This seance report was sent to me in an e mail from someone, I am sorry I can't remember who it was. So if you were that someone , can you please get in contact with me again. Thanks and thanks for the wonderful seance record.
A true and brief account of Herbert and Grace's experiences at the residence of Mr. and Mrs. H. [both mediums] in Johannesburg, South. Africa.
{Mr and Mrs H are Alec and Louie Harris}
January 1958
Saturday evening, 7.30 pm to 10.15 pm
On Saturday evening, we went for the first time in our life to Mr. and Mrs. H.'s residence, for a materialisation. The family come from C..., England. Years ago, Dr. Murdo MacDonald-Bayne told us he knew them and used to visit them. "Doc," as we termed him, or "Mac," often visited us here in our own home in Pretoria. Doc was telling Herbert and myself of his experience in the Himalayas in Tibet.
In the year of about 1945, Doc was telling us, that his mother had passed over 13 years ago and that while in Tibet, he was at a gathering of the Masters and he asked the Masters whether it would be possible to see and talk with his Mother. Doc said that the Masters said "yes," and after they were all "set," his Mother came and spoke to him in Gaelic, as they used to talk, and they both held each other's hands -- Doc in his physical body and his Mother in the materialised form. Doc said that her hands and fingers were just the same as though in the physical body.
Herbert was so surprised and nonplussed and rose from his chair in our lounge and went to Doc and said, "Doctor, as man to man -- take my hand and tell me, was it a vision you saw, or did you really touch your Mother's hands, as I am now holding yours?"
Doc replied in his Scotch accent and called Herbert, " 'Harbart,' I held her hands (in the materialised form) as I am holding yours now. It feels exactly the same, and I spoke to her, as I'm now speaking to you in my same voice, and my Mother spoke to me in her same voice. The Masters call this phenomenon, ‘Materialisation’."
Doc then said, "Harbart, one day I will materialise to you."
Herbert pondered over this and said to Doc a couple of years later, "Doc, you have not appeared to me yet," and we all had a good laugh! Doc said, "One day, Harbart, you will remember my words!"
Years ago, 1947, Doc, his half sister, Flora C., L.T., Herbert and myself went out to Herbert's little holding on the B..... road at K ... and Doc divined the flow of water on this holding and told him where to put down another borehole. We were the only people out there with Doc and had nearly forgotten this little incident.
Doc came over to Pretoria and lectured once a week at Sanlam Building on Tuesday nights. Being very difficult to get a place for Doc to lecture in, I walked the streets of Pretoria and first got a room in Trysa Buildings, which was then held by the women's club, from Mrs. C.B. Later (due to the war) we were able to get the hall of the women's club for one night a week on Tuesday's for Mac to lecture to all of us, as students of Dr MacDonald-Bayne's "College of Universal Science." Doc also did very fine work and healing at Miss Ida Baggot-Smith's home in S.... Street.
Doc's Secretary was Mary O. ... .
Doc left South Africa for London in the year 1954, his sister Flora C. accompanying him. On this trip Dockie wrote his books, "Beyond the Himalayas," in which he describes briefly his meeting with his Mother in the physical in Tibet. He also wrote, "The Yoga of the Christ."
On February 26th, 1955, my dear friend Mrs. Freda M., wife of Dr. M., phoned me, to say she had a cable from Doc's secretary (who flew over to London to be with Doc), to say that Doc had passed over. Doc and his sister Flora were returning from the cinema in a taxi when Doc had a heart attack. Flora told me afterwards on her return for a short visit to South Africa, that Doc said to her in the taxi, "There is my number 16, I am going," and he kissed her goodbye and leant his head on her breast and passed over. They rushed him to the clinic there but Doc did not survive. He was cremated in London.
When I heard the news Freda asked me to phone as many of the students as possible and let them know the very sad news for us all.
When I heard the H.'s [mediums, Mr. and Mrs. H.] were in Durban, I immediately tried to get in touch with them. Later they came to J'burg and Mrs. H. phoned me and also wrote to me and later we received a letter from Mrs. C.J. saying we could come to their gathering on Saturday night, January 1958 at 7.30 p.m.
