
 was entirely new, but something which had often been muzzled and con- 
 cealed by those who dare not tell what they had seen, felt and heard, in 
 consequence of their fears of the hisses and laughter of skeptics. A dis- 
 tangui^ed professor of a popular and imparadising science, has remarked 
 to a citizen of the city of Auburn : " These demonstrations are not new 
 to^me. I have heard them and believed they were produced by the 
 .spirits of my departed friends for several years, but I dare not tell others 
 of it. If*I do so, I shall be branded as a lunatic, become unpopular and 
 lose my present influence." This individual was invited to go and inves- 
 tigate the demonstrations in Auburn, but declined. A prejudiced and 
 skeptical community stood ready to ask his opinion after the investiga- 
 tion, and if he expressed in its favor, to throw the same epithets upon 
 him which others have received. Other men equally as learned and 
 distinguished, have investigated and become convinced, but dare not ex- 
 press their convictions in public. We have in our minds editors of news- 
 papers, who have said in the presence of a number of persons that they 
 believed these sounds and communications were from spirits, but whea 
 thiy came before the pubEc in their editorial capacities, dare not say 
 
IV PEEFACE. 
 
 more than call these demonstrations a humbug of the nineteenth century, 
 because such was the popular opinion of a certain portion of the npper- 
 tendom. The bowing to popular opinion and prejudice in this matter, 
 was one of the strong reasons that prdmpted us to issue the first edition 
 of three thousand copies of this work. In preparing it for the press, we 
 were cheered on by commuijicaitioiis Itid eacovtfB'gement from the same 
 kind and friendly source ■Which are believed to be the spirits of the de-. 
 parted. We were aware that our work would meet with opposition, 
 and knew from what source that opposition would come. A very wor- 
 thy Snd Christian elergyman, and no doubt a great admirer of that law 
 and that religion which burned in chains a Huss and a Jerom«, who did 
 not think the same thoughts that their irothers did, and which bound a^ 
 Rogers to the stake, and prompted Christian Puritans to hang Quakers 
 and whip Baptists, remarked in the presence of several nsembers of the 
 Church of which he i« Pastor, that the believers in this spiritualism 
 ought to be hang. We were also aware that many of diat class who had 
 heretofore opposed every new science, would respond to the inild remark 
 of this advocate of the principles and practice of Hvm who returned good 
 for evil, and exclaimed with His dying breath, "Father forgive them 
 for they know not what they do," and raise their holy hands in horror 
 at the truths it contained, notwithata'nd'ing such truths are Sustained by 
 the gifted and good whose followers they profess to be. We were not 
 disappointed in our expectations. The class who think for themselves 
 regar(H'ess of prosciibing creeds and dictaldon from others, have, and will 
 continue to investigate this matter. 
 
 In accordance with our promise in the first edition, we now present a 
 second edition of six thousand copies, revised and enlarged, wirti proof 
 of statements heretofore made by us. Should the public mind de- 
 mand another edition, it will be forthcomi*rig as soon as the present is 
 exhausted. Believing as we ever have, since we first entered upon this 
 work, that "Truth is mighty and jviii. prevail," we shall continue 
 from time to time to publish such facts Concerning this matter as may 
 come before us, regardless of the cry, " Tou do it to make money." 
 
 AuBDRN, March, 1850. 
 
IITEODUCTIOK. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 " Th6te are more things in heaven and eartli, Horatia, 
 Than are dreamed of in your Philosophy." 
 
 "When- less than two months ago we issued the first 
 edition of this work from the press, we had little ex- 
 pectation of being so soon called upon to commence 
 the work of this, although we supposed the public mind 
 to be sufficiently prepared to investigate the matter in 
 whatever form proof was presented, to dispose of them 
 in a few months. We have now brought together 
 some further evidence on the points which were men- 
 tioned, in the way of names of persons who know the 
 truth of the statements and are willing to testify thereto. 
 
 We wish to make the proof as positive as possible, 
 as the class of facts related are of that nature which 
 we do not and cannot expect men to believe without 
 the most positive testimony. We did not feel at lib- 
 erty to use names in our first edition, without the con- 
 sent of the persons, and we had ho time to consult 
 them after we concluded to publish the work. In this 
 eilition, those who demanded more testimony, will, we 
 think be fully gratified, unless they are of the class 
 who are so distrustful of their- fellow men that they 
 will believe nothing stated by others, unless they have 
 
HISTORY OF THE 
 
 seen and isiown the same things themselves. This 
 class we do not expect to convince, and are not con- 
 vinced that thej would he very valuable converts to 
 anything; neither have we any ambition for prose- 
 lyting. "We abhor sectarianism and would warn all 
 who have any belief in these communications, to be- 
 ware of forming sectarian organizations and becoming 
 mixed up with the numerous isms and ites of the reli- 
 gious or anti-religious world. 
 
 In presenting this wort to the public, we are not un- 
 conscious of the unpopularity of the subject with the 
 mass of the community. isTor are we unconscious of 
 the fact, that we may call down the ridicule of some 
 part of the press and thousands of readers, who have 
 heard of these manifestations only as an idle tale of 
 " a haunted house," or as some common "spook story," 
 growing out of the excited iinagination of persons pos- 
 sessed of more marvellousness than causality, and 
 therefore easily led to. believe in anything that seems 
 wonderful arid unaccountable, whether it. comes well 
 authenticated or not. But a consciousness of having 
 fairly, impartially, critically, and we may say skepticm- 
 1/y examined the subject for the last two years in many 
 different places, and under a great variety of circum- 
 stances, and that we are not alone in our investigations, 
 but supported by hundreds of calm considerate men, 
 who have investigated as thoroughly and skeptically as 
 ourselves, we have no hesitation in laying the facts be- 
 fore the world as a phenomenon, which if not new in all 
 respects, is certainly in the strangeness, growth and ex- 
 tent of the manifestations, wholly unprecedented in the 
 annals of the world. 
 
 We are actuated by no desire to feed the.popular 
 credulity, or to excite the wonder-loving faculties of 
 the ignorant and superstitious. They have already 
 been made the' prey of artfiil and designing men too 
 long, and we are more desirous of stripping nature of 
 the 5«^ernaturalism which has been thrown around her 
 by the crafty plunderers of the ignorant, than to have 
 
MYSTERIOUS NOISES. 7 
 
 tlieir superstitions -wrought up to a still liiglier state of 
 excitement. It is for this reason, that we deem it im- 
 portant that a full explanation of the facts emhodied 
 in this work should be made, and a reasonable and ruii-, 
 twaZ explanation given of these phenomena, which shall 
 satisfy all, that those who have investigated the most 
 thoroughly, have really the least fears and superstitious 
 feeling in regard to the matter. "While they have thus 
 by investigation divested themselves of all feeling of 
 superstition, they have become fully satisfied of the 
 importance of the manifestations, as teaching the prox- 
 imity of spirits, and their power to mate themselves 
 known to persons who still remain in the vissible case- 
 ment which has become so common to us that we do 
 not wonder, even when minutely surveying the " won- 
 derful" machinery by which it is kept in motion. In 
 doing this, we at the outset disclaim all pretensions to 
 advocating j^gmaturalisni. "We place too high an es- 
 timate on the perfect workings of the laws of nature 
 as set in motion by the " Great Spirit," which pervade^, 
 encompasses and governs all things, to attribute the 
 beautiful and fast spreading facts, proving a direct in- 
 flux of spiritual influences into the world, to anything 
 more or less than another link in the great chain of na- 
 ture's laws which is but just developing. itself to man. 
 The why of its appearance just at this time, or the rea- 
 son why it has not become more extensively known 
 before, we are as unable to tell as we should be to tell 
 why all the great discoveries in science were not made 
 known to man at once, instead of waiting the slow de- 
 velopment of the intellect of man, and thus prepare^ 
 him for the gradual reception of the mighty changes 
 which have taken place from the early stages of hu- 
 man development to the present time. As the earth 
 was not formed in a few short years in its present state 
 of geological developments, so man has not all at once 
 sprang to his present state of refinement and know: 
 ledge. Gradual growth in the refining process, seems 
 to be the universal law of, nature. 
 
8 His^yoRY OF '^'H^: 
 
 As thia is a suljj^t upon which tlie world seems at 
 tbe presenfrtime to be bestowing an unusual ainonnt of 
 attention, it may jiot Be unprofitable for the reader and 
 ourselves to spend some little time- in the examination, 
 to see if all the strange i^ts related in the following 
 pages may not be r^atioual and pos^ble, is not highly 
 probable^ even to the most sfeeptieal. 
 
 ^he vast and entire separa|;ion made by the old^^*'- 
 hsophy (f ) and t|ieolo^ between spirit and matter, has 
 led thousands of philosophical minids to reject all idea 
 of any existence of persons beyond tl^e tangible form 
 whi<Jh men. now oqcupy. They have failed entirely of 
 obtaining from old traditions, proof which looked ra- 
 tional to them^ of any such existence. We areprejpair'- 
 ed to sympathize with those who are thus skeptical 
 about any esast^Bce Ibeyond; the preseBt^for we long 
 l^toqd in precisely i%e same coaditionV The great dif- 
 mcjilty in the' way of such minds as before intimat- ^, is 
 'fhe great break in the eham between taiigible and (x) 
 us) intangible substance. The fact that men could not, 
 in a normal state, see the more refined substance to 
 which we give the name spirit, has led theologians to 
 declare that there was an existence, not only intangible, 
 but absolutely something beyond^ and entirely separais 
 from matter. 
 
 Men of philosophical minds, not having positive 
 proof of spiritual exijtence, have discovered this glar- 
 ing inconsistency, and rejected every theory offered in 
 favor of any existence beyond the decay of the visible 
 body. But the developments" of the last few years in 
 Clairvoyance aud Psychological science, have convinced 
 many of the skeptics in regard to future existence, 
 that there is a positive identity of spirits of persons 
 who have passed pn beyond this state of existence. 
 
 In regard to the facts presented in the following 
 pages, they will be accompanied with proof too posi- 
 tive and conclusive to need a word in this connection 
 in vindication of their truth. The idea of a fraud so 
 extensively entered into by persons whose integrity has 
 
MYSTERIOUS NOISES. 9 
 
 never been impeaclied — witliout any apjj^rent mo- 
 tive — ^with great ^ annoyance to themselves — witKout 
 compensation in a pecuniary sense, would be far more 
 mysterious and unaccountable, than to admit it to be 
 just what it purports. It will also be borne in mind, 
 that in this case, those who first heard these sounds, 
 were not only subject to all the annoyance of visitors 
 of all kinds and classes, but they were made the sub- 
 jects of ridicule, and slanders were rife against their hon- 
 esty in this matter, and the -grosest insinuations against 
 their moral character. As' it spread from one house to 
 another and from, one neighborhood to another, the 
 abuse of the first became somewhat modified, and it 
 was divided on all who would not shut their eyes and 
 ears to the facts transpiring around them. Since the 
 public investigations that have taken place upon the 
 subject, many have become convinced of the fact that 
 the persons in whose presence the manifestations are 
 made, have no agency in producing them, at least to 
 ITieir own knowledge, and we trust that the effect of 
 this work may be to clear all those who have been 
 falsely accused of fraud and deception. It is with this 
 view that many of our friends and the friends of those 
 where it it first appeared, have urged u^ to go forward 
 with this work, if we should accomplish this, it would 
 not be among; the least of the objects for which we la- 
 bor. 
 
 If there are any, who, after carefully weighing the 
 iestim:ony here set forth, still discredit it, let them come 
 forward, investigate and prove to the world that it is 
 a deception,, and how it is done, and all candid men will 
 acknowledge themselves greatly indebted thereby. If 
 they fail in proving it to oe a deception, let them give 
 a better and more philosophical solution of the phe- 
 nomena, and place the world under lasting obligations 
 to them. 
 
CHAPTER II. 
 
 HISTORY OP THE FIRST APPEARANCES OF THE " MTSTEEIOXJS SOTJNDS" JS 
 THE TOWN OF ARCADIA, WATNE COUNTT, NEW-TORK. 
 
 " The times have been 
 
 That when the brains were out, the man would die, 
 And there an end ;^but now, they rise a^in 
 With twenty mortal murders on their crowns. 
 And push us from our seats. This is more strange 
 Than such a murder is !" 
 
 The first well autlienticated history that.we Tiave of 
 tlie sounds so unaccountable to those who have heard 
 them, was in a house occupied by Mr, Michael "Week- 
 maw in a little village known by the name of Hydes- 
 ville in the town of Arcadia,. "Wayne county. He re- 
 sided in the house for about eighteen months, and left 
 sometime in the year 1847. Mr. "Weekman makes the 
 statement in substance as follows : That one evening, 
 about the time of retiring, he heard a rapping on the 
 outside door, and what was rather unusual for him, in- 
 stead of familiarly bidding .them "come in," stepped 
 to the door and opened it. He had no doubt of find- 
 ing some one who wished to come in, but, to his sur- 
 prise, found no one there. He went back and proceed- 
 ed to undress, when, just before getting into bed, he 
 heard another rap at the door, loud and distinct. He 
 stepped to the door quickly and opened it, but, as b% 
 fore, found no one there. He stepped out and looked 
 around, supposing that some one was imposing upon 
 him. He could discover no one and went back into 
 the house. After a short time he heard the rapping 
 again, and he stepped, (it being often repeated and 
 
MYSTERIOUS NOISES. 11 
 
 held on to the latcli, so that lie miglit ascertein if any- 
 one liad taken that means to annoy him. The rapping 
 wa3 repeated, the door opened instantly, but no one 
 was to be seen ! He states that he could feel the jar 
 of the door very plainly when the rapping was heard. 
 As he opened the the door he sprung out and went 
 around the house, but no one was in sight. His family 
 were fearful to have him go out lest some one intended 
 to harm him. It always remained a mystery to him, 
 and finally as the rapping did not a,t that time continue, 
 passed from his mind, except when something of the 
 same nature occurred to revive it. 
 
 They were at one time disturbed by a manifestation 
 of a different nature, which might'be thought more in- 
 credible than the former, had not facts proved that 
 such occurrences were common ia the familes where 
 the first class of manifestations are heard. One night 
 their little girl, then about eight years of age, was 
 heard to scream from fright, so that the family all were 
 alarmed by her cries and went to her assistance. This 
 was about midnight. She told them that something 
 like a hand had passed over her face and head ; that 
 she had felt it on the bed and all over her, but did not 
 become so much alarmed until it touched her face. It 
 seemed cold, and so badly had she been frightened, that 
 it was a long time before she could tell the cause of her 
 alarm. It was several days before she could be indued 
 to go into the same rooin.to sleep. 
 
 All this migM have occured, and been only "the 
 idle fabric of a dream ;" and we should be inclined to 
 the belief that such was the case, had we not had the 
 most conclusive evidence that such manifestations were 
 quite common, not only in that house, but various oth- 
 ers where any of these strange occurrences have hap- 
 pened. 
 
 We hear nothing more of Mr. , Weekman being dis- 
 turbed by the rapping or other manifestations, or there 
 being anything of the kind with that exception, until 
 after the house was occupied by the family qf Mr. Johk 
 
12 HISTORY OF THE 
 
 D. Fox. It was reserved to that family to be the ia- 
 struments of communicating^ to the world, or to this 
 part of it, this raost siiigular affair. They were the 
 ones who first, as if by accident, found out that there 
 was an intelligence- manifested even in this rapping^ 
 which at first appeared nothing more than an annoying 
 and unaccountable noise. 
 
 The family of Mr.' Fox, were well known in the 
 neighborhood where they resided. Mr. and Mrs. Fox 
 were connected with the Methodist Episcopal church, 
 of which they had for many years been exemplary 
 members, and had sustained a character unimpeacha- 
 ble for truth and veracity* No one who knew them, 
 had the least suspicion of their honesty or truthfiilnesa* 
 At the time these occurrences first took place in the 
 family, there were living with the parents three daugh- 
 ters, the youngest about twelve years of age. 
 
 There are, probably, few" families in which such an 
 occurrence could have taken place, where it would have 
 created a greater degree of surprise and fear than ia 
 this one. They were entirely unacquainted with the 
 history of any similar occurrence in the world, and 
 brought up in the common routine of religious belief, 
 they were, as in fact all the world really was and stiU 
 is, entirely unprepared for such a devielopinent of the 
 power of spirits to make themselves known to us by 
 sounds or other ways. 
 
 From the family we gather the following facts, which 
 are in substance the same as those embodied in a pam- 
 phlet published just after the first maiiifestatinns at 
 their house. 
 
 They moved in the house (formerly occupied by 
 Mr. Weekman) in the early part of the month of De- 
 cember, 1847, and first heard the sounds in the latter 
 part of March, 1848. The sounds first appeared to be 
 a slight knocking in one of the bed-rooins on the floor. 
 When the rapping was heard, they 'felt a tremulous 
 motion or jar on the floor, and distinctly felt it while 
 in bed. This feeling has been observed by most per- 
 
MYSTERIOUS NOISES. 13 
 
 sons wlio have examined the subject and heard the 
 sounds. The best idea we may be able to give of the 
 feeling, is to say that it very nearly resembles the ap- 
 plication of a galvanic battery to whatever you stand 
 upon. The jar seems more of that nature than that of 
 a stroke from any tangible substance. The first time 
 they heard it, was in the evening just after they had 
 retired. The whole family, occupied at that time the 
 same room, and all distinctly heard the rapping. They" 
 ai-ose and searched with a light to find the cause of the 
 noise, which continued all the time they were search- 
 ing, and near the same^spot. It continued that night 
 until they all fell asleep, which was not until nearly or 
 quite midnight. From this time the noise continued 
 to be heard every night. 
 
 In the evening of the 31st of March, they concluded 
 to call in the neighbors, the noise still continuing. At 
 this time, none of th^j^mily had ever noticed it in the 
 day time. On the evenihg above alluded to, (31st of 
 Marchj) they retired uncommonly early, as they had 
 been aisturbed and broken of their rest for several 
 nights in a vain attempt to discover from whence the 
 sonnds proceeded. They thought that this night they 
 would not be disurbed by it, whatever it was. 
 
 Mr. Pox had not retired when the usual sounds com- 
 menced. The girls who occupied another bed in the 
 same rooni, heard the sounds and endeavored to imi- 
 tate them by snapping their fingers. Tne attempt was 
 first made by the youngest girl, then about twelve 
 years old. When she made the noise with her fingers, 
 the sounds were repeated just as many times as she 
 made them. The sound was not like that which she 
 made, only the number of raps. "When she stopped 
 snapping her fingers, the sound-s stopped for a short 
 time. One of the other girls then said in sport, " Now 
 do what I do ; count one, two, three, four, five, six," &c., 
 at the same time striking one hand in the other. The 
 same number of blows or sounds, were repeated as in 
 the other case. As this slight manifestation of intelli- 
 
14 HISTORY OF THE 
 
 gence was displajed, she began to be alarmed, and 
 desisted from trying any more experiments. Mrs. 
 Fox then said, "count ten," and there were ten dis- 
 tinct strokes or sounds. She then said, will you tell 
 the age of Cathy, (one of the children,) and it was an- 
 swered by the same number of raps that she was 
 years of age. In like manner, the age of her differ- 
 cait children was told correctly by this unseen visitor. 
 
 Mrs. Fox then asked if it was a human being that 
 was making that noise, and if it was, to manifest it 
 by making the same noise. There was no sound in 
 answer to this question. She then asked if it was a 
 spirit, and requested if it was, that it would manifest 
 it by making two distinct sounds. As soon as she 
 had made the request, she heard the two raps as she 
 desired. She then proceeded to inquire if it was an 
 injured spirit and to request an answer in the same 
 way, and the rapping was repeated. In this way it 
 answered her until she ascertained that it purported 
 to be the spirit of a man, and that he was mlirdered 
 in that house by a person who had occupied it some 
 years before ; that he was a pedler and murdered for 
 his money. To the question of how old he was, 
 there were thirty-one distinct raps. She also ascer- 
 tained by the same means that he was a married man 
 and had left a wife and five children; that his wife 
 was dead, and had been dead two years. 
 
 After ascertaining so much, she asked the ques- 
 tion: "Will the noise continue if I call in the neigh- 
 bors t" The answer was by rapping in the affirma- 
 tive. They then for the first time began to call in 
 their neighbors to help, if possible, solve this great 
 mystery. 
 
 They at first called in their nearest neighbors, who 
 came, thinking they would have a hearty laugh at 
 tlie family for being frightened ; but when the first 
 lady that came in found that the noise, whatever it 
 might be, could tell the age of herself as well as others, 
 and give correct answers to questions On matters of 
 
MYSTERIOUS NOISES. 15 
 
 which the family of Mr. Fox was entirely igrjorant, 
 she concluded that there was something beside a sub- 
 ject of ridicule and laughter in those unseen but au- 
 dible communications. These neighbors insisted up- 
 on calling in others, who came, and after investiga- 
 tion, were as much confounded as at first. 
 
 The family being somewhat alarmed and much fa- 
 tigued, left the house for the night. The next day 
 the excitement began to spread, and the house was 
 filled with anxious seekers for the unknown and in- 
 visible visitor. Through that day and up to that 
 time, there were no sounds heard in the day time. 
 
 On Sunday morning, April 2d, the noise commen- 
 ced in the day time, and was heard all that day by 
 all who could get into the house, as the crowd which 
 came from all quarters, was much greater than the 
 house would hold. We have heard it estimated, that 
 at one time there were as many a five hundred peo- 
 ple who had gathered to hear the sounds ; so great 
 was the~ excitement at the commencement of these 
 strange occurrences'. 
 
 On Saturday evening, there was a committee ap- 
 pointed to ask questions and report what the result 
 was, aild it was nothing of any importance differing 
 fi-om what is here related. 
 
 As a confirmation of what we have her€ stated as 
 being related to us by the family, we give the follow- 
 ing extracts from the testimony of William Dues- 
 LER, of Arcadia, and an immediate neighbor of Mr. 
 Fox, at the time of the transaction. This statement 
 was published in a pamphlet by E. E. Lewis, Esq., 
 of Canandaigua, New York, which contains the tes- 
 timony of many persons in the neighborhood. Mr. 
 Duesler says : 
 
 " I live in this place. I moved from Cayuga County here, last Octo- 
 ber. I live within a few rods of the house in which these noises have 
 been heard. The first I heard anything about them, was one week ago 
 last Friday evening, (31st day of March.) Mrs. Eedfield came over to 
 my house to get ray wife to go over to Mr. Fox's. Mrs. Red field ap- 
 peared to be very much agitated. My wife wanted I should go with 
 
16 HISTOET OF THE 
 
 them, and I accdrdinglyTvent. When ^he told ns what she wanted us 
 to go over therefor, J'laughed at her, and ridiculed the idea that thert 
 was anything mysterious in.it. I told her it was all nonsense, and jthat 
 it could easily be accounted for. This was about nine o'clock in tha 
 evening. There were sorrie twelve or fourteen persons there when I got 
 there. Somo were so frightened that they did not want to go into the 
 room. I went into the room and sat down on the bed. Mr. Fox'asked 
 questions, and J heard the rapping which they had spoken of, distinctly. 
 I felt the bedstead jar when "the sound was produced. 
 
 Mrs. Fox then asked it if it .would answer my quesfions'ifl asked any, 
 and if so rap. It then rapped three times. Z then asked if it was an in- 
 jured spirit, and it rappied. I asked if it had come to hurt any one who 
 was present and it did hot rap. I then reversed this question and it rap- 
 ped.' I asked if I or my father had injured it, (as we had formerly lived 
 in the house,) there was no noise. Upon asking the negative of these 
 
 questions, tlie rapping was heard. I then asked if Mr. , (.namiiig a 
 
 persnn who had formerly lived in the .house,) had injured it, and if so, 
 manifest it by rapping; and it made three knoc^ks louder than common, 
 and at the same time the bedstead jarred more than it had done before. 
 I then inquired if it was murdered for money, find the knocking was 
 beard. I then requested it to rap when I mentioned the sum of money 
 for which it was murdered. I then tksked if it was one hundred, two, 
 three or four, and when I came to five- hundred the rapping was heard^ 
 All in the room said they heard it distinctly. I then asked the question 
 if it was five hundred dolla;rs, and the rapping was heard. 
 
