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Madam Home - D D Home his life his mission - Testimony of Mr S Brittan from New York, USA
Identifier
024597
Type of Spiritual Experience
Background
Mr S Brittan a visitor from New York, USA was at the Elmer’s residence sitting and talking, when the following happened. Home was about 19 at the time. He subsequently published this account:
Did Home tap in to Mr Brittan or was he actually in contact with Hannah Brittan? Both were alive, as such the contact is to a bodied soul, but it is unknown which perceptions he was reading – those of the lady or those of Mr Brittan, who clearly remembered the scene with some emotion “and when I last saw her, the terrible reality, so graphically depicted in the scene I have attempted to describe, was present in all its mournful details before me”.
A description of the experience
Quoted in D D Home his life his mission – Madam Home
While spending a few days at the house of Mr. Rufus Elmer, Springfield, I became acquainted with Mr. Home. One evening Mr Home, Mr. and Mrs. Elmer, and I were engaged in general conversation, when suddenly, and most unexpectedly to us all, Mr. Home was deeply entranced. A momentary silence ensued, when he said, 'Hannah Brittan is here,' I was surprised at the announcement for I had not even thought of the person indicated for many days, or perhaps months, and we parted for all time when I was but a little child.
I remained silent, but mentally inquired how I might be assured of her actual presence. lmmediately Mr. Home began to exhibit signs of the deepest anguish. Rising from his seat, he walked to and fro in the apartment, wringing his hands and exhibiting a wild and frantic manner and expression. He groaned audibly, and often smote his forehead and uttered incoherent words of prayer. Ever and anon he gave utterance to expressions like the following:
'Oh, how dark! What dismal clouds! What a frightful chasm! Deep down far, far down, I see the fiery flood. Save them from the pit! ... I see no way out. There's no light! The clouds roll in upon me, the darkness deepens! My head is whirling,.' . ..
During this exciting scene, which lasted perhaps half an hour, I remained a silent spectator, Mr. Home was unconscious, and the whole was inexplicable to Mr. and Mrs. Elmer.
The circumstances occurred some twelve years before the birth of Mr. Home. No person in all that region knew aught of the history of Hannah Brittan, or that such a person ever existed. But to me the scene was one of peculiar and painful significance. She was highly gifted by nature, and endowed with the tenderest sensibilities. She became insane from believing in the doctrine of endless punishment; and when I last saw her, the terrible reality, so graphically depicted in the scene I have attempted to describe, was present in all its mournful details before me.
Thirty years have scarcely dimmed the recollection of the scene which was thus re-enacted to assure me of the actual presence of the spirit. That spirit has since informed me that her present life is calm, peaceful, and beautiful, and that the burning gulf, with all its horrible imagery, existed only in the traditions of men, and in the fitful wanderings of her distracted brain.