Emma Hardinge-Britten

Here is the extract I promised yesterday from Emma's autobiography:-

"Immediately after supper we all adjourned to the suite of reception rooms our company consisting of our host and hostess (Mr Daniel & Mrs Leah (Fox) Underhill), Emma Hardinge, and her mother who were then staying at the house on a visit, Oliver and Mary Anne Johnson, Robert Dale Owen (Son of the late Robert Owen), William Lloyd Garrison and a few others.

The first spirit that manifested by loud rappings and calls for the alphabet, was Robert Owen, who announced that he wished to give a set of Spiritual Commandments through Emma, if she would kindly submit to his control, whilst his son Robert Dale Owen should transcribe them as the entranced medium spoke. Upon this, Emma Hardinge, (who, remember was to be the trance medium,) passing to the open piano, played for a few minutes a grand and solemn improvisation; then returning to the rest of the party, apparently under strong influence, she announced that she was ready to receive the good spirit's inspiration provided only he would give three affirmative knocks at the end of every correct sentence, or interrupt her by two knocks at any words that he objected to.

The medium then commenced speaking slowly, but emphatically, and with two corrections only from the controlling spirit, who spelled out by raps the words he wished to substitute, there were given ten spiritual commandments and ten laws of right."

This episode tells us three things about the way trance and rapping mediumship was used in those early days. First, Emma Hardinge played music on the piano - music has always been important in creating harmony in seances and raising the vibrations in the room. Second, the importance Emma attached to accuracy, recognising she might not convey Robert Owen's words precisely. She asked him to use raps to correct her and the power for these was provided by Leah of course, one of the Fox sisters and an excellent rapping medium. Third, Emma clearly found it easier to be taken into trance while she was playing the piano.


Lionel