1935 - Sept 18 - Nov 20

1935

Sept 18 - Nov 20


September 18, 1935.                                         Friday

[Letter from Mrs. Hamilton to Margaret:]

"... I am very busy.  First have worked like everything at the book - licking it into shape - very much cut down in the Elizabeth part - am treating it as preliminary material but in spots exhaustively.  Jim is helping me and is an excellent critic and suggester.  Very like T. G.  He has passed his deferred exam in Algebra.  We are debating whether he will go on in fifth year or not.  Will let you know next week.

"... Also am thinking of renting the "junk-room" and Daddy's room and perhaps the "little-room" as a small "suite" to one of the teachers in Glenwood - not decided, but will decide in a few days.

"... I almost forgot to tell you that our sweet Walter (a cat) disappeared  (he may have taken distemper) and that Captain had to be disposed of.  He recovered but as an after-math had shaking palsy.  Curiously enough, Isabella says she has seen him several times lying in front of the fire; also felt his wet muzzle nosing her.  Along with his last "appearance" came two fairies - the first I have seen since June.  They were most adorable.  Glen was sitting in the big chair by the fire  (to the West) and Isabella facing him - very little light except the fire-light.  One - a girl fairy - stood poised on Glen's knee - long fair hair, one leg flexed and drawn up like a dancer - toe pointed; little stiff skirt sticking straight out and pirouetted around and around - her arms raised and curved like a dancer's. A little boy fairy stood on Glen's shoulder (rompers and peaked cap) and watched his "sister" perform.  No others since.

"... Did I tell you that Sterge advises me as to his presence by making Isabella see a bar of music - anywhere - above the door, above the fire-place and so on.  So I interpret it at any rate, and so Sterge has confirmed it through Jay. (Jack MacDonald)

"... Bessie is also developing, and at last R. L. Stevenson has given me a sign that is really basically supernormal.  When a real "sign" comes then I begin to sit up and take notice.  In this case it was this:

        [10:30 October 2]

"... A communicator came through Dawn two weeks ago who was Scottish alright, but unknown.  R. L. Stevenson claimed to speak and said to Bessie: "I'll tell ye her name when you're in bed tonight - Wake your husband up and make him take it down."  Sure enough, some time in the middle of the night Bessie thought R. L. Stevenson was with her (a week later, by the way), wakened Harold and told him the name she thought was "Bella Keith".  Now for the Cross-Evidence.  Wednesday,  R. L. Stevenson purported to speak through Isabella, who knew nothing of this, and he said to Bessie: "You wouldn't say the name of "Bella Keith" would ye?  Good, wasn't it?  The chances are not one in many millions that this was accidental.


September 19, 1935.

[Is this Dr. Hamilton speaking?]

"You have two streams of thought.  Your normal consciousness is not your best stream of thought.  I would not say it is the subconscious, but rather that it is within the consciousness - it is inherent.  I am a thinking being, thinking creatively.  I weave things from out of my mind, into life.  Most of the things I do at the present time are due to strong habit reflexes, and are a direct semblance of things I have been doing during the past fifty years; but no doubt, as time and progression grip me, I will shake off these automatisms of habit, and be vastly different in my surroundings.  Exactly what they may be, I cannot say.  I think I sense what they may be; but to think, and to know, are two different things.  I have, so to speak, a vision of what will be.  In direct answer to your thoughts, I think I can show you that "day" is become a nonexistent factor and time, as I see it, is measured less by hours than by achievement, by progress, by creations.

"But what I have been doing "today" can be easily summed up.  I am, as I said, still a creature in the grip of habit. Therefore (although this is less and less sure) I must have a simulation of day and night.  I must have a simulation of refreshment.  So from the simulation of dusk to the simulation of dawn I am enjoying a simulation of sleep; and no doubt it does refresh me, because sleep always did refresh me.  I am a creature of habit, but outside of that I do feel there is refreshing power there, as well as the habit part of it.  There arises no strain: it is not a break with the past, but a course of bending the past with the present, so that we are not let down with a bump."


September 21, 1935

[Letter from E. Elliott (Books) - MacMillan Company - to Mrs. Hamilton .]

"This note is simply to say that when you are ready to discuss the book with a publisher I hope you will let us know.  As I think Miss Turner may have told you, I am very interested in Dr. Hamilton's work, and would like to be of any use to you that I can.  My own feeling is that the Canadian demand for a book of this kind would not be very considerable, but that the British and American market would be very valuable..


September 24, 1935                                         Tuesday

[Letter from Mrs. Hamilton to Margaret:]

"... My little maid Isabella is excellent, so soon now I will be able to get to work, I hope.  I have T. G.'s place put together, too, and whipped pretty well into shape.  Most of the material has been covered; and it only remains to put it together along ... material and the conclusion .  It ought not to take long.  If only you were with me - I miss you so much in so many ways.  Can't be helped, though.

"... I also had a letter from Mr. Bligh Bond.  They have made me an honorary member of "Survival" Foundation - a copy of which I will send on.  (They sent me two)

[A write-up of Daddy is to be in the next number of Survival]


September 24, 1935.                                         Thursday

[Letter from Mrs. Hamilton to Margaret:]

"... Today is quite chill - our first real cool, cool day.  However, we  have a little coal stove  (the old water-jacket heater) full blast in the kitchen and it is heating very nicely all the main part of the second floor.  That, and a grate-fire in the living room when we want to sit there, will be sufficient for a few days yet.

"... Sunday is Jim's birthday.  Do slip him a book in the mail if you can find one that's not too expensive - one of the latest on psychology by an authority would please him mightily.  He passed his deferred examination with good marks - was personally congratulated by the professor yesterday when he went back for the first day's lectures.  

"... He is in correspondence with Dr. Rhine at Duke University (assistant to Dr. Wm. McDougall) re the question of the mathematical probabilities in subjective meta-psychics - Dr. Rhine has done some work in telepathy with his students; as you may know that is attracting attention from even men like Dean Inge.  Of course, telepathy has long been established, but scientists still need to be shown.  Dr. Rhine, in his letter to Jim, said both he and Dr. McDougall were interested in T. G.'s work and seems to have Jim in mind for a possible fellowship - provided Jim can write a satisfactory thesis which will win him this.  It's all pipe dreams yet, but Jim's very interested, and a course in para-psychology, as they call it, on top of his science training and his practical knowledge of psychics ought to fit him eventually to be a real leader in the field.  He is very original, fearless,  (too much so at present) and has an excellent mind - also a fine command of English.  He ought to go far in some direction.

"... Glen has got another bee in his bonnet - a very good one this time - but of course it may not come flying in just when it is supposed to.

