The Mediumship of Mrs. Leonard

VII PRECOGNITION

IN RECENT YEARS tests for precognition have appeared in parapsychology laboratories, but long before this Leonard communicators were displaying precognition by various testing procedures.

Important among these were the newspaper tests, in which a communicator described an item which he said would appear in a subsequently published paper. The message thus provided was intended in most cases to bring evidence of his identity. The tactics were similar to those of the book tests; until reading the newspaper, the sitter had no idea in what form the message would appear. The tests were designed to show that the information given at Mrs. Leonard's sittings went beyond the subconscious knowledge of medium or sitter.

Charles Drayton Thomas received these newspaper tests in such quantity that reading them, he said, would weary all but the most determined Psychical researcher. Here is one of his simplest examples, given at a sitting December 19, 1919. It was written down just after it was received at 3:10 p.m. and was to be verified in the London Times of the following-day. Thomas writes: Having been directcd to the first page and rather more than one-third down column three, I was asked to look to the left where, almost in a line with that spot, would appear my name an a little above it that of my wife ... And within an inch of those names I was to see my wife's age.

On examining that part of the Times the next day, Thomas saw his first name, Charles, and Clara, his wife's name, within one inch of one another. just one and fiveeighths inches above their name was the number 51, Clara's age until one week before when she had had a birthday.

It was Drayton Thomas' invariable custom to mail a copy of the newspaper tests to the Society for Psychical Research as soon as he received them. He thus documented the fact that the information had been received the day preceding the issue of the paper to which it referred.

In considering the significance of these newspaper tests it is important to know the hour at which they were given. The sitting usually ended by 5:15 p.m., and a copy of the test was mailed to London about 6:00. This was long before the newspaper of the following day had been made up. Thomas ascertained this by visiting the printing office of the Times at 4:30 one afternoon, accompanied by a friend who had obtained the necessary permits. They were shown the galley trays in which the type for the first three columns of the next day's paper was placed as soon as it was set. At that time the trays held barely enough type for one-quarter of a column. As the news copy arrived it was distributed among the various linotype operators and not again collected into one place until it was set on the type trays. The trays would not be completely filled until late in the evening, and the paper was not made up until still later. Thus, on the afternoon of the day before, no one alive knew exactly what item would be in a certain location on a certain page of the next day's Times.

Yet time and time again communicators predicted that such and such an assortment of names and data would appear on a certain area of the front page of the next day's Times. And Drayton Thomas would usually find them there.

The following items came one day for a Dr. Dyson, a medical friend of his. It was purportedly sent by Dyson's brother, who had successfully communicated before:

FEDA THOMAS' COMMENTS

The first set of tests are for your friend from his spirit communicator whose name is about halfway down the first column of the first page of the Times tomorrow. Exactly halfway down that column appears the name Dyson, which is correct.

Very close to it is your friend's name or one almost similar. Two and a half inches below Dyson is the name St. Andrew's. Until receiving his comments upon these tests I had been unaware that his second name was Andrews. "Almost similar"-the apostrophe makes the difference.

A little below, say three-quarters down, is the name of a place which they have visited together and much enjoyed. Dr. Dyson on inspecting the paper found in this spot a mention of Filey, a place where he and his brother had frequently spent holidays together.

Sitters were particularly struck by the evidence of personal identity given in these newspaper tests. Thomas says:

It is not the case that a number of names are given on the chance that some of them may be appropriate. There is no fishing for names, no vague suggestions such as might be applicable to almost any sitter. My communicator evidences an intimate knowledge of our relations and friends, and succeeds by means of this type of test in introducing numbers of names that had neither been transmitted previously nor mentioned in the hearing of the medium when awake. The impression made upon me has been cumulative and logically compelling. I am convinced that it is no other than my own father who has repeatedly succeeded in giving proof positive of his identity.

