Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1907-07-13
ETUDY OF PSYCHIC CULTS.
Strange PhenomenR Attracting 40
fentfon OF Many People.

Strange PhenomenR Attracting 40
tentfon OF Many People.
Our present era has been described
as one given chiefly to materialism.
yet there never was a time when so
many thoughtful persons were engaged
In the study OF psychic phenomena or
when there were 30 many societies Or
gained to prosecute psychical research
The question Of the nature of spirit is
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-
bulism, hypnotlsm, double personality
and the like.
Societies for psychlcal research in
this country and England number In
their membership some of the most
eminent names of modern sclence-men
who make it their task to sift grain
from the chaff of reported apparitions.
instances of telepathy. alleged commun-
ications with the dead, etc. There is a
large literature on the subject OF
"Spiritism"-a different thing from
Spiritualism.
The latter has become a 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-
perlmenters In New England have as
, certained that the soul weighs half an
, ounce, ridiculous as 1t Is, illustrates
the prevailing disposition to apply tho
experimental method to the calculation
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
ened this tendency, but have brought
materialists and Spiritualists closer to-
, gether 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-
h tention of schoolmen that thousands OF
p spirits could dance on the point of 4
= needle, but the calculations of Profess
J. sors Thompson, Soddy and others seem
e to show that the point of a needle
n would afford ample space for numerous
d organized beings consisting each of mill
e lions of atoms. Matter, In short, has
e been refined almost to the quality OF
spirit, as the latter was once conceived
+ so that materialists are more ready
4 than formerly to accept Spirtualisti'
n explanation of phenomena.
1t Faith in invisible causes is accord
g ingly reviving and persons of ultra
al scientific bias will be found entertain
H. Ing views once deemed highly supersti
VS. tious. There is much folly and SOM
fraud, no doubt, In various popula
manifestations of the revived interes
In occult matters. The limits betweel
the possible and impossible are ignore
III and the anxious inquirer after Spirit
istlc truth often has a trick of slight
X of-hand palmed off on him.
H. The magician and the hoodoo docto
~ still flourish upon the credulity of thei
III admirers. Not that there is not gres
" virtue In mental suggestion" in TIL
~ neurasthenic age. Imaginary disease
20 require imaginary remedies. The reg
Oh lar physician finds many of his pi
nd tients cured by bread pills, the pill b
m. ing something to fix the eye upo
nd while confidence in the doctor does II
nd work. The huge boluses Of our gram
ne fathers are out of fashion
gn Medicine has lost its mysterioI
ar. power and we want more subtle rer
25 edies. Little by little we are hndir
elk out that abstinence from drugs al
plenty OF exercise in the open air a
the true secrets of physical and me
,en tai health. AS respects Spiritual healt
a however, the problem. with all our c
at perimentation, remains substantial