The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-05-21
Psychlc Phenomena.

Is it possible to bring psychology within the
domain Of the exact sciences ? Can the psychic
manifestations OF the human intellect. normal
or abnormal. which bear such various names
as mesmerism. hypnotism. somnambulism.
trance. spiritism. demonology. miracle. mental
therapeutics. genius. or insanity be referred
to some general principle or law which will
removet them from the domain Of the super
natural. and simplify and correlate the whole
yubjsct2 The London Society for Psychical
Research was organized for the purpose Of
answering this question In the Affirmative.
but has not yet answered 1t. 1t has. however.
by pursuing purely scientific methods Of in.
Sestigation. accumulated and verified q vast
array OF facts Of extraordinary interest. Con-
temporaneously. many European scientists
have subjected the phenomena OF hyp-
notism 10 careful study. n have made
some remarkable discoveries in the field
OF menta therapeutics. With the materials
thus brought together. Mr.. THOMSON JAY HuD-
soN has I'M ertai;sn to formulate not indeed o
definite law. but Il working hypothesis for the
classification and explanation OF psychical
manifestations This hypothesis is set forth
in one Of the most interesting books that have
been lately published. The Lar Of Fsvchic Pie
nom"na Chicago: A. c. McClurg & Cob
Tho propositions by which the author would
remove all phases Of psychological phenom-
enn from the domain OF the supernatural. and
refer them to a natural law. may be stated In a
very few words. The first proposition relates
to tho dual character of mans mental organ
iEation. that is to say. man has. or appears to
have. two minds. each endowed with sep
nrate and distinct attributes and powors:
each capable. under certain conditions. OF
Independent action. For the writer's purpose
OF explaining psychic phenomena. 1t ia a
matter OF indifference whether We consider
that man Is endowed with two distinct minds.
or that his one mind Possesses certain attri.
butss and powers under some conditions and
certain other attributes and powers under
other conditions. 1t is sufficient to recognize
that everything happens Just as though he were
dow I'D with q dual mental organization. 1t
Is assumed. therefore,. as tho basis OF q work.
inG hypothesis that man Las two minds. one
OF which. for convenience. In designated az
the objective. and the other ns tho subjective
mind. MIR. iIudson's second proposition is
that tho subjective mind Is constantly amsna.
bio to control by suggestion: and the third. or
subsiciury. proposition Is that tho subjective
mind ia incapable OF inductiyc reasoning. The
book before ns constitutes n systematic effort
to show that every kind OF psychic phenomena
Is eSplicGble by those propositions.
1t should BIO understood Mt the outset TINT
Mr.. Hudson has approa he'd this subject I'm n
strictly scientific franc OF mind. That tho
reader may be thoroughly convinced of this.
we defer Glnncing at the explanations Of the
phenomena Of hypnNtism. mesmerlsm. clair.
voyancc. teleputhy. and mind reading. In or
der to show how firmly the author repels the
notion that any OF those manifestation has
a supernatural origin. After recognizing that
millions Of human beings base their hopos OF
n liz l,nrnn1 fhA y y "a an tIa LII. Al. +
til. phenomena Of spiritism ,ley have tangi.
bile evidence Of the immortality Of the soul.
Mr.. Hudson says: II shall not undertake. 10
prove that the souls OF men do not 1.-Two after
tho death Of the body. That question stands
just where 1t has always stood. 1t il
q probl6n which. outside of revelation
10 no nearsr u solution than 1t WAS when job
pronounced tho momentous question. Neither
will | undertake to say that the spirits of the
dead do not and cannot communicate with the
living. l do not know. But l do undertake to
say. and will attempt to prove. that the phe-
nomona OF spiritism. so called. do not conkti-
tudo valid evidence OF the ability Of spirits Of
the dead to hold intercourse with tho living"
No attempt is made to deny the phenomena Of
spiritism: on the contrary. the author admits
the possibility OF every. phenomenon attssted
by any respectable number OF eputnble wit
nesses. But he undertakes to ex plain their
origin on other grounds than the sup position
that they are caused by the spirits OF the dead.
In u word. he admits the ALLEGED phenomena.
but deuios the alleged cause.
].
1t Is acknowledged by most OF those who
have witnessed the phenomena Of spiritism
produced under rigorous test conditions like
those applied by the London Society for
Psychical Research. that there 10 q dynamic
force residing somewhere which is capable Of
moving pondersble objects without physical
ssutset. sud that this fufss, wletsysr Il isl Or
itvm wAstapsF ssusss II sasAsIys, peSsslSSS
lntsu1ssnsA aitsnumsa to . remarkable 10.