New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-01-17
SCIENCE AND SPIRITUALISM.
A SCIENTIST NARRATES SOME REMARKABLE
SPIRITUAL PHENOMENA.

NAL OF NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. WITH HOME
AND MISS KATE NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. IN DAY
LGHT-rBLEs MovED-uUMAN BODIES RAISED
LUMINOUS HANDS SEEN AND GRAsPED-PHAN-
TOM FORMS AND FACEs-MR. CROOKEs's THEORY
or EXPLANATION TO BE EMBODIED IN F0ETH-
COMING WORK
No more remarkable article has appeared 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 Cro0kes. IL
may be remembered that, several years ago. Mr..
Crookes gave account of certain experiments
which he had made upon the so-called spiritual
manifestations, developed in the presence of Mr..
David ID. Home, and the iutter into which
the scientific community was thrown by
the statements presented by this gentle
man. in view of the fact that he is a
chemist of high reputation, and scientist of
acknowledged position, editing not only The Quar-
try Journal Of Science but also The Chemical Mems.
the leading chemical publication of Great Britain.
In the present article he gives the result of con-
tinued inquiry into this subject up to this date
ering period of nearly four years, during which
time he has been subjected to the ridcule of some
and to indignant outbursts from others for his con-
tinuance in what was considered prepOsterous in
vestigation.
In the beginning Of his article, Mr.. Crookes re-
marks that the phenomena he Is prepared to attest
are 80 extraordinary and so directly oppose the
most firmly rooted articles of scientific belief
among others, the ubiquity and invarlabe action OF
the law of gravitatiOn-that even now on recalling
the details of what he had witnessed there is con-
troversy in his mind between reason, which pro-
nounces it TO be scientifically impossible and the
consciousness 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 preconcepuons. But
the superstition that there Is a SORT OF
mania or delusion which suddenly attacks whole
room-fu of intelligent persons who are quite sane
elsewhere. and that they all concur as to even the
minutest particulars ia the details OF the occur
rencos of which they suppose themselves 20 be wit
nesses, seems still incredible than the facts
they attest. Mr. Crookes fully appreciates the in
credulity with which his statements are likely to be
met and in the results attained they seem SO foreign
TO his preconceived IDEAS and the prepossesslons
gained by the teachings of modern science,
that he almost questions whether he Is asleep
or awake In connection with this he quotes
the remarks of friend, who writes to
him that "any intellectual reply to his
facts, he cannot see. yet" he says, it is n
curious fact that even l. with all my tendency and
desire to believe enthusiastically and with all my
faith in your power of observing, and ID your
thorough truthfuness feel if l wanted to see for
myself; and 1t is quite painful to me to think how
much more proof want. Painful, | say, because
seethat it is not reason which cOnylnces man, I'M
less fact is repeated so frequently that the impress
sion becomes like habit of mind, an old acquaint-
ance a thing known so long that it cannot be
doubted. This is curious phase OF a mans mnd,
and it is remarkably strong in scientific men,
than in thpro |
We must not always call a man dishonest because
he does not yield to evidence for long time. The
old wall of belief must be broken down by much
battering"
Mr.. Crookes says that the subject is far diff
cnl and extensive than it appears that four years
ago he intended to devote month or two to ascer-
tanning whether certain marvellous occurrences he
had heard about would stand the test of close scr-
tiny. Having however. soon arrived ut the same
conclusion az every other impartial inquirer, that
there something in 1T. he could not, rs student
of natures laws, refuse to follow the inquiry
whithersoeyer the facts might lead. Thus the pro-
posed labors of "a few months were continued for
several years, and the subject wdened before him.
As the health of Mr.. ID. d. Home is not so good as
il was and as the marriage of Miss Kate Fox (now
Mrs Jencken) Interferes with the opportunities OF
experimenting upon her powers the two best me-
dluinS known 10 MN, MI tIOohtS HAS Dctn
for the present to suspend his inquiry, and in the
meantime he proposes TO sum up. in the ewest posi-
BILE words the character of the results. He remarks
upon the difficulties which science experiences
in prosecuting such Investigations, based largely
upon the fact that, as these manifestations
are entirely dependent upon the presence of certain
persons usually known as mediums, it is not always
convenient to la.e access to them, certain halo OF
mystery being generally thrown around them by
their friends either for purposes of gain or IN their
desire TO prevent too great notOriety And further
more the exercise of their powers involves certain
amount of physical and nervous prostration on the
part of the mediums which they are averse to under
going. 1t was very rarely indeed that, with
the exception Of Mr.. Home and Miss Fox,
he was able to have the mediums come
to places where the experiments could be
prosecuted without any inconvenience, lie, how
ever assures us. most positively, that the state
ments he presents in this paper constitute record
of actual occurrences which have taken place IN his
own house, and in the presence of witnesses. and
under as strict test conditions as he could devise:
and that every fact IL, moreover, cOrrobOrated
by the records of independent observers at
other times and places" Although these
facts are of the most astounding character,
and seem utterly rreconciable with all known
satisfied himself of their truth and thinks it would
be moral cowardice u withhold his testimony be-
cause his previous publications were ridieuled by
critics and others who knew nothing whatever of
the subject and who too prejudiced to see and
Judge for themselves whether or not there was truth
in the phenomena He proposes to state simply
what he has seen and proved by repeated expert
ment and test and has yet to learn that it is IRA
tional TO endeavor to discover the causes OF une1
planned phenomena
. He then proceeds TO explain one or two of the