A Journal of Psychical, Occult, and Mystical Research.
•• Light ! Moiir Light !Qortht. '‘WHATEVER OOTII MAKE MANIFEST IS LIGHT."—Pillll. Price Twopence. No. 888—VOL. XVIII. Saturday, .January 15, 1898. [a Now.pAp.r-J Per Poet, 10e. 10*1. per annum.
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Lloyd Tuokey, M.D. 6s. 4d., post free. ______Third Edition, Revised and Enlarged, 820pp. Cloth, 6s. 4d., post free. ‘ pheiro’s Language of the Hand.’ A com- V.7 plele practical work on tho Sciences of Chcirognomv and Cheiro ‘ Ocers of the Ages.’ Ancient, Mediieval, and mancy, containing tho System, Rules, and Experience of Cbviro, lhe k_y Modern Spiritualism. By J. M. PEEBLES. Tracing the Pheno celebrated Palmist. With Portrait, frontispiece, fifty-live full-pege mena of Spiritualism through India, Egypt, Phoenicia, Syria, Persia, illustrations, and over two hundred engravings of Lincs. Mount*, and Greece, Rome, down to Christ's time. 876pp., be. Id., post free. Marks. Reproductions of famous lianas, Ac. Containing illustraiioos of tho wonderful scientific invention, the apparatus for •Thought i’holo fter Her Death.’ The Story of a Summer. graphy and Register of Cerebral Force.’ New edition, croan cio€h. A By Lilian Whiting. Cloth, 8s. 6d., post free. IBs., post free. ii LIGHT [January 15, 18|)5 JHcbtnntship, JfltBintrisin, etc. MR. GEORGE REDWAY, BALING ART.-F.OMKRIN,G.C.E.R.,K.Ch.III., 9, HART STREET, BLOOMSBURY, LONDON bellow of several Scientific and other Learned Societies. — 8. BrtHTROni KTRKKr. CaVINniBH-MMUARB. W. Formerly of York-street. Covent Garden, and late Director and Manac< H of Began Paul. Trench, Triibner, and Co., Limited, bogs to annonn? puRATivE agnetism that, he has RESUMED BUSINESS as a PUBLISHER, on his "X M .—Mr. W. II. Edwards, account, and will be glad to hoar from authors with MBS. ready f, \z Clairvoyant and Magnetic Healer. whose remarkable cures aro well publication, and to consider proposals for new books. Address, as abotw authenticated and equal anything recorled, undertakes cases by appoint ment only. Mr. Edwards's guides diagnose disease, and have cured cases when other magnetisers have utterly failed. Mr. Edwards guarantees to relieve pain. Consultations 5s.—56, Lyndhurst*road, Peckham, S.E. (near RESEARCHES IN TIIE PHENOMENA Rye-lane Station). OF SPIRITUALISM. iss MacCreadie, Clairvoyants and Psycho- By SIR WILLIAM CROOKES, F.R.S. metrist. Hours 2 to 6 p.m., Saturdays excepted.—8, Oxford and Embodying tho following Treatises reprinted from the ‘ Quarterly MCambridge Mansions, Flat E (close to Ed gw-are-road Station), W. Journal of Science.’ Contents : Spiritualism Viewed in the Light of Modern Science; r. J. J. Vango, Clairvoyant and Healing Experimental Investigation of a New Force, some further experi Medium. At home daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., or by appointment. ments on Psychic Force. With sixteen Illustrations and Diagram/ MStances for investigatoro Monday and Thursday evenings, at 8 p.m.; proving beyond all doubt tho reality of the Phenomena. 1 also Sunday morning at 11 a.m.—288, Lad broke- grove, W. (close to * Psychic Force and Modern Spiritualism.’ A reply to the ‘ Quarterly Notting Hill Station) Open to appointments. Review ’ and other critics, to which is added Correspondence upon Dr. Carpenter’s asserted Refutation of the Author’s Experimental rs. Brenchley, Normal Clairvoyant, Psycho- Proof of the Existence of a hitherto Undetected Force, with two metriat, Healing. Diseases diagnosed. (Hours 12 till 4 p.m., Illustrations. Mprivate sittings, from 5*.) After 4 p-m. by appointment. Stances for in ‘ Notes of an Inquiry into the Phenomena called Spiritual, during the vestigators, Tuesdays. 8 p.m 8.18,1s. Send Photo, Letter, or Hair. Fee years 1870-3.’ To which arc added three letters, entitled ‘ Miss 2a. 6d.—111. St Tbomaa*s-road. Finsbury Park, N Close to Station. Florence Cook’s Mediumship,’ ‘Spirit-forms,’ and ‘The Last of “ Katie King ” ’; the photographing of ‘ Katie King ’ by the aid of iss Findlay, I, Portsea-place, Connaught- the Electric Light. With sixteen Illustrations of appliances for . square, W., Bnsineas and Medical Psycnometrist.—At borne daily. the scientific demonstration of the genuineness of the Phenomena, _M 1 including Portiait of Mr. D. D. Home holding the accordion under agnetic Healer and Certificated Masseuse — the table while it was being played on by the agency. M Apply by letter, Mrs. Darner-Cape. Home Villa, Lewisham-park, S.E. Large 8vo, handsome ornamented cloth, gilt, os. 4d. post free. ediumship is purely a constitutional state, Office of 'Licht,’ 110, St. Martin’s Lane, W.C. and may bo scientifically cultured and developed by scientific Mmethods.—Prof. Timson, F.B.P.A. Persons seeking special advice on the REMAINDERS OF BOOKS FOR SALE. above should write, with stamped address, to Professor Timson, F.B. P.A., who claims the highest success of any tutor in the psychological sciences, flydio’., Leicester, THE HAUNTED HOMES AND FAMILY TRADITIONS of Great Britain. By John H. Ingram. Illustrated. Published at ASTHOLOGY. 7s. 6d.; handsome cloth, 640pp., 4s., post free. WAS ABRAHAM LINCOLN A SPIRITUALIST? or,Curious Revelations from the Life of a Trance Medium. By Mrs. Nettie GEO. WILDE WILL CAST YOUR HOROSCOPE Colburn Maynard. Together with Portraits, Letters, and Poems. And tell yon what the STARS IN THEIR COURSES have in Illustrated with Engravings and Frontispiece of Lincoln, from Car store for you. Terms on application. penter’s portrait from life. ('This book should be widely read.’— AddressGEO. WILDE, Occult Book Company, ‘Light.’ ■ A valuable and important historical book.’—‘M .A. Oxox.’) 6, Central-street, Halifax, Yorkshire- Cloth, 264pp. Now copies. 4s. 6d., post free. THE GHOST WORLD. By T. F. Thiselton Dyer. Contains W. T. Stead. Esq., Editor of the ‘ Review of Reviews ’ writes :— chapters on The Soul’s Exit at Death, Why Ghosts Wander, Phantom ‘ Mowbray House, Norfolk-street, Strand, London, W.C. Birds, Animal Ghosts, Raising Ghosts, Ghost Laving, Second Sight, Geo. Wilde, Esq. ‘ August 23rd, 1893. Compacts between the Living and Dead, Miners’ Ghosts, The Ban Dear Sir,—I yesterday read over your horoscope to the subject of it— shee, Phantom Dress, Haunted Houses and Localities, Checks and the test case, I mean. Tob will be pleased to know that both he and I Spells against Ghosts, Spirit-haunted Trees, Ghosts and Hidden were immensely staggered by your success. You bad hit off with extra Treasures, Phantom Music and Sounds, &c. A valuable book. Pub ordinary accuracy so many events of his past life that it was quite lished at 10s. 6d. Bound in cloth, 448pp., 5s., post free. wonderful,—I am, yours very truly, (Signed) ‘ W. T. Stead.’ Office of ‘Light,’ 110, St. Martin’s Lane, W.C. ‘ Mr. Wilde was extraordinarily successful with Mr. Pearson, for whom he did a very elaborate horoscope, which was right as to the past, and has since been verified in relation to matters which were then in the future.’ SOHOOXl. C5-IZRTjS| —* Borderland,1 October, 1817. ______ON RATIONAL PRINCIPLES, WL4C77CAZ PRIVATE /•* COOMBE HILL HOUSE, EAST GRINSTEAD Psvcholocn' "“d Menta* Sciences, (Late Suffield Park, Cromer). Principal - - - Miss Clark. xclb. FRANK H. RANDALL (Psychologist). The Spring Term begins on TUESDAY, the i8th inst. Obviously there is great need for practical instruction in the several N.B.—Boys are received under ten years of age. phases of Psychology, of which most students have a theoretical knowledge. Originally Established, 1883. In this connection Mr. FRANK If RANDALL begs to announce that every fadlily is now offered for the instruction or students who wish to take Personal Lessons in either MESMERISM, HYPNOTISM. MRS. J. J. MORSE’S HOTEL, HEALING ART, or other Mental Sciences, and that he is prepared to make special arrangements for pa pi Is who desire to become Practical FLORENCE HOUSE, Mesmeric Operators. Interviews can be arranged for the evening 26, O8NABURGH STREET, REGENTS PARK, LONDON, N.W. when desired, or Mr. Randall will be pleased to visit by appointment The Office and Consulting-rooms of Mr. Frank H. Randall are now at No, 11, Victoria Street, Westminster, London, S.W., where THE ONLY SPIRITUALIST HOTEL IN LONDON. inquirers and clients are invited to write (stamp) or call. The Hotel is very centrally situated. All Places of Amusement, Busi ness, or General Interest are easily and cheaply accessible. The main ‘ .V>
/ Journal of Psychical, Occult, and Mystical Research.
