ight: A Journal of Psgohioa/, Oooult, and Mystical Research.

• LIGHT l MoBE LIGHT !'-Goethe, 'WHATSOEVER DOTH MAKE MANIFEST IS LIGHT,'-Paul,

No. 1,638.-VoL. XXXII. [Registered a•] SATURDAY, JUNE 1, 1912. [a Newspaper. J PRICE TWOPENCE.

CONTENTS. Notes b~tbeWa.y .... --...... 253 L.S.A. Presentation to Mr. E.W. But both categories of knowledge-spiritual and r•. S.A. Notices ...... 254 Wallis ...... 260 Visions. '!lY .the Countess of :r:rni'Beyond beath ...... :-.. 261 material-are accessible to us. Truth is reached by more Croma.rtie .. ·· ...... · 254 • "'b D f L'f ' 261 •The Soul a.s Discoverer In Spirit· • e ream o ' e • • ••• • •• • •. than one road. The mathematical path is not new, but it ual Reality: A Study of Two Notes from Abroad ...... 262 is profoundly interesting. Scientist&' An Address by the A Usdul Pamphlet ...... - •. 262 Retv.I TM. R~o1!~dta WlilFliamds? .... 225557 Items of Interest ...... 262 Wba s ans .,a. ura. oo ·• .. A B I' · th Effi f TbeBlshopofRipon'sPresldentlal e 1ever m e cac7 o There was a time (not so long ago) when religion was A.ddre&s to the S.P.R... __ ... 257 Prayer - ...... 263 Travels In Dreamland ..•.•••••.•. 258 Transcorporeal Activity.. . • • . . . . 268 held to be outside and independent of reas.on. It was s~lrltun.Hsm as Social Saviour: Was Shakespeare a Spiritualist ?264 No. 2. By Mr. E. Wake Cook •. 259 Mr. A. V. Peters' Work in Russia264 regarded as impious to examine the mysteries of religion in the light of reason, and the hostility assumed to exist NOTES BY THE WAY. between the two things was indicated by the name adopted by some of those who disputed the revelations of There is a form of Spiritualism which chiefly expresses the Bible-Rationalists. How far we have travelled since itself in a tender solicitude for the welfare of departed then is shown by an article on 'The Message of Isaiah' in friends, and there is another department of inquiry which a recent issue of 'The Modern Churchman,' in which the is concerned mainly with supernormal manifestations­ writer contends that 'God is Reasonable.' 'We often for­ apports, levitations, apparitions and so forth. From these get,' he says, 'that the will of God is reason.' And in the to the psychic implications of the higher mathematics is a course of the article be writes :- , far cry, but we have room for them all. Humani nihil Isaiah saw that the best masters were not those who told alienum-we are indifferent to nothing that relates to man­ their servants : 'You must not do this because it is the law' kind, from our own standpoint at all events. And so we but the best masters explained why it is the law. . . The~ welcome 'A Mathematical Theory of Spirit,' by Stanley Isaiah thought : 'Well, if the best masters and the best mothers act thus from reason and explain their reasons God who is Redgrave, B.Sc. (London), F.C.S. (William Rider and Son, infinitely greater than these masters and mothers 'must' also be 2s. 6d. net). In this work Mr. Redgrove essays, with no not an ar b1trary. tyrant, but a reasonable being.'' It is flatly' small ability, to elucidate certain metaphysical problems inconceivable that God could have given men reason unless He with the assistance of mathematics. Those who have any were Himself a rational Being. practical knowledge of the deeper significance of Numbers The conception of the Creator as an intelligent Being will find the book of intense interest. To these the chapter governing the Universe on intelligent and intelligible on 'Incommensurable Quantities' will prove a suggestive principles is a great step forward. True, all the best minds study, for here the author deals with geometrical figures, in the Church have long arrived at this conception. But a trigonometry and the fascinating problem of 'squaring the general acceptance of it on the part of the religious world circle.' Something of the nature of the argument from has yet to be achieved. When that stage is reached it will incommensurability may be gathered from the author's be tremendously helpful in placing the doctrine of a future statement that :- state on a natural and reasonable basis. We can conceive of a prism of ether of which the cross­ section is a right-angled triangle with a hypotenuse incom­ mensurable with its other sides; we cannot conceive of a similar Lord Ernest Hamilton is apparently among the mystics, material prism. We can conceive of a perfect cylinder of ether, if we are to judge by his recent work, 'Involution.' We but a material cylinder mul!t necessarily deviate somewhat from should hardly dub him a Christian Mystic, for his attitude geometrical exactitude.------towards some of the tenets of Christianity is that of The reasoning, for the most part, is based on the the destructive critic. In elaborating his own system he implications of the visible world. The author's object is draws largely on the latest findings of Science and Philoso­ to 'formulate a mathematical organon of thought' whereby phy, and his 'involution ' represents a process of re-inte­ to establish a mental link between the physical and the gration-a gradual return of all the varied streams of life spiritual realms of being, and in this he finds valuable aid to the primal source. We meet a similar idea, differently in Swedenborg's 'Doctrine of Correspondences '-a distinct expressed, in other theories of existence-the Buddhistic tribute to the practical nature of Swedenborgian philosophy. idea, for example. But in our view the return to Unity is In the course of his inquiry Mr. Redgrove arrives at con­ a return on a higher plane. It is not-to use a homely clusions already attained by thinkers who have approached phrase-a case of becoming,' as you were,' else were the great the problem by non-mathematical roads. For instance :- processes of existence strangely _~l_ltile. The selfhood of the soul remains, with all its infinifo possibilities of joy and Spirit is related to spirit as matter is related to matter ; this is the metaphysical truth expressed by the mathematical achievement. Hegel's doctrine in this matter is in harmony formuht xi : yi = x : y. with the higher forms of the idea of Nirvana, which does Now it is clear that ai : a = bi: b = ci : c = ... = i : I; not mean the dissolution of self-consciousness, but a great this is the formula symbolising the law of Correspondences, expansion-' one with itself and one with all that is.' expressing the fact that the relation between the material and the spiritual is everywhere constant and the same. The relation between matter and spirit is one that transcends From an article on the 'Science of Suggestion,' by experience : the physical senses can perceive only what is itself 'Scrutator,' in 'The Occult Review' for May, we take the physical . . . while material things make no impression on suggestive and encouraging statement:- the sense of spirit which perceives onl;v things th!lt !;lre spiritual (as the &uthof shows). Neither hypnotic-Jlor auto-suggestion covers the ground 254 LIGHT. [June I, 1912. of the modern revelation. We have hefore us cases of what are VISIONS. called 'spirit healing '-cases in which the cure has been effected neither by drugs nor suggestion, but by the sudden intervention BY THE COUNTESS OF CROMARTIE. of an extraneous, immaterial power. The cases are few, lmt we11-defined, and thoroughly attested. They are, it may be said, I think my first true visions must have come when I was premonitory symptoms of a new output of spiritual energy from very young. Then I lost them for awhile, and now have found the interior world, preliminary examples of what will shortly them again. I will try and write them as they came, though. it be no uncommon experience. The occult explanation is that we is difficult to write what goes beyond words. have now entered the .Aquarian age when the outpouring of the spirit will be more abundant and general than has been within I. human memory. When a young girl I was in uncongenial and often hostile Testimony to the entrance of the world on an era in company, and very often I saw and heard things had for the which the things of the spirit will be increasingly mani­ soul. I remember in those days going for long, dull drives fested comes from many quarters nowadays. And evi­ with the aforesaid company ; but to me they were times of. dences of its truth are not far to seek. transient rapture, because the more I felt the material atmo­ sphere against me, the more easily I seemed able to leave it. I was able, at least my body was able, to sit in the carriage and' 'No land has given to humanity sweeter and stronger answer, perhaps a little vaguely, when spoken to, but I-the types of womanhood than has the land of Ind.' So says real I-was away, yet never quite out of reach of the cardage, Mrs. Besant in an appreciative foreword to Mrs. Josephine though most blessedly out of sight and hearing of its occupants. Ransome's 'Indian Tales of Love and Beauty' (cloth, I remember that on one side of the high road there was a fir 2s. 6d. net, 'Theosophist' Office, Adyar, Madras, India). wood, which stretched away into cool darkness above heather and We can well believe it. Many of these stories of feminine moss. It seemed foolish for Christian art to paint angels with faith, courage and devotion are both beautiful and inspir­ wings, when the companion who accompanied me on all these spirit-wanderings could fly so well without them. ing. They have all an historical basis, and Mrs. Rimsome Of that companion, I did not even remember his name then, tells us that her object in narrating them has been to though I worshipped him blindly. Now that I know and dispel some oi the ignorance in regard to Indian women remember, it is easier to realise what infinite patience and which prevails practically everywhere outside India. She forbearance with blind mortal forgetfulness, belongs t1J Eternal hopes that in the characters treated she has 'made it abun­ Love. dantly clear that Indian women are not, as a rule, hidden, It felt curiously natural, that fact of being able to rise from badly-treated, and incomprehensible mysteries; but are earth without wings. There was no room for uncertainty or mostly lovable, delightful human beings, even if they do fear about it, for my companion always held my hand, or else throb in their own way to the pulse of life.' carried me bodily, which I liked best. But he would never let it last long. We would come down to earth and sit on the moss under shelter of the trees, and talk together. Sometimes, LONDON SPIRITUALIST ALLIANCE, LTD. what (for want of a better name) I shall call a material word would reach me from the occupants of the carriage. It was then, MRS. MARY SEATON'S LECTURES. I think, he would put his arms round me, and speak more Four Special .Afternoon Lectures by Mrs. Mary Seaton will insistently than before. I used to look up at bim. He was not be delivered at 110, St. J\fartin's-lane. .Admission ls. a bit like what one imagined angels to be, but I think I called SYLLABUS. him tl1at, for want of an unremembered word. He was June 3rd-' The Ethics of Occultism : or the Right and Wrong very dark, very beautiful, and of a tall, supple strength 0£ Exercise of Occult Power.' figure-pure Eastern. I am glad that the faith and types 0£ June 6th-' The Science and .Art of Life.' nations do not change, over there. But I have written of him June 10th-' The Science of Prayer.' elsewhere-I only describe this as being my earliest formulated' June 13th-' Heredity: Human and Spiritual.' experience of the other life ; of which dreams, music and my own bewildered inner consciousness were al ways trying to remind SPIRIT HEALING.-Daily, except Saturdays, Mr. Percy R. me. I remember once I had been playing a very ordinary Street, the healing medium, will attend between 11 a.m. and school-girl sort 0£ melody, called 'Edelweiss,' when quite 2 p.m., at 110, St. Martin's-lane, W.C., for diagnosis by a spirit control, magnetic healing, and delineations from the personal suddenly it seemed to sing out the words I had once read in an aura. For full particulars see the advertisement supplement. old fairy-tale :- Seven long yea1·s I served for thee, The glassy hill I climbed for thee, 'LIGHT': 'TRIAL' SUBSCRIPTION. And wilt thou not waken and turn to me 1 As an inducement to new and casual readers to become So I discovered that real music is the greatest medium for subscribers, we will supply 'LIGHT' £or thirteen weeks, post free, the unseen. The gift of God, indeed. for 2s., as a ' trial ' subscription, feeling assured that at the Then gradually I lost all these things, and knew what it is termination of that period they will find that they ' cannot do to be utterly alone-till long afterwards. without it,' and will then subscribe at the usual rates. May we at the same time suggest to those of our regular readers who II. have friends to whom they would like to introduce the paper, One night I suddenly found myself on a railway line with that they should avail themselves of this offer, and forward to all the ugliness connected with stations round me. I was us the names and addresses of such friends, upon receipt of holding in my arms a little white dog that I knew had been which, together with the requisite postal order, we shall be crushed fatally by a passing train. It was dying, but it seemed pleased to send ' LIGHT ' to them by post, as stated above 1 content, as if it knew I was there. III. THE Address delivered by Mr. Walter Appleyard to the On another occasion I found myself standing in an uninte­ London Spiritualist .Alliance in March last on ' My Reasons for resting-looking bedroom. I think all the furniture consisted of being a Spiritualist after Many Years' Experience ' has been the bed and a wooden chair near it. On the bed lay a woman, reprinted in pamphlet form to sell at 2d., post free 2td. Mr. and I knew she was dying, and not caring much, because she Appleyard has presented Mr. Stair, of Keighley, with five hundred copies for distribution among the various societies, the was so utterly tired. Her left hand lay exposed outside the whole of the proceeds from the sale of the same to go to the bedclothes, and upon it was the most enormous wedding-ring I National l!'und of Benevolence. have ever seen. Then, quite suddenly, I kuew she had 'died,' June I, 1912.] LIGHT, ·255

and that the counterpart of the body on the bed had sunk, half­ THE SOUL AS DISCOVERER IN SPIRITUAL fainting, on to the hard wooden chair. Then I saw that a man's REALITY: A STUDY OF TWO SCIENTISTS. figure had risen behind her, apparently out of the ground. He bent over her, took up her left hand and looked at it. And BY THE REV. T. RHONDDA WILLIAMS. distinctly I heard his words : 'Thank God there is no wedding ring.' And looking, I saw that the woman's left hand was An Address delivered on Thursday, May 9th, to the Members bare. and Associates of the London Spiritualist Alliance, in the Salon IV. of the Royal Society of :British Artists, Suffolk-street, Pall Mall Another night I remember being taken along a lonely road East, Mr. Henry Withall, vice-president, in the chair. at a great pace, by someone I did not know. I knew he (Oontinued from f)age 244.) regretted having to take me where he went, but for some occult reason, I was useful to his work. He took me to a wooden Romanes came to see that all that science had done in shed where some devils in human form were torturing a tiny building up its doctrine of natural causation did not preclude calf, for what reason I do not know, but can guess. Till those the belief in the operation in Nature of a personal will. He who call themselves Christians take a lesson out of the old faith, and realise that beasts have souls even as they, I suppose such saw the possibility of the Immanence of God, and of the union of the idea of immanence with the idea of personality. When things will endure-such things that the faith of Ancient you have attributed anything to natural causes, you have still to Egypt and Phmnicia, even to Dark Carthage, would have spat li.Sk : What is natural causation 1 Romanes came to hold that upon, and condemned with horror. To return to the barn. My there was nothing in science or in the philosophy of mankind conductor pushed something into my hand ; I could not see against believing that natural causation was the energising of a what it was-I think it was a sort of covering drenched with a Will objective to us. He pointed out that many of the best curious ancient drug, the use of which I remember now. thinkers believed that, and that it seemed likely to become ' the 'I am sorry to have brought. you .here,' he said regretfully ultimate deliverance of human thought in the highest levels of and in so kind a way, that I think I tried to conquer my feeli:r;gs. its culture '-a prophecy which has already received a large And with that object of helpless, innocent· baby-misery before measure of fulfilment. In saying this Romanes takes away the me I knew what to do. I put the stuff right over the little old distinction between a natural cause and a supernatural calf's head and face, and knew that it would sleep-sleep-and cause. It is on the ground of that distinction the battles I believe, awake in some quiet, cool greenness that would please between science and religion have always been fought. The it. And then I was whisked away. scientist and the theologian agreed that if any event was natural, v. then it was not directly Divine, and it was from the fallacy of their agreement their most serious disagreements arose. Nothing I had been very ill. But one night I slept, then awoke. I is more distinctive of modern thought than the disappearance was lying on the cold stones of a great Temple I knew. The of a clean line between natural and supernatural, and the old coolness was so good to my feverish body that I lay still on my antagonism between science and religion has really disappeared. face in the darkness, for the sky was dark above the open roof, Science, however, which does not now oppose faith, is and there was no light there. I could not even pray, or think, equally unable to produce it. Romanes felt that the heart and save that I wondered instinctively why I was all alone. And of the will had more to do with fixing the religious faith than the late I know that instinct may be a prayer. intellect. He quoted the case of the great mathematicians. VI. Kepler and Newton were Christians. La Place was an infidel. The most illustrious men at Cambridge in his own time were on On the last time when I saw that Temple the sky was the side of Orthodoxy-Sir W. Thompson, Sir George Stok&. fathomless blue above the open roof. So dazzlingly bhte that Professors Tait, Adams, Clerk·Maxwell, and Cayley. In other one could scarcely look into it for long. I suppose even one's places, no doubt, great men would be anti-Christian. Whether i.nner sight grows weak with the darkness of this modern world they would be or not was not decided on merely intellectual grounds : the moral and spiritual faculties were operative in the decision. No one.could believe in God or in Christ without an SPIRITUALISTS' NATIONAL UNtoN, LTD.-Mr. Hanson G. effort of will. And this latter had been the great difficulty to Hey informs us that the following nominations have been sent Romanes himself. He paid such regard to the intellect that he to him for the several offices to be filled at the annual general could not bring himself to will a venture in the direction of meeting at Liverpool in July next--viz. :-President: Messrs. faith. And yet at this stage he knows that the nature of man A. E. Button, G. Tayler Gwinn, Reuben Latham, and J. J. without God is ' thoroughly miserable.' Man may occupy him­ Morse. Vice-President: Messrs. G. T. Gwinn, R. Latham, and J. J. Morse. Treasurer: Mr. T. H. Wright. Secretary: Mr. self with society, sport, frivolity of all kinds, or with science, Hanson G. Hey. Council (five required) : Mesdames Greenwood, art, literature, business-but all this is but • to till the starving Hunt, and Stair, and Messrs. J. Burchell, A. E. Button, J. belly with husks.' He says :- Collins, B. Davis, W. Grindley, junr., W. Gush, J. Henley, W. 1 know from experience the intellectual distractions of Johnson, R. Latham, J. C. Macdonald, W. D. Todd, J. T. Ward, and A. Wilkinson. Withdrawals should be made in writing not scientific research, philosophical speculation, and artistic plea­ later than tlie 19th inst., and sent to the secretary, Mr. Hanson sures; but am also well aware that even when all are taken together, and well sweetened to taste, in respect of consequent G. Hey, 30, Glen-terrace, Clover Hill, Halifax. . reputation, means, social position, &c., the whole concoction is DR. B. F. AusTIN, B.A., recently suggested, in 'Reason,' that but as high confectionery to a starving man . . he soon finds 'as our thought waves are constantly going out and affecting the that he was made for an altogether different kind of food, lives of our friends we may help them by holding in thought for them, in our habitual and normal thinking, only thoughts of Romanes takes it as unquestionably true· that there is a health, happiness and success.' ·He Sa.ya: 'Let us i·ememher the vacuum in the soul of man that nothing can fill save faith in importance of our moods and of the ideas normally held God. That was the position he came. to in regard to religion. · · by us regarding our distant friends. If we form the mental The book entitled ' Darwin and after Darwin,' which appeared habit of seeing them only in health, prosperity, and happiness and rigidly exclude from our ordinary thoughts of them all fear, in the spring of 1892, shows Romanes yielding more and more foreboding, and all thoughts of sickness and failure, we shall to the relinquished faith under the power of his moral convic­ contribute much to their happiness and success.' It is worth tion and sense of spiritual need, while holding as tightly as trying, as it will at least encourage in us a cheerful and hopeful ever his scientific position. And he closes the book by telling frame of mind, which will reactively he a blessing, even if our us that the logical difficulties of belief in God are not greater helpful thoughts do not reach or affect our friends. 'Remember,' under Darwinism than in the pre-Darwin days, and they have we are told, 'where your thought forces cannot rouse conscious­ ness on the part of your friend, through lack of intensity, they t.o be met much in the same way. ' When this cry of reason,' nevertheless reach the surface consciousness and effect your he says, 'pierces the heart of Faith, it remains for Faith to answer object soon or late.' now, as she always answered before, and answered with that 256 ~LI G~. [June 1, 191.2.

trust which is at once her beauty and her IHe, 'Verily~ Thou art sider that evidence. The other reason was that Romanes, unlike a God that hidest Thyself.' Darwin, had not starved the literary and aisthetic and emotional Christianity he regarded as the highest form of faith in God, side of his nature. He was an omnivorous reader of poetry ; he 'the most intense, most enduring, growing, and never stale Ly read the ' Imitatio ' and the works of Bishop Andrewes and custom.' He had once taken for granted that Christianity was other devotional writers, and he had a good deal of personal played out ; he came to feel that it never could be. ' The revo­ fellowship with Christian men. In other words, he took spiritual lution effected by Christianity in human life,' he says, 'is evidence on spiritual questions. immeasurable and unparalleled by any movement in history.' Now I think it is quite fair to give to simple unlearned He regarded it as immeasurably in advance of any other system Christian people the comfort that seems legitimately theirs· from of thought in its significance for the moral and spiritual life. such a story as this. It is our duty to become as learned as we ' Whether it be true or false, it is certain that neither philosophy, can ; 'let knowledge grow from more to more.' But there are science, nor poetry has ever produced results in thought, con­ many people who will never see the inside of a scientific book, duct, or beauty in any degree to be compared with it.' and who are not likely to approach great theological questions This is practically as far as the 'Notes' bring us. The man from the intellectual side. Their lot is humble, and every day who judged all things by the sole test of scientific demonstra­ brings its round of duty and care; in their simplicity they tion came to see that such a test might, and must, fail in · believe that their life is set in the bosom of pure goodness and the region of the highest truth-truth which is only revealed to supreme tenderness-they have faith in the Heavenly Father. the whole soul; the man to whom the doctrine of the existence Quite simply they commit themselves to His care in the morning of God was untenable came to see no rational difficulty even in believing He will guide them through the day ; they lie down at such doctrines as the Incarnation and the Trinity ; the man who night feeling sure that there is One who neither slumbers nor had decided to stifle all belief in religion came to recognise that sleeps; in looking back over life they partly trace in many things the for man there was no satisfaction without it, and that Chris­ providential hand ; in things they do not understand, they sing : tianity, the best religion, had been of immeasurably more value ' God moves in a mysterious way, His wonders to perform.' When to the world than anything else. Bishop Gore is right in saying troubles are upon them, they0 still declare that all things work that after the perusal of these.' Thoughts' we are not surprised together for good; when they think of the futm·e they say, 'He to learn that before his death Romanes returned to that full will be our guide even unto death.' That is their sin1ple faith. deliberate communion with the Church of Jesus Christ, which he Let me say that I do not believe there is anything in the learn­ had for so many years been conscientiously compelled to forgo. ing of the modem world to shake the validity of that faith, and The editor fittingly closes the volume with the familiar words all the learning in the world can supply nothing like it. Trust · of St. Augustine : 'Thou hast made us for Thyself,' &c. the human soul in its depth, and it will lead you to God. On the last Easter Day of his life Romanes wrote a poem Let knowledge grow from more to more, which his wife says she could not omit from the volume of 'Life But more of reverence in us dwell ; and Letters,' uor can I omit it from this lecture :- That mind and soul, according well, May make one music as before, Amen, now lettest Thou Thy servant, Lord, But vaster. Depart in peace, according to Thy word : -(Loud applause.) Although mine eyes may not have fully seen Thy great salvation, surely there has been 'l'HE CHAIRMAN, in expressing his appreciation of the ad· Enough of sorrow and enough of sight dress, said he had an idea that Professor Romanes gained a good To show the way from da1·kness into light ; deal of his religious faith from investigation "into Spiritualism. And Thou hast brought me, through a wilderness of pain, To love the sorest paths if soonest they rottain. If that were so, it was gratifying that such a result should have followed his study of our phenomena. Enough of sorrow for the heart to cry- Srn RICHARD STAPLEY, in moving a vote of thanks to the ' Not for myself, nor for my kind, am I': Enough of sight for Reason to drsdose, lecturer, said that Mr. Williams had emphasised the distil)etion '·The· more I learn the l!ess my knowledge grows! between that side of our nature which we called the spiritual Ah, not as citizens of this our sphere, and that which we called the material-that is, that· mind and But aliens militant we sojpurn here, matter were external to spirit. It was the mental and physical Invested by the hosts of Evil and of Wrong-. side we cultivated ; but that side was partial. When we came Till Thou shalt r.ome again wi'th alt Thine angel tnrong. to the deeper side-the spiritual and intuitional-he (Sir As Thou hast found me ready to Thy call, Richard) did not think the best preachers in the world could Which stationed me to watch the outer wall, . cultivate that ; it had to grow. As time went on, there would And, quitting joys and hopes that once were mine, To pace with patient steps this narrow line, be less and less emphasis put on these little reservoirs and Oh ! may it be that, coming soon or late, tanks supposed to hold the water of life. We should cease to Thou still shalt find Thy soldier at the gate, be anxious, in the education of. the child, to impose upon it Who then may follow Thee till sight needs not to prove, something we had manufactured in our own minds, instead of And faith will be dissolved in knowledge of 'l'hy love. relying on that internal self which was God within the child. Surely it may be said of the writer of these lines that he was MR. E. W. WALLIS said he thought the lecture was a fitting 'not far from the Kingdom.' (Hear, hear.) climax to the series which the Alliance had had. It seemed to him Romanes died at forty-six. His change cannot be aitbil>oted, that in a sense they had touched high-water mark, and in another as certain men are very ready to attribute these changes, to• senfle sense they had been dealing with the deep things of life. As Spirit­ decay ; his wife repudiates the suggestion tliat any fear of the ualists they knew from .experience in their seances that certain phe­ end h11d anythiµg to do ''ii.th it.. We ha"\le seen that the change nomena depended on certain conditions-that they must let the in­ w:as noticeable as far back as 1885. It seems to me to have tellectual, argumentative, critical side of their natures be in abey­ Q\len due mainly t:o tw:o thing~ ; fl"rst, to the fact that Romanes ance and adopt a receptive, expectant attitude, waiting in faith, w.as thor.ough in' Jiis agnosticism. He did not waver like hope and patience for the result. Not that they were to abro­ :Q~).'win, but was an out-and-outer. That is the type of man gate i·eason, but for the time being to suspend its active exercise. who is likely to come round, because he goes so thoroughly The psychometrist had to wait and adopt the attitude of reliance for his position that he exhausts it. He was thirty years old'. on the finer feelings and intuitive perceptions. If the psychic · when he found that there was absolutely no reason left for be­ had this confidence and clear intuitive perception, he or she lieving in God ; it was his bounden duty to tell the world the, would be al:Jle to come into touch with the psychic life of the truth. Presently it began to dawn on him that the world had sitter and tell him all things that e\·er he had done. We believed in God so long and so universally that it was scarcely could not divorce intuition from intellect, for intuitive percep• likely that a young man of thirty was in a position to affirm that;. tions were modes of consciousness, and must commend them­ all the millions of men who had fed their life upon the realities of .selves to the intellect, otherwise there was danger of mistaking religion had been dupad. Life was not such a gigantic cheat,. ·emotion for truth. At the same time, this direct feeling-this· nor the huruan soul such a complete fraud ; no, he must con- sense of realisation-was a coming into touch with the soul June 1, 1912.) LIGHT. 257

side of life. It must be experienced, and could not be im­ THE BISHOP OF RIPON'$ PRESIDENTIAL parted. Only those who had experienced spiritual illumina­ ADDRESS TO THE SOCIETY FOR tions could understand them. We could only help people to PSYCHICAL RESEARCH. find them themselves, and to know themselves as spiritual beings, and then by the a wakening of the inner self they On the 23rd ult., at the Smaller Queen's Hall, Langham-place, could come into touch with, and respond to, the spiritual forces the Bishop of Ripon, the Right Rev. Wm. Boyd-Carpenter, of the universe. He had great pleasure in seconding the vote of delivered before a large and distinguished company his address thanks to the lecturer for the mental and spiritual stimulus as President of the Society for Psychical Research. He said which he bad given them. that there were some people who were attracted to the Society THE REv. RHONDDA ·WILLIAMS, responding firsL to a question by the expectation of encountering some startling facts, but respecting tbe origin oi evil, said that as thousands of books had the title of the Society carried with it the idea of discussed the origin of evil, he could not be expected in a few caution. It was a Society for research, and the true minutes to solve the problem. He did not think it was anything spirit of research did not want romance. In an interesting outside trying to get at us, any more than he believed in a paper written seventy years ago, the late secretary of personal devil. However, we did not need to explain the origin the Royal Institution, Mr. Barlow, pointed out that the of evil. Ot1r business was to conquer it, for only by conquering difference between a sane and an insane person did not reside in it could we get an appreciation of good. When he said, with the former's freedom from illusion, but in his possession of the Paul, that ' all things work together for good' he included sin. vigour of mind which made him capable of discriminating If there was anything in which God was not, he could not relate between fact and illusion. It might be asked whether the that thing to the universe at all. Acknowledging the vote of Society had contributed any practical good. By way of reply thanks, Mr. Williams expressed his pleasure at being present­ he reminded his hearers of the materialism current forty or he felt almost as if he were in the presence of old friends. fifty years ago. Matter was then. the fundamental fact of the universe. He remembered being asked by a dying man how God could think, seeing He was a sphit and consequently had WHAT 15 MAN'S NATURAL FOOD'? not a brain ! To-day the attitude of science was changed. We acknowledged that the mind could not contribute to the In the preface to his new work, 'The Natural Food of Man' world more than its instrument would ~now, that if (cloth, 7s. 6d. net; C. W. Daniel, 3, Amen Corner, E.C.), Mr. the blood was poor the energy of thought was impaired ; Hereward Carrington expresses the opinion that so-called ' hard but now we had come to see that if the body had power · times' 'could be largely averted if only the people were taught over the mind, it was equally true that the' mind had power to live correctly '-taught how to economise their food, and how over the body. We did not now believe that matter was the to take care of their bodies. The race would then be cleaner, sole antecedent of mind. The qt1estion now was, what were hardier, and happier, for he firmly believes that when the body the conditions under which mind could control and influence has been rendered clean and pure, 'mental and moral reforms the body 1 Again, we had abandoned Paley's' idea that man was will be found to follow of themselves.' Accordingly, be gives a piece of completed mechanism like a watch. In studying man us in this book what is evidently the result of a long and careful we were not examining a finished work. He was not a completed search through the records and evidences of science, with a view being, but a being in process of completion-he was not so to finding out in what man's natural food consists. His opening much a being as a ' becoming. Through long periods his chapter contains the following epitome of the conclusions at development had been going on. In his nature was not only which he has arrived:- the present but the past. His physical development seemed Assuming that there is an ' ideal' diet of some sort-that to have been completed. It was in the path of psychical, not physi· upon which the human race originally lived, and which it should cal, development that man was now being led. Our life was in· still live upon, if it wishes to maintain the best possible health­ I have gone carefully through the various food-stuffs, and, conceivable apart from the consciousness of self, but that con• by careful analysis, have shown that all meats are injurious to sciousness of self-that sense of personality-was itself a the body. . . The arguments will be found in full in the book. growth. It was a result of experience. Enfolded within _I also found that there were many objections to all vegetables, it was the record of the past and the potency of the to cereals, grains and flour of all kinds ; to soups, to bread and future. Just as there was a ·time when we did not realise eggs, to butter, milk, cheese, and to all dairy prodt1cts. Most ourselves, so it might be that our self-realisation· was as yet cook-books and works devoted to the hygiene of foods have been in the habit of pointing out all the beneficial and good qualities incomplete. It seemed to him that our present life, like our of these foods and saying very little about their bad qualities. ante-natal life, was largely embryonic. Th~ theory of an over~ In this book I have pointed out all the bad qualities and have soul had a fascination for some. But the soul was individual. insisted that these so far off-set their good qualities as to show The subliminal self postulated by Mr. Myers was not another them utterly unfitted fo~ human food, and consEqt1ently to be self, but the same self working under other conditions. The discarded from any truly hygienic diet. Thus, by a process of condition of progress or growth was this-that consciol1s effort elimination, we are forced to the conclusion that the only foods that are really natural to man, those best suited to his organism, was continually being transmt1ted into unconscious capacity. We are fruit and nuts-the diet of his anthropoid brethren and only did things better when we did not know how we did them. man's own natural diet, as is clearly indicated by his anatomicai The constant change of effort into power was ever building up structure. Fruits and nuts will alone suffice to maintain the personality. The stages of the human embryo showed Nature'!! human body in tbe b1gbest state of health, and are the foods recollection of the past. Might not some startling event call which should be adopted, and eaten, by mankind to the exclu­ into activity long buried powers 1 Were we sure that some of the sion of all others. From them he can obtiiin all the elements phenomena that were witnessed to-day might not be due "to the necessary for the upbuilding of a healthy body, and from them activity of obdolescent organs-the power, for instance, shown by he can derive the greatest amount of health and strength and some persons in the use of the divining rod, the assertion of the greatest amount of energy~ . sailors that they could smell the neighbourhood of ice 1 And Mr. Ca.uington states that he has himself lived upon this might there not be faculties and powers now being formed whose fruit and nut diet almost exclusively for several years, and that significance and value will only be evident when we pass into a life of new conditions he is always in excellent spirits and condition, and a source of 1 constant surprise to his friends in Lhat he seems to possess an The soul's dark cottage, battered and decayed, untiring energy and ability for work. 'I believe,' he says, Lets in new light thro' chinks that time has made, Stronger by weakness, wiser men become, 'that almost any person could double his energies, bis health As they draw near to their eternal home. and his self-respect, by adopting a diet ·of this eharacter. ~,or it has a tremendous effect upon Lhe mental and moral, no less SUCCESSFUL SEANCES.-In our next issue we shall print a than upon the physical life.' full report of two very convincing seances with Mrs. Wriedt In support of his contentions, Mr. Carrington marshals a written by :M. Chedo Miyatovich, the gentleman to whom th~ long array of facts and arguments, which are worthy of careful prediction respecting the assassination of the late King of Servia study. wa;i given in 1903. 258 LI GH ..:T. [June 1, 1912.

OJ!'FIOE OF • LIGHT,' 110, sr. MARTIN'S LANE, It is a fascinating study, this question concerning the LONDON, W.O. SATURDAY, JUNE lsT, 1912. journeying of the spirit into other realms during the slumber of the body. One could easily fill many numbers of 'LIGHT' with instances-many of them deeply intereSt­ ~ight: ing-of the supposed wanderings of the soul during rest A Journal of Psychical, Occult, and Mystical Research. hours. The question is whether the spiritual self can actually leave the body during sleep, or ·whether its PBICB TWOPBNCB WBBKLY. sensations of travel, visits to distant places on earth or in COMMUNIOATIONS intended to be printed should be addressed to the Editor, Office of 'LIGHT,' 110, St. Martin's Lane, London, W.O. spiritual realms, are due to a temporary 'extension of con-. Business communications should in all ca.ees be addressed to Mr. sciousness,' clairvoyance, or impressions imparted by spirit F. W. South, Office of 'LIGHT,' to whom Oheques and Postal Orders should be made payable. agency. We have often heard the question debated by students of spiritual science. Those who opposed the idea SuOsori.ption Ra.te'3.-' LIGHT • may he had free b;y post on the following of actual 'travel' claimed that so long as the body terms :-Twelve months, 10s. lOd ; six months, 5s. 5d. Pa_1111ente to be me.de in advance. To United Ste.tee, ·2dol. 70o. To France, retained consciousness the spirit could not have left Italy, &o., 13 fre.noe 86 centimes. To Germany, 11 marks 25 pfg, it, even temporarily, since such departure would have Wholesale Agents : Messrs. Simpkin, Marshall, Hamilton, Kent and Oo.; Ltd., 31, Paternoster-row, London, E.O., and 'LIGHT' can be meant either death or a condition closely resembling it. ordered through all Newsagents and Booksellers. Our own conclusion (necessarily tentative) is that: as the spiritual world is pre-eminently a thought world, both TRAVELS IN DREAMLAND. schools might be in a manner right. In dealing with a world in which conditions of space and time are practically The modern reaction against materialism has displayed unknown, it is difficult to draw hard and fast lines. Con­ itself in a variety of ways, but in no ways more strongly, sequently, Prentice Mulford, who depicts the souls of sleep­ to our thinking, than in the interest now displayed in the ing persons making 'swallow-flights ' over the earth, and phenomena of dream life. It reveals itself in lectures, congregating in thousands in various places to which they discussions, magazine articles, and in books-we are think­ have been drawn by some latent attraction, may be as ini, in particular, of Mr. Havelock Ellis's work, ' The truthful on his plane of thinking as another authority World of Dreams.' That book, indeed, treated the subject whose view is that the souls of dormant humanity remain mainly from the standpoint of a non-believer in the spiritual in close association with their related physical forms, but connections of the dream-world, but it was none the less a subject in many cases to flashes of the higher consciousness 'sign of the times. which bring them into rapport with more exalted planes of · There was a time when seriously to consider the subject spiritual life. of dreams was to provoke expressions of impatience and Much, we imagine, turns on the nature of the sleep, In incredulity. Dreams, we were told, were unhealthy. The many cases, as authorities on hypnotism tell us, the sleeper physically and mentally sane persofl slept dreamlessly. passes from natural slumber into the hypnotic sleep, and Night-v.isions .were the product of a disordered mind, or a in other instances-but these are extremely rare-the sleep deranged digestion. We recall the remark of Scrooge to merges into deep states of trance. From reflection on the the ghost of Jacob Marley:- subject, combined with a certain amount of practical . You may be an undigested bit of beef, a blot of mustard, a experience, we are inclined to hazard the assertion that crumb of cheese, a fragment of an underdone potato I psychical experiences are not associated With normal In point of fact, there was a good deal of justification slumber, but with certain deeper states of sleep. Writers for this attitude. An overwhelming majority of dreams on hypnotism have told us that some sleepers pass in and are, indeed, grotesque and meaningless-the vague and out of the hypnotic state several times during their errant fancies of the mind unchecked by the higher faculties slumbers. If this be so, we see a suggestive explanation of of judgment and direction. a problem that has puzzled many of us, viz., the beautiful Yet even these were not without interest to the or solemn dream experience which winds up suddenly in a psychological student in his inquiry into the mysteries of grotesque and ridiculous fashion. Most of ·us have had the brain and mind. But it was the residuum-the dreams such experiences. May it not well be, in such cases, that that accurately forecasted future events or that conveyed the sleeper's spiritual consciousness, temporarily in contact authentic intelligence of things happening at a distance­ with the higher world, has by a change of state been sub­ which led to a serious and systematic inquiry into the merged once more into the realm of physical brain action 1 nature and re~ources of the dream-consciousness. These, as Feeling that something was required of it. the lower con­ hinting at the existence of latent and supernormal powers sciousness would do its humble best to complete and round in man, pressed themselves on the attention of investigators off the story with something of its own, the result being into spiritual matters as offering a fertile field for explora­ an anti-climax. We have sometimes wondered, indeed, tion. whether if Coleridge had been able to recall the whole of But although many notable discoveries have been made his wonderful dream-poem, 'Kubla Khan,' he would have in this department of research, there is still much 'undis- . found it all as perfect as the fragment he published! If covered country' to be traversed and mapped out. · Even the lower consciousness. had crept in at the close we may the instructed Spiritualist, who, by reason of his co-opera­ be sure that it would have finished in a strain of amazing tion with those on the other side of ·death, has gained a bathos. great amount of knowledge concerning the problem, finds Similarly, it may be said that whether we travel in sleep himself at times bailed and perplexed. Much of the or not, the whole character of the dream experience supernormal side of dreaming-knowledge of things depends on the state of the interior consciousness at the . occurring at a distance, for example-he can interpret as time. We may move. (or appear to move) in 'worlds of due to the higher psychic faculties of the sleeper temporarily light' or merely pursue a disordered way amongst the awakened during slumber. But the problem of 'travel phantoms of the brain. There is a vast amount to be during sleep' is one concerning which there is still much le1J.rned, and the Society for Psychical Research is doing difference of opinion. useful work in this direction. June 1, 1912.] LIGHT. 209

SPIRITUALISM AS SOCIAL SAVIOUR : lift the national ideal to a higher plane. The·soundest ideal we A. J. DAVIS, THE REFORMER. can at present frame is the all-round development of all our resources, Imperial, national, material, mental, and spiritual; BY E. w AKE COOK. and the all-round cultivation of all his faculties and resources is also the right ideal for the individual. As a nation we should (Oontinued from page 248.) aim at being more self-contained, less dependent on foreign II. food and trade; then we could better stand the shock of indus­ In the first article on this subject it was shown that the trial war. This brings us direct to the practical proposals of Father of Modern Spiritualism, althGugh he was only just out Davis. of his teens, had with unerring sureness selected from the seeth­ He would begin with six farmers, with land adjacent, and ing mass of ideas on Social Reconstruction generated by Saint­ suitably situated as to markets, &c. They should pool their Simon/Fourier, Robert Owen, and others, just the right ones, resources, and appoint one of their number as manager. One and avoided the pitfalls into which all other reformers have would thus do the work of six, while availing himself of the fallen. If the plan he proposed had been acted on it would have others' advice. In this and other ways economies would be saved the world ages of agonising conflict, and have produced a effected, and prosperity promoted. No one should work for better result than any schemes now in the air, and by better more than three-fourths of the duration of the daylight; and each means. His analysis of the institutions and the conditions of be paid justly for the quality and quantity of his work. Labour his time was the most masterly ever made ; the conflict between should never be so long or so severe as to be irksome ; and time interests and duties being the most demoralising of the existing should be allowed for amusement and for self-culture. A store evils. His aim was so to arrange institutions as to make men's should be erected in a suitable spot and be stocked with the interests and their duties agree, and thus end the temptations to produce of the farms. The goods should be priced so as to give a dishonesty, and take away the grounds of conflict between em­ fair .profit, thus setting a standard. By this associated effort, ployers and employed. With the same unerring instinct, ·or this co-operation, the conditions would bring out the workers' sureness of inspiration, he selected music as the symbol and type best energies ; so many economies would be effected that of the harmony he would evoke from human discords. In this abounding prosperity would result. So that simply as an he rose high above the ideas of his time, and selected the most example it would compel or induce others to associate in like profound and scientific principle. manner. By doing away with so many intermediate profits the We sadly need another Davis to analyse the conditions of our produce would be so cheapened for the consumer that the plan own time, and the portentous evils which have arisen through would have to be adopted by others. By these simple means not adopting the saving ideas he presented to the world. None this boy-seer, sixty-five years ago, would have started his work of our writers or leaders of i1arties show any understanding of of reconstruction, with no political agitation or Governmental the real position; simply because we have been following a low interference to kill self-help and self-reliance, which are so material ideal. The moment we rise to a higher standpoint, and essential to perfect character. He giveg full details of the system, formulate a higher and more worthy ideal, the cause of our but as co-operative production has been worked out fully of late troubles becomes apparent, and we see that we are suffering from years it is not necessary to go into detail; I will only give one the fruits of our blindness. ' Practical' men despise ideals as quotation to show how advanced was his teaching:- " doctrinaire' and useless ; they forget that ideals; of a sort, After having spiritually a.Ssociated, devised their plan of have worked all the revolutions of history ; and the •practical agreement, and having all arrangements in order, agreeable to men' and their practical methods are just those which go down the situation and interests of each one, it is proper to institute before the dreamers. They also forget that as electricity is a the most searching investigations as to what may beautify their land and restore fertility to the barren portions, and as to the vaster motive power than a treadmill, so the higher we rise most feasible plans to arrange and condense their labour for the above the material towards the spiritual the nearer we gi:t to accomplishment of this end. They must understand the science the great source of power. So the future is with Spiritualism, of organic chemistry in all its ramifications, so that they may or those finer forces with which it is associated. As Spiritualists restore to weak soil its required equilibrium of organic: matter, we should do our utmost to raise the national ideal, so as and thus render it productive. They must understand and apply in the tilling of their land the teachings of modern to enlist all the finer forces of humanity ; an ideal which shall geology and magnetism. They must learn nej\Ter to exhaust the evoke that ethical fervour which is the strongest of driving ·soil of its chemical properties, which is now.frequently done by forces, It is not by preaching and telling people to be good ; uninfornied farmers. the work to be done is the designing of machinery, or of institu­ Soil can only retain its thriftiness and capacity of vegetable tions fitted to bring out all that is best in humanity. This production by having restored to its bosom as much elementary is the very work which Davis began so admiralJly. matter as is taken from it. To sustain the fertility of the soil, Our position is perilous and peculiar ; we have sinned most then, it is necessary to understand the principles of geology and chemistry, the qualities of marine and alluvial deposits, the against a sound national ideal, and are paying the penalty. We action of decomposed vegetable and animal compounds, the enthroned the god of cheapness, and sacrificed vital interests to constitution of the earth and atmo3phere, and the mutual rela­ him. We developed our resources in a lop-sided way, tion which exists between them, and their co-operation in and are now abjectly dependent on the foreigner for rendering fertile a parsimonious soil. · food, and on our foreign trade which enables us to This is scientific farming with a vengeance, and is tho­ buy it. This unsound position makes our labour wars peculiarly roughly up to date, although dictated by an uneducated boy dangerous for all concerned. We must all deplore the awful sixty-five years ago. In instituting a storehouse for the sale of poverty in our midst, the greed and . short-sightedness of the products direct to the consumer, and so saving the interme­ capitalists, and sympathise whole-heartedly with every effort of diate profits which nearly double the cost of produce, he hit on labour to better its position ; but if workers move too quickly the very plan which we most need at present. The continual they will kill those trades which hover on the line between rise in the price of food and other things is increasingly felt by prosperity and bankruptcy, thus throwing thousands out of all. This decreases the purchasing power of wages, and each employ, and so commit suicide. If through haste and lack of fore­ rise in wages is accompanied by another rise in cost of commodi­ sight and statesmanship our foreign trade should be killed, then ties. Thus we are in a vicious circle which will cause endless nearly one-half of us would have to starve before we could get conflict and suffering ; therefore the syste1n must b~ altered, and back to the land and produce food enough for ourselves. If our altered in the very direction Davis pointed out-co-operative great industries are to be ruined, then we should be unable to farming and direct supply. The desideratum is more food bear the awfnl burden of national defence, we should be crushed production, making a better use of ~ur land, thus giving the by our formidable rivals ; and as we bear the giant's share of healthiest occupation for sustaining the stamina of the race, the white man's titanic burden, our downfall would he the most cheapening food, improving the home market-the best market awful catastrophe in all history. Now, these are the perils we in the world-thus increasing general prosperity and decreasing are involved in through following a narrow and material ideal. our dependence on the foreigner, and giving added soundness Spiritualists should all rise above party and do all they can to and stability to the State. 260 LIGHT. [June l, 191~.

