River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1908-04-02
SPIRITiSM.

| WIN Cn0 most IdmeUCdDI0 Q0luSlOu
/ Which?
Ones mere opinion amounts to
naught unless that opinion is based
upon a most careful, painstaking and
unbiased investigation. Even then, the
result of that opinion is wholly, as 1t
necessarily must be, from the investi-
| gators point Of view. 1t is the weigh
ing of the evidence that constitutes
the proof
After a thorough and unbiased in
vestigation extending over more than
= quarter of a century; an investiga-
ton including every phase Of spiritism
extant, have been led, step by step,
to the following conclusions, viz:
1. 1 believe in the alleged phe-
nomena of spiritism, but not in the al
/ legged cause.
2. That every true manifestation of
spiritism may be accounted for upon
purely scientific grounds.
3. That the phenomena are not due
to or ever dependent upon outside in
telligences.
4. That there is no valid evidence
whatever that spirits of the dead have
ever communicated in any manner
with the living.
5. That not all spirit mediums are
| frauds, but all spirit mediums that are
not frauds are self-deceived when at
tributing either their power OF their
information to spirits of the dead
6. That clairvoyance and clairaudi-
ence are legitimately within the sphere
of psychic phenomena, but are wholly
independent of disembodied spirits.
z. That premonitions and impress
sions are God-given gifts to all His
children.
In 1874, during my investigation of
what was then designated as spirit
ualism (spiritism), / had the pleasure
of meeting the man Ca spiritualist)
who had the distinction of having
given the first public lecture ever heard
on this subject.
These seances, being of a private
character, were the more interesting
and with less likelihood of fraud and
furnished a more satisfactory OppOr-
tunity for careful investigation.
AS now look back over these inter-
vening years I can see clearly whereas
at that time Il saw, as through a glass,
darkly."
1t may not be out of place to state
that at that time and for many years
thereafter | was, in consequence of
many wonderful and unaccountable
personal experiences, a believer in
spiritism; but (and 1 want that word
but fully emphasized) a believer
with a mental reservation as to the
cause of the phenomena. l have al
ways been thankful for that shadow of
doubt; for, in later years, it proved
to be 1.-The pillar of cloud by day" and
"the pillar of fire by night" which led
me safely out of the wildness of ignor-
ance and superstition.
Ever since childhood I have been an
"impressionist," and those impress
sions, having been verified, were the
cause of my early and continuous in
vestigations. 1t was years before /
learned to distinguish the one Esprit
ualist) from the other (impressionist) !;
but having distinguished have learned,
also, TO discriminate.
In the winter of 1899, in Cleveland,
O., 1 had the pleasure and the honor
of meeting the late DR.. Thomson Jay
Hudson. In the many interviews that
followed the first meeting we ex-
changed notes" on our observations
and experiences along the lines Of
psychic phenomena.
w. 10 rT0f.icn hot
had been travelling on parallel roads
for nearly so years. Our conclusions,
in the main, were identical; especially
regarding "spiritualism" and hypnot-
ism. We differed in a few minor
points, each looking from his own
viewpoint; therefore, we agreed to dis
agree.
1 shall now take up, one by one, the
defense of each plank in the platform
forming the basis of my argument as
hereinbefore stated.
1. 1t may be thought strange that
anyone could or would accept the phe-
nomena Of "spiritism" after so many
years of faithful study; Or, having &C.
cepted the phenomena, they would also
accept the cause.
Many persons have said to me that
they could find out all there is in "spir-
itism" in about % minutes instead of
as many or more years. Possibly so:
|. e.. all that their prejudice would allow
them to investigate.
Because every phase of spiritism
can be faxed is no assurance that it is.
There are honest and conscientious
mediums Tin the minority, I will ad-
mit), but they are not conscious of the
origin of their power. They attribute
il, in all sincerity, to departed spirits.
Why? Because they have been so in
formed and having accepted the in
formation it has become a verify in
consequence of the auto-suggestion.
AS has been stated in previous ar
ticle, che subjective mind is amenable
to suggestion. 1t will reason deduct
lively from any premise given and then
give back to the objective mind the
result of that reasoning. If the premise
is wrong the conclusion will be wrong
You can repeat an untruth so often
that eventually you, yourself, will be-
lieve it is true.
If you want proof as to the amena-
bility of the subjective mind of the
medium to a suggestion from the sit
ter, and further proof of the power of
| o,,focuooacfionc of fba r11ndiuu IN her