 After this, I went over and got Artemas W, Hyde to come over. He 
 came over, I then asked over nearly the same questions as before, and 
 got the. same answers. Mr. Redfi'eW went after David Jewell and wife, 
 and Mrs. Hyde also came. After they came in, I asked the same ques- 
 tions over again, and got the same answers, » * » * * j .then 
 asked it to rap my age — the number of years of my age. It rapped 
 thirty times. This is my age, and I do not think any one about here" 
 knew my age except myself and family. I then told it to raj)<Biy wife's 
 age, and it rapped thirty times, w'hicli is her exact a^e; several of us 
 counted it at the time. I then asked it to rap A. W. Hyde's age, and 
 it rapped thiry-two, which he says is his age ; he was- there at the time 
 and counted it with the rest ot us. Then Mis. A. W. Hyde's age, and- 
 It rapped thirty-one, which she said was her age ; she wa's also there at 
 the time. I then continued to ask it to rap the age of difierent persona 
 (naming them,) in the room, and it did so correctly as they all said. 
 
 I then asked the number of children in the different femilies in th-e 
 neighborhood, and it told them correctly in the usual way, by rapping. 
 Also the number of deaths that had taken place in the femilies, and it 
 told correctly. I then asked it to rap its own age, and it rapped thirty- 
 one times distinctly. I then asked it if it left a family and it rapped. I 
 asked it to rap the number of chiMren it Mt, and it rapped five times ; 
 then the number of girls, and it rapped three ; then the number of boys, 
 and it rapped twice. Before this I had asked if it was a man, and it 
 answered by rapping, it was ; if it was a pedler, and it rapped. 
 
 I then asked in.regard to the time it was murdered, and in the usual 
 way, by asking the different days of the week, and the different hours of 
 the day ; that it was murdered on a Tuesday night, about twelve o'clock. 
 The rapping was heard only when this particular time was ijientioned. 
 when it was asked it it was murdered on a Wednesday or Thursday or 
 
MYSTERIOUS NOISES. 
 
 i(r 
 
 Friday night, &c., there was no rapping. I asked if it carried any 
 tiunk, and it rapped that it did. Then how many, and it rapped once. 
 In the same way we ascertained that it had goods in the trunk, and that 
 
 took them when he murdered him ; and that he had a pack 
 
 of goods besides. 
 
 I asked if its wife was living, and.it did not rap ; if she was dead, and 
 it rapped. 1 then asked it to rap the number of years the wife had been 
 dead, and it rapped twice. In the same way I ascertained that its chil- 
 dren were now living; that th'ey lived in this State — and after asking if 
 in such and such county, (naming over the different counties,) at last 
 when I askiid if they lived in Orleans county, the rapping was heard, 
 and at no other time. This was tried over several times, and the result 
 was always the same. I then tried to ascertain the first letters of its 
 name by calling over the different letters of the alphabet. I commenced 
 with A, and asked if that was the initial of its first name; there was no 
 rapping. When I came to C, the rapping was heard, and at no other 
 letter in the alphabet. I then asked in the same way in regard to the 
 initals of its sir name ; and when I asked if it was 11, the rapping com- 
 menced. We then tried all the other letters, but could get no answer 
 by the usual rapping I then asked if we could find out the whole name 
 by reading over all the letters of the alphabet, anil there was no. rapping. 
 I then reversed the question, and the rapping was heard. « « » » 
 There were a good many more questions asked on that night by myself 
 and others, which I do not now remember. They were all answered 
 readily in the same way. I stayed in the house until about twelve 
 o'clock, and then came home. Mr. Redfield and Mr. Fox stayed in the 
 house that night. 
 
 _ Saturday night I went over again, about seven o'clock. The house 
 w as full of pe();)le when I got there. They said it had been rapping 
 some time. I went into the room. It was rapping in answer to ques- 
 tions when I went in. I went to asking questions, and asked over some 
 of the same ones that I did the night before, and it answered me the same 
 as it did then. I also asked different questions, and it answered them. 
 Some of th.t.je in the room wanted me to go out'and let some one else 
 ask the questions. I did so, and came home. There were as many as 
 three hundred people in and around the house at this time, I should 
 think. Hiram Soverhill, Esq., and Volney Brown, asked it questions 
 while I was there, and it rapped in answer to them. 
 
 I went over again on Sunday, between one and two o'clock P. M. 
 1 went into the cellar with several others, and had them all leave^he 
 house over our heads; and then I asked, if there had been a man buried 
 in the cellar, to maifest it by rapping, or any other noise or sign. The 
 moment I asked the question, there was a sound like the falling of a stick 
 about a foot long and half an inch thrcugh, on the floor in che bedroom 
 over our heads. It did not seem to bound at all; there was but one 
 sound. I then told Stephen Smith to go right up and examine the room, 
 and see if he could discover the cause of the noise. He came back and 
 said he could discover nothing— that there was no one in the room or in 
 that part of the house. I then asked two more questions, and it rapped 
 in the usual way. "We all went up stairs and made a thorough search, 
 but could find nothing. , . , -r t ii i .t. 
 
 I then got a knife and fork and tried to see if I could make the same 
 noise by dropping them, but I could not. This was all I heard on Suiff 
 day. There is only one floor, or partition or thickness between the bed- 
 
 2 
 
18 
 
 HISTORY OF THE 
 
 room and the cellar ; no place where anything could be secreted to make 
 the noise. When this noise was heari in the bedroom, I could feel a 
 elight tremulous motion or jar. 
 
 • * * * On Monday night I heard this noise again, and asked the 
 same questions I did before, and got the same answers. This is the last 
 time I have heard any rapping. I can in no way account for this singu- 
 lar noise which I and others have heard. It is a mystery to me which 
 1 am wholly unable to solve. I am willing to testify under oath that I 
 did not make the noises or rapping which I>and others heard ; that I do 
 not know of any person who did or could have made them ; that I hava 
 spent considerable time since then, in order to satisfy myself as to the 
 cause of it, but cannot account for it on any other ground than that it ia 
 supernatural. I lived in the same house about seven years ago, and at 
 that time never heard any noises of the kind in and about the premises, 
 I have understood from Johnson and others, who have lived there before 
 
 moved there, that there were do such sounds heard there 
 
 while they occupied the house. I never believed in haunted houses, or 
 heard or saw any thing but what I could account for beforn ; but this I 
 cannot account for. (Sgned,) Wi/L DUESLER." 
 
 April 12, 1&4S. 
 
 To the same effect is the testimony of the follow- 
 ing persons, whose certificates are published in the 
 work alluded to, viz : John D. Fox, Walter Scotten, 
 Elizabeth Jewel, Lorren Tenney, James Bridger, 
 Chauncey P. Losey, Benjamin F. Clark, Elizabeth 
 Fox, Vernelia Culver, William D. Storer, Marvin P. 
 Losey, David S. Fox and Mary Redfield. 
 
 These are only a few selected from the immediate 
 neighbors of Mr. Fox. The certificate of persons 
 who have examined this matter up to this time, would 
 swell to hundreds if not thousands. 
 
CHAPTER III. 
 
 HISTORY OF SIMILAR TRANSACTIONS IN THE WESLEY FAMILY, (PATHER 
 OF REV. JOHN WESLEY,) AT EPWORTH, ENGLAND, IN 1716. 
 
 In order to show that the foregoing narrative is not 
 >vholly without a parallel in the world's history, and 
 that if the present manifestations are a deception, 
 those who are carrying it on have no claim to the 
 credit of originality, we devote the present chapter 
 to extracts from the proofs of similar transactions in 
 the "Wesley family" so long ago as 1716. The ac- 
 counts come too well authenticated to be doubted, 
 and have never, to our knowledge, been disputed by 
 persons of any pretensions to a knowledge of the his- 
 tory of that family, or having the least' confidence in 
 the word of those whose character has never been 
 impeached. Nine of that family testify to the same 
 things as well as others. We find this narraitive in 
 a book called " Memoirs of the Wesley Family," by 
 Adam Clark, LL. D., F. A. S., second edition, 1846. 
 
 Narrative drawn up hy Mr. John Wesley, and pub- 
 lished by him in the Arminian Magazine. 
 
 When I was very young, I heard several letters read, wrote to my el- 
 der brother by my father, giving an account of strange disturbances, 
 which were in his house at Epworth, Lincolnshire. 
 
 When I went down thither, in the year 1720, I carefully inquired inro 
 the particulars. I spoke to each of the persons who were then in the 
 house, and took down what each could testify, of his or her own knowl- 
 edge, the sum of which was this: — r ■, . 
 
 On December 2nd, 1716, while Robert Brown, my father's servant, 
 was sittin" with one of the maids, a little before ten at night, in the di- 
 ning-room" which opened into the garden, they both heard one knocking 
 at the door. Quickly it knocked again, and groaned. " It is Mr. Tur-. 
 pine 'V said Robert; "he has the stone, and used to groan so." He 
 opened the door again twice or thrice, the knocking being twice or thrice 
 
^ HISTORY OF THE 
 
 repeated ; bnt still seeing nothing, and being a little startled, they rose 
 and went up to bed. When Robert came to the top of the garret stairs, 
 he saw a hand-mill, which was at a little distance, whirled about very 
 swiftly. The next day, he and the maid related these things tn the oth- 
 er maid, who laughed hearlily, and said, "What a couple of fools yoU 
 are! I defy anything to fright me."' After churning in the evening, she 
 put the butter in the tray, and had no sooner carried it into the dairy, 
 than she heard a knocking on the shelf where seveial puncheons oi milk 
 stood, first above the shelf^ then btlow. She took the candle, and searched 
 both above and below ; but being able to find nothing, threw down but- 
 
 ner, tray and all, and ran away for life. The next evering, between five 
 and six o'clock, my sister Molly, then about twenty years of age, sitting 
 in the dining-room reading, heard as if it were the door that led into the 
 hall open, and a person walking in, that seemed to have on a silk night- 
 gown, rustling and trailing along. It seemed to walk round her, then toi 
 the door, then round again ; but she could see nothing. She thoaght, 
 "It signifies nothing to run away; for, whatever it is, it can run faster 
 than me." So she rose, put her book under her arni, and walked slowly 
 away. After supper, she was sitting with my sister Sukey, (about a 
 year older than her,) in one of the chambers, and telling her what bad 
 happened. She made quite light of it, telling her, "I wonder yon aro 
 so easily.frightened; I would fain seewhat would fright me." Presently 
 a.knocking began under the table. She took the candle and looked, but 
 could,fi»d nothing. Then the iron casemen.t began to clatter, and the lid 
 of a warming-pan. Next the latch of the door moved up and down with- 
 
 ..^Ht' ceasing.*- She started up, leaped into the bed without undressing, 
 pM^^hei^bed-cIothes over her head, and never ventured to look up till 
 
 -next ^Eftorm;ig. A night or two after,. my sister Hetty, a year younger 
 than my sister Molly, was waiting as'fesaal, between nine and ten, to 
 take away my father's candle, when, she heard one coming down the gar- 
 ret stairs, walking slowly by her, tfeen going down the best stairs, then 
 up the back stairs, and up the garret stairs; at every step it seemed the 
 house shook from top to bottom. Just then my father knocked. She 
 went in, took his candle, and got to bed as soon as possible. In the morn- 
 ing she told this to my eldest sister, who, told her, " You know I believe 
 none of these things; pray let me take away the candle to-night, and I 
 will find out the trick." She accordingly took my sister Hetty's place, 
 and had no soony taken away the candle than she heard a noise below. 
 She hastened down stairs to the hall, where the noise was ; but it was 
 then in the kitchen. She ran into the kitchen, where it was drumming, 
 on the inside of the screen, When she went round, it was drumming on 
 the outside; and so always on the side opposite to her. Then she heard 
 a knocking at the back kitchen door. She ran to it, unlocked it softly, 
 and when the knocking was repeated, suddenly opened it ; but nothing 
 was to be seen. As soon as she had shut it, the knocking began again. 
 She opened it again, but could see nothing. When she went to shut the 
 donr, it was violently thrust against her; she let it fly open, but nothing 
 appeared. She went again to shut it, and it was again thrust against 
 her ; but she set her Isnee and her shoulder to the door, forced it to, and 
 turned the key. Then the knocking began again; but she let it go on, 
 and went up to bed. However, from that time she was thoroughly con- 
 vin&ed that there was no imposture in the affair. 
 
 "The next morning, ray sister telling my mother what had happened, 
 she said, ■' If I hear anything myself, I shall know how to judge." Soon 
 after, she begged her to come into the nursery. She did, and heard ia 
 
MYSTERIOUS NOISES. 21 
 
 tile corner of the room, as it were, the violent rocking of a cradle ; but no 
 cradle had been there for some years. She was convinced it was pie- 
 ternatural, and earnestly prayed it might not disturb her in her own 
 chamber at the hours of retirement ; and it never did. She now thought 
 it was proper to tell my father. But he was extremely angry, and said, 
 " Sukey, I am ashamed oi you ; these boys and girls frighten one another; 
 but you are a woman of sense, and should know better. Let me hear 
 of it no more." ^ ^* 
 
 At six in the evefting he had family prayers as usual. When he be 
 gan the prayer for the king, a knocking began all around the room ; and 
 a thundering knock attended the amen. The same was heard from this 
 time- every moming and evening, while the prayer for the king was re- 
 peated. 
 
 Being informed that Mr. Hoole, th* vicar of Haxey, (an eminently 
 pious and sensible man,) could give me some further information, I 
 
 ' walke^ over to him. He said, ''Robert Brown came over to me, and 
 told me ^our father desired my company. When I came, he gave me 
 an account of all that had happened; particularly the knocking during 
 family pray^. But that evening (to my great satisfaction) we had no 
 knocking at all. But between nine and ten a servar,t«came in, and said, 
 " Old JeflFrey is coming, (that was the name of one that died in the house,) 
 for I hear the signal." This, they inform me, was heard every night 
 about a quarter before ten. It w as toward the top of the house, on the 
 outside, at the north-east corner, resembling the loud creaking of a saw ; 
 or rather that of a windmill, when the body of it is turned about, in order 
 to shift the sails to the wind. Wethenheardaknockingover our heads; 
 and Mr. Wesley, catching up a candle, said, ''Come, Sir, now you shall 
 hear for yourself." We went up stairs; he with much hope, and I, to 
 say the truth, with much fear. When we came into the nursery, it 
 was knocking in the next room ; when we were there, it was knocking 
 in the nursery. And there it continued to knock, though we came 
 in, particularly at the head of the bed, (which was of wood,) in which 
 Miss Hetty and two of her younger sisters lay. Mr. Wesley, ob- 
 serving that they were much affected, though asleep, sweating and 
 trembling exceedingly, was very angry; and, pulling out a pistol, was 
 going to fife at the place from whence the sound came. But I catched 
 faim by the arm, and said, 'Sir, you are convinced this is someting pre- 
 ternatural. If so, you cannot hurt it ; but you give it power to hurt you.' 
 He then went close to the. place, and said sternly, " Thou deaf and dumb 
 devil, why dost thou fright these children, that cannot answer ""or theni- 
 
 •selves? Come to me in my study that am a man.' Instantly it knocked 
 his knock, (the particular knock which he always used at the gate,) as 
 if it would shiver the board in pieces, and we heard nothing more that 
 night." Till this time, my father had never heard the least disturban- 
 ces in his study. But the next evening, a^ he attempted to go into his 
 Btudy, (of which none had any key but himself,) when he opened the 
 door, it was thrust back with suelt violence as had like to have thrown 
 him down. However, he thruatthe door open, and went in. Presently 
 there was knocking, first on one side, then on the other; and, after a 
 time, in the next room, wherein my sister Nancy was. He went into 
 that roura, and (the noise continuing) adjured it to speak ; but in vain. 
 He then said, " These spirits love darkness ; put out the candle, and 
 perhaps it will speak." She did so, and he repeated his adjuration; but 
 still there was only knocking, and no articulate sound. Upon this he 
 said, "Nancy, two Christians arc an overmatch for the devil. Go all of 
 
22 HISTORY OF THE 
 
 you down stairs; it may be, when I am alone, be will liave collrage to 
 speak." When she was gone, a thought came in, and he said, " If thou 
 art the spirit of my son Samuel, I pray knock three knocks, and no 
 more." Immediately all was silence ; and there was no more knocking 
 at all that night. I asked my sister Nancy (then about fifteen years old) 
 whether she was not afraid when my father used that adjuration ? She 
 answered, she was sadly afraid it would speak when she put out the 
 candle ; but she was not at all afraid in the daytime, when it walked af- 
 ter her, as she swept the chambers, as it constantly did, and seemed to 
 sweep after her; only she thought he might have done it for her, and 
 saved her the trouble. By this time, all my sisters were so accustomed 
 to these noises, that they gave them little disturbance. A gentle tap- 
 ping at their bed-head usually began between nine and ten at night. 
 They then commonly said to each other, " Jeffrey is coming; it is time 
 to go to sleep." And if they heard a noise in the day, and said to my 
 youngest sister, " Hark, Kezzy, Jeffrey is knocking above," she woulii 
 run up stairs, and pursue it from room to room, saying she desired no 
 better diversion. 
 
 A few nights after, my father and mother were just gorie to bed, and 
 the candle was *ot taken away, when they heard three blows, and a 
 second, and a third three, as it were with a large oaken staff, struck up- 
 on a chest which stood by the bed-side. My father immediately arose, 
 put on his night gown, and hearing great noises below, took the candle 
 and went down ; my mother walked by his side. As they went down 
 the broad stairs, they heard as if a vessel full of silver was poured upon 
 my mother's breast, and ran jingling down to her feet. Quickly after 
 there was a sound, as if a lagre iron ball was thrown among many bottles 
 under the stairs ; but nothing was hurt. Soon after, our large raastiS 
 dog came and ran t(j shelter himself between them. While the disturb- 
 ances continued, he used to bark and leap, and snap on one side and the 
 other, and that frequently before any person in the room heard any noise 
 at all. But after two or three days he used to tremble, and creep away 
 before the noise began. And by this the family knew it was at hand ; 
 nor did the observation ever fail. A little before my father and mother 
 came into the hall, it seemed as if a very large coal was violent- 
 ly thrown upon the floor, and dashed all in pieces ; but nothing was 
 seen. My father then cried out, "Sukey, do you not hetr? All the 
 pewter is thrown about the kitchen.", But when they loooked, all the 
 pewter stood in its place. There then was a loud knocking at the back 
 door. My father opened it, but saw nothing. It was then at the fore 
 door. He opened that, but it was still lost labor. After opening first tb? 
 one, then the other, several times, he turned and went u'p to bed. But 
 the noises were so violent all over the house, that they could not sleep till 
 four in the morning. 
 
 Several gentlemen and clergymen now earnestly advised my father to 
 quit the house. But he constantly answered, " No ; let the devil flee 
 from me ; I will never flee from the devil." But he wrote to ray eldsst 
 brother at London to come down. He was preparing so to do, when an- 
 other letter came, informing him the disturbances were over, after they 
 had continued, the latter part of the time day and night, from the second 
 of December to the end of January." 
 
 The following are copied from the same work, 
 which copies some twelve or fifteen letters that pass- 
 
MYSTERIOUS NOISES. 23 
 
 ed between different members of the family on the 
 subject of these disturbances. 
 
 Letter III. — From Mr. S. Wesley to his Mother. 
 
 " Dear Mother : — Those who are so wise as not to believe any su- 
 pernatural occurrences, though ever so well attested, could find a hun- 
 dred questions to ask about those strange noises you wrote me an ac- 
 count of; b It for my part, I know not what question to put, which, if 
 answered, would confirm me mote in the belief of what you tell me.— 
 Two or three I have heard from others. Was there never a new maid 
 or man in the house that might play tricks ? Was there nobody above 
 in the garrets when the walking was there ? Did all the family hear it 
 together when they were in one room, or at one time ? Did it seem to 
 all to be in the same place, at the same time ? Could not cats, or rats, 
 or dogs be the sprites 1 Was the whole family asleep when my fathtr 
 and you went down stairs ? Such doubts as these being replied to, 
 though they could not, as God himself assures us, convince them who 
 believe not Moses and the prophets, yet would stren jjthen such as do be- 
 leive. As to my particular opinion concerning the events foreboded by 
 these noises, I cannot, I must confess, form any. I think since it was 
 not permitted to speak, all guesses must be in vain. The end of spirits' 
 actions is yet more hidden than that of men, and even this latter puz- 
 zles the most subtile politicians. That we may be struck so as to pre- 
 pare for any ill, may, it is possible, be one design of Pro\idence. It 
 is surely our duty and-wisdom to do so. 
 
 Dear mother, I beg your blessing on your dutiful and affectionate son. 
 
 S. WESLEY. 
 
 Jan. 19, 1716-17, Saturday, Dean's Yard, Westminster." 
 
 Letter IV. — From Mrs. Wesley to her son Sam/uel. 
 
 "January 25 or 27, 17:6-17. 
 
 Dear Sam: — Though I am not one of those that will believe nothing 
 supernatural, but am rather inclined to think there would be frequent in- 
 tercourse between good spirits and us, did not our deep lapse into sensu- 
 ality prevent it ; yet I was a great while ere I could credit anything of 
 what the children and servants reported concerning the noises they heard 
 in several parts of our house- Nay, after I had heard them myself, I 
 was willing to persuade myself and them that it was only rats or wea- 
 sels that disturbed us ; and having been formerly troubled with rats, 
 which were frighted away by sounding a horn, I caused a horn to be 
 procured, and made them blow it all over the house. But from that 
 night they began to blow, the noises were more loud and distinct, both 
 day and night, than before; and that night we rose and went down I was 
 entirely convinced that it was entirely beyond the power of any human 
 creature to make such strange and various voises. 
 
 As to your questions, I will answer them particularly : but withal, I 
 desire my answers may satisfy none but yourself; for I would not have 
 the matter imparted to any. We had both man and maid new this last 
 Martimas, yet I do not believe either of them occasioned the disturbance, 
 both for the reason above mentioned, and because they were more frighted 
 than any body else. Besides, we have often heard the noise when they 
 were in the room by us ; and the maid particularly was in such a panic 
 
24 HISTOEY or THE 
 
 that she was almost incapable of all business, nnr durst ever go from one 
 room to another, or stay by herself a minrate, after it began to be daik. 
 
 The man Robert Brown, whom you well know, was most visited by 
 it, lying in the garret, ar>(3 has been often frighted down barefoot, and al- 
 most naked, not daring to stay alone to ptJton his clothes; nor do I think 
 if he' had p^wer, he would be guilty of such rillainy. When the walk- 
 ing was heard in the garret, Robert was in bed in the next room, m a 
 sleep so sound that he never heard your father and me walk up and down, 
 though he walked not softly I am suae. All the family has heard it to- 
 gether, in tTie same room, at the same time, i>articularly at family pray- 
 (jrs. It always seemed to all present iij the same place at the same time; 
 though often Before any could say, it is here, it would remove to anoth- 
 er place. 
 
 All the family, as well as Robin, were asleep when your father and I 
 went down stairs, nor did they wake in the nursery w hen we held th* 
 candle close by them ; only we observed that Hetty trembled exceeding- 
 ly in her sleep, as she always did before the noise awaked her. It com- 
 monly was nearer her than the rest, which she took notice of, and was 
 much frightened, because she thought it had a particular spite at her. 
 I could multiply particular instances, but I forbear. I believe your fa- 
 ther will write to^ou about it shortly. Whatever may be the design of 
 Providence in permitting these things, I cannot say. Secret things be- 
 long to God. But I entirely agree with yon, that it is our duty to pre- 
 pare seriously for all events. S. WESLEY." 
 
 The following is an extract from an account of one 
 of the sisters (]\ancy) to her brother Jack. It is tes- 
 timony which goes to show that other things herein 
 related were not entirely unknown to the " Wesley 
 Family." 
 
 " When five or six w,ere set in the nursery together, a cradle would 
 seem to be rocked in the room over head, though no cradle had ever 
 been there. One night she was sitling on the press bed, playing at cards 
 with some of my sisters, when my sisters Molly, Hetty, Patty and Kez- 
 zy, were in the room, and Robert Brown. The bed on which my sister 
 Nancy sat was lifted up with her on it. She leaped down, and said, 
 * Surely, old JefTry would not run away with her.' However, they per- 
 suaded her to sit down again, which she bad scarce done, when it was 
 again lifted up several times successively to a considerable height; upon 
 which she left her seat, and would not be prevailed upon to sit there 
 any more. 
 
 Whenever they began to mention Mr. S., it presently began to knock, 
 and continued to do so until they changed the discourse. All the time 
 ray sister Sukey was writing her last letter to him, it made a very great 
 noise all round the room ; and the night after she set out for London, it 
 knocked till morning with scarce any intermission. 
 
 " Mr. Hoole read prayers once, but it knocked as usual at the prayers 
 for the king and prince. The knockings at those prayers were only 
 toward the beginning of the disturbances, for a week or thereabouts." 
 
