This is the time of year when colder weather, heavy clouds, and occasional snowflakes warn us to be ready for a long winter. But, in the meantime, we will celebrate the harvest, and give thanks for all we have received.
"All Saints Day" marks the end of October. While adults pay homage to the martyrs, saints, and all the faithful departed believers, our youth find humor and happiness in costumes of favorite characters, witches and ghosts as they parade house to house yelling “Trick or treat!”. “All Hallows’ Eve” came from a 15th century Celtic annual practice when the souls of the dead were thought to revisit their homes.
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I received an e-mail from a Wisconsin transplant to Minnesota , being a brother by marriage, and, being newly retired, moved to Northfield, Minnesota, the site of the well-respected St. Olaf college. As quoted from the St. Olaf website: “St. Olaf is one of the nation’s leading four-year residential colleges. St. Olaf offers an academically rigorous education with a vibrant faith tradition. Founded in 1874, St. Olaf, named in honor of the Norse king, is a liberal arts college of the church in the Lutheran tradition (ELCA). Committed to the liberal arts and incorporating a global perspective".
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One would not expect any strange or unsettling events in this stately institution, but then again, St. Olaf does “welcome people of differing backgrounds and beliefs, a community that embraces spirituality and cultivates compassion”.
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In a guided tour of the campus, it was mentioned that the Vice President for student Life, Greg Knesner, and tour guide suggested that school president, Doctor David Anderson, a La Crosse native, is not eager for campus anomalies to be promoted, but the V.P. counters that everything shared is documented and anything but disproven. And, let's not forget that according to its own web site, “The college encourages and challenges its students to be seekers of truth, to lead lives of unselfish service to others, and to be responsible and knowledgeable citizens of the world.” The spirits must be having fun with that one.”Knesner shared a sample from his personal “Ghost” file with the group.
Knesner does not admit to being a true believer, but freely admits there is no explanation for the substance making up many of the reports in his ghost file.Mr. Knesner reported one incident:
“He's here! ” The lower bunk roomie who had seen the apparition many times before bolted upright, banging her head into the underside of the upper bunk. It all began more than 20 years ago when two students came for aid, one with a fresh gash on her forehead, and a strange story. For some time one of them had been seeing and reporting to the other the presence of a large and ominous man in their dorm room from time to time. He caused no harm and didn't stay long before 'evaporating' each time”. The first report was dismissed, however, the next incident confirmed earlier reports when the upper bunk roomie awoke to finally see the ghost-man standing at the end of her bed, just as had been described to her again and again by her roommate. Now a believer, she shrieked, "He's here again. He's really here!"
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Another strange happening took place in the famous Music Hall. “A student was toiling very late into the night because the music piece was not coming together for him to his satisfaction. The student had been in the upper practice room on his own. Displeased with both his progress and the time, he decided to stop for the night. That was when a very unexpected sound came to his ears. The same piece he had been working on was being played flawlessly on a piano downstairs, it seemed to him. Puzzled, he went to the balcony and looked down. There was a woman in a lavender dress graciously playing the difficult piece. Mesmerized, the student could only stand at the railing and wonder in amazement at what was happening. With the piece completed, however, the lavender dress woman stood, turned, and looked directly at the student. She then turned again and walked into the shadows, never to be seen again..That, in itself would be unsettling, but the story
continues as the unnerved student began racing down the stairs, eager to reach the outside air. Halfway down the final set of stairs he looked up, and there, near the entrance of the hall hung the portrait of the long term and revered piano teacher who worked there with piano students very many years. Her portrait displayed her in the pretty, lavender dress. However, she had passed away many years before—well before the student started college. But she was still helping” The student was in Kelsey Theater, named in honor of Elizabeth Wasingham Kelsey, the piano instructor and Director of Dramatics for more than three decades. The portrait was of Elizabeth Kelsey.
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One day in the college library, a student reported the incident of seeing a woman placing books back on the shelves from a book cart, and then, an instant later, having vanished from sight. No one else was around and this student was still trying to make sense of this anomaly as he continued down the stacks. That was when he saw her again. It was her picture on the library wall. She,too, was well known and revered in her work there. And she ,too, was deceased but seen by a student who had never known or before seen her”.
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Some of the other stories included reports of identical incidents and descriptions of seemingly real but disappearing people being reported. Students reporting having seen and describing apparitions in exact detail, and without knowledge that others had reported the same exact experience years before. In one scenario, there had been a 13 year gap between identical reportings.
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There have been several such happenings and several reoccurances. An interesting point in all this ghost business over the years is that none of the reports indicate any malicious or threatening behavior—no overt intimidation. And St. Olaf, by some at least, enjoys the comfort and satisfaction of knowing they are being looked out for by well meaning souls from the past.” .
Who believes in ghosts and who does not believe in ghosts? Who has good reason to believe in ghosts and who has not?”
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