The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1891-06-30
A TENDENCY or THE TIME.
The Work Of Psychical Research and WheS
1t 10 Likely to Accomplish.

The Work Of Psychical Research and WhoS
1t 10 Likely to Accomplish.
1t Is at first glance remarkable that
20 skeptical an age as ours should be
the time in which so thorough and ex-
tensive research is made into that misty
region which of old was regarded as the
supernatural, but which is now the
custom to look upon as merely the I'M
explored: and yet upon the second
thought it is apparent that it Is pre-
cisely the skeptical age that Is most
likely to study this phase of nature. In
q more devout age il would be thought
that there was something half sacri-
legious in prying into the hidden mys-
teries of creation; while in a more SUI
perstitious age more or less conscious
fear would do much to check investiga-
ton. 1t is in the calm and coolly in
vestigating temper of the generation
which is still in doubt that these things
are sure to be most eagerly studied.
There is, of course, the widest differ
ence of temper in the minds of those
who in one form or another have
thrown themselves into psychical re-
search. 1t was said, with perhaps more
epigrammatic neatness than accuracy,
that the English Society of Psychical
Research was established to prove that
all ghost stories were true, while the
American was established to prove
that all were false; vet with whatever
extravaganza of statement there was at
least a grain of truth in the phrase.
The negative IS never of vitality
equal to that of the positive, and in the
end the American society went under,
and its remnants have been annexed to
the English body. That there are ear.
nest workers in both is doubtless true,
Is much work of value done by the 50.
ciety. Certainly many Of the men con-
nected with the movement would com.
mand respect for any enterprise In
which they were engaged or to which
they lent their support
The thing which strikes an outsider.
however, is the fact that it Is the almost
3nvariable result of the following sort
OF study that the student is drawn from
the real to the unreal, from the tangi-
bic to the intangible, and-alas, that IL
must be added.-from the tenable to the
untenable. The history of the vast ma
jority of thinkers who have plunged in-
to this sort of study has been that they
have ended by being the dupe Of illu.
sions which they would have been the
first to smile at when they were in q
sane and normal condition. illusions Of
which the falsity has been demonstrate.
ed beyond peradventure. It has not In
frequently happened that investigates
for the power and clearness Of
whose mind at the outset, for whose
fairness and integrity there could not
be too much admiration. have in the
end become the victims Of the most vul-
gar trickery, the dupes of charlatans
who had not the merit of extraordinary
cleverness to recommend them, or the
champions of vagaries begot in their
eAffss:
obvious to need remark, and it is in no
spirit OF cavil that this common danger
of the study is touched upon. Why is
It that investigators so often lose their
balance in this field it is not easy to say,
but of the fact. at least, there seems to
be no reasonable doubt. Whether It be
from the habit of mind induced by too
much striving after the intangible,
whether it be that the powers proper to
the perception of this branch Of investi.
CATION be not we'll developed in the race
asyet, whether il be that contact with the
class or phenomena dwelt upon in these
suggestions subtily changes the fiber Of
the mind, it Is impossible to say: it is
only possible to predict with approx.
mate assurance that the man who goes
into this business with a very level head
will in nine cases out of ten come TO the
place where he will be possible II not
q probable victim to the easiest and
most transparent frauds Of circum-
stances or Of charlatans. He will come
TO the place where il is inevitable that
he should either be tricked or trick him
self.
It is possible that this is one of the
phases through which this branch of
science must go. and from which it will
triumphantly emerge later. 1t may be
that 1t is merely the natural result OF
hereditary tendencies. and that in
generation or two the impulse, brought
constantly in contact with the hard face
Of fact. will be worn away. In the
meantime it is not unnatural that the
human mind, being called upon to be-
lieve scientifically so much that it has
hitherto held to or rejected as belong
;.-e ~, ti.V .-ssis,. Uf uiIv suI,~I IA.
should find it difficult to distinguish be.
tween the true and the false. This may
come later when the atmosphere Of in.
vestigation becomes cleared from the
lingering mist Of old superstitions.
Meanwhile there is nothing to do but to
push the investigations; although the
outside world must look upon whoever
goes deeply into this branch of study as
q man who is likely to make a sacrifice
Of himself in the cause Of science much
In the same way as a man sacrifices hiSA-
self who goes into a mine full Of poiS.