New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-02-17
DIR. HYSLOP To SEEK HELP.
WANTS MONEY FOR INVESTIGATION OF
PsYCHICAL PHENOMENA

DR. James H. Hyslop. professor of logic and
ethics Columbia University whose recent
Investigations IN spiritualsm have attracted at
tentIOn. informed a Tribune reporter last even
ing at his home No $40 West hundred
and-forty- -ninth-st. that the Society for Psychi-
cal Research could use $4,000 q year II its in
vestigations, and thar an appeal would soon be
made 10 the public for contributions to that
amount
We have a large census Of haliucinatious'
the professor went on TO say. which We are
unable a. present 70 work up for publication
because We haven't the means or the men for
the purpose We wish to investigate all types
Of haIucination. especially apparitions. and one
of the most important lines Of investigation
would be the study os the Authorizations Of the
insane and their conditions, and would include
auromattsms. condolences and apparitions. Tn
doUhtedly. many persons are put in insane
asylums who are simply psychicaI. They are
really sane. yet need perhaps 10 be watched
because their condition is abnormal but the
phenomena should be studied. because OF the
coincidence and meaning that might be found in
them.
For instance Dr.. Weir AIitcheIrs father had
an insane patient, with lucid intervals. whose
wife died one night. The doctor called the next
morning TO tell him the news. when the patient
said, Ny wife was here last night and told me -
On that night. when an attendant went 10 see
the patient. he was reprOached for disturbing
the patient while he was talking 70 his wife. as
he said Now, this mans insanity was con
neCted with some sort Of conditions that gave
him 'cOincideut phenomena, and the insane
asylums should be ransacked in order 10 study
these phenomena, although out OF a hundred
thousand insane persons there might be only
with psychical peculiarities- Planchette
should also be studied II is valuable for study
ing unconscious muscular action.
We ought 10 have d number OF investigators,
with q central head The last census OF the
society Of halIUcinations in England and Wales
was 300 and here are several hundred haIIuci-
nations in this country which We haven't the
money to investigate. Il costs about 81 800 q
year for Mrs. Piper the Boston medium. She is
on z salary regulated by rhe number OF sitIings
she gives These are paid for by persons who
have the sicungs Ny own sitttngs were paid
for By a friend OF mine and by myself Mrs.
Piper relies on these sittlngs for q living. Her
husband was stricken with paralysis few days
ago.
"Objectors TO The results Of these investlga-
tons want beautiful idylic language and say
the incidents the more valuable for scientific
purposes. X IS only trivial incidents that VIII
prove personal Identity and that is the whole
problem. As soon as my report s published IN
England an appeal for support 10 the extent
OF SJOooo a year viii Oe issued 70 the public
We want 10 investigate every thing relating 10
psychical phenomena that seems TO require ex-
PLANTATION. I have no convictions the sub
Ject that could not surrender tomorrow. We
can explain the phenomena I have presented
on the theory OF continued existence after death
If any other theory can be shown explain
these phenomena ] viii accept il
The Rev DR. Morgan Dix. rector Of Trinity
Church and a prominent trustee OF Columbia
University seen ny Tribune reporter last
evening ar his home, No. p West Twenty-ffth-
St. and asked whether Professor Hysop's invss-
legations would affect his relations 20 the uni
versiry and whether the trustees would take
any action IN the matter The Doctor replied.
7 do not see why should interfere. A man
may take up a fad and run II into the ground
but that does not commit the university. Il is
his own idiosyncrasy and is OF no importance.
The trustees Of Columbia University would
make themselves ridiculous II they took any
action in this matter. II a wants 10 in
vestiRate spiritual phenomena he should be al
lowed 10 do so as long as ne teaches what he is
expected 70 teach in his particular chair
Personally I believe solely what the Church
teaches me on the state OF the departed and
their present condition. and everything outside
the teaching Of the Church on catholic escha-
tology consider OF very little importance Out
side OF that Is only human speculation possibly
OF amusing interest to the age, but wholly with
out value whatever. Unless the Investigations
interfere with Professor Hyslops professional
duties, ] should not suppose they would even be
referred TO at our next meeting in March"