The sitting below was held at 6:20 p.m. on May 7, 1920. Seven tests were given from the first page of the next day's Times. The result was scored as six correct, one failure:

FEDA	THOMAS' COMMENTS
Look near the top of column two on the front page for reference to a neighbor living very close to you. Your father senses that there are two names together which would both refer to these neighbors. You will understand.	Four inches from the top of column two appears Birds. A few doors from us reside our friends Mr. and Mrs. Bird. The relevant words ran thus: "Wood of Birds-grove."
Nearly halfway down column two is the name of a man at your Mission. But it struck your father that this name would also apply to someone whom he knew on earth years ago, although not of the same family. It reminds him of it.	For some years I have been attached to the staff of the Leysian Mission, London, and among our oldest workers is a Mr. Mason. Within an inch of the midpoint of the column appears the name Mason: the position was thus foretold with absolute precision. My father knew a minister of this name forty years ago and for some years we were on terms of unusual intimacy with members of his family.
In column one, about a quarter of the way down is your father's name given in connection with a place he knew very well about twenty years ago.	Between a quarter and half-way down the column is the name John and one inch above it is Birkdale. My father's name was John, and Birkdale is the name of the only house he ever owned, a house he bought nearly twenty years before when retiring from active work, and in which he resided until his death.
Just underneath and very close is another place he knew. He sensed it was in the south of England, direct south, a good distance from London. He only lived there a short time; it was one of the places of his shortest residence.	One inch below the above was Southampton, and as my father had lived at two places near that town I supposed the indefinite description might be intended to cover the locality. This being much too vague for evidence I inquired at my next interview if he meant Southampton. The reply was given that it was not right, "Newport was what he intended." I replied that Newport was not mentioned in the paper, but on returning home discovered a quarter of an inch below Birkdale a name Newbury. Passing this as a failure, and taking no note of the subsequent introduction of Newport, there yet remains the assertion that one of my father's brief residences had been at Newport. This is quite correct. Such incidental remarks are valuable clues to identity.
Lower in the column he saw, or rather sensed, a reference to Ramsgate or that locality. But quite close, within an inch of it, was the name of some people your mother will remember well as having been at Ramsgate. In fact she had a reminder of them quite lately from someone she met.	These three statements proved correct. At the bottom of the column was Herne Bay, which is near Ramsgate, and is where my father sometimes visited. In the same line and within an inch of it is seen the name Joseph, which at once suggested a ministerial friend Joseph Silcox who, after leaving Ramsgate, presently settled at Herne Bay and died there. My mother has frequently met the family since then, and tells me that twelve days before this test she was hearing about them from their minister.
Another Ramsgate name is very close also, but this is a name of one still at Ramsgate and in whom your mother would be interested. Here I inquired whether I knew this person. The reply came, "Yes, your mother told you about him."	On referring to the Times next day there was no doubt as to this name, which is in the notice after the foregoing, although at the, top of the second column. May we suppose that it was moved there owing to a few late insertions after these tests were selected? This notice is headed Preston. A gentleman of this name is still prominent in church and temperance work at Ramsgate and was well known to my father. My mother had been speaking to me about him exactly three weeks previously. It will be noted that the wording of the text implies knowledge that while the Joseph family is no longer at Ramsgate, Mr. Preston still resides there.
Near the bottom of column one is your Christian name and also the name Thomas, quite close.	It was so. Three-quarters down column one, and within four lines of each other, appear Thomas and The Reverend Charles. The general accuracy of position in the above tests deserves notice.

In some instances, the communicators claimed, their own influence brought the future events into being: for instance, a communicator might announce that the sitter would meet a certain person at a given time and place. Then, the communicator would influence the other person to be at the meeting place at the designated time. Primary examples were picture tests, of which a series of three is reported by Mrs. W. H. Salter. The Reverend W. S. Irvin was the sitter.

FEDA Comments

Dora says, "I want you to know you're going to see a picture soon that will remind you of me in my earth life. I'll influence matters so that you're sure to see it." Mr. Irving was visiting his wife's parents. The next morning after this sitting, on coming down to breakfast he found a large photograph of his wife on the mantel shelf. It had been taken nearly thirty years before, but he had never seen it. His mother-in-law said she had found it on the previous day during his absence at the sitting, and had placed it out for him to see.

