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EXPERIENCES IN SPIRITUALISM WITH MR. D. D. HOME. BY VISCOUNT ADARE, [Windham Thomas Wyndham-Quin 1841-1926] WITH INTRODUCTORY REMARKS BY THE EARL OF DUNRAVEN. [Viscount Adare's father]  [1869]

From Séance 55, account of Viscount Adare's father 

After these movements had ceased, Home said, “I feel a hand on me, pressing against my chest; and now it has, I think taken the flowers from my button-hole."

The idea came into my mind that perhaps these flowers were intended for me; I quietly laid one hand open upon my knee. Almost immediately a flower was placed very delicately in it. I then felt another flower, and tried to grasp the hand holding it, but did not succeed; it seemed to vanish, leaving the flower in my hand.

Some curious manifestation now took place.

The cloth on the table was lifted up, fully six inches, as by a hand. This occurred, along the side next the window several times. Mr Home saw the hand. Mrs. Wynne became nervous, which was to be regretted, as she might probably have felt the hand as had been told her at the commencement of the seance. There were vibrations and tiltings of the table, and various kinds of raps.

Presently, the alphabet was called for, and the following given:

“Even should we be taken to a distant heaven, would it not be our greatest joy to fly as the-“ Here the message stopped ; and we heard a rustling sound about the box in the window, which lasted two or three minutes. Adare said, “I am sure I know what this means. "

My hand was on my knee. I suddenly felt something touch it, which I laid hold of, and drew out from under the table; it was an arrow. We then re-commenced the alphabet; and the word “descends " was given, thus finishing the sentence : “as the arrow descends." 

During this manifestation, as also when the flowers were being placed in my hand, Mr. Home was sitting quite still, with both his hands on the table. A sheet of paper was lying on the edge of the table next the window, on which a pencil was placed. We presently saw the pencil moving about on the paper. Mr. Home saw the fingers holding it. Adare noticed it also, more than once, but of an undefined form.

We now heard something moving upon the box by the window, and a heavy substance fell near Adare's feet. Some of us at the same moment perceived a decided smell of brandy.  Adare said, “I know what it is."

The following message was then given: “You must not take for your cold, stimulants.”

Adare asked if he was to take none at all. The answer was by two raps, meaning, “perhaps," or “a little.” We afterwards found that it was Adare's flask which had been thrown under the table. On examining it no brandy appeared to have escaped.

Soon after this a curious- manifestation occurred about the table, just like the sound and motion of the vibration on board a steamer. This was succeeded by the following message: “We deeply regret, but we have no more power. God abide with you."

During this beautiful seance, which lasted nearly two hours, the table was twice raised up from a foot to eighteen inches.  The messages were spelled partly by raps and partly by tilts of the table.  I was touched on two occasions, rather delicately, on the knee. The whole seance was quiet, soothing, and very impressive.