Death : the meaning and result

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Chapter I

The First Rap— The First Sitting With Kramer and Dallas— Who Kramer and Dallas Are — How it Came About — Dallas Developes Wonderful Power — Can Plainly See Spirits and Distinctly Hear What They Sajr — ^Perfect in Clairvoyance and Clairandience — Th€ Spirit of Dr. Shoemaker Appears— The Doctor Talks— How He Identifies Himself.

CHAPTER n.

The Spirit of William Schopperle Appears — ^The Spirit of Dr. Shoemaker Appears— What He Says— Dr^. Shoemaker's Further Effort to Prove Identity— Iglther Played by Unseen Master— The Spirits of Dr. Eddy and George C. Steel Appear— What They Say— Spirit of Dr. Shoemaker Talks of Spirit Return.

CHAPTER in.

Spirit Dr. Shoemaker Makes Date for Meeting— Dallas Tardy— The Effect— Spirit Dr. Shoemaker Appears—

Vi CONTENTS.

Gives us Advice— Divulges a Plan— Obstacles to Overcome—Selfish Spirits— The Spirit of O. P. Happer Appears— What He Says to Establish Identity— The Spirits of Dr. Eddy, Mrs. Wilson, Mrs. Kramer, Mr. Schopperle and Others Appear— Strange Light— Mrs. Wilson and Mrs. Kramer Come In View.

CHAPTER IV.

Spirits Can Read Thoughts— New Element in Circle— W. S. Brown Present— How it Happened — Spirits of Theodore Marlin, Dr. Shoemaker, Ira Hathaway, John P. McQuiston, Mrs. Miller and Plum Mitchell Appear— What They Say to Brown— What Plum Mitchell Said to Wilson— Who These Spirits Were in Earth Life— Ed. O* Davis Present— His Experience — Indian Spirits Appear— The Effect Explained by Spirit Mitchell — Spirit of Peter Spargo Appears — What He Says — Spirit Wife of J. L. Kramer Appears — What She Says— Further Experience With Indian Spirits.

CHAPTER V.

The Spirit of Joe Zuver Appears— His Trouble in Making His Presence Known — Spirit Mitchell Appears — Has Message From Spirit Dr. Shoemaker — Indian Spirit Appears — Spirit Dr. Shoemaker Again Appears— Informs Us that Indian Spirits Will Not Trouble Us Again— Sets Evening_for Next Meeting.

CHAPTER VI.

Spirit Dr, Shoemaker Appears— He Brings With Him and Introduces The Spirit of Hon. Charles Sumner— What Mr. Sumner Says— His Effort to Establish Identity— Spirit Sumner Trys to Control Wilson- Pails — Disappointed at Failure — Spirit Shoemaker and Sumner Afirain Aooe«r — Trvs To Control Wilson

• •

CONTBNTS. YU

— Succeeds — Wil son's Experience— Wilson's Spirit Mother Again In View— Spirit of Judge Theo. S. Wilson, R. P. Borckman and T. H. Tomlinson Appear —What They Say.

CHAPTER VII-

Spirit Dr. Shoemaker Appears — Has a Surprise for Dallas — Dallas' Spirit Sister and Chum, Robert Martin, Appear— What They Say— Spirit Charles Sumner Appears — Controls Wilson — Speaks Through his Organism — Name Written — Spirit of Judge James Campbell Appears — Mrs. Bums and Miss Bums Meet Spirit Mrs. Kramer— Wilson's and Dallas' Strange Experience— Visit of Strange Spirit— Eflfect on Dallas.

CHAPTER VIII.

A Procession of Spirits — Spirits Sumner and Shoemaker Appear — Spirit Sumner Controls Wilson — How Spirit Hypnotism Feels— Spirits Opposed to Communications— Wilson and Dallas in Purgatory — Arraigned— Convictions Fix Locality in Spirit World— Eflfort to Destroy Mediumistic Properties — Viritation of Strange Spirit Explained— Spirits Dr. Shoemaker and Dr. Eddy Appear— Find Dailas' Clairvoyance and Clatraudience Impaired— Call it a Calamity- Dallas' Power to See and Hear Spirits Destroyed — Spirits Employ Telegraphy— Wilson Sees Strange Spirit.

