The San Francisco call., 1899-07-23

sertions which they make as to their su-
pernatural powers are all untrue.
AS he made public his conversion to the
belief in spirit existence. return and COM
munication, so he has made public his
later conviction that it was all a wretc led
mistake his part, and that he was de-
ceived or deceived himself through 1t all.
Camille Flammarion has become a spir-
itualistic apostate.
The case Of Professor Hyslop is Of a
dianetrically opposite nature. He was
and is neither a dreamer nor a dweller
among stars. nor enthusiast in any
line. He is a plain, practical, everyday
American, except that he is possessed q
an exceptionally brilliant and investiga-
tive mind and has been fortunate enough
to have every advantage of education and
environment necessary to cultivate 1t to
its highest capacity.
Always skeptical OF everything which
was not susceptible OF material demon
stration, did not agree with known nat
ural laws, or honestly own that it's only
foundation for existence was simple faith,
Professor Hyslop decided some time since
to join the American Society for PsychicaI
Research. his motive seeming to be at the
time TO lend his best endeavors to the
unmasking Of charlatanry and the ex-
posing Of what he considered the auda-
cious humbug Of spiritual seances.
Being an earnest man in all things. Pro
fessor Hyslop devoted himself indefat-
igably to the work he had taken up, and
soon became one of the most executive
and efficient members OF the organization
in the work of which all the civilized
world is deeply interested. His attitude
of mind was such that he could not be
easily deceived even by the most expert
tricksters But at last Professor Hyslop.
like his distinguished fellow searchers
after facts beyond the seas, discovered
medium who met and refuted all his OBJ
iections to the belief of which she is the
exponent, and made him convert here
to. What Eusapia Pa1adtno was to
Camille Flammarion, Mrs. Piper Of Bos-
ton now is to Professor Hyslop. She is
his Moses, leading him out of the wilder
ness of skepticism into the happy land
of certainty and peace.
Mrs Piper herself enjoys the distinc-
ton of being one of the most phenomenal
mediums of the century. She is what IS
known as trance" medium, and has so
far shown extraordinary powers in her
own peculiar line. In the early years Of
her frances her voice was usually con-
trolled by a personality who went under
the self-given name Of Doctor Prinu1t,'
but for some time past she has seemed
Independent of his influence and different
persons have spoken through her in
manner to puzzle even the most stubborn
OF unbelievers.
The communications received through
Mrs. Piper, which have been Of the most
value, are ostensibly from George Pei
ham, at one time an enthusiastic member
of the Psychical Research Society, who
met an accidental and instantaneous
death in the city of New York in Febru-
arv 1892. He was a lawyer by training,
but devoted himself chiefly to literature
and philosophy. Boston had been his
home during nearly all his lifetime, but
for the three years just preceding his
death he had been a resident OF New
York.
Always interested. as all intelligent per-
sons are in the question Of possible fu-
ture life, young Pelham-he was but 81
when he was killed-often discussed the
matter with his friends, always, how
ever taking the position that such hy-
pothesis was not only incredible, but in
conceivable. About two years previous to
his decease, however, he made a solemn
VOW that If he died before his friend DR..
Hodgson and found himself still ex-
isting'' he would certainly return, If it
were possible, and let him know the truth
of the matter.
That promise DR.. Hodgson and Pro-
fessor Hyslop, and many others who were
previously anti-spiritualists. firmly believe
he kept four weeks after his sudden TAX
ing off, and has been keeping ever since.
On March %, 1892 while DR.. Hodgson
and Mr. James Hart. a warm personal
friend of the dead lawyer, were sitting
with Mrs. Piper, she began to speak with
the voice of George Pelham, and after
greeting them warmly proceeded to de-
clare in the strongest terms the fact of
an after existence and explained the man
ner in which he awakened to its reality.
Later Professor Hyslop, also a friend
of Mr.. Pelham, received communications
from him which have had the effect of
convictions of lifetime
and have brought him into the positive
belief that the actual spirit of the lawyer
hasNbeen able to return and has told him
important truths concerning the world
beyond this
The medium while in her frances has
shown the most perfect and intimate
knowledge Of the life of George Pelham,
and has always recognized persons at her
sittings who utter strangers to her
self but who had known OF met George
Pelham in life, calling them instantly by
their names and telling them of circum-
stances known only to themselves and
him. Every friend of Pelham who has
talked with her under these c1rcum-
stances has been entirely satisfied that
it is his own active personality which
carries on the conversation.
Professor Hyslop, astonishing as the
whole affair was to him, was not easily
persuaded of its scientific truth. He at
tended Mrs. Pipers seances from time to
time for a period of several years and
always in an interrogative and doubling
rather than a receptive spirit But at
last his prejudices have been conquere.
and his determined will vanquished He
has become convinced not only of the pos
slnllity, but of the certainty of a spiritual
existence and of direct spiritual commun-
ication, and he declares that henceforth
his mission is to be to spread with tongue
and pen the knowledge that has come to
II Nl6 lV nd iTra a4,1%o
brought with it so much of solace and Of
joy.
Professor Hyslop, the thinker and edu-
Gator. has found and reioices over what
Camille Flammarion, the scientist, has
cast aside as worthless
Which of them has made the mistake
and why? The world looks dispassion-
ately on them both and wonders.