The San Francisco call., 1897-03-25
HUNTING FTER
THIN GHOSTS
The Mysteries of Haunted
Houses Will Be Soon
Revealed.
California Psychical Society
Dalving Into the Secrets
of Nature.
Experiments Proving the Existence
of Animal Magnetism and It's Detec-
ton by Hypnotic d Subjects.

The Californian Psychical Society is
now ready for active work. Since its in
corporation in November, 1895, 1t has had
many unfavorable turns on fortunes
wheel. It's membership ran up to about
100, but ske epticism on one side and apathy
on the other seriously impeded progress,
and it was found necessary to prune off
the dead limbs and give the tree of knowl-
edge fresh start.
The society has now an active member
ship OF eighty-five searchers into the oc-
cult. They are earnest and industrious
and will, no doubt, add much that is
valuable to the literature of the mystic.
According to the circular, the society was
organized to enable its memb bers to pursue
systematic studies in the fields of meta
physics and psychology and particularly
to investigate the psychical powers latent
in man. It proposes to cond uct sy stematic
investigations into the nature of numer-
Gus classes OF imperfectIy understood
phenomena, physical and psychical, to
account for which generally recognized
hypothesis has not yet been presented by
physical science. The announcement is
also made that in its methods of research
it will follow as far as possible the lines
pursued so successfully by the Society for
Psychical Research of London, Eng, and
the Society for Psychical Research of
Cambridge, Mass.
The work laid out for the society is on the
following topics:
An examination of the nature and ex-
tent of any influence which may be exert
ed by any mind upon another, otherwise
than through the recognized sensory chan
nels The study of hypnotism and mes
mer1sm and an inquiry into the alleged
phenomena of clairvoyance. An inquiry
as to the existence of relations hitherto
unrecognized by science, between living
organisms and magnetic and electric
forces, and also between living and inani-
mate bodies. By investigation of reports
resting on strong testimony, OF appari-
tions occurring at the moment OF death or
otherwise, and OF disturbance IN hous es
reputed to be haunted. An inquiry into
spirituaIistic phenomena. Systematic
studies of the works OF great teachers and
thinkers on psychical and metaphysical
subjects.
This is an extensive programme and in
wolves an almost incalculable quantity OF
research, but the work will be made easy
because OF the reports made some years
ago by the London Society for Psychical
Research and by the Boston society. The
California organization proposes to start
where the others left off and to clear up il
possible any doubtful points as to the
nature of hitherto unexplained phe-
nomena.
The headquarters are now in 625 and
526 Parrott building on Market street,
and suite Of rooms for the purposes of
investigation. The office is kept open
from P. M. to P. NJ. and on Monday and
Friday evenings from 8 to TO- During
those hours the librarian, Miss Alice Cur
ney Mahony, will be in attendance.
During the past month the society has
been experimenting with hypnotic phe-
Brown and NJ. V. Samuels, being expert
hypnotizers. 1t is expected that out of
these hypnotic experiments may be de-
veloped important data with reference to
clairvoyance.
Miss Mahony told CALL reporter yes
terday Of an interesting test made by the
society about a week ago. Six ordinary
drinking glasses were filled with water,
and one Of the glasses vas magnetized by
Mr.. Samuels. The magnetization was
produced by Mr.. Samuels throwing his
hands down toward the glass, the object
of the experiment being to discover
whether human magnetism was fact In.
dependent OF any hypnotic suggestion
given to the subject.
in such manner that the subject could
not distinguish it from the others. Then
the subject was brought in and directed to
find it. He took sip out OF each glass as
he went along, but when he came to the
one which had been magnetized he de-
clared that he could not drink out OF 1t be-
cause it had the odor of rotten beer. Yet
the water in that glass was the same as
that in the others and there was no odor
apparent in it so far as any OF the men,
bers of the society could detect by SMELL
ing it.
Another interesting experiment was the
finding by the subject OF a magnetized
card out OF deck of fifty-two
Other experiments tending toward the
same end will be proceeded with until
much valuable data will be collected.
The committee on thought transference
will begin work next week and will pro-
ceed to develop whatever psychic ability
there may be in the mem bers.. Clairvoy-
ance and clairaudlence will be the princi-
pal subjects of the committees investiga-
lions. In all the work the plan OF the
London society will be followed.