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From Matter to Spirit – The Result of Ten Years Experience in Spirit Manifestation – Sophia Elizabeth De Morgan

Some years ago, Miss Emma Jay, now I believe married and in America, came to England. The manifestation of the voice in Miss Jay's case was very remarkable. During the impression she appeared like a person under very powerful mesmerism, with gasping, twitching of the muscles, and other very perceptible effects of the unseen magnetic influence.

When the system was quite brought under the controlling power, the eyes were shut; or if the lids were in the least degree open, the eyeballs were turned up, and the subject was, with very little variation, apparently in a state like that of some clairvoyantes.

A question was put to her; she waited for a minute, and then gave an answer, in expression, range of thought, and beauty of imagery, far surpassing anything she could achieve in her normal state. When out of the trance, she described herself as being quite passive, listening to her own words, and learning from the spirit, who had control over her organs, exactly as she would have done to the teaching of another person.

She said that explanations given through her were often quite unexpected, and contrary to her previous notions.

With a, very finely developed brain, and a nervous system calculated to receive and transmit the influence, the medium's education had not been at all proportionate to her natural abilities. Yet few persons, especially women, could have entered at all on questions which she, or the spirit controlling her, discussed and answered with great ability and clearness.

Miss Jay's voice and manner differed much when under different influences, but the phraseology was always, with variations, her own, and the chains of argument such as her well-organised brain was able to convey.