Sydney's Spiritualism Sensation.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 7137, 20 November 1894, Page 3

Sydney's Spiritualism Sensation.

AN INTERESTING PEEP BEHIND THE SCENES. SYDNEY papers received by the last mail are full of this topic. The spiritualists there are still disputing whether the Mellon ex-pote was a legitimate and genuine one, and the ranks of the believers in the medium are thinning rapidly. Its latest seceder of importance is Mrs A. G. Edwards, president of the Spiritualistic Association in Sydney, who has made a remarkable public statement, which should go far to convince even the most infatuated believere in so-called spiritualistic manifestations that there is a good deal of material dross requisite to work the dhow. In a letter to Mrs Mellon, Mrs Edwards, referring to the recent seance, says : — " When asked (and only when sorely pressed by those of her own faith) as to what I saw, I have answered that, ' When the second match was lighted, I saw Mrs Mellon on her knees with some white drapery over her head and right shoulder. I also saw her blue dress.' When the first match was lighted I did see a mask, or something like one, on the lower part of your face, and arm and shoulder' covered with your light blue dress. . At the same time, when inside the cabinet with you, I saw sticking out of the bosom of your dress a lump of black hair, which was most conspicuous against the white skin and light dress, and you will rethein.ber I pushed it down, in doing which I distinctly felt it to be hair. I then offered to hide anything for you, for my soul was filled with fear lest they should insist on searching you. Also, your two skirts were off, which I assisted Mrs Smith in replacing, Mrs Smith putting your dress skirt on the wrong side out, which took time to alter, and all of which had to- be done while you were sitting on the. floor, which painful position you persisted in retaining so long as anyone else wag in the cabinet. You will also remember that at my suggestion you pinned the front of your dress body higher, and that, when we were alone, at your request, I helped you lip, and then I saw you pinning something under your skrrts before putting on your stockings and shoes, which were off. Then, on the day of the test seance, when you ask&d.me.to 'help' you, I told you you must explain yourself as to what you wanted me to, do, which you wisely did not. Of course I was perfectly aware of what you meant in keeping silence on this, to me, terrible subject. 1 have outraged all my previous declarations that nothing would make me hide or cloak a 'fraud.' I would not have done this thing for my own dear sister, but the rites of hospitality, and friendship, and love of the cause of Spiritualism have tied the tongue of— Your friend, O. A. Edwards." Mrs MellOn'a reply to this communication was an invitation to tea, which Mtb Edwards did not accept, but in declining to do so said — " The discovery of the fraud itself was shocking enough, but the pile of falsehoods and perjury ie has led to must sever the silver cord of friendship once existing between us." Mrs Edwards has also made a statement, to the effect that Mrs Mellon subsequently called upon her and said she wished to explain all. At the interview Mrs Mellon pulled out of her bosom a mass of black hair, which she said she was in the habit of using for padding. She also explained that her petticoat was pinned at the bottom to prevent it falling off, as the strings at the waist had broken, fche denied emphatically that she put on her shoes and stockings in the cabinet; declaring that she did not wear them again that evening, and that she remained in the attitude described because she was too ill to move. Another statement made by Mrs Edwards is that on the day previous to giving the test arranged by one of, the Sydney newspapers, Mrs Mellon replied : " One medium can always help another." Mrs Edwards refused to give her "any help, and Mrs Mellon then said : " Then I am lost. I shall fail to-night. "' The trfanqe did prove a failure. Mrs Mellon gives a general denial to Mrs Edwards' statements, and the whole affair has developed into a very pretty quarrel. A daughter of Mr Smith, Greylown, was attacked by a yicions hone and severely injured. •