959 B. [Dr. Hodgson's Report continues as follows:- ]

It so happened that appointments had been made for other sitters, and it was nearly three weeks before a special opportunity was given for further communication from G. P., at a sitting when Mr. and Mrs. James Howard were present alone. In the interim I accompanied several different persons to their sittings, and at each of these Phinuit represented G. P. as anxious to see his friends, using some remark as "George says, when are you going to bring Jim?" or "George says he wants to tell you about the philosophy of this life." One only of these sitters, Mr. Vance, had been known to G. P., and at the beginning of his sitting, which was on March 30th, 1892, G. P. first wrote a few words to myself expressing a wish to see his father (Mr. P.) about some private matters; then Phinuit spoke for him, saying, "I want to tell you where I am and what I am doing and what this life consists of." Then references were made to two other friends of G. P., who had also been mentioned at John Hart's sitting, and then for the first time the sitter was noticed. "How is your son? I want to see him some time." "Where did he know my son?" "In studies, in college." This was correct: Mr. Vance had a son who was class-mate of G. P. Mr. Vance then asked: "Where did George stay with us?" and received a correct answer, a description of his country house being given. (See Report, pp. 457-8).

At the Howards' first sitting, on April 11th, 1892, for which I made the appointment, of course without giving names, Phinuit said very little. After a few words at the beginning he gave way for what purported to be G. P. using the voice, and during nearly the whole of the time of trance apparently G. P. controlled the voice directly. The statements made were intimately personal and characteristic. Common friends were referred to by name, inquiries were made about private matters, and the Howards, who were not predisposed to take any interest in psychical research, but who had been induced by the account of Mr. Hart to have a sitting with Mrs. Piper, were profoundly impressed with the feeling that they were in truth holding a conversation with the personality of the friend whom they had known so many years. The following passages are from Mr. Howard's notes taken during the sitting, and may serve to suggest to some extent the freedom with which the conversation was carried on. All the references to persons and [incidents] are correct.

G. P.: Jim, is that you? Speak to me quick. I am not dead. Don't think me dead. I'm awfully glad to see you. Can't you see me? Don't you hear me? Give my love to my father and tell him I want to see him. I am happy here, and more so since I find I can communicate with you. I pity those people who can't speak ... I want you to know I think of you still. I spoke to John about some letters. I left things terribly mixed, my books and my papers; you will forgive me for this, won't you? . . .

(What do you do, George, where you are?)

I am scarcely able to do anything yet; I am just awakened to the reality of life after death. It was like darkness, I could not distinguish anything at first. Darkest hours just before dawn, you know that, Jim. I was puzzled, confused. Shall have an occupation soon. Now I can see you, my friends. I can hear you speak. Your voice, Jim, I can distinguish with your accent and articula-tion, but it sounds like a big bass drum. Mine would sound to you like the faintest whisper.

(Our conversation then is something like telephoning?)

Yes.

(By long distance telephone).

[G. P. laughs].

(Were you not surprised to find yourself living?)

Perfectly so. Greatly surprised. I did not believe in a future life. It was beyond my reasoning powers. Now it is as clear to me as daylight. We have an astral fac-simile of the material body. . . . Jim, what are you writing now?

[G. P. when living would probably have jeered at the associations of the word "astral." - R. H].

(Nothing of any importance).

Why don't you write about this?

(I should like to, but the expression of my opinions would be nothing. I must have facts).

These I will give to you and to Hodgson if he is still interested in these things.

(Will people know about this possibility of communication?)

They are sure to in the end. It is only a question of time when people in the material body will know all about it, and every one will be able to communicate. ... I want all the fellows to know about me. . . . What is Rogers writing?

(A novel).

No, not that. Is he not writing something about me?

(Yes, he is preparing a memorial of you).

That is nice; it is pleasant to be remembered. It is very kind of him. He was always kind to me when I was alive. Martha Rogers [deceased daughter] is here. I have talked with her several times. She reflects too much on her last illness, on being fed with a tube. We tell her she ought to forget it, and she has done so in good measure, but she was ill a long time. She is a dear little creature when you know her, but she is hard to know. She is a beautiful little soul. She sends her love to her father. . . .

Berwick, how is he? Give him my love. He is a good fellow; he is what I always thought him in life, trustworthy and honourable. How is Orenberg? He has some of my letters. Give him my warmest love. He was always very fond of me, though he understood me least of all my friends. We fellows who are eccentric are always misunderstood in life. I used to have fits of depression. I have none now. I am happy now. I want my father to know about this. We used to talk about spiritual things, but he will be hard to convince. My mother will be easier. . . .

[As stated above, all the references to persons, incidents, characters, etc, so far as they are known to living persons, are correct].

Among the private matters referred to was the disposition of the book, concerning which G. P. expressed orally the same desire as before. (See above, p. 612.) The only writing produced at this sitting moreover was confined to this matter, and was a message to his father repeating his wish.

He referred to a tin box of German manufacture which he said was either in New York or Z--[giving the name, a very peculiar one, of the locality of his father's country residence]. He said that it contained letters from three persons whom he specified. He wished the Howards to have this box. They replied that the letters were all burned.

G. P.: I think not. I want you to have them. I want you to tell my father about this.

(Can't you give us something that will convince him? something we don't know and he does?)

I understand, a test. You can tell him about this tin box that I left in my room. I know they have taken the chest, but this tin box they have not. [The box was found at Z--, but there were no letters in it. - R. H].

[Mr. Vance, the sitter of March 30th, 1892, had sent me two questions for G. P., which I requested the Howards to put at their sitting. The questions were - "I. What was the purpose of the association you formed two years"ago with Miss Helen Vance and two other ladies? 2. Give the names of the two other ladies." My impression is that I gave Mr. Howard my recollection of these questions without having the original letter of Mr. Vance at hand, and probably Mr. Howard put the questions as I gave them to him. His account is as follows:- ]

Then we put two test questions, by request of Mr. Hodgson: 1st. What was the nature of the Society formed by you and some other young people? He was obviously confused, and in trying to answer said "development." We told him not to bother about it now, but to tell us at next sitting, a proposal which Phinuit recommended, but he himself in his gruff voice suggested "Theo-sophic." I told him no. He made a try at question 2nd. Names of members of Society, "Helen Dering - Derrich, or Herrick." [The questions were apparently not asked until towards the end of the sitting, and Phinuit had evidently taken control of the voice and was acting as intermediary. The answer must be called wrong, although Helen was the first name of one of the members. - R. H].