Instantaneous Transmission of
Another Letter
by Alice Gordon
[Reprinted from Psychic Notes (Calcutta) March 30, 1882, pp. 60-61.]
In a former number I gave an account of an unfinished letter having been received by Mr. Meugens from a medium in London on January 15th, which was being written at 5 o’clock on the same day, and which arrived here between 11 and 12 at night, that is to say, at about the hour mentioned in the letter, allowing for the difference of time. I have now the pleasure to put before your readers a corroborative case of the instantaneous transmission of a letter to me, from Mr. Eglinton, now homeward bound on board the Vega, dated March 24th, which letter arrived here at half-past 9 p.m. the same day. Mr. Eglinton was our guest from February 2nd until the evening of the 14th of March, when he left by the Vega. To make clear all the facts I wish to relate, I must explain some matters concerning our connection with those who have assisted in the present phenomenon. When Col. Gordon and myself returned to India three years ago, we were fully convinced of the truth of the phenomena of Spiritualism. A friend writing to me from England, advised me to make the acquaintance of Madame Blavatsky, so I commenced a correspondence and eventually went to Allahabad to meet her. Col. Gordon and myself joined the Theosophical Society, and we then heard that a certain group of Asiatic mystics were in some way connected with the Society; they were spoken of as the adept "Brothers." The stories told us of their powers were so wonderful that nothing but our knowledge of Spiritualism could have led us to give a moment’s credence to them. But by degrees, after being a good deal with Madame B. and Col. Olcott, we had proof more or less conclusive, of the fact of the actual existence of these "Brothers," and of their control over matter. But as mere physical phenomena are regarded by them as of very secondary importance, and as only calculated to startle without convincing a mind unprepared by prior teaching, they seldom can be induced to give any experimental proof of their powers, or even of their existence. Therefore we who profess a belief in both, have to meet with a good deal of scepticism even from Spiritualists, who, strange to say, find a difficulty in believing that the embodied soul can do as much as the disembodied one. Mr. Eglinton was a sceptic, and took the same attitude towards this question as does the outside world towards Spiritualism; because he did not know them, therefore the "Brothers" could not exist. I gave up arguing on the subject, seeing its uselessness. About a fortnight before Mr. E. left, and before he had decided on going, I received a letter from Madame Blavatsky telling me some of the reasons why Mr. E. had not yet been made acquainted with the existence of our "Brothers," but at the same time saying that his "guides" as they are called, had now been made to know the fact. I questioned Mr. Eglinton, but found he knew nothing, and a letter he wrote about this time to one of our "fellows" proved him still a sceptic. Two or three evenings later we had a seance to ourselves, when to my amusement one of his "guides" spoke about the "Illustrious" - a pseudonym given by us to a certain "Brother," but quite unknown to Mr. Eglinton.
Mr. E. was entranced while I was conversing in the direct voice with his "guides," and learning from them that some phenomena would be done by their agency, with the help of Madame Blavatsky after Mr. Eglinton’s departure.
They said the "Brothers" had consented to this. When Mr. Eglinton returned to his normal state, we told him what we had heard, and I afterwards gave him Madame Blavatsky’s letter to read. He was not at all elated at having a belief in the "Brothers" forced on him, their alleged superiority to mediums being rather a sore point between us! However he had no alternative but to accept them, as a communication was given him by his chief "guide" in direct writing to the same effect. Mr. Eglinton in consequence of bad news from England suddenly resolved to go home for two or three months, and I suggested to him to try while at sea and send me a letter through Madame Blavatsky, as his "guides" had told me they were prepared to work in connection with her. He seemed very doubtful whether it could be done, as he had never met Madame B, and in all cases of such phenomena hitherto, both of the actors had been mutually acquainted and in sympathy with each other. In this instance the situation was the reverse, as Madame Blavatsky has shown a distrust of all mediums excepting only one or two who were well known to her. Mr. Eglinton on the other hand was inclined to believe that Madame B. was only a medium who pretended to be something higher. There seemed to me just a possibility of reconciliation and mutual appreciation, when the eve of Mr. Eglinton’s departure came. His baggage was already on board, and the steamer down the river when a telegram came from Madame B. to me saying, that if he would stay a week longer she had orders to come down and meet him. This was impossible. The next morning, Wednesday 15th (he having gone