%vmi#mi&:
ivy."
m
Mi
JTOBiOGRAPHi
EXPLANATION
PI  \\ RXfiW-A \TPF '$
^"iTiMICKCg"

i
.Ctf
			$■■■';■'■	•''.'•5
fci»W		V-'fA'		
K^-''.V'

■>#■
■JI ''.
-<■: i 
I
ARMY MEDICAL LIBRARY
FOUNDED 1S36
WASHINGTON, D.C 
 
 
^JW^ff 
 
AUTOBIOGRAPHY
              OF

DR. D. B. KELLOGG
OK,
EXPLANATION OF CLAIRVOYANCE.
BEING AN ACCOUNT OF THE MYSTERIES OF HIS LIFE;
  COMBINED WITH A CONCISE EXPLANATION OF
    THE PHENOMENA OF CLAIRVOYANCE,
      SOMNAMBULISM, AND SPIRIT
          MANIFESTATION.
    -A-NZIN" ARBOR,
DR. CHASE'S STEAM PRINTING HOUSE.
       1869. 
K2W*
IH9 
                     PREFACE,


                       ------>»t
     ■»
     fHIS AUTOBIOGRAPHY has been written  in order to
      satisfy the urgent desire of my numerous friends, who
      believing,  that there was something mysterious about
   *>  me, have made frequent  enquiry concerning the peculi-
 arities of my life.  For the last twelve years I have daily been
 asked the following questions, concerning the mystery  of my
 professional practice, as  a physician:  "What is the cause of
 your influence?" "Are  you  a  clairvoyant,  or only a spirit
 medium?"  "  Did you study medicine before you commenced
 practice as a  physician?" " Are clairvoyants always correct
 in their diagnosis of diseases ? "  " What are the  principles of
 clairvoyance,  and what is the formula of procedure necessary
 to development in  this somnambulic science ?"" Is not mag-
 netism the  basis of clairvoyance,  of somnambulism, and of
 modern spirit communion?"  "Were you, in early life, dif-
 ferent from  other children ? " etc., etc.   These questions I have
 endeavored  to answer in  a plain, concise manner.
   I claim no  literary merit for this production, for I make no
 professions of proficiency in the art of writing for publication.
   Some of  my explanations of the phenomena  of magnetic
 operations differ from the conclusions of other writers upon
 the subject.  But I feel that the careful investigators will not
 fail to see the philosophy  of my views, particularly upon the
 subject  of spirit  communication.  I have carefully avoided
speaking of spiritualism as a religion, and have treated it only 
IV.
PREFACE.
 as a science.  Of my early life I have said but little, and noth-
 ing of my domestic experience ; for I have considered that part
 of my life uninteresting to the general reader.
    Some of my immediate friends have unqualifiedly asserted
 that this work was being written by a hired biographer.  This
 supposition is emphatically erroneous.  The whole  work "has
 been written  by myself at  odd spells during the last summer,
I and has been  copied verbatim, by another party.  Throughout
 the work I have aimed to treat exclusively of my  magnetic
 career, and in my explanations I have endeavored to do noth-
 ing more than to show the philosophy of the phenomena
 treated.
    Owing to  the calculated compass of the work I have been
 forced to condense the matter into a compact form, hence,
 careful  reading is necessary to  a full understanding of the
 various subjects treated.  I have not endeavored to build up
 any new faith, nor tare down any long standing theories, but
 have aimed, throughout the whole work, to answer such ques-
 tions as have been most frequently asked me.
    Trusting that would-be critics will  show leniency toward
 me as a writer, I  humbly hope that this  work will meet the
 approbation  of my patients  and  friends, and if it  does, the
 only object sought will have been attained.
                          Dk. DANIEL B. KELLOGG.
    Ann Arbor, Mich., Dec. 20, 1868. 
Autobiography.
CHAPTER  I.
     BIRTH, PARENTAGE, AND EARLY RECOLLECTIONS.
         Warm from their spirit spreads around,
          An atmosphere serene—divine,—
         Magnetical like golden haze,
          Encircling mine.

    fHE FIRST  scene in the life drama about to be
    delineated, was enacted on  the 22d of January,
  j 1834, in a rough, uncouth, log-shanty, situated in
the then sparsely settled town of Pittsfield, Washte-
naw county, Michigan.
   There was nothing worthy of remark or consider-
ation in the exterior or interior of this particular edi-
fice, unless it was its complete simplicity of structure.
Being built of rough unhewn logs—with single slope
to the roof—shanty style—from which protuded  a
massive stick-chimney.  Its outside appearance was
certainly in direct  opposition to any  cultivated ideal
of magnificence; nor did  its interior  arrangements
belie the uncouth appearances of its  exterior in the 
6
AUTOBIOGRAPHY  OF
least, for there was but one apartment, and this an-
swered the combined purposes of parlor, kitchen, and
sleeping  apartment,  in one.   This rough and gro-
tesque specimen of pioneer architecture has long since
passed into oblivion, and even its surroundings have
been robbed of their primitive wildness by the onward
march of progressive husbandry.
   I have no doubt but what I was considered a wel"
come addition to the family circle, and an object of
parental gratification and love, though I do not imag-
ine that my worthy parents saw anything about me
above the plain of medriocrity of ability, yet I was a
new link in the golden  chain that united their hearts
in conjugal felicity.
   My conclusion that  I was a welcome and cherished
addition to the family fold is not altogether the result
of instinctive supposition, which is innate in the heart
of every child, but is a conclusion deduced from my
matured observations  and knowledge of  the  perfect
conjugal felicity and noble  characteristics of my re-
spected parents, who considered the  welfare of their
offspring as the first great duty of life.  Love for their
children was, with them, an intrinsic virtue, ever flow-
ing with unceasing power and beauty from their Chris-
tian hearts.  Through   all the various vicissitudes of
life their love for their  children, has glowed with the
same warmth  and golden  luster as it did when they
sang the soft luilaby to infant ears attuned.
   I doubt  whether there could be  a more  perfect
matrimonial alliance than that enjoyed by my father 
DR. D. B.  KELLOGG.
1
and mother, nor one more conducive to wedded hap-
piness.  Still, strange and  unphilosophical as the fact
may appear to be, truth compells me to  assert, that,
in temperament and disposition, they were as unlike
as is possible for two  beings, bearing the image of
their Creator, to be.  My father was more than ordi-
narily positive in disposition and temperament, and he
commanded respect by his indomitable force of will.
In his domestic relations he was, in  every sense, the
acknowledged head, and his decisions on all questions
of order, was admitted as authority from which there
was no appeal.  These positive characteristics of my
worthy  paternal progenitor  were,  in  my childhood
days, subjects  of  considerable speculation.  I saw
much about him that was entirely beyond my compre-
hension.   In fact I looked upon my father as  a sort
of domestic tyrant; for it was  patent  to my childish
mind that he was a bitter opposer to innocent amuse-
ment, and I considered this an inherent principle of
his nature.   But as I look  back and contemplate his
acts of apparent tyranny and domestic severity, I see
that  these characteristic traits  were more  assumed
than natural, for  they  were the legitimate results of
his peculiar moral and religious training which engen-
dered a truly laudable desire to  protect those under
his control from  the besetting sins of a sin-cursed
world.   He was, in the broad definition of the term, a
Christian, and a thorough disciplinarian ; not merely
a professor of religion,  but an  unflinching, practical
devotee of the church; who carried his religious ideas 
8
AUTOBIOGRAPHY  OF
into every act of life.  Nor were his religious princi-
ples the result of excited  impulse, but were the con-
victions of deep study, of earnest thought, and labori-
ous investigation; for, though  in early  life, he  had
enjoyed but poor educational advantages,  his natur-
ally vigorous mind had caused him to study many of
the deep mysteries of human  existence; and among
his researches the various theological modes of future
salvation claimed  his attention  most, for they were
apparently most congenial to his peculiar turn of mind.
But I am unable to state at what particular period of
life his theological researches culminated in this pro-
fessed avowal of Christian membership; still, I have
reason to believe that his  boyhood  had ripened into
manhood prior to the event,  marked by his conver-
sion to Christianity.
   Be this as it may.  During the early years of my
life my father was known in matters of religion as a
zealous,  unflinching, and uncompromising devotee of
the church, who allowed his pious enthusiasm to carry
him into the  whirlpool  of religious  fanaticism to an
extent sufficient to cause him to expend annually too
much of his material profit, aud even of his accumu-
lated possessions in the cause of religious  promulga-
tion.  In  these  days  his landed  possessions were
quite extensive; and though his  domains  were wild
and uncultivated, and in their primitive condition non-
productive and unprofitable for  the  time being, they
were a sure foundation for future wealth.  But year by
year these broad acres were disposed of until  at last 
DR. D. B. KELLOGG.
9
they had, as if by magic, dwindled away to a single
lot of 80 acres ; and much, in fact nearly all the pro-
ceeds had been  engulphed in the rapacious maw of
the church, through the  effect of thoughtless fanati-
cism.
    Do not for a  moment imagine  that  I would cen-
sure my father  for his zealousness  in  religion,  for
though I condemn the act, the motive I am obliged to
respect.  His liberal endowment to  the church was
the result of studied conviction.   He considered him-
self as a laborer in the vineyard of the Lord, and that
the earth and fullness thereof was God's.  He believed
that the highest  and first duty  of a  Christian was to
freely expend the  bounties given by the benificent
Creator in promulgating his law  by a free distribution
of his sacred word, far and wide,  among the benighted
nations of the earth.
    Yet, notwithstanding, the over zealousness in mat-
ters of religion, my father  held  the respect  of all
classes of people, even those who condemned his zeal
or marked him as a fanatic, looked upon him as a man
of good morals and practical business principles, with
unswerving  integrity and perfect purity of intention.
Honesty in  all business  relations was the  unvarying
maxim of his  life.  Charity was the bright guiding
star of his  faith, and morality  was the dictator of
every act.
    Although my father was sanguine even to fanati-
cism in his conviction of right and wrong, firmly ad-
hering for a time to  his opinions, and  presistent in 
10
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF
their  advocacy;  he was still  liberally progressive.
All theories were subjected by  him to close  analysis
and uncompromising research,  and whatever theory
failed to pass through this ordeal of strict investiga-
tion, was cast aside without regret, regardless of the
opinions of the uninvestigating masses, who often un-
justifiably  remarked him as being  unstable.  Even
theology was subjected to this guiding principle of his
life, as all who are acquainted with his Christian career
can testify.  "Isms" were adopted and  advocated
with all the strenuous powers of his mind, only to be cast
aside in exchange for something more  in  accordance
with the dictates of reason, until he finally, had made
the circuit of nearly all the modern methods of salva-
tion.   But throughout  the whole of his  Christian
career, varying  and changable as appearances may
indicate that career to have been, no one  could hon-
estly accuse him of being actuated by any mercenary
motives, or anything outside of the pure  dictates  of
conscience governed by reason.
    That my father was unstable I cannot deny; but
this instability was in consequence of an  inate desire
for truth.   His mind was continually reaching out af-
ter something which would  harmonize with  the inte-
rior purity of his own mind, and accord with what
reason said was right.    He was  mentally positive
and self-reliant, and this outstretching after greater
truths was an inherent and irresistable principle of his
life.
    I have said that my parents were opposite, or un- 
DR. D.  B. KELLOGG.
11
like in temperament and disposition.   That my father
commanded respect and obedience  by his perfect
moral life and  indomnitable power  of  will.  On the
other hand, my mother won the love of her associates
by  her  natural kindness  and affability of manner.
Her acts  were the spontaneous  product of a  heart
naturally pure; and were always  deeds of thoughtful
kindness.   So clinging, vine-like,  were her affections,
so passive her mental powers, and confiding her love,
that she was by nature constrained  to grant willing
acquiescence to the more positive dictates of my fath-
er's will, and by this course she won  not only his re-
spect but the warmest affections of his stern and posi-
tive nature. Nor was this all, for this  native meek-
ness won for her the kindness of all who came in the
radius of her  pure  influence.  To her children  she
was indulgent to the near proximity  of a fault.  Her
love for them  was  boundless, and  her  endeavors to
make their lives radiant with the sunshine of a happy
home, was considered as the highest duty of her life,
and for her deeds of unselfish maternal  kindness she
had  the proud satisfaction  of receiving the purest
love and warmest affection  of her  entire  family  as
well as their willing obedience to her passive mater-
nal authority.   While my father governed  his house-
hold by stern and unswerving principles, which were
the result of his ideas  of morality and  religion,  my
mother ruled alone by principles dictated by love ema-
nating from a heart of purity.
   I doubt, whether there  could hav« been a better 
12
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF
combination of powers for controlling wayward youth.
I respected my father for his methodical  principles of
justice and close adherance to moral training, but I
loved  my  mother  for  her pure unselfish affection
which was ever displaying itself  by some  thoughtful
deed of maternal kindness.  One, won obedience and
respect by the power of moral example, the other, by
the supreme power  of reciprocal  affection.
    I refer to these  facts in regard to the  unlikeness
of disposition and temperament characteristic of my
parents, in order that the reader  may understand my
hereditary proclivities.   While my father  was  men-
tally and physically positive,  ray mother in both of
these respects was  decidedly negative; and  as like
begets like, I partook largely of the two casts  of tem-
peraments natural to my parents.   Mentally I am like
my father, physically like  my  mother; and this fact
readily accounts for much of the  mystery of my life;
for it furnishes a clue to the psychological phenomena
connected with my career.
    The early years of my life were  characteristicly
like those which fall to the lot of all boys who are reared
amid the scenes of  pioneer life ; and may  be  said to
have been made up of sunshine and gloom. When I
was free from that pest of frontier life, the  fever and
ague, I was a being of perfect contentment,  and my
days were days of unalloyed happiness.   But durino-
the first five years of my existence, t ese days  of free-
dom from  the above  mentioned malady, were ex-
tremely few in number ;  in  fact,  I was almost com in- 
DR. D.  B. KELLOGG.
13
ually under the alternate frigid  and torrid influences
of this fell destroyer of backwoods happiness.  Mala-
rious  disease appeared to be indisolubly  connected
with my existence, and in view of this fact my parents
almost despaired of hoping to see me,  arrive to the
statue of manhood.   But at the age of five there came
a change in my physical health, and from that time I
began to develop into a healthy robust youth; from
this time forth I was allowed the freedom of out-door
exercise, and this unwonted privilege I enjoyed with
boyish gusto.
   During these early years, my only playmate, and
almost constant companion  was  my  sister Harriet,
who was two years my senior, and who, in considera-
tion of this variance in age, practically considered her-
self to be my natural guide and guardian.  With her
I roamed the dense forests which  surrounded our
home, with the freedom of  a native denizen of the
woods ; and although our amusements could not boast
of the polish of city elegance, and hardly  of civiliza-
tion, still they were both instructive and healthy; and
though I knew nothing of marbles and such frivolous
means of enjoyment, I was,  even in my sixth year, an
expert with the bow  and arrow, and many were the
specimens of feathered beauty thatl brought my loved
8ister_who  was ever proud of my hunting  achieve-
raent8_as trophies of my skill.   Thus, in the  enjoy-
ment of wild and unconventional childhood, time flitted
unconsciously by, utterly  devoid of unusual events,
until the seventh year of my life. 
14             AUTOBIOGRAPHY  OF
   During the summer following my seventh birth-
day, various domestic arrangements, differing from the
usual routine, were planned and executed.   Early in
the summer my father—who was never blessed with
a very well developed faculty of continuity or locality
—was  attacked with one of his periodical and irresist-
ible longings for a change of residence.   All former
experience had proven that there was no known pana-
cea for this species of mental derangement;  and the
consequent result of the attack was a speedy exchange
of home.  But, unlike most former removes,  this one
proved to be quite satisfactory to  all concerned; for
not only was the distance short, but we exchanged the
old dilapidated shanty for an edifice of comparative
elegance; for though built of logs, its exterior was
more prepossessing, and its interior more commodious
and comfortable.  My time would have passed as pleas-
antly in this new home as it had in the old, had not that
bug-bear of early childhood—school-house imprison-
ment—reared its freedom-destroying prospects to view.
Bitterly I  detested the idea of exchanging my boyish
freedom—my romping, wild-wood sports, for  the mo-
notony of district school.  I had learned enough of my
sister's experience—who had  attended one  term—to
establish in my mind a conviction of hatred for study,
and the irksome inactivity of early  school life.  So
deep-seated was this conviction, and so permanent
was my antipathy, that I earnestly begged my parents
not to send me.  In my own heart, I remember that
I then  considered ignorance far preferable to the hor- 
DR. D. B. KELLOGG.
15
rid task of acquiring education by the means in pros-
pect ;  and I frankly  told my parents that I did not
want to learn, I begged they would  not send  me to
school, but let me grow up in ignorance.   Of what use
was education to me.  Books could not learn me how
to direct my arrows so as to bring down the winged
inhabitant of the air, and beyond these rustic  sports
my mind had never extended.   But of course my en-
treaties were useless, and my preferred alternative was
made by my father the basis of a long lecture, per-
fectly incomprehensible  at the time, on the benefits of
education.   The upshot of the whole  was that, on
commencement  day, I  found  myself occupying one
of the hard wooded benches  in the old log  school-
house, as a primary student.
    My school days  were the real  commencement of
my life; for during them I took my first draught  from
the bitter cup of experience.   To be sure, these early
troubles were comparatively insignificant, and  so are
all the sorrows of early  childhood.   No child ever ab-
horred study more than I.  It was almost impossible
forme to commit a lesson to memory,  and in conse-
 quence, I was considered by the eld hawk-eyed peda-
 gogue as a regular  dolt; and as a thick-headed numb-
 skull by all the precocious youngsters of my own age.
 My place in the class was a permanent position—being
 the foot-which, by long continued occupancy, I came
 to  consider mine, without the least feeling of com-
 punction or twinge of shame.   But, notwithstanding
 I  was a thick headed,  dull, unadvancing  student  at 
16
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF
 school, and a despiser of education, there were some
 traits of my  mental character that were  decidedly
 prominent and well developed, and amon-f these was
 a well cultivated propensity for mischief.   This  trait
 was not only a source  of annoyance to  my  teacher
 and school-fellows, but to all who had anything to do
 with me, and especially those who happened to incur
 my displeasure.   Many were the pranks I played upon
 my school-fellows in payment for  their too liberal use
 of obnoxious appellations.  I knew that in matters of
 education I was below ordinary, but it cut me to the
 quick to be told that I was an  ignoramus,  especially
 by those whom I  knew were no way my superiors  in
 anything outside of books.  This propensity for mis-
 chief often annoyed my kind-hearted  mother, and
 shocked the strict methodical principles of my  father.
 Nothing was exempt from this natural  fondness for
 fun; even the old house-dog and the quiet, inoffensive
 cat came in for their share of torment, much in oppo-
 sition to their trained habits  of puritanical decorum.
 On one occasion,  I remember,  this mischeivous pro-
 pensity placed me in rather an awkward predicament,
 which, as it is a fair specimen of my boyish capers, I
 will relate.
   On this occasion the family had just seated them-
 selves for breakfast, and  my father was  engaged  in
 making his usual appeal for divine blessing upon the
 food prepared for the nourishment of the  body, and
just as he was giving utterance to  the clause wherein
 he prayed " that the strength gained therefrom  might 
DR. D.  B. KELLOGG.
11
be spent in glorifying the Almighty," I, who had been
watching affairs from without, rushed into  the room
with a large  cow-bell suspended from my neck, on
entering I combined with  the  horrid rattle clatter  of
the bell, a ludicrous imitation of bovine bellowing.
The effect was as instantaneous as an electric shock,
and was manifested by a suppressed giggle from the
elder part, and  an explosive outburst of mirth from
the younger portion of the family.  Of course, I was
perfectly conscious of the outrageousness of ray con-
duct, and fully expected a peremptory dismissal from
the room, in connection with a fierce promise of speedy
punishment in return for my wanton disrespect of the
sanctity of the occasion.   But for once in my  life, I
was  happily deceived; for contrary to all precedent,
and  my own expectation, my father caught the infec-
tion  of mirth.  Cutting  short his appeal  for divine
blessing, he gave vent to his irrepressible convictions
of the ludicrous, and for a few moments indulged  in
an unwonted fit of laughter.   But  notwithstanding
this, to me, happy termination of the affair, my father
did not fail to warn me of an altogether different style
of consequences in case of a  repetition of my conduct.
This warning was long remembered  and  referred  to
whenever my mischeivous inclinations  prompted me
to indulge in any pranks at  his  expense.   Thus my
early life was passed, and consisted mostly of well-
earned punishment for childish indiscretion. Mischief
was  my greatest study, and in this branch  I became
a proficient.  Still, I do not imagine that  my  early 
18
AUTOBIOGRAPHY  OP
years were greatly unlike the life of other boys who
chance, like me, to be the victims of puritanical sanc-
timoniousness.  The greatest fault laid with my father,
who believed that even childish amusements were ob-
noxious to the Almighty, and an offense  against re-
ligion. 
DR. D. B. KELLOGG.
19
CHAPTER II.
BEING AN ACCOUNT OF NERVOUS PECULIARITIES, AND INCTPI-
        ENT MANIFESTATIONS OF CLAIRVOYANCE.

    iS A series of common-place events characterize
    my individual career between the eighth and fif-
    teenth years of my life, I will pass them unnoticed.
But during this period, there had been much change in
the general aspect of my surroundings.  Progressive
improvement in branches of industry was apparent on
all sides;  and now, instead of wild and uncultivated
" woodland copse," were seen on every hand
       " Deep waving fields, and pastures green,
       With gentle slopes and vales between."
Comparative affluence had taken the place of pioneer
penury, and as display is the inevitable  associate of
prosperity, society had brushed and polished itself into
a sort of rustic elegance. Villages, which could boast
commercial importance, had sprung into existence as
if by magic.
  Childhood had  grown to youth,  and youth had
donned the regal rights of  manhood.  Even my fath-
er's  domestic arrangements had undergone a pro-
gressive change.   The old log house, in which I had 
20
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF
passed many happy days, had gone into oblivion, and
on its former site now stood a more  elegant structure
of brick.  And the old log school-house, with its rough,
hard benches, had likewise fallen victim to the preva-
lent  spirit of improvement; and its place was  now
adorned with a more imposing edifice ; and even the
old hawk-eyed domine,  of bitter recollections,  was
laid up as superanuated, and was looked  upon as one
of the fossil remains of another age; and in pursuance
with the growing pride of the neighborhood, his place
was  now  occupied by a spruce specimen of young
America, in broadcloth.   In  short,  general improve-
ment was  everywhere manifest.
   At the age of fifteen I looked upon myself, in phys-
ical sense, as a pretty good specimen of a man;  but I
was painfully aware that my mental advancement had
not kept corresponding pace with my physical growth.
I knew that I had a natural incapacity for learning;
and  though I studied  hard,  I had, up to this time,
made no  progress beyond the primary  branches of
English education.   Evidently, book-learning was not
my forte;  and as this fact had become patent to my
Father, he gave up all ideas,—if he ever indulged any
—of giving me more  than ordinary advantages of
education.  My summers were, during  these years,
spent in labor  on the farm;  and though I attended
school two winter terms after I was fifteen, I accom-
plished but little more  in that time than  a review of
my former studies.   Thus, at the conclusion of my
school days, I was considered below par in the legally 
DR. D. B.  KELLOGG.
21
defined branches of even primary education ; and from
that time to the present, I have never entered any in-
stitution of learning as a student.  But, notwithstand-
ing the fact that I made this slow progress in  acquir-
ing the fundamental principles  of defined  education,
my mind was continually undergoing a process of
vigorous development, by an intuitive acquirement of
intelligence,  from  nature's inexhaustible fountain of
knowledge1  There was something about me, at this
time, which was remarkably peculiar.  I was unlike
the general class;  for though I could not learn from
books, I experienced no trouble in arriving at a knowl-
edge of the attributes of whatever came  before  my
observation.  My  mind appeared to be susceptible to
intuitive knowledge.  I was habitually a close observer
and investigator of all objective formation, and in my
own mind, I was conscious of possessing strange  an-
alytic powers.  But while I recognized  this peculiar
individual capacity, or gift, I was wholly  unable to
account for it; and in view of this fact, I durst  not
divulge the secret, and for me to give an explanation
of the phenomena was literally  impossible at that
time ;  for I could not tell how, or by what means, or
from whence the power was derived.  Besides, I then
supposed that I was not unlike the rest of mankind.
I knew  nothing of the  principles of clairvoyance-
even the term was foreign to my vocabulary.  I  was
conscious that I possessed a strange power, on some
 occasions, of mental penetration, combined with a sort
 of natural exaltation of understanding and  analytic 
22
AUTOBIOGRAPHY  OF
ability.  But why I was so I could not tell.  It was
only on rare occasions that 1  outwardly manifested
these strange gifts, for I had no desire to attract the
attention of the curious.  One special result of this in-
sipient clairvoyant development of my mental and phys-
ical organism, and one which I outwardly manifested
most, was an ability to predict impending atmospheric
changes.  This I would often do with unerring accu-
racy, and to the astonishment of even my most con-
fidential friends ; and not only would I prognosticate
a change of weather, but would, with perfect correct-
ness, specify the time and peculiar kind  of change
about to occur, long before there would be any visible
signs, apparent to the common observer, of an atmos-
pheric variation.  People wondered not a little at this
display of apparent prophetic powers, and there were
many superstitious persons who imaginged that I was
endowed with supernatural powers of discernment.  I
was a mystery even to myself; for I did not  under-
stand the principle of this peculiar power, nor why  I
should differ so  materially from the rest of mankind,
until long after, wheh the mystery was explained by
the discovery that I was  unconsciously a clairvoyant.
  These prophecies—if such they may be termed—
were the result of clairvoyant powers  in their unde-
veloped  stage, or primary  conditions,  hence  were
closely allied to  nervous  sensation.   My nervous or-
ganization,  being naturally  negative, was sensibly
affected by even the slightest change of atmosphere,
and thus I was naturally a sort of human barometer. 
DR. D.  B. KELLOGG.
23
But being a human weathercock did not, even in these
early days, fully comprehend the extent of my unusual
abilities, for I could, with perfect ease, place myself
in magnetic connection with other elements of the
universe; could, when in proper condition, determine
the properties of liquid, and even of solid bodies,  by
simply holding  them in the hollow of my hand.   At
these times my  mind seemed  to be exalted, and my
power of perception and penetration were capable of
increase beyond their normal state.  I often wondered
at this phenomena, and as I said nothing of the mys-
tery of my nature, I had considerable  curiosity to
know if I was really unlike the great mass of mankind,
or were they, like myself, holding a portion of their
natural powers a secret from  the world.
   The reader  will bear in mind that my clairvoyant
powers were undeveloped at  this date.   I was not en-
dowed at this time with  perfect  vision, nor  could  I
wander off in  mental  freedom, and place myself in
rapport with distant objects,  as IJLo at this  date  of
my clairvoyant experience.   My physical nerves were
then the only channel through which intelligence could
be borne to my mind.   I was not unlike others ; only
in extreme nervous sensitiveness did I vary from  the
rest of_ mankind.  My powers  of predicting  atmos-
pheric"changes, and of determining  the elementary
properties of different bodies, was the legitimate result
of peculiar nervous construction.   The extreme sen-
 sitiveness of  my nervous  system  was perceptibly
 agitated by every variation of atmospheric elements; 
24
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF
 and these perceptible changes of nervous feeling were
 subjects of mental analysis,  and  in  every instance
 conclusions were the result of calculations induced by
 nervous effect.   Thus, a feeling  of mental  langour
 and cerebral exhaustion; foreshadowed a  storm;  a
 prickly, nervous sensation was a certain indication of
 wind;  and so I experienced  a physical sign for every
 atmospheric variation, more or less intense, according
 to the mildness or severity  of the change about to
 occur.  Bodies held  in the hand would cause a  per-
 ceptible electric sensation, which varied in accordance
 with the elementary constituents of the article grasped.
 Bodies that were powerfully impregnated with  iron
 would ofttimes emit a powerful electris shock, and at
 other times I could handle the same article without
 experiencing even the slightest nervous sensation. At
 times, liquids poured  in the palm of my hand would
 powerfully agitate my  whole nervous system,  and
 these phenomena were in  consequence of magnetic
 sympathy.   I was, even in these boyhood days, a pow-
 erful magnet to vital  electricity;  and though this was
 before  I had any practical knowledge of the phenom-
 ena of spirit  communication  by means  of electric
 " raps," I was often startled by unaccountable electric
 sounds in strange proximity to my person.   Evidently,
 these "sounds" were caused by the confined electricity
[ of my system seeking its equilibrium in the external
, atmosphere;  but in these days I could give no reason
 for the mystery,  consequently the phenomena was an
 annoying, though incomprehensible subject of individ- 
               DR. D. B. KELLOGG.              25

ual speculation.  And thus, even in  my  early life, I
was a mystery even to myself, and an object of won-
der among my friends. 
26
AUTOBIOGRAPHY  OF
CHAPTER  III.
MY FrRST SORROW, AND MY FIRST ACQUAINTANCE WITH MAG-
                      NETISM.
         Many years have passed and weary,
          Since they laid her down to rest,
         In the grave-yard, lone and dreary,
          With the cold clods on her breast.
 ( i
 ,  N THE summer of my seventeenth year occurred
 '   the first sorrowful episode of my life.  My sister,
 j  Harriet, whom I have said was my constant com-
panion during early life, and who in later years had
been my most cherished counselor,  and adviser, and
confidant—she of all my  kindred I  loved the most,
was suddenly stricken down by the destroying power
of a fatal miasmatic disease.  Never shall I forget the
feeling of perfect loneliness which thrilled through my
heart when I came to realize the extent and  finality
of my bereavement.   This  was  my  first personal
knowledge of death.   Oh ! how bitter were the tears
I shed, when in the solemn hush of night I stood with
the family group beside the sufferer's couch, to behold
the immortal spirit break the frail cord that  bound it
to its still beautiful form of dying  clay.   There was 
                DR. D. B. KELLOGG.              27

just one throe of mortal pain—one lingering, conscious
glance of perfect love for mourning  friends around,
which sent an electric thrill of anguish through each
sorrowing heart—one flutter of the dying  heart, and
she was dead !  And after this there followed the sol-
emn panoply of death, and one bright and beautiful
morning—a morning musical with the joyous songs of
birds—they bore the coffined form away through the
sunlight, and hid it among the moss grown groves and
white memorials of departed life.  And now, though

         Many years have passed and weary,
           Since they laid her down to rest,
         In the grave yard, lone and dreary,
           With the cold clods on her breast.
         Many times the flowers have faded,
           By the column at her head,
         Since the grave her brow hath shaded
           And they called our loved one dead.
         But I cannot find her sleeping
           In that shadow-haunted spot,
         Where the  myrtle wreath is creeping
           Round the sweet forget-me-not.