The system of association to be adopted first by the farmers, LONDON SPIRITUALIST ALLIANCE. Davis would have adopted by all the trades. First by the mechanics for supplying the needs of the farmers with machinery. PRESENTATION TO MR. E. W, WALLIS. These, too, are urged to study all scientific developments ; to A special Social Gathering was held at 110, St. Martin's­ institute investigations by themsekes, and in conjunction with lane on the afternoon of Thursday, May 23rd, for the purpose tho farmers, so as to stimulate each other to their general benefit. of presenting to Mr. E. W. Wallis, Hon. Secretary of the Speaking of the mechanic he says:- London Spiritualist Alliance and Editor of 'LIGHT,' a life-size Relieved of the fear of destitution, and thus cheerfully im­ portrait of himself, painted in oil by Signor Italo Sabatini. pelled onward, each mechanic would gravitate to the establish­ ment of the association, and enjoy a pleasure in industry. MR. H. Wr'IHALL, vice-president, in making the presenta­ He would work the time allotted, and de,·ote the remainder of tion, referred to the circumstances under which, thirteen years the day to amusement, instruction, contemplation, and investi­ ago, Mr. Wallis, who had up till then been connected with gation. He would feel an interest in labour, both for his 'The Two Worlds,' accepted the invitation of Mr. E. Dawson personal and for the general welfare. He would not be fatigued Rogern, at that time President of the Alliance and Editor of with gratification or monotony ; but the hours of labour would ' LIGHT,' to assist him in the conduct of that journal. ".Mr. 'be a relief from other pursuits in which he might be engaged ; and the variety would make existence desirable and render Wallis quickly got into the methods of Mr. Rogers and had it a blessing. Such would be the condition and situation of been able ever since to carry on the work in a very satisfactory each member of the association. Each member must be inter­ way. He (Mr. Withall) believed that 'LIGHT' was generally ested in his own success and the success of the whole establish­ accepted as the best Spiritualist paper, and as being conducted ment. Each one must consider his person, his body, as living with common-sense and literary ability. It went to every capital invested ; his labour will be the interest of that capital, quarter of the globe ; its articles were translated into many which will supply his individual necessities, and conduce to the wealth and emolument of the whole association. For remember languages, and were perused and commented upon by the that labour, when justly appreciated, organised, and re­ leading scientific Spiritualists. It was through a journal munerated, will yield more absolute wealth than it now can under published in Italy that Signor ltalo Sabatini (a Florentine the present system of fatiguing and disgusting employment. artist of high repute who had painted the portraits of many One man would accomplish as much in two-thirds of one day, eminent persons) became acquainted with the work of the thus Eituated, as three would at present. Then the reward of that labour, being proportionate, would more than supply his Alliance and with the editor of its organ, 'LIGHT.' Signor necessities, and would combine to enrich the treasury of the Sabatini had been an enthusiastic Spiritualist for many yea1·s a&iociation besides. and felt that he should like to use his artistic ability to do Davis would have the manufacturers asso.ciate in like honour to Spiritualism in the person of Mr. Wallis. Accordingly, manner, so as to be helpful to each other ; by reciprocating while staying in London, where he had a studio, he offered to .benefits, effecting economies, and organising their labour on paint this portrait. Desiring also to recognise the work of the more scientific principles. , .Alliance, he gave the picture, when completed, to the Alliance, In my next I shall show his treatment of the wom'eri's but with the expressed wish that that body would present it to question, and show how surely he evokes the right principle. Mr. Wallis. · It had been intended that the presentation should be After that we shall see. his proposed treatment of the prof~­ made at the end of March, when it was arranged that Mr. Wallis sions ; t~ere he sails into untried seas ; and he also soars in should deliver his Address to the Alliance at the Salon of the the realms of imaginative construction. Royal Society of British Artists on his experiences during forty In what has been said the rightness of his principles, and years of medimnahip, but circumstances compelled the changing the simplicity and naturalness of his beginnings are abun­ of . the date and the postponement of tile presentation. The dantly . manifest. If mankind had only adopted them, from name of .Mr. Wallis had been associated with Spiritualism ·for what a sea of troubles we should be saved! Their soundness and many years, and he was well known both as a medium and a practicability have been amply proved of late years in Denmark, speaker. He not only worked for the Alliance and '·LIGHT,' and have turned tl,i.at from a poor country into a rich and but visited and addressed societies in different parts of the prosperous one. Profiting by its example, the same beneficent country to help to spread the knowledge of Spiritualism; and in co-operative plans have been introduced into Ireland; and, as this he had been very successful. already said, have done more for that distracted country than The Chairman then moved the following resolution :- centuries of crime-shadowed political agitation. The same beneficent means would save Great Britain from its perilous That this meeting of the members of the London Spirit­ position; increase general employment and general well-being. . ualist Alliance concurs with Signor Sabatini in his high By intensive culture we might fted ourselves; co-partnership is appreciation of the services of Mr. E. W. Wallis to the the saving principle for harmonising the interests of capital and cause of Spiritualism, and trusts that Mr. Wallis may long labour ; and this is but a development of the principles advo­ be spared to us and our cause, and that when he looks on cated so long ago by the Father of Modern Spiritualism. this beautiful work of art he may sense in it all the kind thoughts of the distinguished artist and of the members of (To be continued.) this Alliance. The motion was seconded by Mr. J. A. Wilkins, and supported AN·' OuT OF THE BoDY' EXPERIENCE.-' K. T. C.' writes : by Mr. E. Lucas, the latter remarking that Mr. Wallis had done a ' Recently I had an experience which has left a deep impression -on my mind. I had to undergo an operation, and when under gL·eat deal of work for the Alliance, and it was highly satisfac­ the anresthetic had a curious and very real feeling that I tory to them as a society that it was recognised by a great artist had travelled into an entirely different world from this present of a foreign country. The resolution was unanimously adopted one. I was conscious that I was with those who were drowned with hearty applause. in the 'Titanic' disaster,· that Mr. W. T. ·stead was there, Mr. Wallis expressed his hearty appreciation of the kind and that I was all the time undergoing strange, delightful and wonderful experiences. At the same time I knew that thoughts and generous words which had been uttered in respect on my return to the world it would be impossible for me to himself and the work he had been permitted to do. He to remember, or to describe, the wonderful things I had ex­ especially appreciated the kind feeling of the artist expressed in perienced, as everything was so entirely and incomprehensibly that beautiful painting. It would be a lasting memorial. He different in a sphere where we had no bodies through which (Mr. Wallis) sometimes thought that he had been extremely to express ourselves. I felt the most real and bitter regret favoured. It was not everybody who was permitted, as he was, that I must return to earth, and also, as I began to regain " consciousness," I felt exceedingly puzzled as to how I should to engage in the work that he liked best. The spirit people caught be able to express myself, as I seemed entirely to have forgotten him as a young man between sixteen and seventeen, and from that how to speak. The nurse told me that my first words were : time onward his life had been practically directed by them. Their "So I'm back in this old world again." I now feel firmly work was a work that was dear to his heart, and he had tried convinced of the reality of a future life, and also of the his utmost to be an efficient servant of the spirit -world. extreme difficulty which departed spirits must experience He recognised it as one of his greatest privileges to have been in attempting communications with this world. I may add that I am no medium, and gifted with no psychic qualities - associated with Mr. Dawson Rogers. The latter had been as a whatever.' father to him. Al ways .Patient, kindly and considerate, Mr. June I, 1912,] LIGHT. 261

Rogers had given him the benefit of his great experience, and he heart. If our friends who pass from us survive, what will there had learned from him a great deal. To him (Mr. Wallis) be left in them which we in our turn can recognise 7 Will not Spiritualism stood first. He had endeavoured to help it forward, this very development place an impassable gulf between them · and ourselves? A loved child dies from the household. Its but he felt that he had not done as much as he would have liked. anguished parents live on thirty, forty years after. If there He hoped and trusted that he would be spared for many years to is a meeting in the after-life of these sundered ones, what will continue his work. He was grateful to Mr. Sabatini for his there be to meet 1 People ask this with a kind of despair. unexpected kindness. He did not propose to take the picture And yet the very question suggests its· answer. Supposing the away yet if the Alliance would still harbour it. (Applause.) child had lived, would not the. parents have as surely lost it as Mr. Wilkins reminded the company that the meeting was a child as they do by its dying ? In the thirty following years what is left of the child 1 It is a grown man or woman they of a dual nature. It was the last meeting of the Session of the have now with them. Of the child there are left only ,the early Psychic-Culture Class, so he asked his hearers to permit him to portraits. Yet the joy and happiness of the relationship are think that he was giving the closing address to the class. When there through all the changes, there with additions and enrich­ he first came to the Alliance, he was under the shadow of a ments. And if the personality, working in this way on our great cloud-a great bereavement. He thanked God that present side of death, amid all changes, keeps the best of the that bereavement had softened him. He at once formed parental and filial relationships, why should we imagine the farther side so poor in resource as not to have its own preserva­ impressions of the staff of the Alliance and of Mr. Wallis, and tions and adaptations there ? he was glad to say that further acquaintance had ser>ed to Why, indeed ! We do not imagine anything of the kind, justify those impressions. He had a greater love and a higher because we know that life over there is the natural sequel to this appreciation for Mr. Wallis than he had when he first knew him. present life. Mr. Wallis's life had been a life of noble endeavour, high resolve, and great achievement. In a word, it said to all of 'THE DREAM OF LIFE.' them, 'Come up higher ! ' (Applause.) At the close of the meeting, Mr. Wallis received personal ' Le Songe de la Vie '* (' The Dream of Life') is the title of congratulations and good wishes from those assembled. a striking drama in verse. The author is the daughter of M. Creaar de Vesme, the well-known editor of 'Annales Psy­ LIFE BEYOND DEATH. chiques.' The task which she has set herself is not an easy one. She draws the picture of a young, stainless youth of twenty, a 'J. B.,' in an able and suggestive article on 'The Life Be­ veritable ' chevalier, sans peur et sans reproche,' whose short yond,' in 'The Christian World' of May 23rd, says :- career expiates and redeems the past of his ancestress, Melusine ; Man is the great adventurer of this planet. Every new day her past is really his own, for she is reincarnated in him. This is for him a leap into the unknown. But his greatest adventure is death. • , Death has been the creator of his religious stainless and irreproachable character is admirably delineated, faith. Had there been no death, there would have been no he neither lacks vigour nor the attractiveness of an impassioned religion as we know it. The human mind-its motives, its . human personality. aspfrations, its hopes, and its fears-would have been an entirely The poetic quality of the work is of a high order. M. different thing. Flammarion says truly, in bis preface, that the breath of Victor After dealing with some of the many embal'l'assing questions Hugo seems to be felt in some of the lines. It is an astonishing which crop up, he observes :- production for a girl of nineteen ; original in conception and If that unity, the essential 'I ' of our consciousness, subsists equal in execution. in us despite all the transmutations of life, despite all the Geoffroy de Lusignan, the youngest born of the family, is numberless molecular changes of our body, all the varying the only one who has never been seen to be visited fo. his cradle stages of our mental being, is it not to this centre, which has survived so much, that we must look as survivor of the last by the shade of his ancestress. It is this ancestres8 who returns change of all~ to earth life in him. Referring to the popular presupposition that ' If there is to It is a little bewildering to find that Melusine attends him, be a supernatural, it is to be on a great scale, something supremely speaks to him, prompts his noblest aspirations. At fir13t one is grand or something supremely terrible,' 'J, B.' asks:- disposed to think of her as a guardian spirit, but as the drama Is that Nature's way? . . Why may it not be-all develops we see that the author's intention is to suggest that the analogy suggests it is-that after the great passage, we all; great individuality of Geoffroy is really identical with that of Melu­ and small, inferior, contemptible, and grand, take up our lives sine, that his devotion to her is, indeed, devotion to his true precisely where we left them, to start, amid these new conditions, spiritual ego. in their farther evolution ? May we not here, in default of con­ The confusion must not be charged upon the author, who trary evidence, trust to the Nature we know; Nature, which changes everything, but destroys nothing ; Nature, which fits deals with her subject skilfully. It is an intrinsic element in her creatures to their environment, gives to each class and quality the philosophy which her drama sets forth-i.e., the reincarna­ its own place; Nature who, in her splendid generosity, gives to tion of a personality of a distinct character and sex in that of her poorest, meanest things, as well as to her greatest personal another whose character and sex are entirely different. creations, their share of life and of enjoyment ? ' This does not detract, however, from the merit of the com­ Discreetly avoiding theological problems, he affirms of position as a literary work. As M. Flammarion says: 'Nature Christianity that :- and humanity are here revealed in their aspects of greatness, and By the immense -reinfo~ement it has offered to the spiritual more than one picture arrests us by its beauty-more than one development of man it has increased in that degree the force of thought by the lucidity of its expression.' the argument for a further sphere in which the soul which it The high expectations raised by M. Flammarion's apprecia­ has so immeasurably enriched shall proceed to its foll height of blessedness. The resurrection faith is not only a fact of its history, tive preface are not disappointed. The gifted-_author has achieved it is in the line of all that Nature suggests ; it is an answer, out a marked success, and has produced a work tif unusual merit and of herself, to the deepest, highest instinct of the human heart. considerable charm. The whole article will well repay carefol rea<}ing and study, The following lines may be quoted as an example of the easy but we cannot help feeling that it would have been infinitely and melodious flow of the verse :- stronger and tnore helpful if the writer had been able to write it Dieu par qui l'ai r est doux, le lac bletI, le ciel rose, from our standpoint-if he had been able to make it affirmative Dieu dont l'wil sans regard jamais n'est arrete ; Dieu qui d'un soil' tombant fais une apotheose, because he knew, as the result of intercourse with the unseen, D'une aurore un espoir, d'un jour une beaute. · the actual fact of human persistence after bodily death-the 0 Monde oil tout se fond, l'Univers oil tout vibre, survival of the real personality in a conscious, progressive life Supreme elan d'amour qui jamais ne finis, beyond the incident of death. How helpful it would have been Ame eternelle et Cmur dont nous sommes le fibre, to him, for illStance, when he answered some of the many letters Esprit Unique, 1) Tout ; mon Dien je te benis ! which he says he has received from time to time- H. A. DALLAS. lettera which reveal at once the bewilderment and the torturing - * 'Le Bonge de la. Vie,' by G:e:MMA DB V:e:sMIL 2f. 50. Librairie interest which on this question assail the modern mind and Fischb:i.cher, 33, Rue de Seine, Paris. 262 LIGHT. (.June I, 1912-.

NOTES FROM ABROAD. A USEFUL PAMPHLET.

· .Many foreign journals have paid sympathetic tribute to the Under the title 'Spiritualism Expounded,'' The Two Worlds ·memory of the late Mr. W. T. Stead, to whom they refer as a Publishing Co.' are placing on sale as a penny pamphlet a capital great Englishman, one of those who by their character and address delivered by Mrs. Dora N. Bellas last March in the Hall actions do honour to their race. ' Le Fraterniste ' says : ' Those ·who are not familiar with our Spiritualistic doctrines will of the Moss Side Spiritual Institution, Manchester, in reply to probably ask the question : "How is it that such a good and a sermon preached by the Rev. J. W. Canton, rector of St. noble man had to meet such a terrible end 1" To these we Margaret's Church, Whalley Grange. With Mrs. Bellas we own . would simply reply by a counter-question : "What is death? that it is beyond our comprehension how in the present age a A misfortune, or a blessing in disguise 1"' man of learning could stand up in the pulpit as one of Christ's · In ' Le Monde Psychiqne' for April a member of the disciples and coolly inform his flock that ' if they dabble in .Psychical Research Society of France, in speaking of the common Spiritualism it will lead, one and all, to insanity and death, and . belief that the passing away of some friend or relative is often a second death, when they will be cast into brimstone and fire announced by a light being mysteriously extinguished, relates a curious incident which happened to himself. One evening, and everlasting Hell ! ' To the charge that Spiritualism leads after having entered his apartment, he lit a cancUe which after a to insanity, Mrs. Bellas retorts·:- few seconds was suddenly extinguished. He re-lit it, and Are we enlightened beings of to-day to understand that, examined the room to discover if there might be any current of according to the theory of the Church of England or some of air to which the sudden going orit of the light might be its ministers, all the great writers and eminent scientists and attributed, but both windows and door were tightly shut. philosophers of the past and present, sueh as Shakespeare and Whilst still pondering over it the candle was extinguished a Charles Dickens, Victor Hugo, Lombroso, Sir William Crookes, second time. Again he re-lit it, and, although there was nothing Dr. Alfred Russel Wallace, Sir Oliver Lodge, Camille Flam­ wrong with either wick or candle, it went out for a third time. marion, Professor Richet, and a host of others, are all insane The gentleman then went to bed, almost expecting some strange and only fit for madhouses, because, after an earnest :ilivestiga­ phenomena, but nothing occurred. Two days after, he received tion, they got to know for themselves that spirit comnmni_on ie a letter containing news of the passing over of a person whom a fact 1 he had formerly known intimately but of whom he had lately lost sight. When attending the funeral of this person, he As to that other fate to which the rector's full acquaintance obtained the information that death had taken place on the very with the Divine purpose consigns us, she indignantly exclaims:- · night, and at the exact hour, when the candle was extinguished The followers of Christianity would be indebted to Spirit­ three times in succession. ualism had their clergymen represented God as Spiritualists Amongst several clever articles in 'La Revt1e Spirite,' we understand Him to be. Not a revengeful and laughing tor­ notice specially one, entitled 'Goethe, Psychologist and mentor, who will 'laugh at their calamity and mock when Spiritualist.' The writer of it, Dr. E. Dupouy, maintains that their fear cometh' ; not a capricious, irrational and cruel sort already at the end of the eighteenth century the world had a of Torquemada, who ' will cast the unbelievers into a hell of dim knowledge of modern Spiritualism, although investigation brimstone and fire,' as the iRev. Canton puts it ; but as a One of psychic phenomena was then unknown. Goethe began to Heavenly Father who judgea'.righteously; who does not change; devote himself to mysticism in. 1765 ; his entire poem of who is the same yesterday, to-day and for ever ; who is all love, ' Faust' is permeated with it. A careful study of this great loving the man-His child-through all, and bringing him by work will undoubtedly prove to us that Goethe was in every slow degrees back to the diviner life and to the realisation of sense a Spiritualist, endowed with mediumistic powers which he his diviner self.' possessed in common with so many artists and poets, who at times We are happy to think, however, that this particular clergy­ . seem to have ideal visions of the future world. man belongs to. an old-fashioned type which is becoming more ' L'Initiation ' contains an article on ' Magic Plants.' The and more exceptional. There are very ma.nv broad-minded belladonna plant, the mandrake, as well as the bean, come under Church of England ministers-such as the Dean of Gibraltar, this category. Pythagoras, it seems, would not allow his disciples to touch this latter vegetable ; the old Egyptians, too, held it in Dr. Percy Dearmer, and Rev. Mayne Young (Mrs. Bellas herself abhorrence. The writer says on this subject : 'As regards quotes from the last-mentioned)-who have no sympathy what­ symbolic prncepts it is but fair to observe their literal, as well as ever with Mr. Canton's narrow-minded and medirevil.l theology. hidden, meaning ; .the latter has reference to the health of the soul, its innocence and purity.' 'The natives of Lapland are the fakirs of the North '-so we read iu a recent issue of ' Wah res Leben.' There exist several ITEMS OF INTEREST. literary works, dating as far back as the seventeenth century, and dealing with the life and habits of the Laplanders, in which this fact is already mentioned, and later on, trustworthy ex­ That an ever-increasing number of persons take deep interest plorers who have spent much time amongst these people, refer in the mystical inte1·pretation of the great problems of life and to the same phenomenon. It is therefore evident that long ago being is evident by the number of societies devoted to the work the Laplanders and, above all, their 'najder' (priestly magi­ of promoting unity among students on these lines. 'The Christian cians), possessed the psychic power to put themselves into a Mystical Society' (whose advertisement appeared in last week's hypnotic sleep. These priests had to submit to this self-imposed ' LIGHT') has arranged for a special summer course of Friday trance whenever there arose the question of saving the life of a evening lectures, to be gi\'en at the Eustace Miles Restaurant at sick person. According to the natives' belief, the spirit of the 8 o'clock. The hon. president il!! °M.Y. James L. MacBeth Bain, priest then visited the other realm, where, at times, he had to and Madame Isabelle de Steiger is president. The society aims fight a fierce battle with: some of the departed, who endeavoured 'to unite all lovers of goodness, truth and beauty in seeking the to draw the sick person away from this world over to their realisation of the Christ.' plane. Coming to moqern times, we find that some Swedish papers 'The Sussex Daily News,' of May 21st, gave a rP.port·of an recently recorded a similar incident. A Laplander was accused interesting address on 'The Human Aura,' delivered by Mr. of having stolen and killed some reindeer. · When arrested, he W. H. Shaddick to the Brighton Spiritualist Sbciety. Mr. fell, to all appearances, into a deep sleep. This lasted several Shaddick emphasised the verity of second sight and said that days. Eminent Swedish medical men who carefully observed 'he had been at considerable trouble to discover what rays a this Laplander, came to the. conclusion that the man was not magnet throws off. He had found out the critical exposure shamming, as at first supposed, but that he evidently had put necessary in order that a magnet might photograph itself. Yet, himself into a trance to escape the dreaded punishment. he supposed, no one present could see the rays. He used that F.D. tu show that the eye does not see everything. He. also told of an experiment by which he believed it possible that rays may 'No journal was ever better named than yours, "LIGHT," be thrown off by will power.' He referred to some screens which because it sheds a light that cannot be dimmed. Success to you I' he devised almost concurrently with those invented by Dr. -J. M. PEEBLES, M.D. Kilner, and observed that 'he could only get eighteen out of l\fR. PERCY R. STREET'S address on 'The Highways and every twenty-five persons to see the human aura. He described Byways of Spfrit11alism,' which we hoped to print, in this what the aura was like according to his vision, and he added number of 'LIGH'l',' has been unavoidably crowded out. It will that will power and health exercise(! a great influence. Clothes, appear next week. too, he said, had a lot to do with the throwing off of the aura.' Jnne 1, 1912.] LIGHT; 263

From far away Hong Kong comes the following message from A Believer in the Efficacy of Prayer. an earnest Spiritualist : 'I was much grieved for the loss to the Srn,-The time was when I did not believe in the efficacy of Psycho-Therapeutic Society of Mr. G. Spriggs, having often availed prayer, but Spiritualism has taught me that by the· use of prayer myself of his valuable services, though I have no doubt our loss· we may become a power for good. One of the redeeming features· is his gain. I cannot tell you how I enjoy " LIGHT" ; I never of the Roman Catholic faith is the belief that 'it is a holy and miss one word in it. The cutting and wiring are great wholesome thought to pray for the dead that they may be loosed· improvements.' from their sins.' What constiti1tes sin to om minds, d-0es not matter ; suffice it that a certain condition of 'darkness,' or of 'The Humanitarian' recently remarked that the 'unrest,' as being 'earthbound,' does exist, and that spirits in this con­ it is euphemistically called, in the world oflabour brings to miml dition can be helped by those still in the physical body. · a remarkable passage in the works of Richard Jefferies. It is Not all spirits who pass over are met by their 'loved ones,' as follows : 'This our earth provides not only a sufficiency, but for often they are as wide apart as the poles, and they whom the a superabundance, and pours a cornucopia of good things down darkened spirits would seek, cannot approach, owing to the· upon us. I verily believe that the earth in one year produces spiritual laws which prevail. Many spirits, not knowing of enough iood),() lllllt for thirty. Why, then, have we not enough 1 the existence of these laws, cannot understand why they are Why do people die of starvation, or lead a miserable existence unable to rise like others. Now and then they see a bright on the verge of it 1 Why have millions upon millions to toil light in the distance and rush wildly forward, only to find that from morning to evening just to gain a mere crust of bread 1 it fades away at their approach. · So they wander about; filled Because of the absolute lack of organisation· by which such with vain regrets, till some ~eeming stroke of good fortune puts labour should produce its effect, the absolute lack of distribntion, them on the first step of the path of progress. the absolute lack even of the very idea that such things are Many who pass over are helped by the prayers of those possible. Nay, even to mention such things, to say that they whom they have left behind ; but some are quickly forgotten, are pos9ible, is criminal with many. Madness could hardly go and others leave none to mourn or to pray for them. It is for fnrther.' - these-the forgotten souls, who pass on away froru kith or kin, unknown and unmourned-and for those whose mental balance In his letter on page 264, 'E. W. C.' suggests that Shake-. became deranged through the limitations of the flesh, that I speare may have been a Spiritualist. Gerald Massey, in his little would especially plead. work, 'Concerning Spiritualism,' deals with the sonnet quoted My little circle is organised, and sympathetic sitters are by our correspondent, and holds the opinion that in it Shake­ selected, for the express purpose of helping these earth])ound speare refers to his rival Marlowe. He says : ' Tradition asserts spirits, and never yet have we failed by firmness, sympathy, that the poet Marlowe was an Atheist. It also affirms that he reasoning, and prayer to help to brighten those :who come to us .. studied the black arts and practised Necromancy. Tradition, Our guides regulate the comings and goinga. As a sensitive, I if cross-examined on any such subject as this, gets very confused retain the feeling of the controlling spirit's condition, and if th0' and contradictory. I do not doubt, however, that Marlowe readers of 'LIGHT' could experience the utter loneliness, sad~ was a Spiritualist, and, in some form or other, practised ness, and helplessness that these spirits endure, their ·hearts. spirit-communication. It was partly by aid of this clue · would Le filled with pity for them. · , that I was enabled to identify Marlowe as the rh-al poet We are blessed also by our relatives and friends, who not of Shakespeare's sonnets, in my book called " Shakespeare's only help and comfort us in our tronbles, hut who take in hand Sonnets and his Private Friends." Marlowe is accredited those who could only first gain the light through physical inter­ with being taught by spirits to write above a mortal cession. pitch; with having spiritual visitants in the night hours, who May I ask those who sit in circles not 'to reject these darkened give him aid in his work; and he is especially reputed to have souls, and desire only the 'higher intelligences' 1 Those intelli~. an attendant spirit--a plausible familiar spirit--who "gulls gences far more readily approach to bless, enlighten, and him nightly with intelligence.'' All this supernatural aid strengthen, when the hearts of the sitters are opened in sympathy Shakespeare acknowledges that his rival receives, but it was and love to the afflicted an~ distressed.-Yours, &c., not this which made him keep silence in fear of being eclipsed. 0. He grants the facts of this abnormal inspiration, but does nJt w. think very highly of it. He takes the common view that the spirit must be a lying one, and the intelligence fa,lse. Still, here Transcorporeal Activity. is Shakespeare's testimony that his rival competitor for a Srn,-When we sleep do we leave our bodies? Although I patron's approval practised spirit-intercourse, and it is for tliat have long suspected that it is so, in some measure, yet I have evidence I allude to the subject and cite the sonnet. The rival never had evidence until lately, and, to illnminate my evidence, poet I have shown to be Christopher Marlowe, to whom Thomas I must first recount an experience of this kind, some sixteen Thorpe also-in his dedication to Edward Blunt of Marlowe's years ago. translation of Lucan's first book-allndes as a "familiar spirit.'' ' In 1896 I was experjencing some great spiritual phenomena in connection with my religious life, and in the September I was on a holiday, staying at Glenburn Hydropathic, Rothesay. LETTERS TO THE· EDITOR. On Thursday, September 17th, about three o'clock, I was lying on my back on the drawing-room sofa. I was quite normal; and The Editor is not respomible for the oi>inioris expressed by correspon­ had not had any phenomena recently. My eyes were shut, but dents, and sometimes publishes what he does not agree with for I was awake and not occupied mentally with anything in par~ the purpose of presenting views which may elicit discUBBion. ticular; there were many people in the room conversing. Sud­ denly, without any warning, I felt myself being carried upwards Mrs. Etta Wriedt to Visit South Africa. in the horizontal posiiion in which I was lying, and in my Srn,-1 am pleased to inform you and the readers of 'LIGHT' rapid cogitation I somehow concluded I was being taken out of that arra'ngements are being made to bring Mrs. Etta Wriedt, the body, although the possibility of such a thing had never of Detroit, Michigan, U.S.A., to this country. The movement presented itself to my mind as thinkable. I accordingly put is supported by genuine scientists, doctors. lawyers, and bank up my hand (my spirit body hand, evidently) to feel if my managers, and the seances will be conducted under the care of head was lying on the sofa, and, to my astonishment, I.found it the Society of Spiritualists of Johannesburg (Incorporated). wasn't. This experience scared me, especially as I heard a lady The population of this country is very small as compared with in the room say, 'That gentleman will ·be cold, I will put this ot}).er countries, so there is hope for Spiritualism to take root, over him,' and I heard her coming towards the sofa on which and I think we -shall soon have a large body of workers and I was lying. Instinctively I concluded that for her to touch Qr followers. Through the medium of the Press, most people of cover me while in the disembodied condition might be dan­ the average mind will be eager to attend these seances with gerous, and my dismay increased. I then made a hard struggle Mrs. Wriedt, and much good will be the result. I may also to get back into my body, finding it rather difficult, but finally mention that Mrs. Wriedt expressed her desire to pay us a I succeeded just as she was covering me with the' rug she visit, though a letter was on the way already inviting. her to brought. I well remember the delightfnl sensation of.relief come. Just a word for Mrs. Wriedt. Her letters are of the from pain (for I was suffering much pain then), and ·freedom, highest value to me, as in them I find the expressions of a tme and buoyancy I felt when out of the body, and the reverse friend and a sincere Spiritualist. It would be a very good thing sensation of aching pain, confinement, and compression when I if she could come to Johannesbnrg directly after her work is got back into the body ; the change was bideed startling, and, finished in England, as she would arrive here in our spring in a sense, a disappointment. time.-Yours, &c., I also remember the sensation of getting back and settling MARCUS JACOB LEVIN. down into the Lody again : it seemed more difficult than Marshall-street, c/o Chicken's News Agency, the getting out, which appeared delightfnlly simple and un­ J eppestown, Transvaal, South Africa. disturbed. May 6th, 1912. On April 23rd, 1912, about on.e in the morning, I was asleep 264 LIGHT. [June 1, 1912. and had a dream : the dream did not si1ggest that I was out of much larger, some super-consciousness that embraees everything the body, or anywhere in particular. It was not a pleasant connected with the sitters from the material point of view to the dream, and had no connection with the climax. This Jatter spiritual side of life. Even the faults that occasionally occur was that a bell rang, and I felt that I roust go, where I do not at these seances are instructive in the highest degree, allowing know. Two persons I could not see put their hands on my us to peep into the sphere whence he gathers his information, head to stop me going, but I insisted, and, waking up, fotmd so simply, so clearly expressed.-Yours, &c .. myself settling down into my body in the same way I had Moscow. A. BoBROWA. experienced it, while awake, sixteen years before. Shortly afterwards the clock struck the hour. Clearly I had been out An Appreciation of Mr. Turvey. of the body in my sleep, although there was nothing in my Sm,-While much has been rightly written about Mr. Stead, dream to suggest it; and I did not know it until I experienced I feel that Mr. Turvey is not fully appreciated. Few know, as the unusual sensations while waking, which I recognised from I do, the painful physical effort with which he WLVe his lucid the previous experience.-Yours, &c., reasoning and opinions to those seeking the truth. When writing 15, Camden-street, North Shields. J. W. MACDONALD. to me he remarked, 'Most of my stuff is literally written, if not with my blood, at least with my vitality. All my statements are How 'Light' Helps Its Readers. either facts, opinions based on facts, or conclusions drawn from Sm,-You will be pleased to learn that a sister to whom I many scholarly works.' 'The Daily Chronicle' accurately dubbed sent a copy of 'LIGHT ' handed it to a nurse who was staying at him 'Wizard,' and delighted him. DiscuSl!i.ng Spiritualism, he the same 1>0arding house, owing to want of room in the wrote: 'If Spiritualism in its highest aspect is an ever-tlowiug nursing home. She was delighted (having lived in India), and truth, then the cardinal dogmas of the Church fall to pieces.' she showed it to some of the inmates when she visited the home. He also wrote : 'I hate sex-war, and therefore never think bf I trust you will get another subscriber. Personally, I am willing people as men and women, but as minds. Thank Heaven, wit'h to let all other reading go if I can get 'LIGHT' and 'The Two the loss of our bodies sex vanishes and mind rules.' Now lie Worlds '-real ambrosia to those spiritually famishing.-Yours, has lost his poor, weak, diseased body, and is attaining wisdom ~ RR by mental and soulic progression, but his loss here. is. irrepar­ able. May the perpetual light of the unfailing Spirit shine Shakespeare a Spiritualist? upon him now and ever !-Yours, &c., Sm,-Glancing:through Shakespeare's (or Bacon's 1) Sonnets, Sutton. E. P. PRENTICE. I was suddenly struck by the lines which I ham put in italics, as they prove the author to have been a believer in spirit communi­ Spiritualism in Sweden. cation, and seem to solve a difficulty which has always troubled Srn,-In 'LIGHT' for May 4th is an article frc.m the secretary me. The enormous, the encycloprodic range of knowledge, of the National Union of Spiritualists respecting the forthcoming literary, linguistic, medical, historical, classical, philosophic, Spiritualists' International Congress, in which he. states that legal, psychological, political, and the knowledge of Court life Princess Karadja wae the first one to open out to the Swedes the and its etiquette, in addition to a profound knowledge of human truths of Spiritualism. nature, show, in my opinion, that the works of Shakespeare This assertion has astonished the Spidtualists here in could only have been written by the man who hai 'taken all Stockholm, who are quite ignorant of the great service said_ to knowledge as his province,' or the author was a Spiritualist have been rendered by this lady to their forefathers, and they medium, and got his vast range of knowledge as A. J. Davis, the will esteem it a favour if Mr. Han.'!On G, Hey will inform them, Father of Modern:Spiritualism, did, by supernormal means. Here through 'LIGHT,' where he obtained his information. - Yours, &c., is the Sonnet :- · A SPIRITUALIST OJ' TWENTY-FIVE YEARS. LXXXVI. Stockholm, May 21st, 1912. Was it the proud full sail of his great verse, Bound for the prize of all too precious you, That did my ripe thoughts in my brain inhearse, The Sanctions of Spiritualism. Making their tomb the womb wherein they grew 7 Srn,-Max MiHler said in one of his Hibbert lectures: 'All Was it his spirit, by spirits taught to write . knowledge, in order to be knowledge, must pass through two Above a mortal pitch, that struck me dead 7 gates, And two gat.es only, the gate of the senses and the gate of No, neither he, nor his compeers b'V m'ght reason. Religious knowledge, also, whether true or false, must Giving hini aid, my verse astonished. have passed through these two gates. At these two gates, there­ He, nor that affable familiar ghost fore, we take our stand. Whatever claims to have entered in by Which nightly gulls him with intelligence, any other gate, whether that gate is called primeval revelation As victors, of my silence cannot boast ; or religious instinct, must be rejected as contraband of though~ ; I was not sick of any fear from thence : and whatever claims to have entered by the gate of reason, with:. But when your countenance fill'd up his line, out having first passed through the gate of the senses, mi:tst Then lack'd I matter ; that enfeebled mine. equally be rejected as without sufficient warrant, or ordered, at least, to go back to the first gate, in order to produce there its Perhaps your readers may know of other passages dealing full credentials.' with such communications. This differs from his merely What religion is there in the world that meets these con­ artistic treatment of the supernatural, of ghosts, witche.q, fairies, ditions so well or so fully as Spiritualism does 1-YoUl·s, &c., and the like.-Yours, &c., E. W .. C. [See page 263.-ED. 'LIGHT.'] · Los Angeles, Cal, U.S.A. A. K. YENNING.

Mr. A. V. Peters' Work at Moscow; . SOCIETY WORK ON SUNDAY, MAY 26th, &c. Sm,-Kil!dly give me space in your most honourable journal for a short report of a series of seances recently given here by Pro8j)ective Notices, ?10t BIU8eo1h14 twenty-four words, '1MllJ be added our guest, Mr. A. Yout .Peters. This was his third visit to to reports if accO'lll1Janied by stalm4>s to the 11alue of sizpmcB. Moscow. In the years 1906 and 1908 he gave seances at the office of 'Rebus,' and there are to-day many persons who MARYLEBONE SPIRITUALIST AssooIATION-Sheam's Res" value the communications he then ·gave from their departed taitrant, 231, Tuttenham Court-road, W.-Mra. Mary Davies gave friends and acquaintances, and who have been helped by his an interesting address and convincing clairvoyant descriptions.- predictions. During Mr. Peters' recent visit there were a great 15, Mortimer-street, W.-On the 20th inst. Mrs. Mary Davies many people anxious to obtain admission to the seances which gave successful clairvoyant descriptions and helpful messages. be held at the office of ' Rebus,' and at his parting from us there Mr. Leigh Hunt presided at both meetings. Sunday next, see were many who grieved that he could not stay with us any advt. on front page.-D. N. longer. Two persons took verbatim notes together of all that BRIGHTON.-MANOHESTER-BTREET (OPPOSITE AQUARIUM).­ Mr. Peters said. A comparison of these notes with those taken The Rev. Wm. Garwood, M.A., gave fine addresses and answered at the .seances which he gave to the same sitters in 1906 and questfons. Sunday next, at 11.15 and. 7 p.m., Mrs. A. BoddiJig­ 1908 shows truly wonderful results, as in many instances. the ton, address and clairvoyance, also Monday at 8 p. m, . Tuesday same spirits were described, and in almost the same terms, and at 3, working party; at 8 p.m.-, also Wednesday, at 3, Mre. yet Mr. Peters, during the intervening years, has been travelling Clarke, clairvoyance.-H. J.E. in South Africa, Denmark, Germany, &c. It would be utterly PECKHAM.-LAUBANNE HALL, LAUBANNE-ROAD.-Morning, impossible for any person to retain all these things iµ his automatic writings by Mr. G. Brown ; evening, address by Miss memory after such a lapse of time, and after seeing so many Earle on ' The Truth that Makes Men Free.' Sunday next, thousands of different persons. morning, Mr. Glennie; evening, Mr. D. J. Davis. Monday, at His gift is not thought-reading (on the contrary); it is not 3 p.m., Mrs. Jamrach. Tuesday, at 8.15 p.m., healing. Thurs­ i:lairvoran(:e pr prevision1 or seer~hip alone i it i~ spmething dar, 8.15 p.IQ.. 1 public circle. :f'riday1 81 choir,-J\.. Q. s, ight: A Journal of ·psgohioal Oooult, and Mystical Rf!searoh.

'LIGHT I MORE LIGHT !'-Goethe, 'WHATSOEVER DOTH MAKl!l MAN.lll'lllST IS LIGHT.'-Patd•

No: 1,639.-VOL. XXXII. (Registered M] SATURDAY, JUNE 8, 1912. .[a Newspaper.J PRIOE TwoPENCE.

CONTENTS. Besant, for example, points out that the Western scientist Notes by the Wa.J" .... - - ...... 265 Two Seances with Mrs. Wl'iedt .. 271 L.8.A. Notices •••••••••••••••••. 266 Communications through Two calls Karma 'The Law of Action and Reaction,'. and that S11i_rituallsm as Social Sa:ldonr: Mediums. By H. A. Dallas ... 272 "No. 8. By Mr. E. Wake Cook •. 266 The • Titanic' Dl•asler : WIJ.S. God . . . 'everywhere in nature he finds this law and cou~ts o~ it l!'ree·wlll e.nd Fate ...... -· • • • 268 Responsible? By A. Arnndel •. 278 Sll!rituallsm : Its .Wghwe.:rs e.nd Is God in HelU By w. H. Evans.274 with certainty· in his manipulations of objects.' As' s~~­ Byewa1s. An Address by Mr. M~nsignor Benson on Spiritual· ~ well . observes, a law of nature is • the statement of an' Petey B. Street.~ ...... - 268 ism ...... -...... - •. 215 The Gmt Awakenillg ...... 270 • Cheiro's' Experiences ...... _276 observed succession, of an invariable sequence,' and. the~' follows this illustration :- · · . NOTES BY THE WAY. It is a statement of conditions and the result which arises' frm:-1 them. It i~ no~ a command; it does not say, .' 'Dq, .tl;it~'. We are frequently told that we are now entering on an ?r Do not do this,' like a human enactment.. It ~IJ!lS ~at. B.IJ.Yt You must have .A and B, and therefore C,'.. but,ra~"'1~r,. If -you. era in which the p·sychical nature of man will manifest want C, you must bring .A and B together; Oif you.<}o.not.:-want itself in a high degree, and evidences of the truth of the C, you must take care that A and B do not come together ; ..if. statement are multiplying at a great rate. The following, you keep .A away from B you will" not have C.'. }Jenee alaw of which we cull from a recent issue of 'T.P.'s Weekly,' is nature is truly said to be not a compelling but an e"nabling farce ; it tells you the conditions' which enable yo1i tO produce at least signilicant :- or ayoid a. particular thing. --1 · N eal'ly three years ago, after the arrival of my ship at a A useful piece of philosophy for fatalists ! home port from Gibraltar, where we had spent some months refitting, I was on leave in Ireland. One day when cycling with .a shipmate in a country place, hitherto unknown to both 'Living Waters,' by Charles Brodie Patterson. of us, we called at a farmhouse for a drink of water. The (Fu~k person who handed the refreshing draught, on seeing our dusty and Wagnalls Company, New York, l.20dol. net)· consists apparel, remarked that we must have travelled a long way. of a series of essays on a high plane of thought. . They are Before there was time to reply, the voice of a child within said sin:1.p)y expressed, but all valuable a~d thought-provokin~.' 'Yes ! They are from Gibraltad' and then a little girl appeared. I was so struck (and so was my friend) that I even How few, for example, realise that intelligence is not examined ·the ' School Reader' she carried to see if there was restricted to the human brain, but per~ades a'n Nature.! anything in its p11.ges to account for the saying, but there was The author sees this, for he says:- . ·. ·. · .. , .. none, and when questioned she retreated shyly. We were both Evolution is riot" a blind force, b~1t, an, in~lligE:~_t ~C#i9n.1. clad in mufti, so there was nothing to indicate our calling. Mind is as universal as matter, and where-ver one is. thiire;.the. The narrator of the incident. calls it (for want of a other is also. · Man is becoming conscious that'll~ can'cil~op~rii.te better term) a 'coincidence,' and if it stood by itself, that. with the law of evolution, and that the developmei1t'thafl'ilig@ haYe required many years in the past .can UJ,Jce ·place'. ~withini de-scription might suffice. But collated with numerous a year or even a month at the present time. li!l can. be.comt, other examples it has a larger siguificance. It is impossible what he wills to become. ·· - .· · .. ,· to verify all the cases, but their cumulative value is not This co-operation with . evolution is. doubtless ~ low~r· to be despised. form of what is meant by conformity with the Divine Will, The one grows 'out of ·the other. The mind that truly There is no rest for the materialist. Having startled identifies itself with the purposes of Nature cannot fail him with the. electron-the electric fragment of the atom eventually to rise to the greater height of unity with th~ once regarded as indivisible-Science has taken another spiritual activities of life. It is simply a; questimi"of expan, important step by the discovery of a new elementary con­ sion, not of revolution, and that is why the man who seeks stituent of matter, the magneton or magnetic atomic the spiritual life by treading the natural underfoot fails so element. M. Vigneron, writing on the subject in 'La lanrentably. . · Nature,' remarks :- It seelll.B, then, that we have reached in the magneton a new In the final chapter of the book, 'Life and its ;F'ulfii­ constituent of matter. .After the electron, symbolising the new ment,' Mr. Patterson revie~s the progress of the world anci idea of the discontinuous structure of electricity, the magneton rightly discerns that progress. ~s cumula~ive, ea.ch century makes an analogous evolution in our conception of magnetic phenomena. . . Questions press on us in crowds, the horizon consolidating the achievements of all the preceding ages, enlarges without limit, and we have need of all the enthusiasm, and accomplishing its work ~h ever-increasing rapidity. knowledge and labour of modern science to explore even a part And now we are coming into ·contact with the finer f~rces of this new domain. of the universe:- 'The horizon enlarges '-a disquieting fact for sciolists, Externals no longer satisfy. The real science ·of life has to but full of hope and encouragement for the science that do with living souls, not external forms. If man epitomises all would progress. of life, then man becomes the greatest study of all. .A study· or self is going to unlock every mystery and bring into use all latent power. . . The inner word is in every life ; when we 'Elementary Lessons on Karma ' (No. 13 of the Adyar seek for iL the revelation of it comes to mind. Through ·such pamphlets), by Mrs. Annie Besant, reaches us from the revelation man's outer life, mental and physical, becomes ·, 'Theosophist' Office, Adyar, Madras (price 2d.). It puts perfected. into clear and concise form the ·doctrine of which it treats, We liked especially the chapter on ' Women ·and Free­ and contains some thoughts that should be helpful to those dom,' which deals in an enlightening and helpful way witb, who tt.re perple~ecl br t4e old problem of Fre{) Will, Mrs, one of the principal problems of the day-. 266 LIGHT. [June B, 1912.

A common (and cheap) method of explaining certain SPIRITUALISM AS SOCIAL SAVIOUR : types of mediumship amongst those who have never troubled A. J. DAVIS, THE REFORMER. to make a study of the subject is to describe it as hysteria. BY E. WAKE CooK. But as Mrs. Mary Everest Boole pointed out in an article entitled ' The Redemption of Hysteria,' hysteria is not a (Continued from :page 260.) disease, but the exhibition in abnormal conditions of a faculty which has been debarred from its natural exercise :- III. The study and treatment of hysteria l1ave been hampered by In the two former articles it was shown that we might have a foregone conclusion that the peculiar hysterical tendency to a escaped possible shipwreck in a sea of troubles had we but taken dual life is a disease which ought to be cured by restoring the the inspired ad vice of the founder of Modern Spiritual ism. We patient to the stable condition of the positive magnetic type ; the have seen how he would have organised the agriculturalists, the tmth being that the tendency to lead a dual life is a power or faculty which we should endeavour to redeem by directing it mechanics, and the manufacturers, and have seen that wherever towards its true function. his principles have been applied, their 'soundness has been trium­ phantly demonstrated, and that had theybeengenerallyadopted, - The hysteriac, according to Mrs. Boole, is one who has they would have saved the world from prolonged and perilous been accidentally over-magnetised on one side of the nature industr.ial warfare. In dealing with the professions, Davis takes without receiving due counter magnetism on the other, and aeroplanic flights into the untried, into theoretical realms of social reconstruction.. Before dealing with that part · of the she pointed out that steady training in the work of the subject, it would be well to glance at his attitude on the woman's interpreter constituted 'the redemption of hysteria' into question. He was always a sturdy champion of women's rights, seership :- but whether he went far enough to save his windows the militant Given the mediumistic temperament, there is as much scope Suffragettes must decide. In hid later writings he has much to for careful training in &<:curacy of interpretation as there is in say on every phase of the woman's question, especially on that making a vocalist into a faithful interpreter between composers and audiences ; and the master cannot train except by insisting, of marriage; but in 'Nature's Divine Revelations,' beyond at first, on the faithful execution of comparatively easy tasks. assigning her a very high place in educational matters, he has In 'Schools of the Prophets' the future interpreter between God only the following paragraph (written in 1846) :- and man was trained by acting as messenger or interpreter There is at first uo means to ameliorate the condition between his human teacher and the stupid, worldly world. · and labour of females. At present each female parent has The article from which we have taken the above as much labour to accomplish in her household as three suggestive passages was published some years ago, but as can with propriety do. The reason is clear ; every woman having a family is obliged to struggle through isolated labour mediumship and its problems are the subject of much unassisted, and with domestic embarrassments which are fre­ discussion just now (in relation to spirit messages especially) quent and increasing. And the labour of .every family is as we make no apology for referring to it. In this connection much as the labour of three would be if they were situated we are struck by the fact that Dr. Ash, the wellknown nearer to each other, so that one large and well-constructed machine, by the assistmice of a few females, would do all the authority on nervous diseases, in considering the case of washing of a large number of families. And baking, sewing, - Dorothy Kerin, the Herne Hill girl who was cured of con­ embroidery, horticulture, and all labour suitable to each . sumption by a 'miracle,' does not accept the idea of qualified woman, may be performed with more ease, less em­ barrassment, and with delight. These are among the pro· 'hysteria' as accounting for the cure. gressive steps not as yet well to urge, inasmuch as they will be· the spontaneous effects of the primary movements recommended . In his June 'Notes of the Month' the Editor of 'The for the farmer and the mechanic. Occult Review ' sugge!lts that the Society for Psychical In Vol. II. of 'The Great Harmonia,' which followed· .the Research has been turning out bricks at a rapid rate for a ' Revelations,' and which was written in the 'Superior Cl)ndi­ number of years, but, so far, it does not seem 'to ha\re tion ' of illumination, not in hypnotic trance, he has chapters occurred to its members to utilise those bricks in the con" on ' The Mission of Woman,' and on ' The True Marriage,' in· struction of any psychic edifice.' It appears to him ' that which be discourses eloquently of women's rights and wrongs. the output of bricks from this psychic brick-kiln has He anticiplltes nearly all the reasonable arguments used by recently been greatly in excess of the demand. Clearly later reformers ; the defects charged against woman he shows to what we require ilow are builders and architects, and if be largely due to the blindness and selfishness of men ; to her the S.P.R. do not consider it their function to provide lack of the right education, and to cramping, not to say- de­ them they will have to be looked for in other directions.' moralising· conditions and surroundings. He assigns to women three out of the five vital spheres of influence and action. He There is some truth in this, but at the same time the work says:- of the brick-maker, the man who gets hold of the solid The extent or female influence is as little understood by the facts, is likely to be of as much more permanent value than sex themselves as it is by the worln of minds in general. For, that of the theory-spinner as is the brick than the spider's upon (clairYoyant) investigation I learn, with as much pleasure web. The bricks will fit into place by and by, and the as astonishment, that woman exerts three-fifths of that influ­ psychic edifice will be erected on a foundation well and ence which moves the human world. The internal and spiritual circles are spheres in which she particularly perfQrms truly laid, whereas many speculative theories and 'ex­ her mission. The first circle is the childhood sphere. The planations' will disappear like cobwebs. second circle is the family sphere. The third is the social sphere. And on these fundamental spheres the fe1nale element should be completely incorporated, and allowed its legitimate action. LONDON SPIRITUALIST ALLIANCE, LTD. . . Women will inevitably develop the world ; but by way of compensation to her, and for its own interests, the world should MRS. MARY SEATON'S LECTURES. supply her with good matrimonial relations, with pleasant home Special Afternoon Lectures by Mrs. Mal'y Seaton will be ad\'antages, with ennobling social institutions, all so complete and delivered at 110, St. Martin's-lane. Admission ls. harmonious within themselves as to make it easy and natural SYLLABUS. for her to furnish society with ·noble minds. . . All the June 10th-' The Science of Prayer.' heroes, poets, artists, philosophers, and theologians that ever June 13th-' Heredity: Human and Spiritual.' moved upon the earth were P.Ut in possession of their various maxims and attributes, mainly, by woman. She exerts a positive SPIRIT HEALING.-Daily, except Saturdays, Mr. Percy R. influence upon the character of the individual until the national. Stl'eet, the healing medium, will attend between 11 a.m. and sphere is reached, when, compared witlF,the influence of the male, .2 p.m., at 110, St. Martin's-lane, W.O., for diagnosis by a !lPirit the female power is negative; and ru!iw the wisdom principle control, magnetic healing, and delineations from the personal pervades the individual for the purpose of modifying, ~armonis­ aura. For full particulars see the lid vertisement supplement. ing, and further developing the mind. W oman'13 mission extends June 81 1912.] LIGHT. 267

"to the threshold of National Government ; for that government The best evidence that two individuals are not naturally will be a representative of her situation and influence. She is and eternally married, is that, by dwelling together, they man's complement, his ' eternal companion-the Spirit of God in generate discord, discontent, disrespect, and unhappiness; and the majestic form'; upon her constitution,· education, situation the best evidence that two are internally, and eternally married, .depend the harmony of the individual, the harmony of the is that, by dwelling together, they generate harmony, respect, family, the harniony of society-and, consequently, the harmony admiration, and contentment. The laws of Nature, or God's of nations universally; the destiny of the race is in her hands, laws, are superior to human enactments and jurisprudential and the sympathy, the virtue, the refinement, and the elevation proceedings ; yet, until mankind are more refined and .ac­ is dependent upon her heart, her mind, her philosophy, her quainted with the laws of mind and matter, we must submit actions. But that she may !lccomplish her mission, woman must to human legislation, and ·human laws must be permitted and .claim her rights, and demand of man the following: 1. A just obeyed ; hut herein is a great and, at present, necessary evil representation of her interests. 2. A good matrimonial relation. which all should strive to understand and overcome; that 3. A. oomplete education. 4. A harmonious local and social human laws may be made no other than Divine; and then, situation. 5. Counsel, not commands ; admiration, not flattery. notwithstanding the misapprehensions and local transgressions 6. Honour, not patronage ; pure wisdom, not its semblance or of them which might sometimes occur, there would not exist counterfeit. one-tenth of the discord, licentiousness, and unhappiness that now mar the face of humanity. Inspired by his subject the poet in the philosopher con· stantly peeps out, as in the following :- From the above broken lights on these subjects it will There are emanations of warmth and purity from woman's be seen that Davis follows his usual plan and founds everything soul which penetrate, more or less, every heart in being ; and on underlying principles of Nature. He sees the unity under where these emanations are felt, and this penetration experi· all the multitudinous surface varieties in evecy · department enced, there dwells something of that sublime influence which of life ; and this convinces of the genuineness of bis inspiration. angels impart to one another in higher spheres. The beautiful Nature never jumps from principle to principle, and she never accomplishments of the female mind act correspondingly upon the opposite sex ; the natural and innate tendency of the female discards, or supersedes, an idea until she bas developed its spirit to cultivate the arts, to beautify the person, to augment utmost possibilities from lowest to highest in ascending. series. the power of fascination; to a waken music, to dance, and to adorn The principle of the union of complementary particles, the the power of motion by melting her grace into poetry-all this mating of positive and negative atoms, ranges up through all acts colTesponding]y upon the masculine spirit, and thus society stages of development until it sublimates in the union of two is, or might be, rendered one vast ·circle of flowers and orna· men ts. human bodies, two souls, and two spirits in true marriage. Uncongenial particles forced into union, or juxtaposition, need i fancy the mere man would gladly forego flattery if he but the spark, the exciting cause, to fly apart with explosive might say such pretty things to his adored one I and devastating force ; so uncongenial men and women legally Davis dwells long and lovingly 011 the philosophy of mated represent disruptive forces which may devastate their . marriage, which he would reduce to a science with a view to qwn lives, and those of their offspring, and bring a curee on produce Harmonial Man, or the ' Superman,' to use Nietzsche's succeeding generations. On the other hand, when there is a term; but it is a science sublimed into something higher. He true marriage of congenial, of complementary souls,' then we deals with it from the standpoints of physiology, pathology, have life in its highest and fullest range. When the ·first phrenology, psychology, and the spiritual affinities ; and readers fierce ardour cools, a .strengthening, an ennobling comradeship who would follow him must be referred to the volumes of 'The succeeds; and when towards the .sunset of life the shadows ·Great Harmonia.' Only a few hints and clues can be given here. lengthen there comes that afterglow of love which gives a · He says, in Vol. II. :- second honeymoon of honeymoons ; perhaps the most beautiful .The principlEl'il of matrimonial association are universal and of all human relationships ; the preparation for, and the eternal. The law of association or affinities develops the true prophecy of, that seraphic love, I.hat beatitude, which is the relation which subsists between one atom or individual and another, and tbti corresponding association of particles or spirits crown in store for us all. thus d.rawn together is an outward expression of true marriage. In this view of the true relation of the sexe8 in which we are honoured in honouring, strengthened in strengthening, He finds the law of the conjugal union in the structure of and blest in blessing, and in which each finds the folness of the Divine Mind and its relations to the universe. Love is the power and blessedness, how saddening are all forms of sex war, female principle, wisdom the male ; these in their divine rela· which point. to piteous sorrows paat, present, and to come. tion and unity generate the whole universe of matter and mind. Throughout the whole of Nature is found the principle of male (To be continued.) and female, of positive and negative, and they furnish examples . and confirmations of the beauties of true marriage :- As is the Divine Mind, so are the ultimate productions of THE UNION OF LONDON SPIRITUALISTS will hold their Nature, bis children. . Every individual is born married; Annual Conference with the Tottenham Society at 'The Cheat· every male and female, every love and wisdom, has a true and nuts,' 683, High-road, Tottenham, N., on June 9th. At 3 p.m. eternal companion ; this marriage is solemnised by Supreme a paper by E . .Alcock Rush, ' Profession or Possession, Which 7' sanction, and is sanctified by angelic harmony. It depends not Discussion invited. (Al fresco, weather permitting.) Tea, 6d. on personal beauty or education, neither upon wealth, position, each. Public. meeting at 7 p.m. Spealcerd: Messrs. G. Tayler situation, time, age, or circumstance ; it is the spontaneous and Gwinn and E. Alcock Rush. Soloists, Mr. and Mrs. Alcock inseparable conjunction of affinity with affinity, principle with Rush. Friends and enemies heartily welcomed. principle, and spirit with spirit. That spirit which is WITH St. Paul, Mt'. J. Brouterre Tetlow would not have us still seeking and praying. for congenial companionship should 'ignorant of spiritual gifts.' In his excellent little treatise, just rest perfectly assured that it has somewhere a mate, somewhere published, 'Lessons on Mediumship' (paper cover, 6d.), he an eternal associate. Life will not always be incomplete. Let points out that, iii order to avoid nervous derangement and the seeker reme_mber this ; and, being already in principle psychical dislocation, it is essential to successful results that the joined to some true and faithful one, let the heart be glad, and person who desires to evolve his psychic powers should have let it realise, hy means of anticipation, the final meeting which, instruction as to the right course to pursue. Whe.re possible, a if circumstances and earnest desire do not consummate it on public instrnction class should be a starting point, whence the earth, will be inevitably developed, perfected, and confirmed in student may pass, for more interior culture, to a general culture the higher country. And those who are unfortunately situated class to discover his particular capacities. When he has arrived in their worldly-legalised marriage relations, they should, also, at this discovery, he should have a circle of four or five persons rest in the sublime and unfailing assurance of eternal principles, who are willing to give up any personal desires of their own to that a due separatioa)s in the future, and that a due meeting the one object of developing his capacities, and he should attend will be the issue of an introduction into the spirit home. no other circle till he is ' capable of taking full care of himself in As the subject of divorce is now much in evidence; as it is regard to operating influences.' Much other wise counsel is given for the benefit of the budding medium, and Mr. Tetlow of increasing frequency, and a Royal Commission is about to closes w'ith a number of brief but ·valua'1le hints on speaking, and report on its findings, the young seer's statement of the funda­ on the exercise of the psychontetric and clairvoyant faculties. mental principles underlying the ·subject are of interest. He The book can be had of the author (post free 6fd.) at his addre8.9, says:- 7, Ruskin-avenue, Moss Side, Manchester. 268 LIGHT. [June 8, 1912.

