Delicate Devices of Inventors to Weigh Spirit Powers Hereward Carrington (in oval) is convinced that the mooted question of the existence of spirits and their messages from Beyond will be Doctors Matla and Psychical Force Given proved by various mechanical devices. Photography has been called into show brain pictures-the Cross is said to be one of these pictures, taken from the mind of the man shown in the seance. Van Zeist of Holland Off by Mediums to mfmmm Weighed a Ghost Be Measured and /• < < and Found It Tipped Dark Seances Photo­ Scale at Two and graphed by Ultra II ï.vS 'A One-quarter Ounces Violet Ray Ing a cardboard drum shaped cylinder < s ••S ployed until finally one corresponding to the tive knowledge had it not been for the deli­ size of a fully grown adult was used. With cate and sensitive instruments which are to­ the thermometer recording that the entire day employed by the chemist and the physi­ m Wn i m m ' interior of this cylinder was occupied by cist in his laboratory. m m something other than the air it contained at Dr. Hereward Carrington of 504 West the commencement of the experiment a lllth street, one of the foremost psychical method of weighing the cylinder and its in­ investigators of the United States, believes visible occupant was applied, with the result that much of the same law will be found that the experimenters deduced that the to apply in the realm of what is commonly weight of their (purported) discarnate com­ called psychics. He believes that until defi­ municant was approximately two and a nite laboratory methods can be applied and quarter ounces. psychical phenomena studied by means of y It would seem that this stage of their physical instruments far more delicate than unique undertaking encouraged experiment­ the human senses the present state of things /té. ing in the direction of providing their ghost­ —a state in which the world is divided inr;> ly cooperators with the means to demon­ opposing factions of belief and disbelief in strate their respective individuality and in­ the possibility of life after death and com­ telligence—in other words, to prove that the munication with the spirit world—will con­ force behind the contraction and expansion tinue to exist. But he believes that were a before, and on examination the electroscope action the established churches would take of the occupant of the cylinder had the laboratory fitted up with suitable physical the medium's weight, unknown to her, at all was found to be completely discharged." should that success determine—as he him­ knowledge of a human being and the intelli­ and electrical apparatus for the study of times dnring the seance, the fluctuations in The problems that immediately confront self has expressed it—either that spirit gence to manifest that knowledge in a man­ promising cases of psychic or mediumistia weight, if any, to be recorded on a revolving an investigator who is called upon to solve communication is possible and can be sys­ ner that would conclusively prove the suc­ phenomena scientists would be able to ar­ drum. It would also include means for such problems as this are the physical tematized scientifically or that it has never cess of the instrument as scientifically solv­ rive at some definite conclusions within ten studying the pulse, temperature, muscular miracle itself and the nature of the intelli­ vet been actually experienced by any human ing the problem of communication between years. exertion, breathing of the medium, and the gence lying behind and directing or con­ being and never will be. The dominant note this and other spheres. This does not mean that Dr. Carrington lighting of the test room would be carefully trolling the manifestations. This latter is of the assertions accredited to the greatest believes absolute and unquestioned commu­ attended to and capable of almost infinite Weighing the Spiritual Collaborator purely a psychological question, which living inventive genius is his regarding the Showed Him or Her at Ounces nication with the dead could be established gradation. There would also be such instru­ though immensely important, dues not enter result of his own experiments and investi­ within that time; it means that in his ments and devices as X-ray and radium into the physical problem. It may be noted that Drs. Matla and Van gations as a definite and incontrovertible so­ Zeist have reputations for scientific skill opinion—the opinion of a man who has sp=r: tubes, high frequency currents and a delicate "It will be at once apparent," says Dr. lution field *f electrical force, together with in­ of "life after death" problems and and personal integrity in Scandinavian Eu­ twenty years in psychical research work Carrington, "that physical and electrical ap­ even to the extent of the possibility of his and who has written more than twenty au­ struments fur testing the ionization of the paratus have played an important part in rope on a parallel with those of Sir Oliver air in the immediate vicinity of the medium. preparing to assert that "death" is but an­ Lodge, the late Sir William Crookes and, thoritative books on the subject—the world such investigations in the past and are cer­ other word for "annihilation" of the human in Dr. Carrington believes that photography fact, any known scientist. Their belief in would be able to have some definite informa­ tainly destined to piay a far more important being, physically and spiritually. tion as to whether there is such a thing us would