"Light ! More light !”—GortAe. "Whatever doth make manifest is light."—Patil.
No. 888.—Vol. XVIII. [neSi»tero
CONTENTS. It is ridiculously frank. But what is the use of setting up Notes by the Way ...... 26 Mr. Herbert Burrows ...... 31 Spiritualism in the Press The Science of Healing...... 32 as critic and monitor after such an avowal of ignorance, Superstition, Science anil Religion.20 A fter-Death States...... 33 animus, and bad temper ? Thomas Lake Harris...... 29 Some Personal Experiences ...... 34 Fascinations anil Dangers...... 30 Books of the Mystics...... 35 The * Cloud of Witnesses' ...... 31 Perplexities with Blanchette...... 35 How such a state of mind blinds the eyes ‘ T. P.’ abun dantly shows. The following will suffice to illustrate it;— NOTES BY THE WAY. The recrudescence of Spiritualism came from America. The small beginnings of the gigantic craze were some curious A friend has sent us a copy of ‘The Sunday Special,’ a raps which were supposed to have been heard by two or paper of which we had never before heard. It is a rather three members of a family called Fox, living in Rochester, rowdy production, hovering between ‘ Army Rifle Associa State of New York. This was in 1848. In six years the tion ’ and ‘ Love and Robbery ’; ‘ Hockey ’ and ‘ Pigeon craze had so far propagated that thirteen thousand persons Shooting ’; ‘ The Walworth Stabbing Case ’ and ‘ Sporting petitioned Congress for a Commission of Investigation. In Prophecies ’; ‘ City Chatter by the Cornhill Magpie ’ and the fifties the movement spread to Europe, and by 1887 it ‘ Intellect and the Ballet ’; ‘ Shooting a Vitriol Thrower ’ had so far grown that there were about one hundred news papers dealing with the philosophy and phenomena of and ‘ Dresses of the Actresses ’;—a queer pailful for a Spiritualism; of these about thirty were published in ‘Sunday Special.’ English (the majority of them circulating in the United The latest number of this vulgar print contains a long States) and nearly forty in Spanish. contribution on Spiritualism and a visit to a medium. The ‘ T. P.’ must be very angry indeed, to miss seeing that such character of this contribution may be inferred from the results in six years are a very fair set-off against his ‘ pre style of the paper; and we refer to it only to report to our judice.’ But we have no more to say. We are quite readers that even these amazing people have to think about content to pin him down amongst our specimens, and leave us. What they think or what they say does not, of course, him there. ______matter; though we must say that the spiteful unfairness of this particular writer palpably defeats its design. We are We have received from Messrs. Watts and Co. a Circular, willing to learn from the enemy, and even from the containing Title-page, Table of contents and Preface of a impudent and otherwise naughty youth who does this sort book on Church-going, ‘ the uselessness of religious worship, of thing for ‘The Sunday Special ’; and if he could pin any &c.’ The depressingly foolish tendency of this book may impostor we would thank him; but his animus and his style be gathered, we suppose, from the following statements :— only show that it would be as useless to present to him It may be stated that the supernatural is entirely ignored anything spiritual as to present pearls to swine. But no : in this treatise. . . Whatever we possess of a supernatural that is a little harsh. He admits that an old gentleman character is simply regarded as the creation of man himself who is the special object of his ignorant scorn, nevertheless —having no existence apart from his imaginative faculty. ‘ uttered the most sincere and touching prayer I have ever It is shown that parsons are not in the least patriotic ; heard.’ • that instead of fitting the rising generation to take their part in the only life we know of, they fritter away their We note with extreme pleasure the greatly increased energies and the public funds in preparing people for a interest taken in us by the newspapers : we note also their visionary life designed by their own imaginations. tremors, their emotions, their criticisms, and their scorn. We arc by no means adorers of ‘ parsons,’ but we only We wish we could note any increase of knowledge, good wish the people who make such a fuss about this world only temper, or sense. One of the latest exhibitors is ‘ T. P.,’ were half as useful in it. We could ill spare these devoted in ‘The Weekly Sun,’ whose grotesque ignorance may be men. Is it ignorance or sheer prejudice which leads any one gathered from the following sentence : ‘ A Mrs. Corner was to say that teachers of religion do not prepare the rising caught in similar trickery while personating a spirit of Sir generation to take their part in the work of the world; and (r. Sitwell; but Mr. Carl von Buck, the editor of “ The that their belief in a future life leads to the neglect of the Spiritualist,” immediately pointed out,’ &c. It was not present one ? Any way, it is a palpable untruth. Mrs. Corner. Sir G. Sitwell was not the spirit, but the ‘exposer.’ The editor of ‘The Spiritualist’ was not ‘Mr. Carl von Buck.’ The sentence only exhibits ‘T. P.’s’ ‘ Freedom ’ sends us an exhilarating Essay on ‘ The unfitness to touch the subject. deadliest mistake of all is fear.’ It is possibly a little exaggerated here and there, but the whole Essay is an But his opening admissions put him out of court. excellent and much needed tonic. Here are some of the Fancy a seasoned old journalist tumbling in with the most representative paragraphs :— following avowal:— The most disastrous fear a man can have is fear of him The most tolerant of us have our unreasoning prejudices. self. He is afraid he can’t keep afloat in the struggle of My prejudice is against Spiritualism and Spiritualists. The life ; afraid his health will give out ; that real estate will whole business has always appeared to me so childish, so rise or fall; stocks fluctuate, or the election go wrong. Then Squalid, so vulgar, that I have found it difficult to have ho is afraid some other man will get the advantage of him, even the patience to listen to what the Spiritualists have and outwit him in a business transaction, or that someone to say in their own defence. will gain more distinction than he. He fears accident and 26 LIGHT. [January ]5> ,
death. I¥rha|* the fear is not constantly with him. but it ‘LIGHT’ SUSTENTATION FUND. is there if any occasion brings an injury into range of Friends who contemplate contributing t<> this fUll(» {usability. Then he strikes his colours and runs, and his oblige by forwarding their remittances to the Treasurer terror will spread throughout a crowd till they all foar— II. Withall. < Iravel-lane, Southwark, London, S.E. Qu ’ something, they don't know what. Why cant he see that may be crossed ‘ London Joint Stock Bank.' The t’« »1| his very attitude of fear is just the one to bring upon him contributions are gratefully acknowledged :— lllg these things he wishes to avoid . £ As a man advances anti new thoughts and higher ideas ». a E. H. Bentall...... 50 o o route to him. perha|»» he will drop many of his old fears, ‘A Friend’ ... 20 and get himself a set of new ones. ‘ Old foes with a new 0 o ‘ A Subscriber ’ ... 10 0 0 face.' that is all. He will begin by fearing to give up his N. Fabyan Dawe ... 10 old religious K'liefs. . . . 0 0 ‘ F. G. S.’ ...... 5 5 0 Perhai* he fears that if he advances into ideas more pro Mrs. Carlton Tufnell 5 gressive^ he never can take up his old ones again, should he o 0 ‘F. S. A.’ ...... 3 0 wish to return to them. He fears the new ones, and thinks Mrs. Stanhope Speer 3 he possibly may need the oM ones again—but he seldom 0 W. Fowler ...... 3 0 does. Miss Ponder ... 3 0 Take no other man's ideas and aspirations, take your Mi’s. Lang Elder o own. If you have but very few. use what you have, and Q C. Y. L...... 0 more will come through use, Never mind it you are con ‘KI. I.’ ...... 2 0 stantly changing, especially at first. ‘Say what you mean Mr. aud Mrs. W. P. Browne 2 0 in wonls as hard as cannon balls,' and if to-morrow you mean Mrs. Mackinnon 2 0 0 just the opiu*ite. say it. It is no crime to change your Rev. Maxwell H. Close 2 0 0 mind ; only a fool ne'er changes. Mi’s. Russell ... 