"... In short, there seems now to be quite a good possibility that he may get on the medical staff of the Imperial Oil Company and go to Mexico to a big hospital where the company's 60,000 men are looked after when they are ill.  He starts at $300 per month and all expenses paid.  An American professor here, whom Glen met some time back, wants him to go and is pulling wires to see that it happens.  While Glen is busy here he can't make much headway financially (overhead too high) and will not until he is older when more people want him and he can do more surgery.  It is still in the air and may not go through, but the American called Glen to his office yesterday and told him the outlook was bright for an opening of this kind - shortly.  Just when, he could not say.  He will - if he can go - be able to drive all the way and come home for holidays.  That will not be too bad, will it?

"... I told you in my last that I had something interesting - not remarkable - to tell you re something that took place in our psychic world.

"... First - Robert got through some cross-correspondence about Belle Keith.  But I think I told you about that.

"... The other is about the Presence.  Tuesday evening, September 15, Ada and Harold were out to dinner and out all evening.  Their suite (on the third floor of a home on Wellington Crescent) was of course closed with no one in it. When they returned, lying on Harold's bed was a copy of a two-year-old newspaper - the Free Press.  He looked through it but could see nothing significant to him.  But knew still that the newspaper had come there supernormally.  There was no other explanation for it.  He and Ada had a little sitting, David came and told them that he had had nothing to do with bringing the paper except to provide the energy - taken from Harold - but that they would hear about other things and its significance.  The next evening we had a sitting - Bessie, Harold, Lu, and I and Isabella.  The presence spoke and said he would once more come and save the world - that once again he would come and heal the sick.  Harold's two-year-old paper, that so mysteriously came on his bed, contained a picture of Christ healing the sick.  (We did not know this until the following Saturday).  It's all very strange, especially as I had been praying that a sign of some kind be given us, giving proof that Isabella's mediumship was not unfounded in this aspect.  It is so tremendous that naturally there are times when one fears for the authenticity of it all.  So seemingly, the age of miracles, so-called, is no yet over.

"... Then, last night, he came again - called us his disciples -- said he would make us all strong and happy - blessed us - and spoke in a great voice with moving force.  I have never heard anything so impressive as this one, limited as it must be by Isabella's own vocabulary and intonation. One knows that there is something supernormal about it all.  All this, my dearest dear, just for you and Jim.  No word must be spoken of these sorts of inner mysteries until the time comes - if it ever does come.  I cannot say; it is for those on the Other Side to lead; We can but follow and maintain standards already set.  Facts must be our guide.

"... Our new circle  (Dawn and Mercedes and all the other members of the old group have ceased coming for good, I think) consists of the following: Lu, Jessie, Bessie and Harold, Mr. and Mrs. Wither, Jack, Isabella and myself.  Hobbes may come in I don't know yet.

"... Daddy is in the house a great deal, according to Isabella.  The other evening we were all around the fire and both Arthur and T. G. were present, too.  Lovely, isn't it?  Captain plays with our new kitty.  If you watch the kitten playing you can see that he seems to be seeing something not visible to the rest of us.

"...Saturday I'm pouring tea for the Rebeccahs, at Eaton's. Have been going out very little lately.  Hard at the book and beginning to get a real grip on it.

"... You will be glad to know that the junk room is almost emptied completely out.  Jim has worked hard at it off and on all summer.  Little by little the accumulation of years is beginning to disappear.  But how many lives have already been lived in this quarter-century old house!  About a dozen I think, according to ordinary standards - B.A.'s and M. D.'s and B. Sc.'s and wonderful new and epoch-making discoveries and a busy practicing physician's life, and music A .T. C. M.'s, and musical pupils and old fashioned dancing parties, and formal and informal receptions, wedding parties (three of them) and birth and death - all inside these four old walls - Life to the full!  Let us forgive the junk-heap and the accumulations, then."


September 27, 1935.                                         Friday

"... What do you think happened last night at the sitting?  Patience Worth was brought by Daddy!  Through Harold  (they were over for a special sitting).  I verily believe it was she and no other.  He saw them come in together through the door - Let me describe her as he saw her - quite tall - at least a little above the average - slim, boyish face, very beautiful, pink and white coloring, very vivid - hair to him dark brown,  (supposed to be red or auburn) a grey dress with little white collar, white comb in her hair, hands folded primly in front of her, holding a book.  To him she looked rather "co-ed" and very, very clever and intellectual.  What he really meant was that to him she seemed undemonstrative ....

"... Then she controlled him and spoke a little to us and again - so like our dear Patience - we had no paper to take notes, unfortunately; but her words made a deep impression on us something like this: "I wear not my heart upon my sleeve", referring to Harold's impression of her.  Speaking of Daddy she said: "The leech  (old name for physician) hath brought me".  Someone asked her if she knew Walter and she replied: "He hath a quick wit and he did sharpen it at my grindstone." - good, wasn't it?

"... Speaking of truth, she said "It hath been my companion these many days, I think".  I told her how you loved her writings and she replied: "Margaret is my child then, I love her".  I told her that you read her Sorry Tale once a year and quick as a flash came back "It's a sorry tale to read" -"doth it take a year for her to read it?"  I answered her it did not.

"... It was very wonderful and so unexpected.  What a thrill T. G. must have got out of that.  It is so touching: he keeps bringing the friends one by one to us as if he took special delight in showing us that he had found them and they were real - through Jack, Stead, Myers, Doyle and  R. L. Stevenson - and now Patience through Harold.

"... Today is Jim's birthday so must away to see about some festivities for him.  Jack was here and I do not know who else."


September 30, 1935                                          Wednesday
[Letter from Mrs. Hamilton to Margaret:]

"... Well, I guess our Xmas jaunt may not come to pass as Glen left with Neil  K. B. today for Los Angeles and other points south on a three-week's holiday trip.  Neal just finished building Dr. Duncan's new home and was quite tired.  He coaxed Glen to go with him, and were they excited about it!  Happy as two clam-boys.  They took Glen's car and away this morning at 5:30am.

"... Yellowstone - Salt Lake City - L.A. - Yosemite - San Francisco - Seattle - home.

"... It will perhaps be too much to ask Glen to take ten days off at Xmas ... If I don't get down then I'll come by bus near spring when I have to see about getting the book out and so on.

"... Eva and Barney are all right - Barney with all his failings is a most likable person.  Do try to quiz him soon about any possible dreams or trance experiences he may have had re us.  At any rate, it was an astonishing fact that he should try to speak to me re Dr. R. anyway.  Jack did not know I had asked you to ask B - no one in fact.  We here know even more about the old boy (at least Glen and I).  He was forced to leaver Rochester - police after him.  I presume he overstayed his welcome there, too.  Poor man!  No doubt there is some good in him but a story-teller is a pretty low customer.  Glen will never be so gullible - that's one good thing.  Glen himself, though, did some investigating and was not altogether dumb about the whole affair.

