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my defence of Christianity has elicited from the general body of Christian Spiritualists. In fact, however little agreeable it may be to certain individuals, so long as I have a voice or a pen, will exert them on behalf of the noblest and most beneficent religion that this dark and calamitous earth ever possessed. I should deem myself worthy of all contempt if any calumny or abuse could deter me from standing firm by that divine revelation which has done so much for mankind, and which will do infinitely more when men and their governments cease to prostitute its sacred name to their base ambitions and vices, when they really conform themselves to its celestial principles of peace, unity and love.-Farewell!

W. H.

ON AN EXTRACT FROM MR. HENRY JAMES.

To the Editor of the "Spiritual Magazine."

March 10th, 1870.

SIR,-In your present number is a series of extracts from Mr. Henry James, given without note or comment. In one of these, the writer, after speaking of the pretension to any individual ability to keep the Divine law as insufferably arrogant in the Divine sight, goes on to say ::-"And I presume, on the other hand, that there is no attitude of mind more intrinsically respectable in the Divine sight, more cordially delightful to the Divine mind, than that which should exhibit the thief or the adulterer, totally indifferent to the unrighteousness which is conventionally charged upon his private character, while he calmly referred all the evil of his conduct to the wholly unscientific aspect of our social relations; to the shockingly imperfect way in which the sentiment of human equality or fellowship is yet organized in institution."

Mr. James is a bold though erratic thinker, who does not shrink from pushing a principle to its extreme logical consequences whatever these may be ; and in the present instance these consequences may be strictly deducible from the doctrine he affirms that man has in himself no power either of good or evil;-that every affection and every thought, no less than every act, is but a necessary result of the spiritual influence in which, all unconsciously to himself, he has been immersed from birth. A doctrine, however, more debasing and pernicious it would be difficult to conceive. It represents man as a mere unconscious instrument on which angels and fiends discourse celestial or infernal strains-a puppet pulled by invisible wires; and human life as a mere play of marionettes. It places a Guyon and a Greenacre on the same level. There is no virtue in vanquishing temptation, no vice in yielding to it. It may no doubt be very pleasant to "the thief or the adulterer" to " calmly refer all the evil of his conduct to the wholly unscientific aspect of our social relations," and be very comforting to him to be told that "there is no attitude of mind more intrinsically respectable in the Divine sight, more cordially delightful to the Divine mind"—if only he can bring himself to believe it; but I venture to affirm that in the vast majority of instances, even the thief or the adulterer would in his inmost heart revolt at the immorality and blasphemy of this pretence. The sense of sin, the haunting remorse, the upbraiding conscience teach a different lesson, and one which no sophistry can effectually hide from the consciously guilty soul. I cannot believe that the Spiritual Magazine, in inserting the extract to which I have drawn attention, intended to sanction its teaching; it surely must inadvertently, and by some oversight have found its way there.

AN OLD SPIRITUALIST.

THE

Spiritual Magazine.

MAY, 1870.

DR. WILLIS'S EXPERIENCES.

AT a reception given at the Spiritual Institute to Dr. F. L. H. Willis, of New England, on his brief visit to this country last summer, Dr. Willis gave the following relation of his experiences as a medium and of the treatment to which it had subjected him. Dr. Willis is now travelling in Europe for the benefit of his health, but is expected soon to be again in England. His presence amongst us will enhance the interest of his history, and increase the sympathy which all Spiritualists, and indeed all truth-loving and honourable men must feel with him for the wholly unmerited persecution of which he was the subject.* Dr. Willis said ::

"I was a student at Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass., in the Theological department; had passed through the course and was fitting myself for the ministry. I had known nothing of Spiritualism-literally nothing. I had seen some comments upon it, but if I gave it any thought at all, it was to regard it as a delusion that only the most ignorant and superstitious could participate in. During my course of studies my health failed me, and my medical advisers recommended a sea voyage. Accordingly, in the year 1854, I took a passage to South America. I was excessively sea-sick for 14 days on the passage, and during that time was conscious of some very singular experiences, such as I had never known before. I heard very strange and unaccountable sounds around me in my state-room. I felt, at times, as if a hand was laid upon my forehead; several hands were laid upon my person, and the contact seemed to relieve me

* Since this was written Dr. Willis has, we learn, returned to America. N.S.-V.

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in my sufferings. I gave but little thought to it, however, fancying it was probably owing to my diseased condition; but Í finally learned what it was. I had some of these experiences after I arrived at Rio de Janeiro; but returning to Boston, I called on some friends, and in the course of conversation with them, I was giving some account of my experiences during my absence, when suddenly one of the ladies interrupted my conversation by saying, 'Mr. Willis, I believe you are a medium.' I had scarcely heard of Spiritualism, and I looked at her and said, 'What do you mean?' 'Why, I mean a medium for tipping, rapping, and so on.' I expressed my opinion that that it was a contemptible delusion. It was, however, proposed that we should sit and see what resulted. The table was drawn to the centre of the room-the sun was shining, and we took our seats, the lady, her two daughters, and myself. We had not been sitting at the table long before I observed some curious movements. I thought the young ladies were producing the movements in sport, but they assured me they had nothing to do with them, and they sat back from the table and drew their skirts away so that I might see that no foot was in contact with it; and you can imagine my surprise when I knelt down on the floor and saw that the table was suspended from the floor at least 14 inches and was not in contact with anything to cause such elevation. My moving from my seat undoubtedly broke the influence, and the table fell to the floor. I resumed my seat, my right hand lying on the table, and was in deep thought as to what that phenomenon could mean, when suddenly I felt a peculiar sensation in the muscles of the right arm descending to the hand, which then commenced an involuntary movement over which my will had no control whatever. One of the ladies, who had seen something of the manifestations, said, 'Why! it is going to write.' In my ignorance of the whole thing I had not even heard of a writing medium. A pencil was placed upon the table, which my hand eagerly seized by involuntary_action, and commenced writing in different handwritings. Each peculiar style of writing had attached to it the signature of a particular friend of some person present, and among them was the handwriting of my mother, who went to spirit life in my infancy; and it had so chanced that I had never seen her writing; but upon my procuring some afterwards and comparing it, it proved à fac-simile. The messages were assurances of their love, interest, and continued presence. That was my first introduction to Spiritualism.

