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Madam Home - D D Home his life his mission - Testimony of Mrs Parkes
Identifier
024668
Type of Spiritual Experience
Background
Mrs. F. C. Parkes, of 7, Cornwall Terrace, Regent's Park, was a lady who had been long resident in India. Her introduction to Home and Spiritualism was made through Mrs Milner Gibson in December 1860.
"I returned home from this, my first seance with Mr. Home," she noted in her journal, “convinced of the truth of our being permitted to hold intercourse with those who have passed to the spirit-land."
Mr. and Mrs. Home were for some time the guests of Mrs. Parkes; and before and during their visit numerous seances were held at 7 Cornwall Terrace. A diary of the manifestations witnessed was kept by Mrs. Parkes; and having been placed by her at the disposal of Mr. Home, he published large portions in the Incidents (vol. I.), the identity of the writer being veiled, at her desire, under the initial, "Mrs. P."
A description of the experience
Madam Home - D D Home his life his mission
The diary of Mrs. Parkes contains an account of this seance, written by her at the time.
The five sitters present that evening were Mr. and Mrs. Home, Mrs. Parkes, Sir E. B. Lytton, and Mr. S. C. Hall. Mr. Hall relates that he had brought with him to Cornwall Terrace a large hand-bell, which he placed on the centre of the table to try if it would be rung there, and that he distinctly saw a hand appear above the table, grasp the bell, and ring it violently; Mr. Home's hands resting quietly on the table the while in full view, and the light being quite sufficient to enable Sir E. B. Lytton and Mr. Hall to satisfy themselves that no machinery of any kind was connected with the apparition of the mysterious hand. Mr. Hall adds that he perfectly remembers the impression produced on Lytton and himself by the noisy displacement of the idols in the Hindu shrine at the end of the large drawing-room, while all five persons present were quietly seated in the summer twilight at the table.
The diary of Mrs. Parkes - June 2nd
"A seance of five persons. As twilight came on, a pleasant dimness fell over the room. The spirits moved the table with violence up to the window, near the Hindu shrine; and the accordion, no human hand touching it, played in the most charming manner, exquisitely and with great power.
There was much noise at the Hindu shrine; the images of Vishnu and the Holy Bull were brought, and put on the top of the table; then a large hand, which appeared dark, being between us and the light, put up the accordion entirely above the top of the table.
Another hand took a bell off the table, and rang it. Mr. Home was raised from his chair erect into the air. Then he was drawn to the other end of the room, and raised in the air until his hand was on the top of the door; thence he floated "horizontally forward, and descended. I saw a bright star constantly flashing forth; the raps died away in the distance, and the seance ended."