Abraham Lincoln, spiritualist?

A question that comes up fairly often in discussions of the history of spiritualism is the attitude of Abraham Lincoln toward the subject. It is known that Lincoln's wife, Mary, hosted séances at the White House, and that Lincoln attended some of them. But did he take the events seriously, or was he merely humoring his wife or having a bit of fun?

In her magisterial biography Team of Rivals, Doris Kearns Goodwin downplays Lincoln's interest in the occult. As she tells it, he enjoyed the séances as performances, nothing more, and he was eager to uncover the trickery that lay behind the sometimes astonishing effects.

A very different perspective is offered by an 1891 publication titled Was Abraham Lincoln a Spiritualist?, which can be read in its entirety on Google Books.  The book, written by medium Nettie Colburn Maynard, recounts Nettie's experiences in mediumship, with an emphasis on her visits to the White House. I find the author's account quite convincing in its detail and generally levelheaded tone, but of course it may be asking too much to take the medium at her word.

Fortunately, the publisher - a certain Rufus C. Hartranft - anticipated the skepticism of his readers. In a prologue, he offers a number of testimonials to Nettie Colburn Maynard's abilities and honesty. What is more interesting is that he also includes statements from people who knew Abraham Lincoln and, in some cases, were present with him at White House séances.

He begins:

In February of this year, the writer had the good fortune to meet a gentleman who related that he knew from personal experience and contact, that Abraham Lincoln was a Spiritualist, and implicitly believed in the guidance and teachings of that science or religion, whichever it may be. He further stated that he attended a séance where the President with several other persons had sat upon a piano, and that the instrument had been bodily lifted from the floor by means of spirit power, while the President and his friends remained seated upon it ! He further stated that he knew from personal knowledge that the President had been instructed and guided by spirits in times of particular stress in affairs of state, and that at a period when the nation's future was uncertain, and while the States were in the midst of the throes of a great civil war. He also stated that he knew of his own personal knowledge and experience, that numerous Spiritualistic séances were held in the White House, and that they were frequented by many of the leading men of the time, who were then located in Washington.

This gentleman's statement, being of such peculiar significance, the writer did not believe it. This recitation, however, caused the writer to become greatly interested in the subject from a purely historical standpoint, and, therefore, he immediately started an investigation regarding the matter ...

The investigation led him to discover Mrs. Maynard and to gather encomiums on her behalf, but it also led to some of Lincoln's associates:

Mrs. Daniel E. Somes, of Washington, wife of the late Hon. Daniel E. Somes, Representative from Maine, in the Thirty-sixth Congress, informs the writer that she attended séances at the White House during the war when Miss Colburn (Maynard) was the medium there, and upon one occasion met Major-General Daniel Sickles, and that the circumstances recorded as to that séance are fully described in this volume. This statement she fully and completely indorses; and further adds that her husband was closely and intimately connected with President Lincoln, and had repeatedly informed her of interesting and remarkable incidents which occurred at the White House at séances as herein described and mentioned. She also states that she knows Miss Colburn did not give séances in the White House for money.

Col. Simon P. Kase, of Philadelphia, states that he was present at a séance with Mr. Lincoln, and that he, with several other gentlemen, the President included, sat upon the piano, while it was lifted bodily from the floor by spirit power, and that Mr. Lincoln was not only interested in this physical phenomenon, but was also intensely interested in the statements which the medium made to President Lincoln while in a trance condition.

Mrs. Elvira M. Depuy, of Washington, stated to the writer: "My husband was a visitor to séances where Mr. Lincoln was present, and he has told me of many interesting occurrences which happened thereat. In the winter of 1862-3 I attended a séance at Mrs. Laurie's, at Georgetown, where Mrs. Lincoln was present. She was accompanied by Mr. Newton, Commissioner of Agriculture. At this séance remarkable statements were made by Miss Colburn (Maynard) which surprised Mrs. Lincoln to such a degree that she asked that a séance might be given to Mr. Lincoln. I have always known from my husband and others that Mr. Lincoln attended circles and séances, and was greatly interested in Spiritualism."

