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To me this correspondence between my little daughter Jessie and her spirit-sister is exceedingly interesting. I present the correspondence (which I have copied verbatim), leaving the reader to form his own conclusions. Mr. Mansfield's mediumship in answering sealed letters, I have already described in my former paper.

I accepted an engagement to lecture two Sundays in Brooklyn, and for the first time availed myself of the opportunity of visiting Plymouth Church to hear Henry Ward Beecher. I was highly interested in the sermon, which was as full of Spiritualism as one could wish, and in which he especially protested against the gross belief in the resurrection of the physical body. The church is large and circular, capable of accommodating nearly 2,000 people. There is no preacher on this Continent so popular as Henry Ward Beecher; wherever he speaks the church or lecture-hall is full to overflowing.

At one of my lectures at Brooklyn I met an old gentleman, Mr. J. P. Wilkinson, verging on 80. He had come from the country for the first time to sit with a medium, and I suppose mine was the first lecture on Spiritualism he had ever heard. I met him at a private house the next day, when he told me, with tears streaming from his aged eyes, of his experiences with a Miss Griffin, a medium, residing at Brooklyn; and he handed me a communication from his son in the spirit-life. Here it is :

Yet a little while I am with you now; yet it will not be a very great while, ere you will be with me, and my mother too. My death was like going to sleep quiet and peaceful. What rest-what happiness I enjoy! Still it could not be so if denied the privilege of visiting you.

There is nothing happens by chance here. Oh, no! It was right for me to go. My dear father, forgive me if I was not always right: I was too fond of my own way. I am carrying out all my plans here. Don't grieve for me; it makes me feel sad. But when you sit down in the quiet evening, and think of me, do not think me lost; I am around you, infinitely more happy than I could have been on earth; surrounded by every advantage-wonderfully cared for. There are few who live right in this world. If I had lived, I would not have been all you anticipated for me... Now, just look at it, father. Suppose I had lived— gone into the world, as I desired-how much worse you would feel than you do now to see me cheat and do wrong, like the world. God doeth all things well. You will not have to part from me: I will come to you: it will be a happy meeting. You will know then that you have been blest, for often when mortals are in the greatest sorrow, the Lord is blessing them most. Keep a good heart. Bright angels are around you. They bless you; for you are good to those that need your help. It is not time for you to come here yet. The angels give you a good work in the world yet; and that you sow in weakness will be raised in power. I am very sorry that I can't take some of your work. You are going away from here; but you are not going away from me. Remember, you can't go without me.

I asked Mr. Wilkinson how he was of his son made this communication?

satisfied that the spirit He said the medium

gave

the right name, "George," and personated the manner of his death by placing her hands firmly upon her head, and taking on herself the character of one dying from concussion of the brain. This was entirely satisfactory, for "George," who was a bricklayer or mason, lost his life from the fall of a chimney pot on his head.

I was struck with the manifest pleasure and grief of the old man, and parted with him assured that he had found a consolation in Spiritualism worth more than gold and silver.

PASSING EVENTS. THE SPREAD OF

SPIRITUALISM.

BY BENJAMIN COLEMAN.

ABRAHAM JAMES, THE Medium.

The practical in Spiritualism in a worldly sense is exceptional. Spiritualism commands as a rule no worldly rewards. On the contrary, those who have taken a prominent part in the dissemination of this, as yet, unpopular truth, have been called upon to make many sacrifices in their efforts to sustain and to promulgate it. Even the professional mediums-most of whom have been irresistibly pressed into its service-obtain but little of this world's goods, and all who enter its portals must be content to receive their reward in something better than the mere worldling seeks for.

There are, however, instances where wealth has followed from direct spiritual guidance; and the most remarkable of this character are those discoveries made through the mediumship of Mr. Abraham James-viz., the Artesian Well at Chicago, and the Oil Wells in Pennsylvania.

Mr. James's history is a highly interesting one. Of comparatively humble parentage and with a country-school education only, he commenced life on his father's farm at Chester, a small village in Pennsylvania. Leaving home he wandered about to various places, filling first a clerkship, then, having improved himself by study, he became teacher in a school, and afterwards conductor upon a railroad, commanding in all situations the regard and esteem of his employers, and bearing at all times the character of a steady, truthful young

man.

In his wanderings he visited California, and there he made the acquaintance of Mr. James Chandler, who introduced to him for the first time the subject of Spiritualism, and lent him Andrew Jackson Davis's first book-Nature's Divine Revelations -the perusal of which opened his mind to new thoughts and to the memory of some strange personal experiences which had occurred in past years. Returning to the Northern States he met a friend who was a confirmed Spiritualist, and by him James was induced to visit a test medium, who was influenced to enact the precise scene and incidents which accompanied his mother's last hours. The medium, controlled by the spirit of his mother (who was a Quakeress), then addressed Mr. James, giving him unmistakable proofs of her identity, and concluded an earnest appeal to be true to the "silent voice within," in the following prophetic words:-"Thou art a medium thyself, and if obedient to heavenly visions vouchsafed unto thee, and to the teaching of thy spirit guides, thou shalt prove a blessing to the children of men, and departing, leave foot-prints precious with sacred memories." This lady and "other noted mediums, not only revealed in a distinct manner his own mediumship, and the spiritual import of past premonitions and prophetic visions, but gave to his aspirational nature golden glimmerings of the great work he was commissioned to accomplish."