"... Jim has started back at his honors course and is working harder than I've ever seen him.  I believe he will do still better this year.  He is getting a ride in a motor car each day and that does help him.  He is not nearly so fagged as he was last term.

"... Jack is here tonight and is joining the big group.

"... Elna was here last night for dinner - she and her good man.  The Mikado mine has closed so they have moved to Kenora and have taken a flat there for the winter ... Elna is having a little one in February and will be in for the event.  She was very miserable all summer but well now.  Daddy came while she and I were sitting in the kitchen talking.  Isabella heard him whisper  "How are you, Elna?" and then saw his hand follow the bones of Elna's cheek as if he were examining her antrims.  Decidedly evidential: for Isabella, I'm sure, does not know that Elna, once while she was here, had a real nasty attack, and that Dr. always strongly advised her to be careful if she had to go where there was no doctor or medical aid of any kind up north.  He does seem to think up the most interesting things to do by way of proof.

"... I've worked all day at the book and feel I'm making good headway.  I feel I would like to dedicate the work to Mr. Stanley De Brath and to the memory of Richet - they are the two, who, above all others, have helped us - in many ways.  What do you think?  I mentioned this to T. G. and he did not oppose it but said - "Oh, it better go to you"; but still I think it would show a much wider appreciation if ..."


October 2, 1935

[Letter from Miss Elliott to Mrs. Hamilton:]

"I am so glad to have your note of September 29th.

"I had a visit yesterday afternoon from your daughter, Mrs. J. R. Bach, and had a most enjoyable talk with her.  She told me so much about your wonderful work in Winnipeg; and living in a barren land, so to speak, it was a very real pleasure to me.  I know of nobody here in Toronto who has anything like the knowledge that your group of people have or who have done anything like your research work.  I have to rely on my reading to keep me on the right line, but I cannot do as much of that as I should like owing to the tremendous amount of reading I have to do in my work here.

"If I can be of any help at all with the book, please don't hesitate to let me know.  I should be very happy indeed to do anything I could."
[Following are comments and explanation of the friendship's beginning, between the Hamiltons and MacMillan's of Canada.]

My father died in April, 1935.  After spending nearly five weeks in Winnipeg helping to get his business affairs in order, I returned to London, Ontario, to my home.  Shortly word came that my husband was to be moved to Hamilton, Ontario.  We found a charming old modernized farm house near Dundas, about five miles from Hamilton.  In a letter to me, dated September 24, 1935, my mother wrote: "I had a most interesting letter today from Mrs. Booth (Ellen Elliott) of MacMillan's which I am enclosing.  It would be really nice if you would drop in and get to know her, when you are in Toronto.  MacMillan's certainly seem to be interested in the "book".

Within the next few days we did drive to Toronto on business; I found my way to 70 Bond St., and introduced myself to Mrs. Booth; she wrote my mother soon after:

        The MacMillan Company of Canada, Ltd
        St. Martin's House, 70 Bond St.  Toronto

[Winnipeg Psychical Research Society - October 4, 1935]

Before we go any further with our proceedings tonight - with that high regard which befits a great man - we must honor the memory of our President, Dr. Glen Hamilton.

Dr. Hamilton was a great man because he stood publicly and without fear for truth as it was know to him, though that truth was unbelievable to very many.  He discovered for himself the verity of psychic phenomena, and he never hesitated to proclaim that fact.  He was a member of a most conservative profession, but no fear of ridicule or of slight ever turned him from the public confession of his faith.  The phenomena he investigated have been the subjects of imitation by imposters more frequently probably than any natural phenomena since the world began, and the incredulity aroused by repeated exposures of imposters is accompanied in the minds of many sensitive people by fear lest holy things be touched by hands of clay.

It is the measure of Dr. Hamilton's greatness that, knowing these things and having satisfied himself of the genuineness of certain facts which he had observed, he spoke and wrote what was in his mind.  Not only so, but he continued his experiments and by the integrity of his character and the exactness of his work brought conviction to many of his professional brethren, as well as to lay men and women.  In his honesty lay his strength.  He never affirmed beyond his knowledge, but he never hedged about what he knew.

When psychic phenomena are fully appreciated and are generally accorded their place in the natural order of the Universe, the pioneers who persisted in a scientific examination of the facts - Schrenck-Notzing, Geley, Hamilton, will receive from all the world the recognition, which, on other grounds, has already been accorded to their fellow workers, - Crookes, Richet and Lodge.

[Handwritten at bottom of the sheet October 4, 1935 - "Tribute by Mr.  H. A. V. Green President of the Winnipeg Psychic Research Society"]


October 8, 1935.                                         Thursday

[Letter from Mrs. Hamilton to Margaret:]

"... The Browns had a wire from Neil and Glen yesterday morning.  They arrived in San Francisco night before last  (Tuesday) and expected to reach Los Angeles today.  Home in two more weeks.

"... Isabella is still revealing signs of more development. We were on a similar luncheon jaunt last Monday - Lu's treat and idea, and had a lovely spot down in the sun in Fraser's Grove.  Isabella lay down after lunch and went sound asleep.  From normal sleep she passed into trance; Robert came; then the fairies.  That is after Isabella wakened up but while she was still sensitive.  Bless their hearts!  They were of a new variety - dressed in sort of leaf dresses, she said.  Jess picked some red leaves to take home and Isabella claimed she saw one little fellow go over and try to take them away from her.  Jess laid them down and then went farther into the wood to gather more red leaves.  The little lads - seven of them, followed her.  They liked the ones she took the second time so much that they built a little home in it - a sort of hammock affair, Isabella said, for her to take home with her.  Poetical, all these ideas aren't they?  One little fellow was much bolder than the others and came up and closely examined Isabella's glasses as they were lying on the ground where she had laid them.  He told her  (or some one speaking for them) that he didn't want her to wear them as she could not see him when she had them on.  The glass seemed to deflect the light, whatever it was, that allowed her to see them.

"... Robert came and told us that Sterge had again brought them and that the bar of music which Isabella always sees with the little men was his sign.  All still very pretty and, I fully believe, true.  Why not?  It's fun to believe without having to bother to prove everything.  A rest for poor old brain fog.

"... Then another interesting thing happened: Isabella went to the Church Dinner.  Mr. Brown came in late.  As he was standing, listening to the speaker's jokes, she saw T. G. come and stand beside him and also seem to be amused at all that was going on.  Mrs. Poole, she said, came in and stood with R. L. Stevenson in another part of the church.  I imagine they're building up her clairvoyant powers by these various methods.  When she came home she had a vision of Gladstone talking on a platform, laying down the law - to me evidently -  about our work.  The vision seemed to change and finally became an excellent representation of the meeting at  "Queens Gate" England where T. G. spoke at the British College - even to the spot where I was sitting.  The only mistake they (or the medium) made was they put a white hat on me instead of a white dress.  She heard John King speak to her and tell her we "must get down to brass tacks"; - he made her feel vigorous and domineering and forceful - she said she wanted to throw things about and "make things go".  You will see what happens: They throw a psycho-hypnotic influence over them - make them feel what they want them to feel - see what they want them to see.  That, I believe, is what clairvoyance in many cases is: hypnosis from the dead.


