Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-11-23
SIR OLTVER'S TALKS
WITH SPIRIT WORLD
ARE DOUBTED HERE
Scientists Say They Require
More Proof of Lodges
Reported Communication
With the Dead.

Psychologists of this city were united
In casting doubt today upon statements
made in a lecture by Sir oliver Lodge
president of the Society for Psychical
Research, who declared that he has con-
versed with friends who had died.
The statements to which they take ex-
ception are as follows:
what 1 say is based on definite scien-
tifc grounds l say 1t because l know
that certain friends of mine still evist'
because I have talked to them. Com
munication is possible, but one must obey
the laws to find out the conditions. 1
do not say 1t is easy, but 1 say 1t is
possible.
III tell YOU that these people still take
an interest in the things that are going
on: that they still help us to know
more things than we do, and that they
are able from time to time to communi-
cate with us"
sir oliver stated further that once per-
sons realized consciousness was some
thing outside the mechanism IT made use
Of they realized survival OF existence
was the simplest thing. II is unreason-
able that the soul should pass out of eN-
istence when the body is destroyed. he
thinks. and says that persons are not
limited to the few years they live on
earth. but continue to exist after physical
death.
DOCTOR FURNESS' OPINION
In commenting on these statements, DR.,
William II. Furness. son of the late Dr.
Horace Howard Gurness, said today:
''Personally l do not believe that COM
munIcatlon with the dead is possible. but
any statement made by Sir Aliver Lodge
must be respected. for he is strictly a
scientific man. and would make no state
ment of fact in which he did not believe
implicitly"
Prof. Morris Jastrow, Jr, of the Uni
versity of Pennsylvania. said OF Sir
oliver Lodges statements:
"The statements did not surprise me
at all. In his last presidential address
before the Society OF Psychlcal Re
search, delivered in 1918, Sir Oliver
Lodge made statements only slightly
less radical than those issued today,
1--WE who do not agree with his views
have two points upon which we may
base our opinion. We must either ac-
cent the statement as reliable and con-
form our views with those of Sir oliver,
tim of some deception, II we choose
the latter course we are in the difficult
Dosltion OF being unable to say now
this deception has been brought about
VIEWS OF PSYCHOLOGISTS.
DR.. Clarence Il. Ferree. director of
the psychological laboratory at Bryn
Mawr College. pointed out that although
numerous scientists and psychologists
had made statements similar to those
OF Sir Oliver Lodge, no one had ever
given a thoroughly satisfactory demon
stratlon. which proved that commune
cation with the dead was possible.
DR.. I4ghtner Wilmer professor Of psy-
choIosy and director of the psychological
laboratory and clinic of the University Of
Pennsylvania, refused to make any COM
ment regarding the claims Of Sir Oliver
Lodge.
81 shall await Sir divers published
experiences before expressing myself as
t. their scientific value" he said IAN
evidence which 1 have Investigated up
to nov has proved to be unsubstan-
tiated."
DR.. william r. Newhold, professor Of
Intellectual and moral philosophy Of the
University who was a member of the
Adam Seybert psychic Investigation
commission and passed upon the astral
experiences OF Mrs. Piper refused TO dis
ouss the matter
''It Is one which would not properly be
treated IN the press. he said, ANY pub
lie discussion OF the question results in
pee pie losing their heads and rushing TO
spend ihsir money on the spirituallsts."