SPIRITUALISTIC EXPOSURE IN SYDNEY.

Thames Advertiser, Volume XXVI, Issue 7960, 31 October 1894, Page 3

SPIRITUALISTIC EXPOSURE IN SYDNEY.

The capfcui'o of a materialised spirit in Sydney,which turned out to be the "medium," and not a spirit at all, is naturally causing a great sensation in spiritualistic circles in that city, where the "medium" in question, Mrs Mellon, who is described as ono of the best materialising psychics in the world," has been attracting considerable attention lately. Tho "spirit" was supposed to be that of a lifcfclo girl, but on two sceptics suddenly pouncing upon it it was found to bo Mrs Mellon "on her knees." Mrs Mellon has, however, furnished an explanation of the whole occurrence which spiritualists will probably regard as completely satisfactory. Dr McCarthy, whose name is mentioned in the cable message, has boon conducting a series of interesting investigations into the manifestations which Mrs Mellon is able to produce. In an article describing them, he says"l have in my possession at least eleven good photographic negatives of human forms materialised in full daylight, under most stringent conditions, through Mrs Mellon, of Sydney, who is regarded as one of the best 'materialising psychics in the world. The last of these seancesone of a series of special tests—has been sworn to by the witnesses, by the psychic, and by myself. So

successful an effort at antagonising the effect of light, necessitated an exceedingly great expenditure of force on the part of this remarkable ladv, who could never havo so well succeeded if she had not aiding her a

lioroughly harmonious circle from

which to draw additional power. Tho effort, subconscious though it vas, at antagonising tho offcctof daylight on these occasions, was found by me, on immediate medical examination, to

lave had a very exhausting effect on

the sensitive, who, on one occasion, all but fainted subsequently ; but to this exhaustion was superadded shock

from sudden devolution or collapsing of the materialised form, through a

too bright light, and the oonsequont sudden retrocession into the psychic's body of evolved material. This latter was also well demonstrated to mo more especially in the last test photographic seance in my house, Mrs Mollon having been searched previously, as sworn to." It happenod as follows"Subsequent to tho exposure of one of the photographic plates intonded to catch an impression of one of these forms kuown as

"Geordie," together with Mrs Mellon on the same plate, it was desired that Geordie should show himself. (I may mention in order that tho disintegrating effect of staring at a figure should not be superadded to that of full light, wo keep our backs to tho curtained recess, but a mirror was surreptitiously employod, through which two of our number distinctly recognised ,' as'also sworn to, both Mrs

Mellon and the materialised form got'

ting in position - together for the photograph. Tho former, whoso head, with closed eyes, was visible over Qeordie's shoulder, waa lioticcd to stir, or rather jerk, at tho instant of exposure. (This was subsequently verified by the photographs.) Goordie announced in his own (loop voice that ho would do as desired. We then all looked direct; ho pulled tho curtain apart, showed himsolf for a few

seconds, and then disappeared. Mrs Mellon was heard to cry out for somebody to come to her, as she felt very weak. I immediately rushed over, said the doctor. Goordio, whom wo had all seen a few seoonds before, was gone; Mrs Mellon I found in a state of violent spasmodic tremor and semi-collapse Tier bands, both of which I caught in mine for tho purpose of resuscitation through contact, were cold and clammy, her faeo was livid, her facial expression was pinched and haggard, her head drooped on her chest, the body was bent forward ; the attitude, lividity, expression, semi-couvulsive tromor, low surface temperature and condition of pulse then taken (120 per minute, with marked reduction in force and volume), being distinctly indicative of an abnormal state induced by the threefold combination— shock, exhaustion, and disturbance of nerve-balance — such a condition (from which on other occasions sho docs not suffer) having evidently been produced by the rapidly-disin-tegrating effect on the materialised form of bright light, in this instance combined with direct staring, and the consequent sudden m-option by the psychic of the disintegrated material which primarily enme from her body."

Further on, be says Mrs Mellon has been recently overtaxing her powors through giving a series of tests proposed by me—perhaps the most crucial and stringent tests ever devised. Her normal weight is 7st 131b, but during the full materialization of one of the forms (Geordie), at a late weighing tost, while the form weighed 7st 21b, she lost to the extent of 3st 71b! Her pulse, examined by me immediately after the sudden disappearance of tho little form known as " Cissy " (who an instant before was playing my auto-harp, which I hold out to her for tho purpose), registered 130 per minute in the sitting posture, with marked weakness, compressibility, and irregularity. But, notwithstanding this sudden and great loss of material and force, as evinced by extraordinary reduction in weight and tho somewhat alarming condition of the pulse, as well as by other symptoms unnecessary to detail, Mrs Mellon directly aftor the soaneo was in splendid tone, frosh, vigorous, cheerful, with a good appetite and pulse registering, in the standing posture, 88 per minute, perfectly normal in force, volume and rhythm. Not alone this, but, in spite of the continued and exceptional strain of late, her health is undisturbed and her bodily vigour is ii| its normal condition. This, perhaps, may be accounted for by a thoroughly harmonious cirelo, and possibly by some well-balanced interchange of force and material, both of which are quickly regainod by the psychic.