For a justification of the opinion of Spiritualism expressed above, I refer to the Records which follow.
On Thursday, March 13th, 1884, the Commission met at 508 S. 16th Street, at 8 P.M., for the examination of Mrs. S.E. Patterson, Spiritualistic Medium.
For the first test, a small piece of slate pencil was placed within a double slate, and the leaves fastened together with a screw, which passed through one wooden rim into the other. The Spirit-writing upon the slate should be indicated by the pencil appearing upon the outside of the slate. The slate was laid upon the Medium's lap for one hour and a-half without results.
Meanwhile the Medium wrote what purported to be messages from several Spirits upon slips of paper, the handwriting varying with each message. One message was signed Elias Hicks, another Lucretia Mott, another signed H.S. was compared with a message from Mr. Henry Seybert to Mr. T.R. Hazard the day before. The initials were somewhat different.
The Commission sat in a circle, the Medium at a small table with folding leaves.
One communication, signed E.H., declared that the person sitting opposite Mr. Hazard (Mr. Furness) was endowed with great Mediumistic powers.
The writing failing to appear on the slate it was opened, and Dr. Leidy, having written upon a slip of paper a question, enclosed it in the slate, which was again fastened.
After half an hour's waiting, no results being obtained, the Commission addressed some questions to the Medium and then adjourned.
The Medium described her sensations during the automatic writing as a constriction at the wrist.
She declared that she had no knowledge of what she wrote, was not distracted by noises, etc.
(Mr. Furness and Mr. Fullerton, however, noticed that she, when interrupted, glanced back over what she had previously written before continuing.)
She could not go into the trance state. Just before adjournment the Medium laid her hands upon the table and tried to produce "raps," but did not succeed.
Has been a Spiritualist for nine or ten years, but has always been possessed of unusual powers. As a child saw visions, etc.
Declares that she is most successful as a Slate Writer.
The Commission met at 508 S. 16th Street, at 8 P.M.