The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-09-24

Doubtful Utility of Scientific Investf-
CATION of Ghosts.

New York Commercial Advertiser.
The English Psychical Res earch Society is
not dead. 1t is now interested In the sub
ject of ghosts. having sent circulars to
several thousand people asking for their
experience. if any. with ghosts. The promi-
Ghost Club requests mankind to lay aside
its foolish ~prejuuices against the existence
of spiritual visitants and to investigate al
legged instances impartially.
There's the rub. Only one person In
thousands is qualified to make a trust
worthy and !, im lphria n infves ST sxnpnin I the
more interesting of Herrmann'S delusive
and Elusive If one is predis-
posed to a belief in the occult and myster-
ious, If ne is naturally credulous and fond
of the miraculous, he can be deceived by
the simplest trickster.
chical Research Society had a most humil-
iating experience. In the matter of mind
readings, or as the society. prefers to cali
it, Thought transference." the members
were not deceived in the least by the late
Mr.. Bishop, probably the best of performers
and possibly selfdeluded, or by any OF the
public performers. but they were fooled to
the last degree by three little girls. the
daughters of a clergyman in Derbyshire,
sign according. to the committee. a card
or other object decided upon in the absence
Of the child experimental with. After the
their inability to account for the wonderful
phenomena, the girls were made to confess
the fraud and explain how they had fooled
liz IL . itC CAC tFth A.
completely than kit North fooled the
chronological ASS" as he abbreviated tie
name of the chronological Association He
had a cast made OF a large turnip and sent
Ii to the association as the cast of the head
of a notorious criminal just hanged The
examiners found in the cast all the bumps
that make for evil In chronological science.
Probably no good can come of n popular
interest in the old woman tales which the
society asks people to investigate or In any
department Of psychology Superstitions
will never come to their death through any
such process. In many instances the fraud
cent. of the Authenticated cases of ghosts
reported from the United States were found
to be altogether different from the reports
of them-but the inability of the investiga-
encourages belief of the ridiculous. The
failure may be due entirely to the lack of
proper qualifications on the part of those
who make the investigations. The Psy-
chical Research Society has many men in
its ranks who are eminent in literature,
politics and theology, but there are no Hulk
leys, and Tyndalls, and Carpenters-none of
those VINO have shown themselves 10 be
qualified to deal with shrewd tricksters.
A man may know all that has been written
of philosophy and still not be a philosopher.
He may know all that has been written of
psychology and still be unable TO detect
the simplest fraud. There Is no reasonable
doubt that the two most active members
of this society, who have written a work
on hypnotism, were deceived by the opera
tors and their subjects. Theyl swallowed
Charcot without a question, and yet there
is reason TO doubt the accuracy OF many of
Charcot'S reports.
People will believe these old woman tales
in spite of anything the society may prove
just as people believe in spiritualism after
the exposure OF endless mediums" The
persons who are best qualified to Investigate
ghost stories have too little patience with
them to touch them.