ENPages
1
date:
names-on-the-page: Mrs. John H Curran; Patience Worth; Daniel Wheaton
transcription: This is book number I of the records of the writings from Patience Worth through Mrs. John H. Curran of St. Louis, Mo. covering period from June 1913 to December 3 - 1937.
Beside the records there are six published books. "The Sorry Tale," "The Pot upon the Wheel," "Light from Beyond" Patience Worth - a Psychic Mystery," "Hope Trueblood," and "Telka."
Two other books - "A Shakespearian Mask" and "Daniel Wheaton are complete but not published.
This book contains records from June 1913 to Aug 31 - 1915.
2
date: 1915-01-05
names-on-the-page: John H. Curran; Mrs. John H. Curran; Mrs. C. E. Hutchings; Mrs. Pollard; Mrs. C. Edwin Hutchings; Mrs. Mary E. Pollard; Mr. John H. Curran; Mrs. Allen Bacon; Mrs. C. S. Cornman; Mrs. Josephine Goodloe; Mr. Fred W. Arnold; Mr. C. S. Yost; Mr. & Mrs. Charles Underiner; Dr. & Mrs. L. C. Stocking; Rev. C. H. Stocking and Mrs. C. H. Stocking; Mr. D. W. Stocking
transcription: I, John H. Curran, on this day, January 5, 1915, do here begin to transcribe and compile a complete record of certain communications received through Mrs. John H. Curran by means of the ouija board.
The plan will be to enter the date on which the sitting was had and the names of those who were present during the sitting. Unless otherwise specified, it is understood that the sittings were all held at our home wherever that may be.
From about August, 1912 Mrs. Curran had been playing with the ouija board simply as a means of entertainment without seriously considering that anything of value might come over it. The one person who has been most persistent for her to continue the sittings is Mrs. C. E. Hutchings. It may be well to state here that Mrs. Curran did not like to have these sittings and they bored her a great deal, but she was persuaded out of friendship for Mrs. Hutchings to have the sittings.
No record had been kept up to June, 1913 and none since then except that that was kept in the following manner up to date. Mrs. Hutchings or someone else have always been at the board with Mrs. Curran, Mrs. Pollard transcribing the words as they came from the board. Mrs. Hutchings would then take them home and rewrite and punctuate the matter. Also she would make interpolations of her own in the record and, we found since, she would add to and take from and change ad libitum. She kept one copy of the record and gave us the carbon copy. In making up this preliminary record it is well to state that these interpolations have been eliminated entirely as has everything else that in our judgment has not come from Patience Worth, in the effort to make this entirely a record of the words of Patience Worth. We have no desire to hear from any other and none other has come to us as far as we know.
From this date on the record is being transcribed by myself as Mrs. Curran calls the words except in very few cases where this is impossible. At first Mrs. Curran believed in the idea conveyed by Mrs. Hutchings that it was absolutely necessary for Mrs. Hutchings to be at the board with Mrs. Curran in order that anything might come. At this date this has been entirely disproven and the following people have already sat with us, there being no difference in the character or quality of the result no matter who sat.
Mrs. C. Edwin Hutchings, Mrs. Mary E. Pollard, Mr. John H. Curran, Mrs. Allen Bacon, Mrs. C. S. Cornman, Mrs. Josephine Goodloe, Mr. Fred W. Arnold, Mr. C. S. Yost, Mr. & Mrs. Charles Underiner, Dr. & Mrs. L. C. Stocking all of St. Louis, Rev. C. H. Stocking and Mrs. C. H. Stocking of Cleveland, Ohio and Mr. D. W. Stocking, Duluth, Minn.
The record follows:
On June 22, 1913, Mrs. C. E. Hutchings and Mrs. Curran sat at the board, the sitting began as usual, a curious play and after a mass of unconnected letters and fragmentary sentences the board began a rotary movement and persistently spelled out the letters p-a-t, p-a-t, p-a-t, and continued with the following: (1)
3
date:
names-on-the-page:
transcription: "Oh, why let sorrow steel thy heart? Thy bosom is but its foster-mother, The world its cradle and the loving home its grave."
The thought impressed us and after discussion and expressions of real amazement we decided to take a copy of this and should we be fortunate enough to produce more, anything that might follow.
To our genuine surprise many beautiful thoughts continued. (1 1/2)
4
date: 1913-07-02
names-on-the-page: Mrs. C.; Mrs. H.
transcription: At this time we had no clue as to who delivered the messages to us except the repeated p-a-t, p-a-t, p-a-t. The following messages came at this first sitting:
"Rest, weary heart. Let only sunshine light the shrine within. A single ray shall filter through and warm thy frozen soul."
"A leaf falls and nestles close to the earth, but ah, the message she once sent to Spring! So 'tis with thee. Then nestle close on thy last day, but leave a message, like the leaf, to come again in Spring."
Touch, taste and smell are homely facts, but thy heart-beats are a record for Him." (This matter is doubtful).
"Your deeds are nothing. Often the heart prompts what the circumstances will not permit." (This matter, also, is doubtful).
This sitting was interspersed with exclamations and conjectures which had no bearing whatever upon the material received - the board disregarding questions.
After this successful effort it was decided to continue persistently in sitting and keeping a careful record of each.
July 2nd, 1913. Mrs. C. Mrs. H.
The board moved swiftly and surely, delivering the following messages:
"Dust rests beneath, and webs lie caught among the briars. A single jewel gleams as a mirrored vision of rising Venus in a mountain lake.
"One hovers near, whose flower-like face and sorrow-laden eyes reflect on the golden cup. One tear falls, and from the spot the tendrils of a tiny vine springs forth.
"A tiny form appears, as delicate as the tracery on a leaf of Fall, and fades as the rainbow, hidden from the sun.
"As windblown clouds appear, a face as twisted as an oaken limb, leers like a drunken seaman and laughs at storm.
"A bluet springs from 'neath the moss, and the eyes of her who trod thereon are bluer far. A lazy zephyr fans the curls she wears."
Bluet - a small Spring flower resembling the forget-me-not.
(2)
5
date: 1913-07-08
names-on-the-page: Mrs. C, Mrs. H
transcription: "Around come trooping myriad forms, and plucking all the flowers, cast wide upon the lake their wanton plunder, and lo, a wreath appears."
We asked for enlightenment being unable to grasp the full meaning of these words. The following message seemed to be an effort to explain.
"All those who so lately graced your board are here, and as the moon looks down, think ye of them and their abode as a spirit lake, a spirit song, a spirit friend, and close communion held 'twixt thee and them. 'Tis but a journey, dost not see?" (This matters is doubtful).
We asked again for a clearer meaning.
" 'Tis all so clear behind the veil. A glimpse of life with us, and portraits, should convince." (This matter, also, is doubtful).
Question here as to who sent this message.
"Should one so near be confined to a name? The sun shines alike on the briar and the rose. Do they make question of a name?"
This closed the second sitting and left us mystified, although we had tried to connect the p-a-t, p-a-t, received at the first sitting, with the names of various departed friends still believe that this was an effort to spell the name which appears in the following:
July 8th, 13. Mrs. C. Mrs. H.
At this period it may be well to state that Mrs Mary E. Polliard acted as amanuensis at all of these sittings and those to follow.
The board seemed to be possessed with unusual strength at this sitting and started immediately as follows:
"Many moons ago I lived. Again I come -- Patience Worth my name."
We expressed wonder, but resumed.
"Wait, I would speak with thee. If thou shalt live, then so shall I. I make my bread by thy hearth. Good friends, Let us be merrie. The time for work is past.
(3)