Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1885-04-17

The fact that there has been organized
in Boston an American Society for Psychi-
cal Research" and that it has appointed
a committee to collect evidence regarding
'mediumistic phenomena" is significant
of the remarkable growth of spirtualism
in this country, and especially in New
England, within the past few years. So
long as the belief in spiritual manifesto
tions was confined toa small and insignifi-
cant portion of the community, it was
easy to ignore and ridicule it, but when
its converts began to be numbered by
thousands, with journals and magazines
devoted to the PRONUNCIATION of the pecu-
liar doctrines of their sect, it became
worthy of serious attention, and scientific
investigation. 1t was in this spirit,
as we understand it, that the So
ciety for Psychical Research has I'M
dertaken the inquiry into the char
acter and claims upon human belief of
the so-called spiritual manifestations "
The society is composed of men whom no
body would accuse of being cranks or
dupes. The chairman of the committee
to collect evidence regarding mediumistic
phenomena is Professor William James of
the Harvard faculty, land all the mem
bers of the committee are gentlemen of
such reputation for attainments and char
acter," says the Boston 4 advertiser, that
confidence will be given to their conclu-
sions."
The growth of spiritualism has not been
confined to any one section of the coun-
try. In almost every community, both
East and West, will be found large
number of fairly intelligent people who
believe in spiritual communication with
departed friends. The doctrine, I'M
doubtedly, gains adherents from its
strange fascnation-for there are people
who are willing to be duped for the sake
of being helped to believe what they fain
would believe. Others go farther, and
declare, and in many cases believe, that
they have seen immaterial objects turned
into material substance, that may be seen,
felt, tasted and even detected by the sense
of smell. The belief in ghosts is nearly, if
not fully, as prevalent to-day as it ever
was, and one writer of repute in some
branches of science, has recently affirmed
at length his conviction that man pos
sesses in addition to the fleshly body and
the soul, third intermediate something,
which may be separated at pleasure from
the organic body, yet which may be seen,
and which may propel matter by muscu-
lar contact.
Sharing the growth of spiritualsm
proper is a host of kindred halucinations,
with which must be classed the "mind
cure" which is said to be accomplishing
such wonders of healing and the Chris
tian science" which is scarcely less won
derful in its revelation of hidden things
The country is overrun with the apostles
of these modern adaptations of spiritual
ism. One can hardly pick upa public print
without being stared in the face by the
miracles attributed to these sciences"
We are glad that some responsible and
scientific observers are studying the sub
ject, and are going to give their conclu-
sions to the world.
The committee appointed to collect evil
dence regarding "mediumistic phenom-
ena" is inspired with no feeling of hos
tility toward those who sincerely believe
in their powers of communication with
the spirit land. 1t only asks for honest,
genuine evidence upon which to base its
conclusions. 1t will have no mercy to-
ward imposters, but will give honest
spirtualists every opportunity to prove
the reality of their claims. 1t is to be
hoped that the result will be a complete
exposure of the fraud and folly of modern
sprtualism.
In Springfield a careful and through
sanitary canvass of the city is to be made
at once, in view of II possible visit of the
| cholera when warm weather comes. The
examination will be worth all it costs,
whether the cholera comes or not and
Springfeld's example may well be follow
| ed elsewhere -LOlOell Courier.