         No, ah  no ! beneath the willow,
           They have laid the casket down;
         But the grave is not her pillow,
           Nor her bed the damp, cold ground.
         For beyond the silent river
           And the  swaying willow bough,
         Free from  sorrow—now and ever—
           With a crown upon her brow,
         I behold her, angel risen ;—
           She has left the lowly spot
         That her body still doth prison,
           'Neath the sweet forget-me-not. 
28
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF
   As I have said,  this bereavement was my first
cause of real, lasting sorrow ; and for a long time my
grief bowed me to the dust,  for I could  not but re-
member that in my idolized sister's death  I had lost a
true friend that could never be replaced.
   This mournful episode of early death was likewise
—young  as  I was—the  cause  of much  religious
thought; for somehow, I could not rid myself of the
idea that there existed a great inharmony between the
native promptings of the human heart and the  soph-
istry of church-taught religion.  I had been taught,
by my father,  that only those who were  born again,
and  sanctified through the gracious mercy  of an of-
fended God, could hope to inherit eternal happiness.
I had been led to believe, that if there was no outward
show of spirit sanctification by active, ceaseless pray-
ing, that eternal condemnation would be an inevitable
consequence.  My loved sister, I knew had never man-
ifested any faith in, or regard for these religious qual-
ifications.  She had lived, an unsophisticated child of
nature, with a mind  unclouded by care,  or even a
thought of the mysterious future upon which she had
thus prematurely entered.   But still  I could  not be-
lieve that she, who had never been guilty  of an inten-
tional wrong act—whose heart alone pulsated  with
purest love for all of  God's creatures, was now by the
Almighty condemned to eternal  damnation, merely
because she had made no  profession of  sanctity, or
proclaimed, by formal prayer, heart-felt praise to the
Almighty. 
DR. D.  B. KELLOGG.
29
   Nay, in my own heart, I could but believe her an
angel now, in the realms of the eternal summer-land.
   As these convictions took hold of my mind, there
arose a  feeling of disrespect for that heartless and cold
religion which taught, thus-wise,  that the unerring
child of God was by nature doomed to eternal punish-
ment for the transgression of others.   From this time,
the prayers  of my pious father appeared like mockery,
and fell coldly upon my heart.
   These individual convictions  were not the  only
consequences of this  heart-felt bereavement;  for  I
have reason to believe that from this  time forth,  my
father began to discern that there  was a great inhar-
mony between the so-called will of God and the nat-
ural promptings of the God-created heart of man ; for
from this  time his faith was apparently shaken in his
former  creeds.   For a time his mind wandered darkly
among  the bewildering isms of theology, now grasp-
ing—as dying men will grasp at  straws—the flimsy
formula of  some inspirational faith, only  to cast  it
aside as unsatisfactory.  Thus, for a time, was he in
the gloom of spiritual darkness, surrounded by doubts
and misgivings.   Alas ! why will mankind persist in
declaring the human soul—the image of God in man
—as under a curse eternal?  How many  poor, striv-
ing mortals have lived and died, believing that a life
of purity would avail  them nought in  the land of
spirits!  How many  have died,  believing  that the
pearly  gates were closed against them because they
were not members of Christ's Church on earth.  How 
30
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF
often are we told by the learned man of God that our
heart is but a charnel house of sin, and by nature prone
only to evil.  Can we wonder at the prevalence of evil
and immorality among men who are taught that  they
are by nature vile—outcast from  the love of God ?
Can we expect sweet water from a bitter fountain,  or
good results from evil intentions ?   Can we wonder at
infidelity, when  fidelity  rests alone upon  the  flimsy
hypothesis of second birth, or change  of heart,  in a
manner so mysterious as to be almost, if not entirely,
beyond human understanding?  We know the human
mind is ever active—ever producing good or bad re-
sults ; then how much more noble  and God-like—for
He pronounced all things good—it is,to consider the
heart as the fountain of  goodness, rather than a natu-
ral cess-pool of iniquity.   Good deeds are  the  ruling
effects of every human being.   Evil acts are alone the
exception. Man is by nature good ; by education  evil.
When will  Christians break down this stupendous
error, this blasphemous libel on the goodness of God,
this mountain  of falsehood,  this bug-bear of natural
sin ; and teach instead, that man is the noblest handi-
work of Omniscient power, whose  heart is, in the im-
age of his Creator, naturally pure;  whose greatest
aim should be to keep it as it came fromthe fountain,
free from the contamination of  evil ?
    During the winter following my sister's death, our
quiet rural district was visited by a noted itinerant ex-
positor of mesmerism, who announced that he  would
exhibit his wonderful experiments at the district school- 
DR. D.  B. KELLOGG.
31
house for several consecutive nights.  Of course, the
sober denizens of these extremely quiet precincts were
attacked with an irresistible desire to view the strange
phenomena, and those who had a glimmer  of its real
import, were anxious to be conveyed into the myster-
ious slumber.  My father was terribly sceptical about
the correctness and utility of the professor's boasted
magnetic power.  He did not, however, refuse me the
privelege, nor deny himself the pleasure of attending.
Accordingly, on the first evening of mesmeric display
the professor was greeted by a full house of anxious
expectants.   Perhaps there was none present who had
more curiosity than I;  for even the  term mesmerism
was an undefined something wholly beyond my knowl-
edge.  After a miserable display of third-rate oratory,
which did not have the remotest tendency to enlighten
my mind upon the subject, the professor proceeded to
a practical demonstration of the grand magnetic mys-
tery.
   Having placed  a lighted candle in  the  most con-
spicuous position possible, he directed that those who
desired magnetic effect should keep their gaze riveted
thereon for a specified  number of minutes.  This  re-
quirement I followed as implicitly as my understand-
ing would permit.   The operator now commenced a
series of motions resembling the pantomime of "Leg-
erdemain performers."   These motions had a peculiar
effect on my muscular system.  My eyes displayed a
decided tendency to close ;  I was also conscious of
a prickly sensation—a feeling of numbness in different 
32
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF
parts of my body.  I soon allowed my eyes  to close,
for I found that to keep them open  was next to  im-
possible.   I felt no alarm at the strangeness  of my
feelings,  for I was still perfectly cognizant of what
was transpiring around me, and had full control of my
mental powers.   Besides, I erroneously supposed that
all present experienced like feelings.   The  operator
now came up to me, and after  making a few passes
in front of my face, he imperiously said—" You can't
open your eyes."   " I  guess you are mistaken, old
fellow,"  thought I; but I found, after  a desperate
effort, that he had spoken truth.  I now became sud-
denly alarmed ; for the thought occurred to me that
perhaps I had forever lost the  power  of sight.  But
my fears were very soon dissipated, for on his  touch-
ing the lids and commanding me to open  them,  they
were unsealed without any apparent personal effort.
   The professor now  proceeded to demonstrate his
mesmeric powers by magnetically controlling different
members of my  body.  First my legs were placed
under control, and rendered unserviceable to my in-
dividual will.  So complete was the operator's control
of them that he would force them to move in spite of
my most strenuous opposition.   My limbs being re-
lieved, the influence was transferred to my arms; which
were, by  the same mysterious  power,  held in an ex-
tended position, in spite of my will  to the contrary.
Next followed a perversion of the sense  of  taste.   I
was made to eat tabacco,  under the supposition that
it was delicious candy.  In the same  manner, water 
DR. D.  B. KELLOGG.
33
 was transferred or changed to wine, and from wine to
 bitterest gall.  In each case the deception was aston-
 ishingly perfect.
    During these performances I was conscious of the
 real condition of things, but had no power to do other-
 wise than as commanded by the operator.  Though I
 knew it was  tobacco I was eating, instead of candy,
 my taste agreed with the deception,  and had I been
 blind and bereft of the sense of feeling, I would have
 sworn it was real candy I ate.
    On this occasion my nervous sensations were sim-
 ilar to those induced by an electric battery.   I could
 distinctly feel the operator's chilly hand pass  and re-
 pass the  subjected members, as bearing along with
 them an  electric current.  The living blood in my veins
 seemed well  nigh arrested.  All the nervous avenues
 of sensation were thrilled with quick flashes of electric
 fire, and at  times a strange  feeling  agitated  my
 brain; and once I came near losing sensorial pow-
 er.   The coldness of death appeared to settle upon
 those parts which were under the magnetic power or
 influence.
   During the professor's  stay in the neighborhood
 I was several times used as a subject upon which to
 test  the  authenticity of the science of mesmirism.
 The favorite  mode of testing was for the operator to
 powerfully influence my hands, when incredulous  ob-
 servers were  allowed to lacerate the  flesh with pins
 and other sharp  instruments, which they could do
Avithout my feeling any sensation of pain. 
34
AUTOBIOGRAPHY  OF
   During these exhibitions I was  never influenced
beyond a partial state of psychology.  I here note the
fact in order to correct a prevalent opinion, that I was
at this time developed  as a clairvoyant, which  some
individuals have unqualifiedly asserted to be the case.
This first psychological event of my life made an in-
effaceable impression upon my mind; for it unfolded a
new  subject for contemplation.  I  discovered that I
was not the independent and self-sufficient creature I
had pictured myself to be.   I found that there existed
a governing power, strange, wonderful andinscrutible,
and though unseen it was mighty and  potent.  I had
learned by experience that I was subject to this pow-
er, "evidently to a greater extent than the most of man-
kind.  Here was an individual who  could rob my
mental powers of their legitimate rights,  and  control
my physical organism in spite  of ray opposing will.
Hours of deep thought were spent in a vain endeavor
to unravel the mystery; but all my enquiries resulted
in harassing conjectures and improbable theories con-
cerning the power of mind over matter. 
DR. D.  B. KELLOGG.
85
CHAPTER   IV.
           MY FIRST INFLUENCE AS A MEDIUM.

    iBOUT THIS time the mysterious manifestations.
     known  as the "Rochester rappings", were,  in
     consequence of their purporting to emanate from f
disembodied spirits, attracting considerable attention.
Contrary to the expectation of nearly every one, who
naturally looked upon the raps as some clever trick of
legerdemain, or  incomprehensible  seven-day  novelty
that would soon die a natural  death,the phenomena S
had kept gradually developing into new phases, until
at this time it had, from  an insignificant  rap,  grown
to be a medium of inspirational  intelligence.   Claim-
ing natural instead of supernatural emanation, accord-
ing to fixed principles of natural law.  A  certain class
of philosophers had, since the first rap in  1848,  en-
deavored to argue the phenomenon out of existence,
on the ground thnt there  was no similitude as prece-
dent.laid down by any of the famous  expounders of
"things that be."  Others claimed that it was  a new
phase of animal magnetism; and still another class '
scoffed at, and  unqualifiedly  pronounced the  whole
thing humbuggery. 
Tit)              AUTOBIOGRAPHY  OF

   But despite the  condemnation of book-wis.' phil-
osophers, the scoffs of ignorant ranters,  or even the
denunciations of horrified divines, the mysterious phe-
nomena had moved steadily on, gaining  e;uh day  in
popular favor and interest.
   Owing to the strangeness and unprecedented mys-
tery of these so-called spirit manifestations,  and rap-
idly increasing popularity, they had become a subject
of interest and frequent discussion by the investigating
and liberal-minded members of the community where
I resided.  Among the  investigators my  faiher was
conspicuous; for since his divergence from the beaten
paths of his former theological creeds, he had  culti-
vated a liberality of principle  to such extent.that now,
truth was acceptable from whatever source  it might
emanate ; and although he gave but little credence to
the floating rumors concerning these purported  spirit
manifestations, he publicly admitted himself suscepti-
ble to any convictions;that might  be derived from
practical investigation.  Residing in the neighborhood
was one other individual, a Mr. Ball, who was equally
with my father solicitous  of practically  testing the
truth or falsity of these mysterious visitations of spirits
from the other world.  Hence, in order  to put their
desires in execution, they, with  otver liberal-minded
individuals, arranged to meet  at an appointed time at
my father's residence, for the purpose of inaugurating
a series of practical tests.
   Accordingly, in pursuance  of this preconcerted ar-
rangement, some half-score of earnest individuals con- 
OIL I).  B. KKLLOGG.
37
 vened v> witnes what might be received in the  way
 of spirit demonstration.   On this occasion Mr.  Ball
 acted as master of ceremonies, and  was  allowed  to
 make such arrangements and disposition of means  us
 conformed with his ideas of the modus  operandi re-
 quired to bring about the  hoped  for  lvsult.   Th-se
 arrangements were extremely simple.   An ordinary
 dining-table was placed so as to be accessible from all
 sides ; then of the company those  who were supposed
 to be susceptible of magnetic influence were  chosen
 for members of the circle, and were instructed to place
 their hands on the table  in such a  manner as to form
 an eiu.less chain or connection.
    In consideration  of my  known susceptibility to
 mesmeric control, I was, contrary to my wishes, urged
 to become one of the mediumistic circle.   To tell the
 truth, I had not a particle of faith in these purported
 spirit  demonstrations, and I honestly believed  the
 whole thing to be an absurd trick  or else "humbug."
 I did not believe that these proceedings would  result
 in anything but failure; consequently I  unwillingly
 acquiesced with their wish, and took my place among
 the rest of the chosen ones.   My  preconceived ideas
 of complete failure were, during the first  trial,  some-
 what modified.  For after the elapse of  some half-
hour  of passive quietness,  I became  suddenly con-
scious  of a  feeling of numbness gradually creeping
along the  nervous  avenues of my hands and  arms;
which rapidly increased in  power and intensity, suffi- ;
ciently to cause spasmodic  contraction of the muscles 
33
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF
and cause my hands to move about in a highly fantas-
tic manner.   These uncontrolled gyrations were kept
up for some time ;  but finally, on a piece of chalk be-
ing placed in reach,  their  fantastic  irregularity  of
motion was considerably modified.   So much  so, in
fact, that I was enabled to unconsciously write  a few
words in an intelligible manner.  But by far the larger
portion of these " chalk" manifestations consisted of
unintelligible scrawls and  hieroglyphics.   No other
demonstration was received at this  sitting;  nor did
any other member of the  circle  recognize even the
slightest sensation or influence.
   But,  notwithstanding  these  manifestations came
far short of expectation, in  point  of interest or self-
sustaining evidence of origin or utility, it was resolved
by those present to continue the investigation, in hopes
of better results in future.   For, to use their own lan-
guage, "if I had  not  been humbuging them, there
was a prospect of  my becoming  a medium,"  and of
their investigating the  phenomena through me.   This
covert expression  of doubt, of genuineness of mani-
festation, did not trouble me in  the  least, for  I was
completely mystified, and  had very  serious doubt of
my own, though different in nature.   For,  while I
was positive I used no  deception or personal  volition,
I doubted  the  source   from whence the controlling
power emanated.  It was  supposed by those  present
that if the manifestations were foreign to myself, that
is, if they were not the result of personal volition, that
they were the effect of some mysterious spirit power. 
DR. D.  B. KELLOGG.
39
But where was the proof that such was  the  case ?
Might not the power to produce these magnetic man-
ifestations (for they were in physical kind the same in
sensation and effect as I had experienced when mag
netized), have emanated from those with whom I was
connected.  Mr. Ball had of late, on several occasions,
placed me under  his magnetic control,  possibly he
might have been the unconscious mesmeric cause on
this occasion.  In  view of the plausibility  of this in-
ferred probability, I resolved to practically test the
Bubject by some means or other.
   Some week or ten days  later,  an opportnnity of-
fered for making the desired test.   On this occasion,
I was on an evening visit to an aunt's, when the sub-
ject of spiritualism was broached, and followed by a
proposition to form a circle,  which  was unanimously
agreed to.   With  the exception of my aunt, those
present were all persons of nearly my own age ;  in
view of which fact I felt  confident  that if we realized
any influence there could be no danger or probability
of any local emanation of cause.   Not one of the  en-
tire company had any known inductive mesmeric pow-
er.   I had iu my own mind become almost fully per-
suaded that my former sensation had been the result
of an involuntary mesmeric power, emanating in an
unconscious current  from Mr. Ball.   I was therefore
astonished when, after a few  moments of quiet, to
again become conscious of the same mysterious influ-
ence.   On  this occasion, instead  of fantastic  move-
ments, and  unintelligible chalk marks,  words,  and 
40
AUTOBIOGRAPHY  OK
finally complete sentences were written with neatness
and astonishing rapidity, and before the close of this
seance I had become sufficiently developed so  that, I
could unconsciously answer even mental queries  with
astonishing correctness.   During the entire  perform-
ance 1 watched with interest the involuntary manoeu-
vres of my hand.   I had no knowledge or premonition
of what was going to  be written.   My hand would
involuntarily answer queries by writing, while I was
otherwise  mentally engaged in conversation on topics
entirely foreign to those of which I wrote.
   My former belief that the influence emanated from lo-
cal powers or living agencies, was on this occasion com-
pletely overcome by unimpeachable evidence.  But I
still doubted the hypothesis that the influence was the
result of spirit power.  I was in a state of mental  mys-
tification,  for I had been taught that  when man  died
he went to a bourne from which return was impossible.
But how else could I define the phenomenon?   Was
I the victim of Satanic incantation, or mental hallu-
cination?   Was it witchcraft, or some unknown  mys-
tery of natural law ?  In vain I  strove  to reach a
plausible conclusion—to establish in my mind a theory
that would be sustainable by reason or logic ;  but my
thoughts were invariably lost  in profound mystery.
At last I resolved to continue my  investigation  until
the light of truth should remove the clouds of mystery
from my mental vision.
    A few evenings later I was again  influenced,  this
time at my  father's  residence, in presence of those 
DR. D.  f5.  KELLOGG.
41
  who had first witnessed my mediumistic abilities. On
  this occasion the nature of my mediumistic proceed-
  ings was entirely unlike the two preceding manifesta-
  tions,  and consisted of physical tests.  First, the raps
  were introduced, with undeniable distinctness.   These
  were followed by some marvelous  demonstrations of
  spirit power.  Chairs, and other articles of furniture ,
  were caused to move without any perceptible  assist- .'-  - .
  ance ; and once, while my hands alone rested on the    -V
  table, it was ^denly tipped to an inclined position,
  and held against the opjoosing power of four strong
  men, who, with united strength,  endeavored to re-
  place it.
     During all these proceedings, I was only conscious
  of aj>owerful magnetic sensation, which appeared to
j flow from me towards such objects as were employed
  as means for manifestation.   I was  conscious of re-
  ceiving  and  imparting a strong magnetic  current,
  which, when not imparted  caused a nervous tremor,
  similar to those caused by an induction of a current
  of electricity; but  while  this magnetic current was
  passing off, the tremor would entirely cease.  In view
  of these facts, I reasonably consideded myself only as
  a medium of some foreign power; but my mind was
  still in the dark, as thus far I had received no con-
  vincing proof of intelligence being connected with the
  cause of the phenomena, hence I was not yet prepared
  to admit the theory of spirit emanation- 
42
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF
CHAPTER  V.
              MY ENTREE INTO THE THIRD MAGNETIC DEGREE.
                     Can such things be,    */*/) JU--
                  And overcome us like a summer's shower,
                     Without our special wonder ?
          <&(
            N ORDER not to tire the patience  of my read-
             ers by delineations of similar events, I will hasten
             to detail the impressions that I received  while in
         my first condition of  clairvoyance.   Prior  to this oc-
         casion, I had twice been thrown into a somnambulic
         state—a condition of ultra-unconsciousness—through
fy&-tfi   which I surmise all clairvoyants  must pass  ere they
~~'~0t •'    reach the third  magnetic degree.  These two events
         are blanks in my remembrance—moments of complete
         mental darkness—an  undefinable cavity in  my mental
         existence.
            On  the occasion in question, I passed through this
         veil of  magnetic darkness into the  bright realms of
         the tMrd^magnetic degree.  I had but slight knowl-
         edge of the mysteries of magnetism ; of the phenom-
         ena of  clairvoyance I was  almost entirely ignorant,
         having no clear conception  of any  such  condition.
         But I was, on this occasion, borne by an unseen power 
DR. D.  B. KELLOGG.
43
into this mystic magnetic state in less than twenty min-
utes.  After a few moments of mental and • physical
inertia, which was rather pleasant than otherwise, my
mind passed  into a delightful  state  of mental tran-
quility.   My thoughts were extremely  peaceful.   I
viewed with  unutterable emotions of gladness a men-
tal vision of happiness.  I contemplated the principles
of friendship and of universal love.   My soul seemed
to expand with mighty powers of penetration.  I was
not conscious that these mental prospects awakened
the least heart-felt emotion ; they appeared  as ideas
coming from an unknown  fountain  of intelligence.
During these  moments I was conscious of being  en-
veloped in impenetrable darkness. Therefore, my con-
clusions  were  that I was  in a deep  physical sleep,
mentally engaged in a peaceful revery.   Soon I dis-
covered that this conclusion was incorrect; for as my
powers were expanded and enlarged, I saw that sur-
rounding objects were glowing with illuminating tints,
more or less brilliant and magnetical.
   The figure of each  person was enveloped in a
light atmosphere, which emanated from it.   I farther
discovered that every tangible object emitted a lumin-
ous glow, which varied in degrees  of brightness and
magnitude.   Animate objects were enveloped in more
extensive and brilliant atmosphere  than were inani-
mate.  The former seemed to send forth ever varying
tints, while the latter appeared as changeless in  aspect.
The utter novelty of this view overwhelmed  my mind
with astonishment and admiration.   In vain  I tried to 
44
AUTOBIOGRAPHY  OF
comprehend this unprecedented phenomenon.  I was
completely confounded ; and for  a while I imagined
that the earth and its inhabitants had  been suddenly
translated into a brilliant paradise.   I could employ
no  language to describe my perceptions; hence,  I
viewed the magnificent scene with feelings of unutter-
able joy and reverence.   But I had not yet reached
the ultimate of my perceptive power.  A few moments
later I discovered that, by means of my new powers
of mental penetration, I  could observe with perfect
ease the internal organization of  every person in  the
room; could easily discern from  whence  emanated
these magnetioal exhalations that were  so  luminous.
    All the organs of the human  viscera—the liver,
the spleen, the heart, the brain—were accessible to my
mental inspection.   The  whole body appeared as  a
transparent sheet of glass, invested with strange, rich
spiritual beauty.  Every separate organ was the cen-
ter of a brilliant illumination, peculiar to itself.  Per-
meating the body throughout, in fact, it appeared as
the body itself, was an unvarying flash of light; I soon
recognized this as being the nervous fluid ;  and that
all the other organs  depended  on this for means of
activity.   I saw that  the air-chambers of the  lumts
were like chemical laboratories, causing instantaneous
chemical changes in the blood which flowed through
the contiguous  membranes.   The  spinal column  ap-
peared as an unceasing stream of electric fire, and the
brain as a reservoir of brilliant electric tints.   Here, the
phenomena was more varied than in any other portion 
DR. I).  B. KELLOGG.
4o
of the organism.   In fact, the emanation  from each
separate brain in  the room displayed individuality.
In other respects  they  were all  nearly alike; but in
this there was a marked difference.  I afterward dis-
covered the difference to be.the effect of mental varia-
tion of power and refinement.   The brilliant  silvery
light came  from the well-balanced and refined brain;
while those who were gross and low, emitted a more
sombre  current of electric fluid.
   But  the sphere of my vision now began to widen.
My mental  power of penetration was no longer subject
to the  laws of density • all the surrounding  objects
appeared as transparencies. Nature's spacious cabinet
was thrown open to me; and for a  while I imagined
that I alone was drinking in the  beauties of this mag-
nificent banquet.   But my conclusions were incorrect,
for while I was mentally analyzing the distinctly  vis-
ible properties of surrounding objects, I became sud-
denly conscious  of the  presence of other  observers.
These  were forms of transcendent beauty.   Their
beauteous form emitted a ceaseless  glow of fine, ner-
vous light.   I soon discovered that they Were devoid
of physical forms, and  somehow  my mind  was  im-
pressed with the idea,that I was in the presence of
purely spiritual beings, towards whom I felt an irresist-
ible attraction.
   Words  utterly fail to delineate  the gorgeous pan-
orama now unfolded to  my expanded  vision.  I saw
that each object was beautifully  and distinctly sur-
rounded bv an atmosphere of lifej and instinctively I 
46
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF
recognized in this phenomena the wonderful mystery
of the law of sympathy and attraction.   I saw  that
everything in nature was arranged and located in ac-
cordance  with  this universal  law;  that  it  was  the
fundamental principle of sympathetic relation.   The
connecting link between objects, the invisible operation
of the universal law of change.  Throughout the uni-
verse I saw that there was a generous commingling of
magnetic  emanation,; and  thus  the  grand secret of
affinity was brought before my mental  vision.   It is
impossible for me to detail all the impressions I re-
ceived, and emotions I experienced  on  this  occasion
of my first introduction into a  clairvoyant perception
of Nature.  Nor can I portray the harmonious beauties
that I witnessed, while among  the  dwellers of the
fadeless summer-land.   For, though  I was conscious
of their presence, I was aware of a strong  attraction
to earth life; and that this attraction held me from
mingling with them freely.
   In this vision I  saw, by the penetrating power of
a freed spirit, everything just as we will all see them
after we pass away from the visible body at physical
death.
   Suddenly I was  conscious that the extended scope
of my vision was undergoing rapid contraction.  The
beautiful magnetic  illumination swiftly  faded;   and
soon I could only discern, as before, the magnetic con-
dition of those in the room; and at last even this was
lost.   For a moment everything was  shrouded in im-
penetrable darkness, which on being lifted, I found 
DR. D.  li. KELLOGG.
4?
myself in a state of complete physical consciousness.
My  senses—the natural windows  of my soul—were
restored to their natural power, my  organs of sight
were unsealed, and the familiar light once more greeted
my vision.  Again I could hear the familiar voices of
friends around.
   During this condition  of clairvoyance, I had un-
consciously changed my position, and on my return to
sensorial life, I found myself standing at the window
gazing out into the darkness.  As I turned and looked
upon the  circle  of familiar friends, I saw that their
countenances were expressive of intense wonder. My
kind-hearted mother, who could not comprehend the
philosophy of these strange spells, I saw had been
weeping ; and even others displayed feelings of hor-
ror.  But on becoming convinced that I had returned
to consciousness, this dread was supplanted by a feel-
ing  of anxiety  to learn what I had witnessed, and
and  what were my sensations during my mental ab-
sence.
   I gave my auditors but  little satisfaction  in an-
swer to their anxious inquiries; for I felt then utterly
incapable of portrayingmy sensations andimpressions.
So begging to be excused, I hurried away to the re-
tirement of my own room  to contemplate in solitude
the mystic scenes of the night.   Well do  I remember
my reflections on that  memorable night.  Yainly I
strove  to analyze  and comprehend the mysterious
cause of the beautiful phenomena I had experienced.
Was it the result of  a natural law, or a dream ?  An 
48
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF
imaginary display, or a philosophical reality ?   In my
own mind, there was an inspired thought  which as-
sured me that it was an important and beautiful truth
—a philosophical reality, freighted with valuable con-
sequences to mortals in their primary condition. I saw
in this mysterious power  of mental expansion a key
that would ultimately unlock the invisible store-house
of nature—filled, as it was, with rich treasures of mys-
tic beauty—and bring to light the secret workings of
invisible matter, and point out the connection between
heaven and earth; that, aided  by this  beautiful and
providential agency, man in his rudimental life would
ultimately have clearer conceptions of the infinite. 
DR. D. B. KELLOGG.              49
CHAPTER  VI.
           MISUNDERSTANDING OF MY GIFTS.

    N  THE morning following the events narrated in
    the last Chapter,  I discovered, on  entering the
    room,  where the family had congregated, that
their thoughts were still connected with the strange
phenomena of the last night.  Evidently it was some-
thing beyond  their ready  comprehension, a  sort of
magnetic or mesmeric mystery they had not expected
to witness in connection with my mediumistic powers.
Hence, being  unexpected  and  unaccountable,  their
inferences were freighted with possible consequences
of personal  evil.   From a look of extreme  languor,
mingled with an expression of  sadness, apparent on
the sympathetic countenance  of my mother I conjec-
tured that she had passed a night of mental trouble,
arising from probable prospects that I  had received
physical or mental injuries.  But the old look of men-
tal quiet returned, when on enquiry, they found that I
had suffered neither of these dreaded calamities.  By
request, I now explained my sensation and delineated
in a bungling manner the wonders I had discovered,
while in this mysterious condition of mental expan-
I) 
50
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF
sion.  On finishing my rehearsal my father positively
asserted that I had been in the realms of spirits; sub-
stantiating  his  conclusion by  quotations  of sundry
similitudes from the experience  of other  mediums.
Becoming elated over his visionary and sanguine an-
ticipations of what my powers would ultimately be,
he prophecied that at no distant day he should see me
occupying the rostrum as a medium of superior knowl-
edge.  His reading had gave him  an  insight into
many of the mysteries of clairvoyance  which  to my
mind were perfectly incomprehensible.  I could form
no connection between these peculiar mental gifts and
the exalted position of an expounder of the mysteries
of nature.  Hence, I could not help  smiling at what
appeared the effects  of thoughtless enthusiasm,  or
groundless imagination.
   From this time forward  our  mediumistic experi-
ments  were frequent and successful.  For, like the
poet, who awoke from his  slumbers to  find himself
famous, I, since my mysterious sleep, had become not
exactly famous, but notorious, for my popularity had
not kept pace with my notoriety.   Almost every night
our  meetings were thronged by the marvel-loving
members of our immediate community, who came  for
the sole purpose of witnessing the demonstration and
receiving individual tests.   A few came with  honest
purposes and  a  sincere desire  to  intelligently test
the phenomena;  but by far  the  greater  portion had
no other object in view than a morbid desire to satis-
fy a fondness for whatever  savored  of supernatural- 
DR. D.  B. KELLOGG.
51
ism.  At times this latter class appeared to be actu-
ated by ludicrous and  absurd ideas  of spirit  power,
which was either the result of ignorance or malicious
design to  appropriate a failure to accomplish miracu-
lous and impossible tests, to their small stock of false
arguments, to be used  against the possible facts of the
phenomena.
    I was, by  this  class  of investigators, continually
annoyed by inconsistent  and unanswerable questions ;
of which the following are but a partial list, the ab-
surdity  of  which  are plainly  evident.  " Could I,
or  the  controlling  power,  reveal  the  future ? "
" Were they (the questioners) going to succeed in this
or that undertaking?" If I make such  an investment
will I succeed ? " " Could I  turn water  into wine, or
discover hidden treasures ? " " Could I transmute sordid
metals into refined gold?"   These were a few of the
inconsistent queries of  the penurious  and  worldly
minded class.
    Bible fanatics had a different set of equally unan-
swerable queries: " Could I tell when the world would
come to an end ? "  " Were  they (the questioners) to
be saved in  the day of judgement ? " " Was heaven a
city with streets of gold?" " Where was the grave of
Moses?" and so on  to an  almost  unlimited  extent.
Still another class, consisting of beardless  boys  and
simpering misses, with old  maids,  and bachelors on
the shady side of life, who were  extremely anxious to
know what were their  matrimonial prospects.
    Of course  all these questioners went away dissatis- 
0'2              AUTOBIOGKAIMIV OF

fied, anl instead of getting answers to their foolish
queries would receive some  revelation of the myste-
ries of life, whereupon they would announce to their
friends that I could do no  more than  others.  Still
there was another class of investigators, which, though
they displayed more intelligence, were none the less
inconsistent; of which the  following account  of my
experience, with a pompous old gentleman, furnishes
a very good example.
   This  particular individual was  one of that class
who are naturally, or by  force of habit, opponents.
He gave me to understand that he designed to impar-
tially test this modern spiritualism.   Said he, " I de-
sign to put you,  or the spirits, or whatever power con-
trolls you, to a fair trial, and if you, or whatever the
power is, fails to accomplish the tests imposed, I shall
feel it my duty to  publicly  expose you."  Supposing
his investigation would be intelligently and honorably
conducted, and impartially considered,  on principles
of reason and justice, I replied, "that all  I desired
was a fair test, and  an  honest exposition, and  no
more."
   Confident of my powers, I gave way  to the influ-
ence, and the controlling power signified by writing a
willingness  to render practical elucidation  of spirit
existence and power.   Immediately various voluntary
and  marvelous tests  were  given.  My  hands  were
thrust into the candle flame and held there long enough
to have crisped the flesh to  the bone if they had not
been  protected  by  some  invisible  and  mysterious 
DR. D.  B. KELLOGG.
53
means.  The stand was moved back and forth across
the room .without any visible assistance and with only
the tips of my fingers resting  upon it.  Certain arti-
cles were  held on an inclined  plain in direct opposi-
tion to the natural  laws of gravitation, without visible
support.   Raps were produced with  undeniable dis-
tinction in various  parts of the room; while both men-
tal and oral questions were answered with  almost in-
varible correctness.  All who witnessed the demon-
strations on this occasion, with the single exception of
this  individual,  admitted  themselves satisfied that
there was no imposition practiced, and that they were
convinced that  I  was the medium of some  foreign
cause.  Even he admitted that what he had witnessed
was truly  marvelous.   Still  being incredulous he di-
verged from honest, intelligent investigation in incon-
sistency.   The  most ulterior proof  possible  would
only be acceptable and  convincing.   A friend of his,
who he stated was a firm  spiritualist, had informed
him that he had known the spirits, through Mr. Slade,
a  highly developed medium, to ring bells and play on
musical instruments without  the application of any
visible means ;  with various  other, to use his own
mode of expression, " miraculous feats." " Now," con-
tinued he, " if the spirits had once done these things,
and he did  not doubt  the  affirmation  of his friend,
hence believed they had, they could repeat the perfor-
mance, and if it could be done through Mr. Slade, he
could not see why the same thing could not be accom-
plished through me."   No sooner had he completed 
54
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF
 this highly unphilosophical demand,  than I was  influ-
 enced  to write the following,  which I insert  from
 memory.  The phraseology may differ from the origi-
 nal, but the subject  matter is intact.  I insert it for
 the benefit of developing  mediums,  who, as in  my
 case, may be tormented by similar inconsistent and
 incredulous investigators;  and for those who may in-
 dulge  the  same absurd ideas  of  spirit  or medial
 power.
    " Every  element of creation is  subject  to  limit.
 Human beings, in their rudimental condition or oarth
 life, are subject to this inevitable principle  of limita-
 tion  of power; which limitation  is, in view  of the
 law of progression,  largely the result of intellectual
 capacity ; for it is undeniable that variation in mental
 or intellectual capacity is the  primary cause of the
 manifest diversity of powers to produce effects. Hence,
 what is possible to one man is  impossible to another,
< different in power.   Spirits not being infinite are sub-
 ject to this same law.   Therefore, what one spirit can
 accomplish may become, by this fact, of limitation, an
 impossible feat to another.
 f'  The influencing powers now present are capable of
 perverting the natural tendencies of things,  to  a cer-
 tain limited extent,  through this medium.  They can
 hold bodies of certain weight in opposition to the  nat-
 ural law of gravitation; they can also move the table
 or stand ; but because they could move these, it was
 inconsistent to suppose that they could by the same
 means, move the house in  which we were seated from 
DR. D.  B. KELLOGG.
55
from its foundation.   Would the  questioner suppose
it consistent to believe that, because one individual
could just lift a body of certain weight, that a weaker
one could accomplish the same feat ?  Or because an
an electric battery, of given  power, was capable of
transmitting intelligence along a telegraph wire  a
thousand  miles and no more, did it follow that one of
half the power could be expected to do the same?
Was it not consistent  to suppose .that  the  power to
perform should in all cases be equal to the task im-
posed ?   Certainly,  this principle was  undeniable in
regard to finite beings of earth and it is equally appli-
cable to spirits; for spirits are not infinite.  There is,
nor can there be, in any stage of existence, but ©ne
infinite power.
    Therefore,  in view  of this limitation of  power
 among spirits, it must be readily perceived that those
 who understand the law and can control the means,
 are  able to accomplish more wonderful feats than
 those who are ignorant of  the  principles  and the
 means to be employed.  Could it be reasonably ex-
 pected that a person unskilled in music  could perform
 on a musical instrument equal to a  proficient?  Cer-
 tain spirits, who were acquainted with the art, and
 understood the means to be employed, coutt influence
 Mr. Slade, and through him as a medium, accomplish
 the  wonderful  feat of ringing bells and playing  on
 musical  instruments  without visible application  of
 power.  But it did not necessarily follow that  the
 spirits influencing this medium, who were ignorant of 
56
AUTOBIOGRAPHY  OK
music and the means to produce the phenomena, could
do the same."
   Notwithstanding  the plain, simple logic  of this
explanation, or rather excuse, this pompous  and ma-
licious investigator publicly pronounced me an impos-
tor.   But, while he proclaimed my inability to accom-
plish his imposed tests, he  studiously withheld my
reasons for not doing them from the public.   Thus
being without the shield of popularity I  became the
target of ignorant and  malicious fanatics, subject to
continual  misrepresentation.  I was looked  upon by
some  as an impostor, by others as insane.  But in spite
of all this  fanatical  and bigoted array of opposition,
there  was a few honest, intelligent men  and women,
who nobly cheered me on, confident that I  would,
with unseen aids, outride the storms of private scan-
dal and public ridicule. 
DR. D.  B.  KELLOGG.
CHAPTER  VII
DOUBTS  AND  MISGIVINGS WHY I WAS  DIFFERENT  FROM
                      OTHERS.

