The Slate Writing Circle

Independent slate writing is performed as follows: The circle selects

two common slates, or else one folding slate. A small bit of chalk, or a

tiny piece of slate pencil is placed between the two slates, the latter

being then placed tightly together, and then bound with thick, strong

twine--in some cases the ends of the twine are fastened with sealing

wax. This trying and sealing is for the purpose of eliminating the

s spicion of fraud or deceit, and for the purpose of scientifically

establishing the genuineness of the phenomena. The bound slates are then

placed on the table in the middle of the circle. In some cases the

medium rests his hands on the slate, and in other cases he keeps his

hands entirely away from them--the phenomena itself evidently being

produced with equal facility in either case. A written question may

either be placed inside the slate on a small bit of paper, or else

sealed and placed on top of the tied slates. In some cases the

scratching sound of the pencil may be heard proceeding from the tied

slates, while on others no sound is heard while the writing is being

done. When the slates are opened, at the end of the seance, the slates

will be found to contain writing--the answer to the question, or else a

general message to the circle--the writing sometimes consisting of but a

word or two, while in other cases both of the inside surfaces of the

slate will be found to be covered with writing. It often requires quite

a number of sittings before this phase of phenomena is secured; in many

cases it is never actually secured in a satisfactory form.