"My Experiences at the MacDonald Homestead"
by H. B. Whidden

...page 8

The experience of Friday night was a revelation to me.

Personally, I am sorry for Mrs. Macdonald, Alexander Macdonald and Mary Ellen. They have passed through very trying times. These people would not, assuredly, have left their home in mid-winter has not the circumstances been most unusual; in fact, had not the house to them become untenable. They have my sincerest sympathy. Their Caledonia friends have stood by them loyally through their misfortune. Surely their other friends will show also their sympathy in some tangible way.

Some people unacquainted with the circumstances, have intimated that I was hypnotized, or mesmerized. This is not true. As a matter of fact, all those present at the time, including Dr. prince, were greatly surprised when the unseen power manifested itself in this manner. Evidential statements, of which neither Dr. prince nor I had had any previous knowledge, were written, and I am forced to believe that the principal purported spirit communicator was extremely eager to communicate with
someone concerning the mysterious happenings on the Macdonald homestead, and I was simply used as an instrument.

In my opinion, the Macdonalds are to be exonerated, which means that the unfastening of the cows, the mysterious fires, and my own strange experiences, were caused by an unseen power—spirits. If Dr. Prince’s theory is correct, that one member of the family, in an abnormal psychic state, was used as an instrument to set the fires, then she, in my opinion, was no more responsible for these acts than was I while under the strange influence for over two hours.

It has indeed been an extraordinary affair, and I earnestly trust that when people face the facts as given here, my simple message will exercise an influence for good. At a later date I hope to review the case fully in a book.

I wish in conclusion to sound a note of warning. My experience with the unseen communicator was tried innocently. The power, I believe, even changed my plans and directed me to try the test which produced such startling results. Otherwise, why did I not carry out my intention to accompany Dan McGillvray to the telephone? The resultant success and revelation came like a bolt from the blue to me. I emphatically warn my readers to try no such experiments.

HAROLD B. WHIDDEN.