The Washington herald., 1909-01-10
PSYCHIC RESEARCH
TO SOLVE FUTURE
Prof. James Ii. HySlOp Lee
lures at G. w. Z.
SCIENCE STRIPS ALL MYSTERY
Speaker Says Skep4ics Must Be Met
on Own GrOwn-ArEumeBts of Ma
tcrialism Cnn Be Made to Serve
PsychiSts - Intellect Rules world.
Four Women Graduates.

As the great pledge which the future
offers in the solving Of the mystery OF
the immortality Of the soul, Psychic
research was dealt with seriously and
exhaustively by Prof James H. Hyslop.
who formerly held the chair Of psychol-
Ogy in Columbia University. and is now
secretary Of the American Society Of Psy-
chical Research. in the auditorium OK
George Washington University last night
Not as an expose Of frauds. not as an
exploitation OF stray and vagrant clair
v0yance. but as a scholarly lecture on the
substantial truths which modern spirit
ualism has brought TO light. is the de-
/ Iiverance Of the New York scientist 70
/ be considered. At the outset he de-
clared his impotence with the counter
fe!ts who masquerade IN the name OF
spiritualism, and ignored the popular mis-
I conceptions OF the subject
| The lecture was held under the auspices
I OF the women graduates OF Cornell Uni
versity. and a large array Of men ana
I women Of scientific tastes, some OF whom
/ have gained distinction in the world OF
research and learning. was present
Many Scientists Present
ct wasn't merely the doctrine OF the
immortality OF the soul which has given
/ Christianity its great sway for eighteen
/ centuries said Prof. HyslOp- 1T was
not merely the doctrine; II was the living
faith. blind, II you please to take it that
way. but a great living faith which
s1rmounted the burden OF life
Now science has stepped IN 20 break
I down blind. unreasoning faith Facts
stripped OF mystery and vagueness are
required to maintain that living faith,
The mind Is breaking down the old bar
riers. More and more ne are confronted
with the necessity Of meeting the skeDuc
on his own ground. It Is not impossible
20 make the arguments OF materialism
I serve our own ends
throughout history We find that the
intellectual classes have determined the
destiny Of nations and have ruled the
world. Il this be true. Il is essential
10 hold the intellectual classes 70 the
support OF Christianity. To do that
means that enthroned reason must be
satisfied: doubt on the score OF apparent
clashes between the world facts and the
faith must be banished.
For fifteen centuries = was enough
10 quote the authority OF the Bible. 70 de-
clare intuition. IN support of the i'm
mortality o. the soul But believe that
tine is past. We must prove that The
modern doctrine Of the conservation
energy. an indubltable fact In the physical
world. applies 10 the psychic and The
spiritual as vel"
Psychic Influences.
Prof. Hyslop then launched upon bis
proofs OF Is chic Influences that react
the world from another sphere. These
were exhausting and convincing. but th'
savant declared they scarcely scratched
the surface Of the complete record o.
. his own experience with psychic phe
! nomena. He related messages received
b from his brother. his father. and othel
relatives which verified facts in his owl
: experience and also many concerning hi
. family history which were outside hi
persoraI Experience. but which he sub
! aea1entIy verified These Instances wer,
: authentic and beyond the possibility o
I fraud
, He dwelt upon the history OF Mrs
Piper. the famous medium OF ffteel
y years ago. who was discovered by Prot
? William James. Of Harvard He depre
I Gated the confusion IN the public min
2 regarding her especially that oonnectin
e her identity with that OF Mrs. Pepper
= Vanderbilt
{ 7 regret 70 say that a large porto
= OF the open-minded public IS incline
-
e sages which We receive from the spiri
I world" continued Prof Hyslop. IN
triviality is a fact. but It exists for 2
obvious reason CnminOlogy as well a
common sense teaches that for purpose
Of Identification q small Insignificant &c
tail IS Of far more value than 4 large
vague fact II a man were stranded j
! Chicago and wired 70 friends for fund.
a he would likely prove himself BY a sea
:, on the face. q turn OF phrase. OF II
Z brand OF cigar he smokes. He woul
i not branch out with a dissertation 0
} the bettermeut OF social conditions.
The same with, mediums. We believ
that one cold, concrete fact. coming, az
parentIy. out OF the void, viii DO NOR
; 10 establish the permanency Of medium
4 istic communication than a myriad c
e lofty ethical conceptions from departe
spirits Scientists would laugh at US
We could not present tangible evidence {
our claims. We have scores Of cOmmun
cations through mediums dealing wit
the life beyond but We Will Withhold
= them from a doubling public for ii
i present.
- Exposition OF Theories.
p, Prof Hyslop made a profound expos
: ton Of the two dominant theories explain
z Ing the data gathered by the Society {
u PsvchicaI Research. The true scientif
spirit has been 70 verify the facts beyOu
I. all cavn and leave their Interpretation |
= the future The theories are the 81
n called spiritistic and the telepathic. tt
latter IS not generally accepted. becau:
: # relies too much upon the strong ar
: Of coincidence. DR.. Hyslop accepts Il
re spiritistIc theory, although this has n
s been deineated on any scientific basis
far
Is IF nature is so careful to preserve Il
= atom and defes any power to destrC
= one iota Of matter, cannot she be trustt
?. 10 preserve personality with the san
* carer asked the Savant. in ciOSin
WHY should be interested in KNOWN
J. nv ancestor was an ape If 1 have Z
4 interest to know the life beyond?''
'el Vassar Girls ReveI on lee