THE DIRECT VOICE: A REMARKABLE SEANCE.

Wanganui Chronicle, Issue 20436, 16 August 1915, Page 2

THE DIRECT VOICE: A REMARKABLE SEANCE.

A MESSAGE FROM LORD

ROBERTS

(From London "Light")

A (seance was held on the evening it May sth, 1915, at the residence of Mrs. Wriedt, at West Kensington, the sitiers being three ladies (one of them a daughter of a former First Sea Lord of the Admiralty), Sir J B , Vice_ Admiral Moore and the editor of this journal.

From the outset it was observed that ths conditions were extremely favourable, the weather being dry and line., and the air of the seance room highly charged with "power." "Dr. ■'Sharp,'1 the spirit who usuab> controls the proceedings, manuested his presence early in the proceeding, his loud and characteristic tones being heard greeting the sitters shortly afte/ the sitting commenced. Subsequently the spirit lady known as "Iola," the friend of Admiral Moore, so frequently referred to in his books on tne sxibjecft of the Direct Voice, went round the circle, greeting each sitter by tame and entering into conversation with th« Admiral when she arrived at the place where he was sitting. She was l.card to thank him for a present oL flowers which he had brought. "Dr. Sharp'1 spoke several times, occasional! 7nl some length, entering into thi conversation of the sitters, in t; c coarse vf some remarks concerning the production of the " voice:*, I: he explamoi! that before they could be produced the op orators on his side had to collect and condense the magnetic forces given off by the sitters. "We gather up your auras," he said, "and blend them with curs, and if the auras do not blend there is no manifestation."

Interposing in some remarks which passed between two members of the circle, he emphatically denied the idea of obsessing spirits —the stories of vicious human entities which thronged haunts •jf vice and urged mortal occupants to greater excesses. The editor of "Light," while expressing interest in the statement, observed that the doctrine had been taught by some persons eminent authorities, and instanced the rnent. "Dr. Sharp" replied that many erroneous doctrines had been taught by eminent authorities, an dinstanced the notorious blunders of scientific leaders speaking in the name of science and apparently ascertained truth. Addressing Sir J—- B , "Dr Sharp" stated that a spirit was present who claimed to know Sir J and who gave the name of Alexander. Sir »f B——, however, failed to identify the visitor.

A voice which proclaimed itself to be that of the late Lord Roberts then addressed the circle, speaking particularly to Sir J B——, whom he had met "in mortal life. "Roberts—Roberts," it began. At first Sir. J B thought this was a relative of his, Lord Robert , but the voice proceeded: ''I am Field-Marshal Lord Roberts," adding, "Tell Sir J B I wish to speak to him." The message was repeated to Sir J B who, being somewhat deaf, failed to hear all. that was said.

Continuing, the voice said, "Are not roy words coining truer* I always eaid this war would come. I predicted it twenty years ago. It is going to be worse before it gets better." This reminded Sir J B that they had iasfc met at the Chamber of Commerce} n statement to which the spirit assented. After some remarks in connection v,ith this episode, Lord Roberts observed, "My death was due to worry. I was troubled about my Indian brothers. I worried over the scandalous way in which they were treated." Occasionally the voice, which always appeared to labour under difficulties, was h little hard to follow, but it wo.s understood to say that the Indian soldiers should have "filed up" with the French and British troops. 1 "Dr. Sharp," interposing, explained that Lord Roberts had been troubled by the fear that the Indians, being strangers in a strange land, would fail to receive the full degree of cordiality from their white comrades.

Lord Roberts then inquired of Sir J B whether he had seen a Mrs. T- lately. Sir J- B replied in the affirmative and remarked: "She is still thinking about you." A reference followed to a picture of the Kaiser, a subject which Lord Roberts and Sir J B- discussed with mutual understanding. "Tell Mrs. T that young W

is with me," was Lord Roberta's next remark. Sir J B explained to the circle that he knew Mrs. T well but did not understand the allusion to young W .* Further conversation between the two took place concerning a mutual friend, C , who Lord Roberts stated was now in France keeping the register of sick and wounded in the hospital where lie was stationed. Sir J B remarked that this was quite correct. In the course of some further observations Lord Roberts said that tho position of England to-day reminded him of her peril in the days of Queen Elizabeth. "I want the Government," he said, to listen to me. I want the Government, now and after the war is over, to look after nic widows and orphans, and the l.md, ihe imbecilo :t~»d crippled soldiers. If they wait until the Avar is over it will drop i\nd nothing will be done." Ho refaa-ed io tho South African War as n case in point, and denounced the negloct of oru maimed soldiers as the most scandalous thing ever perpetrated. The country should show its apreciation of Hs .heroic soldiers by providing for ih<?m after the war, and not leaving them to come to pauperism. If money were wanted, let them take the unclaimed miliious in Chancery and use them for the purpose. "I have not many opportunities of speaking," he continued, " but 1 like to be here. May God help the fallen soldiers, their widows and children, the Avounded, the imbecile and the blind. I want my message to be carried by way of the Press."

The husband, in spirit life, of one of the ladies p resent then spoke to her, while the husband of the lady previously referred to as the daughter of a .First Sea Lord held a lively conversation, first with his old friend, Sir J—-— B , then with his wife. This spirit, who had been a, navaj officer, referred to some of his experiences in .earth life and conversed for some time in an easy

conversational tone, the matter and manner of his speech being precisely what might have been expected in any ordinary conversation at an evening party, except when he referred to the great number of soldiers and sailors who were " coming over" to his side of the crave

A woman's voice, speaking in broad Scotch, addressed Sir J B ——, but many of the remarks were inaudible Uj bun, and only partly heard by the other sitters. "Dr. Sharp" explained t:iht the owner of the voice had been on earth an old lady who had known Sir J B—: — in his younger days, but as she did not give her name he could not identify her.

Some conversation took place between the editor of "Light'" and Dr. Sharp" on a subject of common interest relating to the journal. "Dr. Sharp," it seems, possesses an intimate knowledge of the circumstances of the paper. The above is little more than a rough outline of what transpired at this remarkable circle. Much of the conversation was of a private character relating to the domestic and personal affairs of the sitters addressed. It may bo allowable to reproduce a-few sentences from a conversation between one of the sitters (a lady) and a voice purporting to be that of a near relative. Sitter: Have you seen L ? The Voice: Oh, yes. Sitter: How is he? The Voice : He seems pretty well. Sitter: Did he give you any message for his people? The Voice: No. but he goes to them. Sitter : Have you any message ? The Voice: My love to mother. Tell her I am trying to be'happy. Sitter: But aren't you happy? The' Voice: Yes; but it is hard whh all this misery around us. There is nothing evidential of identy about this. It is simply quoted to show that there was nothing str.urod or- unnatural about the conversations.

Nearly all the party being associattvl w'th the irrr.v or navy, much of the talk related to naval and military matters, and many names were mentioned This part of the conversation birtvvoen th 3 sitters as;! their unseen visitors was not always easy for a civilian to follow. Probably the median, Mr:*. Wriedt, understood it least or all. She remained, as usual quite normal through all the proceedings, and oneaa ionally took part in the convorsaton. During the eire-it- clouds and shadowy forms were seen to be moving alout the room and occasionally lights W rt visible.

*Since the foregoing was written, Sir J B has made inquiries and discovered that the allusion to young W is correct. The young man was killed in the Dardanelles, and his family and that of Lord Roberts were known to eac-'i other. —Ed. "Light".