New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-02-08
SCIENCE AND sP!HITUALIs.n.

SCIENCE AND sPIHiTUALis.n.
No more remarkable article has ap
| peared in any scientific journal for many
| years than one in the January numbe. o.
! The Quarterly .jouynoi at Science. from the
pen of it's editor, Mr.. William Crookes. J!
may be remembered that. several years
| ago. Mr.. Cvockes gave an account Of Ger
tain experiments which he had made upon
the so-called spiritual manifestations. as
developed in the presence of Mr.. David d.
! Home. and the futter into which ths
] scientific community was thrown by the
statements presented by this gentleman.
| in view of the fact that he is chemist OF
| high reputation. and scientist OF
acknowledged position. editing not only
| The Quarterly journal Of Science, but also
The Chemical Necs. the leading chemical
publication of Great Britain.
In the present article he gives the result
Of continued inquiry into this subject up
to this date, covering a period Of nearly
four years, during which time he has been
subjected to the ridicule Of some and 10
| indignant outbursts from others, for his
continuance in what was considered pre-
posterous investigation.
In she beginning of his article. Mr.
Crookes remarked that the phenomena he
is prepared to attest are SO extraordinary
and SO directly opposed the most firmly
rooted articles of scientific belief-among
others. the ubiquity and invariable action
of the law Of gravitatiCn-that even now
on recalling the details of what he had wit
messed, there is controversy in his mind
between reason, which pronounces it to
be scientifically impossible, and the con.
seriousness 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
preconceptions. But the supposition
that there is sort Of mania or de-
fusion which suddenly attacks a whole
room full Of intelligent persons who are
quite sane elsewhere. and that they all
concur as to even the minutest particulars
in the details Of the occurrences Of which
they suppose themselves to be witnesses,
seems still more incredible than the facts
the incredulity with which his statements
are likely to be met, and in the results
attained they seem SO foreign to his pre-.
conceived ideas. and the prepossessions
gained by the teachings of modern science,
that be 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 can not see. 'Yet." ne
says, at is a curious tact that even |, with
ali my tendency and desire to believe
enthusiastically. and with all my
faith in your power of observing, and in
your thorough truthfulness. feel as if I
wanted to see for myself; and it is quite
painful to me to think how much more
proof want. Painful. say. because
see that il is not reason which cOnvinces
a man, unless . fact is repeated SO fire.
puently that the impression becomes like !
a habit of mind. an old acquaintance. q
thing known SO long that it can not be !
doubted. This is curious phase 0: q !
mans mind. and it is remarkably strong
in scientific men. stronger than in others,
l think. For this reason we must not al |
ways call man dishonest because he does
not yield to evidence for long time. The |
old wall of belief must DC broken down |
by much battering."
Mr.. Crookes says that the subject is far
more difficult and extensive than it app
pears: that tou, years ago he intended to |
devote month OF two to ascertaining |
whether certain marvellous occurrences he |
had heard about would stand the test of |
close scrutiny. Having. however. soon
arr.vel at the same conclusion as every
other impartial inquirer. that there was
in it. he could not, as student
o. natures laws. refuse to follow the in
curry whithersoeyer the facts might lead.
Thus the proposed labors of few months
were continued for several years. and the
subject widened before him.
AS the health of Mr.. d. u. Home is not
SO good as it was, and as the marriage of
Miss Kate Fox (now Mrs. Jenckenl inter-
teges with the opportunities OF expert.
menting upon her powers. the two best
mediums" known to him, Mr.. Crookes
las been obliged for the present to s1s-
oend his inquiry. and in the meantime he
proposes TO sum up. in the fewest pos
,ible words. the character of the results
He remarks upon the difficulties which
c.ence experiences in prosecuting such
based largely upon the
act that. as these manifestations
re entirely dependent upon the presence
# certain persons usually known as me.
huns. il is not always convenient to have
ccess to them. a certain halo of mystery
icing generally thrown around them by
heir friends. either for purposes of gain
y in their desire to prevent too great no.
oriety. And furthermore. the exercise of
heir powers involves certain amount Of
mystical and nervous prostration on the |
art o. the mediums which they are averse
0 undergoing. twas very rarely indeed
hat. with the exception of Mr.. Home !
I'd Miss FOX. he was able 20 have the
aediuA.> come 70 places where the .Xre..
nents could be prosecuted without in.
He. however, assures US
!ost posltlve.! that ''the statements he |
reaents III this paper constitute u {
acord oi actual occurrences which | {
ave taken place in his own house, /
nj IN the presence of witnesses, and {
nder as strict test conditions as he could
evise: and that every fact is, moreover, {
by the records of indepen- {
ent observers at other times and places"
Though these facts are of the most as I
Dundlng character, and seem utterly ire
)ncilable with all known theories of
lodern science, Mr.. Crookes SAYS he has I
,tisied himself of their truth, and thinks a
would be moral cowardice to withhold {
is testimony because his previous publ r
atoms were ndiculed by critics and others {
no knew nothing whatever of the sub L
ct, and who were too prejudiced to see f
I'd Judge for themselves whether or not L
ere was truth in the phenomena. He L
opposes to state simply what he has seen Fl
I'd proved by repeated experiment and S
st, and has yet to learn that it is ira C
)nal to endeayor to discover the causes of t
phenomena. c
He then proceeds to explain one or two s.
the errors that have occupied the public Il
md in regard to the manifestations, e