New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-02-07
TIE ARIIFICAL TRANCE.
THE REV. DIR. BUCKLEY on HYPNOTISM.
REMARKS MADE AT A MEETING or TIE ANTIRO-
POI nGIrAI snIrLry

THE REV. DIR. BUCKLEY on HYPNOTISM.
REMARKS MADE AT A MEETING OF TIE ANTlRO-
BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY.
At r meeting Of the Anthropologcal Society last
nigh+ three vacancies IN the Council filed by the
election Of Drs J. X Funk Benjamin Edison and W. H.
InsersO Roswell Smith elected "a one OF the vice
presidents OF the society, and Dr. : II. DraytOn
made treasurer number Of persons admitted to
membership. The subject OF special interest TO the
meeting was the report Of the committee on the
section of psychica research. The report, Informal
one, was made by the Rev. DR. j. NJ. Buckley,
the editor Of Tie CbriSi Adr0caie. lie promised the
suggestions made behalf Of the committee with
count OF his investigations in respect to hypnOtisD.
lie said ia part
is necessary at the outset 10 outline the duties Of
TINS committee and 10 indicate IN general y the scope
OF It's work. The work last year OF the corresponding see
lion OF the London society did not command respect IL
puDushed n formal report cOecuoh Oh
ghost stories Of the most sensational sort
that could be dgnhed by the name OF scientific nvest
CATION. "A | understand Il, should keep clear Of
what one of the Apostles characterized a. Old wives
laDles me SUGGESTIONS winch nave 10 MAKE are the
result Of study which began twenty seven years
That WAS time when spritualism began 30 he matter
oI interest 70 great numbers OF persons tuiOugnOut the
country. 1 had the misfortune, II such IL might be
tTo-thris Of the membership was seriously
affected by these new beliefs. OF course
seryation experiment had resOr to books, and my
first error TO denOunce all the phenomena OF spirit
udli,lll no better imam nt tflck1 OF q ug-ttF DuJ
soon discovered ina there were genuine phenomena.
Then went % my books again and came back with
vigorous onslaught on the tep, rs the author or the
Wh0ie mystery mat appeared 70 De an easy, way OF
c, dng with the problem; Out a. matter Of fact II
amounted 10 on actuOv lodgment OF q supernatural
clement and nv hearers were led 10 question their own
minds and to decide for themselves, whether the III
huenccs to which they felt themselves subject were
amenabe to science or not but whether they were dia
bolica Or angelic And 50 was obliged to give up that
theory
Then examined the assertions made i'm behalf OF ami
MAJ magnetism mesnerlsln' eieetr0-moo-y' pSych@-
dynamic, etheroogy, all Of which found to be crude
names, covering q fact which they did not define
/ visited a -" Mi'ler1te" canp-mceting, and found
of tna sect thrown by their frenzy corresponds al
most exactly TO the phenOnt ma OF srrludllsl animal
magnetism and mp-mer-iin attended spiritual meet
ngs IN Boston, and 1t IN the Of my Dvcstg-
preliminary 10 solution OF these questions, IL is that
The state is produced by the viii Of the opera
tor but by the condition of expectancy " reverence and
of confidence. Immediately alerwnId / lectuTed in
% state Of trance without any effort OF VIII on my own
part and with no picmnares OF any KIND save deea-
ration OF what would happen and what believe 10 be It's
cause.
yoce-Doctor. how do you account for the reawaken-
ug OF person IN trance You deny the power VI The
OPERATOR WIZ
Dr. Buckley believe that the subject awakes OF him
self, and viii always do 30, II let alone within half an
hour after the beginning Of the trance But my own per-
which II will Toe the province or our committee TO solve
We suggest then that the main points OF our inquiry
should lie: / there any influence which goes from the
operator To Ia" sitpectf Has the viii any power eyOu
the understanding OF the suDecl Have the nerves any
power external 10 tie physical OrgduiSmi
Dr. Buckley suggested that the committee should ne
increased from two 20 eight or ten members and he
was told that The present members could appoint
IS many associates as they chose. ply
stefan present gave OF patient whom he had
hypuOtZed and subjected 70 severe operation without
pain anu he argued the utility o. the trance IN preference
brought and subjected to tests which lndl
Gated Tie geuuineness OF the process.