“Seth material” search engine (Jane Roberts)

(The 51st envelope experiment was held during the session. The object was placed as usual between two pieces of Bristol and sealed in double envelopes. It was a newspaper article by Peggy Gallagher, published in the Elmira Star-Gazette and Advertiser on May 4,1966; today. The photo of Mrs. Bessie Berry was not included in the test envelopes. It appeared on the same page of the newspaper, just above the center column of the object itself, but was attched to another article about Mrs. Berry.

(Jane had of course seen the article used as object in this evening’s paper. We had discussed it at supper, and also noted that Peggy Gallagher had written it. As stated the photo of Mrs. Berry was not used in the experimental envelope. This photo was included in another article; the photo was centered above the middle column of the object. At the time I prepared the envelopes I thought of including the photo with Peggy’s article, but decided against it at the last minute.

(“A picture of a woman.” As stated a photo of Mrs. Berry was included in the other article about her, printed just above Peggy Gallagher’s story. I had considered enclosing the photo in the envelopes with the article but decided not to at the last moment. See the session’s opening notes.

(On the back of the object itself can be seen portions of two drawings of women also, in an advertisement. We believe however that Seth referred to the photo rather than the drawings, because of his answer to my first question.

(“A cross shape, or something canceled, or wiped out or done. it would seem to be of a dark color. This could signify a death connection but I do not know.” We think this also refers to the death of the priest whom Jane knew in her childhood. The photo of him that Jane received in the mail the other day is actually a halftone reproduction bearing the priest’s portrait and a heavy black border all around. It is a black and white photo. On the back are two crosses in black, one fairly large, plus a prayer and a quotation from St. Alphonsus.

(“Only what I have said. picture in terms of a photograph connection.” Seth answered thus to my first question. I sought elaboration on the picture of a woman data interpreted on page 138. Here Seth connects the picture with photograph. This eliminates the drawings of two women on back of the envelope object, and we think refers to the photo of Mrs. Berry already described.

(“Fairly small. Dark colors and white. Perhaps writing on the back.” This came through in answer to my second question, concerning the shape of the object. The data can fit either the envelope object itself, or the picture of the dead priest referred to above under “cross shape,” etc. I am inclined to think it refers to the latter. The envelope object was folded three times so that it measured about 4 3/4” x 3”. Even with this the photo of the priest measures 3 3/4” x 2 1/2”, or still smaller. Neither the object or the priest’s picture have writing on the back, but both contain printed type. The problem of semantics here, involving printing, writing and lettering, has arisen before.

(“There are also others, or at least one more.” At the risk of repetition: There were two articles concerning Mrs. Berry in the paper. One was by Peggy Gallagher and this is the one used as envelope object. Just above Peggy’s article the other article was printed. This second one included the photo of Mrs. Berry. The second article also included another photo—this one of a man who was also elected with Mrs. Berry. The two photos ran side by side.