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    ELIZABETH VON EECKE. 169

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    ~*» ' Past I. There Are Some Individuals...

    now beyond this world . " No wonder that , thus "bereaved , she allowed her mind to dwell on that otlier home whither the beloved

    course spirits had between fled . heavenl A belief y sp in irits the and possibilit holy mortals y of a took mysterious possession inter of - herself she aired

    her mind . Previously consecrating" by prayer , rep at midnight , full of highly-wroug the boun ht expectation daries it , to the between churclryar time d ,

    where stood those tombs , as were and eternity . Disentangled from all thoughts of earth , the pure stars lifting the dark curtain which hid from her the objects of her

    that yearn surel ings , Elizabeth those blessed sought spirit the s would graves app of e her ar to beloved her , or , thinking at least y

    reveal their presence _Tby some sensible token . Bat no sign came ; disappointedbut not despairing , again and again she returned

    always with , the same result , but still hoping on , and for above a year , she continued these midnight visits to the tombs , whenever

    circumstances allowed . It was about this time , the spring- of 1759 , that Cagliostro

    made his appearance in Courland . Representing himself to be a Spanish Countand a Master Freemason , he introduced himself in

    these characters , to [ Elizabeth ' s uncle , who also was a Master , and thus Cagliostro speedily became on terms of intimacy with the whole

    family . "Was it to be marvelled at that Fran _, von Recke , witli her mystical tendencies , and her spiritual aspirations at their fullest

    hei fame ght and , should who feel was herself reported powerfull in the y attracted newspapers towards and other a man publica of such

    tions , of the day to have wrought the most wonderful miracles ? Yet she was prudent enough to refrain from placing any confidence

    in him , until he had been fully accredited by her father , her uncle , and other men and women whose judgment she respected . In

    numerous ways her mind had been prepared for what was now offered to it . Several members of her family liad occupied themselves in

    former years with chemistry , and what was then almost its concomitantalchemyso that from earliest childhood Elizabeth had heard

    discussions , on , the occult sciences , and on the reveries of Swedenborgwhich were also a favorite topic of conversation in her home .

    Thoug , h listened to eagerly , they had made no more impression at the time than the wonders of Bluebeard or Cinderella , and the

    prospect of a ball had more attractions for her then than any intercourse with spirits could have proffered ; but during the isolated

    loneliness of her married life , she had thought again , and with , far other feelingsover all she had heard , while the reading of

    Lava-, ter ' s Power of Prayer deepened and sanctified their influence . And now it seemed that Heaven had sent to her one who could fulfil her

    fondest and most da-ring aspirations , who could lead her through the world of wonders she so longed to explore , and initiate her into

    its deepest mysteries . The great magician was not slow to perceivo that here was one peculiarly fitted to become his disciple , and

    announced that he had "been sent by his superiors to found a Lodge

    Elizabeth Von Eecke. 169

    ELIZABETH VON EECKE . 169

• Citation
  • English Woman’s Journal (1858-1864), May 1, 1860, page 169, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ewj/issues/ewj_01051860/page/25/