The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-04-04

low temperature, the lifting Illusion
the ascribing of habitual acts and menta
cures 10 intelligence when they arr
really due to physical brain activities
ana numerous others
'tO. The brain does much in regula tins
complicated and Intelligent activities
| which is popularity supposed 10 require
,he actual presence OF guiding intelli-
gence. instances OF this have already
oeen given. Others are furnished by the
UNIVERSAL occurrence of sub-consclous as
sociation and expression due purely 10
prain-action, by the phenomena of mus
cle-reading, OF automatic writing, of ta-
ble-tipping and OF the divlning-rod, of
trance phenomena, etc, all OF which are
due to automatic and mechanically work.
| ing brain-activties.
| %. There exist large number of sci
| entihcally well-known and established
facts with which the public is not vet IA
! nlhar Among these is the possibility of
i hyperesthesia, or unusual delcacy of
| sensation, which may give the appearance
or knowledge won in occult ways; OF
suggestion, or the inducing of a person
through arouslng HIS confidence TO ac-
| cept without question facts which Under
other circumstances he would critically
oppose; Of perceptions actually due 10
sensory sources but without a suspicion
that they have actually been aroused
through sensation; of the influence of ex.
pectant attention, conscious or sub-con-
scious on bodily processes and muscular
activities.
"(o). Much may have been the sem
blance or casual connection where no
such connection actually exists The pos
sibitities OF pure coincidence are enor-
nous, and. their occurrence gives rise to
many false theories. especia liyAthrough the
fact that the number and closeness OF the
coincidences Is peculiarly subject 10 un.
conscious exaggeraton. The possibilities
OF the distortions OF events by memory
and observation, OF the actual working OF
h'ts known natural causes, and OF the
occurrence OF pure condolences must be
considered before the nature of a given
occurrence can be nationally judged
"te). The scientific attitude toward ap-
parent;y marvellous occurrences is a very
definite one and the only one iustifable.
IL involves: (a) the careful determination
ofexact facts so far as possible and the ex-
cluston of fallacies OF observation, OF
memory, OF prejudice and OF Inference:
OBJ the acceptance Of supernatural causes
only when natural causes have been clear
ly proven inadequate, a state OF affairs
that has never yet come about nor Is
likely 10 accur; tc) a willingness 10 con-
TESS ignorance and TO suspend Judgment |
when knowledge of the facts is not vet |
adequate to determine the actual expla- |
nation, combined with a justifable conf |
dence In the naturalness OF the explana- !
tion when found
Judged In the light of these principles.
the phenomena of mental cures, OF appar- |
ent telepathy and clairvoyance OF SUBJ
personality, OF so-called spirit-
ualism and OF hypnotism are seen 10 con-
tain no warrant for belief in occult |
forces, special providences, superiority OF |
MIND TO natural law. unreality OF the ma
teriai world and of It's unbreakable laws.
or other mysterious influences All are
clearly understandable the result of
purely natural and scientifically accepted
law. This position, however, while IL
seems at first sight to deny the power
and dignity OF mind. TO assert material
SIN and TO remove all bases for human
responsibility and morality, I'm reality in
'olves none of these consequences. but on
loser examination is seen to include the
'nly basis on which the significance. pow
n and responsibility OF mind can be es-
AT the close OF the lecture a dainty tea
vas served in the sketch room, Mrs How
'rd Richmond presiding at the function.