Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1874-02-20
The Leisure Hour.
SPIRITUAL PHENOMENA.
A Remarkable Article by "a DistInguIsh.
ed AciRntia0,

A hemarknbIe Article by a Distlnguish'
ed Scientist.
No moro remarkable article has appear
ed in any scientific journal for many years
than one in the January number of The
Quarterly Journal of Science, from the pen
of its editor, Mr.. William Crookes. II may
be remembered that several years ago Mr..
Crookcs gave an account of certain expert
ments which he had made upon the So
called spiritual manifestations, as develop
ed in the presence of Mr.. David ID.
Home, and the fiutter into which the sci
entifc community was thrown by the state
ments presented by this gentleman, in
view of the fact that he is a chemist OF high
reputation and a scientist OF acknowledged
position, editing not only the Journal Of
Science, but also the Chemical News, the
leading chemical publication of Great Brit
ain.
In the present article he gives the result
of continued inquiry into this s1bje ect up to
this date, covering period of nearly four
years.
In the beginning of the article, Mr..
Crookes remarks that the phenomena he is
prepared 10 attest are so extraordinary and
so directly oppose the most firmly rooted
| articles of scientific belief-among others,
the ubiquity and iuvarible action OF the
law of gravitation-that even now on re-
calling the details OF what he had witness
ed, there is controversy in his mind be-
tween reason, which pionounces il to be
scientifically impossible, and his conscious
ness that his senses, both touch and sight
and these corroborated by the senses of all
who were present-not lying witnesses
when they testify against his preconcep-
| tions. But the supposition that there Is a
sort Of mania or delusion that suddenly at
| tacks a whole room full of intelligent per-
sons who are quite sane elsewhere, and
that they all concur as to even the minut-
| est particulars In the details OF the occur
rences Of which they suppose themselves
TO be witnesses, seems still more incredible
than tho facts they attest Mr.. Crookes
fully appreciates the credulity with which
they will be met, and in the results attain
ed they seem so foreign to his preconceiv-
ed ideas, and tho preposse 'sions gained by
the teaching of modern science, that lie
almost questions whether he is asleep or
awake.
Mr.. Crookes says the subject is far more
difficult and extensive than ii appears that
four years ago he intended to devote a
month or two TO ascertain whether certain
marvellous occurrences he had heard about
would stand the test of close scrutiny. Hay-
Ing, however, arrived at the same conclu-
sion as every other impartial inquirer, that
there was something in it, he could not, as
n student of natures laws, refuse to follow
the inquiry withersoever the facts might
lead. Thus the proposed labors of few
months were continued for several years
and the subject widened before him.
He assures us, most positively, that "tht
statements he presents in his paper CON
stitule a record of actual occurrences which
have taken place in his own house, and Ia
the presence of witnesses, and under a:
strict test conditions as no could devise
and every fact is, moreover, corroborated
by the records of Independent observers a
other times and places"
He then proceeds to explain one or two
of the errors that have occupied the public
mind in regard TO the manifestations :
one of which is that darkness is essentia
to the phenomena. This, he says, is by ne
means the case. Everything recorded by
him took place in the light, excepting in
! few cases which he has specified, and wher