also play an important part in t lie their having been assisted in a practical way part in the future. These curious phe­ Edison Is Neutral, Taking Sides a spiritual world. equipment of such a laboratory. Means nomena. like all others in our world, depend by the communicating entities with whom could readily be provided for taking moving upon invisble forces or energies for their Neither With Science Nor the Church. they sought contact in the course of some Special Instruments Must Be pictures of the medium and her audience a' production. Those interested in electricity It may be taken for granted that each and hundreds of recorded instances of purported Invented to Weigh Psychic Phenomena all times during the seance, and if the sit­ should realize, more than all others, the every word published in Mr. Edison's maga­ "correspondence" was duplicated in the in­ tings were held in darkness these photo­ power of the invisible; and the fact that the zine interview had been carefully weighed stance of the late Dr. Crawford of the "We should then," says Dr. Carrington, graphs could be obtained by means of ultra "know something about the laws and the invisible is the real. Anything we see con­ and analyzed before being submitted to print Queen's University, Belfast, Ireland, whose violet rays, with which the room could be r.X Â* * j Jj| sists merely in a bundle of phenomena—of to the end of there being no possible misun­ monumental works on the subject of sci­ conditions under which telepathy, clairvoy­ flooded, and quartz lens would be used in­ ance telekinesis (the movement of objects some interesting results have been obtained effects. The real cause is always b?nind, derstanding of his assertion that the instru­ entific investigation of the occult detail the stead of glass. There would also be appa­ in the use of the electroscope by Dr. W. J. and is always invisible. ment he is presently engaged upon will help he received from the invisible, as he without contact), &c., operate, and not until ratus for making thought photographs simi­ we do know something about these laws and Crawford. "There is nothing inherently absurd or im­ prove that spirits can or cannot communi­ termed them, "operators" in his deductions lar to the one of a cross vith which this "In seance rooms where tables are moved possible, therefore, in thpse odd manifesta­ cate with this world. Considering the va3t as to the percussive force applied in the conditions, I believe, will such positive article is illustrated, which was made in elusions be reached. As far back as ISji without physical contact." Dr. Crawford re­ tions, however bizarre and unusual they ap­ importance of his undertaking one can ccurse of his experiments and such forming California by holding a sensitized plate be­ ported, "I found that after a sitting was well pear to us at first sight. An unusual combi­ readily realize the truth of the words of that the code method of "their" suggestions as to Sir Oliver Lodge, in a paper on 'Some Ap­ fore a subject and having him concentrate pliances Needed for a Psychical Laboratory,' started I was always unable to charge an nation of circumstances might bring them famous British statesman, W. E. Gladstone, how he could best assure receiving assist­ said: 'If the investigations are to go on his mind on a cross. electroscope, even though I tried to do so in about. Stones do not ordinarily fall from in his statement when becoming a charter ance from "them." easily and well, special appliances must be Thought Photographs but One a corner farthest from the medium. Ia the sky, yet at times they do. Water does member of the (British) Psychical Research After some twenty years of laborious and oriier to charge it I had to take it from the Society, that "the subject (psychical re­ timeless mental and physical effort the Dutch contrived and arranged conveniently for use Uncanny Demonstration Promised not usually rise above its own level, yet it precisely as is done in any properly fitted room. I asked the operators (intelligences can be made to do so. The curious freaks search)' is not only important but by far the scientists would seem to have accomplished laboratory. It has already been doubtless In making thought photographs, an'l directing things, apparently, in the seance of lightning are well known. There is noth­ most important of any subject." a marked success and. apart from their suc­ realized that one of the needs of the future thereby virtually proving that thought room) if there was any power in the seance ing inherently Impossible, therefore, in sup- Where the world at large is more or less ceeding in correlating the molecular atoms is a psychical laboratory especially adapted waves are projected from the mind, many room so far away from the medium, and posingthat a table can be levitated into the familiar with the varius phases of "me- as providing for a manifesting force, with excellent results have already been ob­ for all kinds of experimental psychology and they answered in raps that there was. By air under unusual conditions; it is simply diumship" as purported channels of commu­ the result that the fully completed instru­ tained in Japan, Poland and France by power I understood them to mean particles the manifestation of an unknown energy— nication with "the beyond." it is not gener­ ment of communication, their "dynamisto­ psycho-physics.' " In view of the progress that has been means of photographic plates wrapped in of matter taken from