CHAPTER IX.

Spirit Mitchell Present— Gives Messages by Telegraph — First Message— War in Spirit World— Its Caus^- How Conducted— Spirit Telegraphy Explained— Advised to Procure Battery and Telegraph Instrument —Battery and Instrument Procured— Spirit Mitchell Directs Arrangements— Operates Instrument— First

TUl CONTBNT8.

Spirit Message by Telegraph Instrument— Messages From Spirits Stunner, ^dy and Shoeniaker--Spirit Prof. P. R. S. Introduced-^Cbristmas Meeting—Dinner and Banquet— More Messages.

CHAPTER X.

More Spirit Telegraphy— Spirits' New Year Greeting- Spirits J. Oould and William H. Vanderbilt Introduced —Banquet to Our Guests— Spirits of Professor F.R. S., Mr. Gould, Mr. Vanderbilt, Dr. Eddy, Plum Mitchell, William Mitchell, Mrs. Kramer, Mrs. Wilson, Judge Wilson, Judge Campbell, Mr. Bethune, William Shopperle, Charles Sumner, Dr. Shoemaker Present— Controlled by Sumner— Entertained at Dinner— How Spirits Bat and Drink Explained- Manner of Dress Explained.

CHAPTER XL

One Hundred Spirits Entertained at Dinner— Procession From Office to Hotel — Their Appearance — ^Their Deportment— Wonderful Telegrams from Spirits- Promised Restoration of Dallas' Powers— Demonstations of Spirit Sumner's Ability to Impress Wilson- Spirits Excuse Themselves— Promise to Return- Spirit Mitchell Directs Diagram by Telegraphy — Spirit Mitchell and Wilson Talk of Boyhood Days— A Song by Spirit Telegraphy— Spirit Sumner Explains Difference in Present Method of Communication and Method Formerly Employed— Entertain Spirit Friends at Wagner's Opera— A Strange Message—Sudden Departure of Spirit Friends.

CHAPTER XII,

Mystery'--Suspicion Aroused— A Foraed Tde^rram— Deception Detected— Warned By ^airit Friends— Another Forged Spuit Telegram— I>etected-^pirit

CONTENTS. IZ

Friends Betrayed— A Judas in Camp— Again Warned— Wilson Meets Spirit Judge James B. Knox — ^More Spirit Warfare— A Visit by Pope Leo II — A Visit by Cardinal Manning— Informed Who Betrayed Spirit Friends— Another Victory— Telegrams From Spirit Friends — Ultimatum for Kramer.

CHAPTER XIII.

Spirits Shoemaker and Eddy Present— Give Telegrams — Spirit Plum Mitchell Present— Joke by Spirit Eddy — Spirit Shoemaker Speaks — Loss of Expended Force by Break — Kramer's Suspicions — Informed Who Betrayed Our Friends — Barred From Future Proceedings — Its Effect— Meeting of Dallas, Kramer and Wilson Planned by Spirits Shoemaker and Sumner— What Was Said — Telegram From Spirit Sumner — Speaks of New Work— Spirits F. R. S., Shoemaker, Eddy, Mitchell, Wilson and A Stranger Entertained at Dinner— Telegram From Dr. Eddy — Going to Write a Book- New Spirit Operator — More Telegrams — Another Spirit Battle — Wonderful Message by Spirits F. R. S., Sumner and Shoemaker— A Proposition— More Telegrams— Answer to Proposition — Spirit Mitchell Captured.

CHAPTER XIV.

