The sun., 1908-01-10
SCHOLARS IN SPIRITIS.M.
4 PsSchOIOgIst's Opinions OC Academic
Believers In Mediums.
E. ". Scripture in the IndepeRdeRt.


E. ". Scripture in the IndepeRdeRL
cannot here enter upon any discussion Of
the usual phenomena Of spirtualism; they
have one and all, been shown to be tricks
tricks 80 clever that II Is well worth an
occasional dollar TO be taken in by them.
Does any educated person still believe
in these things? Professor" Camille Flam-
marion, director OF the Observatory of Joyisy.
does Il purpose to show in this book what
truth there is in the phenomena OF table
turnings, table movings and table rappings.
in the communications received therefrom. In
ievita tions that contradict the laws OF grav-
ity SC" "Mediumistic experiences might
form land doubtless soon will form a chap
ter in physics. He gives photographs OF
tables suspended in the air by the mystic
force OF Eusapia Paladino. The medium COM
mands a spirit" to raise the table. This
being appears to come into existence and
then become non-eXistent as soon as the
experiment is ended"
Professor Crookes, the celebrated chemist
believes in the movement Of heavy substances
when at a distance from the medium, in the
rising of tables and chairs on the ground
without contact with any person. in human
beings rising and floating about, in the aD-
pearance Of disconnected hands either self
luminous OF visible by ordinary light. in =
bell passing through the wall Of room and
ton of a lifelke figure. Katie. who sobbed.
talked shook hands and even submitted 70
a "gentlenIanly" embrace. Professor Nlil3si
believes in seif-playing mandOlins, in pianos
that jump up and down, &c. Professor Pal
pieri felt himself embraced by his dead
u kiss. Professor Richet believes in anything
that comes along.
voyant" persons who can perceive objects
scenes at a distance and without any OF
The normal impTssSi9'Ins .'I o. Sense; So 70 & the Sp
in dreams that reveal events happening at q
distance, in telepathy or the direct communi-
gazing. or the "supernormal" acquisition OF
knowledge by looking at a bright object. In
Sere seems 70 q be Vsry little m that he
man, Professor" Baldwin. the white Ma
the matter is supernormal" and to indicating
that some mysterious force is AZ Tork whose
nature we do n not S YET s5 Know 1and tor whose
But why do the professors still believer
Let US be Just they don't. Our Of all this
virchow, R0ntRen. Behrins and the thousands
OF other great namesA Dr.. Funk can hnd
only Ten 70 eniGSn ,S. Ss ,brs SeeEeTs y rs, n thes
German and not a Frenchman Of prominence.
OF the Englishmen, the famous chemist
careless experiments as soon as he leaves his
own domain The three Americans we viii
why do these few remsinders believe con-
traTy TO all evidence?
study OF their Characters VIII show the
reasons. One Of them. 4 professor OF psy-
chiatry. has written books on insanity. genius
and criminality that have been brilliant.
startling and original. bur in every respect
utterly devoid Of scientific worth; every theeis
proved by him could just az we'll have been
disproved by the very facts he collected.
Another is a professor OF physiology Ia q
world famed university No kinder. simpler,
more charming men ever lived full Of en-
thusiasm md ambition to discover some great
truth. his very sincerity and simplicity render
him An easy prey TO the clever schemer. I
have seen him after test OF a musical
prodigy. clasp the child TO his breast with
enthusiastic tears-WhereAs the audienca had
seen the mothers tricks. ~
A university life IL IN some respects q
hat OF a monastery: the inmates are tt q
great degree protected from the evil world
outside. The standards Of ethics are higher,
and there is greater faith in ones fellow men
Every swindler knows that a college professor
Is usually an easy mark. II IL only natural
that amOnR such men there are q few who
are caught by the spirituaistic and telepathio
humbugs-and once caught In print. with trus
academic obstinacy. never back down on what
they have said.