the medium. of which doubtless there are many. ally known that others have preceded Edison graph," apparently satisfied them that they made in psychical research within recent opaque paper and laid upon the subject's "I took the electroscope to the table in ii attempts to devise delicately sensitive had achieved a definite stage of their re­ forehead. Distinct likenesses of objects upon the corner, then placed it in the circle near An Open Mind Essential years there can be little doubt that a con­ instruments calculated to serve as a means search—the actual identification of the com­ which the subject has concentrated have the medium. I asked the operators to touch In Studying These Curious Forces of transmission of communication with dls- municating entities and their willingness tinuation of the experiments under proper the disk of the instrument very gently. They surroundings and with suitable instruments been obtained, and scientists expect many "We can manipulate and control the elec­ carnate entities, but so far •without apar- and ability to assist the experimenters. important results from a continuation of did this almost at once, the touching con­ tric current, but we do not know yet pre­ ently achieving a measure of success war­ The mechanical action of their instrument would result in the question being definite y sisting of a metallic scraping upon the brass settled one way or another. Scientists should such experiments. cisely what it is. Similarly, we can study ranting the attention or indorsement of the may be more simply described as a combina­ Another interesting and important experi­ disk quite audible, similar in type to the imi­ be able at least to determine whether the the effects of many of these curious biologi­ more eminent men who have identified tion of the much debated ouija board and an ment which such a laboratory would bo tation of the floor being rubbed with sand cal forces without understanding their trin themselves with the progress of spiritualistic ordinary typewriter, with, in addition to the forces that impel mediums and that induce Taper, a phenomenon I had often observed. psychical phenomena of all sorts are merely fitted to make would be a careful and com­ nature. Above all, it behooves us to ke--p belief. On the other hand, a number of cylinder already referred to, a second cylin­ prehensive examination of the body sun- "Result—On examination I found that the an open mind and not to cry impossible just scientists of Continental Europe have pro­ der that was vaguely referred to as con­ forces of nature at present unknown or stances which exude from some of the mora electroscope had been completely discharged. whether they are really forces exerted by because we have never seen such facts or fessed their opinion that an instrument de­ trolling the manifesting force contained in highly sensitized mediums during a seam e. "I took the electroscope to the table in because they appear to us to be innately signed by two eminent authorities on elec­ the other one when in operation. With the the spirits of the dead from an unknown the corner of the room and tried to recharge world. The possibilities of such investiga­ This matter has already been examined un­ improbable. tricity, liquid air and compressed gases, of depressing of a membranelike fabric band der a microscope by a French scientist, who it but found that I was unable to do so even "Here, as elsewhere, %ve depend upon hid­ Holland, have satisfactorily and conclusively by the manifesting force the letters or nu­ tions are practically boundless, and it is pre­ reported that it consisted of a conglomera­ after repeated trials. Accordingly I asked cisely for these reasons that Dr. Carrington den and unknown energies. Could we but proven its efficiency in a long series of suc­ merals required to form complete words and tion of living ceils of a type .iot found in the the operators to put back into the body of find an energy common to the two worlds, cessful results in its supernormal applica­ sentences were in turn depressed and and other scientists who have devoted thetr human body, but resembling somewhat a the medium the matter they had taken out lives with scarcely any monetary reward. the spiritual world and the material world, tion. through the medium of an inked ribbon tumor growth with which physicians are (for the production of the sledge hammer we should have here a means of direct com­ Drs. J. L. W. P. Mafia and G. .T. Zaalberg were imprinted upon narrow strips of paper 10 «jiving the problem, are urging that the blows) and to give a' few raps when they United States have a properly fitted psychi­ familiar. In some instances these cells have munication, possibly by instrumental means. van Zeist, the scientists referred to. ha*«», precisely as in the case of the familiar news issued from the head, mouth and breasts of had done so. In a minute or two some very cal laboratory for the study of psychical anc Delicate physical and electrical apparatus according to their statements published In ticker. With the depression of the mem­ mediums, but no photograph of them at the light raps were given, and when I asked if may be the means, after all, by which such a volume entitled "The Mystery of Death." brane in the slightest of degrees a delicate occult phenomena. the process was complete I received no raps Tn this particular the United States lags actual moment of exudation has been ob­ communication will ultimately be established. devoted