on board the evening before) a telegram came for him which I opened, saying the "Illustrious" wished him while the President of the T. S. was at Howrah, to send letters in his handwriting from on board ship, and that he would be helped. I advised him in case he should consent, to get some fellow passenger to endorse the letter before sending it off to me. He wrote from Fisherman’s Point on Wednesday at 4 o’clock, saying, "Personally I am very doubtful whether these letters can be managed, but I will do what I can in the matter. I shall send you a letter from Suez if you don’t receive one in the meantime by K. H. (1)" Col. Olcott the President of the Society came from Berhampore on Sunday the 19th. He having left Bombay February 17th, had heard nothing up till then of all this. We received letters from Madame Blavatsky dated Bombay the 19th, telling us that something was going to be done, and expressing the earnest hope that she would not be required to assist as she had had enough abuse about phenomena. Before this letter was brought by the post peon, Colonel Olcott had told me that he had had an intimation in the night from his Chohan (teacher) that K. H. had been to the Vega and seen Eglinton. This was about eight o’clock on Thursday morning the 23rd. A few hours later a telegram, dated at Bombay 22nd day, 21 hour 9 minutes, that is to say 9 minutes past 9 p.m., on Wednesday evening, came to me from Madame Blavatsky, to this effect: "K. H. just gone to Vega." This telegram came as a "delayed" message, and was posted to me from Calcutta, which accounts for its not reaching me until midday on Thursday. It corroborated, as will be seen, the message of the previous night to Colonel Olcott. We then felt hopeful of getting the letter by occult means from Mr. Eglinton. A telegram later on Thursday asked us to fix a time for a sitting, so we named 9 o’clock Madras time, on Friday 24th. At this hour we three - Colonel Olcott, Colonel Gordon, and myself, - sat in the room which had been occupied by Mr. Eglinton. We had a good light, and sat with our chairs placed to form a triangle of which the apex was to the north. In a few minutes Colonel Olcott saw outside the open window the two "Brothers" whose names are best known to us, and told us so; he saw them pass to another window, the glass doors of which were closed. He saw one of them point his hand towards the air over my head, and I felt something at the same moment fall straight down from above on to my shoulder and saw it fall at my feet in the direction towards the two gentlemen. I knew it would be the letter, but for the moment I was so anxious to see the "Brothers" that I did not pick up what had fallen. Colonel Gordon and Colonel Olcott both saw and heard the letter fall. Colonel Olcott had turned his head from the window for a moment to see what the "Brother" was pointing at and so noticed the letter falling from a point about two feet from the ceiling. When he looked again the two "Brothers" had vanished.
There is no verandah outside, and the window is several feet from the ground.
I now turned and picked up what had fallen on me, and found a letter in Mr. Eglinton’s handwriting dated on the Vega the 24th; a message from Madame Blavatsky, dated at Bombay the 24th, written on the backs of three of her visiting cards; also a larger card such as Mr. Eglinton had a packet of, and used at his seances. On this latter card was the, to us, well-known handwriting of K. H. and a few words in the handwriting of the other "Brother," who was with him outside our windows, and who is Col. Olcott’s Chief. All these cards and the letter were threaded together with a piece of blue sewing-silk. We opened the letter carefully by slitting up one side, as we saw that some one had made on the flap in pencil three latin crosses, and so we kept them intact for identification. The letter is as follows: -
S. S. "Vega,"
Friday, 24th March 1882.My dear Mrs. Gordon,
At last your hour of triumph has come! After the many battles we have had at the breakfast table regarding K. H.’s existence, and my stubborn scepticism as to the wonderful powers possessed by the "Brothers", I have been forced to a complete belief in their being living distinct persons, and just in proportion to my scepticism will be my firm unalterable opinion respecting them. I am not allowed to tell you all I know, but K. H. appeared to me in person two days ago, and what he told me dumb-founded me. Perhaps Madame B. will have already communicated the fact of K. H.’s appearance to you. The "Illustrious" is uncertain whether this can be taken to Madame, or not, but he will try, notwithstanding the many difficulties in the way. If he does not I shall post it when I arrive at port. I shall read this to Mrs. B ----- and ask her to mark the envelope; but whatever happens, you are requested by K. H. to keep this letter a profound secret until you hear from him through Madame. A storm of opposition is certain to be raised, and she has had so much to bear that it is hard she should have more."
Then follow some remarks about his health and the trouble which is taking him home, and the letter ends.