October 9, 1935.

Dawn; B. and H. Shand; Gordon Chown; Bruce Chown; H. Green; Mercedes; L. H.; Lou Campbell.

8:50 p.m.        Circle in.  Singing.

Mercedes (normal): "I saw Stead come into the room.  There are two or three people in the room.  I can see a tall man behind Mr. Green.  He has a dark complexion like a foreigner.  He wears a student's robe, but no hat.  He is a stranger to me.  I have not seen him before, to my knowledge ... The cabinet is beginning to light up."
Ewan: "Good evening."

All: "Good evening."

Dawn: "We are seven."

Bruce Chown: "Which seven are you?"

Dawn: "Count and see."

Ewan: "Stinson" (chatter re Walter's baby pictures, etc.  He recalls dog picture.) "Old Ham's getting a great kick out of how stupid you all look!  Not one bit better than he used to look."

Walter goes off into a discussion of circus - pictures - bareback - spangles - hoops - flames - etc.

9:30 p.m.:    Walter: "The barriers are down.  We'll begin to go."
(Conversation re horse races.)

Bruce Chown: "Mary Marshall wins by a nose!"  (Walter slaps Dawn, telling the story of remodeling her nose and putting it back in shape to place.)

9:45 p.m.        Walter: "Would you like to see somebody go very deep?" (Whistles.)

Mercedes (normal): "Is that your dog?"
Ewan: "You can take the patient, doctor, (stroking).  Do what you like with her.  Come on, Lucy.  We'll give you the five minutes."

Walter/Dawn: "Everything is fine.  I went to find what you told me to."

L. H.: "There is a light in the middle of the room."

Mercedes: "There is a lot of vitality around the cabinet."

Lucy/Mercedes: "Good evening, my friend.  Do not be worried; the building is almost completed.  We miss those who do not come regularly.  Walter is doing good work.  He will give you the instructions in good time.  He is working through Dawn.  Those who are working with this group are too busy to come.  The power is not as great as it used to be.  We are using all the energy possible.  Walter is working" (stroking Mercedes.).(The rubbing and stroking continue.)

Bruce Chown: "Mercedes is sitting in her chair, feet stretched out - arms rigid.  Head held up with face toward ceiling.  Hands in lap.  Her feet eight inches off the floor."

Ewan: "She's well under now.  Ask her to go further; then ask her what she's seen when she comes back."

Bruce Chown: "Her legs are still stiffly outstretched."

John/Ewan: "She can change the position of the arms."
Bruce Chown: "Arms overhead; legs the same.  Reminds Walter to concentrate on one thing - the picture.  He has no conception of time."

Ewan: "This is just a side-show."

Dawn: "Ten minutes more."

Ewan: "There he goes". (He has Mercedes up). "Just like a statue.  Not as hard as marble, but she's better set, and she was.  What did you see down there"

Mercedes: "I saw them  when I was in that room where they are making the picture.  There are two people working in there.  Dawn was there.  I couldn't understand it, when I knew she was in the séance room. They were taking cords from her breast, and cords coming from the neck to the ..." Her eyes were open. I could see Stead.  There was Stevenson, there, too; not working, but watching.  The figure looks to me not to be in a very complete state."

[Appears to be a prophetic OOBE.]

Bruce Chown: "How big was the figure?"

Mercedes: "A little above where Dawn would sit, and on the floor.  There was a shell around it.  The cords came from the medium's body to the shell.  It was a strange room."

Ewan: "Look again!  Look, look, look!"
Mercedes: "Wait.  Yes, I want to tell you that Dawn has given herself completely.  Her heart has been touched.  She's in a particularly responsive mood."

Bruce Chown: "Can you see anything else?"

Mercedes: "Yes.  There is color - like a blue haze - as a vapor of lightish blue, in the room.  I feel and not as a natural body.  I feel as though I can float."

Ewan: "Can you not see one feature of that room that conveys something to you?"

Mercedes: "I see that it has four boundaries; enclosed; but not walls."

Bruce Chown: "What do you mean by 'working'?"

Mercedes: "They are going to and fro.  They seem  to be working.  I have not seen one; but it seems to be an operating room."

Bruce Chown: "Is Dawn sitting, and the shell beside her?"

Mercedes: "Yes.  They are carrying things, to and fro.  They seem  to know what to do.  They are finishing now."

Dawn: "Time is up."

Ewan: "One thing before she goes."
Mercedes: "Be quick, my friend."

Ewan: "Take her away carefully.  She has to go through another stage before she comes back to you as Mercedes."

Dawn: "Good night ..."

Bruce Chown: "And thank you so much ..." Mercedes is led out by L. H.

Circle closes.


October 15, 1935.

[Excerpt from Notes of sitting held at home of Miss Ada Turner - October 15, 1935]

Professor and Mrs. W. T. Allison, Ada Turner, Harold Turner (medium), Jack MacDonald (medium), Miss Sue Irwin, Lillian Hamilton]

[9:00pm - 10:15pm]

Both mediums pass into light trance simultaneously.  Sterge appears through Jack MacDonald, David through "Norman."  They chat with the group and prepare for phenomena.  Presently the mediums say that among the "unseens" in the room is Dr. T. G. Hamilton.  They report he is looking well, and smiling at the group.
Medium   (T.G. H.): "I want to tell you, Mrs. Hamilton, that your husband has a message for you.  He has another man with him, he said.  I can see him - he looks like a minister - yes!.  I think he is a minister.  He says his name is "King" and that he has written a book.  Do you remember?"

Lillian Hamilton: "No.  I don't quite understand."  (The only minister I could think of by this name was Reverend John King, for whom our church was named; I could think of no book that would be pertinent in this case.)

Medium: "Dr. Hamilton tells me to tell you that this book is not about psychical research, and that he met Mr. King over here through his brother."

Lillian Hamilton still does not understand.

Medium: "Does this help you?  (repeating for T. G. H.) "What you are doing for religion and science is in my thoughts and memory".

Lillian Hamilton: "Oh, now I'm beginning to see the light.  That's a good piece of evidence!"  (It is a quotation - slightly changed - from a letter written by Honorable William Lyon MacKenzie King to T. G. H. in August, 1933.)

Medium: "The doctor tells me to say "Lillian, you have that book at home; I have been most liberal in my work tonight."

