949. In two cases the announcement of a death was made to Mr. Moses, when the news was apparently not known to him by any normal means. One of these (the case of President Garfield) is given in 948 B. The other, which I now proceed to recount (from my article in Proceedings S.P.R., vol. xi. pp. 96 et seq.) is in some ways the most remarkable of all, from the series of chances which have been needful in order to establish its veracity. The spirit in question is that of a lady known to me, whom Mr. Moses had met, I believe, once only, and whom I shall call Blanche Abercromby. The publication of the true name was forbidden by the spirit herself, for a reason which was at once obvious to me when I read the case, but which was not, so far as I can tell, fully known to Mr. Moses. The lady's son, whom I have since consulted, supports the prohibition; and I have consequently changed the name and omitted the dates.

1 The evidential weaknesses of these cases have been analysed by Mr. Podmore, in his Studies in Psychical Research, pp. 125-133.

This lady died on a Sunday afternoon, about twenty-five years ago, at a country house about 200 miles from London. Her death, which was regarded as an event of public interest, was at once telegraphed to London, and appeared in Monday's Times; but, of course, on Sunday evening no one in London, save the Press and perhaps the immediate family, was cognisant of the fact. It will be seen that on that evening, near midnight, a communication, purporting to come from her, was made to Mr. Moses at his secluded lodgings in the north of London. The identity was some days later corroborated by a few lines purporting to come directly from her, and to be in her handwriting. There is no reason to suppose that Mr. Moses had ever seen this handwriting. His one known meeting with this lady and her husband had been at a seance - not, of course, of his own - where he had been offended by the strongly expressed disbelief of the husband in the possibility of any such phenomena.

On receiving these messages Mr. Moses seems to have mentioned them to no one, and simply gummed down the pages in his MS. book, marking the book outside "Private Matter." The book when placed in my hands was still thus gummed down, although Mrs. Speer was cognisant of the communication. I opened the pages (as instructed by the executors), and was surprised to find a brief letter which, though containing no definite facts, was entirely characteristic of the Blanche Abercromby whom I had known. But although I had received letters from her in life, I had no recollection of her handwriting. I happened to know a son of hers sufficiently well to be able to ask his aid, - aid which, I may add, he would have been most unlikely to afford to a stranger. He lent me a letter for comparison. The strong resemblance was at once obvious, but the A. of the surname was made in the letter in a way quite different from that adopted in the automatic script. The son then allowed me to study a long series of letters, reaching down till almost the date of her death.

From these it appeared that during the last year of her life she had taken to writing the A (as her husband had always done) in the way in which it was written in the automatic script.

The resemblance of handwriting appeared both to the son and to myself to be incontestable; but as we desired an experienced opinion he allowed me to submit the note-book and two letters to Dr. Hodgson. Readers of the Proceedings S.P.R. (vol. iii. pp. 201-401), may remember that Dr. Hodgson succeeded in tracing the authorship of the "Koot Hoomi" letters to Madame Blavatsky and to Damodar, by evidence based on a minute analysis of handwriting. As regards the present matter, Dr. Hodgson reported as follows:-

5 Boylston Place, Boston, September 11th, 1893.

I have compared the writing numbered 123 in the note-book of Mr. Stainton Moses, with epistles of January 4th, 18 - , and September 19th, 18 - , written by B. A. The note-book writing bears many minor resemblances to that of the epistles, and there are also several minor differences in the formations of some of the letters, judging at least from the two epistles submitted to me; but the resemblances are more characteristic than the differences. In addition, there are several striking peculiarities common to the epistles and the note-book writing, which appear to be especially emphasised in the latter. The note-book writing suggests that its author was attempting to reproduce the B. A. writing by recalling to memory its chief peculiarities, and not by copying from specimens of the B. A. writing. The signature especially in the note-book writing is characteristically like an imitation from memory of B. A.'s signature. I have no doubt whatever that the person who wrote the note-book writing intended to reproduce the writing of B. A. Richard Hodgson.