 TlBOUT the first of September, 1853, occurred a
 fit perfectly natural, though memorable event of my
^|  life.  I was now nineteen, consequently began to
experience an irrepressible desire for  conjugal  happi-
ness and enjoyment.  For once, the old proverb  that
" true love never runs smooth,"  was practically de-
nied, for my matrimonial projects were in every respect
satisfactorily a success.   I sought, and found  con-
geniality of sentiment.  Wealth, or worldly possessions,
either  real or prospective,  were  unconsidered; our
union was founded upon the pure principles of recip-
rocal affection.  Love, unsophisticated and pure, was
alone the mystic tie that bound our hearts in wedded
unison.
   Not long after  our  marriage, my  wife found on
trial that she was, like myself, susceptible of mesmeric
psychological influence.  This discovery was to me  a
source of some little satisfaction; for I now had the
means of witnessing the external appearances of this
strange, mystic phenomena.   On the other  hand, the 
58              AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF

discovery was a source of considerable domestic con-
cern, for I saw, with considerable anxiety, that there
was probable danger that we might  become so en-
thralled, or rather enveloped, in the mystic  folds of
an apparently uncontrollable magnetic power as to
cause difficulty in future extrication.   This (perfectly
groundless) fear was, in part the result of my own ig-
norance, and in part arose from the harpings of equally
ignorant persons, who being interested in our welfare,
confidently asserted that these psychological influences
would prove injurious to us both, and ultimately ruin
our health.   The bare prospect of such  a calamity
was sufficient to arouse the deepest anxiety; for health
was the foundation of our happiness,—aye, more than
that, in my case health  was the bank from  which I
drew means of subsistence ; for not being blessed with
wealth, all my  comforts, and  even necessities, were
the direct proceeds  of manual toil.   Hence, health
adequate to labor was  an absolute necessity of my
life.
   We often entered into private conference and dis-
cussed the prospect cf our unknown and prospectively
mysterious future.  In these discussions the subject of
this supposed spirit power, and the possible influence
it might have on our happiness, was ever antunsettled
theme.   Would we be benefitted thereby, or would it
lead to  infamy and woe, were  our oft-repeated  que-
ries.  The world, the Church, and our own ignorance
pointed  to the darker ultimate; but  in the midst of
these misgivings, there was  a  mysterious  something 
DR. D.  B. KELLOGG.
59
which whispered to our hearts that  all would yet be
radiant with the brightness of tranquil peace, and this
undefinable something  irresistibly  impelled  us on*
toward a more perfect magnetic development.  When
I gave way to these latter mysterious promptings,  a
feeling of peaceful tranquility would magically dispel
the dark forbodings of  my mind, and serene enjoy-
ment would arise to prospective view.
    But for all this, I could not enter  into  any  speci-
fied ideas of what my future would be.  I was blindly
laboring up the steep slopes of the, to me, unexplored
mountain of usefulness.  I did not experience any san-
guine anticipations of future renown.   I was utterly
devoid  of ambitious desires to gain popular eminence.
In short, I experienced a heart-felt  and decided ob-
jection to being considered  anything more than an
 ordinary person.  Hence, I had no sympathy for the
 visionary prospects of  notoriety, or  even  usefulness,
 over which my friends, and  particularly  my father,
 had manifested extraordinary anticipations.  In view
 of my natural diffidence, combined with an intelligent
 appreciation of the fact that  I was  ignorant of even
 the simplest  rules of public elocution, I made a firm
 resolve that nothing should induce me to appear as a
 public  speaker.  But, like many another, I found that
 I was  emphatically a creature of circumstances, and
 fully recognized the truthfulness of Shakespeare's oft-
 quoted and oft-verified lines, that
 "Fate  would  shape our  ends, rough hew them as we may."
  At this  time my influence  had assumed a peculiar 
GO
AUTOBIOGRAPHY (>F
phase—being a condition of psychological somnolence.
When  in this condition, 1 was. devoid of sensorial
feeling or mental  ability.  I was like  a machine or
" spout" through which flowed a stream of refined in
telligence, emanating from a foreign source.  All my
muscular movements were caused by the same myste-
rious agency, from whence came the intelligence. My
language was not my own, and  was generally  more
refined and diversified than 1 was, when myself, capa-
ble of using.  In short, I was, when in this condition of
somnolence, like one under narcotic  influence;  foi
though I was a living, moving being, I  was devoid of
mental independence or individuality,  and like the
somnambulist, I was unconscious of, and irresponsible
for my acts or words.
   One evening, on my being relieved from one of
these somnambulic states,  my father informed me that
on this occasion I had been influenced by a new sp>irit,
and that he (the spirit) had through  me delivered an
excellent discourse upon the philosophy of spirit in-
tercourse; and so,  continued my elated progenitor,
you see my prophesy is being verified; for the control-
ling power has through you announced that he would
dictate a public discourse on the benefits of spiritual-
ism, to be delivered at  the school-house on the coming
Sabbath; and  confident that  you  would consent,  I
have authorized those who were  present to circulate
the appointment.
   Here was a  pretty condition of affairs.   I was un-
wittingly going to be forced to do what I had, in my 
DR. D.  B. KELLOGG.              61
own mind, (irmly resolved that I would not; and in a
moment of exasperation I told my sanguine, though
well-meaning fath%er that I would not fill the appoint-
ment.  That night, in the quiet of my own room, I
felt truly despondent.   Vvrhy, thought I, am I  forced
to be the unwilling medium of a,  to  me,  incompre-
hensible power of intelligence? I had no remembrance
when awake of what I had seen or said when in this
mystic slumber.  Could I have been  priveleged  to
have retained in memory those words which my friends
told me were vehicles of deep scientific truth, I should
have experienced no dread, nor sadness, such  as now
depressed my mind ; but should have looked upon this
strange gift with deepest feelings of gratitude.  But
as it was, I  was afflicted with  torturing misgivings.
I  had no personal knowledge of my somnambulic
powers.  My friends told me .that on this  occasion I
had been the medium of a rich oratorical and scientific
discourse, and that I had handled the  subject  with all
the ability of a studied philosopher.  But I saw that
my friends were wrought up to the highest pitch of
enthusiasm, hence I could not consider them as com-
petent judges.  What to  do I knewnot.   Should I fill
the appointment, and publicly risk my reputation, or
should I firmly adhere to my hastily expressed deter-
mination not to speak, and thus trample upon  the feel-
ings of my  father and friends?   To whom  could I
 apply for counsel?   Of all those  who were present,
and heard this last manifestation, there was only  one
 whom I dare trust as a critic, and I now resolved that 
62
AUTOBIOGRAPHY  OF
I would gain his honest opinion in regard to my ora-
torical abilities, when under influence ; furthermore, I
resolved that I would  be entirely  controlled by his
decision.
   On the following morning I laid the matter before
this friend.  I gave him to understand that I  desired
a plain, honest, impartial criticism of rny mediumistic
abilities for  public  speaking,  and if he thought the
discourse to which  he  had  listened was sufficiently
perfect in delivery, sound in  reason  and philosophy
to withstand the criticisms of the learned.  I told him
I was  anxious to please my friends, but did not desire
by doing so to risk my reputation by making a ridic-
ulous failure.  In answer to these  inquiries, he told
me that my discourse of the night before was an ex-
traordinary  manifestation of intelligence; that the sub-
ject chosen  was scientifically discussed; that my rea-
soning were deep  and powerful,  and unexcptionable.
My language was good, the only defect being an oc-
casional deviation from modern rules of grammar and
orthoepy. He advised me by all means to fill the ap-
pointment.  " Show to the world," said he, " that you
are honestly, and sincerely in earnest; that you are the
medium of a high  order of intelligence, and I assure
you that you will win the respect of even  sceptics and
unbelievers  ; and by such a course your friends will be
bound to sustain you."
    This conversation  had a  tendency to revive my
spirits, and  in the  course of the day  I informed my
father that I had reconsidered my hasty conclusion, 
DR. D. B. KELLOGG.
63
and that I had finally concluded to deliver the  prom-
ised lecture ;  adding that I did not wish to again be
inveigled into another such predicament.
   The day on  which I was to fulfill my promise had
at length arrived.  My present recollection  of that
first appearance in public is extremely vivid.  On my
arrival at the house, I found it already filled with an
intelligent audience, who eyed me sharply as I wended
ray way through the crowded aisle toward the  speak-
er's stand.   'Twas a new and painful trial for me, pre-
senting myself  thus, blushing with timidity and reser-
vation, before a strange and  heterogenous assembly,
two-thirds of whom I was confident had no other
motive for being present than to gratify curiosity, or
criticise my endeavors.  It is impossible for me to de-
fine my impressions, as I timidly raised my eyes and
met their sharp, concentrated gaze.  Alas! thought I,
what would be my feelings if I should fail?  I would
become  a scoff.  I had no idea what I was going to
do ; all depended upon the mystic powers by which I
was controlled.  But the throng around me would at-
tribute a failure to me alone.
    Happily,  while  I was suffering from this  painful
 embarrassment, I began to feel the precursory omens
 prognostic of approaching unconsciousness, gradually
 overcoming my sensorial powers of mind, and  in  a
 few moments I was totally oblivious of my surround-
 ings.   I have no personal remembrance of what trans-
 pired during the two hours I was in this unconscious
 state of somnambulism.   But on my return to sensorial 
64
AUTOBIOGRAPHY  OF
life, I saw a look of heart-felt satisfaction resting on
the countenances of my friends,  and I further  saw
that those whom I felt were opposers appeared thought-
ful and perplexed; and from  these omens,  I judged
that my endeavors had been a success.  The meeting
was closed by some explanatory remarks  concerning
the phenomena, by  my  father and  others.  To the
most of the assembly the proceedings were a complete
mystery, as well as novelty.  All who were personally
acquainted with me, positively knew that the discourse
was far beyond my natural abilities ; hence, many who
had before disbelieved in the possibility of my receiv-
ing assistance from any foreign source, were literally
forced to admit the fact that I was a medium on  this
occasion.   I had been a mystery before, I was  now a
marvelous person.   The old cry of " Humbug," would
no longer keep people from investigating. My position
was now unimpeachable; and though I was subject
to gross misrepresentations, and was a target for the
hot-shot of ignorant fanatics, who would believe only
what St. Paul, or some  other saint had  pronounced
true,  I had the satisfaction of knowing that  I was
slowly but surely gaining in popular estimation. Peo-
ple began to search  into the mystery of these strange
manifestations, and the deeper they searched, the more
proof did they find, that the controlling power emana-
ted from spirits.  In fact, it was the only satisfactory
solution of the phenomena, and many avowed their
belief to be in accordance with this hypothesis —verv
much to the alarm of those  who knew naught, nor 
               DR. D. B.  KELLOGG.              65

daie not think of the mysteries of God's law beyond
what ho had revealed in his divine word.
3 
AUTOBIOGHAPHY <>!•
CHAPTER  VIII.
    DIFFERENT VIEWS OF SPIRITUALISM.—WHAT IT IS.
              "Reason cannot know,
     What sense can neither feel nor thought conceive,
     There is delusion in the world,—and woe,
     And fear, and pain."

J-IURING these  early stages  of spirit manifesta-
1| tion, the phenomena had received but very little
^J  philosophical investigation; and  a large portion
who admitted themselves believers of the doctrine of
spiritualism, clothed their ideas with  the mystery of
supernaturalism.   Many claimed  this  modern spirit
intercourse to be  one  of the  special providences of
God, a second coming  of the  Mesiah, or special re-
inauguration of a defunct or suspended privilege  for-
merly  enjoyed and practiced  by  ancient seers  and
prophets.  Even writers,  what few there were who
dared to treat the  subject favorably, clothed their  eru-
dition in the cabalistic mysteries characteristic of an-
cient astrology and prophecy.  Highly visionary pro-
ductions, redundant with inconsistent and never-to-be-
realized prophecies, mingled with  a  moity of uncer-
tain and  impractie'e probabilities, were published to
the world as bona tide elucidation of the phenomena, 
                 DR.  D.  IL KELLOGG.              67

 and over all was thrown a garb of semi religion.  Hon-
 est matter-of-fact investigators, who, tired of mystery
 and bigotry, were in search of more practical theories,
 and who candidly believed there were scientific truths
 humanizing in their influence, in spiritualism, were re-
 tarded in  giving their  honest  convictions  publicity,
 simply because they could not affiliate their opinions
 with  the  nonsensical [productions of these sanguine
 and insanely fanatical visionists.
    Being that I was closely  connected with the phe-
 nomena as a medium, I took more than ordinary inter-
 est in  the subject; and  hence,  in  order that I might
 have the benefit of some studied exposition  and expla-
 nation, I possessed myself of various works purport-
 ing to scientificly solve  the  mystery  and depict the
 ultimate or final perfection of, and benefit to be real-
 ized from this newly revived intercourse between dis-
 embodied spirits and man.  But I must in candor ad-
 mit that I  arose from their perusal more ignorant and
 ni) stifled than before.  For to my practical mind their
 glorious ultimate appeared as a  purely heterogeneous
 mixture of  impossible theories and impracticable pro-
 babilities, utterly beyond the  scope of reason, judge-
 ment,  or good sense.
   In  my own mind I condemned these visionary ful-
 rainations,  I looked upon spiritualism as a natural sci-
ence,  having no  more  connection with religion  or
supernaturalism than any other natural phenomena.
My personal investigations had  proven to my under-
standing that spirits laid claim to no infinite powers 
%
                AUTOBIOGRAPHY  OF

or God like infalability;  their teachings were purely
practical and designed immediate aggrandizement of
the human family, while  in  their  rudimental  state.
They tau.uht how to live  instead of how to die, and
how to arrive at the greatest amount of earthly hap-
piness.  Having by practical investigation arrived to
the conclusion that spiritualism was a science, an ope-
ration of natural "law, I considered it highly impractica-
ble and injudicious for spiritualists to endeavor to over-
reach consistency by undertaking to unveil the incom-
prehensible future beyond actual  powers  of science
to determine.  Those  conclusions I have ever retained,
and I to-day believe that the phenomena of spiritual-
ism, both in cause and effect, bears no more resemb-
lance to religion, noris it  more infalible, than any other
scientific operation of  natural law.   Hence, the sooner
it is divested of all its  hifalutin visionistic ingredi-
ences, and supernatural appearances,  the sooner will
we reap practical benefits therefrom.
   Having  carefully  contemplated the  matter and
studied the. phenomena  from  a practical standpoint,
and from experience,  I concluded to continue my me-
diumistic career in  a sincere  belief, that it  wrould
sometime result  in  something beneficial.   Though
what that  something  was, I  had  not  the  remo-
test idea. I  was db satisfied with all my former medi-
umistic positions.   As a  test medium I only appealed
to the minds  of the curious who Avere ever on the alert
for possible  deception.   The position of a  lecturer I
perfectly abhorred.  Theories were too unstable, and 
DR. 1). B.  KELLOGG.
69
though they might be logically established beyond re-
futation, still they were often impracticable, and that
simple  fact was  enough  to completely  destroy  the
charm of a public life  as a lecturer.  But notwith-
standing my opposition to this  latter position, I was
continually harrassod by my friends, who were deter-
mined that I should continue my lectures.   My former
success had increased their ardor.   Becoming at last
tired of their ceasless importunities, I, like the maid
who married the man to get rid of him, consented to
gratify their wishes.  By this arrangement my father
was greatly pleased.   The acme of  his ambition  was
to see me occupying the position of lecturer.   Spirit-
ualism had become Avith him  almost a hobby, and it
was his inevitable topic of conversation ; and these
public lectures being, as they were, conducted on the
" free  discussion "  principle,  were  productive  of
chances for him to freely indulge his passionate fond-
ness for argument.  During these lectures I Avas sub-
jected to the  closest investigation.   I unconsciously
Avaged war against many of the established and fun-
damental principles of the orthodox  Avorld ; and, as
free discussion was the order, I  was opposed  both by
the learned and ignorant, and for real and often imag-
inary opposition to their theories.  That is I was often
called to account for what my auditors ignorantly sup-
posed  to be anti-orthodox positions, but which in re-'
ality Avere  not.
  I do not doubt but these lectures  were  productive
of someEgood, inasmuch as they were wedl attended 
<0             AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF
by a truth  seeking and truth loving portion of the
community.  They certainly inculcateel a  liberal sort
of doctrine, and their whole tenor  was in opposition
to that heir-loom of heathenism, and catholic religion,
superstition.  During these lectures I found that igno-
rance was man's strongest enemy, and the prime cause
of his  greatest misfortunes.  Superstition  was  the
legitimate offspring of this tyranical monster; and that
much of the so-called orthodoxical and religious en-
thusiasm, was  the direct result  of this remnant of
heathenism.  I found that the terms  " superstition "
and " religion " were synomious  to a certain extent.
With a large portion to be religious, was in their esti-
mation  to occupy a position above the world, and put
their trust in whatsoever appeared  as supernatural, or
in other words, their  ignorance  irresistibly impelled
them to doubt  the known and rely confidingly upon
the incomprehensible.  This class  of  superstitious
religionists were continually tormented by vague and
undefined ideas, or sort of half belief in the existence
of such supernatural  personages as ghosts,  witches,
imps, etc.,  who they  vaguely supposed might exert
more or less influence on the character and  action of
human beings.   This class confidently believed,that I
was the  victim of impish incantation ;  and I do not
doubt but what many came to see  me in  the honest
expectation of  seeing a vertable habitant of the other
world, brought forth  by  some satanic poAver I was
supposed to  possess.  Had I possessed  the power
many supposed I did, I should have rapidly converted 
                DR.  D.  B. KELLOGG.              71

to spiritualism many  c f the  most  enthusiastic  reli-
gionists of the country ; for they were so wrapped up
in superstition as to make it impossible for  them to
doubt the incomprehensible.  Their faith  in  the su-
pernatural Avas supported  by irresistable evidence.
They saw no divinity in any comprehensive truth.  So
long as spirit existence was  incomprehensible, or only
substantiated  by mysterious assertions found in the
Bible, they  were faithful adherents to the doctrine.
l>ut the-y sti- nuousiy opposed any  philosophical cor-
roboration of this fact.
    They expected to find me the advocate of the mys-
terious, they  supposed I would  naturally pander to
their fondness for the supernatural  by conjuring from
their graves the ghosts of defunct mortality.  Hence,
when they found that  I opposed superstition in every
form, eve'ti grappling Avith their cherished doctrines of
religious faith, by ignoring the unnatural  and incom-
prehensible, by reducing everything  to a comprehen-
sive standard, they made me the victim of their reli-
gious anathemas, and with a spirit of zealous indigna-
tion, branded me as  an infidel, as an opposer of reli-
gion, and detainer of God's written law.
    This class of individuals were the victims of igno-
rance, who mist' ok Pagan superstition  for pure reli-
gion, and their conduct went far to establish the uni-
versally conceded fact that  the possession of knowl-
edge makes all the difference there isbetAveen the reli-
gious opinions ot the  people  of  the  nineteenth  cen-
tury and those of the days of Pagan Pome. 
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF
   It is an undeniable fact that  every ordinary minel
is superstitious, unless it be  refined and exalted by
education.   Henc?, education is as much the standard
of religion as .morality.
   But the views Avhich I then advocated Avere firmly
opposed by all classes of religionists.   My principles
were far too liberal for  Christians who  desired more
fancy and less facts, more  mystery  and less philoso-
phy; they could not brook the  idea  of  reducing the
mysterious probabi'ity of future existence  to  a plain
and  comprehensive standard of reality, nothing could
induce them, no matter how sensible or philosophical
the opposing proof might be, to give up their  pet be-
lief  in a literal  new Jerusalem, with  streets of gold,
or the  great Avhite throne,  arounel Avhich would be
gathered the nations  of the  earth,  singing the  song
of hozanna through all eternity.   I  was not opposed
for teaching immorality, no one ever  accused  me of
giving utterance to a single immoral sentence.  But I
opposed their dearly cherished " superstition," sifted
from the good this remnant of the Pagan eras, there-
by reducing their  religions to a position more practi-
cal,  and more clearly defined than their natural regard
for the supernatural could be brought to endorse.
   Of course this position was not  universal.  Many
who listened to these eliscoiusi s Avere led to consider
my position as reasonable and philosophical.   Some
who had been life long  religionists  endeavored to in-
troduce  some of  the liberal principles I  advocated
into their every-day life, for which noble acts they re- 
DR. D.  B. KELLOGG.
73
ceived speedy condemnation  from the church.  The
fact  that I was a medium of some  foreign  intelli-
gence Avas noAV fully  substantiated;  no one longer
pretended  to deny the hypothesis, and  from this time
forth I was rid of the obnoxious appellation of "hum-
bug."
   During the time I was engaged in these lectures a
new  phase of  meeliuraistic  power  Avas  introduced.
Heretofore I had been influenced by spirits Avho man-
ifested themselves either by physical tests or theoreti-
cal discussion.   But I Avas now occasionally controlled
by what purported to be the  spirit of  an  Indian doc-
tor.   My other gilts  or manifestations of spirit phe-
nomena had been the means  of  gaining for me a posi-
tion of notoriety; but this new  phase  Avas a stepping
stone to popular esteem, and by it all my plans of life
were de-tined to be completely revolutionized.   Judg-
ing from the enthusiasm of my friends, and my rap-
idly increasing popularity,  it  Avas evident that  these
manifestations Avere far more wonderful  than  any of
my preceding demonstrations.   All Avere astonished
at my unerring accuracy in  delineations of disease;
there was no  chance  for deception.  Persons who
came for examination invariably Avent away satisfied,
and though skeptics tried by various means to dis-
prove my  magnetic   abilities or clairvoyant powers,
they could not  turn  the incoming tide  of intelligent
favor which was fast swallowing no their ill-conc< ived
efforts to fasten on me the brand of "studied decep-
tion."   It Avas impossible to make   those who had 
74              AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF

tested this new power  believe themselves deceived,
or that my delineations were the result of guess work. 
DR. D.  B. KELLOGG.
75
CHAPTER  IX.
    A CHAPTER OF MYSTERIES.

         "I am not
What I seem; nor yet a hypocrite,
But what I am I hardly know."
X
     WAS now living a wonderful two-fold daily life,
    a sort  of double  existence.   The  boundary line
 J  which divided my common from my superior con-
dition, was sharply defined.   Ordinarily I was a shy,
uneducated, hard working mechanic;  but when in my
superior or psychological condition, I became a re-
markable intellectual prodogy.  By the assistance  of
this new phase of psychological power I was endowed
with marvelous abilities.  I could delineate  with al-
most unerring accuracy, the physical feeling of every
applicant.  Could locate and define every pain human
flesh was heir to.   The human organism became as an
open book ; and by means of this  clairvoyant inspec-
tion I ascertained that (iisease was a want of equilib-
rium in the circulation of the vitalic principles.  That
there was either an excess in some organ or locality,
or' else a deficiency.  I found  that the result of the
former was what was  teimed  acute or  inflammatory 
76
AUTOBIOGRAPHY  OF
disease,  Avhile  the latter  derangement  resulted  in
chronic or surreptitious  complaints,  and that  each
form required very different treatment from the other.
I saw that one cause often  produced various  effects,
anel vice  versa, that one effect was the result of widely
different  causes.  For instance, I discovered that one
type of fever, though alike in outward appearance, in
different individuals, was hardly ever the result of the
same cause.  I saw the  folly of uniformity  of treat-
ment, for it Avas evident to my clairvoyant understand-
ing that  in order  to permanently  remove  the efl'ect/
the cause must be eradicated ; and  that where the
effect was the  result of many  different  causes, that
there must necessarily be a difference in treatment to
effect a removal of the cause and create a cure.  But
what was most remarkable and beautiful Avas the fact
that, while in my clairvoyant condition I seemed to be
a sort of  connecting link betAveen the patient's  disease
and nature's  remedy.  For each visceral or organic
deficiency in  the human structure,  I instinctively per-
ceived a  corresponding agent of gratification or resti-
tution.  Even for functional, nervous, or muscular ne-
cessities, I could earily discover an appropriate and
adequate supply.  By means of this wonderful power
of vision I could look through space directly into na-
ture's laboratory, or even into medical establishments,
and discover the existence of these various agents or
remedies for  disease.  By these means of observation
I acquired the common  (and even  Greek and  Latin)
names of various medicines; and also, of many parts 
DR. D.  B.  KELLOGG.
77
of the human  structure. . These  wonderful poAvers
greatly astounded  the  people, and myself not less
when not clairvoyant; for even I  had to rely  solely
upon hearsay ami gossip for information  in regard to
my OAvn  acts.
   The secret of my medical success is simply the
bringing together  of specific medicines to supply a ,
philosophical demand, or to equalize the unballanced
vitalic principle.  And yet during the first years of my
medical  experience I could not give a satisfactory so-
lution of my own method.   In fact I did not compre-
hend the full  import  of  my own perception well
enough to harmonize their opposites, or form  pefect
connection between disease and  nature's remedies.
The reason Avas I had not yet reached my present su-
perior condition, and as  I was imperfectly developed as
a  clairvoyant the  controlling power was unable to
assume  complete   control  of my  organism.   Prac-
tice is as  much a ncessity in  clairvoyant  practice
as any other branch of  progressive science.
    No sooner had  it become noised about that I could
locate diseases, describe the feelings  of patients, and
analyze and apply curative agencies, than my hereto-
fore quiet home became a  central place  of attraction
for the afflicted.  People suffering from all conceiva-
ble types of physical maladies, came to listen to my
delineation of their various grievances  and learn if  I
could discover in nature's extensive laboratory a heal-
ing balm for their ills.  Many who came before me
had been given up by the faculty and their disciples as 
78
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF
incurable, but they did not doubt but what a person of
my wonderful abilities could cure them, and by super-
natural power snatch them from even the closing jaws
of death.
   Hence, in the very outset of my career as a practi
cal physician, I was put to the severest test.  No one
denied but my  diagnosis of disease  was invariably
correct, but my abilities to cure were, to say the least,
doubtful; and,  therefore, the  effect  of my prescrip-
tions were narrowly watched.   Probably one reason
for this  close scrutiny was owing to my aptness to pre-
scribe unheard of remedies ; and  another to the fact
that I went in opposition to scholastic precedent; in
many instances my prescriptions were directly opposed
to long  standing rules  of medical practice.   For rea-
sons before mentioned, I utterly ignored all principles
of uniformity of practice.  I applied  my powers for
the removal of the cause, other practitioners sought to
move the effect,  anel  therein  was the reason for our
variance.
   My first case was my  brother's little child, Avho had
from her birth been afflicted with  a scrofulous humor
of the blood;  which at this time, had resulted in an
obnoxious and highly dangerous affection of the head
and oflactory membranes and occult nerves.   Differ-
ent physicians had been  successively baffled  in  their
attempt to furnish even the slightest relief.  Old wo-
men of  medical proclivities  and pretentions,  pro-
nounced her incurable.   But contrary to the belief of
scholarly practitioners or the assertion of old women, 
DR. D.  B. KELLOGG.
7U
ray prescriptions proved highly useful, and  in  due
course of time, by careful treatment, the supposed in-
curable child was restored to excellent health.
   From that time my position as a practical physi-
cian Avas fully established  and recognized by  a large
portion of the surrounding community.   Many placed
the most implicit confidence  in my  abilities, which
confidence, as  I added each day new laurels to ray
mystic fame, grew into admiration.  But my fame as
a physician was subject to inconceivable exageration,
and occasionally an applicant would come  before me
who, in consequence of exagerated rumors, honestly
supposed me capable of miraculous  deeds.   On one
occasion, I remember, an ignorant Hibernian, a victim
of Catholic superstition, came to  get  me to go  and
raise his " did mither who Avas just then died,  from
the grave."  This victim of superstition conscienti-
ously  believed I had the power of literally raising the
dead ; " and though he Avas an extreme he was hardly
an exception,  for there was  many more  intelligent
persons Avho thought me capable of performing  won-
dorf.il and supernatural feats  of wizzard mystery.
   But even during this time, I occasionally  experi-
enced feelings of uncertainty  and doubts of the actual
value and usefulness of my strange gifts; and these
misgivings served to dampen that aspiration which is
natural to youth.  Had it not been for my father and
the influence of admiring friends, I think my  dreamy
and unambitious  mind would have led me to  have
ignored my powers.   But day by day  there  was im- 
80
AUTOBIOGRAPHY  OP
perceptibly Avoven a golden web of sympathetic inter-
est and strange mystery, Avhich  brought me in con-
tact Avith  numerous intelligent admirers, persons of
all degrees of intelligence, who valued my  rare gifts,
and extolleel in unmeasured terms  the good I was do-
ing ; yet I remained in spirit unmoved and strictly
dispassionate.  I experienced no pride, no vanity, no
ambition for  distinction, no fondness  for power,  no
desire for wealth, no aspiration for education, no sen-
sation of vaunting self-importance, or  vanity of posi-
tion.   Calmly the unseen current of my dispassionate
soul moved down the stream of  life; from  hour to
hour, from day to day, from week  to Aveek, I  content-
edly traveled on without realizing  that I was taking a
single  progressive step toward  a  greater and purer
psyshological development.  Now  I toiled and labored
at my mechanical pursuit for daily bread ; and then,
at the call of the  afflicted, I would suffer myself to
pass into a state of unconsciousness and examine the
present or absent sick.  On being relieved I would go
out and get a breath  of fresh air and return  to my
labor.   Thus  for months 1 dwelt in  this uncertain
physical valley, where  a gray haze pervaded and be-
dimed every intellectual object, giving a doubtful ap-
pearance  to my immediate future ; and yet I was un-
consciously climbing up the mountain of human use-
fulness.
   Each day  was a literal repetition of the preceding.
The sick came fiom all directions ; poor diseased  hu-
manity, aching, groaning, limping, coughing, dying. 
DR. D.  B. KELLOGG.
81
My house Avas filled to excess; and  such was the  de-
mand upon my time that I was forced to neglect ray
legitimate occupation ; and my external life was main-
ly spent in unconscious slumber.
   I could find no time to continue  my lectures ; and
in consequence my father became petulent and dissat-
isfied.  His argumentive spirit saw no beauty in any-
thing aside from theory.  But the people demanded
physical not intellectual assistance;  therefore, he was
forced to assume a bearing of individual  satisfaction,
which Avhen he saw my rapid strides toward popular-
ity became a reality, and in due course of time he be-
came my heartiest supporter.
   The reader is not to infer from  the above record
that  my  psychological career received universal ap-
proval, or that my popularity was unalloyed  by oppo-
sition.  Numerous  and intelligent  opposers,  profes-
sional men and fashionables, hurled at me the hot shot
of condemnation.  The mysterious  phenomena  of
which I was a medium served to excite the curiosity
of the surface population.  The heart of the monster
ignorance, and the  prejudice of gloomy religionists,
was  fully aroused.  Denominations and  individuals
arrayed themselves against me, and  in their blind zeal
declared  me possessed with the spirit of the " devil."
They attributed even my most charitable  deeds,  my
acts  of healing and alleviation of human suffering to
his satanic  majesty, and pronounced them the result
of a covert and malignant design.
   But even these malicious attempts to bring me in- 
82
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF
to disrepute,  proved futile.  There were  many  who
had received  personal proof of my abilities, anel these
were confident that they were not deceived, nor vic-
tims of satanic design, and these could not be induced
to reiterate the cry of devil.
   In order to make the mysterious phenomena  of
clairvoyance  more comprehensive and plain to the
mind of my readers, I will relate the manner and style
of my influence.  I was subject to two forms of clair-
voyant control, which I will term independent and de-
pendent clairvoyance.  By becoming passive and turn-
ing my thoughts inwardly,  so as to  shut out of my
mind the fleeting disturbances and interruptions of the
outer world, I would pass readily into  the former,  or
independent condition.  At such times my mind was
rendered incapable of controling the slightest muscle,
or of realizing any physical  sensation.   I was utterly
unconscious of any physical relation.   I seemed to ex-
ist only in spirit, and that spirit seemed gifted  with
extraordinary powers;  and as I have  before stated,
density was no opposition to vision.  I saw things in
reality as persons  often imagine they do  in dreams.
If I Avas called upon to investigate a human organism
I found them as transparent as glass is to the natural
vision.  I could view  every separate organ, see the
operation of every fluid, and easily discern the most
trivial derangement.  At first I supposed there was
no. limit to my visionistic powers,  and that distance
was no  impediment; but I  have  since  learned this
supposition to be incorrect, but am unable to furnish 
DR. 1).  B.  KELLOGG.               83
any plausible reason for the fact, or even state the exact
distance my clairvoyant power of eiiscernment is able
to extend.  I only know that on some occasions I can
wander farther away from actual physical locality than
others ; consequently I am inclined to the opinion that
when in this condition I am subject to atmospheric
relation like an electro-telegraph.
   Some imagine  that when in this condition  that I
am nearly infinite, that I have prophetic powers, that
I am all-seeing, and  all-knowing, anel  that there is
nothing beyond my comprehension.  This idea is not
only absurd bnt emphatically erroneous.  I can only
discern actualities or bodies having tangible existence.
Spirit, or more properly speaking the essence of mind,
is as indiscernible to my clairvoyant power as  to my
natural sight.   The  organic  gasses, or at  least the
finer portions of them, are totally invisible to my clair-
voyant  vision.   In  short, even as an independent
clairvoyant, I am subject to the immutible law of limit.
My powers of penetration, and my sense of observa-
tion, or vision, is simply the result of electric connec-
tion, between the object  contemplated  or subject of
observation, and the inner sense of comprehension or
sight.   Ihe connection is direct.  The  eye,  the nat-
ural medium of sight, is for  the time  robbed  of its
employment.   The philosophy of this electric connec
tion  will be found farther on under the head of "clair-
voyant powers."
   My dependent clairvoyant abilities differ widely from
the independent. Under this influence I am like a spout 
84              AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF

through which flows a current of foreign intelligence.
When in this condition,I am like a somnambulic, per-
fectly unconscious.  I  am not  only physically but
mentally under magnetic control.   I  know nothing of
my surroundings, nor do I retain any remembrance of
my acts or sayings.  It is when in this condition that
what purports  to be spirit communications are re-
ceived.   Anel most of my  professional examinations
of persons who are diseased are made while in this
condition, and are, therefore,  the  result of observa-
tion foreign to myself.   During the first years of my
professional career these physical  examinations pur-
ported to emanate from the spirit of  an Indian physi-
cian, who gave his name as " Walapaca."   But at the
present time they are given by another representative
of our red brethren, known by my numerous friends
as " Owosso." 
DR. D. B.  KELLOGG.
Ho
CHAPTER X.
                  MORE MYSTERIES.
            The world is full of mystery—
            Wild, weird, and wonderful.

    UMEROUS   mysterious   psychological  occur-
     rences,  and  almost supernatural incidents of
     wizzard manifestations, Avhich have, from time to
time, assumed extremely startling witch-hke phases of
demonstration, have occurred during my life, and are
considered by many  as  incomprehensible  marvelous
elucidations of spirit  power, and by others as the re-
sult of satanic  agencies.
   Leaving the reader to judge for  themselves  con-
cerning the origin of these  strange manifestations, I
will  proceed to relate a few  of those  which can be
substantiated by living testimony.   I will  state, how-
ever, that  I  believe  them to be the result of spirit
electric power.  But  I am not inclined to venture any
opinion in regard to the cause of these  manifestations
or their probable effect upon the  morals  of commu-
nity.  I only relate them because they appear to  have
a connection Avith my life,  though I cannot say they
have had any influence over my mind or acts.  There 
86
AUTOBIOGRAPHY ol
is another reason for my giving them publicity, and
that is to rob them of their false  additions,  evapora-
tions, and mysterious ingredients, for like the " three
black crowrs," they  have, by frequent relation, grown
to be stupendous accounts of hobgoblin mystery.
    The first of these strange manifestations occurred
during the third year of my mediumistic career.   On
the evening  in question a company  of  my young
friends had called upon me for  an hours  social  con-
versation.  Having exhausted the gossip of the neigh-
borhood,  some  one proposed  as a  change of pro-
gramme, to form a circle  and see what manner  of
communication we could get from the spirit world.
All readily consented to this proposition, and  with the
exception of a semi-idiotic young man, who was then
in my employ, every individual of the company con-
nected themselves with the circle.  Manifestations of
spirit presence was soon received, and for some time
we indulged our fondness for the marvelous, by the not
then unusual occupation of fortune telling.  But even
this sort of doubtful amusement  did not satisfy our
unreasonable desires for mystery.   Some one formally
asked the spirits if we could not  receive a raanfesta-
tion from the woman, or to use the common expres-
sion, the " Witch of Endor."  This  request  was en-
tirely a thoughtless  one, and not an individual present
had the remotest idea that it would be attended with
any result whatever.  Nor  do  I  to-day believe that
the manifestations then received  emanated  from the
Witch of Endor, but from a combination of spirits, 
DR. D.  B. KELLOGG.
8*
whose sentiments were congenial  to  our  OAvn.  We
Avere young and thoughtless ; we desired  weird and
mysterious manifestations, and we got just what our
thoughtless minds craved.
   No sooner was the request made than  a peculiar,
and with the  exception of myself and wife, startling
sensation was experienced by every  member of the
circle.   Our hands were pressed down upon the table
with irresistible force.  In vain we tried  to  Avrench
them  from the  vice-like  grip of the unseen power.;
Each  called  upon the other for assistance; but  all
Avere alike powerless to render any  aid.  Soon the
table began a rapid gyration around  the  room.  No
one had the power to resist,  but all were involunta-
rily impelled to  follow the senseless article  of furni-
ture in its fantastic perambulations.  Now commenced
a complication  of weird  manifestations.   Chairs and
other light articles of furniture were hurled hither and
thither about the room with fierce velocity, and in close
proximi'y to our unguarded craniums.  In the midst of
this wild turmoil the lights had become extinguished,
leaving  us  enveloped  in  impenetrable darkness.
Doors were opened and shut, and for a time it seemed
as if the house would be rent to pieces  and  come crash-
ing in upon us.   The poor frightened half idiot, being
the only person free, was swiftly hurrying from door to
door in a vain endeavor to fly from the ghostly scene ;
but though not a door was fastened, still he was una-
ble to  leave the room.  Loud raps were  heard to
issue  from all  parts of  the room, and the  window 
88
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF
 shook as if under the influence of an hurricane power.
 This very strange phenomena lasted  for some twenty
 minutes, when, as sudden  as the visitation  came, as
 quick and noiseless it departed.  An almost painful
 silence followeel the abrupt withdrawal of the myste-
 rious poAver, and for a while we stood where the influ-
 ence had left us, a silent awe-struck group, in antici-
 pation of a recurrence of  the scene.  But there Avas
 no farther demonstration given.  A light  revelled to
 us the most astonishing phase  of the manifestation ;
 we expected to find every article of furniture in a state
 of complete disorder;  but you can imagine our con-
 sternation when on insp 'Ction Ave found that not an
 article appeared to have  been disturbed.   This  fact
 completely bewildered our minds and gave  rise to an
 unanswerable set of conjectures.  Was it hallucina-
 tion of mind?  phantasm of brain? had our imagina-
 tion conjured out of nothing all  this Avild turmoil ?
 Or was it really  a manifestation of witch  powers ?
 These were agitated but  undecided  queries with us.
 For certain reasons we agreed to keep silent about the
 visitation, and from that day to this the  real facts
 were  never  known.   But  somehow strange  stories
 were circulated, which, for a wonder, fell far short of
 the real facts in point of mystery.
     This in one point was  the most startling phase of
 spirit electric power I ever witnessed.  I never before
; or since saw such a manifestation  of apparent muscu-
| lar strength.   There were seven individuals held by
 magnetic power aside from the electric force used to 
DR. D.  B. KELLOGG.
89
produce  the  various  other  forms of demonstration.
I never  attached  any  merit to  these Avizard  mani-
festations.  They only appealed to a morbid desire for
m}stery; and had it been in my power I should have
rid myself of them entirely, but for some unaccountable
reason I have been, all through my psychological career,
occasionally tormented  by evil  spirits^  or by useless
manifestations of spirit  power, which while they have
done no material damage to the cause have been a
source of individual annoyance and  false representa-
tions.  These manifestations were  mostly unsought,
and would make their  appearance  when  least expected.
I have often been startled out of profound sleep by
loud raps on  my pilloAV ;  have  had  articles of furni-
ture hurled at my head Avhen  quietly conversing on
ordinary topics Avith friends, and  on  one occasion  was
driven out of  ray office  and  kept  out all day by a be-
witched counter-brush, A\-hich  seemed  bent on doing
me personal injury.   My home has always been a  sort
of depot of mystery,  and looked  upon  by the  super-
stitious as being haunted on account of these strange
noises.   Sometimes even the most trivial circumstance
would be contorted into hobgoblin mystery.   Many
of these startling stories were  sheer fabrication, and
even those which had a foundation of truth were  sub-
ject to stupendous exageration.
    As a fair  sample  of this aptness to exagerate, I
I av'iII give the actual truth, and  also the false  report
concerning what is known  as  the white mouse  phe-
nomena.  The  real  facts of  the  case  were  these; 
90
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF
 During the fall and winter of 1854 the inmates of my
 house were more or less anneiyed by a strange and
 incomprehensible noise, Avhich apparently  emanated
 from some imisible agency.   This noise was an appa-
 rent imitation of human singing or humming, in a low
 indistinct key.  But the greatest peculiarity about it
 was the impossibility to locate the exact point from
 which the sound proceeded.   At times it would  ap-
 pear to  be in the most remote room of the house, then
 it would be suddenly heard in the midst of the com-
 pany; again it would appear to issue from the clock,
 pantry,  bureau drawers, and other strange parts.  The
 rapidity of these changes was what made the phenom-
 ena  so  mysterious.   For a long  time  the  probable
 cause of  this  sound was a  matter  of  conjecture.
 Many Avho heard them quoted them as spirit manifes-
 tations.   The mystery was at last divulged   One eve-
 ning, while a party of young friends were present, a
 beautiful white  mouse was seen to run across the floor
 and take refuge in the pai;try.   His beauty and novel
 appearance created a desire for his capture, and in-
 stantly the whole company gave chase.  After consid-
 erable search he was brought to bey in one  corner of
 the room, and just as his pursuers supposed his cap-
 ture certain, he threAV them off" their guard  by a free
 exhibition of his wonderful vocal powers.   For a mo-
 ment he gave utterance to the  same humming music
that had been so long a subject of mystery, then sud-
 denly taking advantage of the spell his display had
 caused among his would-be captors, he succeeded in 
DR. D.  B. KELLOGG.              91
making  good his escape.   Nothing more was  ever
seen  of  the mouse,  nor was  the music ever after
heard.
    This  mouse was  certainly a wonderful  creature,
and was  probably a member of some rare specie  of
the animal kingdom,  His  vocal powers were like
those of the common tree-toad, naturally ventriloquent,
which would account for the  apparent rapid change of
locality.
    From this  extremely trivial circumstance  of the
singing mouse, numerous phantom stories were circu-
lated.  The singing was purported to be an exact,/ac
simile of the human Aoi'je;  and it was even said that
songs and hymns were sang in most beautiful style.
The poor mouse was reported to be everywhere pres-
ent and capable of going in and out of trunks  and
drawers,  through the key-hole, and of doing a hund-
red other impossible feats.  Even after the mouse was
found to  be the cause of the music, some  of the more
fanatical believers of spirit power, argued that it was
a messenger sent by the spirits, but for what purpose
it was sent, they were unable to determine.   I always
considered  it as  a  natural  phenomena,  and  I only
speak of  it to illustrate  the  tendency of the human
mind  to a belief in the marvelous.   And I note as one
of many  similar instances which have occurred during
my mediumistic career.
   Probably the  most apparently  supernatural  occur-
rence that has occurred in connection with my life is
the child-crying phenomena of a more  recent date. 
y-2
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF
This manifestation has  occurred at different periods
for several successive years, and thus far it has baffled
the closest investigation.  I first heard  it  shortly after
my remoAral to my present place of business ; at first
it appeared to be confined to one e>f the lower apart-
ments of the house, and sounded like the  loud crying
of a child  in great  distress.   It has  been  as  often
heard in the day time as in the  night; in fact there is
no regularity of occurrence, nor no apparent choice
of persons.   Strangers have heard it and  supposed it
the actual crying of a living infant.   More recently it
has been  heard  in other parts of the house.   No
ghostly appearance of a child has ever been witnessed
in  connection with the sound.   It is altogether an in-
comprehensible  phenomena, and though  there  has
been various conjectures  as  to  the  probable cause of
the strange visitation, there  has never been any plau-
sible or rather practical solution of the affair, and at
the present time it has ceased to even be a subject of
wonder.
   As  I have said, these, with various  other weird
manifestations have, from time  to time,  unsought, ap-
peared in connection Avith my other mediumistic pow-
ers.  The question  naturally arises  in  regard to the
reason why these phenomena should manifest them-
selves at such unreasonable times and when least ex-
pected ? The solution to this query is  perfectly phi-
losophical,  and the reason for these unsought manifes-
tations, (I refer to the phenomena of the raps and like
manifestations) is because I am naturally and altcrn- 
DR. D. B.  KELLOGG.
93
ately powerfully surcharged with vital magnetism and
vital electricity.   Magnetism,  which is  positive, and
electricity, which is negative,  will at different times
preponderate or assume the ascendency in my system.
When vital  electiicity predominates the  raps may
be produced.  At these times my  system is  like the
electric power of the  torpedo eel, and  is capable of
discharging a small volume or  current  of vital elec-
tricity, which, by coming in sudden contact with the
electricity of the atmosphere,  causes by concussion
the phenomena of the raps.   The phenomena of arti-
cles being thrown towards me is csused by a prepon-
derence of vital magnetism in  my  system, aided by
spirit power.   The direction of these projectiles is al-'
most invariably  determined by my  present electrical
or magnetic al  condition.   When the magnetical is
in the ascendency their movements  are  toward my-
self; but when the electrical condition  preponderates
they are moved in an opposite direction,  and their
movement  is caused  by the power of  confined vital
electricity seeking its equilibrium in the external atmos-
phere.  This phenomena  is not entirely an  unusual
occurrence.  There  are  many individuals who  are
effected in  like manner; but by their similarity, it is
evident that certain conditions  of mind and body are
necessary to  produce the  phenomena,  and this fact
explains Avhy these mysterious manifestations are con-
fined to certain persons and localities. 
94
AUTOBIOGRAPHY  OF
CHAPTER  XI.
             MY PROGRESS AS A PHYSICIAN.

    fROM the date of my first clairvoyant examination
    it was evident—as I have before stated—that this
  j peculiar magnetic gift Avas  destined to completely
revolutionize my supposed prospects of life.  My clair-
voyant examinations of the  sick were gradually be-
coming more frequent, and as we had settled upon fee."
for that kind of professional service, correspondingly
profitable.   Applicants were daily becoming more nu-
merous, until such Avas the demand upon my time that
I found it impossible to give my attention to any other
branch of business.  My time was divided between
the labor of preparing medical  compounds and exam-
ination of neAV cases, and also  an  occasional sitting
for the less beneficial purpose of furnishing tests for
incredulous investigators.  Internally there had dawn-
ed  upon  me clearer,  brighter,  truer  prospects of
life, but externally I remained dull-headed,  mvstified,
and apprehensive.   In the secret seclusion of internal
thought. I felt the sacred influence of noble aspirations,
and a calm confidence in the  unknown future.   But
owing to  the advice  and outspoken opprobrium of 
DR. D.  B. KELLOGG.
95
officious acquaintances, I Avas retarded  from giving
external expressions to my nobler  aspirations.   Sub-
jected to the bnffetings of an opinion ating community,
my daily life was far from cheerful.  Some contended
that these psychological visitations "would make me
sick;" others, " that I  would become crazy;" some
told me I was a " fool," and others still  looked upon
me as a humbug—a cheat—an impostor.  But the day
had gone by for such inferences to elisturb the equi-
librium of my internal  thought.  Past experience had
proven that my health was not endangered ; nor could
I discern  any prognostication of probable insanity.
Externally, I knew, there Avas a probable ground for
the appellation of fool; but Avho,  thought I,  is com-
petent to analyze my interior thoughts ?  Was not ray
fast increasing popularity a sufficient denial of the
malicious accusation of imposition? Beside, had not
my medical treatment proved a complete success, and
a subject of Avonder ?  Unsought  testimonials began
coming into  my possession, sent as  mementoes of
heart-felt gratitude, from those who had  been recipi-
ents of glorious benefits as the proceeds of my mystic
power.  Reason and philosophy were powerful cham-
pions of my peculiar gifts,  and  every day  scientific
research was reAreali::g new proof, and  destroying the
argument of opposition.   And  so, relying upon the
better promptings  of  my  own  internal thoughts,  I
continued to gradually ascend the rugged mountain of
usefulness.   A feeling of tranquility at this time per-
vaded my whole  life.   My mind Avas allowed to roam, 
96             AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF
free and untrammeled, through the  Elysian fields of
thought, and though my ideas Avere crude and uncer-
tain, they were none the less pleasurable.  New fields
of usefulness were opening  to view;  my mind  was
undergoing  a  rapid change ; formerly I hael  looked
ppon every occupation aside from manual toil,  as ef-
feminate, and beneath the dignity of  muscular  man-
hood.  But now I recognized that I had a mission to
perform—a mysterious psychological mission—of great
practical worth to the human family.   I was now hap-
pier than formerly, for I saw a Avork to do.  In this
mission of active effort I discovered anew significance
in life.  I found  that the hitherto indefinable  mystery
of my life  was capable of being the means of a degree
of human happiness ; and gladdened by these thoughts
I felt my sympathies going out towards all the human
race.   In my own heart I resolved that the scoffs of
the ignorant should no longer divert me from the path
of apparent duty.
   Let  the  reader iioav  glide with me over twelve
months of ceaseless, unvarying  labor.  During this
time I spent from four to six hours per day in an un-
conscious condition i of psychology.   My house  had
been converted into a medical laboratory and dispen-
sary ; on every hand the  olfactory organs of visiters
would be greeted with the strong fragrance of  med-
icinal preparations.   Numerous employees were en-
gaged in gathering  from the garden of nature balms
for human ills.   Applicants were daily becoming more
numerous, and the  confidence of the  public  corres* 
DR. D.  B. KELLOGG.
9?
 pondingly firm.  Professional  opposers, finding that
 their anathemas could not beat back the incoming and
 fast increasing tide of popularity, looked on with sul-
 len indifference.  And thus,  by simply following the
 recommendations  of a well-earned reputation, I laid
 the foundation of future success as a practical physi-
 cian.
    Numerous invitations to visit other localities cre-
 ated a desire in the unstable mind of my father for a
 wider field  of operations; and  as I admitted him to
 act as adviser and general master of ceremonies, I at
 once agreed to go wherever his  judgment  might dic-
 tate.  It was accordingly arranged that I should make
 periodical visits to various places along the line of the
 Michigan Southern ami Northern Indiana R. R., and
 that on  these visits my father should officiate as right-
 hand man.   Our first halt was in the beautiful and pio-
 turesque city of Adrian.   There we met a large circle
 of liberal minded, intelligent representatives of spirit-
 ual progress—noble  men  and women whose  hearts
 were free from the confining  power of limiting secta-
 rianism—who received us as  co-laborers in the cause
 of truth.  Men vf intelligence, though sceptics in be-
lief, who visited us were astonished to  find in me—a
still bashful, awkwaid youth—such apparent depth of
scientific knowledge ; and many Avho had before con-
scientiously supposed me  an impostor—a trickster—
were forced to admit that  their former suppositions
were erroneous.  Professional disciples of Esculapius
were invited to test my medical  abilities and myster-
      4 
98
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF
ious knoAvledge of human anatomy.   Triumphantly
and calmly my unseen  guide bore me through this
ordeal  of studied and intelligent  investigation, and
every day new accessions Avere added to our long list
of admiring friends.  For two weeks we  lingered in
in this  atmosphere of appreciated fraternal love ; and
when we left Ave received the  earnest God speed of
many cherished and unforgotten friends.  We next
visited Coldwater, White Pigeon,  and several other
places; and in each place we met with the same warm-
hearted greeting and bestowal of fraternal friendship.
By this trip numerous additions were made to our al-
ready  long list of patients, and I found, on my return
home, Hi at it would be impossible for me to properly
attend|to the wants of numerous  applicants.   I was,
therefore, forced to call upon the psychological assist-
ance of my wife, Avho, the reader  will remember, had
sometime before been  developed as a  " dependant
clairvoyant."
   Personally, I was much benefited by  this  sojourn
among strangers, as it gave me a  chance of making a
more comprehensive inspection of external life than
I had ever before enjoyed.   My knowledge of human-
ity in  the aggregate was, in view  of my  life-long se-
clusion from the world, extremely limited ; and in my
ignorance I had formed some very erroneous ideas of
human dignity.  I had learned to look upon a man of
 education as an awe-inspiring object of superiority,
and  honestly expected to find such  persons wrapped
in a mail of impenatrable dignity,  and unbending self- 
DR. D.  B. KELLOGG.
99
importance.  But during my five weeks of absence, I
had met and conversed with many men of refined  in-
telligence, but nowhere had I found my ideal  of self-
important aiTOgance  in  connection with education.
On the other hand, I discovered that  ignorance and
self-conceit  were invariably  habitants of the  same
mind.  It was from this latter class that  I invariably
met with the strongest, most uncompromising opposi-
tion.  It Avas they who hurled the hot shot  of abuse,
and vociferated the cry of devil, while men of intelli-
gence quietly investigated the  phenomena.   Beside
these just conclusions in regard to  human character-
istics—Avhich were of much educational benefit to my
unenlightened  mind—I learned much  of  the  outside
appearance of genteel society, and as  I made a  point
to practice what I had gained in theory, many of my
boorish habits of country verdancy were trained into
acts of gentility.
   In consequence of my observations and my exper-
ience of appreciated friendship, I began to feel a sort
of pride for my wonderful endowments,  and  an out-
cropping aspiration for future renown  began to send
forth puny  sprouts of germinating ambition, which
heretofore had lain dormant in my mind.  I suddenly
saw that wealth  was a powerful auxiliary of earthly
happiness, and I naturally began to consider in my
own mind how I could best employ my psychological
gifts so as to accumulate worldly independence. I saw
only one Avay this  could be  accomplished.   People
Avere fond of mystery, and my past experience had 
100            AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF
 proven that if I would confine myself to the province
 of fortune-telling and like proceeding", that I would
 meet with no difficulty in amassing a comparative for-
 tune.  Consequently I resolved that I would  quietly
 court notoriety as a reArealer of the future.  I imagined
 no opposition to this arrangement outside of the op-
 position of friends; but, as the sequel will prove, this
 conclusion was a decided mistake, and I found that I
 was destined  to meet uncontrollable opposition to
 these objectionable proceedings from an  entirely un-
 expected source.   My guide—Walapaca—had  once
 or twice warned me of peremptorial withdrawal of in-
 fluence in case of an  attempt at perversion of my
 poAver?, and no sooner did I commence to put my late
 resolution into practice than he announceelan  unqual-
 ified determination* to put his threat in execution.  At
 first I did not believe he had the power to rob me of
 my psychological abilities ; but even in this I was mis-
 taken.   He said I should lose  my power for one month
 from a certain  date, an I when  that  day  arrived  I
 found on trial that I was as impervious  to  magnetic
 influence as ever was the most positive  magnetizer in
, existence.  During this  month of quietude I  bitterly
 repented the folly that had brought about this  state
 of affairs.  My wife  was forced to  make all  profes-
 sional examinations of patients,, while I, with as much
 calmness as I could muster, waited patiently for a re-
 neAval of my now more than ever cherished clairvoy-
 ant powers.  This circumstance of loss  of  influence
 Avent far to establish a belief in my mind  in the phe-
 nomena of spirit communication. 
                DR. D. B. KELLOGG.             101

   Heretofore I had neither denied nor admitted any
belief in the doctrine of  spiritualism, and in my own
mind I Avas not conscious of any  settled co viction,
either pro or con.   I knew that spirit claimed  to in-
fluence me, and this claim in some instances appeared
to be substantiated beyond cavil or doubt.  But at
the same time I supposed myself capable of indepen-
dent clairvoyance—supposed that, at my own pleasure,
I could enter into a superior condition of psychology
independent of any foreign assistance.   But here was
positive and convincing proof to the contrary.  A per-
son purporting to be a spirit had declared that I should
lose my psychological powers for one month ; he had
even specified the day this loss should take place, and
the reasons therefor;  had told when it should return;
and all through the affair there was displayed an un-
mistakable manifestatiem  of intelligence.    After  a
careful investigation,  I Avas forced to admit two fully
substantiated facts : first, that spirits could by  mag-
netic power control me ;  secondly, that there was no
such thing as  an independent clairvoyant, and that in
all cases there must be  a positive  operator, in  some
form or other.   That operator, in my case, was a dis-
embodied spirit.                            th. 
102
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF
CHAPTER  XII.
IN WHICH I AM  VICTIMIZED.—A SAMPLE OF  CORRESPOND-
         ENCE.—THE TRIALS OF CLAIRVOYANCE.

