The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1889-03-29

Mr.. Packard's Lecture In the Me-
chanics' Course.

MIR. Packard's Lecture In the Me-
chanics' Course.
The theme of the lecture delivered in the
Mechanics course by Mr.. S. T. Packard last
evening was dreams and Phantasm," with
particular reference to certain phenomena
that have been studied of late with the ex-
pectation of finding a new basis for the
science of Telepathy
After an allusion to the friendly nature of
the stuff that dreams are usually made of
some account was given of the theories en-
tertained by philosophers as to their origin
as to whether the soul sleeps at all, or
whether, while the body sleeps it ranges at
will in a sphere not known to our waking
senses. Reference was then made to dreams
that have meaning and purpose, visions
clearly intended as foreshadowings OF i'm
pending events, revelations-of facts more or
less important that have just happened at
distance-telepathic signals from a source
outside of the mind that receives them. Our
sacred books are full of instances of warn
ings given in dreams, and even if
it be allowed that these are super
natural, and not to be counted upon as
evidence of a continuing effort of nature,
still the fact that the literature of all ages
bristles with accounts exactly similar, and
the further fact that every neighborhood and
almost every family has its traditions of like
tenor, are cumulative proof that sleep some
times unlocks a sense unknown to the wax
ing mind. The divine origin of dreams be-
came a doctrine of the early Christian
church. There has lately. been developed
scientific conception Of the phenomenon. as
dependent on natural laws. But until re-
Gently there has been nothing like scientific
accuracy observed in the recording of the UNI
doubted feats of hypnotism. The witnesses
have not been cross examined. Scientists
have shrunk from exploring world of mys-
terry so unsubstantial They found no place
on which to stand as they piled their levers
But brave effort was at last made In Eng
land to fasten with pins everything relating
to the phantasmagorie of PHYSIOLOGY,
where scientific pin could be made to stick.
A society OF Psychical Research was formed
ip London. leading spirits of which are men
of the highest rank in science. Some ac-
count was given of the society and the work
in which 1t was engaged. A society having
plan was organized In this country. Several
Harvard professors, and members of the fac
ulties of other American colleges are con-
nected with the society. They
proceed upon the theory that every
thing that really happens ought to
be applicable, and that 1t is treason to sci
ence to say that at the point where the pres
emit required senses fail to detect an explana-
ton, then ADMINISTRATION must cease. When
the ordinary senses fail to find the key to a
locked door of mystery, then it Is time to in
quire If there is not some extraordinary sense
that can take cognisance of it.
Two large volumes have been issued by
the London Society, and these were re-
viewed by the lecturer. They set out to in
vestigate the marvels OF clairvoyance, haunt
ed houses, spiritualism, etc., but mass of
evidence poured in upon them bearing upon
this very subject, to which they gave the new
name Of Telepathy, which is defined as the
ability of one MIND to impress or to be i'm
pressed by another mind, otherwise than
through the unacquired channels OF sense
Some specimens OF the work of the society
were given, the evidence being very strong
that In some way, across continents and
wide seas. Intelligence had passed from mind
to mind. In several of the cases cited. but
not in all, the fact Of the death of friend
was communicated many days before it
could be known by the ordinary means of
conveying such intelligence.
The lecturer remarked that his paper
was prepared 10 be read before literary
club, When it was. SO read. two or three
months ago, several corr0b0ratiye stories
were told by various members of the club
Judge Goddard. who has since passed away
to the land where we may believe all his
great capacities will find full exercise. and
where if there are any finer souls than those lose
that belong to us here, he will be sure to be
finding them out, and bringing them into
exercise.
The lecturer told of some remarkable in
stances Of dreams coming true, that had
occurred under his immediate observation.
He said that his older brother, the late COL
John Goddard, led life full of adventure.
and was occasionally placed In situations of
great danger. On all such occasions no
matter how distant from home was her old
est son, Mrs. Goddard, who was not given
to dreaming about any other member OF the
family, was warned in her sleep of the dam
ger into which he had fallen. She was even
able TO announce the exact nature of the
trouble; One morning, at breakfast table,
John struggling ii the water, and horses rs@
were striking at him with their forefeet,
water. AS y was IN winter and John
New Brunswick, the family thought that for
once Mrs. Goddard's dreaming must be at
fault. After many days, letter came from
Jonn, VINO said he had a very narrow escape
from death, at time corresponding with
tnat Of the dream, he was driving team
of spirited horses across frozen lake or
river: The horses broke through the Ice. In
his efforts to extricate them he fell in, direct
~ In front OF them, For long time he was
Kept from getting out upon the solid ice by
the strokes Of their frantic fore feet. Here
was the scene ofthe dream in some of its mi
mute details,
In conclusion, the lecturer asked, whence
come these announcements of distant events,
tnese premonitions of impending disaster
this friendly interference with our affairs
tnat come to us for the most part imperson-
ally, as II out of the viewless air? Sir John
Lubbock has recently written in regard to
the senses of animals; 1--WE find in animals
complex organs of sense, richly supplied
With nerves. but the functions of which we
are, as yet, powerless to explain. There
may be fifty other senses, as different from
ours as sound Is from sight, and
our own. senses there may be endless
sounds which we cannot hear, and colors, as
Qlnerent as red from green, of which we
have no conception. These and thousand
other questions remain for solution. The
familiar world which surrounds us may be a
totally different place to other animals. To
them II may be full Of music we cannot hear
OF color which we cannot see ;of sensations of
which we cannot conceive
. Sir John, said the lecturer, might have
taken step further, and said that possibly
we do not yet know what colors and sounds.
what visions and spiritual revelations await
the blossoming and fTuitageiof the five weak
documentary senses of man, that are all we
can now claim with any assurance.
Are we endowed with a sense, usually
latent through life, but which is occasionally
active, which is not hampered blythe accidents
OF time or space, of life or death, or height
or depth, or any other creature-which can
flash Intelligence without wire to the utter
hit upon the right conditions? If so, will
these conditions ever be SO well understood
that we can put them to some practical use?
we may assume that there is sixth sense,