A Strange Spirit — Interferes With Instrument— Spirits F. R. S., Sumner, Shoemaker and Mitchell present- Spirit Telgrams— Dallas Desires to Leave Bradford — Informed of Letter — Received Letter — Spirit Sumner's Message About Letter— Why Dallas and Wilson Selected— Dallas Advised to Remain in Bradford — Message From Spirit Mitchell— Severe Engagement —More War— Message— Victory Won— Message From F. R. S.— Mode of Warfare— Forty-Eight Hour Engagcment— Spirit Mitchell Wounded—Spirits Sumner and Shoemaker Wounded--Spirit Eddy's Capture Plann^-^Invisibk Wires— Electric Storm Disturbs

Z CONTENTS.

Instrument— Dallas and Wilson Intercept Messages- Intercepted Spirit Telegranis— Cipher Message— Strange Telegranis— Intercepted Message Repeated to Spirit Friends— The Result.

CHAPTER XV.

Spirit Telegram— A New Operator— Spirit Harvej Mason — Onr Acquaintance — Spirit Telegrams — Victory — Engagement Expected — Battle— Another Victory— More Spirit Telegrams— Map by Spirit Mitchell— Position of Spirit Forces in Battle Array — Enemy Reinforced — Message From Spirit Snmner — Wilson Meets Spirit Sumner — Controlled — Fight Still On— Victory for Friends— Spirits F. R. S., Plum Mitchell and Dr. Shoemaker Present— What They Say.

Page : 277

CHAPTER XVI.

Spirits Dr. Shoemaker and Plum Mitchell Present- Spirit Telegrams — Spirit Shoemaker Wishes to Meet An Old Friend — Requests Wilson to Invite Friend to Office — Spirits Sumner and F. R. S. Present— What They Say — Kramer Receives Message From Spirit Wife — Spirits Entertained Again at Dinner — Direct Line Repaired — Spirit Dr. Shoemaker Meets Old Friend — What Was Said— Surprise For Old Friend— A Talk With Spirit Sumner — Wilson Introduces Hi 3 Sister to Spirits— What Was Said— To Go to Lily Dale — The Purpose — Spirit Dr. Shoemaker to Treat

. Mrs. Murray,

CHAPTER XVn.

Telegram by Spirit Sumner— Spirit Dr. Shoemaker Diagnosis Mrs. Murray's Ailment— Wilson's Spirit Brother a Prisoner of War^-Spirits Mitchell, Prof. F. R. S. and Shoemaker Telegraph— Spirit Dr. Shoe-

COMTBNT8. Zi

maker Perscribea for Mrs. Murraj^-Strange Device «— Meeting Prevented by Electric Storm— Dangerous for Operators— Dallas' Trouble About Lily Dale- Telegrams From Spirit Friends— Spirit Power— To Start for Lily Dale— How Brought About— Spirit Prof. F. R. S.'s Instructions For Lily Dale.

CHAPTER XVIIL

At Lily Dale— How Received— Quarters Procured— A Surprise — Dallas at the Dale — Surprised— Prepared Telegraph Instrument— The First Telegram at the Dale — Spirit Mitchell Explains— Spirit F. R. S. present— Line of Communication From Our Instrument to Spirit World — Spirits Dr. Shoemaker and Dr. Eddy in Evidence — What They Say— Spirit Charles Sumner Present — What He Says — Cfommence Business — Wilson's Spirit Mother Present— What She Says — A Visit by Spirits Mitchell, Schopperle, Shoemaker, Sumner, Prof. F. R. S. and Mason — Mason's Message — A Visit by Spirits William Wilson, Mrs. Wilson, George Steele, Hathaway and Bethune— Controlled by Sumner—What Sumner Says— Incredulous Spirit Professors— Entertain Spirits Mitchell and Mason — Again Controlled by Sumner — Spirit Shoemaker's Assurance — Spirit Telegrams — Spirit Wilson Explains His Escape— Controlled by Sumner.

Pago 335

CHAPTER XIX.