Hartranft also includes a statement from Francis Bicknell Carpenter, the artist who painted the "First Reading of the Emancipation Proclamation" that is still displayed in the Capitol, and who wrote a biography of Lincoln. According to Wikipedia, "Carpenter resided with President Lincoln at the White House and in 1866 published his one volume memoir Six Months at the White House with Abraham Lincoln."

In his statement, Carpenter vigorously disputes the account of William H. Herndon, Lincoln's law partner, who had depicted Lincoln as lacking any interest in spirituality or religion. This may well have been true of Lincoln in his earlier years, when he was something of a "freethinker," but according to Carpenter, the president's attitude changed late in life. Wrote Carpenter:

"I know that Mr. Herndon knew Mr. Lincoln better than any other man, up to the time of his election in 1861; after his election Mr. Herndon knew but little of him, and absolutely nothing of his mental or spiritual condition before the sickness of his son Willie, nor after Willie's death, and I must say that Mr. Lincoln's mind underwent a vast change after that event. Just what Mr. Lincoln's religious views were, I do not know, but it is a fact that he was known to pray, and his condition was much more in accordance with the statement found in [Carpenter's biography] 'The Inner Life of Abraham Lincoln' than that stated by other biographers, and you may quote me, that Herndon's statements have neither weight nor value, after the connection between the two men ceased. I am not prepared to state that Mr. Lincoln was a Spiritualist. I do know that he had faith in spiritual comfort and believed that we were, in a measure, directed by spiritual teachers and guidance."

It should be noted that Carpenter became interested in spiritualism in his later years, so possibly his interpretation of Lincoln's outlook is colored by his own beliefs. Nevertheless it seems clear enough from the various testimonies that Lincoln did have a genuine interest in spiritualism and séances, even if he may have balanced his interest with some healthy skepticism about the details (especially regarding the physical phenomena, as Doris Kearns Goodwin points out).

Those who've read Lincoln's speeches and other writings are usually struck by the increasingly religious or spiritual tone of his later remarks. It is likely that the huge tragedy of the Civil War, combined with the intense grief arising from the death of his young son, opened Lincoln's mind to possibilities that he had dismissed in his earlier days. Séances with Nettie Colburn and others seem to have played a role in his spiritual development also. Indeed, if Mrs. Maynard's account can be trusted, her channeled advice may have helped Lincoln to withstand considerable pressure and publish the Emancipation Proclamation.

Here is how Nettie Colburn Maynard herself described the scene (with the first very long paragraph broken up for easier reading):

Mrs. Lincoln received us graciously, and introduced us to a gentleman and lady present whose names I have forgotten. Mr. Lincoln was not then present. While all were conversing pleasantly on general subjects, Mrs. Miller (Mr. Laurie's daughter) seated herself, under control, at the double grand piano at one side of the room, seemingly awaiting some one. Mrs. Lincoln was talking with us in a pleasant strain when suddenly Mrs. Miller's hands fell upon the keys with a force that betokened a master hand, and the strains of a grand march filled the room. As the measured notes rose and fell we became silent. The heavy end of the piano began rising and falling in perfect time to the music. All at once it ceased, and Mr. Lincoln stood upon the threshold of the room. (He afterwards informed us that the first notes of the music fell upon his ears as he reached the head of the grand staircase to descend, and that he kept step to the music until he reached the doorway).

Mr. and Mrs. Laurie and Mrs. Miller were duly presented. Then I was led forward and presented. He stood before me, tall and kindly, with a smile on his face. Dropping his hand upon my head, he said, in a humorous tone, "So this is our ' little Nettie' is it, that we have heard so much about ?" I could only smile and say, "Yes, sir," like any school-girl; when he kindly led me to an ottoman. Sitting down in a chair, the ottoman at his feet, he began asking me questions in a kindly way about my mediumship; and I think he must have thought me stupid, as my answers were little beyond a "Yes" and "No." His manner, however, was genial and kind, and it was then suggested we form in a circle. He said, "Well, how do you do it ?" looking at me.

