CHAPTER II.

COMMENCEMENT OF PUBLIC WORK.

THE young medium was now fairly launched in the work

which, of all others, has been the most misunderstood,

and the greatest this century has seen. His heart began to be fully engrossed in it, if indeed it could ever have been said to be apart from what had been a reality to him from his childhood.

It was about this period that the companionship he required, and which has ever since been a source of strength to him, was found in the event which, of all others, is the best or worst which can occur in the life of man. He became acquainted with Mrs. Susie Willis, (née Webster), who is well known in the United States as a lecturer, and it was while she was addressing an audience that he first saw her. She was then engaged to a wealthy Baptist minister, whom she intended shortly to marry. In the summer of 1871, both attended a spiritualist camp meeting, and in the course of a séance in the evening, Winona, who had now become William Fletcher's principal spirit-control, spoke to her, and said, "You will not marry the man who is engaged to you. I can see the one you will marry." Although received with utter incredulity at the time, Winona's prediction was, as usual, verified, and very shortly afterwards the Baptist minister's engagement-ring was returned to him, and circumstances brought William her and Mrs. Willis closer together. Well for the

the truth was it that this event occurred, for had

the marriage of the latter taken place as anticipated, the minister would have done his best to set aside the use of those great spiritual gifts which were given to Susie Willis from childhood, and which have effected so much good to a large number of persons who have appreciated them, and valued her friendship. She, also, was a clairvoyant from childhood, and commenced lecturing at the early age of fifteen, so that her whole life had well prepared her for the career which was before her husband. The marriage took place much earlier than had been intended, as they wished to commence an independent life, and it was accordingly solemnised at the house of Mrs. Willis' father, at Lawrence, Massachusetts, on the afternoon of March 24th, 1872. The wedding was celebrated by several little receptions given there, and also at Westford, where some rooms were placed at their disposal by William's father, and for a time the latter place became their home.

This marriage was the stronghold of his life, and the means through which his mediumship became widely known. In character William Fletcher was simple and affectionate, but exceedingly sensitive, and easily elated or depressed; he was quickly roused to indignation by wrong, but was gentle and very forgiving by nature; in intellect he was intuitive and strongly original-a thinker and reformer—but without the practical capacities which make a way in the world. Poetry and music he passionately loved, and possessing a refined and pure nature his instincts. led him to shrink from those around him rather than to commence a battle with their materialism. He would' have lived a dream-life of his own, and met with neither

censure nor welcome but for the strong spirit who now stood at his side. When he faltered, she encouraged, and when many a time during the years to come his pale face grew a shade paler still, and the tears would come in his eyes from contact with some cruel thought or action, she chased away the cloud with a smile of tenderness and a firm voice, which encouraged him always to look on the best side of all he met with, and to work on.

I cannot refrain from devoting a few words to Mrs. Fletcher's mediumship before passing on to the events which followed. Her late work in giving free weekly séances at the British National Association of Spiritualists has demonstrated the valuable nature of her gifts to many inquirers, and on the occasions on which I have been present I have been deeply impressed by the charity and love, and the exalted nature of the sentiments expressed by the controlling spirits. They breathed an atmosphere radiant with the presence of a purer world than ours, one in which narrow theologies had perished for ever in the light of truth. She has had many wonderful experiences. A spirit saved her from entering the fated train which fell over the bridge at Ashtabula, by holding her back as she was on the point of entering the railway carriage, and with such power that she felt compelled to yield. A few hours later came the telegram with the news of the terrible accident, and, like many others, she felt the deepest gratitude to those guardians of her life who have never failed her, and for whose care she could indeed thank God. To spend a few days in her company is enough to convince anyone of the existence of spirits, let his scepticism be what it may.

The residence at Westford did not last long. The circumstances which led to an estrangement with William's family reduced them to a condition in which professional mediumship seemed the only resource. In 1873 they accordingly went for the first time to the Lake Pleasant camp meeting, where a large number of wellknown mediums and spiritualists were gathered together. While there, William had an extraordinary vision. He was sitting on the borders of the lake, and, as the afternoon was drawing to a close, his friends came to search for him, and they all rested together for a while under the trees. Suddenly he saw a brilliant light in a sort of little pathway among the pines, which seemed to illuminate the whole scene around them, and a spirit appeared before their astonished gaze of such marvellous power and beauty that all who beheld the sight were overcome with awe and emotion. Like the Roman soldiers of old, to whom came a like vision, some nearly fainted with terror. He slowly raised his head, and threw a star-like light towards our medium, and then, advancing closer, laid his hand upon his head, and gradually became absorbed into his body. The spirit, who announced himself as that of an ancient Egyptian, began to deliver a message through the lips of the entranced medium,* and the words are so remarkable, part of the prophecies having been already literally fulfilled, that I give them, as far as possible, in full. Addressing Mrs. Fletcher, he said: "This instrument through whom I speak has a great work to do beyond the sea, and he will go to a land where he is a stranger. In three years from this time

* An advanced spirit can easily use any human language familiar to the medium employed, and which is impressed on his brain.

you will be located in London. My medium will commence the work, but you will previously visit London and prepare the way for him, and within three years you will both be living there. He will visit Egypt and Palestine for the purpose of gathering strength and power, and the spirit of prophecy, which is really stamped upon every inch of surface in the very soil of those psychic lands. He will then return to London, and I see him first in small apartments alone. He will enter into the very teeth of opposition, and for a time it will be very hard, for he will receive no welcome from those who should be his brothers

in the cause. I see you change into a house "—and here the spirit accurately described the rooms occupied by the Fletchers in Bloomsbury Place" where you will remain only a year, and here your public success, which will be very great, will begin. I now see a large hall before me, and this place will become a centre of work for this cause. You will then leave the house I have described, and will enter another one, and notwithstanding that you will think you have encountered all the opposition that is possible, you will find that it will then only commence. This medium

will be called upon to sacrifice everything for principle, and as he is true to that principle, so will the end be. For at this time he will have won his spiritual independence, and the band of spirits around him will be obliged to trust the result in his hands, and as he is faithful or false to the truth so will be that result. Trouble is before him. If he is true to principle there is but one thing which awaits him, and that is, a prison. He will have to choose between giving up all things and gaining only a prison-cell on the one hand, and obtaining all that fortune and compensation