The Missing Link in Modern Spiritualism

e Judges-High Class of Minds Interested-President Eliphalet Nott-Pecuniary Ar

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other such hazardous attempt; but the fiat had gone forth. We had debated the question a long time before we could consent to subject ourselves to ano

a Universalist minister, had preached in Albany, and was much respected there. They were greatly astonished by the evidence they received during the séance; and it proved to them clearly that their communications w

pping to be heard by the audience. We did not, however, dare to attempt such a venture until we had made another experiment in our own city (Rochester). Only five months previously we h

s would accompany him on the platform." The hall was crowded. The lecturer was eloquent and the audience pleased. The rappings were profuse. P

ent to our true and tried friends in Rochester. We did not even imagine that we were then leaving our dear old home for a new one in a new city, when the proper ti

eave home, and Calvin, who had grown up in our family (a son and brother by adoption), was

-mother, Maggie, Katie, and myself, with Calvin as our escort. We engaged Van Vechten Hall. It had been previously announced through the papers that "th

any more before the public, we had been forced to let the world

es adjacent. Our success was great, as the spirits had promised. We r

y for nearly two weeks, when I received a note

d old days of Cotton Mather and of the hangings at Salem were past, and after the conscientious but narrow bigot resumed his seat, no further notice was taken of the good man or of his suggestion. I may remark in passing, that the spirits who extorted from M

ow of what denomination, named Dr. Staats, was so far exercised in his mind by the reports of our meetings at the Delavan House, that he applied to

Morning

13,

e so to do, who say they would be pleased to call on you this afternoon, at four o'clock, as they will then be at leisure. Can you accommodate them

reat

respe

C. Cu

dicial minds, seeking only the truth, and not the gratification of hostile prejudices. The proprietor of the house, Mr. Rozelle, was ill in bed; but he rose, dressed himse

e us, and have us arrested for "blasphemy against the holy scriptures," a strong army was raised up for

xception-were brought through our difficulties in triumph, although, at times, we could not see how we were to escape the entanglements often thrown around us. We placed

parts of the country, urging us to come and afford them an opportunity for themselves to investigate. Of course

. We usually met the higher order of intelligences; as the conceited nabob and the equally conceited representative of

shall preserve them. They should be placed in some historical library, so that generations yet to come may realize the

h we resided. The latter was nearly, if not quite, an octogenarian, and certainly cut a somewhat remarkable figure by the side of his young wife and their baby of ten months. On one occasion he was so delighted with some communication, addressed to him by his pet name of childhood, from his long-departed mother, that he was overflowing in his expressions of gratitude, and he f

est in the house. Of course our expenses were very heavy; often amounting to $150 a week. Our regular charge was $1 each person, and, for a private séance of an hour, $5 for two or more persons. These figures had been prescribed to us. We never heard of any complaints of dissatisfaction, on the part of our visitors, w

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n Albany, where we began in May, 1850, what may be called the first stage of the fulfi

hose conduct toward us in Troy was cruel and unchristianlike. They insinuated that if the mediums were men their husbands would not become so deeply enlisted in this unpopular, and, seemingly, weird subject. They adopted the absurd theory of toe and knee rapping. One lady especially distinguished herself by her intellectual antics in this her line of procedure. (Her husband was much younger than herself, handsome and prosperous.) She became violent in her denunciations. I well knew that, with the aid of Heaven, we co

ounced the fact, saying, "Ladies, this is expressly for you." He accompanied us to the balcony, where, with uncovered heads, the crowd saluted us with their heart

e which befell my young child-sister Margaretta, or Maggie, at this same city of Troy, or rather West Troy, in the following month of November, 1850. It is

se of Mr. R. M. Bouton. The mob was composed of a very low order of society, and were urged to do the work by prompters, who kept themselves in the background. Though not on the same scale of dimensions in numbers, mother and I at a later day concurred in recognizing in the riotous mob in New York, in July, 1863, features in the conduct of the men and women (the latter seemed not less savage than the former) that curiously reminded us of the terrible scenes of West Troy. They had evidently been put up to regard this

, November

veral nights. Five villanous-looking fellows are watching the house night and day. She has never left my house unattended, which has foiled them thus far. On returning late from East Troy, a few nights past, with my wife, her sister, Maggie, and myself, in our family coach, when we reached the river we found no boat. The five men above mentioned were there, and they tried to persuade my driver to go by the way of the long Troy bridge (a glorious place for murder). We did not go, but they followed us home, and after we had retired attempted to break into the room occupied by Margaret

is letter, dated t

into the house; but we were prepared for them, and they

turday), and on Sunday I received five teleg

, November

received from West Tro

lf, by Monday night. It is of vital im

. Bou

tely telegraphed to know its meaning,

, November

een received from West Tr

day night, 18th inst. It

. Bou

him to explain the situation of my sister,

, November

s just been recei

A. Lea

nd well, but in great d

. Bou

ast the next morning. When I reached Sc

rsation with two men, near the front of the car, very like himself in appearance, and soon returned, taking his seat beside me again. I had moved to the other end of the seat, and maintained my position, thereby compelling him to press through in front of me with some difficulty. When again

and was thrown off his course by my youthful appearance. He had doubtless expected to meet mother. They had made inquiries of a passenger who had taken the car from

dark. As I stepped out of the car on to the platform, I saw a carriage standing in front of the hotel, and supposed it w

you by your resemblance to Maggi

stols lying on the seat in front of me. It is difficult to say which I most feared, the mob or the pistols. The religious telegraphic operator had evident

hrown, breaking everything in their way. We crouched beneath the furniture, and lay on the floor to escape the bullets, expecting at every moment some stray shot or stone would strike us. (Our hiding-room was in the interior of the house.) The mob threatened and did all in their power to destroy us; but, knowing the gentlemen inside were so well prepared for them, they retired for the night. They, however, continued their watchfulness until we left the place. Mr. Bouton's house stood in the outskirts of West Troy, near a lumber yard, a capital hiding-place for a mob, and I am not sure there were any policemen there at that time. Poor Maggie's nerves were terribly u