She says she's going with you to see some pictures, many pictures. There's something there she wants to make you look at, a picture that, when you see it, will remind you of the sitting today, of the fact of her coming to you. She'll be able to impress you immediately to look at the right one. There'll only be one that will fit. Next evening, having some time to kill, Mr. Irving dropped into a cinema, the picture being "The Devil's Claim" featuring Sessue Hayakawa. It was being shown that day for the first time and he had heard nothing about it in advance. One scene was of a man visiting a female medium, who sat on a sofa, apparently in trance.
Mr. Irving checked the next day to see if the posters outside the theatre could have suggested that this scene would be in the movie, but there was no indication of this scene in the posters. It was an American film, and he had seen no reviews of it.

Another and more intricate demonstration of the picture test is called "The Ikon Case - " It comes from an Irving sitting of August 10, 1923.

FEDA

It's a picture test. You'll have to show it more plainly, Dora. A picture showing what looks like a large, brightly colored, aggressive sun. Do you mean a boy? No! a sun! I don't know if it is a picture of the sun, but it looks like it. Close to, and partly, if not entirely, around the sun spikes, lines, bars, are lines and bars of unequal length. A man in old-fashioned dress, not a young man, an elderly man, in very old-fashioned dress, such as one doesn't see now at all-seems to be doing something with his hand..... like holding something out a bit....... She says, "But while I was looking at it I was rather confused as to whether it was two pictures touching each other, or close to each other, or whether it was all part of the same picture."
She says, Mr. Bill, that she doesn't want you to go looking for it, she can make somebody show it to you. There's something holy, something suggesting the cross which you'll be reminded of. Holy things, something to do with sacrifices, too. Sacrifices and leaves, green leaves. Stone coming a long way round. Not quite as it was intended. Difference. She says, "Because you'll be seeing it all soon and then you'll understand these funny remarks about it."
Mr. Irving says that on that same afternoon he went on impulse to book a sitting with the medium A. Vout Peters for September. He was asked to wait as Mr. Peters was busy. After about half an hour Peters hurried in. He seemed surprised to find Irving waiting, strode across the room, and pointed to a picture in a corner which Irving had not noticed, saying, "These are the ikons." Peters later showed him another, but it was the first ikon which answered the descriptiongiventhroughmrs. Leonard. It was small, about 103/2 x 8y2 in. It represented Saint Vladimir, who first introduced Christianity into Russia. The saint is elderly, has grey beard, wears a crown and long, flowing robes. Around his head is a halo, the golden rays of which could represent the sun as Feda had described it. He is holding up in his hands a cross. The coloring of the ground-work round the saint is gold except at the base where there are cliffs and green trees in the background. Immediately around the picture itself, inside the frame, is a strip of brown tin with some yellow markings on it. In a sense these ikons may be said to be two pictures in one, as the picture proper is first painted and then a large part of it is overlaid with gold.

Irving had been to Peters' house only once before, in April, for a sitting which took place in the study at the back of the house. He had noticed some ikons in that room at the time; but does not recall that he had been in the front room at all. The picture of Saint Vladimir did not arouse any recollection that he had ever seen it before.

Thursday afternoon, November 22, 1923 Mr. Irving held a sitting with Mrs. Leonard which resulted in what he calls "The House and Ship Case."

Feda describes a picture in which she says there is a country lane with grass on each side-but something peculiar-"this grass doesn't seem right, it seems the wrong color."
FEDA. But grass is green, Dora! "Yes, I know, but wrong shade," she says. And a white and scarlet house. That would be nice! She says this is a picture you will be seeing at once-she thinks tonight. In an unexpected place-an unlikely place. She wants you particularly to notice the shade of green which she thinks is wrong. Close to the picture, like round it, are black and white stripes-a series of black and white stripes. Is there a window near it, Dora? Bron- Brun -a word suggested by this picture. Close to this picture is a dangerous place. This place of danger is connected with noises.
Dora says, "It's extraordinary how I can make you look at the thing I mean sometimes. You take my impressions wonderfully sometimes.