2 0 0 Geoi^e AVyld, M.D...... 1 1C 0 If anv Spiritualist is discontented, or has ceased to feel Rev. J. Page Hopps ... 1 0 like singing, let him semi for a sermon by G. G. Macleod, Miss Woodcock 1 1 0 on ‘ HelL' It is published by Bagster and Sons, and sells R G. Bennett... 1 1 0 for one halfpenny. The preacher is a fully accredited H. F. Martindale 1 1 0 Presbyterian clergyman in Scotland—evidently one of the E. Dottridge ... 1 1 0 rugged old sort. He scoffs and snorts at these modem James Archer... 1 1 0 mere v-mor: gers. and clings to the old Jehovah who smashes A. M. L...... 1 I 0 C. Lacey 1 1 0 and burns and damns. ‘ Our modem God has no iron in I. S. McDougall ...... 1 1 0 His constitution': He is ‘an indulgent weakling. * So Rev. W. K. Tomlinson. M.A. 1 1 0 help me God," he shouts, ’ I stand here today to say that Mrs. Carbery ... 1 1 0 God is unchanged.’ You deny an eternal Hell and God's Mrs. Basil VV oodd 1 1 0 fiery wrath. Very well, * By God s help I will blast your F. W. Thurstan, M.A. 1 1 0 soul-damning heresy to-day.’ ‘ Guion Farrar has gone over Major Menars 1 0 0 to this drivelling humbug. I will not waste words on men M. A. A...... 1 0 0 whom God will yet make feel, in endless misery, the Mrs. C. C. Baker 1 0 0 Sir Charles Isham. Ikirt. 1 0 0 thunder of His ire. Seeing will be believing in hell’ C. de Krogh ...... 1 0 0 And so this roaring theological tippler goes on. abso J. Lamont ...... 1 0 0 lutely unconBcaous that he is really a blasphemer. We are A. J. Baillie ...... 0 19 o <>rry to pollute our pages with such ravings, but. now and Miss Mack Wall ...... 0 10 0 then, an awful example is necessary’, if only for our own Miss Fuller 0 10 0 sakes—to make os grateful for the light and hope and joy R. P. T...... 0 10 0 that have come to us from the other side. W. D. T...... 0 10 0 Anonymous (South Kensington) ... 0 10 0
The haters of Spiritualism in America are particularly active just now, but we believe they are only helping what LONDON SPIRITUALIST ALLIANCE, Ltd., they hate. A message, professing to come from John Pier 110, St. Mastin’s Lane, W.C. point, who has long gone beyond the veil, very accurately sums up the situation. Here are the vital paragraphs :— A CONVERSAZIONE Do not he afraid of the investigation and curiosity that Of the Members and Associates of the London Spiritualist are being arouse1 all over the country by the new move Alliance, Ltd., will be held in ment intended to crush the life out of the new thought of the century. For of all the knowledge that has come to THE BANQUETING HALL, ST. JAMES’S HALL mankind within the nineteenth century the greatest is that (Regent Street Entrance), of the immortality of the soul. This agitation will do more Ow Monday, February 7th, at 7 p.m., to spread the light than any other one thing that could have WHEN happened. Spiritualism will receive attention from the secmar Press that it never would have received had not this MRS. BESANT organised opposition arisen. Many who have never heard of or really know what Spiritualists believe in will have a HAS KINDLY PROMISED TO GIVE AN ADDRESS ON train of thoughts set working that will cause them to inves ‘THEOSOPHY AND SPIRITUALISM.’ tigate. We on the spirit side of life are ready for inves tigation, and are marshalling a mighty host to give proof Address at Eight o’clock. that if a man die he shall live again ’ It will be beneficial to the Spiritualists themselves, for it Music and Refreshments during the Evening. will cause them to Itand together more dosely and forget petty differences. It will cause a revival within themselves, and an attempt to show to others the beauties of their faith Two Tickets of Admission will be sent to every Member and one to that is based on knowledge. Many hare hugged this close every Associate. to their hearts. and knowing Mzy should live after death, Members aud Associates who wish to introduce Friends may purchase have been content, not caring to spread the truth for fear of extra tickets at the price of 2s. 6d. each. For these tickets application ridicule and opposition. must be made to the Secretary of the Alliance, 110, St. Mart in’s-lane, W.C., Now the time ha* come to stand up for the principles on or before Tuesday, February 1st. you hold dear, and by organhing more thoroughly, meet the E. DAWSON ROGERS, President. foe bravely. B, D. GODFREY, Secretary. January 15, 1898.] light. 27
SUPERSTITION, SCIENCE, AND PHILOSOPHY, majority of the people in those tropical countries where civilisation first had its rise, in abject, eternal slavery, IN HRI.ATION TO unbroken by a single revolution, or even popular conspiracy-* THEORETICAL AND PRACTICAL PSYCHOLOGY The poor wretches regarded their rulers with superstitious awe ; they believed that the system into which they were Address Delivered before the Members and Associates born was part of the eternal and unchangeable order of of the London Spiritualist Alliance, in the French things. It never occurred to them that such frightful in Drawing Room, St. James’s Hall, on the Evening equality could be displeasing to that unknown Ruler, who of Friday, January 7th. sends His rain on the just and on the unjust ; who clothes the earth with a life-giving atmosphere which all breathe By Percy W. Ames, F.S.A., alike ; who floods the world with the health treasures of Seentary of the R of a sacred character, and inevitably become objects of characterises as superstition off belief in the supernatural worship, and in that cast', however artistic they may be, and whether found in tho Bible, in the Church, or in hi< ... ' however sublime the names given to them, they become in contemporaries. It is dear therefore that nothing approach reality fetishes. The second difficulty referred to, namely ing a consensus of opinion exists as to the proper import of that involved in discriminating the subjective from the the term, and it is equally evident that none of these applj. objective, has been a fruitful source of superstition, and it is cations can commend itself to the acceptance of the—* a danger of which the Spiritualist and all students of the persons who are not pledged io the truth of theological Occult need constantly to remind themselves. Modern dogmas on the one hand, or of scientific dogmas on t |lf. research into the nature and extent of the phenomena of other. hypnotism and sensory hallucinations, by no means lessens Let us endeavour from the brief examination of supersti the sense of danger, and should lend to us all mon* tion which we have made to obtain a clear conception, inclu caution and modesty in asserting our favourite explanations. sive and exclusive, of its real character. The first step to Dr. Charles Mackay* calls attention to ‘three causes take is to recognise superstition as a mental condition, and especially which have excited the discontent of mankind, therefore to separate it from all the customs and practices, and by impelling men to seek remedies for the irremediable legends, traditions and beliefs, associated with it. .Many of have bewildered them in a maxe of superstitious error. the latter we may despise, and yet there may be some truth These are death, toil, and ignorance of the future, the doom in or about them ; the superstition, if it exist, must be sought of man upon this sphere, and for which he shows his in the human mind only ; that is to say, it requires a subjec antipathy by his love of life, his longing for abundance, and tive and not an objective appreciation. If a man entertains his craving cariosity to pierce the secrets of the days to a belief, or forms an opinion, not by logical conviction, hut come From the first sprang the search, maintained tor more in defiance of logic, under the influence of emotions that than one thousand years, for the dirir vita?, or water of life. paralyse the free exercise of the reason—such as fear, dread, From the second sprang the search for the philoaopner's horror, perplexity, perverted ideas of duty, and the like - stone, which was to create plenty by changing all metals such belief might fairly be classed with superstitions, irre into gold : and from the third the pseudo-sciences of spective of the consideration whether the particular