Mr. Laurie came to the rescue, and said we had been accustomed to sit in a circle and to join hands; but he did not think it would be necessary in this instance. While he was yet speaking, I lost all consciousness of my surroundings and passed under control.

For more than an hour I was made to talk to him, and I learned from my friends afterward that it was upon matters that he seemed fully to understand, while they comprehended very little until that portion was reached that related to the forthcoming Emancipation Proclamation. He was charged with the utmost solemnity and force of manner not to abate the terms of its issue, and not to delay its enforcement as a law beyond the opening of the year; and he was assured that it was to be the crowning event of his administration and his life; and that while he was being counseled by strong parties to defer the enforcement of it, hoping to supplant it by other measures and to delay action, he must in no wise heed such counsel, but stand firm to his convictions and fearlessly perform the work and fulfil the mission for which he had been raised up by an overruling Providence.

Those present declared that they lost sight of the timid girl in the majesty of the utterance, the strength and force of the language, and the importance of that which was conveyed, and seemed to realize that some strong masculine spirit force was giving speech to almost divine commands.

I shall never forget the scene around me when I regained consciousness. I was standing in front of Mr. Lincoln, and he was sitting back in his chair, with his arms folded upon his breast, looking intently at me. I stepped back, naturally confused at the situation—not remembering at once where I was; and glancing around the group, where perfect silence reigned. It took me a moment to remember my whereabouts.

A gentleman present then said in a low tone, "Mr. President, did you notice anything peculiar in the method of address?" Mr. Lincoln raised himself, as if shaking off his spell. He glanced quickly at the full-length portrait of Daniel Webster, that hung above the piano, and replied, "Yes, and it is very singular, very!" with a marked emphasis.

Mr. Somes said: "Mr. President, would it be improper for me to inquire whether there has been any pressure brought to bear upon you to defer the enforcement of the Proclamation?" To which the President replied: "Under these circumstances that question is perfectly proper, as we are all friends [smiling upon the company]. It is taking all my nerve and strength to withstand such a pressure." At this point the gentlemen drew around him, and spoke together in low tones, Mr. Lincoln saying least of all. At last he turned to me, and laying his hand upon my head, uttered these words in a manner that I shall never forget: "My child, you possess a very singular gift; but that it is of God, I have no doubt. I thank you for coming here to-night. It is more important than perhaps any one present can understand. I must leave you all now; but I hope I shall see you again." He shook me kindly by the hand, bowed to the rest of the company, and was gone. We remained an hour longer, talking with Mrs. Lincoln and her friends, and then returned to Georgetown. Such was my first interview with Abraham Lincoln, and the memory of it is as clear and vivid as the evening on which it occurred.

Comments

[william]

I think many of us if not all of us get much more help from the other side then most ever believed possible.

[william]

http://showcase.netins.net/web/creative/lincoln/newsalem/salemtour.htm

I attended a one-room country school in Illinois with all eight grades in that one room with about 10 students and often our annual trip often consisted of visiting new Salem state park were honest Abe spent some of his early years as an adult.

This post bought back lots of childhood memories visiting that state park.

For those Lincoln fans the above link will give them a house-by-house tour of the small village of Salem, Illinois were Lincoln moved to in 1831 and stayed for six years.

[Louise]

Fascinating account, Michael, thank you for posting! I've admired Lincoln for years, though I don't know a great deal about him (I'm Australian). One of these days I'll dig out a good biography.

I just saw your reply to my comment in the grab-bag - I knew you'd have to close off comments, no probs. It's just my usual pattern of hitting blogs months or years after they've been posted (the joys of a Google search). Thank you for your comment about proof and one's own experience. That's pretty much how I feel about it. A hardened sceptic/atheist might say I'm deluding myself, but this happiness is no delusion.

Isn't the term "freethinker" ironic? Free to form opinions "on the basis of science, logic, and reason," but which "should not be influenced by authority, tradition, or any other dogma." But what if one's reason brings one to accept things that cannot be scientifically proven? It sounds all too much like "free to believe only what can be tested in the laboratory" - in other words, materialistic thinking, which seems close to being a dogma of its own at times. Lincoln sounds like he thought freely without cutting his emotions out of the matter, and expanded his ideas. An admirable man on many levels ... and he liked cats!