 Although the disturbances generally ceased after 
 a few weeks at the house of the Wesleys, we have 
 
MYSTERIOUS NOISES. 25 
 
 good evidence that it was manifested frequently in 
 the presence of one of the daughters for thirty-four 
 years and how much longer the history does not in- 
 form us. The following is a further extract on this 
 subject : 
 
 " But there is a fact of which all Mr. Wesley's biographers are igno- 
 rant, namely, that Jeffrey, as the spirit was called, continued to molest 
 some branches of the family for many years. We have seen that Miss 
 Emily Wesley was the first who gave it the name Jeffiey, from an old 
 man of that name who had died there ; and that she was more disturbed 
 by it than any of the family. I have an ori^'inal letter of hers to her 
 brother John, dated February 16, 1750, thirty-four years alter the time, 
 as is generally supposed, that Jeffrey had discontinued his operations, in 
 which he is named, Emily was now Mrs. Harper, having married a per- 
 son of that name, an apothecary, who first lived in Epworth. and after- 
 wards in London, or near it; and the letter is addressed to the Rev. Mr. 
 John Wesley, Foundry. 
 
 Dear Brother, I want most sadly to see you, and talk some 
 
 hours with you, as in times past. Some things are too hard for me ; 
 these I want you to solve. One doctrine of yours, and of many more, 
 namely : no happiness can be found in any or all things in this world ; 
 that, as I have sixteen years of my own experience which lie flatly 
 8gainst it, I want to talk with you about. Another thing is, that won- 
 derful thing, called by us Jeffrey. You won't laugh at me for being su- 
 perstitious, if I tell you how certainly that something calls on me against 
 any extraordinary new affliction ; but so little is known of the invisible 
 ■world, that I, at least, am not able to judge whether it be a friendly or 
 an evil spirit. * * « « EMILY HA.RPER." 
 
 The following remarks of Dr. Clark are so appro- 
 priate to this time and this subject, that we give 
 them in this place : 
 
 "The story of the disturbances at the parsonage house in Epworth is 
 not unique ; I myself, and several others of my particular acquaintance, 
 were eye and ear witnesses of transactions of a similar kind, which could 
 never be traced to any source of trick or imposture, and appeared to be 
 the forerunners of two very tragical events in the disturbed family ; after 
 which no noise or disturbance ever took place. In the history of my 
 own life I have related the matter in sufficient detail. 
 
 Dr. Priestley, who first published the preceding papers, says of the 
 whole story, that 'it is perhaps the best authenticated and best told story 
 of the kind that is any where extant; on which account, and to exercise 
 the ingenuity of some speculative persons, he thought it not undeserving 
 of being published :' Preface, p. xi. After this concession, he then enters 
 into a train of arguing, to show that there could be nothing supernatural 
 in it; for Dr. P., as a materialist, could give no credit to any account of 
 angels, spirits, &c., the existence of which he did not credit ; and because 
 he could see no good end to be answered by it, therefore he thinks he 
 may safely conclude no miracle was wrought. Such argumentation can 
 justify no man in disbelieving a story of this kind, told so circumstantial- 
 ly, and witnessed by such a number of persons, whoso veracity was be- 
 
26 HISTORY OP THE 
 
 yond doubt, and whose capability to judge between fact and fiction^ 
 trick and genuine operation, was beyond that of most persons, who, in 
 any country or age, have" come forward to give testimony on a. subject of 
 this nature. He at last gets rid of the whole matter thus : " What ap- 
 pears most probable, at this distance of time, in the present case, is that 
 it was a trick of the servants, assisted by some of their neighbors ; and 
 that nothing was meant by it besides puzzling the family and amusing 
 themselves ; and that such a secret should be kept, so that the matter 
 was never diseovered, is not at all to be wondered at.' We can scarcely 
 suppose that this mode of reasoning satisfied the mind of Dr. Priestley, 
 else he must have been satisfied much more easily on a subject which 
 struck at the vitals of his own system, than he would have been on any 
 doctrine relative to philosophy and chemistry. He had Mrs. Wesley's 
 letter before him, which stated that the servants could not be employed 
 in the work, for reasons which she there adduces; and especially, be- 
 cause those very servants were often in the room with themselves, when 
 the disturbances were most rife. But all suppositions of this kind are 
 com pletely nullified by the preceding letter of Mts. Harper, formerly 
 Emily Wesley, which states that even to thirty-four years afterward, 
 Jeffrey continued to molest her. Did her father's servants and the Ep- 
 worth neighbors pursue her for thirty-four years through her various set- 
 tlements, from 1716 to 1750, and were even at that time playing their 
 pranks against her in London ? How ridiculous and absurd ! and this 
 is the very best solution of these facts that Dr. Priestley could arrive at 
 in deference to his system of materialism! The letter of Mrs. Harper I 
 consider of vast importance, as it removes the last subterfuge of determi- 
 nate incredulity and false philosophy on this subject. 
 
 A philosopher should not be satisfied with the reasons advanced by 
 Dr. Priestly. He who will maintain his creed in opposition to his senses, 
 and the most undisguised testimony of the most respectable witnesses, 
 had beter at once, for his own credit's sake, throw the whole story in the 
 region of doubt, where all such relations, no matter how authenticated, 
 
 "Upwhirl'd aloft, 
 Fly o'er the back side of the world far off, 
 Into a limbus' larg^e and broad i" 
 
 And instead of its being called the paradise of fools, it maybe styled the 
 limbus of philosophic materialists, into which they hurl whatever they 
 cannot comprehend, choose not to believe, or please to cia,ll superstitious 
 and absurd. And they treat such matters so, bacause they quadrate not 
 with principles unfounded on the divine testimony, feebly supported by 
 true philosophy, and contradictory to the plain, unbiassed, good common 
 sense of nineteen-twentieth s of mankind. 
 
 But my business is to relate facts, of which the reader must make 
 what use he chooses." 
 
 Precisely similar occurrences took place in Wines- 
 burg, Germany, and other places, from the year 1825 
 to 1828, the authentic accounts of which are given 
 in a work by Justinus Kerner, called " The Seer- 
 ess of Provorst." 
 
 The " Seeress" was a Clairvoyant and both saw 
 and heard the spirits of various persons. 
 
MYSTERIOUS NOISES. 27 
 
 From Mrs. Crowe's translation we make the fol- 
 lowing extract. On page 63 the account says, 
 
 "These spirits were audible to many ard various people, but only ac- 
 cidentally ; never when they were watched for. The sounds they made 
 chiefly resembled slight knockings, as on the wall, table, bed-stead, and 
 sometimes in the air; rustling as of paper, rolling of balls, and pattering 
 of feet." On page 72, in speaking of a particular spirit he says : " His 
 appearance was always preceded by knockings on the walls, noises in 
 the air, and other sounds, which were heard by many different people, 
 as can be testified to by more than twenty credible witnesses ;" and on 
 page 86, " We went to bed about ten, and remained awake until eleven 
 when I fell asleep. About twelve Mrs. H., (the Seeress,) asked for some 
 broth, and I was awakened by her sister getting out of bed to give it to 
 her. She was scarcely in bed again when we heard a strange crackling 
 and shuffling on the floor ; then there was a knocking on the walls and 
 Mrs. H.'s bed as with hammers. I watched Mrs. H. all the time. She 
 lay quite quiet, with her hands on the coverlet ; presently she began to 
 epeak but_ without setting up. Her conversation seemed to be addressed 
 tO'fltmi'ething near her bed, which I could not see. By and by, she said, 
 ' the spectre is gone, but will return anon ;' and then we again heard the 
 sounds and she spoke as before. Then I heard her say ' open it your- 
 self;' and I ST.W, with an awe which I had not before felt, the cover of 
 the book move as it lay on her bed, and it was opened by an unseen 
 hand. I could not perceive the slightest motion on the part of Mrs. H. 
 nor her bed." . ,.^ 
 
 Many similar accounts are related in this work, 
 and some very singular transactions are testified to 
 by Councillor Hahn, as having taken place in the 
 Castle of Slawensick, in Silesia, of which he was an 
 eye and ear witness. 
 
 We iind in the " Ontario Repository'''' published 
 at Canandaigua, November 26, 1834, the following 
 which it quotes from the JVewark Daily Advertiser 
 under the head of " Tale of the Marvel." 
 
 "Rumor with one of her ten thousand tongues brought us a mysteri- 
 ous story yesterday, of a ' mysterious lady,' which so far challenged cred- 
 it, that we were induced to send a competent witness in the afternoon 
 to procure more particular information. Our agent after th'e fuPest op- 
 portunity of observation, has returned this morning, and communicates 
 the following facts, which we give without embellishment, as he relates 
 them. On Monday night of last week the family of Mr. Joseph Bar- 
 ron, living in the township of Woodbridge, about three miles from Rah- 
 way in this county, were alarmed after they had retired, by a loud thump- 
 ing against the house. Mr. B.'s first impression was that some person 
 was trying to break in, but farther observation soon undeceived him. 
 The thumping however continued at short intervals, until the family be- 
 came so alarmed that Mr. B. called in some of his neighbors, who remain- 
 ed up with the family until daylight, when the thumping ceased. The 
 next evening after nightfall, the noise re-commenced, when it was ascer- 
 
28 HISTORY OF THE 
 
 tained to b6 mysteriously connected with the movements of a servant 
 girl in the family — a white girl, about foarteen years_ of age. While 
 passing a, window on the stairs for example, a sudden jar accompanied 
 with an explosive sound, broke a pane of glass, the girl at the same time 
 being seizeid with a violent spasm. This of course very much alarmed 
 her; and the physician. Dr. Drake, was sent for, came, and bled her (of 
 course.) The bleeding h^Wever produced no apparent effect. The noise 
 still continued as before, at intervals, wherever the girl went, each sound 
 producing more or loss of' a spasm, and the physician, with all the family 
 remained up during the night. At daylight the thumping ceased again. 
 In the evening the same thing was repeated, commencing a little earlier 
 than before, and so every evening since, continuing each night until morn- 
 ing and commencing each night a little earlier than before, until yester- 
 day, when thft thumping began about 12 o'clock at noon. The circum- 
 stances were soon generally spread through the neighborhood, and have 
 produced so much excitement that the house has been filled and sur- 
 rounded from sunrise to sunset for nearly a week. Every imaginable 
 means have been resorted to, in order to unravel the phenomenon, At 
 one time the girl would be removed from one apartment to another, but 
 without effect. Wherever she was placed, at certain intervals, the 
 thumping noise would be.heard in the room. She was taken to a neigh- 
 boring house. The same result followed. When carried out of doors, 
 however, no noise is heard. Dr. Drake who has been constant in his at- 
 tendance during the whole period, occasionally aided by other scientific 
 observers, was with us last evening for two hours, when we were po • 
 litely allowed a variety of experiments with the g'rl, in addition to those 
 heretofore tried, to satisfy ourselves that there is no imposition in the 
 case, and if possible to discover the secret agent of the mystery. The 
 girl was in an upper room with' a part of the family when we reached 
 the house. The noise then resmbled that which would be produced by 
 a person violently thumping the upper floor with the head of an axe five 
 or six times in succession jarring the house, ceaseing a few minutes and 
 then resuming as before. We were soon introduced into the department 
 and permitted to observe for ourselves. The girl appeared to be in per- 
 fect health, cheerful and free from the spasmes felt at first and entirely 
 relieved from every thing like the fear or apprehension which she mani- 
 fested for some days. The invisable noise however, continued to occur 
 as before, though somewhat diminished in frequency, while we were in 
 the room. In order to ascertain more satisfactorily that she did not pro- 
 duce it voluntarily; among other expel iments we placed her on a chair 
 on a blanket in the center of the room, bandaged the chair with a cloth, 
 fa'stening her feet on the front round and confining her hands together 
 on her lap. No change however, was produced. The thumping con- 
 tinued as before, except that it was not quite so loud. The noise resem- 
 bling jhat which would be produced by stamping on the floor with a 
 heavy heel, yet she did not move a limb or muscle that we could discov- 
 er. She remained in this position long enough to satisfy all in the room 
 that the girl exercised, voluntarily, no sort of agency in producing the 
 noise. It was odserved that the noise became greater the farther she 
 was removed from any other person. We placed her in the doorway of 
 a closet in the room, the door-being ajar to allow her to stand in the pas- 
 sage. In less than one minate the djor ffew open as if violently struck 
 with a mallet, accompanied by precisely such a nnise as such a thump 
 would produce. This was repeated several times with the same effect. 
 In short, in whatever position she was placed, whether in or out of the 
 
MYSTERIOUS NOISES. 29 
 
 room, similar results, varied a little perhaps by circumstances, were pro- 
 duced. There is certainly no deception in the case. And now for con- 
 jecture. For ourselves we offer none, but among other conjectures which 
 have been suggested by Dr. D. and others, is that the phenomenon is 
 electrical. * * » * « Thg noise was heard at least one hundred 
 yards from the house." 
 
 How long these sounds continued we are not in- 
 formed, but we are informed that the family became 
 so much annoyed that they were obliged to give no- 
 tice that they would reeeive no more company unless 
 professional men introduced by their physician. 
 
 In regard to the spasms it seems that after the 
 first few times she had none, and was " apparently 
 in good health." The sounds heard in the cases 
 within our knowledge, produce no such effect. Per- 
 sons sometimes feel a sensation of electricity passing 
 over their limbs when they stand in the vicinity of 
 those who get the sounds most freely, although the 
 particular persons who seem to be the medium feel 
 no sensation at all. In one or two instances we have 
 seen a perceptible shock as if caused by a galvanic 
 battery especially when the persons were under the 
 influence of Magnetism. We leave these things to 
 be accounted for by those better acquainted with the 
 philosophy of these phenomena. We wish all the' 
 facts and details to be before the world, that judg- 
 ment may be rendered according to the evidence in 
 the case. 
 
 These accounts come down to us sustained by the 
 most positive testiomony, and are beyond dispute, to 
 say nothing of the well authenticated cases which 
 come to us by those whom we know, but who have 
 been ashamed to let the world know what they have 
 themselves experienced, and so keep their secret un- 
 til others more daring shall lay before the world sim- 
 ilar facts, when they step forward and add their mite 
 to the testimony. 
 
CHAPTER IV. 
 
 CONCERNINa THESE SOUNDS AND THE PRaBABLE PHILOSOPHY THEKEOF. 
 
 " We know in day time there are stars about us, 
 Just as at night, and name them what and where 
 By sight of science ; so by faith we know, 
 Although we MAT not see them till our night, 
 That spirits are about us." 
 
 In this place we may be allowed to stop and make 
 some comment upon the strange occurrences which 
 are recorded in the foregoing pages. There must 
 certainly exist some natural cause, by which these 
 sounds are made, and from what has already been 
 stated, it will be seen that, at least, some degree of 
 intelligence has been manifested in the answers in- 
 dicated on its first discovery in this part of the coun- 
 try. 
 
 By natural causes, we do not mean that the cause 
 is known to man at the present time, or that it is pro- 
 duced by machinery or collusion of any kind. We 
 know this is not the case. But, as nothing can exist 
 without a cause, and as the laws of nature are the 
 most perfect of anything we can have any concep- 
 tiot of; and as nothing of which man or any other 
 production of these laws can conceive or recognise, 
 can be superior or above these laws ; unless it be the 
 source from whence they originated, we speak of the 
 laws which govern this communication between infe- 
 rior and superior intelligences as perfectly natural. 
 We ask to be pointed to noticing superior to this in 
 the investigation of this subject. 
 
 Neither would we make the separation that some 
 do, between spirit and matter. We are convinced 
 
MYSTERIOUS NOISES. 31 
 
 that no such separation exits. It is at the same time 
 to assert that it is something and nothing. If it is 
 not matter, it is nothing. It is the height of absur- 
 dity to assert that there is an absolute existence, and 
 yet it is not matter — it is nothing, yet to be talked of, 
 to, and about. That there exist matter too refined, 
 subtile, and sublimated, for our our vision in a nor- 
 mal state to observe, we have no doubt ; and we have 
 as little doubt of there being intelligent beings who, 
 beyond our vision, still have an influence upon us, 
 and are entirely capable of communicating with us 
 through sounds, impressions and various other means. 
 It is no more proof that they are not thus about us 
 because not seen, than electricity, or the numerous 
 animalculse which we are constantly eating, drink- 
 ing and breathing, although unseen, do not exist for 
 the same reason. It may not be unprofitable to go 
 into the examination of the connection between spi- 
 rits and o*her matter, in this connection, in order 
 that the reader's mind may be prepared for the de- 
 velopment of facts which may look still more strange 
 than those already related. 
 
 In regard to the rapping sounds and their exist- 
 ence, there is no longer room for doubt. The hund- 
 reds of individuals who have heard them, and who 
 have been in full possession of their senses, and not 
 easily to be deceived, are abundant testimony on this 
 point. One of the most philosopical observers of the 
 various phenomena of the human mind, and a well 
 known Psychological writer, William Fishbough, 
 Editor of the Zfniverceelufn, remarked in an editorial, 
 under date of February 3d, 1849, 
 
 " As to the actual fact of these manifestations, we think there cannot 
 be a shadow of a doubt, if the numerous concurrent and direct testimo- 
 nies which we have had from respectable persons on this subject, are 
 deserving of any weight. That the rappings are produced by an invisi- 
 ble and (to us) intangible agency, we are also prepared to believe. That 
 these manifestations may be produced by spirits of the other world— not 
 indeed by rapping, but by producing concussion upon the more refined 
 ingredients of the°atmosphere, causing a vibration of the tympanum and 
 thus addressing the sense of hearing — we can also readily conceive. We 
 
32 HISTORY OF THE 
 
 might even cite numerous and apparently well uthenticated examples of 
 spiritual manifestations of this kind, to say nothing cf the floating sto- 
 ries that never have been expressed in type, but ^^hich almost every one 
 has heard from childhooil. We might cite, especially, the irieproacaablo 
 abthority of Jcstinus Kerker in his Seeress of Prevost." 
 
 The connection -between spirit and other matter, 
 or between the visible and invisible world of human 
 beings, is at present little understood. We are of 
 the opinion that the connection is far more intimate 
 than is generally believed. Of this fact we are re- 
 ceiving allmost daily the most positive and convinc- 
 ing proof. Many might be so averse to receiving 
 new truths, which set aside all their preconceived 
 opinions, as to disregard the positive evidence of 
 their senses. But we are by no means willing to 
 admit that we are so easily imposed upon as many 
 think, or pretend to think, they are themselves. Nei- 
 ther are we willing to suppose all but ourselves to 
 be fools or knaves, when they relate to us, on good 
 authority, facts of which we have no knowledge, or 
 which are beyond our sphere of investigation. 
 
 If we acquaint ourselves with the process of the 
 formation of the earth — if we observe how it gradu- 
 ally grew, through countless ages, to its present form 
 and state of perfection — if we once reflect that, in- 
 stead of its always having been what it now.is in size 
 shape and substance, it was once a liquid mass which 
 gradually, by the action of natural causes, became 
 solid in its essential parts and foundations ; th3,t at 
 one time vegetable life could not be found "on the 
 face of the earth ;" if we remember that at first the 
 mineral productions were of the grossest kind which 
 have been constantly changing and refining ; that in 
 the course of ages vegetable productions of the rank- 
 est kind appeared, and finally, as the earth refined, 
 the more refined were the productions, and finally 
 animal life appeared ; that these animals like the ve- 
 getable productions were of the most imperfect na- 
 ture ; and at last after ages had rolled away, the 
 earth was prepared for the production of man, the 
 
MYSTERIOUS NOISES. 33 
 
 superior of all these as an intelligent t^iiiiking being t 
 that he at first was a mere infant to what after ages 
 proved him to be ; that he is still progressing onward 
 and upward in knowledge and refinement, and ex- 
 hibits a perfection of organization which is beyond 
 the power of annihilation, we may begin to form some 
 idea of the vast chain of progression which not only 
 applies to things visible, but which applies with equal 
 force throughout the universe and to all stages of ex- 
 istence. 
 
 Would it be reasonable, we ask, to ^top short at 
 the decay of man's visible organization ai^d deny 
 the existence of any remaining intelligence that per- 
 tained to him/ merely because we cannot see that ex- 
 istence ? No man will assert this to be a valid rea- 
 son. In fact, from various proofs, or from the au- 
 thority of others, the idea of a future existence has 
 become almost universal, and whether these ideas 
 have been philosophically formed or not it would be 
 useless in this place for us to inquire. We simply 
 wish to prepare the mind for the proof of the close 
 connection between the two different states and the 
 influence they may have upon each other. 
 
 It is said, and we think never disputed by men ol 
 science, that all space is filled with solid, fluid and 
 imponderable substances, and that all objects or any 
 two, in space, let them be far off" or near to each oth- 
 er, are necessarily connected by the various forms or 
 substances existing in the space which separates 
 them. It is a matter which has long been settled by 
 men of philosophy and education, that all particles 
 of matter, wherever situated, act upon and influence 
 each other; that each has an influence upon the 
 other, and that none exist or act without an absolute 
 dependence upon the whole ; in a word there is no 
 such thing as absolute individual independence in 
 the Universe. 
 
34 HISTORY OF THE 
 
 '"Let every part, depending on the chain ; 
 That links it to the whole, point to the hand 
 That grasps its term ! Let every seed that falls,. 
 In silent eloquence, unfold its store 
 Of argument." 
 
 The highest form of organization of which we 
 have any conception, and which probably is the high- 
 est, is that which manifests intelligence. The forms 
 of intelligence, or their manifestations, are various- 
 defined by some as instinct and reason. It is use- 
 less in this place to undertake the task of tracing 
 them through their different forms and gradations, 
 up to the highest developments of reason. There is 
 in this, as in tracing the various forms of vegetable 
 and animal life, a connection so intimate and per- 
 fect, that it is impossible to tell where the lower ends 
 and the higher begins, so closely interwoven are the 
 links of the great chain of which all is a part. 
 
 May we not then safely calculate that man contin- 
 ues to progress beyond his present state of existence, 
 and that the change which takes place at what is 
 called death, is not so vast and so sudden as the 
 world has generally supposed. Again we cannot but 
 quote the words of Mr. Fishbough in the Univercce- 
 lum, April 21st, 1849. 
 
 " From the commencement to the completion of the process of deftlli, 
 the spirit must certainly pass through every successive infinitessimal de- 
 gree of liberation from the body. Each succeeding degree would in that 
 case, be scarcely, if at all, distinguishable from the immediately pre6e- 
 ding one ; and the spirit preserving its absolute identity throughout the 
 whole process. These minute degrees of liberation, would serve as in- 
 seperable lines to connect the future life with the present; and immedi- 
 ately after his emergement from the body, the individual will feel that 
 he is not essentially, or in any respect, very widely different from what 
 he was interiorly, immediately before he left the body. Does not this 
 reasoning prove a very intimate relation between those in the spiritual 
 who are nearest the natural world ; and those in the natural who are 
 nearest the spiritual world 1 And inasmuch as the lib,erated spirits must 
 have the most lively remembrance of their former conditions, and sym- 
 pathy with friends who are still in the body, and inasmuch, moreover, 
 as there are often many siich friends who are in the intuitional,, and just 
 vergmg on the spiritual state of mind, is there not every possible reason 
 to suppose that spirits out of the body may communicate with smcA spir- 
 its in the body, by the infusion of their thoughts according to those laws 
 
MySTERIOUS NOISES. 3j5 
 
 oF. spiritual sympathy, whicli have been.iijdqbitably exemplified in ten 
 thousand cases, by the-phenomena of human magnetism? 
 
 ' Again: It is very evident thafthe inhabitants of those portions of the 
 spiritual world which are i-mmediately related to this planet, were once 
 the inhabitants of this planet, and that they have passed through all 
 successive degrees from the conditions wnieh they occupied here, to the 
 conditions which they now occupy." 
 
 On the almost imperceptible change when the 
 spirit first leaves the body, Emanuel Swedenborg 
 says : (A. C. — H. & H.) 
 
 "As to what in general respects the life of souls, or spirits lately de- 
 ceased, it was mads manifest to me by much experience, that a man, 
 when he comes into another life, does not know that he is in another life, 
 imagining that he is still in the world, yea, in hii own body ; inasmuch, 
 that w^hen he is informed that he is a spirit, he is filled with wonder and 
 astonishment, as well because he is altogether as a man, as to his senses, 
 desires and thoughts, as from this, that he did not believe, wheu he lived 
 in the world, that he was a spirit, or (as is the case with some,) that a 
 spirit could be such. But when the astonishraeiit ceases, then they won- 
 der that the church should be in total ignorance concerning the state of 
 man after death; that they should deny the existence of the spirit and 
 dispute about substance, and parts with parts, which were never designed 
 to have any place in the mind, because they obstruct the -way to intelli- 
 gence." 
 
