"SPIRIT VOICES."

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 276, 22 November 1927, Page 11

"SPIRIT VOICES."

A SEANCE IN CHRISTCHURCH.

'BLUE ROOM INVESTIGATIONS'

A CONTRALTO JOINED IN.

The controversy which arose some months ago concerning the claims of Mr. Clivc Chapman and Miss Pearl Judd, of Dunedin, his medium, that communication by direct voice could be held with the "other world," was reviewed la-st, week after a seance was held in Christchurch. The investigators achieved some fame as "The Blue Room Party.'' "I*o conversation."

Mr. Chapman explained that so far the "spirits" could make themselves heard only during the production of sound; and though the piano was most often used, all sound, even the vibration 'A a -moving train, was sufficient to make communication possible.

The seance began at about twenty minutes past eight, when a '•'Christchurch Star"' representative was invited to join a few others round a heavy deal table. It was raised slightly from the floor by the hands of those round it, am! after a few minutes a heavy pressure was felt alternately by each. Soon the table rose into the air and floated about while a light contact was maintained with the fingers. The table swung around and locked deeply in mid air. It then dropped slowly to the floor, where, after a few more movements, it

remained

At 8.2") Mr. Chapman went to tlie piano, wiip 11, after ten minutes' continuous playing, a tenor voice was heard softly echoing the chords. It soon disappeared. Miss Read then took the piano, and in a wonderfully sweet contralto voice sang, "She is Far From the Land." The first male voice shortly "came over," harmonising melodiously, growing stronger towards the end and continuing on the final note after Miss Head had ceased. It became more distinct when 3lr. Chapman playeil Sullivan's melody, "Take a Pair of Sparkling Eyes," though no sepa-ite words could at any time be distinguished.

A wonderful change began when Miss Read started to sing "Somewhere a Voice is Calling," the tenor harmonising loudly in a voice the tones of which were not quite human, but sounded rather like the reeds of a very mellow organ. On the final notes a clear contralto joined in, which was heard right through Mr. Chapman's playing "Sister, My Little Sister." At one time the tenor voice and others came through, making faint, rich harmony as of a email choir. j "Sing."

Miss Read again played ("Thrush at Eye"), the contralto following the notes of the piano. Suddenly a rletp voice tailed "Sing," and as soon as Miss Read did so it commenced to harmonise loudly. Perhaps the most unexpected manifestation of the night then followed. As Miss Read played "Dream Thoughts" a \:iolin accompaniment began, strengthening towards the end, when a " voice \ • . said "Thank you." !*When Mr. Chapman had played a few ' - bars of "Just a Cottage Small," a childCv ' v ; ish voice, thin but clear, took up the air, giving place later to a reedy whistJitig. This was "Betty," a little girl who has "passed over"—the merriest spirit with whom contact was made. Mr. Chapman afterwards explained that the contralto voice was that of / Nellie Dempster, who died suddenly a short time ago, after making herself famous as a performer at the Dunedin Exhibition. Her favourite song is still "Dear Little Eyes." The demonstrations, it is said, are entirely under the control of the spirits, though they will speak only in the presence of Miss Judd, through whom they also write messages.