Telegrams To and From Spirits — Wilson Controlled by Spirit Sumner— Talk with Spirit Prof. F. R. S. Over Invisible Wire — Dallas Desires to Return to Bradford — Spirit Friends Wish to See Manifestations — Wilson, Dallas and Spirits Sumner, F. R. S. and Shoemaker at Materializing Seance— The Result— What Spirits Sumner and F. R. S. Say About Seance — Explained by Spirit Shoemaker — Dallas Leaves For Bradford — Wilson and Spirits Sumner, Shoemaker and F. R. S. Visit Mediums.

XU C01ITBNT8.

CHAPTER XX.

At Bradford*— Spirit Telegram— Spirit Professor Telegraphs—Trouble With Line— Spirit P. R. S. Gives Bxperience at Lily Dale— Trouble With Telegraph Instrument— Kew Battery — Spirit Sumner Makes Appointment — Meeting With Spirit Sumner — Controlled— Intercepted Message — Indicates Trouble — Spirit F. R. S. Present— Two Strange Spirits Introduced— Newton and Grant— What They Say— F. R. S.'s Attention Called To Intercepted Message — Strange Proceeding-Spirit F. R. S. Taken Prisoner— Treachery—Enemy Control and Use Our Telegraph Instrument—Spirits Mitchell and Eddy Allured— Captured — How Done — Spirits Mason and Shoemaker Appear — ^Their Escape — Spirit Telegram— Message From Spirit Shoemaker — Enemy Preparing to Attack — Reply — Attacked by Enem3' — Break in the Room — Terrible Indictment — Dallas and Wilson Threatened — Enemy Gain Victory— Spirit Mason a Prisoner — Deus— Spirits Sumner, F. R. S., Mitchell and Eddy Prisoners — Dallas and Wilson Accused — Answer — Olive Branch— Refused— A Visit by Deus— What He Says — Our Answer— Price for Spirit Friends' Liberty — Refused.

CHAPTER XXL

Spirit Dr. Shoemaker a Prisoner— Present Under Guard —What He Says— Establishes Identity— Efforts to Hear Prom Friends— Denied By Adverse Force — Impudent Spirit Message — Answer— Heated Colloquy "With Spirit Antagonists — Message Intercepted— Plan to Impersonate— Discovered— More Messages Intercepted— Decoy Message — Detected— Message Signed, "A Friend"— Mystery— Masters From Hell— Strange Discovery— More Spirit Telegrams— Terms Urged by Deus— Another Colloquy— Hope— Message, ''Be Patient"— ^Name By Impression — Message By Sam Me Bride — Spirits Dr. Shoemaker and Sumner Escape Prom Captivity— Spirit F. R. S. Escapes— Telegram

CONTENTS. Zm

Prom Spirit Mitchell— Mitchell and Others Gain Liberty—Time Set for Meeting— Directed to Prepare Instrument.

CHAPTER XXII.

Spirits Shoemaker, Prof. F. R. S., Plum Mitchell and Charles Sumner Present— What They Say— Entertained at Dinner— Speak of Their Captivity — How Liberated — Wonderful Message by Spirits Sumner, F. R. S., Shoemaker, Mitchell and Mason — Plan formulated—Telegrams From Spirit Sumner— Telegram From Spirit Prof. F. R. S.— Working on Plan— Wilson and Dallas to Leave Bradford — Destination — Instructions— When to Depart — Where and When to Meet.

CHAPTER XXIII.

Spirit F. R. S. Present— What He Says— Dallas Leaves Bradford — Wilson Leaves Bradford — Experience — Wilson and Dallas Meet at Buffalo — Meet Spirit Sumner — Instructs Wilson and Dallas — Leave Buffalo for Washington, D. C. — At Washington — Meet Spirit Mitchell— Mitchell Criticises Manner of Registering- Enemy Discover Wilson's and Dallas' Absence — Effort to Trace— Ordered to Proceed to Charlotte, N. C— Leave Washin>^ton — At Charlotte — Meet Spirit Mitchell— Informed That Enemy had Traced to Buffalo — Ordered to Savannah, Ga. — At Savannah — Meet Spirit Mitchell — Efforts of Enemy to Find Wilson and Dallas— Ordered to Jacksonville, Fla. — Meet Spirit Mitchell— Keep Advised — Spirit Mitchell Consults R. R. Time-TaWe— Meet Spirit Mason— Ordered to St. Angustine, Fla.