     Y  CLAIRVOYANT  powers  returned  on the
      day promised, precisely as my guide Walapnca
     "had foretold, and I at once resumed my former
mystic operations.   For three years  following this
event my life was but a monotonous repetition of med-
ical  practice,  utterly  deA*oid of  unusual incidents.
During this time I had  steadily advanced towards
public esteem, and by a persistent  adherence  to  my
apparent mission, and an unflinching application of my
marvelous powers, had  Avon  not only  a professional
position, but the confidence of all classes of people.
Even practical  M. D.'s of the Old School recognized
me as a legitimate representative of Esculapius, and
occasionally came to me for counsel and  advice. Sci-
entific opposition had everywhere been met by scien-
tific  and unimpeachable truths.   Clairvoyance was
admitted as a science, and  spiriiuaUsm numbered  its
advocates by thousands ; among whom  were the great-
est intellects and men of the deepest scientific  educa-
tion.  Reason,  religion,  research,  and philosophical 
DR. D.  B. KELLOGG.
103
investigation unwittingly contributed undeniable proof
of spirit power and existence.
   But my greatest strength lay in my own acts.  No
one could account for my marvelous powers, only by
admitting me to be the medium of some foreign agen-
cy.  I examined persons who were absent as Avell as
those who Avere present, and medically treated hun-
dreds of individuals whom I had never seen.  Every
day I Avas in receipt of numerous letters from all parts
of the country, containing simply the name, age, and
residence of the applicant.  This was all I desired to
insure a correct diagnosis; Avhich, with the aid of a
scribe, was  written down as given by me, and forward-
ed back as the result of examination.  This was the
most astonishing part of my peculiar powers,  as  it
effectually disproved the absurd theory of sympathetic
connections, Avhich some  stre ngly  advocated  as the
secret of  my ability to correctly examine persons when
present.  And as these opposers found that their pet
theory of "sympathetic relation" was insufficient as a
basis  of  argument,  they  unqualifiedly asserted my
written examinations to be  the result of guess-work;
 and at once set about  the  task  of collecting  actu .1
 proof of  their assertions.
    One day I received aletter containing all necessary
 requirements and the ordinary lee, with a request for
 an immediate c xaraination  of the person, whom the
 letter reported as being dangerously ill, and in great
 want  of  immediate  treatment.   As  nsn; 1, this case
 was submitted to my clairvoyant inspection.   I soon 
104
AUTOBIOGRAPHY  OF
discovered the  individual,  and found him suffering
from a  combination  of physical derangements,  and
that his disease had a decided tendency  toward con-
sumption.  I also saw that he could be  consielerably
helped-perhaps nearly cured—by one  prescription,
hence I proceeded to specify the medicine.  My scribe,
who had written down the examination, sent that
along with the prese:ription  to the individual who, ac
cording to the letter, had  written for  his suffering
friend.
   Let the reader judge of  my surprise and indigna-
tion upon receiving a letter stating that Mr. Burnham
(the person I had examined), was a man in the enjoy-
ment of more than ordinary good health;  that there
Avas no  signs of consumption  or  any other  disease
about him ; that as far as he knew he was perfectly
well, and that they had only written to  me to prove
just what they had proven, namely : that so far as my
written examinations were  concerned  I was purely a
"cheat."
    The result of this examination was heralded all
over the country, and so far as appearances were con-
cerned, the  affair was wholly  against clairvoyance.
But the joy of my  opposers  was of short duration.
There suddenly sprung up a new phase to the affair,
which in some respects was quite startling, even  to
the parties concerned.  In  the first place,  Mr. Burn-
ham, who reported himself as being " perfectly Avell,"
was within a week from the date of my examination
attacked with an unexpected combination of diseases, 
DR. D.  B. KELLOGG.
105
which at last terminated in consumption ; and in less
than six months he found  it  necessary to apply the
very prescription I had sent  him.   Secondly, it was
soon ascertained by some of my friends, that  there
resided in the same town  another individual by the
name of Burnham, who at the time of the examination
was suffering with the complaints  I  had described.
In all probability, this person was the one whom I first
examined, for on examination  I found his condition
unchanged.  This supposition is perfectly reasonable.
I had been furnished with the  name, age, and resi-
dence of an individual who was said  to  be  suffering
from a disease, and  taking  it for granted  that this
statement was true, my guide  sought for a_person an-
swering  to the name, age, and other description, with-
out stopping to examine the real motives of the writer,
or even  supposing there  could be  a mistake.   The
person sought was found; his  name  was Burnham;
the age given in the letter was the probable age of
this person: he was a resident of the town in which
it was said this Mr. Burnham resided; and, moreover,
this person  was " dangerously ill, and in  great want
of  immediate treatment."
    Everything corresponded  to  directions  in letter,
and my  guide sought for  a person  answering  to the
description  given the same as any person  would who
was following the directions of a third party, in a sim-
ilar instance ; finding the facts to be true, to the writ-
er's direction, he  had no reasons for enquiring into his
motives, therefore naturally  fell into erfor.   Had he 
100
AUTOBIOGRAPHY  OF
 found the other Burnham first, the case would have
 been different, and he Avould have considered the let-
 ter in part a tissue of falsehood, and this would have
 led  to  an investigation of the  author's  motive  for
 writing.
    This case in the end proved to be more  beneficial
 to me than injurious, inasmuch as it furnished a chance
 for self-vindication, and led to a more extended knowl-
 edge of the principles of clairvoyance, which by many
 was looked upon as being a power nearly akin to the
 infinite, and therefore incapable of error.
    The reader is supposed to know by  this time the
.leading traits  of my mental organization.   Perhaps
 the strongest  element was an almost irresistible im-
 pulse to respond to demands made upon my time by
 suffering humanity.   On  receiving a  letter  from a
 stranger appealing for relief from some trial or dis-
 ease, I  would be  immediately disposed to return a
 humane and beneficial answer—oftimes in direct vio-
 lation of the law of self-justice and  self-preservation.
 This natural procliviiy exposed me to much imposition
 and annoyance.  Yet I have no desire  that I should
 by nature be less disposed to universal good-will,  for
 in this principle I have found the germ of all my earth-
 ly happiness,  and I would rather be the victim of an
 occasional imposition, and  suffer  the annoyance there-
 from than to feel that I was by nature selfish.
    My  fame as a clairvoyant, and the  great scarcity
 at that  time ,of similarly endowed persons, brought me
 scores upon scores of letters from all classes of per- 
                DR.  D.  B. KELLOGG.             107

sons.   The  greater portion Avere  from persons who
were  half sick or half  dead  with various diseases.
These desired  examination and  medical treatment,
and were always promptly attended to.   But besides
these, I was in daily receipt of letters containing every
conceivable shade of scientific,  historical, domestic,
and philosophical inquiry—never imparting a particle
of information, but asking innumerable questions about
all sorts of out-of-the-way  anel never-before-thought-of
subjects.  If the task of spelling  and reading these
epistles was arduous, as it Avas, how shall 1 describe
the toiling that was necessary to answer them?  From
one correspondent's letter I extract the following:
                              Michigan, 1860.
   " My Dear Sir :—I  feel forced to seek some more
information from you, for  I am in a great dilemma.
It appears that the spirits  are determined not to leave
me.   Why they should torment me thus is"niore than
I can understand.  I want to know Avhat I can  (bDito
get rid of them.  I am  confident  that you have the
power to^exorcise them; and now if you  will enable
me to become once more free from their influence,  I
will pay you for  your  trouble.   Please answer me
soon.                       Yours, &c."
   I had received a former letter from this individual,
in which he had stated that he  believed  himself sus-
ceptible to spirit influence, and he desired me to send
him a formula of the modus operandi necessary  to his
development.  TJiis I had done.   He was  now tired
of the influence, and desired to be rid of his altogether
too attentive spirit friends.  My reply was that  I had
no power to exorcise spirits—that all my time was 
108
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF
occupied in examining the sick—that the spirits would
not hurt him—and that if he really desired to be free,
he could be by simply asserting a man-like  strength
of purpose.  Ten days later the post brought me  an-
other letter from the same person, in which he said:
   " All hope is lost.  I am a ruined man—a victim of
infernal witchcraft!   Had I not listened to your coun-
sel, I should have to-day been free from the machina-
tions of the devil, and there Avould have been a hope
of salvation; but by your infernal powers I am  de-
barred from the Church, and  made the subject of  the
devil."
   And thus did the half crazed man rail against me.
Evidently he was the victim of priestly influence, and
had been made to believe,that these  spirit manifesta-
tions were  the workings of evil spirits, who were bent
upon his destruction.   To these rantings I made no
reply, for I saw that the man Avastoo ignorant to com-
prehend an explanation.  Next I  would  read over a
package of fifty letters containing reasonable inquiries,
and then there would come a request of this kind :
                                Detroit, Mich.
   " Respected Sir :—I have been informed that you
can tell the past and future of all persons' lives, and I
have determined to consult you, and see if you can
tell the past events, and also the things pertaining  to
the future in my life.  I want to know if the contents
of the letter I  have just received are true, or is it de-
ception ; and if true, can you tell  mc where  it  came
from ?   Is my husband true to me?  Will he out-live
me ?  Will my future life be more  happy than my past
has been ?   Now, for God's sake,  do not deceive me, 
DR. D.  B. KELLOGG.
109
but tell me all about myself, and I will believe you to
be the most wonderful man living.
                       With great respect, &c."
   My only reply to this was that I did not undertake
to reveal the future, and that,  in  mv  estimation, all
pretended fortune-tellers were arrant knaves.
   Almost every day I was in receipt  of letters con-
taining questions like the following:
    " If I make an investment in the  C------stock
company, will I receive pecuniary profit?"  "Can
you tell me where  I can negotiate a loan on the secu-
rities in my possession ?"   " Will  my  present matri-
monial prospects  be a success ?"  " Can you at  any
time, and on short notice, determine the state of the
markets ? "  And so on to an inconceivable extent.
   To have answered one-half of the questions asked
would have required  almost  infinite knowledge; yet
the writers honestly supposed me equal to  the task.
Let the reader bear in remembrance, while glancing
over these  few  " wants"  from the world that I have
been the daily recipient of similar demands for twelve
years, and you can then form some idea of the amount
accumulated, and the consequent  troubles  and trials
to which I have been exposed.  One more illustration
from this heterogeneous mass of correspondence  will
suffice:
   Db. D. B. Kellogg,  Sir:—Pardon a stranger's
writing to you  upon  a personal  subject.   But  as I
have heard of your wonderful power,  I thought per-
haps you might be able to help  me  out of a great
trouble.  I am  a hunted criminal  If I am captured 
110            AUTOBIOGRAPHY of
I shall be incarcerated for life.   I have for six months
eluded pursuit; but I am now fearful of being taken,
for I have reason to *believe  the officers of the law
have discovered my  Avhereabouts,  and what I want
you to do is to tell me where I shall go to be  safe.   I
am confident you can do this  if you will; so I hope
you will not let conscientious scruples debar you from
aiding a persecuted fellow being, but tell me at once
where I shall flee."

   This letter was never answered, and it is only one
of several of like description.   Thus, dear  reader,  I
lived, a subject of continual misrepresentation—a be-
ing of finite powers, supposed,  even by men of intel-
ligence, to be endowed with supernatural abilities.
   How long will the science of spiritualism remain
a mystery to the world ? 
DR. D.  B. KELLOGG.             HI
CHAPTER  XIII.
   A CHANGE OP RESIDENCE AND A CHANGE OF SUBJECT.
 c  i
 ,   N THE spring of 1865 I executed a secretly pre-
 '   meditated  idea  of change  of residence.   My
 j  reasons for this remove was owing to  my  rapid
 increase in business and the inconvenience of my pre-
 sent locality.  I was every day sending medicines to
 all parts of the country by express, and as it was six
 miles to the nearest express office, the task was neith-
 er pleasant nor profitable.  Besides this, my fame for
 removing cancers was causing  a  rapid  increase of
 practice in this direction, it became absolutely neces-
 sary for me to enlarge my infirmary conveniences.
 But where to go  was the question.  I had  numerous
 warm friends who desired me to open an  office in the
 thriving city of Ypsilanti.  But somehow my  own
inclinations prompted me to take up my abode in Ann
Arbor.  This place I knew to be the great northwest-
 ern emporium of  medical knowledge ;  I farther knew
that two or three  clairvoyant physicians had underta-
ken to locate there but had ingloriously failed.  But,
notwithstanding these facts, I resolved to take up my
residence there, and trust myself to  the tender mercies
of an intelligent community. 
112            AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF
   My reception to the new home Avas not only pleas-
ant but entirely unexpected, and I looked upon it as a
brilliant foreshadowing of the future.  Rumors of my
coming had gone before me, and on my arrival I found
quite a respectful gathering of people,  who were all
anxious to get a glimpse of the  " mysterious doctor,"
and  have an  examination  of their caie.   Anxious to
please I at once  threw  aside my coat,  entered  the
office which had been prepared for me,  and began my
mystic labors.  Every person, even those who were
skeptical in belief, were satisfied with my ability, con-
sequently my reputation as a physician was at once
established. I here, as usual, courted investigation, and
publicly announced that I desired to be tested by the
scientific world.  This announcement brought before
me men of professional education, scientific doctors,
and  even members of the  Faculty.  But after  a few
sittings they quietly  withdrew  apparently satisfied
that I was, as far  as possible, master of my profession,
and  the medium of a medical knowledge of no mean
pretentions; and  they no doubt saw that the ?ppella-
tion  of " quack"  would hardly be  applicable in my
case on account of the great number of favorable tes-
timonials in my possession, and my mysterious  capa-
bility to render correct diagnosis of disease and ana-
lytical knowledge of medical properties.
   And here I have since remained, the daily recipi-
ent of many kind favors.  But  what gives  me the
greatest amount of unalloyed satisfaction is the knowl-
edge that my ardous labors have been appreciated by 
DR. D. B. KELLOGG.
113
a just community.  When worn  out with continuous
toil, I find a balm to my care worn spirit in  listening
to the voluntary outpouring of a heart-felt gratitude,
coming from some former suffering fellow being who
has, through  my  agency, been restored to health and
the happiness of life.
    In this mission I feel I have found the acme of my
soul's aspiration.   In my present capacity all the bet-
ter promptings of  my nature are  brought in  play.
Hence,  I have, for several years, ceased to make any
endeavor for any further psychological advancement.
My operations at present are carried on by means of
dependent clairvoyance; and to arrive at this  pecu-
liar psychological state I  have been forced to  pass
through aU the lower order of spiritual influences, as
the reader who  has read  the previous pages, must
have discovered.   It will be seen that my present po-
sition is but the result of psychological developments.
My knowledge of the human organism and  of medi-
cine has all  been deidved by clairvoyant powers.  I
have made one or two attempts to gain information
from books, but have, on such trial, failed to receive
satisfaction.  Still I do not condemn books as a means
of education, for I am well aware that there are but
very few who are like myself.
    In the foregoing pages I have hastily noted the ma-
jor points in my psychological life; of my personal
career as a man,  as a member of society, I have stu-
diously  avoided  speaking, as I have considered that
part uninteresting to the general reader.  Tre quee- 
114
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF
tion  most often asked  is,  how I became Avhat I am,
professionally ?  This  query I have  endeavored  to
illustrate.  What  ray  individual  trials  and troubles
have been, no one can have any desire to know.
   But my task is not yet done, there  is something
yet remaining.  I have told how I became  a physi-
cian, how I  became a clairvoyant.   But the reason
why I ajn so remains to be told, as well as the philos-
ophy of these various mysterious psychological phases.
through which I have passed.   The query arises, what
is spiritualism ?  what is magnetism? and what is clair-
voyance? and  what  is  necessary to development?
For me to state that I  am a clairvoyant  does not illus-
trate the  phenomena, or that I am the medium of
spirits does  not prove spiritualism.  My life proves
there is a mystery  some  where, but  does not make
that mystery plain.  In view of this I have concluded
to give a concise explanation of the mysteries involved
in my career. 
DR. D.  B. KELLOGG.
II')
            CHAPTER XIV.

THE PHILOSOPHY OF MAGNETISM, AND ITS RELATION TO ORDI-
    NARY SLEEP,  AND THE SCIENCE OF SPIRITUALISM.

  ,, N ORDER to arrive at an intelligent understand-
  '  ing of clairvoyance, or even spirit manifestations,
'JP  it becomes absolutely necessary that the princi-
ples of mesmerism should be understood, for mesmer-
ism is the foundation of every phase of psychological
phenomena.  In Chapter IV I have given an acconnt
of my first mesmeric experience, and I now propose
to give a condensed explanation of the natural prin-
ciples involved in the phenomena.
   Webster defines the term mesmerism "to be the art
of communicating a species of sleep to the body, while
the mindj*emains active." The pertinent question which
here naturally arises is " what species of sleep is it
that is by the power of mesmerism communicated ? "
I take.the ground that there is no difference between
sleep induced by mesmerism and natural slumber, so
far  as  principles  are concerned.   This ground, I
shall, in this  chapter, aim to illustrate by a  com-
parison  of the  two  phenomena.   In order to do
this it becomes necessary for me to consider the phi- 
116
AUTOBIOGRAPHY  OF
  losophy of ordinary sleep; and to do this I must take
  into consideration the nervous organization of the hu-
  man body, and from thence deduce  inferences in re-
  gard to the elementary principles of ordinary slum-
  ber.  The nervous system of the human organism is
  divided into two  grand parts: being the  brain and
  spinal cord, and these combined are  known  as the
  cerebrospinal centres.  From this axis or centre, there
  are numerous nerves which run to all parts of the sys-
i  tern.   A portion of these nerves start from the base
  of the brain and  terminate in the eye, the ear, the
  tongue, the lips, etc.   This set of nerves are the first
  developed  in the infantile organism.  Another and
  larger portion of nerves spring from the spjnal cord,
  and are distributed over the body and lower extremi-
  ties.   By means of a portion of these nerAres the brain
  is susceptible of sensation or feeling, while the others
  produce motion.  These two  set of nerves are wide-
  ly distributed over the entire body, and as I  have in-
  ferred, have distinct duties to perform.   Those which
  spring from the spinal cord have two  roots, one uni-
  ting with the back, the other with  the front part of
  the cord.  If we could cut the  back root we would
  find that the part  where the nerve terminates would
  loose the sense of feeling but  retain  the power of mo-
  tion.  By cutting the front Boot, we would  destroy
  the power of motion, while the sense of feeling would
  be retained j and by  severing  both, we would find
  that the sense of feeling and power  of  motion would
  be lost. 
DR. D. B.  KELLOGG.
117
    These facts prove, first:  nervous duality, and  dis-
 tinction of nervous  functions.   Secondly: that it is
_only by means of  the  sensient  portions of  these
 nerves that thejniiid can become cognizant of  exter-
 nal objects;, or in other words, all  recognized impres-
 sions and sensations must be borne  by the nerves to
 the brain.   These jwo sets of nerves e>perate compara*
 tively like the  Telegraphic  Fire Alarms of some of
 our  great Cities.  The brain,  being the  intelligent
 center, may be  compared to the  central office, and the
 nerves of sensation which  carry  to  the brain with
 lightning-like speed intelligence  of what is going on
 out-side, are like the wires which  run from the cen-
 tral  office to_the several station boxes.   The  quick
 Bensation of injury or danger  to the  body which is
 borne along these nerves to_ the brain, is like send-
 ing to the central office from a station  box the intelli-
 gence of firejn one of the districts.  The rapid trans-
 mission of orders from the mind  to the muscle, is  like
 flashing the alarm over the wires to all parts of the
 city.   The sensorium of the  brain  is like  the voltaic
 batt ry at the central office; Avhile the  ideal powers
 of mind, may be compared  to the  operator.   When
 no intelligence is  being  received from  the station
 boxes, or imported from the operator, the battery is
 in a state of complete inactivity  ; and the same is true
 in respect to the sensorium of the  brain ;  which may
 be considered as always asleep—or in  a state of inac-
 tivity—unless aroused by external causes ; or by inter-
 nal demands from the ideal 
118            AUTOBIOGRAPHY  OF
   Evidently sensation from the external world can
reach the brain only by coming in contact with the
outward terminus of the sentient nerves; while indi-
vidual motives and  power of  muscular activity have
their origin in  the higher faculties of the  mind.
Which oft-times by the power of memory, appears to
prompt muscular motion in the same manner that the
fire alarm telegraph operator is moved to action ;  by
his remembrance of what is necessary for him  to  do
in the case of an alarm of fire.  Taking  this view of
the subject, and admitting it to be a fact in principle,
we readily see that the sensorium is the medium of
two positive extremes ; and, that while the nerves of
sense retain their normal  powers, that the  sensorium
cannot resist  impresrional encroachment.   Hence, in
order  that the  brain—ideal and sensorial—may  be-
come irrecognizant of surroundings,  it is  plain t that
 there must be a pervertion or  suspension of nervous
power  to transmit sensation.  In sleep, we  have a
practical manifestation of this  phenomena, viz.: sus-
pension of nervous  power  to  transmit  sensation.
Sleep, therefore, is  dormancy of nervous sense, instead
of dormancy of the sensorium  and ideal  powers ;  for
both of these  latter powers may be in a state of activ-
ity, while a person is in a condition of profound  sen-
sient slumber—a fact illustrated by somnambulists and
 somniloquists.
    There is no gradation  limits in the phenomena of
i ordinary sleep.   When (a) person'slumbers they  are
i devoid of every faculty  of sense, they can  neither 
DR. D. B. KELLOGG.
119
 hear, see, smell, taste, or feel;  do not recognize pain,
 and have no knowledge of personal movements; in
 short, are dead to all_ external surroundings,  and to
 everything but the ideal powers of their own  mind ;
 and this result is simply because the nervous fluid is
 in a  state_ of lethargy,  superinduced by one  or  the
 other of the following causes of sleep, namely: mus-
 cular  or sensorial fatigue; narcotic influence ; com-
■pression of brain ; or induction of electro-magnetism
 sufficient to  cause sensuous inactivity :  or more prop-
 erly/magnetic slumber, and this is what  is termed
 mesmeri-m.   /? . /XS".  --'-3   /£.$', /*/
 ,■/} Sleep resulting from muscular and nervous fatigue,
 is the ordinary phenomena of healthy slumber, and to
 arrive at this  condition is an  every day experience.
 By exercise, the nervous system suffers such a  change
 that it becomes reduced to a condition requiring inac-
 tivity, and recuperative rest; or in  other words, con-
 tinuous action, so exhausts the nervous system that it
 naturally bee mes indisposed  to  nervous  action.  It
 is while in this condition, that a sensation of sleepiness
 is felt.   Stronger or more  interesting external impres-
 sion, or stronger ideal, or intellectual  tendencies are
 necessary to keep one  awake after  great nervous fa-
 tigue than  before.  While in  this  condition, if one
 retires from  a noise to a soft  couch he has only to
 close his eyes, so as to obstruct the power of vision,
 and discontinues to  make demand  upon  the  nerves
 of sense by  bringing the higher faculties of the mind
 to a state  of tranquility,  to cause these  nerves of 
120
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF
sense to naturally relapsj into a complete state of in-
activity.   We may therefore consider nervous exhaus-
tion as the primary, predisposing cause of _sleep ; and
the  avoiding  of external impression  as  the  more
immediate cause ; and that ordinary slumber is simply
inertia of sense.  While a person is in a  condition of
ordinary or even magnetic sleep, I do not believe.that
the concient  action of the nerves of sense or senso-
rium of the brain are stopped by an accumulation of
blood within  the brain ; for I can see no possible need
of any such supposition.  But in  a case of sleep pro-
duced by narcotics, there is some reason to suppose
that the vessels of the  brain become distended with
blood, and thereby obstruct the action of the concient
nerves;  and  this is  the probable result in  cases of
compression, which sometimes results in morbid sleep.
When there can be  no  consient action of the brain
aroused, there can be no nervous sensation  excited ;
for  the co existence of a concient action of the_or-
ganic and cerebral extremities of a nerve is as  essen-
tial to a sensation, as two tongs put together are to a
 pair of tongs.
    It is erroneous to suppose that the ideal powers of
mind,  (meaning by (his term the faculties of thought,
memory,  and the motive powers  of action,)  are nec-
 essarily reduced to  a  condition of  slumber during
nervous inactivity of sense or sleep.  Dreams are the
result  of ideal Avakefulness and activity:  and  the
 walking  and  talking  phenomena characteristic   of
 somnambulists and eomniloquists prove, tl at a person 
DR. D.  B. KELLOGG.
121
may be bereft of the powers of nervous sensation or
feeling, and still retain intellectual or  ideal wakeful-
ness and active motive  powers ;  thus proving that
sleep is merely suspension of inductive nervous sen-
sation, or dormancy of that portion of  organic nerves
which are employed in conveying sense from external
objects to the sensorium of the brain.
    What, the peculiar elementary  proportion  of the
nervous organization are, is an unsettled subject of in-
vestigation.  Sir Benjamin Brodie, says: "that the
nervous force is probably some modification of that
force which produces the  phenomena of electricity
and magnetism."   The probable idea  designed  to be
conveyed, is, that the nervous fluid  or force, is both
 electrical and magnetic ;  hence, positive and negative.
 We have seen that there are two sets  of nerves pecu-
liar to the human organism, and that one of these sets
 are absorbents or magnetic courses, leading  from the
 external world to  the brain.  This  set  is defined as
 the nerves  of sense ; and these are evidently  (owing
 to their absorbent powers)  susceptible to  magnetic
 induction to "an extent sufficient to cause inactivity;
 therefore may be considered as the negative power;
 while the other set leading from the  brain, directly
 and  indirectly, by means of the  spinal  cord,  and
 which we have seen—are thejnedial cause of motion,
 may  be considered the positive  individual  power.
 We may reasonably suppose that thisjatter  set  of
 nerves are charged with an electrode force or agent
 generated in the brain and spinal cord by the metal 
122
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF
 bearing fluid  and electro-generating powers  of  the
 blood, by a process comparatively like  the  action  of
 the acid solutions on the metalic phites in the cells  of
 an ordinary voltaic battery.  This theory of electric
 generating power of the brain is pretty Avell substan-
 tiated by Avell known physiological  facts.  One-fifth
 of the blood in the human organism goes into the sen-
 sorium of the  brain.  Hamatin, one of the constitu-
 ents of the  blood, contains  about eight per-cent of
 iron; while other portions contain, in smaller quanti-
 ties, other metals.  Hence, taking into consieieration
' the quantity of blood sent to the brain, in connection
 with the fact that its metalic constituents are favora-
 ble to electric generation, it appears reasonable to in-
 fer that the cerebral battery (I  use  this  term  in  de-
 fault of a more accurate one) is charged  by the elec-
 tric chemical action of these metalic properties of the
 blood.  If this theory of electric generation be true,
 the brain may be considered as an electric reservoir,
 from which originate the primary powers of muscular
 action.   From this it will be seen that the  nerves of
 motion may act independent of the nerves of sense.
 In fact, it is only by making this division of the ner-
 vous powers.that we can explain the phenomena of
 sleep or  stupefaction of  the powers of sense, in con-
 nection with ideal wakefulness and muscular  motion
 displayed by  somnambulists and  somriloquists.  No
 )one will  deny  but  what these two phenomena  do co-
 exist.  Dreams, are simply  a  phrase  of somnumbu-
, J.'sm, and there is  hardly a person but what is subject
. to dreams. 
DR. D. B.  KELLOGG.
123
   There are many logical proofs of this theory  of
distinct nervous power; but I imagine that  sufficient
has been offered to illustiate my position in regard to
duality of nervous powers and the phenomena of sleep.
   I hold that sleep, both ordinary and mesmeric, is *
simply cessation of the poAvers of sense, and that  to
arrive at either of these conditions it is not absolutely
necessary that the electric powers cf the brain should
become dormant; or, in other  words, I contend that
while a person is in a condition of absolute  stupefac-
tion of the organic nerves of sense, he may retain the
ideal and motive powers of mind in a condition of ac-
tivity.  Hence the peculiar srjecies of .sleep communi-
cated by "tlie art of mesmerism is the satne as is mani-^
fesled in ordinary sleep, namely :  dormancy of the five '
organicfaculties  of sense.  Let the  reader bear in
raTndthat I am here considering the art  of mesmer-
ism in its lowest  degree, as a_sleepiproducing and  or-
ganic-controlling power, without any regard to its
higher or  psychological influence  over the mental
 powers.  I have said that ordinary sleep  was the le-
 gitimate effect of nervous fatigue or exhaustion, and
 that slumber produced by narcotics or compression of
 the bram, is the result of forced stupefaction of the
 cerebral extremity of the nerves of sense; and mes-
 meric plumber was caused by an Induction of an elec-
 tric  current sufficient to overcome  the positive force
 o7 the~nerves  of ^ifition.   Each of these phases of
 sleep areTubji'Ct to the~same law, and all are in fact
 one in principle, beu^the_result of a disturbance of 
124
AUTOBIOGRAPHY  OF
the natural equilibrium existing between  the two ex-
tremities of the nerves of sense.
   To produce the magnetic coma, it is necessary the
natural force of sense should be overcome by the in-
troduction of a more positive magnetic power, or, in
other words, a positive and negative power must be
brought in conjunction.  This positive power  is that
magnetic current which imperceptibly flows from one
body to another, as a sensational medium.  Ordinary
sensation is a simple phase of  magnetism;  all  objects
which attract the mind are positive to the mind, to the
full extent of the attraction ;  and those  which  repel
are to the same extent negative.   This fact is demon-
strated by  our sympathies and antipathies, our likes
and dislikes, our attractions and repulsions.  Nervous
sensation, being thus closely allied to vital magnetism,
we find that, in order to induce magnetic sleep, there
must be certain necessary qualifications.   First, there
•nust be  an  absolute negative, anel positive  power;
secondly, the equilibrium existing between the two
extremities  (cerebral and organic) of the nervous or-
ganism  of the negative power or subject, must be
disturbed by the positive power, or operator.   These
principles are absolute, being, as they are, the funda-
mental basis of the law of attraction   and  organic
connection, or combined action of separate organism.
When these absolute conditions exist, the phenomena
of magnetic sleep may be produced by adhering to
simple rules of operation.  The subject, (who of course
must be  the negative," has only to sit in an easy posi- 
DR. D.  B. KELLOGG.
125
tion and concentrate his or her gaze steadily and calmly
upon some convenient object, designated by the ope-
rator.   Tranquility of mind, calm concentration of
gaze, and willingness to enter the  magnetic sleep, is
all that is required ©f the subject.
   While the subject is in this required condition, the
operator-(-who must be the positive power-*-must re-
gard him or her visually and mentally with  a fixed,
determined, and definite purpose, to overcome nervous
activity.  After doing this for about two minutes, the
operator should breathe gently on the  face and head
of the  subject, and this should be continued until the
subject manifests optical fatigue.   Then let the opera-
tor raise  his hands gently above the subject's head,
and bring them down softly, brushing the  sides of the
head;  place them upon the shoulders,  and let them
rest there for one minute;  then continue  the down-
ward motion,  with  a gentle sweep, to the  tips of the
fingers ; raise them with a spiral movement, and re-
turn them, Avith the palms  outward, to the head as
before.  This manipulating process should be contin-
ued for twenty or thirty minutes.  Where the subject
is extremely nervous or sensitive,  it is necessary for
the operator to take his position several feet from them.
There  is no necessity for muscular effort on the part of
the magnetizer.   His movements should not be rapid,
but easy, graceful, and attractive.   These simple pro-
cesses  are all that is necessary  to produce the phe-
nomena of mesmerism ; providing, the before  men-
tioned  absolute  requirement  exist, namely: positive
and negative powers. 
126
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF
    There are various other  formulas  besides  this in
vogue among magnetic operators, but all additions are
simply gotten up for mystic effect.
    Two questions naturally arise :   First, what are
the sensations experienced by the  subject?  and  sec-
ondly, what changes are there wrought in the organ-
ism of the subject by this manipulatory process, pro-
viding there should be a magnetic effect?  In Chapter
III, I have given a partial account of my own exp* ri-
ence  and sensations while under magnetic influence.
The first sensation is generally experienced in the
visual nerves of the eye.   This sensation is very much
like that experienced by a person who has looked at
the noonday sun until his eyesight has become dimmed
or blurred ; next, if the eyes are closed,  the lids of the
eyes will assume a feeling of extreme heaviness, which
will increase in  power until they utterly  lose the sense
of feeling, and if the operator continues  his manipula-
tions  according to the above  formula, the  arms  and
hands will be subject to an increasing volume  of par-
alyzing numbness and ce>ld,  until sensation  utterly
fails.   When the subject is in complete magnetic con-
dition he is bereft of every faculty  of sense.
   Many suppose that when a person is magnetized
they experience a prickly sensation,  peculiar to that
felt in case of stagnation  of  the blood.  This  idea, I
think, is entirely erroneous—at least my OAvn extensive
experience proves it so to be.  I never experienced
any physical sensation different from the sensations of
ordinary sleep.   I make this assertion, well kne)win<r 
DR. D. B. KELLOGG.
127
that many  others have  given contrary testimony—
have testified that they have experienced most horrid
physical sensations during  magnetic slumber—all of
which I believe to be purely imaginary,  or willful de-
ception  on  their part.   That the introduction of an
electro-magnetic current produces contraction of the
muscles—which to the casual observer might  appear
to cause suffering to  the subject—I readily admit; but
that the subject experiences any such sense of suffer-
ing, I deny ; for contraction of the muscles by mag-
netic power cannot be produced  until the  nerves of
sense are in a state of stupefaction.
    In considering the changes wrought  in the  organ-
ism of  a  person under magnetic  effect, it becomes
necessary to enquire into the properties and power of
electro-magnetism.   The extreme change, I have al-
ready said, was stupefaction of sense; but how sense
is stupefied, becomes the dominant query.
    It is universally admitted that all bodies, both ani-
mate and inanimate, contain a subtle fluid called nat-
ural electricity, which  is composed  of  two contrary
fluids, termed positive and negative electricity.  That
these fluids consist of an infinite number of small par-
ticles, which possess attractive and repulsive powers,
is also admitted.   While bodies are at rest these fluids
are counterbalanced, or in  other words, then  the at-
tractive power of one of the fluids  is  conquered by
the repulsive  power of the other.   Hence, to cause
magnetism, there must  be  a decomposition of one of
these electric powers.   This decomposition is brought 
128             AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF
  about by a disturbance in the equilibrium naturally
  existing between the positive  and negative powers.
  The disturbance which takes place in the organism of
  the subject is caused by an induced current of active
  electricity, emanating from the operator,  which has
  power to repel the sensational medium of the nerves,
  from the external to the internal surface, thereby mak-
  ing the operator and subject, so far as the positive and
  negative forces are concerned, as  one  body.   Or,  in
  other words, the magnetizer, who is the positive force,
  by his superior active electric power forces a portion
  of that principle, which in the  normal  state  of the
  subject formed the medium of sensation, from the  or-
  ganic terminus  of the nerve into  the cerebro-spinal
  centres and the centres pertaining to the anterior por-
  tion of the brain; and, in consequence of the depart-
  ure of the elements of sensation  from  the nervous
  channels of the body, the latter is reduced to a sense-
  less, death-like slumber.  Hence, magnetic slumber is
I  produced by electrically increasing^the positive  princi-
  ple of natural electricity  contained in a body to  an
  extent sufficient to  destroy the equilibrium existing
  between the  attractive and  repulsive powers.  Ail
i  positives control their negatives  the moment  equali-
  zation, or equilibrium is destroyed.
    To deny mesmerism, or deny that magnetic coma
  can be produced, is  synonomous to a denial of animal
  electric power, and the law of attraction and repulsion.
  Animal electric power  is  undeniable.    The electric
  manifestations of the torpedo, or electric ray, and gym- 
DR. D. B.  KELLOGG.
129
 notus, or electric eel, fully proves  that  animal life is
 subject to continuous disturbance  in  the  equilibrium
 of the molecules, or electric particles of the body; and
 that every disturbance is accompanied by a liberation
 of active electricity; and the phenomena of receiving
 shocks from these animals proves  that the senscient
 nerves are natural absorbents  of foreign electro  cur-
 rents.   There are many, who, while they  admit  self-
 evident animal electric power, utterly deny the phe-
 nomena of  animal magnetism;  but upon  what they
 base their admission of the one and denial of the other
 is incomprehensible, seeing  that both phenomena are
 but different phases of the same cause.  Magnetism is
 dependent upon electricity as a primary principle, or
 first cause;  and electricity is dependent upon magnet-
 ism for means of manifestation of power.  The  shocks
 of the gymtiotus in some instances cause numbness of
 of sense, in  other instances  it has been known to have
 no effect. Flagg gives an  account of a lady of his
 acquaintance who could handle this fish at will.  This
 person could not have been  magnetized at all, and if
 all were like her  impervious  to electricity,  electric
 power must  have remained  a matter  of speculation ; j
 for we only  know its powers by its effect.  Electricity
 produced by artificial means will, when applied  in a
continuous current, produce inactiAdty of sense upon
 a person who is in a proper  magnetic condition,  and
this fact proves that certain conditions are necessary
to electric manifestations, regardless of source or fun-
damental power.   Hence, when  a  subject is in a pro-
      5 
130
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF
per condition he may be controlled by electric power
emanating from a positive operator.
   To say that the human organism cannot  emit a
current of electricity, is simply absurd; for if they can
receive^hey can impart.   We might as Avell contend
that a cloud charged with electricity does not  emit a
bolt of lightning, as to say that man ha3 no  poAver
to discharge  a current of electricity; for if there  is
an electric current in the human organism there musi
be a continuous discharge, in exact proportion to ac-
cumulation, in order to keep up equilihrium.   When
this equilibrium is destroyed, paralysis of the nervous
centres must nesessarily follow, and this  paralysis is
simply magnetic coma.  Lightning produces paralysis
by a powerful induction  of concentrated electricity.
A ray of sunlight elirect upon the eye causes paralysis
of  the nerves of the eye, by continuous induction  of
the same  power.   In either case the result is the same,
and is simply sensuous inactivity, or lethargy of the
senscient  nerves.
    There is  a great amount of personal  testimony
substantiative of the phenomena of magnetism. Even
in the days of Mesmer, those who opposeel  it  as a sci-
ence admitted its woneierful effects, as may  be  seen
by a perusal of the report made by the medical faculty
of Paris,  in  1784.   Notwithstanding this report was
unfavorable to the pretentions of Mesmer, it failed to
uproot the outAvard manifestations of the phenomena.
Hence, in 1826 another commission was formed to fur-
nish another report.  These commissioners we;re com- 
DR. D.  B. KELLOGG.
181
pelled to be more careful in their  investigations, for,
the public—OAving to their increase in knowledge of
the phenomena—stood ready to take the right of judg-
ment into their own possession.   These jurors  ren-
dered a more favorable verdict than  did their prede-
cessors.  The following is an  abstract of their  con-
clusions.    After  admitting  "that  sleep  may be
produced under circumstances in which the subjects
have not been able to perceive, and have been ignorant
of the agency employed to occasion the slumber," they
unqualifiedly assert that " the  real  effects produced by
magnetism are ATery varied.   It agitates some, calms
others ; it usually accelerates the respiration and cir-
culation ; causes convulsive  motions similar to electric
shocks, a lassitude, and torpor more or less profound ;
somnolence, and in a limited number of cases what was
by the operator denominated somnambulism."   They
aeimitted that often "remarkable changes" took place
in the perceptions and faculties of certain  individuals
in  whom  somnambulism Avas produced by magnetic
passes.   They considered it certain that the  somnam-
bulic state  did exist,  and were equally certain  that it
gave rise to the development of new faculties, Avhich
then, as noAV, was designated by the term, " Clairvoy-
ance, intuition, and internal  perception."
    These conclusions were published by a profession-
ally prejudiced commission; yet apparent facts forced
them to admit all the pOAver that has ever been claim-
ed for the phenomena of mesmerism, namely: human
magnetism, somnambulism, and clairvoyance.   Since
nu 
i:i2
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF
 this famous report was published to the world, there
 has been  a continuous accumulation of testimony
 favorable to the phenomena.  There is hardly a person
 but what has witnessed its manifestations, and thous-
 ands have  personally experienced mesmeric influence.
 And yet, with all the mass of evidence which is ex-
 tant—highly confirmatory of the principles of magnet-
 ism—there is a class of supercilious pedagogues,  and
 disciples of electric science,  who attribute  all  the
 phases of magnetic phenomena  to imposture or  im-
 agination.   This class of pompous investigators must
 find a certain  degree of gall in  the admission of the
 profound thinker, La Place, who says, in speaking of
 magnetism, that  " We are so far from being acquaint-
 ed  Avith all the  agents of nature,  that it would be quite
 unphilosophical to deny the existence of the phenom-
 ena, merely because they are inexplicable in the present
 state  of our knowledge."   The  celebrated  Cuvier
 contradicts the idea that mesmerism is the  result of
 imagination.  He says :  " The effect on persons ignor-
 ant of the cause, and upon persons whom the operation
 itself has deprived of consciousness, and those effects
 which animals present, do not permit us to doubt that
 the proximity of two animal bodies, in certain electri-
 cal  conditions, combined  with  certain  movements,
 have a real effect, independent of all participations of
fancy.
    Spiritualists holdthat  mesmerism is the medium
 or vehicle of the very highest codes of morality and
 divine intelligence ; and for this  reason, men  of cleri- 
DR. D.  B.  KELLOGG.
133
 cal pretentions deny the existence of magnetic agency
 or electric intercourse, between mind and body.  These
 men first clamor for recognizance of their ideas of an-
 cient inspiration and modern assistance  of the spirit,
 and at the same time deny the only means by  which
 the phenomena of inspiration could be accomplished.
 They admit the power, but deny the means,  and at
 the same time clamor for the result.  Their arguments
 are  so inconsistently absurd that it would be folly to
 notice them were it not for their  seeming popularity.
    No science has struggled through more opposition
 than has this one of magnetism.  It has, in the hands
 of arrant charlatans, been made  the basis of mystic
 operations; has suffered gross  abuse from impostors
 and superficial  observers;  has been condemned by
 men of learning, and extravagantly upheld by  others
•of equal intelligence.  Yet, in  spite of all, it has ob-
 tained a modest position among the sciences,  which
 day by day is increasing in brilliancy through  the in-
 strumentality  of spirit intercourse.  For its  moral
 utility, I have only to refer you to the millions of our
 own countrymen who have  been led  from physical
 darkness into spiritual light by its developments, and
 to the thousands who are daily testifying to its physical I
 utility, in all parts of the world. 
13-1
AUTOBIOGRAPHY  OF
CHAPTER XV.
     SOMNAMBULISM AND CLAIRVOYANCE EXPLAINED.
 i
 \(
 )> I  HAVE said in the preceding chapter that Avhile
 ' I a subject was under magnetic  control,  much of
 J  that principle Avhich in the normal state forms the
medium of sensation, goes into the cerebro-spinal cen-
ters, and other  centers which pertain to the anterior,
or front part of the brain,  producing the external
phenomena  of  magnetic coma.   But this  does  not
comprehend the entire jsesult; for in proportion as the
body is deadened.the  mind is enlivened,  for the nat-
ural elements of the mind are then all absorbed in the
brain, except enough to maintain the moderate per-
formance of the organic functions.  When the mind
is enlivened through the means of sensient  stupefac-
tion, by magnetic induction, somnambulism is  the re-
sult.
    Somnambulism may be  produced  naturally, or  it
may be superinduced  by manipulations; but in either
case the somnambulist must be devoid of the powers
of sense.  It matters  not Iioav this  state is obtained,
for the result—or manifestations—are invariably the
same in character, but frequently different in degree. 
DR. D. B. KELLOGG.
135
Some persons while in this condition possess but little
more than ordinary perception and power  of accom-
plishment, Avhile others manifest much more than their
usual clearness of intellect, and  energy of muscles.
In nearly all cases, the same individual  when awake,
and when somnambulic, appears like two entirely dif-
ferent  characters.    How  these  entirely  different
conditions can be exhibited in  one individual, becomes
an interesting question.  Eminent experimental philo-
sophers have elucidated, to a certain extent,  the idea
that the  entire organism of Nature is pervaded AVith
a spii itual  or vitalizing  principle,  which is  diffuse fl
throughout  all the  wide realms  of creation.   This
vitalizing principle is  like the medium of sensation,
Avhich permeates the human body, and is  the  means
of communication betAvecn all bodies in nature.   It is
the  vehicle  of thought, of sense,  of  sympathy—in
short,  it js the connecting link between mind  and mat-
ter,  and between object and object.  It is the vitalizing
medium that gives  to the mind  or spirit power  to
manifest intelligence.  It is the grand vehicle of  uni-
versal influence;  and is the  great harmonizer of the
universe.  For, in pervading  and  travorsing bodies, it
modifies them; and is equally modified by them  in
turn,- and where it circulates from one body to another
with the same force or power, these two  bodies are
maintained in harmonious relations, one towards the
other.   It is through the instrumentality of this  fluid
that our nerves receive  sensations from surrounding
objects or bodies.   Being the medium of sympathy, 
130
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF
it is the underlying principle of social order, anel the
operative means of intelligence.  The mind slopes our
actions in accordance with the idea conveyed by this
all pervading fluid.
   Man is a two-fold being ;  besides the external or-
gans of sense—the nerves—he is endowed with cor-
responding internal organs of sensibility.  The nerves
are the magnetic plexus or wires, which connect the
interior being with  the objective  world ; they are a
bridge upon Avhich the exact image of external objects
and influences travel into the sensorium ; anel by their
means alone the spirit holds converse Avith the  outer
Avorld.  It is the mind alone  that sees, hears,  feels,
and reflects; all else, so far as innate powers are con-
cerned, is blind, deaf, dead;  for the body is but the
vestment of the mind—the  clothing of the spirit—
with sense adapted to the present  mode of existence.
Hence, the vitalizing principle—the medium of sensa-
tion—Avhich permeates the nervous  system, is  but a
protracted extension of mind.  As the branches which
diverge from the bowl of the tree  are  a part of the
tree, so is the nervous system which springs from the
brain a part of the brain.  The  vitalizing principle in
the smallest tAvig is  the same  in kind as  that  which
permeates the boll;  so the vitalizing principle  of the
nerves is synonomous to the  same  element in the sen-
sorium.  The frosts  of winter send a large portion of
the vitalizing principle contained in the  twio- back
into the boll or roots, the reservoir from Avhence it
sprang;  so the equilibrium-destroying powers of ma«- 
DR. D. B. KELLOGG.
137
netism send the vitalizing  principle  of the nervous
system, which is the medium of sensation,; back  into
its fountain or reservoir, which is the sensorium of the
brain.
   When this vital principle which before  pervaded
the external organism is by magnetic  power trans-
ferred to the interior department  of  the brain,  the
mind, in  some instances, appears to be impressed with
delicate and sublime ideas;  anel often an individual is
made to appear, in deportment and expression, as an-
other person.  At times, individuals of ordinary nat-
ural  abilities have been known to  give expression to
profound and refined intelligence while in a condition
of natural somnambulism.   The reasoning powers of
others appear to be intensified, and unusually vigorous
and successful.   Ambercrombie adduces a remarkable
example  of intensified powers of reason,  while  in  a
somnambulic condition, in the case of a distinguished
lawyer of the last century, winch is as follows:  " This
eminent person had been consulted respecting  a case
of great  importance and much difficulty, and he had
been studying it with intense anxiety and  attention.
After several days had been occupied  in this manner,
he was observed by his wife to rise from his bed in
the night, and go to a writing desk which stood in the
bed-room.  He then sat down and  wrote a long paper,
which he carefully put by in the desk and returned to
bed.   The following morning he told his wife that he
had  had  a  most interesting dream;  that he  had
dreamed of  delivering a clear and luminous opinion 
138
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF
respecting a case which had exceedingly  perplexed
him, and he would give anything to rece>ver the train
of thought which had passed before him in his  sleep.
She then directed him to the Avriting desk,  where he
found the opiuion, clearly and fully Avritten out.   It
was afterward found to be perfectly correct."
    In this instance, the reasoning powers of the sleep-
er were perceptibly intensified ; and this phenomena
was, in all probability, in consequence of inactivity of
sense.   External objects could not distract or pervert
the mind, hence there was  nothing to prohibit con-
centration of thought.
    Man's visible physical organization, being, as it is,
the cradle of the spirit,  is  perfectly adapted  to  the
objects anel convolving circumstances of the external
world.  The higher aspirations  of the rapt soul  or
mind is often chained down  by the  sensuous  condi-
tions of life.  But  sometimes, Avhen  these sensuous
conditions are laid aside in  sleep, the unchained mind
soars into brighter, purer, loftier spheres, anel the or-
dinary man appears to be gifted with new powers of
thought.  The poet  who, with energies unfettered by
sense, depicts the loveliness of our spiritual nature,
is like the somnambulist, whose impressions are often
very distinct and delightful, because the attention
and sensibilities of the mind are no longer perverted
or distracted by the intrusion of impressions from the
outer  world, which  is common  in tho ordinary or
working state.
   Somnambulism may be philosophically  considered 
DR. D.  B. KELLOGG.
139
as the incipient manifestations  of mind, unaided by
the organic organs of sense;  or, in other words, it is
an independent demonstration of the soul, a manifest-
ation of  innate  ideas,  vdiich  are  uncontrolled by
counter-acting perception.   Ideas have  their  origin
in the  mind,  while perceptions are the offspring of
sense.   Somnambulism is not clairvoyance. Clairvoy-
ance means clear vision.  The clairvoyant sees objects,
anel can analyze and eiescribe them; but the somnam-
bulist sees nothing, nor does he comprehend anything
outside of his own mind.  Every idea to which they
give utterance comes from  their garnered  store of
knowledge, anel though they may promulgate ideas
more exalteel than they are wont to Avhen in an ordi-
nary state, still these ideas can have  no  other  origin
than in their individual mind, unless there is magnetic
connection between the somnambule and  some foreign
intelligence of sufficient power to cause  the  Hypno-
tic phenomena, of which I shall speak hereafter.
    The state of somnambulism is a condition  totally
different from that of ordinary life.   The animal sen-
sibilities undergo an essential change, and the ordinary
activity of the corporeal faculties are for a time sus-
pended.  But the ideal mind—the immaterial  princi-
ple—i.he very soul itself—displays its unfettered en-
ergies  iiidejsenelent'of the material organs.  Thoughts
which  have been garnered into  the mind  by  study,
but which have  been held  there by the controlling
powers of sense, find means of utterance while the
senses sleep. 
140
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF
   The  well-authenticated  phenomena of magnetic
somnambulism is, in this day of progressive  science,
a weapon  of mighty power  in the field of  human
scepticism.  As electricity explains the thunder, as
astronomy explains the appearance of comets and the
causes of eclipses, so human  magnetism explains the
mystic phenomena formerly attributed to  magic  and
witchcraft, which in past days of ignorance was as-
cribed to supernatural agencies.   The fact that an
emanation  of vital  magnetism from  one individual
may act upon another—just as an emanation from the
brain acts upon the fingers—effectually annihilates the
miserable superstition in regard to strange,  supernat-
ural, and chimerical potencies, by  teaching  us most
impressively to see in ourselves the natural cause of
many strange and wierd-like effects.  And while mag-
netism prove.this; somnambulism proves  the  quality
of man, by bringing out in bold and  undeniable re-
lief the  interior mind,  independent of the  organic
functions of sense.
   It should be remembered that all  somnambulists
do not manifest any extraordinary exaltation of ideas;
in fact, a large portion who are subject to this  state
naturally,  simply display their ordinary powers of
mind.  This class generally re-inact, their  more recent
occupations.  I know an individual who  was a natu-
ral somnambule, who, on one occasion, while asleep
took the straw from  his own bed and bound it  into
bundles.   During the day he had  been employed in
binding oats, and on this occasion he dreamed he was 
DR. D.  B. KELLOGG.
141
 engaged in the same  employment.   This individual
 mind never soared beyond the limits of sensuous per-
 ceP^Lons-  His waking and sleeping ideas invariably
 flowed in the same channel; for, according to his own
 account, his dreams were always perfectly practical
 ideas, utterly devoid of fantastic imagery or fanciful
 flights.
   The  somnambulic manifestations of  Miss  Susan
 Packard, of Geneva, N. Y., furnishes a striking con-
 trast to the above, and fully illustrates the  opposite
 extreme.  This lady was naturally shy and retiring in
 her manners, when  in an ordinary state.  All of her
 early life had been devoted to  service as a "help" in
 the culinary department of a  boarding-house.   Her
 education was supposed to be rather below ordinary.
 In  short, she was looked upon  as  being extremely
 commonplace, and no one ever thought of giving her
 credit for more than a very common degree of intelli-
 gence.  At the age of fifteen she was prostrated with
 a severe illness, and it was during her recovery  from
 this that her first somnambulic manifestation occurred.
 One night the inmates of the  house where  she was
 stopping were aroused from their slumber by an un-
 usual manifestation of chanting melody.  At first the
 listeners supposed the beautiful music came from some
 wandering serenader; but upon investigation it was
 found that the singing was executed in the  room where
 Susan was sleeping, and at once they proposed to  in-
 vestigate the phenomena.  The noise  made by the
listeners in their endeavors to open the  door, awoke 
142
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF
her; whereupon she enquired what was wanting.  In
answer to their enquiry of who had been singing in
her room, Susan replied that she  hael not heard  any
singing that night; and she was further positive that
there had been no music in her room, for there was no
one there besides herself,  and she  had been  sound
asleep all night.  At this the aroused inmates retired,
supposing they had been deceived as to the locality
from whence the melody had proceeded.  But before
morning they were again aroused by a repetition of
the  same melodious chanting; and again  following
the sound, they traced  it to the room occupied by this
lady.  Some one advanced the idea that Susan, who
was the only inmate  of the room, might possibly be
singing in her sleep ; and in accordance with this hint,
they proceeded  to enter the room as still as possible.
On entering, they found the idea fully corroborated,
for there lay Susan apparently wrapped in profound
and peaceful slumber, singing a beautiful chant, every
word and intonation  of which was rendered with the
same artistic skill that  was displayed by the leader of
the village choir.
    For two  years following this time this lady was
almost nightly subject to somnambulic manifestations.
At times she would sing, and  at others she would en-
gage in oratorical delivery; and  on one occasion she
was discovered reenacting a tragic  scene  she  had a
short time before witnessed at a theatrical perform-
ance.
   There was something remarkable in these sleeping 
                DR.  D. B. KELLOGG.             143