We were introduced to Mr. and Mrs. H. and approximately 14 people, all perfect strangers to us. Mr. H. took Herbert and myself into their little sanctuary. On the wall was a picture of Christ. Then a painting done of an Indian, whom they named "White Wing," a spirit portrait of a beautiful woman, and one picture of a bright, beautiful face of an Indian girl.
One corner of the room hung a black silk curtain. This corner of the room was partitioned off with a bar across, on which hung two black silk curtains. Behind these curtains was an ordinary chair on which Mr. H. sits when he goes (out of his body) into trance. The curtains are let down so there is no glimmer of light on him, as light would hinder the medium and damage his physical body (just like a sensitive negative in being developed in photography). In this sanctuary, above the picture rail, were four small red globes. When the large electric globe is switched off then they switch on these tiny red globes to make a subdued reddish glow.
When the guests were seated in a semi-circle facing the corner of the room where the black silk curtain hung, Mr. H. sat in his chair behind the closed black silk curtain.
There were two rows of chairs approximately six feet away, on the outside of the two closed curtains. I was seated in the front row with Mrs. H. on my left and Herbert on my right. Next to Herbert was Phyllis C. Phyllis' husband, T.C. was seated in the second row. T.C. always sits there.
Mr. H. was robed in black silk pyjamas and jacket; the black pyjamas and black curtains are for the purpose of showing the materialisations, as these forms build up in the white ectoplasm taken from the body of Mr. H. and the sitters.
Mrs. H. explained to us all to come with an open mind and not long and wish or request any person or relative or friend who has passed over, to come to us, as this creates a psychic barrier and the beloved one usually does not materialise.
Mrs. H. also explained to all that when a form materialises they are strange and we must talk lovingly and gently to them and say, "Dear Friend, we love you, do come. We are so pleased to see you," even if we do not know who the dear soul may be. We must not touch them, until they come to us and they call our name and then, when they give us their hands to hold, we must hold and touch their hands gently, and on no account grip their hands tightly, as this reacts very badly on Mr. H., the medium.
Mrs. H. linked hands and said a beautiful prayer and "Our Father." Then we all joined in the singing to keep the vibration going. We all sang "Silent Night." Then a white little form of a child of ten years of age called "Sonny Boy" appeared. He walked towards Mrs. H.'s chair and took her hands and spoke to her in English, so that we could all hear what Sonny Boy said, " 'Aunty Lou' I cannot 'rummage' tonight as the scientists won't let me." Mrs. H. replied, "Well, do what the scientists wish and look after uncle H.'s body; you have important work to do Sonny Boy, we all love you dearly."
After singing another tune Sonny disappeared behind the curtain. Another tall soul suddenly built up outside the curtain, called "Joachim," a young humorous boy, killed in the first world war. Joachim came to each soul, held their hands and gave them his blessing. He called out to Mrs. H.'s godchild, Joan, and her husband who spoke to Joachim; then Joachim said to Joan, "Your husband won't be jealous if I give you a kiss." The husband replied, "No," and he kissed her.
Then he looked at me, and took my hands and said he was happy to meet me, a new sitter, and took Herbert's hands and asked the same question as the first. Then he kissed me too, just as if in the flesh. One could feel Joachim's face and lips but we could not distinguish any features of his face as they were robed in the most lovely material of white, soft, silky, woollen stuff, and one could take it in one's fingers and feel the softness of it. They are all robed in this material and have robed cowls over their heads. Joachim also sang a trio with Mrs. H. and P. and joked with them. The name of the song was, "I Love Thee Truly."
Then the director of ceremonies appeared. White Wing, a red Indian, tall, beautiful outline of physique and his headgear was oval in form, a semi-circle of white feathers. He had two long black plaits of hair hanging down each shoulder. White Wing spoke to us all in a lovely, deep, strong voice and said he hoped we would be very happy and harmonious, and radiate Brotherhood in this intolerant world. He then held Mrs. H.'s hands and spoke to her. He then stretched out his arms and the material he was robed in hung down from his outstretched arms, giving the appearance of beautiful soft, slightly glimmering, white wings. He came towards me (a tall six-foot-three figure) and asked me if I liked his picture on the wall, as I had been admiring this painting and thought what a strong face. Mrs. H. told me White Wing had been with them for thirty-three years and they had proved that he had never made a wrong statement or move with them. Then White Wing just suddenly disappeared. They often go back behind the curtain to get more power, but often just disappeared into the floor (so it appears to the sitters). When Joachim sang that lovely song, "True Love" in a trio with Mrs. C. and Mrs. H., he said at the end of his song, "Oh, this hot climate of South Africa takes my voice into the basement." We all enjoyed his joke and laughed.
