THE DIVINING ROD: John Mullins book

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B.J.C.Courtney
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THE DIVINING ROD: John Mullins book

Post by B.J.C.Courtney »

THE DIVINING ROD: ITS HISTORY, TRUTHFULNESS AND PRACTICAL UTILITY.

Hardcover
Publisher: Mullins (1908)
ASIN: B000XXM2AK

I have just bought this book and not really read it, but find it an extremely useful example of the actual way others in our past viewed dowsing. It is just one hundred years ago this book was written, Queen Victoria was still on the throne and as far as the esoteric aspect of life it seams in just looking at the first few pages of this book that our forefathers new more than us and accepted it as realty?

THE DIVINING ROD: ITS HISTORY, TRUTHFULNESS AND PRACTICAL UTILITY.
Bryan a some what Dsylexic travler in time and space.
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Re: THE DIVINING ROD: ITS HISTORY, TRUTHFULNESS.

Post by Ian Pegler »

Author ?


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Re: THE DIVINING ROD: ITS HISTORY, TRUTHFULNESS.

Post by Grahame »

John Mullins and Joseph Mullins.

£13.95 new on Amazon, s/h from £6.07. You can read some extracts from it too!
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Re: THE DIVINING ROD: ITS HISTORY, TRUTHFULNESS.

Post by Ian Pegler »

Found it on Amazon. Here's the LINK

Presumably this would be the famous John Mullins of Bath, the guy who supposedly dowsed 5000 wells?

Obviously he self-published it.

Here's an interesting quote from Page 16 (added emphasis mine):
John Mullins wrote: Those who have an extensive experience are able to indicate, from the physical effects, when there is the probability of the water being near the surface, or otherwise, and in the same way, are able to indicate, with more or less accuracy, according to the length and extent of their experience, the quality or yield of the spring. Needless to say, such opinions can only be given, with any degree of accuracy, after many years of careful training and observation. Hence the value of the services of an experienced Dowser, as compared with those of novices, who may possess the same faculty, but have not that wider knowledge, which is necessary to interpret the actions of the twig.
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Re: THE DIVINING ROD: ITS HISTORY, TRUTHFULNESS.

Post by simonwheeler »

Ian Pegler wrote:
Presumably this would be the famous John Mullins of Bath, the guy who supposedly dowsed 5000 wells?
Taken from "The Divining Rod" by Sir William Barrett & Theodore Besterman (pub Methuen 1926):
John Mullins was without doubt the most remarkably successful dowser of whom we possess records.....
One warning must be given: when John Mullins found that he was able to make a living with his dowsing-rod and when he found that two of his sons had inherited his gift, he formed a company under the style of John Mullins and Sons. This was about 1882. After that date when application for a dowser was made to the firm it was not always old Mullins himself who did the work. The two sons, further, were rather apt to take themselves the credit for the exploits of their father. Consequently for many years after John Mullins' death triumphant reports of his failures were made by a number of well-intentioned persons ignorant of these facts. In practically every case such reports were found to refer to one of the young Mullins'.
I can happily quote this as my great grandfather, A.W. Wills, is also mentioned several times in this book, not least:
(Lester) Gataker frankly confesses that he had experienced failures, estimating them at 10% of all his cases. It will be seen, for example, there is no reason to doubt his statement, that he was far from being as successful as, say Mullins. It should be noted, however, that Gataker employed an assistant named A.W.Wills, who often did the dowsing when Gataker was asked for.
Nevertheless, AW Wills dowsed all over the world, and for the British Royal family. He became a highly successful & prosperous businessman and local politician - he was Mayor of Bath in 1918-19. A "failure"?! :D
Don’t be so open-minded that your brains fall out. LAWRENCE FERLINGHETTI

www.simongordonwheeler.co.uk

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Re: THE DIVINING ROD: ITS HISTORY, TRUTHFULNESS.

Post by B.J.C.Courtney »

Ian Pegler wrote:Author ?


Ian
Ian it is John Mullins of Bath

I am actual gob smaked at the way it was written, so matter of fact, and the people who write recomendations are so factual.

And yes the John Mullins and Son's who dowsed 5000 or more wells.

I paid £8.00 includeing post for a 1908 first edition, vi ebay.
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Re: THE DIVINING ROD: ITS HISTORY, TRUTHFULNESS.

Post by Ian Pegler »

Thanks BJC.

George Applegate mentions in his book that he was first introduced to dowsing when as a teenager he saw a Mr. Mullins from Bath (which must have been one of the sons) dowse for water. This Mr. Mullins picked a spot that was directly between two dry holes - but it worked ! George was later taught by this Mr. Mullins and would cycle 22 miles to go and see him.

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Re: THE DIVINING ROD: ITS HISTORY, TRUTHFULNESS.

Post by B.J.C.Courtney »

Ian Pegler wrote:Thanks BJC.

George Applegate mentions in his book that he was first introduced to dowsing when as a teenager he saw a Mr. Mullins from Bath (which must have been one of the sons) dowse for water. This Mr. Mullins picked a spot that was directly between two dry holes - but it worked ! George was later taught by this Mr. Mullins and would cycle 22 miles to go and see him.

Ian
Ian,

Since posting this thread about the Mullins book and Dowsing I have read it and found it is more a Mullins self advertisement booklet, that tells a lot about their clients perception and surprise, to me Mullins comes across as a posh version of the Cornish Dowser who features as part of the Society Dowsing for beginners, cant remember the gentleman’s name but he seams to be extremely good.
Bryan a some what Dsylexic travler in time and space.
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Re: THE DIVINING ROD: ITS HISTORY, TRUTHFULNESS.

Post by Kevin »

BJC Courtney,
Not seen the book, but I think you will find it's Edwardian, not Victorian.
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Re: THE DIVINING ROD: John Mullins book

Post by DarkChestofWonders »

John Mullins book can be found on the "Wayback Machine" archive here, https://archive.org/web/ as can some other old divining books, others may be available to borrow.

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Re: THE DIVINING ROD: John Mullins book

Post by Ian Pegler »

DarkChestofWonders wrote: Thu Dec 27, 2018 8:38 am John Mullins book can be found on the "Wayback Machine" archive here, https://archive.org/web/ as can some other old divining books, others may be available to borrow.

Alan
The Wayback Machine is an archive of websites. The Mullins book may be found here:

https://archive.org/details/b24884492/page/n7
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