[Zerdini]

I think many of us if not all of us get much more help from the other side then most ever believed possible.

I am in complete agreement with the above statement.

[Zerdini]

Doris Kearns Goodwin downplays Lincoln's interest in the occult. As she tells it, he enjoyed the séances as performances, nothing more, and he was eager to uncover the trickery that lay behind the sometimes astonishing effects.

It seems to be quite a trend these days for some writers to try to downplay a person's interest in the paranormal many years after their death.

A classic example is Trevor Hall's "The Spiritualists" in which he implied that Sir William Crookes, the renowned scientist, must have been having an affair with Florence Cook which clouded his judgement.

He conveniently forgot the other witnesses to her mediumship or maybe they were all hallucinating!

It amuses me to read all these so-called experts when they haven't experienced a genuine materialisation seance and yet can freely rubbish another's experiences.

[Paul]

Maybe they were all having affairs with her?

[Zerdini]

Good point, Paul lol

[Tony M]

"It seems to be quite a trend these days for some writers to try to downplay a person's interest in the paranormal many years after their death."

I don't know that it is a new trend, but another example is The Metaphysical Club by Louis Menand, an otherwise excellent history of American intellectuals in the latter half of the 19th century, which disposes of William James involvement in psychical research in less than two somewhat awkward pages.

[Sandy]

I think many of us if not all of us get much more help from the other side then most ever believed possible.

William, you are probably right. I passed on a message to someone from a ghost claiming to be a spirit guide yesterday, and I wanted to know why I needed to pass the message along. Why didn't she just tell the guy what she wanted to herself, in his dreams or something? She said that usually that sort of thing was sufficient, but sometimes a message needs more emphasis. I guess having someone you don't know very well confirm something that you hoped was true isn't just your imagination might be useful.

What I still don't understand is why I had to be the one to pass the message along.

[Zerdini]

"What I still don't understand is why I had to be the one to pass the message along."

Perhaps because you are one of the few people with the ability to do so, Sandy.

[Louise]

I think Zerdini's right, Sandy. You were able to hear the message and pass it on - there aren't too many people about who can.

I so agree about having confirmation or verification or whatever you want to call it, from people you don't know. It happened to me last year - I had a reading done by a lady I'd never met, who had no way of knowing anything about me. She not only described my soulmate (who's been in Spirit a long time) but his son and son's partner, who turned up just for the heck of it, lol. She also passed on smart remarks my beloved was making about my shoe collection (men!) Altogether a very satisfying experience.

[Michael Prescott]

This is off topic, but those who enjoy Forteana may appreciate this news story about fish falling from the sky:

http://tiny.cc/dmBEV

[Zerdini]

I like Forteana. I gave a talk on physical mediumship at their 21st anniversary seminar (Unconvention) in London in 1994.

[william]

http://www.near-death.com/experiences/reincarnation08.html

http://www.school-for-champions.com/history/lincolnjfk.htm

http://healthandsurvival.com/2008/01/22/similarities-between-john-f-kennedy-and-abe-lincoln/

For those interested in the similarities between John Kennedy and honest Abe these three links may be of interest. Or not.

Visualizing Abe Lincoln sitting on a piano while it lifted off the floor with spirit power is an interesting visualization.

[Zerdini]

"sitting on a piano while it lifted off the floor with spirit power is an interesting visualization."

He wasn't the first and probably won't be the last.

[william]

"He wasn't the first and probably won't be the last."

but he was abe lincoln that makes it every interesting visualization for me at least.

[Zerdini]

Does it really matter who, or how many, was sitting on the piano?

Surely it is the demonstration of spirit power that is interesting.

[Zerdini]

According to David Thompson's website, Circle Of The Silver Cord, Abraham Lincoln has communicated - listen here:

http://www.silvercordcircle.com/Silvercord/Welcome_to_COSC_files/Abraham%20Lincoln%20Web%20clip.mp3

[Sandy]

Zerdini,

How can you know that it is the spirits moving that piano and not pk on the part of living agents?