A dear soul appeared next after White Wing's disappearance and called out for E. ... . His wife from the second row came forward and recognised her beloved husband. There was great love and rejoicing. She was warned not to cling too long to him as the vibrations of earth are too heavy for them.
It was all so sacred and wonderful, too amazing for words. One cannot really describe it in words. To actually see their spirit forms robed in white ectoplasm and feel their robes and hands. To keep vibration going one must sing or talk to each other.
Suddenly a soul came straight to me. I arose and he grasped my hands firmly saying twice, "You know who I am." For a split second I peered into the face beneath the white cowl to try and get a closer glimpse, as I thought it may be my father who passed over in 1914.
When he said -- as he always used to say to me -- either when visiting us here or when he met us, "Hello you there," I recognised his voice and phraseology and my heart literally jumped for joy. I was so thrilled that I exclaimed loudly, "Docky! Docky!"
By this time Herbert also stood up and had recognised his voice and Herb said to me, "It's Dr Murdo MacDonald-Bayne."
Docky held my hands and said, "Oh! Grace, it's lovely to see you again, -- it's lovely to see you again!" Then Doc turned to Herbert and said, "Take my hands Harbart and feel them, just like yours in the flesh. I have now fulfilled my promise to you, feel my hands." Which Herbert did. Herbert knew by Doc's voice that it was definitely Dr Murdo MacDonald-Bayne.
Then Doc turned to Herbert and said, "Harbart, how is the flow of water on your farm?" All the sitters heard him talking to Herbert.
Then Doc said to me again, "Grace how are you?" I replied, "Fine!"
Doc said, "You will be coming over here and I will work in the cabin and will see you again."
I replied, "How will that come about, these people have not invited me?"
Doc replied, "It will all be arranged from this side," then he said, "I cannot stay long, others are waiting." He gripped my hands so tightly that I said, "Oh! Doc what strength you've got," and he replied, "I will get stronger later."
It was all too wonderful, his voice exactly in the same tone as then on earth. I sat down as Doc disappeared and was silently thanking Our Heavenly Father for the most wonderful moment in my whole life's experience, when Mrs. H. said to me, "What did Dr Bayne say about working here?"
I was in the midst of telling her when suddenly Doc appeared again from the side of the curtain, and said, "Grace, no tales till later on!"
We were amazed and laughed at his pun with us. Mrs. H. began to sing again, we all began to sing softly.
Then another lady there, saw and spoke to her Father, Mother and husband whom had passed over years ago. They spoke silently for about 20 minutes. They then disappeared and as we were humming "Sarie Marais" then suddenly came this dear beloved Doc, straight to me. (Mrs. H. says this very seldom happens, that anyone can get enough ectoplasm to appear twice in one sitting.)
Doc again took both my hands and I said, "Oh Dockie, we all love and enjoy reading your two beautiful books -- but you were a very clever boy to write them and then to leave us all so that I could not ask you all the questions I intended to ask you on your return to South Africa. My book is full of query marks."
Doc replied and said, "I intended to return, but while in London my Father appeared to me and told me I had to come over on this side, soon, as there was work for me to do. I even then did not believe him -- but here I am."
I quickly said, "Doc I have two letters here in my handbag from you, written in London to me, wherein you state clearly you would come back to South Africa where you were loved, and you loved the people here."
Doc replied, holding my hands in a firm grip and said, "Well Grace dear, am I not here now in South Africa, helping you all?"
I was overjoyed and humbly replied, "How wonderful! and grateful thanks, Doc."
He then put his arm around my shoulder and placed his other hand on the side of my face and turned towards the little red globe light and I caught a glimpse of his profile. He then kissed me, so gently and tenderly, a wonderful fatherly embrace, and I actually felt his moustache. Then he said, "So long for now, so long for now, (another phrase he often used) Grace and Harbart."
