Soon after the Spirit said to the whole company, I will walk with you to the next house, if you will walk in order, two and two, singing a Psalm as you go; for God is a God of order. I asked her what Psalm we should sing? Any, said she, which may suit best. We then left the cellar, sang and prayed, and immediately the token was given by knocking. We then placed ourselves in order and walked on toward Capt. M’s house.
Anxious to unveil the deception, if there was any, I walked near those who were foremost, and was first at the door and knocked. Capt. M. came to the door and asked what all this meant. I answered, they are come to visit you. Immediately I went and stood on the trap-door—the only door of the cellar, that no person might go into it without my knowledge. Some of the company told Capt. M. our design, and he made us welcome. Then hearing the miraculous sound under the floor, Capt. M. with others, went down and talked with a voice, which I heard and understood not; but was informed by them that she told them she had come there to give evidence that she could be and talk at other houses, as well as that of Mr. Blaisdel; and that if the company would properly stand in the open field, she would pass before them, so that they might see her. The company did so. The Spirit then appeared and walked back and forth, two or three times, in view of the company and by the side of Mrs. Butler. This my eyes saw. The apparition, with Mrs. Butler, having advanced a few rods, disappeared. Mrs. Butler then came and told us that if we would return to Mr. Blaisdel’s house, she would walk behind us. The company complied. Having a desire so be as near the apparition as possible, I walked with Capt. P. S. behind the whole company. Mrs. Butler walked behind Capt. P. S. as she had been ordered by the apparition. When we had walked about twenty rods, Mrs. Butler said, “there it is now.” Where, said I. There, said she, pointing to the left side of the company forward. I looked there and saw the dark appearance of a person, and kept my eye upon it till we passed by it, and till I saw it come in next after me, and by the side of Mrs. Butler. Thus it followed us. But now this object was become as white as the light. As we walked, I kept my eye upon this object almost without intermission, that I might see it disappear. It followed us by one direct motion, like a cloud. The motion was not ambulatory in the least degree. In this manner the apparition followed us about twenty rods, and then disappeared in my view. It opened into two parts and vanished. RICHARD DOWNING.
TESTIMONY IX.
Testimony of Capt. Samuel Simson.
August 5, 1800. In the evening after I had prayed, I looked toward the opposite side of the room, and saw a white personal form, having on a woman’s cap, and the same countenance and features which Mrs. N. Butler had when she was alive and in health, so that I knew her immediately. In the name of the Lord, said I, for what purpose are you here?—But there was no answer. I spoke again—“In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, who are you, and what do you want here?” My wife greatly surprised, and seeing nothing, asked what was the matter. I told her I saw an apparition. No, she replied, you are deranged. It is the moon you see. At that moment the apparition disappeared. When we were composed, we agreed to mention the matter to no person, and we conducted accordingly.
Two nights after, Mr. Blaisdel called us up about two o’clock, and informed us that the Spirit had been at his house, and sent him to call for more evidence. He desired that we would go with him to his house. Well, said my wife, she appeared here the night before last. Then perhaps she has performed the message before me, said Mr. Blaisdel. We went to his house. Hearing nothing for some time, by the desire of Mr. Blaisdel I prayed with the company who had collected there. Immediately after, we heard the usual sound on the side of the house. We all went into the cellar, and heard an articulate voice unlike any sound which I ever heard before. SAMUEL SIMSON.
TESTIMONY X.
Testimony of Mrs. Sarah Simson.
I can attest to the truth of what my husband has now related, and further, that when we were in the cellar, the spirit told us that she was once N. H. N. B. repeating the words three times, “you have done right,” said she, “you have united in prayer: and it is true what that man said, who made the prayer, he did see me with a cap on.” I am sure Mr. Blaisdel could have told no one of it, for we had not told him, nor any one else that the apparition had appeared with that article of dress. I asked the spirit, are you from happiness or misery? She replied, “I am from above, I am not from beneath. I have come on God’s errand.” Then she sung alleluias, and mentioned the cherubim and seraphim. She told me that my child which I had lost was in heaven, praising God with the angels. I should have spoken to that man, said she, the other night, if some person had not been affrightened. I asked, who was it? She answered, it was his wife. Mr. Blaisdel and Capt. M. asked several questions, and the answers were wonderful.
August 9-10. I tarried after the people in general went off with the opinion that the words of the spirit were in reality the words of Mrs. Butler. I was much surprised with the sound of knocking, which made the house tremble. I then heard Mrs. Butler say, “If I am guilty, let her stay away. If I am clear, let her come and clear me.” In a few minutes after, she arose from a bed on which she had sat, and stood wringing her hands in distress. What have I done, said she, that I must be accused of all this. “Nothing, dear, you have done nothing, but you must go into the cellar,” answered a voice in a vacant space where no person was—a voice the most delightful that ever I heard.