New-York tribune., 1906-05-20
MESSAGES FROM THE DEAD.
The POsthumOus Letter a Scientific Test Of
Possibility.

What is really important. in regard 70 this v-,1
interesting question of possible cOmmunicato1s
from the dead. is not TO ask whether they are sooe
or bad for mankind. but simply whether they can
be shown to take place. And of this We are Sun
awaiting definite and irrefragabe proof There sFs
Of course. countless alleged cases in which Iss-
sage has been received from deceased friend q
relative. whether through medium or By aull-
matte writing-with pianchette or OtherWise-ol q
a dream or waking vision. But as YET none :.
these has satisfied the scientific inquirer altno-s-
many peOple-like ArchdeacOn Colley-are Guns
honestly convinced that they have received suea
communications.
In order TO satisfy the test OF science, such eo5;
municatiOn fulfil two three simple 9, cSnS.
message. caDable OF permanenr record The mere
appaTitiOn OF a dead friend is not sufhcient ~
cause we can never be sure that II IS not a - -.
lucinatiOg due some abnormal state OF tne ~ w
received must state some fact Wnlch lIsSl =
BILE OF proof. (secOnd) was within the knoE.sssss
Of the alleged sender tthirdl be demons E 4.
not 70 have been known To the recelNetf ~ -
probably within the scope Of fortunate g%stisrs $500
as TO the future state of dsemboded spirits w. -
form by far the greater part or the IecC 49, s 10
sageS received by mediums. and as Yet tnels tnels-Ss y
absolutely convincing case in which sutn = @,,-r-I1i-
cations from &c. p" are understood 10 nave -
The late F. w II. Myers was the nt nIst " u he
out that the time was ripe for eSpeIiiSes NJ Svoy
nads on Ihese lines: WY WY sho~ sa ~sIar-ine point
OF a long experiment. He suggested thaS SSo-i Soi
leave behind him the materials for stSsisssS ~,
test OF his future ability TO comuunicate WIZ -
surviving friends. - ,,x-7
''The. simplest PLAN he sad lis 20 write es,sS eS,S
some sentence eUnbOdying an idea or name ~, a
YOU feel II probable that you VIII renlegLees, -
you remember anything and then 20 sea- .l-ssg - is
tencG up in envelope. without cor,ffuiil
TO any person whatever Then label tne slcT slI.T -
'PosthumOuS Letter and send 10, accon
a letter giving name and address. TO the ets,ers
Society for Psychical Research. 90 Hanover - -
London, W. The secretary viii acknoWlo05SS -
ceipt and store tho letter safely, with othes S-
kind IT, then, the writer OF may De many 49,
OfteTWaFd) finds himself capable OF sen0lns ? 80
sage from the other world. let him menton n,sisf
test sentence and try 70 reproduce y. & &tno IRIS
envelope can then be opened and u tnS --orts
message should be found 70 coincide Win - $3.50 -
written therein there will be as good q ~ p-U vase
We can set that that message has aS ~ ~ or1S-
not emanated from any living mind ana 49,. n..s 81
mated. therefore. from some U-liuited .-.--So1s
knowledge, or-which Will seem 70 most ~ ~
more PrOhahle-frOm the surviving mino q
original writer 90. .-,ad
II Is understood that Mr.. Myers himser, - 6S
out this plan. which might be uSetully iulte.oS -
all who take interest in the subject As -,
has not been able TO reproduce hts Oost 49, -
We shall wait with interest to hear Wne.l-S--,~r
HOdgSOn has been more Successful-aS tne 1000
0hOat seem to indicate 90 be the case. r.
successful effort OF this kind would OutNeisS.
the mass OF vague and usually uncheckapls ~ - ~.
menCS which form the bulk OF 'spiTituauStle -
GrafUre-N. .OndOn Mail