In an era of genocidal wars, terrorism, and heated debates over the meaning of patriotism, a romantic view of the American Revolution was desperately desired. However, those who lived through it have a much more complex story to tell, much more relevant to us as their heirs and descendants. As colonists, these Americans were sharply divined on the topic of independence. In many regions, the Revolution was a bitter civil war, which divided the very fabric of society. However, let us peer further inside the magic and rituals following the occult ceremonies. Although many examples may be cited of Saints who have been levitated in ecstasy, and although it is not impossible that this phenomenon may be imitated by evil powers—as, indeed, it undoubtedly is the cases of spiritistic mediums—yet nowhere do we find in hagiography that a large number of Saints were in one company raised from the Earth together or conveyed through the air to meet at some appointed spot. It is likely, then, that the demons would be allowed seemingly to excel by their power a most extraordinary and exceptional manifestation? It must be remembered, also, that save in very rare and singular instances, such as that of S. Joseph Cupertino, levitation is only for a height of a foot or some eighteen inches, and even this occurs seldom save at moments of great solemnity and psychic concentration. #RandolphHarris 1 of 7

It is proven that sorcerers can be bodily transported. Witches are actually and bodily conveyed from place to place to attend their Sabbats. Sometimes they are actually conveyed from one place to another by the Devil, whom carries them, and they are verily and indeed present at their midnight Sabbats. One night, while I was in The Winchester Mansion, I observed eighteen or more people moving down a dark corridor to the ritual room, and the door banged shut behind them. Two hooded guards stood attention; no one could enter, no one could leave. It was pitch black. Suddenly our ears were alerted by the sound of curious organ music which was preamble to a loud cacophony of instruments and sound effects shattered the consciousness. The organ played again, a Hymn to Satan. Priests and disciples in their jet-black robes drank their Elixir of Life from a silver chalice. They chanted, “In the name of Satan, the Ruler of the Earth, the King of the World, I command the forces of darkness to bestow their Infernal power upon me! Open wide the gates of Hell and come forth from the abyss to greet me as your child! Grant me the indulgence of which I speak! I have taken thy name as part of myself! I live as the beasts of the field, rejoicing in the fleshly life! I favour the just curse of the rotten! By all the Gods of the Pit, I command that these things of which I speak shall come to pass! Come forth and answer your names by manifesting my desires! Hail Satan!” Hail Satan! That is the cry of those in the Church dedicated to the Prince of Darkness. #RandolphHarris 2 of 7

The music and chanting stopped, and the room was lit by thirteen black candles giving sufficient glow to reveal a thirteen-foot-tall man who was pitch black, wearing a black robe. He was called the High Priest, and his eyes peering, scrolling down at us. Off to the side of him was another startling feature, a coffin standing upright and lined with black silk and it was just possible to catch sight of an owl, its eyes glinting, perched inside. I became woozy and passed out. That night while I was unconscious, I dreamed that the High Priest put a baby into a basin, cut its throat, poured blood into a chalice and consecrated it with the host, finished the host, then took out the child’s entrails…which were distilled and put in a glass phial which someone took away. The child’s body was burnt in a stove. When I came to, the occultists discounted this instance as either a freak happening, or exaggerated nonsense dreamt up. The evidence of horrific acts in the name of Satan were dismissed. However, some key players in this horror story confessed to, without the resort of torture, that this was a factual account. The police also dismissed the account. Although, this bran of black magic with satanic overtones intrigued the rich young men of European capitals in the early twentieth century, and what soon became known as The Winchester Mystery House was quickly established with Satan living dangerously, but hidden, as the prime objective. #RandolphHarris 3 of 7

Tours were given during the day. However, at night, the gentry and young socialite members of this club met in secretly in the most pious manner. The King Hell held court and presided over all manner of alarming acts of competitive bravado. Wealthy pleasure-seeking men of position preserved the authentic satanism which was committed in secret places in the mansion and where no secrets were revealed through pain of death itself. The World, it seemed, had been waiting for us. We were caught on the crest of a heady wave of mysticism. Seeking an extension of mystical experience, it was as if we were being transported back three thousand years into the days of the Zoroastrian figure, Angra Mainyu. Young people would just turn up…they were becoming aware that there were different ways of progressing spiritually. All this was behind the great new wave of occult interests. There were very rare books of ritual magic which was preformed in Egypt in hidden rooms in what is now known as The Winchester Mystery House. One of the leaders was a French nobleman with a family tradition of pagan self-sacrifice. People actually and awake and in full enjoyment of their normal senses attended these assemblies. Nor were they labouring under any delusion when they denied the Catholic Faith, worshipped and adored the Devil, who appeared to them in a human form. #RandolphHarris 4 of 7