FREE~WILL AND FATE. over himself and make~ him capable or rising above bis circum. stances to the ethereal heights of genius. It is the ' I will' of An attempt to discuss a subject of this nature is always Nietzsche and not the ' Thou shalt.' Freedom of will makes at.tended with many difficulties. For, at the outset, free-will the man, whilst dependent on his circumstances, yet independent and fate are both of them of the mind, and our knowledge of of them. This mastery of man over himself is the foundation­ this entity is scanty enough. The human mind is the great stone of Christianity which makes the individual responsible. mystery of life, and all that can be said of iti its nature and It places within hand the joys of heaven and the torments of working, can only be speculative. It is, then1 an unwarranted hell-though God is omniscient and hence the individual's step to say categorically that man has a £ree-will, or to assert future is a foregone conclusion. positively that his will is bound and subject to unknown laws. These are, briefly indeed, the arguments of fate and free­ Ollr knowledge allows of neither one nor the other. Free-will will. The one makes man dependent, the· other independent. is as feasible in its argument as fate, and vice-versa; both are The one denies him freedom in choice, the other gives it to him. tentative efforts to orient truth, which we all seek. The extreme The one is the foundation stone of astrology, i.e., of Orientalism, fatalist, therefore, is as much justified as the indefatigable ex­ the other of Christianity and its heaven and hell. 4ud fuially, ponent of freedom of mind. Let us now look at the claims of the one liolds that the great of mind, the poet, the artist, Q,re both these extreme forms of thought. First, the argument of born, the other that they can be made-if one chooses. fatalism. As we mentioned at the outset, it is not within our province The central doctrine of fatalism is that the mind is not free to decide in favour of either one or the other ; still, we cannot in its choice. Its tendency and direction are governed by a help noticing how weighty is the argument of fate. But in the thousand circumstances all combining to confine it within a long run our acceptance of fate or free-will depends on our c.ertain radius.. This limits it to a certain future which is minds, their nature and mould, and to a lesser degree on our wholly unalienable, just as the little seed when sown in the respective temperaments-fatalism, for instance, being con· ground has but one end, one direction, namely, to bloom to a sistent with the Oriental temperament and free·will with the flower.. The nature of. the seed determines the nature of the Western temperament. Both are justified in their beliefs, for fl9wer, environment being tributary. In the same way the both seek the one, the great problem of life-Truth. hwnan mind has its nature determined by hereditary circum~ s. s. A. COYNE. stanc~1 . i~ unfolding only developing these with the aid of envirm;unent.. This is .quite feaeible even though it does militate ag~nst <:mr !Mlnse .of freedom of mind. We all know the in· SPIRITUALISM1 ITS HIGHWAYS AND BYEWAYS. fluence heredity has on our Uves . . . .Her~ on~ ~O: has inherited a disease which mars his who1e .An Address delivered by Mr. Percy R. Street at the Con­ life.-~nd the~e another man inherits a certain kind of disposition vention held by the London Union of Spiritualists Thursday whi~h thro~s his. .thought into one channel. Instances like on morning, May 16th, at the South Place Institute, Finsbury, E.O. thes~ are familiar to all, and point to the lack of freedom of mind. A host of sciences, too, are extant to vindicate the belief. Ph~·enology points to the dependence of mind on the shape of In opening his address Mr. Street pointed out that every the skull, which is the case of the brain. The development of Spiritualist was a visible representative of the cause, and played th~· ~ere~um, there is no doubt, shows the sort of mind with a part in moulding its destiny, for without him the unseen which .a 'man is endowed, and the tendency that it is taking. workers could do comparatively little. It beho\•ed him, there­ If. thel·e be any jt,stification for phrenology as a science, a fore, to take counsel at times with his fellows, and it waa for m.9.n's' f~iture Ii.es in the shape of his skull. To many people that purpose that that morning's meeting was held. Proceeding, p')irenoiogy is charlatamism pure and simple. The reason for this Mr. Street avowed his optimistic belief that the day would come c~i·ent' opinion is that in its embryonic stage the science fell when men would no more doubt the reality of Spiritualism than lint~ the :hands l>f tlb.e unqna.lified and was soon degraded. It they . doubted the existence of the sun. Spiritualists, he said, m~turally then .tiell tIJJto disrepute. The hump theory is ~ IR! desired to convince humanity of the realHy of the intercourse Cj),bsolescent ; but modem phrenology is concerned not so much with spirit people which, as the result of experiences, due to with too bum.pa as with the shape of the skull. In this it leads experiment and research, demonstrated human survival after to more. accurate and laeneficial results. It is now a justified bodily death. He said :- science in the eyes of medical. men. ~qst Considering the testimony of the ages, which eloquently The co~1m0n saying, too, that man is the creature of circum­ estl!-blishes the fact of man's yearnings after immortality, it was stances points to fate. We are; it is said, what our conditions not unreasonable to expect that he would gladly welcome evi­ make us. Environment, no doubt, affects the mind, or, at least, dence securillg to him for all time the sure and certain know­ the mind moulds itself to the environment. That is adaptability. ledge of his progressive destiny ; but, alas! the history of It is not a question of whether I shall choose this or that, it is Spiritualism shows that men are anything but willing to learn the truth. Repudiation of our claims, ungenerous criticism, bias a question of my mind li>emg moulded by external circumstances. and prejudice, heavily tinged with hostility, have been the land­ Consciously or unconsciously, a. man seeks the conditions most marks of our way. In spite of all this, Spiritualism has risen adapted to the nature of his mind. The desire of the mind is in a remarkably short space of time from obscurity, through for its own realisation, to' find its own peculiar expression. That unenviable notoriety, to a position which, if not of popular is fate. prominence, at least commands a degree of re~pect, · Free-will, the antithesis of fate, makes man his own master. We are not satisfied, however, nor have we any intention of resting upon the laurels we have won. We want to see our Holding the power to choose, he is the arbiter of his actions ; it truths and"their influence permeate the whole fabric of life, holds that he is a responsible being gifted with intelligence and finding a place in every sphere of human activity and tempering accountable for his every thought-a free soul possessing a free the judgment of those who, by their counsels, guide the races of will. · In the first place, it has never been shown that the soul men towards their destiny. is free, and all our knowledge of it goes to prove that it is not. The highways of Spiritualism are the roads of progress, The soul is an entity different in its nature from the body. bringing us nearer and nearer to the consummation of oiir desires and aims. Its byeways are those side tracks and issues While it inhabits the body, therefore, and is subject to it, it which spell disorder and stagnation. First of all we will take cannot be said to be free. The doctrine of free-will finds steady the cause universal. In order that humanity may know of us defenders in many great thinkers, especially in those of Christian and understand our claims it is essential that we secure a footing ideals and in men like Nietzsche and Bergson. The 'elan de on the two great parallel highways of publicity and presenta­ vie' of Bergson is a Life-Force, the Soul, the Ego, self-creative tion. To be known we must have publicity. How is this to be and indeterminable. It gives the individual individuality and acquired, save by presentation i Society work, it is true, is attended by many difficulties ; is beyond the individual. We cannot predict it, for it is ever yet I firmly believe these may be largely overcome by adequate self-creative and eludes our prognostications. This freedom publicity and presentation. Still it is a melancholy fact that gives the individual infinite possibilities, gives the man mastery some societies, which are constantly deploring their lack of funds June s, · 1912.] LIGHT. 269

and paucity of attendance, have entirely failed to grasp the day, public or private, who has not received auch treatment from importance of advertising. The halls in which they meet are the hands of those who should be their staunchest protectors. quite innocent of any announcement outside likely to arrest the Yet mediums are essential to our welfare. As Mr. W. H. Evans attention of passers-by ; the local press is unfurnished with any truly said recently :- . guiding line for the use of seekers ; and, stranger still, the Spirit- ' The power and strength of Spiritualism lie in its mediums. ualist press is no better served. But, after all, the finest advertise­ They are men and women whose psychic nature is keenly ment our cause can have lies in the dignity and high quality of active, and who, it may be said, at times live in two worlds the presentation of its claims. If we want to attract people to us at once. The faculties of clairvoyance, clairaudience, trance­ we must provide something that will prove an irresistible magnet. speaking, inspiration, speaking in tongues, prophesying, and If the presentation of our truths lacks that distinction which is numerous others, have been instmmental in restoring to their dt1e, then all the newspaper puffs in the world will not humanity a faith that had almost died, a faith in. the goodness· avail, save to add fuel to the fires of criticism. As Spiritualism and love of God.' attracts attention through its evidence, the phenomena, therefore, constitute the great highway along which we must travel towards Let us see to it, then, that our conduct towards them is such human. emancipation from the thraldom of error and mis­ as to encourage and aid them to this end. The work of the ccnception. Experiences of phenomena convert interest into medium is not to tickle our ears and pander to our vanity, but conviction, the interested into adherents. The cry is constantly to be a beacon, pointing out the road of the higher life. being raised that our presentation of evidence is crude and It is complained that Spiritualism is crude and offers little unsatisfactory. Whilst this may be partially true, it is not to the man of intellect or spiritual aspiration. If there be any wholly deserved. We cannot command phenomenal happen­ cause for a complaint of this nature, where lies the fault 1 Not ings ; they are in a large measure spontaneous, being with our philosophy ! If the world at large has limited governed apparently by a certain environment which, although Spiritualism to table rappings and tiltings, and the trances of we may recognise it when it is present, we know not mediums, the fault is ours. 1f there is no appeal to the how· to produce. Our failures, if they can reasonably be called intellectual and spiritual nature of man, the fault is ours. The such, are honourable, and in no wise reflect upon our credit ; only possible explanation is a confession that we have undul1 nor are our successes praiseworthy. Praise or blame have no subordinated our glorious philosophy to the demonstration of part in us, for in doing our best to fulfil our mission we are phenomena. I maintain that our philosophy, supported by not humanly capable of doing any more. Unfortunately, some indubitable manifestations, affords food for thought suited alike among us are not content with this, and I have heard the remark to the mental palate of the humblest of earth's children and to from responsible officials, ' When the public come, they expect that of the most erudite philosopher. It is a synthetical system, something, and must have it.' I am convinced that such an the application and expression of which lead' to the highest attitude is largely responsible for the fiascos which occasionally spiritual understanding and unfoldment. Spiritualism has Dend our very souls-if not, indeed, for. the discovered fraud. accomplished a great deal, and it is for us to mirror in our lives The attempt, by such a remark, to excuse exhibitions of this nature the superlative value of our teachings. Shall we take the byeway which rightly earn the title of fortune-telling, or fraud, or of mediocrity and earn for our cause the stigma that it is 'merely worse, is the weakest and silliest argument extant. It is insult­ a revival of savage myths,' or shall we tread the glorious high· ing to the intelligence of the inquirer, repugnant to the true Spirit­ Wl}Y opened to us through the proper realisation and expression ualist, and puts a dangerous weapon into the hand of the enemy. of· our philosophy b11sed . upon our facts, and thus compel If there exists an idea in the mind of the public that they have humanity to recognise the evidence of the reality of our merely to enter our doors to be overwhelmed with evidence, immortality 1 or witness strange and wonderful sights, it is in all probability Let us cultivate the higher Spiritualism-the real Spirit· due to the fact that in our eagerness to a1Test attention we have ualism-which came to us when, tired of soulless theories, made it appear so. As a matter of fact, the door of the the world was slowly drifting into an indifferentism fatal to life spiritual is not so wide open, or if it is, we are too dull to perceive itself ; the real Spiritualism which unveiled for us the larger it. Anyway, the communion we enjoy is not of such a world, revealed the glorious to-morrow, and gave into our keep· character that open manifestation is always possible. We have ing the message of our own divinity! The revelations of Spirit• become convinced of Spiritualism after long and painstaking ualism have enabled us to gain self-knowledge,· to understand research; and we must be careful, therefore, not to mislead the purpose of life and our place in the universe. When we others by suggesting that proof is obtainable off-hand. Probably have gathered our proofs, let us turn our attention to the deve• some do have such experiences, but I believe such cases to be lopment of our hidden attributes. The great purpose of exist• extremely rare. ence seems to be the cultivation of our own spiritual In presenting our evidence, care must be taken to leave no natures, so that, becoming consciously linked with . the loophole for criticism ; let us have· too little, rather than too cosmic life, we may evolve love, wisdom and justice. Keeping much. One ·apparently minor detail of genuine fact will out­ open the channel of communion, that those who seek may find, weigh a bushel of high·sounding platitudes. Whatever the let us at the same time forge ahead to realise life's fulness. The evidence may be, let it keep on the right track. In clairvoyance world will then look upon Spiritualism as something worth it is far better to fail in obtaining recognition than to attempt to having; its hostility will cease and its criticisms lose their hide with unnecessary verbiage a flaw in the chain, or degcend meaning. The destiny of Spiritualism is in our own hands to to the level of a Gipsy Lee-' cross my palm with silver, pretty mould as we will-to dishonour it by pandering to the lower gentleman '-style of thing. This may fill a'hall with a crowd of instincts of the sensation-monger or the self-seeker, or to ennoble wonder-mongers, but it will never elevate our cause, and if we can it by exemplifying in our lives its highest ideals. Experie~ces, only keep our financial balance on the right side by such doubtful knowledge of evidence, the possession of psychic powers will methods, it were far better to put up the shutters and go bank­ not make us Spiritualists. Living our philosophy can a.lone do rupt. Spiritualism, we have seen, depends in the first place for its that. Let our meetings be conducted with harmony and our life upon evidence, and for evidence we depend on mediums. Now truths presented with dignity and reverence ; let us do all things I do not propose to dissect mediums or enlarge upon their iniqui­ decently and in order. Societies are not formed to provide an ties. Volumes have been penned concerning these unfortunate exercise ground for individual idiosyncrasies or an opportunity folk. :But· I submit that in our dealings with them we forget one for personal aggrandisement ; their office is to secure for humanity great fact ; they are human like other humans. This does not, the open door to a path that leads to God. Spiritualism of course, excuse their strayings from the path of virtue ; it is called a religion. . A philosopher once said, ' Religion is merely explains them. The medium is the greatest a9Set we nothing if it is not everything-if the whole life be not filled. pcil!!BeBs, for without the channel he provides there can be no with it ' ; and it iS as well, .when we speak of our religion, to evidential Spiritualism ; and lacking this, I am afraid our philo­ remember this, and to examine our own lives to see if they will sophy would fail in its usefulness. From much of the talk one pass the test. hears even among Spiritualists, one would imagine the only bad Finally, let me say that we shall never find our greatest folk .in the world were labelled mediums ; indeed, the name is satisfaction in indulging in ribald criticism of the beliefs s11fficient condemnation in the opinion of some people. Such which others hold sacred, no matter how little those beliefs treatment is not deserved. The majority of our mediums are as appeal to us; nor in destroying, wholesale, everything tbat does honest as the majority of people in other walks of life. We must not meet with our approval, without offering anything in its never forget that mediumship has throughout the ages, at the place. It is not by the attachment of incongruous labels and tags· cost of suffering, given to man the answer to his soul's to make ourselves appear more respectable that we shall win our deepest questionings, and to-day, no less than in the past, this way, but by a calm survey of life's problems and a clear exposi­ sacred office-for I regard it as such-is fulfilling its destiny. tion of the manner in which the application of evidential and Mediums are a charge upon us from spirit life. It is for us to philosophical Spiritualism provides for their solution. Thus we protect them ~ we would our most precious belongings ; but shall fulfil our mission, humanity will find a panacea for its more often than not we pay them a scanty remuneration, and woes, and we shall see before us the open portals of that realm abuse them for wanting any, or else drive a willing horse to in which we shall one day realise more fully than we do now death with little compunction. There is hardly a medium to- the infinite possibilities of our spiritual natures. LIGHT. [June 8, 1912.

OFFICE OF ··LIGtri';· 'ifo, ST. MARTIN'S LANE, evidence of the truth only partly stated, for' they are well LONDON, W.O. aware that the great majority of those who have placed SATURDAY, JUNE 8TH, 1912. themselves, or have been placed, beyond all risk of want are equally touched with the distemper of the age and Jig ht: seek relief in feverish gaiety or by surrendering themselves A Journal of Psychical, Occult, and Mystical Research. voluntarily to the treadmill of daily work. It has, indeed, PBxcm TwoPll:NCll: WmmKLY. become a commonplace that many a wealthy man, with all COMMUNICATIONS intended to be printed should be addressed to the means of leisure and enjoyment at his disposal, labours the Editor, Office of •LIGHT,' 110, St. Martin's Lane, London, W.C. Business communications should in all cases be addressed to Mr. harder than the meanest of his dependants. This class F. W. South, Office of 'LIGHT,' to whom Cheques and Postal cannot ' strike ' in the common acceptation of the word, Orders should be made payable. but in its privacy-as we have reason to know-it is often Subscription Rate~.-· LIGHT' may be had free by post on the following terms :-Twelve months, !Os. lOd ; six months, 5s. 5d. Payments rebellious and perplexed. It does not fear poverty, it has to be made in advance. To United States, 2dol. 70c: To France, no complaint of bad housing conditions, but it is woefully Italy, &c., 13 francs 86 centimes. To Germany, 11 marks 25 pf~. Wholesale Agents : Messrs. Simpkin, Marshall, Hamilton, Kent and afraid of death, and finds in the distractions of pleasure Co., Ltd., 31, Paternoster-row, London, E.C., and 'LIGHT' can be or business not enjoyment but merely a refuge from ordered through all Newsagents and Booksellers. thought. Let us go at once to the root of the matter. What we THE GREAT AWAKENING. are witnessing to-day is not a symptom of decadence, not an evidence of any cataclysm that will plunge us back into To the fearful soul, deficient in hope and confidence, barbarism, but a revolt of the spirit. In truth it is a the world seems always on the verge of disaster ; there is always a crisis of some sort impending, the results of noble rebellion, if rebellion it can be called, for it is really a re-emergence. It is a sign of hope, an assurance of which appear to threaten final catastrophe. There are great industrial revolts going on which, from the point ultimate triumph. It is a proof that the spiritual life of of view of the timorous observer, can only mean the humanity, smothered under dead forms of faith, clouded and clogged by false methods of life and thought, is vital, dissolution of society ; a great war cloud hangs over Ile, active and insurgent. It is not to be suppressed. It is no and when it breaks civilisation will infallibly go down. A wraith to be exorcised by rites-bell, book and candle are canker of selfishness and artificiality is eating into the powerless against it. It is the living soul of humanity that heart of the community-the old healthy ideals have been is rising to demand its dues. Well may those who have so forsaken, and the prospect is gloomy beyond precedent. But why prolong the list of jeremiads 1 They are all very long denied the Spirit, quake as it rises. To these it assumes a strange and awful form not to be appeased by familiar to those who follow the thought of the time p.s the shallow sophistries of politics or conciliated by physical reflected in its literature. Even the most robust thinker rewards. has to brace himself at times in order to resist the infection It menaces the peace of the worldling, for it threatens an end to the baser ideals of material comfort of gloom, and to retain his conviction that before the 'hastening ills' depicted by the scribes of the superficial, and security. To him it comes like the ghost of Banquo at the feast, and he feels the ' strange infirmity ' of fear, of civilisation will not be finally engulfed. which Macbeth complained. Mysterious indeed is such an Certain sturdy old optimists of the matter-of-fact order apparition in a world that has so long outgrown the fear of apply their antidotes to the pessimism of the day. 'There ghosts, having convinced itself that the soul is an 'o)d have always been crises,' they say; 'the country has wife's fable ' and the afterworld the baseless fabric of a always been going to the dogs, and the world for ever vision. coming to an end without quite doing it l' They are The times have been amply justified in their genial mockery of the spirit of the That when the braiDB were out the man would die, age. The experience of the past supports them in their And there .an end ; but now they i·ise again, argument. But there is no mistaking the fact that some Yes, they rise again, the souls of murdered men or new elements have entered into the problem as it presents stifled truths. Both have their Nemesis, but the vengeance itself to-day, and ' modern melancholy,' as a brilliant of Truth is the more deadly, for 'when murdered Truth essayist describes it, is marked by certain features which returns she comes to slay.' distinguish it in a high degree from the pessimism of the There is something of retributive justice, then, in the past. The pressure of life has increased to a point which stress and terror of the world to-day. But the suffering is it never reached before, and the discontent is not only disciplinary and remedial, and there are great reward::1. more widespread, but has penetrated more deeply into the To us these stirrings of the Soul are full of solace and social consciousness. Even the young show the contagion, encouragement. To us her face is benign and majestic; and youthful cynicism is a new and not altogether before the brightness of her rising the glO'om is dispelled. humorous feature of the prevailing dissatisfaction. In the The shadows fly from her path, and she comes as the past these periods of depression or of revolt were the out­ warrant of our faith and the vindication of all for which come of local and physical causes-famine, tyranny, we have suffered and striven~ religious persecution. The sufferers could always explain There are those who say, somewhat glibly, that we li~e in a few pointed and pungent words the nature of their in times of transition. It is true, but they little realise, affliction. To-day the complaints are significantly vague, perhaps, how great a transition it is. For now the deeper nobody can explain exactly what is the matter. When things of life are coming to the surface. The scattered forces the manual worker says that all he wants is better are being concentrated, and a fresh advance made towards wages, the acute observer is as well aware as the worker unity. But this time it is no transition from one stage of himself that the case is not fully stated-the cause material or intellectual advancement to another-it is a of the discontent lies deeper. Thousands of those who transition to spiritual consciousness. It means doubt and in higher grades of society depend for their liveli­ disquiet for many, but for those who realise its true mean­ hood on their own exertions are convinced that their ing it is full of hope and encouragement. They have own particular panacea is a competence that will render learned that life is for ever shaping something new and them :financially independent. Here, again, there is glorious, and that the Spirit ' doeth all things well.' June s, 1919.] . LIGHT.

TWO SEANCES WITH MRS; WRI-EDT. ' Yes, I am Stead....:.. William . T. Stead ! And, my dear friend Miyatovich, I am so pleased you came here. · I myself came MR. w. T; STEAP MATERIALISES. here expressly to give you a fresh proof that there is life after death, and that Spiritisrn is true. I tried to persuade you of BY M. CHEDO MIYATOVICH. that while here, bnt you always hesitated to accept that truth.' After some hesitation, from personal reasons, I have arrived There I interrupted him by saying : 'But you know I at the conclusion that it is my duty to the undying, memory of always believed what you said to me ! my dear friend, Wiiliam T. Stead, and my duty to a great cause, ' Yes;' he continued, ' you believed because I was telling you to address this letter to you for publication in 'LIGHT.' something about it, but now I come here to bring you a proof of By profession I am a diplomatist., having had the honour what I was telling you, that you should not only believe, but to represent my country (Servia) at the Court of the King of know [pronouncing that word with great emphasis] that there is Rmimania, at the Sublime Porte of the Sultan of Turkey, and really a life after death,. a:nd that Spiritism is true I Now, tl1ree times at the Court of Queen Victoria and once at thP. Court good-bye, my friend I Yes, here is Adela Mayell, who wishes to of King Edward VII., besides having been entrusted by my speak to you ! ' Government with several important diplomatic missions and Stead never knew Miss Ada Mayell in this life, nor had representations at international conferences. I am a member of he ever heard her. name before. She then spoke to me in several learned. societies on the Continent, and a honorary her affectionate and generous manner, trying to reassure me on member of the Royal Historical Society in London. I mention certain questions which have sadly preoccupied my mind since these personal facts to claim from your readers the credit that I her death, and telling me that she is happy now. There is no am a man accw.tomed to weigh the facts and my own words in need to report here all she said to me. Mrs. Wriedt and Mr. full consciousness of my responsibility. I ought to add that for Hinkovitch heard every word she said. many years I ha\Te been interested in the scientific study of ··Then to my own. and my Croatian friend's astonishment, a occult phenomena, but was not yet a convinced Spiritist. loud voice began to talk to him in the Croatian language. . It was Having heard.that at Mr. W. T. Stead's house at Wimbledon an old friend, a physician by profession, who died suddenly from the remarkable American medium, Mrs. Wriedt, with whom Yice­ heart disease. My friend Hinkovitch could not identify who Adfiliral Moore experimented, was staying, I asked that lady for that might have been, but they continued for some time the con­ permission to pay her my respects, and eventually to have a versation in their native tongue, of which, naturally, I heard and seance with her. She gave me au appointment for Thursday, understood every word. Mrs. Wriedt for the first time in her May 16th, at 10.30 in the morning. I went there, accom­ life heard how the Croatian language sounds. l>anied by my friend, Mr. H. Hinkovitch, doctor of law and a . Mr. Hinkovitch accidentally overturned the speaking tube, distinguished barrister at Agram (Croatia), who had just arrived and although he tried to replace it in the original position, and in London. thought he had succeeded in doing so, the talking manifestations Mrs. Wriedt took us to Julia's Bureau, and told us that she were not continued. When the light was turned on Mrs. Wriedt is what is called a voicing medium, but that under good condi­ found that the speaking tube was not placed properly, and that tions the materialised spirits may also show themselves. She circumstance, according to her, explained the cessation of further asked us to examine the cabinet and the room if \\·e liked. As manifestations. I have been on a previous occasion in that room, and examined I and my Croatian friend were deeply impressed by what we the cabinet with several German doctors, I did not think it witnessed on that day, May 16th, between 11 and 12 o'clock at necessary to do that on this occasion. noon. I spoke of it to many of my friends as the most I and Dr. Hinkovitch took seats near each other in the centre wonderful experience of my life. I spoke of it to the most of the room; facing the cabinet. Mrs. Wriedt did not enter scientific woman of Germany, Frau Professor Margarette Selenka, the cabinet, but sat all the time <;ma chair near me. She placed who had just returned from Teneriffe, where. she was establish­ a tin speaking tube (megalophon) in front of my friend. She ing a station for scientific observation of apes. Mme. Selenka started an automatic musical clock and put all the lights out, so came to London to hear all the details of the ' Titanic ' catas­ that we sat in perfect darkness. trophe, in which her great friend, W. T. Stead, perished. We When a beautiful melody of a somewhat sacred character was arranged to have a private seance with Mrs. Wriedt on Friday, finished by the clock, Mrs. Wriedt said to us that the conditions l\fay 24th, at one o'clock. That seance was held in Julia's Bureau, were very good, and that we should be able not only to hear, but but, excepting that a voice shonted once, 'Sit quiet on the ·also to see some spirits. 'Yes,' she continued, 'here is the spirit chair ! ' no other manifestation took place. By arrangement of a young woman. She nods to you, Mr. Miyatovich ; do you with Mrs. Wriedt, ,I and Mme. Selenka returned in the evening, not see her ~' I did not see her, but my friend saw a piece of and at eight o'clock we had a seance, at which, besides me and -oblong and illuminated fog. 'She whispers to me,' continued Mme. Selenka, Mrs. and Miss Harper and a very charming lady, Mrs. Wriedt,' that her name is Mayell-Adela or Ada Mayell.' whose name I did not ascertain, were present. After a short I was astounded. Only three weeks ago died Miss Ada time from the beginning of the seance we all saw Mr. Stead Mayell, a very dear friend of mine to whom I was deeply appear, but hardly for more than ten seconds. He disappeared, attached. But in that moment there was no other manifesta­ to reappear again somewhat more distinctly, .but not so clearly tion of her. She disappeared without saying anything more as he appeared to me on May 16th. That was the only except her name. materialisation phenomenon of ·that evening, but as compensa­ Next moment a light appeared from behind t.he medium and tion we had wonderful and various voicing manifestations. moved from the left to the right of the cabinet, as if carried Mr. Stead had. a long conversation with Mme. Selenka and a slowly by a soft breeze. There, in that slowly moving light, short. one with. ·me, reminding me of an incident which, two was not the spirit but the very person of my friend William T. years ago, took place in his office at Mowbray House. Then, Stead, not wrapt in white wrappers, as I have seen spirits at again, Miss Ada Mayell spoke to me, telling me, among other seances, but in his usual walking costume ! We both, I other things, that she knew that her sisters and her niece and Mrs. Wriedt, exclaimed loudly from joy. My friend wrote to me, as she wished them to do. After her Hinkovitch, who only knew Mr. Stead from photos, said : my own mother came and spoke to me in our own Servian 'Yes, that is Mr. Stead I ' language most affectionately. Mme. Selenka had. a very Mr. Stead's spirit nodded to me in a friendly manner and affecting conversation with her husband, Professor Lorentz disappeared. Half a minute later he appeared again and stood Selenka, of t.he :M:unich University, and also with her opposite me (but somewhat higher above the floor), looking at own mother, who died last year in Hamburg ; both those me and bowing to me. And a little later he appeared again, for conversations were carried on in German. A friend of Mme. the third time, seen hy us all three still more clearly than Selenka came singing a German song, and asked her to before. After his third disappearance I felt that the speaking join him, as they used to sing together in old times, and tube was moved towards my face, and then we all t.hree heard 1\Ime. Selenka did join him singing. 'l'hen we had an tliStinctly these words :- ' - ll'ishman, once a naval officer, who had a long, cheerful, and, '2'12 LIGHT. fJune 8, 1912. indeed, quite a sparkling talk with the charming lady; whose with those we love and cherish,' arid he adds, 'I am not so rest­ name I unfortunately do not know, but with whom the brilliant less now, although I make her s:> sometimes., Irishman seemed to be everlastingly iii love. Naturally, Dr. Hyslop tells us that Mr. Duyster had a habit of walking although I heard clearly all the conversations in German and the floor in great restlessness, and Miss De Camp has automatic­ in English, I am not justified in reporting thein here. Not ally done this, in ·a very restless state. Our mental habits may :even the long statement which Julia made concerning certain thus continue to affect those on earth, even whilst we may be suggestions to keep the Cambridge House as a centre for gradll!lllY outgrowing them in the larger life. The warning is psychic research in memory of Stead, can I properly reproduce a valuable one, reminding us of the great importance of fight­ here. All I wish to state publicly is that I ain deeply grateful ing with bad habits here and now, and the follJ of supposing to the wonderful gift of Mrs. Wriedt for having enabled me that death will in an instant correct the habits of a life-time. to obtain from my unforgettable friend, William T. Stead, a The control claiming to be Stockton is full of character and convincing proof that there is a life after death, and that the conversation is very realistic. He points out that when he Spiciliism is true, and for having given Die almost a hea\•enly passed over; he, as it were, stepped into work already prepared joy in hearing the affectionate words of my dear mother in for him:- our own tongue, and in getting another and sacred proof of I did not make her a medium, she was one, and the people the continuance of the living individuality of one -Of the most were already there, and it was easy for me to work because the charming, most selfless, and generous won1en whom I ha\•e ever organised plan for work was already e.'ltablished. If it had not known so far in my life. been I, it would have been some other. person ; but I think it was known that I was going to pass away, for everything seemed Royal Societies Club, St. James's, S.W. ready for me, as it would have been for an expeeted guest, and I slipped into the work so naturally that it is all very harmonious, and like me in its expression. Time will bring some changes, COMMU·NICATIONS THROUGH TWO .MEDIUMS. but some such 11.'! I myself might ha\•e made. I am happy. I repeat it because of a supposition that I am dissatisfied· and so reaching for further expression (p. 206). BY H. .A. DALLAS. Frank Stockton aims at being serviceable in his communica­ tions, but not as a psychical researcher. The demand for evidence The April number of the 'American Jou111al of Psychical awakens no enthusiasm in him. He is not eager to prove his .Research' is mainly occupied with a detailed record of a remark­ identity, altho'ijgh he claims to have 'given evidence of identity able case, the chief significance of which, as Dr. Jlyslop points through her [Miss De Camp] on more than one occasion.' And out, is that it seems to indicate the extent to which spirit it is true that her sto1ies contain many incidents which have :agencies may influence the -thought and action of living beings been found to involve personal facts in the life of Mr. Stockton on earth. · not known by Miss De Camp, but recognised by his friends. The medium is a lady called Miss E. De Camp ; she is not When pressed to give evidence through Mrs. Chenoweth, he a professional medium. Quite suddenly ·and unexpectedly she replied:- · .appears to have become the recipient of influences from Frank I do my work in my own way, and I know, and she [Miss ·Stockton (the author of 'The Lady :and the Tiger,' and other De Camp] knows, and that is enongh. • . It is a funny clever stories). thing if a man can have no rest in heaven, but must go on The inil.uence of Frank Stockton resulted in the production repeating for the sake of a lot of idiots that his ·name is John of stories, which at-many points are characteristic of this author, Smith, John Smith, or whatever it may be. I really have a desire. to do a certain kind of work, and and which contain facts recoguised by his friends as associated deliver me from the class who cut up their relatives to see how with his life. their corpuscles match up. I think I won't do for ypur business Miss De Camp has never read Stockton's works, ne~ther was at all (p. 208). · she aware of the connection of the facts related with his life, and One cannot fail to sympathise with the feeling expressed in she has normally no literary ability. . . this racy reply, but we may congratulate ourselves that there are ·Dr. Hyslop is satisfied as to her good faith, and those who those on the other side who can persist in the more monotonous r.ead her straightforward record are not likely to doubt it, and task of spelling out names and recalling little traits by which her lack of literary style· is self-evident. they can be identified. We need both classes of workers. Mr. These writings began in 1909. In 1912 Dr. Hyslop decided Duyster belongs to the latter class, apparently ; for at one sitting to try and test the matter. He took Miss De Camp to Mrs. he seems to have concentrated all his attention on the effort to Chenoweth, who hasde\;eloped trancemediumship; this involved register his name correctly. He succeeded at last with great a journey of two hundred and thirty-five mile-s. Miss De Camp difficulty. was registered under a false name and not introduced into Mrs. Miss De Camp's medillmship does not manifest by sto17- Chenoweth's p1'8Sence until the trance -state had begun. The writing only. Some of its other phases are equally interesting two ladi~ were unknown to each other, and Miss De Camp and should be studied in order to appreciate the value of the did not speak at all whilst she was in Mrs. Chenoweth's presence. experience.9 above referred to. Under these conditions Mrs. Chenoweth became controlled by I pro~e dealing with them in another article.. Mr. Duyster, a friend of Miss De Camp, and also by Frank StoCkton, and the latter claimed that he was writing stories by 'SPIRITUALISM EXPOUNDED.' Miss De Camp's hand. It was Mr. Duyster who had introduced Dr. Hyslop t-0 Miss De Camp ; the appearance . of these two A DIBCLAIJllER. controls on this occasion was therefore remarkaply appropriate. . The l"eCOrd of these sittings repays care~l' reading j they Just as we go to press we have· received from the Rev. J. W. contain striking and evidential matter,. and here and the1-e they Canton, Rector of St. MargMet's Church, Whalley Range, give interesting indications as to the conditions of the com­ Manchester, an indignant letter disclaiming responsibility for municators. lfor .instance, l\:lr. F1·auk Stockton says that he is the statements concerning Spiritualists attributed to him by twt using Miss De Camp because he cannot otherwise continue Mrs. Dora N. Bellas in the pamphlet,' Spiritualism Expounded,' bis pursuit of telling stories, for he can tell plenty of stories which we reviewed on p. 262 of last week's ' LIGHT.' A.s proof over tbet'!l ; but it ' fascinatea ' him to use her as a medium, and that he never made the statements referred to, he o:fferii to he d'le8 it to help her also; giving her 'new friends, impulses submit the MS. of his lecture to any gentleman we lDlly appoint. an~ purposes.' We regret exceedingly that '.Mr. Canton should have been so If we accept this as authentic it shows that there is, indeed, gravely misrepresented. abun~nt scope iii the future life for the development of talents cultivated in this. A ' SIGN' or a 'wonder' may awaken interest, but unless it is Miss De Camp's friend, Mr. Duyster, declares that it is good accompanied by a spiritual ideal it will not appeal to the moral for him to communicate : ' It is good to be able to be in contact sense, impress the conscience and arouse the desire to improve. June 8, 1912.] LIG-HT.

THE 'TITANIC' DISASTER.-WAS GOD certainly as I believe that the neart·searchings of simpler times RESPONSIBLE? have more command upon our attentfon than that illusory doc­ trine of moral detachment which has been voiced by Mr. Toyne. In 'LIGHT' of May 11th are to be found set forth two views To the 'judgment' view an objection will at once be raised. of the 'Titanic' disaster in its relation to destiny, which are of ' Why.' we shall be asked, 'are innocent men and women to be 'i11t;e~est, partly from the fact that each is the exact antithesis punished for the sake of a judgment upon society 7' To which 0£ the other. One is contained in a report of a sermon by Rev. I would reply that it has always been so, that history· teems A. J. Toyne, in which he was at pains to show that God is not with examples of the innocent suffering with, or f01:, the gnill;y. to be made responsible 0 for the disaster in question or to be Why it should be so I am .not .wise enough to' !!11.f, but to the associated with it in any way. God governs the world, it is true, _ believer in the doctrine of ' Karma ' these things al'e 'Dot alto· but such calamities as the loss of the 'Titanic ' are due simply gether inexplicable. To the intellect aided by faith in 'Ka1'Illa,1 and solely to man's want of caution, and are not to be looked that is, the law of the conservation of m01·al force, these things upon as implying a judgment upon the nation for its latter-day appear in a new light, and we are reminded that there may be luxury or anything else. The other view is set forth in a letter many reasons for those disasters which we are from time' · to over the initials '0.M.,' in which the writer endeavou1·s to time compelled to mourn. If the law of Karma is true, it may show how, by some Pythagorean system of numbers, the well be that a knowledge of the counsels of 'God,' and of the 'Titanic's' ill-fate may be regarded as practically predestined. past and future existence of the victims, would explain the 'To the student of the Kabalistic Tables,' we are told, seemingly inexplicable, especially when we remember that the ' the sinking of the " Titanic " was a foregone conclusion.' death they passed through may not have been so dreadful in the Now I think I.may say that these two views are mutually ex­ dying as we, who were spared that trial, are too ready to imagine clusive. If the 'Pythagorean number theory is right, we can (vide Mr. Stead's message: 'Oh, how easy it is!'), and that to hardly avoid the conclusion that God had something to do with the inhabitants of the other worl4 th~ earth may not appear so it, if we use the word ' God ' to signify in a broad sense the desirable a place as it does to us. spiritual power or powers who govern this world. It is a difficult doctrine, I admit. It is one which requires Mr. Toyne's sentiments are typical of what most of us are much forbearance and a willingness to be content for the present pleased to call practical common-sense, and it would be inter­ with hypothesis. But, at least, it provides a loophole for faith, esting to consider them in relation to the idea of predestination it shows a possible explanation. It encourages us to believe that implied in the letter of' 0. M.,' who, like Mr. Toyne, speaks for the.cuniverse may be just and may be friendly. If Karma be a class. Is the author of the sermon right in assuming that true, then we are at liberty to believe that 'God' does interfere because an accident is attributable to purely natural causes, in human affairs, that perhaps He did so in the 'Titanie 1 therefore it is simply and solely an accident, attributable to disaster. · man's carelessness, and nothing else 1 Does Mr. Toyne believe ' Accident' has played so large a part in human affairs, and that .God does not interfere in human affairs at all 1 'If so, his has been associated with so many important issues in the lives of view can scarcely be called a scriptural one. Does he believe individuals and of nations, that there is good ground for believ· that nations have arisen and empires passed away without ing .that the seemingly accidental is not so accidental as it seeins. one act of intervention on the part of ' God ' 1 Why, Is it possible that the saying, ' He that taketh the sword shall even historians would hesitate to make such an assertion. perish by the sword,' has a deeper significance than is implied But if M.r. Toyne does not go so far as this, then where will he in its .reference to this life only 1 Is it ·possible that it has an draw the line 1 If divine interference is to be traced in the occult and Karmic significance, implying that all who have destillies of nations, then why not in that of communities, in taken the lives of their fellow men must themselves perish by that of individuals 1 It is simply the old question of the a violent death, if not in the same earth-life, then in sonie why and wherefore of apparently undeserved evil. We are other 1 If this be so, then it is possible to discern some reason offered two alternatives : . one, that . of believing with Mr. for there being so many of those disasters which send Iilany Toyne that such disasters as the sinking of the 'Titanic,' anci together in a moment to their grave. presumably lesser and greater ones as well, are accidents pure Moreover, that strokes of fortune, both good and evil, and simple ; the other, that such calamities are not accidents at take place through perfectly natural causes is no proof of the all, but occurrences foreseen and foreordained. To the intelleqt non-interference of spiritual powers. Such.powers do not inter­ unaided by faith both alternatives are hard. It is as difficult vene nowadays in the openly miraculous m~nner which we are to see why ·disasters should be foreordained as it is to se.e accustomed to in the narratives of Biblical and Homeric times, why the innocent should be permitted to suffer in what is but the intervention -may none the less be just as. real. nothing but an accident. Of the two, I find the latter the more Many people confess themselves· unable to consider the difficult. My sympathies are with those who look for a lesson possibility of intervention on. the part of free •intelligences in the seemingly inexplicable, and see the finger of God in a in a world governed by natural law. The difficulty they ex­ great calamity. That it should be a judgment upon excess perience, however, is a factitious one. It is the same difficulty of luxury seems to me not an unfair interpretation if we that we experience in attempting to retain free-will in face of accept the prophetic attitude in the Bible towards our obvious enslavement to law anci• circumstance. Yet most such as representing 'God's' attitude. It might quite of us believe that we have free-will, that somehow or other that well be argued that Providence, who heretofore has something in us, which is beyond phenomena and beyond winked at the times of this luxury, prepared a rebuke for causation can yet initiate a change. Pure spirit, I take it, is Us when it actually came to providing millionaires with a deck ' at the back of ' cause and effect, and as sqch •has access· tO tb.e of their own. Perhaps 'God' who, through the mou.th of His fountain-head of causation, initiating tiiO\l'ements which are prophets, has continually cast scorn upon those distinctions of worked out according to natural law in -such a way as to- leave wealth and rank which weigh so much with Uil, desired once no trace of their Divine origin. We may be entirely in error in more to show mankind the hollowness of ' rank ' by destroying believing natural law to be self-initiated. It may be. that ail it utterly in the face of death, and mingling men and women natural law is the expression of a spiritual intelligence, and de· together in that equality which is the only social rank that pendent upon that intelligence for its continued operation. Nature countenances-the steerage emigrant with the first-class The phenomena of post-hypnotic suggestion are quite sufficient passenger, the stoker with the millionaire. Or perhaps Provi­ to show how mistaken we may sometimes be in supposing our­ dence intended only a rebuke to the commercial greed of our selves to be free agents. This is what 'O. M.'s' letter suggest$ age, which allows considerations of economy and dividends to and though I do not in the least understand his Kabalisti~ outweigh that of human safety. I do not desire, however, to system of numbers, I must say that· his view of things is far press these suggestions ; only I think I may safely say that in more suggestive to me than Mr. Toyne's. From 'O. M.,' or times of antiquity Divine wrath would certainly have lieen Pythagoras, if it is he, I have received at least the shadow of a associated with such an event, and for my part I doubt the hope, the hope that such a disaster may yet have its place in the wisdom of discarding so ancient and so wise a precedent, as economy of things, that it may have been considered at length 274 LIGHT. [June 8, 19H,

. . and duly approved in the counse1s of Jove, and that there may Nature is He to be found,. but in the midst of our cities where be some cause for Poseidon's wrath other than mere human the hum of human life renders the incarnate thought audible. . mprudence. One thing that seems in some small measure to In the many amenities of our social order, i.n the many sacri­ .bear out the suggestion that the 'Titanic' was 'fated,' is the fact fices that civilised life calls for, we find the spirit of God mani­ that there were so many other ve8se1s in her neighbourhood fest. And if there be sorrow and pain, trial and labour, we can at the time of the disaster, more than one of which rejoice even amidst these things, for many have found the near­ might, but for some unfavomable circumstance, have ness of God in these veiled sisters of woe. God is here in the .taken off all aboard. All attempt$ at explanation must be midst of us, and we need not go to some far-off temple to . difficult, but I must say that ' 0. M.' rather than Mr. Toyne worship Him who gazes at us from the eyes of our fellow-man . has helped m.e in the face of trial to retain my faith in the The deification of man and the sanctification of woman have Lord God 'who formed good and created evil.' It is easier to been among the finest contributions to the thought of the world doubt whether there is such a thing as pure accident where any that Christianity could give. In the lifting up of the man Jesus :important issues are concerned than it is to reeoneile justice and his deification it has, unconsciously perhaps, lifted up and with calamity along the lines of Mr. Toyne. Moreover, belief deified all men ; and in making woman the pleader between in the power of prayer to avert calamity-and surely Mr. Tefyne man and God the Romish Church has deified the mothering will allow us this-entirely prohibits the belief that Providence instinct. If Mary be the mother of God, then there is a new-· was wholly detached in this and other similar disasters. born tenderness in Deity that leaps out to meet the aspiring A. ARUNDEL. soul. For the mother-love always stoops to uplift. This thought of Mary as the mother of God may seem crude dogma, and we IS GOD IN HELL? do not accept it as either philosophically or scientifically true, but we feel that it expresses a certain spiritual aspect of a deep BY W. H. EvANS. and profound question. We have been taught to believe in a man-God. But Nature, more wise, has taught us that, in the 'Though I make my bed in hell Thou a.rt there.' production of all things, there is a positive and a negative force The old landmarks of the super-material world are fading required-a male and a female-and although we cannot away. We are learning to think of many stages of existence in demonstrate scientifically the existence oi God, we 1emerober . that other life, instead of the arM.trary two or three. We even get that there are deeps ia the soul which no plummet forged by occasional glimpses into the soul of our brother man, mhich science can ever hope to sound. The divine flame within us reveal that he is actually as good as ourselves ; that. the morbid shall yet burn up all corruption and purify our vision so that and violent expressions of his soul are reaUy passional storms we shall be able to behold the ' vision splendid ' and learn of which will eventually clear and temper his disposition, and the holy one within. restore him to equilibrium and sanity. After all, our con­ During recent years there have been many demonstrations ceptions of goodness and badness depend very much upon of human survival after bodily death. It will not be too much . the point of view. · An action which may be looked upon tO say here that we discern the finger of. God in this. And with as a crime in Mayfair, may be an act of prowess to be the demonstration has come a great and holy joy in the discovery . commended in another country. The question before us of the real omnipresence of God. Truly the psalmist was right involves the moral nature of the universe. Theologians have when he sang, 'Though I make my bed in hell, Thou art been content to rely on the written word, surrounding it there.' But we have learned that hell and heaven are not . with a halo of reverence and meting out dire punishments localities. That other life, with its teeming possibilitWs, so .to those who dared to doubt, not having reached the stage full of the glory and splendour of God, is. too real, too pro­ of development wherein it is possible to see that even gressive, to be limited to two local states. And yet it may be .doubt may be a means of gaining grace. When a man begins to that there is. a truth hidden in the conception of heaven, . mistrust the old landmarks he is on the point of· making purgatory, and hell; for, whatever :our station, we find that discoveries. There is a point where faith and doubt are strangely these three mental states cover nearly every experience of life. blended. Often through faith in things afar ane doubts the Jesus said, 'The kingdom of heaven is within yo_u,' and it is limitations which ages of narrow thinking have imposed, equally true that the kingdom of hell is within you. One may speedily finds the world is much larger than was formerly be in the midst of the glories of the summer-land ; its frag­ believed, and that even the things he deemed sacred are common­ rance may be all around, its light and beauty may shine in places to others. Doubt is helpful and useful so long as it does every cloudlet, flower, and tree, and yet such an one may have not become a chronic mental condition. It is then cynicism, that within which will invert all this glory, so that instead of which is a cold douche to all things spiritual. It is when a beauty he sees only ugliness and sin. For the kingdom of hell man begins to doubt his doubt that he draws near to the within is reflected from without. And is God in hell 1 Of a . kingdom of affirmation. surety, yes. It is this fact that gives ground for such strong The old conception of God is rapidly changing, and save in hope anrl possibility for great joy. For wherever God is, there the minds of those who remain in the backwaters of intellectual is the spirit of good ; and the pain, the ugliness, the sin and development, the idea of a being outside the universe is im· evil will train and bend the soul until it turns toward the light. possible. The universe upon which the gloom of God's anger And this thought shows how impossible an eternal hell is. It was thought to rest has been found to have gleams of divine shows how futile such a condition would be, for the very love of radiance. We begin to sec that all things are shaping towards God will, by its melting tenderness, draw the wanderer home. some sublime purpose. The new light has dazzled some, and He may go out into a far country, but the husks which the . many who have no.t yet grown accustomed to it are staggering swine eat are poor fare for an immortal being. The soul tires about. mentally, very much like men drunken with new wine. of the outer shell of material things, and longs for the life­ Wild and impossible ideas are expounded. Extremes are gi ving, life-sustaining food of the ideal ; and in that longing and preached with. evangelical fervour, and there is a newness in yearning after better things will come the quickening of the the mental atmosphere, a crispness of thought, and a sturdy divine spirit within. The soul will then turn homeward, and independence of mind that promises well for the future. One the divine, ever watchful, descend in streams of purifying fire can rest assured, therefore, that whatever comes, the rising tide and in influences of healing, so that the spirit, becoming strong, of spirituality will find its level, purifying our civilisation, can cry,' Lo! I was in hell, but finding God there, I clasped giving newer and fresher ideals to a materialistic and theory­ heaven to my breast with joy.' jaded humanity. We find God everywhere. 'Cleave the wood and.there am WE should like to call attention to the fact that Mrs. Mary I.' He is here in the midst of us. And though we may ga1.e Seaton, who is now giving a course of lectures at the rooms of the London Spiritualist Alliance, is forming classes at the Higher with awe on the splendour of the jewelled heavens, and behold Thought Centre, 10, Cheniston-gardens, W., for healing self and the glory of the dappled dawn with its wealth of silver and others and the gaining of self-mastery. Particulars will be gold, we know that not · only in the beauty and radiance of found in our Supplement advertisement sheet. June. s•. 191.2.] LIGHT.

