Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1874-02-07
IMPORTANT SCIENTIFIC TESTIMONY.

IMPORTANT SCIENTIFIC TESTIMONY.
The Quarterly Journal of Science,
just published, contains an article en-
titled, Notes on an Inquiry into the
Phenomena called Spiritual" during
the years 1903, by William Crookes,
E. r. s., etc, who is also editor of the
Journal of Science.
In previous publications, Mr.. Crookes
testified to the occurrence of some very
extraordinary phenomena, which rem
dered important service to the progress
in this science, by inducing the public
to believe in the probability of the
facts, and inducing them to experiment
for themselves. Mr.. Qrookes says
1.-The phenomena, | am prepared to
attest, are so extraordinary, and so d.
rectly oppose the most firmly-rooted
articles of scientific belief-amongst
others, the ubiquity and invariable ac-
ton of the law of gravitation-that,
even now, on recalling the details of
what | witnessed, there is an antago-
nism in my mind between reason, which
pronounces it to be scientifically ina
possible, and the consciousness that
my senses, both of touch and sight
and these corrobOrated, as they were,
by the senses of all who were present
are not lying witnesses when they tes-
tify against my preconccptions.'
Mr.. Crookes then proceeds ia give
the particulars under which he was
enabled to prosecute his investigations,
and deems that 1.-The SUBJECTS far more
difficult and extensive" than it ap.
peared to him fo4r Years ago and We
may also remark that his improved
treatment of it is ample evidence of
the more enlarged view which he has
been enabled to take of the subject.
His mediums were Mr.. ID. ID. Home "a
name almostas familiar as Spiritualism
itself and Miss Kate Fox-now Mrs.
Jencken-who was the very first me-
dunn in whose presence spiritual man
ifestatioDs were observed twelty-six
years ago. Mr.. Orookes scouts the
idea that spiritual manifestations can
only be obtained in the rooms of the
medium, or that they can be simulated
by professional conjurers He says:
ITO show how far this is from the
truth, l need only say that, with very
few exceptions, the many hundreds of
facts | am prepared to attest-facts
which to initiate by known mechanical
or physical means, would battle the
skill Of Houdin, hosco or an An
derson, backed with all the resources
of elaborate machinery and the prac-
tice of years-have all taken place in
my own house at times appointed by
myself. and under circumstances which
absolutely precluded the employment
of the very simplest instrumental
aids
Respecting the conditions under
which Mr. Drookes conducted his OBJ
servatlons, he says he introduced any
hard headed unbeliever" whom he
pleased, and imposed his own terms;
so that he had full opportunity for in
vestigation, Respecting dark seances
he says;
Indeed, except on two occasions,
when, for some particular experiments
of my own, light was excluded, every
thing which have witnessed with him
(Mr Home) has taken place in the
light. | have had many opportunities
of testing the action of light of differ
emf sources and colors. sHch as sunlight
ditused daylight, moonlight; gas, lamp
and candle1ight, electric light from a
vacuum tube, homogeneous yellow
light. &c, The interfering rays appear
to be those at the extreme end OF the
spectrum.
The Importance of Mr.. Crookes's
testimony may be, in some degree, es-
timatcd from a mere catalogue of the
chapters into which his essay is divided,
being classification of the phenomena
observed:
Glass 1.-The movement of heavy
bodies with contact, but without me-
chanical exertion.
Glass 1.-THE phenomena of per-
cussive and other allied sounds.
Glass III.-The alienation ofweight
of bodies.
Glass IV.-Movements of heavy
substances when at a distance irsm the
medium.
Glass V.-The raising of tables and
chairs off the ground without contact
with any person.
Glass VI.-The deviation of human
bbcci;ngs.
Glass VII.-Movement Of various
small articles without contact with any.
person.
Glass VIII. : Luminous appear:
ances.
Glass IX-The appearance ofhapds, |
either self.luminous or visible, by or !
binary lieht. ]