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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]

No. 64. Seance, Ashley House, March 29th, 1869.

Present:-Mr. Rudall, Mr. McKenzie, Mr. Jencken, Home, and myself. After a short time we experienced slight physical manifestations, raps, vibrations, &c, &e. The table was raised about one foot off the ground; it was raised a second time about two feet, and after remaining stationary in the air for some seconds, it rose to the height of at least five feet, rolling and swaying with a movement like that of a ship at sea; it descended slowly with a strong vibratory motion, accompanied by a sound resembling that of a railway train.

I asked if these peculiar movements had any definite meaning; the answer was

“Yes."

By asking several questions which were answered

“Yes" or "No," it appeared that the movements had reference to me, and that I ought to understand the meaning.

Flowers and fern leaves were brought from the chimney piece and given to us. We now at Mr. Rudall's suggestion, shut the folding doors, thereby excluding all light save that entering by the window. Horne went into a trance. He clapped his hands (the sign adopted by Adah Menken to signify her presence), and going to the window, folded the curtains round him, leaving only his head clear. We all saw a very curious appearance form itself above his head ; it looked at first like a lace handkerchief held out by a stick or support of some sort ; soon however it became more distinct and appeared to be a shadowy human form enveloped in drapery; it was about two feet in length.

Someone present remarked that it exceedingly resembled a “vignette " heading one of Adah Menken's poems. Home said (speaking as Menken)

“Yes, that is it, that is what I wish to imitate; I will try and make my form visible to you."

The surface of the wall to Home's right became illuminated three or four times ; the light apparently radiating from a bright spot in the centre. Across the portion of wall thus illuminated we repeatedly saw a dark shadow pass; it appeared to me to be rather the shadow past by a solid substance than the actual form itself. Home's collar stud dropped on the floor, and a spirit brought it and placed it on my head, touching my brow while doing so ; Home remarked that it was shining like a little star upon my forehead, he told me to take care of it until Dan should awake.

After Home awoke we had some more physical manifestations, flowers were again brought to us, we were all touched, Mr. Rudall  received several-messages, apparently from his father, the clock was made to strike in answer to some question, we heard a heavy step in the passage and the following doors were opened and shut, a sofa was moved from the wall to our table, and a chair was carried across the room.