ob ject of astrology and dinnation, with their sub-divisions of necro the belief be true or not. On the other hand, no one is mancy, chiromancy, augury, and all their train of signs, entitled to call any belief superstitious if it is arrived portents, and omens. at by the exercise of reason and by the methods of We have now to meet the inquiry, Wliat is the real nature intelligent research. Secondly, we have to examine of superstition ’ It is a praiseworthy characteristic of the superstition, so discriminated as a mental state, with present age to desire precise and exact definitions of terms. regard to specific subjects, religion and philosophy. There are. nevertheless, in common use a large number of With regard tn religion, we know that, historically con words and expressions for which no definite and generally- sidered, it is supposed to have passed through the lower accepted interpretation exists. Their indeterminate condi stages of animism, fetishism, and polytheism, and reached tion gives them a spurious value to th<*e persons who monotheism as its highest and noblest expression : but we mentally dwell in that ‘ nebulous region in which words play also know from actual observation that all minds are not in the part of realities, and whi• apparently do not believe that the final stage, and that all kinds of absurdities are resorted silence is golden in the absence of knowledge ; nor can they to, and manifest contradictions tolerated, in the vain en find Locke s * contentment to sit down in quiet ignorance of deavour to reconcile polytheistic tendencies with a professed transcendental questions, so they seek an illusive rest monotheism. An historical survey then convinces us that and satisfaction in words and phrases. The irritated con no point of time can be selected as separating superstition troversialist also finds it not inconvenient that the epithets from religion, for, although the highest conception of the he applies to the beliefs and opinions of his opponents should latter was given us in the personality and teaching of Jesus, have an unsettled signification. It is curious to observe how yet his sweet reasonableness has by no means cleared the certain terms, such as infidel, heretic, atheist, and schis world of error. We must therefore attempt to draw the matic, which once were sure enough, and associated with very line of demarcation by direct examination of the religions, definite penalties, have grown vague and dubious, as a including the various Christianities we see around us to-day. natural oucaeqaeoce the emanci pal ion ami expansion of Such an examination reveals two elements, which are as the human mind. The Romish Church regards the Anglican essentially and absolutely different in character as any two as schismatic. and the Anglican so designates Methodists opposite ideas that could be imagined. The attempt to and Nonconformists. but it seems a» if the term may be combine them has been the .occasion of the most extraordi applied in the reverse way—f«>r in a recent publication a nary feats of intellectual legerdemain, whereby the laws of celebrated Anglican Churchman describes the members of reason have been defied and the moral sense outraged, as the older Church who are in this coontry as ‘ a small Roman the irreconcilable, contradictory, and unintelligible have schismatic body ’ '♦ When we similarly observe the various been crowded’ into the same propositions. In this maze, as applicateof the term superstition, it* vague and unsettled the bewildered student arrives at one dead wall after ’ignification is strikingly apparent. The Roman Catholic another, when he vainly tries to see his way step by step, he Church, while very tolerant of what the Protestant calls is told by his ecclesiastical guides that his difficulties are of superstition, anti so liberal in it* admission of miracles and his own making, since he is using his own intelligence in supernatural ex plana tion* that moral and spiritual health, to be obtained through benefits for mankind, that there are none left now who righteousness of conduct* The former is characterised by would wish to stay her progress. Notwithstanding the superstition, ignorance, and fear ; the latter is in harmony satisfaction justly afforded by this contemplation, we with science, reason, and love. These discordant elements naturally desire to see the methods of science fully are found in the great religions of the world in varying introduced into all departments of human activity, and proportions, and consequently are strangely mingled in more extensively even into those already subjected to her individual minds. Some men of the sublimest virtue and treatment, such as commerce, politics, government, the self-sacrifice are yet strenuous advocates of the sujjerstitious administration of justice, the State treatment of poverty, and pestilent doctrine of salvation by creed. insanity, education, and crime. Every intelligent observer When we examine superstition in relation to philosophy, must have been impressed by the fact that as our knowledge we find it characterised by too great readiness to resort to extends, one great subject after another leaves the cloudy supernatural explanations, and, indeed, to prefer an occult atmosphere of superstition, or doubtful speculation, and falls to a purely natural solution ; from this it follows that the naturally into its place in the great and expanding scheme principles of evidence are wholly neglected, and the mind is of positive knowledge. .Science has taught us not only the left in continual danger of self-deception. It is absolutely value of accuracy, exactness of expression, and clearness of inimical to progress ; the ages of superstition were ages of thought, but also how to attain these excellent things. stagnation, for a superstitious mind is so ill-balanced that Probably that part of the general contributions of scientific it never obtains ‘ that exact view of the real facts of a case,’ method which will prove of the most supreme value in from which an advance in knowledge may be made. experimental psychology is the art of detecting and elimina ting sources of error. No subject presents such complexities, Passing now to the second division of the subject, we are or is beset by such peculiar difficulties as this investigation, met at the threshold of this further inquiry by the specific and it is only by adhering to the same process which has questions, What is science 1 what are its claims to our grati led to real and solid knowledge in other departments of tude and esteem? what bearing has it on man’s higher inquiry that we can hope to avoid delusion, and to attain nature? I confess I should have preferred to include under truth in this. the one designation, Science, all that I shall describe as We are here brought face to face with the perplexing philosophy ; but this, unfortunately, is not expedient. How fact that those who, by their education and habits of inves ever exalted an idea of science one may hold, it is impossible tigation into facts, ought to be most qualified to assist in to ignore the antagonism which is popularly assumed to and direct such investigation, decline to do so, exhibiting exist between religion and a belief in the supernatural on either cold indifference or obstructive opposition. There the one hand, and the scope and method of science on the are, of course, a few honourable exceptions, but of the main other : or to deny that a very unphilosophical spirit is to be body the statement is true, and this is a phenomenon that found in scientific circles. Before dealing with that blemish, calls for some inquiry and examination, which I now however, let us attempt to answer the questions already propose to give. asked as to the real nature of science and scientific method, (To be continued.) and as to its value and possibilities of application. Let us clear the ground of some erroneous conceptions. Science THOMAS LAKE HARRIS. doesnot concern itself only with matter and force, ‘the vest ments and ritual of Nature’; it is not a ‘heterogeneous I am somewhat amused at Mr. Church’s letter in collection of facts.’ It may safely be defined as the entire ‘ Light ’ of December 18th. He argues that it was only in body of doctrine founded upon positive knowledge. This his ‘young and innocent days ’ that he admired Mr. Thomas knowledge is of the methods of Nature in all departments ; Lake Harris. Mr. Church was ordained as co-pastor with it is obtained first by emancipating the mind from all Mr. Harris about 1859 ; therefore he must now be between prejudice, and patiently observing and recording facte ; sixty and seventy years of age. His letter, which ‘ Respiro ’ co-ordinating these, and so tracing those constancies of quotes, is dated 1890 ; does he consider the age of fifty as co-existence and succession of phenomena known as natural the period of youth and innocence? Mr. Church stigmatises laws. This enlightened and modest method is suited to ‘ Respiro’s ’ quotation of his letter as ‘ incautious ’; how every subject of human inquiry, whether such purely ‘ incautious,’ then, he must have been eight years ago when mundane ones as glaciation, or meteorology, or the genesis he wrote it I I have referred to the letter, and find that it and nature of ghosts; and every group of phenomena xo investi only professes to be a vindication of Mr. Harris as a man of gated and methodised ix entitled to be called a xcienre. \\ ith integrity, not a defence of his philosophy ; why, then, does regard to the world’s indebtedness to science it is not neces Mr. Church object ? Iam also at a loss to understand why sary to mention more than one or two points. In addition Mr. Oxley so persistently attacks Mr Harris in your pages. to the mitigations of those terrible visitations of former times, The latter never reviewed ‘ Angelic Revelations ’ unfavour plague and famine, the application and influence of science ably ! The words of Gamaliel come to my mind : ‘ If this have saved men from many other destructive forces of doctrine is of man, it will come to naught ; but if it is of Nature as well as from the results of their own fanaticism. God, it cannot be overthrown.’ A few short years must Religious persecutions and religious wars have not ceased decide the truth or falsity of Mr. Harris’s statements. Why because Churchmen are less tenacious of their creeds, but not abstain from denunciation and wait the event ? As I because the diffusion of scientific thought among the people have not the slightest pecuniary interest in ‘Respiro’s’ has led to the repeal of those* inhuman laws which sanctioned pamphlets on ‘The Brotherhood of the New Life,’ I may be the cruelties of ecclesiastical bigotry. permitted to advise all to get them and read for themselves, Life has been described as a three-fob 1 energy. It is said and not rely on inaccurate quotations and passages taken to consist in the memory of the past, in the operation of the apart from their context. They are sold by E. W. .Ulen, 4, present, and in the hope of the future ; and this natural Ave Maria-lane, London. These serials are being issued by division suggests a method suited to the examination of two aged members of the Brotherhood, personal friends of every subject of human interest. The contemplation of my own, but not now residing in England. It may interest science in each of these aspects gives rise to sentiments of some of my spiritualistic friends to know that I have myself peculiar pleasure and satisfaction. We remember in the contributed to this work certain of the foot-notes, in which I past the bright genius of her discoverers and inventors, as have endeavoured to give Theosophy ‘ beans,’ on the subject well as her heroes and her martyrs. Her history is rich in of human re-incarnation. Statement NIL, containing some examples of untiring effort, heroic struggle, patient suffer experiences in Internal Respiration, was also communi ing, and glorious triumph. Her operations in the present cated for the pamphlet by myself from the letters which are of absorbing interest. She carries her torch into the a lady wrote me concerning them. dark unknown, illuminating new district*, revealing un E. W. Berrtdoe, M.D. suspected truths, and laying new worlds bare. Her bright 48, Sussex-gardens, Hyde Park, London, M. future is without a cloud ; so full of mysterious possibilities P.S.--The next itamphlet, on the Seership of T. L. Harris that no one dares to forecast it, and with such increasing from his earliest years till now, is now published. I liave rapidity in the dispersion of her ever-growing store of seen the advance sheet*, and it contains our of the nn*t •gee 'Church and Creed,’ by Pro'ea*or Momerie. crushing indictments of Theosophy ever printed. LIGHT. IJllIllllUv Ig, |H(W OFFfOB OF'LIGHT,* 110, HT. MARTIN'S LANB, Wo admit that some do, but tlm majority do not, rtl|(j. LONDON, W.O. if any, of our advocates would do anything but rnpndj ' SATURDAY, JANVAR)' MlA, JAM. anything of Um kind. Every intelligent Spiritunb'nt kn EDITOR ...... K DAWSON ROGERS. that tlm spirits who communicate to-day uro just as vmj(, |! • InOo.l bjf n St iff of nV* I'onlrikulori, and often just ns unrolinblo and oven abmird, an tlm Hpjrj ' whose 'revelations’ puzzle us in tlm Old 'Junta,nmnt, '|'| RimwiurTloi* Ratmm.—' Light' msv Im IhvI fro* by pout on the follow* mg term* i-Twoltr month*. 10* KM.; nix month*, 6*. M. P»yin«nl* remark may shock our good Rector, but wo rospnctfn|| to m made In advance. To UnlUd State*, 2doL 70c. invite him to ponder it: and to road Ezekiel iv, wliji, doing Ho, Bub now, no to those diverse mid conflicting‘rovoh A Journal or Ptyohloal, Oioult, and Myationl Rosenroh. tioiis ’ nnd /iHSortionH: are the poor Bpirituulists any woru oft* than the aggregate of: ( 'hrislimiM 7 Our Rector urged Pbk'k Twomwoi Wkkki.v. art one reason for having nothing bo do with iSpiritualiiim that it is'a mass of contradictions.’ ft is not quite that (COMMUNICATIONS Intend*! to Ih> printed ,hou1d bo oddrooood to but what of the mob of Christian foots 7 Would the g(NN| tlm Editor, Offiw of *1.111,17.’ 110, Hl. M«rlln'ndano, London, W.O, man bo very shocked if wo turned round mid suggested Bu.lor** oommunlcallonx ohotild In nil c..#« ho nddronond to Mr. II, D. Oodfroy, Office of ‘LIGHT,' nnd not to tho Editor. that tho contradictions of Christianity are a very good ('Ii.ipi., nnd I’oetnl Order, nhould Im m Hut, of oounw, w« K" forthor,,l"'1 frankly wiy that th« MR. HERBERT BURROWS. |,Hvll.icnl IntVH HI'O not for nx. Th® nocinl anzl political We publish tins W«*lt the portrait of Mr R''b H coiKlitioii of till) HiK-i-'ot llolinimi In not our coalition. Burrows, who‘m num*1 will Im well known to our n-tvb-rs, Itaridai, own our Krctor would not ilicutn of putting in pot only through bis work mm a writer and Mj^-akt-r on forcn tho wliolo of th« Lovitioal law. What dow lie think Socialism, Theosophy, ami other md/p-cte, but also, and morn especially, in connection with Nrveral admir/*bl<' of Exoilux xxi. 20 1 ; or Exodiw xxi. 21); or J,oviticu» iiddreW’J delivered before Um London Spiritualist Allianz, xxlv. HI; or Niiuiliora xv. 35(1? Hut, xpodfloally. with and reported in these pages. rogiinl to Huh vury mutter of witchcraft or wizardry, f» our Mr. Burrows, who was born in IMI5, at. Itedgr»ive, Suffolk, Rector propared to rocommond tho whole of tho Eovltfcal cohich of an old Puritan sh>ck, some of' bis am< nfor« Ix-ing law whloh ho quotnH a* 11 Wilding authority ? Before he /iiind)cr(vl amongst Cromwell’s ‘fron ddet, wlio were drawn ruplioH, ho IukI hr.ttor turn to LovltictU xx. 27: ‘A man no largely from En^f. Anglia ; tlm family, however, is Dani •< • ulna or woman that hath n familiar opirit, or that ia a wizard, hIuiII surely Im put to death i limy xhull xtono them with atones: their blood shall ho upon thorn? Ii ho prepared to go through with it? if not, why not? LONDON SPIRITUALIST ALLIANCE. A mooting of Mombors, Anuociatcn, and friondo ol tho London Spiritualist Allianco will bo hold in tho French Drawing Room, St. Jarnos'h Hall (entrance from Pienu inly), nt 7 p.ni. for 7.30 p.m., on Friday tiae/, January 21st, when Mro.M. H. Wallin will give an address on‘Spiritual Realities. Mrs. Wallis in one of OUT best speaker**, rind we hope that ftho will have a cordial reception. A PRE8BYTERIAN MINI8TER AND THE ‘CLOUD OF WITNE88E8.’ A correspondent kindly sends uh the following interest ing item : Orthodox preachers have peculiar skill in avoiding the full import of the‘spirit manifestations ’ mentioned in the* Scriptures, but there are many who, sometimes uncon sciously, are bold enough to declare them with commendable candour, and it would be well if as many instances ae possible were recorded, for it is better to recast the creeds and dogmas from within than from the outside of the churches. A Presbyterian divine, tlm Jte.v. Robert Stewart, M.A., of Benwell (/’hurch, Newcastle, on Sunday morning preached from a series of texts, including the exhortation of MB. HEKBKRT BUBBOWH. St, Paul, ‘ I tun with patience tlm roc© set before us, find his (/'’/7>7/i a photo by Sofony) declaration that we are ‘encompassed about with a cloud of in <»rigin. The father rrf Mr. Burrows was an old (.harlist, arid witnesscH.’ ‘ Who are tho cloud of witm’ssesP said the an intimafx* friend of I’.rnest Jones, lie was for many years preacher. ‘Fellow Christians? Neighbours? No! 'I here a local prf’acbcr amongst the Methodists, and is described is another and higher host watching from the skies, by his son as a man of groat initiative and forcoot chanu-ter, earnestly waiting for the glorified (/'hurch. What we think and a born orator, lie, was one of tlm lea/fing spirits in of as most shadowy is, in fact, most real; what we think of what is known to the history of .Methodism as tlm Everitt- as most distant is, soinotimes, r(*ally most near. . . . The. l)unn and (Irillii Ii nmv THE SCIENCE OF HEALING. If you inquire of the “ man about town ’ for in format ion respecting the Science of Healing, you will speedily discover that he is unable to enlighten you to any great extent. He may know that it is a system of mental therapeutics very much in vogue in America, and that efforts are being made to secure its recognition and practice in this country : he has heard and read some wonderful things respecting it— but just what it really is he cannot say. If you turn to the numerous publications, so freely advertised, in connection with the subject, you will not find them particularly helpful- Most of what is written is vague and mystical it is the metaphysical rather than the natural or common sense view that is presented. There is a constant reference to ‘spiritual thought-,’‘ the laws of being,* ‘ the non-existence of matter, and the potency of wrong thinking : but very little concern ing the fundamental facts which lie at the base of this ‘ new philosophy of health.’ The utility of the Science of Healing is not to be referred reformative movements. For two years he lived amongst to its metaphysics, its religion, or its ethics : neither of these the miners of Staffordshire, and his experience there served are directly concerned with its cures. It must have struck to intensify and confirm his ambition to ameliorate tho the most casual of inquirers that despite the numerous condition of the *<►rkrrx. schools of healers, each holding to a distinct belief and It was during his life in London that he became person particular form of treatment, they all claim to be successful. ally acquainted with Mrs Besant, whom lie met first in One school says it is faith that heals, another that it is love, connection with the Trafalgar *|uare agitation, and whom anil a third that it is universal mind ; but the possibility of he regards m the foremost woman in the world. Following there being an underlying truth common to all the different upon this came the organisation of the match girls of the systems seems to be entirely overlooked. East End. a work in which, m is well known, Mr. Burrows The cures are undoubted, and border upon the marvel and Mrs. Besant were araiN-MUtL lous. Persons have been treated, unknown to themselves, It was not long afterwards that Mr. Burrows’ attention with the most beneficial results : distance does not appear to was again attracted to occult subjects, and, in company In* an obstacle, as there an* authentic oases of successful with Mrs. Beeant, he commenced an investigation of Spirit- treatment when hundreds of miles intervened lietween uahsin. ‘Again, said Mr. Burrows, ‘I came face to face healer and patient; and, what is, perhaps, even more with phenomena 1 could not explain until, in the fulness of remarkable, cures have lieen effected when the person time, armed with a letter of introduction from Mr. Stead, operated upon has openly expressed disbelief in all that Mrs. Besant and I went to see Madame Blavatsky, for whose concerns the science. These are startling statements, and memory 1 retain the warmest affection, and who gave me to many here, in England, will seem incredible : but they the clue to my spiritual life, and we finally came out as can be substantiated, provided the necessary time and strong supporters of the Theosophical movement.’ trouble Is* given. Much that is convincing can hr found in The outcome of this step, ax associated with the later thr literature of healing. Other and more direct testimony history of the Theosophical movement in its personal can probably lie bin I for the asking. aspects, is too well known to our readers to need recapitula Assuming, then, that genuine cures have* hern made. tion here ; and we may (nmn on to a brief statement of Mr. What is the explanation I If it is not- a matter of this or Burrows’ attitude towards the spiritualistic movement as that belief or teaching, what is it that heals 1 1 think tin* given by him for inclusion in thr present sketch. 11 admit answer will be found in ‘suggestion,’coupled with thought fully,’ he said, ‘the spiritualistic phenomena, but seeing transference. The former may Im* deliberately implanted by how complex and varied the universe is, I cannot see my the healer or self-induced by the patient, and the action of way to covering all these phenomena with one explanation, the latter need not necessarily come into consciousness, nx in it., the dejarted dead, any more than I can see my way to thr com* of |M There is reanon to «uppotw that it i« continually taking AFTER-DEATH STATES. phoe though we are not always aware of it. In many iiiNtancre violitimw which we asaurae to he spontaneous may By * Qu istok Vit.«? be determined by unsuspected impulses originating in a IDENTIFICATION. brain other than our own. It is thus conceivable that the nervous control, which wo normally and unconsciously exert (Continued from page 21.) over certain obscure processes essential to our mental and The present phenomena of Spiritualism pertain to an physioal well-being, can in this way be influenced -modified evolutionary stage in our Solar-Sell, ami are the outcome o when morbid or strengthened when weak—by intentional the work of these dual selves who solely can exteriorise the and concentrated thought on the part of another person. vital stimulus by which the phenomena are produced. It Am regards the part played by ‘suggestion, I cannot, perhaps, must bo borne in mind that- the recollections pertaining to do better than quote from a recent number of ‘The Journal personal state’s are lost by the successive shielding of t u of Practical Metaphysics’: physical form and of t he mental form, or mind, or soul-body ‘The essential form of all mental healing is “suggestion (psyche), till the selves evolve into the state of individuality. that is, a thought suggested to a person under proper condi This fact has entailed a gulph or discreting in consciousness tions of receptivity is accepted by the subject, ami made to between our external state and the inner self-conscious state .supplant the thought and feeling which it antagonises. In every cose where relief is obtained, the expectancy of restora into which the second death gives ingress. The process out tion to health has been present. This is the one element and lined here hits required icons of ages in its accomplishing. principle which must w and is present in every scheme of The stage has now come in the evolution of our Solar-Self healing. Names may vary. Theories may vary. Methisis when the integral selves who have evolved beyond personal may lx* different; but it' closely examined and analysed, states, and in whom the memories of their earth-lives have wsntivity and sugysstion will oe found present. Under been gathered up again, are bridging over that