No words can ever express my feelings of amazement and joy! I just prayed and thanked the Heavenly Father. God bless his dear, dear, dear soul and for all the loving deeds of healing and teaching he gave to us all while in the flesh on earth. To me it was the greatest privilege to have met him and known him here.
Then some other person appeared to some beloved soul and then disappeared, and then two children about nine years of age stood together outside the curtain. The dear, wee souls were strange and shy and did not come towards us although Mrs. H. spoke lovingly and tenderly to them. They just stood for a brief few seconds and then disappeared. They told us afterwards that several spirit souls of folk had built up in the cabin, but were too afraid to come out. Mrs. H. explained they are not used to appearing and have to be assured that it is quite alright to walk out, as their guides and scientist explain to them, because when they walk out, the feeling to them is as though they were on the edge of a balcony.
Mrs. H. and sitters said the Lord's Prayer, then the little Sonny Boy appeared and said, "Aunty Louie, Uncle A. [the medium] is sitting against the cane chair and has no cushion." Mrs. H. asked if there was a cushion anywhere on one of the chairs. A person in the second row said "yes," and Sonny Boy walked to the back, got the cushion and took it, and carried it through the curtains to Mr. H. (whom I was told by Mrs. H., was going out of his body). It was wonderful to witness this.
After this, the psychic experiment was that we saw H. through the curtains sitting in his chair. One could see his black jacket was open in front due to the heat, and one could see his bare chest. Then, after this, they showed the psychic rod about two feet long, pure white (with what I presume had a lot of ectoplasm on it) and they pointed it towards us.
One spirit soul appeared and turned round so that we all could see his upper part of his body and the ribs move as he breathed. He was garbed in white from the waist downwards. Some friend told me that at another sitting, she and her husband actually touched the ribs and it felt just like ours in the flesh.
After it was over, Mrs. H. said, "We had a wonderful evening," and bade them all farewell with God's loving blessing.
Mr. H. came round and regained consciousness. There was heavy breathing and they said that he should have come back more easily, but for a lady there who would hold on to her husband as he was going. She stood up and followed him to the curtain and Mrs. H. had to gently tell her, and pulled her back.
Mr. H. was led out by T.C. to his bedroom and the large electric light was switched on in the passage. We all went into the lounge and had lovely sandwiches, cakes and tea.
Herbert and I were standing together at the door of the lounge and Phyllis next to me -- when Mr. H. was speaking to both of us. Mr. H. said, "Mrs. O. [Grace] you have got a Chinese guide," and then turning to Herbert, he said, "a gentle Indian guide is standing behind you." I turned round and said, "I wish I could see him" -- but I could not see anybody.
Mr. H. said, "Your guide, Mrs. O.,. says if you are called to a sick bed, you must just place your hand lightly on the chest of that sick person and wonderful healing power will flow through you."
Mr. H. said to Herbert that he would draw Herb's Indian guide and turned to me and said, "I may draw yours too, Mrs. O." We were very happy and thanked Mr. H. for his kind and loving thought.
Then Mr. H. said, "Dr Mac is here in spirit and is telling me to please tell Harbart and Grace that he wishes to thank us both for the "wee drappie" of whisky, he used to enjoy with us both when he visited us, nearly every Tuesday late in the afternoon.
We burst out laughing as this event is perfectly true, and we did enjoy the time he spent with us here at B .... Street, Pretoria, while on earth. We always gave him a sundowner of whiskey and soda.
We left the H.'s home at approximately 11.20 p.m. It was a beautiful moonlight night and I drove slowly back to Pretoria.
This is a brief account of what happened. It was truly a wonderful and marvellous event and we are both fully convinced it was Dr Murdo MacDonald-Bayne who materialised and fulfilled his loving promise of about 13 years ago -- and materialised three years after his passing over in London, to us at Mrs. H.'s residence on Saturday night, January 1958.
Mr. H. told me that Mrs. H., his wife, said she too knew and recognised Doc and said it was the first time since his passing that Doc had appeared in materialised form at their sitting. They knew Doc well in C .... , and Mrs. H. said to me the world is poorer spiritually for his passing over. He was a great soul.
God bless his dear soul!
The foregoing is a true account of what Herbert and I saw and witnessed at Mr. and Mrs. H.'s sitting. Mrs. C.J., Mr. H.'s god child and her husband, and Mr. and Mrs. T.C. were also with us.