The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-10-14
Scientists and the spooks..


such hold upon the public attention that a
number of learned eastern divines of var
ious denominations as well as physicians
a scientists have lately formed what they
call the American Psychcal Society in New
York for the purpose Of subjecting these
occult isms to close scientific scrutiny in
order to test their real merits.
With view to giving the mediums and
oracIes q chance to demonstrate their powers
of manifestation in the mysterious manu-
facture Of ghosts the secretary of the So
ciety has addressed to s prominent spirit
ualiss a note in which he depre-
Gates the recent tone OF the spirit
ualistic press in unanimously
jumping upon" the scientific society
| aad adds that you may talk with the
average spiritualista and you will find that his
chief grievance against the world is that it
will not investigate the phenomena upon
which he bases his beliof. He glows with
righteous indignation when descantlng upon
the bigotry Of the ministers who preach
against spiritnalism without knowing any
thing about it,
Continuing the secretary writes that
! 'one would think then that when an as
ISOLATION like the American Psychical So
ciety is organized for the express purpose OF
instituting a scientific investigation of mod =
ern spirituaiism there would he rejoicing
all along the line, and that spiritualism
would help on the work by Offering the So
ciety facilities for study and by contributing
money Go support it. The two prospectusss
issued to the public have welcomed spiritu
allsts as well as others TO membership. Yet
the first word upon the subject published in
a leading spiritualistic Journal was an edi-
torial headed War Against Spiritualism.
Under date Of June g. last, an announce
ment inviting all persons interested to be-
come members was sent for publication to
over co.. religious newspapers including all
or most of the spiritualistic organs. Have
the spiritualists responded Next to none.
They notice the names Of few clergy
men connected with the society, and-since,
OF course. no good thug can come out of
Observation-Disclosures way they assume that
the whole movement was got up as a par
tisan attack upon spiritualism. So far as
| the principle is concerned, we do not see
but it is just as inconsistent for spirituslists
to condemn our society without a hearing
as for ministers to dismiss psycAical pheno-
mena as the work of the devil without
areful study of the matter. This is all
wrong. There will be time enough to con-
denim the society when il has proved by its
rep JrtS that it does not wish to find the
truth. Until then fair play demands that
it should be given the benefit Of the doubt.
Upon which horn Of the dilemma do spir-
itualisrs wish the skeptics of this country
to impale them! That they are afraid of
| tie investigation that in their own opinion,
| themselves having all the truth, they are
utterly lacking in that missionary zeal
which delights to educate others9 They
will draw the one conclusion or the other if
spiritualists stand aloof with their hands in
their pockets casting suspicious glances at
us. An investigation is here; it has already
begun; nothing snail stop It'll
THE society wants to find the truth,
Where are the spiritualists who are ready
to meet US in sympathetic spirit, as they
wish us to meet them in approaching their
| phenomena, to listen to our plans and to
help us forward in work of deep concern
to the whole human racea Where are they
and what are they willing to do to bring
before the world In their true light the
phenomena to which they pin their faith!"
With these few frank remarks the
scientific aud inquiring secretary blandly
states that he now pauses for reply, and
then proceeds to part his name in the mid
die and sign it j. Ernest Allen. But the
spiritualists do not appear to greet the Rev.
Mr.. Allen hall as earnestly as he may have
expected. Really they have been eloquently
silent up to the present writing. From that
we are left to judge that the production of
good and reliable spooks is no easy matter.
Law and the police are bearing down
rather hard upon the gamblers who have
been attempting to pursue their calling in
st. Louis in defiance OF law. They have
received "a severe blow. When the chief of
police declared in very emphatic terms his
policy to the effect that he would stop
ruY, avarv m hi ar ont of tour,