New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-04-14
4 aeceptance because Of their unphilOsOphicAl ere

acceptance because of their unphilOscphicAl ere
dentials. 80 - .s.f,g. sg,.
The weakness Of the position he occupied IN
this respect consisted in the necessity IL enualea
OF rejecting alleged phenomena TO the reahty OF
xvhicb the cumulative testimony is far too exten-
eivc and ,mportant to be got rid Of on the theory
NJ baIlucjnation, defective observation or DOM
irant suggestion Moreover, he himself, in fully
admitting. with DR.. luke and many others, tue
physical influence Of mental conditons-as IN tne
oure of disease through strong faith In alosG any
kind of therapeutic agent from Perluns's meusllic
tractors TO the latest form Of mind or lailn
cnre-opened the way to q recognition oil Prev
ously unregarded forces, the perception OF WHICH,
while it may eliminate the supernaturahSn from
great mass Of evidence, obviously restores 'iia'
evidence to credibility. 1t is not less apparent
that the elimination Of supernaturalisn IN no way
clears up or removes the mystery OF tne ple4iom-
ena To explain an alleged miracle by saying that
No doubt tbe alleged cure really took place, but
that it was caused by the influence OF the MIND
upon the body. and not by any recondite spiritual
agency. is in tho final analysis merely to suosa-
tnte one form OF meaningless words for another
For science can no better account for the lnnu-
ence of the mind upon the body than 10 can eluci-
date the mystical hypothesis Of miracles; ana II
nothing il admissible evidentially which appears
10 yiolate the law Of Continuity, u Is GEAR Ui"U
the best attested case of cure by mentaI influence
| recorded by luke is as little entitled 10 creuehce
as ony canonical legend OF sanity powers
| Whether tho phenomena OF hyPnotisln are re-
ferred to the e1pence Of psychic force or nervous
| or magnetic fluids from the HANDS OF az up
| orator, or TO mechanical processes ahec1ns .no
! mind of the patient, they are equally surprising
and in themselves difficult of explanatoni nor
! have the prolonged experiments at the oalpcIr"Ic
| and Nancy resulted in any conclusions "non uo
| moro than push the mystery somewhat lul'net
back Few men Of science were oeOCer equ,Ppeu
than DR.. Carpenter for the Investigation Oh 'his
class NJ problems. lie had % natural affinity Tor
them, as his writings abundantiy prove; anu MS
views were expanding continually and becoming
clearer Yet II must be said that he was not al
vavs consistent in his reasoning, and that ne was
r,nro N the common error Of taking mere
shifting of grounds mere change of TECHNOLOGY
for n de6nitiye solution. In dealing with the re-
lations of religion to science he stood more hrmy'
| and no better example OF his most lucid manner
| can be found than the article in this volume, al
ready cited. on Theism and Evolution IL leaves
upon the readers mind no such uncomfortable I'M
preston OF queston-begging as too many theo-
! logical essays on the samo theme produce IL u
i sane strong, logical and candid throughout ~
times il suggests John Stuart MilPs trcatmeit OF
the subject in his posthumOus essay ON lheiSn,
but it is of course, far moro reverental than IL
WAS in Mills nature to be. All tho essays Oh Ut
CARPENTER hero collected are Of considerable In
forest He was full Of suggestion and iniorma-
ton and admirably clear in his exposition
Among these fifteen papers there are none whHn
do not throw light upon the subjects treated ana
none which do not present elevated and Thoroughly
| ,vboIesome views wherever the domain OF demon
stratcd phenomena is left 70 that speoious REGION
in which tho scientific imagination ranges frody'
and seeks TO forecast yet unaccomplished dlscoV'
cries and discount the results Of Studies sui fai
from the stage which warrants the formulation
Of conclusions An appendix gives full ls' OF
DIR. Carpenters writings, and incidentally fresi
proof of his unremitting industry aremarEho'
versatility and authoritative position m the seen
tiGc world.