CHAPTER XXIV.

At St. Augustine, Florida— Meet SjBirits Mitchell and

3DY CONTENTS.

Mason — Spirits Select Quarters — Inform Wilson and Dallas — Move Into Quarters — Pleasantly Situated — Visit by Spirits Mirchell and Mason — What They Say — Getting Ready For Work — Meeting Appointed — Prepared Telegraph Instrument — Somethini^ New in Telegraphy — Watch E.-^tablished— Visits by Spirits Mitchell, F. R. S. and Shoemaker — Give Password- Wall Built — Wires Beinsc Constructed— Enemv Still in Buffalo, N. Y. — Question Asked Shoemaker — His Answ^er— Danger of Discovery- — Visited by F. R. S. — Spirit Telegram — Explains How Enemy Discovered Wilson's and Dallas' Absense — The Effect — Being Traced— Manner of Registering Criticised — System of Wires— Visit by Spirit Sumner — What He Says — He Loves theSouth — Visit by Spirits Sumner and F. R. S.— Trouble— Dallas' Mail— Rothstein Writes Elder Dallas — Father Alarmed — Dallas' Uncle on the Hunt —Spirits Sent to Scotland— Writes Lctter'to J. G.— Plan Formulated — Dallas Writes His Father — How Arranged — Visit by Spirit Eddy — What He Says- Telegram by Spirit Sumner — Traced to Washington, D. C. — Controlled bv Sumner.

'Page 472

CHAPTER XXV.

Spirit Dr. Shoemaker Present — Enemy Still Tracing — A Surprise for Wilson— Meets Spirit Brother — What He Says — Meets Spirit Mother — What She Says — Dr. Shoemaker Talks — Strange Spirit Introduced — Proved To Be a Friend — On Judicial Bench in Earth Life — What He Sa3's— Spirits Mitchell and Mason Entertained— Spirits Sumner and F. R. S, Present — Came From Wa.«hinfirton, D. C. — Liable To Be Discovered — Enemv Verv Determined — Now In Charlotte, N. C. — Wilson and Dallas Ordered to Return to Bradford, Pa.— All Hope Gone— Spirit F. R. S.'8 Parting Telegram— Leave St. Augustine — At Bradford — Meeting Appointed — ^To Invite Friends — Meet Spirits Sumner, Shoemaker and Mitchell— J. S. G. Present— Enemy Trace to Jacksonville, Fla.— What Saved Wilson— Controlled— Effect on J. S. G.— Telegrams From

CONTENTS. XV

Spirit Shoemaker— To Go To Lily Dale— Wall Collapsed—Visit by Spirit Judge Corbett— A Surprise — Wilson and Dallas Assaulted— Pope Aggressor— How Rescued- Explained .

CHAPTER XXVI.

At Lily Dale — Meet Spirits Mitchell and Mason — Special Meeting Arranged — Meet Spirits Shoemaker and F. R. S. — Cordiality Extended — Important Message — Directed by Spirit F. R. S. — Comments on Trip South — Wall Stationed — Danger — Carefully Guarded by Spirits Mitchell and Mason — Comments on Assault — Trying Experiment — Advice Given — Hope for Success — Return to Bradford — Meet Spirit Mason — Special Meeting Arranged — Meet Spirits Sumner, F. R. S. and Shoemaker — Plan Changed — Dallas to Go to Buffalo, N. Y. — Wilson to Remain in Bradford, Pa. — Preliminaries — Efforts of Enemy to Ridicule Spiritists — Instructions — Messages From Spirits Sumner, F. R. S. and Shoemaker— Spirit Mason Expert Telegrapher—Message Translated and Transmitted — Wall Opened — Visit by Strange Spirit — Wall Closed.

Page 51&

CHAPTER XXVII.

