Charlevoix county herald., 1908-04-11
SPIRITISM.

We are here, face to face, with the
greatest truth of the universe, or else
with the most lamentable delusion
Which?
Ones mere opinion amounts to
naught unless that opinion is based
upon a most careful painstaliing and
unbiased investigation. Even then, the
result of that opinion is wholly, as it
necessarily must be, from the investi-
gators point CT view 1t is the weigh
ing of the evidence that constitutes
the proof.
After thorough and unbiased in
vestigation extending over more than
a quarter of a century; an investiga-
ton including every phase of spiritism
eXtant, l have been led, step by step,
to the following conclusions, viz:
/. l 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 name"
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 or 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 Godgiven 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 Ga spiritualist)
who had the distinction of having
given the first public lecture ever heard
on this subject.
These seances, being of 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 | can see clearly whereas
at that time 81 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, believer in
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 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 / have been an
'ilnpressionist," and those impress
sions, having been verified were the
cause of my early and continuous in
designations. 1t was years before |
learned to distinguish the one Esprit
ualist) from the other (impressionisD
but having distinguished have learned,
also, to discriminate.
In the winter of 1899, in Cleveland,
o., had the pleasure and the honor
of meeting the late DIR. 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.
We found, to our surprise, that we
had been travelling on parallel roads
fer nearly 80 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.
shall now take up, one by one, the
defense of each plank in the platform
forming the basis of my argument as
hereinbefore stated.
|. II may be thought strange that
anyone could or would accept the phe-
nomena of "spiritism' after SO many
years Of faithful study; or having ac-
cepted the phenomena, they would also
accept tho cause.
Many persons have said to me that
they could find cut all there is in "spir-
itism" in about % minutes instead of
as many or more years. Possibly so;
l. e., all that their prejudice would allow
them to investigate.
Because every phase Of spirltism
Gan be faxed is no assurance that it is.
There are honest and conscientious
mediums Tin the minority, | will ad-
mit) but they arc not conscious of the
origin Of their power. They attribute
IL, in all sincerity, to departed spirits.
Why? Because they have been SO in