I've seen ghosts move things and make things appear out of nowhere, but I'm always afraid that maybe it is me and not the ghost responsible for such occurrences. That scares the hell out of me.

[Zerdini]

I'm not dogmatic on that issue, Sandy.

Occasionally it may be "pk on the part of living agents" but more usually it is intelligently directed by spirit people who have a greater knowledge of spirit forces.

Dr W. J. Crawford did a lot of experimental work with the medium Kathleen Goligher.

In his 1918 book, "On the Threshold of the Unseen", Sir William Barrett, professor of physics at Royal College in Dublin, tells of joining Crawford in one of Crawford’s many sittings with the Goligher circle.

At first, they heard knocks, and messages were spelled out as one of the sitters recited the alphabet. Barrett then observed a floating trumpet, which he tried unsuccessfully to catch.

“Then the table began to rise from the floor some 18 inches and remained suspended and quite level,”

Barrett wrote. “I was allowed to go up to the table and saw clearly no one was touching it, a clear space separating the sitters from the table.”

Barrett put pressure on the table to try to force it back to the floor. He exerted all his strength but was unable to budge it.

“Then I climbed on the table and sat on it, my feet off the floor, when I was swayed to and fro and finally tipped off,” Barrett continued the story. “The table of its own accord now turned upside down, no one touching it, and I tried to lift it off the ground, but it could not be stirred; it appeared screwed down to the floor.”

When Barrett stopped trying to right the table, it righted itself on its own accord. Apparently, the spirits were having a bit of fun with Barrett as he then heard “numerous sounds displaying an amused intelligence.”

[Sandy]

Zerdini,

Why do ghosts need mediums? Why can't they just do all those things for researchers without having a medium handy?

I have one ghost named Arthur who is interested in living agent pk. I don't understand why someone who is dead is interested in research being conducted by living people. The ghost has actually suggested ways of conducting pk experiments.

I had a talk with Arthur (I call him Art, but I'm not sure he approves of that) about survival of consciousness. I figured that he should have all the answers, being a ghost and all. He said that the fact that he was sitting there talking to me did not prove survival of consciousness. He would only admit that it was suggestive of it. What a tough ghost.

[Zerdini]

Sandy

I never talk about ghosts it conjures up some weird ideas in people's minds. Most of those who have passed on refer to themselves as spirit people who have discarded their physical bodies.

"Why do ghosts need mediums? Why can't they just do all those things for researchers without having a medium handy?"

If only! It doesn't work that way. You may as well ask why we need a telephone to talk to someone a long distance away. Telepathy would be preferable.

"He said that the fact that he was sitting there talking to me did not prove survival of consciousness. He would only admit that it was suggestive of it. What a tough ghost"

Sounds like a skeptic who has passed over!

[Sandy]

Zerdini, Arthur says he is not a disbeliever, but he thinks that a skeptical approach to controversial topics is prudent. He suggested that I read up on designing good scientific experiments.

[Zerdini]

Sandy,there are many who don't believe they've 'died'. Perhaps it's time for Arthur to move on instaed of hanging around earth conditions.

[Sandy]

Zerdini, Arthur says he knows his body has died. He thinks that if I'm going to work with parapsychologists that I need some help. I'm not sure why he thinks I need help. I'm pretty sure that I can hold my own with researchers from other disciples. Even if I'm the lab rat instead of the scientist in this instance.

[Michael Prescott]

"Arthur says he knows his body has died."

Then how can he still entertain doubts about survival of consciousness?

Perhaps he is in sort of a dreamy, half-lucid state?

[Sandy]

Michael,
He says it's not proof the way I want proof. It's suggestive. He tried to explain to me before that what I experience as Arthur the ghost is just a fragment of him from that bigger existence. Like the NDE place, where time doesn't really work the same as it does here. Things get sort of lost in translation.