over twenty years in experimenting contrivance was set at work that formed an tained. Such a photograph could be ob­ in reply at all, which seemed to indicate to behind other countries. France, England, At all events, when subtle causes and forces on what would seem to be along the lines Of electrical contact that, in operating upon a tained, however, in a laboratory where the me that all the matter used for rapping had arc in oteration. as they doubtless are dur­ Edison, in that electricity plays apparently magnet, caused a hammer to descend sharply, Germany and Japan have well organized and been returned to the medium. At any rate, endowed societies for psychical investiga­ means were constantly available. ing a seance, it is only natural to suppose an important part in the construction of with the result that the required Atters Among the other phenomena which will I found that I could now recharge the elec­ were imprinted upon the strip of paper. tions which are establishing laboratories and troscope; which done I placed it on ttie floor that instruments far more delicate than our their instrument and its operation. Such, be thoroughly examined and investigated if senses should be the logical method of de­ however, can only be determined when the their scientists are devising instruments o Dr Carrington succeeds in establishing his as before in the circle, and asked that the In Dry Weather Spirits Worked Best; test the forces employed by mediums and tecting them, and as yet such experiments time comes for the latter's announcing the laboratory are these: Experiments in disc should be touched lightly. After a little In Wet. Electrical Device Was Altered. to investigate phenomena of every sort. time there was the same metallic scraping as have rarely been attempted." success or otherwise of his research work. The ouija board element of the device Comparatively few instruments of this sort thought transference; experiments in clair­ Where the principles of the Invention of the voyance, normal and induced; the so-called found its place in the system governing the have been devised, but among those in use Dutch scientists are available for publication selection of the proper letters or numbers polarity of the human body; automatic and reasoning upon one cannot, on that ac­ are several which have already brought ex­ writing, crystal gazing, shell hearing; the desired to form sentences and groupings of cellent results. One of the most important count, anticipate or decide that the essential projection of the double; self-projection: Will Edison Be Able to Solve Problem ? words. A slowly revolving disc, on which results obtained was that achieved by Dr. mechanical construction of the "dynamisto- were painted the letters of the alphabet and exploration of the subconscious mind; ex­ E. TUDOR. graph," as Drs. Matla and van Zeist have Imoda, assistant to the scientist periments in magnetizing animals and in­ By HARRY the ten numerals, was so placed behind a Mosso who conducted a number of experi­ ings of the seance room are concerned, the named their contrivance, has its counterpart blank disc that each letter appeared momen­ ments in the discharge of an electroscope animate objects; experimentally induced HE interest occasioned by the visit of in the instrument that Edison is at work dreams; experiments in magnetic healing; word "visible'* may be accepted in a wider tarily visible through a small aperture cut bv means of rays emanating from the body Sir Oliver Lodge and the publicity sense. upon. ia the outer disc. Synchronizing with the of a medium. Dr. Imoda concluded, as a re­ experiments with the so-cailed human fluid; study of the power of the will over T given to the theme of his lectures Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, one of the more Machine Invented by Dutch revolution of the lettered and numbered disc sult of these experiments, that "the radia­ may be likened to a breeze in comparison aggressive apostles of spiritualistic thought, and the appearance consecutively of each tions of radium, the cathode radiations of inanimate matter; experiments in lévitation; Scientists May Be Like Edison's. experimental study of the Yogi exercises- with the storm of protest and heated dis­ lias hurled a warning at the established letter and number at the aperture a dupli­ the Crookes tube and the mediumlstic radia­ churches that will And a worldwide echo There is, at the same time, a similarity in breathing, awakening of the so-called Chak- cussion that has marked the entry of Thomas the deductions of the inventors of the "dy- cate type letter fell into place* In readiness tions are fundamentally the same. ' j OSM- should Edison succeed in his determination to be recorded on the depression of the bilities of tremendous import are laid bare rams, Ac.; spirit photography; materializa­ A. Edison into the problematical and as namistograph" and Mr. Edison in that the tion; study of the cold breeze felt at seances; many would have it—the forbidden field of to solve the problem of spirit communication. membrane. A simple explanation of the hy a continuation of experiments based on It would seem impossible for any human former contend that the "spirit" of a dead study of the action of drugs on conscious­ psychical research. The determined sceptic human being is composed of molecules and operation of the elaborately designed mech­ these conclusions. ness and the influence of powders, perfumes, mind to grasp the full