From this time Mr. James's spiritual gifts rapidly developed; he soon found that he possessed nearly every phase of mediumship, including trance, clairvoyance, drawing, speaking inspirationally and in many foreign languages, being in his normal condition unacquainted with any but the English tongue.

Mr. George A. Shufeldt, of Chicago, says of him—" He is a simple-minded man, perfectly truthful and upright in his character... with a full knowledge of the man-his antecedents, education, history-I know it to be a perfect impossibility for him in his natural state or unaided by the higher powers, to do what he has done and what he is doing every day of his life." At this time (1835) Mr. James was at Chicago, where it is known he discovered the Artesian well, which now, it is said, supplies that city with a million and a half gallons of the finest water per day. It is stated upon the authority of the same writer, and confirmed by hundreds of witnesses, that Mr. James, without any knowledge of the art of drawing or the science of geology, drew a series of maps illustrating the formation and stratification of the earth's crust

*Vide Biographical Sketch of Abraham James, by J. M. PEEBLES, a very interesting book recently published.

+ See Spiritual Magazine, Vol. I., New Series, page 3.

in that vicinity, before the work was commenced, and which proved subsequently when boring for the spring (discovered at the depth of 700 feet), to be strictly accurate and truthful. These drawings are said to be artistic, though they were done with great rapidity (the medium being unconscious, in a state of trance), "with from two to six pencils, and with one or both hands, each pencil doing a separate part of the work at the same time. It makes no difference whether it be in the light or dark, and indeed the best pictures are done in a dark room."

THE OIL WELLS OF PENNSYLVANIA.

The discovery made a few years ago of petroleum in Pennsylvania has been a mine of wealth to some of the adventurers; but as they sink their wells by guess work from surface examinations many have failed, and much labour and capital have been wasted.

The success which attended Mr. James's clairvoyant discovery at Chicago, brought him many tempting offers to visit the oilwell region of Pennsylvania; but his uniform reply was— 66 Gentlemen, I must move in these matters as I am moved upon," and for some time he resisted all temptations. At length, when entranced at a spiritual circle, he said, "The time is near when we shall take this medium into that country, and open up a vast territory in strict harmony with the principles of geological science-a territory rich in this production not ever dreamed of now by oil companies. The oil stratum will be fully reached by drilling through the fourth sand. . . . .. So sure as the prophet said, 'The rocks shall pour forth rivers of oil,' so sure will this work when commenced eclipse all others in that direction."

On the 31st of October, 1866, Mr. James made his first visit to Pleasantville in Pennsylvania, accompanied by three gentlemen, to examine some property belonging to one of the party, situated three miles south of that town. "Seated in a carriage with Mr. Eaton, they had proceeded but a little distance when Mr. James became violently influenced by his attending spirit guides. . . . The control becoming absolute,

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he was taken over the fence into a lot on the east side of the road, moving rapidly, and his companions following.. Reaching a certain locality, he was thrown heavily upon the ground, and making a mark with his finger, he thrust a penny some inches into the earth, and then became stiff and apparently lifeless." Partially raised up by these unseen influences, he addressed those present, and said, "in language pointed and positive, that they were then upon a superior oil-producing

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territory, extending many miles in a certain direction. That directly under their feet were flowing streams of oil, that if opened would yield rich supplies." The parties present staked out the spot, "and left the penny in the precise point indicated by the spirits. "Pleasantville, then a small quiet place, is situated on high land 500 feet above Oil-creek, and entirely out of the supposed petroleum regions." Many prophecies were made by the spirits through the lips of Abraham James, and among others, it was said "that remarkable changes would be wrought in the vicinity of Pleasantville within the next two or three years. Strangers would gather from different points; the streets would be lined with people; a vast amount of business would be done; many poor would exult in a competence; old buildings would be repaired and new ones erected; and the first well, though put down amid the sneers and the jeers of the thoughtless, would become the Mecca whither thousands would flock to behold the oil bubbling and flowing, as from a perpetual fountain."

The land being leased, Mr. James left Pennsylvania, visiting Boston and other cities, where he proclaimed the fact that the spirits had fixed upon the spot for commencing operations; and after the lapse of some months the necessary capital was obtained. The work was commenced on the 31st of August, 1867, and proceeded with incidental impediments, such as storms, frost congealing the water, and impairing the machinery; but at length in the early part of 1868 oil was struck, and speedily, within two years of the first discovery, every prediction made by the spirits was realised. Two other wells followed. The three were named by the spirits Harmonial Wells, Nos. 1, 2, & 3; and each one was yielding an average of 100 barrels per day. Mr. James has since "located" many others, and, contrary to all previous experience in the oil regions, there has been absolutely no failure in anything he has done in that district under the direction of his spirit guides. Land has risen in value from 200 dollars per acre to 2,500 dollars; the quiet village of but a year ago "has all the appearance, all the stir, thrift and enterprise of a Californian city." Thirty and forty stage coaches bring their passengers daily into its streets. Many that were poor have acquired within a few months large fortunes; and, in a word, the band of spirits who selected Abraham James as their medium, have proved their power and wisdom in unfolding nature's secrets, and thereby of accumulating sufficient wealth to carry Spiritualism throughout the land; Abraham James-who has the reputation of being an entirely unselfish man of high principles, intends "building halls; supporting libraries for children's Progressive Lyceums;

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