LAST NIGHT'S SEANCE.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 57, 4 September 1909, Page 3

LAST NIGHT'S SEANCE.

"PAN" AND THE LOST ATLANTIS. A MANGO WHILE YOU WAIT. "Conditions" were all that could be desired last night at Mr. Charles Bailey's seance, and the circle included some who could sing and were not afraid of their own voices. But the medium, himself was noticeably "run down," a-nd his first control, "Dr. Whitcombe," announced that the sensitive was suffering from a severe cold, and the physical debility was a great obstacle to psychic communication The subject of "Professor Denton's" address would be the Delugo Legends, in Genesis and elsewhere. Before the address, however, the mango experiment was taken in 'hand. The seed, specially sent for to Palmerston North, was produced a week ago at the seance and marked by a journalist present, but, not being then required, vras retained in his keeping. The specimen was quite dry, and was immersed for a few minutes in cold water. A pot of mould was provided, and the earth moistened. The seed was laid on the surface, and the . pot placed inside the cage and locked up with the medium in view of the audience. Mr. Bailey had been searched, and was enclosed and sealed .in the usual bag, his hands and head only being free. After a time he planted the seed in the pot, and covered it with a sheet of paper, or similar fabric, the size of a pocket-handkerchief. No one saw whence the paper oame. The "Deluge" address contained little new to any one who has read the lateIgnatius Donnelly's "Atlantis." The information, however, was given that some twelve thousand years ago, contemporary with Atlantis, there was a Pacific continent also, called Pan, the inhabitants of which had reached, under a. republit can government, a high stato of civilisation. Questions were asked and promptly answered on the- usual subjects — the nature of spiritual beings and the life after death, providence, the -problem of cvil — most of which had been before previous meetings". Then a Hindu took charge, and after a few minutes of darkness announced : "All right ; it grow. Light !" Light was txirned on, and the cage opened. The medium turned the mould from the pot and carefully took out the muddy seed. It had partly opened, a sprout fully an inch long projected, and an equal length of root. He enlarged the opening enough to remove the kernel, which he took out, and cast aside the torn membranes. The, seed and shell were handed to the journalist who had the seed before in charge. There appeared to be no question that the sprout was a genuine living growth, and, notwithstanding the wet and dirty condition of the shell, the private mark was found and identified. It was a little over half an hour from the planting of the seed to its exhumation. Again it was buried and covered with fcho paper, while a few questions were asked and answered. Another brief interval of darkness and vocal "vibrations," and more light. "Selim" asked for "pawnee," but there was no water in the room, and he waived the request. Again the company, two by two, examined the plant. Two narrow seedleaves, an inch or more in length, of a bright healthy green, rested on the surface of the earth in the pot. Mr. M'Lean's handkerchief was spread over the top, tied round the pot, and the string sealed. Next meeting the plant is to develop still further. The roots would have been again exhibited if the meeting had desired, but it was explained that the plant would thereby have been sacrificed. In any case, tfiere was nothing to convince a Bceptic < that the seed-leaves were identical with the sprout. The committee has still the matter of the challenge in hand, and has held another meeting. The delay is not due to any hitch, but to the many contingent details to be provided for, and further progress has been made in the arrangements. Long letters from opposite points of view continue fo reach us on the subject of the Bailey seances. "W.L.M.," who writes "with contempt for Mr. Bailey's controls and regret for the medium," asks what effect the lectures and accompanying apports have on humanity from a moral standpoint. He maintains that the tendency of the doctrines regarding conditions in the other life is such as to weaken or destroy very important restraints on selfishness and the indulgence of the baser passions. The production of a whole menagerie of "apports," ho argues, would serve no useful purpose whatever. He suggests that the "intelligences" concerned are evil, and that the medium is "wilfully or ignorantly playing with fire." Mr. William Michie (Nelson) deplores the treatment to which Mr. Bailey, one of the most remarkable sensitives of the present age, has been subjected at some of his sittings in Wellington. Scientists in remote parts of the world haye had their attention directed to psychic matters through his wonderful manifestations; but it seems that he has had to come to New Zealand to be insulted and reviled by those whose ignorance of the subject is appalling. He thinks that Mr. Bailey has shown extraordinary patience in submitting to the "mauling about" he has sustained, and he marvels that the controls continue to communicate under such adverse conditions. Certain allusions to Mr. Driver and his challenge are necessarily . passed over as the matter has developed since the letter was written ; but our correspondent thinks that the challenge has done useful work in giving the matter greater prominence, and concludes that "seekers after truth owe- much to such men as Mr. M'Lean and Mr. Bailey, who fearlessly and courageously give expression to ideas which, although perhaps unpopular, are nevertheless true."