New-York tribune., 1910-01-14
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.
DIR. FUNK ON sPlRlTIsM.
Editor of The Tribune.

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: Kindly permit me to set myself
right in your columns. Within the past
three weeks 1 have received many letters
and score of newspaper clippings touch
ing matter In supposed interviews with
myself which seem TO have been given
unusual publicity-reaching me just now
from the far South and from the West as
far as San Francisco. One clipping gives
page colored picture in which appear,
as the editor graphically puts 1T, with my
eyes glued to a telescope studying the
stars as my future abode urged thereto
by some 'little bright spirit" Several
others, one from Pittsburg paper. an
other from Buffalo and still another from
Chicago. say that ! believe that souls
when they leave the body straightway
forget their earthly ties and fit from star
to star" Other clippings have it that I
"spend much time In searching with
microscope and telescope the nature Of
the spirit world"--tlis in the way Of
psychic research.
All such talk might possibly be Of some
slight value to the world If 1t were true
that I said it. The unfortunate thing
about 1.-THE one thing that makes me
care--is that many bereaved persons with
tender hearts and more or less weak
minds are needlessly distressed and look
to wrong sources for comfort.
That telescope picture is a fake. II IS
puerile nonsense to talk about seeing
heaven or a spirit by any physical magni-
flying glass Of whatever power; as we'll talk
about seeing a noise or hearing color
Is II g matter of surprise that I should
find it profitable TO spend some rest mo-
ments in the study of the stars? 1t is a
hf--,7 1--+,. +s.t,..
huge worlds-tens Of thousands Of times
larger than this one-are flying a score OF
miles second. and that the earth is like
tremendous auto in which we are whirl-
ing about the sun-some five hundred
millions Of miles-once every 365 days,
hours. As minutes, Is seconds! That
fact, If thought of until it gets into our
consciousness, means growth. Why
should II surprise any one to be told that
there is more pleasure TO the square inch
in a telescope or microscope than In any
$4,000 automobile? a real glimpse Of the
astronomical universe and a conception
that we are part of it, and that the power
behind it all is our Father, tends TO give
a self-respect that helps us TO despise
mean things As Tennyson would put 1t,
we are too apt TO miss being great for
fear of being great
Certainly. / believe that if we die we
shall live again. possibly in other bodies,
and 1t may be on other plateaus Of this
earth: and it may be that other stars will
be our home some time in that "one far
off divine event" In the Fathers house
there are many mansions, and there is
plenty of time in eternity for many things
to happen. But none Of us know these
things sCientifcally-not yet It may be
that spirit communication is a fact but
TO my mind such communication has not
as yet been demonstrated. Alfred Russell
Wallace and Sir Oliver Lodge think that
they have obtained on this point scientific
facts satisfactorily to themselves. and so
thought DR. Frederic Meyers and DR..
Richard Hodgson, and so thinks DR.. Hvs-
lop.
The proof. while not demonstration TO
myself. is sufficient 10 make me sure that
our American scientists will soreiy blum
der If they do not take advantage of the
presence of such a one as Eusapta
Pailadino to prove or disprove what Lon,-
broso and Richet thought that thew
proved through her. What are scientists
for except to detect facts and interpre+
their meaning to the rest of rs moor
mortals?
Let us remember it is quite certain
that the greatest of all truths are In the
beyond and are unseen, and that the
greatest OF all scientific achievements is
to find out how to cultivate the acreage
or intellect and spirit in each of US II
is easier and far less important TO grow
Millionaire than well developed soul,
and soul growth is something far more
worth while Do not poke fun at IL
Diogenes. when told that the people were
derlding him, replied, But 7 am not de-
rlded. And let US never forget that il
is one thing to wish TO have the truth
on our side. and quite another to wish 70
De on the side of truth. Only truth is
logical and 1t alone can win In the end
New York. Jan. IL 1870 TX FrrNK