Important Meeting — Wilson, Galbraitb, Dallas, and Spirits F. R. S., Mitchell and Mason Present— The Object — A Wonderful Message — Important Move — Ego After Passing Divide — Plan Disclosed — Dallas and Wilson to Separate— The Object— Outlook For Success — Instructions — Dallas to Leave Buffalo — Wilson to Remain in Bradford— To Meet in Near Future — Powers to be Submitted— Its Effect— Revolution in Doctrines — Message by Spirit Shoemaker — What He Says — Great Confidence — Predicts Success— Dallas Leaves Buffalo— Settles in Portland— Message From Spirit Mitchell— Difficulties Arise— Delay— Spirit Von Hdmholtz Joins Force— Complications Arise — Success Doubtful— Another Wonderful Messafi:e— Spirit Shoeto Withdmw Rcsstaacc— Scfoscd— to Ptooeed^PaSaie Admitted— Csimc Bxplain-

Introduction

''Truth is stranger than fiction, and life is, after all, a mystery." Life being a mystery what shall we say of death? "Death," wrote Faber, '48 an unsurveyed land, an unarranged science." Henry Drummond wrote: "Poetry draws near death only to hover over it for a moment and withdraw in terror. History knows it simply as a universal fact. Philosophy finds it among the mystery of being, and the one great mystery of being not. All contributions of this dread theme are marked by one essential vagueness, and every avenue of approach seems darkened by impenetrable shadow."

What death is, and how it came to be established as a factor in the economy of nature has formed the theme of scientists, idealists, theorists and theists for many centuries; in fact since the creation of man. Some say it is a condition produced in evolving processes, which idea perhaps led Victor Hugo to say: "I am the tad-

XVlll INTRODUCTION.

pole of an archangel." In Mr. Herbet Spencer's search for the meaning of life, he encounters its antithesis Death, and pauses a moment to define it. He assumes as a matter of course what Death is depends upon what life is. His definition of life is: "the definite combinations of heterogeneous changes, both simultaneous and successive, in correspondence with co-existences and sequences." This definition may be profound,! h i but to the average mind perhaps a little complex; 1 ^^'^^T^ too much roiled with profundity to be clear.*' Mr. Spencer likely thought so, and he gives us a shorter definition: "the continuous adjustment of internal relations to external relations."

In the language of biology it would be said that man to be alive is to be in correspondence with his environments. When the organisms entering into the composition of man fail to discbarge the functions of assimilation, waste, reproduction and growth he is said to be dead. What then? Does it answer the question, "If a man die, shall he live again?" This question I believe is attributed especially to Job, but to my mind is undoubtedly an interrogatory propounded by millions of lips before the birth of Job, has puzzled myriads of human souls since, and with anxious mind and bated breath will continue to be asked until all doubt is removed and positive knowledge obtained. Man trembles in the presence of death. The rich and the poor, the high and the lowly pale at its approach, and look upon it as the king of terrors, as man's inu

INTRODUCTION. XIX

placable enemy with which no compromise is possible, pursuing him with relentless fury. A monster in every clime, sparing none. And in the language of the poet,

**He saw where'er he went, Whatever path in life he trod The goblin form beneath him stand Like trusty old assassin; in his aim Steady and sure as the eye of destiny." It may be that man looks upon death in a wrong light. Instead of its being an implacable enemy, is it not possible that it is a considerate friend? Many think it is not a part of nature as originally planned, but a factor brought about by man himself through disobedience of divine law. They believe man to have been perfect in the start, and designed to live in his body of flesh eternally, but fell from the perfect state and incurred death. They believe in special creation, and claim to hold the key to the situation here and hereafter. Others believe that man is a creature evolved from the lower orders of creation and is continually getting better intellectually, morally and spiritually, and that physical death is as much a factor in the economy of nature, as originally planned, as physical birth. Some say that death ends all; others, that it is a birth into another condition of life. By far the greater number, however, say they "don't know," but wish they did.