MONSIGNOR BENSON ON SPIRITUALISM. LETTERS. TQ THE EDITOR.

The lecture on ·Spiritualism recently delivered by Mr. E. W. The Editor is not reBfJomz'ble for tke opiniom e:DJJr8lllled by correBfJoti· WalliS at the Pavilion, Brighton, seems to have stirred up the dmts, and sometVm.u publishes 'Wka.t ha does not aqree toitl& f, FoREST-LANE.-Morning, Mr. at tbe·Lj'ceum Union .Conference at Nelson, £2 .ras. (Mrs. Connor read a paper on' Spirit Return.' Evening, Mrs. Neville. Stell's circle, 5e. ; 'A Friend ' (Madras)1 29. 6d; ; ' A Salford named the secretacy'e three children, spoke .on 'Ministering: Widow,' 5e.-Total, £9 le. 3d. . · · Angels,' and gave clafrvoyant descriptions. May 30th, Mrs. The sl11'eSt way of finding permanent happiness, and laying Webster, addreee and·psychometcy. Sundaynex~ at 11.30 a:m.; up treasures in heaven, is to care for the poo1· and needy.- Mr. Wrench, on 'From Over the Line' ; 7 p.m., ~r. Walker. Yours, &c,, (MRs.) M. A. STAJR; 13th, MrS. Mary Davies. 17th, Building Fund ·Social.-A. T~ C. 14, North-street, Keighley. BRIGHTON.-BRUNSWICK HALL, ~' BRUNSWICK-STREET EAST, WESTERN-ROAD, HoVE.-S~ndH,Je, at. 7 p.m., address &Jl.d clairvoyance. Circles : Tuesdays and Fridays, ~t 8 ; ~hursd&ys, SOCIETY WORK ON SUNDAY,_ JUNE 2nd, ~p. at 3.30; Wednesdays, at 8, materialismg.-L. A.-R. ! ·. Pf'OBfJectWB N oUcu, not emJBiling flwmt11-fewr 'IJJ-0N-S11A.-MJLTON-BTREET.-Mr. J. A. White KDTGBTON-oN-Tu.ums.-.Ass:mm~Y lloeHS, HAHPTON WICK. gave an addreee and well-recognised clairvoyant ~escriptions.' · -Mrs. Jamrach spoke on ' Ministering Angele,' and gave clair­ · WHITLEY BAY, ARCADIA.-Mre. E. H. C&nsick spoke on voyant descriptions. Sunday next, at 7 p.m., Madame Beaure- 'The First Recorded Seance and It.s Lessone.'-C. C. paire, jlddrees- and C?lairvoyance. · ' EALING.-TECHNICAL CoLLEGE.-95, UXBRIDGE-ROAD.-Mr. HAOKNEY.-240A, AMHUBBT-BOAD, N.-In the absence of Lund ga'fe an address on' Happiness, Health, and Wealth,' and Madame Jlope, . Mr. ~ eville k~ndly gave an ad~ress. S~nday Mrs. Lund psychometric delineation& next, at 7' p.m., N'urse "Granam. Monday, at B. p.m., circle. Cilt:BERWELL NEW-BOAD.-SURREY MAsoNia HALL.-Morn­ Tuesday, at 8'.30; ·astrology class. Wednees}ay, at 8, Mrs. Sutton's ing, Mr: W. E. Long, addrese and . clairvoyance ; evening, Mr. circle.-N. R. . · - ·· · G. Brown, on' le Spiritualism a Religion 1'-Y. R. BBIXTON.-8, MAYALL-BOAD.-Mr. Sarfae gave an address BnuiINGHAJrL-30, JoHN-STREET; VILLA Cnoss, HANI>s­ and c18irv:oyant description& Sunday next, at 7 p.m;; Mrs.· woRTH.-Mrs. Colee gave fine addressee, and on Monday evening Maun.~er (vice-president), a~dress on 'Veils'; at 3 p.m., Lyceum. psychometric delineatione.-H. W. · · · · · Circleli:. Mpnday; at 7.3Q, ladies'; Tuesday, at 8.15, members'; TOTTENHAM;-684, HIGH RoAD.-Mrs. Mary Davies gave an Thursday, at 8.15, public.-G. T. W. address· on ' After-Death Problems ' and striking· ela.irvoyant PmiKJIAH.-LAVBANNl!I HALL, LAUBANNB-BOAD.-Morning, deecriptions.-N. D. · Mr. Glennie on · ' The Plt\ce of the Holy Spirit in Spiritualism.' EXETD.-MAilLBOBOUGH HALL-Morning· address by Mies Evening, addreas by Mr. D. J. D!Lvie. S.unday next, morning, Amy Letheren ; evening hy Mr. Elvin }'rankiilh. Miss Letheren Mr. Blackman ; ~veninir, :M:rS. Podmore. Monday, ·at 3 p.m., N uree and Mr. Weslake gave clairvoyant deecriptione.-E. F. Graham. June 16th, 11.30 a.m., Mr. Johnson; ·7.p.m.• Mr. H"'.~ PLni:ouTH.-0DDJl'ELLOWs' HALL. MoBLBY-STRJIJET.- }Ir. Leaf. June 22nd, Gal'den Party. Speeial : Sunday .:next; at Prince gave the address and Mrs. Trueman clairvo)'llllt descrip­ 3 p.ni., friends are invited ti;> meet M:r. GJe1mfl) f9r the. purpose. tions. May 29th, Mr. Prince, address, and 1\Jes

'LIGHT! Mou LIGBTl'-Goethe, • WBATBOBVBB DOTH MAD llANIPBBT IS LIGRT.'-Paul.

No. 1,640.-VoL. XXXII. [aeg1stered a.~] SATURDAY, JUNE 15, 1912. [a. Newspaper. J PRICE TWOPENoE.

CONTENTS. wedded to deep learning, and his latest work, ' The Great Notes by tbeWa.y .... -_ .... -277 Criticism a.nd Common Sense ••• 282 J.,S,A. Notices ...... 278 Experienel!s of Mr. W. T. Stead Initiates ' (William Rider and Son, Limited, two vols., Sl!!_ritua.lism as Socia.I Saviour: Before a.nd After Dea.th . • • - •. 283 No. 4. By Mr. E. Wa.ke Cook 278 Items of Intere&t ...... ~ W 10s. 6d. net), will amply confirm the estimation in which be Another Psychic Experience. By • Travels in Dreamla.nd '. • ...... • 286 the Countess of Cri>ma.rtie ....280 Light on the Other Wolld ...... 286 is already held in the- world of letters. ' The Great 'Four Millions of Unneeessa.ry · Mr. A. V. Peters In Finland ...... 286 Initiates ' sketches the secret history of Religions as Dea.tbs'...... - .... 280 Communications from a.n Old Communica.tlons through Two Alchemist ...... ·...... 286 revealed in the lives of the great leaders and "prophets of ·MedluniS. By H. A. Da.lla.s .••. 281 Mrs. Bella.B a.nd Rev. Canton .... 287 the past-Rama, Krishna, Hermes, Moses, Orpheus, Pytha­ NOTES BY THE WAY. goras, Plato, and the last and greatest of the world­ teachers, Jesus. Mr. Rothwell, the translator, has per­ At the last meeting (for the session) of the London formed his task with consummate skill, and the work beariJ Spiritualist Alliance at Suffolk-street, one of the audience traces OD every page of . his ability in conveying subtle addressed an inquiry to the lecturer (the Rev. T. Rhondda shades of meaning and delicate cadences from one language Williams) concerning the question of the existence and to another. · The book opens with a beautiful dedic11otion meaning of evil. We recalled the fact on looking over the by the author to the memory of Margherita Albana May number of ' Hea.lthwa.rd Ho ! ' Mr. Eustace Miles' Mignaty, from which we cannot forbear quoting the final bright and useful magazine, which contains an article on the sentence:- subject, in the course of which the writer (pre!!umably Mr. As a torch of Eleusis, adorned with dark cypress and the Miles) remarks :- star-bright narcissus, I dedicate it to the winged SouLof_Her who has led me to the very heart of the Mysteries, that it may Evil is a reality from the point of view of the ordinary , bear far and wide the sacred fire and p1-oelaim the Dawn of human being, but it is not a permanent reality. . . Evil must Ul\iversal Light. .. ,. exist but it does not persist. A thing persists and is eternal only in proportion as it is good. And the article proceeds very wisely to point out that M. Schure, we note, is a seer.as well as a historian,. and, 'Evil is best regarded as a means of training,' illustrating indeed, such a combination is essential to the task of ileai­ the point by a reference to cricket, in which an expert ing adequately with religious and mystical teachers a11d batsman brings out the intelligence and ingenuity of their teachings.· And he is fully in touch witli the modern · the bowler who finds the skill of the batsman an 'evil.' spirit, .for in his introduction he writes :- · Mr. Rhondda Williams dealt ably with the question, but Never has the ·asPiration after spiritual lif~ the: ·invisible world, though rejected by the nia.terialistic theories of scfentists this further contribution to a solution of the problem may and by the opinion of society, been more serious and .real than it be helpful to the inquirer and others. is now. This aspiration may be seen in the regrets and doqbts, the gloomy melanclioly and even the blasphemies of our realistic novelists and decadent poets. Never has the human soul had a We have often heard discussed the question of religious deeper feeling of the inadequacy, the wretchednesli,- and ·un:. intolerance. Generally intolerance was denounced in a reality of its }lresent life, never has it aspired more ai-dently spirit almost as bitter as the subject itself. 'I would have after the invisible' b~yond,' though unable to·believe in. it. tortured the Inquisitors with their own devilish machines!' The work is sure of a cordial wel~ome and high :i.ppr4t" exclaimed a speaker on one occasion. But no attempt was ciation by all those to whom it appeals, by·reason of its made to discover the reason and meaning of intolerance, clarity of style and the sympathy and insjght with ·'which although, it is true, we have heard it argued that the perse-. its subjects are handl.ed, outing religionists were moved by a humane impulse-they sought by temporal torture to prevent the spread of heresy 'Heart Impulses.' by Frank H. Randall (L. N.. Fowler which might lead to far worse results-eternal torture. But and Co., 2s. net), is another contribution to prqgr'ess{ve it has sometimes appeared to us that the underlying cause of literature, and although it is ·not .particularly virile in all intolerance is a kind of conservatism common to certain thought or expression, this may be excused by the reflec­ types of humanity. There is in such minds a dull resent­ tion that the author is dealing with the affectional rather ment of anything new, whether scientific discoveries, forms than the mental side of things. He rightly sees how peace of conduct, intellectual movements or religious beliefs. and power go together, the strongest souls being always One might fill volumes with examples-Hanway and the the quietest:- first umbrella, Stephenson and the locomotive, Elliotson People's safety lies, and their trust can be ' more freely and mesmerism, Fox and Quakerism. And probably the placed, in the person whose nature knows no violenc~ · Thefl reason that religions intolerance has always been the most are powerful who can show patience under stress of difficulty cruel and rancorous is because in this direction the with others, and whose power for vehemence can be held in check until an opportunity offers fol' expressing it in something emotions are more directly touched-spiritual pride is agreeable, something humane, something inspiring with love assailed and the reactions in that case are more violent and beauty of character ; then the power can manifest in co~~ than those caused by infringements on social or intellectual structi ve action ; then it is positive, confident, forcible, insistent, effective. vanity. That is a valuable truth eloquently expressed, but the M. Edouard Schure is well and favourably known in book does not maintain this level throu8'hout. There is a, literature a11 the J>Ossesl!or of a great gift Qf verbl\l felicity tendency to J>latitude, 278 LIGHT. [June 15, 1912.

1 When the Sun Moves Northward' (Theosophical psychomotrists, and there are real ones. Counterfeit coins Publishing Society, 161, New Bond-street, W., cloth, imply the existence of genuine money. Conversely, the 183 pp., price 2s. 6d.) is a treatise by Mabel Collins on 'the people who patronise the 'magicians '-as the 'Chronicle' Six Sacred Months.' It contains 'the Mystic Ritual from writer calls them-are not all fools, although that is the the "Story of the Year," and the Teaching concerning the only inference to be drawn from the article. There is no Resurrection from "Green Leaves,"' based on the Buddhist need for indignation, however, on our part. We can even idea that 'when the sun moves northward he is among the afford to smile. The truth in psychology, as in all else, will gods, be guards the gods,' and that 'no great sacrifice can survive all the onslaughts of uninstructed critics. commence during the sun's southern progress. The south is Yama's quarter: Yama is the god of the dead.' An instructive sidelight is thrown on the natural origin of the observance LONDON SPIRITUALIST ALUA.NCE, LTD. of Christmas and Easter. We read again and again of GARDEN PARTY. 'pairs of opposites.: beat and cold, pleasure and pain, love By the kind invitation of Mr. and Mrs. Ellis T. Powell, a and hate, male and female ' ; that these 'opposing con­ Garden Party will be held on Saturday, June 29th, from three ditions assail the human spirit continually,' and that man to six o'clock in the afternoon, in the beautiful grounds of 'cannot free himself from them save by escaping from 'Rosedene,' Brondesbury Park, N.W. Invitation cards have been sent to all subscribers to the Alliance residing near rebirth.' We had imagined that these alleged pairs of London. Any of our country Members or Associates .who will opposjtes were complementary-but that may be our be in London at the time may have ticketi sent them on early mistake. Then we are told that the spirit seeks ' birth application to the Hon. Secretary, Mr. E. W. Wallis, 110, St. Martin's-lane, W.O. into matter to obtain purification '-we had an idea that spirit was pure, like to the AU-Spirit, but' one never knows'; SPIRIT HEALING.-Daily, except Saturdays, Mr. Percy R. it is perhaps 'all in the point of view ' ! Street, the healing medium, will attend between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., at 110, St. Martin's-lane, W.O., for diagnosis by a spirit control, magnetic healing, and delineations from the personal We are assured by Mabel Collins in this new book aura. For full particulars see the advertisement supplement. that the spirit not only desires birth, but ' recognises his own free will'; yet where does free will come in if, as stated, 'men are swayed and influenced by forces which sweep SPIRITUALISM AS SOCIAL SAVIOUR : over the thought-world as winds sweep over the earth or A. J. DAVIS, THE REFORMER. as currents of electricity flash through the ether,' and if BY E. w AKE COOK. 'mankind, as a whole, is too deeply submerged in matter, and too much under the influence of material thought, to (Oontinued from page 267.) be capable of development while the evil force is so power­ ful' 1 This 'awful Thing which is Evil' is, we are told, IV. 'a Power so dreadful that man, as man, can only fight it in We have seen in former articles how the young seer, Davis, blind, unseeing warfare,' and if he could see and know it would have reorganised the productive and distributive indus­ tries of the world on co-operative lines, since proved so benefi­ for what it is he 'would succumb utterly' ! It is all very cent ; how he would have done this without friction or Govern­ distressing-if true. But is it 1 It strikes us as being mental action, and we might have been saved from industrial very artificial and out of touch with the real facts of nature wars. We then glanced at his views on the woman's questions, and human experience. So far, however, as the author he taking, as always, just that sane and central course which glorifies love, insists on the need for purity and goodness, avoids friction and· that wobbling from extreme to extreme and incites . to sympathy and service, her book is helpful : which creates disastrous party strife. We must now glance at but why call love 'miraculous' 1 And why misrepresent his treatment of the professions ; and here we venture into the Spiritualists and say that they ' seize upon psychic gifts realms of the untried and the speculative. But throughout without the necessary preparation, and may be, in their Davis never loses grip of those great principles on which all psychic bodies, among either good or evil companions' 1 his teaching is based. We may well ask ' Who made thee a judge 1' and remind Dealing first with the legal profession, he shows how de­ the author of the teaching, 'Judge not, lest ye be judged.' moralising is the position of lawyers, they being pecuniarily interested in the spread of discord and of litigation. He would so change their position and their remuneration that they would 'Magic on the Make' is the pleasantly alliterative title be interested in keeping the peace, in examining and eliminating of an article in the 'Daily Chronicle' recently, in which all possible causes of dispute. He evident-ly thinks that if pro­ the West End palmists, clairvoyants, and psychometrists duction and distribution were 01·ganised on harmonial principles are held up to ridicule. Well, where they really are char­ there would be little for the lawyers to do. So he would limit latans we have no objection to any amount of satire. But their legal work to four hours a day, and set them teaching the community. 'They must be watchful of, and interesterl in, we are strongly opposed to the sweeping generalisations the various movements of the associationists. They must eluci­ that would indict a whole class on account of the misdeeds date and explain all the principles of justice and amicableness of some of its members. We should protest against articles to each member ; lecture to them, and instruct their minds on 'Medicine on the Make,' 'Law after Lucre,' 'Priests on in the mysteries of Nature, her beauties, her l1estow­ the Pounce,' if they included all the. members of each of ments, teachings, and requirements, and in all prin­ those learned professions in a blast of denunciation. These ciples which are necessary for e!tch individual to com­ wholesale condemnations defeat their own purpose by their prehend for happiness.' This is an enlargement of function lack of discrimination. There is an old story, doubtless which would keep all the legal gentlemen busy enough for their apocryphal, of a traveller in France who, noticing a red­ short working hours ; and for recreation he would put them to haired chambermaid at a French hotel, set down in his horticulture, to the fine and refining arts, to amusements, to any accounts of his travels the ingenuous statement, 'All the diversion, so long as that benefits the physical and elevates the moral being. All thi3 is lovely, but how it would work out chambermaids in France have red hair.' The writer of the it is difficult to foresee. 'Chronicle ' article has quite possibly laughed at the story, All the professions he would have organised ; each insti­ without learning anything by it. There are black sheep, tution to be composed of six series, ;)r states, or parts, the but all sheep are not black, There are sham seers and bead centre to be the professor or judge i and the work to 'be June 15, 1912.) LIGHT. 279 distributed among the groups according to qualifications. In grade would have to pass the higher, so that all pettiness and dealing with the medical profession he seems to me to be Loth sectarianism would be abolished. He says that, strong and weak. The practice seems too cumbrous ; but the the object of the medical institution must be to investigate the principles are sound as usual. The first volume of 'The principles of chemistry, physiology, allopathy, homwopathy, hydro· Great Harmonia' is called 'The Physician' ; and Davis wrote pathy, magnetism, atmospheric and solar electricity, and all very largely of health matters ; and later on he took a medical things appertaining to the human body, either directly or in· directly. They will discover that each one of the various degree. But his earliest inspirations are generally his best ; and systems of medical practice at present existing contains some, he announced nearly all that is good and true in Christian but not all truth, as is claimed for each one by its respective Science sixteen years Lefore Mrs. Eddy made her 'discovery.' professors. They will discover that each system recognises some He showed that all disease is caused by spiritual or mental principles susceptible of the most beneficial application. They means; that spiritual and mental means are most efficacious for must combine all the medical discoveries and sciences, and, from cures, and that we should heal by teaching. The value of a searching investigation, produce one grand and unequivocal system of medical practice. Let their superior wisdom direct suggestion and auto-suggestion was insisted on. the application of each discovery, principle, prescription, rule of I wish to digress for a moment to show how truly we may regimen and therapeutics. And by the conventional sanction of claim to have first discovered nearly all that is good in Christian the judge and professors, an incontrovertible system will be Science. Whenever Christian Scientists are before the courts, established, which will arrest, overcome, and dispel, every species . and are asked as to their means of healing, they al ways of organic and functional disease. declare that it is done by ' prayer.' But they use no It is this largeness of view, this endeavour to lift humanity prayer as usually understood. .Although Mrs. Eddy denounces high above all pettiness, all sectarianism, all the differing of Pantheism, her system i~ purely Pantheistic ; all is God, doctors, which is. the speciality of Modern Spiritualism. But Mind, Good, Principle ; no Person to pray t.o. This is as yet this is too big for the man cradled in creeds which have the Higher Pantheism with which few Spiritualists will quarrel ; cramped the soul's unfolding, and we may have to wait long ere and prayer may be potent without a belief in the personality of the laggards come into line with the stupendous philosophy of Deity. But the Christian Scientist's treatment is by sugges­ Spiritualism. tion. The reality of the disease is vehemently denied, and the 'l'he medical institution will be devoted to the discovery and reality of good, of health, is vigorously affirmed. The patient is arrest of disease, and not to the tiresome practice of curing a reflection of God, of Good, of Mind, and cannot suffer or be diseases which are already contracted, as is the mode at present. diseaaed, and so on. .All this is excellent and helpful, but it is Let the chief object and interest be to keep the people from violation by teaching them the constitution of their being, suggestion, not prayer. The point I wish to make is, that the the necessity of obedience, and the propriety of cleanline8s, young seer, Davis, anticipated by many years most of the good exercise, and judgment, iu all their individual and social refation.s. in Mrs. Eddy's system, and he avoided all its errors. The reason In short, all the principles of hygiene should be thoroughly of its popularity is that these discoveries were grafted on the taught. Throughout this section he accords a power to the Bible by Mrs. Eddy, and so found a footing in the minds of physicians that many of us would resent. He says : ' The people Christians who accepted it as a development of Christianity. In · niust be governed in their household relations, in their diet, in addition to this, it is marvellously organfaed on business lines, all things relating to health, according to the dictation of the and gives employment to thousa.nds of healers, while Spirit­ physicians.' ualism is content to permeate the thought of the time, and is all The next section deals with the clergy. This opens out so but unorganised. From Christian Science have sprung the New many vital questions that it cannot be dealt with at the end of Thought, the Higher Thought, the Science of Sciences, and other ''this article, but must be left for the concluding chapter next movements ; and we may fairly claim that our young seer was week. Meanwhile it will be intere.~ting to glance at the young father, or grandfather, of them all. seer's own teaching on the gospel of health. He lays great stress I know Christian Science· pretty thoroughly, and time but on the necessity of deep breathing, on 'the morality of. pure air. confirms the justice of my analysis of it some years ago in my ' How many superficial breathers there are whose lungs never a1·ticles in the 'Contemporary Review,' and I am always inte­ receive the foll ventilation required I' He traces innumerable rested in tracing the likenesses and differences of Spiritualism ills to the lack of fresh air ; the lungs should be inflated to and Christian Science, and the popularity of the latter and the their utmost capacity ; but no breathing for medical purposes incomparably greater richness of content of the former. Davis can occur unless accomplished by the will. analysed vigorously the old world theology, denouncing the doctrines of the Fall, the vicarious Atonement, and the horrors Digestion is never perfect unless the respiration is full, and of its hell of fire and brimstone ; and while this provoked the performed in the baptismal font of pure air, which is a vast ocean of life and energy at least fifty. miles deep, and equal antagonism of Christians at the time, all the advanr.ed Christian on all sides of! the revolving globe. You will now, far more than Churches are steadily approximating to the position the young before, understand the importance of breathing, when using the seer took up. Mrs. Eddy, with more worldly wisdom, with pncumogastrical cure for pulmonary and abdominal diseases. womanly tact and slirewdness, built on the Bible, but interpreted If you wish to acquire absolute strength of body, if you desire it with amazing freedom, transforming everything to suit her a clear and well-balanced brain, if you want a large mind and purpose, and adopted, consciously or unconsciously, nearly all a more noble character-then, breathe, breathe, breathe 'the Lreath of life,' and ' become a living soul.'* the principles announced by Davis, and many of his terms. So .Christians were able to cling to their Bible, and still be. Chris­ Davis also anticipated to some extent the discoveries of tians while holding a belief differing little from that preached Horace PleLcher, who was the means of starting scientific investi· by Davis. .And it is the emergence from the old prisons of gations which have revolutionised the icleas of all live medical orthodoxy into the freer spirituality of our views, claimed as men on the importance of a Gladstonian thoroughness of masti· her own by Mrs. Eddy, which has effected their most striking cation, and on the quantity of food needed to produce the best cures. This shows the profound wisdom of our seer in uniting health, and the utmost vigour of mind and body. Davis always the functions of teacher and healer, which were taken up by Mrs. insisted on the necessity of thorough mastication ; and he traced Eddy later ; and I believe that healers are all but powerless innumerable evils to over-eating. It is curious that the very where, as with old hard-headed .Agnostics, they cannot produce first words uttered to Swedenborg by his first visitor from the some spiritual uplifting. When persons can be lifted into a other world were, 'Eat Less I' Davis always prepared himself purer and freer spiritual atmosphere, but not too high to be con­ for entering the ' Superior Condition' by taking very little food, genial, they feel a glow of up-springing vitality that enables and no meat; and, while not a vegetarian, he advocated a them to throw off almost any physical disease. sparing use of meat ; and indeed of all food. Horace Pletcher To return from this digression. Davis proposes an organi­ in middle life l;iecame almost useless and hopeless, the doctors sation of the medical profession; but that is one which is already could do nothing for him ; but by chance he discovered the best fully organised. Still his idea is larger than any yet oLtaining physician in the world who resides \Vithin each of us. He in the profession. He would have them so organised in a masticated bis food as never before, and reduced it to one-third graded hierarchy that all the views emanating from the lower * ' Harbinger of Hea;ltb,' 280 L lG HT. [June 15, 1912.

of the qllantity usually taken. The results were amazing; he eyes deep with a strange tenderness that was yet at the" same renewed bis youth, and became a wonder of strength and time fierce. Moloch of Carthage bad flung back his high head, endurance, and he attained an exhilarating joy of life never gasping as a man that is stifled gasps for air. And his eyes ·before experienced. This led scientific men to im·estigate the were wild with a haggard questioning, that seemed to baffle his matter with unexampled thoroughness, with brain-workers, dark wisdom of evil. My companion-even as Baal stood so soldiers, and with trained athletes ; and in all cases the improve­ stood he-grave, with an undoubting reverence, that having no ments in health, strength and fitness were surprising. So this part in what they saw, yet could understand, as no was scientific confirmation of ollr seer's teaching, started years mortal had yet understood. And as the Figure passed before. And if his instructions were carried out generally, there it lifted a hand in blessing. And the blessing fell even is little doubt that all the doctor-baffiinf? diseases might be pre­ upon Moloch of Carthage, who stood rigid under it, vented or cured. a hand on his mailed breast, as if to crush the black heart (To be continued.) beneath it. And my companion stood even as the One he served. There was no difference in the glory of the dark eyes, no difference in the proud, bent head. Then the passing Presence ANOTHER PSYCHIC EXPERIENCE. had departed, adding a glory to that already there-a glory alien to its faith, and yet akin as all love is akin. And the words BY THE COUNTESS OF CROMARTIE. came back to me when thinking of those ranks of glory, 'Who maketh His angels spirits and His ministers a flaming fire.' . The following did not come as did the visions narrated on page 254, but by writing. And yet I think it may be included .in the same category because of its vividness and the knowledge 'FOUR MILLIONS OF UNNECESSARY DEATHS.' that it came absolutely without imngination. ·It was a great circular hall in what I think is the counter­ The Calcutta' The World and New Dispensation,' of April part on that 'other side' of Baalbec, that Temple of the East. 17th, contains a report of the Rev. J. Estlin CafPenter's address I stood in the emptiness of that holy place and my hand lay in on 'The Opportunity of the East,' delivered at Essex Hall, -my companion's. 'It is the passiug by of the gods,' he said. And London, on January 25th last, in the course of which we find I felt a thrill of something that was not fear, only awe un­ the following striking passages dealing with a painfnl aspect of speakable. Then, like a cloud, they came-the immortal ones the influence of the doctrine of Karma. Dr. Carpenter said :- of old, male and female, guardians of light and darkness, of I do not ignore the potent conception of the moral order of man and beast, of forest and mountain, of sea and shore, of the world em bodied in the great doctrine of Karma, but its "things visible and invisible, followed by their manifestations in oppressive influence has again and again restrained the energies "bird or animal form. And a low murmur seemed to of reform. 'The Hindu doeB not care for physical death,' says shake 'the terrible silence as the guardian of that great the Swami, but the Westerner a,oes care ; not because he is ·sanctuary, Baal the warrior, went by, more than mortal tall­ without the idea of immortality, not because this. is the only proud, dark, mailed and helmeted, and of a beauty too chance he has, and he must get the most out of it that be can, but because he looks upon life as a trust, whether in this glorious for mortal eyes to look upon unveiled and live. And world or in any other. . . The maintenance of life is thus even as he came I misstid my companion, and looking back, I inwrought into the very texture of our religion. Do you know saw the great serpent (Baal's manifestation) glide away swiftly how the death-rate of India compares with that of England? In into the shado~s that lay beyond the glory of light that. the this country the annual average stands at fourteen per thousand. company radiated from themselves; and knowing why my In a bot climate, theory allows a higher rate, and estimates a guide had departed, I bid my face. When I lifted it again, I proper average for India at forty per cent. more, or twenty per thousand. But the actual mortality is (or was quite recently) saw that close to Baal of the Battles stood another, like and yet enormously higher.; it costs the country no less than tbirty­ opposite ; and I knew that I looked upon the ancient evil that six per thousand. In a population of two hundred and fifty mil­ the modem world knows not, Moloch of Carthage, who went lions this excess reaches the awful total yearly of no less than/our mailed and helmeted, even as Baal, from whose glory he shrank millions of unnecessary rleaths. Here is a tremendous result at the very back with an almost audible snarl of rage and an angry look outset which follows direct from the cleavage of our ideals. contorting the sinister beauty of bis face. But then the other The Hindu contemplates this waste of life unappalled. His explanation is ready. These lives were all under the sway of spoke. Slow and clear, his voice broke the silence like a chord of the great law of the Deed ; they paid the penalty of evil-doing rich music :- in an earlier birth. So he himself dies uncomplainingly, and There are different evils on earth than thou in these days, with infinite patience endures the ravages of pestilence and Moloch of Carthage. Thou hast slain, and not saved ; thou hast famine. But Western knowledge is not thus satisfied. It is lusted, and not loved, and thy garments drop with the blood well aware that this hideous toll paid to disease and hunger can of the strong in battle. But thou hast scorned to torture the lie largely reduced. It calls up before the imagination the weak amid the creation of the Most High, either man or beast. dismal procession of desolated families, of parents mouming for So come thou, also, and await the passing of One not of us, yet their children, of widowed mothers and bereaved orphans ; and One whom we dare not question as man questioned, seeing it sees in the background the vaster multitude of those who do that He is of them, and yet not of them. not die, but drag on wearily their enfeebled lives and succumb all the more readily to next year's attack. . . Every true So Moloch joined the company that had gathered, rank npon Brahrno, like every true Christian, is bound to be a social rank, upon one side of the great hall of the Temple reformer. He cannot leave human wrongs to right themselves ; Court. The doves of Ashtaroth cooed in the great silence, and the warfare with ignorance, with suffering, with sin, is in every the others, birds and beasts, waited, only the serpent of Baal land a part of the service of God. For each human life has, in was absent for awhile. Suddenly in the great silence a hand his eyes, a purpose : it is given as a trust : this earthly scene provides its opportunity ; and God Himself appoints its spiritual was laid on my shoulder from behind, and I looked up. My end, the fulfilment of His righteousness, the fellowship of His companion had returned. 'It was a message,' he said, calmly. love. And I knew what I must not tell to the unknowing. And I looked up at him as he stood there, tall, dark, and of the same beauty as that glorious Presence, in whose sanctuary we WE note the transition on May 21st of Mrs. Lydia Santon, wife of Mr. Hemy Banton, librarian, of Broughton, Manchester. stood. And I could not speak because my hea1-t was full of A strenuous worker, large-hearted and benevolent, Mrs. Banton tears, because soon I knew I must go from that place. Then possessed traits of character which endeared her with more than into the silence between those ranks of immortals came the sense ordinary attachment to a wide circle of friends. Always a fear­ of One passing, gentle, pitying, judging not. And upon that less exponent of. the glorious truths revealed through the phe­ sacred place fell the shadow of a great wrong that had once nomena and philosophy of Spiritualism, she was known to hold been wrought on the Hill of Calvary, a wrong that touched strong convictions about life and death. To desire life, she felt, was good, for life is of God ; lmt death was neither termination them not, and yet darkened the light in their eyes. I had only nor catastrophe, but a shifting scene in life's drama. To the courage to notice the effect of that gracious passing figure upon bereaved husband and all who will miss sorely her earthly three of that company : Baal, the soldier, watched, his stormy presence we extend our sincere sympathy. June 15, 1912.] LIGHT. 281

COMMUNICATIONS THROUGH TWO MEDIUMS. consistent. There is the same eagerness and impetuosity. It is instructive also to study the contrast between Mr. BY H. A. DALLAS. Dnyster and Mr. Frank Stockton. The latter is steady and un­ (Oontinued from :page 272.) impassioned ; he is interested in the work and kindly towards Miss De Camp, but she was not his personal friend in earth­ In 1909 Miss De Camp sent Dr. Hyslop an account of some life. With Mr. Dnyster it is otherwise ; the personal. element, physical manifestations which accompanied her other experiences. with its emotional quality, is obviously present. The conditions These began when she was writing under the influence of a into which the two men passed are alBo different. Frank Stockton control calling himself 'Blackfoot.' In the midst of a sentence appears to have stepped easily out of his earth comlition, and to he broke off with the remark : ' The table stands up now, but I have taken up with zest work already awaiting him ; but Mr, can turn it over and not lift a book to the floor.' Miss De Camp Duyster speaks as if he were distressed to have left his former said aloud : 'Very well, "Blackfoot," if yon can, let me see you life, and fretted by the breaking off of his schemes and plans. do it. Get" Julia" [another guide] to help yon.' By the time He writes through Miss De Camp :- she had finished speaking the table began to squeak as if someone you are not the only one who has suffered. I have been in were trying to move it. Her hands were lightly touching it at first, the worst of hells, more than Dante ever thought of, the being but presently the contact was made only with one finger, whilst snatched away when I had so many plans to carry out (p. 259). the movement increased until the table ' fairly flew over the This statement that he is ' in the worst of hells ' seems floor.' Feeling exhausted, she sat down to rest, and then terrible ; but the concluding words seem to show that allowance ' Blackfoot ' wrote, ' This is to prove to you that we are here must be made for the vehement nature of the speaker. They with you.' On the following day the physical movements were form rather a curious ante-climax ; ' the worst of hells ' stands repeated. 'This time,' she says, 'I let the table push against for a state of intense disappointment at the discovery that the me, because I wanted to feel the force. It was very strong.' many plans he had made could not be carried out. Dr. Hyslop points out that in this case there are almost as Truly we make our own heaven or hell ! And to some a many perplexities involved in the hypothesis of unconscious sudden illness or accident, or big financial loss, may spell only muscular action as in the hypothesis that some discarnate spirit disaster, whilst others can truly say with Charles Kingsley, ' I caused the phenomena. However, he does not commit himself never found my life until I had lost it.' Through Mrs. Chenoweth to an interpretation of these physical movements, but awaits we hear the same note of exasperation. He says :~ further experience and knowledge. I am failing to do what.I thought I could do at once, but Miss De Camp gfres the following account of the first it is so exciting to be here. [i.e., communicating] that I do not occasion on which she received a communication from her seem able to control my work. I wish to ·speak about the past. father (deceased fifteen years previously) :- I am not old, no, not old, but had my plans for life and happi­ ness, and all that goes with life and expectance, and they were Father and I were so closely connected, and the rest of the ·shattered by the death ; and it is only through this phase of ex­ family always thought that if father could communicate he would perience that I am reconciled, reconciled to what has come to reach me. . . He came unexpectedly. I had just finished the one I love so dearly. It is not alone in this way that· I off a dozen business letters and laid them on the desk to be come, but in the other way, to her when alone, and then she signed. • • I sat there, with a pencil in my hand, looking knows and asks for me when she cannot bear the silence but out of the window, and somebody near it began to write. It must have some help from this side. . . I did try at once to called me by my baby name, which my father always used, come right off quick, for it was so easy to get to her. • • ·I ' Ettie.' It said : ' Ettie, your father is here and wishes to talk loved my own as much as man could, I know; and I· would not to you.' It startled me so that I sat down and cried. It was so and could not leave them alone ; and she is so responsive to me unexpected. I was not thinking of father. There was nothing · that it makes it easy to me to come to her alone-I mean away to make me think of him. After I recovered myself I took from here (pp. 192, 193). another piece of paper and took the message. I was so up3et that I had to put my things on and go home. After the first This is all very different in tone frnm the communication shock was over I felt as if I had been weeping f-0r weeks (p. 250). from Frank Stockton, and it must be borne in mind that these Dr. Hyslop tells us that Miss De Camp may be described as latt.er quotations did not come through the· friend who knew 'nervously unstable,' yet 'in every condition but the writing his characteristics, but through a 'medium who, Dr. Hyslop tells Miss De Camp had a normal life, except nervous exhaustion, us, ' could not know any more about him and his relation to Miss and her mind was clear and intelligent regarding the facts' :- De Camp than alJOut the relation to Mr. Stockton' (p. 189). From an evidential standpoint this group of experiences js The family physician of Mr. Dnyster became curious to have valuable, and the value of it becomes clearer and more impres­ a test and wrote two questions, which Miss De Camp did not see. The automatic writing answered both of them relevantly. sfre as one studies it. And from the point of view of those who The first related to his wayward son, and there was correct wish, not merely to be convinced of survival, but to learn some­ advice regarding him. The second question was regarding him­ thing of the principles that govern life beyond, and how best to self, and advice was given which he did not follow, and he said fit themselves for it, this record is not less instructive. afterwards he would have given 5,000dol. if he had followed it, Marcus Aurelius says in his Meditations :~ as it was in reality correct. All this Mr. Duyster told me persanally before his death, so that the incident does not depend This day I did come out of all my trouble. Nay, I have wholly upon the testimony of Miss De Camp (p. 223). cast out all my trouble, it should rather be. For that which troubled thee, whatsoever it was, was not without anywhere, After the death of her friend, M·r. Duyster, a new phase of that thou shouldst come out of it, but within, in thine own control occurred, causing great nervous exhaustion. Miss De opinions, from whence it must be cast out before thou canst truly Camp states that her family can testify that she has never and constantly be at ease. normally drawn a line in her life, but under this influence she If we would be ;in ~eace and contentment in another world, completed a sketch which Mr. Duyster had hegun in his life­ we must learn the secrets of peace and contentment here and time and had given to her. It represented the scene of a picnic now. If we wot~ld be spared the sense of separation from they had had together. A reproduction of the sketch is given friends when death removes us from physical contact, we must in this number of the Journal. cultivate the consciousness of communion and fellowship in When Miss De Camp visited Mrs. Chenoweth, to whom, as spirit and truth, whilst communication through the physical already stated, sbe was quite unknown, Dr. Hyslop asked Mr. senses is still possible. Dnyster whether he remembered drawing a picture for the lady, We must learn w die daily, and to daily rise into a higher life. and the control replied that he did, and added that it was When we realise that spatial dii;tance cannot sever trees and water, and an illustration of a time and place of other spirits, that thought is not dependent on physical organs for days, which was correct. He continued :- transmission, when we begin to see tltrouoh the illllSions of our I finished it, I finished it. Yes, the picture I mean (p. 224). present state, then, indeed, we shall be ready when our call comes to enter into our inheritance, into the world of reality ; It is interesting to study the characteristics of the control 'by death we shall escape from death,' and for us emancipation claiming to be Mr. Dnyster, as they appear through the medium­ from physical limitations will bring not disappointment but ful­ ship of the two different women. We find them remarkably filment, the realisation of hope and desire. 282 LIGHT. [June 15, 1912.

OFFICE OF 'LIGHT,' 110, ST. MARTIN'S LA.NE, communicator says he has never heard of such a place. All LONDON, W.C. the people he knows live in wooden dwellings; they main­ SATURDAY, JUNE 15TH, 1912. tain themselves by killing animals in the chase and worship gods whom they can see. Yet another of these strange ligltt: beings tells us that the world is all ice and snow, and that A Journal of Psychical, Occult, and Mystical Research. the people dwell in habitations constructed of frozen snow, PRICE TWOPENCE WEEKLY. eat fish and drink oil. He has never heard of any other COMMUNICATIONS intended to be printed should be addressed to kind of world. And to confuse us still more we have a the Editor, Office of 'LIGHT,' 110, St. Martin's Lane, London, W.C. Business communications should in all oases be addressed to Mr. message from a person who says there are no such things F. W. South, Office of 'LIGHT,' to whom Cheques and Postal as ice and snow. The world is really a sultry place,· all Orders should be ma.de payable. covered with trees and vegetation. None of them agree Subscription Rates.-' LIGHT' may be had free by post on the following concerning the question of a Supreme Being.' terms :-Twelve months, 10s. lOd ; six months, 5s. 5d. Payments . to be ma.de in advance. To United States, 2dol. 70c. To France, And then we can imagine the pundits of this region Italy, &o., 13 francs 86 centimes. To Germany, 11marks25 pfe;. Wholesale Agents: Messrs. Simpkin, Marshall, Hamilton, Kent and shaking their heads sagely over this deplorable want of Co., Ltd.1 31, Paternoster-row, London, E.C., and 'LIGHT' can be agreement and unan.imity: 'Either the earth-dwellers are ordered tnrough all Newsagents and Booksellers. all liars bent on deceiving us, or we are the victims of some APPLICATIONS by Members and Associates of the London Spirit­ strange delusion.' . ualist Alliance, Ltd., for the loan of books from the A.Ilia.nee Library should be addressed to the Librarian, Mr. B. D. Godfrey, We are as tired as is the most hardened Rationalist of Office of the Alliance, 110, St. Martin's-lane, W.C. the Satan legend, with its idea of an infinitely cunning and wily Being permitted to lay snares for the souls of CRITICISM AND COMMON SENSE. men. But we really think that the advocates of the Devil It has been well said that the man who knows only his theory have done more to discredit it than any of its own side of a case knows little even of that, and it has opponents. Here is a Personage of superhuman craft and long been the practice of 'LIGHT ' to hear and consider all subtlety who is yet so shallow and shortsighted that he has the objections that can be urged against the truths for overlooked the necessity of seeing that all his myrmidons which it stands. tell the same tale ! Why, the veriest pettifogging lawyer For the most part this attitude calls for no little who entered on a conspiracy against justice would see to it patience, since most of the arguments presented are old that his witnesses were carefully coached· beforehand not and threadbare. Many of our critics urge with ludicrous to contradict each other in 'the box.; Mephistopheles has gravity objections that would occur to any intelligent child fallen seriously in our estimation since we began to gather who might set about the inquiry, and who, it might be our ideas of him from certain theological experts. presumed, would settle the questions before proceeding Our author, we observe, is a supporter of_ the belief in with the matter. But, all the same, the points are solemnly diabolism, and amongst his indictments is the statement put forward as new~ striking and original, the cavillers that evil agencies exist in the unseen world and influence being firmly convinced that their objections-borrowed and human life and thought. Hence the necessity, we suppose, repeated parrot-fashion-dispose of the whole question. of leaving the unseen world severely alone. But suppose We need not refer specifically to these-they are familiar we apply the parallel reasoning that evil agencies exist in to all who have made any advance in psychic science, and the visible world and also influence human life and.thought, in the majority of cases were considered and disposed of and ask if we are on that account to take the earliest before. the objectors were born, for they would have opportunity of retiring from the world to-let us say-a occurred spontaneously to any investigator possessing the lodge in some vast wilderness in the Himalayan mountains. rudiments of intelligence. The book presents a pitiful exhibition of pusillanimity. We prefer to deal with the indictments of those critics We prefer the virile opposition of the Rationalist whom who represent higher standards of judgment, although we can meet on the common ground of Nature and Reason. even here we find at times a regrettable lack of perception. For what does it all amount to 1 Spirits exist and com­ Looking over a not unscholarly book launched against us municate with man, but we must beware of them -because some little time ago, we observed that the author made an they are all malignant and banded together against us. important point of the contradictory messages and teachings One of the evidences of this great conspiracy is that they received from the unseen world. He devoted a consider­ contradict each other, deny each other's teachings and able portion of Ms work to the matter, and argued that testimony in many cases, and have views on religion which the lack of agreement· and unanimity in the communica­ range from a narrow orthodoxy to Agnosticism. Truly a tions received rendered them unworthy of acceptance. wonderful conspiracy. To the unbiassed observer one would suppose that the . And where are we to go for enlightenment and safety 1 very fact of disagreement and divergence was one of the The author of the book is ready to be our guide, best evidences that we .are communicating with a world of philosopher and friend in this respect. He points us to a human intelligence with its infinite variety of opinion and certain Church which, it appears from his statement, holds outlook. There is not a point urged by the author which the key to all the mysteries of the spiritual world. It, would not apply equally well as an argument against the and it alone, can make all problems plain and clear, and if existence or the credibility of this world and the whole we are still misguided enough to desire spirit communion human race if it were urged by the critics of some other it can put us into touch with good spirits, for only good plane of existence which had been placed in some imper­ spirits patronise this particular Church, and none other fect means of communication with this. We can well being genuine we must beware of s purious imitations. imagine the indictment: 'Here is an earth-dweller who When the late Lord Beaconsfield was importuned by a says that the people live in brick dwellings with several prosy author to give a verdict on his book, the subtle and apartments, one or two for each family, and gain the means wit.ty politician wrote that he had received the book and of subsistence by working in large buildings called factories; 'laid it aside with a great deal of pleasure.' Something. he tells us they worship an invisible God by praying and like that happened in the present case. Smiling, we put singing in great temples with coloured windows. Another the volume by. There was something droll in the refl.ec- June 15, 1912.] LIGHT. 289 tion that the opponents of revealed religion would peruse struggling, and I thought I was still trying to help them, but the one form iu the midst of all this was my son ! Then I the work with gusto. For in his attempta to decry our knew I was not in the body at all, but I was trying to help doctrines the author has contrived to deal his own faith those spirits struggling to join their friends who had gone out some very damaging blows. As a weapon the boomerang in little boats-their wives, sisters, mothers. My son said, is apt to be dangerous to the thrower unskilled in the use 'Come.' 'No, let's see what we can do for these.' And we stayed hours and hours above the spot where the ship went down, of primitive missiles. And we are as little afraid of it as following the little boats to try and help the spirits that were (shall we say1) the 'long bow '-another primitive weapon. struggling and striving still to live in their bodies-those who did not know they were out. of their bodies. I realised there was no fault with the officers ; I realised that the crew had done the best they could under such circumstances ; I realised there EXPERIENCES OF MR. W. T. STEAD BEFORE were not enough boats, and I realised afterwards that probalJly AND AFTER DEATH. that was the only fault, or principal fault. But the great light of this morning came to me, the morning In 'LIGHT' of May 25th, page 249, we gave a brief extract of the other life ; it was like awakening from a nightmare to a from an address delivered by Mrs. Cora L. V. Tappan-Richmond dawn of peace, or from a prison into freedom. And I was wel­ under the guiding inspiration of Mr. W. T. Stead, and now, in comed. It seemed as a morning of splendour after the night of earth, as wings compared to groping-as bloom and fruition response tci the urgent request of a number of friends, we quote after the bud of silence and darkness. Who can properly de­ from' The Progressive Thinker,' of May 18th, the full report of scribe the indescribable 1 I could move about. My son went that address. It was preceded by some remarks by the medium with me everywhere; my dear friends tried to get me away. respecting her personal knowledge of Mr. St.ead. The report I said, 'No, let us do what we can to 4elp these,' and there states that 'after a hymn, there was a palpable change in Mrs. came throngs of helpers, great argosies of light from this unseen Richmond's appearance and manner' and then, speaking under realm to assist the spirits that did not know they were set free. But these, these who had not known 1 Those who clung to Mr. Stead's control, she said :- their bodies ; who still in spirit followed the frail boats on the DEAR FRIENDS; I have been properly introduced to you, ocean that held their loved ones 1 Oh, the wrench of having to but I am no hero. All people are in a measure natural cowards ; be severed from them l . These had to be comforted, those who that is, they are afraid of something. I was not afraid of the had been thrust out in unpreparedness, unwilling, in the realm •other world,' and not afraid of many things in human life ; of the spirits. but we all have a shrinking from that intermediate thing called We must help them. The great rallying cry is ever to help • death' ; what it may do to us ; how we shall feel ; how we others. No life goes out into the higher world that some one, shall be able to meet it ; when and where. There is no death. or more, is not there at hand to meet and greet that one. Many One can only know it by experience. Most people hesitate, die unattended and forsaken on earth, but none enters the realm dread the change. To me life was one-our earth and beyond. beyond unwelcomed. I don't think I had any' premonition' before leaving England, It was a wrench to be parted thus from those that had to nor did my hand write, nor did anyone say to me, ' Don't go stay. It is a great wrench when in human life (you know by on that ship.' I had to go to meet au appointment. I liked experience, I knew by experience), for a friend to go to the other the ship because it was the greatest ship, and why not go in life, even though you know that he is going to life and not the greatest things, even if you go to the other world 1 That death. It is equally a great wrench for a spirit unprepared, night I was aware when the ship struck. We talked about it without any notice except a few moments or an hour at best, to among the men. I said I thought there might be too much be torn from those whom he loves on earth. Spirits do not anxiety, and I was inclined to go to my cabin. I met some want to go. They must. It depends entirely on the degree of people who were afraid ; I went down and found there were self-possession and self-poise whether they will be ready; there· others who were afraid, and I talked to them, and in talking I . fore it is unto a horror that they go. They did not see at first who was able to comfort them. I don't think I was yet aware came. Spiritual friends who were waiting to strengthen them. especially of doing anything uncommon or unusual, because up They turned away, unwilling to leave the objects of their to that time there was no pervading thought of danger. This devotion, and when happily, as was the case with more than you was shortly after midnight. I was ready. Many were over know, the husband and the wife went together, it was the there first at hand to receive me. But what of those who were greatest rejoicing to them to know that they had not beenparted afraid of death, who bew not of the life beyond, and whose by this strain. When whole families go together, it is simply faith might forsake them in the time of peril 1 wonderful the joy that they feel in being thus together, not torn They must be comforted, soothed, aided, if possible, to stay apart. yet awhile in their bodies. And one forgets one's self when To be welcomed and loved, to think first and all the while ministering to the wants of others. Still, there was such a brief of those who miss one and mourn for one, to try to reach time to prepare-so little real preparation on that gigantic ship them with the invisible, impalpable message of the spirit, to for such an emergency. There was no pervading thought that think and to know in one instant the answer to a lifetime of the-re was any imminent danger, and when it really came in question-- settling down to the fact that the ship's officers knew, and that Not yet, not yet. If a hand or brain can be found to convey there was preparation for taking the women and children, then the meaning and scope of this new life, I may use it after a I said to myself, 'I must be busy with these people down here. while. I am grateful for this opportunity to pay my tribute to Those people up there are better disciplined; they have more my fellow-voyagers and to the officers of the ship that went knowledge ; they have society restraints ; they understand down, and to say there can be but two causes for the sinking of what is expected ; but these more emotional people may not the ship and the passing out of so many valiant lives. Over-. know.' As far as I know, I spent my time talking to them, confidence in the ship's strength and an insufficient number of trying to comfort those whom I could make understand me. I lifeboats-these are the causes. spoke no language but English, and so could not speak to the When human life is really valued there always will be foreigners, but I endeavoured to com.fort them ; I took hold of adequate means of insnrh;ig safety. Oh, the rescuers of the them and tried to make them feel that there was no real danger heavenly realm! These, these were God's own messengers, to real life. Then I did go to my cabin, not to sleep, but for helping-saving.all. that communion that ever was my refuge, with the Infinite, There are conflicting emotions how to reach those upon the with my unseen loved ones ; then came the first warning-writ­ earth ; the great wall of material ignorance, the great barrier ing-that the ship would sink, and I was there when the great cry Letween the inner realm and the outer world, the great unbridled came, when we knew and all who were not sleeping must have ignorance ; yes, the wall of ignorance is what we most have to known that the ship would surrender. I felt the giant trembling contend with in trying to reach our loved ones. My own house­ and the rushing of waters, and the thought came, 'Would it be hold knew, at least they knew that I knew. They did not all long 1 Will there be a great period of strain 1' But there was not. know as I knew, but they are glad of what they do know ; glad When all had been done that could be done, we 11ad to go. at this hour that it ia not all dark ; glad that the wall is not The cries of agony were terrible. Death ! closed down utterly. And, after the first roar-rush of waters-a great surging, I thought there was added work to do on earth. I thought 11uffocating sense-:--! awoke as one awakening from a horrible there was much still to be done. This great peace movement, dream. My son 1 My son l Yes, the first to meet me. He that had to be accomplished by enlightenment. I was not in was one of the rescuers from that realm where lifeboats are favour of all of Mr. Camegie's ideas, disarmament, peace at any never lacking. I was alive l Awake l Aware l They had price, or anyone's 'peace at any price.' I believe in peace born found me l of rigbt, and so when I asked all the rulers and governments There was just the onset of waters, just the gurgling, of the earth whose representatives were in that 111Bt Peace Con­ bubbling, roaring, and I was awakened. I saw people still gress (where I met your pastor, where I was pleased to meet her) 284 LIGHT. [June 15, 1912