[Louise]

I'm always a little surprised when people refer to spirits who interact with people on this plane as "needing to move on". It isn't necessarily so - they can be guides, guardians, or simply concerned for people still here. From my experience, Spirit isn't all that different from the earth plane anyway, in many respects. One still has a body, still lives in a way not too alien from life here. One might say it's the adulthood to the earthly plane's childhood. And anyway things happening here can be interesting in themselves, though I for one will be very happy to make my final crossing. I know who's going to be waiting to guide me over. :)

[Roger]

I like your way of explaining things you experience, Sandy. I hope you find a qualified parapsychologist who can design interesting tests that tells us something about how all this works. You are very special among people with mediumistic ability with your scientific attitude, so we could perhaps hope you'll attract some scientifically minded spirits.. Nowadays we rarely hears from newly departed parapsychologists.. Myers did supposedly communicate for years, but has anybody heard about any proposed spirit communication from Rhine or Stevenson? The Scole group talked about opposition against giving evidence from inside the spirit world.. Is it so, or was it just convinient to stop at that time as infrared cameras were just to be introduced as sceptics say? (The opposing spirit group theory/explanation has been talked about when the Spiricom stopped working too, I think?)

Back to the subject of this blogpost.. There is a fairly new book on Abraham Lincoln's contact with mediums: The psycic life of Abraham Lincoln by Susan B. Martinez. I've got it, but haven't had time to read it all. Seems to cover the subject in a believable way, though i'm not certain how much more knowledge it gives than the old sources covered above (hopefully some new info.) While checking who was the author at amazon.com I saw the book talked about in your post "was Abraham Lincoln a spiritualist?" currently reissued in printed form under the name: Seances in Washington: Abraham Lincoln and Spiritualism during the Civil War by Nettie Colburn Maynard and Irene McGarvie.

[Sandy]

Thanks Roger,
I hadn't really thought about how my background in science might affect who communicates with me. I guess it would help to explain some of my more recent ghosts. There have been a few dead mediums who worked with parapsychologists when they were alive. I don't think Arthur was a medium, but he did seem to have some interesting personal experiences related to researching these things. He was telling me about OBEs last night. I have difficulty believing him, but then again, I have difficulty believing I can talk to him in the first place.

[alanborky]

Zerdini: "It seems to be quite a trend these days...to downplay a person's interest in the paranormal...after their death.

"A classic example is Trevor Hall...impl[ying]...Sir William Crookes...must have been having an affair with Florence Cook...

"He conveniently forgot the other witnesses...or maybe they were all hallucinating!"

These days we're lucky he didn't explicitly accuse Crookes and the other witnesses of roastin'er!

[Zerdini]

Quite!

[Zerdini]

Sandy, have a look at this:

http://metgat.gaia.com/blog

[Sandy]

Thanks, Zerdini. I have trouble with the material on Michael Tymn's site. Not that I have any issues with him, I find reading about mediumship kind of upsetting sometimes. I know that this is something really, really stupid to admit, but I couldn't even look at that site without my deceased Grandma sitting beside me and encouraging me to do so. I'm so afraid that I might be... like a medium or something.

[Michael Prescott]

"I don't think Arthur was a medium, but he did seem to have some interesting personal experiences related to researching these things."

Hmm. He wouldn't happen to be this guy, would he?

http://www.icem.cc/tribute.html

[Sandy]

My Arthur looks older and has less hair. But he does kind of look like that guy in the picture. He tried looking younger around me, but I'm more comfortable with him being old and somehow "safer". I don't know if this is him. I really don't.

[Sandy]

Michael, I had actually come across the site you gave earlier. I googled the name Arthur and looked for any parapsychology references. Arthur Findley was one name that came up, but that didn't fit at all. When I saw the site you referenced the first time, I just felt uncomfortable and went on to something else. It still makes me feel kind of sick. I just don't what to think of it.

[Michael Prescott]

Well, if it is Arthur Ellison, tell him I liked his book "Science and the Paranormal."

:-)

Ellison was a philosophical idealist; i.e., he believed that what we call reality is purely a mental construction. It's an interesting viewpoint, though one I've never been too keen to embrace.

