Spiritualism in the White House and the 19th Century

[Donna McCreary]

Some of the best research concerning Lincoln and seances was published by LINCOLN LORE, (No. 888, April 15, 1946; No. 1479, November 1962; No. 1499, January 1963; and No. 1500, February 1963). I took notes from these issues, but do not have full copies.

The first seance mentioned in these publications is one held in the summer of 1862 at the Soldiers' Home. Mrs. Keckly claims to have introduced Mary to the medium Lord Colchester. It was reported that Willie communicated with his mother by "scratches on the wainscoting and taps on the walls and furniture." Noah Brooks attended this one, but I am not sure about President Lincoln.


My notes list that President and Mrs. Lincoln attended a spiritualistic seance in the Red Parlor of the White House in December 1862. Miss Colburn was the medium and encouraged Lincoln to write the Emancipation Proclaimation. According to Miss Colburn, (and there is the key as to whether or not the story has merit) Lincoln said to her: "My child, you posses a very singular gift; but that it is of God I have no doubt. I thank you for coming here tonight."

Lincoln attended another seance with Mary on February 5, 1863. This one was held at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Crankston Laurie in Georgetown. The medium was Mrs. Belle Miller. This is the seance where Lincoln placed his hands under the piano, Congressman Somes, S. P. Kase, and a major of the Army of the Potomac sat on the piano, and it still continued to rise and fall.

April 1863, Lincoln, Mary, and several freinds (including Mr. Wells, and Mr. Stanton) attended a seance in the crimson room at the White House. (I assume the Red Parlor and the Crimson room are one in the same.) This is the seance in which a note from the deceased 1st Secretary of War, Henry Knox, left a note on the table.

Another seance was held sometime in the winter of 1863 - 1864 with Miss Colburn. This one was held in the Red Parlor - there is no mention of Lincoln being present.

However, he was present at the one held later in 1864, again by Miss Colburn.

It was the medium Lord Colchester whom Noah Brooks proved to be a faud. But even have he was proved to be false, Mary found others. And yet, when living in Frankfurt, Germany, Mary wrote to her friend Sally Orne:
"I am not neither a spiritualist, but I sincerely believe our loved ones, who have only 'gone before' are permitted to watch over those who were dearer to them than life."

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(05-01-2013 04:16 AM)RJNorton Wrote:  On a more positive note, and as often is the case, I have forgotten where I read this. Possibly Donna can comment. But somewhere I read that Mary felt abandoned by many of her friends after the assassination. She was no longer First Lady, and many "friends" lost interest in her. But her spiritualist friends were the one group who did not abandon her. Just the opposite. They were very instrumental in giving her comfort and helping her through her overwhelming time of mourning.

Without looking it up, I think this sentiment was written by Jean Baker. While there is some truth in the statement, it is a small sliver of truth. Mary may have felt abondoned, but much of it was due to her own doing. She chose not to see people when they came to call. She chose to leave the White House quietly. Mary chose who to cut from her life (Mrs. Wells and Mrs. Keckly) and she chose who to bring closer to her.
Others may disagree with me, but this has always been my thoughts on the matter.