Boston in the Golden Age of Spiritualism by Morris Dee;

Author:Morris, Dee;
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Arcadia Publishing
Published: 2014-08-15T00:00:00+00:00

Maud Lord rose from poverty to success as a medium. Many spirit children visited her séances. Boston Public Library.

Having dodged a prearranged marriage in 1868, Maud then made her own poor choice by selecting Albert A. Lord, a superficial young man with a predisposition for jealous rages. She should have listened when his own mother indicated her misgivings. This older woman’s view of her daughter-in-law was also quite perceptive, referring to the positive and then negative mood swings that kept the household in constant turmoil. The union was a sorry mix of misunderstandings and verbal battles, but the birth of a daughter, Maud Alberta, brought deep comfort. Mrs. Lord gradually realized that the spirit of Clarence was urging her to hone her abilities in other cities, such as Chicago and New York. He gave her the recipe for a health tonic, Golden Discovery: A Clairvoyant Liver Remedy and Blood Purifier, which made her a tidy profit when sold in many urban pharmacies. The biggest boost to her self-confidence occurred when she filed for divorce and won. Freed from the clutches of an unstable husband, she arrived in Boston in 1874. Her spirit guides assured her that she would find happiness.

While renting some modest rooms on Tremont Street, Mrs. Lord was hired by Manager Lucien Bigelow to hold a séance in the fashionable Continental Hotel. He surmised that celebrities such as the poet John G. Whittier, Governor Rice and other dignitaries would relish this offbeat entertainment. To test the medium, Mrs. Bigelow requested that her own lace cap be transported across the darkened parlor. Maud pronounced the deed almost accomplished while two men held her hands down. As the lamps were lit, the bonnet was seen neatly tied around the face of a grandfather clock. Mrs. Bigelow swore that she had felt invisible hands undoing the strings. This interlude led to social connections with many of the best people in Boston and surrounding towns.

After an extensive road trip, Mrs. Lord found lodgings on Milford Street, a more stylish location. Before long, she was practicing her unique brand of séance. First, she placed herself inside the circle of participants and frequently clapped her hands. This was to prove that, by keeping her fingers occupied, she could not be accused of producing any manifestations. She then called out to any spirit who might be present. As if on cue, soft whispers would start to emerge from all corners of the darkened room. The voices would then become individualized. They might include the spirits of adults presenting details about their childhoods or the lilting tones of invisible adolescents who might burst into song at any moment. More ghostly voices would join the others until a gentle, persistent hum surrounded the circle. Many people at the séance were moved to tears when they thought that they heard the spirits of departed relatives carrying on conversations.

At other times, Mrs. Lord arranged to have large phosphorescent globes move slowly through the air, revealing a spirit face that might look like a deceased friend.

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