Post-mortem confessions : being letters written through a mortal's hand by spirits who, when in mortal, were officers of Harvard College : with comments by Allen Putnam / by Allen Putnam.

  • Putnam, Allen, 1802-1887.
Date:
1886
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Post-mortem confessions : being letters written through a mortal's hand by spirits who, when in mortal, were officers of Harvard College : with comments by Allen Putnam / by Allen Putnam. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Francis A. Countway Library of Medicine, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the Francis A. Countway Library of Medicine, Harvard Medical School.

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    What were the relations of these men, severally, and of myself to the famous Harvard Investigation in 1857 ? Prof. Felton was the challenger of Spiritualists to the trial. Dr. Gardner accepted the challenge. Prof. Peirce was a prominent and very active member of the investigating committee. Dr. Bell was present at the investigation as a very intelligent and unbiased observer. I went with Dr. Gardner as his counselor and aid when he met the investigating committee to specify and agree upon conditions for the trial; also was present at the trial throughout. While thus aiding Gardner I was working against two — Felton and Peirce — whom I had well known, and who had well known me, for nearly thirty years. I had their friendship, and they had mine. Br. Bell and Presi- dent Walker were my acquaintances and friends. I alone of all graduates from Harvard was open contestant for Spiritualism then, and am, I think, down to this day, the only graduate from that insti- tution who has openly advocated Spiritualism on the rostrum or in the public press, over his own signature. These facts may have pointed to me as a preferable one to be receiver of the statements which those spirits have become ready to voluntarily put before the mundane world pertaining to their treatment of mediums and Spiritualists while on this mortal plane. No other mortal had possessed better, if as good, oppor- tunities than or as myself to become cognizant of some past doings by these professors which they now know and feel were persecutions of honest manifestors of genuine facts, and promulgators of important truths.