performances of Susan Packard.  Her ideas appeared
to be elevated; still she never  undertook to  do any-
thing different from what she had seen others do.  She
sang the most difficult pieces performed by the village
choir, but in no instance did she undertake common
music ;  also her oratorical deliveries were always im-
itations of the very finest addresses to which she had
listened.  Evidently she only gave ^expression to her
own innate ideas;  for if such had »ot been the  case,
she would at  times undoubtedly have performed some-
thing she had not before heard or  witnessed.   Still,
she performed things of which she was  absolutely in-
capable when in her ordinary condition ; and this in-
capacity was  probably owing to the operations of her
nervous organism.
   I have so  far considered somnambulism only as  a
natural phenomena, merely to show how closely it is
allied to the  phenomena  of hypnotism, or magnetic
somnambulism.  I do not believe that a natural  som-
nambule ever expresses  an idea foreign  to  his own
mind;  while  at the same  time  I am forced to admit
that they often display most wonderful  powers.   But
I believe that this unusual display  of intelligence by
soranambules is in consequence of  mental emancipa-
tion from organic thraldom,  instead of any influx of
foreign intelligence.
   That somnambulism caused by magnetic processes,
differs from the natural phenomena sufficiently to cause
mediums to be  capable of receiving and imparting
foreign intelligence, is fully proven by the hypnotic 
144
AUTOBIOGRAPHA' OF
phenomena, so illustrated by Mr. Broid; who by ex-
periment found that persons subject to magnetic som-
nambulism were susceptible to an increase of intellec-
tual powers while in that condition.   Mr. Broid  tried
his hypnotic experiments on persons of  different de-
grees of intelligence,  but invariably found  that the
normal capacity of a subject made no difference in the
result.  A girl from one of the  work-houses  of  Man-
chester (England), who was ignorant of the grammar
of her own language when awake, was found when in
a condition of magnetic somnambulism to be capable
of accompanying any  one  in  singing songs in any
language, giving both notes and words correctly.  This
wonderful feat she was altogether incompetent of per-
forming in  her natural or waking condition.
    On one  occasion this girl was tested by the Swed-
ish Nightingale, Jenny Lind, who tried her  somnam-
bulic  powers to the utmost.  Jenny sang a continual
strain of the most difficult roulades and cadenzas, in-
cluding some  of her  extraordinary sostenuto notes,
with all their inflections,  from pianissimo  to forte-
crescendo ;  but in all these fantastic tricks and displays
of vocal genius she was so closely followed and  accu-
rately imitated by the somnambulist, that at times it
was impossible to tell, merely by hearing, that  there
were two individuals singing.  Mr. Brdid's hypnotized
subjects would, when  in proper  magnetic  condition,
accurately repeat what another individual was reading
in a separate room, word for word, and although they
could  not hear  them,  their  pronunciation  would be 
DR. D.  B. KELLOGG.
14ft
simultaneous  with the reader, and  correspond with
their inflections and variations of sound.
   Hypnotic  somnambulists are  simply  mediums "'of
foreign intelligence—a sort of spout through which
flows ideas emanating from other minds than their
own.  They have no recollection of what they do or
say; nor do their manifestations of intelligence in any
way influence their  waking thoughts.  When under
the influence of certain persons they simply reiterate
what they express; and during all these performances
their nervous system is in a condition  of complete
dormancy,  every sense is inactive, and  though they
repeat only what is vocally expressed by  those under
whose control they may at the time be, they appear to
make no use of the  organs of hearing, while at the
same time they are unable to give expression to un-
uttered thoughts. Apparently the same power that
causes vocal expression in the operator by magnetic
power sets in motion  the vocal organs of the som-
nambule.
   This hypnotic phenomena is  in  principle synon-
ymous to the somnambulic manifestations of modern
spiritual mediums.  The medium, who,  in a  stale of
unconsciousness,  gives utterance to foreign intelli-
gence, is simply a hypnotic somnambulist, and nothing
more.  They give utterance to the expressed thoughts
of an invisible,  though actual intelligence, and like
the hypnotic subject, they are simply machines, oper-
ated by  a foreign power.    Magnetic somnambulism
and the phenomena of hypnotism may be considered 
146
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF
as the second degree of human magnetism, or higher
phase of magnetic art.   No particular difference in
fundamental principles is involved in these tried phases
of mesmerism; for somnambulism is  the  natural re-
sult  of continued  induction of a magnetic  current.
But while the principles are the same, the effects are
widely different.  For in simple mesmerism the sub-
ject loses only the powers of sense ; but in this second,
or somnambulic degree, he loses not  only these, but
the conscious powers of mind.   Any  person who can
be thrown into  a somnambulic state by a living opera-
tor, can become a trance speaker, or hypnotic operator
and spiritual medium.
   I have said that somnambulism  was not clairvoy-
ance ; still pthe two phenomena are closely allied. The
mind of the natural somnambule at_times, as  we have
seen, appears to be exalted; while in other instances,
where the phenomena has been superinduced by mag-
netic power, it is like the senses, deadened or reduced
to an unconscious  and inoperative condition;  from
which  state, if the  magnetic  current he continued
properly, it will enter into the third magnetic degree,
which is clairvoyance.
   Clairvoyance is a French term, meaning " clear
vision," and is by Webster defined as " the power of
discerning objects not visible Jo the  senses, by  mag-
netic influence."  But  while the term implies  clear
perception of things beyond the power of bodily vis-
ion, it does not imply an understanding of the things
observed.  A passable* good clairvoyant may  be  a 
DR. D. B. KELLOGG.
147
ready observer of things, and yet be incapable of ren-
dering a definite description of what he sees.  I have
known good clairvoyants, with vision perfectly clear,
who could see diseases in the human body ; who could
discern distant objects ; and yet their understandings
were so undeveloped that they were incapable of de-
nominating the disease, or discovering proper remedies,
or even describing the objects which they saw.  This
fact will not surprise us when we recollect  that clair-
voyance means simply clear vision, without reference
Avhatever to the state of the understanding.   Hence,
the reason why some apparently  good  clairvoyants
fail to  impart a clear  and accurate idea of what they
distinctly see, is OAving to the limitations of their  in-
tellects and  descriptive powers.   Thus the  errors
which  are often committed by clairvoyants is  not
owing to a design to deceive on their part, nor influx
of deception from evil spirits—which  some supersti-
tious sectarians affirm to be the case—but is solely in
consequence of a lack of comprehension on the part
of the  subject.  Let the reader remember the indepen-
dent clairvoyant receives no  influx  of intelligence
from foreign sources—that he relies upon his own nat-
ural abilities of comprehension, and that he receives
no exaltation  of intellectual  power, farther than an
exaltation of the powers of perception. Keeping these
facts in mind, we can easily comprehend the truth,
that the clairvoyant state is  not one which puts  the
subject in possession  of boundless wisdom, but a con-
dition, properly speaking,  in which the mind has  a 
148
AUTOBIOGRAPHY  OF
clear vision, independent of the external senses ;  and
that the inferences of the subject is always in propor-
tion to their inate understanding, or interior develop-
ment of mind.
    The phenomena of clairvoyance can be elucidated
or philosophically accounted  for,  by logical conclu-
sions, deduced from the hypothesis of nervous quality
alone.  If man is not a two-fold being then the  phe-
nomena of clairvoyance cannot exist; for  if the ex-
ternal organs of sight are the only means of vision, it
would be simply impossible for the mind to discern
objects when the orbs of sight were obstructed.  But
if there is a quality of vision, an external and internal
power of actual perception, clairvoyance is, to say the
least, possible.   I think there is no one who will doubt
the idea  of human quality; for to deny it is synon-
ymous to a denial of spirit existence.  If man is not
a two-fold being, the organic  faculties are the  ultra
limit of existence ; or, in other words, sense and mind
are one and the  same.   But the  fact that man has
memory  and powers  of reason, combined with the
innate belief of  a separate mental existence hereafter,
when the external organs of sense shall  have mould-
ered back to their elementary level, clearly demon-
strates to every one whose mind is not hampered  by
the foolish theories of materialism, that man, here in
his primary condition, is a dual being, endowed  with
spiritual  and organic powers.  Hence, if man is  two-
fold, it is but common  sense to infer that  the outer
organs of vision, like all the other senses, are but the 
DR. D.  B. KELLOGG.
149
^ternal f°rnM °f interior principles corresponding to
them;  and that while the eye reflects objects, it is the
mind alone that comprehends.
   The clairvoyant is bereft of the external powers of
vision—that is, the organic faculty of sight has  lost
its positive and negative principle of equilibrium by
magnetic disturbance of the vitalic medium of sensa-
tion is perverted.   The mind now fully  spiritualized
or disenthralled, retains all its normal powers of active
intellectuality.   The mind naturally  visually discerns
objects by  means of the organs of sight; which organs
are exactly suited to the convolving circumstances of
ordinary life.  They are the material senses, and  are
perfectly adapted to material life, but are inadequate
to the spiritual powers of the mind.  No sensation of
a spirituajjaature can penetrate the higher faculties of
the mind, through these material organs, no more than
the air or any etherial element can make a visible im-
pression upon the optic nerves.   Clairvoyance sees
things  with the internal organs of sight as clearly as
the mind discerns objects that are reflected upon  the
organic eye;  and this phenomena is in consequence of
direct magnetic  connection  between  the object  dis-
cerned  and the spiritual-or inner man.   The natural
eye is but a medium of  sight—a sort  of material  ma-
chine or apparatus capable of reflection, or, to use a
common phrase, the eye is the " window of the soul."
Still, the power of vision does not consist alone in the
power  of the visual organs,  for  the  eye may reflect
without bearing any impression  to the mind.   There 
150
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF
is, in fact,  another power  besides  the  reflective  ca-
pacity of the orbs  of vision; and that  power is  the
all-pervading, vitalizing medium of sensation, mag-
netism.  Therefore, magnetic connection is the funda-
mental principle of mental discernment.  When  the
inherent organ of vision is clairvoyant, it is, as I have
said, in direct magnetic connection Avith whatever ob-
ject is discerned,  and  the magnetic  powers of  the
mind,  the  spiritual being, is in sympathy  Avith  the
same elements existing in other bodies.  No person
can be a clairvoyant while the organs of sense remain
active ; for these organs being, as  they are, adapted
to material wants alone, hold the mind  subject to ma-
terial impressions.  But when these organs  are sealed
by the induction of a positive  magnetic force,  the
mind becomes spiritualized.   The soul is then the in-
: dividual disenthralled power; freed from the demands
of sensuous life, it revels in the freedom of magnetic
connection, which is the basis or underlying principle
of "clear vision."  The clairvoyant sees things as Ave
will all see them  when our souls are by death freed
from the controlling powers of material sense.
    No person can become a clairvoyant whose mind
is actuated by mercenary designs,  for  this  jsower is
truly natural, and irrevocably opposed  to everything*
that is low, selfish, or evil.    Therefore, any person
who is susceptible to  magnetic somnambulism may
become a clairvoyant, providing they seek the condi-
tion with a mind perfectly free  from mercenary  mo- 
DR. D.  B. KELLOGG.
151
tives.  From personal experience I know this to  be
true ; for I never arrived at this condition, this third  4> *-,
magnetic degree, when any low, evil, or mercenary    «"o
object was sought; though I  have frequently en-
deavored to do so. 
152             AUTOBIOGRAPHY  OF
CHAPTER  XVI.
                THE DUALITY OP MAN.

