The Washington herald., 1911-03-11
Investigations of the Spiritualist Alliance

The London Spiritualist Alliance, Ltd,
perhaps is the queerest business organ
ization in existence. Though established
as far back as 1884, it has worked prac-
tically and literally 'in the dark" in
vestigating, tabulating, recording, and
photographing spirits, thought FORMS -
wraiths, double personalities, apparitions;
in fact, "spooks" of every description in
job and assorted lots. The alliance has
the finest occult library in the world. 1t
also runs clever weekly paper, called
Light, which has an enormous circula-
ton not only among spiritualists, but
philosophers, students. and other think
ers who wish to Seep informed concern
ing spirit phenomena.
1t goes without saying that in ''spook-
land there are fakes frauds, and
tricksters galore. But woe to the pro-
feSSiOnal medium who engages in con-
troversy with the Spiritualist Alliance in
London, thinking to achieve an easy
triumph over the credulOus souls of this
organiza ton
In the seanCc room OF the Spiritualist
Alliance there has just been constructed
cage little larger than a telephone
booth, the four sides and top Of which
are composed of the finest mosquito net
ting. The frOmeS of this cage are
screwed together by deep thumb screws,
and when once the medium is inside 1t
would be. utterly impossible. without col
fusion on the part of some one outside.
TO produce any phenomena of a tricky
character. The simplicity of this scheme
is it's greatest recommendation. 1t IS
nothing more nor less than net cage
built up of four panels and top. Dur
ing a seance the cage is placed in the
center Of room and is surrounded on
all sides bv members of the committee
Of the alliance, who perform the tests.
The medium is placed inside this cage
and literally screwed in The cage Itself
Is screwed to blocks placed in the floor.
Many mediums have been able to per
form wonderful feats when shut up he
hind a pair of curtains. The curtains
have hulged Out' and done all sorts of
queer things, but there always has been
question in the minds Of certain
skcptiCs as to why these curtains have
acted in this strange manner. The me
dunn has not. as a rule. been Nlslbl"
to the Sitters at all times, and this Is
where the element Of doubt has Crept
in With the cage here spoken of, how
ever, it is quite easy to see the medium
at all times, and even photographs may
be taken through the net.
At most sceances. spirits are supposed
to come out and walk about among the
audience. but there always is a doubt
whether 'spOOks'' claiming to he sisters,
cousins, and aunts are not the medium
rigged up to personate the departed.
OF course. there have been cases where
the curtains of the cabinet have been
drawn. and where the medium has been
cit in N tho
cupied by the cabinet, while the spook
is stalking abroad. SpOOkS always
stalk abroad" ny the way. 1t is far
more creepy than just walking, you
know.
For some time past. the London Spirit
ualiSt Alliance has concentrated on the
problem of revising simple method for
giving mediums the chance they want
to exhibit their powers Expert con-
jUrers. who have been able to produce
marvellous "materializations such as
spirits, flowers. birds, and other things.
in the seance room, have acknowledged
themselves incapable Of producing the
same results in the "spoOk cage, which
now awaits any medium who prOffers
himself for examination ny the council
of the Spiritualist Alliance.
The weekly journal devoted to the spir
itualist cause called Light" circulates
widely among the 5000 prOfcSsed spir-
itUdlists in England. and gives its col
umns up to sCathing indictments and eX-
posures Of mediums who attempt TO ham
boozle the public. CLriously enough. spir-
itualists are supposed to represent a type
of the CredulOuS in human affairs. where
as most members Of the Spiritualist Al
lance seem to demand reasonable tests
and sensible applications Of all the curl
Gus phenomena presented by modern
spiritualism.
The alliance in spite nf its strange vO-
cation. may be described as a lively con-
Germ. It occupies a suite Of several large
rooms in a big building at 10 St. Martins $