Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-12-19
Says Spirits and
Lifting Commune
Continued From Page One

have given to the public the result of
their researches in matters relating to
the spirit world, has caused the present
great awakening.
my correspondence has increased so
greatly that | cannot find time to an
swer all the letters. l hope to devote
most of the holiday period to catching
Up with it.
Comments on Doctor COnwell Case
''What is your view concerning the
recently published accounts that the
Rev. Dr.. Russell II. Conwell has not
only held communication with the dis
carnate spirit OF his wife. but that she
informed him of the whereabouts of
some valuable missing papers?
Doctor Conwel, | understand, has
not yet spoken on the subject, and |
would prefer not to discuss the matter
tntil he is heard from. ] can say that
think it entirely probable There is nc
season WHY such an occurrence should
not have taken place. am conservative
IN the subject OF what we call evil
Dental phenomena. Psychic phenomena
are real nevertheless, but eyidential
phenomena, that which carries unmia-
taxable evidence of its genuine char
acter. is comparatively rare in spirit
manifestation.
Have you experienced evidential
phenomena in your own case, Doctor
Irwood?" / asked.
II prefer to avoid projecting my per-
pnal experiences into the subject at
NAis time" replied Doctor Erwood with
a smile. 81 can say, however, that l
have witnessed some very unusual phe
pomena, Two cases in particular. One
was in the home of the managing editor
Of q western Republican newspaper.
where his sister not only demonstrated
her psychic powers in most remark
able way, but the phenomena went so
far as to take on, II prophetic character.
1t was very unusual, for intelligent
spiritualists and psychic students lay
no very great stress on that phase of
pirit communication.
Predictions Fulfilled
''In this particular instance. though.
The agent or medium outlined events
fhat were impending in the very near
tuture; predicted certain happenings
hat did occur within verv short time
Ind of which she could have had no
trevious knowledge
''What is the character of the letters
which you have received. Arc the
writer's of the intelligent class or are
they from the curious and unletteredT
Most of them are from the profes-
sional class. Many are from school
uhu VIC III pul IlCuluI rs lTOU
member of the faculty of an eastern
college. l do not recall one from what
you would call an ignorant or frankly
curious person.
And let me say in this connection +"
continued Doctor Erwood, that l find
among c.ergymen spirit of earnest in =
quiry on this subject of spiritualsm.
attended meeting some time ago where
the gentleman sitting at my side was
n ,,cy yhn T,D,r
and our sole conversation concerned
spiritualism, in which he manifested
the most earnest interest. AT another
time Presbyterian minister was
equally interested. / only mention this
TO indicate the sincere and awakened
feeling that is prevalent on the subject
of spirit communication"
Provides Opportunity for Fraud
IF spiritualism, or the possibility of
communicating with the spirit world
is, as you say, an established fact, why
has it been SO derided and ridiculed?'
Largely because, from its nature,
it affords such an opportunity for fraud
and deception. And besides, on the
other hand, it is so easy for fraudulent
and unscrupulous persons posing as
mediums to impose upon the credulous
and unthinking. Because clergyman
proves to be fraud or unworthy OF
belief, and is debarred from decent so
ciety, should the entire church suffer
Does it suffer in the minds of right
thinking indivi dals?"
Does your church, or association
hold platform demonstrations in which
mediums or psychics deliver messages?'
Yes, but only on special occasions
and when we are convinced that tht
1a1f iV1cf yhof frb, l. 1,
and possesses the power she claims
Once or twice we have been deceived
or have had occasion to doubt the genu.
ineness of the phenomena. One in,
stance of that kind forever bars thai
particular person from ever appearin;
among us again. We are ever on oul
guard against just such occurrences.
Must Not Judge by Mistakes
''If we are to judge a system be-
cause an individual has made mis-
take or abused a confidence, everything
must go. Christianity in all its demon
national aspects must be ruled out o
court; all systems of education, ever.
phase of Jurisprudence, materia medica
business-everythin must come unde
the ban if prejudice rather than reason
is to rule. The prejudice that ha
existed against spirituaism is unjust
oeCduSe SCleuIlSJS ChHnot ulSSeCL an
weigh and analyze and disintegrate wha
we call the visible embodiment of dis
carnate spirit, then, according to thei
dictum, there is no such thing. That
the scientists answer.
"Could the scientists of ninetee
hundred years ago-had there been an
such then-have dissected and analyze
the spirit forms of Moses and Elias d
the mountain with Christ and Peter an
John? And yet the entire Christia
world today accepts that appearance
as an established fact"
Makes SOne Comparisons
''In defiance of the accumulated evi
dence of such men as Prof, william
James, the psychologist of Harvard
University; DR.. James II. Hyslop, q
Columbia University Sir Oliver Lodg
and Sir William Wallace, eminent scien
lists; Camille Flammarion, the astron
omer; Doctor Hodgson, of the Societ
for psychical Research; Sir Coma
Doyle, the writer, and score of othe
eminent men, science laughs in the fac
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TEA and COFFEE '--'