The chances necessary to secure a verification of this case were more complex than can here be fully explained. This lady, who was quite alien to these researches, had been dead about twenty years when her posthumous letter was discovered in Mr. Moses' private note-book by one of the very few surviving persons who had both known her well enough to recognise the characteristic quality of the message, and were also sufficiently interested in spirit identity to get the handwritings compared and the case recorded.

The entries in the MS. books will now be quoted. The communications began with some obscure drawings, apparently representing the flight of a bird.

A. "It is spirit who has but just quitted the body. Blanche Abercromby in the flesh. I have brought her. No more. M".

Q. Do you mean--?

No reply. Sunday night about midnight. The information is unknown to me.

Monday morning.

Q. I wish for information about last night. Is that true? Was it Mentor?

A. "Yes, good friend, it was Mentor, who took pity on a spirit that was desirous to reverse former errors. She desires us to say so. She was ever an enquiring spirit, and was called suddenly from your earth. She will rest anon. One more proof has been now given of continuity of existence. Be thankful and meditate with prayer. Seek not more now, but cease. We do not wish you to ask any questions now".

"† I: S: D. x Rector." [A week later].

Q. Can you write for me now?

A. "Yes, the chief is here".

Q. How was it that spirit [Blanche Abercromby's] came to me?

A. "The mind was directed to the subject, and being active, it projected itself to you. Moreover, we were glad to be able to afford you another proof of our desire to do what is in our power to bring home to you evidence of the truth of what we say".

Q. Is it correct to say that the direction of thought causes the spirit to be present?

A. "In some cases it is so. Great activity of spirit, coupled with anxiety to discover truth and to seek into the hidden causes of things, continue to make it possible for a spirit to manifest. Moreover, direction of thought gives what you would call direction or locality to the thought. By that we mean that the instinctive tendency of the desire or thought causes a possibility of objective manifestation. Then by the help of those who, like ourselves, are skilled in managing the elements, manifestation becomes possible. This would not have been possible in this case, only that we took advantage of what would have passed unnoticed in order to work out another proof of the reality of our mission. It is necessary that there should be a combination of circumstances before such a manifestation can be possible. And that combination is rare. Hence the infrequency of such events, and the difficulty we have in arranging them: especially when anxiety enters into the matter, as in the case of a friend whose presence is earnestly desired.

It might well be that so ready a proof as this might not occur again".

Q. Then a combination of favourable circumstances aided you. Will the spirit rest, or does it not require it?

A. "We do not know the destiny of that spirit. It will pass out of our control. Circumstances enabled us to use its presence: but that presence will not be maintained".

Q. If direction of thought causes motion, I should have thought it would be so with our friends and that they would therefore be more likely to come-

A. "It is not that alone. Nor is it so with all. All cannot come to earth. And not in all cases does volition or thought cause union of souls. Many other adjuncts are necessary before such can be. Material obstacles may prevent, and the guardians may oppose. We are not able to pursue the subject now, seeing that we write with difficulty. At another time we may resume. Cease for the present and do not seek further".

†"I: S: D. Rector".

A few days later, Mr. Moses says:-

Q. The spirit B. A. began by drawing. Was it herself?

A. "With assistance. She could not write. One day if she is able to return again, she will be more able to express her thoughts".

Q. I remember that poor man who was killed by the steam-roller drew.1

A. "Do not dwell on him lest you be vexed. He was not able to express himself. And even as the undeveloped human mind betakes itself to symbols to supplement defect of language: so do spirits seek to illustrate that which they cannot utter. So the Holy Maid [of Kent] drew when she appeared. She has now progressed, and is progressing, having cast aside the weight that hindered her".

1 See 948 A.

Q. I am glad. Will she come back? A. "It may be, but not now".

[ A few days later].

A. "A spirit who has before communicated will write for you herself. She will then leave you, having given the evidence that is required".

"I should much like to speak more with you, but it is not permitted. You have sacred truth. I know but little yet. I have much, much to learn.

"Blanche Abercromby.

"It is like my writing as evidence to you".