Materializing Mediums by Editor

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Mar 27, 1884

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 10, No. 13.

Materializing Mediums.

By Editor

The Banner of Light notices the case of a young lady in Georgia, a member of the Baptist Church, who appears to be unconsciously developed as a medium. She knows nothing of Spiritualism, but the exhibitions of her powers are a wonder to all her friends and to the doctors who have examined her. Evidently she is no imposter—that is, she has no intention of deceiving. Such cases are among the very strongest evidences of the reality of mediumship. For we believe there is a reality in Spiritualism and mediumship; indeed, we have seen that to which we could ascribe no origin but a supernatural one; and we have seen some of the most popular "exposers of Spiritualism" exhibit, but they did not approach to some of the acknowledged wonders of mediumship, and where they approached most nearly they confessed that they could not explain it!

"Materialization" is now the most popular phase of Spiritualism, and if we can credit the testimony of such experimenters as Dr. Crookes, we are compelled to believe that there are actual occurrences of this kind. But we do not believe they are as common as mediums profess. The Banner quotes from the N. Y. Sun this remark concerning the Georgia young lady: "She succeeds best in her performances when everything around her is quiet." And then the Banner adds: "Spiritualists who grab their physical mediums should make a note of this fact."

But there is one fact which the Banner of Light does not seem to appreciate. They who "grab their physical mediums" do not grab at a professed physical medium, but at a professed materialized spirit. Will that paper please to explain to its readers how it is that in every case where a spectator grabs at a materialization he catches a medium? Or will it cite to a single instance of grabbing where this was not the case? We shall wait for an answer.