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For the third year running the Noah's Ark Society held their Spring Physical Phenomena seminar near Burton-on-Trent. The seminar stretched from Good Friday to Easter Monday. Once again it was a packed programme with two seances, eight lectures, six workshops, two healing sessions and a trance demonstration. These seminars are usually served by two physical mediums Stewart Alexander and Colin Fry. On this occasion Stewart had to cancel at the last moment due to a recent emergency operation. However, delegates were greatly indebted to Colin Fry who stepped in and provided two seances instead of the usual one by each medium.The seminar started with Colin Fry's trance demonstration with one of his controls, Magnus, answering eleven questions over a wide range of topics ranging from is the energy in radio transmissions upsetting mediumship to - are guides who they purport to be? The answer to the first question is No and the second question is more complex, a Yes, No and sometimes!
The lectures were on the following subjects: Good Vibrations by Judge Smith; A Personal View of Leslie Flint by David E, Edwards; Helen Duncan - The Final Chapter by Mary Armour (recent research by Mary on Helen's life); Is the Machine the Medium? by Malcolm Lewis; Bringing Science to the Seance by Hylton Thompson; Microphone in a Box Method of Communication by Dominic Macquire; and finally, Arthur Conan Doyle - The Man, the Spiritualist, the Spirit, by Garth Willey from Australia.
Within minutes of starting the first seance the trumpet lifted off and began making swift intricate movements in time to the usual singing. The movements were so fast at times that the luminous bands appeared as a streaks of light. This phenomena lasted a minute or so then quickly followed by Francis singing (said to be Judy Garland). She also chatted and responded to questions and statements made by sitters. Her singing was so loud it almost hurt our eardrums!
Next to follow was the control known as Charlie who presents himself as a child - at the age he passed on. Charlie was particularly cheeky on this occasion, causing much laughter. He wandered around the room speaking and touching several of those present and relaying a few messages from loved ones in spirit.
After Charlie came Magnus who commenced by experimenting with the microphone in a box method. The idea is to confine the ectoplasm to a small space to make it easier for our spirit friends to operate a ectoplasmic voice box. As the microphone is inside a sealed box, the sound can be amplified to make quiet whispers audible without the usual problem of "howl" associated with using a microphone close to a loudspeaker. This turned out to be the first successful public demonstration of this method of communicating. Magnus then returned to his usual independent direct voice method of communicating, which sounded much more natural than the muffled sound produced in the box.
The box method is really intended for inexperienced communicators seeking to speak to their loved ones and who may only manage to produce a whisper. It is interesting to note that we could hear what appeared to be the ectoplasm (used to the box. We were told that a small part of the lid was temporarily dematerialised for this operation.Magnus used the rest of his time with us to answer three questions before retiring. One question concerned the doom and gloom forecast by some as due to occur with the approaching new millennium. Answer; those seers that are inspired by fear forecast Armageddon and apocalypse, those inspired by love talk of the dawning of a new age. What will be decimated will be that which is not conducive to the progression and evolvement of God's creation.
The slightly outrageous Dolly came next and entertained us with his cheeky humour. His main duty this time was to help inexperienced communicators speak to their loved ones attending the seance. He encouraged communicators to speak and acted as go-between when they couldn't make themselves heard. Most of the successful communicators spoke in soft whispers but Mary Armour's father, Jack, managed to speak almost normally. He produced quick evidential replies to Mary's questions and statements. This was very good as it was Jack's first return at a seance and had all the hallmarks of a normal conversation between father and daughter. Garth Willey from Australia also received a good contact with his father-in-law.The seance was brought to a close by regular communicator Daphne who led a healing prayer for Stewart Alexander. As is usual, when the lights were turned back on, there was Colin still tied in his chair but a few feet outside of the cabinet and with one leg through the gap in the side of the chair. His leg could not be released until untied and lifted out of the chair by two strong men.
The second seance with Colin followed a similar format to the first. This time it was Charlie who experimented with the microphone in a box before resuming his usual independent direct voice (without a trumpet). He was just as full of fun as in the first seance and this time also rang a small hand bell, showed his hand against a self illuminated plaque and tried to play a tune on the toy organ keyboard that had been left on the floor.
Magnus came through next and upon being questioned spoke on the difficulties of communicating. He said it is as difficult and frustrating for us as it is for you and that they have to make a supreme effort to communicate. Several questions concerning the mechanisms of physical phenomena were asked followed by questions about animals. One interesting theme of questions concerned the perception of God. Magnus said he perceived God in all things and made the following simile as regards people. "Often the sun is covered by cloud but the sun is still there". He also reminded us to think about the state of mind of those who do monstrous acts such as the recent slaughter of children in America.Within seconds of Magnus withdrawing Dolly came through again. Like the previous day's seance, he acted as a go-between to help inexperienced communicators get through. The most evidential of the contacts was for a lady called Rosaline, known as Roz. Her nephew John communicated via Dolly and gave family details and that of his passing. John and his friend perished 18 years ago in a Roz said that his voice in the seance room was very close to that whilst on earth. Another very interesting contact was made by a gentleman who had very recently passed and due to be cremated two days later. He communicated to a Royston who was present. He said the gentleman had been a member of his circle. The seance was brought to a close by Daphne and again we found Colin outside of the cabinet as before.
The seminar finished with an "Around the circles and open forum" session. This last item provides a vital function by motivating members to keep on with their own physical development circles.
They learn of similar problems and successes and know that they are not alone in their endeavours to help make physical phenomena much more widespread in contemporary Spiritualism. Ten circles reported various types of phenomena so the future looks promising.
So there we are, another very successful and enjoyable Noah's Ark seminar held in comfortable and conducive surroundings. No doubt many will have returned to their own circles with renewed enthusiasm and inspiration to carry on with what can be a long process of dedicated effort to expand the channels of communication between the two worlds.