New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-10-26
Non Angli, Sed Angel.


II is all very well for Mr.. Machen to
say that the Angels Of Mons were invented
by him. No one will doubt his word when
nc insists he never meant to deceive any
one That he wrote and published the
story year ago is undoubtedly true, and
that the story was frankly fctional'
though founded on the facts Of the great
retreat, is apparently undeniable.
The mistake Mr.. Machen makes is in
being so sure that the supernatural part
Of the story was embroidery Of his own.
Very possibly he thought it was his own,
but surely what has happened since should
convince him of his error. Only a few
days after the story appeared, as he him
self confesses. the editor of THE Occult
Review" wrote to ask him about the
vision. This shows that even then there
we're doubts in the minds of critics with
what is called a psychic habit of thought.
It is true that Mr.. Machen wrote back to
say that the story was a mere work Of
fancy, but that only shows his ignorance
in psychic affairs.
What cannot be denied is that whether
Mr.. Machen himself believes the story or
not there are hundreds who do. 1t has
been enormously improved in the last
twelvemonth, and what the psychic seek
ers want now is not confirmation but ex-
PLANTATION of the phenomenon. Light"
which is described as "a journal of psy-
chical, occult and mystical research" is
still pulling over the problem in spite Of
Mr. Machen's foolish protest.
The utmost concession that can be made
20 Mr.. Machen is to admit that possibly
The app9ritions were not really angels.
There are some deep thinkers who are
willing tc go so far. One correspondent
of Light" even maintains that angels
could not possibly materialize on a battle
field and that consequently those who were
concerned to overcome "the strOngholds Of
Satanism' were obliged to go about the
business in another way This is how he
explains the thing;
What could they do? Their bodies are
not Of our material, to take up our swords
and. holding them aloft, say, "Thus far
shalt thou come and no farther" to the on
coming foe Nor is the battlefield (Which is
often the very mouth of held place in
which angels could materalize. The stuff
and the harmonious vibrations would be
wanting amid the imbroglio of battle. No;
they used the only weapon possible for
them, and by some great power produced a
bright and shining light that could be visu-
allied by the ordinary physical senses, and
which had an arresting effect on the enemy
It was a wall Of magnetic fire which the
Germans could not approach akin possibly
20 that which was thrown upon Saul Of
farsus when pursuing his evil course and
which threw all his soldiers to the ground.
Mr. Machen had better be resigned. II
he had any experience with psychical re-
searchers he would know that once they
are started there is no turning them back.
From tine to time deluded persons, moved
by conscientious scruples, have confessed
themselves impostors and even gone so
far as to show how they have tricked be-
levers. But your true researcher is never
deceived by these confessions. His invari-
able answer is that the supposed cheat is
psychic without knowing it; that the
deceiver has deceived himself.