[Play on the word "Liberal" to indicate Liberal Prime Minister, W.  L.  MacKenzie King] 

Lillian Hamilton: "Yes, you have, and with one exception, it all falls into line.  I feel quite sure that I understand."

R. L. Stevenson/Norman  (partially exteriorized voice): "I see you are a canny lass, well trained by your late husband not to give anything away!"

T. G. H. now controls directly the medium, Jack MacDonald, and in the course of his conversation, as still more evidence of his presence, spontaneously reminds Miss Irwin, who had just returned from an eighteen months trip around the world, that he met her on Portage Avenue shortly before she left; talked with her about her pending trip; and reminded her that he had remarked how much he would like to visit Cairo and the great Museums there, as she intended doing.  Miss Irwin said these statements were fully correct, and she was greatly surprised at the accuracy of T. G.'s memory.  No one else in the room, but Miss Irwin herself, was aware that this meeting had taken place and what had been said.  She admitted that she had quite forgotten the incident until  T. G. H.  himself reminded her. 

[Note: After the sitting, when questioned, J. MacDonald said that he took the gentleman, Mr. King, to be a clergyman because he looked like a clergyman - that is, he had a spiritualized look, which suggested that he was a man of this calling.]

[Comment: When Mr. MacKenzie King returned to Ottawa after visiting the Hamilton home in August, 1933, he presented Dr. Hamilton with a book written by Mr. King's brother - a medical doctor.  The book was "Nerves and Personal Power, by C. A. King, M. D.]

[The above message through people who had no prior knowledge of this incident, provided unexpected evidence of T. G. H.'s presence.]        


October 16, 1935.

8:45 p.m.        Circle in.

Dawn (normal): "Two people in white come into the room - very clearly. (Stamping for about 15 minutes.)

9:10 p.m.        Dawn (in trance): "Take hold of her legs and stop her." (Bruce Chown takes hold of feet of Ewan and Mercedes."

Bruce Chown: "Was the stamping doing any good?"

Dawn: "Up to a certain point; then you'd better stop them .  I want Ewan in the cabinet. (Dawn and Ewan change chairs).

Ewan: "Dawn can see all kinds of things.  You can't see the things that Dawn sees.  Have you any objection to Katie taking up room in the circle?" (After argument re note taker coming into circle.)

Bruce Chown: "Sure, we'll have Katie.  What's the difference between a circuit and a circle?"

John/Ewan: "Come, Katie, and talk!"

Mercedes: "You go below!"

Bruce Chown: "You come on, Katie!"

Mercedes: "You want to know something about a circus? ... I want you to have the light ready.  You can lower or raise it.  We may ask for it at any time."

Ewan: "Dim."

Mercedes: "Plain speech is best.  Many a good pearl I've taken from an oyster.  I want to do some work. (Pacing and counting, 1 - 2 - 3 - 6)  1,2,3,6,6, that'll do it!  You move over.  One of the men outside of the physical circle I move to the right side of Dawn.  Light for a second.  I want to get light."  (Bruce Chown holds red light.)

Katie/Mercedes: "Work at the beginning was very good.  The entities got right through.  Ask Mercedes after the sitting what she saw. (Later she said she saw people working around the cabinet.)  When the mediums make too much noise, stop them .  John has no right to be noisy.  The pounding of the feet is of no use past a certain time.  I want to tell you that the controls are working very hard to give you something in the nature of a picture.  The mediums are assisting in the best way.  We can't do anything without Dawn.  She is both receiver and producer.  I can work with this medium.  When they get Dawn she is excellent material.  She is getting harder to work with.  She feels that she is no longer necessary."

Bruce Chown: "One good picture would change her feeling.  It would make a difference to Ewan's feelings, too. (Katie seems surprised that Ewan should feel futility about the sitting, and Bruce makes explanations.)

Katie/Mercedes: "We must try.  We cannot afford to lose such a valuable asset to our group.  I know it takes a great deal of patience.  They feel their inability to produce when they sit.  I sometimes follow my medium home.  If you could know her feelings, you would know what disappointment means." 
(Mercedes takes measurements.)

Dawn: "For the next four sittings, don't come into this room except for sittings.  Have chairs arranged not too far apart, and so that the light can be put on when called for.  If you wish to do anything in the room (cleaning, camera adjustments, etc.)  have it done before the next sitting.  Have the door securely fastened so that no one will enter.  Do not have chair feet in the way of the mediums in the event of their lying down on the floor.  No knees in the center of the room.  You will then be called on to make the picture.  Ewan in the cabinet, Dawn where she is."
Bruce Chown: "What about the cameras?"

Dawn: "Do not open the cameras until I tell you.  Adjust the cameras to the center of the cabinet and have the floor clear in front of the cabinet.  A the next sitting, enter in order; move quickly into place, and don't step on floor."

Bruce Chown: "Speak up, Ewan. (Ewan incoherent and gasping.) Take it quietly."

Dawn: "Have the room cool."

T. G. H./Ewan: "Good evening."

Bruce Chown: "Hello, T. G.!"

T. G. H./Ewan: "I thought I was not going to get a chance.  Things are alright, Bruce; it is going on alright.  I've got quite a look at it.  You'd be interested to look at it from this angle.  It's marvelous the way they work, Bruce.  It beats everything to see the way they work!  There's a lot about biology that we have to learn."

Bruce Chown: "Eventually they'll admit this - that there is life in biology - which most biologists don't admit."

T. G. H./Ewan: "There's two ways of looking at that; first, distinct from physical existence ..."

Bruce Chown: "As of something poured into it?"
T. G. H./Ewan: "You can take it out of the skull.  The physical is only a creation of the mind.  So far from the brain being an instrument, which as yet belongs without mind (?).  Mind is the creative force.  Mind is the expression of the life-giving force.  Mind cannot live without life.  Life cannot exist without mind ... If you could make a smaller circle I could control him better."

Mercedes (out of trance): "I see the doctor.  He's looking nice."

10:10 p.m.   Circle break up, leaving Dawn, Ewan, L. H., and Bruce Chown.

Ewan: "Dawn, you come over here. (T. G. H. speaks with great feeling).  It is good to come!  Lillian!  Let me give this thanks!"

Bruce Chown: "Take it easy, T. G.!  Everything is fine."

T. G. H./Ewan: "It's difficult to come and talk in this atmosphere again as if everything were as before, Lillian.  Did you see me when I came?"

L. H.: "I saw a light."

T. G. H./Ewan: "I have come and looked at you.  Didn't you get a glimpse?  It is so different to what I thought it would be like.  You will never realize the gross barrier matter makes between those who have gone from it, and those who keep within the enclosures.  It looks quite different from here.  Yet there are moments when one sees clearly - what used to be a material air - and I can touch my dear ones again ... Did you get the message about to ring?"