 M ) EFORE entering into  a consideration of man's
 l*jl J spiritual nature and power, it is highly necessary
 ^J for us to fully comprehend his duality  of organ ■
ization.  I have before said that man was a two-fold
being; that beside  his physical  organization he was
endowed with a spiritual or divine principle.    This
spiritual principle is the positive power of the human
organism;  hence, it is the  vitalizing  and  animating
force, as well as  the attracting  power.   In a word,
the spirit—the soul—the immortal part of man  may
be considered as  the^ builder of the organic structure.
The entire  physical organism is perfectly adapted to
the conditions and  influences of  material life.    It is
constructed with  especial adaptations to the rudimen-
tal wants of the spirit.  In short, the physical  organ-
ism is simply an encasementof the interior or spiritual
principle, and is an organic  means of spirit manifest-
ation.  Every movement is  a manifestation of spirit
power and  intelligence, as well as interior  life.   The
breath of life is not in  the spirit or soul; for the  soul
is the germ of divinity.  Nor is the physical organism 
DR. D. B.  KELLOGG.
153
an independent living principle.   God made man of
the dust of the ground, then breathed into his nostrils
the breath of life, and man became a living soul.  Ac-
cording to this account  of Moses, in regard to the
creation of man, we see that God did not create the
life principle out of the dust of the ground.  He only
created the  physical  organism,  and  into this  he
breathed the breath of life, by which  act  "man be-
came a living soul."  Here the duality of man is illus-
trated ; for in Adam;the physical man was  combined
with a vitalizing principle of  life, and this life princi-
ple became a living soul or spirit.
   I cannot imagine how any man can suppose  that
the physical organism, and the life principle  are the
same; and at the same time entertain a belief in future
existence ; for, if the physical man is the basis of ani-
mate  existence,  it  certainly must be the supreme
power of life ; and if it is the supreme power of rudi-
mental life, it is subject to death, on the  occasion  of
physical dissolution, for  organic  perfection is neces-
sary to  organic life.  Do not misconstrue my meaning.
There are many able investigators who believe  that
the physical organism is the creative power, the posi-
tive force, and that the mind or spirit is the offspring
of sense;  hence, negative to the organic  functions.
Noav, I hold, if this is the case, a physical organiza-
tion is necessary to the  existence of a spirit; hence,
at physical death the mind or spirit must die.
   But this theory of organic superiority is not  only
absurd, but is unsupported.   The phenomena of hu- 
154
AUTOBIOGRAPHY  OP
man psychology proves beyond a doubt, that the mind,
will, or spirit, is the positive poAver in the human or-
ganism.  Every well informed individual is  familiar
with the influence of the mind upon the body in  dis-
ease.  Whenever a fatal  epidemic prevails in a com-
munity it is not an uncommon thing to see impressible
persons psychologizeel by fear.  I believe that I speak
the truth, when I say that  one-half of the victims of
the Asiatic cholera, die solely in conseepuence of psy-
chological influence.   In these instances fear  disturbs
the proper equilibrium  of the  mind.  One faculty—
that is the faculty of fear—absorbs all the powers of
the mind ; every other faculty is morbidly inactive.
There is no power to combat the epidemic.  The or-
gan of combativeuess is robbed of the vitalizing  me-
dium by the  organ of fear; and thus,  an avenue  is
thrown wide open to the admission and possession of
the enemy.  The poet Wordsworth,  in  his  poem  of
Goody Blake, and Harry Gill, gives a good illustra-
tion of psychological action  of mind upon the body.
Poor Goody'the stern, hard-hearted, Harry Gill might
never again be  Avarm.   This simple prayer had a pow-
erful psychological effect upon Harry's poor  supersti-
tious  mind.  The  next day, he complained of being
cold; and  although he  covered  himself  with many
blankets, still he could not get  warm; and  all  this
dreadful array of suffering was in consequence of one
psychological impression.  For  fear of cold  air  this
man kept his bed for twenty years, and at last died  a
victim to this one insange idea. 
DR. D. B. KELLOGG.
155
    The whole secret of this horrid effect  is revealed
 when we comprehend the psychological power of the
 human mind.
    In  psychology, every thing that disturbs the equili-
 brium of the mental forces is capable of destroying
 the  unity of mental action ; and  when this unity  is
 destroyed some one faculty preponderates over all the
 other.   Thus—when fear has gained a preponderance
 of power over the other faculties of the  mind, that
 faculty is, for the time being, the  supreme motive
 power.  Every physical  manifestation reveals  what
 power of'mind is in the ascendancy.  If it  is fear, or
 caution, that preponderates, we behold  a  trembling,
 cringing, physical demonstration of fright.   If the or-
 gan of combativeness holds the balance of power, we
 see  a  blustering demonstration of bravado.  And so
 there is a physical demonstration  for  all the varying
 phases of the human mind.  These external  manifes-
 tations, ever  varying, as they are, prove that there is
 an internal force, or internal power, which is independ -
 ant  of the organic function.  This poAver we  term
 spirit, and by this term  Ave mean, the life principle,
 the immortal  part,  the reasoning,   thinking,  compre-
 hending, and animating portion of the human organ-
 ism.  This principle is also the positive force and the
 controling agent.  The physical organism is the slave
 of the  mind,  or spirit; for every voluntary motion is
 the result of  spirit power.  It is by the power of the
 spirit that  Ave  accomplish muscular  action.   Hence,
the spirit is the cause, and the physical organism the 
156
AUTOBIOeiRAPHY OF
 means  of manifestation.   Still the spirit  may act
 without making any material or physical demonstra-
 tion. We may think Avithout manifesting our thoughts,
 but we cannot make a voluntary muscular movement
 without the aid of the will power.   Thus Ave conclude,
 that the dually of man,  consist of man physical, and
 man spiritual.  The first,  is  the  material organism ;
 the last, is the divine principle.  The physical man  is
 of the earth, earthy.  The spiritual man is the animat-
 ing, controling, vitalizing, interior life principle.
    If man is  a two-fold being, endowed with a  posi-
 tive, spirit power, which  controls the  organism, or
 physical man,-that spirit must be an identified princi-
 ple, and if it is an identified principle,- capable of in
 dependent action ; and  we may  reasonably suppose
 its identified  or individual existence to be eternal.
 Farther, if it is the positive  controling power of the
 material organism, that power is as much  a power, in
 one sphere of existence as  in  another.
    If these positions are correct, then the  phenomena
 of modern spirit manifestations can be philosophically
 accounted for.  But if the  reverse conclusion  is  cor-
 rect, that is, if the physical organism is the  cause of
 physical manifestation, or controling power,  then the
 whole phenomena is simply delusion ; for we all know
 that after death the body is an inactive  mass  of mate-
 rial, utterly devoid of intelligence.
   I hold that the former proposition is  correct*  and
 shall from that stand-point, proceed to illustrate the
phenomena of modern spiritualism. 
DR. D.  B. KELLOGG.
157
     Taking it for granted that my readers believe  in
  the immortality of the spirit, or eternal identified ex-
  istance of the life principle, I will at once enter upon
  a consideration of spirit power.
     Remembering  the duality of man ; let us investi-
  gate the means employed by the spirit to produce the
  phenomena of muscular action;  while, in rudimenta1
  connection with the body,  which is the first sphere  of
  spirit existence.
     To move one's hand is a simple act; but  hoAV the
  hand is moved  by the will  power of the spirit, is  a
  question of great importance; for it involves the
  whole  phenomena of spirit's  rudimental  or  primary
  powers.
     I have, in one of the preceeding chapters, stated
 that I  believe the brain to  be a resorvoir of electric
 forces, and that this electric force  was generated by
 the chemical action of the blood.  Evidently this gen-
* erated  electricity is the agent of the mind, and instru-
 ment^ of spirit power; or rather,  this electric fluid is
 the medium between the immortal  and divine princi-
 ple and the material organism.  When the mind wills
 the hand to move,  the brain—which may be consid-
 ered as the body-servant of the mind—throws its con-
 centrated, electric  force into the muscles  of  the arm
 in a quantity just sufficient to accomplish the move-
 ment commanded by  the superior power.   The first
 cause of every voluntary muscular  movement has its
 origin in the supreme or spirit power.  The means to
 accomplish this muscular movement, has its origin in 
158
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF
the brain ; and the means or agent which I have said
was generated by the  brain from the electric proper-
ties of the blood,  is doubtless some modification of
the well known element, electricity.
   From the above it  will be  seen  that  the spirit in
order to produce the phenomena of  muscular motion,
must necessary bring  into requisition some material
element.  If the  brain was  robbed of  its  chemical
powers, or denied its quota of blood; or if the  blood
was despoiled of its electric  producing constituents,
the divine principle or will would have no  means of
action.  Still, this robbing  it of material  means of
manifestation Avould in no way destroy its innate pow-
ers of action, no more than  the severing of a tele-
graphic wire would destroy the innate power of a vol-
taic battery.  The spirit is an  independent  principle,
so far  as  existence is  concerned;  but is dependent
upon material organism for the means of manifesting
that existence.  Without the spirit, the physical or-
ganism of  man  is a  mass  of inert material.   The
physical organs have no  force  or   spring  of  action
within themselves, but derive all their  energies from
some external force.   No single organ, or function,  is
self-acting.   It must be set in action by influences out-
side of itself.  Thus the lungs, perfect in their  struc-
ture, cannot act without the air.   The delicately con-
structed ear, cannot perform its function  without the
necessary vibration  of the atmosphere.   Nor is the
brain any more self-acting than any  other organ; for
like the others it requires an  agent outside  of  itself. 
DR. D. B.  KELLOGG.
159
and that agent is electricity, or  some modification  of
that element.   The brain, like all other organs of use,
is but material substance, and is the operative means
of spirit manifestation.   The brain is not the spirit,
nor is it the direct medium between the finite and the
infinite, the spiritual and physical;  but  is simply the
power that collects and arranges the material Avhich
is the vehicle of thought, sensation, and intelligence.
The particles  of matter  of which  the  brain  is  com-
posed may be weighed, tested, analyzed, tortured in a
thousanel ways ; but no observation from the outside
will ever reveal the mystery of spirit  power, or com-
prehend the essence of mind.  We may  analyze the
brain  and determine  its function; but  the infinite
spirit, the great positive power of human existence  is
still beyond our comprehension.  We can know the
attributes of mind  only  by its  outward  or material
manifestation.  We have  no means of ascertaining
whether it be material  or immaterial;  to us the
spirit must ever be  considered a principle.
   But though we  cannot analyze the  spirit, or even
determine its structure, we can comprehend its means
of manifestation;  for  these  means are  material  in
their  nature,  and  are therefore capable of analytic
comprehension. 
160
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF
CHAPTER  XVII.
       SPIRIT MEANS OF PHYSICAL  CONTROL.

    HAVE in the preceding chapter, considered the
    spirit as the positive,  controlling  power.  It is
  ^likewise the organizing power and permanent indi-
vidual principle of eternal  identified existence.  Or-
ganized matter, cannot, from its nature, be presistent.
But the  power—which is the spirit—that organizes
and re-organizes the physical structure  is alone per-
manent.
   In the human structure the organizing life-force or
spirit is co-equal to the death action, and by its power
we  preserve our bodily form  and  physical identity
through a long series of years.  But this identity of
matter, as a body, does not  constitute identity of per-
son ; for health  is  continuously undergoing chancre.
The material of  our bodies, though  ours  to-day, may
to-morrow, be in part the slave of another individual
spirit or organic force.  Hence, in speaking of human
identity, I do not refer to the material  organism, or
physical form ; but to the  organizing force that lies
back of  organization itself.  It  is  this force which
constitutes individual identity; for  it is the self of 
DR. D.  B.  KELLOGG.
161
existence and  primary cause  of material form.  In
short, as I have before said, the spirit is the real man ;
the physical organism being only a material means of
spirit manifestation, adapted to material wants.
   The great Apostle  alludes to this scientific truth
when teaching the  sublime  doctrine  of the resurrec-
tion of the deael.  In answer to the momentous ques-
tion, how are the dead raised? and,   with what body
do they come?  He taught: that the identity of  mat-
ter did not constitute the identity of man; but  that
there was back of the material organism, an  individ-
ual, self-conscious,  invisible life-force;  which was a
real, identified, eternally existing principle!
    We have seen that the spirit or  organizing force
is in material life, or primary existence, the  positive
cause of material action ;  and that this poAver is innate
force or underived  capability.   Yet,  like the spirit or
principle of poAver, is in the body; it cannot manifest
existence only by bringing into requisition a material
element  as  a  medium or  means of demonstration.'
That element,  we  have considered as being some
modification of electricity.
  "We  may  reasonably suppose that disembodied
spirits retain all the power of spirits  in the body; for
if they are the  positive ,or organizing  and manifest-
ing  power in the body, they  must be, when  disem-
boelied, or else in some way be dependent upon matter
for poAveras Avell as means to^act;  and it we admit
this, avc  deny the absolute identity of the spirit; and
in reality prove ourselves to be simply materialists, for 
162
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF
like them we admit the spirit to be nothing but a con-
centration of refined material forces, whose very ex-
istence  depends upon the existence of the physical
organism.
   Taking it for granted that my readers believe in
the immortality of the  spirit, and  that the spirit or
life prmciple is the positive  cause  of material mani-
festation and real principal of existence, while  in the
body; I will at once enter into a consideration  of the
phenomena of  modern Spritnalism.
   Disembodied  spirit  manifestation first attracted
public attention at Hydesville, N.  Y., in  1848;  and
there first  demonstrations  consisted  of  " raps," or
rather electric sounds; which were  apparently caused
by some mysterious agency, through the medinmship
of certain  members of  the Fox  family.   Since' that
date, the phenomena known as the "raps," has be-
come a powerful  means of spirit communicatiem, as
well, as the basis of a world  revolutionizing  philoso-
phy.  Still, to many individuals, these simple " raps "
are but an astounding effect of some hidden and mys-
terious causes,  beyond the comprehension  of material
sense or Avorldly reason.  Many recognize them as the
material manifestations of spirit power; yet, are una-
ble to determine in Avhat manner they are produced.
To these, the question often arises—"upon what prin-
ciples  or  conditions  are  spiritual ccmmunications
made?'"—and'how are these manifestations  accom-
plished?  To the first query,  investigation enables me
to reply, that a good moral  or intellectual state  is not 
                DR. D.  B. KELLOGG.             163

a prerequisite condition on the part of the individual.
or individuals who  constitute the mediums, for elec-
trical int' rcourse with disembodied spirits by  means
of 1 lie "raps"  This, at the  first glance,  seems a
strange incemsistency.  But when we  consider that
the spirits Avho communicate to the earth's inhabitants
ill this electrial manner, dojnot, as a general principle,
allow their thoughts to flow into  the mind of the me-
dium, and thence by  pronunciation to the individual
with  whom they discourse;  but,  on the contrary, that
the spirits impart what  they desire  to communicate J ^-^
through  electrical  vibrations alphabetically: — I say,
Avhen we consider all this, it ceases to be a mysterious
inconsistency, that good moral and intellectual condi-
tions are not required.  If these  spiritual communica-
tions were made through the  minds of mediums,  as
through  spiritually illuminated  seers, prophets, and
clairvoyants, then  constitutional harmony,  combined
Avith fine moral and intellectual tendencies,  would  be
the indispensible conditions ;  but as these manifesta-
tions of material control are  not conducted through
the mediatorial agency of the  mind,  we  must neces-
sarily conclude, that as far as the medium (or person)
is concerned,  some  physical condition is  alone  re-
quired.  This supposition is correct.
    We have seen—and I tl ink no one will  doubt the
position—that the spirit, or mind, manifests poAA^er
and intelligence while in the body, by  means of an
electric fluid ;  which, as an element,  is so refined and   /6j
antenuated, that the most exquisitely constructed dec- 
164
AUTOBIOORAPHY  OF
tro-meter is incapable of detecting its presence.   It is
but common sense to infer, that if the spirit employs
a material substance as an agent of material manifes-
tation while in the body, that  it would employ the
same agent to manifest power when  disembodied.
Hence,  in order for a person  to become a spiritual
medium, it is necessary that  there should be an ema-
nation of vital electricity from  their physical organ-
ism, in a quantity sufficient not only to perform the
function of their own  mind ; but, at  the  same  time
form a .connection, electrical, between their organism,
and the controlling disembodied spirit power.   I  have
concluded,  after much investigation, of the phenomena
of spirit  intercourse, that the means of communica-
tion all emanate from  the medium.  That  isj that the
medium is the battery, that furnishes the electric con-
nection;  for, if such was jiot the case, I  can see no
reason  why disembodied spirits could not manifest
, intelligence, without a medium, as well as  with; nor
why they cannot communicate through one individual
as well as another.
    We  now  comj to  a consideration  of the second
inquiry, which is, how do disembodied  spirits commu-
nicate with man in his  primary condition ?   As I have
 only referred  to one species of manifestations, namely
—the phenomena of the "raps "— I will confine my-
 self to an elucidation of those mysterious manifesta-
tions of spirit power.   The principles involved  in
these demonstrations are simple, and physical, philo-
 sophical, and rational; because  they are no  more 
                DR. D. B.KELLOGei.              H»5

wonderful  or  complicated than the  principles  upon
which the magnetic telegraph is daily operating along
our great commercial avemues.  In fact, the principle
involved in both phenomenas, are  alike ; and there is
even a similarity  in  the two  elementary  agents em-
ployed.  We ad  know that electricity is the trans-
mitting agent in all telegraph  operations;  or, in other
words, electricity is in the art of magnetic telegraph-
ing employed as a vehicle of intelligence.  No com-
munication can be transmitted until there is an electric
connection between the point of repleving intelligence
and the place from whence.the intelligence emanates ;
and this connection must  consist  of a  continuous
thread of electric fluid.   The fact that there is a ma-
terial connection between two points  by  means of a
wire or cable, is no sign that there is  a  natural  elec-
tric connection of power sufficient to transmit  intelli-
gence, or even electric sound.   This power, or rather
this continuous line of  electric fluid, must be superin-
duced by bringing into requisition the decomposing
powers of a voltaic battery ;  hence we conclude that
the real vehicle of power in telegraphing is an electric
current,"foreign to that contained  in the wire Avhen in
normal  condition.   The  wire is  simply  a means of
support—a material pathway, along Avhich this more
refined element is extended—capable of retaining tha
induced current in an unbroken chain from one  ter-  ^
minus to ihe other, and ttts_electric current is the real  ,
medium employed in magnetic telegraphing.
    In the phenomena of material  manifestation  by 
1G6             AUTOBIOGRAPHY  OF
spirits, the  same  principles  are  invedved.   Apollos
Munn, Avho Avas deep in the philosophy of spirit inter-
course by electrical sounds, says :
   " In order to  perceive  the  analogy between the
spiritual  and the natural worlds by electrical rappings,
and  the  mode of communicating betweem  distant
places by magnetic telegraph, let  it first be understood
that each created thing sustains certain electrical re-
lations to all other things ; that  all higher forms ot
development  sustain   positive  relations  to all lower
forms—as the vegetable to the  mineral, the animal to
the vegetable, and man to  all the  lower kingdoms in
nature.   Ascending still further in the scale  of pro-
gression, the rule  Avill  hold good ; and hence it is evi-
dent  that the spirit world sustains a positive electrical
relation to the natural  world, of which it is a higher
form—a further and more perfect development.  When
spiritsleave the body the transition causes them noloss
of intelligence or power. On the contrary, as eArery step
in their history AvhiJe,  in the  body, is marked  by that
law of progression which  developes  knowledge and
poAver in exact ratio with the refinement of the spirit,
it is reasonable te> suppose that t1 eir  power over the
refined elements in nature, and their knoAvledge of the
laws that govern them, twill be greatly increased by
their immediate assimilation  Avith the refinement and
knowledge which pervade the second sphere of human
existence.  Thty  cannot, it is true, come in immediate
contact Avith gross substances,  but they can, and do
act upon them with powerful effect through the agency 
DR. D. B.  KELLOGG.
167
of magnetism and electricity.   Thus, it  cannot be
disputed, admittingthat the spirit progresses hereafter,
that the inhabitants of the spirit-world have the power,
Avhen natural conditions  are  complied Avith,  to com-
municate electricity with their friends in  the body.
When nature, by her  constant movement toward the
refinement  of matter, developes  mediums  through
whom communications can be made, the spirits will
be found ready to respond to our desires.   These me-
diums are sometimes  furmsheel by  certain localities,
usually designated as " haunted houses,"  where the
electricity from certain causes has become so rare and
refined that spirits can there manifest their power and
presence in  various Avays.   The  young ladies of the
Fox family, and hundreds of other individuals through
whom spirits communicate, are mediums, because the '
electlical atmosphere Avhich emanates from their sys-
tems  c<-mains but little gross electricity.  The spirits
sustaining positive relations to us, are enabled through
these mediums or conductors to attract anel move ar-
ticles of  furniture, vibrate the wires of a musical in-
stiument, and by discharging, by the power of their
will, currents of magnetism, they can, and do produce
rnppings, like the  magnetic telegraph, corresponding
to letters of the alphabet."
    Vital electricity is, Avithout doubt, the  prominent
agent employed by spirits in producing the phenom-
ena of electric sounds, and  this agent, as I have said,
emanates from the medium.   A spirit, though it does
not possess any of the grossness of the earthly  form, 
168
AUTOBIOGRAPHY e»I
is yet an organized poAver,  with functions precisely
like those possesseel by the spirit in the body ;  anel
when it desires to produce a manifestation it  brings
its own magnetic and positive powers in electric con-
nection with the vital electricity emanating from the
medium.  When the connection has been formed the
spirit by its will poAver  causes  electrical  concussions
upon some material substance,  through  the interme-
diate agencies of spirit magnetism and organic elec-
tricity.
   The modus operandi of those phenomena is in de-
tail beyond present investigation; but that spirits do
come in contact or rapport Avith organic and material
substances through electrical agencies, is  proven by
eArery man's experience.   Being the self of existence,
it is the spirit alone that thinks, feels, loves, and rea-
sons ; by its poAver railroads and steamboats are made
and managed; it is by the poAverof the spirit,through
the raediumship of vital electricity  that every kind of
labor is performed.   If you  desire to lift a certain
weight, it is the spirit or will power that sets in oper-
ation the various organic agencies natural  to the phy-
sical  organism.    The first  of the agents is vital  *
electricity, the second, spirit magnetism, the third, the
neivcus structure, the fourth,  the  physical muscles,
and the fifth is the bones, which by acting in concert
with the other named agents, succeeds in raising the
weight.  Each and all of  these agents are poAverless
to perform an  act, unless managed, controlled and set
in operation by the spirit or interior power.   When 
DR. D. B.  KELLOGG.
169
disembodied spirits find a person whose mind is suffi-
ciently passive, and who is a conductor of vital  elec-
tricity— Avhich is the primary agent—they can produce
teTalimited extent, results like those produced by the
spirit while in the body.
   There are but few individuals in the United States
at the present time that arc not personally acquainted
Avith  persons who are spirit electric mediums, and
through them they have Avitnessed some phase of elec-
tric manifestation, such as the raps, table-tipping,  or
some other material demonstration; and these individ-
uals know full well that the  majority of  these  mani-
festations  are emanations from some power gifted
with  intelligence.   But the question arises,—what
proof is there that these novel expressions  of intelli-
gence do not emanate from local agencies ?  Noav this
is an exceedingly difficult   query  to answer  satis-
factorily.   Still, there is logical proof that these man-
ifestations do come from spirits, or some  source other
than  immediate local agencies.   All purported spirit
 communications  are found, on enquiry, to be  claimed
 by disembodied  spirits, who announce themselves  to
be identified powers of intelligence.   Now  if these
communications, which are invariably claimed as em-
 anations of spirit knowledge, are in  reality but ema-
nations of intelligence, imperceptibly and  unconscious-
ly flowing from the minds of inelividuals  who may be
in magnetic relation with the medium through which
the inrelligence flows ;  I say, if such is the case, I can
 see no  philosophical reason  why the communication 
170
AUTOBIOGRAPHY  OF
should purport to come from spirits, for it is reason-
able to infer that the  same power that could  imper-
ceptibly and unconsciously impart an intelligent  idea
by electric sounds  alphabetically, Avould, with equal
unconsciousness  of act, claim  authorship.   Besiele
this, there are other reasons for doubting the idea that
these manifestatiems of intelligence proceed from the
human mind.   Often communications are  received
which are in direct opposition to all the preconceived
ideas entertained by those who happen to be in mag-
netic rapport with the medium of intelligence ; hence
if these communications come from the minds of those
who  are  in magnetic connection with the  medium,
they must, of necessity, be imperceptible ideas.  But
here Ave  find ourselves engaged in combat with an
undeniable truth ; for it is utterly impossible for a man
to be in possession  of an idea or thought, and at the
same time, while in normal condition, be unconscious
of such possession ; but even if we admit that he could
unconsciously possess a thought, still we are  no better
off ;  for he certainly could not  give  expression  to a
thought in language, Avithout being  conscious  of the
thought at the  time of utterance, for we all knoAvthat
it is impossible for an individual to express  an idea,
either vocally or otherwise, until after such  idea  has
been mentally arranged.  Therefore, if tiiese material
manifestations  of intelligence are  not  imperceptible
ideas emanating from  the human mind,  they  must be,
either the offspring of spirit intelligence or precon-
ceived ideas perceptibly emanating from some individ- 
DR. D.  B. KELLOGG.
171
ual human org mism, or local fountain of intelligence.
If the latter supposition is correct there could be no
intelligence imparted by electrical sound that Avas not
already a recognized idea  by at least one member of
a magnetic circle.
   My own personal experience  proves  this supposi-
tion to be an absurdity.   The reader will  remember
that I am daily influenced by an Indian Doctor, and
that it is not an uncommon occurrence for him to ex-
press his ideas in his native  language through me as
a  medium.   (This phenomena  has  been  repeatedly
testeel by competent persons Avho understood the lan-
guage spoken, hence I confidently assert  that I do,
when in a condition of somnambulism,  speak in the
Indian dialect.)   Not one of a thousand who hear me
talking this language  understands a single word of
what  I express ; nor can I when in a normal condition
speak  half a dozen words  in the Indian tongue.   Still
there  is hardly a day but what I talk more or less in
this dialect Avhen under influence, and that too when
there is no possibility of there being a magnetic con-
nection between myself as a meelium, and  any  indi-
vidual understanding the  Indian  language.   In  this
case,  local emanation  of  intelligence is literally im-
possible ;  hence it becomes  necessary for  us to look
elsewhere for a cause of the effect.
   These communications claim to emanate from the
identified spirit of an Indian, and as they are decidedly
Indian in their character,  the claim is, to say the least,
worthy of consideration.   Besides,  to Avhat  other 
172             AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF

power can we attribute them ?  We  cannot say  that
it is a concentration of chaotic or disorganized  intel-
ligence, floating in the atmosphere, because all intelli-
gence is simply a manifestation of spirit power.   Dis
organized intelligence  is  an absurdity—a supposed
something that really does not exist—in fact, cannot
exist independent of the spirit, no more than sunlight
can exist independent of the sun.
   I think that no one who will impartially investigate
the phenomena of spirit communications will fail to
recognize them as manifestations of spirit power; for
it is the only philosophical elucidation of the mystery
that does not clash with logical reasonings. 
DR. D.  B. KELLOGG.
173
           CHAPTER  XVIII.