gulph or whatever name healing is practised, whatever method is adopted, whether considered to be of human or divine, discreting in conscious states from within, and are demon satanic, or godly source, the one element without which none strating experimentally to man the fact of continued exist can succeed is suggestion. Whether the result is good or evil ence in inner, higher states. The selves who had been depends upon the nature of the suggested thought. If the projected into personal states have now returned to indi suggestion is for evil, inharmony, unhappiness, and illness will follow ; if the suggestion is for good the result is health, vidual states in suflicienl- number to produce the develop happiness, and peace. The rationale of this action is based ment- of the potentiality of that state, which pertains to the upon conclusions formed by clinical observations, which heart and spiritual sun of our universe. Personal states are show that the various functions of the mind are centred in associated with,and correspond to, the brain,and germic selves some special portion of the brain or spinal cord, and that are projected outwards from the heart of the Solar-Self to mental influence may effect the action of the nerve centres the personal states, corresponding to the brain, to evolve deranging or restoring the functions of the body? their self-consciousness. 'These, having now returned to the Of course, it is not for one moment pretended that by heart state and gathered up the memories of their outer ‘ suggestion ’ and telepathy any thing more than a provisional lives, are radiating forth their influence to that outer explanation has been arrived at. For the question still personal or brain state and bringing it into conscious arises, ‘ Why is suggestion so potent a factor, and what are relation with the heart. So far the relation has bt’en pro the laws and conditions that govern the projection of cessional only (so far «is the integral units are concerned, thought 1’ To this inquiry science as yet has no satisfactory but conscious as regards the Solar-Sell), to which the bloixl reply* Meanwhile, by the aid of suggestion and telepathy, circulation in our organism corresponds. I he hierarchy of we can pierce the mystical and metaphysical haie that the heart of the Solar-Self is now developing the relation enshrouds the science of Healing, discover its limitations, between the heart and head io which the nerves of the and, to a certain extent, bring it into line with modern sympathetic correspond. Action from the heart- to the psychology, leaving it to future research to assign to it its head, from the spiritual individual consciousness to the precise position in the phenomena of the mind. personal, is lieing extemlc As many selves here, and in the first after death-state, SOME PERSONAL EXPERIENCES. are unprogressed and gross, and as their qualities condition the life-circuit flowing through them, this entails equivalent Ry ‘an Old Correspondent.’ representation. We therefore get unpleasant as well as elevating manifestations. This cannot be avoided. It is L—PRELIMINARY. the consequence and reflection of the state of evolution to which personal selves have developed. The question has often been put to me by sceptics, when This exposition in no way diminishes the value of the discussing psychological questions with them / CW bono ? What phenomena experienced by Spiritualists, but lifts them on good can one derive from the study of Spiritualism ? [ to a higher level, and presents them as the evidences of the believe,’ they may say, ‘there is another world ; but as I don’t continuous interest in human welfare on the part of much know anything about it, 1 prefer to wait till I get there} higher beings than those actually represented in the to see what it is like, and meantime, I don’t intend to phenomena AVhile the idea that departed friends volun trouble myself about it.’ tarily return by their own effort after severance from earth, To all such my reply has been somewhat to this effect; must be abandoned, yet the fact of these visits, and their ‘What- grounds have you for the belief either in a “here evidential value as to the continuance of individual existence after ” or in personal immortality?’ If my sceptical friend after death, remains. That man has not yet recognised the professes to consider himself to be a believer in orthodox meaning of the work being thus accomplished by its great Christianity, he points me to what is written in the New architects, or of the evidences thereof transmitted to him, is Testament, and particularly to the words of Jesus, ‘ In niy in no way surprising. Every process manifesting in time Father’s house are many mansions ; I go to prepare a place must have a beginning in its expression in time, and evolve for you.’ Or perhaps he refers me to the sentence said but slowly. to have been spoken by the Christ to the thief on It is evident that the intromission of the human repre the Cross, ‘To-day shalt thou be with Me in paradise.’ sentative apparitional form to inner planes is a subordinate If, on the other hand, my friend is an Agnostic, or and sequential illustration of thought and form transference at all events not a believer in orthodox Christianity, from higher states to this one. The one implies the other. but still holds the belief in personal immortality, he can only They are converse illustrations of the same process, in tell me that the balance of opinion among educated and descending and ascending modes. Consequently knowledge intelligent persons in all ages justifies us in believing in a with regard to the one may explain the other. We know life beyond the grave, although he is bound to admit there from mesmeric illustrations how the process is effected on has been no special revelation on this momentous point. the human plane ; we may understand consequently how the As regards the orthodox Christian belief on personal immor same process is effected from planes of spiritual personality. tality, it is sufficient for one to say that in view of the (The mesmeriser is, however, an instrument used ; a relay present unsettled views and opinions prevalent amongst through whom a circuit is transmitted, though he knows it Biblical critics regarding the inspiration, dates of compila r*ot) A number of cases have been recorded of mans tion, authenticity, structure, and credibility of what are psychic form being intromitted into the psychic plane (called known as ‘ the four Gospels,’ he would be a very bold man astral), both spontaneously and by magnetic induction, and who would pledge his authority that the words attributed to also among occultists. (But as the perception reacts through Jesus Christ as to the ‘other world’ were ever uttered by embodied consciousness the forms of the experiences are him at all ; while as regards the alleged resurrection and conditioned into those of empirical consciousness and are ascension of the Saviour, these miracles are certainly not not the same as seen by discarnate selves.) Some people brought much into requisition as adminicles by any thought have had their related form intromitted into the plane of ful divine of the present era; in short, the attitude of the spiritual personality. In both cases it is not the real self clergy towards this great question is that ‘ it is true,’ although, that is transferred but a representative projection from him. apart from the evidence said to be found in the Gospels, Here we have demonstrations of the process in action which they can give little or no ‘ positive evidence ’ in favour surely should carry conviction. And this process could not of survival after death or of personal immortality. It have been reflected into expression in our plane had it not seems needful for me here to state that though all my life had prior expression in inner planes. Consequently its a believer in God, duty, and immortality, and yielding to no expression here illustrates its action in the plane of spiritual one in my intense reverence and adoration for the great personality. Founder of Christianity, yet for many years before the early But the process began and was initiated from within, by seventies I had formed the opinion that the evidence