[Art (Arthur)]

Society for the Preservation and Promulgation of the Name Arthur

Purposes (the purposes are serious, the society is less so)

To foster use of the name Arthur
To encourage new parents to name their boy babies Arthur {grin!}

http://www.geol.ucsb.edu/faculty/sylvester/NORSK%20TEPHRA%20FORENING/arthur_society.html

[Zerdini]

Well, if it is Arthur Ellison, tell him I liked his book "Science and the Paranormal."

:-)

Ellison was a philosophical idealist; i.e., he believed that what we call reality is purely a mental construction. It's an interesting viewpoint, though one I've never been too keen to embrace.

Professor Arthur Ellison was a guest speaker at a seminar I organised in 1977.

Prof. Arthur Ellison spoke on "Some Experiences and Thoughts on Physical Mediumship of 40 years ago".

The Professor started attending séances in the 1950's and experienced a variety of wonderful phenomena.

Amongst the many things he witnessed were materialised figures (one of which melted into the floor on leaving), eight bunches of flowers apported at one séance and trumpets whirling around his hands in red light.

Perhaps the most fascinating though was to see, at one foot from his face and in red light, the arrival of an apport. He saw a pink glow in the medium's outstretched hands. Then something solidified and dropped down into the cupped hands.

It was a lovely pink rose. Most unusual - apports normally just seem to arrive with no indication of the mechanism involved.

[Sandy]

Michael, he says "You're welcome."

Michael, if you don't believe me, that's OK. I don't believe me right now either.

[Michael Prescott]

It's not that I believe or disbelieve. I don't know what to think.

You might ask him about George. George is mentioned in his book. And George is not a person or an animal.

That is, if you want to "test the spirits."

[Sandy]

Michael, I don't think this is right. I'm really lousy at this stuff. Actually, I'm really happy to be wrong. If I'm right, I'll just throw up anyway. So it's great if I'm wrong.

He explained this in a way that is too personal to explain in an open forum. I may not get this right trying to interpret too much on my own from the personal example he gave. George is Arthur's connection to the light. Like a better/higher version of Arthur. Not god, but maybe somehow sort of closer to that.

Please tell me I'm wrong. Honestly, I'll feel much better when you do. If I'm right, I don't want to know.

[Sandy]

I'm sorry that I became so emotional and perhaps irrational about answering your question, Michael. Truthfully, I would like to know what a George is. Please don't ask me any more questions for Arthur. I'm not a happy medium.

[Sandy]

I finally found George. Now I don't have to read the book.

http://michaelprescott.typepad.com/michael_prescotts_blog/2008/01/pure-gold.html

[Michael Prescott]

"George is Arthur's connection to the light. Like a better/higher version of Arthur. Not god, but maybe somehow sort of closer to that. Please tell me I'm wrong."

You're wrong. Sort of.

"George" was Ellison's term for the lower unconscious, the part of the mind that automates certain behaviors, like driving a car. Apparently the nickname "George" is used by pilots to describe the autopilot.

On the other hand, Ellison thought that the unconscious could be a direct link to the higher self, so in this sense George could be seen as a "connection to the light."

[Sandy]

I liked the part where you pointed out that I was wrong. Thanks, Michael!

=)

[Zerdini]

Has Arthur Ellison made a spirit return? - David Fontana seems to think so:

APPARENT POST-MORTEM COMMUNICATIONS FROM PROFESSOR ARTHUR ELLISON

by DAVID FONTANA

The late Arthur Ellison took a particular interest in research into the possibilities of survival after physical death and in the production of paranormal physical phenomena. The present paper details four instances of such phenomena which, at face value, may be associated with his wish to communicate his continuing existence.

See JSPR Abstracts 2003

[Sandy]

Zerdini, If Arthur has done this before, why can't he just talk to whoever it was he talked to last time? I'm not very tuned into him. I couldn't answer Michael's question. A real medium could have done that much at least.

[Zerdini]

Sandy, If Arthur has been able to talk to you in such a way that no-one else hears him that makes you a medium whether you realise it or even want it.

As you are probably aware there are different types of mediumistic abilities e.g clairvoyance, clairaudience, clairsentience.

Your experiences,as described by you, strongly suggest you are clairaudient.