Bilocation

The incredible story of Louis Rodgers

By: Sam Little

Before we get into the amazing story that is Louis Rodgers let's first look at what it is exactly that made him famous. Rosemary Ellen Guiley's Encyclopedia of Ghost and Spirits list bilocation as an unusual phenomena in which a person appears to be in two places simultaneously. Just imagine if you will. You are at the theater with your best friend munching on popcorn and watching a horror flick but at the same time your friend is in a CD shop 7 blocks away buying the new Ozzy CD. By now you should be asking yourself if this is even possible. According to many, one man was very much able to do this and proved it.

Louis Rodgers was an English medium. A title that was not very uncommon at the time. He was said to conjure spirits with the greatest of ease in his seances and his talents grew but his medium abilities never would excel him to stardom. One day however that would all change. He moved to Melbourne Australia to practice his mediumship. He was 30 when he finally began to build a following that he cared very much for and sought to help in any way he could. While he had many loyal clients and very highly regarded talents he was not much different from some of the other big name mediums at the time. One day two of his clients happened to have ran into him. How is that strange you may be asking? Let me explain. One of these clients spotted Rodgers in Melbourne, which of course was not uncommon by any means as it was his home. The other client, a woman, had a lengthy talk with him in Sydney. The strange thing is that the two clients both saw the strange man at the same time. When asked about his abilities he would always respond "I am at the mercy of the spirits wherever they call me I must go". This answer became his trade marked catch phrase. Clients would ask him just to hear the trademark line come out of the man's mouth.

Imagine in 1935 and word has spread that a man can send his double out to far away places to conduct everyday chores while his natural self does the same elsewhere. This is a very rare ability, I am talking Action Comics #1 rare!!! This was a trick that was being accomplished elsewhere in the world by way of a look a like or in some cases a real twin. Many assumed that Rodgers was using a trick such as this to pull off his amazing stunts. This ability would grant the medium a great deal of customers who feel the medium is legit and will be worth the money. Every time the topic was brought up, out would come that signature line and once again the mystery was in the air.

Australian police quickly took notice of the mediums claims and suspected him of fraud. Also assuming this to be the case was director of The Victorian Institute for Psychical Research, Dr. Martin Spencer. Spencer had made his name as a debunker of paranormal claims and felt Rodgers would be an easy case to crack and that it should be to rest the rumors of the man with the traveling shadow. After many attempts to get Rodgers to agree to testing finally Spencer wore him down and Rodgers agreed to put his ability to the scrutiny of one of the world's great debunkers. In April of 1937 testing began. For three weeks Rodgers was monitored in Melbourne by Spencer, or one of Spencer's investigators who shared his desire to disprove the medium. Other researchers were stationed in Sydney and other locales where the double of Louis Rodgers had been spotted at times. The order was to call Spencer in the event that the medium was seen in any location other then Melbourne. On the third day Spencer received a call that Rodgers had been sighted in Sydney. he was checking into a motel at the time of being spotted. The investigator approached the room and questioned the man within. Oddly enough the man claimed to be Louis Rodgers who was at that exact moment at a lunch with Spencer. While most would have been impressed Spencer was unmoved and felt more testing needed to be done.

Rodgers promised to impress Spencer once and for all in four days after he took care of prior engagements. He was locked in Spencer's office along with Spencer himself. Spencer gave Rodgers a password of lilac. After only an hour the phone in the office began to ring. This time expecting to hear the voice of one of his researchers he was startled to hear Louis Rodgers' voice on the other line. The voice calmly said "this is Louis Rodgers, and the password is lilac".

Spencer never openly admitted he felt that Rodgers was the real deal, but he also never proclaimed otherwise. It was reported that he told a friend that he felt the medium was the real deal. Sadly World War II would take the life of this amazing medium. No testing would ever be done again to prove or disprove the ability he claimed to have had. Many assumed it was a scam for money but he never bragged about the ability and in all truth it did not even seem like he wanted it to get out in the first place. I can't say that I believe 100% that he was what he claimed to be but I can say I was fascinated with his story and hope you were also. Happy Hunting!!!