in the action of operators in higher, inner states, and was not existence in favour of immortality and personal survivance initiated by men in this subordinate circumferential state, after death was such as could give no certitude to anyone as Theoeophists contend in contradiction of logic. There can who had studied the credentials of Christianity in the light be no law or process in the subordinate which is not Jirst in of scientific research, combined with the results of Biblical its transcendent, which is not, indeed, that process in it. criticism achieved during the past three decades. Chance, or The process in this plane is but a reflection of that occurring rather I might say the kindness of a literary friend, first in prior order in inner planes. The Theosophical claim that brought me light on this great question about the period I Spiritualism was ‘set on foot and promoted by advanceci have named, for, finding on his library table one forenoon a initiates ’ is, therefore, illogical and self-destructive. copy of the report of the Dialectical Society on Spiritualism, which he told me he had just exhaustively reviewed A LITTLE SERMON. for the press, he, at my request, lent me the volume, at the same time remarking that he was quite satisfied Call me not so often back, with the conclusions arrived at by the Dialectical Com Silent voices of the dead. mittee and with the soundness of their views. This Toward the lowland ways behind me, was a surprise to me, for he was, and is, although rather And the sunlight that is gone I heterodox in his religious views, a man of very high intellec Call me rather, silent voices, tual capacity and singularly acute in all his perceptions. Forward to the starry track The book was a new revelation to me, and at once gave me Glimmering up the heights beyond — food for serious thought for many days thereafter. On, and always on ! Very soon after this event a distinguished lawyer told Lord Tennyson. me of some wonderful events which occurred to him at a stance he had in America, and which justified him at A FORM OF BEQUEST. the time in believing that he had held communion, through I give ami bequeath unto the Ixmdon Spiritualist Alliance, an earthly medium, with those he had loved and lost. I then Limited, the sum of £ , to he applied to the purposes of put the question to him, ‘ Do you believe in Spiritualism '!' that Society ; and I direct that the said sum shall Is* paid His reply was the characteristic one of a legal mind : ‘ I. free from Legacy Duty, out of such part of my personal know,’ he said, ‘nothing whatever of what is called Spirit estate as may legally be devoted by will to charitable purposes, ualism and cannot, therefore, be said to believe in it; but I and in preference to other legacies and bequests thereout. believe what I saw and heard, because 1 was in my sound January 15, 1898.] LIGHT. 35 and sober senses. All the same, it was to mo a staggering LETTERS TO THE EDITOR. and somewhat gruosomo experience? His good orthodox lady, who was present, interposed with the remark that it Editor is not responsible for opinions expressed by corre- was a pity the devil had the power to do these things? spondents ‘Spirit Teethings' shmH he in the hnmis of every invest! friends have passed. the wonder is A or they remember gator. It 9N®s a pity to seek. through ‘Light. information of their former life. (We must use our reason .m(j common-sense in these matters ) We have often had sudden which can be acquired t\»r <»kcm I: substitutions of an impostor for the genuine communicator, and detected them after a short while, either by their in- Sir,—Whilst pondering over the account gixeu in ability to act up to the part properly, or else by some trilling ‘ Light,' Dewmkr lltK under the healing ‘ IVrplexities of differences in style, but. most conclusively of all. by the fact PUnchette. a fe* thought* haw come to me which may that one member of our family became a good normal ciair- possibly help to obliterate the painful ones evidently voyante, and. therefore, when the frauds came, she detected suggested to the mind of * Investigator, for whom 1 feel them at once. Although in so#w cases they tried to look considerable sympathy. something like the person they wished to pereonate, still their Careful consideration of the remarks made by the child general appeanxnce, the colour of their garments, and their * Percy ’ haw left upon me the impression that the com ciMHi. which they could not change, were quite enough. Our munication proceeded from a conscientious* truthful spirit. mt'thod was, when a stnmger came on t he scene, to ask hint The promptitude with which the misstatement was corrected to give us a description of himself, clothing. <.Vc.. by writing : indicates a guileless and truth-loving nature: there is no meanwhile the clairvovante was taking careful note of his attempt at evasion or subterfuge : the correction is made apjM'arance. And in some cases the contrast was rcry with directness and simplicity. striking, and quite undeceived us, very much like people we In my own experience I haw more than once discerned meet-in this world who like to appeur better than they ate. the sensitive truthfulness of a nature by the wav it has I must also say that in many other cases they proved to be acted when some slip has brought it into a false position. all that they claimed, and even better. Some of our visitors, Inadvertence may bring a true soul into such a position, in fa^ were perfectly radiant with beauty, and made us feel but to a pure and truthful heart it will be almost intoler that we had indeed entertained ‘angels unawares. able. and there will be an effort at once to extricate itself. Now. in answer to ‘N.G.J.,' W isbech, I think he was A deceitful nature will feel no such desire. perfectly wise to give up the writing for a time, as it was It is not, of course, possible to do m»»re than guess at the evidently a deliberatoly malicious spirit who had taken explanation <*f * Pervv s misstatement that he had been to his control of the planchette. In such a case it seems the only brother in India, but it is evident that the conscience of the thing to do is to remonstrate firmly with the unwelcome spirit ininw>diately desired to rectify the false impression visitor, and put it plainly7 before him that to continue on conveyed. Pitsdbly the falsehood lay rather in the impres that tack is only injuring his owoi (the spirit s) chances of sion rwvned than in the mind whence it proceeded If, as progression and happiness in his sphere, while causing but Swedenborg says, thought brings nearness in the spirit slight passing annoyance to the person he seeks communica world, it is quite possible that ‘ Percy had been to ‘ W ill in tion with. Most spirits will listen to reason if argued a very real sense, but that the next question put to him with, but it is a mistake to arouse any hostile feelings, or showed that hrs answer had conveyed a false idea to the even to show much surprise, as this only7 affords them satis receiver, and therefore it was instantly regretted and faction. The fact is they7 seem to be rather mortified when recalled. To call it a ‘lie’ under these circumstances may they7 fail to create a marked effect. Here, again, they7 show seem like an over-statement, but if we take into considera how very human they7 are sri/Z. ‘N.G.J.’ had better wait tion the great difficulties which probably hinder all spirits until he has the opportunity7 of consulting the control of some in their efforts to push their thoughts through these thick w’ell-known and reliable medium, who would probably7 take walls Post Frvo from the Office of ‘Light/ 110, St. Martin’s Omen op 11,1011'1',’ 110, Sr. Mautin'h Lank, W.C l/ANK, W.C., nt the prices quoted. The Medium's Battle and other poonis. By E. J. K, (Id., Remittances must aocompany orders, otherwise they cannot be sent. The Outoast. A Story by Winwood Rondo. 2112pp., cloth, u now, Is., post free. Illustrated London News, for 1883. Volt. 82 and 83. qWh. 1 The Growth of the Soul.’ A Sequel to as now. Cloth, carriage paid, 6s. 1 ' Esoteric Buddhism * By A. P. Sinnett, Vice-President of the A Blank Page. By Pilgrim. 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