Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1905-01-13
A BELIEVER IN SPIRITS
Rev. DR.. Heber Newton De-
clares They Greet the Living.
CLAIMS MEN MAY POSSESS HAL0E
Many SO Called superatitions, Minis-
ter Says, Are Being Proved to lie
Scientinc Facts-Cites Instances In
which Persons Have shown Powers
That Cannot lie Set Aside.

Persons who have not studied care
fully in the line OF psychic" said the
Rev. DR.. H. Heber Newton of New
York in an address before the Ameri-
can Institute for Scientific Research,
have No idea Of the marvellous
ness OF the finds which are being
made in this new realm. The most
striking feature OF our present day is
that one after another OF the beliefs
OF the far past, spread wide among
men. which have been supposed to be
mere superstitions. have been strangely
indicating themselves before the bar
OF reason. at least giving ample cause
to warrant scientific Investigation.
"A generation ago nobody but Il fool
would have been inclined TO believe In
the claims OF the dowser The plain
people have persistcntly believed that
certain men We're gifted with a power
Of locating springs Of water. Now the
Psychlcsl Research society. after care
full investigation, reports that there is
little question as to the fact though
no theory has yet suiliced TO interpret
II.
The middle ages believed that the
saints were surrounded by haios Again
the scientist laughed in his sieeve--if
he was courteous enough not to laugh
openly. Yet Baron Reichenbach show
ed that certain scientists recognized a
In, Tn "A a. th..
earth is now known to be II great mag
net man may also be II good sized one.
'The middle ages also believed that
saints received the imprint OF the
wounds OF Jesus on their hands and
feet-a beautiful superstition, said our
scientists. Now medical scrutiny con-
fesses that the stigmata are facts.
though exceptional facts, to be explain
ed naturally, Of course. as every other
marvel Is to be explained.
"Clairvoyance was nothing but a will
O. the wisp, but 1t also Is now a con-
fessed power Of certain organiza tions.
Mollie Fancher over in Brooklyn, has
proved stronger than the incredulity Of
our savants. Read that charming pic
ture of Joan Of Are by Mark Twain,
and you will admit with him that this
peasant girl. with her powers of clair
audience. hearing her mystic voices. is
fact which defes explanation by our
knowledge up to date.
y know woman Of fine culture and
high character who will not trade her
gift for commercial purposes. but who
has that most remarkable power
known AS psychometry-the power Of
holding a sealed letter in her hand and
giving u diagnosis Of the physical con-
dtion Of the writer and q picture of
his character: Of taking a bit Of stone
from an ancient villa Of Cicero. for eX
ample. the nature Of which Is entirely
unknown to her. and calling up n
vision Of the villa rs it existed In Gle
eros time and Of its owner. She Ia in,
capable Of fraud. and her case Is but
one Of others which | know.
"Mesmerism was duly laughed out
| Of court at the opening Of our century,
and. 10. II is back again, In good stand
ing, Under tie alias OF 'hypnotsm.' SO
one may run ON through, a list Of
| strange, unaecountable. mysterious and
most unbelievable powers Of man lead
ing up to that nightmare Of the dog
matte scientist. spiritism. The belief
In the existence Of unseen spirits and
Of their power Of communication with
us IN the flesh is one Of the oldest.
most widespread and most insistent be.
licfs Of man. and 1t has revived strange
| ly IN our day.
"For the first time in the history Of
man these powers have been scien.
tifchlly investigated in our day. Al
ready tie result is that considerable
number of eminent men of science
have had the courage to avow that. aft.
er allowing for Illusion, fraud and ev-
cry possible hypothesis, Of interpreta-
ton, Trey have been driven up to the
ultimate solution Of the problem-thc
belief In the actual communication of
the spirits Of those whom we call dead
with the living.