 ITo the same effect speaks A. J. Davis, vrhile in 
 the Clairvoyant state. He says, (see principles of 
 Nature, p. 658.) 
 
 "And what may appear strange, is, that often when a spirit leaves the 
 human form and is introduced into this sphere, it for a moment cannot 
 realize the change, for it is imperceptible. Spirits retain the same bod- 
 ily form in the spiritual sphere, and at first they feel as if they were only 
 transformed to a country they knew not. It is, however, not long after 
 the transition before the interior senses are opened ; and then behold and 
 appreciate the change and the beauties with which they are surrounded. 
 And some spirits appear to wonder that they did not see it befure, and 
 that they did not believe it while in the body ; for now it appears so tan- 
 gible and so perfectly agreeable with the universal teachings of natural 
 law." 
 
 Again on page 675, Mr. Davis says : 
 
 "It is a truth that spirits commune with one another while one is Jn 
 the body and the other in the higher spheres— and this too, when the 
 person in the body is unconscious of the influx, and hence, cannot be 
 convinced of the fact; A»fD this trdth will, ere long present itsebf 
 IN THE roRM or A LIVING DEMONSTRATION. And the worl^ will hail 
 with delight the ushering in of that era when the interiors of nren will, 
 be opened, and the spiritual communion will be esrablished such as is 
 now being enjoyed by the inhabitants of Mars, Jupiter and Saturn, be- 
 cause of their superior refinement." 
 
 Thus we have the testimony of these men, well 
 
36 HISTORY OF THE 
 
 known as having laid before the world some of the 
 mOst sublime and philosophical reasonings and facts 
 in regard to the existence of a world of spirits, unseen 
 but felt by their influence, (and occasionally in a more 
 tangible way,) and heard by those who still remain 
 in the body. 
 
 ^Besides this,Ve have the testimony of clairvoyants 
 almost without number, in almost evei^y neighbor- 
 hood, who are in private Circles developing the great 
 facts here set fOrth, while their names are unknown 
 to the world ; but the incontestible evidence they af- 
 ford of their power to point out persons never known 
 to them in' their normal state, who have passed into 
 the world of spirits, and their plain and artless de- 
 scriptions of that state, is having an influence in their 
 respective circles which cannot but put any one ac- 
 quainted with, the facts strongly in mind of Swe- 
 denborg's prophecy, that the year 1852 would be one 
 that would decide the fate of his church or his doc- 
 trines. The probabilities now seem to be that his 
 general spiritual theory will, not far from that- time, 
 be very generally received. 
 
 We have used up this chapter here in the center 
 of our book, for the purpose of showing that very 
 plausible, and to us very philosophical reasons can 
 be given for our spiritual theory, without stating all 
 the facts that hg^ve come to our knowledge. But we 
 are in possession of FACTS which we know to have 
 transpired. We get them from no second hand ; 
 we g^ssert nothing but what We know or can prove 
 true ; and from these statements, like a noble re- 
 former of Boston, we feel that "we will not retract 
 a single inch and we will be heard." 
 
CHAPTER Y, 
 
 CONTINUED HISTOET OF THE EVENTS IN WESTERN NEW YORK. 
 
 We have heretofore spoken only of the progress of 
 the sounds at Hydesville, in Arcadia. We left them 
 after they had just learned enough of the matter to 
 converse, by getting raps for an affirmative, and no 
 sound for a negative, and a name or two spelled out by 
 the use of the alphabet 
 
 Like all new discoveries, this has become more per- 
 fect as it has been investigated and studied into. The 
 mode of communication has gradually improved, until 
 those who are most familiar with it, can without diffi- 
 culty get long, and correct communications spelled out 
 by the alphabet 
 
 For some time the rapping was confined to that 
 house, although, as stated iii a former chapter, the fam- 
 ily of Mr. Fox all left the house at times. While the 
 neighbors were testing the floor and the walls of the 
 house, and the family entirely away from it, the sounds 
 were heard as distinctly as ever. We wish this to be 
 distinctly remembered, as it as often been asserted by 
 persons ignorant of tjbie facts, or willfully malicious, 
 that the sounds. wMe never Jfieard, unless in tlie presence 
 of two of the daughters of Mr! Fox. Tkefiicts already 
 stated and proved, shoiptfrnt (hey conirnenced before 
 that family occupied the house or lived in the neighborr 
 hood. ' 
 
 Subsequently, however, as was the case in the Wes- 
 ley family, it seeded to evince a partiality for, or to 
 manifest itself more freely in presence of the two young- 
 est girls. Why this was so, they could not tell, nor 
 
38 HISTORY OF THE 
 
 will we at present conjecture. Up to tbe time of the 
 first manifestations, none of the family had ever been 
 magnetized: 
 
 It soon began to be heard, not only in that house, but 
 in some of the neighbors houses also. 
 
 Part of the family went to Rochester to reside, and 
 the same sounds were heard by theportion of the fami- 
 ly in that city, while the part that remained in Hydes- 
 ville continued to hear them there. By thiis time it' 
 had been discovered that the different sound, or sounds- 
 in different places, purported to be the spirits of differ- 
 ent persons. Indeed the proofs pretty soon began to 
 be plain, that they were so, or at least whatever it 
 was, it had the power of telling the names of persons 
 entirely unknown to the family, and often reminding 
 them of something that took place in their own family, 
 of which Mr. Fox's family could know nothing, unless 
 they had the power to see through their thoughts and 
 all space besides, which would be much more strange 
 than to allow it to be what it purports to be. 
 
 Not long after it began to be heard by this family in 
 Rochester, it began to be heard in other houses in the 
 same city, and among othei^, in the house of d Metho- 
 dist clergyman, Rev. A. H. Jarvis, where the same 
 sounds liave continued from that time to this, as they 
 have in other places and houses. 
 
 We have received the following statement from the 
 hand of Mr. Jarvis, which we are allowed to publish.- 
 
 There are Hiaiiy facts which have come under my observation equally 
 convincing of the intelligence and utility of the communications from these 
 unseen agents, who I now believe are continually about us, and more per- 
 fectly acquainted with all our ways — and even our thoughts, than we are 
 with each other. But the fact in reference to my friend Piceaeb is what yon 
 desire; He was at my house on Friday afternoon, April 6lh, 1849. Nona 
 of the Fox family -^ras present. While at the tea table we had free com- 
 munications on different subjects. Pickard was requested' to ask questions. 
 He desired to know who it was that would answer questions. The an- 
 swer was •" I am your mother Mary Pickard." Her name or the fact of 
 ""Tier death was not known to any of us. The next Moiiday_^vening he 
 (Pickard) was at Mr. G — 's and tarried there, over night. He'there recei- 
 ved a communications purporting to be from his mother, saying, ' Your 
 child is dead.' He came immediately to my place, and said he should take 
 'the stage for home (Lockport, 60 miles dis'tant.) . He left in the stage *t 
 8 or 9 A. M. At 12 M. 1 returned to my house, my wife meeting me with 
 
MYSTERIOUS NOISES. 39'. 
 
 a'telegraph envelope. I broke the seal and read mentally first, as followg 
 
 "Rochester, AprillOth, 1849. 
 By telegraph from Lock^oVt to Rev. A. H. Jarvis, No. 4, West St Tell 
 Mr. Pickard — if you can Bad him — his child died this morning. Answer 
 
 R. MALLORY." 
 I then read it to my wife, and said ' this is one of the best and most con-' 
 vincing evidences of the intelligence of those invisible agents,' and then I 
 added 'God's telegraph has outdone Morse's altogether.' 
 
 ^ Yours truly. 
 
 To E. W, Capkon, Auburn. A. H. JARVIS. ' 
 
 All who have investigated the matter tp any great 
 extent, have testimony equally convincing. Several 
 persons who have carefully investigated this affair for 
 the last two years, have kept a private journal in which 
 they have entered many of the most singulgir occur- 
 rences that have come within their personal observa-' 
 tion. Extracts from some of these will be given in,' 
 another chapter. 
 
 Soon after the first excitement in the city of Roch- 
 ester, we hear of its manifesting itself in the adjoining 
 towns, as well as in other places in the city. Among 
 other places, the sounds were heard at the house of a 
 Deacon Hale, of the town of Greece in Monroe connty. 
 He is a man well known and of unimpeachable char- 
 acter^ so far as we have been able to ascertain, and 
 his candor and honesty as a man or his strict adher^ 
 ence to the principle of the church of which he was a 
 deacon, have not been called in question. 
 
 Another fact in relation to his experience which we 
 deem important, is, that he had not seen or had any 
 acquaintance with the family of Mr. Fox, or any part 
 of them, when they commenced at his house or since 
 that tinie, and yet he gets the communications as freely 
 as they or any one elsa We are npt aware that any 
 of his family have ever beei^ placed under the influence 
 of human magnetism. The manifestations at his house 
 have been varied and singular. 
 
 Mr. Lyman Granger, a well known citizen of Roch- 
 ester, a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, 
 has long been familiar with these manifestations in his 
 own house and in various places whpre he has been. 
 There is one singular fact about the manifestations to 
 
EEtSTORiT OF THE 
 
 Mr. Granger, which may fee related in this place. For 
 a long time the answers could be obtained by any two 
 of the family standing near each other ; and there was 
 no diflfereiice We are informed, in the freedom of the an- 
 swers, ojc" particular preference ntanifested to have any 
 particular members of the family present; At length 
 one of the daughters of Mr. Granger, was placed under 
 t|ie influence of ntagnetism and became clairvoyant. 
 From that tinld none of the family' couH get communi- 
 tiohs unless the daughter who was magnetized Was 
 j^resent. This is a singular fact and one which in the 
 present statfe' of ktiowledge on this subject, seems 
 alinost or wholly inexplicable. Why the communica- 
 tibii should leave all the family except the magnetized 
 daughter, aftel- they once had free conversation with- 
 out her, remains to be explained. 
 
 The daughter dbes not require to be magnetized in 
 drder to hear thetti but only to be present. There are 
 a number of othet families in Rochester who have the 
 s'ame manifestation, some very freely and some only 
 decasionally. 
 
 From Rochester and that vicinity, it began to be 
 heard of in this city, (Auburn) and like other places, it 
 was for a short time confined to one family. 
 
 The first of its being heard in tliis city was when the 
 youngest daughter of Mr. Fox visited our boarding 
 house. After she returned it was heard for some time 
 in the presence of several who had heard tjie sounds in; 
 her presence, and in a few months spread to several fam-^ 
 ilies where it has gradually grerv^n more free. Hardly a 
 week passes without our receiving authentic informa- 
 tion of sottie new place where thiese occurrences have 
 commenced. We are informed of at least six familes 
 in Auburn who hear more or less of tiie same sounds. 
 
 la almost every place where it has commenced, 
 there has been at first but a few sotrads and generally 
 much more faint than after it becomes more common. 
 
 It is a Very common occurrence in the family and 
 social cii^cieS to be talking of some rtiatter connected 
 With this strange development, or some kindred sub- 
 
MYSTERIOUS NOISES. 41 
 
 jects, juid for aU ia the room to hear a distinct rap — 
 perhaps two or three — as if confirming what was said, 
 This is; generally tlie way it commences at new plaoes. 
 
 It may be proper here to remark, tliat persons of 
 £iuy considerable degree of investigating powers, stand 
 in no fear of being deceived, as the sounds have never 
 yet been, imitated, nor do. we believe they can be. Per- 
 sons who have heard but little of tliem and who have 
 very jrivid im?iginationg, and large organs of wonder, 
 may, at times, mistake some other, sounds for tbe gen- 
 uine ones, or those produced by the spirits ; but a per- 
 son who is not over immagjnative never. 
 
 We state this as it, may, probably will be in many 
 cases said, that it is some visible cause that produce* 
 the sound^ and that persons are deceived. We are 
 aware that these charges^ have been made by persons 
 at a distance, who have no knowledge, whatever of the 
 facts in the case. 
 
 The same sounda are heard in several places within 
 our knowledge in towns in this vicinity. In the town 
 of Senuett, about six miles from this city there is a lad 
 some twelve years of age, by the ijame of John Beaver, 
 son of Harmon Beaver, who hears these sounds when-- 
 ever he pleases— whether in doors or out — alone or in 
 company. They first came to him in the night, while 
 sleeping alone, and gxeatly alarmed him. With him 
 the sounds are loudei", when requested, than with any 
 person we have yel^ seen. At tirnesi, when solicited, 
 they will be as loud as the striking of a h^ayy hammer 
 on the table, floor or fence, or wherever he may stand^ 
 or near him. The same intelligen,ce is displayed in his 
 ease that is observed in tlie other places. This boy- 
 has never been under the influence of human magnet- 
 ism, and has no appearance of being at all susceptible. 
 
 None of the Misses Fox have ever been able to get 
 these sounds when entirely alone, although they are 
 generally produced when they are in company with, 
 any other person, yet this boy has them when no other 
 person is near, and holds long conversations with his 
 unseen companion. In his presence, too, the pheuom- 
 
42 HISTORY OF THE 
 
 ena of moving articles of furniture, touching "as with a 
 hand, «&c., appears as in other cases. 
 
 A few weeks since a young lady about sixteen years 
 of age — Miss Harriet Bebee — was in, the city and was 
 placed in a magnetic state in company with Mrs. Tam- 
 liri, the well known clairvoyant of this city. She was 
 also a clairvoyaik herself. The sounds were heard, 
 while they were in that state^ and they explained what 
 spirits made them, and hoiv ihej made them. Every 
 time the sounds were heard while they were in the mag- 
 netic sleep, there was a very sensible jar observed in 
 the case of Miss Bebee, like an electric shock, and in 
 answer to a question, sjie stated that at each sound she 
 felt as if there was electricity passing over her. This 
 was not observable when she was brought into the nor- 
 mal state. She resides some twenty miles froni this 
 city, and has heard the sounds at pleasure ever since 
 her interview with Mrs. Tamlin. 
 
 Several of the persons in whose presence these sounds 
 are heard, always receive a slight shock, so that there' 
 is a slight jar which has sometimes been so plain as to 
 lead persons ignorant of the facts and the phenonienon, 
 to accuse them of making it themselves. In the case 
 of the boy in Sennett and the Misses Fox, there is no 
 sensation felt, and no movement perceptible. The 
 sama sounds, we are assured by persons from that place 
 and by the Democrat published there, are heard in 
 Skaneateles. We have not positive prbof of the facts 
 and make no statement in regard to it farther than the 
 authorities here given. 
 
 These are some of the facts that haye come to our 
 knowledge and are the common prop^ty of the com- 
 munity from their being open and public cases. We 
 know of numerous cases of individuals, who declare 
 that they have often heard the same sounds, but do not 
 wish to incur the ridicule and contempt with which 
 they know they must be visited, if they candidly in- 
 form their friends of the facts in the case and what 
 they know by their own experience. Or they belong 
 to the chiirch, and the people will not only laugh at 
 
MYSTERIOUS NOISES. 4$' 
 
 them, but that the church who is, forever prating about 
 the influence of spirits, or the spirit, will cast them out 
 of its folds if they do not close their ears and refuse to 
 hear, and their eyes and refuse to see any positive and 
 tangible evidence of what they have so long been talk- 
 ing about with less proof. They do not feel willing to 
 face the frowns of their individual friends or the ana- 
 themas of an organized body who assume it to be sin- 
 ful to investigate anything new, especially if it be of a 
 nature to disturb some long cherished principle which 
 they have deemed true because they have been told so 
 by their fathers and grandfathers. 
 
 We have no such fears. We have the glorious con- 
 sciousness of feeling above reputation in the matter, es- 
 pecially if that reputation must be sustained at the ex- 
 pense of truth and honest convictions, and received from 
 the vulgar crowd — ^rich or poor — who look only at the 
 apparel and pocket of a man — ^^or his professions of a 
 particular faith — in order to be ienfitled to a reputation 
 from them* 
 
 We know of what we speak. We know they are 
 facts — strange, newj and to many wonderful — and to 
 all, as yet in a state that defies the philosophy and the- 
 ology of the world to explain away, or tell the laws 
 by which they are governed. Knowing this we state 
 the lacts to the world,|unmindful of the sneers of thos6 
 who know nothing of the matter, and caring little for 
 the criticisms of those who pretend to much wisdom 
 in psychological knowledge, or those who with no pre- 
 tentions, use vulgar and malicious falsehood as the only 
 weapons which they have at hand. We expect all to 
 use such weapons as they have at command, and those 
 that are in the ditch of ignorance will throw the filth 
 thereof, and others will use weapons of different grada- 
 tions ascending.^to their positions. 
 
 We have another consciousness, which, without 
 boasting, we must think contributes greatly to the free- 
 dom of thought of any who occupy it. We are con- 
 scious of being bound by no sectarian ties ; we have no 
 
44 HISTORY OF THE 
 
 padlocks on our lips — no ties to bind our intellect to a 
 particular circle, of tliought 
 
 Another proof of the absence of collusion in the mat- 
 ter, is the fact that it is not confined to any particular 
 dwellings, so that there is no more a "haunted house '' 
 than a liaiinted: out doors, or a haunted side-\yalk, for 
 wherever the persons who seem to be in a right con- 
 dition of body tb get the communication are, tliiere you 
 will hear the sounds, whether it be in dpors or put,^ 
 This precludes the idea of machinery for that could 
 not be so suddenly exchanged from oile house to ano- 
 ther; or from a house into the open air, Biit we wiU 
 consider the objection in anothef place, and after we 
 have stated a few more facts whidh ha!ve transpired, 
 and which are known to many individuals besides our- 
 selves. There is, undoubtedly a greater desire for facts 
 than reasons on the subject, And yet we cannot refrain 
 0:om these frequent digressions in order to show, as 
 we go along, how utterly futile the attemps to argue it 
 down have proved to be, and how useless the slan^ 
 4ers of persons who try to find the truth have been, 
 We will, in the next chapter, show tha,t in a public 
 investigation of the matter, the seal of truth has been 
 ^et on the statements of those vrho have priyately in- 
 vestigated so far as the sounds and their intelligence 
 were cpncerned. ' ' ' ' '" 
 
CHAPTER VI. 
 
 THE PUBLIC INVESTIGATION AT CORINTHIAN HALL IN THE CIT7 OF 
 EOC HESTER. 
 
 Before speaking of the strange phenomenon, thought 
 by some to be much stranger than the " rapping " or 
 the intelligence manifested- through the medium ; we 
 give an account of the public investigations w^hich were 
 gone into in the city of Rochester in the month of No- 
 vember, 1849. 
 
 The first intimation that was received in regard to 
 those investigations came from these sounds, through the 
 use of the alphabet. Several persons were in confpa- 
 ny, trying, as usual, to gain some information in regard 
 to the law which governs this strange communication. 
 While they were thus investigating, the following was 
 spelled out by the use of the alphabet, it being part of 
 the message or directions for those present to follow. 
 " You all have a duty to perform. We want you to 
 make this matter more public." As this announce- 
 ment was altogether unexpected, the persons began to 
 discuss the difficulties, and remarked that the opposi- 
 tion and ridicule, that would be heaped upon any one 
 who should attempt to lecture on this subject, would 
 be almost overwhelming. The answer to this was, 
 " That will be so much the better— your triumph will 
 be the greater," 
 
 After receiving the most positive assurances from 
 this invisible communicator, that the sounds should be 
 heard in all parts of the Hall in response to the person 
 who should lecture— that it was best, in order that slan- 
 ders might be silenced, and the truth established, to go 
 
46 HISTORY OF THE. 
 
 forward in the matter — the persons who were designa- 
 ted concluded to make the attempt. It was also intima- 
 ted, from the same source, that this would prepare the 
 way for a more general development of spiritual com- 
 munication, which would take place at no distant day. 
 Probably the best idea of the proceedings at Roches- 
 ter can be conveyed to the reader by the following brief 
 statement drawn up and published directly after the 
 investigations took place, in the New York WeMy 
 Tribune of Dec. 8th, 1 849. 
 
 " Some two weeks since, we were in company with some persons who 
 were getting communications from this invisible communicator when a mes- 
 sage was spellefl out to us to the import that the matter should be. made 
 more public — that the time had arrived for the people to investiKate the 
 whole afFair^that it was a thing which will ultimately become -known to 
 all jjjen, and that we should immediately take measures to have it investi- 
 gated. The directions Were then -minutely given by these spirits, as they 
 purport to be, arid which we are willing to believe are, until we have as 
 much proof to ihe contrary as it required to bring us to that conclusion. 
 These directions will appear in the following history, as they were fully 
 and strictly followed. The great object was to start investigation and clear 
 those who had been hearing of it for the last two years from the imputation 
 of fraud and deception. 
 
 Accordingly on the evening of November 14, a lecture was delivered in 
 Corinthian Hall in the City of Rochester, and a full history of the rise and 
 progress of tliese manif,estations given. During the relation of these facts 
 Ihe sounds were distinctly heard by the persons in the Hall. 
 
 After the lecture, a Committee was chosen by the audience, composed of 
 the following persons — A. J. Combs, Daniel MarsHj Nathaniel Clark, 
 Esq., a. Judson and Edwin Jones. 
 
 On the following evening the Committee reported in substance, as fol- 
 lows : That without the knowledge of the persons in whose presence the 
 manifestations are made, the Committee selected the Hall of the Sons of 
 Temperance for investigation — that the sound on the floor near where the 
 two ladies stood was heard as distinctly as at other places, and that part of 
 the committee heard the rapping on the wall hehind them — that a number 
 of questions were asked which were answere'l, not altogether right nor al- 
 together wrong— that in the afternoon they went to the house of a private 
 citizen, and while there the sounds were heard on the outside (apparently) 
 of the front door, after they had entered, and on the door of a closet. By 
 p^lacing the hand upon the door, there was a sensible jar felt when the rap- 
 ping was heard. One of the Committee placed one of h'is hands upon the 
 I'eet of the ladies and the other on the floor, and though the feet were not 
 moved, there was a distinct jar on the floor. On the pavement and on the 
 ground the same sound was hf ard :; — a kind of double rap, as a stroke and 
 a rebound, were distinguishable. When the ladies were separated at a 
 distance no sound was heard ; but when a third person was interposed be- 
 tween them the sounds were heard. The ladies seemed to give every op- 
 portunity to the Committee to investigate the cause fully, and would submit 
 to a thorough investigation by a committee of ladies if desired. They all 
 agreed that the sounds were heard, but they entirely failed to discover any 
 means by which it could be done. 
 
MYSTERIOUS NOISES. 47 
 
 After this report and some discussion on the subject, the audience select- 
 ed another Committtee composed of the following- persons— Doctor H. H. 
 . Langworthy, Hon. Frederick Whittlesey, D. C. Mc Callum, Wil- 
 liam Fisher, of Rochester, and Hon. A. P. Hascall, of Le Roy. At the 
 next lecture this Committee reported that they went into the investigation 
 at the office, of Chancellor Whittlesey, and they heard the sound on the 
 floor, on the wall, and door, — that the ladies were placed in different po- 
 sitions and, like the other Committee, they were wholly unable to tell from 
 what the sound proceeded or how it was made, that Dr. Langworthy made 
 observations with a sethescope to ascertain whether there was any move- 
 ment with the lungs, and found not the least difference when the sounds 
 were made ; and there was no kind of probability or possibility of their being 
 made by ventriloquism as some had supposed — and ihey could not have been 
 made by machinery. 
 
 This Committee was composed of Dr. E. P. Langworthy, Dr. J. Gates, 
 -Wm. Fitzhugh, Esq., W. L. Burtis, and L, Kenyon. This committee 
 met at the 'rooms of Dr. Gates at the Rochester House, and appointed a 
 committee of Ladies who took the young women into a room, disrobed them 
 and examined their persons and clothing to be sure there was no fixtures! 
 about them that could produce the sounds. When satisfied on this ;^^t 
 the Committee of Ladies tried some other experiments, and gave the yaWS 
 ladies the following certificate : ^9 
 
 When they were standing on pillows with a handkerchief tied around 
 the bottom of their dresses, tight to the ankles we all heard the rapping 
 on the wall and floor distinctly. (Signed.) 
 
 MRS. STONE, 
 
 MRS. J. GATES, 
 
 MISS M. P. LAWRENCE. 
 
 In the evening the Committee, through their Chairman, Dr. Langworthy, 
 made a very full report of their examinations during the day. They re- 
 ported they excluded all friends of the two ladies from the committee room 
 and had the examination only in presence of the Committee of Gentlemen, 
 and Ladies chosen by them. Notwithstanding all this precaution, these 
 sounds were heard when the ladies stood on large feather pillows, without 
 shoes, and in other various positions, both on the floor and on the wall, — 
 that a number of questions were asked which, when answered, were gen- 
 erally correct. Each member of the Committee reported separately agree- 
 ing with and coroborating the first statements. 
 
