First Spirit Rapping Mediums on Earth
Dublin Core
Title
First Spirit Rapping Mediums on Earth
Subject
Spiritualism
Description
The 1888 broadside poster is an advertisement of Kate Fox and Charles W. Starr's return, revealing the secrets of spiritualism.:
During one of the greatest religious movements during the 19th century, three sisters claimed to be mediums to the afterlife. In Hydesville, NY, at the age of 6.5 years old, Kate and her sister Maggie claimed to be capable of communicating with the dead, which later on included their sister, Leah. They would perform such miracles of communication through raps, their audiences would ask questions which would be followed and answered by a series of raps. Rumors of the sisters' abilities rapidly began to spread. The raps were "mysterious noises" known as knockings, which amazed people from the farthest corners of the world. People were unable to figure out how the knockings would manifest. The poster explains that for 40 years, anyone who was in favor with the sisters could use them as mediums to speak with the dead. In 1888, the broadside poster states the sisters had the largest number of followers and believers the world had ever seen since the "establishment the Christian Church." These knockings became known as the Rochester knockings. The poster briefly and primarily discusses the life of one of the younger sisters, Kate Fox, calling her "a saint on Earth" and the "Mother of Spiritualism" according to Modern Spiritualists. It explains that after she was married, she was unable to focus on spiritualism as heavily as she used to. Nevertheless, at the time of the announcement on the poster she was widowed, deciding to return to Rochester at the Lyceum Theatre with Charles W. Starr, her assistant and manager, to discuss the secrets of Spiritualism, all were welcomed to attend. According to the New York Public Library of the Rare Books Division, the secret of the spiritualism of the sisters was that the sisters would crack their knuckles to create the "mysterious noise" and gain their medium statuses.
During one of the greatest religious movements during the 19th century, three sisters claimed to be mediums to the afterlife. In Hydesville, NY, at the age of 6.5 years old, Kate and her sister Maggie claimed to be capable of communicating with the dead, which later on included their sister, Leah. They would perform such miracles of communication through raps, their audiences would ask questions which would be followed and answered by a series of raps. Rumors of the sisters' abilities rapidly began to spread. The raps were "mysterious noises" known as knockings, which amazed people from the farthest corners of the world. People were unable to figure out how the knockings would manifest. The poster explains that for 40 years, anyone who was in favor with the sisters could use them as mediums to speak with the dead. In 1888, the broadside poster states the sisters had the largest number of followers and believers the world had ever seen since the "establishment the Christian Church." These knockings became known as the Rochester knockings. The poster briefly and primarily discusses the life of one of the younger sisters, Kate Fox, calling her "a saint on Earth" and the "Mother of Spiritualism" according to Modern Spiritualists. It explains that after she was married, she was unable to focus on spiritualism as heavily as she used to. Nevertheless, at the time of the announcement on the poster she was widowed, deciding to return to Rochester at the Lyceum Theatre with Charles W. Starr, her assistant and manager, to discuss the secrets of Spiritualism, all were welcomed to attend. According to the New York Public Library of the Rare Books Division, the secret of the spiritualism of the sisters was that the sisters would crack their knuckles to create the "mysterious noise" and gain their medium statuses.
Creator
Rochester (N.Y.). Lyceum Theatre
Hanford Collection
Source
The New York Public Library Rare Books Division
Publisher
Rochester (N.Y.). Lyceum Theatre
Date
November 15, 1888
Contributor
Rochester (N.Y.). Lyceum Theatre
Hanford Collection
Type
Poster
Files
Citation
Rochester (N.Y.). Lyceum Theatre and Hanford Collection , “First Spirit Rapping Mediums on Earth ,” Manhattan College Omeka , accessed September 20, 2024, https://omeka-pilot.manhattan.edu/items/show/339.