The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1907-06-27
STUDY OF rSxcH1o ou1n


ntsaage PhsneDena Attrasffn9 ~
tsnfien 81 Many People.
Our present era has been described
- one Given chisay to naterialisn
yet there nevsr was Z t.e when q
many thoughtful persons we're engaged
IN the study Of pvchtc phenomena o.
when there were 20 many societies o..
ganized to prosecute psychicaI research.
The question Of the nature Of spirit Il
being investigated from many different
points Of view. Physicians attack the
problem from their own side, seeking
light In the study Of brain, nerves, etc.
as well as In phenomena of somnam-
Dulfsm, hypnotiGn. double personality
and the like.
Societies for psychicaI research In
this country and England number In
their membership some Of the most
eminent names of modern science-man
who make 1t their task to slit grain
from the chaff of reported apparitions,
instances of telepathy, alleged commhn-
ications with the dead. etc. There Is
large literature on the subject Of
"SpirItism"-a different thing from
Spiritualism.
The latter has become q creed with
many persons, who take their belief
seriously, though it has been notably
abused by pretenders who give
"seances' and use conjurers' tricks to
impress the unwary. Mind reading,
suggestions" etc, are accepted by
many who have no theory to account
for them.
The recent announcement that ex-
perimenters In New England have as
certained that the soul weighs half an |
ounce, ridiculous as 1t Is illustrates |
the prevailing disposition to apply the |
experimental method to the elucidation |
OF questions Of spirit The Materials
tic tendency of the time demands ocu-
lar proof Of things the most subtle
Recent revelations of the properties of
radioactive substances have strength
,ned this tendency, but have brought
and Spiritualists closer to-
'ether by showing that matter consists
apparently Of infinitely minute aggre-
cations of ether which are endowed
With wonderful properties.
Materialists used to laugh at the con-
ention of schoolmen that thousands of
pirits could dance on the point of a
eedle, but the calculations of Profes-
ors Thompson, Soddy and others seem
o show that the point of a needle
'ould afford ample space for numerous
rganized beings consisting each of mill
ons of atoms. Matter, In short, has
cen refined almost to the quality of =
brit, as the latter was once conceived, p
, that materiaIlsts are more ready
ian formerly to accept a SpirItuaIistic
1planation of phenomena.
Faith In invisible causes Is accord
gly reviving and persons of ultra
ientffc bias will be found entertain
6 views once deemed highly supersti-
ous There Is much folly and some
aud, no doubt, in various popular
anifestations OF the revived interest
occult matters. The limits between
e possible and impossible are ignored
d the anxious inquirer after Spirit Il
lie truth often has a trick of slight
hand palmed off on him.
The magician and the hoodoo doctor
II flourish upon the credulity of their | .
mirers. Not that there Is not great i
tue In mental Suggestion" in this =
1rasthenic age. Imaginary diseases
Iuire imaginary remedies. The regu-
physician finds many of his pa cal
nts cured by bread pills, the pill be- ito
something to fix the eye upon, ger
lie confidence In the doctor does the ise'
TX. The huge boluses of our grand
hers are out of fashion. -,
iedicine has lost It's mysterious +"
yer and we want more subtle rem Gin
IS. Little by little we are finding did
that abstinence from drugs and saie
nv ne e1orc,s. n, +bo thir
- $500, :. neis
health. AS respects Spiritual health,
ever, the problem, with all our ex-
remains substantially n, ~,
re 1t was before the age of isms be-
Sun. ali