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Viscount Adare - Experiences in Spiritualism with Mr D D Home – 40 The accordion remained, as it were, suspended. It began playing very gently. Home clapped his hands several times to shew that he was not touching it
Identifier
024839
Type of Spiritual Experience
Background
A description of the experience
EXPERIENCES IN SPIRITUALISM WITH MR. D. D. HOME. BY VISCOUNT ADARE, [Windham Thomas Wyndham-Quin 1841-1926] WITH INTRODUCTORY REMARKS BY THE EARL OF DUNRAVEN. [Viscount Adare's father] [1869]
Mr. Home then took the accordion, holding it under the edge of the table with one hand, the other resting on the table ; soon after it began to sound, it played with considerable power as well as great delicacy. Something like a voluntary, with airs introduced.
Then there were sounds like echoes, so fine as to be scarcely audible.
The accordion was drawn out towards Mrs. Blackburn, but not put into her hand. I expressed a wish that it might be played without being held by Mr. Home, upon which he withdrew his hand, placing it on the table; the instrument was just touching the under edge of the table, where it remained, as it were, suspended. It began playing very gently.
He clapped his hands several times to shew that he was not touching it. The playing soon ceased, and he took it again. Some notes sounded out of tune, and I said, “either wrong notes are played in the chord, or the accordion is out of tune.
“Out of tune" was rapped out on the instrument.
It played again very finely, and with the tremolo effect, which struck me exceedingly.
I asked, “Will you tell us who is playing;" two raps were given, implying doubt. Presently the alphabet was called for, and the following given “Remember that;." and then “Oft in the stilly night" was softly played. When one recalls the words:-
Oft in the stilly night, ere slumber's chain hath bound me,
Fond memory brings the light of other days around me, &c.
How touching the message becomes and how beautiful the mode of representing it.