I asked them that there might be put aside the underlying Thought can go out over the world, and find the one for causes of war. I don't ask this country, or Great Britain, or whom it was intended and to whom adapted. 'And we will have any n_ation, to disarm. Make the way for disarmament possible our bureau on this eide,' Julia said, 'and see what we can do to by an International Court of Arbitration, then there will be no make people know of the realit.y of life beyond the change need of armaments. called death.' But tl1is is not why I am here to-day. There will be other And it is this awakening, the gladness of this morning, the times 11nd places to talk about peace ; but it is about the light, forgetting of the way in which it came, and the knowledge of this life, this wonderful, beautiful form of spiritual consciousness. what it is ; it is the glorious dawn of that possibility which No earthly body to take around from place to place; no limi­ awaits every human life, and I shall spend whatever opportunities tation of eyes that cannot see well ; no limitation of the senses. I have in endeavoring to awaken people to it. I know that in this space of time, which I judge by my contact Don't talk of death ; don't talk of people IU' dead ; don't bow with you is two weeks t.his very night, I have learned more of down in sorrow and shut the doors, and say, 'Oh, they are gone ! ' answer to all the questions that I have asked in my life than I I used to think sometimes in talking to people on this subject have learned all my life ]Jefore, because the answer is inherent that they didn't wai1 t their friends to be alive. Sometimes it is fo the state, in the life. It is here limited to the senses. We rnconvenient ; if you have done them a wrong, or if a man cleave to the senses ; we understand with the senses; we measure wants to marry again, he doesn't know just exactly what to do things with the senses. Set free from the senses, we are com­ about the spirit of the other one. But don't worry ; there are pelled to listen with the mind, to interpret with the spirit. Our no jealousies in spirit ; the larger opportunity for usefulness is ''oices do not reach far in the human life ; our thoughts reach always admitted here, and the great strength of spiritual affec­ millions of miles. I could think to you in Chicago just as easily tion is that it is unselfish. as I could think to another dwelling in London, and in spirit I And now let us learn to work together ; let us take your can be there as quickly as I could be in another room. Space, hands ; be friendly with us ; don't put us aside ; don't call us time, all those limitations pass with the body. We have ' too dead folks; don't say we are out of the race. We are just in much room,' unless we are ready for it. A little girl who was it, and all that we can do to help, not hinder, to assist, not mar, taken out to a picnic began to cry. She had never heen outside to make you know of an awakened life ; whether you pass out of London, she did not know anything but streets and dirt, and surrounded by yonr frien,ls and embosomed in flowers, or in the there was grass and flowers, birds and trees, and when she began midst of storm or tempests or flood or fire, it is but an instant, to cry someone asked, 'Why, what is the matter 1 Aren't you and you are set free in the glory of a new-found life. having a good time 1' And she said, ' I am afraid ; it is too I thank you. I thank the spiritual friends who have aided -much room.' And so we have too much room in the spirit me through their chosen inst.rument to give these few broken world. It is the wonder of it, full of spirits, multitudes of words. If I may, some time I will come again. I am W. 1T. people, not. interfering with one another, but such vastness; Stead. What my name will be in the heavenly land I do not the wonder of knowing things that are not told you ; the know, but for all that life stood for, I am not dead but living. wonder of not speaking your questfom and having it answered 'Nor birth, nor life; nor death can change or mar the soul on instantly. Just think how many times over and over and over ministry of good intent.' we have asked the question, 'Where is the other world 1' And here it is. Take off tl1e veil, your mask ; take off the armament of flesh, and here it is. You might know it. You have been ITEMS OF INTEREST. told it : all the prophets, poets, seers, sages and philosophers have told you, ]Jut you do not know it. It is this vastness that is appalling, but we have all eternity. You become accustomed It is pleasant to have to record the successful opening on to the blue sky after you have seen it a little while, but when Whit Sunday, May 26th, of the firstSpirituali$tChurch in Birken­ you have been shut up in a cellar, a dungeon, it seems very head. The building, a commodious one-story edifice in Bridge­ large. The gold miners over there I used to talk to sometimes. street, had been tastefully decorated for the occasion. Mr. Walter They did not know the looks of the sky, and it seemed to them Howell, of Birmingham-a speaker of marked ability-con­ so vast and lonesome. ducted the services, and on both occasions, afternoon and even­ But do not be afraid of being lonely as a spirit. There was ing, the place was filled to overflowing. After the evening not one of those poor waifs, not one of those struggling human service Mrs. Beattie, of Egremont, gave a demonstration of clair­ beings, that some spirit was not there to meet them, there before voyance. We congratulate our Birkenhead friends on their they left the body, there instantly ; and I saw multitudes of enterprise and trust that their efforts to spread the good news of them striving to reach their friends ; trying to aid them; and spirit communion will be abundantly rewarded. they did aid them, although unseen. It is the supreme law of spirit that you reach the one whom 'In the eyes of the law of England where it is a question of you intend to reach. The 'wireless' :if the spirit does not get rights and privileges a woman is not a person, but where it is a caught by irresponsible craft that stop the message from going question of pains and penalties a woman is a person. The to the intended 'recefrer.' The wireless of the spirit reaches difficulty of getting through the House of Commons legislation the object intended. And so when questioning, when aware, specially affecting women and children would be greatly lessened when awakened, I would know all, the answers came flocking if wives and mothers had a direct voice in the affairs of the to me like flocks of birds, flying to me 011 the invisible pinions country. It is notorious that the opposition of one private of thought, from Julia, from all my dearly loved friends of the member of Parliament has been sufficient for years to prevent household. There they were, waiting for me. I asked, ' Did the passage of a Bill directed against the " White Slave traffic.'' you know I was coming 1' and they knew what the question Out of every thousand children born in this country one hund1·ed was before it was formed, and they said, ' Yes.' Then I thought, and ten die in the first year of life. In South Australia after 'Why didn't you tell me 1' They said, 'It would do no good.' women obtained the vote infantile mortality decreased by one­ 'Why 7 ' 'Because your time had come.' 'Do you mean to half.'-' Christian Commonwealth.' 13ay' (and here was the old questioning, the old doubting mind, the old intellect), 'that every life has a time i' 'We do.' 'And 'Some remarkable light on trials for witchci:aft in the seven­ these that were severed, this wife, that husband 1' 'We mean teenth century was thrown by Sir J. Macdonell in his Quain it. Admit one accident,' said Julia, 'in the universal plan, and lecture the other day. The England of Shakespeare and Bacon, the universe is not cosmos, but chaos.' the Scotland of Knox, and the Germany of Diirer and Luthe1·, And so it is not accident that has brought me here, but were, he said, .as much domineered over by witch-finders as any a great intention and purpose. I may not have been over-ripe, race of savages. Strangely enough, the two hundred and fifty nor very full grown ; but the tin1e had come, and whatever has years of intellectual development due to the Renaissance include been done in human life that has helped in any way to strengthen, most of the witchcraft trials, and the Quain Professor attributes uplift, enlighten, I am glad I have had the privilege of living, this largely to the prom'inence given to the devil by the theology and glad I have had the privilege of meeting humanity at its of the day. He referred especially to the trial of the mother of best, even if I have met it also at its worst. The worst is not the famous astronomer, Kepler, which lasted five years. She re­ so bad as people claim, the best is not above improvement. And sisted even the threat of torture in maintaining her innocence, so as spirits we learn our real value. We take with us nothing and was in the end released. But she had to be guarded from material but our thought. I haven't even my pen. I may find the angry mob outside as she went away. In the heyday of a hand, I may find another brain. May-be I will use this one witchcraft trials innocent people were led to imagine that they sometimes, bttt I want you to know that, though the body did were guilty, and to make imaginary confessions, and the neu­ go, the spirit is alive and just as alert to whatever the interests rotic, the feeble-minded, and the hysterical found in witchcraft of humanity require. And if my son had remained who was ready-made forms and moulds for their delusions. Belief in just beginning his life, and who I thought would take up the witchcraft died very hard-is it now quite dead ?-and to-day work for me-here he interrupted my thought-- it seems to us astounding that John Wesley, with his strength ' Why,' he said, 'father, I have lived a thousand lives since I of character and robust common sense, was a firm believer in came into this world. I have influenced thousands of people.' it.'-' Christian World.' June 15, 1912.] LIGHT. 285

' The Gift of Healing' formed the subject of a sermon by That public opm10n is virtually agnostic, if not downright Archdeacon Colley, recently reported in the ' Leamington materialistic, has been clearly manifested by the manner in Chronicle,' in the course of which the preacher mentioned that which the Spfritualistic convictions of Mr. W. T. Stead have the Bishop of Worcester had published a little book on 'Anoint­ been ignored or sneered at by almost all the writers in the press, ing the Sick' and that in a monthly journal Bishop Milne was religious as well as secular. We are inclined at times to think named 'The Healer.' The Archdeacon, who is Vice-president that the battle for our facts is over, and that because a number of the Church Society of Emmanuel, stated that there is at of prominent men in the scientific and religious worlds have Leamington a secret Prayer Circle for the operation of psycho­ testified to the reality of the phenomena with which we are pathic treatment for the healing of the sick. He referred to familiar, the thinking world is with us. Undoubtedly great the gift of tongues and mentioned that he had heard various victories have been won, and the trend of modern thought has languages spoken through ignorant mediums and had obtained been very materially influenced and turned in our direction­ messages on sensitive photographic plates in Latin, Greek, but the fact remains, and we recognise it with deep regret, that Hebrew, French and English. vast numbers of men and women, even those who believe that they believe in a hereafter, are indifferent, and many of them Writing in 'The Newcastle Daily Chronicle' the Rev. A. actively hostile, towards Spiritualism and everything that con­ Stanley Parker mentions that he has attended three annual cerns the future life. As a speaker at the recent Convention at Conventions at Sunderland at which 'The Gift of Tongues' South Place stated, preachers admit that they do not now preach has been exercised. The sounds he heard, he says, were definite about death and the after state because the people do not care and distinct. Some of the speakers gave interpretations of about those subjects. As Mr. Stead himself pointed out, the what others had spoken, and he favours the idea that the • Religion for Men' movement had nothing to say, no message, phenomena are the result of the working of the Divine Spirit. on these vitally important themes. ' I have,' he says, 'been impressed by the beauty of the messages in t.ongues, as interpreted this week, and also with the In the course of a warm tribute to Mr. W. T. Stead in the transparent sincerity, the splendid earnestness, and the deep June number of ' Health ward Ho ! ' ' L. V. H. Witley' says : spirituality of these people.' Or. th0 other hand, the well-known 'Nearly all the testimonies (whether spoken or written) to the Spiritualist, Mr. W. H. Robinson, says: 'From what I perceived departed leader's memory appear to be marked by one of two I have no doubt that the "incoming Christ," so called, was the things-a slurring O\'er of, or an apology for, one particular obsessive action of disembodied entities upon sensitive and aspect of his life and work [viz., his deep interest in spirit neurotic personalities, energised by magnetic association . . communion]. . . A man's life and character and testimony the whole thing shows phenomena, grouped under the designa­ should be treated as a complete whole : the man would not tions of hypnotism, magnetism, clairvoyance, and telepathy.' have been what he was but for what others may choose to regard as foible or fanaticism. No personality can justly be depart­ The Fulham Society of Spiritualists has accomplished a very mentalised or sectionalised in this way ; least of all could this useful work during the ten years of its existence, but owing to be done with adequacy or fairness in the case of our departed a variety of circumstances it is now compelled to seek other friend, who I dare to affirm would have protested that the pre­ premises for the carrying on of its meetings. Failing in the cise thing which was being deprecated was the very last feature search for available rooms, the officers have issued an appeal for of his life for which he would have been prepared to make any financial assistance. The sum of £800 is desired to enable the apology.' The keynote of Mr. Stead's life, Mr. Witley finds in society to secure a plot of freehold ground, at a cost of £200, on the exhortation which he once uttered, ' Be a Christ,' and he which to erect a suitable building for its meetings. As a guar­ regards the following words of Mr. Stead's as not merely the antee of good faith, the names and addresses of the officers and expression of a conviction, but the explanation of an experience: committee, who all work without fee or reward, are given on the 'I believe that some Power-not ourselves-is actively concerned circular, and donations will be thankfully received by the secre­ in making the best of us, and that this invisible Intelligence tary, Mrs. Clarke, 488, Fulham Palace-road, Fulham, S.W. We can make the most of us if we combine the mental attitude of wish our Fulham friends complete success in their efforts to absolute readiness to obey the word of command with a passionate give Spiritualism a local habitation, and trust that it will not be determination to do whatever is given us to do with our utter­ long ere they have a home of their own in which they can con­ most strength and skill. In that faith I have lived-in that tinue their helpful ministrations to those who are seeking the faith I expect to die.' 'Late in life,' adds Mr. Witley, 'our light. . friend gave up, for conscientious reasons, a well-paid press en­ gagement. Someone, hearing of this, asked him : " Can you afford to do this 1" "Well, I have a very wealthy partner, you 'F. K. A.' writes: 'Recently, whilst sitting on the seashore, see.'' " Who is he 1" "God Almighty," was the reply. That I digested Sir Oliver Lodge's" Man and the Universe." It is was a partnership which "death" did not dissolve.' a capital book. I only wish I could induce my "orthodox" friends to read it, and see what a dreadful nightmare their creed is ; but, as the man said, "Thank God they don't really believe, they only profess to.'' .Poor humanity ! Thou hast not very LETTERS TO THE EDITOR. far evolved from thine ape-like progenitors. I have given up trying to convert people, either in or out of season. The average A Request Respecting Messages. person thinks you are mad if you mention Spiritualism; and Srn,-Kindly permit me to ask that if any readers of here is Mr. Edward Clodd, in "The Literary Guide" (June 1st), 'LIGHT' have recently received messages (' impressional' or in a high state of fever on the subject, calling it a "bastard ' automatic ') from 'Thomas Bailey' or ' Henry Smith,' they science," and Mr. G. W. Foote, in "The Freethinker," cannot will kindly communicate with me under cover to your office.- leave the subject alone. Ed ward Cal'penter's book has evidently yours, &c., ' PAX.' annoyed Mr. Clodd-and yet these men call themselves " Rationalists" and " Freethinkers.'' Apparently they do not •Travels in Dreamland.' think outside their own cast-iron theories ; and as for more light, Srn,-In your article on page 258 you say : 'The question they don't want it. . God help them ! ' is whether the spiritual body can actually leave the body during sleep.' I claim to have proved that it can. I am totally deaf In the 'Freethinker' article to which our correspondent re­ with both ears; ear trumpets and tubes are useless, and every­ fers, Mr. Foote comments thus on the address given by Mr. Stead thing said to me bas to be written down. My spirit body leaves through Mrs. Richmond: 'Would it not have been a more con­ my earth body every night, and meets many other spirits vincing proof of " spirit " co1imrnnication if Mr. Stead had occasionally relatives and friends, but more often strangers. i been warned beforehand of the danger he risked by sailing on hold conversations with them, sometimes long and animated the "Titanic" 1 It seems odd to be silent before the tragic event at other times short and very much to the point. I have n~ and so talkative afterwards. But it was ever thus. Spirit.a difficulty whatever in hearing what they say to me, which I generally avoid anything like tests.' But what right have we contend would be quite impossible unless my spirit body was to suppose tba.t s-pirit people knew beforehand that the 'Titanic' actually let out of, or had temporarily vacated my earthly body. would be run on to an iceberg 1 Why credit them with omni­ The difference between my waking life, in the daytime science 1 People out of the body do not, of necessity, know passed in comparative silence, and my sleeping life at night' much ·more than they knew when here. They have to leam, with the lively intercourse with my many spirit 'friends, i~ and to make progress, over there, and are not introduced at once wonderful and beggars description, and makes me quite look into a realm of perfection. Spirits are constantly giving proofs forward to going to bed. of their presence and tests of their identity-hut Mr. Foote's I am a non-meat eater, and I can strongly recommend that idea of what constitutes a test savours more of the popular system of diet to all students of dreams and dream life.- 'orthodox' conception of spirits and their powers than it does of Yours, &c., BASIL A. COCHRANE. rational continued progressive human existence after the inci­ 15, Upper Porchester-street, dent of death Hyde Park, W. 286 LIGHT. [June 15, 1912,

Light on the Other World - The Story of a Remarkable in Finland. Can you picture an audience of five hundred persons Vision. awaiting your arrival, and when you get up to speak the audi­ Srn,-It is probable that the following recit9.l of a rare and ence giving a loud 'Ab!' I have had many private seances, beautiful experience, through which I passed in a recent illness, too, and what has been most satisfactory is that the seances that may be of interest to some at least of your numerous readers. I held last year with the Finnish Psychical Research Society It must be understood that prior to my illness, for weeks have been wonderfully true. For example: The president of beforehand, I had prayed fervently for some sign in confirma­ the society, a Professor, who does not err on the side of the tion of my belief anent the future etate. I wanted a clearer Spiritualists, gave me something thaL bad belonged to his father. vision of the condition and dwelling-place of the imul after death. I told him that when the old man was dying he wanted to hold Last Christmas I journeyed to the Midlands to spend the someone's hand. The Professor was not at the death-bed, but holidays among relatives. On my way I contracted a chill, and asked his family, and his sister said it was true, for the old man a severe illness supervened. For three weeks I lay prostrate on died holding the hand of another brother. This thing was told my bed. It was on the second day of my illness that my sur­ me by a lady who is au anti-Spiritualist, and now they are passingly lovely experience Legan. trying to account for the phenomena without spirits ! I had a l•'or the time all visible objects seemed to recede, and I little journey with Mr. Ervart to Vibourg, and there he lectured became conscious of some living and ethereal form near me. A and I gave some public clairvoyance, and you should ha\·e seen voice of infinite tenderness said : ' Do not be afraid, we are the enthusiasm of the people. 'Promise us you will come back taking care of you; all will be well, and you will come back.' another year ' were the last words I heard. Not the least Insta!ltly I felt my prayer for a larger vision was about to be pleasing thing that took place when I was there was this : The answered. · Theosophical Society have a movement, started by the young It seemed as though, in spirit at least, I was carried beyond people quite by themselves, called' The Young People's Theo­ the confines of earth into the ' Summerland.' There I found sophical Movement.' Their president is a young man, a Mr. myself 'clothe:l in white.' Around me was infinite beauty. Whittiker, who is only twenty, yet he speaks, reads, and writes No night was there, and amid the beautiful verdure of that four languages -:j!'innish, Swedish, German, and English. celestial country I saw, in my enraptured vision, vast fields This movement is'. to promote a deepening of life of 'lilies of the valley' in full bloom. To my inquiring amongst the young people and to draw them closer spirit, though no real presence seemed by me then, there came together. On the Sunday that I was at Vibourg there the assurance that this was 'The World of Unity,' where love was a young people's meeting, and there was music, sing­ and self-sacrifice reigned supreme. ing and speaking. I spoke a little to them, and gave a little Then the vision changed, and angelic beings appeared, clairvoyance. But what I am alluding to is that many of the arrayed in Eastern garb, singing most beautifully and playing ladies were dressed in the beautiful Finnish costume. You see, on harps, while the music increased in volume into one mighty there has been a big national movement going on in Finland chorus that seemed to f!).de away into the far distance. Someone during the last twenty years. The Finns have realised that they seemed to explain to me the wonder of it all, by the fact that on have a language, a culture, music, art, and now dress. It is quite the 'other side' there are found most of the great musicians, national, and very beautiful, too. I cannot describe it. One compared with whom the musicians of this lower sphere are but must see it to realise its picturesqueness. Like the Dutch .few. Then I looked upon a vast multitude of men and women costumes, it suits the national type of face of those who wear it. of all grades and nations, waiting, as I learned, to he made Two peasant women, who are members of the Theosophical perfect by the advent of others, now dwelling upon earth in Society, whom I know, for I remember their kindness to me that fairer world where the love of self is forgotten in 'the last year, in the ordinary dress were not particularly noticeable, greater love of the All-Father and of mankind. but in their own beautiful Finnish costume they looked like The marvel of the vision increased as I saw before me a queens. The Finns are a people isolated from the rest of beautiful palace with its stately columns and carved ceiling Europe, who have been much oppressed. Less than a hundred that seemed built, as it were, of lovely coral. In the courts years ago they were forbidden to print a book, other than on of this palace, and among its constant dwellers, there appeared religion or agriculture, in the Finnish language, and this only to me some twelve patriarchs in Eastern costumes, and wearing made the Finns cling more to their mother tongue, and, in fact, the flowing beard of Oriental countries. But these and other to their ancient religious faith. They have many poems in their details were lost in the surpassing splendour of sunrise. Often old language that have come down to the present time, and these on 'this side' have I gazed on gorgeous sunsets and beautiful have been carefully collected and printed. The longest is the sunrises ; they all pale, however, before the sunrise I saw in 'Kalevela,' which has been translated into most European lan­ that o~her world beyond. Colours the richest, the purest, and guages, English included. The people are full of mystic know­ the fairest were there, while in the inner circle of light, in the ledge, and spells and magic are still practised, but, of course, c~mpany of other celestial beings, was one of my relatives, who all in secret. So when one talks to the Finnish peasant of the died some twenty years ago. She waved her hand, and indicated return of the dead, to him it is a reality, and he takes to Theo­ recognition. I tried to speak, but simply could not under the sophy as ducks do to water. On May 28th I re-visit Copenhagen majestic spell for a few days, and shall return to England in June. By the Finally, Mr. Editor, your readers will understand how loth way, I am bringing you a Russian sacred picture from the office I felt to leave those bright and happy scenes on the 'other side.' of ' Rebus' for the office of 'LIGHT.' It is St. George, the But memories of life's activities and of those dependent on me patron saint of England and Moscow.-Yonrs, &c., made me say, 'I am not yet ready to 1'emain here ! ' And so it ALFRED VouT PETERS was permitted me, in God's providence, to return to my normal Helsingfors, Finland. state, and, with a renewed ·body and a re-quickened spirit, I hope long to retain vivid recollections of that seraphic vision. Communications from an Old Alchemist. I may add, for the guidance and benefit of those who doubt that none of the things I saw and now recount were the out: Srn,-It may be interesting to your readers to know that I come or result of an over-excited brain. I feel strongly that, recently had a most valuable 'find.' Hidden a.way with a lot of :for a time at least, my spirit journeyed beyond the confines of lumber in an old miscellaneous store in the old town, I came ·earth to those other scenes I speak of. Perhaps the greatest across a case containing a skull and two other bones. The marvel in my vision was this-I saw no child-life anywhere, skull is a massive one, and has an almost perfect set of only those of mature years and advancing age.· .teeth. These relics are reputed to be those of George Ripley, I simply recall the fact and make no comment beyond this alchemist, and were unearthed on August 31st, 1905, at Boston, in those memorable words of Longfellow :- ' Lincolnshire, on the site of the ancient White Friars or Carmelite Monastery. The following authoritative history is Not as a child shall we again behold her : attached to the relics : ' The Carmelite Friary was founded at For when with raptures wild Boston at the commencement of the fourteenth century, and was In our embraces we again enfold her, one of the religious houses demolished by Hemy \TIII., in the She will not be a child. cemetery of which was buried George Ripley, the famous ~Yours, &c., BERNARD Cox. alchemist, whose work, " The Compound of Alchemy ; or, The Ancient Hidden Art of Alchemie, containing theRight and Per­ fectest Means to make the Philosopher's Stone,'' was printed by Mr. A. V. Peters in Finland. Ashmole in 1591. Ripley was a canon of Bridlington StR,-It. will interest you, I know, and probably many Monastery, who turned Carmelite, and died an anchorite in l'eaders of 'LtGHT,' to learn that I have had a splendid time 1490, when he was buried at Boston in the ground belonging to despite the cold. I only stayed four days in St. Petersbur<>'' the White Friars, on the site of the present discovery. He was from April 29th till May 3rd, but during those four days I ha"d born in Boston, and devoted himself to the study of alchemy, rntlCh work to do, and the people wanted me to stay longer, but travelled much in Italy and France, and engaged for nearly out hall in Helsingfors was engaged for May 5th and I had to twenty years in chemical and abstruse researches in endeavour­ be on the spot to work. A very warm welcom~awaited mehere ing to find the Philosopher's Stone. He was even believed t 0 June 15, 1912.] LIGHT. 287 have discovered the secret of transmuting gold and silver goode importe-doute no thynge. Gl'ate and wonderfulle are from t11e baser metals, for Ashmole said of him Thy workinges, 0 God. Bye devious paths Thy wille worketh. that, dming his long stay at Rhodes, Ripley gave 'fhe peace of God and blessing be wythe thee and thyne. Trnlie the Knights of Malta £100,000 annually towards main­ and verrilie thy frende GEORGE RIPLiJY.' taining the war against the Turks. On his return from We take it that 'Fire cleanseth ' refers to the coming abroad Pope Innocent VIII. absolved him from the observance cremation. 'Wonderfulle are Thy workinges ' refers, no doubt, of the rules of his order, so that he might prosecute his studies to the circumstances under which his remaill8 have found a rest­ with more convenience and freedom ; but his convent not con­ ing-place with us. curring with this liberal indulgence, he turned Carmelite at St. The remains of George Ripley were cremated at 4.30 p.m. to­ Botolph's, died an anchorite in that fraternity in 1490, and was day (May 24th, 1912), and the ashes taken out to sea and buried as aforesaid. Ripley wrote numerous works on science scattered. At 3 p.m. my wife received the following messages : and alchemy. His principal hook, "The Compound of Alchemy," ' Child of much hearLe, myne hope of delyverance is grate. was dedicated to King Edward IV. and is described as written Silver and golde acconnteth but lyttle when the soule cra\'eth by "the learned and truly mre Philosopher of our nation." The libertie--is parched for the coolinge streame. May the bless­ greater part of Ripley's works were published'at Cassel in 1619.' inge of Allmighty God remayne wythe yon and youre house­ Since these relics came into my possession, George Ripley has rest wythe you.-GEoRGE RIPLEY.' At 9 p.m. : 'I am verrilie entered into communication with us by automatic writing through at reste ; peace is myne and hapynesse. Love-gratefulle love my wife's hand. We asked him to identify them, which he did for my kynde frendes. l\fy worde I keepe. George in the following : '[The relics are those of] George Ripley, Ripley'-here she rose from table, thinking ihe message was erstwhile man of maunie pursuits, not least amonge these some complete, but was impelled to return-' blesses you. The lives knowledge of the Philosophic of God, howbeit called black art of mannie wonlde be soe lightened if freede fromme the sadde by poore sonls not bleat of the gyft wherebye the hidden is burden. It is a wearie vigil, and right gladdely it is finished. revealled, and the seeminge impossible becometh easie. Also The most heartie thankes. Bless you. Rejoyce. Peace be wherebye all men should be enriched. Successe was myne in wythe yon.-GEORGE RIPLEY.' truth, but lyttle joy for evil slanderers. I wille endeavour [to -Yours, &c., OSCAR NILSSEN. come again].-GEORGE RIPLEY.' 8, St. Mary's-terrace, Hastings. On May 14th, at 9 p.m., we were again in communication with George Ripley. In reply to our request for further proof, 'Spiritualism E>l'.pounded.' he said as follows :- Srn,--I read in 'LIGHT' of the· 8th inst. the Rev. J. W. 'George Ripley passed away 1490, by the grace of God fulle Canton's remarks about my statements, and have also received a of yeares, and John, bys frende and deare master, dyd tender letter from him, dated June 4th, on the same subject. My untoe hym like a mother. Ever blessed by God be he. 'l'hey statements were known to the reverend gentleman the day are verrilie the remaynes of George Ripley.-G. RIPLEY.' following his lecture, for in a letter that I addressed to him on March 4th I mentioned, word by word, his own utterances con­ This tallies exactly with all the documentary evidence. cerning tlie Spiritualists and their fate after death, and informed 'John' was John de Vinde, a friar of the Carmelite Order, him that I was going to answer him publicly. He ignored my who was raised to the rank of Provincial of his Order in Eng­ letter. land in 1482. He died in 1496. People say that his son, who is the curate of St. Margaret's Since May 14th I have been in correspondence with Mr. W. Church, of which Mr. C1mton is rector, was among my audience H. Edwards (to whom I am deeply indebted on many occasions on March 17th. It is, therefore, more than likely that my for much valuable information) upon the subject of the remains. lecture was reported to Mr. Canton. I have also been assured I laid everything fully before him, together with the two com­ that pamphlets containing my lecture were posted to him as munication~, and in reply he wrote: 'It is perfectly obvious soon as published. What surprises me, therefore, is that the to me why these remains were brought to you. By your reverend gentleman never thought to submit his manuscript for means they can be finally destroyed and the soul of George inspection in due time. As to my statements being true or not, Ripley be released from the attraction of his body. His know­ that has to be proved in due course. So much for Mr. Canion ledge of magic would enable him to use these remains as a disclaiming responsibility. Kindly permit me to inform Mr. basis, but at the same time they are detrimental to his Canton that I am prepari.ng a second lecture, in which I shall soul's advance. He will gain greater power after those deal with the last paragraph of his letter to me, dated J nne 4th, bones l1a ve been cremated. As you notice, he con verses a little, which reads as follows : 'Surely any system that has to be then has to leave owing to lack of power. . . There is so bolstered up by false statements is in a very tottering condition ! ' much to lie done in releasing ~pirits from prison.' The same -Yours, &c., evening George Ripley was again with us, when we asked him if MRS. D. N. BELLAS. he would acquaint us with his desires regarding the remains. 31, Russell-road, Whalley Range, He replied : Justly as you do fynde welle. Let you re goode Manchester. kyndnesse byd you. Loss may be gaine. Where I cann helpe I trulie wille-mye promyse. The healer speaketh welle and P.S.-As Mr. Canton, in his letter to me, asks for a with­ trulie. You shall descrye much. I will helpe you. God be drawal of the pamphlet, I wish to inform him that I am agree­ with youre honse.-GEORGE RIPLEY.' We therefore decided to able to do so on condition that he also withdraws, from his have these relics cremated and the dust cast to the winds, only pulpit, the unfair remarks which be made about Spiritualism, retaining them .for ten days or a fortnight in order to take a mediums and followers.-D. N. B. plaster cast. I informed Mr. Edwards of our decision, and in [To enable the Rev. J. W. Canton to put himself right with the reply he wrote as follows :- readers of 'LIGHT,' we offered last week to print those pas­ ' The relics can well remain in your possession for the time sages from the manuscript of his lecture which bear on you mention, as G. R. will be in good surroundings. The refer­ the points raised by Mrs. Bellas, but have not yet received ence to the loss being gain was "doubly" meant, for you and from him any acknowledgment of our letter. Mr. Bellas for himself. More particularly he meant the loss of the relics forwards us a copy of the letter which his wife wrote on to you ! Not the money ! Of course I am the healer referred March 4th and &ent to the rev. gentleman, and asks, 'Why to, and I told you he would know all about it. I have been did not the Rev. Canton, instead of waiting three months, used very much in such work by spirits. It was time for his protest on receipt of that letter, or then make his suggestion advancement and the crowning of his ideals. He will give you to submit his MS. for examination ? ' Mr. Thos. Dabbs great help afterwards. The loss of the relics will remove a great writes supporting Mrs, Bellas, as also does Mr. J. B. Tetlow. burden from him. That is what you were impressed to go into -ED. LIGHT.'] the shop for ; to obtain the relics. . . If you cared to take a cast of the skull there would be no objection at all ; and so send the narrative to--. The publicity gh·en would cause To CORRESPONDENTS.-J. M. HUDSON.-The account yon other spirits to also be released from doctrinal fetters in spirit. give is substantially correct. It was published in 'LIGHT' He will be helped to more power at his next communication, in rnoa. and will ad vise you.' WE are pleased to learn that there is a prospect that our valued contributor, Mr. W. H. Evans, will remove from Exeter On May 18th, at 5.30 p.m., the influence was very strong­ to Merthyr Tydfil to take up the advocacy of Spiritualism in for the first time. We were compelled to put aside our read­ th'lt go-ahead centre in conjunction with·the local society. We ing.and proceed to the interview. congratulate our Merthyr friends on their choice, and wish Mr. George Ripley wrote : 'Nought is waste. Eache kynde Evans abundant success in his work. With the hearty co­ thought, eache ernest prayer fromme an pitifnlle harte have operation of the members and friends to encourage and support much worth for soulles. Kynde frendes and helpers, I am him, we are confident that he will gfre a good account of him­ gratefulle indeede. Fire cleanseth and purgeth. Hearken self, and be found a,n able and worthy representative of spiritual untoe thy frende the healer, so sballe learne ma,nnie thyn~es of truth. 288 LIGHT.. [June 15, 1912.

SOCIETY WORK ON SUNDAY, JUNE 9th, &o. BRIGHTON.-BRUNSWIOK HALL, 2, BRliNSWICK-STREET EAST, WESTERN-ROAD, HovE.-Sundays, at 7 p.m., address and clairvoyance. Circles : Tuesdays and Fridays, at 8 ; Thut'Sdays Prospectilve Notices, not erueedi,ng twent11-four words, ma11 bs added at 3.30; Wednesdays, at 8, materialising.-L. A. R. to reports if acc0'1114Janied by stamps to the 'IJalue of sia;pence.

LONDON SPIRITU'AL MISSION : 22, Prin.«s-street, Oxford-circus, MARYLBBONB SPmITUALIS!I! ABsoOIATION-Slteam's Res­ W.-Morning, at 11, Mr. H. G. Bea1·d, normal address. Even­ -taurant, 231, Tottenham Court-road, W.-Mrs. Imison's successful ing, at 7, Mr. P. E. Beard, address under influence and spiritual clairvoyant descriptions were much appreciated.-15, MObsession' ; at 7 p.m., Mr. Hanson G. Hey gave addresses on 'The Principle of Unity' Mr. McLellan. 20th, Mr. Stebbens. 27th, Mrs. Neville, naming and 'Thought a Principle' ; clairvoyance by Mr. A. Punter. a child.-A. T. C. 6th, address and clairvoyant descriptions by Mr. F. T. Blake. SHEPHERD'S BusH.-73, BECK.LOW-ROAD, W.-Evening, Mr. PLni:oUTH.-0DDFELLOWS1 HALL, MOBLEY-STREET. - Mr. Freehold gave an interesting reading, and Mre. Stenson clair, Lethbridge gave an address and Mrs. Summers clairvoyant voyant descriptions. 6th, Mrs. Hitchcock gave a short address descriptions. 5th, Mr. Prince gave address, and Mra. Trueman and weU-recognised clairvoyant descriptions. Sunday next, clairvoyance.-E. F. at 10.45 a.m., public circle ; 6.45 p.m., Mra. Podmore. Thm·sday, PoRTSMOUTH.-PROGRESSIVE MIZPAH HALL, WATERLoo­ at 8, Mrs. Neville. l!,riday, at 8, members' circle.-J. J. L. STREET.-Mrs. Harvey spoke on ' The Kingdom of Heaven' and CAMBJllRWELL NEW-ROAD. - SURREY MASONIC HA.LL. - 'Chl'ist, as Recognised by the Spiritualist.' 6.th, address and Mt'. W. E. Long gave addresses and messagE!l!- Evening clairvofance by Sister Rex: Luckier.-P. subject, 'The Christian: What he was, What he is, and What he PORTSMOUTH TEMPLJll. - VICTORIA-ROAD SOUTH. - Mr. will be.' Sunday next, at 11 a.m. and 6.30 p.m., Mr. Long. Richard ·Boddington spoke on 'Suffering and Service,' and 'A Evening subject, 'The Spiritualist : What he was, What he is, Man Approved of God.' Collect.ions given to the Portsmouth and What he will be.'-M. R. and Gosport Hospital Sunday Fund.-J. G. Mel<'. STRATFORD.-WORKMAN'S HALL, 27, ROMFORD-ROAD, E.­ TOTTENHAM.-684, HIGH RoAD.-We enjoyed a visit from ln the absence of Mr. and Mrs. Graham, Mr. W. H. Such read the Union of London Spiritualists. In the afternoon Mr. E. A. from ' LIGHT' Mr. Appleyard's address, ' My Reasons for being Rush read o.n interesting paper on 'Profession and Possession,' a Spiritualist after Many Years' Experience,' and Mrs. Mayo ga''i! and in the .e\•ening uplifting addresses were given ~Y Mr. G. T. well-recognised clairvoyance. Sunday next~ ~rs. A. Jamrach, Gwinn and Mr. E. A. Rush. Mr. and Mrs. Ru;ih gave some address, 'Science and the Soul,' and clairvoyance.-W. H. S. welcome music.-N. D. .PEaKHAM.-LAusA.NN111 HALL, LAUSANNE-ROAD.-,A.ddresses by Mr. Blackman on ' Peace ' and by Mrs. Podmore on ' Prayer.' Clairvoyance at both meetings. Afternoon, re-opening of the Lyceum. SuQ.day next, mol'Ding, Mr. Johnson; evening, Mr. A FULL repol't of the address embodying Mr. Stead's H. Leaf· at 3 p.m., Lyceum. Monaay, Mrs. Webster. Circles: narrative through Mrs. Richmond, including the introductory Tuesday: at 8.15, healing ; Thursday, at 8.15, public. Friday, remarks by Mrs. Richmond, has been issued in pamphlet form. at 8, choh'. 23rd, at 11.30 a.m. and 7 p.m., Mrs. A, Webb, Copies co.n be obtained, post free, fo1· 3d., from Mr. Geo. F. Q!lrden Party, 29th, not 22nd.-A, C, S, Jennings, 519l61 Union-avenue, Chicago, Ill., U.S.A. ight: A Journal of Psgohioa/, Oaoult, .and .Mgstioal Research.

'LJGHTI MORE LJGHT!'-Goethe, 'WHATSOEVER DOTH MAU MANIFii:ST rs LIGHT.'-Paul.

No. 1,641.-VoL. XXXII.] Registerect a•] SATURDAY, JUNE 22, 1912. [a Newspaper. J PRICE TwoPENCE; · "

CONTENTS. fact, I can myself imagine it as a sudden burst of extraordinarily NotesbytheWay ,.,, ___ ,,_289 Which Way? ...... 294. joyous excitement,- better far than awakening from a night~ r,,s,A. N otlces ...... 290 Dr. Ochorowicz on Etheric Hands Mr. Stead Manifests at Melbourne290 and Thought Photographs .... 295 mare dream ; something like finding oneself at home ag!lin Spiritualism as Social Saviour: An Explanation of T~lepathy .... 295 unexpectedly after long and painful wanderings. · No; 5. By Mr; E. Wake Cook 291 Items of Intere&t ...... 296 The Spirit-Healing of Dorothy The Fakir's 'Rope Trick' ..•..••. 297 Kerin ...... _ .. _ ...... 292 Fakir 'Mango and ' Basket' Clearly he is ' not far from. the Kingdom ' ! Notes from Abroad ...... 293 Tricks ...... "" ... , ...... 298 Mrs. Besant's Eulogy of Mr. Stead 298 Buddha an Agnostic ••••••• ·••••• 298 Vindication of Signor Carancini .. 298 A Spirit-Husband Manifests· •••. 299 Just as Dr. Johnson survived, in the literacy sense, NOTES BY THE WAY. mainly by reason · of his ' table· talk ' as reported 'by Boswell, so there are great minds whose title to literary A writer in 'The Tatler' is aggrieved because 'the · fame is chiefly confined to the aphorisms they wrote or. spirits who have " passed over "' are 'invariably so uttered. Of this class is Thomas Wedgwood, a selection utterly commonplace.' Well, the explanation is that they of whose 'manuscript notes' has been compiled and were originally for the most part-not 'invariably '-very . edited by Margaret Olivia Tremayne, under the title of. commonplace human beings in a commonplace world. That · 'The Value of a Maimed Life' (C. W. Daniel, 2s. 6d. net); is a piece of elementary knowledge with those who are . The work is prefaced by an introduction by Mrs. l\f. Ei able to write understandingly on the subject of the life Boole, in which she gives a critical estimate of the value after death. That the writer in 'The Tatler' is not of Wedgwood's ideas and influence on the thought of th~ equipped with any knowledge on the subject is sufficiently time. While apparently fragmentary, the ' observations ·~. shown by his surprise on learning that it is possible for a of which the book consists revolve around certain main; child to grow to maturity in the next life. It is, indeed, ideas, and are obviously the outcome to a large extent of a disquieting to discover that in the future life natural laws notR.ble gift of introspection. continue to operate ! The critic is apparently disturbed . by the fact that a spirit of exalted rank may not ' speak Some of Wedgwood's 'precepts,' as we may call the~; very good grammar,' and that Joan of Arc returns and appeal to us as having a profitable bearing on present;:day discourses in English instead of fourteenth century French. problems; as for instance :- ' Well, you cannot have it both ways and demand in one . . . There is at this moment a stock of energy, of un.der­ breath that the denizens of the next world shall be super­ standing and of. philanthropy that, rightly directed, might' natural beings and at the same time retain all the effect the salvation of the world. peculiarities that marked them on earth. Joan may have It is a pity that different speculative points have always outgrown her fourteenth-century French and, mastered been investigated and illustrated by persons who have warmly espoused one side or the other. Can the whole history of English. But more probably her messages-like those of so litemture present one work composed by a· man who had not at many others-are given in the language of the spirit-which· all made up his mind,. or attached feeling to one side 1 transcends human speech-and clothed in the imperfect . In praise of metaphysics, Wedgwood argues that it diction of everyday life by the recipient. The critic is sharpens the .wits and thus guards against the abuses that aghast at the frivolity of some of the spirits and demands arise from ambiguities of speech, which he thinks accounts a greater dignity of deportment. What a world of solemn for almost all deception in the intellectual world. Ha wiseacres the next would be if some of us had our way ! rightly sees that some men enter into metaphysics And what a great deal has to be learned concerning the in order to confuse others and themselves with subtleties~ essential meaning of lightheartedness in a world where sophisms and paradoxes. · gloom weighs down and deadens th!'. spirit ! But the critic "­ A thorough knowledge of metaphysics enables its' may be reassured. There are some very solemn souls in possessor to confute these. An invalid, refined, meditative;: the next world as well as in this. but supported through all by fidelity to truth and a desire: to be of service to his fellows, Thomas Wedgwood, by his The modern expansion of religious views is illustrated life and aphorisms, has well deserved the effort made to" in the appearance of ' Universalism, by a Believer' (Elliot . perpetuate his memory. Stock, 2s. 6d. net). It has, however, no special relation­ ship to the subjects with which we are mainly concerned. · We have progressed far beyond the stage when it is George Eliot shrewdly said, ·' It is not true that love: necessary to argue strenuously against the doctrine of makes a;ll things easy: it makes us choose what is difficult.' heaven for the elect few and perdition for the great multi­ That is quite true, but, to real love, the difficult 'becomes tude. But the book will none the less have a message for the easy. Thomas a Kempis, in 'The Imitation of Christ,' many who are still struggling on the confines of the region puts it right nobly: 'Love is a great and thorough good. of old theological beliefs. The author is sufficiently · By itself it makes light what is heavy; and it bears evenly advanced to bring to the aid of his reasoning the 'Creative all that is uneven. It carries a burden which is no burden, Evolution' of Bergson. And his view of death is a.t least and makes everything that is bitter awe.et. He that loveth hopeful:- flieth, runneth, rejoiceth : he is free and not held. Love· It may possibly turnmJ.t; when we come to try it, that dying · thinketh. notP,ing of trouble. Though weary, it is not may be ·a painle8s process or, indeed, even a _pleasan~ one. Iµ. tired j thou~h hard pressed ·it is not .. harassed ; -thou~h: 290 LIGHT. [June 22, 1912. alarmed it is not confounded ; but, as a living flame and LONDON SPIRITUALIST ALLIANCE, LTD, burning torch, it forceth its way upward, and securely GARDEN p ARTY. passeth through all.' By the kind invitation of Mr. and Mrs. Ellis T. Powell, a Garden Party will he held on Saturday, June 29th. from three The Frenchman who flung at us the reproach that to six o'clock in the afternoon, in the beautiful grounds of 'England is a country with forty religions and one gravy' 'Rosedene,' Brondesbury Park, N.W. Invitation cards have been sent to all subscribers to the Alliance residing ·near was not far wrong, except in his implied estimate of the London. Any of our country Members or .Associates who will comparative importance of religions and gravies. It is be in London at the time may have ticketll sent them on early almost a noble thing to be indifferent about distinctions in application to the Hon. Secretary, Mr. E. W. Wallis, 110, St. gravies; but it is altogether a noble thing to be particular Martin's-lane, W.C. .about one's religion. No one will think of accusing us of . SPIRIT HEALING.-Daily, except Saturdays, Mr. Percy R. sectarianism. We are indeed always protesting that all Street, the healing medium, will attend between 11 a.m. and religions are essentially one, but anxiety on this subject 2 p.m., at 110, St. Martin's-lane, W.C., for diagnosis by a spirit control, magnetic healing, and delineations from the personal · is admirable as showing seriousness and an inclination to aura. For full particulars see the advertisement supplement. set a high value upon the supreme realities. So far as religion is concerned, it is better for a man (or a woman) to be in dead earnest over a heresy than to be only formally MR. STEAD MANIFESTS AT MELBOURNE. or fashionably related to the most respectable orthodoxy. The Editor of 'The Harbinger of Light,' Mrs. Annie Bright, Why~- Because heresies and orthodo:xtles may all be only says in her 'Editorial Notes' for May:- matters of the casket, while the jewel is the longing to It is not possible to write these notes without first mention­ have ·and hold the truth. ing the great defender and exponent of Spiritualism, Mr. W. T. Stead, whose tragic leaving of the earth life hllS thrilled us all. For those of us who realise to the full the transitoriness of life Schiller somewhere says, ' There is no such thing as on this planet, viewing it me1·ely as the seed time of human chance. What appears to us as such is just what arises existence, and a school for the development of character, there from the deepest sources.' This is extremely likely to be is no room for terror, and even regret is shorn of half its bitter­ ness at lives apparently cut short. For there is no actual break true. Events that we can forecast and control belong very in life, which goes on beyond the change called death with much to the surface. At all events, the action of the renewed vigour and with opportunities that can scarcely be drama seems limited and obvious: but there is always gauged in this struggling existence. There has occurred in connection with Mr. Stead's transition one of those reniarkable something mysterious about what we call 'chance' which, and unsought for experiences which come unexpectedly in the as we ponder it, often suggests the deeper source, as though early morning when my spiritual and bodily po-wers are someone else were shuffling the cards and playing the lJeing replenished for the work that is set before me to do. game. Much of it would appear like a fairy-tale to the uninitiated as well as many similar experiences whose corroboration This may not always be really so, but we are fairly con­ has come afterwards in my daily life. Suffice it to say fident that it sometimes i~, and this gives us much ground that I was conscious of a great upliftment and the words, for trust, and offers a wide area of consolation. The un­ 'Stead is here,' came clearly to my spiritual ears. Then rapidly some writing which I .was enjoined by him to give somehow or seen operators do work, that is certain. Some call them somewhere in this issue of the paper. He had read my article, 'God' ; some, angels sent by Him. On the whole, we that was not to be disturbed, but in 'Personals' or elsewhere to prefer to call them 'spirit-people,' and to comfort and let the world know something of the joy of the new-found gladden ourselves with the belief that amongst these spirit­ world. ' Just tell them,' he said, ' that I am full of delight at my new surroundings ; full of delight that this world is even people there are some, perhaps many, who cared for us and more full of joy and ecstasy than I had essayed to tell people helped us here. in earth life ; so full of joy that I waut to wipe the tears from eyes that weep through this terrible disaster ; so full of joy that I want to take doubt from every downcast soul So full of SPIRITUAL PRAYERS. delight that I can help my beloved even more than when on (From many sh1·ines.) earth. My affairs will go on all right. For myself, it was a swift passage, a short, despairing time-chaos, confusion, only to 0 Lord of Life, Centre and Source oi all being, who bast find myself lifted out of it by loving spirits all around me. planted in our hearts the faith and hope which look beyond Everything so real and so tangible that I felt as if on an .en­ our mortal life to another, we give thanks to Thee for the chanted island, having escaped from a ship wrecked on its bright shining of the light of the immortal life, for our con­ shores. So close is this spiritual realm to the earth, that we can sciousness of companionship with Thy ministering spirits of understand how those with open vision get glimpses of beautiful Truth. As Thou hast showed us the blessedness of heaven scenery and angelic being9. The people still on earth are in a on earbh, and hast called us into a kingdom not of this fog, rushing after what is of no value, and only those ean be happy who get attuned to spiritual things. I can write through world, we would that our life be made ever richer in the you so easily.' · things that do not pass away. Raise us up, we pray Thee, All who know me best are well aware that it is contrary to in the power of Thy Spirit, from the death of sin to the my usual custom to mention publicly, or even to intimate life of righteousness, that we may delight to walk in the friends, the marvellous asst1rances that come to me in every path of duty and love, prepared to follow the monitions of trying time, of guidance from a spiritual conclave, which directs Thy Spirit in hope and trust, through the darkness of the not only the work of the circle, with its wonderful teaching but incident of death into the world of light and life eternal. the paper itself. From my previous knowledge of these things, And, when our spirits shrink before the mysteries of life I personally accept my message on this occasion as true. It is and change, may we be comforted by the thought of that only the strong and earnest desire, almost command, that immortal Love which knows no change, and feel that we accompanied it which has made me depart from my usual rule. Much more. was saiil of my work a:nd life generally, and if my are safe in Thine everlasting arms. Amen. paper appeals in the future more strongly to the public, if I get the ear of the thousands who are waiting for these truths, it will be because one more helper has passed to that great world of 'MYSTIC LIGHT,' of New York, a magazine of high standing, causes and a fresh impulse towards still better work has come of which Mr. W. J. Colville was recently editor, has been taken thereby. over by 'The Spiritual J oumal,' of 1140, Columbus-avenue, :Boston. As it is expected that the able writers whose work has A GOOD way in which our readers may help to 'spread the hitherto appeared in ' Mystic Light' will now contribute to the light' is by doing as does a kindly correspondent who writes: 'I 'Journal,' it has been decided to increase the size of the latter never fail to commend " LIGHT" to members of societies, both paper by at least four pages, the price, however, remaining as here and anywhere I go, and to any "anxions inquirers" regard­ hitherto, viz., ten cen(;s monthly. ing the trnths of Spiritualism,' June 22, 1912.] LlGHT. 291