 Thus, by three days of the strictest scrutiny, by means of intelligence, 
 candor and science, were the persons in whose persence these sounds are 
 heard, acquitted of all fraud. 
 
 On Friday evening, after'the lecture, three of the Committee, viz : Hon. 
 A. P. Hascall, D. C. McCallum, and William Fisher, repaired to the 
 house of a citizen and pursued their investigations still farther. There 
 were nearly a score of persons present. The members of the Committee 
 wrote many questions on paper, which no person present knew the purport 
 of, and they were answered correctly. At times they would ask mentally 
 and would receive the answers with equal correctness and they were fully 
 eatisfied that there was something present manifesting intelligence beyond 
 the Tpeisons visible. 
 
 One of the Committees tried the experiment of standing the ladies on 
 glass and failed to get any sounds;' but the same Was snbsequcnty tried. in 
 presence of a large number of persons, and the sounds were as loud and 
 distinct as before, on the floor as usual. , . , . 
 
 Such are the facts so far as public proceedings are concerned, (which is 
 
48 MYSTERIdUS NtHSES. 
 
 but a small part of these strange occurrences) -wilh the Committee's report 
 greatly condensed. 
 
 Thus the matter Stands at present, Smd whether it is a remarkable pheno- 
 menon which will pass away with the present generation, or with the per- 
 sons who seem now to be the medium of this extraordinary communica- 
 tion ; or whether it be the cominencement of a new era of spiritual influx 
 into the World ; it is something worthy of the attention of men of candor 
 and philosophy. 
 
 E. W. CAPEON, Auburn. 
 GEORGE WILLETS, Rochester." 
 
 Rochester, Nov. 22, 1849.^ 
 
 As one of us was present and acquainted with all the 
 circumstances we will make some further statemeiits 
 in regard to the events that transpired during the week 
 of the investigation. 
 
 Each of the committee, after the report of their chair- 
 man ; were called upon to make a report individually 
 and what is unusual where any doubtful matter is un- 
 der consideration, every individual agreed to all that 
 is published in the above extract. 
 
 Some individuals of the committee made more mi- 
 nute reports of questions and answers and other cir- 
 cumstances that came under their observation during 
 these examinations. 
 
 One member of the first committee stated that he 
 asked the question. " Who is, it that wishes to com- 
 municate with me ? " The answer was, " your wife 
 will talk." He evaded the answer, and gave the per- 
 sons present to understand that he never had a wife. 
 To use his own expression when he gave his public 
 report, he "brow beat it down." He would not admit 
 there was any truth in it until he reported in the eve- 
 ning — then he stated it correctly — he had lost his wife 
 sometime before. 
 
 The committee were composed of men who, on any 
 other subject, would be trusted to. investigate where 
 life or property were at stake. We doubt if any citizen 
 of Monroe county would refuse to submit to the justness 
 of his cause even w6re he tried for life or limb, to such 
 men as those who composed the committees during the 
 thfee.days they were engaged in trying every mode to 
 ferret out the cause of these sounds, and yet many per- 
 
MYSTERIOUS NOISES. 49 
 
 sons persist ia denouncing those who even go to hear 
 for themselves as fools or knaves ! 
 
 We insist upon it, that those who were present at 
 Corinthian Hall, and had a voice in the appointment of 
 those committees, selected from the best and most re- 
 liable men of the city of Rochester, should of all men be 
 the last to cry humbug or collusion. They must be 
 aware that in doing this they impeach their commit- 
 tees, and indirectly accuse them of being ignoramuses 
 and incapable of impartial investigation, or of being ac- 
 cessory to one of the most successful, wide-spread and 
 long continued impositions ever palmed off on this or 
 any other community. 
 
 When we take into consideration the facts that this 
 matter has now been spreading for two years — that ev- 
 ery means have been tried in private circles, and com- 
 mittees appointed by public meetings — that all have 
 failed to discover any thing like collusion — we may 
 safely assert tiiat in regard to the sounds merely — the 
 following facts are established beyond dispute, viz: 
 That the sounds are heard in various places and at va- 
 rious times — that those sounds are not made by, or un- 
 der the control of any person or persons, although mani- 
 fested in the presence of particular persons ; and that 
 they evince a remarkable degree of intelligence. These 
 facts, among those who have carefully investigated are 
 no longer disputed- 
 
CHAPTER VII. 
 
 FURTHER PEOOF OF THE INTELLIGENCE MANIFESTED BY THESE SOlTNBS, 
 
 After stating as much as we have already done, we 
 may suppose the reader prepared to receive some of thfe 
 specimens of the intelligence so manifested. Of course 
 there are hundreds of proofs lost, from the fact that 
 there is no record kept by the great mass of persons 
 who have visited the scenes of these developments. 
 Others are of a nature that preclude their publication, 
 and among those are some of the most positively con- 
 vincing proofs. They are of a nature which more par- 
 ticularly concern the families to which they have been 
 delivered. Some of them, however, may be given. 
 
 One of' the most remarkable cases of a display of 
 foresight on the part of these sounds, (which we have 
 good evidence of coming from departed spirits, and shall* 
 continue so to believe until better proof than has yet 
 been presented to the contrary comes to hand,) of which 
 we have positive proof, is the case of our friend Geotge 
 Willets, now a resident of the city of Rochester. He 
 has furnished us with the following statement, which 
 we give entire. 
 
 Dear Friend, E. W. Capron: — It is with some reluctance that 1 furnish 
 you with the following statement — not that I am afraid to tell the truth— 
 out that the world as I conceive is not ready to receive such truths yet. — 
 Ridicule probahly will be heaped upon me, but when I consider that it is 
 the ignorant only who use that weapon, perhaps I can aflford to stand up 
 and say, " let the storm come." All who know me can say whether I have 
 been truthful from my youth up, yea or nay, and the strongest language 
 that I can use, is to say that the following statement is strictly and entire- 
 ly true. 
 
 In the summer of 1848, I had concluded from the best judgment that I 
 could bring to my aid, that it was best for my family to remove somewhere 
 among the wilds of the West. Accordingly I took a tour of observation, 
 and finding some land in Michigan that suited me better than &ny other, 
 
MYSTERIOUS NOISES. 51 
 
 belonging to a gentleman living in Rochester. I stopped on my return, in 
 order if possible to negotete for it. I staid with my friend and relative 
 Isaac Post, and while there he told me of certain sounds being heard in 
 the city— and that they displayed intelligence and purported to be made by 
 * Spirits ' or persons invisible to us. I was really skeptical about any 
 such things, -but at his solicitation went to examine it. "iThe persons with 
 whom these sounds seemed to be, I never had heard of or seen before, and 
 my friend was careful not to tell them who I was or where I had been. It 
 eeems that the question was asked whether there was any communication 
 for me, and the direction from the sounds was, that three persons be mag- 
 netized two of whom were present, and one was sent for from a neighboring 
 family. I did not know the name of any persons present ; and I was also 
 certain that no one knew me. After the three persons were put in the 
 clairvoyant state, one of them said, 'We have got to go to Michigan.' — 
 They all agreed that they had to go there and on my account. They did 
 seem all to go there and began to describe places and things which I had 
 seen, and at length came to a piece of land which they said was the place 
 they came to look at. They then described the land so accurately which 
 I had stopped in Bochester to buy, that I began to wonder ' who had 
 told them.' They all with one accord then said, ' But he must not go there.' 
 His father says that he had better not go. As they said this there came a 
 loud sound close by my chair, and I sat some distance from any otiier person. 
 They spoke much of my Father and what his mind was, and at each time 
 •that same sound was heard, and the jar distinctly felt close by myself 
 They then said his Mother thinks it is not best. As they spoke'lhis a dif- 
 ferent sound not quite so loud was heard still close by me. Then that my 
 Siiler said it was not best. Another and different sound still was heard. 
 Up to this time I had not spoken a word, but found the big' drops of per- 
 spiration starting from my face. I gathered courage and thought I would 
 dispel that illusion directly ; I said, ' as you assume to know my father and 
 -what his mind is concerning me, perhaps y-ou can tell his name.' They all 
 seemed to look steadily for sometime, then commenced and spoke slowly 
 and deliberately these letters— 'Willi AM Willets.' At each letter 
 the loud sound that I first heard, was again heard and felt imme'iately un- 
 der my feet. I never was so astonished in my life, and involuntary said, 
 ' what does all this mean % ' The sounds then said by the alphabet being 
 called over that they had better be awakened, and the first loud sound said, 
 ' I will talk with George, and tell him all about it.' The question was for 
 Mr. Post, myself and a little girl thirteen years oL-l, to go by ourselves. And 
 here I wish it distinctly understood, that all which I shall relate as obtain- 
 ed from those sounds was in the presence only of my friends, Mr. anl 
 Mrs. Post, myself, and the little girl spoken of. As what follows all 
 purported to be fro n my father, i. will say that his name was Wiliam Wil- 
 lets, a member of the Society of Friends, widely known at Westbury, 
 Long Island, where he lived until near sixty years of age, and subsequently at 
 Skaneateles, Onondaga county, where he died in 1841. The communication 
 by sounds then went on to say, that it was my father that was present and 
 talking with me, and three hours were consumed at the first interview. In 
 Baying to me what his counsel was, it always assu.Tied to counsel and 
 advise but never to dictate. He said that it was not best for us to go to 
 Michigan, and gave various reasons, among which were that we should not 
 enjoy ourselves in a new country, and that my health would not be com- 
 petent for the task of clearing up new land, and that he foresaw if we did 
 go, that we should come back again, and would be less in number than 
 when we went. I then asked what was best to do. The answer then was. 
 
52 HISTORY OF THE 
 
 ' Come to Rochester.' I replied that I knew of no business that T could drt 
 in Rochester. The sounds sai.d, 'I will tell thee when thee comes.' I 
 asked if I might know now. The answer was, ' No ! — I did not need any 
 business iiinttl I came and then he would tell me.' The sounds then said, 
 that after a time it would be best for me to buy some land. I asked where, 
 i'he sounds then spelled out the name of a man who neither one present 
 knew, and said that he owned fifty acres of land on such a street adjoining 
 the city and such a distance from the centre of the city, that he would sell 
 any part. I asked the price that would be asked. The sounds were 
 heard and counted by three of us, — one hundred and fifty times in suc- 
 cession — to tell us the number of dollars per acre that would be asked. 
 The sounds said that we had better go the next day and see if this was so, 
 and said that "we should not see the man until ten o'clock, though we might 
 look for him as early as we pleased. 
 
 In the morninp I looked in the Directory and theTe found the name spell- 
 ed out to us, and went to his residence at seven o'clock and was informed that 
 he was gone to a distant part of the city and would not be home until 
 twelve o'clock. We then went to find him and had some difficulty to do so, 
 but after talking with him five or six minutes, looked at the time and it was 
 seven minutes past ten ! This person said that he owned fifty acres on the 
 street told us by the sounds, and that he would sell any part. When I 
 asked him the price he showed me a map with the price of each lot mark- 
 ed and taking the number of acres, said by the sounds to be b«st to buy, 
 and averaging the price, it was the price told us wilhin 6-100 of a dollar 
 per acre. I then went home to my family and pondered over these strange 
 things. Many were the conflicts i:i my own mind, and I heard the cry from 
 all quarters of 'humbug,' 'deception,' 'fraud,' but I could not believe 
 that I wanted to deceive myself. Three months I thought of these things 
 deeply, and I could not go to Michigan. I concluded if it was deception, 
 it w^ould do the world some pood to find it out. The first of Decem- 
 ber, 1848, I moved from Waterloo to Rochester. A few days after getting 
 here the little girl spoken of came round to our. house and said that the 
 • Spirit' had directed her to come, for what purpose she did not know, we 
 enquired what it was, and this was the communication ; ' 1 told thee if thee 
 would come to Rochester I would tell the^ where thee could find employ- 
 ment; in four days from this lime I will fell thee; in the mean lin.e the An- 
 ti-slavery folks are going to hold their Fair, would it not be well for thee 
 to help them.' No one was present at this time except my wife the little 
 •girl and myself. The four days went by and again without solicilation, 
 and without thinking the time was up, the little girl came again. The 
 communication was, 'Apply to William Wiley, Superintendent of the Au- 
 burn and Rochester Railroad, to-morrow al two o'clock at his office, for a sit- 
 uation and thee will have one before this week is out.' (This was Thursday.) 
 I was a stranger to Mr. Wiley, and I called on Mr. Post, and told him the 
 direction, and asked him if ihe next day he would go with me. That 
 evening ho happening lo be at the depot enquired if Mr. Wiley was ax home 
 and was told that he was in Boston, and by a letter just received would 
 not be at home till Friday night. 1 was told by the sounds on Wednes- 
 day to apply on Thursday at two o'clock. Thursday at half past one instead 
 of going to the Railroad office 1 went round where these sounds were 
 heard, and said 'How is this I am lold to apply to William Wilev, and he 
 is in Boston.' The sounds said, 'go to hiscffue, new he is there.'' I called 
 for Mr. Post and walked immediately there and fcund Mr. Wiley in his 
 office. He said that he had returned sooner than he expected to when he 
 wrote the letter. Mr. Post said that I was a relative of his ai^d wished 
 
MYSTERIOUS NOISES. 53; 
 
 employment, and Mr. Wiley replied that they were all full with abundant 
 applicatiotts, and could give no encouragement whatever. We walked back 
 thinking deeply, and I went where the sounds were heard again. I enqui- 
 red how is this, Mr. Wiley has no place for me ^ The answer was, ' Thee 
 will kave a place on the cars., and will know it before the week is out.' 
 
 On Saturday night at dark I met Mr. Post, and he asked if I had heard 
 anything from Mr. Wiley. I replied ' not a word.' At eight o'clock on that 
 same evening Mr. Post called at ray house and said that Mr. Wiley had. 
 just been at his store and said that he had a place for rae and wished ma 
 to call at his office on Monday morning. As Mr. Wiley did npt tell what, 
 place I was to fill, I again asked the sounds what it was ; and they said 
 it was to go as Baggage Master between this place and Auburn. On Sun- 
 day morning I wrote to my friend Jarass Truman of Waterloo, stating that 
 I should pass through that place on Monday following — in the capacity 
 above stated 6e/bre I knew from Mr. Wiley what place he wanted me to fill, 
 and he can probably testify to that fact One -month after I had been run- 
 aing on the cars, I learned that the person whose pl9.ce I took had done 
 things worthy of a dismissal, previous to my being directed to make ap- 
 plication, and which did not come to Mr. Wiley's notice tWl^the day on 
 which I received the appointment. These things have only been known to 
 a few friends ; you and the world now have them. I have many commu-. 
 nications penned down at the time they were received, purporting to be from 
 my father, all of the most elevating character, citing me to goodness, puri- 
 ty, and honesty of heart, and ever pointing to the endless progression of 
 man. In conclusion I may say that I have examined the matter attentively 
 for one year and a half and have had abundant opportunities to do so and 
 am prepared to say, although the sounds may cease to day, and never be 
 heard again, ' They have displayed a remarkable degree of intelligence and 
 were not made by any person visible to us.' 
 
 GEORGE WILLETS. 
 
 Thus was everything which had been told him ful- 
 filled to the very letter. And these are only a few of 
 the more prominent among the directions to the same 
 individual, and by no means the whole. These are 
 facts and can positively-be proved, with names and 
 dates of all the parties. 
 
 The following statement is taken from the private 
 journal of E. W. Capron. 
 
 " On the 23d of November, 1848, 1 went to the city of Rochester on busi- 
 ness. I had previously made up my mind to investigate this so called mys- 
 tery, if I should have an opportunity. In doing so, I had no doubt but what 
 t possessed shrewdness enough to detect the trick, as J strongly su.spected it 
 to be, or discover the noise if it should be unknown to the inmates of tha 
 house. 
 
 A friend of mine, Johs Kedzie, of Rochester, who I had long known as 
 a skeptic in regard to a.ny such wonders, invited me to go with him to hear 
 it. 1 accepted the invitation with a feeling that was far from serious ap- 
 prehension of communicating with anything beyond my power to discover. 
 
 Before I heard the sound, we seated ourselves around a table. As soon 
 as we got quiet, I heard a slight but distinct rapping on the floor, apparant- 
 ly on the under side. Although Iconcludedthatsuchasound mjlg/if be made 
 
§4 HISTORY OP T»E 
 
 by machinery, I could see no possible motive in the family taking so 
 much pains to deceive people) as they received nothing but annoyance and 
 trouble in return for their pains. I proeeedted to ask some questions and they 
 were answered very freely and correctly. I asked if it would- r-ap my age ? 
 It was done correctly. I then took my raemofEuidum book from my pocket 
 and wrote my questimis so that no person could know the nature of* the 
 questions. I would write; "rap four times; rap- one; rap seven ;' and to 
 eacit and every question I got a correct answer. I then laid aside my book 
 and proceeded to ask similar test questions mentally, and as before, leceivej 
 correct answers'. 
 
 I could not believe that persons present bad the p»wer to discern my 
 thoughts and make these sounds in answer, for the sounds have a peculi- 
 arity not easily imitated. To suppose this to be the ease, would make 
 the matter a still greater mystery. I knew they- could not ^va those an* 
 swers for there were questions answered which, they could not know any» 
 thing about. 
 
 At another time, biflng present with IsjtAe Post^ of Reehest-er, I fried th* 
 experiment of counting in the following manner. I took several shell-s 
 from a card basket on the table, (small lake shells,)- closed my hand and 
 placed it entirely out of sight, and requested as many raps as there were 
 shells. It was done correctly. As I knew how many shells there were in 
 my hand, I resolved to test it another way to see if there was a possibility 
 of my mind having any influence in the matter. I teok a handful of shells 
 without knowing how many I took myself. Still the answers were cor- 
 rect. I then requested Mr. Post, who sat by the table, to put his hand 
 in the basket, take out some shells without knowing the number and pass 
 them into my hand, which I immediately closed and placed' iu a position 
 where none could see it. The number was told as correctly as before. We 
 continued this class of experiments for a long time without the least' fail- 
 ure in getting correct answers." 
 
 There could be no mistaking these tests. They 
 could not be influenced by our minds, for we did not 
 ourselves know what the answers should be. This 
 places a quietus on its being anything^ governed by the 
 minds of those asking questions or those who hear it 
 most freely. The proofs of getting answers and cor- 
 rect ones to mental questions, and to thoughts where 
 questions are not asked, is as plain as even the rapping 
 itself. 
 
 We have known several persons to be sitting around 
 a table in conversation^ and when they ceased,, the. sig^ 
 nal for the alphabet would be called for, and a sentence 
 
 would be spelled like this, , (naming one of the 
 
 company,) thinks so and so, mentioning exactly wha:t 
 their thoughts were. At one time several persons were 
 present; one wrote on a piece of paper to another, 
 something about two other members of the company, 
 which, although unimportant, they did not wish the 
 
MYSTERIOUS NOISKS, 55' 
 
 others to know; but as if to convince all of their power 
 to tell their Jthoughts, the signal was given for the al- 
 phabet, and the same spelled out that they had writ- 
 ten. This has so often been the case^ or similar occur- 
 rences, that it is placed beyond dispute by those who) 
 have tried the experiment of getting answers to mental 
 questions. 
 
 While the investigations were goamg on: in Roches^ 
 ter, they would give information at night what kind of 
 men they were who were on the committee. They 
 would say, " such a man," telling his nanje, " is a^ 
 candid man; such a one is vesy skeptical and hard ta 
 convince,": &c. When the investigation came on, we 
 would find that we had been told correctly about thg^ 
 character of the different individuals composing the 
 eommittae^ 
 
 At one tktte during the investigations, we were talk- 
 ing over the subject, telling how much ridicule would 
 be heaped upon, us for attempting talay tliis subject be- 
 fore the world and have it fkirly investigated, and we 
 had this sentence spelLed to us, by what purported to, 
 be the spirit of William Willets : " Now doA't get dis- 
 couraged though the path may look foggy^ there is a 
 bright cloud a little bjeyond. Soon the firmament will 
 brighten and those people who now insult and scandal- 
 ize this work Ojf the Almighty, wiU walk off hanging 
 their heads and saying, ^ Well, we have investigated 
 and proved nought against those insulted people ; here 
 we stand, just as ignorant as when we first heard it; 
 you know that in all new sciences there is always 
 something to contend with, and when things take a 
 turn and you know you have conquered ; thou wilt 
 feel thou art treading on holy ground.' " We at first 
 thought it strange that there should be so sudden a 
 change from you to thou, and it was explained thus. 
 " I made it ' holy ' instead of ' haunted.' " We then 
 knew it to be a quotation from a song called " The 
 Haunted Ground." 
 
 Not long since Rev. A. H. Jarvis, related the follow- 
 ing to a company which were convened at his house, 
 
56 HISTORY OP THE 
 
 one of wliich was Prof, Jones, a gentleman wIiQ was 
 then delivering a course of scientific lectures at Roch- 
 ester. He was of the ' New Church/ or Swedenbor- 
 gian faith. '-At one time we were getting communica- 
 tions from what purported to be our son who had been 
 dead some ten years. He requested us to sing a hymn 
 with the title 'Advice to seek the Lord,^ I took a 
 Hymn Book and was proceeding to look for the hymn, 
 when the alphabet was called for and he spelled ' not 
 that.' Another was taken. Still it spelled — 'not that.' 
 We had four hymn books in the room that we knew 
 of, and were told that it was not in any of them. I 
 was about going up to my library when he spelled, ' It 
 is in this room — ^get the litle book with a red cover.' 
 After much search the book was found behind some 
 ornaments on the mantlepiece which was seldom used, 
 A hymn was found very near with the title given, and 
 we thought it must be the one when, we were again 
 told ' Tiot that.' On looking farther we found a hymn 
 with exactly the title named, and sang it while the sounds 
 beat time." This is a most remarkable proof of the re- 
 tention of memory in spirits after they escape from the 
 body, and it was while this very fact was under dis- 
 • cussion, that Mr. Jarvis related these facts. 
 
 We might fill pages in recording facts similar to the 
 above, but we trust that none will require more than 
 is here given, to prove the intelligence of the source 
 from which these sounds emanated. 
 
CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 ARE THBT GOOD OR EVIL SPIRITS ? 
 
 This is the great question with those who are fully 
 convinced that these sounds are produced by superior 
 intelligences, and by the spirits of those who have liv- 
 ed in this visible world, and who have been educated 
 to be always looking for evil if there is anything new 
 or beyond their bounds of investigation. 
 
 The limits of this book would be too small to con- 
 vince this class that they had wrought themselves up 
 to a degree that makes them almost loish for proof of 
 some source of evil which they could lay before the 
 world to prove a long cherished theory, and are there- 
 fore incapable of receiving facts as proof. There are 
 exceptions, (and thanks to growing intelligence, the 
 class is fast increasing,) to this rule of persons thus edu- 
 cated. Many have become can Jid seekers after truth 
 in spite of their early education, and will continue to 
 investigate in spite of all the sneer<3 and threats of the 
 sects and parties to which they bejong. 
 
 We are not about to discuss the probabilities of there 
 being an evil power at work " in these latter days" in 
 order that they may, if possible, " deceive the very 
 elect," We have no such apprehensions. We are not 
 constantly looking for evil in order to establish some 
 darling and long cherished dogma of our own. This 
 may be the reason why we have not been able to find 
 
58 HISTORY OP THE. 
 
 as mucli evidence of evil in a years candid investigation 
 as some have found in a few miautes, and others Tvlio 
 Lave not examined at all. 
 
 In looking back through the rise of various arts and 
 sciences, and improvements in the moral world, we find 
 almost every important discovery accredited to the — de- 
 vil. Every revolution in religious opinion has the same 
 origin. Ifc would he a wonder, then, if this escaped the 
 common fate of all other phenomena, inventions or dis- 
 coveries which ha^ve gon^ before it., 
 
 In almost every instance where persons of a strong 
 sectarian character have investigated the matter, they 
 have soon become convinced that they are spirits, but— 
 from the devil.* Why this conclusion ? Why, first, be- 
 cause it is at variance with all their preconceived opin- 
 ions. This is their strongest reason. Then again the 
 spirits do not talk enough about our " eternal welfare ;* 
 they give too much advice, for this world and too littl© 
 for the ^ next ; they do not teli people to go to church 
 one day in the week and spend the remainder in trying 
 to amass wealth. True, they give some good advice 
 about moBals, but they make no threats about the conse- 
 qnences of vice only that it will place them in a lower 
 sphere. These are a few of the reasons brought forward 
 as proof of the evil origin of these spirits. Some make 
 the assei'tion, that in being where these sounds and oth- 
 er manifestations are made, they "tremble when they 
 think how near the clutches of the devil they have 
 been" without any reason at aU other than they do not 
 know what else it can be. They look for evil and sup 
 pose they have found it. 
 