L. H.: "No."

"It's coming.  I can't give you more.  Let it go - all in good time.  Don't think that all that comes is from me.  You know, when you go about the world, you create phantoms of your existence as you go.  These corrupt communications.  You're going to get a photograph.  They chuckle when they say that they got it without old Ham.  Bruce, be very careful of the cameras.  I think you'd better get Metcalfe: he'd be more careful than Reed.  Be careful of the fuses.  Jimmy can come and look at that end of it.  Jimmy's quite capable of that.  He is a good boy.  He's got to get down to working harder.  What a curious complex pattern men make of their lives!  One might speculate for ever on the way the threads are going to be drawn.  Who can foretell how the other is going to go?  There is nothing in the universe ...? ... because it does not obey the laws of nature, but each man's own immortal soul - for good or evil back to the great Father of all things.  I would be glad to help you in any way I can.  I know so little yet.  Give Lillian all the comforts you can.  She has been so good and brave to my memory."


October 20, 1935                                         Tuesday

[Letter from Mrs. Hamilton to Margaret:]

Mentions Margaret's big day (birthday?)(anniversary?)

"... Glen will be home on Friday - telegram from Neal K today to his Dad.  They are at Omaha.

Mentions Jess and an Indian exhibit.

"... Uncle Tom is away preaching most of the time and she herself is out speaking very often. I wonder how much good it all does.  A little, I suppose.  

"... Friday night she is having Jack MacDonald and Dorothy Wither over to tea and Pa and Ma Wither over afterwards.  Mrs. Wither is, for mental work, just as good now as either of the Marshalls, I do believe.  Mr. Wither is also becoming clairvoyant.  It is really comical.  He sees the personalities come so clearly that he can tell before they speak who they are and he's rarely wrong.  Last sitting he beat Sterge to it by a split second: "There's Sterge", on his part and "Tsst! On Sterge's part almost - but not - quite together.  I, who was holding Jack's hand, did not know Sterge was coming but Willie Withers did.  Three times hand running the sitting before he saw Daddy slip up beside Mrs. Withers or Jack and then speak.  It's very interesting.  True, our new circle  (Withers, Jack, Lu, Jess and I and the Shands and ,of course, Isabella) is extremely "harmonious" and , subjectively at any rate, is coming along.  Walter, John, Katie, Lucy, all the old gang claim to be present - the same old engine going at times; the same stamping exercises by Withers, John speaking through Isabella in a voice to waken the dead - and then - the Presence!  He seems to be drawing nearer and nearer through the "little maid" as they call her.  It's too wonderful - my faith is mounting but still I wait.  Two signs have been given - the paper at Harold's and the stigmata.  More may come.  He blesses us, takes away our shortcomings; baptizes us with water - first the mediums and then the sitters.  Gives them new names - Jack is John the Beloved the Second; Willie is Peter the second, Harold Shand is St. Andrew.  Isabella is Faith; Bessie is Hope and so on.  Are these symbols?  He says he is coming to man again in many forms - he repeats this again and again "Many forms".  Surely it is some kind of a closer spiritual descent.  Does He mean, do you think, that he will more and more permeate all walks of life?  All occupations and all ways of living and thinking?  If you could only hear the Voice through Faith - low and tender - then so loud and ringing - and such dignity and majesty as her person seems to radiate!  Surely it is some very real and very precious influence.  And still she knows nothing about it  - nothing, except that a few time she has seen Him as in a dream.

"... We sit now Sundays at 8:00pm and Thursdays at 8:30pm."


October 23, 1935.

9:15 p.m.        Circle in.

Mercedes (not in trance): "The lights are getting stronger." (Dawn standing)

9:35 p.m.        Mercedes: "I am in communication with you through the influence of another, a friend of many years.  I have been a long time gone."

Bruce Chown: "Do you find it difficult to come?"

Mercedes: "I have no desire to come.  I am not forced, but requested to come.  With you all, there is one who is standing with you as a guardian angel.  They help you.  Strength will be given with me by this Power that stands before me." (Ewan standing,  now she is - comments by Bruce Chown).  Be prepared in your third sitting. (Deep voice).  I want to be perfectly clear that you will only get a preliminary picture first; that will be accepted as a test."

Ewan: "Accepted by me."

Bruce Chown: "To test out conditions?"

Ewan: "Yes."

Bruce Chown: "How about physical conditions?"

Mercedes: "They look to be in good order.  You will be in his (Reed's) place.  Mysteries are difficult to solve.  It has always held a fascination for mankind to delve into the secrets of the Eternal.  Would that I could be the Messiah that could speak to you of the Way. I am only a humble instrument.  Thou woulds't not know what I was saying to you; but I must speak of today through this woman.  Nothing but ruins remain.  My people are gone."

Bruce Chown: "Where are the ruins?"

Mercedes: "Korea. (Maybe a different spelling would make a great geographical difference.)  He says it is diverging from the main purpose to go back to those caves.  'But if you will, I will tell you of these caves made by men many thousands of years ago.'" (Later, downstairs, Mercedes described what appeared to be catacombs, or underground cellars.)

Ewan: "The girl has not gone very far.  It is a case of rescuing her.  She has come as a waif and a stray.  We could get along without them ; but it is a work of kindness to give them a chance.  They get a knowledge of conditions; and it brings them  up a bit.  Can you feel the energy?"

Bruce Chown: "No."

Ewan: "Place your hands in front of Ewan.  I have to raise his arms.  Can you feel now?"

Bruce Chown: "No, I'm afraid I don't."
"It's all right, my friend.  You are all right in your own way. (Puts Dawn on the floor).  Mercedes, come and take your place."

Mercedes: "I'm coming!  Gets down on the floor."

Bruce Chown: "Both are kneeling; Dawn's head at Ewan's feet; Mercedes in the other direction."

Ewan: "I will take the energy required to create this figure.  I command that they be willing."

Bruce Chown: "Can they not do it voluntarily?"

"No.  I should not get so excited.  They cannot give the energy.  I must take it with all my power."

Bruce Chown: "I realize it is a strain."

"Go down!  Dawn!"

Bruce Chown: "Her head is away from the cabinet."

Ewan: "This is a great relief."

Bruce Chown: "Dawn's head is at Ewan's feet; she is on her face; skin is cool.  Ewan is standing in front of cabinet, facing the circle."

Ewan: "Come to your feet again, Dawn! (Loudly)  Come, Mercedes!"

Bruce Chown: "She has taken my hand; she's sitting on the floor in front of me."

Ewan: "This is good, good, good!"

Mercedes (normal): "It got so dark.  The lights have gone.  Ewan and Dawn, take your chairs again."