Thursday evening Irving got busy trying to find a picture of a white and scarlet house. Friday he decided to have a few hours' recreation and took his sister-in-law, Mrs. Savy, to a moving picture show, "One Exciting Night." Afterwards, as he was getting their tickets for the return home on the underground, his sister-in-law said, "Why, there's your red house!" Hanging by the right side of the ticket office window was a good-sized picture of a red and white house, the house proper being white with bright red roof and chimneys. In the foreground is a country lane. Each side of the lane is bright blue grass. The station is Brondesbury and Kilburn. About five or six feet to the left of the picture hangs the table of fares and the time table of trains, both with what looks like black and white columns. This booking office is close to a very dangerous crossing where the cars come very fast. It is almost under the railway bridge across which electric trains rattle every few minutes.

FEDA.Mr. Bill, you may not remember this at the moment - have you been looking at a picture of a ship lately? Rather particularly looking at ships?

W.S. IRVING. I saw an advertisement of one this morning.

FEDA. I do not think it is important, but she just got it from your mind. You were a little impressed by the picture of a ship. This was not just an advertisement, but a picture of a ship. That's
Having arrived too early at the place where he was to meet Mrs. Savy, Irving had filled in the time by walking to a nearby theatre and looking at the posters outside. The film was "Down to the Sea in Ships" and there were many illustrations outside of three-masted sailing vessels. Then he recalled that a few weeks previously he had seen a movie about sailing ships and had been particularly impressed by the beauty of the ship in full sail.

Another case of precognition is related by Mrs. Josephine H. Fernald,3 who acted as recorder at a sitting held March 6, 1925 with Mrs. Leonard. Her husband was the sitter. The ostensible communicator was their son.

The young one's mind is divided between two places-very interested in your being here and in another place away from London. A curved part of the coast, near the sea-ships. He's very fond of this place. You will be reminded of this place by having it put in front of you very soon. A shipping place, used as a port-an island close to it. He shows me you holding something in your hand-a paper or narrow book with printing or pictures. As if you opened it suddenly and are suddenly reminded of this port. You'll see it before you go, but you'll go. Even with a few hours you'll be reminded of it. An island that you'll be reminded of. That's what it is. An island, and that is what it is called. The Fernalds had no doubt that the place described was San Francisco, a place her son was exceedingly fond of; nearby they have a house over-looking the bay and Angel Island, one of three islands in the bay.
On March 28 Mrs. Fernald received a tightly rolled parcel through the mail. On opening it, a full-page picture of a part of San Francisco Bay showing Angel Island was the first thing she saw. It was the rotogravure section of the San Francisco Chronicle of March 11, 1925, mailed to them on sudden impulse by a friend who knew they would enjoy seeing it.

Instances of precognition occurred spontaneously at Leonard sittings when no tests were being attempted. Drayton Thornas write's that on one occasion:

My wife's parents, speaking through Feda, told me that they were looking forward to seeing us shortly giving hospitality to visitors: there would be two of them and possibly a third. Neither my wife nor I could divine the meaning of this as we certainly had no visitors in prospect. But two days later came a letter from my wifc's brother saying that he was coming to England with his son and daughter, and that he wished to stay with us until his Bromley house could be made ready; that his son would probably go to a relative, although that was not decided; anyhow two of them would come to us.
Thus the plan was clear-cut in his mind and the letter was on its way when the forecast was given. If, subsequently to the giving of a forecast, human plans are changed, this may alter the date given for the foreseen event.
At a sitting on December 22, 1922, my sister Etta (communicator) asked me if our mother had received the gift of a bag. Feda continued with a description, "A soft silk bag, not all one color, studded or dotted in design, or partly so." On January 5 1 remarked that no such bag had appeared.
Feda said, "Etta's idea was that it would be a Christmas gift to her mother. It may have been delayed. For she still gets that idea and feels that her mother will have that bag." That confidence was justified, for the bag arrived and met the above description exactly. It was given on my mother's birthday, January 27, by Mrs. Whitehead, who was then on a visit to her. Mrs. Whitehead informed me that she had made this bag in the autumn, intending to present it at Christmas, but later decided to keep it back for the birthday gift. When later I asked Etta how she had ascertained her facts she replied that it was done in the usual way by perceiving the thought in a person's aura.