 Another reason urged by this class, is the fact that 
 the manifestations do not confine themselves to church 
 members, but seem to disregard all such sectarian rules, 
 and treat all alike, making no distinction. This, to 
 many, is the greatest wonder of all — and their strong- 
 est proof of evil ; that many who have stood aloof from 
 
 •See Ezekiel xiv, 3,4. 
 
MYSTERIOUS NOISES. 59 
 
 the organized religious bodies have been as mlich fa- 
 vored with the manifestations as those within them, 
 and on this account they persecute those who are in th& 
 church and will not refuse to hear, or brand those who 
 do as infidels. 
 
 But as facts are worth more than pa3t creeds and be- 
 liefe, or present surmises and speculations, we proceed 
 to present some things that have been spelled out to 
 persons, and some answers that have been given, and 
 see whether they contain more evil than good. Many 
 of the messages spelled out to individuals have been 
 taken by them and we have no record of them. Oth- 
 ers are of a naturfe which the persons who received them 
 would not wish us to publish. Still we shall be able to 
 present enough to enable persons to judge in regard to 
 the evil or good there is contained in the communica- 
 tions. Among the numerous incidents of intelligence, 
 foresight and right direction, is the following : 
 
 One day as we were at the dinner table, the direc* 
 tion to one of the family was, " You had better go to 
 the depot at three o'clock." Although he was not con- 
 scious of being needed there, he obeyed the du'eetion 
 and found at the depot a. friend with his trunk which 
 he could not have brought alone. 
 
 At one of the first opportunities I. (E, W. Capron,) 
 had of investigating, I had the following p-oof which 
 appeared to be a,nything but evil to me, although the 
 direction was about " worldly matters." 
 
 Myself and wife and a female friend of ours had been 
 investigating until a late hour, nearly twelve o'clock at 
 night, and a violent storm had spruitg up. It was ne- 
 cessary for us to go to another part of the city, and it 
 was so late that the public conveyances had all left 
 their usual stand and we were at a loss how to get a 
 conveyance for the females. The direction was, " go 
 to the comer af the street and there you will find a 
 conveyance." I went as directed, but saw no carriage 
 and began to think I had been misdirected, but just 
 as I was turning to go back, a sleigh came up the 
 
60 HISTORY OP THE 
 
 street, and without my speaking the driver hailed me 
 and inquired if I wanted a conveyance. I of course 
 took it and carried tte females home. 
 
 On one occasion, a gentleman of Rochester was in- 
 debted to a woman who was in great need of the mon- 
 ey. The spirits directed her little sister to go at such 
 a place in the street at a certain hour in the day, and 
 she would meet the man who would pay her three dol- 
 lars for her sister. The little girl did not know the 
 man who owed the money biit went as directed. At 
 the appointed time she met a man who said to her, 
 "Are you the girl that lives with Mrs. ■ ?" She re- 
 plied in the affirmative. " Here are tli/ree dollars I wish 
 you would take to her," said the man, handing her a 
 bill, and passed on. 
 
 At one time we had been discussing the subject of 
 how much or how little reliance could be placed upon 
 the directions received through this source, and we 
 were directed to sit by the table to receive a message; 
 We did so, and received the following, which as usual 
 was received by using the alphabet : 
 
 '• Now all listen to what we say. We want you to do better. You 
 have doubted our words ; you wiU see the time when you will be ashamed, . 
 when you loolj back to the time when you said ' I don't know what to 
 think — they are evil spirits-^I doubt the truthfulness of it' Now 
 doubt no more, but all have sistej-ly and brotherly feelings ; this is a 
 message from God." 
 
 This conversation was carried on while the medium 
 (the little girl) through which we received the commu- 
 nications, was out of the house visiting her friends, so 
 that she had no knowledge of our conversation until 
 l^his message was given us. 
 
 Mrs. Capron and Mrs. Tamlin were in Mr. Tamlin's 
 house alone, when a rapping commenced and gave the 
 signal for the alphabet. On repeating it over, the fol- 
 lowing sentence was spelled out : " Sarah (Mrs. Tamlin) 
 is going to be sioh." As she was then apparently as well 
 as usual, they were somewhat surprised, and Mrs Tam- 
 lin said : " why! not very sick am I" ? The answer 
 
MYSTERIOUS NOISES. 61 
 
 was "yes, very sick, and Rebecca tad Letter not stay 
 alone with you this afternoon." This was some time 
 in the forenoon. Mrs. C. went home at noon and re- 
 turned ahout one o'clock and found Mrs, Tamlin vom- 
 iting severely. She soon fainted, and continued to 
 have fainting fits of very long duration all the after- 
 noon and through the night. Every time she was about 
 to faint we were told by the sound, which would some- 
 times spell out '■'■watch lierT The same faithful guard- 
 ian told us what medicine to administer — what to do — 
 told when it would be safe for a part of the watchers 
 to leave — (told them two hours before the time of 
 leaving) — just how many fits she would have during 
 the night — when she would begin to recover and when 
 she would be well — and all was fulfilled to the letter. 
 The persons present during part or all of the time that 
 these directions were being given were Mrs. R. M. C. 
 Capron, E. "W. Capron,, Mrs. Mary Miller, Miss S. A. 
 Bennet of Auburn and Miss Mary H. Cooper, of Wil- 
 liamson, 1&. Y. Directions have been given in numer- 
 ous cases to the sick by this unseen agency. In this in- 
 stance it purported to be the spirit of Mrs. Tamlin's 
 mother. 
 
 Not long since, Mr. Tamlin arose before light in the 
 morning and went to the barn where his team was Js;ept, 
 leaving a candle burning on the stand near the bed. 
 Mrs. Tamlin was awakened from sleep by a loud rap- 
 ping on the stand. She looked at the stand and found 
 that a spark from the wick of the candle had fallen 
 down and caught to a paper which was on the stand and 
 was just about to communicate to the curtains of the 
 bed. The timely warning saved the house and very 
 probably Mrs. Tamlin from being consumed by the 
 flames. 
 
 At one time Mrs. Tamlin was at the house of Mr. 
 Gr, B. Bennet. They were told to go in the dark and 
 take the guitar. They did so and the string vibrated 
 two or three times when they stopped, and the signal 
 for the alphabet was gi^en, and on calling over the let- 
 
62 HISTORY OF THE 
 
 tera tlie following was spelled out : " Sarah (Mrs. Tam- 
 lin) is gomg to faints It was totally dark in the room 
 and there was no means of any person's knowing the 
 fact. A light was brought but Mrs. T. had fainted 
 before it arrived. The following persons were in the 
 room and can testify io the above statement. E.. M. 0. 
 Capron, Miss Mary M. Bennet, Mrs. S. A. Tamlin, S. JST. 
 Smith, dentist, Chas. W. Bennet, G. S. "Wilson and A. 
 L. Dibble. 
 
 The following statement Is made by Mrs. Sarah D. 
 Fish of Rochester, who has occasionally had these dem^- 
 onstrations in her own family. Benjamin Fish and his 
 family are too well known to need any corroboration of 
 what .statements any of them make. 
 
 " I watched with a sick friend about two years ago 
 ajid when all was still and no one awake but myself, at 
 least no one in the room except my sick friend, *I sat 
 by the stove and there was a sudden, loud rapping on 
 the wood work at my left hand. Coming in the still- 
 ness of the night, I was at first quite terrified, stepped 
 immediately to the bed where the sick person lay. 
 My friend had heard it and said what rapping was that ? 
 and asked for some drink. After I waited on her, I 
 went to the watch and found it to be just 2 o'clock. I 
 had become exhausted for the want of sleep, I leaned 
 my head back in my chair and fell into a sweet sleep 
 from which I was awakened by a sudden rapping at 
 my right hand (apparently) on the carp6t. I stepped 
 immediately to the watch, and it was precisely half 
 past two, just the firm at which she was to take her rmd- 
 icvne^'' 
 
 This is but a small portion of the record kept by 
 those who keep a private journal of sayings, but they 
 are enough at this point to show that if the cause is 
 evil, the effect is good, and that if it is the devil, hife 
 character is somewhat different from what the imagina- 
 tion of men have made it out to be, and they should 
 set about correcting their false reports. 
 
 But says one, " you get contradictory answers." This 
 
MYSTERIOtrS NOISES. 63 
 
 is true ; or rather, there are answers obtaiaed ia regard 
 to coming events which do not accord with the facts as 
 the time transpires. There are several reasons which 
 may operate to produce this discrepancy. One very 
 prominent one is, that we do not know the law which 
 governs this communication, and the whole is so new to 
 us that we are very liable to mistakes ourselves. An- 
 other reason, in our opinion, is the interference of igno- 
 rant spirits, who do not know whether the matter they 
 attempt to speak of be true or not. We have never 
 believed in the absolute perfection of this mode of com- 
 munication. It is a great error that many rash into, 
 who are carried away by a little excitement or wonder, 
 that because there is a medium of communication with 
 spirits, that it is therefore an infallible source of infor- 
 mation. The class of persons who assume, at the out- 
 set, the infallibility of spiritual communications are the 
 very first to brand them all as evil and nothing but 
 evil, because they have been somewhat disappointed. 
 
 We see no reason for supposing that, because a man 
 has passed from this state of existence that he has be- 
 come at once the most perfect of prophets, without re- 
 gard to his condition here. This is only equalled by 
 the absurd idea that because a man has been ignorant 
 and degraded here, he shall he placed still lower in 
 the scale of being when he passes from visible exist- 
 ence. 
 
 There are, undoubtedly, spirits who desire to be no- 
 ticed and to answer questions, who are too ignorant to 
 give any instruction and who would be as likely to tell 
 wrong as right. We do not believe these to be will- 
 fully vicious ; these errors arise from their ignorance, 
 and we are answered that they will ultimately progress 
 to a state of intelligence, purity and happiness equal to 
 those who pass from here under more favorable cir- 
 cumstances. Swedenborg says there are some spirits 
 so ignorant that they do not know but they are the 
 ones called for, when another is meant. This may be 
 so. We are inclined to think it is, for we have known 
 
64 HISTORY OF THE 
 
 attempts to be made to imitate the signal wticli we al- 
 ways get when we call for a friend. Nearly every 
 person who has called frequently for some particular spir- 
 it gets a signal whereby that particular spirit is known. 
 This signal is different for different spirits, and although 
 it is frequently attempted we have never known these 
 signals imitated. We do not think there is danger of 
 being deceived by ignorant spirits when a person be- 
 comes acquainted with these communications. The 
 sound made by an ignorant spirit is quite different from 
 the others. "While the sound made by intelligent spir- 
 its is clear and lively, the sound made by the ignorant 
 ones is low and muffled like the striking of the hand 
 on a carpet. We are confident that with due caution 
 and care, intelligent and upright individuals will get 
 correct answers. Much depends upton the mind and 
 disposition of persons at the time of asking the questions, 
 for as all the Universe goes by affinities it needs a pure 
 mind, calm thinker and deliberate questioner to get 
 communications from spirits of a high order.* 
 
 Where there are a large number of persons asking 
 questions they are apt to get into confusion and mis- 
 take the answers. We were at one time getting some- 
 thing spelled out by a spirit who purported to be the 
 spirit of William Willets, a member, when living, of 
 the society of friends. In spelling a sentence one word 
 was spelled wrong and we wondered why -it should 
 happen so. He expl ained it thus, " you were all think- 
 ing of another word." This was true, but still we could 
 not see why that should make a difference. It was 
 further explained by saying, " why, thee knows that 
 when thee is talking with a friend and that friend is 
 thinking and talking about another thing, thee is con- 
 fused." So it will be seen that when spirits do com- 
 municate with us they do not pretend to be beyond 
 the influence of those with whom they come in contact. 
 
 There is a great difference too, in individuals about 
 
 *Sec JS?.cliicl xiv, 3,4. 
 
MYSTERIOUS NOISES. 65 
 
 getting answers. Some wUl get test questions answered 
 freely aud correctly while others can get none at all. 
 Why this difference, we are unable to tell. Sometimes 
 when there, is a stranger introdaced, all wish him con- 
 vinced, and yet,_as if to show the stranger, and all con- 
 cerned, how entirely^ it is beyond our control, no sound 
 can be elicited. This of itself, is enough to convince as 
 many as have witnessed such an occurrence, that if it 
 was made by some designing person it woiild be made 
 when they themselves wish it. 
 
 But says one who has hardly spent an hour in ma- 
 king the test, and who has got wrong answers : i," Thsy 
 are proved to be lying spirits." Perhaps such an ar- 
 gument is good. If it is in this case it will also prove 
 all men to be liars, because we meet untruthful persons 
 occasionally, or often. The logicis as good in one case 
 as the other. To all who have seen fit to accuse these 
 manifestations of evU we would put this question. Did 
 you ever know of an answer given, or a message, or a 
 sentence spelled out that had a tendency to evil ? We 
 know of none .who have been able to answer in the 
 affirmative. We know of those who thmla the theolog- 
 ical teaching wrong, but that cannot be proved ; and 
 there is abundance of proof of right direction and pos- 
 itive good in the mitter. Some will answer that " evil 
 spirits act thus in order the more effectually to de- 
 ceive." Well, we insist that as long as they act in ac- 
 cordance with goodness and truth they are not to be 
 condemned as evil on the surmise of some bigoted dev- 
 il-believers. 
 
 We find nothing alarming in the theological teach- 
 ings of these spirits. Others may. On these points 
 there will be differences among men until they reach a 
 more perfect state of knowledge than they at present 
 possess. Their general theology is that of Davis, S wed- 
 euborg, and others who have claimed to receive their 
 impressions fromspirits. They generally use the term 
 higher and lower spheres instead of Heaven and Hell. 
 They say that all persons pass to 'a condition superior 
 b 
 
€6 . HISTORY OF THE 
 
 to ttat wMcii they occupied here, on their leaving the 
 body. Thousands of questions have heen asked on 
 these points, and have been answered by spirits who 
 purported to be Emanuel Swedenborg, the " Seeress of 
 Prevorst," George Pox, Galen, William E. Channing, 
 Kathaniel P, Kogers, John Wesley, Samuel Wesley, 
 Percy Bysshe Shelley, Prof. David P. Page, andmany^ 
 others. 
 
 It may be well to remai'k that many times when 
 these spirits are comm]inica,ting,,the alphabet will be 
 called for and some name, — ^perhaps one of the above, 
 and' perhaps some other spelled, as the one who wishes 
 to communicate. Often it is a name which the compa- 
 ny had not thought of. They generally deliver some 
 useful and interesting message when such is the case. 
 The following are questions which are frequently asked, 
 and we give the answers as they have been spelled out. 
 We might fill a volume with questions and answers. 
 
 Q. What is your mission to the world ?" 
 . Ans. To do good. The time will come when we will 
 communicate universally. 
 . Q. Of what benefit will it be to mankind ? 
 
 Ans. We can reveal truths to the world — and men 
 will become more harmonious and better prepared for 
 the higher spheres. 
 
 <^. Some persons imagine that the spirits are evil 
 and that Satan is transformed into an Angel of light 
 to deceive us. What shall we say to them ? 
 . Ans. Tell them some of their bigotry will have to 
 be dispensed with before they can believe we are good 
 spirits. Ask them why they refuse to investigate. 
 They are not as wise as they suppose themselves to be. 
 
 Q. Can ignorant spirits rap ? 
 
 Ans. Yes. ' (An ignorant spirit rapped and the dif- 
 ference was very plain between that and the other.) 
 
 Q. Are these sounds made by rapping? 
 
 Ans. No. They are made by the will of the spirits 
 causing a concussion of the atmosphere and making 
 the sounds appear in'whatever place they please. 
 
MYSTERIOUS NOISES. 67 
 
 Q. Cau ttey make tHe sounds to all persons ? 
 
 Ans. No. The time will come' when they can. 
 
 Q. Is there some peculiar state of the body that 
 makes it easier to communicate with some persons than 
 others ? 
 
 Ans. Yes. 
 
 Such is a brief, faint account of theological views 
 gleaned from this source. Its truth or fallacy wUl be 
 decided upon according to the bias of individuals read- 
 ing it. We have attempted to give what testimony we 
 are in possession of, touching the matter of good and 
 evil — truth and falsehood. We ask no one to look up- 
 on this as all infallible, for reasons before stated. In- 
 vestigate with care, and if you learn more of the origin 
 of these sounds' than we have, let the world have the 
 benefif of it. 
 
 Note. — In our first edition a definition of the word Hell was given to one of the 
 authors of this work by a person wko received it and related it from memory, and which 
 since then we have learned was not verbatim et literatim. Up to the time of going to 
 press with this edition we have been unable to get tho definition as written down at 
 the time it was spelled out and we are compelled to delay its publication until we issue 
 a future work upon this subject. 
 
CHAPTEK II. 
 
 DISPLAY OF PHTSICAL POWER; — ^MOVINO OF ARTICLES PLATISe MUSI- 
 CAL INSTRUMBHTS, ETC., ETC. 
 
 "We now coitie ta a part of the subject wtich, js 
 thought to be still harder to believe, and is scoiited at 
 still more than anything in the foregoing narrative. 
 "We, ourselves, when first hearing of the " mysterious 
 sounds," were far from receiving it as truth, and thought 
 the story very improbable. We thought the story of 
 the power and will to move articles still more so. But 
 we were destined to be convinced by positive proof. 
 This must convince the mass of those who ever become 
 convinced of so strange a matter, unless the true phil- 
 osophy of such Occurrences is discovered and laid be- 
 fore the world. "We hope this may soon be the case. 
 But we are to deal with facts, 
 
 'Ti9 true, 'tis strange, 
 
 Yet stranger 'lis, 'tis true." 
 
 That there is a power as well as a will in whatever 
 produces these sounds, is evident to those who have 
 had fair opportunities to investigate the subject. "We, 
 with others, have many times been witness to the 
 moving of tables, chairs and other f.rticles, with no 
 visiMe power to move them. "We do not believe they 
 were moved without something to do it. "We simply 
 say that the power was to us intangible and beyond our 
 vision ;• we also know that no person or machinery had 
 any agency in producing the phenomena. Those things, 
 like the sound?, are not confined to any particular room 
 
MYSTERIOUS NOISES. 69 
 
 or house ; but appear in various places. "We have ex- 
 perienced them when but two or three were present, 
 and those of our own family, and when entirely unex- 
 pected and uncalled for. It would be the heighth of 
 absurdity to suppose that we would sit down for the 
 purpose of deceiving ourselves. 
 
 The following are extracts from E. W. Capbon's pri- 
 vate journal. All the phenomena there recorded took 
 place in presence of a number of witnesses who are 
 ready to testify to the facts when called upon. The 
 occurrences took place in Auburn. 
 
 " Wednesday Evenikg, June 20th. Present six persons and none 
 of the femily of Mr. Fox in town. The rapping was heard very freely 
 by alL The table moved on the floor with no person touching it — mov- 
 ed to the distance of a foot or more and back, in various directions. At 
 our request, the table (which was a very light one,) was held down to 
 the floor so that it required the whole strength of a man to move it 
 from its position. We also held one side, and requested, if there was 
 power to do it, that it would be drawn away from us ; this was done, 
 and our strength was not sufficient to hold it On the light being taken 
 out of the room, (the persons in the room placing themselves in a posi- 
 tion where each would know if any others moved,) the table cloth was 
 taken from the table and very compactly stowed away under it, near 
 one comer. A hat which was on the table was turned over the table 
 clcth in a manner that neaily hid it from vie-yv. The table was then 
 raised from the floor on one side, and there stood, although we used 
 considerable strength to push it down. While the table stood in that 
 position, by placing our hands upon it we would feel a quick, tremulous 
 motion, like the action of a galvanic battery. The witnesses present 
 at this time were Miss Mary M. Bennett, H. D. Barron, Mrs. Mary Mil- 
 ler, Miss Amanda Hostihs, Mrs. Sarah A. Tamlin, and E. W. Capron." 
 
 This feeling of electricity seems to pervade nearly 
 everything connected with these phenomena. When 
 the rapping is heard, the peculiar jar is felt — differing 
 from the jar produced by a blow, and in various other 
 ways we are reminded of the use of this subtil agent. 
 We often see in a dark room, bright electric flashes 
 on the wallund other places. 
 
 We, and all who have taken pa'ns to get at the 
 truth of all these demonstrations, have frequently had 
 a hand laid on their arms, shoulders or head, when no 
 person would or could do it, having all their hands 
 
70 HISTORY OF THE 
 
 teld by each otter. These demonstrations, like tlie 
 others, generally leave a feeling of electricity where 
 they toneh. The hand feels much like one who is in 
 a magnetic sleep, being colder (generally) than the 
 hand of persons in a normal state, and having a mois- 
 ture like a cold perspiration upon it. There is not, 
 usually, any feeling like that of a hard hand, or one 
 made up with the usual amount of bones in it. It is 
 generally soft and smooth, although at our request it 
 will change both its temperature and texture. It will 
 in one instant feel as cold as ice and as warm as a com- 
 mon hand of flesh. 
 
 So perfectly natural is the touch when an arm is ta- 
 ken hold of by this invisible hand, or it touches in 
 any other way, that, although you hold every hand in 
 the room, you can hardly believe it to be other tham 
 some of them. But the proof is positive and the wit- 
 nesses are numerous. Then, too, just request a change 
 from natural warmth to the coldness of ice, and you 
 feel the change without the hand being removed. It 
 is past the art of man thus to change the temperature 
 of his body. 
 
 We have taken a common pocket bible and have 
 laid it on the table with the strap put through the 
 loop, and have awaited in silence the result. Soon we 
 would hear the leaves begin to turn, and finally it 
 would spell " get the light," and we would find the book 
 laying open at some particular chapter, which generally 
 had something to say about spirits. Other books have 
 been opened and appropriate poetry pointed out. The 
 phenomena of pulling the clothing, handling, moving ta- 
 bles, &c., often takes place when none present are think- 
 ing of it, so that iS/ieM' wills do notinfiuence the matter. 
 
 We continue our extract from the Journal : 
 
 " Sunday Evening, October "Tth. This evening we were direeted to 
 go into the hall and take the guitar. We went, and while there the 
 guitar was played by tinseen hands, and played so exquisitely too, that 
 it seemed more like far distant music to one just aroused from midnight 
 slumbers, than the music of an instrument a few feet from us. Several 
 
MYSTERIOUS NOISES. 71 
 
 luneswere thus played, while not a person in the room knew how to 
 piay a tune on that or any other instrument Witnesses present this 
 eyenmg at the house of Mr. Bennct, Mrs. Burton Straight, of Troy, 
 Bradford county, Penn., Mrs. G. B. Bennet, R. M. C. Capron,E.W. Oa- 
 pron, and H. D. Barron, of Auburn." 
 
 " TirasDAr Evening, October 16th. Several persons present at the 
 house of p. C. Miller. We were directed to take the guitar into a dark 
 room and it would be played. We accordingly did so, and many tuneS 
 were played, and m such positions that we knew no one could do it if 
 there had been. any one present who knew how, but there was not. 
 Ihere were none there who could play a tune in the light, much les^ 
 m the dark, the owner not being there. Besides this, they (the spirits) 
 moved books and other articles to diflferent parts of the room. A pa' 
 per box was taken from the table, the contents were emptied into the 
 cover and placed in the hands of H. D. Barron. After this a small 
 book was taken from the same table and placed in the hands of the 
 same individual One of the company accidentally touched the hand 
 of another, when he asked " Did any body touch my hand?" The al* 
 
 phabet was called for and the question answered, " Yes, E touched 
 
 jour hand." So it will be seen that although it may be dark, ther§ 
 IS something present that can tell if any one attempts a trick. One of 
 the company was told to take off her ring. She did so, laid it in her 
 hand, and it was taken away. We all sat still until directed to get the 
 light WhcE upon looking a little we found the ring with a girl'S 
 bair band put through and pinned to the apron of the person who sat 
 next to her. in such a manner that they were pinned together." This 
 was done while we had hold of hands and no possibility of its bein» 
 done by the individuals present The witnesses present were Justiij 
 Sturtevant and wife, H. N. Thompson, Mrs. Mary Miller, E. W. Capron, 
 Mrs. S. A TamUn, Miss Amanda Hoskins, Henry D. Barron, Mrs, R. 
 M. C. Capron, and Miss Catharine Fox 
 
 " Saturday Evening, October 20th. This evening we had asked 
 for some different demonstrations, and our request was complied with. 
 We heard the sounds on the wall, bureau, table, floor, and other places, 
 as loud as the striking with a hammer. The table was moved about 
 the room, and turned over and turned back. Two men in the contgany 
 undertook to hold a chair down, while, at their request, a spirit move^ 
 it, and notwithstanding they exerted afl their strength, the chair could 
 not be held still by them. As we sat by the table, the cloth was re- 
 moved to a different part of the room. The combs of several ladies 
 were taken from their heads and put into the heads of others, and af- 
 terwards the combs returned to their owners, and placed in the hair as 
 before. There was a person present this evening who had been sus- 
 picious that the guitar was played a few nights before by some of the 
 persons present The first thing when we came together was, for the 
 alphabet to be called for by the spirits, who spelled, ' A. thinks R. ani 
 C. played the guitar!' Thus were her thoughts revealed before the 
 company. At another meeting, another person was told the same 
 
72 HISTORY OF THE 
 
 thing, althougli slie had never expressed to aJiy one her thoughts^" 
 Witnesses the same as the evening previoBSj except Mr. ajid Mrs. Stur- 
 tevant." 
 