In her note on the three visiting-cards Madame Blavatsky says: -
"Head-quarters, March 24th. These cards and contents to certify to my doubters that the attached letter addressed to Mrs. Gordon by Mr. Eglinton was just brought to me from the "Vega," with another letter from himself to me which I keep. K. H. tells me, he saw Mr. Eglinton and had a talk with him, long and convincing enough to make him a believer in the "Brothers" as actual living beings, for the rest of his natural life. Mr. Eglinton writes to me; ‘The letter which I enclose is going to be taken to Mrs. G. through your influence. You will receive it wherever you are, and will forward it to her in ordinary course. You will learn with satisfaction of my complete conversion to a belief in the "Brothers" and I have no doubt K. H. has already told you how he appeared to me two nights ago, "&c. &c." K. H. told me all. He does not however, want me to forward the letter in "ordinary course" as it would defeat the object, but commands me to write this and send it off without delay so that it would reach you all at Howrah to-night, the 24th. I do so * * * * H. P. Blavatsky."
The handwriting on these cards and signature are perfectly well-known to us. That on the larger card (from Mr. Eglinton’s packet) attached was easily recognized as coming from Koot Hoomi. Colonel Gordon and I know his writing as well as our own; it is so distinctly different from any other I have ever seen that among thousands I could select it. He says,
"William Eglinton thought the manifestation could only be produced through H. P. B. as a ‘medium,’ and that the power would become exhausted at Bombay. We decided otherwise. Let this be a proof to all that the spirit of living man has as much potentiality in it, and, often more, as a disembodied soul. He was anxious to test her, he often doubted; two night ago he had the required proof and will doubt no more. But he is a good young man, bright, honest and true as gold when once convinced. * * *
This card was taken from his stock to-day. Let it be an additional proof of his wonderful mediumship. * *"
K. H.
This is written in blue ink, and across it is written in red ink a few words from the other "Brother" (Col. Olcott’s Chohan or Chief). This interesting and wonderful phenomenon is not published with the idea that any one who is unacquainted with the phenomena of Spiritualism will accept it. But I write for the millions of Spiritualists, and also that a record may be made of such an interesting experiment. Who knows but that it may pass on to a generation which will be enlightened enough to accept such wonders? I will mention before closing the salient features of this phenomenon.
(1) Mr. Eglinton was personally unknown to Madame Blavatsky and Col. Olcott, the former having not even written to him once, the latter once only - in acknowledgement of a letter of introduction from a London friend. Mr. E.’s views and theirs respecting the mediumistic phenomena were in conflict. Collusion, therefore, was out of the question. (2) Mr. E.’s personal "Spirit-guide," using the direct voice while the medium was entranced, told me that he had now become acquainted with the "Brothers," and would try to do a phenomenon after Mr. Eglinton’s departure by steamer from Calcutta. (3) A corroborative intimation came to me from the "Brothers" through Madame Blavatsky, by telegram after Mr. E. had left Howrah, and while his vessel was in the stream. (4) At 8 a.m., on the 23rd Col. Olcott informed us that during the night his "Guru" had told him that K. H. had visited the Vega; a telegram received later in the day from Bombay corroborates this statements. (5) By appointment we sit in Mr. Eglinton’s late bed-chamber at a designated hour. Col. O. sees the doubles or astral forms (the Hindu name is Linga Shar ira) of two brothers whom he names; one extends his arm towards me and at the same instant a packet of papers falls vertically upon my shoulder; (it falls not from, but towards Col. Olcott and Colonel Gordon, therefore it was not thrown by either of them.) (6) A good light was burning and we could see each others’ movements. (7) In the packet were a letter from Mr. E. dated the same day on the Vega, and announcing that he should read the letter to a certain lady on board, and ask her to mark the envelope; also a note from Madame B. dated at Bombay the 24th, certifying to the reception of the letter from Mr. E.; and (on one of Mr. E.’s own blank cards,) messages from the two Brothers whom Col. O. saw outside our windows. All these points the sceptic must dispose of; to account for any one or two will not suffice. Though every other item were brushed away, the phenomenal delivery of the papers would stand as a marvellous example of the power enjoyed by our mystical Chiefs over the forces of Nature.
A. GORDON.
[Since the above was written a paper has come from Bombay signed by 7 witnesses, who saw the letter arrive there from the Vega. This will be published in the next number.] A.G.
Note
(1) Koot Hoomi, one of the "Brothers."