One prominent family found out that their daughter had been attending these ceremonies, but no one believed it because it had been virtually impossible to find any witnesses or writings about these assemblies. That woman confessed to her mother and father that she nightly assisted at the Sabbat, and that neither bolts nor bars could prevent her from flying to the infernal revels. She was shut fast under lock and key in a chamber whence it was impossible for her to escape, and all the while carefully watched by officers through a peephole in the wall. They reported that immediately the door was closed and she threw herself on the bed where in a moment she was stretched out perfectly rigid in all her members. Though it was a handsome and well-built house, the officers became very uncomfortable. Select officers, grave and acute doctors entered the room. They were overcome with a depressed foreboding feeling that they had never had before. They shook her, gently at first, and then with considerable roughness. She remained immobile and insensible. She was pinched and pulled sharply, but did not respond. She lay stockish and still lame. After a while her senses returned to her. She sat up and related in exact detail the happenings at the Sabbat she attended at The Winchester Mystery House, the number of the company, the rites, what was spoken, all that was done. Although she was ghastly pale and weak, we had all seen her there. #RandolphHarris 5 of 7

There are some people, who although they are not Sorcerers, if they are anointed, are nonetheless carried off to the Sabbat. After the Sabbats, there were reports of wild animals appearing after their deaths, and even people’s dogs and cats manifested. The children in the neighbourhood were elated, and so no one believed anything demonic was going on in the mansion, but it was well-known that it was haunted. One case in particular stood out. Mrs. Baker’s dog was killed in a carriage accident. She was terribly upset. The Christmas season was at hand and memories of Jasper would sadden the holidays. On the day before Christmas, Mrs. Baker was in the kitchen when suddenly she heard a strange noise at the back door. It sounded like a dog scratching to be let in. At once she thought, “Oh, Jasper wants to get into the house,” then the chilling thought came to her that this could not very well be Jasper since he was dead. So, she went to the back door and peeked through the glass, but there was nothing outside that could have made the noise. She returned to her kitchen sink. The incident slipped her mind until a few days after the holiday. She heard the sound very clearly again and knew it was not her imagination playing tricks. Again, she looked out the door and saw nothing special. She told her husband, but he dismissed her account. #RandolphHarris 6 of 7

The next day, Mrs. Baker heard the ghostly scratching again. Quickly, she went to the door, opened it wide, and said, “Come on in, Jasper.” She felt terribly silly doing this, but after she had done it, the depression over the dog’s untimely death seemed somehow to have left her and she felt better about the whole matter. She returned to the kitchen and continued her work. A little later, she found herself in the living room. She was surprised when she found Jasper lying on the carpet in front of the fireplace. A littler later, her husband passed by it and also observed Jasper. However, by nightfall, he disappeared again. The scratching at the back door was never heard again. However, this visit allowed for Jasper and his family to have closure. One night after tours of The Winchester Mystery House were over, I noticed a small, shadowlike man jump down from the attic and run toward me. However, instead of coming at me, he turned and ran down the stairs. I thought it was my imagination, but the strange figure reappeared several times more, and eventually I came to the conclusion that he was real. This was years after I had the nightmare of the baby being sacrificed at the Sabbat. I came to the conclusion that he was still living in the house and growing in the spirit World. It was about that time that the organ in the Grand Ballroom started to play by itself. One night, while the organ played in plain view of everyone, there was also the sound of pages in a book being turned in the same area, although nobody had a book or turned any pages. Satan is the tester. The soul continues to permeate between the material World and the divine World. #RandolphHarris 7 of 7

The Winchester Mystery House

Step into the ultimate vintage Halloween experience at our limited-time Halloween museum! Discover a mesmerizing collection filled with nostalgic treasures and Halloween magic at every turn 🎃✨

A special thanks to @hollywoodhaunter / @pickertreats for bringing this enchanting display to life with their amazing personal collection!

Please come and enjoy a delicious meal in Sarah’s Café, stroll along the paths of the beautiful Victorian gardens, and wonder through the miles of hallways in the World’s most mysterious mansion. For further information about tours, including group tours, weddings, school events, birthday party packages, facility rentals, and special events please visit the website: https://winchestermysteryhouse.com/

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