 During one of these evenings, a wisi wag expressed 
 that we might see the hand that touched us. On look- 
 ing towards the window, (the moon shining through 
 the curtain,) we saw a hand waived to and fro before, 
 and near the top of it. We could discover no other 
 part of a form. This we have witnessed many times 
 ourselves, and several have discovered distinctly the 
 features of persons whom they knew and who bad been 
 dead for years. 
 
 On one occasion when several persons were present^ 
 the guitar was taken from the hands of those who held 
 it, (they taking hold of hands,) and put in tune and 
 commenced playing while it passed around the room 
 above their heads. It was also taken from one person 
 and passed to others in the room. In this way for 
 nearly two hours it continued to play and keep time 
 with the singing; and the guitar taken by this unseen 
 power to different parts of the room while playing. 
 The witnessess present at this time, were James H. 
 Bostwick, Esq., Police Justice, Miss Sarah Bostwick, 
 Mrs. F. Smith, H. D. Barron, and E. M. C. Capron. 
 
 One evening while several ladies were present, some 
 of them requested that the spirits would take their 
 hair down. Accordingly it was done. One of them 
 had her hair taken down and done np in a twist, and 
 one of them had her's braided in four strands. 
 
 On the 12th of January, H. D. Barron called at the 
 house of the Tox family in Rochester, in company with 
 James J. Oweit of that city. They were seated around 
 the table nsr the day time and it moved about the dis- 
 tance of one foot. They then moved away from it 
 and it moved back and forth when no one touched it, 
 and in full view several times. No one was present 
 except the persons named and Mrs. Fox and her three 
 daughters. Mr. Owen then put down a number of fig- 
 ures where none of the company could see them, and 
 
MYSTERIOUS NOISES. 73 
 
 when lie came to the oues which were the number of 
 years of his age there was rapping. Mr. Owen remark- 
 ed that there was no one present who knew his age, and 
 that the answer was correct. In the same way it told 
 the number of months over the years. These were 
 done at the request of one of the persons present. 
 
 The next day, (Sunday,) H. D. Barron called at the 
 house of the Fox family. After sevei'al questions 
 had been answered, a spirit purportmg to be that of a 
 relative, called for the alphabet and spelled the follow- 
 ing sentence : " Henry, when you get home, R. will 
 hand you a letter from ." On the following Tues- 
 day morning, he arrived in Auburn, and was handed 
 
 0, letter by K , mailed at JN"ew-York, and received 
 
 at Auburn on the Sunday that the communication was 
 given in Rochester. The persons present at the time 
 this communication was received were Mrs. Fox, her 
 youngest daughter, Isaac Post of Rochester, and the 
 one to whom the communication was addressed. 
 
 On one occasion we were getting the guitir played 
 by these unseeen musicians and were directed to sing 
 several different tunes among which were '■'■Get off the 
 TracM'' and " The Old Gramite EtateP The guitar was 
 played as the song went on in company with the voices. 
 While it was playing Dr. H. RoBiNsoif passed his hand 
 over the whole length of the strings several times 
 within half an inch of them, to see if it was possible that 
 any one present was playing it and trying to deceive. 
 There was no difference when he passed his hand over. 
 The following persons were present on this occasion. 
 Dr. H. Robinson, M. A. Hilman, Mr. Henry Sheffield, 
 "Westerly, R. I., C. V. Woodward, Mary M. Bennet, E. 
 W. Capron, E. A. Warden, P. M., Mrs. E. A. Warden, 
 Lucie Gardner, R. M. C. Capron and G. S. Willson. 
 
 Not long since Judge Hascall of LeRoy, related to 
 E. W. Capron a fact that came under his notice 
 while examining into these phenomena in company 
 with Mr. SuMMEEFiELD, a lawyer of the same place, 
 which strongly illustrates the power of whatever makes 
 
74 HISTORY OF THE 
 
 these sounds, to produce any sound by their will, Hd^ 
 (Judge H.) stated that they were at the house of the 
 Fox family and went into a dark room. They called 
 for the sounds to be made like a band of martial music 
 As th^y requested, the sounds were produced in a most 
 beautiful and thrilling manner. The playing of the in* 
 struments and the heavy beating of the base drum was 
 perfectly imitated, together with the sound of the roar 
 of distant cannon. Both Mr. Summerfield and Judge 
 Hascall agreed in saying that the whole thing was so 
 truthfully and exactly imitated that the effect produced 
 on the hearers was of the most thrilling character. 
 
 In the month of November last, Elias J. Doty of Mac* 
 edon, Wayne county, was at the house of Mr. Pibe* 
 PONT of Rochester, where two sisters who hear these 
 sounds were present. They had seen the table move 
 and had other demonstrations while the young ladies 
 were in the room. After they had left the room, Mr. 
 Doty was standing a few feet from the table and the 
 Other person still farther from it, when he remarked 
 that it would be a still greater proof to him if it would 
 move without the presence of .the young ladies. As 
 he said this the table moved some distance, and only 
 the three persons in the room, and those n-it near the 
 table. We state this on the authority of Mr, Doty, 
 and none who know him need better evidence. 
 
 We cannot pretend to give all the cases of these sin- 
 gular demonstrations which have been witnessed by 
 ourselves and others ; it would fill a large volume. But 
 we have here recorded enough to convince any who 
 have the least confidence in the honesty and intelli- 
 
 fence of their fellow-beings, that there is something 
 ere worth the trouble of any man to investigate. If it 
 looks strange and unaccountable to most people — ^if it 
 even looks impossible — 'We can sympathize with them, 
 for "we have thought all such accounts, from whatever 
 source, ai;ieient or modern, under whatever name, 
 whether sacred or profane, to be flights of imagination^ 
 or a tale to frighten the credulous and excite the mar- 
 
MYSTERIOUS NOISES. 75 
 
 vellous. But if the story of opening prison doors for 
 certain persons without the aid of human hands looked 
 impossible, it can look so no longer for we know of the 
 unlocking of doors and drawers without visible means. 
 If the account of the handwriting on the walls of Bel- 
 shazzar's palace was looked upon as the idle " fabric of 
 a dream," we can now deem it even probable, as we 
 KProw the walls of our own room bear positive testimo- 
 ny of the fact, that it is not impossible at the present 
 day. . We see many things now which may be account- 
 ed for on philosophical principles, which once looked to 
 us like a " miracle,^' ap.d was therefore thought to have 
 no foundation in nature, as we have been taught to be- 
 lieve these things that are recorded as miracles, as con- 
 trary to natural laws. We now believe that what 
 have been called miracles, eitlier never existed at all, or 
 were perfectly in accordance with nature's laws which 
 will at some day, and that not far distant, be known 
 to man. We know the objection to this theory. We 
 are aware of the aversion that most people have to ex- 
 plainirlg ancient mysteries. At the same time they 
 condemn things that to them look strange at the pres- 
 ent time. We have never been believers in things mar- 
 vellous or wonderful, and consequently have been 
 branded as " Infidels" — a word by the way, which is 
 too commonly used to alarm any body who really un- 
 derstands its meaning. We expect always to remain 
 "infidel" to theories which are not sustained by facts 
 or reason. Many things look reasonable to us, of which 
 we cannot at present know the tan^ble facts ; and 
 many facts are presented which we may be unable to 
 follow to their causes with our present limited know- 
 ledge. But we shall continue the search and endeavor 
 to do our share toward finding the causes for all new 
 and novel phenomena that may present themselves 
 without fear of ridicule from the vulgar, or contempt 
 from the wise and learned. 
 
APPEIDIX. 
 
 Reader, we have given you a plain statement of 
 well ascertained facts. We have stated facts, not 
 only within our own knowledge, but known equally 
 well to others. We have given you their names and 
 residence, and it is an easy matter for their testimo- 
 ny to be obtained by any one if they require still 
 more proof. The facts are abundant to satisfy any 
 that there is something here worthy of being investi- 
 gated. It has been examined by thousands and yet 
 no collusion is proved. We are anxious the world 
 may know the truth, and the whole truth, in regard 
 to the matter. 
 
 If it is only an occasional phenomenon which is 
 destined to pass away with the existence of a few 
 persons now living, or with the present generation^ 
 it is still worthy to be investigated. If it is really 
 something that is destined to spread and increase, as 
 facts seem to indicate^f indeed it is an influx from 
 the world of spirits into our own, the sooner we be- 
 come acquainted with the laws that govern and reg- 
 ulate the communication, the better. 
 
 As to the strangeness of the occurrences' we have 
 related, especially the moving of articles^ playing 
 musical instruments, &c., we submit that it is no 
 more strange for a table to move, a guitar or piano 
 to play without visible means, than it would be to 
 one unacquainted with the laws of nature and the 
 action of the atmosphere or the wind, to see a man's 
 hat rise from his head and whirl through the air or 
 
APPENDIX. * 77 
 
 Street. Such a person would hardly believe the tale, 
 if it was told to him. He would want " positive 
 proof" on the subject. Still more incredulous would 
 such a person be, if we should tell him that an ocean 
 of calm water was lashed into waves that ran moun- 
 tain high, or that a vast dwelling, inhabited by men, 
 women and children, was wafted around the world 
 by the same invisible power, or that the same thing 
 caused wires, when placed in a certain position, to 
 produce sounds, harmony, music. If we should tell 
 him all this, he would suppose us to be trying to im- 
 pose upon him, or that we were crazy, fanatics, fools, 
 or monstrously humbugged, or that he was himself 
 ignorant of the facts. We can all see that he would 
 be the "humbugged" one in such a case. We know 
 of many who are in the same condition in regard to 
 this. Like many other new and apparently strange 
 things this has over and over been " exploded" " ex- 
 posed" " found out" and " stopped" by news-paper 
 paragraphs and letter writers. Yet it still continues 
 and so far from being stopped, it is absolutely spread- 
 ing. Many more persons hear these manifestations 
 than are willing to acknowledge it publicly, so greett 
 is the redicule heaped upon those who do feel called 
 upon to investigate and let the world know what is 
 passing in their midst. 
 
 We have encountered as much opposition as if 
 we had been making efforts to build up a new sect 
 instead of stating facts for the world to judge of, and 
 we must be permitted to say that pre-eminent among 
 the attempts to slander by maficious falsehoods stands 
 the religious papers, and at the head of these the 
 " JVorhem Christian Advocate^^ of this city which de- 
 clares that no persons of respectability have investiga- 
 ted these matters, although the editor well knows that 
 the church of which he is a member does not scruple 
 to call regularly for support upon many of these same 
 individuals. We respect the honest inquiring skep- 
 tic. It is a question upon which a man has a right 
 
78 Jfb APPENMX. 
 
 to be skeptical. But men have no right or reason to 
 accuse their fellow inquirers who have been more forr 
 tunate than themselves. 
 
 Many think and say " well if. I could go there, I 
 could find out what it is." We have been in that 
 position ourselves. We thought ourselves perfectly 
 able to find it out for the very reason that we thought 
 it some cause which was close at hand and easily found 
 out. A year of trial has convinced us that we were 
 not acquainted with nature enough to find the cause 
 so suddenly as we supposed. 
 
 The question has often been asked : "Why do 
 these spirits require a dark room whenever they play 
 musical instruments, take hold of persons," &c. This 
 they answer by saying that they assume a tangible 
 form in order to do these things, and we are not yet 
 prepared for such a visitation. 
 
 It is again asked : " How they can make a form 
 that we can feel and even see a hand of." Their an- 
 swer to this is that they use the ingredients of the 
 atmosphere to make up this form. 
 
 This is in accordance with the opinions of the 
 " Seeress of Provorst" when she says, (see Mrs. Crowe 
 translation page 29.) She " is of the opinion that 
 opening a window at the moment of a souls depart- 
 ure is not a mere superstition, but that it actually fa- 
 cilitates its escape, and that there is some substance 
 in the air, which spirits make use of to render them- 
 selves audible and visible to mortals." We have al- 
 so noticed another feature in connecticn with this 
 part of these phenomena. It is the fact that when 
 these demonstrations are to be made the spirits^ al- 
 ways direct us to go into the part of the house wtere 
 there is no fire, or where there is the least heat in the 
 room. We have noticed this fact without, in this 
 place, pretending to give the philosophy. 
 
 Another evidence that they make up a form from 
 the ingredients of the atmosphere is the fact that noth- 
 ing of a substance so compact as that apparently is, 
 
APPENDIX. 79 
 
 could gain access to the room when doors and win- 
 dows were closed. But the matter composing what 
 we name spirit is so subtile that it, like electricity, 
 can penetrate anywhere. 
 
 We are never required to go in the dark unless 
 some demonstration is to be made requiring a tangi- 
 ble form. We are not required to go in the dark to 
 see a table or any article move. That is done by 
 candle light and day light or at any time. None who 
 are acquainted with the matter pretend that darkness 
 is necessary. 
 
 Again we are asked how a spirit can rap so as to 
 make an audible sound. The spirits say they do not 
 rap, but produce the sounds by will. We have ex- 
 amined a number of clairvoyants on this subject and 
 all agree in this. We put a boy, who had no know- 
 ledge of the matter at all, neither wa^ he noted for a 
 remarkable degree of intelligence, into a magnetic 
 sleep, and turned his attention to the subject.. He 
 was clairvoyant and said he could see who made the 
 sounds. We asked him how the persons looked. 
 His answer was, "they look light — just like gauze ; I 
 can see right through them." Well, how do they 
 make the" sounds ; do they rap? " No! they don't 
 rap or strike at all." When after looking earnestly 
 for a time he said : " They want it made, and it is 
 made wherever they want it." This was his simple 
 way of telling what other clairvoyants have told in 
 language somewhat different, but amounting to the 
 same thing. This is the; best explanation we have 
 ever been able to obtain. We believe, from all we 
 have been able to discover, that this is the case. 
 Some have supposed that this was some electric phe- 
 nomena, and that if the persons who have these com- 
 munications and seem to be the medium of obtain- 
 ing them, were insolated, the sounds would not be 
 heard. This experiment has been tried, and the 
 sounds were heard as freely as ever. In the case of 
 the manifestations with the son of Mr. Harmon Bea- 
 
80 APPENDIX. 
 
 VER of Sennett as before stated, the boy has never 
 been under the influence of magnetism. It is,, how- 
 ever conceded that thus far the' sounds have gener- 
 ally been freer in presence of known clairvoyants; 
 The question has often been asked of spirits why this 
 was so, and we have received the following answer : 
 " They (clairvoyants) have the full power of sympathy 
 with the spirits through the medium of the nervous 
 fluid or electricity which is the only medium of com- 
 munication between spirits in and out of the body." 
 
 It is objected that spirits — especially good ones, 
 would not be engaged in the '• small business" of rap- 
 ping or moving articles at the request of persons. It 
 must be remembered that the world reasons sen- 
 sually, and there is no way for the mass to become so 
 absolutely convinced as through the medium of their 
 senses. Then itis not unreasonable to suppose that 
 good spirits would condescend to give us all the evi- 
 dence we may require in this way whenever they have 
 a medium through which they can act in accordance 
 with some law known to them, but not yet discovered 
 by us. 
 
 It is almost universally the case that when any per- 
 son begins the investigation of these subjects they 
 want the most sensuous kind of testimony. - They do 
 not wish to sit down and ask questions with that 
 confidence that they would enter into conversation 
 with a person, even if that person was a stran- 
 ger. They begin with suspicion and require all 
 possible demonstration to. prove that they are not 
 deceived. Their questions are then asked with all 
 the ingenuity of an attorney conducting a cross-exam- 
 ination, and with a firm conviction many times that 
 they will be answered wrong. If they are answered 
 perfectly correct, then they ask, " can they do this, or 
 do that"? I want to see such and such a thing done 
 and then Ishallhe convinced. " Let this be done and 
 they ask still another form of proof, and in this way," 
 they tax their energies to find something new to sug- 
 
APPENDIX. 81 
 
 gest, and it is simple most certainly, but if there is 
 truth in the matter it is certainly not to be wondered 
 at, that whatever it is, should take the only means of 
 convincing the senses of those who require such proof. 
 We are not aware of anything of this nature being 
 done unless by the solicitation of the persons inves- 
 tigating. 
 
 Let those who are so alarmed about the " pranks" 
 as they are pleased to call them, undertake the in- 
 vestigation themselves and see if they fail of making 
 he same requisitions or something of the kind. If 
 they do, they will very likely ask information about 
 some gold speculation or some darling scheme that 
 is of much more consequence to them than whether 
 man exists at all beyond this visible life or not. Over 
 and over again have we been disgusted with the ques- 
 tions asked about speculating schemes and money 
 making. Is it to be wondered at, that answers are 
 given in many cases " according to the multj|;ude of 
 their idols"? 
 
 Let those who are earnest and candid enquirers 
 take a very small company— sit down together—being 
 all candid and truthful themselves, and then see 
 whether they will not get answers that can be depend- 
 ed upon. If they do not, it will be entirely contrary 
 to the general experience of those who have made 
 such trials. Our history here, is one of facts. We 
 have but incidentally turned aside to speculate or ex- 
 plain. We have spoken of the phenomena as pro- 
 duced by spirits because we think this the most rea- 
 sonable conclusion we can arrive at at the present 
 stage of the matter. If the sounds and other mani- 
 festations should cease now, the proof would be the 
 same, unless positive proof of some other means was 
 shown to be the cause. Whatever may be the re- 
 sult, we know that our facts are well attested and our 
 statements of the effects are true and the only chance 
 for mistake is in the c^use. We shall continue to 
 make honest efforts to find out if there is any other 
 
 6 
 
82 APPENDIX. 
 
 cause than that to which we have attributed the man- 
 ifestations and shall be as happy to gain farther 
 knowledge on the subject and lay it before the world 
 as any otliers whether it confirm or refute our present 
 theory. 
 
 Since compiling the body of this work we have re- 
 ceived several letters and some papers containing ad- 
 ditional testimony on the subject which we ^ive the 
 reader in this appendix. 
 
 The following letter is from Judge Hascall, of Le 
 Roy, who was one of the committee of investigation 
 at Corinthian Hall, and who has taken abundant op- 
 portunity for investigation since that time, and whose 
 hwesty, and powers for calm investigation will not 
 be called in question by those who have any knowl- 
 edge of the man. He is extensively known as a man 
 eminent in hig profession, and an upright and candid 
 citizen. 
 
 Le Boy, 13th, February, 1850. 
 Mr. E. W. Capron, 
 
 Dear Sir : — Yours of the 12th instant is just re- 
 ceived in which you requested me to send you a state- 
 ment of what I have witnessed of the phenomenon 
 known as the " Mysterious Rappings." I should be 
 pleased to give you a particular account of my inves- 
 tigations in endeavoring to discover the cause of the 
 mysterious sounds, but other engagements prevent, and 
 you must be content with a very imperfect sketch of 
 them. As the Committees appointed at public meet- 
 ings at Corinthian Hall, to investigate and if possible 
 detect and expose what was generally believed to be 
 some ingenious device, had failed to ascertain the cause, 
 and the persons who must be present when the rap- 
 pings were made, challenged further investigation, I 
 concluded to enquire into this singular problem and 
 solve it if possible. Accordingly I visited the house 
 where these young ladies reside, in company with sev- 
 eral persons, and our efforts were attended with no bet- 
 ter success than were those of the committee^ whose 
 
ATPENDIX. 83 
 
 investigations at other places had precedeTTours. The 
 experiment was repeated at the residences of several 
 higlily respectable families in the city of Rochester, to 
 which the young ladies were invited, and the same 
 rappings were heard apparently at different places in 
 the room at the same time, and our efforts to detect 
 the cause at these places were fruitless. Among tlie 
 persons who were present with me on this occasion, 
 were members of the legal and medical profession, men 
 of science and skill, and we entirely failed to discover 
 any art or machinery, philosophical apparatus, or 
 means whatever by which the sounds and other mani- 
 festations were produced. 
 
 I will not go into the particulars of the whole I wit- 
 nessed during the investigations before referred to, but 
 will state generally that I have witnessed much of the 
 phenomena which you have mentioned in the pam- 
 phlet recently published by you at Auburn. 
 Yours Respectfully, 
 
 A. P. HASCALL. 
 
 The following statement we are allowed to publish 
 from John S. Clackner, of Ravenna, O. 
 
 "At your request I will write a few instances of the 
 mysterious agencies, alias, spirits in Western New 
 York, with which I was familiar previous ,to my remo- 
 val to this place, and to Avhich I am willing to testify 
 if necessary. Dates or times of Occurrences, I shall 
 omit for brevity sake. I also wish it understood that 
 in the following communications, when I say, the spi- 
 rit answered, that it was done by rapping anc^the uss 
 of the alphabet. This course I adopt in order to avoid 
 a useless repetition of the words rapping and alphabet.. 
 
 My first interview with Mrs. Fish, was at her resi- 
 dence on Prospect street in Rochester. We were to- 
 tal strangers to each other, she supposing me from the 
 country. After I got into the house, I remarked, it 
 would be a gratification to me if the ' spirit' would re- 
 veal my name to her as I had been informed it had in 
 other cases. She said, ' spirit, do you know this gen- 
 tleman 1 ' As quick as thought, she was answ,ered by 
 
84 APPENDIX. 
 
 loud raps, when she again said, ' will you tell his name 
 by the alphabet 1 ' She. was answerfed in the affirma- 
 tive. She then commenced calling the alphabet, a«id 
 was stopped'by the spirit rapping at every letter in my 
 name. Then she pronounced it audible and was con- 
 firmed by the raps. Subsequently one evening it 
 would not allow me to stay in the room, alledging 
 as a reason that I had not fulfilled my engagement to 
 bring with me, my wife and son. Mrs. F. urged it to 
 permit me to stay ; but it continued to spell out it 
 must go. After some further expostulation she said 
 ' you may stay.' It immediately called out for the al- 
 phabet and spelled : ' Leah has done wrong— he must 
 go.' At others times it was free to converse with m6, 
 but this evening it would say nothing to me. At 
 another time the spirit commenced rapping voluntarily 
 for the alphabet and spelled out : ' M. has done wrong.' 
 M. answered, ' Why, Sj)iritwhat have I done now that 
 is wrong 1 ' to whicli it answered by the alphabet, ' you 
 said I rapped this morning, at Andrew's; I only gave 
 you a sound' * .* * * * * 
 
 At another time the young ladies came to ray bouse 
 for advice upon domestic aflairs. I proposed calling a 
 meeting of i'riends on the subject. They consented on 
 condition that the Spirits agreed thereto. They made 
 several unsuccessfuWttempts in various places in that 
 room for an answer from the Spirits, until at length 
 at the front part of the house it answered and told 
 them the reason of its silence in other places — it was 
 tliat ' theje were eave-droppers and enemies listening 
 and could hear. It encouraged our project and success 
 crowned our eflbi ts ***** 
 
 At one time it requested one man present to set a 
 sum in addition and let no man see his figures but 
 himself He then pointed to any figure he chose and 
 .asked th^ Spirit to give as many distinct single raps as 
 it amounted to, which was proiJiptly and correctly 
 done, also the whole sum added up and proved, in the 
 same way as learners in school do, with this difference 
 only, that it would instantly and deliberately rap the 
 
APPENDIX. 85 
 
 amount contained in each i-ow of figures perpendicular, 
 allowing no time for first enumerating. I could relate 
 many circumstances relative to this mysterious agency. 
 Let one more sufiice, where it had a direct moral in- 
 fluence upon a young man that I introduced to the 
 family where these sounds are heard. His name was 
 not mentioned at the time until the Spirit desired to 
 communicate with him. He asked who wished to 
 communicate with him 1 The answer was, ' George 
 Fox, the first Q,uaker.' What do you want to say 
 to me said the youngster, and was answered by the 
 Spirit, ' I want you to stay after the others go away.' 
 The evening passed in getting answers, beating time 
 with music, &c., until the Spirit spelled ' done.' — 
 When the company began to disperse, 'each bidding 
 the Spirit ' goodnight,' the young man was proceeding' 
 to go, when the Spirit rapped for the alphabet and spel- 
 led out his name and ' stay,' upon which I remarked 
 that I supposed I must leave him. It then told me to 
 stay. The young man asked who wanted to commu- 
 nicate with him, and it answered 'your sister.' She 
 had been dead some eighteen years. He was much 
 affected and asked if she would answer him mental 
 questions, and was answered in the affirmative. He 
 asked many ; we could hear the raps in answer ; but 
 did not know the nature of his questions. From that 
 time, a manifest change was perceptible in his conduct, 
 whether the same continues I am unable to tell. 
 Respectfully yours, 
 
 JOHN S. CLACKNER. 
 Ravenna, Portage Co., O., Feb. 13, 1850." 
 We have also several articles and letters which as 
 they CO Z3 tain positive testimony and very correct views 
 on the subject, we insert here, although they have pre- 
 viously been published in the papers to wiiich g^ve credit 
 them. ^ ' ''■^•*..;r::.'. 
 
