INTRODUCTION.
BEFORE
commencing the special work
which I have set myself to do, I wish to make clear what I propose and
what I do not propose to attempt in its execution
I propose, then, to set forth certain
facts within my own knowledge respecting one class of Psychic
Phenomena—viz., Psychography, or Abnormal Writing. These facts
(respecting a subject which obtained much publicity during the past
year) I set forth on my own authority, and as part of my own experience in the
investigation of Psychic Phenomena.
I propose, further, to record, in a
convenient form for reference, certain other facts of a similar nature
testified to by others. In doing so, I shall rigidly adhere to the
special fact under notice, and shall eliminate all evidence that will
not bear rigid scrutiny. Confining myself to this one class of
phenomena, I shall avoid repetition and the needless multiplication of
records. Fully conscious that evidence of this nature is cumulative, I
also believe that there is a point beyond which the cumulative power
ceases, and I judge it best to narrow down the issue as far as possible.
Respecting these facts, I do not
propose to maintain any theory, though I shall briefly enumerate
some hypotheses which are put
forward. I shall not vex myself and perplex my readers by the discussion
of any a
priori grounds of
rejection with which some investigators bewilder themselves. I have
nothing to do with the allegation that such and such things are
ex rerum natura,
[the nature of the case]
and so are to be rejected without the formality of a trial. This is an
ancient method—more antique than venerable—of disposing of new facts.
There was a time, somewhere in the world's history, when it was employed
to burke almost every manifestation of truth which was new and
unwelcome, just as there comes a time in the history of each new
discovery when the old method is abandoned, and those who have employed it
endeavour, with a shamefaced smile, to show that they were only joking after all, and were, though we might not have
observed it, truth's best and truest friends.
I do not propose to anticipate that
time in the history of these Psychic Phenomena by any premature argument.
Convinced that the time is near at hand when Science will recognise her
duty in this respect, I will patiently wait for the time when some of its
prominent representatives will abandon a false position with such grace as
they may.
As to the facts, I shall not attempt
to maintain anything more than that they furnish evidence of the
existence of a Force, and of a governing Intelligence external to a
human body. That Force is conveniently called Psychic, and is the Odic,
or Od Force, of Reichenbach; the Nerve Force, or Aura, of other writers; the
Ectenic Force of Thury; the Akasa
of the Hindu; or, comprehensively,
Vital Force. The name matters little; but the term Psychic and its
compounds, as applied to the Force, to the channel through which it
flows, and to its various forms of manifestation, seems most simple and
free from objection.*
I do not propose to burden my record
with any arguments as to the source and character of the Intelligence,
except where such are plain deductions from my narrative.
I will not enter into any
disquisition on the use of the terms Soul and Spirit. I do not care
which is used, though, for myself, I employ the term Spirit as
equivalent to what St. Paul called the Spiritual Body as opposed to the
Physical Body. Soul I consider to be the Divine Principle by virtue
of possession of which man is
an heir of Immortality. Others use the terms differently, making the Soul to be
the Astral or Spiritual Body, and the Spirit the equivalent of what I call
Soul. This is not the place for argument on this point. By the use of either
term I intend to indicate the Spiritual Principle in man—the Self, the
Ego, the Inner Being—which, acting through the material frame, is, as I
believe, independent in its existence, and will survive the death of the
body.
Respecting this Intelligence which is
displayed in the messages written out by these abnormal means, I
* It is usual among many who record
these phenomena to employ the term
Medium for
the
Psychic, and from it to
fabricate such philologically barbarous words as mediumistic. The terms
will be found in use in many of the published records; but I have
employed the term Psychic and its compounds, as, in my judgment,
preferable.
will not maintain that it is or is
not worthy of attention on account of the matter of its communications.
I could say something on the just lines of criticism in this respect,
but my purpose is served without any opening of side issues. What is written may be
as foolish as my critic pleases. If it be never so silly, it will serve
for my argument. Is it written at all? Then let us leave its nonsense
alone, and account for its presence as a fact.
Nor will I maintain that the messages
always, or even generally, proceed from the source pretended. No more
fruitful source of controversy
has arisen than this. Taste and sense of decorum and propriety are outraged by the claim that is
made for these frequently silly and ludicrous writings, that they
proceed from the source alleged, which, as often as not, is some
relative of the experimenter's or some great and illustrious name in
history. The shock to good taste and feeling so administered puts the investigator
into an attitude of indignant opposition. He refuses to credit what is to him
so monstrous, and jumps, in anger, to the conclusion that what is
improbable in the explanation extends also to the fact. I trust that any
who do me the honour to read what I write will allow me to pin their
attention to the bare fact, and to ask them to leave the matter of the
writing to another time, just now, I will say nothing whatever about the contents. It is
sufficient that they are in evidence as an objective fact.
I will not maintain that the
Intelligence is always independent of that of the Psychic in whose
presence
Introduction.
17
these phenomena occur, or of some or
all of the persons present. This is not the place in which to discuss
the powers of the human spirit, or the limits of its trans-corporeal
action.
I will not even maintain that the
Intelligence is intelligent. Sometimes it is not; but always, so far as I
know, there is evidence of plan, of design, of purpose. I will not go so far,
either, as to discuss the question whether, in given cases, the
Intelligence is human or sub-human. These are all points which merit
grave discussion, and on each of which I could say much, were it not for
the fear of diverting attention from my one point—the fact of
Psychography.
In this connexion I may, however,
quote the conclusion arrived at by Mr. Crookes, F.R.S., after a long
series of scientific experiments and observations, recorded in the
Quarterly Journal of Science, January, 1874. Speaking of the Phenomena of
Percussive Sounds, he says:—
An important question here forces
itself upon the attention. Are the movements and sounds governed by
intelligence? At a very early stage of the inquiry, it was seen that
the power producing the phenomena was not merely a blind force, but was
associated with or governed by intelligence…. The intelligence governing
the phenomena is sometimes manifestly below that of the medium. It is
frequently in direct opposition to the wishes of the medium. When a
determination has been expressed to do something which might not be
considered quite right, I have known urgent messages given to induce a
reconsideration. The intelligence is sometimes of such a character as to
lead to the belief that it does not emanate from any person present.
To this I may add, that in a number
of recorded
cases—e.g., in that of Miss Laura
Edmunds, the daughter of judge Edmunds of New York—and in several that
have come under my own notice, the Intelligence is not only distinct from
that of the Psychic, but uses a language unknown to the Psychic, and
conveys elaborate information, precise in detail, of which he or she had
no previous knowledge; and not only that, but of which no person present
had any previous knowledge.
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