import of that success anism Is apparent in the theory of the cares nothing for the fact that many of the in that its consummation would demand a that communication may be established Mediums Should Be Studied; incense, &c., on the senses; experiments in more eminent scientists of Europe have where some method may be devised that inventors that the invisible manifesting force duplicating spiritistic phenomena by physi­ reconstruction of the varied forms of Chris­ had human intelligence and sight, a knowl­ Nervous Reactions Catalogued Joined the ranks of the believers in the possi­ tian creeds to conform to a universal ac­ will permit the gathering together of the cal and electrical means; study of dousing edge of the alphabet and its uses in word Dr. Carrington estimates that $3,000 would bility of intercommunication being estab­ ceptance of. as Cona-. Doyle styles the new myriads of invisible atoms and in thus hav­ establish a psychical laboratory for the or water finding; experiments with mag­ lished between those of this world and that ing (aBSumedly) provided for the concen­ forming, also the physical power to depress nets; experiments in trance, ecstasy, &c\; thought, "The New Revelation." In his the membrane key at the right moment and United States and equip it with the most other," nor is he interested by reason that opinion it rests with the church to accept trating of any mental or physical force that necessary of the instruments that have Etudy of the psychology of deception; study the European clergy in increasing numbers may be retained after the dissolution at­ as the letters or numbers required appeared a form of belief that revolutionizes all age- at the aperture. been devised for testing mediums and in­ of suggestion, normal and abnormal; ex­ have professed their willingness to investi­ old teachings as a duty that must be per­ tendant upon the process of "death" permits vestigating phenomena. The upkeep of periments in the induction of illusions and gate the statements of the "spiritualists." its manifestation through the medium of an With the use of acetylene gas it was formed by the church authorities no matter noted that better results were obtained, and the laboratory would cost somewhere be­ hallucinations; study of secondary person-^ To the student of the subject—cither from what sacrifices such may entail. Those who instrument of the essentially delicate charac­ tween $20,000 and $30.000 a year, depending ality cases; psychoanalysis; experiments in the scientific or philosophical aspects the ter necessary to assist and control the especially so when extremely dry weather are familiar with the varied forms of psychic ruled. Where Holland has extended rainy upon the number of investigations of phe­ telepathic hypnotism; visions of the dying; most remarkable feature of Mr- Edison's an­ phenomena can best understand the reason­ operation. nomena made, but this sum would defray the weighing and photographing the soul at the nouncement in his emphatic attitude toward ing that stands back of the gifted author's This principle would seem, from the pub­ seasons, with the accompanying general expenses of equipment and the hire of an moment of death and hundreds of others the published views of his European con­ strenuous defiance of the ridicule and abuse lished description or the "dynamistograph,'* dampness of the atmosphere, It was found investigator, an electrician and a neurolo­ besides. temporaries in the fields of science and who of those who have denounced all medium- to have been given the fullest consideration necessary to overcome its effect upon the gist who would be employed to study It is very likely that one of the first tasks have asserted that the essential teachings of istically gifted persons as frauds; that pur­ and attention where the inventors claim that operation of the instrument by changing the of an American psychical laboratory would the orthodox creeds are to be found in this ü"t: mediums from a medical standpoint, prin­ ported manifestations by the "dead" find a cylindrical shaped chamber, as part of the general electrical force and equipment. The cipally to determine and analyze nervous and be to continue the experiments of Dr. Imoda. ultra-modern conception of the term "im­ their source in the "devils" and that he, eauipment of the device, serves the purpose« basic theory of the experimenters was that muscular reactions. who concluded that there was a fundamental mortality" and that "spiritualism." as a re­ of concentrating the infiniteslmally atomic the manifesting force was of an electrical ligion, has its outward and visible signs in Conan Doyle, and his colleagues are men­ The equipment of such a laboratory would similarity between the radiations of a tally deficient or the victims of rosuery. particles assumed to compose the manifest­ character, and had therefore to be assisted include a machine suggested some years ago medium's body and those of radium and the what Is scientifically classed as "psychic phe­ ing entity. by the application of electricity aa It la nomena." Where the meaning of the phrase The foregoing may serve to convey an idea bjL Sir Oliver Lodge—a delicate registering cathode radiations of a Crookes tube. In of the factorship of Edison's success in any In the earlier stages of their experiment- known to the electrical expert. baîance so adjusted that it would recorö addition to the experiments of Dr. Imoda may apply in so far as the pl^slcal happen- ^ •