PN8

MURDO MacDONALD-BAYNE, world-famous spiritual healer who collapsed and died in a taxi in the heart of London a few weeks ago, returned on Monday to the woman who has been asked to take over his life's work.

His message of encouragement to Mrs. F.W. Luxford, of New Zealand, who is to address a Caxton Hall, Westminster, audience in June on his teachings, was the highlight of a brilliant demonstration of clairvoyance given by Helen Hughes in St. Pancras' Assembly Rooms at the meeting arranged by Two Worlds.

Indicating a section of the audience, which had received her enthusiastically at this, one of her rare public demonstrations in London, Helen, described by the speaker, Maurice Barbanell, as "one of the greatest mediums of the age," asked, "Does someone there know MacDonald-Bayne?"

Mrs. Luxford acknowledged this and nodded when the medium queried, "Are you following out his principles?" Afterwards she told me that she organised seven groups in New Zealand solely for the purpose of studying his philosophy.

MacDonald-Bayne's message, in which he assured her that he would be guiding her in all her work, was followed by a wealth of evidence. Helen correctly told Mrs. Luxford that she had been trying to decide between three names for a new home, a healing sanctuary. The medium gave one of the names -- White Eagle Sanctuary.

After giving the names of Mrs. Luxford's father, her husband (who was seated next to her) and her father-in-law, the medium told her, "You will go back to where you came from and before you go you'll try to decide what part of New Zealand to live in."

It was then that Mrs. Luxford revealed for the first time that she was a New Zealander

The most dramatic message of the evening was the shortest -- a perfect cameo containing in a few brief sentences cast-iron evidence of Survival.

"Tommy wants to speak to his wife," began the medium, indicating the front row of the audience. Receiving immediate acknowledgement from Mrs. F.M. Tunbridge of Carleton Road, London, N.7, she went on: "He wishes to thank you for this day of remembrance. The wheel of the car went through his chest and crushed him. Today is his anniversary."

Mrs. Tunbridge told me afterwards: "It was 23 years ago today that my husband, Tommy, and I were in the car when he turned to me and said, 'She won't answer the wheel.'

"Soon afterwards the car crashed. The steering wheel forced its way through his ribs and into his lungs, killing him outright. But I knew tonight that though his body had been shattered, he still lives on. Helen Hughes proved that to me."

A touching message from a son -- the medium got the name Rod Grant -- to his grieving mother was understand why you bought that black hat," said Helen.

The woman, who was wearing a bright red hat for the meeting, admitted that she had recently bought a black hat. " 'Tell her she hasn't to keep my things as souvenirs'," relayed the medium. "He wants you to think of him as he is, not as he was."

Helen gave evidence that animals survive death when she told Evadne Price, the famous authoress, who was seated in the audience, that two dogs which she had owned were in the hall. "You used to take a blue scarf from around your neck and tie it round that of a golden setter," she told her. Helen gave the name of one dog, Stewie.

Evadne Price, corroborating this afterwards, told me she considered it to be remarkable proof.

The most humorous moment of the whole evening came when the demonstration had ended. Helen had sat down amid warm applause only to stand up again to pass a message to a woman from her father who had been very much against Spiritualism, and even though he was now communicating, still believed that he was dead!

It was fascinating to watch the medium at work with her typically swift movements. She darted from one side of the platform to the other. She would interrupt a message, because of an insistent communicator, relay his words, and resume where she had broken off.

Always she refused to make things fit when people recognised part of a message but she persisted till in the end she found the right recipient.

And, afterwards, there was the inevitable crowd waiting to talk to the medium who inspires affection wherever she goes.