SPIRITUALISM AS SOCIAL SAVIOUR : and subordinated into musical unity in the human organism, A. J. DAVIS, THE REFORMER. supply us with models to be worked out correspondentially in our political and social reconstructions. Nature herself supplies BY E. wAKE COOK. the models and the criteria for judging the rightness of all our (Continued from page 280.) efforts at organisation. The doctrine of correspondences, as expounded by Dr. Davis, used to seem fanciful and unreal to me v. for many years, but now I am more than convinced of its pro· We now arrive at the culmination of the system of social found truth and usefulness. reconetruction suggested by Andrew Jackson Davis. He puts When all the rest of the community is organised on the his views forward only as hints and suggestions, to be improved principles suggested by Davis, on as experience dictates ; so fearful is he of putting men in the highest profession will be compelled (for they will not make shackles or leading strings. In these suggestions there are many the move without compulsion) .to form a similar constitution lacunre, and it is not clear whether these associations are to con· for the unrestricted dissemination of knowledge, the crushing of stitute the State, or are to be merely constituents of it. The prejudices, and the advancement of the moral and intellectual world. The clerical professicm must form an institution for the crowning institution, the association of the clergy, is in some purpose of moral culture and spiritual progress. . . This things to legislate for the people ; so this would constitute a institution is to be arranged upon principles similar to those con· theocracy ; but one vastly different from anything hitherto trolling the others-with members so arranged as to produce an called by that name. The clergy under this system would be harmonious movement, both among themselves and with reference ministers, philosophers, and scientific men ; gathering up all to the community. It is to be the seminary for instruction, knowledge into their hands, they would represent the highest especially for instruction in the higher branches of knowledge. It is to have concentrated all the combined literature, science1 wisdom and would legislate out of the fulness of their knowledge. philosophy, and theology that now exists in the universities and ·we are now faced by a very important consideration, one of collegiate institutions of the land. Their object must be to momentous import. It is borne in upon me more and more as I understand the depths and widths of natural law and science ; study the teachings of the Prophet Davis, that he announces to bring forth and analyse all the theological isms of the land ; what is written on the scroll of human knowledge, and this will to reject the evil and preserve the good out of the vast congre­ gradually unfold itself until it becomes the common property of gation of systems ; to understand the theology of Nature, and the manifest constitution of the Divine Mind, and to blend the race, or all the advanced portions of it. So what he science, and theology, and reason, and philosophy into one modestly calls 'suggestions' may in reality be predictions of grand system of education. They must discard all restriction what is to come. Now when we look around and see the of thought and invest.igation, au circumscribing prejudices, all incipient Anarchism in all departments of human activity, we unholy teachings and systems that now pervade the mental ask ourselves whether we must not look beyond all the ideas of world ; and finally, they must discard all things tending to establish sects, or to promote distinction or prejudice, and receive social and political reconstruction now current to something only that which flows spontaneously from the indications of different and better which has not yet appeared above the horizon Nature, and the sanctions of a free and well-constructed judg­ of our 'leaders' of thought. The party system leads to whole­ ment. This must be the object impressed upon such a number sale demoralisation ; the most potent of forces, the Press, is of clergymen before they can effectually reform the social and divided into hostile camps, and everything is distorted and mis­ moral world, and form an immovable institution of knowledge represented in party interests, in a way to weaken moral fibre. and righteousness. The central power is being threatened by organised interests ; , The members of this association may be divided into six Socialism was to be the panacea for all ills ; this is now being classes. superseded by the anti-social forces of 'Syndicalism,' which To preserve form and order, they should be situated in pro• threaten to paralyse Government and set up vast and irresponsible gressive relation to each other, so that the six series may . be so Trusts. .Anarchical violence is rampant in many forms, and, as many steps of literary, scientific and theological development, I have elsewhere shown, we have Anarchism in literature, in art, commencing at the primary class, and ascending to him ·wh:> presides in the sanctuary of the people. . . They must take up and in philosophy. In literature, in England, it began with the various subjects where the physician leaves off. And the Oscar Wilde's premature lament on ' The Decay of Lying' ; this results accumulated by them must be transferred to the second led to the pestilent, but fashionable, paradox, in which every degree, and so on Upward to the sixth. . . Thence their vast axiom of ethics, taste, every rule for upward human endeavour scientific and spiritual accumulations will flow to the lower is inverted, or contradicted, and these inversions are supported associations, be comprehended by them, well adapted to their by ingenious sophistry. This was regarded as immensely clever wants, actualised, and made eminently useful and practical. and funny, but I demonstrated in 'The Contemporary Review ' The artistic, sartorial, and architectural needs are all to the essentially demoralising effects of this topsy-turvydom. In be provided for. art we have the same thing ; all criteria are inverted; all The six degrees are all steps of relative perfection. Each institutions, such as the Academy, are steadily defamed by the person, according as he has advanced, may be designated by the critics, so there is nothing to prevent the Anarchists from peculiar brilliancy, taste, and elegance of his habiliments. A distinction must thus be established, in order that there may acclaiming any monstrosities as works of supreme genius. In be an attraction for the situation of every individual that will philosophy and religion we have much the same thing-in the extend to and elevate the lower classes. The members in the work of Nietzsche and others-and we have the most murderous various degrees are to be situated iu positions agreeable to their crimes justified by the teachings of anarchist 'philosophers.' All most wise desires, and according to their abilities to sustain and these things are causing the gravest misgivings in the minds of render themselves useful. The establishment to be erected by the thoughtful ; and there is a blind groping for something this institution may in its architectural qualities display all' the superior combinations of beauty, use, form, adaptation, agree· higher, better, and more authoritative. There is no going back ; ableness, and magnificence. It may be decorated with examples all these things are diseases of comparative childhood, and of every mechanical and architectural invention. It may repre· will have to be gone through like teething and the measles. sent in structure extern.ally the combined contributions of art, Now, if this idea, that will force itself on me, that human science, and architecture, and be a standard of magnificence ; knowledge, human destiny, is written, as it were, on a steadily and all this for the important purpose of representing the unfolding scroll, and that the prophets, like Davis, can read much advancement of this age beyond those that are gone by, and for the purpose of indicating the progress of the race. The structure of this years in advance of the rest of mankind, then in these should be such as to captivate all tastes and affections, and suit 'suggestions' we may have the true solution of the difficulties all desires in respect to order, form, and splendour ; and it confronting us. Davis sends us to investigate the underlying should be a standing representative of the wisdom, wealth, principles of Nature which form an adamantine foundation for strength, opulence, and refinement of the whole nation. social superstructures. All human endeavour should he directed . The emperor and his courtiers and councillors [this from a republican!] are to legislate for the several associations within towards org-,mising all institutions, and the whole of humanity, the circumference assigned to their institutiou. They are to on lines conesponding with the principles exhibited in Nature's disseminate, irrespectively, justice and judgment to every indi­ highest organisms. All the harmonious motions in planetary vidual, and to be governors, presidents, kings, or lords, to systems; all the marvellous co-operative activities, correlated exercise justice and· wisdom as derived from science and the 292 LIGHT. '[June 22, 1912 savings of combined systems by them accumulated, analysed, THE SPIRIT.:.HEALING OF ·ooROTHY KERIN. refined, and practically applied. A.s for the Press, he suggested the very arrangements In his work entitled 'Faith and Suggestion' Mr. E. L. A.sh which the Harmsworths ha\'e since carried out with such includes an interesting and valuable account of the remarkable amazing success. While all the associations are to be thus experiences of Dorothy Kerin, the South London young lady, arranged on ·something like hierarchical priµciples, yet the aged twenty-two, who, after several years' illness, appeared to democratic equality is secured by the system of education he ·be rapidly approaching the end, but was suddenly restored to suggests. While each association should have the form of educa­ health and strength as the result of a vision and the encourage­ tion best suited to· its needs, there· should be a perfect inter­ ment of a 'voice,' which assured her that her sufferings were at change between them all ; so that the son of the lawyer, for in­ an end, and con~manded her to get up and walk. Mr. A.sh gives stance, would be free to gravitate to the farmers' schools, or to full particulars of. this case, which he has thoroughly investi­ the highest of all, as inclination and ability dictate. So many gated. He found that during the last two years of illness she evils arise from the tragedies of mistaken vocations; then, as all wa.~ conaidered to be in an advanced state of consumption. The forms of work would be held to be equally honourable, and all doctor who attended her 'stated very

NOTES FROM ABROAD. 'Le Messager' mentions a curious phenomenon which occurred lately at a seance held in Paris. The medium was given an ordinary sewing needle and a thread of white cotton, and was re­ Recently the ' Psychische Studien' contained an article quested to place the needle in one corner of the room, and the entitled 'A Ghost Story from the Time of the French Revolu­ thread in the opposite corner. Commandant Heider made a tion.' It had -reference to an incident which occurred at a firm knot in some twine and fixed it like a cravat round the French mill during the revolutionary period. There are several neck of one of the gentlemen present. The sitters, with the versions of it current, but the following, related by Col. Le medium, then assembled round a table and the lights were ex­ Grosnier himself, to whom it happened, seems to be the most tinguished. After some time, the twine with the knot undone authentic. We quote CoL Le Cl'Osnier's own words : 'Towards was, by imisible hands, removed from the gentleman's neck the end of the year 1792 I was stationed in the camp near and placed on the table, whilst the needle with the threaded Verberie, w)l.ich was altogether in a wretched state. cotton was put in his hand. Fortunately, when reconnoitring, I came upon a deserted mill, F.D. in which I settled myself as best I conld in company with a captain of my regiment and my own servant. One evening when my two companions were already asleep, and when I was MRS. BESANT'S EULOGY OF MR. STEAD. about to follow their example, I heard a dull noise, apparently coming from a trapdoor in the middle of the room. On looking The July ' Theosophist' contains the following note by Mrs.­ towards it, I noticed something white arising out of the dark­ Besant on Mr. Stead :- ness, and moving slowly towards my bed. I threatened the phantom that I would seize it unless it would declare its All good causes have lost an intrepid and dauntless identity. Not receiving an answer, I grasped my sword and champion in the passing away of William T. Stead in the rushed towards the apparition. It vanished, and I came in terrible foundering of the 'Titanic.' Absolutely fearless of violent contact with the opposite wall. Robert, my brother consequences, careless of his own profit and reputation when the officer, awoke and asked the meaning of this nocturnal 1·ight was at stake, willing at all times to fling his body into the disturbance. Before I could explain, the phantom re-ap­ breach in defence of the slandered and the oppressed, he died ae peared, and this time it clearly replied to my question. he had lived, shining out conspicuously amid the heroic crowd " My name is Fraw;iois," it said ; " I was by trade a who accepted death that women and children might live. Few baker, and was killed by a mob during one of the first men have been more bitterly attacked, for he was generally on revolutionary risings. This mill belonged to me. My sister, the unpopular side, but all his fellow-jonrnalists unite now in a who is my next heir, cannot take possession of it, as the chorus of praise. In spirit he was a modern Cromwell, sure documents proving her legal right to it cannot be found. Tell that he was merely an instrument in the hands of God to defend her that they are deposited with the notary at Verl>erie." Having the right, to strike at the wrong. He believed in England and said this, the apparition vanished. My comrade had heard the the Empire, regarding the Englishman as 'God's man,' chosen message as well as myself. The following morning, whilst we to rnle and shape the world ; and he was, therefore, bitterly were loitering in the porch, a small waggonette drove up. A angry when he acted unjustly, tyrannically, unworthily, thus woman stepped out of it, uttered a scream, and fell in a swoon failing in the great mission entrusted to him. He was an at my feet. After having regained consciousness she told me Imperialist through and through, bnt the Empire he dreamed that she had seen me in her dream the night previous, dressed in of was to be the protector of the. poor, the defender of the the same clothes as I was then wearing, and that I had requested oppressed, the upholder of righteousness, the enemy of wrong. her to come to the mill, when I would let her know where to General Gordon and Mr. Rhodes were among his ideals, and he find the missing documents. I, on my part, informed. her of my n~ver forgave what he regarded as the betrayal of the great mysterious interview with her brother. _ We then went together soldier. When England was false to her traditions, as in the to the notary at Verberie, where, after some search, the neces­ prolonged denial of ariy self-government to India; he spoke out sary papers were discovered.' strongly and unfalteringly ; one of his unfulfilled dreams was a journey to India, to see with his own eyes the people whose cause . Alois Kaindl, who writes about the above in the 'Psychische he championed ; he would ask me eagerly about every stage in Studien,' adds : ' The task of proving the truth of this story lies the long struggle, and shared my delight when the first step with those who have easy access to the original French accounts, towards self-government was taken, in spite of the cry to with· bnt I must draw the reader's attention to the fact that in Papon's hold any increased liberty until 'order' was restored. The last well-known historical work on the French Revolution there time I saw him, on March 27th, when I lunched with him at occurs the following passage : "It (the mob) murdered on . the Savoy . he was as full of life and of plans for the October 21st a baker of the name of Fran9ois, and carried his future as ever, and we arranged to meet for another talk on my head on a bayonet before the very doors of the National return from India. For more than a quarter of a centnry he. Assembly."' and I had been close and affectionate friends, and he had a genins for friendship. Many and many a heart will be sad for 'Life and Death in the Light of Spiritualism' is the title of his ongoing-too soon for the world he served-but, as he well: o,ne of many interesting articles in 'La Revue Spirite' for April. knew, death is not really separation, and he has gone only· Its author, M. Dubois de Montreynaud, asks the question : to return. 'What is Death 1'-to which he replies : 'Death is but the dawn of a new, or rather of the real life, when the spirit takes its flight towards the infinite to which it is attracted because itis THE VINDICATION OF SIGNOR CARANCINI. itself infinite and immortal. The teachings of the orthodox religions about so-called death are more or less terrifying and Signor Antonio Bruers has published a report in the pages or' depressing ; those of Spiritualism, on the contrary, are full of 'Luce e Ombra,' on behalf of the Roman and Milanese Society sweetness and consolation. The Spirit.ualist awaits the supreme moment with the calm of a philosopher, with trust in God and for Psychic Studies, of a satisfactory sitting (one of a series) held' hope in a better life. Death is uncertain, but it is just this with the medium Carancini on February 19th, at 9.30 p.m., at t'tncertainty which we ought to look upon as a great blessing. It the society's headquarters in Rome. is, or, in any case, it ought to he, a curb on our evil actions as It will, perhaps, he recollected that this medium had previously: well as an incentive towards perfection.' given a number of sittings at the Psychological Laboratory of the· The 'Uebersinnliche Welt' for April publishes many strik­ University at Geneva, and that Professor Claparlidi's report CIU!t· ing proofs obtained through the mediumship of the German serious discredit on the genuineness of the phenomena witnessed medium, Herr Petzold, who, as readers of 'LIGHT' will remember, on those occasions. was some time ago accused of fraud, but acquitted, his case being It appears from Signor Bruers' account that the Roman the first on record in which any Court of Justice has publicly sittings were held under favourable conditions as regards light admitted the existence of psychic powers. In reference to it, Dr. Nagel, of Berlin, remarks: 'Mr. Petzold is undoubtedly one and strictness of control, and that the phenomena, though of a of our best mediums, and the proofs are so striking that doubt simple kind, consisting principally in the levitation and displace­ ought to be out of the question, but the materialistic views of ment of various objects, were such as to preclude all doubt as to our time, as well as religious narrow-mindedness, prevent many their genuine character. from recognising the genuineness and far-reaching inflnence of ' The sittings commenced in yellow light, and this passed Spiritualism. Amongst the so-called thinkers there are few who successively through three gradations of red to light permitting think independently and who can free themselves from precon­ ceived and erroneous opinions. Truth, however, will finally the exposure of the photographic objective.' The reproduction break all harriers ; .the frailty of dogmas and prejudices will be of a good photograph sho,ving the levitation of a small table over recognised and full j nstice done to occultism.' the medium's head accompanies the report. 294 LIGHT. [June 22, 1912

OFFICE OF 'LIGHT,' 110, ST. MARTIN'S LANE, Many of us never travel far beyond that stage of LONDON, W.O. SATURDAY, JUNE 22ND, 1912. courageous hope, the trust that 'somehow good may be the final goal of ill.' We keep on our way ' with a dim per­ ception of a journey,' shoulder aside the 'crowding ~igltt: themes,' sift and sort systems of thought, and modes of A Journal of.Psychical, Occult, and Mystical Research. life, until 'Time and the hour' have carried us out of the PRICE TWOPENCE WEEKLY. struggle. But to some there come the great illuminations. COMMUNIOATIONS intended to be printed should be addressed to There are more of these than the world wots of. With the Editor, Office of • LrnHT,' 110, St. Martin's Lane, London, W.C. Business communications should in all cases be addressed to Mr. 'small Latin and less Greek' they have contrived somehow F. W. South, Office of 'LIGHT,' to whom Obeques and Postal to learn ' the tongue that Spirits use.' Over these the Orders should be made payable. tumult of intellectual systems has no power. They are Subscription Rate~.-· LIGHT' may be bad free by post on the following undisturbed by the shock of conflicting doctrines. The terms :-Twelve months, 10s. lOd ; six months, 6s. 6d. Payments to be ma.de in advance. To United States, 2dol. 70c. To France, discovery that some great light of religion or moral Italy, &c., 13 francs 86 centimes. To Germany, 11marks25 pfg. philosophy is a sorry fraud grieves but does not shake Wholesa.le Agents: MeBBrs. Simpkin, Marshall, Hamilton, Kent and Oo., Ltd., 31, Paternoster-row, London, E.C., and 'LIGHT' can be them. Through the clash of schools, the war of classes, ordered through all Newsagents and Booksellers. the welter of vice and crime they pass, troubled at times, APl'LICATIONS by Members and Associates of the London Spirit­ but in their inner lives serene and assured. ualist Alliance, Ltd., for the loan of books from the Alita.nee Library should be a.ddreBBed to the Librarian, Mr. B. D. Godfrey, How best can we emulate their example 1 Not certainly Office of the Alliance, 110, St. Martin's-lane, W.C. by imitation, for every soul is a law to itself. There is a 'diversity of gifts,' and imitation, though it be the WHICH WAY~ sincerest form of flattery, is, after all, only-imitation. The secret is true self-expression, and the way to it lies through It needs a clear sight and a cool brain to thread one's obedience. The great, calm soul is the soul that has way safely through the welter of modern thought. New obeyed the laws of its being. The fretful, restless ones ideas, new modes of life, new philosophies meet us on are those that have disregarded those laws and paid the every hand. Their utterance finds echoes everywhere. penalty of vexation and unrest. It is simple enough­ They are seized upon, distorted, watered down, or Trnth is divinely simple-yet in that word 'Obedience' elaborated with fantastic additions, until the student, lies the first principle of right living. No .soaring after the seeking the truth, finds himself utterly baffled and con­ unattainable, no diving into the unfathomable, but just fused. Bewildered in a maze of crowding themes, Obedience. And then the way is magically clear. For O'erwhehned with multiplicity of books, just in so far as the soul obeys its own unwritten laws is it Each calling out, 'Lo, here I I am the way.' enabled to express its powers and unfold all its possibilities Truly it is a time of ferment, and there is much of growth. All the discords come from rebellion-all the skimming a~d straining to be done before the 'ethereal chafing and disquiet arise from the mutinous spirit, for fluid ' of wisdom can be gained. In the meantime, how­ here the mutiny is not against man-made laws and unjust ever, much of the travail of the time is needless. It is due social conditions, but against the Divine Order. And the to that old and deep-rooted error that looks to the external rebellion springs from many causes, not all selfish or world for a solution of the mysteries ; that troubles itself malignant in their intention, but all punished-the self­ with the conflicting statements of guides and teachers each abasement of the mind that leans upon others equally with expressing his own point of view. The truest philosophy the arrogance of the mind that dictates and enslaves. is that which introduces man to himself as his own seer Neither is obedient and neither, by consequence, expresses and expositor; which teaches him that this only is itself truly. For som.e the lesson is to be hard.and painful Truth which is true to the soul that aspires. One who in spite of its simplicity. Torrents of moral philosophy sought ardently for light on the mysteries of existence was will be poured out in vain for these. They will only learn brought into contact with a system of life and thought that by experience, but once the experience is heeded-either changed the whole world for him. Full of joy, he thanked in this world or the next-the ii-rat step will b.ave been the friend who had rendered him this service. 'I owe you taken towards the heights. There, for them, 'endeth the a great debt of gratitude,' he said; 'you have led me to a first lesson.' region of wonder and delight.' 'I have led you nowhere,' Obedient to the law of the Spirit, the 'crowding was the reply; 'I have only persuaded you to open your themes' and 'multiplicity of books' need trouble us no. eyes.' It was a true saying, for the ' meads of Asphodel ' longer. They may interest, instruct, amuse, but they have lie all about us as we go, although we may be under the nq commands for us. We are not to be bewildered by delusion that our pilgrimage is to a far country. Books their contradictory orders and instructions. They may and sermons, study and meditation, may help us to purge help us to an understanding of much of the minutire of our vision, but we are ourselves the beginning and end of life, but they cannot take the place of our inward the quest. The greater our realisation of that truth the counsellor. We have our own Pilot, and we sail no un­ less shall we perplex ourselves about the multitude of ways, charted seas. and the clamorous calls hither and thither. The poet who 'Who suffers conquers,' and we may add, 'He who saw the world as 'madly jangled' was doubtless sublimely obeys commands,' for only the man who obeys is the true unconscious that much of the jangle was in himself. Yet captain of his soul. We may doubt our religious teachers, even he discerned that distrust our political and social leaders, look askance at our An impulse from the distance scientific authorities and earn the name of rebels and Of our brightest, best existence Towards the words, ' Faith, Hope, Persistence ' insurrectionaries, but obedient to the voice of the Spirit Strongly sets and truly burns. .all shall be well with us, for obedience is the first flower· That was, to a large extent, an intellectual solution of ing in the soul of the twin principles of Love and Wisdom the problem, and, indeed, be who would steer aright, by the -and then the life light of the intellect, is sadly in need of all the faith, hope . Is ever after glorified-has found and persistence he can muster. The opening and the everla.sting way. June 22, 1912.] LIGHT. 295

DR. OCHOROWICZ ON ETHERIC HANDS AND Mrs. Piper is returning to the normal state, i.e., to the body, she THOUGHT PHOTOGRAPHS, speaks as if she were entering a dark hole. These experiences seem to show that the etheric state isl uminous, that spirit bodies BY H. A. DALLAS. shine. ·This is quite consistent with tradition and Scripture. It is stated that in the transfiguration of Jesus the face and The article by Dr. Ochorowicz which appears in the April whole form were shining and glistering; angels are described as number of 'Annales Psychiques' is prefaced by the following in shining garments. This effect would proballly be the result editorial note.s, which show how important are the experiences of partial dematerialisation in the case of one still in the body, with which the article deals :- an:l partial materialisation in the case of an angel or spirit who This fresh article is doubtless the most important-one may was able to manifest to the physical senses of those still incarnate even say the most sensational-which Dr. Ocborowicz has yet in dark matter. published in these columns since be began to report his re­ Dr. Ochorowicz noted that the forms of the hands that appeared searches in connection with the radiography of the human body. Starting with the verification of an astonishing phenomenon, sometimes resembled those of the medium and sometimes did namely, the radio-photography of an etheric hand upon a sensi­ not. This reminds me of a seance with Mrs. Corner at which I tive film, rolled together and enclosed in a bottle, he passes on was present, when the same effect was observed. Some hands to a most interesting attempt to photograph thought. appeared which were like her own, and some which were different From the outset of the article disturbing questions suggest from hers. themselves concerning the fourth dimension and ideoplasticity, Dr. Ochorowicz bas kept two distinct objects in Yiew in his and, finally, phantom forms plastic to the touch, which have (1) the appearance of ff,at forms when photographed. researches : To discover, if possible, what are the properties of the etheric body. (2) To learn how far the ideas of the medium The following footnote is added :- may modify it. We do not merely refer to the photographs obtained with He says:- Mademoiselle Linda Gazzera (i.e., Dr. Ochorowicz's subject). A few days ago Baron L. von Erhardt wrote to us from Rome The results obtained are far from satisfying my personal about a materialised hand which had just been photographed at curiosity ; but I think it is nevertheless expedient to make them a seance with the medium Ca1·ancini. He was himself convinced known in order to stimulate others to make complementary of the reality of the phenomenon, but did not send me the investigations and to verify the results. photograph because it produces an unfavourable impression, Anyone who peruses this record of careful experiments can­ being flat in appearance. I begged him to send it nevertheless, not but admire the patient, unprejudiced attitude of the investi­ telling him that for some time past photographs of this kind gator and, not less, the sympathetic considerationand teachable­ had been obtained with a medium in Paris, under satisfactory ness which he displays to such an eminent degree. These conditions of control We spoke lately of the matter to a well­ known psychical researcher, as suggesting the hypothesis of a qualities must have immensely facilitated his studies by winning fourth dimension. The last experiments of Dr. Ochorowicz were the confidence and co-operation of his medium, and fitting his not then known to us. What interesting surprises await us in mind to form a judgment on the surprising facts which have this research at perhaps no distant date l come to light. Dr. Ocborowicz begins by summarising the conclusions to (To be continued.) which his earlier experiments have led him. I will mention a few of his points. AN EXPLANATION OF TELEPATHY, He has observed that the properties of the etheric bands are Dealing with the question, 'What is Mental Telepathy7' Dr. not always constant; their changes show that when certain kinds B. F. Austin, B.A., in ' Reason' for April, says :- of manifestation occur it is at the expense of others. The causes In Parkdale, Toronto, during the Boer War, a son in the of these changes are very little understood ; but they appear to family. of a neighbour of mine had gone out to the war with the Le affected by the 'goodwill,' or the reverse, of the medium. Canadian contingent, and a daughter was in the home one day There is an alternative character about these transformations; when suddenly she experienced a strange sensation. There for instance, a well materialised hand when clearly visible is flashed before her a vision of troopers riding across the veldt mechanically inactive ; mechanical effects are generally produced and she saw her brother among them, wounded in the shoulder, by invisible hands. The same holds good for chemical, luminous and falling from his horse. At once she cried out : ' George is shot, I saw him falling from his horse. His wound is in the and acoustic effects. shoulder.' She could not be pacified-nor could her friends The Doctor tells us that he has never observed more than persuade her it was aught but real. And later letters proved two etheric hands at the same time with his medium, but these George was shot at that hour (comparing differences in t.hne) hands do not necessarily seem to be located as in the material and under exactly tho~e circumstances. This was a case of un­ body-a right hand may issue from a left shoulder, for instance. conscious telepathy. Feebly materialised hands ar!l damp and unpleasant to the touch ; Here, we think, is the explanation. All thought, emotion and volition are accompanied by brain vibration. This vibra­ fully materialised they feel like normal hands. Materialised tory action agrees with the intensity of the thought and sends hands can be photographed, and invisible hands can also produce out concentric waves in the etheric realm. Sensitive minds­ a radiographic effect on the plate. The light by which this minds on the same plane of thought and feeling~readily catch, radiograph is produced is emitted sometimes from the hand of these etheric vibrations and, if they are intense enough, they the medium !lnd sometimes from the double itself. rouse the brain of the recipient to consciousness. In most cases they affect our unconscious meutation only, and are not suffi­ It is a curious and significant fact that when an etheric hand ciently powerful to awaken consciousness. radiates light it does not, and apparently cannot, materialise at Now when George was shot his brain activity was raised to the same time ; by tbe act of materialising it lose9 its luminosity. an abnormal rate of vibration and his first ·thought was of home This significant fact seems to indicate in the language of science -probably of his sister-and his mental action was so powerful what Alfred Tennyson has already told us in the language of that it carried not only the thought of his own mind but all the poetry. Addressing his new born child, in De Profundis, he vibratory action of the place and surroundings with it and ·gave her a flash vision of what was at that moment occurring. It was wrote:- like a lightning flash through the darkness of a storm, illumina­ 0 dear Spirit, half lost ting for an instant every object in the scene. In thine own shadow, and the fleshly sign That thou art thou. To CoRRESPONDENTs.-S. B.-You cannot do better than No poet's imagination has ever exceeded in wonder the read a copy of a penny pamphlet by Mr. J. Fraser Hewes, •A realities which are becoming manifest as the result of earnest Sketch of the Vivisection Question.' It can be procured at 32, research, but our poets may help us to recogniRe the significance Charing Cross, Whitehall, S.W. G. A. T. MoNIE.-Mr. of the facts which we are . verifying, and we shall do well to D'Albe has had a good deal of expel'ience of psychic phenomena. study them side by side with scientific examination lest we fail He spoke of the need for cautions investigation, and his warning against accepting and acting upon advice from persons 'on the to discern all that the facts might teach us. other side,' unless such advice commends itself to the recipient's We should remember, also, that the term constantly used by judgment, was just such advice as all experienced Spiritualists Mrs. Piper's controls for a medium is 'the light,' and that when give. 296 LIGHT. [June 22, 1912.

ITEMS ·oF INTEREST. A Calcutta eorrespondent askS, ' Can "nothing be done for Spiritualism in. India 1 The sµbject is hardly known here, in the M:r. J. Levin,. of J eppes, Transvaal, South Africa, says that true sense of the word, and we get no teachers, or helpers, on at, a Sunday e\·ening meeting, at which he was present, Mrs. the subject. There m~y be Spi~itulllists, of whom one does not t'Iace-Veary gave a description and name of a spirit, John Watt, know, but there is no way of finding out, or of bringing them but no one in the audience recognised him. On the following together .in a· bond of fellowship. I am too much of a beginner ;r'uesday Mr.. Levin noticed in the m\)rning paper, amongst the to be of any good, but we sadly need a helper out here.' Surely, 'Death' notices, the name of John David Watt, who ilied on in a land where psychical powers are so prevalent, or at least are the previous Sunday, at Boksburg, as the result of ah accident. supposed to be, it should be possible to form home circles and lle .thinks that this must have been the individual m:entioiied get mediums developed. We have ad vised our correspondent to by Mrs. Yeary, and that there was no likelihood whatever of the procure 'The Hindu Spiritual Maga11;ine.' · medium having received any informaticn about the death by any ordinary agency. We thank. our correspondent for a long and interesting letter, and hope that the visit of Mrs. Wriedt to . In a 'success' letter to 'The Nautilus,' E. C. Greene tells South Africa will do a great deal of good. the secret of true success, as he found it. He says : 'From a very imperfect viewpoint, at one time, much that I viewed as Dr. Abraham Wallace, writing in ' The Vahan' for June, failure is now understood as success. And it has become says of Mr. Stead : 'His great ambition was not so much for clear to me that. anyone having won the trustful attiti1de. merely personal knowledge, hut, if possible, to break down the of mind has succeeded and needs only to add to trustfulness, ramparts of time-worn prejudice, found in all classes-not only activity in the spirit of loving helpfulness, where\·er or in what­ in "the ecclesiastical field, but amongst the pseudo-scientists who ever . sphere he may find himself, to become convinced that persuaded themselves that they adopted the methods of science. success does not always manifest as possessions, fame, &c., but He had, undoubtedly, little patience with the slow, steady lies in the mental attitude toward life. In short, the peaceful, methods of the Society for Psychical Research, and he some­ trustful, active soul need not concern hill1Self about success. times rather severely criticised its want of progress towards He (or she) 1,s success and will make for success wherever he definite conclusions. What pleased him greatly during the life may be, by a law which is the same "yesterday, to-day, and Of "Borderland" and since, were the ·results of psychic study forever,'' on all planes, in all worlds.' visible on the part of many thoughtful persons within various o_rthodox churches, as he felt certain that many had found a key to some of the mysteries of their faith.' W. E. Towne, in 'The Nautilus' for June, deals wisely with the present 'worry over the growth of indifference to the - The Melbourne ' Harbinger of. Light' for May contains a creeds and churches,' which, he says, 'has its .1·ise in the funda­ special plate-paper supplement giving a fine portrait of Mr. mental error of confounding doctrine with religion.' To the W. T'. Stead and an 'appreciation ' written by the editor, Mrs. conventional mind 'religion is a fixed system, which originates Annie Bright, in the course of which she draws attention to the outside of a tnan's mind, and can only become a part of his life factthatin 'Borderland,' of January, 1897, in an article by Mr. through his acceptance of certain dogmas and forms of worship. Stead on 'Is Palmistry Dependable i' a delineation of Mr. But in reality, religion is an element in man's nature. It is Stead's hand, given by 'Teresina,' a pupil of 'Cheiro,' was innate. It is the eternal desire for unity. Traced to its origin, the literal meaning of the word is to rebind, to bind back to the given, in which the palmist stated that his life~line was 'mode­ rately long, terminating about sixty-three.' As he 'was 'born in source-God.' Our ideals in art, literature, and science are in July, 1849, about sixty-three exactly coincides.' 'About this constant flux, and subject to constant change. 'Why should we prophecy,' Mr. Stead remarked, ' I can say nothing. Madame fail to see that our religious ideas also change from generation to generation 1 Wliy should we regret that there is evolution Blavatsky .USed to ea,y I \Vould live till past seventy~five. I think in religion, as in all things relating to man, and why should one pro~hecY: is about as ~ood as.another.' we seek to stay the change.1 The truth is, that religion is be­ coming more of a personal and practical matter than formerly.· A report in ~The Christian World' states .that the Rev. A. J. :Waldr.-0n, in .a lecture on the Emmanuel movement, delivered Men continue to find inspiration which leads them back to unity, reC.ently'at Bow Church, said that a woman whci had been eleven ev.en though they do .not go to church.! years tinder -the influence of drink came to his room and ~aid she wished to give up the drink. ' "Then you giv.e it up Mr. Towne does not believe that we are receding in our to-day,'' he said. " The power of alcohol over you is at this religious life, neither do we, and we agree with him that new moment absolutely killed." The woman believed it, and-this channels for religious expression are being found, and that ' if was eleven .weeks before Christmas-had never touched alcohol those. who lament the growth of irreligion, as they term it,· ~tnce, her whole personality being changed. .A. yOLtng girl came would take an unprejudiced look around they would find a vast to him and said she suffered from insomnia. He said, "You and increasing number whose lives have been touched by these will sleep to-night." · "What do you mean 1" she asked. "I rtew forms of truth until materialism possesses far less attraction mean what I say. The moment you place your head on the to .them than formerly. It is true we live in a material age, and pillow you are gqing to sleep." On the Sunday weeek following,' our religion is coloured by it, but there is no need for regret in said Mr. Waldron, 'the girl told him she had slept every night this. The innate desire for unity leads us on and on, and always since. This was .not an anti-(Jhristian Soience movement; it will ; if not by one method then by another. It is not the was a positive movement, and the clergyman would work with ietter but the spirit of religion that giveth life. Churches and the medical man.'. Bibles and priests may pass and what is vital in religion yet remain.' In its ·article . entitled 'Magic on the Make ' 'The Daily Chronicle ' of the 1st inst. says, with truth : ' If one takes a walk on any of these afternoons around the fitly-named "magic Dr. Orchard, writing .in ' The Christian· Commonwealth' of circle" that includes Bond-street, Regent-street, and Piccadilly, the 12th inst. with reference to the alleged conflict between Paul Circus, one will probably be able to count at least half-a-dozen and the Older Apostles on matters of doctrine, says that it is ~andwich boards announcing that this or that mystic personage, difficult to form an opinion, because we know so little of what with an Oriental name and a duly registered telephone number, the Apostles .thought, but, ' to say the least, it is. a fairly open: is prepared d,ti.ring generous. l)usiness hours to oblige you with question whether the Epistles of Johu are by John the Apostle ~ "trance and psychometry," "clairrnyance," "sand-divination," very few scholars would identify the authors of the Epistles o~ '.'crystal-gazing seances,'' or other "glimpses of the occult.'', James and Jude with any of the Twel v.e ; and if more would :But when it attempts to discover how it is that- '-the rich folk accept the authenticity of First Peter, that does not help us are being fleeced of their 5s. fees ai readily as the most ignorant much, since that Epistle is so remarkably Pauline. Nor do I peasant girl of her hard-won savings,' it does not place the think that many students would agree that John's Gospel is to blame where it rightly belongs. The fault, if fault it be, is with be distinguished from the writings of Paul by centiing more on the people who visit these self-styled 'mystics.' Reputable the actual historical Jesus. It is generally held that the Fourth mediums can tell sorry stories i·egarding · the kind of thing for Gospel -has taken over and developed the Christology of the wliich the public seek their services. It is a fact, a clairvoyante Apostle Paul. There was a disagreement between Paul and the. recently assured us, that 'few people want spirit mil ad vice.' She Church at Jerusalem, as the Book of the Acts records; but said : 'Not one in ten of those who come to consult me wish to according to that authority, it was on practical questions con­ know about their spirit friends. I am sorry that it is so, and nected with the admission of the Gentiles, and not on any am sick to death of trying to help people to understand that difference of doctrine.' But the Rev. Armstrong held that there mediums are not fortune-tellers.' The public apparently want were grave differences between the followers of Peter and those their fortunes told, and the demand creates the supply. Now, of . Paul, and that the 'Acts of the Apostles ' was written to as always, ignorant and foolish persons have to buy their experi­ reconcile the two schools. It is all interesting, as it tends to ence-they will not take good advice! show how intensely human these people were. June 22, 1912.] LIGHT. 297

. . . . Owing to the loo~e way in which the a~co~nt in the local . LETTERS TO THE EDITOR. paper was worded we were led into an error respecting Arch­ deacon Colley's statements in our ' Items' on page 285. The The Editor is not responsible for the opinions expr~ed by corieapon,­ Archdeacon informs us that he is not the vice-president of the dents, and sometimes publishes what he does not agree with fo:r Church Society of Emmanuel-that post being filled by Bishop the purpose of presenting views which may elicit discussion.· Milne. A Successful Healing Circle. . A m1mber of interesting facts about the Bible are gradually . Srn,-Possibly some of the readers of 'LIGHT' .may be ·i~ becoming known, and the Rev. H. C. 0. Lanchester, M.A., in terested in the following particulars about the. healing servfoe his work on 'The Old Testament,' points out that 'The Penta­ held at Manor Park Church, Shrewsbury-road. The.acqeunt·is teuch is a compila.tion of four sources-J. (Jahvist), E. (Elohist), not for advertisement,·as all service is voluntary. We; com­ ·P. (Priestly code), and D. (Deuteronomist). Deuteronomy menced these services in February last, and the following 'have was.the motive force of the reformation of the reign of Josiah, been seen and experienced : A private clairvoyant, yet a. trained and was composed not long before 622 B.c. The prophecy of one, has seen the ' pranic' fluid, life-force, or electric substance Isaiah ends at chapter 39. ·Zechariah, 9-14, are by a different taken from the building and directed by a spirit. I, personally, author from that of 1-8. Very few, if any, of the Psalms are the have seen it also. A patient at a distance has sat for treatment work of David. The Book of Daniel dates from about 167 B.c.' with two clairvoyants who wrote down what they saw. Whil~ the visions differed in each case, the patient experienced a·benefit. Several patients, who are clairvoyant, have seen the life forces in ·' Some of our friends, I observe, take apparent pride in the operation. My object in writing is to give encouragement to all mot.to, ''There is no religion higher. than truth." To that those working on similar lines, and also to suggest what · a proposition I cannot assent. No religion higher than truth? powerful force is here to our hand for doing real good.-'-Youra, Whose truth-yours or mine 1 For outside the range of demon­ &c., GEO. F. TILBY, strable facts, w4at seems to be truth to one seems falsity and Vice-president. folly to another. Our estimate of truth depends upon the character and quality of our respective judgments. No religion higher tha.ntruth? Then what of justice; honesty, mercy, tender The Fakir's 'Rope· Trick.' · sympathy with the poor and afl:licted, brotherly love, kindness Srn,-Apropos ~f Colonel Forman's Jetter in 'LIGHT' ofthe and charity to all men ; in short, goodness of life ? Surely 8th inst., may I relate the following 1 My brother, a .1'esident there is no religion higher than goodness, for verily, in respect ·of Manly, New South Wales, when visiting England in. 19000 of truths, men may be very wise, and at the same time very called at Colombo en route. Having some hours·on sho),'~1 he wicked.'-E. DAWSON ROGERS. visited a restaurant, and while there heard some shouting, and saw people running. He followed, and on an open space ·saw a native and a little .boy surrounded by a crowd. Here he , wit­ The question, 'Can Legerdemain Explain the Phenomena of nessed the oft-described 'rope-trick '-rope thrown into the air Spiritualism 1' is very fully answered in a striking lecture by -its remaining suspended-boy climbing up out of sight-man Dr. R. F. Austin, reported in the May number of 'Reason.' calling in angry.tones-receiving no reply, going up after him­ The circumstances under which the lecture came to be delivered boy's limbs thrown down-man following and collecting limbs are explained elsewhere in the magazine, and furnish a g6od in a bag, and when stopped, on walking off, opening bag, from illustration of bow our cause is helped Oil by opposition. It which the boy emerged alive and well. My brother offered ,no appears that during Dr. Austin's recent lecture course in Los explanatio11, only stated the fact, being, if hardly a ma~erialist, Angeles a showman engaged the largest theatre in the place certainly among those who ' would not be persuaded thoqgh one and gave a conjuring exhibition, which he advertised as the rose from the dead.' . · . · .. 'Death of Modern Spiritualism,' claiming that he duplicated When recounting this incident to a distinguished meml1\lf by sleight of hand all the spiritual phenomena. The next of the household

Fakir 'Mango' and 'Basket' Tricks. if they have only just come abroad, would take seve1-al ·days. If a native guide accompanied them they certainly would not go S11t, I Lake iu 'LwHT' every week, and therefore have seen quickly. Some of the Western Ghauts are further away than others. I '11lo11t·l I~. 1-1. F11r111a11's letter commenting on' Cheiro's' address to The Colonel says they are about thirty miles by road. I suppose the L11111T11 ~' (Sc .. ~). He then pnt it on again, and muttered again, and and Rebekah made 'savoury meat' for Jacob. Melchisedek, the the 'Jlt'o11t m"'' higher. He took the cloth off again, and this time priest of the Most High God, regaled his guests with bread and th•·n· were a few lca1·cs on the tree. Putting it on again, and utter­ wine, and later, in New Testament records, we find that Jesus il1g 11 is eh arm for the third time, the tree still grew ; and when gave the famishing multitude loaves and fishes. he took it oil' for the last time, the tree was in blossom! Now this Perhaps, in the matter of diet, each one should judge for ] Y1111 .. h for as au absolute fact, which I saw with my own eyes. himself, zealous only to be temperate and moderate in all things 1 ca111111t prl'leml to say how it was done, for I do not know, but pertaining not only to the body but the souL It is so easy to tliat it. 11·11.< •lone I can testify, and get others to do so; people become a faddist, ignoring the fact that in Diost walks of life of 11111.lc111ishcil houonr, and whose testimony is unimpeachable. the middle course is the most desirable, giving the best results. ] han' heanl acconnts of the' mango trick,' as it is called, where We are told in Genesis that God clothed Adam and Eve with t.he 111an put, on his cloth f01· a fomth time, and produced a the skins of beasts. Did they eat the :H.esh 1 In any case, God littli· 111ango, which he gave to one of the audience to eat. I was the first butcher on record.-Yours, &c.; l1a1·~ ,,,.,.11 the rnaugo trick not only once but many times, and ~ . Sutton. E. P. PRENTICE. can v1111 .. h for what I saw with my own eyes. I think a man who ea11 110 wliaL I saw can do almost anythipg I I have also sce11 the' li:tskct trick,' which is very extra.ordinary. The man Buddha an Agnostic. in I his case has a l1oy, whom he places in a basket with a lid ; Sm,-On reading your report on page 173 of 'LIGHT 1 of Iw shuts the l1uy in, pnttiug down the lid, and fastening it with Mrs. Besant's last lecture at the Queen's Hall, in which she th" pri111iti1·c a111l 11gly loop and stick, which fastens it securely stated that the Masters sent one from themselves to organise and nen·rt hcli·ss. I le then pierces through the basket withaformidable teach all the great religions of the world, and that the last such lo11k ing a111l sharp dagger; some, I have heard, use a sword; there teacher was Buddha, I could not help wondering whether she are alan11i11g cries from the boy inside, and no one has any doubt has ever read Max: Miiller. hut that wlwn t.he basket is opened, a most gruesome sight will In' Chips from a German Workshop,' Vol. I., p. 227, it is - _... appal t ht· liL·holtler" ; hut on tl1e contrary, when it is opened­ stated : 'He (the Buddha) denies the existence not only of a aftcr l1ci11g, rt·n11.u1b1·r, prodded all over everywhere-the boy Creator, bnt of any Absolute Being.' stt·ps out .-mil iug and unharmed. On page 250 he quotes M. Bartholemy Saint-Hilaire as Xow, what wnld lie more inexplicable than that 1 Yet saying in a review on Buddhism : ' Buddhism has no God ; it Vol1111el Fur111au says that' all the Fakirs and Yogis he met were has not even the confused and vague notion of a Universal arrant. mgtws, aud those who were not were lunatics'! I have Spirit in which the hu'Qlan soul, according to the orthodox doc­ not had an upportnnity of seeing the 'rope trick' which was trine of Brahmanism, and· the Sankbya philosophy, may be dcsi:ril11·d l1y ' ( 'hciro' iu the report of his lecture, but I met absorbed.' very 11>a11y 1woplt· while I was in India who told me that they On page 284 we i·ead : ' Buddha himself, however, though, hail """11 it, a111l their ttcconnt of what they had seen was perhaps, not a Nihilist, was certainly an Atheist. He does not cxadly .-i111ila1· to 'Cheiro's' description. Of course, I do not deny distinctly either the existence of gods, or that of God ; but wish to t.hr11w any rcllections or cast any aspersions on the he ignores the former, and he is ignorant of the latter. There· ('11l11m·l, 1.111. there 111·,, some people in India, especially Euro­ fore, if Nirvana in his mind was not yet complete annihilation, peans, allll, i11tlecd, all oycr the world, who have ideas of their still less could it have been absorption into a Divine essence. owu, :i1;:! 1·a11 1111ly sec llu·ui embodied; also, you know, a man It was nothing but selfishness, in the metaphysical sense of the wh11 i>' e11l1111r-lilinil can only see red and green as one colour, word-a :relapse into that being which is nothing but self. a11d he i" noL lo 11lame that he is born so. The only thing is · 'This is the most charitable view which we can take of the that it is hardly fair tu attempt to cast discredit on 'Cheiro's' Nirvana, even as conceived by Buddha himself, and it is the statt·111 .. 11ls, which, Jrnl'ing lived in India myself, I do not doubt view which Burnouf derived from the canonical books of the for an iw;t:.111t, as Colonel Forman appears to do I It is the hard Northern Buddhists.' lot., h•>ll'e\'L•r, 111' every man who is at the top of the tree, in any It was the successors and followers of the Buddha who way what.ever, to l 1e criticised, so that it is not likely to affect turned the meaning of Nirvana from annihilation into ' a new tl1t· thi11ki11g a11tl reasoning portion of the readers of 'LIGHT' paradise, and be who had left no place in the whole universe for a It. is only a case of history repeating itself. The Colonel, in his Divine Being, was deified himself by the multitudes who wanted desin' for 111iuutc accuracy, also finds fault with 'Cheiro's' a person whom they could worship,' &c. (p. 251). use "f I he wonl 'pkn·,' instead of probably the 'Apollo Bunder.' ' Buddha, like Kapila, maintained that this world had no But '< 'ln:iro' was right in rememuering that he was addressing absolute re8.lity ; that it, was a snare and an illusion. The im English antliencc, in whose ears 'Apollo Bnnder' would words, " All is perishable, all is . miserable, all is . void," must ha1·1· 11:111 1111 n11,a11iug; he:-;ides, even in India, nearly every frequently have passed his lips' (p. 227). A pessimistic belief, 1':m11pl'a11 .. all.~ the landiug jetty or pier, 'the pier.' I have the very antithesis of Spiritualism, but good enough apparently dom· "" 111ys .. lf, cspe1·ially when speaking to friends at home. for Theosophists !-Yours, &c .., I.l'L us now c11111e to the 'motmtains.' There are some people to A K. VENNING. wh11111 :11hirly111ilcs walk in the blazing sun in India, especially Los Angeles, Cal., U.S.A. June 22, 1912.] LIGHT. 299

