Strange Phenomena.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume XVIII, Issue 1721, 17 August 1885, Page 3

Strange Phenomena.

There has been much interest and, indeed, excitement in some districts around Taranaki, owing to the sudden appearance of the marvellous phenomena known as Spiritualism hiving appeared in a certain family at Stratford. The poor unfortunate individual in whose bouse these manifestations took place has been catching it rather warmly in some quarters because of these things ; but many others have investigated the matter and have been surprised at the intelligence which has accompanied the phenomena. These outbreaks are now occ"-ri — in many parts of the world and scientific meu are taking up the investigation under the severest tests, in order to account for the strange phenomena. The Kcv John Wesley bad a strange experience in his younger days in bis father's house, and he drew up a narrative in which be stated that the whole family were accustomed to hear knocking.? in different parts of the house, and the sound of a person going up and down stairs. He relates how bis eldest sister once “ hastened down stairs to the hall where the noise was ; but it was then in the kitchen. .She ran into the kitchen where it was drumming on the inside of the screen. When she went round it was drumming on the outside, and so always on the side opposite to her.' Then she heard a knocking at'the back kitchen door. She ran to it, unlocked it softly, and when the knocking was repeated, suddenly opened it ; but nothing was to be seen. As soon as she had shut it, the knocking began again ; she opened it again, but could see nothing ; when she went to shut the door it was violently thrust against her ; she let it fly open, but nothing appeared. She went again to shut it, and it was again thrust against her ; but she set her knee and her shoulder to the door, forced it to, and turned the key. Then the knocking began again ; but she let it go on, and went up to bed. However, from that time she was thoroughly convinced that there was no imposture in the affair.” Such is the Lev John Wesley’s account, and it is rather remarkable that the great movement of modern Spiritualism originated in another devout family of Methodists, the Fox family in America.