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I now take up my Bible； which I will stake I brought into the room；
unnoticed； when I returned with the last basket。 I then seat
myself and leisurely turn the leaves through the Bible； reading
verses； and giving the tests as before described。
I always first read a question secretly； and then turn by the sheet
of paper and begin reading a verse of Scripture。 As I do this I
permit the front of the Bible to lower enough for the spectators to
see the printed pages。 This prevents suspicion。 Meanwhile； the
spectators have forgotten that I ever stepped from the room at all
with the basket； and even that my wife retired for some
refreshments。 Neither did they notice the Bible when I brought it
in。
The effect on each person； as I call him by name and describe the
〃influence〃 of his 〃dear one；〃 giving names and most marvelous
information； is far superior to what it would be were I merely to
read the questions literally； and give the answers。
SOME FAMOUS EXPOSURES
Probably the greatest swindle ever perpetrated in the name of
spiritualism was recently brought to light in Stockton； California。
The medium and his confederates materialized everything from frogs
and small fish to a huge bowlder of gold quartz weighing several
hundred pounds。 This latter had to be brought from the mountains
with a mule team。
The materializing was done through sliding panels in the walls；
while the believers sat holding hands about the opposite side of a
table； and loudly singing sacred hymns。 They had the only door to
the room locked and sealed； and never dreamed that the spirits who
brought the quartz from the mine were mules。
Thousands of dollars were invested in this 〃spirit mine；〃 the
believers stacking their money on the quartz as it lay on the table
at a dark seance； and receiving deeds in return for their money；
which the spirits dematerialized。
The medium established； or had his spirits establish； a 〃Treasury
of Heaven；〃 for the faithful to deposit their money in； and on
which they were to receive fifty per cent interest。 This interest
the believers continued to receive at dark seances from the spirits
for a time。 Each sitter's interest was found on the table stacked
in front of him when the lights were lighted。 When the spirit bank
became insolvent and the chief medium disappeared； the believers
were out about thirty…five thousand dollars。
No less a personage than a millionaire of Tacoma； Washington； is
said to have contributed largely to this spirit fund。 I had known
of this case for some time before the exposure （conducted by a
performer engaged for the purpose）； and knew that certain
interested persons were contemplating bringing it about； in order
to rescue certain estimable persons from the clutches of these
mediums。 This was successful； and the confederates of the medium
signed written confessions in the presence of one of the most
devout of the believers； and a gentleman who is otherwise very
intelligent。 Upon this the gentleman was greatly crestfallen； but
he still insists that there are certain mediums who are not
impostors； and that certain mediums in Chicago who produce spirit
portraits are genuine。
A full and very interesting account of this exposure is given in
the San Francisco Examiner of March 3 and 4； 1907。
。 。 。 。 。
I could report enough cases of materialization to fill a volume。
These I know of； from various sources； and in every case they were
invariably fraudulent。 I will give a short account of a
materialization which a very expert medium； who is on friendly
terms with me； witnessed。 The gentleman was originally a minister；
and afterwards began investigating spiritualism； as he was a
believer in it。 He hoped to become a medium； and at one time paid
two lady mediums of some renown； who reside in Chicago； three
dollars a sitting for three sittings a week。 These sittings were
conducted for the purpose of developing this gentleman in
mediumship。 He continued this for a long time； but he was no
nearer to being a medium than he was in the beginning。
At one time he detected one of the sisters passing a slate to the
other； and substituting another in its place。 He saw the edge of
one of the slates protruding from behind the dress of one of the
sisters。 They never knew they were discovered as he said nothing；
but this 〃opened his eyes。〃 After this he investigated everywhere；
and at every opportunity； and grew to be a very expert medium
himself。
Recently； when in Los Angeles； he visited a seance conducted by a
medium who claimed to be a Buddhist priest。 This medium was known
under the name of 〃The Reverend Swami Mazzininanda。〃 He had an
altar in his home； constructed something like those in Roman
Catholic churches。 He had various candles and images on this
altar； including an image of Buddha； and also a number of mystical
figures。 It was a great mixture of 〃fake〃 Buddhism； Roman
Catholicism； and modern spiritualism。 The medium also wore the
costume of a Buddhist priest at his seances。
This 〃priest〃 held services here for the faithful。 He conducted
all in Hindoostani （？）； his native tongue。 He chanted； prayed to
Buddha； etc。； all in a queer…sounding 〃gibberish。〃 Certain
evenings of the week were devoted to 〃soul…travel；〃 and certain
evenings after the religious services a 〃Black Chapter〃 was held。
The gentleman whom I have mentioned attended one of these dark
seances。 He sat with other spectators around the room in perfect
darkness。 The spectators were not required to hold hands； so great
was their faith。 Finally； in the darkness； a queer…looking；
vapory； luminous form floated around in the air and paused in front
of the spectators。 My friend slipped down quietly on his knees；
and gradually worked closer and closer to the luminous form； until
he could detect that the vapor was a kind of luminous 〃cheese
cloth。〃 He did not desire to expose this 〃priest；〃 but he desired
to have the 〃priest〃 know that some one had discovered him。 My
friend accordingly took hold of the gauze and gave it a very slight
downward jerk。 He then immediately returned quietly to his seat。
There was an immediate pause in the discourse of the 〃priest；〃 who
had really been floating this form on the end of a stick。 Everyone
knew that something had happened； but no one but my friend knew
what it was。 The 〃priest〃 then said in his slow； peculiar；
eccentric and measured tones； 〃I have received a very great shock；
and I will be unable to continue further this evening。〃 The next
day； when in conversation with some of the 〃faithful；〃 this
〃priest〃 stated in his peculiar manner of speaking； and with
intense earnestness； that which follows： 〃Last night I received a
very great shock。 I was just in the middle of the 'Dark Chapter'
and the spirit of the Master； Krishna； was out。 Having spent the
greater portion of my life on the Himalayas； my right eye has
become injured by the snows。〃 Then pointing to his right eye； he
added； 〃My right eye has a defect in it which you cannot see； but
on account of that； I can only see in the dark with it。 I
immediately turned my right eye downward and I looked！ I
distinctly saw a lady's hand reached out toward my robe in the
darkness； and this hand took hold of it and jerked it lightly just
like this。〃 The 〃Reverend Swami〃 here illustrated； by slightly
jerking his coat downward。 It was very amusing to hear him； in
great seriousness； relate this in his low and measured accents to
his faithful followers。
Shortly after this； when the Los Angeles Herald was conducting a
crusade against the numerous mediums of that city； and when it had
an exhibit in its windows of the confiscated material of some of
them； this 〃Buddhist priest〃 was arrested and imprisoned for some
of his practices。
Hereward Carrington
More Tricks of 〃Spiritualists〃
〃MATTER THROUGH MATTER〃
There is one very clever 〃test〃 that is sometimes performed which
would seem to show that something of this sort IS accomplished。 It
is； however； nothing more than an ingenious trick； and this might
be a good time to explain its modus operandi。 The general effect
of the illusion is this： The medium requests some one to assist him
in an experiment in which he is going to attempt to pass 〃matter
through matter。〃 As the test is one in which a confederate might
easily be employed； he is very careful to choose some person who is
well known； or whose character is above all suspicion。 If this
were not so； the entire effect of the test would be lost upon the
investigators。 Having secured his assistant； he hands him； for
examination； a solid steel ring； just large enough to slip on and
off the hand and arm easily。 The ring is perfectly solid； and may
be examined by anyone desirous of doi