              HOW SPIRITS COMMUNICATE.
 CM
 ,  N PURSUING our  investigation  of the subject
 f   of spirit communication, avo must remember that
 J  all manifestations  of spirit power and intelligence
 depends for means of accomplishment upon vital elec-
 tricity alone;  and that this is an imperative means or
 auxilliary of spirit power, whether embodied or dis-
 embodied, to manifest identity.
   We may think, but we cannot make our  thoughts
 known without bringing into requisition this material
 agent.  Disembodied  spirits may, through sympathy,
 manifest their intelligence to one another without
 bringing to their aid this element; but without it they
 can make no  material demonstration.   We  in the
body  can think, but  the moment  Ave manifest our
thoughts — Avhether by speaking, by  writing,  or by
pantomimic action—we are forced to bring into requi-
sition this material element as a  medium of power.
Hence,  Ave conclude  that all  spirit manifestation  or
material demonstration of spirit intelligence, are de-
pendent upon  this same agent for means of accomplish-
ment.   We have considered  the raps to be  simply 
174
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF
electric vibrations caused by the will-poAver of dis-
embodied spirits, operating  upon a current of vital
electricity emanating from the physical organism  of
the medium.   But this simple phase of spirit demon-
stration  does  not comprehend  the extent of spirit
modes of manifestation.  Stitl every different  phase
is dependent upon this one element for means.  All
material spirit manifestations, such as the "raps,"  ta-
ble-tipping,  playing on musical instruments; as Avell
as the mystic phenjmena  displayed  by spirits by
means of metallic rings, or by tying and untying diffi-
cult entanglements of strings, ropes, etc., are, in fact,
but different phases  of the  same power.   In either
manifestation .the whole means employed is the natural
product  of  the  medium;  the  spirits merely operate
through the  vital electricity Avhich naturally emanates
from the physical organism of the medium alone—
providing that  the  mediums  during  the manifesta-
tions retain their normal powers of mind.  But when
the medium loses self-consciousness and becomes som-
nambulic he is simply a conductor of electricity ema-
nating from  surrounding bodies.
   We have seen in our investigation of somnambu-
lism that magnetic coma was the result of stupefaction
of organic sense, superinduced by a continual  induc-
tion of vital electricity,  and  that when  the physical
organism was in this  forced condition,  the subject's
mind was incapable of action or organic demonstra-
tion of power, and that the physical  organism  of a
hypnotized subject was subject to the will power of a 
DR. D. B. KELLOGG.
175
separate or organically disconnected mind. The ques-
tion noAv arises—How can-a spirit or mind manifest
its power or its intelligence through  a separate or or-
ganically disconnected organism?
    Before entering into a discussion of this phenom-
ena, let me  repeat a former assertion,  which  is that
the manifestations  of hypnotized subjects  is in princi-
ple synonymous to the somnambulic  manifestations of
modern spiritua' mediums.  Mediums who, in  a con-
dition of magnetic unconsciousness,  give utterance to
foreign intelligence, are simply hypnotic  somnambu-
lists, who are hypnotized, not by  spirits,  but by vol-
untary absorption  of vital electricity.   I am aAvare
that many suppose that somnambulic spirit mediums
(meaning by this term those mediums who, while they
are instruments of spirit power, are magnetically ren-
dered unconscious,) are magnetizeel by spirits—that is,
that the element which causes  magnetic  coma ema-
nates Avholly from  them.  This idea  I consider to be
utterly incorrect, from the simple fact that it does not
correspond to imperative rules of medial development.
The advanced investigator  of medial powers  knoAVS
full well that development depends wholly upon ma-
terial auxilliaries.   Hence the necessity of circles and
other material appurtenances.   These material sub-
stances are inevitable perquisites  to  medial develop-
ment, and Avithout them a person cannot  become an
unconscious or hypnotized spirit medium,  and the rea-
son why they cannot is because the power to produce
magnetic sleep  emanates alone from  surrounding ma-
terial organizations. 
176
AUTOBIOGRAPHY  OF
   A person who designs to become a somnambulic
medium of spirit intelligence, must, of an imperative
necessity, be naturally a conductor of vital electricity.
   All material organizations when  in natural condi-
tion emit a current of electric fluid; butboelies which
are undergoing decomposition throw off by far,greater
quantities of vital electricity than do bodies under-
going the natural organic changes of life.  Also, be-
ings of intelligence can,  by  the will  power of the
spirit, increase the  volume  of electricity beyond  its
natural or unforced emanation.   All emanations of
this vital fluid, when thrown from one body immedi-
ately seek to cause or effect an equilibrium elsewhere;
and for this purpose certain properties, and  even per-
sons, are used  as conductors-   Thus, an individual
who is a natural conductor, or even absorbent, of elec-
tric fluid, becomes a center or magnetic focus  upon
which all immediate emanations or exhalations of vital
electricity concentrate.  Noav if the will power of such
individual is brought to a passive condition, so as not
to exert a counteracting influence,  this continued con-
centration of electric fluid will naturally j>roduce mag-
netic slumber; for this power or element is, as I have
repeatedly asserted, the direct agent of the mind, and
is only exhausted through the  activity  of the mental
powers.   Hence, during the cessation  of mental op-
erations this element, which  is positive to all  other
functions of the physical organism, hold:, the organic
functions in subjection.  But, you  ask, how  can the
mind of a medium  be rendered inoperative by this 
DR. D. B.  KELLOGei.
177
 agent of the  mind?   I answer,  by destroying the
 equilibrium naturally existing between the two.  We
 all know that the mind is naturally the positive power,
 and that it controls with perfect ease every  action of
 the muscular organism.  We move the hand by  means
 of this vital electricity governed by the will power of
 the spirit.   In this phenomena the  spirit is the positive
 power, and the electric fluid, which  is  the means, is
 the negative; and between them  there exists  a per-
 fect equilibrium, or positive and negative adaptation
 to material exigencies.   Now Avere we to introduce  a
 powerful increase of electricity by means of a  chem-
 ical battery, the relative  position of the two powers
 Avould be changed, the mind would be  the  negative,
 and the vital  electricity  the positive; and Avhile the
 two powers were  in  this condition  the mind  could
 neither produce nor prohibit muscular motion,  and if
 there Avas any such demonstration  it would be the
 direct result of some foreign power.
    One has only to take hold of the poles of any or-
 dinary  electrical machine when in  operation, to fully
 comprehend this phenomena of reversion  of powers,
 and those Avho may have experienced an artificial in-
 duction of electricity know that the portion of physical
 organism artificially charged with  foreign electricity,
is, for the time being,  or during such induction un-
 governable by the will power of their own mind.
    Artificial  introduction of a  powerful  current of
 electricity causes involuntary contraction  and expan-
 sion of cords and muscles in the  same manner that the 
178
AUTOBIOGRAPHY  OF
mind causes the same phenomena, through the agency
of the  vital electricity generated by the brain.   But
Avhile the  means to  produce the  phenomena are in
both cases al ke, the  manifest appearances of  the re-
sult are widely different.   Motion caused by the will
power  of the  spirit  is—except in cases of insanity—
a controlled manifestation of intelligencebut all other
physical movements, causeel by electric  power,  are
simply manifestations of power, perfectly aimless and
devoid  of intelligent limitation or result;  and their
very aimlessness and fantastic appearances is proof of
their positiveness to the will power of the spirit.
   Thus, in consideration of these electric phenomena
we may reasonably infer,that the spirit, which is nat-
urally the positive power, may, by the superior power
existing in quantity over nature's limit, be forced into
a negative position to vital electricity, which by this
increase in quantity, becomes the positive.
   Having comprehended the possibility of the will
power becoming negative to its natural agent of man-
ifestation—vital electricity,  we are prepared  to  con-
tinue our investigation of the phenomena of spiritual-
ism, as displayed by somnambulic mediums.
   I have said  that there  is from all bodies a  con-
tinuous emanation of vital electricity, which, when
thrown from one body, seeks to effect  an  equilibrium
elsewhere, and that  certain  bodies and even  persons
were natural conductors of this fluid.
   We have  no means of ascertaining  the exact
amount of vital electricity that the human  organism 
DR. D. B.  KELLOGG.
179
is capable of absorbing.   Still we  are positive that
this element of power in the physical organization is
subject to natural  exhaustion, and  if it is naturally
liable to exhaustion or decrease in quantity, we may
reasonably inter that there is a natural process of re-
cuperation.   In fact, we may reasonably assert that
the human organism is subject to ever-varying supplies
of this element.   We all know that continued physical
activity causes, not only muscular fatigue, but exhaus-
tion of force to act. Now the force which is thus ex-
hausted by long continued activity, is none other than
the  immediate  agent  of the will  power, and  the
primary material cause  of physical movement.  Every
movement of the hand, every word  vocally uttered—
in short, every voluntary physical action causes a de-
crease in the quantity of vital electricity generated by
the brain, which is, as I have before stated, the  nat-
ural reservoir of this power.   Hence, we conclude the
will power or spirit, to be the first or primary cause of
electric exhaustion.  We are positive that,  during
mental and physical quietude, this exhaustion of vital
force ceases; and in view of the fact that the  human
organism recovers its exhausted force of powers by
rest or inactivity, we logically infer  that the physical
oro-anism undergoes a process of vitalic recuperation.
Therefore, the human  organism may  be  considered
as being alternately attractive and  repulsive  to this
vitalic element of power.  When the mind ceases its
manifestations  by outward  or  physical  action, the
physical organism  becomes a magnet, which  attracts 
180
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF
from other organisms their ejections of vital  elec-
tricity.  Thus we see why it is necessary for persons
Avho desire  magnetic  influence to become not only
mentally passive, but physically quiet.
   There are various ways and means employed  by
mediums in producing the  phenomena of magnetic
somnambulism; but there is no process  by which it
can be produced without  the subject or medium  com-
ing in  contact organically, with  some  electric pro-
ducing organization.   The idea that an individual can
by his own will power, enter into a magnetic condition
of unconsciousness, is perfectly erroneous.   As well
might we argue that one  can, by a simple exertion  of
the Avill power, cause his  own physical death, or stop
the circulation of blood in some  one portion of  his
physical organization.   The will or spirit has no other
duty to perform in producing magnetic slumber than
it has in producing ordinary sleep.  In either case the
mind has only to become passive and allow the physi-
cal organism to become quiet.
   Some mediums require more electric power to pro-
duce magnetic slumber than do others.   I have known
individuals who could not enter into this unconscious
state without the assistance of a powerful magnetizer;
others of my acquaintance are obliged to always  sit
in circles of certain electric power, in order to receive
influence; and there is still another class of mediums
who have only to rest their hands  upon some organic
substance,  in  order  to be  bourne into this  mystic
slumber. 
DR. D.  B. KELLOGG.
181
   These variations are inconsequence of a difference
in the physical conditions of the subjects.  A person
with a super-amount of  animal life, combined with a
restless spirit, must not expect to easily become a mag-
netic  somnambulist, for such an individual—though
they may be a magnet to vital  electricity—will resist
the influence by an  almost  unconscious operation of
the mind.  Restless minds  are hard to  subdue in ^iny
case, but when they are continually manifesting their
restlessness through the physical organisms, as in cases
of nervous temperament, it is next to  impossible  for
even the most powerful magnetizer to cause upon such
organisms any magnetic effect.
   All persons, when somnambulists, are rendered  un-
conscious by an induction of vital electricity emanating
from some contiguous material organization, or com-
bination of organic bodies.   The productive power in
every instance is the same ; but at the same time there
may be  distinct emanations.   Thus one individual
Avho is easily influenced, may be magnetized bv simply
resting their hands upon a common table, or any other
organic body which is undergoing decomposition, or
they may be placed in the same condition  by an intel-
ligent manipulating process, or by grasping a magnetic
cord.  In short, there are various ways to produce this
effect, but in every instance of magnetic somnambu-
lism, organic connection betAveen the subject and  the
organkTuniverse is an imperative necessity.   I have
found by experiment that when a somnambulic medi-
um was completely insulated from organic connection 
182
AUTOBIOGRAPHY  OF
that it was impossible for them to receive a ^magnetic
influence ;  and it is in viow of this fact that I conclude
that the means of spirits' manifestation of intelligence
are whedly the product of organic electricity,  anel that
disembodied spirits are of themselves incapable  of
causing magnetic  coma.
    But you ask how—if spirits do not cause the mag-
netic influence they can communicate through a hyp-
notized or  somnambulic medium ?  I have in  another
chapter of this  work,  referred  to the  phenomena  of
hypnotic somnambulism as demonstrated by Mr. Braid,
and the reader will remember that one of his subjects
was, on one occasion, under the intelligent control  of
Jenny Lind.  This subject, at  this time Avas neither
hyptonized by Jenny nor by Mr. Braid, but  was (ac-
cording to an articla published at the time, in the
Manchester Courier,)  rendered somnambulic in the
same manner that  thousands of spirit meeliums  are at
the present, day, namely : by resting her hands upon
a center-table, and at the same time concentrating her
gaze upon a piece of silver lying before her.   In this
case the magnetic power—which caused  the subject
to  become unconscious—emanated from inanimate
material organisms ; Avhile the manifestation  of intel-
ligence come from a distinctly different source.   Now
there is but one intelligent way to  account for this
phenomena in a reasonable manner.   This subject was
magnetized before the  manifestation  commenced, and
' even after the manifestation ceased she—the  somnam-
bulist—remained unconscious, or under magnetic in- 
DR. D.  B. KELI.OGG.
183
flucnce.  No part of the element causing  this sleep
could be supposed to emanate from Miss Lind ;  but
the intelligence manifested undoubtedly  did.   The
subject sang when she sang, and as  an  accompanist,
gave both notes and words simultaneously Avith her.
Evidently.the will power of the SAvedish Nightingale
caused the vocal organs of the subject to act in imita-
tion of her own, through the means of vital electricity.
The medium  had been  magnetized by a voluntary
absorption of vital electricity, emanating  from  con-
tiguous organizations. Her mind had from voluntary
passiveness, been reduced  to a negative position by a
continued induction of electric poAver, and had there-
by lost its operative or organic controlling force,  and
this result Avas simply  in  consequence of the  vital
electricity of  the brain being overpowered by an in-
duction of the same element from other sources.
    But notwithstanding  her OAvn  mind was rendered
incapable of causing her  own organs  to act; those
organs did act, and their actions  were manifestations
of intelligence, and the intelligence  which was mani-
festcel was the product of the  intelligent  mind of
Jenny Lind, who was organically a separate  and dis-
tinctly identified being.
    Noav comes the question—how  did  the  Sav dish
Nightingale  manifest her intelligence through  this
separate organism ?   I answer, by means of an electric
connection betAveen hermind or  spirit, and the  mag-
netized physical organs of the subject,  in a manner
corresponding to  the process  of mechanical  electric 
184
AUTOBIOGRAPHY  OF
telegraphing.   The connection  Avas formed  by  the
will power of Jenny Lind.  Her spirit Avas the magnet.
She earnestly elesired to test the somnambulic powers
of this medium, and that desire  caused her mine! to
be positive to the entire  electric power concentrated
upon the subject;  and, as all positive powers  attract
their negatives, her mind, being the positive, attracted
the negative, or vital electricity,  from the physical
organization of the subject to her own  organism.  All
the other minds,  or identified  intelligences  in that
assembly, on that occasion, were in unison Avith hers,
for they all desired to witness the manifestation. Had
this harmony not existed, or, in other Avoids, had there
been a confliction  of powers,  or contrary desires of
equal force exerted by those present, there Avould have
been ho manifestation through the medium, for there
would have been two distinct electric connections,  and
two distinct operative  powers,  with only  one set of
organs to operate through.
   I speak of this to show the imperative necessity of
complete harmony among individuals who  may con-
gregate for the purpose of testing this, or the phenom-
ena of  spirit communication.   Where  two, or more,
electric connections, formed between a medium  and
designing to communicate by  pronunciation, the re-
sult would be like what would follow.in case of a con-
centration of distinct messages,  of different natures,
upon one telegraphic apparatus at the same time.  One
message would be so intermingled Avith the other, that
the whole would be rendered unintelligible. 
LR. D.  B. KELLOGG.
185
    After a perfect electric comiection'hasbeen formed
 between a medium and a spirit designing to communi-
 cate, the phenomena of the manifestation is  no more
 complicated or  Avonderful,  than the phenomena  of
 physical manifestation of human intelligence.  While
 the spirit is connected with  the body in the earth life,
 it demonstrates thought by means of an electric con-
 nection, and it is by the same means that disembodied
 spirits  cause  material demonstration of intelligence
 through the organs of hypnotic mediums.
    We, in the form, are beings of sympathy ; but this
 sympathy is not  the result of physical consanguinity,
 but of spirit affinity.   We maybe attracted by  a phy-
 sical form, or at least suppose;that  therein  lies the
 means of awakening our sympathy;  but were Ave  to
 closely  investigate the cause of our being thus attract-
 ed, we  would find that the real power or first cause of
 our sympathy emanated from the spirit  enshrined in
 the body.  Hence, sympathy, being a concomitant  of
 the spirit, Ave infer that it is a principle as eternal in ex-
 istence  as is the spirit.  Love, sociability, and kindly
 regard  are the  offspring of spirit sympathy, and the
 more intelligent and refined the spirit is, the more fer-
 vent are these adjuncts of the principle of mental sym-
 pathetic consanguinity.   Sympathy  creates  a desire
for reciprocal exchange of sentiment, and thereby man
becomes a social being.  We love, because in the object
of our love, our spirit finds its affinity, and affinities will
inevitably seek to commingle Avith one another; hence,
so long  as sentiments are in affinity between mind and 
186
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF
 mind, so long a desire fo;- sympathetic intercourse will
 remain,  and though one minel may be in the realms of
 spirits, the desire will still exist.   I  am aware  that
 many believe.that the spirit Avhen freed from the thral-
 dom of the physical form, loses its sympathy for things
 terrestrial; but if such is the case, then  the spirit at
 death loses its identity, or rather its individuality.  We
 know the man by his outward form;  but we know the
 spirit by its manifestations alone.  We cannot see it,
 even Avith our mind's eye; hence, if its manifestations
 are entirely changed in the spirit world, its identity to
 us must be certainly lost.   But if its manifestations
 are unchanged, its power to cause manifestations must
 remain, and not only itspowers, but its desire, remains
 to demonstrate  to its former friends its unchanged
 syinprthy and affinity of thought and affection.  Will
 the affectionate wife believe  that  her  dearly loved
 bosom companion who has gone before her to the fade-
 less " summer-land," has ceased to appreciate the holy
 bond of spirit sympathy, that through life made them
 as one in sentiment?  No! her whole nature revolts
 at the bare supposition  of such an unnatural result.
: What is life without spirit affinity ?   Nothing but an
 empty, meaningless farce.   What use would there be
/for cultivating the hob, aspirations of the soul, if those
 aspirations are  to be lost,when Ave pass beyemd the
 confines of mortal life?  I answer, none.  If the spirit
 on the event of physical death, undergoes such  a
 change that it loses its affinity for, and sympathy with
 the things appertaining to this life, then all the plans 
DR. D.  B.  KELLOGG.
187
of salvaton are delusions, and all moral requirements
are fictitious absurdities.   In short, if the  spirit  is
robbed e>f all its  earthly characteristics,  Avhen  sepa-
rated from the body by what we term death, it  is no
longer the same spirit, but a neAV one no way Ijke the
old.   But if it is the same spirit in the celestial realms,
that once animated a form  of clay, that spirit must
retain all its innate powers for material manifestation
that characterized it Avhile in the body;  hence,  when
it comes in contact Avith the means Avhich nature has
adapted to its use, it can communicate its intelligence
Avith the same ease it could Avhile  in the body.
   The spirit, Avhile in the body, usually communicates
its thoughts through the instrumentality of the  vocal
organs.   A portion of the powers  necessary to  vocal
utterance are furnished by the  involuntary  forces  of
our nature,  and over these the  spirit has  no control.
The air inhaled and exhaled by the lungs is one means
of vocal expression, a proper development of the or-
gans of speech  is another; but, though  there  exists
these perfect qualifications, the result or manifestation
of intelligence depends wholly upon the power  of the
mind to produce regulated  sound;  and  the  spirit
causes such sound by  means of  vital  electricity—in
something the same  manner that the magnetic tele-
graph operator produces an intelligent  sound upon  a
distant electrically connected aparatus of proper con-
struction.
   Disembodied spirits find in the magnetic somnam-
bulist a perfect means of manifestation.  If they de- 
188 .
AUTOBIOGRAPHY  OF
 sire to communicate by pronunciation, they find in the
 somnambule all necessary qualifications.  The lungs
 are performing their functions by causing natural res-
 piration of air,  as Avell during  magnetic  slumber as
 while the subject is in a normal condition. The organs
 of  speech lose none of their  necessary development
 during magnetic influence.
    The magnetic power of the spirit desiring to com-
 municate draAvsfrom the over-charged organism of the
 magnetized subject a current of vital electricity, which
 when concentrated upon the organs of speech, causes
 them to vibrate in accordance with their (the spirits')
 intelligence and will power.  And in this manner, and
 through these means, all the varying forms of spirit
 communications and manifestations are accomplished.
 The Avhole phenomena is in accordance Avith the great
 universal law of demand and supply.  There are many
 processes of communication, but in all the wide uni-
 verse there is but one means,  and that means is what
 some term " the medium of sensation," others, " vital
energy," "element of sympathy'' and vital electricity.
 I have made use of the latter term, because I believe
it best comprehends the idea designed. 
DR. D.  B. KELLOGG.
19
CHAPTER  XIX.
1
  HOW TO FORM CIRCLES SO AS TO GET COMMUNICATIONS.
   c
      E WILL  now proceed to consider how  circles
      should be formed, so as to develop  mediums,
      anel avoid misapprehension anel discord.  I have
found that in order to obtain good anel noble commu-
nications, it is positively necessary that our thoughts
and aspirations be also good and elevated.  We must
be child-like, simple-hearted, manly,  open,  and free-
minded ; and these qualifications must be  combined
with an honest love for  truth.   Moreover, it is essen-
tial that the circles be always organized upon positive
and negative principles.   Suppose twelve individuals
design to form a circle :  it is necessary that six of these
shoulel be positive and  the remaining six  negative ;
and the surest way to arrive at this positive and neg-
ative  equilibrium is for the twelve to consist  of six
males and six  females.   This distinction of  male  and
female is not so essential to be observed, with regard
to sex;  but six of the number should possess the fem-
inine  temperament anel attributes of character—which
are negative and affectionate—and the others  should
be decidedly masculine, having the positive and intci- 
190
AUTOBIOGRAPHY  OF
lectual temperament predominant.  Male and  female
are positive  and negative principles; but  the tennis
shoulel not be  applied  anel confined exclusively to
mere organization, for some individuals who wear the
physical vesture of the male, are, in  their characters
and temperaments, female,  and vice versa.
    It matters not how few nor hoav many are connect-
ed with a circle, but whatever number there may be,
the principle of positive and negative attributes must
be regarded in  order to receive intelligent communica-
tion.  Circles formed upon this principle of equilibrium
of power will generally result in material  manifesta-
tions, such as the " raps," table-tipping, and moving
of ponderable bodies, and every negative member is
unconsciously a medium.
    In forming  a circle for individual improvement, or
development of some individual  as a  somnambulic
medium, it is necessary that certain rules be adhered
to.  First, the  person designing to become a medium
must be negative to all the other members of the cir-
cle.  (A negative temperament is generally indicated
by a warm, moist hand, while  persons Avith habitually
cold hands are  positive.)  The medium-must be men-
tally willing to  enter the condition sought, in order to
attract the magnetic element floAving from the others.
They should sit at the head of the table,  Avith  their
hands resting  upon it,  the palms downward.   The
remaining members of the circle must occupy positions
corresponding to their temperaments.   Those whose
positive conditions are indicated by cold  hands, should 
DR. D.  B. KELLOGG.             101
take their position on the right of the  medium,  and
the negative principleo on the left.  All these like the
medium,should rest their hands upon the table. Hav-
ing abided by these rules, it is necessary that those
persons Avho do not desire to be influenced should en-
ergetically will that some other individual shall become
a medium ;  and as harmony is  imperatively essential
to the production of an effect,  the  individual  who  is
expected to become the medium must be designated,
and such  designation must  be recognized by every
member of  the circle.
    After the medium has been rendered somnambulic
by the above means, it is necessary in order to receive
communications from disembodied spirits, that perfect
harmony should continue to prevail—not only  among
the members of the circle, but all the assembly as Avell.
There must prevail a unanimity of purpose, in order
to avoid a confliction of  desires.   (I have elsewhere
illustrated the probable consequence in  such a  case.)
After it is manifest that the  spirits have formed a con-
nection  with the medium, the  most positive  of  the
circle should make the first  demand for communica-
tion or manifestation, and this duty  should  involve
upon himjn order to avoid the danger of his exerting
a counter influence.  Persons who connect themselves
with circles should be temperate  in all their habits ;
and it is absolutely necessary that they should be free
from-all intoxicating or stimulating beverages, for  a
person who  is under the influence of inebriating drinks
is a powerful magnet and absorbent of vital magnet- 
192
AUTOBIOGRAPHY  (»F
ism, and such an individual being present  in a circle
must necessarily greatly retard progress.   In fact, I
have known the presence  of such persons to cause
good mediums to be incapable of receiving influence
during their stay, and this  incapability Avas  in conse-
quence of their absorption  of the vital element neces-
sary to cause the magnetic coma of the medium.
    The sessions of circles should not be very frequent
in occurrence, because those things Avhich become too
familiar are thereby deprived of  their sanctity, and
hence, also, of their power to benefit the  assembled
individuals.  The  masses elo not always  associate re-
spect with familiarity.   For this reason it is good for
most people that "angels'visits are few and far be-
tween," becau ;e were  they  of frequent occurrence,
and as common as sunlight, many  minds, I regret to
say, would not only fall into a state of ingratitude,
but they would neglect to properly appreciate the per-
petual blessings floAying  therefrom.  Therefore,  it is
necessary to avoid a too great intimacy.
    These sessions should be conducted  with perfect
dignity and harmony;  but  these conditions should not
be  allowed to prohibit  a genial flow of appropriate
conversation, or cheerful,  intelligent  mirth.   Harmo-
nial music is a great benefit to a circle, inasmuch as it
banishes discord.  These assemblages, to be success-
ful, must be indeed,  and in  sentiment, harmonial cir-
cles, entirely devoid of jarring discord.   Carry not
into them any unkind feelings, nor sensations of envy
or jealousy.  Let no feelings of unforgi\-eness against 
DR. D.  B.  KBI.LOeiii.
193
a fellow being mar the spotless beauty of your soul.
But, above all, remember that the mind, the soul,  the
spirit, has no particular Sunday habiliment—that you
cannot adorn it with a clean,  shining  vesture as you
may the body—but as you clothe it for every-day life,
so Avill it go adorned to the sanctuary of spirit inter-
course.
   The rooms Avhere the circles meet  should, as much
as possible, be retired from all discordant  noise and
interruption ;  and it is also a great benefit to have the
rooms darkened, so that the persons present, not hav-
ing their minds attracted and diverteel  by external
things, may the more easily concentrate their thoughts
upon the object for which they have met together.
   The above is the usual mode of developing  medi-
ums; but beside these means there are others Avhich
may be employed with good  effect.    For instance,  a
simple magnetic cord has been found to be a most
powerful assistant to medial deA-elopment.  There arc
many kinds of these in use, but the simplest, cheapest,
and  to my  mind the best, is made and used in the fol-
loAving manner :  Get a piece of half inch rope some
five yards in length and cover it with cotton velvet;
take this rope thus prepared, and wind around it, par-
allel with each other, two wires, one of zinc or steel,
and the other of silver or copper; these Avires  should
be wound so as to be about a quarter of an inch apart.
The circle  should sit uniformly around the  table,  and
let the magnetic cord lie on  their laps,  their hands
upon or grasping it.   The person Avho is the most pos- 
194
AUTOBIOGRAPHY  OF
itive should grasp one end of the  cord firmly in his
left hand, anel the one Avho is designed to become the
medium should sit on his left and  next to him,  with
the other end of the cord grasped in his  right hand.
Another way is to only rest one hand upon the cord,
Avhile the other rests upon the  table.  If these  rules
are complied with, it will not be long before the per-
son designed to be influenced—if  he or she are con-
stitutionally susceptible to magnetic influx—will feel
a throbbing in the hands, and ultimately, by repeated
trials, they will in all probability  be  rendered  som-
nambulic, and if their organism is sufficiently refined,
and their mental powers appropriately balanced, they
may even become clairvoyants.
    Proper  manipulations  will greatly augment the
mesmeric tendency of an impressible subject.  In fact,
I have knoAvn  persons  to  be developed  as spiritual
mediums by these manipulating processes alone.
    The modus operandi of developing mediums is so
well known at the present time that  it is  hardly nec-
essary to refer to the subject at all.   The reason Avhy
mediums are not more  readily developed is owing
much to the erroneous  idea  that disembodied spirits
have the poAver of producing magnetic^ influence.  Let
impressible individuals remember, that the  means  of
spirit  communication  all  emanate  from terrestrial
sources—from surrounding  organisms, and let  them
act in accordance with these facts, and they will find
that the desired end will be more easily accomplished.
Many suppose that all are capable of becoming medi- 
DR. D.  B. KELLOGG.
19-3
ums, but I consider this supposition in part  to  be in-
correct.   I estimate that,  by  the employment of
ordinary means, one in fifty  can become mediums;
and that one in fiA^e  hundred of these, who may be
mediums, can, by persistent endeavors  becenne som-
nambulists ;  anel of these one in  a thousand may be
clairvoyants or seers.
   This estimate as  regards somnambulic  mediums,
may be too low, or at least, may  be so considered by
the careless  observer.  There are many who claim to
be somnambulic  mediums,  avt1io   in reality are  not.
The communications received through such mediums
(meaning those who really are not somnambulists,) will
invariably betray a local origin, and their expressions
of intelligence generally correspond to their precon-
ceived ideas.  Such mediums need development, and
the only way to develop them is  to increase the mag-
netic  influence sufficiently to  render  them mentally
unconscious.
   It has not been my design to  prove that spirits do
communicate  (for of the facts  of such  occurrences
thousands are already convinced by  unimpeachable
evidence), but to furnish a philosophical  explanation
of the manner in Avhich  they^do communicate.  Hence
I have sought no individual's testimonies, because the
manifestations now  before the Avorld constitute one
grand living demonstration that  spirits do  communi-
cate with mankind.
   There are  two  distinct  kinds of communication
received from spirits.  First, such  as emanate from 
■196
AUTOBIOGRAPHY  OF
spirits who have in the circle relatives,  according to
the laAV of natural consanguinity.   These are gener-
ally messages of affectionate remembrance and regard,
they are characteristically like the friendly intercourse
betweeu relatives in the body; hence, to the fortuitous
and inappi eciative observer they ofttimes appear child-
like and insipid.  But they are none the less  genuine
manifestations of spirit intelligence, for being displays
of intellectual medriocity.  Spirits vary in knowledge
as well as men.   If they are  infinite then they are
equal to God; but if  they are not infinite,  then they
are subject to the law of gradation  the same  as man ;
and if they are subject to the  laAV of gradation, why
should we wonder at  their display of intellectual friv-
olty any more than we do the intellectual  and  moral
frivolties of man.  Perhaps you may say that spirits
have something better to employ themselves with—
some  occupation above these apparently vapid  mani-
festations.  I do not doubt but Avhat they have.   So
has the man of extended knoAvledge a nobler field of
operation, yet we ofcen find him engaged in an almost
vapid display of intellectual frivolty.  Dignity is no sign
of intellectuality.  The truly intellectual ofttimes betray
the greatest simplicity of manner.   Spirits are beings
of affection, who are subject to the  law of sympathy
the same as man in the body.   Sympathy is the main
spring of  social  intercourse,  and without  it, hea\*en
would be a hell.
   The second class of spirits who communicate with
mankind are those who design the aggrandizement of 
DR. D.  B.  KELLOGG.
197
the whole human family.  Their missions are to wage
war against the superstitions of ignorance, the_fanati-
cisms of creed-bound mortals,  and  the bigotry of
sanctimonious, self-righteous subjects of eternal prog-
ress.  To come in communicative rapport with these
spirits of intelligence, the circles formed should press
forward to the attainments of knowledge ; no fetters
of creed and doctrine should stay  their steps  in  pro-
gression.   Truth Avill lead them into the broad fields
of infinitude—into the illimitable  expanse  of nature.
If we would advance in knoA\dedgewe must not Aveary
in our investigations, nor let the hot shots  of bigotry
and superstition arrest the  minds  lor searching after
God.   We must not clasp  close  the  clasps of our
Bibles, and say. thus far will I go,  and  no  farther, in
my search after truth.  Nor must  Ave rest contented
v.'thmere words; for they are but the drapery of
truths, the shroud3 which "darkeneth counsel." Words
cannot set bounds to thought, nor can  creeds satisfy
the longings  of a progressive mind.   The undying
soul shall be taught forever from the everlasting vol-
umes of Nature, as one after another they unfold to
its growing capacity.   Nature is the ever open pages
of God's eternal word ; it is ji book which is never
closed,  never " clasped with a clasp,"  and from this
book spirits Avould teach us the Avays of life, and the
certainty of immortal existence.
    Many imagine that spiritualism is opposed to the  \
true religion of Christ; but such is not the case.  It
only  opposes  the bigotry of the Church, the fanaticism 
198
AUTOBIOGRAPHY  OF
and illiberality of creeds.  It endeavors to tear aAvay
the mask of superstition, which for past ages has en-
veloped like a shroud, the beauty and simplicity of
the Christian religion.  It wages war against the blas-
phemous  and absurd doctrine of moral degradation.
It teaches us that man is by nature pure—by education
vile.  It teahces us to properly appreciate every en-
dowment  of our nature, both spiritual  and physical.
We are taught by spirits  the reasonable  doctrine of
eternal progression; and that a perfect physical or-
ganization is necessary to spirit advancement here in
rudimental life, and that if we would grow  in  grace,
we must obey all the laws of our being.   In short,  it
teaches us that'this earth—this primary existence—is
the spirit's  first  sphere of action—the beginning of
eternity, and if we are in  harmony  with the laAVS of
our exisience, it is the all-sufficient though progressive
heaven prepared by the Almighty Giver of good gifts
alone.   Spirits teach us that  physical death is the be-
ginning of a purer spiritual life.
    These  are a few  of the great lessons the angela
come to teach us.  Let those Avho have hitherto look-
ed upon death as a dark abyss—as the termination of
personal identification, come  and behold the beautiful
light that now illumines those once supposed impene-
trable  depths.  Spirits by their teachings have literally
robbed the grave of  its  gloom.  So those  who  love
life need grieve no more,  Avhen  the years of life fly
past them; let them no more be saddened when  they
are gone; let them not cling to those years  as the 
DR. D. B. KELLOGG.
199
droAvning mariner grasps at a board, because they are
life to us, and that life  is  to be cherished.   To  the
spiritualist, the  darkness of death is  made luminous;
light, raeliant light, to-day penetrates the unfathom-
able darkness of religion  anel  mythology; the black
pall of ignorance is being lifted from mortal vision—
the bright sun of heaven drives away the thick mists
of past ages, and now the soul can  look  far, far into
eternity, and behold that to the spirit there is no death.
By the  increasing light  of spiritualism the  human
mind penetrates  deeper, and deeper into the  forever
extending future—into the innumerable abysses of the
universe, and sees everywhere the glowing gems of
truth; nor do the boundless riches which it contem-
plates cause it to reject one, even  the least, of those
Avhich it once gathered from the years of past experi-
ence.  Nay; for they  too  were jeAvels,  given by the
hand of the Almighty, and are therefore imperishable.
Nothing of all God's treasury can be lost;  hence we
need not fear that a  single truth will  ever  be  cast
away, or that aught that  is in the future can be de-
stroyed.  Aye, the beautiful truths of spiritualism re-
veal to us the glorious fact,that from everlasting,  to j
everlasting, we are the children of God, and ever ob-
jects of Divine love.
    It is often remarked.that this modern phenomena
of spiritualism  is only a novel phase of the art ofmag-
netism.  This  remark is literally correct.  Thejirt of
magnetism furnishes the  means of spirit communica-
tion ;  for it is the main spring of spirit manifestation. 
200    AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF DR. D. B. KELLOGG.

Therefore, to properly appreciate  this truly natural
phenomena, it is necessary for  us  to  make  deep re-
search into the mysteries of nature's universal medium
of sensation and  agent of sympathetic  connection—
"magnetism."  A perfect knowledge  of the attributes
of this element of vital power will furnish a magic
key to unlock nature's store-house  of mystery.  The
Almighty manifests His Avill by means of this agent,
and Ave have seen that it was this that gave the spirit
of man control of physical nature; by this agent the
spirit manifests its existence,  both in the body and
out.   Thus we make spiritualism a science. 
INDEX.
                  CHAPTER I.
                                            PAGE.
Birth, Parentage, and Early Recollections,.......   5

                 CHAPTER II.

Being an Account op Nervous Peculiarities in Early
    Life, and Incipient Manifestations of Clairvoy-
    ance, ...................... ..................... 19

                 CHAPTER III.

Mv First Sorroav, and my First Acquaintance with
    Magnetism,.....................................  2 it

                 CHAPTER IV.

My First Influence as a Spirit Medium,............  3n

                 CHAPTER V.

My Entree into the Third Magnetic Degree,......  42

                 CHAPTER  VI.

Misunderstanding of my GrFTS,......................  49 
202                  index.

                CHAPTER  VII.
                                           PAGE.
Doubts and Misgivings.—Why I was different from
    others,.......................................  57

                CHAPTER VIII.

Different Views op Spiritualism—what it is,.......  66

                 CHAPTER IX.

A Chapter of Mysteries,............................  75

                 CHAPTER X.

More Mysteries,....................................  85

                 CHAPTER XL

My Progress as a Physician,.........................  94

                CHAPTER XII.

In which I am Victimized.—A Sample of Correspond-
    ence.—The Trials of  Clairvoyance,............  102

               CHAPTER XIII.

A Change of Residence, and a Change of Subject, ..  Ill

                CHAPTER XIV.

The Philosophy of Magnetism, and its Relation to
    Ordinary Sleep and  the Science of Spiritual-
    ism,..............................................  115

                CHAPTER XV.

Somnambulism and Clairvoyance Explained,........  134 
                     index.                 203


                CHAPTER XVI.
                                           PAGE.
The Duality of Man,............................  .. 152

               CHAPTER XVII.

Spirit Means op Physical Control,................. 160

               CHAPTER XVIII.

How Spirits Communicate........................... 173

                CHAPTER XIX.

How to form CmcLES so as to get Communications,  189 
 
 
 
yhfj.  ''\ie^.-  ' I/O' ■
ve- ■■.*-■> i
i 
 
     JOHN M. PRYSE
  Books on Occultism, Cali-
  fornia and Pacific Islands
LOS  ANGELES, CALIFORNIA 
.•)«■-**>; m.' wrv*
fifty-* ' ' rjv v't^Jiijl'-^i,' '..il■'. jVCi^V-iU






iV"''''''•  ,,''.'.'.'•'•-'.'■'■V'v'vr|.,''.v'.  '' 't\i,-..'-'                ' jili

^^';:'#^



*.....JM»
       ■■.afti.^