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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    to determine whether a definite sum of money, con- ditionally offered, should be won or not by medium- istic operations in their presence. The public had no reason to suppose, I did not suspect, that the col- lege government as a body had any connection with that matter. But Agassiz now states that the presi- dent of the college was their director, viewing the reputation of the college as being involved in the outcome of that trial. Such information made me desirous of getting a statement from President Walker himself. There- fore I addressed him as follows : — Spirit James Walker — My Revered Friend, President of Harvard College when what has been called the Harvard Investigation of Spiritualism occurred in 1857 : It is obviously known by you that our friends Felton and Agassiz have recently, from their abiding places as spirits, addressed me in reference to that reputed investigation. Statements by Agassiz imply that your views of Spiritualism influenced him and his associates to battle against and strive to demolish the structure— Spiritualism — rather than to calmly investigate its merits. Therefore, if it be wise in your present view, and agreeable with your sense of duty to the public, I shall be glad to have you write out through the hand of Mr. J. V. Mansfield, and allow me to make public, an account of your own sayings or doings in reference to that reputed investigation, and in reference to the expulsion of young Willis from the Divinity School. With deep and abiding respect and reverence for your wisdom and many virtues, kindly yours, March 6, 1886. Allen Putnam.