•" Cheiro's" Experiences.' the plan recommended by Davis. By pooling their resources Srn,-I will have pleasure in answering Colonel Forman's on co-operative lines, simplifying management, interchanging letter (p. 275) in your next week's issue of' LIGHT.' I had intended services, and the use of machinery, and by organising labour doing so this week, but every moment of my time has been so and the. handling of produce collecth-ely they might increase occupied that I have been prevented from doing so in time for efficiency, lessen cost, and so increase progperity that labour this week's issue.-Yours, &c., might be more adequately remunerated and better housed. It 'CHEIRO.' is this co-operation among existing farmers which has proved so successful in Denmark, Ireland, and elsewhere. 'The Great Initiates.' But the conditions are so severe that it is difficult to bring back the less favourably situated la.nd into cultivation, especially Srn,-Thank you for your kind and sympathetic notice of by the superfluous town dwellers, who must be got back to the the complete edition of ' The Great Initiates.' May I trouble country ; and 'W. F. M.' is right in lboking to the nationali­ you to make a correction in connection with this 1 The price sation of the land as a remedy. But admirable theoretically as sbould be 7s. 6d. net for the two volumes, not 10s. 6d. net.- are the schemes advocated by Dr. A. R. Wallace and others, Yours, &c., RALPH SHIRLEY. they will need a revolut.ion to carry them, and the interests in­ volved are so vast and complex that the opposition will be enormous.· In my book, 'Betterment, Individual, Social, and· The Difficulty of Identification. Industrial,' I suggest a plan free from all these objections, which Srn,-Perhaps the most difficult conditions for the giving of could be started at once, and would move automatically along clairvoyant descriptions are met wit.h in public meetings, and the lines of least resistance. therefore it is rAmarkable that so many spirit people are identi­ Should more of these articles be called for, I will deal with fied in spite of such difficulties. that and several other vital matters which are so amazingly Recently I had two descriptions given to me, which I was overlooked owing to John Bull's constitutional lack of alertness unable to recognise, and I venture to refer to them because, at to seize the good in the new while it is new.-Yours, &c., the same meeting, the difficulty of identification, even of a E. WAKE Coox. living person, was brought home to me in a curious manner. June 8th, 1912. Previous to the descriptions being given, a lady came quite close to me and looked in my face. I felt ·sure at the moment that she was someone well known to me, yet I could not re­ Srn,-In regard to the letter from' W. F. M.', I am greatly member who she was, or at what period of my life or in what interested in the question of trying to tum the land of this circumstances we had met, although remembrance seemed to be country into something of advantage to those who work it, or almost in my grasp. who are able to settle on it with relatively a small amount of . If such a difficulty is experienced when one comes face to the work for their own profit. It has not, however, been clear face with an earth friend, surely the difficulty must be greatly to me that the difficulty is the price of land. Can you tell me increased when one has only the description from a third person in what district Mr. Fels has had to abandon liis scheme because -and inability to identify one's spirit friends is excusable. of the price of the land 1 Burely the liind has some relation to To many of your readers there will be nothing new in the the value it will produce, and at the present time so much of above, but it may enable. some, who may be comparatively new the land in this country is being put under grass, whic_h, of to the movement, to appreciate the difficulties of identification course, reduces the value very considerably, c:ornpared with what for which difficulties the clairvoyante . may not be in the least it would be worth if it were cultivated. to blame.-Yours, &c., R. THALLON. I feel sure it would interest many others beside myself to have someone who had experimented in this direction tell us what the troubles are, as I should certainly like to make some A Clairvoyante's Pre-Vision. experiments in this direction if someone would care to put aome Srn,-On Sunday, May 26th, I went to 011r church to hear land at the disposal of proved experimenters without charge.­ Mr. A. Wilkinson, who gave excellent clairvoyant descrip­ y Olll'S, &c., tions. The next day; when my sister-in-law called upon me, I s. F. EDGE. invited her to go with me to hear Mr. Wilkinson in the evening. Gallops Homestead, Ditchling, Sussex. She is not a ·Spiritualist, and said, 'I won't believe until I am told of something to come.' That afforded me an opportunity to tell her what I saw the day before (Sunday) when, after A Spirit-Husband Manifests. attending churcl1, I was sitting reading and, I suppose, went Srn,-On March 8th, 1911, I saw my first 'ghost,' and made under control. I seemed to be in a seaside place which I knew a note of the fact in my diary. I am certain I had often was Redcar. I saw green fields, horses and jockeys. I saw the before heard the spirits, but this time I both heard and saw. horses running, one horse stumble, and the jockey thrown. I I was paying 11n evening. call on a lady friend whose husband thought no more about it, especially as none of our family had passed away in the previous November. I was sitting before attend.race meetings, until I saw in a newspaper on May 28th the fire and neither myself nor the lady was speaking, when I an account of the accident to the jockey, Bradley, in the last was surprised to hear a shuffling sound as of feet in the passage race of the meeting. When I told my brothers what the jockey just outside. The door had been removed in order to make wore, and said that I could pick the horse and ruan out any­ more room, the flat being a small one. Immediately afterwards where, they had a hearty laugh.-Yours, &c., something about the size and shape of a large egg came into the (MRS.) E. CHALLENOR. room, moving about a foot from the ground, something white as . Middlesborough-mi-Tees. driven snow. It was not a light, or anything of the nature of a· light, but it was sufficiently solid to be seen quite distinctly. My friend happened to be standing about three or ~our feet 'Spiritualism as Social Saviour.' from the door. Srn,-Permit me to thank 'W. ·F. M.' for his generous con­ I saw her turn and look down as the apparition came right gratufations, and to say that I saw with the deepest regret the up to her and then vanished. Though the passage was dark, failure of Mr. Fels' noble efforts to get people back to the land. the room was lighted with gas and a fire was burning. I was His failure was caused by the very unsoundness of our national only a few feet further off from the door than the lady, and a position, which I deplored in my second article (page 259), in moment or two after seeing the appearance, felt a cold breeze· which I said : 'Our position is perilous and peculiar ; we have play over my hands. I said quite quietly, 'What was that 1 sinned most against a sound national ideal, and are paying the Did you see anything 1' She replied, ' Ye8, I should think I diq ; penalty. We enthroned the god of cheapness and sacrificed I have seen it before; it always seems to come just at this time· vital interests to him. We developed our resources in a lop­ of night. I have lately felt quite nervous about staying up sided way, and we are now abjectly dependent on the foreigner here at this time, it's so uncanny.' I suggested that on another for food, and on our foreign trade which enables us to buy it. evening we should turn out the light, and sit in the dark to see This unsotmd position makes our labour wars peculiarly if more could be seen. We did this, but with no result. How­ dangerous for all concerned.' I have quoted the passage at ever, a night or two later my friend sat alone in the dark, and length because it is the vital factor governing the whole situation sl1e afterwards assured me that she saw a white sort of stuff which is so strangely overlooked by so many able writers. The hovering over where it had been seen before. I told her I farmer's position l1as thus been rendered precarious, thousands of thonght it was her husband's spirit. We had made inqqiries of· acres have been thrown out of cultivation, and the land, onr the late occupiers of the flat, bnt they had never seen anything greatest national asset, has been depreciated by tens of millions there. A week or two later, at about the same time, there was of pounds. a big bang in the passage outside, but we could see nothing. My Despite this heavy discouragement, which proved fatal to reasons for thinking my friend's husband was present are as Mr. Fels' laudable efforts, farming is still carried on, and there follows: In the previous No\•ember he was seriously ill, and, is nothing to prevent .any number of farmers joining forces on although it was possible he might recover, his life seemed nn- 800. LIGHT.:· [June 22, 1912. certain. . One day, before going away: to the seaside for a· fort• SOCIETY WORK ON SUNDAY; JUNE 16th, &c. night, I went to see him and say good-bye. Al)out ten days later, at tea-time, I heard a sound of tapping on the wall quite Prospective Notices, not exceeding twenty-four words, may be added· close to my ear. I thought it seemed strange, and remarked to to reports if accmnpanied by stamps to the value of sixpence. my friends, ' I left a friend in town very ill, I should not be surprised if he has died,' but they only laughed and called MARYLEBONE SPIRITUALIST .AssocIATION-Sheam's Res· . me 'spookey.' At night I heard noises on my bedroom taurant, 231, Tottenham Court-road,· W.-Mr. E. W. Wallis de~· wall, · on· the · floor, and under the bed ; the ironwork livered a deeply interesting and helpful address entitled 'Spirit­ kept making an unaccountable noise, louder than the rest. This ualism for Spiritualists.'-15, Mortimer-street, 1'V.-On the 17th went on for some time without ceasing. I felt as though a cob- · inst. Mrs. Imison gave fully-recognised clairvoyant d_escriptions. \Veh was dring,' as he put it, 'right from the heart bility.' Sunday next, at 7 p.m., Mr. C. W. Turner. Tuesday, · of ·God.' .Ay, it wa.~ good to be there ! Bnt everyone, and· at 8 p.m., Mr. G. F. Brown. 30th, Mr. and Mrs. Roberts. · ev.erything there, radiates goodness. Possibly, like all humans, -STRATFORD.-WoRKMAN's HALL, 27, RoMFORD-ROAD, E.­ the members have their differences ; but they are a keen, intelli­ Mrs. .A. Jamrach's. interesting address ou 'Science and the· gent body, while the officials seem earnest and capable above the Sonl,' a:nd. her subsequent clairvoyant descriptions, were much average~ The president,. Mr. James Hall, is a big-hearted, appreciated by a large audience. Mr.· G. Tayler Gwinn presided. breezy gentleman, and runs a close race for popularity with the Sunday next, Mr. G. R. Symons, address.-W. H, S. genial secretary,. Mr. John Morison. I spent two hours in the SHEPHERD'S BusH.-73, BECKLOW-ROAD, w.-Mrs. Podmore latter's shop-a cl1emist's-and a veil was lifted there which re­ gave a short address and good clairvoyant descriptions. On the veal~d a nature calm, philosophic, and very, very human. The 13th Mrs. Webster gave good clain·oyant descriptions. Sunday treasurer, Mr. Rankin, has had a long spell in office, auguring next at 10.45 a.m., public circle ; .at 6.45, Mr. Burton. Thurs­ well for the confidence reposed in him ; while the librarian, Mr. day, 'Mrs. Podmore. Friday, at 8, membera' circle.-J. J. L. Nevins, is wrapped ·up in his books, pamphlets, and the general BRIGHTON.-HovE OLD TOWN HALL, I, BRUNSWICK-STREET literature of the movement. A sweet, contagious sympathy WEST.-Mr. Karl Reynolds gave good addresses. Sunday next, swelled outwards from the audience, and I left the platform at 11.15 a.m. and 7 p.m., Mrs. Mary Gordon; also: on Monday quite equal to anothe1· hour's work. · at 3 and 8 p.m. Wednesday, _at 3, Mrs. Curry, clairvoyance. It is well that in the capital of the 'dour land ' such interest Thursday, at 8.15, circle.-A. C. is manifested in our glorious movement. .PECKRAM.-LAUSANNE HALL, LAUSANNE-ROAD.-Morning, instructive address by Mr. Johnson; afternoon, Lyceum; even­ TRANSITION.-We learn from Mr. J. Lingford, of Leeds, ing, inspiring address and good clairvoyant descriptions by Mr. tl1at another medium who has been associated with the work for H. Leaf. Sunday next, at ll.30a.m. and 7 p.m., Mrs. A. Webb. Sp'iritualism for many years, vi~ .• Mrs. Emma Gregg, of Leeds, 30th, at 7, Mr. J. G. Huxley. 29th, Garden Party; tickets, ls. passed to spirit life on Saturday last. Mrs. Gregg was an Lyceum every Sunday at 3.-A. C. S. inspirational speaker and clairvoyant medium who, both in STRATFORD.-IDMISTON-ROAD, FoREST-LANE.-Morning, Mr. public and private, by the exercise of her gifts, gave comfort. Willmot's paper on 'Obsessions' raised an interesting discussion ; . and spiritual aid to a great many inquirers. Frequently the evening, Mr. McLellan spoke on 'Man's Progression Here and spirit friends of those wl10 sat with her were able to make their Hereafter,' and gave clairvoyant descriptions; Mr. Wrench sang p_resence known and establish their identity in the most con­ a solo. 13th Mrs. Mary Davies, address and clairvoyance. villcitig manner. Mr. E. W. Wallis's first visit to Leed!! was at· Sunday next,' at 11.30 a.m., Mr. Wrench on 'Spiritualism as a. the invitation of Mr. and Mrs. Gregg, and the meetipg was Social Regenerator' ; at 7 p.m., Madame Beaumont. 27th, held at their house. · Mrs. Neville will name. two.children.-A. T. C•.. ight: A Journal of Psychical, Occult, and Mystical Research.

• LIGHT! MORE LIGHT !'-Goethe, 'WHATSOEVER DOTH MAKE MANIFEST IS LIGHT.'-Paul •

No. 1,642.-VOL. XXXII.] Registered as] SATURDAY, JUNE 29, 1912. [a Newspaper. J PRICE TwOPENCE. CONTENTS. 'Cutting It Out' (Forbes and Co., Chicago, thirty-five NotesbytbeWay ······--···· 801 A Premonition of the Fate of Mr. Dr. Ochorowlcz on Etberic Hancls Stead .. _ ...... 309 cents) is the somewhat slangy title of a book in which the and Thought Photographs .... 302 Mr. Stead Gives a Message in A New Psychic Ma~azine ...... 303 Denmark ...... - ...... 310 drink question is handled in a breezy and eminently sensible Conjurers and Spintualism ..•••. 303 Mr. Turvey's Prevision of the Thoughts on Many Themes .•••.. 805 way. The author, Mr. Samuel G. Blythe, is a humourist, A Spiritualist Funeral ••.•••••.. 805 ' Titanic' Disaster ...... 310 Eyes for the Blind ...... 305 'John King' Identified ...... 311 and his racy Americanisms add pungency to his arguments The Way of Freedom ...... 306 Question• for Spiritualists and Anti.Spiritualistic Theories Criti- Theosophists ...... 811 in favour of total abstinence. Telling the story of how he cally Exe.mined ...... 30'1 The International Congress at Who was Responsible? ...... 309 Liverpool . • ...... _ .... 312 abandoned the liquor habit, he writes :- I knew I was sound everywhere. I wasn't sure how long I NOTES BY THE WAY. could keep sound and continue drinking. So I decided to stop drinking and keep sound. . . Soon after I was forty years of We have received with pleasure a dainty little age I noticed I began to go to funerals oftener than I had been doing-funerals of men between forty and forty-five whom I had pamphlet, 'Andrew Jackson Davis and the Harmonial known socially and convivially ; that these funerals occurred Philosophy,' being an Appreciation of the great American quite regulal'ly, and that the doctor's certificate, more times seer by Margaret Vere Farrington. The articles comprised than not, gave Bright's disease and other similar diseases in the cause of death column. in the book are a reprint of those which appeared in 'LIGHT' a few years ago. There are some who did not After a long and severe struggle the author became a see eye to eye with Davis in his direction of the affairs of confirmed water drinker and realised immense benefits, his personal life, but, on the other hand, those who have physically and mentally. The book, of course, has no direct made a close study of his career and motives maintain relation to our own particular subjects, but it is in the line that his actions were always dictated by a regard for the of a matter we have much at heart, the return to a simple, highest good. With these aspects of the matter, however, natural mode of living, for all human experience shows that we are not greatly concerned. The personal element it is in these conditions the spiritual side of things has the of all lives is a prolific fountain of misunderstanding. fullest play. ' Be thou chaste as ice, pure as snow, thou shalt not escape '-criticism. Those who have studied Davis's A visitor from-Mars, let us say-would possibly find a works sympathetically are generally agreed that they sad significance in the multitude of books designed to form a magnificent body of teaching, resolving the chaos promote the health of the community. Such a visitant and complexity of life into unity, and presenting might come to the conclusion that it was symptomatic of a in a form hitherto unimagined the order and harmony of diseased humanity. But, of course, there is another aspect the Universe. Our valued contributor, Mr. E. Wake Cook, of the matter. The 'intelligent foreigner' in the old story, deserves the thanks of all students of spiritual philosophy struck by the British passion for frequent baths, concluded for his labours as a commentator on the ' Great Harmonia.' that Britons must be an uncleanly race to need so many ablutions ! That, we know, was a mistaken interpretation. ' Old Moore's Monthly Messenger ' for June has some Similarly, the multiplication of books on health doubtless references to the late Mr. W. T. Stead, from the astrologer's denotes only an unusual interest in hygiene, in itself a point of view, which it may be of interest to our readers symptom of mental health at least. 'Ways to Perfect to quote; howbeit not all of them will attach any great Health,' by Irving S. Cooper (' The Theosophist ' Office, significance to the astrological side of the matter. The Adyar, Madras, ls. 6d. net), is one of the latest contribu­ writer (it is 'Sepharial ') remarks :- tions to hygienic questions, and although it figures as Mr. Stead was all impulse, and his actions were characterised the second of a series of 'Manuals of Occultism,' it contrives by that 'scorn of consequence' which attaches to the enthusiast to be very practical and matter of fact, especially in its in all phases of pioneer life. He believed with Mr. Gladstone that ' psychical research is by far the most important work that treatment of the subject of diet. It is a powerful plea for is being done in the world,' but the astrologer may be pardoned vegetarianism ; and few will quarrel with its denunciations in suggesting that Mr. Stead was of all men the least fitted by of the use of alcohol, tobacco and drugs, although in this nature to undertake it. rough-and-tumble world 'counsels of perfection 'are little Opinions will differ on that last point. It may be true beetled. No doubt we should all be better without meat, that some of Mr. Stead's psychical enterprises-' Border­ alcohol, tobacco or drugs. But the average man, faced with land,' for instance-were failures, but some failures are as excessive hours of work, insanitary offices and workshops, important and useful as successes. 'Sepharial ' notes that and numerous other evil conditions which he has no power no word of definite warning came to him from ' Julia ' to at present to remove, feels, no doubt, that one unhealthy 'save him from his death voyage,' but in this respect we thing more or less makes no great difference. However, may, with 'Sepharial,' we cordially commend the book, which contains many presume he was wanted elsewhere, and leave the problem of spirit valuable hints on right living. guidance exactly where he found it. Time is the great revealer in these matters. 'God,' Mr. A. C. Benson's vision of the world beyond will said t.he old divine, 'biiriei;; Hifil workers bqt carriei;; on His probably be disappointing to those who will accept nothing 'IVO!-'Ii:,' ))qt a realm- of supernal Kloriei;;-wliether of the mysti<;ial or 302 LIGHT. [June 29, 1912. the theological order-as the abode of the blest, and who, on DR. OCHOROWICZ ON ETHERIC HANDS AND the other hand, demand a region of darkness and horror for THOUGHT PHOTOGRAPHS. the habitation of those who have fallen short of the beatific BY H. A. DALLAS. state. In 'The Child of the Dawn' (Smith, Elder, 7s. 6d. net), he has pictured for us his conception of .. the after­ (Continued from page 295.) death state, and there is a suggestion of something trans­ II. cendental in the method whereby the story came to be On September 11th, 1911, Dr. Ochorowicz asked his medium written. 'l'he story, he explains,. rose unbidden to his during the hypnotic trance whether the doub\e CO'-'-\d penetrate mind. ' I was never conscious of creating any of its a small opening in a bottle, into which he would insert a film, incidents. It seemed to be all there from the beginning.' and whether the etheric hand could produce an image within That is a statement that makes a direct appeal to us, and, the bottle. He proposed that the orifice should measure about although we know that there are as many heavens (and two-thirds of an inch. The medinm replied that the task of hells) as there are minds to experience them, we have a the 'double' must not be made too easy, or it would become cordial welcome for all descriptions of the world beyond lazy, and she suggested that the film should be put into the that tend to relate it to Nature and Reason. And the bottle, and that the bottle should be closed with a stopper, or philosophy of the book in these regards leaves little to be by the Doctor's own hand. He shrugged his shoulders, but accepted the suggestion that the experiment sl1ould be attempted. desired. It is singularly attractive in the broad humanity After cutting a piece of film rather smaller than a photographic of its outlook. True it might have benefited by a little plate, he rolled it close and inserted it into the bottle ; when more of the 'soaring imagination,' but that is a moot inside, it expanded a very little. The little cylindrical film, as point. We have had too much imagination and too little it lay in the bottle, measured about three-quarters of an inch in reality. The book, which deals with the adventures of diameter. He then closed the bottle with the palm of his right a human soul after death, is full of interest. hand, and with his left he laid it on his knee and held it there firmly. The medium then placed her two hands on the bottle LONDON SPIRITUALIST ALLIANCE, LTD. between his. She seemed excited, and exclaimed that she wished that a small hand might appear. Then she said :- SPIRIT HEALING.-Daily, except Saturdays, Mr. Percy R. It is strange ! The bottle seems to enlarge under my Street, the healing medium, will attend between 11 a.m. and fingers ; hut perhaps this is 'an illusion. My hands swell, I 2 p.m., at 110, St. Martin's-lane, W.C., for diagnosis by a spirit cease to feel them. control, magnetic healing, and delineations from the personal An attack of cramp ensued which seemed to affect all her aura. For full particulars see the 11dvertisement supplement. muscles, and caused her to scream aloud. Meanwhile, Dr. Ochorowicz still held the bottle. After a moment or two he let 'THE best of all methods of acquiring self-control, inward go with his right hand in order to assist her, and she grew peace and poise, is the concentration of thought upon the per­ calmer. He then a~tempted to extract the film, but as several petual presence of the Spirit. Let every thought lead you to a attempts failed, he feared to injure it, and broke the bottle new sense of oneness with the Spirit. Let e\·ery moment be instead, and then immediately put it in the developing bath, inspired l1y the consciousness that it is not you alone, not your own power and virtue, that accomplishes and builds and perfects; unrolling the cylinder so as to keep the four edges flat at the it is the Spirit that worketh in you.'-HoRATIO DRESSER. bottom of the basin. The image of a hand soon appeared-not TRANSITION.-While rejoicing at the spirit's liberation we a small hand, as the medium had desired, but a large hand, with learn with sincere regret of the loss sustained by Mr. J. A. the thumb posed in line with the index finger, so that it might Butcher, of Thornton Heath, in the passing to spirit life of his find room to appear on the film, which was 13 cm. wide. beloved wife on Sunday evening last. Mr. and Mrs. Butcher Dr. Ochorowicz adds :- have been Spiritualists, both in word and deed, for about forty By what artifice could the hand penetrate the circumvolutions years. They were true comrades, earnest workers, and in their of the film with hardly a millimetre of space between them 1 cheerful disposition exemplified the sunshine that Spiritualism How did it produce a straight image of itself on a curved surface brings into the lives of those who truly realise its meaning and without rendering the whole of the surface chaotic 1 power to bless. The heartfelt sympathy of all his friends, our­ selves included, will go out to Mr. Butcher in his bereavement. Whilst the film was \)eing developed the medium remained on The interment has been arranged for Friday afternoon, the 28th the sofa in an exhausted state, but as soon as she heard that the inst., at the Mitcham·road Cemetery. Mr. W. E. Long, it is baud bad appeared she seemed to recover energy, although still hoped, will conduct the service. fatigued. Dr. Ochorowicz says that he bas no explanation to offer, SOME interesting papers on' Tlrn Borders of the Supernatural,' but that he is absolutely sure that there was no fraud. He pro­ by Oliphant Smeaton; M.A., F.S.A., have been appearing in' The ceeds to point out how extraordinary are the alternatives which Glasgow Weekly Herald.' Mr. Smeaton has laid the S. P. R. reports under contribution to good advantage and makes some present themselves. Either the hand of the 'double' must very readable and striking articles, which should convince the have penetrated through the bottle, or through his own band, impartial reader that there is not only ' something in it,' but a or, the existence of a fourth dimension, 'an astral plane,' must very great deal more than is popularly supposed. Mr. Smeaton be admitted ; or again, thought photography may be suggested, gives an interesting account of his own experience. His father, thought pl10tograpby on a fourth dimensional plane. He the Rev. Professor Smeaton, D.D., died very suddenly, in reminds us that the last alternative is rendered less probal1le by Edinburgh, on April 9th, 1889. At that time Mr. Smeaton was editing a daily morning paper at Rockhampton, Queensland. the fact that the medium's thought turned towards the pro­ Getting anxious about the non-arrival of European cablegrams, duction of a small hand, whereas that which appeared was a which he always dealt with himself, he went 011t into large one. The hypothesis that it might be the hand of another the street to look for the telegraph boy, but could not spirit, Dr. Ochorowicz rejects, because the hand had the see him, or anyone else. Turning back towards the office characteristics of that .of the medium. There is, he says, the possi­ he passed through the outer doorway into the vestibule, and was walking slowly on towards a glass door, when suddenly bility that the image was projected on the film after it bad been he saw a figure standing in the doorway. His first thought was removed from the bottle and plunged in the developing medium. that the snb-editor had followed him; then, by the dim light of His observations do not, however, dispose him to accept this a gas jet burning overhead, he saw that it was not he, but bis explanation. father standing gazing fixedly at him, For nearly half a minute Some weeks later Dr. Ochorowicz questioned the 'double' as they stood face to face, then his father seemed slowly to melt to how this phenomenon was produced ; and received the follow- away and vanish, and he knew that what he had dreaded for years had happened at la&t. At that very hour, allowing for 0 ingreply in automatic writing, the medium beingin thesomnam· the time difference between the two places, his father had passed bulistic state :- away. Mr. Smeaton rejects the idea that it was a case of The sensation experienced by the medium as if the bottle was hallucination and coincidence, and regards the visit as a genuine · enlarging was not altogether an illusion ; I tried to materialise spirit manifesta,tion. the glass and so to get into it1 but ~ot havini succeeded in ~ June 29, 1912.) .LlGHT. 303 doing, I crept in by a chink between your hand and the orifice CONJURERS AND SPIRITUALISM. in the bottle. [This chink must have been very small, for from my point of view the bottle might lJe regarded as hermetically BY JAMES COATES.* sealed.] Then I slipped my hand flat between the · folds of the roll, and the light caused itself, I do not know how, I merely Whatever may be said about physical manifestations and the · took care to make the film opaque. idiosyncrasies of mediums, and about the conditions-psycho­ Dr. Ochorowicz adds :- logical and material-under which the manifestations occur, and It is obvious that I do not guarantee this explanation, which with which the patient investigator is familiar, it is certain that in spite of my habitual precautions, may have been unconsciously no man, least of all the conjurer, is in a position to form a suggested to the double. Relata refero. Whether correct or not, it is interesting because it is the first time in my experience-and correct estimate of their value after only one or two sittings with perhaps also \n psychical resear~ generally-that an explanation a medium. Further, the opinion of the man, or conjurer, who concerning the impersonal double has been given by itself in approaches the investigation dominated by a fixed idea of fraud, writing, without the normal consciousness of the medium or the is untrustworthy. somnambulistic consciousness taking any cognisance of it. · The conjurer may be thoroughly sincere in his attitude Further details are given of experiments arranged by Dr. towards psycho-physics, but that it is compounded of prejudice, Ochorowicz, with the object of discovering the thickness of the incapacity and self-interest there can be little doubt. I do not etheric hand. These experiments seem to indicate, that when for a moment ignore the possibility of the appearance of fraud materialised, it is less than a millimetre thick. He says that in the promiscuous circles ; or of actual fraud by mediums, repeated experiments have led him to the conclusion that it is at incited thereto by the demands of patrons, but whether apparent least very probable tlrat or actual, the conjurer is not the person to whom. sensible an etheric hand, sufficiently materialised to cast a shadow, may investigators should look for guidance. All his charges should be flat, and consequently find room in a space too narrow for a be taken with a liberal allowance of salt. Whatever merit his normal hand. entertainments possess, they neither imitate nor expose the The same. experiments also assured him that the ' double' psycho-physical manifestations of Spiritualism. can, by auto-suggestion, diminish the size of its hand if it meets I did not witness the seances of the Da1'enports, who in the with obstacles. sixties created so much excitement and received such brutal treat­ He also says that during the experiments he was conscious of ment. None of the so-called ' experts ' were able-under similar a current of cold air passing between the medium and the film. conditions-Lo reproduce the Davenport seances. Hermann, one This has, of course, often been observed at seances. of the finest conjurers of his day, hacl_:_Dr. Sexton informs us­ several sittings with the Davenports, and confe&led his inability A NEW PSYCHIC MAGAZINE. to account for the manifestations. During the past forty years I have known many reputable persons who have not only been 'The International Psychic Gazette' is the name .of the present and taken part in the Davenport seances, but who also official organ of the Club for Psychic Research. In the first witnessed the performances of conjurers. They assured me issue an account is given of Mr. W. Marriott's address tu the that neither in resemblance nor in conditions did the tricks of club, on May 7th, on 'Some Personal Experiences with Mediums the magicians approximate to the manifestations in the presence and Physical Phenomena,' in the course of which the speaker of the Davenports. explained that in his opinion Spiritualistic phenomena were all In 187 4 I witnessed iu the Egyptian Hall, London, the tricks, falsehood, bunkum, and rubbish. At the close he was travesty of the Davenport seances, which was preceded by con­ tackled by two ladies-Madame la Comtesse de Tomassevic and juring tricks, a supposed levitation in the dark, and the mate­ Mrs. Beecham Martin-both of whom narrated accurate clairvoy­ rialisation of ' Miss Bony Part,' a draped skeleton. I was one ant descriptions and messages given them through mediums who of the gentlemen on the stage permitted to witness (1) the could know nothing about the people or matters described, and cabinet performance, and being left accidentally on the stage, I asked Mr. Marriott to account for them. Of course, he could inapected the cabinet before I retired. With what result 1 The only reply that the ladies were deceiving themselves. Mrs. cabinet was beautiful in its simplicity, furnished with trick Martin would not let him off so easily. She told him of a case seats to which the conjurer's hands were tied, and from which in which a clairvoyant, a stranger to her, described a photograph they were released the moment the cabinet doors were shut by of Macaulay which, he said, was hanging on the wall of her the attendants. I do not think that anyone familiar with the library, and she asked how that man knew she had that particular phenomena of Spiritualism would have been taken in by this photograph in her library. Mr. Marriott repl'ted that it was a amusing performance. I have witnessed many entertainments fairly safe shot to make, whereupon Mrs. Martin, turning to the since then, but not one of them exposed or threw light upon the audience, asked 'Has any lady or gentleman here present a manifestations taking place at seances. library in which hangs a photograph of Macaulay 7' Replies of In the early seventies the clergy were up in arms against 'No' came from all over the room. Mr. Marriott explained Spiritualism. They felt, somehow, that their calling was 'You have to make shots, and at times you get home.' 'Will threatened. The scientific world was partly indifferent and Mr. Marriott make another "shot" as .to any other photo in my partly puzzled with the definite claims of Sir (then Mr.) William library 7' queried the lady. Then another lady innocently Crookes, but mostly antagonistic. The general public was grossly · asked him to psychometrise a letter for her ; but he quickly ignorant of the facts. The Church denounced Spiritualism as excused himself and made a rather flustered exit. We trust that being of the devil. Medical men professed to know of the the 'Psychic Gazette,' under the editorship of Mr. J. LP.Wis, thousands Spiritualism sent to asylums. Science talked of the will have a useful and prosperous career. 'whoredom of the intellect,' through Professor Tyndall ; of 'unconscious cerebration,' through Professor Carpenter ; with WE are pleased to observe that the 'Manche~ter City News' scorn and ridicule through Professor Huxley. Yates, Browning in its issue of the 22nd inst. gives a kindly notice, accompanied and Lewis got on the war path, and the learned professors of the by a portrait, of our old friend Mr. (Councillor) Will Phillips. Glasgow University, abdicating their intellect, bowed the knee He is compared to 'the enfant terrible, the clever, engaging child who asks awkward questions.' 'Rashly enough the Council has to W!!.Shington Irving Bishop, who played to their prejudices with left him a pretty free hand, only placing him on two committees credit to his bank account and great discredit to his patrons. -Libraries and Town Hall. Consequently his ebullient The performances by l\1askelyne and Cook !lt the Egyptian Hall, energies express themselves in continual vigorous comment upon always excellent, were boomed by the antagonism of the period, the doings of all the committees : none is safe from him.' But and the alleged 'exposures of Spiritualism' were greedily ' there is no bitterness in his most vehement attacks upon party accepted by the uninitiated public, to whom it never occurred or prejudice. For the eyes reveal the inner man, the wistful poet, the lowr of his kind saddened by the sadness of the world, that these so-called exposures never exposed, and that the per­ smouldering with fires of indignation that stupid wrong and formances were gi \'en under totally different conditions from those oppression should prevail.' ' Councillor Phillips is a fighter *Author of 'Human Magnetism,' 'Seeing the Invisible,' ' Photo­ and his side is that of the people.' graphing the Invisible-,' &c. 304 LIGHT. [June 29, 19rn.

of the maligned medium~. Not one of the conjuring ' experts' persons, however learned, who are ignorant of the subject on came forward and said : 'Ladies and gentlemen, this is the way which they pronounce their judgment. the manifestations are made,' and then proceeded to enlighten There are signs that the psychic research mind is not his audience. They had not the slightest intention of doing altogether ~omfortable in being dictated to by the conjurer. that. What must, we think of the then leading members of the Not a few have rebelled against his methods, as did Sir Oliver Society for Psychical Research who permitted their powers of Lodge against the suggestion of fraud made l>y the late Dr. observation and judgment to be dominated by the opinions of a Richard Hodgson as the explanation of the phenomena witnessed conjurer in their investigations at Cambridge with Eusapia in the presence of Eusapia Paladino several years before the Paladino as medium 1 For nearly ten yeard this unhappy Cambridge sittings. medium had been tested by equally competent men, who did not The fraud hypothesis, however, is about to be dethroned. The degrade either the peasant woman or themselves by the presence conjurer is to stand aside for the physician with a new theory of of a conjurer, and the genuineness of her mediumship was unconscious fraud, genuinely carried out by mediums in trance, abundantly proved, as it has been on many occasions since. But the trance state and the manifestations . being accepted as at Cambridge all the movements of the friendless woman, and genuine. The fraud is genuinely perpetrated by the personali­ the imperfect results obtained, dne to the atmosphere of ties dwelling in or created by the subconscious other-seU oi the antagonism and suspicion by which she was surrounded, were medium. We are getting on. Trance and phenomena are deemed to be fraudulent. Maskelyne had spoken, and so admitted, and the conjurer's shallow 'explanations' traversed. dominated were the investigators with the 'fixed idea ' of fraud, The new hypothesis has been found necessary because, while the that his opinions prevailed and for years have held sway. Spiritists' suggestion of spirit action has to be ignored, the fraud .At the trial of the late Dr. Slade, the Court-notwithstand­ theory does not in all cases cover the ground. Consequently ing the remarkable array of evidence in favour of the phenomenon it is held that mediums for physical phenomena are not normal, cf psychography-was influenced by the assertions and per­ but they are persons who in hysterical states produce the pheno­ formances of a conjurer to commit the medium for trial. mena. Fraud was that conjurer's first, last and only hypothesis. Harl With due apologies, the foregoing has been deduced by me, he been less obsessed with the fraud idea, so willingly and after reading a report (of five hundred pages) in the fifth profitably harboured, he might have seen that, while he was volume of the .American 'Proceedinge.' S.P.R., written by Dr. crediting the ignorant .American youths, the Italian peasant James Hyslop. I may be wrong in my summary, but I will woman, and Slade with being skilled and astute conjurers, quote his exact words in dealing with his conclusions as to the they had, in fact, no astuteness and were singularly indifferent to futility and the ignorant stupidity of the conjurer. He says :- money consideration, preferring penury and obloquy as mediums Oue thing is clearly indicated by this report. It .is the absolute to wealth and fame as conjurers. disqualification of the conjurer for experimenting with such cases Members of the Society for Psychical Research have done or for passing judgment upon the phenomena. Had we pro­ good work in collecting evidence, in experimenting, and in ceeded with his ideas on this type of phenomena [the physical], we should never have found traces of hysteria or have im'estigating the play of psychic faculty. The array of evidence been able to study the changes of personality involved. The has been great, and in religious and scientific quarters it has public, both scientific and lay, has accepted too readily the con­ borne good fruit. So far, so good. Bnt the 'Proceedings' of jurer's point of view and methods in such cases. But I now the Society contain the record, written by the late Dr. Richard regard this report as forever shutting out that class oi seU­ Hodgson, showing how Mr. Davey, a member of the Society, constituted authorities, and as justifying the policy of wholly imposed upon and misled a few uninformed persons by simulated ignoring them in the future. Conjurers have their place, but it is not in the investigation of hysterics or the phenomena that slate-writing and materialisations. These took place under con­ are associated with them. ditions which no level-headed Spiritualist would tolerate for a Substituting for hysterics certain neuropathic peculiarities minute. detectable in many hypnotic and psychic sensitives, I cordially Granting the intelligence and the sincerity of the in vesti­ agree with the learned doctor that conjurers are utterly gator who condemns mediumship and physical manifestations, unqualified to deal either with these sensitives or the phenomena. no dependence should be placed on his opinions wh~n he is known I confess my doubts, however, as to the new theory of hysterics to have been antagonistic prior to his inquiry, or when his ver­ being satisfactory. With my knowledge of mediums and physical dict is based on one interview with a medium, or when his visit phenomena, I am not prepared to accept the conclusion that the was made under a false name and false pretences, or when he is a phenomena, although genuine, are fraudulently produced in conjurer, whose thoughts, performances, and success in life trance by mediftms. This savours too much of a foregone con­ depend on his skill to deceive. clusion. That Eusapia Paladino and other unfortunate medittms Vice-Admiral Usborne Moore has held important com­ have become hysterical there cannot be any doubt, but in my mands in the British Navy requiring more than usual powers opinion that is a result of the harsh treatment that they have of obsel'\'ation and precision in recording the same. He been subjected to, rather than the cause of the phenomena. brought these qualities to bear on modern Spiritualism, and We are still awaiting the man of science who will walk in the had many opportunities-having Laken the pains to discover footsteps of Sir William Crookes ; a man capable of investigat­ them-of investigating various phases of the ·phenomena asso­ ing not only the phenomena, but the health, temperament, and ciated with mediumship. In his work, 'Glimp3es of the Next traits of character possessed by mediums. Till then the in­ State,' he says :- vestigation will be safer in the hands of the intelligent lay­ I discussed my .American experiences with mauy people, but man who approaches the subject with an open mind and chiefly with a conjurer whom I believe to be the most modern and clever of his trade, who furnishe:i me with over a hundred unhampered by a priori conceptions of fraud and hysterics. explanations on different points. There was not one of the various suggestions offered to me that met with the causes of Cmv ALRY AND W OMEN.-Mrs. Isabella Fyvie Mayo, writing spirit action I had seen; each explanation was more wonderful in 'The Open Road,' says : ' Not for worlds would one minimise than the spirit hypothesis. No doubt those who argued with the chivalry of the men who on the decks of the "Titanic" me were at a great disadvantage ; they were totally unacquainted stood aside to let the women occupy the lifeboats, but one is with the electric conditions in the States, with the country, and heartily thankful that some women were true to death, and with the psychics whom I have seen. However that may be, "chivalrolll!ly" refused to leave their husbands, or their travel­ the effect on my mind was to strengthen my belief in the ling companions, fathers, brothers, or grown-up sons. Un­ genuineness of the phenomena. doubtedly many more women would have done the same had The conjurer has his legitimate sphere; his tricks and patter they not been deceived as to the facts of the case, or even, as please and puzzle us ; we admire the entertainment and willingly appears in some cases, forcibly bundled off. Surely deathless love is more than mortal life-and "death together " is an ideal pay for it; hut the lesson which most persons have yet to leam to ha longed for rather than rushed from. Does not this is to tre:it the opinions on Spiritualist phenomena of the conjurer, "chivalry," unselfish as it was, root itself in the old bad creed und those who take lheir cue f1om him, with modest reserve. that a woman's soul and affection need not be considered, so Such opinions are no more entitled to respect than those of other long as her body is kept safe and " provided for" 1 ' june 29, 1912.] LIGHT. 305

THOUGHTS ON MANY THEMES. A SPIRITUALIST ~UNERAL

There is much that will repay thoughtful perusal in the June We have been very interested in reading the accounts given number of the ' Theosophist.' Mrs. Besant devotes her latest in the local papers of the funeral of Mr. Frederick Barker, of 'Study in Karma' to what she calls 'collective karma'-' the Fairy Grove, Retford. Mr. Barker, who passed away on the complex into which are woven the results of the collective 16th inst., at the age of thirty, lamented by a wide circle of thoughts, desires and activities of groups, whether large or small.' friends, was, with his parents, greatly interested in Spiritualism, Not only are the rise and fall of nations brought about by and did much in a quiet way to spread the cause. He was also collective karma, but national catastrophes like famine and an earnest advocate of temperance. plague ; and she even attribut.es to it seismic changes, such as At the funeral, which took place on the 19th inst., the hearse earthquakes, volcanoes and floods! We are next introduced by was drawn by a pair of greys and the mourning coaches by bay Marguerite M. C. Pollard to 'Theosophical Idea.a in American horses, all the drivers wearing white gloves. The lady Literature,' chiefly as exemplified in the writings of Emerson, mourners Wore white dresses trimmed with forget-me-nots, and Thoreau and Walt Whitman. An eloquent plea is advanced by at the special request of the family, the ladies of the Congre­ Ma.dame A. L. Pogosky for a higher conception of work. gational Church choir, of which deceased was a member, also She alludes to its beneficent influence when we work not for self, appeared in ordinary summer attfre. During the service the bt\t insph:ed by the idea cif serving someone else, a friend or choir sang 'Abide with Me,' and afterwards an earnest and society at large-how at such times, even when the body droops eloquent address was delivered at the graveside by Mrs. Barker, with fatigue, the spirit rejoices. The laws of good work are the mother of the deceased, in the course of which she urged love, the true expression of the soul, and creativeness and service, that there was no such thing as death, but merely a i.e., absence of selfishness. With the violation of these laws, as change, and that the deceased was carrying out his she truly observes, harmony and beauty disappear and we have duty in another sphere as nobly as he carried out the deadlock of our modern conditions. Mr. George Seaver has his work on earth. She stated that he was with them as an interesting article on ' The Dionysus Cult in its Relation to she spoke, and could appreciate all the sympathy which had been Christianity (as seen in the "Bacchre " of Euripides).' He points expressed. At the close of Mrs. Barker's address, which greatly out many striking features of resemblance between the two affected her hearers, the deceased's father led off the hymn, ' God religions, but in doing so claims that the existence of such be with you. till we meet again,' in which all the mourners resemblances between Christianity and other world-religions, joined. In expressing our sympathy with the parents (old together with the parallels between the lives of their founders Spiritualists well-known in Sheffield before they removed to and the life of Jesus, 'so far from startling and perplexing him, Retford) we congratulat.e them on the splendid example they should rather tend towards stimulating the faith of the believer ; have set of how a Spiritualist funeral ought to be conducted. for such parallels are not strange, but natural and inevitable.' But perhaps the most remarkable and original contribution to the number is that on ' Ethics and Life,' by the Baroness Mellina d' Asbeck. It is prefaced by an editorial note which informs us EYES FOR THE BLIND. that the idea.a expressed are the leading ideas of the ' Ligue de !'Education Mora.le de Ia Jeunesse,' founded in Paris in 1910 by Our readers will, we are sure, join with us in congratulating a member of the Theosophical Society. In the spring of 1912 Mr. E. E. Fournier d'Albe on his wonderful invention, which the League opened in Paris a school for small children, in which he calls 'The Optophone,' by which he has succeeded in making the method applied is that of Dr. Montessori-viz., the applica­ light audible. 'The Daily News and Leader,' on Monday la.st, tion of the natural laws of the psychological development of the said:- child. The Baroness points out that ethics, until now, has been Among the many wonderful instruments which attracted a based on divine commandments or on metaphysical assumptions crowd of some three thousand visitors to the Science Museum at sanctioned by religious belief. But ethics must not be allowed South Kensington on Saturday, few ex:cited more interest than a strange-looking box, resembling nothing so much as an to crumble with the crumbling of religious beliefs. What basis elongated magazine camera, in a case by itself, devoid of all can be found for it 1 Al3 the only certain fact is that we exist, advertisement save a single label announcing that a demonstra­ that we a.re essentially living beings (for life is for us the tion would be given on Tue3day at noon, when Mr. E. E. condition sine qua non of all future possibilities), should not this Fournier d'Albe, of Harbome, Birmingham, the inventor, fa.ct, she asks, be a possible basis, and also the true source of all would be present. And yet, perhaps, of all the exhibits this morality 1 'Should not moral laws be the laws of life itself, and was the most humanly interesting, for that box is to be ' eyes to the blind.' ethics, as an art, nothing else but the art of living 1' Tracing the The invention is based on the well-known property of development of consciousness from its birth to its maturity, she selenium of changing its resistance to light. The blind person shows that knowledge, love, and self-eacrifice, the highest simply holds the camera-like box in his hand. Attached to it ' virtues,' are simply the laws of its life, and that whenever these are two telephone receivers, which fit over the head, and as the laws are infringed, not only ethics is infringed, but life itself is blind subject approaches a window a distinct note is emitted by misunderstood. To the pessimist she replies that there can be the instrument, which at once changes if an object, animate or otherwise, is interposed. A lighted lamp gives a different note nought else but happiness in the full realisation of our own life. to the glow of a fire, and it is said that even the outline of ' We have been told over and over again that suffering and objects may be traced. sacrifice are one, but that is a mistake. Suffering may accompany For the invention a wonderful future is predicted by the sacrifice, but it is not a necessary condition of it. The perfect ' English Mechanic ' and other technical papers. and natural sacrifice is a joy.' The last feature in the magazine that calls for any special notice is \ln illustrated study by Josephine Pollard, of the remarkable sculptures by Buddhist 'LIGHT': 'TRIAL' SUBSCRIPTION. artists on the stupas or dome-like structures erected at Sanchil and other famous places over relics of Buddha or of one of 'the Arhats, or to mark a spot made memorable by some event in the As an inducement .to new and casual readers to become Buddha's life. What other peoples recorded in manuscripts, subscribers, we will supply 'LIGHT' for thirteen weeks, post free, India recorded in stone, and Mrs. Ransom gives us a very inter­ for 2s., as a ' trial' subscription, feeling assured that at the esting account of the symbolism employed, and of some of the termination of that period they will find that they ' cannot do legends and historical incidents pourtrayed in these strange without it,' and will then subscribe at the usual rates. May we works of art. at the same time suggest to those of our regular readers who have friends to whom they would like to introduce the paper, REDHILL.-A subscriber to 'LmHT,' who resides at Redhill, would be pleased to communicate with others in the neighbour­ that they should avail themselves of this offer, and forward to hood who arc interested in psychical subjects. Letters may be us the names and addresses of such friends, upon receipt of addressed to 'W. H.,' c.o. ' LIGHT,' 110, St. Martin's-lane, which, together with the requisite postal order, we shall be London, W.C. pleased to send ' LIGHT ' to them by post, as stated above 1 306 LIGHT. [June 29, 1912.

OFFICE OF 'LIGJ1T,1 110, ST. MARTIN'S LANE, the evils of fanaticism, phenomena-hunting and 'emotionlil LONDON, W.C. 1 S.ATURD.AY, JUNE 29TH, 1912. dram-drinking' As well blame food for making gluttons and dyspeptics, or knowledge for making prigs and pedants and sickly bookworms. Surely at the root of the trouble is Jight: always the 'protruding self.' It is Protean in its disguises, A Journal of Psychical, Occult, and Mystical Research. but it is there. Sometimes, to do it justice, it is admirably PRICE TWOPENCE WEEKLY. candid. 'This is all very well,' it says, 'but what do I COMMUNICATIONS intended to be printed should be addressed to get out of it 1' That is its bold aspect. On its weaker the Editor, Office of 'LIGHT,' 110, St. Martin's Lane, London, W.C. Business cmmmunications should in all cases be addressed to Mr. side the cry is, 'But I must protect myself-I must keep F. W. South, Office of 'LIGHT,' to whom Cheques and Postal out of danger~there is "the wrath to come "-there is Orders should be ma.de payable. the workhouse, there is poverty, there is public opinion.'