"In the evening some gentlemen came to dine with me, and hearing of these remarkable occurrences, of course their curiosity was excited, and they wished to see something of the kind. We

sat, and phenomena occurred of a character even more remarkable. I felt something inducing me to go to a pianoforte, and I took my seat at the instrument-a grand piano, weighing at least 1,000 lbs. At that time my health was as frail as it is at present. I commenced playing a simple air on the piano, and to my surprise the instrument rose up and down upon the floor, and with sufficient force to jar the windows of the house. I commenced playing a march and the piano kept most perfect time. Then I changed to a waltz, then to a polka. I had no knowledge of music at that time-and at every change of the music the movements changed-and so violently was the instrument moved that the gentlemen took hold of it and endeavoured to stay its movements, but they could not. At last five of them got on the top of it, and the instrument was then taken up and swayed about with great power.

"Speaking of that manifestation reminds me that an evening after, a sceptic who had seen it, advanced several theories, the first of course based upon the assumption that Mr. Willis was a trickster, and that the movements were produced by my feet acting as levers; but I told him I would kneel on the floor and that would, perhaps, prove to him whether his theory was correct or otherwise. I did so, and also allowed him to hold my hands over my shoulders; and yet whilst in that position the piano was taken up and violently moved. He then advanced the theory that I was a biologist, and that there was really no movement in the piano. 'Well!' said I, will you be so kind as to put your foot under it?' which he did, but he limped for two months afterwards. My mediumship rapidly advanced. I passed through the trance state, and in this condition the impersonations of character were indeed remarkable. One of the earliest influences I had was that of an old eclectic or botanical doctor who had passed from life in the city of Boston some 25 years before. I was then about 19 years of age, and was, in my normal condition, quite ignorant of medical matters; had never studied physiology, and except a mere smattering knew nothing of it. My studies had been in quite a different direction; I had never even looked into a medical work. But when influenced by this old physician, there was no question that could not be propounded by me, none that I could not answer correctly and promptly; and under that influence I made very many remarkable cures indeed, cures considered miracles at that time.

"At that time very little was known of Spiritualism ; that is, it had been working many years quietly against every obstacle among the more uneducated class of people; but it had not made its way into aristocratic circles. Therefore, from my position as a student of divinity in Harvard

[The Spiritual Magazine, May 1, 1870.

College, these manifestations, which could not be kept quiet, created an intense excitement, and the noise of them came to the ears of the Professors at Cambridge, and it was felt to be a disgrace to the institution.

"Some of the most remarkable manifestations I have had were the appearance of spirit hands of various sizes, from the large brawny muscular hand of the labourer to the delicate exquisite hand of the lady, and these hands were seen manipulating instruments which were played upon in a remarkable manner. The instruments were usually placed upon the floor beneath the table at which we were seated. Our séances were never dark: usually the rooms were brilliantly lighted. Sometimes the spirits would request that the light be dimmed, but I never, except upon one or two occasions, went into a dark room; darkness, however, always intensified the power, but it was disagreeable to me. The instruments at these séances consisted of an accordion, bells, a drum, a guitar, and so forth. They were all played in perfect tune, and oftentimes in response to the mental requests of those forming the circle. One of the most beautiful manifestations of that kind was the hand of a lady which was often seen manipulating the strings of the guitar. I could not nor can I now use that instrument; the music was ravishing, and this beautiful hand was always seen in the dim light beneath the table. It terminated at the fore arm in the most exquisite drapery. Sometimes these hands would be placed beneath the table-cover, never in the light, and in this way we could take hold of them and receive their grasp.

"Then I had the flower manifestation. I was seated one evening at the house of a friend who had lost (as we sometimes very inappropriately say) a lovely child of four years named Johnny. She had heard that at a séance in the neighbourhood leaves had been brought, and she thought that flowers also could be presented; she propounded this question to the little boy, 'Johnny !'-Three raps-he had a peculiar rap-Johnny, can you bring mamma some flowers?'Yes.' To-night?'No.'

We were holding these séances every Saturday night; and for six Saturday evenings the lady asked that question. On the seventh Saturday night we took our seats at the table; the doors of the room were locked, no ingress or egress being allowed. The question was asked,' Will you bring mamma's flowers to-night?' 'Yes,' was the answer. We had a great variety of manifestations. At eleven o'clock we rose to break up the circle, when suddenly I felt a peculiar sensation like the chill of death, and sunk into my seat. My friends, supposing I was again influenced, resumed their seats. I involuntarily took a pencil and paper, and