Many say that man is a structure composed exclusively of matter, and that there is nothing

INTRODUCTION.

in or about human or comparative anatomy, but what the imrivalled dissectors Swammerdaniy Winslow and many others have discovered by scalpel or microscope. Others say that man has a soul which they define as the ^^ the personality, the individual consciousness; that man has a spiritual nature as well as a corporeal; that the real man is a spirit with an oi^anized form composed of spiritual substance which survives physical death and maintains continued identity after death.

So men come and go having various ideas on the subject of death, its meaning and result. It strikes me that the only possible way to become enlightened on the subject is to consult s^mefine

;hoJaas^exgeriepgedit. I think all thinking men will agree with me on this point; but can that be done? This question was in the mind of the great Shakespeare, evidenced by the dialogue between Glendower and Hotspur:

"Glen— I can call spirits irom the vasty deep.

Hot — ^Why so can I, or so can any man;

But will they come when you do call them?"

The word science means knowledge and when used to designate some particular knowledge along special lines of investigation it is given a name. Science has devoted itself for many centuries "to the cataloguing of facts and the discovery of laws." If one wishes to find out something about geology he must consult the toiler in his quarry; about botany, the worker in his garden; about biology, the investigator in

I

INTRODUCTION.

laboratory; of astronomy the toiler in his observatory; of history, the plodder in his library; of archaeology, the student in his museum, of psychology, the psychic in his study and of spirit return, the medium in his receptive mood, and so on through nature.

After all science is what a natural world says to natural man. It is nature addressing the understanding^ of man; before the knowledge is obtained it is a myster^^; afterwards the mystery vanishes. It is so in every field of human thought and investigation.

Sir William Thompson, a very able scientist, in his address before the British Association in 1871 said: **Sciencc is bound by the everlastini law of honor to face fearlessly every probleig) which can fairly be presented to it." So it would seem that science lias a duty to perform as well as a mission to follow, and if that be so, spirit phenomena have as much claim to the earnest consideration and honest investigation of science as any other phenomena in nature.

Among the men and women of science and letters; past and present; who affirm that spirits of the so-called dead can and do hold converse with the so-called living, are Prof. Chalis, of Cambridge, England; W. P. Barrett, Professor of Physics in the Royal College of Science, Dublin; Gustav T. Fechner, Professor of Physics in the University of Leipsic; Lord Rayleigh, P. R. S., Professor of Physics in the University of Cambridge; Prof. Scheibner, Teacher of Mathematics in the Uni-

XXll INTRODUCTION.

versity of Leipsic; W. E. Weber, Professor of Physics in tht University of Gottenburg; Franz Hoffman, Professor of Philosophy, Wurtzburg University; Prof. Wagner, Geologist, University of Russia; Prof. Butlerof, Chemist, Russia; Prof. F. ZoUner, Leipsic, Author of transcendental Physics; Prof. Nees Von Bsenbeck, President of the Royal Academy of Sciences, Germany; Benjamin F. Wade, of Ohio, Ex-United States Senator; Ex-Senator Howard, of Michigan; N. P. Tallmage, Ex-Governor of Wisconsin; Sir Edward Bulwer Lytton; Alfred Tennyson, Poet Laureate; Mrs Browning; Oliver Johnson, Former Editor of Christian Union; Joseph Jefferson, the celebrated actor; M. Theirs, Ex-President of F,rance; Dr. Robert Chambers; Hiram Powers, the Sculptor; Lord Dunraven; Honorable Alex. Aksakoff, Imperial Counsel, St. Petersburg; William Lloyd Garrison, of Boston; Dr. Robert Hare; Judge John W. Edmunds, of New York; Richard Hodgson, Professor of Psychology at Cambridge University, Eag.; James H. Hyslop, Professor of Logic and Mental Science at Columbia University, U. S. A.; Rev. Minot J. Savage; W.T. Ste^id, Editor of the Review of Reviews, and many othere.

