Evan Powell,
Medium Evan Powell Wales UK
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Evan Powell Medium
There are certain Mediums who, without specializing in any particular way, can
exhibit a wide range of preternatural manifestations. Of all whom the author has
encountered he would give precedence for variety and consistency to Miss Ada
Besinnet, of Toledo, in America, and to Evan Powell, formerly of Merthyr Tydvil,
in Wales. Both are admirable Mediums and kindly, good people who are worthy of
the wonderful gifts which have been entrusted to them. In the case of Miss
Besinnet the manifestations include the Direct Voice, two or more often sounding
at the same time. One masculine control, named Dan, has a remarkable male
baritone voice, and anyone who has heard it can certainly never doubt that it is
independent of the lady's organism. A female voice occasionally joins with Dan
to make a most tuneful duet. Remarkable whistling, in which there seems to be no
pause for the intake of breath, is another feature of this mediumship. So also
is the production of very brilliant lights. These appear to be small solid
luminous objects, for the author had on one occasion the curious experience of
having one upon his moustache. Had a large firefly settled there the effect
would have been much the same. The Direct Voices of Miss Besinnet when they take
the form of messages as apart from the work of the controls are not strong and
are often hardly audible. The most remarkable, however, of all her powers is the
appearance of phantom faces which appear in an illuminated patch in front of the
sitter. They would seem to be mere masks, as there is no appearance of depth to
them. In most cases they represent dim faces, which occasionally bear a
resemblance to that of the Medium when the health of the lady or the power of
the circle is low. When the conditions are good they are utterly dissimilar.
Upon two occasions the author has seen faces to which he could absolutely swear,
the one being his mother and the other his nephew, Oscar Hornung, a young
officer killed in the war. They were as clear-cut and visible as ever in life.
On the other hand, there have been evenings when no clear recognition could be
obtained, though among the faces were some which could only be described as
angelic in their beauty and purity.*
* Various estimates and experiences of this mediumship will be found in the
author's "Our American Adventure," pp. 124-132; Admiral Moore's "Glimpses of the
Next State," pp. 226, 312; and finally Mr. Hewat McKenzie's report, PSYCHIC
SCIENCE, April, 1922.
On a level with Miss Besinnet is Mr. Evan Powell, with the same variety but not
always the same type of powers. Powell's luminous phenomena are equally good.
His voice production is better. The author has heard the Spirit Voices as loud
as those of ordinary human talk, and recalls one occasion when three of them
were talking simultaneously, one to Lady Cowan, one to Sir James Marchant, and
one to Sir Robert McAlpine. Movements of objects are common in the Powell
seances, and on one occasion a stand weighing 60 lb. was suspended for some time
over the author's head. Evan Powell always insists upon being very securely tied
during his seances, which is done, he claims, for his own protection, since he
cannot be responsible for his own movements when he is in a trance. This throws
an interesting sidelight upon the possible nature of some exposures. There is a
good deal of evidence, not only that the Medium may unconsciously, or under the
influence of suggestion from the audience, put himself into a false position,
but that evil forces which are either mischievous or are actively opposed to the
good work done by Spiritualism, may obsess the entranced body and cause it to do
suspicious things so as to discredit the Medium. Some sensible remarks upon this
subject, founded upon personal experience, have been made by Professor Haraldur
Nielsson, of Iceland, when commenting upon a case where one of the Circle
committed a perfectly senseless fraud, and a Spirit afterwards admitted that it
was done by its agency and instigation.* On the whole, Evan Powell may be said
to have the widest endowment of spiritual gifts of any Medium at present in
England. He preaches the doctrines of Spiritualism both in his own person and
while under control, and he can in himself exhibit nearly the whole range of
phenomena. It is a pity that his business as a coal merchant in Devonshire
prevents his constant presence in London.
* PSYCHIC SCIENCE, July, 1925.