The Portland daily press., 1871-09-04

MIR. HOME AND THE ENGLISH SAyANS.
1t has long been a matter of surprise to
many people that the physical manifestations
Jfsplritualism have not been carefully inves-
tigated by scientific men of the first rank In
recent published essay Prot Tyndall doas
indeed explain how he once attempted to give
the phenomena his careful attention, aud how
after few evenings he gave up in despair and
disgust, having convinced himself that fraud
or self deception were at the bottom Of then,
all. But SO small an induction of facts were
of course not universally received as coaclu.
siye. more thorough examination has 70
Gently been made by several celebrated EGG.
fish physical philosophers, and still with un-
satisfactory results. The following account OF
their investigations is from the Boston Jour
nal of Chemistry whose editor adds his own
testimony as to the nature OF the manifesto.
tons:
There are many mysteries connected with
the natural world which may Justly be terme d
great, but there is one class of phenomena
which is OF nature so deeply mysterious that
It may well be called the great mystery 1t is
now attracting public attention to a great ex-
tent, from the circumstance that three emf.
nent scientific gentlemen OF England have re-
Gently attempte to investigate it, and after
devoting considerable time to the matter, have
published some extended Statements of an irl-
portant nature. Prof. Crooks, the eminent
chemist, and editor of the London Chemical
News, Mr.. higgins, whose spectrOscopic and
astronomical researches have rendered his
name famous in the scientific world, and Mr..
Sergeant Cox, a prominent member of the
English bar, have had Mr.. Home, the "medi-
um" so called, in their hand and under their
considerable time, and have made, in connec-
ton with him, large number of experiments
~, f6n n, 49,. kl~o
tricks, or the source of his extraordinary
powers.
The conclusions reached by these eminent
scientific gentlemen are not surprising or dis
appointing, inasmuch as we were certain when
the investigation was entered upon that they
would be brought in contact with phenomena
which they could neither understand nor ex.
plain. The most important conclusion reach
ed is, that the sights, sounds, and physical dis
turbances generally, which are produced in
connection with Mr.; Home, are no tricks Of his
de0tsing, and that he is not an impostor or
charlatan, as is charged by many. Mr. Crooks
and MI. Higgins claim to believe that there is
an element OF force surrounding or enveloping
the human organization, which is of extraordi-
nary nature, AID capable OF accomp fishing
marvellous things. But all this explains moth
ing. The terms used by the gentlemen in set.
ing forth their theory are as meaningless as
the sentences in which they are found, and so
far as the nature of the mystery is concerned
we are as much in the dark as ever
The truth is, the men known or recognized
as SCIENTIFIC investigators are no more cOmpe-
tent to investigate or explain this mystery,
than shrewd men from other classes, or other
pursuits in life. Gentlemen devoting their
lives to scientific research acquire habits of
close observation, and are usually ingenious in
devlsng mec hanical and other aids for the
calculation of the principles and laws of ma
ture, and hence are properly regarded as
teachers In matters of science. But the phe-
nomena exhibited through the man Home.
and hundreds of others in different PARTS of
the world, maniiestly do not lie within the do
main of any of the sciences and conse uuentIy.
scientists have no data, DO experience, no
precedent upon which to base Investigations.
During the past quarter of century we
have many times been called to investigate
phenomena corresponding with those which
nave recently come under the notice of Messrs,
Crooks. Higgins, and Cox, and we confess to
nave been baffied and confounded by what we
have seen and heard. Probably few experi-
mentors have had a wider, or a more diverslfi-
ed experience in the various depart nents of
scientific research, and in the mechanical arts,
ana yet we have found no appliances, no ex
perimental tests, which afforded any clue to
the mystery.
1t is believed by a very large number of men
ana women in this and other countries. that
the physical disturbances and extraordinary
phenomena connected with light sound etc
are produced by Spirits or Disseminated in
teiilgences IRON an unseen world. We certain
~ nave no way at present of proving to these
persons that their views are erroneous, and we
cannot engage in any controversy upon the
subject. Our knowledge of "spirits'' and
their capabilities is very limited. and until We
can secure some insigh; into the actual condi-
ton of things beyond the ozark river" we
prefer TO believe that the phenomena are some
how, or In some way connected with life in
this mundane sphere.