During the Second World War there were numerous forecasts of coming military events. With few exceptions these came to pass, according to Thomas. In the summer of 1942 the war was going badly for the British in Africa. By June 30 the Germans were within ninety miles of Alexandria. "That was our worst plight," he writes, and "only relieved by the assurance that reinforcements were on their way round the Cape of Good Hope." But Feda and the communicators knew that things would soon get better. At midsummer Thomas had some sittings with Mrs. Leonard.

FEDA. June 30, 1942. Your father feels sure that something very, very important comes in October. He keeps writing October 28, and 29, and turning something over then.

This crucial date was also given by another communicator. At a Leonard sitting on August 26, 1942, the Reverend A. F. Webling was told by his communicator son:

I've got a date in my mind. As I told you, I don't always know these things about the future ... but in my mind recently a date keeps coming up. I ought to say two dates next each other; something about October 28 and 29; something to do with the war. And I feel it is a turning point of a very, very vital kind, very outstanding. I interpret it as having a very grave bearing on the war which will prove to our advantage. Father, I felt relief. (This was spoken in the direct voice.) I would like you to underline that.
It was on August 18, 1942 Lieut-General Montgomery was given command of the Eighth Army, and on October 23 began an all-out offensive. It was successful. By November 3, Rommel's forces were in disorderly retreat. Two weeks later the Germans were driven out of Cyrenaica and our church bells were ringing for the victory. That was the first stage in the German retreat, which continued intermittently until the only Germans left alive in North Africa were in our prisoner's cages.
This decisive victory, a turning point of the war, was gained at the end of October and the first days of November. According to an official account, announced by the B.B.C., the actual turn of the tide began on October 30.
Thus we find that the date given by my father sixteen weeks before the event was repeated by another communicator a clear nine weeks before the striking fulfilment on October 30.
The date thus twice forecast proved to be the turning-point of the war in North Africa, the start of that invincible progress of our Eighth Army.
On receiving this forecast, I posted a copy to Mr. Saltmarsh who acknowledged its receipt and later wrote me about its fulfilment, which he had discussed with a friend. When Mr. Webling sent me a copy of his communicator's repetition of this same forecast I sent this also to be kept with mine for future reference. On Mr. Saltmarsh's death these were deposited with the S.P.R. Thus there are witnesses that at a date four months before the event-ancl again two months before it-this crucial date of the end of October had been given.

FEDA	THOMAS' COMMENTS
The first set of tests are for your friend from his spirit communicator whose name is about halfway down the first column of the first page of the Times tomorrow.	Exactly halfway down that column appears the name Dyson, which is correct.
Very close to it is your friend's name or one almost similar.	Two and a half inches below Dyson is the name St. Andrew's. Until receiving his comments upon these tests I had been unaware that his second name was Andrews. "Almost similar"-the apostrophe makes the difference.
A little below, say three-quarters down, is the name of a place which they have visited together and much enjoyed.	Dr. Dyson on inspecting the paper found in this spot a mention of Filey, a place where he and his brother had frequently spent holidays together.

FEDA	Comments
Dora says, "I want you to know you're going to see a picture soon that will remind you of me in my earth life. I'll influence matters so that you're sure to see it."	Mr. Irving was visiting his wife's parents. The next morning after this sitting, on coming down to breakfast he found a large photograph of his wife on the mantel shelf. It had been taken nearly thirty years before, but he had never seen it. His mother-in-law said she had found it on the previous day during his absence at the sitting, and had placed it out for him to see.
She says she's going with you to see some pictures, many pictures. There's something there she wants to make you look at, a picture that, when you see it, will remind you of the sitting today, of the fact of her coming to you. She'll be able to impress you immediately to look at the right one. There'll only be one that will fit.	Next evening, having some time to kill, Mr. Irving dropped into a cinema, the picture being "The Devil's Claim" featuring Sessue Hayakawa. It was being shown that day for the first time and he had heard nothing about it in advance. One scene was of a man visiting a female medium, who sat on a sofa, apparently in trance. Mr. Irving checked the next day to see if the posters outside the theatre could have suggested that this scene would be in the movie, but there was no indication of this scene in the posters. It was an American film, and he had seen no reviews of it.