 The following we take from the JSTew- Yorlc Mxcelsior 
 of February 2d°1850. The writer is Wm. H. McDon- 
 ALB Esq., one of the editors and proprietors of the E:^ 
 celsior, whom it will be seen has visited Rochester. 
 
§6 APPENDlk. 
 
 "We last week, in noticing a work lately printed in 
 AnlDurn treating of the knockings heard in Eochester 
 and elsewhere, alleged to be produced by supernatu- 
 ral agency, indulged in a few remarks concerning the^e 
 mysterious sounds. Although we have since receired 
 some perfectly reliable and authentic light on the sub- 
 ject, upon a re-perusal of the article, we cannot consent 
 to modify any of the opinions there expressed. We 
 think still many things are wanting /wZ% to establish 
 their claim to be considered spiritual communicationp. 
 But many circumstances connected with them are unac- 
 countable and wonderful, view the occurrences in what 
 light we may. 
 
 Since X our last issue we have seen in the Tribune, cop- 
 ied from the ' Adrian Watch Tower/ an extract from a 
 letter written by One Langworthy, which, as it in sev- 
 eral instances states what is false, and casts foul asper- 
 sions upon the character of the young ladies in whose 
 presence the rappings are heard, facts in our possession 
 impel us to notice, as at least a partial vindication of 
 their characters. Mr. L. says, for instance, that, ' on 
 all occasions, without one single exception, this knock- 
 ing was always under their feet, and any statement you 
 may have seen, incompatible with this, is a base fabri- 
 qatipn.' Notwithstanding this grave assertion, the in- 
 dividual himseK in the next sentence, is guilty of false- 
 hood, for he says, ' when there was knocking on {he 
 dom's and tables, which communicate a vibration to the 
 hand, these girls were in every case touching these ar- 
 ticles with the lacks of their dresses P ; A flat contradic- 
 tion as every one can see. Again he says — "We tried 
 other experiments of a different nature, all of which 
 fastened on our minds conclusively the conviction that 
 this mysterious rapping was so intimately connected 
 with the persons of these girls, that WM-e they thor- 
 Oilighly examined, sans culottes, the ghost would stand' 
 out in base relief. But we were men (I) and as the girls 
 were cornered and very mneh frightened we let it go 
 at this, and dismissed them from custody.' Again he» 
 
APPENDIX. 87 
 
 says, ' by placing the girls on a table and putting our 
 hands on their feet the knocking stopped. By tying their 
 dresses around their ankles with cords it also 9eased.' 
 
 'Now this is all false, if the testimony of hundreds of 
 respectable citizens is of any value. The girls were 
 stripped by a committee of ladies; at other times they 
 were placed upon pillows, their dresses tied around their 
 feet, they were electrically insulated by being placed 
 upon glass, and still the knockings were heard. 
 
 However, to proceed to what we know upon the sub- 
 ject, which shall, at any rate, be as reliable as the state- 
 ments of Mr. Langworthy, and will show the public the 
 other side of the picture. 
 
 _ One of the proprietors of this paper while on a bu- 
 siness tour through the western part of the state, pass- 
 ed througb. Rochester, and' during a stay in that place 
 of four days, improved the opportunity by ftiquifieS 
 into the triith of reports which had reached him in New 
 York. In this article he will give an unvarnished ac- 
 count of what he there saw and heard, leaving inferen- 
 ces to be drawn by his readers, without any attempt 
 to account for that which, to him, wastriily unaccotittt- 
 able. 
 
 There are said to be many in whose presence the rap- 
 pings are heard, but those who have attracted the lar- 
 gest share of public attention are the three daughters 
 of a Mr. and Mrs. Fox, people of respectability thorigh 
 not wealthy. The mother and daughters have for a few 
 months resided in the city of Rochester, in Troupe-st., 
 in a perfectly respectable neighborhood, the infamous 
 insinuation of Langworthy, to the contrary notwith- 
 standing. The elder sister, Mrs. Fish, is a widow lady, 
 and she has long contributed largely to the support of 
 her younger sisters by teaching music. The second is 
 about sixteen years of age, named Margaretta, and thie 
 youngest. Miss Catharine, aged fourteen. At the desire 
 of either of these sisters the rappings are heard.* 
 
 *The sounds are generally heard at the desire of those who visit the house, but ouly 
 accompany the two youngest sisters. — Authors. 
 
88 APPENDIX. 
 
 The sounds vary from a light clear metallic sound 
 to a dull muffled one, like a rap with the knuckles up- 
 on a partition covered with a cloth. When one rap is 
 heard an affirmative is meant, — silence, instead of giv- 
 ing consent, implies a negative. "When a question is 
 asked which does not admit of an answer by a simple 
 yes or no, the alphabet is called for by a peculiar rap. 
 In spelling out a sentence by letters, one of the ladies 
 commences repeating the alphabet, and when the de- 
 sired letter is mentioned a rap is heard. In this way, 
 though of course slowly, long sentences are communi- 
 cated. 
 
 Early in the present week, being in Rochester, we 
 solicited and obtained an interview with Mrs. Fish and 
 her sisters, during which the knockings were heard by 
 ourself. Previous to the manifestations we were intrp- 
 duced to two gentlemen belonging to a committee who 
 had been authorized by the ladies to relieve them from 
 the constant annoyance resulting from throngs who 
 besiege the house from motives of curiosity. We were 
 desired to seat ourselves at the table, and after a short 
 conversation upon indifferent subjects, one of the gen- 
 tlemen present inquired of Mrs. F. if the spirits would 
 converse with the writer. No reply. The question 
 was then asked if the spirits would converse with the 
 other gentlemen in the room. An affirmitive rap was 
 heard. Mrs. Fish then asked if the spirits would show 
 in what manner they usually manifested their presence 
 and iutelligence. Immediately a series of raps were 
 heard, differing in sound, light and heavy, now on the 
 table before us, and again on the floor, and in various 
 and distant parts of the room. A number of questions 
 respecting the gentlemen of the committee were then 
 asked, and were said to have been answered correctly. 
 Previous to leaving, the cause or causes of the rappings 
 were requested to answer queries with regard to 
 ourself, and complied by responding without error to a 
 few questions, stating Ihat^they would communicate 
 more freely with us on a future- linter view. We then 
 took our leave and returned to the hotel. 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 89 
 
 The morning and evening of the following day, we 
 called upon them again. In the morning, in a very 
 light room, many questions were asked concerning our- 
 self and were answered correctly, without a moment's 
 hesitation. It is impossible that the correct answers to 
 these questions could have been known, to any persons 
 present, by ordinary methods of obtaining the infor- 
 mation. Among these were the ages of ourself and 
 wife, the number of our children living and dead, their 
 ages, health, letters we expected, our success in busi- 
 ness, etc — all these queries related to the past, with one 
 exception, and were solved with perfect correctness. A 
 table standing in the room was moved without any vis- 
 ible agency, (it will be recollected that it was in the 
 day time, and the apartment was well lighted,) and 
 notwithstanding all our efforts to keep it stationary. 
 Others present said they received correct answers to in- 
 terrogations relating to them. 
 
 In the evening similar questions were asked and an- 
 swered. At the request of the sisters the table was 
 again moved backward, and forward. At the request 
 of a person present the sisters stood up at a distance 
 from it, and it was moved against them with sufficient 
 force to push the three against the wall. Two*ighted 
 candles were upon the table during its movement. It 
 was also lifted from the floor, and although not heavy, 
 it was, upon a request being made to that effect, held 
 to the floor with so much power that it required great 
 exertion for us to raise one end of it. 
 
 At interviews held with them on the two followmg 
 days many questions were answered respecting many 
 other gentlemen in our presence, and in all cases said 
 to have been answered correctly. On one occasion the 
 sounds proper to a carpenter's shop were heard appa- 
 rently proceeding from the wall and table. Sawing, 
 planing, pounding with a mallet were imitated to the 
 life. We should not have mentioned this, knowing 
 that ventriloquism has often ackieved such feats, had it 
 not been that upon placing the hand upon the table the 
 
90 APPENDIX. 
 
 jarring could be perceptibly felt. At another time we 
 took the table, and allowing one leg to rest upon the 
 floor, raised the opposite corner, and holding it with 
 both our hands, with our utmost strength, though pla- 
 cing the leg between our knees, could not prevent it 
 from vibrating. 
 
 All the incidents in the above meager sketch we both 
 saw and heard, and we refrain from relating many oth- 
 ers, both from want of space and because they might 
 be accounted for on known principles. We also refrain 
 from narrating many circumstances, more astonishing, 
 which were related to us to all appearance in perfect 
 good faith, by credible and respectable people, because 
 we were not eye and ear witnesses to the transactions. 
 In some future number we may call attention to them 
 again. We have been in these statements careful to in- 
 dulge in no exaggerations — ^to make no representations 
 from hearsay. 
 
 As before remarked, we make no effort to solve 
 these curious developments, leaving oiir readers to form 
 their own opinions. This we however will say, thait 
 our utmost ingenuity was exercised to penetrate the 
 mysterv, but without success. Perhaps others may be 
 more successful. We have seen and heard things to us 
 wonderful and unaccountable, and give to the public k 
 plain account of the matter. More or less at present is 
 not within our province. 
 
 It may not be amiss to state here that since return- 
 ing to the city we have met numerous individuals wh6 
 profess to know the causes of the phenomena, but they 
 are prevented from conimunicating them because they 
 are under promises of irwiolaile secrecy . Some of these 
 persons are connected with the press of this city, and if, 
 as they say, they have penetrated the mystery, their 
 Culpability is great, in withholding from community in- 
 formation so eagerly sought by thousands. But it is 
 much easier to see through the mystery of the&e wise- 
 acres, than the ddings* at Rochester. They are not the 
 individuals to withhold any knowledge they possess. 
 
APPENDIX. 91 
 
 On tte contrary, they are ratlier apt, not only to tell 
 all they do know, but also some things they do not. 
 _ Since -writing the above we see that the Sunday Times 
 gives its readers an abstract of Langworthy's slander- 
 ous letter (his name should be Un-worthy) with the 
 shallow conclusion that the document finishes the whole 
 matter. Our readers can judge whether the estimate 
 is correct. 
 
 We shall take occasion to allude to this matter in a 
 future number." 
 
 - The Rochester Daily Magnet of February 26, 1850 
 has the following new development. In alluding to it 
 the editor says, " the matter is one well worthy of in- 
 vestigation. The gentlemen whose names are attach- 
 ed to the marvellous statement, are not wont to engage 
 in tricks or impositions, and the developments made are 
 worthy of that credence which should be given to all 
 new doctrines when well authenticated. Read them 
 calmly and dispassionately." 
 
 " To Messrs. J&rvis^ Willets^ iTones, and others: 
 
 Gentlemen: — As we are required by authority that 
 we think we have no right to disregard, to make pub- 
 lic the extraordinary communications recently witnessed 
 at my dwelling, it becomes necessary to give you, and 
 through you to the public, the facts which gave rise to 
 the first interview, on Friday the 16th inst.^ The nov- 
 elty of the subject, and the state of the public mind are 
 such, that I feel prompted to do this, not- only correct- 
 ly, but as minutely as possible. Circumstance i had 
 placed me in a way to witness those remarkable com- 
 munications called the ' Mysterious Eappings,' from the 
 time of their origin in this city in the summir of 1848, 
 After the severest tests, mider a variety of circumstan- 
 ces, and at various places, for about one year,"ancontes- 
 table evidence addressed to my senses baffled niy skep- 
 ticism, and fully convinced me that they were the pro- 
 duction of no human agencies. And as they profess to 
 
92 APPENDIX. 
 
 emanate from invisible intelligencies, called spirits, I 
 had not allowed myself tlie liberty to attribute them 
 to any other source, at least until some other origin 
 could be detected. In hope of eliciting some further 
 light on the mysterious subject, I proposed to a member 
 of my family, who is susceptible to magnetic influence, 
 to be put into a clairvoyant state, and see what might 
 be presented in relation to it. She complied, and for 
 this purpose was magnetized on the evening of the l^h 
 inst., and in presence of no other persons. The ques- 
 tions and answers were as follows : Q. Do you see any 
 thing ? Ans. I see a stranger that I never before saw. 
 He is not prepossessing in appearance, but is very ele- 
 vated in his position, in a reflecting attitude, and is bus- 
 ily employed. Q. What is he doing? He is prepar- 
 ing work for you. Q. What is the nature qf the work ? 
 A. He is establishing a line of communication. Q. Ask 
 him, ' Is it practicable to get communications between 
 two distant points by means of these rappings V A. 
 ' To-be-sure,' he says. Q. Can you ascertain who this 
 stranger is ? A. JBenjamin (and after a pause) Franla- 
 Un. Q. Will you ask him to give you some signal by 
 which we ^ay know it is reaUy Benjamin Franklin ? 
 After a silence of one or two minutes, a violent shock 
 of her person induced me hastUy to say, ' what is the 
 matter — are you waking up V A. No, yoa wanted a 
 signal, and I told him if, it was Dr. Franklin he might 
 electerize me, and he did it. Q. Has it injured you? 
 A. No. I feel better — my head is clearer — ^I can see 
 plainer, Q. Will you ask him where communications 
 between distant points at the same time can be tested, 
 A. He says at your own house. Q. Is there anything 
 required'ofus in the matter ? A. He says, get two of 
 those youi^g ladies about whom there is so much excite- 
 ment in your city, place them in extreme parts of two 
 rooms, and you (meaning herself,) be put in the same 
 state in which you now are, and I wUl comriiunicate 
 with you, . Q. Who else niay be in attendance ? A. 
 Mr. Jervis, and a few others who have been acquainted 
 
APPENDIX. 93 
 
 witli this subject. Q. Will he direct as to time ? A. 
 He says, consult tlie convenience of those concerned, 
 and I shall be advertised of it. Q. Are there any fur- 
 ther directions to be given at this time ? A. That is 
 the end of the..chapter. 
 
 In compliance with the above, the interviev?- on Fri 
 day the fifteenth was called, you and others notified, and 
 the attendance of the two young ladies, Margaretta and 
 Catharine Tox, secured from whom for prudential rea- 
 sons the above facts and preliminaries were withheld. 
 EespectfuUy yours, 
 
 K DRAPER. 
 
 Pursuant to the notice, as above stated, we, the un- 
 dersigned, met at the house of Mr. Draper on Friday the 
 15th inst., about 4 o'clock, P. M. We inquired for di- 
 -rections, and were answered by alphabet, 'Let Mrsw 
 Draper be magnetized.' Through her the two young 
 ladies were directed to retire to another room. The 
 directions then were, for Mr. Jervis, Mrs.. Fox and Cath- 
 arine Fox to be placed in a room at the opposite end 
 of the house, and for Mr. Jervis, to take notes. Mar- 
 garetta Fox should be with the company in the parlor, 
 and Mr. Draper take notes.* This was done. The sounds 
 were then heard in both rooms, by either company, 
 exactly similar to the sounds heard in the Telegraph 
 office. 
 
 Question to the clairvoyant. What does that rapping 
 mean, unlike any other sounds before heard by rap- 
 ping ? Ans. He is trying the batteries. The signal 
 for the alphabet was heard, and on calling the letters, 
 was spelled, 'She must be waked in ten minutes.' _ A 
 watch was placed on the table, after noting the time, 
 and* covered up, and the question asked, if we could 
 have a signal by sounds at the exact time, and was 
 answered affirmatively. At theprecise time the signal 
 was heard. The question was then asked,' Who shall 
 wake her?'' and she was instantly awoke with an appa- 
 rent electric?* shock. 
 
AP]»ENDIX. 
 
 A this point there was mucli interruption by per- 
 ___^s coming into both rooms. The question was asked 
 for further directions, and the answer was by alphabet, 
 ' Things are not afe I directed, therefore you cannot pro- 
 ceed at this time.' There should be but four in each 
 room. Mr. Jervis and company came into the parlor, 
 aijd his notes read as follows : ' Things are not as I di- 
 rected them, therefore you cannot proceed at this time.' 
 Ques, 'Can we have <|^ther opportunity? Ans. If I 
 set the time and name the company, there shall be no 
 fail. Q. Shall the appointment be now made ? Ans- 
 wered affirmatively. The following persons were then 
 named by the 'alphabet : Mr. Jervis, Mr. Jones, Mr. 
 I>ra}5er, Mr. . Willefe, Mrs. Jervis, Mrs. Draper, Mra 
 Brown, Mrs. IYxj^3l!%i;garetta Fox, and Catharine Fox, 
 Q. May we knQj#-the time? A. Wednesday next at 
 4,v(y'clock, P. Bliif^^ Jheplace? A. Here; 1 ^ 
 
 On the dajf itOTWiited, Feb. 20th, the abovB named 
 persons convened; some of the company were late, and 
 as soon as ordeu was observed, this question was asked, 
 'What are .the directions of Benjamin Franklin ? A. Hur- 
 ry; first magnatize Mrs. Draper. This was done, she 
 immediately saying : He says we 'are behind the time, 
 but he will fogive us this tinte ; we must do better in 
 future. The, company were divided aa follows: Mr. 
 Jervis, Mr. Jones, Mrs. Fox, Mrs, Brown and Catharine 
 Fox in a retired room, with two doors closed between . 
 them. Mrs. Draper, Mrs. Jervis, Mr. Draper, Mr. Wil- 
 lets, and Margaretta Fox,, remained in the parlor. 
 Sounds unusually loud were heiard in each room by eith- 
 er company as before, resembling the telegraph sounds. 
 They were so unusual that Miss Fox became alarmed, 
 and said, 'What does all this mean?' Mrs. Draper, 
 while her countenance was irradiated with animation, 
 replied, 'He is trying the batteries.' Soon there was 
 the signal for the alphabet, and the foljlowing commu- 
 nication -vs^as spelled to the compapy in the parlor ; 
 ' ISFow I am ready, my friends. There will.-be great 
 changes in the nineteenth century. Thin^ that now 
 
APPENDIX. 95 
 
 look dai'k and mysterious to you, •will be laid plain be- 
 fore your sigbt. Mysteries are going to be revealed. 
 The world will be enligbtened. I sign my name Ben- 
 jamin Franklin. Do not go into tie other room.' 
 
 After waiting a few minutes, Mr. Jervis came into 
 the parlor, saying that he was directed by the sounds to 
 come and compare notes. They read as follows : Q. 
 Are we all right ? A, Affirmatively, signal for alpha- 
 bet, and the following was spelled. .' There wiU be great 
 changes in the. Nineteenth century. Things that now 
 look dark and mysterious to you, will be laid plain be- 
 fore your sight. Mys'teries are going to be revealed. 
 The world will be enlightened, I sign my .name Benja- 
 min Franklin. Go in the parlor and compare notes,' 
 Mr. Jervis returned to his company, and by alphabet 
 was spelled, ' now all go into the parlor.' The notes 
 were then compared in presence of the whole company. 
 Q. Is there anything more from Doctor Franklin ? A, 
 I think I have given tests enough for this day. Q. Will 
 it not be better to keep this matter private ? A. No, 
 they should be published. Q. In what paper. A. In 
 the Democrat or Magnet Q. Who shall prepare it for 
 publication? A. George Willets. Time and place was 
 then designated for the same company to meet again 
 with two other persons added to the number. 
 
 We sign our names as no parties but as witnesses. — 
 K our testimony is incredible, impeach and reject it. If 
 admissible hand it over to the Judge and Jurors — ^the 
 public-=-and charge them that we claim no interest aside 
 from their own, in their verdict. 
 
 Eev. Asahel Jervis, Nathaniel Draper, 
 
 Edward Jones, George Willets, 
 
 Eachel Draper, Mary Jervis, 
 
 Mary Brown, ' Margaret Fox. 
 
 MocMster, Fiyruary, 23, 1850." 
 
 In ad'ditioH to the names refered'to in the body of 
 ouybook, we insert the following, all of whom have 
 
96 APPENDIX. 
 
 \yitnessedmore or less of these phenomena. "We have 
 iiot consulted them to know their opinions, but leave 
 them to give them when called for. 
 
 AUBUEN. 
 
 Caleb Hopping, Philip W. Miller, James Congdeii, B. Sheldon, Cal- 
 vin Whitwood, D. D. T. Benedict, G. W. Hyatt, E. H. Baxter, Thur- 
 low W. Brown, Editor Cayuga Chief, Wm. Woodward Esq., Charles 
 Coventry, Lansingh Briggs, M. D., Kev. John M. Austin, B. F. Hall Esq., 
 T. y. How, jr. Ejq., Eev. W. Ayrault, Jay L. Doty, E. M. Newcomb, 
 J. Wesley Smith, Charles D. Tallman, John C. Ivison, Hon. J. P .Hul- 
 bert, Henij A. Hawes, H. H. Bostwick, David Barr, John Dodge. 
 
 John E. RobiiJson, aPS^^oMIiL L". Winants, Editor of Daily Mag- 
 net, John W. Htirn, Isaac Butts, E.. A. Jilarsh, Frederick Douglass, Ed- 
 itor of North St^r> F. Rew, Schijyler Moses, Thomas Emerson, Rev. 
 H.W. Lee, E. B. E'lwood, Dr. H. Halsted, Justice Moore, Chief of Pohce, 
 A. S. Clackner, JEenry Biish, R. G. Murry^ ReEJ^min Fish, G. W. Clark 
 T. B. Andrews. . 
 
 VARIOUS PLACES. < ; ,, 
 
 Edward Wheeler and family, Miles S. Griswold, Fleming. Vincent 
 Kenyon, J. Bishop Partelo, Alfred Hawk, E. D. Stoddard, Rev. Orrin 
 Abbott, CM. _Abbott, KeHogsvOle. Mr. and Mrs. Orrin Hatch, Skanea- 
 teles. E. B. Decker and family, Mr.' and Mrs. L. N. Fowler, Professor 
 Silas JoncF, New York City. iJIr^j, Dr. Backus, Brooklyn. Richard 
 Mott, Mrs. :^Otis, C. Van Anden, Buifalo. David W. Wyatt, Troy. 
 H. R. Park,^cott Rev. Theophilus Fisk, James Sellers Jr., Rev. C 
 Chauncey Burr, Philadelphia, Penn. Oliver Johnson, Editor Anti 
 Slavery Bugl^ Salem, Ohio. John S. Mott, Battle Creek, Michigan. 
 Professor H. EV R. Lewis, Tecumsch, Michigan. James B. Cooper, 
 Adamsville, Michigan. 'Edw^\^„F,,:J|ts4^'^ill>w*-' Louis, Mo. James 
 Johonnot, Editor of Literary Union, R. S. Corning, Esq., Dr. H. Joslin, 
 Eli Link, Syracuse. Milton Al-nold, Scipio. Dr. L Grant, Cortland. 
 Deacon O. Hale and family; Ghreeoei C. W. Clapp, Mrs C. G. .Hamb-. 
 lin, James Sawyer, Port Byrorj. Thomas McClintock and family, 
 George Prior, S. W. Lundy, Dr. Reuben Eves, Waterloo. Dr. S 
 Carpenter, Macedon. Wm. C. Cooper, WiUiamson. Alberts. Gould, 
 Ithaca. George W. Eggleston, San Francisco, California J. C. Ba- 
 ,ker, of the Baker Family. Rev. Benjamin,iPhillips, Salina. 
 
Cornell University Library 
 BF 1242.U6C25 1850 
 
 3 1924 008 149 118