LYING SPIRITS by L. Caldwell

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Oct 11, 1877

LYING SPIRITS.

By L. Caldwell

The spiritualist camp is in a state of ferment over an event that took place on the Lake Pleasant, Mass., camp-ground, Aug. 19, as reported for the Banner of Light, of Sept. 1. Mr. J. Frank Baxter is described by the Banner as “one of the most remarkable givers of tests now known to the world, and a reliable and worthy man.” His forte is to lecture, and either in the midst of his lecture or at its close to give names, dates, and circumstances, purporting to be connected with some persons who “have passed through the change called death.”

“After the morning exercises, Mr. J. Frank Baxter had described several spirits, and the manner of their death, holding the audience nearly an hour after the dinner bell, all seeming more hungry for spiritual than material food. At the close of Mr. Lynn’s lecture (about 3 P. M.), expectation was again on tiptoe for a continuance of these test descriptions. Mr. Baxter had remarked in the morning that Attica, his Indian control, had told him to be ‘careful.’ He did not know exactly what she meant. One of the trio of singers brought forward a ‘negro spiritual,’ or plantation melody, to be sung at the close of the lecture. Mr. B., who is one of the singers, objected to singing it, as hardly appropriate to the time and place. But he was over-persuaded, and then joined heartily in the song. Immediately on finishing the song, he sprang to his feet and assumed the character of a negro spirit, saying he ‘used to be known as A. Bunter, who used to split planks with his head for a quarter; that he lived in Williamstown, and died in 1875.’ A man in the audience recognized him, and so did another, but the last man declared he was not dead. ‘No,’ said Baxter, ‘I am alive, but alive in the spirit. I died in 1875.’ The man said he knew Bunter well, and had seen him within a week. Conversation with the man satisfied Mr. Baxter that a false statement had been made by the influence controlling him. He could not explain it, and felt it to be a blow to the confidence with which his guidance of spirit friends had inspired him.”

The Springfield Union, of Aug. 21, says: “In February, 1875, Abe Bunter was very sick, and his death was reported in the Williams College paper. As he was a well-known character, the Springfield papers wrote him up, stating his famous exploits at butting, and his willingness at any time to smash a plank with his head for a quarter. But alas for nicely prepared ‘tests!’ the college paper was wrong, and Abe Bunter didn’t die then, and hasn’t died since.”

After the Tuesday lecture Baxter “explained” as follows: “I do not offer any explanation of the matter. Spiritualism is either true or else I am a fraud. This is the first thing that has occurred since I pronounced myself a spiritualist, that has thrown over me the least shade of doubt. I am trying with all my might and main to be true to myself, and to my spirit friends, who, I believe, exist, and, I might say, know exist. The explanation of the thing is demanded from the spirit world; and I hope Attica may take possession of me and clear up the matter, because I want it for myself.”

Baxter then gave five or six “tests.” Then “Attica” took possession of him, and explained the plank-splitter case in her peculiar way, adding “s” to nearly every word, and speaking very rapidly. The explanation was that a party of negro spirits tried to possess Baxter, but Attica objected, lest they should make the medium dance, thinking that beneath his dignity at such a time. After the song, however, Attica allowed one of the spirits who seemed orderly to communicate, and he was told by another of them to give the name of Bunter, which he did. The statement of Abe’s failure to go the trip, was as much a surprise to these spirits as to the audience, one of them affirming that he read an account of Abe’s death before he (the spirit) came to the spirit world. This explanation, Mr. Baxter said, was a very unsatisfactory one to him.

Baxter writes to the Springfield Union: “It is possible that a lying spirit perpetrated the fraud, as in 2 Chron. 18. But for myself I cannot account for the fact. Never have I had one doubt of the spiritual philosophy until that eventful Sunday, when surely I found myself overshadowed with a cloud of doubts.”

The spiritualists of this section are very anxious concerning their philosophy, and its conflict with the word of God. We take courage, and press the work.

L. CALDWELL.

Darlington, Ind.