L. H.: "Dawn's in the cabinet."

Dawn: "Place one more chair in the cabinet; put Ewan on one chair.  Close the circle."

Ewan tells Bruce Chown to go have a look at the mediums who have gone out of the room, and repeats the warning not to have sittings in between the regular ones in the séance room.  Place a chair to the left have Ewan's seat, and a few inches behind it.  This is John King talking ... Keep quiet as you were tonight when you come again.  I may not come again until you have this work finished, unless I am requested."


October 25, 1935

[Letter from Lillian Hamilton to Dr. De Brath:]

"... Your letter of July 16 reached me in London, Ontario, where I was visiting my daughter Margaret.  It was so kind of you to write, and I do appreciate it.  Our friends in the physical world mean much to me.

"... In regard to making a full report on the conditions surrounding the recording of the teleplasms in the Winnipeg experiments, you can be assured that these will be fully dealt with, for all of us have always felt very strongly on this point.  Every single phase of the control and the conditions must be made clear: for on this, in the beginning at any rate, rests the ground of their supernormality.  We have no fear on this score, for conditions were, so far as the mediums went, absolutely watertight in each case.  Mr. Isaac Pitblado's words in regard to the Lucy manifestation (he was elected head of the Canadian Bar Association last November, a very high rank indeed)  "there was no link absent in the chain of evidence establishing the supernormality of this phenomenon" might well be applied to all the teleplasmic manifestations recorded under Dr. Hamilton's supervision.  Every single extrusion, too, has a stereoscopic recording, and these are here in our home, ready to be examined by anyone caring to do so.  (Dr. Hamilton used stereoscopic boxes in his  B. M. A. exhibit.)  Their supernormality rests on other and higher forms of evidence as well: their own inherent nature and aspect; the use in each case of not one, but a number of mediums functioning both physically and subjectively in trance simultaneously; in each case, the control's fore-knowledge, as well as his supernormal., detailed description of the mass once it had been photographed, and before this knowledge was available to any living soul."


October 30, 1935.

8:50 p.m.        Circle in.  Dawn and Ewan argue about songs.  Dawn is normal, Ewan in a semi-trance state.

9:15 p.m.        L. H. and Lou see Katie's light clearly.  Mercedes (normal) says there are lots of lights.( Ewan clapping vigorously.)

9:20 p.m.        Ewan: "Come, Katie, talk to us."

Katie/Mercedes: "I just want to say the center of the floor is clear."

Dawn: "You will find the story of Lot's wife in Kings.  It's the second shortest verse in the Bible.  Remember Lot's wife!"

Ewan: "She'll be a pillar of sugar."  (referring to the medium)        
        
Dawn: "We'll all have a lick!" (Dawn and Ewan discuss mixtures of sugar and cement.)

9:25 p.m.        Mercedes: "Your figure will be completed at the next sitting.  They (mediums) are all in good condition.  We are getting good work done.  Don't expect too much.  We won't get it next time, but we can take a trial one soon.  Don't take any notice of Dawn.  She'll come all right."

Dawn: "Place Mercedes in the cabinet at the next sitting; Dawn and Ewan on either side.  Dawn in the usual place and Ewan on the other seat.  Dawn will sit in Ewan's chair.(Ewan and Mercedes?)  Have one chair in the cabinet."

9:35 p.m.        Bruce Chown takes mediums back to their seats.  Asks if that is all for the evening.

Mercedes: "Yes, that is all.  John's in command."

John/Ewan: "Good night, Katie."

Katie/Mercedes: "We are very pleased with our work.  This is really Katie.  This meeting has not been long.  We have not much to do.  We are making minor adjustments.  Don't be expecting too much.  We must take some experimental photographs ... a little of Dawn ... the individual form ... from one state to the other.  Do not thank me ... it means so much to us.  It's all right.  Come on!  Get up! (To Ewan, on floor).  Don't bother your head with him ... and One Eye! ...he's drunk.(Bruce Chown heaves up Ewan).  Fling him in my bunk!  I'll get him a cup of black coffee!"

Ewan: "Go away!"

Lucy/Mercedes: "Good evening, my friends.  This is Lucy.  The boy will be all right.  Take Dawn out at once.  Don't keep these mediums longer.  Your picture will be given to you.  Your loved one (T. G. H.?) was uneasy.  He is looking forward, as we are.  He is living in the present as much as you are, and knows no more of the future.  I (Lucy) am working away with you, but have reasons for not coming.  Good night."
        

November 6, 1935.

All present except Dawn.

Mercedes: "Put Dawn's chair far back in the cabinet.  I want the cabinet empty.  I have to arrange everything."

Ewan: "All over for tonight's sitting."

Bruce Chown: "We'll do the best we can." (Mercedes and Ewan in middle on floor.)

Ewan: "Give us a dance!"

Mercedes: "These decks are slippery.  Where are we passing now?  It's a rocky Cape.  Spray is breaking over everybody."

Ewan: "It's good you took that rum tonight."

Mercedes: "I can recollect when your group was in the public eye.  When you were giving up a certain section (of people) - peoples of different countries - a light of something that had long been dark to them .  The people are still waiting!  Why this delay?  Conan Doyle is dominating this medium.  I am expressing the disappointment felt on our side.  Nothing more can be done until your other medium is there.  It is difficult now to hold.  The condition is almost ready.  That is why the control asked the cabinet to be cleared.  I have been amongst a group of people who are waiting news of you."

Ewan: "Good evening." (Bruce and Gladys Chown felt that the view(voice?) sounded more like Harry Green than John or Walter): "A tableau of Mary, Queen of Scots."  Then a tableau of Queen Elizabeth directing the Armada from Buckingham palace, addressing Sir Walter Raleigh.

Mercedes: "I would suggest that you talk amongst yourselves regarding the line you go into?  I don't want to gather a feeling of disappointment or loss; but there are other areas."

Ewan: "We'll use the girl for something.  Would you like to have her levitated again?"

Mr. Reed: "Can we photograph her while levitated?"

Bruce Chown: "Is it easier to levitate a person doing anything?"

Mercedes: "No.  It was done before with this medium.  Think it over, my friends.  Meet as usual if you can next week.  You may arrange another night.  If you don't have Dawn next week, you'll have to come again to build.  If you leave it too long you can't hold the power.  Dawn is in good condition."

Bruce Chown: "We'll do what we can."

Mercedes or Ewan: "Old Ham came expecting to get it completed.  It is going to be a good one.  Keep John and Katie away.  They both have such dominating personalities. [conflict] we have been accustomed to the strength given from John King.  Doyle has not the key of concentrating energy that John King has."

Mercedes: "It's time to go."        


November (8)(9)(?), (1935)(1936?)

[Christmas card letter from Mrs. Hamilton to Margaret:]

Problem with reversed charges in Dundas, Ontario.

