Medium Jack Webber's Spirit Control - Reuben

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• published: 24 Mar 2016
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In April 1939 the Balham Psychical Research Society, headed by Harry Edwards, arranged for a séance to be held and recorded at the London studios of the Decca Record company. The Medium for this séance was Welshman Jack Webber. In this scarce two-part recording, we can hear the loud baritone singing voice of Webber's Spirit control Reuben, who in life was known to have been a Southern American school teacher. This audio is comprised of both sides of the original 78rpm record (pictured) and is the only known recording of a Jack Webber séance. Besides Reuben's singing, in the first half we also hear him speak briefly to sitters and close the séance, and in both halves we hear the aluminium séance trumpet that he is singing through, fall loudly to the floor. These two old psalms sang by Reuben were recorded by Decca and issued for sale at the time. (See lyrics below.) From his 1940 book 'The Mediumship of Jack Webber' this is what Harry Edwards had to say, "A feature of Mr. Webber's Mediumship is the singing of hymns and ballads through the trumpet or in the independent voice. One control, Reuben, possesses an extremely powerful voice, so strong that at times the trumpet is in a condition of tension, setting up such a high vibration that it takes on a ringing tone. At all times the direct voice is of full loud-speaker strength, possessing a quality of tone that is distinctive, and which the medium is incapable of reproducing. Each syllable is clearly articulated. If the medium could produce this singing voice normally, he could obtain a good living on the concert platform without endangering his life and health at public séances . [In the past] Reuben has sung continuously for an hour without cessation, with such vigour that any human throat would have become exhausted and hoarse. His rendering of hymns has been recorded by the Decca Record Co., Ltd." Here are the lyrics to the two hymns Reuben sings: 1) In The Sweet By And By (or There's A Land) There’s a land that is fairer than day, And by faith we can see it afar; For the Father waits over the way To prepare us a dwelling place there. Chorus: In the sweet by and by, We shall meet on that beautiful shore; In the sweet by and by, We shall meet on that beautiful shore. We shall sing on that beautiful shore The melodious songs of the blessed; And our spirits shall sorrow no more, Not a sigh for the blessing of rest. To our bountiful Father above, We will offer our tribute of praise For the glorious gift of His love And the blessings that hallow our days. 2) Lead Kindly Light Lead, kindly light, amid the encircling gloom, lead thou me on. The night is dark, and I am far from home; Lead thou me on. Keep thou my feet; I do not ask to see the distant scene, one step enough for me. I was not ever thus, nor prayed that thou shouldst lead me on. I loved to choose and see my path, but now lead thou me on. I loved the garish day, and, spite of fears, pride ruled my will: remember not past years.