p. 112 | THE SPIRITS AT BALTIMORE

Publishing Committee · ROCHESTER, N. Y. · Apr 25, 1854

THE SPIRITS AT BALTIMORE

By B. S. Benson; W. W. Laning

Correspondence of the Spiritual Telegraph.

THE SPIRITS AT BALTIMORE.

MESSRS. PARTRIDGE AND BRITTAN :

Dear Sirs—We have some very strong spiritual manifestations here in Baltimore; our citizens are waking up to investigate this beautiful phenomena, and we have a large number of mediums being developed. We have also an association for investigating the subject, and over two hundred private circles. The following is a brief description of the phenomena which occurred at one of our private circles:

The circle met at 8 o'clock in the evening at B. S. Benson's house—five ladies and four gentlemen being present. The circle was formed, the lights were removed, and, after singing, Miss L., Miss H., Mrs. A. P. P., mediums present, were perceived to be in the interior state by their descriptions of things then transpiring in the room. It is said, "There is Franklin; there are three others with him; they have boxes under their arms; they place them under the table; they are going to make raps; they say something is wrong; they have gone over in the corner of the room and are talking together and pointing to the table; they now bring two more boxes; they say they are going to break the table." The raps, or rather pounding, commenced, and were as if made by a muffled mall of many pounds' weight, suspended under the table, at first striking so lightly as not to raise the table, but increased by degrees, until the table was raised from the floor some ten or twelve inches, all four legs of the table being off the floor at once. The table was heard to drop, as if it had fallen some distance, with a tremendous crash. There were no material means used to produce the raps, nor did there exist a possibility of deception, there being no one in the room but those joined in the circle, hand in hand, around the table, not one of whom touched the table at the time. The table was at one time thrown on the lap of a lady present, and thrown off by the same unseen power. All present, at times, saw lights in different directions around the room, as well as over the table. After some tremendous poundings, which made some of those present fear they would be struck with

pieces of the table, it was then spoken by one of the mediums, "Nothing more to-night."

Yours, truly, B. S. BENSON. W. W. LANING.