"... Glad to get this MMS, and it is off in this mail to England.  Sitting tonight with all the 'Gang' to be on tap.  What they are trying to put over I have no idea.  Something objective, so they say.  Glen is decidedly "psychic" goes almost off - hands perspiring and so on.  He doesn't think much of feeling so queer.  Nevertheless he comes into the sittings and they all say he is a great help.
"... After last sitting Faith went into trance after they had all gone.  T. G. H. came - also Art - and never before have I had such personal evidence in such abundance!  Daddy traced his life right from the Sod house days - right up to meeting me in the W. G. H..  I will write it up soon and send it to you.  And it came on the evening of the anniversary of Art's death.  I had quite forgotten it.

"... Two nights ago  R. L. Stevenson traced Poole's life from her baby-hood on the Island of Mull.  Most of it Isabella knew nothing whatever about.

"... I must mail this, as the sitters are coming.  I just wanted to let you know that "nothing doing" in the matters of the "reversed charges".  And it was a station to station call, too.  So there.

"... It did me so much good just to hear you speak.  You seemed so near ..."


November 13, 1935.

All group, except  H. Reed.

9:10 p.m.        Circle in.  Dawn gets impression of someone requesting special hymn.  R. L. Stevenson says it was his guide.

Mercedes (in trance): "I want to tell a little story about a Cross."

Bruce Chown: "This evening we are doing other work."

Mercedes: "Have you everything ready?"

Bruce Chown: "Yes.  We are going to ask the mediums to put all they possess into this night's work."

Walter/Mercedes: "I'm glad you came, Dawn, tonight.  Do you remember two sittings ago I told the good lady you'd be here.  I'm a man of my word  ..."

(Ewan in trance, and Dawn normal, carry on a see-saw session.)

T. G. H./Mercedes: "Bruce, is your chair where I used to sit?  I can't see very clearly through this medium because Walter has just left her.  You know exactly what to do if there is a second signal.  This is where we always fell down."

Bruce Chown: "It would take about one minute to fix the cameras."

Mr. Reed: "About thirty seconds."

T. G. H./Mercedes: "I'll see what he (Walter?) says.  I'm beginning to be not anxious, but expectant.  It's taking a long time.  Perhaps you don't think it's long to me.  I do so want it to be a success, Bruce.  You don't know how much depends on this.  Lillian, tell Dawn after this is over I want her to give herself to me, not to Walter.  It will help me to do something I want to do."

Bruce Chown: "T. G., how about some writing?"

T. G. H./Mercedes: "Yes, I want to put through a book.  Ewan must keep a link intact.  These three mediums ... I wish you could see, Bruce, how they are chained as soon as they come into the room.  Arthur is not even helping me tonight.  You know, you'll like it when you come over here.  There is a freedom not found on the Earth plane ... Bessie is developing.  Come, I can help you to develop when the picture is finished.  You didn't know that Lillian was clairvoyant.  She can tell when someone is in a room ... I want you to did take notes of what I see through Kathleen, Sun Yan.  I think I have come very well tonight."

Bruce Chown: "You'd better take Walter on as an assistant."

T. G. H./Mercedes: "I can speak in my very best lecture voice (laughs).  When I used to lecture and looked down in those faces ... well, we won't talk about them  tonight.  Sometime I will come through and lecture.  I have just recently had a conversation with Schrenck.  He was disappointed, a little, because the work in this room was postponed.  He has made a good beginning.  He has some valuable information.  I would like to talk to you of the three dimensional ..."

Ewan: "The seven-angled triangle lecture ..."

T. G. H./Mercedes: "Look forward to all of these lectures you are going to get.  I feel it has been a good night's work."

Ewan: "I haven't got Ham's optimism.  I haven't got one scrap of hope."

Mr. Reed: "The fault will be with you, not with us."

Bruce Chown: "There will be no fault on either side."

T. G. H./Mercedes: "I see now the difficulties."

10:14 p.m.   Lucy/Mercedes: "Come soon again and follow the rules.  Eat little and be rested.  Try to be early and compose yourselves.  The work does look good.  Don't be disappointed if it is a small picture at the first.  The full figure is near completion.  Good night."

Ewan: "How many cameras have you got?"

Bruce Chown: "Nine."

Ewan: "Don't take too many on the first photograph.  It may not be much. Ham's quite excited.  He's hoping it's going to be a good one."

Dawn: "Close your meeting, please."

November 20, 1935.

8:50 p.m.        Group in.

9:05 p.m.        Mercedes: "There are the most beautiful lights I have ever seen in a long time."

[Comment by Gladys Chown: Bruce said later at home that the whole room seemed to have light; and that with but a little more he could have distinguished figures.]

"There is a form building in the back of the cabinet.  A young page girl with fair long hair, looking straight at you, Mrs. Hamilton.  She resembles your family.  I've seen a face something like it before.  This form emerged from the light that seemed to come from the direction of the door.  It is back of the mediums."

Dawn: "This is a funny church.  It is built like a square with doors on either side.  There is a porch and crowds of people.  They were singing psalms - the old 100 - there is a choir but no organ.  The people are sitting on straw-bottomed chairs.  The floor is in a lovely tile pattern.  Lamps hang from the ceiling.  There are figures on the stained glass window.  Red and pink lights are reflected from them  to the people singing.  The preacher was preaching from the Old Testament.  He had a beard.  No, it wasn't Spurgeon.  I've seen his face somewhere."

(In the meantime Ewan is working over Mercedes, trying to get her into trance.  She says she is quite normal; but no one seems to want to take control.  She knocks.)

Bruce Chown: "Come in!"

Dawn (in trance) discusses flowers of duty, peace and love; weeds of sin and suffering.

Bruce Chown reminds Dawn's control  (not Walter) of agreed number of sittings.

Ewan: "Good evening.  Don't get fed up.  We have a good man on the job."

Bruce Chown: "Bring him around, sometime."

10 p.m.   Dawn( glum old man): "This power ... it's not registering where it should reach.  This work should be in a better state.  Songs don't matter.  Put Dawn in the cabinet at the next sitting, and one spare chair.  Have Dawn disrobed.  Your pictures will not be in front of mediums, but back.  The picture is not on the wood at the back of the cabinet.  Focus halfway back.  At next sitting I will prepare the chair.  Picture will be two feet from the back of the cabinet.  Don't place the chair at the back of the cabinet.  No changes after next sitting.  So long!" 

(Editors note).


[Dr. Hamilton died in 1935 and when Mr. King heard of it he was recuperating from an illness at "The Cloister, in Georgia,"  recalls Mrs. Hamilton.  He wrote the following typewritten letter, the first after the 1935 election.  There are several interlineal corrections in his own hand.