Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-08-16

vi
Y@Si IL heard nowadays, may be roughly
VSEN vet sufficiently described as an
k49 effort to determine by strictly
WS O~@ scientific methods the nature and
EWSR12GM significance of apparitions haunt
A@ZMASN ings sprituaistic phenomena,
f6IQHSI2XW and those other weird occurrences
I6EGSRENE that would seem to confirm the
KAeOENA idea that the spirits of the dead
can and do communicate with the
living. 1t is quite new thing, little more than
a quarter of century old, in fact,-and like all
scientific endeavor is the outgrowth OF many minds
But so far as its origin may be attributed to
man. credit must chiefly be gwen s to Gamor'dge
At the time Sidgwick merely lecturer IN
the university, post gwen him as a reward 1or
his brilliant career as an Undergraduate ne was
knowledge. Philosophy, sociology ethcs econom-
les mathematics the classics,-he made almost the
whole wide field of thought his sphere OF inquiry.
And after awhile as is often the case his learn
ing became too profound for his peace of mind
He had been born and brought up in the faith OF
the religious declaration required OF all members OF
the university faculty. But little by little he te
himself drifting from the moorings OF his youth;
and doubling the truth of the ancient doctrines and
traditions Honestly skeptical but still unwilling
to lose his hold religion, he turned tever1shy to
the study of oriental languages OF ancient ph1loso
phies of history of science, in the hope OF hnd1ng
evidence that would remove his doubts But the
more he read the greater grew his uncertainty,
especially with respect to the vital question OF the
existence and relation of spiritual world to man
kind
Sidewick Gets His Inspiration
WHILE he was still laboring in this valley of
w indecision, Sidgwick visited by a young
man. Frederic w. H. Myers, who had studied under
him a few years earlier, for whom he had formed a
warm friendship. Myers, it seemed, was tormented
by the same scruples that were harasslng him 1t
was his belief he told Sidgwick that the teachings
of the Bible were true-if there existed Spiritual
world which in days of old had been manifest to
mankind,-then such world should be manifest
now. And one beautiful, starlit evening, when they
were strolling together through the university
grounds, he put to his old master the pointed
DO YOU think that although tradition, intuition,
metaphysics have failed to solve the riddle OF the
universe, there is still chance OF solving 1t by
drawing from actual observable phenomena
ghosts spirits whatsoever it may be-valld knowl-
edge as to a world unseen?
Gazing gravey into the eager face of his COM
that was characteristic of him. Sdgwick replied
that he had indeed entertained this thought that,
though not overhopeful of the result he believed
such an inquiry should be undertaken, notwth
standing the unpleasant notorety it would entail
on those embarking in it. Would he, then make
the quest and would he permit Myers to pursue it
by his side? Long and earnestly the two trends
talked together, and when their walk ended, that
December night in 1869, psychic research had at
last come definitely into being
A Scoffer Comes to Their Help
TN the beginning, however, progress was painfully
slow and uncertain: Our methods, as Myers
afterward explained, were all to make. In those
early DAYS we were devoid of precedents of
guidance even of criticism that went beyond mere
expressions of contempt than is now readily con-
Ceived"
1t was realized that mere analysis of alleged
experiences in the past would do that what
needed was rigid scrutiny of present day mani
festations of seemingly SupernOrmal character,
and the collection of mass of we'll authenticated
evidence sufficient to Justify differences and con-
illusions. Earnestly and bravely the friends went
to work, and before long had the satisfaction of