Subscription Rate~.-· LIGHT' may be had free by post on the following And impudent and pushful, or craven and cautious, the terms :-Twelve months, 10s. lOd ; six months, 6s. 5d. Pa.]11Ilents to be ma.de in advance. To United States, 2dol. 700. To France, self goes on its way to disillusion, demoralisation and Italy, &c., 13 francs 86 centimes. To Germany, 11marks25 pfg, despair, for its stronghold becomes at last its prison. Wholesale Agents: Messrs. Simpkin, Marshall, Hamilton, Kent and So is the good thing-self-love-turned to barrenness Oo., Ltd., 31, Paternoster-row, London, E.C., and 'LIGHT' ca.n be ordered through all Newsagents and Booksellers. by its possibilities of perversion, and we hear long homilies on moral evil from those who little suspect that moral evil APPLICATIONS by MemLers and .Associates of the London Spirit­ ualist .Alliance, Ltd., for the Joan of books from the .Alliance is but moral good turned awry, that only by so-called evil Library should be addressed to the Librarian, Mr. B. D. Godfrey, is good outwrought and perfected. Down to the minutest Office of the .Alliance, 110, St. Martin's-lane, W.C. detail the Divine order justifies itseH. Why does the strong self tyrannise and encroach 1 Because it is full of THE WAY OF FREEDOM. energy for which it finds no natural and legitimate outlet. Why does the weak self cower and suffer~ Because it is The soul works in a narrow circle when it works only weak and needs'that its latent powers should be called into for itself. Up to a point labour and thought"for self are activity. When it is developed it will withstand the natural and legitimate-self-love is the basis of self· encroachments of the strong, undisciplined selves, and existence. The primary purpose of Nature in evolution force them back into normal modes of expression ; and was the production of self-conscious life, and to that end, then a new step will be taken towards the order and as part of the Divine plan, was implanted the .instinct of harmony that has yet to be unfolded in the world. But self-preservation. The unfolding entity struggled to make in the meantime there is travail and unrest for strong and a place for itself and to maintain its foothold. It fought weak alike, and much bemoaning of evil that, after all, 'is for its existence against opposing forces, and in that way only undeveloped good.' developed its powers and established its individuality. As For all the apparent chaos and misery tha.t exist, there the long ages passed and the self-conscious life became are many happy souls in the world to-day-the souls who firmly founded there came the dawn of something higher­ have learnt by suffering, or some inborn perception, the the life for others. It had already shown itself as an true limits of self-love. They have found the door that instinct-the life for the partq.er, the life for the family, leads beyond the narrow bounds of personal desires-they the life for the tribe. But with the deepening of self. fret no more behind the. bars, but far!3 forth to range a. consciousness it passed from an instinct into a moral greater world and breathe a freer air. Great and mysterious purpose, and the idea of self-sacrifice, self-abnegation, joys are theirs. They behold became part of the life of the soul. Then the race pro· That Light whose smile kindles the Universe, duced its long roll of heroes and martyrs who braved and That Beauty in which all things work and move. suffered all for the good of their kind. There were countless thousands of them, for although here and there . Life for them has become large and full of fragrance, their histories survive there were-and are-myriads and although they see and lament the sorrow of the world, 'whose names on earth are dark,' but the Universe has and work devotedly for its removal, they have an a.biding them all in immortal memory. They live, and their living consciousness that at the heart of things all is well.. For influence works in every fine thought and every noble these, great visions of things yet to be, sweet voices Qut of impulse that expresses itself in the world to-day. It comes the silence, and the radiant influence of like-minded ones as an inspiration to all those who have grown beyond the who from homes celestial rain down inspirations on those narrow circle of self-love, but as a consuming fire against who, still treading the road of earth, have yet entered those who, wilfully deaf to the strivings of the Spirit, into the fellowship of the Greater Love. They have remain seekers only for their own good. Pent in the little surrendered self but have not lost it. Self-consoiousness­ cage of self, they become jaded and world-weary, or cynical self-love-remains, but i_t has fallen into its place, and now and rebellious. Pursuers of fleshly delights, they become at it works as the healthy pulsing of the heart. You cannot fast surfeited and miserable. For them, 'everything passes, dazzle these people with prospects of personal power and everything perishes, everything palls.' Power, place, wealth aggrandisement, nor ca:n you affright them with visions of -there is no lasting comfort in any of these things. Else­ poverty, humiliation, or the terrors of the dark world. Such where the self, intent on self, seeks safety in piety. And things touch only the personal self, and these have passed then we get tho spectacle of the little soul concerned only beyond its power. with its own salvation, and sometimes, under the power of It is probable that only a few of us have yet reached the 'fixed idea,' exhibiting what is known as 'religious this emancipation in its entirety. Many gain only brief mania '-although we should hesitate to debase the name glimpses of the greater life, and even those who have of religion by associating it with such morbid developments. dwelt within its borders fall back from time to time into But many things, harmless and even elevating, are in the nether world of the self to endure the smarts of ' envy shallow minds blamed for their evil effects on self-seekers and calumny and hate and pain.' But these are ., cleansing who exploit these things for their own ends. What have fires' from which the spirit rises again and again until at religious and spiritual movements, for instance, to do with length the last links are broken and it enters eternally into June 29, 1912.] LIGHT. 307 its own. Driven or led, along tortuous paths or on the proved ta possess certain supernormal subconscious faculties great highway of the Soul, sooner or later all will pass into which appear capable of explaining the phenomena under dis­ that heritage of freedom and beauty, for cussion as well as the occurrence of the strange errors and con­ the one Spirit's plastic stress fusions already alluded to. Sweeps through the dull, dense world, compelling there Here the first object of the investigator should be to dis­ All new successions to the forms they wear -; cover criteria which may serve to distinguish phenomena which Torturing the unwilling dross that cheeks its fligl1t iuay be due to the exercise of telepathic or psychometric facul­ To its own likeness, as each mass they bear ; ties on the part of the medium from those that are p1·esumably And bursting in it.cl beauty and its might of extraneous origin. From trees and beast.cl and men into the Heaven's light. The writer accordingly proposes to deal with the problem in two divisions-that is to say, in the first place he intends to ANTI-SPIRITUALISTIC THEORIES CRITICALLY examine the possibility of arriving at a criterion scientifically EXAMINED. adequate for the purpose of enabling the investigator to distin­ guish fact.cl that are presumably telepathic from those of a BY G. s. COWIE. different category, and, secondly, to analyse psychometric pheno­ mena with a view to ascertaining the capacity of psychometry to There is little that proceeds from Signol' Bozzano's skilful bear the whole burden of explaining the Piper phenomenology. pen ·that does not merit serious attention on the part of all who Now with regard to the first of these undertakings-namely, are interested in the investigation of psychic phenomena, and the attempt to discover a good criterion scientifically capable of the distinguished member of the Italian society for such studies supplying a solution or an elucidation of the problem-Signo1· has laid us under a fresh obligation in this respect by the recent Bazzano says :- publication of his able and suggestive analysis of Mrs. Piper's trance communications. I will in the first place remark that in my opinion a good criterion, capable of turning the scales of probability in favour . The very voluminousness of the reports referring to this of the spirit hypothesis, might be drawn from the fact that every celebrated ease constitutes for ordinary people one of the chief mediumship i·eveals a constant type of manifestations, that is to obstacles to their arriving at a clear conclusion with regard to say, develops within a well-marked circle of phenomena, outside the whole of the collected evidence. Confronted with an of which it is unable to travel by reason of the special idiosyn­ assemblage of messages, with dialogues and episodes so varied crasies which determine the mediumship itself (hence the great and so extensive, the reader is almost certain, sooner or later, diversity in the forms of mediumship, beginning with that capable of purely physical effects, and finishing with others of a to feel the need of a systematic method of dealing with the purely intellectual order, with all the multiform intermediate various cases, as well as of. some criteria which may enable him gradations which serve to distiuguish them). to estimate the respective applicability of the several explana­ Such being the conditions, the circum.~tanee should be noted tory theories that have been put forward. that every time given supernormal or mediumistic faculties, to To those who experience such a want, Signor Bozzano's the exclusion of certain others, are developed in a subject who article is calculated to convey a very considel'able measure of bas been appropriately exercised, in such eases the faculties so .excluded are, as a rule, never manifested, just as those that do assistance. not form part of the idiosyncrasies peculiar to the subject ; and The following extracts from the principal passages will, it is if this is so, it appears clear that in computing the probabilities hoped, with the connecting paragraphs, suffice to gi \'e a clear to wqich recourse is had for the purpose of explaining the phe­ idea of the method adopted by the distinguished investigator nomena obtained, it will be necedSary to take into account the in dealing with these manifestations, and of the grounds upon absence or the presence of given supernormal faculties; so that should some of these be wanting it would not be logically which he bases his estimate of the value to be assigned to the justifiable to invoke them in explanation of the facts. various hypotheses that have been suggested to account for their In other words : To distinga.ish manifestations of a sub­ origin. conscious order from those of presumably extraneous origin, After a brief reference to the weakening of confidence in a good ' criterion for the purpose of discrimination ' would the telepathic hypothesis, and to the growing tendency to seek appear to be furnished by the accurate inspection and analysis an explanation of the phenomena in an extended conception of of the quality of the phenomena produced by the mediumship nnder examination, and then by acting conformably in the in­ psychometry, the subject-matter is ananged under the following vestigation of the causes ; that is to say, without exceeding the heads : 1. A brief allusion to the formidable problem presented indicated limit of the supernormal facultfos actually peculiar to by the imperfections and lacunre in the messages ; 2. A dis­ the medianic subject. cussion of the telepathic hypothesis and a reference to the neces­ Naturally it would be requisite that the medium should, sity of restricting it.cl importance in the case in question ; 3. A above all, be sufficiently exercised to attain his or her complete consideration of the intrinsic character and the legitimate appli­ . development ; and as in the ease of Mrs. Piper such a condition has been fully attained, I think such a test or criterion can be cation of the psychometric hypothesis, always with reference to legitimately applied to her mediumsbip. the same case. The objections which in this connection have been made to Under the first heading it is noted. that in the com·se of time the spirit hypothesis may be summed up in these three modes two principal objections have been encountered by advocates of of telepathic extrinsication : 1. Possibility of the transmission the spirit hypothesis. As regards the first, which arises from of the conscious thought of those present (telepathy properly so­ the defective character of the messages, Signor Bazzano says :- called). 2. Possibility of the reading of the subconscious thought of those present. 3. Possibility of the reading of the subcon­ Since the most recent reports dealing with the question scious thought of persons at a distance, whether known or which have been published by the Society for Psychical Research, unknown to the medium. and, above all, since the last masterly publication of Dr. Hyslop, which summarises and completes the preceding reports of With reference to the first of the possible explanations. Hodgson and of Hyslop himself (American ' Proceedings,' Vol. above mentioned, a detailed study of the various communications IV.), it must be admitted that the multiple causes of per11lexity to which the first of the above-mentioned objections gave rise, mentioned in the report.cl leads the author of the article to the have one after the other been elucidated to such an extent that conclusion that 'the hypothesis of the transmission of thought we are entitled to affirm that the few remaining without ex­ appears to be contradicted by the facts every time the latter planation can offer no grounds for serious perplexity, inasmuch allow of its being put to the test.' And from this he infers the as it can easily be shown that they originate in identical causes corollary ' that the faculty of receiving the conscious thought of (interferences and amnesias dlte to the meetiug in one brain of those p1·esent is, as a rule, not met with in the case of Mrs. Piper ; two or more mentalities, of two or more 'psychic auras,' of two or more telepathic currents, accompanied by ready ·emergence of and this being so, the determination to persist in making use of the subconsciousness) ; so that it is permissible to presume t11at such a hypothesis in the investigation of the causes in spite of these in their turn will not be long in obtaining an explanation the contrary evidence of the experiments, would appear to be a by means of future investigations. pretension little in conformity with the rules of scientific induc­ The first difficulty having been thus practically surmounted, tion ; all the more so if instead of utilising it for the explana­ there remains the second-namely, the fact that man has been tion of some single and fortuitous incident, there should be a 308 LIGHT. [June 29, 1912.

determination to extend it and make it generally applicable to ITEMS OF INTEREST. the whole of the phenomena in question.' · Signor Bozzano proceeds to quote a series of typical incidents 'Nash's Magazine ' for July has an article by Miss Stead from the reports of the sittings in support of his contention. on her father and his connection with Spii:itualism. The editor, Stress is laid on the obvious incapacity of the communicating in his foreword, says he presents this remarkable contribution without prejudice, but 'perhaps it is not miraculous that the personalities to give the names of people or places well-known mind which saw the merging of nations has manifested itself to those taking part in the proceedings. Facts, on the other across the borderland of worlds.' hand, are often alluded to which are temporarily absent from the recollection of the sitters. With regard to Monsignor Benson's recent lecture at Particular attention is directed to the int.eresting epi~ode in Brighton, a valued contributor to 'LIGHT' says that the lec­ which a manifesting personality expresses evident surprise when turer's allusion in that neighbourhood to insanity among Spiritualists was surely unfortunate for him, seeing that only a it is suggested that a very natural incident, and oue likely few miles away, near Bnrgess Hill, is a very large Catholic enough in itself, had taken place-namely, that a visit had on institution for the insane (she has been shown over it) which some occasion been paid to his house on the part of one of his is full of insane Catholics of all professions and walks in life. friends-and in reply makes the counter-suggestion that such a visit, perhaps, took place after his own death, which was, indeed, Memories of a celebrated law case are revived by the an­ actually the case. ('Proceedings' of S.P. R., Vol. XXIII., nouncement received from Paris of the transition on April 19th last, in her seventieth year, of Mrs. Juliet Anne Theodora p. 103.) Heurtley Hart-Davies (' Sister Esperance'). It is just thirty­ It is clear that if thought-transmission had played a part in one years ago since Mrs. Susie Willis Fletcher, after a trial this dialogue, the communicating personality of Dr. Hodgson lasting six days, was sentenced at the Central Criminal Court, would have at once understood the incident referred to in Mrs. in April, 1881, to twelve months' imprisonment, with hard James's first question concerning her visit, whereas misunder­ labour, on a charge of having conspire::l with her husband and standing the reference, the communicating intelligence quite Colonel Morton to defraud Mrs. Hart-Davies. A strange feature of the case was that it should have been possible near the close natura1ly expressed his surprise at the wrongly-inferred sugges­ of the nineteenth century to employ against an accused person tion of an untrue fact. an obsolete Act aimerl at the unlawful pretence ' to exercise and It will be impossible within the limits of this article to re­ use diverse kinds of witchcraft, sorcery, enchantment, and con­ produce the various passages* which Signor Bu;,zano quotes in juration '-an Act under which all the scientific investigators support of his thesis. It must suffice to say that they are given of Spiritualism would have been; equally with Mrs ..Fletcher, as a typical, and by no means exhaustive, selection of cases which liable to prosecution. tend to show 'that the first of the above-enumerated modes of To lovers of animals and to those who distrust the frequent telepathic extrinsication-namely, that which contemplates the use of the knife in surgery, Dr. Charles Reinhardt's clever novel, possibility of the transmission of the conscious thought of those 'The Seventh Son' (cloth, 2s. net, Stead's Publishing House, present-appears to be contradicted by the facts every time the Kingsway), will make a strong appeal. The hero of the story latter allow of its being put to the test.' has the misfortune to be an unwanted child, and his boyhood is consequently a troubled one ; but in spite of an indifferent (To be continued.) father and a worse than unloving mother, who, jealous for her favourite boy, puts every possible obstacle in the path of the unfortunate 'seventh son,' the latter, finding a friend and .. benefactor in an old sweetheart of his mother's, succeeds by MR. STEAD SPEAKS AT JuLIA's BUREAU.-Too late forinser­ perse\'ering stndy in making his way, and become11 a l'.°kiliul tion in this issue of 'LIGHT' we have received a long and doctor. We have followed his fortunes and those of the charm­ interesting report from l\ir. W. Kerlor of a remarkable seance at ing heroine with considerable interest, especially as young Dr. Julia's Bureau with Mrs. Wriedt, at which Mr. W. T. Stead was Ravensbnry meets with a strong rival for the lady's affections in both seen and heard. Other spirits manifested, some speaking another budding surgeon, Dr. Bullock (there's much in a name !). in Norwegian, and other interesting phenomena took place. Mr. Of course, the rival is an ardent devotee of the knife and a more Kerlor's account bears the signatures of all the sitters in attesta­ than ordinarily callous vivisectionist, and, equally of course, the tion of its accuracy. This report will appear next week. hero is opposed to both practices. Certain unpleasant adventures Several other communications intended for this issue are also which befall the fair Sylvia's pet dog have much to do with her unavoidably held over. final choice. The author not only interests us in his characters, WE have received a copy of an interesting penny weekly but contrives in the course of his narrative to put the causes for journal called 'The Truth,' which is published at Jerusalem. which he pleads very strongly and clearly, and to give illustra­ It is printed in English, and is now in its third year of pub­ tions and arguments in their support. lication. The issue before us is for June 7th, and almost one­ half of the paper is devoted to an article on the 'Phenomena That all is not harmony in the Theosophic camp is evident of Spiritisrn,' dealing especially with Mr. Stead's manifestations from one of Mrs. Besant's 'Watch-tower' notes in the June and messages since his tragic decease. The writer of the article number of 'The Theosophist.' She says : 'A few members of sought the advice of an eminent Rabbi, and says : 'To our query, the Society are striving with might and main to persuade the if he considered the re-appearance of a disembodied soul to public that I am trying to impose my own views on the Society, human senses at all possible, the Rabbi unhesitatingly replied and to narrow its broad basis. In vain do I urge on members, that it is not only possible, but it is to him a salient fact, within time after time, the duty of perfect tolerance and mutual respect ; his personal experience.' in vain do I proclaim in the official gatherings of the Society the perfect liberty of opinion which exists therein, and the fact that nothing is required for membership save acceptance of human * The cases referred to are the following :- brotherhood ; in vain do I print in my own journals views at The Hodgson episode in the sitting held with Mr. Dorr ('Proceed- variance with mine. Unless I consent to be colourless, to express ings' of the S.P.R., Vol. XXIII.,_p. 41). no opinions, to be in fact a King Log, and renounce all activity, The Junot case ('Proceedings,' Vol. XXIV., p. 405). these members will declare that I want to force my personal The Newbold case ('Proceedings,' Vol. XIV., pp. 9-34). The 'Mamie' episode('Proceedings' of the American S.P.R., Vol. opinions on the Society. If they were logical they would see that IV., pp. 521-522). to teach reincarnation and Karma is quite as "sectarian" as to 'fhe •U }l-and-Dust ' episode and the Nichols case ( • Proceedings ' preach the coming of a World-Teacher, hut they happen to agree of the S.P.R., Vol. XIII., p. 374). with the one and not with the other-a personal, not a logical The Carruthers ·episode (American •Proceedings,' Vol. IV., pp. reason for objection. My vigorous teaching of reincarnation and 536-538). The Hodgson episode ('Proceeoings' of the S.P.R., Vol. XXIII., Karma does not "compromise the neutnlity of the Society,'' and p.103). I ever declare that no member is bound to accept these because The ca..'10 of Samuel Cooper and the incident connected with the he is a member ; nor does my teaching of the corning of a World­ death of Professor Hyslop's father (M. Sage, •Madame Piper, &0.,' Teacher " compromise the neutrality of the Society," for I not pp. 201-205). only declare that no member is hound to accept this, but have The episode connected with the death of Professor Hyslop's wife even helped to establish a specio.l Order, out.,ide tlw T.S., for the (American •Proceedings,' Vol. IV., pp. 545-546). The case of Miss Macleod (•Proceedings' of the S.P.R., Vol. XIII., spreading of this idea. All my life long I have worked for free­ p. 351). dom of thought and speech for others, and have taken it for my­ The episode connected with 'Ruthy' Thaw·(' Proceedings,' Vol. self, and I am too old to surrender my own freedom at the XIII., p. 384). dictation of a few members of the T.S.' June 291 1912] LIGHT. 309

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR. Respecting Documents Ooncerning O. D. Home. Sm,-Will you kindly permit me to ask your assistance in · an important matter connected with occult inquiry. I refer you The Editor is not rBBJJonaible for the O.JJinions e:llfJreaaed by corr6Bj)on­ to the footnote on page 205 of the June number of' Uebersinn­ clmts, a7M1. somstime.9 pubZishu what he dou not agree with for liche Welt,' which is sent you regularly. I want. to ascertain the P'U?JIOBe of pruenting 'lliews which may elicit disCUBBion. particulars regarding the documents concerning Daniel Dunglas Home left after the death of his widow. Since all my inquiries addressed to private persons have been without result, perhaps an Who was Responsible? appeal through your columns may bl'ing the needed information. Thanking you beforehand for your assistance.-Yours, &c., SIR,-1 quite agree with the Rev. A. J. Toyne (p. 219) that D. WALTER BORMANN. if an iceberg is in the way, it is quite in the natural order of N.W. Neureuther Str. 22,II., Mii.nchen, Germany. things that the ship should strike it and· sink without any special Divine decrees; indeed, I doubt whether there is such a What For9 thing as a special Di vine decree. But in my view Mr. Toyne does Sm,-A few days ago a servant left the house for the station. not go back far enough-not far enough to make the occurrence a A minute or so after she had gone I discovered I wished to say certainty, existing all along in the world of causes, and there­ something to her and went after her with a friend. I saw her, as fore capable of being seen before it is ultimated in the world of effects. I thought, sitting on a bench outside the inn about one hundred yards down the hill and said 'There she is,' and my friend saw The possibility of prevision has been fairly well established, her too. She disappeared and I went into the inn. No one and to see a thing implies that it exists somewhere. We must was there but the landlord's wife. I came out, and we both at widen our conception of causes and effects into the infinite past that moment saw her turning a corner about three hundred and the infinitely complex. Thus-to take a little section out of yards away-the same figure, dress, and hat that had left the infinity-people born with such-and:such predilections and the house and appeared to be seated on the bench. I may add power to gratify them will develop tastes for luxurious that travelling; each fresh discovery of the increasing possibili­ I caught her up and completed my business.-Yours, &c., ties of rapid transit will make them more and more eager H. W. THATCHER. to do the transatlantic passage in the shortest possible time · taking all converging circumstances into account a vessel of A Premonition of the Fate of Mr. ·Stead, such and such a size and capacity will be built in s~ch and such Sm,-I have read with greatest interest in 'LIGHT' the a year ; that will be followed by bigger and more completely communications from Mr. Stead, and also the comments made equipped ones, and these by the biggest and best equipped of all. thereon by Mr. Foote. It may therefore interest the readers of Lastly-the folly of such a course not yet being realised but only ' LIGHT ' to know that in October last I had a forewarning of the advantages-this biggest vessel will go at rapid speed by the Mr. Stead's coming death this year. . shorti;st route. On a certain date she will crash into an iceberg. I had just seen Mr. Stead in Paris (on his way to Constanti­ Certam of he1· passengers and crew will be drowned in other nople as Peace delegate), and was writing on the subject to Miss words will leave this earth plane for the spirit plane'. Certain Felicia Scatcherd, a mutual friend, when I heard clairaudiently, others will be saved; that is, will continue their earth plane as I sometimes do, a solemn voice, sayinr, 1 ' The time is soon existence. Nothing really originates at the moment : every coming when he will be called home.' What ! ' I exclaimed, occurrence is a working out of infinitely complex causes. mentally, 'in Turkey 1' ' No,' came the answer, 'not till after Now as to the responsibility. The suggestion appears to his return to England. In the first half of next year-in six be that some occurrences are good and some are bad and that months.' There was an interval, and then I again heard the God ~as some connection with the good ones, but has 'nothing to voice say, ' His time has come ; his career is ended.' Somewhat do '!1th the ba~. B~t no occurrence-whether it be pleasing or startled, I mentioned part of what I had heard in my letter to terrible and d1stressmg-can have any moral quality in itself. Miss Scatcherd, softening it by saying : ' Of course it may be only If its immediate author be man, it is but the expression on the my imagination. Brit lugubrious, is it not 1' or some such phrase. external plane of a moral or spiritual condition. The quality On his return journey Mr. Stead again passed through good or evil, must be in the thing expressed not in the mere ex: Paris. As he bade me good-bye, I knew I should never see him pressio~. J!uman actions are the outcome' of the struggles for O:gain-in fact, I felt the fate hanging over him, though I did the ~at1sfact10n of human cravings and instincts-struggles that not know how it would come ; and this will explain to certain are. mseparabl~ from huma:r.. development. As they are neces­ mutual friends in London the unusual inquiries that I made sarily at first ignorant struggles, their first outcome is suffering. about Mr. Stead's health, and whether he was being careful ofit. What we call evil, then, is simply undevelopment. It does Mr. Stead wrote me in April that he was sailing for New not follow, because we may refuse to believe in 'pure accidents ' York, but did not mention on what ship. The day after the (whatever .that phrase may mean), or to put God outside a large ' Titanic' disaster I was haunted by an unaccountable perfume par.t of His lllll\'erse, that we must regard calamities (so-called) of roses, and, remembering that my late mother had been warned as Judgments, any more than we think of our joyous occasions of a death by a persistent, uncanny odour, I exclaimed : ' There as rewards. Joys and sorrows are not ends, but means to an is someone I know who is dead and trying to make me aware of end. The sooner we dismiss the idea that life is made up of it.' As soon as I saw in the papers that Mr. Stead was on the rewards and punishments the better. ' Titanic,' I knew that he was dead and would not be amongst To speak, therefore, of God's ' responsibility ' for events as the survivors. though we could view them from His side understand their Mr. Stead had great faith in my psychic powers, but, essential nature and award them our approv~l or disapproval is personally, I am rl!other sceptical of them. Not that I do not both presumptuous and beside the mark. ' believe in apirit communication, hut I think many manifestations . But what does Mr. Toyne mean by 'God ' 1 Many of us can be attributed to either imagination, mind-reading, or the mean by the term the All Inclusive, the All Source. If there is subconscious self. Therefore I do not know whether the mental ~n!~hi!lg outside of, ~nd apart from, God-any spirit, force, will, vision I had of Mr. Stead after the disaster was merely imagina­ imt1at1ve-then by God' we mean merely one spirit out of tion or something more. I saw him, very pale, dressed in black, a many spirits-possibly stronger than most, but only a god Sunday frock-coat, hatless and dripping wet. (Does any one among gods. What we call Nature and Nature's laws instead of the survivors remember how he was dressed at the time of the ·of bein.g an expression or revelation of God, are, in that case, wreck 1) I felt his presence some days later, hut this time strong, seJ!-ex1st1.mt. In fact, God as an object of worship ceases to joyous, and full of sunshine. exlSt. If, on the other hand, God is within Nature and if · When discussing the ' other side ' last summer, I said to ~uman nat~re, with all its follies, is a part of Nature, tl~en God Mr. Stead, ' How wonderful the next world must be ! ' 'But is equally lD the. shipwreck, the fall of a factory chimney, this world is a wonderful world for those who can see it ! ' he the ~ummer ~unshme and the earthquake. Is, then, a shipwreck exclaimed in reply. So I now inquired: 'Well, what do you cons1st~nt with the outworking of the Divine pnrposes for think of the " other side " 1 Is it not a wonderful world i ' humamty 1. Why not 1 If men only grow wise by making ' Yes ; there is this difference, here we see the wheels go round.' blunders ; if the only school in which they can learn is the As I have said, I am very ' wary' of my imagination ; never­ school of painful experience, then it is necessary sometimes and theless I have had some extraordinary experiences, which prove there~ore good, that ships should go down and people be drO\~ned. at least the wonderful power of one's own spirit, and which I God is the teacher in that school and His lessons will yet be hope hereafter to relate.-Yours, &c., learned. As to the souls of men, they are in His care wherever Paris. MAY DFJ WITT HOPKINS. th~ morrow may find them ; for He is the sole Ruler in His June 18th, 1912. umverse, tl1e sole J?isposer of events, and not a sparrow can fall to the ground without our "Father.-Yours, &c., P.S.-Miss Scatcherd, whom I saw recently, said she still had . my letter (mentioning the forewarning of Mr. Stead's death) and R. that she would ' look it up.' 310 LIGHT. [June 29, 191SI.

Mr. Stead Gives a Message in Denmark. consciousness until you are actually awake. In both these case& Srn,-Hel'ewith I send you a message which I have received 'you live in depth, and not in length. from Mr. W. T. Stead, with whom I was intimately connected . I had to explain all this in order to make you understand during the last years of his earth life. The message has a story. that during the very last moments when I was physically alone, I received the first part of it three weeks or more ago, and I had time to be with all my beloved ones in spirit, and, with although I myself was convinced of its authenticity, I asked for a each of them, live through our most beautiful experiences to­ proof that it really was from Mr. Stead before I showed or even gether. Tell them so, each of those dear lov«il'd ones who mourn mentioned it to anyone else. On Wednesday, June 5th, I went the past, who have been appalled at the sudden severing of our to a public seance given by Mr. Vout Peters in Copenhagen. My earthly ties. Ah, tell them not to mourn for me, for not for chief reason for going was the hope that Mr. Peters might see one second was I alone or afraid ; their love was with me, and Mr. Stead, clairvoyantly, neal' me. I knew that Mr. Peters, too, the love and presence of all those waiting on the other side. The had known him closely, and had for some time been attached to only terrible thing was the fear and agony of those poor, poor Julia's Bureau. Mr. Peters and I had never met, however, and people around me. I did my best to help them, but at the very so far as I knew-and now know for certain-he had never even last I was alone. I did not see or hear them after we went heard of me. .As I have said, it was a public seance, and down-in fact, I have no clear idea of what happened after that. having lived abroad for some years until quite recently, I have I think that my head was struck by something, and that I lost been quite out of touch with .the Spiritualistic movement in consciousness outwardly ; but inwardly I was wide awake, and Denmark, so all the people present were unknown to me. it was those last moments I spent with my loved ones. I was disappointed in my hope regarding Mr. Stead. Mr. I know that you would like to know about the last hours, Peters gave a very good psychometric description of my own and all that happened after the ' Titanic ' had been struck. It circumstances, by holding a necklace of mine, but that was all. is a curious thing that on this side it is ahnost impossible to At the close of the meeting the audience was asked to com­ remember clearly-I have been told ' until a very long time has memorate Mr. Stead by singing 'Nearer, my God, to Thee,' and passed '-things as they looked to one while on the physical that was, so I thought, to be all the mention that was to be side, but my memory, which they used to call wonderful, gives made of my beloved friend. I then arose and went up to the me some light, where a great many others have clean forgotten platform, with others, to get the object I had handed Mr. Peters everything, and I am delighted it is so because-- [Here I was for. psychometrising. On my way up I was surprised to be so tired that the pencil fell out of my hand and I went to addressed by a lady, a total stranger, who came up to me and sleep.-L. L.]. asked, a little nervously, 'Are you Miss L. 1' 'Yes,' I answered, June 14th.-I wish I could finish this, but you are too 'I am.' ' I hope you will excuse my speaking to you without tired, your brain is in a mist; why have you not tried before 1 knowing yon,' she said, 'but during the last half boUtr I.hat Ah ! how the earth and its doings hold even those who should name bas continually been repeated to me by some in\i:isible be untiring in their que3t for spiritual truth. Good-night, presence, and I was told to go to you and say these words : don't fail to send this to 'LIGHT' to-morrow. "Tell her that I have written it." 1 ' How strange,' I answered, ' I wonder what it can mean ! ' Then all of a sudden the meaning of the words flashed upon me. About two weeks before I had received the above-men­ Mr. Turvey's Prevision of th~ 'Titanic' Disaster. tioned message fro~1 Mr. Stead, and, as I have already said, I Srn,-A very few weeks before his death I had the extreme bad asked and prayed very earnestly for a proof tl;iat it really interest of making the personal acquaintance for the first time came from him, before telling anyone about it-not so much of your late correspondent, Mr. Vincent Turvey. We both knew for my own sake as for that of others. each other from our respective writings, therefore we had not to Naturally I was very much impressed, and so was the lady,'wben. go over any explanatory ground concerning our personal views. I told her what must be the meaning of her message, and that I I had heard merely, and casually, that Mr. Turvey was a con­ had attended the IW.ance in the hope of getting into touch with firmed in valid, but I saw at once that this was indeed true. . I Mr. Stead. The lady, who proved to be the wife of the president may say I felt instantaneously drawn to him and favourably of the Spiritualistic Circle which had arranged the seance, intro­ impressed, so we proceeded to converse, from our respective stand­ . duced her husband and Mr. Peters to me, and I was then asked points, but de facto, both joining issue concerning the condition . to spend the evening with them and a few friends on the follow­ and relative absolute reality of the next plane of existence. We ing Friday. The wonderful things which happened at this did not argue ; we each listened respectfully to one another~s meeting must, howevel', be told next week, as they are not yet discourse. written down, and I have been told that this must Le sent to- I may say I attended with profound intel'est, as I saw and . day.-Yours, &c., felt directly that I had the privilege of listening to a seer, and LILY LAESSOE. no mistake. Although his judgment as to the cause of his seer• New Oestergade, 7111, Copenhagen, Denmark. ship did not entirely accord with mine, he listened with great June 14th. interest to me, both out of respect to my many extra years, also because he did not disagree at all, only he had not, he said, MR. STEAD'S MESSAGE. been able to think things out. May 23rd.-I have been too busy since coming over here to I found also that he had studied deeply, for his extensive come to you before, but I can wait no longer ; I must speak to library, which he showed me, led me to think that, though it you, even though so many, who are more in need, al'e claiming was replete with literature on spiritual subi~ts, be was likely my se1vices. I am much nearer to yon now than I ever was, to learn as much, or more, from his own unique experience as a don't you feel it 1 My one great sorrow when I was called seer of the real reason and cause, the philosophy, of his abnorm11l away was for those I left behind, whom I had to leave, most of position. In fact, he already knew from his own experience all, them, without being able even to make them feel my presence in and much more than, he found in the authors whom alone, spirit. It is true that the hundreds in agony around me claimed as far as I know, he had studied. At all events, we had a long my help and my presence almost to the very last; but the last, and interesting conversation. He wrote to me afterwards to say the very last, moments were devoted to my beloved ones in so, and he hoped that I would go and see him again. I did so, England and all over the world. . . It is wonderful what and I was again most favourably impressed with him in every one can live in the space of a few minutes. During the last way. Only I saw with very sincere compassion that his psychic minutes, or perhaps seconds, of the physical brain's activity, condition, owing also to the- weakness of his physical organism, time, as you understand it, and as I used to understand it, added very much to_ his extreme suffering in mind and body. counts no more. It is rather difficult to explain, because there The letter I received (I went on the Saturday, April 13th) on · are so many laws and possiLilities which are still unknown on Monday April 15th, which I ·transcribe, speaks for itself :- your side, but in trying to explain it, I may use this simile : 'Perhaps you are wondering if you conversed with a whole­ Suppose there existed some beings who, in space, knew only sale murderer on Saturday. I gave you a very broad hint of length, not depth. They woulcl be able to work only on a flat to-day's truly awful disaster to the " Titanic," and told you that space, while all the possibilities of a three-dimensioned space ''I" caused what " I 11 foresaw-or "felt" as if I did. I ex­ would be unknown and practically non-existent ·to them. But plained this with an illustration of Moses and the Deluge. time, like space, has several dimensions, though this is known When I said to yol1, " If I tell you that in two days a great and experienced by very few on the physical plane except in liner will be lost ; " when I read it in the papers [I had myself dl'eams and in the borderland between what is called life and a few hours Lefore this letter arrived also read it with confused death. This explains the extraordinary experiences l'elated by consternation, remembering Mr. Turvey's vision], I put it to you those who, for instance, have been called back from .drowning, as an illustration, and did not make it happen to suit, because of seeing their whole life, with all its details, pass before them " I " knew of it on Wednesday last, and told a man of it on in a few seconds ; it also explains how in dreams yon may seem Thursday; so on Saturday I only repeated my knowing to to live thl'ougb a life-stol'y in the fraction of a minute which you. If yon care to write to "LIGHT" about my broad hint do passes from the moment you begin to be startled into waking so, but they would only laugh at the rest, i.s., the causing of it, June 29, 1912.] LIGHT. 311 and if they believed "I" caused it, they would consider are some llieroglyphics, and for years I could not make tliem out; "Turvey" a murderer, because they could not distinguish but later on I visited Egypt, and seeing Arabic, I thought my between "Turvey" and actual "I am." My heart bleeds for hieroglyphics looked like it. On my return I sent ont the the mourners, rny whole soul weeps at the loss of life, but " I" inscription to a friend who speaks Arabic. He immediately thinks no more of it than yon would think about the destruction wrote home: 'The cyphers you send me are Arabic numbers, of a dream ship, with dream lives aboard her. 152 and 246.' Since then I never could finrl out what tlie 'You now, dear friend, for I took to you at once, know the drawing could mean. I showed it to a Moslem man who reads difference between a true seer, messenger, or point of divine the lines in hands, an Egyptian visiting Dublin. I made no manifestation, and a psychic clairvoyant. Yet men are people remark whatever, hut he at once called out, 'Oh, the prophet's who want to .~ee ! I don't.-Yours truly, banner' ! or some such expression, and assmed me that the in­ 'VINCENT N. TURVEY.' scription was very ancient Arabic .. I had never seen Arabic, and The news of the 'Titanic' was so overwhelming, and as I never expected to be in Egypt ; it was the last thing I could was just leaving home on rather a round-about journey to the imagine. I do not know anyone here who would be inLerested; North, on account of the strike, I did not write to 'LIGHT.' they would only laugh at it all. I have 80 rarely done so of late years, for various reasons, that I Twice I had warnings of deaths, one by automatic writing. hesitated. On my return home, after a three weeks' absence, I A brain and nerves or blood-vessels drawn, and underneath : learned that Mr. Turvey had passed away but a very short time ' The fiat for -- has gone forth.' She was in good health, after my interview-otherwise I had every intention, as I but in about two years she died of a bad attack of effusion of thought his state of health did not indicate so speedy a depar­ blood on the bra~n. In the other case I awoke saying : ' -- is ture, of going as soon as possible on my .return to the end of seriously ill.' I had not dreamt of him, but a voice came from my Bournemouth where he resided, and renewing our conversation. mouth speaking without any effort on my part just as I awoke. I am grieved that I had had the last, and under the circum­ I know of several ghost stories told me directly by the persons who stances I think it my duty to write to you, sir, as Editor of saw the apparitions. My hand has written very strange things. 'LIGHT,' in the hope that you will publish it.-Believe me, sir, When a name was given some trait or distinguishing mark was yours,.&c., also mentioned, and the handwriting changed for each person. IsABE"LE DE STEIGER. In many cases the spelling was bad, not as I would spell. The West Southbourne, Bournemouth. fact is I got frightened, for I knew it was not myself, and ceased June 17th, 1912. writing, but at times I feel t.hat, if it was due to the influence of persons who really needed my prayers, it would he dreadful to refuse to aid them. Perhaps someone will kindly tell me what 'John King' Identified. they think of it all.-Yours, &c., Ireland. F. [Vice-Admiral Usborne Moore has received the following letter B. from Jamaica, which he thinks will be interesting to the many readers of 'LIGHT' who are familiar with 'John Questions for Spiritualists and Theosophists. King.'-ED. 'LIGHT.'] Srn,-I hope that there is someone amongst your readers Srn,-I have just procured a copy of your book, 'Glimpse8 who is able to give a satisfactory reply to both of the following of the Next State,' which I am now reading. questions, which, I believe, are of interest to all Spiritualists. On page 83 you record 11 seance with Husk on March 28th, From different spirit-teachings and from the statements of 1905, at which 'John King' (Sir Henry Morgan) stated that he A. J. Davis and other seers we have learned that :- had been thrice Governor of Jamaica, succeeding Lynch, and (a) The spirits of all children who die prematurely are that there had been a Richard Morgan prior to him who had carefully guarded and educated in the next plane, and are been Governor, and with whom he had been often erroneously gradually growing up just as well as the spirits in the human confounded. You then state that you had not been able to bodies living on this earth, so that an° early bodily death does verify same. not at all affect the evolution of the spirit. As soon as I read the paragraph I rememliered from what I (b) When a man is dying, the spirit is slowly and gradually had read of the history of the island that it was true in almost leaving the material body from the top of the head, until the every particular, and determined to write to tell you so, but ethereal entity is completely formed, or freed, whereupon the before committing myself I looked up the record in the official last link between the two bodies is broken for ever. handbook of the island, and am pleased to be able to say that Sir Henry has given you an absolutely couect test of identity. He This being so, the following questions arise in my mind : - was, as he states, Lieutenant-Governor three times, but, as he l. As it is proved by the death of thousands and thousands also says, not consecutively. He succeeded Sir Thomas Lynch in of children that this life is unnece88ary, what is the use of 1673, and in 1677 he succeeded Lord Vaughan, and again in 1680 earth-life, since the spirit can do just as well without as with he succeeded the Earl of Carlisle. The other Morgan to whom that life 1 he refers was Colonel Edward (not Richard) Morgan, who was 2. How and from which part of the human body does the Deputy Governor in 1664, nine years before Sir Henry first h1::ld spirit leave when the life of a man is suddenly cut off by an office. explosion, in which his body is blown to pieces 1-Yours, &c., I may mention that I am deeply interested in the subject of The Hague. B. H. Spiritualism, and am therefore delighted to be able to send you this information, which proves the genuineness of that imparted by the communicating sphit.-Yours, &c., Srn,-I shall be pleased if any Theosophical reader of' LIGHT' 0. H. BURTON. can tell me whether there are. different kinds of Egos-those P.O., Box 68, who, according to Theosophic teaching, are re-born in human Kingston, Jamaica, B.W.I. bodies, and those whom Jesus, and some of his apostles, cast out May 27th, 1912. of certain men 1 Also why, if the last-named are like the others, [In answer to Vice-Admiral Moore's inquiry, after he had they also are not re-born ?-Yours, &c., received the above letter, how he came to make such a Cam borne. INQUIRER. blunder as to substitute the name Richard for Edward, 'John King' put it down to the fact that the incident happened a very long time ago, and said that he was much Discrepancies in the Statements of Mediums. pleased that his other statement had been corroborated.­ Srn,-In 'LIGHT' of the 15th inst., which, by the way, is ED. ' LIGHT.'] even more interesting than usual, I find some, to me, rather con­ flicting statements. On page 286 it is stated that ' I saw before me a beautiful palace with its stately columns and carved ceiling, Automatic Writing Experiences. that seemed built, as it were, of lovely coral. In the courts of Srn,-I have been reading 'LIGHT,' and think that the fol· this palace and among its constant dwellers there appeared to lowing account of my experiences may be of interest to your me some twelve patriarchs in Eastern costumes and wearing the readers. At two periods of my life I have had a tendency to flowing beard of Oriental countries.' Also, ' In the company of automatic writing: about twenty years tanrl again about six other celestial beings was one of my relatives who died some or seven years ago. I once saw lights such as described by one twenty years ago. She waved her hand,' &c. (Italics are mine.) of your correspondents. · They were seen at the same time by On pages 28:3 and 284 Mr. Stead is understood to say : 'We my mother. The automatic writing chiefly came from (sup­ take nothing with us material, but our thought. I haven't even posed) persons wanting prayers, and symbolic designs were my pen,' &c. 'No earthly body to take around from place to drawn, almost always religious. One, which was done twenty place.' Which account is the correct one 1 years ago, drawn in pencil, somewhat resembled a large cup A medium has informed me that a visitor from the spirit on a pedestal, surmounted by a Ct'O$S. On each side of the cross spheres was standing by me 'with wings outspread, as if she were 312 LIGHT [June 29, 19H'.

a guardian spirit.' Now, do guardian spirits have wings 1 I am SOCIETY WORK ON SUNDAY, JUNE 23rd, &c. sorry to trouble you, hut feel that others must be puzzled besides myself by th~se discrepancies. As far as spirits having wings, Pro.~pective Notices, not exceeding twenty-four words may be a.dded I thought this was an old romance of the churches which we had to reports if accompanied by stamps to the valu~ of sixpence. outgro~n as a poetic idea, and nothing more. I shall be glad to ki;iow if, when we pass over, we shall still have our arms and legs MARYLEBONE SPIRITUALIST AssoCIATION-Shearn's Res­ with us, also beards.-Yours, &c., taurant, 231, Tottenham Oourt-roacl, W.-Mr. Horace Leaf [st P l' l . ' c. J delivered an inspiring and encouraging address, followed by . a~. s exp anat~on, There is a natural body and there is a successful clai~voyant descriptions;-15, Mortimer-street, W.­ sp.iritual body, does not seem to have oceurred to our On. the 17th mst. Mrs. Podmore gave many fully recognised friend. That Mr. Stead did not mean that he had been clau~oyant descriptions. Mr. Leigh Hunt presided at lJOth reduced to nebulous, formless vapour is evident from his meetmgs. Sunday next, see advertisement on front page.-D.N. stating that he saw and recognised his son-' one form in CAMBERWELL NEW-ROAD.-SURREY MASONIC HALL.-Mr. the midst of all this was my son.' If the son had a visible W. E. Long gave addresses. Evening subject 'Christian recognisable form, the father must have had such a foru{ Spiritualism.' Sunday next, at 11 a.m. and 6.3o p.m., Mr. also. Ii;t the case of the ' visitor from the spirit spheres ' if W. E. Long. Evening subject, 'The Baptism of Christ.'-M. R. th.e med mm had an actual vision, and was not merely c~n~ BRIXTON.-84, STOCKWELL PARK-ROAD.-Mrs. Connor gave sc~ous of a presence, the impression of the figure being winged a!1 address and clairvoyant descriptions. Sunday next, at 11 a.m., might be convey.ed merely as a symbol of protecting care. c~rcle; 3 p.m., Lyceum prize distribution; 7 p.m., Mrs. F. Or the obverse might be the case; the idea in the medium's Gordon. Saturday, 29th, 7 p.m., social, 6d.-W. U. mind of protecting care might give rise to the impression STRATFORD.-WoRKMAN's HALL, 27, RoMFORD-ROAD E.­ of outspread wings.-ED. 'LIGHT.'] Evening, Mr. G. R. Symons spoke on 'The Value of Prayer' and answered questions. Sunday next, at 7 p.m., Mr: Harold The International Congress at Liverpool. Carpenter.-W. H. S. Srn,-In another week we shall be in full enjoyment of BRIXTON.-8, MAYALL-ROAD.-Mr. Inch gave an address. the long-lo~ked-for International Congress at Liverpool ; the Sunday nex~, at 7 p.m., Mr. D. J. Davis, address ; 3 p.m., entente cordiale, the fraternal exchange of ideas between the Lyceum. Circles~ Monday, 7.30, ladies' public · Tuesday Spiritualists of many diverse countries. Fifteen nationalities 8.15, members'; Thursday, 8.15, public.-G. T W. ' ' will be represented either in person, or l>y pen. The steady KINGSTON-ON-THAMEs.-AssEMBLY RooMs, HAMPTON WICK. march forward of the main body of the cause, in all lands is -Mrs. Neville gave address and helpful psychometric delinea­ truest evidence of its importance and its value ' tiom. Sunday next, at 7 p.m., Mr. Dndley Wright will give The spfrit world forewarned us that 1912 was to be a rich a lecture and answer questions. time, pregnant with spiritual potentiality. Let us realise the BRIGHTON.-MANCHESTER-STREET {OPPOSITE AQUARIUlll).­ ends they worked for. . Mr. F. T. Blake gave splendid addresses and convincing clair­ The local arrangements are well forward ; the catering is just· voyant descriptions. Sunday next, at 11.15 a.m. and 7 p.m., splendid. Liverpool friends have risen to the occagion, and will Mrs. Ellen Green ; also Monday, at 8 p. m., address and clairvoy­ not be happy unless the Spiritualists of other places do their ance. Tuesday, at 8 p.m., also V'{ednesday, 3 p.m., clairvoyance. duty and visit the huh of the universe for the nonce. Cloak CROYDON.-ELMWOOD HALL, ELMWOOD-ROAD, BROAD-GREEN. rooms will he provided at Daulby Hall for both ladies and -Mrs. Jamrach's address on 'Science and the Soul' was much gentlemen, free. appreciated, as was het· clain·oyance. Sunday next, an address The bookstall will be a feature of the meetingd. All the will be given by Mr. Percy Scholey, followed by illustrations latest, all the brightest, the most pungent and the most mellow­ of clairvoyance. ing works will be on sale at prices varying from ld. to 6d. BRIGHTON.-HovE OLD TowN HALL, 1, BRUNSWICK-STREET, There will be also a stall where literature will be sold WEST.-Mrs. Mary Gordon gave good addresses and clairvoyant absolutely for the benefit of the Fund of Benevolence where descriptions. Sunday next, at 11.15 a.m., public circle; 7 p.m., every shilling spent will be a shilling given to the ;ick ancl Mrs. G. C. Curry. Monday, at 3 and 8, also Wednesday at 3 needy, who bore the heat and burden of days gone by men and Mrs. Curry, clairvoyance. Thursday, at 8.15, public circle.~A.c'. women whose efforts made our way more easy than theirs was. HACKNEY.-240A, AMHURST-ROAD, N.-Mr. W. F. Smith It is well to make the most of the golden present, to bnild for spoke on 'Sowing and Reaping,' and Mrs. W. F. Smith gave the roseate future, but we should never forget the glorious past. recognised clairvoyant messages. Sunday next, at 7 p. m., Mr. from which we gained our all. Verb ..mp. ' H. Leaf, address and clairvoyant descriptions. l\Ionday, at 8, Lyceumists will meet all trains from 10 to 4 at Exchange circle.-N. R. Central and Lime-street Stations, and should lie looked for in th~ SEVEN KINGS, lLFORD.-45, THE PROMENADE.-Mr. C. W. neighbourhood of the bookstalls. They will wear the Lyceum Turner spoke on 'Where the Spirit Touches,' and gave clair­ 'button.' · Now, I have to correct an error. On page 19 of the voyant descriptions. On the 18th Mrs. A. Hitchcock gave an Report 'Hope Hall' is given for the Monday sessions ; this address on ' Our Phenomena' and clairvoyant descriptions. should be 'Daulhy Hall.' My 1nistalce. On page 18 it is said Sunday next, at 7 p. m., Mr. and Mrs. Roberts. Tuesday, at 8 p.m., that tea will be provided at 5.30 p.m., but the Catering Com­ Miss Violet Burton. 7th, Mrs. A. Hitchcock.-C. E. S. mittee have altered this to 5 p.m., as the mass meeting is timed PECKHAlll.-LAUSANNE HALL, LAUSANNE-ROAD.-1\forning for 6.30. and evening, short addresses and good clairvoyant descriptions Tickets for the meals, viz., tea on Saturday; dinner and tea by Mrs. Alice Webb. Sunday next, at 11.30 a.m., Mr. Ball, on Sunday, with full printed directions for route to cafe on address and clairvoyance ; evening, Mr. J. G. Huxley, address. Sunday (the Saturday tea will be served in Milton Hall, which Sunday evenings in July, lectures by Mr. T. 0. Todd on' Nature's is practically an annexe of Danlby Hall), will be on sale on Divine Revelation of the Pathway to Immortality.'-A. C. S. Saturday at 3s. inclusive. As we have to guarantee a certain STRATFORD.-lDMISTON-ROAD, FOREST-LANE.-Morning, dis­ number, and the cafe is being opened specially for us (all cussion on Mr. Wrench's paper, 'Spiritualism as a Social Re­ employees will lose their day's rest to minister to us), we hope generator ' ; evening, Madame Beaumont, address on 'Love to that visitors will purchase tickets early. The cafe is up-to-date, God und Love to Man,' and clairvoyant descriptions. Solo by well-fitted, seats two hundred pJople, and the fare is excellent­ Mr. Wrench. Sunday next, at 11.30 a.m. 1 Mr. Hammond, on ! know, for I 11ave tested it. 'What Spiritualism Reveals'; 7 p.m., Mr. G. Tayler Gwinn. It now only remains for me to point 01;1t that occasions such July 4th, several speakers; 7th, Mr. John Lobb.-A. T. C. as this do not from Heaven descend all ready made and prepaid ; HOLLOWAY.-PARKHURST HALL, 32, PARKHURST-ROAD.­ they have to lie worked for, and entail expenditure of time, Morning, Mr. W. W. Love spoke on ' The Gift of Charity.' thought and energy, and money. The initial three have been Evening, Mr. G. Tayler Gwinn gave an illuminating address on given freely and ungrudgingly by the respective officers and com­ 'An Unusual Aspect of the Prodigal Son,' and answered questions. mittees ; for the last we rely on every Spiritualist who can get Sunday next, at 11.15 a.m., Mr. W. W. Love; at 7 p.m., Mrs. there being in Liverpool, and assisting both by presence and Alice Jamrach. Wednesday, Mrd. E. Webster. July 7th, purse to make this Congress an epoch in our history. To those Madame Maria Zaidia. Lyceum every Sunday at 3. BRIGHTON.-BRUNSWICK HALL, 2, BRUNSWICK-STREET to whom the pleasure of coming is denied, for any ~·eason what­ ever, permit me to say yoiw help is needed, and cheques or P.O.'s EAST, WESTERN-ROAD, HovE.-Sundays, at 7 p.m., address and are handy means of testifying your appreciation of the lahonrs clairvoyance. Circles : Tur1days and Fridays, at 8 ; Thursdays, of the few, and such will be gratefully received and acknow- at 3.30; Wednesdays, at 8, -o.aterialis!ng.-L. A. R. ledged by the writer. · Delays are dangerous ; procrastination is the thief of realisa­ LONDON SPIRITUAL MISSION: 22, Prince's-street, Oxford-circus, tion of good intent ; put not off till too late what you can do rV.-At 11 a.m., Mr. H. G. Beard, normal address ; at 7 p.m., now, but write-your mite makes our might-direct to­ Mr. E. W. Beard, address under infl.uence.-E. C. W. HANSON G. Hi;;y, EXETER. -MARKET HALL.-Morning, address by Mr. William ~01 Glen-terrace, Halifa4, Venl).. Evenin~, addr~ss br Mr. George We~t.-H;