Research source

I then telegraphed back to Mr. B. begging him to explain the situation of my sister, when immediatel

Date of account: Published 1885
Source: The Missing Link in Modern Spiritualism
Reference: The Missing Link in Modern Spiritualism · selected passage 166
Rights: public_domain
Language: English
Record updated: 2026-08-24

Record summary

I judged it to be about four inches long and two and a half inches wide

Published source text

Read the available text below. Archive transcriptions may contain OCR errors; later context is labelled separately. A recorded claim is not a finding that it happened.

Source passage

Source text · mention only

I judged it to be about four inches long and two and a half inches wide. It seemed like an open palm illuminated, but the light which emanated from it showed quite distinctly its entire surface; I could distinguish no fingers. For a time it moved about near the floor, then it rose into the air and floated about the room, sometimes over our heads. After a time it changed its appearance and increased in brightness. It then resembled an opaque oval substance, about the size of a child's head, muffled up in the folds of some very white and shining material, like fine linen, only brighter. As it moved about, I began to hear, at first imperfectly, afterward somewhat more distinctly, the rustling as of a silk dress, or of other light article of female apparel, giving the impression that one or more persons were moving silently about the room. Then the light passed behind Mrs. Underhill; then I saw it close to Mr. Underhill, and just opposite to me. Mr. Underhill said, 'Can you not go down to Mr. Owen? do try.' Thereupon it moved slowly around to my left side.

Historical context

Contextual commentary · mention only

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Modern context

Contextual commentary · mention only

A modern comparison can identify recurring descriptions and possible explanations, but the account is not treated as independently verified evidence merely because it appeared in print.

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