If anv should ask me how I would answer Hotspur's interrogatorN^, I would refer them to the record following. When I wrote the record or any part of it, or what I had seen, felt and heard concerning spirit return I had no notion of having it published. Each record was written immediately after the occurrence therein

INTRODUCTION. XXIU

related, and was intended for my own convenience for future reference. My experiences are to me so wonderful, and facts so startling that I have concluded that they belong to the world and not to me alone. I have no pecuniary purpose to serve, and if I were seeking fame or notoriety I certainly would choose a different <:ourse than placing before the public this volume, for I am well aware that such literature is in no sense popular with the reading public.

I also know that by many friends, acquaintainces and strangers, I will be unkindly criticised, my motive impugned and word doubted. However, it matters not to me. I state the facts as they occurred. The reader must judge of their merit and demerit. My only purpose in this publication is to inform those who care to know of the evidence I have received of life after death; of continued personality and identity in a sphere greater than ours after the disintegration of the physical body; in what manner I obtained the evidence and by whom given.

"Only this, nothing more.*'

The Author.

Bradford, Pa., May 15, 1900.

CHAPTER I.

The First Rap— The First Sitting With Kramer and Dallas— Who Kramer and Dallas Are— How it Came About — Dallas Developes Wonderful Power — Can Plainly See Spirits and Distinctly Hear What They Say— Perfect in Clairvoyance and Clairaudience — The Spirit of Dr. Shoemaker Appears— The Doctor Talks— How He Identifies Himself.

Several years ago, while living at home with my father and mother on a farm in Crawford County, Pa., it so happened that on a particular evening my father and mother left their home to spend the evening \vith a neighbor and his family, leaving at their home two brothers and one sister together with myself. A neighbor's boy, by name James Johnson, called at my father's house to spend the evening with us during our parents' absence. As the evening wore on, and after we had tired of several plays^ games and pranks, the neighbor's boy said that he had been reading during the day in some newspaper that some people could produce what

28 death; thb ueaning and result.

the sounds. But was there inteliigence directing it?

After some days of experience, and, in fact, annoyance, with and by the raps, and in order to find the cause, if possible, we formulated a code of signals whereby if intelligence were behind the force we could find out the faet. Our code of signals by raps was simple and was this; one rap should signify yes, two raps, don't know, and three raps, no. When this code of signals was announced by us the force producing the raps seemed to be pleased, and manifested their pleasure by a succession of rapping. We found that in answer to oral questions by us propounded to them that besides force producing the raps there was intelKgence directing them. We were limited by our code to answers to direct questions, and in order to have the vocabulary more extended we hit on the expedient of calling over the letters of the alphabet, slowly, and a letter which the unseen force desired set down by us, by pen or pencil, when thus called over, should be indicated by a distinct rap by tlie forces.

In that way we succeeded in conversing with them quite freel3'. The unseen force told us that they were the spirits of men and women who at one time dwelt on this planet in bodies such as we then possessed, some of whom claimed to ^

be spirits of relatives and friends of our family, and some the spirits of persons who were strangers to us. Since this occurrence, and until dbath; ths meaning and resxtlt. 29

September 19th 1893 I have given the matter trat little attention. Now and then, as opportsnfties afforded, I would sit in what is called a spiritual circle, and I have had a few private sittings with what are called spirit mediums. Nothing, however, came of it in either case of importance to me. While a force seemed to manifest, and some intelligence displayed, to me it was vague, uncertain and unsatisfactory. If it were spirits producing the phenomena, as was claimed, their possibilities to manifest appeared to be so limited, that to establish their identity beyond doubt or cavil was a failure, and I had about given up all hope of getting anything out of so called spirit manifestations which would carry absolute conviction to my consciousness that there was life and continued identity after death. I was in this frame of mind in relation thereto at the beginning of occurrences which happened along these lines and are noted in the record following.

A short time previous to September 19th 1898 I formed the acquaintance of J. L. Kramer of Bradford, Pa. He is a German by birth having immigrated from his native land to America at the age of 17 years; he is now about 30 years of age. He has been a resident of Bradford, Pa. since 1886. He has dark hair, black eyes, fair 't complexion, not very robust, has fairly good